The rescue of a doe on Orange Beach was captured on camera Friday afternoon.

Cody Stricklin shared photos and video of the rescue after a doe, among a few roaming around the beach, went into the water and was struggling for its life to stay afloat.

With all the negativity in the world today, I just want to throw out some positive vibes," Striklin said in his Facebook post.

Today we were gonna take a little ride out and came across a doe in distress right in the middle of the orange beach pass. We got her over near the sandbar but she fell deep into the rocks. With a little heart and a few scrapes we were able to successfully get her onto the swim platform and to safety. She was a little beat up, exhausted, and scared but she will be fine. She fell about 5 feet down between the rocks and would have never made it out. Feels good to share positive vibes."

Stricklin also thanked the Orange Beach Marine Rescue for helping rescue the doe as well.
A member of the disinfection squad sanitizes in a primary health care center in Caracas, Venezuela. (Carlos Becerra / Getty Images)

If there were anything that could force the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro and his opposition to work together, it might have been the coronavirus.

With the pandemic closing in on a country woefully ill-prepared to confront it, the president's opponents had begun to test the waters of negotiating with him, with the hope that cooperation on a plan to fight the virus might lead to wider political agreement or eventually even new elections.

But this past week, the United States torpedoed that possibility by indicting Maduro and 14 of his top associates on drug-trafficking and related charges. With criminal accusations and the equivalent of an arrest warrant hanging over this head, Maduro will likely be less willing than ever to make concessions.

"This [the indictments] closes the door on any kind of negotiation ... now and forever," said Fernando Cuitz, who worked on Latin American issues for the Trump administration but is now an advisor to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden.

The Trump administration, seeking to oust Maduro for more than a year, wants to rule out any future for Venezuela with him in a governing role. Moreover, U.S. officials say that Maduro, who has grown increasingly authoritarian since taking office in 2013, has never negotiated in good faith and can not be trusted now.

The United States has imposed numerous harsh economic sanctions on Venezuela and thrown support behind opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself president in January 2019, but those efforts have failed to trigger a popular uprising or a military split that might unseat Maduro.

The U.S. indictments come as coronavirus panic is growing in Venezuela. As of Friday, the country had recorded two deaths and 119 infections as of Saturday, but the true count is thought to be much higher.

Here in the capital, streets were nearly deserted. A handful of shoppers wearing masks prowled sparse markets, and gasoline  which the country once exported  was only available for official use, with troops posted at the few functioning gas stations in the capital.

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Few countries are as poorly equipped to deal with the pandemic as Venezuela, where years of political and economic turmoil and a U.S. embargo have left the healthcare system in tatters and widespread malnutrition has added to peoples vulnerability to illness.

Many hospitals lack water, soap, surgical supplies and medicines, as well as proper surgical masks. Periodic blackouts have left hospitals and other facilities without electricity. Meanwhile, millions of Venezuelans have fled the country in recent years, including many doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

Of 45,000 beds nationwide in 245 hospitals, no more than 20% are functioning, said Pablo Zambrano, general secretary the Federation of Health Workers.

The health system is very vulnerable, with many problems and errors that have not been corrected, Zambrano said.

Theres a lack of supplies, medicines, ambulances, the hospitals dont have working elevators, and suffer from deteriorated infrastructure and broken equipment," he said. "We as doctors, paramedics, helpers, do not have the resources needed to confront this crisis and give adequate attention to protect peoples heath.

Like other Venezuelans, health workers often walk long distances to work because of a lack of gasoline and reduced public transit. Some health professionals have been using homemade masks stitched from cotton clothing and other material.

But these masks have a usage period of only three days, Zambrano said. How can we make more?

Maduro, who ordered a 30-day stay-at-home order, with shoppers for food and medicines only allowed out in daylight hours, said the country is prepared for the crisis  an assertion disputed by the opposition.

The truth is that the Venezuelan state does not have the capacity to respond to this pandemic, Guaido said in Caracas in a video message this month.

Reacting to the indictments, the opposition leader said he hoped the charges would "help free the country from the criminal system that has hijacked our country for so many years.

"Our problem is not just a political problem: We are facing a cartel, the Maduro Cartel," Guaido said.

The indictments handed down Thursday charge Maduro with sponsoring a vast criminal enterprise that shipped cocaine to the United States and supplied Colombian rebels  whom Washington has designated as terrorists  with military-grade weapons.

U.S. Atty. Gen. William Barr suggested issuing the charges during a widening pandemic could weaken Maduro and inspire Venezuelans to rise against him.

Its good timing, actually, Barr said. The people in Venezuela are suffering, and they need an effective government that responds to the people. ... This is the best way to support the Venezuelan people: to rid this country of this corrupt cabal.

That approach is also clear in the U.S. refusal to bow to pressure from the United Nations and international human rights organizations to relax sanctions on Venezuela to ease delivery of humanitarian aid during the coronavirus crisis.

President Trump has from early in his administration been eager to undermine Maduro as a way to win votes in southern Florida, where many refugees from Venezuela and its close ally Cuba tend to vote for conservative Republicans. He has been frustrated his team has not made more progress in ousting the socialist leader.

"It's difficult not to see an explicit political motive here [in the indictments]: maximize all possible pressure on the regime when they are hanging by a thread," said Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin American program at the Wilson Center, a non-partisan think tank in Washington.

But will it work?

Michael Shifter, a Latin America expert at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, said he does not believe the conditions for a popular uprising, or a military coup, exist at present.

He pointed out that U.S. governments for decades made a similar calculation with Cuba by enforcing a harsh embargo to isolate the late President Fidel Castro and his brother and successor, Raul Castro. In half a century, it never succeeded in removing the Castros from power.

And, crucially, Maduro has maintained the loyalty of the Venezuelan military, the country's major arbiter of power, despite U.S. efforts to encourage a coup and otherwise sow divisions in the high command.

But political analysts said the indictments send a strong signal to the opposition that it should reject the idea that detente over a specific immediate problem such as the pandemic was reason to talk to Maduro.

"There's a clear message to the opposition," Shifter, who is in contact with Venezuelan opposition figures, said. "You better not get too close to them. ... The United States is not comfortable" with a possible truce.

Among those indicted are two figures that the administration last year attempted to recruit to challenge Maduro: Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and Supreme Court justice Maikel Moreno.

The then-national security advisor, John Bolton, expected the pair to rebel against Maduro after intense secret talks with American officials. But they did not.

Also named in indictments was retired Gen. Cliver Alcala Cordones, who had been living in Colombia and had renounced Maduros leadership and allied himself with Guaido. Venezuelan prosecutors accused Alcala  who reportedly was flown to the United States Friday by U.S. officials  of engaging in a plot to assassinate Maduro.

Staff writers Wilkinson and McDonnell reported from Washington and Mexico City, respectively; and special correspondent Mogollon, from Caracas.
Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak announcing help package for self employed on 26 March at 10 Downing Street, London. (Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street via AP)

Britains 5 million self-employed face a looming tax hike, after chancellor Rishi Sunak agreed to bail them out during the coronavirus economic shutdown.

Sunak on Thursday 26 March announced that Britains self-employed would be eligible for up to 2,500-a-month in state grants for the next three months. The support package comes amid a government-ordered economic shutdown and is estimated to be worth around 9bn (11bn), according to the Financial Times. The scheme will help everyone from gigging musicians and Uber drivers to consultants and lawyers.

However, Sunak hinted that the grants would be part of a trade off and the self-employed will likely face higher tax rates after the coronavirus crisis abates.

Read more: Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces emergency support for self-employed

There is currently an inconsistency in contribution between self-employed and employed, Sunak said, questioning whether this was fair.

Especially as we look when we get through this and were all chipping in together to right the ship afterwards, [well be] making sure that everyones doing their bit.

I think hes just setting down the marker to say: Were helping you out now, you guys need to recognise that youll be paying more tax in six months time when we have our next budget, Nimesh Shah, a partner at accountant Blick Rothenberg, told Yahoo Finance UK.

Any changes to taxes for the self-employed will affect everyone from consultants to Deliveroo riders. (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

Craig Hughes, a partner at accountancy firm Menzies, said: Now employees and the self-employed are on pretty much a level pegging in terms of support. But he very clearly said there will be a sting in the tail here. When times improve and once were over this health issue, things will have to change.

The self-employed currently pay a lower rate of national insurance than salaried employees, a historic difference that reflects the fact the self-employed are risking their own wealth to set up a business and dont enjoy benefits such as sick pay or holiday pay.

Shah estimated that a self-employed person earning 50,000 a year would pay around 1,000 less national insurance than an employee on the same salary.

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Its been a long standing gripe of the government and HMRC that the self-employed are perceived to pay less tax than the employed community, Shah said.

Shah and Hughes both predicted that the government would increase national insurance contributions for the self-employed to bring them in line with contributions from salaried staff.

It could form part of a broader package of tax reforms, Hughes said, with hikes possible in areas like capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

Clearly the [support packages] that are put in place right now are hugely costly and the impact of shutting down all the businesses is going to cost the UK economy an absolute fortune, he told Yahoo Finance UK. There will have to be some really painful changes.

Shah said: Lets be honest, the government needs to raise money after this.

There are an estimated 5 million self-employed people in the UK. (Eric Gay/AP)

However, any tax changes are likely to prove controversial.

Andy Chamberlain, director of policy at the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE ), said: There are historic and good reasons for the differences in taxation.

Notwithstanding this generous one-off support package  for which IPSE is very grateful  the self-employed take on a higher degree of risk than employees.

He added that the self-employed enjoy only a marginally advantageous tax rate and said: If you compare the direct taxation of individual employees and the self-employed, it really isnt that different.

Freelancers are already up in arms about new rules, known as IR35, that were due to come into force in April. The rules were intended to close what HMRC saw as a tax loophole for contractors. Those affected argued it left them with all the costs of full employment but none of the rights. Around 600 freelancers gathered outside parliament last month in protest.

Hughes said: Those who stand on their own two feet and risk their own capital as self-employed individuals  I dont think theres anything wrong to say they should have a slightly different system because it is harder and more risky to set up on your own.

Boris Johnsons December 2019 manifesto also contained a triple lock on tax. This bound the Conservative party not to raise national insurance, income tax, or VAT for five years.

There might be some outcry to say that is just a tax increase through the backdoor, youve broken the triple lock, Shah said.

Any tax hikes may also alienate the Tory partys traditional supporters.

To me, a change of national insurance is slightly contrary to the mantra that has been long in place for the Conservative government, which is that entrepreneurs and smaller owner-managed businesses are the backbone of Britain, Hughes said.

Shah added: In six months time, hopefully, the government will need to rely on this population to really kickstart the economy.
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US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he departs the White House in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2020.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he's considering placing a short-term quarantine on New York, New Jersey and certain parts of Connecticut as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.

"I'm thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine," Trump told reporters at the White House Saturday. "Short-term, two week on New York, probably New Jersey and certain parts of Connecticut."

Trump said he would make a decision today whether to enforce a quarantine. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he spoke with Trump Saturday morning but didn't discuss a potential quarantine on the state.

"I spoke to the president about the ship coming up and the four sites, I didn't speak to him about any quarantine. No I haven't had those conversations," Cuomo said

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
A netizen was found to have posted more than 200 statuses based on fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic

On March 27, the Department of Cyber Security and Hi-tech Crime Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Public Security contacted the KOL named D.N.Q living in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi to call them to task over posting fake news about COVID-19.

Accordingly, since February, D.N.Q posted approximately 300 inaccurate news about the pandemic in many cities and provinces across the country on his private Facebook account.

The news appeared before official information was published by the Ministry of Health and attracted hundreds of likes, shares, and comments each, making his private Facebook wall an original source for disinformation about the epidemic.

D.N.Q affirmed that he collected the information from many sources without checking their authenticity and then added his opinion in these statuses.

The authority removed 216 statuses containing unchecked information from D.N.Qs private Facebook wall.

The Department of Cyber Security and Hi-tech Crime Prevention and Control will continue to collect documents and evidence to punish D.N.Q and related people.

In Vietnam, there are nearly 70 million internet users and 65 million active social media users, who account for approximately 70 per cent of the total population, according to statistics from digital media agency We Are Social. This makes fighting fake news on social media a considerable effort.

Each user spends an average of 6.5 hours a day on the internet, which means there are massive amounts of information generated and running through online platforms. And while some information is trustworthy, a lot more is not, and an avalanche of them finds its way to websites, blog posts, and forums to overshadow level-headed news from reliable sources with their uproarious headlines, overinflated claims, and downright falsities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has just signed Decree 15 outlining the administrative fines for violations in telecommunications, radiofrequency, technology information, and e-transactions. In addition to the penalties, the new law also stipulates measures to recover damages and the relevant court to pass sentence for such violations.

Accordingly, posting fake news on social networks will be applied the highest sanction of VND20 million ($870) from April 15, 2020.
The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is asking its residents to spread some love amid the trying times of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, the city encouraged all residents to walk outside their homes at 7 p.m. each night and wave to their neighbors to combat the loneliness of social distancing.

Now is the time to look after one another, even from a safe distance, the city wrote on Facebook.

According to CNN, other cities like Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Sandusky, Ohio, are also joining the nationwide movement.

RELATED VIDEO: Teachers Had a Parade Through Their Community to See Students and Social Distance

In order to help stop the spread of coronavirus, government and health officials have advised residents with non-essential jobs to stay in their homes, and only leave for necessary errands, like buying groceries or picking up medications.

As of March 28, the governors of 24 states have opted to place their entire state under a stay at home order. California was the first to do so, on March 19, and New York and Illinois followed the next day.

Along with the state-wide orders, many cities and counties have put their areas under similar regulations, notably Denver, Dallas, Atlanta and Miami Beach.

RELATED: Here Are the States and Cities Under a Stay at Home Order to Slow the Coronavirus Spread

Children across the world are also attempting to spread cheer while social distancing by painting rainbows and posting them in their windows to cheer up people passing by.

Manchester, England, resident Vicky Corbley shared a photo on Twitter of her kids paintings that included uplifting messages like dont worry, well get through this, and stay safe.

Another sweet sign said, Thank you to our delivery drivers and postmen.

The activity has even led to a rainbow scavenger hunt ensuing for the children, an outdoor option for those living in places that are not under a Shelter in Place or Stay at Home order.

An outline was created on Google Maps of all the participating homes in the nearby area. Community members are able to access the map and even add their own homes to it. (Brooklyns Rainbow Connection map can be accessed here).

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments and visit our coronavirus hub.
By Anna Bellissens

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - On a pristine island off the northwest coast of Madagascar famous for its orchids and turquoise, turtle-filled waters, residents are bracing for disaster - but it's not the coronavirus.

It's the disappearance of tourists that keep the island's economy afloat. Madagascar is already one of the world's poorest nations; most people survive on less than $2 per day.

The island, Nosy Sakatia, is dependent on the steady flow of Europeans visiting each year. This Friday, the last tourists are going home on the last commercial flights between Madagascar and Europe. The government announced it would be suspending all flights for 30 days on Tuesday.

Marie Tato owns a beach-front restaurant, Chez Marie, that employs seven people and serves 80 tourists on a good day.

But the global coronavirus outbreak  which has not yet hit the East African island nation of Madagascar  has frozen international travel, emptying the country of its tourists and forcing business owners like Tato to weigh whether they can save their business by firing employees.

"If I fire them, they will have nothing to eat," Tato told Reuters. "I try to scramble right and left to pay the employees but if there are no customers, there is no activity."

Tato's three children, who also work in tourism, have already lost their jobs.

One of Tato's employees, 67-year old Maman'i Tombo, said that if she loses her job at the restaurant, she will have to break stones by hand for the construction industry, one of the few ways to earn money on Nosy Sakatia outside hospitality.

Other employees said they will grow vegetables, especially as prices for basic necessities have already started to climb on the island.

The roughly 300,000 tourists that visit Madagascar each year generate employment for 641,000 Malagasies out of population of 26 million, according to data from the Economic Development Board of Madagascar.

Madagascar's crumbling health care system is already in tatters. It struggled to cope with an outbreak of measles last year, and it is one of the few countries that still reports cases of the plague nearly every year, according to the World Health Organization.

(Writing by Ayenat Mersie; Editing by Katharine Houreld and Louise Heavens)
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Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday appealed to members of the Upper House to contribute liberally from their MPLADS fund to aid measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

He urged them to contribute at least Rs 1 crore and send consent letters to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

On receipt of consent letters, such contributions will be deducted and placed in a central pool, Naidu said during a meeting.

He also wrote to the members individually making the plea.

Naidu in his letter to MPs said the government of India is pooling financial resources from various avenues to augment the availability of funds at the national, state and district levels.

"This is to request you to give your consent in the enclosed form to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to centrally earmark an amount initially of at least Rs.1 crore from your MPLAD Scheme for the Financial Year 2020-21," he said.

The ministry on Saturday made a dispensation to create such a central pool.

Naidu held discussions in this regard with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and secretary generals of both the Houses.

He also spoke to leaders of various parties in the matter sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Andrew Cotter and Marie Barry were on an eight month trip around the world.

As The Corkman went to press this week, hundreds of Irish people in locations across the globe were desperately trying to make their way back home as COVID-19 continued to impact on global travel links.

Among them were Andrew Cotter from Mitchelstown and his girlfriend, Marie Barry from Conna, who have found themselves stranded in Peru under martial law while on an eight-month trip around central and South America.

Speaking to The Corkman from his hostel in the city of Cusco, a 20-hour journey by land from the Peruvian capital, Lima, Andrew said the couple arrived in the country from Bolivia on March 14.

"At the time there were two COVID-19 cases in Bolivia and 11 in Peru, which we felt was good compared to all the reports coming from Europe at the time," said Andrew.

However, the following day there was a national address saying Peru would be going into lock down under martial law the following day, giving foreigners just 24 hours to get out of the country.

"The thing was we were in a small town called Puno, about 10 hours from Cusco, which was the closest city with an international airport. We caught a bus as soon as we could, but by the time we reached Cusco the lock-down had started," said Andrew. He said the lock-down was meant to be an initial 15-day mandatory quarantine. However, Andrew said the underlying tones were that this would be extended as the Coronavirus began to spread.

The couple are currently in a hostel along with two other Irish people. According to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) they are among some 130 Irish people in the country, the majority of whom are in Cusco and Lima.

Andrew said that people are allowed out of the hostel individually and with maskS on under government direction to visit supermarkets, pharmacies and banks. However, he said the police and military seem to be deliberately targeting foreigners, telling them they should not be out on the streets.

"Consequently, we are limiting outings as much as we can, maybe once every two days."

Andrew said they have been in communication with the Irish Embassy in Chile, and it would appear there are plans in the pipeline to get people back home.

"Initially there was talk of private charter flights being offered at $3,000 and $3,500 (US). However, they now appear to have been dropped due to the Peruvian Government completely shutting down airports to all commercial traffic," he said.

Earlier this week the DFA told stranded Irish nationals in Peru that it was working with the British Foreign Office to get charter flights over to Lima sometime this week. It is understood the cost of flights would be covered partly by the EU, with the balance of around 400 being made up by each passenger.

The most recent communication sent out by the Irish Embassy in Chile on behalf of the DFA, under the tag-line 'peruevacuationflight@dfa.ie', offered a ray of hope for Andrew, Marie and the other Irish nationals stranded in Peru and who are in contact with the department that a flight home was in the process of being arranged.

It read that the 'exact time for the repatriation flight will depend on how soon our aircraft can be accommodated by the Peruvian authorities'.

"Once we know the date and time for the flight, we will be in contact in relation to travel plans for Irish citizens outside Lima, including Cusco and other cities. Thank you for your continued patience in these difficult circumstances," read the communication.

Andrew said the flight could not come quick enough as people were getting nervous as reports of COVID-19 deaths were being reported in the Cusco region. "We would like to express how extremely grateful we all are to the DFA, Ministers/ TDs/ MEPs/ councillors, media, family and friends for all their support in getting us home before further lock downs here and/or in Europe," said Andrew.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trevali Mining Corporation (Trevali or the Company) (TSX: TV, BVL: TV; OTCQX: TREVF, Frankfurt: 4TI) The Peruvian President announced on March 26th that the Government extended the state of National Emergency which restricts travel in its efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 to April 12th. An additional 13 days were added to the original 15-day period.



The Santander mine has been in full compliance with the Governments requirements since the National Emergency was declared and has been able to continue operations with no material impact to date. However, as a result of the extension of the declaration, the Company will not be able to process ore for the duration of the extension due to the consumption of reagents on site. Mining and other activities will continue, and mined ore will be stockpiled until April 12, 2020 at which time the Company anticipates resuming normal production levels, including milling at the Mine.

Ricus Grimbeek, President and CEO stated, We have made modifications to the operations at Santander so we can continue to mine and stockpile ore. More importantly, our workforce is healthy as we have had no suspected cases of COVID-19. We are ready for a quick and efficient ramp up of the processing facility back to normal levels once the state of emergency is lifted.

ABOUT TREVALI

Trevali is a global base-metals mining company, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The bulk of Trevalis revenue is generated from base-metals mining at its four operational assets: the 90%-owned Perkoa Mine in Burkina Faso, the 90%-owned Rosh Pinah Mine in Namibia, the wholly-owned Caribou Mine in northern New Brunswick, Canada and the wholly-owned Santander Mine in Peru. In addition, Trevali owns the Halfmile and Stratmat Properties and the Restigouche Deposit in New Brunswick, Canada, and the past producing Ruttan Mine in northern Manitoba, Canada. Trevali also owns an effective 44%-interest in the Gergarub Project in Namibia, as well as an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Heath Steele deposit located in New Brunswick, Canada.

The shares of Trevali are listed on the TSX (symbol TV), the OTCQX (symbol TREVF), the Lima Stock Exchange (symbol TV), and the Frankfurt Exchange (symbol 4TI). For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Companys website (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

Brendan Creaney  Vice President, Investor Relations

Email: bcreaney@trevali.com

Phone: +1 (778) 655-6070

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management of the Company as of the date the statement is published, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys operations, including the impact on the Santander mine of the national state of emergency declared by the Peruvian government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to continue operations at Santander during the extended state of emergency and to resume normal processing activities following the conclusion of same, the Companys growth strategies and planned development activities. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of zinc, lead, silver and other minerals and the anticipated sensitivity of our financial performance to such prices; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recoveries; dependence on key personnel; potential conflicts of interest involving our directors and officers; labour pool constraints; labour disputes; availability of infrastructure required for the development of mining projects; delays or inability to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals for mining operations or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; counterparty risks; increased operating and capital costs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; operating in foreign jurisdictions with risk of changes to governmental regulation; compliance with governmental decrees and regulations, including any new or ongoing decrees and regulations issued by a governmental authority in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; land reclamation and mine closure obligations; challenges to title or ownership interest of our mineral properties; maintaining ongoing social license to operate; impact of climatic conditions on the Companys mining operations; corruption and bribery; limitations inherent in our insurance coverage; compliance with debt covenants; competition in the mining industry; our ability to integrate new acquisitions into our operations; cybersecurity threats; litigation and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described in the Companys annual information form, interim and annual audited consolidated financial statements and managements discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Trevali provides no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events may differ from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Source: Trevali Mining Corporation
Rome's English-language bookshops are battling the difficult days of lockdown with a series of initiatives and promotions.

The Anglo American Bookshop, near Piazza di Spagna, says it will reopen as soon as the government allows all non-essential shops and businesses to reopen their doors.

In the meantime it is staying active on its social media accounts - Instagram and Facebook - and it also has a website where people can check and order its available stock. Orders will be shipped as soon as the shop reopens.

The owners have also sent Wanted in Rome a reading list of suggested books to help you get through the lockdown.

Fiction: The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare; Greenwood by Michael Christie; The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel; Weather by Jenny Offill; The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

Non fiction: Spillover by David Quammen; Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster; Brother & Sister by Diane Keaton; In the Court of King Crimson by Sid Smith; Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener.

The Almost Corner Bookshop in Trastevere is attempting to "beat Covid-19 through culture" by offering the possibility to buy 'Almost vouchers' between now and 3 April, or until further notice.

How do the vouchers work? For every 10 spent you will have 5 extra to spend on books as soon as the shop is able to re-open. To buy a voucher all you have to do make out a money transfer to: Almost Corner Bookshop Srl, IBAN: IT90V0306903287100000003067, payment description: Voucher ACBookshop plus name and surname.

Otherwise, near Piazza Navona, has set up a book delivery service through the OtherQuestionnaire (see its Facebook page). By answering a few questions, the shop says it will be able to "select the books you want, and those you didnt know you wanted!"

Readers are free to contact the shop on email, Facebook or Instagram after answering the questionnaire, or to enquire about other titles that they might have in stock. The shop says it is glad to offer free delivery via courier on all local orders of two books or more.
Troy Harris and Debra Richardson were photographed at their home near Girard College in Phila., Pa. on March 27, 2020. Debra has been waiting 1 week for her coronavirus test results. Read more

First, Troy Harris was laid off from his job at Penns kosher dining hall where hes worked for 20 years.

In a one-page typed letter, his employer, Bon Appetit Management Co., announced last week it would be letting go about 140 people by the end of March without further pay. The decision, it told the Daily Pennsylvanian, was made by its owner, Compass Group.

Bon Appetit offered employees little more than a list of organizations where they could seek help with emergency housing and food, which is more than theyve been offered by a university with a nearly $15 billion endowment.

Its like they know a lot of people are going to be suffering, but they dont care, said Harris, a cook at Falk Dining Commons.

This is one Philadelphia familys story. But it illustrates how the pandemic is playing out for lots of working-class families living paycheck to paycheck  even as they await stimulus checks that might not even reach them until May, more than a month away.

Thats two rent payments, five to six trips to the grocery store. Water. Electric. But sure, whats a month between friends?

The cook and union shop steward was anxious about the fates of his family and those of his coworkers. But there was some comfort at least in knowing that his wife, Debra, still had a job at a West Philadelphia nursing home.

It wasnt ideal work as the virus spread. After her $10.90-an-hour shifts, shed walk into the house through a back door, shed her work clothes in the laundry room, and drop them in the washer before reuniting with her family, including a paralyzed son with a compromised immune system.

And then a couple of days before Debra was scheduled to work a double shift, she started to feel sick.

 READ MORE: How people with compromised immune systems are staying safe amid coronavirus

She went to the hospital, where she was tested for the flu, and when that came back negative, for the coronavirus.

Shes been mostly holed up in her bedroom since, waiting on results and worrying: How were they going to pay the bills? The rent, the electricity? Were they going to have enough from what little they had put aside for food?

A couple of people at her job have called to check up on her, she said. But no ones mentioned anything about paid sick leave. She was just a few days short of completing her probationary period before getting sick.

She fears infecting her family, especially her son, a paraplegic. Azir, 19, was shot five times in 2018 after walking to a store with two friends to grab something to eat near their home at the Wilson Park housing development in South Philadelphia.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus layoffs in the Philly region are hitting hotel, restaurant, and nonprofit workers hard: Its total annihilation

In the years since, the Harris family struggled to find wheelchair-accessible public housing to accommodate their whole family.

They were eventually forced to separate  Azir and his parents in one unit in one part of the city, his older siblings in another unit in another part of the city.

Its been hell for us, Troy said at the time. There really is no other way to say it.

And then it got worse.

When Debra got sick, Azir asked his father if he should be worried.

If my mom hugs me, am I going to get sick?

Troy told him if they take precautions, they should be fine.

He jokes that hes turned into a doctor: taking temperatures, reassuring everyone that everything will be OK, even if he stays up nights wondering if thats true.

Students and alumni from Penns Jewish community stepped in to help, he said, much the way they did when his son was shot. A Change.org petition, called Dont Lay Off Penn Dining Workers, has collected more than 8,000 signatures.

From the petition: In a time where the world is relying on community to stay safe and healthy, Penn Dining and Bon Appetit are pulling the rug under from dining hall workers"

Even before the pandemic, millions of Americans were one missed paycheck from financial disaster. These days it feels more as if hardworking Americans are standing on melting Arctic ice sheets with no rescue in sight.

Im just praying every day, Troy said.
The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan has tripled its mobile pantry availability to fill gaps in services as cases of the coronavirus spread throughout Michigan and the state remains under a stay-at-home order.

Many people are temporarily unemployed or have been laid off following Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Monday, March 23, order that people who are not in the essential workforce remain at home.

Were seeing so many more people this week compared to last week now out of jobs and theyre going to need resources, food and other help in their community, said Kara Ross, president and CEO for the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.

Now, meals for kids are no longer hot or prepared meals, Ross said. Families are given a box that includes eight breakfasts and eight lunches. The group has switched to using mobile pantries primarily to prevent large groups of people from congregating in one place.

People can find a food pantry through the organization here.

As of Wednesday, March 25, the food bank closed to additional volunteers.

Were trying to limit the amount of outside people coming into the facility out of the recommendations from the governor at this point," Ross said.

However, people can still help through donations to the food banks website, she said.

All pantries and partners are still considered essential services, but they continue to take additional measures to take precautionary measures as advised by the state, Ross said. The organizations also has over 700 partners between 21 counties.

We recognize that as we move forward, there may be some smaller agencies or agencies in the population that is the area of concern, they may have to close or they may not be able to do the volume they were able to do a few weeks ago. So thats where were trying to fill in these gaps in services with the large-scale mobile distribution model, she said.

Ross encouraged people to check on their neighbors and more vulnerable population in the community.

Its perfectly safe to deliver to porches and to let people know from a safe distance, Hey, I dropped this off for you. Let me know if you need something else," she said. "Our community is pretty resilient and I think its great to see people thinking about other people in our community and trying to connect resources to them.

Weeks ago, the organization started increasing precautions to fight the spread of the virus. It scaled down to smaller groups, closed the community room that had been used for hosting groups and events and increased social distancing and hand washing to ensure resources could continue to be provided.

Communities band together in times of crisis, Ross said.

People can identify with the need to help others. I encourage people to check on their neighbors, Ross said.

United Way of Genesee County has partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Flint to start a COVID-19 relief fund, said Jamie Gaskin, Chief Executive Officer for United Way.

We historically support a lot of basic needs work both in the city of Flint and across the county but this particular situation has ratcheted up the need around some very specific population," he said. Our focus is to continue to continue to support what we have normally, but then to ramp up services where there are gaps in need.

The Greater Flint Urgent Relief Fund is now accepting grant applications from nonprofits in Genesee County, which aims to address the communitys most urgent needs during the coronavirus pandemic. People can find more information here.
Health care professionals take a break awaiting patients as they test for COVID-19 at the ProHEALTH testing site in Jericho, New York, March 24, 2020. Steve Pfost | Newsday RM | Getty Images

Researchers are warning that the coronavirus pandemic could inflict long-lasting emotional trauma on an unprecedented global scale. They say it could leave millions wrestling with debilitating psychological disorders while dashing hopes for a swift economic recovery. The COVID-19 crisis has combined mental health stressors that have been studied before in other disasters, but which have never been seen consolidated in one global crisis, experts in trauma psychology said. It has left millions without jobs, sent billions into isolation and forced nearly everyone on earth to grapple with the feeling that they or those they love are suddenly physically vulnerable. The nature of the disease means that there can be no certainty about when the worst will pass. Hundreds of thousands have been infected, thousands have died, the virus continues to spread, and a vaccine could be more than a year away. "The scale of this outbreak as a traumatic event is almost beyond comprehension," said Yuval Neria, the director of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and a professor of psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. Neria, seeking a precedent to point to, said that not even the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or World War II were adequate comparisons, as the anxiety those events caused was at least limited by geography. In this case, he said, "there are no boundaries." Elana Newman, who researches trauma and disaster mental health at the University of Tulsa, said she has had to consult the literature of several different subjects to get a handle on the unfolding crisis. There is research on how humans cope with quarantine, mass disasters and ongoing stressors, she said, but not on all three. "This is a mass community disaster, but it is also a little bit like terrorism in that the fear component is there, ongoing fear," Newman said.

A question of recovery

More than half a million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, leaving nearly 30,000 dead, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The United States surpassed China and Italy on Thursday to become the country with the largest outbreak, and now has more than 100,000 cases. The public health disaster has become a financial catastrophe, halting the 11-year bull run in the stock market and sending weekly jobless claims to a record nearly five times higher than the worst of the 2008 recession this week. President Donald Trump and members of his administration have predicted that the economic recovery will be swift once the outbreak is contained. On Tuesday, Trump said on Fox News that he "would love to have the country opened up, and rarin' to go by Easter." Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday that the economy would "come roaring back once we see our nation through this." On Friday, the president signed a stimulus package, worth more than $2 trillion, intended to blunt the economic damage from the pandemic. But estimates of a v-shaped recovery aren't factoring in psychology, according to Peter Atwater, a behavioral economist at William & Mary who studies consumer decision-making. "You can open it up. But this is not a field of dreams. You can build it, but they might not come," Atwater said. He predicted that as a result of the crisis, emotionally scarred consumers are likely to spend less and save more  a type of "Great Depression mindset." "There were no skid marks  the car went straight the into the wall," Atwater said. "That sense of vulnerability will be quite lasting." Andrew Rigie, the executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for the city's bars and restaurants, said he was concerned that anxiety and fear from the virus could outlast the pandemic itself, possibly prolonging the economic woes saddling the industry and the city. He said he hoped that anxiety would not "override human nature's pull to bring us together."

'A harder time bouncing back'

Those who are financially crippled by the crisis or who experience the loss of loved ones are also the most susceptible to enduring psychological trauma, according to experts. Those who already had mental health problems, such as addiction, are also at risk. "What we know from mass disasters is that the people who have experienced direct interpersonal loss or financial loss have a harder time bouncing back," Newman said. Researchers at Peking University in Beijing wrote in a February correspondence in The Lancet, a prestigious medical journal, that the mental health disorders inflicted on those on the front lines of the crisis could "exceed the consequences" of the virus itself. About one in 10 employees at a Chinese hospital who dealt with the 2003 SARS outbreak reported high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms in a study conducted three years later. A 2004 study of 129 people in Canada who were voluntarily quarantined during the outbreak found that nearly a third exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. But trauma experts say that relatively new research has shown that even those who are not directly affected by the crisis are at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. "After 9/11, we had the first indication that even people who were not directly exposed to trauma, but spent many hours in front of the television or looking at their smart phones were at high risk for psychopathology, including PTSD, depression and anxiety," Neria said.

There is help

Neria said that given the global scale of the current pandemic, it is likely that millions will need mental heath care. Right now, he said, the focus was not on mental trauma. But that could change. "I hope we will be ready for this. People will need us," Neria wrote in an email. Cuomo tweet Some states are already taking action. In New York, the state hardest-hit by coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday a free mental health hotline, staffed by 6,000 volunteers. "We're all concerned about the immediate critical need. The life and death of the immediate situation, which is right," Cuomo said during a press conference announcing the support line. "But don't underestimate the emotional trauma that people are feeling, and the emotional health issues." Those who suffer from mental health disorders can be treated with therapy and, in some cases, medication. Exposure-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, which involve survivors recalling and describing the traumatic event, work about half the time, according to Neria. For the other half of patients, studies have shown other methods to be effective. But experts say there are steps that individuals can take even while the crisis continues that can limit its psychological toll, such as limiting exposure to television news and social media. "Each person needs to figure out, what is the optimal amount of information they need to make choices," Newman said.

How can you feel good about yourself in this situation? ... Doing something for your community, for your family, for someone. Elana Newman University of Tulsa
Infosys on Friday said it has terminated the services of the employee who had made an inappropriate post on social media related to the coronovirus outbreak.

Infosys, in a tweet from its official handle, said the social media post by the employee is against its code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees, and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity, it noted.

The Bengaluru-based company further said the company has a zero tolerance policy towards such acts and has accordingly, terminated the services of the employee.

The individual, whose post triggered an outrage on Twitter on Thursday, had said Lets join hands, go out and sneeze with open in public. Spread the virus in the post.

ALSO WATCH | Heres what a locked down nation of 1.3 billion people looks like

Infosys had on Thursday tweeted that it was deeply concerned with the post and that it would take necessary action based on its investigation.

The deadly coronavirus, which started in China and has spread to many parts of the world. In India, the number of positive cases in India touched 724, and has claimed 17 lives so far.

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Abbott Laboratories said on Friday it won the federal government's marketing approval for a diagnostic test for the coronavirus that can deliver results to patients within minutes.

The medical device company based in Lake Bluff, Illinois, said that the test can be used in physicians' offices and urgent care clinics as well as hospitals.

The United States now has more cases of the coronavirus than any other country, and hospitals have struggled to meet the demand to test thousands of people for the often-deadly virus.

The Food and Drug Administration granted the approval under its Emergency Use Authorization.

Abbott Laboratories announced it won FDA approval to market a rapid, portable diagnostic test (like the one seen in the above stock photo) that can detect coronavirus within minutes

The company said it plans to roll out the tests beginning April 1. Its company offices in Sunnyvale, California, are seen in the above stock photo

Abbott said in a statement that it plans to begin distributing the test next week and will ramp up manufacturing to 50,000 tests per day.

'This is a significant leap forward,' John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott, said in an interview with Reuters.

'You can get a positive result in five minutes and a negative result in 13 minutes.

'You can walk into a clinic and literally get results while you are there.'

The portable test will run on Abbott's ID NOW platform.

It is the second test to be approved by the FDA that can be used directly in physicians' offices and other community healthcare settings and promptly provide results to patients.

Last week, the FDA approved a test made by Cepheid that can be used at the point of care.

'The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus,' said Robert Ford, president and chief operating officer at Abbott, in a statement.

Abbott received approval last week for a high volume, automated diagnostic test that can be used in laboratories and said at the time it would immediately distribute 150,000 of the tests around the country.

Between the two platforms, Abbott said it plans to produce 5 million tests per month.

The FDA has been rushing to approve tests for the coronavirus on an emergency basis and has approved others made by companies including Roche Holding AG and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

With the expansion of testing has come a surge in confirmed cases of COVID-19.

As of late Friday night, the US reported more than 100,000 cases.

New Orleans rushed to build a makeshift hospital in its convention center Friday as troubling new outbreaks bubbled across the country.

While New York remained the worst hit city in the US, Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

'We are not through this. Were not even halfway through this,' said Joseph Kanter of the Louisiana Department of Health, which has recorded more than 2,700 cases, more than five times what it had a week ago.

The United States became the first country to surpass 100,000 infections on Friday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

New Orleans sprawling Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, along the Mississippi River, was being converted into a massive hospital as officials prepared for thousands more patients than they could accommodate.

The preparations immediately conjured images of another disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the convention center became a squalid shelter of last resort in a city that has braved a string of storm hits, not to mention great fires and a yellow fever epidemic in centuries past.

As the new health crisis loomed, economic catastrophe had already arrived in the city, where many already live in poverty and the tourism industry has screeched to a halt.

'Ive never been unemployed. But now, all of a sudden: Wop!' said John Moore, the musician best known as Deacon John, who has no gigs to perform with much of the city shut down.

'It aint just me. Its everybody.'

In New York, where there are more than 46,000 cases statewide, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 passed 6,000 on Friday, double what it had been three days earlier.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for 4,000 more temporary beds across New York City, where the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has already been converted into a hospital.

'This is going to be weeks and weeks and weeks,' Cuomo told members of the National Guard working at the Javits Center.

'This is going to be a long day, and its going to be a hard day, and its going to be an ugly day, and its going to be a sad day.'

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York gave a rallying call to action to National Guard troops on Friday at the Javits Center in New York City where he said there had been another 134 deaths overnight in the state of New York . In the background, hospital beds that have been set up to take in patients

President Donald Trump, after earlier rejecting Cuomos pleas for tens of thousands more ventilators, and the governors calls to use the Korean War-era Defense Production Act, invoked the law Friday, ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing the breathing machines.

Trump signed a $2.2trillion stimulus package, after the House approved the sweeping measure by voice vote.

Lawmakers in both parties lined up behind the law to send checks to millions of Americans, boost unemployment benefits, help businesses and toss a life preserver to an overwhelmed health care system.

More than 595,000 people have contracted the virus around the world and about 27,000 have died.

While the US now leads the world in reported infections, five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

Dr. John Brooks of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans remained 'in the acceleration phase' of the pandemic and that all corners of the country were at risk.

'There is no geographic part of the United States that is spared from this,' he said.

In a phone call Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Trump that China 'stands ready to provide support within its capacity,' the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Trump, who has repeatedly referred to the outbreak as a 'Chinese virus,' struck a different tone Friday, tweeting after the call that 'China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!'

In Europe, Italy recorded its single biggest 24-hour rise in deaths, with 969 more victims, to bring its total number of fatalities to 9,134.

The country now has more than 86,000 cases, surpassing China to record the grim distinction of the second-most infections in the world, behind the US.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 11:17:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's four major telecom firms are planning to spend 197.3 billion yuan (about 27.8 billion U.S. dollars) on 5G technology in 2020 as the country seeks to deploy "new infrastructure" projects to offset the economic impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Leading telecom operator China Mobile plans to invest around 100 billion yuan in 5G-related projects this year, more than 4 times the volume seen in 2019. China Unicom puts the 5G investment at 35 billion yuan, China Securities Journal reported.

China Telecom will invest 45.3 billion yuan in 5G this year, while China Tower will pump around 17 billion yuan to the sector.

China greenlighted the commercial use of the superfast wireless technology in June last year, triggering a surge in consumer enthusiasm and an acceleration in industrial investment.

The hefty investment came as the government has pledged to accelerate the construction of new infrastructure such as 5G networks and data centers to combat downward pressure on the economy.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said on Tuesday that it will support telecom operators to expand stand-alone 5G network coverage and capacity.

The country will also cultivate new consumption models, speed up the migration to 5G, and promote the development of "5G plus medical health," "5G plus industrial internet" and "5G plus car networking," the MIIT said.
Syrian govt. forces, locals block US convoy in Hasakah, force it to turn back

Iran Press TV

Friday, 27 March 2020 3:15 PM

Local residents of a village in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah have in coordination with government forces prevented a US military convoy from attempting to pass through the community.

Syria's official news agency SANA reported that a US convoy of five armored vehicles was forced to turn around and head back in the direction on Friday afternoon it came from after locals of the village of Hamu and Syrian troops blocked the road and prevented its movement. No injuries were reported.

Two days ago, a US military convoy was forced to retreat from an area in the same province after government forces blocked its way and groups of angry local residents, upset with its presence in the region, threw stones at the American troopers.

SANA reported that Syrian army soldiers stopped the American convoy, consisting of 11 armored vehicles, as it tried to make its way through the village of Hamo in the al-Qamishli countryside of Hasakah province.

Locals then threw stones at the American convoy and forced them to retreat.

On March 8, government forces blocked a US military convoy of seven vehicles near the village of Kuzelia, which lies west of Tal Tamr town in the same Syrian province.

Local residents then pelted the American convoy with stones and cursed at the soldiers, forcing them to turn around and find another route.

On Wednesday, locals at Rumailan al-Basha village in the same Syrian region had hurled stones at US troops as their convoy sought to drive through the area.

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Kerala reported its first COVID-19 death on Saturday after a 69-year-old man being treated for the virus died at Ernakulam Medical College Hospital.

The man, hailing from Chullikkal in Ernakulam, was admitted to the isolation ward on March 22 after his return from Dubai, the government hospital said in a statement.

He was admitted with symptoms of pneumonia but later tested positive for coronavirus, it said.

He was also suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure and had undergone a bypass surgery earlier, the statement said.

His wife and the taxi driver who ferried him from the airport to his home upon his arrival on March 16, have tested positive for COVID-19 and were now being treated at the isolation facility at the hospital, it said.

State agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar told reporters in Kochi that 86 contacts of the man and taxi driver have been quarantined.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Health Minister K K Shailaja said the patient had been in a serious condition when he was admitted to the hospital.

"He had earlier undergone a bypass surgery and had high blood pressure. We tried our level best to save him but in vain," she said.

The minister said certain protocols to be followed by the family of the deceased were done.

His wife and daughter were allowed to see his body through a video call with the hospital before the body was wrapped up for the funeral.

District authorities had notified the mosque concerned and only a few people would be present for the ceremony, she said.

To a question, Shailaja said samples of the aged couple admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital had still not turned negative after repeat tests, though those of their family members have turned negative after testing positive earlier.

She said an aged foreigner, admitted to the Ernakulam Medical College Hospital, was in stable condition now.

"We have around three to four serious patients all across the state. The patients of Kasaragod are stable right now.

"We can only say that because complications may arise at any time", she said.
The fallout for Maduro from the Rosneft sale now, experts say, depends on the intentions of the new, Russian-state buyer. Should it shelve or sell off the Venezuelan investments, the move would sting Maduros government at a time when it is facing a convergence of crises.
Joann Rubino brought her cell phone outside to the balcony and swept the camera around for a neighborhood panorama. The sky blazed a brilliant blue, the apartment buildings an unmistakable burnt sienna.

But there wasnt a soul in sight. Its a beautiful spring day, but Im not leaving the house, Rubino, 63, said via Facebook from her Italian home.

On a typical day in Castel Morrone, a town of about 3,500 people an hours drive from Naples, Rubino might be strolling the streets, dropping in on friends and family, stopping at a bar for a coffee or at a pizzerialiving la dolce vita.

But these arent typical days in Italy. The coronavirus has infected more than 75,000 Italiansand claimed over 7,500 livesthe most in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Cases in the U.S. have surpassed Italy with over 86,000 reported; and more than 1,270 deaths.

Italy reported its first case of COVID-19 on Feb. 20. Three days later, the government quarantined a dozen towns. Now, the entire country of 60 million people is on lockdown.

At the end of February, they started to say theres a problem. Like everyone else, I was thinking the problems up there, near Milan. Then they started counting the sick: one person, 20 persons, 30 persons, 25,000. I dont even know how many there are now, said Rubino, a former New Havener who moved to Italy with her parents back in 1979.

Every day, she notes the casualties: 440 deaths one day, 647 the next and then 743. She watches on TV as the sick line up in overcrowded tents outside of overcrowded hospitals, where doctors decide who gets a bed and a respirator in the intensive care unit and who goes without.

So far, Castel Morrone has been spared. Rubino attributes this to her paesanis [fellow villagers] vigilance. In her little town, only three people at a time are allowed in the grocery store, the bakery, the pharmacy, the meat market. All the restaurants are closed, and theres no takeout. The Red Cross delivers groceries to shut-ins.

The mayor sends out videos. A recent one: Close your windows and doors for street sanitizing from 9 p.m. to midnight. The police stop passersby, demanding to know why they are out. Joggers are fined for endangering their neighbors. Do it twice and face prison time.

Rubino can walk her dogs, but only within 100 meters of her house, and then she dashes back to the home she shares with her partner, Vito Giordani, and two of their children. Other family members live a short walk away, but in-person visits are forbidden. The family recently celebrated Fathers Day, March 19, via video chat. Once a day Rubino calls her sister, who goes out on her own balcony to wave.

Ive never seen anything like this in my life, Rubino said. Its scary. Its like wartime, only you dont know where the enemy is or when he will strike.

In Rome, A Race For Faster Tests

About 125 miles north of Castel Morrone, in Rome, Beniamino Savo drives to work on eerily empty Roman roads. Savo, 41, is a biomedical engineer and quality control manager for Israeli tech company BATM, which is racing the clock to develop an at-home Covid-19 test kit.

As soon as Savo enters the medical manufacturing facility Adaltis, he dons an overcoat, gloves and maskall sent from Israel, as Italys supply has run dry. Every hour, the lab undergoes a deep clean.

When Covid-19 struck China, BATM obtained the virus molecular DNA sequence from Chinese colleagues. They identified the disease as a cousin to SARS and MERS, then joined with researchers from Romes Tor Vergata University to develop and manufacture a diagnostic kit. Savo and his colleagues were at work on the kit when he learned of the first cases in Italy.

Nothing happened for two weeks, and it looked like everything was under control, Savo said. Then in a few days, everything happened. The trouble is, many are asymptomatic. They think theyre fine, but they are infecting others.

At first, tests were readily available in Italy. If someone felt ill, they went to the doctor or the hospital for a swab, and six hours later theyd know the result. Now, though, doctors have stopped testing (and counting). Said Savo, They tell everyone with symptoms to assume they are infected, and to stay home and to quarantine themselves, unless things turn grave.

Tests have been harder to come by in the United States and elsewhere. To address this need, Savo and his colleagues work long days to hasten the approval on a test kit that BATM believes will be faster, cheaper and more accurate than others worldwide.

At the end of his 12-hour days, Savo takes every precaution to keep his family safe. When he arrives home he heads straight to a second bedroom, sheds his work clothes and takes a shower. Then he takes over for his wife Manuela, who is on maternity leave following the birth of baby Paolo and spends long days in the apartment trying to keep things interesting for her infant and her 5-year-old son, Andrea. Like her fellow Romans, Manuela Savo is not allowed to leave home unless absolutely necessary. The highlight of her day: at 6 p.m., she flings open the windows and joins her neighbors in an Italian folk song sing-along.

Covid-19 has changed even the most basic routines at the Savos. Like many Italians, Beniamino and Manuela shopped every day for the familys food. Not anymore. Only one family member is allowed to go shopping, and you cant enter with children, Beniamino Savo said. So, I go once a week. The line winds around the block and everything is empty.

Carol Leonetti Dannhauser is a freelance journalist whose paternal grandparents were born in Castel Morrone. Her grandfather and Joanns grandmother were siblings. Dannhauser first met Beniamino when he was 7 and she was in Italy reporting on a Sister Cities exchange trip. Their families have been friends ever since.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
Weeks into the coronavirus crisis, San Antonio officials still havent provided enough comprehensive information to the public to show just how serious the extent of the virus is here and how officials plan to handle a possible surge in patients.

Unlike other cities in Texas  and in the rest of the United States  San Antonians still dont know:

How many COVID-19 patients are on potentially life-saving ventilators.

How many are showing symptoms.

Where and when each patient was infected.

How the region would respond if a surge of patients overwhelmed hospitals.

It wasnt until Friday that officials started providing figures on how many people with the virus have been hospitalized, something other municipalities have been doing since their first cases weeks ago.

Turns out that of the 120 confirmed cases reported by Metro Health, 33 have been in the hospital, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at a briefing Friday evening.

When pressed for the information previously, a city spokeswoman said the city didnt track the data.

This is a public health emergency, said Joseph Larsen, a Texas-based First Amendment attorney. And this information is vital for the people to be able to respond to this crisis appropriately.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio has more than 100 coronavirus cases. The actual number is likely higher.

San Antonio officials have argued that releasing information  initially, they didnt even want to give an age range or whether the patient was male or female  would violate federal and state law, even though many other cities and counties dont agree.

The city points to a federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, that in part forbids public entities from releasing identifying information about individual patients.

First Amendment attorneys and media advocates have argued for years that government officials misuse the law and apply it to information not covered by the act.

City spokeswoman Laura Mayes cited a portion of the states Health and Safety Code that states reports, records, and information relating to cases or suspected cases of diseases or health conditions are not public information.

That statute applies to health authorities as well as state and local health departments, Larsen said  but not to the city.

This is exactly the sort of bureaucratic indifference that should make every American as mad as possible, Larsen said. What are they thinking? What can they possibly be thinking?

Heres what San Antonio officials have agreed to release to date:

The total number of cases in Bexar County, grouped by how many patients contracted the virus while traveling; through close contact with someone who has the virus; through an unknown source; and by how many cases are under investigation.

The total cases, broken down by sex.

The number of confirmed cases by age group, not specific ages.

How many tests have been conducted by Metro Health and how many of those turned up positive, negative or inconclusive. That figure does not include testing from local private labs.

When someone with the virus dies, the city has released the persons gender, the age range of that person and whether the person had any underlying health conditions.

So far, all five people who have died of complications from COVID-19 in Bexar County have been women between the ages of 40 and 89. Four had underlying health problems.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus cases keep climbing in San Antonio, nearby counties

Absent from San Antonios data is a laundry list of information that other jurisdictions  some smaller than San Antonio  have been able to provide to the public.

In New York, the U.S. epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, officials tell residents the number of cases by borough  Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.

The same goes for Los Angeles, which can track patients by neighborhood.

New York and Los Angeles both tell residents how many patients have been hospitalized.

Of the major Texas metros, Dallas County releases perhaps the most extensive information.

Officials there tell the public how many of those diagnosed with the disease have been hospitalized, put in intensive care and hooked up to ventilators.

They also break down the number of cases by cities within Dallas County and give more information about private testing.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has even tweeted maps showing coronavirus cases by ZIP code.

On Thursday, Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick showed City Council members a map with colored circles showing where in Bexar County cases have been found.

The map, which otherwise has not been made available to the public, indicated that cases are pretty evenly distributed across the county. But it didnt show which ones were the result of community spread or travel.

Such a map, Emerick told council members, wont be made available to the public until next week.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff disputed whether the public needs to know in what part of town residents who get the virus live.

You dont know where you picked it up, Wolff said at the Friday media briefing. In all likelihood, you dont know.

Harris County tells their residents the age range of each individual patient, their gender, what quadrant of the county they live in, how they were exposed to the virus and whether theyve recovered.

So far, no patient in Bexar County has recovered from the disease, according to information released by the city of San Antonio.

Lubbock releases facts similar to the ones Harris County does  even though they only have about a fifth of the cases San Antonio has.

Collin County, south of Dallas, also releases similar information but adds whether patients are hospitalized or self-isolated at home.

Comal County, just north of San Antonio, has been able to map where all nine residents who contracted the virus live.

Travis County tracks when patients started showing symptoms as well as age range and gender. But thats the extent of what officials there release.

Tarrant County only releases aggregate information showing patients by city and how many in each city got the disease through community transmission or travel.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Changes in federal testing protocols have made it difficult to provide more detailed information to the public, Nirenberg said.

The lack of data from private testing facilities also has hampered those efforts, he said. As part of an emergency order Nirenberg issued last week, private labs conducting COVID-19 tests now must turn over positive and negative results to the city. Those figures are necessary for officials to pinpoint the local infection rate.

But those labs hadnt complied with the order until this week, Nirenberg said.

As we go through the next week, as we get more data and the testing process has been solidified, youre going to see a lot more granular and detailed information about the testing results, Nirenberg said.

San Antonio doesnt track information about how many patients have been hooked up to ventilators, Mayes said in an email.

The city has tried to obtain that information from the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, which manages emergency services for Bexar and surrounding counties.

The council also would help coordinate the response to patients surges, where hospitals' capacities are exceeded.

STRAC's executive director, Eric Epley, has not responded to requests for that information.

Providing more details about how many patients have been hospitalized could prompt more people here to take the virus seriously, said Cherise Rohr-Allegrini, a local public health consultant specializing in epidemiology.

There is a reason to share that information, Rohr-Allegrini said.

Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
On most sites, youre not normally on top of one another, Courtien said. You pass stuff to each other, but you dont normally have a group of people standing together. Were concerned about the safety of our members, but theyre also concerned about losing their houses. We have to find a balance.
Baystate Medical Center is preparing for a swell in people needing treatment for coronavirus with a temporary Rapid Response Triage area directly outside the Emergency Department to accommodate anticipated patient care needs.

The structure will serve as an initial screening area to help identify those patients in most need.

Chair of the Emergency Medicine Department and Baystate Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine Niels Rathlev explains in the video how the new Rapid Response Triage will meet demands expected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[If] we think you are relatively stable and probably can eventually go home, then we will take care of you in this expanded facility, said Rathlev. If we think that you are quite ill, perhaps need to be admitted to the hospital. We will bring you inside for definitive care.

Baystate considered tents but saw the capacity was limited.

Although Baystate has created this new facility Rathlev advises people their first step should be to seek advice from their primary care doctor.

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The new CCP virus test produced by Abbott Laboratories in a file photo. (Abbott Laboratories)

FDA Approves Test for CCP Virus That Delivers Results in Under 15 Minutes

The Food and Drug Administration approved a test for the CCP virus that can deliver results in under 15 minutes.

Abbott Laboratories, a health care company based in Illinois, said its new test can deliver positive results in as little as 5 minutes and negative results in 13 minutes.

Apart from the rapid results, the test is important because it can be used outside hospitals in places such as doctors offices and urgent care clinics. The test runs on the companys ID NOW platform, a 6.6-pound box the size of a small toaster.

The test uses molecular testing to help detect the presence of a virus by identifying a small section of the viruss genome and amplifying that portion until theres enough for detection.

A 3D-printed CCP virus model in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Portable molecular testing expands the countrys capacity to get people answers faster, Chris Scoggins, senior vice president of rapid diagnostics at Abbott, said in a statement.

Abbott plans to produce 50,000 of the new tests per day, starting this week across the United States.

The device was given an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Over a dozen tests have received authorization from the FDA, and over 100 more labs have notified the agency that theyve begun testing under its policy for diagnostic tests, Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said on March 27.

A test from Cepheid approved early last week promised results in approximately 45 minutes.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former FDA commissioner, called Abbotts test a game-changer.

A medical worker walks out of a CCP virus testing tent at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City on March 27, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement on Twitter, Gottlieb said he believes approval of similar tests is coming that will extend testing to doctors offices across the nation.

Testing in the United States got off to a slow start when the only test approved for use, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, didnt work properly for many labs. The FDA started approving more in February.

U.S. officials said this week that the country tested more people in eight days than South Korea did in eight weeks. Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, told reporters that the country performed more than 685,000 tests as of March 27, an increase from 552,000 earlier in the week.

Testing is being done across all 50 states.

The widespread attempts to detect cases of the CCP virus are part of the overall effort to track the spread of the illness. According to current testing, more than 50 percent of cases are in the New York area.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 13:07:35|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's pledge to continue to share good practices and assist countries affected by COVID-19 has won applause from observers from cross the globe.

"China will be more than ready to share our good practices, conduct joint research and development of drugs and vaccines, and provide assistance where we can to countries hit by the growing outbreak," said Xi in a speech at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on Thursday.

"China's swift and determined steps to fight the coronavirus, as well as its efforts to help other countries by sending medical experts and protective materials, or organizing video conferences for medical experts, are excellent," said Christine Bierre, editor-in-chief of France's Nouvelle Solidarite magazine and an expert at Schiller France Institute.

Bierre said she hopes that other countries "will be able to adhere from their hearts" to this concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind."

China has generously shared its experience, technical and medical equipment and personnel with many countries to help them combat COVID-19, said Gerishon Ikiara, an economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the role China has been playing in the ongoing war against the coronavirus, Ikiara noted.

China is doing a good job and being responsible by offering useful reference and providing medical support to other countries, said Abdulaziz Alshaabani, Saudi journalist and researcher on China.

China has achieved a great deal in containing the epidemic at home, said Alshaabani, adding that "the experience is worth learning."

China has always been keen to provide information and details in fighting COVID-19 with the WHO, a practice praised by the organization on many occasions, said Awad Baqwer, former chairman of the Omani Journalists Association.

Baqwer said he also noticed that China has shared information and experience, and sent medical teams and aid to many countries.
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A private university has offered a large portion of its campus in North 24 Parganas district for setting up a 1,000-bed temporary emergency hospital to support the West Bengal government in its fight against COVID-19.

The campus can house at least 30 physicians along with their families and provide hostels to 600 nurses, the Chancellor of the Barasat-based Adamas University, Professor Samit Ray, said in a statement.

The campus infrastructure can be transformed into a hospital to admit and treat COVID-19 patients of North 24 Parganas district, he said.

The university campus is located approximately 30 km away from Kolkata.

Right now the situation is very critical. We all need to help the government either by providing finance or infrastructure. We are all ready to face the situation together, Ray added.

Earlier, city-based industrialist Harshavardhan Neotia offered 30 bungalows to the state government for the same purpose.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police began handing out 60 fines yesterday 24 hours after being given unprecedented powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown.

But as forces launched the crackdown, police chiefs admitted they risked losing public support by being seen as too heavy-handed.

National Police Chiefs Council chairman Martin Hewitt defended the use of roadblocks, helicopters and police drones to catch people out of their homes yesterday as he insisted: This is a national emergency, its not a national holiday and its important that people understand that.

A policeman pictured using a megaphone in Greenwich Park to instruct members of the pubic who aren't using the park to exercise to move on

Handpainted sign telling would-be walkers to stay at home is pictured above in Bamford, Derbyshire

The senior officer was forced to deny accusations that officers are behaving as though they are in a police state amid a growing row over the use of the new powers to curb the spread of the virus.

Under the new public health regulations, officers can issue fines or arrest anyone caught outside their home without a good reason or gathering in groups of more than two. Those who ignore the restrictions will be hit with a 60 fine initially, but repeat offenders could see the payments soar. Yesterday forces faced a backlash as there were astonishing scenes across the UK where police and local authorities implemented the lockdown.

Neath and Port Talbot Council in Wales was criticised after deploying a drone on a high street to tell people to go home.

It comes a day after Derbyshire Police was described as Orwellian after using a drone to spy on couples strolling in the hills and shame ramblers for walking their dogs in an isolated beauty spot in the Peak District.

Police pictured patrolling the promenade in Brighton and Hove. The lady is drinking champagne out of a flute

Policeman on a bike is pictured above after stopping a vehicle on Park Street, Bristol

Yesterday Scotland Yard fined a bakery owner 80 for criminal damage after putting chalk lines outside to keep her customers safe from coronavirus.

The officer told the woman that she had graffitied the pavement and if police failed to punish crimes like these there would be anarchy, adding: I cant help the law. Were fining people for congregating  is that wrong too?.

Elsewhere, a police officer in Perth, Scotland, was filmed shouting at a man claiming to have coronavirus you are killing people and threatened him with arrest if he didnt go home. Police moved to close tourist hotspots yesterday in a bid to prevent a repeat of last weekend when crowds were seen gathering on beaches and national parks.

Cumbria Police announced the Lake District is closed and anyone travelling there could expect to be stopped.

A man removes a police warning stuck onto his car near Mam Tor in the Peak District

Avon and Somerset Police conducted random vehicle checks in Bristol yesterday to ensure only essential journeys are being made. Downing Street backed police efforts, saying it would be left to the discretion of force chiefs on how emergency powers are imposed.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said: The overwhelming majority of people will fully understand the gravity of the situation we face and will voluntarily follow the Governments advice.

But former justice secretary David Gauke hit out at forces using police drones to criminalise dog walkers.

He tweeted: This is badly misjudged. People should maintain social distancing, which is what these people are doing.

Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick has appealed to retired Met officers to return to work to help cope with coronavirus in London.

Ex-constables and sergeants who left in the past five years are being offered paid or voluntary work.

The force also wants those nearing retirement to consider delaying their departure. Dame Cressida is writing to retired officers to ask them to re-join either on a full or part-time basis.

Those who retired at the rank of inspector or above are being asked to consider joining the special constabulary for at least 16 hours a month or they can volunteer in other roles.

Last week former Met chief Lord Stevens urged tens of thousands of ex-officers to help the country through the crisis.

Lawyers warned that the regulations were confusing and police were unlawfully trying to restrict people travelling to isolated spots to exercise.

Leading QC Matthew Ryder argued: They have no power to stop someone driving to an isolated scenic spot to exercise away from others (nor is there any logical reason why there should be). Yesterday police leader Martin Hewitt said he was worried about police maintaining public backing: We have to manage the fine balance between doing what is absolutely necessary in society if we are going to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection... but at the same time... not damaging the relationship between the police and the public.

He added: There is absolutely no intention to be heavy-handed but the message needs to be got across as well. He insisted: We are not an arm of the state, the police service is independent.

Two officers on horseback speak to a motorist in Tynemouth, North Tyneside

A yob kicks a postman's car in Brighstone, Isle of Wight, after the driver told them to go home due to the coronavirus outbreak

Sara Glen, deputy chief constable of Hampshire Police, accepted that forces may have sent out the wrong message: The message that has gone out is almost like you cant go outside and exercise and walk your dog. That is wrong.

Police chiefs are drawing up plans to bring in the military to bolster officer numbers if more are sick or in self-isolation. Up to a fifth of officers expected to be absent in the worst-case scenario would be backfilled by soldiers, Mr Hewitt said.

But he stressed: We are a very considerable way away from that situation at the moment.

Uniformed Home Office staff such as Border Force officers could also be drafted in, he suggested.

While Mr Hewitt warned domestic abuse, hate crimes and online scams relating to coronavirus are expected to rise. Fraudsters are impersonating police to cash in on the confusion over the coronavirus crackdown.

Yesterday Humberside Police reassured motorists that it is not stopping vehicles in relation to Covid-19 after a woman was pulled over by two men and ordered to pay 60 on the Leven bypass in East Yorkshire.
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(Bloomberg) --

President Donald Trumps consideration of a quarantine for metropolitan New York has drawn criticism from the states governor. Italian deaths exceed 10,000, a third of the worlds total.

Russia will shut its borders after a sharp rise in cases over a week. Japan is planning an unprecedented stimulus.

Hyatt will furlough two-thirds of its U.S. employees. France seeks to nearly triple hospital intensive care units.

Key Developments:

Cases near 650,000; 30,000 dead, 137,000 recovered: Johns HopkinsItalys Death Toll Tops 10,000N.Y.s Cuomo opposes quarantineRonaldo and his Juventus teammates get a pay cutRhode Island self-quarantines out-of-state visitorsPentagon to buy 8,000 ventilators

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloombergs Prognosis team here.

Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus and here for maps and charts. For analysis of the impact from Bloomberg Economics, click here. For BNEFs view of the impact on energy, click here.

Italys Juventus in Deal to Cut Salaries (4:40 p.m. NY)

Juventus Football Club SpA, home to star player Cristiano Ronaldo, agreed with its players and coach Maurizio Sarri to reduce compensation as the outbreak forced Italys Serie A and other leagues to halt games.

The team owned by the Agnelli family will cut players salaries by an amount equal to the monthly wages of March, April, May and June, the company said in a statement. A spokesman for Juventus confirmed the measure applies to Ronaldo and all team players.

Juventus will save about 90 million euros ($100 million) for the 2019-2020 financial year.

Read more here

Pentagon to Buy 8,000 Ventilators (4:25 p.m. NY)

The Pentagons logistics agency will spend $84.4 million to buy 8,000 ventilators from four vendors, with an initial 1,400 delivered by early May. The announcement didnt name the companies involved.

The Pentagon is adjusting about 1,500 contracts to raise the progress payments to 90% from 80% for large businesses, and to 95% from 90% for small businesses.

Story continues

This will provide immediate cash flow to industry, especially small businesses in the supply chain, once incorporated into the contract, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews said in a statement.

Hyatt Furloughs Two Thirds of Workers (4:10 p.m. NY)

Hyatt Hotels Corp. will furlough or significantly reduce the schedules of two-thirds of its U.S. corporate employees as the company cuts costs as hotel revenue plunges.

The steps begin April 1 and continue through the end of May and affect employees in other regions, said a company spokesman. Hyatt will fund health insurance premiums for the workers, and employees who arent sent home will take temporary pay cuts.

Hyatt Chief Executive Officer Mark Hoplamazian and Chairman Tom Pritzker arent taking salaries, the spokesman said. The companys senior leadership team is taking a 50% pay cut.

Read more here

Kansas Orders Statewide Lockdown (4 p.m. NY)

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly ordered people to stay at home in most cases amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying state action is needed to resolve a patchwork approach taken by local health departments.

Kellys executive order that takes effect March 30 and runs through April 19. As of Saturday, the state had 261 cases of Covid-19, and five deaths.

The patchwork approach that has developed is inconsistent and is a recipe for chaos and, ultimately, for failure in our statewide fight, the governor said in a statement.

France Seeks to Triple ICUs (3:30 p.m. NY)

France is working to nearly triple the number of hospital intensive care units as eastern regions and Paris face shortages of beds for the most serious cases, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Health Minister Olivier Veran said Saturday during a press conference. The country has a total of 37,575 cases and 2,314 deaths.

Veran and Philippe warned of possible shortages of some medications and equipment used for rapid diagnostic tests in the coming weeks and said authorities have ordered 1,000 ventilators from French manufacturer Air Liquide SA, as well as 5 million rapid diagnostic tests.

Germany Ties Aid to Pay Cuts (3:15 pm. NY)

The German government may demand pay and bonus cuts for senior managers of companies that tap financial aid in the coronavirus crisis, Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier said.

Its important to me that management boards and senior executives contribute in emergencies, especially with respect to bonus payments, Altmaier told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

After the virus impact subsides, Germany will require an economic fitness program that includes boosting the competitiveness of industries including biotech, steel and cars, Altmaier told the Sunday newspaper.

Cuomo Opposes Trump Quarantine (2:44 p.m. NY)

Governor Andrew Cuomo said he opposed President Donald Trumps idea to quarantine the New York metropolitan area, now the epicenter in the U.S., describing it as a scary concept.

Cuomo said he had spoken with Trump earlier Saturday but that they didnt discuss a quarantine.

Cuomo said that New York states deaths from coronavirus soared on Saturday to 728, from 519, still by far the most in the U.S. The total number of cases rose to 52,318, up 7,681 overnight, he said.

In Florida, Governor Ron Desantis said he discussed the quarantine with Trump, telling reporters whatever we need to do to reduce the spread. He said it is bad policy to have people leave New York with many infections and head to states such as Florida.

Read full story here

FDA to Work at Home Past Trumps Easter Goal (3 p.m. NY)

The Food and Drug Administration told most employees to expect to work from home through at least May 1, rejecting the presidents goal of reopening the country by Easter Sunday. The health and well-being of our FDA family continues to be our focus as the Covid-19 pandemic evolves, James Sigg, chief operating officer, wrote Thursday in an email obtained by Bloomberg.

Trump softened his stance Saturday on the Easter goal. Well see what happens, he said.

Read the full story here

Italian Deaths Exceeds 10,000 (2:30 p.m. NY)

Italys coronavirus death toll topped 10,000 even as the daily total slowed to 889 from a record 969 on Friday. The nation reported 5,974 new infections, about the same as the previous day.

Italy, which has the pandemics highest death toll, is set to extend drastic containment measures until mid-April and will more than double the financial stimulus for its paralyzed economy. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and French President Emmanuel Macron are advocating a joint European Union response, exposing an EU rift dating back to the euro-area debt crisis.

Turkey Limits Flights, Crowds (1:55 p.m. NY)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan further restricted movement and banned large gatherings, saying in a televised speech that everyone must observe a voluntary quarantine or face more stringent controls.

Erdogan said all flights abroad are suspended and intercity travel is banned unless officially authorized. Some public areas such as picnic spots will be closed during weekends and large groups wont be allowed in on weekdays.

Bilal Eksi, the chief executive officer of Turkish Airlines, said on Twitter that domestic flights would be limited to between 14 cities starting on Sunday, down from 42 domestic destinations usually.

Rhode Island Shuts Retail (1:45 p.m. NY)

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo ordered out-of-state visitors to self-quarantine, shut all non-essential business from Monday until April 13, and limited public gatherings to no more than five people.

Raimondo on Saturday reported the states first two deaths from Covid-19.

Read full story here

HHS Warns Against Discrimination (1:30 p.m. NY)

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department is reminding health care workers that they must not discriminate against patients because of their age or disability when deciding how to allocate scarce resources.

We are not a society governed by utilitarianism, Roger Severino, director of HHSs civil rights office, said on a call with reporters.

The agencys guidance left unclear exactly how health workers should decide who gets lifesaving treatment. HHS said that choices should be based on an individualized assessment of a patient based on the best available objective medical evidence, and that it has already received civil-rights complaints that it plans to investigate.

U.S. Mulls Metro NYC Quarantine (12:23 p.m. NY)

President Trump said hes considering an enforced quarantine in areas of New York and New Jersey to curb the outbreak.

Trump told reporters he had spoken with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo before departing the White House to send off a Navy hospital ship bound for New York City from Norfolk, Virginia.

The president said hed rather not impose such a quarantine but that the country may need it. Asked about his ambition to urge many Americans to return to work by the Easter holiday on April 12, Trump said well see what happens.

New York and New Jersey have more than half the U.S. Covid-19 cases.

Michigan Cases Top U.S. Rate (12:05 p.m. NY)

Michigan is becoming the next U.S. coronavirus hotspot, registering new cases at more than triple the national rate. The state had 3,657 cases as of Friday -- versus zero just over two weeks ago -- and now ranks fifth in the nation. At least 92 people have died.

Impoverished Detroit and surrounding Wayne County made up half the state total. Suburban Oakland County, home for thousands of white-collar auto jobs, had 23% of cases.

Other Midwestern cities posted sharp increases. Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago, saw cases rise from 413 at the end of last week to more than 1,900 Friday, according to the University of Chicago. The county accounts for three-quarters of the state total. Outbreaks in Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee also accelerated. Cases in Nashvilles Davidson County quadrupled in a week, as did those in Orleans Parish, Louisiana.

Read the full story here

Serbia Expands Mandatory Isolation (11:55 a.m. NY)

Serbia doubled the mandatory isolation period for people returning from abroad to 28 days and extended the weekend curfew by two hours as total infections jumped the most in a day on Saturday. The biggest former Yugoslav republic reported 131 new cases, bringing the total to 659. Ten people have died and about as many are in critical condition, Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar said.

Russia to Shut Borders (11:40 a.m. NY)

Russia will temporarily shut its borders starting March 30 after a sharp increase in infections in the past week. on Saturday, health officials reported 228 new cases overnight, bringing the total to 1,264, with four deaths.

Moscows mayor shut all non-essential business on Saturday and recommended everyone stay home. The government halted international flights on Friday and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called on regions to close most businesses.

Read the story here

U.K. Has Most Deaths in a Day (10:30 a.m. NY)

Fatalities jumped by 260, to 1,019, as of late Friday, the Department of Health and Social Care reported. There were 17,089 confirmed cases Saturday, up from 14,543 a day earlier. The government is expanding testing for hospital staff and building new facilities near London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Portugal Deaths Rise (10:20 a.m. NY)

Portugals cases rose 20% in one day and deaths climbed to 100 from 76, a fraction of the fatalities in neighboring European nations.

Deaths so far indicate a fatality rate of 1.9%, but 7.9% for those more than 70 years old, Health Minister Marta Temido said in Lisbon. The peak of infections may occur at the end of May, based on current data, she said. This indicates that the containment measures that weve adopted, namely that people stay at home except to go to work, are being effective, Temido said.

Trump Clears State Funding (9:15 a.m. NY)

President Trump approved disaster declarations for Michigan and Massachusetts on Friday. He has approved declarations for more than a dozen states, making them eligible for certain federal funding.

Earlier, Trump complained that Gretchen Whitmer, Michigans Democratic governor, as well as her counterpart in Washington, dont appreciate his administrations efforts to combat the coronavirus epidemic, and said Vice President Mike Pence shouldnt take their calls.

(Added link to Juventus story in bullet and item)

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A man was arrested Friday on suspicion of obstructing business after he allegedly delayed a domestic flight in Japan on Thursday immediately before takeoff by telling cabin crew he was infected with the novel coronavirus.

Norihiro Kojima, 69, is suspected of delaying a Jetstar Japan flight scheduled to depart from Narita airport for over an hour and interfering with the business of the low-cost carrier after he told cabin crew around 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, "I have tested positive (for the virus) but it is okay."

It remains unknown whether he was really infected with the virus. Kojima, who lives in Toon, Ehime Prefecture, has denied he made such a statement, according to the police.

There were 114 people including cabin crew aboard the flight bound for Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture. Following his remark, cabin crew alerted the captain who returned the aircraft to the airport apron, where Kojima was made to get off, the police said.
Berejiklian's action is a rejection of the argument that the federal government has been making for two months  that the tests were unreliable and therefore shouldn't be used. "We can't rely on the federal government to do its job so we have to do their job for them," says a senior NSW Liberal. "Since when did border control become a state responsibility? Since when did NSW Health officials man our borders? It's a Border Force responsibility." Temperature tests on all overseas arrivals "were reliable in South Korea, they were reliable in Singapore, they were reliable in Hong Kong and they were reliable in Taiwan  why would we be any different?" Morrison ministers argue privately that the sheer volume of overseas arrivals made fever checks impracticable when numbers were running at 30,000 or more a day nationwide. Now that they've fallen to 7000, the tests had become more workable, they said. Airports are a federal jurisdiction. But state officials were aghast at footage of the arrivals hall at Sydney's international terminal on Thursday. Densely packed groups of travellers queued without any attempt at distancing and struggled with each other to get luggage. It was too much for the NSW government.

"The one thing the federal Libs are supposed to be good at  border control  they've failed," said a fuming NSW Liberal MP. Separately, a Victorian Liberal agreed: "People have just been pouring across the border with no checks and only token screening," he said. "Until recently they hadn't even been given any information." Loading Governments, NSW and federal, had already blamed each other for the blunder of allowing the Ruby Princess cruise ship to disgorge its infected passengers in Sydney. About 5 per cent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW disembarked among them. Sydney blamed Border Force for the decision to let them ashore; Border Force said health checks were a state responsibility. Another vote of no confidence in federal border controls was lodged in Perth. Western Australia's Premier, Mark McGowan, announced this week that Australian residents arriving by cruise ship would be put into compulsory quarantine for 14 days on resort island of Rottnest, just offshore. McGowan wasn't about to trust Border Force. The culmination of all this came on Friday when Morrison agreed to a serious tightening of controls on all overseas arrivals nationwide. He announced that all would be put into compulsory quarantine immediately on arrival, from midnight on Saturday, in the city of their arrival, not necessarily their home towns.

Patience with Morrison has worn especially thin on Spring Street as well as Macquarie Street. It was Victoria's government that first broke ranks on school policy. Premier Daniel Andrews closed Victorian schools from Tuesday in defiance of Morrison's position. The Prime Minister on Friday relented further on schools, saying that each state would now make its own decision. His hand had been forced by the states. A Berejiklian ally says: "Daniel Andrews and Gladys are working hand in glove. They are trying to lead the rest of the country." That's despite the fact that the Andrews government is Labor. "They can see a tsunami of virus cases coming at them and they've set politics aside." The premiers worry that Morrison has put the economy above health care, moving too slowly to control the disease, allowing the virus to flourish while protracting the ultimate economic pain. Morrison hinted at this tension at his Friday press conference: "Those who often are pushing for greater restrictions, they will keep their job. I am not going to be so cavalier about it. I will make sure I fight for every job I can." Hospitals are run by the states; the premiers fear the intensive care system is about to be overrun with severe COVID-19 cases.

Federal leaders are frustrated with the states, too. "Premiers," said one Morrison cabinet minister, "are panicking." Loading Federal ministers argue that new controls imposed this week are starting to have a measurable effect. The evidence? Morrison pointed to a dramatic fall in the number of people out and about in Melbourne and Sydney  a fall of two-thirds in a week. And ministers pointed to the number of new infections. The rolling average three-day rate of new coronavirus cases was up by 21 per cent to Thursday night, but the numbers reported for Thursday itself showed a daily increase of 14 per cent. "The curve is flattening," concluded a federal minister. "Our measures are starting to have an effect." National unity has fractured on two other levels. One is at the national political level. Until now, federal Labor has been constructive and co-operative. Its help was essential in allowing the Parliament to pass the $84 billion economic support bills in a single day this week.

But Labor leader Anthony Albanese was unimpressed with some of the Morrison government's antics. Undertakings made and not honoured. Labor will continue to be constructive in its approach to the crisis. But the government can expect it to be much more vocal in objecting to government policy, and more insistent in proposing alternatives. Loading Labor, for instance, is pushing the government to do what Britain, New Zealand and a raft of other countries are doing  pay wage subsidies to employers. This is a key incentive to keep people employed. It is a very good idea that Morrison and Josh Frydenberg need to implement. The cost  social, economic and political  of the coming wave of unemployment will be monstrous otherwise. Morrison's objection is that it would require new delivery mechanisms. This is an excuse, not a reason. Employers need incentives to keep workers employed until the virus passes. This is the best way. Labor, like most of the premiers, also thinks Morrison needs to move more swiftly to a total lockdown of people's movements to halt the virus. "We say you have to put health first or the economic cost and the health costs will be higher," says Albanese.

The third level on which national unity has collapsed is on the health advice. Already under strain, expert support for the government's policy choices all but collapsed this week. Outside the government's own official medical committee, the weight of medical opinion is now converging on the need to move to a sweeping lockdown. Loading And it just so happens that as unity fractures at all three levels  federal with state leaders, federal Labor with Liberal, and any sort of consensus of medical opinion  it is all shifting in the same direction. The premiers, federal Labor and the preponderance of medical opinion are coalescing around the idea that Australia should give urgent priority to a national lockdown of people's movements to stop the epidemic's spread. The Morrison government is increasingly isolated. If Morrison is fully convinced, on the basis of hard evidence, that he is on the right course, he needs to persuade the rest of the country. If he isn't, he needs to move. And quickly.
Irans Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi said a growing number of countries and international organizations are calling for an end to the cruel anti-Iran sanctions that are hampering the countrys efforts to contain the coronavirus, Tasnim news agency reported.

Speaking to Iranian reporters in New York on Friday, Takht Ravanchi said the issue of need for ending the embargoes is being raised more and more in the US itself and globally.

The UN Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and senior officials of various countries have spoken out against the bans, he noted, adding that all of them have stressed that the unilateral embargoes against Iran must end.

It is becoming more and more obvious that the policy of sanctions is a failed policy and those advocating it are being isolated, the envoy stated.

He further said that when a country is illegally, unfairly and unjustly prevented from using all its capacities to confront the infectious disease, it is not that country alone that would be harmed but the entire international community would be affected.
Three women from two different parts of West Bengal on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19, taking to 18 the total number of people suffering from the disease in the state, a senior official of the state health department said.

Two women, aged 76 and 56 years, are residents of Egra in south Bengal's East Midnapore district while the third, a 54-year-old, is from Kalimpong in Darjeeling district of north Bengal.

Neither of the two women from Egra have recently travelled abroad or to any other state, the official said, adding that it was being ascertained whether the third woman had any recent travel history.

The two women from East Midnapore district are relatives of an elderly man from Nayabad, who also tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, he said.

They had attended a wedding ceremony in Egra where the elderly man was also present. They were at present kept at an isolation ward of a hospital in Egra.

"We have come to know that some foreign returnees had attended the wedding ceremony. That means the contamination happened from the people who came from abroad," he said.

The two women may be brought to Kolkata on Sunday.

Though details about the third woman from Kalimpong were not revealed by health department officials, it was learnt that she was kept in quarantine at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, the health condition of the 66-year-old man, who had earlier tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on ventilator support, was stated to be "very critical" at the private hospital here where he is undergoing treatment.

His family members, including a six-year-old granddaughter, have been kept under quarantine at another state-run hospital in the city.

On Saturday morning, health officials brought five members of a family including a nine-month-old baby to the city's Beliaghata ID hospital from a sub-divisional hospital in Nadia district. They tested positive on Friday.

Eight other persons, who came in contact with these five, were also brought to the city from Tehatta and kept at the quarantine centre in Rajarhat, the official added.

The health officials also began a search in Tehatta for all those who came in contact with these five coronavirus-infected people who also included two children.

"We got in touch with the Railways and asked them to give us details of the passengers who travelled in the adjoining bogeys of the Rajdhani Express on which they travelled recently from New Delhi to Kolkata," the official said.

District health officials are also looking for their co-passengers in an e-rickshaw and the domestic help working at their home in Tehatta, he added.

"We are trying to spot everyone who came in contact with these people who had held the baby and played with the children. We are also talking to the local people to find out which shops they had visited," the official added.

The state has reported 18 COVID-19 cases so far, of which one died.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at the daily coronavirus briefing on Friday.

Governor: Mass. Residents Can Check for Risk Factors on Web Site

BOSTON  Continuing and expanding on a campaign to promote telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday announced a new partnership between the commonwealth and Massachusetts-based web service Buoyhealth.com to help residents determine the kind of medical attention they may need.

The online tool developed by Buoy Health allows users to enter information about symptoms they may be feeling and directs them to resources that are available to them, like testing for the novel coronavirus, if it is recommended.

The service, which is free to Massachusetts residents, starts by asking a series of questions for a risk assessment.

"When a user screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms or risk factors, they'll be directed to the most appropriate resources for their answers," Baker said. "Those resources include a portal linked up with their health insurance provider to talk over the phone or through video chat with a health care provider, right away.

"This is not to be used in the place of emergency medical care. Instead, it's a tool everyone can use to get more information about their health and get connected quickly to the people they need to talk to to get the best guidance and advice about what to do next."

Baker has been holding daily press briefings in Boston since the pandemic began hitting home in Massachusetts last week.

Friday's news conference included an announcement that the governor and legislative leaders reached an agreement to push the state's income tax filing deadline to July 15 and a call for anyone entering the commonwealth from other states to self-quarantine for 14 days once they arrive in Massachusetts.

And as he has done repeatedly the last couple of weeks, Baker reiterated that the commonwealth has made telehealth a defined benefit under health insurance plans in Massachusetts.

He also gave Buoy Health co-founder Andrew Le, a graduate of Harvard's Medical School, a chance to talk about the online tool he helped create.

"As a local business here in Boston, our team is eager to help residents in our home state," Le said. "We were founded to help people figure out what to do when they're sick and injured. That mission has never been more relevant than it is today.

"We started the company in 2013. We read thousands of clinical papers to teach the program. That took us four years. We launched to the public in 2017 and have 7.5 million users on Buoy and see a new person every 13 seconds. Every single time someone uses the program, we learn a little more about how each individual is different."

Baker and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders talked about some of the other initiatives the administration is taking to address the public health crisis.

 The most visible move for many will be a campaign to present every person arriving at Logan Airport, Worcester Regional Airport or Boston's South Station with a pamphlet instructing them to exercise a self-quarantine. The pamphlets also will be available at rest areas on the Mass Pike and other vehicular points of entry, Baker said.

"I am asking all visitors arriving in Massachusetts to comply with this," Baker said. "Furthermore, I am asking that folks considering travel to Massachusetts for whatever reason do not travel to our communities, especially if you have symptoms."

Baker prefaced his announcement of the self-quarantine advisory by referencing a recent White House advisory that anyone leaving New York or who has traveled through New York City should isolate themselves for 14 days.

 Sudders and Baker announced new emergency orders that will expand the prescribing privileges of advanced practice registered nurses and issue 90-day emergency licenses to recent medical school graduates.

 Baker said the administration is cutting red tape to make it easier for medical professionals to work at different hospitals and cross state lines to work in Massachusetts and has eased the path for retired doctors who want to temporarily return to practice.

On the economic side of the crisis, Baker said the agreement between the legislature and executive branches will bring Massachusetts in line with a previously announced federal move to a July 15 deadline for filing and paying personal income taxes.

"The change will provide taxpayers with significant relief at a very uncertain time" Baker said. "We look forward to working with the legislature to get this enacted."

Toward the end of Friday's news conference, Baker was asked if he thought President Trump's stated goal of "reopening the country by Easter" was realistic in Massachusetts.

"I think the guidance we're getting from the advisory committee set up by the [COVID-19 Response] Command Center and Secretary Sudders and health care providers  is that, no, we're not going to be up and running by Easter [April 12], no," Baker said.
Egypt has prepared 27 hospitals in 27 governorates to treat coronavirus cases but so far has used six with an occupancy rate not exceeding 50 to 60 percent, Zayed said

Egypt did not reach the peak in coronavirus infection curve and did not need to use its full medical capacity as the critical sixth week of the outbreak ended, health minister Hala Zayed stated.

Friday was the last day of Egypts sixth week in the coronavirus outbreak which, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), was the most critical for many countries, Zayed told MBC Masr satellite Channel over the phone.

Until Friday, 536 cases and 30 deaths were recorded in Egypt since the first case was confirmed on 14 February.

More than 70 percent of the cases detected lately were contacts of previous cases. Other cases tested positive after arriving from abroad and being in home isolation, Zayed said.

With 30 deaths, the fatality rate is 5.5 percent... 11 patients had died before reaching isolation hospitals.

Zayed asserted that the infected cases who died outside isolation hospitals were either in private hospitals and were not properly diagnosed, or were brought in too late and died before the test results appeared.

She added the WHO had said that in case a country doesnt follow preventive measures, the peak may be reached by the sixth or seventh week.

This is the last day of the sixth week since the virus was detected in Egypt, the seventh starts on Saturday. The outbreak in China, Japan, and Singapore took place in tandem, but it was only the former that witnessed a peak."

According to the health minister, Egypts curve and trends are similar to those of Japan and Singapore.

On the countrys preparations to confront the virus, the minister said that fever hospitals and central labs are the access points for coronavirus cases.

To facilitate the procedures we have increased test laboratories from one central lab in Cairo to 23, and will encompass all the 27 health directorates by mid-week.

The whole world is suffering an acute shortage in protective equipment (masks, gloves, and gears), ventilators and beds. In Egypt, we have our purchase methods by which we make available the protective equipment.

Zayed said that Egypt has a sufficient number of IC beds and ventilators and is being supplied with more.

For phase two of the pandemic, which we are in, we have planned to work in 27 hospitals in 27 governorates. However, so far we only needed six hospitals with an occupancy rate that doesnt exceed 50 to 60 percent.

Only five to 10 percent of the cases need ventilators. Countries face a crisis in ventilators if they encounter a sudden outbreak.

On the availability of PCR tests, Zayed stressed that tests should only be performed on contacts of positive cases and people who have returned from countries that have an outbreak, according to epidemiology rules."

She added that Egypts 536 cases were detected after 20,000 people were tested.

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While the supply of raw materials from China is recovering after a month of suspension, textile and garment businesses find that they have moved out of the frying pan into the fire as the COVID-19 pandemic

rolling over the globe has forced the cancellation of all orders from the European Union and the United States.

No end to woes of local textile and garment industry

Since the middle of March, China is step by step bringing the epidemic under control and is reviving production  and with it trade with Vietnam. 600-800 containers go through customs clearance between the two countries a day, which provides a significant supply of raw materials for local production.

However, while the chokehold on raw material supply is lifted, other difficulties are coming. According to the Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK) in Ho Chi Minh City, the country's biggest export market for textile and garment products  the US  has just announced halting garment product imports from Vietnam for three weeks. Earlier, importers in the EU also informed local partners of a cessation in receiving textile and garment products in the next one month.

Enveloped by challenges

Viet Thang Jean Co., Ltd. (VITAJEAN) is in a tough spot because a lot of its partners in the EU and the US have suspended imports. Company chairman Pham Van Viet confirmed that they received notices to temporarily stop imports to the EU from March 13 and to the US from March 18.

The interruption could last for at least two months because the pandemic has yet to reach its peak. When the pandemic passes its peak and EU countries can contain its spread, the production and business activities will recover and exports will be restarted, VITAJEAN chairman said.

Fashion items to the US make up 30-35 per cent of the company's export turnover, while the EU accounts for 20 per cent and Japan and South Korea capture 40 per cent. Of its main markets, South Korea, the US, and the EU have seen disruptions. The company still maintains exports to Japan, although the number of cancelled orders still reaches 50 per cent in this market.

South Korea did not close its borders, but they have stopped receiving goods for the last three weeks. Fashion products are seasonable, we had bought the materials and the fabric six months ago. Cancelling these orders means our material and fabric will have to be saved until next summer (2021) and half of them will have to be sold, he added.

In the same situation, Cecile Le Pham, general director of international garment manufacturer Dacotex Group, said that businesses in this sector will face more difficulties because most of the orders in the last two months have been cancelled.

Due to the health crisis, partners delayed many orders to next year. It makes us extremely worried, as we have just finished preparations to restart production because materials and raw materials have just arrived, she said.

On March 18, Dacotex has taken over the latest shipment of imported fabrics, ready for cutting and export to Denmark at the end of March, but the plan has been put off.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) forecast that the export volume to the EU in the first and second quarters will be reduced by 6-8 per cent if the pandemic lasts until June. The EU is the second-largest export market of Vietnam with a two-way trade turnover at $56.4 billion in 2019, with Vietnamese exports to the EU contributing more than $41 billion of this.

Finding new ways

Faced with these challenges, businesses have to move to survive  and there are still a few good news for businesses. A footwear producer said that in addition to cancelled orders from the US, businesses in Japan and EU partners still maintain orders without any cancellation or delay.

Despite the abundant difficulties, several firms like Dong Xuan Knitting Company (Doximex) still managed to find opportunities and maintain operations. Tran Viet, general director of Doximex, said that the company has a closed production line, including making knitted fabric. Besides, 90 per cent of its orders go to the Japanese market, so Doximex's operations have not been disrupted to the degree as other players. Its revenue still increased thanks to manufacturing cloth masks and supplying fabrics to other firms.

Doximex is one of the few businesses that were not impacted by the global crisis because fortunately our orders were not cut, although Japan is going into great lengths to control the pandemic. Over the last two months, some sewing lines that had been producing for exports were transferred to sewing masks for the domestic and overseas markets," said Viet.

Beset by challenges, businesses can find the silver lining if they adopt a flexible approach to seize opportunities. VIR

Nguyen Huong

VN garment-textile group to ask for permission to export anti-virus products Vietnam National Garment and Textile Group (Vinatex) will ask for the Governments permission to export anti-virus products as a measure to overcome difficulties caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This week, as cities and states began locking down, stock markets tumbled and jobless claims hit record levels, Mr. Trump again played down the impact of the pandemic and said, with no evidence and contrary to available research, that a recession would be deadlier than the coronavirus.

Overstating potential treatments and policies

The president has also dispensed a steady stream of optimism when discussing countermeasures against the virus.

From later February to early March, Mr. Trump repeatedly promised that a vaccine would be available relatively soon despite being told by public health officials and pharmaceutical executives that the process would take 12 to 18 months. Later, he promoted treatments that were still unproven against the virus, and suggested that they were approved and available though they were not.

Outside of medical interventions, Mr. Trump has exaggerated his own policies and the contributions of the private sector in fighting the outbreak. For example, he imprecisely described a website developed by a company affiliated with Google, wrongly said that insurers were covering the cost of treatment for Covid-19 when they only agreed to waive co-payments for testing, and prematurely declared that automakers were making ventilators right now.

Often, he has touted his complete shut down or closing of the United States to visitors from affected countries (in some cases leading to confusion and chaos). But the restrictions he has imposed on travel from China, Iran and 26 countries in Europe do not amount to a ban or closure of the borders. Those restrictions do not apply to American citizens, permanent residents, their immediate families, or flight crews.

Not only were these restrictions total and absolute in Mr. Trumps telling, they were also imposed on China against the advice of a lot of professionals, and we turned out to be right. His health and human services secretary, however, has previously said that the restrictions were imposed on the recommendations of career health officials. The Times has also reported that Mr. Trump was skeptical before deciding to back the restrictions at the urging of some aides.

Blaming others

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent test kits to states in February, some of which were flawed and produced inconclusive readings. Problems continued to grow as scientists and state officials warned about restrictions on who could be tested and the availability of tests overall. Facing criticism over testing and medical supplies, Mr. Trump instead shifted responsibility to a variety of others.
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Vaccine kits. Silver Solution treatment. Even coronavirus-fighting toothpaste.

The swindles have begun. As Americans struggle to cope with the spread of COVID-19, they will also need to brace themselves for disaster fraudthose cons that rely on post-catastrophe chaos to separate people from their money.

In late Marchtwo months after the first case was confirmed in the U.S.the Justice Department filed its first enforcement action on the issue, seeking a restraining order in Austin, Texas, against a website peddling non-existent World Health Organization vaccine kits. A federal judge ordered that public access to the site be blocked.

Indeed, fraud is now a central part of the U.S. governments response to the pandemic. This month, the Justice Department ordered U.S. attorneys across the country to prioritize the issue and to each appoint a coronavirus fraud coordinator, spurring announcements of legal crackdowns from Vermont to Louisiana.

Theyre using peoples fears, anxiety, and confusion about whats going on, said Federal Trade Commission consumer education specialist Colleen Tressler of the fraudsters. Things are changing daily, if not more frequently. People are getting things from a variety of sources.

Earlier in March, the FTC and the Food and Drug Administration issued joint warnings to seven companies selling products they claimed could treat or prevent COVID-19. Among them was The Jim Bakker Show, hosted by the disgraced televangelist, which had advertised a colloidal silver called Silver Solution. Already the target of a lawsuit from the state of Missouri and a cease-and-desist letter from the New York attorney generals office, Bakker was forced to stop selling the product on his website and Facebook page.

New Yorks attorney general also issued a cease-and-desist to rightwing conspiracist Alex Jones, who was selling so-called anti-coronavirus toothpaste on his radio show and website, Infowars.

Schemes have proliferated so quickly that the Federal Trade Commission even released a tongue-in-cheek #FTCScamBingo card, on which you can play along by marking off common scams like Treat COVID-19, Get COVID-19 test kit, and A COVID-19 cure!

Disaster fraud is a phenomenon that reliably crops up every time a natural or man-made crisis strikesand, say fraud experts, tends to fall into several major categories.

There are fake charitable solicitations, which tend to arise in the early stages of recovery. In the days after 9/11, dozens of websites cropped up claiming to take donations for victims, only to keep the money. This sort of fraud has become even more prevalent with crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, said Jason Zirkle, a training director with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Identity theft is also common, as victims and workers struggle to understand who to give their information to for aid programs in the midst of chaos. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, two men posing as Salvation Army workers obtained the personal data of more than 2,500 police officers, FBI agents and firefighters, after promising them debit vouchers worth up to $5,000.

Disaster fraud also arises with contractors and vendors, in which companies hired by federal agencies for cleanup and rebuilding try to tip the scales for more profit. Following the 2017 wildfires in Californias wine country, hauling companies that had won a $1.3 billion cleanup contract were paid by the ton of debris they moved. Homeowners began complaining that the haulers were digging up too much, even claiming theyd destroyed driveways, sidewalks and retaining walls in good condition.

Another common type of disaster fraud involves false property insurance claims. Following a different California wildfire, the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people and destroyed more than 13,900 homes, a federal jury indicted six people who falsely claimed Paradise properties as their primary residences, receiving thousands in benefits and, in some cases, FEMA trailers to live in.

The chaos that unfolded after Hurricane Katrina provided what would be the major turning point in how the United States deals with disaster fraud. Katrina, said Zirkle, was just so massive, it just caused an unprecedented amount of property damagethe foundation for many types of disaster fraud.

That same year, the National Center for Disaster Fraud was established, prosecuting 1,300 Katrina-related fraud cases spanning 49 states. Since then, the centers mandate has expanded to cover fraud related to any and all natural and manmade disasters. It hosts a hotline and relies largely, like most efforts to track and prosecute disaster fraud, on tips from the public.

When we see a collection of complaints coming in, maybe about a particular business or practice, thats when we start to take action, said Tressler of the FTC.

Tennesseans, dealing this year with overlapping tornado and coronavirus disasters, are on especially high alert for scams that run the gamut from contractor fraud to price-gouging on hand sanitizer, says the states attorney generals office.

In September 2019, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs moved into the office of the state attorney generals office. The idea was to (create) a direct link between those working with consumers and the attorneys who investigate and work to resolve cases, a statement explained.

It turned out to be a prescient move. Just a few months later, in early March 2020, a series of tornadoes hit the middle and western parts of the state, killing 26 people. The attorney general worked quickly to warn Tennessee residents of the risk of fraud and common scams in the wake of the severe weather, and direct them to the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Then came COVID-19.

It almost seems like the tornadoes were longer ago than they really were, said Samantha Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee attorney generals office. Just in the last couple weeks, she added, the office has received 115 consumer complaints related to the pandemic.

Fraud in connection with a major disaster, a federal statute adopted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, can carry a maximum 30 years in prison. But many scammers flourishing these days are candidates for wire fraud. A catch-all law, a charge of wire fraud only requires proving that some kind of electronic method was used to carry out the scamwhether an email, text or electronic transfer of funds.

This is especially relevant for the COVID-19 crisis, which is following a slightly different fraud script than many other disasters. With no real property or infrastructure damage, most pandemic-related scams are information-related.

Phishing and malware scams preying on fears of the coronavirus started cropping up as early as January 2020, said Zirkle, noting that these are the most common of the COVID-19-related schemes.

Usually, he said, it starts as a sophisticated, authentic-looking email promising updated information on the pandemic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization, provided you enter your email address and password. From there, the scam forwards you to the actual CDC and WHO websites as it downloads malware onto your computer or mines your data.

Youve got a lot of people that are at home, and a lot of people want updated news about coronavirus, Zirkle said. Its a great time to trick people into clicking a link.

Despite the efforts of various agencies, disaster fraud persists as predictable phenomenon.

Theres always a new audience for our information, said Tressler. People who have never been through a weather event before. People who are from a part of the country where they didnt experience tornadoes or floods, hurricanes or wildfires.

With the unprecedented nature and scale of the COVID-19 disaster, that new audience just might be everyone.

Everybodys looking the other way, even law enforcement, said Zirkle. Its just a great time for fraudsters right now.

Eli Wolfe contributed to this report.

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AKRON, Ohio -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has suspended manufacturing operations in North, Central and South America due to the decline in demand resulting from the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, the Akron-based company announced Wednesday.

Goodyear expects its tire, retread and chemical plants in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the United States to be shut down over the next few days, and will be closed through at least April 3. Its facility in Peru closed earlier this week.

In a news release, the company said it will monitor the spread of COVID-19 in areas around its warehouses and distribution operations. Based on inventory and supply levels, it will continue delivering Goodyear products to available markets.

Goodyear said it is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has introduced preventative measures, including limiting visitor access and business travel, implementing remote working and social-distancing practices and increasing the frequency of disinfection.

In February, Goodyear closed its Shanghai headquarters and manufacturing plant in Pulandian, China, due to the coronavirus.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.
While it might be impossible to figure out who is going to become sick with novel coronavirus, some public health experts believe the more critical question may be who has already been exposed.

In Telluride, Colorado, last week, one biotech company put that idea to work.

MORE: What we know about coronavirus' long-term effects

United Biomedical is now working with San Miguel County, which includes the famous Rocky Mountain ski destination, to test all 8,000 residents for COVID-19 antibodies -- making it the first community in the country to do widespread antibody testing. The idea, officials said, is to learn from an individuals blood whether there is evidence the person has already been exposed. With that information, officials can then make decisions about whether quarantines and restrictions would need to continue and whether they need to be as widespread as they are in states and cities across the country right now.

"The goal of this is to show you can predictably get an entire county back to its new normal as quickly as possible by using testing," said Lou Reese, co-CEO of United Biomedical and its COVAXX subsidiary.

Reese stressed that, if successful, the testing program could be expanded, "starting at the hot-spot areas right now to solve this problem, stop the panic and get people to their lives and back to work."

PHOTO: United Biomedical is now working with San Miguel County, which includes the famous Rocky Mountain ski destination Telluride, to test all 8,000 residents for COVID-19 antibodies. (Courtesy United Biomedical)

The science behind the testing concept is not complicated. Every person who contracts the coronavirus will develop antibodies in their blood, usually within 10 days, even if the individual has such a mild case that there are no symptoms. Antibodies are proteins that help the body fight off an intruding virus -- but theyre also unmistakable forensic evidence of where the virus has been.

Because it is generally believed that someone whos had an infection has at least a temporary immunity, a person who already had COVID-19 may not need to remain locked down the way millions of Americans -- in New York, California, Washington state and other places around the country -- are this weekend. What remains unknown is whether the immunity is long-lasting or whether someone who has coronavirus antibodies can continue carrying the virus, potentially posing a threat to others. For instance, people with a MERS infection -- a virus from the same family -- are unlikely to be reinfected shortly after recovery, but according to the CDC, "It is not yet known whether similar immune protection will be observed for patients with COVID-19."

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As the coronavirus pandemic rages, killing thousands of its victims and tearing apart families, some political and health care leaders view antibody testing as a way to start reopening cities and allow people to return to work and play.

"This could be a big breakthrough," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said of antibody testing during a briefing Saturday.

Reese said it could be a silver bullet.

"Antibody testing specifically is the fastest path of scientifically and mathematically getting to a new normal," Reese said.

Since the Food and Drug Administration announced an Emergency Use Authorization policy for antibody testing last week, laboratories across the U.S. have been rushing to develop their own antibody tests.

PHOTO: United Biomedical is now working with San Miguel County, which includes the famous Rocky Mountain ski destination Telluride, to test all 8,000 residents for COVID-19 antibodies. (Courtesy United Biomedical)

United Biomedical initially validated the accuracy of its COVID-19 antibody diagnostic test in China, where the coronavirus pandemic originated late last year.

"We found it was a very clean profile, there was no cross reactivity," said United Biomedical co-CEO Mei Mei Hu. "So when we saw COVID-19, it was COVID-19, and could differentiate between other coronaviruses circulating in the U.S."

Having developed diagnostic tools and vaccines for SARS, another type of coronavirus, Reese and Hu said their team was ready to move fast on coronavirus. They said their company has already deployed approximately 100,000 tests globally, mostly to China and Taiwan.

"Now we are on the front lines," Reese said.

Reese and Hu said they decided to pilot the program in Telluride because its home. But they insist that the test can be just as useful in places like New York City, New Orleans and Los Angeles, where officials fear hospitals could be overrun with COVID-19 patients.

MORE: Website allows people to report coronavirus symptoms, track spread

San Miguel County, currently under a shelter-at-home order, is not the usual site for a drug trial. But it is the type of place that could be hit extremely hard in a viral outbreak.

"We are a rural community in southwest Colorado with no hospital of our own," said county spokeswoman Susan Lilly. The largest local medical facility, Telluride Medical Center, is not an overnight hospital and would be unable to treat a surge of COVID-19 patients. And, with the county sitting 9,000 feet above sea level, any respiratory contagion could have even more deadly results among residents because humans have a harder time breathing in higher altitudes.

United Biomedicals testing program began last week, starting with first responders, health care workers, teachers, essential workers and their families. So far, no one has tested positive. Records show one San Miguel resident, who has not yet taken the new antibody test, was confirmed to have COVID-19 by a test that looks for the virus' genetic material, not bloodborne antibodies.

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: Coronavirus map

From Telluride, United Biomedical plans to work with officials to expand testing to as many as five states with virus hot spots, like New York and California, on the priority list.

"These are the places that are most likely to have the community spread so it's important to detect, know what the actual outbreak prevalence is and then to categorize the people that have developed some immunity back out," Hu said, adding that the company expects to be producing 1 million tests a day by the end of April.

Officials said theyre optimistic, but caution that an antibody test is only one piece of an overall strategy of dealing with a disease as resilient as COVID-19.

"This blood test is a tool that alone wont work," Lilly said. "It is a tool that will only work in combination with the stay-at-home model and the social distancing. One without the other doesnt give us the full capacity to employ a strategy that we think will work."

Why coronavirus antibody testing in one Colorado town could provide a way forward originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Rohingya at the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf, Bangladesh, keep their distance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 27, 2020.

The United Nations on Friday urged Bangladesh to remove an internet blackout at Rohingya camps during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Human Rights Watch said the government was risking the lives of refugees by not lifting restrictions on their communications.

More than 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including 740,000 who fled a brutal military offensive in Rakhine state in August 2017, are sheltering in crowded camps and settlements in southeastern Bangladesh.

Communication is key to the timely and effective management of this situation, mobile data communications restrictions in the Rohingya refugee camps should be lifted, Louise Donovan, a spokeswoman for the U.N.s refugee agency, UNHCR, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, on Friday.

Humanitarian partners are advocating to the government to re-establish internet connectivity within the camps, to ensure that all refugees have adequate access to information, and to enable communication between partners. Life-saving health interventions require rapid and effective communication, Donovan said.

Citing national security and a need to maintain law and order, the government in September 2019 ordered mobile phone operators to block internet access to the Rohingya camps. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission also asked providers to stop selling SIM cards to the Rohingya.

The Bangladesh government is in a race against the clock to contain the spread of coronavirus, including in the Rohingya refugee camps, and cant afford to waste precious time with harmful policies, Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a news release on Thursday.

Authorities should lift the internet shutdown, which is obstructing crucial information about symptoms and prevention, or end up risking the lives of refugees, host communities and health care workers.

On March 19, the United Nations, in a joint statement with the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights as well as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged governments worldwide to refrain from blocking access to the internet during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Especially at a time of emergency, when access to information is of critical importance, broad restrictions on access to the internet cannot be justified on public order or national security grounds, the groups said.

In Bangladesh on Friday, a government official responded that no decision had been made on the internet blackout at the camps.

The issue of restoring internet facilities in Rohingya camps has yet to be discussed, Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabber told BenarNews, adding his ministry would not make that decision on its own.

We would implement it after getting directives from Home, Foreign and Disaster and Relief ministries. So far, we have not received any such directives, he said.

We know little about the virus

HRW said government officials had advised aid workers against releasing information about COVID-19 for fear of creating panic. Rohingya youth volunteers said Bangladesh officials in charge of camps had refused requests to allow information campaigns.

Instead of preventing anxiety, the lack of accurate information is contributing to the spread of misinformation about the disease, the global rights watchdog said.

A leader at the Kutupalong camp said the pandemic had panicked the Rohingya in his and other camps.

But we know little about the virus. We could have known more if there were internet facilities, camp leader Mohammad Nur told BenarNews, adding that Rohingya were trying to maintain social distancing.

No Rohingya have been diagnosed as positive for COVID-19, according to Mohammad Shamsu Douza, additional commissioner of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission.

However, four people who came from India and one from Australia have been put in quarantine at a UNHCR transit camp and hospital, he told BenarNews. None have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Despite the internet blackout and restrictions on mobile phone devices in the camps, information about how people can protect themselves from the virus is being disseminated through radio spots, videos, posters, leaflets and messages in the Bengali, Burmese and Rohingya languages, according to Donovan of UNHCR.

Imams and other community leaders have also been helping spread the word, Donovan said.

The humanitarian community is taking all preventive and precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 for the people we serve, as well as our own teams, while also ensuring that essential activities and facilities, to the extent possible, must continue, the U.N. official told BenarNews via email.

The stepping up of hygiene promotion, staff training for infection prevention and control, and the mapping of isolation facilities are among measures that aid agencies and groups are taking to safeguard the residents of the crowded refugee camps from COVID-19, she said.

Meanwhile in the capital Dhaka on Friday, Bangladesh officials reported four new coronavirus cases at the national level, bringing the total number of cases to 48. Bangladesh has also recorded five deaths from COVID-19.

Globally, more than 25,400 people have died and at least 566,000 have been infected, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
The United States is ready to supply a large number of ventilators needed by its friends and allies in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump said on Friday.

Having ramped up the production of ventilators and other medical equipment required inside the US to treat the large number of people infected with the novel coronavirus, Trump said his administration will be distributing those throughout the world to other countries. Trump said when he spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the ...
New protocols were devised from stopping police roll calls to avoid officers gathering in one room to sending half of the detective bureau to work from home. But during those meetings, Ziman said they did not realize they were possibly exposing one another and doing the exact opposite of the social distancing they were asking the public to do.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

As schools work on uprooting the way they teach children due to school closures, shifting to exclusively online instruction isnt a reality for many New Mexican districts.

Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart announced Friday that statewide school closures will be extended for the rest of the current academic year, due to rising coronavirus infection rates. But students will still be taught without in-person instruction  an effort that will look different depending on where children go to school.

The PED is not requiring districts to use a wholly virtual learning model. Stewart said districts and charters will be creating plans to continue learning and those plans will address how instruction will get to students  physically, digitally or both.

Accessibility is a big hurdle districts face, because not all students have access to the internet or to computers. There are also logistics to iron out with printed lessons, such as making sure all students obtain the resources.

For the states largest school district, Albuquerque Public Schools, about 12% of the roughly 80,000 students dont have access to high-speed internet at home. APS is taking stock of what devices students have access to.

The district last week placed an emergency order for 18,000 Chromebooks  the most they could get  to hand out to the students who need them most, according to Chief Information and Strategy Officer Richard Bowman.

APS will continue to provide both online and print instruction during the closures.

A survey conducted by PED, which reflected 89 charter schools and districts responses, showed that access to computers and internet varies greatly across the state.

New Mexicos many small and rural school districts are particularly affected by a lack of technological infrastructure.

Clayton Municipal Schools, covering 2,500 square miles in the states northeastern corner, serves 429 students, of which Clayton Superintendent Stacy Diller estimates 60% dont have internet access at home.

Diller also said that even if families say they have internet it may not be consistent enough to support online learning programs.

The district is considering mailing packets to families who need them.

Local internet provider Plateau has agreed to provide all Clayton families with two free months of internet access, Diller said.

In Wagon Mound, paper packets have become a requirement for many students to continue their learning.

Wagon Mound Public Schools has around 60 students, over half of whom have no access to the internet at home, Superintendent Anita Romero said. Those students are asked to pick up packets from the district office once a week.

Romero said the lack of internet service is especially frustrating because the districts schools have sufficient technology.

Some students in Wagon Mound live up to 25 miles from school, so bus drivers have been delivering lunches and homework packets to families on the outskirts of the district.

Ellen Bernstein, president of the union Albuquerque Teachers Federation, noted that some teachers are in a similar positions, lacking the technology to teach at home.

Stewart said the PED is exploring state and federal funding options to help schools provide laptops and other devices to families.
Ola Chief Executive and co-founder Bhavish Agarwal's company will donate Rs 20 crore for drivers left unemployed due to the 21-day lockdown imposed to combat coronavirus by the Narendra Modi government. Agarwal himself will contribute his annual salary to the 'Drive the Driver Fund' initiative by the ride hailing app.

Millions of drivers & their families find themselves without an income today. To support them, we are launching the Drive the Driver fund. I'm contributing my next year salary and Ola along with employees will contribute 20 cr to the fund. https://t.co/bR561tZ7Es 1/2 pic.twitter.com/KUZiOxWaFl Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) March 27, 2020

Through this initiative, the company seeks to raise Rs 50 crore via crowdfunding to secure funds for auto rickshaw, cab, kaali-peeli and taxi drivers working with Ola. Ola currently has a global fleet of 20 lakh cabs associated with it.

The initiative is focused on areas like emergency support, essential supplies and free medical consultation as these services are of utmost importance during a time of crisis. The ride-hailing giant also plans to take up initiatives to support drivers in areas such as financial aid for children's education, an India Today report said.

According to Anand Subramanian, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, Ola, "The crisis at this time has left thousands of drivers who form the backbone of shared mobility without an income. The Ola group has come together to contribute the initial capital for the fund, which can be used to provide immediate aid."

Drive The Driver Fund, however, is not the first initiative announced by Ola to support its partner drivers. Last week, Ola announced a special COVID-19 insurance cover for partner drivers and their spouses. The ride- hailing company has also waived leased rentals, that are like EMI, for partner drivers who operate vehicles owned by Ola's subsidiary, Ola Fleet Technologies.

Also read: Coronavirus impact: 30% modern retail stores face closure if lockdown prolongs

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Kerala reports first COVID-19 death; tally surges to 873
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To address various concerns about the amendment, the Legislature should pass laws that would ensure racial and ethnic diversity on the commission and require the State Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, to appoint a special master to draw the maps using the same criteria as the commission. They have already passed a law to eliminate prison gerrymandering, the practice of counting prisoners where they are incarcerated rather than where they are from.

There are good fixes. Still, the commission itself has significant flaws, chief among them that it includes lawmakers, who have demonstrated time and again that they shouldnt be allowed anywhere near the redistricting process. Foxes guarding henhouses are still foxes, even if theyre being watched closely by the farmer. But the amendment is an important step in the right direction, and in the end it succeeded because nine Democrats joined all Republicans to get the measure over the hump for a second time.

And what of those Republicans? Arent they to be commended for voting in favor of fairer maps? Sure, but it was an easy call once they were out of power, or knew they were about to be. The better question is, Where was their public spirit when they held an unthreatened majority?

Republicans continue to find countless ways to block efforts to make voting fairer and more democratic. In Missouri, Utah and Michigan, Republican lawmakers are working to undo citizen-led ballot initiatives that were passed, in some cases overwhelmingly, by voters tired of being chosen by their politicians.

And when Republicans do lose at the ballot box, they respond not by trying to appeal to more voters, but by stripping power from duly-elected Democrats  essentially looting the shelves on their way out the door. This is the behavior of a party that neither trusts its own popularity nor accepts its opponents legitimacy, a fatal combination for a constitutional republic.

In light of this, many Democrats have little patience for calls to level the playing field. After all, why play fair when the other side doesnt? The answer is that the alternative is a race to the bottom, where voters of both parties give up because they know whatever box they check at the polls, the politicians have already made their choices for them.

In far too many parts of the country, thats the reality today. Partisan gerrymandering is a key reason millions of Americans feel the government is rigged against them. The good news is that this behavior used to happen behind closed doors, and now its being dragged out into the open. The more the public learns about it, the more they oppose it. Virginia voters support the new redistricting amendment, 70 percent to 15 percent; according to a January 2019 poll commissioned by Campaign Legal Center, which pushes for electoral reform, 65 percent said they favored districts with no partisan bias, even if it meant their own party would win fewer seats.
A couple of weeks ago, we saw media outlets report that "experts" predicted that 500,000 would die in Great Britain and two million in the U.S.

Now those wild made-up predictions have been lowered to 20,000 or below in Britain and to 80,000 in the U.S.

Here's the news item:

Imperial College scientist who predicted 500K coronavirus deaths in UK adjusts to 20K or fewer

So those predictions of less than two weeks ago, used to spread panic and depression and used to justify shutting down much of the economy, were at least 96% off. Why would anyone think the new estimates are any closer and continue to call these people experts when they missed their original estimates by almost 100%?

Andrew Cuomo and others just make up that the rest of the country will soon look like New York City, and the media treat him as if he were an expert, too.

Yet President Trump is lectured continuously by the press puppets, who just repeat what they are told, that he should never question experts. The media are so scared that the public will like what Trump is doing that they are censoring him as they pretend they are for transparency and the truth.

Let's put the 80,000 deaths in the U.S. in perspective. In an average year, around 2.4 million people die from all causes in the U.S., and 80,000 would be a little over 3%. Also, most of the people who are dying from this virus are elderly people with other severe medical conditions.

How many people will get sick or die from other conditions because of the tunnel-vision focus on the Chinese virus? How many people will get extremely ill, mentally and physically, and panic because they are constantly being scared to death by the media?

But Trump is the problem because he is being optimistic and wants to open the economy back up in areas where the threat is manageable.

Worse still, much of the radical media outlets no longer want the public to see Trump. Instead they want to continue to scare them. Community health clinics are going broke because of this continuous panic-mongering.

Hundreds of health care facilities in Illinois that largely serve low-income and minority communities are facing financial chaos because they've canceled most routine doctor visits in an attempt to stymie the coronavirus pandemic, according to an industry organization's report.

I have always had trouble with the media calling people "experts" who are frequently spectacularly wrong and are pushing agendas, most often radical left-wing agendas, seeking more government control and less freedom for the people.

For example:

In 1970, to push a left-wing agenda, on the first Earth Day, scientists and others intentionally scared the public by saying billions would die soon because of a coming ice age and starvation and said we would soon be out of oil and other natural resources. The media just went along with these made-up predictions that were 100% wrong.

In 1989, the experts at the U.N. intentionally scared the public when they said we had only ten years left to solve the global warming problem. Most of the media, along with entertainers and other Democrats, just repeated the warnings that were 100% wrong because of the radical left-wing agenda they support.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, we got an over-the-top prediction that hurricanes would be stronger and more frequent than ever. Again, most of the media just repeated this made-up crap with no questions asked. The predictions were 100% wrong, as we had an extremely mild ten years after Katrina.

In 2008, ABC ran a dire warning that NYC and Miami would be substantially under water by 2015 because of warming, the melting ice caps and rising sea levels. These made-up predictions, with no evidence, were 100% wrong.

In 2019, the U.N. essentially regurgitated its 100% wrong predictions from 1989, and again most of the media, entertainers, and other Democrats just repeat the garbage predictions to push their agenda to destroy thousands of industries and tens of millions of jobs. They pretend politicians and bureaucrats can control the climate forever if we, the people, just hand them trillions more of our hard-earned dollars.

Over the years, we have intentionally been lied to that we would have snowless winters, droughts, and floods, and that storms are worse than ever, and that this is unprecedented.

A story that never gets much play is when exceptionally cold winter weather causes excess deaths. For example, in Great Britain, in 20162017, that country had an estimated 34,300 excess deaths due to a cold winter. That is 70% higher than the current estimate of deaths from the virus. The story obviously doesn't get wide coverage because it doesn't fit the radical left-wing agenda.

In the 2016 to 2017 winter period, there were an estimated 34,300 excess winter deaths (EWDs) in England and Wales, which represents an excess winter mortality (EWM) index of 20.9%.

Instead of asking questions and pointing out all the made-up false predictions and obvious lies, pretend journalists just repeat the talking points and say the science is settled. They call President Trump and others, who truthfully say that the climate has always changed cyclically and naturally stupid and climate change deniers to denigrate them and shut off debate.

Climate change denier, fascist, dictator and racist are terms the media always uses to denigrate anyone who disagrees with the left-wing agenda they are pushing.

Other examples of supposed experts just making crap up:

In 2009, President Obama and other Democrats continually lied about everything when they were seeking to get Obamacare passed. The "experts" at the supposedly non-partisan CBO went along with the obvious lies that Obamacare would reduce the deficit and that the government taking over student loans would make the government a profit to help pay for Obamacare.

In 2017, at the beginning of Trump's term CBO predicted that 1.8 million jobs would be created in the first there years of Trump. Instead there were over six million. They underestimated by over 200%. So why does the media treat CBO as if their numbers are gospel when they report them?

In 2016, Mark Zandi of Moody's and Paul Krugman of the NY Times predicted a recession and millions of job losses if Trump was elected and his policies were enacted. Why are these partisan hacks treated as experts?

For the past three years, most of the media along with other Democrats have been making up garbage and continually predicting and rooting for a recession for the sole purpose of destroying Trump and electing Democrats to push the radical left-wing agenda. They clearly would rather have people being dependent on government instead of giving everyone, especially minorities, the opportunity to move up the economic ladder.

It is sad that most of the media are so partisan that they don't want the economy to come back to life early. They are so scared that it will help Trump that they would rather have people suffer.

It is the Democrat campaign workers, masquerading as journalists, who are willing to destroy civilization as we know it and threaten lives through poverty and depression, not Trump.

I mistakenly thought that once the sycophant journalists and other Democrats were caught intentionally lying for years about Russian collusion that they would be embarrassed and do their job. Sadly, that looks like it will never occur. Power is all they care about.

Image credit: Pixabay public domain.
(Natural News) New York is currently leading the country by a significant margin when it comes to the number of coronavirus cases registered, so why are so many people there still out and about acting as though nothing is going on?

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a stay at home order for the state that requires non-essential businesses to have their employees work from home. Exemptions are made for health care providers, financial institutions, and people working in the media.

You would think that New York City might look a bit like the ghost towns that many popular Italian cities like Rome have become as people adhere to orders to shelter in place, but thats not the case at all. Locals could be seen packed in subways and trains without masks and heading out to public parks in New York City to catch some rays and play sports, completely disregarding the advice to stay six feet away from one another.

In a press conference, Cuomo called out what he termed arrogant New Yorkers for flouting the social distancing guidelines as the states number of confirmed coronavirus cases continued to climb.

After seeing crowded parks in New York City on Saturday, he said: There is a density level in New York City that is wholly inappropriate.

You would think there was nothing going on in parts of New York City. You would think it was just a bright, sunny Saturday.

The Daily Mail printed photos of large crowds at places like Central Park and the Grand Army Plaza farmers market, while people were enjoying picnics in Brooklyns Prospect Park and chatting while walking around McCarren Park.

Police have also had to disperse large crowds gathering outside restaurants and other establishments to get takeout food, such as at Greenwich Villages Carbone and a Brooklyn Yeshiva that was offering free food to Hasidic Jews.

The governor also warned that the coronavirus outbreak could last for as long as nine months and suggested 80 percent of New Yorkers could eventually become infected.

New York City not prepared for influx of cases

He asked FEMA to set up four hospitals at the Javits Center in Manhattan in hopes of saving more lives. The center, which normally hosts trade shows, will be home to four 250-bed hospitals. Other venues are also being considered for conversion to hospital sites, such as the Westchester Convection Center and campuses at SUNY Westbury and Stony Brook.

Cuomo minced no words in addressing those who choose to defy orders and congregate outside, using terms like disrespectful, arrogant, insensitive, and self-destructive, adding that coronavirus is not a joke.

He also said he asked Mayor Bill de Blasio to find a way to stop people from gathering outdoors. Today, de Blasio said New York City must be ready to remain closed through May because the outbreak there has yet to peak. The city is already dealing with more than 23,000 confirmed cases and a shortage of supplies such as ventilators.

The state has also been taking steps to ramp up its healthcare offerings to better manage the influx of patients, asking all hospitals to raise their capacity by 100 percent. The city has just 53,000 beds available, and some data points to as many as 110,000 beds being needed at the peak of the outbreak.

He admitted that it may be difficult or even impossible in some places to hit these goals. The mandate from the Department of Health Emergency also called for all elective, non-critical operations to be canceled, which could free up as many as 35 percent more beds.

Cuomo said that although hospitals will be unhappy about losing the revenue from elective surgeries, public health has to come first right now.

Our best hope of getting this pandemic even remotely under control is doing everything in our power to stop its spread, no matter how much wed all like to take a walk in the park.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

ZeroHedge.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 01:32:02|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday morning that anyone showing any symptoms of COVID-19 will be denied boarding on all domestic flights and trains from Monday noon.

"As of Monday at noon, people showing any signs whatsoever of COVID-19 will be denied boarding at all domestic flights and intercity passenger trains," Trudeau said at his daily press conference.

"It will be important for operators of airlines and trains to ensure that people who are exhibiting symptoms do not board those trains," Trudeau said. "It will be a Transport Canada rule that will be enforced."

He said his government will provide airlines and rail companies with "further tools" to bar those showing symptoms from getting on planes and trains, but did not explain what those enhanced screening measures would look like.

The ban, Trudeau said, does not apply to interprovincial bus travel, which does not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

"Some industries are not under federal jurisdiction but we do recommend and in fact we are putting rules in place to make sure people do not take any trips anywhere if they have COVID-19 symptoms," Trudeau said.

The prime minister said that his government is not looking at closing the borders between the provinces and territories in the country. "We will make those decisions as they're needed."

The government has already banned overseas Canadians and permanent residents who are exhibiting symptoms from boarding flights home, but has been criticized for a lack of enforcement.

As of Friday, there were 4,757 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 55 deaths in Canada.
The digital transformation of higher education has been building for years. In 2012 and 2013, universities discovered that massive audiences could be developed for online courses from star professors on a range of topics, from artificial intelligence to modern poetry. Even before the pandemic, many educators had flipped their classes, giving students lectures online that they could review on their own time so that class hours were freed for discussion and projects. It is common, of course, for universities to offer entire courses and even degrees online. Those ventures typically require months of planning.
Theres nothing quite like Tiger King, the Netflix docuseries that invites viewers into the strange world of big cat lovers. Its the tale of Joe Exotic (real name: Joseph Maldonado-Passage), a tiger enthusiast with a private zoo, a penchant for guns, and a vendetta against Carole Baskin, who runs a big cat rescue and wants to shut down Exotics operation.

Tiger King | Netflix

But that description barely scratches the surface of whats happening in this series. Theres also a murder-for-hire plot, the mysterious disappearance of Baskins husband, and a man named Doc Antle, who lives with multiple girlfriends on his own tiger preserve in South Carolina.

The popularity of Tiger King is partly due to its sheer weirdness, and once youve blown through all seven episodes, its going to be tough to find something that delivers the same level of WTF. While we cant promise another experience quite on par with watching Joe Exotic calmly tell a crowd of people in his zoos gift shop that one of the tigers has just ripped off an employees arm, these documentaries also offer a pretty wild ride.

Dont F*ck With Cats

Before there was Tiger King, there was Dont F*ck With Cats, another Netflix true-crime docuseries about cats and murder. Its about a man named Luke Magnotta who posted disturbing videos online that showed him killing kittens. The three-part series shows how Internet sleuths horrified by Magnottas animal torture videos worked to track him down, though unfortunately not before his crimes took another terrifying turn. Streaming on Netflix.

Evil Genius

This 2018 true-crime series is about one of the most bizarre bank robberies in American history. In 2003, a pizza delivery person named Brian Wells walked into a bank in Erie, Pa. He had a bomb fastened around his next and a note demanding tellers hand over $250,000. The police were called, and they had Wells surrounded when the bomb went off, killing him. The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a strange and twisted plot, as detailed in this four-part documentary thats streaming on Netflix.

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

In 2017, planeloads of revelers descended on the Bahamas for what was supposed to be the party of the lifetime. Instead, they were greeted by chaos, disaster tents, and the worlds saddest cheese sandwiches. The infamous Fyre Fest gets the documentary treatment in Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened. It tracks serial entrepreneur/con artist Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rules attempt to stage a fabulous party on Great Exuma, only to fail in the most spectacular way possible. Its streaming on Netflix. After you watch this film, head to Hulu to watch the competing documentary Fyre Fraud.

Gates of Heaven

Filmmaker Errol Morris made his mark with his debut documentary about two pet cemeteries in California. While there are some oddball characters in this film, dont expect cheap laughs. Its a sincere look at peoples complex relationships with their pets, their thoughts on death, and more. This 85-minute film about pet cemeteries has given me more to think about over the past 20 years than most of the other films Ive seen, critic Roger Ebert wrote. Available to rent of Amazon or to stream with IFC Films Unlimited.

Blackfish

Tilikum | Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

This 2013 documentary casts a critical eye on the practice of keeping killer whales in captivity, often to entertain visitors at theme parks like SeaWorld. It focuses on a wild-born whale named Tilikum who was kept at Sealand of the Pacific in Vancouver, B.C., and SeaWorld in Orlando. Over more than 30 years in captivity, he was involved in the deaths of three people, and the film explores how the behavior of highly social orcas changes dramatically when they are kept in confined spaces. The movie caused a serious drop in attendance at SeaWorld parks. It also forced a change in the companys practices. Today, the parks still have whales in captivity but have phased out breeding programs. Streaming on Hulu.

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REDDING, Calif. - The Redding City Council unanimously approved a resolution to give Redding Electric Utility customers a $50 credit on their next bill, resulting in a $2.2 million credit going back to the community.

After originally being planned to come from Rate Reserves, the resolution voted on allows the credit to be drawn from Greenhouse Gas Emissions funds, or Cap and Trade proceeds.

REU said customers will begin to see the $50 credit on their bills beginning March 30 with the following message:

This statement reflects a Redding City Council approved credit of $50. This credit only applies to accounts that receive

electric service from Redding Electric Utility. This one-time credit is a distribution from Redding Electric Utility Cap and

Trade proceeds.

The city said all households will receive the credit and those who may not need it are "encouraged to spend the money locally or make a donation to a charitable organization."

According to REU, they are working with the city to develop a plan to provide assistance to affected households and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
A wave of outdoor recreation closures over the last six days have hit Oregon hard, as land management agencies shut down trails and parks in an ongoing effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon has seen widespread closures of trails and campgrounds before  think of the Eagle Creek fire closures that still haunt the Columbia River Gorge  but the extent of these new closures is unprecedented.

A vast number of hiking trails, parks, and day-use areas in the state are now closed to the public. All campgrounds, private and public, are also closed.

Most of the Oregon coast is now off-limits to visitors. A huge swath of the Cascade Mountains, from Mount Baker to Mount Shasta, is virtually inaccessible. Ski season is effectively over. Spring whale watching has passed us by. Wildflower season will be next.

Its a heartbreaking, albeit understandable reaction to the coronavirus pandemic. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown allowed people to continue going outside for exercise (though discouraged recreational travel), as long as six feet of social distance can be maintained.

After flocks of hikers crowded popular trailheads and parks last weekend, it became clear that was going to be a tall order.

READ MORE: 6 tips to keep 6 feet of social distance outside

And while its tempting to leave home isolation for the isolation found in the remote Oregon wilderness, there are other concerns to bear in mind. Many public restrooms are now closed. A lot of trailheads are closed, too. Search and rescue organizations are begging people to stay home  these days, a rescue mission is a public health risk, and could result in a hospital stay that takes up a much-needed bed.

With all that in mind, several land management agencies around Oregon have decided to temporarily close recreation areas to the public, including whole mountains, forests and rivers. After a wild week in the Pacific Northwest, here are the outdoor recreation areas that are now off-limits.

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

Virtually all trails, day-use areas and viewpoints in the Columbia River Gorge are closed, following a massive closure by the U.S. Forest Service on Thursday, as well as closures by Oregon and Washington state parks, Skamania County, Friends of the Columbia Gorge and The Nature Conservancy.

MOUNT HOOD

The Mount Hood National Forest announced the closure of all developed recreation sites Thursday, which includes trails, sno-parks, campgrounds, and all cabins and lookouts rented out by the U.S. Forest Service. All ski areas on Mount Hood are also closed.

OTHER NATIONAL FORESTS

Almost all other national forests in Oregon have announced similar closures. In the Siuslaw National Forest, all forest land is closed. In the Deschutes, Malheur, Ochoco, Umatilla, Umpqua, Wallowa-Whitman and Willamette national forests, all developed recreation sites are closed.

CRATER LAKE

Crater Lake joined several other national parks across the country Tuesday by completely closing to the public.

OTHER NATIONAL PARK SITES

The Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and the John Day Fossil Beds have also closed. The Oregon Caves National Monument has canceled cave tours and closed the visitor center, but hiking trails remain open.

OREGON STATE PARKS

All Oregon state park sites closed to the public Sunday, following an influx of visitors over the weekend. That includes campgrounds, day use areas, viewpoints, waysides and museums.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS

Washington State Parks made the decision to close all its park sites Tuesday, including all water access areas.

PLAYGROUNDS

Gov. Brown closed all playgrounds in Oregon as part of her stay-home order Monday, which also shut down campgrounds and prohibited all non-essential travel.

COLUMBIA RIVER FISHING

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed the Columbia River to all salmon and steelhead fishing. Fishing for other species is allowed, but only on the Oregon side of the river. The department also closed all Columbia River fish hatcheries.

SOME BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT SITES

The Bureau of Land Management shut down campgrounds Friday, abiding by Gov. Browns executive order, but left many trails and day-use areas open. The bureau had previously closed two of its recreation areas: Yaquina Head and the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

OTHER AREAS

Some city and county parks around Oregon have also closed. Others may have partial closures, like the road closures at some Portland parks. If you plan on going out, first check the status online, or call the land management agency in charge.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

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A California doctor who is working on the front lines and treating patients with coronavirus is self-isolating himself from his family at the end of his hospital shifts.

Dr. Timmy Cheng has decided to live in a tent in order to protect his family from the deadly disease.

Dr. Cheng erected the tent in his garage where he goes to sleep each night after a grueling workday at the hospital in order to protect his wife and children.

Dr. Timmy Cheng treats patients with COVID-19 so he's taking steps to protect his family from the virus that has killed tens of thousands worldwide

Cheng is a pulmonary and critical care specialist at UC Irvine near San Diego and has moved into his familys garage

'I voluntarily became homeless to protect my family should I become infected and bring the virus home,' Cheng wrote on Facebook.

'I spent one night in my car, then four nights in the hospital call room. On day five, my wife came up with the idea for me to live in a tent in our garage. So, here it is.'

Cheng works at UCI Medical Center in Irvine where he is a pulmonary and critical care specialist.

Initially, Cheng was sleeping in his car or a room at the hospital - but it wasn't comfortable.

The tent was erected next to his car. He is camping out in the garage to protect his family from the novel coronavirus

Inside the tent, Dr. Cheng has a twin mattress as well as other bedding, a laptop and snacks

Dr Cheng has said he plans to stay in the tent until the pandemic has passed which is likely to be several months

In his tent he has a few home comforts including a twin mattress, pillow and a laptop.

Cheng, who believes he may be forced to live in the tent for months, said he keeps snacks nearby, and his family leave him food at the door of the garage.

The tent is right next to his car. He believes he could well be living out of the garage tent for months.

'You can help me and other healthcare workers become un-homeless by STAYING HOME,' he pleaded on Facebook in a posting that has been shared 38,000 times and had 34,000 likes.

'JUST DO IT. Nobody is too cool to stay home. Nobody is too healthy to get sick.

'STAY HOME and help stop the spread of this virus. Countless doctors, nurses, and other health care workers are working hard to save YOUR LIFE. The least you could do is stay home so that we, too, can go home to our loved ones one day.'

California has the third highest rate of coronavirus infections in the country with 4,886 cases and 102 deaths.
William Buckley once remarked, "Liberals are willing to consider all sides of an issue, then are surprised to hear there are other sides." His point is borne out in the today's conflict over the containing the spread of the current coronavirus versus restarting our economy.

At some point, we will have to return to life before the virus. Deciding what that point is requires discussion. We can't reasonably discuss the alternatives until we can persuade a sizable fraction of the left that there are alternatives. Only then can the alternatives be considered.

To get through to these folks, I suggest we shift our use of two words: first "tradeoff" and then "economy."

Most of us understand that all decisions involve tradeoffs. We understand that sometimes tradeoffs involve choosing the lesser of two evils. Even with this understanding, we tend to be paralyzed by absolutists who say things like "material gain is not worth one life" or "my grandmother is more important than your economy."

Instead of "tradeoff," I respond to those people with a thought experiment widely accepted among most leftist academicians. It has even trickled down to sitcoms. It's commonly referred to as the Trolley Problem. It presents a moral dilemma: a moving trolley will kill five people who are restrained on its track. You can throw a switch to divert the Trolley to a side track but then it will kill one person. Do you intervene by throwing the switch? Here is an adequate discussion of the permutations of this problem. For our purposes, the point is straightforward: no matter what you decide, death happens.

"No, no, no," cries the liberal  "that's a false equivalency. It's death versus the economy, and we should always choose life over things." My response: It's not the economy, stupid! It's our entire society. It is the way we all relate and interact with each other. If we wait too long, the ties that bind people to their jobs will dissolve. People losing the sense of meaning in their life will rival or exceed the level of the Great Depression. We will see the stored value of an entire life's labor disappear, whether that value is stored in a 401(k) or in real estate. Our levels of overt suicide and the prolonged suicide via substance abuse will dwarf our current levels. Despite the massive evidence to the contrary, I believe that our Millennial generation will rise to the occasion. They will nonetheless suffer burdens orders of magnitude greater than the combined consequences of the housing meltdown and student debt.

Many of us who were raised by the survivors of the Great Depression openly express our willingness to take our chances with the virus to prevent the next generation reliving that deprivation. Two prominent people made the point in moving fashion. Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, who is on the cusp of 70, made it clear on Tucker Carlson's show. He said the risk is worthwhile to protect the future for his children, his grandchildren, and our county. He was followed by the distinguished veteran newsman Brit Hume, who eloquently made the same point. Neither was offering seppuku. Neither am I when I add my name to theirs. Like them, if stricken, I would strive to recover. I'm willing to run the risk.

In the Trolley Problem, would you stop the trolley and save everyone by throwing yet another person in the front of the trolley? That's a solution most everyone rejects. Since the problem was created by academicians, it's not surprising that a self-sacrificing solution is never offered: would you sacrifice yourself by jumping in front of the trolley? Probably not.

But let's think outside the box of the thought experiment. Would I, along with most people, throw the switch, and then risk my life to free the single victim? In a heartbeat.


When Dominic Benhura started creating traditional Zimbabwean sculptures as a young man 40 years ago, he never thought it would make him famous and rich.

He was born into a family of poor farmers in 1968. He grew up in Murewa, 90 kilometers northeast of Harare.

Today, he is now an internationally recognized artist and a leading master of sculpting stone  a hard substance that comes from the ground and is used for building and carving.

Sculptors from Zimbabwes Shona ethnic group use basic tools to carve expressive art into heavy pieces of stone. Some weigh several tons. The art form goes back to ancient Great Zimbabwe, founded in the 11th century.

Shona sculpture can be seen at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, Chicagos Field Museum of Natural History, the Indianapolis Museum of Art as well as the British Museum.

Benhura learned the art from other sculptors after moving to the capital Harare in 1979 -- one year before Zimbabwe won independence from Britain.

I was so fascinated by people creating something out of stone, so I asked them if I could help themfinishing their work, he told Reuters reporters.



In time, Benhura found his own special way of sculpting. He creates sculptures that appear to have motion.

My art celebrates life and I am inspired by my day-to-day life. I do animals, I do plants, I do birds, he said. He also sculpts women and children. He said he is especially drawn to them as subjects because he was raised by his mother and aunt. His father died before he was born.

Benhuras work brought him out of poverty. It has given him a life he describes as blessed. When he was 23, he bought his first house in Harare. He now lives and works in one of the capital citys costlier neighborhoods.

Benhura has permanent displays of his work around the world, including Australia, Italy and several museums in the United States.

But he wishes his home country had more of the sculptures for the public to see. He said Zimbabwe simply does not have enough museums to keep the art.

I wish wed have more (museums) so that our work is also retained in Africa for future generations, Benhura said

Im Jill Robbins.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sculpture  n. to shape stone or clay into art

carve  v. to use tools to create an object from stone, wood or clay

fascinate - v. to show great interest

bless - v. to give God's grace to someone

display - v. to show

museum - n. a place where the public can see art and historical objects
PANAMA CITY - Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday, with hundreds of passengers unsure how long they will remain at sea.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Zaandam cruise ship, left, carrying some guests with flu-like symptoms, is anchored shortly after it arrived to the bay of Panama City, Friday, March 27, 2020, amid the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus. Health authorities are expected to board the ship to test passengers and decide whether it can cross the Panama Canal. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

PANAMA CITY - Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday, with hundreds of passengers unsure how long they will remain at sea.

Global Affairs Canada says it is aware of 248 Canadians on the ship  247 passengers and one crew member.

Holland America Line confirmed Canadians are not among the four dead.

GAC says it is actively monitoring the situation and has contacted the Canadians on board to provide information on how they can protect themselves. GAC adds it is talking with Panama's government and working with Holland America on plans to get the Canadians home.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam, the statement said. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time. It did not identify the cause of deaths.

The ship, which had been denied passage through the Panama Canal and had been turned away from other ports, was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70, the statement said. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of San Antonio, Chile a week ago. The cruise line said no one had been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.

On March 22, when a number of passengers began reporting flu-like symptoms, the ship instituted protective measures, including telling everyone to self-isolate in their cabins, the cruise line said. On Thursday, all passengers and crew received masks and instruction on how to use them.

Neil Bedford said his parents, Kim and Chris Bedford from Bradford, England, left on March 4 for a flight to Argentina and boarded the ship on the 7th.

They were enjoying their time, he told The Associated Press in a Twitter message. But on the 15th, it was announced that the cruise was over and they were turned away from several countries.

The meals are delivered to their rooms three times during the day. Im not sure if they are left outside for them to collect or if someone brings them into the room. The captain is making announcements once a day but everyone seems to be getting frustrated as its constantly bad news, he said.

His parents are both in their 60s.

They are just growing increasingly concerned with what will happen to them, he wrote. There is a new ship alongside them, the Rotterdam, which the healthy will be evacuated to, but they will need testing first before that can happen. They are becoming terrified of being stuck onboard the ship.

Hayley Pillai Johnson, a medical student at Cambridge University in England, also posted on Twitter, asking questions her grandfather and his wife.

We just want them home, she wrote in a message.

Her grandfather, Sethy Pillai, is a 90-year-old retired doctor. His wife, Hazel Pillai, is 75 and has diabetes. They are from Oxforshire in England, and she spoke with them Friday via WhatsApp as they were quarantined in their room.

They are scared now they have heard of the 4 deaths and never thought this would happen, she wrote. My grandma has a non-dry cough but no temperature, so has been counted in the symptom category. My grandpa feels tired and scared but is fine.

Holland America needs to get all guests off this cruise, test them and go from there. We are worried sick about them, especially as the route through Panama Canal has not yet been confirmed and neither has the docking at Port Everglades.

Panama's Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Arauz said Friday that the ships were authorized to manoeuvr, but no one would be allowed ashore.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vasquez. The Health Ministry did not give permission, Vasquez told reporters Friday. The ship is in territorial waters but has to remain isolated.

It was not immediately clear where either ship would go. The Rotterdam had not requested permission to pass through the Panama Canal.

There are four doctors and four nurses on the Zaandam, according to cruise line statement, while the Rotterdam had two doctors and four nurses aboard.

Holland America Line had announced March 17 that it was voluntarily suspending its cruise operations for 30 days Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution. At that point, the company said none of its passengers or crew had tested positive for the virus.

The Seattle-based cruise line is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.

__

Lush reported from St. Petersburg, Florida.

 With files from The Canadian Press.
The Delhi BJP on Saturday issued a helpline number on which people can call if they require help during the ongoing lockdown to check the spread of the coronavirus.

The party started the helpline number '8010066066' in collaboration with Seva Bharti that can be used by people requiring any kind of help, said Delhi BJP Manoj Tiwari.

"BJP workers will reach out to you in the shortest possible time for necessary assistance," he said.

Tiwari expressed concern over migrant workers from Delhi walking towards city's the border with Uttar Pradesh to go back to their homes.

He thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for arranging buses in a short span of time and "controlling" the situation.

The Delhi BJP chief appealed to migrant workers to maintain restraint and patience during the lockdown and stay where they were.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Corporate India has stepped up funding to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as the total case count continues to spiral in the country. ITC Limited joined the bandwagon on Friday, announcing the setting up of a 150 crore contingency fund that will be used to provide relief to the vulnerable and needy sections of society, provide assistance to rural healthcare and even provide protective gear for medical staff.

resources under this fund will be channelised towards the protection and well-being of the ground forces who are doing commendable work to reach medicines, groceries, other essential goods, sourcing of agri-commodities, and so on, for people across the country during the lockdown, by providing protective personal gear and hygiene products to such frontline warriors," the hotels to packaged food conglomerate said in a statement.

Earlier, the maker of Aashirvaad atta and Sunfeast biscuits said it is working with the state and local administration to ensure that manufacturing and distribution of essential food and hygiene products continue uninterrupted with a bare minimum workforce.

Biscuits major Parle Products said it will donate three crore packs of biscuits in the next three weeks, specially to the needy people through government agencies with the country going for a 21-day lockdown. The company said its manufacturing units are functioning with 50 per cent of the workforce in line with government advisories to curb an escalation of the coronavirus outbreak, but it is working to ensure that sufficient quantities of products are available in the market.

The Bajaj Group had also announced that it will contribute a fund of Rs 100 crore towards the fight against Covid-19. The Rs 100-crore fund will be utilised in supporting upgradation of key healthcare infrastructure required to tackle Covid-19 in Pune, which is the company's base, extending immediate support to the most affected -- daily wage workers, the homeless and street children -- and in rural care and livelihood aid, Bajaj Group head Rahul Bajaj said.

Other automakers such as Hero Cycles, TVS Motor Company and MG Motor have also pledged Rs 100 crore, Rs 30 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively.

Earlier, private lender Axis Bank had announced Rs 100 crore support, said Amitabh Chaudhry, MD and CEO. Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma announced that the company is going to commit Rs 5 crore for development of medical solutions to fight Covid-19.

The youngest good samaritan on this list is Manu Kumar Jain, the Managing Director of Xiaomi India, who took to Twitter to announce the company is donating lakhs of N95 masks to government hospitals and state police in Karnataka, Punjab and Delhi. Xiaomi India is also donating hazmat suits for doctors at AIIMS.

Anupama Nadella, wife of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, has also donated Rs 2 crore to the Telangana Chief Ministers Welfare Fund to help poor people during the lockdown.

In the Information and Technology (IT) sector, Cognizant Technology Solutions has announced an additional payment of 25 per cent of the base pay for April for employees up to the associate level in India. This applies to 1.3 lakh employees of the IT firms India workforce. After the payout is made in the April salary, the company said it would continue to review the subsequent months as the situation required.

The Tata Group has assured all group companies that full payment will be made to temporary workers and daily wage earners for the months of March and April, while Reliance Industries (RIL) said it will raise its capacities to produce 1 lakh face masks a day and a large number of personal protective equipment such as suits and garments for health workers to equip them further to fight the coronavirus challenge.

Drawing strength from its presence in varied sectors, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate said it is also looking to ensure that all its subsidiaries pull out all the stops to support the government in its efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

RIL will provide free fuel for all emergency service vehicles, free meals in various cities, double data on all plans for existing JioFiber users, ensure sufficient supply of essentials through Reliance Retail stores and continue to pay its temporary and contract workers in a bid to mitigate any overwhelming financial burden.

On the other hand, Anand Mahindra has offered resorts owned by his company as temporary care facilities. The billionaire also offered 100 per cent of his salary to the fund and engineers at Mahindra Group are also working on manufacturing prototypes of ventilators as India faces a shortage of the lifesaving medical device. It is expected to cost less than Rs 7,500.

Chairman of Vedanta Resources Ltd Anil Agarwal also pledged to commit Rs 100 crore for the fight against the novel coronavirus that has infected over 5,49,481 people and killed almost 25,000 people globally.
Three people tested positive for COVID-19 on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the Union Territory to nine, officials said.

All of them had gone to Delhi to attend a religious programme and returned to Port Blair via Kolkata on March 24, they said.

They are undergoing treatment at the GB Pant Hospital here, officials said.

They were transported to the hospital directly from the airport after they showed coronavirus-like symptoms and did not get in contact with locals, officials said.

A group of over 10 people went to Visakhapatnam in February on a religious tour, according to the nodal officer for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Avijit Roy.

From there, they took a train to Nizamuddin in Delhi on March 16 and reached the national capital on March 18. Some of them returned to Port Blair on March 24, he said.

The local administration has started the process of contact-tracing, officials said, adding that passengers of the two flights on which the patients travelled, the policemen and the medical team who screened them at the airport and also the staff of the ambulances that transported them to the hospital have been asked to get quarantined.

The deputy commissioner of the South Andaman district has formed 75 teams for contact-tracing.

The teams, comprising officials of the Rural Development Department and the Department of Panchayati Raj and Revenue Development, cover 25 houses assigned to each of them.

Similar committees have been constituted in North and Middle Andaman and Car Nicobar districts.

A 48-bed isolation ward has been set up at the GB Pant Hospital, besides a 15-bed facility at the INHS Dhanvantri and a similar unit at PHC Chouldari for treatment.

Isolation facilities have been created in government guest houses and private hotels for asymptomatic suspicious cases, officials said, adding that there are 280 rooms with attached bathrooms for such cases.

The islands, home to several vulnerable tribes, have been put on alert following the COVID-19 cases. The administration urged the islanders to stay alert and follow the guidelines for fighting the deadly virus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Groups spokesman says the team announced by the government late on Thursday does not include all Afghan factions.

The Taliban has refused to negotiate with a team announced by the Afghan government, the armed groups spokesman has said, in a potential setback to the next steps in the United States-brokered peace process.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Saturday the group will not negotiate with the 21-member team as it was not selected in a way that included all Afghan factions.

On Thursday, the Afghan governments Ministry of Peace Affairs announced the team, with US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad praising the move as inclusive.

The team, headed by Masoom Stanekzai, former chief of the National Directorate of Security and supporter of President Ashraf Ghani, includes politicians, former officials, civil society representatives  among them five women.

The US signed a troop withdrawal deal with the Taliban in February. But progress on moving to negotiations between the group and the Afghan government has been delayed by a feud among Afghan politicians.

Negotiations have also been delayed due to a disagreement between the Taliban and the government over the release of prisoners and a possible ceasefire as preconditions for further talks.

Mujahid said the fact that the team was announced by the Afghan government violated its agreement with the US and that not all sides had agreed to the team.

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In order to reach true and lasting peace, the aforementioned team must be agreed upon by all effective Afghan sides so that it can represent all sides, he said.

In response, Najia Anwari, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Peace Affairs, said: This team was made after wide consultation with different layers of the Afghan society.

Ghanis political rival Abdullah Abdullah has not yet confirmed whether he will support the delegation, a move diplomats say would be important given Abdullahs strong influence in the countrys north and west.

Abdullahs spokesman on Friday declined to confirm or deny whether he would support the team. Both the spokesman and the US embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday.

Both Ghani and Abdullah claim to be Afghanistans rightful leader after disputed September elections.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to mediate between the two leaders to create an inclusive government during a daylong visit to Kabul on Monday.

Following his failure in breaking the political deadlock, Pompeo announced a $1bn cut in aid to Afghanistan, which he said could be reversed.
Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 73F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High around 75F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the Maldives Parliament on Saturday decided to move its session online from March 30 (Monday) and will continue to meet via video conference till the health emergency is lifted. The rehearsals for the same were done on Saturday in which the Speaker of the House, Mohamed Nasheed, participated. The Maldives has so far recorded 16 positive cases.

Speaking from Male, Nasheed said, "One-quarter of humanity, including countless lawmakers, is under de facto house arrest or some other form of isolation. But the parliaments of worldwide cannot just stop representing their people during this crisis. The institutions of democracy must continue to function. The Maldivian Parliament will go on, meeting online, and all its work will continue unimpeded."

He explained that the "crisis will change the world order; how we live; and how we produce and consume goods and services". Nasheed also said that his country "has always managed to overcome challenges, no matter how big," adding that he is "confident of emerging from this one, and prosper once more".

The Director of Media and Communications of the Maldives Parliament, Hassan Ziyau elaborating further said, "Despite members not being physically present in the parliamentary chambers, the work of the parliament will continue as normal, with all parliamentary functions, such as votes, debates, and committee meetings, taking place online.

Globally the shift is coming for meeting happening virtually. Earlier this week, leaders of the 20 biggest economies--the G20, meet virtually and discussed a joint strategy to meet with the coronavirus crisis. Before that PM Narendra Modi had proposed a SAARC summit to deal COVID-19 crisis.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  The Department of Health apologized on Saturday for the P500 daily allowance given to volunteer health professionals fighting the COVID-19 disease.

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted the majority of the agencys budget is intended for buying personal protective equipment (PPE) that is used by the frontline health workers.

Ito po ay binase namin sa allowance na binigay sa aming mga volunteers sa mga nakaraang mga outbreak response natin na ginagawa, said Vergeire.

(Translation: We based the allowance on what we gave to our volunteers during the past outbreak responses that we did.)

Vergeire assures the Health Department is now properly allocating its additional funds, which came from the supplemental budget provided by Congress to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The agency is now prioritizing compensation for volunteer health workers in their supplemental budget, along with the procurement of more PPE and healthcare packages for the disease.

These volunteer health professionals will be assigned at Lung Center, Philippine General Hospital or Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Hospital during their 28-day engagement.

The volunteer work will have 14 days of eight-hour shifts and 14 days mandatory on-site quarantine.

Labor group Defend Jobs Philippines earlier slammed the P500 allowance for the volunteer health professionals, describing it as nothing but an insult to our COVID-19 frontliners.

If the Health Department is really serious in addressing and resolving the COVID-19 pandemic then it must first and foremost take care of the welfare of our medical and non-medical professionals who are risking their lives in the frontline of the battle against coronavirus, said Thadeus Ifurung, spokesperson of Defend Jobs Philippines in a statement.

The country reached the 1,000th mark of its number of COVID-19 cases on Saturday. There are confirmed 1,075 cases of the disease in the country, along with 68 deaths and 35 recoveries.
Health professionals at Covenant Health Plainview are running out of protective gear and this week officially called on the public to help.

Cindy Wolfe, owner of Cindys Quilt Shoppe, is one of several community members who stepped up to answer the call.

On Thursday afternoon, Wolfe said she and a team of a handful of locals who know how to sew were working their way through orders for almost 200 face masks  many of them for Covenant. Its a collaborative effort bringing individuals together for a greater good.

Its just a bunch of ladies that like to sew, she said. We like to give back to the community.

When the team of seamstresses hear of a need, they try to do something. She noted projects her small business has taken on in the past including giving quilts to families that have been affected by tragedy and creating blankets for fundraisers.

Wolfe said she first learned of the local need for masks for healthcare workers when she saw a social media post by a friend.

The demand for masks across the country far outweighs the supply right now, which has prompted countless people like Wolfe and the local seamstress team to step forward and help.

One of my friends that works at the hospital posted that they were going to make some, she said.

So Wolfe and the other seamstresses began pulling their inventory together to help meet the need.

But the team is going beyond simply making the masks. Theyre also willing to help out anyone who wants to try to help but isnt sure how or maybe they dont have all the necessary supplies. Helping beyond the retail aspect is a luxury small businesses like Wolfes are able to offer.

Her local business is located in downtown Plainview at 633 Ash St. She invites those interested who want to support a small business and give to the cause to visit her shop.

Shes been pleased with the communitys willingness to help so far.

This is kind of bringing people together to worry about other people, Wolfe said.
FIVE people, including 71-year-old man Celestine Leonard from Chamchuzi Village in Karagwe District, yesterday appeared before High Court Judge, Dr Ntemi Kilekamajenga, charged with murder.

State Attorney Emmanuel Kahigi told the High Court that the five accused killed Bangilana Benedictor on July 8, 2015. Other accused are Karoli Byamungu (26), Faustine Byarugaba (57), Tumsifu Celestine (25) and Edgar Celestine (36).

Giving his defence on oath, third accused Celestine told the court that Bangilana Benedictor and he were doing a joint business of transporting oranges, maize and bananas by boat to neighbouring Rwanda across Kagera River.

He testified that on the material day, they had planned to transport oranges to Rwanda, but Bangilana did not show up. Instead, he took Bangilanas clothes and went to Rwanda.

The state attorney: Did you inform anybody that you had collected Bangilanas clothes?

Celestine: No, Your Honour, but Bangilana was my close friend.

Judge: You are the last person to have been seen in company with Bangilana. Where is he?

Celestine: I dont know. I kept his clothes in good faith.

Judge: When did you sell merchandise in Rwanda? Did you hand the money to Bangilanas wife?

Celestine: I was arrested by the police before handing over the money. The Judge adjourned the case until Monday.
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The sum of known coronavirus cases in the US soared well past 100,000, with more than 1,800 dead, as weary doctors and nurses coping with shortages resorted to extremes ranging from hiding scarce medical supplies to buying them on the black market.

New York remained the worst-hit US city, with governor Andrew Cuomo saying that the struggle to defeat the virus will take weeks and weeks and weeks. Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

As shortages of key medical supplies abounded, desperate physicians and nurses were forced to take matters into their own hands. New York-area doctors said they have had to recycle some protective gear, or even resort to bootleg suppliers.

An emergency room doctor in Michigan, an emerging epicentre of the pandemic, said he was wearing one paper face mask for an entire shift due to a shortage and that hospitals in the Detroit area would soon run out of ventilators.
Cassie Willcocks lost her job at a cafe in Melbourne's north last week. She now has $200 in her bank account and lives off two meals a day.

The 28-year-old media graduate says she is fortunate to have friends who are willing to cover her rent until she figures out her next move. She's been on the phone to Centrelink, trying to sort out welfare payments, but has been hung up on, had the website crash on her and can't get another human on the line.

Cassie Willcocks has just discovered she has $8800 in super and is considering drawing down to pay her bills. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Until this week, Willcocks had no idea how much super she had or where it was held. When the government legislated emergency measures to allow people who have lost their job as a result of coronavirus to access up to $20,000 in two instalments from their super funds, she used the Australian Taxation Office website to discover she had $8800 spread across five funds. "I was shocked," she says.
Hannah McEvoy, winner of the overall award at the annual B.Applied Science in Nutrition, Food and Business Management, New Product Development NPD showcase at St. Angelas College with Veronica Tobin and Cliona Keating who received highly commended awards

Castleconnor: CASTLECONNOR LOTTO - There was no winner of the 24,500 jackpot, numbers drawn were 23, 32, 36, and 37, No jackpot winner, lucky-dip winners were Mark Boland, Kathleen Carrabine, and Paul Egan, next week's jackpot is 24,600.

Due to spreading of Covid-19 virus, the club has taken the decision to make the following changes to our weekly lotto. We make this decision to protect our lotto volunteers in these difficult times.

After (March 14) draw we will not be offering cash purchases for our lotto draw till further notice. Anyone wishing to be included in the draw will have to buy their ticket online or be the owner of an annual lotto Ticket. There will be no envelopes left in shops/pubs etc. The lotto Box in these premises will contain a note instead with a link to our online lotto. There will be a phone number on each box that can be texted and we will reply with a link allowing online lotto. The draw will be carried out online starting on March 21 It will be witnessed by at least two members from the club lotto volunteers. A video will be made of the draw and this will be shared online.

We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause. We urge people to continue to support our lotto. This is what keeps our club running.

GAA club notes

The club development workshop scheduled for Sunday the 15th has been cancelled and will be re-scheduled at the earliest opportunity. The club had also intended on making a presentation to Micheal Naughton to mark his election as LGFA president. This is also cancelled and will be re-scheduled at a later date. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

OFFER OF ASSISTANCE - We are in unchartered territory in modern times with the appearance of the COVID-19 virus on these shores. Castleconnor GAA is about more than just sport. The club is the center of the community and we have a role to play to help those most vulnerable to this virus.

The club would like to offer our assistance to anyone in our community that needs help or assistance, whether it be to collect something from the shop, pharmacy or any other help. If help is needed please contact us on this email (secretary.castleconnor.sligo@gaa.ie) or this number 087 6854413, contact us here on Facebook or alternatively contact any club executive member. Working together we can get through this difficult time.

AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY

We at Castleconnor Amateur Dramatic Society, would like to wish everyone well in these tough times. Please follow the guidelines issued by the HSE and others. Details on what we all need to do can be found at: www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/and health.gov.ie, Twitter accounts: @HSELive, @hpscireland, @roinnslainte, @CMOireland

We would also like to let everyone in our community know that we are here to help in whatever capacity we can. When we put on our productions, our community come out in numbers to support us and now we would like to return that goodwill. If you require anything or any assistance, contact us on our Facebook page and we will do whatever we can.

One thing that we have in abundance, is a great community spirit in Castleconnor, and we know that our community will look out for each other.

More than that, life does continue. People need to be entertained and have a laugh. We are planning to bring you short clips of some of the plays we have performed over the years. There will be many familiar faces, and some, unfortunately have passed, but the enjoyment they have given us all in these productions continues. Please feel free to discuss and particular favourites, or parts of those favourites that you may like to see.

Stay safe everyone, and keep washing those hands.

Easkey-Dromore West

Volunteer group

Easkey Public Forum Group has set up a volunteer group to help the self-isolated and vulnerable people in the parish. The contact number is 087 2791427 so that all the vulnerable people in the parish can know that they just have to call that number and that there are local people waiting to help.

They are currently putting in-place protocols for volunteers to be sure that they do not inadvertently spread this virus.

Working with our group of local volunteers from Easkey, who have come together in the interest of the welfare of the 'self-isolated and most vulnerable' in our community.

Bernie's Store and Cavanagh's Meats are offering a free delivery service. Please phone-in your orders direct to these local shops and then along with the volunteer group we will do our very best together to make sure that you get everything that you need.

Contact numbers: VOLUNTEERS HELP LINE 087 2791427 BERNIE'S STORE 096 49846 CAVENAGHS MEATS 096 49891 or 086 0579021.

Meals on Wheels

Anybody that wishes to avail of a meal delivered to their door in this difficult time at a cost of 5. Contact 087 6186866.

Enniscrone

SYMPATHY

Sincere condolences are offered to the family of Pat McCreanor, Carrowhubbock South, and Enniscrone, who passed peacefully, at the Ard Na Greine nursing home, Enniscrone. Predeceased by his parents Belinda and Tommy, sisters Pauline and Anntoinette. Pat, sadly missed by his brothers Brian, Gerry and John and Raymond, sisters Maire, Rose and Catherine, brother-in-law Seamus, sister-in-law Be, nephews, nieces, grandniece, grandnephew, cousins, relatives and friends.

He was reposed at McGowan's funeral home, Ballina (F26 V274) on Friday the 13th from 5 p.m. with removal at 6.30 p.m. to the Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, Enniscrone, arriving at 7 p.m. Requiem Mass on Saturday at midday with funeral proceeding to St Patrick's cemetery, Enniscrone. May he rest in peace.

WEST SLIGO FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

In the interest of staff and public well-being, West Sligo Family Resource Centre will be closed to the public from today March 16 till March 29. However, you will still be able to contact staff through phone or email if you require information, advice or support.

Please contact Roisin, Coordinator at 087 3650949 or Heather, Family Support Worker at 087 2506773 or email info@westsligofrc.ie Kind regards, management of West Sligo FRC.

GAELIC 4 MOTHERS & OTHERS

On Saturday the 7th we took part in a Strength and Conditioning training video which was filmed by the LGFA. We were delighted to be part of the initiative along with Castleconnor G4M and O'The Strength and Conditioning programme was developed and facilitated by Paul Ginty from Quay Fitness Ballina - Private 1:1 S & C Gym. Well done to everyone involved. It was great to have recorded the session in the clubs fantastic indoor astroturf facilities. Enniscrone-Kilglass GAA

CENTRA ENNISCRONE

Free home delivery service for all orders over 40 from Monday the 16th. If any of our customers feel vulnerable or unable to call into town, please phone our shop at 096 36417. There is no need to panic buy. We have plenty of stock in store. We are open from 7 a.m. till 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday. 8 a.m. till 10 p.m. on Sundays. Please ring in your orders before midday to receive your delivery on the same day. We will introduce the home delivery service on a daily basis for all our local customers. Ph 096 36417.

CHECKOUT ENNISCRONE

For any local customers who need to self isolate or feel vulnerable and would prefer not to leave their house call us at 096 37002 and we will do our best to deliver your essentials, Kind regards Joe and team.

KILGLASS ENNISCRONE UNITED FC

Until further notice all training sessions, games are cancelled. This will pass in time till then we wish all in our communities' health and safe keeping and are mindful and as helpful to each other, as we all can.

BLOTTO

The blotto draw has been suspended for the foreseeable future due to the Coronavirus (covid - 19). Date and venue for next draw will be announced in due course.

Gurteen

SUSPENSION OF MASSES

In line with National and Governmental efforts to stem the spread of Covid - 19 - the decision is reluctantly taken to cancel all public Masses in Achonry Diocese including Vigil and Sunday Masses this weekend and up to and including March 29 so Gurteen Parish had to adhere to the decision and so there were no Public Masses in the parish this weekend and up to the March 29. Churches will be open during the day for personal visits and prayers.

RECENT DEATHS

The death took place on March 10 in Bailey's Nursing Home, Tubbercurry of Gerry Pilkington, Kilfree, Gurteen.

Aged 90 years he was an retired employee of the ESB and always attended all their get togethers and functions down the years. A popular and well-liked member of the community he will be sadly missed by all that knew him. He was predeceased by his wife Kathleen and his son Terence.

His remains reposed at his residence on Tuesday evening and Wednesday and were removed to St Patrick's Church on Thursday for Mass of the Resurrection celebrated by parish priest Fr Joe Caulfield Traditional musicians played at the Mass - as Gerry was a great lover of the trad music. Burial took place at Carrentemple Cemetery.

He is survived by his daughters Marie, Annette and Kevina, sons Padraig, Seamus, Gerard and John, sons - in-law, daughters - in law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and many friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended. May he rest in peace.

DIED IN LONDON - The death took place on March 1 in London of Annie Mary Durkan sister of Fr John Durkan a former priest in Cloonloo. Sympathy to Fr John and to all her relations and friends. May she Rest in Peace.

RECENT BIRTH

Congratulations to Siobhan and Emmet Cooney, Boyle Road, Gurteen on the recent birth of their baby son Brendan Thomas - a brother to Anna.

Congratulations also to William Powell and Jenny Stevens, Derrykinlough, on the birth of baby Axl George on February 29.

COMMUNITY CARE

Gurteen Community Care wishes to inform everyone that should there will need for any help or assistance over the coming weeks that they can be called upon to help. Please feel free to ring any of the following members.

Carmel at 086 0621913: Christine at 087 6364044: Seamus at 087 2934782 and Paddy at 086 2380375.

Councillor Paul Taylor has also offered to help anyone who needs shopping delivered, prescriptions filled, or fuel delivered he can be contacted at 087 679450.

Keash-Culfadda

Deaths

We offer our sincere condolences to Treasa Duffy, Binganagh and her family on the loss of Treasa's dad recently; Jim Donohue. Jim was a very kind and well respected man. Our thoughts and prayers are with Treasa and her family at this difficult time.

Masses

Please note that both churches within our parish remain open but as with all churches in the diocese's of Achonry, there are no Masses being said in public. There is a special prayer left at the candlebra's (candle stands) within the church's and people are Invited at different times during the day to come and pray at this important time and ask for Gods guidance for us all, through these difficult times.

Updates will be made available on our parish website (keashparish.ie), the parish Facebook page and on the 'WhatsApp' messaging service. Anyone wanting to join the Parish WhatsApp messaging service (on their phones) are asked to let Fr Murphy know.

Playground

The playground remains closed due to the Coronavirus.

Coronavirus

Please be mindful of people living close by who are possibly vulnerable or frightened at this time. Please phone these people and ensure that they have their essentials. Please assist them in a responsible way where they need your help.

Please think carefully before coming in contact with others (especially those who maybe vulnerable). Before leaving home each morning, each of us individually need to think of how we potentially come in contact with others during that day. We each need to take responsibility and make sure such contact is necessary and that all necessary safeguards are in place and being respected by all.

Clasp

Clasps meals on wheels service in Keash remains open for business. If anyone requires a hot meal over the coming days or weeks for areas, please contact Cathorina Mullen at 087 9083764.

Notes

All notes to be emailed to kcnotes1@gmail.com before 9 p.m. any Thursday for publication the following week.
Gov. Tom Wolf this week asked Washington to ease restrictions on federal food assistance programs, to help meet the needs of a growing number of families economically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The approval has been granted.

Pennsylvania has gotten the go-ahead to proceed with a Disaster Household Distribution program, which will allow state officials to ensure that families facing layoffs as a result of the coronavirus are able to eat and also to feed their children.

Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians have applied for unemployment compensation after just two weeks of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Im incredibly grateful for the U.S. Department of Agricultures acknowledgement of our need to feed Pennsylvania, Wolf said. This waiver lifts a weight off the shoulders of our food banks and families across the commonwealth.

More: The number of new cases on Saturday

Pennsylvania has seen an unprecedented number of initial claims for unemployment compensation, Wolf noted. Charitable food systems are struggling to meet the increased demands of Pennsylvanians who are temporarily out of work.

According to the state Department of Labor and Industry in the last week, more than 749,000 state residents have filed for unemployment. Pennsylvania is among states with the fastest-rising unemployment.

Wolf this week had written to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue asking that Washington waive eligibility requirements for a number of programs, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program, amid an uptick in cases of coronavirus.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has received approval for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to proceed with the disaster food distribution program, which is being operated through a network of food banks, food pantries and pop-up distribution sites.

The unified, bipartisan support we saw as we pushed for this waiver is proof that were truly all in this together, added Redding. We will overcome this trial; and until that day, we will work hand in hand  figuratively, of course  to provide for the Pennsylvanians who are sacrificing so much for the sake of protecting their neighbors.

Pennsylvania relaxes medical licensing for retired medical professionals

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Philadelphia)  Strapping on masks. Rationing supplies for patients. Putting themselves in potential danger during the epidemic.

The frontline for keeping the coronavirus at bay isnt just in hospitals, its also maintained by Pennsylvanias tens of thousands of home health care workers, deployed to bedsides across the commonwealth.

Like grocery store clerks and delivery drivers, providers of in-home care are considered essential during Pennsylvanias coronavirus lockdown. In this job, social distancing is impossible, and the clients are some of the most vulnerable to becoming seriously ill from the virus.

l love helping people, seniors and people with disabilities, who cannot do for themselves, said Lolita Owens, a home care worker with Liberty Resources Home Choices in Philadelphia. The downfall is not making enough money, [enough] benefits, and, at this present point in time, this particular virus.

Owens spends 40-60 hours a week working with two elderly people. Just this week, one got sick and thought it could be COVID-19. She hustled to get her client care and answers, she said, before it became clear that the illness was something else.

The home health care industry ranks second in the commonwealth for projected job growth, a state where more than 16% of residents are 65 and over. The field encompasses everything from skilled nursing to hospice care to more basic assistance with tasks like getting dressed and washing the dishes.

Under normal circumstances, these high touch and often low-paid workers provide their home-bound clients a critical link to the outside world.

Now, in a time of stay-at-home orders, home care aides worry about the health implications of the job, which state data shows averages a $25,000 salary. Are they putting themselves at risk? Their clients? Owens, 49, is concerned about doing things other people are avoiding right now, such as taking public transportation.

Its scary, but thats the only way Im going to get there, she said. So I dont have a choice but to do it.

Theres real fear on the client side as well.

Jack Freedman, 24, of West Chester, has a neuromuscular disease thats required round-the-clock care from a team of home care aides for his entire life. He has a tracheostomy, a tube in his windpipe, and mechanical ventilation to help him breathe. Even getting a cold can be dangerous.

Jack Freedman and his dad, Al Freedman. Courtesy of Al Freedman

Now, as care workers come and go, his parents cant help but feeling more anxious.

[We] feel like weve been dodging bullets for a long time. This virus feels like were dodging bullets from a machine gun, said his dad Al Freedman, who estimates his son has spent more than 300 nights in an intensive care unit during his lifetime.

Completely screwed

There are also looming concerns for the home care industry as a whole at the moment.

The shortage of protective equipment, like gloves and masks, has hit home care hard. Home health agencies are scrambling to provide supplies, often the same ones doctors and hospitals also need, to their workers.

Its a real challenge and obviously a challenge for all, said Teri Henning, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

As nursing homes and assisted living facilities have closed to visitors, theres also been some confusion about whether home care aides can enter facilities during lockdown.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Homecare Association reached out to the state Department of Health, requesting more information on how to get a hold of personal protective equipment, and asking for clearer guidance to clarify that home health, hospice and homecare providers are healthcare providers, and should be allowed in nursing homes and assisted living facilities if they are taking proper precautions.

Its a significant issue. Sometimes there really are life-critical services that are being provided, and we just try to do the best we can, Henning said.

With coronavirus cases now reported in nursing homes in Pennsylvania, groups representing elderly Pennsylvanians and their caretakers have sounded the alarm about the inadequate supply of protective equipment and asked for a $290 infusion of cash to pay staff and keep supplies flowing.

Fear and a sudden downturn in the economy has also cost some home care workers their jobs. Especially hard hit are the large numbers of aides who work more informally, often directly for an individual or family.

Domestic workersreally are on the frontlines of keeping familys homes safe and clean which is so critical during this time, yet are either being put in the position of not being able to pay their bills and not being able to pay rent on April 1, or putting themselves physically in harms way, said Nicole Kligerman, director of the Pennsylvania Domestic Workers Alliance.

The group represents house cleaners, nannies and domestic caregivers who work for cash, the majority of whom are immigrants not authorized to work in the United States.

Nearly all are losing work, and without access to unemployment benefits and other supports, according to Kligerman.

Theyre completely screwed, she said.

The Pennsylvania Domestic Workers Alliance is a part of a national group that launched a coronavirus care fund, to help pay homecare workers who get sick or lose wages.

Theyre also urging the City of Philadelphia to provide assistance for contract and informal workers.

The virus itself is also keeping caregivers from their jobs.

In Jack Freedmans case, more than 10 care workers from four different agencies are a part of his care team. But three have already dropped out due to coronavirus related restrictions  two in quarantine, and one who traveled to West Africa to visit family and now cannot travel back.

Tuesday evening, nurse Dawn Pye went over the familys new enhanced sanitization protocol, used by many of the nurses at her agency, Lincoln Healthcare.

Now, they wear masks and bring a change of clothes if theyre not coming directly from home. Shoes are left outside, and phones wiped down.

She also went through Freedmans supply list, marking off which things could be reused or rationed to make them last longer. Trach filters, catheters, oxygen supplies, ventilating equipment were catalogued and gamed out  in case they become harder to come by.

Pye sighed.

Anything can be cleaned and reused in a dire need, she said.

This story originally appeared on WHYY.org.
Once a routine part of office operations, cleaning has become a flashpoint for workers at businesses that remain open amid the coronavirus outbreak. New technologies might promise more safety one day, but the present-day reality for some workers is a fear of exposure on the job.

One worker at a UPS facility in San Francisco said he could not get an answer about whether a delivery truck had been cleaned. He said the company had mainly handed out small bottles of hand sanitizer.

Were not being given what we need to make sure were safe in our work environment, said the worker, who asked not to be named. The Chronicle granted the worker anonymity, in accordance with its policy on such sources, because of the workers fear of retaliation by his employer and colleagues.

The worker also described close quarters and a lack of physical separation  the mandates in the Bay Area for social distancing  at the Potrero Hill shipping facility. Photos from inside the worksite showed employees standing less than 6 feet apart, with some not wearing gloves or masks while processing packages.

Employees at the facility are crammed in around a 36-inch-wide conveyor belt, dealing with shipment volumes akin to the rush around Christmas time, the employee added, noting Everybody is passing everybody in this 3-foot space, the worker said.

UPS spokesman Matthew OConnor said in an email that the company has substantially increased the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces in its facilities including delivery vehicles and has added space between workstations inside company workplaces.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

OConnor said the company had delivered 250,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to employees and handed out 17,000 masks at facilities across the U.S., with a similar number en route. He added sick employees are required to seek medical treatment and those diagnosed with or quarantining because of the virus receive 10 days of pay.

Procuring masks and gloves can be extremely difficult because medical facilities are in more dire need than businesses like UPS, said Joe Cilia, secretary and treasurer of the Teamsters Local 2785 union chapter which represents some workers at the UPS facility.

He added that UPS had tried to mark cleaned vehicles with Post-It notes or by engaging the seat belts of parked trucks, but that the system was far from perfect.

Cilia agreed that large employers like UPS need to do a better job of enforcing social distancing. Im telling my members you need to stop talking to everybody and socializing because thats where its going to be transmitted, he said.

While companies struggle to stay ahead of the virus during the present crisis, the future of workplace cleaning could look very different.

SoftBank Robotics, a subsidiary of the Japanese technology company whose U.S. headquarters are in San Francisco, sells an automated sweeping robot called Whiz. It does repetitive, time-consuming tasks, allowing human cleaners to execute deeper cleans.

How clean is everything that Im touching? is a key question for the cleaning industry now, said SoftBank Robotics Kass Dawson.

Whiz is sold mostly for large office buildings. Interest in the product has been on the rise, although many businesses are wary of making large purchases during a global economic slowdown, Dawson said.

They understand the value, but folks are still interested in trying to understand where the world is going to net out after this financially, he added.

Other types of machines that kill mold, viruses and other microbes are already common in the building restoration industry, according to Matthew Sharpe, executive manager of Dry Kings Restoration in San Rafael. Sharpe said he typically uses the machines after tearing out moldy walls to eliminate spores from the air.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Sharpe has begun lending his stock of hydroxyl generators, which use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms in the air, to local hospitals and homes for the elderly, where many are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the coronavirus disease. The machines are not specifically rated to kill the coronavirus, but are designed to treat pathogens in the air. They have been installed in other facilities where coronavirus infections have proliferated.

They should be standard use, Sharpe said. It would be nice if they built them into the air conditioning systems, he added, noting the machines ranged from $1,000 to over $3,000 depending on size. He said he planned to donate about 20 to Bay Area organizations.

More Information Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on sfchronicle.com. See More Collapse

Air filtration is not enough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends using diluted bleach or solutions with at least 70% alcohol to disinfect surfaces.

The CDC website recommends cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces daily in the home including tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets and sinks.

Despite most business activity screeching to a halt, some cleaning businesses are continuing to see demand.

Were seeing normal levels of business, said Dany Paz, owner of San Franciscos Authentic Commercial Cleaning.

Paz said his company cleans large buildings like warehouses and is getting more requests for thorough disinfecting of chairs, tables, walls, phones, everything.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Senator Manny Pacquiao announced on Saturday he had tested negative of coronavirus infection, using a rapid testing kit from South Korea.

He said that while the testing kit is not yet approved by the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration, it is the one used in South Korea that has been praised for its use in mass testing.

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala. May natanggap po akong Rapid Testing Kits mula sa aking mga kaibigan sa South Korea. Gamit ang rapid test kit na approved sa Korea, ako po ay nag-negatibo. Hindi pa approved ng FDA dito pero yon po ang ginagamit sa Korea," Pacquiao said in a statement.

[Translation: Don't worry. I received rapid testing kits from my friends in South Korea. Using this rapid test kit which is approved in Korea, I tested negative. It's not yet approved by the FDA here but it is used now in Korea.]

Pacquiao said he has decided to go on home quarantine even before receiving a letter from their barangay captain urging him to go on self-quarantine  following confirmed cases of coronavirus infection among his colleagues. Three senators have tested positive for the viral disease  Migz Zubiri, Koko Pimentel, and Sonny Angara.

Pacquiao said he has not left home since the special session of Congress on Monday that passed measures in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

He stressed that he has not exhibited any red-flag symptoms for coronavirus infection such as fever and dry cough, that's why he chose not to get tested by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

"Ibang usapan na po kung meron akong kakaibang nararamdaman as aking katawan (It's a different story when I start feeling something different in my body). Once I experience symptoms, I am willing to undergo the swab testing for the sake of my family and my country, but I will go through the regular procedure," Pacquiao said.

"Naniniwala po kasi ako na marami tayong Persons Under Investigation o PUI na dapat unahin pagdating sa testing," he added.

[Translation: I believe we have many persons under investigation or PUI who need to be prioritized for testing.]

There have been calls for mass testing, but the Department of Health said the country does not have the resources for it yet.

Pacquiao's staff received on Friday around 57,000 testing kits and 500,000 face masks donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma at the DOH main office in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The senator said more supplies are coming, and the regional centers in the Visayas and Mindanao regionsl will also be provided with such.

The Philippines now has 803 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 54 have died while 31 have recovered.
KAMPALA  The United States Embassy in Uganda has issued a health alert to its Nationals in Uganda, with plans to evacuate its citizens as Ugandas cases of patients that tested positive to COVID-19 rose to 23.

In its latest communique, the US Embassy gave guidelines to its Nationals on how to Book Commercial Flight for Next Week, adding that the Embassy is liaising with the Ugandan government to allow a plane to land at and depart from Entebbe International Airport, sometime within the next week.

The health alert noted, This will not be a U.S. government-operated or funded flight. Availability and cancellations will be controlled by the airline. The flight will be via an international routing to either JFK or IAD, with the option for onward domestic flights according to availability. The airline estimates the cost will be approximately $2500 per ticket for an itinerary terminating at IAD. The price may vary, depending on final destination.

It should be recalled that as part of the Measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni announced the closure of Ugandas airspace to all passengers, except cargo until further notice.

The directive appears to be hampering US Embassys evacuation of its Nationals a move, that has left them embroiled in negotiations with Ugandan officials to allow Civil Aviation Authority open this flight to the public on their website once it has been confirmed.

The Embassy wrote, However, if you want to book prior to publication of the flight, please send the below information via email and indicate that we can release your information to the airline. Please title your email: Booking Consent. You will then receive instructions via email on how to pay for your booking to finalize the reservation.

If you have already sent ALL the information below and you want to book the flight, please send via email your permission (statement below) to share your information with the airline solely for the purpose of booking your flight, as well as your final destination in the United States.

Americans interested in leaving Uganda have up to 8:00am Monday, March 30, 2020, to express their interest.

The Nationals also have the alternatively to wait until the flight is made available publicly, but they were warned that the last-minute decision would be risky as there would bd no guarantee that they would secure a seat.

Again, the flight will be subject to airline cancellations. If the airline does not register sufficient interest from the general public, there is a chance that the flight will be canceled, read in part the statement.

As opposed to Uganda that has registered 23 cases, US has 104,256 confirmed cases, 1,704 deaths with 2,525 recoveries. New York City has been hit the hardest number of cases at 46,262 and 606 deaths.

Related
On Thursday, Haymarket Books and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) hosted an online event titled How to beat Coronavirus capitalism featuring author Naomi Klein, Princeton professor and DSA member Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Debt Collective spokesperson and documentarian Astra Taylor.

The event was called to paper over the role of the Democratic Party in creating conditions for the coronavirus to wreak havoc on the population of the US. Despite the meetings title and the left-wing pretensions of the speakers, there was hardly any reference to capitalism. The word socialism did not make an appearance and the Democratic Party was only referenced in favorable terms.

The pro-Democratic Party thrust of the event sheds further light on the right-wing political motive behind the decision to dissolve the International Socialist Organization (ISO), with which Haymarket Books was previously affiliated, in March 2019, with most members joining the DSA. Thursdays speakers were so careful to avoid any allusion to even nominal independence from the Democratic Party that they could not even mention the name of the DSA, which hosted the event!

The total lack of criticism of the Democratic Party or the capitalist system was all the more notable considering the speakers criticism of the $2.2 trillion corporate bailout signed yesterday by Donald Trump.

Klein, a prominent supporter of Bernie Sanders and author of the 2007 book Shock Doctrine, denounced no strings attached bailouts as an attack on public wealth  in the interest of the people who are already obscenely wealthy. Astra Taylor, director of the documentary Zizek!, called the bill a massive influx of corporate money.

And while each speaker denounced Donald Trump for securing passage of the bailout bill, no speaker made reference to the fact that the Democratic Party unanimously supported the bill, which provides trillions of dollars to the banks and corporations and only temporary payments to laid-off workers. The speakers refusal to reference that Bernie Sanders voted yes on this corporate boondoggle is perhaps explained by Kleins acknowledgement that weve all been part of the Sanders campaign on this call.

Astra Taylor went so far as to openly praise the Democrats for pushing for student debt relief as part of the package in the bailout bill. Klein referenced some hard-won elements in the bailout in the US which are better than what the Republicans were intending to do.

The speakers repeated various obvious criticisms of Trumps handling of the crisis, echoing those already made by the same Democratic Party leaders who have enthusiastically embraced Trumps bill.

At one point, Klein said, Yes, we need to focus on Trump and the way his hotels will profit from this, but this is not just about Trump. If this gave more critical listeners hope that a criticism of the Obama administration for its bailout of Wall Street and its cuts to public health and social programs was forthcoming, such hope was dashed when Klein continued by criticizing low-hanging fruit like Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Vice President Mike Pence.

Each speaker referenced the impact of the 2008 financial crash. Yamahtta Taylor explained, The 2008 financial crisis was really one of these moments of revelation which showed the ways that bankers and corporatists around the world destroy the global economy, destroy ordinary peoples lives and get away with it. Klein said the Republicans had a disgraceful track record of profiting off of the last global crisis.

But no speaker acknowledged that it was the Obama administration and the Democratic Party that did the lions share of the work on behalf of Wall Street, following in the footsteps of the Bush administration, overseeing the $700 billion bank bailout and refusing to lift a finger to halt or even slow the foreclosure of four million Americans homes. When Obama took office with a majority in the House and a supermajority in the Senate, the administration appointed bankers to its cabinet and extended Bushs tax cuts for the wealthy. But the name Barack Obama was absent from the event in its entirety.

As for programmatic proposals, the speakers had absolutely nothing to offer. Expressing the middle-class attitude of those living in relative privilege who are completely separated from the reality confronting the working class, Astra Taylor proclaimed that victims of the coronavirus crisis should take action by making zero payments on student loan debt. This, she said, was not only incredibly easy to do, it was also the way to build a new kind of economic power. Dont pay your bills  if only workers had thought of this brilliant solution!

To the extent the speakers put forward any actual political program, this was expressed most clearly by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, who said: The old Occupy [Wall Street] formulation still has great resonance, of the one percent and the 99 percent. How do we build on the connection and solidarity between the 99 percent that puts us in a situation where our protests are not just viable but effective?

This perspective of subordinating the class interests of the bottom 90 percent of the populationthe working class and more precarious layers of the middle-classto the interests of the wealthy next nine percent, forms the basis of pseudo-left politics. As a matter of the relations between classes, there can be no solidarity between the affluent sections of the upper middle class for whom Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor speaks and the masses of people who now confront unemployment, eviction and the prospect of poverty.

The speakers attempted to create such solidarity between social layers with antagonistic class interests by relying on the most vapid catchphrases of pseudo-left and postmodernist politics.

For example, Klein proclaimed that our interdependence is becoming more visible and called for a truly regenerative economy based on care. Astra Taylor explained to viewers that you are not a loan and urged the need to reach across this distance and aggregate our power. The speakers made reference to the need to unpack various concepts, with Astra Taylor explaining the solution lies in thinking a lot about language.

Typical of some graduate student seminars, but completely worthless in reality. Here a word must be added about the unserious character of the event, in which speakers laughed and joked amongst themselves as the death toll rises. Klein said more than she intended when she said she is obviously incredibly privileged before laughingly inviting her dog Smoke to appear on camera.

What is really required to save the lives of tens of millions of people is the socialist program based on the class struggle put forward by the Socialist Equality Party.

The SEP calls for the enactment of a plan to nationalize the major industries, provide sick leave on full pay to all genuinely nonessential workers, coronavirus protection at work for all essential employees, and using trillions of dollars in government funding, procured through taxes on the rich, to produce the medical equipment required to save lives and to protect against the spread of the virus.

We demand an end to all sanctions and trade war measures to ensure an internationally coordinated response to a disease that does not respect the arbitrary borders of the nation state system.

We do not anticipate that the capitalist governments will enact such lifesaving measures. To this end we call for workers to organize rank-and-file committees in their workplaces, neighborhoods and schools to carry forward these social demands, enforce closures and shutdowns and guard against the implementation of police-state measures that the ruling class intends to keep in place long after the disease has passed.

This is the perspectivethe total opposite of that put forward by the DSA and Haymarket Booksthat the Socialist Equality Party will elaborate on Sunday, March 29 at 1 PM at its online forum, The Covid-19 pandemic: Capitalism and the making of a social and economic catastrophe. We encourage all readers to attend this critical international meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 14:05:26|Editor: yhy

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CANBERRA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has increased by more than 200 overnight.

According to the latest data from the Department of Health, there were 3,378 cases as of Saturday morning - an increase of 212 from 3,166 on Friday afternoon.

New South Wales (NSW) has 1,617 confirmed cases of the virus so far before any other state or territory reaches 1,000.

With the number of cases nationwide continuing to grow by approximately 20 percent every day, governments across the country are introducing stricter measures to slow the spread.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that from Sunday the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will begin assisting state and territory governments in undertaking quarantine compliance checks of those who are required to be in mandatory isolation after returning from overseas.

"As soon as possible, but no later than 11:59pm Saturday 28 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia will be required to undertake their mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities (for example, a hotel)," said a statement from the prime minister on Friday.

South Australia Police on Friday night announced a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.

Following on from that announcement, Premier Steven Marshall on Saturday morning announced fines of up to 5,000 Australian dollars (3,082 U.S. dollars) for businesses and 1,000 AUD (616.5 USD) for individuals caught "flouting" the rules.

"We are only as strong as our weakest link," he said.

"Everyone needs to understand that from today failure to follow the directions to the letter of the law will leave individuals and businesses liable for significant on-the-spot fines.

"SA Police have established a new team dedicated to enforcing quarantine rules, social distancing restrictions and business closure rules, and will be knocking on the doors of individuals and businesses to ensure pandemic restrictions are being adhered to."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is undergoing treatment for coronavirus, has been moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his conditioned worsened yesterday afternoon. As per reports, Boris Johnson has been moved to the ICU on advice of his medical team. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is First Secretary to State, will deputise him wherever necessary.

The No 10 Downing Street spokesperson said that PM Johnson is receiving excellent care and is in good spirits. He is also staying in touch with his ministers to oversee UKs preparedness to fight coronavirus.

The UK Prime Minister was taken to hospital on Sunday night when his fever continued despite being on self-isolation for over a week.

Id like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.  Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020

He took to Twitter to inform that since he is still experiencing coronavirus symptoms, he went to the hospital for further tests. As per reports, PM Johnson was given oxygen late on Monday afternoon after being shifted to ICU.

COVID-19 positive British PM had confirmed shaking hands with coronavirus patients

The United Kingdoms Prime Minister Boris Johnson today made a grim announcement that he has tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus. The Prime Minister claimed that he is in self-isolation in Downing street with mild symptoms for the disease. Johnsons confirmation on contracting the deadly contagion came weeks after his admission that he met coronavirus patients and shook hands with them at a hospital.

I was at a hospital where there were a few #coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody, you will be pleased to know. And I continue to shake hands, says Boris Johnson. I would cancel the weekly audience if I were the Queen.

pic.twitter.com/fqPvgxSPhz  Ragnar Weilandt (@RagnarWeilandt) March 3, 2020

I was at the hospital the other night where there were some coronavirus patients admitted as well. But I shook hands with everybody. You would be pleased to know that I shook hands with everyone in the hospital and I continue to shake hands an upbeat British PM Boris Johnson said in a press briefing on March 3, 2020.

However, weeks after brazenly defying the instructions advised by healthcare professionals to maintain social distancing and avoid physical contact, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was found carrying mild symptoms for COVID-19 that has so far affected around 560,000 people worldwide and left more than 25000 people dead.

In addition to Boris Johnson, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock also tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus. He uploaded a video on Twitter confirming of contracting the virus and exhibiting mild symptoms of the contagion.

Following medical advice, I was advised to test for #Coronavirus. Ive tested positive. Thankfully my symptoms are mild and Im working from home & self-isolating. Vital we follow the advice to protect our NHS & save lives#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/TguWH6Blij  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 27, 2020

I have been working from home since the last couple of days because everyone who can work from home should work from home. I have also had some mild symptoms of coronavirus and upon medical advice, I was tested and that test has been positive. So, I have been self-isolating myself and working from home till next Thursday, Hancock said.

The explosive revelation that the Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the British Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive for the novel coronavirus may have set a large number of people on their heels. However, for many, who had been critical of Britains laissez-faire initial approach in fighting the scourge of the COVID-19, Johnson and Hancocks confirmed infection did not come as a surprise.

Britain had earlier adopted a hair-brained approach to confront the threat posed by the Wuhan coronavirus. The United Kingdom, through its initial strategy, tried to build herd immunity against the contagion which involved allowing enough of Britons to contract the virus and get mild illness to become immune to the pathogen. It chose not to shut down large gatherings or introduce stringent social distancing measures. But, the virus devastating run causing grave destruction in many countries across the world, including Spain and Italy, forced Britain to alter its strategy in its fight against the virus. Ramping up the countrys response to the virus, it announced sweeping lockdown of the entire country. However, it is now being widely reported that Britains relaxed approach initially may have rendered half of the population of the country infected.
US sending destroyer through Taiwan Straits during pandemic a reckless move: experts

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 1:43:40

Despite eight confirmed COVID-19 cases on US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and fast increasing number in the US military across the world, the US on Wednesday reportedly sent a warship through the Taiwan Straits.

Sending a warship through the Taiwan Straits at any time is seen as a provocation to Beijing but doing it now when Washington faces greater challenge to contain the COVID-19 seems especially reckless, analysts said.

The US has been continuously taking negative actions on the Taiwan question including sending warships through the Taiwan Straits, which heavily interrupts China's internal affairs, sabotages peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, poisons ties between the two countries and the two militaries, and releases wrong signals to Taiwan secessionist forces, which are very dangerous, said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang at a regular press conference on Thursday.

The People's Liberation Army has the firm will, full confidence and enough capability to defeat any secessionist activities and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ren said.

Ren's statement came after US destroyer McCampbell crossed the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday on a navigation training mission, Taiwan media reported on Thursday, citing the island's defense authority.

The US military should focus on its own COVID-19 epidemic control work, because things are not looking good for them, a Chinese mainland military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

The Pentagon announced 53 new cases of US military service members on Wednesday, bringing the number to 227 worldwide, forcing US Defense Secretary Mark Esper to issue a stop movement order on Wednesday to the US military and halt all travel and movement abroad for up to 60 days, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Another possibility is that the US destroyer was on its way back to base due to this stop order, but even so, it could send a wrong signal of encouragement to Taiwan secessionists, the expert said.

The McCampbell's transit through the Taiwan Straits came at a time when five additional sailors aboard the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, also deployed in the Pacific, have tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, making the total number now eight, US media outlet the Hill reported on Thursday.

Warships have tighter spaces and less comfortable living conditions than a civilian cruise ship, and staying in a confined space for too long will risk aerosol transmission as the virus density could be very high, warned Wang Peiyu, deputy head of Peking University's school of public health.

Another military expert who asked for anonymity told the Global Times that Theodore Roosevelt is not just an aircraft carrier, but a representation of US' power. If the epidemic becomes a large scale one, it will not be just the carrier, but the entire fleet, the entire US Navy, and the US' image as a strong military power will be damaged, the expert said.

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Amid surging demand for protective gear for medical staff in the situation created by the outbreak of COVID 19, a Delhi-based company is manufacturing Personal Protection Kits (PPKs) for doctors and healthcare workers.

The protection gear being manufactured by Surgilife Medical Devices Pvt Ltd includes gown, gloves, face masks, goggles and shoe covers.

Sandeep Sareen, director of the company, said the demand is up by 200 per cent but the production is less due to lockdown.

He said the company usually provides dressing material to medical professionals. "We manufacture gowns, mask and clothing used for surgical purposes. To combat coronavirus, Surgilife Medical Devices Pvt Ltd is manufacturing Personal Protection Kits (PPKs)for doctors and medical healthcare workers. It will protect doctors and nurses from coronavirus. It is a pack of five things - white gown, surgical hand gloves, mask, specs and shoe cover," he said.

"The demand is up by 200 per cent but production is low due to lockdown. Transportation of raw material is a major challenge for us. We are facing problems while procuring raw material. We are also facing a shortage of staff," he added. The company is based in Patparganj industrial area.

Dr Ravi Malik, Promoter of Malik Radix Hospital said that there is an increase in the demand for medical kits as medical staff needs to be fully secure.

"Our medical staff need to be fully safe and have to cover themselves from head to toes with gown, gloves, mask, shoe cover and specs. PPKs are important for all those who are in the medical profession as it protects them from virus and gives them confidence and sense of full safety," Malik said.

He said production of PPKs should be increased to provide them to doctors and other staff in the situation created by COVID19.

Malik said people should not wear masks and gloves without medical advice as this creates a shortage of these products in the market for doctors.

"As the demand of sanitisers and masks is increasing, it is a big opportunity for Indian manufacturers and startups to meet the demand," he added.

The government enforced a 21-day lockdown from Tuesday midnight in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The total number of positive cases recorded in the country mounted to 918 on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
And he attacked Democratic governors for being insufficiently grateful for his efforts.

Think of it, 22 days ago we had the greatest economy in the world, Mr. Trump said at a news conference. Everything was going beautifully. The stock market hit an all-time high again for the over 150th time during my presidency.

He singled out the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, and the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, for his prime time scorn.

Mr. Inslee, he said, was a failed presidential candidate who was constantly tripping and complaining. Ms. Whitmer has no idea whats going on, he said.

He then said he told Vice President Mike Pence, his coronavirus coordinator, to stop calling Mr. Inslee and Ms. Whitmer: Dont call the woman in Michigan, doesnt make any difference, he said of Ms. Whitmer.

Very simple. I want them to be appreciative, he said, saying his administration has done a hell of a job.

In a subsequent CNN town hall event on Friday night, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who is likely to face Mr. Trump in the general election, took issue with how the president has spoken about some governors. Ms. Whitmer is a national co-chair of his campaign.

This is not personal, Mr. Biden said. It has nothing to do with you, Donald Trump, nothing to do with you. Do your job. Stop personalizing everything.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Libya is calling for an immediate release of all arbitrarily detained refugees and migrants from densely-populated centers in light of risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, OCHA Libya Public Information Officer Jennifer Bose Ratka told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th March, 2020) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Libya is calling for an immediate release of all arbitrarily detained refugees and migrants from densely-populated centers in light of risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, OCHA Libya Public Information Officer Jennifer Bose Ratka told Sputnik.

"We are particularly concerned about refugees and migrants in detention centers as the dire and congested conditions in the facilities pose particular risks when it comes to infectious diseases. To reduce risks of transmission, and in line with human rights standards, we are appealing that arbitrarily detained migrants and refugees should be released in conditions that will allow them to undertake appropriate preparedness and prevention steps," Ratka said.

She said the agency would not scale back its operations in Libya in the face of COVID-19, as some other international agencies did earlier this week.

"Through our coordination mandate, our role is to minimize the humanitarian consequences of COVID-19 and work with humanitarian partners to ensure we continue to deliver the most critical services to the most vulnerable people," Ratka said.
A man was fatally struck by a car in Freehold early Friday morning, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said.

Andrey V. Zielyk, 59, of West Orange, was at the intersection of East Main Street (Route 537) and Court Street around 2:07 a.m. when he was struck by a vehicle, said Charlie Webster, a spokesman for the office.

The Freehold Borough Police found him with life-threatening injuries and transported him to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township where he was pronounced dead at 3:25 a.m., police said.

Webster said authorities are looking for a large, white flatbed-style truck.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Kristian Devito of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office at 732-431-7160 or Freehold Borough Detective Richard Schwerthoffer at 732-462-1233 ext. 171.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumua, has followed the exemplary gesture of President Akufo-Addo by donating three months of his salary to Ghana's COVID-19 Fund.



In his broadcast to the nation on Friday night, President Akufo-Addo, among other measures, announced the establishment of a COVID-19 Fund to raise money to mitigate the impact of the virus on vulnerable Ghanaians who have been affected.



The President also revealed he had instructed the Controller and Accountant General to pay his next three months salary to support the Fund.



Vice President Bawumia has also confirmed his next three months' salary will be paid to the COVID-19 Fund to support it.



"To support the kind gesture by the President of directing the Controller and Accountant General to pay his April, May and June salaries to Covid-19 Fund, I am donating three months of my salary starting from April to support the fight against Covid-19," Vice President Bawumia wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday.



While sympathizing with those who have fallen victim to the virus, Dr. Bawumia also urged all to adhere strictly to measures announced by the government to prevent further spread of the virus.



"Fellow Ghanaians, March has been a sorrowful month for us as a nation with the Covid-19 infection," wrote the Vice President.



"Samira and I empathize with all infected with the virus, and we wish them a speedy recovery. We also express our sympathies to families of those who have lost their lives through the virus. May the souls of the departed rest in the bossom of God."



"Last night, President Akufo-Addo's address to the nation anchored on the bold measures taken by the government to help contain the Coronavirus pandemic and prevent further spread."



The Vice President was optimistic that if government's preventive protocols are observed, the country will overcome the virus.



"Ultimately, we should all endeavour to stay at home, observe the preventive measures and together create a Covid-19-free society."













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A group of University of Arizona researchers is working to provide hand sanitizer for health-care workers battling the coronavirus in Southern Arizona.

The 12-person team is being led by Gayatri Vedantam and V.K. Viswanathan, associate professors in the animal and comparative biomedical sciences department, where they study bacterial infections in humans and animals.

The department had to scale down its research projects on bacterial infectious diseases due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the same time, our entire group came to the realization that stepping back was not aligned with what we do as scientists, Vedantam said in a UA news release.

Theyre using World Health Organization guidelines to prepare the sanitizer, wearing protective gear to lessen the risk for lab personnel and develop an end product of the highest quality, the news release said.

Vedantam said the team is already facing a shortage of plastic, travel-sized bottles and small spray bottles and will soon need more ingredients to fulfill requests.

While supplies are limited, the group is trying to fulfill requests from health-care facilities, including the Carondelet Health Network and UAs Campus Health.

Our first priority is to help health-care workers. They are at very high risk, and they are critical for our efforts to combat this outbreak, Vedantam said.

Students aid with mask shortages

Meanwhile, UA fine arts students are putting their costume-design courses to good use by making masks for Tucson health-care workers.
Twelve new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 76, the Health department said on Saturday.

"Till date 76 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes 3 deaths and 5 discharges," state health department said in a bulletin.

It said, 68 positive patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable.

Out of 76 cases detected and confirmed in the state so far six cases are transit passengers of Kerala who have landed in airports and being treated in Karnataka.

According to the department, out of 12 new cases detected since last evening to this afternoon, eleven are contacts of patients who have already tested positive and undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

Among the newly infected three women from Uttara Kannada.

They are wife (age 54) and daughters (age 28 and 23) of a patient who has been tested positive and is currently undergoing treatment.

Five contacts of a patient already tested positive, have also been confirmed for the infection in Chikkaballapura.

Among them four are men of age 23, 70, 38 and 18 years and one woman of 32 years.

While two of them are residents of Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh, the rest are from Gowribidnurof Chikkaballapuradistrict.

A 21-year old man, who is a resident of Bengaluru with a history of travel to London and son of a patient who is undergoing treatment; and a 63-year old woman, also a resident of Bengaluru, with a history of travel to London, have tested positive.

Also, a 20-year-old man, who is a resident of Davangere, and cousin of a patient currently undergoing treatment; and a 24-year old man, resident of Uttara Kannada, and contact of a patient tested positive and under treatment have been confirmed with COVID-19 infection.

Contact tracing has been initiated for all the cases, the department said.

Among the 76 positive cases, 41 has been reported from Bengaluru, eight from Chikkaballapura, seven from Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, three each from Kalaburgai, Mysuru and Davangere, and one each from Kodagu, Dharwad, Udupi and Tumakuru.

All the five discharged patients are from Bengaluru; while one death each was reported in Kalaburgari, Bengaluru and Tumakuru.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has convened an all-party meeting on Sunday to discuss measures that need to be taken in coming days to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Karnataka Director General of Police Praveen Sood has asked philanthropists who want to support the poor during the lockdown to leave food at the nearby police station, who will ensure that it reaches the needy.

Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner (Bengaluru) has been appointed as a nodal officer for this purpose.

Also the State-sponsored, subsidised Indira Canteens would provide food packets free of cost to the poor and needy in the wake of the lockdown.

The canteens would operate in three schedules -from 7:30 AM to 10 AM, 12:30 PM to 3 PM and 7:30 PM to 9 PM, the government said in a public announcement During the scheduled hours, roadside vendors, labourers and poor would be provided food free of cost.

Speaking to reporters, Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare department Jawaid Akhtar, said the government was in the process of finalising the order for one lakh rapid testing kits for COVID-19 testing, which will give results quickly.

"We are also looking at aspects relating to accuracy, before finalising the order," he said in response to a question.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leader Ajay Maken on Saturday demanded that the government convene an all party meeting and spell out steps being taken to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

He said all parties should come together to unitedly fight the pandemic.

Whenever any natural calamity happens, it is the duty of the ruling party to convene such a meeting and spell out the steps being taken to tackle it, but it has not happened yet.

"This is not a political fight. We have to fight it while rising above The government should come forward and take the initiative and convene an all party meeting and there is no reason why it has not happened yet," he said in a video message.

Maken said there are many experienced leaders in the Congress party like former prime minister Manmohan Singh, whose advice can be taken in such a situation.

"We feel an all party meeting should be called and the government should seek views of all and spell out its steps taken to tackle the pandemic. This will ensure confidence among the people," he said.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal too called for a united approach to fight coronavirus.

"To combat the COVID-19 crisis, we need to respond with a unity of purpose," he tweeted.

Maken also called for implementing the NYAY scheme, which the party proposed in the 2019 general election.

He said an amount of Rs 7,500 should be immediately credited to bank accounts of the poor and marginalised.

He also asked the government to provide transport to the migrant labourers who are forced to walk to their native villages due to the nationwide lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Supreme Court has issued an order as a preventive measure against the deadly virus. According to the order, the Supreme Court's Offices of Registry will remain close till April 15. However, certain exemptions such as protocol, caretaking section, computer and judicial sections dealing with filing and listing of matters and court masters will remain operational.

The order from the Apex Court stated: "Hon'ble the Chief Justice of India has directed that as a preventive measure in view of COVID-19 pandemic, the Offices of the Registry (except Protocol, Caretaking Section, Computer and Judicial Sections dealing with filing and listing of matters and Court Masters) shall continue to remain closed till 15th April 2020 on the same terms and conditions as notified earlier vide Order dated 22' March 2020."

COVID-19 cases rise in India

As of date, India has reported over 850 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Out of all the states, Kerala has crossed a total of 115 positive cases becoming the highest number of cases detected in the country. Meanwhile, 19 people have died so far due to the deadly virus. Due to the outbreak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had put India under a national lockdown for 21 days. Further, India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.

Read:CM Gehlot calls up PM, apprises him of steps taken to fight COVID-19

Read: COVID-19: Hyderabad University professor develops potential vaccine to combat virus

Coronavirus crisis globally

Presently, there are around 594,377 confirmed cases of COVID-19 which has led to the death of around 27,250 people. Meanwhile, around 133,006 have reportedly been recovered. Currently, as per reports, the hardest-hit region is the United States of America, followed by China, and then Italy, Iran and South Korea, where the number of cases is rising by the hour.

Read: Cyber criminals sending emails about COVID-19 to dupe people: Delhi Police

Read: Coronavirus crisis: Nearly 4,000 new reported COVID-19 cases in France in 24 hours

(With ANI Inputs)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 10:43:37|Editor: yhy

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WELLINGTON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported 78 new confirmed and five probable cases of COVID-19 on Saturday morning, bringing the total number of infections to 451 in the country.

Director of New Zealand Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black gave the update.

Some 50 people have recovered while 12 people are in hospital. Two people are in intensive care, one of whom is on a ventilator, said Stuart-Black.

She urged people to be kind to each other and said there have been reports of online abuse towards people who contracted COVID-19. "We need to look out for each other now more than ever," said Stuart-Black.

While most of the COVID-19 cases confirmed in New Zealand are related to people who have overseas travel history, five clusters of community transmission in the country have been confirmed.

New Zealand has entered into a national lockdown from 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. People are urged to stay at home unless purchasing essential food and supplies.

John Ombler, the All of Government Controller, said the New Zealand government was very pleased with how New Zealanders are doing in the lockdown.

"Stick to your bubble," reiterated Ombler.
Kerala reported its first COVID-19



death on Saturday after a 69-year-old man being treated for the virus died at Ernakulam Medical College Hospital.

The man, hailing from Ernakulam, was admitted to the isolation ward on March 22 after his return from Dubai, the government hospital said in a statement.

He was admitted with symptoms of pneumonia but later tested positive for coronavirus, it said.

He was also suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure and had udergone a bypass surgery earlier, the statement said.

He breathed his last at 8 AM.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Youve no doubt been following the day-to-day movements in individual equities. Panic selling hit the market hard, and individual investors are seeing a lot of red these days. But whats happening in the fund world? According to InvestorPlace analysts Dan Wiener and Jim Lowell in a feature by Barrons, now is the time for active managers to shine and steer their clients through the storm.

Source: InvestorPlace

Thats exactly what the duo is doing, both at their money-management firm and through their mutual fund newsletters: Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors, Fidelity Investor and Fidelity Sector Investor.

But what does this mean for you, if youre not a fund manager yourself? Well, its important to see how the best guys in the business are running things.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Wiener and Lowell arent too shy to admit that the coronavirus from China has brought about extraordinary times in the market. And as a result of that, its not irrational for investors to react in fear.

However, Wiener and Lowell are adamant that now is not the time to panic and cash out. In fact, instead of panicking, now is the time to take the plunge.

Buy the Manager, Not the Fund

So you want to take the plunge, but now what? In the Barrons article, Wiener and Lowell recommend that individual investors should buy the manager, not the fund. Doing your own research on managers will give you the long-term confidence to stick out market downturns like this one. How did a certain manager perform in 2008-09? What about in prior recessions?

This advice isnt coming from just anyone. Wiener and Lowells model portfolios have outperformed over the long haul, according to Barrons, so their evaluations of other managers matter. And right now they are looking for market outperformance, solid track records across multiple portfolios and a managers history in bull and bear markets.

Story continues

And if you want some recommendations, youre in luck. Wiener singles out Primecap Management. Yes, some of the firms most notorious funds are closed to new investors. But Primecaps Odyssey offerings  the Odyssey Stock Fund (MUTF:POSKX), Odyssey Growth Fund (MUTF:POGRX) and Odyssey Aggressive Growth Fund (MUTF:POAGX)  all make the grade.

Lowell adds Fidelity Total Bond (MUTF:FTBFX) and Bailie Gifford Long Term Global Growth (MUTF:BSGLX) and Vanguard Dividend Growth (MUTF:VDIGX), among others, to the list.

These funds  and their excellent managers  are all good starting points. But look to Wiener and Lowell for advice, clear-headed money management and consistent outperformance. In times of panic, they know what to do.

Daniel P. Wiener is a journalist at heart, as well as the leading watchdog to The Vanguard Group, Americas top mutual-fund provider. But he left the financial media behind to provide what investors REALLY need  clear, expert advice on Vanguards Best & Worst Funds. Dan may own the aforementioned securities.

James Lowell was once a senior financial reporter at Fidelity Investments; today, Jim is the leading independent expert on his favorite fund family  and its best managers. Thanks to his proprietary Manager Ranking System, Jim easily narrowed the field to Fidelitys 5 Best & Finest Funds  plus the 3 worst funds! Jim may own the aforementioned securities.

More From InvestorPlace

The post Barrons: Fund Managers Dan Wiener and Jim Lowell Thrive in This Market appeared first on InvestorPlace.
You may have received several messages from your insurer(s) about how the company stands with you during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Renewal of premium payments have been given a 30-day extension, while premium hike in motor third-party insurance has been deferred and insurers have been asked to quickly settle death and medical policy claims from COVID-19.

However, amidst all this, an internal crisis is brewing among insurance companies. While new policy sales are hampered due to the 21-day lockdown in India (called to halt the spread of the virus), the claims have started to pile up.

So far, India has reported 834 COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths. However, there has been a steady, daily spike in the number of cases as testing is beginning on a full swing.

For insurers, the pressure is from both insured and reinsurers. A rise in claims filed means that the insurance policy will have to be made more expensive via a premium hike from next year onwards.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Reinsurers offer risk covers to insurance companies to help them tide over large claims from policies. Since most large global reinsurers have presence in markets such as the United States, Italy and China -- which are among the most-affected nations, these companies are facing a direct hit.

Since several hundred claims of death, health and travel insurance are now being filed due to COVID-19 across the world, claims paid by reinsurers to insurance companies has also risen. This will result in reinsurance companies steeply hiking the rates at which they provide covers to insurers.

Insurers will be forced to hike prices of existing policies by at least 25-30 percent from 2021 onwards.

In fact, in a few categories like health and travel insurance the premiums being quoted are going up by 5-8 percent owing to a rise in claims. The number of exclusions or incidents for which insurers will not pay for, is also on the rise. Past claims history is used by insurers to take this decision.

While this is not unique to India, the impact on Indian policyholders would be higher because we are a price sensitive market. The sale of basic covers such as term insurance, health insurance or motor insurance is also dependent on how cheap the product is.

So policyholders, brace yourself to pay up more for your insurance policy from 2021 onwards. Worst still, learning a lesson or two from the current COVID-19 scenario, your insurer could also make pandemic-related claims a standard exclusion going forward.
The Uttar Pradesh government has arranged bus services from Anand Vihar in Delhi for people who have been stranded in the capital due to the lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"If there is any resident or migrant laborer of Uttar Pradesh is trapped in Delhi, then the arrangements for his or her return to home have been made by the Government of Uttar Pradesh," said a notification.

The migrants can contact the following numbers to avail bus services -- 011-26110151 and 011-26110155.

The buses will ply from the Anand Vihar bus stand.

Earlier today, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) requested all District Magistrates (DMs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and other officials not to obstruct the movement of 200 special buses being run to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various places in the border areas with Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is the only option to combat the disease.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 873, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 14:29:07|Editor: yhy

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KHARTOUM, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Health Ministry on Saturday announced two new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to five, official SUNA news agency reported.

The two new patients are Sudanese citizens who returned from foreign countries last week, the report said.

The Sudanese Health Ministry urged the citizens to follow all medical instructions and advice such as stopping gatherings and take necessary measures to protect themselves and their families.
Residents are coming together at 8 p.m. on balconies and porches to cheer, sing and flash lights in a show of support for health care workers, first responders and other service-industry employees on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. It has become so popular, it has own hashtag: #Solidarityat8.
President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Friday to require General Motors to produce more ventilators to deal with increased hospitalizations due to the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States.

But it's unclear what practical, immediate effect the order will have.

The White House said in a statement on Friday afternoon that the order was put in place in order to stop the auto giant from delaying negotiations any further.

'Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course,' said a statement from the White House. 'GM was wasting time. Today's action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives.'

But people familiar with the discussions between General Motors, Ventec Life Systems and the federal government say they were not told about Trump invoking the Defense Production Act.

'We announced our partnership ahead of the DPA announcement. We still have not received anything official from the (White House about the order),' the sources tell CNN.

A separate source at General Motors told CNN's Erin Burnett that invoking the Defense Production Act does not change plans that were already in the works to produce ventilators. The source insisted that GM was offering to produce the ventilators at cost.

Invoking the act will not likely affect how quickly GM can produce the complex machines. The company announced earlier Friday it was still moving forward with efforts to make ventilators, despite the pause in talks with the White House. GM still has to retool its factories to be able to make ventilators, since it currently doesn't produce them, and experts have warned they cannot be made quickly.

The orders from the President came after talks between the administration, GM and Ventec to produce thousands of ventilators had been put on hold amid internal concerns over the timeline and price tag of the agreement.

it also came after contradictory statements from the President, who has repeatedly claimed he was or was not using the powers granted him to in the Defense Production Act, which required aides to clarify on multiple occasions that he had not actually used the Korean War-era law yet.

In a coronavirus task force briefing on Thursday, Trump again contradicted himself and said he may decide not to invoke the act -- despite the executive order.

'We thought that we had a deal with, as an example, General Motors and I guess they thought otherwise,' he said. 'They didn't agree, and now they do. They do agree and I think we might be able to pull it. We let them know the way we felt. They can't be doing that.'

Trump also named Peter Navarro as the national Defense Production Act policy coordinator for the federal government. Trump said Navarro has been doing that job over the past few weeks but announced him as the coordinator for the first time on Friday.

Trump said the administration would procure 100,000 ventilators in the next 100 days, amid fears that parts of the US are facing a looming shortage of the life-saving devices.

State leaders and hospital administrators have urged Trump to invoke the law for weeks as they have struggled to get their hands on ventilators and other scarce but critical medical supplies to treat coronavirus patients.

Trump decided to invoke the act because he was irked by news reports that an agreement between tGM and the administration had stalled, a person familiar told CNN.

Early Friday, aides were hopeful that the talks could get back on track after a disagreement over how much it would cost and how long it would take.

GM announced that the company and Ventec Life Systems would move forward with production efforts regardless of an agreement with the administration. But the President grew irritated by reports that the talks had been put on hold, even if only briefly, and ordered aides to require General Motors to produce the ventilators.

Internally, aides have acknowledged that the move won't change the company's timeline because it will still have to retool factories to make the ventilators. And now the government will foot the bill, something that had become a sticking point in the negotiations as aides weighed whether the large price tag was worth how long it would take the ventilators to ship out.

For weeks, the President had ignored requests by some officials in his administration to invoke the act. He said private companies had been willing to act and did not need to be coerced into doing so. But Navarro's appointment may be a potential sign of the President's changing attitude. Navarro was one of several who initially pushed Trump to sign the Defense Production Act.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker are among the state leaders who have been pressing the federal government to send them more ventilators in recent weeks.

A presidential memorandum issued Friday afternoon indicated that Trump has now directed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to use any authorities under the law to require GM to 'accept, perform, and prioritize Federal contracts for ventilators.'

Negotiations had been taking place for days./

As of Friday morning, aides had been hopeful the two sides could come to an agreement without using the Defense Production Act. Hours before Trump announced he had invoked it, White House officials said there were no plans to do so.

In a statement after Trump issued the federal orders, General Motors said they and partner company Ventec have been 'working around the clock for over a week' on a deal to build ventilators.

Even after issuing the memo on Friday, Trump suggested that threats against certain companies equated to enacting the law.

While signing a coronavirus aid package in the Oval Office, Trump said he 'enacted the act, and we've used it three or four times, I pulled it back three times because the companies came through in the end.'

Trump also said during the signing that he 'did activate' the act 'with respect to General Motors and hopefully, maybe we won't even need the full activation.'

'We will find out, but we need the ventilators,' he continued.

Earlier Friday, Trump launched a Twitter attack on GM and its CEO, Mary Barra, a frequent target of his ire.

'They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed ventilators, 'very quickly'. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar. Always a mess with Mary B. Invoke 'P',' Trump tweeted, later clarifying that he was referring to the Defense Production Act.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.
Photo credit: Hartford Courant

From Esquire

On Friday, March 20, the first-term, first-time mayor of New Haven, Justin Elicker, called one of the largest employers in the city he governs, Yale University. He had an urgent request for Yales president, Peter Salovey: New Haven needed safe, local, temporary housing for up to 180 of its police officers and firefighters during the COVID-19 crisis.

Could Yale make some of its 586 dormitory beds, or its 276 apartment units, available to the city workers? No one infected with COVID-19 would use the dorms, Elicker explained to Yales Office of New Haven Affairs, which acts as a liaison between the Ivy League university and the city. These rooms would be for workers who might have family members who are ill, or who have been exposed and are awaiting testing, or who simply live far away and need to be closer to the city in case of emergency.

Southern Connecticut is a growing hot spot for the spread of COVID-19. A party in Westport, just 28 miles south of New Haven, had ignited an explosion in cases, and New Haven now had the highest number of positive cases outside of Fairfield County, where Westport is located. New Haven County is also home to many people who commute by train to New York City, where the number of cases is multiplying exponentially.

A few weeks prior, Salovey had already reached out to Elickers office with a general offer to assist any way they could. Yale is one of the most well-funded universities on the planet, last reporting its endowment at $30.3 billion.

So Elicker was confident.

And yet, on that very first call:

They said no, Elicker says. They said there were students things in the dorms, and the dorm configurations werent such that it would be easy to self-isolate people, because there are suites, and that dormitories werent the best place to contain COVID-19.

Photo credit: Kathryn Donohew Photography

Elicker explained that this was urgent, and that he and his police and fire leaders had assessed their need. He pleaded to try to figure out how to overcome the obstacles, which to him seemed insignificant in the face of a spreading global pandemic.

Story continues

He asked that his request be passed along to Salovey.

His next call was to Steven Kaplan, the president of the University of New Haven, a smaller, less famous, less rich school in West Haven, one town over. Elicker and Kaplan had met once before, got along well, and exchanged cell-phone numbers.

Photo credit: Courtesy UNH

I immediately responded that we would accommodate them any way we could, says Kaplan, who at the time was not aware that Elicker had called Yale. In the last twenty-five years, we've developed into an international powerhouse in public safety, criminal justice, fire science, forensic science. So when he asked me to help out with law enforcement and firefighters, it was just a natural yes.

The following Tuesday, March 24, according to Elicker, he heard back from Saloveys office: The answer was still no.

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By that time, workers at the University of New Haven were already carefully removing students belongings out of residence halls and sterilizing rooms. The university is covering all costs, according to Kaplandespite looking at a multimillion dollar loss this year in refunded room and board.

Normally I wouldn't worry about the expenses, but if the city's in a position to reimburse us for all of those things, fine, Kaplan says. And if theyre not, given the crisis that were facing, were happy to help.

For its part, Yale, which has a total enrollment of 13,400, according to its website, says the school simply couldnt comply given the short timeline. According to a Yale spokesperson: The rooms still contain the students' belongings, but we have teams planning to empty them so that they could be used. Were pursuing schemes that involve professional movers and packers and using temporary storage. That process will take weeks, as all of the residence halls on campus are filled with the students belongings. But as soon as weve been able to clear any space, weve informed the mayor that we will let him know. We wish the situation was different, but because our students had already gone home for spring break, when we implemented our social distancing restrictions, the rooms just werent ready for others to live in them.

Salovey was not available for comment at press time.

UNH, which has a total enrollment of 6,800, offered a tour of its residence halls to New Haven fire chief John Alston and chief of police Otoniel Reyes.

They rolled out the red carpet for us. Having a place for folks who are asymptomatic but concerned that they may have been exposedwhere do we keep them for fourteen days? If someone takes a test today, all the labs are backed up, so we may not get the results for four to five, maybe six days. What do you do with that person? says Alston, who oversees a department of nearly 370 firefighters who serve a city with a population of about 137,000. UNH said, Weve got dormitories. They can stay here. Were not going to put anyone there whos COVID-positive, obviously. But if we need to observe someone, its exactly what we need.

Dorms will also be used by police and fire personnel who live far from the city, or whose family members may be positive.

The citys agreement with UNHwhich was founded in 1920, on the Yale campusis open-ended.

Photo credit: Courtesy of UNH

Yale was founded in 1701 and has a long history with New Haven. While much of its real estate is nontaxable, much of it does generate tax revenue for the city. Its mere presence supports local businesses and the arts. Its always important to acknowledge that New Haven benefits a lot from Yale, says Elicker. He feels, however, that the school could do moreand said so during his campaign for mayor last year.

I talked a lot about the strong feeling of my own, and many, many people in the community, that Yale should play a much more prominent role in helping the city, he says.

UNH expects to have rooms ready within a few days

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Union leaders representing workers in the grocery store and essential service sectors are pleading with the public to respect policies meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Union leaders representing workers in the grocery store and essential service sectors are pleading with the public to respect policies meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The verbal push Friday comes in the wake of new polling data in which one-third of Manitobans said they are not practising self-isolation and physical distancing.

"There are many of our members who are extremely concerned about being exposed to the virus on a daily basis," said Jeff Trager, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832. The union represents more than 15,000 members in Manitoba working in the retail, food-processing, hospitality, and grocery sectors.

"Although theyd like to see better protections, given the nature of a grocery store, I dont know how you can actually practise social distancing properly."

According to a recent poll conducted by Probe Research, only two-thirds (63 per cent) of respondents reported they are self-isolating, adhering to social-distancing strategies and avoiding crowds.

About one in 10 Manitobans said they have not adopted any social-distancing strategies  including increased handwashing  since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

As food stores continue to welcome the public  albeit with new measures in place including plexiglass shields, increased handwashing and checkstand markers  Trager said the risk remains.

He said UFCW members are counting on the public to stay home if theyre sick and follow the advice of public health officials.

On Thursday, a 48-year-old man who worked at a Real Canadian Superstore in Oshawa, Ont., died from complications of COVID-19. The news has heightened anxiety levels among front-line service members in Manitoba, Trager said.

"Right now, the biggest thing they are feeling is fear. They know the employers are doing everything they can to try to keep them safe in the workplace, but just the nature of the beast, they are probably exposed to the public more than any other workers now," he said.

The Probe public opinion poll ran March 10-24 and surveyed a random, representative sampling of 1,000 Manitobans. While more people reported practising social distancing as the pandemic progressed in Manitoba, close to half of male Manitobans aged 18 to 34 (36 per cent of total respondents) said the COVID-19 issue is "overblown" in Canada.

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"Fundamentally, I believe that theyre wrong in their belief that this is 'overblown' or this is too extreme," Trager said. "If you just asked that amongst front-line workers, youd get completely different numbers."

Manitoba Government and General Employees Union president Michelle Gawronsky said she was disappointed to learn one-third of Manitobans have potentially not bought into measures aimed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"Our members are trying to instil it, and making sure that folks are following it, and it is a bit of a challenge, at times," Gawronsky said. "Im pleading with Manitobans, and Canadians: please pay attention to whats happened in other countries and make sure that our folks are safe."

Gawronsky said Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. will begin installing shields for cashiers and other policies to promote physical distancing as its Liquor Mart stores remain open.

On Friday, Manitoba reported its first death related to COVID-19, a woman in her 60s who was in Winnipeg hospital. The province had a total of 39 confirmed and probable cases, as of Friday morning.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
See for yourself how and where vaccinations are ramping up, plus how COVID-19 infections and deaths still persist in most states.
By ANI

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has arranged bus services from Anand Vihar in Delhi for people who have been stranded in the national capital due to the lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"If there is any resident or migrant laborer of Uttar Pradesh is trapped in Delhi, then the arrangements for his or her return to home have been made by the Government of Uttar Pradesh," said a notification.

The migrants can contact the following numbers to avail bus services -- 011-26110151 and 011-26110155.

The buses will ply from the Anand Vihar bus stand.



COVID-19 LIVE | Kerala registers its first death, two more positive cases in Tamil Nadu as India tally crosses 850

Earlier today, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) requested all District Magistrates (DMs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and other officials not to obstruct the movement of 200 special buses being run to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various places in the border areas with Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is the only option to combat the disease.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 873, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.
And apart from an earlier information that the CoS would be isolating himself at his residence at the Defence House, Maitama and other sources saykng he might be moved to another facility for extensive medical care, nothing has been heard about his location.
DANBURY  Just hours before the memorial service for Willy Placencia, police announced two suspects had been arrested in the fatal stabbing of the 21-year-old skateboarder.

A 16-year-old boy from Danbury was arrested Thursday in connection with last weeks fatal stabbing at the Danbury City Center Skate Park.

The unidentified teen has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, first-degree conspiracy to commit manslaughter, first-degree assault, first- and second-degree conspiracy to commit assault, and breach of peace.

James Lema-Zaruma, 20, of Danbury, also was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal liability to commit assault on Wednesday and held on $10,000 bond. Court records show he pleaded guilty last year to a first-degree reckless endangerment charge stemming from a September 2018 incident in Danbury.

Two arrests have been made, but several more are anticipated within the near future, police said Friday. Witness interviews, multiple anonymous tips and the steadfast efforts of the involved investigators lead to the identity of several suspects involved in the homicide.

Placencia died at Danbury Hospital after being stabbed multiple times at the skate park on Patriot Drive the evening of March 18.

He is remembered by loved ones as a loving and supportive person with a passion for skateboarding.

Weve lost the most helpful, uplifting, hardworking, loyal, honest and loving human being Ive ever met in my life, said his girlfriend, Silainy Rodriguez, who is pregnant with Placencias first child.

Rodriguez said her boyfriend was always true to himself and his values and what he stood for.

He was a protective angel who held his ground firmly, and now he can finally fly, she said.

Rodriguez said Placencia had recently been released from jail and came home a changed person, determined to build a future for himself.

His determination grew, she said, when he found out he was going to be a father.

With a new outlook on life, Rodriguez said Placencia would tirelessly try to get his friends on a better path as well and insisted they leave the streets and pursue a future for themselves.

She said she believes the fight at the park stemmed from a bullying problem between two groups that started three years ago when Placencia was in jail.

He had no issues with anyone, said Rodriguez, who believes her boyfriend was targeted because one group associated him with the other.

He made it clear to all of the people involved [that] he was trying to turn his life around [and that] he was not part of the problem, she said. The party with which the issue happened associated him with guys they had problems with.

In addition to his girlfriend and unborn child, Placencia leaves behind his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Placencias memorial service took place Friday afternoon at the Danbury Memorial Funeral Home. Only family members were allowed to attend the service in person, but others were able to watch via live stream on the funeral homes website.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Danbury Police Departments detective division at 203-797-4662, or the Anonymous TIPS Line at 203-790-8477.
The COVID-19 Coalition  a combination of philanthropy, government, educational, and business partners in Midland County is identifying short- and long-term solutions to support the community amidst the pandemic.

Led by the Midland Area Community Foundation and United Way of Midland County, the Coalition has launched a COVID-19 online resource hub for Midland County. The site  located at www.reliefmidland.org  is embedded into the 211 Northeast Michigan website.

Theres so much information about the COVID-19 pandemic scattered across numerous sites. It can feel overwhelming and confusing about where to go to access information, said Holly Miller, executive director of United Way of Midland County. This resource hub  reliefmidland.org  provides one central place for people to go to access local information and resources specific to our community.

The site includes sections surrounding community resources, such as: health and wellness information, basic needs, employment opportunities, education and childcare, and support for small businesses. Nonprofit organizations can complete a grant application along with sharing organizational needs.

People can also sign up for essential volunteer opportunities and donate to the COVID-19 Response Fund, housed at the Midland Area Community Foundation in collaboration with United Way of Midland County.

One of the first needs identified in our COVID-19 Coalition meetings was the need for a centralized resource for the Midland community, said Sharon Mortensen, president and CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation. It is encouraging to see the work of the COVID-19 Coalition as it allows organizations to exercise their strengths and collaborate with community partners at an unprecedented level.

The COVID-19 Coalition exists to investigate ways to fill funding gaps and support the community in partnership with health and human service agencies, school districts, businesses and municipalities. In the days ahead, the Coalition will continue to collaborate to identify needs and solutions, as well as streamline communications to avoid duplicate efforts.

Midland County COVID-19 Coalition Partners:

 211 Northeast Michigan

 City of Midland

 Community Mental Health of Central Michigan

 County of Midland

 Dow

 MidMichigan Health

 Midland Area Community Foundation

 Midland Business Alliance

 Midland County Educational Service Agency

 Midland County Health Department

 Midland Public Schools

 United Way of Midland County

If you would like to learn more about resources and how you can help, visit the COVID-19 resource hub at reliefmidland.org.
A WOMAN who is accused of stealing almost 20,000 in benefit payments over a five-year period is likely to plead guilty to a significant number of charges, a judge has been told.

Amanda Hennigar, 45, who has an address at Kilteragh, Dooradoyle appeared before Limerick District Court last November having been arrested and charged with 99 counts of theft.

All of the offences occurred at a post office in Limerick on various dates between July 7, 2008 and November 11, 2013.

There are a number of injured parties and each of the charges before the court outline different amounts of money which were stolen.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment before the circuit court and the matter was previously adjourned to facilitate the preparation of a book of evidence.

During a procedural hearing last Friday, Judge Marian OLeary was told discussions are continuing between Ms Hennigar and the DPP in relation to the matter.

She was told an agreement has been reached between the parties and that the defendant intends to enter a signed plea in relation to 23 of the 99 charges.

Sergeant Sean Murray said it would take some time to finalise the paperwork and to collate which of the charges are to proceed.

He requested an adjournment of the matter to July saying this would facilitate the smooth exit of the case from the district court when the matter is sent forward to the circuit court.

If Ms Hennigar does enter a signed plea, the State will not be required to mount what would potentially have been a complex and lengthy trial.

It also means that the injured parties will not be required to attend court to give evidence.

However, the full details of the offences will be outlined during the sentencing process and the victims will be entitled to prepare victim impact statements for the court if they wish.

Generally, a signed plea is considered to be a significant mitigating factor when sentence is being imposed.

Ms Hennigar was remanded on continuing bail until the end of July when, its expected, she will formally enter the signed plea.

The matter will then be sent forward to the circuit court where sentence will be imposed later in the year, once she affirms her plea.
PM Phuc told his guest about his recent talk over the phone with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and Vietnams decision to provide aid in the form of medical supplies worth US$100,000 to Cambodia.

He added that the Vietnamese Health Ministry will present Cambodia with SARS-CoV-2 test kits worth VND5 billion (over US$211,400).

PM Phuc stressed that the biggest outcome of bilateral cooperation last year was the signing of legal documents recognising the achievements in land border delimitation and border marker planting. He asked the Cambodian side to tighten border control for epidemic prevention while still facilitating the flow of goods across the border.

The Vietnamese Government leader also urged that the two countries increase cooperation in finance and transport, and pledged to assist Cambodia in training in the field of security-national defence.

Ambassador Chay Navuth said he was impressed by Vietnams development in many fields, particularly an economic growth of over 7% in 2019. He thanked the Vietnamese Government for its provision of medical supplies for Cambodia to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The diplomat expressed thanks to Vietnam for helping the Cambodian people escape the Pol Pot genocidal regime and for providing Cambodian students with scholarships.

He pledged to work as a bridge to further strengthen and develop the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and sustainable, long-term comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Stephen Bonett, a nurse and Philadelphia medical reserve corps volunteer, administers a nasal swab to a driver at the city's coronavirus testing site next to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia earlier this month. Read more

Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in zip codes throughout the city, according to newly released data showing the most detailed picture yet of the virus spread.

Some Philadelphia zip codes have fewer than five cases and one has more than 40. These numbers are expected to grow significantly in the days and weeks ahead as officials, hospital workers, and the community brace for a surge in cases.

The data, the most current information as of Saturday morning, provide a window into which parts of the city have residents who most availed themselves of testing, and also highlight how thinly Philadelphia has been tested, as well as how a lack of information has hindered health officials efforts to track the spread of the illness.

People have received 5,601 test results through Saturday. The data do not indicate cases where the same person was tested more than once, but based on the test numbers it appears less than .5% of the population has been tested for the virus.

About 800 people, or 14% of those who have been tested, were found to be infected with the coronavirus. The number of confirmed cases is almost certainly much lower than the actual number of infected people in Philadelphia. The relatively low proportion of positive test results could be a result of several factors, city health officials said, including fewer actual cases than other cities have experienced or a difference in the testing criteria in Philadelphia that allows people to be tested.

While the map shows some neighborhoods more affected than others, it is more likely the virus has spread widely throughout the city, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The map does, though, hint at the omnipresence of the coronavirus and emphasizes the need to practice social distancing.

Its here," she said. "Its all over. This is why we all need to stay home.

A difference of a few dozen cases between zip codes is not large enough to say one area is worse off than others, Nuzzo observed. Accurately identifying where clusters of infection are in the city, Garrow said, would require widespread testing in a particular area, and the city lacks the test kits and lab capacity to do that.

These numbers are undercounts of what we feel the real number of cases in those zip codes are, said James Garrow, a spokesperson for the citys health department.

The map and the data behind it, though, provide an indication of where people have been more likely to be tested. Population density and access to health care play roles in shading neighborhoods infection numbers, but so does wealth. The data provided by the city showed that testing rates were higher in the citys wealthier zip codes.

Center City, with 20 cases per 10,000 residents, and Center City West, with 14 cases per 10,000, had the highest rates of infected residents. Both also had among the highest rates of people who sought testing. Chinatown, which was hurt economically when the virus first spread from Wuhan, China, had the highest rate of testing in Philadelphia. Zip codes with higher rates of tested residents, Garrow said, could indicate people more in the habit of seeking medical care when they feel sick, in part due to living near large health providers.

I could say that anecdotally these are places where people tend to have better access to those large health-care systems, Garrow said. The one in West Philly, thats right near Penn and CHOP.

Conversely, he said, people who live in zip codes where there were few confirmed cases should not take that as a sign that the coronavirus has passed them by. It might simply mean fewer people were tested.

Just because you live in a particular area doesnt make you more at risk or less at risk, Garrow said.

As cases rise, Nuzzo said, people should pay attention to how the map changes. Health-care facilities could also use this kind of visualization to prepare, the best they can, for cases in the coming weeks. Hospitals know where patients typically come from.

If I were at a health facility, I would be looking at this map thinking, How hard are we going to be hit? she said. If they see where the cases are, they might be able to use it to anticipate.

If nothing else, the map should motivate people to adhere to the citys stay-at-home order, Nuzzo said, something some Philadelphians continue to take lightly. An official announcing the citys case count, she said, might not be as persuasive as seeing a map of the virus spread.

If you see where your house is on this map and you think, Gosh theres a whole lot of COVID-19 around me," she said. That sounds a lot more personal and real.

Cases are doubling every two to three days and city officials have expressed dismay at those not isolating themselves.

This is all over the city, Garrow said. Everyone is affected by it.

Graphics editor John Duchneskie contributed to this article.
The countries that have most successfully fended off the novel coronavirus have mainly done it with a combination of new technology and old-school principles.

Why it matters: There's a lot the U.S. can learn from the way other countries have handled this global pandemic  although we may not be able to apply those lessons as quickly as we'd like.

The big picture: A handful of Asian countries, including South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, have succeeded where the U.S. and Europe have failed.

They were able to quickly bring the virus under control, reducing the number of new cases that cropped up each day. And they did it largely without shutting down schools, businesses and public life.

The bad news: Its too late for the U.S. to simply do what worked in those countries. Weve already made too many mistakes.

But there are still lessons for the U.S. to learn for future outbreaks  and, hopefully, there are some pieces of those countries larger strategies that we can adapt to our coronavirus response now.

Lesson 1: The playbook works

As a new infection begins to spread, you want to quickly test the people who might have it, and quarantine the ones who do. Then you want to figure out who else they might have infected, and test those people, and quarantine the ones who are indeed sick. This process gets repeated.

If you dont know what your population is that youre supposed to be monitoring, you don't have a chance, said Claire Standley, an infectious-disease expert at Georgetown Universitys Center for Global Health Science and Security.

This test-and-trace process is nothing new. It's the standard playbook. South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan just executed it a lot better than the United States.

Testing and contact tracing are particularly important with this strain of coronavirus because people can spread it before they start to feel sick  so if youre only testing the sickest patients, the virus is still spreading unchecked.

And its important to do this early. Its a lot easier to stop five people from infecting another 15 than it is to stop 20,000 people from infecting another 60,000.

Next time a mysterious virus starts spreading abroad, better testing and a much faster response will be imperative.

Lesson 2: Technology can help

Singapore has gotten pretty draconian with its track-and-trace process.

The government tracks the location of residents smartphones, so it knows exactly who had come within a few feet of an infected or potentially infected person.

It uses the same location data to help enforce mandatory quarantines.

That might be too Big Brother for the U.S., but a voluntary version of it might work  we already consent to a whole lot of location tracking for much less important ends.

And researchers are already using population-level smartphone data to see, for example, which cities are flouting stay-at-home orders. That can help inform local response even without individualized tracking.

I think were further along that pathway than maybe people think, Standley said.

Taiwan, meanwhile, aided its coronavirus response by making better use of data it already had. It quickly merged its immigration and health care databases, giving authorities a real-time view of who was getting sick and where they had traveled.

That might be hard to copy in the U.S., though, because the relevant data are scattered across multiple local, state and federal agencies with little to no integration. And we have no centralized health data.

Lesson 3: Messaging matters

Public communication is one of the big things Italy  a leading example of what not to do  got wrong.

Some Italian officials downplayed the virus for too long. Leaders often contradicted each other, and sometimes themselves, about piecemeal interventions before finally locking down the entire country as cases skyrocketed.

Singapore, by contrast, came out early with a clear message: This was going to be bad for a while, and people needed to stick together and do their part.

The U.S., so far, looks a lot more like Italy.

President Trump has sent similarly mixed messages here, initially downplaying the virus and saying it would go away on its own before changing his tone as cases mounted.

Whats next

The U.S. can't go back in time to get things right at the beginning. So we can't match the success of places like South Korea.

Our best backup plan is to stick with aggressive social distancing and give our testing capacity more time to ramp up.

We don't seem to be on track to ever achieve the kind of sophisticated track-and-trace programs Asia employed, but hopefully some cruder version can help us find our way out of this if we keep the number of new cases low in the meantime.

The bottom line: If we had got on top of this thing two months ago, America would look very, very different, Ashish Jha, director of Harvards Global Health Institute, said in a recent interview with the New Yorker.
Some universities will still offer the option of letter grades, while others have dropped them altogether. But thats not good enough for some students, who are seeking a universal pass  meaning that nobody would fail, regardless of performance and whether they can continue to take online classes, and that letter grades would be abolished.

The idea has acquired petition campaigns on scores of campuses and even an acronym among the cognoscenti: UP.

The reality is, there are people who will not pass their classes, there are people who will not finish the semester, who will not graduate on time, Mr. Polanco said. The most vulnerable will be drastically harmed.

But some institutions, and even students, have resisted proposals to give everyone equal marks, saying that the idea gives gut courses new meaning. It is possible to work hard, they say, even when your world has been turned upside down.

The debate is of particular concern to students trying to raise their grade-point averages in their final year or two of college to qualify for law, medical or business schools. Some fear it will hurt their chances if their college careers end with a pass instead of high marks.
We expect our first-responders to step up at a time like this, and they certainly have in Southeast Texas. From law enforcement to doctors and nurses, from prison guards to city and county employees, their public service has allowed daily life to continue as well as possible. They show up at night and on weekends, and plenty of them are putting in overtime. Without them, we wouldnt have a chance.

But this crisis has also seen many other people, businesses and organizations coming forward in ways that werent expected, in ways that are completely new to them.

Were talking about the restaurants that struggle to stay open by selling carryout only, trying to provide jobs for some of their employees in an industry that has seen countless layoffs. Many of their workers didnt make a lot to begin with and lived paycheck to paycheck. Now that paycheck is gone for so many.

Public school teachers in the region still have jobs, but they dont have classrooms to do them in. Theyre still trying to educate their students online, keeping them motivated, refusing to concede this school year to anything. Teachers in the Port Neches-Groves ISD even mounted an impromptu car parade this week, boosting the spirits of students and parents searching for hope.

Countless other companies are trying to let their employees work from home instead of just forcing them to join the growing ranks of the unemployed. It meant setting up tech services at home for many of them and making all kinds of other adjustments, but they know how much these jobs mean to their workers.

Ironically, groceries and dollar stores almost have more business than they can handle. Some are even hiring more people now and offering bonuses. Their harried workers are trying to keep shelves stocked for thousands of nervous customers  even though that exposes them to the possibility of catching the coronavirus themselves.

Other businesses are doing what they can to keep the internet able to handle the new demands being placed upon it. For thousands of people suddenly marooned at home  often with active children  their online links are invaluable.

And of course there are far too many other people like this to mention  the fast-food workers who toss an extra item in the bag, the harried cashiers who try to cheer up their customers despite their own personal worries, the truckers who log mile after mile to keep the shelves full.

Their names arent known, but their selflessness means everything at a time like this. With so many people like them, we will get through this crisis, however long it takes.
TAIPEI, March 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu extended a personal invitation on Saturday for three major U.S. newspapers to station on the island their China-based journalists whose expulsion Beijing has announced.

China said on March 18 it was revoking the press accreditations of all American journalists in the China bureaus of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, which were due to expire at the end of 2020.

Beijing also said those affected would not be allowed to work as journalists in the Chinese-run city of Hong Kong. In the past, foreign journalists kicked out of, or barred from, mainland China were allowed to work in Hong Kong.

"As @nytimes, @WSJ & @washingtonpost face intensifying hostility in China, I'd like to welcome you to be stationed in Taiwan - a country that is a beacon of freedom & democracy," Wu wrote on Twitter.

"Yes! You'll find people here greeting you with open arms & lots of genuine smiles."

Taiwan is home to only a small number of permanent foreign correspondents, and none of the three newspapers has a full-time presence on the island currently.

While Chinese-claimed Taiwan is a freewheeling democracy with freedom of expression, it has stepped up border controls to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and generally only foreigners already holding residence permits are currently allowed entry.

China has laid the blame for the situation with the three newspapers at Washington's door, for first restricting the number of Chinese media in the United States.

Last month, Washington demanded journalists from Chinese state media be registered as staff of diplomatic missions, saying it was a response to the growing crackdown on independent reporting in China.

China then expelled three Wall Street Journal reporters - two Americans and an Australian - after the paper published an opinion column calling China the "real sick man of Asia".

In an open letter published earlier this week, the three publishers urged China to reconsider the move, saying it was "uniquely damaging and reckless" at a time when the world is sharing the burden of fighting the coronavirus.

China hit out at what it called "biased" reporting on Friday in a frosty response to that request. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
National carrier- Air India has been operating special medical cargo flights from Saturday morning and is scheduled to operate 14 such flights by the end of the day.

Airline sources said that the cargo flights are carrying medicines and medical equipment. Air India operated AI 1809 from Mumbai to Delhi at 11am on Saturday, that landed in Delhi at 1.10 pm and AI 1624 that departed from Delhi at 2.30 pm and is due to arrive in Mumbai at 4.40 pm. Both these flights were operated using Boeing B787 aircraft.

Another Air India cargo flight that is scheduled to operate in the Delhi-Imphal-Delhi sector will be using Airbus 320 aircraft.

Air Indias subsidiary- Alliance Air operated 9I 917 from Delhi to Raipur at 12.30 pm and landed at 3pm, which further took off for Bhubaneswar at 3.30 pm and landed at 4.50 pm. After dropping the cargo, the same flight was scheduled to leave Bhubaneswar at 5.30 pm and land in Delhi by 8.20 pm.

Another Alliance Air flight 9I 921 operated from Kolkata in the afternoon and landed in Agartala at 1.05 pm. The same aircraft with flight 9I 921 returned to Kolkata at 2.40 pm.

9I-923 that operated from Mumbai to Pune landed in Pune at 11.40 am and then took off for Raipur to land at 2.30 pm.

The same aircraft then took off to return to Mumbai at 3 pm and is expected to land in Mumbai at 5.30 pm.

In an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19, flight operations of all commercial international and domestic passenger sectors have been suspended until 23.59 hrs of April 14. The aviation regulator- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has however allowed special flights and offshore helicopters to continue their operations.
According to global updates, there are hundreds of thousands of people affected by the pandemic in 200 countries.

As the cases continue to rise, hospitals are now reported to have a shortage in the supply of inhalers.

Albuterol Inhalers

Metered dose inhalers or MDI's are filled with the medication albuterol which greatly helps with respiratory issues such as diseases like asthma and cough.

Albuterol is also found to be a helpful medicine to serious diseases like Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, which is a lung disease.

Common types of inhalers that are now greatly used by physicians to treat coronavirus are on a list of running supplies in the hospitals in helping battling COVID-19.

The hospitals fill the inhalers with albuterol as they treat the patients with severe respiratory syndrome problems caused by the new novel COVID-19.

Shortage in Supply

According to some data gathered by Premier, a healthcare supplier in the United states, in the first weeks of March, hospitals have ordered more than usual for the past years or periods. This is to adjust with the rising potential loss of inhalers.

More COVID-19 updates:

At least one manufacturer was reported to be ramping up the production.

Right now, the shortage of supplies is one of the major problems in the hospitals not only in the United States, but all over the world. It was also found that in some healthcare systems personal protective equipment or PPE like face masks, face shields, eye wears, gowns, gloves, and test kits are running low and the administrators are forced to make arrangements and protocols against the shortage of the supplies.

They are also forced to make the rules that will take up as a ration and reuse the gear to limit the use of the supplies as the whole health care systems are battling COVID-19.

The hospitals are now strictly reserving the inhalers for the severe cases of the COVID 19 patients.

Manufacturers' Response

GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical and healthcare supply company, also saw the evident increase in demand and they are already taking the necessary procedure to try and address this. GSK makes Ventolin inhalers, which are a type of drug inhalers that also contain albuterol.

A spokesperson from GSK added that they are now proactively continuing the supply of ventolin inhalers as these inhalers are much needed in treating the said virus. The existing contingency plans also include the increase in the production as the demand for medications are much needed.

Bronchodilator and albuterol deliver a fast action in relaxing airway muscles that helps the lungs to improve the air flow.

As the inhaler delivers the albuterol to the virus and to patients, it acts as a medication that helps the patient to breathe more easily as the virus blocks its airways.
In a bid to tackle fake news online and provide credible information about the COVID-19 pandemic, Silicon Valley giant Apple has released a new dedicated app and website for users across the United States. This comes as an effort to provide accurate and speedy updates to users about the novel coronavirus infection that is sweeping across the globe. The app and website provide the latest information and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

READ | New York Gets Hospital Ship, Possible Quarantine

The pandemic has sent major global economies into limbo with many industries staring at huge revenue losses due to the virus outbreak. Countries such as the US, China, Italy, France, South Korea, among other developed nations have been badly hit by COVID-19. The infected cases and the death toll in these countries is maximum as compared to others despite having one of the worlds best health care systems.

READ | US Grants $2.9 Million To India For Fight Against Coronavirus Pandemic

The US has become the new epicentre of the deadly COVID-19 infection, surpassing Italy with over 120,000 positive cases and total deaths in the country surging over 2000. US President Donald Trump has blamed China for their alleged negligence and concealment of the facts on the issue that has supposedly led to the escalation of the disease into a global pandemic.

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has announced the company's new commitment to support SMBs, health organisations and governments, and millions of health workers in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In an official blog, Pichai announced a new $800 million commitment.

READ | Italy Reports Another 889 Virus Deaths

Coronavirus grips the world

The deadly coronavirus outbreak that originated in China last year has spread across 197 countries across the world. Presently, there are nearly 660,000 confirmed global cases of the COVID-19 infection which has led to the death of over 30,600 people.

As there is no vaccine or specific antiviral medicine to treat COVID-19, countries have been grappling with all possible mechanisms to contain its spread.

So far, China, Italy, Iran, Spain and the US have witnessed the most number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

(Image source - AP)

READ | NYC Nurses Plead For Protective Gear To Fight Virus Outbreak
Doctors are hoarding medications touted as possible coronavirus treatments by writing prescriptions for themselves and family members, according to pharmacy boards in states across the U.S.

The stockpiling has become so worrisome in Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, Nevada, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Texas that the boards in those states have issued emergency restrictions or guidelines on how the drugs can be dispensed at pharmacies. More states are expected to follow suit.

This is a real issue, and it is not some product of a few isolated bad apples, said Jay Campbell, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy.

The medications being prescribed differ slightly from state to state, but include those lauded by U.S. President Donald Trump at televised briefings as potential breakthrough treatments for the virus, which has killed more than 500 people in the United States and infected at least 43,000.

None of the drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for that use. Some of them  including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine  are commonly used to treat malaria, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions.

Pharmacists have been swapping stories on social media about the spike in prescriptions written by doctors for themselves or their families.

I have multiple prescribers calling in prescriptions for Plaquenil for themselves and their family members as a precaution. Is this ethical? one person wrote Sunday in a Facebook group for pharmacists, referring to a brand name of hydroxychloroquine. Others weighed in  some noting similar experiences  and expressed their hesitancy to dispense such prescriptions.

I got called a communist for telling a prescriber, who was trying to call it in for themselves, no, someone posted Friday in another Facebook group for pharmacists.

Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, said state boards were trying to stop the hoarding and inappropriate prescribing, but balancing what patients need.

Campbell, of the North Carolina board, said medical boards and associations had to get involved as well to curb the behaviour of prescribers.

The American Medical Association denounced the practice in a statement from its president, Dr. Patrice Harris.

The AMA is calling for a stop to any inappropriate prescribing and ordering of medications, including chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, and appealing to physicians and all health-care professionals to follow the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, she said.

Harris also noted that the countrys health-care professionals continue to demonstrate remarkable leadership every day, and can look to the organizations code of medical ethics for guidance.

The first restrictions were imposed last week in Idaho. The board there imposed a temporary rule that bars pharmacies from dispensing two drugs  chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine  unless the prescription includes a written diagnosis of a condition that the drugs have been proven to treat. The rule also limits prescriptions to a 14-day supply unless a patient has previously taken the medication.

We wanted to try to get out in front of that as early as we could, said Nicki Chopski, executive director of the board in Idaho, where pharmacists began reporting a significant uptick in prescriptions for the medications last week.

The prescriptions, she said, were being written by doctors for themselves and their family members, often in large quantities with refills.

Texas adopted a similar rule on Friday that included another malaria drug  mefloquine  as well as the antibiotic azithromycin, commonly known by its brand name, Zithromax Z-Pak. That drug has been mentioned by Trump as another potential treatment for the coronavirus when taken in conjunction with anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine. The effectiveness of the treatment remains unproven.

Allison Benz, executive director of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, said pharmacists were reporting an unusual increase in prescriptions for these drugs written by doctors for themselves, their family members and their office staff. As in Idaho, patients who legitimately need medications for conditions that the drugs have been proven to treat will not be restricted from getting them as a result of the new rule, Benz said.

In an emergency meeting Sunday morning reported by the Columbus Dispatch, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy barred pharmacists from dispensing the drugs to treat the coronavirus unless a person had tested positive for the virus or the request had been approved directly by the pharmacy boards executive director.

In a statement, CVS said that pharmacists were to use their professional judgment to determine whether a prescription was valid and appropriate to dispense, noting that pharmacists would comply with any applicable state board regulations.

A spokeswoman from Walgreens said its pharmacists would follow the requirements of the state where they practise, also noting that the company had issued guidelines for dispensing two of the drugs in highest demand, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Walgreens will allow only a 14-day supply for new prescriptions in order to help ensure that the medications remain available for those who need them, the spokeswoman said.

Instead of instituting rules, some states are offering general guidelines for pharmacists facing the dilemma.

The Kentucky Board of Pharmacy encouraged pharmacists to use professional judgment in addressing whether a pharmacist should fulfil requests from physicians who are writing prescriptions for themselves and their family members in large quantities, according to a memo detailing frequently asked questions on the boards website.

The guidance goes on to say that the pharmacists can determine if a valid patient-prescriber relationship exists, while also urging the pharmacists to consider if there is enough of the drugs in stock to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis who need it on a regular basis.
On the basis of "alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction", on March 11, 2020, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic. So far, hundreds of thousands of cases have been confirmed in countries across the globe, while tens of thousands of people have died from the disease worldwide.

The number of reported cases in Africa, although relatively small, has recently been climbing. According to the WHO and the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, as of March 26, there were over 2,500 confirmed cases across Africa, with almost all nations on the continent - at least 46 of the 54 countries - reporting cases. The African countries with the highest number of cases are Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa. Most confirmed cases on the continent have involved people arriving from Europe and North America, with little community transmission, although this appears to be increasing. Despite the fact that Africa's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has received relatively scant global attention, a rapid spread of COVID-19 on the continent could cripple fragile public healthcare systems and leave a devastating toll on societies and economies. Several factors, in particular, could make containing the virus on the continent especially challenging.

Weak healthcare systems

One major concern is that many countries in Africa have weak, poorly equipped healthcare systems, which will create significant challenges in successfully responding to COVID-19. Generally, across much of Africa, healthcare workforce is only a fraction of what is needed; countries face shortage of funds, and there are often large gaps in delivery of services, such as those between rural and urban areas. Healthcare workers also may lack necessary skills and training, or access to basic technologies or equipment, medicine, and medical information systems.

Although many African countries have received crucial support from the WHO, allowing them to quickly establish or improve testing facilities for COVID-19, there is still a troubling shortage of test kits, and the overall capacity to deal with the pandemic remains limited. Frontline workers face a critical shortage of protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, gowns and disinfectants, which heightens the risk of infection (or other issues, such as high levels of stress), increases the possibility of emergence of outbreak clusters and places a greater strain on the healthcare systems. Furthermore, the number of intensive care unit beds and ventilators available across the continent is extremely small, while facilities for isolation are limited, leaving them unable to cope with a potential surge in COVID-19 patients. Unfortunately, many nations that have traditionally extended vital support to African countries during past crises such as Ebola, must now address their own explosive outbreaks of COVID-19, meaning they may be unable to offer the same levels of essential support.

Another important issue is that many states in Africa are weak and extremely fragile. They may be beset by conflict or political instability, and their authority and control may often not extend to all areas within their territorial jurisdictions. This means that many African states may lack the necessary capacity to actively implement or enforce many of the important measures required to manage a potential outbreak, such as delivering reliable information, screening or testing, enforcing lockdowns and restrictions on public movement, and proactive case finding or contact tracing.

Harsh conditions

As a continent, Africa also has a significant population of vulnerable people, including millions of refugees and internally displaced, which can increase challenges for responding to the threat of COVID-19. Refugees and the internally displaced often live in harsh conditions that are highly conducive to the spread of an epidemic, and they may lack adequate access to healthcare, hygiene materials and sanitation facilities. Also, refugees and internally displaced populations, often on the move, may pose challenges for screening, tracing, isolation, and treatment.

Africa's response to COVID-19 may also be hindered by the fact that the continent has hundreds of millions of people living in poverty. Low-income groups and those living in poverty are more likely to be exposed to the virus and have higher mortality rates. Due to the lack of resources to prepare and protect against the coronavirus, those living in poverty may face a higher risk of contracting and subsequently spreading the virus. Many Africans also live in densely populated areas, crowded homes and informal settlements or slums with little access to safe water or sanitation, and poor sewage infrastructure. In these places, standard recommended steps to control the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing or hand-washing, may be difficult or simply not possible to follow. Moreover, with a lack of adequate social security nets and with many Africans employed in the precarious informal economy, people may not have the financial ability to avoid work or remain in lockdown.

Chinese support

While this array of factors could make it especially difficult for African countries to successfully respond to COVID-19, there are also some reasons for optimism. For one, the delayed arrival of COVID-19 to the continent has allowed African governments to observe what other countries are doing to successfully combat the new virus. Also, important lessons learnt from the Ebola crisis in 2014 have improved the resilience of Africa's healthcare systems.

Finally, China, which has made tremendous progress in fighting against COVID-19, leading WHO officials to congratulate it for setting "a new standard for outbreak response," has also demonstrated its solidarity with Africa by extending vital support to the continent. The Chinese Government is donating millions of medical supplies, including test kits, masks, and preventive suits critically needed to fight the spread of COVID-19 across Africa, as well as providing extensive prevention and control support to various organs of the African Union (AU). Distribution of medical supplies is being conducted through the AU, which is supported by the Chinese Government and Ethiopian Airlines.

The Chinese Government has also been coordinating and encouraging various Chinese enterprises and private institutions to extend support to African countries. Huajian International, a Chinese footwear company, has extended material support to Ethiopia and several other countries, while Jack Ma, the Chinese tech billionaire and co-founder of the Alibaba online shopping platform, has agreed to donate medical supplies, including millions of COVID-19 test kits, masks, face shields, and protective suits, to all African states. On March 22, 2020, after the arrival in Ethiopia of a batch of medical supplies donated by Ma, Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, took to Twitter to express his appreciation for the donation.

Additionally, Chinese medical teams across the continent have been encouraged to actively participate in the COVID-19 responses within the countries where they work, while Chinese health officials and experts have been sharing valuable COVID-19 response experience via videoconferences with their African counterparts. For years, of course, China has also contributed significantly to development and improvement of healthcare systems in Africa, providing tens of thousands of scholarships and short-term training opportunities to African students, while also extending billions of dollars for healthcare projects, facilities, equipment and programs.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 23:07:18|Editor: huaxia

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NINGBO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The China Ningbo Containerized Freight Index (NCFI) reported slight declines in indices for the Europe and Mediterranean routes.

NCFI, a wind vane of China's busiest port's freight rates for the international container shipping market, stood at 759.0 points on Friday, down 1.7 percent compared with last week.

The sub-index for the route to Europe stood at 579.6 points, down 1.9 percent compared with last week. The index for the route to the east coast of Mediterranean quoted 614.2 points, down 5.2 percent, while that for the route to the west coast quoted 673.2 points, down 5.6 percent.

The COVID-19 epidemic has affected production activities and consumer demand in these regions, resulting in temporary postponement or even cancellation of export orders and declines in shipping transportation demand, according to the Ningbo Shipping Exchange.

Reported every Friday (except Chinese holidays), the NCFI was first published in September 2013. Enditem
Robert Dursts murder trial has been postponed again: Now, it is to pick back up on May 26, according to a spokesperson for the Superior Court of California.

Earlier this month, the trial was postponed to April 6 due to the spread of the coronavirus. The announcement came a day after the Los Angeles Superior Court announced that criminal and civil trials will be delayed for at least 30 days amid concerns about the spread of the virus among the court system. Judges were encouraged to shift towards conducting proceedings by telephone to decrease the number of people in courthouses.

Dursts murder trial began on March 5. Durst, the subject of the 2015 HBO docuseries The Jinx, is charged with murdering his close friend Susan Berman on or about Dec. 23, 2000. Her body was discovered in her Benedict Canyon home on Christmas Eve.

Also Read: Robert Durst's Murder Trial Delayed Due to Coronavirus

L.A. County Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said the prosecution believes Berman knew her killer, saying there were no signs of a struggle, no sign of a break-in and her purse and credit cards were still in the home. Lewin said, Susan knew her killer. She freely and voluntarily admitted this person into her house.

Durst was arrested in March 2015 by FBI agents in New Orleans, one day before the finale of HBOs The Jinx, which chronicled Dursts life and the death of three people close to him  McCormack, Berman and a neighbor in Galveston, Texas. He was not charged with the disappearance of McCormack and acquitted in the death of the neighbor.

Durst has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Berman.

Read original story Robert Dursts Murder Trial Postponed Again Until May At TheWrap
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Coal India Ltd (CIL) on Friday said despite the constraints on account of coronavirus outbreak, it recorded close to 3 million tonnes (MT) production on Thursday, the second highest single day production during the fiscal. Coal is an 'essential service' as recognized under Emergency Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1981, and services engaged in coal industry are 'public utility service'.

"Coal production by CIL recorded close to 3 MTs on Thursday, the second highest one day's production this fiscal, despite the constraints in the wake of corona virus pandemic," CIL said in a statement.

The company has been averaging 2.56 MTs production per day during the current month with supplies averaging 1.75 MTs.

"Coal being the important primary fuel for the country there will be no let up in coal production" the company said, adding "we are mobilizing all our resources and will keep on resolving the issues and continue to produce, notwithstanding the adversities".

The statement said that the top brass of the Maharatna public sector undertaking is in contact with the Ministry of Coal and state administrations to synergise the efforts necessary to keep up with production and despatches.

Daily coordination meetings are being held with CMDs of subsidiary companies to monitor the production and upping the medical facilities.

Important materials necessary for production, like explosives, spares, tyres, machine parts and other services, are being procured on war footing, it said, adding authorities of different state administration have been contacted to grant relaxation for movement of these materials, essential for coal mining, from COVID-19 lockdown.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in an addendum on Wednesday clarified that coal mining and associated operations are exempt from lockdown.

"There is sufficient buffer with over 107 MTs of coal stock available in the system at CIL's pitheads and at thermal power stations of the country combined and there is no immediate cause of any coal shortage worry," it said.

The company said the well-being and safety of operational personnel is top priority and required medical facilities are being perked up with medical teams on high alert.

Quarantine measures are being put in place, should the need arise, the statement added.

Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of the total domestic production.
That realization helped fuel the slow rebuilding of a dining and drinking scene that became more diverse, with a greater variety of restaurants performing at a high level. The city attracted new residents, with different tastes, and ambitious chefs to cater to them.

But the impulse of the restaurant community to lean into adversity has been complicated by the realization that not all the lessons learned in past emergencies apply to the current one. That has been undeniable since at least March 16, when Gov. John Bel Edwards ordered all Louisiana restaurants to stop dine-in service. Mass closings and layoffs followed.

Donald Link, an award-winning chef, operates six New Orleans restaurants including Peche Seafood Grill and Herbsaint. Soon after the order to close, he laid off 360 of his roughly 450 employees, leaving just one restaurant, Cochon Butcher, open for takeout with a menu of favorites drawn from all of his restaurants.

Mr. Link and his remaining staff have been preparing free meals for unemployed former colleagues and their families. Were no stranger to doing thousands of meals a day, he said. He is looking for ways to do more, but we cant get too big, because I cant put too many people in the kitchen. There are these new paradoxes.

The imperative of social distancing is particularly challenging in a city familiar with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Local officials increasingly believe that the virus incubated during Mardi Gras festivities, which ended Feb. 25.

Its also not uncommon for people in the restaurant business here to physically embrace customers. It was really hard to get people to elbow instead of hug, said JoAnn Clevenger, who has closed her restaurant, Upperline.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- As recently as a few weeks ago, it seemed as though U.K. politics could not possibly talk about anything besides Brexit, even after the countrys formal departure from the EU. Business as usual was expected to return at some unspecified point in the future.

As elsewhere, the coronavirus has turned British politics on its head. Unlike Brexit, which continues to divide opinion fairly evenly, the coronavirus crisis has prompted an outbreak of recently unfamiliar unity. Number Cruncher polling (excusive to Bloomberg) finds personal ratings for Boris Johnson -- himself now diagnosed with coronavirus -- that have not been seen for a British Prime Minister since the early days of Tony Blairs premiership in 1997.

Fully 72% of eligible voters are satisfied with Johnsons performance as Prime Minister, with 25% dissatisfied. Ninety-one per cent of those currently supporting the Conservatives count themselves as satisfied, along with about half of Labour voters and those voting for other parties and a large majority of undecided voters. Johnsons government gets similar approval ratings, both overall (73% to 24%) and on its handling of the Coronavirus outbreak (72% to 25%).

The 1,010 interviews were conducted Tuesday through Thursday, following Johnsons televised address on Monday, but completed before Johnson himself revealed that he had tested positive for the virus. There is some evidence in our data to suggest that these figures were higher in the immediate aftermath of the pre-recorded broadcast, which was watched by around half of the adult population.

The strongest numbers of all are for the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (77% satisfaction). Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose successor will be named on April 4, remains in negative territory (with 54% dissatisfied).

While wartime metaphors are now commonplace, this pandemic is not, of course, a war in literal sense -- people are being killed by a disease, not each other. But it does share many of the same characteristics and a similar rally around the flag sense. The most obvious of these is the unity against a common enemy, with a lot of agreement across parties and across the public. There is also clear sense of national effort, and some extremely large government spending on its way.

Story continues

Thats not to say that there have been no controversies  there have been debates over strategy and the policy response  though these can easily be drowned out by the enormity of the wider situation.

This is not unique to the U.K. Polling elsewhere has shown that the crisis has helped incumbents in other countries too. Emmanuel Macron in France, Italys Giuseppe Conte and Canadas Justin Trudeau have also seen their ratings improve. Even in the strongly polarized U.S., Donald Trumps approval ratings have seen gains.

But what is specific to the U.K. is the perfect storm providing the tailwind to the Conservatives. The post-election bounce for Johnson and his party was still very much in evidence when the coronavirus became the dominant story, and was likely boosted by Brexit on Jan. 31st. Labour has been less visible than it might normally be, and when it is visible its via its unpopular leader, who remains in place more than three months after his election defeat.

Coupled with the rally-round-the-flag effect, it is not hard to see why records are being broken. Of likely voters, 54% would choose Conservatives, up nine points from the December election (excluding Northern Ireland). No Conservative government has ever had such a strong poll rating, according to records compiled by author Mark Pack beginning in 1943.

Labour has dropped five points to 28%, giving the Tories their biggest lead while in office since Margaret Thatchers peak during the Falklands war in 1982. The Liberal Democrats  who this week postponed their leadership election until 2021  also fall five points to 7%.

Of course, no U.K. election is imminent, with even the local elections scheduled for May having been postponed until next year. Whats more, being hugely popular in a war or war-like situation can still end in electoral defeat, as it did for Winston Churchill and George H.W. Bush. And thats before we consider likely economic damage of the coronavirus, which is in the very early stages of being felt.

But these numbers are significant for another reason. The immediate task for Johnson and other leaders is to convince their citizens to comply with personal restrictions that would be unthinkable in normal times. Irrespective of the wider politics, having the public united behind him can only help. For now, the U.K. feels strangely united.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Matt Singh runs Number Cruncher Politics, a nonpartisan polling and elections site that predicted the 2015 U.K. election polling failure.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
A WOMAN who helped set up the community shop in Ewelme has been presented with an award by the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire.

Sarah Maine, who has chaired Ewelme Village Stores management committee since it opened in 2009, said she was delighted to be honoured by Lady Jay of Ewelme.

The annual High Sheriffs awards recognise people in Oxfordshire who have made an outstanding contribution to their communities.

A ceremony was due to be held in Oxford on Tuesday but was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Maine, who lives in Ewelme, said: I feel very touched and honoured as its nice to be recognised.

Were a community-run shop so there are a lot of people who have made that happen. I do work quite hard and Im quite proud of what we have achieved but its not just me.

In terms of our business plan, which is to provide a focal point for the community, to be self-financing and to engage with all our members in the community, we have achieved that 110 per cent.

The shop is owned, staffed and stocked by villagers.

It sells meat, fruit and vegetables as well as fish, milk, bread, wine and beer, newspapers and other essentials, including stamps.

There is also a small cafe selling tea, coffee and home-made cakes, although that is currently closed due to the pandemic.

Mrs Maine said: It is a very valuable thing in the village. We feel we need to adapt a bit to meet a changing market but when things like this coronavirus happen everyone is in there spending their money.

Her award citation reads: Under her leadership, the store has won numerous awards, both civic and from charities.

It provides postage and dry cleaning services, an oil syndicate, daily newspapers and magazines and a wide variety of fresh, chilled ambient goods, gifts and cards, a small cafe and it sources locally wherever possible.

Theres always a paid manager when the store is open but also numerous male and female volunteers from the village and beyond. Surplus cash is ploughed back into village activities.

The shop employs young people at weekends to enable them to gain experience. Inevitably, there are occasional staffing emergencies and Mrs Maine is found working behind the counter.

The citation continues: Sarah and the committee are all volunteers who take considerable care to ensure the store meets villagers requirements, including the people in the almshouses who do not always have their own transport.

Local organisations are able to sell tickets to their events through the shop and the many cyclists passing through the village not only buy refreshments but inner tubes for their tyres when necessary.

This award is but a small recognition for the amazing service Sarah has provided to the community.

The store celebrated its 10th anniversary with a street party last May. About 50 people attended the event in Parsons Lane.

In November 2007 a village survey established that most residents were keen to support the re-opening of a village shop, pledging both financial and/or volunteering help.

Mrs Maine, who still works part-time providing legal advice for admissions appeals to schools, said she was roped into the project after realising those driving it were going to pay 300 to have the survey figures put on a spreadsheet.

She enlisted the help of her daughter Chloe, now 27, to present the results instead.

With the help of Lord and Lady Jay, who live in the village, the old post office was renovated and leased back to the village for use as a community shop for a nominal rent per annum.

In order for the store to open, more than 350 villagers bought a 10 share, made a donation or held a fundraising event, bringing in more than 21,000.

The shop also received grants from South Oxfordshire District Council and the Esme Fairbairn Foundation.

The cost of setting up the shop was more than 60,000. It has a 25-year lease on the premises and today has more than 300 shareholders, six daily managers, 25 volunteers and an annual turnover of about 150,000.

The store has won many awards over the years, including best community store in the South-East in 2017.

Shareholders have a say in what it stocks and the direction it should take.

 Awards have also been made to David Redhouse, the governor of HMP Huntercombe in Nuffield, along with prison staff Aubrey Wickham, Eulanda Nelson, Jerome Pierre and Andy Small.
Slovak government approves defense treaty with US

US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia

EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse

CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order

German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination

Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president

Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war

Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks

Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict

Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police

Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown

Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable

Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee

Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows

Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan

Teacher in Baku beats student

NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22

Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart

OSCE Chairman-in-Office speaks on situation along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Iran cancels travel ban on common borders

CSTO defense ministers council special session to be held Thursday

Dollar loses value in Armenia

Which NGOs, extra-parliamentary forces to be included in Armenia Constitutional Reform Council?

4,391 foreign nationals visit Artsakh in 2021

China calls on US to immediately close Guantanamo prison

State Department says more progress must be made to salvage nuclear deal

Measure ensuring implementation of law on addendum to law on Armenia state border is approved

Davit Minasyan is sworn in as new mayor of Armenias Parakar enlarged community

World Bank: Armenia economic growth expected to be 4.8% in 2022 and 5.4% in 2023

Azerbaijani Defense Minister receives new commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Biden names Kamala Harris as US president during Atlanta speech

Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is launching provocations in Armenia territories where it earlier invaded

Russia-NATO Council meeting kicks off in Brussels

Serdar Kilic is appointed Turkey special representative for Armenia

Armenia ambassador to Georgia informs Switzerland envoy about Azerbaijan's gross ceasefire violation

Economy minister: Armenia government was guided by political considerations when lifting sanctions on Turkey goods

Turkey defense minister expresses support for Azerbaijan in another military aggression against Armenia

Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan

Toivo Klaar: Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on Armenia-Azerbaijan

Germany: A record 80,430 COVID-19 cases detected per day

3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings

Copper rises in price

One of main tasks of Armenia peacekeepers in Kazakhstans Almaty is to prevent water supply system poisoning

About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan

Turkey parliament ex-deputy speaker: Armenia must fulfill 4 preconditions

Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night

French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly

289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Gold slightly rises in price

North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile

OSCE calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to refrain from the use of force

Oil is trading without a single dynamic

US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan

Newspaper: Ex-ministers are summoned to Hayastan All Armenian Fund parliamentary inquiry committee

MOD: Armenia soldiers dead body found at midnight after Azerbaijan provocation

Newspaper: Casualties of Armenia PM Pashinyan's 'era of peace'

US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project

Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen

German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey

Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations

Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed

Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory

World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy

Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims

Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan

Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation

CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan

WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic

European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million

White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed

Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State

India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists

Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death

Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day

Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded

NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22

Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February

Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan

Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China

20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year

Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States

Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia

Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death

Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded

Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience

Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps

UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022

Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit

Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death

Dollar drops in Armenia

Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building

Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021

Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were

ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes

Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19

Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents

Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties
Say youve tested positive for coronavirus and have been ordered to self-isolate.

If you leave your home, could police arrest you? Could your movements be tracked via your phone? And what rights do individuals have in times of a biosecurity emergency?

We take a look at the powers  some of which are being used for the first time  that Australian governments are using to try to stop the spread of COVID-19.

What powers can state governments exercise to contain coronavirus?

In Australia, the states and territories have enacted their public health laws.
By Alex Longley and Ann Koh

Oil fell below $22 as the collapse in global consumption as a result of the coronavirus outbreak showed no sign of abating, pressuring refiners and producers globally.

Futures in New York fell as much as 4.5%. While global stocks staged a partial recovery this week as policy makers sought to cushion the blow from the virus, there have been more signs of a demand collapse. Mega-refineries from India to South Korea are slashing their consumption, while top trader Trafigura said it expects demand to plummet by 22 million barrels a day next month

Lower prices are already taking their toll, with producers facing forced production cuts for the first time in 35 years. Suppliers from Brazil to Canada are already acting, while Nigeria said it will pump as much as it can at low prices, but may have to shut in production. Algeria has asked for an emergency OPEC board meeting to discuss the cuts. It comes as one of the worlds largest supertanker owners said that ships are being filled with crude at a record pace, as land storage rapidly diminishes.

Physical crude prices are falling even lower than Brent and WTI futures. Well all be writing about this time for the next 30 years, said Paul Horsnell, head of commodities research at Standard Chartered. Anybody who does barrel counting or has a supply demand model cannot close the huge surplus without a lot of supply being forced off.

Prices:

West Texas Intermediate fell 3.1% to $21.89 a barrel as of 8:55 a.m. in New York

Brent crude lost 3.4% to $25.45 a barrel

Swaps markets showed that physical crude is selling several dollars below benchmark prices.

In another bad omen for oil prices, the U.S. Energy Department was forced to rescind an offer to buy from shale producers to top up emergency stockpiles after President Donald Trump failed to win funding from Congress. The purchases would have targeted small to mid-size producers that have borne the brunt of the recent market meltdown.

The signs of storage starting to fill are growing too. Inland tanks for heating oil in Germany are now full up, while Pakistan banned oil imports on Thursday because its stockpiles are now sufficiently built up.

Other oil-market news

Global oil demand will slump by 17.4m barrels a day in April from a year earlier, industry consultant FGE said in a note.

The worlds oil tankers are being filled with crude at a record pace as the options to store a glut on land rapidly diminish, one of the industrys largest owners said.

Canadian heavy crude has become so cheap that the cost of shipping it to refineries exceeds the value of the oil itself, a situation that may result in even more oil-sands producers shutting operations.

Russias average oil production is little changed so far in March, the final month of the OPEC+ deal, as the nation prepares to ramp up output.

--With assistance from James Thornhill.
Bid a sick man in sadness make his will,

A word ill urged to one that is so ill,

In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.'

Act 1, Scene 2 - Romeo and Juliet.

The story of life and times of Charles William Jones could have been taken from any Shakespeare tragedy. But in truth, this was a real story of an unrequited love that cost him his career and perhaps ultimately his life.

Charles Jones was a Balbriggan man who grew to become one of the most influential politicians in the United States.

However, a charming young lady from Detroit called Miss Clotilda Palms was to break his heart, his spirit and his mind in one of the most dramatic tales in the history of the US Senate.

The story begins the day before Christmas, 1834 - with the birth of Charles Jones in Balbriggan.

Terry Dunne in writing for the Balbriggan History for the Millennium publication, states that his father was a British Army Surgeon and the family were poor, although the local parish priest did give young Jones a start in the world with some tuition, as well as a year of schooling.

But the death of his father sparked a change in the fortunes of the family.

With his mother, Jones headed off on an emigrant ship to New York.

As Jones viewed Ellis Island for the first time, about 200 miles away in the nation's capitol where he would become a noted politician, Samuel Morse was transmitting the first telegraph from Washington to Baltimore. Great days for America and a 10-year-old kid from north Fingal.

His early life was to see the commendable Balbriggan spirit come to the fore.

He went to school in New York and even now his promise began to shine through.

When he was 14 he moved to Louisiana and then to Mississippi.

On a national stage, work had begun on the dome at Capitol Hill, suspended for a period during the Civil War.

Over 150-years-ago, Santa Rosa County in Florida welcomed Jones and this is where the 20-year -old found his true vocation.

He found work as a carpenter by day, a trade that would allow him the chance to study at night and that he dud. Evening after evening he would sit down with books and study the law of the land that had become his home. Truly, the land of opportunity.

Three years of hard work saw him become a lawyer and dare say statesman.

Now based in offices in Pensacola, Florida, life was again to be touched by a national incident - war!

The Civil War divided the country and Jones worked in an official capacity for Escambia County, the capital seat being Pensacola.

Following the war, life changed again. IN 1863 Lincoln's address freed the nation's slaves and Jones decided to follow a path into the political world. He was a member of the Democratic Party and after initial failure to get elected, he was to succeed in his ambition to make the senate in 1875.

That election went down in history too. That was the era when US Senators in the state of Florida were elected by the state legislature and Jones made it into office in Washington by just one vote.

The following year the nation celebrated its centennial with a fair in Philadelphia and Jones took part in all the celebrations, mixing freely with some of the key names in American politics.

He sat on various committees, dealing with anything from Buildings to Revolutionary Claims and not surprisingly he was reelected in Florida in 1881 but it was late the following year that the demise of Charles Jones began, his heart snatched by a chance meeting in Washington.

It was close to Christmas of 1882 when his eyes became transfixed on Clotilda Palms at a function in the capital.

By all reports she was indeed striking. A 26-year-old brunette (Charles was 46), she was well educated and with a pleasant demeanour. Jones was love sick from that moment on.

Jones had married years earlier and had four children but he couldn't forget Clotilda.

Another meeting in her home city of Detroit the following year saw Jones on the slippery road to political ruin.

He had gone to the city for a dinner and their paths crossed again. Within days Jones had proposed marriage.

Taken aback somewhat, Clotilda turned him down but with the same vigour and determination that had turned a poor Balbriggan boy into a political force in America, he refused to be put off.

Time and time again he wrote to her but she spurned all advances. Indeed her father, Francis Palms, a lumberman with a fortune of close to 10m dollars began to tire of Jones's attempts and he too warned him off.

But months later Jones was still in Detroit. His son, Charles, came to visit and tried for weeks to get him to return to Washington but he refused. Friends and colleagues sought him out but to no avail.

His term of office ran out, succeeded by Samuel Pasco, and he was suddenly in the political wilderness. His money soon ran out and he was eventually placed into the care of St Joseph's Retreat, an asylum for the insane at Dearborn, Michigan. He died there on October 11, 1897 at the age of 63. He is buried in Pensacola, Florida.
Yi-Chin Lee, Staff / Staff photographer

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds around the globe, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick caught heat this week for suggesting senior citizens would be willing to sacrifice their lives in exchange for preserving the American economy.

Meantime, Gov. Greg Abbott slapped restrictions on people traveling to Texas from the New York area and New Orleans. Join the conversation featuring Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.
The police has arrested a woman from the city for allegedly posting fake news about a doctor working at a state-run hospital here.

The 29-year-old woman, on her social networking account, had said that the doctor working at Beliaghata ID Hospital was infected with COVID-19 while treating patients afflicted with the disease, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said on March 28.

She was arrested by the officers of the cyber crime cell of Kolkata Police on Friday night.

Without revealing the identity of the woman, the police officer said that the accused has been booked under the IT Act.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on March 27 had warned those who have been uploading fake news on the social media.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

My health secretary has forwarded the post to me where it was mentioned that a doctor treating COVID-19 patients has fallen sick. This is totally baseless. I have been saying that people having exposure to corona victims are most vulnerable, but the news is baseless. I have referred the matter to the detective department, she said during a press briefing at the state secretariat.

Meanwhile, the police on March 28 morning arrested two persons from the Cossipore area for hoarding rice.

The two failed to give an appropriate reply to why they had stored rice. They are no businessmen and they do not own any godown. Around 30 sacks of rice, weighing more than 300 kg, were found inside a room, a policeman said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 12:20:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The following are the updates on the contagious illness.

LOME -- Togo, which has registered 25 COVID-19 cases, reported its first case of death caused by the contagious disease on Friday night.

The patient returned from Belgium on March 17 and had respiratory symptoms, said a statement published on the government's official website.

- - - -

UNITED NATIONS -- The 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference will be postponed, possibly by a year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the United Nations on Friday.

"In light of the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, states parties have decided to postpone the 2020 Review Conference ... to a later date, as soon as the circumstances permit, but no later than April 2021," said the press office of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Information on the new dates of the conference will be posted in due course, said the press office in a note to correspondents.

- - - -

YANGON -- Three more cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Myanmar on Saturday, bringing the total infections of the viral pandemic in the country to eight, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

The newly confirmed patients include a 29-year-old male in Yangon who was on the same trip to England with a patient who recently tested positive as the country's third case.

- - - -

PARIS -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen by 13 percent within a day to reach a total of 32,964 as of Friday, the 11th day of national lockdown imposed to contain the outbreak, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said.

A total of 1,995 people died, up 299 from Thursday, Salomon added in an update.

Further 1,828 people diagnosed with the COIVD-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, had received treatment in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of hospitalized patients to 15,732. That included 3,787 serious cases, a daily jump of 472.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday warned Americans to guard against fraudulent coronavirus tests, vaccines, treatments.

Many Americans might be tempted to buy or use questionable products that claim to help diagnose, treat, cure, and even prevent COVID-19, said a statement of the FDA.

- - - -

ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that all international flights would be cancelled as part of the fight against COVID-19.

Announcing new measures against the spread of the outbreak during a televised live broadcast, Erdogan also noted that inter-city travel across the country would be subject to the permission of governors in each province.

"A flexible working system will be implemented with minimum personnel both in private and public sectors," Erdogan said.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered General Motors (GM) to produce ventilators under the Defense Production Act, a wartime law he recently invoked to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course," Trump said in a statement.
HARARE (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean billionaire has offered health workers new support, including life insurance and cash, after nurses and some doctors walked out over a lack of protective clothing for treating people with coronavirus. Zimbabwe, whose public hospitals are crippled by shortages of medicines and equipment, has recorded one death from coronavirus and five cases, although the opposition and government critics say authorities are under-reporting figures.

HARARE (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean billionaire has offered health workers new support, including life insurance and cash, after nurses and some doctors walked out over a lack of protective clothing for treating people with coronavirus.

Zimbabwe, whose public hospitals are crippled by shortages of medicines and equipment, has recorded one death from coronavirus and five cases, although the opposition and government critics say authorities are under-reporting figures.

The government denies this allegation and President Emmerson Mnangagwa has encouraged Zimbabweans to limit their movements to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Ecosure, the insurance arm of Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe Ltd and part of Strive Masiwiya's Econet group, said it would offer health and life insurance worth $3,200 to each nurse and doctor, a daily cash allowance if they were hospitalised while on duty, as well as free transport to work for a year.

The insurer said in a statement on Friday it was "equipping frontline medical staff with protective personal equipment" as the country deals with the coronavirus outbreak.

Government doctors ended a three-month strike in January after Masiyiwa offered them financial support.

Nurses at Zimbabwe's state hospitals and some doctors walked out on Wednesday, saying the government had failed to respond to their demands for protective equipment.

Zimbabwean police dispersed street vendors in central Harare on Friday in a bid to decongest the city.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Alexander Smith)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
US stirs up instability by signing 'Taipei Act' despite COVID-19 pandemic

Global Times

By Liu Caiyu Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 13:33:40 Last Updated: 2020/3/28 0:47:24

US President Donald Trump's signing of the "Taipei Act," which is only a piece of paper that costs nothing for the US but may fool Taiwan island, into law on Thursday amid a global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic shows that the US is only acting to serve its own interests at the expense of damaging China-US ties to provoke instability in the region and its "Taiwan card" will only be counterproductive, experts claimed.

The initiative in the cross-Straits is firmly in the hands of the Chinese mainland. Reunification of Taiwan island is the iron will of the Chinese nation. The Taiwan DPP must not have illusions on the matter, experts warned.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed into law the "Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act of 2019" and the bill is aimed at propping up international presence of Taiwan island.

For Trump, it is only a performance of procedure since the act was passed by both the US Senate and House of Representatives in early March but it came at a time when all nations are busy with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which reflects the US is only acting to serve its own interests by stirring up trouble in the Asia-Pacific region instead of focusing on its own fight against the pandemic when the US is now No.1 in confirmed coronavirus cases, experts noted.

Playing the Taiwan card is on the must-to-do list for Trump to secure ballot tickets for the upcoming 2020 president election, as for the global fight against the pandemic, Trump has been treating it with contempt, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Friday.

It is such an unethical act. No matter how much China provides to US aid in its fight against the epidemic, the US will not stop its efforts to harm China's interests. If the US continues to do so, China's future assistance to it might be affected, said Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University.

The Taipei Act authorizes the US State Department to reduce, expand or terminate economic and diplomatic engagements with nations that take actions to undermine Taiwan. Under the act, the US government will help Taiwan island gain participation in international organizations, either as a member or an observer, and provide weapons to the islands.

The act aims at interfering in other countries' internal affairs through US' diplomatic system, and the US may come up with policies to reduce economic support to nations that undermine Taiwan island, but these nations will surely put their national interests first rather than following directions of the US, experts said.

At the very least, how much international space does the Taiwan administration have when there are only 15 remaining small "diplomatic allies" who may not cut ties with the island in fear of Washington's intimidation? Ultimately, the bill will only offer some psychological comfort to the DPP authority, analysts noted.

After Tsai Ing-wen took office, she refused to recognize the "1992 Consensus," which caused the international space of Taiwan island to shrink sharply, and lost seven nations that had "diplomatic relations" with it.

Li Xiaobing, an expert on Taiwan affairs at Nankai University in Tianjin, told the Global Times that America's empty promise of "support for Taiwan" is cliche, and its attempts to play the Taiwan card is plain to see.

This is not the first time that the US has passed Taiwan-related enabling acts in recent years, examples include the Taiwan Travel Act in 2018 and the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019.

By adopting such act, the US attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of China, and sends out the wrong signal to Taiwan island that they are backed by the US. But the act is only a dirty business between Taiwan separatists and pro-Taiwan US politicians who serve the interests of the US at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Pacific, experts noted.

The foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the US signing the act into law on Friday, urging the US to be aware of the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question and not implement the bill.

In a statement released late Friday, the NPC said the bill ignores the one-China principle, which is the general consensus of the international community, and the fact that the US established diplomatic relations with China 41 years ago. It unreasonably obstructs other countries from establishing diplomatic ties with the Chinese mainland and aims to help Taiwan expand so-called "international space," the NPC said.

The signing of the Taipei Act violates the one-China principle and important consensus that the leaders of the two countries have achieved, which will seriously obstruct cooperation of the two nations and ultimately harm the interests of the US, the NPC wrote in the statement.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also expressed firm opposition to the bill on Friday, saying it is an act that wantonly interferes in China's internal affairs.

Geng Shuang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the bill seriously violates the one-China principle, provisions of the three joint communiques between the two nations, and seriously violates international law and the basic norms of international relations.

180 countries have established diplomatic relations with China. The US established diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the one-China principle more than 40 years ago. However, the bill blatantly obstructs other sovereign states from developing normal relations with China, which doesn't make sense and it is a naked hegemonic logic, Geng said.

We urge the US to correct its mistakes, not to implement the law, and not to obstruct other nations from developing ties with China. Otherwise, China will firmly fight back, Geng said.

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Haftar's LNA Air Forces Attack GNA Positions in Western Libya  Military Source

Sputnik News

08:47 GMT 27.03.2020

BENGHAZI, Libya (Sputnik)  The air forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, carried out on Friday three air raids targeting a number of positions of the rival Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in the country's west, a local military source said.

"The Libyan Air Forces carried out three airstrikes on positions of the militia [GNA troops] in the Abu Qurayn settlement and in the Zamzam valley," the source said.

The action was taken after a large group of the GNA's military vehicles was spotted leaving the northwestern city of Misrata in the direction of al-Heisha village and Zamzam valley to attack the LNA, the source added.

Meanwhile, the LNA's spokesman, Maj. Gen. Ahmad al-Mismari, stated that Haftar's forces gained control over a number of cities located in western Libya, adding that these territories were now free and secure "after expelling terrorists."

"We announce that the valiant forces of the Libyan National Army, with God's help, have managed to clear the areas of al-Assah, al-Jameel, Riqdalin and Zaltan of the control of the GNA militia and their Syrian mercenaries," al-Mismari said.

On 19 March, the GNA expressed support for the international call for a ceasefire in the war-torn Arab republic, reaffirming its support for the UN Security Council's resolution 2510 that provides the cessation of hostilities between the conflict-involved parties on Libyan soil.

A Sputnik

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This process can take up to 10 hours, he said  less in a crisis, when members of ethics committees must walk and chew gum at the same time, Packer said. When we have city hospitals that are overwhelmed, in cases like that, we call administration right away, he said, and committees can convene quickly by video chat.
By Thursday evening it was clear that the US would overtake China to become the country with the most number of Covid-19 cases in the world. As on Friday evening (India time), the country had over 94,000cases, and had seen more than 1,400deaths on account of Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing the pandemic.

On Thursday, the New York Times reported, quoting New York state governor Andrew Cuomo, that the number of people admitted to hospitals increased by 40% -- in one day.

On March 9, the US had 704 cases according to worldometers.com. On March 26, it had 85,435. In 17 days, it added, 84,731 cases. On February 27, Italy had 655 cases. On March 26, it had 80,589  in 28 days, it added 79,934 cases. On March 8, Spain had 674 cases. On March 26, it had 57,786. In 18 days, it added 57,112 cases. On January 22, China had 571 cases. On February 13, it had 63,851 cases. In 22 days, it added 63,280 cases.

Purely based on the numbers and nothing else, the rate of infection seems to increase sharply once countries cross a certain threshold. On March 27, the number of cases in India crossed 800. It was 878 at 10:45pm on Friday. Clearly, the next few weeks are crucial for India. The country is in a lockdown till April 15.

At last count, at least 15 US states had more than 1,000 cases, indicating a spread of the disease not seen in any other country (including China, where almost 80% of the cases were in Hubei province, and only three other provinces saw more than 1,000 cases.

The people at the forefront of managing the coronavirus crisis in India would do well to look at the US closely.

Like India, it is a democracy.

Like India, it has a federal system of government.

And like India, it is geographically vast.

The US is, after China and India, the third most populous country in the world (although the gap between India, the second most populous, and it, is huge).

Experts say that one of the first mistakes made by the US was its reluctance to adopt widespread testing. This, they believe, may have masked the true extent of the crisis. India has pretty much done the same  following all-too-stringent criteria for testing, and, only as recently as a few days ago, opening up testing to private laboratories. Sure, the criteria India used was what WHO recommends, but the multilateral bodys handling of this pandemic has been far from ideal.

But India moved quickly in terms of containment and isolation. It restricted, and then completely barred international flights; it set up screening checks for travellers entering the country; it enforced quarantines; and, finally, it declared a hard lockdown for three weeks to April 15. The lockdown was enforced under a law never used before the Disaster Management Act, which requires the state governments to follow the federal governments leadership and instructions in managing the pandemic, and which also provides for penalties for anyone not doing so. The US, in contrast, did not. The lockdown was also a sign that Indias leadership took the crisis seriously  it was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address to the nation. In the US, President Donald Trump is already talking of easing lockdowns by Easter (April 12).

The US also finds itself where it is because of a shortage of medical equipment  from protective wear for doctors to masks to ventilators, which are needed for the most critical patients. India has announced ~15,000 crore to strengthen its health infrastructure and also embarked on expanding local manufacturing of some of these (including ventilators), but it isnt clear how soon it will be able to build an adequate reserve of these. India on Friday set in place a plan to acquire 40,000 ventilators, which would double the current inventory of the life-saving device.The lockdown has bought India some time, but the US experience with the virus highlights the importance of using this time well.

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Tommy Trojan stands guard over a quiet USC campus near downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday as classes are being held online due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Getting into USC got easier this fall amid widespread uncertainty over how the coronavirus outbreak will affect the college plans of students and their families.

USC announced Friday that it increased its acceptance rate to 16% for fall 2020, offering admission to 9,535 freshmen this year  about 2,000 more than last year. That's the university's highest admission rate in three years  up from 11.4% last year  and the largest number of students to receive the thick red welcome folder in at least a decade.

But competition is still fierce. Accepted applicants had an average unweighted GPA of 3.88, with 38% of them achieving perfect grades. Their average SAT and ACT scores were in the 97th percentile. And, during high school, they took an average of seven to eight Advanced Placement courses, which follow a rigorous college-level curriculum.

Fares Maimani, a Mechanical Engineering PhD student, at the USC campus, where classes are now being held online. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Among admitted students, Asian Americans made up 30%, followed by whites at 26% Latinos at 15% and African Americans at 6%. About 17% would be the first in their families to attend college.

The University of California, whose nine undergraduate campuses began sending out acceptances in the last week, typically releases its admissions data in the summer for the upcoming fall term.

Many campuses are offering admission to more students this year to hedge against widespread uncertainty over how the coronavirus outbreak will affect their college decisions. Even Harvard bumped up its admission rate, to 4.92% for fall 2020, compared with 4.5% last year  the first increase in six years, according to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper.

A recent survey of more than 25,000 students and parents by Niche, an educational research group, found that 35% of high school seniors planned to attend a college closer to home than previously intended and 86% were more worried about their family's ability to pay college costs.

It's unclear how such concerns will play out and whether they will disproportionately affect institutions like USC that are pricier and more reliant on nonresident students. About 60% of USC's admitted students are from other states and countries and the 2019-20 cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, was $77,459.

Story continues

However, USC President Carol Folt recently announced a "high-octane" drive to boost financial aid, including free tuition for families earning $80,000 or less annually, beginning with first-year students this fall.

In the meantime, students are sharing their excitement and joy over winning admission to USC with social media posts tagged #igotintousc and embellished with cardinal and gold hearts and the university's "Fight On" salute. They posted photos and videos of themselves opening their notifications, which USC sent out Thursday.

Hannah Selken posted a childhood picture of herself with a USC football. "i've been a trojan since day one," she wrote.

ive been a trojan since day one. thank you to everyone whos helped me along the way and cant wait to fight on for the next four years  #igotintousc pic.twitter.com/eardJ1tOku  hannah selken (@hannahselken_) March 26, 2020

Madeline Abiera widened her eyes, dropped her jaw and shrieked with joy  as did her family  when they read the good news.

I got in to my dream school today!! USC School of Cinematic Arts for a BFA in Film & Television Production! Heres a quick clip of my family and I finding out  #igotintousc #USC pic.twitter.com/dcgPurWscH  Madeline Abiera (@MadelineAbiera) March 27, 2020

And Folt posted what she called her "first video selfie" welcoming the Class of 2024.

Congratulations to our new Trojans! I hope the news of your acceptance brought joy to you and your loved ones during this time. I look forward to meeting you in the fall. #IGotIntoUSC pic.twitter.com/myiGx9efv8  Carol Folt (@PresidentFolt) March 27, 2020

"I know that for so many of you, things are just upside down," she said. "I hope that yesterday you felt like you got some really great news. I cannot wait to greet you at convocation, when you say for the very first time, 'Fight On.'"




Founded in 2018 after a joint venture between TalkTalk, Sky and CityFibre, FibreNation was launched to deploy full-fibre across the region of York in the north of England and offers gigabit-speed broadband services from TalkTalk to approximately 49,000 premises.The acquisition, first announced in January 2020, establishes CityFibre as the as the UKs third national digital infrastructure platform and enables CityFibre to increase its rollout ambition from 5 million to up to 8 million premises, supporting an investment programme of up to 4 billion.The FibreNation brand will remain in market and the company will continue to operate and expand its networks where nearly 60,000 premises can gain access to gigabit speed broadband services from TalkTalk. The completion also triggers TalkTalks onboarding as CityFibres latest major customer, making long-term commitments of both residential and business customers. TalkTalk Group will now begin a process of systems integration as part of long-term commitments across CityFibres existing and future network rollout.Commenting on the deal, Greg Mesch, chief executive at CityFibre, said: In the face of the rapid spread of the Coronavirus and its unprecedented impact on the UK's society and economy, we believe that the need for world-class digital infrastructure has never been greater. Completing our acquisition of FibreNation marks an acceleration in our ability to deploy the critical future-proof digital infrastructure our country needs. By significantly expanding our rollout ambition to up to 8 million premises, CityFibre is helping to answer the call for a full fibre Britain.The UKs fibre broadband market is hugely competitive. Incumbent telco BT claims to be on the verge of becoming the country's fastest home broadband provider in more places than any another with the launch of a new gigabit service. Cable company Virgin Media plans to offer gigabit speeds to more than 15 million homes across its network by the end of 2021, delivering half of the UK governments broadband ambition four years early.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 05:36:09|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella used a rare national address Friday to call on Europe to change the way it deals with threats like the coronavirus.

Mattarella said that despite the mushrooming number of infections and the growing death toll from the coronavirus, Europe was still underestimating the might of the global pandemic.

"I hope everyone will fully understand, before it is too late, the seriousness of this threat that we in Europe are facing," Mattarella said.

Without going into specifics, Mattarella said European leaders had to change the way they handle such threats, saying more cooperation and proactive action was necessary.

"New initiatives are vital," he said. "We must overcome old ways of thinking that are now out of touch with the reality of the dramatic conditions facing our continent."

Striking a similar note, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa warned on Friday that the European Union (EU) is in danger of ending if it doesn't act properly amid the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The European Union will either do what it has to do, or the European Union will end," said Costa during a visit to Center for Excellence and Innovation in the Automotive Industry located in Matosinhos, 315 km north of Lisbon.

"The priority of the priorities is to save lives," he stressed.

The prime minister's remarks came a day after Dutch Finance minister Wopke Hoekstra criticized Spain's budgetary policy in a videoconference with his counterparts from the 27 EU member states on Thursday.

"European Commission should investigate countries, such as Spain, that say they have no budgetary margin to deal with the effects of the crisis caused by the new coronavirus, even though the eurozone has been growing for seven consecutive years," said Hoekstra, quoted by Portuguese Lusa News Agency.

Costa had criticized the "anti-EU spirit" in the Dutch minister's remarks late Thursday following the videoconference, Lusa reported.
Welcome to the new normal. Which, of course, is anything but.

Over the past couple of weeks, weve seen the best and worst of Westport. The worst is the finger-pointing that emerged and continues in the wake of the now-infamous party that appears to be ground zero for the infection here.

Though that too is debatable. With our proximity to New York City, and at least a few Westporters involved with the synagogue in New Rochelle, it was probably here even before the party that has gotten all the attention.

Were there 50 people at the party? Two hundred? Somewhere in between? At this point, it does not matter. What matters is that the coronavirus is here. Its spreading. And, like people all over the country, Westporters are stepping up and helping out.

Thats where the best of Westport comes through, and thats where our focus should be.

One of the first responses came from an ad hoc group of residents. Concerned that local retailers, restaurants and service providers were closing, they created a list with links and phone numbers to purchase gift cards. Its a brilliant idea: Provide much-needed cash now, for something you can use today, tomorrow, or in a month or three or six.

From sporting goods to sushi, furniture to flowers, paintings to pasta, its all there in one handy spot. Its called OneWestport, and the website is the same: OneWestport.com.

The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce stepped into the breach too. They compiled two comprehensive lists, both of which should be go-tos for every resident. One is for restaurants; the other is markets. They show whats open (and when); whats offered (curbside service, delivery or both), and include clickable links and phone numbers. Go to WestportWestonChamber.com, then scroll down.

Other excellent resources include the Westport Downtown Merchants Association (www.WestportDMA.com) and FindingWestport.com. And CTBites.com has a good list of curbside-and-deliver restaurants around the state.

OurTownCrier.com usually touts new businesses, services and events. Publisher Betsy Pollak quickly pivoted, and posted a very comprehensive list of resources for kids and parents to do at home. It includes arts and crafts, games and puzzles, baking, online educational games, science experiments, singing, stories, safe and educational sites for teens, indoor games, trivia and more.

WestportMoms.com got into the act too. They updated their list of things to do with kids, along with resources and even a bit of humor.

Westporters got creative at every level. In the Gorham Avenue/Evergreen Avenue neighborhood, someone placed a note in mailboxes along with colored paper. The note urged residents to put the proper color in a window: Green for everything is OK, red means need supplies, and yellow is for elderly/living alone or isolated/mobility issues.

The note promises that neighbors will monitor the signs, and act as needed. It also offers a phone number to call or text if supplies are needed. Residents can also call that number if they want to help others. What a wonderful idea, and easily replicable in other neighborhoods around town too.

Teenagers Ty Chung, Jonathan Lorenz and Luke Lorenz offered to run errands for senior citizens, and anyone else having difficulty leaving the house during the pandemic.

Adhering strictly and smartly to the rules, they will do whatever they can. But they will not enter homes, and they avoid personal interactions. For details (including how to reimburse them for items purchased), email GuysHelping@gmail.com. Include your name, address and errand.

Westport mom Stacey Henske helps ease isolation, loneliness, fear and anxiety among seniors. Kids, teenagers, adults  anyone  can write poetry, letters, short stories, essays, cards, illustrations or anything else that can be slipped under a door.

They can be dropped in a bin by the front door at 10 Poplar Plains Road, off Wilton Road. If you cant leave the house, email staceyhenske@gmail.com; shell arrange for pickup. Be careful though: Dont lick any envelopes!

Those are only a few of the great things happening everywhere in town. Next door and across-the-street neighbors are pulling up lawn chairs and enjoying cocktails at the ends of their respective driveways - socially distanced, but also socially together.

On several streets in Westport, residents have formed virtual groups. They share news and information on Facebook, and chat via Zoom or Google Hangouts. Its easy to do. In fact, the only stumbling block may be finding out who your neighbors actually are, if you havent known them before. We may not have been borrow-sugar-and-talk-over-the-back-fence friends before, but nowadays weve got plenty of time for all that.

COVID-19 is horrendous. Its brought out some equally horrendous behavior in a few people, but many more are rising to the challenge. Its almost enough to make you smile.

Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said sending stranded migrant workers to their home states would defeat the purpose of the lockdown and could increase the spread of the coronavirus.

He said a better course of action would be to provide food and shelter to such people, wherever they are, by setting up special camps.

Kumar ordered officials to set up relief camps in districts in Bihar that share borders with adjoining states like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, and also Nepal.

"Arrangement of buses could bring respite to people who have been enduring problems after the nationwide lockdown came into force. But we must be mindful of the danger. If just one passenger in any of these buses happens to be carrying the virus, it could spread," the chief minister said.

He made the statement reacting to reports that the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have arranged buses which would ferry thousands of people stranded in Delhi-NCR to their native places.

The chief minister had announced earlier this week that the Bihar government will bear the expenses towards food and lodging of stranded migrants in other states and directed resident commissioners to get in touch with authorities in other states for the purpose.

At a high-level meeting late in the evening, Kumar directed Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar to set up 'aapada seema raahat shivir' (disaster border relief camps) in districts that share borders with the Himalayan Kingdom as also states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The chief minister directed that besides providing food and shelter, medical assistance will be made available at these camps.

Kumar, who is a member of the state legislative council, has contributed Rs 7 crore to the coronavirus eradication fund formed in the state.

He approved the amount from his "Mukhyamantri Kshetr Vikas Yojana", a modified version of the legislators local area development fund under which all MLAs and MLCs can recommend projects worth up to Rs 3 crore in their respective areas every year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Oyo State has recorded another two new cases of the coronavirus, increasing Nigerias toll to 70. Three cases were also recorded in Abuja, the nations capital.

Stay-At-Home Order Lagos Provides Stimulus Package For Residents

Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state will provide economic stimulus package to residents as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the stay-at-home directive.

Coronavirus: Sanwo-Olu Thanks Buhari For N1bn Grant

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a 1 billion Naira grant for his state towards the fight against coronavirus.

Buhari Appreciates Atiku, Others For Contributions Against Coronavirus

President Muhammadu Buhari has released a statement commending his rival and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubakar and a host of others following their contribution over the fight against coronavirus.

Buhari Approves Conversation Of Stadiums, NYSC Camps As Isolation Centres

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved that all National Youth Service Corps, NYSC camps nationwide be used as isolation centres for Coronavirus patients.
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Sowmya Mani By

Express News Service

PUDUKKOTTAI: In a shocking case, a 35-year-old man under home isolation in Aranthangi allegedly committed suicide on Thursday. Its not clear if the stress due to isolation or his financial distress led to the extreme step. While the family sent him to isolation thinking he had just returned from Maldives, where they believed he was working, it turns out that he had returned to Tamil Nadu way back, in January.

Due to financial issues, he did not inform his family about his return, but started working with a firm in Tirupur. Police say Kumar (name changed), returned to India on January 15. He landed in Chennai and straight went to Tirupur. There, he worked in a hosiery unit for two months.

Following the lockdown, he returned to his village, Maramadakki, on March 24. As he had not informed his family about his return from Maldives in January, his mother and family members assumed he arrived from abroad in March and isolated him in a separate house. His mother also wanted him to undergo a test for COVID-19. On Friday, they found him hanging from the ceiling.

According to a resident of the village, Kumar was working as a farm labourer in Pudukkottai for a long time. His family had taken a huge loan and sent him abroad to work. However, he had stopped sending money to his family for the past few months. So, when he came back from Maldives, he might have started working in Tirupur.

9 more cases in TN

Nine more tested positive for COVID-19 in the State on Friday, taking the total tally to 38. Meanwhile, a 21-yr-old man hospitalised in Chennai was cured and discharged |
President Donald J. Trump has declared that COVID-19 has caused a major disaster in Massachusetts and has ordered federal assistance for the state.

The action makes federal funding available for crisis counseling for all affected people in Massachusetts, according to a statement from the White House.

Funding is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, the statement said.

In Massachusetts, 35 people have died from complications of the illness. At least 3,240 residents have tested positive for the virus, the state Department of Public Health said Friday.

The federal assistance will supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the statement said.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday asked the federal government to approve the major disaster declaration for Massachusetts. The disaster assistance is beyond what was included in the emergency declaration declared by Trump on March 13.

Under Federal Emergency Management Agencys Public Assistance Program within the Major Disaster Declaration, affected local governments, state agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations statewide will be reimbursed for 75% of their costs associated with response and emergency protective measures.

Eligible emergency protective measures include non-congregate isolation and quarantine costs for homeless individuals and families as well as first responders, the governors office said.

Individual assistance under the program will provide funding for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to help individuals and families in recovering from the psychological effects of the COVID -19 outbreak through electronic phone and chat technology.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency plans to provide webinars and other information about the process for applying for the Public Assistance Program to municipal and state officials and eligible non-profits.

Pete Gaynor, the administrator of the FEMA, named W. Russell Webster as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state.

Related Content:
President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States is set to manufacture some 100,000 ventilators in 100 days as demand is on the rise amid the CCP virus outbreak.

NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide. The virus has infected over 100,000 in the United States and killed 1,693 by late March 27, according to data on confirmed cases.

Were going to make a lot of ventilators, Trump said, pledging to take care of U.S. needs while also helping other countries.

In the next 100 days, wellfirst of all, weve already delivered thousands of thembut within the next 100 days, we will either make or get in some form over 100,000 additional units, the president said at a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing. In the next 100 days, well receive over three times the number of ventilators made during a regular year in the United States. And that doesnt include all of the thousands and thousands that weve given to the various states, a lot of them.

One reporter asked, Mr. President, last night you told Sean Hannity you didnt think that there was a need for 30 or 40 thousand ventilators, yet today you basically federalized General Motors to produce tens of thousands.

I think theres a very good chance we wont need that many, Trump responded. And I think, frankly, theres a great chance that were not going to need that many.

But you know what? There are a lot of other people that are going to need them. We have countries all over the world that are friends of ours, and we will help those countries. We are in a position to do things that other countries cant. So we have sort of an interesting position, the president added.

We can make them, because were going to be making over 100,000 pretty quickly. So we can make them, Trump continued. And if we dont need them, thats OK, because we can help Italy and we can help the UK. Boris Johnson, specifically, I mean, when I say, How you feeling? And the first thing Boris said to me is, We need ventilators.'

Trump on Friday authorized the use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to compel General Motors (GM) to move faster on a government contract to produce ventilators that help patients with acute symptoms of the CCP virus to breathe.

Today, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators, Trump said in a March 27 statement. Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course. GM was wasting time. Todays action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives.

Trump named White House aide Peter Navarro as the National DPA Policy Coordinator for the federal government, and called Navarros position a very important position, more important probably than its almost ever been in our country.

GM said its been working around the clock.

New York state, where the outbreak has been the most severe, will require tens of thousands of ventilators, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. So far, the state has several thousand hospitalizations related to the CCP virus.

White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Debbie Birx said on Thursday that at the time there was no shortage of intensive care unit beds or ventilators in New York.

We are reassured in meeting with our colleagues in New York that there are still ICU [intensive care unit] beds remaining and there are still significantover a thousand or two thousandventilators that have not been utilized yet, she said.

Trump on Friday signed the largest emergency relief bill in U.S. history. The $2.2 trillion emergency relief package seeks to help Americans and sustain the hard-hit economy as the nation takes drastic measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Petr Svab contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
From arranging buses to help migrant labourers reach their homes to purchasing new ventilators and procuring rapid testing kits, Rajasthan has intensified its efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Saturday.

The government has identified 1 lakh beds for quarantine in houses, hotels and hospitals, besides reserving 25% beds in private hospitals having capacity of 100 beds, they said,



Steps have been taken to rope in dentists, ESIC Hospital doctors and also doctors nearing retirement being given extension, they said.

So far, the state has reported 54 coronavirus positive cases and massive screening is underway to trace infected people in various parts of the state, which is under lockdown from March 22.

Curfew has been clamped in the entire Bhilwara, Jhunjhunu and in parts of Jaipur where positive cases have been reported. If required, army will be pressed into service to do flag marching, Health Minister Raghu Sharma said.

Talking about the government's preparedness to deal with the crisis, Sharma said the Chief Minister has directed to increase the availability of ventilators, ICU beds and arrange for rapid testing kits.

The minister said that state transport buses have been pressed into service to tackle the exodus of migrant labourers from neighbouring states.

He said that an advisory committee of seven expert physicians has also been formed to advise the medical department regarding measures to deal with the situation.

Sharma said that given the population of Rajasthan, two ventilators and two ICU beds will be required per 10,000 people. Nearly 14,000 ICU beds and 10,000 ventilators will be needed across the state.

He said the Chief Minister has instructed officials to purchase as many ventilators as should be acquired immediately without any tender.

Ventilators with modern technology are also in the market, from which 3-4 patients can be connected together. The government is in the process of procuring such ventilators from the NBC company. Such ventilators can be purchased if it is tested and found to be correct, Sharma said.

The Health Minister said that at present 300 to 400 corona tests are being done at the state-run SMS Hospital and 1,300 to 1,500 can be done daily by three teams of microbiology.

Apart from this, 500 tests can be done at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and it can be increased to 1,000, he said.

He said the state has a daily capacity for conducting 2,000-2,500 tests, which will be increased in coming time.

Rapid testing kits that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be used. The Chief Minister has also given instructions to purchase rapid testing kit without delay, he said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said that district collectors have been directed to identify and reserve private hospitals to deal with any emergency.

He said that dentists and doctors at ESIC and those under internship have been asked to be prepared to give their service in difficult times.

Singh said that one lakh quarantine beds have been identified and orders have been given to all private hospital and private medical colleges having capacity of 100 beds to reserve 25% beds in case of emergency situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced a second stimulus package and acknowledged the economic damage would be far worse than anticipated.

The extra $66 billion brings the giant rescue package to $189 billion, about 10 per cent of Australia's GDP, to avoid economic catastrophe.

The second bailout package was announced ahead of Stage One restrictions on Sunday night which forces pubs, clubs, casinos, gyms, nightclubs and churches to close for six months.

THE SECOND STIMULUS PACKAGE - $66BILLION

Cash to keep Australians in jobs

Eligible businesses that withhold tax to the ATO on their employees' salary and wages will receive a payment equal to the amount withheld, up to a maximum payment of $100,000.

Eligible businesses that pay salary and wages will receive a minimum payment of $20,000, even if they are not required to withhold tax.

This new measure is worth $25.2billion.

It is open to businesses with turnover under $50million and will now also be available to eligible not-for-profit charities

It will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people and 30,000 not for profits

Supporting small businesses with loans

A new Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme will be able to be accessed by eligible banks and non-bank lenders

The Commonwealth will guarantee 50 per cent of an eligible loan to small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus

The Scheme will have the capacity to support lending of $40billion to SMEs

SMEs that have less than $50m turnover per year will be eligible under the Scheme

Loans will be used for working capital purposes and be unsecured and it will be for loans granted within 6 months starting 1 April 2020

The Scheme will apply to new or existing customers of banks and non-bank lenders. It will be repayment free for 6 months

The maximum loan will be $250,000 for a term up to 3 years

It will not apply to re-financing of existing customers. Those already have existing loans that will benefit from the ABA announcement

THE FIRST STIMULUS PACKAGE - $123BILLION

Stimulus payments to households to support growth

 $4.8 billion to provide a one-off $750 stimulus payment to pensioners, social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders.

Around half of those that will benefit are pensioners. The payment will be tax free and will not count as income for Social Security, Farm Household Allowance and Veteran payments.

There will be one payment per eligible recipient. If a person qualifies for the one off payment in multiple ways, they will only receive one payment.

Payments will be from 31 March 2020 on a progressive basis, with over 90 per cent of payments expected to be made by mid-April.

Delivering support for business investment

 $700 million to increase the instant asset write off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expand access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020.

For example, assets that may be able to be immediately written off are a concrete tank for a builder, a tractor for a farming business, and a truck for a delivery business.

 $3.2 billion to back business investment by providing a time limited 15 month investment incentive (through to 30 June 2021) to support business investment and economic growth over the short term, by accelerating depreciation deductions.

Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct an additional 50 per cent of the asset cost in the year of purchase.

These measures start today and will support over 3.5 million businesses (over 99 per cent of businesses) employing more than 9.7 million employees or 3 in every 4 workers.

The measures are designed to support business sticking with investment they had planned, and encouraging them to bring investment forward to support economic growth over the short term.

Cash flow assistance for businesses

 $6.7 billion to boost cash flow for employers by up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible small and medium-sized businesses.

The payment will provide cash flow support to businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million that employ staff, between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. The payment will be tax free.

This measure will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people. Businesses will receive payments of 50 per cent of their Business Activity Statements or Installment Activity Statement from 28 April with refunds to then be paid within 14 days.

 $1.3 billion to support small businesses to support the jobs of around 120,000 apprentices and trainees.

Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice's or trainee's wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer that employs that apprentice.

Assistance for severely-affected regions

 $1 billion to support those sectors, regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education.

This will include the waiver of fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks.

It will also include additional assistance to help businesses identify alternative export markets or supply chains. Targeted measures will also be developed to further promote domestic tourism.

Further plans and measures to support recovery will be designed and delivered in partnership with the affected industries and communities.
Its a sight Pamela Suprenant thought shed never see in a daycare.

Every parent, child and staff member is greeted at the door with a thermometer.

Normally its big hugs and a big welcome, said Suprenant, regional associate executive director of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts.

No one who approaches the back door of the YMCA on Main Street in Worcester is allowed inside the facility if their temperature is above 100.4 degrees.

About 15 minutes before the day starts at the emergency daycare center, the staff is checked. Then one-by-one, as parents and children arrive, each is greeted with a thermometer.

Once cleared, a parent signs the child in with a pen they were individually given on Wednesday. Parents were asked to try to use the same pen daily to avoid spreading COVID-19.

These steps are just a few of the precautions implemented by Suprenant and her staff in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, all daycares except a list of those designated for emergency child care closed amid the spread of COVID-19. Emergency daycare centers began opening this week across Massachusetts to take care of the children of essential workers  nurses, doctors, first responders, custodial staff and grocery store personnel on the front lines of the fight against virus. Emergency facilities across the state, whose staff applied to welcome a limited number of families during the health crisis, have begun opening their doors.

The YMCA movie room has carpet squares on the rug to designate where children need to sit during movies in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Not your conventional daycare

In creating a safe space for children of essential workers, the YMCA looks nothing like a conventional daycare.

Normally kids can touch. Play with the Legos, play with Mancala, play board games, go from room to room, run all over the Y, Suprenant said. And now its, Heres the path. Heres where you stand for your 6 feet.

After a child is signed in, theyre brought to one of eight rooms. The staff is usually required to keep a 13-child-to-one-adult ratio. The ratio with COVID-19 is 8 to 1 to maintain the impossible task of keeping children 6 feet apart.

Legos and crayons are given to children in zip-locked bags. They receive the same bag of toys each day to ensure everyone isnt touching the same toy.

Vacant racquetball courts have been made into classrooms with only eight tables. Each student is assigned a table.

If two children sit at the same table, they must be far enough apart. Board games are possible but only if both children have separate dice.

Most rooms are laid out to enforce social distancing, though.

Eight rectangular carpet squares are spread out in a room with a large flatscreen television on the wall. When the YMCA plays movies, the children need to remain on the designated squares to ensure 6 feet of separation.

Rooms are normally full of shelves, full of toys, and games and books, Suprenant said. We took those shelves and turned them around against the wall. So you cant see the shelves and you cant touch the shelves.

Suprenant said there are manipulative toys for preschool-aged children. Each toy is cleaned after its been played with and again overnight.

Were just washing them constantly and disinfecting them overnight, Suprenant said. Because if youre 3, youre going to want to play with something.

Like toys, each time a group leaves a room, the space is cleaned and sanitized. Every night a cleaning crew doubles those efforts.

Children walking down the hall or up the stairs have wipes on their hands to prevent direct contact with items.

They hold the wipe in their hands so if they touch a railing or a doorknob or a wall, theyre touching it with the wipe and theyre keeping their hands clean but also the building theyre walking through, Suprenant said.

In the hallways, paths are designated to ensure staff members and children are taking the quickest route to each new room. A system of walkie-talkie chatter allows the entire staff to know the exact location of a group at any given time.

The green group is leaving the movies and heading to the gym, someone may say. That command sparks a cascading effect.

We make sure we have a cleaner cleaning the gym from the last group and then someone else goes and cleans the movie room, Suprenant said. It is literally a symphony, a concert between the cleaners, the staff and the kids moving through the building.

Slowly growing

Daycare owners, while still getting the word out, say theyve been seeing a steady interest.

We need to do everything we can to help those who help us, said Aliceson Anderson, who owns Bright Beginnings Child Care, a daycare she runs out of her Springfield home.

On Tuesday, Anderson said she was almost at capacity, which under the new guidelines is 8 children for her home business.

Other programs like the WMCA are allowed 40 spots for youth. Paula Perrier, who oversees child development services at the YMCA in Central Massachusetts, said she had spent Tuesday getting in touch with families interested in enrolling their children.

In evaluating applications, Perrier said staff now prioritize so-called essential workers, those working in healthcare, human services, law enforcement, etc., who are working to combat the virus and protect the public from disease.

Emergency workers will not have to pay to enroll their children in an emergency program, according to the Department of Early Education and Cares website. The state will cover the child care costs.

Normally the YMCA of Central Massachusetts in Worcester watches more than 200 kids. The YMCA of Central Massachusetts has four facilities - Fitchburg, Southbridge Worcester and Westborough - offering emergency daycare.

As of Thursday, the Worcester branch hadnt reached capacity.

Its counterintuitive, Suprenant said. The governor has said please offer care for these people so they can keep working. But oh, by the way, gathering in groups isnt safe. Please try to limit it.

Eileen Cavanaugh, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, said her facility opened on Tuesday. Staff have been trying to advertise to reach more families. Cavanaugh said theyve been serving a lot of nurses who are single mothers, and those for whom the program is a saving grace.

People are really conscious that group childcare is not the best option right now, Cavanaugh said. This should be used as a last resort.

The temperatures of every staff member, child and parent are taken before they can walk upstairs and into the facility.

A sanitized environment

Protocols at daycare centers across the state have changed to follow state and federal guidance with respect to coronavirus, including frequent hand-washing, sanitization and temperature checks throughout the day. Children or parents who exhibit symptoms of the virus will not be allowed inside the facilities.

James Morton, president and CEO of the Greater Boston YMCA, says staff are practicing electrostatic cleaning, which involves a disinfecting spray that helps with the cleaning or surfaces and objects.

Morton said 6 YMCA emergency programs opened their doors on Monday, and another 5 followed on Wednesday. Next Monday, two more locations will be online.

He said the response from early childcare providers in Boston has been tremendous.

I have been very impressed by the way in which (other) providers have come together and share best practices and strategies for providing care, Morton said. Every major healthcare provider and hospital should have an emergency childcare facility near their hospital so that they can take advantage of those opportunities.

Morton said as the number of cases in Massachusetts continues to climb  on Friday the total reached over 3,200 across the state  daycares should expect the demand for their services to increase.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at Worcesters YMCA welcomed parents inside to tour the facility. On Wednesday, they immediately left after signing in their children.

At the end of the day, parents ring a doorbell to alert staff. A member opens the door with their elbow and the parents wait for their child to arrive at the entrance.

When the program began Wednesday, Suprenant expected children to arrive for doctors and nurses. She soon realized the expansive definition of essential workforce.

Employees of Price Chopper, Dollar Tree and a dispatcher all dropped their children off in addition to doctors and nurses.

Related Content:
Another exoplanet 'super-earth' is detected orbiting Proxima Centauri, one of the nearest stars to the sun. It was discovered by Mario Damasso and his colleagues, as published in Science Advances. They detected the super-earth by analyzing the alterations in light of the star Proxima Centauri.

The findings suggest that the star has super earth-orbiting it, and it is only the second planet around its orbit too. It may have moisture to support planetary fauna.

It was 15-years ago or more when the researchers studying Proxima Centauri used several methods at detecting any planets, that orbit it. This was mentioned in the study of the published work.

Super-Earth (second home?)

Results from the study show the data all about this super-earth. The conclusions are that this Earth-like candidate planet will orbit around its sun, about 5.2 years in Proxima Centauri natural orbit.

Scientists think that it possesses a greater mass than Earth, but its mass is lighter than Neptune or Uranus. The American Association for the Advancement of Science said that empirical proof is needed to know it exist. Once proof is available but needs confirmation till then if the super-earth does exist.

It will help astrophysicists and others know how a low mass planet forms around a low mass star. Finding a super-earth at the nearest star to the sun is a bonus.

Also read: Asteroid Alert: NASA Detects Four Asteroid Passing Earth's Orbit With One Closer Than Others

Also mentioned in the study is another reverse hypothesis of how super-earths are made. One of these ideas is that these larger planetary bodies will form close to a snowline, which is how close the distance of a star and a planet that water turns to ice.

According to Damasso and company, this planet is far from the snowline area, which was noticed by scientists. Another observation that they made when they detected a planet near Bernard's star is close to the snowline.

How they found the Super-Earth near Proxima Centauri

The universe is full of light and comes from many sources. It depends how long light reaches us for deep space. Scientists can detect and measure distances using radio signals and light.

Researchers in Damasso's study noted that a study before cited a spectral signals that originated from the Proxima Centauri system. They used the Chilean astronomical observatory known as ALMA, or Atacama Large Millimeter sub-millimeter Array for their studies. An initial guess is that the light source might be a second planet from a galaxy or just a random cosmic event.

They analyzed about 17.5 years if data with the ALMA telescope, to find out if the light came from Proxima Centauri star. Using the RED DOT method, more data about Proxima was discovered.

If the light will shift from blue and red, it means the star is nearer of far from the earth. This shows a possible object in orbit.

More evidence is needed to know if a super-earth is really in orbit in the nearest star to the sun in the solar system.

Related article: UFO Sighting: Witnesses Share Videos of Bright Flying Objects Over Missouri, Lake Okanagan

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Italian senators are seen wearing face masks, in Rome, Italy, March 26, 2020. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Thursday reported to the Senate on his government's actions thus far and laid out future measures to counteract the economic fallout from the virus. (Xinhua)

The pandemic claimed 969 lives on Friday, a new single-day record high in fatalities registered here since the outbreak hit Italy's northern regions on Feb. 21.

ROME, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in Italy reached 86,498 on Friday, exceeding the total figure registered in China, according to data by the Civil Protection Department coordinating the national emergency response.

The pandemic also claimed 969 lives, a new single-day record high in fatalities registered here since the outbreak hit the country's northern regions on Feb. 21.

The death toll grew to 9,134, with 50 fatalities occurred on Thursday and not yet included in the total figure, national commissioner for the emergency Domenico Arcuri explained at a daily press conference.

RISING NUMBERS

In unveiling the new statistics, Arcuri took the place of extraordinary commissioner and Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli, who was under home confinement for the second day in a row due to fever (but negative for coronavirus).

According to the data, 589 new cured people were registered on a daily basis, bringing total recoveries to 10,950.

With 4,401 people tested positive on Friday, the number of active coronavirus infections grew to 66,414. "About 6 percent of the total, or 3,732 patients, are currently in intensive care," Arcuri explained.

Medical personnel work in the ICU of Istituto Clinico Casalpalocco, in Rome, Italy, March 25, 2020.(Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

According to epidemiological data released by the National Health Institute (ISS) on Friday (and based on data up to Thursday), at least 6,414 health professionals were among those positive for the coronavirus so far.

"They have an average age of 49 years, and some 35 percent of them are male," the ISS wrote in a bulletin.

COOPERATION NEEDED

At the press conference, the commissioner stressed statistics in Italy and in many other places around the world "prove how global and wide this health crisis is."

"In a global crisis, there is a clear need of cooperation, without egoism, and Italy is playing its due part," he stressed.

Arcuri also recalled Italian authorities were putting much effort in trying to find and purchase equipment and protective gear necessary in the emergency from as many countries as possible.

Medical supplies coming along with the third Chinese medical team are unloaded from the plane at Milan Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, March 25, 2020.(Str/Xinhua)

"We keep cooperating with many countries, and keep buying (equipment) from France, Germany, China, and Russia... while talks are under way with further countries, which are often located very far from us," he said.

"This is the time of cooperation and solidarity, with no further implication, whether of political or geographical nature. Wherever there is a chance to obtain solutions to our citizens' problems... that is the right place to go," he stressed.

Arcuri said all Italian productive and social actors have been called to give their contribution to strengthen industrial production and help the country become more self-sufficient in terms of medical equipment in these exceptional circumstances.

FURTHER MEASURES

In related news on Friday, the country's Education Minister announced schools would most likely remain shut beyond the national lockdown period so far imposed by the government, which was officially effective until April 3.

"For sure, the school closure will be extended over the April 3 date," Lucia Azzolina told state TV broadcast RAI 1.

"At the moment, our goal is to ensure students will return to school only after health authorities have guaranteed this is safest... our pupils' and our educational staff's health is the priority."

The minister explained that "information about final exams, both in primary and secondary schools, will be provided to students in the next weeks."

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (L) addresses the Senate, in Rome, Italy, March 26, 2020.(Xinhua)

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's cabinet was at work to outline further measures to help the country's industrial and social fabric sustain the impact of the health crisis. A first package worth 25 billion euros (27.7 billion U.S. dollars) was passed earlier this month.

Addressing the senate on Thursday, Conte said he was confident the government would be able "to offer companies, families, and workers additional allocations, for a total not lower than 50 billion euros (including the first package)."
The resignation will be effective April 5, Vedanta Ltd said in a BSE filing. "The board of directors of the company in their meeting held on March 27, 2020, have...taken note of resignation of S Venkatakrishnan from the position of the whole-time director and CEO of the company w.e.f. close of business hours on April 5, 2020, on account of personal reasons," Vedanta Ltd said. The company said Sunil Duggal, whole-time director and CEO of Hindustan ...

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Friends gather online for a virtual happy hour. Maintaining social contact is important even when physical distancing is necessary, health experts say. (Jamie Lee Finch via Associated Press)

Is the phrase "social distancing" sending the wrong message to millions of Americans who are struggling to get by during the COVID-19 pandemic?

That's the case being made by Daniel Aldrich, director of the security and resilience program at Northeastern University in Boston.

"The moment I heard public health authorities use the term, I thought they were making a mistake," he said.

Aldrich, along with the World Health Organization and a growing number of governments, prefers the phrase "physical distancing" to describe interventions such as working from home, closing schools and maintaining at least 6 feet of space between people to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus.

Referring to those measures as "physical distancing" is more specific, more accurate and could ultimately save more lives, he said.

Aldrich fears the phrase "social distancing" suggests we should be turning inward and closing ourselves off from friends and neighbors in the outside world.

"That's the exact opposite of what we want people to do," he said. "You need to have as close social ties as possible when physical distancing is in effect."

Aldrich studies how social connections affect death rates after disasters like hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Time and again, his research  as well as the work of other social scientists  has shown that when vulnerable people are part of a social network, their chances of survival are better.

"We have a lot of people in our society who are vulnerable  young people, the elderly, people who are sick, or who aren't fed well" he said. "But it's when vulnerability interacts with isolation that morbidity goes up."

For example, in a 2015 paper that looks at survival rates in different communities after Japan's devastating Tohoku earthquake in March of 2011, Aldrich and his colleague found significantly fewer deaths from the resulting tsunami in communities that had more social cohesion.

Story continues

"We have all these tales of people who only survived because somebody came to their house, knocked on the door and said, 'You are coming with me,'" Aldrich said.

This relationship between vulnerability and isolation was also highlighted in Eric Klinenbergs book "Heat Wave," which examined a 1995 heat wave in Chicago that left more than 700 people dead.

It wasn't just elderly people who died, Klinenberg found  it was elderly people who had nobody to take them to a cooling center, or even help them open a window in their apartment.

Aldrich also cites his own experience living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

"The reason we survived is not because we listened to the evacuation order  we didn't," he said. "We survived because a person we had just met knocked on our door and said, 'You need to go.'"

Social support is also essential in the days, weeks and months after a disaster has occurred, said Alison Holman, a health psychologist at UC Irvine.

Her research has found that people who received social support in the two months after the Sept. 11 attacks were able to focus on the future and exhibited less stressed on the one-year anniversary of the event than those who did not.

Staying connected is a way to stay grounded, she said. It keeps you from being pulled into a state of sheer anxiety.

Cultivating social connections while practicing physical distancing can also keep people from sinking into despair during a time of uncertainty and disruption, said Andrea Graham, a professor of medical social science at Northwestern University.

"It's important for us to maintain a positive outlook," Graham said. "Getting together with co-workers and friends via digital platforms has allowed people to keep some degree of connection and routine in what has otherwise been a very difficult time."

It may seem challenging to practice social connection while maintaining physical distance, but Aldrich said it can be as simple as calling a sick relative or leaving a note with your phone number and an offer to pick up groceries in an aging neighbor's mailbox.

"You don't have to join a special club or download an app," he said. "Even a FaceTime call can make a person think, 'At least someone is thinking about me,' and that is a big deal.'"
- Health authorities at Zorko in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have quarantined a Ghanaian UK returnee together with his friend on suspicion of COVID-19

- Moses Aniah, 45, a UK-resident Ghanaian native of Zorko came to Ghana on March 21, 2020, and had contact with his friend, Baba Asarawiah, 25

- The two have been quarantined and their blood samples have been collected for testing

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Moses Aniah, 45, a UK-resident Ghanaian native of Zorko in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region has been quarantined after he returned into the country.

Aniah, who had stayed in the UK for two years, three months in India and a day in Dubai, departed to Ghana on March 21, 2020, and moved to his home on March 25, 2020.

As soon as he arrived in his home, he was picked up by the Bongo District COVID-19 team together with his friend, Baba Asarawiah, 25, who escorted him from Kumasi to Bongo-Zorko.

The two have been quarantined on the suspicion that they could be infected with COVID-19.

The District Director of Health, Stephen Bordotsiah confirmed during a press conference that the two have been quarantined at an undisclosed location and their blood samples have been collected for testing in Kumasi.

Stephen Bordotsiah disclosed that they were notified about the two travelling from Accra to Bolgatanga and having had a tip-off that Moses had returned into the country, wasnt quarantined and went for him immediately together with his friend.

According him, the two boarded a tricycle (Cando) with three other persons to their house in Zorko before the health team picked them up.

He said everyone who came into contact with them is in self-isolation and that they are currently tracing the rider of the tricycle.

One other person contacted is currently in self-isolation but one Burkina Faso lady who was also on board entered Burkina Faso and cannot be traced.

''We are also following up to the O.A station for details of all passengers on the bus they came with for contact tracing,'' he said.

Stephen Bordotsiah disclosed that the two, who are on strict monitoring are doing well and have shown no symptoms of COVID-19.

Chairman of the Bongo District Security committee and DCE, Peter Ayinbisa allayed fears of COVID-19 spread in the district as speculated on social media.

He said the two young men have not been tested and confirmed of COVID-19 as being circulated on social media.

''Nobody has been tested and confirmed positive of COVID-19.''

Peter Ayinbisa, however, assured the people of Bongo that there is no reason for them to be agitated.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has confirmed that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country is 132.

YEN.com.gh previously reported that a lady identified as Precious Williams has shared a heart-wrenching experience about how she is struggling to cope after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Precious Williams disclosed in a message on social media that she tested positive for the COVID-19 and she asked her friends to remember her in their prayers for speedy recovery.

READ ALSO: Kennedy Agyapong unmasks fake pastors after dropping videos of Bishop Obinim in bed with ladies

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As coronavirus pandemic halts normal life across the world, governments are launching measures to help their respective countries to navigate the rising threat posed by the virus.

United States now has the most number of coronavirus related cases after a surge in last few days. Latest figures show the confirmed cases of the virus have crossed 1 lakh.

Reuters

The United States has around 15,000 more confirmed cases then the second country on the list, Italy, and 20,000 more than China, where the disease was first identified but has since peaked. The bustling city-state of New York is the epicentre of the country's coronavirus crisis.



New York City has reported nearly 30% of the US's coronavirus cases. More than 20,000 people there have been infected (though that's only those who have been tested), and at least 280 people across New York's five boroughs have died - accounting for one-quarter of all US COVID-19 deaths.



The affect of the COVID-19 has been such that New York Police Department (NYPD) official has told CNN that 11% workforce of the department has called in sick.



A senior NYPD official also told the news channel that 512 NYPD employees had tested positive for coronavirus as of Friday morning, up 161 since Thursday evening. Of them, 442 are uniformed members and 70 are civilian members.

Reuters

The official said 4,122 employees were out sick on Friday.



Last week, the citys police union filed a complaint with the New York State Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau saying the department has failed to provide adequate protective equipment and training to its officers.

Earlier on March 23, a reserve police officer in San Jose, California, tested positive for coronavirus, 20 of his colleagues were quarantined. Another 10 full-time employees from the police departments family violence unit were also asked to stay home.

Across the US, the coronavirus pandemic has confronted police departments big and small with difficult questions about how to keep a functioning police force if fewer personnel are able to report to work.

Worried that officers will fall sick, departments are urging officers to limit their interactions with the public  a fundamental change in policing in the country.
Strong consumer demand in dairy products such as fresh milk has led Muller to commence a recruitment push for 300 key workers.

The processor is on the lookout for hundreds of additional workers who will help manufacture and deliver key dairy products.

Demand in items such as yogurt and butter has significantly increased since the UK was put on lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

To meet this, Muller, which is Britains largest producer of branded and private label fresh milk, has raised its total output.

But with demand expected to remain high, and some workers absent due to self isolation, the firm now wants more workers.

There are vacancies UK-wide, ranging from delivery drivers and dairy technicians to factory operators, packaging operatives and garage mechanics.

New employees will be given the appropriate training, depending on experience, as well as a range of employment benefits, Muller said.

Bergen Merey, Chief Executive Officer at Muller Yogurt & Desserts, said they are looking for people with the 'necessary skills and qualifications'.

Dairy is the cornerstone of Britains food industry, so our products and supply chain have a major role to play in helping to feed the nation," he said.

"This is no longer simply a duty, this is now an obligation."

Milk & More, the UKs largest milk grocery delivery service, is also looking to recruit 100 milkmen and women following a record 25,000 new customers in the past week.

It is looking for new recruits to deliver essential food and household items, including eggs, bread, cheese, organic fruit and vegetables, as well as milk in reusable glass bottles.

It comes as farmers and growers still face a substantial shortfall of workers to help pick fruit and vegetables despite a campaign signing up 10,000 people.
Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Parma died from the new CCP virus, her brother announced.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

Teresa, 86, was born in France and part of Spains royal family.

She lived in Madrid for most of her life but died in Paris.

The princess told Liberation in 2014 that she supported Carlismwhich includes elements of socialismbeing a spokeswoman for the movement for a time.

She was also known as the red princess because of her support for socialist ideas.

For us, the socialist idea was not the class struggle but the permanent search for consensus, she said, also claiming that Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez made mistakes but did a lot of positive things.

The death was announced, according to the Express, by the princess brother, Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma. The dynasty dates back hundreds of years.

Teresa was not married and had no children. She is survived by Henry and three other siblings.

Other royalty have tested positive for the new illness, including Prince Albert of Monaco, 62, and Prince Charles, 71.

Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth, is showing only mild symptoms and has been working from home, Clarence House said in a statement.

The prince met with Prince Albert on March 10. The latter said in a radio interview that he did not shake hands with the other prince.

I was at a roundtable for his foundation, but I didnt shake his hand. I was at the other end of the table, way far away, the prince told RTL radio. We nodded hello to one another, so I dont think I can really be accused of contaminating him.

Spain, meanwhile, reported on Saturday over 800 new deaths from the CCP virus overnight.

The country is one of the hardest-hit in the world. Its official mortality rate of 7.8 percent is only eclipsed by Italy, though authorities in China, Iran, and some other nations are widely known to be underreporting official figures.

France has over 33,000 confirmed cases and nearly 2,000 deaths.

From The Epoch Times
SPRINGFIELD  The social distancing guidelines that led Illinois county fairs to cancel off-season events on their grounds through the end of April is one part of a financial impact double-whammy, a trade official said.

Many local fairs use revenue from off-season events and activities to pay the bills, said Ken Tyrrell, president of the states Association of Agricultural Fairs.

The other problem, Tyrrell said, is a delay in reimbursements from the comptrollers office for costs incurred last year. Under statute, the state is responsible for paying county fairs 66.67 percent of what organizers spent on agricultural premiums. That includes activities related to horticulture, poultry, livestock, horse races and rodeos.

Tyrrell said fair organizers have never received that  in recent years, they were reimbursed 25 percent of eligible costs.

Thats beginning to hurt a lot of fairs in the state of Illinois. Were told its been at the comptrollers office since December, he said. Possibly if the state would pay their bills, it would really help fairs.

A spokesperson from Comptroller Susana Mendozas office did not return a request for comment by time of publication.

County fairs in Illinois begin hosting their main events in June. If the novel coronavirus pandemic continues into the summer, forcing fairs to begin cancelling, Tyrrell said it would be devastating.

If a fair is canceled, expected revenue needed to pay laborers to maintain the grounds is lost, for example. Marla Calico, president of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions, added they additionally would lose vendor deposits and presale ticket money.

Many downstate fairs struggle getting along as it is. They dont have money put away or deep pockets. All of them struggle, Tyrrell said. Any time you lose revenue, its going to affect the fair.

According to IAFE data, most county fairs across the country are scheduled for July, but events largely begin in June, extend strongly into August and wind down in September.

Member county fairs told Calico they are taking a wait-and-see attitude, choosing not to close unless forced to do so by public health authorities because many times, they are the single largest economic driver in the community.

She said county fair cancellations would cause an entire ripple effect.

Its not just the funds that not-for-profit organizations may gain and do good within the community when they give out scholarships to young people, Calico said. Its the small businesses all around them  the gas station benefits, the hotels benefit, the cafes and restaurants benefit.

According to a study commissioned by the IAFE, fairs in the U.S. are estimated to generate $4.67 billion in economic activity annually. A survey of the associations members found that number is already down $66 million due to 320 fairs forced to shut down 10,578 events thus far this year.

Events at the Illinois State Fairgrounds have been canceled through April, While Kevin Gordon, Illinois State Fair manager, said in a written statement that will have a financial impact, our priority, first and foremost, is the health and safety of those individuals holding, and attending these events, along with our department support staff.

He added the Coliseums renovation and reopening means more events than typical over the past few years had been scheduled and subsequently called off.

Our staff is working diligently to reschedule any shows that have been canceled by this temporary closure, Gordon said in the statement. Once we get through this uncertainty that we are all facing, we are anticipating another great spring and summer of events on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Tyrrell is the vice president of the Sandwich Fairs board in northern Illinois DeKalb County, one of the largest in the state in terms of fair entrants. He said county organizers of summer events have not yet discussed fair cancellations, and also are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Im being optimistic, and Im thinking this will take care of itself by the first of June, he said. The main concern right now is that weve lost revenue from cancelling off-season events and lost revenue, and the state of Illinois not paying us what were entitled to.

Fairs have been around since before the founding of the country, so its something I believe is really a part of America, Tyrrell continued. As I said, I think we need to calm down and I have all the faith in the world well have a fair season this year.

Fairgrounds across the country that cleared their spring calendar are being repurposed to assist in the COVID-19 effort, Calico added. Grounds in Ohio, Missouri and Washington are operating drive-through testing facilities and one in West Virginia is using its indoor facilities to house community partners to package meals for school children.

The Illinois State Fairgrounds and many other locations throughout the state have been identified as possible future community based drive-thru testing sites, a spokesperson for the Illinois Management Agency said in an email. However, further evaluation is needed before any decisions can be made.

Our members are going to step up to the plate  thats what they do, Calico said. Each and every single one of us is a citizen of this world and must do what we must do to protect our family and neighbors.
Mr. Trump says he feels like a wartime president. The most important thing he can do now is to manage the pandemic as if in wartime: put it in the hands of commanders who know how to fight it. The president needs to draw from the countrys rich and talented pool of seasoned experts. He should immediately put someone in charge of the ongoing first wave, which may yet last for many weeks, and he should name a second person to begin planning for the transition period that follows, an immensely complex task. Then he should get out of their way.
The ICMR is working on a war footing to develop the testing ecosystem -- especially for the screening blood tests.

NIV, Pune, is in the process of validating antibody-based screening kits.

The ICMR has also started receiving test kits from South Korea, Germany and now expects to get a million kits from the WHO, Sohini Das reports.

India, which is under the largest lockdown in the world, is readying to undertake a massive testing programme to identify COVID-19-positive cases after the 21-day period ends in a move that public health experts have been calling for.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) sought quotations earlier this week from suppliers for a million antibody kits (for screening through blood tests) and also 7,00,000 RNA extraction kits (the swab-based test for confirming COVID-19).

As on Friday, a total of 157 laboratories were gearing up for testing -- of these around 121 are government labs (109 are functioning and 12 are being operationalised) and 36 are private labs.

"India would need screenings on an extensive scale after the 21-day lockdown period is over. The incubation period is about 15 days and the virus manifests by then. So assuming everyone stays put at home, the chances are they would only infect their immediate family members.

"Assuming they step out to buy groceries, there is a chance of infecting others," explained K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India.

Rapid screening tests would then help to identify the people at risk (with high viral load) and they can be isolated.

The ICMR is, thus, working on a war footing to develop the testing ecosystem -- especially for the screening blood tests.

There are two types of tests -- one is an antibody-based test (which is quicker and cheaper) to screen a person with high viral load and then there is the PCR test kit, which is a genetic testing to identify if someone is COVID-19 positive.

In a lockdown, when everyone is isolated, India could be doing fine with lesser amount of testing.

"India has to utilise this period to develop testing infrastructure so that it can screen large numbers of people immediately after the lockdown is relaxed.

"While it is anybody's guess now, one can assume that the lockdown would be lifted in stages," said a senior doctor, who is also working closely with the government on the issue.

India has tested 26,798 individuals so far, a low number compared to Western countries, but a complete lockdown may just serve the cause.

However, as ICMR has enquired about production capacity and supply timelines, it was initially looking for kits that were approved by international authorities like the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

With pressure mounting and time running out, the agency has now relaxed norms to allow test kits with 100 per cent concordance among true positive and true negative samples for commercial use in India.

Private companies have stepped on the gas.

Gujarat-based CoSara Diagnostics is ready to supply around 10,000 kits a day from April. It has a partnership with a US-based company.

Swiss multinational Roche and others have also been given a licence by the drug regulator to evaluate the quality of kits.

The National Institute of Virology, Pune, is in the process of validating antibody-based screening kits.

Sources say ICMR has started receiving test kits from South Korea, Germany and now expects to get a million kits from the World health Organisation.

"Locations have been identified where these kits would be stocked. However, given the severity of the outbreak, kits from other countries are taking time to reach. A batch has already come from South Korea," said a source.

Meanwhile, the cost of the PCR test (around Rs 4,500) is deterring individuals from opting for it.

About 90 per cent of queries fizzle out after they realise that the cost is not borne by the government.

On the first day of testing, Thyrocare received 3,000 enquiries, of which 30 agreed for the test.

Out of this 30, almost 90 per cent requested collection executives to not visit their homes in protective equipment.

"They were worried about the neighbours getting to know," said A Velumani, founder and chairman of Thyrocare.

ICICI Securities said that Metropolis Healthcare management has indicated that they were preparing to ramp up testing capacity to thousands a day. They plan to source kits from multiple vendors to avoid bottlenecks.

"ICMR has been testing 50-60 cases per day per machine despite their capability of 500. This was due to stringent testing profile criteria of travel history.

"Metropolis believes that with 30 per cent capacity, private companies would be able to support 70 per cent of the requirement," ICICI Securities noted.

Once the antibody kits (for blood test) are ready, many labs could also offer it for free for the poor, felt government sources.

This would expand testing to the hinterland.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Connecticut climbed to 1,291. Six more people have died, bringing the total to 27, and 48 have been hospitalized since Thursday, which Lamont called the beginning of the surge.

The 279 new cases made up about 15 percent of 1,900 new tests completed in the last day, Gov. Ned Lamont said. The large number of tests is attributed to many results arriving from out-of-state labs, he said.

Patients are 10 times as likely to be hospitalized if they are over age 80 than under 50, he said. A total of 173 people have been hospitalized in Connecticut.

Less than 24 hours after announcing a loan program for small businesses, the Department of Economic and Community Development has already stopped accepting new applications, Lamont said. More than 4,000 businesses have applied for the no-interest loans, which were initially expected to be about $25 million total. I think were probably going to double the capacity, to $50 million, he said.

Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare, said modeling indicates an expected peak of the virus in the second week of April.

Hospitals are working to add capacity in anticipation of a surge, and across the state, 39 percent of hospital beds are currently vacant, Josh Gabelle, Lamonts chief operating officer, said. In Fairfield County, theres a lot more stress on the system already.

Lamont praised Stanley Black & Decker for donating 75,000 surgical masks to Hartford HealthCare, and the tribes for donating more than 1 million surgical gloves. He also highlighted Custom Shop, an upholstery store in Glastonbury that is making and donating surgical masks, a parachute manufacturer making surgical gowns, and whiskey distilleries making hand sanitizer. I was impressed by the number of folks with sewing machines who are making surgical masks, he said.

Some of the equipment the state has ordered has been delayed, Lamont said; 3,000 thermometers are expected to arrive next week, while some of the surgical gowns and other equipment ordered wont arrive until next month. Weve got to take care of what we can take care of ourselves, he said. Its not clear whether that equipment was over-promised by the vendors, or if someone came in with a higher bid.

Geballe said hes in discussions with a few Connecticut companies that could potentially manufacture ventilators, though details werent immediately available. The state has 932 ventilators across hospital systems, he said, and another 1,500 ventilators have been sought from the national stockpile in two separate, still unanswered, requests.

Flaks said hospitals in the state are piloting an innovation already being used in New York that allows two patients to use one ventilators.

Under Lamonts latest executive order, issued shortly before 8 p.m. Friday, distilleries and other businesses can produce alcohol-based hand sanitizers and medical devices or protective equipment without registering as manufacturers, and health care providers can treat patients at facilities using their identification badges from other facilities.

He also suspended Department of Public Health licensing, renewal and inspection requirements, and waived the mandatory fees for children to participate in remote early intervention services, such as the Birth-to-Three program.

Speaking just after President Donald Trump signed the $2 trillion CARES Act for coronavirus relief, Lamont said he would have a better idea of how much money the state will be getting within a week, but that at least $1.5 billion will come to Connecticut.

Connecticut officials on Friday denounced discrimination against Asian-Americans, which they say has increased due to misinformation and xenophobia stemming from the coronavirus outbreak.

The commissions on Equity and Opportunity, Human Rights and Opportunities and on Women, Children and Seniors, along with Attorney General William Tong and Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, held a virtual news conference Friday to raise awareness of the issue.

We call for unity in the face of coronavirus (COVID-19) and condemn racism and discrimination targeting Asian-Americans  or anybody for that matter  related to the pandemic, commission co-chairman Alan Tan said in a statement. We are deeply concerned that recent incidents of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans in Connecticut threaten both our collective well-being and ability to manage this crisis.

Tong calls for lift of research restrictions

Tong and 14 other attorneys general have asked the federal government to lift restrictions on fetal tissue research, which they say will help respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Scientists need every single tool available to find a vaccine and cure for COVID-19, Tong said in a statement. For years, fetal tissue research contributed to major medical advancements. We need to lift this partisan impediment and let scientists get to work.

The Trump administration in June 2019 ended fetal tissue research at the National Institutes of Health, canceled a $2 million contract for a California university laboratory project and announced that research projects conducted at other universities with NIH funding would be reviewed by an ethics advisory board before being renewed. Fetal tissue is obtained from elective abortions.

The Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement at the time that promoting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death is one of the very top priorities of President Trumps administration. The restriction was criticized by scientists who said it would jeopardize research on diseases like Parkinsons, Alzheimers, HIV and spinal cord injuries.

Tong and the other attorneys general, from states including Massachusetts and New York, argue in their letter to the department and President Donald Trump that if we are going to rise as a nation to overcome this pandemic, then we need to utilize all the tools in our toolbox, including allowing our scientists to develop a vaccine and treatment to COVID-19. This means we need to permit research on all fronts. They wrote that they support NIH scientists who are appealing the ban.

Plastic bag backlash

Three state departments issued guidance Friday on the suspension of the 10-cent tax on plastic bags, which Lamont announced Thursday. That fee is suspended through May 15, the Department of Revenue Services said.

Residents are still strongly encouraged to bring and pack their own bags, the Departments of Public Health, Revenue Services and Energy and Environmental Protection said in a joint statement. They said the order, which also allows retail employees to refuse to use customers reusable bags, aims to give flexibility to workers in response to their concerns about transmission of the coronavirus.

The Citizens Campaign for the Environment criticized Lamont Friday for caving to the plastic industrys efforts to capitalize on this pandemic for their own benefit.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it may be possible to get COVID-19 from a surface that has the virus on it, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Researchers from the NIH recently found that the virus can live on surfaces like plastic and stainless steel for up to two to three days.

Governors in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have already prohibited the use of reusable bags during the outbreak.
Editors note: Madeleine Kearns writes a weekly column noting peculiar aspects of cultural, artistic, and natural marvels.

Heres a good stick to beat the lovely lady! an old woman tells Sean Thornton (John Wayne) in The Quiet Man (1952), as  pursued by an eager swarm of villagers  he drags, tosses, and boots his wife, Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen OHara), across an Irish field. OHara recalled how, prior to shooting the iconic scene, both Wayne and the films director, John Ford, had ganged up on her, mischievously placing sheeps dung in her path. I was mad as hell, she said. But I had to laugh, too.

Winton Hoch, the cinematographer, had a different complaint. During six weeks of filming, he had only six days of intermittent sunshine. Still, his efforts paid off. Ireland could scarcely be cast in a better light: emerald meadows, glistening brooks, quaint stone bridges, and the unsurpassable beauty of Hollywoods feistiest redhead. To match such aesthetic splendor is an equally charming love story. Of course, nowadays, the film would likely cause raised eyebrows, as its replete with examples of toxic masculinity, gender stereotypes, and even the possible trivialization of domestic violence.

The movie begins with Sean Thornton (44-year-old Wayne), an Irish-born American, arriving by train  three hours late as usual  near the fictional town of Innisfree. As he rides with an old family friend, Michaeleen Flynn, he spots Mary Kate (31-year-old OHara) herding sheep and falls immediately in love with her. Michaeleen warns him of her notorious temper: That red hair of hers is no lie.

Mary Kate returns Seans fascination. When she learns that he has bought the cottage her brother, Will, intended to buy, she rushes off to clean it for him. He comes home during a storm to find the fire burning and the floor swept. She hides, but startles herself with her own reflection in the mirror (Im sure theres some symbolism here, for those looking: see Paradise Lost). Screaming, she rushes out the door as Sean yanks her back and kisses her. She briefly permits him, then attempts to whack him across the face. The two stare at each other:

Story continues

MARY KATE: Its a bold one you are. And who gave you leave to be kissing me? SEAN: So you can talk? MK: Yes, I can, I will, and I do. And its more than talk youll be getting if you step a step closer to me. S: Dont worry. Youve got a wallop. MK: Youll get over it, Im thinking. S: Well some things a man doesnt get over so easy. MK: Like what, supposing? S: Like the sight of a girl coming through the fields with the sun on her hair, kneeling in church with a face like a saint. MK: Saint, indeed. S: And now coming to a mans house to clean it for him. MK: That was just my way of being a good Christian act. S: I know it was, Mary Kate Danaher. But it was nice of you. MK: Oh. [Beaming] Not at all.

There is quite a lot packed in that brief scene. Her assertion I can, I will, I do, reminiscent of Jane Eyres I am a free human being with an independent will, then her admission of weakness, that he has the physical advantage, followed by his remark that she has another, more mysterious, advantage. Incidentally, theres a funny story about the filming of this scene. That day I was mad at him [John Wayne], for real, and I intended to break his jaw, OHara once said in an interview. He puts his hand up and stops it and it that moment he snapped my wrist back and cracked a bone in my wrist.

Later, while they are courting, Sean comes too close and Mary Kate moves to strike him. Woman! says Michaeleen, their chaperone, have the decency not to hit the man until hes your husband and can hit you back. On their wedding night, after Sean has refused to retrieve her dowry, Mary Kate runs into their bedroom and locks the door. But her husband kicks it down: Therell be no locks or bolts between us Mary Kate, except those in your own mercenary little heart. He then kisses her and throws her on the bed (which promptly collapses) before exiting to sleep by himself on the kitchen floor. Her marriage not yet consummated, Mary Kate seeks out the advice of her parish priest, fishing on the riverside. Woman!, he tells her, Ireland may be a poor country, God help us. But here a married man sleeps in a bed and not a bag and for your own good Ill tell you a thing or two  but then, having caught a fish, abandons his thought.

There is a danger of taking the film too literally. In the 1950s, domestic violence was more tolerated than it is now. This was obviously bad for all involved, especially women. As late as 1964, one study picked up by Time magazine concluded that spouses stay in abusive relationships because their fighting can balance out each others mental quirks.

The periods of violent behavior by the husband, the doctors observed, served to release him momentarily from his anxiety about his ineffectiveness as a man, while giving his wife apparent masochistic gratification and helping probably to deal with the guilt arising from the intense hostility expressed in her controlling, castrating behavior.

But in The Quiet Man, the rough-and-tumble is more symbolic of the passionate and comical clash of opposing forces  an innocent encounter with the other  than it is representative of the terrible violence of domestic abuse or the kind of soulless sadomasochism found in Fifty Shades of Grey.

Based on a short story by Maurice Walsh, the movie was dismissed as a silly Irish story that wont make a penny when Ford first pitched it to Hollywood. But the director believed in its strange humorous quality and mature romance. He was right. With a budget of $1.7 million (massive for the time), The Quiet Man became one of the top ten grossing films of the 1950s. And its popularity, rightly, endures to this day.

More from National Review
THE United Republic of Tanzania (Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar) has asserted its capability in dealing with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic which has plagued different countries across the world, including our own country.

So far, there are 14 patients who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Tanzania  that is Mainland Tanzania (11 patients) and Zanzibar (3) as of yesterday afternoon. No death has been reported yet from either Mainland Tanzania or Zanzibar.

For this, we ask God to continue helping us to find the lasting solution to coronavirus and protecting all Tanzanians against contracting it and its adverse effects on the country and people.

We pray also for global solidarity in the war on Covid-19. Let our scientists study well the disease and find its vaccine or cure as soon as possible lest we continue losing people as it is reported in various countries across the world.

The government, through its officials and experts, is raising public awareness to ensure citizens take preventive measures to minimise chances of contracting the deadly disease.

It has also taken steps to designate several hospitals where those diagnosed with the disease can be taken, has suspended studies from pre-primary school to university level for one month and gatherings that can be avoided.

Citizens are advised to wash their hands with soap and sanitise themselves whenever they leave or return home or the workplace.

Religious leaders have also been advised to take preventive measures by enlightening their followers on how to protect themselves against the disease.

Likewise, it has strengthened screening of visitors entering the country through entry points such as airports, ports and border check points. The private sector is also not behind in this fight.

Telecommunications service providers and banks, for instance, inform their customers to take preventive measures as directed by the government and health experts.

With this concerted effort, we are sure of contributing to global efforts to fight against Covid-19.

According to worldometers.info, until yesterday 11:58am there were 614,224 coronavirus cases, 28,240 deaths from coronavirus and 137,328 people had recovered worldwide.

The same source shows that until that time there were 448,656 active cases: 424,659 patients (95 per cent) in mild condition and 23,997 patients (5 per cent) were serious or critical.

There were also 165,568 closed cases  that is 137,328 recovered/discharged (83 per cent) and 28,240 deaths (17 per cent).

So, the threat of Covid-19 is real and it requires global efforts to curb it. Let us all join efforts to fight against this deadly disease for together we can succeed.
Dubai Free Zones Council has announced the launch of an economic stimulus package to complement the Dubai Governments efforts to overcome the current situation prevailing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The package contributes to strengthening and supporting Dubais businesses by reducing the impact of the current economic situation.

It includes five key elements: postponement of rent payments by a period of 6 months; facilitating installments for payments; refunding security deposits and guarantees; cancellation of fines for both companies and individuals; and permitting temporary contracts that allow the free movement of labour between companies operating in the free zones for the rest of the year, said the statement from the Council.

These advantages also benefit workers seeking better job opportunities, and those who have been granted unpaid leave by facilitating their re-employment in jobs in Dubai, it stated.

In the current exceptional circumstances, Dubai Free Zones are working together to highlight their strategic role and social responsibility to support Dubai's economy, it added.

Dubai Airport Free Zone Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stressed that ensuring the business continuity of companies and providing them the support they need are critical to the Dubai economys ability to successfully overcome the crisis.

Dubai Free Zones stimulus measures complement national efforts to reduce the impact of recent global challenges.

They provide companies with the liquidity necessary to tackle the current situation and maintain competitive advantage and sustainable growth. This initiative supports a wide range of SMEs in maintaining their competitiveness, said the statement.

Dubai Free Zones play a prominent role in promoting sustainable economic growth, attracting investments and supporting Dubai's vision to be the worlds preferred investment destination and the ideal place to live, work and visit, remarked Sheikh Ahmed.

Their contributions to Dubai's Gross Domestic Product reached 33%, he stated.

They provide a base for 44,985 companies and provide a total of 389,336 jobs Entities that contributed to this economic stimulus package, in coordination with the Dubai Free Zones Council, include: Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Development Authority, Dubai South, Meydan City Corporation, and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World and CEO/Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, said: "During these difficult times, the business sector is facing major challenges. We are keen to provide the necessary support for companies through a package of discounts and exemptions from fees in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), National Industries Park (NIP) and Dubai Cars & Automotive Zone.

"This includes waiving fines on expired trade licenses for companies operating in these zones. In addition, new companies can start their businesses without paying license fees for the first year," he added.
Ten people hospitalised with acute pneumonia in India have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Some scientists would consider that community transmission -- the all-important phase 3 of an infectious disease such as Covid-19, where infected people have no history of travel to a Covid-positive country, or direct or indirect contact with an infected person or a carrier.

What it means for country Ten pneumonia patients, with no history of foreign travel or contact with a Covid-19 confirmed case, have tested positive This raises concerns that community transmission (phase-3) has begun, which would make it difficult to stop the spread of Covid-19 Officials, however, say there is no concrete evidence to prove phase-3 has started, which  according to experts  could also point to the lack of mass testing

ICMRs head of epidemiology and communicable diseases Dr Raman Gangakhedkar admits that there are a few sporadic instances such as this, but that the numbers are not significant enough to establish that there is community transmission because people sometimes dont recall or dont give the correct history fearing stigma.

Till these numbers are not significantly high, we should not over-interpret it, he added.

The number of positive cases in India were past 1,000 (1,013) as of 10.30pm Saturday night. On Friday, they rose by over 100 for the first time.

Experts say Indias numbers will continue to remain low because the countrys testing protocol is still very stringent. It is restricted to symptomatic and asymptomatic people with a history of travel to countries hit by the Covid outbreak and contact with infected people, and to health workers caring for Covid-19 patients. While testing has now been expanded to 47 private laboratories (in addition to 113 government ones), the protocol remains the same.

I dont know what is stopping the government from doing extensive testing. Its difficult to speculate on community transmission without data, I think we will know of community transmission only after it has crossed a certain threshold, said Dr Amit Singh, associate professor, Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

The Covid-19 cases with no travel history or contact with a positive case were picked up under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)s expanded Covid-19 sentinel surveillance network, under which all patients admitted with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) admitted in public and private hospitals are tested for the disease, which starts with symptoms of cough and fever, and causes death from acute pneumonia in around 2% of those infected.

But there are gaps even in this, an expert said.

There has been no solid evidence of community transmission of Covid-19 as yet, but we need to continue monitoring confirmed cases and establish detailed contact tracing to know if we are entering the phase of community transmission. Several states are not implementing the SARI surveillance properly. If all the states implement the SARI surveillance properly, we will know reliability, said Bengaluru-based Dr Giridhar R Babu, professor and head, lifecourse epidemiology, Public Health Foundation of India.

The expanded testing protocol was announced on March 21 to include all those who are hospitalised with SARI in public and private hospitals to identify Covid-positive cases with no history of travel or contact with a known Covid-19 case, which indicates community transmission. Once community transmission starts, and undiagnosed and often asymptomatic people start seeding outbreaks, it becomes difficult to break the chain of transmission and stop infection.

Even if one case of unknown etiology is community transmission, and if we cant trace the source, we are in trouble, a public health expert said on condition of anonymity.

At this moment, we have to assume all of us are infected. However, announcing a lockdown means that the government suspected or expected community transmission, said Dr T Jacob John, retired professor and head of the department of clinical virology at the Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Limiting surveillance to testing SARI patients and people with a travel history or contact with diagnosed cases may exclude unidentified contacts who can potentially seed community transmission, experts said. And widening the testing net will provide more robust data.

The Gujarat model of community surveillance can help identify clusters before they get admitted to hospitals. The state is tracking data from all 108 EMRI (emergency management and research institute) ambulances, which provide 70% of all medical emergency services in Gujarat and electronically record symptoms of cough, fever and pulse oxygen levels online. A sudden spurt in cases in a location would indicate an outbreak that needs investigation, said Dr Dileep Mavalankar, director, Indian Institute of Public Health-Gandhinagar.

The government should have had a system of testing anybody with symptoms at their homes during this lockdown period. If it is cough, fever and breathlessness, it should be treated as Covid-19 unless proved otherwise, so samples should be collected and the person hospitalised and the persons family should be quarantined. A clinician can understand these symptoms. We could have found a 1,000 or more cases, if it was well tracked, said Dr John.
He has been cooped up in his Los Angeles home amid the coronavirus crisis.

But on Friday Brody Jenner decided to take a brief reprieve from quarantine to make a pitstop at an upscale grocery store and cafe in Los Angeles.

And on this day The Hills: New Beginnings star made the afternoon jaunt with a pretty blonde friend by his side.

New lady? Brody Jenner took a reprieve from home quarantine and went on a grocery run in Los Angeles on Friday with a new blonde by his side

Jenner, 36, stepped out of his pickup truck dressed in black jeans with a green hoodie and black sneakers.

The reality star wore dark sunglasses and pulled the hood over his dark brown hair.

His friend kept it casual, while flaunting her toned midriff, in off-white sweatpants, matching crop-top sweatshirt and white sneakers.

Quarantine provisions: The pair remerged from the Erewhon grocery store with the shopping cart full of stuff bags of groceries

The pair remerged from the Erewhon store with the shopping full of stuff bags of groceries.

They also had a couple of take-out lunch orders in hand, along with a hot beverage.

It appears Jenner also took his trust pet pooch, Chuey, along for the ride.

Once the pair loaded up the bags they hopped in Jenner's black pickup truck and were on their way.

Old flame: Just last month, Jenner and his ex-wife Kaitlynn Carter fueled rumors that they rekindled their romance by flying back to Los Angeles together from Indonesia

Just last month, Jenner and his ex-wife Kaitlynn Carter fueled rumors that they rekindled their romance by flying back to Los Angeles together from Indonesia's Taoyuan International Airport.

The former couple ended their 14-month marriage last August, shortly before she began a two-month summer fling with newly-separated pop star Miley Cyrus.

Jenner, who's the son of Caitlyn Jenner, moved on from Carter and dated model Josie Canseco for about two months before splitting up in October 2019.

Old flame: Jenner moved on from Kaitlynn Carter and dated model Josie Canseco for about two months before splitting up in October 2019.




The question of government support boiled over in an ugly spat this week between Qantas boss Alan Joyce and Virgin's Paul Scurrah. Confident his airline can wait out the pandemic unassisted, Joyce was on the front foot against his smaller rival warning government against bailing out a company "that have been badly managed for 10 years. He later encouraged Qantas staff to lobby their local MP against helping Virgin, telling them on a conference call that government wasn't there to "support a company thats owned by Singaporeans, Chinese, Abu Dhabi and a British billionaire". More than 350 Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin and Tigerair planes will be grounded.  Credit:Wayne Taylor (Joyce himself begged government for $3 billion unsecured loan and a debt guarantee six years ago as Qantas struggled amid a brutal capacity war with the then ascendant Virgin. The Abbott government knocked him back.) Joyce's meddling prompted Scurrah to write to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims asking him to investigate Qantas' conduct, which he said could cause "immediate and irreparable damage to a competitive Australian air passenger transport industry".

For his part, Scurrah says he is pushing government for "industry wide" support which he says will be needed for the travel and tourism industry - which employs more than 600,000 people - to make it through the crisis. Our sector is going to need some support for us to get through. Every single airline in the world is talking to their government about support," he told this masthead. Transport minister and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has announced one $715 support million package and is weighing up what, if any, further support it might provide. Labor has called for action and raised particular concerns about small regional airlines, which have warned air links to regional and remote communities could be permanently severed. Other countries have come to that party in a major way, with the United States government on Thursday night extending a $US61 billion ($102 billion) lifeline to the nation's airlines. Despite doomsday predictions from airlines, John Thomas - a veteran aviation executive and director, and former Virgin Australia group executive - says crises like this one were an unfortunate reality of the airline industry which have happened before and will happen again. "Its a fact of operating in a high fixed-cost business in an industry that has black swan events, he says.

Thomas wouldn't be drawn on potential airline failures, but said Australia was big enough to always support two full-service airlines. "After the demise of Ansett, we returned to two viable major airlines in a relatively short period of time, providing Australian travellers with choice and providing employment opportunities for many who were unfortunately displaced after Ansetts demise," he said. The notion of supporting airlines for long-term job protection just doesn't make sense because the industry will rebound and those jobs will be needed. Should Virgin fail, industry watchers say Air New Zealand is an obvious candidate to enter the Australia's domestic market and go head-to-head with Qantas. The Kiwi carrier built up a 26 per cent stake in Virgin between 2012 and 2016. Singapore Airlines, which owns 20 per cent of Virgin, is another likely contender and a $US10 billion ($16 billion) raising on Friday sparked speculation it might be positioning for a takeover. CAPA's Harbison says trying to tackle a Qantas monopoly once established - with 100 per cent of the market and control over premium airport landing slots - would be a major barrier to entry for any new rival.

Even if the Virgin-Qantas duopoly remains intact, the aviation market will be much smaller for some time and have a "considerable amount of government involvement", he says. International airlines would also be slow in returning capacity into Australia. I'd be surprised that in the first two or three years out of this that the global airline market is 50 per cent of where it was last year," he says. And he says it will probably never fully recover unless there were structural changes, such as loosening ownership laws to allow for more mergers between airline groups. Qantas and Virgin will have stopped all international flying by Sunday and are scaling down to just a handful of domestic flights daily, equivalent to about 10 per cent of their normal network. With virtually no new bookings, Qantas and Virgin have tried to cut costs to preserve their remaining cash by sending home the bulk of the workforce, standing down 20,000 and 8000 workers respectively (or 70 per cent and 90 per cent of their employees). Virgin said 1000 of those workers will be made redundant, including all pilots at its low-cost arm Tigerair, and all pilots and cabin crew based in New Zealand.

Stood-down workers can use leave entitlements. Once exhausted, they won't be paid at all until the crisis is over. The Transport Workers Union, which represents baggage handlers and ground crew, says it is akin to "workers bailing out the airline". Loading Unions representing pilots and engineers wrote to government this week calling for support for workers to be included in any further industry assistance, amid a wider union push for Australia to follow Britain in paying workers 80 per cent of their salaries if they are laid off because of the pandemic. Pilots and engineers also called on government to do everything possible to ensure a viable and competitive aviation industry following the downturn. The pain for workers has extended beyond the airlines themselves, with travel agency group Flight Centre standing down 3800 Australia workers on Thursday.

So how long can Australia's airlines last while in virtual lock down? Virgin has $900 million cash available to see it through, and Scurrah said the capacity cuts and staff stand-downs were intended to make that last "for long as possible". Credit Suisse analyst Paul Butler this week estimated Virgin could burn $860 million of its cash by June, and would need another $829 million next financial year. Virgin likely requires additional liquidity to be comfortable about surviving the current COVID-19 crisis, he wrote in a note to clients. Virgin is 90 per cent owned by the government-controlled Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways, Chinese groups HNA and Nanshan, and Richard Branson's Virgin Group. Credit ratings agency S&P says those shareholders are unlikely to support Virgin through the crisis given they all face their own financial woes. "A default or distressed exchange appears increasingly likely over the next 12 months, absent timely government or other support and/or a swift reversal of the COVID-19 outbreak," the agency said on Thursday while downgrading Virgin further into "junk" territory with a CCC rating. Meanwhile analysts at Citi estimated last week that Qantas could last six to 11 months without flying before it has to reduce its cost base, take on more debt or raise equity. Qantas this week raised $1 billion in fresh debt to help see it through the crisis, secured against 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners it bought with cash over the past three years.
British Nationals stuck in India say their plight is becoming 'desperate' as some claim they have faced police brutality while attempting to get food and medical supplies, amid a coronavirus lock down in the country.

Reece Hall, 24, a ground worker from Cornwall, fell victim to a mugging and serious assault on February 26 in Titos Lane, north Goa, leaving him with a fractured jaw, eye socket and a leg injury, which has now become severely infected.

Unable to leave his accommodation for regular treatment due hostility towards tourists and strict government lock down measures, in place since Wednesday, Mr Hall's open leg wound, which was caused when three muggers pushed him from his bike, is now badly inflamed.

Reece Hall, 24, from Cornwall, fell victim to a mugging and serious assault on February 26 in north Goa, leaving him with a fractured jaw, eye socket and leg injury, now severely infected

Mr Hall said: 'Ive been avoid going outside ever since seeing videos of people getting beaten up and hearing stories from foreigners who have been beaten, (...) my leg is not looking good at the moment'.

'I'm desperate to get a plane ticket home but its gone past the point of trying to get one now as they are all cancelled, all we can do is contact government officials. I'm surviving off one meal of rice a day.'

As all flights from the country have been grounded until April 12, thousands of British Nationals left stranded across India are now relying on the UK government to put in place repatriation flights - which have so far been limited and fully booked within minutes of being announced.

British Nationals have been advised by the Foreign and Commonwealth office to comply with local rules during lock down, with talks of quarantine areas to be set up for foreign nationals.

Mr Hall's open leg wound, caused when three muggers pushed him from his bike, is now badly in need of treatment

A 21-day lock down was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday causing the immediate closure of shops, restaurants and many hotels.

Heidi Hawkins, 49, a carer from West Sussex stuck in south Goa, said: 'The supermarket was rumoured to be open and it was heaving, no social distancing, every man for himself. The police just came along and started smacking people with their sticks. So people are too scared to go out for food. When you hear of a shop that's open you're too scared to go there because of the police brutality. We just need food and water and we've been left with no information.

'I went to the police station in Colva to ask for information and the police threatened to put me behind bars. I was laughed at and ridiculed.'

'At home i've got my 22-year-old daughter who is highly anxious alone with her eight-week-old baby, her four-year-old daughter and my 19-year-old disabled daughter. She's been stuck inside without food. While my 19-year-son, who is severely disabled is in an assisted living house and he is desperately homesick and doesn't understand. I am desperate to get to him and take him home. I need to get home for my babies, they need their mum.'

British National, Lyn Davis, 60, who is also stuck in Goa and has been visiting the region for almost 20 years, claims she was assaulted by police in the area with a bamboo baton for leaving her hotel to collect medication she had ordered the day before.

Heidi Hawkins, 49, a carer from West Sussex (pictured with her grandchild) is stuck in south Goa and said she is afraid to go out for food due to police brutality

Ms Hawkins in Goa before the lock down, she is now unable to source food and said she has had no contact from the Foreign Office

Mrs Davis said: 'Went to the chemists in Candolim this morning (...) police were very aggressive at Calangute roundabout. We tried explaining that we had ordered medication but the police woman hit me hard on the bottom with her stick, had my phone in my hand and told her that was assault.

'They carried on shouting and waved us through, also as we were coming up to them you could see her getting ready swinging her stick around. I've been coming to India for nearly 20 years, do I want to come back? Not so sure now.'

Jay Vernon a yoga teacher from Brighton is currently stuck in Varkala, Kerala. He said he is yet to hear back from the Foreign Office

Jay Vernon a yoga teacher from Brighton is currently stuck in Varkala, Kerala, after having two flights he had booked cancelled and no response from the British Embassy.

Mr Vernon said: 'My two flights have been cancelled and no one has yet to reply from the Embassy. Locals are not wanting to associate with me because I'm from Europe. I still can't understand why the Indian government doesn't allow us to leave and their own citizens back in the country.'

Since the 21-day lock down was announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi thousands of people, mostly young male day labourers but also families, fled their New Delhi homes as the measure effectively put millions of Indians who live off daily earnings out of work.

Migrant workers and their family members lineup outsdie the Anand Vihar bus terminal, New Delhi, today to leave for their villages during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown

Indian migrant workers, daily wagers, laborers and homeless people wait for food outside a government-run shelter as a nationwide lockdown continues, March 28

Construction projects, taxi services, housekeeping and other informal sector employment came to a sudden halt.

Mr Modi said the extreme measure was needed to halt the spread of Covid-19 in India, which has confirmed 775 cases and 19 deaths, and where millions live in cramped conditions without regular access to clean water.

India's finance ministry announced a 1.7 trillion (18 billion) economic stimulus package that will include delivering grains and lentil rations for three months to 800 million people, around 60% of the world's second-most populous country.

But thousands of India's most vulnerable, who fear dying not of the disease caused by the new virus but rather of starvation, have decided not to wait.

Mainly labourers who are stranded on the border districts travel in a bus at the Delhi, Uttar Pradesh boarder near New Delhi, 28 March
The Federal Reserve will become a major lender to big companies in Louisiana that are strapped for cash and need to borrow money to offset the economic fallout from the coronavirus, as part of the $2.2 trillion congressional stimulus bill passed Friday.

In all, the nations bank will provide up to $450 billion in loans at 2% interest to companies with between 500 and 10,000 employees that cannot easily access credit from banks now. To be eligible, the companies must retain 90% of their employees through Sept. 30.

Banks have plenty of cash, but theyre scared to loan it to large companies that dont have cash flow, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy said in an interview Friday. Even if banks are willing to do loans, it takes a while because they would be careful underwriters. Were doing it for one simple reason  speed. By the time banks did their underwriting, it could be a month. We dont want to wait that long.

Officials at the Treasury Department are rushing to draw up rules.

If we make $450 billion available to the Federal Reserve, it can leverage it six times to over $3 trillion, Kennedy said. Its an enormous amount of money.

Stan Veuger, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative, Washington, D.C.-based think tank, agreed with Kennedy.

A huge number of businesses in the country will need some sort of bridging credit, even the ones doing OK, Veuger said. The fear is that credit will dry up for a lot of these firms. The goal is to create a backstop so credit will keep flowing.

The loan program is only one of the many mechanisms in the stimulus bill  signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump after the House of Representatives approved it earlier in the day  that aims to keep the U.S. economy from plummeting. A staggering 3.3 million people filed unemployment insurance claims nationwide last week, four times the largest number seen in one week over the past 50 years.

+7 For Louisiana's 100k newly without jobs, unemployment benefit boost seen as life support amid coronavirus [Update: The Senate passed the stimulus package just before midnight on Wednesday, and the House is expected to approve it on Friday.]

The federal bill also will put cash directly into the hands of all Americans, boosts weekly payments to unemployed workers and contains a variety of tools to encourage businesses to retain and rehire employees through loans, grants and tax breaks.

Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., said hes been hearing more about provisions to allow small companies to obtain loans from banks that the federal government would forgive if the companies maintain their pre-coronavirus payroll over eight weeks.

+2 Louisiana businesses hit by coronavirus allowed 'shot in the arm' through federal stimulus bill The federal government will cover the operating costs of businesses in Louisiana for eight weeks through forgivable loans if they retain or re

But Hecht said the $450 billion in available loans from the Federal Reserve could become an important lifeline to bigger firms.

By targeting funding at our largest employers, this program has the potential to ensure their liquidity and preserve thousands of jobs in greater New Orleans and Louisiana, Hecht said.

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Lane Grigsby, chairman of the board of Cajun Construction in Baton Rouge, which has over 2,000 employees, said he needs more clarity from the Treasury Department on the program.

You cant be guaranteed it will help that much, he said.

Eddie Rispone, co-founder, owner and chairman of ISC, an industrial contracting firm in Baton Rouge, said, he, too, needs more details.

In the meantime, Rispone, who narrowly lost last years governors race, said ISC is contending with having had to shed more than 1,000 workers because of clients canceling and scaling back construction projects.

The blessing is that the stimulus will help with the unemployment insurance, he said, referring to the provision that gives each jobless worker an additional $600 per week beyond the state maximum weekly payment of $247. The extra payments last through June 30.

Jay Lapeyre, chairman of Laitraim, a major manufacturing company based in Harahan, also said he doesnt have enough information about the lending program yet.

In the meantime, Lapeyre said he is shocked at the ferocity of the economys collapse.

Locally, its just unbelievably sad to see so many people suffering, he said.

In addition to the $450 billion, the federal legislation sets aside $25 billion in loans for passenger airlines, which have suffered a dramatic drop in air traffic in recent days.

That should ultimately benefit Louis Armstrong International Airport, which has lost 42% of its traffic this month.

It is critical for the ongoing economic growth of the region that the airport remains a nexus for business and leisure travel, Hecht said. Clearly, we need strong and growing airlines to make this happen.

Kennedy said the companies will need to provide collateral to obtain loans from the Federal Reserve and disputed the notion that the program is a bailout since the companies will be obligated to repay the loans.

If we do it right, the American taxpayer will actually make money on it, Kennedy said.
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to free 11,000 prisoners lodged in 71 jails in the state amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, an official statement stated on Saturday.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court earlier this week directed all states and union territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to 7-year jail term to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The top court had said overcrowding of prisons was a matter of serious concern, particularly in the present context (of coronavirus).

"In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, a committee was formed by the state government, which held its sitting on March 27 under the chairmanship of Justice Pankaj Kumar Jaiswal, the statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government said.

The committee directed that undertrials lodged in 71 jails of the state in crimes, whose maximum punishment is of 7 years, be given 8-week interim bail on a personal bond, and immediately freed from the jail, it said.

"Convicts who have been punished for 7 years or less, should be released on 8-week parole on a personal bond, and immediately freed from the jails," the statement added.

According to the government, there are around 8,500 undertrials and 2,500 convicts in the jails of the state. "Work has started to free around 11,000 prisoners lodged in the jails of the state," the statement added.

Till Thursday, Uttar Pradesh has reported 41 COVID-19 cases, according to the Union health ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ohio Harness Horsemens Association and Ohio Harness Horsemens Health Insurance Trustees, as administrators of the Harness Horsemens Health Insurance Trust, have announced details regarding financial relief for all Harness Horsemens Health Insurance Plan participants.

As of the date of the first Order cancelling racing (March 20, 2020), each Self-Pay Plan participant will automatically receive a credit for two months of health insurance plan premiums at their existing coverage level.

For example, if a horseman has paid their April premium costs for family coverage, they will receive a credit for their May and June family coverage premiums. If the April family coverage premium has not been paid, the credit will apply to family coverage for their April and May premium costs. There is no need to do anything to receive the credit. It will automatically be applied to all self-pay coverage classes.

Note that if there are changes in coverage to a higher level of coverage (i.e. single to family coverage) during the credit time-period, the credit for the lower level of coverage will apply and the difference between the higher and lower premium cost will have to be paid.

In addition, during this time, existing Breeding Farm Employees and Racetrack Grooms that are employed and active in the plan, will continue to receive their premium costs covered. Separation for or from any covered employer will be handled as per the plans rules.

The Ohio Harness Horsemens Association will provide updates regarding financial relief initiatives as they take place via ohha.com and social media outlets.

For immediate updates, please subscribe to the OHHA Emergency and Informational Text Blast system by texting OHHA to 1-888-808-1507.

(Ohio Harness Horsemens Association)
The Director General of Police in Uttar Pradesh, OP Singh, along with the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, on Saturday visited the Charbagh area bus stand in Lucknow and took stock of the situation where hundreds of people have gathered to return to their native places after returning from Delhi and other parts of the state.

"I talked to the people and urged them to leave for their places quickly. We urged them not to gather at the spot. We are trying to streamline the process so that minimum time is taken for medical checkups and other precautions needed when they reach their area. Most of the people starnded here are from areas like Bahraich, Gonda, Gorakhpur and other areas like Itawa, among others," Singh told ANI here.

The police team also distributed water and biscuit packets among the people assembled in the area as a relief measure.

The passengers, meanwhile, said they were stressed by their long and tiresome journeys but were thankful for the buses plying in the area.

"I am returning from Anand Vihar, Delhi-NCR to Azamgarh. I reached here at midnight and could catch the bus only on Saturday afternoon," Rajiv Kumar Rai, told ANI.

The Uttar Pradesh government has made arrangements for 1000 buses to take the migrant workers to their respective hometowns amid the lockdown.

Transportation officers, bus drivers, and conductors were called by the UP Chief Minister last night to make all the necessary arrangements.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 873 on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The total number of active cases in the country rose to 775, while 78 patients have been cured and discharged.

The number of deaths due to the infection stood at 19, while one patient has migrated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Thousands of elderly or vulnerable Australians could lose their lives to coronavirus, with older communities likely to be the hardest hit.

While Australia's coronavirus death rate remains relatively low compared to harder-hit countries around the world, the number of fatalities among the elderly is high.

The country has suffered 14 deaths from COVID-19 so far, all of whom were elderly, including the latest victim, a 91-year-old woman from a Sydney aged care home who died on Saturday.

Death rates have indicated people over the age of 80 and those with underlying health conditions tend to be the most vulnerable.

'Older people don't have as strong an immune system so they are more vulnerable to infectious disease,' Dr Kate Tulenko of Corvus Health explained.

'Theyre also more likely to have conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or kidney disease, which weaken their bodys ability to fight infectious disease.'

Australia has a population of 25.6 million, of which just 4 per cent is in the 80 or older demographic.

Daily Mail Australia has taken a look at the top ten areas that could be most at risk based on its population of elderly residents.

Scroll down for video

Australia's coronavirus cases continue to rise, but some residents are still defying advice aimed at reducing the spread of the virus

QUEENSCLIFFE, VICTORIA

Located on the Bellarine Peninsula, south of of Swan Bay, this small coastal town has a population of just 2,900.

Residents who are 80 or older make up 11.8 per cent of the population, meaning a coronavirus outbreak could put hundreds of elderly people at risk.

'People over the age of 80 years and those with chronic diseases are the most vulnerable,' La Trobe University infectious disease specialist Hassan Vally told news.com.au.

'For those over 80, approximately 15 per cent of those infected will die.'

An incredible 50.3 per cent of the borough is aged over 60.

Located on the Bellarine Peninsula, south of of Swan Bay, the small coastal town of Queenscliff (pictured) has a population of just 2,900

WYALKATCHEM, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A small town with a population of just 523 people, 10.8 per cent of its residents are aged 80 and over.

A remote neighbourhood, it sits 192km north-east of Perth and 35km east of Dowerin.

Western Australia has 278 cases of coronavirus so far, and has suffered two deaths.

The state's first victim was 78-year-old James Kwan, who caught the virus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was forced to quarantine in Japan in February.

He died on March 1 in a hospital in Perth.

Wyalkatchem in Western Australia (pictured) is small town with a population of just 523 people, 10.8 per cent of its residents are aged 80 and over

WHY ARE OLDER PEOPLE HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19? Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. This is because they don't have as strong an immune system so they are more vulnerable to infectious disease. Source: World Health Organisation Advertisement

VICTOR HARBOR, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A coastal town in South Australia, 10.5 per cent of Victor Harbor's residents are aged 80 or over.

It sits 82km south of Adelaide along the Fleurieu Peninsula and is a popular destination for schoolies - but normally boasts a far older population.

The population of the town is around 4,000, but the population often triples during the summer holidays.

South Australia has 287 cases of COVID-19 so far, but no one has died.

But the town has been deemed one of the most vulnerable communities, ranking highly in all four risk demographics, according to the Australian.

This includes an ageing population, relatively high population density, 9.2 per cent of people working in hospitality - with potentially high infection rates - and many grandparents.

Victor Harbor (pictured, from Granite Island) is on the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula

BARGUNA WEST, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Barunga West is a local government area in the Yorke and Mid North region on the coast of South Australia, north of Adelaide.

According to the latest data, 9.1 per cent of its residents are aged 80 and over.

On March 26, its council offices closed amid fears about the spread of COVID-19.

Its community halls and library have also closed.

It has a small population of just 2,544, according to the World Health Organisation, and 37.8 per cent of people are aged over 60.

The median age of the population of Barunga West is 55, compared to the State average of 40 and national average of 38.

Barunga West is located on the northern tip of the Yorke Peninsula, with its southern-most boundary some 120km north of the capital city, Adelaide

HOW YOU CAN PROTECT OLDER RELATIVES If people have older relatives, they should try and have as little physical contact with them as possible. This means not leaving children with grandparents while they are off school. Try and help older people self-isolate by dropping off food and other essentials outside their door. This means they don't have to go to the shops and potentially put themselves at risk of contracting the virus. Advertisement

HINDMARSH, VICTORIA

Hindmarsh Shire is in the Wimmera-Mallee region, about 350km northwest of Melbourne.

People aged 80 or over make up 8.9 per cent of its population.

Victoria has 685 coronavirus cases as of Saturday night, with three deaths - all in the last week.

Three men, all aged in their 70s, died on 26 March after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Two of the men had been being treated for cancer in an oncology ward at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.

Hindmarsh in Victoria (pictured) is a popular seaside town for older residents and holidaymakers alike

BULOKE, VICTORIA

With a population of around 6,100, 8.6 per cent of its residence are aged 80 or over.

Fearing an outbreak, local officials have already stood down volunteers delivering Meals on Wheels and replace them with council staff, saying it hopes the move will help it 'further care for the wellbeing of our vulnerable populations.'

In the middle of Victoria's agricultural farming heartland, it sits around 270km from Melbourne's CBD.

It is in the heart of the state's wheat belt, with agriculture - especially grain and sheep production - being the main industry.

Buloke in north-western Victoria (pictured) is part of the state's agricultural heartland, as has a large older population

HINCHINBROOK, QUEENSLAND

Stunning Hinchinbrook Shire in tropical north Queensland has a population made of 8.5 per cent of people aged 80 and over.

It sits just north of Townsville and has a population of 10,805.

There have been 625 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Queensland so far, with one person losing their life.

Garry Kirstenfeldt was so far the youngest person in Australia to die from coronavirus, after catching the disease on the Voyager of the Seas cruise ship.

He died on March 25 in hospital in Toowoomba, after leaving the cruise in Sydney.

Little Ramsay Bay (pictured) is just one of the delights of Hinchinbrook Island National Park

ORROROO/CARRIETON, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Orroroo Carrieton is a local government area in the Yorke and Mid North region of South Australia, roughly a three hours drive north of Adelaide.

It has a population of just 854, 8.4 per cent of whom are aged 80 and over.

Rural land is used largely for agriculture, particularly cereal and grain growing and sheep and cattle grazing.

Tourism is an important industry, with the area situated at the base of the Flinders Ranges.

Oat crops are seen growing nesar Orroroo (pictured) which is in the Southern Flinders Ranges of South Australia

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

YARRIAMBIACK, VICTORIA

The Shire of Yarriambiack is situated in north-western Victoria, in the heart of the state's wheat belt.

A close-knit community, 8.1 per cent of its population are aged 80 and over.

The population is concentrated in a number of small towns which service the surrounding broad-hectare farming properties.

YORKE PENINSULA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A popular area for family holidays, Yorke Peninsula is also home to a large number of older people - with the 80s and over making up 8 per cent of its population - double the national rate.
At a televised meeting with Vladimir Putin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin flatly told the President that official figures on COVID-19 cases were far from the reality. That's because people are staying home sick and because there has not been enough testing, he said Tuesday, so "no one knows the real picture". After that reality check, the official narrative changed swiftly: Putin, who had called the situation "under control", on Wednesday gave a grim-faced address to the nation. "Putin signed up to Sobyanin's position," opposition politician Vladimir Ryzhkov said on the popular Echo of Moscow radio station. Sobyanin, mayor since 2010 of the capital of 12 million people, comes across as dour and uncharismatic in public appearances. Yet the 61-year-old Siberian has become a frontline figure in the coronavirus crisis as head of a task force for the entire country. He announced stricter measures for Muscovites while Putin held back from a nationwide lockdown. Next week has now been declared work-free by Putin but he has given little guidance on how people should behave. On Tuesday, Sobyanin ordered shops except those selling food and essentials to close in Moscow along with restaurants, cafes and parks. He also recommended that Russians from other regions not visit the capital. And he has ordered the construction of a huge virus hospital outside Moscow that he says will be completed in weeks. - 'PM for coronavirus' - Moscow, a hub for international flights, has seen the most confirmed Russian cases by far, and Sobyanin's role is crucial in managing the epidemic. Putin's evident trust in the mayor has given him a high-profile role despite his lack of flair with the public. "Sobyanin's task now is to be at the cutting edge of the main problem -- the coronavirus. That shows he is trusted by the president," said Konstantin Kalachev, who heads the Political Expert Group think tank. "He's a political heavyweight with the background and resources to help him manage and organise effectively." NeZygar Telegram, a popular messaging app that purports to have access to Kremlin insiders wrote: "Today Sobyanin is the second in power after Putin. That's the political reality." Sobyanin led Putin's presidential administration for five years, a key backstage role. As mayor he has transformed Moscow's crumbling streets and parks into gleaming, hipster-oriented urban spaces. But he is far from universally popular. For example, he pushed through a vast and controversial resettlement programme of residents from Soviet-era blocks into enormous towers. The mayor also backed a crackdown on opposition protests, with riot police at unsanctioned demonstrations stepping up detentions, and young protesters facing criminal charges and jail terms. "The role of 'prime minister for the coronavirus' is natural for Sobyanin," said Andrei Kolesnikov of Carnegie Center. "He's the mayor of Moscow, the most dangerous city in Russia in terms of virus spread." Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is in charge of executing policy, but the former tax chief has only had a few months in the job. Moscow confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 2. It now has declared three deaths and 703 cases, more than half of the national tally of 1,036. And while Sobyanin's comments to Putin might appear clumsy and somewhat daring, commentators suggest the Kremlin in fact tasked him with bearing bad news. "He and Putin are working as a united team and measures are taken jointly," said Carnegie Center analyst Kolesnikov. "It's leadership by a team, but Putin has the last word." The mayor of Moscow said bluntly that "no one knows the real picture" of what Russia's COVID-19 outbreak looks like Sobyanin has become a frontline figure in the COVID-19 crisis as head of a task force for all of Russia Analyst Andrei Kolesnikov says Sobyanin and Putin "are working as a united team," but adds: "Putin has the last word" Sobyanin ordered shops except those selling food and essentials to close in Moscow along with restaurants, cafes and parks
Krishna Shroff, sister of actor Tiger Shroff, has shared an inspirational workout video that is bound to set new fitness goals for fans amid coronavirus lockdown. In one of the videos, Krishna can be seen balancing her body on her beau Eban Hyams legs as they practice yoga at a picturesque balcony. In another, she is simply sunbathing.Krishna looks stunning in black bikini in both videos.

Sharing them on Instagram, she wrote, Making the best out of every situation that comes our way. Hope everyones staying home and safe and keeping your mind and body happy and healthy.

Also read: Divyanka Tripathi reveals her brother is a pilot, father a pharmacist, slams discrimination against professions

While most of her industry colleagues praised her, fans were worried because of her closeness with Eban. Disha was quick to comment with a fire emoji while Tiger posted a puke emoji on Krishnas post. Ashmit Patel wrote, Serious couple goals you two, while Elli Avram replied with Eeeey. However, a fan asked her to maintain social distancing.

Recently, Krishna was seen in a fun Tik Tok video with her brother Tigers rumoured girlfriend and actor Disha Patani. In the video, Disha and Krishna can be seen replicating a popular meme. The two girls are seen mouthing the dialogues: Some girl asked my man, is she your girlfriend girlfriend or just a girl youre talking to? B**ch if I kill you are you dead dead or just not breathing?

Krishna recently went on a a romantic vacation in Mizoram with Eban and returned to Mumbai a few days ago. They were also spotted wearing masks at the airport. Sharing the loved-up picture, she wrote, Phawts, Mizoram... Youve been beautiful. Two months of travelling, meeting great people along the way, and seeing + doing some amazing things comes to an end today. #blessed. See you soon, Mumbai! Krishna can be seen putting a peck on Ebans cheek as they pose in a hotel balcony under the night sky with the well-lit hills in the background.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
This is not the Senate I came to 24 years ago, he lamented. This blanket of comity and respect is pretty threadbare right now.

In some ways, the legislative dynamic was a reverse of the situation 12 years ago when the House, in fits of acrimony and blame, got tied in knots over the 2008 economic rescue and left it to the Senate to more calmly go about its business despite deep divisions of its own. This time, it was the Senate that became bogged down in fighting while the House seemed more grown up  something no self-respecting senator ever wants to contemplate.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the toxic spectacle that unfolded on the floor was how manufactured all the outrage appeared to be. Negotiations were continuing just steps away in the leadership offices of both Republicans and Democrats, and virtually everyone knew that there was going to be a resolution at some point soon  though majority Republicans were up in arms that Democrats were using their leverage to extract more of what they wanted. The harsh attacks  and the Republican suggestion that Democrats were pushing extraneous provisions that really were not part of the relevant negotiations  were in some ways pure political theater.

Frankly, I think what has been happening on the floor today has been sort of artificial and hasnt really shown the American public what is truly going on, Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said in a speech on Monday. There were a lot of speeches that were taking place wherein it was sort of a blame game, and I dont think that is what Americans wanted to see today.

What Americans didnt see yesterday and today is the intense dialogue and debate and discussion around the third coronavirus response bill  by far the largest, Mr. Kaine said.

One reason for the furious show of partisanship was obvious: Senators are engaged in a fierce battle for control of the chamber in November. Several Republican incumbents are in serious trouble and were not going to miss the opportunity to try to score points against Democrats for irresponsibility and to show voters back home they were fighting the good fight in Washington. With Senator Chuck Schumer of the New York, the Democratic leader, organizing the campaign against them, Republicans were particularly agitated when discussing him. Mr. Schumer, who was at the center of the negotiations, drives Republicans into a frenzy.

People are dying, and the Democratic leaders think it an opportunity to score political points and grab power, said Senator Martha McSally, a highly endangered Republican from Arizona, who took the floor to accuse Mr. Schumer of flat-out lies.
Cliver Alcala, an outspoken critic of Maduro for years, has been charged over alleged narcoterrorist conspiracy.

A retired Venezuelan army general indicted alongside Nicolas Maduro has surrendered in Colombia and is being taken by Drug Enforcement Administration agents to New York for arraignment, four people familiar with the situation told the Associated Press on Friday.

Cliver Alcala has been an outspoken critic of the Venezuelan president for years. But he was charged on Thursday with allegedly running a narcoterrorist conspiracy with Maduro, socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello and another retired army general. United States prosecutors allege they sent 250 metric tonnes of cocaine a year to the US and turned the Venezuelan state into a platform for violent cartels and Colombian rebels.

The US Justice Department had offered a $10 million reward for Alcalas arrest.

Alcala was being flown on a chartered plane to the US from Barranquilla, Colombia, after waiving an extradition hearing and agreeing to collaborate with prosecutors, said the four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss actions that had not yet been made public.

Alcala has been living in the coastal city since fleeing Venezuela in 2018 after the discovery of a conspiracy that he was secretly leading in hopes of ousting Maduro.

After being indicted on Thursday, Alcala shocked many by claiming responsibility for a stockpile of US-made assault weapons and military equipment seized on a highway in Colombia for what he said was a planned incursion into Venezuela to remove Maduro.





Without offering evidence, he said he had a contract with opposition leader Juan Guaido and his American advisers to purchase the weapons.

We had everything ready, Alcala said in a video published on social media. But circumstances that have plagued us throughout this fight against the regime generated leaks from the very heart of the opposition, the part that wants to coexist with Maduro.

The confusing remarks from someone who was among Maduros loudest critics were seized on by Venezuelas socialist leader, who accused the DEA of being behind a plan by Alcala to assassinate him and other political leaders.

According to the indictment, Alcala in 2008, when a trusted aide to then-President Hugo Chavez, was given additional duties to coordinate drug shipments with corrupt elements of the Venezuelan military and guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which the US listed as a terrorist group.

The DEA did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Nicole Navas, a Justice Department spokesperson, declined to comment.

Moments before his surrender, Alcala published a video on social media bidding farewell to his family.

I face the responsibilities for my actions with the truth, he said.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to contribute one day salary of all regular teaching and non-teaching employees to Prime Minister's Relief Fund to help fight coronavirus outbreak in the country.

"JNU has decided to voluntarily contribute one day salary of regular teaching and non-teaching employees for the month of April to Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Let us all be part of our nationwide united effort against COVID-19," said JNU Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the creation of the PM-Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (CARES) Fund and urged people to make donations to support the government in fight against coronavirus.

"Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund has been constituted. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India. People from all walks of life can donate to this fund," PM Modi tweeted.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 918 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in the country and 19 fatalities have been reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:48:43|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, March 28 (Xinhua) -- A hospital in east China's Zhejiang Province shared experience in fighting COVID-19 through a video conference with the world's leading clinic care network Mayo Clinic Care Network on Friday.

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, talked with Mayo Clinic's hospitals located in the United States, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, India and Mexico via the video conference.

SRRSH's medical teams that have been working in Wuhan and Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province to fight the virus also participated in the online conference.

Cai Xiujun, director of SRRSH, shared the prevention and control experience in detail and introduced measures such as health QR codes and online diagnosis.

"Our efforts battling the virus should have no borders. We believe that we will beat COVID-19 through global cooperation," he said.

Earlier, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation released a multilingual handbook of COVID-19 prevention and treatment. As of March 23, the total number of downloads worldwide reached 397,000 and the number of total visits was 1.9 million, covering 228 countries and regions.

On March 18, a group of 12 Chinese medical experts from Zhejiang was sent to Italy. They went to the frontline of the local hospitals to learn about the treatment of patients, working conditions of medical personnel and virus control measures and share their experience in relevant fields.
Supreme Court Judge Justice N V Ramana on Saturday donated Rs 3 lakh to various relief funds, including the Prime Minister Relief Fund, to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Justice Ramana, the senior-most judge in the apex court after Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, donated Rs one lakh to the Prime Minister Relief Fund.

He also donated Rs 1 lakh each to the chief minister relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Ramana urged people to abide by government's instructions and to take proper measures. He asked them to follow social distancing to the prevent spread of the coronavirus, said a source.

According to the health ministry, as of now the number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 918 across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The implemented first action consisted in the delivery of a 30 days food package for 800,000 families, for an estimated reach of 3.2 million people.

Since February, following the emergency declaration for dengue and coronavirus, Honduras approved a budgetary support of $4.4 million for the preparation of the imminent arrival of COVID-19 in Honduras.

Subsequently, President Hernandez lead the approval in Congress of the Economic Acceleration Law, which aims to immediately inject 420 million dollars into the national economy to boost the generation of 100,000 jobs, and to strengthen the social security system to guaranty assistance capacity to more than 3 million users. The initiative includes the construction and equipment of 95 health centers and 11 hospitals nationwide.

The Government also announced the plan for maintenance and improvement of roads across the country that would generate additional 15,500 jobs in 2020.

A digital government modality will also be implemented with a budget of $ 8.7 million to provide online access for procedures of individuals and business services to cut red tape and physical presence thus saving time, effort and protect citizens from contagion of the COVID-19. A Comprehensive System Against Corruption and Transparency was also created to improve efficiency in management processes of government institutions and to reduce expenses.

Previously, the government ordered a freeze on the prices of basic goods to protect the family's economy and health.

With the support of the Honduran Bank of Production and Housing (BANHPROVI), 3 months freeze of loans quotas was approved for small and medium enterprises, commerce, agricultural, and tourism sectors, among others. The other financial sectors may grant grace periods to debtors who are affected by the reduction in their cash flows.

Credit lines were created for opening new financing tools for housing, and the agricultural sector to guaranty food safety. Solidarity Credit was also extended to over 5,000 entrepreneurs so that once the emergency allows restarting commercial activities, they will have working capital for a new boost.

Also, as a result of an agreement between the government and telecommunication companies, more than 7 million users will have for 30 days free access to digital services.

SOURCE President of the Government of Honduras
Russia-led forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas 12 times in past 24 hours, with no casualties among our servicemen, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters has reported.

"On March 27, the armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 12 times. The enemy fired on our positions from120 mm and 82 mm mortars prohibited by the Minsk agreements, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms... No casualties among the JFO forces are reported in enemy shelling attacks," the JFO staff said in its update on Facebook on Saturday morning.

The following settlements were shelled: Talakivka, Pavlopil, Vodiane, Pisky, Starohnativka, and Luhanske.

"At the beginning of this day, the Russian occupation forces shelled our positions two times in the area of responsibility of the Skhid task force. Near Krasnohorivka, the enemy used a 120 mm mortar, and near Opytne an automatic easel grenade launcher... No casualties are reported over the current day," the JFO headquarters said.
Washington, March 28 : The Walt Disney Co. announced that its theme park resorts in Florida and California will remain closed indefinitely "until further notice" amid the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"While there is still much uncertainty with respect to the impacts of COVID-19, the safety and well-being of our guests and employees remains The Walt Disney Company's top priority," Xinhua news agency quoted the company as saying in a statement on Friday.

"As a result of this unprecedented pandemic and in line with direction provided by health experts and government officials, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice," it noted.

Disney said the company has been paying its cast members since the closure of the parks and will continue to pay hourly parks and resorts cast members through April 18.

The Disneyland Resort, located in Anaheim, California, is home to two theme parks -- Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

Disney announced earlier this month the closure of Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, through the end of this month over COVID-19 concerns.

California and some other US states are currently under a stay-at-home order in response to COVID-19.

Friday's announcement comes as the US recorded 103,942 coronavirus cases with a total of 1,693 fatalities.

Universal, another US major theme park operator, announced Tuesday that it has extended closure of Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando through April 19 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A MIDDLE-aged man with various health conditions is the second person to test positive for COVID-19 coronavirus in the Turks and Caicos Islands.





He is currently in critical condition at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and is receiving aggressive respiratory care.





TCI Hospital and the Government made the announcement on Thursday afternoon (March 26) in a joint press release.





They said the patient, who is "under clinical management and isolation, was a resident who recently returned from the United States and developed fever and respiratory symptoms.





He was transported to the emergency department in a private vehicle. The man was classified as a suspected case upon admission and a sample was collected and tested.





"Strict infection prevention and containment procedures are constantly enforced at the medical centre and were followed as a precaution in this case, the statement read.





"This patient represents the second person in the Turks and Caicos Islands with confirmed COVID-19.





The Governments Ministry of Health team commenced immediate contact tracing and those identified in the process will undergo quarantine or screening as a risk mitigation measure.





The patients relatives have been notified. TCI Hospital and the Ministry of Health continue to provide support and guidance to the relatives of the affected person given the diagnosis.





The first person to be diagnosed began displaying flu-like symptoms on March 12 and was placed in home quarantine on March 20. They had no recent history of travel.





A sample sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Bahamas for testing came back positive on Monday (March 23).





Test results for the 89-year-old female resident who was admitted to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on March 18 have returned as negative for COVID-19.





She was classified as a suspected case based on travel history and presenting symptoms.





The elderly patient remains under hospital care and is in stable condition.




Uniquely Yours Stability Support has announced modified services due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone due to COVID-19, especially for the vulnerable groups such as those we strive to serve, which includes those barely getting by, the elderly and those with compromised health issues, said Robin Ritter, chief executive officer.

UYSS is a Fremont-based agency that works to prevent homelessness or help people get out of this situation.

The nonprofit organization provides various services and Ritter said the agencys internal support team consists of student interns and volunteers who fall into the COVID-19 high-risk categories.

We asked them to not come in, to stay home and stay safe, Ritter said.

Ritter has been in the downtown office.

It has been difficult being the only one in the office Monday through Thursday, she said. This is my form of self-quarantining and still attempting to do our part to help during this crisis.

Ritter lists modifications to services which include:

Updated phone line message.

This includes COVID-19 contact information such as 211.

Free Comprehensive Parenting Program.

These classes, support groups and parenting case management were set to start this week. UYSS is attempting to offer a live, online classroom to provide the services. Ritter has offered referrals, community information, some case management and encouragement over the phone.

In-person meetings

. These are by appointment only. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services worker Teresa Menking is donating her time on Fridays to assist those requiring basic needs rental and utility assistance. UYSS is one of the basic needs agencies in Fremont that is part of the initiative through the Fremont Family Coalition.

We are only able to accept two appointments during this time each Friday, Ritter said. Those coming in are aware that we currently are closed to walk-ins.

Those with appointments are to arrive no more than five minutes before their appointment. They need to come alone to their appointmentand not come if they are sick. If they are ill, the agency will do its best to complete the process in other creative ways, Ritter said.

We have an infrared, no-contact, forehead thermometer that has an alarm if they have a fever, Ritter added. If this is the case, they will be asked to leave.

Those with appointments are required to use the agencys available hand sanitizer before and after the meeting. Ritter said the nonprofit agency is incorporating social distancing, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, which means those with appointments will meet with someone from UYSS at separate tables in the buildings largest classroom.

Gerald Ritter, UYSS money management facilitator, has been conducting budgeting services over the phone.

We are also getting ready to launch an on-line free mini-class that will offer inspiration in a fun and engaging way and a break from isolation, Robin Ritter said.

Tangible items.

Those needing items such as clothing, bedding, laundry, dish soap, hygiene and personal care items can leave a message. When calls are returned on Tuesdays and Thursdays, arrangements will be made to drop off items on the callers porches.

We will continue to monitor the situation and make any changes needed as we continue to make a difference in our small and unique way, Ritter said. We are a small and privately funded nonprofit that will always work hard to help those in need and support the hard work of our agency partners.

Ritter said shes proud of the agencys partners.

There is support, and valuable information throughout the community, Ritter said. I would like to encourage anyone needing information on available supportive services to call 211 and to remember that you are not alone. There are many prayers and efforts there for you.

It can be difficult to keep the faith during tough times such as this, Ritter said. Its important to remember that we will all get through this together and with the grace of God.  We can all do our part. Your part could be to stay home to keep yourself and others safe. Fremont is a strong community.

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Around the world, governments are implementing measures that enforce social distancing in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. For example, last week the New York government banned all gatherings of 50 or more people. The measure applies to all gatherings, religious or not.

Some religious communities have reacted with anger and defiance to action taken by towns, states and the federal government. Last week, three plaintiffs sued New Hampshires governor for issuing an order prohibiting gatherings of 50 people or more. In their complaint, the plaintiffs list disrupted activities in which they want to participate in person, including Baptist church services and Sunday school. Other religious leaders have openly defied state bans on large gatherings. On Twitter, a video shows Rodney Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay church in Florida, inviting congregants to shake hands with one another. This church will never close, he declared. And in Louisiana, the Rev. Tony Spell brought together hundreds of people in Life Tabernacle Church, saying, We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday sought urgent intervention of the Union Finance Minister to mitigate the crisis caused by COVID-19 outbreak in the state, including immediate release of GST compensation arrears of Rs 2,088 crore.

In a letter, which followed a telephonic conversation, the Chief Minister sought from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman some additional urgent steps to mitigate the crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 global pandemic.

The Union Finance Minister had earlier called up the Chief Minister, who subsequently sent her a detailed letter listing out certain important proposals to help the state in this critical time, according to an official spokesperson.

The Chief Minister conveyed to Sitharaman that for opening the banks, he had asked the state Finance Department to issue necessary guidelines to facilitate the common man in meeting his banking requirements.

In addition to the Punjab-specific GST compensation arrears, the Chief Minister proposed that the balance GST compensation dues may be released with other states.

In his letter, Amarinder Singh further proposed that the Centre should ask the RBI to raise the ways and means advances for all states to tide over the shortfall in receipts.

He also suggested that the government of India may raise the borrowing limit of states under the FRBM Act from three to four per cent.

In addition to deferment of instalments of industrial loans, the Chief Minister has urged that commercial banks should defer loan instalments for agriculture or crop loans, which the Punjab government had already done for the state cooperative banks.

Further, in line with the initiative taken by the state government with respect to cooperative banks, he has also sought waiver of three months' interest on agricultural and crop loans by commercial banks.
With thousands of migrant workers seeking to return to their native places in the wake of lockdown enforced to check the spread of coronavirus, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has again written to states and union territories to immediately set up relief camps for these workers and pilgrims.

A Home Ministry release on Saturday said that states have been advised to give wide publicity and create awareness using public address systems and by utilising the services of volunteers and NGOs to provide information on the location of the relief camps and the facilities available.

They have also been advised to create awareness about relief package under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and measures being taken by the respective states.

"The Union Home Secretary has again written to states/UTs requesting them to immediately set up relief camps for migrant workers/pilgrims etc who are returning to their domicile states or trying to do so during this lockdown period," the release said.

It said that states have been also advised to set up relief camps along the highways including tented accommodation to ensure that these persons stay in these camps till the lockdown is in place.

It said the shelters are to be organised keeping in view various precautions including social distancing. There should be adequate medical check-up drives to identify and segregate cases requiring quarantine or hospitalisation.

The Home Ministry has authorised states to use the State Disaster Response Fund for providing relief measures.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Noida. In response, Gautam Budh Nagar authorities have sealed the patients' houses. Aaj Tak reported. Of five patients, three are from Noida while the other two are from Greater Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate BN Singh said. With this, the total number of cases in Gautam Budh Nagar has now touched 22.

Giving details, Singh said two new cases had been reported from Accheja village in Dadri, Greater Noida, while one each had been detected in Noida's Sector 44, 37, and 128.

Meanwhile, the Gautam Buddh Nagar DM has earlier issued an order to all landlords in his area, saying they can ask for rent from tenants only after a month. According to the order, no tenant can be asked to vacate a house on the ground of failure to pay rent.

The number of coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 873, and the deadly virus has claimed 21 lives so far. Only 78 patients have been cured and discharged from hospitals in India thus far. Across the world, the virus has infected 607,166 people and has claimed 27,774 lives.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India enters Day 4 of lockdown; total cases rise to 854

Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: US announces $174 million aid to 64 countries, including India
Nothing seemed unusual about Demondre Perkins last phone call to his father.

The 26-year-old San Franciscan called his dad on the afternoon of March 16 and asked for grocery money, which he did on occasion. Antonio Perkins, who had an errand to run at the DMV, told his son OK  he would let him know when he returned home.

But around 4:40 p.m., about 15 minutes after the two hung up, Demondre Perkins was fatally shot in a restaurant near 16th and Mission streets, according to San Francisco police and his father.

Authorities announced this week the arrest of three men in connection to the homicide. All three were booked in County Jail on suspicion of homicide, conspiracy and gang participation, but investigators are still working to establish a motive.

The killing shocked and puzzled Antonio Perkins and the rest of his family, who knew Demondre as a hardworking young man who avoided trouble and was expecting his third child.

He was just his old self: Hey, Dad, where you at? Antonio recalled. Nothing that made me think there was anything wrong or going on. He sounded normal.

The same afternoon Demondre was killed, officials in six Bay Area counties announced a shelter-in-place order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has complicated the familys grieving process.

On Thursday, San Francisco police said they arrested Alameda resident Oscar Ticas, 19, and San Francisco residents Rodrigo Tellez and Bryan Moreno, both 20. All three were charged with murder this week and their arraignment has been postponed to April 8, said Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorneys office.

The coronavirus has seemingly paralyzed life in the Bay Area and beyond, but Antonio Perkins said he plans to cremate his son and has already bought an urn. The funeral home still needs the body, though, which he was told can take around 10 business days.

Antonio Perkins wanted to hold a gathering for friends and relatives at Candlestick Point, a park where the family has celebrated weddings and barbecues for years near the old ballpark. But that too, and any funeral plan, is on hold.

Everything is just up in the air, Perkins said. We just have to wait. Nothing we can do about it.

The father and son would run into each other almost every day and chat in the Mission, where Demondre Perkins moved seven months ago. Growing up in Vallejo, where the family lived for about a decade, Demondre would talk about one day becoming a police officer.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

I actually encouraged him to do so, his father said.

Those plans had not materialized, as Demondre Perkins most recently worked at a Tenderloin nonprofit that helps homeless youths.

Regardless of where he was, though, he tried to help his grandmother and great-grandmother in whatever they needed, Antonio Perkins said.

He was really a sweet kid, he said. I really didnt have too many worries about him. ... Thats pretty extraordinary for kids nowadays.

The slaying has devastated Demondre Perkins girlfriend, who is six months pregnant, as well as his neighbors.

He had a lot of people that he made a good impression on  everybody he met, Antonio Perkins said. Its just crazy.

Alejandro Serrano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @serrano_alej
The Navy, the military service hit hardest by the coronavirus, scrambled Friday to contain its first at-sea outbreak, with at least two dozen infected aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of 11 active aircraft carriers whose mission is central to the Pentagon's strategy for deterring war with China and Iran.

The Roosevelt and its contingent of warplanes may be sidelined for days, sitting pier side in Guam as the entire crew  more than 5,000  is tested. Navy leaders say the carrier could return to duty at any time if required, but the sudden setback is seen as a harbinger of more trouble to come.

The Navy is headed into choppy waters in terms of readiness in the months ahead, says retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former ship commander who rose to become NATO's top commander in Europe.

In Asia, a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a fundamental shift from fighting insurgent and extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a return to great power competition." That means, principally, a bigger focus on China, including its militarization of disputed areas of the South China Sea.

The carrier, like other Navy ships, is vulnerable to infectious disease spread given its close quarters. The massive ship is more than 1,000 feet long; sailors are spread out across a labyrinth of decks linked by steep ladder-like stairs and narrow corridors. Enlisted sailors and officers have separate living quarters, but they routinely grab their food from crowded buffet lines and eat at tables joined end-to-end.

Stavridis fears that berthing compartments, or sleeping quarters where a dozen sailors are often packed into spaces not much larger than an average kitchen, will become birthing compartments for the virus.

Although the Navy is much smaller than the Army, it accounts for at least one-third of all reported COVID-19 cases in

The U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, Adm. John Aquilino, said in an Associated Press interview late Thursday that its not clear how long the Roosevelt will be kept in Guam and that its schedule will be adjusted "as needed. He said no infected sailor is a critical health risk but some have been hospitalized.

We're clearly interested in ensuring that the ship and the crew are healthy said Aquilino, speaking from his Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, base. But let there be no doubt the ship's ready to respond if needed. He said worried family members at home should know everything possible is being done for crew safety.

Family members of Roosevelt sailors have been reaching out to each other on social media. Expressing shock and anxiety, they alternately worried about their family members on the ship and their children at home, sprinkling their posts with questions about local virus testing and memes about toilet paper shortages and pandemic fears.

The Roosevelt had been in the South China Sea, and its most recent port visit had been at Vietnam's popular coastal city of Da Nang earlier this month. The carrier was engaged in an exercise with another U.S. warship in the Philippine Sea when it first detected a COVID-19 infection aboard, other officials said.

Asked if the outbreak came as a surprise, Aquilino said, We are operating in the area where the disease started. All the risk and the spread of this disease initiated in this theatre. So, if we were surprised, we'd be naive.

Aquilino said procedures are in place to try to minimize any spread of the virus, and based on the status of the entire Pacific fleet, I'm very happy with the commanding officers and the teams for taking this seriously.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Friday that it would take 25 days to test all Roosevelt crew members, based on the ship's current testing capability, but that is being augmented urgently. Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, he said that in broad terms the Navy began thinking about global contingency plans in January, although infections have become pronounced only in recent weeks.

I think were doing okay, he said. I think obviously, just like everybody else in this crisis, were having to adjust a lot on the fly as we learn more about the virus and how its behaving.

As the most recognised symbol of American sea power, the Navy's carrier fleet has taken on a bigger role in the Middle East over the past year, returning to persistent patrols in the Persian Gulf as part of the Trump administration's strategy for deterring Iran from attacking U.S. and allied interests in the region.

Two carriers  the USS Harry S. Truman and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower  are currently in the Arabian Sea amid speculation about further U.S. military retaliation for rocket attacks in Iraq attributed to Iran-backed militias.

The sidelining of the Roosevelt has limited immediate impact on the balance of power in Asia, but it will not go unnoticed in Beijing, which is developing its own carrier fleet.

You can bet China is watching this closely, said Michael Mazza, an Asia specialist at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank. Indeed, this comes at a particularly dangerous moment for China's neighbours in the region, especially Taiwan, which China considers a renegade Chinese province.

In Mazza's view, Chinese President Xi Jinping may see the U.S. as momentarily weakened, even militarily.

He said he's concerned that Xi might be tempted to make a move on Taiwan or in the South China Sea, driven on the one hand by a need to divert attention from domestic difficulties and to unify the Party at home and, on the other, by an opportunistic impulse to see what he can get away with."

The current status of the Roosevelt certainly doesn't help keep those temptations at bay.

Michael O'Hanlon, a defence and foreign policy specialist at the Brookings Institution, cautioned against overreacting to the Roosevelt's outbreak.

He says it's "something to watch but not something to be too anxious about.
The world is reeling. Who would have thought that in the space of a week life as we knew it could change so dramatically. Each day brings news of more coronavirus patients and more job losses, many of them close to home. In the past week, we have all heard of someone who has become unemployed. As the cases of COVID-19 rise in Australia, so does the economic cost of this pandemic.

The government cannot keep up with the carnage, despite spending more than $189 billion, or almost 10 per cent of the Australian economy, on stimulus. Its support packages for small businesses may be too little, too late. What business, in this climate, will go out and spend money on a fridge for an instant asset write-off? Many are already at the wall. They have had to lay off their workers and direct them to the Centrelink queue, before flogging the last of their eggs, coffee and wine to customers walking past, hoping to recoup whatever dollar they could before the lockdown becomes more severe. To see this happening in a street near you  the shattering, egg by egg, of the economy  is deeply unsettling.

People queue outside Centrelink at Rockdale on Tuesday. Credit:Janie Barrett

Hindsight is always a virtue. There have been calls from business leaders for the government to follow the lead of Britain's Conservative government and issue an 80 per cent wage guarantee, to encourage businesses to keep workers paid and on their books, even if they are not working. Boris Johnson promised to reimburse eligible businesses 80 per cent of their wage costs from late April, once the scheme is set up.

To implement such a scheme in Australia would be costly  $43 billion every three months, if limited to the worst-affected sectors, according to a paper from Deloitte Access Economics  but if it had been rolled out early enough, it could have saved the government welfare costs in the long term by allowing businesses to remain open and their workers employed. The government says it would take too long to set up the scheme, yet its discussion may have given some businesses confidence to keep going. Instead, businesses are now defunct, their staff on welfare with no employer to return to when the crisis is over. Even the smaller measures that have been announced to improve business cash flow won't reach bank accounts until late April, and the speed at which this pandemic is engulfing us makes even that point in time too far away.
Travellers returning to Manitoba by road or air are now receiving official information about the need for them to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Travellers returning to Manitoba by road or air are now receiving official information about the need for them to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Highway checkpoints and signs in the province's two largest airports are part of the Manitoba government's latest efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Five checkpoints along the borders with Ontario and Saskatchewan were put up Friday afternoon, staffed by masked-and-gloved provincial employees, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler told reporters during a teleconference Friday.

Since March 23, public health officials have recommended anyone returning from an international or inter-provincial trip should immediately isolate themselves in their homes for 14 days. There is evidence the COVID-19 virus can spread before an infected person shows any symptoms.

The province has been given feedback some people weren't aware of those recommendations, Schuler said. "We just want to make sure that everyone gets access to this information so they don't say, 'I didn't know.'"

A flagperson at each checkpoint is expected to stop all traffic, speak to motorists from a distance, and hand them printed information about the virus. The checkpoints, set up under the Public Health Act, won't stop anyone from entering the province, and won't collect any personal information about travellers or vehicles.

Travellers will be asked not to exit their vehicles at the checkstop.

Closing Manitoba's borders is "not under discussion right now," Schuler said.

"We believe that if Manitobans continue to comply like they are, that this is the best way to go about it. This gets the information out. We are finding there is amazing uptake on the requests. If we find that there is a problem with that, then we will take on other measures."

All traffic, including long-haul truckers, will have to stop at the checkpoints, Schuler said.

"If you're on two wheels or 18 wheels, you're going to get one of these. So if you're on a bicycle, a motorcycle, you name it... you come through on a horse, we're going to hand you one of these and talk to you about: you must do a 14-day self-isolation."

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The checkpoints have been established at what provincial officials have deemed the busiest current border crossings, even with a "drastic" decline in traffic, Schuler said.

Along the Ontario border, there is a checkpoint at West Hawk Lake/Falcon Lake.

There are four locations along the Saskatchewan border: Trans-Canada Highway (west of Kirkella/Elkhorn/Virden); Provincial Trunk Highway 16 (west of Russell); PTH 5W (west of Roblin); and PTH 2 (west of Sinclair/Reston/Souris).

Signs warning returning travellers will also be posted at the Winnipeg and Brandon airports.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Donald Trump has lashed out at a reporter who asked him whether any American requiring ventilator support would be able to receive that aid amid a severe shortage of supplies, saying: Dont be a cutie pie.

The president was conducting a press briefing on the latest updates surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic on Friday when he was asked about the nations lack of critical medical supplies amid several severe outbreaks in states like New York and California.

He was asked by ABC News Jonathan Karl whether the White House could ensure that everybody who needs a ventilator will get a ventilator, as reports indicated doctors and nurses on the front lines of the unfolding crisis were already running low on the life-saving medical tool, along with personal protective equipment (PPE) like N95 face masks.

I think were in really good shape, the president began. This is a pandemic, the likes of which nobodys seen before.

The reporter then continued seeking an answer to his question from the president, adding: But everybody who needs one will be able to get a ventilator?

Mr Trump then shot back: Look, dont be a cutie pie, okay?

Nobodys done what weve been able to do, he added. Nobodys done anything like what weve been able to do.

The president has frequently lashed out at the media during the pandemic, calling the American press dangerous and corrupt in a series of tweets on Saturday morning.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US has meanwhile soared past 104,000 after the federal government faced significant issues in distributing testing kits across the country.

Whereas South Korea managed to test nearly 274,000 people for Covid-19 in about a two-month period, the US had only tested about 25,000 during that same time period. Both countries confirmed their first official coronavirus case on 20 January.

Experts have said that window of time was crucial for saving countless lives from the novel virus, and that rapid testing would have helped slow the spread of transmissions across the country and flatten the curve by keeping the nations hospital system within capacity.

Mr Trump has continued to slam the media for its coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and his administrations seemingly slow response to the crisis.

Last week, he also attacked NBC News Peter Alexander after the journalist asked what the president would tell Americans who were scared about the virus.

I say that youre a terrible reporter, Mr Trump said.

Thats what I say, he added. I think its a very nasty question, and I think its a very bad signal that youre putting out to the American people.
In preparation, Kobylski said he was asking teachers to get certified in Google Classrooms next week. The free certification requires a 12-hour program to help teachers get acquainted with the program and utilize it to its fullest capabilities. The platform would be used for elementary and intermediate students. High school students would use Edgenuity.

Once the district gets approval, Kobylski said they could have online courses ready in four or five days.

Even with state approval, theres an accessibility problem. Davenport is 1:1, which means theres at least one device  in Davenports case, Chromebooks  per student, but having a device doesnt guarantee internet access. Thats not just a Davenport issue, Kobylski said. Thats an Iowa issue. Thats a national issue.

To get a sense of the scope of students who need help with access, Davenport sent out a phone blast Friday afternoon to gauge which households need help, either with Chromebooks or internet. Kobylski said they also planned to print out paper packets with instructions for parents to pick up at the same sites offering free lunches for kids. Thats a really low-end solution, he said. Were trying to find some more creative solutions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 28

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

The first ambulant coronavirus laboratory has been launched by Iran's The Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed (Sazman-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin), Trend reports citing Iran's media outlets.

Over 200 people can get checked in one such lab, and the results are revealed within 3 hours.

Chairman of Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed Gholamreza Soleymani attended the commissioning of the mobile laboratory.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 32,300 people have been infected, 2,378 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 11,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
Need toilet paper? Got a craving for some brisket? Well, look no further than your area Bill Miller Bar-B-Q because the beloved San Antonio icon announced Saturday it has begun selling toilet paper and another coveted grocery item at its restaurants, according to a post on the fast-food chain's Facebook page.

The local chain is offering the public up to 12 rolls per person at only one dollar per roll.
New York, March 28 : US President Donald Trump has invoked special defence powers to force auto giant General Motors to make ventilators urgently needed to treat coronavirus patients after the company had backtracked on earlier promises and haggled over prices.

Announcing on Friday that he was using the Defence Production Act (DPA) against GM, Trump said: "We thought we had a deal for 40,000 ventilators and, all of a sudden, the 40,000 came down to 6,000. And then they talked about a higher price than we were discussing, so I didn't like it." The availability of ventilators has become the touchstone of the nation's preparedness to meet the pandemic as the US became the country with the most cases, recording 104,463 confirmed cases by Friday night, with 1,706 deaths.

Reflecting the seriousness of the situation, a hospital group in Michigan state had reportedly written a letter on rationing health care if there was a shortage of life-saving equipment.

According to CNN, the document said: "Patients who have the best chance of getting better are our first priority." Patients seen as facing severe conditions with little chances for recovery could be denied ventilators, it reportedly said.

The hospital group told CNN it was not currently a policy but was meant for "absolute worst case scenario".

Although there were enough ventilators available for the needs at the moment, many governors and mayors expect the need to go up sharply when the COVID-19 cases increase as the infection spreads.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and others had repeatedly asked Trump to use the DPA to ramp up production of ventilators and other sorely needed medical supplies.

But Trump had resisted their demands saying that companies were voluntarily complying with the requests and did not want to take the "socialist" approach of forcing governmental controls on companies and instead would rely on voluntary measures.

He changed his mind on Friday during the dispute with quantity and prices with GM, which he criticised for shutting down a plant in the US and moving operations abroad while foreign auto companies were expanding.

Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker, a Democrat, welcomed the invoking of the DPA calling it "terrific." Ford Motors hass also committed to making ventilators.

Tesla founder Elon Musk has also said that his electric auto company would also make ventilators.

The DPA was originally enacted in 1950 to force private companies to produce material required for the Korean War.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
U K bankruptcy laws will change in order to help struggling businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, Business Secretary Alok Sharma has announced.

Speaking at the daily Covid-19 press conference on Saturday, Mr Sharma announced a host of new measures to help boost productivity and save businesses amid the outbreak.

He announced changes to insolvency rules to allow firms greater flexibility as they face the current crisis.

It comes as businesses across the country struggle to stay afloat after the Government announced a nationwide lockdown on Monday, ordering all Brits to stay at home.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

The Business Secretary said: It is crucial when the crisis passes, as it will, we are ready to bounce back," as he detailed measures to help businesses emerge intact the other side of the Covid-19 pandemic.

These measures will give those firms extra time and space to weather the storm and be ready when the crisis ends whilst ensuring creditors get the best return possible in the circumstances, he continued.

The new rules will allow companies undergoing restructuring to continue access to supplies and raw materials.

And, he said, there would be a temporary suspension of wrongful trading provisions for company directors to remove the threat of personal liability during the pandemic, which will apply retrospectively from March 1.

However, to be clear, all of the other checks and balances that help to ensure directors fulfil their duties properly will remain in force.

Mr Sharma also said red tape will be reduced to allow new producers of hand sanitiser to bring products to market in a matter of days.

We are also introducing a range of measures to boost the supply of personal protective equipment, such as face masks, to protect frontline NHS staff, he told the daily coronavirus press conference in Downing Street.

And were removing administrative barriers to the production of hand sanitiser.

By reducing the amount of red tape, new suppliers and businesses that produce ingredients for safe hand sanitiser will be able to bring their products to market in a matter of days.

Companies required to hold annual general meetings will be be able to do so flexibly in a matter compatible with public health guidance, Mr Sharma also said.
EATON, Ohio  At a family-owned manufacturing company on the western edge of the state, the indoor pickleball courts, normally a staff favorite during breaks, are empty because of social distancing, and everyone has their temperature taken when they arrive for their shifts.

A glass wafer will be used in the production of a pressure sensor for a ventilator. The glass wafers are made at Bullen Ultrasonics in Eaton, Ohio.

Bullen Ultrasonics, a 140-employee machining business, is running full-steam. The company is essential to the nation's effort to build more ventilators, even if what it does is drill holes in small pieces of glass.

The manufacturer offers a look into the lengthy supply chain to produce ventilators that help COVID-19 patients breathe when their lungs struggle to do so on their own.

The lifesaving devices made at one ventilator company, Medtronics, require the coordination of more than 100 suppliers. The suppliers are in 14 different countries  including places struggling to respond to coronavirus themselves.

Bullen plans to cut down the time it takes to make its next batch of glass constraint wafers from eight weeks to less than two weeks to meet demand from two unnamed customers that make pressure sensors, a key part of ventilators.

Bullen has to make its own tools. The workers then use the tools to cut tiny holes in special glass with sound waves. Thats all before shipping out the product for future steps in the ventilator-manufacturing process.

Brian Burkett is a machinist at Bullen Ultrasonics in Eaton, Ohio, which provides a key component for pressure sensors found in ventilators.

Were hoping to be able to start machining these parts April 2 and start sending them to our first critical customer, Bullen President Tim Beatty said.

Thats about two weeks before New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo anticipates a peak in coronavirus cases in that state and a month before public health officials expect a peak in Ohio. New York called for 30,000 ventilators to meet a surge in coronavirus patients.

Ventilators have computer-like monitors situated on top of them. They have buttons and dials to customize the settings for each patient. They require plastic tubes of different sizes to hook up to the patient. Each machine needs electrical parts to plug into the wall. Some machines have handles. The devices are usually on four wheels, so medical providers can move them around like carts.

Story continues

From Utah to Sweden, at least nine ventilator manufacturers  including GE Medical, Philips Respironics and Medtronic  said they are ramping up production to respond to the crisis. Government officials talked of bringing Ford, Tesla, and General Motors into the production effort.

Medtronic recognizes the demand for ventilators in this environment has far outstripped supply, Bob White, a vice president for Medtronic, said in a statement. No single company will be able to fill the current demands of global health care systems.

A spokesman for Medtronic described a fivefold increase in production of ventilators in a matter of months. In a normal week, the company can make 100 ventilators. The company increased to 225 per week and intends to make more than 500 per week in the weeks to come. That will require a fivefold increase in supplies.

Nicholas Petruzzi, a professor of supply chain management at Penn State University, said most manufacturers have eliminated any excess capacity in their plants as part of a decade of trying to control their costs. That means a backlog is inevitable when demand spikes.

Tammy Cail, a quality inspector with Bullen Ultrasonics in Eaton, Ohio, does a visual inspection of a glass wafer that will be used in the production of a pressure sensor March 25. Finished sensors are used in ventilators, which are in high demand as the coronavirus spreads.

Beatty said Bullen is fortunate. He saw a potential shortage of glass coming a few months ago and built up an inventory. Without it, he said, the glass he sources from Germany and Japan could take months to acquire.

The U.S. government has come to our customers and said, We need you to ramp up production. Anything you have well take,  Beatty said. In order to do that, they need to come to somebody like us."

In New York, Cuomo criticized the governments production-based approach because he said the car companies wont be able to make ventilators fast enough for his state, which is the hardest-hit in the nation.

He wants the federal government to step in and send ventilators to his region, then move the supplies and medical personnel elsewhere when demand weakens in New York. He described the approach in a news conference Tuesday.

If we get past the apex, we get over that curve. That curve starts to come down, we get to a level where we can handle it, Ill send ventilators, Cuomo said. Ill send health care workers. Ill send our professionals, who dealt with it and who know, all around the country. And thats how this should be done.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Factory scrambles to supply ventilator makers for coronavirus victims
A 21-year-old man who was admitted to the civil hospital in here in Haryana, tested COVID-19 positive on Saturday, officials said.

The man is from a village in Patiala in Punjab.

Haryana health department official said after complaining of high fever and vomiting the patient was admitted to the Ambala civil hospital on March 26 and was kept in the isolation ward.

His sample was sent to PGIMER at Chandigarh and it was received on Saturday evening.

"The test confirmed him as COVID - 19 positive," according to Senior Medical Officer of the Ambala civil hospital Sunil Hari.

He said the COVID- 19 affected patient belonged to a village in Patiala.

The youth had returned from Nepal. He reached Delhi over a week back and then his village from the national capital.

When he fell ill, he was rushed to the civil hospital here, the officials said.

In addition to his family back in the village, hospital authorities are collecting details of persons with whom he could have come in contact.

Hari said the Patiala health authorities have also been informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
1. Yes. The downtown area needs a good draw. Some quality taverns would be a plus.

2. Yes. Too many storefronts are vacant. Bars could help to bring in needed revenue.

3. No. Putting a number of bars downtown is just asking for trouble. Dont change things.

4.No. Several churches have located downtown. Putting bars close by would be a bad fit.

5. Unsure. It would depend on how the law is written and what standards are enacted.

Vote

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NWS Weather Alert NOTE: This information is provided by the National Weather Service. Forecast may differ from local information provided by our own 69News Meteorologists

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 13... The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert Thursday for The Lehigh Valley/Berks County area. A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children...people suffering from asthma... heart disease or other lung diseases...and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles...visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us
China Mobile's (NYSE:CHL) stock has plunged 30% over the past 12 months, as China's economic slowdown, protests in Hong Kong, and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak all throttled its growth. Government-mandated reductions in wireless fees and the elimination of data-roaming charges exacerbated the pain.

Despite those challenges, China Mobile remains the country's largest wireless carrier provider, with 942.2 million subscribers at the end of February. Moreover, 15.4 million of those subscribers had already upgraded to 5G subscriptions -- up from 6.7 million in January -- which indicates that China's 5G rollout is accelerating. Let's see how China Mobile's 5G plans will shape its future.

A closer look at China Mobile's numbers

China Mobile's total service revenue rose 0.5% to 674.4 billion yuan ($94.9 billion) in 2019, which marked a return to growth following a 1.7% decline in 2018. Its net profit fell 9.5% to 106.6 billion yuan ($15 billion), but most of the decline occurred in the first half of the year when it reduced its fees while ramping up its 5G expansion efforts.

China Mobile's four smaller growth engines -- the mobile cloud, internet data center (IDC), Internet of Things (IoT), and IT services (ITC) units -- continued to generate robust growth. Its mobile cloud revenue rose 59% to 2 billion yuan ($280 million), its IDC revenue grew 47% to 10.5 billion yuan ($1.5 billion), its IoT revenue rose 18% to 8.8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), and its ICT revenue surged 164% to 6.7 billion yuan ($940 million).

Those businesses only account for 4% of China Mobile's service revenue, but that percentage could rise over the next few years.

A look at China Mobile's 5G plans

China Mobile was granted a 5G license last June. It built over 50,000 5G base stations, started over 100 5G joint projects, launched 5G commercial services in 50 cities, and guided manufacturers in the launch of 32 5G devices.

China Mobile expects its CapEx to rise 8% to 179.8 billion yuan ($25.3 billion) in 2020, with 100 billion yuan ($14.1 billion) allocated to 5G upgrades. Those investments could widen China Mobile's lead in the 5G market against its two main rivals, China Telecom (NYSE:CHA) and China Unicom (NYSE:CHU), which don't disclose their 5G subscriber numbers separately yet.

China Mobile's average revenue per user (ARPU) took a big hit last year after the government-mandated fee reductions. However, it claims its ARPU from 5G subscribers is now 6.5% higher than its 4G subscribers. That sounds like good news, but its data traffic per user for 5G users also rose 16.8% -- which suggests that its 5G margins could still be significantly lower than its 4G margins.

On the enterprise front, China Mobile is integrating its 5G networks into cloud services, smart agriculture, smart energy, and smart factory technologies across China. That state-backed push, which also involves China Telecom and China Unicom, could tether more companies to the three carriers' wireless and wireline ecosystems.

Solid progress in 5G ... but unanswered questions elsewhere

China Mobile's executive chairman Jie Yang stated that the company's 5G expansion was off to a "very good start."

However, Yang didn't address its abrupt loss of 7.5 million wireless subscribers in February, which coincided with similar losses at China Telecom and China Unicom. The loss of subscribers at one carrier should translate to gains at its rivals, but the simultaneous declines suggest that China may have suspended wireless services across certain regions during the lockdown period, or that its official death count (at about 3,300 as of this writing) is too low.

That's all speculation for now, but China Mobile's chilling drop in February subscribers casts a dark cloud over its 5G gains. Looking ahead, investors should keep a close eye on its monthly subscriber numbers and its growth in 5G ARPU to see if its business is truly stabilizing.
Poland on Saturday adopted rules allowing people over 60, in quarantine or self-isolation to vote via postal ballot, as controversy rages over government plans to hold a presidential election despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government came under heavy pressure this week over its decision to maintain the May 10 election as an opinion poll showed that 72 per cent of respondents wanted the ballot postponed.

Opposition parties argue that asking citizens to visit polling stations would violate mandatory social distancing measures, exposing millions to potentially deadly infection.

Seeking a second term, PiS-allied incumbent President Andrzej Duda admitted later on Saturday that the current "election date may turn out to be unsustainable" should the pandemic "still be raging" in mid-May.

Dominated by the PiS, parliament adopted the changes to the electoral law in a pre-dawn vote on Saturday.

Critics including constitutional experts claim the new measures violate Constitutional Court rulings stating that changes to the election code must be adopted at least six months before voting day.

"Law and Justice party is breaking the rules of parliament to change the #Election Code under the cover of night!" left-wing MP Krzysztof Gawkowski tweeted at 2 am local time.

The PiS-backed changes allow postal ballots for voters "who are 60 years of age" or "subject to compulsory quarantine, isolation or isolation at home on election day".

While the Senate, where the opposition has a majority, could reject the measures within the next 30 days, the PiS-dominated lower house would likely adopt them again before sending them for final approval to Duda.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and powerful PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a close ally of Duda, the current frontrunner, have said they see no reason to postpone the election.

Meanwhile, former liberal Polish Prime Minister and ex-EU President Donald Tusk, now the leader of the European People's Party (EPP), said in an interview that "only a fool or a criminal" would propose that people go vote in May.

An EU member of 38 million people, Poland has recorded more than 1400 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 16 deaths.

It shut borders and schools earlier this month and has since limited public gatherings to two people and restricted freedom of movement in line with EU-wide measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Since taking office in 2015, the PiS has pushed through a slew of controversial judicial reforms that it insists are designed to tackle corruption. But critics, including the European Commission and European judicial bodies, argue they threaten judicial independence and the rule of law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ultimate Charismatic Centre led by its General Overseer, Prophet Akwasi Agyemeng Prempeh and leadership of the church donated a variety of items to the 37 Military Hospital in response to appeals made by the hospital to the general public due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.



The Prophet, in presenting the items intimated that, this is part of the usual corporate social responsibility they have been embarking on over the years to the hospital and more imperatively, it became apparent that, the hospital needed certain key equipment and items due to the COVID-19 disease.



Prophet Akwasi Agyemeng Prempeh indicated to the Commanding Officer, officers, men and women of the unit of his and the entire church's willingness to do more when the need arises.



The equipment and items donated to the hospital includes 20 pieces of Wellington boots, 10 gallons of liquid soap, 1 box of hand gloves, 10 packs of toilet rolls, 5 packs of kitchen tissue, 10 water barrels, 4 gallons of disinfectants, 10 preventive gowns, 100 packs of disposable aprons, and 100 pieces of boot covers.



On receiving the equipment and items, the Commanding Officer of the 37 Military Hospital, Colonel Bugri thanked the General Overseer and members of the Ultimate Charismatic Centre for their timely benevolence as the equipment and items came in handy. He intends commended the church once again for their continuous support over the years.



The Prophet, Akwasi Agyemeng Prempeh finally interceded for the leadership of the hospital in prayer, asked for God's protection and covering over all those at the front line and working assiduously to ensure recovery of patients.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In late February, countless Christians pledged to give up vices like alcohol, chocolate and Netflix for the duration of Lent.

What they didn't know was that in the coming weeks, they'd also be giving up social gatherings, concerts, televised sports, eating in restaurants and virtually every other aspect of ordinary life.

As the novel coronavirus has given new meaning to a season of self-sacrifice, some faith leaders are granting worshipers a pass from traditional Lenten rituals. On Thursday, Bishop James Checchio, whose diocese in New Jersey includes about 600,000 Catholics, announced that he was waiving the requirement to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Both the food shortages in grocery stores and the fact that people were already sacrificing so much had factored into his decision, he wrote, adding that meat was still off-limits for Good Friday.

Catholic dioceses from Brooklyn to Pittsburgh to Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, have issued similar decrees over the past week. In Louisiana, Bishop Shelton Fabre wrote that the coronavirus "has placed most, if not all, of our faithful in a situation wherein obtaining food, including meal alternatives from meat, the rising cost of fish and other forms of seafood, and even the challenge of being able to obtain groceries without endangering their health, make it clearly difficult for them to fulfill this practice."

Those who choose to eat meat on the remaining Fridays of Lent should do works of charity and piety instead, he suggested.

The unusual dispensations underscored how the global pandemic has upended religious traditions. As Lent has progressed, churches have rapidly gone from pondering more sanitary ways to give Communion to closing their doors altogether. In late February, many clergy worried about administering ashes to worshipers' foreheads, but opted to vigorously sanitize their hands instead of forgoing the custom entirely, The Washington Post's Sarah Pulliam Bailey reported. A mere two weeks later, most had canceled services and Mass.

"Had not planned on giving quite this much for Lent," read a sign posted outside a church in Providence, Rhode Island last week.

Others have made variations on the same joke - "When they told us to give up something for lent I didn't know we had to give up everything," read one Thursday tweet - or admitted to giving up on their Lenten vows entirely. Humor aside, though, many religious leaders say that the directives imposed by public health officials are actually fitting for a season of suffering and abstention.

Giving up in-person church services in favor of worshiping at home is "like the ultimate Lent," the Rev. Chris Arnold, the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, said to Episcopal News Service. "What greater fast is there than a fast from the Eucharist?"

Some see a parallel between the isolation of quarantine and Jesus's 40 days alone in the wilderness. Sheltering in place can be "our opportunity to be in the desert like Jesus, with time away in solitary prayer," Father Paul Keller of St. Paul Catholic Newman Center in Fresno, Calif., told Catholic News Service. That kind of self-denial and reflection "couldn't be more Lenten," he added.

Church leaders have noted that fasting for Lent can also be a way of saving food for a future time of need, and called on their congregants to perform acts of charity by helping out vulnerable neighbors. And those who suddenly have a lot of time on their hands can take the opportunity to study spiritual texts.

"At minimum, we now have extra time to spend in prayer each day," wrote Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. "We may never again have a Lenten season that affords us so much time to give to the Lord."

But it's looking quite likely that Lent will end before the global pandemic does. Easter, which is a little over two weeks away, could be devoid of egg hunts, large family gatherings and packed church services this year.

"I think, if anything, there's an opportunity in this," the Rev. Scott Gunn, an Episcopal priest in Cincinnati, told Episcopal News Service. "When you pare away all of the trappings and also all of the traditions and customs, maybe we're going to have no choice but to focus on what's really important about the celebration of Holy Week."
With their livelihoods coming to a halt after imposition of the countrywide lockdown, thousands of daily wage workers and labourers thronged the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Saturday in the hope of reaching their homes in far-flung areas, notwithstanding the threat of spread of the coronavirus disease.

Hordes of people, including women and children, with their bags on their heads and backs many also wearing protective masks - waited in long queues to board buses at the Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal here.

Earlier in the day, the Uttar Pradesh government announced that it has arranged 1,000 buses to ferry migrant labourers stranded in the border districts owing to a countywide lockdown.

The Delhi government also announced that 100 buses have been deployed to help those trying to reach on foot their homes in other states, many of them hundreds of kilometres away.

Although the police had made people stand in three queues, the serpentine lines didn't seem to end as there was a steady flow of migrant workers who wanted to go back to their towns and villages citing lack of employment due to the lockdown.

Many struggled to board the buses packed to the hilt. The police also made people de-board overcrowded buses to avoid spread of the infection.

Good Samaritans distributed food to those preparing for their journeys.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nation-wide lockdown from March 25 following which all transport services road, rail and air were suspended.

Daily wage workers were among the worst hit by the lockdown and thousands started heading back home in different states. In the absence of availability of transportation, a large number of them undertook their long journeys on foot.

But with the UP and Delhi governments arranging buses to ferry those stranded on the state borders, many decided to take a chance, thereby crowding the Delhi borders.

Jwatam Kumar (24), who works in a faucet factory, said his unit has been shut due to the lockdown. He is paid Rs 8,000 a month on a fortnightly basis. With no means of making a living and paying for food and accommodation, he wanted to go back home in Aligarh.

"I had made up my mind to walk back, but now I heard through channels that Uttar Pradesh government has made provision of taking people to their homes. So, I will take the bus," said Kumar, who was headed to Anand Vihar ISBT.

Sachin Kanojia (29), who took a shared auto-rickshaw from Rohtak to Delhi that charged Rs 500 per seat, said the factory he worked in was closed due to the lockdown.

He earns Rs 10-12,000 per month but now with no income for the next three weeks, he was heading back home.

"I will get a bus from Anand Vihar," said Kanojia, who was headed to Lucknow.

Like Kanojia and Kumar, Omkar Maurya too was headed home to Amethi. Maurya, who works as a daily wage worker putting up tents for marriage ceremonies, said with no money in his pocket it was better for him to go back home.

"Now that there are bus services, it is good that I go back home till the situation becomes normal," Maurya said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kelly Delivers First Chapel Devotion During Season of Online Learning March 25, 2020

Dr. Bobby Kelly, Ruth Dickinson Professor of Religion, delivered OBUs chapel devotional message Wednesday, March 25, via Facebook Live on the OBU Facebook page. The chapel message was the first since the University moved to fully online learning for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Kelly taught from Mark 14:32-42, considering how we as Christians should respond to a crisis in light of Jesus example.

Students will continue earning chapel credits for the remainder of the semester by viewing the chapel message online and then answering a brief quiz in the Universitys Canvas Learning System. Students who are unable to view the message via Facebook Live will also have access to the videos in Canvas following the conclusion of the live broadcast. The messages will all be available on the OBU YouTube Channel on the OBU Chapel playlist and will likewise be promoted on the OBU website and OBU social media channels.
KC NEEDS STIMULUS NOW!!!

Locals anxiously await checks after President Trump signs off on stimulus bill OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV) -- The stimulus bill from the federal government could offer relief to millions of Americans. That's especially true when it comes to the $1,200 that will be sent to most Americans making less than $75,000 a year. So, KCTV5's Nathan Vickers spent Friday looking into some of the fine print.

Cowtown Serving Kindness

These Kansas City Restaurants Are Feeding The Hungry As Their Industry Takes A Hit Restaurants throughout the metro have been hit hard by the state of emergency in Kansas City. Many have closed, resulting in hundreds of laid off workers. And now, with food service limited to curbside and delivery, waitstaff is losing both hourly wages and tips.

Golden Ghetto Tech Trials

Johnson County courts going remote only in response to COVD-19 JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) - While courts in Johnson County are going to remain open during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, judges will be the only people in the courtrooms. In a release, Chief Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan announced that the 10th Judicial District Court is moving to 100 percent remote access starting Monday, March 30.

Demi Celebrates B-Day With Coronavirus Inspiration

Demi Rose displays her jaw-dropping curves in a skimpy bikini She's never been afraid of parading her incredible physique. And Demi Rose was proudly displaying her jaw-dropping curves in a skimpy leopard print bikini on Friday as she celebrated her 25th birthday in coronavirus lockdown. The model looked incredible in the skimpy two-piece which showed off her extremely peachy posterior and ample cleavage.

NYC Curve Spikes

New York may be weeks away from reaching a peak in coronavirus cases. Now other states are preparing for a surge Several states are reporting a spike in coronavirus cases, raising fears more hotspots will emerge in the US after New York as soon as next week.

Stimulus Fact Check

Your Guide To The Federal Stimulus Package COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the world's peoples and economies. In the United States, as businesses shut down or pare back, millions of workers have already been laid off, leaving many to wonder how they'll pay their bills.

Easter No Go?!?!

Bipartisan majority of Americans reject Trump idea to reopen by Easter: Reuters/Ipsos poll A bipartisan majority of Americans appear to reject an idea floated by President Donald Trump to reopen businesses by Easter, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, which also showed that nearly one in four have been laid off or furloughed during the coronavirus outbreak.

Wuhan Numbers Game Revealed

Shipments of urns in Wuhan raise questions about China's coronavirus reporting Massive deliveries of urns in Wuhan have raised fresh skepticism of China's coronavirus reporting. As families in the central Chinese city began picking up the cremated ashes of those who have died from the virus this week, photos began circulating on social media and local media outlets showing vast numbers of urns at Wuhan funeral homes.

Demi Shelters In Place

Demi Rose Stuns With No Pants From Her Bedroom Demi's update appeared to prove a hit, clocking in over 100,000 likes in one hour. Comments also came in fast, with fans losing it - they always do. "You define beautiful," one user wrote. "Greetings, Ms. Rose! ," another said. "Hope you stay safe @demirose during quarantine," a third added.

Local Markets Struggle

Grocery stores trying to keep up with demand As more people are staying home, demand for groceries has skyrocketed, and stores are trying to keep up. "We probably have 50% more product coming in right now than we had prior to the outbreak, but really it's day to day.

Local Box Store Endurance

Nebraska Furniture Mart Warehouse In Kansas City, Kansas, To Stay Open Amid COVID-19 Concerns Although it was set to close its retail stores on Friday evening because of the coronavirus pandemic, Nebraska Furniture Mart's sprawling distribution center in Kansas City, Kansas, will remain open for business. The 650,000-square-foot warehouse fulfills online and telephone orders and employs approximately 400 people who work in three shifts, with 100 to 150 working at any given time.

Weekend Weather Warning

Your Storm Track 5 Daily Forecast Get ready for another bumpy night with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing after sunset then lasting through most of the overnight hours. A strong storm or two is possible with large hail again the primary threat.

We start withand a look at pop culture, community news and info from across the nation and around the world . . .is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
A special plane from China carrying a team of eight medical experts and relief assistance landed here on Saturday to help Pakistan to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has infected over 1,400 people in the country, the Pakistani foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood welcomed the Chinese guests at the Islamabad airport.

"The Chinese medical team will be in Pakistan for two weeks," the Foreign Office said.

The team of eight medical experts will assist Pakistani doctors and health experts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, it said.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan's all-weather ally China has extended full support to the country in its fight against the deadly viral infection.

"China's assistance to Pakistan so far includes 12,000 test kits, 3,00,000 masks, 10,000 protective suits, and support to build an isolation hospital," it said.

A considerable amount of donations from private sources from China has also arrived in Pakistan.

Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation have donated 50,000 test kits and 5,00,000 face masks, the Foreign Office said.

"The Pakistan-China All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership has acquired greater strength and depth in recent years, guided by the shared vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and (Chinese) President Xi Jinping," it said, adding that the two countries will continue to collaborate closely and coordinate relief assistance to counter the formidable challenges posed by COVID-19.

The Foreign Office said Qureshi thanked the Chinese government for its timely support in this difficult time.

The novel coronavirus, which first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year, has wreaked havoc across the globe, upending life and businesses.

The deadly virus has so far claimed over 28,200 lives and infected over 613,000 people across 199 countries and territories.

Italy has the highest number of deaths at 9,134, followed by Spain at 5,690 and China 3,174.

The United States leads in the number of COVID-19 cases with 104,007 infections confirmed so far, followed by Italy at 86,498 and China over 81,900 cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel revealed that she's been on the receiving end of death threats.

In an Instagram Story post on Friday, the 37-year-old said the bullying is 'unacceptable' and urged her followers to 'stop the hate'.

Tracey was accused by some for 'being out of touch' after she told fans in an Instagram post on Thursday to 'feel privileged' amid the coronavirus pandemic.

'It's unacceptable, let's stop with the hate!' MAFS star Tracey Jewel (pictured), 37, revealed in an Instagram Story post on Friday that she's been on the receiving end of DEATH THREATS

'In relation to the post I did yesterday coming from a place of gratitude during these real uncertain times, I don't appreciate the hundreds of messages of death threats and bullying. It's unacceptable,' Tracey began, while in a park on Friday.

'I know people are scared. I know people are worried. I'm worried too. But that's no need to harass and bully me and send me death threats. It's unacceptable.'

Tracey added that she's 'just trying to choose to come from a place of gratitude of what I do have, rather than what I don't'.

'And of course I'm sending love and prayers and thoughts to those that are in more difficult times than I find myself,' she continued.

Addressing the hate: 'In relation to the post I did yesterday coming from a place of gratitude during these real uncertain times, I don't appreciate the hundreds of messages of death threats and bullying. It's unacceptable,' Tracey began, while in a park on Friday

'We're all in this together, so let's stop with the hate and let's start sending some love and good vibes, shall we?'

Tracey's comments were in relation to a post she shared to Instagram on Thursday, where she encouraged her fans to show 'gratitude' amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The one-time reality star shared a screen grab of text, that read: 'Okay but honestly, how privileged we are that during a global pandemic we can just stay warm at home reading, working, still being educated, creating, with little worries and a fridge stocked with food? Do remind yourself to be grateful today.'

Tracey added in the post's caption: 'Gratitude is such a powerful force... gratitude for the abundance we do have and sending love and prayers to those that don't. A lot will change and can change on the other side.'

The mother-of-one included the hashtags 'we got this', 'gratitude' and 'prayers'.

While some comments thanked Tracey for her 'beautiful post' and sending 'positivity through these tough times', others accused her of being tone deaf.

Only positive vibes: Tracey added that she's 'just trying to choose to come from a place of gratitude of what I do have, rather than what I don't'

Where it all began: Tracey's comments were in relation to a post she shared to Instagram on Thursday, where she encouraged her fans to show 'gratitude' amid the coronavirus pandemic

One disgruntled follower wrote: 'I kindly suggest taking this post down. It's offensive to those without jobs.'

Another said: 'Tracey is clearly in her bubble and that's okay too.'

Other comments included: 'Very, very poorly worded' as well as 'Grow up, some of us are battling just to keep our heads above water.'

Criticism: While some comments thanked Tracey for her 'beautiful post' and sending 'positivity through these tough times', others accused her of being tone deaf

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness accompanied by fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue. It can produce pneumonia.

The spread of the disease, which began in Wuhan, China, has seen over 590,000 cases worldwide and more than 27,000 fatalities.

As of March 28, the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in Australia is 3,573 including 14 deaths.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to not leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately for some, this has meant job cuts and loss of income.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, or are on the receiving end of abuse, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Organisers of Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona have pushed the event back to the end of August, in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

An announcement posted from the festivals official Twitter account showed the new dates of 26-30 August.

In a longer statement linked to the Twitter post, organisers wrote: There are things that only happen once in a lifetime. The current global Covid-19 health crisis is, unfortunately, one of them. But it wont be the only one. The spirit of solidarity and collective response of society in the face of this emergency will live on for a long time, and will allow us to embrace exceptional situations and overcome the challenge and to literally embrace each other once it is over.

Faced with this constantly changing scenario, the restrictions imposed by the authorities on the celebration of public shows and on the free movement of people (making the participation of the announced artists difficult and in many cases impossible) and in coordination with the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Barcelona City Council and the Sant Adria de Besos City Council, we are forced to postpone the upcoming edition of Primavera Sound Barcelona for reasons of force majeure known to us all.

Our absolute priority has always been to guarantee the safety of our audience, artists and all the people involved in the festival, the statement continued.

For this reason, given the exceptional nature of the situation in which we find ourselves, Primavera Sound Barcelona 2020 will take place from 26th to 30th August. We feel obliged and responsible to contribute insofar as we can to the survival of the live music scene, whose role will be key to the return to normality after this absolutely unprecedented situation that has never been faced before by the cultural sector and all its agents: artists and their teams, agencies, promoters, venues, festivals, stage builders, technical and production teams, bar staff, cleaning and security staff, and in general the thousands of people involved in the sector.

We thank all of them for their perseverance and contribution.

Tickets already purchased for Primavera Sound Barcelona 2020 will remain valid for the new dates. Organisers said more information is forthcoming for fans who have already booked accommodation for the previous dates.

Lets all face this together. We will get through this together, the statement concluded. And we will celebrate our 20th anniversary together. We are waiting for you in the Parc del Forum in Barcelona at the end of August. Primavera in summer, for once in a lifetime.

Among the acts scheduled to perform at Primavera Sound are Beck, Kacey Musgraves, Iggy Pop, Brockhampton and Young Thug.

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The announcement comes amid news that coronavirus-related deaths in Spain surged overnight by 832, raising the total to 5,690, according to the health ministry.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases rose to 72,248 from 64,059 on Friday 27 March.

Figures from the Spanish Ministry of Health show over 40,000 people have been hospitalised and 4,575 people have been admitted to intensive care. 12,285 people have reportedly recovered.

Spain is the fourth country with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world, following the US, Italy and China. However, only Italy has a higher death toll within 24 hours than Spain.
In Kano, Governor Umar Ganduje closed all land boundaries and the states airport. In Delta, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa shut all routes leading in and out of the state. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State halted all land, sea and air traffic.

As the coronavirus pandemic makes rapid inroads into Nigerias vast population and President Muhammadu Buharis whereabouts become increasingly fuzzy, Nigerian governors are stepping up with what they deem necessary to keep their people safe. In doing so, they are also brazenly exerting presidential authority, filling up for a clear lack of political leadership in Abuja.

As of March 28, with 81 cases confirmed, Mr Buhari has not declared an emergency to restrict all or some forms of human movement  amongst other drastic initiatives as may be necessary to contain the virus  across the country, despite calls for him to do so before it becomes too late.

The Nigerian Constitution accords the federal government absolute authority on land, air and water transportation under items three, 36 and 63 of the exclusive legislative list  a glossary of constitutional authorities that could only be codified by the National Assembly for presidential implementation.

Yet, at least four Nigerian states have now instituted far-reaching restrictions on human and economic activities within their respective domains, with additional states predicted to take similar cues in the coming days.

With confirmed coronavirus cases projected to rise in the coming weeks, the emergency measures so far adopted by governors to combat the pandemic has varied from state to state. But, they all share a common flaw: the lack of coordination from a central authority.

Drastic measures

Mr Wike, who has led Rivers since 2015, appeared the first of Nigerias 36 governors to impose a ban on road and water traffic within his domain, thereby crippling interstate commerce.

All land and sea borders will be closed. Vehicular movements in an out of the state have been banned. In essence no vehicle will leave Rivers State for any other state and no vehicle will be allowed to enter the state, the governor said in a statewide broadcast on March 25.

The governor said the directive, which took effect on March 26, was issued after a meeting of the state security council, which includes representatives of the police, military and other federal authorities that fall under the control of the president.

Security agencies have been empowered to strictly enforce this directive, he said. There will be no room for sacred cows because the virus is no respecter of persons.

Although Mr Wike acknowledged he lacked powers to prohibit air traffic, he maintained that passengers who fly into Port Harcourt would not be allowed to leave the airport.

The situation we are facing requires drastic measures because coronavirus has ravaged many countries, Mr Wike said.

Shortly after Mr Wikes announcement on Wednesday morning, Mr Ganduje imposed similar measures in Kano. Even though Kano has yet to confirm any COVID-19 infection, the governor, nonetheless, banned all transport buses from entering the state, citing the disease.

The council also note that while the state is yet to record any single case of an outbreak, the resolution became necessary to ensure that the virus does not find its way to Kano State, he said.

On March 26, Mr Okowa, in a statewide broadcast to Delta residents, said he had ordered the closure of all land routes across the state.

From March 27, the airport in Asaba, the state capital, will be closed to traffic, Mr Okowa said, while all land borders into and out of Delta State are to be shut effective March 29.

The governor said the decision was not taken lightly but only came after a thorough consultations with experts, the governor said, urging citizens to adjust to the new normal.

Ebonyi, Anambra, Jigawa and Akwa Ibom have also instituted one form of restriction on land transportation or another within the past two days.

Sensible but scary

Nigeria has recorded a few number of disease outbreaks in the past, but, like most of the world, has never been assailed with anything as disruptive as the raging COVID-19, which was first reported in China last November.

Besides Lassa fever and monkey pox, the most recent nationwide outbreak was the Ebola, a hemorrhagic fever that devastated West Africa in 2014. The disease was reported in Nigeria, but was quickly traced and arrested with negligible disruption to social and economic wellbeing of the citizens.

With coronavirus pandemic, state and federal authorities have a sensible reason to panic and impose draconian measures deemed critical to keeping everyone from being infected, a lawyer, Abdul Mahmud, told PREMIUM TIMES. But the pronouncements coming from the Nigerian governors, most of them without any deference to the president or existing laws, are scary.

Mr Mahmud said Nigeria has had a quarantine statute in place for decades, and governors are refusing to invoke it because they wanted to circumvent its responsibility.

The Quarantine Act of 1926 permits governors to take necessary measures to keep residents safe in the absence of any presidential pronouncement, Mr Mahmud said. But it also required that residents who are locked at home must be fed by the government, which many state governors are reluctant to do.

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Amongst the governors who have announced measures to keep people at home to enforce the highly recommended social distancing approach against coronavirus, only Governor Nasir El-Rufai has invoked the Quarantine Act in Kaduna State.

Mr El-Rufai in his order said all residents must stay at home and state officials would make food available. Rather than shut all routes in and out of Kaduna, the governor allowed vehicular movement of vehicles on federal trunk roads, but said drivers would be checked to ensure theyre not bringing virus to the state.

The approach by the Kaduna governor is the most commendable implementation of the provisions of the Quarantine Act because it was carried out without usurpation of presidential powers, Mr Mahmud said, adding that all governors should immediately take a cue.

You cannot take such painful measures without legal instruments that would define how law enforcement officers must behave, Mr Mahmud said. It would be counterproductive.

Mr Mahmud said although the Quarantine Act allowed governors to lock down their state boundaries, it cannot override the Constitution.

The Quarantine Act must be exercised within the confines of the Constitution, he said. What the governors are doing is clearly unconstitutional powers. They are irresponsible and dangerous.

Inibehe Effiong, another rights activist and legal expert in Lagos, said the governors should have issued their directives based on the Quarantine Act or pass a new law as it was done in the United Kingdom with the Coronavirus Act of 2020.

No responsible or serious country disregards the rule of law, Mr Effiong said.

Survival of mankind

Media aides to some of the governors told PREMIUM TIMES that legal niceties did not weigh heavily on their action.

These are tough times that require tough measures so that the virus does not transmit, Simeon Nwakaudu, a spokesperson for Mr Wike, told PREMIUM TIMES. These things are done for the health of Rivers State and other Nigerians.

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Mr Nwakaudu said the legality of the governors action should not be a serious thing because other governors have taken similar measures.

It is not only Rivers State that has done this, he said. Anambra, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Delta and many others have done it. He declined to respond when told that Kaduna followed the quarantine laws and did not issue outright ban on vehicular movement from other states.

Norbert Chiazor, a spokesperson for Mr Okowa, echoed similar sentiment that public interest was at the core of the decision to ban movement in and out of Delta.

For overriding public interest, the Delta State governor can do that, Mr Chiazor said when asked why the governor took the decision to regulate interstate travel.

The governor can take decision for the wellbeing of Deltans, he said. It is a very, very critical decision that he has taken as a medical professional himself. He emphasises the battle against coronavirus was about the survival of mankind.

Missing in Action

Despite concerns around the governors decision, federal authorities have shown no interest in checkmating the apparent duplication of presidential powers across the country. No minister or other senior member of the cabinet has spoken publicly on the legal consequences of the directives.

Mr Buhari himself has not been seen in public since March 19 when he made a brief appearance at a gathering to commission federal emergency telephone lines in Abuja. His failure to publicly address a nation in crisis has fuelled rumours about his health.

His media aides have, however, continued to issue statements attesting to his firmness, saying his silence at a time leaders across the world are vigorously providing leadership and guiding their people was deliberate.

On March 22, a 23-second video purporting to show the president talking about the coronavirus was abruptly deleted after exposing him as being unable to pronounce COVID-19, one of the most used words in the world.

In the last one week, Nigerians online have increasingly asked questions about the presidents whereabouts, using multiple trending hashtags on Twitter and Facebook to seek answers.

On Thursday, after the hashtag, #WhereisBuhari, trended for hours, the presidency released two statements within hours, in what appeared a quick attempt to damp the uproar.

The statements by spokesperson Garba Shehu quoted Mr Buhari as praising the efforts of health workers and other Nigerians in responding to the pandemic, and outlined steps taken by the government.

On Friday, another statement quoted the president as urging national unity to defeat the virus, saying together, that can be achieved.

In the absence of a federal directive, security agencies have said they would enforce the governors orders.

Right now, we have a situation at hand, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, Delta police spokesperson, said. Delta has not recorded any confirmed case as of March 28.

The police spokesperson said she did not know that only the president could issue directives on closure of federal roads.

You are just educating me on that now, she said.

In Kano, the police also said they took part in deliberations to impose a lockdown and would ensure its implementation.

The governor has issued a directive and the job of the police is to enforce it, Kano police spokesperson, Haruna Abdulahi, said, brushing aside constitutional questions around the states decision.
Incidents of violent clashes erupting in the Chinese mainland have been reported as people in huge crowds, jamming buses and trains, are trying the leave the central province of Hubei -- centre of the coronavirus outbreak -- days after Beijing relaxed the two-month lockdown.

Canadian media outlet, The Globe and Mail, citing several videos posted on Chinese social media, reported on Friday that similar clashes took place on a bridge that links the Hubei province with the neighbouring Jiangxi province.

The online videos also showed police vehicles being overturned and police scuffled with each other amid large crowds of people shouting for opening the blockade.

The confrontation came after a line of uniformed officers behind riot shields, positioned across the bridge and blocked entry to people from Hubei into Jiangxi, local media reported.

The clashes took place between 3 pm and 6 pm, a worker at a toll booth on the bridge told The Globe and Mail in an interview on Friday evening.

"It was on the middle of the bridge somewhere that the block was put in place," said Huang, a worker, without divulging further details to the foreign media.

On Friday evening, digital mapping apps showed the bridge closed from both sides, citing "construction".

In a brief commentary published on its Twitter-like Weibo account, the state-owned People's Daily called the bridge conflict "regrettable".

According to official government policy, those who live outside Wuhan and are considered healthy have been allowed to resume travels since Wednesday. Authorities re-opened railways and long-distance bus service, and completely remove all highway roadblocks by Friday.

The Hubei province has reported only a single new case of the deadly infection in the past week. The province counts nearly 68,000 confirmed cases and says 3,174 people have died from COVID-19 since the outbreak began late last year.

On Friday, authorities downgraded the virus risk classification of Wuhan from "high risk" to "medium risk." The tight lockdown measures in the city are scheduled to ease on April 8.

However, health officials have acknowledged that their tally of confirmed cases does not include people who have the virus but those who have not shown the symptoms. Those asymptomatic cases are believed to number in the tens of thousands, the report said.

More than 81,000 people have been infected by coronavirus in the mainland while over 3,000 succumbed to the infection, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security

In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters.
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Amid the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), two major stories have gone unnoticed. The first is that of the Iranian government temporarily releasing 85,000 prisoners in the wake of several virus-related deaths. The second is from India. A two-judge bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and LN Rao issued a notice to the director-general, Prison, and chief secretaries of all states and Union territories on March 16, asking them about the precautionary measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus in the jails. Indian jails are now setting up isolation wards for those with Covid-19 symptoms. All the 17,500 inmates in Tihar, Delhi, have been checked for symptoms, and new inmates are being screened. Lists are being finalised to release selected inmates on parole or on interim bail. Tihar has prepared a list of 3,000 inmates while Uttar Pradesh has 10,000 and Maharashtra has 11,000 inmates on their lists. This process is likely to start today.

There are 1,339 prisons in the country which house 466,084 inmates; the actual capacity is 396,223. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, many jails have imposed restrictions on the visits of outsiders.

Visitations in prisons are of three types. The first is the one-to-one physical meeting in which an inmate is allowed to meet their visitor in an open room or lawn. They get the freedom to physically touch each other and talk. For the inmate and the visitor, this is the most satisfying form of meeting. The second is the meeting across a meshed window, which occurs in a large number of prisons. A large number of inmates in one room, talking to visitors in another room, leaves no space for privacy. The third is with toughened glass that works as a barrier between the inmate and the visitor, with an intercom on both sides. Since prison is a state subject, all states are taking their own decision, but most of the jails have closed all the three visitations. They are now restricting inmates to phone calls.

The ministry of home affairs prepared the Model Prison Manual, 2016, after building a national consensus on issues of prison reforms and highlighted the need for proper visitations. But visitations are still considered a privilege and not a right and can be reduced or completely cut if the inmate does not behave well.

The other issue is related to the telephone system in prisons. Even now, only a few states permit women inmates to make use of the telephone in prisons, which are available to male inmates. Prison administrators say this is because the public call office is placed in the male unit and this restricts the entry of women. Women inmates already receive fewer visitations as compared to men, due to alienation by their families.

So, when any such facility is removed from inmates daily routine, it comes as a shock to them. Those who have interacted with inmates will testify that inmates eagerly wait for their visitations. While placing restrictions on visits is understandable, an alternative and uniformed channel for communication must be created for them to reduce anxiety. Also, inmates are helping the nation by making masks. But this too has gone unnoticed. While taking away the concession of visits for some time, the system must also remember the contribution of inmates and the jail staff in this time of crisis.

Vartika Nanda is a prison reformer

The views expressed are personal
The UK will be powerless to prevent potentially dangerous chemicals being used in everyday goods because Boris Johnson is pursuing an ultra-hard Brexit, campaigners are warning.

The country will become a dumping ground for products linked to cancer, thyroid disease, hormone disruption and developmental problems because the prime minister insists on pulling out of the EUs successful watchdog, they say.

It means the UK must start from scratch in vetting hazardous chemicals itself  but with far less money and staff, in a process expected to take many years.

In the interim, manufacturers will be able to successfully challenge attempts to exclude chemicals banned in the EU  in everything from food and drink packaging and paints to furniture, carpets, clothing and even toys, the groups fear.

If we dont have access to the safety data then the government could be challenged in the courts over decisions and it could lose, warned Libby Peake, of the Green Alliance think tank.

And Dr Michael Warhurst, executive director of Chem Trust campaigning charity, said: We risk spending most of our time trying to instal a database with no data on it  and not having time to develop any new controls.

The controversy has blown up after Mr Johnson ditched Theresa Mays plan for associate membership of EU agencies, including the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and its database known as Reach.

It would involve following all decisions on chemicals in Reach, without a vote, and oversight by the European Court of Justice (ECJ)  which are both red lines to a prime minister pledging no alignment.

In its aims for an EU trade deal, the UK is now arguing for separate regulatory requirements  which would rule out access to the database or the exchange of confidential business information.

Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to 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Michael Gove, the minister overseeing the talks, laid bare the governments stance in recent evidence to MPs, saying: One of the problems with Reach is that it involves European Court of Justice jurisdiction.

Defending the decision to leave, he said: Its recognising that we have voted to be a sovereign nation  and part of being a sovereign nation means we cannot have courts and institutions which are not accountable to the British people, imposing on the British people laws for which they did not vote, policed in a way to which they do not consent.

But Chem Trust has branded the decision a risk to public health and the environment, highlighting the types of chemicals the EU has banned  or is seeking to ban  including:

* Bisphenols  known to disrupt the bodys hormone system, some are banned from use in babies bottles and infant cups and, soon, from thermal paper till receipts. However, firms are starting to use other bisphenols that raise similar concerns about toxicity, the group says.

* Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)  used in non-stick pans, waterproof fabrics, food packaging and cosmetics, they have been linked to cancers, thyroid disease, obesity and reproductive problems, but only two of 4,000 chemicals in the group have been banned so far.

* Phthalates  added to plastics to increase durability, they are found in furnishings, flooring, clothing, paint and some toys. With pregnant women and children most vulnerable  exposure in the womb has been linked to poor reproductive organ development in boys, early onset of female puberty, and delayed language development  they are partly restricted in the EU.

* Flame retardants  added to sofas, mattresses, electronic products, carpeting, building materials and car seats to hinder the spread of fires, they build up in homes and the environment and some are known to be cancer causing. Many are banned, but  again  similar chemicals are now being used.

The UK expects to spend 13m a year on its regulator, employing 35 to 40 staff, but Reach boasts 589 staff and a budget topping 100m (89m)  yet has still failed to vet all chemicals after more than a decades work.

Dr Warhurst warned: There is a big difference between being able, theoretically, to control chemicals and actually being able to do it, with much less data, fewer people  and perhaps under pressure from a US trade deal.

These chemical companies have a record of going to court when restrictions are imposed.

And Ms Peake added: For two years at least after the transition period, we will no longer have access to the EUs database and, therefore, access to the safety data.

During that period, there is a risk that companies will try to use chemicals in the UK that have been banned or restricted at an EU level, on the grounds that we dont have the background safety data to justify a decision.

But a government spokesperson said: Spurious claims that the UK will in some way start accepting dangerous chemicals are simply unfounded scaremongering.

We are ready to provide the essential and safe regulation of chemicals. We will maintain a strong system that safeguards both human health and the environment.
Chennai: Chennai City Corporation personnel stuck a home quarantine sticker at the office of actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam office on Saturday, leading to speculation that the matinee star was quarantined for the coronavirus.

The sticker, however, was removed later.

While there was speculation if Kamal Haasan was quarantined, the Greater Chennai Corporation said their staffers pasted the sticker on the premises because actress Gautami Tadimalli "returned from Dubai recently and her passport has this address (Eldams Road in upscale Alwarpet)."

The present residence of the actress was not known immediately.

The sticker read, "We are in home quarantine to safeguard ourselves and Chennai from the coronavirus." It was removed soon, an official said, declining to elaborate.

Kamal Haasan clarified in a statement that he was not quarantined.

"Based on the notice stuck outside my house, news has been spread saying that I have been quarantined. But most of you already know that I have not been living there for the past few years and the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office has been functioning from there," he said.

Further, the actor said, the news that he has been quarantined "is not true."

As a precautionary measure, he has been maintaining social distancing, he said.
New restrictions come into play from midnight tonight (Friday, March 27) and for a two-week period, until Easter Sunday. Under the restrictions everybody must stay at home, in all circumstances:

Except

- To travel to and from work for the purposes of work only where the work is an essential health, social care or other essential service or cannot be done from home (a list of these will be provided)

- To shop for food or household goods or collect a meal

- To attend medical appointments or collect medicines and other health products

- For vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people

- To take brief individual personal exercise within 2km of your own home which may include children from your own household as long as you adhere to two-metre physical distancing

- For farming purposes that is food production and care of animals

- All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited. The virus might be in your household already so please don't spread it to someone else

- This prohibition includes social family visits that are not for vital reasons already mentioned

- A further range of non-essential shops and services will be closed. The guidance given earlier this week in respect of retail outlets will be revised to reflect this

- Adult community education centres and local community centres will be shut

- All non-essential surgery and health procedures and all other non-essential health services will be postponed

- All visits to hospitals, residential healthcare settings and prisons are to cease, with specific exceptions on compassionate grounds

- Shielding or cocooning will be introduced for all those 70 years of age and specified categories of people who are extremely vulnerable to Covid-19

- Travel to our offshore islands will be limited to residents of those islands

- Pharmacists will be permitted to dispense medicines outside of the current period of validity with an existing prescription in line with the pharmacists clinical judgement

- All public transport and passenger travel will be restricted to essential workers and people providing essential services

- Outside of the reasons listed there is to be no travel outside a 2km radius of your home for any reason
Ever since the COVID-19 panic broke out in early February, malls and retail stores witnessed a huge dip in footfall and revenue. According to a Retailers Association of India report, by end of February itself, the business had dropped 20-25 per cent. India has over 15 lakh modern retail stores that generate Rs 4.74 lakh crore worth business. Almost 60 lakh people are employed at these stores.

In the past one-and-half months business has further reduced to 15 per cent. Stores selling essential goods that have been allowed to remain open during the lockdown are also suffering losses as they aren't allowed to sell other general merchandise, which would otherwise bring them higher margins. Overall, there has been a significant impact on apparel, jewellery, shoes and CDIT (consumer electronics, durables, IT and telephones) retail," says Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India.

Rajagopalan fears that if the lockdown continues till June, India is staring at a scenario where 30 per cent of the retail stores would shut down, leading to 18 lakh people losing their jobs. "We have written to the Government of India, requesting for a relief package for the retail industry, similar to what the Governments of Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States of America have announced for retail industries in their respective countries."

Most Indian retailers have promised their employees 35-40 days of paid leave. "We have told our employees to take care of themselves and their families. We will ensure that they are paid during the month-long lockdown," says Lalit Agrawal, Chairman and MD, V-Mart Retail. Kavi Mishra, MD of the Rs 1,000 crore House of Anita Dongre, says that apart from assuring salaries to their employees, the company has also set up a Rs 1.5 crore fund to support its vendors. The challenge, however, will be if the lockdown continues beyond April. That's when retailers would be in the brink of closure, which will lead to loss of jobs.

Also read: Coronavirus in India: Private labs to run out of testing kits in a week
Congress-turned-BJP leader



Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday announced a Rs 30 lakh donation to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's Relief Fund to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak.

He praised efforts taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle the outbreak.

In a letter to MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Scindia said, "In this hour of calamity, I am committed to give Rs 30 lakh to the CM relief fund for helping the state to provide assistance to all citizens."



Scindia's supporter MLAs had recently quit the MP Assembly leading to the fall of the Kamal Nath government in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Later police used whips to get the shoppers to observe social distancing rules

Police arrived in 10 patrol vehicles, started firing rubber bullets towards them

South African police enforcing a coronavirus lockdown fired rubber bullets towards hundreds of shoppers queueing outside a supermarket in Johannesburg, according to eye witnesses.

Between 200 and 300 people gathered outside a popular grocery store, Shoprite, early Saturday in Yeoville, a crime-prone area in Johannesburg's gritty central business district on day two of a nationwide lockdown.

But as they scrambled to secure their spots, many did not observe the recommended safe distance between them.

A South African policeman points his pump rifle to disperse a crowd of shoppers in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on Sunday

Members of the SAP (South African Police Force) instruct citizens to stand in line according to the social distances regulations on day 2 of the 21 day national lockdown following President Cyril Ramaphosa's declaration of a National Disaster as a result of COVID-19

A South African policeman points his pump rifle to disperse a crowd of shoppers in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on Sunday

Police arrived in 10 patrol vehicles and started firing rubber bullets towards the shoppers.

Startled shoppers trampled on each other and a woman with a baby on her back fell to the ground.

Later the police used whips to get the shoppers to observe social distancing rules.

A police officer enforces social distancing as he makes shoppers stretch their arms to ensure that they are at least one metre apart from one another while they queue outside a supermarket in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, on Saturday

South African police officers enforce social distancing as they make shoppers stretch their arms in front of them

A South African police officer clears a jammed pump rifle of a colleague while enforcing social distancing

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered South Africa's 57 million people to stay at home for 21 days and deployed the police and the military to enforce the lockdown.

But many people, especially from poor neighbourhoods, have defied the order, going out in numbers looking for food.

While jogging and dog-walking are banned, shopping for food and other basics, but not alcohol, is permitted.

South Africa, which has 1,170 confirmed coronavirus cases, recorded its first death from the virus on Friday.

A woman crosses a nearly empty street at Maboneng precinct in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 18:33 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e0a88f 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,lockdown,death-toll,outbreak,Achmad-Yurianto,regional-quarantine Free

The general public has urged the government to impose a lockdown as the countrys death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 100, with more than 1,000 COVID-19-positive cases reported nationwide.

The Health Ministrys disease control and prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto, announced on Saturday that authorities had recorded 1,155 cases of COVID-19 across 29 provinces, with 102 deaths from the disease. At least 59 patients have recovered.

The countrys fatality rate, the ratio of confirmed cases to fatalities, is 8.83 percent  among the highest in the world.

Jakarta has the most cases in Indonesia with 627, an increase of 38 compared to previous day. The areas in Java with the highest number of cases after Jakarta are West Java with 119 cases, Banten (103), East Java (77) and Central Java (55).

South Sulawesi is the hardest-hit region outside Java with 33 cases.

We are still concerned about this situation because this is proof that transmissions are still occurring. [Individuals carrying the virus] are still out there and having close contact with other people, said Yurianto, who also serves as the governments spokesperson for COVID-19-related matters.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo himself has remained adamant about not imposing lockdowns due to social and economic concerns. He has instead called on the public to stay at home and urged authorities to push for more rapid testing to map the spread of the disease.

However, the number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities shows no signs of slowing down. Among the fatalities were medical workers dealing with a scarcity of proper medical and protective equipment.

A resident of a kampung near Taman Sari Water Castle in Yogyakarta sprays disinfectant on a house on March 28, 2020. (Courtesy of/Kampung Cyber)

The Medical Professors Council from the University of Indonesias School of Medicine was among the groups that urged the government to impose regional lockdowns, arguing the governments policy of physical distancing was not effective in curbing the spread of the disease.

Strict rules are needed to make sure people stay at home. [The government] should apply fines for individuals or companies that violate the rules, the councils chair, Siti Setiati, wrote on Friday.

The council estimated the government would need to prepare around Rp 4 trillion (US$249 million) to ensure the health and safety of 9.6 million Jakarta residents during a two-week lockdown in the capital city.

Read also: COVID-19: Does Indonesia need a lockdown? It depends on how you define it

It also argued a lockdown was feasible if the country allocated a portion of tax money toward fighting the pandemic.

Sociologist Ariel Heryanto echoed the councils call on his Twitter account: Mr. President, is there still a reason to delay a lockdown?

Bapak Presiden, masih adakah alasan untuk menunda lockdown? pic.twitter.com/bmIJixd6hz  Ariel Heryanto (@ariel_heryanto) March 27, 2020

Shortly after Yuriantos announcement on Saturday, hashtags and slogans calling for a lockdown, such as #LockDownNasionalSerentak (SimultaneousNationalLockDown), #KarantinaWilayah (RegionalQuarantine) and Jakarta Sudah Gawat Darurat (Jakarta is in an emergency state), became trending topics on Twitter, as they were tweeted by tens of thousands of users.

Though it has not announced plans for a lockdown, the government is currently preparing a regulation stipulating the procedures and requirements for imposing regional quarantines or lockdowns, according to Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD.

Some regions have also imposed lockdowns on its borders, such as Maluku and Papua, which has limited access to its airports and seaports. Meanwhile, Tegal in Central Java has closed off its borders for the next four months. (mfp)
The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa on Friday warned the continent faced a "dramatic evolution" of the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the 47 countries in the WHO Africa region -- which includes sub-Saharan Africa and Algeria -- 39 nations are now affected, compared with only one a month ago, Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti told French television channel France24.

Moeti said there have been about 300 cases per day in recent days, and called for "intensified action by African countries".

"The situation is very worrying, with a dramatic evolution: an increase geographically in the number of countries and also an increase in the number of infections," Moeti said.

Cases have risen across the world's poorest continent over the past week to a total of nearly 3,500 cases and 94 deaths, according to an AFP tally that covers all of Africa.

African nations have ordered curfews and lockdowns in response to the growing pandemic, amid fears that weak health infrastructure will leave the continent terribly exposed to an outbreak on the scale of virus-stricken Europe.

Moeti acknowledged that measures were being taken to contain the spread of the virus and to isolate suspected cases.

Governments have banned religious gatherings and sporting events, while schools were closed in 25 countries, she said.

She noted that 42 countries are now able to diagnose the disease. "A few weeks ago, only two countries had the diagnostic capacity," she said.

But Moeti stressed that the continent was poorly equipped to deal with a major health crisis.

"It is true that in many African households people live in large families. It's very difficult sometimes for everyone to have their own room," she said.

"There is a very strong community life. We have to find other hygiene methods to minimise the spread of the virus."
1977 was the year punk exploded. In March the Clash released their debut single 'White Riot' and the Sex Pistols signed a recording deal with A&M...to be fired from the label after just six days.

None of this is reflected in our top ten from that month. 'Chanson D'Amour', the number one song in the UK in the third week of March, 1977, could hardly have been further from the sound of the punk revolution playing out in the background.

Almost 20 years before, in 1958, the original version of 'Chanson D'Amour' was also out of step with a developing music scene. The song, written by Missouri's Wayne Shaklin, gave husband and wife Art and Dotty Todd a US hit on the back of heavy radio play by old school DJs reacting against rock 'n' roll which was in its infancy at the time.

Grammy award-winning jazz vocal group The Manhattan Transfer were formed by Tim Hauser in New York City in 1969, taking their name from the title of a 1925 novel by John Dos Passos. The original Manhattan Transfer line-up disbanded in 1973 after one album but Hauser quickly assembled a new band under the same name.

Down the years The Manhattan Transfer have explored a wide variety of music styles, including a cappella, vocalese, swing, standards, Brazilian jazz, R'n'B and pop. 'Chanson D'Amour', sung by Janis Siegel with an Edith Piaf sound, gave them their biggest international hit, but it did not chart in their native US.

It spent three weeks at the top of the UK charts and was also a number one in Ireland and Norway.

Tim Hauser died of cardiac arrest in 2014, at the age of 72. Janis Siegel is now 67 and continues to perform with The Manhattan Transfer.

1 Chanson D'Amour The Manhattan Transfer

2 Knowing Me, Knowing You Abba

3 Sound and Vision David Bowie

4 When Showaddywaddy

5 Going In With My Eyes Open David Soul

6 Torn Between Two Lovers Mary MacGregor

7 Boogie Nights Heatwave

8 Moody Blue Elvis Presley

9 Romeo Mr Big

10 Rockaria Electric Light Orchestra
The World Health Organisation has labelled Coronavirus a pandemic. The Indian Govt. has declared COVID-19 a notified disaster. The Honble Prime Minister along with Chief Ministers across states have been appealing to citizens to stay indoors. But their pleas have been falling on deaf ears as is evident from the large number of people who have been arrested by the police for violating the countrywide lockdown.

While Coronavirus is a global emergency on an unprecedented scale, there seems to be a lack of awareness of its impact and the far-reaching consequences of not adhering to the one overarching guideline of staying indoors to stay safe. Even the so-called educated and evolved among us are venturing outside, not assigning enough importance to the need to lock ourselves in.

In an attempt to raise awareness of the importance of staying indoors, we at Wunderman Thompson South Asia planned this digital film for Tata Pravesh - a brand of steel doors from Tata Steel. Tata Steel has always kept the welfare of the nation and the well-being of our countrymen at the top of its agenda. It was only befitting that the message of staying indoors targeted at people of the nation is driven by a brand from the company whose steel built the nation.

The challenge we were faced with was how to get this done at a time when most of the entire world was behind closed doors, production houses included. The only solution was to leverage the strength of the Wunderman Thompson nationwide network. We turned to our colleagues across offices - Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata  asking them to contribute videos shot on smartphones of the doors in their homes being shut, bolted, barred or latched.

The response that we received was overwhelming to say the least. This was crowdsourcing at its most efficient and teamwork at its very best. We sent out the request to the network late last Friday and were ready with the final film the following Monday. We stitched together roughly 50% of the responses, the balance having to be reluctantly omitted because of the demands of the edit.

The film is a montage of doors being shut. It signs off with the message Only a closed door can open up roads to fight Corona Virus and beseeches people to Take Quarantine Seriously, that being the only way to #ShutOutCorona.

Commenting on the film, P. Anand, Chief - Services & Solutions Business, Tata Steel Ltd., said, Tata Pravesh has always connected with social messaging and opened minds through all our films so far - Mothers Day, Independence Day, World AIDS Day and Election Day. The Shut Out Corona film which urges people to take steps to prevent the scourge of Corona is another small contribution by Tata Pravesh to help the cause.

Commenting on the creative concept, Arjun Mukherjee, ECD & VP, Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata, said, It's high time, we the citizens, take quarantine seriously and do whatever it takes to flatten the curve. To begin the fight back all it takes is not to step outside and shut the door. This perfectly timed film drives awareness of staying indoors, that being the only way to neutralize the virus.

Vijay Jacob Parakkal, Senior VP & Managing Partner, Wunderman Thompson, said, These are truly testing times, I am glad we were able to partner Tata Pravesh doors on this extremely relevant film. And I am proud the way the entire Wunderman Thompson family came together while working from home and helped us pull off this film. Please do watch the film and shut those doors. Stay in, Stay safe. Folks!
Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff says Germany won't loosen its restrictions on public life before April 20.

German authorities closed non-essential shops and banned gatherings of more than two people in public at the beginning of the week. Schools, bars, restaurants and clubs are also closed.

Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, told Saturday's edition of the daily Tagesspiegel that ``we are not going to talk about any easing before April 20 - until then, all measures will remain in place.'' He said that officials will say ``in a timely manner before then'' what will happen after that date.

Braun said that ``the older and the sick will have to reduce their contacts for significantly longer.''

Germany has recorded more than 50,000 cases of the new coronavirus, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, with 351 deaths - a lower death rate than in many other countries.

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Superstar Davido has disclosed that his fiancee and baby mama Chioma has tested positive for coronavirus.

Chioma popularly known as Chef Chi recently returned to Nigeria from London.

READ: Chioma Is Better Than Your Entire Generation  Davido Blasts Cardi Bs Husband, Offset

Sharing the sad news on his Instagram page, Davido wrote:

Hey everyone ! I came back recently from America after cancelling tour. My fiance Chioma also came back from London recently with our baby. We had no symptoms and still both feel perfectly fine but because of our recent travel history we decided to take ourselves and our all close associates weve come in recent contact with for the COVID-19 test on the 25th of March. Unfortunately, my fiances results came back positive while all 31 others tested have come back negative including our baby. We are however doing perfectly fine and she is even still yet to show any symptoms whatsoever. She is now being quarantined and I have also gone into full self isolation for the minimum 14 days. I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for your endless love and prayers in advance and to urge everyone to please stay at home as we control the spread of this virus! Together we can beat this! Love, D 

ALSO READ: Davido Accused Of Disrespecting His Babymama Sophia Momodu In Other To Please Chioma

Meanwhile, Lagos State government has set up Coronavirus Emergency food response to share food that will last for at least a month to 250,000 household.
Demand for online grocery delivery has spiked in recent weeks amid coronavirus lockdowns.

Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Instacart workers are planning to strike on Monday until the company gives them hazard pay and safety gear.

The workers are asking the company for an additional $5 per order and an automatic tip of 10% of the order total, as well as safety gear like hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and soap.

Instacart said any Shopper impacted by a mandatory quarantine will receive up to 14 days of pay.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Instacart workers are planning to strike on Monday until the grocery delivery company meets their demands for provisions like hazard pay and safety equipment.

The workers are asking Instacart for an additional $5 per order and a default tip of at least 10% per order, they said in a statement, along with the Gig Workers Collective.

"For the past several weeks, Instacart Shoppers and Gig Workers Collective have been urging Instacart to take proper safety precautions," the statement said. "We have been ignored."

The group is also asking Instacart for safety provisions like hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and soap, as well as expanded paid leave for people with preexisting conditions or those who are required to self-quarantine. They're seeking an extension of the paid leave past April 8, when they said it is set to expire.

"Instacart has turned this pandemic into a PR campaign, portraying itself the hero of families that are sheltered-in-place, isolated, or quarantined," the group said. "Instacart has still not provided essential protections to Shoppers on the front lines that could prevent them from becoming carriers, falling ill themselves, or worse."

Instacart told Business Insider in a statement that it would extend paid leave to May 8 and would include people put in mandatory quarantine by public health authorities in the leave policy. Impacted Shoppers will receive up to 14 days of paid time off.

Story continues

The company also said it would offer a $25 to $200 bonus for workers dependent on the hours worked between March 15 and April 15. Shoppers can also expect broader access to hand sanitizer and other supplies in the coming weeks.

"Our goal is to offer a safe and flexible earnings opportunity to Shoppers, while also proactively taking the appropriate precautionary measures to operate safely," Instacart told Business Insider. "We want to underscore that we absolutely respect the rights of Shoppers to provide us feedback and voice their concerns. It's a valuable way for us to continuously make improvements to the Shopper experience and we're committed to supporting this important community during this critical time."

The strike comes as Instacart seeks to hire 300,000 additional workers to deliver groceries to people during the coronavirus epidemic.

"The last few weeks have been the busiest in Instacart's history," Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta said in a blog post on Monday announcing the hirings.

While Shoppers may get individualized pay increases, depending on factors like region or customer demand, it's unclear if Instacart will meet the strike's specific demand of hazard pay. That would likely differ from Shoppers receiving a bonus based on the number of batches they complete on a given shift.

Vanessa Bain, one of the strike's leaders, told Business Insider that Shoppers have been organizing for 4 years. In that time, Instacart has "never so much as met with us once," Bain said.

Bain told Vice's Motherboard, which first reported the strike, that while Instacart's corporate employees have "health insurance, life insurance, and paid time off... [gig workers] are afforded none of these protections."

"Without [us], Instacart will grind to a halt," she said. "We deserve and demand better."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jaswant Singh Thekedar, the founder of Dal Khalsa - a Sikh separatist organisation, has condemned the barbaric attack on a historic gurdwara in Kabul and requested the Indian government to shelter the remaining families of Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, armed terrorists killed 25 civilians in a terror attack on the 400-year-old Gurdwara in Shor Bazar in Kabul.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, but many experts believe that Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), propagated it to oppose Ashraf Ghani, who was re-elected as the President of Afghanistan last month.

In a video message, Singh said, "In Afghanistan, the way the Taliban carried out a barbaric attack on the Sikhs in Kabul's historic gurdwara and killed children and women who were praying for the people affected by coronavirus pandemic is highly condemnable."

"The attackers are not religious people and they have no humanity. They have only one motive to call others as 'kafirs' or infidel and kill them. It is also preached in their holy book. This is an unforgettable incident for the Sikhs," he added.

The separatist leader also stated that he has requested the Indian government to allow the remaining Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan to get them settled in India.

"Our request has been accepted and after the COVID-19 crisis. Whoever will apply for a visa, the Indian government will facilitate them," he said.

"We are thankful to the Indian authorities. We are also reaching out to the victims' families with all possible help. We are your brothers. The horrific attack has happened on the entire Sikh community. We all stand together with your pain," Singh added.

The Sikh community in the war-torn country that once constituted a vibrant, well integrated and economically active part of the Afghan society has been persecuted and driven away, since the Taliban grabbed the reins in the 1990s.

Their depletion has been so rapid that of the once close to a quarter of a million population, only a minuscule 1000-odd still remain in the country, barely eking out a livelihood amid extremely violent circumstances.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan has over 12,000 suspected COVID-19 cases, a top health official said on Saturday as the confirmed infections surged to over 1,400 with the Punjab province emerging as the new epicentre of the deadly disease in the country.

Advisor on health to the government Zafar Mirza was addressing a daily briefing to inform the magnitude of infection and measures taken to combat coronavirus pandemic.

There are currently 12,218 suspected COVID-19 patients in the country, out of which 1,408 have tested positive so far, he said.

Most of the infected people had returned from Iran, where the confirmed cases are over 30,000 with more than 2,300 deaths.

Mirza said the confirmed cases include 490 in Punjab, 457 in Sindh, 180 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 133 in Balochistan, 107 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 39 in Islamabad and 2 in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

So far 11 people have died of the disease, 25 recovered and 7 were in critical condition.

Punjab is emerging as the new epicentre of the deadly viral infection in the country. Of the 490 cases in the province, the highest number of 207 were reported from Dera Ghazi Khan district.

Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar tweeted that a 22-year-old COVID-19 patient died in Faisalabad, taking the total number of deaths due to the disease in the province to five.

In Islamabad, at least 30 doctors of the Polyclinic Hospital were quarantined after one of them was tested positive.

Mirza also said that everyone having minor symptoms of virus were needed to undergo the coronavirus test.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Traction) test is considered the most authentic in the world and there are 14 Labs in the country authorised to carry out this test, he said.

Mirza said that the ratio of death in Pakistan was 0.78 per cent which was far below than many other countries.

Moeed Yusuf, advisor on security, said that the country's air traffic would remain suspended until April 4.

We have also suspended the outgoing flight from tomorrow until April 4, he said.

He said with the arrival of a flight tonight bringing passengers from Bangkok, the process of repatriation of all stranded Pakistanis would be complete.

Yusuf said that air traffic will be gradually reopened after April 4 after putting in place on ground the necessary infrastructure to screen and check every incoming passenger.

He also said that the eastern (with India) and western borders (with Iran and Afghanistan) will remain closed for two more weeks.

Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal said that number of testing laboratories would be increased gradually to 50 in coming weeks.

He said that more testing kits and protective gear was being imported from China and the deficiency of ventilators would also be met soon.

Police sealed the headquarters of the Tableeghi Jamaat in Hyderabad city of Sindh after one of its members was tested positive.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Hyderabad, Adeel Chandio confirmed that the entire mosque had been placed under quarantine and that no one is allowed to come out.

Mirza also said that a team of eight Chinese doctors will arrive in Pakistan to review the steps taken by the government to fight the coronavirus outbreak and they will share their experience with local doctors.

The government will fully benefit from the experience of Chinese doctors, he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who is very close to Prime Minister Imran Khan, denied reports surrounding the premier's health.

regarding PM Imran Khan tested positive for #Covid19 is NOT True. Please refrain from spreading Fake News, he tweeted.

As government urged clerics to stop congregation in mosques, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asked people to follow guidelines of medical experts.

When doctors recommend that people should take maximum precautionary measures and not go near affected people, then people are bound to abide by these guidelines and follow instructions of the district administration in this regard, he told media.

Police on Saturday arrested four clerics and booked 15 others in Punjab and Sindh provinces for violating lockdown rules and holding Friday congregations despite a fatwa issued by a top global Islamic body to suspend them to contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Also, the interior ministry announced an easy procedure for the already registered international non-governmental organisations if they wanted to help the government in the fight against the deadly virus. They will get permission by following the guidelines.

Earlier, Pakistan had made a tough law for the international non-governmental organisations to operate in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund said it would consider Islamabad's request for financial assistance to control the adverse impact of the coronavirus on its economy.

Our team is working expeditiously to respond to this request so that a proposal can be considered by the IMF's executive board as soon as possible, said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in a statement.

According to officials, cash-strapped Pakistan is looking to get new loans from the international agencies to support its economy hit badly by the coronavirus pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


Mixing work and home lives has rarely been easy.

But measures to contain the virus have brought those worlds together, suddenly and sharply. Office workers, educators and many others around the world are dealing with the new reality of where they workat home.

People are moving their work from offices to their living rooms, extra bedrooms, kitchens and basements. Young children may be running around the house while parents try to hold business meetings and students attend classes online. This huge, unplanned social experiment can hurt productivity and peace at home.

The coronavirus crisis is also forcing many parents into unexpected new jobs. Carmen Williams is a therapist in Macomb, Michigan. She finds herself seeing her patients only irregularly. When she does, she also has to pay for someone to watch her children. Meanwhile, she is also paying for her two childrens school bills, while still teaching them school assignments.

Im not an educator! Williams said. Im used to helping with homework, but she adds, she cannot teach long lessons and work. Its overwhelming!

In the United States, this experiment is moving faster because of the growing number of states ordering residents to stay home. It could affect how the country makes it through an economic recession likely to come.

Many phone and cable companies have agreed to provide open use of the Internet for the public. And technology companies are increasing their ability to handle more datainformationfrom all the new workers and students who must work from home.

Kelly Steckelberg is chief financial officer for the video conference company Zoom. She said Tuesday mornings used to be the busiest time for video conferencingwhere people in different places can see each other on their computers or mobile phones. Now the demand for these meetings, with increased data usage, is going on all the time. Steckelberg said the company has moved up the opening of two new U.S. data centers to meet the demand.

Cisco, which runs the Webex video conference service, said it has prepared itself for on-going high demand in the U.S. This comes after they have already dealt with a 100-percent increase of data usage in Asian countries including China, Japan and South Korea.

Microsoft asked 50,000 of its own employees to work from home in the Seattle region. The company has seen large demand increases for its workplace communications service known as Teams.



Experts have said data systems are more than able to handle the big increase in demand. But people who have to stay home have still found it a struggle to stay connected with friends and family.

In the Netherlands, a team of data scientists led by Jeroen Baas has been communicating regularly with workers in different countries. But having to leave their Amsterdam office presents new difficulties with personal connection. So Baas started a 15-minute virtualor onlinemeeting for workers just to talk with each other.

It gives some time and space to talk about work or take your mind off other things, or maybe rant about whats going on with the virus spread and people hoarding things, he said.

Kate Darling is a researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is worried that she and other researchers can not use their laboratories and other important tools while working from home. Her young child has been watching television programs, Otherwise we wouldnt get anything done, she said.

It is harder for Catharine Bouchard. She works for a bank in Ontario, Canada. With two young children, ages 4 and 10, she says she cannot center her thoughts on work. She says, she is worried.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Matt OBrien and Mae Anderson reported this story for the Associated Press. Anne Ball adapted it for VOA Learning English.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Words in This Story

kitchen  n. a room in a house where people cook

basement  n. the area in a house that is below ground

therapist  n. a person who helps people deal with mental or emotional problems by talking about those problems : a person trained in psychotherapy

overwhelming  adj. used to describe something that is so confusing and difficult that you feel unable to do it.

rant  v. to talk loudly or in a way that shows anger or complaining

hoard  v. to collect and hide a large amount of something valuable
Smuggled pangolins were carrying viruses closely related to the one sweeping the world, say scientists.

Smuggled pangolins have been found to carry viruses closely related to the one sweeping the world.

Scientists say the sale of the animals in wildlife markets should be strictly prohibited to minimise the risk of future outbreaks.

Pangolins are the most-commonly illegally trafficked mammal, used both as food and in traditional medicine.

In research published in the journal Nature, researchers say handling these animals requires "caution".

And they say further surveillance of wild pangolins is needed to understand their role in the risk of future transmission to humans.

Two groups of coronaviruses related to the virus behind the human pandemic have been identified in Malayan pangolins smuggled into China, said lead researcher Dr Tommy Lam of The University of Hong Kong.

"Although their role as the intermediate host of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak remains to be confirmed, sale of these wild animals in wet markets should be strictly prohibited to avoid future zoonotic [animal to human] transmission," he told BBC News.

Bats also contain coronaviruses, which are closer still to the human virus, except in one key area - the part that helps the virus invade cells.

"This tells us that viruses that look pretty adapted to humans are present in wildlife," said co-researcher, Prof Edward Holmes of the University of Sydney. "Bats are certainly involved, pangolins may be, but it is very possible that other animal species are involved as well."

Exactly how the virus jumped from a wild animal, presumably a bat, to another animal and then humans remains a mystery. The horseshoe bat and the pangolin have both been implicated, but the precise sequence of events is unknown.

Finding the virus in smuggled Malayan pangolins raised the question of where they contracted the virus, said Dr Lam. Was it from bats along the trafficking route to China or in their native habitats in Southeast Asia?

Calls to end illegal wildlife trade

Conservationists say it would be devastating if the discovery led to further persecution of the endangered mammal. The animal's scales are in high demand for use in traditional Chinese medicine, while pangolin meat is considered a delicacy.

"This is the time for the international community to pressure their governments to end illegal wildlife trade," said Elisa Panjang of Cardiff University, a pangolin conservation officer at the Danau Girang Field Centre in Malaysia.

China has moved to ban the consumption of meat from wild animals in the wake of the outbreak. Similar moves are being considered in Vietnam.

Prof Andrew Cunningham of Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said it was important not to jump to conclusions from the paper. "The source of the detected coronavirus really is unknown - it might have been a natural pangolin virus or have jumped from another species between capture and death."

And Dr Dan Challender, of the University of Oxford, said pangolins are known to host various strains of coronaviruses. "Identifying the source of SARS-CoV-2 is important to understand the emergence of the current pandemic, and in preventing similar events in the future," he said. BBC
Physicians across the United States are sending the same message that not everyone who wants a test will get a test.

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center stated that "if we have all the resources in the world and if with a flick of a magic wand, we will be glad to test these people but they are not there so I'm afraid we have to prioritize."

This week, the doctors of New York City and Los Angeles County had laid out guidelines to follow to avoid testing patients except in cases where a test result would undoubtedly change the course of treatment.

The longtime adviser to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Schaffner, and chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told CNN who should and shouldn't get tested for the coronavirus if they are positive or not, given that there are not enough tests for everyone.

Their thoughts basically echo what was done in New York City and Los Angeles: At a time there aren't sufficient tests to fulfill their demand, they ought to be given to patients when the outcome would have any kind of effect in their consideration.

There will obviously be special cases to these classifications, and various specialists and medical clinics will have various standards. As more tests become accessible, specialists can be progressively liberal about who they test.

Choices about testing are at the discretion of state and local health departments or individual clinicians though the CDC has released some testing guidelines to follow.

New York and Washington have more specific suggestions about who should be tested first.

At Mass General, for example, for the reason for coronavirus testing, they believe somebody to be older if they're more than 70 years old, yet relying upon somebody's health status, a patient could likewise be viewed as elderly if they're in their 60s.

At Mass General, for example, the reason for coronavirus testing, they believe somebody to be considered as an elder if they're more than 70 years old, yet relying upon somebody's health status, a patient could likewise be viewed as old on the off chance that they're in their 60s. On the side note that there's no definition of what it means from being "old." The rubric underneath says 70 and older, however various doctors and hospitals will have various definitions.

Read Also: Over 7,000 Tourists Quarantined in Japan and HongKong Cruise Liners for Coronavirus

People who does not need testing

If you don't have symptoms of the coronavirus like fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, you should not receive a test even if you traveled to a coronavirus hotspot. Even if you've been in close contact with someone with the coronavirus.

The doctors also noted that there's a possibility that you are infected with the coronavirus even if you don't have any symptoms.

The doctors said that even you have symptoms, you're healthy and under age 70 you should not receive a test right now because of the shortage.

Young healthy individuals with a fever and cough are recommended to go home and rest, get a lot of water; and practice social distancing; and seek medical attention if you have shortness of breath.

That last piece of guidance about looking for medical attention would be true whether you have coronavirus, flu, or some other respiratory sickness, they said.

Schaffner, using the medical term for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus said "If you're in this group, you're not in trouble. Whether you have flu or Covid-19 or some other respiratory virus, we anticipate you will do well, But should you develop any symptoms that show you're getting worse, particularly if you have any difficulty breathing, you will call us."

People who needs testing

In case you're over age 70 or have a medical condition and you have mild to moderate symptoms of coronavirus: If you're in this group doctors, would do an assessment to figure out what tests you may require, including whether you need a coronavirus test.

Walensky said "We would want to see you. You're a little more fragile, to begin with, so not just because of Covid, we would want to make sure you're OK."

Anyone who has symptoms or has been in close contact with someone who is positive of coronavirus, close contact as having direct contact with infectious excretion of someone with coronavirus, such as being coughed on, or being with someone infected person 6 feet beside for a prolonged period of time.

Schaffner and Walensky say they hope to be able to loosen up these categories and test more patients, as more tests become available.

Swabs and other medical supplies needed to perform out the test are also in a shortage of supply. In addition, doctors and medical caretakers need to put on personal protection equipment to perform out a coronavirus test, for example, gloves and n95 masks. Since that equipment is in short supply, doctors need to conserve it for the individuals who most need testing.

Walensky said, "We have to do the test, and then somebody has to process it and get it to the lab. And then somebody has to call the patients back and tell them the results. I can't see having health care facilities having that kind of manpower, maybe we'll get there, and that would be great."

Related Article: Coronavirus Symptoms Day-By-Day: How to Check If You Are Sick With COVID-19

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
An Army personnel was



killed and three of his colleagues were injured in an explosion during repair of a howitzer gun at the 506 Army Base Workshop here on Saturday, the police said.

Kaluram Gurjar (38), an Army Havildar who hailed from Rajasthan, was killed when a nitrogen cylinder exploded, police said.

Gurjar and others were fixing a problem with a howitzer gun when the accident took place, said City Superintendent of Police Dharmesh Dixit.

The three other personnel who were injured were admitted to the military hospital here, he said.

The 506 Army Base Workshop carries out maintenance and overhaul of guns including howitzers with recoil systems having gas cyclinders attached, sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bergen County has been the epicenter of New Jerseys coronavirus outbreak, and now the 233 square mile area has exceeded 38 states in the number of cases of the virus it has reported so far.

There have been 1,505 positive cases of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in Bergen County to date, according to the state health department. For context, the entire state of Colorado has 1,430 cases, according to data compiled by the Washington Post.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco told NJ Advance Media that his jurisdictions high rate of cases is due in part to more testing becoming available. A large number of Bergen County residents also travel for work to New York City, which has the most cases in the United States.

Stay home. Stay home. Stay home, Tedesco said in a phone interview. I cant say that enough.

At an estimated 932,000 residents, the county is the most populated one in New Jersey. Living in such a densely populated area makes social distancing - or staying at least 6 feet away from others - a challenge.

Bergen County accounts for about 17% of New Jerseys 8,825 coronavirus cases. At least 108 New Jersey residents have died after contracting the virus and at least 20 of those deaths were Bergen County residents, according to the most recent data put out by the state and county.

We have almost a quarter of the deaths in the New Jersey, Tedesco said. Its unfortunate that the families of people in Bergen County are feeling the magnitude of the virus.

The whole state of New Jersey, meanwhile, ranks third in the United States for the number of COVID-19 cases. New York had the most cases.

To quell the spread of the virus Gov. Phil Murphy ordered non-essential businesses to close and required all New Jersey residents to stay at home unless its for an essential purpose, like grocery shopping.

Tedesco is also closing all Bergen County parks Saturday morning. He said neighboring counties have done the same, which is driving residents from other areas to Bergen Countys parks instead.

Social distancing and stay-at-home orders are necessary to flatten the curve, or lower the number of patients infected with the virus at one time, officials have said. If too many residents get the virus at once, health experts say hospitals would be overwhelmed.

Still, Tedesco said, there is hope amidst all the staggering statistics.

There are many, many people that are coming out of the virus and surviving, he said. Thats the great news, but the challenge is weve got to stop the spread. So the good news is that people can survive and a large majority in Bergen County are surviving.

But - but! - we need people to change their behaviors.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct total of coronavirus cases in New Jersey.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

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Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.
Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman had a strong start to their marriage on Lifetimes Married at First Sight Season 10. But as soon as the young couple, both 26, returned from their honeymoon in Panama, their relationship went downhill fast.

Derek admitted he wouldnt be able to fall in love with Katie for at least six months to a year. Meanwhile, Katie was worried that Derek wasnt ready for the serious commitment of marriage, especially because hed never been in love before. She also believed his dreams for the future were unrealistic, leading her to suspect he wasnt mature enough for a long-term relationship and children.

On the Mar. 25 episode of Married at First Sight, Secrets and Lies, Katie and Derek struggled yet again when they headed over to Dereks garage to look through some of his childhood belongings. Derek hoped the activity would help his wife feel more bonded to him, but jealousy reared its ugly head instead.

Katie Conrad | MAFS Lifetime via Instagram

Katie read Dereks old love poetry during a blast from the past date

At first, Katie and Dereks dig through his old belongings was light-hearted and fun. But things took a turn after Katie discovered a love poem Derek wrote as a young teen.

Did you write this? she gasped excitedly as she pulled out a multi-page poem.

That was my first poem, Derek told his wife. I wrote this freshman, sophomore year in high school.

The Married at First Sight star read his verses aloud as Katie looked on in shock. The angsty-teen poem included lines like, There was a time/when I knew everything would be fine/because I knew youd be mine/and Id be yours/but now everythings changed/like my whole life story/has just been torn/except for one page.

Notably, the poem also included the words I love you, which made Katie raise an eyebrow.

The Married at First Sight star wondered if Derek had really never been in love

When Derek finished reading the poem, Katie exclaimed in surprise, What the f***? You sound like someone whos been in intense love before. Im shocked right now.

The 26-year-old admitted she felt insecure after hearing her husbands poetry, as hed never expressed such intense sentiments to her. The poem is probably the deepest Ive seen Derek be, Katie told Lifetime producers. I dont even know how to feel about it. Im a little bit uncomfortable. You say youve never been in love, but I feel like you need to feel this a little bit in order to write about it.

The Married at First Sight star wondered how Derek could write such heart-wrenching poetry without ever having been in love himself. I dont even know what to say about you right now. Thats unreal, she told Derek. Youve never been in love, and you were a freshman when you wrote that.

But Derek said it was all fantasy and hope. Im a dreamer, he told Katie. Im a hopeless romantic.

How did you do that? Katie wondered.

You visualize what could be, Derek told his wife. I feel like I know what love should feel like, so I just used that.

Derek told Lifetime producers that Katie sometimes underestimated how deeply he could feel about things. I wasnt surprised that Katie was surprised, he confessed. Because I know she sometimes feels that, since I havent felt these things, how can I relate to it? But that wasnt about any particular person, and I dont think Ive been in love before. I think I would know.

Dereks description of a college date also upset his wife

The Married at First Sight couples trip down memory lane got even more uncomfortable when Katie discovered a frat cooler designed by Dereks college fling.

Nice frat cooler. What girl made you this? Katie wondered.

Her name was Monica, Derek admitted.

Oh. Thanks, Monica. Nice frat cooler, Monica, Katie sassed back sarcastically, clearly a bit jealous. Take that to the beach.

When Katie discovered Dereks bucket list from college, she discovered another mention of a woman from his past. Throw a big beach party, banger, she read from the list. Touch an elephant. Take a hot date to formal. So theres a check next to it. Im guessing she was the hot date.

Derek admitted that Monica was the date in question. And then we snuck into the circus after hours and pet the elephants as well, the Married at First Sight star revealed.

Thats what you do on your dates? You sneak into the circus to pet elephants on your dates? Katie wondered, shocked by her husband yet again.

Katie admitted she had doubts because of what she found during her look into Dereks past

The mental health professional told Lifetime producers that Derek hadnt done anything so adventurous with her, making her feel a little left out of his life.

I dont know if its jealousy or if its annoyance that Im seeing these things in him that I havent seen from him in our relationship, she lamented. Its making me have more doubts when I really wanted to be having less doubts at this point. I dont know how to feel about it.

Clearly uncomfortable, Katie admitted that she hadnt quite enjoyed getting a glimpse of Dereks past. Im kinda speechless, she said.

I was gonna pull up the elephant photo, but we can let it be, Derek replied.

Yeah, we can just skip over the hot date with Monica, Katie joked bitterly. It sounds pretty amazing.

Derek admitted that he was disappointed in Katies reaction. While he was trying to show her that he could be the man she wanted him to be, he didnt feel like he could completely be himself with his wife yet.

I think Katie was first startled, and I think near the end of it, she got jealous that I went on a date like that and havent really done one with her, he told Married at First Sight producers. Kind of a hard position to be in, because Im trying to make things good. Im trying to show her that I can do these things. She wants me to be in love, but she seems upset that I can visualize what love is.
She has been spending time at home in Newcastle with her nearest and dearest amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

And Charlotte Crosby followed lockdown guidelines as she enjoyed an isolated jog in Sunderland on Friday.

The Geordie Shore star, 29, teased a glimpse of her toned abs in a cropped black zip-up top and burgundy gym leggings.

Keeping active: Charlotte Crosby followed coronavirus lockdown guidelines as she enjoyed an isolated jog in Sunderland, Newcastle, on Friday

Charlotte teamed the items of clothing with a pair of chunky white Fila trainers, she styled her brunette locks into a curly hairdo and added a slick of minimal make-up.

The reality star appeared in the zone as she listened to music on black headphones and later was seen FaceTiming on her mobile.

Charlotte has been enjoying a collection of jogs this week and was seen running with her mother Letitia on an outing in Sunderland last Saturday.

Toned: The Geordie Shore star, 29, teased a glimpse of her toned abs in a cropped black zip-up top and burgundy gym leggings

Details: Charlotte teamed the items of clothing with a pair of chunky white Fila trainers, she styled her brunette locks into a curly hairdo and added a slick of minimal make-up

On Monday, Boris Johnson ordered the immediate closure of all non-essential shops and threatened people with fines or even arrest if they do not 'stay at home'.

Britons can leave their homes for one form of exercise a day, such as a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of their household.

The outing comes after it was recently revealed Charlotte is reportedly dating videographer Liam Beaumont.

Charlotte is said to have struck up a romance with the tattooed content creator after they met in Dubai earlier this year.

In the zone: The reality star appeared in the zone as she listened to music on black headphones and later was seen FaceTiming on her mobile

Keeping busy: Charlotte has been enjoying a collection of jogs this week and was seen running with her mother Letitia on an outing in Sunderland last Saturday

According to The Sun, the pair met through DJ Christ Wright who is a mutual friend and have been dating since February, however the coronavirus pandemic is now keeping them apart.

A source told the publication: 'Theyve been dating since meeting in Dubai when Charlotte was on a group holiday with the Geordie Shore girls. They instantly clicked when they met and havent stopped talking by text ever since.

'He's got all the qualities her last relationship didn't but they're taking things really slow and just enjoying it. It's early days.

'They're both now stuck in different parts of the world and finding it hard not knowing when they'll see each other again.'

Catching up: Charlotte was seen making a phonecall at one stage during her scenic run

Work it: The TV star was seen taking a selfie at one stage as she posed for her mobile camera

Liam travels the world for his job creating promotional videos for clubs, hotels and bars.

Charlotte split from Celebs Go Dating star Joshua Ritchie in November of last year after she had moved from Newcastle to Bolton to be with him.

The reality star opened up about their split while she was taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia.

Exciting: The outing comes after it was recently revealed Charlotte is reportedly dating videographer Liam Beaumont

Speaking to fellow campmates Myf Warhurst and Tanya Hennessy, Charlotte admitted the relationship ended up being 'all wrong'.

She said: 'He wouldn't even hold me hand. There was no, like, affection, [he] would never kiss with tongues. It would be lucky if we kissed once a day. You know in bed, we've never spooned.'

'There was a lot of pressure on us. There was a lot of arguments,' Charlotte added.

Dating: Charlotte is said to have struck up a romance with the tattooed content creator after they met in Dubai earlier this year

The former Celebrity Big Brother winner revealed she doesn't miss Joshua, because he showed his 'true colours'.

She said: 'I'm not sad about the breakup, I'm really not. I feel in such a better place and I'm actually like, kind of glad it happened.'

While she originally 'begged' Joshua to come back after their November breakup, Charlotte's mother offered her the best advice.

'That's when me mam said, "You need a few months on your own. Just learn to love yourself. Not rely on someone else".'
Having the kids at home during quarantine is fun and frantic in equal measures. We are stuck in the house with limited ways of keeping our little ones entertained, amused and soothed.

Even though kids are in a vacation mood as schools and day cares are closed, Sony Music Kids have found a brilliant way to simultaneously keep kids occupied and educated through their jolly character Munna Chachu, who is here with his treasure box full of audio stories about wit and intelligence, called Munna Chachu  Chaturayi Ki Kahaniya.

Listen to these stories with your kids and introduce them to popular historical figures that every Indian child should get to know. Each story for children is lovingly written and performed with attention to the whimsical senses of humour children often possess. Kids will love these stories as they would get to meet unconventional heroes who use the power of their intelligence to overcome adversities. Not only are these stories philosophical but are also filled with humorous elements.

There are 2 albums in the series. The first album is Munna Chachu  Chaturayi Ki Kahaniya ( Akbar Aur Birbal ). It is a collection of stories about the iconic Akbar and Birbal, where our intelligent and witty hero Birbal always manages to come up with clever solutions to outsmart the challenges Emperor Akbar throws at him.

The second album in the series "Munna Chachu - Chaturayi Ki Kahaniya (Mulla Nasiruddin) is a collection of stories where the clever Mulla Nasiruddin proves time & time again that the pen is mightier than the sword. With his wit, intelligence and knowledge, the charming Mulla Nasiruddin provide effective solutions to all problems. In these stories, he unfolds his philosophies on life and his commentaries are lessons on various aspects of life.

Stories with a heart, designed to encourage discussion, that are perfect for parents and teachers. These audio series are available on YouTube, Google Play Music, Wynk Music, Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, Hungama Music, Gaana.com as well as Jio Saavn.
Volunteers distribute food packets to migrant workers who are stuck in MGR Chennai Central Station at Chennai. There are at least 775 active COVID-19 cases in India at present, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 873.
Oregon launched a dramatic new campaign Saturday urging people to stay home in order to avoid spreading coronavirus.

Healthcare workers, Gov. Kate Brown and other officials have expressed frustration as Oregonians flouted pleas for people to stay home, including canceling spring break travel plans over the last week, in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The virus causes COVID-19, a disease that in some cases can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Brown on Monday ordered people to stay home except for essential activities such as grocery shopping.

A central message of the ads, which will appear on television, radio, on social media, and online: Dont accidentally kill someone. That message, in bold black letters against a yellow background, is featured in one of the videos. The video contains no dialogue, instead focusing on the sounds of medical equipment used to keep someone with COVID-19 breathing.

This and the other ads featured in the stay home, save lives campaign were developed by the Oregon Health Authority, other public health workers and the Portland-based ad agency Wieden+Kennedy which did the work on a pro-bono basis.

We are facing an unprecedented crisis," the governor said in a press release Saturday morning. The single most important thing each of us can do to protect our community and frontline workers, and to save lives right now, is stay home."

The director of Oregons public health agency, Patrick Allen, pointed out that recent computer modeling to predict the spread of coronavirus in Oregon suggests hospitals in the state might be able to handle the increase in patients over the next month  but only if nine out of 10 Oregonians stay home.

That optimistic scenario would "give our health care system time to ramp up and get ready to meet the serious threat COVID-19 poses to Oregon, Allen said.

Jason Bagley and Eric Baldwin, executive creative directors at Wieden+Kennedy Portland, said in a joint statement that they created the ads with the governor because we dont want to look back and wish we had done more ... This campaign provides clarity and conviction around what staying at home means  and how we all have a role to play to help our community."

A second video in the campaign focuses on a variety of workers, including healthcare and grocery store employees, who are continuing to work in essential frontline jobs where they are at higher risk of being exposed to coronavirus.

Oregonians can reduce the burden on the healthcare system, and decrease the community spread of coronavirus in public places such as grocery stores, by avoiding all discretionary social contact.

Theyre out there for you, stay home for them, the ads narrator says.

Wieden+Kennedy also has a paid contract with the states travel bureau, Travel Oregon.

 Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Gandhinagar, March 28 : The health authorities announced on Saturday that six more coronavirus positive cases have been detected in Gujarat, taking the number of positive cases to 53.

Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health and family welfare Department, Gujarat said, "On Saturday, six more positive cases were found. Among the affected are persons from Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Ahmedabad who got infected through local transmission." This takes the total corona positive cases in the state to 53. Three deaths have also been reported from the state. The highest number of cases detected is in Ahmedabad: 18, followed by Vadodara: 9, Rajkot: 8, Gandhinagar: 8, Surat: 7 and one each in Bhavnagar, Mahesana and Kutch.

"We have covered a significant population of the state, that is 4,46,60,856 people have been covered under the survey so far in the state, carried out by ten thousand health workers in the state. The survey found travel history of total 60,708 where 50,169 had interstate travelling and 10,539 had travelled abroad," added Ravi.

"We are carrying out the sample testing as per the ICMR protocols. So far we have sent 993 samples for testing, out of which 938 were found negative, while confirmatory tests are being carried out for two," said Ravi.

"The cases of home quarantine have come down from 20,103 to 19,340 whereas the number of forced quarantine in government facilities is 657," she said.

"All the four dedicated hospitals in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara are ready with isolation wards. The state has total 2,399 ventilators in which 660 are in government and 1,739 are in private healthcare facilities. Everyday we are receiving 30,000 N95 masks and 300,000 three-layered masks which are being distributed.

The total number of N95 masks are more than 45,000 and three-layered mask are more than 6 lakhs and the total number of PPE kits is 29,500, said Ravi.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Former Cabinet minister David Davis last night declared war on Chancellor Rishi Sunaks threat to make the self-employed pay for coronavirus aid with a tax hike.

Mr Davis said putting taxes up for the self-employed would be the final straw for many. It was wrong to treat the 3billion package to protect them during the Covid-19 pandemic as a trade-off for higher taxes, he added.

The Treasury should stop sweetheart tax deals with big business while targeting those who can least resist like the self-employed, Mr Davis said.

Ex-Cabinet minister David Davis during second reading of the Coronavirus Bill in the House of Commons. March 23, 2020

Tory sources say up to 50 Conservative MPs could back the rebellion led by Mr Davis, a former Brexit Secretary and battle-hardened political campaigner.

He told the Daily Mail: Threatening to raise the taxes of the hardworking self-employed is wrong. The Tory MP said they will be vital to kick-start the economy when the coronavirus crisis is over.

Mr Davis welcomed the Chancellors relief for self-employed workers, but added: This is not some kind of quid pro quo between the self-employed and the Government.

Subsidising all parts of the economy while expecting increased repayment from a single sector is not fair.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak pictured working from home March 27 after it was announced Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock tested positive for coronavirus

Many self-employed will struggle to weather the storm until the epidemic is over, he said.

Large numbers of them are not well paid and will have no savings to tide them over until government cash comes through in June.

Mr Davis said: Paying for that relief in higher taxes will be the final straw for many. The Treasury has a long history of seeking to raise taxes from those who can least resist, whilst allowing sweetheart deals to the big corporates. This is not the time to exacerbate that habit.

In his statement on Thursday, Mr Sunak gave a strong hint that the self-employed will lose their tax perks in return for receiving emergency help of up to 2,500 a month now. If we all want to benefit equally from state support, we must all pay equally in future, he warned.

The self-employed pay 3 per cent less in National Insurance contributions compared to other employees.

They argue that the lower rate compensates them for the hazards of working for themselves, such as getting no holiday pay.
Due to the havoc of coronavirus, the number of positive cases in the world has crossed the half million mark while the number of deaths is more than 24,000. On the plus side, more than 120,000 people got a new lease on life after defeating this virus. Italy, though, has yet to see the sun: The country recently reported the highest single-day death tally after 969 people breathed their last. With that number, the country will soon enter its fourth week of isolation. These photos show the country is trying to hold on.


The Phoenix Hill Sports Park in the capital of Southwest Chinas Sichuan province hosted the 2021 Chinese FA Cup final as its inaugural event Sunday. Covering an area of 128,000 square meters, the park consists of two world-class sports venues, a retail and hotel complex, and a public plaza. It will be one of the venues of the 31st Summer World University Games

Jan 12, 2022 05:45 PM
H arry Dunn's stepfather has coronavirus symptoms and is isolating from his asthmatic wife after being hugged by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who said he had tested positive on Friday.

Mr Hancock hugged and shook hands with Harry Dunn's family last week, according to a family spokesman.

Bruce Charles, Mr Dunn's stepfather, described Mr Hancock's behaviour as "beyond the pale".

Mr Charles told the PA news agency: "No wonder he is ill  having shown such little regard for the rules himself.

My main concern is Charlottes [his wife] health. She suffers from severe asthma".

Health secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for coronavirus

Mr Hancock said on Friday that he had tested positive for coronavirus. He added that he would be working from home "with no less gusto".

And Mr Charles said that he began feeling coronavirus symptoms shortly before Mr Hancock's announcement.

I am now left with no option but to isolate myself from [Charlotte] because of our encounter with Mr Hancock," he added.

It is an outrage and compounds our misery when we had otherwise been following all the rules.

Harry Dunn, 19, was killed when his bike was hit by a car near a US military base in Northamptonshire last August.

The ambulance only arrived 43 minutes after it was called.

The family met Mr Hancock on March 19 this year to discuss ambulance response times.

Radd Seiger, the spokesman for the Dunn family, said that the group had not followed social distancing guidelines in their meeting with Mr Hancock.

He posted on Twitter: "Thoughts with Matt Hancock but he irresponsibly failed to socially distance himself."

Mr Seiger said that Mr Hancock's behaviour at the meeting was not in line with Government advice on social distancing.

He said: He walked around the table and firstly gave Bruce and [Harry's step-brother] Ciaran a full-on hug followed by a handshake.

Mr Seiger said that Mr Hancock had tried to hug him too - but, being aware of the need for social distancing, he slipped away.

He went on: I could not believe what I had just witnessed and the three of us then left, utterly bewildered at what just happened.

We had all been dragged down to London, for a waste of a meeting, in highly dangerous circumstances, to be confronted by the Health Secretary of all people who breached his Governments own protocol.

The family of Harry Dunn and family spokesman Radd Seiger / PA

Mr Seiger said he is his wife's carer and his three children live with them.

He added: I am appalled and disgusted that he should have behaved so recklessly and irresponsibly and jeopardised all our health.

He would have had access to the same information at that time that we had  and he deliberately flouted it."

A Government spokesperson said that Mr Hancock was following current guidance at the time the meeting took place, as advice on social distancing was not published until March 23, four days after the meeting.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock / PA

Scientists are still working out exactly how long you can have coronavirus before symptoms begin to appear.

A March study commissioned by the US Centre for Disease Control found that the average time between catching the disease and feeling unwell is five days - meaning Mr Hancock may not have had coronavirus when he met the Dunn family.

However, the incubation time for the disease can be as long as 14 days, which is why the NHS advises people living with someone who has the virus to self-isolate for two weeks after their symptoms started.

Mr Hancock's announcement comes on the same day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said he had tested positive for coronavirus with mild symptoms .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: In Number 10 we have been observing the advice on social distancing

We have wherever possible been using video conferencing.

He added: We have been taking steps and following the same advice which we have given to the public."



The news comes on the same day that scientists have said that Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock's diagnoses are unsurprising.



Professor Susan Michie, a behavioural psychologist at University College London said: "Whilst the PM was telling people to stay at home and keep at least two metres apart from each other, the House of Commons was open for business and face-to-face parliamentary activities were carrying on.
Michael Palin (L) and Terry Jones arrive for the 25th British Academy Cymru Awards at St David's Hall on October 2, 2016 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

Michael Palin has opened up about his touching final meeting with Terry Jones before he died from dementia.

The Monty Python pair were pals right to the end, with Palin regularly visiting Jones when the disease took over his life, before eventually leading to his death aged 77 in January.

And now Palin has revealed how he used to entertain Jones when visiting him, and revealed a touching moment when he helped his friend truly defeated the dementia.

Read more: Michael Palin wells up as he remembers 'wonderful companion' Terry Jones

Speaking to The Oldie magazine Palin said of his last visit to Jones: "He clearly was very unwell but I talked to him as I always did. I wouldn't accept the dementia had shut his understanding up. It had shut his communication up.

"We sang 'Every Sperm Is Sacred' from 'The Meaning of Life'. Unfortunately we couldn't remember all the words. So if Terry was hearing me at all then he just heard what a complete shower we were."

Palin and Jones met as students in the early 1960s and became comedy royalty alongside Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman when they made the classic and influential TV series Monty Pythons Flying Circus.

Monty Python John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Los Angeles, May 16th, 1975. (Photo by Ben Martin/Getty Images)

The troupe, known collectively as Monty Python or simply the Pythons, moved into film after the series ended and made waves with hits such as Monty Python and The Holy Grail, Monty Pythons Life of Brian and Monty Pythons Meaning of Life.

The individual Pythons all went on to have glittering careers in various fields, and occasionally some would work together.

One such project was Dr Fegg's Encyclopaedia of All World Knowledge, a book co-written by Palin and Jones in 1984.

Read more: Terry Jones best lines from Monty Python

Palin revealed how he read the book to Jones at his bedside, and it brought on a touching response from him despite the advanced state of the illness which eventually led to his death.

Palin said of the reading: "Rather like when you listen to a piece of music you know, he immediately reacted and laughed at two or three points.

"I hadn't heard him laugh for such a long time. The great thing was he laughed only at the bits he'd written. He truly defeated the dementia there."
Family of former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata, has debunked rumour suggesting one of their own has passed away at the Ridge Hospital.



A family member who spoke to ghanaweb noted that reports by some local media houses with the suggestions were fake and unfortunate.



Reacting to the reportage, the source stated categorically that it's all false and Tsatsu Tsikata is very much alive and well.



It was reported earlier that an elderly man had died of the novel coronavirus after visiting the Ridge hospital on Thursday.



The demise of the man, they added was the son of a popular Ghanaian musician who they alleged failed to immediately disclose the travel history of the deceased following the admission of his father who had recently returned from a trip to the United States.



Apparently, it was the father of Ghanaian hiplife legend and former president of the Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGHA), Bice Osei Kuffour, known in showbiz circles as Obour whose father had died at the said hospital.



In a statement released shortly after his father's demise, Obour said his father, Nana Osei Boansi Kuffuor passed away after doctors said "he is likely to be a confirmed Covid-19" but described claims that he deprived hospital staff of relevant information as false.

Source: ghanaweb.com









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Just days after seeking Governments intervention to overcome the larger economic, social, financial and business impact due to COVID-19 and lockdown impact, the News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has now reached out to the advertising fraternity. The NBF has stated that news broadcasters are doing public service, and hence need the help of the entire advertising fraternity.

In a statement issued, NBF pointed out, This is an extraordinary time for the country, and the news broadcasters are leading the battle against COVID-19 from the front. News TV has emerged as the single greatest source of news and information at a critical time of the lockdown. Across India, broadcasters in all languages are doing non-stop programming with an almost 100 per cent focus on battling the Coronavirus and ensuring the success of the nationwide lockdown. Besides the news on the latest figures of corona infected and the degree of spread of the pandemic, news channels have put hundreds of experts, doctors, public health experts, civil and police personnel, and government officials on air in a massive effort to disseminate the right information and counter the barrage of fake news.

Also read:

COVID-19 Impact: NBF calls immediate measures to overcome business crisis



President of the News Broadcasters Federation, Arnab Goswami, said, At a time when other media can scale down resources and expenses, news broadcasters are scaling up their effort, and going all out to scale up their resources on the ground. We, the news broadcasters of India, consider ourselves as a public and emergency and essential service at a time of national crisis, and are absolutely committed to play our role in ensuring that by reaching out to the largest part of Indias 1.3 billion people, we stall the spread of this dangerous virus. I appeal at this time to all my friends in the media industry, and our partners in all sectors to contribute to the efforts of the news broadcasters by supporting news channels in terms of advertising on this period as a preferred partner in this difficult time."

The NBF further pointed out that viewership trends in news channels have significantly risen, as per the latest report on trends put out jointly by BARC and Nielsen yesterday (March 27, 2020). As per the report, the viewing of news channels had gone up in last week by 57 per cent and Hindi news channels by 67 per cent. Regional language news channels are also seeing a major spike in viewership and the increase in viewership has been across segments. Interestingly, BARC CEO Sunil Lulla had pointed out during the press conference that even the kids category saw viewership jump in news channel consumption by a whopping 87 per cent, which is a clear indicator that the nature of informative and contextual news programming on battling COVID-19 among news channels is being received favourably across all segments of the TV audiences.

The NBF acknowledged the support that news channels and its member channels have received so far, and assured the media industry and the industry stakeholders that the news broadcasters of India will work hard to bring the factual news to the people of India to strengthen the fight against COVID-19.
WASHINGTON - Toward the end of his most consequential vote over nearly 40 years in Congress, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer sat by himself, slumped down, like always, as he listened to staff read out the roll call.

"No senator voted in the negative," the clerk announced.

Schumer did an arm pump, quietly clapping his hands with no one around, all socially distanced in other parts of the Senate.

The New York Democrat had pulled off a unanimous vote, 96 to 0, for a $2 trillion rescue package to bolster the medical response to the spreading coronavirus and to plant a floor underneath a cratering U.S. economy.

Schumer, 69, has been in the middle of critical negotiations for decades now. As a House member, he helped write portions of the 1994 crime bill. He helped negotiate recovery help for New York after the 2001 terrorist attacks and the 2008 financial crisis.

But over the past two weeks, Schumer stepped out from the shadows of other leaders and took charge in a shuttle diplomacy between the Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., all while keeping House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., informed of every discussion to ensure the final plan could also clear her chamber.

The high-wire act may end up a legacy-defining moment for Schumer, whose career has previously been shaped by his tactical successes - and failures - in overseeing Democratic campaigns for the Senate majority over the past 15 years.

That this came on another issue so central to his hometown made it all the more bittersweet, as New York became Ground Zero for the deadly virus, just as it was in 2001 when the World Trade Center fell.

"In both, people doubted the future of New York. The talk after 9/11 was Manhattan was gone as a center of the globe, that no one would ever live or work south of Chambers Street," Schumer said at a news conference after the late-night Wednesday vote.

Now, with New York's death toll topping 450 Saturday, Schumer hears doubts about the United States' largest city because people would be afraid of the "density of population" and want to live elsewhere.

"We're going to come back. But it pains me, and it pains you in a certain sense, because you can't be with the people," Schumer told reporters. "You have to talk to them on the telephone. That bothers me; I like to mix and mingle, press the flesh. Press the flesh is a bad word right now."

Nothing is more painful for Schumer, a doting son, than his inability to see his parents. His father, 96, and mother, 91, live in a senior development in Queens that he makes weekly visits to - until the virus, so deadly for the elderly, swept into the city.

Now, he makes a daily phone call to check on them. He raced home to Brooklyn after the vote, joining his wife and his daughter's family, including his grandson.

Schumer's image will not instantly transform into bipartisan elder statesman.

Many Republicans, particularly McConnell, blamed Schumer for bowing to Pelosi last weekend as bipartisan Senate talks were making headway. "We had a bipartisan bill as a starting place, then the speaker and the Democratic leader came into my office on Sunday, and that slowed down the process," McConnell said at a news conference after Wednesday's vote.

But Schumer and Pelosi said those talks had left out many key provisions, such as sufficient funds for hospitals and accountability and transparency measures for a $500 billion fund that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will use to shore up faltering industries, such as the airlines.

From Sunday into late Wednesday, Schumer ran point on all negotiations among Mnuchin and McConnell, even talking by phone a handful of times with President Donald Trump, who has for years mocked "Cryin' Chuck" for being so emotional.

"On this crisis, I think the president knew we had to come together," Schumer told reporters.

It's a role that Schumer had never really played, certainly not at this level.

In 1994, he was a mid-level member of the House Judiciary Committee working on the crime bill. In 2001, after the towers fell, Schumer and Hillary Clinton were first-term senators from New York negotiating with President George W. Bush - which yielded an instant $20 billion for Lower Manhattan, a deal that Clinton got more attention for given her status as former first lady.

In 2008, Schumer helped negotiate the $700 billion rescue plan for financial firms, but Pelosi, then in her first stint as speaker, played the pivotal role. Soon after that, Democratic campaigns targeted GOP incumbents for bailing out Wall Street, a move that Republicans blamed on Schumer.

After taking over as minority leader in 2017, Schumer's main focus was blocking things - such as Trump's attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act (a win for Schumer) and two of the president's Supreme Court nominees (both defeats).

When she took over as speaker again last year, Pelosi became the Democratic focal point on everything from a new North American trade deal to Trump's impeachment.

When the House left town earlier this month, Schumer took charge as the public face of this phase of coronavirus legislation. It started with a $1 trillion offering from McConnell on March 18 and ended up doubling by the time Schumer clapped his hands as the Senate clerk announced a unanimous vote.

At the Capitol, palpable fear from a more insidious enemy than past crises

Long distrusted by liberal activists because of ties to Wall Street donors, Schumer sounded more like the liberal who emerged from Harvard Law in 1974 and immediately ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly.

"When you have a crisis like this, a scourge that shakes us to our bones, private industry can't get you out of the problem. Only government can," Schumer said Wednesday.

The isolation so many Americans have felt is just settling in on Schumer, holed up in his home with his family. In Washington, he practiced social distancing but still saw his colleagues every day.

He has admitted to sleepless nights over the past week thinking about New York.

In an interview Wednesday with The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis, Schumer expressed hope that the same spirit from 2001 helps his city, and the nation, recover.

"After 9/11, we all came together. We were very close in every way," Schumer said. "Now we're isolated. But in 9/11, we always had to believe New York would prevail and overcome, and we still have that belief now."
The Health Ministry has announced a special life insurance cover for the 10,000 health personnel and allied professionals attending to COVID-19 response.

In a letter addressed by the Sector Minister, Kwaku Agyemang to all heads of the agencies within the sector, the government indicated that frontline staff involved in the COVID-19 response have been insured under benefits such as Group life cover with an assured sum of GHS 350, 000 per life.

Those who will attend to patients with critical illness have been assured a sum of GHS 25, 0000 per life, while those who will treat persons with any form of disability has been pegged at GHS 10,000 per life totalling a premium of GHS 10, 309,919.94.

As a health professional and allied professionals at the frontline of the COVID 19 response, I seize the opportunity to thank you and your families sincerely for the sacrifice to this national challenge. The Gormvernnet of Ghana would like to communicate to the Heads of Agencies that the frontline staff involved in the response have been insured under the [above] cover.

Please note that the Allied Professionals include all men and women who have been deployed to respond to COVID-19. Please bring this to the attention of all staff deployed and please ensure the appropriate documentation of the process which is strategic for the next steps, the statement added.

citinewsroom
Already struggling to manage essential supplies as the state-wide curfew to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus entered its sixth day on Saturday, residents were at the receiving end as vegetable vendors and shopkeepers continued to charge almost double the mandi rates citing shortage of supply.

The rates of vegetables have been doubled in the last few days as there is no check by the administration. The vendors and the shopkeepers are cashing in on the situation, said Gurminder Singh, a resident of New Model Town.

While the administration is still struggling to streamline the supply of vegetables, residents in some areas got some respite as street vendors visited their localities, albeit selling a limited stock.

Amarjit Singh, a resident of Civil Lines, said, The administration should fix the rates of vegetables at this time of emergency by keeping a certain amount of profit for the street vendors. The residents are already facing trouble due to the curfew, and fleecing is taking a toll on them.

However, street vendors and arhtiyas passed the buck over rising prices of the vegetables.

Rehri Fadi Association president Tiger Singh said that the residents are blaming vendors for higher prices but the latter are themselves getting them at higher rates from the main market. The arhtiyas are making profit out of the situation and are putting the blame on the vendors who are risking their lives to streamline supply of vegetables in the city.

However, president of Ludhiana Sabzi Mandi Ahrtiya Association, Gurkamal Singh, said, After lockdown, the rates of different vegetables have increased only by 5 to 10. That too due to shortage of supply being faced by the arhtiyas as the transport was stopped.

Singh further said that after the lockdown, the administration ordered that no middlemen will be allowed to install vends in the market area, but the latter having pull with the authorities managed to get passes and sell vegetables to vendors at higher rates.

Meanwhile, residents demanded that the administration should take strict action against those fleecing the residents at such time of emergency.

Of rush and supply

Heavy rush of vendors was witnessed at the main vegetable market of the city near Jalandhar Bypass on Saturday morning. Registered vendors were standing in queue since 2am, but by 6am a large number of people gathered at the market, defeating the purpose of social distancing.

Many vendors were not able to get proper supply of vegetables due to which limited supply was made in some areas of the city including BRS Nagar, Dugri, Haibowal etc.

Meanwhile, amid hue and cry being raised by grocery retailers over shortage of supply, the wholesalers have now started the supply to the retailers after getting permission from the police on Saturday. However, president of Ludhiana Consumer Products Distributors Association, Harkesh Mittal, said the wholesalers are also facing shortage of pulses, wheat and other products as the transport sector is on a halt and the administration should come up with a solution for the same. Passes should be issued so that they can get supply from Delhi, Amritsar, Moga among other places, he said.

Display rates on vends

Taking note the rising complaints of overcharging of vegetables and fruits, the district administration has made it mandatory for the vendors to display the rate list on their respective vends.

Confirming the same, deputy commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said no person will be allowed to sell essential commodities above the fixed price, and defaulters will face strict action, including immediate cancellation of their licence.

Agrawal said there is no shortage of essential commodities in the district. He said organised home deliveries have also started with the support of private companies such as Reliance Fresh, Vishal Mega Mart, Best Price, HOP, Swiggy, Amazon etc.

He informed that all the wholesalers of essential commodities have been allowed to transport essential commodities to shopkeepers for further supply to residents.

Five vendors each to cover every ward

For streamlining the supply of vegetables and fruits in the city, the municipal corporation (MC) has decided that five registered vendors will be identified to supply vegetables to each of the 95 wards in the city. MC secretary Neeraj Jain said the list of vendors was being prepared as per which supply will begin from Monday onwards.

Relief for companies manufacturing essential commodities

In a relief to the companies manufacturing or packing essential commodities such as bread, biscuits and cakes, the district administration has ordered that only 50% staff will be called in the factories. Agrawal said there should be at least two-metre distance between two workers, with provision of hand sanitisers and regular sanitation at the workplace.
In the coming days, India will need thousands, if not more than that hospital beds as the cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) continue to go up in the country. As India wages a war against the deadly pandemic, an Indian-born entrepreneur has offered a hospital exclusively for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

BCCL

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, a radiologist by qualification and the chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare Group has offered a 500-bed multi specialty hospital in Manesar to combat the dreaded virus.



UAE-based VPS Healthcare which also has three hospitals in Delhi NCR under the name Medeor Hospital has offered its 500-bed hospital in Manesar for the exclusive treatment of Covid-19 patients for free.

According to VPS Healthcare, the hospital in Manesar has facilities like state-of-the-art critical care and pulmonology department, isolation rooms, ventilators and other emergency services. The hospital also has formed a dedicated task force comprising specialist doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to combat the pandemic and take care of the affected patients.

"To help support the efforts of Government of India we would like to offer our Medeor Hospital located in Manesar for the treatment of Covid-19 patients," Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, said in a letter to the Ministry of Health.

"We have already informed the officials about the facilities and services at our hospital. We are fully prepared and are waiting for an official nod from the government," Nihaj G Mohammed, Chief Operating Officer Medeor Hospitals (Delhi), said.

The hospital also said that in the past also VPS Healthcare has partnered with governments in fighting epidemics. VPS had worked with the Government of Kerala during the 2018 Nipah Virus outbreak and had airlifted medicines when the state was facing an acute scarcity of essential medicines to treat infected patients.

According to Brookings India, there are 7,13,986 total government hospital beds available in India. This amounts to 0.55 beds per 1000 population. The elderly population is especially vulnerable, given more complications that are reported for patients in this age group. The availability of beds for elderly population in India is 5.18 beds per 1000 population.

BCCL

It also said that an epidemic like coronavirus can very quickly complicate the problem even further. An estimated 5-10% of total patients will require critical care in the form of ventilator support.



In a worst-case scenario, according to one estimate at least, we may end up with 2.2 million cases in India by May 15, which implies that we will need 110,000 to 220,000 ventilators.
T he family of a 76-year-old man told to ready themselves for his death after he contracted coronavirus have praised "incredible" NHS workers for saving his life.

The relatives of grandfather Roy Ives, from Kent, received devastating news a week ago that the retired postman had been infected with Covid-19 and was not expected to survive the night.

However, with the help of staff at Medway Maritime Hospital, he has since recovered enough to be discharged from hospital and return home.

Scarlett Walsh, Ives' granddaughter, said "unsung heroes" in the Covid-19 ward had saved his life and helped demonstrate that elderly people can survive the highly-infectious virus.

"These people are in there 12 hours a day and have their own families and children to go home to," Ms Walsh told the Press Association.

"To be exposed to that every single day must be so scary."

UK landmarks light up blue for NHS staff fighting coronavirus 1 /25 UK landmarks light up blue for NHS staff fighting coronavirus The Shard in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff fighting against coronavirus Tower Bridge in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff PA Tower Bridge in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS Reuters London's Piccadilly Circus saluting local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA Selfridges lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff fighting coronavirus on the frontline PA Fulwell Windmill in Sunderland is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff fighting coronavirus PA MediaCityUK in Manchester lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff PA Northern Spire Bridge in Sunderland is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff PA Belfast City Hall is lit up in support of the NHS Reuters The SSE Arena, Wembley, is seen with a lit up sign for the Clap For Our Carers campaign REUTERS Tawstock Court in Barnstaple lit up in blue PA Ashton Gate, the home of Bristol City FC is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks PA Wembley stadium is seen lit up blue REUTERS Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue PA The Lowry lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff who are trying to battle coronavirus. PA The Tyne Bridge in Newcastle is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff PA People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus during the Clap For Our Carers campaign Reuters The Shard in London is lit up blue

Mr Ives now faces a long recovery at home and a battle with pneumonia, Ms Walsh said. She added he was no longer "contagious" or in a "critical state", however.

A retired postman with underlying health conditions, the 76-year-old first experienced trouble breathing on March 20.

Paramedics arrived at his home in High Halstow, near Rochester, about 12pm and immediately suspected he had Covid-19.

He was taken to hospital and at about 5.30pm the consultant on duty said it was coronavirus, with Mr Ives' family subsequently told to be ready for the worst.

No-one could get up and see him and say goodbye because its the Covid-19 ward," Ms Walsh said.

"That night was just awful."

WHO announce historic coronavirus drug trial

But the next morning the family received news confirming his condition had improved overnight. A few days later, doctors said he could be discharged and taken home.

Ms Walsh, 23, described the turnaround as "incredible, unreal, amazing".

"They are doing everything they can to save his life and they did and it worked, and we owe them everything for that," she said.

"They were incredible and all of our family are forever grateful."

Now, Mr Ives and his relatives are keen to share their story to show their thanks to the NHS and also demonstrate that elderly people with underlying conditions can recover from Covid-19.

"He wanted to share his story to say people like him can get through it," Ms Walsh said.

More than 14,500 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been recorded nationwide to date, but the actual number of cases is estimated to be much higher.

The overall death toll now stands at 759, just over three weeks after the first coronavirus-related death was reported in the UK on March 5.

The virus poses a particular danger to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.
The number of coronavirus cases on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean has spiked to at least 23, with authorities moving to isolate the entire crew in port, US media reported. Earlier this week three sailors were evacuated after testing positive for the virus, the first cases reported on a US Navy ship on deployment. "Additional positive cases of COVID-19 have been discovered", Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday said in a statement Thursday, without specifying how many. Gilday added he expected further positive tests among the more than 5,000 personnel on board the warship, which is in Guam on a "pre-scheduled port visit." None was seriously ill and none had been hospitalized, the admiral said. The Wall Street Journal said there were now "at least 23" cases and quoted Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly as saying authorities were "in the process now of testing 100 percent of the crew." "During the port visit, base access will be limited to the pier for Roosevelt's sailors. No base or regional personnel will access the pier," Modly said. The USS Theodore Roosevelt was last in port in Vietnam, although Gilday said it was difficult to connect the cases to a particular port visit. The Hawaii-based Indo-Pacific Command also said Thursday a joint US-Philippines-Australia exercise involving thousands of troops in the Philippines had been canceled over coronavirus fears.
Is the world's draconian response to the coronavirus a panicked leap backward into indiscriminate annihilation  not only of national economic health, but also of its prerequisite, individual liberty? Does it prepare a future path, give sanction and precedent to eventual dictatorial control by government, which could be usurped by a left-wing administration to promote the globalist agenda that Obama and the radical Democrat Party endorse?

Black swan events that inflict a planetary cost will continue to occur. Clearly, this one has overwhelmed national governments. George Soros himself could not have fantasized, in his habitual delirium, a more enticing catastrophic scenario for the installation of his grand plan  if power could only be wrested away from President Trump. It puts other threats  9/11, immigration invasion, and the weaponization of the institutions of government by the Deep State  into the shade! None of them has involved a nationwide lockdown on freedom of movement.

We already see evidence of the left's attempt to use the pandemic to nurture the leftist agenda in Nancy Pelosi's dry run to stuff the proposed recovery legislation with her ideological pork. Here are just a few of her demands, as reported on TownHall March 24, 2020, which she has "put on hold."

Publication of corporate pay statistics by race and race statistics for all corporate boards

A bail out on all current debt at the Postal Service

Required early voting

Required same day voter registration

Provisions on official time for union collective bargaining

Full offset of airline emissions by 2025

Publication and reporting of greenhouse gas statistics for individual flights

Retirement plans for community newspaper employees

Federal $15 minimum wage

Permanent paid leave

Study on climate change mitigation efforts. The provisions will apply to the companies and business rescued by the bill.

The nightmare is that once the left occupies the White House again (God forbid), the Constitution, already weakened by Obama, will be given the kiss of death, and our individual liberty will be forfeit. The Democrats may govern by "States of Emergency," which could facilitate the transfer of some national legislative power to global institutions and NGOs, in pursuit of "[t]he hope ... that we will live more intelligently, thinking more about our future on the planet rather than the blithe destruction we indulged in for 50 years," as one witless left-wing journalist opined in an article entitled "COVID-19 can teach us to live more intelligently." And that would be the thin edge of the wedge. Within the next twenty to thirty years, national governments may emerge as the stewards and handmaidens of the global elite. Italy and Iran are already beholden to China, which has infiltrated many nations of the Third World through its "infrastructure racket" that holds those nations as virtual hostages to Beijing.

Do Republican conservatives today suffer the same unenviable position Cicero found himself in during a civil war, which led to Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE? Cicero's entire career was devoted to attempting a restoration of Rome's broken republican constitution, which was so influential in the writing of ours. Yet he was overwhelmed by the cataclysm of events, caused by the consuls' greed for power. Despite his forestalling the forces of tyranny for a while, they ultimately vanquished him. Caesar Augustus (great-nephew of Julius) became emperor in 27 BCE. The Republic was dead!

One could ague that the Roman Empire that ensued at least brought civilization to the barbaric world. That is not the case with left-wing globalism! What it carries and delivers is third-world sanitation and the consequent spread of disease, immigrants from undemocratic cultures, and the loss of jobs to cheap overseas labor. How can we benefit from universal welfare dependency, dictatorship by a cabal of central banks, bureaucratic bungling on a planetary scale, and the other symptoms of globalism?

Let's hope the president hesitates before the abyss. Even if he does, that will not eradicate the threat to our individual liberty. In particular, there is the anaesthetized condition of those who have already been immunized by the presiding culture to believe that equality is far more important than freedom. Ironically, where a conservative government is instituting the lockdown, the left is suddenly up in arms, as demonstrated by this article in the woke Guardian. And perhaps we may hope the Millennials are so ticked off by their imposed seclusion that they wake up to government's chief function after safety: the protection of individual liberty. I fear, once the Left is in power, that their former hesitations will disappear.

If worse comes to worst, we can take comfort in Cicero's fate. Although Mark Antony's wife Fulvia took Cicero's severed head, pulled out his tongue, and jabbed it repeatedly with her hairpin in a final act of revenge against Cicero's power of speech, she failed to destroy his legacy. Future generations, until the advent of Marx, revered his wisdom! Conservative values and the love of liberty may be re-discovered by future citizens tired of being wage slaves of the global economy.
Bernie Sanders is continuing to assess the future of his presidential campaign as he lags behind Joe Biden in delegate count and has to face up to the challenge of running for office during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to NPRs Noel King on Morning Edition, Senator Sanders acknowledged that the path ahead would be challenging: it's going to be a very steep road.

It's changing every day because elections are being delayed, Mr Sanders said. Where do we go from here with the elections that are being delayed, where we can't go out and hold rallies or knock on doors? That's what we're looking at right now.

Former vice president Biden currently has a 300 delegate lead on Sanders and many are treating him as the presumptive nominee, despite there still being primary elections to be held and several months until the Democratic Party convention.

When asked if there should be further debates between the two candidates, Mr Biden told an online press conference this week: I think we've had enough debates. I think we should get on with this.

Mr Sanders feels differently: I think the American people, especially in this unprecedented moment in American history, want to hear the ideas that will lead us away from where we are right now.

Both of the contenders for the Democrat nomination are currently restricted to virtual campaigning including video messages and online town hall discussions.

Almost the sole topic in any interaction with voters is the growing impact of the coronavirus and the current administrations response.

Sanders feels that the pandemic has caused Americans to rethink the role that government can play in their lives.

I think there is growing sentiment in this country that people now understand that it is incomprehensible that we remain the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all, that we have an economy which leaves half of our people living paycheck to paycheck, Sanders said.

What kind of system is it where people today are dying, knowing they're sick, but they're not going to the hospital because they can't afford the bill that they'll be picking up? he added.

Sanders says that this weeks coronavirus stimulus package will likely be followed by another massive bill in the coming month.

Asked if he feels the general election might be entirely consumed by the impact of the coronavirus, Senator Sanders says that he hopes the people's concerns are broadened into a discussion about how we got here and where the American people want to go next.
The word "occult" stems from a Latin word meaning "hidden" or "concealed", and both the allure and terror of those who claim to wield magical powers come from the fact that they do it in the shadows. They're not just a Google search away. Magic connotes intimacy and privacy, but also a close connection between its practitioners. Sarah Aiken, one of the founders of Deep Soulful Sweats. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Sarah Aiken and Rebecca Jensen are two Melbourne choreographer-dancers who regularly harness the power of ritual in their work. It's less about believing in magic, they say, than in recognising that the blurry space between belief and disbelief is where art makes its home. We started making this work back in 2012 after spending some time in Germany in a long workshop with a witch from New York named Meg Stuart, a choreographer, says Jensen. It was in an isolated East Prussian farm two hours from Berlin. It was an environment where we were able to get really immersed in suspending disbelief. It was exciting to be in a space where everyone was willing to pretend, she says, and it put into question the distinction between pretending and belief. If everyone is performing their role in the ritual, it doesn't really matter if they believe it or not. This goes double in the case of dance, says Aiken, since your body can't pretend to do something: It's either doing it or it's not.

Loading The pair have created a strong body of work that draws on various aspects of the arcane and esoteric, from the eco-horror of What Am I Supposed to Do? to Overworld's goddesses recycled from the debris of pop culture. The way that we use paganism and things like that, we approach it with irony and there's a sense of tongue-in-cheek there, but also there's 100 per cent commitment to it, says Aiken. Their longest-running project is Deep Soulful Sweats, a "guided astrological dance" that is equal parts dance party, secret society and workout. It's a participatory dance performance with no spectators, says Aiken. Everybody is invited to perform with us. There are usually four leaders and we divide everyone up into their elements based on their star signs. There's a DJ and often some kind of visual element of spectacle so people are really immersed inside a performance that is very physical but nobody's watching because everybody's doing it. Deep Soulful Sweats creates a space in which belief and scepticism can rub shoulders. With Deep Soulful Sweats the contract is very clear when you come that this is about participation. You can just treat it like aerobics if you want, or you can really invest and treat it like a cult, says Jensen.

There are some kooky people who show up to Deep Soulful Sweats who believe it in a much more spiritual way than I do. I'm so open for them to do that. There's one woman who showed up one day and said that the spirits told her to come. She has come to so many and is fully committed. She's on another plane but she's great, and next to her is a 25-year-old artist who doesn't believe in anything. Loading Ivey Wawn is a Sydney-based choreographer also weaving elements of magic into her work. For Wawn, magic is found in the way our bodies refuse to be entirely defined by the rational, limiting system in which we find ourselves. The body is a site of potential for all of these things which could be understood as magic. Like falling in love, or going into mourning, experiencing extreme loss. Magic is about tuning into your body, she says, which is why dance is particularly suited to the attempt. It's not the showy artifice of a magic trick, either, but what she calls a quiet, unspectacular magic.

I think that potentially in giving yourself the permission to go into that space of magic that I'm talking about, which is a deep sensuality or a deep emotional space, in allowing yourself to be with that you can understand better where you are in relation to other things. It's a really pragmatic position. For Wawn the use of magic is political, too, offering an alternative to the depersonalising effects of capitalism. Magic also doesn't occur as a singular body but is feeling something with another person, experiencing intimacy with someone, experiencing friendship. When you have a mass gathering, like when you go to a protest and someone starts a chant and everyone goes on with the chant, that's a kind of magic, that energy. It's not like 'hocus pocus' magic but that collective energy is a kind of magic I think. Loading S.J. Norman is a cross-disciplinary artist whose primary medium is the body. I work extensively with bodily material  blood, bones, hair etc  and when I do so I utilise them with magical intentions and under magical protocols. I also work with mesmeric sound, with darkness, with ritual choreographies, with the induction of altered states, with invocations, all sorts of things. As a Koori artist born on Gadigal land, Norman's art also involves ancestral traditions, sciences and practices. Every work of art I have ever made is a work of spellcraft, first and foremost. I try to make that aspect of it as invisible as possible though, because effective magic rarely seeks to make itself seen.
The state government doesn't know how many people in WA are currently in mandatory self-isolation, with the number likely to be in the tens of thousands as residents continue to return home from overseas.

From Sunday, all West Australians flying home will be required to quarantine in government-assigned accommodation - likely Rottnest Island or a hotel - as authorities move to clamp down on self-isolation compliance.

The decision was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday after statistics revealed 75 per cent of WA's confirmed COVID-19 cases contracted the virus while overseas or on a cruise ship.

Thousands of people in Perth are self-isolating. Credit:Facebook

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said his officers had responded to around 700 community complaints about people breaching self-isolation rules, with one person charged after being stopped on his way to the beach.
Tom Hanks is sheltering-in-place at home in the US with wife Rita Wilson, after returning from Australia following their COVID-19 diagnosis.

The actor, 63, updated fans on their current situation via Twitter on Saturday, several weeks after revealing both he and Rita had tested positive for coronavirus while in Australia.

'Hey, Foks... We're home now and, like the rest of America, we carry on sheltering in place and social distancing. Many, any thanks to everyone in Australia who looked after us.

Doing their part: Tom Hanks is sheltering-in-place with wife Rita Wilson in America, after returning from Australia following their COVID-19 diagnosis

Stay safe: The actor, 63, updated fans on their current situation via Twitter on Saturday

'Their care and guidance made possible our return to the USA. And many thanks to all of you who reached out with well wishes. Rita and I so appreciate it. Hanx.'

Hanks and his wife were pictured touching down into the United States via private jet on Friday.

The pair, who were the first celebrities to go public with their battle with COVID-19 on March 11, were pictured driving in LA following their flight home.

Hanks and Wilson were on lock-down while recovering in Australia, where Hanks was filming a movie about Elvis Presley. He is playing Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, in the film directed by Baz Luhrmann. Production is currently suspended.

Homeward bound: The pair were pictured driving in LA following their flight home on Friday

Going public: The couple were the first celebrities to go public with their battle with COVID-19 on March 11 (pictured February 2020)

The couple shared numerous updates with their fans during their self-quarantine.

On March 23, Hanks tweeted an update to his fans that read: 'Hey, folks. Two weeks after our first symptoms and we feel better.

'Sheltering in place works like this: You don't give it to anyone -You don't get it from anyone. Common sense, no? Going to take awhile, but if we take care of each other, help where we can, and give up some comforts...this, too, shall pass. We can figure this out. Hanx.'

Keeping active: Meanwhile, Hanks' son Colin Hanks was seen bike riding through Toluca Lake in Los Angeles with his children in tow

Now they're back home in the United States, the high-profile couple will have to comply with California's 'shelter at home' order.

The A-list couple make up just a small fraction of celebrities and world leaders who have contracted the virus, including Idris Elba and Colton Underwood.

Meanwhile, Hanks' son Colin Hanks was seen bike riding through Toluca Lake Los Angeles with his children in tow.

His daughters Olivia, nine, and Charlotte, six, wore helmets as they pedaled through a quiet neighborhood alongside their famous father on Saturday.
North Macedonia Joins the NATO Alliance

Press Statement

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

March 27, 2020



On March 27, 2020, the United States, as a treaty depositary, received The Republic of North Macedonia's instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, making North Macedonia the 30th NATO Ally. On March 30, North Macedonia's flag will fly over NATO headquarters for the first time.

As President Trump has said, the NATO Alliance has been the bulwark of international peace and security for over 70 years. North Macedonia's accession to NATO today represents the culmination of many years of effort by the government and people of North Macedonia to join the North Atlantic Alliance. North Macedonia's NATO membership will support greater integration, democratic reform, trade, security, and stability across the region. North Macedonia's accession also reaffirms to other aspirants that NATO's door remains open to those countries willing and able to make the reforms necessary to meet NATO's high standards, and to accept the responsibilities as well as benefits of membership. As NATO welcomes its 30th member, we reaffirm our commitment to collective defense under Article 5, the cornerstone of the Transatlantic Alliance.

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Ravalli County Sheriff's Deputy Robert McGavran knew his partner was on to something when his teeth began to chatter.

It was well after 1 a.m. Sunday when McGavran and Rico arrived on Stevensvilles Main Street.

Another sheriffs officer had pulled over a pickup that was driving through the night without its lights on. The 42-year-old driver was shaking and acting abnormally nervous. She had given the officer an invalid address and told him she was going to see a friend whom she could not name.

Everything pointed to a potential drug case.

Rico  an 18-month-old Malinois police dog  gave the officers enough to ask for a search warrant when he alerted on the car and his teeth began to chatter.

When he got that big odor of scent, he just sat down, McGavran said, with a proud smile. His teeth will start chattering when he gets really excited.

Charging documents filed this week said officers found 13 grams of methamphetamine and seven $100 bills with the same serial number in the vehicle driven by Melenie Rose Haidys of Kalispell. She now faces felony drug charges.

It was the largest drug bust in the Ravalli County Sheriff Offices fledgling K9 program that owes its start to the generosity of a Florence-area couple and the willingness of a deputy to undergo weeks of training and accept the responsibility of caring for a high-energy dog on a 24/7 basis.

Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton said his office has been interested in obtaining a K9 unit for some time. Plans had been in the works to use drug forfeiture funds to pay for the dog and its training, but a much-needed records management update bit deep into that pot of money.

Bill and Katie Scholl learned about the need.

The couple had already shown their support for the sheriffs office through the purchase of automated external defibrillators and respiratory masks for patrol vehicles, and participation in the Man Up Crusade to end domestic violence. Holton told the couple about the need for the dog and its estimated $18,000 cost.

Bill called me about 10 minutes later and said to go ahead, Holton said.

Bill Scholl is a former firefighter/paramedic. Katie is a forensic nurse.

We were military brats who had lived all over the country, Katie Scholl said. We didnt really have a home until we moved here. We fell in love with our community and we wanted to give back in any way we could.

Bill Scholl is paralyzed. Hes had three service dogs that have literally changed the couples lives. They knew the kind of difference a dog could make for the sheriffs office.

On Bill Scholls 65th birthday in February, the couple had a chance to meet Rico and McGavran at a special ceremony.

Were at the point in our lives that we really dont need any more stuff, Katie Scholl said. Our careers always revolved around helping our communities. This was a way to continue that.

Holton said it wouldnt have been possible at this time to get a dog without the Scholls help.

We recognized that we needed a K9 team in order to seriously address the dangerous drug crimes in Ravalli County, Holton said. "Bill and Katie certainly understand service to their community and have always been strong supporters of the sheriffs office over the years."

Murdochs in Hamilton has supplied Rico with food, and Wild about Pets donated dishes, leashes and other supplies.

Holton said the new program is already producing.

On that same day that Rico was introduced to the Scholls, he made his first hit on a vehicle with narcotics inside. Since then, hes been involved in about a half-dozen drug seizures.

McGavran was as quick to raise his hand when the sheriff asked his team if anyone was interested in becoming a K9 handler.

He was very excited about the opportunity, Holton said. We had an internal application process. Robert jumped right on it.

The former U.S. Marine said the folks he worked with knew he was a perfect choice.

I have always been kind of like the office kennel, McGavran said. People would go on vacation and theyd ask me if I wanted to watch their dog. Id say, No problem.

Its something that I never thought I would be doing, McGavran said. Its one decision of many that Ive made in my life that Im proud of.  Its definitely an experience. Hes with me 24/7. At home and at work. Things he can do is just amazing.

Watching him work is better than watching a movie, he said. Im almost like a proud parent too when he does his job well.  We have a strong bond and that bond helps us work better as a team.

McGavran was matched with Rico on the day that he arrived at F.M. K9 training school in Berrien Center, Michigan.

McGavran and Rico learned about each other and what their respective jobs would look like during the intensive five-week training session.

He had a little bit of obedience training and a little bit of the narcotics detection, McGavran said. The five weeks, we spent learning it together and learning each other.

McGavrans first impression of his new dog?

This dog is going to run me to the ground, he remembers. Hes high energy. Hes going to make me work. Hes going to push me to be better as a deputy and as a handler.  When its work time, his whole body and demeanor changes. He can be rambunctious and running around. And then you give him a command and its just like a switch was flipped.

Rico is not a bite dog. His focus is on detecting narcotics, tracking humans and finding different articles.

McGavran is required to put in at least 16 hours a month in training to retain Ricos certification.

Rico was a handful when he first came to live with McGavran. He had been trained to jump on things to search in high places.

Hes a full-grown puppy, McGavran said. I would turn around and he would be up on the table. And then I would turn around again and he was on the counter. I made a mistake by putting his balls up on the cupboard. That kind of drew him up there.

Rico is starting to calm down a bit. McGavran knows that as time goes on, Rico is going to get better and better at his job.

Im lucky that they actually allowed me to do this, McGavran said. Every time that he does his job is a proud moment for me when they get a search warrant and find that he was right. So far, hes been spot on. He knows that hes going to make me proud.

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As I discussed here, Washington state is seeing a slowing in the rate of new cases and deaths from the Wuhan coronavirus. However, many states are seeing increases in these rates, some dramatic.

In Italy, there are marked differences between the north and south when it comes to data for the pandemic there. In a nation the size of the U.S., one would expect to see significant variation from area to area. There is.

I can think of at least four categories of states/regions. Washington falls into the category of states where the outbreak seems to be leveling off. It may be the only such state right now, but there will be more.

The New York City area is in the category of states/regions where the virus is known to spreading rapidly and where resources are severely stretched. Louisiana also seems to be in that category thanks, perhaps, to Mardi Gras celebrations.

A third category consists of states where there are few known cases of the virus. Among these states are South Dakota (46 reported cases), Alaska (69), Nebraska (73), West Virginia (75), and New Mexico (136).

A fourth category consists of states and/or areas that fall somewhere between New York/ Louisiana and Alaska/Nebraska, but have good reason to worry they might soon move into the former category. The Washington, D.C. area may fit this description.

One would imagine that different approaches to dealing with the virus might be needed for states/areas falling into different categories. Its a virtue of our system of federalism that different states can adopt different approaches.

I hesitate to opine on what approaches should be used where. However, it may be possible for states with small numbers of known cases to deal with the virus as I understand South Korea did  through tracking and testing. This means identifying the people with whom infected individuals had close contact, and testing them.

Everyone identified as infected would, of course, be isolated. Individuals in high risk categories would be expected to stay home. The rest of the population would be able to go out and about. They would fight the virus through good hygiene.

This assumes that the jurisdictions in question have the capacity to perform both the testing and the tracking. That may not be the case for some, or maybe even all, such jurisdictions.

A state like Washington, where the virus seems to be leveling off, might also be able to use the same tracking and testing approach once its confident that the number of new cases is small and has been for a reasonable period of time.

States and areas that are overwhelmed with new cases cant use a tracking and testing approach, and its doubtful that states that arent yet overwhelmed but that may soon be can either. A higher level of restriction on public activity is warranted in these areas. They need to focus on assembling the resources  hospitals, beds, ventilators, etc.  needed to cope with the onslaught of serious cases.

But before long, even these states will need to be thinking about some degree of opening up. Lockdowns that last for month after month are likely to produce economic disaster and may not be sustainable in any event.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 07:00:25|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. President Donald Trump (Front) addresses a news conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Under the Defense Production Act invoked recently to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump required General Motors (GM) "to accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators."

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered General Motors (GM) to produce ventilators under the Defense Production Act, a wartime law he recently invoked to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Today, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators," Trump said in a statement.

"Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course," Trump said.

"GM was wasting time. Today's action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives," added the president.

GM, in a statement cited by CNBC, reiterated that employees with Ventec, GM and their supply base "have been working around the clock for over a week to meet this urgent need."

"Our commitment to build Ventec's high-quality critical care ventilator, VOCSN, has never wavered," the company said. "The partnership between Ventec and GM combines global expertise in manufacturing quality and a joint commitment to safety to give medical professionals and patients access to life-saving technology as rapidly as possible. The entire GM team is proud to support this initiative."

Passed by Congress in 1950 as a response to the Korean War, the DPA authorizes the president to direct companies to increase the production of national defense-related items. It also entitles the president to control the distribution of supplies deemed critical.

Trump signed an executive order on March 18 invoking the law, amid the drastically deteriorating situation the country faced in the coronavirus outbreak.

In the United States, which has become the global epicenter of the pandemic, confirmed cases of COVID-19 are nearing 100,000, and death toll has risen past 1,400, according to Johns Hopkins University's latest data tracking country-by-country numbers. 
The Pennsylvania Department of State announced Saturday a series of temporary licensing waivers for health care professionals and others during the COVID-19 disaster declaration.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Saturday that in recent days the state has streamlined the process for retired doctors, nurses, medical students, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers, allowed out-of-state practitioners to practice in Pennsylvania, expanded telemedicine, and launched a portal to purchase supplies.

Pennsylvania is reinforcing the ranks of our doctors, nurses and other health care providers during this emergency, Wolf said. We have streamlined the process for retired health care workers to return to work and provide relief so those on the frontline can focus on providing care to patients. Were also expanding the use of telemedicine and supporting and protecting health care workers by helping to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies they will need."

The Department of Health announced Saturday 533 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 2,751 in 56 counties. The department also reported 12 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 34.

The temporary license waivers for health care workers include:

Health care professionals

 Streamlining the reactivation of licenses for retired Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, Physician Assistants, Respiratory Therapists, Perfusionists, Registered Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners and Pharmacists to return to their field, and 119 applications have been received in the past three weeks.

 Allowing licensed health care practitioners to provide services via telemedicine.

 Allowing doctors with institutional licenses to practice at more than 2 facilities.

 Encouraged the use of telemedicine access for opioid use disorder Centers of Excellence patients.

Nursing

 Allowing more than 14,000 Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners to assist in the COVID-19 response by lifting the requirement that they practice within a specialty.

 Extending license deadlines, temporary nursing permits and graduate permits.

 Allowing certain nursing school graduates to apply for an immediate graduate permit.

Pharmacy

 Allowing out-of-state pharmacies to ship goods to Pennsylvania.

 Allowing temporary expedited licensure for certain pharmacy practitioners and pharmacies.

The Department of State has a dedicated webpage with information about all of the temporary licensing waivers.

Wolf also signed legislation Friday to spend up to $50 million to purchase medical equipment and supplies, such as more beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment, for hospitals, nursing homes, and emergency workers to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Wolf administration is also expediting the purchase of critical medical supplies for the health care system with a new Critical Medical Supplies Procurement Portal. A joint effort between the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Community and Economic Development, the portal is for manufacturers, distributors and other suppliers to inform the state of supplies that can be quickly purchased for medical providers, emergency responders, and health care professionals.

Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt.

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The US is providing $1.1 mln in health funding to Georgia - GeorgianJournal
Given the evolving nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) (www.CorporateCouncilOnAfrica.com) and the Government of Morocco have jointly decided to postpone the 13th U.S.-Africa Business Summit previously scheduled to take place from June 9-12, 2020 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Our priority at CCA in response to COVID-19 is to help ensure the health and safety of our staff, members, attendees and stakeholders. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this decision and look forward to welcoming you to the Summit in Morocco at a later date. CCA will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves, and we urge everyone to stay safe and informed during this time. said Florizelle Liser, President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa.

The Government of Morocco remains committed to partnering with CCA to host the Summit in Morocco, and together with CCA is currently exploring new dates for the 13th U.S.-Africa Business Summit which will be announced as soon as possible.

The ongoing pandemic highlights the importance of strong health systems, emergency preparedness and collaboration among governments, multilateral institutions, civil society, and the private sector in an increasingly globalized economy.

CCA is dedicated to continuing to work with its partners to identify strategies and solutions to mitigate the health implications of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, recognizing that the foundation of any prosperous society is a healthy population. In addition, CCA recognizes the social and economic impact of COVID-19 on business, trade and investment, and is committed to helping its members, partners and key stakeholders navigate the outcomes of the pandemic.

Updates on the 13th U.S.-Africa Business Summit will be posted regularly on the CCA Website www.CorporateCouncilOnAfrica.com, as well as the 13th U.S.-Africa Business Summit Website USAfricaBizSummit.com.

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By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 27, 2020 | 04:49 PM | FRANKFORT









Beshear announced two additional deaths related to the virus, a 77-year-old man in Hopkins County and a 75-year-old woman in Fayette.





In honor of those that have died because of the virus, Beshear says the Governor's Mansion and the dome at the state capitol will be lit up green. He then asked everyone that could to light their homes up green as well.







Beshear reiterated that he has asked county judges and mayors to shut down any public parks where people have shown they aren't practicing social distancing, or anywhere they refuse to spread out.







During the Q&A portion of the press conference, Beshear was asked if he has considered additional measures to combat the spread from Tennessee, like closing the border. Beshear says that although he is considering different options every day, he isn't to that point yet.



During his Friday COVID-19 press conference, Governor Andy Beshear asked individuals who live on border between Kentucky and Tennessee to avoid traveling to Tennessee if at all possible.He said Tennessee isn't doing its part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and wants to avoid bringing the virus from Tennessee into Kentucky.I cannot control that Tennessee has not taken the steps that we have, Beshear said. ...I need you to be strong in your pride in this state, and I need you to make sure that you dont take someone elses lack of action and ultimately bring it back to Kentucky to harm us.Several middle Tennessee counties in the metro Nashville area are reporting higher numbers of coronavirus cases.Beshear reported 54 new COVID-19 cases in Kentucky, for a total of 302.He said that's a slightly higher number than Thursday, but "everyone knows that the numbers will climb." Beshear added that a slow climb is better than what is happening in other states.
This photo was taken in Udaipur, India, in early 2020 when Shivam Pujara was on a road trip with his parents. At left is his father, Mukesh Pujara, and at right is his mother, Nipa Pujara. Shivam of Ahmedabad, India, was an AFS YES exchange student at East Noble High School during the 2018-2019 school year.
Washington has pushed through massive government spending bills to deal with Americas past two massive economic emergencies, but the two parties have taken very different approaches to crisis response in the minority.

In 2009, Republicans locked arms in nearly unanimous opposition to an $800 billion economic stimulus bill under President Barack Obama, betting they could force Obama and Democrats to own the Great Recession by keeping their fingerprints off the response. This time, Democrats provided nearly unanimous support for a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package under President Donald Trump, hammering out a bipartisan compromise to get government money into the economy as quickly as possible.

In 2009, the GOP strategy of no meant Obama controlled the policy outcome, but it helped spark a political comeback that eventually led to Republican control of Washington.

In 2020, Democrats have tried to advance their policy priorities through negotiations instead of walking away from the table, even though they know Trump's political fortunes depend on economic relief.

They certainly helped get the money flowing: The bill went from draft to law in a week, and Trump signed it Friday. But did Democrats achieve their goals by playing ball?

A review of the CARES Act suggests Democrats did manage to influence its direction, shifting some of its aid to individuals toward lower-income families, while imposing some conditions on its aid to businesseschanges that Trump is already taking credit for. They also inserted some oversight provisions that Trump has already vowed to ignore.

But Republicans won some huge concessions from Democrats, most notably a $500 billion bailout fund for big businesses and a $170 billion tax break for real estate investors like the president. And Democrats didnt get much that Trump didnt actually want in exchange for helping him pour cash into the locked-down economy in an election year. They didnt guarantee postal voting in the November elections or win any assurances that the Trump administration will start complying with House subpoenas or get permanent stabilizers that could ensure fiscal support for the economy in future crises even if a Democrat were president.

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Nevertheless, the Senate passed the CARES Act 96-0 late Wednesday, and the Democratic-controlled House followed suit in an overwhelming voice vote Friday. It was a far cry from the partisan obstruction of 2009, when only three Republicans helped Obama pass his stimulus bill in his first month in officeand one of them, the late Senator Arlen Specter, faced such an intense backlash from his party that he became a Democrat. This time, the Democratic opposition helped craft the response to the emergency even though it gave Trump a bipartisan victoryand the president still refused to invite any Democrats to his bill-signing ceremony.

The 880-page legislation does include plenty of random spending items proposed by House Democrats, like $25 million for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and $45 million for the Agricultural Marketing Service. A few of those line items represent big-ticket investments in Democratic priorities, like $25 billion for transit agencies ravaged by the pandemic and $10 billion for the financially troubled U.S. Postal Service.

But the overwhelming majority of the money in the bill falls into four categories: help for the health system, help for people, help for small businesses, and help for big businesses.

Democrats generally wanted more than Republicans wanted for health and families, and they generally got their way, while the two parties generally agreed on a $366 billion small business bailout that includes strong protections for workers. Its the Big Business bailout where Democrats mostly cavedand thats the piece of the legislation that raises the most questions, because its dramatically different from any bailout the U.S. has ever done before.

There are questions worth asking about all four major categories.

Public health: Where are the tests?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer laid down an early marker that they wouldnt support a bill without a Marshall Plan to rebuild our health care infrastructure on a continental scale and ensure the resources are there to test and treat everyone who needs it. There is about $180 billion in health-related spending in the CARES Act, including $100 billion to help overstretched hospitals, which was more than twice as much as Republicans proposed.

But other than a $1 billion provision that could be used on diagnostic tests if Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to manufacture them, it doesnt appear to do much to accelerate the kind of all-out testing and follow-up that helped South Korea control the novel coronavirus. America is still lagging on testing, and this bill wont fix that.

This is odd, because controlling the virus is by any accounting the most urgent priority not only for saving lives but for saving the economy. Even if Trump tells the nation to go back to work after Easter, restaurants and gyms and movie theaters cant thrive until its safe to cluster in large groups without a serious risk of contracting a deadly disease. And its hard to see how that can happen before the U.S. adopts some version of South Koreas SWAT-team public health model of expansive testing, aggressive tracking, isolation and quarantine for infected individuals, and equally aggressive efforts to test, isolate and quarantine anyone they might have been near.

Former Maryland health commissioner Joshua Sharfstein says helping hospitals handle the coming surge of coronavirus victims will be necessary but not sufficient to fight the pandemic. This is a public health crisis as well as a medical crisis, says Sharfstein, who also served as deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration in the Obama administration and is now a dean for public health at Johns Hopkins. We need to stand up a massive public health response if were going to get this under control.

Pelosi and Schumer have been boasting about their victories for health spending in the CARES Actand Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has crowed about them, toobut the bill will not ensure tests for anyone who needs them or launch a systemic approach to prevent the virus from spreading. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote a Medium essay Thursday calling on Congress to pass additional legislation that would dramatically increase Americas diagnostic testing capacity, but now the Senate has recessed until April 20. The only way for Washington to address this problem before then would be for Trump to address it himselfand he claims Americans can already get tested whenever they want.

If the first requirement of opening up the economy is way more testing, wheres that money supposed to come from? The bill leaves us hanging.

Aid to families: Was it worth it?

Democratic leaders flexed their negotiating muscles to strengthen the emergency safety net and make sure families in need get a fair share of government aid. Their biggest get was what Schumer called unemployment on steroids, a $260 billion provision to expand and extend jobless benefits during the pandemic.

They also secured $150 billion in aid to states to minimize layoffs of government employees and cuts in government services. And they succeeded in rewriting the original Republican plan to send checks to taxpayers,so that poorer families will now get more instead of less and the richest families will get nothing.

All these provisions will direct cash to people in need, and Trump is already bragging about them, pointing out in his Friday news conference that the average worker who has lost his job will receive 100 percent of his salary for up to four months, a provision Democrats added to his bill.

Given that Democrats had the power to insist on just about anything they wanted as a condition of passing the relief bill through the House, its worth asking whether aid to families hurt by the crisis was the concession they should have focused on extracting. A coronavirus bill stiffing the millions of Americans who are losing their jobs would have been a political disaster for Trump, and Republicans knew it.

House Democrats did make more ambitious demands in their alternative bill, like an assurance of postal voting and 15 days of early voting in all federal elections, along with $4 billion to help safeguard the 2020 elections. They ended up settling for no assurances and just $400 million. They also proposed language assuring that during future downturns the federal government would automatically pump stimulus into the economy. Republicans rejected that as well, so they can once again become anti-stimulus warriors during Democratic administrations.

But the Democrats did hold firm on directing aid in Trumps relief bill to more vulnerable peoplepeople who may well end up grateful to Trump. It may have been responsible policy, but it wasnt exactly savvy politics. Its notable that while Republicans acquiesced to Democratic demands for more aid for poor Americans, they refused to allow checks to go to taxpayers who arent citizensand arent voters. They know that most Americans dont follow which party supported which provisions; they tend to focus on the results and give the president the credit or the blame.

In fact, during the negotiations, even as Republicans were pushing perks for big business and opposing Democratic efforts to shift aid to ordinary families, Trump was chastising Democrats for refusing to focus on ordinary families, accusing them of trying to exploit the crisis to pass "Green New Deal"-style energy provisions that werent even in the House bill.

Small Business: Will this work?

The CARES Acts small business bailout is truly bipartisan, a creative proposal drafted by the leaders of the congressional small business committees, Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) along with Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio). It would provide federal guarantees for bank loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, then forgive the portions of the loans spent on payroll, rent, mortgages and utilities. This would provide an incentive for stores and spas and suppliers to keep paying their employees throughout the lockdown even if they cant open their doors to any customers.

Some Democrats have attacked an exception to the 500-employee limit for big hotel and restaurant chains as a stealth bailout for the Trump family, which is expressly barred from the Big Business bailout. But even if that happened, the bulk of the aid would presumably be directed to help employees of Trumps resorts keep their jobs. Other critics have complained that the programs loan forgiveness only applies for two months and that $366 billion will not be nearly enough to get millions of struggling small firms through the crisis. But if the program works, Congress can always extend it and throw more money at it.

The real question is whether the program will work. Its unclear whether the Small Business Administrations modest bureaucracy can get it going fast enough to save firms from the brink, or administer 13 times its annual deal flow in just two months with any effectiveness. Its track record administering emergency loans, in fact, has at times been shockingly bad.

Good idea, might be a mess, one former Federal Reserve official summarizes.

Big Business: What the hell is this?

Republicans won two gargantuan victories for big businesses in the CARES Act: a $500 billion bailout fund and $280 billion worth of business tax cuts. Democrats insisted on some oversight provisions, including a new independent watchdog to oversee the money, but Trump issued a signing statement on Friday declaring he will not allow that special inspector general to issue reports without presidential supervision.

Democrats also imposed conditions on bailed-out corporationslike requirements that they keep most of their workers, limit executive pay and stop paying dividendsbut its unclear how some of them will work and which ones Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will be allowed to waive.

Honestly, its hard to tell how a lot of the bailout fund will work. There are fairly clear guidelines for Treasury to spend $29 billion on loan guarantees or other aid for passenger and cargo airlines. The same rules seem to apply to $17 billion for businesses critical to national security, which observers originally assumed was a legislative euphemism for Boeing, but judging from Trumps recent rhetoric, could apply to the oil industry as well.

But the biggest questions are swirling around the other $454 billion provision that seems to authorize a circuitous Rube Goldberg-style corporate bailout, where Treasury will backstop the Federal Reserve to inject liquidity into financial markets that will ultimately support medium-to-large-sized businesses. The language is very confusing. But at a moment when the Fed is already rerunning much of its playbook from the 2008 financial crisis, using its role as a lender of last resort to keep credit flowing, the CARES Act seems to encourage the Fed to take very un-Fed-like new risks in very un-Fed-like ways.

This looks like totally uncharted territory, an official at one Wall Street bank says.

Mnuchin and Fed Chairman Jay Powell have some discretion to design the programs, but it seems likely that some of the $454 billion would backstop Fed credit facilities to buy investment-grade corporate bonds and perhaps lower-rated bonds from less creditworthy corporations. In the past, the Fed has pumped about $10 into the economy for every $1 backing its programs, so the $454 billion could conceivably inject $4.5 trillion worth of liquidity.

But if these bonds are more likely to default, the money might not stretch as far as Congress hopes. And the legislation also suggests that the Fed could also start buying individual bank loans to companies, a major departure into new realms of risk. At the same time, the legislation suggests that midsized borrowers would not have to pay any principal or interest on the loans for at least six months, as long as they keep 90 percent of their employees on the payroll.

The Fed is not usually in the business of buying loans when borrowers dont have to make payments but do have to maintain their payrolls even if they arent making any money. Its a worthy goal to help companies that were solvent before the pandemic muddle through until the pandemic is over, and the Feds massive loans to AIG during the financial crisiswhich were ultimately paid back with interestshowed that central banks sometimes need to take big risks to defuse big crises. But since defusing this crisis will depend on containing the virus, not restoring confidence to the financial markets, the Fed might be putting its financial credibility on the line for a problem it cant solve.

Or maybe not. One can imagine Treasury and the Fed using the $454 billion in a relatively conservative way, backstopping relatively safe municipal and corporate bonds. That would reduce the initial risk of default, but might not provide much help to the most desperate precincts of Corporate America, which could create a wave of bankruptcies and deepen the crisis. One can also imagine a more aggressive approach, in which the Fed went on a loan-buying spree without much concern for the riskiness of the loans, which could burn through even $454 billion in a hurry.

For now, though, its all imagination, because nobody seems sure what happens next.

I dont really get it, an aide to one Democratic senator says. I hope someone gets it.


SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges investors in Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) who have suffered losses in excess of $100,000 to submit their losses now . A securities class action has been filed, and certain investors may have valuable claims.



Class Period: Oct. 31, 2019  Feb. 27, 2020

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 10, 2020

Sign Up: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SPR

Contact An Attorney Now: SPR@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR) Securities Class Action:

The Complaint alleges Defendants misled investors by misrepresenting and failing to disclose that (1) Spirit lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; and (2) the Company was violating its established accounting principles related to potential contingent liabilities.

On Jan. 30, 2020, investors began to learn the truth when Spirit announced the abrupt departures of CFO Jose Garcia and Principal Accounting Officer John Gilson. The Company explained [i]n December 2019, the Company received information through its established compliance processes that led the Company to commence a review of its accounting process compliance and [a]s a result of the review, which is ongoing, the Company determined that it did not comply with its established accounting processes with respect to certain potential contingent liabilities received by the Company after the end of the third quarter of 2019.

This news drove the price of Spirit shares sharply lower on Jan. 30, 2020.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Spirit concealed certain liabilities to appear more liquid, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you purchased shares of Spirit and suffered significant losses, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman .

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Spirit should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SPR@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
The Delhi-Uttar Pradesh (UP) border saw an uptick in reverse migration to the countrys most populous state on Saturday morning, as hundreds of workers continued their march back home after their livelihood options dried up and savings were exhausted amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown that started since Wednesday to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

The UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) authorities have been ferrying the migrants to their destinations from Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar districts, which share borders with Delhi.

The Uttar Pradesh government had made arrangement of about 1000 buses to ferry migrant workers. Ghaziabads sub divisional magistrate Devendra Pal on Saturday night said that an estimated 400-500 buses had left ISBT Kaushambi but figures of buses leaving Lal Kuan were not readily available.

The officials of UPSRTCs Ghaziabad region said that till Friday midnight they had sent about 96 buses and were arranging more to help the migrants reach their respective destinations.

 We have sent 79 buses till 11.30 am on Saturday to various destinations in UP such as Lucknow, Etawah, Bareilly, Etah, Aligarh and Gorakhpur apart from nearby places. We will continue sending buses till all the stranded workers are sent home. Bus services have resumed from ISBT [Inter State Bus Terminus] Kaushambi, said AK Singh, regional manager of UPSRTC.

We sent 96 buses from Lal Kuan intersection till Friday night and more buses are being arranged from other depots. We had arranged 200 buses on Friday but police stopped some of them because of orders that people should stay put at their respective places due to the lockdown. However, on late Friday night we received orders to resume services, he added.

The movement of migrant workers started on Tuesday (March 24) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The movement of migrant workers is in thousands and an estimated of about 40000-50000 were lined up on Delhi-UP border on Saturday evening. they are still coming in large numbers. The social distancing is openly flouted as the workers are in a hurry to catch the first bus to their hometowns, said VK Mittal, president of Kaushambi apartments RWA, an apex body of Kaushambi Township.

Migrant workers such as Mohammad Fakhruddin, who came to Lal Kuan in Ghaziabad from Tank Road in central Delhis Karol Bagh, said that he was waiting for his bus to arrive.

I have to go to Badaun, my hometown. Another 10 people will be travelling with me. I work for a garment-manufacturing unit, which makes denim jeans. However, our work has stopped due to the lockdown. The landlord is asking for rent and I have no money to pay. My family members and I have decided to move back to our hometown until the crisis blows over. We came to Lal Kuan by a UP Roadways bus. From ISBT Kaushambi, we will board another bus that will drop us at Badaun, he added.

Ghaziabad district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey denied that the migrants were stopped at Delhi-UP borders. Nobody has been stopped at the Delhi-UP borders, he said.

Those who had come to catch the buses from Lal Kuan even complained that some private vehicle owners were charging very high amount.

Some private vehicles are also available but they told me that I have to shell out Rs 1000 for a drop to my hometown. Likewise they are charging different exorbitant amounts for other areas like Etah, Lucknow, Aligarh etc. Many are also taking help of mini trucks, commercial trucks, milkvans and other commercial vehicles at the risk of their safety. The trains are also not available. As a result people have no option to wait for UP government buses and pay normal fare, said Atul Kumar, a cell centre employee travellng to his hometown Etawah from Noida

The police can be seen extending a helping hand to the workers to reach their destinations.

Its a massive crisis for these poor people. They started coming in groups of 25 to 30 and were walking towards Hapur, Moradabad, etc. We have helped many of them board empty trucks and other commercial vehicles, as they could be dropped off near their hometowns, said a police officer.

Good samaritans such as Ram Sundar Maurya are also helping the workers and busy distributing cooked food to them near Masuri on national highway (NH)-9.

The workers have started coming again. We are preparing about 300 boxes of food items for them. We helped about 300 workers to board their respective buses on Friday evening, Maurya said.

In Gautam Budh Nagar, the UPSRTC has provided about 200 buses to help stranded migrant workers go home.

These buses are leaving after every two hours from 8 am on Saturday. We will run the service for the next 48 hours, said Sankalp Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Noida. He said all district and administrative authorities have been instructed to allow these buses to travel on a priority basis.

We have also requested that the passengers be provided with food and medical facilities The buses will drop the passengers at different inter-state border points in UP. The passengers can avail of the transportation facilities being provided by the state governments of their respective native states, he added.

The DCP said that all the district magistrates (DMs) have been requested to record the details of the buses reaching their respective districts on Saturday and Sunday.

The DMs have been asked to make arrangements for the medical screening of all the passengers at their destination points, maintaining their full details, including names, addresses, and mobile numbers. It will help us in monitoring and supervision of these passengers at a later stage, Sharma added.
Nearly 300 Americans stranded in Central America due to the spread of the coronavirus have returned to the U.S. this week aboard flights used by U.S. immigration authorities to deport people back to their home countries.

Flights returned with the citizens aboard to cities in Arizona, Texas and Louisiana during the past week.

The Americans have been brought back to the U.S. on the return legs of three separate removal flights to Central America, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said. Those return flights usually are empty except for pilots and staff.

Since Sunday, 273 Americans have flown back to the U.S. on removal flights, said Mary Houtmann, an ICE spokesperson.

The total includes 128 Americans flown back from Honduras to Alexandria, Louisiana on Sunday, 81 Americans flown back from El Salvador to San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday and 64 Americans flown back from El Salvador to Mesa, Arizona on Wednesday.

More: Immigration agents accused of targeting parents taking their kids to school

U.S. citizens line up to board a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aircraft to return to the county from Central America.

More Americans were expected to be flown back to the U.S. from Central America on Friday, Houtmann said.

ICE has worked with the U.S. State Department to locate Americans stranded in Central America, she said.

There have been numerous media reports in recent days of Americans in Latin America expressing frustration with the U.S. State Department over not being able to return home due to the coronavirus.

The embassy has completely abandoned us, Susie Walden, an American stranded in Lima, Peru, told BuzzFeed News. The government is unlikely to bring people home.

On March 18, nine Democratic U.S. Senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing concern over Americans stuck abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are particularly concerned about an increasing number of reports that Americans and their family members have been unable to leave areas affected by COVID-19 and return home," the letter states. "In particular, Americans in Honduras, Morocco, Peru and Tunisia, among other countries, have reported to our offices that they are encountering difficulties in obtaining support from U.S. Embassies and Consulates, including to arrange commercial flights home.

Story continues

Coronavirus: Undocumented immigrants could be hit hard during COVID-19

U.S. Citizens aboard a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement jet used to deport undocumented immigrants. ICE was returning stranded Americans to the U.S. this week from Central America.

"In some cases, they are reporting that they are unable to establish contact with, or even receive basic information from, U.S. Embassy personnel," the letter said.

The Trump administration has advised Americans to avoid all international travel due to the global coronavirus pandemic and told Americans living abroad to come home immediately or be prepared to remain abroad indefinitely.

The administration also has warned that immigrants arriving at the border without documents will be quickly sent back to their countries, including those seeking asylum in the U.S.

Maureen Meyer, an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, said flying American's back on the empty return legs of ICE removal flights seemed like a good use of resources.

But, she added, the U.S. should suspend deportation flights to Central American countries, where poor economic conditions already make it difficult for governments to absorbed deported migrants and now the spread of the coronavirus is making it even harder.

"For countries in the region, you have the added challenge beyond capacity that the countries have shown to receive repatriated countrymen, the added difficulty they have enacted measures that, depending on the country, limit more people's ability to move around," she said.

Those measures include curfews, travel restrictions, limited access to public transportation, she said.

"That certainly impacts people's ability to receive someone or for that person who gets sent back to return to their home community," she said.

The U.S. had been flying asylum seekers from El Salvador and Honduras to Guatemala under an agreement reached in 2019 with the Guatemala government requiring migrants to apply for asylum in countries they pass through, as part of an effort to stem a wave of asylum seekers that had been arriving at the southern border.

Travelers wait in line for a charter flight coordinated by the U.S. embassy at the La Aurora airport in Guatemala City, Monday, March 23, 2020. American citizens stranded abroad because of the coronavirus pandemic are seeking help in returning to the United States. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala has stopped accepting asylum seekers from El Salvador and Honduras since the coronavirus outbreak, and those types of deportation flights have stopped, Meyer said.

On Wednesday, several advocacy groups in Guatemala demanded that the government there reject deportation flights from the U.S. amid the coronavirus outbreak, saying it put migrants at increased risk, especially adolescents and children, as well as the rest of the population.

"Deportation means returning people to the situation from which they fled and those conditions are now even worse so the risks is greater," the groups wrote in a statement. "In many communities, people don't have running water to take preventive measures to avoid infections (handwashing, laundry, bathing when they return home). In the case of minors, it must also be considered that it's more difficult for parents to be able to reunite with their daughters and sons in Guatemala City (the capital) due to the lack of public transportation and the curfew."

ICE already has suspended removal operations to Italy, China, and South Korea due to COVID-19.

Houtmann said when world events or country conditions impact a country's willingness to accept nationals, ICE works both directly with foreign governments and through the Department of State to address the situation.

"ICEs expectation is that each country will continue to meet its international obligation to accept its own nationals, she said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Coronavirus: Americans stuck in Central America return on ICE flights
The ongoing 21-day lockdown in India to combat the coronavirus outbreak can be "an opportunity" for the country as the move shows the government's transparency in policymaking, a factor which will attract more foreign investments, according to the head of an India-centric US business advocacy group.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a countrywide lockdown for three weeks, restricting a population of over 1.3 billion indoors, in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has infected over 870 people, including 19 deaths, in India.

It was the right thing to do, US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) president Mukesh Aghi told PTI.

"Everywhere I'm hearing here (in the US) that it was the right thing to do and it shows (the PM's) the sign of leadership. Hopefully in three-week time, things will get under more control in India," he said.

"However, this challenging time can be changed into an opportunity for India," Aghi said.

India is a "very lucrative market", he said, "Yes, you have this disruption. This is all over the world and India is no exception. In fact, I see it's an opportunity in this crisis for India."



He said with prime minister's announcing of the lockdown, the message has gone to the world that India, unlike China, can be "open and transparent" in its policymaking.

"So basically, companies are going to move where they feel there's more openness, more transparency," Aghi said.

At the same time, he said, since India's economy is integrated into the global economy, the government must ensure that the disruption in the global supply chain does not happen during the lockdown.

"The disruption in essential services, which India provides to the global markets, should not get impacted," he said.

The USISPF is working with US companies having footprints in India and the Indian government for them to get exemptions for some of the critical manufacturing supply chains and emergency service providers, so that India remains a future investment market, Aghi said.

He underlined that the economic fallout of the three-week lockdown can be managed.

"If it's only three weeks, impact can be managed because once you lift the lockdown, there'll be an uptick in consumption which will pent up demand," Aghi said. Besides, the government's announcement of infusing Rs 15,000 into the economy will also help, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This battle for perceptions within the war against the virus exposes the anxiety of the great competition between China and the US in our time. A decisive winner could help convince the world of their political systems superiority in the years to come. For a White House consumed with messaging and public perception (and no stranger to disinformation itself), the idea that a pathogen with origins in China could tank the US economy and sap confidence is not something that would go uncontested. While trying to ensure blame for the crisis flowed away from Washington and towards Beijing, Trump insisted coronavirus was the Chinese virus, whipping up anger against Asians and Americans who have Asian backgrounds. A meeting of G7 foreign ministers on Wednesday ended without a joint statement after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed unsuccessfully to get member nations to agree to call coronavirus Wuhan virus.

The Trump administration is now reportedly considering forcing Chinese journalists it suspects of spying to leave the US. Beijing has dialled up the volume and variety of messaging on coronavirus through diplomatic channels, state media and social media for weeks, to deflect blame for the outbreak and to try to position itself in the worlds eyes as the competent, generous problem-solver. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Group of Seven members were all aware of China's "disinformation campaign" regarding the coronavirus outbreak. Credit:AP "The Chinese Communist Party is waging a propaganda campaign to desperately try to shift responsibility for the global COVID-19 pandemic to the United States," said a US Embassy spokesperson. "This campaign began when we started to call out the risk that was created not only for the Chinese people, but for people all across the world." Images of Chinese aid have circulated widely on Chinas Western-facing media and social networks. State media has leaned heavily into the idea that COVID-19 didnt necessarily begin in China, and that democracies were incapable of meeting the challenge from it.

Spokeswomen from the US and China have even engaged in a Twitter battle about it. When Italy, where COVID-19 cases soared to 80,000 with 8100 deaths, received 30 tonnes of Red Cross medical aid from China, it was highly publicised by the Chinese and Italian media. But as The Diplomat notes, the Chinese Red Cross reciprocated for the help received from the Italian Red Cross only one month earlier, when Italy sent 18 tonnes of supplies to Wuhan.

China even promoted a faked video of an Italian suburb playing the Chinese national anthem. Surprisingly, there has been more fakery of the viral kind: Chinese state spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted a story from a Canadian-based disinformation site that claims COVID-19 originated in the US. The US-China contest over global public perceptions looks set to harden further. Earlier this week, the White House reportedly launched a communications plan across multiple federal agencies to push back on China's messages. Thanks to the  cover-up, Chinese and international experts missed a critical window to contain the outbreak within China and stop its global spread, one internal presentation read, according to the Daily Beast. Saving lives is more important than saving face.

The propaganda war is simply another dimension to the US-China competition. The Trump White Houses unrelenting response matches the speed with which China converted what had been an internal crisis into an opportunity to criticise democracy in general and the US specifically. Asked if the People's Republic of China was trying to shift the coronavirus story to reflect the weaknesses of other countries, China's Australian embassy said: "The virus is a common scourge facing all. With our future linked together, countries can only overcome the challenge by standing in solidarity." The reality is a bit more divisive. Its not clear if China is acting from growing confidence or growing fear. Its also not clear how systematic this effort is: Zhao Lijians conspiracy tweets were disavowed by Chinas ambassador to the US.

China's embassy told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald that its government departments worked "in co-ordination" on the global coronavirus response but "media outlets worked on their own". What's clear is that the Communist Party of China has faced unprecedented criticism domestically for both its initial inaction and then cover-up around coronavirus despite its media controls, said China Media Project editor David Bandurski. There is certainly an element of desperation for China over the question of the epidemic and its origins, he said. So the leadership is keen to ensure that international opinion does not turn against China, further impacting the partys perceived legitimacy. Adam Ni, director of the China Policy Centre, said its noteworthy that China is stepping up its external propaganda efforts. Beijing may actually believe that it has a superior system compared to liberal democracies, and the current crisis may reinforce that perception among those in China and beyond, said Ni.

That means highlighting the supposed superiority of China's political and governance system while focusing heavily on the shortcoming of the international response to the virus, especially in Europe and the US. The twin goals explain why the Chinas state messaging promotes images that celebrate its aid to Italy, while posting interviews, like CGTN did to its 14 million followers on Twitter, suggesting COVID-19 was in Italy in October, weeks before it was reported in China. The Australian Strategic Policy Institutes Fergus Ryan said that the worse the West does at preventing the spread of the virus, the easier it will be for China to promote an image of itself as a responsible and humanitarian global power. Yet the more China tries to hide its role about the initial coronavirus outbreak, the more damage it will do to its image in the world.

Bandurski said that part of the issue of the moment is how much communications have changed. The post-truth malaise is about more than just the Trump White House, he said. We now have a global media ecosystem that thrives on falsehoods, innuendo and could-be truths. Whoever understands that environment and its opportunities best will have the upper hand in this information confrontation. The US, as in many areas of competition with China - space, cyber, technology policy, supply chains - appears to have been caught flat-footed by Beijing's shift in strategy. Sign up to our Coronavirus Update newsletter Get our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the day's crucial developments at a glance, the numbers you need to know and what our readers are saying. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald's newsletter here and The Age's here. Should China succeed in the global propaganda war around coronavirus, as it appears to be attempting, the CCP will have achieved a revision of history in real-time on the screens of social media users everywhere.
New Delhi, March 28 : Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) has announced immediate order of "COVID-19 Advanced Diagnostic Testing Kits" from South Korea which will be distributed in consultation with the Centre and state governments to the hospitals.

The foundation is the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL).

"These advanced kits have a very high level of accuracy and can help serve over 25,000 People," the company said in a statement.

"Post receiving the shipment, the kits will be distributed in consultation with the Centre and state governments to the hospitals in affected areas," it added.

-IANS rv/sn/arm
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting on Saturday over the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected over 900 people in the country so far.

The government has also set up -- PM CARES Fund -- to deal with emergency or distress situation like that posed by COVID-19 and to provide relief to the affected people.

A PMO release has said that COVID-19 has engulfed the entire world and posed serious challenges for the health and economic security of millions of people worldwide.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 918 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in the country and 19 fatalities have been reported so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 27, 2020 / Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC)(OTCQB:GRCAF) (the "Company" and formerly TriMetals Mining Inc.), reports the release of its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, the related management's discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations ("MD&A") and an update on the 2020 Exploration Plan for the Gold Springs project. In this press release, all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

As at December 31, 2019, the Company had a working capital of $4.09 million including $3.83 million in cash.

On September 5, 2019 the Company's wholly-owned Bermudian subsidiary, South American Silver Limited ("SASL"), received from the Government of Bolivia ("Bolivia") US$25,588,525, being net of $209,475 for the Arbitration Tribunal's cost order, as a final settlement amount for (i) SASL's arbitration award against Bolivia and (ii) the transfer of the Malku Khota Project Data by the Company to Bolivia. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company paid $8,408,603 of arbitration award liabilities and on November 4, 2019 redeemed the Class B shares for $0.09827 per Class B share for total redemption proceeds of $11,436,186. These transactions resulted in a fair value income change of $3.31 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. On November 5, 2019 the Class B shared were delisted from the TSX and the OTCQB.

On September 26, 2019 the Company closed the transaction with Wealth Minerals Limited and Wealth Copper Limited ("Wealth Copper") for the sale of the Escalones Project (the "Escalones Transaction", refer to New Release of September 27, 2019) which resulted in the Company acquiring a 42.6% ownership stake (equity investment) in Wealth Copper and recognizing a non-cash loss of $13.47 million due to the write-down of the Escalones property asset. During the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company recognized a non-cash loss of $0.1 million for its proportionate share in Wealth Copper's results of operations from the date of acquisition.

During Q4 2019, the Company completed a drill program at the Homestake target located in the Nevada side of the Gold Springs project, and continued to manage its costs structure which resulted in general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, remaining consistent year over year at $1.26 million compared to $1.24 million during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Exploration spending during the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased to $0.79 million from $1.20 million incurred in the year ended December 31, 2018. The 2019 costs included $0.70 million incurred at Gold Springs and $0.09 million incurred at the Escalones property in Chile, prior to the completion of the Escalones Transaction.

The Company reported a net loss of $11.80 million ($0.05 loss per share) for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared with net earnings of $2.59 million ($0.01 earnings per share) for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Exploration Plan for 2020

The Company's vision is to identify a multimillion-ounce gold resource at its Gold Springs project. Aligned with that vision, the Company's plan for 2020 was to continue to add to the existing gold resources at Gold Springs. GRC had planned approximately 8,700 meters of drilling to start in early Q2 2020, mainly focused on stepping out and testing the extensions of the existing South Jumbo and North Jumbo resources, with the goal of increasing these resources which are open in multiple directions. The plan also included other exploration activities, metallurgical test work and the publishing of a new resource estimate by the end of 2020, capturing the results of the 2017, 2019 and 2020 drill programs.

As a result of the social and economic disruption that has emerged as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the impact on the industry and capital markets, the Company has decided, for the present, to defer its 2020 Exploration Plan. The Company will continue to monitor the situation and reassess this decision in the near future, in light of the market conditions at that time.

Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements

Pursuant to BC Instrument 51-515 - Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements ("BCI 51-515") of the British Columbia Securities Commission ("Commission") and orders by the other Canadian securities regulatory authorities providing similar exemptions to those provided in BCI 51-515, the Commission granted exemptions from the requirements of section 85 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) to provide certain periodic disclosure about a reporting issuer's business and affairs, and variations of certain Commission rules to extend the time required to comply with such requirements (the "Exemption").

The Company announces that it will be relying on the Exemption in respect of the requirement to file its Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2019-(the "AIF") on or before March 30, 2020, and advises that:

management and other insiders of the Company are subject to a trading black-out policy that reflects the principles in section 9 of National Policy 11-207 - Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions; the Company expects to file the AIF on or before May 14, 2020; there have been no material business developments in respect of the Company since the date of the annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Outlook

The Company's focus is on the exploration and expansion of the mineral resources at its Gold Springs project in Nevada and Utah, USA.

About Gold Springs Resource Corp. (Formerly TriMetals Mining Inc.)

Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX: GRC and OTCQB: GRCAF) is a growth-focused gold exploration company creating value through the exploration and development of the Gold Springs project in Nevada and Utah, U.S.A. Management has extensive experience in global exploration and the mining industry.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. Contact:

Matias Herrero

Chief Executive Officer

info@goldspringsresource.com

+1 (778) 801-1667

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as "creating", "view of", "intended", "plan", "believe", "vision", "would", "continue", "will", "estimate", "promising", and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, risks of the mineral exploration industry which may affect the advancement of the Gold Springs project, including possible variations in mineral resources, grade, recovery rates, metal prices, capital and operating costs, and the application of taxes; availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; availability of equipment and qualified personnel, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes in project parameters, including water requirements for operations, as plans continue to be refined; regulatory, environmental and other risks of the mining industry more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form and continuous disclosure documents, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The assumptions made in developing the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of current resource estimates and the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the continuing support for mining by local governments in Nevada and Utah; the availability of equipment and qualified personnel to advance the Gold Springs project; execution of the Company's existing plans and further exploration and development programs for Gold Springs, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such plans or programs.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe the Company's expectations as of the date hereof.

SOURCE: Gold Springs Resources Corporation

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In the 1300s the Black Death swept across Europe, decimating the population and leaving devastating loss in its wake. Also known as the Bubonic Plague, the disease killed between 75 to 200 million people or about 30% to 60% of Europes population. The plague was a major marker in world history, and it took over 200 years for Europe to normalize after the plague.

Now, 700 years later, we are dealing with another pandemic of epic proportions; however, this virus is being played out 24/7 in households, screens, and social media feeds of billions of people worldwide. More information is consumed and produced in one day than could have ever been produced in the entirety of the Black Plague.

There is complete uncertainty about the best approaches to stopping COVID-19. Tensions are running high throughout the world about the positive and negative consequences for decisions both large and small that are made in addressing the virus.

As the numbers continue to swell of those infected by COVID-19 and those who have lost their lives to the virus, gruesome scenes are coming in from Northern Italy, New York, and Wuhan, China. Humanity is groaning, anxiety is rising, and priorities are changing in a pandemic plagued world as the number one priority has become the protection of life at all costs. In a short span of three months, preserving life has become the chief preoccupation of the majority of the worlds population.

Civilization was created for the protection of people. Medicine was created for healing and health. The most basic and precious asset of any society is its people. The US economy is recessed, and world economies are crashing precisely because those economies depend on men and women created in the image of God. Businesses need people to work, people to buy their goods, and people to use their services. Our economy is based on the abundance of human life.

As elective surgeries are being postponed throughout the world in order to save bed space for COVID-19 patients, authorities in Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Utah have made various orders to limit or halt abortion procedures within their states. Pro-life advocates must not only celebrate these bold and sensible moves, but also seize this historic moment when nations are valuing life over economy to show the vile senselessness of abortion the world throughout. Has there been a time like this when the whole world was so intent to save human life? Why would we ever go back to voluntarily relinquishing and killing that same life in the womb?

Ohio was the first state in the US to make the move to halt abortion and Planned Parenthood was quick to respond saying:

We're in this together. Planned Parenthood's top priority is ensuring that every person can continue accessing essential health care, including abortion. We are complying with the Ohio Department of Health's order regarding personal protective equipment, which required hospitals and surgical facilities to stop providing non-essential surgeries and procedures and take other steps to reduce the use of equipment. Under that order, Planned Parenthood can still continue providing essential procedures, including surgical abortion, and our health centers continue to offer other health care services that our patients depend on. Our doors remain open.

So while every corner on the earth is hunkering down, quarantining, sheltering in place, and practicing social distancing in order to protect the elderly, the vulnerable, those who are medically fragile and all life on the planet, Planned Parenthood is working in this environment to preserve the elimination of human life. Has this position ever stood in more distinct contrast and tone deaf obstinance to the vast majority of the planets priorities?

Life is not a choice. Life is precious and a responsibility given by God. We are formed in the image of God; and thus, we are the Imago Dei! We bear the mark of Gods image in our lives and nothing could be more precious. Why should we advocate for the sanctity of life? Because, like in Wuhan, Northern Italy, nursing homes around the world, New York City, and every corner of the planet all life matters to our God.

We are the clay and God is the potter. He does not make pots or instruments that are disposable. He is the author of life, and He is the only one who can determine the beginning and the end of life. This is not a gray area that we can take into our hands just because we possess the medical technology to do so. Abortion is not an essential service in a COVID-19 pandemic world or under any other circumstance. Let us pray and work for a world in which abortion is never seen as essential!
Health chiefs, gardai and councils have warned the public against large crowds flocking to beaches, forests and beauty spots as we enjoy dry, bright but cold spring weather over the weekend.

Housebound families will enjoy perfect weather for outdoor exercise over the next four days, but Met Eireann's forecast prompted officials battling the Covid-19 pandemic to issue a special plea for people to strictly comply with social distancing protocols while congregating in large groups is now banned.

Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Cork councils warned that gatherings of any kind are being discouraged.

Distancing

Outdoor amenities around Dublin will be carefully monitored to ensure people adhere to Covid-19 protection guidelines.

Officials at Hook Lighthouse in Wexford, a hugely popular visitor spot, have urged people to stay away.

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"We love nothing more than welcoming visitors to Hook Lighthouse," a spokesman said.

"However, right now is not the time to visit. We sincerely hope that by being closed we can help to protect those around us and we urge everyone to do the same."

Gardai stressed that if there were reports of large crowds ignoring social distancing recommendations, officers would immediately move to disperse those involved.

"We recognise the importance of people being able to get exercise and enjoy the sunshine, particularly as families, but we are appealing to people to follow the Health Service Executive guidelines so as to protect themselves and everyone else," gardai said.

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Whatsapp Thousands visited Glendalough last weekend despite advice

"If people don't follow social distancing protocols, we will be forced to disperse such groups."

The warning came as car parks at beauty spots in Wicklow were closed after people ignored guidelines and gardai diverted people away from a popular hill walk in east Cork because of overcrowding.

Gardai will also be monitoring Tramore after reports of a large number of people at the Waterford seaside resort last weekend.

The benefit of the weather, which will turn colder, will be further enhanced by the clocks going forward by one hour tomorrow, maximising daylight hours.

Met Eireann's Liz Walsh said that Ireland will enjoy dry, mostly settled weather over the weekend.

"Saturday will be another dry day for most areas, with sunny spells, but it will cloud over at times," she said.

The south and east will enjoy the best of the weather, with the chance of isolated showers in the north and north-east. Temperatures will reach 12C or 13C.

"Sunday will be dry countrywide after a chilly start, with frost in the west and north. There will be sunshine away from eastern and southern coastal counties, but it will brighten up at times in these parts too," said Ms Walsh.

However, it will be cold with afternoon highs of only 5C or 6C in Ulster and east Leinster, rising to 8C across other parts.

Both Monday and Tuesday will also prove dry, cloudy days with some bright sunshine.
Washington, D.C., March 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prison Fellowship, the nations largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, released the following statement after the passing of Patty Colson, the wife of its founder, Charles Chuck Colson, on Friday morning. She would have been 90 years old in July.

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Patty Colson, a dedicated and selfless servant of Gods Kingdom and this ministry, said James Ackerman, President and CEO of Prison Fellowship. Those who knew Chuck and Patty witnessed a very strong and committed marriage of 48 years. They were life partnersthe foundation of which was a true model of love for each other based on Jesus teaching in I Peter 4:8, my command is this, love each other as I have loved you. Patty was by Chucks side, in the good times and the bad, until his death in April of 2012.

Charles Chuck Colson, former White House council and President Nixon's "right-hand man," served time in a federal prison, where he felt led by God to honor a promise he made to remember prisoners and their families. That promise grew into Prison Fellowship -- the world's largest prison ministry -- which he founded in 1976.

Chuck and Patty were truly a team, called by God, as she was a vital and integral part of this ministry, added Ackerman. We find comfort in the words she shared after Chucks death: Its been a rough year, but God is good. He has been with me all the way, holding my hand. We rejoice that she and Chuck are now together again, holding each others hand, in the presence of our Savior for all eternity.

Prison Fellowship

Prison Fellowship is the nation's largest nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading advocate for justice reform. We seek to share the real, living hope of the Gospel with people who long for its power to make them new. Real restoration begins by addressing the cycle of crime on all fronts, in prison and out, and engaging in a cycle of renewal.
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Lady Gaga has always been somewhat mysterious. She looks at things in a different way from most people. Even her most ardent fans think some of her choices are baffling, and her dating life is a little chaotic. Basically, Gagas life is just as creative and unexpected as her art, and people love that about her.

But although shes not your run-of-the-mill celebrity, she recently revealed something about her love life that a lot of busy women can relate to. It turns out that even Gaga struggles with finding a balance between her career and her personal life.

Lady Gaga has had a few heartbreaks

Its probably not a surprise that gorgeous Gaga has dated a number of men. But that doesnt mean she takes relationships lightly; many of these boyfriends were very serious and shes been engaged multiple times.

In 2008 she dated her creative director, Matthew Williams. They were together for two years, but even though she described them as crazy lovers, in the end she decided that she preferred their creative connection. In 2010 she began a relationship with Luc Carl that lasted for a year. Her song You & I is about Carl.

In 2011 she met actor Taylor Kinney when he played her love interest in the video for You & I. They dated for years, and in 2015 they got engaged. A year later in 2016, they broke up, despite being what she described as soulmates.

February of 2017 she started seeing her talent agent, Christian Carino. In October of the next year, Lady Gaga confirmed engagement rumors by calling him her fiance. However, the relationship ended just a few months later in February of 2019.

After her breakup with Carino, fans assumed she would start dating Bradley Cooper, her A Star Is Born co-star. There had been many rumors of an affair between them, especially since Cooper also broke up with his girlfriend. But that love affair never materialized. Instead, she started seeing Dan Horton in July of 2019. Their relationship only lasted a few months, and in October of 2019, she was single again.

Lady Gaga struggled with being alone

Lady Gaga | Jon Kopaloff/WireImage/Getty Images

In a recent radio interview, Gaga opened up about how she felt when she was single. The amount of energy her career required, combined with other trauma she has dealt with, left her unhappy. It was a really hard process for me because I was going through a time in my life  I was actually having a lot of trouble with it, I did not like being single, she shared. I felt like my career had kind of taken over everything and that my personal life was something that I didnt get to have as much time to pursue and have control over and I got very sad.

But even though her music was taking up so much room in her life, it was also what helped her heal. By creating uplifting songs like Stupid Love she was able to work through some of the pain. It showed me how strong I was, she said. It made me not only make a song that now is really big all over the world, and Im so proud, but it also made me open for a place where I could fall in love.

Shes found love again

These days Gaga has returned to that place again. Her new boyfriend, Michael Polansky, is not in show business like many of her exes. He has a degree in computer science and applied mathematics. The two seem very happy together, even enjoying self-quarantining together during the coronavirus crisis.

Gagas joy has been a long time coming, but these days shes focused on what she has. As she says, I think its really great to feel grateful for what we do have and love is one of those things.
On Sunday, March 29, 10:00 a.m.noon Pacific Daylight Time, the Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site will hold an online forum to discuss a working class response to the global coronavirus pandemic. This event will be streamed live throughout the world on the WSWS. Register to participate in order to receive updates and information on future events. Share this event as broadly as possible with your friends, family and coworkers.

As the United States surpasses China in global cases of COVID-19, the US ruling class has made clear that it intends to make the working class pay the full cost of both the pandemic and the $6 trillion it just handed to Wall Street. As the stock market surges on promises of stimulus, many hospitals around the country are already on the verge of collapse as COVID-19 cases continue to grow at an exponential rate. With the US economy set to contract by up to 25% this quarter, millions have lost their jobs while tens of millions more are forced to continue working under hazardous conditions to avoid destitution. Wildcat strikes have broken out across the US, among autoworkers, sanitation workers, Amazon workers, and others, with similar actions in Europe and Canada. The entire population of California has been ordered to shelter in place in a half-measure aimed to slow the spread of the disease. These are the conditions under which the strike of University of California (UC) graduate students finds itself as it enters its seventh week.

UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) graduate students first took wildcat action in defiance of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union in December in a justified fight for livable wages through a cost of living adjustment (COLA). The initial grade strike became a teaching strike in February, which quickly gained widespread support across the entire UC system, across the US and internationally, with sympathy strikes or mass demonstrations at all 11 UC campuses. In addition, graduate students at Columbia University, also represented by the UAW, have voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action.

The UC administration met the wildcat strike by firing over 80 UCSC graduate students. The administration initially announced plans to strip victimized strikers of health insurance even as they shut down campuses and ordered a haphazard switch to online classes in an effort to safeguard the health of students and employees. Faced with widespread popular opposition, including calls to boycott UCSC or the whole UC system, the administration was forced to reinstate health care while continuing to leave the strikers without income.

The UAW, which opposed the strike from the beginning, is attempting to divert the students behind a toothless unfair labor practices (ULP) strike aimed at forcing UC administration, acting on behalf of the Democrat-appointed Board of Regents, to bargain in good faith.

Faced with an impending recession, the only thing UC plans to bargain for is further cuts to education. The California State University system recently announced a system-wide hiring freeze for 2020. Similarly severe measures will likely be imposed soon at the more research-oriented UC system, with thousands of workers likely to lose jobs, wages and benefits.

In response to the Great Recession of 20072009, the UC budget was slashed by billions of dollars. The system sought to partially make up for the funding shortfall by drastically raising tuition (nominally fees). Mass student protests, confined to UC campuses, abjectly failed to halt budget cuts and tuition hikes.

The UC strike has gone as far as it can go on the basis of its current anarchistic trade unionist outlook, promoted by pseudo-left political organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America and various anarchist tendencies. Such politics keep the struggle isolated on the campuses and reject the possibility of the development of a powerful political movement of all sections of the working class against the capitalist system. From the outset, the graduate students fight has been a political struggle against the Democratic Party from their local agent UC President Janet Napolitano to the national leadership which has slashed funding for public education over decades.

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic sweeps aside any illusions that the UC regents share any common ground with students and employees. Wages are not at poverty levels because the university wont negotiate in good faith but because the politicians are attempting to extract as much money as they can out of workers and students. The same system that tells grad students that there is no money for education and they have to work endless hours for scraps, found trillions of dollars overnight to back stock prices and bail out multi-billion dollar companies. The fight for better wages at the university can only exist as part of a struggle with workers across the country for a rational response to the ongoing public health catastrophe, a fight to place the lives of working people above the profit interests of the super-rich.

This necessitates a political break with not only the Democratic Party but also with the UAW and the entire corrupt trade union apparatus. The essentially pro-company orientation of the unions is displayed most clearly by the fact that unions such as the UAW and Teamsters have invariably tried to browbeat workers into continuing to work through the pandemic with completely inadequate protection. At the Fiat-Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP), UAW officials threatened workers with termination if they refused to work. Despite this, workers succeeded in closing the plant through wildcat action. One of those initially infected at SHAP has since died of COVID-19.

The COLA movement is currently hamstrung by various attempts to pressure or reform the UAW. Despite the UAWs intransigent opposition to the wildcat strike, COLA organizers across the UC are running candidates in UAW local elections and working to channel their support behind the UAWs unfair labor practices (ULP) April strike vote. The main grievance cited by the UAW is that UC was bypassing the Union and dealing directly with ASEs [academic student employees] and/or other groups regarding the terms and conditions of their employment. The union points to apparent attempts by the UC administration to negotiate with student government at UCSC, but this statement makes clear that they are equally opposed to UC negotiations with any other non-UAW entity, including and especially the wildcat strikers.

The function of a ULP strike is to demand that an employer bargain in good faith with a union. Workers are not allowed to raise demands related to wages or working conditions during ULP strikes, and most certainly are not allowed to call upon other workers to join their struggle. Thus, the call for a ULP strike is a demand that graduate students halt their wildcat strike, stop raising compensation demands, such as COLA, and pressure UC to bargain in good faith with the same union that agreed in 2018 to the current contract and has fought to enforce the no-strike clause, but is now faced with an impending economic recession and, presumably, massive budget cuts. Calls for a ULP strike are nothing but an effort to bring grad students back under the thumb of the corrupt UAW.

In opposition to this dead end, we call on graduate students and all those who support a socially rational response to the ongoing social crisis, now most sharply expressed in the COVID-19 pandemic, to form workplace and neighborhood committees and organize as broadly as possible based on the following program of action:

An emergency program to expand health care infrastructure, including accessible and universal testing and free treatment for all infected.





The immediate closure of all schools, non-essential plants and other workplaces, with full income for workers affected, for as long as such measures are necessary to maintain public health.





This requires re-hiring of all laid-off workers, including and especially over 80 victimized UCSC strikers. This necessarily means a fight against cuts to public education and for an expansion of education funding to meet pressing social needs.





Students, many of whom have been evicted from dormitories or were homeless to begin with, must be provided immediately with safe and affordable housing.





Abolish tuition and fees. As millions are thrown out of work, students should not be charged for their right to education, particularly through largely improvised online classes.





Safe working conditions in essential industries.





End all sanctions and trade war measures. Left in place, they could kill millions.

The trillions of dollars necessary to meet these demands clearly exist, and were indeed just handed by the US government to the banks. It is up to the working class to take up the political struggle to use these resources to meet pressing human needs regardless of its effect on profits. This is the fight for socialism.
By Olivia Rose

"IF THE virus grips this country, if it grows exponentially, our medical provision will be overwhelmed and overwhelmed quickly.





These sentiments were expressed by Governor Nigel Dakin on Wednesday (March 25) during his address to the nation.





This grave but very real concern prompted the Government to declare a state of emergency and impose a 21-day lockdown of the territory this week.





Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales, Dakin said the TCI and the world is facing "unprecedented times.





He said at this juncture the TCI has to take "its destiny into its own hands.





"There are many challenges but for the purpose of this month lets be clear on the two that are most pressing and absolutely have to be dealt with now; no question.





"First is our health. We are a small island state. We have, as a result, limited capacity but also a limited ability to flex capacity.





He stressed that large countries with highly developed healthcare systems such as the UK and Italy have had their health systems be quickly burdened.





"If the virus grips this country, if it grows exponentially, our medical provision will to be overwhelmed and overwhelmed quickly, Dakin said.





The governor said the other major challenge is safeguarding the territorys economy.





"The second is our economy, macro certainly but also micro - how this impacts on individuals and on families.





"We have, or until the end of last week we had, an economy that was built on one pillar - tourism - or put another way, international travel.





"As international travel stops, and it was stopping before the closure of our borders, so too does the economy stop.





He said his and the Governments aim throughout the growing crisis has been to not surprise the public.





"We need to balance moving now as quickly as we can, set against ensuring the country can go into this next period balanced and stable.





"Government intends to tackle these two great challenges of our public health and our overall economic well-being.





"In both cases we are moving at a pace no government has ever worked at before with the most limited of ever-changing data.





He said the 21-day lockdown will "buy time as the Government grapples with the socioeconomic effects of the global pandemic.





"We cant deliver you perfection, or anything close to perfection, we can though take some big decisions now that buy us some time.





TCIs advantage

Governor Dakin explained the TCI's enviable position in terms of its disaster strategies, resilience and economic footing.





"While it is straightforward to call out the two great challenges we face, its also worth pausing for a moment to reflect that we start with a set of advantages.





He said that much of what has been announced is driven by the determination not to lose the advantage the territory presently enjoys compared to most.





"There is a window here where if we are bold we might just come through this far less impacted than others; we dont intend to shy away from that opportunity or responsibility.





"If we fail it wont be because of indecision. So what are those advantages:





"First, we still only have one confirmed case of COVID-19.





"Almost all other countries have taken the actions we are about to take long after this point. Globally, everyone who is now gripped by the virus tells us to move early, not late.





He said that as of midnight, on Tuesday night, emergency powers are in place.





"We are the only overseas territory who has done this. In doing so the Government continues to work as one.





"Myself and the premier are in the same place, able, if you like, to finish each others sentences.





"Cabinet, Government and consensus is the order of the day.





"We have the powers bestowed on the governor which are going to allow us to act at pace and rigour, but we also have the legitimacy, in this time of crisis, that democracy can deliver.





The territory starts this crisis with the Governments finances in good shape, he said, adding that the TCI has over $100 million in reserves, which will help to cushion the inevitable recession.





The Governor also pointed out that the TCI finished the year with a financial surplus and carries very little debt.





"This year was the first year its financial plan didnt need to be cleared with the UK. It has a BBB+ credit rating.





"The UK has immediately agreed for the premier to run, if she needs, a deficit budget. Money is cheap to borrow in the international markets.





"The Governments past prudence has bought itself some time, space and international credibility to support its people.





"Again many countries would wish to start from this position, Dakin stressed.





He reminded that although the UK faces its own crisis, it has pledged to assist the Turks and Caicos Islands.





"We also have the UK. She too is going through her own version of this - indeed she is deeper into this pandemic crisis than we want TCI ever to get.





"But the UK in the end holds the contingent financial liabilities for these Islands and remains one of the largest economies in the world; a back-stop most other Caribbean states would welcome at this time.





The UK, he explained, is sourcing health materials for the TCI and has provided advice to local clinicians.





"I have military aid to call on to support us, as I need.





"Indeed, I spoke to the UKs Chief of Defence staff, General Nick Carter, who commands all the UKs land, air and naval forces this morning. HMS Medway is in the region.





Adequate food and water

In a bid to quell fears about the territorys food and water supply during the lockdown, the governor said supplies are adequate.





"I have said in the past we have weeks of supply of food on the island. The truth is, its months.





"Theres no indication our food supply chain will be impacted and the Government in preparation for hurricane has its own supply of food as a contingency, he explained.





"We produce our water from the sea. So long as we have fuel (and again our fuel supply line is in great shape) to run our desalination plants we have fresh drinking water.





"We have a world class power provider and - unlike in a hurricane - we will have excellent

and guaranteed communications.





"Our health service is small - it cant cope with a pandemic - but our health service professionals are amazing.





"Its not an accident that we are in good shape at present; their advice has been exemplary.





He advised people in the coming days to be as responsible in our supermarkets and stores as they have been to date.





"How we behave there will tell us a lot about how we will behave elsewhere.





"Which brings me to the most important advantage we have, the advantage I said we were not going to squander.





He emphasised that unlike many countries the TCI is ahead of the curve in terms of its measures in place to combat the spread of the virus.





The TCI Government has taken critical lessons from other countries during this pandemic.





"We have seen other countries react, we have seen what has worked and what has not.





You, yourselves, will have been tracking this through the international media.





"Through the UKs global network, we have been in very close touch with multiple foreign governments and been able to track their reactions - not from the press - but from talking to their officials, heads of government and medical professionals.





Tried and tested resilience

Optimistically, the governor reminded citizens of their resilience in the face of past adversities.





"It just may be that these Islands, because of the inherent advantages I described at the start, are going to show the world that it is possible to deal with this crisis, calmly, intelligently and purposefully





"Crucially we have you - the public of TCI. You understand adversity and you understand hardship. You have been through three hurricanes in 12 years.





"Compared to most other countries in the world you know we can do this, and we know we can get through this, if we stick together and behave responsibly.





"We know that we have to act for the good of the community at moments like this - selfishness at this time is a social taboo.





He acknowledged that the actions needed during a pandemic differ from those taken in a hurricane but the underlying human instinct is what will get the country through.





"Being steady, knowing it will pass, knowing that short term hardship will be replaced by a future normality, is the most powerful thought and many populations around the world have not got your experience.





"They cant imagine it will end; they cant imagine things will be better; you can because you know it does happen.





"Because these Islands understand disaster we are well prepared for them.





"Whether we collectively succeed, or not, the one thing I know above all others is that our behaviours here, to one another, putting our future and our society before the immediacy of the moment, is going to be remembered.





"Those living through this will tell a future generation how you, your friends, your neighbours, and those you never knew but came to respect, behaved and how through that behaviour the Islands rapidly returned to their previous prosperity.





"Because that will come. You know it, in different circumstances youve been here before.




Kabul strike: Kerala man is second Indian to strike on foreign soil

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: The Islamic State in its magazine, Naba released the image of a Kerala based operative, while claiming that he was part of the Gurdwara attack in Kabul. The attack claimed 25 lives and the Indian agencies said that it was clearly aimed at conveying a message to India.

The Kerala operative has been identified as Muhsin Trikaripur alias Mohammad Muhasin Nangarath Abdullah. Ironically he becomes the second Indian to be involved in an attack on foreign soil.

The first known Indian to be involved in an attack on foreign soil was. Fayaz Kagzi alias Abdullah Gazar Khan. It may be recalled that he was killed on July 4 2016, while attempting a strike near the US consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kabul attack: A classic false flag operation by the ISI

Kagzi was originally recruited into the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. However later on he was tasked by the ISI, Pakistan to carry out an attack for the Islamic State. Following the Jeddah strike, the ISIS claimed responsibility for the same. Kagzi, it may recalled was part of the Aurangabad arms haul case busted in Maharashtra. Following this, he had fled to Pakistan in 2006. He was then moved to Saudi Arabia on travel documents provided by Pakistan.

The Indian agencies are closely watching the developments and also coordinating with their counterparts in Afghanistan. Muhasin's name has not officially cropped up in the probe of now says a senior officials with the Intelligence Bureau. However the information that the Indian agencies have on him clearly suggest that he was highly trained. He had left for Afghanistan in 2018 itself and had been extensively trained for a mammoth operation such as this, the officer cited above also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 8:04 [IST]
A growing number of Swedish doctors and scientists are raising alarm over the Swedish governments approach to COVID-19. Unlike its Nordic neighbours, Sweden has adopted a relatively relaxed strategy, seemingly assuming that overreaction is more harmful than under-reaction.

Although the government has now banned gatherings of more than 50 people, this excludes places like schools, restaurants and gyms which remain open. Thats despite the fact that 3,046 people have tested positive. Although Norway has the most confirmed cases (3,066) in Scandinavia, COVID-19 fatalities in Sweden are highest by far (92), compared with Norway (15) and Denmark (41).

People now are taking sides, with some arguing that publicly criticising the authorities only serves to undermine public trust at a time when this is so badly needed. Others are convinced that Sweden is hurtling toward a disaster of biblical proportions and that the direction of travel must change. The truth is that of all these opinions, none is derived from direct experience of a global pandemic. No one knows for sure what lies ahead.

Related Video: Paris Hospitals Near Breaking Point as Europe Endures Coronavirus

In epidemics, prediction models help guide the choice of interventions, assess likely social and economic impacts, and estimate hospital surge capacity requirements. All prediction models require input data, ideally derived from past experience in comparable scenarios. And we know the quality of such input data is poor.

Most current COVID-19 prediction models use data gathered from the COVID-19 epidemics in China and Italy and from past outbreaks of other infectious diseases such as Ebola, influenza and other coronaviruses (SARS and MERS). But demographics and patterns of social interactions differ from country to country. Sweden has a small population and only one real metropolitan area. Ideally, wed need data from Sweden on the community spread of COVID-19, but this requires screening programmes that do not currently exist.

Story continues

The little reliable data on COVID-19 in Sweden concerns hospital admissions and fatalities. This latter can be used to get a poor mans estimate of community transmission, providing approximately how many fatalities occur among those infected. But with a two-week lag between diagnosis and death, this a very blunt instrument with which to guide decision making.

In Sweden, the public health authorities have released simulations to guide surge requirements. This is the extent to which hospitals will need to boost their capacity to deal with the high number of very ill COVID-19 patients that are likely to need specialist care in the coming weeks. From these simulations, it is clear that the Swedish government anticipates far fewer hospitalisations per 100,000 of the population than predicted in other countries, including Norway, Denmark and the UK.

The corresponding number of deaths in Sweden predicted using the UK simulations are much higher than the Swedish governments simulations suggest. The reason appears to be that Swedish authorities believe there are many infected people without symptoms and that, of those who come to clinical attention, only one in five will require hospitalisation. At this point, it is hard to know how many people are asymptomatic as there is no structured screening in Sweden and no antibody test to check who has actually had COVID-19 and recovered from it. But substantially underestimating hospital surge requirements would nevertheless be devastating.

Uneven spread

Like in many other countries, the spread of COVID-19 is quite uneven in Sweden. Most cases have been diagnosed and treated in the greater Stockholm area, and lately also in the northern county of Jamtland  a popular destination for skiers. On the other hand, some other geographical areas are relatively spared, at least for the moment. In the third largest Swedish city, Malmo, still only a few cases have been hospitalised at the time of writing.

Lightspring/Shutterstock

There is no doubt that the epidemic will spread, but the speed of this is disputed. The national Public Health authorities are also sceptical about the need for lock-down in most of the country, but discussions are now ongoing to enforce such an intervention in the capital area.

There are several arguments supporting the current official Swedish strategy. These include the need to keep schools open in order to allow parents who work in key jobs in health care, transportation and food supply lines to remain at work. Despite other infectious diseases spreading rapidly among children, COVID-19 complications are relatively rare in children. A long-term lockdown is also likely to have major economic implications that in the future may harm healthcare due to lack of resources. This may eventually cause even more deaths and suffering than the COVID-19 pandemic will bring in the near term.

Herd immunity

The best estimates of the COVID-19 case-fatality ratio (CFR)  the proportion of those infected who die  is currently 0.5-1.0%. By comparison, the 1918-1919 Spanish flu had a 3% CFR in some parts of northern Sweden. A century ago, Sweden was recovering from the first world war, even though the country stayed neutral.

Internal transportation and communication systems were less developed than in many other countries at the time, which helped slow the spread of the epidemic. In the short term, this was perceived to be a good thing, but because herd immunity  whereby enough people have been infected to become immune to the virus  had not been initially achieved, there were at least two additional epidemics of the Spanish flu virus within a year. The second wave of infections had a higher mortality rate than the first wave.

Learning the lesson from this, many people in Sweden are now optimistic that it can achieve herd immunity. Compared with the Spanish flu, COVID-19 is less severe, with many infected people believed to be asymptomatic. While this contributes to a more rapid spread, it also means that the threshold for herd immunity is about 60%. This may be quickly achieved in countries that do not have intensive mitigation or suppression strategies.

This may also lower the risk of further waves of the epidemic. So when we probe the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in the future, there will likely be a lot of focus on the success or failure of Swedens relatively relaxed initial approach. This would take into account not just the loss of lives from the pandemic, but also longer term social and economic negative consequences and the deaths they may cause.

Ultimately, given the uneven and relatively modest spread of the virus in Sweden at the moment, its initial strategy may not turn out to be reckless. But going forward, Sweden is likely to have to impose stricter restrictions depending on how the virus spreads, especially in metropolitan areas or when the health care system is under severe strain.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Paul Franks receives research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi Aventis and Servier and has received received consulting fees from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Zoe Global Ltd and has stock options in Zoe Global Ltd.

Peter M Nilsson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Daimler Trucks North America has extended the shutdown of its Swan Island plant for a week, until April 13.

Daimler announced the shutdown Wednesday and initially said it would reopen April 6. The company said it is suffering a parts shortage due to the coronavirus outbreak, prompting Daimler to close plants in Portland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Mexico.

Daimler didnt say Friday why it has extended the shutdown and hasnt said how many workers it has furloughed. The companys total Portland workforce has numbered 2,600 in recent years, a figure that included its corporate office, research work and production of Western Star trucks on Swan Island.

The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on Oregons economy as bars, hotels, restaurants and many retail shops close down indefinitely to contain the outbreak. Most of the states large manufacturers have remained open, however, and were specifically exempted from Gov. Kate Browns stay home order Monday.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
 Flash

Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed half a million with more than 20,000 deaths, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday, calling them "tragic numbers."

The situation dashboard by WHO showed a total of 509,164 coronavirus cases have been reported globally as of 10:00 CET Friday, as the virus spread to more than 200 countries and regions.

The global death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 23,335.

Noting that a COVID-19 vaccine is still at least 12 to 18 months away, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Tedros stressed an urgent need for therapeutics to treat patients and save lives.

Speaking of the "Solidarity Trial," a multi-country clinical study for potential treatments for COVID-19, Tedros said it is a historic trial that will dramatically cut the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs work.

Tedros announced that the first batch of patients in Norway and Spain will be shortly enrolled in the clinical study, which compares the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against the epidemic.

"The more countries who join the trial, the faster we will have results," Tedros said, noting more than 45 countries and regions are contributing to the trial while more have expressed interest.

Tedros, meanwhile, called on individuals and countries to refrain from using therapeutics that have not been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19.

"As the pandemic evolves and more countries are affected, we are learning more and more lessons about what works and what doesn't," Tedros said.

He underlined the necessity to follow the evidence, saying that there are no short-cuts.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 13:15 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206dff77e 1 News AirAsia,Airlines,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Amid the alarming spread of COVID-19 across the country, low-cost carrier AirAsia Indonesia announced on Saturday that it would suspend all its QZ flight code services starting April 1.

The carrier's domestic and international routes will be temporarily suspended until April 21 and May 17, respectively.

"AirAsia Indonesia will continue to monitor the development of the situation and conduct steps to anticipate what's required to continue our flight services," read the statement.

The airline said affected passengers would be notified by email and SMS. Passengers can access support.airasia.com to either reschedule their flight before Oct. 31 at no additional charge, or convert the amount paid for the flight into a credit account that can be used for the next 365 days.

Those who booked their flights through booking group services, travel agencies or other third parties are advised to contact the respective parties.

Passengers who need to travel in the near future are advised to reschedule their flight to a date prior to April 1.

Meanwhile, on March 20 national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced that it would continue to operate some of its services, including to Australia and Netherlands. (kes)
JACKSON, MI  The National Weather Service Saturday issued a flood warning for the Grand River in Jackson that will be in effect until Sunday afternoon.

According to the NWS, between 1 and 2 inches of rain has fallen since Friday night across the headwaters of the Grand River. The river is expected to be in minor flood stage through Sunday morning, NWS said.

Another round of heavy rainfall is possible tonight and could cause the river to rise further, the warning said.

NWS said the river will continue rising to near 14.5 feet by Saturday afternoon and will fall below flood stage early Sunday.

At 15 feet, moderate flooding may occur at residences along High Street, Lewis Street and Losey Street in Jackson, the warning said. High water would also disrupt traffic and damage residences.

The NWS flood warning can be viewed here.

Other advisories from the NWS include a special weather statement for multiple counties in the Upper Peninsula and a hydrologic outlook for nearly two dozen West Michigan counties.

Michigan is on the fringe of a severe spring storm. While Michigan currently is not in the area where tornados could occur, large hail is possible over a large part of Lower Michigan.

Significant tornadoes possible just southwest of Michigan; Large hail our main concern

Visit mlive.com/weather for the latest weather updates.
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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

About 98% of University of New Mexico courses are ready to be done remotely, and students will be able to opt out of letter grades  and either pass or fail each class  for the rest of the school year.

On the health sciences side of campus, leaders meet daily to talk about the virus, and the hospital has postponed hundreds of elective procedures to free up capacity in case it has a surge of COVID-19 patients.

UNM leaders held a virtual town hall Friday afternoon during which they talked about the various ways that the coronavirus pandemic has affected UNM, and how the school has responded. That made for a wide-ranging conversation for an institution that includes the states flagship university and only Level 1 trauma center.

For academics, UNM has already announced that coursework would be done remotely for the rest of the semester and commencement would be postponed. Provost James Holloway said nearly all coursework is set up for remote instruction, and the school launched programs to lend students laptop computers and provide them with grants for internet access.

Im amazingly impressed by the resilience and creativity of our faculty, our staff and our students in coming up with all these structures, he said.

Holloway said the Faculty Senate approved a resolution expanding a credit/no credit option that students have. The resolution allows students to take courses and not have to worry about a letter grade, but essentially just either pass or fail the class. Students can decide whether they want to take a course using that option throughout the semester, according to university officials.

At the UNM Health Sciences Center, Dr. Paul Roth, the chancellor, said officials are meeting multiple times a day to discuss the pandemic. He said UNM Hospital, like other hospitals in the state, are making preparations in case they have to switch to what he called a crisis level of care if theres a surge in COVID-19 patients.

That is a big change in how we ordinarily practice medicine, from focusing on whatever it takes to save a life and reduce suffering at an individual level to also consider  what the needs of the full community night be, particularly as it relates to access to scarce medical resources, he said.

Dr. David Pitcher, the executive physician of the UNM Health System, said the hospital has postponed about 300 elective procedures to save supplies in case there is a influx of COVID-19 patients.

As for the effects of the virus on UNM finances, university President Garnett Stokes said its too early to tell.

We cannot predict the fiscal impact on our world, our nation, state or university, Stokes said. But we know it could be substantial, and we know UNM will not be alone in our predicament. There will undoubtedly be tough decisions that have to be made.
It is important that industry leaders work together to keep the telecommunications industry online and operating smoothly.

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across America, Wireless Supply stands ready to help. During this critical time in our country, it is important that industry leaders work together to keep the telecommunications industry online and operating smoothly, said Jeff Hall, General Manager of Wireless Supply. As an essential company in this fight, we remain open for business and ready to supply and support the telecommunications market in any way we can.

With more Americans working from home or telecommuting than ever before, and Emergency Medical Services call volumes rising daily, a fully operational communications infrastructure has never been more important. With over 1,200 products available to deploy at a moments notice, Wireless Supply is ready to help.

The team at Wireless Supply has decades of combined experience in the Telecommunications and Emergency Services industries, making them uniquely equipped to provide products and support during this unprecedented time. If your company needs a wireless solution of any kind, reach out to Wireless Supply today at 1.888.51.SUPPLY, or find them online at wirelesssupply.com.

About Wireless Supply

Wireless Supply, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a major manufacturer of components for iDAS, oDAS and small cell systems. The company specializes in passive components as well as RF and fiber cable to support the growing demands of wireless operators, system integrators, VARs and distribution partners. Wireless Supply operates warehouses in Nebraska and North Carolina. A nationwide network of sales representatives and distributors provide product distribution throughout the United States.


Trump signs TAIPEI Act into law

ROC Central News Agency

03/27/2020 01:29 PM

Washington, March 26 (CNA) U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed into law the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019, which is aimed at supporting Taiwan's international presence.

First introduced in the U.S. Senate by Cory Gardner last May, the Act was passed in the Senate on March 11, one week after the House of Representatives voted 415-0 in its favor.

"This bipartisan legislation demands a whole-of-government approach to ramp up our support for Taiwan, and will send a strong message to nations that there will be consequences for supporting Chinese actions that undermine Taiwan," Gardner said Thursday after Trump signed the bill.

The Act calls for Washington to "reduce its economic, security and diplomatic engagements with nations that take serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan," which is an open expression of U.S. support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances around the world amid pressure from China.

The TAIPEI Act also calls on the U.S. government to help Taiwan gain participation in international organizations, either as a member or an observer, and to back Taiwan's efforts in that regard whenever Washington has bilateral engagements with Beijing.

"The United States should use every tool to support Taiwan's standing on the international stage," Gardner said in a joint statement with Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who co-authored the TAIPEI Act.

Gardner applauded President Trump's signing of the bipartisan legislation and said he will "continue to advocate on behalf of Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, as guided by United States law."

In similar vein, Coons said the bill sends a clear message that the U.S. stands with Taiwan's free-market democracy.

"I look forward to finding additional ways to support the positive role Taiwan plays in international affairs," he added.

In the joint statement, the two senators said the Act "articulates a clear U.S. policy to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations like the World Health Organization, which would help Taiwan respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and be able to share globally its expertise and knowledge in handling this crisis."

Furthermore, the act also calls on the U.S. administration to enhance economic cooperation with Taiwan and encourages the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to seek opportunities to strengthen and promote bilateral trade relations and agreements.

On Friday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed thanks to the U.S. president for signing the legislation into law and said Taiwan will continue to work with the U.S. to promote shared values and common goals.

Since President Tsai Ing-wen () of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party came to power in 2016, Taiwan has lost seven diplomatic allies to China, namely Sao Tome and Principe, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati.

(By Stacy Hsu, Frances Huang, Christie Chen and Ko Lin)

Enditem/pc

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Speaking of rats, Camuss The Plague is out of stock on Amazon, as the world awakens to the novels eternal reminder that the plague bacillus never dies or vanishes entirely, that it can remain dormant for dozens of years in furniture or clothing, that it waits patiently in bedrooms, cellars, trunks, handkerchiefs and old papers, and that perhaps the day will come when, for the instruction or misfortune of mankind, the plague will rouse its rats and send them to die in some well-contented city.

The book was published in 1947, two years after the political plague of Fascism had been vanquished with the loss of tens of millions of lives. Camuss warning was political. The virus returns as inevitably as the psychotic leader with mesmeric mythmaking talents.

In an election year, it has been impossible to witness the mixture of total incompetence, devouring egotism and eerie inhumanity with which President Trump has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and not fear some form of corona-coup. Panic and disorientation are precisely the elements on which the would-be dictator feasts. The danger of an American autocratic lurch in 2020 is as great as the virus itself.

This is Trumps world now: scattered, incoherent, unscientific, nationalist. Not a word of compassion does he have for Americas stricken Italian ally (instead the United States quietly asks Italy for nasal swabs flown into Memphis by the U.S. Air Force). Not a word from a United Nations Security Council bereft of American leadership. Not a word of plain simple decency, the quality Camus most prized. In their place, neediness, pettiness and boastfulness. The only index Trump comprehends is the Dow.

I have experienced physical shock in recent weeks watching leaders like Angela Merkel in Germany, Justin Trudeau in Canada and Emmanuel Macron in France speak about the pandemic. We Americans do not grasp how insidiously Trump has accustomed us to malignancy. A germophobe, he has spread the germ of untruth.

That self-satisfied, nasal and plaintive presidential voice has become a norm. And so merely to hear a sane, caring, scientific response to the virus from other leaders is riveting and reorienting.

The mother of all crises has met the ne plus ultra of presidential ineptitude. We have it totally under control, the president says in January. One day  its like a miracle  it will disappear, is the refrain in February. I dont take responsibility at all, Trump declares in March. He has a good feeling about malaria drugs whose efficacy against the virus is untested. He is all over the place on China. And now, against widespread medical advice, and the protests of desperate governors, he wants the United States opened up and just raring to go by Easter, in a couple of weeks.
President Donald Trump speaks during a send off for the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort at Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 28, 2020. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

Trump Sees Off Hospital Ship Bound for New York

'With the grace of God, we will win this war,' Trump said

President Donald Trump traveled to a naval base in Virginia Saturday to see off the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship loaned out by the U.S. Navy for deployment in the COVID-19 response effort.

This great ship behind me is a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York, Trump said, standing in front of the ship as it stood moored at Naval Station Norfolk. Were here for you, were fighting for you, and were with you all the way.

Trump said he was looking forward to the pending departure of the ship to New York, the hot-zone of the nations fight against the CCP virus.

Who would ever think 151 countries are under attack, Trump said of the outbreak.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

We are one family bound together by love and loyalty, the eternal traits so perfectly embodied by the extraordinary men and women aboard this ship, the president said of Comfort, which holds over 1,000 beds and will transport over 1,200 medical staff to help New York cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

The president said the ship would be departing ahead of schedule, adding that it is loaded up with everything, so thats great.

Trump shared a photo of the ship on Twitter earlier, saying it was loaded to the gills.

Heading to the Great State of Virginia now, will be there shortly. The #USNSComfort is loaded to the gills at Naval Station Norfolk, departing for New York City this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/1ZSUweoX7x  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020

Earlier, the White House announced in a release that Trump would travel to Norfolk on Saturday to bid bon voyage to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) as it leaves for New York City to the frontlines of the COVID-19 virus response. The USNS Comfort will sail well ahead of its originally scheduled departure time to answer Americas call to battle against the global pandemic here at home.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said in a Pentagon press briefing that weve accelerated the plan for Comfort. We had originally been looking at April 3, but in all likelihood shes going to be getting underway this weekend. So hopefully shell be there in New York by the early part of next week.

The ship has 12 fully equipped operating rooms, eight intensive care unit beds, four radiology suites, ABC reports.

With the courage of our doctors, and nurses, with the skill of our scientists and innovators, with the determination of the American people, and with the grace of God, we will win this war and we will win this war quickly with as little death as possible, Trump said.

The president and Defense Secretary Mark Esper then watched the ship set sail.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday the number of COVID-19 cases there climbed to 52,318 and deaths to 728.

We have been behind this virus from day one. We are waiting to see what the virus does, Cuomo said at a news conference. You dont win on defense. You win on offense. You have to get ahead of this.

Cuomo also said Trump had approved the construction of four additional temporary hospital sites in New York City, adding 4,000 hospital beds.
Refugees have been located in Drishane Convent near Millstreet and the Riverside Park Hotel in Macroom

Vulnerable asylum seekers in emergency accommodation in centres in Macroom, Millstreet and throughout Ireland should be moved to self isolation facilities, the Department of Justice has been urged by a group advocating on their behalf.

The announcement this week that a pilot self isolation unit had been set up by the Department of Justice to accommodate vulnerable asylum seekers was welcome didn't go far enough according to Fiona Finn, the Chief Executive of NASC, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre.

Refugees have been located in Drishane Convent near Millstreet and the Riverside Park Hotel in Macroom.

"The 'Move the Vulnerable Out' campaign came from the legitimate fears and worries expressed by residents in direct provision centres to us and from the advice of medical and public health experts," she said.

"Asylum seekers don't believe that they are safe as it's impossible for them to follow public health advice to social distance while they are in the centres."

A doctor speaking on RTE Radio 1 this week raised serious concerns about the availability of a 'pilot self isolation unit' as this should be available to them all.

According to Dr. Cliodhna Ni Chealaigh, "the setting of direct provision in which there are multiple people living in the same room, sharing a bedroom, and in which there are large numbers of people congregating to eat meals is just asking for trouble".

NASC CEO Fiona Finn added that residents in the centres were hearing the messages from the public health experts, the announcements of restrictions on social gatherings of four people or more not from the same household by An Taoiseach but they didn't know how "to square this with sharing bathrooms or bedrooms with several others, and kitchens and canteens with dozens of others".

"Many residents are healthcare workers themselves, they want to support the hospital and other emergency staff who are working non-stop.

"They've been told that the best way to do this is to practice social distance, but it is physically impossible for many of them to do so."

Ms Finn said she wanted to thank healthcare staff, including local HSE Inclusion Units for their Herculean work to keep us all safe in the past few weeks.

"We believe that we need to listen to their expertise so we will continue to urge the Minister for Justice' to 'Move the Vulnerable Out'.

"We won't flatten the curve if we allow COVID-19 to spread throughout the centres.

"If we are truly all in this together then urgent action is needed now."
Adrian Schrinner has retained his position as Brisbane's lord mayor, his late-night declaration of victory being followed by Labor challenger Pat Condren's concession on Sunday afternoon.

Early Sunday morning, Cr Schrinner posted on social media claiming victory in the hard-fought mayoral race against the former journalist.

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner at a dog park in The Gap. Credit:Lucy Stone

Although there are a lot of votes still to be reported, our scrutineers are confirming I've been returned as lord mayor of our wonderful city, he wrote.

I want to sincerely thank the residents of Brisbane for their support and trust during these challenging times.
MSIL will work with AgVa Healthcare to help increase the production capacity for ventilators in India.

Auto maker Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will work with AgVa Healthcare, an approved manufacturer of ventilators, to "rapidly scale up" the production of ventilators in India. The goal is to hit a volume of 10,000 units per month. This has been done at the request of the government of India.

As per a press release from MSIL, the company will use its suppliers to source parts for and produce the required number of components. It will also work to help scale up production and manage quality control. AgVa Healthcare will be responsible for technology, performance, and related matters. MSIL states that it will also do the legwork with regards to financing, obtaining permissions, etc., and that these services will be provided free of cost to AgVa Healthcare.

Krishna Maruti Limited and Bharat Seats Limited, joint ventures between MSIL and Ashok Kapur, and MSIL and the Replan family respectively, will manufacture masks and protective clothing once approvals arrive. Masks will be supplied to the Haryana and Central governments, with two million masks being donated by Kapur directly.
Nine persons have been arrested in Ebonyi State for flouting the state governments ban on burials in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Awosola Awotinde, stated this during a live phone-in programme on the states broadcast station.

The state government, in the wake of the outbreak of the deadly pandemic, had placed a ban on burials, weddings and other ceremonies in the state for, at least, one month.

Those arrested, according to the police chief, flouted the order.

According to Mr Awosola, seven of the arrests were made in Ezza South local government area while two persons were arrested in Ikwo LGA.

The commissioner warned that anyone flouting any law of the restrictions announced by the government would be arrested and prosecuted.

He said the closing of the state borders which began on Saturday would be strictly implemented to the letter in conjunction with other security and para military agencies in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, said in line with government directives, all motor parks in the state have been shut down.

He said all commercial transportation operators should move their buses to the Pa Oruta Ngele Township Stadium Abakaliki where they shall operate intra-state transport services.

He said this would enable all passengers be checked before embarking on their journey and to monitor compliance to social distancing in commuting vehicles.

The security of lives of the citizenry is not negotiable. The Quarantine Act empowers the governor to make rules and issue precautionary measures to safeguard his people, he said.

READ ALSO:

We have no doubt that the precautionary measures and regulations as directed by the State Government shall be strictly enforced by security agencies in the state.

Heads of various security agencies in the state attended the briefing.

Outbreak

So far, Nigeria has a total of 81 confirmed cases and one death as at March 27. Three persons have been discharged.

The number of new cases has been rising in the country in the last two weeks. Lagos State still has the highest number of confirmed cases in the country at 52.

Most of the cases confirmed in the country are returnees from countries with a high burden of coronavirus.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday confirmed two cases in Ebonyis next-door neighbour, Enugu State.

Enugu town is 60 kilometres to Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
The creation of a new 1m fund is being explored to help artists, performers and creatives across the arts and cultural sector in Northern Ireland.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA made the announcement yesterday as she plans to support individual creatives in making work in new ways, including digital delivery, during the challenges presented by the pandemic.

Minister Hargey said: "I am exploring options to introduce a new 1m Covid-19 Creative Support Fund which will be a mechanism to support individual artists and institutions.

"The funding support will enable them to present work in new and innovative ways in the current climate, helping combat social isolation and wellbeing challenges.

"I will keep this funding amount under review.

"I have also authorised a donation of 10,000 to the GoFundMe 'Bread and Butter' initiative which has been created to support struggling artists to ensure that they are able to pay for food. This funding will support 50 artists through the initiative."

Welcoming the series of measures already announced by the Arts Council to relax funding conditions and exercise flexibility in respect of existing contracts, Minister Hargey said she wants to do more to ensure artists and the sector are supported.

The minister said: "I have asked the board of the Arts Council to act within a matter of days to give immediate security to organisations by rolling over 2019-20 grant awards into 2020-21 thereby enabling the advancement of payments.

"This, of course, will need to reflect programme requirements, and it will help provide reassurance and a higher degree of stability.

"The council itself will provide further detail."

The Sinn Fein MLA also paid tribute to those working in the arts and creative sector.

"I look forward to a day very soon when the libraries, the museums, the theatres, concert halls, community centres and craft fairs reopen.

"Until then, I know we can rely on the arts sector to continue to find creative ways to raise our spirits and touch our imagination during these difficult days," she said.
How Does The CCPA Compare To The GDPR?

On May 25, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect - marking one of the most critical digital developments of the century. The legislation originated in the European Union (EU), and effectively protects the data rights of European Economic Area (EEA) residents. However, companies around the world that target users in the EEA are subject to comply with the hefty legislation.

While the effects of the GDPR itself have been felt these past two years, one of the most notable changes it has brought to the digital space is an influx in copycat legislation, and a call for similar protections to users data around the globe.

Among the laws, regulations, and guidelines that have followed in the footsteps of the GDPR is the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). As its name implies, this law comes from California, and serves to protect Golden State residents whose data is collected and shared by companies all over the world.

How Are the CCPA and GDPR Similar?

The CCPA is based on the GDPR, although it is notably lighter in size and scope. Both laws seek to protect the rights of individuals over their personal information by establishing data-handling best practices for businesses, and new data rights for users.

Among the shared features of the laws is the emphasis on accountability. Both pieces of legislation threaten hefty fines for companies who fail to protect the data they collect from individuals and establish minimum expectations of data security.

For example, both the GDPR and the CCPA emphasize the need for companies to implement Privacy by Design (PbD). PbD is the idea that privacy measures and data protection is built into the very framework of a business, website, or app.

Given the potential consequences for failing to take data privacy seriously - millions of dollars in fines - both laws are setting new standards for data safety.

How Are the Laws Different?

While the CCPA is sometimes referred to as the California GDPR, these laws are far from the same. The GDPR is notably stricter, broader in scope, and ladened with far fewer loopholes than the CCPA.

For example, the CCPA sets thresholds to determine what companies are subject to comply. These thresholds include annual revenue, revenue generated by data sale, and how many consumers data is collected.

The GDPR, on the other hand, is applicable to any business that targets users in the EEA  regardless of company size, location, or revenue. In effect, a small travel blog in Idaho that sends newsletters to a few people in Switzerland is subject to comply with the GDPR. They would not, on the other hand, likely need to comply with the CCPA.

Another key distinction between the two laws is the extent of their guidelines. The GDPR lays out extensive guidelines and boundaries for proper data handling, while the CCPA sets remarkably fewer strictures.

Of the most significant requirements the GDPR establishes is the right for users to opt in to data collection. This guideline revolves around the notion that if businesses arent collecting data on a legal basis such as legitimate interests or to fulfill a contract, they should be basing that data collection on user consent. Therefore, businesses need to ask for users to opt in to the collection of their data.

Alternatively, the CCPA has no such guidelines, and only sets a requirement for businesses to allow users to opt out of the sale of their personal information.

What Does It All Mean for Businesses?

Not only are thousands of businesses around the world subject to comply with one or both of these landmark privacy laws, but the GDPR and CCPA are only the beginning of a new wave of digital legislation.

With over a hundred countries implementing or working to implement similar laws, the CCPA and GDPR are the foundation of the new standards for data privacy and protection.

If you own or operate a website, app, or business that relies on consumer data, you need to understand these laws and the goals they seek to achieve.

To learn more about the key similarities and differences between the GDPR and CCPA, check out this infographic from Termly below:

You Might Also Read:

GDPR's Impact In The US And Globally:
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Tests kits for the novel coronavirus will be prioritized for health care workers and first responders in San Francisco, Mayor London Breed announced Friday.

The announcement comes after union leaders representing workers at both Laguna Honda Memorial Hospital and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital called on Breed and the Department of Public Health to create a plan to protect frontline workers from contracting COVID-19.

During a briefing with city leaders at the city's Emergency Operations Center, Breed said the city's healthcare workers and first responders will now be able to access COVID-19 tests through their Kaiser Permanente or Blue Shield insurance plans via their primary care doctors.

"Now, thanks to Kaiser and Blue Shield, we will be able to provide testing for the healthcare workers who are on the frontline and working with patients who have been infected, as well as many of our public safety officials; our firefighters, police officers and those who are on the frontline," Breed said.

The new measures come in light of six confirmed cases of employees at Laguna Honda Memorial Hospital contracting COVID-19, as well as one patient. In response, two units at the hospital have been placed under quarantine.

Additionally, according to Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax, an emergency department staff member at San Francisco General Hospital has also tested positive and is self-isolating at home.

Contact investigations are underway in all cases, Colfax said.

"I am sad to say this, we do expect an outbreak," Colfax said, adding that the city is consulting with staff and experts on long term care, infection control and infectious diseases.

Furthermore, the city has established three new mobile testing locations in the city. One will be located in the Outer Sunset District and another will be in Chinatown, and both are set to open early next week.

A third site located near Oracle Park will open at the end of next week. Patients at the sites will need a clinical referral to be tested at the mobile sites.

The three new sites add to four existing COVID-19 mobile testing sites currently available through other health providers.

"Expect to see an increase in positive cases," Colfax, said as the number of cases of the city hit 279 Friday, with three fatalities.

"Do not be surprised, because we've been increasing our testing throughout the city. Simply put: the more testing we can do, the more cases we will find," he cautioned.

Despite a shortage of test kits, the city's public health lab currently conducts 150 COVID-19 tests a day, Colfax said. He predicts by next week, as many as 450 tests will be processed there daily.

Also, in the face of a shortage of personal protective equipment, Colfax said healthcare workers and patients in high-risk settings are being given isolation masks for further protection.

Colfax said the city is working with the state and private organizations to acquire more PPE.

As the weekend approaches, Police Chief Bill Scott said officers will be patrolling public areas such as the Embarcadero, Marina Green, and Dolores Park, making sure residents are complying with the shelter-in-place order.

"We want everyone to use good common sense. Stay six feet apart. If you're going to exercise, have respect for others around you. If you are going to go to the grocery store, or wherever, to keep essential items in your household, practice those same protocols," he said.

To further deter large public gatherings, parking lots at locations such as Baker Beach, Ocean Beach and Chrissy Field have been closed.

Regarding the city's efforts to shelter the homeless during the order, Breed said the new shelter at Moscone Center West is set to open next week. The addition will help free more space at the city's shelters and navigation centers for social distancing.

The city effort to lease hotel rooms for vulnerable populations who can't self-quarantine, like the homeless and those living in single room occupancy hotels, and first responders is also making progress, with 300 rooms already leased. The city plans on securing leases for 3,000 more rooms by next week.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
While Dr. Mark Knutsen, dean of Nursing and Allied Health, was brainstorming with his team about how to help support the local community in the fight against COVID-19, the idea of loaning ventilators from Chattanooga State Community College came to mind, and within a few short hours, details were being confirmed.

I contacted the area sales representatives of the ventilator companies asking for permission to allow local hospitals to use our ventilators, which they approved, said Katie Davidson, Respiratory Care Program director. Since we are an educational institution we get a substantial discount on the equipment with the agreement that that equipment would not be used on real patients. This is to prevent an educational institution from profiting from the purchase.

Ms. Davidson had already been in contact with Terry Ellis, director of Respiratory Care at Erlanger Health Systems. Mr. Ellis also happens to be on the program advisory board and familiar with Chattanooga States equipment. The majority of our graduates start their careers at Erlanger, shares Ms. Davidson.

Following inventory preparations for the equipment loan, the Erlanger Respiratory Care team picked it up yesterday. The equipment being loaned out included eight ventilators and four non-invasive devices (hospital grade BiPAP and CPAP).

Because this equipment will be used on patients, Erlanger's BioMedical director will be responsible for ensuring all of the equipment that we loan out is properly PM checked (preventative and maintenance) prior to placing it on any patient, said Ms. Davidson.

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, Chattanooga States Respiratory Care accreditation agency, notes that Chattanooga State has the oldest Associate of Applied Science program in the nation. It continually ranks in the top 10 nationally and recently received an award for Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success from CoARC.
REDDING  Two people were injured in a crash on Route 53 around 3 p.m. Friday.

Police, fire units and EMS were dispatched to the Route 53 southbound lane near the Saugatuck Reservoir for a reported crash between a motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle.

First responders had to place a tourniquet on a leg injury to one of the motorcycle passengers, while the other one appeared injured but was walking around on scene.

The southbound lane was temporarily closed as units investigated and cleared the scene.
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President Donald Trump said Saturday that his administration is considering imposing a two-week, large-scale quarantine of New York, New Jersey, and certain parts of Connecticut in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Trump said that a decision could come as early as Saturday but he gave few details of what an order of that nature would entail and experts arent clear whether the president even has the power to order state residents to not travel.

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We might not have to do it but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine  short-term, two weeks  for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut, Trump told reporters on Saturday afternoon. Trump specified it would be an enforceable quarantine. The president said he was particularly concerned after talking to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis because a lot of New Yorkers are going to Florida and we dont want that.

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Trump said he was having very good dialogue with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But when Cuomo was asked about the presidents quarantine warning during a news conference, the New York governor said the issue had not come up when he talked with Trump earlier in the day. I dont even know what that means, the governor said. I dont know how that could be legally enforceable and from a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing. But I can tell you I dont even like the sound of it.

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Although the federal government can take measures to prevent diseases from spreading between states, experts arent quite sure that gives Trump the necessary authority to block people from leaving a state. Courts have long ruled that it is largely up to states to order quarantines but they also generally side with public health officials. Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor and public health specialist said that it it is entirely unprecedented that governors or the president would prevent people from traveling from one state to another during an infectious disease outbreak. In order to avoid a legal battle, Trump may end up telling residents of those states to self-quarantine and not travel without a risk of penalty if they dont comply.

Several states, including Florida, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Maryland, and Texas have already called on people arriving from the New York area to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

In an effort to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the Quarantine Act requiring those returning from abroad to self-isolate. Ontarios former information and privacy commissioner says if deaths increase exponentially the government could enact measures to track cellphone data to further limit the spread.

Lets say the number of COVID-19 [deaths] in Toronto or Ontario tripled. Maybe they would use that as the excuse or a reason needed to invoke it, Ann Cavoukian said in an interview.

I dont know because I dont want to think about it. I dont want my mind to go there. But I would think a dramatic increase would possibly get them doing that.

As of March 26, there are a total of 13 deaths reported in Ontario that are related to the coronavirus; there are 35 deaths in the country.

During a press conference on March 25, Trudeau indicated that the government was not taking measures like collecting anonymous cellphone data to track the spread of the virus.

We recognize in an emergency situation we need to take certain steps that wouldnt be taken in a non-emergency situation, but that is not something we are looking at now, Trudeau said. But all options are on the table to do what is necessary to keep Canadians safe.

Cavoukian said that Trudeau said nothing was off the table because he is aware of these rules.

There are, unfortunately, privacy laws that can be invoked by the government that will enable them to engage in behaviours that wouldnt be permitted under the [privacy] act. All privacy acts have these kinds of emergency measures, theyre supposed to be a last resort, she said.

Theyre supposed to be time-limited, clear sunset clauses, full transparency associated with what the government is doing.

Cavoukian said that she didnt think we were at that point yet for the prime minister to invoke rules and said we should never get to that point.

When you are collecting all the personal information of citizens that just encroaches upon their freedom without privacy, she said.

Story continues

Toronto Mayor John Tory initially said the city was collecting anonymous location data already, as first reported by The Logic, but later retracted his statements. A spokesperson clarified in an email that Toronto was not collecting any data.

Bell, Telus, Rogers, and Shaw Communications Freedom Mobile confirmed in emailed statements that they have not been approached by the City of Toronto to gather cellphone data.

Jesse Hirsh, president of Metaviews, said in an interview that these measures should have already been invoked.

Im surprised that they have not already collected anonymized location [data] because given that both the federal government and the provincial government over the last few days have been escalating language around voluntary self-isolation, this would be one way to verify and find evidence instead of the government guessing, he said.

Id rather the government instead of guessing that people are or are not complying. Id rather that they have accurate evidence.

He added that collecting this data raises privacy concerns but theyre minor privacy concerns as this data is helpful in terms of informing public health policy.

Hirsh noted that if the government drafted policy they would be able to work with the Privacy Commissioner to ensure the protection of the data and how it would be used.

We can have our cake and eat it too, he said. The expertise exists within the federal government.

Stephanie Carvin, a security expert and assistant professor at Carleton University, doesnt think these measures will be taken any time soon and most likely would be taken at a later date when things have restored back to normalcy.

You would almost want to implement something like this if the situation improved and we had an open society again, she said.

Lets say if you were able to flatten that curve and then over a period of 18 months, youre waiting, and all of a sudden there are flare-ups in the country and you want to contain it. Thats when something more targeted might be useful.

Carvin indicated that even if the government were to take these measures it would require a lot of moving parts and individuals to get on board to make it happen.

People think that theres some kind of switch we can flick, and its not that easy, she said.

She also added that even if the government were able to track the data, they would have to be explicit in terms of what they were collecting and how it was to be used.

Its just not clear to me, how that would be done, by who, under what circumstances, she said.
Chinese troops practice marching ahead of a Sept. 3 military parade at a camp on the outskirts of Beijing on Aug. 22, 2015. (Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Chinas Military Spending Power Is 87 Percent of Americas: Report

Beijings military spending power is nearly as high as Washingtons, according to new analysis which tries to iron out differences in labor costs, local purchasing power, and Chinas lack of transparency.

By contrast, generally quoted topline comparisons over the past few years typically put Chinas military spending at between roughly 30 and 40 percent that of the United States.

But those topline figures are misleading, according to the March 25 Heritage Foundation report, which estimates Chinas military spending power was 87 percent that of the United States in 2017.

I know that a lot has changed in the two or three years since 2017, but these are the best numbers we have, said Frederico Bartels, author of the report.

Chinas military spending data is notoriously opaque and hard to trust.

2017 was the last year that there was enough of a breakdown to identify what went into key categories of spending, Bartels told The Epoch Times.

Bartelss calculation of spending power uses a different method from the usual topline numbers, which are based on market exchange rate conversions.

His report echoes the work of a handful of other analysts who say that those topline comparisons vastly understate the military power of less developed nations because the market rates do not account for lower local wages and spendingsomething also raised by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Official figures from 2017 put U.S. spending at $600 billion and Chinese spending at $150 billion.

Think tanks such as IISS and SIPRI typically take such data and revise it up a notch by estimating missing Chinese data. For example, their figures for 2017 are $208 and $227 billion respectively.

(Source: Heritage Foundation)

The Chinese Communist Party has amassed long-range missiles, carriers, warships, and planes as it seeks to build a military to rival the United States.

Nearly every annual set of data shows Chinese military spending has steadily increased over the last couple of decades in the region of eight to tenfold.

(Source: Heritage Foundation)

But directly comparing those annual data sets across nations in dollar terms is less meaningful, says Bertels.

For defense analysts and U.S. generals, the picture of Chinas military prowess comes from the fine-grained knowledge of precise ship numbers, missile ranges, and troop numbers, and they put less stock in such crude comparisons of defense expenditure.

Defense expenditures are a proxy for the general public and for politicians to understand where they are and how they stack up, says Bartels. But those topline figures can be very misleading without a detailed discussion, he says.

You have a lot of false sense of security that comes up when politicians just say, Oh, the United States spends the same as the next eight nations combined, and most of them are our allies,' he says.

Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 ballistic missiles roll during a parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

Like nearly all analysts, Bartels acknowledges that any comparison of military spending does not equate to a direct comparison of military prowess, which depends upon all kinds of factors, including training, strategy, leadership, and equipment quality.

When bullets start flying, it is irrelevant if each bullet costs $1 or $1,000, he says. The important thing is that they will work and hit their targets. By the same token, the price of a fifth-generation fighter is irrelevant in combat.

Apples to Apples

Bartels says there are several problems with simply stacking up Chinas and Americas defense budgets.

The first is that the two sets of budgets dont contain the same elements. For example, Chinese figures dont include research and development. The U.S. figures do.

Another problem is that data on Chinese spending is very limited and hard to trust.

A third issue is that comparisons at market exchange rates dont reflect local purchasing power and the much lower wage costs of troops in China.

For Americans who want to know how their taxes are spent, comparing spending within the U.S. government budget with dollars makes sense, says Bartels.

Everyone can understand what a dollar is, regardless of whether that dollar is being allocated to social security, to healthcare, or to defense, or whatever else you want. Its a representation of prioritization that people understand and grasp.

But that dollar-to-dollar comparison breaks down when comparing spending between nations.

Wages make up a large proportion of any military spending and also affect the cost of production.

One way to compensate is to use something known as power purchasing parity (PPP), which compares what currencies can buy locally by creating indexes for different baskets of goods.

PPP measures have been eschewed so far by many think tanks because there is no standard index for military spending.

Other analysts have crunched the numbers and say that crude PPP calculations, while imperfect, are a superior measure.

A New Comparison

For his calculations, Bartels says he made use of the fact that the Chinese figures for 2017 can be broken down into three categories: equipment; training and sustainment; and personnel.

Bartels used a PPP measure for both training and sustainment and equipment.

Then for personnel he developed an adjustment index using government salaries.

That gave him a total Chinese purchasing power of $467 billion.

(Source: Heritage Foundation)

But Bartels points out that this still doesnt give an apples-to-apples comparison with U.S. spending, because the $600 billion U.S. budget includes things that arent in the Chinese budget, most notably research and development.

But he didnt try to estimate the missing figure for Chinas research and development. Instead, he took the U.S. data, for which there is a highly detailed breakdown, and removed the research and development part. That pulled the U.S. numbers down to $534 billion.

(Source: Heritage Foundation)

Like other analysts, Bartels admits that there are limitations to any calculation. But he says that what really matters is to get into the habit of drilling down into the details of how any figure is arrived atto understand whats really going on.

Since the end of 2017, the U.S. military has been modernizing itself, refitting its counter-insurgency force armed with Cold War equipment with a modernized force able to counter great power competition with Russia and China.

But despite that shift information and discussion on the Chinese budget is missing, says Bartels.

He notes that during the Cold War there was a whole book dedicated to breaking down and discussing Soviet defense spending.

In comparison, last years U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commissions annual report (pdf) and the Defense Intelligence Agencys China Military Power (pdf) analysis on Beijings defense budget came to a total of five pages.

Honestly, thats the debate that is lacking right now, he says.

He says that the public could be forgiven for not being up to speed with the militarys shift to tackling renewed great power competition in the last couple of years.

But there are a lot of areas of the U.S. government that have spent plenty of time looking at China before there was a national security strategy that named China and Russia as peer competitors.

Russia and Iran Too

A handful of other analysts have also said that policymakers and the public should be wary of the topline budget comparisons as a whole.

Professor Peter Robertson, Dean and Head of the Business School at the University of Western Australia, is convinced that exchange rate-based spending figures are misleading and the PPP-based figures are a better option.

According to his analysis, Chinas defense sector is about twice as large as the exchange rates measure.

Richard Connolly, director of the Center for Russian, European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Birmingham in the UK, has done PPP-based estimates for many countries.

Military expenditure in selected countries (USD billion) at market exchange rates. Source: SIPRI. (Richard Connolly)

Military expenditure of selected powers at PPP exchange rates, 2005-2018 (USD billion)

Source: SIPRI; IMF WEO; calculations by Richard Connolly. (Richard Connolly)

His figures put Russian military spending at $159 billion 2018 last year, instead of the $61 billion from the exchange rate figure.

He says that the exchange rate fluctuations and the higher cost of wages vastly understate the military spending in developing nations. According to Connollys PPP calculation, Irans spending would be nearly $50 billion last year, as opposed to the $13 billion exchange rate figure, which he points out is quoted in the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency Report last year.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley picked up on the issue when challenged in a 2018 senate hearing.

Were the best-paid military in the world by a long shot. The cost of Russian soldiers or Chinese soldiers is a tiny fraction, he said.

I think youll find that Chinese and Russian investments, modernization, new weapons systems etc., their [research and development]which is all government-owned and also is much cheaperI think youd find a much closer comparison, concluded Milley.

No Common Formula

But some analysts say that while exchange rate comparisons are imperfect, they have their advantages.

The problem with PPP is that there is no commonly agreed-upon formula for military spending, says Richard Bitzinger, Visiting Senior Fellow, Military Transformations Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. So it is natural that most analyses of military spending would use the standard exchange rates.

He says that the argument about whether to use PPP has been around for a while.

The main advantage is that a PPP, if done right, can provide a more accurate and comparable figure of defense spending, reflecting true spending power, Bitzinger told The Epoch Times. The disadvantages are that it can overstate spending power, and fail to take into account intangibles like training, leadership, morale, quality of equipment etc.

Even if you can figure out what a spending figure is, most military analysts say it is only a broad indication of military power, and even further from any analysis of how any two adversaries would fare on each others turf or in any other given context.

While most analysts and governments understand that Chinas published military spending figures are stark fiction, they are used to provide at least one kind of official indicator of the growth of Chinas military spending, Rick Fisher, Senior Fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center previously told The Epoch Times.

Adding to the problem of assessing Chinas military spending is the increasingly blurred line between military and civilian spending, says Fisher.

Under Civil-Military Fusion, you now have a broader requirement for the economy to serve the military. In essence, anything under the control of the Chinese Communist Party that it deems is necessary for military power construction can be diverted to that end. So it is possible to ask: is it now essentially impossible for anyone, even Chinese, to tell you a real number for Chinese military expenditures?
U.S. Department of Justice

MIAMI  A retired Venezuelan army general indicted alongside Nicolas Maduro has surrendered in Colombia and is being taken by Drug Enforcement Administration agents to New York for arraignment, four people familiar with the situation said.

Cliver Alcala has been an outspoken critic of Maduro for years. But he was charged Thursday with allegedly running with Maduro, socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello and another retired army general a narcoterrorist conspiracy that U.S. prosecutors say sent 250 metric tons of cocaine a year to the U.S. and turned the Venezuelan state into a platform for violent cartels and Colombia rebels. The Justice Department had offered a $10 million reward for Alcalas arrest.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Thousands of Filipino crew ship members are set to come home in the coming days, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. said Saturday.

In an announcement on Twitter, Locsin said 530 crew members from the ships Costa Fabulosa and Costa Magica will arrive on Sunday.

He said 4,000 Filipino crew would be arriving in the next three weeks.

Locsin noted there were no facilities available to host the repatriated Filipinos. The situation is also made more complicated by constraints arising from the COVID-19 outbreak.

"While DOT has a list of accommodations, the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) of DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) must approve the items in the list; however OWWA says it cannot approve the DOT list unless the DOH (Department of Health) first approves the list. The DOH says that the rooms must qualify as individual isolation wards with room service so there is no mingling just in case some are COVID," Locsin said in a series of tweets.

The secretary added it was suggested the crew members be tested by the DOH, but it was shot down by an undersecretary of the department.

Filipino crew members from various cruise ships have been steadily coming back to the country as trips continue to be canceled amid the continuing constraints set by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, despite their return, some have not been able to home to their respective provinces due to quarantine restrictions which prevent them from leaving the National Capital Region.

RELATED: Filipino evacuees from cruise ship back in PH, to undergo quarantine
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Downing Street statement. In a video announcement Friday on his Twitter account, Johnson said he has "a temperature and a persistent cough" that he described as "mild symptoms" of the virus.

He said he is "working from home" and is "self-isolating" which he said was "entirely the right thing to do." "Be in no doubt that I can continue" to work, he said, "thanks to the wizardry of modern technology... to lead the national fight against the coronavirus."

In addition to thanking the National Health Service, Johnson also thanked the 600,000 people who have volunteered to take part in Britain's national effort to protect people from the consequences of the coronavirus.

 China Offers to Help U.S.

Earlier Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "a very good conversation" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump posted on Twitter: "Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China. Discussed in great detail the CoronaVirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet. China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!"

In his recent press briefings, however, the U.S. president has not displayed "much respect" for China, making disparaging remarks about how the Asian nation handled the outbreak. The U.S. leader often referred to the virus as "the Chinese virus."

 New York Hot Spot

New York state is the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak with New York City the hot spot. There were more than 21,000 cases in the country's largest city, with officials saying that number is growing by at least 3,000 a day.

On Friday, the U.S. House plans to pass the $2 trillion economic relief package that the Senate passed Wednesday night, and President Donald Trump has indicated he will sign. The centerpiece of the bill are direct cash payments to individuals who have lost their jobs and businesses forced to close their doors because of the outbreak.

Although the U.S. now has the largest number of cases, Trump said Thursday the government will be able to announce in the next two days what he calls good statistics and facts, "which will make your lives easier." He also plans to go to Norfolk, Virginia, to see the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort leave for deployment in New York Harbor.
New Delhi, March 28 : The coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted the logistics sector, both in India and globally, as marketplayers say that global capacity has gone down 70 per cent and freight rates have shot up by 6-8 per cent.

Further, in India, with the 21-day lockdown, the sector is likely to see much more hardships.

Ambrish Kumar, Founder, Logycode Tech Solutions Private Ltd, was of the view that although the lockdown was necessary, the flip-side of the lockdown measure has also caused a kind of mess for most of the businesses. The logistics and supply chain sectors are also impacted, he added.

"With the closure of international flights, the belly capacity reduction has impacted the movement of the cross-border trade by air. Only cargo aircraft are operating," he said.

"The overall capacity has gown down by almost 70 per cent. This has led to global freight rates shooting almost 6-8 times from the usual. This is expected to further increase as the global supplies need to be replenished through trade and the demand will only increase," Kumar told IANS.

He said that due to the lockdown, movement of essential commodities such as medicines, medical goods, vaccines and drugs, medical equipment, hand sanitizers and perishables, including their import and export, are also impacted as there is a shortage of manpower at airports and seaports.

Further, the road transporters are unable to get the goods from the manufacturing units to the ports due to the closure of state borders, affecting first and last-mile connectivity. Other most-traded commodities such as garments, automotive parts, leather products, home furnishings, and handicrafts are not moving at all.

"In a nutshell, the demand and supply gap has increased a lot," he said.

Rajesh Neelakanta, Executive Director & CEO of BVC Logistics, was of the view that although on paper, the logistics industry dealing with food products, pharma and medical equipment among other essential items are allowed to operate, things are not really the same on the ground.

"In some cities, the authorities have clamped down on all kinds of movement, while in most others, restrictive movement is allowed, which is still acceptable," he said.

Neelakanta noted that livelihood of a major portion of the logistics industry is impacted and the industry is facing a huge employment loss situation during and in the immediate aftermath of the lockdown.

A report by Clickpost and Shadowfax shows that the demand in the e-commerce segment has increased in pharma, beauty and electronic items while that of apparels has declined.

It said the number of stuck shipments has increased by 9 per cent and order delays have increased by 21 per cent. The report showed on March 23, return-to-origin reached a record high of 230 per cent.

The report noted that companies could make a plan for alternative fulfillment locations in case a few warehouse locations become unserviceable, and a completely touchless delivery process can be created using technology.

Sector players have also sought support from the government to tide over the difficult times.

Kumar of Logycode Tech Solutions said that regarding the vendor payments, like that of the airlines, shippinglines and other vendors, a deferral needs to be extended for at least three months as the flow of money is hugely affected.

"In addition, to ensure the employees are given their salaries, it is suggested if the government can insist on banks assist with 50 per cent of the salaries for some time.

BVC Logistics' CEO Neelakanta said that fuel prices, which form a key element of the sector' operating cost, should be reduced.

"Fuel prices, a key element of our operating costs, should most certainly be reduced for the next one year as the global crude prices are perhaps at an all-time low, in these past couple of decades or perhaps more. In the general public interest, the OMCs (oil marketing companies) can sustain a no-profit situation for a few quarters,a he said.
Rajasthan has had 54 cases and two deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a telephonic interview, state chief minister Ashok Gehlot spoke to Hindustan Times about the efforts in place and implications of the lockdown:

Q: You were the first chief minister to order a complete state-wide lockdown. Why?

A: We saw across the world wherever lockdown was announced, the situation came under control. That alerted us. It was a hard decision but we had to go for it.

Q: How are you reaching out to the workers of Rajasthan who are stuck in other states?

A: So far, two hundred thousand workers have returned from different states. Now that the Centre has now decided to allow the migrant workers to go to their respective states, hopefully all of them will return. I have also written letters to chief ministers of different states requesting them to provide food, shelter and medical care to those from Rajasthan stranded there. I have told the CMs that we will bear the expenditure incurred on them and have also apprised them that we are taking good care of people from other states stranded in Rajasthan.

Q: How are you planning to deal with the situation in Bhilwara, which has emerged as a hotspot with two deaths and 21 cases?

A: We have imposed curfew and declared Bhilwara as a zero mobility area. Our teams are working round the clock in the area. We have also conducted a survey of over 5.33 lakh people in 1.06 lakh households. As many as 6,445 people have been home-quarantined and 50 are in isolation at government and private medical facilities. We have acquired hotels, resorts, hostels and dharamshalas in the town to set up over 1,500 quarantine beds and 14,400 normal beds to meet any emergency situation. Besides, a 24-hour screening centre has also been established. A team of 1,500 health workers and 2,400 police personnel is currently undertaking the huge screening exercise to trace cases in Bhilwara.

Q: You spoke to the Prime Minister on Friday. Did you seek any help from the central government?

A: I apprised him of the steps taken by the state government to contain the pandemic. I requested for ventilators and personal protection equipment (PPE) for doctors and health workers. The Prime Minister assured me of all help. I also spoke with home minister Amit Shah and sought central help in dealing with the crisis.

Q: What steps are you taking to ensure people dont face shortage of essentials and medicines?

A: It is our commitment that nobody sleeps hungry in Rajasthan and it is our duty to wipe all tears. We have also requested every family in Rajasthan to make extra food for those who cannot afford. This is the time to share and take care of the underprivileged. On our part, we are constantly reviewing measures taken to provide food and medicines to the poor in villages and cities and to old age homes, orphanages, shelter homes and all homes for the deprived and destitute. We have allowed home delivery services by e-commerce portals and our officials but it will take time to put in place an appropriate system for this.

Q: There are reports of police atrocities during the lockdown. Have you given directions to the police to deal with the situation appropriately?

A: We have asked the police to be humane in their approach and ensure that people do not face any inconvenience in getting food and medicines, but at the same time, it is imperative for them to strictly implement the restrictions during the lockdown period. Those coming out of their homes are putting at risk the lives of others.. If necessary, we will conduct an army drill as well. Our priority is to save lives.

Q: Are we in for an extended period of lockdown?

A: Nobody can answer this at this time, neither the Prime Minister nor a Chief Minister. Much depends on how far we are able to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

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NSW Health won't release the specific details of how much equipment it needs, its modelling or what it is doing to prepare for the coronavirus.

New South Wales is the epicenter of Australia's coronavirus outbreak with almost half the nation's cases. As of Saturday noon there were 1617 confirmed cases in NSW out of 3,603 nationally.

It is vital that the public knows exactly how many ventilator machines and how much respiratory support equipment we have because coronavirus causes viral pneumonia which in some cases leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (pictured). Doctors have called for coronavirus patients to be separated from regular hospitals to prevent cross-infection. We asked NSW Health if they are planning to build field hospitals but they have not said

Australia's coronavirus cases rose to 3,603 on Saturday afternoon, while deaths rose to 14

We want to know exactly how many oxygen support beds, ventilators and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines NSW Health has for coronavirus but NSW Health won't say

Daily Mail Australia is not saying that NSW Health is not prepared - we are just saying the public is not being told important details.

According to World Health Organisation data quoted by the BBC, 14 percent of coronavirus patients will suffer severe infections which means they are likely to need hospitalisation and oxygen support.

A further five percent will be critical, which means they need intensive care and ventilation.

The public needs to know how many respiratory support machines are forecast to be needed when the pandemic peaks, which is when many people will need help at the same time.

Oxygen support is given to patients in ordinary hospital beds to support them with respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, when they are well enough not to be in intensive care.

Ventilator machines mechanically breathe for a patient who is physically unable to, and provide oxygen and air pressure into the lungs to support critically ill patients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines give cardiac and respiratory support to those whose heart and lungs cannot sustain them.

The public needs to know exactly how many ventilator machines and exactly how many we need because they will save the lives of coronavirus infected patients

Despite growing fears that health services will not be able to cope with a pandemic, NSW Health will not release their modelling

All three are needed to save the lives of coronavirus patients, reducing the death rate of the pandemic.

The public needs to know the hard facts and official estimates to dispel misinformation.

A body of 80 Australian hospitals has warned Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt that unclear and convoluted information from governments is hampering emergency preparations, The Guardian reported on Friday.

The public needs to know exactly the extent of the situation, as partners in a democracy they are entitled to demand further spending and action from the government if they feel there is not enough being done - but they can't unless they know the figures.

Daily Mail Australia has been asking since February for NSW Health to reveal the nuts and bolts of what it is doing to prepare, and what demand will be placed on hospitals.

We understand the department is busy, but it is vital that the public knows detailed government information - and quickly.

The public needs to know exactly how serious the situation is in order to take self-isolation messages seriously.

ANZIC surveyed ICU bed numbers in 2017-18. For each bed, specially trained nurses and ventilator machines are also needed - and doctors say infected patients need to be separated from non-infected patients. Are field hospitals being built? NSW Health won't say

We started asking these questions on February 24, when there were still only 18 coronavirus cases in Australia.

Australia's index case was on January 25 and it was already clear the virus was spreading exponentially worldwide and was likely to become a pandemic.

The department did not release the information so Daily Mail Australia filed a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) request on February 29 via email, followed up by a hard copy in the mail.

In particular, Daily Mail asked detailed questions on how many hospital beds with oxygen support, intensive care unit beds and ventilator machines may be needed, and whether the state has enough to meet forecast demand.

Daily Mail also asked whether NSW Health is setting up field hospitals or triage tents to prepare, or if it is buying respiratory support equipment, or training new auxilliary staff to help the state's hospitals deal with the pandemic.

We asked for any modelling on the pandemic to be released so the public can see exactly when the peak of the virus is likely to hit and how many people are forecast to be infected and needing help at that time.

Various modelling estimates have been revealed by academics but it's important for the public to know the specific model that NSW Health is working from.

A NSW Health spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant had spoken extensively on the modelling used in its response to the NSW Parliament's Budget Estimates hearing on March 12.

At the estimates hearing, Dr Chant revealed the department expected about 20 per cent of the population to be infected in the first wave, but did not reveal the specific estimate of how many people were likely to be infected at the same time during the virus peak.

On Friday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would not shy away from difficult decisions regarding a stage three coronavirus lockdown

Cruise ship Ruby Princess was allowed to dock in Sydney despite passengers being infected with COVID -19

Daily Mail specifically asked for this number as that peak surge number is key as to whether the health care system can provide care for everyone who needs it.

NSW Health has this information as it reportedly gave it in a briefing to hospital staff earlier this month.

NSW Health told hospital staff to prepare for a first wave of illness up to 22 weeks with 272,000 people seeking health advice and a 10-week surge on intensive care unit beds of up to 330 per cent of capacity.

It is vital that NSW Health provide their figures to the public, not just to hospital staff, so that the public understands the exact nature of the situation.

Fear and confusion spreads from a lack of detailed information.

Dr Chant told Estimates the department had asked the system to double its intensive care unit and ventilator capacity - but did not reveal the exact numbers needed.

The NSW Government has given $700 million to NSW Health to help the department tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

'This funding will support NSW Health to double ICU capacity, prepare for additional COVID-19 testing, purchase additional ventilators and medical equipment where needed and roll out more COVID-19/Flu Assessment clinics,' the NSW Health spokesperson said.

Most ventilators in Australia are imported from the US, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland with smaller suppliers in China and South Korea, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

The specific list of questions submitted to NSW Health through GIPA. We asked the department directly to avoid the lengthy GIPA process, but can't get the information

All of those countries are battling their own coronavirus outbreaks, leaving the availability of new machines to purchase in doubt.

This is why it is vital the public needs to know exactly how many machines we have and how many we will need - or how we can get them but the department has so far not answered those questions from Daily Mail Australia.

The Health Department detailed the coronavirus clinics it has set up to test and triage patients, attached to existing clinics and hospitals - but it has not revealed whether it is building large-scale field hospitals as have been built in other countries such as China.

Daily Mail Australia specifically asked this question as doctors have called to separate coronavirus patients from others within the health system to prevent the infection of patients who don't have the virus.

The Royal Australian College of GPs website revealed on Friday that NSW Health said the state is planning to expand hospital capacity and use private accommodation.

NSW Health wants to charge $1800 - but further delays are expected with the GIPA process which means we cannot tell you the information

It is vital the public know the specific details of what is being done.

Daily Mail also asked if auxiliary staff were being trained to support hospital and health care workers during the pandemic peak, but has not received a response.

The NSW Nursing and Midwives Association said on Friday that more than 600 private hospital nurses had been stood down in the previous 24 hours after the Federal Government said hospitals should cancel non-elective surgery.

More staff are going to be needed during the pandemic and the public needs to know what specifically is being done about this.

NSW Health GIPA specialist Sonia Makira responded in a letter received Friday saying it would take an estimated 60 hours to find the information, assess it, consult with third parties and then determine whether to release it.

This would cost $1800, she said, which is only an estimate - it may cost even more.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'It is suggested that you consider revising your application and reduce the amount of information requested which in turn will reduce the potential cost to you,' Ms Makira wrote.

'In addition, a specific request would reduce the time the subject matter experts would be diverted from their core and important duties to assist with the current COVID-19 Pandemic.'

Daily Mail Australia regards the information as urgent and vital to inform the public.

Daily Mail Australia will pay the $1800 for the information but is concerned that GIPA requests can take up to 20 working days - a month in ordinary time - to process after it is registered.

If the department declines the request an appeal can be made to the NSW Information Commissioner - but this would chew up more time, and by then the state will be in the grip of the pandemic with even less resources for sourcing information.

Daily Mail has submitted the same request directly to NSW Health to avoid the lengthy, expensive and time consuming GIPA process.

An estimated three billion people are now in lockdown worldwide for the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Saturday morning, 582,865 people were confirmed to be infected and 26,468 have died, according to BNO News which has tracked the coronavirus outbreak since early January.
College Preparatory Middle School, a high-performing La Mesa-based charter school, is asking the state Board of Education to sponsor it for the next five years.

The school, which makes its home in the basement of the La Mesa Church of Christ on Jackson Drive, has been under the auspices of the Mountain Empire Union School District since its beginnings in 2010.

But that contract ends this year and the charter school needs to find another educational body willing to take on the responsibility of ensuring it meets academic, operational and financial standards.

College Prep, which serves about 250 students in grades 5-8, has been trying for years to find local backing. It twice has been rejected by the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, which in turn has unsuccessfully sued College Prep, alleging it misrepresented its enrollment growth and financing for a new campus.

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Last October, the San Diego County School Board turned down College Preps appeal to authorize the schools charter. And in February, Californias Advisory Commission on Charter Schools voted 4-3 to recommend the state school board authorize College Prep, but came up one vote shy of the five needed to make an official recommendation.

But College Preps days of being dismissed could be over soon.

Officials from the middle school are heading to Sacramento next week to ask the state school board to be its authorizing body for the next five years.

California Department of Education staff last week recommended the California Board of Education oversee the charter from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2023.

A public hearing on the matter will be held March 15 in Sacramento.

Mountain Empire is ending its contract with the La Mesa/Spring Valley school to take on a second College Prep campus that will be located in Campo. Mountain Empire can only sponsor one of the charters entities. Meanwhile, College Prep is looking to move its La Mesa campus into bigger digs in Spring Valley.

College Prep co-founders Christina Callaway and Mitchell Miller say they have been looking to connect with the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District for several years, only to have their petition denied by the school board and its superintendent, Brian Marshall.

Callaway and Mitchell say they believe Marshall and his board are unhappy the school has plans to expand to a larger site that could accommodate up to 500 students, possibly taking away more students from its population.

Marshall says the charter schools leaders have repeatedly turned down opportunities to meet with him to discuss his concerns. Those include questions about College Preps use of money to build its new school, unrealistic enrollment growth, curriculum issues and discrepancies he has seen in the schools demographic profile.

Marshall will be attending the state boards hearing in Sacramento to oppose College Preps plans.

Marshall spoke out against College Prep in October at the hearing the school had with the San Diego County Board of Education and at the state advisory commission meeting.

He has been vocal about the districts misgivings about the school for several years. Litigation in court with College Prep has cost the La Mesa-Spring Valley district more than $250,000.

College Prep has been making plans since 2013 to move to Spring Valley. The public school started with 87 students but now has 240, with more than 130 on a waiting list to get in.

Students are largely from La Mesa and Spring Valley but also come from El Cajon, San Diego and outlying county areas. Its students are among the highest performers from all schools in San Diego County, according to API and other statewide testing measures.

If it gets board approval on March 15, Miller says the plan is to start building a school on land at 10269 Madrid Way in Spring Valley.

College Prep would be the 31st school under state board of education authority.

Miller said construction will take about nine months and the hope is that the school will open in January 2019 or shortly thereafter. The school would stay housed in La Mesa until the Spring Valley campus is ready. The school is expecting to hold an enrollment random lottery later this month.

We (would be) honored to have the opportunity to serve the families in La Mesa/Spring Valley as a state charter school, Callaway said. We are excited at the prospect of being able to continue to serve the community that we have been working in for eight years, and to be able to grow in order to serve even more students.

College Prep attorney John Lemmo said he believes the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District is troubled about the millions of dollars it could conceivably be deprived of.

Lemmo estimates that if College Prep grows at the rate it is expecting, La Mesa-Spring Valley could lose more than 100 additional students, and would stand to lose about $4 million per year in state Average Daily Attendance monies.

Charter schools are publicly funded, with most of their revenue coming from state ADA funds  $7,000 annually per student at College Prep, depending on grade level.

Marshall insists that his issue is not about losing students or revenue. He said the district  with its 21 schools, about 12,000 students, nearly 2,100 employees and a budget of more than $125 million  is growing.

Mitchell and Callaway both say it is frustrating for them that parents of College Prep students are anxious about next year and where their kids are going to attend school.

We know that weve been doing all the right things and operating correctly, Callaway said. Its heartbreaking and terrible to potentially be facing closure. Were a public school that offers a choice and educational choice is so important. Its so sad that theres been nothing but big-time opposition at every turn.

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
If you've been paying attention for the last ten years or so in particular, you may have noticed in how many ways political leftists in this country love death. Not their own, but the deaths of otherwise anonymous American citizens whom they've never met, care nothing about, and clearly consider deserving of sacrifice for their policy objectives. These progressives, globalists, socialists, or any other synonym you wish to append to the ghouls who harvest souls for their own advancement think nothing of choosing who lives and who dies. They do it all the time, and that's just to seize power they don't have yet. Imagine what our country will look like if or when they are fully in control, as they thought they'd be in 2016 and hope to be again soon.

This week, we've been treated to the spectacle of Democrats in Congress using a national health catastrophe that is killing people daily, and bankrupting those who live, to extort political agenda items from the country while it suffers exponentially by the day. We've seen the Democrat governor of Nevada issue an executive order banning the use of a drug that is shown to cure people with COVID-19, apparently on the basis that President Trump identified it as a means of stopping the virus in its tracks, to the benefit of the country and its economy. They would rather exact petty victories and hide cures than defeat the illness and save American lives because the more people who die, the more they can blame Trump in November for a crisis he has responded to with every ounce of energy and determination. The more people suffer economically, the worse for Trump and the better for them.

In the relief bill, which remains stalled in Congress, they've inserted a provision that pays people more to be on unemployment than they made when they worked, and there are still people who can't figure out why it's in the bill. If you pay people more to be unemployed than they earned, they'll choose to be unemployed, which raises the unemployment figure, which hurts the economy and, thus, hurts Trump. Sure, those people will become less employable and more dependent on public benefits, but how else to you buy votes? It certainly isn't by offering independence and success, as that rotten Trump has done.

The virus, however, is merely the latest embrace of death and suffering imposed upon us by these folks. Abortion is the easiest example. Isn't it ironic that the left decries Trump's failure to singlehandedly defeat a virus, and blame him for causing deaths, when they actively encourage and enable the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children a year? For piles of cash. That's an easy one, but it is one of many.

What about illegal immigration? Every year, American citizens are killed by the hundreds and injured or maimed by the thousands across this country by people who have no legal right or reason to be here. Yet they are here at the express invitation of the left, under their clear and dedicated protection. Whether it is drunk driving, murders, gang violence, burglaries, assaults, rapes, molestation, or any other product of whatever culture we are supposed to celebrate, the crime and the suffering forced upon the victims is immeasurable. Though this is unmistakably clear to any rational observer, the solution has been not to change course, but to double down. Sanctuary cities, sanctuary states, bought prosecutors and judges  all work together to hide such people from federal authorities who would protect us from violence and tragedy. You may have noticed, as I have, that leftist politicians and their loved ones never seem to be the ones who die, or suffer, or are even remotely inconvenienced when lives are torn apart. The effects of their policies are borne by the nameless, faceless people who gain nothing from the votes the perpetrators will eventually offer up to the progressives. But that is a price the leftists are perfectly willing to have someone else pay.

Maybe you've noticed that not only do leftists love for children to be in schools deemed "gun-free zones," but they fight like hell to make sure that no one in those schools can prevent the deaths that become so useful to the advancement of their agenda. We are then offered the spectacle of the antiSecond Amendment politicians briefly leaving the protective cocoon of their armed security detail to tell us how unacceptable it would be for teachers and school administrators to be able to kill a gunman whose primary inducement in his choice of location is that no one will shoot back for a good, long time. Those aren't their children or grandchildren we're mourning. Those are expendable children. Perhaps it's sad, theoretically, that their lives were snuffed out by a triggered lunatic protected by laws passed by liberals that prevented the shooter's pre-emptive commitment to an institution, whether psychological or criminal, but their families have the comfort of knowing that their children died to eradicate the Second Amendment. They were offered up so that we can eventually be a nation of unarmed, subservient workers ruled by the politicians who willingly sacrificed those children so they can be the ones on top when the dust settles, sans bullet holes.

The cynical, bald-faced lie that runs through each of these examples is that the left values the lives of "innocents," but leftists have defined that term differently from how we would. To them, women who don't act responsibly to prevent pregnancy are victims who must be protected. The children have to be sacrificed so the women can live the lives no one took from them. Illegal aliens who came here to prey upon our society, but who leftists believe will eventually be voting dependents, are innocent victims who must be protected. We are told they have the "spark of divinity." The Americans whom these blessed and protected victims have killed or maimed were necessary sacrifices. While progressives preach that some people are so important that we must prevent their prospective victimhood, their own policies furnish the actual victims necessary to maintain the charade that unfortunate deaths keep occurring and must be stopped while enabling them by the hundreds of thousands.

And here we are again. The more people who die from coronavirus, the better the progressives think their chances will be in November. They can rationalize that they aren't actually killing the victims; the illness is. But as they seek to create discord and strife between the president and his experts, thereby making his efforts less effective and immediate, they obviously know that time is of the essence. The longer it takes to get this under complete control, the more people will die, and they will blame Trump. If they can ban the use of medicines in their states that would reverse the severity and duration of the virus, more people will die, but they can blame Trump. If they didn't order enough ventilators for their own states when they could have done so, but instead dedicated their resources to abortions, and protecting violent criminals, and green energy that doesn't work, and people die, they can blame Trump.

All roads lead to the same place. Death advances every item on the agenda. Cause it, pretend to cry about it, and then cause some more. For the left, death is business, and on the political left, business is booming.

Image: Hernan Fednan via Flickr.
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), also known as brain fever, that had killed about 200 children in the state last year, has struck this north Bihar town again in what could be a double whammy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said on Saturday.

The Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, which bore the brunt of last years brain fever outbreak and accounted for more than 120 deaths, has admitted its first AES patient this year at the paediatric ICU, superintendent S K Shahi said.

He said a three-year-old boy, who belongs to Baji Bujurg village under Sakda block of the district, was brought to the hospital by his family members, when condition of the child, who caught a cold a few days back, worsened.

In addition, a girl from Chiraiya in East Champaran district has been referred to SKMCH by the Sadar hospital at Motihari, where she was first admitted with symptoms of AES, Shahi said.

Children afflicted with AES often tend to develop hypoglycaemia, which implies a sudden drop in glucose level and has been linked disputably to consumption of unripe litchis which are grown in abundance in north Bihar.

Medical experts had, last year, blamed the high number of fatalities on the inordinate delay in administering glucose to the afflicted children who often end up getting the much- required intravenous transfusion at hospitals far away from their homes.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also stressed on the need for preparedness for AES at a high-level meeting in Patna to take stock of the coronavirus situation.

He also instructed officials that expansion of the capacity of the SKMCH paediatric ICU to 1000 beds, which he had ordered in the wake of AES outbreak last year, be completed at the earliest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

The United States Postal Service continues its work during the coronavirus crisis, with essential medicines, groceries, mail-in-ballots and even COVID-19 test kits making their way from sorting rooms to American homes. However, many workers are sounding the alarm that they are not adequately prepared or protected.

About 85 USPS workers have confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday. The number more than doubled from Monday, a rising rate higher than in almost any other industry. The service also confirmed the first death among its employees, a New York City letter carrier on Wednesday.

As the country relies on the USPS, FedEx, UPS and other carriers more than ever, workers are faced with the challenge of maintaining business as usual while their neighbors are sheltering in place.

Working from home in my makeshift office in the garage, the UPS truck is one of very few vehicles that still passes by our street in the Oakland Hills every day. I asked our UPS delivery man, Sam, what it's like going to so many people's homes and being on the street all day while nearly everyone else is quarantining at home.

"People need us more than ever right now, they need their medical supplies, you know, like you guys."

Sam was delivering my insulin, for type one diabetes treatment.

I asked him if he's worried about going to so many homes and seeing people during a time when the streets are largely empty.

"Amazon has slammed us, we're busier than ever, it's like peak season not at Christmas. I'm just happy I have a job, you know."

I asked him if customers have been acting differently since the shut down.

"I've seen some people wipe down their packages. I'm worried, but no one's freaking out."

Other UPS employees are less positive.

An anonymous worker told New York Magazine yesterday, "I've tried to read as much as I can about the virus and what the CDC says, and they say it can stay on cardboard for 24 hours and plastic for 72. In a given day, I might touch packages that go to a thousand people, maybe more than that. Maybe 1,500 people every single day. I could have just been spreading it for the last two weeks. I didnt sign up to kill people, and thats what it feels like Im doing."

There has been some confusion over the last few weeks on whether the mail can carry coronavirus, and the information shared has not been overly clarifying.

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that found the virus can survive up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

The World Health Organization has stated that, "the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low."

ALSO: Stress and anxiety run high in grocery stores

The New York Times reported this week that postal workers in Bethlehem, Pa. were summoned to a conference room and informed a colleague had been infected with the virus, and they were given the option to go home. Half the workers stayed, and returned to work where cones had been put up around the sick worker's station.

In many delivery facilities and sorting rooms, where employees operate in very close quarters, workers said supervisors had not been able to supply bleach, masks, gloves and hand sanitizer when requested, and even hand soap and paper towels are scarce.

The USPS released a statement last week, stating that it was "encouraging healthy behaviors and protocols including frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers, and additional cleaning of work spaces, and encouraging any employee who feels they are sick to stay home."

"The safety of our employees remains our highest priority," Dave Partenheimer, the spokesman, said, "We are aware there are some facilities that are in need of additional supplies and equipment and we are urgently working to make sure all our employees have what they need to stay safe and healthy."

If you're concerned about catching coronavirus from packages and letters the short take away is this: wash your hands thoroughly after handling the mail.

And thank your delivery driver.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
Two Arizona congressmen had a drama-filled flight back to Washington, D.C., where they voted Friday to pass a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package aimed at helping Americans and businesses impacted by the ongoing pandemic.

Reps. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, and Paul Gosar, a Republican, were on a quiet overnight red-eye American Airlines flight when a fellow passenger passed out in the aisle.

Gallego, who had been sleeping, heard a call for anyone with a medical background. He immediately jumped up and ran toward the back of the plane to see what had happened. Gallego is a former Marine with combat medical training.

"I was hoping it wasn't, but I thought it might be someone had collapsed because of the coronavirus," Gallego told The Arizona Republic on Friday. "You can't not help someone in that situation."

'This cannot be our final bill': Pelosi looks ahead while Republicans want to see effects of $2 trillion coronavirus plan

U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar (left) and Ruben Gallego

Gallego assessed the situation and realized the problem was internal, something he couldn't fix. He remembered Gosar, a dentist, was also on the plane and ran to wake him up. Both congressmen attended to the man and his fiancee.

"Paul diagnosed him as having some blood sugar stuff. The guy was fine but people were shaken up," Gallego said.

I am now an fully awake on my red eye to DC! But thank you to @repgosar answering the call when the flight attendants asked for anyone with medical background! He answered when a young man passed out suddenly on this flight! #coronavirus  Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) March 27, 2020

In a tweet posted Friday morning, Gallego thanked Gosar for "answering the call when the flight attendants asked for anyone with medical background! He answered when a young man passed out suddenly on this flight!"

Story continues

Ben Goldey, a Gosar spokesman, told The Republic that Gosar assisted the crew and that the man was given either sweetened hot chocolate or coffee. Goldey said the man was fine when the plane landed.

Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., was also on the plane, which only had about 20 passengers, Gallego said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona congressmen Gosar, Gallego help passenger on red-eye flight
Police on Saturday arrested four clerics and booked 15 others in Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan for violating lockdown rules and holding Friday congregations despite a fatwa issued by a top global Islamic body to suspend them to contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Four clerics were arrested in Punjab province, while 15 clerics were booked in Sindh province's Karachi city, police said as the coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Saturday reached 1,408, including 11 deaths.

The government had issued a notification limiting the number of people between three to five who can attend Friday and congregational prayers in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Grand Imam Shaikh of Egypt's Jamia Al Azhar, an authority on Islamic injunctions, and the Supreme Council in Egypt, on the request of Pakistan President Arif Alvi, on Wednesday empowered the head of the state to suspend Friday prayers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The fatwa (religious edict) stated that public gatherings, including congregational prayers at mosques, could result in spread of coronavirus and the governments of Muslim countries had full jurisdiction to cancel such events.

However, religious leaders of the Barelvi and Deobandi sects did not support the decree issued by Al-Azhar.

A number of mosques flouted the order and a large number of people offered Friday congregations in Punjab and other parts of the country.

In Islamabad, Friday prayers were held at the Faisal Mosque where nearly 40 people offered prayers by maintaining some distance.

There were also reports of people attending Friday prayers in Sindh and Balochistan provinces despite presence of police personnel to discourage people from attending it.

Those arrested are Allama Muhammad Abbas Rizvi, Qari Muhammad Sabir, Qari Muhammad Mazhar and Qari Muhammad Usman.

Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar said police could have used force against the people for violating the lockdown but wanted them to realise that even Saudi Arabia has stopped congregations at Ka'aba, Islam's holiest site, and Masjid-e-Nabvi and it is also considering cancelling the Haj this year.

Meanwhile, in separate incidents, the Punjab and Sindh governments have arrested 210 people for hoarding of masks, sanitizers and gloves.

In Punjab, a container carrying 40 passengers from Karachi was intercepted by police in Multan, some 350 kms from Lahore, on Friday.

The police shifted them to police station for screening to make sure that they were not infected with the deadly virus. They were later allowed to go home after a warning.

Punjab is emerging as the new epicentre of the deadly viral infection in the country.

The province recorded a total of 490 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, up from 419 cases on Friday. The number surpassed Sindh's tally of 457 cases. Sindh was the province, which reported Pakistan's first coronavirus case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United States on Friday announced USD 174 million financial assistance to 64 countries including USD 2.9 million to India to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic.

This is in addition to the USD 100 million aid announced by the US in February.

The newly announced assistance is part of a larger American global response package across multiple departments and agencies, including the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funding is for 64 of the most at-risk countries facing the threat of the global pandemic.

The US State Department said it is providing USD 2.9 million to help the Indian government prepare laboratory systems, activate case finding and event-based surveillance, and support technical experts for response and preparedness, and more.

"This builds upon the foundation of more than USD 1.4 billion in health assistance out of the more than USD 2.8 billion in US assistance for India over the last 20 years," the State Department said.

According to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick, the new assistance builds on the US' record of global health leadership.

"For decades, the United States has been the world's largest provider of bilateral assistance in public health. The US has saved lives, protected people who are most vulnerable to disease, built health institutions, and promoted the stability of communities and nations," he told reporters.

In South Asia, the State Department is providing USD 1 million in health funding to help it strengthen monitoring and better prepare communities to identify potential outbreaks.

To bolster its national COVID-19 action plan, the United States has also redirected more than USD 1 million in existing funding for training of healthcare providers and other urgent needs.

It is providing USD 1.3 million to Sri Lanka, USD 1.8 million to Nepal, USD 3.4 million to Bangladesh and USD 5 million to Afghanistan to help them fight the pandemic. PTI LKJ CK
Cindy Rosen, a Mercer County real estate broker whos not making sales these days, had been consuming the non-stop news about the new coronavirus, when she finally resolved to do something about it, in part not to feel like such a helpless bystander, and also just to get her eyes off her TV and computer screens.

Actually, the first week we were home, I would just watch the news constantly, said Rosen, a mother of two grown daughters who lives with her husband in Robbinsville. And this gives me something else to do and concentrate on.

The this is the Mercer Project, a grassroots social media campaign to make breathing masks for first-responders and medical professionals who may be having trouble getting the simple but potentially life-saving respiratory guards, which have been in short supply.

As of Friday, Rosen said she, her four Mercer Mask Project co-founders, and about three dozen volunteers who later joined in the effort, had produced 400 fabric breathing masks. She said about 240 masks would be shipped from her home on Friday to recipients including the Plainsboro Rescue Squad and the Greenhill Pharmacy in Robbinsville. Plus, Rosen added, a couple of local nurses and doctors have requested them.

Rosen planted the first seeds of the project on Friday, March 20, with a post on her personal Facebook page in response to a news story about an Indiana woman who had been making masks. Rosen, who had surplus fabric from her previous work with the Project Linus blanket-making campaign, posted that said she had plenty of fabric and anyone wanting some to make masks should message her.

Fabric will be left outside for social distancing compliance, she posted.

That was Friday. And by Saturday morning, Johan had called and said, Why dont we set up a Facebook page and get this thing moving?" said Rosen, referring to cofounder Johan Glozman of Princeton Junction. "And it totally snowballed from there.

Snowballed would accurately describe the progression of the coronavirus crisis in New Jersey, which as of Friday has a statewide caseload of 8,825, with a death toll totaling 108. Both figures are up substantially from the day before, with 1,982 new cases and 27 additional deaths.

Masks that volunteers for the Mercer Mask Project stitched together by hand, to be used by first-responders and medical professionals in the fight against COVID-19.Mercer Mask Project

Chief Ankit Parikh of the Plainsboro Rescue Squad said members were grateful for the 50 masks they received.

And while Parikh noted that the masks were not up to N95 standards  meaning they did not block out 95% of of particulate matter and pathogens  he said they would "go a long way in helping us protect ourselves and our loved ones at home as well.

What these guys are doing is really commendable and we are grateful for having residents like them in our community that take care of us in our time of need, Parikh said in an email.

Before the Mercer Mask Project, Rosen said she had never met Glozman or his wife, LeeAnn. But by Saturday afternoon, they and another Princeton Junction couple, Brian and Brittany Cole, had launched the Project Mercer Mask Facebook page and remote production of the masks began based on designs they had posted.

A week ago I did not know them, Rosen said.

She said the group had researched appropriate designs and the types of materials needed to create medically effective masks, and that LeeAnn Glozman is a nurse practitioner who inspects the finished masks to determine the use theyre best suited for. In addition to sewing the masks, volunteers also act as runners to transport raw materials and the finished products.

To get involved, Rosen said people can message her on the Facebook page, or send an email to mercermaskproject@gmail.com.

Were trying to do our part, she said.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

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Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hit back at Donald Trump on Friday after the president said he felt that New York, the struggling epicenter of the coronavirus, did not need the 30,000 ventilators officials have demanded.

With 519 deaths and 44,635 confirmed cases, of which 6,481 require hospitalization, the coronavirus pandemic has put New Yorks medical facilities on the brink.

Cuomo has been practically begging for ventilators for days, slamming the federal government for initially sending 400 from the national stockpile when the state needed 30,000. The Trump administration later sent 4,000 more.

In an interview on Fox News on Thursday night, Trump said he doubted that states, including New York, actually needed the amount of equipment they were asking for.

I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than theyre going to be. I dont believe that you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators, he said.

Then, on Friday, he wrote a series of frenzied tweets, saying General Motors, which reportedly had a plan to make ventilators that was rejected by the federal government, must immediately open a plant for production. START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!!!!!! FORD, GET GOING ON VENTILATORS, FAST!!!!!! he tweeted. (Despite his tweets, Trump had still not implemented the Defense Production Act, which forces companies to manufacture supplies, White House officials told The Daily Beast.)

In a Friday briefing at the Javits Center, which is being converted into a massive emergency hospital, Cuomo did not name-check Trump but said equipment needs were not based on feelings.

Look I dont have a crystal ball, everybody is entitled to their own opinion but I dont operate here on opinion, he said. I operate on facts and on data and on numbers and on projections.

He said experts projections for New York predict that the state will hit its apex for hospitalization rates in 21 days. The state is building a stockpile of resources for when that apex hits and the entire system is stressed, Cuomo said. That includes 3,000 ventilators that would be distributed to hospitals as needs arisea fraction of the total 30,000 needed across the state.

Story continues

Those are numbers, not I feel, I think, I believe, I want to believe. Make the decisions based on the data and the science, he said. I hope we dont need 30,000 ventilators, I hope some natural weather change happens overnight and kills the virus globally. Thats what I hope. But thats my hope, thats my emotion, thats my thought. The numbers say you may need 30,000.

Health-care workers say ICU and emergency rooms in New York are under siege and running desperately low on personal protective gear and medical equipment, including ventilators.

We have never seen anything like this, and we are so unprepared for the need that seems to grow daily, an NYU Langone doctor told The Daily Beast on Thursday. Honestly, Im terrified.

The U.S. now has more coronavirus cases than anywhere else in the world, with 86,012 positive diagnoses, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys tracker.

Cuomo announced on Friday that the state was building another four emergency hospitals in convention centers, university stadiums, and shipping terminals, on top of four makeshift facilities already being built, to meet the 140,000 beds needed.

We are doing things that have never been done before, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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- Boris Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms

- The prime minister will self isolate in Downing Street

- The UK leader will continue to take charge of the governments handling of the crisis

United Kingdom (UK's ) Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19.

The prime minister is reported to have mild symptoms and will self-isolate in Downing Street.

READ ALSO: Caring employer praised for gifting employees food hampers amid coronavirus crisis

Boris Johnson last appeared in public when he stepped outside Downing Street to join in a national applause for National Health Service workers. Photo: BBC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: USA encourages medics working on COVID-19 to apply for work, exchange visa

According to Downing Street spokeswoman, he will, however, continue to take charge of the governments handling of the crisis.

After experiencing mild symptoms yesterday, the Prime Minister was tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of Englands Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty," she said.

"The test was carried out in No 10 by NHS staff and the result of the test was positive," she added.

READ ALSO: Good heart: Generous man hands KSh 10k to jobless workers

The prime minister's spokesman had earlier confirmed Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the first secretary of state, was the selected minister to stand in if Boris became unwell.

The PM last appeared in public when he stepped outside Downing Street to join in a national applause for National Health Service workers.

Boris is the first world leader to contract the virus with more than 11,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and 578 deaths.

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Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pushed crores of people working in the unorganised sector into destitution and demanded that he resign immediately.

He said the central government failed to take appropriate steps even after the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a pandemic on February 5.

"When it should have been working on a plan to deal with the pandemic, the government was busy making arrangements for US President Donald Trump's visit to India and usurping power in Madhya Pradesh," he alleged in a statement.

Azad claimed the prime minister enforced a 21-day lockdown without proper planning and pushed 35 crore people who work in the unorganised sector into destitution.

"The goverment has left these innocent people to die. The prime minister should tender his resignation immediately," the Dalit leader said.

The Bhim Army chief also hit out at the Rs 1.7 lakh crore package announced by the Centre to cushion the people from the impact of the coronavirus lockdown and economic disruption caused by the disease.

The Centre announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore package which will only help those working in the organised sector, those who have documents and bank accounts. The benefit won't reach around 37 crore people who are part of the unorganised sector, he said.

"Compared to Rs 1.7 lakh crore, the government waived loans of industrialists amounting to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in the last five years," Azad added.

The number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 873 in India on Saturday with the death toll rising to 19, according to the Union Health Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Teachers dont know if they are going to see their students for the remainder of the school year due to the coronavirus, which is why Harrisburg Education Associations president said many teachers want to try to connect with their students now in the safest way possible.

Not everyone thinks the parade is a good idea.

Discussion of organizing a Harrisburg teachers parade  a caravan of cars driving a specified route throughout the city  began earlier this week. Members of the Facebook group, Concerned Citizens of Harrisburg, have chimed in with a lot of excitement and some with resistance.

The parade is scheduled at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Jimmie Manning, a member of the group, published a post Friday evening that begged for the "Watch and Wave parade to be canceled. His post, which a handful of other members said they agreed with, has since been removed from the page.

However, earlier in the week, Manning commented to school board member Carrie Fowler: Sorry I dont think it is a good idea.

"The children and adults should stay inside as much as possible, he wrote. The best way to protect the children and their families is not to do anything that may bring them outdoors. We have no idea what could happen or what type of exposure we could open these families too. Lets just stay in place and celebrate when we return. This thing is serious.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday increased his stay-at-home order to nine counties, which includes York and Lancaster. Dauphin County is currently not on the list and many teachers want to take this opportunity to let their students know that they are missed, Harrisburg Education Association President Jody Barksdale said in a phone interview.

"Were not asking you to come outside, Barksdale said. Were asking you to watch from your porch or from inside your home through the windows. Nobody is getting out of their cars. Teachers are literally pulling up in our cars at the high school and then driving the route. Its been done in multiple school districts all across the state of Pennsylvania.

Route of "Watch and Wave" parade. Photo: HEA

Other school districts in Dauphin County have capabilities that Harrisburg doesnt, which is another reason Barksdale said many teachers are excited to spread hope to their kids by driving by their homes, waving and honking their car horns.

"The intent behind it was to brighten our kids day, she said. "We want to let them know the teachers of Harrisburg are still here and we will continue to be here throughout this process.

There was a lot of thought that went into the creation of the parade, Barksdale said. It also received support from the Harrisburg Police Department, she added.

"We dont want to miss out on this opportunity, Barksdale said. "I understand the concern. If a majority of Harrisburg doesnt want it, then we wont do it. Were not pressuring anyone to take part in it. We just want to show our kids that were still here. Ive seen it done in other places, and its really brought the community together. We want to create a memorable experience for our kids. This is coming for our hearts. We miss our kids.
[March 27, 2020] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation on Behalf of ProPetro Holding Corp. Investors (PUMP)

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of ProPetro Holding Corp. ("ProPetro" or the "Company") (NYSE: PUMP) concerning whether the board breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders. If you are a shareholder, click here to participate. On August 8, 2019, ProPetro issued a series of material misstatements and omissions to investors regarding, among other thigs: (1) ProPetro's executive officers were improperly reimbursed for certain expenses; (2) ProPetro had engaged in certain undisclosed transactions with related parties; (3) ProPetro lacked adequate disclosure controls and procedures; and (4) ProPetro lacked effective internal control over financial reporting.



Following the filing of a securities lawsuit against ProPetro, co-founders Phillip Gobe and Dale Redman lost their titles of principal executive and finance chief, respectively. Gobe and Redman agreed to reimburse the Company for expenses that were billed to ProPetro. On October 18, 2019, Reuters (News - Alert) reported that the SEC was investigating the Company's financial disclosures. Culper Research also published a report which called the Company's internal review "a farce[.]" Finally, on November 13, 2019, another $3.6 million in related party transactions was revealed to the public.

Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you own ProPetro shares and wish to discuss this matter with us, or have any questions concerning your rights and interests with regards to this matter, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200327005571/en/

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MOUNT PLEASANT  Town Council voted down a resolution calling on Gov. Henry McMaster to impose a statewide stay-at-home order Friday, and Mayor Will Haynie said the town would follow the governor's lead, disappointing some residents who called for more restrictions.

The south end of Mount Pleasant has 15 COVID-19 cases, the second-highest number of cases of any ZIP code in the state, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Friday. No county has more cases than Charleston County, DHEC reported.

Town officials were divided Friday about whether enough is being done to slow the spread of the deadly virus.

A vote to ask McMaster to impose a statewide stay-home order failed 5-4, supported by Haynie and council members Howard Chapman, Laura Hyatt and Guang Ming Whitley.

"I will not vote for this," said Councilwoman Brenda Corley, principal of Oceanside Collegiate Academy. "We are causing major divisiveness by even discussing it."

Councilwoman Kathy Landing said the council could always change its mind if things get worse.

"If we see something dire in our community, we can pivot," she said.

Chapman said that calling for a statewide stay-home order is "what people want us to do, especially the medical profession."

The lack of action came as a surprise to some, given how the day had started. Some Town Council members and the mayor had been clashing over whether he had the power to order Mount Pleasant businesses to close or residents to stay inside.

"I think if the mayor were not talking about shutting the entire town down, I dont think Jake (Rambo) would have put it on the agenda," Councilman Tom O'Rourke said prior to the meeting. Im probably in the camp of lets let the mayor make decisions because were in different times now."

Haynie has been outspoken about the need to slow the spread of the virus. In a video he posted on Facebook late Thursday he said: I favor a stay-at-home order for the town of Mount Pleasant because I would rather us have two weeks of a stronger measure than months and months of what we are experiencing now."

Some council members  including allies  worried that the mayor was about to announce new restrictions, and were prepared to consider limiting his emergency powers. Councilman Rambo said the town's lawyers have advised that a council vote would make such an order easier to defend if challenged.

The mayor should not have the blanket authority to buck legal advice we have been given," said Rambo, who put the item to potentially restrict the mayor's power on the agenda. Im not alone, on council, about this."

At a 3 p.m. council meeting held by videoconference, however, Rambo backed away from his proposal to "prohibit the enactment of any additional restrictions" without a council vote.

By the time the council met online the state Attorney General had issued a non-binding opinion stating that only the governor could issue stay-home orders to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Haynie said what he'd like the governor to do, and has asked him to do, is make it clear that towns and cities can impose their own orders. He said that, as with hurricanes, different areas have different needs.

The Town Council did vote 9-0 to suspend a prohibition on plastic bags and foam takeout containers to aid restaurants that are doing more takeout business. Rambo, a partner in the Grace & Grit restaurant, said restaurants have been having trouble sourcing environmentally friendly alternatives, which also cost more.

"So this whole emergency meeting was over plastic bags?" said an observer of the online meeting who posted comments as Jonathan Ramaci, using a chat feature.

Other meeting observers criticized the lack of new COVID-19 restrictions.

"We are isolated at home but if we must get food or supplies the lack if action to protect the public in Mt P is duly noted," wrote The Kemps. "Mt Pleasant SC is officially now a council approved Petri dish."
ROME  The coronavirus that is threatening the world and knows no religion has penetrated the high walls of the Vatican and come to the doorstep of Pope Francis and the elderly cardinals who live near him.

For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, Francis, who is 83 and had part of a lung removed during an illness in his youth, said in remarks hauntingly delivered on the steps of St. Peters Basilica Friday evening.

He spoke alone and before a vast and empty square, its cobblestones slicked with rain and reflecting the blue lights of the police locking down Rome to fight the virus. We find ourselves afraid, the pope added. And lost.

The remarks on such a dramatic and grand stage amounted to a change of course for the pontiff, who throughout the first weeks of the coronavirus crisis in Italy  now the worlds deadliest outbreak  tended to talk about other things, or addressed the issue via live stream. When he came down with a bad cold last month, he refused to address whether he had been tested for the virus; some employees have grumbled about offices having stayed open too long.
LANSING, MI -- State officials have launched a website seeking volunteers to help address the COVID-19 issue.

Through the website, www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are seeking both medical professionals and civilians to help combat the contagion.

Medical professionals are encouraged to register to help hospitals. Others may use the site to find out how they can help in their local communities, give blood, donate money or medical supplies, or assist public health officials in tracking infections.

Weve seen an incredible amount of strength and courage of Michiganders during this time of uncertainty, whether its from communities donating food, money, and resources to those that need it or from businesses using their technology to manufacture personal protective equipment, Whitmer said. To bend the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state, we must all work together as Michiganders. Whether youre a medical professional looking to volunteer, or someone who can give blood or donate to your local food bank, everyone can help out. We will get through this together.

This website is to serve as a single clearinghouse for Michiganders to join efforts opposing COVID-19s spread. The state will work with hospitals and health systems that are short-staffed to fill gaps if necessary.

Residents with a background in public health, health care fields, or community organizing may assist with contact tracing. Contact tracing involves speaking with COVID-19-positive patients to determine the people they have interacted with and locations they have visited in the days prior to becoming infected.

The time is now to save lives, said Robert Gordon, director of MDHHS. Doctors, nurses, medical assistants  please volunteer where we need you most. You can save lives. Michiganders in good health who want to serve seniors who are alone  safely, from a distance  please volunteer. You can save lives, too. If youre ready to use your cell phone to trace infections to their source, please volunteer. You can save lives, too. Visit www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19.

Buttons on the website allow users to link to volunteer opportunities in their community, donate needed items, or give blood. The Michigan Community Service Commission within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is a partner in the website as the states expert at using service as a strategy to address the states most pressing issues and empowering volunteers to strengthen communities.

The American Red Cross is also partnering with the state on the new site. As the demand for blood remains high during the pandemic, Whitmer and the Red Cross are encouraging eligible, healthy donors to visit RedCrossBlood.org and schedule an appointment to give in the days and weeks ahead. The Red Cross has implemented COVID-19 mitigation measures at blood drives.

Information around COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Related:

Complete coronavirus coverage

Hospitals need more supplies to process COVID-19 tests, get results

Catholic Charities grapples with helping Flint homeless amid coronavirus pandemic
"I took it as a pitch to our civic duty," one principal said. "A recognition that we had the autonomy to make our own call, but to be aware that the call we made had implications well beyond our own borders too." The principals asked questions. And they told Chant that, from their perspective, the biggest risk to the cohesion of their school communities  and their own leadership on COVID-19  was parents who were medical professionals, but neither pandemic experts nor privy to the full picture of information on which decisions were based. They were demanding health authorities change their course of action, creating panic and uncertainty within their parent bodies. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (right) and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (left). Credit:AAP "Experts did their modelling based on facts and what we know about how pandemics spread in different conditions," one of those on the call told the Herald. "But the thing that modelling has not accounted for is fear."

They also told the ministers that they could do classroom learning, or online learning, but not both. Loading The following day, the heads contacted their school communities to tell them about Chant's advice and explain why they had chosen to stay open. While many Victorian schools rushed to close their doors, few in NSW followed, due to that Sunday night call. "Whatever my own views on the topic are, I believe we are in a time where listening to one considered voice is important," Reddam House co-principal Dee Pitcairn wrote in a letter to parents. "For me, those are the voices of Scott Morrison and [Chief Health Officer] Brendan Murphy." Most of those that did close in NSW were smaller schools, such as a Buddhist school in Parramatta and Alpha Omega College. Pymble Ladies College was the largest to break ranks, running an online program while keeping its campus open for students who had to attend. PLC's decision angered many independent school heads, who felt it had acted in its own interests rather than for the collective.

The consensus was threatened again days later when, on the Wednesday, NSW Catholic systemic schools signalled they would close their physical campuses and begin online learning, taking several Catholic independent schools with them. Association of Independent Schools of NSW chief executive Geoff Newcombe. That drew more significant intervention; the next morning Prime Minister Scott Morrison telephoned Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Fisher, who then wrote to Catholic bishops and school leaders insisting they follow federal government advice and remain open. In calls to both Catholic and independent sector leaders, Morrison mentioned that the federal government paid their bills. It was a veiled threat: toe the line or risk your funding. Through a mixture of persuasion, threat and leadership, the three school sectors managed by the end of that third week in March what so many have accused them of failing to achieve in the past  unity. But while non-government leaders were persuaded to follow a single message from the nation's top health experts, pressure was mounting on the government elsewhere. Teachers were becoming increasingly anxious about their own health, especially as many in the public system did not have access to the protective measures that private schools were able to summon quickly, such as extra sanitiser stations; some did not even have soap and were running out of paper towels and toilet paper.

They were also increasingly resentful about one of the key messages coming out of governments: that schools had to stay open to look after the children of healthcare workers, who were doing an important job. By implication, a teacher's job was not important; they were being asked to self-sacrifice too, with no acknowledgment. One senior education bureaucrat believed authorities blew their chance to get teachers onside from the beginning. "They should have said thank you. It quickly became too late." For a workforce that has had its goodwill eroded by ever-increasing levels of disrespect from the wider community over many years, it was hard to swallow. "I hate that we are being sacrificed to keep nurses working," one teacher said. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, national Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on March 13. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer By the end of that week, teachers unions from the public and private sectors were stepping up their pressure on governments, particularly the NSW government, to create a situation in which teachers, especially older and vulnerable ones, could work from home, as everyone else was being told to do. In the end, it was Premier Gladys Berejiklian who made the call to effectively shut schools.

Loading Her government was worried. There was the Ruby Princess debacle, in which cruise passengers with COVID-19 were allowed to disembark and wander unchecked into the community. Thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach on a 35 degree day, ignoring social distancing advice. Pressure from teachers was intensifying, although there was no direct threat of industrial action. Then, last Sunday morning, Victoria announced it would bring school holidays  which were due two weeks earlier than in NSW  forward. With NSW becoming the country's coronavirus epicentre, Berejiklian decided to move. At the urging of the NSW and Victorian premiers, national cabinet was brought forward to last Sunday night. On the question of school closures, Morrison could not be persuaded; as long as the medical experts said it was safe, schools should remain open. So Berejiklian settled on a position that would not directly flout the authority of the national cabinet, but still achieve what she wanted; schools would technically be open, but parents were urged to keep students at home and all learning would be done online. Her public reasoning was that schools might as well go online, given a quarter of parents were already keeping their children home.

Within days of the Premier's announcement, absentee rates reached almost 90 per cent. "What Gladys could not achieve by way of a policy, she got by persuasion," an education executive close to the negotiations said. "They have a view inside NSW cabinet that the national response is lagging. But if you identified the messiest part of the [COVID-19 response], it's around schools. The ambiguity has been allowed to linger too long." For now, schools remain open to those who have no option but to send their children, but fewer and fewer are attending each day. The NSW Teachers Federation wants a bigger shutdown so that only children of frontline healthcare workers may attend. The Prime Minister, who tried so hard to keep schools open, has now acknowledged they are likely to shut after Easter. Many teachers were relieved by the NSW government's response, worried about their own health and those they love. So were many parents, who gained the go-ahead to keep their kids at home. Many frontline health workers believe it was the right decision to stop the spread of the disease. But some families have also been thrust into financial hardship by the pressure to choose between looking after their children and their jobs, as industries continue to shut down with no sign of reopening and job losses continue. Many are also worried about how they will sustain working and home-schooling for six months. There is also deep concern about how the state's most vulnerable students will be affected not only by a potential pause in learning, if they have neither the technology nor the support at home, but also by the loss of the care and safety they find at school.
An employee at Ralphs grocery store in Westchester lets in only a few shoppers at a time to comply with social distancing guidelines on March 22. (Los Angeles Times)

It's safe to say that the vast majority of our letter writers are on board with Gov. Gavin Newsom's "stay at home" order to slow the coronavirus' spread. Some have sent letters expressing worry over what the restrictions mean for people's livelihoods, but fewer still have questioned the need for much of the economy to shut down.

In fact, the high number of sharp rebuttals to two readers who on March 20 harshly criticized Newsom help illustrate how strong the consensus is among our letter writers on social distancing and the governor's order. Here are some of those rebuttals.

Newsom's speech was scary because it had to be, writes Mindy Taylor-Ross of Venice:

One letter writer from Pasadena said Newsom "outraged" him with too much bad information in his address to the state on March 19 announcing his stay-at-home order. The writer said that people "understand the seriousness of the situation fully," which we do not, and are "doing all we can," which we are not.

Doing all we can is not partying like it's 1984 on the beach. Get real, stay home, listen to advice, and protect your loved ones and people around you.

John Reed of Hemet lashes out at people who refuse to stay at home:

"Is the governor kidding me?" So begins the diatribe from a reader in Redlands. "No one is going to order me to stay at home. ... This has gone too far."

Well, at least he gets one thing right: "This" has gone too far. Of course, he's talking about government intervention in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while most of us are referring to the spread of this disease because of people like the writer who are so determined to look out solely for themselves that they don't care about the rest of us.

The writer sounds like he would have joined the spring breakers in Florida. Let no man tell him what to do; it's only for the sake of our world.

Story continues

Richard Schmittdiel of Glendale wants more imformation:

I admire the letter writer's dedication and work ethic. I'm also really glad he still has a job to go to.

But he would do the rest of us a favor if he'd let us know where that is and where he'll be, so that we can protect ourselves by staying the heck away from him until this virus thing blows over.

Steve Durgin of Woodland Hills has a request:

In response to the writer who said he has a job, that job is not at home and the governor has gone too far, unless he is providing essential services, that job is on hiatus, as is mine.

Stay safer at home and help keep the rest of us safer, please. No man, infected or not, is an island.
The countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has cost migrant sweet makers in Karnal their livelihood, stuck without any means of transportation, the sweet makers have set for their hometown in Agra on foot.

As the 21-day lockdown entered the fourth day on Saturday, a group of around 10 people wearing masks and carrying backpacks could be seen walking on the deserted National Highway 44. They claimed that they had been working with sweetshops in Karnal and Gharaunda for four-five years. However, having run out of money and food, they decided to head to their respective villages in Agra.

They covered 20km in three hours, however they still have to cover a journey of 335 km to reach their homes in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made repeated appeals to the migrant workforce asking them to stay wherever they are during the lockdown, labourers say they cannot stay put as they do not have money to pay their landlords.

The police was beating up people stepping out for essential items. We do not have food and money to survive for the next three weeks, said one of the migrant labourers, Rinku of Agra, adding that they started their journey at 3am.

Another youth on the condition of anonymity says, I was employed in Karnal for the past four years. I provided sweetmeats at hundreds of marriages but nobody is helping us now.

On how they will reach their homes as the movement of all the trains and buses was banned during the lockdown, he said, It is better to travel than die here without food and money.

The labourers said the Uttar Pradesh government was running some buses from Delhi to take migrant labourers to their homes. Our priority is to reach Delhi. We know till then the government would have taken some steps for the homeless people like us. a labourer said.

The district administrations on directions of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar have warned factory workers and landlords against asking their workers to vacate their homes during lockdown. The district administration has been told to make appropriate arrangements for setting up medical, stay and food facilities for the migrant labourers working in the state.

Karnal admin launches adopt a family initiative

Hoping to ensure availability of essential items to all poor families, especially migrant labourers, the Karnal district administration has introduced the adopt a family initiative. Under the initiative the administration has appealed people to bear the expense to supply essential items to a family.

Karnal deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav said all interested parties can adopt a family in the city by paying 500 per week for a familys expense. He also provided bank account numbers where people can deposit their contributions.

He said there were hundreds of families of migrant labourers, rickshaw pullers and construction workers who were unable to get work due to the lockdown and people should come forward to help them at this time of crises.

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As the United States led the world with confirmed coronavirus cases, cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans grew as hotspots Saturday, while the virus continued to pummel New York City and made its way into rural America

Detroit: As the United States led the world with confirmed coronavirus cases, cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans grew as hotspots Saturday, while the virus continued to pummel New York City and made its way into rural America.

Elsewhere, Russia said its borders would be fully closed as of Monday, while in parts of Africa, pandemic prevention measures took a violent turn, with Kenyan police firing tear gas and officers elsewhere were seen on video hitting people with batons.

Worldwide infections surpassed 640,000 with nearly 30,000 deaths as new cases also stacked up quickly in Europe, according to a tally by John Hopkins University. The US leads the world in reported cases with more than 112,000, but five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France. Italy alone now has 10,023 deaths, the most of any country.

New York remained the worst-hit US city. Governor Andrew Cuomo said defeating the virus will take weeks and weeks and weeks". The UN donated 2.5 lakh protective face masks to the city and Cuomo delayed state's presidential primary from 28 April to 23 June.

But Cuomo said he knew nothing of President Donald Trump's suggestion of some kind of quarantine for New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, all hit hard by the coronavirus.

The federal government generally does not have the power to impose such restrictions on states. Trump made the comments on his way to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a US Navy medical ship en route to New York City to help with the response there.

Cases also have been rising rapidly in cities such as Detroit, where poverty and poor health have been problems for years. The number of infections surged to 1,381, with 31 deaths recorded, as of noon Saturday.

At this time, the trajectory of Detroit is unfortunately even steeper than that of New York, said Dr Teena Chopra, the medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the Detroit Medical Centre.

This is off the charts, she said.

Chopra, who has worked in Detroit for more than 15 years, said many patients have ailments like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. She also acknowledged that in Detroit, one of the nation's largest African American cities, there is a distrust among some in the community of the medical system and government due to systemic racism.

"In Detroit, we are seeing a lot of patients that are presenting to us with severe disease, rather than a minor disease," said Chopra, who worried about a tsunami of patients.

Louisiana has surpassed 2,700 infections, with 119 residents dead from COVID-19  an increase of 36 fatalities from a day earlier, according to the health department. Governor John Bel Edwards said Louisiana has the third-highest rate of cases per capita and the second-highest death rate per capita, with the region on track to run out of ventilators by the first week of April.

Officials urged residents and businesses to donate protective gear such as masks, gloves and face shields at New Orleans' fire stations.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis worried that people would flee New Orleans, and he ordered anyone arriving from Louisiana to self-quarantine. He said the Florida Highway Patrol and sheriffs deputies will set up checkpoints to screen cars from Louisiana.

Cases in Chicago and suburban Cook County accounted for about three-quarters of Illinois' 3,026 total as of Friday. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed popular lakeshore parks Thursday after people failed to practice social distancing, despite a statewide shelter-at-home order.

Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan, providing money for the outbreak. He also has done the same for New York, Louisiana, and Illinois.

The governor of Kansas also issued a stay-at-home order to begin Monday, as the virus takes hold in more rural areas, where doctors worry about the lack of ICU beds.

Virus strains Europe's health systems

The virus is straining health systems in Italy, Spain, and France. Lockdowns of varying severity have been introduced across Europe, nearly emptying streets in normally bustling cities.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed for patience from citizens. Germany has fewer deaths than some neighboring countries but still closed nonessential shops and banned public gatherings of more than two people, and Merkel's chief of staff said the restrictions won't be relaxed before 20 April.

Spain, where stay-at-home restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks, reported 832 more deaths Saturday, its highest daily count yet, bringing its total to 5,690.

Another 8,000 confirmed infections pushed that count above 72,000. But Spain's director of emergencies, Fernando Simon, saw hope in that the rate of infection is slowing and figures indicate that the outbreak is stabilising and may be reaching its peak in some areas.

Doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers in Spain's worst-hit regions are working nonstop and falling ill at an alarming rate. More than 9,000 health workers in the country have been infected.

We are completely overwhelmed, said paramedic Pablo Rojo at Barcelonas Dos de Maig hospital. Seven or eight (patients transported today) and all with COVID-19. ...And the average age is decreasing. Theyre not 80 years old anymore, they are now 30 and 40 years old.

Spain has struggled to get coronavirus tests and protective gear for health workers and has begun flights to carry the supplies directly from China.

Struggle continues in rest of the world

As the epicentre has shifted westward, the situation has calmed in China, where some restrictions have been lifted. Some subway service was restored in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December after the city had its virus risk evaluation reduced from high to medium. Five districts of the city of 11 million people had other travel restrictions loosened after their risk factor was reduced to low.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

More than 135,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

Countries are still trying to bring home citizens stranded abroad. On Saturday, 174 foreign tourists and four Nepali nationals in the foothills of Mount Everest were flown out days after being stranded at the only airstrip serving the world's highest mountain.

Indian authorities sent buses to the outskirts of New Delhi to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages amid the world's largest lockdown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began Wednesday and effectively put millions out of work.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has ordered his country's borders fully closed as of Monday. International passenger flights were halted Friday. The order exempts diplomats as well as residents of the Kaliningrad region who must cross through another country to enter the rest of Russia.

Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Friday, ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing ventilators. He also signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package approved by Congress that will send checks to millions of Americans, boost unemployment benefits, help businesses and toss a life preserver to an overwhelmed health care system.

Dr John Brooks of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Americans remained in the acceleration phase of the pandemic.

"There is no geographic part of the United States that is spared from this," he said.

The first death was reported Friday in the rural Michigan town of Cadillac, while numbers grew in Detroit, four hours to the south. Detroit's homeless population is especially vulnerable, officials said.

"If any of these individuals got infected, it would be very easy to transmit it to other people without knowing," said Chad Audi, executive director of the Detroit Rescue Mission, adding he has since opened two new facilities to accommodate an increase in clients and implemented new safety precautions. But in no circumstances will we close our doors because these individuals don't have any place to go. It's very important to us.
On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do

Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there...
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Socialist Party (India) Demands Immediate Action from the Government to (...)

DOCUMENT

PRESS RELEASE | 26 March 2020

In order to ensure that no person in India goes hungry or faces economic ruin due to the 21-day lockdown announced on Tuesday, it is imperative that the government take immediate, extensive and wide-ranging measures. If effective action is taken in a timely manner, this will not only provide people with the safety net they need to get through the lockdown but will increase the trust the common person places in the higher authorities of the country. Such action will bolster the ability and willingness of Indians to cooperate and comply with all the important measures being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and give us a fighting chance of emerging from this crisis as quickly as possible.

Socialist Party (India), in solidarity with other organisations which have placed similar demands such as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and the Right to Food Campaign, asks that the central government in close cooperation with the state governments and local administrative bodies, take the following steps immediately:

Clear all dues and transfer unemployment wages for the next one month into the accounts of all registered MNREGA workers immediately, and continue doing so for every coming month until the situation in the country normalises and people are able to return to work. Transfer of unemployment wages should not be limited to 100 days as is often the case but should be continued until this crisis has been averted. A similar scheme must be initiated for urban areas as well.

Transfer Rs. 10,000 directly into the Jan-Dhan account of every worker in the unorganised sector immediately, and continue to transfer the amount every month until the workers are able to return to work. Identify workers who may not have bank accounts or any other documents, for example, migrant workers from other districts and states and deliver relief to them as well.

All people should be provided food grains and other essential commodities such as pulses, kerosene, sugar, soap and disinfectants through PDS Fair Price Shops for free. Allocations should be increased by 50% and be uniform across categories. So a minimum of 52.5 kg of grains should be given to every family and 7.5 kg per person for a family of more than 7. These items should be delivered door to door to prevent crowding at ration shops.

Ensure door to door delivery of mid-day meals for all school-going children, and nutritious and freshly-prepared food packets for all children and mothers enrolled in Anganwadis.

Ensure timely payments of government-sponsored pensions such as those given to the elderly and widows. These pensions should be enhanced considerably, as they are already very low, and considering that many of those falling in these groups are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

No employer in the organised or unorganised sector should be allowed to lay-off employees for the period of the lockdown as well as for six months after employees return to work.

To the extent possible all people not able to work during this time should be granted paid leave by their employers for as long as the lockdown continues. Employers who are not able to pay due to shortage of money should promise full compensation of lost wages within a year of their business/service resuming operations.

All landlords should be required to waiver the rents on their properties for the duration of the lockdown.

Food banks/community kitchens should be set up at various locations in cities and towns, especially in low-income neighbourhoods. These should provide free nutritious meals two times a day while ensuring the safety of all beneficiaries through measures facilitating physical distancing and hand washing.

Workers and other people intending to return to their villages should be allowed to do so as they are likely to have a better social support system in their villages. The administration should arrange for transportation in a way which avoids crowding. This problem highlights our flawed model of development which skews population concentration in urban areas. People should be able to get employment where they live. Local economies, education and health care systems should be strengthened in the coming days.

Testing for COVID-19 should be made free of cost without exception and be made available to everyone who needs it without delay.

It should be ensured that all COVID-19 related treatments, consultations, hospital and quarantine stays be absolutely free of cost, whether in public or private hospitals/facilities. This problem highlights the importance of a strong public health care system from primary health care centres and mohalla clinics to the district, state-level hospitals. The government must learn from this and change its policy of relying on a private health care system to cover the entire population. Also COVID-19 is a grim reminder that social security for everyone, especially those who are most disadvantaged, is an imperative for health security for everyone.

Adequate water supply should be ensured in all households of the country so that people are able to wash their hands regularly. This could be done through the use of water tankers in areas where there are are no direct connections.

Take strict action against all discriminatory behaviour based on race, caste, religion and profession being seen around the country right now. People, especially those belonging to the north-eastern and Himalayan regions of the country as well as foreigners are being targeted with racist abuse, and healthcare workers, airline staff and cleaning staff are being threatened by landlords and neighbours. Such behaviour has no place in a civilised society and must be shut down immediately.

The government could consider setting up a COVID-19 relief fund in which all people in secure government and private sector jobs earning more than 50,000 a month, as well as all MLAs and MPs, contribute a months salary. Corporate heads, NRIs and other well-off individuals should be encouraged to contribute generously to this fund which can be used to bolster the governments efforts to ensure the wellbeing of all people at this difficult time.

Pannalal Surana, President, SP(I), Ph: 9423734089, shetipannalal[at]gmail.com

Sandeep Pandey, Vice President, SP(I), Ph: 0522-2355978, ashaashram[at]yahoo.com

Lubna Sarwath, State General Secretary, SP(I) Telangana, Ph: 9963002403, sarwath.lubna[at]gmail.com

Bobby Ramakant, Spokesperson, SP(I), bobbyramakant[at]yahoo.com

Surabhi Agarwal, Spokesperson, SP(I)
Victoria has recorded its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, as the state government ushers in new on-the-spot fines for those flouting health directives in a bid to curb its spread.

On-the-spot fines for those who defy directives from the chief health officer  fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses  were gazetted on Saturday by the state government.

Premier Daniel Andrews said at a press conference on Saturday morning that people would not be slugged with a fine for being closer than 1.5 metres together.

The on-the-spot fines can be given to those ignoring directives such as 14-day quarantine requirements, people engaging in mass gatherings or businesses opening unlawfully.
Napa County Public Health reported Friday night Napa County's ninth cases of COVID-19 -- a St. Helena resident who is under isolation and quarantine orders.

The patient has a direct relationship with a previously confirmed case. Isolation and quarantine orders have been served and Napa County Public Health is conducting its investigation.

On Thursday night, the county announced an eighth confirmed case. This individual had close contact with a Southern California confirmed case, the county reported Thursday night.

Napa County had been the last Bay Area county to report a confirmed coronavirus case until Sunday when the first two were reported. A third was disclosed on Tuesday, then three on Wednesday. On Thursday, the county reported a seventh case, a resident of Calistoga, then an eighth in the evening.

This increase in confirmed cases coincides with the county ramping up testing.

Of the nine cases, four are City of Napa residents, with three from St. Helena, and one each from American Canyon and Calistoga, officials said. Seven of the eight individuals were reported to be in isolation and not requiring hospitalization, while the American Canyon resident is hospitalized out of county.

Health workers try to identify close contacts of each patient, the county said.

As of Friday morning, California had more than 4,000 confirmed cases, the U.S. more than 86,000, agencies report.

Editors note: Because of the health implications of the COVID-19 virus, this article is being made available free to all online readers. If youd like to join us in supporting the mission of local journalism, please visit napavalleyregister.com/members/join/.

You can reach Howard Yune at 707-256-2214 or hyune@napanews.com

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
As of Friday, the states modeling was not finished, and though officials promised to share projections publicly, theres no timeframe on when that might happen. Read more

This story was produced as part of a joint effort among Spotlight PA, LNP Media Group, PennLive, PA Post, and WITF to cover how Pennsylvania state government is responding to the coronavirus. Sign up for Spotlight PAs newsletter.

HARRISBURG  With the rate of new coronavirus cases rapidly increasing in Pennsylvania and across the United States, some of the countrys top scientists are racing to understand how bad the outbreak is going to get and what measures can be taken to save as many lives as possible.

State Health Secretary Rachel Levine said her department was working with universities to answer those questions. But as of Friday, the states modeling was not finished, and though officials have promised to share projections publicly, theres no time frame on when that might happen.

That stands in contrast to officials in other states. The Oregon Health Authority, for example, has released modeling that shows how many infections could occur under different scenarios. The state, with a population of 4.2 million, had 319 confirmed cases as of Friday, while Pennsylvanias cases have topped 2,000.

In other states, like California and New York, top officials have said publicly how many additional beds and ventilators will be needed to handle the crisis. This week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo predicted New Yorks cases will peak in about 21 days, while New Jerseys state health commissioner has also provided an estimate.

It has been more than 20 days since Pennsylvania reported its first coronavirus cases, and state officials have released no such data or modeling. The number of new cases continues to grow exponentially, and deaths from the disease have begun to accelerate, from two to 22 in less than a week.

While state officials have consistently said the situation will deteriorate, theyve been unable to say just how bad the outbreak might become. Instead, theyve emphasized Gov. Tom Wolfs efforts to slow the spread and prevent sick patients from overwhelming hospitals.

We dont know when the surge is going to be. Were tracking that. We have different modeling, Levine said Friday. To be honest with you, I would go with what Dr. [Anthony] Fauci said, which is: The virus determines the timetable. We dont determine the timetable, referring to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

In the absence of state projections, hospitals and members of the public are turning to other models to understand where Pennsylvania is headed.

Levine pointed to one from the University of Pittsburgh. There, a computer platform called FRED projects that patient hospitalizations will peak at 100,000 in the state, according to a report Friday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

These are very scary numbers, and one thing I hope to impress upon people is that this is serious, Mark Roberts, director of the Public Health Dynamics Lab at Pitts Graduate School of Public Health, told the newspaper. Social distancing is seriously important not only for yourself but the rest of the community. Thats the only thing you can do.

In Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania has created a model that allows hospitals to use locally available data to anticipate how many COVID-19 patients will need treatment. Health systems can use projections from the model, called CHIME, to plan their responses to an expected surge in demand for intensive care beds, said co-creator Mike Draugelis, chief data scientist at Penn Medicine.

It also helps health systems around the country weigh the risks and benefits of continuing elective surgeries and other procedures, Draugelis said.

I think we're arming them with information that previously wasn't really available at a local level, he said.

One of the most elusive statistics is just how many people overall are infected because of the lack of mass testing and because some people with the virus dont show symptoms. Penn is testing people hospitalized in the Philadelphia area and feeding those results into CHIME, Draugelis said.

The big variable is how many people are carrying the virus without showing symptoms, Draugelis said. Testing a random sample of people would help to get at that number.

Draugelis said knowing the rate of asymptomatic carriers is essential to understanding how many people overall are infected with the virus. Its also important for projecting how many more people are going to get sick.

On the national level, a team of data scientists has created a model called COVID Act Now, which urges politicians and officials to adopt aggressive social distancing policies.

Founder Max Henderson said his team used data from other countries  along with whats available in the U.S., such as deaths from COVID-19 and the number of available hospital beds  to gauge how many people are likely to be hospitalized and how long hospitals could support that need. The site notes, This model is intended to help make fast decisions, not predict the future.

In Pennsylvania, the model gives a grim forecast of what sick people and health-care workers could face in the coming weeks. If no actions to restrict movement or encourage social distancing were put into place, upward of 255,000 people in the state could die. But thats an unlikely scenario.

Actions taken by Wolf over the last two weeks, including shutting down thousands of businesses and issuing a stay-at-home order for 19 counties, are essential to thwarting worst-case scenarios and reducing future deaths, Henderson said.

If the order was extended to the entire state and effectively enforced, the model projects that hospitals would not be overwhelmed, fewer than 3% of the population would be infected, and about 4,000 people in Pennsylvania would die from the illness.

That comes from changes in trends weve seen in other places like California and Washington, Henderson said. We know it works.

Asked Thursday if social distancing was working in Pennsylvania, Levine, the health secretary, said theres lag time between implementing the measures and seeing the impact. Wolf has thus far declined to extend the stay-at-home order statewide, saying he wants to take a measured approach.

Henderson noted COVID Act Now has limitations. It estimates how easily the virus spreads, and doesnt adjust for things like population density or weather. It also doesnt factor in if a hospital bed has intensive care services, such as a ventilator, though thats an additional data point researchers are working to add soon.

As a result of those limitations, COVID Act Now has been criticized by some conservative news outlets, which claim its causing elected leaders to panic and close down businesses despite early data from some states showing it may have overestimated hospitalizations.

No projection is perfect, but the model is serving an important function in a situation where every day counts, said Leo Nissola, a San Francisco-based physician and scientist at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Nissola, who is not part of the project but has endorsed it, noted that stopping the virus is vitally important for many of his patients, who will probably have more serious symptoms if they get sick. At the same time, his patients also are likely to be affected by long-term disruptions to other medical procedures.

To him, health-care companies face the difficult task of throwing significant resources at treating people sick with the coronavirus while also continuing to treat people with other illnesses. But the role the public plays in determining what happens in the weeks ahead is paramount.

This COVID-19 crisis is unlike anything weve seen, and it does require new, bold, and aggressive policy solutions, Nissola said.

Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA contributed to this article.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect how Penn is testing to feed its model.

100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA provides its journalism at no cost to newsrooms across the state as a public good to keep our communities informed and thriving. If you value this service, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
New Orleans rushed to build a makeshift hospital in its convention center Friday as troubling new outbreaks bubbled in the United States, deaths surged in Italy and Spain and the world warily trudged through the pandemic that has sickened more than a half-million people.

Punctuating the fact that no one is immune to the new coronavirus, it pierced even the highest echelons of global power, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson becoming the first leader of a major country to test positive.

While New York remained the worst hit city in the US, Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

We are not through this. We're not even half-way through this, said Joseph Kanter of the Louisiana Department of Health, which has recorded more than 2,700 cases, more than five times what it had a week ago.

New Orleans' sprawling Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, along the Mississippi River, was being converted into a massive hospital as officials prepared for thousands more patients than they could accommodate.

The preparations immediately conjured images of another disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the convention center became a squalid shelter of last resort in a city that has braved a string of storm hits, not to mention great fires and a yellow fever epidemic in centuries past.

As the new health crisis loomed, economic catastrophe had already arrived in the city, where many already live in poverty and the tourism industry has screeched to a halt.

I've never been unemployed. But now, all of a sudden: Wop! said John Moore, the musician best known as Deacon John, who has no gigs to perform with much of the city shut down.

It ain't just me. It's everybody. In New York, where there are more than 44,000 cases statewide, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 passed 6,000 on Friday, double what it had been three days earlier.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for 4,000 more temporary beds across New York City, where the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has already been converted into a hospital.

This is going to be weeks and weeks and weeks, Cuomo told members of the National Guard working at the Javits Center.

This is going to be a long day, and it's going to be a hard day, and it's going to be an ugly day, and it's going to be a sad day.

President Donald Trump, after earlier rejecting Cuomo's pleas for tens of thousands more ventilators, and the governor's calls to use the Korean War-era Defense Production Act, invoked the law Friday, ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing the breathing machines.

Trump signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package, after the House approved the sweeping measure by voice vote.

Lawmakers in both parties lined up behind the law to send checks to millions of Americans, boost unemployment benefits, help businesses and toss a life preserver to an overwhelmed health care system.

The US neared 100,000 confirmed cases, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Italy, the US and China account for nearly half the world's more than 585,000 infections and more than half of the roughly 26,000 reported virus deaths.

Dr. John Brooks of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans remained in the acceleration phase of the pandemic and that all corners of the country were at risk.

"There is no geographic part of the United States that is spared from this," he said.

In a phone call Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Trump that China "stands ready to provide support within its capacity," the official Xinhua Agency reported.

Trump, who has repeatedly referred to the outbreak as a Chinese virus, struck a different tone Friday, tweeting after the call that China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect! In Europe, Italy recorded its single biggest 24-hour rise in deaths, with 969 more victims, to bring its total number of fatalities to 9,134.

The country now has more than 86,000 cases, surpassing China to record the grim distinction of the second-most infections in the world, behind the U.S.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella called it a sad page in our history.

Italian epidemiologists warn that the country's number of cases is likely much higher than reported perhaps by five times although two weeks into a nationwide lockdown the daily increase seems to be slowing, at least in northern Italy.

''It is something devastating,'' said the Rev. Mario Carminati, whose church in the tiny Lombardy town of Seriate has been used to hold coffins of the dead before they are taken by military convoy for cremation.

Spain, with the world's fourth-biggest number of cases, reported another 7,800 infections for a total of more than 64,000. The country said health workers accounted for about 15 percent of its cases.

Deaths in Spain climbed past 4,900 the world's second-highest total after Italy.

In Britain, Johnson's office said the prime minister was tested after showing mild symptoms for the coronavirus. He was self-isolating and continuing to lead Britain's response to the pandemic.

Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team, to lead the national fightback against coronavirus," Johnson said in a video message, adding that he had a temperature and persistent cough.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australian bootmakers R.M. Williams has shut all of its stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The renowned brand said the coronavirus crisis had 'stopped us mid-stride' and forced it to temporarily close its doors.

It is the latest in a string of major retailers to close amid the ongoing pandemic, which has claimed 14 lives in Australia and infected more than 3,600 people.

Australia's most beloved shoe brand, R.M. Williams has been a stalwart of the high street for 88 years.

'The COVID-19 crisis has stopped us mid-stride so to say, on a global level, affecting humanity at every level,' the company said in a statement.

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name

Hugh Jackman (pictured with wife Deborra-Lee Furness) owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year

'After great deliberation, knowing this will impact each of us and our RM Williams family in different ways, we are closing our Australian Stores effective the 28th March.'

It follows similar action taken at dozens of beloved Australian stores, with Myer, Cotton On and Country Road also shutting their doors on Sunday.

All 650 of Cotton On's stores will be shut from 5pm on Sunday, with 10,000 staff left without work at department store Myer.

The coronavirus retail fallout is leaving tens of thousands of Australians unemployed as stores shut their doors.

'As a heritage Australian brand, we recognise that we have an important role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19," Country Road managing director Elle Roseby said in a statement.

'This is a decision that has not been made lightly, and one we feel is necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of our team, customers and wider community.'

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name.

The company's iconic boots are a popular item both locally and overseas, and the brand has stores in New York, London, New Zealand and in Scandinavia.

All Myer stores across Australia will be closed for at least a month due to the coronavirus pandemic

Dozens of people are seen queuing - very close together - outside a Centrelink in Melbourne on March 24, with many people having lost their jobs

Hugh Jackman owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year.

Jackman, 50, became involved with the company as an ambassador after starring in the movie Australia alongside Nicole Kidman in 2007.

He bought his stake in the firm in 2015, setting him up for a lucrative return when the business was sold to L Capital, the investment arm of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.

On Friday, Myer announced it would close all of its department stores in Australia and stand down 10,000 staff members for at least a month as it battles through the coronavirus pandemic.

General Pants is closing all stores until at least April 22 due to the coronavirus fallout

Bosses said the department giant - which has been an Australian institution for 120 years - would close its doors on Sunday, but would still run online.

Around 10,000 members of staff will be sent home without pay, Myer bosses confirmed.

In a statement, they said the decision was made to protect the health of staff, customers and the 'broader community'.

The closure will be for an initial period of four weeks, leading up to April 27, but may go on longer.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The embattled department store has suffered plunging profits for almost a decade, long before coronavirus hit.

Its latest financial results posted on March 5 reflect this, showing total sales down 3.8 per cent to $1.6 billion.

'As team members will not be working they will not be paid during this period of imposed closure,' the statement read.

'Full time and part time members have greater flexibility to access their annual leave and long service entitlements in addition to government assistance measures.'

It said it was 'fully supportive' of the government's social distancing measures, including people staying at home as much as possible.

Global health experts said that people staying home and keeping isolated is the best way to curb the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 3,000 Australians.

It comes soon after Australia's biggest hairdressing chain, Just Cuts, announced it would also close its doors.

Australia's coronavirus cases continue to rise, but some residents are still defying advice aimed at reducing the spread of the virus
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, many Staten Island businesses are reaching out to support first responders, medical personnel and residents who are struggling because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Through promotions and offers of free goods and services, Staten Islands business community is stepping up and getting creative with free offers and giveaways.

They are offering everything from free hand sanitizers to first responders and those on the front lines in hospitals, to free lunches to school children and gift cards to anyone who makes a donation toward providing medical staff with supplies.

I feel like right now is the time to be there for our community, said Mayank Parikh, whose Pleasant Plains pharmacy is giving out free hand sanitizer to first responders and medical personnel, and donating supplies to doctors and nurses on the front lines in Island hospitals.

Below is a list of Staten Island businesses and professionals offering free goods and services or fundraising to benefit local medical efforts in the battle with the coronavirus.

Milk-N-Things is offering hospital staff and first responders a free coffee any time of day. (Scott Sommer for the Staten Island Advance)

Milk-N-Things

Milk-N-Things delicatessen and grocery store, in West Brighton, is offering free breakfast and lunch to children during the coronavirus pandemic.

The deli is also offering freebies and discounts to first responders and hospital personnel.

I plan to continue this, said store owner Shahbaz Warraich, of the meal offerings. It doesnt take that much to offer a bagel or a sandwich. A lot of people are sitting home now with no job. Its not that Im rolling in dough, Im struggling myself, but Im glad to do it.

With New York City schools closed, many children in the community are in need of breakfast and lunch, he said.

The offerings include a roll or bagel with cream cheese or butter and a Capri Sun drink for breakfast. For lunch, the store is offering a childrens sandwich of bologna or turkey with cheese. Meals are free and no purchase is necessary, Warraich said.

Additionally, hospital staff and first responders can grab a free coffee there any time of day and receive 15% off their purchase.

The Forest Avenue store is located across the street from Prall Intermediate School (I.S. 27).

Dr. Jamshad Wyne, shown in this 2011 photo, is offering free telemedical consultations during the coronavirus pandemic. Staten Island Advance

Dr. Jamshad Wyne

Dr. Jamshad Wyne, a Dongan Hills physician specializing in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology, is offering free telemedicine visits to Staten Islanders during the coronavirus medical emergency.

I can see hundreds of patients online, Wyne said, explaining that the video conferences with patients typically last about 15 minutes. If it gets more popular, Ill set up a system. Right now, I can do audio or FaceTime.

Wyne, whos been in practice for more than 20 years, said hes hoping to encourage Staten Islanders who have flu-like symptoms or chest pain to get a medical opinion right away. He said hes also willing to treat patients with any other symptoms, as well.

The doctors daughter, Sophia, 22, who has a pre-medical degree from Barnard College/Columbia University and is a professional medical transcriptionist whos planning to attend medical school, will volunteer to assist him as he treats the patients, Wyne said.

He is currently reporting to his Richmond Road office daily, and can prescribe testing for the coronavirus over the phone. Laboratories, such as LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, are performing the tests on Staten Island for those who are symptomatic of the coronavirus.

They can call me for any reason, Wyne said. They must be symptomatic to have the corona test. But if they have heart problems, or shortness of breath, they can talk to me and I can differentiate that for them, in case they do have to go to the hospital.

Wyne is well known in the borough for his generosity.

He has run free cardiac clinics on Staten Island in recent years, and, in 2011, he donated $50,000 to the Staten Island Heart Imaging Foundation to cover the cost of an initial round of flu shots for borough residents. He dispensed those shots for free. He has also provided free Thanksgiving turkey dinners out of Staten Island Heart Imagings Dongan Hills office.

Anyone interested in a telemedicine consultation should call Wynes office at 718-351-0500, or his cell number, 718-757-1931. Sophia Wyne will also accept calls at 718-440-5503. If they are unavailable, a staffer will return the call to set up an appointment for the video consultation.

Avad Bruno cleans and disinfects the interior of a car at Barry's Auto Body in Eltingville. The shop is offering free interior and exterior detailing to doctors and nurses in Staten Island's hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy of Barry's Auto Body)

Barrys Auto Body

The owners of Barrys Auto Body in Eltingville have been offering free interior and exterior car cleaning for doctors and nurses working at Staten Islands three hospital sites and urgent care facilities during the health crisis.

Its our way of saying thank you for their hard work, said Barry Crupi.

Michelle Crupi enthusiastically agreed.

"Our medical professionals are on the front line in the fight against COVID 19, she said. We wanted to help them any way we can. But, what could we do? The best we can do is to clean their cars.

Staff at Barrys, which specializes in auto repairs, auto body work and detailing, uses a special sanitizer for the interior of the cars, designed to kill more than 99% of bacteria and viruses, Michelle Crupi said.

Since posting to Facebook on Monday, about eight people have taken them up on the offer, she said, adding, They seem to be loving it."

Doctors and nurses interested in receiving a free interior and exterior car cleaning can call (718) 948-8585 to schedule an appointment or stop by Barrys Auto Body at 4301 Amboy Rd., with a valid identification badge. The process can take up to an hour, Michelle Crupi said.

The owners of Glamour Nails, Shao Lu and Dee Zhou, deliver donuts and coffee to the staff at Staten Island University Hospital on Thursday, March 27. (Photo courtesy of Glamour Nails)

Glamour Nails

Managers and staff at Glamour Nails salons have raised more than $6,000 and are buying supplies for medical staff at Staten Islands hospitals.

Initially, managers Shao Lu and Dee Zhou collected donations from staff and friends, raising more than $4,000. The salons owner often orders gloves and masks for her salon business directly from China, said Lu, who used her supply connections to order 50 boxes gloves. She picked them up in Brooklyn, and personally delivered them to the Islands three hospitals.

All the doctors and nurses were so happy, Lu said. Additionally, a friend started a Gofundme account, called NY Hospital Supplies Fund, and the money keeps coming in, she said.

To generate even more funds for the medical teams needs, Lu and Zhou are offering a $20 salon gift certificate to anyone who donates $20 or more to the cause.

We want to get the word out to everyone on Staten Island that we are stronger as a team, said Lu, who on Wednesday took a trip to SIUH to deliver 10 dozen donuts and coffee to medical staff.

The salons, located at 3579 Victory Blvd. and 1949 Richmond Ave., have been ordered closed by the governors mandate. To make a donation and receive a gift certificate, call 718-801-7911.

The Angiuli Group, the Tompkinsville real estate development and business investment group responsible for the development of Restaurant Row on Minthorne Street, recently provided 180 meals to hospital staff at Richmond University Medical Center in appreciation for their dedication. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)Staff-Shot

The Angiuli Group

The Angiuli Group, the Tompkinsville real estate development and business investment group responsible for the development of Restaurant Row on Minthorne Street, recently provided 180 meals to hospital staff at Richmond University Medical Center in appreciation for their dedication.

They need support, said Gary Angiuli, chief executive officer of the group. This was a way to say thank you, to the valiant people who are working in the hospital, and not only the medical staff. Its a small gesture compared to the heroic gestures that theyre making.

For three days, the Angiuli Group ordered 60 meals to be delivered each day by three Restaurant Row venues, Daddy Os, Flour and Oak and OHenrys Publick House. The gesture supported the RUMC staff and gave much-needed business to the food venues, which are struggling since the governors executive order required all non-essential business closed and permit take-out only at the states restaurants.

Its like a war effort, Angiuli said of the medical staffs efforts at RUMC. We have to act as a community now and support one another. Even small gestures of kindness go a long way.

Super Health Pharmacy

Super Health Pharmacy in Pleasant Plains is offering free three-ounce hand sanitizers to any first responders, medical or pharmacy personnel for as long as they can get the supplies, according to owner Mayank Parikh, who also provided more than 100,000 pieces of protective equipment to staff at the Islands hospitals.

Parikh said he plans to give out hundreds of bottles of sanitizer, which he makes by redistributing the sanitizer from gallon jugs. Last week, it flew off the shelves, he said.

I feel like right now is the time to be there for our community, he said, noting that people may remember the good things you do, but down the line, youll regret what you didnt do.

Super Health Pharmacy is located at 6400 Amboy Rd. and offers free delivery of prescriptions and over-the-counter items, as well.

Island Auto Group

Staten Islands largest auto dealer announced it will offer service and loaner vehicles to any first responders and essential service personnel who find themselves without a working vehicle during the coronavirus outbreak.

Island Auto Group will make every effort to provide important vehicle services to first responder/ essential personnel on a priority basis, the group said in a statement.

First responders and essential service personnel should reach out to emergencyservice@islandautogroup.com for the assistance.

53 Fighting the coronavirus: NYC on pause

The Men With Tools

Staten Island businessman John Kolbaska, owner of a home improvement company in Great Kills called The Men With Tools, said he wants to make a difference amid the catastrophic coronavirus crisis by offering to help the elderly and homebound.

The firm specializes in windows, doors and hardwood floor replacements and is located at 4193 Hylan Blvd. His staff has some free time, now, he explained, and theyre willing to run errands, pick up medications or deliver groceries to anyone in need.

But no promises on toilet paper," he said with a chuckle.

Kolbaska said those in need of help should give him a call at 347-815-4151 -- and there is no charge.

If you have other suggestions about how we can help you or others, please let us know. And please share this post to get the word out to others," he said. "We hope to help as many people as we can. There will be difficult times ahead, but Staten Islanders stick together and we will get through this together.

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No matter what a city or county stay-at-home order might say, local governments cant shut down gun stores or otherwise restrict sales or transfers, according to an opinion issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday.

States of disaster give local governments limited authority to regulate the use of firearms, Paxton wrote in the nonbinding legal opinion, but that does not apply to transfer, possession, ownership or sales.

Under our laws, every Texan retains their right to purchase and possess firearms, Paxton said in a statement.

For subscribers: Interactive maps, charts show spread of coronavirus in Texas

State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, had on Tuesday requested the opinion after he saw that many Texas cities and counties did not include a carve-out for gun stores as they ordered nonessential businesses to close temporarily. Burrows was not immediately available for comment Friday.

During these times, people want to make sure they have access to that for the right of self-defense, protection, hunting, things of that nature, Burrows said this week.

Arthur Kuo, the owner of Super Armory, a gun shop in Houstons Chinatown, stayed open this week as he struggled to get answers from Harris County about whether his business was considered essential. Kuo said he was glad to hear about Paxtons opinion Friday. He said the store is limiting its hours to just a few on only two or three days a week to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

I have no idea why local governments want to do that in the first place, Kuo said. Thats violating peoples rights.

Some gun violence prevention activists, such as Gyl Switzer, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, say they dont see why gun stores should be exempt from stay-at-home orders. Switzer said she worries now about the potential for more suicides and domestic violence as well as accidents from first-time gun owners who may be unable to get the training and education they need during a shutdown.

Its just very unfortunate the result of his opinion, Switzer said. Therell be more guns flooding into Texas, and thats bad news for suicide prevention, where people are isolated and stressed and maybe out of work. More than 60 percent of firearm deaths in Texas are suicides.

Mike Cox, legislative director of the Texas State Rifle Association, applauded the opinion Friday and thanked Burrows and Paxton for protecting Texans Second Amendment rights.

Were pretty happy with this ruling, Cox said. The Constitution either protects us or it doesnt. You just cant throw it aside for convenience.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said on a Lubbock talk show Wednesday that he believes that gun stores are essential right now because people need to be able to protect themselves during a potential breakdown of society.

Having a weapon, Im an NRA longtime member and a proud gun owner, I think its very important for personal safety, Patrick said. And for anyone to say thats not an essential, I really dont understand.
The mother of one-punch victim Danny McGee has said that his attacker Steven O'Brien has paid a "very small price" for his crime after he was released from prison after serving just 11 weeks.

Dublin man Steven O'Brien (26) was sentenced to six months for an assault which killed Mr McGee (21), from Drumlish, Co Longford, outside a bar in Queens in New York shortly before 4am on November 22, 2018, in Queens County Criminal Court in January.

However, O'Brien was released from a New York prison yesterday after serving 11 weeks as the authorities attempt to limit the numbers of prisoners incarcerated in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

"Naturally it was upsetting news to hear, in light of the fact that it was such a light sentence to begin with," said Mr McGee's mother Colleen McGee.

"He's free as a bird. He has paid a very small price for the devastation he has caused my family.

"He took a life and has shown no remorse for it.

"His solicitor said he is looking forward to starting a 'new chapter'... how I wish I was able to do that."

Heartbroken

Speaking to the Herald after O'Brien was sentenced in January, Ms McGee said she was heartbroken that her son's attacker was sentenced to six months in prison and called for a change in the law.

"It's crazy, the maximum sentence he could have received was 12 months because it's an assault charge," she said.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to kill him, but he did.

"Someone has to pay the price. I would like to see the law changed, it's not going to bring Danny back but it may be a deterrent for somebody else."

Ms McGee previously said that the whole family was heartbroken by Danny's untimely death.

"We're heartbroken, he was an older and younger brother," she said.

"We all missed him so much when he was away."

She paid tribute to her son, describing him as a "larger than life" person.

"He was extremely entertaining," she said.

"He was a great kid, he loved nothing more than going out with his friends for a night."

Meanwhile, O'Brien's lawyer Matthew Gartenberg said in a statement to the Herald that his client was looking forward to a "new chapter in his life".

"Steven has been released, and is looking forward to putting this behind him and starting a new chapter in his life," it said.
Coffee Creek Correctional Facility evacuated its administration building in Wilsonville Friday after receiving a suspicious package containing white powder.

At 10:15 a.m. an employee in the mailroom opened an envelope and discovered it contained the powder, the Oregon Department of Corrections said in a news release. The employee, one of seven working in the mailroom at the time, told coworkers about the envelope, and they followed evacuation procedures to clear the administration building where the mailroom is located.

The FBI, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Hazardous Materials Team and the Oregon State Police investigated the discovery and made sure the area was safe.

After reporting a little bit of irritation, the worker who opened the envelope was taken by ambulance to Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin, said Mackenzie Kath, a spokesperson for the corrections department. She said the employee is now doing well and wont need further treatment.

The incident is still under investigation, and the corrections department did not disclose more details about the substance, who sent it or who was supposed to receive it.

Coffee Creek Correctional Facility is a multi-custody prison that houses the states prison intake centers and has approximately 1,200 adults in custody.

This is the third time the facility has received packages containing white powder in less than a year, Kath said.

The mailroom staff are very well-trained there and are hypersensitive for watching for signs of these sorts of things, Kath said. Everybody definitely knows how to handle the situation.

Law enforcement is still investigating the two other incidents, which happened in September and November. Both discoveries trigged evacuations, and, in September, four staff members went to the hospital.

This time, because of recent COVID-19 safety measures, there were less than ten employees in the administration building in addition to the seven in the mailroom, Kath said.

In about an hour, the mailroom was cleaned, the building was declared safe and employees went back to work.

We applaud our mail room for stopping these things from going inside our institutions, Kath said. They are the last line of defense.

-- Piper McDaniel; amcdaniel@oregonian.com; 503-221-4307; @piperamcdaniel

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
But there is a greater need than what any handful of private companies can manage on their own. They cannot clear and prioritize their supply lines in the way the federal government can under the act. They cannot assume responsibility for coordinating 50-state distribution of those needed supplies.

States should not be in a bidding war with one another or the federal government. Among its other provisions, the act provides for the federal government to pay a fair market value for the products it requires. Then it can distribute such aid to states as needed.

Vice President Mike Pence said recently that New York state would get up to 4,000 ventilators from the national strategic reserve. But it needs 30,000. In Washington state some doctors and nurses were washing out masks between patients to preserve precious supplies, an unhygienic situation that jeopardized them and their patients.

Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro recently said, We are getting what we need without putting the heavy hand of government down.
: Kerala Chief Minister



Pinarayi Vijayan has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the action of Karnataka police in blocking a key state highway ferrying essential commodites to the state and urged him to immediately intervene in the matter



In a letter to Modi, the Chief Minister pointed out that the Thalassery-Coorg State Highway 30, connecting Kerala with Coorg in Karnataka via Veerajapetta, was a key highway on which cargo lorries ferry essential commodites to Kerala.

If this route was blocked, the lorries would have to traverse a longer route to reach the state, he said.

"This route is a lifeline for the flow of essential commodities to Kerala. If this is blocked, vehicles carrying essential commodities will have to travel a much longer route to reach our state.

Given the situation of the national lockdown, this will add much more hardship to the people, he said in the letter, sent on Friday.

You will naturally agree with me that no action impeding the movement of essential commodities should be initiated at this moment of crisis", he said.

A copy of the letter was released to the media here on Saturday.

Vijayan requested Modi to intervene urgently in the matter to ensure smooth flow of essential commodities to Kerala when the state is fighting COVID-19 on a war footing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When Dr. Darien Sutton saw what was happening in Italy, he braced himself.

Sutton, an emergency medicine physician in Queens, New York, anticipated that the reality in Italy during the novel coronavirus pandemic -- not enough hospital beds, a lack of protective gear -- would soon become the reality in the U.S.

In New York City, he was right.

"Right now, looking at a large hospital in Queens, the medical intensive care unit is already at capacity," Sutton told ABC News on Friday.

He hopes it will serve as a wake-up call for other communities throughout the country on how to respond.

"We should use this as an igniting event," Sutton said, encouraging other communities to test early and actively push for social distancing even if they aren't in a dire situation right now.

PHOTO: Medical workers outside Elmhurst Hospital Center, in the Queens borough of New York City, on March 26, 2020. The hospital reported 13 COVID-19 patients died in a 24-hour span. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Currently, there are more than 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and at least 46,000 in New York. More than 26,000 of the state's cases are in New York City and at least 450 city residents have died. A breakdown of where the cases are shows that the areas with the most patients testing positive are in six neighborhoods in Queens and nine neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

The city's density has helped aid the spread of the virus, according to health experts. There are 27,000 people per square mile, the densest metropolitan area in the U.S.

"As soon as a virus that is this transmissible gets into a population density that's this urban, you're gonna see exponential growth," Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health at Northwell Health, told ABC News.

SLIDESHOW: Coronavirus outbreak sparks global health emergency

In Queens, Sutton said there has been a higher rate of cases than in the other boroughs because it's home to two major airports -- John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport -- and because many residents there don't have access to health care.

"What we've seen is that when you don't have instructions, medical care or help, you increase the likelihood of transferring it to other people in your community," he said. "If you're looking at New York City, you really have to get into the grid."

Story continues

Health experts also noted that the numbers in New York are just a snapshot of the virus' spread.

The rate of testing has to be accounted for, as well. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that New York is completing more testing than other states, leading to a rise in the numbers.

And with all eyes on the city, more people are aware of the situation and residents may seek out testing at higher rates than in other areas, according to Dr. Jon Zelner, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan.

Heightened anxiety around coronavirus in the city is certainly on the rise. On Thursday, the New York City Fire Department handled more than 6,000 911 calls, on what was the busiest day ever for FDNY paramedics in terms of individual medical incidents, according to the department.

The record-high call volume was largely driven by calls from people who are scared or concerned they have coronavirus.

The high number of cases has also put a significant strain on the city's hospital beds and protective gear.

MORE: Inside the coronavirus 'Ground Zero': Elmhurst Hospital in New York City

There are more than half a million health care workers in the city, according to a report released by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. He feared that many didn't have the proper equipment, noting that he heard stories from nurses who have only one mask because there aren't enough to go around.

Stringer also noted that these workers are ones who "are too often ignored, underpaid, and overworked."

Though they are the ones protecting the city, 18% are living below twice the poverty line, according to city data. The New York City poverty threshold was $33,562 in 2017.

As for hospital beds, there were 53,000 hospital beds, but Cuomo said the city would need 143,000. ICU beds were also lacking. The 3,000 currently in place don't match up to the predicted 40,000 needed, according to Cuomo. The USNS Comfort and a military hospital established at the Javits Center are both expected to take non-COVID-19 patients soon in order to free up beds in the city for those who are sick.

PHOTO: Patients wear personal protective equipment while maintaining social distancing as they wait in line for a COVID-19 test at Elmhurst Hospital Center, March 25, 2020, in New York. (John Minchillo/AP)

Sutton said the notion that there is equal need across all five boroughs is a misconception.

In Queens, there are just 1.5 beds for every 1,000 people. But in Manhattan, there are 5.4 beds for every 1,000 people, according to Sutton.

"This is a humongous difference," he said.

Those differences need to be taken into account when looking at the city as an example, Sutton said.

And as the city continues its uphill battle in facing the pandemic, Sutton pointed out that other communities could soon experience the same suffering.

"It's a mess. It's really a mess," he said. "You may walk around being naive. I just want you to know that we are already at a point of critical mass."

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: Coronavirus map

ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.

This report was featured in the Monday, March 30, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.

"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

'It's a mess': Coronavirus pandemic exposes New York City's vulnerabilities originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
KENT COUNTY, MI -- Positive cases of coronavirus totaled 53 on Saturday, March 28 in Kent County. This is an increase from the 45 cases reported on Friday.

The county reports that so far a total of 325 tests have been submitted to the state and 158 have come back negative for COVID-19.

Another 113 tests are still pending results, according to the county website.

There has been one coronavirus death in Kent County. A week ago it was confirmed a male patient in his 70s, who tested positive for COVID-19, died March 21 at a Spectrum Health hospital in Kent County.

Spectrum Health announced late Thursday, that it was immediately closing all 11 walk-in clinics in West Michigan due to the coronavirus crisis. Officials said the clinics would be closed until further notice as a way to limit unnecessary exposure to COVID-19.

In Ottawa County, positive cases increased by two, totaling 23 cases. There have been no coronavirus deaths reported in Ottawa County as of March 28.

In Muskegon County, positive cases increased by two, totaling 8 cases. There have been two coronavirus deaths in the county. The victims, an 83-year-old man and a 78-year-old man, both died on Friday, March 27.

The two men were not among the three COVID-19 positive test results the county has been reporting. Those involve two women and a boy.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

MORE MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE HERE.

More coronavirus coverage on MLive:

Saturday, March 28: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Coronavirus pandemic creates eerie scenes in downtown Grand Rapids

Spectrum Health closing all of its walk-in clinics as coronavirus crisis grows

Trump approves Michigan disaster declaration; Whitmer says more supplies on the way in coronavirus fight

Coronavirus cases climb to 15 from 11 in Kalamazoo County
Phuket Governor extends voluntary street curfew, warns of strict enforcement

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana has issued a notice asking for cooperation from all local residents and tourists  both Thai and international  to stay off the streets and away from public areas from 8pm to 3am each night.

CoronavirusCOVID-19health

By The Phuket News

Saturday 28 March 2020, 04:09PM

The Tesco shopping centre on the bypass road remains deserted of shoppers. Photo: The Phuket News

The order, dated yesterday, became public today (Mar 28). The order also comes into effect today. "In order to raise the standard of prevention and effectively control the spread of the disease in Phuket Province, the Governor of the Province of Phuket, with the decision of the Committee of Communicable Disease of Phuket on Friday March 27, 2020, has kindly asked and sought the collaboration of local residents and tourists (both Thai and international) in the Province of Phuket to remain in their residence from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., with the EXCEPTION of urgent errand, the notice explains. Furthermore, the measure of inspection will be strictly applied in the case of traveling to other provinces, it added. The Governor of the Province of Phuket and the Committee of Communicable Disease of Phuket shall issue the amended measures in accordance with the situation with further notice, the notice also warned. The order shall remain in effect until otherwise announced, the order noted.
Air Force update for COVID-19

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published March 27, 2020

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:

March 26, 2020

Today, Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., Air Force Materiel Command commander, provided an COVID-19 mission update. You can read his statement here:

https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2126538/afmc-commander-provides-covid-19-mission-update/ All Department of the Air Force installations have been directed to move to and implement HPCON Charlie measures by the Secretary of Defense. You can read the transcript of the press conference where that was announced here: https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2125842/department-of-defense-press-briefing-by-deputy-assistant-to-the-secretary-for-m/ Yesterday, at the request of the U.S. Department of State and at the direction of U.S. Southern Command, a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transported 78 U.S. citizens from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, who were previously unable to return home, to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia. The C-130J is part of a regular resupply mission to Soto Cano AB. The return flight also included mission-critical U.S. service members. Here is the link to the release: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2126650/jtf-bravo-facilitates-repatriation-of-us-citizens-from-honduras/ Link to additional imagery: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/365896/jtf-bravo-facilitates-repatriation-us-citizens-honduras Yesterday, Air Force officials are announced the first restriction of movement or ROM trainee in the Air Force's basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland tested positive for COVID-19. The trainee reported to BMT March 18 and was immediately put into the ROM location, along with about 40 other new trainees. Once the trainee showed symptoms, the trainee was isolated from other ROM trainees in order to protect the health and safety of all Airmen in the training pipeline. You can read Air Education and Training Command's statement here: https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2125674/air-force-restriction-of-movement-trainee-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ The Air Force has adjusted how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting. Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 11 p.m., March 25, 2020. CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS Military 92 (+37) 7 (+1) 3 (+2) 0 Civilian 30 (+9) 3 (+1) 1 0 Dependents 27 (+11) 1 0 0 Contractors 10 1 0 0 Total 159 12 4 0



Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.

March 25, 2020

The Air Force has adjusted how we report the total number of COVID-19 Positive Cases in order to align with DOD reporting. Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 7 p.m., March 24, 2020. CASES HOSPITALIZED RECOVERED DEATHS Military 55 (+12) 6 (+1) 1 0 Civilian 21 (+8) 2 (+1) 1 0 Dependents 16 (-2)* 1 (-1)** 0 0 Contractors 5 1 0 0 Total 97 10 2 0



Numbers in parenthesis are updated cases.

* Changes due to erroneous previous reporting of retiree dependent and other service dependent

** Changes due to Air Force no longer reporting retiree dependents.

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Another cabinet minister has been struck down by coronavirus-type symptoms following Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has developed mild symptoms of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and is self-isolating, he has said.

Mr Jack, the Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, said he has not been tested for the virus and his symptoms are a mild temperature and a cough.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has developed mild symptoms of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and is self-isolating, he has said

Mr Jack was photographed only a couple of feet away from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday at Scottish Questions - in direct contravention of the government's social distancing guidelines

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured at PMQs in Westminster on Wednesday, admitted yesterday he had been diagnosed with coronavirus. His health secretary, Matt Hancock, pictured right, has also tested positive for Covid-19

He said: 'In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus.

'In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home.'

Mr Jack last had direct contact with the PM on Wednesday at PMQs. He was in parliament for Scottish Questions before returning to his constituency that evening. Mr Jack was well within the two-metre social distancing guidelines from the PM when answering questions.

A total of 120,776 people have been tested for coronavirus as of 9am on March 28, the Department of Health said, with 17,089 positive results.

As of 5pm on Friday, of those hospitalised in the UK, 1,019 have died.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he had been tested for coronavirus and had been diagnosed with Covid-19 and was entering self-isolation in his flat above Number 11 Downing Street.

Prime Ministers since Tony Blair have regularly used the flat above Number 11 as it is bigger than the accommodation above Number 10.

Hours after Mr Johnson revealed his test results, Mr Hancock also admitted he was in self-isolation having been hit by coronavirus.

Later, the government's Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Whitty also confirmed he was entering self-isolation having developed symptoms associated with the killer virus.

Mr Jack said he had not been tested for the disease and intends to continue working from home.

Coronavirus fears over other top cabinet minister after Boris Johnson IGNORED his own social distancing rules Concerns are rife over which other key figures could be affected, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak having been with the PM shortly before he tested positive. Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill was also with Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock and Prof Whitty at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Neither the Chancellor nor Sir Mark had displayed symptoms by Friday night so they had not been tested and were not in isolation. The PM and Mr Hancock were only showing 'mild symptoms' but would have to spend seven days in isolation. Mr Johnson noticed symptoms on Thursday afternoon before receiving test results at midnight. At the latest of the Government's daily press conferences, Cabinet minister Michael Gove declined to be drawn on whether MPs had been too slow to practise social distancing. He just said the diagnosis of Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock showed the 'virus does not discriminate', warning: 'We are all at risk.' By Mr Gove's side, NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said testing would begin on NHS staff for coronavirus from next week, following widespread concern. He also announced that he had given the go-ahead to two new temporary hospitals being built in Birmingham and Manchester to join a facility under development in London. Advertisement

Mr Johnson, left, Mr Hancock, centre, and Prof Chris Whitty have all entered self-isolation

Prof Whitty has also entered self-isolation after suffering coronavirus-like symptoms
These are the two CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) members that have not yet signed bilateral free trade agreement (FTAs) with Vietnam.

In the first two months of this year, Vietnams exports to Canada rose by 20.39% to US$578 million year on year.

With over 37 million people, a high standard of living and an urbanisation rate at 80%, Canada is considered a potential market for many key export items of Vietnam, including textiles, footwear, seafood, tea, pepper, cashew nut, coffee and wooden furniture.

During the first two months, textile and apparel export value reached more than US$100 million, up 5.86% year on year. The export value of mobile phones and accessories surged by 104.22% to US$122.09 million compared to the same period last year.

Other products with strong growth in exports included the group of iron and steel and plastic materials with rates of 153.69% and 354.06% year on year, respectively.

Vietnams export value to Mexico reached US$497.2 million in the first two months. Of which, many products gained high export value, including computers, electronic products and components (US$133.6 million), telephones and components (US$122.6 million), shoes and sandals (US$47.5 million), textiles and garments (US$16.3 million), machinery, equipment and other spare parts (US$34.5 million), vehicles and spare parts (US$35.2 million).

Assessing the implementation of FTAs to promote exports, especially the CPTPP, Luong Hoang Thai, director of the MoITs Department of Multilateral Trade Policy, said that Vietnams enterprises have efficiently exploited markets with which Vietnam has not yet signed FTAs.

In fact, Vietnams enterprises have done more than expected, taking full advantage of the CPTPP, Thai said. In 2019, Vietnam gained high growth in exports from the CPTPP countries, especially Canada and Mexico, while the agreement came into effect on January 14, 2019.

The country gained a year on year growth of 26-29% in export value to Canada and Mexico last year, he said.

The CPTPP has partly contributed to the strong growth in exports of Vietnam so the country had a trade surplus of US$1.6 billion with the CPTPP market last year.

Before this agreement, Vietnam had a total trade deficit of US$900 million with this market, said Thai.
The Graphic Era Deemed University on Saturday announced it will provide 11,000 kgs of foodgrains to the administration to distribute among the poor during the ongoing lockdown.

The first consignment of 175 foodgrain packets each of them containing wheat flour, rice, edible oil, salt and spices, enough to address the needs of an average size family for a week were handed over by a senior official of the university to the district administration.

Graphic Era group chairman Kamal Ghanshala said the varsity will shoulder responsibilities with the administration to ensure no one in the state goes hungry during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 on Saturday as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the United States and officials dug in for a long fight against the pandemic.

The latest landmark came only two days after the world passed half a million infections, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, showing that much work remains to be done to slow the spread of the virus. It showed more than 615,000 cases and over 28,000 deaths.

While the U.S. now leads the world in reported infections with more than 104,000 cases five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

We cannot completely prevent infections at this stage, but we can and must in the immediate future achieve fewer new infections per day, a slower spread, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in quarantine at home after her doctor tested positive for the virus, told her compatriots in an audio message.

That will decide whether our health system can stand up to the virus.

The virus already has put health systems in Italy, Spain and France under extreme strain. Lockdowns of varying severity have been introduced across Europe, nearly emptying streets in normally bustling cities, including Paris where drone photos showed the city's landmarks eerily deserted.

Merkel appealed to Germans to be patient. Her chief of staff said Germany where authorities closed nonessential shops and banned gatherings of more than two in public won't relax its restrictions before April 20.

Spain, where stay-at-home restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks, reported 832 more deaths Saturday, its highest daily count yet, bringing its total to 5,690.

Another 8,000 confirmed infections pushed that count above 72,000. But Spain's director of emergencies, Fernando Simn, saw a ray of hope, noting that the rate of infection is slowing and figures indicate that the outbreak is stabilizing and may be reaching its peak in some areas.

Doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers in Spain's worst-hit regions are working nonstop and falling ill at an alarming rate. More than 9,000 health workers in the country have been infected.

We are completely overwhelmed, said paramedic Pablo Rojo at Barcelona's Dos de Maig hospital. Seven or eight (patients transported today) and all with COVID-19. ... And the average age is decreasing. They're not 80 years old anymore, they are now 30 and 40 years old.

Sometimes you become a bit paranoid, you don't know any more when you pick up the phone if you have cleaned your hands, if you've sanitized them or not. You touch your face with your hands, Rojo said.

Spain has struggled to get coronavirus tests and protective gear for health workers. The government has started flights to transport the supplies directly from China to reduce waiting times.

As the epicenter has shifted westward, the situation has calmed in China, where some restrictions have been lifted. Six subway lines restored limited service in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December, after the city had its official coronavirus risk evaluation downgraded from high to medium on Friday.

Five districts of the city of 11 million people had other travel restrictions loosened after their risk factor was downgraded to low.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

More than 135,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

The effects of the outbreak have been felt by the powerful and the poor alike.

On Friday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first leader of a major country to test positive for the virus. He said he would continue to work from self-quarantine.

In prosperous Finland, police at roadblocks started restricting the movement of people into and out of its worst-hit Uusimaa region, which includes the capital, Helsinki.

Countries are still scrambling bring home some citizens stranded abroad by border closures and a near-shutdown of flights. On Saturday, 174 foreign tourists and four Nepali nationals in the foothills of Mount Everest were flown out days after being stranded on the only airstrip serving the world's highest mountain.

In neighboring India, authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of the capital to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages during the world's largest lockdown.

Thousands of people had fled their New Delhi homes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began Wednesday and effectively put millions out of work.

In parts of Africa, virus prevention measures took a violent turn as countries imposed lockdowns and curfews or sealed off major cities, with police in Kenya firing tear gas and officers elsewhere captured on video hitting people with batons.

New York remained the worst-hit U.S. city. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the struggle to defeat the virus will take weeks and weeks and weeks.

Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

Virus cases have been rising rapidly in some American cities such as Detroit, where poverty and poor health have been problems for years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Late in 2016, the British government and health authorities held Exercise Cygnus, a three-day training exercise intended to determine readiness for a novel respiratory influenza pandemic.

Cygnus aimed to test coordination between hospitals, health authorities, those tasked with tracking the disease and central government. The results of the report have never been made public. At the time, however, the British governments then chief medical officer, Professor Sally Davies, told a health conference, World Innovation in Health, that the exercise killed a lot of people.

She explained, starkly, It became clear that we could not cope with the excess bodies, for instance. It becomes very worrying about the deaths, and what that will do to society as you start to get all those deaths ...

Davies added that internal problems were compounded by the lack of vaccines and then the global traffic and the lack of solidarity ... a severe one will stretch everyone.

A 2017 Board Paper from Matthew Swindells, operations and information director of NHS [National Health Service] England, underscored the point that the exercise challenged the NHS to review its response to an overwhelmed service with reduced staff availability.

Four years later, very little can be found on Cygnus. The report has been buried for fear workers would be alerted to the immense dangers posed by a pandemic. This would have cut across the drive of the ruling class everywhere to slash social spending to enrich themselves.

COVID-19 is a novel form of coronavirus, a large family that includes previously highly dangerous forms such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). But the exercise examining the impact of a new and virulent flu strain is of immediate relevance.

Cygnus came after years in which governments and public health authorities worldwide had already come to a broad understanding of the dangers posed to millions by a novel influenza virus, new strains of which emerge every few months.

In 2011, the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) steering group on global shocks considered a flu pandemic as among the most serious society was likely to face. It warned, Over the past three centuries, a flu pandemic has been identified every 25 to 30 years on average.

Factors multiplying their impact included poor health policies, poor water supply and underlying ecological and socioeconomic changes, while the increasing number of highly populated and heavily concentrated mega-cities, where weak public health systems and unsanitary living conditions often prevail, is a trend that exacerbates vulnerability factors for pandemics.

The US National Intelligence Council warned, An easily transmissible novel respiratory pathogen that kills or incapacitates more than one percent of its victims is among the most disruptive events possible. Such an outbreak could result in millions of people suffering and dying in every corner of the world in less than six months.

The failure to prepare for an event such as the COVID-19 pandemic is criminal. Publicly available documents make clear that the British government knew what was coming, if not exactly when.

In 2011, the Department of Health (DoH) published its UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011 and circulated it to hospitals, health boards and local authorities. It acknowledged that large swathes of the population may become infected by the new virus over a relatively short period of time, possibly leading to significant severe illness and mortality.

The DoH outlined a reasonable worst case based on previous pandemics, warning of up to 50 percent of the population suffering symptoms over one or more pandemic waves lasting 15 weeks. Assuming no effective treatment was available, a death rate of 2.5 percent could be anticipated. This would equate to around 750,000 people, although the authors reduced this, assuming some level of care, to between 210,000 and 315,000. Half of those could be expected to occur during the three peak weeks of the pandemic.

Critical care services would, in the case of a severe illness, be overwhelmed. Critical care services are both small and specialist so have limited capacity to expand  demand may continue to escalate causing acute pressures on all health services, particularly during the peak weeks. Therefore, it may be necessary to prioritise access to some services in an ethically appropriate way.

Britain currently has less than 5,000 intensive care beds. At this moment, exhibition and conference centres are being requisitioned in the frantic hope of perhaps doubling this total in time for the imminent and likely overwhelming surge in critical cases.

The DoH warned that the police and the military would be impacted by the disease and resilience plans should not therefore assume that local military units would provide support or have personnel available with either the requisite skills or equipment to perform specialist tasks.

Public Health Englands Pandemic Influenza Response Plan 2014 underscored the continuing importance attached to the pandemic threat. Given the uncertainty and the potential impact of influenza pandemic, pandemic influenza has been classified by the Cabinet Office as the number one threat to the UK population, it stated.

The 2017 Cabinet Office National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies again highlighted pandemic flu as the highest impact emergency the country was likely to face, equalled only by large-scale chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attacks. The register reiterated the figure of between 20,000 and 750,000 prospective fatalities.

For nearly a decade, probably much longer, the British government and public health authorities and their peers internationally have been preparing, on paper at least, for a flu pandemic likely to kill millions worldwide.

Yet nothing was done, as cuts of tens of billions of pounds to the NHS and other health services continued unabated. Today we see:

Conference centres, little more than large sheds, being converted into emergency hospitals and morgues to be staffed by overstressed health workers and retired volunteers risking their own lives.

Thousands of medical ventilators belatedly being ordered, built to competing designs by rival business consortia, none of whom will produce a meaningful number of devices by the time of the greatest surge of COVID-19 victims.

Inadequate supplies of protective equipment and cleaning materials at all levels of health provision, while engineers and buyers are scrambling frantically to source components and medicines.

Even the previous minimum level of community testingone of the most essential tools to confront and eradicate the viruswas abandoned, along with rigorous contact tracing.

While the ruling classs criminal neglect of pandemic preparation is daily ever more apparent, the most sweeping anti-democratic emergency powers ever seen outside of wartime have been implemented with cross-party agreement. Untold sums are being poured into the bank accounts of big business, while workers are being forced to continue working in unsafe conditions as countless jobs and small businesses are wiped out.

Faced with the pandemic threat, a government committed to public health would:

ensure the fullest cooperation with and integration of all global scientific and medical efforts to identify, track and warn the worlds population of emerging viral dangers; mobilise whatever resources were required to stop the infection as close to its sources as possible and instigate the most rigorous testing and contact tracing;





pour billions into constant and easily scalable supplies of viral medications and vaccines, critical care beds, ventilators, and protective equipment, as well as ensuring sufficient well-paid and trained staff capable of being mobilised;





make rational preparation for the most efficient emergency production of any additional resources required to provide the highest quality medical support to everyone impacted directly and indirectly by the disease and its consequences.

Working people are posed with urgently taking up the struggle for such a socialist government.
Former Vice President Joe Biden leaves the lectern after delivering remarks about the COVID-19 outbreak, in Wilmington, Delaware, on March 12, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Longtime Biden Adviser Larry Rasky Posthumously Tests Positive for COVID-19

Larry Rasky, a longtime adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, posthumously tested positive for COVID-19, according to the family of the deceased.

Rasky died Sunday, March 22, at the age of 69, according to the Boston Herald, citing Raskys son, Will Rasky. The outlet reported that the late Rasky died shortly after waking up, according to his son, and the cause of death was initially not clear.

In a follow-up report, the Boston Globe cited Raskys son as confirming that a postmortem revealed COVID-19 infection.

On Thursday night, we learned that my dad, Larry Rasky, tested positive for COVID-19, Will Rasky said, according to the Boston Globe. Not being able to gather with family and friends has made mourning Larrys death all the more difficult, so the impact of the pandemic was already felt. That said, Larrys spirit and legacy have kept us all tied together.

Generous and Sharp

The late Rasky advised Biden and assisted with a number of top Democratic campaigns.

He was a real friend, Biden told the Boston Globe on Sunday. He was also generous and sharp, and he just had a spirit about him. His passion for politics was amazing.

Rasky helped launch the Unite the Country super PAC, which supports Bidens 2020 White House bid. He also served as communications director for former Secretary of State John Kerrys Senate campaign.

Larry Rasky was a political giant and loyal friend. Weve all been made better by his commitment to our democracy. My thoughts are with his family during these difficult times, said Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), in a tweet.

Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo tweeted Sunday after Raskys passing: Larry Rasky was at the center of political life in our city, state, and country for decades. A brilliant strategist, he was a friend to House members, elected officials, and corporate leaders alike. He will be missed.

We Are Heartbroken

A statement from Rasky Partners, the Boston-based public relations firm that Rasky headed as chairman and chief executive, published a statement on his passing.

We are heartbroken, it said.

Larry was a giant in so many ways, not just professionally but personally, the statement said. He has left an indelible imprint on everyone he touched and the company that bears his name will go on in his spirit.

Its doubtful Larry ever formally studied or took a course in PR or media relations. And yet there was never a better practitioneras a crisis counselor, a consigliere to politicians, an adviser to corporate titans, and consultant to the many causes and individuals he championed, the statement said.

He was a mentor to many in this business. Youd be hard pressed to find anyone in the local media or political and corporate world who didnt at one time or another seek his counsel, the statement continued.

In one of his final tweets, Rasky addressed the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19. You cant bomb it. You cant yell at it. You cant ignore it. You cant bully it. You cant really blame anyone for it. The only thing you can do is solve the problem. Thats one card #DonaldTrump doesnt have in his deck of magic cards, Rasky wrote in a March 13 tweet.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:59:22|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Saturday banned all means of transport in an effort to control the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

Riek Machar, First Vice President who is also the deputy chair of the high-level task force on COVID-19 pandemic, said the committee banned also hawking and motorcycle taxis from transporting passengers except for cargo delivery.

Machar said in a statement issued in Juba the taskforce instructed local authorities and law enforcement agencies countrywide to implement the orders with immediate effect.

"The body directs shops and businesses selling non-essential commodities such as electronics, phones and clothes, hair salons, barbershops, manicure and beauty shops must cease to operate and shut down," Machar said.

He noted that only businesses dealing in food commodities, machines, fuel, groceries, fruits and vegetables will be allowed to operate.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir recently issued an executive order imposing night-time curfew as the measure to combat the virus as neighboring Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Ethiopia confirmed cases.

South Sudan, which has no confirmed COVID-19 case, has already imposed several preventive measures such as a ban on social gatherings, cancellation of international flights and closure of all border crossings including Juba International Airport.
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian continues his discussions with international partners on the prevention and treatment-related issues of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This time the President had a telephone conversation with Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, Professor, Lord Ara Darzi and head of the medical center adjunct to the Moscow State University Aramayis Kamalov, the Office of the President told Armenpress.

During the telephone talk with academician Kamalov, the President discussed the possible cooperation in the field of medical engineering.

Coming to the phone conversation with Lord Ara Darzi, the Armenian President highlighted uniting the efforts to overcome the disease, as well as the necessity to cooperate, exchange information and provide mutual support. The President informed that during an online lecture with the students of the Yerevan State Medical University and the National Polytechnic University he proposed the future doctors and engineers to start thinking of creating and producing simple lung ventilation systems in Armenia for the treatment of the novel coronavirus. In this respect, he proposed Mr. Darzi to provide support to this initiative by the engineering specialists of the Imperial College London and cooperate with the two Armenian universities.

On March 21 the Armenian President also had a phone talk with the well-known Armenian-American entrepreneur, philanthropist and venture capitalist Noubar Afeyan, the co-founder and chairman of the US bio-tech company Moderna Therapeutics. The American Moderna Therapeutics biotechnological company has created a vaccine against the novel coronavirus which has been undergoing clinical trial since March 17 in US, at the Kaiser Permanente healthcare research institution in Seattle, Washington.

In this context President Sarkissian welcomes todays video conference to be organized by the FAST Foundation, involving Lord Ara Darzi, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder Noubar Afeyan, and IDeA Foundation Co-founder, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and UWC Dilijan International School Co-founder Ruben Vardanyan, Armenian Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan and London and McKinsey & Company executive Andre Andonian.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
March 27, 2020

News

Defense.gov

European Command Works With Allies, Partners in Fight Against COVID-19

Military and civilian personnel of U.S. European Command are working with allies and partners in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Social distancing, telework and hygiene best practices are all in effect, in addition to being good neighbors in the countries where personnel live and work across Europe, Eucom officials said. The command also is active in supporting allies and partners in addressing the public health crisis, they added.

Men and women from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, transported an en-route patient staging system to Aviano Air Base, Italy, last week for delivery to the Italian Defense Ministry. A C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron delivered the mobile system that provided 10 patient holding/staging beds and supports a maximum throughput of 40 patients in a 24-hour period.

''This effort demonstrates our mutual support as we team together in response to this public health crisis,'' said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. ''We are working closely with our Italian friends. It's our privilege to support the Italian response.''

U.S. Army Europe units also took action to support the hardest-hit regions of Italy working with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency's humanitarian assistance program to provide medical supplies and equipment to support the Italian government and Lombardy regional authorities. Working closely with U.S. Embassy Rome, soldiers of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade at U.S. Army Garrison Italy prepared hospital beds, mattresses, stretchers, bedside screens, adjustable IV poles, folding wheelchairs, medical cabinets and linens to deliver to the areas in need.

Both of these missions demonstrated the strong collaboration with the American Embassy and Italian officials across the affected regions, Eucom officials said.

The ability to rapidly maneuver across Europe to provide relief and support to allies and partners in need is no small task and requires strong relationships, trust and well-established logistics and mobility processes to be in place, officials noted, adding that the missions and delivery of supplies to Italy demonstrated the strong relationship between the two countries.

''U.S. European Command and its components are proud to partner with our NATO ally Italy during this difficult time,'' said Navy Rear Adm. Peter Stamatopoulos, Eucom's director of logistics. ''We remain committed to doing everything we can to support Italy, and we value the strong military partnership we have with the Italian Ministry of Defense, led by [Defense Minister] Lorenzo Guerini.''

Regardless of the crisis, officials said, U.S. European Command is committed to its NATO allies and partners and stands ready to support the fight against COVID-19 while maintaining readiness and deterrence at all times.

(From a U.S. European Command news release.)

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PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- As municipalities in Jackson County reach one week since putting emergency restrictions in place to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, city leaders say both their business communities and residents are largely cooperating with the regulations.

In general, the community is handling it well, said Pascagoula Mayor Steve Demetropoulos. We havent had a lot of problems. People are self-policing, if you will. They are following the rules they have in place. I think people are taking it seriously, as they should.

Demetropoulos acknowledged the apprehension from the business community, with small business owners unsure how long the current restrictions may be necessary.

Everybodys worried theyll still have something to go back to, he said. "Thats the really big concern. Weve tried to talk about it in terms of if were going to have pain, lets have it for a shorter period of time rather than a longer period of time.

How do we shorten it? We have these social distancing rules in place. Thats the one thing we know helps. Thats what were counting on  reducing the instances and the spread of the virus, added Demetropoulos, who is also a physician with Singing River Health System.

In Ocean Springs, Mayor Shea Dobson said there have been a few businesses who have tried to push the envelope regarding the restrictions, but overall the community is cooperating.

Youll always have a few trying to push the limit, but for the most part everyone is pretty understanding, Dobson said. Even those who have pushed the limit, once you talk to them and explain the situation, theyve been pretty good about complying.

In addition to the restrictions on restaurants, bars and other food service businesses, the citys have shut down city parks and recreational facility and included in their emergency orders a limit of 10 people in any one place at a time.

Dobson said his city has had some issues with younger people gathering on Front Beach, which is controlled by Jackson County and has not been closed by the board of supervisors.

Id say the group who is probably not taking it seriously enough is the younger crowd, he said. "They seem a little less concerned than everybody else. Weve had to have the police go around and break up some larger groups.

The county has not shut down the beach, so what were doing is very stringently enforcing our parking laws down there to try and discourage large gatherings.

In Moss Point, attempts to reach Mayor Mario King were unsuccessful, but city alderman Wayne Lennep echoed other city officials in the county.

II know the ones Ive had interaction with have been very cooperative  even the ones who are frustrated, Lennep said, "because some of them may have thought they had to close but didnt  a self-serve carwash, for example.

I dont know of any instances where people have just been defiant. I think people understand were all in uncharted waters and trying to work through this and do whats best. I think the only real issue was some initial confusion over who could open and who couldnt."

Gautier Mayor Phil Torjusen noted that the Gautier City Councils initial proclamation did not mandate restaurants, bars and other facilities close, but instead encouraged businesses to follow the Mississippi Department of Health recommendations.

Friday afternoon, however, in the wake of Gov. Tate Reeves executive order, the council voted to make those restrictions mandatory.

We had been waiting on the governors order before we called a meeting to clamp down more, Torjusen said. Originally, we did not mandate the department of health recommendations, but we were hopeful local businesses and residents would follow them. Now were making them mandatory.

Its time to take economic arguments out of it and focus solely on public safety.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 07:15 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df1de0 1 City COVID-19,COVID-19-Jakarta,medical-workers,doctors,nurses,coronavirus,Jakarta-administration,Kadin,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,hotels,donation Free

The Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has donated thousands of items to meet the basic needs of medical workers standing on the front line in the battle against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The donation includes thousands of liters of liquid hand sanitizer, 750 pairs of rubber gloves, 2.5 tons of rice, 500 packs of tinned cake, wheat flour and cooking oil as well as 12 disinfection chambers.

Kadin Jakarta handed the assistance over to the Jakarta administration, which will distribute the goods to health workers currently staying at city-owned hotels.

Read also: Santini Group, Pakarti Yoga Group donate Rp 10b to PMI in battle against COVID-19

"We were touched by the governors concern about health workers," Kadin Jakarta chairwoman Diana Dewi said at City Hall on Friday. "Today, we are participating to ease the Jakarta administration's heavy burden. We hope this can be good charity from all of us."

Jakarta, being the country's epicenter of the outbreak, has continued to see more medical workers contract the contagious respiratory disease amid reports of a lack of adequate protective gear and supplies.

As of Thursday, 50 workers from 24 hospitals across the city had tested positive for the disease and two had died, said the Jakarta administration's assistant for public welfare, Catur Laswanto.

The capital reported 83 new infections on Friday, raising the number of COVID-19 cases to 598 in total. Fifty-one people have died from the disease in the city so far.

Amid the outbreak of the fast-spreading virus, health workers need more and more healthcare supplies, especially protective gear. Donations, therefore, were badly needed, especially for health workers staying at city-owned hotels, said the president director of city-owned hotel manager PT Jakarta Tourisindo's (Jaktour), Novita Dewi.

Read also: Ministry plans to use hotels to house medical workers

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan issued a policy on Thursday to provide a place for doctors and nurses to live while handling COVID-19 cases in hospitals.

The administration provided 220 rooms with 414 beds at the Grand Cempaka Business hotel  one of the properties managed by Jaktour  in Central Jakartas Cempaka Putih district. More than 300 medical workers are currently put up at the hotel.

Novita said the company, which manages several hotels across the capital, had also provided accommodation for 157 medical workers at D'Arcici Alhijra Hotel in the same district.

Novita said Jaktour was preparing another hotel, D'Arcici Plumpang in Koja district of North Jakarta, to host health workers from the Tarakan Regional General Hospital in Gambir district, Central Jakarta and Duren Sawit Hospital in Duren Sawit district, East Jakarta.

"We definitely need these donations to serve the medical workers staying at our hotels," Dewi said as she thanked Kadin Jakarta's for the donation. (dfr)
New Zealand law allows abortion on demand up to 20 weeks into pregnancy

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New Zealand's Parliament has passed a law decriminalizing abortion and allowing women to obtain an abortion for any reason through the fifth month of pregnancy. Some lawmakers have warned that the law also opens the door to sex-selective abortions and abortion up to the moment of birth.

Parliament voted 68-51 last week to pass the bill that lifts restrictions on abortion up to 20 weeks gestation. Women seeking an abortion past 20 weeks can get the procedure so long as they obtain approval from a medical professional.

The new law overturns a previous measure from 1977 that banned abortion unless the procedure was approved by two doctors appointed by the state known as certifying consultants.

The New York Times reported that despite existing restrictions on abortion, "... about 13,000 abortions a year are performed legally" in New Zealand. These circumstances include "when a womans physical or mental health is endangered."

"Critics claim that has made it common for women to feign mental illness to obtain abortions, and for doctors to play along," the NY Times added.

Justice Minister Andrew Little praised the bill's passage, claiming that for more than four decades abortion has been the only medical procedure considered a crime in New Zealand.

The previous law required a women seeking an abortion to go through many hoops. That resulted in delays to access a procedure, and that was less safe, said Little, according to The Guardian. The changes agreed to by parliament will better ensure women get advice and treatment in a more timely way.

Agnes Loheni, a National Party member of Parliament who opposed the bill, warned in her speech in the House that "it will allow abortions up to the moment of birth," Radio New Zealand reported.

Similarly, the NY Times noted that Simeon Brown, another National Party lawmaker, voiced concerns that the new law would allow sex-selective abortions and the killing of preborn babies who are developed enough to survive outside the womb.

Im opposed to this bill not because of the tenets of any religion but because of scientific, philosophical and ethical principles, Brown said.

Terry Bellamak, the director of the pro-abortion group Alranz Abortion Rights Aotearoa, supported the new abortion bill.

Finally after 44 years, New Zealand parliament has recognized that women have bodily autonomy  and that is huge. Being able to control ones fertility is key to ones life  it is hard to see how we could achieve equality without that, said Bellamak, as quoted by the Guardian.

Voice for Life, a national pro-life organization founded in 1970, posted a statement on its Facebook page earlier this week denouncing the bill that expands abortion in the country.

The most troubling thing for the pro-life community is not only that our lobbying efforts did not prevent the bill from passing as law, but it's more so the horrific implications of the many innocent lives that will be barbarically terminated as a result, the pro-life group said.

Many pro-abortion lobbyists have taken the opportunity to relentlessly attack us with vulgar and demeaning language, hoping that their efforts will cause us to retreat indefinitely. The unmasked pro-abortion movement is certainly not a pleasant sight to behold, so we appreciate your thoughts and support at this time.

Voice for Life also vowed to launch a better, stronger, online forum/platform, knowing that more people will be online than ever before, who we can reach with the pro-life message.

 many kiwis who have not yet given adequate consideration to the issues of abortion and euthanasia, may now have time to wrestle with these subjects via social media over the next month, they continued.

Unlike the pro-abortion movement, be sure to graciously present logical, scientific, and ethical arguments, while giving people space to contemplate what you have shared.
The International Air Transport Association has warned that the coronavirus pandemic could ruin the global airline industry unless there is urgent government aid. Some estimates suggest that carriers could lose more than $250 billion in revenues this year alone.

Earlier this week, the International Air Transport Association IATA said its latest analysis showed that annual passenger revenues will fall by $252 billion if severe travel restrictions remain in place for three months.

That would mean a 44 percent drop compared to 2019 revenues, and is more than double the $113 billion loss previously predicted by IATA before countries around the world began introducing sweeping travel restrictions.

"It is the deepest crisis we ever had in our industry," IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac told reporters in a virtual briefing, calling on governments to step up and provide desperately needed liquidity.

55 air companies grounding their fleets

More and more airlines are grounding their planes as a result of Covid-19. Morocco suspended all flights and closed its airports on 19 March, Russia followed suit a week later, and in total 55 airline companies have grounded their fleets, including Air India, Emirates, Etihad and Transavia.

Meanwhile, Air Canada is laying off about 3,600 employees, as well as 1,549 flight attendants at its low-cost subsidiary Rouge; Singapore Airlines has announced that it will receive $13 billion from sovereign fund Temasek Holdings, which controls 55 percent of the company.

The Sydney-based consultancy Capa Center for Aviation said that many airlines will be bankrupt by May if governments don't step in with financial rescue plans.

Economic engine

Hardest-hit European countries are Germany, Spain and France.

IATA figures show that Spanish airlines have had 93.7 million fewer passengers since the start of the crisis, resulting in a $13 billion revenue loss, risking 750,000 jobs and a $49.4 billion contribution to Spain's economy; German operators report 84.4 million fewer passengers, a $15 billion loss, risking 400,000 jobs and $28 billion to Germany's economy; companies in France have sold 65 million fewer tickets, representing a $12 billion revenue shortfall, 318,000 jobs and $28.5 billion lost to the French economy.

The air transport industry is an economic engine, supporting up to 12.2 million jobs across Europe and $823 billion in GDP, the IATA said in a statement, pointing out that every job created in the aviation industry supports another 24 jobs in the wider economy and calling on governments to provide urgently needed support because of "the vital importance of the air transport industry.
Every restaurant and pub in the United Kingdom has been ordered to close as the country seeks to limit the spread of the CCP virus. On the outskirts of Birmingham, one award-winning restaurant is riding out the crisis by assisting people in need and accepting help from German supermarket chain Aldi.

NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Hampton Manor, which includes a hotel and restaurant called Peels, needed to act quickly in order to avoid huge losses as the virus swept across Britain, decimating the restaurant and hospitality industries.

We were looking at losing 150,000 ($180,000) a month if we didnt do anything, James Hill, the managing director of Hampton Manor told CNN Business. We had to contract our team to a core for us to be able to survive.

James Hill has been running Hampton Manor for 11 years with his wife, Fjona Hill, who described the start of 2020 as an emotional roller coaster. Earlier in March, pressure on the business was mounting, putting dozens of jobs in jeopardy. But then Aldi offered to take on dozens of Hampton Manor staffers.

The German companys head office in the United Kingdom is near Hampton Manor, and it sometimes uses the venue for events and conferences. Faced with panic buying of food and supplies, the discount grocer was in need of workers. So Aldi temporarily hired 30 Hampton Manor employees.

The UK government has since pledged to pay 80 percent of employee wages during the crisis, but at the time Aldis intervention was a miracle for Hampton Manor. That was a huge moment of relief for us, said James Hill.

But faced with a loss of diners at Peels, which boasts a Michelin star, and revenue from weddings, the entire estate temporarily closed its doors.

Weve closed everything. We were basically unviable because we relied a lot on weddings to keep our revenue up  without the wedding business we will be in massive losses, Fjona Hill told CNN Business.

A CCP Virus Reinvention

The Hills, who describe themselves as foodie diehards, quickly sought to reinvent their operation. The goal was to give back to their community as it adapted to social distancing rules.

We wanted to come up with a model that both met the need of the community and kept some of our team working as well, said James Hill.

One program the team came up with has been dubbed Peels on Wheels, under which meals are prepared by chefs and delivered to customers. For every meal purchased, the Hills supply another to a vulnerable individual or elderly person in isolation.

Its advertised as one-for-one model but in reality well probably give out more meals than we are selling, said James Hill. The goal is to encourage people to support their community by buying from us, he added.

Urban Devotion, which works with vulnerable young people and families around Birmingham, is benefiting from the initiative. Andy Winmill, who leads the charity and helps coordinate the distribution of food parcels to other groups in the region, acknowledged it was early days but said he was excited by the partnership.

We have been working closely with one local primary school, so were using their kitchen to cook up the stuff provided by Hampton Manor, Winmill said. Some businesses are just having to shut down, but its exciting to see business getting creative in how they can survive.

A second initiative Hampton Manor plans to introduce is called drive through. Customers in cars will be able to pick up hampers, which will be full of homemade ingredients and vegetables, sourced from the estate. The goal is to provide quality meals while adhering to social distancing requirements.

Wanting to Give Hope

Although James Hill acknowledges that government support is having the biggest impact on saving the business, he said the initiatives being deployed now are valuable for his teams mental health and in giving them all purpose.

It would be very easy to hunker down, shut the estate  and just do nothing. We just feel that isnt the right way to respond to a crisis  We wanted to give some hope in what is a very hopeless time for many people.

The Hills are optimistic that they might be able to weather the storm.

We are in for a very different world on the other side of this  we are all going to have to think long and hard about what our businesses look like, James Hill told CNN Business.

NTD News staff contributed to this report.

The-CNN-Wire

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The District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar has issued an order asking landlords in Noida to take rent from the tenants affected by coronavirus lockdown only after a month

The District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar has issued an order asking landlords in Noida to take rent from the tenants only after a month.

The order comes amid reports that many tenants, hit by the 21-day coronavirus lockdown, were forced to leave their accommodation after failing to pay rent.

Noida District Magistrate BN Singh took to Twitter to share a copy of the order. Order by which landlords in Gautam Buddha Nagar can take rent from workers (tenants) only after a month. No exodus of workers on rent ground will be allowed in present circumstances. Please ensure and cooperate, read the caption of his tweet.

Order by which Landlords in Gautambuddhanagar can take rent from workers ( tenants) only after a month. No exodus of workers on rent ground will be allowed in present circumstances. Please ensure and cooperate. pic.twitter.com/ucn5I0oe68  DM G.B. Nagar (@dmgbnagar) March 28, 2020

The advisory also contains a punishment clause under which landlords found violating the order would be sentenced up to one year in prison or imposed with a penalty, or both. The order states that in case a tenant dies because of eviction, the imprisonment can be extended for up to two years. The advisory came a day after Singh asked landlords not to compel their tenants for rent in view of the prevailing situation. In an earlier tweet, the DM wrote, If you are a landlord then dont compel your tenants to pay the rent right now. In case you feel that he doesnt have money to pay rent allow him. We have to tide over till the issue remains.

Dear Residents of Gautambuddhanagar: if you are a landlord then dont compel your tenants to pay the rent right now. In case you feel that he doesnt have money to pay rent allow him. We have to tide over till the issue remains.  DM G.B. Nagar (@dmgbnagar) March 27, 2020

In a bid to arrest the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March announced a 21-day country-wide lockdown starting from 25 March. Over 850 people have contracted the infection in the country and more than 15 have succumbed to it.

The Central Government announced a package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana to provide relief to various sections of the society who are bearing the brunt of the lockdown.
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 on Saturday as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the United States and officials dug in for a long fight against the pandemic.

The latest landmark came only two days after the world passed half a million infections, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, showing that much work remains to be done to slow the spread of the virus. It showed more than 615,000 cases and over 28,000 deaths.

While the U.S. now leads the world in reported infections  with more than 104,000 cases  five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

Italys coronavirus deaths surpassed 10,000 on Saturday Spain, meanwhile, reported 832 more deaths Saturday, its highest daily count yet, bringing its total to 5,690.

AFRICA

Virus prevention turns violent

Police fired tear gas at a crowd of Kenyan ferry commuters as the countrys first day of a coronavirus curfew slid into chaos. Elsewhere, officers were captured in mobile phone footage whacking people with batons. Virus prevention measures have taken a violent turn in parts of Africa as countries impose lockdowns and curfews or seal off major cities. Health experts say the virus spread, though still at an early stage, resembles the arc seen in Europe, adding to widespread anxiety. Cases across Africa were set to climb above 4,000 on Saturday. Abuses of the new measures by authorities are an immediate concern.

INDIA

Migrant workers leave capital city

Authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of Indias capital on Saturday to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages during the worlds largest coronavirus lockdown. Thousands of people, mostly young male day laborers but also families, fled their New Delhi homes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began on Wednesday and effectively put millions of Indians who live off daily earnings out of work. Construction projects, taxi services, housekeeping and other informal sector employment came to a sudden halt. Modi said the extreme measure was needed to halt the spread of the coronavirus in India, which has confirmed 775 cases and 19 deaths, and where millions live in cramped conditions without regular access to clean water.

AUSTRALIA

Cruise passengers to fly to Germany

Australian authorities pressed ahead Saturday with plans to fly 800 cruise ship passengers to Germany this weekend after a downward revision in the number of people on board who needed to be tested for the coronavirus. Plans had been put in place to fly the European passengers to Germany from the Western Australia state capital, Perth, near where their ship, the Artania, is docked at the port of Fremantle. The plans were thrown into doubt by an apparent spike in the number of people on the ship who were suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus  from nine confirmed cases on Friday to more than 70 possible ones early Saturday. But state officials who conducted examinations on board the ship concluded later Saturday said only 46 people needed to be be tested for the virus.

FRANCE

Eiffel Tower says Merci to doctors

Health workers racing to save lives as France contends with one of the worlds worst coronavirus outbreaks have received a huge show of gratitude with the help of the Eiffel Tower.

The Paris landmark also had a message for the broader French public. Lights spelled out Merci, French for Thank you, and Stay at home in English on Friday night along with the towers famous sparkling illuminations. The display of solidarity coincided with the moment when citizens in lockdown across France have been cheering and applauding from their windows and balconies in support of doctors and nurses.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the light show will take place every evening on the tall tower.

BRITAIN

Symptoms in 2nd

Cabinet member

Another member of British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Cabinet has developed symptoms of COVID-19, as the number of people with the coronovrius in the United Kingdom passed the 1,000 mark Saturday.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he had virus symptoms and was self-isolating a day after Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive.

Chronicle News Services
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. No case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been detected among the Armenian peacekeepers who are on a mission in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Kosovo, Armenian defense ministers spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said live on Facebook.

Anti-epidemic measures continue in the Armenian Armed Forces aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. We also want to present what preventive measures are being taken in the peacekeeping troops, she said while communicating with the Armenian peacekeepers in Lebanon, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

In turn, Commander of the Peacekeeping Brigade, Colonel Artak Tonoyan, participating in the live video, stated that they are in touch with the Armenian peacekeepers abroad.

We constantly receive respective information about the health condition of our servicemen, their service and control the situation. We are conducting mission on various directions within the frames of the For Peace program. The mission in Afghanistan and Kosovo is being carried out jointly with the NATO. The mission in Lebanon is carried out under the auspices of the UN. Preventive measures are always being taken in the troops and at this moment there is no infected serviceman, Tonoyan said.

Via a video conference the commander of the troops in Afghanistan, Lieutenant-Colonel Karen Tadevosyan introduced the situation and stated that at the moment the Armenian peacekeepers fulfill their duties. He informed that the troops were provided with medical alcohols to frequently disinfect their hands. Also, there is a nurse who is working very consistently. Our service is being carried out normally, he said.

Commander of the Kosovo troops, Mayor Armen Sargsyan also informed that disinfections with alcohol-based hand sanitizers are being carried out 6-7 times in a day. Our staff is completely healthy. We are not in a panic and fulfill our duties, he said.

Commander of the Lebanon troops, Captain Artak Petrosyan informed that all the troops are in a good condition and follow all the hygiene rules. Our staff is provided with gloves, medical alcohol and face masks, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
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Laser Therapy Market Research Report, By Type (Diode Lasers, Solid State Lasers, Gas Lasers, Dye Lasers, and others), By Application (Dermatology and Aesthetics, Surgery, Dental, Urology, Ophthalmology, and others)  Global Forecast from 2017 to 2023

Market Research Future (MRFR) anticipates strong CAGR of 9.2% in the global laser therapy market over the forecast period of 20172023. The expansion of the global laser therapy is the result of various market dynamics, out of which, the surging prevalence of diseases such as cataract and arthritis bears profound weightage. Laser therapy is the standard line of treatment in cases of cataract. Laser-based ophthalmology is highly preferred over other methods of treatment. YAG LASER, excimer LASER, femtosecond LASER, and others are the most commonly used lasers in ophthalmology. The widespread prevalence of cataract, as well as arthritis, promote the growth of the global laser therapy market. Expanding base of old population complements this factor since the elderly populace is more prone to acquiring diseases such as arthritis and cataract which induces additional demand for laser therapy. Heightened demand for minimally-invasive and non-invasive procedures is a major drive behind the growth of the market. Consumers are highly inclined towards medical procedures which do not involve incisions and cuts. Additionally, laser therapy is extensively used in dermatology and cosmetology. Skyrocketing demand for aesthetics also encourages the growth of the global laser therapy market. Use of laser therapy in dentistry is also a key market influencer. On the contrary, the growth of the global laser therapy market might be impeded by high costs associated with laser therapy.

Segmentation

The global laser therapy market has been segmented based on type and application.

By type, the global laser therapy market has been segmented into diode lasers, solid state lasers, gas lasers, dye lasers, and others.

By application, the global laser therapy market has been segmented into surgery, dermatology and aesthetics, dental, and others. The surgery segment is further segmented into urology, ophthalmology, and others.

Regional Analysis

The Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, and The Middle East & Africa (MEA) are the key markets for laser therapy.

The Americas is at the forefront of the global laser therapy market. A robust healthcare sector, high expenditure on healthcare, and widespread prevalence of chronic diseases in the region spur the growth of the global laser therapy market. In addition, the regions propensity to incorporate new and advanced technologies in the healthcare sector acts as a plus for the growth of the market. Other factors boosting the growth of the Americas market include growth in a number of aged populace and the presence of key players in the region.

Europe holds the second most significant share of the global laser therapy market. The region invests substantially in R&D activities which coupled with the availability of funds creates a conducive environment for the growth of the laser therapy market in Europe. A broad base of the patient population, well-developed healthcare sector, and high government support contribute to the growth of the market.

APAC is the fastest growing market for laser therapy. Expanding patient pool, development of the healthcare sector in the developing countries of China and India present growth opportunities to the APAC market. Also, increased affordability due to rising disposable income, government endeavors towards the modernization of the healthcare sector are other boosting factors.

The MEA market is likely to exhibit the least share of the global laser therapy market. Limited availability of healthcare facilities, lack of funds, and lack of awareness and dearth of skilled medical professionals constrain the growth of the market over the forecast period, especially in the Africa region. The Middle East accounts for the foremost share of the MEA market and is driven by high healthcare expenditure in the region.

Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/laser-therapy-market-3812

Competitive Landscape

The key players in the global laser therapy market include Biolase Inc. (U.S.), Alma Lasers (Israel), Cutera (U.S.), IRIDEX Corp. (U.S.), Valeant (Canada), Coherent, Inc. (U.S.), and Angiodynamics, Inc. (U.S.).

Industry Updates

In December 2018, TRUMPF GmbH, a company involved in laser technology, announced the acquisition of Photonics GmbH from Philips. Through the acquisition, TRUMPF intends to expand its foothold in the growing markets in the photonics and digital products sectors.

Related news

Medical Tourism Market

Immunoassay Analyzers Market Share

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Poor countries will be hardest hit, especially ones that were already heavily indebted before the crisis says Malpass.

The heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday underscored the need to provide debt relief to poorer countries hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and said official bilateral creditors would have to play a major role.

The IMF and the World Bank have both launched emergency programmes to offer grants and loans to member countries, with a heavy focus on developing countries and emerging markets, some of which are already in debt distress. They have also called on official bilateral creditors to provide immediate debt relief to the worlds poorest countries.

Poorer countries will take the hardest hit, especially ones that were already heavily indebted before the crisis, the World Banks president, David Malpass, told the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the steering committee of the IMF.

Many countries will need debt relief. This is the only way they can concentrate any new resources on fighting the pandemic and its economic and social consequences, he said, according to a text of his remarks.

Malpass said the bank had emergency operations under way in 60 countries, and its board was considering the first 25 projects valued at nearly $2bn under a $14bn fast-track facility to help fund immediate healthcare needs.

The World Bank was also working with 35 countries to redirect existing resources to address the pandemic, with almost $1bn of those projects already approved. Overall, the bank plans to spend $160bn over the next 15 months, he said.

Malpass said the IMF and World Bank would present a joint plan for debt relief at the institutions virtual Spring Meetings in April, but gave no details.

The poorest countries face official bilateral debt service payments of $14bn in 2020, including interest and amortisation payments, Malpass said.

Less than $4bn of that total $14bn was owed to the United States and other Paris Club members. China, a major creditor, is not a member of the Paris Club  an informal group of creditor nations working to solve the payment problems faced by debtor nations.

Given the large share of debt held by official bilateral creditors, Malpass said it was critical to ensure their broad and equitable participation in addressing the crisis.

The IMFs managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, warned that half of the low-income countries were already in high debt distress and much would depend on the official creditors.

She said there were already discussions among the worlds 20 largest economies, the Group of 20, and in the Paris Club. But she noted there would also be a role for private creditors, as was the case during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.

The sooner we do it, the better, Georgieva said. The same way the fund during the global financial crisis brought together both official creditors and private creditors to assess a good pathway through a dramatic crisis, we have to do it this time around as well.
The first death attributed to COVID-19 in Comal County is hitting close to home at the Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where the victim's daughter is a part of the Jaguar community, who now mourns with her.

Adolph "T.J." Mendez, 44, died Thursday, just two days after he received a positive diagnosis for the virus, according to Comal officials. The New Braunfels resident was a father of six, and as family and officials report, he had no underlying health issues.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Overseas Highway into the Florida Keys was blocked off to visitors Friday, an acknowledgment that tourism - the lifeblood of the islands - will have to be temporarily sacrificed as part of the effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The move follows a crescendo of actions from local officials, who a week ago ordered tourists to leave and all hotels and short-term rentals to close, and comes as part of a broader attempt across the Sunshine State at a time when spring breakers are usually descending.

Monroe County has had 14 reported cases of coronavirus infection and no deaths, but residents said they've noticed more and more people coming to the Keys recently from Miami-Dade County, which has the most cases in the state, at 744.

"It breaks my heart," said Elizabeth Moscynski, president of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. "It's so tough, because we're such a friendly place. Now we have to tell people they can't come down."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a news briefing Friday that he would be expanding restrictions on travelers and tourists entering the state from areas of the country hardest hit by the virus.

He said he was adding Louisiana to an earlier executive order that requires air travelers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival. Travelers from nearby Louisiana, which is also experiencing an outbreak, will now be required to isolate as well, including those traveling by car.

Since his earlier order, 3,400 travelers from the New York area have been screened in Florida, and there has been a "dramatic reduction in air traffic," DeSantis said.

The governor also announced a two-week ban on new vacation rentals, though it was not immediately clear how state officials planned to enforce that. He said people currently in vacation rentals can finish their stays.

Though nationwide social distancing protocols have been in place for weeks, tourists and locals have still flocked to the state's public beaches and sandbars, tying their boats together on the water in a way that violates what health officials say are critical measures for "flattening the curve."

DeSantis said at his news briefing that he is issuing a new emergency declaration that prohibits these boat gatherings, empowering Florida Fish and Wildlife officers to enforce social distancing on the waterways.

The Keys sees more than 5 million tourists every year, and this time of year is usually among the busiest, with spring breakers and families traveling to the nation's southernmost tourist destination. But the pandemic has halted that.

Officers from several agencies, including state troopers and Florida game officers, began stopping all vehicles trying to enter the Keys on Friday morning, either on the Overseas Highway, which is also U.S. 1, or on a more remote road called Card Sound Road.

Heather Carruthers, mayor of Monroe County, said the checkpoints were necessary because visitors weren't following the county's order to leave the islands.

"The message wasn't getting through," Carruthers said.

Scott Atwell, CEO of the Key West Chamber of Commerce, said police are turning back about 20 cars an hour.

"We were still having day-trippers coming in from Miami and Broward, and those are the real epicenters," Atwell said. "People in the Keys were concerned about travelers coming from those hotspots."

Atwell said the hope is that by closing down the Keys, the sooner the pandemic is over, the quicker the Keys will recover. Meanwhile, he said, it's an eerie scene in Key West.

"My office is right behind Sloppy Joe's on Duval Street," Atwater said. "At this time of year, the town would be packed with thousands and thousands of people. Instead, it's empty."

To get past the two checkpoints, drivers have to show proof of Keys residency, or proof from an employer that they work there, an effort that Moscynski said was necessary.

"We have to do it to flatten the curve," she said. "Once this clears up, we'll be back to 'come as you are.' For now, we've got to be proactive."
Dividend paying stocks like Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited (SGX:S49) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments.

In this case, Singapore Reinsurance likely looks attractive to investors, given its 5.0% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Singapore Reinsurance for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

SGX:S49 Historical Dividend Yield March 28th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. In the last year, Singapore Reinsurance paid out 80% of its profit as dividends. Paying out a majority of its earnings limits the amount that can be reinvested in the business. This may indicate a commitment to paying a dividend, or a dearth of investment opportunities.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Singapore Reinsurance's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. Singapore Reinsurance has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. Its dividend payments have declined on at least one occasion over the past ten years. Its most recent annual dividend was S$0.013 per share, effectively flat on its first payment ten years ago.

Story continues

Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. Singapore Reinsurance's earnings per share have shrunk at 11% a year over the past five years. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective, as even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough.

Conclusion

When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. First, we think Singapore Reinsurance has an acceptable payout ratio. Second, earnings per share have been in decline, and its dividend has been cut at least once in the past. To conclude, we've spotted a couple of potential concerns with Singapore Reinsurance that may make it less than ideal candidate for dividend investors.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Just as an example, we've come accross 2 warning signs for Singapore Reinsurance you should be aware of, and 1 of them is concerning.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
ATLANTA (AP)  The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery fought to end segregation, lived to see the election of the countrys first black president and echoed the call for justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream in America.

For more than four decades after the death of his friend and civil rights icon, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the fiery Alabama preacher was on the front line of the battle for equality, with an unforgettable delivery that rivaled Kings  and was often more unpredictable. Lowery had a knack for cutting to the core of the countrys conscience with commentary steeped in scripture, refusing to back down whether the audience was a Jim Crow racist or a U.S. president.

We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back; when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right, Lowery prayed at President Barack Obamas inaugural benediction in 2009.

Lowery, 98, died Friday at home in Atlanta, surrounded by family members, they said in a statement.

He died from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak, the statement said.

Tonight, the great Reverend Joseph E. Lowery transitioned from earth to eternity, The King Center in Atlanta remembered Lowery in a Friday night tweet. He was a champion for civil rights, a challenger of injustice, a dear friend to the King family.

Lowery led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for two decades  restoring the organizations financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africas apartheid-era regime  before retiring in 1997.

FILE - In this May 1970 file photo, Leonard Woodcock, newly elected president of the United Auto Workers Union, in glasses and dark suit, locks arms with Coretta Scott King, wife of slain the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery as they lead several thousand marchers past the state Capitol in Atlanta in a protest march against war, violence and racial repression. Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought against racial discrimination, died Friday, March 27, 2020, a family statement said. He was 98. (AP Photo, File)AP

Considered the dean of civil rights veterans, he lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness  the election of an African-American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for President-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, "America tonight is in the process of being born again."

An early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama over then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Lowery also gave the benediction at Obama's inauguration.

"We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union, he said.

In 2009, Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor.

In another high-profile moment, Lowery drew a standing ovation at the 2006 funeral of Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, when he criticized the war in Iraq, saying, "For war, billions more, but no more for the poor." The comment also drew head shakes from then-President George Bush and his father, former president George H.W. Bush, who were seated behind the pulpit.

Lowery's involvement in civil rights grew naturally out of his Christian faith. He often preached that racial discrimination in housing, employment and health care was at odds with such fundamental Christian values as human worth and the brotherhood of man.

"I've never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly," he once said.

Lowery remained active in fighting issues such as war, poverty and racism long after retirement, and survived prostate cancer and throat surgery after he beat Jim Crow.

His wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who worked alongside her husband of nearly 70 years and served as head of SCLC/WOMEN, died in 2013.

FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2009, file photo, President Barack Obama presents a 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery n the East Room of the the White House in Washington. Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought against racial discrimination, died Friday, March 27, 2020, a family statement said. He was 98. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP

Ill miss you, Uncle Joe. You finally made it up to see Aunt Evelyn again, King's daughter, Bernice King, said in a tweet Friday night.

Lowery was pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1950s when he met King, who then lived in Montgomery, Alabama. Lowerys meetings with King, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and other civil rights activists led to the SCLCs formation in 1957. The group became a leading force in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

Lowery became SCLC president in 1977 following the resignation of Abernathy, who had taken the job after King was assassinated in 1968. He took over an SCLC that was deeply in debt and losing members rapidly. Lowery helped the organization survive and guided it on a new course that embraced more mainstream social and economic policies.

Coretta Scott King once said Lowery "has led more marches and been in the trenches more than anyone since Martin."

He was arrested in 1983 in North Carolina for protesting the dumping of toxic wastes in a predominantly black county and in 1984 in Washington while demonstrating against apartheid.

He recalled a 1979 confrontation in Decatur, Alabama, when he and others were protesting the case of a mentally disabled black man charged with rape. He recalled that bullets whizzed inches above their heads and a group of Klan members confronted them.

"I could hear them go 'whoosh,'" Lowery said. "I'll never forget that. I almost died 24 miles from where I was born."

In the mid-1980s, he led a boycott that persuaded the Winn-Dixie grocery chain to stop selling South African canned fruit and frozen fish when that nation was in the grip of apartheid.

He also continued to urge blacks to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

"Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears," he said in 1985.

Like King, Lowery juggled his civil rights work with ministry. He pastored United Methodist churches in Atlanta for decades and continued preaching long after retiring.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1921, Joseph Echols Lowery grew up in a Methodist church where his great-grandfather, the Rev. Howard Echols, was the first black pastor. Lowerys father, a grocery store owner, often protested racism in the community.

After college, Lowery edited a newspaper and taught school in Birmingham, but the idea of becoming a minister "just kept gnawing and gnawing at me," he said. After marrying Evelyn Gibson, a Methodist preachers daughter, he began his first pastorate in Birmingham in 1948.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

"I believe in the final triumph of righteousness," he said. "The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Lowery is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIADespite coronavirus restrictions, Earth Hour has commenced across the world, starting from New Zealand, followed by Fiji and Australia, with lights switched off on famous buildings and regular homes to boost awareness of climate change.

The initiative, started by environmental group the WWF in 2007, asks people, companies and local authorities to turn off lights for one hour from 8:30 p.m. local time in their town or city.

In New Zealands Auckland, the Sky Tower went dark, while in Palmerston North, environment group Extinction Rebellions local branch hosted an event in which people brought candles, solar lights, torches and drums.

In Australia, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge both turned their lights off. Melbournes Luna Park, Brisbanes The Wheel, and Perths Bell Tower also switched off.

Photos and videos were shared on social media, but the buzz was somewhat dampened by the coronavirus pandemic-ensued lockdowns.

WWF-Australia hosted a livestream on YouTube and various other social media platforms in which Australian comedians and artists, including Cody Simpson and Montaigne, performed from their own homes.

Staying connected as a community and looking for positive ways we can contribute is more important than ever as the world responds to the coronavirus crisis, said WWF-Australias chief executive Dermot OGorman.

Organizers decided to go ahead with the Earth Hour despite the world being in such flux due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, all the official public events were cancelled to prioritize community safety rules.

In order to comply with lockdown restrictions, the WWF has suggested activities at home, such as playing games by candlelight.

Coincidentally, lockdowns across the globe have led to a reduction in pollution.

More than 100 landmarks from across the world will switch off to show their support for Earth Hour.

They include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Tokyos Skytree, Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Colosseum in Rome and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, among others.

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Two San Antonio-based military units were ordered into action Saturday to support civil authorities fighting the spread of the novel coronavirus.

U.S. Army North said the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command headquarters and the 505th Military Intelligence Brigade headquarters had been called up.

The units, along with four from other states, will further enable the Department of Defense to rapidly employ military capabilities to support our whole-of-action response, Army North said.

Army Norths commander, Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, said she had requested this additional deployment to further expand the use of our military capabilities, in support of FEMA, to the communities which need us most.

She did not say where the units would go.

Army North, based at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, reports to U.S. Northern Command in Colorado. Homeland defense and support of civil authorities in the continental United States are among its core responsibilities.

In the coronavirus crisis, Richardsons command will take the lead in working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide military support to communities in need.

The units activated Saturday include Task Force 46 Headquarters, formed by the National Guards 46th Military Police Command in Lansing, Mich.; the National Guards 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command headquarters in Anderson, S.C.; Task Force 76 headquarters, formed by the Army Reserves 76th Operational Response Command in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Army Reserves 377th Theater Sustainment Command headquarters in New Orleans.

Other units previously ordered into action were Joint Task Force-Civil Support headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command headquarters at Ft. Bragg, N.C.; 4th Sustainment Brigade headquarters, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., and the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Fort Stewart, Ga.

sigc@express-news.net
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged people to contribute to a public charitable trust-- the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund --to meet the expenses incurred on fighting the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and meet the cost of healthcare and other services.

The fund has been set up exclusively to the meet challenges brought on by the virus, a government functionary said.

There is a PMs Relief Fund that already exists, but the donations made there are used for many purposes. It was felt that there should be a separate account to keep track of donations made for the present emergency; it will provide clarity in accounting for how much was collected and spent for the corona pandemic, said the functionary, who requested anonymity.

The PM also tweeted that the funds has been set up after people from all walks of life expressed their desire to donate to Indias war against Covid-19.

Respecting that spirit, the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund has been constituted. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India. It is my appeal to my fellow Indians, Kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead, he wrote.

The PM-CARES Fund will accept micro-donations too, the PM said, and added, It will strengthen disaster management capacities and encourage research on protecting citizens. Let us leave no stone unturned to make India healthier and more prosperous for our future generations.

The fund, which has the PM as the chairperson and the defence minister, home minister and finance minister as members, began to receive donations soon after the link was shared by the PM. The Indian Administrative Service association donated Rs 21 lakh and actor Akshay Kumar pledged Rs 25 crore.

To increase the ambit for collection and spending of money, the home ministry also allowed states to spend from the state disaster relief funds on shelter and food for those in need.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda also announced that all party MPs will release Rs 1 crore from their annual development fund for central relief efforts and all party MPs and MLAs will donate one months salary as well.

All MPs & MLAs of Bharatiya Janata Party will donate their one month remuneration/salary to the central relief fund to support the fight against Covid19. All MPs of BJP will release Rs 1 crore from their MPLADS fund to the central relief fund in support to fight against Covid-19, he said.

MPLADS is short for Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme.

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The country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Saturday assured its dealers to take care of their unsold BS IV stock.

Addressing around 1,000 company dealers at an interactive digital town hall on Saturday morning, Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal assured dealers that the company will not let them suffer due to the unsold BS IV inventory.

"I stay firm on my own personal commitment and that of the organisation to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of each one of you," Munjal told dealers.

A company dealer who attended the townhall confirmed the assurance given by the chairman.

The company, however, did not issue a formal note on the meeting and neither offered a comment on the event.

Munjal told dealers that the company's teams were working diligently and tirelessly to find ways and means to absorb or utilise the stocks and they will connect with the dealers soon on this.

"We are all in it together and we shall overcome this together," Munjal told the dealers.

He also asked the dealers to utilise the current period to bring innovation and improvements to the business models.

"Be considerate to your staff, we will support you during the lockdown period, not just in business, but also in the up skilling of your staff," Munjal said.

While supporting the 21-day lockdown by the government due to coronavirus pandemic, he asked the dealers and their staff to follow social distancing.

"I am aware of the difficulties that this may be posing to a lot of you. I want you to know that during this time we are together with you," he reassured the dealers at the Town Hall, which was also attended by the company's leadership team.

According to industry sources, around 1,000 Hero MotoCorp dealers are holding close to 1.5 lakh BSIV stock with them.

Auto dealers of various companies are staring at huge losses as the lockdown has hampered retail sales and they are saddled with the large BS-IV inventory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
March 27, 2020

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's Phone Call With Italy Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini

Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa Farah provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper spoke with Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini by phone on March 26 to discuss Italy's COVID-19 emergency and U.S. support to Italy.

Both the Secretary and the Minister offered sympathies to those affected by the Coronavirus in Italy and the United States, and particularly for those that have succumbed to the virus.

Minister Guerini thanked the Secretary for the concrete gestures already made with the provision of medical equipment and supplies in Lombardy, as well as efforts by the U.S. NGO Samaritan's Purse. Guerini said these things demonstrate the strong U.S. friendship and our military cooperation.

The Secretary reinforced that the United States and Italy stand in solidarity as we face this crisis together, especially since many thousands of U.S. citizens at our bases in Italy are also affected by Italy's crisis. The Secretary noted we are looking at what additional support we can provide.

Minister Guerini requested that the Secretary pass on thanks to President Trump and the American people.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2128053/

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Chandigarh, March 28 : A-36-year-old grocery seller in Haryana's Panipat town on Saturday allegedly shot dead his wife and two children with his licensed pistol before killing himself, the police said.

The dead included his eight-year-old daughter and five-year-old son. The incident occurred in Raj Nagar locality.

The police suspect a family dispute was the cause of the crime.
A senior lawyer, Femi Falana, has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged plot by the Nigerian government to re-arrest Omoyele Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters, over his report on the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, testing positive for coronavirus.

Mr Sowore in a post on his Facebook page, on Thursday, said there were indications that the federal government was planning to secure a court order against him by using the Nigerian military to raid his residence.

Mr Falana, a rights activist, in a copy of his petition seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, said since Mr Sowore is not member of the Armed Forces, he should not be subject to the military law that warrants the army to detain him in a military facility.

Your lordship, we have confirmed the clandestine move by the Nigerian Army to secure an exparte order to detain our client over some ridiculous moves over revealing classified information through the sharareporters, he wrote.

Since our client is not a member of the armed forces he is not subject to the Armed Forces Act or any regulation to warrant or any application to detain him in a military detention facility.

The story of Mr Kyari, President Muhammadu Buharis Chief of Staff testing positive for the pandemic coronavirus, was first reported by Sahara Reporters.

Mr Kyari is believed to have contracted the disease earlier in the month in Germany, which has a high number of cases and has banned public gatherings, limiting such to a maximum of two people.

READ ALSO:

Mr Falana urged the court to advise the army to halt the alleged attempt to arrest Mr Sowore, and to report to the police if there is evidence that his client committed an offence.

The Nigerian Amry should be advised to report our client to the police if there is evidence he has committed any offence or whatsoever. Mr Falana said.

Mr Sowore who is currently facing a charge of treasonable felony, was arrested last August by the SSS in Lagos just ahead of the #RevolutionNow protests which he inspired months after losing the 2019 presidential election.

He was later released in December after intense public outcry.
Nigerian health minister, Osagie Ehanire, has provided insight into why he, alongside other officials, visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Mr Ehanire met with Mr Buhari on Saturday, alongside Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), over the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

It is to answer a few questions about what his Excellency heard about the health sector and the current coronavirus outbreak, the health minister said while addressing journalists shortly after the meeting.

The official said he also explained what we are doing to slow the spread of the virus, the problems presented by the situation and necessary measures to be taken in the coming days.

A 29 minutes video showing the president with the two officials inside the villa was posted on the official twitter handle of the Nigerian presidency Saturday afternoon.

The trio sat in a triangular form at almost three yards away from each other, maintaining the social distance protocol, one of the worldwide recommended safety tips for preventing coronavirus.

This is President Buharis first public appearance since his whereabouts became fuzzy following reports that his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari tested positive to the virus after returning from Germany.

There were speculations that Messrs Buhari and Kyari were secretly flown out of the country to the United Kingdom for treatment.

The furore brewed more especially after Mr Buhari remained mum about 36 days after Nigeria reported its index case of covid19 on February 18.

READ ALSO:

Many Nigerians have criticised the president for not addressing them despite the increasing cases of the disease in the country, while leaders of African countries with far fewer cases are speaking up.

Nigeria, as of Saturday morning, has 81 cases of the virus caused by a disease now known as Covid-19. One death and three recoveries have been recorded so far.

Mr Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, while speaking on a Channels Television programme on Thursday, however, said Mr Buharis silence is a style.

Its a matter of style, Mr Adesina said, a statement that has since attracted more criticism from Nigerians.
Health authorities on both sides of the Irish border are involved in the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) from China, a Stormont minister has said.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy confirmed the news at yesterday's Covid-19 update and comes after health unions had expressed concerns over a lack of PPE for private health workers, as well as NHS staff, earlier this week.

The order of PPE came after the Public Health Agency earlier announced that another three people had died after contracting coronavirus, bringing the total to 13 in Northern Ireland.

Another 34 people were tested positive for the virus here, bringing that total to 275 cases.

Of those who have tested positive, 100 (36%) were aged 0 to 44; 95 (35%) were 45 to 69; and 80 (29%) were aged 70 or older. Of those, 126 were female and 149 were male.

Mr Murphy said the Executive is also working with the UK procurement system for PPE but he declined to outline how much has been ordered or when it is due to arrive.

"We've today agreed that joint order with Dublin, there is procurement going on with the British system as well, but I think to be prudent we want to ensure that if the crisis that is coming our way becomes more severe in Britain and those supply lines across the Irish Sea start to dry up, that we have our own supplies," he stated.

"This is a joint effort with the Dublin Government, the order has been placed, so I can't give certainty in terms of the flights, but we obviously want to get it here as quickly as possibly."

Before that, at their daily Stormont press conference, Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers appeared to send conflicting messages as they address advice to workers and business.

Mrs Foster announced the formation of a new forum to allow businesses and employee representatives to discuss concerns over safe working practices.

However, Ms O'Neill said the UK Government's approach had hampered efforts to develop the new regulations and guidance.

First Minister Arlene Foster said those who cannot work from home should go to work as long as there are social distancing measures in place, but Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said all non-essential businesses should close immediately.

Mrs Fosters said: "I reinforce that our key focus is on safety on all of our community and there is a heavy onus of responsibility on our employers and I very much recognise that," she continued.

However, Ms O'Neill then said: "I repeat my call again on non-essential businesses to close immediately. Not tomorrow, not next week but now.

"Do this for the safety of your family, do it for the safety of their families, do it for the safety of your workers, do it for the wider community and particularly those most at risk."

First Minister Arlene Foster encouraged everyone to reach out to elderly neighbours, friends and relatives as their self-isolation continues.

Meanwhile, Ms Foster explained that both she and Ms O'Neill had spoken to the Commissioner for Older People, Eddie Lynch, to listen to his concerns over those who are self-isolating alone.
Make no mistake, the most important Canadians right now are public health officials and the front-line health-care workers fighting COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But what of business? How would we grade its response to the COVID-19 crisis?

Maybe a B+.

Without waiting to be told, Corporate Canada began late last month restricting non-essential employee travel. By the first week of March, many businesses were encouraging those employees who could work from home to do so, before heath authorities began imploring us to stay home.

And many business enterprises held off on layoffs, even as their revenues were plummeting, until Ottawa last week announced greater social protections, and especially more inclusive eligibility for employment insurance.

Corporate Canada has been slow off the mark, however, in helping build the arsenal of health care, akin to a wartime arsenal of democracy, that is so urgently needed. And Canadian business-related philanthropy in defeating COVID-19 has fallen far short of whats required.

Heres a preliminary report card on how Canadian business is responding to the coronavirus crisis.

Protecting employees and the public

The performance here has been largely good, and some firms and industries have set new higher standards of corporate social responsibility.

Starting in late February, when the Public Health Agency of Canada placed the risk of COVID-19 as low, businesses began restricting employee air travel. In many cases, 14-day quarantines were required of employees who had flown anywhere on long-range flights.

By early March, social-distancing practices had been deployed in many if not most of the largest private-sector workplaces.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had not yet declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. But already enlightened employers were postponing certain projects, and stretching out the timelines of others, in order to get more of their employees working at home.

By mid-March, Canadas Big Six banks, the three largest grocers, and other large employers following their example had closed some of their facilities; greatly reduced the hours of operation of others; equipped employees with masks and gloves; and erected Plexiglas barriers between customers and staff.

That approach has been comprehensive, voluntary, and aimed at reducing person-to-person contact to stop the COVID-19 spread.

Also by mid-March, so-called customer-facing businesses in retailing and financial services had begun limiting the number of customers on their premises to ensure social distancing, and marking the floor to show the proper space between those waiting in line.

Practically all businesses are now more vigilant about cleaning their facilities, since the coronavirus can live for more than three days on surfaces.

Last week, some large retailers began setting aside an hour for seniors and for employee-only shopping. London Drugs Ltd., the large Richmond, B.C.-based pharmacy and general merchandise chain, said, We are offering front-line workers a dedicated time to get their shopping done (because) they often work long shifts and many stores are closed by the time they are off their day shifts.

The concept of hero pay has emerged. That is the term some employers use for the temporary regimes of hourly pay increases, bonuses and extra paid-vacation days they are providing at-risk employees. These are workers regarded as heroes by their employers for leaving their homes to come to work.

Maple Leaf Foods, Canadas biggest meat processor; grocers Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro; and Toronto-Dominion Bank have each temporarily increased pay for at-risk workers for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, and most have made the increased compensation retroactive to March 8.

Arsenal of health care

Early this month, the head of Canadas auto-parts lobby group said, Just give us the specs (specifications) and we will build any medical equipment needed, as much as needed.

Unfortunately, that expression of volunteer spirit was followed by silence, as governments could not decide what was most urgently needed and who should provide it.

Back in early February, by contrast, Taiwan-based Foxconn, the worlds biggest maker of electronic equipment, including iPhones and PlayStations, quickly retrofitted its plants in mainland China and elsewhere to produce two million surgical masks a day. Most of the medical gear was destined for the COVID-19 epicentre of Wuhan.

It is no coincidence that China is the first and only country to turn the corner on COVID-19. Early on, Beijing called on an arsenal of manufacturers, at home and abroad, to make vast quantities of test kits, protective surgical gowns and ventilators, the artificial-breathing machines crucial to treating extreme cases of COVID-19.

True, many of the worlds leading fragrance houses and liquor makers  including Corby Canada  have been turning out hand sanitizers. And like Foxconn they did so without waiting to be asked.

Which is fortunate, because European governments, like their counterparts elsewhere in the world outside of China, have been regrettably slow in marshalling private-sector resources to fight the coronavirus.

Ontarios automakers stand ready to make ventilators, and so does auto-parts maker Linamar Corp. of Guelph. But the government contracts for ventilators and other life-saving equipment are only now starting to go out.

That deficiency is also widespread in Europe and the U.S. Only recently have General Motors, Honeywell International, 3M and other firms been asked by U.S. governments to rapidly produce essential medical equipment.

Canadian and U.S. firms are promptly answering the call, but it was dreadfully late in coming. Some of the fault for that lies in business failing early on to make the case to governments that their role is essential.

Some billionaires step up

Into that void, some tycoons have helpfully stepped.

The charitable foundations of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook Inc.) and Elon Musk (Tesla Inc.) have provided emergency funds for overburdened U.S. hospitals, production of masks and COVID-19 test kits, and research into COVID-19 vaccines.

Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba Group, the Amazon.com of China, might be a special case. Ma has donated virus-test kits and face masks in Europe and in a U.S. that so far seems unable to produce those life-saving devices in sufficient speed and quantity.

Mas donations in all 54 African countries are even more extensive, in the volume and variety of essential medical gear he is providing.

Canada could use more assistance from homegrown tycoons. Sadly, though, the Canadian billionaire-philanthropy complex, so unstinting in its support of science, education and the arts, has hardly been heard from on arguably the greatest crisis Canada has ever faced.

The Canadian tradition has been to rely on governments, not private philanthropy. And that approach has served us well. Private donations are sporadic and highly selective.

But the silence of our tycoons on COVID-19 philanthropy has become deafening. Lets hope it does not endure.

Correction - April 2, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba Group, didnt donate medical supplies to Canada for its fight against COVID-19. In fact, a shipment of donated medical supplies arrived on March 23 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that with the Karnataka government closing its interstate borders, the free movement of Kerala vehicles carrying essential commodities is being restricted.

"Despite appeals, there is no clarity. The Karnataka Chief Minister appears to be busy, as we are yet to get through to him. Today we informed Union Minister Sadanada Gowda and we explained our case," said Vijayan.

"There are many patients from Kasargode (Kerala) who are dependent on hospitals in Mangalore (Karnataka)," Vijayan told media, adding restricting the free movement of vehicles is hampering medical care for these patients.

Since Thursday night Karnataka had closed the routes, fearing the spread of Covid-19 to their state, as Kerala has the highest number of positive cases in the country.

Hundreds of trucks laden with vegetables and essential food items are stuck at the border of the two states since Friday.

On Friday, Vijayan expressed his displeasure with the Karnataka government.

Vijayan said he wrote to the Prime Minister on Saturday about the situation prevailing in the two states.

Sources said Union minister Gowda who has roots in Kasargode district in Kerala has got clearance for vehicles to enter Kerala from three state borders -- one at Mangalore side and two others at the entry of Wayanad district.

But the Virajpet border in Karnataka near the Kerala town of Iritty in Kannur district continues to remain closed, as there has been a strong local resentment against opening of the border, sources added.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  China sent a plane loaded with medical personnel and supplies Saturday to help Pakistan fight the spread of the coronavirus in one of the world's most populous nations.

Across the Middle East and elsewhere, the outbreak has raised concerns that health systems strapped by multiple wars, refugee crises and unstable economies won't be able to handle the growing number of cases. In Iran, which is battling the worst outbreak in the region, state TV said Saturday another 139 people had died from the virus. That pushed the total fatalities in Iran to 2,517 amid 35,408 confirmed cases.

China has sought to portray itself as a global leader in the fight against the outbreak, which began a few months ago in its Wuhan province. The plane carrying aid to Pakistan was met at the capital's airport by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureishi, who greeted the arriving Chinese doctors and officials.

China had previously sent ventilators and masks to Pakistan, a key link in China's ambitious multi-billion-dollar One Road Project linking south and central Asia with China. China is also a key military supplier for nuclear-armed Pakistan, having supplied the country with missiles capable of carrying atomic weapons.

Pakistan, with a population of 220 million, has 1,408 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 11 deaths from the illness it causes, COVID-19. Most of the infected people have been travelers returning from neighboring Iran.

Most people infected by the virus only experience mild symptoms, such as fever and cough, and recover within a few weeks. But the virus can cause severe respiratory illness and death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.

Pakistan has closed its borders with both Iran and Afghanistan, but has come under widespread criticism for its initial lax response to the virus.

Even as the pandemic spread to the country, Pakistani authorities allowed tens of thousands of Islamic clerics from around the world to congregate for three days outside the eastern city of Lahore. Some 200 of the clerics are now quarantined at the site of the gathering, a sprawling compound belonging to an Islamic missionaries group, Tableeghi Jamaat.

Story continues

Many of the visiting clerics at the conference returned to their home countries, some of them carrying the coronavirus. The first two reported cases in the Gaza Strip attended the three-day gathering in Pakistan, and are now under quarantine in Gaza. Other linked cases have emerged elsewhere in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused to impose a countrywide lockdown saying it would devastate the country's poor, but ordered non-essential businesses closed, including restaurants, money changers and wedding halls.

As of Saturday, the government still had not ordered mosques closed nationwide, instead relying on recommendations to worshippers not to gather for weekly Friday prayers. Pakistani officials are reluctant to defy local hard-line Islamic leaders, who can whip up mobs to protest any perceived insults to religion. Some of these clerics have taken to social media to urge the faithful to fill the mosques, saying it is their religious obligation.

Pakistan's federal health authorities say the outbreak is so far concentrated in Punjab province, with 490 confirmed cases there, and Sindh province, which has 457 confirmed infections. Other cases are spread throughout several other regions, including the capital, Islamabad.

Health authorities in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reported one additional death Saturday, a woman in the district of Dir. Ajmal Wazir, a spokesman for the provincial government, said the woman fell sick after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, before dying in a government hospital where she tested positive for the coronavirus.

In Iran, officials have repeatedly insisted they have the outbreak under control, despite concerns it could overwhelm the country's health facilities.

Iran's government has faced widespread criticism for not acting faster to contain the virus. Only in recent days have authorities ordered nonessential businesses to close and banned travel between cities  long after other nations in the region imposed sweeping lockdowns.

In Egypt the country's chief prosecutor warned that anyone convicted of spreading fake news and rumors about the coronavirus could be fined or sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Public prosecutor Hamada el-Sawy's statement came just days after Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over a report citing a study that challenged the official count of coronavirus cases in the Arab worlds most populous country.

Egypt's Health Ministry has confirmed 576 cases of the virus and reported six additional fatalities Saturday, bringing the number of dead to 36.

U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland on Saturday urged the country's warring groups to suspend fighting in and around the capital, Tripoli, as an absolute necessity" to allow public health officials across the divided country to contain the epidemic.

Libya's health system is near the point of collapse after years of civil war. It has so far reported three confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Authorities in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Hamas militant group seized power there in 2007, have reported nine confirmed cases.

Gaza's health care infrastructure has been severely eroded by years of conflict and isolation. A major outbreak in the territory, which is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, could be extremely difficult to contain.

Organizers of weekly demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel frontier said they would cancel a rally that was scheduled for next week to abide by guidelines to avoid the spread of the virus. Khaled al-Batsh, head of the Great March of Return committee, said the rally was to mark the second anniversary of the protest movement.

___

Associated Press writers Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Fares Akram in Gaza and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
American Comedienne, Luenell has revealed that she banned her daughter, DaNelle Campbell, from her house after the later refused to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously.

The 61-year-old shared this on her IG page writing;

Read Also: NCDC Records 11 Fresh Cases Of Coronavirus In Nigeria

It pains mebreaks my gam [sic] heart but I have made the decision to ban my daughter from home, wrote Luenell. These kids are not taking the seriousness of the handwashing and s*** seriously. I love my baby but this shit is scary and Im not f****g around. Laughing in my face and thinking Im overreacting has convinced me to shut everybody down except one person. I want to live. Im sorry butbye

Luenell went on to share more details and told her followers that she took the drastic decision to protect not only herself but her husband who suffers from COPD.

I have to make the best decision for me and my husband who is Already suffering from COPD. Im sure most of the millennials think we are dramatic and overreacting because theyre not as woke as they think they are Why am I sharing this publicly? Because maybe some of You might want to think of the activities of Your children outside of your house these days as well. The millennials are not listening and not taking proper precautions. This is our LIVES we are talking about people especially if you are in a certain age category. Im bummed but it is what it is.

#fukthesekids ?
A Malayali youth who was reportedly a suicide bomber in a gurdwara in Afghanistan was suspected to have spent some time in Bengaluru as well.

Kerala police sources confirmed that Kasargod native Mohsin, 29, was the one said to be involved in the Kabul incident on Wednesday. However, he was not much in the radar of security agencies in Kerala as he joined the IS from Dubai in 2018.

According to sources in Kerala police, after completing twelfth-standard education at Thrikarippur in Kasargod, he spent about a year in Bengaluru. Later he worked in an oil firm in Dubai, went to Malaysia where his parents were working and worked in a hotel there and returned to India in 2016. Afterwards he also worked in Saudi Arabia for some time and returned to Kerala. After spending around four months here he went to Dubai in 2018.

"We had no information of any extremist activities or connection of the Mohsin while in Kerala," said a senior official.

The police have so far obtained details of around 100 Malayali joining IS and over a dozen being killed in encounters. Two Malayali women who accompanied their husbands to cross borders and join IS had recently expressed their regrets and wished to return to India.
Chennai, March 28 : Hours after the 'home quarantine' notice was stuck outside the actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's old residence, the Greater Chennai Corporation removed the same saying it was done by mistake.

However, party spokesperson is of the view that it is nothing but needling by the state government.

The Corporation has been sticking such notices outside the residences of all those who have returned from foreign countries where Coronavirus had spread.

"Kamal Haasan has been in India since January this year. He has not travelled abroad. The building is now the party office of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). There was security. Without making any enquiries with the security, the officials had stuck the home quarantine notice at night and gone," Murali Appas, spokesperson of the party told IANS.

According to him, should not the officials before sticking the notice enquire with the household about the condition of the person who had returned from overseas and also brief them about the precautions to be taken? He also said, the data as to the persons who had come from overseas should have the correct name of the traveller and not the name of others in the household.

"With Kamal Haasan being within India, how can the Chennai Corporation mention his name in the 'home quarantine' notice that was stuck outside the building that was once his residence," Appas wondered.

According to him, it is nothing but needling by the local government. Recently he was summoned by the police and questioned for several hours in connection with the accident that happened at the Indian movie shooting spot.

Couple of days back Kamal Haasan in a tweet said with the help of doctors in his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) he is willing to convert the building that was once his residence into a temporary hospital to treat the coronavirus patients.

He also said he is ready to do this once the government gives the permission.

Meanwhile in a statement Kamal Haasan said he has not been living in that building for the past few years and the party office has been functioning from there.

"So, the news that I have been quarantined is not true. As a precautionary measure, I have undertaken social distancing as I requested the public too," Kamal Haasan said.

"My entire family has self-isolated. Mum (actress Sarika) is in Mumbai as well but in another apartment, Dad (Kamal Haasan) and Akshara (sister) are in Chennai but in separate houses. All of us had different travelling schedules and it didn't make sense for us to isolate together. That's the decision I feel people should make," Shruti Haasan, the elder daughter of Kamal Haasan had told Mumbai Mirror earlier.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Inside a second-floor dorm area at the Essex County Correctional Facility, a Peruvian man being detained by immigration officials, like the rest of New Jersyeans, has been glued to the television waiting for the newest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.

He knows he should be trying to escape the disease, but instead he is bracing for it.

Social distancing? He is living with 50 other men in a dorm area. Its like mice in a little box, he said.

He also knows he should wash his hands often, but he only has watered-down soap, a spray bottle of water and bleach and one roll of paper towels to split among the whole group, he said.

Joseph, a 36-year-old father of two, who spoke to NJ Advance Media from inside the jail earlier this week, said the conditions at the Essex County jail for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees are bad and getting worse. His sister initially contacted a reporter, fearing for her brothers safety.

"There is no type of social distancing, said Joseph, who asked to have his full name withheld out of fear of retaliation. Somebody gets infected in here? Trust me, we are all going to be sick in less than a week.

We know it is already in the building, he added. Everyone is scared.

Anthony Puglisi, an Essex County spokesman, denied that detainees were in overcrowded areas and said adequate cleaning supplies are provided to the inmates/detainees.

There are more than 500 ICE detainees currently in the Essex County facility, and hundreds more in three other correctional facilities in New Jersey, that ICE is holding as they await immigration proceedings. The immigrants are held in civil detention and are supposed to have fewer restrictions than prisoners, but attorneys say those liberties are disappearing, as officials try to stop an outbreak.

The agency is under growing pressure from advocacy groups and immigration attorneys to release all detainees now that two have tested positive for the disease, including one at the Essex County jail. They argue that ICE is ill-equipped to prevent a coronavirus outbreak and from providing proper medical care to those detained.

Joseph, who was living in Kearny before he was detained by ICE, said he is fearful all the time.

Two weeks ago, he began telling his sister that he was feeling weak and having shortness of breath, two symptoms some sickened by coronavirus have described having. Joseph said he has battled lung conditions for most of his life, and was hospitalized for a prolonged period of time as a young adult with tuberculosis.

If the virus infects me, I will die, he said. It will kill me in a matter of days.

Joseph said a correctional officer told him he looked fine when he sought medical care earlier this week. Eventually, he was seen by a doctor who said he had inflamed lungs, but did not administer a COVID-19 test, even though he asked for one, Joseph said. He said he was given a pill to take and was sent back to the dorm where he called from Wednesday.

It is not safe, he said.

Puglisi, the Essex County spokesman, said COVID-19 tests are only administered to detainees who are showing symptoms of the disease due to the scarcity of tests.

All inmates and detainees receive the highest quality of medical care and no one is kept from receiving the care and treatment they need, Puglisi said in a statement.

An ICE spokesman did not answer specific questions regarding detainees at the Essex County Correctional Facility, instead referring to the agencys FAQs page on their website.

In 2018, federal inspectors conducted a surprise review of the Essex County facility and found numerous violations, including detainees being served potentially spoiled meat and moldy bread. Detainees told inspectors that the facilitys food caused vomiting and diarrhea.

Joseph said the conditions have not improved, even as a pandemic bears down, adding that there is no soap in the bathroom and they are drinking water from a filter that has not been replaced in a year.

Craig Relles, a New York-based immigration attorney who has eight clients detained in Essex County jail, said the conditions with which immigrants are being held in are f----d.

He said clients have told him the jail is scaling back the food options for detainees, beginning to hold some of them in cells for 23 hours a day and limiting their access to cleaning supplies.

Things are getting progressively worse, Relles said. People are scared.

Josephs sister, who asked not to be identified due to privacy concerns, said she spent Thursday trying to track down her brothers medical records from where he was previously hospitalized more than a decade ago, as ICE has begun releasing detainees who have health conditions that put them at high-risk to the disease.

In a phone call Friday morning, Joseph said that a few more detainees were released this morning, something that started happening a few days ago.

He hopes he will be next. His sister fears he is at risk there.

Hes been in the country since he was 13, she said in a phone interview Thursday. "He is pretty much an American. Imagine how you would feel if your brother was stuck in a place that he wouldnt even get help from the people who are getting paid to help him.

They are humans. They still have rights," she added. Not even an animal gets treated like this.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage.

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In a letter to the U.S. Secretary of state, eleven Democratic Senators have called for easing sanctions Washington has imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran and Venezuela, amid a global pandemic.

Senator Murphy representing Connecticut since 2013, on Thursday sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin asking to "ease economic sanctions against countries where sanctions are hindering the humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic  specifically Iran and Venezuela.

Senator Murphy's letter is co-signed by ten other Senators, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

"It hurts our nation's security and our moral standing in the world when our sanctions policy results in innocent people dying. I am particularly concerned about the impact of sanctions on the COVID-19 response in Iran and Venezuela," said Murphy in his letter.

Admitting dominant mismanagement and corruption in Iran and Venezuela, Murphy and his colleagues have asserted, "While the shortcomings of these national governments are largely due to their endemic corruption, mismanagement, and authoritarian behavior, broad-based U.S. sanctions have exacerbated the failing medical response. Helping these nations saves lives during this crisis is the right thing to do from a moral perspective, but it is also the right thing to do from a national security perspective."

Referring to the previous cases of U.S. aid to Iran, the senators have affirmed in the letter that when a massive earthquake struck Iran in 2003 killing 26,000 people, President George W. Bush administration temporarily suspended sanctions to send 150,000 pounds of medical supplies and more than 200 aid workers on military aircraft to help the people of Iran recover.

While admitting that the Iranian and Venezuelan regimes are American adversaries, the Senators have insisted, "The good people of these nations are not our enemy. By allowing our sanctions to contribute to the exceptional pain and suffering brought about by the coronavirus outbreaks in both nations, we play into the anti-Americanism that is at the heart of both regimes' hold on power."

However, President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly noted that U.S. sanctions do not ban export of humanitarian goods and food to Iran.

Moreover, Washington recently offered aid to the coronavirus-hit Iran, but the Islamic Republic leaders immediately rejected it.

President Trump's administration has not yet reacted to the Senators' letter.

The initiator of the letter to the State Department and Department of Treasury, Senator Murphy, made the news last February when it was revealed he had secretly met with the Islamic Republic Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (February 16-18.)

Murphy and Zarif spoke publicly during a two-hour session on Middle East policy, with both fiercely criticizing U.S. policy, reports said at the time.

In a tweet on February 18, Murphy admitted that he met with Zarif, arguing that "it's dangerous not to talk to adversaries."

"Many of us have met with Zarif over the years, under Obama and Trump," Murphy tweeted, adding, "So though no one in Congress can negotiate with Zarif or carry official U.S. government messages, there is value in having a dialogue."

According to his tweets, Murphy also urged Zarif to rein in Islamic Republic's proxies that might attack U.S. forces in the region, as well as release American citizens unlawfully detained in the clergy-dominated Iran.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that he is considering the possibility of a 14-day quarantine for New York, and potentially New Jersey and Connecticut, in an effort the curtail the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly, the president tweeted after the press conference.

We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine  short-term, two weeks  on New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut, Trump said during the presser.

He went on to say that he would consider travel restrictions for New Yorkers, with many fleeing the outbreaks epicenter and heading to less-infected parts of the country.

Restrict travel. Because theyre having problems down in Florida. A lot of New Yorkers are going down. We dont want that, he said when asked about restricting travel from the Tri-State area.

If a quarantine were to be enacted, it would not apply to truckers or impact trade, according to the president.

This does not apply to people such as truckers from outside the New York area who are making deliveries or simply transiting through. It wont affect trade in any way, Trump said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who spoke with Trump earlier in the day on Saturday, says that they had not discussed the possibility of a federally-mandated quarantine.

I havent had those conversations, Cuomo told a reporter. I dont even know what that means.

During Cuomos press conference, the governor announced that New York States number of confirmed coronavirus cases now sits at 52,318, with 29,766 of them in New York City. Statewide, 728 New Yorkers have succumb to the virus thus far, according to Cuomo.

***

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One of the cases is of Siddharth Saxena, who had returned home in Noida from Denmark, sources said. The other is of a foreign national who arrived here for auditing in a company in Noida.

"In both the cases the origin of the virus was a foreign land," said a senior Noida health official.

Administration and health sources said in the second case, the district administration and the health department have directed initiation of a criminal case against the company for hiding the case.

Three members of Saxena's family have tested positive, sources added.

As per information available with the district health authorities, the managing director of the company had returned from UK to India on March 1, while officers in his company returned on March 7. The company had reportedly engaged a UK-based auditor who did his work for three days beginning March 14 and returned to the UK.

Now, 13 people associated with the company office have been found corona positive, sources added.

In yet another corona positive case from Greater Noida's Zeta-1 sector, a resident had returned from South Africa via Turkey. "All these cases have a common thread, that the virus was transported here from foreign lands," said the Chief Medical Officer in a statement.

The only remedy from the corona spread is social distancing and frequent hand washing, the official added.

--IANS

Hindi/prs


Virus strikes at heart of Downing Street

The three men leading the nations fight against coronavirus have all gone into self-isolation after the disease reached the heart of government. Boris Johnson will work alone at No 11 Downing Street for the next week and will hold meetings by video link after contracting the virus, the first leader of a G7 nation to do so. He is suffering from mild symptoms. Carrie Symonds, Mr Johnsons pregnant fiancee, is not staying in Downing Street and is understood to be self-isolating in their south London flat. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, was also diagnosed with the disease while Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, has gone into isolation after displaying symptoms. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said last night that the rate of infection was doubling every three to four days.  The Times

Comment

Sturgeon must stop playing politics with virus, Jamie Blackett  Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday:

Lockdown on course to reduce total death rate

Britain is on course for an estimated 5,700 deaths from coronavirus, far lower than originally predicted, experts believe. The country will avoid the 260,000 fatalities once feared if it keeps on the same path seen in China, statisticians at Imperial College London have calculated. They emphasised that this did not imply that the fears of mass deaths were alarmist, but that the government strategy was working. Our work shows that social distancing is working against Covid-19 as an effective parachute across multiple countries, Tom Pike, of Imperial College, said. Thats no reason for us to cut away our parachutes when were still way above the ground.  The Times

Comment

>Today:

Ministers under fire over ventilator delays

Boris Johnsons government came under fire on Friday for missing opportunities to acquire more medical ventilators through equipment suppliers and the EU, even as the British prime minister himself tested positive for coronavirus. The number of people in the UK testing positive rose by 2,885 to 14,579 while the number of deaths climbed by 181 to 759. Ministers say 8,000 ventilators under order should be available for NH use over the next few weeks. The British health service already has access to more than 8,000 ventilators and a total of 30,000 are required. Several companies have complained that offers were not taken up to provide some of the additional machines needed to save the lives of people with acute respiratory difficulties caused by Covid-19.  FT

Britons warned even stricter measures planned

Boris Johnsons advisers have warned even stricter social distancing measures could be introduced after Britains coronavirus death toll surged by 181 yesterday. Government advisers have said more stringent rules may be rolled out next month if the number of cases continues to rise. The Prime Minister could decide to mirror the measures introduced in Spain and Italy, where officials have banned exercise outside and introduced fines of up to 3,000 (2,690) for anyone found breaching the rules.  Daily Express

Bailout for selfemployed excludes 2 million people

The chancellors 10 billion coronavirus bailout for the self-employed has been criticised as unfair after it emerged that up to two million people could miss out. Rishi Sunak said on Thursday that self-employed workers would be able to claim a government grant of 80 per cent of their profits up to a maximum of 2,500 a month to cope with the effect of the virus on their livelihoods. The scheme will be open to those with trading profits of up to 50,000 a year and those who earn the majority of their income from self-employment. As the details emerged, however, it became clear that a growing number of workers would miss out on the scheme. Some analysts suggested that the number could be as high as two million, or 35 per cent, of the 5.75 million people registered as self-employed.  The Times

Davis slams Sunaks tax raid on self-employed  Daily Mail

Sunak adds extra 60bn public spending to fight virus  FT

>Yesterday:

Government could buy stake in struggling airlines

The government is ruling nothing out as it tries to save UK airlines struggling to cope with a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Transport secretary Grant Shapps told MPs in a meeting on Friday that the Government could buy shares in UK airlines. A Transport Select Committee was held behind closed doors and via Skype on Friday, where Labour MP Ruth Cadbury asked the Cabinet minister whether the Government would consider taking a stake in UK airlines that faced collapse. The description of Mr Shappss response states: The Secretary of State said that everything was on the table. The department had to try to save the aviation sector and to protect the consumer and the taxpayer.  Daily Mail

Parris: Magic money tree will cost the Tories dear

Theres much to be said for clapping our hands for the NHS but once weve said it, doubts persist that will not be dispelled by any act of collective secular worship. Last week on this page I raised the biggest question of all: might crashing our economy turn out to have inflicted more harm than the virus? Now for some more modest questions. But before raising what to some ears may sound like quibbles, I should make something clear. In this health crisis, nobody is obviously right or obviously wrong and nobodys stupid. Because nobody really knows. The anxious thoughtfulness with which politicians, scientists and civil servants are taking difficult decisions is beyond doubt.  The Times

Bailout proves my public spending plans were right, says Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn has claimed that the government bailout to tackle the pandemic proves he was absolutely right about increasing public spending. The Labour leader, who is standing down next week after losing two general elections, suggested that his plans for an expansion in the state had been adopted by Boris Johnson. The crisis had shown the Conservatives that they have to spend money to invest in the state, as we have always said as a party. It is an echo of his claim that he had won the argument after the December election in which Labour suffered its worst result since 1935. The new Labour leader will be named a week today. Sir Keir Starmer is viewed as the frontrunner to beat Rebecca Long Bailey and Lisa Nandy.  The Times

News in Brief
Bengaluru, March 28 : A sacked techie of software major Infosys was arrested for allegedly posting a prank tweet to spread coronavirus, a police officer said on Saturday.

"The accused -- Mujeeb Mohammed -- was arrested on Friday evening under Sections 505, 270 and 190 of the IPC for the social media post," Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain told IANS.

The accused was produced in a local court on Saturday which remanded him to police custody for seven days for interrogation and investigation into the cyber crime.

"As Mohammed is in our custody, we will interrogate him to ascertain why he posted such a tweet," said Jain.

Mohammed was first sacked and then arrested for tweeting, "Let's join hands, go out and sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus. Spread the word to end the word." The city-based IT behemoth had sacked Mohammed on Friday for the prank tweet, as it was against the company's code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing.

The police picked up Mohammed, 38, from his residence in the city's northern suburb and seized two mobile phones and a laptop from his possession.

Mohammed has been a resident of this city for 25 years.

The police are yet to find any incriminating material from his gadgets.

"Mohammed did not give any reason for such a post but casually said 'I just felt like posting it'. He was very casual," added Jain.

After the post, Mohammed gained notoriety in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, creating a flutter on social media and in the office of his employer.

Before confirming that it was Mohammed who sent that tweet, Infosys had said on Thursday, "We are deeply concerned with an inappropriate post being attributed to an Infosys employee. We strongly reaffirm our commitment to responsible social sharing. Our preliminary enquiry, and discussions with our employees, suggests that this could be a case of a mistaken identity." The company, however, promised to investigate the matter and confirmed on Friday that the tweet was posted indeed by one its own.

"Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity," the IT major confirmed on Friday to follow it up with the sacking.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 05:29:11|Editor: huaxia

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PRAGUE, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Czech President Milos Zeman refused calls to declare amnesty for prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic, the president's office said in a press release on Saturday.

The president is a fundamental opponent of blanket amnesty, the press release said, adding that he considers this initiative to be harmful given the current epidemiological and economic situation.

On Thursday, attorney Petr Toman sent a letter to the president asking for prisoner amnesty during the crisis.

"Please consider using your powers to alleviate the current problems of families whose members are serving imprisonment for minor offenses and are unable to care for and help them in this difficult period," Toman said in the letter.

Amnesty has been declared in the Czech Republic five times since 1990, according to local media reports.
With cooperation and partnership, Nigeria will overcome the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, and chart a new course in nationalism and brotherhood, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

The president said this in a commendation statement he issued on Friday, to acknowledge the effort by the Nigerian private sector coalition to mobilise funding and support for the fight against the spread of the deadly virus.

Coalition Against COVID-19

The coalition against COVID-19 is a partnership between the government and the private sector, led by Aliko Dangote Foundation, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GT Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Unity Bank, and Nigerian Breweries.

Other members of the coalition include Herbert Wigwe, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Segun Agbaje, Abdulsamad Rabiu and Femi Otedola.

On Thursday, the Bankers Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spearheaded a private sector initiative to mobilise Nigerias elite corps of billionaires to pool together about N120 billion to support the federal governments acquisition of medical equipment and logistics against COVID-19.

N120 billion target

At the inauguration of the coalition, Mr Emefiele said each member would ensure their institution contributes at least N1 billion to the effort, while new members would be allowed as long as they are willing to contribute at least N1 billion.

The target was set at about N120 billion.

In the commendation statement signed by the presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, the president saluted the public-spiritedness of wealthy Nigerians and organisations for standing up to be counted in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Adesina said the president commended members of the coalition for contributing N1 billion each, and being in the vanguard of encouraging others in the private sector to do the same.

READ ALSO:

The president specially commended the UBA for also donating N5 billion to Nigeria and Africa; and the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was also the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2019 presidential elections, who pledged N50 million.

Also, First Bank is partnering with the government, the United Nations, and innovative technological firms to provide e-learning solutions to at least one million children under its Keep Them Engaged, Keep Them Safe initiative.

The President extols every other helping hand that has been lent by individuals, groups and organizations, which may not necessarily be in the public domain, Mr Adesina said.

President Buhari recommends these laudable strides to other high net-worth Nigerians and organizations. Hand in hand, the country will overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic, and chart a new course in nationalism and brotherhood, he said.
The novel coronavirus test kits sold online are fake and wont actually test you for the disease, authorities have warned.

Lancaster city police told citizens in a public statement about at least two instances around the world in which people manufactured phony tests and sold them to take advantage of others, whether that be online or in direct-to-consumer sales, LancasterOnline reported.

In one case, fake vials were printed with the words Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19) and Virus1 Test Kit."

Dont let the scammers prey on your fears or uncertainty, police said, according to LancasterOnline. "Dont give them your money.

Authentic tests can be obtained through the Pennsylvania Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Authorities said any fraudulent activity related to the coronavirus should be reported to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
She's made it a point to still walk her dog, Colombo, daily, amid the coronavirus lock-downs.

And Emily Ratajkowski did just that on Friday evening alongside her husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard.

The 28-year-old dressed casually while cuddling up to her man during their walk around New York City.

Fit and toned! Emily Ratajkowski was spotted flashing her toned stomach while walking her dog on Friday evening

Emily ensured her toned stomach was on show by wearing a black crop top.

She teamed the look with a pair of matching colored trousers and kept warm with an oversized purple bomber jacket over the top.

The model accessorized her look with white sneakers and a cap on her head.

Close: Emily didn't practice social distancing when seen cuddling up to her man

Daily walk: Emily and Sebastian both dressed casually for the outing with their dog, Colombo

Emily styled her brunette hair back and appeared to be wearing a natural amount of makeup.

Sebastian also kept things casual in a white T-shirt, bright orange track pants and a denim jacket.

The I Feel Pretty actress' appearance comes after she revealed on Friday that she wasn't yet ready to have children via an Instagram Q&A.

Natural beauty: Emily styled her brunette hair back and appeared to be wearing a natural amount of makeup

Not yet: The I Feel Pretty actress' appearance comes after she revealed on Friday that she wasn't yet ready to have children via an Instagram Q&A

'Yes! I just have a lot of stuff I want to do with my life and I want to be the best mom I can be... so we shall see,' she replied.

The Blurred Lines model is currently mom to her 80 lbs Husky-German Shepard, Colombo.

Emily and Sebastian added Colombo to their family shortly after they celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary in February 2019.

Emily married Sebastian, her then boyfriend of only a few weeks, at the end of February 2018 at a New York City courthouse.

Pup makes three! Emily and Sebastian added Colombo to their family shortly after they celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary in February 2019

She recently told Ashley Graham on her Pretty Big Deal podcast that she knew her actor/producer husband was 'the one' as he 'scares' her.

'I love him so much and he scares me a lot, which I think is also a way that you know,' she said.

'Because if you're scared of someone and also love them, that means the love is real big because you're putting away your own fears to be with someone.'

She added: 'And we just knew. There was sort of a moment of, 'We're gonna make a family,' just us two, I'm not talking about kids. A partnership.'
By Delana Isles

LEADER of the Opposition Washington Misick is calling on the Government to among other things, ensure that people have electricity and water during the period of lockdown.





The call came on Wednesday evening (March 25) after the announcement of a curfew earlier in the day.





Following the classification of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), countries around the world have been shutting their borders, imposing curfews and putting measures in place to ensure their citizens are not unduly deprived of basic necessities.





Some of these measures include the provision of electricity and water during any imposed quarantine.





The Turks and Caicos Islands goes into a three week, 24-hour lockdown this Saturday.





Hon. Misick pointed out that currently there are people in Grand Turk whose water has been turned off perhaps for failure to pay their bill.





"Whatever the circumstances, their water should be reconnected and so should their electricity until this crisis passes.





"In my view there are some decisions that can be made to immediately reduce the pressure on vulnerable families, and we call on TCIG to make them immediately.





He added: "The Government is rightly giving plenty of stick but so far no carrot, and the failure of TCIG to announce a comprehensive package of social and economic measures, and for that matter to provide for the safety of the public by providing personal protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitisers, dedicated quarantine facilities where needed, and other critical equipment, is concerning and reflects poor planning.





He believes this will only be compounded the longer the public has to wait for social and economic relief.





"We now learn that.... a decision on the social and economic support offered to the public has now been postponed until tomorrow [Thursday] when the Government is expected to make another announcement.





"In the meantime, many woke up this morning without a safe place to live, food to eat, or water to drink - never mind water to wash themselves with.





Despite his criticisms, Hon. Misick maintains that he is in support of any decision that the Government makes for the safety and well-being of the people of the TCI and those from abroad.





"In this fight for our lives, politics, religion, race or nationality is irrelevant.





He also lent his support to the additional emergency measures announced by the Government on Wednesday, and appealed to all to follow these mandatory requirements diligently.





"The life you save may be yours. Stay at home.





He further stated: "I wish to again reiterate that I support the measures, but as promised on Monday, I cannot hitch the PNP horse to a wagon that does not include economic and social relief.





"My calling the Government out is no indication that I will not continue to collaborate and cooperate where my support will help.





"I am unequivocally committed to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and every decision I make will be made with a clear conscience.




* Cambodia's Ministry of Health (MoH) said on Saturday that four more persons tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases in the kingdom to 102.

* Singapore's Ministry of Health said it had confirmed 49 new COVID-19 cases as of 12:00 p.m. Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the city state to 732.

* Thailand's Ministry of Public Health reported one more COVID-19 death and 91 new patients on Friday, raising the total number of cases in the country to 1,136. The death toll in Thailand now stands at five.

* Brunei reported the first death case from COVID-19 in the country, the Ministry of Health said on Saturday. A new case was confirmed on Friday in Brunei, bringing the national COVID-19 tally to 115.

* US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a 2-trillion-dollar stimulus bill, the largest stimulus package in US history, in an attempt to rescue the economy devastated by COVID-19. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States has topped 104,686 as of Friday night, including 1,707 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

* The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen by 13 percent within a day to reach a total of 32,964 as of Friday, the 11th day of national lockdown imposed to contain the outbreak, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said. A total of 1,995 people had died, an increase of 299 from Thursday, Salomon added in an update.

* The coronavirus pandemic in Italy might reach its peak soon, the country's top health authorities said on Friday. The cumulative number of confirmed cases was 80,539, with an increase in new active infections of 4,492 cases on Thursday against the previous day. Such daily increase has pushed the nationwide number of active infections to 62,013.

* The Netherlands reported 112 COVID-19 deaths from Thursday to Friday, the first time its single-day fatalities topped 100, according to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The total number of patients that died from COVID-19 in the Netherlands rose to 546 and the tally of reported infections increased by 1,172 to 8,603 on Friday.

* As of 5 p.m. (1700GMT) on Thursday, 759 patients in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have died, the Department of Health and Social Care said Friday. As of 9 a.m. (0900GMT) on Friday, a total of 14,579 people were confirmed positive for the virus, an increase of 2,921 over yesterday's official figures, said the department.

* The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany increased by 5,780 within one day to 42,288, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Friday. The death toll from the novel coronavirus increased from 198 to 253, according to RKI, the federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention.

*Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced an increase, from 10 percent to 75 percent, in the wage subsidy for small and medium-sized businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19. As of 1 p.m. Canada Eastern Time Friday, there were 4,198 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 43 deaths in the country.

* Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Friday he has signed an order to close hotels and resorts in the country, as COVID-19 cases there have topped 1,000.

*Japan's health ministry and local governments said Saturday that more than 60 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed in Tokyo, logging the highest rise per day. The total number of infections in Japan has now risen to 1,585 cases, according to the latest figures. The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 63 people, including 10 from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship.

* Maldives has reported its first case of a local citizen testing positive for COVID-19, local media quoted the Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen as reporting on Saturday. The new case has brought Maldives' total number of confirmed cases up to 14. This is the first confirmed case of a Maldivian citizen in Maldives being infected with the virus, as all previous cases were of foreign citizens.

* The 14th person has died in Australia after contracting COVID-19 as confirmed cases across the country surged to over 3,300.

* Afghanistan's Public Health Ministry reported 14 more confirmed cases of coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total number to 110.

* The death toll from COVID-19 in India rose to 19 on Saturday morning, the Indian health ministry said. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India rose to 873.

* The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has increased by more than 200 overnight. According to the latest data from the Department of Health, there were 3,378 cases as of Saturday morning - an increase of 212 from 3,166 on Friday afternoon.

* New Zealand reported 78 new confirmed and five probable cases of COVID-19 on Saturday morning, bringing the total number of infections to 451 in the country.

* The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday welcomed the expedited approval by the US Congress of the US commitment to strengthen the IMF's resources earlier in the day. The US decision to speed up approval of its substantial new contributions to the IMF is a powerful message to the international community and helps solidify the IMF's 1-trillion-US-dollar lending capacity, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.

* As the confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Latin American authorities are attempting to fight COVID-19 on two fronts -- taking sanitary measures and providing economic support. In Argentina where around 600 cases and over 10 deaths have been reported, the government allocated on Friday over ARS53 billion (about US$803 million) to tackle the health emergency in the country.

* In Cuba, health authorities reported 13 new COVID-19 cases of the virus, bringing the country's total to 80 cases, including two deaths.

* Brazil announced a program on Friday that will help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the payment of wages for employees. The Brazilian Health Ministry reported on Friday that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed from 2,915 to 3,417. The death toll has risen from 77 to 92, representing a fatality rate of 2.7 percent, it said.

* Chile has adopted a "progressive quarantine" to help control the spread of the disease in the country, where 1,610 COVID-19 cases and five deaths have been registered.

* Peruvian health authorities announced on Friday 55 new COVID-19 cases of coronavirus, increasing the number of infections from 580 to 635, which has led the government to insist on social distancing and to impose a curfew to prevent the spread of the virus.

* Colombia reported the number of the country's confirmed COVID-19 cases had escalated from 491 to 539, after which President Ivan Duque declared that the national quarantine will not end on April 14 as planned, but will instead last several months.

* Finland has locked down the southern province of Uusimaa, including the capital area, to contain the spread of COVID-19. As of Friday, there were 1,025 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Finland, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. More than 600 of them were in Uusimaa province.

* Kuwait reported 10 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 235, the Health Ministry announced in a statement on Saturday.

* A Palestinian official announced on Saturday that six new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the West Bank, bringing the total number of cases in the Palestinian territories to 97 cases.

* Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that all international flights would be cancelled as part of the fight against COVID-19. The death toll from the virus in Turkey has climbed to 92, among 5,698 confirmed cases.

* The Iranian authorities on Friday announced the launch of a one-week social distancing plan amid the coronavirus epidemic across the country. Iran's health ministry has so far reported 32,332 coronavirus cases across the country, of whom 2,378 have died.

* Iraqi Health Ministry on Friday confirmed four more deaths from the COVID-19 and 76 new cases, bringing the total number of the infections to 458.

* Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied discussed on Friday efforts to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

* US medical devices company Abbott Laboratories said late Friday it has received emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the fastest available point-of-care test for COVID-19. The test could deliver positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes, the company said in a statement, adding that it expects to deliver 50,000 tests per day, beginning next week.

* The number of COVID-19 cases in Uganda has risen within a week from one to 23, putting pressure on the country's health system as more cases are anticipated. The Ugandan Health Ministry announced earlier this week it is recruiting over 200 health personnel to join the country's currently thinly spread workforce.

* Malawi government is expected to suspend all international flights from April 1 in efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 though the country has not reported a single confirmed case.
How Books and Buckets program in Long Beach aims to keep kids away from gang violence
Several central Pennsylvania Muslim communities are joining forces to offer food delivery and counseling services for area residents affected by the global COVID-19 outbreak.

Muslims of Central Pennsylvania member Samia Malik organized counselors, as well as food banks on both sides of the Susquehanna River, after youth members of her congregation suggested the idea.

The younger members are also delivering food, medications and other necessities to those who are sick or elderly, and dont want to risk catching the novel coronavirus.

Counseling services are available in Arabic, Urdu and English, Malik said.

We Muslims are an integral and caring part of our community here, she said. We need to love and take care of each other, regardless of color, faith, language or borders.

The Islamic Center of Pennsylvanias food bank is open every Sunday from 122 p.m. in the community room at 5140 Trindle Road in Mechanicsburg. This location offers ethnic non-perishables, in addition to the staples typically available at such programs.

The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America will offer non-perishable items from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the third Sunday of each month, at 407 N. Front St. in Steelton.

Services can be accessed by calling or texting 717-298-0408 for delivery, or 717-382-8332 for counseling.

We are stronger together, Malik said. This is what our faith teaches us, as all faiths do.

More from PennLive:

Updated list of central Pa. restaurants open for takeout, delivery arranged by county

Central Pa. EMS workers under quarantine after coronavirus exposure; one showing symptoms

We are completely overwhelmed: Virus infections top 600,000 worldwide
Public health experts have called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to release the modelling the government is using to make major decisions on coronavirus shut downs, arguing it would boost confidence in those choices and give people more clarity about when life may return to normal.

Mr Morrison has repeatedly said all measures taken to limit the spread of the virus must be long-term, possibly six months or longer. Epidemiologists are divided but many argue a short, sharp lockdown is still plausible, meaning some restrictions could likely be eased sooner.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media outside Parliament House on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Julie Leask, a professor of public health and risk communication at the University of Sydney, said while it may not be possible to give people a time frame for lifting restrictions, governments could show people the criteria for those decisions.

"The Australian public has a right to know what sort of scenarios the government is planning for, what criteria are behind the decisions to escalate specific physical distancing measures, what is the rationale for those decisions, what costs are weighed in making those decisions - and what will be the criteria for de-escalating the measures," she said.
If youre searching for a beauty pick-me-up, we suggest the R&R mask by Summer Fridays. The American brand was created by influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland in 2018. Shortly after the launch, Kim Kardashian shared her love of the brand on Instagram, which caused its first product, Jet Lag Mask, to sell-out several times. Now having added more cult product to its curated repertoire, the R&R mask was created to combat dryness, wrinkles and bring a glow to tired and stressed-out complexions. Made with delicately ground wild rose powder to exfoliate dead skin cells, the rose focussed product has an immediate soothing and relaxing scent. The 2-in-1 mask is made up of numerous restorative antioxidant-rich oils, including natural Bulgarian rose oil, which is considered one of the worlds most precious essential oils. While we agree its not the most affordable addition to your bathroom cabinet, for those looking to treat themselves to a pick-me-up on payday, we would certainly recommend.
Digital payments company Paytm on Saturday said it aims to contribute Rs 500 crore to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES).

For every contribution or any other payment made on Paytm using the wallet, UPI and Paytm Bank debit card, the company will contribute an extra up to Rs 10, Paytm said in a statement.

We are honoured to do our duty to aid the government in all the relief measures being taken to fight the Corona pandemic. We hope our users wholeheartedly donate to PM CARES fund and help save lives," Paytm President Madhur Deora said.

He added that the company will make a contribution for every payment transaction using the Paytm app and instruments, and this money would be directly sent to the PM-CARES fund.

Previously, Paytm had created a Rs 5 crore fund for innovators who are developing medical instruments or medicines to combat the virus.

The PM CARES Fund is exempt under the Income Tax Act, 1961 under Section 10 and 139 for return purposes. Contributions towards PM-CARES are notified for 100 per cent deduction from taxable income under section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FBI Chief Vows To Keep Working To Discover Ex-Agent's Fate In Iran

By RFE/RL March 27, 2020

FBI Director Chris Wray says the top U.S. law enforcement agency will never give up on "finding out what happened" to former agent Robert Levinson, who the U.S. government believes died while in Iranian custody.

In an e-mail to FBI staff seen by the Associated Press on March 26, Wray said he had met with the family of Robert Levinson and "we explained that the most credible evidence we have collected over the past 13 years points to the likelihood that Bob died in captivity."

"It pained me to deliver that news, but I believe that we owed Bob's family a thorough and candid presentation of the information that we've collected," Wray wrote.

Wray did not provide details on the "credible evidence" he said the family had received.

"We're going to keep working doggedly to determine the circumstances surrounding Bob's abduction and his time in captivity, to find the answers we all want and that the Levinsons deserve," Wray said.

Levinson, who was born in March 1948, disappeared when he traveled to the Iranian resort island of Kish in March 2007. He was working for the CIA as a contractor at the time.

The United States has repeatedly called on Iran to help locate Levinson and bring him home, but Iranian officials said they had no information about his fate.

However, when he disappeared, an Iranian government-linked media outlet broadcast a story saying he was "in the hands of Iranian security forces."

Tehran on March 26 said in a statement that Levinson left Iran "long ago" and that Iranian authorities don't know where he is, rejecting the claim that he died in Iranian custody.

"Based on credible evidence, [Levinson] left Iran years ago for an unknown destination," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mosavi said in the statement.

He added that officials had done everything possible to find out what happened after Levinson left Iran but had found "no evidence of him being alive."

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/fbi-chief- vows-seek-truth-levinson-iran- custody-death/30512202.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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When my children were small, it became obvious that it would be more practical for me to work from home rather than go to an office daily. It even seemed like the ideal solution for a working mother. The daily rush to get the kids to the child-minder, or then to the nursery school: the elaborate arrangements for picking up on time, or boxing and coxing with other parents to collect their children in fair exchange for reciprocal arrangements - always a stress.

Simple solution. I was a journalist and writer and I could work from home. Unlike other women I knew who needed to be present at their place of employment, I had that choice. Wasn't I lucky? And that was how I proceeded from there on.

It was a useful option - and today, with communications so much more developed through electronic media, it can be for many more people. Yet to be honest, I really did miss the office, especially at the beginning.

I missed the presence of colleagues. I missed the jokes, the camaraderie, the banter, the interchange, the feeling of collegiality. I missed having somewhere else to go on a routine basis.

Newspapers, before the technology revolution of the 1980s and 1990s got going, were often noisy places. The clatter of typewriters filled the air. The 'back bench' - a desk of men, and the occasional woman, which commanded the proceedings - seemed shouty and agitated, hollering peremptory orders like "splash sub!" and "replate!". The yelling would probably nowadays be called 'bullying', but I liked all that - the sense of urgency, of meeting the deadline, of getting the edition away. A newspaper office throbbed with life itself.

I loved the collaborative element of working alongside other people. Even the editor, who was always right (even when he was wrong), would sometimes wander through the open-plan place and ask a lowly reporter, "What do you think of this picture for the front page?" It was genuinely useful to be able to seek a colleague's advice, or draw out an idea over the rather filthy stuff that passed for coffee in those days. It was enjoyable to be part of a gossip circuit - though perhaps not always so enjoyable to be the object of the gossip.

And then there were the pubs, which were part of the working scene. Granted, they were to contribute to my downfall on more than one occasion, but they were a terrific part of the collectivity of a working life. In London, it was El Vino on Fleet Street; in Dublin, Mulligan's on Poolbeg Street, or the Pearl Bar. Great conversations were had with the folks you worked with (even leave aside the illicit romances).

And there was a learning element to those work-pub sessions, too. We younger journos sat with older men and women who told instructive and often hilarious stories of the profession - no, journalism has always been called a 'trade' - in times gone by. There was a terrific left-wing writer, James Cameron, whose legendary expenses sheet after a foreign assignment read: "For taxi to Waterloo Station: five shillings. For hire of camel: 2,000." We loved to hear that story.

Among the Bedouin people, apparently, the younger members of the tribe sit around the camp fire and listen to the elders' tales. That is how a sense of identity and remembrance is preserved. It was all something like that.

But when you have young children, you have to adjust your way of life anyway. There isn't time for a parallel existence outside of home responsibilities. You need to focus on priorities. And I did adjust to working from home - as so many people are doing now in the present coronavirus emergency.

There are many benefits, too. You can arrange your own timetable. If there's an extra workload, you can always rise earlier. You don't waste time commuting and you don't have much opportunity to waste time gossiping with colleagues anymore.

It isn't always as easy to get down to work at home, rather than clocking in at a specific time at the office. But the Somerset Maugham rule for writers can be useful for all: the muse, he said, appears at 9am. Actually, there is no muse: but a professional writer sits at his desk at nine in the morning and starts writing.

The downside, as many are discovering, is that working from home means there is little division between work and home life. There was a moment, I recall, when the kids were bawling their heads off, and I was pounding away at a typewriter, meeting some deadline: my husband remarked sarcastically, "You might try practising family values instead of writing about them!" The image now appears to me like a Punch cartoon about how the world will go to hell in a handcart if mothers don't attend to their proper duties.

Actually, I argued - to myself and others - it's a good thing for children to watch their mothers, and fathers, at work. Before the Industrial Revolution, and even in Irish agricultural life, families formed their own cottage industry, working together. Everyone pitched in. In some respects, the future may come to uncannily resemble the past.
By Trend

The World Banks Board of Executive Directors approved a $50 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for additional financing for the Azerbaijan Judicial Services and Smart Infrastructure Project, Trend reports citing WB.

The project aims to improve the overall performance of Azerbaijans justice sector and strengthen access to justice, especially for the most vulnerable, in both urban and rural areas. The goal is also to ensure greater transparency and access to key justice and legal services, through the expansion of e-justice services, strengthening of management systems, and institutionalizing public feedback.

Justice reform is key to a conducive environment for private sector-led economic growth and effective service delivery to citizens and businesses, says Naveed Naqvi, World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan. This project will make electronic justice services available to all people in Azerbaijan.

The project will support more innovative and efficient ways to provide legal aid services to the most vulnerable people, as well as to small and medium enterprises. Other aspects of support include: helping all courts in the country connect to an e-court system which provides online judicial services to users; developing alternative dispute resolution systems; piloting a private bailiff office, and application of transformative technology to strengthen information systems and operational capability.

The project will be implemented over a period of four years, and will play a key role in the World Bank Groups partnership strategy with Azerbaijan.
(Alliance News) - Coronavirus tests for National Health Service frontline staff are to be trialled this weekend ahead of a wider roll-out to help those given the all-clear from the disease to return to work.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the UK government was working in a "new alliance" with universities, businesses and researchers to boost testing capacity.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces leading the country's response to the Covid-19 outbreak from isolation after he tested positive for the virus.

Two of his key lieutenants will also remain in self-isolation this weekend, after Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed he had coronavirus and England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty exhibited symptoms.

Commenting on the testing plans on Friday, Gove said: "This will be antigen testing a testing whether people currently have the disease a so that our health and social care workers can have security in the knowledge that they are safe to return to work if their test is negative.

"These tests will be trialled for people on the front line starting immediately, with hundreds to take place by the end of the weekend a dramatically scaling up next week."

NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said the tests would initially be focused on those working in intensive care, A&E, GP practices and staff running ambulance services.

Workers have been forced to stay at home as a result of following Government guidance to self-isolate when showing Covid-19 symptoms, such as a temperature or cough.

The expanded testing will be free, with those getting a negative result able to return to work, the Department of Health & Social Care said.

The government plans to open a laboratory to analyse samples this weekend, with the aim of carrying out about 800 tests at designated sites in hotspot areas such as London and then scaled up in the weeks to come.

The testing comes as a total of 759 people died in UK hospitals after being diagnosed with coronavirus, while 113,777 tested positive and hundreds of thousands more are thought to be infected.

It is likely Whitty will be awaiting results of his own test for the virus, while there will be concerns in government over who could be affected next.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill have both been with the prime minister in recent days, but had displayed no symptoms on Friday night and therefore had not been tested.

Gove said the diagnosis of Johnson and Hancock showed the "virus does not discriminate", warning: "We are all at risk."

By Tom Pilgrim, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 08:12:30|Editor: huaxia

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The UK's coronavirus social distancing limit is at least four times too short, a study has warned.

The public are currently being asked to keep a distance from each other of at least 6ft 6in.

But a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggests the gap should be four times bigger at around 26 feet.

The UK's coronavirus social distancing limit is at least four times too short, a study has warned. Pictured: People keep their distance from each other as they queue to get into Tesco in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday

The study, which was reported by the Telegraph, found that viral droplets expelled in coughs and sneezes can travel in a moist, warm atmosphere at speeds of between 33 and 100ft per second (ten metres to 100 metres).

This creates a cloud within the atmosphere that can span approximately 23ft to 27ft (seven metres to eight metres) to neighbouring people.

It has also been warned that droplets, which contribute to the rapid spread of covid-19, can remain suspended in the air for several hours.

And their direction can easily be changed by air ventilation systems to create 'turbulent clouds of air.'

Many people are now finding themselves in close quarters with others on a daily basis, with supermarkets still feeling the effects of mass panic buying of products.

In London, despite persistent calls from the Government for only essential workers to continue with the morning commute, images have revealed packed carriages on the London Underground.

The authors of the MIT study offered further clarity on their findings, and detailed why social distancing needs to be increased within the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama).

The public are currently being asked to keep a distance from each other of at least 6ft 6in. But a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggests the gap should be four times bigger at around 26 feet

Despite calls for only essential workers to make the daily commute, the underground remains bustling with members of the public unable to adhere to social distancing

'These distances are based on estimates of range that have not considered the possible presence of a high-momentum cloud carrying the droplets long distances,' they said.

'Given the turbulent puff cloud dynamic model, recommendations for separations of three feet to six feet (one metre to two metres) may underestimate the distance, timescale, and persistence over which the cloud and its pathogenic payload travel, thus generating an underappreciated potential exposure range for a healthcare worker.

'For these and other reasons, wearing of appropriate personal protection equipment is vitally important for health care workers caring for patients who may be infected, even if they are farther than six feet away from a patient.'

HOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 CHANGED EVERYTHING In the space of seven short days, life in the UK has changed beyond recognition. The nation is entering its first weekend of lockdown at the end of a week that has seen society shut down and the streets virtually empty as attempts to slow the spread of coronavirus ramped up. A week ago today, pubs, bars, theatres and restaurants were facing their first full day of closure, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the closing down of the hospitality and entertainment sectors. The ban, backed by the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, came amid reports that many people were ignoring an earlier voluntary appeal to stay away. The number of people who had died after testing positive for Covid-19 stood at 233. Sunday brought a Mother's Day unlike anyone had ever seen before, as the public were urged to resist visiting their mothers amid a warning from Mr Johnson that the outbreak was 'accelerating'. Meanwhile, it was announced that the NHS was to begin sending out letters to the 1.5 million people considered to be most at risk from the disease, urging them to remain at home for the next 12 weeks. Just a day later, the Prime Minister announced the strictest curbs on UK life seen yet, placing the country on lockdown. In a televised address to the nation, Mr Johnson ordered the public to only leave home to shop for basic necessities 'as infrequently as possible' and to perform one form of exercise a day. People could also leave their houses to seek medical help, provide care to a vulnerable person or travel to work if "absolutely necessary", he said. All shops selling non-essential items, along with premises including libraries, playgrounds and places of worship, were immediately closed, all social events, including weddings and baptisms, but not funerals, were stopped, and public gatherings of more than two people - other than of those who people live with - were banned. On Tuesday, the Government announced plans to recruit 250,000 volunteers in good health to help the national effort by assisting those who are shielding themselves against Covid-19 through delivering medicines, shopping and other support. Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that a temporary hospital - the NHS Nightingale hospital - would be opened at London's ExCeL centre, and announced that almost 12,000 recently retired NHS staff, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, had responded to the call to return to the health service. The following day came the news that the Prince of Wales had tested positive for coronavirus. Clarence House said in a statement that Charles, 71, had "mild symptoms" and was self-isolating at home in Scotland with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, who did not have the virus. Meanwhile, just 24 hours after launching the call for volunteers, it was revealed that 405,000 people had signed up to help. And Parliament adjourned for an early Easter break after emergency legislation to tackle Covid-19 was approved. A total of 759 people have now died in UK hospitals - up from 578 the day before - while 14,543 have tested positive for the virus and hundreds of thousands more are thought to be infected. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said NHS staff would start being tested for Covid-19 from next week, and revealed that across England, there are now 33,000 hospital beds available to treat coronavirus patients. Advertisement

Further studies also reportedly show the virus does have the capability to survive in the warm conditions of a swimming pool, which throws the notion of temperature killing off covid-19 into serious question.

It had been believed that the warm weather in the summer would lead to there being fewer cases of COVID-19.

However, scientists at Nanjing Medical University in China discovered that the virus showed the ability to survive the temperature of a pool being between 25 degrees Celsius and 41 degrees Celsius and humidity of approximately 60 per cent.

Such conditions would typically kill off a strain of the common flu.

On Friday, Britain's coronavirus death toll surged by 181 as Government advisers warned that even stricter social distancing measures could be on the way.

It means the disease has now claimed 759 lives, including young and previously healthy people.

Government advisers said stricter social distancing policies may have to be rolled out next month if the grim figures continued to rise.

The measures would be introduced in three weeks as the outbreak reached its peak to further reduce 'person-to-person interaction'.
She had a COVID-19 scare which turned out to be an abdominal infection instead.

Comedian Kathy Griffin took to Twitter on Saturday to update her fans as she continued her recovery while isolating at home.

The 59-year-old comedian and actress also shared a distressing update about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the hospital she went to.

On the mend: Kathy Griffin, 59, revealed she was feeling better but still 'bleh' after being released from the hospital Friday into home isolation; pictured in July

Though Kathy seemed to be doing better at home, she still wasn't feeling at her best.

'Im now isolating at home. Feeling bleh, but big thanks to the ER staff,' she wrote, adding, 'I hope we dont have to see each other again:).'

But more concerning was part of her tweet about the protective gear hospital workers had on while she was getting her symptoms checked out.

'None of the health care workers had even this level of #coronavirus protective gear (#PPE) on when I was in the #covid19 isolation ward two days ago,' she wrote.

Not protected: Kathy tweeted that she was isolating at home after being discharged, but also revealed that healthcare workers in the coronavirus ward didn't have adequate PPE

Suited up: She quoted a tweet featuring a photo of a provider decked out in a full-body suit, a mask and vinyl gloves. Doctors across the country have been running low on PPE

The My Life On The D-List star was quoting a tweet by TV writer David Slack, who shared a link for a GoFundMe raising money to buy masks and other kinds of PPE for healthcare providers at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.

The accompanying photo pictured one worker in a full bodysuit with a mask and vinyl gloves.

Hospitals across the country have been reporting shortages of protective gear as they're swamped with COVID-19 cases, and some professionals have reported having to rewear the same mask for multiple days.

Later on Saturday, Kathy shared a more care-free photo of her playing on the bed with her atop a colorful blanket.

'BIG thanks to @chadfelixg for makin me this get well homemade quilt!!! Hope its ok that I let the #puppies and #dogs on it,' she wrote.

Back home with family: She shared a happier post later on Friday with a photo of her and her dogs on a colorful quilt blanket a friend made for her recovery

Griffin had been sent home from hospital earlier this week after spending time in a coronavirus isolation ward.

The comedian revealed this week she was battling 'unbearably painful symptoms' associated with the respiratory illness COVID-19  which is caused by the novel coronavirus  and said she had been taken to a specific isolation ward for sufferers of the virus, although she was unable to be tested.

She confirmed to the Los Angeles Times on Friday that she was back home after being diagnosed with an abdominal infection that is being treated with medication.

Back home: Griffin had been sent home from the hospital after spending time in a coronavirus isolation ward, though she was later diagnosed with an abdominal infection

During an interview with the publication, Kathy detailed her experience at the isolation ward, which she was taken to after feeling ill following a trip to Mexico with her husband Randy Bick.

She said: 'We were both nervous because we were still in the incubation period after returning from Mexico, but also we had not left the house in days. We'd been hearing about a 14-day incubation period [for the coronavirus]. So for me to get what felt like food poisoning after six days, I thought, OK, is this a coincidence or what?'

Kathy praised the 'heroes' who treated her at the hospital, but said the facility was not set up how she had imagined, and there were no coronavirus tests available.

She said there were no tests for her: Kathy praised the 'heroes' who treated her at the hospital, but said the facility was not set up how she had imagined, and there were no coronavirus tests available. Seen in July 2019

She added: 'Frankly, when they said the corona ward, I thought I would be walking into the white suits with blue-taped ceilings, everything. I kind of expected them to put me in a shower room and all that - but as recently as [Tuesday], there's no cavalry that's coming in handing out millions of [test] swabs.'

The comedian was unable to get a test for the virus because her symptoms didn't 'meet the requirements' set out by the CDC.

She explained: 'The doctor was going through the boxes and going through the boxes [on a form] and she kept saying, like, "Ugh, because of the lungs, the fever and the kind of cough ... you don't meet the CDC requirements."

Crushing: But once inside the ER, the My Life On The D-List star said she could not get tested for the virus due to CDC restrictions even though she was at a 'major' hospital. Seen in late February with Traci Lords

'I just think it's so obvious that those tests have to be accessible to everybody. A lot of people, when they hear the president saying everyone who needs a test should get one, then shouldn't have to then go to a hospital where, frankly, they may be exposing themselves or exposing others.'

Kathy first spoke about her symptoms when she took to Twitter to hit out at US president Donald Trump, after he claimed America is now doing 'more testing than any other nation'.

She took to social media to get her point across. The stand-up also shared a photo of herself in the hospital. She wore a mask and was under quarantine.

She says there are not enough tests: She took to social media to get her point across. The stand-up also shared a photo of herself in the hospital. She wore a mask and was under quarantine. Griffin explained that even though her symptoms were serious, she was considered not eligible for the test. Kathy also shared a grab of Trump's tweet from Wednesday

Griffin explained that even though her symptoms were serious, she was considered not eligible for the test.

Kathy also shared a grab of Trump's tweet from Wednesday.

'Just reported that the United States has done far more 'testing' than any other nation, by far!' said Trump.

'In fact, over an eight day span, the United States now does more testing than what South Korea (which has been a very successful tester) does over an eight week span. Great job!'

Kathy said that the President was 'lying.'

Griffin explained: 'I was sent to the #COVID19 isolation ward room in a major hospital ER from a separate urgent care facility after showing UNBEARABLY PAINFUL symptoms.

'The hospital couldn't test me for #coronavirus because of CDC (Pence task force) restrictions.'

Not a fan of his: Kathy said that the President was 'lying.' Griffin explained: 'I was sent to the #COVID19 isolation ward room in a major hospital ER from a separate urgent care facility after showing UNBEARABLY PAINFUL symptoms. 'The hospital couldn't test me for #coronavirus because of CDC (Pence task force) restrictions.' Trump on March 20

She has lashed out at Trump before. In 2017 she posted a video of herself to Instagram where she was holding a mask made to look like the severed, bloody head of Trump.

'I caption this 'there was blood coming out of his eyes, blood coming out of his...wherever,'' she said.

The shoot was from photographer Tyler Shields.

Griffin later took down the image, and apologized publicly. CNN fired her from its New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper because of it.

The latest: Other celebrities who have come down with COVID-19 are Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, Andy Cohen, and Laura Bell Bundy (pictured)

Sad farewell: Top Chef Masters star Floyd Cardoz died on Wednesday from the virus. He had been in Mumbai earlier this month with comedian Aziz Ansari shooting a reality TV series

Other celebrities who have come down with COVID-19 are Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, Andy Cohen, and Laura Bell Bundy.

Top Chef Masters star Floyd Cardoz died on Wednesday from the virus. He had been in Mumbai earlier this month with comedian Aziz Ansari shooting a reality TV series.

It has been a bad month for Kathy. Her mother Maggie died on St Patrick's Day.

Her tribute read: 'My Mom, the one and only, Maggie Griffin, passed away today. I am gutted. My best friend. I'm shaking. I won't ever be prepared. I'm so grateful you guys got to be part of her life. You knew her. You loved her. She knew it. Oh, and OF COURSE she went on St Patrick's Day.'
Ireland has reportedly announced that it will ease a few mandatory movement restrictions in view of the slow rate of admission in its intensive care units, as the country hopes to achieve the desired control on the pandemic impact on lives in two weeks from now. Health Minister Simon Harris told a press briefing that Ireland is expected to bounce back from the widespread health crisis by April 12, after which, the government will evaluate some measures. This, however, Harris told the press, does not mean that life will return to normal. He emphasized that the citizens might have to exercise precautionary measures while the threat of relapse from the disease still looms.

Harris was further quoted saying by a national broadcaster that his government foresees that in a matter of two weeks, some containment measures can be reformed, removed or modified to ease restrictions. The measures in place were so drastic and significant, that the Irish wouldnt sustain them long, he added. As of March 28, the global cases surged past 600,000 as countries worldwide amended containment efforts, imposed stringent measures, while some like France, has deployed the security forces to enforce lockdown isolating millions in their homes.

Over 104,256 tested positive in the US, making it worst-impacted from the pandemic. Italy surpassed China with at least 86,498 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 9,134 disease-related fatalities ranked first in the global death toll, according to the data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Read: China Sends Medical Aid To Pakistan To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak

Read: Turkey To Suspend Domestic Flights, Trains To Curb Coronavirus Spread

Timid response

Meanwhile, European Unions leaders reportedly debated on economic response to the coronavirus pandemic and urged the Eurozone finance ministers to come up with proposals on a joint response for recovery within 2 weeks to tackle the shredded economy across Europe. The six-hour video conference presided by the EU leaders was also joined by Italys Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, who accused the union of timid response. The Italian PM called the coronavirus pandemic a major world crisis. He was quoted saying that the nationwide lockdown had major economic repercussions in his country, businesses have all come to a standstill, and the economic growth was stagnant.

Read: China Eases Travel Restrictions In Wuhan As Coronavirus Cases Drop

Read: 14 New Coronavirus Cases Found In Maha, Number Rises To 167
Also as with AIDS, peoples casual encounters from the past have taken on potentially lethal significance, and the news brought a steady drip of death or diagnosis: the playwright Terrence McNally, whom Mr. Kramer called a close friend and neighbor, dead at 81; the AIDS researcher Dr. Michael Saag, diagnosed at 64 on his way home from organizing a medical conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections, ill but not critical.

Its been so long that I have been losing friends that it becomes surreal, Mr. Kramer said.

He did not find that his experience during the AIDS crisis gave him perspective on the coronavirus pandemic, he said. Rather, the two eras merged into each other.

We certainly had our experience, he said of his generation of AIDS activists. But I find it very hard to stay in touch with the outside world, because of the hardships we are all having to go through. You can read about everybody elses experiences on Facebook, but it gets depressing after a while.

He said he hoped the antiretroviral drugs that he and many friends were taking for H.I.V. would bolster their immune systems against the coronavirus. It was a slender hope.

For Mr. Kramer, who was by then largely homebound, a challenge of the pandemic was isolation. His husband, David Webster, whom he married in 2013 in the intensive care unit of NYU Langone Medical Center, was away on a work project, wary of bringing potential exposure into the home. Some of Mr. Kramers home attendants, also, had to stop coming because of exposure to the disease.

So he tried to lose himself in the new play, An Army of Lovers Must Not Die, which he had to change almost daily as the news changed. I wonder if it will ever be done now, he said of the play.

But Mr. Kramer, for all his doom-saying, repeatedly beat the odds, surviving to finish his two-part epic novel, The American People, the second volume of which, at 880 pages, landed earlier this year.
The Ministry of Health is looking for health and care professionals who can help with managing COVID-19.

The ministry is seeking expressions of interest from professionals who are able and willing to work for a limited amount of time as part of the national strategic approach to managing the virus.

The ministry have already been asking retired health professionals to express their interest in working within the health and disability system, says a ministry spokesperson.

We have also had interest from other people who are not currently working in clinical roles, for example those on maternity leave.

So far, more than 2500 healthcare workers, including 606 nurses, 587 doctors, 58 midwives and 203 medical laboratory scientists have signed up.

We would now also like to hear from current health and care workers who may now be available as non-essential services are paused.

We are seeking people to work in both general and clinically specialised roles as we scale up the health and care workforce. People will be matched to roles based on their competencies, and appropriate training and oversight will be provided to ensure safe practice.

The Ministry of Health has put in place a system to nationally coordinate the matching of supply and demand.

This means understanding who is available to work, and matching them to roles that need to be filled in the sector. Some of these will be patient contact roles, while others will be supporting services such as Healthline and contact tracing, which can be done remotely.

The Ministry of Health is partnering with Accent Health to manage this process.

For health workers, Accent Health will be collecting information about their availability, co-ordinating re-registration with the relevant regulatory council where required, and then supporting the process to get into employment quickly.

Employers will be able to log their workforce requests, and then people will be matched to positions.

We are aware that demand may exceed supply, and we are developing a prioritisation process to manage this. This will be communicated once finalised.

For more information visit the Ministry of Health website.
(Newser)  "You're nothing to me." A former Joe Biden aide says those words are still ringing in her ears after he allegedly sexually assaulted her in 1993, the Huffington Post reports. The accuser, Tara Reade, went on a podcast this week and said Biden kissed her, thrust his fingers inside her, and got upset when she pushed him off: "Come on, man!" he supposedly said. "I heard you liked me." Reade claims he then jabbed a finger at her and said she was nothing: "And he was right. That's how people treated me ... I have no platform, I am no one and to him I'm nothing." Reade was among eight women who accused Biden in April of inappropriate touching, but says she kept quiet about the rest after enduring a wave of online harassment. For more, including Vladimir Putin's role:



Time's Up: Reade tried reaching out to Time's Upa key organization in the #MeToo movementbut was rebuffed because the group was afraid of accusing a candidate for federal office, the Intercept reports. It seems Time's Up was concerned about losing its nonprofit status.

story continues below

Biden Responds : Joe Biden's camp thoroughly denies Reade's accusations, Fox News reports. "Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims," says campaign official Kate Bedingfield. "We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false."

: Joe Biden's camp thoroughly denies Reade's accusations, Fox News reports. "Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims," says campaign official Kate Bedingfield. "We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false." Putin's role : Reade was accused of being politically motived when she made her initial accusations last yearbecause she'd written a now-deleted Medium post praising Putin and Russia, Newsweek reports. At the time, she called Putin "a compassionate, caring, visionary leader." Now, she says, she was knee-deep in "Oliver Stone documentaries" and thought Russia was misrepresented. "Since then, doing more research, I don't support Putin at all," she says.

: Reade was accused of being politically motived when she made her initial accusations last yearbecause she'd written a now-deleted Medium post praising Putin and Russia, Newsweek reports. At the time, she called Putin "a compassionate, caring, visionary leader." Now, she says, she was knee-deep in "Oliver Stone documentaries" and thought Russia was misrepresented. "Since then, doing more research, I don't support Putin at all," she says. Reade's Politics : Reade calls herself "a vegan feminist" and tells Vox her political alliance has shifted during the presidential campaignfrom Sen. Elizabeth Warren (and Marianne Williamson) to Sen. Bernie Sanders. She also admits her accusation could hurt Biden's chances: "I dont want Trump to be president," she says, but if Biden is "my president, I just can't fathom it.

: Reade calls herself "a vegan feminist" and tells Vox her political alliance has shifted during the presidential campaignfrom Sen. Elizabeth Warren (and Marianne Williamson) to Sen. Bernie Sanders. She also admits her accusation could hurt Biden's chances: "I dont want Trump to be president," she says, but if Biden is "my president, I just can't fathom it. Media attention: Reade's accusation received little mainstream media attention until hashtags like #IBelieveTara and #TimesUpBiden began cropping up on social media this week. At the Guardian, Arwa Mahdawi admits it's a tricky he said-she said storybut says the media appears to give female accusers short shrift when "the guy being accused is a Democrat running for president."

(Read more #MeToo stories.)
By AFP

TAIPEI: American journalists expelled by China are welcome to set up shop in Taiwan, foreign minister Joseph Wu said Saturday, as the democratic island burnishes its credentials as a regional free speech haven.

Beijing ordered the expulsion of 13 journalists from the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal earlier this month as part of a widening spat over media freedoms with the United States.

The move marked the biggest crackdown on the foreign press in China in recent decades.

ALSO READ | China expels Wall Street Journal reporters over 'racist' headline, slams newspaper for not apologizing

It also rattled nerves in Hong Kong because Beijing's order said the expelled reporters would not be allowed to work there, despite the semi-autonomous city supposedly controlling its own immigration decisions.

On Saturday, Wu took to Twitter to say the journalists would be warmly received on the other side of the Taiwan Strait.

"I'd like to welcome you to be stationed in Taiwan - a country that is a beacon of freedom and democracy," Wu wrote.

"You'll find people here greeting you with open arms & lots of genuine smiles," he added.

Once a brutal autocracy, Taiwan has emerged as one of Asia's freest societies in the last three decades.

It regularly tops media freedom tables for the region and last year became the first place in Asia to legalise same sex marriage.

China's communist leadership claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to seize the self-ruled island, by force if necessary.

Beijing loathes Taiwan's current government because it refuses to accept the idea that the island is part of a "one China".

It has ramped up economic, military and diplomatic pressure on the island since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016.

But the pressure campaign has won China few friends among the Taiwanese, who voted Tsai back into office in January with a landslide.

A number of media organisations and rights groups that are banned from China have opened offices in Taipei in recent years.
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The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 600,000 people around the world, with the death toll today soaring past 28,000.

The deadly virus, which was detected in January, has forced several Governments including the UK, India and Saudi Arabia to put their countries in to lockdown to slow its spread.

But panic over being left stranded in foreign countries or running out of food has meant thousands breaking strict rules to get home or gather supplies.

In India, authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of New Delhi to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages.

Indian authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of New Delhi to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages as the country goes into a 21-day lockdown

Workers and their family members were also seen lining up outside the Anand Vihar bus terminal, New Delhi to leave for their villages during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19

India's finance ministry announced a 1.7 trillion-rupee (18 billion) stimulus package, but thousands of India's most vulnerable, who fear dying of starvation, have decided not to wait

Thousands of mostly young labourers fled their homes in the capital after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began on Wednesday and effectively put millions of Indians who live off daily earnings out of work.

Mr Modi said the extreme measure was needed to halt the spread of Covid-19 in India, which has confirmed 775 cases and 19 deaths, and where millions live in cramped conditions without regular access to clean water.

India's finance ministry announced a 1.7 trillion-rupee (18 billion) stimulus package that will include delivering grains and lentil rations for three months to 800 million people.

Stunning photos show workers crammed on to the roofs of buses making their way back to remote villages

Migrant workers ignored government plans to put in place a 17-trillion rupee stimulus package as they feared it would take days for it to come into effect, when they were surviving on their daily earnings

Mr Modi said the extreme measure was needed to halt the spread of Covid-19 in India, which has confirmed 775 cases and 19 deaths

But thousands of India's most vulnerable, who fear dying not of the disease caused by the new virus but rather of starvation, have decided not to wait.

Stunning photos show workers crammed on to the roofs of buses making their way back to remote villages.

Ram Bhajan Nisar, a painter, and his wife and two children, aged five and six, were part of a party of 15 who set off by foot from New Delhi to Gorakhpur, a village on the border with Nepal some 400 miles away.

In Nepal, police officers are using extendable claw devices to detain people defying the country's lockdown

The device, which was seen being used by officers in Kathmandu helps them maintain a two-metre distance from rule breakers, helping to stop the spread of coronavirus

'How can we eat if we don't earn?' Mr Nisar said, adding that his family had enough to make it four or five days without work, but not the full three weeks of the stay-at-home order.

In Nepal, police officers are using extendable claw devices to detain people defying the country's lockdown.

The device, which was seen being used by officers in Kathmandu helps them maintain a two-metre distance from rule breakers, helping to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Nepals lockdown is supposed to go on till Tuesday 31 March, but it is likely to be extended till at least Nepali New Year on 13 April.

Iran announced today that 139 more people had died from the novel coronavirus, raising the official death toll to 2,517 in one of the world's worst-affected countries.

Iran announced today that 139 more people had died from the novel coronavirus, raising the official death toll to 2,517 in one of the world's worst-affected countries

A single car drives on a road past the King Abdullah Financial City in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, after the Kingdom began implementing an 11-hour nationwide curfew

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a news conference that 3,076 more cases had been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 35,408.

'The condition of 3,026 of those hospitalised is critical in one way or another,' he said, adding that 11,679 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Jahanpour said that 57 million Iranians had been screened for the virus.

He said the data received had been 'significant' and had helped with early detection and intervention.

Iran has imposed strict new containment measures, after weeks of public appeals largely failed to deter hundreds of thousands taking to the roads to visit family for the Persian New Year holidays.

They include a ban on intercity travel by road with offeners via roads and fining and impounding violators' cars.

The United Nations have confirmed that 86 staff members around the world have reported cases of Covid-19, although most are based in Europe. Pictured: The UN's Geneva headquarters

The restrictions, which will remain in force at least until April 8, include a ban on all intercity travel by road.

The United Nations have confirmed that 86 staff members around the world have reported cases of Covid-19.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said most of the infected staff members are in Europe, but there are also staff in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States that have coronavirus.

To try to reduce transmission, he said the vast majority of UN staff are working from home.

At UN headquarters in New York, where a normal day would see staff passes swiped 11,000 times, the number of swipes on Friday morning stood at 140, Mr Dujarric said.

Italy's death toll increased by 969 yesterday, bringing the total to 9,134, the largest 24-hour increase in the country to date. Pictured: Army medical staff disinfect coffins being kept in a church near Bergamo, Italy

The death toll in Spain soared to more than 4,800 today after 769 people died in 24 hours, its record one-day figure for fatalities, the government said. Pictured: A man wears a face mask crosses an empty street in Barcelona

In Geneva, he said, the number of staff at the UN office has dropped from around 4,000 people on a regular day to about 70 on Thursday. In Vienna, more than 97% of UN staff are now working remotely, he said. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 99% of staff are working from home.

Meanwhile, the 191 parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty have decided to postpone a conference to review its implementation because of the coronavirus pandemic, the UN said.

The treaty is considered the cornerstone of global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and the parties hold a major conference every five years to discuss how it is working. The meeting had been scheduled for April 27-May 22 at UN headquarters in New York.

Mr Dujarric said the review conference will be held 'as soon as the circumstances permit, but no later than April 2021'.
A top Trump administration official on Friday said China initially claimed that humans were not contagious to the coronavirus before it spread out of control.

[They] originally were pretty certain that this was not transmitted human to human, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told Fox News on Friday.

Obviously that became corrected as they saw in the first three, four weeks of January that human-to-human spread was not only occurring, its actually as I said more infectious.

He added: That led to the situation were in today.

No one could have predicted how transmissive, how infectious this virus really is.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said on Friday that China initially thought that the coronavirus wasn't capable of being transmitted between humans

Early on Friday morning, President Trump tweeted: Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China.

Discussed in great detail the CoronaVirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet.

China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus.

We are working closely together. Much respect!

Redfield was also asked on Friday about plans to lift social distancing guidelines in order to restart the collapsing economy.

He replied that lifting the lockdown would not be a one size fits all policy.

The data is going to be really important, he said.

Theres many parts of this country that have very limited coronavirus infection right now and as we get certain about that surveillance data, not only in geographic areas, but as mentioned by the government, in different age groups.

Trump on Friday signed a $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package that will result in individual checks being sent to Americans, loans going to small businesses and aid for industries hard hit by the coronavirus.

'We got hit by the invisible enemy and we got hit hard,' President Trump said during the signing ceremony at the Oval Office.

'I want to thank Republicans and Democrats for coming together, setting aside their differences and putting America first.'

The president joked about the package's trillion dollar price tag.

'I've never signed anything with a T on it,' he said.

Even though the president called it bipartisan work, he was only surrounded by Republican lawmakers and members of his Cabinet at the signing ceremony.

New Orleans rushed to build a makeshift hospital in its convention center on Friday as troubling new outbreaks bubbled in the United States, deaths surged in Italy and Spain and the world warily trudged through the pandemic that has sickened more than a half-million people.

Punctuating the fact that no one is immune to the new coronavirus, it pierced even the highest echelons of global power, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson becoming the first leader of a major country to test positive.

While New York remained the worst hit city in the U.S., Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

'We are not through this. Were not even halfway through this,' said Joseph Kanter of the Louisiana Department of Health, which has recorded more than 2,700 cases, more than five times what it had a week ago.

The United States became the first country to surpass 100,000 infections on Friday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

In New York, where there are more than 44,000 cases statewide, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 passed 6,000 on Friday, double what it had been three days earlier.

President Trump on Friday tweeted that he had a 'very good conversation' with Chinese President Xi Jinping (seen above in Beijing on Thursday)

China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus,' the president tweeted on Friday

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for 4,000 more temporary beds across New York City, where the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has already been converted into a hospital.

'This is going to be weeks and weeks and weeks,' Cuomo told members of the National Guard working at the Javits Center.

'This is going to be a long day, and its going to be a hard day, and its going to be an ugly day, and its going to be a sad day.'

Trump, after earlier rejecting Cuomos pleas for tens of thousands more ventilators, and the governors calls to use the Korean War-era Defense Production Act, invoked the law Friday, ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing the breathing machines.

Xi offers Trump help in coronavirus fight as Wuhan reopens to traffic

Xi told Trump on Friday that he would have Chinas support in fighting the coronavirus, as Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak emerged, reopened to incoming traffic.

Xis offer of assistance follows a war of words between Beijing and Washington over various issues, including the pandemic.

Trump and other US officials have accused Beijing of a lack of transparency over the outbreak, and Trump has referred to coronavirus as the 'Chinese virus' because it originated there late last year.

According to an account of the conversation published by the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi reiterated to Trump that China had been open and transparent.

Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated in a seafood market and which had been on lockdown for more than two months, was open to incoming traffic late on Friday, although cars were not allowed to leave.

A photograph taken on March 27, 2020 shows a general view of the closed Wuhan Changjiang river road and railway tunnel in Wuhan

Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, removed border restrictions on Wednesday for all but Wuhan, which will allow people to leave the city starting on April 8.

At a checkpoint entering the city on Friday night, three lanes were open to traffic but there were few cars, with a lone figure in military fatigues standing at each lane checking the mobile phone health codes of arriving passengers.

Along the highway entering the city of 11 million, blue and white signs pointed traffic to the now-closed Huoshenshan Hospital, which was built in eight days and opened in early February and came to symbolize Chinas aggressive management of the outbreak after a fumbled early effort.

Other evidence of the outbreak that devastated the city included posters dated Feb. 16 seeking volunteers to help battle the epidemic.

'Exits out of the city are still shut. We respectfully ask for your understanding,' one road sign along the highway said.

Numerous people have been trapped inside and outside of Wuhan and Hubei and many of the cars entering the city had Wuhan number plates, indicating they were returning residents.

Confusion, chaos and complacency: Internal emails reveal how the CDC bungled initial response to coronavirus and pleaded 'help needed urgently'

On February 13, the CDC sent out an email with what the author described as an 'URGENT' call for help.

The agency was struggling with one of its most important duties: keeping track of Americans suspected of having the novel coronavirus.

It had 'an ongoing issue' with organizing  and sometimes flat-out losing  forms sent by local agencies about people thought to be infected. The email listed job postings for people who could track or retrieve this paperwork.

'Help needed urgently,' the CDC wrote.

This email is among hundreds of pages of correspondence between federal and state public health officials obtained by ProPublica through a records request in Nevada.

Leader: Robert Redfield is the director of the CDC. Internal emails uncovered by ProPublic reveal how the agency reacted with confusion and chaos to the threat of coronavirus

During the period in which the correspondence was written, from January to early March, health officials were trying to stay ahead of the coronavirus outbreak underway in China.

By mid-February, when the CDC job postings email went out, the virus had a toehold in the United States, where there were already 15 confirmed cases.

In another two weeks, the first case of community transmission would be reported in California, followed shortly by cases in Washington.

The documents - mostly emails - provide a behind-the-scenes peek into the messy early stages of the U.S. response to the coronavirus, revealing an antiquated public health system trying to adapt on the fly.

What comes through clearly is confusion, as the CDC underestimated the threat from the virus and stumbled in communicating to local public health officials what should be done.

The same week the CDC sent out the email about the job openings, the agency sent Nevada officials alerts about 80 potential coronavirus patients to monitor, documents show.

Four were not Nevada residents.

Complacency: The CDC's director Robert Redfield told staff there was 'low' risk to the American public and the virus was 'not spreading.' But an analysis suggests it was already spreading then

A state epidemiologist, in each instance, corrected the agency, informing the CDC that the person was from New York, not Nevada. (The CDC then redirected each report to New York, the documents show.)

The confusion sometimes went both ways. On March 4, a program manager in the Nevada Health Department reached out to the CDC to ask about congressional funding for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

'There seems to be a communications blackout on this end,' the program manager wrote, wondering if funds would be distributed based on the number of cases in each state or by population.

'Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to your questions,' responded a CDC staffer, apologizing for the lack of information. 'We are hearing all of the rumor mills as well.'

'Thank you,' the Nevada program manager replied. 'It's good to be confused together.'

CHAOTIC COORDINATION

For much of February, the CDC kept a tight grip on who should be tested for the coronavirus, a strategy that has been criticized by epidemiologists for limiting the ability to track the spread of the disease.

In a February 19 presentation to state health officials, the CDC described the definition of a person who ought to be tested: You had to have had close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, or to have traveled from China and then had respiratory symptoms and a fever at the same time.

However, the CDC's own guidance from a month prior, distributed to the states on January 17, had a footnote that said that 'fever may not be present in some patients,' such as people who had taken fever-lowering medications, according to one of the documents obtained by ProPublica.

That caveat was not on the slides presented to the states in mid-February.

In a statement to ProPublica, the CDC said clinicians could always use their judgment to decide who received a test.

Unfortunate phrase: A Nevada state official asked the CDC for guidance about funding and was told they 'are hearing rumor mills' - prompting this response

'CDC never declined a request for testing that came from a state or local health department,' the agency said.

In mid to late February, the CDC was trying to move responsibility for coronavirus testing from itself to state health departments  a critical step, since the CDC does not have the capacity to be the nation's testing lab.

Slides from the February 19 presentation describe the process for transitioning from 'Phase 1,' in which the CDC determined who was a potential COVID-19 patient and conducted all the testing, to 'Phase 2,' in which local health departments would do that work and report data back to the CDC.

Because of delays with test kits, Phase 2 had to be 'redesigned,' the presentation said, so the CDC would continue to test specimens and return results.

The CDC told ProPublica that all states have now transitioned to the original Phase 2 plan, where they can run their own tests.

Testing fiasco: Because of delays with test kits, Phase 2 had to be 'redesigned,' a presentation said, so the CDC would continue to test specimens and return results

The CDC presentation also directed the states to use a web platform called DCIPHER, which the agency was already using for food-related outbreaks, to report potential COVID-19 patients and confirmed cases.

But it wasn't until the week of Feb. 24  the same week that the U.S. would discover its first case of community-acquired COVID-19  that the CDC scheduled a training for states on how to use the platform, according to the documents.

On March 1, the CDC emailed Nevada's Health Department, requesting that it send a list of users and email addresses to connect to the DCIPHER system, to 'ensure that we can onboard your jurisdiction.'

'We sent a spread sheet a couple weeks ago which I thought covered this,' a state epidemiologist responded.

Four days later, Nevada announced its first confirmed case of the coronavirus. It's unclear when the state managed to successfully get on the DCIPHER system. Officials from Nevada declined to comment.

'MAYBE JUST KIDDING'

A key part of the CDC's strategy during the early days of the outbreak was identifying infected travelers returning from China.

The process for screening passengers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport did not go smoothly, the correspondence obtained by ProPublica indicates.

On Feb. 16, a CDC staff member sent a message to colleagues about a buggy electronic traveler screening questionnaire that wouldn't save correctly, among other issues.

Also, the tool's drop down field auto-populated with 'United Kingdom' instead of 'United States,' forcing users to type 'United States of America.'

The CDC staffer also said the agency was struggling to interview non-English speakers in a timely manner and needed additional interpreters.

'Hello Team,' another CDC staff member responded, offering a solution: 'The Google translate App has a real-time voice translation option.'

The screening protocol also wasn't always clear. On Feb. 29, a CDC officer at LAX sent an email to her colleagues, saying: 'In case this comes up again, we are not screening private flights.

'These would be flights that land at LAX but don't arrive into the regular terminal  mainly for rich people.'

Just over two hours later, the officer emailed again. 'And, maybe just kidding,' she wrote. Information from headquarters seemed to contradict what she had said about private flights, she said.

The CDC told ProPublica that it scaled up the screening almost overnight, so it focused on vetting the largest segment possible of high-risk passengers coming from places like Wuhan, China.

The agency trained staff and dealt as best it could with limited staffing and translation services, it said.

The CDC's initial response to COVID-19, particularly its failure to initiate swift, widespread testing, has drawn intense criticism.

'PROTECTING AMERICANS IS WHAT WE DO'

Nonetheless, the correspondence ProPublica obtained shows that the CDC director, Dr. Robert Redfield, exuded confidence in communications with others at the agency.

On Jan. 28, when the CDC had confirmed five cases of the coronavirus, all in travelers who arrived from outside the country, he emailed colleagues to acknowledge it posed 'a very serious public health threat,' but he assured them 'the virus is not spreading in the U.S. at this time.'

That actually may not have been the case. The CDC confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Washington on Jan 20.

Trevor Bedford, a computational epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, has said he believes that the virus could have begun circulating in the state immediately after the traveler arrived in mid-January, based on his analysis of genetic data from the initial Washington cases.

Missing information: The CDC asked for help and warned about how they had lost track of potentially infected people

The CDC said in its statement that Redfield's comments were based on the data available at the time.

'At no time, did he underestimate the potential for COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic,' the agency's statement said.

'He stated consistently that more cases, including person to person spread, were likely.'

On March 3, Redfield wrote to his staff again, stressing the agency's readiness, despite the growing evidence that it wasn't.

'We anticipated and prepared for the possible spread of COVID-19 in communities across the United States,' he said in an email.

The CDC said in its statement that Redfield was telling staffers that the agency would continue to be engaged in a sustained response to COVID-19. Redfield's email was not characterizing the state of the outbreak, the CDC said.

By that point, it was clear that the coronavirus was gaining ground within the country, even if the inability to test for it was obscuring the true numbers.

Physicians and public health experts begged for more tests while warning that thousands of cases would soon emerge.

Still, Redfield's March 3 email struck a reassuring note.

'Confronting global outbreaks and protecting Americans is what we do,' Redfield wrote in the message.

'More and more, people are turning to us for guidance, and we respond consistently with evidence-based information and professionalism.




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The US naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, has reportedly imposed movement restrictions for at least 48 hours effective from March 27 midnight as two sailors in the fleet tested positive to the novel Coronavirus, according to the statement.

Commanding officer Captain Rich Jarrett suspended non-essential facilities, and banned movements across the installations, ordering a modified shelter in place, as per media reports. The naval regime shuttered non-emergency base services, except the commissary, a mini-mart, and some food outlets, among some drastic measures to impediment the diseases spread.

The self-initiated movement was prohibited. The officers were allowed to and from the appointed area of duty to only the mission-related areas and tasks. All transit on the base was forbidden. Jarrett told a news conference that the decision will be reviewed after 48 hours basis on the evaluation of the suspected cases.

The commanding officer was quoted saying that the origin of these cases was unknown. Therefore, immediate conservative actions were implemented to protect the health of the community, until the public health threat can be researched and characterized. He urged the forces to act their part by limiting the movement to their quarters.

Read: Australian Pro Soccer Player Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Read: Santa Anita Ends Live Racing Because Of Coronavirus

Base transit restricted

According to reports, the two patients tested positive have no previous contact history or links with the first positive result, thus making it unclear where the sailors contracted the strain. The commanding officers wrote in an email to the base residents saying that they must abide by the authorized movement in the guidelines, and otherwise remain isolated.

The base transit will be permitted to carry out essential tasks such as dispatching food at take-out locations. The base officials were quoted saying in the official statement that public health professionals were investigating the cases and tracing those exposed to facilitate health screening procedures. They were reported saying that notification will be sent to the presumptive cases, and information will be shared in line with privacy concerns.

Read: Country Singer Joe Diffie Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Read: Coronavirus: US To Airlift Citizens Stranded In India
Actor Sonam Kapoor and her businessman husband Anand Ahuja returned to India last week from UK amid the coronavirus outbreak, right before the government announced a ban on international flight. People across the world were advised not to travel and stay where they were but Sonam had a reason to come back to her country.

In a recent interview, Film Companions Anupama Chopra asked Sonam why she decided to come back. The actor said, she and her husband decided they should be by their parents side at this crucial time. I decided to come back to India right before the travel ban was imposed just because my father (actor Anil Kapoor) is 63. Hed hate to say this but he is 63, my mother is 63 as well. We all stay with Anands grandmother who is also around 80 years old. There was no one actually in my husbands house just in case something happened to be there and take care of everything. So Anand and I did the responsible thing to fly back even though we were so scared to fly, she said in a video chat with Anupama.

The novel coronavirus is known to mostly affect the older population. Elderly people have been recommended by different health organisations to stay indoors and away from crowds to avoid the risk of infection.

The 34-year-old actor documented her experience of flying back to India from London on Instagram stories. The Neerja actor started the video by thanking everybody at the airport, and the ones on the flight for a smooth and responsibly done journey. The actor also addressed how she and her husband was surprised to see not much of a screening happening back in London.

She further detailed about how after landing in India, before immigration, they were asked to fill a form that took a past 25-day travel history. She, Anand and her spot boy, who is like family to her, were checked for their temperatures, which were fine.

Also read: Krishna Shroff works out with boyfriend Eban

She had also lauded the incredible ways in which the authorities and the governing bodies are handling the situation. Everybody is doing their best ..we are together..Im back in India with my husband and have no symptoms of the virus because we have been not in any countries that have a rampant spread of the virus.

Sonam and Anand then put themselves in quarantine at their home in New Delhi.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The biological coronavirus is being accompanied by the digital virus of rising cybercrime.

This was easy to predict for these two reasons:

Millions of white-collar workers were allowed or ordered to work from home without proper warning, planning or provisioning.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made people fearful, which is a state of mind that makes them easy to trick or manipulate.

The enterprise cybersecurity company Cynet published data recently showing that the coronavirus crisis is being actively exploited by threat actors and is impacting enterprise information security. These attacks so far are coming in two forms: 1) attempts to steal remote user credentials; and 2) "weaponized" email-based attacks (phishing attacks).

The most laughable scam to date, is a software antivirus product that promises to protect you from the coronavirus.

The report also found that attackers are concentrating their efforts on the countries most affected, with twice as much attention in recent weeks on Italy. That suggests, now that the United States has more coronavirus cases than any other country and is entering a period of runaway contagion, that U.S. companies will now get the overwhelming majority of attack attempts.

[ Coronavirus Crisis: COVID-19 coverage on Insider Pro ]

The security firm Zscaler reported similar trends. They said that hacking threats have increased 15 percent each in January and February and 20 percent in March. Many of these attacks involve social engineering attacks that exploit user fears of the coronavirus. Zscaler sees the new energy behind coronavirus-related attacks falling into four broad categories:

phishing attacks ransomware pharmacy scams remote access vulnerabilities

Those phishing attacks involve fake-charity scams, miracle cures, shut-down related rebates or tax breaks, fake news links and fake apps downloads.

An example a fear-exploiting phishing attempt

One example of how fears are being exploited: A phishing email is being sent to users working from home offering a free app that shows where coronavirus infections are occuring. The map is based on a real map produced by Johns Hopkins University. Once the app is installed, it executes a classic ransomware attack, encrypting files and demanding bitcoin for their de-encryption.

Crooks are also socially engineering IT helpdesk people. With a rush to remote work, hackers are tricking support into giving them VPN credentials, which grants them employee-level access to the company network.

Another risk is that slow networks could incentivize employees to turn off VPN connections. Consumer networks being used by remote workers at home are slowing because of suddenly heavy use. Enterprises are routing traffic through the data center for inspection before turning it loose on the Internet. All these slowdowns may inspire employees to skip VPN access to the internet.

Researchers at Bitdefender found that searches on the Android app stores for coronavirus-related apps, especially medical apps, is exploding. Cybercriminals have noticed, too, and have been packing apps with malicious payloads. Many of these have been removed from the Play Store by Google after thousands of downloads. Third-party marketplaces still offer them.

Some malicious actors are brute-forcing and the remote management credentials of Linksys and D-Link routers and changing DNS addresses to divert people to websites offering fake cures and malicious coronavirus-information apps, according to Bitdefender and Bleeping Computer.

The security firm Forcepoint published information about a host of new scams that exploit the coronavirus crisis. One scam in their report involves an email that claims to link to a coronavirus update voicemail. The "link," which is actually an embedded HTML file, connects victims to a fake Microsoft Outlook login page that harvests passwords.

The most laughable scam to date, discovered by Malwarebytes researchers, is a software antivirus product that promises to protect you from the coronavirus. If anyone is duped into running the update.exe executable, the victim's PC is turned into a DDOS bot that can also steal personal information from the user.

In case you didn't already know, cybercriminals are jerks

Part of some hackers' agenda appears to be to magnify the harm caused by the virus. One group of hackers called DarkHotel posted a website in mid-March that fraudulently presented itself as an email login portal for World Health Organization employees, so they could steal passwords.

A cybersecurity expert and attorney with the Blackstone Law Group said that around 2,000 malicious coronavirus-themed websites are being set up every day.

A British company called Hammersmith Medicines Research, which is preparing to test coronavirus vaccines, was hit by a ransomware attack on March 14. The ransomware part of the attack was thwarted, but not before the attackers stole and publicly published some patient records of volunteers who participated in previous trials.

And a database of coronavirus patients in the Indian state of Kerala, and everyone they came in contact with, along with addresses and other personal information, was reportedly hacked.

10 tips to fend off the attacks

The way to understand these new attacks is that they're really old attacks that have been modified to exploit the new coronavirus context of unprepared remote workers who are nervous about the effects of the pandemic on their health and wellbeing.

The best way forward is through aggressive policies, communication and practices:

Communicate on phishing attacks that exploit coronavirus concerns

Communicate on best practices for keeping confidential information confidential

Remind work-from-home employees to not use personal laptops or unencrypted connections

Explain the need to use VPN, no matter how slow

Enable non-SMS multi-factor authentication on as many products and services as possible

Use a password manager and change all passwords to strong passwords

Encourage users to never use third-party Android marketplaces for downloading apps.

Make sure you update and communicate your policies, including your work-from-home policy. Specify which applications and cloud resources are approved for use.

Establish clear and alternative lines of communication. Be able to reach all employees both via the internet and also the phone networks. Make sure employees know how who to contact for security-related emergencies, both online and by phone.

And finally, try to turn adversity into opportunity. Many workers are working harder and more than ever; others may have additional downtime because of business slowdowns or other reasons. Any paid downtime should be filled with training, education, the completion of certifications and other projects that benefit the company and the employee.

The coronavirus crisis will prove to be a major test of organizational survival and business continuity. But the most pressing and immediate concern is the new crimewave that seeks to exploit all those remote workers.
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This is not the first time something like this has happened. A national tragedy occurs, and Christians get scapegoated and blamed.

Remember Nero blaming the Christians for the burning of Rome? Today, it is an op-ed writer for The New York Times who blames evangelicals for the spread of the coronavirus in America  and that would mean white evangelicals, to be sure.

The Times headline is bold and provocative: The Road to Coronavirus Hell Was Paved by Evangelicals. Yes, Trumps response to the pandemic has been haunted by the science denialism of his ultraconservative religious allies.

According to Katherine Stewart, the author of the article, Donald Trump rose to power with the determined assistance of a movement that denies science, bashes government and prioritized loyalty over professional expertise. In the current crisis, we are all reaping what that movement has sown.

Is there any substance to her claims?

Stewart quotes prominent evangelical leaders (one of whom is Hispanic, for the record) who downplayed the danger of holding public gatherings to the point of ridiculing pastors who chose to follow the governments guidelines. (My own stance has been quite the opposite, encouraging pastors to comply out of love for their neighbors as well as out of wisdom; see here and here.)

Stewart also notes that some evangelical leaders in high places in the government have scorned the danger of the virus, outside of church settings.

But where is her evidence that these pastors and leaders influenced Trumps policy decisions? What proof does she have?

To be generous, we could call it specious. To be precise, we could say she has none. A court of law would not even find her reasoning worthy of being called circumstantial.

Specifically, Stewart argues that Trump commonly differs with the experts during his press briefings on the virus. But where is her proof that this is because of outside religious influences rather than Trump simply following his gut? (She acknowledges that he does, in fact, trust his gut.) She also fails to consider that, for the moment, these are just words, while his policy decisions have followed the experts.

She argues that Trump spoke of his hope that churches would be full again on Easter. But how does this prove that he is listening to evangelical voices in terms of science-based decisions? How is this different from his talk about getting businesses back open around that time as well? Why isnt this simply Trump seeking to instill hope?

Stewart also fails to mention, by name, leading evangelical pastors who are close to Trump and who have fully complied with his guidelines. Is that because this doesnt fit her narrative?

As for Trumps actions, it is true that, in the earliest days, he seemed to downplay the danger of the virus when speaking publicly. At the same time, he was combating the hysteria of the media, which would have us believe that 15 millions Americans could die of the disease.

But what of his actions? He enacted the China travel ban in January, to the jeers of some of the left, with former Vice President Biden calling it xenophobia.

As Tom Pappert pointed out on the National File on March 12, While Democrats in March attack President Donald Trump for not doing enough to end the coronavirus epidemic, the same Democrats were bashing the presidents decision to ban travel from China in January.

In January, President Trump banned all foreign nationals who were in China during the time of the coronavirus outbreak from entering the United States. Many pundits and health experts have since credited this decision with helping to slow the coronavirus pandemic on American shores.

To quote Biden directly, This is no time for Donald Trumps record of hysteria and xenophobia, hysterical xenophobia, to uh, and fear mongering.

Yet according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, this ban made a real difference in saving lives. Does Stewart mention that?

It is true that a recent Pew Research poll found that, Most white evangelicals don't think COVID-19 poses a major threat to Americans' health.

But again, what does that have to do with life and death policy decisions that the president is making? Where are the evangelical ministers standing with him at his daily press briefings? And what of the large number of leading scientists who themselves are conservative Christians, like Katherine Hayhoe?

According to The Washington Post, she is both an evangelical Christian and a climate scientist  in fact, a top climate scientist. And she is just one among countless top scientists who are committed Christians, and some of them are close to the president.

The bottom line is that there is zero factual support for the misleading and even dangerous Times headline. And Stewart has no support whatsoever that science-denying evangelicals are influencing the presidents decisions. To the contrary, wherever his gut and his optimism might lead, it appears that he is following scientific guidelines in order to save as many lives as possible.

If Stewart had focused her article on the cavalier attitudes of some Christian leaders, I would added my hearty Amen, having written and spoken similar things as well. But the current article paints a false picture, recklessly scapegoating evangelical Christians in the process.

When people are dying of the virus and tens of millions are afraid, this is a highly irresponsible thing to do. And whoever came up with the headline for the article has acted even more irresponsibly. Shame on him or her.

A public apology and retraction would be a good place to start.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois, March 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Claire's Stores, Inc. today announced additional actions being taken to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 virus.

"We are all facing unprecedented challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic," said Ryan Vero, CEO. "Over the last several weeks we have temporarily closed all of our stores worldwide, moved our corporate teams to a work-from-home environment, and changed the configuration of our distribution centers in order to practice safe physical distancing at work. As we continue to focus on the safety of our employees and communities, it has now become clear that our stores will need to remain temporarily closed until further notice."

While Claire's ecommerce and concession businesses remain unchanged, a longer period of global store closure has necessitated further action. The majority of store based associates have been placed on temporary furlough, to be recalled when stores re-open, and approximately 250 corporate office employees have also been placed on temporary furlough. In all cases, the Company is covering employee-paid healthcare premiums for up to 8 weeks to ensure those affected do not face additional hardship in accessing health benefits. In a further commitment to conserving resources, the senior leadership team will also be taking a tiered reduction in pay, with CEO Ryan Vero and board members taking a 30% pay cut.

"The decision to temporarily furlough so many of our associates was not taken lightly, but was necessary for the long-term health of our organization," said Vero. "Our goal is to have our stores open, and our associates returning to work as soon as it is safe and advisable to do so. We are committed to one another and to our customers, and when the time arrives to re-open, we will be there, ready to serve, and ready to provide long-term career opportunities for all of our associates."

The Company will continue to monitor this ongoing situation and provide relevant updates, relying on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and government officials, to determine when stores will reopen.

About Claire's

Claire's Stores, Inc. is one of the world's leading specialty retailers of fashionable jewelry and accessories for ages 3 to 35. The Company operates through its stores under two brand names: Claire's and Icing. Claire's Stores, Inc. operates fully owned and concession stores in 17 countries throughout North America and Europe, and franchises stores in 28 countries primarily located in the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia and Central and South America, South Africa, and Russia. More information regarding Claire's Stores is available on the Company's corporate website at www.claires.com .

Contact

Claire's Stores, Inc.

Press.office@claires.com

+1 (847) 898-0120
Yet another consideration may be the level of confidence the U.S. has in identifying who is behind a particular attack. After the rocket attack on Camp Taji, Britain declined to join the U.S. retaliatory bombing raids because it did not believe the evidence provided by the Americans met the legal threshold to justify a strike against Kataib Hezbollah, according to two officials familiar with the issue. The attack was eventually claimed by the newly announced Usbat al-Thaireen, a group that U.S. officials insist is a likely front for Kataib and other Iran-backed militias.
U.S. Army National Guard members look on as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces plans to convert a conference center into a field hospital in New York City, on March 23, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump Authorizes Military Leaders to Call Reservists Into Active Duty Amid Outbreak

President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order authorizing the secretaries of homeland security and defense to call up military and Coast Guard reservists to active duty.

This will allow us to mobilize medical disaster and emergency response personnel to help wage our battle against the virus by activating thousands of experienced service members, including retirees, Trump said at a Friday briefing of the COVID-19 task force.

Under the order, the two secretaries are authorized to order reservists from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard to active duty for up to two years not to exceed 1,000,000 members on active duty at any one time.

The announcement comes as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads in the United States, with more than 104,000 confirmed infections and over 1,700 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins.

We have a lot of people, retirees, great military people, theyre coming back in, Trump said, adding: They dont say, How much? They dont say, What are we getting paid? They just want to come back in. Its really an incredible thing to see. Its beautiful.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement cited by Military Times that following the executive order, decisions about which individuals may be activated are still being reviewed.

Hoffman said the troops will mostly consist of units and personnel with high demand medical capabilities whose mobilization would not negatively impact their civilian communities.

My administration is marshaling the full power of the American government, and we will do that, and thats what weve done, and we will continue to do it until our war is won. Economic, scientific, medical, military, and homeland securityall of this to vanquish the virus, Trump said at Fridays briefing.

Earlier Friday, Army officials said over 9,000 former soldiers with medical training expressed interest in assisting with the COVID-19 response.

That followed an Army announcement earlier in the week that three of its expeditionary hospital facilities received deployment orders and would be heading to New York and Washington state to assist with COVID-19 response efforts.

The U.S. Army Public Affairs division said on March 24 that the 531st Hospital from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 627th Hospital from Fort Carson, Colorado, and the 9th Hospital from Fort Hood, Texas, would deploy.

As more people are exposed to COVID-19, the U.S. Army is preparing to provide medical support and hospital capacity to help states and other national agencies to contain the virus and protect the nation, the statement said.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and spark a global pandemic.

Reuters contributed to this report.
From singing Bollywood songs to giving empowering speeches, Indian police are doing everything in their power to spread awareness about the importance of staying indoors.

The country faces a potential rise in the number of coronavirus cases and with this millions worry about how they will get access to food and water during the shutdown.

Amid this crisis, police departments around the country have come up with innovative solutions to discipline those flouting rules. From handing them a rose, shaming with placards that say I am endangering everyone" and of course the extreme, pulling out its lathis for those who plain refuse to listen.

This Punjab cop telling women to put men to work at home during #lockdownindia wins the Internet. Go home yo!!! pic.twitter.com/kwHtBPMuit  Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) March 27, 2020

But some cops are setting an example by replacing the blows of lathis with persuasive messages. Like this Punjab cop who urged women to put men to work at home during the lockdown.

In the video he says: Everyone knows the state of coronavirus disease in India. The PM and CMs of different states have been talking about it. Hence, I would like to request all my sisters that if the men at home are idle, saying that its getting difficult for them to stay indoors, put them to work.

Tell them to clean your homes and terraces. Ask them to wash utensils and clothes. When they are at home you keep them busy, if they step out we'll take care of them," he adds.

Many online pointed out that lockdown is bringing about much-needed gender equality in households. Here's what people had to say:

#1

Irony is while speaking I first thought he is cursing in punjabi  nevertheless good job by the cop.  Sameer (@QmSameer) March 27, 2020

#2

It is hilarious  but very true at the same time. Punjab mein actually men already do lot of housework already the inside truth  Amit Garg (@devoirtech) March 27, 2020

#3

Its a good way to educate people with respect... salute this officer  sandeep singh (@sinduria1747) March 27, 2020





#4

For all the wives who are finding their husbands complaining about being locked down, hear this out and strongly follow the advice :)#IndiaFightsCorona #keepbusy  ChimesRadio (@ChimesRadio) March 28, 2020





#5

A public service message by #Punjab Police in India. pic.twitter.com/1m0CpBO9JB  Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) March 26, 2020

#6

This Punjab cop telling women to put men to work at home during #lockdownindia wins the Internet. Go home yo!!! pic.twitter.com/kwHtBPMuit  Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) March 27, 2020





In Punjab, the first casualty in the state was responsible for spreading the virus to at least 25 people. According to a Hindu report, the 25 cases are directly or indirectly related to the 70-year-old man who died.

The 70-year-old religious preacher from Punjabs Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, who returned home from Germany earlier this month, has emerged as a possible super-spreader. The people he met are being traced and screened and the places he visited have been completely sealed.


I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ . . . And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:3-6; 9-10).

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Take time to thank God for how He has used others to share and spread the gospel. Worship God that He has given partners to you in ministry, and rejoice in His good gifts in the lives of others. Ask God that your brothers and sisters would be confident of His good purposes for their livesand that they would have the joy of their gifts being used for the good of others in this time of trial.

6. Ask that your brothers and sisters lives would align with Gods holy will, be filled with good works, demonstrate fruits of the Spirit, and overflow with worship for God.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:9-12).

Ask that your brothers and sisters would be abounding in spiritual wisdom and knowledgethat they would not approach trials from the standpoint of the world, but from a godly perspective that sees all of life in the Fathers hands. Pray that their lives would be characterized by amazement that the God of heaven would condescend to save man. Ask that their humility would create a yearning to walk in a way that is worthy of Him. Pray that their lives would only grow more fruitful in goodness during these days.

Photo credit: Pexels/Katii Bishop
US President Donald Trump on Friday spoke with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the British leader tested positive for the deadly novel coronavirus and wished him speedy recovery. Johnson in a video message on Friday said that he has tested positive for coronavirus after experiencing "mild symptoms", becoming the first world leader to announce the infection.

In the message posted on Twitter, the 55-year-old Johnson said he will continue to lead the UK government's response to the deadly virus, which has claimed 578 lives in the country.

"Today, @realDonaldTrump spoke with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson of the United Kingdom. The President thanked the Prime Minister for his close friendship and wished him a speedy recovery," Judd Deere, Special Assistant to Trump and White House Deputy Press Secretary, tweeted.

Today, @realDonaldTrump spoke with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson of the United Kingdom. The President thanked the Prime Minister for his close friendship and wished him a speedy recovery.  Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) March 27, 2020

The two leaders also discussed global efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic and boost the global economy.

"President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson agreed to collaborate closely, along with the G7, the G20, and other international partners, to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and boost the global economy," Deere said.

President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson agreed to collaborate closely, along with the G7, the G20, and other international partners, to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and boost the global economy.  Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) March 27, 2020

"The two leaders also expressed optimism that the United States and the United Kingdom would emerge stronger than ever," he said.
March 28 : After causing trouble with his Emergency tweet, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor urges the Government of open liquor stores, otherwise man will get depressed.

Rishi Kapoor is known for his hilarious and unbiased takes on things, and he is not afraid to share those on social media. Yesterday he tweeted about calling Emergency in India, which caused him quite a backlash, and now he is out with yet another hilarious take on liquid courage.

Think. Government should for sometime in the evening open all licensed liquor stores. Dont get me wrong. Man will be at home only what with all this depression, uncertainty around. Cops,doctors,civilians etc... need some release. Black mein to sell ho hi raha hai. ( cont. 2)  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) March 28, 2020

Rishi Kapoor shared, Think. Government should for sometime in the evening open all licensed liquor stores. Dont get me wrong. Man will be at home only what with all this depression, uncertainty around. Cops, doctors, civilians etc...need some release. Black mein to sell ho hi raha hai

State governments desperately need the money from the excise. Frustration should not add up with depression. As it is pee to rahe hain legalize kar do no hypocrisy. My thoughts.  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) March 28, 2020

State governments desperately need the money from the excise. Frustration should not add up with depression. As it is pee to rahe hain legalize kar do no hypocrisy. My thoughts...

This tweet is definitely get picked up on social media and for some strange reason, most find it hilarious and netizens, for a change agrees with Rishi Kapoor.

Dear fellow Indians. We must and have to declare EMERGENCY. Look at whats happening all over the country! If the TV is to believed,people are beating policemen and medical staff! There is no other way to contain the situation. It is only good for all of us. Panic is setting in.  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) March 26, 2020

Meanwhile on the work front, last seen in The Body, actor Rishi Kapoor will be next seen in Sharmaji Namkeen.
Teen Vogue, Snapchat urge teens to send sexually explicit sext messages during COVID-19 quarantine

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Online magazine Teen Vogue and multimedia messaging app Snapchat are encouraging their teen audience and users to create porn while they're at home during the coronavirus quarantine, according to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

Like anything worth doing, sexting takes practice, said a Teen Vogue story published Monday on the Snapchat Discover page, according to The Daily Caller. Here are 7 things you might not have known about sexting.

Another read, Sending someone details about what you want to do to them and getting back even more detail about what they want to do to you should be fun, easy, and ultimately joyful. Anything less than that isnt worth your time.

The nonprofit group NCSE called on Teen Vogue to stop encouraging the creation of child sexual abuse material by sexting during quarantine. It also urged Snapchat to cease promoting these messages by Teen Vogue via Discover, which they said is putting kids at risk of sexual exploitation.

Snapchat and Teen Vogue are playing right into sexual predators hands, Dawn Hawkins, senior vice president and executive director of NCSE, said in a statement.

With the likely surge of young viewers on Snapchat due to quarantine, it is socially irresponsible for Snapchat Discover to encourage minors to self-produce underage pornography (i.e. child sexual abuse materials), thereby increasing their vulnerability to sexual predators, Hawkins continued.

The proliferation of online child sexual abuse material has increased exponentially in recent years and more children are being targeted and groomed by predators via social media apps, Hawkins pointed out, saying Teen Vogue and Snapchat must be held socially accountable for promoting trends that put people at risk for exploitation.

Research shows that sexting is often linked to offline sexual coercion, leaving teens inherently vulnerable, Hawkins said, adding that sexting can also make teens vulnerable to sexual extortion, sexual abuse or trafficking.

Sexting is not harmless fun, as Teen Vogue would like teenagers to think, and Teen Vogue and Snapchat would be wise to stop promoting sexting to young, impressionable teens, Hawkins concluded.

Last April, Teen Vogue pushed the idea that prostitution is acceptable to its young readers.

In an op-ed called Why Sex is Real Work, Tlaleng Mofokeng, a medical doctor, noted that sex tourist destination Amsterdam would soon legally bar guided tours through the red light district but that many sex workers,  a euphemism for prostituted persons but is often used to include brothel keepers and pornographers  are opposing the ban.

Not all sex workers engage in penetrative sex, though, undeniably, that is a big part of sex work. Sex-worker services between consenting adults may include companionship, intimacy, nonsexual role playing, dancing, escorting, and stripping. These roles are often pre-determined, and all parties should be comfortable with them, she explained.

In 2017, Teen Vogue encouraged its audience to engage in anal intercourse and minimized its health risks.
The Baltimore Ravens on Saturday agreed to sign free agent defensive tackle Derek Wolfe to a one-year contract, according to a report from ESPN, which helps dull the sting of a deal that fell through earlier in the week.

Wolfe, 30, started 108 games over eight seasons with the Denver Broncos before he landed on the open market this month. He figures to fit well on the Ravens defensive line between nose tackle Brandon Williams and defensive end Calais Campbell, who joined Baltimores roster this offseason via a trade.

In essence, Wolfe fills the void that opened when the Ravens announced Friday they would not sign Michael Brockers.

Baltimore agreed to sign Brockers to a three-year contract March 16, the first day of the open negotiation of free agency. But after an independent doctor raised concerns about Brockers injured ankle, the deal deteriorated, and Brockers returned to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Ravens landed in a bit of a bind, because they made other decisions  from letting free agents sign elsewhere to trading defensive lineman Chris Wormley  with the thought that Brockers would remain in place as a linchpin of the defense. General manager Eric DeCosta acted quickly to find a solution by striking a deal with another respected veteran.

Wolfe piled up a career-high seven sacks in 12 games in 2019 before a dislocated elbow ended his season early.

Past injuries loom as a red flag for the 2012 second-round draft choice. Wolfe has never played less than 11 games in a season, but hes only suited up for all 16 games once since 2014.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Wolfe tried to quell worries about his recent injury a couple weeks ago when he posted a video on social media.

Wolfes deal with the Ravens could be worth up to $6 million, according to ESPNs Adam Schefter, though its unclear whether all of that will count against Baltimores salary cap. After the Brockers deal fell apart, experts estimated the Ravens had around $15 million of financial wiggle room.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

Aaron Kasinitz covers the Baltimore Ravens for PennLive and can be reached at akasinitz@pennlive.com or on Twitter @AaronKazreports. Follow PennLives Ravens coverage on Facebook and Youtube.
As more people die during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the CDC guidelines extends to funeral directors, cemeterians, and cremationists who serve families of the dead. Jewish funeral traditions involve the community in keeping the body company, preparing the body for burial, and coming together to comfort the mourners.

Putting the community at a distance goes against centuries of Jewish funeral traditions. Yet in these unprecedented times, we must physically distance ourselves, even in mourning. Here is a statement by Jewish funeral director Syd Waldman, Waldman Funeral Care about the steps he is taking to keep the public safe.

Waldman Funeral Care Statement

There is an overarching principle in Judaism to live our lives in such a way as to protect health and life above all else.

After consulting with Kavod v'Nichum (Honor & Comfort) and the Congregation Emanu El Cemetery Committee, which I have sat on for more than 20 years; I have created the following guidelines which Waldman Funeral Care (WFC) will follow for the duration of this National (World) Health Crises.

First: WFC will ask the Chevra Kadisha not to come into the Funeral Home to perform a Taharah. This is consistent with latest recommendations from Kavod v'Nichum.

Our panel of experts now strongly recommends that during these periods of widespread transmission of COVID-19, and especially when communities are told to limit personal exposure, Chevra Kadisha groups should not do any form of taharot.

Second: If the Chevra Kadisha wants to send a single member to the Funeral Home to recite the Taharah Prayers in the lobby, WFC will accommodate them.

Third: WFC will strictly enforce the orders of the City, County, State and Federal Health Officials to limit the size of gatherings at the Graveside to eight family members plus the Funeral Director and Clergy personstaying at the 10-person limit. Everyone will maintain personal distancing of six plus feet.

Fourth: To help facilitate #3, WFC will not offer a tent or chairs at the Graveside Service.

When there's no tent/chairs available, family members will take advantage of the open space and self-distance with additional space between themselves, the casket and Clergy. If a family member needs a chair, they can bring one for themselves.

Fifth: WFC will provide small plastic bags of sand to each mourner to place on top of the casket, rather than touch a shovel/trowel handle. The Clergy will continue to have the opportunity to pour Israeli soil on the casket.

Sixth: WFC will only offer the laminated Kaddish Cards and not printed Service Folders. WFC staff will hand them out directly from the large zip lock bag in which they are stored in, so as not to touch them before the family members take one. We will announce these cards are to be taken home. Kippah will be treated in much the same way as the Kaddish Cards. We will ask the family members to take them home.

Seven: WFC staff is working hard to get the necessary equipment to be able to live-stream the Graveside Service. Allowing those additional family members who are not able to gather at the graveside to be a part of the service remotely, thereby helping them find some comfort and closure.

"This is a spiritually painful time for me," said Waldman. "I have prided myself in delivering a sacred Jewish Funeral for a Jewish deceased and their loving family. I know the families I work with and the Jewish Community professionals will understand these extraordinary measures I am taking to keep everyone safe during these days."

###
A U.S. National Guard soldier listens to a patient at a drive-thru CCP virus testing center at Lehman College in New York City on March 28, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Intensive Care Unit Admissions in New York Drop as State Reports 219 New Deaths

Intensive care unit admissions in New York state dropped overnight even as the state reported over 7,600 new confirmed CCP virus cases and 219 new deaths.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

New York City recorded an increase of 4,368 overnight, bringing the total to 29,766, officials announced at a press conference on Saturday.

The bulk of the states 52,318 cases are in the city.

Of the 7,328 patients currently in hospitals, 1,755 are in intensive care units (ICU), Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters in Albany. Only 172 patients were admitted to ICUs overnight, a significant drop from the 374 admitted the day prior.

This is good news. I wouldnt put tremendous stock in it, but its good news, Cuomo said. The overall line is still up. The 374 was very troubling because that was a gigantic leap. The 172 may be a correction from the 374.

A person emerges from a tent set up in the driveway of the emergency entrance to Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York on March 28, 2020, as others wait in line to be tested for the CCP virus. The hospital is caring for a high number of CCP virus patients in the city. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo)

One hundred ninety-two were admitted on March 25 and 215 were admitted on March 24. The admissions were below 100 earlier this month.

The number of those admitted to hospitals also dropped, from above 1,100 in each of the previous two days to 847.

And 681 patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total of those discharged to 2,726.

People go into the hospital, people get treated, people leave. Remember, most people never go into the hospital. They self-resolve, Cuomo said.

The state reported its single largest 24-hour increase in deaths, a figure that jumped from 519 to 728.

No other state has more than 177 deaths.

New York has tested over 155,000 people, more than any other state in the country, including 17,412 new tests completed in the past day.

Officials have repeatedly pushed back the projected apex of the CCP virus in the state, which as of Saturday was estimated to be 21 days away. The state projects a need for 140,000 hospital beds and 30,000 ventilators, which theyve been scrambling to meet.

A temporary hospital is set up at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City on March 27, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)

Hospital Beds

The quest to quickly boost the number of hospital beds in the city is being accomplished through a variety of measures.

A 1,000-bed emergency hospital at the Javits Center on the West Side of Manhattan is slated to open on Monday, Cuomo said, calling the transformation completed by the Army Corps of Engineers extraordinary.

The USNS Comfort was leaving Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday and is also scheduled to arrive on Monday. The U.S. Navy ship has 1,000 beds, operating rooms, a laboratory, and a pharmacy, along with 1,200 medical workers.

Well use this to backfill and take pressure off our hospitals, Cuomo said, referring to how no COVID-19 patients will be treated on the ship.

The crew will begin treating patients on Tuesday, President Donald Trump told those assembled in Norfolk around the same time.

Trump approved four new sites for temporary medical facilities, including at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens and at the City University of New Yorks Staten Island campus. Each facility has approximately 1,000 beds.

Officials are trying to keep COVID-19 patients separate from other patients requiring hospital care in a bid to slow the spread of the new disease.

The USNS Comfort is docked at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 28, 2020. The hospital ship will depart for New York City on March 28 to aid in the CCP virus outbreak. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Treatment for the Virus

While no vaccines or proven treatments for the CCP virus exist, New York is testing some treatments that doctors are already prescribing.

Eleven hundred tests of hydroxychloroquine and Zithromax are being administered to patients, a prescription that Trump has been optimistic about, Cuomo noted.

Results are expected back soon.

A second French study published late Friday showed promising results for hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that doctors in the United States, France, and Bahrain are prescribing, and which India recommended for healthcare workers.

In another update, the New York State Department of Health just received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to test people for antibodies. The test will show if people infected by the virus got better and have antibodies indicating immunity to the virus, Cuomo told reporters.

Officials also announced pushing back the New York state presidential primary from April 28 to June 23, when the congressional and legislative primary elections are already scheduled.
Mcign.com scored 54 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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Following a centuries-old tradition, Trappist monks are brewing some of the most sought-after ales in the world

Monks have long played a part in brewing, with evidence dating back to the fifth century. Beer, typically safer than drinking water in those times, was a staple, and even served nutritional needs during periods of fastinggood old liquid bread.

But perhaps the first monks who come to mind when discussing brewing are the Trappists. Officially the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, the Trappists are a diverging order of the Cistercians, which were founded by three fellows in Dijon, France who would later be canonized as saints. The monks and nuns adhered to the monastic principles of St. Benedict: poverty, simplicity in prayer and worship, manual labor to support themselves, and avoidance of secular affairs.

The Trappists owe their strict observance of poverty and the simple life to a man who lived quite the opposite. Born into wealth in 1626, Armand-Jean Le Bouthillier de Rance used family connections to obtain titles at several religious institutions, including commendatory abbot at three abbeys (meaning he wasnt exactly running the monastery, but earning money from it). He lived the high life, even turning down a bishopric, for it would have meant a lower income.

But deaths close to him turned him introspective, and with his spiritual conversion, he rejected his former ways. In 1662, he became Abbot of La Trappe Abbey in Soligny-la-Trappe, Orne, France, a monastery he had once profited from but hadnt ever seen. He initiated strict reforms to the order, returning them to their hard labor, penitence, and non-worldly focus. Thus, the Trappist order was born. Some of the monasteries chose brewing to satisfy their work requirements, and to contribute to their food needs.

The Trappist Label

Trappist beers have earned a reputation for their quality, and a bit of added value for exclusivity. But the name is not a particular style of beer, but rather an association with the order. To protect that name, eight monasteries formed the International Trappist Association in 1997.

While Trappist monasteries are numerousthere are over 160 worldwide, including 15 in the United States aloneonly 12 produce beer with the designation Authentic Trappist Product. The rules for the ATP label are simple: The beer must be produced within a Trappist monastery; the process must be performed or overseen by the monks; and the profits must only be used to provide for the needs of the monastery and charitable causes.

You will find other abbey beers on the market, some even using Trappist yeasts, but these dubbels, tripels, and other styles are typically brewed by commercial breweries.

Trappists in Belgium

Belgium is home to six Trappist breweries. While the order got its start next door in France, there is only one Trappist beer seller there: Mont des Cats Abbey. But even those brews are made over the border at Chimay Brewery within Scourmont Abbey.

Chimay ales are highly regarded and often referred to by their label colors: red, white, blue, and gold. The blue Grand Reserve, a Christmas ale, is the darker and stronger of them, and also comes in a barrel-aged variety. The white Cinq Cents is a golden tripel. Chimay produces cheeses to pair with them all.

Westmalle Brewery is about as easy to find as Chimay. They produce a dark reddish dubbel (7 percent ABV) and a fruity golden tripel (9.5 percent ABV) that are readily available in bottles. Their third brew, Westmalle Extra, is reserved for the monks themselvesand perhaps a fortunate lunch guest.

Brouwerij Westvleteren is the stuff of legend. Located within the St. Sixtus Abbey, the brewery produces three ales known by numbers and bottle-cap colors: 6 (green), 8 (blue), and 12 (yellow). The latter, Westvleteren 12 (XII), is a 10.5 percent ABV quadrupel that is often billed as the best beer in the world.

The official way to get some? Go to their web store at TrappistWestvleteren.be/en, where you will find a calendar for sale dates and corresponding pick-up times. Production is limited, so it may be months before you can make the purchase, and pick-up must be done in person at the abbey. (Alternatively, you might find it being resold online, often for more than $40 for a 1/3-liter bottle, or in the triple digits for a selection of three or more.)

Trivia note: St. Bernardus Brewery, while not Trappist, counted the Westvleteren brewmaster as a partner when it opened in 1945. The brewery produced the beers for St. Sixtus with the same recipes and yeast strain until 1992. You can find St. Bernardus beers in the United States and they are still similar to St. Sixtus in recipe and quality. St. Bernardus Abt 12, a quadrupel, gets a score of 99/100 on BeerAdvocate.com.

Orval Brewery, inside Notre-Dame dOrval Abbey, brews an eponymous beer created in 1931 by a Bavarian brewer. The dry-hopped, light-colored ale uses Brettanomyces bruxellensis, a special yeast often referred to as brett, giving it a touch of sour funkiness. It ferments again in the bottle, so store it cap-up at cool temperatures (the fridge is OK if you plan on drinking it, or about 54 degrees F if you are aging it) or it might explode or foam out when you pour it.

Rochefort Abbey started brewing in 1899, and today, like St. Sixtus, has three numbered brews: 6 (red cap, 7.5 percent ABV), 8 (green cap, 9.2 percent ABV), and 10 (blue cap, 11.3 percent ABV).

Finally, Achel Brewery, the smallest of the bunch, produces six bruin (brown) and blonde beers of varying strengths.

Beyond Belgium

Two Trappist breweries operate in the Netherlands. One is within Koningshoeven Abbey, which produces a brand simply known as La Trappe. The brewery suggests you Taste the Silence with nine varieties ranging from a witte beer to an oak-aged quadrupel. Right in the middle is a bock beer, a style I recently wrote about.

Another Dutch Trappist beer is from Trappistenbrouwerij De Kievit. Founded within the Maria Toevlucht Abbey in 2013 as an alternative to farming, the brewery produces Zundert Trappist 8, an 8 percent ABV ale with a light caramel sweetness, finishing dry with a touch of hoppy bitterness.

Tre Fontane Abbey in Rome and Stift Engelszell in Austria started brewing in the last 10 years, and in 2018, Mount St. Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire, England, began producing Tynt Meadow, an English strong ale that is fairly hard to come by except locally. Demand is high, but as the purpose of production is only to sustain the monks, it is unlikely they will increase the volume.

American Trappist Beer?

Spencer Brewery at St. Joseph Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts became the first American Trappist brewery in 2013. Originally, the monastery supported itself by producing and selling preserves, but saw brewing as an improved source of revenue for their charities, as well as a traditional monk practice. A team of brothers traveled to Belgium to consult with the other Trappist brewers and to develop a plan, and the results are some very fine beers.

Their classic Trappist ale, along with a holiday ale and a monks reserve ale, may satisfy any Belgian abbey expectations, but intriguingly, they also brew a pilsner, an IPA, and an imperial stout, as well as some fruited beers, which sounds quite in line with the American craft beer scene.

Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler and the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and several outdoor and brewery guidebooks. He is based in Madison, Wis., and his website is TheMadTraveler.com
This is a story about how life moves forward, even at our most precarious moments.

Its a story about love in a time of pandemic. A story about momentary isolation and enduring, timeless connection. A story about a backyard wedding that no guests attended but loved ones managed to see. And it begins 11 years ago.

Brooke Blanton and Bosch Leith, both 27, have now been married for about a week, but their friendship stretches back 11 years to high school in Boerne. They went their separate ways in college, as so many do. She to St. Edwards University in Austin, while he attended Texas State University in San Marcos.

They reconnected the summer after their freshman years, and Blanton was stunned how much Leith had grown. Literally. He was a foot taller and looking very cute, she said.

They would date for the next seven years before getting engaged in April  at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. Then came the wedding planning. It would be a small wedding, maybe 30 guests, limited to immediate family and their closest friends. The date was set: March 21. They would celebrate at the Liney Moon, a sweet little venue in Dripping Springs  Take a deep breath, its website says.

We had a whole fun weekend planned, she said. Boschs parents were going to make a brisket Friday night.

There would be smores, margaritas and a pinata. Tacos from Torchys. Breakfast by her sisters.

By now you know exactly where this is going. Love during a pandemic.

First, they called off their honeymoon to Puerto Rico after a coronavirus curfew was put in place. Then, as they watched the outbreak spread across the nation, and as restrictions on groups tightened here and beyond, as they weighed the willingness of grandparents to attend against the risks of everyone being together, they decided to postpone the celebration.

There would just be this black cloud over it, Blanton said. We wouldnt enjoy it. Everything would have this shadow over it.

But heres one dynamic of living in this pandemic  it brings the present into focus.

Life is too short, Blanton said. I didnt want to wait a single day more to not be married.

Who knows what could happen between now and August?

They were married March 21, not in the Hill Country but in their backyard. Not surrounded by friends and family but together with a single friend to officiate and a photographer to capture the moment. They livestreamed the ceremony for their loved ones to bear witness.

Blanton is stunning in her gown. Leith is dapper in a blue suit. She laughs gently throughout the 15-minute ceremony. They glow.

There is a promise to be the light in dark. Another promise to remember how lucky they are to have found one another. Just before he slips the ring on her finger, she sets her bouquet on the ground. A kiss. Traffic rumbles in the distance. And then they head inside for cake and Champagne.

Everything that matters is right before the eyes.

It is easy, natural and right to be overwhelmed by this moment. To cry for those who have died, to feel stressed about money and job security and the unknowns of the future, to have your heart race and your mind turn. To feel the shadow, as Blanton said, that looms over everything. All this, and so much more, is true.

Just as it is true that life continues. Babies are born. People die for reasons other than COVID-19. The sun rises and sets. Winter turns to spring. Couples fall in love and get married, pivoting to broadcast the beauty of life in a moment of crisis.

Everyone is dealing with the same problem, Blanton said.

In his poem Song of Myself, Walt Whitman begins with a celebration of our individuality and interconnection (words I have found myself returning to in recent weeks):

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume,

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

His words, ever true, are a reminder of how we are bound by an innate goodness and shared experience. The goodness of your inherent nature is the goodness of the world. We all hold the promise of providing light for others in the dark.

jbrodesky@express-news.net
Efforts to mitigate the spread of infectious disease during a pandemic which include social distancing and shutting of businesses help the economy in the long term, according to a new study by American economists.

Researchers with the Federal Reserve bank examined the impact of quarantines, social isolation, and business closings in the aftermath of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

The researchers found that those measures saved lives and boosted the post-pandemic American economy.

They examined American cities which implemented nonpharmaceutical intervention - the closure of schools, limiting business hours, and quarantining citizens - during the 1918 pandemic.

A man wearing a mask is seen on Friday in New York City, where authorities have imposed measures to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus

Cities that used those measures for longer duration found that their economies recovered at a greater rate when the pandemic abated, according to the study.

Manufacturing employment increased by 6.5 per cent in cities that imposed restrictions for an additional 50 days after the pandemic arrived, according to the study.

The researchers appear to be contradicting claims made by President Trump and several other Republicans who fear that the cure may be worse than the disease and that ways should be found to reopen the economy while trying to contain the coronavirus.

WHAT WAS SPANISH FLU? The 1918 flu pandemic was unusually deadly and the first of two involving the H1N1 influenza virus. It infected 500 million people globally, more than one-third of the world's population, including people on remote Pacific islands and in the Arctic. It resulted in the deaths of an estimated three to five per cent of the world's population, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. Spanish Flu resulted in the deaths of an estimated three to five per cent of the world's population, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. This image shows soldiers from Fort Riley, Kansas, ill with the virus Within months it had killed three times as many as World War I and did it more quickly than any other illness in recorded history. Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill juvenile, elderly, or already weakened patients. By contrast, the 1918 pandemic predominantly killed previously healthy young adults. To maintain morale, wartime censors minimised early reports of illness and mortality in Germany, Britain, France, and the United States. However, newspapers were free to report the epidemic's effects in Spain. This created a false impression of Spain as being especially hard hit, leading to the pandemic's nickname Spanish flu. The close quarters and massive troop movements of World War I hastened the pandemic and probably both increased transmission and augmented mutation, researchers believe. The true global mortality rate from the pandemic is not known, but an estimated 10 per cent to 20 per cent of those who were infected died. This would lead to a death toll of between 50 to 100 million people. Advertisement

Trump on Friday appeared to back away from his push to reopen the US economy by Easter despite warnings of public health officials, suggesting he would defer to government health experts.

'We'll be sitting down on Monday or Tuesday, depending on which is the best for everybody and we'll be making that determination. We'll be making it,' Trump said, referencing top officials with him at a White House briefing.

Trump even adopted the mantra of health officials  seeking to impact the chart showing a rapid increase in infections, something that can be accomplished through social distancing measures.

The administration's initial 15-day campaign to slow the spread of the coronavirus is set to be met technically on Monday.

A view of 42nd Street looking west as New York City attempts to slow down the spread of coronavirus through social distancing on Friday

'We want to flatten the curve. We really have to talk about areas of the country that have not been affected or have had a very small effect,' said Trump.

'We'll see. I certainly want to get it open as soon as possible. I don't want it to be long but we also want it to open safe, otherwise what do you do?' he added.

Trump has suggested areas of the country with limited transmission may be able to reopen even as New York and other hard hit areas remain shuttered to try to ward off a crush of hospital cases.

'If we need more time people won't have a problem waiting it out,' Trump said.

His Friday comments came after another partial walk-back on Thursday.

At that day's briefing, trump softened his push for bringing an Easter end social distancing directions, as hospitals begin to get jammed with patients seeking care.

'So were going to be talking, and it could be well do sections of our country,' Trump said Wednesday at the White House. 'There's big sections of our country that are very, you know, little affected by what's taking place, then there are other sections that are very heavily affected,' the president said.

'Then there are other sections that are very heavily affected, so theres a big difference,' Trump said.

'I would say by Easter we'll have a recommendation,' he said  indicating he would be guided by health experts and other advisers.

Trump's push for an Easter reopening of the economy worried some public experts and the idea also drew alarm from some lawmakers in both parties, who fear it could cause the death toll to spike and would not spare the economy if the harshest periods of the coronavirus outbreak had not yet passed.

Although there are dramatic regional differences within the country, public officials worry that without a continued clamp-down, the disease will spread unabated bringing a deadly crush on hospitals.

The coordinator of his coronavirus task force warned Tuesday that New Yorkers who leave the state should self-quarantine for 14 days so as not to spread the disease, amid prevalence there.

'I don't want it to be long but we also want it to open safe,' Trump said, after raising the possibility of an Easter reopening of the country

'I would say by Easter we'll have a recommendation,' President Trump said Wednesday, when asked about a timeline for reopening the economy amid lockdowns across the country

Trump also suggested those against a quick reopening might be trying to harm him politically, after being asked a question about experts 'on both sides of the aisle have said that reopening the country by Easter is not a good idea.'

'I think there are certain people that would like it not to open so quickly,' he said. 'I think there are certain people that would like it to do financially poorly, because they think that would be very good as far as defeating me at the polls.'

Trump continued to attack the CBS reporter who asked the question, saying: 'I think its very clear that there are people in your profession that write fake news. You do.

Then he attacked her and claimed without his team there wouldn't be a country.

'Youre lucky that you have this group here right now for this problem, or you wouldnt even have a country left,' he said.

Trump described a scenario where parts of the company would be allowed to reopen, with people observing strict hand-washing and other prevention they learned from the outbreak.

'They're not going to go walk around hugging and kissing each other in the office when they come back, even though they may feel like it.'

His statements came as officials in hart-hit areas like New York and California were ratcheting up their own clampdown. Washington, D.C., the city from where Trump spoke, is closing non-essential businesses until late April, the city announced in an emergency alert.

'I'm not going to do anything rash or hastily  I don't do that. But the country wants to get back to work,' Trump said, speaking on the second day when the markets rose after the senators reached agreement on a $2 trillion bailout.

On Tuesday, Trump repeatedly spoke about the goal of an Easter opening, which he indicated would have special significance.

'I just thought it was a beautiful time,' Trump said. 'It was based on a certain level of weeks from the time we started.'

Fauci, a respected government expert in disease outbreaks, has called for weighing the evidence on a day-by-day basis not not committing to a timeline.
/ -- The announcements by the Finance Minister yesterday coupled with the announcements from the RBI today should provide a lot of relief in the face of the unprecedented situation that the economy and financial markets face today.

The specific announcements are extremely positive and address a broad range of issues. The CRR, Repo rate and other adjustments address the liquidity side of the equation.

Siddharth Mehta, Founder & CIO, Bay Capital said that the moratorium on all term loans and relief on interest on working capital addresses the liquidity challenges and the new TLTRO provides for a Rs 1 lakh crore facility where by banks availing of this have to in turn use that to invest in CP's and other instruments (and will be classified as HTM), the liquidity for which has completely dried up.

All in all, these are extremely positive measures and together with recent announcements add up to an injection of approximately $50 billion of liquidity. More than anything else, the commentary from the Governor about 'doing what it takes' echoes the comments from the policy makers globally. Other regulatory adjustments and participation of select banks in the offshore NDF market are also extremely positive, Siddharth added further.

Speaking on the Government of India's measures, Sid Mehta, Bay Capital emphasised that although the health side of the epidemic relating to the containment of the virus will be extremely important, in these uncertain and challenging times, these measures are extremely welcome and should be viewed extremely positively. Moreover, people should have complete confidence that policy makers in India stand ready to act proactively, as required, to mitigate any adverse effects that may emerge over time.

About Bay Capital:



Bay Capital Partners is a leading independent India focused investment manager established in 2006. Bay Capital invests in publicly traded securities in India and aims to deliver consistent compounding risk adjusted returns by investing in a concentrated portfolio of businesses that are market leaders with moats incredibly difficult to breach. Bay Capital believes in an 'equity yield curve' where returns increase with time. Bay Capital investors include large global endowments, foundations, family offices and pension funds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Countries across the world are feeling the intense human and economic pain wrought by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has infected more than 550,000 people and killed 24,000 so far. (Image: Reuters)

On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown in India to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. (Image: AP)

India's finance ministry announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore economic relief package on March 26 that will include delivering grains and lentil rations for three months to 800 million people in the country. (Image: PTI)

India's vulnerable sections of society who were suddenly thrown out of work by the nationwide lockdown order will be given aid. (Image: Reuters)

Among those affected the most are migrant workers, for whom the lockdown means loss in wages and no food. (Reuters)

These migrant workers who cannot afford to survive in cities without jobs are returning back to their villages. (Image: Reuters)

Across India, the workers and labourers have been left with little choice other than to walk back to their home villages after public transport was shut during the nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. (Image: Reuters)

On their way back home local residents and government help groups are offering food to homeless and impoverished Indians. (Image: Reuters and AP)

As the country is fighting together against the outbreak deserted streets can be seen and municipal workers are working round-the-clock to clean and fumigate areas with disinfectants as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. (Image: AP)
Memorial City Mall held three donation drives Saturday in hopes of receiving blood, medical supplies and kids meals to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

The curbside drop-off donation drives are considered essential under Harris Countys Stay Home, Work Safe order, which is in effect until April 3. No one was permitted to enter the mall.

The supply drive, which will also be held this upcoming Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, started at noon, accepting a variety of personal protective equipment, including wipes, face shields, isolation gowns, medical-grade N95 and surgical masks, sanitizer, and shoe and boot covers to assist West Houston hospitals and health care workers. Residents also donated gift cards from Memorial City restaurants for healthcare professionals.

Today's donation drive has been steady and we are very appreciative of everyone's support, said Harry Hadland, vice president of Property Management for MetroNational, in a written statement.

There is no current goal projected in terms of supplies needed, but the hope is to prepare in advance for a potential increase in c(COVID-19) cases so (West Houston hospitals) can continue to provide the best care for their patients and their medical staff on the front lines.

More Information If you go Drop off medical suppliesfrom noon-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the west entrance of the mall (adjacent to the American Girl store and Ice Skate Memorial City). West side of Memorial City Mall, 303 Memorial City, access off Gessner Rd. See More Collapse

Kids Meals, an organization in Houston that delivers free meals to the homes of Houstons hungriest preschool students, accepted food donations, and encouraged residents to bring items like canned chicken, individual packs of tuna, granola bars, peanut butter cups and tins of Vienna sausage. The drive will also take place from noon to 4 p.m. April 4.

The emergency blood drive, a partnership with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, held appointments for blood donations on both Friday and Saturday in hopes of maintaining its blood supply levels after experiencing a shortage, said Cameron Palmer, the community development coordinator for blood center.

Palmer said as local businesses and schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, less people were donating blood, which prompted the center to reach out to the community. Blood levels have since increased to optimal levels, but the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is using the blood drives to educate the community.

Now that were at optimal levels, we need to sustain those levels. Come out and donate regularly, said Palmer, adding that regular donations keep hospitals from needing to stockpile blood.

The center plans to host other drives with businesses throughout the city for which people can make appointments in advance the centers website. But Palmer added, after this is over, still make that effort to come and donate blood, he said. Hospitals are always going to need blood.
N etflix has done it again with the release of fascinating true crime documentary The Tiger King which has left viewers open-mouthed in amazement.

The new show tells the story of the so-called Tiger King Joe Exotic, the charismatic and flamboyant manager of an exotic animal park in Oklahoma, and his rivalry with Big Cat sanctuary owner Carole Baskin.

Despite the success of his travelling animal show and his menagerie of exotic animals, Exotic is currently serving 22 years in prison for his part in a murder-for-hire plot in which he attempted to hire a hit man to kill Baskin.

Baskin attracted his ire after she helped organise protests against his show, and she also successfully sued him for copyright infringement, causing Exotic to swear revenge.

Here, we take a closer look at Carole Baskin and the events that inspired the Netflix show.

Joe Exotic ran an animal park in Oklahoma / Netflix

Who is Carole Baskin?

Carole Baskin is most famous for founding Big Cat Rescue in 1992, an animal sanctuary near Tampa, Florida.

An animal rights activist, she and Exotic were at loggerheads over his travelling animal show and exotic animal park in Oklahoma, the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park.

Exotic was accused of breeding big cats for profit and at one point he claimed to the most prolific tiger breed in the US, and he also attracted censure and criticism from animal rights groups for allowing punters to interact with cubs.

Baskin, who's Big Cat Rescue sanctuary rescues, houses and rehabilitates wild cats, called for the end of the private trade and ownership of exotic cats, and she organised protests against the use of cubs in his shows after his park was cited for animal welfare violations in 2006.

The animosity between the two grew further when he organised shows under the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary name. She sued him and eventually won a million dollar settlement against Exotic.

Exotic was infuriated and he swore revenge; Baskin complained of threats being made against her, while an ex-employee of Exotic warned her of a threat to kill her. Once, he filled her mailbox full of snakes.

25 underrated movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime 1 /33 25 underrated movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime The Miseducation of Cameron Post  Netflix Chloe Grace Moretz plays the titular role in this powerful drama. After shes discovered kissing the prom queen, Moretzs character is sent to the gay conversion camp called Gods Promise, where she rallies together with fellow disciples in the face of terrible adversity. Booksmart  Amazon Prime Video Olivia Wildes directorial debut Booksmart is an inspired comedy and coming-of-age movie, and one of the funniest films of last year. Swots Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) head out for a night of partying, realising theyve forgotten how to have fun during their high school studies. Captain Fantastic  Netflix In this quirkier than a Wes Anderson convention, this comedy drama centers around a family who have grown up in isolation, with father Ben (Viggo Mortensen) teaching how to live their lives away from capitalist society. Paris is Burning  Netflix This groundbreaking documentary captures the spirit of the trailblazing ball culture of 80s New York, taking us into the lives of the African-American, Latino, gay and transgender communities who made it one of the most influential LGBTQ+ movements of the 20th century. Blindspotting  Netflix This uniquely styled comedy drama follows a man with just days left on his sentence, whose future is thrown in doubt after witnessing a police shooting. Its much funnier and quirkier than it sounds, trust us. Whats Eating Gilbert Grape  Amazon Prime Video This early 90s cult classic follows Johnny Depps young shop clerk in small town America, tasked with looking after his obese mother and mentally impaired younger brother. Theres also one of the first movie performances from Leonardo DiCaprio to look out for. Ingrid Goes West  Netflix Take a trip with Aubrey Plazas outsider Ingrid, as she travels to Venice Beach to infiltrate the Insta-fabulous life of her favourite influencer in this dark, oddball comedy. Dolemite is my Name  Netflix This Netflix drama is a real return to form for Eddie Murphy. Plenty of people were calling for him to be recognised during awards season for his performance as Rudy Ray Moore, the star of blaxploitation films in the 70s. Private Life  Netflix Private Life is one of the few Hollywood movies of recent times that tackles the subject of middle-aged couples trying to have children. Its sensitive and quietly devastating, featuring the best Paul Giammatti performance in years and a great turn from Kathryn Hahn. Okja  Netflix We told you Boon Jong-Ho would be back. A genetically-enhanced super pig and a young girl form an unlikely and beautiful friendship in this gem, going head to head with a superfood conglomerate. This Netflix original was dismissed as vegan propaganda by some when it came out in 2017, but its so much more. Blinded by the Light  Amazon Prime Video A love letter to the songs of Bruce Springsteen, based on the memoirs of Sarfraz Manzoor and directed by Bend It Like Beckhams Gurinder Chadha, this movie is a coming-of-age tale that will resonate with most viewers  fans of the Boss, or not. Atlantics  Netflix This Cannes prize-winning debut from filmmaker Mati Diop tackles a challenging subject matter  the tragic deaths of migrants at sea  in a surprisingly life-affirming way, following a love story at the very edges of human capabilities. Annihilation  Netflix This brilliantly weird high-concept sci-fi is one of the best original Netflix movies yet, following cellular biology professor Natalie Portman as she ventures deeper into a mysterious zone called the Shimmer. Think heart of darkness with added aliens. Under the Skin  Amazon Prime Video In Scarlett Johanssons impressive, varied and sometimes controversial career, Under the Skin stands out as her strangest movie. Here she plays an alien life form who drives around Scotland in a van seducing men, only for them to meet terrifying, unexpected fates after visiting her apartment. The Tale of Princess Kaguya  Netflix Netflix users are blessed with the Studio Ghibli back catalogue on demand. Theyre all worth checking out, of course, but while the likes of My Neighbour Totoro get all the praise, 2013s The Tale of Princess Kaguya features some of the studios most breathtaking animation and elegant storytelling, and is one of our top picks. The Wife  Netflix Glenn Close can count herself unlucky not to have picked up a long-awaited Oscar for her towering performance in this subtle drama, playing a woman who questions everything after her self-obsessed husband received the Nobel Prize. The Two Popes  Netflix Critics including the Standards Charlotte OSullivan tipped this two-hander drama for success at the Oscars a while back. Its gone under the radar slightly since then, but the performances from Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio respectively are electric. Blue Ruin  Netflix Bloodthirsty revenge flick Blue Ruin is a slow-burning delight, and one that might easily go unnoticed on Netflix without an A-list cast to entice viewers. Its a violent and visceral watch at times, but its also a compelling look at human endurance and the impacts of reopening old wounds. Cube  Amazon Prime Video More high-concept sci-fi, this time in the form of an independent Canadian movie from the 90s, where a group of friends find themselves trapped in a maze of cube-shaped rooms, all booby-trapped and not what they seem. Its bonkers, in the best way. American Animals  Amazon Prime Video This esoteric take on the heist movie centres around the real library robbery at Transylvania University, where a group of students attempted to steal a collection of rare books. The movie cuts from dramatisation to documentary footage, and is well worth exploring. Filth  Amazon Prime Video James McAvoy throws the kitchen sink at his performance as a troubled and misanthropic detective in this uniquely distressing and compelling drama, featuring all the guts and grime youd expect from an Irvine Welsh adaptation. The Ritual  Netflix Horror films following inexperienced groups of travellers into the woods have become a sub-genre all of their own, but The Ritual is better than most. This supernatural horror is intelligently done and genuinely scary in places, with strong performances from the likes of Rafe Spall. Snowpiercer  Amazon Prime Video This high-concept thriller helped announce Parasite director and Korean master Bong Joon-Ho to a bigger western audience. Snowpiercer follows a revolt onboard a train, which is carrying the last humans alive on earth in the aftermath of a second ice age. More from Bong Joon-Ho later. Good Time  Netflix The Safdie Brothers anxiety-inducing Uncut Gems is one the most talked about films of the year  and quite rightly, its fantastic  but their previous film Good Time is just as compelling. Robert Pattinson gives one of the best performances of his career, playing a desperate conman in the aftermath of a botched heist. The Big Sick  Amazon Prime Video This alternate take on the classic rom-com tells the story of Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) and Emily (Zoe Kazan), who must learn to deal with adversity and cultural contrasts following Emilys shock health diagnosis. Its beautiful, funny, moving and well worth your time.

Exotic attempted to a hire someone to kill Baskin for $3,000, but unbeknownst to him he had spoken to an FBI agent posing as a hit man, and he was arrested and later convicted of two counts of murder-for-hire, eight violations of the Lacey Act and nine of the Endangered Species Act. In January 2020, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

But the series reveals how Big Cat Rescue started life as a Wildlife on Easy Street, a wild cat breeding zoo featuring a bed and breakfast experience in which guests were allowed to spend the night with exotic cats, an experience which was eventually stopped.

After his arrest, Exotic made extraordinary claims that Baskin had allegedly killed her first husband Don Lewis, which Baskin denies.

Lewis disappeared in August 1997, with his wife saying he had gone away on a trip to Costa Rica.

However, he never returned and Baskin declared him legally dead in 2002. Exotic has claimed Baskin killed Lewis and fed his body to the tigers, or buried him under a septic tank, but she has strenuously denied these allegations, which are unfounded.

What is Carole Baskin doing now?

Baskin is still running Big Cat Rescue with her second husband, Howard, and is still an animal rights activist campaigning to change laws about wild animal enclosures.

She recently hit out at the Netflix documentary in a blog post, calling it "salacious and sensational".

She wrote: "When the directors of the Netflix documentary Tiger King came to us five years ago they said they wanted to make the big cat version of Blackfish (the documentary that exposed abuse at SeaWorld) that would expose the misery caused by the rampant breeding of big cat cubs for cub petting exploitation and the awful life the cats lead in roadside zoos and back yards if they survive.

"There are not words for how disappointing it is to see that the docu-series not only does not do any of that, but has had the sole goal of being as salacious and sensational as possible to draw viewers.

"As part of that, it has a segment devoted to suggesting, with lies and innuendos from people who are not credible, that I had a role in the disappearance of my husband Don 21 years ago.

"The series presents this without any regard for the truth or in most cases even giving me an opportunity before publication to rebut the absurd claims. They did not care about truth. The unsavoury lies are better for getting viewers."
Bondi Beach has been closed indefinitely for the first time since the Second World War, along with a dozen of Australia's most popular beaches.

Officials were forced to take the unprecedented step after crowds of sun-seekers continued to flout social distancing rules designed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Last weekend, the beach was closed on Saturday and Sunday after hundreds of people flocked to enjoy the sunshine - but it reopened in the week.

But now, along with other popular haunts such as Palm Beach in Sydney's north, it has been shut down 'until further notice'.

Port Phillip Council in Melbourne has also shut all of its beaches indefinitely, including St Kilda and Brighton Beach.

Beachgoers are seen at Bondi Beach despite the threat of coronavirus on March 20. The beach has now been shut down indefinitely

Sunbathers flocked to Bondi on Saturday (pictured) in Sydney, despite warnings about the coronavirus pandemic and calls for people to stay at home

On Saturday night, NSW officials announced that the above beaches (pictured) would be closed 'until further notice'

BEACHES CLOSED 'UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE' IN NSW On Saturday night, NSW closed a number of popular beaches 'until further notice', these are: All Randwick & Waverley beaches are closed)

Maroubra

Clovelly

Malabar

Gordons Bay

Little Bay

Frenchman's Bay

Yarra Bay

Bondi Beach

Mackenzies Bay

Bronte

Tamarama

North Palm Beach

Palm Beach Advertisement

The extraordinary measure could soon pave the way for even more beaches across the country to be shut down all together.

A post on Surf Life Saving NSW's Facebook page said all Randwick and Waverley beaches in Sydney's east would be closed.

This would include every beach from Bondi down to Coogee.

In Victoria, all beaches in Port Phillip are not shut - with Mayor Bernadene Voss said the difficult decision was taken after hundreds flouted social distancing rules.

It comes as the state's chief medical officer issued a stark warning that thousands of Australians could die if people continue to ignore the advice on social distancing.

Officials say that staying at home and avoiding spending time with people from outside of your household is the best way to stop COVID-19 spreading.

This means not going to the beach, not playing sport or even going round to a friend's house.

Surf Life Saving NSW said that it was taking the step in response to the government's social distancing orders. NSW officials confirmed that the beaches were being closed 'until further notice'.

People are seen at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on Friday (pictured) despite officials pleading with people to stay at home

Surf Life Saving NSW had already announced the end of the patrol season had been brought forward by a month.

There are now no patrols of volunteer lifesavers on beaches across the state, as they try to protect their staff and the public from COVID-19.

Jet skis and rescue boats will continue to have a 'roving presence', with emergency callout teams on standby.

It comes as Australia's coronavirus death toll reached 14, with 3,637 recorded cases of the deadly respiratory disease.

'Our number one priority is ensuring the safety and welfare of our volunteer members', its president George Shales said.

Groups of young people are seen at St Kilda Beach on Friday (pictured) despite a ban being put in place by the local council

Scores of unfazed residents were photographed going about their day on Saturday enjoying the 24C weather in Manly (pictured), in Sydney's Northern Beaches

Police are seen patrolling St Kilda beach on Saturday evening (pictured) after having to turf off dozens of sunseekers who ignored warnings about social distancing

'It was becoming increasingly difficult for us to continue beach patrols while at the same time implement the necessary social distancing measures to protect surf lifesavers from the risk of COVID-19 infection.'

The warnings didn't stop hoards of sunseekers flouting the guidelines on Saturday - even lounging in front of signs reading 'Beach Closed' and 'Stop COVID-19'.

Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria's chief medical officer, slammed the sunbathers on Twitter, saying their behaviour was 'really c**p'.

Hundreds of people packed onto the grass next to Bondi Beach on March 20 (pictured) and were clearly not socially distancing

Critics slammed the beachgoers for being ignorant about the coronavirus threat, after they flocked in droves to Bondi Beach (pictured on March 20)

St Kilda Beach in Melbourne was shut down (pictured on Saturday) over coronavirus fears, but some residents ignored the warnings

He warned Australia is likely to suffer 100,000 coronavirus cases within weeks, predicting thousands of people would die if residents continue to float the guidelines designed to keep them safe.

Dozens of beachlovers gathered at Melbourne's St Kilda on Saturday, despite the beach being shut down by authorities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 - which has now killed 14 Australians and infected thousands.

Startling pictures show groups of young people flouting social distancing guidelines to work on their tans, despite repeated calls for people to stay at home or maintain a 1.5m distance from one another.

NSW Police were seen at Bondi Pavilion on March 21 after state officials made the decision to shut down the world-famous beach

Australia's coronavirus cases continue to rise, but some residents are still defying advice aimed at reducing the spread of the virus

Palm Beach (pictured), 41km north of Sydney, will also be closed for the foreseeable future

A sign put up at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) told residents that the beach was closed - but many ignored the warning

Several large signs were put up by officials warning people to stay away, with one even pleading 'Stop COVID-19' while another read 'No Gatherings'.

Similar scenes unfolded at Rushcutters Bay, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, and Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire, with scores of people getting together at the park, going on walks and playing group sports.

Last Saturday, shocking pictures of hundreds of people swarming across Bondi beach forced officials to close it down for the rest of the weekend.

It is now unknown when the beaches will reopen.

'Some of the behaviour today - when were asking people to stay home - has been really crap,' Dr Sutton wrote on Saturday night.

'Its hard to change habits and its hard to see dangers that arent apparent yet.

'But with 3,000 cases of COVID in Australia this week, were headed to 100,000 in 2-3 weeks without change.

'That means thousands of deaths. Overwhelmed health services. Medical staff at unacceptable risk. Unstoppable spread. Do the right thing now and stay at home. Today. Tomorrow. Until were through this, please.'

A group of young women are spoken to by a police officer on Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) after dozens flocked to the closed beach to enjoy the sunshine despite the coronavirus pandemic

This group of young people didn't appear to be 1.5 metres apart, and were sat directly in front of a sign telling residents 'No Gatherings' during the COVID-19 pandemic

Police were forced to approach ignorant sunbathers (pictured) who chose to go to St Kilda Beach on Saturday despite social distancing guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19

Several Melbourne beaches were closed to groups on Friday, with St Kilda closed altogether, with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews warning sunseekers they were putting people's lives at risk.

'If you can stay home, you must stay home,' Mr Andrews told reporters.

'You don't need to be at the beach. If you choose to be at the beach then that is a choice that may cost someone their life.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said people would face fines of up to $1,652 for gathering in groups and businesses would be hit with penalties of $9,913.

Police officers patrolled St Kilda Beach on Saturday (pictured), telling seemingly surprised residents that they were not allowed on the beach because of COVID-19 restrictions
Dr. Teena Chopra has been an infectious disease specialist in Detroit for 15 years, and says the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is like nothing any of us have ever seen before.

It seems like the sky is falling, said Chopra, who works for Detroit Medical Center. It seems like Im flying a plane and Im learning how to build it while Im flying it.

Dr. Matthew Sims, an infectious disease specialist at Beaumont Hospitals, feels much the same way.

A large portion of the population is becoming infected, he said. "People are dealing with shortages of supplies and not really knowing what the best way to treat these patients, although everybodys got ideas.

Some people liken it to being in a war, he said. And we are at war with this virus.

DMC and Beaumont are among the Detroit-area hospitals at the epicenter of Michigans coronavirus crisis. In the past 10 days, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan has gone from 80 to more than 3,600. The vast majority of those cases -- 83% as of Friday -- are in metro Detroit.

Southeast Michigan is pretty much exploding with exponential growth of COVID patients, and hospital systems are being overwhelmed, Chopra said.

Its fast developing into a dire situation, one that has drawn the attention of Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigans chief medical executive, and as well the U.S. surgeon general.

Why has Michigan became an epicenter for coronavirus?

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Friday that the situation in metro Detroit is likely to worsen over the next week, along with Chicago and New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the states chief medical executive, is worried about the increase in coronavirus cases in the Detroit area.

Its important that we take that seriously and focus our efforts on that," Khaldun said. Our hospitals are at capacity in southeast Michigan.

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Whats keeping her awake nights, Chopra said, is worrying about the Detroit areas vulnerable population -- those who lack resources to see a doctor or go to the hospital; the people with pre-existing health conditions that put them at risk of coronavirus complications; the worry that the surge of patients will be so great we may not have room for everyone.

This is everyones worry in southeast Michigan, Chopra added. Every hospital is struggling with the same worry of not enough resources."

Chopra said she looks at the stories coming out of New York City and suspects Detroit will be next.

Were getting there very fast, she said. Its going to happen. Its inevitable.

Sims said he worries most about the unknowns: How many people are actually infected? How big is the problem? What are the most effective treatments? Will there be enough ventilators? Once this wave of cases dies down, will conoravirus coming roaring back in the fall?

What keeps me awake at night is now much we dont know, he said.

But those are longer-term worries, the doctors acknowledge. Whats much more immediate is the shortage of medical supplies and equipment. That include personal protection equipment -- or PPEs -- such as masks and gowns; coronavirus test kits and the supplies needed to conduct the tests; ventilators, and more hospital beds.

We need more resources in the form of additional beds and nurses and staff who can come and take care of the excess number of patients were going to see, Chopra said. We will be overwhelmed very quickly, and we will burn out and the health-care workers will also get infections -- more and more and more we will see surges in health-care workers, front-line staff who get sick.

The shortage in personal protective gear is a huge, immediate concern, Sims said. The hospitals need it desperately. We are falling back on emergency measures to reuse protective gear-- use one mask throughout the day instead of changing masks for every patient. Minimizing the number of people who go in a room to save the equipment, because theres only so much equipment to go around."

U.S. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, said obtaining more protective gear for health-care workers is a No.1 priority right now.

Ramping up production of supplies is critically important because one thing you cant ramp up are doctors and nurses, he said. We have to protect the doctors and nurses and other medical professionals so they dont get sick, because were going to need them to continue to provide care to people in the weeks and months ahead. The priority is to keep them healthy.

But theres a nationwide shortage of those supplies, Peters said, and it now appears the Federal Emergency Management Agency has bought up personal protection equipment, with the intention to distributing them to states.

The problem with that, Peters said, is that FEMAs distribution formula is based on population rather than coronavirus caseload.

Thats simply wrong, given where we are with these disease, said Peters, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees FEMA.

The primary factor should be need. Were in a triage situation right now, Peters said. We dont have sufficient PPEs to send to everybody around the country, and its going to take some time to get to the point where manufacturers ramp up their production. So in the meantime, we need to make it a priority to send equipment to those places that need it the most.

Its a grim situation, Sims said. But, he added, Ive seen lots of amazing people do lots of amazing things to try to help the situation.

If you walk through Beaumont, youll see thank-you sign for the nurses, thank-you signs for the doctors, thank you to everybody, #wegot this -- and I think we do, Sims said.

I dont think its going to be easy, he said. There are going to be difficult times ahead. But hopefully, it will be relatively short-lived.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

To read more on MLive:

Friday, March 27: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

GM will build ventilators in Indiana, surgical masks in Warren

Whitmer says Michigan schools very unlikely to re-open this school year

Michigan medical chief fears hospitals will run out of room
A Bareilly woman has honoured a Noida police officer by naming her new-born after him for facilitating her husbands trip to be with when she was expecting their first baby amid the lockdown t o check the spread of coronavirus.

I have named my son Mohd Ranvijay Khan, the additional commissioner of police Noida, without whose help my husband would not have been able to reach Bareilly during the lockdown, she tweeted on Saturday.

A resident of Izzatnagar locality in Bareilly, Tammana was alone at her house as her husband Anees Khan, was stranded in Noida where he works as the 21-day nation-wide lockdown began .

In desperation, she posted a video message on Facebook as the time of delivery arrived and there was no one to help her.

Follow coronavirus live updates here.

The Bareilly police promptly responded and took Tamanna to a local hospital and got her admitted. I got the message through social media in which Tamanna Khan had sought help from police. We reached out to her and subsequently requested Noida police to help bring her husband Anees to Bareilly from Noida, said Bareillys Senior Superintendent of Police Shailesh Pandey.

Noida Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Kumar Ranvijay Singh made arrangements for a taxi to bring her husband to Bareilly. Tamanna delivered a baby boy on Thursday.

The woman has now expressed her gratitude on Twitter, thanking the UP Police, especially SSP, Bareilly, Shailesh Pandey, and additional DCP, Noida, Ranvijay Singh for their help.

I did not have any hopes of getting any help while I was making the video. But Shailesh Pandey sir (SSP Bareilly) reached out to me and called my husband, she said. The local police acted like my Guardian Angel at a time when I thought she I would die alone. For me, cops are the real heroes, and I have named my child Mohammed Ranvijay Khan, she said.
In a noble gesture, the staff of General Post Office (GPO) along with their family members in Thiruvananthapuram came together to serve home cooked food to those who are unable to get food during the lockdown period following COVID-19 outbreak.

"We got to know that there are many helpless people who are struggling for a meal in this lockdown. We got an association-Postal Staff Quarters Welfare Association and we decided to make food from our homes and give to Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, who supplied it to the needy. There are 40 families in staff quarters who all joined in our effort. We are planning to continue this initiative," said Shabeer S, Postal Assistant, GPO who took the initiative.

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation apart from food from newly launched Community Kitichen are also providing food packets given by good Samaritans to the needy.

Speaking to ANI, S Srirangan, Senior Postmaster, GPO said that staff of Post Office is also planning to supply food made from the GPO canteen to Corporation.

"There are many who are in need of food during the lockdown. Considering it, from Monday we will make food from staff canteen and supply it to people in need. This will be carried out through Thiruvananthapuram Corporation " he said.

The GPO here has also launched "Mobile Post Office" for the people who are unable to visit post office during the lockdown.

"There is one mobile post office in each districts. These post office on wheels carry out withdrawals, deposits, money orders bookings, speed posts and registered letters. It has got a good response from people, " said Srirangan.

The good initiative of the staff of GPO was also noticed by Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who took to Twitter to laud this initiative.

"Residents of India Postal Staff quarters in Thiruvananthapuram city are serving the poor by preparing food packets and handing it to the City Corporation authorities for distribution during the Lockdown," Union Minister tweeted along with photo of food packets served by the Postal Staff.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Will Peoples, a leukemia survivor, has been staying in place at his home in Northeast Philadelphia since the spread of the coronavirus. Peoples has been the beneficiary of Legacy of Hope, a nonprofit that works with Philly Police to deliver groceries to homebound cancer patients. Peoples says the group was a lifeline for him and his family before coronavirus struck, and has become invaluable now. Read more

For six months, every day has been a series of small victories for Will Peoples. Its been that long since the 33-year-olds leukemia went into remission, but the treatment took a toll on his immune system, forcing him to confine himself in the safety of his Frankford home.

Then COVID-19 hit.

There is no such thing as good timing for a global pandemic, but it could not have come at a worse moment for Peoples, still needing to recover, and his wife and their two children.

What was timed well, however, was the arrival of Legacy of Hope, a nonprofit that delivers groceries biweekly to cancer patients  Peoples started receiving his orders two weeks ago, delivered by Philadelphia police officers working with the nonprofit.

It helped improve my mood, Peoples said. And I was honored that these officers took the time to come help. One was a cancer survivor, too, and them being down-to-earth made me feel better about all thats going on.

The organization said it would continue to deliver groceries during the quarantine, but now with officers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and using curbside drop-offs.

 READ MORE: How grocery shipping amid coronavirus was snarled by Americas high-tech delivery networks, weak national response

In most households, calls for quarantining and social distancing can be trying. But for those already homebound, such as the elderly or immunocompromised, a lack of contact can pose a significant health risk. Across the Philadelphia region, social-service organizations, government offices, and even some police departments are changing how they serve people as the coronavirus continues its sweep.

For many agencies, stay-at-home restrictions forced only slight changes in how they provide services. In other cases, it inspired new ones, like the virtual well-being checks that Chief Karl Knott instituted in the Central Bucks Regional Police Department.

This week, three officers from the department, with headquarters in Doylestown, began making daily phone calls to everybody in the departments jurisdiction who is 65 or older. Its an opportunity for them to ask officers questions about the rapidly changing orders issued out of Harrisburg, or receive some reassurance about the world beyond the home theyve been told to hunker down in.

Were fortunate to have a low crime rate, but were not resting on our laurels, and were always thinking of ways to reach out to the community, Knott said. I thought this would be a good first step to help folks get through this pandemic that no one has experienced before in their lives.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia-area stores with dedicated hours for seniors, pregnant women and the immunocompromised

Staffers are making similar calls in Chester County, according to Sandra Murphy, the head of the countys Department of Aging Services. A frequent request is for rides on Rover, the departments shuttle service that takes seniors to grocery stores.

Social distancing requires more trips with fewer riders, all spaced far enough apart on the shuttle buses. Luckily, according to Murphy, the department is being met with willing school bus drivers looking to pitch in as districts remain closed.

Were still answering our phones, and we will try to hook people up with the resources they need, Murphy said. Well talk to people who are feeling anxious or depressed. Well stay on the phone as long as you need us to, and if you need someone to call you every single day, well make sure that happens."

With the constant flow of updates coming out of Harrisburg and Washington, local agencies are focused on informing seniors. Dana Goldberg, the legal director for the Philadelphia-based SeniorLAW Center, said its staff has been able to maintain the centers hotlines remotely, answering questions about food pantries, evictions and other pressing concerns.

 RESOURCES: The SeniorLAW Center has a list of resources available online or by phone at 1-877-727-7529

For those who are venturing to the homes of the sick and elderly, like the Philadelphia officers working with Legacy of Hope, the benefit of those conversations is mutual, according to Inspector Altovise Love-Craighead.

 READ MORE: As grocery deliveries surge due to the coronavirus, the most vulnerable have to wait

Before this pandemic, the value was absolutely clear, she said. And given that the need has increased exponentially, so has the sense of reward for doing what you do.

Love-Craighead, who oversees the departments community relations division, said officers from each of Philadelphias six police divisions have been eager to work with Legacy of Hope. And their familiarity with the neighborhoods has allowed them to refer those in need to the nonprofit.

The last thing we want is for people to be without, she said. At times like these, everyone wants to help, and they were just grateful for the opportunity.
After days of downplaying the coronavirus threat at Laguna Honda Hospital, San Franciscos 780-bed nursing home, officials warned that the virus would probably spread further through the facility.

We do expect an outbreak at the hospital, Department of Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said Friday.

The number of coronavirus infections steadily rose at Laguna Honda this week, with at least one patient, four nurses and two porters testing positive for the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus. Colfax signaled Friday that he expects more people there to test positive as the hospital expands testing to more staffers and residents.

It is concerning to hear about these cases. And it will continue to be concerning as the cases in San Francisco grow, Colfax said.

The increased threat to Laguna Honda comes as cases climb in the rest of the city. San Francisco had nearly 300 confirmed cases Friday, up from about 130 Monday.

A wider outbreak at Laguna Honda Hospital could be devastating, as most of the long-term residents are elderly with underlying health conditions. Officials scrambled to contain the spread this week by placing the entire hospital on lockdown and by announcing they would test about 150 staff members who may have come in contact with an infected co-worker, as well as an unknown number of residents.

The two units where the infected patient lived and staff members worked  South 4 and South 5  were also placed on quarantine. There are about 120 patients and 150 staff members across those two units.

All seven people from Laguna Honda who tested positive are in good condition, Colfax said.

Colfax also said Friday that the department has brought in additional resources to curb the spread, including extra staff and expertise on long-term care, infection control and infectious disease. He added that the department has reached out to key partners like UCSF and Sutter Health to strengthen our response.

His comments underscored the danger that the virus poses to nursing homes like Laguna Honda, a threat that has grown more serious in the past few days.

Earlier in the week, Colfax did not even mention the infected staff members during two public news conferences, until he was prompted by a reporter.

Residents and staff members who spoke to The Chronicle this week said they had been largely kept in the dark by their own institution. They said the health department was moving slowly and failing to take decisive action to protect residents, doctors, nurses and other workers.

One resident, who asked not to be named out of fear of retaliation, said Thursday that nursing home staff dont have enough protective equipment or cleaning supplies used to decontaminate surfaces. The resident also said that residents were not told until Wednesday that staff members were infected  despite the fact that The Chronicle reported on the first positive cases Monday.

City officials maintain that there is enough protective equipment for staffers, saying it has simply been moved to a new, centralized location and that hospital workers can request protective gear through their managers. Medical professionals have told The Chronicle that shortages of masks and other supplies persist and the city isnt telling the truth.

Even as multiple staff members tested positive for the virus, the department said Wednesday that it was still only testing residents and staff members who exhibited symptoms. The hospital changed course Thursday and said it would test about 150 staff members across the two units.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Rachael Kagan, a department spokeswoman, did not respond to a question about the timeline for testing. As of Wednesday, only 15 out of 750 residents had been tested.

Meanwhile, a health care worker in San Francisco General Hospitals emergency room also tested positive for the virus this week. In response to the increased threat to health care workers, officials announced Friday that San Francisco would prioritize testing for health care workers and first responders.

As the testing increases, so will the amount of confirmed cases, Colfax warned.

Do not be surprised, as we have increased our testing capacity in our city, he said. Simply put, the more testing we do, the more cases we will find.

Trisha Thadani and Jason Fagone are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com, jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani, @jfagone
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 21:21:58|Editor: mingmei

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A medical staff member receives a bunch of flowers at the airport in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province on March 28, 2020. Hainan's last batch of medical assistance teams returned Saturday after completing their mission to aid the virus-hit Hubei. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Digital payments company Paytm on Saturday said it aims to contribute Rs 500 crore to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES).

For every contribution or any other payment made on Paytm using the wallet, UPI and Paytm Bank debit card, the company will contribute an extra up to Rs 10, Paytm said in a statement.

"We are honored to do our duty to aid the government in all the relief measures being taken to fight the Corona pandemic. We hope our users wholeheartedly donate to PM CARES fund and help save lives," Paytm President Madhur Deora said.

He added that the company will make a contribution for every payment transaction using the Paytm app and instruments, and this money would be directly sent to the PM-CARES fund.

Previously, Paytm had created a Rs 5 crore fund for innovators who are developing medical instruments or medicines to combat the virus.

The PM CARES Fund is exempt under the Income Tax Act, 1961 under Section 10 and 139 for return purposes.

Contributions towards PM-CARES are notified for 100 per cent deduction from taxable income under section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Dear Savvy Senior,

My husband and I are interested in taking our two grandkids on a big trip this summer and are looking for some good ideas. Can you recommend some travel companies that offer special travel packages for grandparents and grandkids?

Doting Grandparents

Dear Doting,

Grandparents traveling with their grandchildren has become increasingly popular in recent years. Not only is this type of travel fun, its also a wonderful way to strengthen family bonds and create some lasting memories.

To help you with your traveling aspirations, there are a number of travel companies today that offer specialized multi-generational trip packages for grandparents and grandchildren. This is a nice way to go because they plan everything for you, with most activities for the two generations together, but some just for adults so you can get an occasional breather.

Available in various trip lengths and price ranges, these tours are designed for children, typically between the ages seven up to 17 or 18, and are usually scheduled in the summer, or sometimes during winter breaks when the kids are out of school. Here are some top tour companies to check into that will take you and your grandkids on a fun, well-planned vacation.

Road Scholar (RoadScholar.org): This well-established not-for-profit organization has offered educational travel to older adults since 1975. They currently offer 130 different programs geared to grandparent and grandchildren. About 75 percent of the grandparent trips are domestic; 25 percent are international. Some of the most popular destinations include the U.S. National Parks, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands and Paris. The average cost per person per night is $250 for domestic trips, $360 for international.

Tauck (Tauck.com): This is a large tour operator that offers 22 foreign and domestic multi-generational trips called Tauck Bridges family tours. Some of their most popular trips are Costa Rica, the European riverboat cruises, and the Cowboy Country, which tours you through Wyoming and South Dakota.

Austin Adventures (AustinAdventures.com): An adventure travel tour operator that offers 119 family friendly trips ideally suited for grandparents and grandchildren. Popular packages include destinations to Yellowstone National Park, Alaska, Costa Rica, Austria and Holland.

Adventures by Disney (AdventuresByDisney.com): Offers more than 35 vacations all over the world, including itineraries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

Smithsonian Journeys (SmithsonianJourneys.org): They offer seven different family journey trips to London and Paris, Tuscany, Iceland, Galapagos Islands, Botswana, Yellowstone and a Rhine River cruise.

Journeys International (JourneysInternational.com): They offer customized multi-generational trips primarily to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.

Grandkids Travel Documents

Depending on where you go and your mode of transportation, youll need to gather some documents for your grandchildren to make sure everything goes smoothly. In general, most travel experts recommend you bring a notarized travel consent form (letter of permission from the parents), and a medical consent form in case any emergencies or problems arise. Also bring copies of insurance cards.

If youre traveling domestically, you should know that airlines and trains dont require any form of ID for children under 18. But if youre traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, or other areas of the Caribbean by land or sea, grandchildren 15 and under will need certified copies of their birth certificates. And if your grandkids are 16 or older, or youre traveling to these locations via air, passports will be required.

If youre traveling overseas, all children, even infants, must have a passport. Some countries also require a visa for entry, and vaccinations may be required in some cases. Before booking a trip, check the U.S. Department of States website at Travel.State.gov for country-specific information.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
It is true that in times of crisis and disasters, people come together, comfort each other and unite against common threats. In Morocco, the coronavirus pandemic has triggered unprecedented acts of solidarity, and generosity, bringing out the best of Moroccan people.

As most Moroccans are staying at home to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, caregivers, store clerks, utility workers, cleaners have become the new heroes of society.

They are on the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which has reshaped peoples daily lives at home and work, enabling them to rethink how they protect themselves and what they value most.

As a token of appreciation for their sacrifice, several hotels in Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangiers, Tinghir offer free stays for the doctors and paramedics as well as for the security agents, while some restaurants and firms are giving free food, bottled water, goods, medical products and masks.

A local car-maker has donated 50 ambulances to the Moroccan authorities to help them cope with the coronavirus, while a group of companies donated tons of food products including UHT milk, oil, sugar, tea, juice, couscous, flour, pastas.

All these donated products will be delivered to the poor families and those who lost their jobs due to Covid-19 lockdown under the supervision of the local authorities.

Some volunteers are getting groceries or making meals for elderly people and those with disabilities who bear the brunt of the health crisis but sometimes, small acts such as a phone call can appease those who are anxious during these tumultuous times.

As soon as Moroccos king Mohammed VI ordered on March 15 the setting up of $1 billion Special Fund for the Management and Response to COVID-19, donations started to pour in from public and private companies, banks, charities, MPs, Govt members, politicians, businessmen, senior officials, celebrities, artists, sportsmen

The funds raised, which have so far exceeded $3 billion, will help to improve health infrastructure and alleviate the pandemics social and economic impact.

On Friday, Moroccan authorities earmarked $200 million for the purchase of 1000 intensive care beds, 550 ventilators, 100,000 testing kits, 100,000 collection kits, imaging and scanning devices, pharmaceutical products and other equipment key to treating coronavirus cases.

Stipends ranging from $80 to $120 will be paid to every head of a household operating in the informal sector whose activity was impacted by the lockdown to contain the virus.

For their part, the workers, who are affiliated with the social security fund (CNSS) and who lost their job after the lockdown, will receive $100 for March and a monthly allowance of $200 from April to June.

Moroccan Kings swift response and comprehensive socioeconomic relief measures taken to mitigate the fallout of covid-19 were hailed worldwide.

Spanish media outlet El Pais published recently a long article lauding Moroccos efforts and highlighting the countrys quick response.

El Pais said Morocco was at the top of the list of countries to quickly introduce tightened measures, including confinement.

The combined exceptional precautionary and relief measures adopted by Morocco make all the difference for those cooped up in their homes. It seems that some good things will ultimately come out of the covid-19 home confinement, which has allowed family members to band together, reconnect with each other and rediscover themselves.

And as long as all components of Moroccan society continue to pull together, showing solidarity and generous self-denial, they will certainly get through this difficult situation.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Friday signed a sweeping $2 trillion measure to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, but not before a late objection from a lone rank-and-file Republican forced hundreds of lawmakers to rush back to the capital even as the virus continued to spread through their ranks.

The move by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., accomplished an extraordinary feat, uniting Trump and John Kerry, the former Democratic secretary of state and presidential candidate, in a bipartisan moment of outrage against a lawmaker who wanted to force the whole House to take a formal roll-call vote.

House Democrats and Republicans teamed up to bring just enough lawmakers back to the Capitol to thwart Massies tactic, and the measure passed on a voice vote. It was a resounding show of support for a bill that lawmakers in both parties said was imperfect but essential to address a national public health and economic crisis.

I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first, Trump said Friday as he signed the legislation in the Oval Office. But by then, the spark of bipartisanship appeared to have faded. While the legislation was the product of a compromise among Republicans, Democrats and the administration, Trump did not invite any Democrats to the White House to celebrate its enactment, as is typical.

The measure is unparalleled in its scope and size, touching on every aspect of the country in an effort to send help to desperate Americans, provide aid to hospitals combating the disease, and bolster an economy forced to slow or shut down altogether to minimize the spread of the pandemic.

In weeks, it will send direct payments of $1,200 to individuals earning up to $75,000, with smaller payments to those with incomes of up to $99,000 and an additional $500 per child. It will substantially expand jobless aid, providing an additional 13 weeks and a four-month enhancement of benefits  including an extra $600 per week  and extend it to freelancers and gig workers. The package also suspends all federal student loan payments for six months through September, and the loans will not accrue interest during that period.

For companies struggling under the strain of the crisis, the measure will provide $377 billion in federally guaranteed loans to small businesses and establish a $500 billion government lending program for distressed companies, including allowing the administration the ability to take equity stakes in airlines that received aid to help compensate taxpayers. It also sends $100 billion to hospitals on the front lines of the pandemic.

For the 116th Congress, which began in the middle of a government shutdown and emerged only weeks ago from a bitter impeachment fight, the enactment of a mammoth government aid bill capped off a remarkable flurry of bipartisan cooperation and expedited legislative work.

But in the final hours before its approval, chaos reigned on Capitol Hill, as Massie, a libertarian with a penchant for using procedural maneuvers to try to block legislation, declared that a spending measure of such proportions should not receive congressional approval without every lawmaker having to record a position.

That threatened to upend a plan by House leaders to hold a voice vote on the package, sparing most lawmakers a potentially dangerous trip back to Washington as public health officials have advised people to shelter in place and avoid large gatherings. Instead, the leaders in both parties had to summon dozens of members back to the capital  piling into cars or securing seats on near-empty red-eye flights  so that enough of them would be present in the House chamber to block Massies request.

Trump took to Twitter to berate the Kentucky Republican, calling him a third rate Grandstander, and Kerry replied that Massie must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. That drew an appreciative retweet from the president, who said he was Very impressed with the Democrats sense of humor.

Massies own colleagues in both parties were even more scathing. Rep. Peter T. King, R-N.Y., said on Twitter that his colleague would have blood on his hands if lawmakers became infected.

Despite the widespread disdain for Massie, his late objection  like one raised by Senate Republicans in the hours before the measure unanimously passed that chamber Wednesday  pointed to some lingering ideological divides over the governments role in confronting a crisis. The political backlash that followed the 2008 bailout of Wall Street and the enormous stimulus program that followed in 2009 hung over the discussions, and members of Congress are keenly aware that voters are closely watching their actions.

They dont want a recorded vote, Massie told reporters of congressional leaders. They dont want to be on record on making the biggest mistake in history.

In under four weeks, lawmakers have produced three substantial proposals to confront the coronavirus, agreeing to emergency government help, expansions of the social safety net and financial bailouts that would have seemed unthinkable only a few weeks ago. Trump has signed all of them.

Now that the largest of those is law, attention will turn to its effect on a battered economy, where 3.3 million filed for unemployment last week, entire industries are in peril, and many experts say a package of its size can provide a few months of ballast  if that  before more help is needed. The administration now must scramble to find ways of enforcing the vast new programs, including an array of benefits for Americans and aid to nearly every industry  as well as strict oversight measures to make sure bailed-out companies do not use the help to enrich themselves at the expense of their workers.

The law creates disclosure requirements, an inspector general and a congressionally mandated board to monitor a $425 billion bailout fund to be administered by the Federal Reserve, and bars companies that receive government infusions from doing stock buybacks for as long as they are benefiting from federal aid, in addition to a year afterward. Companies owned by Trump and members of his family are barred from receiving any of the bailout money, although the presidents real estate company could potentially benefit from other aspects of the stimulus law.

About two hours after Trump signed the legislation, however, the White House issued a signing statement undermining a crucial safeguard Democrats had demanded as a condition of agreeing to the corporate bailout fund. The law empowers the inspector general to request information from executive branch agencies and requires the official to report any unreasonable refusal to Congress without delay. But Trump suggested his constitutional powers permit him to decide what information to share with lawmakers.

Democrats have vowed to push for a fourth round of government help that would address priorities left uncovered by the bill signed Friday, including more benefits for workers and funds for hospitals, but it was unclear whether Republicans would agree that additional aid was needed.

The option that we have is to either let them suffer with nothing, or to allow this greed and billions of dollars, which will be leveraged into trillions of dollars, to contribute to the largest income inequality gap in our future, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. There should be shame about what was fought for in this bill and the choices that we have to make.

But a sense of urgency in the face of a national crisis prevailed, prompting most lawmakers to offer their support even as the coronavirus continued to spread through Congress. Two more representatives announced Friday that they had tested positive for the virus  Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa.  bringing the total in the House to four. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., reported Sunday that he had the disease. Dozens more lawmakers have quarantined themselves out of an abundance of caution.

We have members on both sides of the aisle who have the virus, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the minority leader, told reporters Thursday. We have members who are quarantined. We have members who have challenges with their flights canceled. The floor will look different.

Lawmakers who entered the chamber Friday had to clean their hands with sanitizer and enter through one door, before scrubbing again and leaving through another, as if coming and going from an operating room. Once inside the chamber, they kept their distance  leaving several seats between one another  with a container of wipes for lawmakers to use left in each row.

The hours of debate grew fiery at moments as lawmakers sought to maintain a brisk pace of statements.

Rep. Haley Stevens, a freshman Democrat from Michigan who drove through the night to reach the Capitol on Friday morning, wore pink latex gloves in a nod to the risks faced by medical professionals. Stevens, whose district has been rocked by both the spread of the virus and the resulting economic slowdown, was repeatedly ruled out of order after an emotional outburst in which she pleaded with colleagues to take this disease seriously.

I rise for every American who is scared right now! Stevens shouted, as the presiding officer, Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md., banged his gavel in a futile attempt to silence her. As other members shouted from the floor, she pressed on, delivering an impassioned message to doctors and nurses: You will see darkness! You will be pushed! And our society needs you to stand together at this time!

As she spoke in favor of the bill at the close of the debate, Pelosi repeatedly prodded all members who were present to assemble, drawing out her praise for the legislation to give lawmakers more time to filter into the chamber. To maintain appropriate social distance, they began filling the seats in the galleries typically reserved for the public, which have been closed in recent days during the pandemic.

The sooner you come, the shorter my remarks will be, she said, later interrupting herself to check on the number of lawmakers in the chamber, calling: Come on, my colleagues, to the gallery.

Once debate concluded, Massie formally asked for a recorded vote, declaring, I came here to make sure our Republic doesnt die by unanimous request in an empty chamber and request a recorded vote.

But by that time, Pelosi, McCarthy and their top lieutenants had worked together to ensure that at least 216 lawmakers  a quorum  would be present to block the request. The bill cleared as lawmakers loudly registered their assent. Massie and a handful of others shouted no! just before the gavel fell.

Then the chamber erupted into applause.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
By Michael Holden

LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - The United Kingdom will use firefighters to help deliver food, retrieve dead bodies and drive ambulances as it braces for the looming peak of the coronavirus outbreak that has already claimed the lives of more than 22,000 people across the world.

Britain initially took a strikingly modest approach to the worst health crisis since the 1918 influenza epidemic but then changed tack to impose stringent controls after projections showed a quarter of a million British people could die.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered a virtual lockdown of the world's fifth largest economy to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus banning Britons from leaving their homes for all non-essential reasons.

So far, 578 people in the United Kingdom have died after testing positive for coronavirus and the number of confirmed cases has risen to 11,658. The UK toll is the seventh worst in the world, after Italy, Spain, China, Iran, France and the United States, according to a Reuters tally.

Under a deal struck between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Fire chiefs and Fire and Rescue Employers, firefighters will continue to respond to their usual emergencies but will now also carry out new tasks.

"We face a public health crisis unparalleled in our lifetimes. The coronavirus outbreak is now a humanitarian emergency and firefighters rightly want help their communities," said Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary.

"Many fear the loss of life in this outbreak could be overwhelming and firefighters, who often handle terrible situations and incidents, are ready to step in to assist with body retrieval."

As well as collecting those who die should there be mass casualties, firefighters can drive ambulances, and take food and medicine to the vulnerable under the agreement.

To cope with the outbreak, Britain has already asked tens of thousands of retired doctors and healthcare workers to return to work, while hundreds of thousands of people have volunteered to assist the National Health Service.

Story continues

On Friday, the capital's ambulance service appealed to former paramedics and control room staff for help, and London's police force asked officers who have retired in the last five years to come back.

"It is important that we take all reasonable steps to bolster our numbers," London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said.

"Demands on us will grow and vary over the coming weeks but I want people to know and see that the Met is here for them. We must maintain our operational resilience and continue to provide the best possible service to London." (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
About 400 Kroger warehouse workers in Memphis walked off their jobs yesterday to protest mind-numbing work shifts of up to 96 hours a week and unsafe working conditions as COVID-19 spreads through the state of Tennessee. The warehouse workers left their jobs after a warehouse worker tested positive for COVID-19, but Kroger officials refused even to tell the workers what shift he had worked. Pressure had been brewing for some time as workers repeatedly complained of woefully insufficient safety measures.

In a related development, The Hill reported yesterday that Instacart shoppers (the companys term for its gig workforce) will stop accepting deliveries until Instacart provides cleanliness products at no cost to workers, hazard pay of $5 per order and an extension and expansion of pay for workers affected by the coronavirus.

Instacart, founded in 2012, is an American technology company valued at nearly $8 billion which provides a same-day grocery pick-up and delivery services in the United States and Canada. Instacart is a prime example of the new gig-economy which provides temporary work, low wages, little in the way of benefits, no job security and big profits for the owners and stockholders

The strike is set to begin on Monday, according to the Gig Workers Collective, which organized the action.

This is an extraordinary time in history, and as Shoppers, those of us who are ableand have the means to protect ourselvesdo want to help those in our community by delivering groceries and supplies, the group posted online. But with Instacart neglecting the basic wellbeing of its 150,000+ drivers, we believe there is no choice but to not only walk off, but to raise awareness to the companys practices.

In Memphis, hundreds of workers have been working mandatory overtime, as long as 16 hours per day, seven days per week. These workers were tasked with loading 120,000 cases of groceries each day.

The Kroger Company controls nearly 3,000 stores nationwide and employs 453,000 workers. It is the fifth largest retailer in the world, the fourth largest employer of workers in the United States and the largest supermarket by revenue in the United States with $121 billion annually.

Within the city itself, the overall poverty rate is 27.8 percent, and the child poverty rate is 44.9 percent. According to a University of Memphis study, the West Tennessean city has been scored as either the number one or number two poorest city of its size in the nation.

Andy Wiggins, 30 years old, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that he was too exhausted to even think about eating, during a recent 97-hour week. It was all he could do to drive his 40-minute commute back home. I'm driving home so tired I cant even stop, he told the newspaper. Im just thinking about taking a shower and getting into bed.

We are really in a hazardous situation and we are scared, Maurice Wiggins, a father with two children and also a forklift operator, told the Memphis newspaper. Half the workers have gone home, They are scared for their safety, Wiggins said. The ones that are here, they are so tense and they are scared to touch the equipment.

They have diabetes, they have asthma. If they catch it, theyll be high-risk, Wiggins explained. Me personally, my Mama, she got diabetes. I cant go around my Mama, I gotta get tested now.

They only care about us getting cases out, a worker said, not our health and safety.

Barry Brown, business agent for Teamsters Local 667, said Kroger did make some concessions to clean areas but have otherwise not treated the COVID-19 outbreak seriously.

You felt that you did something good buying pizza for everybody. Everybody was just in one break room, eating pizzalike nothing going on in the world, like its not serious," Brown told the Leaf Chronicle.

Unlike other major grocers, Meijer and SaveMart, Kroger has not increased its workers base pay during the pandemic, the Commercial Appeal reported. Krogers Delta division provides shipping to Kroger stores in western Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. Warehouse workers have had to load 120,000 cases of groceries each day and have been working mandatory overtime since the COVID-19 outbreak began.

Besides driving Kroger workers like dogs, the outbreak fueled businesses possibilities for the likes of Instacart.

Demand for grocery delivery has exploded as more states and cities recommend individuals stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus, The Hill reported. Instacart last week announced it would hire 300,000 new gig workers over the next three months to match that demand.
Washington

When a federal correction officer geared up for duty recently at a Florida prison complex, he added an N95 mask amid coronavirus fears. He has a sister who had an organ transplant and an elderly mother at home.

But a supervisor ordered him to take it off and threatened disciplinary action if he refused. At other federal prisons, though, he would have been told to wear one. Rules on protective gear vary widely from prison to prison.

And inmates say there is little guidance on what to do if they experience flu-like symptoms and very little social distancing.

Together, these accounts detail a scattershot policy on COVID-19 safety at the federal Bureau of Prisons. Advocates and even prison guards are calling for reforms to head off a potential outbreak in a prison system plagued by violence, misconduct and staffing shortages.

This report is based on interviews with nearly two dozen correction officers, inmates, attorneys and advocates, many of whom spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of epidemics in jails and prisons, which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks: Inmates share small cells with strangers, use toilets just a few feet from their beds and are herded into day rooms where they spend hours at a time together.

While statistically the number of confirmed coronavirus cases within the Bureau of Prisons system is far lower than the rate outside prisons in the U.S., there is widespread fear among inmates and staff members that the virus could spread rapidly. So far, 14 inmates and 13 staff members within the federal prison system have COVID-19.

In a statement to the AP, Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal said the agency has "thus far been fortunate in that our rate of COVID-19 infection is remarkably low."

And the Bureau of Prisons said its employees were expected to follow its guidance on the coronavirus and would investigate if officials are "made aware of specific circumstances that would lead us to believe that policy or guidance may not have been followed."

There are approximately 146,000 inmates at the 122 federal correctional facilities across the U.S., including about 10,000 over the age of 60. New inmates coming into the federal prison system are screened for COVID-19 risk factors, have their temperature taken and are quarantined for 14 days.

But inmates nationwide contacted by the AP raised a similar issue: There are no signs or documents listing the symptoms of COVID-19, and there's been little communication about what they should do if they experience flu-like symptoms.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Some exhibiting flu-like symptoms were not tested or quarantined at several facilities, including at the FCI Yazoo City in Mississippi and at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, according to inmates and advocates. There have been COVID-19 cases at both.

Congressional leaders and prison advocates are pressing the Justice Department to release at-risk inmates ahead of a potential outbreak, arguing that the public health guidance to stay 6 feet away from other people is nearly impossible behind bars.

"There is no adequate possible plan, certainly not without greatly decreasing the population in these institutions," said David Patton, executive director and chief attorney at the Federal Defenders of New York. "There is simply not enough space in there."

Attorney General William Barr sent a memo to the Bureau of Prisons on Thursday to increase the use of home confinement and identify non-violent, at-risk inmates who "might be safer serving their sentences in home confinement rather than in BOP facilities."

At the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the federal jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself last year, one staff member said gloves are readily available but masks are not. The staff restrooms are running empty of the most basic need: soap.

Carvajal said cleaning, sanitation and medical supplies had been inventoried and there were "ample supplies on hand and ready to be distributed or moved to any facility as deemed necessary." The agency had also ordered additional supplies, he said.

Visitors are now banned from prisons, but inmates are still being shuttled to and from court appearances, where employees fear they could come into contact with the virus and bring it back behind bars. Inmates making those trips need to be patted down and escorted by officers.

As part of the agency's protocols for dealing with the virus, staff members who work in facilities in areas with "sustained community transmission" are having their temperature taken before their shifts start. If it's too high, they'll be sent home.
By Yuan Shenggao, China Daily | Mar. 27, 2020

At midnight on Jan 31, all China Southern Airlines crew members received a message asking for volunteers to form a special crew for a charter flight to the island of Phuket in Thailand to pick up Chinese citizens.

All 89 stranded passengers, including three babies, were picked up the next day. They were from Wuhan, the Chinese city hardest-hit by COVID-19.

Tian Jing, chief purser of the airline, applied to join the team the second she saw the message.

"I was born in Wuhan. It's a pity not to be able to help in my hometown, but at least I want to do something for them," she said.

Tian has 26 years of experience as a crew member, and has worked on charter flights to dangerous regions in peacekeeping missions on more than 10 occasions. She has been awarded for her contributions and is regarded a role model among her colleagues.

At 7 am, Tian was nominated as purser of the flight. She then called the other four team members, out of 421 candidates, and briefed them on the service and safety requirements. After that, she spoke to her family.

"I worried they may not agree with my decision, but my husband gave me full support," she said. Tian's husband, also an airline employee, was quarantined after serving on a flight to Wuhan.

The team members followed the guidance from the National Health Commission in preparation. Tian decorated the cabin with national flags, to remind passengers that they were being looked out for by their country.

At 4:49 pm, the flight arrived in Phuket. Standing at the cabin door, Tian saw the passengers. "Welcome boarding! Welcome Home!" she said in the Wuhan dialect. Hearing this, many passengers were moved.

A woman said: "Many people burst into tears after learning the country was going to send an airplane to take us back. Thank you!"

When the airplane reached Wuhan after five hours, Tian broadcast: "Dear passengers, we are now home!" There was a big applause.

She said she felt a sense of fulfillment after seeing the last passenger off.

However, she added: "I haven't seen my parents for half a year. When the epidemic ends, I want to eat a bowl of hot dry noodles and see them in Wuhan."
Presumably, the little wanderer kept the photos with her for the decade she spent living in Georgetown under the care of foster parents Adeline and Charles Lanman. Charles Lanman, the subject of a recent column, was an artist and author. As interesting as his life was  he served as Daniel Websters assistant, compiled directories of Congress and assembled the first White House library  Tsuda may have made a bigger mark.
The traditional ruler of Owerre Autonomous Community in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Igwe Emeka Ugwu has asked the Nigerian government to seek help from native doctors, soothsayers and herbal medicine dealers on how to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Responding to questions from journalists at the ongoing public enlightenment campaign towards preventing the Coronavirus pandemic in the Nsukka council area and its environs, Igwe Ugwu stated that the Nigerian governments reluctance in seeking traditional help is highly regrettable.

He insisted that some native doctors have supernatural gifts and potentials in curing strange diseases.

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Igwe Ugwu said: Government at all levels should not watch people suffer and die without exploring all possible means for a cure to the coronavirus pandemic. While government wait and hope on scientists for a solution to nip the spread of the pandemic in the bud, native doctors, soothsayers, and traditional herbal medicine dealers have to be consulted for a solution. Nigeria survived HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, Ebola among others, and will still survive the Coronavirus pandemic.

Igwe Ugwu added: Nature will not allow this virus to harm any of my subjects because it is not our disease. Our land will protect us against it.
Family courts in Ontario are now dealing only with urgent matters, with hearings taking place remotely.

But what does the word urgent actually mean amid the COVID-19?

Across the province, judges, lawyers, legal clinics, couples and parents are learning how to adapt to the restrictions being placed on family court cases amid the pandemic.

So far in Toronto, the urgent matters have included the usual violations of custody arrangements and domestic violence, but could soon include child support variations as the number of Canadians laid off increases, said family lawyer Lorna Yates.

What we are starting to see is people who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs and cant maintain the level of support so they need to get a bit of relief. And you would hope that people would be able to deal with each other in a mature way, said Yates. But a lot of people cant.

To help answer questions like whether a matter is urgent enough to be heard by a court, the Law Society of Ontario has set up a phone line to connect self-represented litigants with volunteer lawyers for half-an-hour of free advice (Toll-free 1-800-268-7568, General: 416-947-3310). If the issue involves domestic violence, the lawyers can also help with basic safety planning and contact information for family court support workers and Lukes Place.

Legal Aid Ontario is also offering free legal advice by phone at 1-800-668-8258 with no financial eligibility requirement.

Family law information centres, which can assist with other needs including housing, interpreters and social assistance, also remain available by phone. Free remote mediation services are also still available through the courts.

But even with these resources, lawyers remain concerned about litigants who may not be able to easily access phone or video services, and those who require interpreters.

Some questions through the emergency line have been about custody arrangements as a result of COVID-19, said Yates, who helped create the emergency line.

There have been calls about ensuring the safety of children if one of the parents is a health-care worker, for example, she said. Other lawyers have been asked questions that have no clear answer, like what would happen should a lockdown be instituted, and whether there would be an exception to allow for parenting arrangements to continue.

The courts so far have said that custody arrangements should continue as normal where possible  modified where needed to ensure COVID-19 precautions including strict social distancing or mandatory quarantines are being followed  and that parents should try work out a solution themselves before resorting to a court hearing.

Right now, families need more co-operation. And less litigation, said a recent decision from Superior Court Justice Alex Pazaratz. None of us have ever experienced anything like this. We are all going to have to try a bit harder  for the sake of our children,

The decision came from a Hamilton case where a mother had primary custody of a nine-year-old boy and the father had access on alternate weekends. The mother sought an urgent hearing to suspend the fathers in-person access out of concern the father would not maintain social distancing.

Parents are understandably confused and worried about what to do. Similarly, this is uncharted territory for our court system, Pazaratz said.

None of us know how long this crisis is going to last. In many respects we are going to have to put our lives on hold until COVID-19 is resolved, he said. But childrens lives  and vitally important family relationships  cannot be placed on hold indefinitely without risking serious emotional harm and upset. A blanket policy that children should never leave their primary residence  even to visit their other parent  is inconsistent with a comprehensive analysis of the best interests of the child. In troubling and disorienting times, children need the love, guidance and emotional support of both parents, now more than ever.

He said the matter would not be considered urgent at this point and urged the parents work it out on their own.

However there will be zero tolerance for any parent who recklessly exposes a child (or members of the childs household) to any COVID-19 risk, he said.

Most co-parents are able to resolve parenting disputes without resorting to court hearings, making the cases that do come to court high-conflict, family lawyer Katherine MacDonald said.

But she has been pleased to see that, among her high-conflict cases, there have been efforts made to continue custody arrangements in a safe way. In one instance, a parent who has a car is picking up and dropping off their child rather than making the other parent use transit as normal.

However, she is concerned about her clients who have children in the care of the Childrens Aid Society. The CAS is no longer doing in-person visits  only phone and video  lawyers say. And the locations where supervised access typically occurs, like malls or parks, are now closed. Over months, the impact of this restriction could be devastating for both parents and children, MacDonald said.

The pandemic is basically severing a lot of these face-to-face relationships between parents and kids, and its particularly important for infants, where video calls are just not the same, said family lawyer Tammy Law, who specializes in child-protection cases.

Lawyers are waiting on decisions from the court on this issue, she said.

While the direction of the court in non-CAS cases has been to encourage flexibility and creativity in the best interests of the children, the position of the CAS has been inflexible, she said.

It doesnt matter if your client has an amazing plan, if your client is self-isolating and the other parent agrees to the access, she said. Im not suggesting everyone should be having face-to-face access, some people may be at high-risk of contracting this virus, but thats not all families.

In a statement, the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto said that starting on March 18 they began replacing some in-person contact with telephone or video calls when possible and appropriate for families and continue to assess the practice on a case-by-case basis prioritizing public health issues and ensuring the safety of the children, youth and parents.

Yates says that as Superior Court of Justice gets the hang of remote hearings via phone and video they hope to be able to be able to begin to deal with some non-urgent matters again.

That may take a lot of creativity and a lot of technology, she said. But there is certainly an openness to that in the courts.

A silver lining has been that the courts are having to significantly improve their technological capacity, allowing for documents to be filed electronically and remote hearings.

We are going to learn some stuff out of this, said family lawyer Mary Reilly.

And hopefully, she said, it will improve court efficiency when the courts resume and face a huge backlog of adjourned cases.
Holland America Zaandam in 2012.

Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

Passengers on the stranded MS Zaandam, a Holland America Line cruise ship where four passengers have died and there are confirmed coronavirus cases, are pleading for help.

Chris Joiner, a 59-year-old from Canada, and his wife Anna spoke to Reuters on Friday, sending the outlet a selfie of the pair of them wearing masks and holding a sign saying "HELP US."

"We're isolated. We're stuck on this ship. We can't go anywhere because we're not healthy, I guess," Chris Joiner said, adding that the cruise had turned into a nightmare.

The son of one couple trapped on the ship said that his parents and fellow passengers are "sitting ducks."

Business Insider broke the news Friday that four passengers on the MS Zaandam had died.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Passengers stranded on the MS Zaandam, a Holland America lines cruise ship where four passengers have died and there are confirmed cases of coronavirus are pleading for help, and say that being stuck on the ship is a living "nightmare."

Business Insider's Aine Cain broke the news of the deaths on board the ship Friday after hearing leaked audio from a sister ship sent to rescue stranded passengers. Holland America confirmed the report soon after it was published, saying in a statement: "Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam."

Medical staffers and the representative also confirmed at least two cases of COVID-19 on board.

Now, passengers on board are sharing their stories from the ship, which is currently anchored off the coast of Panama after being stopped from docking in the Central American country.

There were originally 1,243 guests and 586 crew members on the Zaandam. The ship's passengers have been confined to their rooms since Sunday, with crew members delivering meals and collecting trash from cabins.

Story continues

Chris Joiner, a 59-year-old from Canada, and his wife Anna spoke to Reuters on Friday, sending the outlet a selfie of the pair of them wearing masks and holding a sign saying "HELP US."

"We're isolated. We're stuck on this ship. We can't go anywhere because we're not healthy, I guess," Chris Joiner said. He added that the trip, which started in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 7, had turned into a "nightmare."

Chris Joiner, a 59-year-old from Canada, and his wife Anna.

Chris Joiner/Handout via Reuters

Cheryl Deeks, a 66-year old British woman on the ship with her husband David, told Sky News that the uncertainty of when they may be able to get off the ship along with the possibility of picking up the coronavirus is making her and fellow passengers nervous.

"I think that's the biggest problem because we're on edge all the time," she told Sky.

"We're physically well, but mentally we're quite stressed not knowing if we had a plan, if we knew for definite what was going to happen.

"I know they can't tell us, but it's just the not knowing that makes you feel uncomfortable."

British tourists Kim and Chris Bedford, both in their 60s, are both on the ship, and their son Neil described them and fellow passengers as "sitting ducks."

"If they can just find a port to dock it would be a huge relief. The fact they're just sitting on board a ship, it's like they're sitting ducks," he told Reuters Friday.

"My mum was saying that until recently they were fine," Bedford told Sky News.

"Now I definitely think, without her actually saying it, there's some panic setting in. She said yesterday she was feeling very somber and they're not sleeping well."

Holland America said Friday it had plans to transfer healthy passengers on the Zaandam onto Rotterdam, its sister ship.

"Only those who have not been ill will be moved, and health screenings will be conducted before transferring," the company's statement said, adding that it planned to dock the ship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the coming days.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The vote came as confirmed virus cases in Australia rose above 3,500 on Saturday, with 14 deaths

Sydney: People in the Australian state of Queensland were urged to vote in local elections on Saturday or face a fine of Aus$133 ($80), as polls went ahead despite most citizens being encouraged to stay home to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The state's top health official said it was safe to vote in person as long as people followed social distancing guidelines.

"There's no risk here, we've got to remember the risk of people going to the shops is far, far higher," Jeannette Young told reporters.

Many of the three million eligible voters had cast their ballot early, or remotely by post or telephone.

However long queues were reported outside some booths on Saturday due to safety measures limiting the number of people allowed inside at once. Queueing voters were told to stand 1.5 metres (5 feet) apart and asked to bring their own pens.

Compulsory voting remained in place, but those who were self-isolating due to illness could apply to have fines waived, state health minister Steven Miles said. It was unclear whether healthy people could cite fear of infection as a valid reason for not voting.

The vote came as confirmed virus cases in Australia rose above 3,500 on Saturday, with 14 deaths.
China sent a plane loaded with medical personnel and supplies to aid Pakistan in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in one of the world's most populous nations, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Across the Middle East and elsewhere, the outbreak has raised concerns that health systems strapped by multiple wars, refugee crises and unstable economies won't be able to handle a growing numbers in cases.

Iran is battling the worst outbreak in the region. Iranian state TV raised Saturday that the virus death toll by another 139 people, pushing the total fatalities to 2,517 amid 35,408 confirmed cases.

China has sought to portray itself as a global leader in the fight against the outbreak, which began a few months ago in its Wuhan province. The plane carrying aid to Pakistan was met at the capital's airport Saturday by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureishi, who greeted the arriving Chinese doctors and officials.

On Friday, China sent ventilators, masks and other medical equipment to the South Asian country, and about a week ago sent a shipment of masks.

Pakistan is a key link in China's ambitious multi-billion-dollar One Road Project linking south and central Asia with China. China is also a key military supplier for nuclear-armed Pakistan, having supplied the country with missiles capable of carrying atomic weapons.

Pakistan, with a population of 220 million, currently has 1,408 confirmed cases of the virus, including 11 deaths from the illness it causes, COVID-19. Most of the infected people there were travelers returning from neighboring Iran.

Most people infected by the virus only experience mild symptoms, such as fever and cough, and recover within a few weeks. But the virus can cause severe respiratory illness and death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.

Pakistan has closed its borders with both Iran and Afghanistan, but has come under widespread criticism for its initial lax response to the virus.

Even as the pandemic spread to the country, Pakistani authorities allowed tens of thousands of Islamic clerics from around the world to congregate for three days outside the eastern city of Lahore. Some 200 of the clerics are now quarantined at the site of the gathering, a sprawling compound belonging to an Islamic missionaries group, Tableeghi Jamaat.

Many of the visiting clerics at the conference returned to their home countries, some of them carrying the coronavirus.

The first two reported cases in the Gaza Strip attended the three-day gathering in Pakistan, and are now under quarantine in Gaza. Other linked cases have emerged elsewhere in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused to impose a countrywide lockdown saying it would devastate the country's poor, but ordered non-essential businesses closed, including restaurants, money changers and wedding halls.

As of Saturday, the government still had not ordered mosques closed nationwide, instead relying on recommendations to worshippers not to gather for weekly Friday prayers. Pakistani officials are reluctant to defy local hardcore Islamic leaders, who can whip up mobs to protest any perceived insults to religion. Some of these clerics have even taken to social media urging the faithful to fill the mosques, saying it is their religious obligation.

The southern Sindh province has imposed a wider lockdown, but without closing mosques. In the eastern Punjab province, only groceries and pharmacies are open.

According to Pakistan's federal health authorities, the outbreak is so far concentrated in the Punjab, with 490 confirmed cases there, and Sindh which has 457 confirmed infections. Other cases are spread throughout several other regions, including the capital, Islamabad.

Health authorities in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reported one additional death Saturday, a woman in the district of Dir. Ajmal Wazir, a spokesman for the provincial government, said the woman fell sick after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, before dying in a government hospital where she tested positive for the coronavirus.

In Iran, officials have repeatedly insisted they have the outbreak under control, despite concerns it could overwhelm the country's health facilities.

Iran's government has faced widespread criticism for not acting faster to contain the virus. Only in recent days have authorities ordered nonessential businesses to close and banned travel between cities _ long after other nations in the region imposed sweeping lockdowns.

U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland on Saturday urged the country's warring groups to suspend fighting in and around the capital, Tripoli, as ``an absolute necessity`` to allow public health officials across the divided country to contain the epidemic.

Libya's health system is near the point of collapse after years of civil war. It has so far reported one confirmed case of coronavirus.

The North African country is governed by rival authorities based in Tripoli and eastern Libya whose forces have been battling over the capital for nearly a year.

Violence has continued despite promises from both sides to halt the fighting after appeals for a cease-fire from the United Nations and world powers so authorities can focus on fighting the virus.

Authorities in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since the Hamas militant group seized power there in 2007, have reported nine cases.

Gaza's health care infrastructure has been severely eroded by years of conflict and isolation. A major outbreak in the territory, which is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, could be extremely difficult to contain.

Another major area of concern is Yemen, where the rebel Houthis have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition for five years. The war has killed more than 100,000 people, displaced millions more and driven the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.

Sudan's Health Ministry reported two more confirmed cases, bringing the total cases to five, including one death. Both of the new cases were Sudanese travelers returning from abroad last week, one coming from France, and another from the United Arab Emirates.

Sudan has been rocked by over a year of political turmoil and protests that were triggered by a plunging economy.

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Many people scrambled last week to figure out if they could even leave their homes after getting "stay at home" orders from state and local officials.

But for those who don't speak English, making sure you have the correct information has been even harder.

One problem with the multiple orders that came out of L.A. County, Orange County and the State of California? The actual documents are still only available in English.

While many state and county websites offer Google Translate, there's an information roadblock once a person has to navigate to an English-only document.

This has some immigrant advocates worried that non-English speakers may be at risk for citations under the new orders if they don't have the right information.

WHAT'S BEING DONE

Some counties, including Los Angeles, say they're working on it. In the meantime, some community groups are translating what they can themselves.

Last week, during Orange County's order confusion, a multicultural press conference was held on Facebook Live by VietRISE, Chispa and other local activists to address the language issue.

Hairo Cortes, executive director of Chispa, a Santa Ana-based advocacy group, is one of the many organizers in the area working to get information out to their communities. With a lack of resources from local and state governments, Cortes said people are having to rely on each other for information.

"For Latino communities, at least here in Orange County, broadcast media is a pretty important source of information more than anything else," said Cortes. "And people are sharing information with each other through social media and one-on-one conversations."

With people having to stay home now under the new orders, Cortes has seen a drop in the flow of information between communities and local governments.

"With a lot of different things going on, I think at this moment, there's a big need for just better communication from local government, especially the county and the public health agency," said Cortes. "That needs to happen."

Chispa joined VietRISE, a group for Vietnamese and immigrant communities, at their press conference last Tuesday where they discussed the xenophobic repercussions of COVID-19, and translated health information into Spanish and Vietnamese. (VietRISE also manages this resource guide.)

VietRISE has called on local governments to make better use of social media to reach out to immigrant communities.

"The county and state governments should be taking more proactive and aggressive measures to make sure that immigrant community members and businesses are getting all updates and orders related to COVID-19," said VietRISE on their Facebook page. "That means providing it in multiple languages and using more strategies to ensure we receive this information."

Going forward, the O.C. community groups plan to focus on issues affecting people's quality of life by working with city governments to address the pandemic through housing moratoriums and outreach, according to Cortes.

TRANSLATIONS

Neighboring areas, such as the San Bernardino and Riverside counties, have made more strides with direct translation and have a few documents available in Spanish or Mandarin.

"We send everything to the translators as soon as they're complete, and the turnaround seems pretty quick," said David Wert, San Bernardino County's public information officer in an email. "Oftentimes the translators are present in the County's coronavirus Joint Information Center. There might be a lag in getting the documents uploaded because everyone is so busy."

While San Bernardino County's latest information on COVID-19 isn't translated yet, Wert said they are working to get more staff to post the materials online when it's available.

Currently, Orange County Public Health has an outdated health order and FAQ section with an inconsistent Google Translate ability. The department recommends visitors to refresh their cache to see it. When asked if they would have this site updated, the department provided email saying that they would refer people to the governor's order. However, there's no option for this on the website.

Similar to other counties, L.A. County does offer Google Translate on all of its site, except for the orders which officials say are pending translation. A translated FAQ section can be found under the Health Officer Order menu.

"The LA County Public Health Officer Orders are being translated into other languages," said Steven Frasher, an L.A. County public information officer in an email. "Some are still in approvals processes. There is increasing outreach to Spanish and other ethnic media outlets to increase the reach of official messaging."

At the state level, the California Department of Public Health said they are, "working continually to translate materials to ensure at-risk populations are receiving information." Their website offers a dedicated Spanish version of COVID-19 information and translated guides, but as of March 27, the California "stay-at-home" order is not directly available in other languages.

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Speculations of Pakistan PM Imran Khan testing positive for the Coronavirus began brimming on social media, after reports of British PM Boris Johnson contracting COVID-19 emerged. On Thursday evening, a London-based news media organisation broke a story claiming that the Pakistani Prime Minister has been infected by the novel virus.

Subsequently, PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan clearing the air, denied the claim, further asked the news network to correct the report. The Pakistani politician said, "News regarding PM Imran Khan tested positive for COVID-19 is NOT true. Please refrain from spreading fake news."

Imran khan test positive for corona virus #CoronaLockdown pic.twitter.com/FQQxuMcxbf  Abdullah Manzoor (@abdullahirsh) March 27, 2020

In the thick of a global outbreak, Pakistan confirmed 1363 positive Coronavirus cases on Saturday morning with--440 cases in Sindh province, 27 in Islamabad, 180 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 490 in Punjab, 133 in Balochistan and 93 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Out of which, 11 have died while 23 have recovered. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 22 ruled out complete lockdown in the country, saying it will create chaos and urged people to self-quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

READ| Imran Khan admits Balochistan lacks facilities, funds to battle coronavirus pandemic

World Leaders test positive

With the health crisis taking over the world, the Coronavirus has also managed to rattle the highest ranks of world leaders, the recent being British PM Boris Johnson who was tested positive on Friday. Along with him, British Health Minister Matt Hancock also confirmed contracting the virus .

In Australia, the country's Home Minister Peter Dutton was admitted upon his return from Washington after he tested positive for the disease. Press secretary of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the virus along with Brazil's national security advisor Augusto Heleno. Jair Bolsonaro, however, tested negative for COVID-19.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie tested positive for the virus. Following the news update, the Canadian leader put himself under a 14-day period of self-isolation. French Minister of Culture Franck Riester tested positive early in March. In Iran, which has been one of the most hardest-hit countries, Iranian deputy health minister Iraj Hirirchi, Iranian vice president Eshaq Jahangiri tested positive along with senior advisors to Supreme Leader of the country Ali Khamenei and other politicians.

READ| Fact Check: Did Prime Minister of Italy announce the country's surrender to Coronavirus?

READ| Pakistan Opposition netas walk out of Coronavirus meet after Imran Khan walks out on them
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson has confirmed the Queen last saw Boris Johnson just over two weeks ago.

On Friday 27 March, the prime minister announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus after displaying mild symptoms.

With regards to the Queens most recent meeting with Mr Johnson, a Palace spokesperson said: Her Majesty the Queen remains in good health. The Queen last saw the Prime Minister on the 11th March and is following all the appropriate advice with regards to her welfare.

Their following meeting, held on 18 March, was conducted via telephone as have their subsequent conversations.

On the NHS website, it states that symptoms for the coronavirus can take 14 days to appear.

In a video shared on his Twitter account, the prime minister stated that over the past 24 hours, he developed mild symptoms for Covid-19.

The politician followed the advice of chief medical officer Chris Whitty to undergo a test, which came back with a positive result.

I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the governments response via video-conference as we fight this virus, he tweeted.

Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives.

Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Show all 15 1 /15 Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother's Day in Jounieh, Lebanon AFP/Getty Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Residents toast during a "safe distance" aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome Reuters

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Prince of Wales had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Clarence House stated that the heir apparent displayed mild symptoms of the virus but otherwise remains in good health.

A Palace spokesperson released a statement concerning the Queens health and when she last saw her eldest son.

The statement released by the Palace echoed the one published regarding the monarchs most recent meeting with the prime minister, stating that Queen Elizabeth II remains in good health.

The Queen last saw The Prince of Wales briefly after the investiture on the morning of 12th March and is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare, the spokesperson said.

The royal family recently shared a rare photograph of the Queen conducting her weekly audience with the prime minister over the phone.
Guwahati/Agartala, March 28 : Several NGOs in northeastern states have come forward to feed the stray animals, specialy dogs, cows and monkeys, who are facing starvation due to the countrywide lockdown following coronavirus.

The dreaded virus and subsequent lockdown across India have not only shattered the lives of people but also animals and birds. "If we ignore it, it could lead to a more severe problem. Stray animals, especially dogs if left starving, may start attacking people. If they begin dying, the carcasses could pose health problems," West Tripura District Magistrate Sandeep Mahatme N. told IANS.

The IAS officer said : "As homeless or stray animals are maximum in West Tripura district (out of Tripura's eight districts) we have asked three NGOs to look after these animals. We are also providing foodgrains to these NGOs so that they can feed the stray animals." The NGOs have been asked to form teams with at least two persons in each team. Through two-wheeler, they would travel to different places to feed the stray animals. "We are also issuing curfew-passes to the members of these NGOs," said Mahatme N, also an MBBS doctor.

"Pawsome", a non-profitable NGO, has been providing foods and other nursing to the stray animals since 2016.

"We have been feeding more stray animals than we did before the lockdown started earlier this week, 'Pawsome' General Secretary Wrighbed Dutta told IANS.

Guwahati-based writer and researcher Samudra Gupta Kashyap said that hundreds of monkeys living in and around temples across Assam and other states are also beginning to feel the pinch of lockdown. "These monkeys depend on 'prasad' and other items that devotees offer. With the footfall in temples suddenly dropping to zero, these primates would surely face a major problem," Kashyap told IANS.

In Assam, temples like Navagraha and Basishthashram in Guwahati, Negheriting Devalaya in Dergaon and Tukreswari temple in Goalpara are some temples which have large flocks of monkeys. An Assam-based NGO 'People for Animals' also has been taking care of the stray animals including monkeys.

"People for Animals" President Sangita Goswami, a retired college teacher, said that since 1995 they are taking care of all types of stray animals.

"We are not only providing food and shelter to a huge number of stray animals, but also taking care of their health," Goswami told IANS. She said that in view of the current lockdown, their members have stepped up their efforts to save the lives of stray animals.
Long term investing is the way to go, but that doesn't mean you should hold every stock forever. We really hate to see fellow investors lose their hard-earned money. Imagine if you held ARHT Media Inc. (CVE:ART) for half a decade as the share price tanked 98%. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 38%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 13% in the last 90 days. But this could be related to the weak market, which is down 27% in the same period.

We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson.

Check out our latest analysis for ARHT Media

ARHT Media wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

In the last half decade, ARHT Media saw its revenue increase by 38% per year. That's well above most other pre-profit companies. So on the face of it we're really surprised to see the share price has averaged a fall of 53% each year, in the same time period. It could be that the stock was over-hyped before. We'd recommend carefully checking for indications of future growth - and balance sheet threats - before considering a purchase.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

TSXV:ART Income Statement March 28th 2020

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..

Story continues

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that ARHT Media shareholders are down 38% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 23%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. However, the loss over the last year isn't as bad as the 53% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last half decade. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with ARHT Media (at least 3 which are a bit concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh police allowed a majority of people who were stranded at the inter-state border on Thursday, to enter Andhra Pradesh after they promised to stay in home quarantine.

Those who were not willing to give an assurance of either staying at home quarantine or at government isolation wards were told to return to Hyderabad.

It may be recalled that on Thursday, after talks with chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy disclosed at a press conference that students and others would be allowed into their respective states if they were willing to stay in self-quarantine or under the surveillance of the state governments.

Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao told a press conference on Friday that the Telangana government was taking steps to provide shelter, food and medicines to students and people of Andhra who are in need.

He gave an assurance that no one would stay hungry during the lockdown till April 15.

Earlier in the day, Perni Venkata Ramaiah, Information and public relations minister, Andhra Pradesh government, while briefing the Cabinet, also said that people belonging to Andhra Pradesh who had come from Hyderabad were admitted to the state if they agreed to self-isolation in their respective homes or in government hospitals and quarantine homes established in the state.
Dec. 31

The World Health Organization says that Chinese health officials in Wuhan revealed a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

Jan. 20

The United States has its first confirmed case of coronavirus through travel: a man in Washington State.

Jan. 24

The C.D.C. says that it has developed a sophisticated diagnostic test and has sought F.D.A. permission to send it to public labs around the country.

Jan. 29

The White House announces a coronavirus task force led by the health secretary, Alex M. Azar II. President Trump attends the groups first meeting and tweets that the experts are on top of it.
Although personnel of the Police and the Army say they are still battling to unravel the cause of Saturday mornings bomb explosion at Ilu Abo, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, they have however confirmed that it was an accident.

They have also confirmed that the vehicle carrying the devices is buried underneath the crater created by the explosion.

Fears are also rife that some of the bombs buried may still be active and undetonated.

The fears were expressed by security agencies in their briefing to the governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu.

They have asked residents of the community to steer clear of the vicinity to avoid further disaster should there be any explosion.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that 13 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while no deaths have been officially reported.

The Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, said the police was yet to ascertain the state of casualties, as investigations were still ongoing.

The explosion occurred on Saturday at about 1a.m., with the sound heard in the neighbouring towns along the stretch of the expressway, including the Akure Airport.

The explosion made so much impact as it destroyed the main road, creating a crater of about 15 feet deep and about 20 feet in diameter.

It also destroyed a number of buildings in the vicinity, some at a distance of about 100ft from the spot of occurrence.

READ ALSO:

Notably, a worship centre known as The Possibility Church was destroyed by the explosion while the roofs of Aina Hawawu International College were completely damaged.

Fortunately, the students of the college which has boarding facilities, had gone on break following the closure of schools in the state as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other houses far away from the spot were also impacted as revealed in the damage on their roofs.

Mr Akeredolu, who addressed journalists after inspecting the damage done by the bomb, said he had been fully briefed by the heads of the security apparatus in the state.

He said the vehicle conveying the explosives was still buried deep under the crater, noting that there were concerns that some of the explosives might still be alive.

He said the police should be allowed to carry out the investigations and exhume the vehicle before further actions could be taken.

Meanwhile the crowd took a surge towards the crater to have a look, but the security men at the site made fruitless efforts to deter them.

Even with warnings that the odour coming out of the place could be poisonous did not discourage the crowd who thronged the place with cameras to see and record.
A 21-year old man, who recently returned from Dubai, tested positive for coronavirus here on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in Uttarakhand to six, officials said.

He had visited the Mahanth Indresh Hospital here on March 18.

His test reports arrived from the designated lab in Haldwani on Saturday confirming that he is suffering from coronavirus, they said.

The man has been kept in isolation at home, they said, adding that his four family members have also been quarantined as a preventive measure. However, they are asymptomatic.

Officials said around 40 swab samples are being sent daily for testing.

However, the state government machinery is fully geared up to deal with the outbreak, they said.

There are 20 lakh triple-layer masks, 11,837 N-95 masks, 3.360 PPE kits, 40 infra-red thermometers, 18 ventilator-equipped ambulances and 318 ventilators.

Besides this, there are 2,757 isolation beds, 6,361 ICU beds, 53 quarantine facilities ready at different hospitals for suspected coronavirus cases, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
P olice have dyed the usually turquoise blue water of a Peak District beauty spot black, to deter tourists from visiting.

Groups were reportedly defying the Governments lockdown to battle coronavirus by gathering at the disused quarry on Harpur Hill, near Buxton.

It prompted Derbyshire Police officers to pour black water dye into the honey pot pool to make the water look less appealing.

The force wrote on Facebook: Yesterday we received reports that people were congregating at the Blue Lagoon in Harpur Hill, Buxton.

Derbyshire Police said they used water dye to spoil the sight for tourists / Buxton Police SNT/Facebook

"No doubt this is due to the picturesque location and the lovely weather (for once!) in Buxton. However, the location is dangerous and this type of gathering is in contravention of the current instruction of the UK Government.

"With this in mind, we have attended the location this morning and used water dye to make the water look less appealing."

The move was welcomed by many, with one user responding: Very picturesque spot. Thanks for pointing it out. I shall definetely [sic] pay a visit AFTER the crisis ends. Till then I will enjoy the pictures!

Police said tourists were continuing to flout social distancing rules / Buxton Police SNT/Facebook

Others said they never knew the lagoon existed. Michelle Machin wrote: I have l lived in Buxton all my life and have never been there, I wouldnt even know how to get to it.

It comes after the force sparked a heated row after it chased ramblers and dog walkers with a drone on the Peak District, tracing number plates back to Sheffield - a 30 minute drive away - and shaming them on Twitter by branding it non-essential travel.

However, it is not the first time officers have resorted to adding colour to the water in a bid to discourage antisocial behaviour. They have done the same thing in previous years due to the toxicity of the water.

While the water looks appealing, it gets it colour from the caustic chemicals in the quarry stone, meaning the PH levels can cause skin irritations.

Police filming innocent members of the public with drones & putting it online is frankly sinister, let alone counter-productive, privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said.
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For Lori Schade of LD's Filling Station in Mason City, the unknown right now is by far the worst part.

The not knowing when the long-time breakfast staple can go from only doing carryouts back to dine-ins. The not knowing when she and her fellow staff will see their regulars again (the folks who nurse their coffee and gregariously chat about the latest happenings). The not knowing when things will just return to some sense of normalcy.

"Its been hard not seeing all of our regulars," Schade said. "Weve been trying to make phone calls to our elderly customers to make sure theyre okay. Its hard on us, too. LDs is a family."

Since LD's had to make an abrupt pivot to carryout/curbside only, Schade said the restaurant is "down dramatically." It's not alone, either.

"Were down anywhere from 60-70%," John Nardi of State Street Deli in Mason City said. "It keeps getting slower and slower as things close."

He said that the restaurant didn't close completely during this time and pivoted to carryout only because "You have to stay open just enough to cover rent." Any business they do, even just dribs and drabs, is vital during a time with a whole lot of uncertainty.

It's that same sort of uncertainty that led to the 100-year-old Northwestern Steakhouse to close completely while this crisis is ongoing.

According to Ann Papouchis, it was the only way for the restaurant to make absolutely certain that it wasn't doing anything to exacerbate the problem.

"You can never be totally sure that youre not spreading the virus. Even in all of our stringent practices, it didnt feel like enough," Papouchis said.

Northwestern Steakhouse is one of a handful of restaurants that's closed for the time being, along with China Buffet and Suzie Q Cafe. When Suzie Q's staff announced their decision on Facebook, they said: "It is on our government, our businesses, and us as individuals to act to ensure that the most vulnerable among us is protected and cared for."

And since they closed on March 21, Papouchis said that they're just trying to encourage patrons of theirs to stay at home as much as possible. They're trying to support their community while their community supports them. And the community has supported them plenty.

"We get phone calls asking if were still open. Theres a real hope out there that we will get through and will be back to normal in the future," Papouchis said.

The community response right now has been something that's totally bowled over Nardi and Schade, too.

"Our customers have been really great and we thank them so much for coming out during this crisis," Nardi said before emphasizing that "The support of Iowans is outstanding."

Schade concurred.

"We are very very blessed. We feel blessed here. The outpouring is wonderful."

To know what is and isn't still open in Mason City, and what service is being offered, readers can check out the article "Local restaurants: Who's offering takeout and delivery" on the Globe Gazette website.

Reach Reporter Jared McNett at 641-421-0527. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @TwoHeadedBoy98.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday his government will compile an unprecedentedly big economic stimulus that will include cash payouts to households and small firms hit by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

We will lay out a stimulus package of unprecedented size that will exceed the one compiled after the Lehman crisis, Abe told a news conference, adding that the package will include fiscal, monetary and tax measures.

The government will compile a supplementary budget for the fiscal year beginning in April in the next 10 days to fund the package, he added.
Johannesburg: Police fired tear-gas at a crowd of Kenyan ferry commuters as the country's first weekend of a coronavirus curfew slid into chaos on Friday. Elsewhere, officers were captured on mobile phone footage whacking people with batons.

Police force passengers to the ground at the ferry terminal in Mombasa, Kenya on Friday. Credit:AP

Virus prevention measures have taken a violent turn in parts of Africa as countries impose lockdowns and curfews or seal off major cities.

Health experts say the virus' spread, though still at an early stage on the continent, resembles that of Europe, adding to widespread anxiety. Cases across Africa were set to jump above 4000 on Saturday.

Reports out of Johannesburg on Saturday suggested South African police had fired rubber bullets at people queueing outside supermarkets.
Mother Dairy has doubled its supply of fruits and vegetables in Delhi-NCR at over 300 tonne per day to meet the rising demand amid the nationwide lockdown even as it faces some logistics challenges, a senior company official said.

"Before the lockdown, we used to supply 160-180 tonne of fruits and vegetables per day in Delhi-NCR through our Safal retail stores. Now, we are supplying more than 300 tonne every day," said Pradipta Sahoo, business head of Safal.

On Friday, Mother Dairy supplied 320 tonne, he said adding the company could increase it to up to 400 tonne per day.

He pointed that there are logistics challenges like shortage of labourers and transportation issues but the company is managing.

"We are sourcing fruits and vegetables from Delhi and neighbouring states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand," Sahoo said.

Mother Dairy is procuring onion from Maharashtra and potatoes from Agra in UP.

Sahoo said the company is facing difficulties in supply of pineapple and fresh coconut from Kerala, and sweet lime from Andhra Pradesh.

Mother Dairy has enough stock of apples which it has stored in cold chain facility.

The company has more than 300 Safal stores across the NCR.

Sahoo said the company is enforcing safe distancing at its stores to check spread of coronavirus. It is also taking other precautionary measures in the entire supply chain.

Mother Dairy is a leading milk supplier with sale of more than 30 lakh litre per day in the NCR.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Since Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation in 1952, the world has witnessed this remarkable family welcome several new members into their family, and mourned right along with them as they suffered many tragic losses. Throughout all of the good times and bad, one thing that seemed to remain a constant factor was how Prince Charles sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, always stood beside each other. No matter what was going on in the world, these two brothers remained a united front and would support each other through thick and thin.

Now, however, the two brothers seemed to have drifted apart over the last several months. In fact, the last time they were seen together in public, they had a brief, yet awkward, interaction with each other.

Many people have wondered what Prince Charles thinks of Prince Harry and Prince Williams falling out. Is the Duke of Cornwall upset with his two sons at the moment? A royal insider seems to think so.

Prince Harry and Prince Williams relationship

Prince William and Prince Harry have always acted more like best friends than they did siblings. Most people have traumatizing childhood memories of their older brother stuffing them in a laundry basket or locking them in a closet.

For Prince Harry, however, his older brother always seemed like a close friend and a protector. Since the two boys were very small, they always seemed the happiest when they were by each others side.

Growing up, they shared some of the same friends and had the same hobbies and interests. They were so close, when both of the brothers got married to their wives, they had asked each other to be their Best Man  even though having a best man at a wedding is not really a royal tradition.

Even though the brothers seemed as close as ever, rumors started to swirl of an alleged feud right around the time that Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex started dating.

At first, the rumors suggested Meghan and Prince Williams wife, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, did not like each other. One source had even said Meghan was so rude to Kate that the future queen consort had actually started crying when her daughter, Princess Charlotte, was being fitted for a dress to wear at Prince Harry and Meghans wedding.

The feud between Meghan and Kate had never been confirmed, however. And many people believed that it was actually Prince William and Prince Harry who were feuding with each other once Meghan came into the picture.

Once Meghan and Prince Harry said I do, the brothers did seem to spend less time together. However, many fans had chalked it up to the fact that both brothers now had their own families and didnt have enough time to spend with each other.

The royal rift between the princes

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

For the first year that Prince Harry and Meghan were married, the rumors about a brotherly feud continued to grow, but not many people really believed it. However, in 2019, Prince Harry was featured in a documentary entitled, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, and had admitted to the cameras that the rumors about his feud with Prince William were slightly true.

Were brothers and well always be brothers, Prince Harry said in the documentary. Were certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him, as I know he will always be there for me The majority of this stuff [in the media] is created out of nothing, but you know, as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.

A few months later, in January of this year, Prince Harry and Meghan announced that they would be stepping down from their royal duties. This not only came as a shock to the entire world, but the news had apparently caught Prince William, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth II off guard as well.

After Prince Harry had a private meeting with his grandmother, father, and brother, it was decided that Prince Harry and Meghan would lose their royal titles and would no longer be able to work on their many charities in a royal capacity again.

Prince Harry and Meghan then decided to move to Canada, and so far, the brothers seem to be more distant than ever.

Prince Charles is unhappy with the way Prince William and Prince Harry are acting

Princess Diana would be 'heartbroken' over the state of Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship, says royal photographer https://t.co/ewmRh681IM  MSN (@MSN) March 18, 2020

It must be hard on the entire royal family to see that Prince William and Prince Harry are no longer as close as they used to be. But according to Page Six, the brothers feud is especially hard for their father, Prince Charles, to handle.

Long-time royal photographer, Jayne Fincher, told Page Six that Prince Charles became extremely close to his children after their mother, Princess Diana died. And because he is still close to both of his sons, this feud is very hard for him.

Charles must be broken-hearted, Fincher said. because hes extremely close to those boys. All through that period of grieving, they were close. That must be very devastating for him.

So far, Prince Charles has not spoken publicly about his sons feud, but hopefully, over time, Prince William and Prince Harry can mend their relationship and become just as close as they once were.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

A little more than two weeks after the state began seriously grappling with the spread of COVID-19, city officials say a hospital notified them about a homeless person who has tested positive for the virus.

Lisa Huval, the deputy director of the citys housing and homelessness efforts, said she was told Friday evening that medical staff may have to transport someone from a hospital to the Westside Emergency Housing Center to stay in isolation. That hadnt happened by Friday night.

Huval said she doesnt know anything about where the person came from or who else the individual may have had contact with before being isolated.

The positive test comes as advocates adjust their procedures to minimize the risk of spreading the virus among the homeless population.

Huval said the city and Heading Home  the nonprofit that runs the Westside Emergency Housing Center  initially hoped to be able to screen everyone before they were bused 20 miles out to the facility.

But it turned out there werent enough Medical Reserve Corps volunteers or thermometers to do so.

She said the screenings at Coronado Park and Steelbridge, in Northwest Albuquerque, lasted one or two days. First Nations Community Healthsource staff is still screening people at Gods Warehouse off East Central before they are bused to the center.

I think this is not perfect, Huval said, referring to screening people after they have taken a bus ride with others. We will be providing masks to staff who have been working at pickup points, so that if they do identify someone who has a cough, theyll ask that person to wear a mask on the bus. Were also going to be distributing hand sanitizer to staff at pickup points.

The West Side center can now test homeless people on site, so they dont have to be taken to another facility first.

On Wednesday, city officials said the One Albuquerque Fund was making a $50,000 contribution for emergency housing to pay for motel vouchers for people who are homeless. Huval said those vouchers are going to people who are waiting for their test results and who dont have anywhere else to stay.

Bobby Sisneros, a spokesman for the Family and Community Services Department, said the vouchers would pay for 100 households to be housed for two weeks, or more people to be housed for a shorter period, or fewer people for a longer period. He said the motels will have to ensure they are following the governors directive to be at lower than 50% occupancy.

If people need emergency housing, they should go to the Westside Emergency Housing Center, Sisneros said. We will be working with our medical partners to identify residents of the Westside Emergency Housing Center who need a motel voucher.

Huval said five or six other homeless people have been tested, some of whom were negative. She said those awaiting their test results are staying in motels, paid for with vouchers from the city.

Also on Wednesday, the Rock at Noonday ministries decided to close its doors and is instead offering curbside to-go meals in an effort to comply with social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. The site has been a place where people have been able to go for a hot meal, to do a load of laundry or take a shower for more than 30 years.

For the first time in my time at Noonday, I turned the corner coming to work and saw people walking away from my building instead of walking to it, Executive Director Danny Whatley said. I almost started crying, because I knew they would be on their own for the entire day.

Whatley said he hopes that once the weather warms up, the facility can start serving hot meals in its parking lot.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:05:02|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 28, 2020 shows a beach almost empty of visitors in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen. Yemenis on Saturday began avoiding public gatherings in the beaches of the southern port city of Aden amid fears of potential coronavirus outbreak, a government official told Xinhua. (Photo by Murad Abdo/Xinhua)

ADEN, Yemen, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Yemenis on Saturday began avoiding public gatherings in the beaches of the southern port city of Aden amid fears of potential coronavirus outbreak, a government official told Xinhua.

The local government official said on condition of anonymity that "many families in Aden suspend going to the beaches as fears of potential coronavirus outbreak spiked among the citizens living in the city."

"Beaches in Aden that used to be crowded of families, visitors and children were almost closed," the source said.

He added that "the security forces only ordered shutting down shops and some public markets as a precautionary measure but did not order closing beaches."

Both health authorities in the government-controlled southern provinces and in the Houthi-controlled northern provinces have not reported any coronavirus cases so far.

Plagued by cholera, malnutrition, and diphtheria, Yemen lacks the ability to cope with deadly epidemics as its five years of civil war has almost destroyed more than half of its healthcare system.

The war erupted in late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
As the outbreak worsened in January and officials in Wuhan imposed a lockdown, Lin Wenhua, a freelance videographer in the city, pivoted from producing advertisements to using his camera to document the crisis.

Mr. Lin, 38, posted videos of his conversations with doctors and nurses who described not having time to rest, and with homeless workers displaced by the epidemic. He attracted a following of more than five million people on Weibo, one of Chinas most popular social media sites, even as several of his videos were deleted by government censors.

Human nature has been magnified in this crisis, he said. You see warm and kind characters, but you also see especially ugly ones.

A few young people have channeled their experiences on the ground into explicitly political appeals.

Li Zehua, a former host on China Central Television, the state broadcast agency, traveled to Wuhan to cover the outbreak as a citizen journalist, interviewing stranded migrant workers and crematory workers. In his last video, Mr. Li, 25, urged his peers to learn more about Chinas history.

Im not willing to disguise my voice, nor am I willing to shut my eyes and close my ears, he said before two men in plainclothes entered his apartment and the video was cut off. I hope more young people can stand up!

Mr. Li has not been heard from since, nor has Chen Qiushi, another young citizen journalist in Wuhan.
The Week In Russia: Reality, Perception, And Luck

By Steve Gutterman March 27, 2020

At one point in the classic Soviet comedy whose title translates clumsily as The Diamond Arm, the actor Andrei Mironov breaks out into a song called Bad Luck Island -- with lyrics that, despite tropical references to crocodiles that can't be caught and coconuts that won't grow, seem certain to be about the Soviet Union, no matter what the experts say.

It's a label that Russia has avoided, at least for now, in a world engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic. With thousands of deaths in China and Italy, and hospitals in New York struggling hard to battle a disease that has also killed more than 1,400 Americans, Russia -- with an official death toll of four -- so far seems to have escaped the worst.

That's if you believe the figures reported by the state. Many Russians don't, for several reasons. A poll by the Levada Center found that 24 percent completely distrust the official information about the coronavirus situation that is disseminated in the media, and 35 percent only partially trust it.

The past, distant and recent, is part of the equation. Russians are aware of a long line of lies that includes Chernobyl and stretches long past the Soviet collapse that disaster helped hasten, into -- among other things -- efforts to avoid government responsibility for civilian deaths critics say were caused by bungled rescue operations in terror attacks at School No. 1 in Beslan in 2004 and, two years earlier, at the Dubrovka theater in Moscow, a few kilometers from the Kremlin.

Those arguably bungled responses are among the more grim milestones of President Vladimir Putin's two decades in power as president or prime minister -- the umpteenth recent reminder of which came on March 26 -- the date he was first elected president in 2000, after being made acting president by Boris Yeltsin four months earlier.

Deadly incidents like the Kursk nuclear submarine disaster in 2000 and a fire that killed 60 people at a Siberian mall weeks after his most recent election in 2018, many of them children trapped in a movie theater -- as well as terror attacks in many of the years in between -- presented challenges for Putin. This one is different, because of its potential scale.

And with plans now in place for constitutional changes that will enable him to seek a new term in 2024 if he chooses, and again in 2036, he presumably does not want to bungle it. Not because there's a big risk of those plans being derailed -- given the Kremlin's control over politics and what goes on the TV screen, it would probably take a catastrophic result to do that.

Don't Trust Your Luck

But a substantial defeat at the hands of the coronavirus, real or perceived, could undermine the image he has sought to build as Russia's protector and erode the legitimacy -- and thus the staying power -- of whatever power arrangement he seeks to put in place at or ahead of the end of his current term in the Kremlin.

And so, Putin seems to have set out to avoid a big defeat at the hands of the coronavirus on those two fronts: perception and reality.

He altered his tone this week, sounding less dismissive of the threat. It will pass, he said in an abruptly announced address broadcast live on March 25, and may be over in just a few months, but this will require an effort: "Let's not rely on our good old Russian luck."

Putin used the term "avos" -- which can be translated as luck but may have a slightly different connotation. Picture a mariner, perhaps, facing a giant wave in a small boat, dropping the oars and saying, "We'll make it." A reliance on something at once stronger and fickler than fate.

"Avos" can lead to corner-cutting and encourage the kind of corruption in which an inspector turns a blind eye for a price. As result, it has been cited as a factor in avoidable disasters such as the mall fire the Siberian city of Kemerovo on March 26, 2018 -- two years ago this week.

Putin announced the postponement of a nationwide vote on the constitutional amendments that had been set for April 22. It will be held at an unspecified later date, he said, a tacit acknowledgement that to go ahead with it might have made him seem ready to risk the health of citizens for the sake of his own interests -- the opposite of the protector figure.

'Fake News'

Putin also stepped up measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 within Russia, urging most citizens to stay home next week, and cities including Moscow -- which had more than two-thirds of the officially confirmed cases and all three acknowledged deaths -- tightened restrictions on movement and gatherings.

There were signs of a potential lack of foresight, however, such as when the Kremlin declared two days later that people working from home should continue to do so. That adjustment came amid concerns that treating it like a holiday could worsen the spread of the virus and increase the damage to the economy.

As for perception, the state's campaign to shape it began weeks ago.

In one way, this task is easier than in some other cases. Putin has often pointed the finger of blame abroad for problems that a have wracked Russia. In this -- unlike in terror attacks carried out largely by Russian citizens, for example -- the foreign origin of the coronavirus is a fact.

Other parts of the effort to form opinion and control information about the situation surrounding COVID-19 have come in for criticism -- such as using a "fake news" law signed by Putin a year ago to go after some Russians who have questioned the official figures.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/the- week-in-russia-reality-perception- and-luck/30513648.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US President Donald Trump on Friday invoked a wartime law to force "time-wasting" auto giant General Motors to make ventilators to save lives, amid a shortage of the critical medical equipment to deal with the mounting coronavirus cases in America, now the global epicentre.

Trump invoked the Korean War-era Defense Production Act, which allows a president to force companies to make products for national defence.

He said on Friday that "GM was wasting time" on price negotiations and action was needed to save American lives.

The ventilator machines that keep patients breathing are much in demand amid the respiratory illness' outbreak across the world, which in the most serious cases attacks the lungs.

The US now has over 104,000 cases of the virus, the most in the world. With over 1,700 fatalities, America's Covid-19 death toll still lags far behind Italy and China.

Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Healt and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors (GM) to accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators.

"Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course," Trump said.

"GM was wasting time. Today's action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives," Trump said.

"The virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course," he said.

Earlier he took to Twitter to complain that GM had lowered the number of ventilators they had promised to deliver from 40,000 to 6,000 and had wanted "top dollar".

He also criticised GM chief executive Mary Barra, saying things were "always a mess" with her at the helm of the Detroit-based auto giant.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters at the White House that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has shipped 6,000 ventilators to the states.

Thousands of ventilators are being required in the treatment of coronavirus patients, the number of which has surged from just 8,000 about 10 days ago to nearly one lakh. It has also resulted in deaths of nearly 1,500 Americans and about 2,500 COVID-19 patients are in critical condition.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is in-charge of America's efforts to combat the coronavirus, said the White House is working with a number of suppliers to manufacture ventilators, even while they work with state leaders to assess "not just what ventilators are available in their state hospitals, but what ventilators are available in private hospitals across their state".

"Governors across the country are doing great work evaluating the full supply of tens of thousands of ventilators that are available," Pence said.

New York, which is the hotspot of coronavirus in the US, needs around 40,000 ventilators as early as possible. New York has more than 45,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and there has been 519 deaths due to the pandemic.

New York itself is reported to have requested 30,000 ventilators, but Trump said during Friday's briefing that he felt that was a "high" estimate.

Louisiana's governor said on Friday that New Orleans could run out of ventilators by 2 April.

The Society of Critical Care Medicine has estimated that some 960,000 intensive care patients will require a ventilator at some point during the coronavirus outbreak in America.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump on Friday ordered General Motors to make ventilators to help coronavirus patients  something the automaker was already on track to do.

Why it matters: The United States was caught flat-footed by the surge in demand for medical supplies. If the federal government had enlisted manufacturers earlier, when the virus was beginning to spread throughout the world, GM and other manufacturers could already be producing thousands of ventilators per month.

Instead, they're just beginning to ramp up, with significant production volumes not likely until the end of April or later  too late, perhaps, to make a difference in New York or other emerging hot spots.

Where it stands: At a press briefing Friday, Trump said the administration is working with about 10 ventilator companies to increase production, and he named White House trade adviser Peter Navarro to oversee the effort.

Over the next 100 days, said Trump, "we will make or get" more than 100,000 additional ventilators.

Trump singled out GM for "wasting time," however, saying he would enforce the Defense Production Act, a wartime measure, to compel the company to "accept, perform, and prioritize Federal contracts for ventilators."

The catch: He's attacking the only automaker that is making significant progress toward ventilator production.

While others like Ford and Tesla are conferring with existing ventilator manufacturers to see how they can help them expand production capacity, GM and a partner, Ventec Life Systems, are already gearing up to make the machines at a GM plant in Kokomo, Indiana.

Over the past week, GM and Ventec found global sources for all 700 necessary components in Ventec's multi-function ventilators.

Suppliers have been told to gear up for production of as many as 200,000 machines.

Unlike a car assembly line, the manufacturing process is fairly labor-intensive. GM plans to deploy 1,000 hand-raisers among its existing employees, and may hire new workers, too.

Between the lines: Trump has been a critic of GM and its chief executive, Mary Barra, for closing plants in the U.S., which seemed to play into his decision to enforce the DPA against GM and no other automakers.

While he said GM and Ventec wavered on how many ventilators they could deliver and how much it would cost, his explanation quickly belied his feelings toward the automaker.

"I didnt go into it with a very favorable view," he told reporters Friday. "I was extremely unhappy they left Lordstown, Ohio. I love Ohio," which is an important swing state in the 2020 presidential race. "That would be a good place to build the ventilators."

GM sold its former Lordstown assembly plant last year, however, and recently announced plans to open a $2.3 billion battery factory nearby, creating 1,100 jobs.

What's next: After GM-built prototypes are validated and the Kokomo plant is cleared by the FDA  likely by the end of April  the two companies plan to scale up to 10,000 ventilators a month, compared to the 250 per month that Ventec currently produces.
A 22-year-old woman died after falling from the 15th floor of her condominium located in Sector 62 on Saturday evening. The police said that the womans father, who was present at the spot, was not able to record his statement due to the ongoing lockdown in Gurugram.

According to the police, Shubhika, the deceased, was identified only by her first name. She had joined a private company in Delhi around two weeks ago but her office had closed after the imposition of the lockdown.

The incident took place on Saturday evening when the woman fell from her balcony and was spotted by a security guard present inside the condominium.

Dinesh Kumar, station house officer (SHO), Sector 65 police station, said that according to the preliminary probe, the woman was cleaning the railing of her balcony when she slipped and fell. We are investigating the matter. Things will be clearer after the deceaseds father records his statement with the police. Since there is a lockdown in the city, he was not able to record the statement on Saturday, Kumar added.

During the filing of this report, the police were yet to register a case in this regard.
Joe Bidens campaign is mounting an aggressive behind-the-scenes effort to address the biggest weakness of his candidacy: A lack of enthusiasm among the liberal base, particularly young voters.

Since his landslide victories earlier this month, Bidens advisers have engaged in talks with a range of top progressive groups, including some that endorsed his chief rival, Bernie Sanders, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations. The outreach to left-wing organizations and individuals  representing causes from climate change and immigrant rights to gun control and mobilizing underserved black and brown communities  is focused on young activists. Broadly speaking, they viewed Biden as one of the least-inspiring candidates in the sprawling Democratic primary field.

Its a delicate dance for both sides. For one, Sanders is still in the race. Plus, the progressives recognize that their time and leverage to influence Biden is limited since hes all but wrapped up the nomination. Still, Biden needs to fix his enthusiasm deficit, which was partly masked by his wins this month, and its far from certain that antipathy toward President Donald Trump alone will do the job.

The activists are seeking commitments from the Biden campaign on their issues, knowing that any headway is likely to be on the margins; Biden, for instance, will never come close to Sanders on policies like Medicare for All. Its a distinct letdown for them after coming tantalizingly close to getting Sanders as the nominee. To win the nomination now, Sanders would need to win more than 60 percent of the remaining delegates.

The dirty little secret is everyones talking to Bidens campaign, said Sean McElwee, co-founder of the liberal think tank Data for Progress. There will be fights, but at the end of the day, progressives still hold votes in the Senate and increasingly Democratic voters stand behind our views. I expect well see Biden embracing key planks of the ambitious agenda progressives have outlined on issues like climate and pharmaceutical policy.

Story continues

Bidens team is treating the project like a minicampaign. It has formed an internal working group dedicated to outreach to progressives, which met this week, and is crafting a timeline of engagement over the next few weeks. Senior Biden advisers Symone Sanders and Cristobal Alex, along with policy director Stef Feldman, are leading the effort.

Young people are an important constituency in the Democratic Party, a Biden adviser said, and we are committed to earning their vote. Biden held a happy hour virtual roundtable Wednesday aimed at engaging young Americans, and in an op-ed published in Crooked Media, he addressed fears among millennials and Generation Z about the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

The moves are just the beginning of a coordinated and robust effort to unite the party and beat Donald Trump, the adviser said.

Biden aides are taking a two-pronged approach. They're reaching out to what they see as traditional progressive groups with longer legacies such as Planned Parenthood, with which the campaign held a long call ahead of the most recent debate, and movement groups that came of age more recently, including liberal organization Indivisible and climate change-focused Sunrise Movement.

Biden has also backed proposals from Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in recent weeks on the issues of student debt and free college, respectively.

Several progressives whove spoken with the Biden campaign said they see room to mold Bidens policies on gun control, climate change and immigration. They are watching whom the campaign brings on to craft Bidens policy platforms, hoping to see personnel changes.

On March 11, the day after Biden bested Sanders in five out of six states, his campaign spoke to ex-aides to Jay Inslee and outside advisers to Warren, as well as staffers with Data for Progress about climate change policy. A week later, the former Inslee aides followed up with Biden's campaign.

The group shared a memo with Bidens aides that recommended he adopt Inslees clean energy standards and proposal to end fossil fuel subsidies, among other climate-related ideas. Biden himself also spoke with Inslee this week, though the conversation focused on the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, greet one another before they participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington, Sunday, March 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Progressives believe they have leverage because Biden has lost badly among young people to Sanders, and largely trailed among Latinos, too. They also argue that aggressive action on climate change action and Medicare for All poll well among Democrats.

Immigration is another sensitive issue for Biden and the left. United We Dream activists protested at Bidens events during the primary, hitting the former vice president over what they saw as the Obama administrations harsh deportation policy. Now the group, which jointly endorsed Sanders and Warren, is expecting to have in-depth policy conversations with Bidens team in the coming weeks.

There are signs Biden is moving in the groups direction. After sending conflicting messages about his deportation policy, Biden endorsed a blanket 100-day moratorium on deportations on the day of the Nevada caucuses, the first state where a large number of Latinos voted. He reiterated his support for the policy at the March 15 Democratic debate with Sanders, in what United We Dream and other groups took as a sign that he's listening to the concerns of their members.

Cristina Jimenez, executive director of the immigrant youth-led network spanning 28 states, said the groups members look forward to pushing Biden on his positions concerning the latitude afforded to ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents by local authorities. They also plan to ask him to back legislation to repeal a 1996 immigration law that criminalizes border crossings.

None of the groups is threatening to sit out the election if Biden doesnt embrace its positions. For instance, Justice Democrats, which made a name for itself backing primary left-wing challengers against more moderate Democratic incumbents  including several with ideological profiles similar to Biden  said in a statement it is definitely going to support whoever the nominee is.

But the discussions with the campaign could determine the degree to which they and their members go to bat for the likely nominee.

The Sunrise Movement will work to defeat Trump no matter what, said Evan Weber, national political director of the organization, by registering and turning out voters in key battleground states. But whether Sunrise does broad anti-Trump campaigning or explicitly back[s] Vice President Joe Biden if he becomes the nominee, Weber added, depends on what Bidens campaign does to demonstrate that they are taking the climate crisis seriously.

Progressives across the board contend they can apply pressure on Biden to embrace progressive policies at the same time they help him campaign against Trump.

If we're serious about changing what happens in the White House in 2020, it is all hands on deck, added Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter. But Garza added that we need to stop talking about Obama and we need to start talking about Joe Biden.

Garza, who endorsed Warren, said Democrats, with the help of the Biden campaign, have to start painting a picture of what a country under Biden looks like. Bidens team said it has yet to reach out to black activists such as Garza and Black Womxn For, an activist group inclusive of transgender and gender nonconforming people that backed Warren. The campaign wants to give them space after Warren's exit, a move that highlights the sensitive nature of the talks between his team and progressives.

Some groups that are particularly close to Sanders' campaign, such as Center for Popular Democracy and People's Action, also said Bidens team had not reached out to them.

Alexis Confer, executive director of March For Our Lives, a group led by the Parkland school shooting survivors in Florida, said the Biden campaign has work to do to energize the Democratic base for the general election.

There has to be an urgency in courting young voters and really making sure their voices are heard in all the planning, Confer said, adding that March For Our Lives is eager to talk to Biden's campaign to help expand his gun control platform.

Those voters were excited about the possibility of a nominee with an unapologetically progressive agenda, favoring either Sanders or Warren. Instead, she said, as the primary looks to be coming to a close, There is a lack of enthusiasm and inspiration right now.
SPRINGFIELD  Two city councilors are raising questions about whether Springfield housing code inspectors are safe as they do their jobs during the coronavirus crisis.

Council President Justin Hurst and Ward 1 Councilor Adam Gomez, in a statement, urged the Code Enforcement Department to implement a safety policy for its employees.

Hurst said he has heard from inspectors who are scared to enter dwellings but who feel an obligation to do so because they think their jobs are at risk.

While I understand there has not been a safety policy in the past, we are in the midst of navigating unchartered waters and we as a City need to do everything in our power to keep our employees safe," Hurst said.

City Solicitor Edward Pikula, in response, said the city policy is to follow the state guidelines from the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections. That includes seeking guidance from the local Health Department for best practices such as wearing eye protection and gloves, he said.

The state policy recommends that inspectors consider postponing nonessential inspections for buildings occupied by high-risk individuals such as those with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems.

We are working with direction from our local Health Department to identify best practices to utilize when these employees are performing their duties, Pikula said.

Hurst said the councilors concern is not just the for inspectors but also about the risk to the public from the spread of the coronavirus.

Dave Cotter, the citys deputy director of the Code Enforcement housing division, said the department is not endangering its inspectors.

Im not putting inspectors in harms way, he said.

An email from Cotter to Hurst, dated March 24, states in part: The inspectors are not entering any occupied homes unless it is an emergency situation where the occupants have to be displaced or the unit is vacant.

Inspectors were told to stay at least six feet from any person, in line with coronavirus prevention recommendations, Cotter told Hurst.

Mayor Domenic Sarno declared a state of emergency in Springfield on March 13, and on March 16 ordered that City Hall and all municipal buildings be closed to the public. Soon after, Cotter informed inspectors that inspections were to continue and that they remained under electronic (GPS) monitoring, Hurst said.

Both Hurst and Gomez said they are concerned gloves and masks were not being provided to the inspectors.

Code Enforcement Officers that I spoke to were worried about their safety before this pandemic! Gomez said. He added that he cant imagine the anxiety they must be going through in conducting inspections.

It is imperative that we provide them with the guidance that they need to do their jobs safety, Gomez said.

According to city officials, one court-ordered, emergency inspection was done with the inspectors wearing full hazardous materials outfits, as ordered by city city Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris.

Pikula said he believes there was only one court-ordered inspection since inspectors were deemed essential under Gov. Charlie Bakers order closing nonessential businesses March 24.

Other inspections have either been done from the outside of dwellings, or at newly renovated apartments at a fire-damaged building on Girard Avenue prior to displaced tenants being allowed to move back in, officials said.

Our City has an obligation to protect those who find themselves on the front lines and our inspectors should not be treated any different, Hurst said. It is also incumbent upon both the City and Housing Court to reconsider what an emergency is under the current circumstances.
manjund wrote:





What makes the decision even harder is the lack of admit weekends and, while I've reached out to students and alumni from each, I'd love to crowdsource some opinions here from less-biased folks.



My current thought right now is Kellogg > Tuck > SOM, but Kellogg and Tuck are fairly neck-and-neck and if Tuck were to come back with a competitive scholarship offer, I don't know how I would make a choice between the two. I'd probably reconsider SOM if they returned with a competitive scholarship that I basically couldn't refuse (ie. half ride or more).



Career Goals :

The current thought is to go into strategy/innovation consulting immediately after b-school and long-term I'd like to work in the global health space (healthcare delivery). I'm not totally sold on the frequent travel associated with consulting (I'm currently a consultant lol) post-MBA, so the secondary option would be an in-house strategy role related to healthcare tech/innovation.

Location-wise post-MBA, I'm looking at Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and Austin for the most part, but would consider other major cities depending on the opportunity. All this to say, I'd like to make sure whichever school I choose has a wide-ish reach and solid network in most major cities.

Let me know if I can provide more information! I am in the extremely fortunate (and tough) position of deciding between Kellogg (w/ a $40K scholarship - $20k per year), Tuck (no $ - I'll be speaking to fin. aid next week and will update if this changes), and SOM (no $ - should be hearing back from fin. aid in the next week or two).What makes the decision even harder is the lack of admit weekends and, while I've reached out to students and alumni from each, I'd love to crowdsource some opinions here from less-biased folks.My current thought right now is Kellogg > Tuck > SOM, but Kellogg and Tuck are fairly neck-and-neck and if Tuck were to come back with a competitive scholarship offer, I don't know how I would make a choice between the two. I'd probably reconsider SOM if they returned with a competitive scholarship that I basically couldn't refuse (ie. half ride or more).Let me know if I can provide more information!

Posted from my mobile device

I dont know what Tucks healthcare recruiting looks like but Kellogg has a pretty strong group of people interested in healthcare and robust healthcare recruiting. There is also a prof who is very well respected in the healthcare strategy space. Craig Garthwaite do you may be interested in looking him up. Hard for me to say who wins the battle in the healthcare space because Im not familiar with the offerings at Yale or tuck for global health but I definitely think you will find plenty of support and resources at Kellogg in that space.Kellogg is a consulting powerhouse so among the 3 they win there.The biggest difference between Kellogg and the other two are program size. Kelloggs program is one of the largest whereas tuck and Yale are on the small side. The plus side of being smaller is that you get to know everyone in your class really really well. The downside is that everyone knows everyone really really well. There is no privacy and it is difficult to escape the bschool bubble. Another downside is that the alumni network is also a lot smaller. If it was important to me that I know everyone in my class and I wanted a small program AND tuck/Yale offered money (Yale would have to be significantly more money) then I would pick one of the other two, but if I dont care about class size I would take Kellogg.
People of St. Maarten, both here and abroad, I hereby address you, as Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC (Emergency Operations Center), in an update for today Friday, March 27th, 2020, as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and Governments COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, mitigation and response measures.





Yesterday, Thursday, March 26th, 2020, I updated you on the joint controls being executed by the Police force of St. Maarten together with their French counterparts. These controls started today, Friday, March 27, 2020. I have been asking for persons to heighten their awareness of ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and the importance of practicing proper hygiene. To protect the population, closures of schools and non-essential businesses have been implemented, and minimized business hours have been implemented as well. All with the intention to minimize movement. While no curfew yet exists prohibiting the movement of the population, each and every citizen is asked to STAY at home as much as possible in order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.





The American case of the Miami resident was case number 12 on the French side, which after being admitted to the Louis Constant Fleming Medical Centre, his family arranged via his US insurance for him to be medically evacuated back home. This was supposed to be done via Grand Case Airport, however, due to technical difficulties, the plane could only land at Princess Juliana International Airport where the patient was able to be evacuated back to Florida. Though the patient was tested on French Saint Martin, it cannot be concluded that he contracted the virus on the island, as he was on a boat, which according to him had traveled all along the Caribbean in the past weeks. In doing the contact tracing, the French authorities ascertained that this case was not in contact with the local population of St. Martin/St. Maarten.





A reminder to all those persons who have returned to the island since Friday, March 13th; you are still required to register with CPS by calling 914 or downloading the document provided for such on Governments website page at www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus, fill it in and email to CPS at surveillance@sintmaartengov.org. These persons should be in self-quarantined (no symptoms, but have a travel history).





Persons who have a family member who has traveled in the past three weeks living in their home should also be self-quarantined even if you have no symptoms. Persons who have flu-like symptoms,





and no travel history, are not automatically considered suspected COVID-19 patients, but should also self-isolate at home (stay away from their family as well) and monitor their symptoms, in case they may have been exposed to someone who has traveled.





1. Self-Isolation refers to the separation of ill patients from other persons to ensure the health safety of persons that are not ill.





2. Self-Quarantine is for persons who may have been exposed to ill persons but are not exhibiting symptoms.





The government, via the Tourist Bureau, has made several attempts to utilize empty hotels for quarantining or isolating persons without success. However, any hotel willing to work with the government in this regard is asked to contact the Tourist Bureau or the Health Department in order to facilitate this arrangement as soon as possible. The government continues to explore options to retrofit other buildings to be able to house quarantined as well as isolated persons who are not complying with the self-isolation agreement as has been agreed upon between the patient and CPS.





Id like to reiterate as stated in my previous National Address on March 26, 2020, that our health care professionals and emergency service providers are tirelessly working 24 hours per day. Give them the time and space to do so, as your excessive movement can be a danger to these persons whom we expect to be able to take care of our needs, should we become seriously ill.





Id also like to address rumors concerning services being offered on behalf of the Government. Should the government take the initiative to offer services at your home, this will be communicated to you via the Governments official media platforms. Be aware of the scam artists that would use this opportunity to take advantage of vulnerable persons. Do not give out information to unauthorized persons.





During the EOC meeting held today, March 27, 2020, with ESFs 4, 5, 6, and 9, the decision was made to increase further restrictions on the movement of persons throughout the island via a Ministerial Regulation which is being processed.





Meetings were also held with ESFs 6 & 7. ESF 6 updated me on current cases, challenges with communication in relation to Protocols of SMMC, Ambulance and CPS. A meeting will be held with the full ESF 6 and with General Practitioners in the coming days to improve collaboration and cooperation in the interest of public health. I take this opportunity to request that all qualified Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses LPNs, and student nurses not currently working in the field who are able to assist health care workers in the various health sectors, should call CPS and register so that a pool of back up nurses can be on call to assist when needed. Further information regarding this will be made in a subsequent announcement.





The meeting with ESF 7  social affairs and community development provided an update on the plan to assist the most vulnerable in our society, in advance of the expected economic and social stimulus plan being rolled out. The ESF 7 members representing, community police, community development, Court of Guardianship among others not present, confirmed the plan which includes a food basket of necessities. This is being implemented, and they were given a deadline of April 1st for execution.





Persons who may have already started feeling the negative effects of the economic downturn from COVID-19 business closures, loss of tourism-related business, etc., should call or email the Social Services Department of Government. Further information as to a hotline number and email address will be announced in a subsequent announcement as well.





On Saturday, March 28th in the afternoon, a meeting will be held with the extended members of ESF 6 in order to get a full update and input from all stakeholders in the health care sectors.





As I conclude my address, I ask for something very simple. Save a life by staying at home. Stay at home because you matter! Do you hear me? You matter! We are resilient and hopeful people AND we will get through this period. The Emergency Operations Center ESF coordinators are all working in the best interest of you and your families.





Follow our Government Radio station  107.9FM for official information, statements, and news updates or visit the Government website at www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus and our Facebook Page: Government of Sint Maarten.





God bless St. Maarten and her people as we work together; Government, community and each and every St. Maarten resident, to keep her safe.
A Manchester court has ruled against a tenant who was reported to be holding noisy house parties with more than 20 guests at a time in what is believed to be the first injunction imposed to enforce new government rules on coronavirus.

Housing association Mosscare St Vincents requested the legal order after receiving complaints from worried neighbours concerned over the flouting of social distancing guidance.

Handed down by the court on Friday, the order comes as the first week of some of the most stringent restrictions of individual freedoms to be handed down by the UK in peacetime begins to draw to a close.

Matt Jones, director of customers at Mosscare St Vincents, said: Residents must realise that the restrictions put in place by the Government are to minimise the spread of the virus and must be adhered to.

We will continue to take appropriate action to ensure that residents living in our communities are kept safe during this time of unprecedented risk.

Secured at Preston Crown Court, the injunction prohibits any visitors to the tenant, who has not been named for legal reasons, other than their children.

The restriction will hold until government guidance on social distancing changes, and carries the risk of a possible prison sentence for contempt of court if broken.

Amy Stirton, associate solicitor at Forbes Solicitors, who worked with the housing association to get the injunction, said: As a team, we are very well equipped to continue taking urgent steps to protect our clients residents and ensure that reckless behaviour is addressed in the most serious way by the Courts.

The Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides an array of tools that can be utilised by landlords during this national emergency and this case demonstrates that whilst the court is now compelled to suspend proceedings relating to possession cases, it is still prepared to take steps to ensure that members of the public are protected.

It comes as police officers are granted new powers to break up social gatherings and enforce measures designed to limit the spread of the virus, which has so far killed 759 people across the country.

Earlier this week In Coventry police broke up a group of 20 people holding a barbecue near a lockup, tipping over the grill and sending residents home just a day after restrictions were announced by the government.

At the time West Midlands Police said officers were shocked to find the group  which included a toddler  freely mingling and standing shoulder to shoulder round a buffet.
Tahir Mahmood, a former chairperson of the National Minorities Commission, has urged Dar-ul-Uloom, Deoband, to issue a fatwa for the closure of all mosques in the country in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter, Mahmood urged the rector of the Islamic university to ask people to offer prayers in their home.

"I am sending this mail to appeal to the Ulama and Muftis of Dar-ul-Uloom to guide the community in this hour of crisis created by corona pandemic by issuing a fatwa for the closure of all mosques throughout the country for the time being," he said.

India is currently under the biggest lockdown with around 1.3 billion people asked to stay home in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 19 lives and infected over 900 people in the country.

The government and medical professionals have urged people to avoid mass gatherings and maintain social distancing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sometimes it takes a while for the gravity of a situation to sink in.

For me the gravity of the coronavirus has been seeping into my psyche with growing severity over recent days.

Images from Italy have been seared into my mind. These include images the obituary pages of a Bergamo newspaper being turned over and over as I looked on horrified from the safe remove of my phone. The pictures posted by nurses and doctors in London of freshly carved grooves in their red, tired faces from wearing face masks while treating people who have contracted Covid-19.

Sitting dozing on the couch Thursday night, the sobering words of Dr Catherine Motherway, an intensive care physician at University Hospital Limerick, who warned us that we must all treat one another like pariahs - essentially as if everyone has this condition which is killing not only elderly, but also young people in Italy. The message couldn't be clearer: nobody's risk is zero with this.

Although the figures are still relatively small here in Ireland, they could shoot up later this week and early next week as testing is ramped up.

Staring straight down the lens, Dr Motherway's warning was stark. It sent shivers up my spine and made me sit up and listen.

Following a weekend which saw 80 teenagers attend a house party in the Midlands, and people congregating at beaches and public amenities not observing the two metre distancing - despite their efforts I'm sure - her words have come back to me as I write what is, essentially, a cautionary public service broadcast. But then this is what newspapers have been doing in times of crisis for centuries.

Dr Motherway outlined how last week Ireland had half the number of ICU beds compared to the European norm, including in Italy where there have been around 5,500 deaths and almost 60,000 Covid-19 cases.

'We need people to take this seriously,' Dr Motherway implored. 'This is a virus; we know it's near us and that it's in the community in Ireland. We know that if we don't control the surge we know we will have major problems coping. There is no health service that could cope with what Italy has gone through last week or indeed Wuhan in China.'

She said the HSE is funding a significant number of beds, and wards in hospitals have been identified where patients suspected of having coroanvirus can be seen.

'You need to keep two metres away from other people. Stay at home, wash your hands. Prevention, in this instance, is the best cure. That is what the people of China and South Korea have taught us. One in five patients in my ICU lose their lives. The death rate with this is unknown. You need to make sure if you are young that you don't give it to your parents or to your grandparents; that is really important. The only way to do that is for the entire community to act. Really think about this. Keep away from each other. Essentially you must treat each other like pariahs. It's a big change for us but we need to do that to prevent what is happening in Italy happening here.'

Clearly the youths in Longford weren't watching. In these stressful times it is imperative that we face into what is coming down the tracks or it will steam-roll us. That, for a mollycoddled generation not used to making sacrifices, doesn't come quickly.
By Daniel H. Fine

Never before has the public health mantra wash your hands been so important. In the age of COVID-19, it has become our first line of defense against the new coronavirus. For this, we can thank Ignaz Semmelweis.

A 19th century Hungarian physician, Semmelweis was the first to provide overwhelming evidence that handwashing has the power to ward off illness and infection. But the discovery didnt end well for him. This was a radical notion at the time and the medical world denounced it, leading to Semmelweiss downfall.

In the mid-1800s, Semmelweis was working in the obstetric clinic in Viennas General Hospital when he observed that the maternal death rate for deliveries performed by obstetricians was drastically higher than for midwife deliveries. The illness, known as childbed fever, was attributed to poison air. But Semmelweis astutely noted that midwives, unlike doctors, thoroughly washed their hands before delivering. In contrast, physicians, many of whom had just come from teaching anatomy, failed to wash their hands -- even when they had just exited the cadaver room.

In 1847, Semmelweis began a series of experiments and published his data, which revealed that handwashing reduced maternal mortality by 99%. He enthusiastically presented his findings at conferences all over Europe and was resoundingly rejected and mocked. Because his research occurred before Louis Pasteur established the germ theory of infection in 1861, he had no scientific explanation of his findings and was mercilessly attacked.

As a result of his abject failure to convince his colleagues of handwashings value, he suffered a nervous breakdown. In 1865, Semmelweis was institutionalized, beaten and subsequently died from a gangrenous wound at the age of 47.

Just four years later, Joseph Lister, a British physician, proposed handwashing with 5% carbolic acid and the use of a phenol spray to decontaminate operatories. He was influenced by principles set forth by Semmelweis. Listers ideas were not immediately accepted, but eventually, he was given the Cameron Prize for Therapeutics in 1890 and the Order of Merit in 1902.

In 1879, based on the work of Lister, Joseph Lawrence, a St. Louis, Missouri, pharmacist, invented a phenol-based mouth rinse he called Listerine. Listerine, now FDA-approved for the reduction of plaque and gingivitis, went through years of ridicule for touting itself as a remedy for colds, sore throats and wounds.

At the time, there was little scientific evidence to support these claims, but in the early 1970s, I became one of the first researchers to find clinical evidence that Listerine successfully fights plaque and gingivitis and it was approved by the FDA for that purpose. At a launch meeting in Dallas, Texas, I reviewed the long and tragic history of Semmelweis, noting that the only silver lining was had his work been accepted we would have approved a mouthwash called Semmelweiserine.

In these trying times, when something as simple but effective as handwashing is helping to fight a global pandemic, it is clear that the groundbreaking work conducted by Semmelweis deserves recognition. The world owes him a debt of gratitude.

Daniel H. Fine is chair of the Oral Biology Department at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, where he heads the Center for Oral Infectious Diseases.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
OTTAWAThe federal government is bringing in domestic travel restrictions on any passengers exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, barring them from domestic flights and some inter-city train trips.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday that beginning on Monday at noon, anyone presenting COVID-19 like symptoms  such as fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing  will not be permitted to board domestic flights or inter-city train services like Via Rail.

Provincially-regulated inter-city trains and buses, like those operated by Metrolinx in Ontario, are not affected by the new federal rules.

Meanwhile, Westjet said seven of its employees, not limited to flight staff, have tested positive for COVID-19 across the organization. The Calgary-based airline said they have taken extra precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19, including loading all aircraft with gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.

Westjet spokesperson Lauren Stewart said they have recently introduced aircraft fogging, where high-grade disinfectant is distributed through a fog machine, and are placing hand sanitizing wipes on every seat prior to customers boarding.

Workers in the transportation sector are exempted from the 14-day isolation requirement when flying in and out of the country, as they are designated as essential to the movement of goods and people by federal authorities.

The ramping up of travel restrictions comes as the country begins to see some hopeful signs that Canadians efforts to self-isolate and social distance are having an impact on the rate of COVID-19s spread.

We need you to continue to stay home. We need you to do everything we can to flatten the curve. Obviously there are sacrifices were all making, but its beginning to work, Trudeau told reporters outside his residence at Rideau Cottage Saturday morning.

We see promising news out of B.C. that over the past couple of weeks, the measures taken  by so many Canadians, the choices that Canadians have made, have had an impact on the overall numbers. But we need to keep it up.

Figures released by the federal government show that as of Friday night, the number of new cases of COVID-19 across the country appear to have slowed down from a high of 160 reported on March 20 to 35 last Thursday.

The government noted, however, that there is a lag time of over a week where new cases have not yet been reported. That means those numbers could change, on reporting from public health authorities in the provinces and territories. The numbers also dont include asymptomatic cases, where Canadians are carrying and potentially spreading the virus, but have not been tested.

In addition, at any point in time there are many other people under investigation, awaiting laboratory results or not yet tested, said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, on Saturday. Even if you are not hearing of cases in your community, it doesnt mean there are no cases or that there are no exposures waiting to happen.

While the numbers are encouraging, Canada is not out of the woods yet, Trudeau said.

People need to know that the decline in the rate of transmission happened because two weeks ago, people started heeding these instructions and started self-isolation, started engaging in social distancing, Trudeau said.

And that is an excellent sign. But if were seeing a reduction in the spikes, that means what we are doing is working and we therefore need to continue what we are doing.

The ban on domestic air and rail travel for people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms means all passengers will be asked a series of health questions, be monitored for potential symptoms before boarding, and will be advised of recent advice from local health authorities.

The compliance is largely voluntary, though, and Dr. Howard Njoo noted that people can hide their symptoms.

At the end of the day, it comes down to our collective understanding and collective motivation and approach to do the right thing, Njoo, Canadas deputy chief public health officer, told reporters at the daily COVID-19 briefing in Ottawa.

Its not just the responsibility of governments, airline companies, train companies. Its the responsibility of every Canadian. If you are sick, stay at home. Dont take the chance of exposing others to the infection you have.

In a brief statement to the Star on Saturday afternoon, a spokesperson for Air Canada said the airline was seeking clarification and more information from Ottawa, but that it intends to be fully compliant with any new requirements.

Via Rail, meanwhile, was moving immediately to communicate with existing ticket holders about the new rules.

The new measures we are implementing will reinforce our efforts to protect the health and safety of our passengers and employees  (while providing) the public service in the best possible conditions under those difficult circumstances, said Via Rail CEO Cynthia Garneau in a statement.

While Metrolinx and the GO Transit system are not covered by the new federal rules, the transit provider has seen an 80 per cent decline in ridership in recent weeks  suggesting many people in Ontario are voluntarily staying home.

Based on the fact that Union Station is empty so much of the time, many people are following the advice. So thats the good news, Metrolinx senior manager of media relations Anne Marie Aikins told the Star in an interview.

With files from Omar Mosleh.

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NEW HAVEN  On Saturday, Yale University changed its mind and said it will make 300 beds available by the end of the coming week for New Haven police and firefighters who need to self-isolate because of the coronavirus.

We are eager to help New Haven with this need. We have been working to make this possible  and we agree that we should move as quickly as we can, in service of people doing extraordinary work on behalf of the New Haven community, Yale President Peter Salovey said in a statement.

Mayor Justin Elicker expressed anger at his virtual news conference on Friday over the universitys explanation that it would take weeks to move students belongings out of their rooms.

Salovey, in his statement Saturday, said the housing would also be available to hospital personnel, in addition to public safety workers. Elicker has estimated that he needs 100 to 150 beds.

On Friday, Elicker said University of New Haven President Steven Kaplan immediately said yes when asked for the housing and an agreement between UNH and the city is close to being signed.

The Yale president on Saturday said it also has been working with first responders to make expedited COVID-19 testing in Yale laboratories available to responders who have been exposed to patients.

Now more than ever, Yale and City Hall need to be on the same page. I know how committed all of us across the city and the university are to implementing an effective response to COVID-19, and I will do all I can to support this shared work, Salovey said in his statement Saturday.

Elicker, when asked for a response on the latest decision by Yale, said: We appreciate it.

The announcement came after the mayor had held his Saturday virtual press conference on the virus.

At that press conference he continued to comment on residents bringing their children to the parks and others playing games in the parks. He reiterated the need to avoid crowds and to stay at home to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as the numbers start to ramp up in New Haven.

Elicker said he was thinking of invoking a stronger response to persons not paying attention to the request to practice social distancing, particularly in the parks. To date, he said gatherings do disperse when police ask them to.

Weve been exploring other ways to disincentivize people from gathering and if this continues to be a problem we may have to find other ways to escalate, he said

The number of New Haven residents with the coronavirus was up to 54 on Saturday.

Michael Pinto, chief operating officer for the public schools, confirmed that a school custodian, who lives in Wallingford, has been hospitalized for COVID-19. He said he had not been in his assigned building for two weeks, a building that had just been thoroughly disinfected.

Larry Dorman, a spokesman for Local 287 of AFSCME, which represents the New Haven Public School custodians, said they are hoping for better communication with the school board and the city on protecting school personnel.

The schools are officially closed, but personnel are passing out internet devices to students, as well as food for families, while the buildings are getting a deep cleaning.

We are at the beginning stage of a pandemic and are very concerned that the administration and the school board protect the front line staff, Dorman said.

Paul Whyte, the instructional superintendent for New Haven Public Schools, announced that schools will resume for distance learning on Monday. The system has made 6,500 devices available to students so they can connect with the classes.

Whyte said some of the schools will have classes starting at the fourth grade, while instruction in others starts at middle school.

Its not going to be perfect, but were going to continue to work on the rollout of this, Whyte said.

On President Trump talking about issuing a quarantine for New York and portions of Connecticut and Rhode Island, Elicker said a strong message on not going out in public except for medical needs, food and to work at essential jobs is a fine, but how a quarantine would be implemented could be problematic.

He said they could be stopping a nurse on her way to work or a gas station attendant needed to be at his job so other essential workers can travel.

Asked to respond to Trumps mention of only New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, Elicker said he couldnt get into the presidents head.

Attorney General William Tong on Saturday responded to Trumps talk of a regional quarantine.

Off the cuff comments by the president, made without necessary coordination with governors on the front lines of this crisisare not helpful, Tong said.

Gov. Ned Lamont on Saturday issued an executive order that dealt with housing healthcare workers, first responders and the homeless.

This order gives the appropriate state officials authority to ensure safe housing for certain first responder and healthcare workers who need alternative housing, provide for physical distancing in safe and adequate settings for people experiencing homelessness, and meet FEMA requirements to reimburse state efforts in these areas.

Lamont also issued a public safety announcement asking health care professionals - including students and those who are retired - to consider helping Connecticuts medical facilities in the COVID-19 effort by volunteering their services. Those interested in volunteering can register online at ctresponds.ct.gov and they will be matched with a health care facility that is in need.

New Haven, on Friday, got 235 responses from people who are willing to volunteer in its Medical Reserve Corps to help out the city.

On the issue with housing public safety workers, Yale spokeswoman Karen Peart on Friday explained why it could not quickly open some rooms for them.

Our student rooms still contain their belongings, but we have teams planning the feasibility of packing and storing all the student belongings so that the rooms could be utilized, she said.

We are pursuing schemes that involve professional movers and packers, and using temporary storage. The process will take weeks, as all of the residence hall rooms on campus are filled with student belongings. As soon as we have been able to clear any space, we have informed the mayor that we will let him know, Peart said.

.

Elickers response on Friday was pointed:

 ... if your house is burning down and you asked a neighbor if your kids could stay at your house and your neighbor said no, but here is a check so you could stay at the Econo Lodge across town, what would that tell you about your neighbor? It is in these times of crisis when people are exposed for their true selves. Everyone needs to do their part at this very difficult time and writing a check does not exempt you from that fact, Elicker said at that time.

The mayor said UNH has similar issues with moving student belongings out of the dorms.

Earlier this week, Yale announced it was contribuing $1 million to a fund to help respond to the consequences of the coronavirus in New Haven, and would match contributions up to $5 million.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577
Photo taken on March 24, 2020 shows beds at Espacio Riesco Convention Center in Santiago, capital of Chile.(Xinhua)

Noting that a COVID-19 vaccine is still at least 12 to 18 months away, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed an urgent need for therapeutics to treat patients and save lives.

GENEVA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed half a million with more than 20,000 deaths, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday, calling them "tragic numbers."

The situation dashboard by WHO showed a total of 509,164 coronavirus cases have been reported globally as of 10:00 CET Friday, as the virus spread to more than 200 countries and regions.

A healthcare worker takes a sample from a driver to test for possible COVID-19 infection at a drive-through test station in Iserlohn, Germany, on March 26, 2020.(Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)

The global death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 23,335.

Noting that a COVID-19 vaccine is still at least 12 to 18 months away, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed an urgent need for therapeutics to treat patients and save lives.

Speaking of the "Solidarity Trial," a multi-country clinical study for potential treatments for COVID-19, Tedros said it is a historic trial that will dramatically cut the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs work.

Romanian soldiers set up a military hospital for possible victims of COVID-19 epidemic in Otopeni, near Bucharest, Romania, March 19, 2020.(Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

Tedros announced that the first batch of patients in Norway and Spain will be shortly enrolled in the clinical study, which compares the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against the epidemic.

"The more countries who join the trial, the faster we will have results," Tedros said, noting more than 45 countries and regions are contributing to the trial while more have expressed interest.

A police car runs past Buckingham Palace in London, Britain on March 26, 2020.(Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)

Tedros, meanwhile, called on individuals and countries to refrain from using therapeutics that have not been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19.

Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows an Irish navy ship being transformed into a COVID-19 testing centre in Dublin, Ireland.(Xinhua)

"As the pandemic evolves and more countries are affected, we are learning more and more lessons about what works and what doesn't," Tedros said.

He underlined the necessity to follow the evidence, saying that there are no short-cuts.
A Lack of Trust

Alex Azar had sounded confident at the end of January. At a news conference in the hulking H.H.S. headquarters in Washington, he said he had the governments response to the new coronavirus under control, pointing out high-ranking jobs he had held in the department during the 2003 SARS outbreak and other infectious threats.

I know this playbook well, he told reporters.

A Yale-trained lawyer who once served as the top attorney at the health department, Mr. Azar had spent a decade as a top executive at Eli Lilly, one of the worlds largest drug companies. But he caught Mr. Trumps attention in part because of other credentials: After law school, Mr. Azar was a clerk for some of the nations most conservative judges, including Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court. And for two years, he worked as Ken Starrs deputy on the Clinton Whitewater investigation.

As Mr. Trumps second health secretary, confirmed at the beginning of 2018, Mr. Azar has been quick to compliment the president and focus on the issues he cares about: lowering drug prices and fighting opioid addiction. On Feb. 6  even as the W.H.O. announced that there were more than 28,000 coronavirus cases around the globe  Mr. Azar was in the second row in the White Houses East Room, demonstrating his loyalty to the president as Mr. Trump claimed vindication from his impeachment acquittal the day before and lashed out at evil lawmakers and the F.B.I.s top scum.

As public attention on the virus threat intensified in January and February, Mr. Azar grew increasingly frustrated about the harsh spotlight on his department and the leaders of agencies who reported to him, according to people familiar with the response to the virus inside the agencies.

Described as a prickly boss by some administration officials, Mr. Azar has had a longstanding feud with Seema Verma, the Medicare and Medicaid chief, who recently became a regular presence at Mr. Trumps televised briefings on the pandemic. Mr. Azar did not include Dr. Hahn on the virus task force he led, though some of the F.D.A. commissioners aides participated in H.H.S. meetings on the subject.

And tensions grew between the secretary and Dr. Redfield as the testing issue persisted. Mr. Azar and Dr. Redfield have been on the phone as often as a half-dozen times a day. But throughout February, as the C.D.C. test faltered, Mr. Azar became convinced that Dr. Redfields agency was providing him with inaccurate information about testing that the secretary repeated publicly, according to several administration officials.

In one instance, Mr. Azar appeared on Sunday morning news programs and said that more than 3,600 people had been tested for the virus. In fact, the real number was much smaller because many patients were tested multiple times, an error the C.D.C. had to correct in congressional testimony that week. One health department official said Mr. Azar was repeatedly assured that the C.D.C.s test would be widely available within a week or 10 days, only to be given the same promise a week later.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 23:38:18|Editor: huaxia

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MACAO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government on Saturday reported three newly confirmed imported COVID-19 cases, taking the tally of all confirmed cases to 37.

The 35th case is a 19-year-old male Macao resident returning from London to Hong Kong on Thursday and then arrived in Macao on Friday through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. He was sent to hospital for having a fever upon arrival and tested positive on Saturday.

The 36th case is a 21-year-old male Macao resident returning from Portugal. He arrived at Macao on March 15 and received a 14-day medical observation at home. His sample collected on Friday was tested positive.

The 37th case is a 32-year-old male Macao resident and the fiance of the 11th case. He was listed as a close contact to the COVID-19 patient and received a 14-day observation in a medical facility since March 16. He was diagnosed with the disease on Saturday.

A total of 27 patients currently in Macao have COVID-19 infection and have been kept in quarantine for treatment at local medical facilities. The 10 cases previously reported before March 16 were all discharged from hospital after recovery.
Coronavirus Diaries is a series of dispatches exploring how the coronavirus is affecting peoples lives. For the latest public health information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website. For Slates coronavirus coverage, click here.

This as-told-to essay is from an anonymous pregnant woman living on the West Coast with her toddler and husband. Her husband had a mild case of the coronavirus in February after returning from a trip to Italy. At the time, the number of reported cases in northern Italy were rising, but there were only a couple of reported cases in the province he had visited, in southern Italy. The woman tweets from @covidwyfe.

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This essay has been transcribed and edited for clarity from a conversation with science journalist Monique Brouillette.

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He flew back from southern Italy and then the next day started getting some body aches, fever, and chills. We werent really very worried about it because no one was very worried about it at that point.

The next evening, about 24 hours after he flew back, he thought he had the flu or something and he didnt want to get us sick. So he sanitized everything and he was wearing a mask. The next day he, just out of an abundance of caution, called urgent care. He was actually over the fever by then, about 36 hours later, and felt OK. Like, if these were normal times, he probably would have gone back to work at that point, but instead he called urgent care. They said he should get tested for the flu because of this crazy thing thats going on in Italy. They told him that he should go to the ER. Which is a little bit ridiculous for someone whos not even very sick to be going to the ER.

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So he went to the ER, and they wanted to do a chest X-ray on him. He was skeptical. Hes a proud skeptic. So he said, I dont need that. They swabbed him for flu and discharged him. He walked to the hospital and back and they called him on his walk home and theyre like, well, the flu test is negative, so its probably just a cold.

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A couple days later, he had a little fever come back. So he called the ER, and they said, come back in. He was there for several hours getting every single other test to rule out all the other things like sepsis, and they did another chest X-ray on him, and he was clear. At that point, the doctor said there was a 50-50 chance that he had it.

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We got word that he was officially positive while my son and I were at a park. I did a quick sanitizing wipe over everything I saw my kid touch. I was in panic mode. I thought: Oh my God, I cant believe we went out. We shouldnt have gone anywhere. I just put all these people at risk. So it was kind of a panic moment.

At first, we were really pushing for me and my kid to get tested after my husband was found to be positive. But the public health person was like, you know, if you come back positive and your son comes back negative we would have to recommend that he stay somewhere else. Things are already stressful enough and then someone tells you something like that. Our son has never spent the night away from us. So, it just was pretty upsetting. We decided that after my husband recovered and tested negative, then my son and I could get tested. And then if I were positive, at least one of us would be negative and be able to watch our son.

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He mostly stayed in our guest bedroom. He would come down when my kid was down for his nap. Or when we were distracted in the other room. We didnt really see him very much. I would go to the guest bedroom covering my face with a scarf just to talk to him from across the room. It was really isolating. We didnt feel comfortable being around him or hugging him. He wanted to hug us and he couldnt even snuggle his child.

Whenever he was around us he was wearing a mask. He wasnt allowed to eat with his head pointed toward us. They were saying to the people in China, dont sit across from each other when you eat because thats the direction things are going to be going if something comes on your mouth.

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I would basically get up in the morning and wipe down all the kitchen doorknobs, all light switches, all handles, and anything that someone would touch on a regular basis like the banister. I just wiped it all down. And then excessive amounts of hand-washing all day long. I tried to keep my husbands dirty dishes not sitting out. Anything that he had in his mouth I would put in the dishwasher right away.

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When he took a shower, I was anxious. The virus spreads by droplets and I didnt know if the humidity from the shower would cause them to be suspended in the air column longer. So, I was like, When you take a shower you have to keep the door closed for a half-hour and run the fan to get all the humidity out of there and wipe everything down with bleach after. I would try to do a thorough job there. It is stressful because all it takes is one slip-upyou know, one time when youre lazy, thats all it takes to be exposed to it.

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It is stressful because all it takes is one slip-up. Thats all it takes to be exposed.

With my son, luckily he is really in love with his toys. So he just wanted to play with his toys a lot. And we have a little outdoor area where we were going and playing. Hes in that threenager stage, so I was definitely getting worn out and frustrated because hes pushing back on stuff. And I need a break mentally too, you know. My husband wants to participate, but he cant, and I want him to participate, but he cant.

This whole time, my kid was getting pretty clingy with me. And its heartbreaking, but hes young enough to the point that he didnt really seem to miss [his dad]. It was so sad. And then when my husband was out of isolation he was like: Not you! [I want] Mama! Oh, dude, I needed a break, though. I cant do everything.

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I was instantly wondering, how is this for pregnant people? If he had gotten really sick, then it could have been bad for me and my unborn child, but looking at the data [that were available at the time] younger people werent really getting [severe cases of] it and people without comorbidities werent really getting it. It was comforting to see those numbers out of China. And those early days and even since then, there wasnt a lot of research that had been done, but I got overloaded and even looking at my phone would give me anxiety.

Its really emotionally isolating. Unfortunately, more people are going to understand what youre going through. But chances are, not that many people in your daily life are going to be able to understand what youre going through.

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It felt like a long time and very isolating while it was happening. But it wasnt really that long altogether, maybe two weeks.

At the end he had a tiny little cough and when the cough went away, I was allowing him to sit in the living room and observe. It was sad. He was getting so emotional just to be able to hang out with family and see his kid play, because he hadnt been able to. What Im realizing is this is what a lot of health care workers are doing right now. Theyre isolating themselves preemptively. How long are they going to live like that? It is rough, you know? Ours had an endpoint because the virus ran its course. But, for people who are on the front lines of this, when is the end?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 09:51:31|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Xi's proposals to enable humanity as a whole to win the battle against this major infectious disease give meaning to the vision of an international community with a shared future, said a U.S. expert on China.

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Foreign experts have applauded Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for international solidarity and cooperation in the prevention and control of COVID-19, saying it is vital to the victory of the battle against the pandemic.

Speaking on Thursday at the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19, Xi urged the international community to be resolute in fighting an all-out global war against the COVID-19 outbreak and make a collective response for control and treatment at the international level.

He also urged G20 members to support international organizations in playing their active roles and enhance international macro-economic policy coordination.

Members of the third Chinese medical team pose for a group photo with local people after they arrived at Milan Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, March 25, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)

Francesco Maringio, president of the Italy-China Association for the Promotion of the Silk Road, said Xi's remarks have clearly shown that huge common challenges have to be tackled with the contribution of the whole world.

William Jones, Washington bureau chief of the U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review, acclaimed Xi's call for a meeting of the G20 Health Ministers as "a step in the right direction," saying that it would create a forum for a detailed discussion of measures countries are taking in dealing with this crisis.

Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, said that Xi's proposals to enable humanity as a whole to win the battle against this major infectious disease give meaning to the vision of an international community with a shared future.

Staff members arrange medical supplies at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, March 21, 2020.

Adhere Cavince, an international relations expert with a focus on China-Africa relations, said world leaders should heed Xi's call to work together to stem the spread of COVID 19, adding that China has been actively sharing its prevention and control experience with the rest of the world and playing a key role in inspiring international solidarity to combat the epidemic.

The international community must build consensus, overcome the difficulties, and pool the global technology, resources, knowledge and leadership to achieve a lasting victory in the COVID-19 fight, said the expert. 
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Madrid, March 28 : The Spanish government has banned layoffs during the coronavirus pandemic in the country, saying it had put enough measures in place for temporary leaves to be granted to employees instead.

Employment Minister Yolanda Diaz told a press conference on Friday that nobody was "allowed to use COVID-19 as an excuse to fire people", reports Efe news.

"It is not necessary to fire anyone in this country, this crisis is a parenthesis, we believe there are sufficient mechanisms in this country for people to use public resources responsibly," she added.

Diaz said the government had simplified the process of placing employees on temporary leave, which now required simply filling out a basic form.

The Minister said temporary contracts due to expire in the near future would be frozen and resumed after the crisis.

Diaz's announcement came 10 days after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled an unprecedented 200 billion euro aid package designed to help businesses by offering credit lines.

The government also said it would pay benefits to workers put on temporary leave, whether or not they would have qualified in regular circumstances.

Meanwhile, Maria Jesus Montero, the government's spokeswoman, urged the European Union (EU) to offer a clear response to the health crisis after the bloc failed to land consensus on a financial package following six hours of debate on Thursday.

"The EU is synonymous with solidarity and welfare. It cannot turn its back on the population during a crisis like this. We would never forgive that." EU leaders said they would meet again to discuss its response within two weeks.

Spanish health authorities on Friday said 769 coronavirus patients had died in the last 24 hours, the highest daily toll in the country since the outbreak began.

The new peak brings the total number of deaths in Spain to 4,858, while the number of new infections rose 14 per cent in a day, the lowest increase in the last 15 days.

Spain has recorded a total of 64,059 confirmed cases, almost 50,000 of which are still active.

Fernando Simon, the head of Spain's public health emergency department, said the new figures provided a "certain hope" that the country was experiencing a flattening of the curve in terms of new cases, adding that such analysis must be treated with caution at this time.

The number of deaths in one day jumped 18.8 per cent compared to the 655 deaths recorded Thursday but Simon highlighted that the figure, as a percentage of total cases, appeared to have stabilized.
Xi says China to continue timely sharing of COVID-19 information

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 13:18:45 Last Updated: 2020/3/27 14:39:00

China has been sharing information on COVID-19 in an open, transparent and responsible manner with the World Health Organization and countries including the United States since the onset of the epidemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday.

Talking over phone with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, Xi stressed that China wasted no time in releasing such information as the genetic sequence of the virus.

China, he added, has also been sharing experience on COVID-19 prevention, containment and treatment without reservation, and providing as much support and assistance as it can for countries in need.

China will continue to do so, and work with the international community to prevail over the pandemic, Xi said.

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The well-being of the working-class people needs to be the main consideration  not mortgage companies, not whether the banks get paid or not, she said. We see bailouts for banks because they are too big to fail, but if we are going to give money to banks, they need to be responsible for the rest of us.
Tehran, March 27 (IANS) Iran has reported 2,389 more cases of COVID-19 infection, as the total number reached 29,406. The country reported 157 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, raising its death toll from the virus to 2,234. So far a total of 10,457 patients have recovered since the first cases were detected on February 19.

On Thursday, Iran announced the implementation of a social distancing plan for one week starting Friday. The plan includes further restrictions of the inter-city travels, the closure of public places like parks, swimming pools and entertaining centres, a ban on gatherings, and reducing work hours of civil servants. Xinhua reported.

The Central Bank of Iran has approved loans worth $5 billion to be provided to the businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Press TV reported.

Turkey on Thursday reported 16 new deaths from COVID-19, as the death toll reached 75. Meanwhile, 1,196 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of infections to 3,629. This has made Turkey the second hardest-hit country in the Middle East.

In Israel, a total of 324 people tested positive for the COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,693, of whom eight have died and 70 have recovered.

Israel halted on Thursday all train services, while keeping bus lines on a limited scale for transporting essential workers. Taxis are allowed to take only one passenger per ride.

Israel's leading airline El Al announced a halt of all flights from Friday until April 4, due to a sharp drop in demand for regular flights, concern for passenger health and air crews, and the necessity to reduce expenses.

Morocco confirmed 50 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 275. So far, 10 of the infected have died and eight have recovered.

Jordan reported 40 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which has been the biggest single-day hike so far, raising the total number of infections to 212.

Iraq confirmed 36 new cases, bringing the total number of the infected to 382. Seven more of the infected died, raising the death toll to 36. A total of 105 patients have recovered.

Lebanon reported 35 new COVID-19 cases, as the total number of infections soared to 368, of whom six have died. The government decided to extend the nationwide lockdown for two additional weeks until April 12 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Kuwait reported 13 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 208. A total of 49 patients have recovered and 159 are receiving treatment including seven still under intensive care.

Palestine announced 15 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number to 86, including 77 in the West Bank and nine in the Gaza Strip. All the new cases came from the village of Beddo to the northwest of Jerusalem.

In Oman, 10 new cases of coronavirus infection were detected, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 109. So far, 23 patients have recovered.

Hosting an unprecedented virtual G20 summit, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud called upon the G20 countries to take responsibility for combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his opening remarks, the king said that the G20 countries should be responsible for financing researches on therapeutics and vaccine against the coronavirus, which has severely impacted the global economy and markets.

He also emphasized the responsibility of the G20 to extend helping hand to developing countries and the least developed countries, to enable them to build their capacities and improve their infrastructure to overcome this crisis.

Addressing the same summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged all countries to exert immediate joint efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

Noting that the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of cooperation and reconciliation spirit within the G20, he said no country has the luxury of implementing protectionist and unilateral policies.

In a statement issued after the summit, the G20 announced the injection of over $5 trillion into the global economy to cushion the impact of the novel coronavirus.

"The steps to support our economies also include protecting workers, businesses, especially micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the sectors mostly affected," it said.

The move came as part of the efforts to counter the social, economic and financial impact of the pandemic, it added.

--IANS

pgh/
MORRIS - In the worst of times, people rise to the challenge and help others. And as business owners, Diana and Robert McIntosh of Morris understand all too well how important it is to keep things going during these tough times.

I heard Nicole Straight on local radio, talking about Food for the Front Lines, a mission that allows the Connecticut community to raise money for local restaurants to deliver meals to first responders, and was convinced this was the direction to take, Diana McIntosh said.

Nicole Straight, former Fairfield County Site Director for Food Rescue U.S., founded Food For the Front Lines in Fairfield County is closing in on their GoFundMe goal of $25,000 to feed Connecticuts EMS workers, first responders, ER and ICU staff, and others working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

The other benefit of the program is support local restaurants that are struggling.

Robert McIntosh provided the first set of meals that was provided to members of Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance.

I am a stay-at-home Mom of three girls, so I had more time to pursue this, Diana McIntosh said. My motivation was that my husband and I make sure our kids know that through a lot of hard work, we are very fortunate in our lives; that we are always thankful; and we always give back.

My brother Paul Decarolis was an EMT and a firefighter for Watertown Fire Department for many years. He passed away three years ago, but he would have been the first one out there to help with the COVID-19 crisis, she said. I am doing this with him in my heart. I miss him every day but this helps me keep his memory alive. I was so happy to bring food to Watertown Fire Department recently, and I am sure he would be proud. We also delivered lunch to Litchfield Woods nurses in Torrington, with food supplied by Berkshire Cafe in Torrington. Every day we are expanding our reach."

McIntosh is recruiting her three daughters to help with spreadsheets to keep track of the places they visit, and the restaurants they have approached to participate. She is taking contacts from hospitals and urgent care facilities as well. Pictured are Diana and Robert McIntosh of Morris.

To support this Connecticut effort to help and support those on the front lines of the COVID-19 virus, find Diana A. McIntosh on Facebook, Email diana@frontlineelectric.com, or go to http://www.gofundme.com/f/food-for-the-front-linelitchfield-county
Drive-through testing has been the first-time-ever public face of the epidemic at this Penn Medicine site in West Philadelphia. Inside the building, doctors, nurses and other staffers are experiencing a situation they've never seen before, either. Read more

We are two physicians, providing care in very different placesprimary care office practice, and inpatient cardiothoracic surgery. We reach out to each other and share how medical practice in our respective specialties has vastly changed in a matter of weeks, to a point bearing little resemblance to what we are used to. We compare, contrast and learn how we are each adapting in our roles. Our separate worlds have contracted, yet we widen our perspectives through shared experiences.

Jeff

The first thing that strikes me is the vacant parking lot. Even at 6:45 a.m. on a typical day, our office lot is speckled with parked cars and delivery trucks. Today it looks and feels more like a weekend day, like I am making an unplanned trip to the office to retrieve something I left behind.

I detour to the rear of our building so I can enter through the door where our staff waits to take my temperature: 98.5. Im cleared to proceed to my office, which sits across from a row of exam rooms. When I arrive, one exam room door is usually closed, signaling that my medical assistant is preparing my first patient for their visit. Today, both of my rooms have open doors, and are dark inside. Vacant. The hallways, usually filled with staffers preparing rooms and stocking supplies, are empty and silent.

I log on to my office computer, which is where my practice lives now, and for the foreseeable future. We have adapted our workflow, from check-in through medication review, preventive health screening, and then my visitto an almost all virtual process. On the rare occasion when an actual patient comes in with something which requires direct examination, it feels like awakening from a surreal dream. I savor the encounter, uncertain when the next one will be.

Connections with patients are difficult to nurture right now, and connections with colleagues are even more challenged. Along the clinicians office corridor, doors which we used to stroll in and out of for consultations or just to say hello, are all closed, as we each carry on behind those doors with our virtual practices. We hold staff meetings on the phone too, even though we are all in the same building. Face time still feels so remote.

Jason

There is a palpable anxiety beneath the strange quiet. I can feel it when I enter the hospital building each morning after being screened for a fever, and when I walk home each evening across the empty university campus.

Morning rounds, once a social routine with large teams of fellows, residents, medical students and advanced practice providers greeting patients in their rooms, is now brisk and pragmatic. No more than two people are allowed in the room. We now wear masks at all times and stand at a distance from each other and our patients. We refrain from any physical touch.

No one on our team feels ill, but no one knows if they are an asymptomatic carrier. On the rare occasions we arent terrified of making someone else sick, we fear being at risk ourselves.

Every hour, our phones light up with emails outlining new alerts and policies. It is difficult to stay up with the pace at which everything is changing. We constantly flip through news about Italy and New York, and wonder if this is the day it begins in Philadelphia.

Its called the calm before the storm, but it doesnt feel especially calm. Visitors and students are no longer permitted. All elective operations and office visits have been postponed, meaning anyone who needs treatment, but can survive without it for now, is waiting at home until it is safe again.

We take all of these measures in hopes of ensuring that when patients with CoVID-19 arrive in respiratory distress in unpredictable numbers, we will have enough beds, ventilators, and protective gear. Running out of supplies is something we never had to think about before. We reflect on how much has changed in so little time.

Together

We look to our colleagues for support, wherever they may be. We find camaraderie in social media connections, seek solace in reading and writing. We find common ground in what we all are doing to fight the virus. We write to each other, always replying eagerly. We look for better ways to share information with fellow providers, and also the public.

We feel more proud than ever to be physicians, sources of reason, information and guidance for our patients.

We all need to share our stories, advice, wisdom, understanding, and good wishes. This is about our survival.

Jeffrey Millstein is a primary care physician and medical director for patient experience-regional practices at Penn Medicine. Jason Han is a resident in cardiothoracic surgery in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Both are frequent Inquirer contributors.
Beirut, Lebanon  Hospitals on the front lines of Lebanons coronavirus outbreak have either turned away undocumented people or are setting prohibitively high costs for tests, leading them to fear for their health and wellbeing.

Al Jazeera spoke with two former domestic workers of Ethiopian origin who sought testing at Beiruts Rafik Hariri University Hospital (RHUH), the main COVID-19 testing and treatment centre in the country.

Both said they were turned away because they did not have identification documents.

Many live-in migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are left without documents when they escape abusive employers, because of the pervasive practice of employers confiscating passports and IDs.

When asked for comment, a source at RHUH, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the hospitals policy was to turn away those without documents so long as they were not in need of emergency care.

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We must provide the state with the name of any person who we test, so that if it is positive we can inform both the state and the person. We cant do that without a name, the source said, adding that they could not rely simply on contact information.

To be very clear, anyone who comes to us in an emergency condition and needs treatment will be given treatment, but if they are not an emergency case we cant, the source said.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan did not respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, an employee at the coronavirus ward of Beiruts St George Hospital, one of the largest in the capital, told Al Jazeera that undocumented people would have to pay for testing themselves, at a cost of 750,000 Lebanese pounds (about $498).

It is a prohibitively high cost for people who struggle to pay for basic needs such as food and rent.

The employee said patients were first given blood and lung scans, then another more precise scan, and only then, if all indicators pointed towards the coronavirus, a COVID-19 test.

The test itself is available at some private clinics at a cost of about 150,000 Lebanese pounds (about $99).

As of Saturday, Lebanon had recorded 412 cases of COVID-19, with eight deaths and 27 recoveries, according to government statistics. At the current rate, the number of cases is doubling every five to six days.

Fear of spread

Tenteb, a 32-year-old former domestic worker who has lived in Lebanon for more than 10 years, told Al Jazeera she began feeling coronavirus-like symptoms  strong cough and headache  in early March.

I got very scared, because I am living in a three-room apartment with 14 people, she said, all of them former domestic workers who either ran away from abusive employers or were laid off during Lebanons economic crisis.

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An estimated 250,000 domestic workers reside in Lebanon, coming from a host of African and Southeast Asian countries.

Most earned monthly wages equating to between $150 and $250 before Lebanon began its slide into economic and financial crisis in 2019.

The subsequent depreciation of the local currency by more than 40 percent has in turn slashed the value of their wages, and many Lebanese employers have cited the economic crisis as a reason to pay domestic workers late, or not at all.

Under the notorious kafala system, domestic workers cannot leave without their employers consent. This leads many to languish in abusive and difficult working conditions, while others decide to escape, effectively becoming illegal residents in Lebanon.

Escapees face imprisonment, fines and deportation if they are caught by authorities and so many, like Tenteb, are left living in limbo.

Tenteb said only two of the 14 women at her residence, including herself, were still earning a salary before the coronavirus outbreak began in Lebanon in late February.

Now, both of them have been laid off due to a partial national lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.

She said she suspected her strong cough had led her employer to let her go, and she immediately sought testing for the coronavirus. But she was turned back from RHUH and was left to self-medicate with antibiotics, vitamins and panadol.

Tenteb still does not know whether she has COVID-19, and says that those she lives with have thankfully not yet developed any symptoms.

Black or white

Mary, a former domestic worker who began experiencing symptoms last week, was turned away from the RHUH and was unable to afford a test at the St George Hospital.

Speaking on behalf of Mary due to a language barrier, Rosa, a 29-year-old Ethiopian woman who has lived in Lebanon for five years, said they had struggled to move from one hospital to another as Marys symptoms grew worse.

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Rosa said they eventually paid for a coronavirus test at a hospital on the southern outskirts of Beirut. It came back negative.

While thats great, its not the most important point here, Rosa said. Ok, shes foreign and has no papers, but this is a dangerous virus that Europe cant even deal with.

How will Lebanon control this virus if they do this? This is more important than anything: documents, nationality, black or white. We all live here together in Lebanon. I dont know how they think.

Diala Haidar, a Lebanon campaigner at Amnesty International, told Al Jazeera that, under the human right to health: Healthcare goods, facilities and services should be available and accessible to everyone without discrimination, especially to the most vulnerable or marginalised groups of the population, [including undocumented migrants].

Lebanon has ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which guarantees the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases.
By AFP

PARIS: As Europe and the United States struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, aid groups warn that without measures millions could die in low-income countries and war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where hygiene conditions are already dire.

The outbreak has infected some 580,000 people and killed over 27,000 around the world after emerging in China in December last year.

Across Africa, the official numbers are still relatively low with 83 deaths and over 3,200 confirmed cases on Friday, according to the African Union.

But aid groups are sounding the alarm on the potentially devastating consequences of a severe outbreak in low-income and conflict-ridden countries, where healthcare systems are in tatters and hygiene conditions poor.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

"Refugees, families displaced from their homes, and those living in crisis will be hit the hardest by this outbreak," said the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in a statement.

Misty Buswell from the IRC said areas like the last rebel-held province in war-torn Syria, Idlib, which was already enduring a humanitarian crisis before the pandemic started, were particularly at risk.

"A lack of food, clean water and exposure to cold weather have already left hundreds of thousands of people in poor health, making them even more vulnerable," said Buswell, adding the devastation in Idlib could be "unimaginable".

Around the world three billion people lack access to running water and soap, which are the most basic weapons of protection against the virus, UN experts warned.

"Frequently washing hands is the most effective way to protect against the coronavirus, but what will more than half the Yemeni people who don't have access to safe water do?" the International Committee of the Red Cross in Yemen tweeted Sunday.

ALSO READ | Trump signs $2 trillion rescue plan for coronavirus-hit US economy as cases cross 1,00,000

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning last week: "If we let coronavirus spread like wildfire -- especially in the most vulnerable regions of the world -- it would kill millions of people."

The UN chief announced a humanitarian relief plan on Wednesday, featuring an appeal for USD 2 billion dollars to help the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.

"But we already know that it won't be enough," said Delphine Pinault, Uganda country director for the humanitarian organisation Care.

After G20 nations pledged $20 trillion for the global economy to counter forecasts of a deep recession, international aid agency Oxfam also said even this was insufficient.

"On the day that Imperial College London has warned that close to 40 million lives could be lost without urgent action, the world's richest governments are still only warming up to the scale of the task," said Chema Vera, Oxfam's interim executive director.

In a separate blog piece, Vera called on G20 nations to cancel debt of low-income countries.

"If they pay the debt that they have today, they will be able only to minimally protect their people," he said.

The lack of healthcare infrastructure is another problem faced by poorer countries to deal with the pandemic.

France has 7,000 intensive care beds, compared to 100 or even a dozen in other less well-off nations.

"In the most serious cases we won't be able to do anything," said Isabelle Defourny, head of operations at Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Imposing a lockdown and keeping infected people in quarantine will also be difficult in countries where a lack of social protection measures will force people to work.

It remains unclear whether the virus will develop in the same way across the globe.

The climate and the coexistence with other viruses may affect COVID-19, said expert in infectious diseases for Action Against Hunger (ACF) Dieynaba N'Diaye.

Demographics in Africa -- where 70 per cent of the population is under the age of 30 -- may also modify the trajectory of the virus, as older generations are particularly vulnerable.

And several outbreaks of Ebola in western African nations have provided governments with previous experience of dealing with an epidemic.

But aid groups are now in a race against time.

"We can't stop the coronavirus pandemic, it's everywhere. But we can slow it down and buy time to prepare ourselves," said MSF's Defourny.

"The window of opportunity is a matter of weeks," added N'Diaye.
The US government has revealed plans to evacuate its citizens in Nigeria despite airport closures due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria made this known on Friday evening through a notice titled Health Alert: US Mission in Nigeria.

In the notice, the American citizens in Nigeria were advised to be in Abuja and Lagos as soon as possible to join arranged flights back to the US. They also advised nationals who are not in Abuja and Lagos to work with local airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available.

READ ALSO  Coronavirus: All 51 Italian Doctors Who Tested Positive, Dead

It stated: At present, there are no scheduled flights to the United States. However, we are actively exploring options and attempting to secure flights despite global airport closures and travel restrictions.

We will email US citizens immediately once we have flight details, routes, and costs. US citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to travel to Abuja or Lagos as soon as possible.

The Embassy and Consulate are unable to assist with lodging, food, or transportation costs, and some hotels have closed or are closing.

To disseminate important information and alerts for US Citizens including possible evacuation flights, the State Department uses the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program as its primary messaging system. US Citizens in Nigeria who want to be informed about emergency flights and receive other alerts should enroll in STEP immediately.

The US currently has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any other country, with more than 86,000 positive tests.
pregnant woman

EmiliaUnger/Shutterstock

The New York Department of Health pushed back against hospitals that are barring partners or other birth aides of expecting mothers from the delivery room in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

New York-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai Health System, two major hospital networks with some of the top maternal and infant care centers, were previously criticized for banning visitors in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Other public health officials have disputed the visitor bans, as World Health Organization guidelines say that "having a companion of choice present during delivery" is part of "high-quality care before, during and after childbirth" promised to those giving birth during the outbreak.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The New York Department of Health ramped up its guidelines disputing newly-instated hospital policies that dictate expecting mothers can't bring a partner or other visitor into the delivery room.

The new policy was released on Friday, days after some of the state's most-high profile maternal and infant care centers issued controversial rules barring partners and other birth aides of expectant mothers from the delivery room as New York's novel coronavirus outbreak rapidly changed hospital recommendations.

The new rule directly contrasts the sharp restrictions issued by New York-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai Health System in response to the coronavirus crisis, as the department said in a release that it was requiring "hospitals to allow one support person in labor and delivery settings if the patient so desires and two designated support persons in pediatric settings, provided that only one is present at a time."

In addition to limiting one person at a time, the announcement stipulated that anyone present for labor and delivery "must be asymptomatic for COVID-19," must not be suspected of having the virus and will be screened upon their arrival and every 12 hours while they are in the hospital.

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The hospitals' no-visitor policies were criticized as a traumatic addition to childbirth and are in contrast with World Health Organization guidelines that state "having a companion of choice present during delivery" is part of "high-quality care before, during and after childbirth" promised to those giving birth amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

In an initial statement provided to Insider one day after the release, Mount Sinai said it was "reviewing the new guidelines," but did not commit to reversing the no-visitor policy. In a later statement, the hospital system said it would allow "one healthy partner" to be present for labor and delivery.

"In partnership with New York State, effective today, we will permit one healthy partner to join the expectant mother for labor and delivery," the statement said. "We have always  and will always  make these difficult decisions with the best of intentions and safety of the mother, baby and our staff as our guiding principle."

NY-Presbyterian hospitals did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

Spencer Pitman and his wife Sarah are a Long Island City-based couple who welcomed their first child at Manhattan's Cornell-Weill hospital hours after the no-visitor policy took effect. Spencer told Insider that the policy was a shocking development in their postpartum care at the hospital.

"It's like the fundamental fabric of society changes," Spencer said of the rule's effect on the labor process. "We would have thought about things differently."

While the Pitman's birth plans were upended by the coronavirus pandemic, Spencer, who had only an hour to spend with his wife after she'd given birth, said the unexpected policy change meant to lower risk of infection is "for the greater good."

"Neither of us is sick," Spencer said, "so I know it's not that bad  but the surprise is the issue."

Read the original article on Insider
The Chhattisgarh police chief on Saturday cautioned police personnel against misbehaving with people after videos of cops brutally thrashing people for violating prohibitory orders in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown went viral on social media.

I have asked police to strictly enforce lockdown but also not to behave in high-handed manner. Police should adopt a humanitarian approach. Incidents like thrashing or misbehaving with citizens should not occur and if such cases happen, the senior officer of the district will be held accountable, Director General of Police D M Awasthi said after the police faced flak for beating people.

Awasthi said that entire police force of the state has been deployed to contain the spread of coronavirus which has infected six people in the state. The state has tested 289 samples so far.

We are making all effort to help people in this lockdown and also contain the spread of virus. Our jawans are also helping administration in providing food to the poor and labourers in the state. All SPs are working day and night to contain the spread of the virus, he said.

The police have registered 28 cases since Thursday for violation of lockdown regulations.

Police are taking strict action across the state against those who are violating prohibitory and other orders to check the spread of coronavirus. The violations have ranged from breaking prohibitory orders to ignoring home quarantine protocol and hiding foreign travel history. We have registered 28 cases in the state and more cases will follow, Awasthi said.

The cases were registered under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life).

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China on Saturday dispatched an eight-member medical team to Pakistan to help iron brother Islamabad cope with the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country, the Chinese foreign ministry announced Saturday afternoon.

The Chinese medical experts left for Pakistan a day after China handed over medical supplies to Pakistan at the high-altitude Khunjerab pass in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

The mountainous pass in PoK borders the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China.

Islamabad opened up the PoK border to strategic ally China as the outbreak began to take a toll on its medical infrastructure.

Reports from Pakistan said the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country rose to 1,408 on Saturday with 11 deaths; the number of infected rose sharply by more than 100 from the day before.

Nearly two tons of medical supplies from China were successfully handed over to Pakistan on Friday at the Khunjerab pass in north Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region to help the country fight Covid-19, the official Xinhua news agency said in a report.

The medical supplies including ventilators, face masks, protective clothes and testing kits were donated by the government of northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said the embassy, adding that the total value of the supplies is 2.778 million yuan (about 391,500 U.S. dollars), the Xinhua reported, giving details.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang said the medical experts team has left for Pakistan on Saturday afternoon.

The main task of the expert group is to share experiences and exchanges with local hospitals and experts, introduce Chinas anti-epidemic experience to Pakistan, and provide consultations on the prevention and control of the epidemic situation.

CHINA

Meanwhile, the Chinese health authorities on Saturday reported no new domestically transmitted cases of Covid-19 in the mainland.

The national health commission (NHC) received reports of 54 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Friday, all of which were imported.

By the end of Friday, 649 imported cases had been reported, said the commission.

The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 81,394 by the end of Friday, including 3,128 patients who were still being treated, 74,971 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,295 people who died of the disease.

All three new deaths were reported from the central Chinese province of Hubei.
The Ogun State Government has announced the closure of its routes to neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin.

The closure will be effected at 12 midnight on Sunday. It will be in force for two weeks in the first instance.

Ogun shares boundaries with Lagos, currently the epicentre of the pandemic.

The government said with this restriction order, movement in and out of the state is thus banned as a further measure to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement was made available on the official Twitter page of Ogun State Government and signed by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun.

It said the state is constrained to effect border closure in order to stem and flatten the curve of the spread of the dreaded corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic, not only in the state but in the country and in the West African sub-region.

The position of Ogun State is peculiar. It not only shares an international border with the Republic of Benin, it does so with all other states in the South West (except Ekiti), including Lagos State, which has understandably recorded the highest number of infections in the country largely because it hosts the busiest air and sea ports and its the nations economic capital.

The border closure will not only be beneficial to Ogun State but the national efforts to curtail and contain the virus. Lessons from other climes strongly indicate that closure of borders has the potential to drastically flatten the curve of spread whilst unrestricted movement portends grave dangers.

Exceptions

The governor said the only exceptions to the interstate restrictions are vehicles conveying personnel involved in essential services such as security agencies, health workers, food and medical items and petroleum products.

The statement enjoined citizens to fully cooperate with the security agencies who have been fully briefed and directed to effect the closure, noting that at this period of a global pandemic and national emergency all hands must be on deck to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

The border closure and other measures will be reviewed from time to time, in response to developments as they unfold, the statement noted.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how many states have subtly usurped the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari by closing routes leading to their states to curb the current health outbreak.

Mr Buhari has also been criticised for not being in the frontline of direct efforts to address the outbreak like other world leaders.
Hyderabad, March 28 : Telangana on Saturday reported first death due to coronavirus while eight more persons tested positive, taking the total number to 67.

A 74-year-old man from Hyderabad became the first person to die of coronavirus in the state.

The positive cases reported on Saturday include the deceased person, whom the authorities described as "brought dead" case.

The man, who recently returned from New Delhi, died at a private hospital but later examination of his body showed he was positive for Covid-19, Health Minister Etela Rajender told a news conference on Saturday.

The man fell sick on his return and was admitted to Global Hospital, where he died on Thursday night.

As the government had issued instructions to all hospitals to report all deaths, the private hospital informed the authorities.

The health officials checked the deceased person's travel history and on suspicion shifted his body to the government-run Gandhi Hospital, where it was tested positive.

The authorities found that the man, with his family members, had also visited the historic Jamia Masjid of Delhi.

"He had some other illness and was also diagnosed with pneumonia," the Minister said.

The man had gone to the national capital on March 14 and returned three days later. He was admitted to the private hospital with complaint of fever.

Rajender said all the positive cases reported on Saturday had travel history.

He also revealed that four persons among the health personnel deployed at Hyderabad Airport for screening the patients were among those who tested positive. A family member of one of the affected persons also contracted the virus.

The Minister said 10 of the total 65 affected persons under treatment had now tested negative. If they test negative again over next couple of days, they would be discharged.

He said barring an old-aged person, who had previous history of illness, all were stable.

The state had reported its first positive case on March 2. The patient was discharged two weeks later.

The Minister said the number of persons under quarantine had come down from 20,000 to 13,000 and this is likely to drastically come down in 4-5 days.

He, however, warned of stern action against those hiding their travel history or breaking quarantine. He revealed that some of the passengers who landed at Hyderabad Airport had taken paracetamol to avoid being detected for high body temperature.

He appealed to people not to visit places of worship, as two cases surfaced through primary contact at religious places.

The state government also stepped up its efforts to come to the rescue of migrant workers from other districts.

Collectors of all districts and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) were directed to open food and accommodation centres for the labourers.
Melbourne, Australia, Mar 27, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - The directors of Nova Minerals Limited (ASX:NVA.AX - News) (HAM:QM3.F - News) (OTCMKTS:NVAAF) advises that its General Meeting to be held on 2 April 2020 at 11.30 am AEDT will now be a Virtual Meeting.

In view of the evolving COVID-19 situation and public health concerns, the Board is monitoring closely how matters develop over the coming weeks. The health of the Company's shareholders, as well as its employees and other stakeholders is of paramount importance.

The Board encourages shareholders to monitor the ASX and the Company's website for any updates in relation to the General Meeting that may need to be provided. In the meantime, the Board encourages shareholders to submit their proxies as early as possible, even if they intend to attend the Virtual Meeting, as the situation may change (e.g. there may be restrictions on how the meeting itself may be held or conducted).

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders are able to now ONLY attend the General Meeting via the ZOOM online, virtual, medium. Our virtual General Meeting can be accessed online at:

https://zoom.us/j/240871013

Further details and options for accessing the General Meeting via ZOOM or on your phone are detailed in Appendix A* in link below.

Shareholders will be able to hear and view the meeting on their own computers or phones.

*To view connection details, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/18U3NO6N



About Nova Minerals Ltd:

Nova Minerals Limited (ASX:NVA.AX - News) (FRA:QM3.F - News) is an ASX-listed minerals explorer focused on lithium, gold and mineral exploration in Canada, Alaska and Australia.

The company plans to create shareholder value through two-pronged strategy:

- Capitalise on the growing demand for energy storage and the resulting demand for lithium, cobalt and nickel by fast-tracking exploration and development activities in our North American assets with particular focus on our flagship lithium project and prospective Chip-Loy Nickel Cobalt Sulphides project.

Story continues

- Diversification by gaining exposure to base and precious metals through our farm-in JV at our district scale Estelle gold copper silver project and our Northern Australian gold exploration assets.

Contact:

Nova Minerals Ltd

P: +61-3-9614-0600

F: +61-3-9614-0550

WWW: novaminerals.com.au



Source:

Nova Minerals Ltd

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
Bengal imposes fresh Covid curbs: Schools shut, all offices to work with 50% staff from Monday

Bengal in throes of third Covid wave, infections curve may rise more

WBJEE 2022 application correction open: How you should do it

Five including three children in WB test positive for COVID-19

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Mar 28: Five members of a family, including three children, tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal on Friday, taking the number of such cases in the state to 15, a senior health official said.

Among the five are a nine-month-old baby, a six-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy, and two women aged 27 and 45, he said.

The 27-year-old woman had come in contact with a person from the UK who recently tested positive, the official added.

The woman is from Tehatta in West Bengal's Nadia district but now lives in Uttarakhand, he said.

Operation Namaste: The Indian Armys war against coronavirus

"The person is studying in the UK and was kept in quarantine in New Delhi after he had returned from abroad. But he violated quarantine protocol and came to Tehatta to participate in a family function there. The woman came in contact with the person who tested positive for coronavirus and is now undergoing treatment in a hospital in Delhi," the official said.

The matter unfolded after the 27-year-old woman, mother of the nine-month-old baby, and the six-year-old girl visited a clinic in Tehatta with coronavirus-like symptoms.

The 45-year-old is the mother of the 11-year-old boy.

"Eight members of the family have been quarantined since March 23 at an isolation centre there in Nadia. Today, five among them tested positive for COVID-19," the health department official said.

The five are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nadia district and will be brought to Kolkata on Saturday in a specialised ambulance meant to carry COVID-19 patients, the official said.

The health department officials have identified 18 people in the neighbourhood of the family and put them in isolation.

#Stayathome and send us your selfie

"We will also conduct tests on them," he said.

The state health department on Friday conducted tests on 33 suspected people and the reports are awaited.

Of the 15 suffering from the disease in the state, one had died and an elderly patient is in a critical condition.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 8:58 [IST]
London: As COVID-19 pandemic envelopes the world, WhatsApp has seen a 40 per cent increase in usage, according to a study by Kantar, a data and consulting company. Across all stages of the pandemic, WhatsApp is the social media app experiencing the greatest gains in usage as people look to stay connected. Overall WhatsApp has seen a 40 per cent increase in usage.

Kantar conducted the largest global study into consumer attitudes, media habits and expectations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kantar estimates that for WhatsApp in the early phase of the pandemic usage increases 27 per cent, in mid-phase 41 per cent and countries in the late phase of the pandemic see an increase of 51 per cent.

Spain experienced a 76 per cent increase in time spent on WhatsApp. Overall Facebook usage has increased 37 per cent. China experienced a 58% increase in usage of local social media apps including Wechat and Weibo.

According to a study, there is a crisis in trust. Traditional nationwide news channels (broadcast and newspaper) are the most trusted sources of information with 52 per cent of people identifying them as a `trustworthy` source.

Government agency websites are regarded as trustworthy by only 48 per cent of people, suggesting that government measures are not providing citizens around the world with assurances and security.

Also reflecting the loss of trust from recent election cycles, social media platforms are regarded by only 11 per cent of people as a source of trustworthy information.

As countries move deeper in to the pandemic so media consumption increases across all in-home channels. According to Kantar, in the later stages of the pandemic web browsing increases by 70 per cent, followed by (traditional) TV viewing increasing by 63 per cent and social media engagement increasing by 61 per cent over normal usage rates.

Increased usage across all messaging platforms has been biggest in the 18-34 age group. WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram have all experienced a more than 40 per cent increase in usage from under 35-year olds.

Consumers expect the brands they choose to look after their employees first and foremost with 78 per cent saying take care of employees` health and 62 per cent saying implement flexible working.

Supporting hospitals (41 per cent) and being helpful to government (35 per cent) is an expectation of significant minority of consumers, the study says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 28

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Export of wood and furniture from Turkey to Kazakhstan increased by 109.45 percent from January through February 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, amounting to $8.149 million, Turkish Ministry of Trade told Trend.

The export of furniture and wood from Turkey to Kazakhstan increased by 129.37 percent in February 2020, compared to February 2019, amounting to $4.882 million, said the ministry.

Export of furniture and wood from Turkey to world markets grew by 11.7 percent from January through February 2020, compared to the same period last year, amounting to $898.615 million.

Exports of furniture and wood from Turkey amounted to 3.1 percent of the country's total exports from January through February 2020.

Turkey supplied furniture and wood worth $ 445.286 million to the world markets in February 2020, which is 8.2 percent more than in the same period in 2019.

Furniture and wood exports from Turkey in February 2020 amounted to 3 percent of the country's total exports.

Turkey exported furniture and wood worth $ 5.624 billion over the past 12 months (from February 2019 through February 2020).

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
San Francisco, March 28 : Tesla has announced that it is reducing the number of on-site workers at its Nevada gigafactory by 75 per cent in response to the growing spread of coronavirus.

It's not clear how long Tesla's staff reduction will last, how many employees it affects or whether they will be paid during their time off, reports New York Post.

The plant produces battery packs and electric motors for the Model 3 sedan, Tesla's most popular car.

Additionally, Panasonic, which helps make Tesla's batteries in a section of the Gigafactory, suspended its operations last week.

Panasonic said it would ramp down operations and then close for 14 days.

Recently, Tesla confirmed two office employees had tested positive for COVID-19, but did not specify where those workers were located.

Tesla told employees in an internal memo that two office staffers have been tested positive for COVID-19 who are now working from home.

The automaker suspended production last week at its car factory in the San Francisco Bay Area after a dispute with local officials.

Musk, however, said that his Gigafactory facility in New York will reopen to begin producing ventilators that are in short supply in the US.

Musk has also donated 50,000 N95 surgical masks and various protective items to a hospital in the US.
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health on Friday (March 27,2020) released the standard operating procedure (SOP) for reallocation of residents, PG students and nursing students as part of hospital management amid the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

As per the guidelines in SOP, the hospital may be divided into three broad zones - non covid area, covid area looking after patients with mild to moderate illness and critical area like the ICU. A triage area also needs to be developed during emergency where patients with acute severe respiratory illness can be admitted.

In the SOP the government has also categorised Residents, DNB/, CPS students, facilities and team constitution.

The Ministry has also asked the Team leaders or supervising faculty to make the that roles and responsibilities very clear to students and have asked the faculty-in-charge to ensure uniform level of training is devised and delivered.

"Training about COVID-19, and other aspects of clinical evaluation of patients should also be made available for residents, especially those drawn from departments where there is either no regular patient-care activity (pre- and para- clinical departments) or if they so desire, even those with a limited engagement with sick patients", said the SOP.

Emphasising on training of medical professionals, the Health Ministry said it is also important to ensure linkage between the team providing training and the COVID-19 Task Force responsible for deployment of resident students.

"No resident should be posted at any COVID-19 facility without undergoing an essential training module, as is being conducted by the hospital infection control team", said the SOP.

The Ministry is also pondering to include psychologists to be part of the training, to enhance motivation of participating residents.

The COVID-19 Task Force and faculty-in-charge for various levels of the facilities will decide the total number of individuals required per team / shift and the duration of a shift (depending on the need to wear personal protective equipment).

The Health Ministry said it may rope in nursing students to manage the health crisis during the unprecedented public health emergency.

''The COVID-19 cases are increasing the need for more manpower is essential to handle the pandemic situation. If the need arises, students can be roped in to handle the crisis, as per their level of skills and training", read the SOP.

Meanwhile, the Ministry also said that the SOP is also applicable to private hospitals and colleges.
Landra Gould, widow of senator Harry M. Reid, pays respects at his casket at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll/Bloomberg News)

The former Senate majority leader was remembered as a pragmatic dealmaker who became a political force across two presidencies.
Nationalists and populists on the right, formerly a very small band, have spent decades arguing that offshoring was a danger to Americas independence of action and ability to take care of itself in a crisis. Some spent the same time arguing that the economic model marrying labor-rich China to capital-rich America was bad for American workers, and carried risks of strengthening Chinese authoritarianism or even making it attractive here at home. They argued that the Western belief that economic liberalization would lead to political liberalization had been proven wrong in Central Europe, and was a delusion when applied to Beijing.

Now the coronavirus crisis has given their case a fresh hearing. As Matthew Continetti writes:

The China hawks, economic nationalists, and advocates of industrial policy have found themselves playing the role of Cassandra, who saw the cost of war firsthand after her warnings were dismissed. The young people on the right drawn to the agenda of national populism will come out of this experience more skeptical of China, more critical of the pre-crisis economic policy of the GOP, more suspicious of uncontrolled flows of labor, capital, and goods across borders.

Analyst Andrew Michta, meanwhile, argues that the coronavirus makes a hard decoupling from China imperative:

The belief that globalization, through the radical centralization of market networks, was the unavoidable path forward has been exposed as a grave, near-delusional miscalculation. The offshoring by corporations of supply chains to China has not only eviscerated communities that were previously reliant on manufacturing jobs, but has also brought with it an unprecedented level of vulnerability and fragility to our economies. The populist revolts that have wracked Western democracies for the past several years are in part rooted in the pain that these dislocations have caused. Worse yet, for the past three decades, this offshoring process has favored an adversary that is determined to replace us as the hub of global economic and military power and place itself at the new normative center of the world.

Story continues

I understand the temptation to argue that the coronavirus crisis proves the national-populist case. But, if you are self-aware, it is always at least slightly embarrassing to hold up the latest event you did not foresee as proof of the need to implement an agenda you originally supported for other reasons. Continetti cautions us toward a certain humility and awareness that the trends toward the national-populist view that we now see among ambitious GOP Senators and staffers were long in the making, and that geopolitics have played a role in creating them. Hes right.

America and other nations have been in a scramble for masks and protective medical gear over the past few weeks. Much of this is manufactured in plants in China that have been idled since January. Regulations in the West impede spinning up factories of our own to produce what we need. But I cannot find anything predating this crisis in which national populists single out single-use medical gear as one of the products America must make for itself. In fact, good pandemic planning, which is a perennial but often-overlooked feature of governments that do war games, would have cautioned us not to dominate the trade in these goods, but to have large and fresh stockpiles for precisely this kind of foreseeable event.

(We should also be aware that some national-populist leaders themselves might yet simply fail to meet this challenge. Viktor Orban has now assumed emergency powers that look to confirm his critics worst fears about his intentions for the Hungarian state. Jair Bolsonaros blustering responses to the pandemic have to this point failed to produce the desired effect. Even Donald Trump could fail, and his failure would undoubtedly do damage to national populism.)

Our economic decoupling from China was in fact underway even before the present crisis. Its happening for a variety of reasons, the biggest of which is that its in the interests of both countries. As Irwin Stelzer explained last August, Trumps trade war was the first sign of the shift:

America has decided to end its reliance on China as a pool of cheap labor and goods, which has brought with it the decimation of many of its industries and communities and the filching of its intellectual property. China, in its turn, wants to end its dependence for economic growth on the vast American market.

That said, the decoupling process wont truly have succeeded until it has made its mark on the elite classes of the United States, which remain heavily invested in semi-utopian visions of a Popperian Open Society. The process wont be complete until major institutional investors and corporate leaders start preaching a different vision. Perhaps they will look for durability in supply chains, and consequently they will weigh more heavily the regime type, political culture, and even the local hygiene practices in nations where they locate their manufacturing. One need only look to the economic pain wildly disparate industries all over the world have felt as a result of the supply shock of Wuhans shutdown and the political crackdown in Hong Kong to see that there are good reasons to contemplate a change in tune.

Continetti and Michta are right that the coronavirus incident will only increase Western voters demand for and openness to national populism. But if national populists want to seize the moment, they have to make the case that their political opponents  from the woke left to the center to the center-right  are hypocrites with aspirations that are little more than empty poses. It shouldnt be hard to do so long as the vision of a globalized world depends upon the empowerment and expansion of a Chinese tyranny that practices misinformation on a global scale, implements racist, Han-supremacist policies at home, commits cultural genocide against its Muslim citizens, and tyrannizes the free people it holds semi-captive in Hong Kong and Taiwan. National populists have to press the case that a truly free, functional, and prosperous world comes not from radical openness but from the alternative programs they offer.

More from National Review
TEHRAN, Iran, March 28

Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on the ministries in the country to prevent the ongoing rumors about the coronavirus outbreak, Trend reports via the presidential website.

During the phone talks with the ministers, Rouhani discussed the implementation of Iran's social distancing plan.

He urged to make sure that the process of having people return from celebrating the Nowruz holidays to their homes would not overwhelm the entry into cities and slow down the process of screen-testing for revealing the infected.

Rouhani also asked the restrictions to be implemented in accordance with the orders made by National Committee on Combating Coronavirus and to avoid any strict or negligent actions.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 27,300. Over 597,000 people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 131,700 people have reportedly recovered.

Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 32,300 people have been infected, 2,378 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 11,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
By Colm Fulton STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The bar area of Wirstroms pub in central Stockholm is a 'no-go zone'. The words 'DO NOT STAND HERE! TABLE SERVICE ONLY!' are scrawled in white marker across the bar's wooden counter, which only weeks ago was littered with beer mats and crowded with elbows

By Colm Fulton

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The bar area of Wirstroms pub in central Stockholm is a "no-go zone".

The words "DO NOT STAND HERE! TABLE SERVICE ONLY!" are scrawled in white marker across the bar's wooden counter, which only weeks ago was littered with beer mats and crowded with elbows.

While the global spread of coronavirus has closed pubs right across Europe, Sweden has hung back, with authorities on Tuesday saying bars and restaurants could stay open - but only if customers are seated and served at a table.

"This is completely new for both us and our customers... We have 26 taps of beer, which often change, so it's a little bit confusing when people can't approach the bar," Wirstroms owner Martin Hession, 49, told Reuters.

Hession said that despite remaining open his sales are down 75% compared with March last year, forcing him to sack most of his staff.

"I'd prefer to be closed... I can't understand why the government wants us to stay open while pubs and restaurants are going bankrupt," he added, as he rushed between the tables and bars of his labyrinthine pub in Stockholm's old town.

In the United Kingdom, for example, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs to shut last week, with the government offering to pay 80% of the wages of those sent home while the shutdown lasts.

On the other hand, Sweden has like most other countries asked people to maintain so-called "social distancing", particularly in pubs.

"Keeping two metres apart is absolutely easy for us, even natural," said Asa Jacobsson, 47, as she sipped white wine by a window seat in Hjartats bar, on Stockholm's trendy Sodermalm island.

Desiring ample personal space and avoiding close contact with others are characteristic Swedish traits, she said.

"It's a luxury," she added, gesturing to the two metres of space between her and her companion, which was demarcated by stripes of grey tape.

This new arrangement has, however, rankled with some punters at the nearby Viking Bar, where regulars have had to vacate their usual stool at the counter and sit further apart.

"I live alone and now work from home...so I need this," said customer Mattias Ehringe.

Ehringe said the coronavirus is most often on his mind when he is cooped-up in his flat, whereas going to the pub gives him a sense of normality.

While most schools and businesses remain open, Sweden's health authority told Reuters on Thursday that greater restrictions should only be imposed at the right time.

Sweden has recorded 3,046 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 92 deaths.

"But also," Ehringe added: "I would prefer the government ordered us to stay home, as that's harder to do when you have the choice to go out."

(Reporting by Colm Fulton; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
TICKERS: GRG; GARWF; G6A

Source: The Critical Investor for Streetwise Reports (3/27/20)

The Critical Investor takes a look at recent actions taken by this gold explorer.



The coronavirus pandemic together with the Saudi Arabia-Russia oil production increase took its toll on the equity markets the last few weeks. The commodity markets in particular got hit too, as main end-user China got hit by a halt in manufacturing plants across the economy. Precious metals like gold rose initially, but after the virus spread globally it got sold off ruthlessly like any other asset class. Golden Arrow Resources Corp. (GRG:TSX.V; GARWF:OTCQB; G6A:FSE), as a gold explorer, didn't come out completely unharmed either, as the following chart shows:



Share price Golden Arrow Resources 1 year time frame; Source Tmxmoney.com

The drop in the share price for Golden Arrow is relatively comparable to that of SSR Mining, the company Golden Arrow holds roughly 1 million shares of (and which are the bulk of tangible assets at the moment):



Share price SSR Mining 1 year time frame; Source Tmxmoney.com

At a current market capitalization of just C$14.3 million, Golden Arrow trades below the value of its SSR Mining holding, which attributes to C$16.2 million. Besides this, Golden Arrow has a modest cash position and its exploration assets among which is the promising Indiana gold project in Chile, so it is safe to say that the company has reached decent support levels technically and fundamentally speaking. Management decided this was the case as well, and came to the conclusion that it was probably easier to buy back shares in order to create accretive value for shareholders instead of trying to create value through the drill bit on its projects.

For that purpose, management announced a normal course issuer bid on March 12, 2020, to purchase up to 10,658,050shares being equal to 10% of the float. This bid commenced on March 17, 2020, and will end on the earlier of March 16, 2021, or when it's been completed or terminated. The shares will be bought in the open market by PI Financial on behalf of Golden Arrow Resources. Management and the Board clearly think this will be advantageous for shareholders, as they commented as follows:

"The board of directors of the company are of the opinion that the recent market prices of its shares do not reflect the underlying value of its property portfolio and its strong financial position. Accordingly, the purchase of shares through the bid is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders, as it will increase the proportionate share interest of remaining shareholders. The bid will afford an increased degree of liquidity to the company's shareholders. The directors also believe that there will be long term benefits to the company with fewer shares issued and outstanding."

This news release was followed a few days later on March 16, 2020, by a statement of the President, Chairman and CEO Joseph Grosso, of which a few highlights are presented here:

"I believe that today's market sentiment has resulted in a share price that does not reflect the Company's asset value, or our future potential value. At this time, our asset value includes:

An extremely strong treasury of cash and cash equivalent securities.

100% control of a large property portfolio in Argentina with substantial geological values and work in progress. The yearly compliance fee to hold these properties in Argentina is amongst the lowest in the world. Three of Argentina's most significant metal deposit discoveries had origins in this portfolio: Chinchillas, Gualcamayo and Navidad. Golden Arrow has devoted considerable time, expertise and investment into advancing the portfolio to include a pipeline of mineral projects at various stages of exploration.



"In addition, our potential value includes:

Upside in our stock portfolio.

The discovery potential of the multiple mineral projects that we are currently exploring in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. Any of these projects has the geological potential to generate significant discoveries and value in the near future.

"I believe that the current market is creating the significant disparity seen between the share price and the combination of our asset value and exploration potential. This has created the opportunity for management to initiate an economical buyback of up to 10% of the public float of our shares, as approved by the TSX Venture Exchange. This will benefit the shareholders by increasing their proportionate share interest, increasing liquidity provide long-term benefits afforded by a tighter structure."

After reading this, I wasn't immediately convinced if this was the best possible action for a junior explorer with a lot of current assets to its disposal, in a bear market. I have several reasons for this.

For juniors, cash is king in my view, and any available dollar should be guarded with their lives in bear markets, and preferably assigned solely to increase the value of their exploration assets.

Besides this, in a bear market it often doesn't matter what you do as a junior mining company, it is very difficult to get rewarded for your actions/results as everything gets dragged down no matter what. On the other hand, a bull market lifts up all boats, as they say, and you get the most bang for your buck, so it seems more efficient to undertake share price enhancing actions during a bull market. Applying the kind of cash being used now for the buyback but instead aimed at, for example, marketing programs and market makers during better times would likely generate more significant results.

Furthermore, junior mining is a high risk, high reward sector, where share prices and market caps often fluctuate a lot, often based on nothing fundamental, and buyback programs are normally specifically based on enterprise values remaining the same in a more or less reliable and quantitative way, and resembles actions of blue chip multinationals.

Notwithstanding this, because of the current rout for oil companies, even the likes of Shell have halted their share buy back programs to save cash now, for harsh times to come. So, why Golden Arrow management decided to initiate a buyback program at a point where its SSR Mining shares are valued at about 40% lower compared to the highs of a few weeks ago, whereas Golden Arrow lost just 33% and already recovered towards a 20% loss from the share price right before the outbreak (probably caused partially by the buyback program itself), wasn't really clear to me. If 10% of the float will be bought at an average price of 13c, this means C$1.38 million of precious cash will be gone. Therefore I asked them for more clarity on the subject.

Joseph Grosso commented himself as follows: "Golden Arrow has been trading at a discount to not only value, but to its cash (and cash equivalent) ever since the sale of Puna Operations to SSR Mining. Many investors had purchased Golden Arrow's shares as a production story; even though we were a fairly passive investor in that project. The recent general market sell-off has exacerbated the discount. I believe that by initiating the repurchase of up to 10% of the company's public float, we can show to the market that we firmly stand behind the value underpinning Golden Arrow. Since the announcement of our buyback program, the company's shares are up by 20%. By reducing some of the outstanding shares, Golden Arrow is in effect mopping up excess stock held by investors with different investment objectives, and increasing the inherent value held across all remaining shareholders. As the bull market in gold continues to advance this should provide great leverage to all of our investors."

One could wonder if investors who were in it for the leveraged production play didn't already leave, and the sell-off wasn't connected to a higher degree to the broader market sell-off itself, but let's see what happens. At least they are buying back at an absolute low, and the leverage is optimized.

Exploration

In the meantime, Golden Arrow progressed on its ongoing exploration programs, and the one at the Flecha de Oro project in Argentina delivered the first sampling results at the Esperanza and Puzzle properties. Sampling and mapping continued throughout the month of January at the Esperanza property, identifying high-grade and visible gold hosted in epithermal quartz veins. Especially the results at Esperanza were encouraging in my view, as shown here in this table:

Everything topping 1 g/t Au at surface is showing high potential in my view, so if about 40 of 500 samples show these results, the sampling program was successful in my opinion. Several samples also involved visible gold, as can be seen at these pictures (in green):

At Esperanza, Golden Arrow's target is to define high-grade mineralized zones within the 16 kilometers of identified quartz and chalcedony veins that display epithermal textures. The mapping program is continuing to gain greater understanding of the structural plumbing system and distribution of classic epithermal vein textures that can provide formation temperature information, which are both important in targeting thicker and higher-grade zones.

The company is using the Cerro Vanguardia district as an exploration model for the Esperanza property. There are geological similarities between the two areas, in particular the presence of swarms of low sulphidation epithermal quartz veins in an area of approximately 100 square kilometers. The Cerro Vanguardia district is located in Santa Cruz province in southern Argentina, and includes over 100 gold and silver-bearing epithermal veins. The district has a cumulative exposed vein strike extent of more than 240 kilometers, and has produced more than 4.5 million ounces of gold over the last 20 years.

Golden Arrow Resources also received sampling results for the Puzzle property, but these were, despite establishing a trend of 6.5km, of much lower grade, and therefore of lower interest/potential in my view, especially since it is not heap leachable potential:

The trend can be seen here:

Despite these low-grade sampling results at Puzzle, the company made applications for additional concessions around both the Esperanza and Puzzle properties.

I also wondered if the corona pandemic had any influence on the ongoing exploration programs, and VP Exploration and Development Brian McEwen had this to say about this subject: "The Corona pandemic is a global phenomenon. Our first priority is the safety of our staff and personnel. Our organization is abiding by all the local regulations in every jurisdiction to keep our people safe. Although our exploration programs have been placed on a temporary holding pattern, we expect to pick up when this pandemic has passed us. We will provide updates, as appropriate."

Conclusion

The share buyback program of 10% of the Golden Arrow Resources float came a bit as a surprise for me, as this is unusual for junior mining companies. After contacting Joseph Grosso, the reasoning became more clear, as they figured there were still investors with the objective of holding a (leveraged to silver) production play selling their shares, and they wanted to clean those up. The coronavirus seems to have a delaying impact on operations, according to Brian McEwen, as they paused their exploration programs in order to comply with all pandemic related regulations. It seems investors have to wait out the pandemic and its fallout, but in the meantime these share price levels trading below cash seem an interesting time to entry (or re-entry).

I hope you will find this article interesting and useful, and will have further interest in upcoming articles on mining. To never miss a thing, please subscribe to The Critical Investor's free newsletter, http://www.criticalinvestor.eu, in order to get an email notice of my new articles soon after they are published.

The Critical Investor is a newsletter and comprehensive junior mining platform, providing analysis, blog and newsfeed and all sorts of information about junior mining. The editor is an avid and critical junior mining stock investor from The Netherlands, with an MSc background in construction/project management. Number cruncher at project economics, looking for high quality companies, mostly growth/turnaround/catalyst-driven to avoid too much dependence/influence of long-term commodity pricing/market sentiments, and often looking for long-term deep value. Getting burned in the past himself at junior mining investments by following overly positive sources that more often than not avoided to mention (hidden) risks or critical flaws, The Critical Investor learned his lesson well, and goes a few steps further ever since, providing a fresh, more in-depth, and critical vision on things, hence the name.

[NLINSERT]

Disclaimer: The author is not a registered investment advisor, currently has a long position in this stock, and Golden Arrow Resources is a sponsoring company. All facts are to be checked by the reader. For more information go to www.goldenarrowresources.com and read the company's profile and official documents on www.sedar.com, also for important risk disclosures. This article is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended to be investment advice of any kind, and all readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and talk to their own licensed investment advisors prior to making any investment decisions.

Streetwise Reports Disclosure:

1) The Critical Investor's disclosures are listed above.

2) The following companies mentioned in the article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own shares of Golden Arrow Resources, a company mentioned in this article.

Charts and graphics provided by the author.
Americans are waiting to see when they will get their checks from the coronavirus stimulus package, which was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday.

The law will give Americans one-time checks to help them get through financial challenges brought on by the spread of coronavirus.

The stimulus checks will be based on your tax returns. But for those who recently divorced or who are planning a divorce, what happens to the benefits?

Imagine a couple who filed taxes jointly in 2018, and their refund was direct deposited into their joint bank account. But they divorced in 2019, and they no longer share the bank account.

So what happens to that money? Will an ex-spouse lose out on benefits because of the divorce?

First and foremost, we must recognize that we are in uncharted territory and therefore there are no hard rules based on past precedent that are necessarily enforceable, said Kenneth White, a certified matrimonial attorney with Shane and White in Edison.

Heres what divorced and divorcing couples should know.

IF YOURE ALREADY DIVORCED

Generally, as part of divorce litigation, tax refunds are recognized as an asset that is subject to equitable distribution.

Refunds are most often equally shared between the parties, White said.

White said its common for divorcing couples, as part of their settlement, to agree to file a joint tax return for all eligible years. They would usually agree to share any refund received or taxes owed, he said.

Working from that premise, it would be fair to anticipate that each party would be entitled to receive 50% of any stimulus check received regardless of whose bank account it is deposited in  if the total stimulus check was based on the family status pre-divorce, White said.

Therefore, the party receiving the stimulus check should voluntarily forward 50% to the ex-spouse, White said.

If the spouse refuses to share the check, the other spouse has the right to be made whole.

But youll have to decide whether its financially worth the fight.

They need to make a business decision on whether it is worth engaging an attorney over the amount of money at issue, said Jeralyn Lawrence, a family law attorney with Lawrence Law in Watchung.

IF YOURE NOT DIVORCED YET

If youre currently negotiating your divorce, you should make sure the stimulus payments are addressed as part of your agreement, Lawrence said.

If you havent yet filed your 2019 return, you should take a close look at how it will be different from your 2018 return. If your 2019 return would yield a higher stimulus check, consider moving quickly to get it filed. If your 2018 return would mean a bigger payment, wait to file your return.

The quicker you can get the payment and the most money you can get back from the IRS is always the preferred outcome, Lawrence said.

To see how much your stimulus payment will be, use our stimulus check calculator.

Also keep in mind that the stimulus payments are actually advances on credits taxpayers will be able to get on their 2020 tax returns, so this may be something you will need to address with your ex-spouse depending on the timing of your divorce.

Thats because tax filing status, whether filing independently or married filing jointly, is based on a persons marital status as of Dec. 31 for any tax filing year, White said.

At this moment the Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Part, which addresses divorces, is only addressing `emergent matters, White said. On the best information currently available, all non-emergent matters are suspended for at least 30 days.

Even if the court resumed normal functionality after 30 days, there will probably be some backlog, resulting in fewer divorces being finalized in 2020, he said.

WHO GETS THE $500 PAYMENT FOR KIDS?

The stimulus package also provides an additional $500 payment per child under age 17.

Marital settlement agreements will allocate the tax exemption for children, Lawrence said, so whichever parent claimed the child that year would likely get that exemption.

If that leads to an unfair allocation among the parents, most would be able to agree how this credit would be shared, Lawrence said.

She said the cost for attorneys to fight on this issue wouldnt be worth it and could cost more than the actual benefit.

Plus, White noted, if the parties have been divorced for some time and they are filing separate, individual tax returns in 2020, each would probably be entitled to keep all refunds unless there was a previous agreement to the contrary.

CAN I GARNISH MY EXS STIMULUS CHECK FOR UNPAID SUPPORT?

In normal circumstances, the IRS can withhold tax refunds, for example, in coordination with state collection agencies to pay child support and alimony thats in arrears.

The bill would not stop the agency from doing so with this rebate, according to my reading, though whether it would varies by individual circumstances and likely the state of residence, said Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst for The Tax Foundation. Some states may be more aggressive than others on collecting, and inter-state coordination for parents living across state lines is patchy.

But, Watson said, the IRS wont garnish rebates for overdue taxes or other debts to federal agencies, according to his reading of the bill.

OTHER DIVORCE ISSUES

There are other issues keeping divorce lawyers busy in the time of coronavirus.

Lawrence said custody issues are prevalent among her clients.

She said some parents are not complying with court orders, refusing to turn over children because of fears of the virus. Others are having issues because one parent isnt complying with social distancing or following the executive order, exposing the children during their parenting time to people outside the family.

I have recommended that court orders are to be followed. The executive order must be followed as well as social distancing, Lawrence said. As soon as someone is sick or showing signs of symptoms, they must self-quarantine and protect their children from exposure. Always keep the childs best interest as your primary and paramount concern.

White said hes received a lot of questions from those who lost jobs or whose wages took a significant hit because of coronavirus-related closures.

Theyre asking if they can get relief from alimony, child support and other financial obligations.

The answer is it depends.

White said the law generally dictates that an individual is not entitled to seek financial relief from a support obligation because of a temporary situation. He said someone who finds themselves unemployed cannot get help from the court overnight.

Unemployment for a period of three or more months may entitle someone to secure financial relief, he said.

And, he said, these are unprecedented times, so no one knows how long this current situation will last, what the long-term consequences will be and how the courts will account for coronavirus and its effects.

Will this be viewed as a blip in time that did not require any long-term modifications or has our world been changed and we must account for this new `normal? White said.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey:





Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
Alok Sharma answering questions from the media via a video link during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus. (Photo by PA Video/PA Images via Getty Images)

Bankruptcy laws and other rules will be changed in the coming weeks to help struggling British businesses stay afloat during and after the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced today.

Business secretary Alok Sharma announced the latest measures at the governments daily coronavirus media briefing.

Red tape will be slashed to allow new producers of hand sanitiser to bring products to market "in a matter of days", he said.

Read more: Self-employed face tax hike after 9bn bailout

Mr Sharma announced changes to insolvency rules to allow firms "greater flexibility as they face the current crisis".

"It is crucial when the crisis passes, as it will, we are ready to bounce back," he said, as he detailed measures to help businesses "emerge intact the other side of the Covid-19 pandemic".

"These measures will give those firms extra time and space to weather the storm and be ready when the crisis ends whilst ensuring creditors get the best return possible in the circumstances," he continued.

The new rules will allow companies undergoing restructuring to continue access to supplies and raw materials.

Read more: UK space startup OneWeb blames coronavirus for its collapse

And, he said, there would be a temporary suspension of wrongful trading provisions for company directors to remove the threat of personal liability during the pandemic, which will apply retrospectively from March 1.

"However, to be clear, all of the other checks and balances that help to ensure directors fulfil their duties properly will remain in force."

Companies required to hold annual general meetings will be be able to do so flexibly in a matter compatible with public health guidance, Mr Sharma said.

"This might include postponing or holding the AGM online, or by phone using only proxy voting," he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a video conference call on Saturday and continues to lead the Government's efforts to combat Covid-19 as he self-isolates after testing positive for the illness, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said.
SAN FRANCISCOClub Inferno, the Falcon Studios Group brand featuring gay muscle men in extreme hardcore and fisting videos, has released its latest feature, Handful of Faith. Fetish director Tom Moore just may have delivered his kinkiest action in what Falcon calls a get-on-your-knees-and-pray fuck-fest starring six religious fist hunks worshiping the fist gods. The latest Club Inferno feature is now available for digital download on the Falcon Studios Group Store.

The studs getting on their knees in prayer in Handful of Faith are Falcon exclusive Devin Franco, along with Sherman Maus, Adrian Hart, Wrex Wylde, Drew Sebastian and Dale Savage.

The synopsis of Handful of Faith has it that every Sunday, a group of religious pigs come together to get on their knees, practice prayer and stuff gaping holes. In the first scene, Devin Franco and Sherman Maus waste no time in finding the spirit and Devin's g-spot. Devin then returns the favor, double fisting Sherman's holex. After leading a prayer group, Adrian Hart then leads Sherman Maus and Wrex Wylde into a steamy three-way. With church still in service, Wrex bends both Adrian and Sherman over the pew.

Drew Sebastian seeks confession and Dale Savage listens as Drew confesses all his sins and desires. Finally, it's Father Dale Savage's turn to have his hole wrecked by Sebastian. As Drew begins to confess his sins and desires, it's clear that he was seeking Father Savage out for a divine purpose.

There's something really hot about the irreverent mixing of religion, hot studs and their busted holes," states director Moore. "It's controversial, but somehow you can't help but to whip out your cock and get off to these hungry pigs praying for their holes to be spread wide in honor of their faith."
THE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has received over 70 tablets worth 35m/-from International Labour Organisation (ILO) to ensure data accuracy.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Friday, NBS Statistician General, Dr Albina Chuwa, said the tablets would increase the quality of collecting data and provide immediate results especially in the 2022 population and housing census.

These tablets have arrived at the right time as they will be used in e-population registration in 2022 census whereby all households and commercial activities will be integrated into the system, she said.

Dr Chuwa said the tablets were a great help in data collection and would reduce government costs.

It is the first phase of this support from the ILO. She further thanked the ILO for support, including getting professional and technical advice. We have been in good cooperation over 10 years, she noted.

According to her, as they continue taking precautions from the spread of coronavirus, ILO representatives have failed to attend, but NBS recognises their contribution.

She said demand was a high and we will need more resources so the collection of data is more efficient. We expect to conduct a survey on the workforce that takes place after every five years. We expect to do in August this year, she explained.

Dr Chuwa stressed that NBS would continue collecting data using telephones across all regions in the country as we continue taking precautions against the coronavirus pandemic.

NBS has the mandate to provide official statistics to the government of Tanzania, the business community and members of the public at large.
Rajasthan police on Saturday launched a mobile app to enable individuals and company employees in the state take permission for venturing out in necessary conditions.

The RajCop citizens app has been launched on Android Play Store in English but every day it will be modified to suit the need of people especially those at the bottom of the pyramid, Sharat Kaviraj, DIG, State Crime Record Bureau, Rajasthan told PTI.

"Right now we are using both technology and humanitarian approach to control the lockdown. This app will help law-abiding citizens to go out of their home in case of emergency or essential services during the lockdown with a valid permit," Kaviraj said.

The permission is being sent on email of the applicant but from Sunday onwards it will be also available inside the application to help people who don't have knowledge of using e-mail.

"We will also start Hindi version of the application from tomorrow," Kaviraj said.

Many companies involved in essential services have complained about police on road punishing their employees during the lockdown.

The developer of the app Data Ingenious GLobal Limited said that the launch has been done to address the immediate need of the people during the lockdown and its team is working from home to bring changes that will be asked by the government.

"In this difficult time of coronavirus impact, we were asked to do the lockdown pass work by the government. We took it as a challenge and our team worked from home continuously for four days and I am glad that we could deliver an advance lockdown pass system to ease the life of people involved in essential services," Ajay Data CEO, Data Ingenious GLobal Limited said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
And Renatt Brodsky, a spokeswoman for Mount Sinai, said on Saturday that the hospital system would follow the executive order effective today.

We have always  and will always  make these difficult decisions with the best of intentions and safety of the mother, baby and our staff as our guiding principle, Ms. Brodsky said.

Mount Sinai updated its policy on its website Saturday night, saying all visitors would still be barred from the postpartum recovery area.

Dr. Christopher Zahn, the vice president of practice activities for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emphasized the value of support persons in labor and delivery rooms in a statement on Friday.

Evidence suggests that, in addition to regular nursing care, continuous one-to-one emotional support provided by a partner or support personnel such as a doula is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor, Dr. Zahn said.

He added, Labor support can be particularly critical for women who already face health care disparities and other barriers to care.

Jesse Pournaras, a New York City-based doula who brought the petition opposing the new policies, said the decision was a victory on behalf of women giving birth in New York City and beyond.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 13:21:58|Editor: yhy

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PHNOM PENH, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health (MoH) said on Saturday that four more persons tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases in the kingdom to 102.

The new patients are a Cambodian family of four members including a 62-year-old father, 61-year-old mother, a 39-year-old son and a 37-year-old daughter, the ministry said in a statement.

They had travelled to France, it said, adding that the son returned to Phnom Penh on March 15 and the rest of them returned on March 24.

"Their cases are mild," MoH's secretary of state and spokeswoman Or Vandine said in the statement. "Currently, they have been put under quarantine for treatment at the Chak Angre Krom Health Center in Phnom Penh."

The family members tested positive for the virus by the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia on Thursday, she said, adding that no new case of the virus was detected on Friday.

To date, 13 of the 102 patients in Cambodia have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, she said.

Meanwhile, Vandine said that two out of a group of 174 Chinese nationals, who flew to Cambodia from the Philippines earlier this week, tested negative for the virus and they will be allowed to leave the Svay Rieng provincial hospital on Saturday.

The group flew to Cambodia from the Philippines via a flight on March 24 in order to wait for a connecting flight to China, and they had been arranged to stay at a hotel in Bavet City in southeast Svay Rieng province.

"Two of them, a 26-year-old man and a 32-year-old man, had high body temperatures and their samples were taken for tests at the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, and the results showed that they are negative for the COVID-19," she said.

Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Friday called on people, who just returned from abroad, especially those from Thailand, to self-isolate for 14 days at home and to contact a hotline if they have any suspicious symptoms of COVID-19.

He said more than 40,000 Cambodian migrant workers have returned to the kingdom from Thailand in recent days after Thailand closed its borders earlier this week.
A 70-year-old religious preacher from Punjabs Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, who returned home from Germany earlier this month, has emerged as a possible super-spreader who likely infected 27 people, government officials said on Friday. The preacher or granthi, Baldev Singh, died on March 18 and is, until now, Punjabs only Covid-19 victim.

Singh was found to have been infected by coronavirus only after his death on March 18. Since then, health authorities have been racing against time to trace his contact history and quarantining people who came in contact with him.

Out of five cases that were confirmed on Friday, four were in contact with Singh. At least 20 villages in three districts  with a total population of nearly 25,000  have been sealed because Singh visited these areas after his return from Germany on March 7.

Banga sub-divisional magistrate Gautam Jain said at least 700 people who had come in close contact with Singh had been quarantined.

The 27 people include his two-year-old grandson and 14 other family members. Nearly 333 swab samples of symptomatic people have been taken from these villages so far, a health official said on condition of anonymity.

Singh, a granthi in a local sect, accompanied his religious guru during a visit to Germany and visited a number of houses after their return, the official quoted above said. Both attended the Holla Mohalla, a religious fair that began on March 10 and ended on March 12, at Anandpur Sahib, where thousands of devotees had gathered, the official added. The Punjab health department has now launched a statewide search to trace those who attended the fair.

On March 16, Singh fell sick and visited two private hospitals in Phagwara and Jalandhar before going to the Jalandhar civil hospital. From there, he was referred to the Banga civil hospital where he died of a heart attack.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 23:49:48|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, March 28 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and several others injured in separate incidents of roof collapse in heavy rains in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, officials said.

The killed included a woman and her three kids whose house collapsed in the ongoing spell of torrential rain and hailstorm in Malakand area of the province.

Two more people were killed and several others injured in Lower Dir area where a house collapsed due to seepage of rainwater in its walls.

Another man was killed when lightning struck his house in tribal district of North Waziristan, while several other houses in the area were also damaged in the rain.

The injured people were shifted to nearby hospitals.

The ongoing spell of rain has also destroyed standing wheat crop at a vast area in the province. The local meteorological office said that the extreme weather condition is likely to subside from the area on Sunday.
We're definitely into long term investing, but some companies are simply bad investments over any time frame. We really hate to see fellow investors lose their hard-earned money. Spare a thought for those who held Manhattan Resources Limited (SGX:L02) for five whole years - as the share price tanked 96%. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 62% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 85% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway.

See our latest analysis for Manhattan Resources

Manhattan Resources isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last half decade, Manhattan Resources saw its revenue increase by 15% per year. That's better than most loss-making companies. So on the face of it we're really surprised to see the share price has averaged a fall of 49% each year, in the same time period. It could be that the stock was over-hyped before. We'd recommend carefully checking for indications of future growth - and balance sheet threats - before considering a purchase.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

SGX:L02 Income Statement March 28th 2020

This free interactive report on Manhattan Resources's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 22% in the twelve months, Manhattan Resources shareholders did even worse, losing 62%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 48% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for Manhattan Resources you should be aware of, and 3 of them shouldn't be ignored.

Story continues

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SG exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
An organ transplant consultant volunteering for the NHS frontline fight against coronavirus has died from the disease, it has been reported.

Dr Adil El Tayar, a working surgeon, died on Wednesday at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, west London, his family told the BBC.

His cousin, journalist Zeinab Badawi, paid tribute to the 63-year-old in a report for Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent programme.

Dr Adil El Tayar, a working surgeon, died on Wednesday at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth

She said she learned of Dr El Tayar's death just minutes before people across the country had joined together in applauding NHS workers on Thursday.

Dr El Tayar had volunteered to help in the A&E and general department of a hospital in the Midlands, she said.

'He'd wanted to be deployed where he would be most useful during the crisis.

'That was typical of my cousin Adil, always willing to help, always with a willing smile,' Ms Badawi added.

The father of four children, two of whom are doctors in the NHS, would work up in the Midlands during the week, returning to London on the weekends.

Two weeks ago he became unwell and did not return to work, eventually having to be taken to hospital where he died, Ms Badawi explained.

'It had taken just 12 days for Adil to go from a seemingly fit and capable doctor working in a busy hospital to lying in a hospital morgue,' she said.

'This virus is unforgiving, indiscriminate, and it can be brutal.

The surgeon's cousin, journalist Zeinab Badawi (pictured), learned of Dr El Tayar's death just minutes before people across the country had joined together in applauding NHS workers on Thursday

'Adil's death had come out of the blue, his family are bereft, bewildered and struggling to come to terms with his passing.'

According to the BBC, Dr El Tayar had worked in Saudi Arabia and Sudan as well as at St Mary's and St George's hospitals in London.

He graduated from the University of Khartoum in 1982 and moved to the UK in 1996, where he studied at the University of West London.

The British Ambassador to Sudan, Irfan Siddiq, paid tribute to Dr El Tayar on Twitter, writing: 'Saddened to hear of Sudanese doctor Adel Altayar's death in the UK from Covid-19.

'Health workers around the world have shown extraordinary courage. We cannot thank them enough. In this fight we must listen to their advice.'

Dr Hisham El Khidir, another cousin of Dr El Tayar, told the BBC: 'Adil was someone who was central to our family, who was well-respected by so many people.

'Since his death on Wednesday I have had hundreds of text messages from his colleagues and friends. He will be sorely missed.'
In his most recent tweet, US President Donald Trump lashed out on auto majors General Motors and Ford for delaying the manufacturing of ventilators at their plant. In his tweet, Trump urged the companies to 'immediately open' their abandoned plant to start making equipment.

General Motors MUST immediately open their stupidly abandoned Lordstown plant in Ohio, or some other plant, and START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!!!!!! FORD, GET GOING ON VENTILATORS, FAST!!!!!! @GeneralMotors @Ford  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020

On March 22, Trump had tweeted giving nod to General Motors and Tesla to manufacture ventilators during the time of crisis due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go-ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! @fema Go for it auto execs, let's see how good you are?" he said on Twitter. It was not immediately clear what Trump meant by the companies "being given the go-ahead."

Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! @fema Go for it auto execs, lets see how good you are? @RepMarkMeadows @GOPLeader @senatemajldr  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2020

Beginning on Thursday, Tesla announced that its workers will receive masks and have their temperature checked prior to entry, Wednesday night's email said, adding that more hygiene stations will be added and the cleaning frequency of work areas be increased.

Also Watch:

The coronavirus outbreak comes as Tesla ramps up production of its Model Y sport utility vehicle at the factory, which Musk has said will see higher demand than all of Tesla's other models combined.

Separately on Thursday, hundreds of Twitter users welcomed an offer by Musk to make ventilators for coronavirus sufferers, after the United States appealed for donations of respirator masks to combat a shortage
Is that Sister Chhaya speaking?

Yes.

Im calling from the Prime Ministers residence, and the PM would like to speak to you.

Then Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes on the line.

Namaste, Sister Chhaya.

For the past week, Modi has been making calls such as this one to individuals across the country. Some, like Sister Chhaya, a nurse at the Naidu Hospital in Pune, whom the PM spoke to on Saturday, are at the front-line of the fight against Covid-19. These calls are aimed at boosting their morale. Tell me, how are you handling your family? They must be worried about you, the PM asks Sister Chhaya (as in the UK, female nurses are called sisters in India).

I know sir, but we have to do our work. We manage somehow.

People must be scared, he adds. Darne ka nahin, yeh hamara message hai (dont be afraid; thats the message).

Watch | PM Modi interacts with journalists amid coronavirus threat

A senior government official familiar with the matter said this is one of the 150-200 phone calls that Modi has been making every day since he announced the nationwide 21-day lockdown last week. After telling everyone to resist from stepping out unless they worked in essential services, the Prime Minister (whose work can actually be described as most essential) has also not stepped outside the 12-acre complex at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

The number 7 is actually a misnomer, because the complex houses five bungalows (numbers 1, 3, 5 and 9 being the others) on that road. The entire complex, which serves as the residence-cum-camp-office of the Prime Minister, was previously known as 7, Race Course Road, and houses all the different offices that the PM needs. One of them, the Panchwati Bungalow, was the one the PM and his council of ministers were photographed in recently  practising social distancing during a meeting.

Thats the bungalow thats used for Cabinet meetings, said a second official. The Prime Minister has always used the LKM office more for his work, dropping into South Block (where the Prime Ministers Office, or PMO, is located) just once or twice a week. However, since the lockdown, Modi has been totally working from home.

It is an extraordinary situation, said the chief spokesperson of the government, KS Dhatwalia. I think it may be for the first time that the Prime Minister will be based in Delhi for 21 days [at a stretch]. I dont think it has ever happened in six years [since he assumed office].

Also read | Covid-19: How it will change companies

Modi has followed a gruelling schedule, travelling around the country for important engagements and also for outreach.

Announcing a complete lockdown was a tough call, which has been welcomed as much as it has been critiqued. However, the government sees it as a bitter medicine for the war against corona, one of the aides said.

And so this has meant that the PMs principal secretary, PK Mishra, who has also been working from home, comes to see the Prime Minister every day as does the governments senior most bureaucrat, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba. These two daily visitors aside, his schedule also includes a briefing by the Group of Ministers overseeing Indias Covid-19 response, headed by health minister Harsh Vardhan. He also talks with leaders from across the country and the world.

I dont think the PM is working less, said the first official. He continues to wake up at 4am and do his series of calls and video meetings. Work goes on.

However, it isnt really usual. The work from home applies not just to all PMO staffers but also to members of the Special Protection Group that protects him. If before, three staffers would go to a meeting at the PMO, now only one person goes, said the second official.

On Saturday, Modi made calls to some chief ministers, and participated in a video conference with people who practise alternative systems of medicine such as Ayurveda. If you look at the decisions that the PM has taken and following it up, this is a complete hands-on approach, said A Surya Prakash, former Prasar Bharti chairman.

And the messaging from the countrys top office is simple: in order to stay safe, stay home.

Also read | Coronavirus update: Delhi eating joint employee walks 200 km to reach home, dies on the road
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 12:40:34|Editor: Yurou

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SINGAPORE, March 28 (Xinhua) -- It would be "a significant challenge" to hold the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in early June in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a Facebook post Saturday.

The annual SLD was held in Singapore in late May or early June by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The think tank has announced earlier that it would call off this year's SLD scheduled for June 5-7.

Looking at the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, with epicenters now in Europe, Britain and the United States, and travel restrictions imposed by many countries, it would be a significant challenge to hold SLD as scheduled in early June, Ng said.

The minister expressed his thankfulness to the defense partners for their strong support to Singapore and the SLD over the years, adding that "We look forward to resuming the SLD next year."

The SLD was launched in 2002 and got its name from the venue of the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. This would be the first time the summit would not be convened, which have, over the years, attracted participants from the United States, China, Singapore and other countries.

The IISS said on early Saturday that after close consultation with the Singaporean government, they have decided not to convene the 2020 Shangri-La Dialogue in light of the serious challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Many countries have imposed travel restrictions in response to the pandemic and these may still be in force at the time that this year's Shangri-La Dialogue would have been convened," IISS said in a statement.

Singapore has barred all entry or transit of all short-term visitors from March 23.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has called out to retired prison officers in Laois and other parts of the country to come forward to support the operation of jails around Ireland during the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the IPS said Covid-19 will have a significant impact on Irish society and everyone is taking action to reduce the effect it has on families and communities

"In preparation for the potential impact, we are asking retired prison staff from all grades to register their interest in temporarily returning to work to support the operation of prisons as we move through this crisis. Therefore having information on those of you who wish to make themselves available to support our efforts to maintain prison operations would be extremely helpful, as we plan for the worst and hope for the best.

"Retirees who express their interest will be contacted if their skill set, availability and geographic preference match with the emerging needs of the prison service. This means we are responding to needs as, where and when they arise. We cannot predict where the need will arise. As you can appreciate this is a busy and challenging time for the Prison Service so we ask for your continued patience and understanding in this regard.

"We cannot tell you at the moment about the exact hours that will become available as that depends on the needs of the particular prison service. If a role comes up for you, the hours of work will be outlined at that time," it said.

Any retired prison grade staff, recruited for the purpose of the current Covid-19 crisis, will be placed on the first point of the relevant salary scale. Waiver of pension abatement will also be applicable.

The prisons listed are: Castlerea, Cork, Limerick, Dublin (CCJ), West Dublin, Mountjoy, Midlands Portlaoise.

If you would like to be considered for a position on a temporary basis, you should complete the attached application form and return to ipsrecruitment@irishprisons.ie

Click here for the information booklet for recruitment of retired prison grades.
By Eoin Higgins

A viral video showing cell phone data collected by location accuracy company X-Mode from spring break partiers potentially spreading the coronavirus around the U.S. has brought up questions of digital privacy even as it shows convincingly the importance of staying home to defeat the disease.

First thing you should note is the importance of social distancing, tweeted Daily Dot journalist Mikael Thalen of the video. The second is how much data your phone gives off.

The data in the video, which X-Mode fed into mapping platform Tectonix, shows people from one Florida beach over spring break departing the Sunshine State and spreading around the country, mostly to the Northeast.

This shows the location data of phones that were on a Florida beach during Spring Break. It then shows where those phones traveled. First thing you should note is the importance of social distancing. The second is how much data your phone gives off. pic.twitter.com/iokUX3qjeB  Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) March 26, 2020 The company also tracked people fleeing the outbreak from New York City.

Continuing our look at #SocialDistancing impact on #COVID19  This week @NYGovCuomo took decisive action calling for New Yorkers to #StayHome We took a look at mobile device movement leaving NY this week and the data shows strict policy is needed! pic.twitter.com/N6pElCoZjC  Tectonix (@TectonixGEO) March 26, 2020 Its a glimpse into the power and scope of mobile tracking data, which the tech companies claim is anonymized to not reveal information about the owner of the device, wrote Newsweeks Jason Murdock. According to Thalens report on the data for the Daily Dot: X-Mode states that the data used is anonymized, meaning a cellphones location is not linked to its users identity. Tectonix took that raw data and honed in specifically on devices moving between 3 and 10 miles per hour in an attempt to pinpoint cellphone owners believed to be walking or traveling with bikes or scooters. I dont know what scares me more, tweeted CBC News reporter Roberto Rocha, the spread of Florida beach revelers or that this data is being tracked. In a report Wednesday on the outbreak, the Guardian revealed that the cell phone industrys international regulatory body the GSMMA is considering developing a global data-sharing system to track people from their devices in order to help contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Any move to create such a global tracking system would represent a major escalation in efforts to use mobile phone location data to help stem the pandemic, and would be likely to raise concerns among privacy and security experts.#COVID19https://t.co/PmeozyS9km  Sylke Gruhnwald (@SylkeGruhnwald) March 26, 2020 Such a move would come with myriad privacy and security concerns and would be sure to generate intense backlash from civil liberty advocates around the world. As the Guardian reported: Until now the use of mobile phone tracking in the fight against Covid-19 has been restricted to national governments, which are either monitoring data within their borders or in discussions with mobile operators and technology companies about doing so. They include the US, India, Iran, Poland, Singapore, Israel, and South Korea. The British government is engaged in talks with BT, the owner of the UK mobile operator EE, about using phone location and usage data to determine the efficacy of isolation orders. The concept of an international mobile tracing scheme would go further, enabling authorities to monitor movements and potentially track the spread of the disease across borders. The risks of letting state and corporate powers overrun civil liberties is real in a moment of crisis, warned the Electronic Frontier Foundations Cindy Cohn on Monday. We already see calls from companies seeking to cash in on this crisis for unchecked face surveillance, social media monitoring, and other efforts far beyond what medicine or epidemiology require, said Cohn. While there is a need to keep safe and healthy for the good of the community, Cohn continued, that should not come at the expense of vigilance over freedom and civil rights. Right now, when real science is so often under attack, those of us who care about truth, health, and each other need to take seriously the things that science and medicine are telling us about how to keep this virus from spreading, wrote Cohn. And we also need to be vigilant so that we come out the other side of this crisis with a society we want to live in and hand down to our kids. We can  and must  do both.

Reposted with permission from Common Dreams.
The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said her temporary leave from prison in Iran has been extended.

Richard Ratcliffe said his wife's father had been told her temporary release from Evin prison in Tehran - granted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic - had been extended by two weeks and will now run until April 18.

Mr Ratcliffe added that his wife's file has been put forward to the Iranian Prosecutor General to be considered for clemency.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the Britsh-Iranian woman jailed in Iran, who has had her leave from prison extended by two weeks, according to her husband

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter Gabriella. The British-Iranian woman has been living in relative isolation at her parents' house in Tehran during her release from prison

The British-Iranian woman has been living in relative isolation at her parents' house in Tehran while the country gets to grips with the outbreak.

She has to wear an ankle tag during the furlough, and can only go within a 300-metre range of her parents' home.

Iran is among the countries worst-affected by Covid-19 - reporting over 29,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,200 deaths from the disease.

Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the news on Twitter - calling it a 'glimmer of hope amidst the darkness'.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella

'Let's pray that this remarkable family are reunited soon,' he added.

The family's MP Tulip Siddiq tweeted that every day Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is out of prison is 'better than the alternative'.

But she said that the main focus remained 'getting her home and away from the danger of coronavirus in Iran as soon as possible'.

Five-year-old Gabriella Ratcliffe drew a red plane with a flower on its wings for her mum on Mother's Day

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport while travelling to show her young daughter, Gabriella, to her parents in April 2016.

She was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations, which she denies, of plotting to overthrow the Tehran government.

She was later afforded diplomatic protection by the UK Government, which argues that she is innocent and that her treatment by Iran failed to meet obligations under international law.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says he fears millions and millions of coronavirus cases in Africa, where the youth will not be spared. He called on wealthy countries to help the developing world, for their own sake.

Guterres told RFI that Africa should be the priority of the international community as the continent does have the resources to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ninety percent of the cases are in the G20 countries which hold 80 percent of the global economy. They shouldn't be working alone, each in their corner, but in a coordinated manner to find treatments and vaccines to put at the world's disposal, he said.

Guterres says at least three trillion US dollars, around 10 percent of the world's GDP, is needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus for vulnerable countries in the Global South.

He backed French President Emmanuel Macron's call for the international community to make the African continent its top priority.

This is not a financial crisis like in 2008, he said.

According to figures published by the African Union, there are 3,924 cases of Covid-19 in Africa and 117 recorded deaths across 46 countries.

Africa is in urgent need of test kits, masks, ventilators, protective suits for health workers," said Guterres. "We can still prevent the worst in Africa but without a massive mobilisation we will have millions and millions of people contaminated, which means millions of deaths, adding that Africa's booming youth population will not be spared.

Coronavirus mutating

According to Guterres, the risk of the coronavirus mutating is higher given the fast rate at which it is spreading globally.

As the virus mutates, all the investment we are putting into vaccines will be for nothing because the virus will then travel from the South back to the North. So it is in the interest of countries in the North to help the South, he told RFI.

He added that the G20 could coordinate aid towards Africa, in terms of health supplies, medical treatments and financial packages.
One of the Biggest Stock Market Short Covering Rallies in History May Be Imminent

Technical analyst Clive Maund considers the opportunities posed by recent market and fiscal news.

In recent days the Fed has made it plain that it is prepared to buy anything and everything to prevent imminent total collapse, and you don't have to join many dots to see that this will extend to buying stocks. It's not that hard for themall they have to do is enter a few keystrokes, add a few 0s and it's sortedand as Gregory Mannarino repeatedly points out, the more debt they issue the more powerful they become.

Right now sentiment is "end of the world" negative, and any positive development will be enough to trigger a gargantuan, self-feeding, short-covering rally. Gold's huge recovery is a sign that this may be about to start.

It is, therefore, most interesting to observe on our 3-year chart that the S&P500 index has just hit our long-held target at the bottom of its giant bullhorn pattern, and it has done so with the market in a stupendously oversold conditionat a record, by far.

The conditions are therefore believed to be ripe for a screaming, short-covering rally, and the only question is whether it happens immediately or after some volatile zigzagging around in the vicinity of these lows. Action in gold suggests that it will happen almost immediately. Anything that causes a shift in investor perception could trigger it, and once it starts it could be unstoppable for a while, as shorts race for cover.

The conclusion to all this is that this may be an excellent time to "put our best foot forward" and do calls in the broad market, for which purpose we can use the S&P500 proxy (SPY), whose chart is shown below for the same time frame. On this occasion it may be worth doing the trade in reasonable size, but again, don't go overboard and bet the farm.

Look at it this this waythere is considered to be 50% chance of a sudden, scorching, snapback rally, and if it works, the options we are looking will rise about fourfold or more. The whole thing could burn out and reverse to the downside again quickly, but by that time we will be out, if things go to plan.

Just because the market rallies here or soon won't mean the bear market is over. Although the rally could happen immediately, it might be preceded by some base-building, which is why we should go out a few weeks with the options.

An SPY March 17 expiry options table is shown below, and you can choose any series to suit yourself, if interested. A couple of suggestions have been highlighted on it.

Table courtesy of bigcharts.com

With futures showing the Dow set to open up about 930 points, it may be best to buy some soon after the open, and then wait for an intraday dip to do more, bearing in mind that there may not be a dip.

End of update. Posted on clivemaund.com at 9:20 a.m. EDT on March 24, 2020.

Clive Maund has been president of www.clivemaund.com, a successful resource sector website, since its inception in 2003. He has 30 years' experience in technical analysis and has worked for banks, commodity brokers and stockbrokers in the City of London. He holds a Diploma in Technical Analysis from the UK Society of Technical Analysts.

Clive Maund has been president of www.clivemaund.com, a successful resource sector website, since its inception in 2003. He has 30 years' experience in technical analysis and has worked for banks, commodity brokers and stockbrokers in the City of London. He holds a Diploma in Technical Analysis from the UK Society of Technical Analysts.

Disclosure: 1) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of Clive Maund and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. Clive Maund is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. Streetwise Reports was not involved in the content preparation. Clive Maund was not paid by Streetwise Reports LLC for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. 2) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 3) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Charts and graphics provided by the author.

CliveMaund.com Disclosure: The above represents the opinion and analysis of Mr Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. Mr. Maund is an independent analyst who receives no compensation of any kind from any groups, individuals or corporations mentioned in his reports. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks can only be construed as a solicitation to buy and sell securities when they are subject to the prior approval and endorsement of a Registered Securities Advisor operating in accordance with the appropriate regulations in your area of jurisdiction.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 19:02:05|Editor: huaxia

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Medical experts attend a departure ceremony at the airport in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 28, 2020. China has sent an 8-member team of medical experts to Pakistan to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The team, organized by the National Health Commission, consists of experts selected by the health commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Sadat)

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China has sent a team of medical experts to Pakistan to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Saturday.

The team, organized by the National Health Commission, consists of experts selected by the health commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Geng said in a press statement.

The team left for Pakistan on Saturday afternoon, he said.
[March 28, 2020] Roland Frasier Launches Daily Podcast Series To Include A Live Chat And Q&A With Celebrities Affected By The Global COVID-19 Pandemic

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., March 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Principal of DigitalMarketer, Roland Frasier will host Business Lunch To Go, a live version of his podcast Business Lunch. Frasier will interview a different celebrity daily on his Facebook page starting at 12pm PT/ 3pm ET. "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused panic in many business owners who fear they won't survive a recession," said Frasier. "Business is still moving forward. People are still making investments, spending on consulting and buying products. It's just a question of mindset. The goal of Business Lunch To Go is to encourage people to not be frozen." Frasier asserts that to survive the pandemic, businesses must pivot their service offerings. If they do, they have potential to bounce back stronger than ever. Business Lunch To Go has already started airing daily. Topics covered include how to maintain sales flow, adapt media offers and stay out of financial trouble. Upcoming guests include: Kara Gouldin , founder of Hint Water

, founder of Hint Water li> James Altucher , hedge fund manager and angel investor Vinnie Fisher , author

, author Diana Wentworth , author



Roland Frasier's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rolandfrasier ABOUT

Roland Frasier is a strategic investor who has bought and sold over 100 public and private companies ranging from a few million to over $100 million in adjusted sales over the past 30 years. He specializes in creative deal structuring and low and no money down acquisitions where he can add value, grow, scale and sell the businesses he acquires for as much as 200 times or more his initial investment. A "recovering attorney," Roland practiced business, tax and securities law for over 12 years and has been a principal or founder of 5 different Inc Magazine fastest growing companies including, DigitalMarketer. Roland lives in San Diego with his wife, 2 children and their 3 chihuahuas. You can connect with the Business Lunch Podcast team on Twitter and check out Roland's business site. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roland-frasier-launches-daily-podcast-series-to-include-a-live-chat-and-qa-with-celebrities-affected-by-the-global-covid-19-pandemic-301031299.html SOURCE DigitalMarketer

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March 28 : Amid the growing coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, the daily wagers, labourers and underprivileged people have not only lost their sources of income but are also going without food every day.

Vidya Balan took to her Instagram handle and shared a video and urged the netizens to come forward and donate generously for these underprivileged people who are going hungry due to the lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus.

The actress informed that retired police commissioner D Sivanandhan started the Mumbai Roti Bank, an NGO, to feed the poor people like the daily wage labourers and others who don't have groceries and food and are going hungry. The actress urged people to inform the Roti Bank about any place where such people are going hungry by contacting on 8655580001. The members of the Roti Bank will provide food to these people, she wrote in the caption.

Vidya asked people to donate uncooked grains and pulses like rice, wheat, dal and cooking oil, and the members of the Roti Bank will cook meals and distribute them. The Mission Mangal actress also asked people to make monetary donations to the specified bank or via Paytm.

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Experts and advocates warned for years that chronic understaffing, precarious working conditions, and poor workplace safety at nursing homes put Ontarios vulnerable elders and the workers who care for them at risk. Now the COVID-19 pandemic is exploiting those flaws.

At least eight nursing and retirement homes in the province are battling outbreaks of the coronavirus  including one in a Bobcaygeon facility that health officials have called the largest outbreak in the province. Thirty-five residents at the home are showing symptoms and two have died, with warnings more deaths may come.

At least seven of Ontarios 18 reported coronavirus deaths have been residents of long-term-care or assisted-living facilities. That number, and the number of outbreaks, come from media reports and information from regional public health units. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has not publicly released information on the number of nursing home outbreaks and did not respond to requests for comment.

While staff work furiously to protect residents, they are doing so in an understaffed system where some workers have little support or stability  problems experts say have persisted despite longstanding calls for reform.

Nursing homes are ground zero for the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers warn  and have been particularly susceptible in the past.

A 2005 outbreak of Legionnaires disease at one particular Scarborough long-term-care home was held up by the panel of experts who investigated the SARS crisis as a devastating example of the regulatory failure and workplace safety lapses that led to the spread of disease amongst 130 workers, residents and visitors. Some 23 residents died.

Now, nearly two decades later that same facility  Seven Oaks  has seen nine residents and seven staff infected by COVID-19, according to Toronto Public Health. Two residents have died.

Ontario is not alone in confronting the COVID-19 pandemics brutal toll on the elderly. In China, the fatality rate for confirmed cases under the age of 50 is less than 1 per cent, but for those over 80 it is nearly 15 per cent, according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

In Italy the virus slammed seniors even harder, fatal in more than 20 per cent of cases over the age of 80. Italys significantly older population is suspected to be one reason why the country has experienced a much higher death toll than China, despite similar overall case totals.

Researchers writing in another JAMA article said nursing homes are likely to become hubs in their communities for the worst outcomes of COVID-19.

The older, frailer demographic living in nursing homes is part of their vulnerability. But the inherent structure of the facilities, with many communal spaces and people moving among them, also plays a role, says David Grabowski, who co-authored the JAMA commentary.

Its not a medical facility. Home is right there in the title  theyre going to have visitors, theyre going to have meals together, theyre going to live their lives, says Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School.

Visitors have been restricted in Ontario long-term-care homes, and both staff and essential visitors are screened for symptoms and travel history. Some facilities are limiting communal activities even in sites without an outbreak.

But structural staffing problems are also a big reason nursing homes are vulnerable to COVID-19, and those are much harder to overcome.

Thats not to say that nursing homes dont do a good job. The staff there are incredibly vital, in fact oftentimes the most important in the day-to-day welfare of these individuals, says Grabowski.

But the precarious, fluid nature of these workers increases the risk of transmission, he and other experts say. Many are paid low wages and work part time, requiring them to bounce among facilities to patch together enough income, potentially spreading the coronavirus to multiple locations.

Monique Langlois, a member of the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association who is employed in a Windsor-area nursing home, said most facilities dont hire full time  leaving workers with no choice but to work for several.

Working in a single nursing home would only be possible if workers could stomach working mornings, afternoons, and nights, all in one week, she added.

The hours are always available if youre willing to kill yourself, basically, she said.

Ontarios chief medical officer of health issued a directive to long-term-care homes last Sunday that asked employers to limit the number of different work locations for staff wherever possible to limit the transmission of the virus.

The challenging thing is that before this COVID-19 pandemic happened, we were already suffering from a health human resources crisis in long-term care, and we already had many homes working without enough staff, says Lisa Levin, the CEO of AdvantAge Ontario.

Many workers are now off because theyre in isolation or ill, and half of long-term-care employees are already part-time, Levin says.

By outright saying that staff cannot work in more than one health-care setting  it could cripple the system in terms of staff.

Levin added that her association, which represents not-for-profit, charitable and municipal homes for seniors, had asked successive governments over many years to increase funding in order to improve staffing levels at long-term-care homes.

Levin also said nursing homes are currently suffering from serious shortages of masks and other personal protective equipment.

One Toronto-area PSW, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, said her primary employer has instructed caregivers not to work for multiple companies. But as a home-care worker, she still visits multiple residences a day  making less than $18 an hour, with no protective equipment like gloves or masks provided until late this week.

She said shes not surprised that nursing homes have become the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak  based on previous outbreaks caused by workplace hazards.

There needs to be more maintenance and vigilance on stuff like that, instead of the bottom line, she said.

But confusion over who is responsible for preventing the spread of disease  and how  is a persistent issue.

In the wake of the 2003 SARS crisis, a commission tasked with investigating Ontarios response painted a damning picture of workplace safety lapses  and the critical role of the Ministry of Labours intervention in containing disease outbreak.

The commission found that directives to keep workplaces safe during SARS were prepared without appropriate oversight by the Ministry of Labour.

It found that enforcement was ineffective, if not non-existent: the ministry did not conduct any proactive inspections at SARS hospitals for virtually all the outbreak.

It found that despite its legal mandate to protect workers, the ministry was sidelined for the duration of the crisis, amid a turf war between labour and health officials.

And it found that those issues came back to haunt both  at Seven Oaks Home for the Aged.

Two years after the SARS outbreak, Seven Oaks was thrown into turmoil when an unidentified illness began killing residents. It took days for experts to pinpoint the cause: Legionnaires disease. The illness infected 70 residents, 39 staff and 21 visitors. In total, 23 residents died.

Unlike SARS and COVID-19, Legionnaires disease is spread through contaminated water sources, not person-to-person contact. Under provincial health and safety laws, employers are required to prevent workers exposure to the illness  for example through proper maintenance of water and ventilation systems.

Despite those legal obligations, the SARS commission found the response to the Seven Oaks crisis lacked sufficient involvement of the Ministry of Labour and of independent Ontario worker safety experts, compromising the health of frontline staff  and by extension, those in their care.

Without recognized, mandated and enforced workplace safety precautions, the commission warned, nurses and doctors and other health workers will continue to be at risk from new infections like SARS.

But Jim Brophy, an occupational disease expert focusing on the health-care sector, said the labour ministry is still missing in action. Workplace injury and illness rates in nursing, retirement and group homes are significantly higher than in other health-care settings  as well as the provincial average.

The system has been broken for a long time, said Theresa Armstrong, an Ontario New Democrat MPP and the partys critic for home care and long-term care.

If we protect our workers were going to protect our residents, our family members.

Following the recent COVID-19 outbreak at Seven Oaks, Ministry of Labour spokesperson Janet Deline said inspectors responded to a complaint last week that a resident had tested positive for the virus.

No health and safety orders were issued and the investigation is now complete, Deline told the Star.

As of Friday, nine residents and seven staff at Seven Oaks have been diagnosed. Staff have been directed not to move among different facilities. Toronto Public Health spokesperson Dr. Elizabeth Rea said the home has implemented the necessary protocols to prevent further virus spread, including enhanced cleaning regimens and use of personal protective equipment by caregivers.

An outbreak is declared when there are at least two COVID-19 cases in a facility, health officials said. In addition to the eight outbreaks the Star is aware of, at least 10 others have a single case.

At nursing homes where there are no recorded outbreaks, the broader workplace problems remain, says Winnie Ng, a labour scholar focused on precarious work and an adjunct professor with Ryerson Universitys School of Social Work.

The level of care was already deficient and workers overworked prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, she said.

Now the pandemic has just exacerbated the substandard level of care and put the lives of the residents and their care workers in further jeopardy.
KABUL, Afghanistan  The Taliban on Saturday attacked several provinces in northern Afghanistan, overrunning large parts of one district even as American diplomats expressed optimism that a peace process stalled over the release of prisoners was getting back on track.

The insurgents launched major assaults in three northern province  in Kunduz, whose capital was overrun by the Taliban repeatedly in recent years, as well as in Faryab and Badakhshan. Some of the worst fighting occurred in Badakhshan Province, where the insurgents took control of much of the district of Yamgan and inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan forces in another district, Jurm.

Amanullah Iman, who leads the executive branch of the Yamgan district office, said hundreds of Taliban fighters attacked soon after dawn and captured the district center after three hours of fighting. There were five outposts in Yamgan district center, and the Taliban captured all of them, Mr. Iman said. The security forces escaped to a military base in another part of this district.

The fighting rages despite an appeal for a cease-fire on humanitarian grounds to slow the spread of the coronavirus across the country.
The Indian Navy helped the Goa government in transporting 60 samples of suspected coronavirus patients in the state to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing, an official said on Saturday.

A Dornier aircraft of Indian Navy, carrying 60 samples for COVID-19 testing, took off from INS Hansa for Pune on March 27, a spokesperson of the central government said.

The samples were carried by a technician from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), which is located near Panaji, he said.

The Navy had earlier airlifted a medical team from Goa to Pune on March 25 for a training session at the NIV aimed at setting up a testing facility at the GMCH. They were brought back by another naval Dornier the next day, the official said.

The GMCH is in the process of setting up its own sample testing facility.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had told reporters on Friday that the testing lab will start functioning from Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seoul: North Korea has fired at least one unidentified projectile into the ocean off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Sunday, with Japan's Ministry of Defence reporting that it appeared to be a ballistic missile.

The ministry said that the missile did not land in Japanese territory or its exclusive economic zone.

A man watches a TV screen in Seoul showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch. Credit:AP

"We will continue to do our utmost to collect, analyse, and monitor information," the ministry said in a statement on Twitter.

If confirmed as a ballistic missile, it would be the fourth round of launches this month as North Korean troops conduct ongoing military drills, usually personally overseen by leader Kim Jong-un.
South Africa recorded its first death from coronavirus on Friday as its infection tally breached the 1,000 mark just hours after a three-week nationwide lockdown took effect. The news came as World Health Organisation director for Africa warned of a "dramatic evolution" of the disease which has, according to AFP tally, killed 94 out of nearly 3,500 infected people across the world's poorest continent. South Africa, which has the highest number of confirmed cases at 1,170, recorded its first death on Friday. Earlier Health Minister Zweli Mkhize had reported two deaths, but late on Friday he revised the toll to one. The second patient had died on admission. "The clinical picture was suggestive of COVID-19 and therefore a test was conducted," and came back negative, Mkhize said in a statement. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered South Africa's 57 million people to stay at home for 21 days, joining countries across the globe in imposing strict measures to halt the spread of the disease. But many people especially from the poor neighbourhoods, defied the order after it came into effect at midnight Thursday, lining up outside food stores or at bus terminals. The streets of Alexandra, a Johannesburg township, were buzzing with people and traffic as if it was a normal, busy Friday afternoon. Earlier on Friday, police appeared overwhelmed in downtown Johannesburg, where hundreds of shoppers tried to force their way into a supermarket. "The lockdown is a good thing for the country, even though I feel that a lot of people are taking it for granted, saying this virus is not for us... which is bad because by the time we wake up this thing will have spread enormously in the country," said bank employee Dumisani July, 39, wearing a mask and black latex gloves. The patient who died in the Western Cape province was a woman aged 48. She was suffering from pulmonary embolism, the minister said. The tally of infections in Africa's biggest industrialised economy could reach 1,500 "within a few days", Ramaphosa has warned. - 'Dramatic evolution' - Although Africa's toll is far lower than in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, experts say the world's poorest continent is especially vulnerable, given its poor sanitation, weak healthcare systems, overcrowding and conflicts. WHO Africa boss Matshidiso Moeti said there have been about 300 new cases per day in recent days, and called for "intensified action by African countries". "The situation is very worrying, with a dramatic evolution: an increase geographically in the number of countries and also an increase in the number of infections," Moeti told France24 channel. During South Africa's military-enforced shutdown, jogging, dog-walking and the sale of alcohol are banned. Violation of any of the regulations will carry a six-month jail sentence or a fine. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's pointman on the pandemic said the first case of coronavirus detected outside Kinshasa -- is in the restive eastern province of Ituri, which was also touched by a now-waning epidemic of Ebola. The DRC has 54 cases, four of them fatalities, said crisis coordinator Jean-Jacques Muyembe. The DRC's sprawling capital, Kinshasa, was meant to go into lockdown on Saturday for four days, but local officials delayed the measure after the announcement caused a spike in the price of basic goods and worries about unrest. - Two shot in Uganda - In East Africa, Ugandan police said two men were in hospital after being shot for violating transport restrictions imposed to curb the virus. Police stopped the two on a motorbike near Kampala but "they attacked one of the officers, he fired the warning shot in the air but they charged at him and he shot one of them in the leg and another in the stomach," Uganda metropolitan police spokesman, Patrick Onyango told AFP. President Yoweri Museveni has not ordered a shutdown, but urged people to stay home. Kenya and Rwanda in the region have also imposed restrictions. In the Sahel, Burkina Faso, which last week recorded sub-Saharan Africa's first death, announced that eight towns, including the capital Ouagadougou, would be quarantined for two weeks from Friday. In Niger, President Mahamadou Issoufou ordered a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am for the capital Niamey. He also mandated a "graceful reduction of sentences" for 1,540 prisoners, "for humanitarian reasons and to relieve the congestion of our prisons". In Mali, the government has imposed some anti-coronavirus measures, including a night-time curfew, but said a long-delayed parliamentary election would go ahead on Sunday. The impoverished state has scheduled the elections as a means to win back public confidence in its political system as it battles a raging jihadist revolt. Zimbabwe's president Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday announced a 21-day "total lockdown" starting on Monday. The public health system in Zimbabwe, which has so far recorded five positive cases, has been in a state of near-collapse for years. Doctors and nurses this week went on strike over lack of coronavirus protective gear. South Africa-based risk analysis firm, NKC African Economics warned that tough restrictions on mobility will be difficult to enforce in Africa. "Most African countries will not be able to effectively implement the severe restrictions on movement that we have seen globally," it said. "The impracticality of implementing widespread self-quarantine in shantytowns or informal settlements means that this will not be an option." burs-sn/har
A key Pennsylvania state senator says hes not ready to push forward a House-passed bill that would codify what steps governmental bodies  from county commissions to local zoning boards  must follow to conduct business during the coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed HB1564 to define how governments can comply with the Sunshine Act when conducting meetings remotely during declared disasters and emergencies.

But the chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee does not think legislation is necessarily the appropriate next step.

Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster), who chairs the Local Government committee, says that passing new legislation would require committee hearings and significant deliberations that would take up time. Instead, he is concentrating on communicating to municipalities that keeping their operations running is important and that good faith and common sense are the keys to doing so in compliance with state law.

This is uncharted territory because this emergency order is much more drawn out, it involves social distancing directives, and, in a growing number of counties, it involves stay-at-home orders, said Martin. Were trying to get opinions on what the law would allow given those circumstances in terms of meeting the spirit of the law.

The head of the states Office of Open Records applauded Martins efforts as well as the Houses effort to provide clarity through passing a bill. But like Martin he said agencies already have all the guidance they need.

The language in Title 35 relating to emergency declarations, the advisory from the Office of Open Records, and the upcoming advisory from the District Attorneys Association should give agencies everything they need to continue operating without violating the Sunshine Act during the COVID-19 emergency, OOR Executive Director Erik Arneson said in an email.

Municipal officials, however, are still looking for clear guidance as to what they can do, said Pennsylvania Municipal League Executive Director Rick Schuettler. His organization supported the bill that passed the House Wednesday and would like to see it taken up in the Senate as soon as possible.

We think there either has to be legislation or the governor has to do an executive order that says, Heres whats OK,' said Schuettler.

While Arnesons Office of Open Records has issued guidance on the subject, any violations of the Sunshine Act are ultimately prosecuted by county district attorneys. Greg Rowe, director of legislation and policy for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, noted that prosecution can only occur if there is intent.

He said that his organization supports the effort by the House to codify guidance, but, in the meantime, is working with the Senate to issue guidance to local agencies. (That guidance is only advisory, however, because any district attorney can use their own discretion to decide what to prosecute.)

Lets be reasonable, lets use common sense, and lets comply with the spirit of the law, Rowe said to summarize his organizations approach to the issue.

Schuettler said that he appreciates efforts by the District Attorneys Association and the Office of Open Records to issue guidance, but, with so many acute issues that municipalities face beyond public meetings such as, for example, statutory timelines for issuing permits, the governor or the legislature need to issue comprehensive regulations.

That [guidance] is great. We appreciate that, but theres so much hanging out there that we would like to see get resolved, he said.

Among the issues that has not yet been explicitly resolved is a provision in Section 1001(b) of the Borough Code, which requires a majority of a borough councils members to meet in one physical location to reach a quorum and allows members to teleconference only when a quorum is physically present at the advertised meeting location.

Both Martin and Arneson said that they believe the governors disaster declaration gives boroughs the authority to hold meetings anyway. Arneson pointed to Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Code, which grants agencies the ability in the light of the exigencies of the emergency situation to conduct certain government business without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law.

Martin said that, as a former local official, he empathizes with the desire for clarity.

My belief is that they have to do the best they can, he said. What Im trying to tell people is, Dont wait for state government to say that you have permission to do this, when the reality, under the emergency declaration, I believe, is that they already do.

Rowe, from the District Attorneys Association, agrees, and said that the underlying principles of letting people see and participate in their government should remain steadfast.

Because intent is required to prosecute a violation, good faith is the key to avoiding problems with the Sunshine Law, Rowe said. He suggested that if municipalities stick to business related to the coronavirus or other matters that are time-sensitive, allow for public participation as best they can, and release recordings, transcripts, or, at minimum, comprehensive minutes, it is difficult to imagine running into legal trouble.

It might be a different scenario if youre trying to take advantage of the pandemic to push something that is not time sensitive through to avoid public scrutiny, Rowe said.

But right now, there is a great deal of sunlight on these issues.

This is an issue that everyone  House, Senate, local agencies, the OOR, DAs, and the media  will continue to monitor as the situation evolves, Arneson, from the Open Records Office, said. Im very pleased to see so much collaboration to this point, and Im confident that will continue.
A state of emergency was introduced in Elista in connection with the coronavirus, the Kalmyk operational headquarters informed in the Telegram channel.

A high alert regime imposed in the republic due to the situation with coronavirus, though there is only one patient with suspected infection in the hospital.
As the coronavirus pandemic causes economic devastation around the globe, as countries close down businesses in an effort to enforce social distancing and slow spread of the deadly virus, sex workers have been perhaps among the hardest hit professions. As AVN.com has been reporting, not only have incomes dried up for sex workers, but they find themselves largely unable to access government economic relief, due to their position on the fringes of society and even the law.

As AVN.com reported earlier this week, sex workers in locales as diverse as Bolivia, Bangladesh, Germany, the United States, India and South Africa are all now looking for ways to make up for lost income.

According to a Reuters report published on Friday, sex workers in Singapore now also find themselves out of work, after that island city-states government ordered its brothels shut down along with bars, nightclubs and movie theaters. While sex work is decriminalized in Singapore, operating a brothel remains against the law.

According to the Reuters report, the official government lockdown order omitted mention of the brothel closings, but sex workers in Geyland, the citys red-light district, were passed word that the establishments would be forced to shut down due to the pandemic.

A country of about 5.8 million people, Singapore so far has recorded 732 coronavirus cases, with two fatalities from the disease.

While Singapores government has announced a sizable economic relief package, the citys sex workers have no idea it they will be allowed to benefit from government assistance to get through the crisis.

"I don't know how we'll survive," one sex worker told Reuters. "We don't get looked after like people in other jobs."

In Canadas Newfoundland and Labrador Province, which on Friday saw its first hospitalization of a patient due to coronavirus infection, sex workers there also say they are out of jobs.

The pandemic is pretty much affecting all aspects of the sex work industry right now, one sex worker, Lydia, told The Guardian newspaper. Parlors and strip clubs have been shut down, the majority of clients are not looking for services, and the majority of sex workers are not providing services out of fear of catching the virus.

John Haggie, the provinces minister of health, acknowledged that the coronavirus crisis would cause suffering for sex workersbut seemed to say that there was not much he could do about it.

These individuals are in a unique position in that the services they offer are not of themselves illegal, but their clients and the advertising and the rest of it is, Haggie told the paper. It is not a recognized industry, nor does it lend itself to easy identification of people who would want to avail of financial supports."

But the health minister said he was open to discussions with advocacy groups on how to help sex workers through the pandemic.

Photo by Haima Bcn / Wikimedia Commons
Phuket COVID-19 PUI man flees designated accommodation, convinced to return

PHUKET: A man who fled his designated accommodation in Phuket Town where he was under observation on suspicion of being infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus was convinced to return to his safe zone by police and health officers yesterday (Mar 27).

CoronavirusCOVID-19health

By The Phuket News

Saturday 28 March 2020, 06:39PM

Health official on Thursday rehearse in front of the cameras the moving of COVID-19 patients to the new Provincial Hall field hospital. Photo: PR Dept

Officers from Phuket Town Police Station were called to in front of the Grand Supicha Hotel, near the Phuket City Municipality offices, at 3pm.

Joining the officers were public health officers and Vachira Phuket Hopsital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol.

The man, who policed only described as 30-35 years old, was being escorted from Vachira Hospital to his new designated accommodation near the Phuket City Municipality officers when he became stressed and refused to go, police explained.

After 30 minutes, the officers calmed the man down and he agreed to stay at his designated accommodation, police said.

Health officials held a mass practice session on Thursday so they could rehearse moving patients to the new designated field hospital, the convention hall at the site of the still-incomplete new Phuket Provincial Hall on the south side of Phuket Town.

At least 100 beds along with the required medical equipment will be installed in the building, which so far has served as the venue for only a handful of government meetings.

The ground-floor level, which can accommodate 40 beds, will be used initially to treat COVID-19 patients who do not have serious symptoms, Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana explained on Tuesday (Mar 24).

The second floor of the building can accommodate a further 70 beds, he added.

Patients suffering severe symptoms and who need respirators will continue to be treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital, the Governor said. (See story here.)

The COVID-19 Field Hospital was initially expected to open yesterday (Mar 27), and patients are still being transferred to the new facility, The Phuket News was told.

Government Public Relations officials have announced that no visitors will permitted to enter the field hospital. However, people can leave necessary items or medication that patients regularly use with staff, who will sterilize the items and pass on to the patients.

Dr Busaya Santisan of Vachira Phuket Hospital told Khao Phuket that all personnel entering the building must wear protective clothing.

Patients under observation will be in general isolation and all items passed among them and any interaction among health personnel will be subjected to strict procedures to prevent the disease from spreading, she said.

Patients with severe symptoms will be treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital, she added.

A tent will be set up outside the building where people can undergo initial screening for the disease, Dr Busaya added.
The Kerala government on Friday suspended Kollam sub-collector Anupam Mishra, who slipped out of home quarantine and left for his home town Sultanpur, in Uttar Pradesh, without informing health officials and the district collector, the Kerala chief ministers office said.

The Kerala police, meanwhile, registered a case against Mishra and informed their UP counterparts about it.

Mishra was married to a Kanpur woman on March 2 this year and had gone to Singapore and Malaysia on honeymoon. When the 2016 batch IAS officer and his wife returned from their honeymoon trip last week, health authorities had advised them to remain in home quarantine for at least two weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.

Mishras disappearance came to notice when health official went to his official residence on Thursday to inquire about his condition.

Later, UP police traced Mishra to Sultanpur. Police officers of Kanpur and Sultanpur have spoken to Mishra, who told them that since he was in isolation someone advised him to leave for his hometown, said a UP police officer.

He did follow the advice and came to Sultanpur. He is now in touch with the district magistrate (DM) and superintendent of police (SP) of Sultanpur. They are monitoring his health status and have also got a swab test done again. The report is awaited, said an officer who spoke to him.

His family lives in Niralanagar in Sultanpur. Mishras mobile phone was switched off till Friday morning.

District magistrate, Kanpur, Brahmdev Ram Tiwari, said the issue was being investigated. Mishra denied having travelled to Kanpur and said he was misunderstood.

In his conversation with officials in Kerala, he told them he was in Sultanpur and they mistook it for Kanpur, said the official.

IG Kanpur range Mohit Agarwal said the officer had been traced and his travel history to Kanpur was being investigated. I have asked to check his travel history through his mobile location; in case he has travelled and tested positive, all those points and people he came in contact with, will be sanitised and tested, he said.

Mishras driver and personal security guard have been put in isolation after his disappearance came to light. Kerala police, meanwhile, said they will take action against them also for failing to report his trip to UP. He reportedly left for Sultanpur on March 21, days before the nationwide lockdown was announced due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Kollam district collector B Abdul Nassar told the media persons on Friday that he (Mishra) has given an explanation that when he was told to go into self-isolation, he presumed it was to go to his residence back home in Uttar Pradesh.

This is a serious violation of protocol and I submitted a report to the government, said Nassar.

Kerala fisheries minister J Mercykutty, who hails from Kollam district, said this was a clear case of lack of social commitment. Many ministers have sought strict action against Mishra.

Police have registered a case against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule), said Kollam SP T Narayanan.

Mishras sudden disappearance amid the rising coronavirus cases in Kerala (total 140) triggered an outrage in the state. His act also caused embarrassment to the government, which is engaged in a gargantuan task of dealing with one lakh-odd people who are in home quarantine.

(With agency inputs)

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Apple on Friday released a website and an iOS app that allows users to screen themselves for coronavirus symptoms, marking another response to the pandemic by a major tech platform.

Both tools were developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the White House's Coronavirus Task Force and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Apple said in a statement to CNN Business. The app and website include a questionnaire and information about the novel coronavirus.

Apple said it will not collect or store users' answers to the questionnaire, though it will collect anonymous information about usage of the tools.

The screening tools do not require an Apple account to use, the company said.

Friday's announcement follows statements by CEO Tim Cook that Apple will be donating 10 million face masks across Europe and the United States.

"Our ops teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply chain in coordination with governments around the world," Cook tweeted this week.

It also comes on the heels of a nationwide website launched by Google last week to provide users with information about the coronavirus. The website was expected to add links to a CDC screening tool when it became available; a Google spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
VIOLA -- When the Elgin Fire Department was paged to a fire in Haverhill Township Monday evening, Fire Chief Craig Ziebell recognized the address.

One person was injured in the fire and multiple homes north of the site evacuated.

Olmsted County officials had notified the Elgin Fire Department last year that the abandoned 22-acre parcel of land at the 4600 block of 70th Ave. NE was a state-designated brownfield site with multiple health and environmental hazards.

The fire Monday is still under investigation. Olmsted County Sheriff's deputies, who arrived first on the scene assisted the injured man and later evacuated residents north of the site where the smoke was drifting.

During the response, Ziebell, aware of the hazardous materials that had been posed at the site, kept firefighters from getting too close to the fire to enter the smoke.

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"Even though theyre protected to some degree with their turnout gear, theyre not immune from what might be in that smoke," he said. "It could stick to the gear and cause problems later."

He pointed to the high cancer rates among firefighters. If it had been an occupied home and not an abandoned site, firefighters would likely take a more aggressive approach to the fight the fire.

Olmsted County began a process to take ownership of the land from the state, which acquired the land via delinquent taxes from Calvin Penz in 2017.

Leaking petroleum tanks, barrels of other fluids, batteries and discarded generators were strewn between asbestos-laden buildings, according to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The plans for the site are to lease the south portion of the property to Peoples Energy Coop for use as a solar energy farm, county and state documents show.

The MPCA helped the county draft a plan to minimize public health risks at the site, including removal of the leaking petroleum tank.

Ziebell said his department had previously responded to a fire at the property and noticed there were obvious hazards on the property.

Nonetheless, when a structure on the land was engulfed in flames, the threat to public and first responders health was heightened, he said. Firefighters were able to stay south of the fire. Eyota and Rochester fire departments assisted at the scene. Firefighters responding with a Rochester tanker truck were trained in hazardous material response and assisted other firefighters at the scene, Ziebell said.

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Being paged to a fire at an abandoned property raises some flags for Ziebell anyway. With no electric or gas service to a property, but something creating ignition arouses suspicions and concerns before he even arrives.

"Buildings dont start on fire by themselves," Ziebell said. "When theyre abandoned buildings, we know somebody is probably out there doing something theyre not supposed to do."

The injured man was taken by ambulance and transferred to an air ambulance and taken to a Twin Cities hospital for treatment. An officer from the state fire marshals office arrived on the scene Tuesday to investigate the fire. The cause is still under investigation.

The property was acquired by Carlton Penz in 1944 for agricultural production use. In 1956, the U.S. Air Defense Commands 808 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron used the property for use as a warning station. In 1957, some of the site buildings were used for a juvenile detention center auto mechanic education program. In 1986, the property was foreclosed and then reacquired by Carlton Penz in 1992 and acquired by Calvin Penz the next year.

Before the property was forfeited due to unpaid taxes, MPCA conducted a site reconnaissance. They found leaking containers, solid waste and asbestos. The MPCA ordered the previous owner to clean the site, but noted in a report to Olmsted County there was no evidence he complied with that order. The property was tax-forfeited to the state June 2017.
Robert De Niro, left, and Martin Scorsese attend the 57th New York Film Festival for the world premiere of "The Irishman" at Lincoln Center in September 2019. (Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Film at Lincoln Center)

In another ominous sign for arts organizations around the country, Film at Lincoln Center announced massive internal upheaval on Friday. A longtime hub of film culture in New York City with an influential reach around the country, the organization furloughed or laid off approximately 50% of the full-time staff as well as all of the part-time staff.

The organizations magazine Film Comment, long a leading independent film publication, was placed on indefinite hiatus. The coming May/June issue will be the final one for the foreseeable future and will publish digitally rather than in print. (Full disclosure: This reporter worked at Film Comment from 1997-2001.)

Film at Lincoln Center produces the New York Film Festival, runs the Walter Reade Theater and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, featuring repertory and first-run art-house movies, and in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art puts on the New Directors/New Films series.

Film at Lincoln Center suspended theater operations on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 25th edition of the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema program was cut short, New Directors/New Films was postponed and the annual Chaplin Award Gala, which was to honor Spike Lee and is a vital fundraiser for the organization, was pushed to the fall.

Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, Film at Lincoln Center has been a vital launching pad for many filmmakers. Through the New York Film Festival in particular, international directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Wong Kar Wai and Claire Denis all made early inroads with American audiences. The 2019 edition of the New York Film Festival opened with the world premiere of Martin Scorseses The Irishman and also featured movies such as Marriage Story, First Cow, Pain and Glory, Portrait of a Lady on Fire and future Oscar best picture winner Parasite.

In a statement, Leslie Klainberg, executive director of Film at Lincoln Center, said, At Film at Lincoln Center, our small, passionate team of employees are the lifeblood of what we do, and these decisions were not made easily. It is imperative, however, that we take decisive action to ensure that once we are on the other side of this unprecedented moment in global history that we will be able to start rebuilding and resume our mission to support the art and elevating the craft of cinema.
A model poses with a diamond tiara from the Boubon-Parma royal family in a file photograph. (Daniel Leal-Olivia/AFP via Getty Images)

Red Princess Maria Teresa Dies From CCP Virus

Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Parma died from the new CCP virus, her brother announced.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

Teresa, 86, was born in France and part of Spains royal family.

She lived in Madrid for most of her life but died in Paris.

The princess told Liberation in 2014 that she supported Carlismwhich includes elements of socialismbeing a spokeswoman for the movement for a time.

She was also known as the red princess because of her support for socialist ideas.

For us, the socialist idea was not the class struggle but the permanent search for consensus, she said, also claiming that Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez made mistakes but did a lot of positive things.

The death was announced, according to the Express, by the princess brother, Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma. The dynasty dates back hundreds of years.

Teresa was not married and had no children. She is survived by Henry and three other siblings.

People queue outside the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Mediterranee Infection, in Marseille, southeastern France, to be screened for COVID-19, on March 28, 2020. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)

Other royalty have tested positive for the new illness, including Prince Albert of Monaco, 62, and Prince Charles, 71.

Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth, is showing only mild symptoms and has been working from home, Clarence House said in a statement.

The prince met with Prince Albert on March 10. The latter said in a radio interview that he did not shake hands with the other prince.

I was at a roundtable for his foundation, but I didnt shake his hand. I was at the other end of the table, way far away, the prince told RTL radio. We nodded hello to one another, so I dont think I can really be accused of contaminating him.

Spain, meanwhile, reported on Saturday over 800 new deaths from the CCP virus overnight.

The country is one of the hardest-hit in the world. Its official mortality rate of 7.8 percent is only eclipsed by Italy, though authorities in China, Iran, and some other nations are widely known to be underreporting official figures.

France has over 33,000 confirmed cases and nearly 2,000 deaths.
Team leader of the joint mission between World Health Organization (WHO) and China on COVID-19, Bruce Aylward gives a press conference at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Feb. 25, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Official Appears to Hang Up on Reporter Asking About Taiwan

A top World Health Organization (WHO) official appeared to hang up on a reporter who asked him twice about Taiwan.

The island, just 80 miles away from China, swiftly dealt with the outbreak of the CCP virus and has few cases of the new illness. Taiwan accused the WHO of ignoring its questions at the start of the outbreak, which the Chinese Communist Party hid from the world for weeks.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

RTHK, a Hong Kong-based media outlet, interviewed WHOs Bruce Aylward, a Canadian epidemiologist who led a joint WHO-China mission looking into the spread of the virus in China. The resulting report repeatedly praised China, as have he and other WHO officials during daily briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic and interviews with news outlets.

Noting the praise Taiwan earned for its response to the new illness, an RTHK reporter then asked Aylward: Will the WHO reconsider Taiwans membership?

Aylward stared at the screen and did not speak.

Hello? the reporter asked.

Im sorry, I couldnt hear your question, Yvonne, Aylward quickly said. When the reporter said shed repeat it, he replied: No, thats okay. Lets move to another one, then.

Taoyuan health department staffers pack 300 sets of care packages, to be delivered to people who have been ordered to be under self-quarantine, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, March 25, 2020. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

The WHO bars Taiwan from being a member under pressure from China.

The reporter then began asking a different question about Taiwan, prompting Aylward to end the video call.

The reporter called back and asked Aylward to speak about how Taiwan had contained the virus.

Weve already talked about China, he replied. When you look across all the areas of China, theyve actually all done quite a good job.

Aylward then bid the reporter goodbye and ended the interview.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said in a statement that Aylward did not answer a question on Taiwans response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The question of Taiwanese membership in WHO is up to WHO Member States, not WHO staff. However, WHO is working closely with all health authorities who are facing the current coronavirus pandemic, including Taiwanese health experts, he wrote in an email to The Epoch Times.

Taiwans response included widespread testing. Nearly 30,000 patients were tested and most tested negative. The island had 283 patients as of March 28. Thirty have been released from quarantine while two have died. The rest remain in isolation.

Taiwan also said it tried alerting the WHO to COVID-19 last year, which was known at the time only as a mysterious pneumonia. The United States has increased support for the island recently.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on Jan. 28, 2020. (Naohiko Hatta/Pool via Reuters)

WHO and China

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus won election to his post in 2017 with the backing of China. He has repeatedly declined to criticize China and regularly praised the country for allegedly giving the world a window of opportunity to curb the spread of the CCP virus. He also opposed travel restrictions, including the one President Donald Trump announced against China on Jan. 31.

Shying away from confronting the Chinese Communist Party, Tedros angered many, prompting calls for him to resign.

Because of his leadership, the world may have missed a critical window to halt the pandemic or mitigate its virulence, Lianchao Han, vice president of Citizen Power Initiatives for China, and Bradley Thayer, a professor of political science at the University of Texas-San Antonio, wrote in an op-ed.

Only a few WHO officials have spoken out about China hiding the extent of the outbreak. John Mackenzie, who sits on the groups emergency committee on the virus, called the Chinese Communist Partys response reprehensible last month.

There must have been more cases happening that we werent being told about. I think they tried to keep the figures quiet for a while because of some major meeting they had in Wuhan but I think there was a period of very poor reporting, or very poor communication, he said.

Most other WHO officials have sided with Tedros, despite a growing body of evidence showing the Chinese Communist Party manipulated the number of infected and dead, hid information from other countries, and continues making claims that contradict evidence on the ground.

China said in recent days that there were no new infections in Wuhan, where the CCP virus first emerged, a claim widely criticized as not credible but repeated by media outlets around the world.

A patient assisted by medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, as he gets off an ambulance in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province, on Jan. 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Internal documents obtained by The Epoch Times have highlighted how the regime bungled its data tracking and censored discussions of the outbreak, fueling the spread of the disease. Others show authorities underreported infections in Wuhan and Shandong and were requiring government offices to destroy data related to the outbreak.

Wu Se-chih, adjunct assistant professor at the Taipei College of Maritime Technology, told Epoch Times that WHO has been taking Chinas side, saying that China has done a good job [in combating the virus]. But the reality is that the pandemic has become serious all over the world.

On Jan. 14, the WHO repeated Beijings claim that there was no clear evidence of human to human transmission for the CCP virus. One day later, Americas first confirmed case arrived in the United States. Seven days later, Chinas state-run media Xinhua admitted that human transmission was possible.

One study, which has not been peer-reviewed, showed that Chinese authorities acting three weeks earlier than they did would have cut the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide by 95 percent, severely limiting its spread.

Asked if people could trust Chinas data, Aylward told one outlet last week: The big question is, are they hiding things? No, they are not.

Frank Fang, Nicole Hao, and Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
In this June 2019 photo, boxes of Amazon Fresh deliveries are unloaded in New York. Read more

If Shannon Locher had to walk into a grocery store right now, she might have a panic attack.

The 33-year-old Newtown Square woman has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that limits lung function. A few months ago, her doctor was about to put her on the list for a double lung transplant, Locher said, but then a new treatment improved her lung function to 40%. Now shes worried about the coronavirus, which can lead to severe respiratory problems.

Im in the position where I really cannot get this, she said. She last went to the grocery store more than two weeks ago, she said, and has since used online grocery shopping for herself, her husband, and her two young children.

 READ MORE: What you need to know about buying food (and booze) during the shutdown

But its become increasingly difficult, she said, as delivery time slots are being reserved weeks in advance and stores stock fluctuates.

In a normal time, when a global pandemic isnt turning life upside down, only about 3% of grocery spending is done online. People often want to pick out their own produce and meats, and dont find the in-person shopping process too taxing.

 READ MORE: Grocery store workers are suddenly on the front lines in the coronavirus outbreak, and theyre anxious

But now, people are anxious about any human interaction. As the coronavirus outbreak intensifies, hundreds of millions of Americans have been told to stay home. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf described his order this way to residents of Philadelphia and its suburbs: Dont leave your home unless someones life depends on your leaving. Because ultimately, someones life does depend on you staying home."

Already at a greater risk of developing lung infections, Locher is one of the many people whose lives depend on social distancing.

Under stay-at-home orders, residents are allowed to pick up groceries, take-out food, and other essentials. Experts say healthy people are generally safe to go to the grocery store as long as they take precautions and keep a safe distance from others.

 READ MORE: Is the grocery store even safe? In Philly region, its improving, but there are additional steps you can take.

But seniors and those with underlying health conditions have more reason to worry about exposure to the coronavirus, since they have a higher chance of being hospitalized or suffering complications if they get sick.

Contactless grocery and restaurant delivery is a safer alternative to in-person shopping, experts say, since food itself is unlikely to be a vector, even if prepared by someone who has the virus.

Grocery delivery services are trying their best to meet the new demand while taking safety precautions. But its been a struggle.

 READ MORE: Grocery deliveries, virtual well-being checks help social-service groups keep tabs on the sick and elderly during the pandemic

Customers who try to order from Peapod, which runs Giants delivery service, are greeted with a service update notifying them that delivery and pickup time slots are extremely limited due to unprecedented demand," and product availability is limited. On Friday morning, all time slots were reserved through April 8.

The website of FreshDirect, a New York-based grocer, says its experiencing very high demand." In the Philadelphia area, all delivery time slots were booked for the next week. Last week, a FreshDirect warehouse employee, who was not involved in food preparation or delivery, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Amazon, which owns Whole Foods and runs its delivery service, is also seeing backups.

Weve seen an increase in people shopping online, and are working with suppliers and distributors to ensure were getting products customers need," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We are also hiring over 100,000 positions across the U.S., including for grocery delivery, enabling us to add delivery windows and get grocery orders to customers quickly.

Senior citizens find themselves in a bind, too. One home health-care worker said his senior clients cant get essential items, including groceries and personal products, delivered. At the same time, he said, they worry about caregivers or relatives making an extra trip to a store, just one more place they could contract the virus.

 READ MORE: We dont have a plan: Coronavirus adds pressure to caregivers sandwiched between seniors and kids

On Friday, Lochers husband, Tom, picked up an order from Giant. Given the delivery backup, it was their only option to restock quickly. He went alone in his truck, she said, so packages could be placed in the bed without human interaction.

They wipe down all their groceries, she said, and dont buy any produce or other items they cant sanitize from the outside. As Locher explained the unloading process, she paused.

It sounds so crazy. It sounds insane, she said. But we have to do this.

Despite all this stress around something as mundane as grocery shopping, Locher said she doesnt resent healthy people for turning to online services, too.

I know everybody is doing the best they can, she said. Everybody is nervous and scared about this.
Air India Boeing fleet pilots' body IPG has complained that "sub-standard" protective equipment were provided on recent rescue flights in the wake of global coronavirus pandemic, and urged the management to look into the issue.

Since the coronavirus outbreak, the flag carrier has operated a series of rescue flights to bring back Indians stranded in various countries, including China (Wuhan), Italy (Milan and Rome) and Japan.

On Thursday, the airline operated a flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, to transport 300 Israelis from India.

"During our recent rescue flights, the protective equipment being provided to the flight crew have been failing with an alarming frequency or have been plagued with other issues. For example, shoe covers have failed in as little as 10 minutes, gloves in three hours, hand sanitisers on board have not been provided in sufficient quantity,'' the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) alleged in a letter to airline chief Rajiv Bansal on Saturday.

It may be mentioned here that Air India, in a statement on March 22, said, "Air India has taken every precaution to ensure the safety of its crew and protect their well being for each and every flight they have undertaken to fly to cities affected with covid-19 with all essential and non-essential measures to arrest the spread of Coronavirus amogst crew and passengers.

"The hazmat suits (the decontamination suits) have been ill-fitting and available only in limited quantity increasing the risk of rupture," they alleged.

"Even if there is an iota of doubt, we will certainly look into the issue in right earnest as, in Air India, we have never ever made any compromise with the safety of our passenger or crew," Air India spokesperson said.

The entire nation is in a lockdown to prevent further spread of this virus, social distancing and containment measures have been implemented across the board, the IPG said.

"If the flight crew at the forefront of this fight are being given substandard equipment, this is a criminal neglect of duty by the concerned staff/department," the pilots body stated.

IPG also said it has repeatedly been emphasising that the risk of contagion is "very high" for flight crew because of the nature of duty.

"Even at the peak of this crisis if corners are being cut when it comes to protecting rescue personnel adequately, the entire purpose of the government's initiative is lost and the repercussions will be felt widely not just in the airline industry but the country as a whole," the guild alleged.

"We therefore request you to immediately look into the matter and ensure that our flight crew get the best equipment available to perform these important duties,' it said, adding action must be taken if any individual/group is found to be for responsible for "willful dereliction" of duty or "profiteering," in the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Official of Hue Central Hospital presents test result to patient No.33 (Photo: VNA)

The 58-year-old patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the central province of Quang Nam on March 10. He previously boarded the same flight from the UK to Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi as patient No 17.

This is the first fully recovered COVID-19 case in the hospital.

After being discharged from hospital, he will continue to be put under medical monitoring in line with regulations.

The hospital is still treating three other COVID-19 cases - the 30th, 31st and 49th patients, all are UK citizens.

The 49th patient, husband of the 30th, has tested negative once after being treated since March 7.

As of 5pm on March 27, up to 2,044 Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad were put under concentrated quarantine in the province.

The locality is preparing facilities to be able to receive additional 8,000  10,000 people.

As of 06:30 am on March 28, Vietnam recorded 169 infection cases. Until February 26, only 16 cases were reported and all the patients recovered and discharged from hospital. Since the detection of the 17th case on March 6 to present, five more patients have fully recovered.
On March 20, in an effort to control the growing number of coronavirus cases in New York  New York City in particular  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order requiring all nonessential businesses to keep their workers at home. Restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and hardware stores are all deemed essential, and all are allowed to remain open.

Damon Winter walked one block in Manhattan  on 72nd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue  to conduct an informal photographic census of the businesses still open and the people who were working in the hours before Governor Cuomos order went into effect.

Under normal circumstances, delivering pizza, filling prescriptions or making bubble tea might not seem heroic. But when workers across the country are being told to stay at home, service workers and pharmacists are putting themselves at risk just by doing their jobs. Simple actions like commuting to work or opening a door could expose them to the coronavirus.
After China's declaration that they have triumphed over the coronavirus, and many have recovered. Several recovered Wuhan patients are testing positive again.

The accuracy of their medical tools that are used to assess the patients is under question, in light of resurfacing COVID-19 infections. As quarantine is about to get lifted, a second wave threatens to overwhelm them.

The City of Wuhan had no new infection from the bug from March 18-22 after over 80,000 Chinese got the virus.

However, despite the high number of recoveries, it appears that these people can still get a re-infection despite the best efforts to cure them. An estimate of 5 to 10% of the survivors are threatened by reinfection, as the COVID-19 seems to have never left them, but are just in slumber inside the body.

Four resurgent cases that were cured before

NPR has talked to four people who were re-tested in March. All tested positive for the disease again.

Resurgent patients are two doctors and two Wuhan residents who did not want to be identified.

One of the Wuhan residents had severe symptoms in the first bout with COVID-19 and had treatment. The second had milder symptoms and got placed in the emergency tents at the worst of the outbreak.

Their condition resurged on Sunday, March 22 when they were tested as positive with a re-asserting virus, but experienced none of the normal symptoms (fever, dry cough). The time of recovery and release as well as their re-tests were done in different periods.

Whether the resurgent of second-timers lead to the next wave of COVID-19, virologists are not sure yet. Medical experts are debating and are unsure what to assume at this time.

Also read: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs

In the recent COVID-19 preventive guidelines, China does not count resurgent COVID-19 cases when formerly cured. Also, the asymptomatic cases are not included in counting the coronavirus cases.

Are Chinese coronavirus kits defective?

According to Wang Chen, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the tests used are accurate at 30 to 50% mostly. But, Dr Jeffrey Shaman of the Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University, told NPR that "there are false positives with these types of tests."

If the test kits are accurate, it's possible that these people were just reinfected with the virus.

Is the claim of China's containment reliable?

With the decreasing number of cases in Wuhan, it has relaxed its lockdown measures which had been running for two months. The quarantine measures will be ended on April 8 when residents are already allowed to leave the municipality.

However, they cannot leave without screening. Only those who test negative are allowed to go. But doctors are worried that some people can leave with undetected virus because of the high number of false negatives.

Are asymptomatic cases worrisome?

Chinese media outletCaixin reports that they are seeing many cases of recovered Wuhan patients who are testing positive again as well cases of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, as reported by Asymptomatic carriers of the virus can pass it to anyone they have close contact with like their families

"In terms of those who retested positive, the official party line is that they have not been proven to be infectious. That is not the same as saying they are not infectious," said a Wuhan doctor who tested positive twice. He added that those who are not infectious can go home instead of being confined to the hospital.

Related article: Coronavirus Reinfection Possible, Can Be Fatal a Second Time

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Two Hampden County men and a woman were among the latest Massachusetts residents to die from COVID-19.

As of Saturday afternoon, 44 Bay State residents have died from coronavirus. There are now 4,257 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health described one of the Hampden County men as being in his 70s with a preexisting health condition. He died at an unidentified hospital.

The second man, said to be in his 80s, had not been hospitalized. He also had a preexisting condition.

The deceased woman was in her 90s. Whether she had a preexisting condition or been hospitalized was unknown.

There have been 183 confirmed cases in Hampden County, according to the state DPH.

There have been 30 cases in nearby Hampshire County and 39 in Franklin County.

Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts

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Jaime Reyna, a roofer for 30 years, has been out of work for more than three weeks since the threat of the novel coronavirus started affecting businesses.

On Friday afternoon, Reyna, his wife, Hope, and their two children drove to the Ramirez Community Center at Arnold Park to pick up food from the San Antonio Food Bank for the second time in two weeks. Their pickup was among hundreds of vehicles that slowly snaked through the parking lot and onto Gillette.

Earlier Friday, the food bank issued a plea for monetary donations so it can continue to meet a demand for more than $500,000 worth of food each day  an amount that has more than doubled since the pandemic began.

Eric S. Cooper, the food banks president and CEO, said that for years, the organization had been feeding an average of 58,000 people a year. It began seeing an increase in demand in mid-March at the same time area schools began closing to stop the spread of the virus. The food bank has already helped feed more than 120,000 people this week.

The supply is still at about $500,000, but the reality is we need more like a million dollars in food now, because we have double the amount of people, Cooper said.

In addition, its becoming more difficult to obtain food left over from area stores.

Our trucks go out in the morning and usually pick up surplus at grocery stores, things like day-old bread, he said. All of that food is being sold. Theres just nothing to pick up.

Despite the challenges, Cooper asks that people without food continue to reach out to the food bank as it consolidates weekly mobile deliveries into a handful of mega-distribution sites for the rest of the coronavirus response effort. The move is intended to provide emergency food to families in immediate need.

Cooper said each one of the 16 counties the nonprofit serves will have at least one mega-distribution site but that some counties such as Bexar may have more than one location depending on the population.

With the COVID-19 crisis, whats happened is that many of the distributions that used to serve 200 to 400 families now have 1,200 to 1,500 families showing up, he said. Its really stressed the system, and were not able to manage the supply and demand.

Preregistration for a time, place and date to receive assistance is required. Residents can sign up at www.safoodbank.org/cvresponse/getfood or call the food banks help line at 210-431-8326 during normal business hours.

Applicants will be notified once they are preregistered.

When families arrive at their appointed site, volunteers will verify their registration. The applicant will drive to a distribution point, and volunteers will load food and nonfood items into the trunk.

These are some unprecedented times and needs, Cooper said, and we want to make sure we get everyone taken care of.

The precautions are similar to those being taken at the distribution site Friday, where San Antonio Parks and Recreation volunteers wore gloves as they helped load packages onto each passing vehicle.

Less than 50 volunteers distributed about $75,000 worth of bulk foods such as apples, oranges, cabbage and canned soup, loading them into the trunks or beds of passing vehicles. Working under well-spaced tents, they yelled out an assigned number indicating what foods each vehicle was getting.

Cooper said the food bank was limiting the number of volunteers who could be at distribution sites in order to maintain social distancing requirements. He said some volunteers who sign up are scheduled for weeks in advance.

We are trying to figure out what future volunteer needs will be, and were having people sign up on the website, he said.

Susana Q. Gonzalez, 50, sat in the passenger seat as her son Andrew slowly drove with the flow of the line. She said they were thankful for the precautions because she and her family are afraid to go into a crowded store.

A South Side resident for 32 years, Gonzalez continues her work at home as an executive administrator for the South San Antonio Independent School District.

Her son was working for Bill Millers catering until all the events were canceled.

Everybodys canceling on the parties and weddings, her son said. Were staying safe so thats all that matters.

She said their family of four has been following stay-at-home orders and hand-washing precautions to the letter since they were announced.

Youre afraid. You dont know what you can and cant do, she said. We havent even made it out to the groceries or anything.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Jacob, become a subscriber. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
New Delhi, March 28 : The central government on Saturday stated that country's response to COVID-19 has been pre-emptive, pro-active and graded. Lauding the efforts taken, the government said that India had put in place a comprehensive response system at its borders much before World Health Organization declared it as a public health emergency of international concern.

Screening of incoming air passengers followed by suspension of visas and ban on international flights was imposed much ahead of any other country.

Thermal screening of incoming international passengers from China and Hong Kong was started on January 18, much before the first case of Coronavirus was detected in India on January 30.

"A look at the global scenario would highlight that Italy and Spain, which are devastated by COVID-19, had started screening of travellers 25 days and 39 days respectively after first reported case," the government said.

Central Government took a number of proactive measures, such as travel restrictions, adding more countries and airports for screening, suspension of visas and self quarantine measures to effectively contain, prevent and manage the spread of the disease.

With evolving global spread of the disease, not only travel advisories were revised, but airport screening was also expanded to all airports.

After being screened by health authorities at the airports, passengers were quarantined or sent to hospitals, based on risk assessment by health authorities. Details of even those who were cleared by health authorities were shared with the state government authorities so that they can be kept under the surveillance of their respective state/UT governments for the required number of days.

Screening of passengers took place at 30 airports, 12 major and 65 minor ports and at land borders. Over 36 lakh passengers have been screened.

The statement that 'prosperous Indians' were allowed to return without screening, is preposterous. The government took swift action to put in a place a comprehensive and robust system of screening, quarantine and surveillance are part of its response to the public health crisis right from the beginning. This covered every traveller, Indians returning after business, or tourism, students as well as foreigners.

State governments have been regularly requested to maintain and further improve upon their surveillance so that the coverage is complete and there are no gaps. A meticulous system has enabled states to track down individuals who tried to avoid surveillance or who did not follow quarantine measures.

As many as 20 Video Conferences by Union Health Secretary with State Governments and six by the Cabinet Secretary with the State Chief Secretaries have been held to review and step up the preparedness to deal with the Corona issue.

Integrated disease surveillance system, which includes monitoring of international travellers, is one of the many issues discussed in these Conferences, the government said.
A nationwide Garda operation to ensure compliance with the latest coronavirus restrictions is one of the biggest ever mobilisations of the force, its commissioner has said.

Around 2,500 gardai are on duty across the country today, engaging in a mix of bike, foot and vehicle patrols.

Garda Mounted Unit on patrol in support of current Government Public Health Measureshttps://t.co/SATjjbMGYs



"These high visibility patrols are to provide re-assurance and social distancing advice to the public"

Deputy Commissioner Twomey pic.twitter.com/UEonoDGUqn  Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 28, 2020

Part of the operation will involve stopping people to check their reasons for being away from home.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: We are obviously now well prepared for the next two weeks. Weve put in place a huge operation involving really probably one of the biggest mobilisations of the organisation that well have seen.

An Garda Siochana last night in support of current Government Public Health Measureshttps://t.co/SATjjbMGYs



"By all of us working together, we can flatten the curve and keep our loved ones safe"

Commissioner Drew Harris https://t.co/7paUhyMMqX pic.twitter.com/vkiz3QwC4s  Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 28, 2020

Very much were focused upon engaging with the public, explaining to the public what the health regulations mean but also then encouraging them to comply. Weve found already that the vast, vast majority of people do comply with the regulations, do comply with our requests, and we think that will continue.

Gardai are still awaiting new coronavirus-related enforcement powers that would enable them to issue fines for breaches of social distancing regulations.

The laws were passed by the Oireachtas and signed into law by President Michael D Higgins over a week ago but work is still ongoing at the Attorney Generals office to translate them into a new set of regulations for the Gardai.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said he expects to sign new enforcement regulations for gardai this weekend (Brian Lawless/PA)

Commissioner Harris said gardai had others powers available to them to ensure compliance with the restrictions while they were awaiting the latest regulations.

The regulations will come along very shortly, we know well have them within days, he said.

In the meantime, theres still a lot we can do in terms of informing people, encouraging their compliance and really just making sure that everyone is aware of what our function is in terms of enforcing these regulations.

The difficulty is there will be people in our society who make poor choices but they very often make poor choices, and there's a whole array of powers available to members of An Garda Siochana to deal with individuals and we will not be found wanting in doing so

We will receive the regulations very shortly and then well be in a position also then to enforce those as well.

Gardai are implementing a nationwide policing operation this weekend, encouraging people to adhere to public health measures as announced by An Taoiseach last night. Info on how to restrict the spread of #COVID19 is available in multiple languages here https://t.co/Tb1YRA07Bx  Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 28, 2020

But in the meantime, in effect, were taking a graduated response and this is about engaging with people and informing them and persuaded them to avail of the safety regulations as have been set out by the HSE.

Mr Harris acknowledged organised criminals would seek to exploit the coronavirus crisis for their own ends but he insisted gardai would remain focused on their key functions around preventing and detecting crime.

He also warned people to beware of scams related to the Covid-19 outbreak, highlighting adverts for testing kits and snake oil cures.

All of these things are nonsense and they are just there to swindle you out of money, he said.

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Photo credit: Design by Ingrid Frahm, - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Photo credit: Design by Ingrid Frahm, - Getty Images

These are not normal times. These are not normal times for the people of Wuhan, Milan, Seoul, New York, or any other region hit hard by COVID-19. And these times are not normal for those seeing the pandemic on the horizon, feeling the anxiety of battling the invisible enemy thats rattling our world physically, emotionally, economically, and culturally. With the world under lockdown, and with increasingly stringent restrictions coming into place across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia, and beyond, many are asking how they can still plan traveland have something hopeful to look forward toin a time of ongoing and ever-accelerating shutdown.

My 15 years as the co-founder of Black Tomato, a luxury trip planning firm, has taught me that our global community is defined by mobility, by the promise of exploring somewhere new, and by the small world that manifests each time we pack our bags and leave our homes. Of course, it would be irresponsible for us to recommend that you travel now, so we wont. Instead, were going to provide clear and useful information and advice to help you plan for your journeys in the months ahead and into 2021. Of equal importance, were also going to provide the needed inspiration to get you there.

Put succinctly, were suggesting that you hold onto your trips and your travel dreamsnot canceling but postponing, booking ahead rather than holding back. Were recommending that you look ahead to the fall, to the window of SeptemberDecember 2020, when the experts are predicting that things might ease off . As Northwestern University infectious diseases expert Dr. Robert Murphy put it, Fall is the new summer. While this is not a cast-iron guarantee, it does provide us with an informed timeline, a best-case scenario that we can plan toward and look forward to.

Wanderlust in all its forms is going to be the fast pass to finding our way back to the world again, and back to the peoplefrom the family-owned restaurant chefs to the drivers, hotel concierges, locals, and guideswho make travel so worthwhile. To ease worries, answer questions, and put things into perspective, heres how we at Black Tomato and Harpers BAZAAR are thinking about travel in the months (and year) ahead.

Story continues

Photo credit: Design by Ingrid Frahm - Getty Images

HOW DO I PLAN FOR TRAVEL IN UNCERTAIN TIMES?

Many different travel restrictions of varying intensities are currently in place across the globe. At the time of this publication, gatherings of more than two people are prohibited in Germany and England. In Italy and France, one cannot travel more than 200 meters from their home without special permission from the authorities. Self-quarantines of 14 days are advised for anyone traveling to or from global hot spots. Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia have closed their bordersand these are only some of the new orders put into effect over the past two weeks.

This situation is fluid, to say the least, and we expect that it will continue to morph, evolve, and react to the pandemics unpredictable ebbs and flows. Keep an eye on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , World Health Organization (WHO) and State Department websites. Staying informedvia direct, trusted sourcesis the best way to keep abreast of the travel restrictions and bans as they happen (and disappear again).

While discretionary travel is currently ill-advised, any and all required travel (and leisure travel that takes place soon after restrictions are lifted) should be undertaken with holistic awareness of government policiesboth of your own government and that of the country youre intending to travel to. You can obtain this information via the CDC, but also directly from embassy and country websites. Many journeys and routes may not be accessible for many weeks or months, and those timelines may be extended as the disease spreads and wanes in various parts of the world. When booking ahead, read the fine print regarding the conditions of all your chosen carriers and suppliers to get clarity on change and cancellation policies.

The value of a trusted travel planner has never been more apparent. Third parties and DIY trips can quickly leave you exposed, laced as they are with hidden clauses and conditions. Many travel operators offer an entirely free consultation line and (especially now) markedly flexible travel options. Use those benefits to your advantage to minimize risk and deposit loss. Travel operators are best placed to do the legwork on your behalf, should you decide to change your dates or are forced to because of evolving circumstances. We are well-versed in planning trips with multiple, moving parts, as well as the behind-the-scenes legwork to transition them, seamlessly, to new dates.

Whats more, many travel designers and colleagues have already had much success in avoiding future hikes in rate adjustments for their clients during this current crisis, and will continue to find every way possible to ensure that booked trips, whether new or existing, are honored without unconscionable fluctuations. Most luxury hotel groups, like Belmond, have infused flexibility into their booking policies in the wake of COVID-19. All guests with reservations for arrival on or before May 31, 2020, will be allowed to change or cancel without charge, reads Belmond's policy. All new reservations booked between March 16, 2020, and April 30, 2020, for arrival on or before September 30, 2020, can be changed or cancelled without charge up to 7 days prior to arrival. All of the above includes advance purchase rate and other prepaid reservations.

TAKE EXTRA MEASURES: CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE

Though this is not our area of expertise, we would recommend finding an appropriate provider at this time. Look closely at each providers clauses and conditions, and decide if they suitably cover events such as a pandemic. This COVID-19 pandemic is proof-positive that disruptions can arise quickly, explains Misty Belles, managing director of global public relations for Virtuoso.

Keep in mind, most insurance policies, which protect clients and vendors in extenuating circumstances, are in place to cover unforeseen circumstances, but not fear-based cancellations. There is a wide array of insurance products to choose from, Belles tells us. Cancel for Any Reason or CFAR has typically been the most comprehensive, but now were seeing insurers pulling back on this type of coverage. The reality is that when COVID-19 first surfaced and people began canceling or postponing their travel plans, it was out of fear and not disruption. Insurance policies dont cover fear-based decisions; they cover travel plans that are disrupted because you physically cannot take the trip, whether thats medically related or because planes stop flying, cruise ships stop sailing, or borders are closed.

A pandemic, as a result, can slip through the cracks of common policies, and should be addressed now, as well as moving forward. As Belles explains it, Travel is an investment and, just like any other, you should protect it.

CAN I STILL PLAN TO TRAVEL IN THE SUMMER?

The most important thing to note, at this time, is that we sadly dont know. Circumstances could get worse, or they could get better, should our global community commit to battling this pandemic through testing, social distancing, and other CDC-advised measures (and we are hopeful for the latter). Its only natural from the condition of isolation to think about summer travel, several months away. Come summer, some countries may find themselves safe, and routes may indeed open up, but its our responsibility to be prepared, and in turn prepare you, for the opposite.

Prepare a contingency plan for all the travel you have planned (or are planning) for the summer months, in terms of both timing and location. We may find ourselves needing to postpone travel altogether, but the likelihood is that youll find yourself itching to travel with limitations on where to go. Dream now about the places close to home that youve always wanted to explore, but never had the chance. Alternatively, think of how and when you would put this trip off in the future when things are more stable. Consider all the possible outcomes, ideally in collaboration with a trusted agent, and youre less likely to face disappointment.

This might also mean planning a no-holds-barred staycation in your own city or region; it might also mean looking further afield, albeit from the perspective of your backyard. The United States is blessed with some of the worlds most spectacular national parks, wildernesses, and roads. From the stark and otherworldly landscapes of Utah to the mountain trails of the Midwest and the lush landscapes of the Pacific Coast Highway, these are places we should keep coming back to, especially when dreaming, planning, and plotting in this period of isolation.

Photo credit: Design by Ingrid Frahm, - Getty Images

IS IT OK TO FLY?

Coronavirus wont stop overnight. Rather, its spread will decline at different paces in different places. Should you begin a trip while the coronavirus is still active in certain parts of the world, there will be many things to keep in mind. As the CDC has observed, because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily. Paul Tumpowsky, founder and CEO of Skylark and a leading global luxury travel air expert, agrees. [I have] heard firsthand from leaders at every major international airline that the current level and extent of cleaning practices aboard aircraft is unprecedented, he says. Despite what the average consumer thinks, air filtration systems have always been very impressive (think hospital grade). My general recommendation for travelers is to take the extra step and always wipe down surfaces around your seat and tray tablethese are the areas that most benefit from additional scrutiny to reduce unwanted microscopic stowaways.



As for how air travel will look once the pandemic begins to subside, Tumpowsky thinks that airlines will be more flexible than ever beforefor loyal customers and those who are first to book. Hundreds of thousands of travelers are holding nonrefundable airline credits from postponed vacations and flight cancellations that have to maintain the original destination of travel, he mentions. Some of these credits are set to expire 12 months from the ticketing date, but [I think] the airlines will be flexible in some ways, like extending the credits expiration dates, but not others, like modifying destinations. This will lead travelers who have already spent the money to travel sooner, or at least, as soon as they can. Many of the airlines will likely extend elite frequent-flier status and benefits for some period of time in an effort to maintain loyalty with their frequent traveler basebut expect some of the fringe benefits that had just returned in 2018 and 2019, like free snacks in economy, to fall to the wayside.

Keep in mind that while the risk of infection during air travel is broadly low, airports and other transport hubs should be navigated with care. Follow the best-practice advice offered by the CDC and WHO on how to minimize the risk of infection, whether youre flying in the coming months or into the summer and fall.

HOW SHOULD I BE THINKING ABOUT TRAVEL NOW?

Now is not the time to travel. And yet, the travel industrywhich includes everyone from major airlines to tiny street food vendorsis dependent not on your desire to travel and explore, but on your actually doing it. The spread of COVID-19, alongside its immediate health impacts, may cause untold damage to this vast, extremely diverse, and connected community. To put it more bluntly, and more passionately (because these are passionate times), if tourism is affected, then the countries, cities, establishments, and small businesses supported by tourism are also affected, as are the people and communities who make them what they are. Were talking about the places and people weve fallen in love withthat valley in Mongolia, that farmer on the Faroe Islands, that local restaurant in the backstreets of Hokkaidoif we draw back now, then the world we reconnect with will feel incredibly, and perhaps forever, different.

Ultimately, when done sensitively and carefully, there is enormous value in planning now and planning flexiblyfor your travels ahead. Look to the near future, and look to fall or into the early days of winter 2021. Not only will you be ready at the starting gate when conditions do improve, but youll also experience that powerful psychological boost of having something uplifting and inspiring to look forward to. The time youre now spending at home is the time to plan that trip of a lifetime, that journey you always thought of taking but never did, that honeymoon, that girls or couples tripor even just an escape out of your ordinary and into the wide wilds just beyond it. There isnt a single seasoned traveler or travel expert who will tell you to stop dreamingbecause theres no reason why you should.

And there is a real way in which you can help: showing confidence. By reaching out and engaging with the travel community, in whatever way you can and however you are comfortable, youll ensure we can continue to travel in the way weve known or dreamed of after all of this is over. In our 15 years of operating, weve built relationships with thousands of individuals and family-run businessesfrom boutique hotels to one-man-shows, who have (quite literally) walked us and our clients through places unknown. Take the communities of Iceland, no strangers to disruption and catastrophe, who survived the 2008 financial crash and the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano that followed on its heels, only to rebound by welcoming tourism full force, and showing off the natural and cultural wonders their country has to offer. If they can bounce back from near demise, so can we.

The coronavirus epidemic is hitting all of us. It has done damage, and it will continue to do damage. But we can limit its impact in an act of impassioned solidarity. We can show faith in the world and in the people who inhabit it. For these people and their communities, each itinerary, planned trip, and future journey booked today will offer them real, tangible funds to stay afloat at a time when many are at risk of closing their doors for good . By simply dreaming of being somewhere else today, you can help these communities in a very real and practical way. The world would be a lesser place without its local communities, just as our own cities and towns would devolve should our independent stores, family businesses, local guides, and industries not weather the storm. Companies big, small, independent, and artisan will rely on the help of those who can pay today and travel in the months or even years to come.

Weve currently pressed pause on travel, but it should be our common goal to come back to a world just as vibrant, inspiring, and ready to explore (if not more) once we press play.

Photo credit: Design by Ingrid Frahm, - Getty Images

WHAT ABOUT TRAVEL TO HOT SPOTS, LIKE ITALY?

From fresh pastas eaten and bespoke tailoring fitted in the bustling streets of Milan, an Aperol Spritz (or three) enjoyed on the majestic terrace of Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lago di Como, and the grounds of Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, we have sent thousands of our clients to Italy over the years and have enjoyed its splendor ourselves. It is heartbreaking to see somewhere where weve felt so much joy become a place of such hurt and despair. But one things for sure: As soon as those borders open, well be packing our bags and heading back once again.

Its heartbreaking for me to hear people questioning whether theyll ever take that trip to Venice, Rome, Tuscanyor Como, which holds a really special place in my heart, BAZAAR.coms travel director, Carrie Goldberg, shared as we were discussing the notes on this piece. Ill be on one of the first planes back to Milan when its safe and the borders reopen. The visions of those trips are whats been getting me through the darker days of this period of isolation.

With that in mind, fill your dreams with these visions: Well eat in the trattorias of Ostuni. Well drink espresso in the cafes of Matera. Well celebrate weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and more with boats on the waters of the Amalfi. Well gaze at the mountaintops of the alps from the harbor in Bellagio, and well swim in the hazy, turquoise waters of Polignano a Mare. These places and their peoplewarm, welcoming, passionate, irreplaceableare our friends and most trusted local advisers. They rely on travel; its their lifeblood, and it supports their communities. As the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) put it in its 2019 Economic Impact report, Yet again, the strong economic performance of travel and tourism proves the power of the sector as a tool for governments to generate prosperity while creating jobs around the world. A massive 319 million people across the globe rely on tourism. That is one in nine (or 50 million) jobs, and these are not jobs in the abstract. Theyre the jobs of every hotel concierge, boat driver, and bartender in Italy, but also that acclaimed sushi chef in Tokyo, that expert guide on the isles of Lake Titicaca, that housekeeping manager in the Seychelles, and so many others in between. We have to ask ourselves the difficult question: How can we enjoy their homes if their homes are hollowed out?



NOW IS THE TIME TO PLAN YOUR BUCKET LIST

We will travel again. And when were finally released from our self- and government-imposed isolations, well feel the urge to travel like never before. Were going to need a vacation, and the world will still be there as long as we look after it and support it.

Why not dream big for when that day finally comes? Dream up a journey that will transform and immerse youwhether that involves an inspiring physical feat like the ascent of Kilimanjaro or time spent learning about sustainable, local agriculture and traditional cooking in Peru from the people who practice those very lifeways. Think of a trip that will, in some small way, counterbalance the drama and uncertainty of these recent months, and chart a path ahead for the rest of your life. You dont have to go all out, but you dont have to go home either. That desire to traveland to travel differently, roundly, and wellwill always be there. Answer the call.

Revamp your bucket list. What of the wilds of Argentine Patagonia? A place of jaw-dropping, near-hallucinogenic beauty. Come the 14th of December, we hope to set up a luxury camp in one of its most dramatic, secret spots to enjoy the solar eclipse beneath one of the most spectacular skies in the world. What better way to shake off the cramp and smallness of isolation than to celebrate the magical world at our fingertips?

Or what of Indiaparticularly during Diwali, its Festival of Lights. Taking place this year on the 14th of November, this enchanting, enriching celebration is a riot of color and sensuality. Picture every street washed in light; the Diwali fireworks, along with golden, bobbing lanterns filling the sky above the silhouette of the Mewar and Mughal-era City Palace. This vibrant and vast country, with so much to explore and experience, is perhaps one of the worlds most remarkable and otherworldly locations.

Consider returning to Europe (and if youve never been, nows the time to place it at the top of your list). Today, the continent is going through incredible turmoil, but you can help stitch together the cities of Budapest, Prague, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, and more in the most romantic fashion. Celebrate the 250th birthday of Beethoven in his home country; tour the chocolate factories and beer cellars of historic Brussels; stimulate every sense with a tour through the South of France. This is an opportunity to experience just how diverse and distinctive each of the worlds many countries are, and the best way to say good riddance to the borders that currently hold us apart.

This much is true: Though our borders are closed today, they will open again. We have seen the world, and we will see it again. But for now, lets continue talking and sharing. Lets make sure we show care and solidarity along with the communities, people, and places where weve been, and for those we are dreaming of from the solitude of quarantine. Place by place, and face by face, well find that connection againif we commit, responsibly and passionately, to doing so.

Tom Marchant is the cofounder of luxury travel company and trip planner Black Tomato, which delivers high-touch experiences around the world via inspiring itineraries and access to the globes up-and-coming, exclusive, and remote destinations. Marchants finger on the pulse of travel trends and the worlds best in hotels, restaurants, destinations, and honeymoons is unique and incomparableand hes sharing his expertise and curated lists of where to visit, stay, eat, and more in his travel column on BAZAAR.com.



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The water service in Odessa, a port city in southern Ukraine, was suddenly overrun this week with calls from worried residents with a peculiar concern. Were officials really planning to run an antiseptic solution through the city's taps instead of water? The calls were sparked by a message on social media claiming that: "Today, from 11pm until the morning, antiseptic will be distributed" in the water system. The antiseptic supposedly included several different whiskies -- a brand for each district. However outlandish the claim, Odessa's water agency Infoxvodokanal still issued a clarification. Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, false news stories have spiked in Ukraine, fuelled by mistrust of authorities and of Russia, which Kiev says wants to sow instability. "Before the pandemic, we received seven or eight requests each day to verify information," said Alyona Romanyuk, the founder of a platform that debunks false stories online. "Now there are around 100." - 'Horror stories' - Among them, the Ukrainian security services denied rumours that authorities planned to douse the capital with disinfectant by helicopter. Another claimed that medical services for pregnant women and cancer patients were disrupted due to COVID-19. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself denied "horror stories" that 400,000 Ukrainians were infected. "False information spreads much faster than the virus," he said on television last week. According to official statistics, Ukraine has confirmed 156 cases of the virus and five deaths. Yet some Ukrainians worry the government tally is far lower than the real number due to a lack of testing. Rampant corruption has left many people suspicious of official statements too. Disinformation usually begins with a post on Facebook which is then shared over Telegram or Viber, two online messengers popular in Ukraine. But the effects can be felt offline too. In February, 72 people were evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus pandemic, and quarantined in Novi Sanzhary, a small town in central Ukraine. Social media messages claimed the evacuees were infected and local residents clashed with police escorting those brought from China to the medical centre. A report this week by the European External Action Service, which cited the incident, accused Kremlin-run media of spreading misinformation about the coronavirus. Moscow has rejected the accusations. Yet Ukraine says it has become a regular target of Russian misinformation since 2014, when Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine, a conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives. - 'Hand of Russia' - From a variety of different genres of misinformation, Romanyuk the analyst singled out one designed to "spread panic." "And there you can clearly see the hand of Russia," she said. Without citing Russia, Ukraine's security services said last month they had detected emails sent from abroad with the forged signature of the health ministry that spread false information on the coronavirus. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian "cyber police" announced they had deleted dozens of fake coronavirus-related messages on social media. In a separate case, the security services arrested in the city of Dnipro "an agitator" who they said was ordered by Russia to distribute false information. The health ministry, which recently has boosted its visibility on Telegram and Viber, said Wednesday it had reached an agreement with Google to prioritise official sources in search results. Several activists have started YouTube and Facebook accounts to broadcast reliable data and Romanyuk has decided to launch a platform dedicated to debunking coronavirus misinformation.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police seek the publics help in identifying individuals wanted for questioning in connection with shots being fired in Port Richmond two weeks ago.

The incident occurred at about 5:05 a.m. on March 6 in the vicinity of Nicholas and Castleton avenues, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police said an unidentified person inside a light-colored sedan fired multiple shots as the car was moving at the location.

There were no reported injuries, said police.

The shots damaged a house in the vicinity, police said.

The car drove off in an unknown direction, said police.

The NYPD distributed a surveillance video of a vehicle sought in the incident, taken from the area.

It appears to show several flashes emanating from the passenger side of the car as the vehicle approaches an intersection before turning left.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Tips can also be submitted by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
Legal resistance from the left and Democratic-led states to President Trumps crackdown on undocumented immigrants is being waged at the high court and in courthouses across the country. The Supreme Court has already heard arguments about whether the administration illegally tried to repeal Obamas program to protect from deportation immigrants brought to this country as children, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. A decision could come at any time.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians since the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

The party, through its spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said few Nigerians want a President whose preoccupation is talking while the majority voted for a President who is deploying his energy to working.

Unlike other world leasers, Mr Buhari has yet to address Nigerians on the outbreak.

The president has come under stinging criticisms for not being seen to be providing the required political leadership since the crisis began.

By Saturday evening, Nigeria recorded cases of the virus.

Comparing Nigeria with other countries, the party said President Buhari is steadily and vigorously leading the charge as the country is doing commendably well against the coronavirus pandemic.

Like a legendary troop commander that the President is, he is steadily and vigorously leading the charge against the coronavirus pandemic. With our President mobilising human and material resources, we, as a country, are doing commendably so far as statistics are showing in comparison to even most advanced nations, the APC said in its statement issued on Saturday afternoon.

The party praised ministers for offering to donate a part of their salaries to support the fight against the scourge.

We are glad to see many Nigerians rallying behind the President with their own contributions. Notably, the news of the ministers voluntary donation of 50 percent of their March salary is unprecedented. We commend the foresight of the Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki in coordinating this patriotic action.

Beyond the monetary donation, the gesture by the ministers would bolster confidence of ordinary Nigerians to call up the resilience for which we are known for. It would also encourage many more organisations and other well-to-do Nigerians to lend support to the Presidential committee, the party said.

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Meanwhile, the wailers who have severally professed their death wish for President Buhari since 2015 have, again, found their voices amid the coronavirus outbreak. From conjuring and spreading fake news on the presidents coronavirus test result, to spurious allegation of hijacking of a teaching hospital ventilator to the villa and to the purported smuggling of the President to the United Kingdom, they are up to their ignominious pastime and tired antics.

We will not be distracted or deterred because their unpatriotic actions serve as a reminder to the failed and rejected past. Right now, the task before us is for all Nigerians to focus and collectively beat the coronavirus. To achieve this, the president is tirelessly leading the charge through action, he concluded.
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md.

(March 28, 2020)The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners was notified by the Calvert County Health Department this evening that a ninth case has been confirmed as a result of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). There have been no reported deaths in Calvert County due to COVID-19.A Calvert County Health Department investigation today revealed it is likely the transmission occurred either on March 11 during the Wednesday Night Combo Bowling League at Lord Calvert Bowling Lanes in Huntingtown or at a group gathering in Ocean City two days later. People who attended the gathering in Ocean City are being individually contacted.Since it has been more than two weeks since the possible transmission at the bowling alley the evening of March 11, for anyone who was present, but has not developed any respiratory symptoms or fever, there is no ongoing risk of illness from potential exposure on March 11.For anyone who was present at the Lord Calvert Bowling Alley the night of March 11, or their close contacts, the health department recommends the following: For symptoms that have already occurred including a cough, shortness of breath or fever between March 13-March 26, but symptoms have resolved: Email the Calvert County Health Department at Calvert.admin@maryland.gov with your contact information and a nurse will be in touch with you on Monday to get additional details. For those who currently have a cough, shortness of breath or fever: CalvertHealth Medical Center is conducting drive through testing for COVID-19. Calvert County residents should call 410-535-8436 on Tuesday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those calling will be assessed by a medical provider for COVID-19 symptoms and given an appointment if they meet screening criteria. For those that need care, contact your primary care provider or urgent care and call ahead before arriving. If symptoms are severe, seek immediate care.Calvert County officials continue to urge residents to take strong precautions and avoid all unnecessary public contact to prevent further spread of COVID-19 through the community.The Calvert County Health Department will continue to monitor employees' health over the next 14 days and provide updates if new information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to visit the Calvert County Health Department website at www.calverthealth.org for local case updates and testing information.Visit www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/Coronavirus for further updates, guidance and resources. Updates will continue to appear on the Calvert County Government website, www.CalvertCountyMd.gov, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and Comcast Channel 6.We're tracking all official Southern Maryland COVID-19 information releases atforums.somd.com/forums/covid-19-official-information-for-so-maryland.237/
US investment firm Bridgewater Associates appears to have made a rapid exit from an 80m short position it recently established in Irish building materials giant CRH.

The latest notifiable short positions published by the Central Bank of Ireland do not list any position in CRH by Bridgewater.

Short positions exceeding 0.5pc of a company's stock must be publicly disclosed under EU rules.

When investors short a share, they are betting the price will drop.

They borrow the company's shares from other shareholders and can profit if the price falls by buying back shares at a lower cost, to return them to their original owners.

But short positions can sour if the share price in the target company rises.

Bridgewater held a 0.66pc short position in CRH on March 9.

It increased it to 0.88pc on March 12 and reduced it to 0.76pc on St Patrick's Day.

By March 19, it was cut to 0.68pc and then to 0.54pc on March 23.

The position declined to 0.43pc on March 24.

Bridgewater Associates is headed by co-chief executives David McCormick and Eileen Murray.

Mr McCormick is a former US Treasury under-secretary for international affairs, having served under the George W Bush administration during the last global financial crisis. Before that, he served in senior roles with the National Security Council and the US Department of Commerce.

Ms Murray previously worked with Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse.

She is a member of the Irish Arts Center in New York. Her father's ancestors emigrated from Cork to the US during the famine.

Shares in hotel operator Dalata have also been shorted during the Covid-19 crisis.
Criminals are preying on a fearful public and disrupting the provision of medical care during the coronavirus pandemic by selling counterfeit products, impersonating health workers and hacking computers as many citizens do their jobs online at home, European law enforcement agency Europol said Friday.

In one instance, a cyberattack on a major hospital in the Czech Republic where COVID-19 tests are carried out forced the cancellation of planned surgeries, Europol said in a new report.

Organized crime groups, well-known for identifying new opportunities, have found new pathways to scam people made vulnerable by fears of the virus, which, like criminals, know no borders, according to the report.

Criminals have quickly seized the opportunities to exploit the crisis by adapting their modes of operation or developing new criminal activities, Europol Executive Director, Catherine de Bolle said in a statement.

VATICAN

Holy Week in April without faithful

Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Week ceremonies in the confines of Vatican City, including a Good Friday Way of the Cross service on the steps of St. Peters Basilica instead of at Romes Colosseum as customary. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican on Friday announced that Francis will celebrate Mass for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Easter vigil and Easter Sunday  April 12  all at the basilicas central altar. The Holy See has confirmed four cases of COVID-19 in the tiny independent city state in the middle of Rome. It has declined to say if Francis, 83, who a few weeks ago had a cold, has been tested for COVID-19, and if so, what the result was.

IRAN

Deadly drink

kills hundreds

Iranian media reported nearly 300 people have been killed and more than 1,000 sickened by ingesting methanol across the Islamic Republic, where drinking alcohol is banned and where those who do rely on bootleggers. The poisonings come as fake remedies spread across social media in Iran, where people remain deeply suspicious of the government after it downplayed the coronavirus crisis for days before it overwhelmed the country.

SOUTH AFRICA

First deaths as lockdown begins

A shaken South Africa announced its first two deaths from the coronavirus as the countrys cases rose above 1,000 and a three-week lockdown began, with some police screaming at the homeless on emptying streets. The two deaths occurred in Western Cape province, home of Cape Town. South Africa has the most virus cases in Africa, with the total across the continent nearing 3,500.

BRITAIN

Prime minister tests positive

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus, he announced Friday, becoming the worlds highest-profile political leader to reveal an infection. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the governments response via video-conference as we fight this virus, Johnson wrote on Twitter. The news comes days after the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, also divulged that he had tested positive. The 71-year-old prince is self-isolating at a royal estate in Scotland.

SPAIN

Nation reports deadliest day

Spain reported its deadliest day since the outbreak of the coronavirus, with 769 deaths in the past 24 hours. The total number of fatalities rose to 4,858, from 4,089, and the number of confirmed cases climbed to 64,059, from 56,188 a day earlier, the Health Ministry said. The grim data comes with Spain near the end of a second week of a state of emergency set to last until April 11. With the nation on almost complete lockdown, the government is counting on limited social interactions to contain the virus, which has already killed more people in Spain than in China, where the pandemic originated.

BANGLADESH

Workers sent home

without pay

A report released Friday by Mark Anner, director of Pennsylvania State Universitys Center for Global Workers Rights, says the coronavirus crisis has resulted in millions of Bangladesh factory workers, mostly women from rural areas, being sent home without wages or severance pay they are owed. About 4.1 million people work in apparel factories in Bangladesh, the worlds No. 2 garment exporter after China.

Chronicle News Services
THE VALLEY ANGUILLA:--- Fellow Anguillians at home and abroad, Good Morning. As we are all aware, Anguilla has recorded two positive cases of COVID-19. This is a moment that we have all been dreading and I know that many of us are anxious and fearful about the future, the threat that this virus poses to the health and safety of our people and its negative impact on our economy and livelihoods.

To the individuals who have tested positive, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to you and wish you a speedy recovery. We are all in this fight together as a people and I once again urge all Anguillians to adhere to the restrictions and guidelines that have been implemented by the authorities to prevent the spread of this virus in our country. This is our collective responsibility.

I wish to speak to you briefly on a matter that has come to my attention in relation to statements I made concerning the potential postponement of the general elections here in Anguilla. On Friday 20th March 2020 I hosted a press conference in my capacity as Leader of the Opposition to voice concerns in relation to our response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In that press conference, I mentioned that postponing the general elections in Anguilla is something that, realistically, we may have to consider - and sooner rather than later. Furthermore, I outlined the reasons for this:

1. The Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization has set out specific guidelines for all countries in preventing the spread of COVID-19, one of which is social distancing and maintaining a safe distance of not less than 6 feet between persons.

2. I noted that as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the United Kingdom postponed their local council elections and London mayoral elections until 2021.

3. I also spoke about the recent studies which show the potential of the COVID-19 virus to be viable in the air for a prolonged period after coughing or sneezing and to live on some uncleaned surfaces for up to three days.

I raised the issue of possibly postponing our general elections in a meeting with the Governor. I raised the issue again at a high-level meeting with several stakeholders, including the Governor, the Premier and the Leader of the APM, Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster. So there is no confusion, I want to make it crystal clear that I, Pam Webster, will



always seek to do what is right in the best interest of All Anguillians. At this present time, and under these circumstances, the health, safety, and wellbeing of the people of Anguilla should be our number one priority. I, therefore, ask you to consider the following:

1. The social distancing protocols that must be adhered to, which include maintaining a safe distance of not less than 6 feet, staying at home and avoiding crowds and large public gatherings.

2. The high rate of transmission of the COVID-19 virus, particularly from persons who may not be showing symptoms.

3. The present capacity and limitations of our electoral system, including polling day infrastructure, to safely and successfully execute the process of a general election under these new circumstances.

It is on this premise I have raised the possibility that our general elections may have to be postponed. This, of course, is not a certainty, however, proper leadership requires us to put contingencies in place to address these issues in advance.

While we hope for the best, we must plan for the worst  this is what effective governance is all about. My reason for raising this issue was to initiate serious discussions among all stakeholders involved as to how we can mitigate this potential challenge. Such a challenge will undoubtedly give rise to important considerations, particularly in relation to our constitution.

Sadly, some have used this issue to play political games at a time when we must unite as One Anguilla to fight this COVID-19 battle. Nevertheless, I know that the people of my district and the people of Anguilla recognize that this, among others, is an important issue to consider during this difficult period, as it speaks directly to the continuity of governance. I am sure that our Premier, the Leader of the APM, who himself is a medical doctor, and all other stakeholders in our electoral process see the merit of this and will lend their voice to a fruitful and open discussion on the way forward in this regard.

As I close, I want to remind our people that the protocols and restrictions that have been implemented thus far are geared towards preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our country. I urge you to comply and to practice good hand hygiene and social distancing to protect yourselves and our communities.

God Bless you and God Bless Anguilla, Always.
LASSEN NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. - The U.S. Forest Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $1.7 million in grants to restore forests and watersheds impacted by wildfires within the Lassen National Forest and in the West Carson River watershed in Northern California.

The fund was launched in 2018 to help restore forests and watersheds impacted by wildfires. The 2005 Power Fire and the 2000 Storrie Fire burned more than 65,000 acres of national forest lands and left a significant impact on the landscapes, watersheds, and ecosystems of the region. So far 23 conservation projects have been funded at a cost of $5.6 million dollars.

The projects funded through the $1.7 million during this round of grantmaking will generate matching funds of close to $900,000, totaling approximately $2.6 million in total conservation impact, according to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The projects that support meadow restoration efforts will increase habitat for species such as the Cascades frog, California Spotted Owl, willow flycatcher, and the Bi-State sage grouse.

The projects will restore hydrology across 290 acres within priority meadows, will pay for fuels management over 175 acres, will remove invasive vegetation from watersheds, and will pay for completion of monitoring and management plans to inform future management strategies.

Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, states, "This work is critical for fish and wildlife, and provides essential technical assistance for environmental compliance requirements."

The photographs for this story show the Student Conservation Association carrying out work on the Lassen National Forest that was carried out through funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Its forcing parents who ordinarily might not think too highly of each other to consider the art of compromise, he said. We have this pandemic, everyones looking at their life and theyre looking at their mortality.  What if you got sick? The other parent is the only parent that your child might have.
(Bloomberg) --

When Alberto Fernandez visited Mexico on his first foreign trip since winning Argentinas presidency, he said that both countries would face the challenge of globalization together.

Less than five months later, the respective stances of Fernandez and Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to fighting the coronavirus pandemic couldnt be further apart.

Whereas the Mexican leader has only now started urging citizens to stay at home -- after encouraging them to eat out to support the local economy -- Argentina shuttered social life and imposed a strict stay-at-home policy a week ago, even at the risk of disproportionately affecting the livelihoods of Fernandezs mostly middle-to-lower class voter base.

Key to that decision was the upgrade of the virus to a pandemic and stark conversations with leaders at the heart of fighting the disease, people familiar with the strategy said.

The choice is to take care of the economy or take care of lives, Fernandez said Wednesday. I chose to take care of lives.

In Latin America, where huge numbers of people rely on the informal economy to survive, there are no good options for leaders. Fernandezs decision to go all-in to fight Covid-19 stands out not just for its contrast with Mexico but also with Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks and publicly clashed with state governors who are taking stringent measures to combat the virus locally.

Key Moments

This is a make or break moment for Alberto Fernandez to show hes in control and leading the country, said Jimena Blanco, head of Latin America political research at consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft. The worst scenario is to get a disorderly response -- or no response at all -- which is what were seeing in Mexico and Brazil.

Fernandezs move to put his country into quarantine was deeply influenced by the World Health Organizations March 11 announcement that the coronavirus was a pandemic, according to a senior government official. Dr. Maureen Birmingham, the WHO representative in Argentina, is in constant communication with the authorities and Fernandez himself.

That decision was reinforced when the president saw cases balloon rapidly in Italy and Spain -- two countries where many Argentines ancestors hail from. Prior to his announcement of a lockdown, Fernandez spoke with the Italian and Spanish prime ministers, Giuseppe Conte and Pedro Sanchez, to hear their experiences, the official said. Fernandez developed good relations with both men after visiting them earlier this year. Mexicos president is by contrast famously loath to travel abroad.

Buying Time

He also wanted to buy time for Argentinas fragile health-care system by trying to flatten the curve as soon as possible, the official said. The president speaks on a daily basis with the governor of Buenos Aires province and the citys mayor, where most cases are concentrated.

On Thursday night, the government ordered the closing of the borders to stop even Argentines from going out and into the country until the quarantine ends. At the same time, Fernandez, who has publicly conceded his strategy will put the economy in a bigger hole, has said that he expects cases to peak in the first half of May and is willing to extend the lockdown that ends March 31 if needed.

ARGENTINA INSIGHT: Lockdown, Uncertainty to Deepen Recession

Governments worldwide are adopting their own approaches to curb the spread of the virus, with some countries like Japan that are relatively unaffected taking minimal measures, others including Spain and Italy at the heart of the epidemic in total lockdown, and a third group including Australia seeking to balance economic damage with protecting public health.

While each stance is contentious, in Argentina, a land of chronic financial crisis and fiercely divisive politics, the challenge of tackling the coronavirus is bringing an unusual sense of unity. Fernandez stood together with leaders from different ends of the political spectrum for the March 19 lockdown announcement, a rare display of consensus made all the more unlikely given that the country is enduring a third year of economic crisis and again flirting with default.

Under the Shadow

Beyond purely humanitarian motives, the show of consensus hands Fernandez an opportunity to emerge from the shadow of his vice president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the two-time former president who was instrumental in catapulting her namesake -- who is no relation -- to his election victory in October.

A mass external shock that makes things terrible everywhere, instead of just where you are, can be politically useful, said Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez, a geopolitical risk analyst who teaches at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management. The early adopters were often the leaders who were most ready to change the conversation.

Polls shows a majority of Argentines approving the governments response.

Still, its a huge gamble for Fernandez. While the wealthy can sit out the crisis working from home, thats not a luxury afforded the less well-off who make up his base. As of 2018, almost half of Argentine workers were in the informal economy, according to the research institute at the Universidad Catolica de Argentina, including jobs like street vendors and household workers.

The governments financial response to the crisis has attempted to bridge that gap, with measures like extra payments for low-income parents and retirees, a 10,000-peso ($155) transfer for informal and some independent workers in April, and a price freeze on 2,300 essential products.

Harsh Measures

There is still no guarantee that his harsh measures, also implemented by some other smaller economies such as Chile, Peru and Colombia, will be successful in fighting a pandemic thats quickly spreading throughout Latin America.

Cases rose to 589 as of Thursday evening, with 12 deaths recorded. Also, with just about 2,800 tests performed this month, Argentina shows a poor testing rate when compared to neighbors like Chile, where President Sebastian Pineras government has conducted more than 7,500.

The sudden bipartisan cordiality may not last long either. Yet it still represents a political bargain notably absent in Brazil and Mexico, the regions No. 1 and No. 2 economies respectively.In Mexico, Lopez Obrador is taking advantage of his popularity and majority in congress to follow a more Quixotic route, focusing for weeks on preventing an economic collapse before shifting gears Thursday when he called on people to stay home. Bolsonaro has left state governors with no other option than to take the difficult decisions themselves, sending conflicting messages to the country of 210 million.

Read More: Latin America Isnt Ready for the Virus Onslaught Headed Its Way

Its true the coronavirus offers a distraction for Fernandez, who has yet to unveil a comprehensive plan to take Argentina out of the economic crisis. It also justifies more social spending on his base. Regardless of any political motives, he may have bought Argentina valuable time to fight the virus.

We saw what was happening in Europe, we had the images in newspapers of Spain and Italy, countries very close to us, that created anxiety and stress in Argentina, and the government went out to attack the situation, said Juan Negri, a political science professor at Torcuato Di Tella University in Buenos Aires. Hes trying to anticipate the worst case scenario of a social crisis exploding.

Its too early to say if Fernandezs approach will work any better than those of Lopez Obrador or Bolsonaro. But if it does, he might just have a chance to heal Argentinas bitter political divide, according to Blanco, of Verisk Maplecroft.

If steered well, it could cement him as the leader for the population, including people who didnt vote for him, she said.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
While most hotels that remain open after the outbreak of Covid-19 are stepping up cleaning routines, the Westin Houston Medical Center in Houston, Texas, is going beyond Lysol and bleach. In addition to standard cleaning protocols, it says it is the first to deploy two newly acquired robots to sanitize rooms and common areas.

LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots  already in use at more than 400 hospitals in the United States, according to their manufacturer Xenex Disinfection Services  use xenon ultraviolet light pulses to kill viruses, bacteria and fungi. Peer-reviewed studies published by the company have found the robots have decreased environmental infection rates between 50 and 100 percent.

To provide our guests and clients with an additional level of well-being, we decided to add another step to our current disinfectant protocol by implementing the germ-zapping UV light robots, wrote Archit Sanghvi, the vice president of operations for Pearl Hospitality, the hotels owner and operator, in an email.

Other hygienic practices that the new hotel  which handles, among other guests, patients seeking medical treatment at the Texas Medical Center  include removing nonessential items like decorative pillows and magazines, and disinfecting the TV remote control and placing it in a sealed plastic bag.
Nothing that Bernheim saw in those scans could have prepared him or other doctors for the onslaught of patients a few months later as New York City became the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with more than 29,000 cases and 517 deaths as of Saturday evening. In hospitals across the city, emergency rooms are swelling, beds are filling, and intensive care units are becoming overwhelmed, with the projected peak still seven to 21 days away.
The U.S. shale patch laments oil prices in the low $20s crippling companies with already weakened debt and liquidity profiles. But further north, the outlook for Canadas oil patch is even gloomier. Hit by the pandemic-driven demand shock and the price war-induced supply shock, Canadian oil prices have already crashed to below US$10 a barrel.

This years oil price crash will hit Canadas oil patch harder than the 2014 price collapse, analysts say.

Following the double supply-demand shock of the past weeks, the industry had to quickly switch back to survival mode, just as it was expecting an uptick in upstream investments this year, for the first time in five years.

Canadas oil and gas sector now faces an existential threat  losing even the little competitiveness it held onto in the wake of the previous oil crash.

The pain in the coming months could become worse before the companies that manage to survive this oil price rout start making any money.

Calls for a federal government bailout are growing. However, so are calls from environmentalists for the government to help the workers who will be (or already are) out of a job instead of pouring billions into saving corporations that destroy the environment with oil sands operations.

The government of Albertathe heart of Canadas energy industryhas adopted some emergency relief measures to help the sector.

And a federal government action in support of the sector could be imminent, Kelly Cryderman writes for The Globe and Mail.

Environmental organizations wrote a letter to Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week, calling on the government to focus on helping workers, not bailing out corporations.

Giving billions of dollars to failing oil and gas companies will not help workers and only prolongs our reliance on fossil fuels, organizations including Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ), Climate Action Network Canada, Greenpeace Canada, and Extinction Rebellion wrote.

Oil and gas companies are already heavily subsidized in Canada and the public cannot keep propping them up with tax breaks and direct support forever. Such measures benefit corporate bottom lines far more than they aid workers and communities facing public health and economic crises, the environmentalists said.

Support for Canadas energy sector is coming within hours, possibly days, Canadas Finance Minister Bill Morneau said at Senate committee meeting on Wednesday, as carried by CBC News.

Without provincial and federal government support, many in the industry who survived the 2014 price crash may not survive this time, as oil prices are plunging, storage is approaching full capacity, and demand in Canadas key oil export market, the United States, is plummeting.

As a result, the price of Western Canadian Select (WCS), the benchmark price of oil from Canadas oil sands delivered at Hardisty, Alberta, nosedived to a record low this week, and this may not be the bottom yet.

Related: Worlds Largest Oil Trader Says Demand Could Plummet By 20 Million Bpd

As of Thursday, WCS was selling for US$6.45 a barrel, or C$9.08. This price compares to an average WCS price of US$36.82 for January and US$27.28 for February, according to Alberta government figures. Bitumen prices are probably negative already.

Looking at bitumen pricing, it is zero to negative. So, its as worse as it gets, Martin Pelletier, a portfolio manager at Calgary-based TriVest Wealth Council, told CBC News this week.

Faced with plummeting oil prices, Canadian companies rushed to cut spending, curtail operations, defer investments and start-ups, cut executive salaries, and lay off workers.

Husky Energy cut its budget and production, Cenovus Energy slashed its 2020 capital spending by around 32 percent, Suncor cut capital guidance, and so did Canadian Natural Resources. Athabasca Oil Corporation also cut its CAPEX and proactively curtailed heavy oil production at Hangingstone.

I expect to see cuts everywhere  Its a survival game right now, Athabasca Oils CEO Rob Broen told Calgary Herald columnist Chris Varcoe two weeks ago.

Being price takers has made us uniquely vulnerable to dramatic shifts in the oil price and what were seeing today will have immediate negative impacts on Canadas economy, Tim McMillan, President and CEO at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), said on the day on which international oil prices crashed 25 percent.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession will hit every province in Canada in 2020, with Alberta the worst hit, RBC said in a note this week.

Related: Oil Price Crash Opens A Window Of Opportunity For Renewables

The collapse in oil prices will be another massive blow to oil-producing regions of the countrymost of which had not fully recovered from the previous collapse in 2014-2016. It will drastically reduce cash flows in the energy sector and slice government royalty revenues, RBC Senior Economist Robert Hogue and Economist Ramya Muthukumaran wrote.

The entire Canadian economy faces massive job losses, with the energy sector particularly hit, RBC economists warned.

In Alberta and Saskatchewan, even the oil-price crash in 2014-16 will prove milder in terms of its effect on the labour market  we are expecting employment losses 2-4 times larger. The combined losses in these two provinces are likely to be in the order of 200,000  20% of the overall hit to employment in the country, RBC said.

Canadas oil and gas firms that survived the previous price crash will find this oil price collapse, combined with a recession, even harder to overcome.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Town of Jackson on Saturday ordered residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jackson becomes the first town in Wyoming to adopt a stay-at-home order in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Alexia Harrist have issued multiple closure orders, but have stopped short of a shelter-in-place requirement.

Jacksons order, which was passed unanimously, goes into effect immediately and will expire, if its not revised, on April 17.

The ordinance carves out multiple exemptions. For example, residents will be able to leave their homes to visit a doctor or obtain food, household supplies and pet food. People will also be allowed to leave to work at types of businesses deemed essential by the ordinance.

Health officials have identified 14 cases of coronavirus in Teton County. Thats the third-highest total in Wyoming.

Its not yet known whether other Wyoming municipalities will follow suit. However, Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr indicated support for such a move in a tweet posted shortly before Jacksons vote. Cheyenne is located in Laramie County, which has so far identified 19 cases of the virus.

As a city on the I-25/I-80 corridor I feel strongly we should do the same, she wrote. Preference is lead from the State.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Wyoming spiked in the past week, jumping from the high 20s to the 80s. Health experts say the quick rise is partially an indication of more disease in the state, but also Wyomings increased testing capacity.

In an effort to slow the disease, Gordon and Harrist have ordered the closure of schools and many businesses where people congregate, including bars, gyms, tattoo parlors and hair salons. Restaurants remain open, but only for to-go orders. People are also prohibited from gathering in groups of 10 or more.

The statewide closures are now set to expire April 17. Gordon and Harrist extended them to that date on Friday. The closures had been set to expire April 3.
The states prison population has dipped to its lowest level in decades, a decline officials are attributing partly to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

The state is not releasing inmates specifically due to the threat of a coronavirus outbreak, despite prodding from prison reform advocates. But more than 400 inmates have been released since March 1 and far fewer people are entering the system.

And among those prisoners eligible for release this month, the Department of Correction estimated that 20 percent more than usual were actually released because a higher number of families created places for them to go.

We are attributing that to COVID-19, said Karen Martucci, a spokeswoman for the Department of Correction. Perhaps there was a family that was reluctant to take a family member back because criminal behavior affects the entire family, but were seeing families change their mind because theres a national panic.

As of Friday, the states prison population had dipped below 12,000 for the first time since 1993, after a 3.4 percent decline since March 1, Martucci said.

The coronavirus-related decline is not clear, but between fewer people coming into prison and more leaving, the figure could be in the hundreds.

Advocates have pressured Gov. Ned Lamont, the correction department and the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to release a majority of non-violent offenders from the states prison system, fearing an outbreak of the coronavirus in a prison could be catastrophic.

No offenders housed within Department of Correction facilities has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The department has not said how many inmates have been tested.

Among staff, a third department employee tested positive for the virus Friday. It was unclear whether any of those three had direct contact with inmates or other state employees.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has pledged to release 1,000 low-risk offenders from its prison and jail system. Thats roughly 5 percent of the prison population there. Lamont has maintained he does not plan to widely release prisoners due to coronavirus.

Were already releasing incarcerated people across the system, said Lamont spokesman Max Reiss. For any releases, we want to make sure they have a place to go, make sure they have job assistance, for some older inmates especially that theres a healthcare system ready to serve them.

Marc Pelka, Lamonts undersecretary for criminal justice policy in the Office of Policy and Management, said the number of people entering the system has also plummeted since mid-March, when sentencing hearings were suspended.

Possible explanations for that are fewer arrests, less travel, less exposure to police, bond amounts being set by police or bail commissioners that account for wanting to avoid people who might be infected entering the system, Pelka said. So that number is dropping.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
A dozen hotels received Peruvian nationals and others after returning to Peru during the state of emergency called by the government of President Martin Vizcarra, in an effort to control the coronavirus spread.

According to the Peruvian Hotel Society, the hosting is a joint program by the hotels and the government that seeks to help incoming arrivals under go a 14-day quarantine upon entering Peru.

Peru's hotel union has said that the government is paying only minimal costs for rooms and food, with a base cost for every person independently to the hotel they are hosted in.

Lima's Mayor, Jorge Munoz, attended to the construction of a temporary shelter in the Lima's Acho's Bullfighting Ring on Friday, where at least 130 homeless people will be tended to during the lockdown.

Lima's Panamerican Games donated furniture and bedding for the shelter.

The Peruvian government said on Friday that the country has 635 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 11 deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:38:40|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Iranian Airlines on Saturday called for government support to the struggling Iranian airlines, which have suffered huge loss from the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost 90 percent of Iranian flights were canceled during the Iranian new year holidays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing huge loss to the Iranian airliners, said Maghsoud Assadi Samani, head of the Association of Iranian Airlines.

He cited that three Iranian airlines completely grounded their planes during the peak travel season of Nowruz, or the Iranian new year. The loss for the airlines amounted to nearly 190 million U.S. dollars because of flight cancellations during the Nowruz holidays.

Growing restrictions on flights and extremely low demand for air travels have led to a major recession in the Iranian aviation sector, Samani was quoted by state TV as saying.

"If the situation continues like this, airlines would have no option but to lay off workers," he said, urging the government to provide the airlines and other companies across the sector with low-interest loans to save them from recession.

A large number of planes have been moved to parking places where Iran's civil aviation authority charges high fees for storage, he noted.

A waiver on parking charges could help the airlines harmed by the coronavirus pandemic, said Samani.

Iran's Health Ministry announced Saturday that a total of 35,408 people have been infected with the virus, of whom 2,517 have died.
Driver crashes into parked truck trying to avoid check stop

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  A Playa del Carmen motorist who attempted to flee police crashed into a parked truck, destroying the entire front of his vehicle.

The incident was reported around 2:30 a.m. in the Pescadores neighborhood when the vehicle was signaled by police to pull over. However, instead of pulling over, the driver accelerated in an attempt to avoid the check stop.

His vehicle ended up in the rear end of a parked construction truck. The SUV was a write off. Police had it towed to the corralon, while the motorist was arrested and turned over to the State Attorney Generals Office for the damage caused.
Australia on Saturday stepped up the enforcement of social distancing rules to limit the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll in the country from the pandemic rose to 14 with over 3,000 confirmed cases.

A 91-year-old woman on Friday became the 14th person in Australia to die after contracting the coronavirus.

According to media reports, the woman died in an aged-care facility in New South Wales (NSW) state where several residents and employees have tested positive for the virus.

"Words fail to express the deep sense of sadness and grief we are all feeling at this time, BaptistCare CEO, Ross Low said in a statement.

The country's total number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 3,378 on Saturday.

A majority of over 1,405 cases have been reported from New South Wales.

On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced further measures to contain the virus spread after chairing a national Cabinet meeting.

"This is about reducing the spread of the virus in Australia and saving lives. All travellers arriving in Australia will be required to undertake their mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities (for example, a hotel),'' Morrison said.

''Travellers will be transported directly to designated facilities after appropriate immigration, customs and enhanced health checks. Designated facilities will be determined by the relevant state or territory government and will ordinarily be in the city of entry where the traveller has cleared immigration, but facilities in other areas may be used if required,'' he said.

As of midnight on Saturday, all returning citizens from abroad will be put into compulsory quarantine at the government's expense.

In a press conference on Saturday, the premier of Victoria state said those flouting health directives will now be facing on the spot fines.

The on the spot fines can be slapped on those ignoring directives such as 14-day quarantine requirements, people engaging in mass gatherings or businesses opening unlawfully.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian said that even though stricter lockdown of the state was on hold, it can be announcced if the number of cases rose rapidly.

Berejiklian warned that "young people, in particular, can't feel that they are immune from the disease.... There are still a proportion of the community who are not doing the right thing, and that is heartbreaking. All of us have to act as though we have the disease ourselves.

"So make sure you keep distance from people unless it is your immediate family that you are always in contact with,'' she appealed.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott urged people to respect police officers who will be enforcing social distancing rules.

"I have spoken to police that have been abused," Elliott said. "I have spoken to police that have been spat on. Their job is not to punish you. Their job is to save your life."



Police patrolled the Randwick area after the council closed all its beaches and ocean pools until further notice on Saturday with Coogee, Maroubra, Clovelly, Gordon's Bay, Little Bay Beach, Malabar Beach and the beaches at La Perouse shut following groups of people congregating.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The number of coronavirus COVID-19-related email attacks has increased by 667 per cent since the end of February, according to a new report. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, March 27 (IANS) Ten fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported in Telangana on Friday, taking the state's total number to 59. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, March 28 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan has donated her one month salary to Chief Minister's Relief Fund as a token contribution towards controlling the spread of coronavirus.

Soundarajan on Saturday handed over a cheque of Rs.3.5 lakh to Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, M. Jagadeeshwar.

Earlier, she spoke Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar over phone and requested to him to extend all help to the daily-wage labourers who have migrated from other states to the Hyderabad city to eke out their livelihood.

She asked the government to provide food and all other essential commodities sufficient for next 15 days. The Governor said she has been receiving such complaints from some quarters and her office has extended required help to them.

Soundarajnalso called for strengthening ICMR recommended private medical laboratories to conduct the viral tests.

Later, the Governor interacted with the Red Cross units of 15 districts via video conference and advised the volunteers to take care of at least two poor families in all respects during the crisis.

She said that on her own behalf and also in coordination with Red Cross society, Hyderabad branch, she is arranging supply of essential commodities sufficient for 15 days to over 1000 poor families living in the slums near the Raj Bhavan.
COVID-19 response: A taxpayer guide to the CARES Act

Congress has approved, and President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a massive tax-and-spending package intended to provide additional economic relief to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By some unofficial estimates, the tax and spending provisions in the legislation would increase the federal deficit by roughly $2 trillion. The Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated that the CARES Acts tax provisions alone would reduce federal receipts by just over $591 billion between 2020 and 2030. No official score is currently available that measures the total revenue impact of the measure, however.
A woman tested positive for COVID-19 in Patna on Saturday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 10, an official said here.

Pradip Das, the director of Rajendra Memorial Research Institute - an ICMR centre here which had been conducting the bulk of tests, told PTI that the woman is undergoing treatment at NMCH hospital here.

"She was among those who had come into contact with the first victim in the state from Munger at a private hospital here," Das said.

Last Sunday, the state reported its first two COVID-19 cases. One of them, a 38-year-old man from Munger, had died at AIIMS, Patna the previous night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ryan Murphy, centre front, with mom Louise presenting a cheque for 11,705.40 to Dr Patricia Sheehan of the Palliative Care unit, front left, and Joe Hennebery of the Hospice Foundation, front right, on behalf of all in Ballincrossig National School, Ballyduff, last week. With Principal Dianne Crean, staff and Ryans fellow pupils. Everyone came out in force in memory of Ryans late dad, Jim, in a month-long appeal involving a rolling fast across the community. Photo by Domnick Walsh

Not for nothing was ten-year-old Ryan Murphy named Junior Kerry Person of the Year in December.

Just one year previously the Ballyduff lad, his sister Keira and brother Ben lost their beloved father Jim Murphy after a battle with illness.

The death of the hugely popular barman rocked Tralee and Ballyduff to the core as so many friends of Jim and wife Louise rallied to the family's side.

And the community rallied again in memory of Jim late last year, this time in support of the Kerry Hospice Foundation and its work at the Palliative Unit where Jim received suchcare.

It was all thanks to Ryan and his pals at Ballincrossig National School that it did so, after they kicked off a remarkable fundraiser in November last - with great help from Principal Dianne Crean and all the staff. As well as Chairman of the Parents' Association Dan Mahoney, whose idea the campaign was.

That fundraiser saw Ryan named Junior Kerry Person of the Year in December. But that was ever before all the funds for the campaign came in - revealed last week in a big presentation at the primary.

The month of All Souls saw the wider school community undertaking a 24-hour rolling fast, with a different pupil and/or parent keeping the fast for the day, before the next rostered faster picked it up.

You wouldn't know Ballincrossig is a relatively small school by the level of funds Ryan and friends presented last week though.

For they handed over a cheque to Dr Patricia Sheahan and Joe Hennebery of the Hospice for an incredible 11,705.40!!

"We were just overwhelmed by the response," Ryan's mom and Kerryman employee Louise Boyle said.

"It was incredible. Though our school is relatively small, everyone came together on it, pupils, parents, friends and all in the wider community. The response exceeded all our expectations," Louise said.

Everyone in the school got sponsorship cards for starters, but before long people from all over started getting in contact to donate as one hell of a head of steam built up.

The success even left clever young Ryan dazzled. He told The Kerryman he was delighted with all it achieved.

"I am thrilled. I didn't think we would raise this much and I really want to thank everybody for supporting us."

He said he found the fast 'hard'. 24 hours is, of course, no small feat for an adult, never mind a young boy or girl.

Ryan's sister Keira also did it, with steely resolve - as did so many of Ryan's friends and their parents in a touching sacrifice in memory of Jim and on behalf of the vital work of the Palliative Care unit.

"How proud Jim Murphy would be, of his family and friends, with all that has been achieved for such a worthy cause, in his memory," Principal of Ballincrossig NS Dianne Nolan said of an event that proved cathartic for so many.

NOT for nothing was ten-year-old Ryan Murphy named Junior Kerry Person of the Year in December.

Just one year previously the Ballyduff lad, his sister Keira and brother Ben lost their beloved father, Jim Murphy, after a battle with illness.

The death of the hugely popular barman rocked Tralee and Ballyduff to the core as so many friends of Jim and his wife, Louise, rallied to the family's side.

And the community rallied again in memory of Jim late last year, this time in support of the Kerry Hospice Foundation and its work at the Palliative Unit, where Jim received such care.

It was all thanks to Ryan and his pals at Ballincrossig National School that it did so, after they kicked off a remarkable fundraiser in November last, with great help from Principal Dianne Crean and all the staff, as well as Chairman of the Parents' Association Dan Mahoney, whose idea the campaign was.

That fundraiser saw Ryan named Junior Kerry Person of the Year in December. But that was ever before all the funds for the campaign came in - revealed last week in a big presentation at the primary.

The month of All Souls saw the wider school community undertaking a 24-hour rolling fast, with a different pupil and/or parent keeping the fast for the day, before the next rostered faster picked it up.

You wouldn't know Ballincrossig is a relatively small school by the level of funds Ryan and friends presented last week though.

For they handed over a cheque to Dr Patricia Sheahan and Joe Hennebery of the Hospice for an incredible 11,705.40!

"We were just overwhelmed by the response," Ryan's mom and Kerryman employee Louise Boyle said.

"It was incredible. Though our school is relatively small, everyone came together on it: pupils, parents, friends and all in the wider community. The response exceeded all our expectations," Louise said.

Everyone in the school got sponsorship cards for starters, but before long people from all over started getting in contact to donate as one hell of a head of steam built up.

The success even left clever young Ryan dazzled. He told The Kerryman he was delighted with all it achieved.

"I am thrilled. I didn't think we would raise this much, and I really want to thank everybody for supporting us."

He said he found the fast 'hard'. 24 hours is, of course, no small feat for an adult, never mind a young boy or girl.

Ryan's sister, Keira, also did it, with steely resolve, as did so many of Ryan's friends and their parents in a touching sacrifice in memory of Jim and on behalf of the vital work of the Palliative Care unit.

"How proud Jim Murphy would be, of his family and friends, with all that has been achieved for such a worthy cause in his memory," Principal of Ballincrossig NS Dianne Crean said of an event that proved cathartic for so many.
"Hi, Lauren," my husband, Justin, shouted across the street to the sidewalk on the other side of the road. Our neighbor was out for a walk with her dogs, and we were out for a rainy-day stroll, too. Daily fresh air has been a key strategy for me in transitioning into this time of physical distancing and working remotely.

"Hi!" she responded with a big smile. Laurens two dogs seemed to smile, too. "Ill stay over here so we can all stay safe. How are you two?" she asked.

Then, after some brief connecting, she said: "If you ever need anything, just let me know. I can leave it outside your house. I was just checking on another neighbor this morning as well."

Lauren, like all of us, is figuring out what it means to be a good neighbor in safe ways in the midst of a pandemic. Were all learning, collectively, how to act in compassionate ways as we simultaneously avoid close contact.

The word "neighbor" comes from the Old English words "neah" and "gebur," which translates to "near" and "dweller." These days, neighbor refers not only to the people who live nearby, but also to any fellow human. Many of the worlds sacred texts reference care of neighbor as a special priority of a religious life.

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For example, in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge  but love your neighbor as yourself."

In the New Testament, about that very verse, Jesus is asked by someone in a crowd, "So who specifically is my neighbor?" Then Jesus tells a story about a Samaritan man who helps an injured stranger. Jesus uses that narrative to help people recognize that neighbor doesnt only refer to a "nearby dweller"; it actually references all humankind.

As we discern how to be good neighbors to one another in southeastern Minnesota during this time, looking back into our communitys recent history may be a beneficial place to start.

In late 2017, the Rochester City Council approved a resolution designating this community as a "City of Compassion." Lets keep living into that identity!

There were three many focuses expressed through this designation: 1) to honor and support compassionate thought and action already existing in our community, 2) to grow a culture of compassion as a binding force in our community, and 3) to create opportunities for meaningful participation in compassionate actions.

To be a neighbor is to be compassionate. It is to look beyond ourselves and remember the value of the wider community. We are a deeply interconnected species, and compassion is part of the fiber that holds us together (even when we cant be physically together).

Over the next few weeks, how might you continue to practice physical distancing while also digging more deeply into Rochesters three focus areas? How might you support compassionate thought and action? How could you take one concrete step toward nurturing a culture of compassion in your household, congregation or neighborhood? How might you engage in a loving action through the use of the phone, mail or video chat?

We arent able to be physically connected at this time, but we can still be compassionate neighbors to one another in safe, intentional ways. Explore what this might look like in your life!
The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan has followed the exemplary gesture of President Akufo-Addo by donating three months of her salary to support her constituents.



The funds, according to Lydia Alhassan will be used to support the vulnerable and needy in the constituency during the Covid-19 pandemic.



President Akufo-Addo, in his broadcast to the nation on Friday night, among other measures, announced the establishment of a COVID-19 Fund to raise money to mitigate the impact of the virus on vulnerable Ghanaians who have been affected.



The President also revealed he had instructed the Controller and Accountant General to pay his next three months salary to support the Fund.



The Fund which will be managed by independent board of trustees, and chaired by the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo will receive contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and vulnerable as the country fights to curb the spread of the coronavirus.



Madam Lydia Alhassan has also followed the exemplary gesture of President Akufo-Addo and confirmed her next three months' salary will be paid to her constituency to support the fight against Coronavirus pandemic.



She also urged all her constituents to strictly comply with all the Directives by the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as he leads the nation to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.





Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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NEW HAVEN  Dr. Rick Martinello of Yale New Haven Hospital Friday said the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Connecticut wont be here for two weeks to a month, which will be followed by a substantial number of patients for many weeks to come.

A decrease is not likely to start for six to 12 weeks, Martinello said in a virtual press conference held by top officials from the hospital, all of whom continually emphasized the need for social distancing and hand washing to flatten the curve of the virus so the hospital can handle the surge.

Martinello said it is unknown if there will be a seasonality to the virus. He said, however, there could be another surge in the fall, similar to the influenza epidemic in 2009.

Martinello is the medical director for infectious disease and a faculty member at the Yale School of Medicine.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief clinical officer at Yale New Haven Health, reiterated that the peak of the virus spread has not hit.

I am concerned that we are just at the beginning of this outbreak in the state of Connecticut and if we dont act fast to halt the spread ... we would have a New York style set of difficulties here in our state, he said.

The epicenter of the outbreak is now New York City, which is experiencing shortages of supplies and some overwhelmed hospitals.

Yale New Haven Health System CEO Marna Borgstrom said the numbers of patients in the five hospitals in its system with Covid-19 was 152 with one-third in intensive care units. A total of 4,700 residents have been tested with 16 percent positive, but the numbers are increasing daily by 25 percent.

We are climbing fairly rapidly, Borgstrom said.

At the Long Wharf test site for Covid-19, Balcezak said they are serving about 100 residents a day and will keep using it as long as they have supplies, although they are concerned about a shortage of swabs.

On testing persons who dont have a car to take advantage of the drive-through facility, Vincent Petrini, the senior vice president for communications, said they are looking at a number of things, including using My Ride and he said they should call the hospital.

Although they are fine at the present moment for personal protective equipment, the hospital continues to look for more supplies and welcomes donations with about 100 offers coming in daily. As far as volunteers are concerned, Borgstrom said they have more than they can use.

The dedicated email for donations is donationsppe@ynhh.org. Martinello said they are also reaching out to manufacturers in the state to partner with them to fill the supply shortage.

Balcezak said they have run various scenarios, including what would happen if the public were not cooperating and the number of cases keep growing. It is a very large number, Balcezak said of the upper end of infections that could occur.

Balcezak said for the time being, they feel they can handle the number of cases they expect to see given the actions they have already taken. Among them is moving patients off the top three floors at the Smilow Cancer Hospital so those negative pressure rooms will be available.

The hospital has also internally identified other locations in the city where it could set up additional beds, if that proved to be necessary.

They were asked a question about New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has said, as a last resort, overwhelmed New York hospitals would move patients to upstate New York facilities. Borgstrom was asked if similar plans exist in Connecticut.

Yales CEO said there is a collaboration here being coordinated by the Connecticut Hospital Association and through a group Gov. Ned Lamont has put together, which works closely with Cuomo and Rhode Island officials so they can act in a synergistic way.

Borgstrom said surge capacity in the Yale hospitals is the easiest to manage because the staff and the equipment are here.

She said, however, that plans have been developed for 25 percent more capacity throughout the state, which might include turning certain facilities into just Covid-19 hospitals. She said these plans involve all the hospitals in Connecticut and take a look at adequate supplies and staffing. Scenarios are in place for a 50 percent and 75 percent statewide growth as well.

Balcezek said the hospital is partnering with the Yale Center for Clinical investigation and has undertaken a couple of drug trails to fight Covid-19.

He said the trials are looking at ways to combat the infection, as well as the side effects, particularly the inflammation its causes through the body.

He said the hospital is using drugs that have been found safe for other viral infections, and they are part of a network of physicians testing them, as well as new drugs, to see if they are effective.

Martinello said there is also an Advanced Therapeutics Team, a multi-discipline group of scientists, physicians and pharmacists at Yale working on this, tracking the new literature and partnering with companies with promising therapeutics. He said the guidelines on treating patients are updated weekly.

Balcezak said they are being conservative on the use of N95 masks, limiting them to Covid-19 patients.

He said they are collecting used ventilators and masks and, within CDC guidelines, trying a new way to re-process them.

Balcezak said they are not re-using them yet but are holding them in reserve and if can show they can be re-processed safely, as the hospitals supplies dwindle, they may try to re-use them.

Martinello said they are working with virologists at Yale and found that they were easily able to eradicate all the viruses they purposefully contaminated some test respirators with,

He said they know from work done and shown to the FDA that the process they are planning to use was also able to eradicate some very hardy bacteria from these respirators.

In the emergency room, cases have declined because the public is heeding the directives on social distancing and concern for their own safety, Balcezak said. Those who do show up, however, represent a higher number of respiratory cases.

He asked that residents not show up at the emergency room unless you have a high fever and difficulty breathing or other symptoms. After talking to their doctor, they should call ahead and wear a mask. There are tents now outside the emergency rooms to triage people before they enter the hospital.

Borgstrom said they dont know yet how the hospital system will benefit from the $100 million in the congressional stimulus package just approved to fight Covid-19. She did, however, touch on the financial impact of the coronavirus.

Borgstrom said she fears some of the smaller hospitals wont survive because of the cash flow crunch. She said the operational cushion would be wiped out by the middle of the third week in April.

Borgstrom concluded the press conference by appealing to residents to follow the public health guidelines so the state does not end up looking like Italy and Spain where hospitals have been overwhelmed.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577.
Kolkata, March 28 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to feed 30 lakh poor families in West Bengal daily during the lockdown, called to prevent spread of coronavirus.

"During the lockdown, we will provide two meals a day to at least 30 lakh poor families. We will do it in coordination with the administration," Bengal BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu told IANS, here on Saturday.

The initiative is part of the party's nationwide programme following BJP chief J.P. Nadda's directive to leaders and workers to ensure poor people didn't go hungry.

"Due to the lockdown, a large number of people, particularly daily wagers, are in crisis. We have decided that each well-off party leader and worker up to the booth level will take the responsibility of minimum of five families," said Basu.

Of the 78,000 booths in the state, the party has identified 70,000 for the programme and the arrangement will continue till the end of lockdown.

Basu said in case of some booths, 14-15 families might also come under the programme. "This will translate to around 30 lakh people," he said.

"The party will not spend anything from its budget, nor will it collect funds from the public. The arrangements will be funded entirely through individual efforts of leaders and workers who have the means," said Basu.

He himself has decided to feed 11 poor families in the in Habra-Maslandpur area of the North 24 Parganas district and has asked rice, pulse and potato suppliers to provide the commodities to the 11 families.

"I have told them to hand over certain quantities of these commodities every week to them. I will foot the bill," he said.

State BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said the party was drawing up a list of leaders and workers who would sponsor the campaign. The names of people who will be responsible for the programme's execution at the state, district and mandal levels are being finalised.

"From Thursday, many of our leaders have spontaneously started making arrangements for feeding the people in their respective areas. They are visiting the homes of the needy with the ration.

"At the same time, our leaders are cautious to prevent gatherings. They are going in ones and twos to the houses of the poor, taking all precautions, like wearing masks and carrying hand sanitisers. It will help ward off any chance of spreading the infection," Ghosh said.
T he world famous Trooping the Colour will not go ahead in its "traditional form" this year due to coronavirus.

A Palace statement said the decision had been made in line with Government advice.

It said: In line with Government advice, it has been agreed that The Queens Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, will not go ahead in its traditional form."

The event is the annual national celebration of the Queens official birthday and is traditionally staged during June.

Trooping the Colour 2018 1 /30 Trooping the Colour 2018 Young Royals were excited by the fly-past Getty Images The Royal family look-on in awe as planes fly past PA The Royal Family watch the fly-past PA Meghan, Kate and Camilla chat AP The Queen rode alone without Prince Philip AP Tornadoes fly over Buckingham Palace PA Spitfires escort a Lancaster bomber over Buckingham Palace PA The Red Arrows perform a fly-past PA Red Arrows emit red, white and blue smoke over Buckingham Palace PA Meghan Markle and Prince Harry took part in the procession just three weeks after their wedding Getty Images The Queen rode from Buckingham Palace without Prince Philip PA The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge led the carriage procession Getty Images Hundreds of onlookers gather on the Mall to catch a glimpse of the Royals Getty Images Members of the Household Cavalry ride past Buckingham Palace REUTERS A fox delighted onlookers as it appeared at Horse Guards Parade PA Members of the Household Division march on the Mall Getty Images Soliders march during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony AP The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards at Horse Guards Parade PA Thousands of members of the miliatary will take part in the event PA The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex were greeted by huge crowds REUTERS The Queen celebrates her official birthday PA Meghan and Harry arrive at Horse Guards Parade REUTERS Crowds wait to catch a glimpse of the Royals PA

It famously features a gathering of the royal family on Buckingham Palaces balcony to acknowledge the crowds in The Mall.
Weather Alert

...Winter Storm System to Impact the Region this Weekend... A strong winter storm system will push east through the Quad State Saturday into Sunday. Wintry precipitation will spread eastward into southern Illinois and southeast Missouri late Friday night, and then southeast over the remainder of the region Saturday morning. The evolution of the storm for the remainder of the weekend is quite uncertain at this time. The ultimate path and intensity of the storm system, along with the temperature forecast, will determine how impactful it will be across the Quad State. For now you are encouraged to monitor the latest forecasts and follow your winter weather preparedness plans ahead of this potentially impactful winter storm.
Quarantines may be imposed on New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

More than 50 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States are in the New York area. Most of those are in New York City.

Trump told reporters as he left the White House that some people want to see New York quarantined.

Im thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it but theres a possibility sometime today well do a quarantineshort-term, two weekson New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut, Trump said.

The president cited the number of New Yorkers flying to Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a mandatory quarantine for people from New York or New Jersey arriving at airports because of the thousands who fled stay at home orders.

The quarantine would be enforceable, Trump said.

I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020

The president was flying to Norfolk, Virginia to attend a send-off ceremony for the USNS Comfort. The U.S. Navy ship was heading to New York to help in the response to the CCP virus.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

The president told those assembled in Virginia that our nation is at war with an invisible enemy.

Trump indicated a day prior he was considering a quarantine.

A doctor from SOMOS Community Care prepares to test a patient at a drive-thru testing center for COVID-19 at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York City on March 28, 2020. The center, opened March 23 at Lehman College, can test up to 500 people per day for the CCP virus. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Were being very strong on quarantine and on people not leaving, especially certain states and going to other states where they have less of a problem, Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump said he hears constantly about people leaving New York and going to Florida, adding: Understand, we are not playing games.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters in Albany on Saturday afternoon that he didnt speak with the president about the possible quarantine.

State officials have dismissed calls from the White House for people who left the New York metropolitan area within the past two weeks to quarantine themselves wherever they are until 14 days have elapsed from when they left the region.

Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said at a press conference in Washington on Friday that the calls stemmed from concerns about those people.

It was for them to voluntarily self-isolate and take care of themselves because we felt they could be exposed and we wanted to alert them that the rates in New York City were high and increasing and that they were probably exposed during some of the most exposure time period before the mitigation efforts went in, she said.

Earlier in the week, Birx talked about how her grandmother took the Spanish flu into her home when she was a baby. Her grandmothers mother died from the flu.

Florida is threatening up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for anyone who violates the 14-day mandatory quarantine for people flying in from New York and New Jersey. Texas mandated a similar quarantine for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut travelers, while Rhode Island is enforcing an isolation protocol by tracking cars arriving from New York, in addition to people coming in on buses and trains.

I understand this is an extreme measure, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo told reporters on Thursday, adding that the measure was needed because New York City and the surrounding areas are a hot zone and the infection rate is skyrocketing.

From The Epoch Times
Pakistan on Friday received tonnes of medical aid, including protective gear and testing kits, from China to contain the spread of coronavirus after the latter urged its 'all-weather friend' to open the border between the two countries for at least one day so that medical supplies could be transported.

The Khunjerab Pass is usually opened on April 1, marking the end of winters But due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the border between Pakistan and China has been closed for an indefinite period, Dawn reported.

On Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy, in a letter, addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the government of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Ministry of National Health Services, stated that the governor of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China would like to donate a batch of medical materials to Gilgit-Baltistan.

The governor of Xinjiang would donate 200,000 ordinary face masks, 2,000 N-95 face masks, five ventilators, 2,000 testing kits and 2,000 medical protective clothes mainly used by doctors and paramedics, the letter read.

The donation is in response to a request made by Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman to the governor of Xinjiang region to combat the disease outbreak in the region.

Gilgit-Baltistan has a high percentage of coronavirus cases in the country compared to its population, but the underdeveloped region has a negligible number of operational ventilators and its remoteness has led to a severe shortage of medical equipments.

At a time when several countries, including Spain and Croatia, are discarding the Chinese rapid test kits used to diagnose the contagious viral infection for not showing accurate results, Beijing has been pushing these gears into Pakistan in order to make its product sell.

Earlier, NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal had said at a media briefing that Pakistan sought to purchase medical equipments, including ventilators, but these were in short supply around the and only China had assured that it would provide such items to Pakistan.

After donating the aid, the Chinese embassy in Islamabad said, "This is the friendship higher than mountains!"

On Thursday, Yan Chen, managing director of Challenge Group of Companies from China also called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to donate 15,000 protection suits for Pakistani doctors and paramedical staff on the frontline battling the pandemic.

Almost 5,00,000 COVID-19 positive cases and more than 23,000 deaths later, Beijing is now urging for a all-out global war against the pandemic that originated in its own courtyard, Wuhan, before sweeping the world, perishing men, women, children, old and derailing the economies.

However, the reality is -- the worldwide toll could have been checked within time if China had been more transparent and had warned countries regarding the new strain of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-like infection, which originated at a 'wet market' in its province of Hubei late last year, as per a report published by American magazine 'National Review'.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought life to a near standstill in almost every part of the The virus has claimed more than 20,000 lives so far and continues to adversely affect more than 150 countries globally.

Countries like the US accused China of letting the virus spread around the US President Donald Trump recently said that the "Chinese Virus" could have stopped at its origin itself.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pilot of helicopter that crashed heralded for 'miracle' landing

The crew of a Hagerstown-based helicopter and the juvenile patient they picked up in Chambersburg, Pa., are OK after a crash near Philadelphia.
Residents and businesses in Carlingford have launched a campaign to ensure that the popular tourist destination isn't left without an ATM.

Fears that the village was going to lose its only ATM at Newry St were confirmed last week when a notice appeared on the AIB cash machine stating that 'due to circumstances beyond the control of AIB this ATM will be removed from service on the week commencing the 13th of April.' The bank also apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Last month AIB sold off its non-bank ATM network to Point Cash by Brink. At the time, a company stated 'Under the agreement, Brink's will retain existing ATMs, and customers with debit cards issued in the Republic of Ireland will not incur any surcharges or additional fees when using these ATMs.'

The Carlingford Residents' Association has stated that it is 'working with other community groups and public representatives to clarify the position and to ensure that this amenity remains'. They have urged local people who have a view on the issue u to make it known to public representatives and/or the bank.

Local councillors Antoin Watters and Erin McGreehan stated that they had been in contact with the bank. Cllr Antoin Watters said: 'Unfortunately there is confirmation this morning the ATM in Carlingford will be removed on the 13th April. I am hopeful that it will be replaced by another company but nothing has been confirmed yet. I will keep pushing for further updates.'
Peace Mass Transit (PMT), an indigenous transportation company in Nigeria, has commenced nationwide winding down of operations as a response towards curtailing the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

In a statement released by the management on Saturday, PMT said it would first suspend operations in Enugu and Ebonyi states on March 29.

Enugu recorded its first two cases of coronavirus on Friday.

The Ebonyi State government announced it is closing down its boundaries on Saturday in an attempt to block the spread of the virus into the state.

PMT operations in other states would also be suspended by March 31, the company said.

The company said it is contributing to the national and global efforts of controlling the spread of the Coronavirus.

As at Saturday afternoon, Nigeria has recorded 89 cases of coronavirus, with three recoveries and one death.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus infection in Nigeria, several measures have been taken nationwide to stall the spread of the virus, including closure of schools, markets, public offices and motor parks, among others.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike earlier announced the ban of vehicles entering or leaving the state.

Similarly, the Lagos State government has announced the closure of all public parks and also urged travel into and outside the state to be avoided amidst the rising cases of coronavirus in state.

PMT said the date of its resumption of normal operations would be communicated to the public in due course.
Rent-to-own firms like Bright House. Photo: Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic has led to another 4,400 jobs at risk as two popular UK high street staples struggle with the lockdown.

In the last 24 hours, rent-to-own high street giant BrightHouse and Italian restaurant chain Carluccio's are said to be close to collapse.

According to the BBC, Bright House, which has 200,000 customers and is the largest operator in the rent-to-own sector, is expected to fall into administration on Monday 30 March, putting 2,400 jobs at risk in the process.

The report says that an influx of compensation claims for selling to people who could not repay has pushed Bright House in its current position. The company did not immediately respond to Yahoo Finance UKs requests for comment by the time of publication.

Meanwhile, 2,000 jobs are at risk as Carluccio's faces collapse as it is poised to permanently close a number of branches. The restaurants administrator FRP told the BBC, "FRP is working with the directors of Carluccio's to consider all options for the company in the current climate.

Carluccio's Chief Executive Mark Jones told the BBC, the restaurant "was days away from large-scale closures" without state help, prior to the UK governments promise to pay 80% of workers wages of up to 2,500 ($3,113) per month.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: UK unemployment 'worst since 2015' as jobs boom stalls

Britain is currently on lockdown  with strict restrictions placed on the movements of the public. There are now 14,543 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. As of Friday, the number of people who have died with the virus in the UK rose by 181 to 759.

The lockdown has meant that only essential stores  such as supermarkets and pharmacies  are open to the public. This has meant that businesses have had to close and thousands of jobs are at risk.

New figures showed that Britains jobs boom is grinding to a halt under the weight of the coronavirus.

Recent years have seen employment hit a record high, in what some have called a jobs miracle. But analysts say UK unemployment may now have soared to its highest in almost five years, after just under half a million applications for the universal credit benefit in just nine days.

It comes amid warnings Britain could face the worst recession in modern history, as the coronavirus and government lockdown to contain it paralyse the economy.
WOOD RIVER  The citys upcoming city council meeting will be held via teleconference, the Wood River mayor said Saturday.

The COVID-19 virus has thrust this country into an unprecedented time in our history and the city of Wood River is operating within these truncated governmental guidelines, Mayor Cheryl Maguire said in a prepared statement.

Like other cities, we are conducting meetings in such a way as to safeguard the public, our council members and city employees.

For this reason, the Monday, March 30, city council meeting will being conducted by teleconference as outlined by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkers novel coronavirus executive order issued earlier this month.

The citys fiscal year starts May 1.

So its imperative that the budget is passed and bills be approved, Maguire said. Any budget is a financial plan and must be fluid, so changes can be made when necessary. This budget is no exception.

Essential expenditures are the citys top priority, non-essential projects have been placed on hold as of March 15, she said.

Revenues are being closely scrutinized, she explained. To that end, myself and department heads have been in contact with our federal and state government representatives to check whether grants and other revenues that the city is receiving, may receive or are on target to receive, are being postponed, given this precarious time.

Many citywide employees are working off-site at home, and city departments are rotating its workforce whenever possible. Both fire and police departments are fully staffed and altering service methods to the public in order to contribute to the safety of the public and Wood Rivers first responders.

Even with these adaptations during this emergency, citizens are currently receiving city services as we can best provide, Maguire said.

The City Council and administration appreciates the patience and understanding of the public as well as their cooperation in conducting their business with the city.

Cities are here solely to serve the needs of its residents and thats what Wood River is doing in the modified ways we are able. Everyone please stay safe and stay well.

Citizens can call Wood River City Hall at 618-251-3100 for more information.
Beyond finances, the virus made it harder for people to complete their license applications by the original deadline Monday. Applicants for craft growers must show that any municipality where they want to locate has approved zoning for the site, but with planning department offices often closed to the public, as in Chicago, it became very difficult to get signed and notarized documents.
UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath

Coronavirus outbreak: Is Uttar Pradesh govt seeking revenge on CAA protesters during pandemic?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, MAr 28: In a shocking turn of events, an incident that talks about abuse of power during the nationwide 21- day lockdown has come to light in Uttar Pradesh.

On March 23, Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Dr Ashish Mittal when state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had imposed a lockdown. According to reports, the doctor, who was one of those supporters of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests had received warnings from the state police to get the protest in Mansoor Park area of Prayagraj stopped.

However, it is alleged that two days after his arrest, the Uttar Pradesh police slapped the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, against the doctor and another activist Umar Khalid, who was also put in police custody.

Software engineer held in Karnataka for 'call' to spread coronavirus

Meanwhile, the residents alleged that the Act has gives special powers to officials to penalise and arrest persons in the interest of controlling an epidemic disease.

With the Uttar Pradesh government making several attempts to remove the protesters from the protest site, CM Adityanath's government has been brutal against the protesters who have largely been staging sit-ins peacefully against the CAA.

It is also said that during the doctor's arrest, the women protestors had taken adequate precautions and had reduced in numbers to prevent the spread of the novel virus.

Is Yogi Adityanath's govt bringing fear among anti-CAA protesters in Uttar Pradesh?

Demanding the doctor's immediate release, the AIKMS said the Uttar Pradesh government's action is brazen and under the pretext of containing a pandemic it was suppressing the voices of those people who have been at the forefront of exposing its corruption and high-handedness.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 8:44 [IST]
Tanmeya bookstore, for example, is offering 20 and 30 percent discounts on books for the public and doctors, respectively

With the series of measures Egypt has adopted to curb the spread of the coronavirus, many businesses were forced to either downsize their activities or shut down temporarily. Publishers are no exception.

Egypt's publishers have resorted to new marketing methods to help them save their businesses during this time of crisis by delivering books to readers' houses and encouraging people to purchase books online via their websites.

Dar El-Shorouk, one of the largest bookstore chains in Egypt, is offering free delivery services to readers who purchase its books from its website.

Dar El-Shorouk has also made its books available on Amazon, Kindle and Google Play store with some of its books free for its readers.

Tanmeya bookstore adopted the campaign #StayAtHome, offering 20 and 30 percent discounts on books for the public and doctors, respectively. Egyptians have named doctors the white army, in appreciation of their role in the fight against coronavirus.

Al-Dar Al-Masriyah Al-Lubnaniah launched the campaign Al-Qiraa Hayat (Reading is Life), as part of the #StayAtHome campaign, offering free delivery services for orders over a certain threshold.

The founder of the publishing house Mohamed Rashad said in a press release as people stock up on food and groceries, we wanted them to stock up on rich cultural meals, we dont want the homes to smell like chlorine and rubbing alcohol. Culture has to be part of this quarantine too."

While bookstores are allowed to operate on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm and completely close on Fridays and Saturdays during the curfew, Diwan Bookstore announced the closure of its stores all over Cairo until further notice in light of the current circumstances to support flattening the curve. However, it will continue to sell books via its website.

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Together IMF, World Bank, EBRD could give at least $10 bln to Ukraine, talks with some countries also being held  Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the negotiations on financial assistance are being held with the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU) and some other countries.

"Together with the World Bank, the EBRD, we can receive at least $10 billion," he told reporters on Friday after a meeting of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction late on Friday.

According to him, Ukraine also expects financial support from Azerbaijan, but so far the president has not disclosed the details.

"We also expect a response from Prime Minister of Canada [Justin] Trudeau," he added.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's capital Jakarta announced a two-week extension of its state of emergency following the nationwide surge in coronavirus cases, its governor said on Saturday.

Anies Baswedan told reporters on a video conference call that the state of emergency, imposed on March 20 to try to slow the spread of the virus in Southeast Asias biggest city, would be extended until April 19.

"We're preparing ways to anticipate all possibilities that could happen in the city," Baswedan said.

"We implore people of Jakarta to not leave Jakarta, especially for their home towns."

Indonesia's chief security minister Mahfud MD said on Friday that the government was considering a plan to ban "mudik" - the tradition which sees millions of Indonesians leave towns and cities for their native villages at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in May.

Indonesia confirmed 109 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, taking the total cases in the country to 1,155, a health ministry official said.

Achmad Yurianto, the ministry official, confirmed 15 additional deaths, bringing the total to 102.

According to government data, a total of 627 cases have been recorded in Jakarta and 62 people have died.

The airline AirAsia Indonesia <CMPP.JK> said in a statement posted on its website on Saturday that it would suspend flights starting on April 1. Domestic flights are due to resume on April 21 and international flights to restart on May 17.

(Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Stanley Widianto; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Ed Osmond)
What was truly astonishing about this episode was that here were literally thousands of people with professorial appointments who completely rejected the idea of academic thought and analysis.

Neither new nor old rules will ever be enforced while radicals control all the enforcement mechanisms. Students will know that they can rely on leniency if they break the rules because they know that campus authorities are essentially on their side.

Professor John Ellis has served on college faculties since 1963 and is now an emeritus professor at the University of California-Santa Cruz. He has witnessed enormous changes in higher education over his years and he finds those changes to be deplorable.In his new book The Breakdown of Higher Education , Ellis explains how our system was subverted, why it matters, and what it will take to put it back on the proper track.Americans, Ellis observes, used to have almost unlimited confidence in our colleges and universities. They were expected to provide advanced learning for serious students and a forum for the discussion of important national issues, which they did. Higher education simply wasn't controversial; few books were written about it and hardly anyone offered harsh criticism.Today, however, many people are deeply distressed at the state of higher education, mainly because it has become terribly politicized. Ellis writes thatand says thatHe provides plenty of evidence to back up his charge that radical politics has become the dominant force at many schools.One case Ellis highlights is that of Professor Bruce Gilley of Portland State. Gilley, a political scientist, wrote an article that was published in an academic journal, in which he argued that colonialism had some beneficial consequences for native peoples. That is certainly a debatable proposition and any scholar who read his paper would have been perfectly free to respond with counter-arguments. In an earlier day, that is all that would have happened.But rather than arguing against Gilley, an outraged academic mob immediately demanded that his paper be suppressed.More than 10,000 professors signed a petition demanding that the paper be withdrawn, and the journal's editor even received death threats. Under severe pressure, the journal did retract the article (but in the spirit of academic freedom, the National Association of Scholars has republished it ).About the Gilley affair, Ellis writes,Yes, it is astonishing that so many professors would resort to intimidation rather than reasoning when faced with something they disapproved of. But in the American academic world today, colonialism is one of the many issues about which there is only one acceptable view, namely that it was an unmitigated evil inflicted by whites on natives. Many faculty members who had neither read Gilley's paper nor studied the questions it raised nevertheless felt free to demand that his work be expunged.It is indeed chilling to realize that such behavior is now perfectly normal among the professoriate.Another instance showing how an unscholarly, adversarial mindset has permeated our higher education system is the furor over an op-ed piece written by University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax and Larry Alexander of the University of San Diego. In their piece, they defended bourgeois norms and argued that the abandonment of such norms helps explain why "disadvantaged groups" are making little economic progress.Again, rather than seeking to debate the argument Wax and Alexander advanced, the academic community reacted with sheer vehemence.More than half of Wax's law school colleagues signed a letter to the dean "condemning" the piece and stating that if it weren't for tenure, Wax should be fired. Those professors did not deign to argue against Wax but simply declared her views to be intolerable. In their worldview, the only permissible explanation for the socio-economic troubles of minority groups is racism. Any "deviationism" (as Maoists used to put it) must be punished. Fortunately, Penn couldn't fire Professor Wax but did punish her by taking away the first-year civil procedure course she had taught expertly for years. Too bad for students, but the mob had to be appeased.American professors didn't always act in this unseemly manner. Well into the 1960s, it had a liberal majority, but without the vast imbalance we see now nor today's radical politics and intolerance. To be sure, there were many dedicated leftists, but they fought for their beliefs with arguments, not force. By example, our activist faculty now teaches students to act on emotion, not reason.Ellis traces the transformation of the faculty to the 1962 manifesto of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), which called for bringing socialism to the U.S. Its writers saw that their path required a takeover of American education, especially colleges, to control how young people were schooled. While we don't yet have the fully socialist country the SDS envisioned, its project of dominating education with a faculty hostile to capitalism and our traditions of limited government has been exceedingly successful. Ellis points out that it took three strokes of good luck (from the SDS perspective, anyway) for that to occur.First, the 1960s ushered in a period of enormous growth in higher education. That expansion required the hiring of great numbers of new faculty. As Ellis writes,Many of the newly hired faculty were already invested in radical leftist politics.Second, the Vietnam War led to campus protests that emboldened the faculty to embrace activism both in and out of the classroom.Third, the mania for diversity that began sweeping through colleges and universities in the 1970s led to the creation of many new academic departments where the old rules of objectively searching for truth were tossed aside in favor of pushing an ideology. While the incessant focus on diversity is supposedly beneficial for black and other minority students, Ellis demurs:What, if anything, can be done to restore our higher education system? Ellis isn't terribly sanguine.In some states, there has been legislation to protect freedom of speech on campus. Unfortunately, such laws don't get at the root of the problem and won't accomplish much. Ellis explains,How about imploring colleges to hire for intellectual diversity, adding some conservative or libertarian faculty members to offset the leftist dominance? While having some non-leftist faculty would be good for students, it won't do anything to change the fact that the left has control of our colleges and will keep on using them to promote their views.The one and only approach that will work, Ellis argues, is to stop feeding the beast the money it needs.State legislatures have the power of the purse over their higher education systems and need to start exerting it. As a prelude, legislators who want to stop subsidizing leftist politics should establish fact-finding committees to enlighten the public as to the severity of the problem.Ellis and his colleagues at the California Association of Scholars did exactly that with a 2012 study of the blatant politicization within the University of California system, but top administrators chose to ignore it and the big Democratic majority in state government likes things the way they are. But in conservative states, such an effort could open eyes about the problem of politicization and catalyze change.At the individual level, parents and alumni also have roles to play. The former can choose not to send their sons and daughters to colleges that have largely become camps for political indoctrination, and the latter can stop sending them donations.Professor Ellis has brilliantly exposed the fact of and reasons for the breakdown of American higher education. This book deserves a wide audience.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The urban poor, daily-wage labourers and others without access to food because of the COVID-19 lockdown may finally get some respite. After facing a severe flak for shutting down Indira Canteens, denying a source of food to economically backward masses, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday announced that supply of free food would be resumed at the canteens, but with some changes.

Instead of free food tokens, service and consumption at canteens which led to crowding earlier, Yediyurappa said ready-to-eat food packets will be distributed to the poor.

To ensure that the poor and those who do not have access to or cant afford food do not go hungry, the government has decided to rope in various organisations and provide packed food at Indira Canteens. Food packets will be given free during the entire lockdown period, the Chief Minister said after a cabinet meeting on Friday.

At the cabinet meeting, it was decided that district-in-charge ministers will be responsible for all COVID-19 containment measures in each district, including lockdown and supply of essential services and commodities. We will ensure that there is no disruption in the supply of essential commodities from farmers to APMC yards, godowns to retail shops, Yediyurappa said.

The chief minister also thanked the Muslim community for suspending prayers and gatherings, especially on Fridays -- considered auspicious -- to join hands with the government in ensuring social distancing.

No school admissions until crisis ends: Minister

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said instructions have been issued to schools to stop the process of admission till the COVID-19 crisis is over. I will ask officers to ensure that no parent is unduly harassed at this moment of social crisis. The school managements must act responsibly and they should understand the governments concern, Kumar said.
As the United States led the world with confirmed coronavirus cases, cities such as Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans grew as hotspots Saturday, while the virus continued to pummel New York City and made its way into rural America.

Elsewhere, Russia said its borders would be fully closed as of Monday, while in parts of Africa, pandemic prevention measures took a violent turn, with Kenyan police firing tear gas and officers elsewhere seen on video hitting people with batons.

Worldwide infections surpassed 640,000 with nearly 30,000 deaths as new cases also stacked up quickly in Europe, according to a tally by John Hopkins University. The U.S. leads the world in reported cases with more than 112,000, but five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France. Italy alone now has 10,023 deaths, the most of any country.

New York remained the worst-hit U.S. city. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said defeating the virus will take "weeks and weeks and weeks." The U.N. donated 250,000 protective face masks to the city and Cuomo delayed state's presidential primary from April 28 to June 23.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference against a backdrop of medical supplies at the Jacob Javits Center that will house a temporary hospital in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)AP

But Cuomo said he knew nothing of President Donald Trumps suggestion of some kind of quarantine for New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, all hit hard by the coronavirus.

The federal government generally does not have the power to impose such restrictions on states. Trump made the comments on his way to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a U.S. Navy medical ship en route to New York City to help with the response there.

Cases also have been rising rapidly in cities such as Detroit, where poverty and poor health have been problems for years. The number of infections surged to 1,381, with 31 deaths recorded, as of noon Saturday.

"At this time, the trajectory of Detroit is unfortunately even more steep than that of New York," said Dr. Teena Chopra, the medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the Detroit Medical Center.

"This is off the charts," she said.

Chopra, who has worked in Detroit for more than 15 years, said many patients have ailments like asthma, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. She also acknowledged that in Detroit, one of the nation's largest African American cities, there is a distrust among some in the community of the medical system and government due to systemic racism.

"In Detroit, we are seeing a lot of patients that are presenting to us with severe disease, rather than minor disease," said Chopra, who worried about a "tsunami" of patients.

Nyla Clark, 3, accompanied by her mother, Chavonne Clark, sits in a baby stroller Wednesday at a corner in New Orleans, hoping to get a few dollars from an occasional passerby. Clark was a phlebotomist with a local company until she lost her job because of the coronavirus pandemic. (David Grunfeld, The Advocate via AP)

Louisiana has surpassed 2,700 infections, with 119 residents dead from COVID-19  an increase of 36 fatalities from a day earlier, according to the health department. Gov. John Bel Edwards said Louisiana has the third-highest rate of cases per capita and the second-highest death rate per capita, with the region on track to run out of ventilators by the first week of April.

Officials urged residents and businesses to donate protective gear such as masks, gloves and face shields at New Orleans' fire stations.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis worried that people would flee New Orleans, and he ordered anyone arriving from Louisiana to self-quarantine. He said the Florida Highway Patrol and sheriff's deputies will set up checkpoints to screen cars from Louisiana.

Cases in Chicago and suburban Cook County accounted for about three-quarters of Illinois' 3,026 total as of Friday. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed popular lakeshore parks Thursday after people failed to practice social distancing, despite a statewide shelter-at-home order.

Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan, providing money for the outbreak. He also has done the same for New York, Louisiana and Illinois.

The governor of Kansas also issued a stay-at-home order to begin Monday, as the virus takes hold in more rural areas, where doctors worry about the lack of ICU beds.

The virus is straining health systems in Italy, Spain and France. Lockdowns of varying severity have been introduced across Europe, nearly emptying streets in normally bustling cities.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed for patience from citizens. Germany has fewer deaths than some neighboring countries but still closed nonessential shops and banned public gatherings of more than two people, and Merkel's chief of staff said the restrictions won't be relaxed before April 20.

Spain, where stay-at-home restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks, reported 832 more deaths Saturday, its highest daily count yet, bringing its total to 5,690.

Another 8,000 confirmed infections pushed that count above 72,000. But Spain's director of emergencies, Fernando Simon, saw hope in that the rate of infection is slowing and figures "indicate that the outbreak is stabilizing and may be reaching its peak in some areas."

Doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers in Spain's worst-hit regions are working nonstop and falling ill at an alarming rate. More than 9,000 health workers in the country have been infected.

"We are completely overwhelmed," said paramedic Pablo Rojo at Barcelona's Dos de Maig hospital. "Seven or eight (patients transported today) and all with COVID-19. ... And the average age is decreasing. They're not 80 years old anymore, they are now 30 and 40 years old."

Spain has struggled to get coronavirus tests and protective gear for health workers and has begun flights to carry the supplies directly from China.

As the epicenter has shifted westward, the situation has calmed in China, where some restrictions have been lifted. Some subway service was restored in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December, after the city had its virus risk evaluation reduced from high to medium. Five districts of the city of 11 million people had other travel restrictions loosened after their risk factor was reduced to low.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

More than 135,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

Countries are still trying to bring home citizens stranded abroad. On Saturday, 174 foreign tourists and four Nepali nationals in the foothills of Mount Everest were flown out days after being stranded at the only airstrip serving the world's highest mountain.

Indian authorities sent buses to the outskirts of New Delhi to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages amid the world's largest lockdown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began Wednesday and effectively put millions out of work.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has ordered his country's borders fully closed as of Monday. International passenger flights were halted Friday. The order exempts diplomats as well as residents of the Kaliningrad region who must cross through another country to enter the rest of Russia.

Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Friday, ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing ventilators. He also signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package approved by Congress that will send checks to millions of Americans, boost unemployment benefits, help businesses and toss a life preserver to an overwhelmed health care system.

Dr. John Brooks of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Americans remained "in the acceleration phase" of the pandemic.

"There is no geographic part of the United States that is spared from this," he said.

The first death was reported Friday in the rural Michigan town of Cadillac, while numbers grew in Detroit, four hours to the south. Detroit's homeless populations is especially vulnerable, officials said.

"If any of these individuals got infected, it would be very easy to transmit it to other people without knowing," said Chad Audi, executive director of the Detroit Rescue Mission, adding he has since opened two new facilities to accommodate an increase in clients and implemented new safety precautions. "But in no circumstances will we close our doors because these individuals don't have any place to go. It's very important to us."

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Irvine reported from Chicago. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Two Bexar County Sheriffs Office deputies and 27 inmates may have been exposed to coronavirus, officials said Saturday.

On Friday, the sheriffs office learned that an employee of the countys district court had a family member who tested positive for COVID-19.

RELATED: Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com

At that time the employee had not shown any symptoms associated with the virus, nor had they tested positive for the virus.

However, officials identified all of the potential individuals who may have been in contact with the employee, including two court security deputies and 27 inmates.

Of the 27 inmates, the 22 still in custody were placed under separate medical observation Friday night. Additionally, the two deputies have been placed on administrative leave and are now in self-quarantine.

As of Saturday afternoon, neither the inmates in custody nor the deputies have shown signs of symptoms and health officials said the likelihood infection from the incident remains low.

Officials are still attempting to notify the five other inmates who had been released from custody of their potential exposure.

At this time, the sheriffs office reports no staff and no inmates in their custody have been diagnosed with COVID-19. However, no information on the number of tests conducted on staff, or inmates was released, or available.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar on Friday said that a 21-year-old man with travel history to Dublin and Ireland has been completely recovered from COVID-19 and discharged from hospital.

However, the man has been quarantined for the next 14 days.

"Update: The 21 Y M who traveled from Dublin, Ireland has completely recovered from #COVID2019 & discharged from #RGGH after 2 subsequent mandatory tests proved -ve. He will continue to b home quarantined for d next 14 days. Appreciate d team who took care of this young man," Vijayabaskar tweeted.

A total of 724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 101-year-old man who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic which killed millions has reportedly recovered from coronavirus.

The man, from Rimini in north-east Italy, was born in 1919 as the world was grappling with the pandemic which killed 50million people.

And he has now been released from hospital after becoming one of the oldest people in the world to recover from coronavirus, according to reports.

A 101-year-old man who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic which killed millions has reportedly recovered from coronavirus. Pictured: Members of the Red Cross hold stretchers in St Louis, Missouri, during the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918

Gloria Lisi, the deputy mayor of Rimini, said the man, who she identified only as Mr P, was released from hospital earlier this week and returned to his family.

His recovery comes despite the virus being particularly dangerous for the elderly and those with health problems.

According to Italy's National Institute of Health, nearly 86 per cent of deaths among those with coronavirus occurred in patients older than 70.

Italy has been particularly badly affected by the virus. The country has had more than 86,000 cases - second only to the US - and 9,134 people have died.

The man, from Rimini (pictured) in north-east Italy, was born in 1919 as the world was grappling with the pandemic which killed 50million people

Ms Lisi said Mr P was taken to hospital last week and then tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the ANSA news agency, she said: 'He made it. Mr. P. made it.'

She added that Mr P has seen 'everything' in his life, including 'war, hunger, pain, progress, crisis and resurrections.'

Spanish flu attacked more than one third of the world's population and within three months had killed three times as many as those who died in the First World War.

While most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill juvenile, elderly, or already weakened patients, the 1918 pandemic predominantly killed previously healthy young adults.

The oldest person to recover from coronavirus is 103-year-old Zhang Guangfen, a woman living in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started.

The news of Mr P's recovery comes after the death toll from coronavirus in Italy surged by 919 on Friday to the current official figure of 9,134.

Prior to Friday's figure, the largest daily toll was registered on March 21, when 793 people died.

The man (not pictured) has now been released from hospital after becoming one of the oldest people in the world to recover from coronavirus, according to reports. Pictured: An elderly man wears a face mask while walking in downtown Padua, northern Italy, on Saturday

The 919 people who died on Friday compares with 712 deaths on Thursday, 683 on Wednesday, 743 on Tuesday and 602 on Monday.

There have now been more cases in Italy's than in China.

The United States already surpassed China's tally of cases on Thursday.

The news of Mr P's recovery comes after the death toll from coronavirus in Italy surged by 919 on Friday to the current official figure of 9,134

In Italy, of those originally infected nationwide, 10,950 had fully recovered on Friday, compared to 10,361 the day before. There were 3,732 people in intensive care against a previous 3,612.

The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy reported a steep rise in fatalities compared with the day before and remains in a critical situation, with a total of 5,402 deaths and 37,298 cases.

That compared with 4,861 deaths and 34,889 cases reported up to Thursday.
Dozens of asylum seekers living in shared accommodation are being forced to eat in communal spaces in close proximity to one another in breach of social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Campaigners have raised alarm after video footage emerged from an accommodation centre in Wakefield showing more than 60 people eating and queueing for food in one room, with little distance between them.

The Independent understands no measures have been taken in Urban House, which is run by housing and care provider Mears Group under a Home Office contract and holds up to 330 people, to prevent residents from having to eat meals in one room and share washing facilities.

One asylum seeker who was living in the facility said he decided to leave the centre on Wednesday to move in with a friend because he felt so at risk of contracting the virus.

The man, who asked not to be named for fear it would jeopardise his asylum claim, told The Independent he had been sharing a room with two others, whom he slept only one metre away from.

A lot of people live there altogether. People sit in the lounge together. Around 100 people eat together in one room. Its very busy. If one person had coronavirus, everyone would get it. It feels very dangerous in there, he said.

Labours shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the conditions were simply unacceptable, adding: Everyone needs to take social distancing measures seriously, and those in authority need to ensure social distancing is possible for everyone in their care.

John Grayson, of campaign group South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG), which supports asylum seekers living in centre, said: Weve been hearing concerns from people in Urban House about poor hygiene in the centre, such as there being no soap and uncleaned toilet facilities, for ages. This was before coronavirus.

When people start sending videos and pictures out of people eating together during the pandemic, it started to paint a very disturbing picture.

The fact that theyre doing absolutely nothing to introduce social distancing is shocking. Its also neglect by the Home Office, which is responsible for the contracts. A lot of issues have been reported to them on this, and theres no evidence theyve intervened at all.

The Home Office is ultimately responsible for everything that happens in there and its a disgrace that theyve not seen the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers as a priority of any kind.

It comes amid wider concerns that migrants in the UK face higher risk of harm from coronavirus because many are unable to access healthcare or housing because they have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) and benefit restrictions.

Campaigners called for a halt on evictions from Home Office asylum support accommodation  which often take place after people have been granted their refugee status  and for everyone to be able to access self-contained accommodation so they can self-isolate safely, regardless of immigration status.

A spokesperson for Mears, the company subcontracted by the Home Office to run the facility, said it was working closely with the Home Office and health colleagues to ensure the safety of its staff, residents and the communities in which they live.

Mears has ensured that all service users have translated guidance on how to respond to Covid-19 and what is required of them. Mears is also providing direct assistance in shared accommodation to any person who presents with Covid-19 symptoms in order that they can self-isolate successfully.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The safety and health of people in our accommodation services is of the utmost importance and new asylum seekers, who display coronavirus symptoms, are completing a minimum of seven days in self-isolation before entering mainstream asylum accommodation.

Asylum accommodation providers are applying Public Health England guidance and staff will instruct any symptomatic service user to self-isolate. Service users inside hostels who do not have symptoms can still move around the hostel and interact with each other.
The debate is still well underway and unresolved: Is cannabis (both marijuana and hemp) considered a plant with medicinal value?

Cannabis scientists have proven over and over again, it can be. Examples abound where cannabis has proven effective in treating seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even oral health and diabetes, among a variety of other conditions. Still, lawmakers and cannabis advocates do not overwhelmingly agree.

Even presidential nominee, Joseph Biden, whose social policies are more progressive than that of his conservative counterparts, believes medical marijuana requires more research before the federal government can legalize it.

More recently, the debate on marijuanas medicinal legitimacy has been front and center as states and cities struggle to cope with COVID-19 and hinder the spread of the virus. As the coronavirus sets in, more and more states, cities, and counties have shut down all commerce except that deemed essential. When it comes to medical marijuana, this definition has been put to the ultimate test.

While in some parts of the country marijuana dispensaries remain open during the national shutdown, in other parts, those same types of dispensaries are closed.

Back And Forth, And Somewhere In Between

In San Francisco, California, for example, the city first deemed marijuana dispensaries non-essential, ordering them to shut down during the temporary ban on business as usual. Meanwhile, 50 miles south of San Francisco, in San Jo`se, California, the city found in favor of marijuana dispensaries, permitting them to remain open during the coronavirus lockdown, classifying them alongside hospitals, grocery stores, and gas stations, as an essential service to the community.

See Also: Noticias sobre cannabis en Espanol en ElPlanteo.com

Shortly thereafter, San Francisco changed its position and the San Francisco Department of Health sent a tweet saying that dispensaries could stay open after all. People rely on medical cannabis for chronic pain, seizure disorders, muscle spasms, depression and multiple other disorders and conditions, Dr. Susan Philip, director of disease prevention and control in the citys public health department, said. So I want to clarify ... that cannabis dispensaries are allowed to remain open for pickup or delivery of these essential medical treatments.

Story continues

In Colorado, despite the states willingness to allow marijuana businesses to remain active, on Monday morning, March 22nd, Denvers mayor on Monday initially told recreational cannabis retailers they would need to close before reversing that decision only hours later after droves of customers stormed dispensaries in order to stock up.

Similarly, in Massachusetts, a state with legal marijuana laws, both recreational and medical dispensaries were first ordered to close. Days later, on March 24th, only medical marijuana dispensaries were permitted to stay open through noon ET April 7, while recreational cannabis shops remained closed under fears that recreational marijuana stores could draw out-of-state customers.

(Link: https://bit.ly/39aOFEU)

In Michigan, another state where both recreational marijuana is legal, cannabis retailers can remain open, however sales are permitted solely by curbside service or delivery, with in-store transactions temporarily prohibited. While in the medical marijuana approved neighboring state of Ohio, the states health director stipulated that licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and licensed medical marijuana cultivation centers could keep their doors open.

To compound the confusion, some adult-use dispensaries chose to remain open in certain states, serving only consumers with medically approved needs and proper credentials. MOCA Modern Cannabis in Illinois, for example, suspended recreational marijuana sales to focus on more vulnerable MMJ customers, according to the Chicago Tribune. This, despite the fact that Illinois deemed all state-licensed cannabis growers and retailers (both recreational and medical) as essential according to the governors stay-at-home order.

Many states and cities had no back-and-forth decisions around their treatment of marijuana as an essential product. This, due largely to an understanding and agreement that the plant serves as medicine for thousands upon thousands of patients.

Maryland and Pennsylvania, for example, both with medical marijuana programs, allowed those businesses to remain open, while ordering businesses deemed non-essential to shut down. Similarly, on Tuesday, March 24th, the New York state Department of Health declared medical cannabis businesses as being essential to the population and allowed them to remain open. The medical marijuana market in Florida has been treated the same.

Demand For Marijuana

By and large, cannabis retailers reported larger purchases made by consumers looking to stockpile marijuana products in the midst of state quarantine orders, not knowing how long these new directives would remain in place. For this reason, New England Treatment Access dispensary in Brookline, Massachusetts, was forced to eliminate all walk-in customers due to high volume, pivoting to serve only those customers who placed orders in advance.

In Florida, consumers are flocking to cannabis stores as the COVID-19 crisis ramps up. Based on a report released on March 20, 2020, the medical marijuana-legal state saw sales of (THC), the psychotropic ingredient in marijuana, grow 39% over the week before according to Jonathan Cooper of Seeking Alpha. Additionally, the sale of marijuana flower grew 38% over a week that, at the time, notched record sales in the state.

Marijuana delivery services have flourished in the COVID-19 world, as well, as some customers would rather avoid the health risk of visiting a dispensary in person. Amanda Denz, co-founder and CEO at Sava, a San Francisco-based delivery company, said, "We've seen a slight increase in sales over the last two weeks as news of COVID-19's impact on our community continues to spread."

Whats The Definition of Essential, Anyway?

All this regulatory confusion on one hand, and overwhelming product demand on the other, begs the question: Whats the definition of essential anyway?

The term essential itself has a vague definition around it. While doctors, pharmacies, and grocery stores are reasonably deemed essential, liquor stores and hardware stores are, as well. The former, of which, strikes colorful debate. Cannabis is essential and many are using it as therapy during this hard time, said Rachel King, founder and culinary director at gourmet cannabis edibles manufacturer, Kaneh Co. Research needs to be funded and the plant needs to be declassified.

Understandably most cannabis advocates agree, the cannabis plant is medicinal, and therefore, essential. "Cannabis businesses are essential, whether they be medical or adult use as products are medicine used by sick patients to manage their symptoms and ease their suffering, said Tyler Strause, founder of Randys Club, a company that develops scientifically-formulated hemp-derived health products. During this crisis it is important to treat business and consumers fairly. As long as grocery stores and pharmacies are open selling alcohol and prescription drugs, so too should medical and adult use cannabis dispensaries and related businesses be allowed to remain open to serve their customers and support their community."

States have, in fact, been choosing to decide cannabis is medicine and should be legal, but not enough of them and to the degree necessary to change the federal governments position on marijuana legalization.

How could it not be?, asked Aaron Pelley, founder and CEO at leading cannabis legal firm, Cultiva Law. Lest we forget, ten of thousands of people in California use cannabis for medical purposes everyday. When we use cannabis recreationally, we often are functional, seeking to become impaired, he continued. For those using cannabis medicinally, they are impaired, trying to become functional. That is the very definition of essential.

The reality is that on the state-level, we are seeing an acceptance as a vice and as a medicine - both remain open during times of crisis, said Leland Radovanovic, founder and CEO of Conscious Communications Collective, an industry communications, branding, and strategy company. This could continue to trickle up to the federal level. And, if we are being honest, we will need to refill tax coffers after this storm dies down and cannabis is one way to do it.

Will COVID-19 Cause A Change In How Cannabis Is Regarded?

These cannabis-as-medicine sentiments are triggering the idea that perhaps COVID-19 will force the federal government to finally make a decision on how to resolve the contradictions between state laws on marijuana versus those of the country as a whole. Afterall, its hard to ignore the chaos this once-in-a-lifetime sequestering and shutdown situation has caused in merely trying to establish whether a dispensary stays open or closed, and how it conducts business if it does remain open.

With over four years working with and writing about the FDA, hemp foods pioneer and industry thought leader, Richard Rose, quoted former Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, saying, You never let a good crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that is its an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before. Rose, author of The Richard Rose Report, believes this crisis has the potential to re-shape FDA as well as deschedule marijuana in response. Its contrary to the stated mission of the FDA, to encourage development of new medicines. It is actually hindering that.

COVID-19 has the potential to change that. Now in the crisis, those states with legal programs are deciding that they are essential, in terms of medical specifically, stated Richard William Guerra, publisher at industry-leading Sensi Magazine, Boston edition. There is a lot of press and talk about cannabis as an industry in this crisis, so post-crisis we should see Congress and the federal government considering it more than ever because of the ability for its legalization to provide needed stimulus and jobs for the ailing economy.

Could todays pandemic lead to tomorrows final judgement on cannabis? It may very well prove to be the impetus for it, or for serious federal deliberation about it at the least.

Feature Image: depositphotos.com

Andre Bourque is a cannabis industry connector, executive advisor to several cannabis companies, brand strategy advisor, and a cannabis industry analyst. In addition to Benzinga, Andres articles have been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo Finance, CIO Magazine & ComputerWorld.

You can connect with him at @socialmktgfella on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

The preceding article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
UPDATE: Pennsylvania received approval late on March 27 to operate a Disaster Household Distribution program through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program. The state announced the waiver approval March 28.

The program waives the need for people to complete income eligibility paperwork and allows USDA commodity foods to be included in distributions to families impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

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Food banks facing overwhelming demand are being hamstrung by bureaucratic red tape, officials said.

What we want is complete elimination and administrative release of paperwork we have to do to verify eligibility for services, said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

Hamler-Fugitt and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf want the U.S. Department of Agriculture to waive eligibility requirements for the Emergency Food Assistance Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program makes commodity food available to state food distribution agencies. That food then goes to local agencies to distribute to families in need.

Any other time we do it, were proud to do it, Hamler-Fugitt said, of the eligibility verification and reporting requirements. What were asking for is temporary relief The requirement of this information is putting our volunteers, our staff and the very Ohioans who need this food at risk.

Wolf sent a letter March 26 to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him to waive the food assistance eligibility requirement, with power he has under the presidents national disaster declaration.

It is critical that Pennsylvanians in need have access as quickly as possible, and that the food banks working around the clock can help those in need without the additional burden and delay of completing paperwork and verifying client eligibility, Wolf wrote in the letter.

Wolf called it unconscionable to delay access to food because of cumbersome paperwork requirements. He wrote that without action from the USDA, Pennsylvania food banks will not be able to keep up with demand.

This is especially important as more and more people find themselves food insecure after suddenly losing their jobs due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Pennsylvania reported nearly 700,000 new unemployment claims since March 15. Those are unprecedented numbers, Wolf said.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported 187,780 new claims for unemployment benefits for the week of March 15-21. The week prior, there were 7,042 new claims reported.

In the letter, Wolf also asked that the USDA be flexible in its interpretation of recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and reconsider Pennsylvanias request for temporary waivers to allow supplies of USDA foods at schools and in state warehouses to be used to feed those in need.

After Hamler-Fugitt read Wolfs letter, she crafted her own to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine asking him to do the same on behalf of Ohio food banks.

Hamler-Fugitts concerns were for the health and safety of the food bank workers and clients. Its difficult to follow social distancing measures while collecting and processing paperwork in person.

Ohio food banks have already put in place no-touch systems to limit person-to-person contact, like using prepackaged bags and boxes and distributing food curbside or through delivery.

Since COVID-19 hit the state, Hamlet-Fugitt said theyve seen anywhere from 100% to a 500% increase in demand at their food banks statewide.

People dont stand in food lines that take four, five, six hours if they dont need food, she said.

Ohios Eligibility to Take Food Home form asks basic information about the applicant, people living in the household and household income. No proof of income is required. In Pennsylvania, the paperwork is called the Self-Declaration of Need form.

Hamler-Fugitt said she made the request herself for a waiver, but was told the USDA doesnt have the legislative authority to waive eligibility requirements.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service approved a number of waivers for school nutrition programs, WIC and SNAP, including allowing states to conduct phone interviews instead of face-to-face interviews for SNAP quality control purposes.

Under normal circumstances, they are glad to do the necessary paperwork and reporting that goes with it, she said.

But these arent normal times, Hamler-Fugitt said. All were asking for is administrative release during a pandemic.

(Reporter Rachel Wagoner can be contacted at 800-837-3419 or rachel@farmanddairy.com.)
Noise complaint  At 2:10 p.m. Monday, police received a report of a car horn going off in the 300 block of Rosendale Street and tried to contact the owner.

Traffic complaint  At 2:40 p.m. Monday, a caller reported there were no men at work signs where road work was being done around Spring Street and Judson Drive. The public works department was advised.

Noise complaint  At 5:49 p.m. Monday, police received a report of a loud music in the 300 block of Rosendale Street and had the subject turn it down.

Suspicious behavior  At 2:19 a.m. Tuesday, police received a report of a vehicle passenger shining lights at houses on Henry Street. The person was delivering newspapers and looking for addresses.

Noise complaint  At 12:36 p.m. Tuesday, a caller reported teenagers running ATVs in a lawn in the 600 block of West Burnett Street. They were advised they could not ride the ATV there.

Disorderly conduct  At 1:35 p.m. Tuesday, a caller reported a house guest violated the stay-at-home order on Beaver Street. The involved people were counseled and police did not file a report.
Could this be the ultimate revenge for Brexit? The coronavrius that has laid Boris Johnson low may have passed into Westminsters inner circle via the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, according to one theory.

The Mail on Sunday has traced connections between those known to have the virus in an attempt to identify Downing Streets possible Patient Zero  the first person in a community to become infected.

And suspicion has fallen on a meeting in Brussels on March 5 between Mr Barnier and David Frost, the UKs chief negotiator, which opened the first round of talks on a post-Brexit trade deal.

The coronavrius that has laid Boris Johnson low may have passed into Westminsters inner circle via the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, according to one theory

Within the 14-day maximum incubation period, Mr Barnier announced on March 19 that he had tested positive for coronavirus, writing on Twitter: I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team.

The following day, Downing Street revealed that Mr Frost had entered self-isolation after experiencing mild symptoms, becoming the first member of the Prime Ministers inner circle thought to have become infected.

Soon afterward, other top officials began working from home, including Whitehall enforcer Helen MacNamara.

Two days after first feeling unwell  and a day after a test confirmed that he had contracted coronavirus  Mr Johnson was yesterday running the country from self-isolation in his Downing Street flat.

Sources say that although Mr Johnson is trying to maintain his usual sunny self, he is blighted by a dry cough. He is continuing to fulfil his duties, speaking on Friday evening to Donald Trump

Aides and advisers gathered in the Cabinet room for a series of video conferences with Mr Johnson, including the morning Covid-19 war committee, where the latest NHS data and international comparisons are shared.

Similar meetings of the war committee will take place tomorrow morning and throughout next week  assuming Mr Johnson continues to suffer only mild symptoms.

After the PM revealed his diagnosis, sparking a stunned atmospshere among Westminster aides who learned the news only moments before it was made public, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive for the virus on Friday, with Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty then announcing he, too, had symptoms.

Yesterday Scotland Secretary Alister Jack became the third Cabinet member to start self-isolating after developing a mild temperature and a cough.

This newspaper understands that Mr Johnson is refusing to countenance the idea of stepping aside to let Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab take temporary charge on the grounds that he feels well enough to work and has no underlying health conditions.

Aides and advisers gathered in the Cabinet room for a series of video conferences with Mr Johnson, including the morning Covid-19 war committee, where the latest NHS data and international comparisons are shared

But sources say that although Mr Johnson is trying to maintain his usual sunny self, he is blighted by a dry cough.

He is continuing to fulfil his duties, speaking on Friday evening to Donald Trump. It is understood the Prime Minister asked for help acquiring more ventilators, while Mr Trump commiserated with Mr Johnson during one-on-one time, with no aides listening.

The last Cabinet meeting to take place in person was March 17, meaning attendees could have contracted the virus without yet showing symptoms.

Last Tuesdays meeting took place via video conference with only Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock, Professor Whitty and Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill  the countrys most senior civil servant  attending in person.

Until last week  in violation of the Governments own social distancing rules  the emergency Cobra meetings on Covid-19 were held in person, with key Ministers crammed around a single table.

Other potential Patient Zeros include Prince Charles and junior Health Minister Nadine Dorries.

Mr Johnson encountered the Prince at a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9 and the pair engaged in animated conversation, while Mrs Dorries, the first MP to test positive for Covid-19, attended a Downing Street reception with the Prime Minister at the start of the month.

There is also concern about a potential threat to the health of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, a diabetic who started self-isolating last week as a precaution.
Its humbling to see how actions we took four years ago to defend our ancestral homeland continue to inspire national conversations about how our choices ultimately affect this planet. Perhaps in the wake of this court ruling the federal government will begin to catch on, too, starting by actually listening to us when we voice our concerns.

-- Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Mike Faith, after a federal judge ordered a full environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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I think that would be a major overreaction for a pipeline thats operating safely and of critical value to the U.S. economic security and certainly the state of North Dakotas economy. That would be a very significant action on behalf of the court for something that has been operating for so long.

-- North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness, on the possibility of a federal judge ordering a shutdown of the Dakota Access Pipeline while more environmental study is done.

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"For the party to submit their certificate of endorsement, if it would come in without a lieutenant governor on it, we cannot accept it. She has to have somebody."

-- Secretary of State Al Jaeger, on the need for Democratic-NPL gubernatorial candidate Shelley Lenz to pick a running mate.

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"I can tell you that it will be a traditional Dem to balance out my NPLer. ... I need the Biden to my Bernie."

-- Democratic-NPL gubernatorial candidate Shelley Lenz, on deciding who to pick as a running mate. She was referring to Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.

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"This has the ability to spread to even the most rural parts of countries and nations, and it has the potential to spread to the most rural areas of North Dakota."

-- Gov. Doug Burgum, discussing the new coronavirus.

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There are jobs being posted daily despite whats going on between oil prices and COVID-19. Please dont lose hope. Were here to give you a boost.

-- Paula Hickel, workforce center manager at the Job Service office in Williston, in a Facebook video posted amid the coronavirus outbreak and oil slump.

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We cant just shut down for two weeks and say, 'come back.'

-- Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben, on the need to keep jails operating during the coronovirus outbreak.

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"We don't want to spread the virus unnecessarily. This doesn't just involve us as individuals. Our community is at risk. Every nonessential business that stays open is another excuse for someone to leave home when they don't need to.

-- A&B Pizza cook Jordan Dittus, one of about half a dozen employees who walked off the job.

q q q

"I am real concerned about them. So, you know, I don't think these are jobs they work for pin money, I think the jobs are essential for their day-to-day living. So I'd like to be able to revisit that group down the road when we know more about what's coming from the federal government and what's available for them at Job Service in terms of unemployment."

-- Bismarck Commissioner Nancy Guy, after the city temporarily laid off part-time employees working fewer than 23 hours a week.

q q q

Thats a fine dance.

-- Sister Kathleen Atkinson, talking about Ministry on the Margins trying to promote social distancing while seeing an increase in the number of people seeking food and basic supplies.

q q q

We have to make sure that we are stewards of our resources. If you look at where other states are at currently, were lucky that we still have supplies, that were still testing.

--Dr. Michael LeBeau, president of Sanford Health in Bismarck, on testing for the new coronavirus.

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Last Saturday, I wrote a blog that focused on Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House Coronavirus Task Forces leading medical expert, and his long background, especially as he shepherded the governments four decade long war on HIV-AIDS. The article touched a deep nerve, helping to inspire a Washington Post article that ran yesterday:

As Trump signals readiness to break with experts, his online base assails Fauci. A cadre of right-wing outlets is laying the groundwork for Trump to disregard experts on his own coronavirus task force.

For a time on Friday, the article was the second-most read at the Post's website. It came on the heels of similar articles earlier in the week at POLITICO and BuzzFeed.

The author of the Post article, national political reporter and former Rhodes Scholar Isaac Stanley-Becker, confirmed the impact of my American Thinker blog:

Chowkas piece has generated nearly 20,000 interactions on Facebook alone  more than the typical wellperforming story in the mainstream media.

Among the avalanche of responses to the Posts article, one of the more polite, and printable, negative ones is this tweet by President Clintons ambassador to Morocco, Marc Ginsberg:

The heart of the matter

To summarize my March 21 article briefly: Dr. Fauci and his colleagues, starting at the outset of the AIDS crisis almost four decades ago, oversaw a government war on HIV-AIDS that quickly and permanently ballooned into an unprecedented federal effort that to date has spent around $600 billion on HIV-AIDS research. Meanwhile, the death toll from AIDS in the U.S. over four decades is about 700,000 people  or an average of roughly16,000 deaths a year.

Meanwhile, cancer, which has gotten only slightly more funding than HIV-AIDS during that entire period, has killed around 25 million Americans during that same time frame.

According to an NIH Funding document, the totals of federal research in 2019 spent on 292 diseases are listed along with the actual 2017 death toll (the last year available) from each of those conditions. The results are shocking.

Cancer $6.52 billion 680,869 deaths

Diabetes $1.09 billion 270,707 deaths

Heart Disease/Coronary Heart Disease $1.708 billion 1,762,929 deaths

HIV/AIDS $3.037 billion 7,803 deaths

In 2019, the government spent $3,982.80 in research for every death from AIDS. That same year, only $96.88 was spent for every death from heart disease. Thats 41 times as much funding per death for AIDS as for heart disease  the nations #1 killer.

Federal spending on diabetes research is even more out of whack. Only $40.63 was spent in research for each person who died from diabetes.

In the mid- and late-1980s, when the hysteria about HIV-AIDS was reaching a fever pitch, it was the medical bureaucrats at the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and other federal agencies who stoked the fears of AIDS moving unchecked into the heterosexual community and by the early1990s killing one in five Americans. An AP article published in the New York Times (January 30, 1987), AIDS May Dwarf the Plague, warned:

A worldwide AIDS epidemic will become so serious that it will dwarf such earlier medical disasters as the Black Plague, smallpox and typhoid, the nations top health official said today. You haven't heard or read anything yet, Dr. Otis R. Bowen, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, told the National Press Club. If we can't make progress, we face the dreadful prospect of a worldwide death toll in the tens of millions a decade from now, he said.

Obviously, these and similar dystopian predictions never panned out  not even close.

This history is food for thought when evaluating the models that the CDC, the NIH, and the usual suspects are issuing today about the onerous threat of Covid-19, the coronavirus.

I should say for the record that I regret one word in the headline of my March 21 AT blog. If I had it to do over, I would not describe Dr. Fauci as a stooge, and for that word choice I offer him my sincere apology. However, I stand by the content and analysis in the article itself.

Finally, since Dr. Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx, and other members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force appear to have the unwavering support for now of President Trump, I would close by saying that I wish the best for them all  that they will come up with a strategy that can get our country back to normal as soon as possible. Hopefully this result can be achieved without creating another self-perpetuating metastacizing disease bureaucracy that will become a permanent part of the administrative state.

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who writes about politics, media, popular culture, and health care for American Thinker and other publications. Peter's website is http://peter.media. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka.

Image credit: Fogarty International Center, via Flickr // U.S. Government Works public domain

A previous version of this article mistakenly identified Marc Ginsberg as Barack Obama's ambassador to Morocco. The error has been corrected.
Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this while briefing journalists in Makurdi , the state capital, shortly after the announcement by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control.

Samuel Ortom

The Benue State Government, on Saturday, confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus disease otherwise known as COVID-19, Punch Metro reports.

Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this while briefing journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, shortly after the announcement by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control.

He gave the name of the patient as Susan Okpe, who returned from the United Kingdom, adding that the state action committee had already commenced contact tracing of about eight persons.

The governor explained that he disclosed the identity of the patient so that those who had made contact with her could take the necessary steps.

He said the patient is presently being managed at the State Treatment Centre located at State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

The governor said he had ordered his deputy, Benson Abounu, to be tested for coronavirus.

He said 70-year-old Abounu was at a recently held National Economic Council meeting in Abuja.

The PUNCH reports that two attendees at the meeting tested positive for coronavirus.

He said, We are already tracing of all those Susan Okpe came in contact with.

In addition, samples of two other ladies have been collected but one among them turned to be negative to the virus.

I have also told my deputy governor to go for a test having returned from the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja even though he told me that he had no close contact with those suspected to have contacted the virus.

As of 04:29pm on Saturday, there are 89 cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
By Online Desk

As the COVID-19 cases crossed 900-mark, the state of Telangana reported its first death after a 74-year-old Khairatabad resident passed away on Saturday.

Sixty days after Kerala reported the first COVID-19 case when a Thrissur native was diagnosed with the deadly disease, Kerala reported the first casualty of the outbreak on Saturday morning. The 69-year-old patient, a native of Chullikkal in Ernakulam district had returned from Dubai on March 16.

However, he did not show any symptoms when he arrived. He was admitted to the isolation ward of Ernakulam Medical College at Kalamassery on March 22 with symptoms of acute pneumonia.

Meanwhile, the health disaster has led to a humanitarian crisis as thousands of migrant labourers try to return to their villages on foot due to lack of public transport amid the lockdown.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday set up a public assistance fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the Tatas have pledged Rs 1,500 crore to fight the health crisis.

COVID-19: CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR STATE HERE
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday expressed his condolences on the demise of former Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma.

In a condolence message, Maurya expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that God gives them strength in this hour of grief.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his condolences over the death and said his thoughts were with the family and supporters of the deceased leader.

Verma, 79, passed away in Lucknow on Friday. He was born on February 11, 1941, in Sirauli in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A New York Police Department detective died from coronavirus on Saturday, becoming the first uniformed officer of the department to succumb to the disease.

Authorities said Detective Cedric Dixon, 48, worked at the 32nd Precinct in Harlem and unfortunately passed away at North Central Bronx Hospital.

Sources told The Post that Dixon suffered from asthma and diabetes before he contracted Covid-19. He is the third NYPD personnel to die of the disease.

Of Dixon's death, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: 'I can tell you that Ive spoken to many of his friends and coworkers since this morning, and he was known as the person that would do anything to help you.'

Authorities revealed that NYPD Detective Cedric Dixon (pictured) died Saturday morning after contracting coronavirus

'He is going to be so sorely missed.'

The Detectives' Endowment Association president, Paul DiGiacomo, described the 32-year veteran as a great detective with the department.

Shea also revealed that Giacomina Barr-Brown, a civilian employee for the NYPD, died of the virus inside her home on Thursday.

Barr-Brown, a seven-year veteran, worked with the 49th Precinct Roll Call Office to make sure administrative and patrol assignments were covered.

'We have lost three members of our family in as little as 48 hours,' Shea said during a press conference, NBC News reports.

'As I stand here I cannot begin to describe what we are feeling. What the families of these three heroes are feeling. We are hurting. We are crying. And we continue to fight. We simply have no other choice.'

On Thursday, the NYPD announced that a staff member died from coronavirus in a Brooklyn hospital.

Giacomina Barr-Brown (pictured), a civilian employee for the NYPD, died from the disease inside her home on Thursday

Custodial Assistant Dennis Dickson (pictured) of the NYPD died of coronavirus earlier this week

Dennis Dickson, a 62-year-old custodial assistant, was on the frontlines of the battle against coronavirus and had been disinfecting 1 Police Plaza before he fell ill.

The NYPD said he once spent 17 days straight at the police department's headquarters building during the clean-up operation for Super Storm Sandy.

An NYPD spokesperson said: 'We are sad to announce the passing of our own NYPD family member, Custodial Assistant Dennis Dickson.

'Mr. Dickson faithfully served this department for 14 yrs & is the 1st member to succumb to the COVID-19 virus. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.'

Police Commissioner of the City of New York Dermot Shea paid tribute, saying: 'Today we lost one of our own: City Custodial Assistant Dennis Dickson, who faithfully served with the NYPD since 2006, has passed away from complications related to the coronavirus.

'Our deepest sympathies & all of our prayers go out to Dennis' colleagues & family.'

Reports also revealed that John Miller, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism, has been hospitalized with symptoms.

Miller was at the Lenox Hill Hospital on Thursday waiting for testing. It's not revealed if he has tested positive or not.

If so, he would become the third NYPD executive member to be diagnosed with coronavirus.

John Miller (pictured), NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism, has been hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms

Records obtained by DailyMail.com show more than 500 NYPD personnel, including 442 officers, have contracted coronavirus.

Additionally, more than 3,000 cops are reportedly suffering 'flu like symptoms' - an indication that the number of cops who actually have the virus may be exponentially higher, according to new figures obtained by DailyMail.com.

In just one day, 4,111 uniformed officers  or more than 10 percent of the force  called in sick.

At the moment, New York City has a death toll is now 517 and there are 29,766 confirmed cases. The state has reached 52,318 infections and 728 deaths.

In the United States, there are 112,480 cases and 1,846 deaths

Several police department's around the U.S., including the NYPD, are struggling to maintain their ranks as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to batter their officers and other personnel.

An Associated Press survey revealed that nearly 690 officers and civilian employees at law enforcement officers have been diagnosed with coronavirus. The number of those in isolation as they await test results is far higher in many places.

In response, law enforcement has implemented new protocols on the fly in their attempt to stay afloat.

Anticipating shortages, police academies across the country are accelerating coursework to provide reinforcements.

Gloves, masks and large quantities of hand sanitizer is being distributed. Staff meetings are being held outdoors, over the phone or online.

Precinct offices, squad cars and equipment are being deep cleaned according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines.

Just like many medical centers and hospitals, law enforcement is running low on needed protective supplies.

'We're in war footing against an invisible enemy and we are on the verge of running out [of protective supplies], said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Several sherrif's offices and police precinct are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic as personnel fall ill. Pictured: An NYPD police officer is seen wearing a protective face mask

'We've got hospitals calling police departments, police departments calling each other, and it's time to nationalize in terms of our response,' he added.

The lack of available supplies is especially daunting as authorities try to do their job, which puts them in close contact with others, amid calls for social distancing.

This comes after reports that President Trump considering quarantining New York, Connecticut and New Jersey in desperate efforts to slow the spread of the outbreak.

The move will restrict travel to and from the three states, which are some of the hardest-hit by the outbreak.

'Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot  New York, New Jersey maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut quarantined. I'm thinking about that right now,' he said Saturday.

Law enforcement personnel are facing protective supplies shortages and some precincts hve been in contact with local hospitals for items. Pictured: A Los Angeles Police officer wears a face mask at the port of Los Angeles

'We might not have to do it but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine - short term - two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.'

He said the possible quarantine would be 'short-term' but that it would be 'enforceable'.

The president dismissed the idea that he would need to deploy the National Guard to ensure residents comply with the quarantine rules.

'We're not going to need that,' he said.

The move would help tackle the issue other states are facing where New Yorkers are fleeing the city and traveling to other states and areas, where they are potentially risking more lives and spreading the disease further afield.

'Restrict travel, because they're having problems down in Florida, a lot of New Yorkers going down. We don't want that,' he said.

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo hit back at the president's plans in a press conference Saturday.

'I don't even know what that means. I don't know how that could be legally enforceable,' said Cuomo.

'And from a medical point view, I don't know what you would be accomplishing.

'But I can tell you, I don't even like the sound of it.'

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (center) hit back at Trump's remarks about quarantining New York City, saying: 'I don't even know what that means. I don't know how that could be legally enforceable'

Cuomo said he had spoken with Trump earlier Saturday and the two had not discussed a possible quarantine.

The president made the comments as he touched down in Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews around noon Saturday and spoke to reporters.

'We're looking at it,' he said about the possible quarantine of the three states.

'We're looking at it and will be making a decision. A lot of the states that are infected - they've asked me if I'd look at it so we're going to look at it. Maybe for a short period of time.'

'It would be for a short time' for parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, he said.

However when asked if he would shut down the New York City subway he said: 'No we wouldn't do that.'

President Trump (pictured) mentioned earlier this month that the American economy could reopen by Easter - despite pushback from health officials

He said he would talk to New York state Governor Cuomo about the measures later today.

Trump also took the opportunity to praise the work Congress had done to pass the $2 trillion emergency bailout package, which he signed into law Friday.

'We have great oversight - a lot of oversight. We have a lot of people watching. It's a wonderful thing we've done for the workers and for the citizens,' he said.

'A lot of people are going to work. It will bring back the economy I think very fast.'

His comments on a possible quarantine seemed to backtrack on his previous claims that he wants to get the economy and normal life back up and running as early as Easter.

He's since eased his stance slightly after Dr. Anthony Fuaci pushed back against the premature deadline, but has not officially backed down.

Fauci, America's top disease expert, poured cold water on the president's plan saying: 'I think what the President was trying to do, he was making an aspirational projection to give people some hope.'

'But he's listening to us when we say that we've really got to reevaluate it in real time, and any decision we make has to be based on the data,' he told CNN.

Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured) said Trump's Easter deadline may have been a 'aspirational projection' to give anxious citizens hope

The president's plan to have the country open for business soon has been slammed by healthcare professionals.

More than 800,000 doctors across the United States sent a letter to Trump Friday, saying that opening the economy by Easter could 'gravely jeopardize the health of all Americans.'

The Council of Medicinal Speciality Societies addressed the letter to Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and White House Coronavirus Task Force Ambassador Deborah Birx on Friday.

It said medical staff are risking their lives to treat coronavirus patients and called on the Trump administration to support 'science-based recommendations' on social distancing.

The city's healthcare system is also buckling under the strain of the rise in cases.

Medical emergency calls were up 40 percent to about 6,500 a day, shattering historical records and leading to up to 170 callers being put on hold at a time, according to EMS union officials.

Inside the city's hospitals, healthcare workers faced unspeakable scenes of suffering and death.

'Hell. Biblical. I kid you not. People come in, they get intubated, they die, the cycle repeats,' said Dr Steve Kassapidis of Mount Sinai Queens, in an interview with Sky News. '9/11 was nothing compared to this, we were open waiting for patients to come who never came. Now they just keep coming.'

'The hospitals look like a war zone,' Dr Emad Youssef of Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn told CBS News. 'People lining up out of the hallway, through the EMS bay, through the ambulance bay, with masks on themselves, with oxygen on their nose.'

Neighboring state New Jersey has also been grappling to bring the outbreak under control, with 8,825 confirmed cases and 108 confirmed deaths.

Last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order mandating that all non-essential retail businesses close their stores and almost all state residents stay home to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The order affects some 9 million residents in the state and exempts those who work in essential services such as healthcare and the food industry, the governor said at a news conference.

It banned all gatherings including weddings and parties, Murphy said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called



up a nurse from the civic-run Naidu Hospital, which has been treating COVID-19 patients, and applauded the work done by the hospital staff to fight the pandemic, a civic official said on Saturday.

Nurse Chhaya Jagtap received a call from the Prime Minister's Office on Friday evening, the health official from the Pune Municipal Corporation said.

An audio recordingof their conversation went viral on social media.

Starting the conversation in Marathi, Modi enquired about her wellbeing and asked Jagtap how was she allaying her family's fears for her safety, while serving COVID-19 patients with devotion.

"Yes, I am concerned about my family, but one has to work. We have to serve patients in this situation. I am managing," she said.

The Prime Minister went on to ask her if patients who are admitted in the hospital got scared.

"We try and speak to them. We tell them not to get scared and assure them that nothingis going to happen to them and that their reports will come out negative, she said.

The staff tries to boost the morale of positive patients too, she is heard saying in the audio clip.

Jagtap informed Modi that seven COVID-19 have been discharged from the hospital after being cured.

When Modi asked her if she had a message for lakhs of medical staff working tirelessly in various hospitals, Jagtap said, "There is no need to be scared. We have to drive this disease out and we have to make our country win. This should be the motto of hospitals and staff."



The Prime Minister congratulated Jagtap for her devotion and service.

"Like you, there are lakhs of nurses, paramedical staff, doctors, who like true 'tapaswis', are serving patients in various hospitals in the country right now. I would like to congratulate you. I am happy to have heard your experiences," Modi said.

Expressing her gratitude, Jagatp said, "I am just doing my duty but you are serving the nation round the clock. We should be grateful to you."



The country is fortunate to have a Prime Minister like him, she is heard saying in the audio clip.

The civic-run Naidu Hospital has been treating majority of COVID-19 patients from Pune.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: Infrastructure major, Megha



Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) offered a helping hand to various states in the battle against coronavirus.

MEIL managing director PV Krishna Reddy has donated Rs 5 crore each to the Chief Minister's relief funds of AP and Telangana.

The infra major has handed over a cheque for Rs 2 crore to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Rs one crore to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Similarly, Greenko, city-based renewable power producer, has announced Rs 10 crore donation to the centre, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The company announced Rs five crore to the centre, and Rs 2.5 crore each to the Chief Minister's relief funds of AP and Telangana, Greenko said in a statement issued on Friday night.

"At Greenko, we care deeply for our people and communities and wish to contribute in all ways possible to overcome this global challenge," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Popular Nollywood actor, Uche Maduagwu has shared just how much a mercenary he is in his new post about BBNaija winner, Mercy Eke.

The actor who has been falling in and out of love with Mercy pointed out that Mercy is just equally spiritually strong like Genevieve.

Mr Maduagwu also pointed out that Mercy also stands out from the crowd, unlike other housemates.

READ ALSO  Uche Maduagwu Reacts As Tacha Picks UK Lockdown Over Nigeria

Sharing on Instagram, Mr Maduagwu wrote: Mercy always stand out from the crowd of ex #bbnaija2019 housemate because she has the spiritual maturity of @genevievennaji Mercy will never join others to #travel out to #UK during the outbreak of #coronavirus, and then return to #Nigeria again, what is she looking for?

See His Post Here:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:17:29|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Amid raging COVID-19 outbreak, a massive march scheduled to be held in the Gaza Strip on March 30 to mark the Palestinian Land Day was called off, the organizing commission said on Saturday.

The Highest National Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Israeli Siege said in an emailed press statement that "there will be no mass gathering along the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip on March 30."

The statement explained that the decision was made "to avoid the infection of people and abide by the precautionary measures of the health ministry to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the participants."

Instead, the commission decided to hold a news briefing on March 30 to mark the Land Day in a place near the Gaza border with Israel.

Members of the commission and journalists will attend the press conference without the public's participation, the commission said in the statement.

"Instead of organizing mass marches to mark the Land Day, the commission will call on the Palestinians everywhere to raise and wave the flags of Palestine," it said.
George Poikayil By

Express News Service

KASARGOD: Abdul Sattar, 47, a native of Thalangara in Kasaragod, tested COVID-19 positive on March 21. Ten days before that, he returned from Dubai. Since Dubai was emerging as a COVID-19 hotspot, he went to the General Hospital in Kasaragod to give his swab for testing. He was sent back because he showed no symptoms.

"After a day, I went again but was sent back again," he said. Disheartened, Sattar went to Kasturba Medical College in Mangaluru for a routine full-body check-up. He asked the doctors to test him for Coronavirus too. The result turned positive.

Mujeeb Rahman, 32, his wife Nafeesa, 26, and Rahman's nephew Shafi, 27, -- all natives of Kalnad in Kasaragod -- landed at Mangaluru airport on March 19. They flew in from Naif, a COVID-19 hotspot in Dubai. The young family was aware of the risk they were posing to the public. So, they covered themselves up, wore masks and gloves and maintained a distance.

Rahman called his relatives and asked them to bring two cars -- one for them to drive back and the other for the relatives to return. He asked his aged parents to move into his brother's house, so that they will have an entire house to remain in quarantine. The relative packed food and kept in one of the cars so that the trio neednt stop anywhere to eat. Even with all the precautions, the system failed them. The General Hospital in Kasaragod and the District Hospital in Kanhangad refused to take their swabs because they did not show any symptoms.

"The third time, we created a ruckus and another man from Ukraine called up the collector, after which they took our swabs," said Rahman. The three persons tested positive later.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the doctors at the General Hospital sent back a person who returned from Italy without taking his swabs. Though he came in an ambulance, he returned in an autorickshaw. He stopped by a juice bar on his way back home to Vellanad. Across the state, many NRIs reported that the government was not testing them for COVID-19.

ALSO READ | Kerala's first COVID-19 victim buried as per protocol, with only five relatives in attendance

Kasaragod Collector D Sajith Babu categorically said the doctors would test only those with symptoms such as fever, cold, runny nose or throat pain. It was a flawed decision and potentially exposed many people in the state to the virus, said Dr Sreekumar Ramachandran, chairman of the Research Cell of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

The government was ill-advised by the Indian Medical Council of Research (ICMR), he said. In terms of the capacity to spread, this novel coronavirus is the most powerful in human history, he said. In the first five days of infection, the virus establishes itself in the host body.

"Forty per cent of the transmission happens between the fifth and the 14th day, when the infected person will show no symptom," said Dr Ramachandran. By the time a person shows symptoms -- that is after 14 days -- he would have infected many others, he said. He said the government erred in treating COVID-like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and H1N1, where the symptoms start showing in the first five days.

The IMA recommended rapid testing for COVID-19, the state government took a favorable decision on Saturday. "This government is hesitant in taking decisions," said a consultant of the LDF government. A Delhi journalist famously said 'what Kerala thinks today, India must think tomorrow', he said. "But the problem is Kerala is two weeks late," he said. He said the government should not have hesitated in putting off the examinations for Class X and XII despite demands from teachers' association.

"Now we hear that a student who got infected from her father in Kasaragod wrote two examinations, exposing many other students and teachers," he said. There could be many such cases, he added. The government trusted the public in quarantining themselves at their houses, instead of going in for a mass testing, said a government doctor in Kochi.

"But when it realised that self-quarantining is failing, it should have immediately gone for a forced quarantining at a government facility or a total lockdown," he said. "It was just a matter of managing the four airports in the state," he said. Dr Ramachandran said China brought the pandemic under control by quarantining all the patients in hotels and lodges.

"We could have done that in the first place. Eventually, the government is doing the same thing now," he said. "But the damage has been done," he said.

Now, Dr Ramachandran said, everybody is a suspect. "The only way to beat the virus is by containing it in our own body and not letting it spread. For that, everybody will have to lock down themselves," he said. Doctors said Kerala has only one month to do that.

"Everybody should stay indoor in April. In May, the rains will come, the temperature will fall and humidity will rise. An ideal condition for the virus," said Dr Ramachandran. The social responsibility of Keralites is on test, he said.
Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the coronavirus, the cruise line has said, with hundreds of passengers unsure how long they will remain at sea.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam, the statement said. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time. It did not identify the cause of death.

The ship, which had been turned away from other ports and now is being denied passage through the Panama Canal, was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam, and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70, the statement said. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam.

Late Friday, the Panama Maritime Authority said in a statement that 401 passengers not showing symptoms of the virus would be transferred to the Rotterdam. It said medical supplies were being delivered to the Zaandam until midnight and then the shipments would resume Saturday.

The authority said the bodies of the virus victims would remain on the Zaandam until the liner arrives at its final destination.

The Panama Maritime Authority "deeply regrets these deaths, as well as the complex situation the passengers and crew of the Zaandam cruiser go through," the statement said.

The authority's administrator, Noriel Araz, said earlier in the day that no one on either ship would be allowed ashore in Panama, which the Health Ministry said had 786 coronavirus cases, with 14 deaths, as of Friday.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of San Antonio, Chile, a week ago. The cruise line said no one had been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.

On March 22, when a number of passengers began reporting flu-like symptoms, the ship instituted protective measures, including telling everyone to self-isolate in their cabins, the cruise line said. On Thursday, all passengers and crew received masks and instruction on how to use them.

Neil Bedford said his parents, Kim and Chris Bedford from Bradford, England, left on March 4 for a flight to Argentina and boarded the ship three days later.

They were enjoying their time, he told The Associated Press in a Twitter message. But on March 15, it was announced that the cruise was over and they were turned away from several countries.

The meals are delivered to their rooms three times during the day. I'm not sure if they are left outside for them to collect or if someone brings them into the room. The captain is making announcements once a day but everyone seems to be getting frustrated as it's constantly bad news, Bedford said.

His parents are both in their 60s.

They are just growing increasingly concerned with what will happen to them, he wrote. There is a new ship alongside them, the Rotterdam, which the healthy will be evacuated to, but they will need testing first before that can happen. They are becoming terrified of being stuck onboard the ship. Hayley Pillai Johnson, a medical student at Cambridge University in England, also posted on Twitter, asking questions about her grandfather and his wife.

We just want them home, she wrote in a message.

Her grandfather, Sethy Pillai, is a 90-year-old retired doctor. His wife, Hazel Pillai, is 75 and has diabetes. They are from Oxforshire in England, and she spoke with them Friday via WhatsApp as they were quarantined in their room.

They are scared now they have heard of the 4 deaths and never thought this would happen, she wrote. My grandma has a non-dry cough but no temperature, so has been counted in the 'symptom category'. My grandpa feels tired and scared but is fine.

Holland America needs to get all guests off this cruise, test them and go from there. We are worried sick about them, especially as the route through Panama Canal has not yet been confirmed and neither has the docking at Port Everglades.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vsquez.

The Health Ministry did not give permission, Vsquez told reporters Friday. The ship is in territorial waters but has to remain isolated. It was not immediately clear where either ship would go. The Rotterdam had not requested permission to pass through the Panama Canal.

There are four doctors and four nurses on the Zaandam, according to cruise line statement, while the Rotterdam had two doctors and four nurses aboard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I wanted to write more about how I was feeling about things, rather than being focused on observations, which was my previous style of writing, she adds. It wasnt as important to me that every song had clever lines. In 2018 and 2019, when Lumsden was writing the songs for Fallow, Freeman lost his mother to cancer, a difficult process that involved months of nursing and palliative care. Soon after Lumsden gave birth to the couples first child, Walter, who is now 18 months old and can be seen gallivanting with a water sprinkler in the video clip for These Days, a song that looks at everyday country life with unassuming contentment. I went into the record to make songs that were also a little more hopeful, because Id talked about drought for so long and everyone in the music industry and my family are still going through it. Its not that I didnt want to acknowledge it, I just knew that the people going through it didnt want reminding, Lumsden says. They know and they want an escape. I wanted to write about green grass, running water, mountains and sunsets. I was experiencing those things and it was giving me such joy. I wanted that glorious buzz in my songs. Some of this is magic, and some of this is pain, Lumsden sings on the folk-tinged This Too Shall Pass, and with its echoes of 1960s pop (Dig) and bittersweet melodies (Grown Ups), Fallow is Lumsden and Freemans most eclectic collaboration with long-time producer and close friend Matt Fell. Apart from some drum tracks, most of it was recorded in an old stone hut on the couples property that was converted into a temporary recording studio; an overturned water tank served as an echo chamber.

Lumsden wanted to make the songs come alive, and challenged Fell by giving him less technical resources than normal to accomplish that. If the album is diverse, Lumsden is clear about what ties it together: The link is that I wrote every song. The musician has carried that sense of contrarian certainty with her since childhood. Margaret Edwina Lumsden  "Fanny" is a university nickname thats now universally used  is the oldest of four children, raised on a mixed crop and sheep farm outside the centre-west NSW town of Tallimba. Her parents, Jenny and David, gave her, respectively, a musical education that included a decade of piano lessons and a love of the land. Lumsden did music as a year 12 subject, but it wasnt until 2007, when she was a student studying agricultural science at the University of New England in Armidale, that she connected with making her own songs. Lumsden was learning that theres no opinion in a science essay, so she found her creative release in the songwriting of Kate Miller-Heidke, Laura Marling and Josh Pyke. Soon after she took up songwriting. In 2010, degree in hand (her honours thesis was on wool and sustainability in high fashion), Lumsden fetched up in Sydney to find a career. She was working part-time at a wool broker and chasing interviews while living in a sharehouse in Surry Hills. It was her first urban experience and she worked at acclimatising, listening to Paul Kelly songs about Sydney while she jogged and raiding op shops for an inner-city wardrobe at bargain prices. It was quite weird walking on hard surfaces all the time. I didnt enjoy Sydney at first, but I was determined that I would, Lumsden remembers. Part of her entry was the local music scene  first as a patron, then as a performer. In 2011 Lumsden booked what she thought would be her final gig, at Cafe Lounge in Surry Hills, before adulthood took over. But so many acquaintances from other bands came that she decided to stick with music, even though she strongly suspected she was not terribly good at it.

Progress came slowly. Fanny Lumsden and the Glorious Whores became Fanny Lumsden and the Thrillseekers, mainly because ABC Radio announcers wouldnt say glorious whores on air. The backing band was steered by experienced bassist Freeman, who became Lumsdens partner in 2012, before they married in 2016. Along the way she also figured out she was a country artist. I didnt know at the start. I went to Tamworth and at some point I decided, This is country music. I was writing about the country and I started listening to country music again and I realised, I make country music, Lumsden says. I remember someone saying to me early on, You have to choose whether youre country or not, and I was like, Bullshit, I do not! And I stuck to that. I dont just market to the country industry and I refuse to believe that I have to have one audience. Fanny Lumsden (left), with Dan Stanley and Anna Phillips after winning Music Video of the Year at the Golden Guitar Awards at the 2018 Country Music Festival in Tamworth. Credit:AAP Now Lumsden is a signature artist for the next wave of Australian country musicians, with serious back blocks credentials. In 2013, she came up with the idea for the County Halls tour, which would bring a self-contained gig to the remotest of outback communities. It was partly inspired by Lumsden remembering how few chances to see live music she had growing up and her recognition of an untapped audience. Since then the annual pilgrimages of her caravan-laden convoy has accumulated 250,000 kilometres of driving and hundreds of gigs. I get so much joy from that and I know it wouldnt happen if we didnt do it. Thats why Im so passionate about bringing the whole show and the full band, Lumsden says. If you book the Country Halls tour you get the full band, lights, the stage, the whole show. Its so much more powerful for that community that way and I never want to water it down.

Nowadays communities apply online in advance and hundreds of people turn up, even when the location is a shed 100 kilometres away from pretty much anything, north of Balranald in the Riverina. One fan recently came to their 10th Country Halls show, bringing their family, and Lumsden makes them welcoming affairs. Freeman and son Walter, wearing mini-earmuffs, will introduce the night, while Lumsdens brother, Thomas, runs the merchandising stand and a mini-totem tennis tournament that members of the audience play during an extended version of Lumsdens single Totem Tennis. Lumsden does a photo with everyone, free of charge, after the gig. I want the show a mixture of sincere moments that are fun and interactive and immersive. I want people to come into the Country Halls tour world and have an experience, Lumsden says. Its not the reason I do it, but maybe some people who come have never been to a show before so they dont know how to be at a gig, so if I can make them comfortable I will. Plus, some people come just for the totem tennis now, so we cant cut that. This is typical of the artist who sings, Im more into guidelines, less into rules. Anything is possible, but nothing comes without sustained effort. Lumsden recently got a personal assistant, who after a few weeks on the job, noted in an 11.30pm call that this job is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Bushfire season robbed Lumsden of her forward planning time, but at some point she wants to take Country Halls to the UK and Ireland and tour American again. At the same time, wherever she hopes to go Lumsden never forgets where shes from and what shes learnt. When she was younger her father would sign off every phone call to her with the same reminder of dont forget the bush.

I havent. I dont. I wont, Fanny Lumsden says. AT THE FIREFRONT If anyone can appreciate the merits of self-isolating at home its Fanny Lumsden: three months ago, on December 31, she and her husband Dan Freeman packed up their family and dogs and drove away at dawn from their home outside Tooma in the NSW Riverina. Theyd spent the night watching the skyline glow from bushfires with the power down and when they drove away they expected their house would soon be incinerated. Ive never been through a fire season like this, says Lumsden, who as a teenager did her Rural Fire Service training and fought bushfires alongside her father during school holidays. Everyone knew it would burn, just not what direction it would come from. In the end it came from two directions, and the road Lumsden and her family took out of their valley was cut 20 minutes after they used it. She spent the next night listening to the emergency scanner, recognising name after name, but when Lumsden and Freeman drove in through back blocks the next day they were shocked to find their house untouched. The power wouldnt return for 26 days, but with only two local fire trucks available the couple were busy as part of the local communitys rolling defence.
COMMUNITY RELATED

MASK DONATIONS  Las Vegas Sands and The Venetian Resort donated 5,000 N95 masks to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, to aid in the agencys response to the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, in response to a nationwide shortage of supplies for healthcare workers, 100,000 surgical masks were donated throughout the Las Vegas valley to medical facilities and other places in need.

COMMUNITY DONATION  To help jumpstart the relief efforts of its community partners, Las Vegas Sands announced it is donating a total of $250,000 to several important local organizations to serve our community during this time of need. Those organizations include Three Square food bank, Communities In Schools and Share Village Las Vegas. These donations were made as unrestricted funds, allowing each organization to utilize the money to cover immediate and critical needs. In addition, the company plans to bolster that financial support with donations of meals and needed equipment.



FOOD DONATIONS  The Venetian Resort has donated 60 pallets of food to Three Square food bank. The food donation, which consists of fresh produce, proteins and other food items, filled more than 2 semi-trucks and will soon be in the hands of community agencies throughout the city. As part of their emergency plan, Three Square is partnering with community agencies to operate 43 emergency distribution sites to ensure food-insecure individuals throughout Southern Nevada still have access to food during these uncertain times.



WATER DONATIONS  More than 55,000 bottles of water and 150 cases of dry food have been donated to the following organizations:

The Salvation Army

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth

U.S. Vets

Family Promise of Las Vegas

WestCare NV

St. Judes Ranch

HopeLink of Southern Nevada

The Shade Tree

Lutheran Social Services

SafeNest

HELP of Southern Nevada

SHARE Village Las Vegas

CLEAN THE WORLD  The Venetian Resort is one of the largest Las Vegas donors of soap to Clean the World, donating an average of 24,000 pounds of soap and bathroom amenities annually. As both the CDC and WHO have adamantly expressed, handwashing with soap and water is one of the most important ways of staying healthy. Clean the World is in regular contact with the CDC and United Nations agencies, as well as their global WASH program and partnership network, to ensure were ahead of the latest developments and needs. As hygiene supplies are limited in many stores, those without access to hygiene supplies need this support now more than ever. Clean the World has committed to being on the front lines to fight against the spread of this virus and has increased production to recycle and distribute as much soap as possible to those in need, domestically and globally to help stem the spread of COVID-19 for our most vulnerable populations. Last fall, Las Vegas Sands sponsored its annual global disaster relief kit build event, during which a total of 35,000 hygiene kits were created locally and distributed to Las Vegas charities.



TEAM MEMBER RESOURCE  Time and time again, Team Members of The Venetian Resort have come together to support one another and our community. In response to those who have asked how they can help their neighbors in need during this difficult time, the Sands Cares team has shared a list of community organizations that are seeking donations and volunteers.



EMPLOYMENT-RELATED PROGRAMS

Las Vegas Sands employs approximately 9,300 Team Members who work throughout The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, including The Venetian, The Palazzo, Venezia towers and the corporate offices in the U.S. To date, the company has announced the following:

No layoffs or furloughs are being contemplated.

ALL LAS VEGAS SANDS TEAM MEMBERS WLL BE PAID DURING STATE-MANDATED 30-DAY CLOSURE.

The current resort closure will not impact health care eligibility. There will be no changes to existing healthcare benefit plans. In the event that work hours are reduced, benefit eligibility will not be affected by any reduction.

All full time and full time flex, and hourly Team Members will be paid a minimum of 32 hours a week, whether working on the schedule, working from home or are just not scheduled and confined to home.

All On-Call Hourly Team Members will be paid based on the average hours worked in February 2020 up to a maximum of 32 hours per week. This will apply even when not scheduled to work at all while resort is closed.

The company recognizes that many hourly Team Members rely on tips, and has calculated an hourly rate to compensate these employees for some of their lost tip income.

Salaried individuals will continue to be paid as normal.

No Team Members will be required to take unpaid time off.

Team Members can use previously accrued flex (vacation) time on a use 2 get 1 free basis.

For essential Team Members including who are working through this closure, box lunches will be provided. In addition, these Team Members will receive bonus accrued flex time for future time off. These areas include: security, HVAC, fire command, central plant, life safety and others.

OTHER INITIATIVES

SIGN TRIBUTE  As the world continues to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the 9,300 team members of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Las Vegas Sands stand in support of the people of Italy, who have suffered unthinkable loss. We know that there have now been more deaths in Italy than in China where the virus originated.

The Venetian Resort was inspired by the spirit of Italy and her people. This spirit endures even through the current crisis, as Italians are sharing a message of hope with a slogan of reassurance: Andra tutto bene  or everything will be all right.

In a show of solidarity, the building signs of both The Venetian and The Palazzo towers were changed, with The Venetian displaying the green, white and red colors of the flag of Italy, and The Palazzo displaying the red, white and blue colors of the flag of the United States of America.
Aiding citizens in need amid the pan-India Coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, launched the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund). This fund will provide relief to the affected from any walk of life dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is chaired by PM Modi and the Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister.

Akshay Kumar gets a dialogue coach for his character in 'Prithviraj'; Here's why

Akshay Kumar was among the first ones to donate Rs. 25 crores from his savings to the PM Cares Fund. PM Modi instantly replied to the Bollywood actor and wrote, 'Let's keep donating for a healthier India'. [sic]

This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai.  https://t.co/dKbxiLXFLS  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 28, 2020

Great gesture @akshaykumar.



Lets keep donating for a healthier India. https://t.co/3KAqzgRFOW  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020

Coronavirus crisis in India

As of date, 873 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 78 have been discharged and Maharashtra reporting the highest at 180. 19 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and the Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 25 March to April 15.

India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with states declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. All domestic airplanes and trains have ceased operation. Visit the official government site here: MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

(With PTI inputs)
But no one in Shakespeares plays dies of the plague. Romeo and Juliet, who die because the friars letter is held up by quarantine measures in northern Italy, are the nearest his work comes to plague fatalities.

Just as Shakespeare never set a play in contemporary London, neither did he address directly the most prominent cause of sudden death in his society. Documentary realism was not Shakespeares style.

It is to other literary forms and authors  in particular Shakespeares contemporaries, the dramatist and pamphleteer Thomas Dekker, who wrote a series of feverishly inventive, sardonic prose pamphlets on the plague, or the poet and playwright Ben Jonson, whose play The Alchemist captures the manic energy of a house during a plague lockdown left in the hands of the servants while the master is away  that we must look to find the direct effects of plague on 17th-century society.

Shakespeare does something different. Rene Girard, the French critic, wrote in a famous essay that the distinctiveness of the plague is that it ultimately destroys all forms of distinctiveness. Mass burial pits for plague victims were one visible symbol of the way the disease erased social, gender and personal difference.

Mr. Dekker noted that in the communal grave, Servant and master, foul and fair / One livery wear, and fellows are. Plague was indifferent to the boundaries erected by society, and its appetite was ravenous. Thousands of husbands, wives and children were led to the grave, Mr. Dekker recalled, as if they had gone to one bed.

The imagery common in late medieval culture  known as the danse macabre, or dance of death  depicted death, personified as a skeleton, moving obscenely among the living. He is with them, unseen, in the bedroom, at table, in the street, in the counting house.

While grimly terrifying, the depiction also domesticates death: Death cares about our particularity enough to stalk us as we go about our daily business. Shakespeares tragedies share this intimacy. Their response to plague is not to deny mortality but rather to emphasize peoples unique and inerasable difference.
"So yes, we stayed open. The urge is to stand and fight, right? The way the restaurant business has taught me to operate over the years, is to show up everyday, no matter what. We work every single day, that's just how it is. Days off are a blur, and we don't even much care about them. Sleep right through them.

"My (front-of-house) staff knows I love them, but I want to speak as a cook for a moment. Many people know this, but some do not understand the exact nature of this particular matter, which is this  you simply are not allowed to call in if you are a cook. There are no substitute teachers for a cook's station. And if you are as good as you are supposed to be, no one can stand in for you on your station. I wish it were different. But it has always been this way, long since before any of us started cooking.

So we bond over working through the most vicious of hangovers, and yes we have to come in even when we are sick. We groan and cuss, or maybe we let out a tragic cackling laugh because we are missing someone's funeral. Don't even think of asking us to a graduation, because we're not going. But the food, the food always comes out executed perfectly, day after day.
Across the state, residents are rallying to the aid of health and emergency workers and those feeling financial strain from the coronavirus outbreak.

The regions Chinese Americans have been in the forefront.

In the past week alone, the Chinese American community in Connecticut has donated 3,400 protective masks to Trumbull emergency workers and Bridgeport Hospital, another 1,000 to Griffin Hospital in Derby, protective gear and cleaning supplies to UConn Health Center and Yale-New Haven Hospital, and more than a half ton of food to the Salvation Army food bank in Ansonia.

These workers are always protecting us, now we can help protect them, said Jing Jack Jiang of Trumbull, a college professor who was born in China.

Fire Marshal Megan Murphy, who heads the towns Office of Emergency Management, said the donation would keep the towns responders protected for more than a month.

The EMS alone needs 1,000 masks a month, she said. We are so thankful for this donation.

Jiang said the pandemic has hit home to the regions Chinese Americans, many of whom have family and friends living in China.

A lot of the supplies are made in China and they had shortages there last month, he said. Now with the virus receding in China, people are buying the supplies there in bulk and sending them to family and friends in the U.S.

A family member in New Jersey got 3,400 masks, and I drove down there and brought them back, he said.

On the drive down, he was reminded of just how much the country has been affected by the virus, he said.

The Merritt Parkway was empty, he said. Even on the bridge, there was no traffic.

Lin Yang, also of Trumbull, said the Chinese American community was in a unique position to appreciate the seriousness of the situation. Yang organized the food drive that resulted in a donation of more than 1,000 pounds of canned soup, meats, fish and pasta.

We in the Chinese community feel we are being hit for the second time, she said. Most of us still have family in China and we know what they are going through there. We helped out there  now the crisis is here. We felt we had to step up again.

But with the Chinese American community donating masks by the thousand, many people wonder how they are able to get them when hospitals cant. The answer, according to Jiankan Guo of Cheshire, is simple.

They dont know who to ask, he said. Their normal suppliers run out, and they dont know where to go. Or they have a language barrier and cant communicate with the supplier in China.

Guo, who works at Yales medical school, said production of masks ramped up in China when the virus first struck. The masks are now readily available there, but not necessarily through normal channels.

Back in the beginning of March, relatives started sending me masks, saying, Youll need these, Guo said.

And two weeks ago, it seemed their predictions were coming true, as Guo began seeing work emails circulating telling employees to stop throwing away their used masks because supplies were very tight. Days later, the situation had not eased, he said.

I realized there was no solution to the problem, he said. Supplies had dried up. They cant get any.

So Guo, and others including Lin Young in Greenwich and Adella Lin in Westchester asked local friends to start calling their relatives in China.

We started asking friends to try and buy masks and send them here, Guo said. Even if its just 50 or 100, send us what you can.

And the community responded, Guo said. A Yale University Chinese parents group came through with masks. Lin and a group of friends who work in importing businesses managed to locate 100,000 surgical masks that they distributed to area hospitals and police departments, she said.

Everyone has to do their part, she said. There are more on the way.

At least one politician has gotten in on the effort, Guo said. State Sen. George Logan, R-Ansonia, has criss-crossed the Valley on behalf of donors, dropping off food and protective supplies.

Hes been the go-to person for people who were able to collect supplies, but couldnt deliver them, Guo said. Anyone with anything to donate, hell come to their house and pick it up and deliver it.

Guo agreed that the effort would continue until U.S. production can catch up.

I have another 15,000 masks in transit, he said. Theres more coming.
People working in the arts will be severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Kilmore-based visual artist Serena Caulfield, who has been forced to cancel plans for an exhibition of new work.

'It feels like the world has stopped spinning on its axis', said Serena who returned to her home in Kilmore over two weeks ago, having previously divided her time between London and Wexford for an extended period.

'I'm glad to say this has been a good move and the timing couldn't have been better, given the circumstances.

'I've been more or less self-isolating in my studio and getting stuck in to making lots of new work, treating the current time of staying at home as a kind of residency.'

However, like many artists, she has missed out on paid work (in London, in her case) and a number of pending jobs have been cancelled.

To generate some income, the artist has come up with an offer of 40% discount on any of her works from 2019, available to people signed up to her newsletter.

And she has pledged to purchase a piece of work from another artist, to share some of the income generated, if she gets some sales.

'We're all in this together, and we all need to look out for each other now' she said.

Meanwhile, Serena said she is working hard and making the most of her studio time during the current public health crisis.

She had been planning to have an exhibition of new paintings in the near future but that will now have to wait.

'But on the plus side, there will be an incredible amount of really good work at the end of all this', said the artist.

According to Wexford Arts Centre CEO Elizabeth Whyte, social media which has often come in for negative criticism, is now proving a godsend for artists who have been forced to cancel events and many of them are going online with their exhibitions and performances.

'We have rescheduled a lot of events and some of them may need to be rescheduled further if the crisis continues but a majority of people have not asked for refunds and are holding onto their tickets for postponed events, so there is great understanding out there.'

Elizabeth said artists who were booked to run the centre's Little Artists Clubs have been covered for their fees.

'We are looking at putting creative ideas for children online. We are also putting up promotions of artists and musicians who were scheduled to hold exhibitions and gigs.'

One of the casualties of the coronavirus crisis is the opening of the Living Arts exhibition involving children, which was due to take place this week, following months of professional art workshops in primary schools, and the Arts Centre is hoping to show the young people's paintings online instead.

A company called Bottoms Dogs Theatre which was due to perform in the centre, staged a live performance online instead. Wexford storyteller Joe Brennan who had an Arts Centre appearance cancelled, also posted a St. Patrick's Day video of a storytelling performance. on the Arts Centre website.

'We gave him a fee to do it online. We don't make money but we are continuing to engage audiences and the hope is that they will attend events when this is all over', said Elizabeth.

'Thinking creatively is what artists do best and now they have to consider how best to reach people. There are lots of live concerts online and some have payment links where people can make donations. People are being very good about donating. There is a lot of negative comment about social media but this is a positive thing that's coming out of it, in keeping us all connected.'

However, she feels that corporate sponsorship of arts organisations and events may now be under threat as companies suffering a major economic impact from Covid-19, will be seeking to cut non-essential expenditure.

Elizabeth said the National Campaign for the Arts, Theatre Forum and Visual Arts Ireland are all offering advice to artists on how to get creative during the current crisis.
With the announcement of several new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state Saturday, Nebraska has topped 100 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

A "dramatic" increase in testing has pushed the number of confirmed cases higher over the past few days, according to Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department.

"We have been anticipating this as testing has greatly expanded," she said after the department reported 10 new confirmed cases of coronavirus Saturday.

Nebraska Medicine, the Nebraska Public Health Lab, as well as CHI and private labs outside the health system, have all increased testing capacity.

"This knowledge will allow us to better respond to the outbreak," Pour added.

Washington County reported three new cases Saturday  people all in their 80s and residents of the Carter Place senior living home in Blair, which has now had five residents test positive. Dodge, Gosper, Madison and Buffalo counties also each reported one new case Saturday.

As of 6 p.m., the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said there were 108 confirmed cases in the state.
My hometown in the news, I tweeted on Jan. 15, with a screenshot from an article about a new SARS-like virus found in China. It was a sardonic reference to my hometown, Wuhan, a city that almost no one in America had ever heard of, even though its population exceeds that of our biggest metropolis. As a kid answering the question of where I was from, I wished that people would know the name Wuhan the same way they knew about Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong.

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January was before the makeshift hospitals, before the martyring of a whistle-blower doctor, before nearly 800 million people were placed under lockdown, before the virus started spreading in earnest beyond Chinese borders. Now its late March, and people the world over are panicking as country after country shuts down. But for those like memembers of the Wuhan diaspora living in the United Statesthe daily headlines and panic come with a sense of deja vu. Were living through the coronavirus outbreak twice: first watching it affect our families overseas, now seeing it reach our lives directly.

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Last week, China began to lift restrictions on Wuhan and surrounding Hubei Province. At the same time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo placed shelter in place-type restrictions for the state of New York, where I live now, and now one in five Americans has been given similar instructions. As Chinas case numbers have been going down, the U.S. leads the world in (confirmed) numbers of coronavirus infections. For Wuhanese in America, our homes have switched places.

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Watching the recent events in America is reopening the experience of grief that I felt when I was looking at it happening in Wuhan, says Rui Zhong, a China analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington. Zhong, like me, was born in Wuhan and moved to the United States around age 5. All of her grandparents are quarantined there, unable to go outside for the past two months; one aunt works at a hospital and has a pass to go to and from work.

For a long time, it seemed that everyone in the U.S. treated COVID-19 as an abstract foreign policy issue, Zhong says. As she puts it, the usual reaction would be that the outbreak was really unfortunate, now lets talk about movies next weekend. Even a few weeks ago, when the Wilson Center was ordering its employees to work from home, one co-worker wondered whether the move was an overreaction. But Zhongs familys experience in Wuhan made it clear to hear that these actions would be necessary.

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Ivy Yang agrees about the seeming lack of urgency in the States. Yang, who is studying for her masters at Columbia Business School, was born in Wuhan and came to the U.S. when she was 9. Last Christmas, her parents came from Wuhan to visit, but were unable to return because of the lockdown. Stuck in the U.S., the entire family decamped to a place in New Jersey.

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In New York, it was a very slow ramp-up and then it kind of hit in a very extreme way, but for Wuhanese living in New York, we were always very vigilant, she says. Long before official warnings began to proliferate, Yang was avoiding public transportation and large events, telling non-Asian about the importance of hand hygiene and explaining why people were wearing masks. Two weeks before the schools officially closed, she pulled her 6-year-old son out of first grade. A part of me just didnt believe that, given how much traveling there is in New York City, that there wasnt a case, she says. The last flight out of Wuhan was on the 23rd of January, and I remember just counting the days14 days from Jan. 23and thinking that if anything happened it would be during that duration.

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I was not nearly as careful as Yang. When my father (in California) called in January to say that he was canceling his back trip to Wuhan out of fear of being quarantined, I thought he was being paranoid. I had never heard of an entire city being quarantined before. He relayed rumors that the situation was much worse than reported in either Chinese- or English-language media, but I merely told him to stop calling the virus SARS and said that misinformation was very common on social media.

In February, we received news that a relative in Hubei, my mothers cousin, had died from the coronavirus. Soon, I was hearing stories about how only one member of our family could go outside for a few hours, and how my unclequarantined with his parents, away from his wife who was quarantined with my cousinswas learning to cook out of necessity. Still, it wasnt until the virus hit Italy that I realized that it would not be contained and that I should start staying indoors. If it could reach southern Europe, there was little reason it would not reach the United States. Even then, I had envisioned a slow rollout, not an entirely new state of affairs within two weeks.

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Similarly, the spread of Covid-19 came as a surprise and a disappointment for Zeyi Yang (no relation to Ivy), who came to New York City from Wuhan to pursue graduate studies at Columbia. This whole of January and February, I always thought this was a tragedy for my hometown, he says. I didnt know my life in New York was going to be impacted. Its caught me unprepared.

Zeyi remembers seeing the World Health Organization refuse to declare a pandemic and hearing officials claim that containment was possible if countries took the correct precautions. [T]here are a lot of things that the Chinese government didnt do well when they were handling the crisis, and I secretly thought if this was happening in another country, it [would] be different, he says. He didnt expect other countries to make the same mistakes.

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For all of us with family back in Hubei, the conversations have changed in recent weeks. I still ask my family about how they are doing, but, now, they are worried about my hygiene and the dangerous hotspot of Brooklyn. They say that New York is the new Wuhan. Once, Zhong mostly asked after her grandparents; now they give her advice about sanitizing packages and wearing gloves and tell her to take a shower whenever she gets home. Yang has gone from coordinating with extended family to get food to her grandparents (who live in an 18th-floor apartment) to receiving inquiries from Chinese friends who ask if shes OK and whether she needs masks. Friends did end up sending some, which she donated to the local police department.

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Zeyis parents call frequently to make sure hes not going outside, and his mom also warns him to exercise during this time so he doesnt gain weight during quarantine like she did. The whiplash from the change in fortune is surreal. Zeyis mom, a human resources manager, has returned to work. Meanwhile, all his classes are online, his research trip to Nepal has been canceled, and Columbias journalism career fair is virtual now, with many attendees pulling out.Ive been staying at home for two weeks except for one or two grocery trips, he says. I already feel like this is so unbearable, like I dont know how I can cope for the next month or two months. But  my parents have already done this for two months. I can do it, Im just not sure how to.

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My wish that people know the name of Wuhan was granted, though its a monkeys paw wish if I ever saw one. Zhong, too, says that when news of the virus first started to spread, she became dejected thinking that people would associate our hometown with this horrible illness forever.

She wants people to remember Wuhan for other thingsfor what Zhong calls its Midwest part of China energy, its riverside Rust Belt-like history, its love of carbs, its down-to-earth accent. Yang, too, wants people to know Wuhan for more than the virus and even for more than landmarks like the Yellow Crane Tower, which is widely regarded as a symbol of the city but is the kind of place that locals usually never go to unless you have friends in town. (See: Times Square.) Yang is working with artists in Wuhan on an initiative called the Reboot Project to showcase different aspects of the city: the foodie culture and breakfast delicacies, the punk music scene, the business potential, anything but bat soup and disease.

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As for me, I bite my tongue now when family members warn me to wear masks if I can. I dont roll my eyes when my dad keeps shipping me plastic gloves, or preach about misinformation when I receive texts about how the mail might have coronavirus so I should try to sanitize everything before opening. In January, I was arrogant, but I was proven wrong. In April, as my grandparents are able to go outside again and Im staying six feet away from everyone, I will be glad that the worst is over for them and ask for their advice when I need it.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Entry into force of Double Taxation Agreement between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Her Majestys Government of Gibraltar has announced that pursuant to the relevant notifications having been exchanged on 24th March 2020, the Double Tax Agreement between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is now in force.

Double Tax Agreements remove barriers to international trade and investment and provide a clear and fair framework for taxing international cross-border business. Such agreements benefit both the businesses concerned as well as the economies of the countries signed up to them.

Therefore, given the current global COVID-19 pandemic, this agreement will no doubt prove to be an integral part of the Governments strategy in reinforcing our economy as we emerge from this crisis, by promoting trade and investment with one of our closest partners that is centric to many of our industry sectors.

Global organisations such as the OECD and G20 continue to hold tax transparency, administrative cooperation and good governance as important agendas in the field of taxation and vital characteristics of any mainstream tax jurisdiction. It is for this purpose that the entry into force of the DTA with the UK is another major step forward and one that is set firmly in the right direction.

This is a further demonstrable example of the significant progress made in the last 12 months in repositioning Gibraltars international tax presence.

The Governments strategy to cement our position as a credible finance centre avoiding both the pitfalls identified with blacklisted jurisdictions in addition to the associated consequences and sanctions is continuing. Resources have already been deployed for the necessary preliminary studies on how best to expand Gibraltars network of treaty partners in the future; something that this Agreement has definitively paved the way for.
A team of workers at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo have put their skills in making world renowned gin and whiskey to the side for the time being as they have come to the countrys aid making alcohol based emergency sanitiser.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer about the decision to transform operations at The Shed, the companys managing director Pat Rigney explained: It feels like six months ago but Monday of last week I began to realise that this thing was really serious and that we were in the position to make, lets call it emergency sanitiser, using alcohol and purified water.

We actually sterilise the distillery with alcohol, it is a sanitiser that goes back in time. It is one of the cleanest, safest ways of cleaning once it is above a certain level of alcohol.

I saw what was coming and my immediate thought was could we do something for the Leitrim area initially, something very modest.

The following day was a national holiday but Pat realised there was no time to waste and set about taking the next steps towards having the sanitisers ready for distribution.

I contacted Revenue on St Patricks Day and they authorised us to do it - believe it or not they came back to us on St Patricks Day and said yes.

When they came back to me on St Patricks Day that gave me even more enthusiasm. It also gave me a little bit of a heads up to get some designs done for some material. We designed some labels and some material on Tuesday, St Patricks Day into the following morning.

With the graphics in place Pat then spoke to his colleagues at The Shed regarding what their next step should be and before he knew it the product was packaged and readied for distribution over the weekend.

I spoke to Brian Taff and our head distiller and the team about what we might do, what we mightnt do. We were planning to bottle today (Monday) but the thing developed and we could see this thing was developing into a war and a real emergency.

I spoke to the team and made the request on Friday, knowing that we had labels and packaging and the semblance of what we were going to do, could we actually start bottling and packaging sanitiser on Saturday?

The team turned around and said yes. They came in on Saturday, the ladies, particularly who are mothers, gave up mothers day and we started to pack over the weekend.

The next step was distribution with the initial aim of supplying to the Drumshanbo area before branching out further.

On Sunday evening we put a load of product together for Fergal McPartland because Fergal knows all the people in need around Drumshanbo. We put product together for the Leitrim Association for People with Disabilities, Childhood Days, Meals on Wheels. There are other people that they would know would need sanitisers so we put a big pack together for all of those people.

We then put an initial amount into Gala and Centra and Cara Pharmacy in Drumshanbo.

We are supplying Leitrim County Council so they can keep the staff going. We sent some to the Garda station in Carrick-on-Shannon for distribution to the guards. Well go further afield later this week in Leitrim.

As well as looking after local concerns, Pat explained The Shed have been overwhelmed by the volume of requests for sanitisers they have received from all locations.

Were inundated with requests from all sorts of needy places including a company in Galway making ventilators. They need sanitiser so we are going to supply them.

We are supplying sanitisers from some hospitals, that wouldnt be the main hospitals, and HSE staff for personal use.

Elaborating further on the demand for The Shed made sanitiser Pat said it would be impossible to satisfy the demand.

I got a bit of a surprise when we put something up on our social media to say that we were going to do something.

The response shook me to my core because even if we were working flat out we could not possibly have filled the need.

The business model operated by The Shed is an unusual one but these are unusual times with Pat explaining the product is either being given away or being sold at cost price.

Were selling it at cost and we are giving it away, we are doing a bit of both. That allows us to keep the lights on and we are doing our best.

Pat was eager to pay tribute to all who helped The Shed begin distribution of the sanitiser products as quickly as proved to be the case.

We managed to flip it, put it together and the team has worked incredibly hard. Id like to thank the team at the distillery.

I also want to pay tribute to Leitrim County Council for going with us on it. I want to thank Revenue in Sligo for coming back on St Patricks Day, that bought us two days because some of the label companies are closing so you cant get labels. Were only at it three days but well continue at it all week and next week and the week after and for as long as is necessary.

Attempting to finish on a positive note Pat insisted that when the crisis passes there will be a real cause for celebration.

Its not our core business, our core business is making great whiskey, making great Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and the visitors' experience.

One of the things I really want to get across is that when this is all over we are going to have some party!
Passengers arrive at the railway station in Wuhan on March 28, 2020, after travel restrictions into the city were eased following two months of lockdown due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese city of 11 million people that was Ground Zero for what became the global coronavirus pandemic partly reopened on March 28 after more than two months of almost total isolation. (AFP)

Wuhan: This Chinese city of 11 million people that was Ground Zero of the coronavirus pandemic partly reopened on Saturday after more than two months of almost total isolation.

The major transport and industrial hub signalled the end of its long isolation with state media showing the first officially sanctioned passenger train arriving back into the city just after midnight.

People are now allowed to enter but not leave, and many trains arriving Saturday were fully booked days in advance.

Some had managed to slip back into the city a day earlier on rail services that were stopping in the city -- but nominally banned passengers from disembarking -- as enforcement of the travel ban began to ease.

One woman who arrived on Friday said she and her daughter had been away from her husband for nearly 10 weeks. "As the train neared Wuhan, my child and I were both very excited," the 36-year-old told AFP on Saturday.

"It felt like the train was moving faster than before, and my daughter said the driver must know we really want to go home.

"She rushed toward her father, and watching them from behind I couldn't help but cry," she added.

Staff at Wuhan station were all clad in full protective gear with reception desks lined up ready to process returnees who had been overseas.

China is now battling to control a wave of imported cases as infections soar abroad.

All arrivals in Wuhan have to show a green code on a mobile app to prove that they are healthy.

Elsewhere in China long lines of travellers queued up at train stations to board high-speed services back to Wuhan.

Passengers in Shanghai had their temperatures checked by staff in goggles and masks after boarding their Saturday morning service.

Restrictions on residents heading out of Wuhan will not be lifted until April 8, when the airport will also reopen for domestic flights.

Wuhan is the last area of Hubei province to see overland travel restrictions lifted, although some highways leading into the city had already reopened this week.

Gao Xuesong, a worker in Wuhan's auto industry, arrived back in the city Friday night.

"It almost feels like returning to an alien land, because I haven't been back for more than two months," he told AFP.

- Zero cases, not zero risk -

The new coronavirus was detected in December and has been linked to a market in the city that sold wild animals for human consumption.

The city has paid a heavy price for the outbreak, with more than 50,000 people infected and more COVID-19 deaths than any other city in China.

There were three more deaths in the city on Saturday, health officials reported.

Wuhan initially struggled to contain the outbreak. AFP reporters saw long queues of sick patients at one overwhelmed city hospital in January.

But numbers have fallen dramatically in recent weeks. Official figures show there have been fewer than 20 new cases across the province in the past fortnight.

Most of Wuhan's subway network restarted on Saturday, while some shopping centres will open their doors next week.

Banks reopened earlier this week and bus routes started operations -- but residents have been warned against unnecessary travel and those over 65 have been told to avoid public transport.

A study this week found that the lockdown in Wuhan succeeded in stopping the fast-spreading virus in its tracks and gave health care facilities crucial breathing room -- but warned against opening up the city too soon.

More than 2,500 people are still hospitalised with the disease in Wuhan, including nearly 900 "severe" cases.

Liu Dongru, of the Hubei Health Commission, said Friday that although parts of Wuhan had been reclassified as "low-risk" areas, work to control the virus needed to continue.

"Zero reported cases does not equal zero risk," he said.
By the early 1980s, Kevin Boyle was a professor of law at NUI Galway and becoming increasingly well-known for his work as a human rights lawyer. One particularly controversial case involved Nicky Kelly, a member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), convicted in 1978 with two other men of robbing a train and stealing 200,000. The Kelly case became one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in modern Irish history.

Although Kelly and his co-defendants repeatedly declared their innocence and claimed they had signed confessions after hours of violent police interrogation, they were convicted. Anticipating the verdict, he fled to the US three days before sentencing. Kelly and one other defendant were sentenced to 12 years in jail. A third got nine years.

Five months later, the Provisional IRA, to which Kelly did not belong, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the robbery. In May 1980, Kelly's co-defendants had their convictions overturned on appeal.

Kelly returned home - only to be arrested and jailed

Confident that his conviction would also be reversed, Kelly returned home - only to be arrested and jailed, with the Irish Supreme Court upholding his conviction. On May 1, 1983, Kelly began a hunger strike.

Concerned that Kelly's death would cause a political crisis, Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald privately asked Boyle to file a case with the European Commission on Human Rights.

"The hunger strike was an incredible embarrassment to the government," Boyle's former Galway student, Gerard Quinn, who helped research the case, recalled. "The government was in a fix. Kelly was in a fix. And Kevin was reached out to as a way of trying to create some neutral space whereby Kelly could get off the hunger strike and the government could get off the hook."

Boyle, in collaboration with Mary Robinson, who would become Ireland's president in 1990, spent the next three weeks assembling a case for the commission, outlining how Kelly's treatment violated the European Convention of Human Rights.

On June 7, 1983, the 38th day of Kelly's hunger strike, the document was sent to Strasbourg. By this point, Kelly's physical condition was rapidly deteriorating. Doctors gave him a week to 10 days to live.

That night, shortly after the application had been sent to Strasbourg, Kelly agreed to end his hunger strike. In a letter to Kelly, Boyle expressed relief that the hunger strike was over and stressed that an avenue to justice now existed.

In their submission, Boyle and Robinson argued that "it is inhuman treatment under Article 3 to require him to continue to serve a sentence of 12 years penal servitude for a crime he did not commit, following a trial where false evidence forced from him was the sole basis of his conviction."

The document also singled out Article 52 of Ireland's Offences Against the State Act. This required anyone arrested under the Act "to give a full account of their movements if demanded". Refusal to co-operate could result in six months in jail. The article effectively eliminated the right of the accused to remain silent.

With Kelly's interrogators alone having the power to decide if his answers were acceptable, Boyle and Robinson argued that the sole purpose of a relentless interrogation over more than 60 hours "was to have him admit against his will to involvement in an offence he did not commit".

In Strasbourg, officials at the European Commission were impressed with the case. "They were extremely well researched and compelling," recalled Michel O'Boyle, a lawyer then working at the commission, who had also studied with Boyle. "They demonstrated quite clearly that Kelly's case had been treated in a different way from those of the co-accused."

Yet, when the commission issued its decision on May 17, 1984, the application was deemed inadmissible - on a technicality. Having been asked on such short notice by FitzGerald to bring the case, it had been submitted slightly later than the six months after the final decision by a local court that the Strasbourg regulations allowed.

In 1992, Mary Robinson, by now Ireland's president, issued Kelly a formal pardon

But Boyle and Robinson did not give up. Two weeks later, they submitted a confidential memorandum to the Irish government, stressing that "we consider that, if the case had not failed due to the six months' rule, these arguments, or some of them, would have been seriously examined by the European Commission of Human Rights" and strongly appealing for Kelly to be pardoned.

Two months later, Justice Minister Michael Noonan announced that Kelly was being released on "humanitarian grounds". After four years and two weeks in prison, Kelly was a free man. In 1992, Mary Robinson, by now Ireland's president, issued Kelly a formal pardon.

Two days after Kelly's release, Boyle joined him at a Press conference. Stressing that the Irish government would have found it very difficult to defend its stance in Strasbourg, he emphasised that the continued use of Article 52 would probably lead to more cases before the court.

On this point, he was right. It would take 24 more years, but, in 2000, the court, in a case brought by Kevin's old comrade from the civil rights movement, Michael Farrell, ruled that Section 52 "destroyed the very essence of (the) privilege against self-incrimination and (the) right to remain silent".

Not long after Nicky Kelly had walked free, Boyle received a letter from another prisoner, but one with a very different story.

It came from Billy Hutchinson, a leading figure in the extreme loyalist paramilitary group the UVF, who had been convicted of involvement in two sectarian murders of Catholics in Belfast in 1974 and was 10 years into a life sentence.

Dear Mr Boyle, the letter began. I am a loyalist prisoner. I am serving a life sentence. The reason for writing is to find out if you would be interested in our case as life prisoners without a release scheme. We would be grateful if you could guide us in some direction that could get our case heard.

Hutchinson was the officer commanding all UVF prisoners in the Maze prison, a role he had taken over from Gusty Spence, a UVF leader whose murder of Catholic barman Peter Ward in 1966 had helped fuel the tensions that led to the Troubles.

During his time in prison, however, Spence had concluded that traditional loyalist violence was futile and that a political solution was the only way to end the conflict. Influenced by the evolution in Spences thinking, Hutchinson too was moving in this direction  a transformation that would in the 1990s make him a key figure in ending UVF terrorism as the peace process gathered momentum.

In 1984, though, Hutchinson was involved in a simpler, but in some respects just as daunting, task: working with a group of life prisoners to persuade the Northern Irish authorities to offer at least the hope of a parole, or release, scheme for inmates whose views, Hutchinson contended, had modified behind bars.

In his letter, Hutchinson went out of his way to make sure that Boyle knew of his loyalist background and stressed that he was not speaking for republican prisoners.

Loyalist inmates initially objected to Hutchinson contacting Boyle

For his part, Boyle would undoubtedly have heard of Hutchinson and Boyles reputation had clearly penetrated the walls of the Maze.

Indeed, some of Hutchinsons fellow loyalist inmates initially objected to Hutchinson contacting him because of Boyles history as a leading figure in the civil rights movement.

To Hutchinson, that did not matter. The reason why we wrote to him, Hutchinson recalled, was we thought he was the one best placed. He was the one who seemed to be getting all the accolades  not just here, but for his work abroad.

It made more sense for us to talk to him on the basis that he was the human rights lawyer with the best profile and the one with the understanding of international law and human rights.

To the sceptics, Hutchinson said his response was hold on a minute. This guy is a professional and what we have to assume is that he behaves in a professional way. He doesnt work on some sort of sectarian kneejerk thing about who people are. And that means he comes without any preconceived notion about an individual, or a group.

Hutchinsons judgment was correct. Boyle quickly replied with a positive note, offering to help and expressing optimism that there are some possibilities.

A month later, Boyle received a three-page memo from Hutchinson, outlining the plight of the loyalist life-sentence prisoners. Although it would take another decade before the UVF declared a ceasefire, the document provided revealing insights into how the thinking of one-time-extremists like Hutchinson was changing.

It claimed many young Protestants who got involved in violence had been led astray by the bellicose rhetoric of demagogic leaders. This was a clear reference to Ian Paisley, who had acquired a reputation for making fiery speeches and then managing to disappear when the violence inevitably followed.

It said that Hutchinson and his fellow loyalist lifers were now liberating themselves from the prejudices, fears and illusions which became instilled in their minds from the advent of the Troubles ... Peaceful co-existence achieves more than violent confrontation.

The document expressed remorse, noting that life prisoners are also human beings and recognise the suffering which resulted from their actions. It stressed the fact that the prisoners were using their time behind bars to learn new skills, take classes and forge a commitment to reintegrate into society and lead productive, non-violent lives.

And, yet, it concluded that the prisoners felt forgotten by the outside world, except for their long-suffering families, because the authorities would not give them any idea when they might be considered for parole. It was on this question that Hutchinson had written to Boyle for advice.

In his response, Boyle, likely sensing the importance of the political evolution the document articulated, was predictably both practical and encouraging. He praised the memo and said that, if the Northern Ireland Office remained unresponsive, Hutchinson should consider making it public.

He also suggested that, in communicating with the authorities, Hutchinson should emphasise that lifers who were released understood they could be sent back to prison if they again became involved in illegal activities.

This, Boyle said, would be a useful argument that might help blunt official reluctance to consider a parole scheme, as would evidence from prisonerss families of possible employment opportunities that might be available after their release.

Finally, he offered to encourage a non-sectarian group in Belfast called the Committee on the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland, which was respected by the Northern Ireland Office and had good contacts in the bureaucracy, to work on the plight of those serving life sentences. Keep up your spirits, the letter ended. I look forward to meeting with you.

During 1985, public pressure in Northern Ireland from both communities for changes in procedures for life prisoners was growing.

As promised, Boyle lent his voice to the lobbying. The stuff we were doing with Kevin was great, Hutchinson recalled. Some of the things he had been working on were the things that came to fruition.

Later that year, the Northern Ireland Office issued a memo outlining a new policy. It stressed that life sentences were reviewed by prison officers every year and, at 10 years, the case would come before a Life Sentence Review Board, composed of civil servants, probation officers and a psychiatrist.

While both republican and loyalist prisoners complained about the lack of openness in the process, it was a start. And, by the end of the decade, it led to the release of a number of life-sentence prisoners, including Billy Hutchinson. He was freed in 1990 and became an important figure as loyalist extremists became involved in the peace process.

Years later, he remained grateful for Boyles help. He wasnt in it for people because of the colour of their skin, or their religion. He was in it for people who he felt were on the other end of an injustice that shouldnt have happened.

Mike Chinoy, a long-time foreign correspondent, covered the Troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s. He is currently a Hong Kong-based non-resident senior fellow at the University of Southern Californias US-China Institute. His new book, Are You With Me?: Kevin Boyle and the Rise of the Human Rights Movement, is published by The Lilliput Press, priced 18 (https://www.lilliputpress.ie)
KALAMAZOO, MI  While some fear the catastrophic economic impact that may result from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, many local entrepreneurs are adapting in an effort to stay afloat in the midst of the crisis.

Owners are being forced to move quickly, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases climb exponentially in the U.S. The first cases in Michigan triggered statewide orders impacting many industries.

In Southwest Michigan, the virus and resulting actions have caused some small businesses to go online, and others to send their workers home to work remotely.

Some have found a path forward, though often operating on a fraction of their typical revenue. Others have closed altogether.

Virtual yoga

Kristin Fiore, owner of Down Dog Yoga Center in downtown Kalamazoo, is shifting to online yoga sessions.

It is not a business model she set out with when she opened the studio in April 2014, but something she and her staff have had to implement quickly to adapt to the new restrictions and the atmosphere created by coronavirus.

As the governor announced guidance against large gatherings, the business began by reducing class sizes and removing shared items from the studio. Participants were becoming increasingly unconformable with coming into the studio as the situation progressed, she said.

The business closed its doors on Monday, March 16, and opened the online, virtual studio the following day. After briefly running that operation out of its downtown studio, Down Dog later transitioned to teachers leading yoga sessions from their homes, with a unique home studio set up by each instructor.

Not only has Fiore had to deal with the sudden shift to how the studio operates, but the financial impact as well. Class sizes are not even half what they were before, she said. While the business is running off site, she is still paying rent on the studio.

Fiore said she is thankful for the dedication of her staff.

Were trying to keep a sense of connection with our community, she said.

Down Dog Yoga Studio is offering free or reduced rates for people who have lost their source of income, Fiore said.

She is finding solace in the connections with others through the virtual sessions. They allow for some normalcy and offer access to the benefits of yoga, she said, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Were all in front of our computers now all day so people are dealing with back, neck, shoulder pain and things like that," Fiore said. "So were finding that people who are attending these practices virtually are really appreciative of taking a break from the computer from moving their body.

There have been times Ive just cried, Ive just been completely overwhelmed. But what really keeps me going, is the feedback from the students from the community, people who are emailing and texting and chatting in at the end of our practice saying how it was so great to not just take a yoga class online but take it with someone that they know, Fiore said, holding back emotion.

To see a familiar face, to attend the class that theyre used to attending, she said.

Delivery or carryout

Dan Templin, 33, and his wife, Jamie, own and operate the The Local, a restaurant and craft beer bar in Centreville, south of Kalamazoo.

Templin, while watching the impact the coronavirus pandemic has brought to restaurants in recent weeks, came up with a game plan to switch to exclusively serving pizza and a few other items, and invested $12,000 on several stone pizza ovens.

On the day Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shut down dine-in service, The Local switched from a full-service restaurant and bar into, primarily, a pizza and beer delivery service.

Dan Templin

When she made the order, we came in, the managers and myself were here all day, to figure out what we could do to make it work, Templin said.

Staff left their previous positions and became delivery drivers. They created a pick-up window, and re-opened under the new takeout and delivery model.

The change translated into pizza orders. So many that they had to stop answering the phones on their first Friday night after selling 140 pizzas in the first two and half hours, Templin said.

They have since added more capacity with more staff on, he said. Many of their regular customers remain as delivery or pick-up customers, Templin said.

They also deliver beer including some bottles being aged in the cellar, he said, and the new menu also includes nachos and salads. As many grocery stores are busy or have bare shelves, Templin also started selling milk and eggs to their customers at cost.

Templin said he is happy to provide the service and keep people employed during the situation, though he cant wait to welcome customers back in to the business.

Craft beer still flowing

Despite the sweeping closures, many local breweries in and around Kalamazoo are still running, though its not business as usual.

One Well Brewing in Kalamazoo, Presidential Brewing Co. in Portage, and others are open serving take-out beer and food. Wax Wings Brewing and Olde Peninsula Brewpub are among those offering beer delivery.

A sign posted outside One Well Brewing in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. At 3 p.m. Monday, Gov. Whitmer ordered all bars and restaurants to close their doors for dine-in service. Joel Bissell

One Well Brewing owner Chris ONeill said the pick-up service is a way to offer some hours to employees who were laid off. He called the pick-up business a band aid, not a cure." The staff miss seeing the customers and each other inside the restaurant and brewery, he said.

Related: Brewery owner will match donations for staff laid off during coronavirus closure

Other restaurants in the community offered carryout for a short time before making a decision to temporarily close.

Hopcat offered a takeout service for some time before discontinuing the service and temporarily closing its restaurants in Michigan, including the Kalamazoo location.

Latitude 42, with locations in Portage and Oshtemo Township, offered food to-go for some time before closing temporarily. Texas Corners Brewing did the same.

Uncle Ernies Pancake House, a Milwood breakfast spot, changed its normal breakfast hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offered take-out, before deciding to close temporarily.

Bells Eccentric Cafe is temporarily closed. The general store is open, and Bells is offering curbside beer sales. Concerts at Bells have been canceled or postponed. However, the brewery is hosting a virtual concert series instead.

Bells released a video on its COVID-19 response page that explains how the Kalamazoo County brewery is responding to the threat of the virus:

The Crossroads Mall in Portage announced it was temporarily closed this week, while outward-facing essential businesses may remain open.

Early closures

The businesses mentioned above have indicated they plan to re-open once the threat of COVID-19 in Michigan passes.

Some other businesses will not.

The owners of TakoKat in Paw Paw said coronavirus was the tipping point in a decision to close the restaurant permanently.

Branns Steakhouse in Portage said the virus was the last straw and the restaurant, part of a regional chain based in Grand Rapids, has also closed for good.

The businesses that have not decided to close remain focused on their path forward, watching and responding as decisions from government officials and advice from public health officials change the landscape. For many small business owners, the unprecedented situation with no clear end in sight has bred uncertainty and concern for their future.

Meanwhile, the changes in society due to coronavirus and efforts to stop it are becoming increasingly noticeable as the virus spreads.

But amid the concerns, efforts to support local businesses and their employees is gaining traction in Kalamazoo and across the state.

West Michigan Beer Tours is giving away beer merchandise as an incentive to drink beer.

A virtual music festival happening this weekend is contributing money to the Michigan Music Alliances Artist Relief Fund, to help performers impacted by the coronavirus.

Another virtual fundraising concert series will support employees of Muskegon-area breweries.

Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is selling gift cards for local businesses impacted by the government orders. Under a special promotion launched to support downtown business during the COVID-19 emergency, for every $25 gift card purchased, customers will receive a $10 bonus.

In just over 24 hours, the community has purchased 280 gift cards as part of the Downtown Gift Card Stimulus program! That's nearly $10,000 that goes directly to local downtown businesses.



Our goal is to sell 1000 gift cards - buy today: https://t.co/JHQ2xsspCi pic.twitter.com/S3Zvzp50hI  Downtown Kalamazoo (@DwntwnKalamazoo) March 19, 2020

Fiore thanked those who have already purchased gift cards, and thanked Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership for the support.

"They really reacted quickly to try to start helping support the downtown businesses as they know that were all working on small margins and and locally owned, Fiore said.

15 Kalamazoo-area businesses adapt to big changes during coronavirus outbreak

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New Delhi: Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Dec 11, 2017. Rahul Gandhi, who is putting up a spirited campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in Gujarat, was on Monday elected the Image Source: PK

Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 : The Congress on Saturday hit out at the Kannur Superintendent of Police Yathish Chandra who was seen in a video clipping punishing three persons by asking them to do squats for violating lockdown rules.

Kannur is the home district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The video clip in which the SP is asking three people to do squats for venturing out has now gone viral.

"Since we did not want to cane-charge older people, we made them to do it. People fail to understand the reason why they are asked to remain indoors. Staying at home is the only way we can contain the spread of coronavirus," Chandra told media.

In the video he is seen asking the three why they failed to understand what the media, the police and the government are saying all the time -- do not venture out.

State Congress president Mulappally Ramachandran said what he saw "is totally unacceptable".

"This did not happen even during the British colonial rule. This should have never happened and it cannot be accepted," said Ramachandran, a former Union Minister of State for Home.

State Police chief Loknath Behra reacted by saying personally he does not accept what had happened.

"We will wait for a report," said Behra.

Chandra was in the news at the height of the Sabarimala temple protests in 2018, when he was seen arguing with the then Union Minister of State Pon Radhakarishnan when he had reached the temple town.
National carrier Air India and its regional arm Alliance Air are operating a host of cargo charter flights -- mostly with medical equipment and medicines -- on several routes on Saturday, an Air India spokesperson said.

The flights are being operated with a mix of Boeing 787, A320 and regional jets ATRs, he said.

On Friday, a civil aviation ministry announced the setting up of an air cargo management group to move essential commodities across the country, which is lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Imphal-Delhi, Delhi-Raipur-Bhubaneshwar-Delhi, Kolkata-Agartala-Kolkata and Mumbai-Pune-Raipur-Mumbai are the routes where these flighst are being operated, the spokesperson said.

Air India has deployed its flagship aircraft Boeing 787-8 (Dreamliner)



for Delhi-Mumbai flights, and A320 for Imphal flights, he said, adding the rest of the routes are being operated with Tray Retrieval System (ATRS).

The country is under a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of the coronavirus and all domestic and international commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this period.

On Friday also, essential items especially medicine and ICMR kits were transported from Delhi to Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Kolkata and Hyderabad on Friday



and another flight transported essential items from Mumbai to Pune, Bengaluru and Trivandrum the same day, a civil aviation ministry official had said earlier.

Besides, a third batch of air cargo carried essential items from Delhi to Pune and ICMR kits from Pune to Patna.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Even the now-stalled global auto industry is moving to shift their manufacturing to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect front liners and much-needed ventilators for patients, especially with U.S. automakers as the number of cases, surged. But instead of messages of support from President of the United States, Donald Trump, what they got was a digital crack of a whip.

Cities and countries are going on lockdowns and quarantines, businesses are closing temporarily, factories are shutting down, air travel is taking a huge hit, and people are generally staying away from each other. These are all measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and buy the healthcare systems of each country some time and prevent them from getting overwhelmed.

Make no mistake about it: the world is mobilizing (or immobilizing) to deal with and manage the spread of the new coronavirus.

President Trump, now embattled after American COVID-19 confirmed cases surpassed China's official numbers, took to Twitter to make public his orders to (and criticisms of) General Motors and Ford, and with a lot of caps.

General Motors MUST immediately open their stupidly abandoned Lordstown plant in Ohio, or some other plant, and START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!!!!!! FORD, GET GOING ON VENTILATORS, FAST!!!!!! @GeneralMotors @Ford  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020

GM, for its part, is already coordinating with Ventec Life Systems to build ventilators at their factory in Indiana. Ventilators are used by hospitals to aid patients that are having extreme trouble breathing; it's a critical piece of equipment given how COVID-19 attacks the lungs. The two companies are targeting to produce 10,000 or more ventilators per month.

As usual with this General Motors, things just never seem to work out. They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed Ventilators, very quickly. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar. Always a mess with Mary B. Invoke P.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020

Trump further attacked Mary Barra, the Chairman and CEO of General Motors, over Twitter. The reason is that GM supposedly wants "top dollar" for the ventilators. Trump slammed her by saying that it's always a mess with Mary B.

Ford, on the other hand, is already working with GE Healthcare to scale up their ventilator production. The Blue Oval also announced that they were using their 3D printing equipment to manufacture a variety of PPEs such as face shields. The company even released the rough schematic of a respirator that cleverly uses parts such as car seat cooling fans, power tool rechargeable batteries, and 3M HEPA filters. These respirators will be used to protect front liners from infection.

Trump also invoked a law that dates back to the 1950s which gives the executive branch the ability to dictate production towards national defense, otherwise known as the Defense Production Act. The effects of such a law were last seen during the Korean War to mobilize and ramp up their industries. In World War II (which, interestingly enough, predates the law), American industries and automakers shifted their production for military equipment such as tanks, bombs, and planes.

In terms of officially-declared numbers, the U.S. has overtaken China as the country with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases with 104,000+ versus China's 81,000+. The United States was one of the last countries to start implementing serious quarantines, lockdowns, closures, and social distancing. China was aggressive with its lockdown to attempt to contain the virus, but still, it got out.

The Philippines, despite its proximity to China and the frequency of air travel between the two nations before the Enhanced Community Quarantine, has 803 confirmed cases based on the last numbers released by the Department of Health. The number is still growing (albeit not exponentially) as more people are tested and as results begin to come in.
The Palestinian newlyweds were first worried about where they were going to live when the Israeli authorities made them demolish their home in East Jerusalem earlier this month. Now, amid a surge in cases of the coronavirus, Mohamed, 26, and his bride fear they cannot protect themselves against the spread of the deadly disease. The family was given a deadline of the first week in March to demolish their new home or pay 120,000 shekels (27,000) for the Israeli authorities to do it, which they could not afford. And so, Mohamed spent thousands of dollars hiring a bulldozer to hack down the flat he had just built a few weeks ago.

The demolition has also left metre-wide holes in the bedroom walls of Mohameds cousins house, gaps that the Israelis have forbidden them from filling. It has forced Mohameds cousin Moussa, 34, his wife and their five children to sleep on the floor of the living room in freezing weather, as rain floods in through the yawning cavities.

The damage has made it near impossible for the extended family, which lives in the same compound, to follow Covid-19 social distancing rules and self-quarantine regulations. The measures, which have been rolled out across Israel, the Palestinian Territories and the world, order people to separate themselves and stay at home except if completely necessary.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and local Houston-area health officials have advised school districts around the city to close buildings and teach students from home in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19, the potentially deadly disease caused by coronavirus.

Students in Cy-Fair ISD officially began using the online portal Edgenuity on March 23 to complete classwork, learn and collaborate with other students at their own pace. Parents of students within the district have praised the system for being easy-to-use while some had issues using the system with younger students.

Edgenuity is an online learning curriculum provider for grades K-12 being used by school districts across the country to deliver learning materials to students. The district has offered online learning materials for primary school, grades K-5; while secondary students, grades 6-12, will mainly use Edgenuity, said Linda Macias, chief academic officer for CFISD. CFISD has provided a guide for how to log in to Edgenuity accessible through the districts Learning At Home website.

All of the different content in Edgenuity, our coordinators have aligned them to scope and sequence, Macias said during a special, remote meeting of the board of trustees March 23. They are right there in line for the instruction that we would be delivering for our students.

The system, which has students select from categories based on their grade or advanced placement or dual credit courses, comes with a suggested schedule, links to accommodations for students and the ability to review previously learned materials, Macias said. Career and technology education, or CTE, and fine arts classes are also available through Edgenuity.

Edgenuity is really a self-paced course, Macias said. Our students can move through it as fast, or as slow as they need their instruction to occur. There are quizzes available on Edgenuity and feedback is provided through Edgenuity system for our students as they complete their quizzes.

Macias said as of March 23 that no grades were being taken for any students.

Related: Cy-Fair ISD updates community on COVID-19 during pandemic

Multiple parents responded to a Facebook post last week requesting comments about their impressions of Edgenuity, and CFISDs attempt at online education overall.

My 6th grader is up and running with no problems, Grace Graybeal said. We have not had much communication from her teachers, just two reached out via email, but the home learning has been self explanatory so, at this point, its not been an issue. I am sure it will continue to evolve as time goes on and thus far I have been pretty happy with the new process.

Related: Coronavirus live updates: Lawyers seek Harris jail releases, MoCo issues stay home order

Christine Nguyen said her 6th grader had issues using the online learning system the first day, but was able to log in and do the work himself the next day. Stephanie Shirley said her 6th and 8th grade students attending Spillane Middle School and her 9th grader attending Cy-Ranch High School have had a generally easy time logging in and learning. Shirley said she likes the fact that teachers are not pressured to make lesson plans.

All core classes for secondary schools were there and today foreign languages were added, Shirley said. A lot of what they are doing is material they have already learned and a review, so not much assistance is needed from me. So far Ive noticed video learning, question checkpoints as they learn as well as 10 question quizzes that give them an hour to complete and 3 attempts to take, none of which the district will actually keep as a grade.

Parents with younger children, like Traci Buell, said their children are having mixed results, with most of them taking time to adjust to the new system. Krys Voreh said her son, who has autism, has adapted well to the new system. Students are also meeting through the video chat app Zoom.

My 4th graderhad the hardest time using this, Deana Jenkins said. There are WAY TOO many websites we have to work from for each kid. But their teachers are phenomenal. Theyve been so helpful during this. I cant praise these angels of education enough.

Klein ISD parents also chimed in, adding that their students have also started online education. Courtney Osborne, teacher and parent of a Klein ISD student, said teachers are mainly reviewing previous material before moving on to new material to get students used to the new way of learning.

Many teachers are calling, emailing and having Zoom meetings just to touch base with our kiddos and make sure were all good and ready to learn next week, Osborne said. We as educators want to make sure ALL our kids have what they need and know how much we love and miss them! We will get through this together.

For more information on CFISD and online learning, visit www.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/health/coronavirus/learning-home .

chevall.pryce@chron.com
(Reuters) - Diversified miner Vedanta Ltd said on Friday Chief Executive Officer S Venkatakrishnan has resigned due to personal reasons, less than two years after he took the helm. Sunil Duggal, current head of Vedanta unit Hindustan Zinc Ltd, will take over as interim CEO

(Reuters) - Diversified miner Vedanta Ltd said on Friday Chief Executive Officer S Venkatakrishnan has resigned due to personal reasons, less than two years after he took the helm.

Sunil Duggal, current head of Vedanta unit Hindustan Zinc Ltd, will take over as interim CEO.

Venkatakrishnan, who was previously CEO of South African miner AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, took over as Vedanta chief in 2018 amid a rebound in metal prices.

Vedanta has been looking to expand its zinc, silver and oil and gas business and said in January that it would invest 600 billion Indian rupees ($8 billion).

The company was delisted from the London Stock Exchange in 2018, citing maturity of Indian capital markets.

Duggal is also president of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, the country's biggest mining lobby group.

Shares of Vedanta have plunged more than 70% since Venkatakrishnan took over as CEO. Shares of Hindustan Zinc, the world's second-largest zinc miner, have fallen about 50% in the same period.

The Indian government holds a 29.5% stake in Hindustan Zinc, which Vedanta has repeatedly said it would like to buy.

(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
28.03.2020 LISTEN

According to John C. Maxwell, Leadership is Influence. This definition of leadership is simple, straightforward and places leadership within everyone's reach. This means that all of us can exercise a certain degree of influence on other people wherever we find ourselves.

Leadership is not and must not be limited just to titles and positions. It's about one's life influencing another. At the student level, there are quite a number of portfolios that students contest for each and every year in order to exert some influence. My major concern here is whether our current crop of student leaders positively influence the people they're leading.

Despite the numerous unfeasible promises these student leaders make when campaigning for votes, most if not all, end up proving that our current student leadership has lost its relevance, and this occurs immediately after getting to the realm of affairs.

Gone were the days when student leaders in Ghana fought bravely, smartly and strategically for the improvement of the conditions of the ordinary Ghanaian student. The question to ask is why has the narrative changed. The loss of relevance can be attributed but not limited to the following factors that would be discussed in the subsequent paragraphs, but before that, take me back to the days of the Pan-Africanist movement.

Take me back to the days of the West African Students Union (WASU). And I could see Ladipo Solanke, Herbert Bankole-Bright, J. B Danquah, J. E Casely Hayford, Kwame Nkrumah, and others, fighting for the interest of the African Student wherever they found themselves. This was what later developed into the formation of political parties that rescued Africa from Colonization. The question again is what changed in our student leadership today.

In view of the realization of the power of students in the development, all ACTs that establishes tertiary institutions in Ghana automatically makes provision for a representative of the Student Representative Council (SRC) to be a member of the Schools Governing Council, which is the highest decision making body of the schools.

Drawing spirit from the Commonwealth Student Association publication in October 2016, not in many words, it concluded that, Student leaders are key in any nation's development in all sectors of governance and more uniquely, the educational sector. This, therefore, mandates all Commonwealth nations, including Ghana, to consult and engage students in any developmental agendas to ensure youth participation and inclusive national development.

Upon assuming power, student leaders mostly tend to see their "little authority" to be mightier than whatever authority or power other students and even some lecturers have. This feeling may be intentional or otherwise, depending on the various student leaders, and the philosophies they employ in ruling their colleagues. Such assumptions can be easily made by many student leaders, and that can easily make many of them be disliked by the students they are leading. It is true that once you are in office, you wield some level of power and get in touch with higher authorities than any other student could but that must lead to positive results for the students.

Without committing the logical flaw of hasty generalization, I will enlist some factors that have made the Students Representative Council of the University of Cape Coast a quiet irrelevant organization that needs a house cleaning, if some executives will see this article as a cogent scheme for reassessment and evaluation, more than a mischievous attempt to lash the SRC instead of giving it a candy for no work done.

To limit the scope of this write-up, issues will be raised to explain why the Students Representative Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC-SRC), has lost its essence of standing for what students really need, but make great strive for less relevant matters.

The main reason why we can call ourselves students of our noble University is because the University has made us an offer to pursue advanced education. Hence, the main reason why students are in school is to study. Any other activity is, therefore, a subsidiary to the substantive reason for coming to pursue a higher level of education. To achieve this objective of obtaining knowledge, other factors come to play such as access to better practical lessons, the opportunity for students to broaden their scope of learning, and helping management implement decisions that make the acquisition of higher education simple for students. These are some of the relevant things SRC should be aiming at achieving.

Looking at the current state of educational activities that take place at our University, we can say that much more work needs to be done. The practical aspects of our academic work is poor. To verify the truth of this matter, take a tour to our science laboratories on campus and one will notice the grave challenge in our science labs. As students to laboratory devices ratio continue to be unparalleled, science education continues in our beloved University, each and every year.

What knowledge are we giving to our students? As various Technical Universities, and Universities continue to produce hand sanitizers in aid of combating Covid-19, due to the inefficiencies in our Science Laboratories, our University is silent. Is this a new development? NO! We have an SRC which should be championing for more laboratory equipment and other practical devices to improve practical education, but because of the state of its irrelevance, Science and other practical education are just names in our University. When are we seeing true advocacy for an improved situation in our science and other practical education?

In almost every academic year, new academic programmes of study are introduced in our University. As to whether the University has the wherewithal to introduce such a prorgamme is a question to management. But what role has the SRC to play in this? The answer is Many. When students are admitted to read these new prorgammes or courses, the issue is whether or not academic materials are available and enough to aid these students in their academic quest.

Walkthrough our Main Library and other smaller libraries in the University and one will note that some courses have very limited access to academic materials. This makes life difficult for students as they cannot gain access to the book the lecturer has recommended in class. When this happens, academic work becomes as irrelevant as the office of the SRC since the SRC do not think about these things, lest to advocate for better condition.

The extent of the irrelevance of the SRC can be talked about over and over. As there is no hope in sight that our SRC will grow to be more relevant, lets look at what the office of the Students Representative Council of the University of Cape Coast has been reduced to.

Over the years, issues that have caught the attention of the SRC is about the normal basic struggle for things such as toilet rolls, SRC Lacoste, exercise books, SRC Fun night, SRC Week, SRC Movie night, SRC Dinner, and other works that suggest the SRC as an extension of the Metro Mass Transit Company Limited and the Directorate of Public Affairs for the University.

Quite recently, the outbreak of the Covid-19 in Ghana called for a suspension of all academic activities at all levels of education in Ghana. As a measure to not truncate or alter the academic calendar of the various tertiary institutions, E-Learning platforms have been put in place by most tertiary institutions to make up for the lack of physical contact hours.

Till date, there has not been an update from the UCC-SRC to their students on what the fate of the students is going to be. The reason is simple. Without the Directorate of Public Affairs or Directorate of Academic Affairs issuing a press release, the UCC-SRC is just a sleeping dog.

Most final year students of the University of Cape Coast are confused as to their fate in this academic semester. Are we going to graduate? Has or is a change going to be made to the academic schedules? How far with our project work, amongst others? These and many other questions flood the minds of students. The UCC-SRC Executives who are made up of most final year students seem unconcerned about the matter, when Legon, UPSA, and other SRCs are showing their relevance even during this academic tough times.

Our science students who have reached various stages of their Project work are worried as to what will happen to their project work since they cant send their works through Emails because they can only operate when they are in the laboratories. What is the UCC-SRC doing about their predicament?

It is no news that student leaders focus almost all their energy on their own agendas and by so doing neglect the problems faced by the students they are representing. On several occasions, student leaders invest a good deal of their time and energy in campaigning for their next political ambitions than diverting that good deal of time and energy to serving the people who got them into office. This ideology is what Barack Obama calls the loss of political principles.

Another reason for the failure of our student leadership is the fact that student leaders attack people rather than the problems students are facing. I know very well that student leadership is not all sunshine and rainbows. There will be problems, which could be in the form of a conflict, a loss or anything else. What we mostly observe is the pointing of fingers and the card of blame whenever problems crop up.

With respect to this, the biggest remedy is for SRC executives to never make a conscious effort to push the blame on anyone, and instead reflect on how they could have been involved in the problems and what they could do to prevent such problems from happening in the future, and move along from the problems instead of dwelling on them. What this article has done is to call for a revival in our SRC, and that is our contribution to finding a solution to our problem.

As we look forward to seeing the best of UCC-SRC leadership in the coming years, let this serve as a guide to upcoming aspirants. UCC-SRC is for all students, and all students look forward to results and not complains.
Today Camilla Parker Bowles is a member of the royal family and married to the future king, but once upon a time she held regular jobs just like the rest of us.

The now-Duchess of Cornwall was actually fired from one of her posh places of employment for doing something that many other people have done at some point during their career. Read on to find out where Camilla worked before she married Prince Charles and why she lost her job.

Camilla Parker Bowles | Finnbarr Webster  WPA Pool / Getty Images

Camilla went to finishing school before she became a duchess

When she was 5 years old Camilla attended Dumbrells School, a co-educational institution located in Sussex, England. At the age of 10, she went on to Queens Gate School in South Kensington, where the students were taught upper-class skills for wives of the Foreign Office and most of the nobility.

Following her time there, Camilla transferred to finishing schools Mon Fertile in Switzerland and the Institut Britannique in Paris.

When she moved back to London she worked part-time as a secretary.

The reason she was fired from her job

Camilla Parker Bowles | Chris Jackson  WPA Pool/Getty Images

Designer Imogen Taylor revealed that Camilla landed a job as a receptionist at the high-end decorating firm Colefax & Fowler. Taylor, who was one of the senior designers, told the Sunday Times about the future royals employment there.

There were lots of debutantes working for us, even Camilla, Taylor recalled. She worked for us for a moment but got the sack.

According to Taylors book titled On The Fringe  A Life In Decorating, Camilla felt the wrath of her no-nonsense boss Tom Parr.

The Duchess of Cornwall was one assistant who fell victim to one of his tantrums, Taylor said, adding that she was fired on the spot when she showed up to work late following a night of partying.

Camillas net worth

Camilla Parker Bowles | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Camillas father, Major Bruce Shand, was an officer in the British Army who worked in the wine business for some time but eventually began working with the royal family. His official title was the Vice Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex and he looked after some members of the family when they were in his assigned area.

Thanks to a privileged background and ties to the British monarchy, Camilla has a net worth of $5 million. Her wealth has been generated through various endeavors including real estate holdings, but being married to Charles she receives a stipend from the Duchy of Cornwall.

Charles net worth is considerably higher as the heir apparent is worth more than $100 million. The majority of his income comes from the Duchy, which generates millions in earnings each year and encompasses 135,000 acres of land in southern England as well as an investment portfolio.

The prince and his wife reportedly do not have a prenuptial agreement as they are rarely done in the U.K. among royal couples.

Read more: When and Why Did Camilla Parker Bowles and Her First Husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, Get Divorced?
The coronavirus so far seems to be taking a higher toll on men in Ireland than on women - mirroring a gender gap also seen in countries like Italy, China and Spain.

Men in the Republic account for 54pc of cases of the virus and they also make up the majority of those who have died of complications from this killer.

Among the 10 tragic deaths from the virus here on Thursday, seven were men.

So why are men so vulnerable to getting the infection and is there something in their lifestyle habits, state of health and biological make-up which makes them less able to fight the virus?

One of the suggestions put forward is that men are more inclined to be current or heavy smokers than women.

Dr Luke Clancy, director general of the Tobacco Free Research Institute in Ireland, said it is too early to come to major conclusions on the gender differences.

But smokers are more at risk of "getting into trouble" if they catch the virus, he pointed out.

They may be more likely to end up having to get breathing support from a ventilator.

The most recent smoking figures show 19pc of men in Ireland are still lighting up compared to 16pc of women.

Men also tend to be heavier smokers.

A report from the European Union agency on disease control this week also said smoking can make people more susceptible to serious complications from a coronavirus infection, and this applies to men and women.

Although the data is limited, the European Centre for Disease Control said smoking was associated with heightened activity of an enzyme in the lungs, ACE2, that could make patients more vulnerable to the virus.

This increases with age and with some kinds of blood pressure treatment.

Earlier this week, the Department of Health tightened up the criteria for those who can qualify for a coronavirus test. But the doctors added smokers to the list of priority groups who are eligible for a test if they have two major symptoms and been assessed by their GP.

Patients over 70 years of age and people with underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or cardiovascular disease are among the most susceptible to virus and men are more vulnerable than women, the EU body said in its report.

However, smoking alone does not explain the higher risk for men.

It has been suggested that macho characteristics or certain occupations may mean they are less likely to follow the rules on handwashing or have the opportunity to do so.

They may be washing their hands but not for the required 20 seconds, using soap an warm water.

And as with a reluctance to seek help on other health matters, they may also be less inclined to stay at home if they develop symptoms.

Spending some leisure time in a crowded pub - when pubs were open - could make it easier to pick up.

The sex difference when it comes to the virus is exercising some of the best minds.

Experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health believe that something more than smoking is playing a role.

There may be a clue in men's immune responses to viruses which leave them at a disadvantage.

This has been found when it comes to HIV and Hepatitis C, although there has been no time yet to investigate if it applies to the coronavirus.

Men may not be as good as women in fighting off the virus when they make contact with it.

Women may also be helped by having higher levels of the hormone oestrogen, which can help boost immunity.

Of course, men can cut their risk by simply following the rules which apply to the wider population.

Stay at home if you can, and when you go out maintain a physical distance of two metres. Wash your hands and avoid visitors or visits to neighbours, friends or relatives.

Grandfathers need to physically avoid grandchildren and think up innovative and fun ways to keep in contact until all of this is over.

If a man has cold or flu symptoms, they should self-isolate for 14 days.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19 and will self-isolate for seven days.

Johnson declared the diagnosis on Twitter on Friday morning, with symptoms of a cough and a temperature on Thursday afternoon.

Suffering mild symptoms, the prime minister is the first leader of a major Western country made public to have contracted the novel coronavirus.

"I've developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus," he said in a video posted on Twitter.

Johnson is as of now the world's highest-profile political leader to reveal a contraction of the disease.

"I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus," he wrote on Twitter.

The news sparked concerns for his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds.

According to U.K. health officials, pregnant women should be in the high-risk group for the coronavirus pandemic and have been requested to remain at home.

He said he will continue to spearhead the government's response to the virus via video conference.

"But be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team, to lead the national fight back against coronavirus," Johnson persisted.

He underwent testing for the coronavirus on Thursday on the recommendation of the U.K.'s chief medical officer after experiencing "mild symptoms," according to a statement by a spokesperson for No. 10 Downing Street.

Also Read: Coronavirus Symptoms Day-By-Day: How to Check If You Are Sick With COVID-19

The increase of Spain coronavirus cases

The declaration on Friday came as Spain registered 769 new fatalities in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally of deaths in the country due to the coronavirus to 4,858.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States has now recorded more coronavirus cases than any other nation with more than 86,000 infections.

The spokesman said Johnson, 55, exhibited symptoms on Thursday one day after he participated in the prime minister's weekly question time in the chamber of the House of Commons.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also tested positive for the coronavirus. He also announced his infection on Friday via Twitter and tried to put to rest concerns that Westminster's response to the coronavirus might be compromised.

Johnson received his diagnosis at midnight which was hours after he appeared outside the door of No. 10 Downing Street, clapping in support of National Health Service workers, with the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in tow.

Hancock, who has a role at NHS, said he would self-quarantine until next Thursday.

What happens if the Prime Minister falls very ill?

As of now, Johnson will remain in his post. In the event that the prime minister falls seriously infected, the U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will act as his "designated survivor."

Raab, who tested negative for the coronavirus twice, would be slated as the de facto prime minister as Johnson received treatment.

The Queen had last engaged with Johnson on March 11 and "remains in good health," according to Buckingham Palace.

After resisting more rigid measures for more than a week, the prime minister imposed a lockdown on Britain to try to flatten the virus' spread.

Related Article: High Dosages of Vitamin C May Help Treat Coronavirus Patients

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a pandemic, the rent eats last.

That seems to be the desperate consensus as a growing number of residential tenants, small businesses, and national chains, in a game of chicken with nervous landlords, prepares to withhold rent for the month of April.

More than 3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, five times as many claims as the previous weekly record set in October 1982. Even so, that statistic understates how much money people arent making, because it doesnt count undocumented workers, gig economy or freelance workers, or people who have been laid off but havent filed. Finally, all those numbers are from last weekbefore shelter-in-place orders had been issued in New York, California, and Illinois.

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The astonishing job loss hints at the revenue crisis in restaurants, where data from Open Table shows restaurant reservations declining 100 percent in the United States since last year, and in retail, where many stores have been forced to close indefinitely. According to a 2016 JPMorgan study, the median independent retailer has enough cash to last 19 days; the median independent restaurant has enough for 16 days.

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Residents alone owe $40 billion for the month. Retail and restaurants owe something on the same scale. April 1 will bring contract chaos when thousands of leaseholders decide not to pay, pushing a tide of unpaid debts from lessees to owners to banksand sometime soon, a flood of litigation back from banks to owners to lessees.

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Weirdly enough, the April rent strike is being led by Bolshevik institutions like Mattress Firm, Subway, and the Cheesecake Factory. On March 18, Cheesecake Factory CEO David Overton asked landlords for patience and helpand announced the restaurant would not be paying rent in April. Mattress Firm has told its landlords the same. And Subway declared the pandemic a force majeure, a legal term for an unforeseen event that voids contract obligations.

Commercial landlords perceive chains as credit-worthy and dependable partners, to the extent that a lease with Citibank or CVS can boost a buildings sale price vs. a mom-and-pop toy store paying the same amount. Pandemic surprise: When it comes to contract-breaking and collective action, chains are lawyered up and ready for Red April.

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On the residential side, things are a little less predictable. We are very concerned about whats going to happen on April 1, says Andrea Shapiro at the Metropolitan Council on Housing, a New Yorkarea nonprofit that works with tenants. On our hotline in the past two weeks, all we hear about is people who cant pay rent.

Is the Met Council advising tenants not to pay rent? The question is a little besides the point, she says. The amount of people who cannot pay rent, its not really a choice. Its unbelievable.

The amount of people who cannot pay rent, its not really a choice. Its unbelievable.  Andrea Shapiro, Metropolitan Council on Housing

The data backs this up: Between 10 and 15 percent of Americans say they could not handle an emergency $400 expense, according to the Federal Reserve. A survey from the University of Chicago reported that a third of adults couldnt cover necessities after missing one paycheck. One in 4 tenant families pays more than half its income in rent, and the rate is higher in high-rent, high-wage cities like New York and San Francisco, where service-sector jobs have vanished overnight.

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In Chicago, a Tenants United organizer told me that the city will see widespread nonpayment of rent, in part through organized actions begun by tenants themselves. We expect to see rent strikes, not just on the South Side where we can expect more people in distressed housing situations, but also people on the North Side in more affluent neighborhoods who make up the service worker economy in those neighborhoods. Thats thousands of people, and we have hundreds of people organizing. The push is happening on digital platforms like Facebook and occasionally on the back staircases of three-flats. (Face-to-face interactions, in rent striking as in all things, are not advised.)

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Politicians have rushed to put protections in place: Congress economic aid bill includes a 120-day moratorium on evictions for many tenants, including Section 8 renters and anyone who lives in a house or apartment with federally backed loans. The checks being sent to most Americans will helpbut dont equal lost wages, may take up to four months to arrive, and wont help the nations 12 million undocumented immigrants. Several states have halted evictions, including New York and Pennsylvania, and even organizations representing landlords are urging members to be lenient. The National Multifamily Housing Council, for example, recommends firms stop evictions and rent increases, and offer payment plans for residents who cant pay rent.

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Many tenant advocates say payment plans are uselessstrapped residents will never be able to make up the rent later. In New York, a group of Democrats in the state Senate have proposed a three-month rent jubilee. Residential or commercial tenants who lose income from coronavirus-related shutdowns shall never be required to pay any rent waived during such time period, according to the bill. San Francisco supervisors have proposed a similar resolution.

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Rent strikes are relatively rare in the U.S. and are mostly reserved for slumlords who dont provide services like heat or extermination. But they have an important history: A wave of rent strikes in New York beginning after the First World War led to the nations first rent control law. That those strikes were a political and practical success, the historian Robert Fogelson observed in The Great Rent Wars, was thanks to strong support from the then-powerful Socialist Party, as well as the role of women whose domestic social life was perfect for daytime organizing.

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Circumstances today are different. In Philadelphia, Tenants Union president Barry Thompson said he was discouraging tenants from withholding rent. If you have it, pay it, he counseled. I suggest tenants be very, very carefulwere encouraging people to communicate with their landlords, pay something, and get it in writing. Paying even a little, he reasons, may help tenants when eviction courts, in which landlords very rarely lose, are bombarded after the crisis.

Generally, COVID-19 emergency laws up to and including this weeks federal aid bill have been more generous to homeowners and landlords than to renters, with more comprehensive guidelines for mortgage deferments than for rents. But not everyone thinks landlords are in such a strong position here, especially those, like malls, that depend on vanishing income from retail and restaurants. Bars and shops figure landlords would rather take a haircut now than lose their tenants on the eve of a recession. Columbia University, which manages 600,000 square feet of retail space in Upper Manhattan, is offering tenants two months free.

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Euripides Pelekanos, the CEO of the midsized chain Bareburger, told me he has been negotiating with every landlord for deferments and reductionsafter laying off more than 500 people this week. Hes conscious that he and his peers may just be passing the problem upstream: I hate to say this, but theyre pretty fucked with the rest of us. I dont see what theyre going to do at the end of the day. Landlords can claw back lease guarantees, including security deposits, but if they succeed in evicting tenants, they may be sitting on vacant storefronts for a long time. Theres going to be no one rushing to open up a restaurant after this, thats for sure.

And if residents are reluctant to challenge landlords, restaurants and bars may feel they have less to lose, even with the passage of a coronavirus aid package that offers grants to keep workers on payroll. My plan is to not pay the rent, says Anthony Ramirez, who runs the Bronx Beer Hall. Ramirez had to lay off his staff this week but is betting his landlord wont want to evict. Rent ends up being the lowest thing on the list, he said. Everything before rent.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to The Gist.
Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin has stopped adoptions for now and isnt open to the public, according to its website. An email sent to supporters indicates nearly all of our animals have either been adopted or placed into temporary foster homes. It was caring for about 150 animals. The few remaining animals, those with medical or behavioral special needs, are being cared for in our South Elgin location.
Miguel Diazs JetBlue Airways Corp. flight from New York to Orlando cost just $79 with a checked bag and was nearly empty. The 11 passengers each had a row of seats to themselves, spaced at least six feet apart to maintain high-altitude social distancing.

The entire experience was luxurious, the 30-year-old Queens librarian said.

He was one of 279,018 people who passed through security at a U.S. airport on Tuesday -- compared with 2.2 million on the same day a year ago. With the coronavirus pandemic shrinking the number of passengers, now down more than 90%, some U.S. airlines have announced plans to cut as many as eight out of 10 flights in coming months.

Thats got them and their employees anticipating a $61 billion aviation aid package in the $2 trillion economic rescue bill signed Friday by President Donald Trump. The bailout is designed to avert thousands of layoffs but it wont solve the industrys biggest problem: A lack of passengers.

Carriers have cut food and drink service with only canned or bottled water available on request in some cases. And with passenger cabins flying almost empty, airlines are turning to freight operations. American Airlines Group Inc. has started parcels-only flights for the first time in 36 years and Delta Air Lines Inc. has expanded charter freight operations.

Yet the potential for months-long disruptions far outweigh what the industry faced after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Carriers are losing money on almost every flight.

You cant cut a plane in half, said Michael Ball, a professor at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business who specialized in aviation issues. You cut your level of service, but you have to maintain your basic routes and your network.

The rescue plan allocates $50 billion to passenger airlines, half in loans and half in cash assistance earmarked exclusively for payroll, benefits, healthcare and other employee costs. Cargo haulers, airline contractors and airports will also be eligible for aid.

There are strings attached. Airlines may have to give the government options, preferred stock or other securities in exchange for support. The aid also prohibits stock buybacks and limits executive compensation among other restrictions tailored to avoid backlash over corporate largesse that followed previous government rescues of big companies in trouble.

This is not an airline bailout. It is support to the airlines for national security reasons that the taxpayers will be compensated for, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday on Fox Business News. We need to make sure when we reopen the economy we have domestic travel.

The bill calls for Mnuchin to publish application procedures for the payroll aid within five days. And the first payroll grants to airlines must go out within 10 days.

The extraordinary assistance was necessary so the carriers could respond quickly after the virus and social distancing measures have run their course, American Airlines Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker told workers in a video message on Thursday.

Our elected officials want us to continue to provide safe air travel through this crisis and they want us to be up and flying when demand for travel picks up again, and thats what were going to do, he said.

In exchange for the grants, airlines must maintain employment levels through September and are barred from cutting worker pay and benefits. However, many airline employees are paid hourly and will be working fewer shifts, so their checks are expected to shrink significantly.

Companies also are barred from paying dividends or buying back shares through September 2021, and must cap executive compensation and termination payouts for two years.

A provision of the legislation gives Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao authority to force airlines accepting aid to continue flying to destinations they served as of March 1, but its unclear how she may wield that power.The language stops short of requiring airlines to continue their current schedules. It merely says they have to continue flying to airports they currently serve and doesnt say how frequently. The bill also gives Chao wide latitude, saying she can do what she deems necessary.

This is an important issue and the department supports the intent of maintaining a national network of air service to communities across the country, the agency said in a statement. We will have further guidance about how this will be accomplished in the days to come.

In addition to the cash infusion and loans contained in the bailout legislation, the bill contains an additional $56 million to supplement flights into small, rural airports to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

The government does not want us to shut down because were essential, said Southwest Airlines Co. Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly. It may not be at the same number of travelers we had before, but you will certainly shut the country down if we dont have a means to transport goods and people. So they want us to keep flying.

Airlines already are rushing to slash other costs. Executives are taking pay cuts, freezing hiring and offering voluntary unpaid leave to employees -- more than 21,000 volunteered for such offers at Delta alone.

Above all, with so few passengers flying, carriers are dramatically reducing their flight schedules -- American Airlines is planning an 80% cut in flying for May, while Delta is trimming 70%. The two carriers are parking more than 1,000 aircraft. United Airlines Holdings Inc. will reduce flying 60% next month, with more cuts likely in May.

Such draconian cuts are new ground, said Ball, the University of Maryland professor. This cant be a real long-term situation or somethings got to give.

The Federal Aviation Administration has taken steps to help, such as giving airlines a grace period for pilots and others to complete certain training and allowing carriers to stop flying into congested airports at which they would normally lose slots that went unused.

Total Shutdown?

Those tools may only go so far and the scant passenger demand means more extreme measures cant be ruled out, according to Mike Boyd, president of aviation consultant Boyd Group International.

The package will not provide the one thing that airlines need  business, Boyd said in a report Thursday. Airlines are flying empty airplanes - load factors in the teens or lower -- and this relief program is only going to extend the amount of time before the industry has to ground itself. A total or nearly-total temporary shutdown is in the cards, regardless of what Congress wants.

Airports should be preparing for a potential air service shutdown of unknown duration that could manifest in a number of days, he said.

The industry will likely hit its low point in the second quarter before possibly beginning to rebound in the third quarter, Cowen analyst Helane Becker said via email.

If airline traffic starts to come back in mid to late June or July, we suspect the airlines will be okay. If it takes longer, then when September 30 comes along, they will start to make difficult decisions about furloughing employees until there is a need for them again, she said.

Practical Considerations

In the meantime, airlines will have to wrestle with difficult choices.

We certainly do not believe they can continue to fly 5% load factors indefinitely, nor should they, but remember, pilots need to maintain a certain minimum level of flying every month or they cant fly until they re-qualify, she said. As a result, while a complete shutdown for a few weeks might be advisable, it is probably impractical.

For people who continue to fly, theyll likely have plenty of room to move about the cabin. Jaydene Benjamin, a 26-year-old South African who moved to New York as part of an au pair program, stepped off a Southwest flight to the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank on Thursday with just a handful of passengers on board.

There were people who had masks on. I didnt wear one. Ive heard that you shouldnt wear one unless you were already infected, Benjamin said. Everyone is stressing out over coronavirus, but I was worried because Im unemployed and have no money. I dont like being other peoples problem.

She said she fled New York as a last resort to look for work and plans to self-quarantine for two weeks after the federal government recommended that step for everyone leaving the city earlier this week.

She said there was no unusual screening when she landed.

There were police officers nearby who were announcing that anyone who sees someone whos unwell should report it, but that was it, she said.
Such a bawa he looks like! says celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania, with a chuckle, scrolling down the Instagram handle of an artist that shes discreetly showing photographer and screenwriter-turned-director Sooni Taraporevala on her phone. The ladies have rollers in their hair and are lounging in the broad balcony of Anaitas breezy sea-view apartment in Mumbais Breach Candy.

As we set up the photography equipment in one of the gigantic rooms and aromas of Russian Pattice and Dar Ni Pori (organised by HT Brunch for this shoot to set the mood to pleasantly Parsi) mingle with the sea breeze, I notice a life size photo of a lanky dude standing with his back tao an iconic Mumbai BEST bus. Anaita tells me this is the mystic piano tuner, Mr Ratnagar who Sooni shot and gave filmmaker Homi Adajania, Anaitas husband.

 As a working mom, my biggest fear was the dilemma of being responsible for your job when your kids fall sick Sooni Taraporevala

Padma Shri-awardee Sooni Taraporevala, 63, was born and raised in Mumbai where she lives with her husband and two kids. Sooni began her career as a freelance still photographer in Mumbai after completing her masters in film theory and criticism in New York University and then wrote the screenplays for filmmaker Mira Nairs movies, starting with the Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay (1988) that won her the Lillian Gish Award from Women in Film, 1988, and continuing to Mississippi Masala (1991) and The Namesake (2006). In 2008, Sooni made her directorial debut with Little Zizou (2008), which bagged the National Award for Best Film on Family Values apart from many other international awards. Besides, photos from her book Parsis: The Zoroastrians of India; A Photographic Journey have been displayed at galleries and museums around the world and her latest outing is a movie called Yeh Ballet on Netflix.

Sooni Taraporevala is the acclaimed screenplay writer of Salaam Bombay, The Namesake and Mississippi Masala. Yeh Ballet on Netflix is her latest directorial outing (Prabhat Shetty)

Anaita Shroff Adajania has carved a niche for herself as one of the most credible voices in Indian fashion today. She became a stylist to the stars, designing costumes for movies like Cocktail (2012), Dhoom 1 (2002), Dhoom 2 (2006), Dhoom 3 (2013), Everybody Says Im Fine! (2001), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Finding Fanny (2014), Andhadhun (2018) and War (2019). She was Vogue Indias fashion director and now runs a styling company of her own called Style Cell with four to five stylists under her, who style Bollywoods bigwigs. Anaitas married to the director of Being Cyrus (2005), Cocktail (2012) and Finding Fanny (2014), Homi Adajania.

Bawi bonds

At the shoot, Sooni looks lush in a burnt brick red suit. Ive never worn anything like this before! Im mostly in skirts and jeans and tops, she says. My only connect to Bollywood is through Homi!

Studying in America, I never felt like a lot of my classmates did, that I had grown up unequal to boys, and thats a very valuable thing! Sooni Taraporevala

Anaita adds, Soonis husband is our dentist, the world famous Firdaus Bativala in South Bombay, and she and Homi are very close. And we live with a pic of hers of the piano tuner that shes clicked so shes very much a part of our lives!

As the camera rolls, Anaita art directs Sooni, while Sooni discusses angles with photographer Prabhat Shetty.

Im a very sloppy dresser. My biggest takeaway from this shoot is that I should dress better and get her help while shopping! laughs Sooni, looking affectionately at Anaita who is styling her for the first time. Then the fashion director of Vogue confesses that she too is a sloppy dresser. For this shoot I felt we could up the style for both of us, says Anaita.

Behind the scenes

Both Sooni and Anaita faced personal and professional challenges in their careers. Anaita, for instance, created a career that didnt exist. The challenge was not having anyones path to follow, but that made it exciting. I carved my own niche and created an industry and today every second person is a stylist or wants to be one! Anaita says.

Anaita Shroff Adajania was Fashion Director at Vogue India and has styled Bollywoods biggest stars (Prabhat Shetty)

Anaitas other challenge is geographical. Im a South Bombay girl, whereas the entire film industry is concentrated in the north of the city. So I have my suburb-ian days when I try to wrap up all I can. Today too I have to go to Bandra and Im already thinking how long itll take!

For Sooni, its strange to be living in India while working for people in America. The challenge was writing scripts for which I was paid quite well but that never got made  that was frustrating. And then of course there is the challenge of making films in India that dont have stars! says Sooni. Her second directorial outing, Yeh Ballet on Netflix, shows how two boys from an underprivileged background overcome all obstacles and dance the elitist ballet.

Kids start ballet at age four or six, but these boys started very late and they had not heard classical music till they started. The film showcases how talent can be found anywhere. You just have to spot it and nurture it, she says.

The challenge [when I started as a fashion stylist] was not having anyones path to follow. I carved my own niche and have created an industry! Anaita Shroff Adajania

Sooni grew up surrounded by working women. Her mother was a teacher while her granny made bags and embroidered saris at home and her aunt had a tailoring business. There was never anything unusual about being a working mom, but my biggest fear was the dilemma of being responsible for your job when your kids fall sick, says Sooni, mother of Iyanah, 22, and Jahan, 24.

Anaita is not the kind of person who cannot work, she says. She also feels that it is crucial for her sons Zane, 7, and Zreh, 11, to see a working mother and father. We dont have a conventional family life in the sense that my husband doesnt have a day job, she explains. He works very hard for a year and chills out for two years. We have a kind of rule that when Im travelling, he is free-ish. But the fear, like Sooni said, is always of your child falling sick.

Parsi power

Sooni and Anaita share a very strong cultural connect  their Parsi roots. We come from a tradition where I never felt, like a lot of my classmates did, that I had grown up unequal to boys, and thats a very valuable thing. Parsi women were the first to become lawyers and educators, Sooni says.

On Anaita: Top, Starch The Label; jeans, Zara; bracelets, Dana Levy, Kaj, Tayaani; shoes, Sam Edelman; On Sooni: Top, Starch The Label; jeans, Zara; shoes, Zara (Prabhat Shetty)

A good sense of humour is an integral part of the culture, the ladies agree. In fact, Sooni has compiled a book of crowd-sourced Parsi jokes called Parsi Bol.

We dont take offence easily. We are happy to be laughed at and to laugh at people. Parsis are very free with their thoughts and expressions! says Anaita.

This is a cultural trait Sooni would like to pass on to her kids. Oh, and the food too! Also, I grew up near a fire temple and Ive been going there since I was a kid and taking my kids too, says Sooni.

While Anaita has never really examined her Parsi upbringing, she knows it was liberal. There werent many rules except for always being kind to people, being a good person yourself and having a good time. I feel a very strong camaraderie with people in my community. I love their quirks and I can spot them a mile away! Anaita laughs. For me its about the way they dress. If you go to a Parsi colony, you will see women dressed in frocks with deep necks. Its almost like the more grown up they are, the more little girl they dress and I love that. Theres also a brazenness to the way Parsi women dress. At a Parsi wedding youll see the tiniest of blouses worn regardless of age, shape and size, which is quite liberating. For me sleeves are a burden because Ive grown up never wearing them! Anaita giggles. She was never offended by being called a bawi in school and college, Anaita says, to which Sooni adds: Usually its preceded by crazy! and they break into laughter.

Now they discuss food, an integral part of the culture. Its a superior cuisine which has been untapped, says Anaita. I grew up in a middle class family where Parsi food was the mainstay and I miss it terribly. Homi doesnt like it, so only Zane and I eat it.

There us a brazenness in the way Parsi women dress. At a wedding , you will see the tiniest of the blouses worn, regardless of age, shape, size!  Anaita Shroff Adajania

She adds: We ate all the regular stuff: dhansak, palau dal, patra ni macchi, prawn patia, and we consider English baked dishes as Parsi! Anaita winks at Sooni who says, And custard, which we call custar without the d and our vegetarian dishes are always with meat. We have bhindi with meat!

Sooni eats pretty much the food shed grown up eating, because her cook was taught by her granny. But since the cook is Goan, they also eat a lot of Goan fish curries with rice!

We have an amazing dish called rainbow rice  it has layers of cooked rice: prawn thats green, keema thats red, saffron thats yellow, etc., says Anaita. It takes a whole day to make and you serve it in glass bowl to show the layers. Its decadent. You have to sleep after you eat it.

We also have bheja cutlet and kahriya  thats paya the bawa way. The gravy is thicker and we do it with black eyed peas, Sooni adds. Now she notices her make-up as she looks at her phone. I am not taking this make-up off, Sooni says. I have to show it to my dad and Firdaus.

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From HT Brunch, March 29, 2020

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The current protocol is to treat the patient as having died from a better-known infectious disease, or Level 3 pathogen, like tuberculosis or hepatitis, where the virus may remain in secretions from the skin that could become aerosolized when the body is moved, and then splash on someones face or be breathed in through air. That means extra precautions (again, with scarce supplies) for all the front-line workers involved, including security guards and janitors. But the X-factor is how long the virus lives on skin. Rapkiewicz surmises that it might be in the realm of how long it lasts on plastic. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, thats up to 72 hours.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday said "the tide is still coming in" as the city-state reported 49 new confirmed coronavirus cases, taking the number of COVID-19 patients in the country to 732.

Lee said the tide has not turned here. "The tide is still coming in and we have to keep a very vigilant eye as the virus is still getting into Singapore," he said.

"We have been fighting and the tide is still coming in. What has changed is that we have put up our dyke, we have held the water out, but the dyke leaks," the prime minister told reporters after Singapore announced a Resilience Budget of SGD 48.4 billion to manage the pandemic-hit economy.

"There are bits coming in, people coming home and the virus is still getting into Singapore," he said.

The new cases bring the total number of COVID-19 patients in Singapore to 732.

Seventeen of the 432 confirmed cases still in hospital are in critical conditions and in the intensive care unit.

"We have to keep a very vigilant eye on it continuously and make sure that every drop that comes in we mop it up quickly before a drop becomes a rivulet, a rivulet becomes a stream, then I have a flood and we are sunk," PM Lee said.

He noted that countries near and far are in lockdown or worsening situations, and that "in Singapore, we are sitting watching our dyke".

(We are) trying to keep ourselves safe and preventing any of this from coming in, and I have a situation which going out of control," he said. "So, I am in this for a very long time to come.

To sustain current efforts, Lee called for people's cooperation in aspects such as safe distancing, contact tracing and discipline in that when they return from overseas, they should stay home.

"That way we slow the spread of the virus. If you have a spot pop up, we have a good chance to mop it up before it gets out of control and ... We have a public health disaster," he said.

Twenty-two of the 49 new cases are imported as the patients have a recent travel history to Europe, North America and ASEAN.

Among the new cases is a one-year-old girl and a six-year-old child from a kindergarten.

Meanwhile, a top-level annual regional security forum hosted by Singapore, Shangri-La Dialogue, will not be held as scheduled June 5-7, due to the coronavirus outbreak, The Straits Times reported on Friday citing sources.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A case has been registered against a journalist here, who attended the March 20 press conference where Kamal Nath announced his resignation as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, even as his daughter had been advised 'home quarantine after her return from the UK.

Days after the press conference, the journalist and his daughter had tested positive for the infection.

A case was registered against the journalist on Friday night at Shyamla Hills Police Station under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), a Bhopal police spokesman said.

The journalist was booked for violating the government's preventive orders related to coronavirus pandemic.

The journalist's daughter, a post-graduate law student, had returned from London to Bhopal on March 18. She had been asked to observe home quarantine. But two days after her arrival, the journalist attended Kamal Nath's last press conference as the CM on March 20, official sources said.

On March 22, the journalist's daughter tested positive for coronavirus. Three days later, the journalist was also found infected, creating a panic among the mediapersons and others who had attended the press conference, sources said.

So far, 33 positive coronavirus cases have been found in the state. Sixteen of them are residents of Indore, eight of Jabalpur, three each of Bhopal and Ujjain, two of Shivpuri and one of Gwalior, the health department officials have said.

Of them, two COVID-19 patients, one each from Indore and Ujjain, have died.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Orleans: As the number of worldwide cases of coronavirus infections escalated past half a million people on Friday, Saturday AEDT, a new test promising to deliver positive results in five minutes was approved in the United States.

The US Food and Drug Administration conducted an emergency clearance of the new rapid cartridge-based test from Abbott Laboratories on Friday night, with the company announcing the test also delivers a negative result in 13 minutes.

Nyla Clark, 3, accompanied by her mother, Chavonne Clark, sits in a baby stroller at a corner in New Orleans, US, hoping to get a few dollars from an occasional passerby. Credit:The Advocate/AP

While New York remained the worst hit city in the US, Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

"We are not through this. We're not even halfway through this," said Joseph Kanter of the Louisiana Department of Health, which has recorded more than 2700 cases, more than five times what it had a week ago. The US became the first country to surpass 100,000 infections on Friday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
A Nigerian man has been stabbed to death by his wife.

According to online reports, the man was stabbed by his wife during a heated argument at their residence in Rivers State.

Read Also: Pastor Adeboye Says Coronavirus Will Teach People About Celibacy

Facebook user, Anthony Biko Shadrach who is the cousin to the deceased insinuated that his cousin was stabbed to death by his wife because he was seeing other women.

He wrote; Just in: The world is indeed evil my cousin stabbed to death by his wife

RIP brother.

When an FB user inquired more he said;

Just a little argument even if he is seeing other Women dont warrant his life
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North West Vijayanta Arya and her team have taken responsibility for providing essential items to refugees from Pakistan living at a camp in Majlis Park for during the 21-day lockdown period.

"There are around 280 families at this refugee camp in Majlis Park. Their livelihood is disturbed due to lockdown. We got information that these people are in great need. We have decided to support people of this camp during the 21 days of the lockdown period. We will provide the essential items including food and medicine," Arya told ANI.

She said that all have to work together to combat COVID-19 and it is a collective responsibility to help the needy.

Nehru Lal, one of the refugees living at the camp said: "We have come from Pakistan's Sindh. There are around 280 families. We have not able to go out for work. Delhi Police provide us masks and ration. They are saying that they will give us food throughout the lockdown period. We thank the Delhi Police for this."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had reported a total of 724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Michael Girma wants to go home.

The 25-year-old student misses his sister and brother. He misses his mother, and his friends 5,000 miles away.

Since late January, Girma has been trapped in Wuhan, China, the original epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Girma studies electrical engineering at Hubei University of Technology, along the Xunsi River, near the middle of Wuhan.

Hes also an Ethiopian citizen, and like hundreds of other Ethiopian college students studying in China, he has not been evacuated.

Instead, hes spent the past two months at the heart of a pandemic that has now spread to six continents.

I mostly spend my time watching movies on Netflix, Girma told VOA. I try to read, but its more depressing at a time like this. My mind is numb right now, he said.

It is now messing with our minds

Chinas efforts to curb the spread of the disease have produced dramatic results.

After weeks of surging cases, Beijing reported no new local infections March 19. Now, imported cases, from Chinese returning from overseas, pose the gravest risk.

However, containing the outbreak has required an aggressive response, particularly in Wuhan, where travel in and out of the city has been blocked, and sick patients not needing hospitalization have been separated from their families in isolation shelters.

Girma and other foreign students stuck in Wuhan have been told it will be until at least mid-April before travel restrictions are eased.

Thats little comfort to those who have felt trapped for months.

It is now messing with our minds, Girma told VOA via WhatsApp. For some, it is getting worse psychologically. Some of them even dont have friends and are separated from them, so they are lonely and depressed, he added.

Government responses

Girma credits the Chinese government with taking decisive action to save peoples lives.

For the time being from China, he said, the Chinese government is doing its best and it is doing its best for its citizens who need monitoring and assistance due to the virus.

He faults the Ethiopian government, though, for not doing more to assist its citizens in Wuhan.

In early March, some African countries  but not Ethiopia  evacuated their citizens as the virus began to spread rapidly in Hubei province.

Instead, the Ethiopian government began providing students in Hubei a two-month $400 allowance to buy food and necessities, Girma said.

Ethiopias ambassador to China, Teshome Toga Chanaka, helped coordinate a task force with the student union in Wuhan.

The situation was very scary and worrisome given the nature of the virus. We therefore focused on protection and care for them where they are, Chanaka said.

According to Girma, though, only about half of 300 students budgeted had received the stipend several weeks later. Even now, Girma and other students in Wuhan have identified at least 66 Ethiopians who have not received the payments.

Everyone is begging for a response right now, Girma said.

Students have been receiving aid, Chanaka said, but the Ethiopian government didnt have accurate information for all its citizens.

The Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing has been processing the transfer based on the address and bank account of each student, Chanaka said. In the process, we have faced the problem of getting the correct address and account number for about 50 students.

Longing for home

Girma is the eldest of three children. His 19-year-old sister and 21-year-old brother live in Addis Ababa, along with their mother.

Three months ago, Girmas father died. Girma could not return home because he feared losing his student visa.

When he finally returns home, he plans to eat injera, Ethiopia's national dish, nonstop and talk to his mother around the clock. For now, he waits alone in his off-campus apartment, where, he figures, he has a better chance of leaving than his classmates on campus.

As he waits, hes seen the threat spread back home. As of March 27, Ethiopia had 16 confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 3,700 cases across Africa.
The burial ceremony of Reverend Sister Henrietta Alokha, Principal of Bethlehem Girls College who lost her life while rescuing students after a gas explosion earlier this month in Abule Ado community of Lagos State, was held yesterday in Atani -Uromi, Edo state.

The burial ceremony of the Reverend Sister was attended by her colleagues, loved ones and family members.

President Buhari also paid tribute to the late Principal. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari saluted the heroic spirit of the Reverend Sister Henrietta Alokha.

The statement read;

As remains of the Principal of Bethlehem High School, Abule-Ado, Lagos, Rev. Sis. Henrietta Alokha, is laid to rest, President Muhammadu Buhari joins staff members and students in mourning the huge loss to the school, and the country. The President believes Sis. Alokhas choice to lay down her life for the students she loved deserves commendation, while taking into consideration her contributions to the educational development of the country through piety, diligence and charity. President Buhari salutes her courage and heroism, assuring that posterity will remember her sacrificial spirit, rescuing children kept under her care, and putting her own life on the line. The President prays that the almighty God will accept her soul, comfort her family, and all those she lived and died for. President Buhari, again, condoles with all those who lost their loved ones and property in the pipeline explosion, praying that God will strengthen them in the trying period.

See more photos below;
"You can't go to the parlour, you can't go to the street, you can't go to sabzi mandi," raps Varun Dhawan in his recent video, as he becomes the latest Bollywood actor to join in the awareness drive regarding the spread on novel coronavirus.

The actor, on Friday, performed a lockdown-themed rap and urged to stay home and practice social distancing.

He created a quirky video featuring as a rap artist in it. Besides Varun, the video also featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his televised address in which he announced a nationwide lockdown for 21 days as a precautionary measure against coronavirus. The video also had clips from British television series Teletubbies, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan from Devdas and some shots of Varun riding a bike and eating street food from his film Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya.

In the video, at a point, the actor moves to his refrigerator saying, "this is all due to eat." "Ghar se bahar nikala to corona hoga, gedi kiya to corona hoga, pyaar kia to dil tutega, dil tutega to dard hoga... kyu... its ****** lockdown," the 32-year-old actor raps in the video.

The actor in the conclusion of his video lauds the Prime Minister's move and says, "Janta Curfew rocks!".

In the caption of the post, he thanked music composer Tanishk Bagchi who might have composed the song for him. The video was soon flooded with a number of comments from his fans and people from cinema fraternity.

While Siddhant Chaturvedi wrote "Cheer Phaad Homie," Shaheen Bhatt demanded BTS video. Rapper Badshah and actor Varun Sharma too praised the actor in the comment section.

You can check the video here:

Varun is not the first actor to try something quirky to spread awareness among his fans. Earlier, Kartik Aaryan had shared a monologue and a rap song based on the theme of COVID-19.

Follow @News18Movies for more
(Bloomberg) -- The last global crisis paved their way to power. The question is whether the latest one will loosen their grip on it.

Fallout from the 2008 financial meltdown produced an electoral earthquake that upended postwar party politics, brought a new breed of populists to government and decisively shifted the balance among global powers toward China from the U.S. Novel Coronavirus may prove just as disruptive.

Its too soon to predict which governments will suffer politically from their handling of the virus, as the death toll continues to grow and a quarter of the worlds population remains in lockdown. Whether responses to Covid-19 unmask or entrench such leaders as U.S. President Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, or Italian opposition chief Matteo Salvini remains unclear.

So, too, whether China will succeed or fail in transforming a disease that appears to have spread across the globe from Hubei province into a geopolitical opportunity, as it airlifts medical teams and supplies of masks and other equipment to burnish its image in countries such as Iran and Italy.

But whats already apparent is that for populist leaders who thrive on portraying their country as under siege, the coronavirus is proving a challenge. This time the enemy is an invisible one that doesnt easily fit into a simple anti-elite, anti-migrant or anti-science narrative that has proven so politically fruitful before. Rather than fear others, people fear for themselves.

Not only is the coronavirus creating a Darwinist test of which systems and societies are better able to cope, more citizens will put a premium on political decisions being underpinned by truth, said Ahn Cheol-soo, a former South Korean presidential candidate and trained physician. Ahn was speaking from self-isolation after treating the sick in the countrys outbreak epicenter of Daegu.

It will eventually help build a political landscape in which the public isnt swayed by populism, said Ahn, who has formed a political group to mount a challenge in April 15 parliamentary elections. That will eventually make populists lose ground.

Story continues

At the same time, some leaders have sought to tap into wider unease about a virus that has spread across a deeply interconnected globe at the speed of modern airliners. Its forced even governments that favor globalization to shut down travel and disrupt supply chains. The course of the virus could yet be portrayed as vindicating nationalist arguments for a less connected world.

After initially dismissing the severity of the pandemic, Trump has since tweeted that THIS IS WHY WE NEED BORDERS! He referred to the coronavirus as Chinese before backtracking.

In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban initially focused popular ire on a group of Iranian students who were quarantined and later tested positive. As the virus took hold in the wider community, he then dropped the anti-immigrant theme that helped him win a third straight election in 2018.

Salvini, leader of the League party whose roots are in the hardest-hit north of Italy, linked the spread of the disease with migrants who crossed the Mediterranean to Italy from north Africa. He didnt provide any evidence.

A League official said that regional governors in northern Italy in early February had asked for quarantine for everyone arriving from China but that the pandemic exploded because the Rome government did not act fast enough. The League believes more checks have to be made on people arriving from outside Italy, the official said.A former interior minister, Salvini has also portrayed Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte as doing too little too slowly to combat coronavirus, while at the same time accusing him of imposing the decisions of an elite without consulting parliament. Yet none of these arguments has gained traction to date, in a country struggling to cope with whats quickly becoming the worlds largest outbreak of the disease.

Italians are instead rallying behind their institutions in the emergency. Contes imposition of an ever-tighter lockdown has seen his governments popularity reach a record high, backed by 71% of Italians in March, according to a Demos survey. But whether that popularity will survive a postmortem of Contes handling of the crisis also remains to be seen.

A similar dynamic seems to be at play in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel and her beleaguered Christian Democratic Union party were severely damaged in elections by the wave of refugees who fled to the country from the Syrian war in 2015-16.

They are now seeing their popularity rise on the back of their coronavirus response. A recent poll showed support for the Christian Democrats has jumped by five percentage points. The party joined traditionally fiscally cautious peers such as U.S. Republicans and Britains Conservatives in abandoning ideological commitments to cutting budget deficits. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz called for a bazooka to be fired into the economy.

The economic crisis, rising immigration, these are things you can easily blame on one group or the political elite, said Benjamin Moffitt, a senior lecturer in politics at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, whose latest book Populism was published this month. But this is a biological crisisto stop it, you cant just drain the swamp or block refugees from coming.

Whereas Salvini has the luxury of opposition and risks at worst being side lined, the stakes are higher for Trump and Bolsonaro.

The U.S. president has come under attack from state governors for not acting quickly enough to contain Covid-19, despite a $2 trillion aid package for the economy passed in the Senate. He claimed churches would be full again for Easter, a little over two weeks away. On Thursday, the U.S. surpassed Italy in cases, with more than 80,700, and is poised to overtake China.

In Brazil, Bolsonaros insistence that life and business should go on as usual, despite the virus, has led to protests in the major cities with people hanging out of their windows to bang pots and pans. Already under pressure before the pandemic as scandal swirled around his family and a promised economic renaissance failed to materialize, Bolsonaro looks vulnerable.

This crisis has knocked the government out of his orbit, said Creomar de Souza, chief executive of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy in Brazil. The characteristics he has that were seen as positive, like combativeness and obstinacy, are now being seen as a liability.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado, a populist from the left, has also downplayed the severity of the threat from the virus, telling people to keep taking the family out to eat.

Although Mexico still has relatively few recorded cases, a telephone poll by the owner of newspaper Reforma found 44% of Mexicans now disapprove of his handling of the coronavirus threat, to 37% in favor. On Thursday, he appeared to change his tone and called on companies to send their workers home.

In the U.K., the urgency surrounding Covid-19 has even buried the debate over the terms of the countrys departure from the European Unionand with it Prime Minister Boris Johnsons flirtation with populism.

He deferred conspicuously to medical and epidemiological experts in his initial attempt at taking a measured approach to fighting the disease. During the Brexit campaign, experts were deliberately derided.

Yet the idea that fighting coronavirus will lead to a restoration of a pre-financial crisis faith in fact is probably wishful thinking, according to Moffitt. That particularly goes for the U.S.

Expertise, in terms of this idea of neutral knowledge is dead in a lot of peoples minds, he said. You cannot spend a decade arguing that climate change is nonsense and that you dont need vaccines, and then turn around and say actually, yes we need experts.

(Adds background on Italys League in 12th paragraph)

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It's been a good week for SOHO China Limited (HKG:410) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest full-year results, and the shares gained 3.3% to HK$3.81. It looks to have been a decent result overall - while revenue fell marginally short of analyst estimates at CN1.8b, statutory earnings beat expectations by a notable 210%, coming in at CN0.26 per share. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.

View our latest analysis for SOHO China

SEHK:410 Past and Future Earnings March 27th 2020

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from SOHO China's six analysts is for revenues of CN2.36b in 2020, which would reflect a substantial 28% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to plummet 50% to CN0.13 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CN2.50b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN0.11 in 2020. While revenue forecasts have been revised downwards, the analysts look to have become more optimistic on the company's cost base, given the substantial gain in to the earnings per share numbers.

The average price target increased 24% to CN3.97, with the analysts signalling that the improved earnings outlook is more important to the company's valuation than its revenue. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. Currently, the most bullish analyst values SOHO China at CN4.85 per share, while the most bearish prices it at CN3.26. These price targets show that analysts do have some differing views on the business, but the estimates do not vary enough to suggest to us that some are betting on wild success or utter failure.

Story continues

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the SOHO China's past performance and to peers in the same industry. One thing stands out from these estimates, which is that SOHO China is forecast to grow faster in the future than it has in the past, with revenues expected to grow 28%. If achieved, this would be a much better result than the 13% annual decline over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 16% per year. Not only are SOHO China's revenues expected to improve, it seems that the analysts are also expecting it to grow faster than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around SOHO China's earnings potential next year. They also downgraded their revenue estimates, although industry data suggests that SOHO China's revenues are expected to grow faster than the wider industry. Yet - earnings are more important to the intrinsic value of the business. We note an upgrade to the price target, suggesting that the analysts believes the intrinsic value of the business is likely to improve over time.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple SOHO China analysts - going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 5 warning signs for SOHO China (2 are a bit unpleasant!) that you need to be mindful of.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Netflixs Tiger King explores the life of big-cat breeder and zookeeper Joe Exotic. The documentary series also follows other exotic animal enthusiasts, including Joes mentor, Bhagavan Doc Antle. He left a lasting impression on viewers, which is why many are wondering what happened to Doc Antle and where he is now.

Doc Bhagavan Antle | Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Who is Tiger King star Bhagavan Doc Antle?

Doc Antle runs The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Antles personal website describes him as a world-renowned animal trainer and behaviorist who has devoted his lifes work to establishing intimate personal relationships with some of the planets most amazing animals.

The 60-year-old exotic animal enthusiast was born in Pheonix, Arizona as Mahamayavi Bhagavan Antle and grew up on cattle ranch with his parents in Southern California. He took on the name Doc after completing a degree in Chinese medicine.

According to his website, Doc Antle made over a dozen appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and worked with pop stars like Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, and P. Diddy. He also worked on major Hollywood films, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Mighty Joe Young, and Dr. Dolittle.

Where is Doc Antle now?

A few testimonials in Tiger King allege that Doc Antle was endangering animals and cultivating a sexist cult-like social structure at his parks. But it doesnt look like those claims have had any impact on his career.

Doc Antle is still running his T.I.G.E.R.S. park in Myrtle Beach. On his Instagram page, he continues to post pictures of his animals and his park employees. In a recent Instagram post, Antle shared a picture with his partner Mokhsha standing next to a liger.

I just had my 60th birthday, he captioned the post. I wanted to come hang out with one of my favorite big cats  When I asked my partner Moksha what her favorite thing she learned about ligers over the last 20 years of hanging out she said hes bilingual as he speaks both lion and tiger. She doesnt look 40 does she.

What does he think about Tiger King?

Several people on Tiger King suggest that Doc Antle has multiple wives, and runs a cult-like hierarchy in his parks. But in an interview with Oxygen, the animal trainer maintained he is not married and has been single since the death of his wife two decades ago.

Im not married and I certainly dont have wives, I certainly am a single guy and I live in a house by myself, Antle told the outlet. I do not have a harem. Im what they call OFG these days: old, fat and grey. I embrace that character and I am not chasing down women. Twenty years ago I was more of a dashing fellow but even then I was ultra-conservative.

When asked about his portrayal on Tiger King and the allegations of animal endangerment, Antle said the docuseries wasnt as bad as he thought it would be, but maintained he strives to protect animals.

I have been running our own conservation program for 38 years, he told Vanity Fair in a recent interview. I have been trying to figure out what can be done to save tigers many many decades. Either Im 100% conning you, or its real.
The US government is making arrangements to airlift over 2,000 American citizens stranded in India due to the suspension of flights and the lockdown in the country to limit the spread of the cornovirus pandemic, the State Department has said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a three-week lockdown in the country as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus that has claimed over 26,000 lives globally.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brownlee, Bureau of Consular Affairs on COVID-19, said that there were about 1,500 Americans in the New Delhi area, between 600 and 700 in the Mumbai area and 300 to 400 Americans elsewhere who have identified themselves.

"We are working with a multiplicity of options here. There is a church group that has chartered a large aircraft. We are facilitating the necessary permits for that aircraft. They're ready to take out 150 or so Americans. We are working directly with both US and foreign carriers to lay on aircraft direct from India to the United States," he said during a briefing on Friday.

"The permitting is what's complicated at the moment. We're ready to act on this, but it's the permitting that takes a while both in India and the United States. So we're hopeful, and I think with reason we are hopeful, that those flights will begin within several days, within about three days or so," he said.

He said the State Department was tracking 33,000 citizens stranded abroad due to lockdowns and/or cancellation of flights who wanted help returning home.

Earlier this week, the State Department said 50,000 were stuck overseas but that number might have been an overstatement because of clerical errors, according to Brownlee.

Some Americans have decided to wait out the curfew or the quarantine where they are and many of them are expats with homes in the countries they are located in, he said.

Michael and Whitney Saville, who had traveled to India, to adopt a child are among several Americans who are stranded in the country.

The couple wanted to adopt a baby since they were in college. With three boys of their own, they decided to pursue their dream two years ago.

They traveled to India at the beginning of March to bring their adopted daughter Grace home.

After getting Grace's passport, the were to return home on Thursday.

"They only gave us 48 hours' notice, WXIA-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station, quoted Whitney as saying.

We actually tried to get Mike a ticket to go home and be with our other children. But everything was booked.

Senator David Perdue's office said they've been in contact with the couple and are working with the embassy. Perdue is a Republican from Georgia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva said that the main weapon in the fight against coronavirus is the professionalism and dedication of doctors. She posted the relevant message in Instagram.

Today, we are all going through difficult times. The epidemic of coronavirus, a new, previously unknown dangerous disease, has destroyed the usual way of life. The modern world has not yet faced such crises and did not face the need to take such large-scale quarantine measures.

Dear medical workers, I express to each of you a deep appreciation for everything - for your dedication, for your work to the limit, for your everyday feat.

I wish you courage, patience and, most importantly, health! " Mehriban Aliyeva wrote.
Julian Assange

28.03.2020 LISTEN

To expose another human being to serious illness, and to the threat of losing their life, is grotesque and quite unnecessary. This is not justice, it is a barbaric decision.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, March 26, 2020

Social distancing is not a word that seems to have reached certain parts of the British legal system. Granted, it is an odd one, best refashioned as an anti-social act for the sake of preservation. Marooned in some state of legal obliviousness, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser had little time for the bail application made by counsel for Julian Assange. The WikiLeaks publisher had again rubbed the judicial person the wrong way. Her memory was not unfazed: Assange had absconded in 2012 and had blotted his copy book. He would not be permitted to it again.

Not that the application was unsound. The central ground was the safety of the publisher, whose health has been assailed by seven years of confinement in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, followed by his incarceration at the high security facility at Belmarsh. Prisons, featuring high concentrations of people, have become fertile grounds for spreading COVID-19. The March 17 report by Richard Coker, Professor of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, cautioned on how the transmission of the virus in congregate settings typified by poor sanitation, poor ventilation, and overcrowding could lead to overwhelming a population, particularly a population with co-morbidities or that is elderly. Coker was unequivocal in recommending that unnecessary detention regimes should be eased. This should be done before the virus has chance to enter a detention centre.

Representatives of the UK penal system have shown varying degrees of concern. There have even been calls for early release or means by which prison is avoided as a form of punishment altogether. The UK Prison Officers Association (POA) has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to intervene executively to reduce numbers. The head of the Prison Governors Association Andrea Albutt has warned about the dangers posed by current detention arrangements. Weve lots of prisoners, two people in a cell built for one, citing Swansea as an example where 80 percent of prisoners were doubled up. We have that all across the country. Far better, she suggested, to reduce the population. Such a measure helps stabilise prisons, calm prisoners, and reduce the staff to prisoner ratio. If we have less prisoners doubled [up in cells], it will be easier to isolate those whove been confirmed as having the virus or have the symptoms so we can delay the spread.

Those standing by current UK prison guidelines remain defiantly confident that enough is being done. The Ministry of Justice is convinced that robust contingency plans have been put in place prioritising the safety of staff, prisoners and visitors. Procedures dealing with managing the outbreak of infectious diseases and prisons were already in place, and were being used to identify COVID-19 cases. Sanitising facilities such as hand washing are available to prisoners, staff and visitors and we have worked closely with suppliers to ensure the supply of soap and cleaning materials.

The ministry remains unclear on how the principle of social distancing, one seemingly anathema to the penal system, has been applied. For her part, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, considers such measures in crowded, unhygienic facilities practically impossible. Undeterred by such observations, the MOJ merely refers to a temporary suspension of the usual regime, meaning that prisoners can no longer take part in usual recreational activities such as using the gym, going to worship or visiting the library. Nor can prisoners receive visits. Such measures are bound to cause ripples of dissatisfaction.

Not much of this impressed the judicial consciousness. Assanges legal team were valiant in their efforts to state the obvious. These were proceedings taking place on the third day of the countrys coronavirus lockdown. Edward Fitzgerald QC, sporting a facemask, insisted that, These [medical] experts consider that he is particularly at risk of developing coronavirus and, if he does, that it develops into very severe complications for him If he does develop critical symptoms it would be very doubtful that Belmarsh would be able to cope with his condition. Prisons were epidemiological pumps, fertile grounds for the transmission of disease, and Assanges continued detention posed endangering circumstances from which he cannot escape.

Baraitser remained unconvinced. She was satisfied that there were no instances of COVID-19 at Belmarsh, a very cavalier assessment given that a hundred staff personnel were in self-isolation. She was more moved by the submission from Clair Dobbin, representing the US government, that Assange posed a high risk of absconding. Granting bail to him posed insurmountable hurdles. Fitzgeralds response, to no avail, was to focus the matter on Assanges survival, not absconsion.

Judge Baraitser has shown a certain meanness through these case management and extradition proceedings. In the Wednesday hearing at the Westminster Magistrates Court, things had not improved. As matters stand today, this global pandemic does not as of itself provide grounds for Mr Assanges release. These were words uttered on the same day that 19 prisoners in 10 prisons in the UK had tested positive for COVID-19.

The ruling angered Doctors for Assange, comprising a list of some 200 physicians scattered across the globe. Despite our prior unequivocal statement that Mr Assange is at increased risk of serious illness and death were he to contract coronavirus and the evidence of medical experts, their March 27 statement reads, Baraitser dismissed the risk, citing UK guidelines for prisons in responding to the global pandemic. The group cited Baraisters own solemn words deferring to the wisdom of the UK prison authorities. I have no reason not to trust this advice as both evidence-based and reliable and appropriate.

The medical practitioners took firm issue with the steadfast refusal of the judge to accept the medical side of the equation. Not only was he at increased risk of contracting and dying from the novel disease coronavirus (COVID-19), declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, he was also more vulnerable because of the torments of psychological torture and a history of medical neglect  fragile health, and chronic lung disease.

The pattern of rejection and denial has been a consistent feature in Baraitsers rulings regarding Assanges case. When his legal team sought to liberate their client from the glass case in court for reasons of advice and consultation, the judge refused. She even refused to accept the reasoning of the prosecutor James Lewis QC, who suggested that letting Assange sit with his legal team was an uncomplicated matter. Her reasoning: To let Assange leave his glassed perch would be, effectively, an application for bail and mean he had escaped the courts custody. True to form on Wednesday, Assange, present via videolink, had his connection terminated after an hour. This prevented him from hearing the defence summation and the concluding remarks of the judge. The despoiling of justice, even in the face of a pandemic, remains an unwavering aspect of Assanges fate.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday paid a visit to Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in IP Extension here, to inspect the newly converted shelter homes for the poor, who are facing the brunt due to lockdown imposed in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sisodia said that the Delhi government is making efforts to feed the needy and are creating spaces for them across the capital for their living.

"Homeless people can now stay in these schools, which we have converted into shelter homes. In this school only, there are 30 rooms. We are providing them food here. Till evening, 700 schools will be able to feed the poor in Delhi," he told ANI.

These decisions have been taken amid reports of scores of people not having access to food during the lockdown in Delhi.

On Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that lunch and dinner would be served to the needy in more than 300 schools.

The Chief Minister had also exuded confidence that the government will be able to serve about four lakh people by Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Africa recorded its first two deaths from the novel coronavirus on Friday as the number of confirmed cases breached the 1,000 mark just hours after a three-week nationwide lockdown swung into action. "This morning we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from COVID-19," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the 57-strong population of Africa's most industrialised nation to stay at home for 21 days, joining other countries across the continent which have imposed strict measures to halt the spread of the disease. But many people defied the order which came into effect at midnight Thursday, lining up outside food stores or at bus terminals. Police appeared overwhelmed in downtown Johannesburg on Friday where hundreds of shoppers pushed and shoved trying to force their way into a supermarket. "The lockdown is a good thing for the country, even though I feel that a lot of people and taking it for granted, saying this virus is not for us... which is bad because by the time we wake up this thing will have spread enormously in the country," said bank employee Dumisani July, 39, wearing a mask and black latex gloves. Mkhize said the two people died in the Western Cape province, and announced that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases have topped 1,000. On Thursday, the country had reported 927 confirmed cases, a jump of more than 30 percent from the previous day, with Ramaphosa projecting it could reach 1,500 "within a few days". Kenya, Rwanda and Mali are some of the African countries that have imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has been confirmed to have infected more than 3,200 people and killed 89 across the continent. Although Africa's toll is far lower than in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, health experts say the world's poorest continent is especially vulnerable and the figures likely fall far short of the reality. - 'Invisible enemy' - Donning a camouflage uniform complete with a cap, Ramaphosa on Thursday saw off soldiers before they deployed from a military base in Soweto township outside economic hub Johannesburg. "This is unprecedented, not only in our democracy but also in the history of our country, that we will have a lockdown for 21 days to go out and wage war against an invisible enemy coronavirus," he said. During the shutdown, jogging, dog-walking and the sale of alcohol are banned across the country, which so far has the highest number of detected infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Violation of any of the regulations will carry a six-month jail sentence or a fine. In West Africa, Nigeria's government warned Thursday that Africa's most populous nation could soon see an "exponential" increase in infections unless contacts of confirmed cases are tracked down more rapidly. - 'War against invisible enemy' - Kenya, which has 31 cases, on Thursday recorded its first death -- a 66-year-old Kenyan man who had travelled from South Africa on March 13. The east African country will begin a night-time curfew on Friday to try curtail the spread. In the Sahel, Burkina Faso, which last week recorded sub-Saharan Africa's first death, announced that eight towns, including the capital Ouagadougou, would be quarantined from Friday. "Quarantined means that nobody will enter or leave the towns involved," Communication Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou said, adding that the measure would be applied for two weeks. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities ordered a four-day "total confinement" in the capital Kinshasa starting Saturday. Moody's Investors Service warned that the fallout from the border closures, commodity price declines and financial market volatility will have "severe macroeconomic and financial impact" on African sovereign debt. burs-sn/txw
T he coronavirus lockdown is expected to reduce Britains death toll from six figures to 5,700, according to researchers.

Experts at Imperial College London found the unprecedented curbs on daily life mean the 260,000 fatalities once feared if the previous less restrictive policy had continued should be avoided.

Our work shows that social distancing is working against Covid-19 as an effective parachute across multiple countries, Tom Pike, of Imperial, told The Times.

He added: "Thats no reason for us to cut away our parachutes when were still way above the ground."

Police are enforcing the lockdown with fines, spot checks, drones and threat of arrest / PA

It comes after modelling by Neil Ferguson, Prof Pikes colleague at the London university, found the governments previous social distancing advice could have led to 260,000 deaths, if the pandemic keeps on the same path seen in China.

The analysis also found that Covid-19 could cause 510,000 deaths in the UK if left unchecked, prompting a drastic change in Boris Johnsons direction to ban Brits from leaving their homes except for shopping or job essentials.

Lockdown London 1 /18 Lockdown London

Prof Ferguson said, when presenting the paper, that he would consider the lockdown a success if deaths kept below 20,000. In the winter of 2017-18 26,000 people died from seasonal flu.

The new paper assesses the effects of social distancing in China, where the global crisis began and assumes Britain will follow a similar path.

The statisticians best estimate for the total number of deaths is 5,700 in Britain, 28,000 deaths in Italy and 46,000 in Spain.

At its peak, Britain will see more than 250 deaths a day - which is far fewer than the 1,300 a day expected in Italy - according to the research.

Although there are undoubtedly data issues in the details, the similarity in trajectories of Italy and China suggest that overall the numbers are likely representative, Prof Pike said.

Britains shut down, brought into force on Monday, follows draconian measures in Italy, Spain and France. Police have been granted powers to fine and arrest those who refuse to comply.
Vietnams tally of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases is now 169 after the Ministry of Health confirmed six new patients on Saturday morning, including two from a major hospital in Hanoi where three people had previously tested positive.

Among the other four patients are three Vietnamese returning from abroad and a Danish traveler who had been to different Vietnamese localities before she was diagnosed with the disease.

Patient No. 164 is a 23-year-old overseas Vietnamese student whose registered address is in Rach Gia City in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

Patient No. 165 is a 58-year-old Vietnamese man residing in Tien Duong Commune, located in Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

They both returned to Vietnam from the UK on March 23 aboard flight VN0054, operated by Vietnam Airlines, that landed at Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

They were quarantined immediately after arrival and are currently treated at the Ninh Binh Province General Hospital.

Patient No. 166 is a 25-year-old Vietnamese woman, whose registered address is in Dong Phu Commune, located in Luc Nam District in the northern province of Bac Giang.

She had been staying in Thailand and left for Vietnam on March 20 in seat 40B aboard flight TG564, operated by Thai Airways.

She is also being isolated and treated at the Ninh Binh Province infirmary.

Patient No. 176 is a 20-year-old Danish tourist who was staying at a hotel in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. She traveled with a 22-year-old friend.

She and her friend arrived in Hanoi on March 8 in seats 37K and 37J aboard flight QR0976, operated by Qatar Airways.

They stayed at a hotel on Hang Chieu Street in Hoan Kiem District from March 9 to 12.

On March 12, they traveled on a sleeper bus operated by Ngoc Son Firm to Ha Giang City in the namesake northern province.

In Ha Giang City, they stayed at Jasmine Hostel in Phuong Thien Commune until March 15. They then returned to Hanoi and stayed at King Ly Hotel at No. 8 Ly Thai To Street in Hoan Kiem District.

They left Hanoi for Hue City in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue on March 17 on a sleeper bus.

In Hue, she and her friend stayed at Sunshine 3 Hotel at No. 10 Vo Thi Sau Street until March 19, then went to Hoi An City in the neighboring province of Quang Nam where they stayed at Hoi An Backpackers Hostel at No. 250 Cua Dai Street from March 19 to 23.

The Danish woman occupied seat 19E on Vietjet Air flight VJ530 traveling from Da Nang to Hanoi on March 23. Their flight landed at Noi Bai International Airport at 9:00 am that day and the duo continued to stay at King Ly Hotel.

As airlines started to require certificates proving a passenger is not carrying COVID-19 before boarding flights, she and her friend got tested for the virus at the Vietnam National Children's Hospital on March 24.

Her result returned positive for the virus while her friends turned out negative.

Both she and her friend are now quarantined at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

Patients No. 168 and No. 169 are Vietnamese women, both 49.

They are employees in charge of supplying boiled water at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, where thousands of people are being tested for COVID-19 after two nurses and a patient there were recently infected.

The hospital has isolated the patients and those in close contact with them, as well as disinfected its cafeteria.

Vietnam has announced 169 COVID-19 patients so far, with 20 having been discharged from the hospital by Friday.

No fatality related to the disease has been reported in the country to date.

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New Delhi, March 28 : Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday urged foreign affairs minister S. Jaishankar to bring stranded Sikh families back from war-ravaged Afghanistan to India.

The chief minister tweeted: "Dear @DrSJaishankar, there are a large number of Sikh families who want to be flown out of Afghanistan. Request you to get them airlifted at the earliest. In this moment of crisis, it's our bounden duty to help them." On March 25, terrorists stormed a crowded Sikh Gurudwara and housing complex in Kabul killing at least 27 people in Afghanistan. The terrorists belonged to Islamic State.

The foreign affairs minister condemned the attack. He had said: "Deeply concerned at the blasts reported near the cremation site of those killed during the attack on Gurudwara Sahib in Kabul." Jaishankar said that Indian Embassy in Kabul was in touch with Kabul security authorities. He said that he has asked them to ensure adequate security onsite as well as safe return of families to their homes thereafter.

Same day, Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had also condemned the attack on a religious gathering in a Gurdwara in Kabul. Amarinder Singh described the attack as extremely "tragic and unfortunate".

"Horrific news coming from Kabul where a barbaric terror attack happened in the Gurudwara Guru Har Rai. It's extremely tragic and unfortunate. Request (Afghanistan) President @Ashraf Ghani Ji to find out the perpetrators and look after our people," Singh had tweeted.
Early this year, before the coronavirus pandemic was clear to most of us, my springtime vacation was scheduled and approved. It began with birthday gatherings earlier this month, which wouldve led to a visit with relatives in the Rio Grande Valley for cookouts and dips in a backyard pool.

I planned a day trip to South Padre Island and another, across the border, to Nuevo Progreso for a few hours of shopping.

On the trip back, I would have stopped at a fruit stand and perhaps at the Kings Inn in Riviera for a seafood lunch. Its famous for its fried shrimp, but the tartar sauce is the draw for me.

That was the plan.

Instead, a spring vacation became a surreal staycation on San Antonios West Side, where the hunt for a can of Lysol went unfulfilled and led to a homemade disinfectant concoction requiring vodka.

I cant complain.

Unlike the citys poorest residents, who routinely struggle to get to the next paycheck, I have the means to stock up on necessities and maintain a vital commodity  broadband service.

If weve learned anything, its that staying connected to the internet must become a universal living standard alongside electric and water utilities.

It also has never been more apparent that health care should not be tied to employment. That has kept millions of people from access to a medical practitioner, a situation that now endangers all of us.

While the countrys divide between the haves and have-nots has been covered by a first-world facade, theres one experience we all share equally: Its worry.

The coronavirus pandemic has labeled us. Were called the worried well. We dont have the virus. We may not even know someone who does. Were the hunkered down, the Netflix-dependent, the toilet-paper-obsessed, the cooped up. Were the bored and anxious.

So many people in these ranks are home with family members. Theyre helping one another through a crisis that wont be over by Easter. Wed better get used to it.

Theyre sharing shopping, cooking and cleaning duties and are keeping students on track with their studies.

Weve shown resilience by helping others, donating to good causes and buying take-out to help restaurants and their staffs. On social media, were entertaining one another with art, music and comedy, like the cute couple somewhere who changed the lyrics to Simon & Garfunkels Homeward Bound to Were All Home Bound.

One of my favorite shareable moments was a video of Enrique and Isabel Sanchez of San Antonio, both in their 90s, dancing in their living room. Another favorite was the joyous video of the Roma Independent School Districts varsity mariachi practicing via videoconference. It was inspiring.

For some, being at home 24-7 is a curse rather than a blessing. Home can be a dangerous place for those with a domestic abuser.

Experts tell us domestic violence rates go up when other tensions are exacerbated. Children and young adults who once took refuge at school are safer from a virus now, but not from violence. We may never know the totality of these costs to vulnerable families.

Some of us have been home alone.

As isolation goes, it hasnt been very hard. Ive felt sorry for myself only a little. Ive rested, relaxed and counted blessings more than once.

Ive seen neighbors play ball and children ride bikes in the street again. More people are sitting on porches. Butterflies have become easier to spot. Yard work has become a pastime.

Our list of heroes is ever-expanding. They work in hospitals, toil in fields, stock grocery shelves and drive buses and police cars.

Weve become more understanding of shut-ins, whose lives havent changed much since the pandemic.

In a nice bit of news, gentrification seems to have taken a short hiatus, but phone scammers are back on the job.

Ive watched far too much television, including the 2011 movie, Contagion, which was eerily on target. Gwyneth Paltrows character was obviously going to be an early victim. Dont be Gwyneth Paltrow.

My CNN habit has shown that in a pandemic, advertisers have surmised our fears. My totally unscientific study shows were interested in life insurance, improving our credit scores, upgrading our cable subscription and a vast array of medications, including those that address hair growth, bad skin and weight loss.

Like you, Ive most missed my family and friends. Ive made lots of calls and texts and written cards and letters.

Recently, my 4-year-old goddaughter Emma visited with her mother and grandmother. They dropped off goodies. I left a bag of little surprises for Emma hanging from my mailbox.

We spoke through a plexiglass door. It took all I had not to cry. Emma wanted to come in. We explained she couldnt.

When everybody feels better? she asked.

Yes, Emma, when everybody feels better.

eayala@express-news.net | @ElaineAyala
Where were you when the Twin Towers were hit? When the bank guarantee was announced? When the Princess of Wales died? I don't suppose too many people remember where they were when they first heard the coronavirus or Covid-19 mentioned. But it is epoch-defining. And it will impact personally on us all, in large ways and small.

Self-isolation and social distancing are new terms we are becoming familiar with - new ways of interacting with one another. And more stringent restrictions are on their way.

"Tighten the valve. Tighten the valve more. If the number doesn't slow down, close the valve. We're closing the valve." That's how New York Governor Andrew Cuomo describes lockdown in New York City, hotbed of the pandemic in the US.

Here in Ireland, perhaps some people feel their liberty is being curtailed in a harsh and excessive fashion. Maybe they feel their inability to move about at will is an unacceptable infringement of their civil liberties.

But this is a pandemic. If a lot of people catch the virus simultaneously and need to be hospitalised, they'll collapse the healthcare system. Already, some 25pc of confirmed cases are health workers, which adds pressure. And there are reports of medics running out of goggles, masks and gloves - even before the anticipated surge happens.

Isolation restrictions imposed in Ireland bear no relation to quarantine in China. I've just spoken with my niece there, who's been confined to a hotel room as a precaution. She was tested three days ago for Covid-19 - the result returned in 12 hours and was negative - but she must still do the full 14 days of lockdown. Currently she is on day 11.

When Louise Devlin returned to China to take up her teaching job, after going on holiday to Thailand during a two-month-long schools closure, she was given a throat swab at the airport. Then she was driven to a designated hotel and forbidden to leave the room for any reason.

Her temperature is checked twice daily and food is delivered to her door three times a day. Someone knocks to let her know her meal is on the mat and she must wait before opening the door so the delivery person has time to leave.

Louise (33), a teacher in Nanjing, a city some 300km from Shanghai, says: "What you have in Ireland isn't lockdown as we know it. You're able to go out for walks and to buy food - I can't leave this hotel room. It's really strict. The government imposes the rules, nobody gets to question them.

"At least I have internet but the day is very long. The people I really feel sorry for are those quarantined in hotel rooms with their children - you can just imagine how bored the kids get.

"And I'm lucky I have a window. My big happiness is being able to open it - I was afraid I wouldn't be allowed.

"It's isolating because at no stage in the day does anyone touch you. We're social animals. We're used to touching with our hands, or handing over things to one another. I can't have a conversation face to face with anyone during quarantine."

The only human contact she has is when her temperature is taken. There's a knock on the door, she stands in the doorway and someone shines an infrared monitor on her forehead. The person checking her wears a visor covering their face, with a mask over their nose and mouth underneath it.

"It's a faceguard like a welder would wear but made of plexiglass so it's clear," says Louise. "They also wear gloves and disposable plastic gowns like you see in hospitals. They are very polite and nice although they don't speak much and I miss that. Sometimes they'll say, 'OK - that's all' - or let you see your temperature reading so you know it's normal."

Omagh-born Louise, who has a Master's in chemistry from UCC, has been allocated a government health code, a QR code, on her mobile phone - mandatory when people arrive in China. Currently it's red but she's been told it will turn green at the end of quarantine.

"I'll need to show this green code every day at the barriers they've put up outside the school where I'm teaching, before I can get in, and also for entry to restaurants and supermarkets," she says.

"When you're in China you have to assume your civil liberties aren't what you were used to. Everything is being monitored. They know where everybody is and who they've been in contact with.

"What bothers me is the level of monitoring after this outbreak will continue. They've stepped it up now and aren't going to stop."

Another worry is that even if her green code comes through, it won't be accepted generally.

"I've heard that people with it are being turned away from restaurants. "We don't want you," they're told. People are crossing the street to avoid foreigners.

"There is quite a lot of racism towards foreigners because of the imported cases of the virus in the country. The rest of the world is now the danger zone to the Chinese. The news is carrying reports that outside cases are the problem.

"Because you're a foreigner they're worried that you're lying about having been quarantined or you're breaking the rules in some way. I just wish they didn't have different standards for foreigners and nationals. Most people on the street are not highly educated and so it's not their fault they equate foreigners with bringing it (Covid-19) into the country."

She knows of a man from Tipperary who's had to go into a higher level of quarantine because someone was sitting within five rows of him on the plane returning to China and tested positive. That's how severe their policies are. In such cases, the people taking temperatures wear the full hazmat or biohazard suits and all waste is disinfected.

Even when home quarantine was allowed, it was more severe than the Irish version. A community worker met people and took them through everything they were meant to stop doing. Someone visited daily to check the quarantine was being observed and magnetic strips were added to doors to monitor how often they were opening.

Louise's quarantine is up on April 1, which also happens to be the day she's due to return to the classroom.

"That's April Fool's Day," she says. "I hope they don't play a joke and let me go, then take me back again."

When she's back teaching, she's been told she'll have to take extra classes because of a teacher shortage caused by quarantine restrictions. China has announced it is sealing its borders to most foreigners from today.

But on the plus side, Louise says that life is returning to normal after two months. And the same will happen in Ireland, given time.
By Olivia Rose

THE TURKS and Caicos Islands has recorded its first and second cases of the lethal coronavirus COVID-19 which has claimed more than 20,000 lives worldwide.





On Monday, Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson confirmed the first positive result in the territory and appealed to citizens not to panic.





She gave a brief national address at her office in Grand Turk, flanked by the Minister of Health Hon. Edwin Astwood and the Director of Health Services Dr Nadia Astwood.





"Today the Turks and Caicos reports its first COVID-19 case, she said. "We remain the last few of four Caribbean nations - two others reported their first cases yesterday.





A middle-aged man with various health conditions was the second person to test positive for COVID-19 coronavirus in the TCI, it was announced on Thursday.





He is currently in critical condition at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and is receiving aggressive respiratory care.





Cartwright Robinson explained that the Government had already begun preparing for the potential impact and has implemented crucial risk mitigation regulations and plans.





She went on to stress the importance of the role every individual has in slowing the spread of the virus.





"It is important that we follow all Ministry of Health advice and protocols, in particular proper hand hygiene and social distancing.





"I am confident in the advice given by the health team and must reemphasise the importance of social distancing. It is important to reduce risk and spread by breaking contact.





She added: "All persons now more than ever need to be responsible and help us seek to break contact and hence control and stop the spread.





The premier said the public must engage in responsible actions to help the Government control and prevent the spread of the virus.





"I am asking that we remain calm, follow health advice and help us to manage this experience in the best way we can and this can only truly be achieved if each and every one of us plays our critical role.





Positive sample

Director of Health Services Dr Nadia Astwood explained that a sample was sent to the national reference laboratory for testing and came back positive for COVID-19 on Monday.





She said that the unidentified patient had no recent travel history but offered no other details.





Astwood added that through the procedural questioning, as with any suspected or confirmed case, the patient has been interviewed for contact tracing.





"Interviews have been conducted with the patient to identify close contacts such as family members, friends and business associates.





She continued: "This announcement will create some public concern which is understandable and as such the ministry would like to reassure everyone that were taking all necessary precautions and following established prevention and control protocols in relation to any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID -19.





"We continue to enhance measures to fight against COVID-19, such as enhanced surveillance at all ports of entry, our activated preparedness and response plan for COVID-19 and training for health care providers and front line workers.





The director urged members of the public to continue following health advice, in particular proper hand hygiene and social distancing.





"Avoid close contact with anyone displaying symptoms and practice social distancing, keeping three to six foot from one another.





"This helps reduce interaction between people and could prevent the spread of disease.





"If you have fever or cough and display symptoms such as shortness of breath of difficulty breathing please seek medical care immediately by contacting our hotlines. The numbers are 232-9444 or 338-0911.





She stressed that people should not flood the emergency rooms, the hospitals or healthcare centres.





"Please use these hotlines to contact the health team and we will provide assistance or guidance as we do not want to transfer any infections to the vital healthcare care facilities.





"It is in each and every one of our hands to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I ask you to be your brothers keeper.





"The simple advice we continue to provide through the Ministry of Health are the measures that are within your power to make an impact.





"Please be mindful of those who are vulnerable within our community such as the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.





She said that further information is available on the Government and Ministry of Healths Facebook page and website.





Play your part

Minister of Health Hon. Edwin Astwood reiterated his call for residents to play their part in preventing the spread of the highly contagious virus.





"What happens now depends on all of us. We have a choice to make, we have to adjust our behaviour, we cannot continue to go on with business as usual.





"We have been trying to get the public more engaged, more aware of whats going on.





"We know its human nature that most persons would not take this seriously, but we have to take this serious.





"But with all things, we are made for this and just like everything else well get through this and we will come out better at the end of this.





"I just want to assure you that we will do all we can to mitigate. The window of containment is closing on us but the window of mitigation is wide open and so we have to mitigate this

disease spreading in our country and we will.





As of Thursday, the TCI had 10 suspected cases of COVID-19 with 297 people in home quarantine.





A suspected person is someone who meets the case definition as outlined by WHO and CARPHA - and is experiencing symptoms.





A person in quarantine is an individual who has come from infected country or may have come in proximity to suspected or confirmed cases - and has not exhibited symptoms.





According to an update from the Ministry of Health one suspected case was of a tourist visiting the territory.





The ministry said: "The other nine suspected cases are TCI residents returning from countries with local transmission and contacts of a confirmed case.





"All 10 persons met the WHO case definition for a suspected case of COVID-19, thus they are experiencing symptoms.





These samples have been collected and sent for testing.





Those confirmed not to have COVID-19 and their contacts have been moved from quarantined status and asked to continue following proper guidelines.





The first confirmed case is in isolation and contact tracing is aggressively continuing, the Ministry of Health said.





While the second patient, a resident who recently returned from the United States, is "under clinical management and isolation at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.








(Bloomberg Opinion) -- If, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, you are in Minneapolis and you drop your iPhone, who will repair the cracked screen? If youd like an authorized repair, with Apple Inc.-certified parts, the options are suddenly limited. Apples retail stores, and the service centers inside of them, are closed indefinitely. Similarly, Twin Cities-based Best Buy Co., which offers authorized Apple repairs in its stores, is not repairing products in-house at this time. Apple maintains a modest network of authorized repair shops, but  thanks to Covid-19 business shutdowns  the closest one available to repair an iPhone is nearly 200 miles away, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That leaves one reasonable authorized repair option: Mail in that iPhone and wait.

Admittedly, this might not appear to be the most pressing issue during a pandemic. But consider: Covid-19 is spreading at a time when dependence on personal technology is more important than ever, connecting Americans to family, work, health information and news. As that dependence has grown, manufacturers of electronics  from mobile phones to essential medical equipment like ventilators  have made design and policy decisions that restrict device repair to themselves and their chosen representatives. In normal times, those decisions might amount to an expensive inconvenience for consumers. During a pandemic, they raise a pressing question: Who will repair our stuff if the manufacturers cant or wont?

Its not a question the U.S. faced during the 1918 flu pandemic. A century ago, most of the devices purchased by Americans were mechanical in nature, and home mechanics were plentiful. The Ford Model T circa 1918 was designed to be serviced by its owner or anyone nearby with basic mechanical skills. In the 1920s, American farmers started the mass adoption of mechanical tractors, and so had to develop formidable repair skills to keep them running. When World War II arrived, and farm equipment and repair parts became scarce, manufacturers like John Deere Inc. actively sought to aid farmers in the personal upkeep of their equipment. That self-reliant spirit persisted for most of the 20th century, epitomized by weekend mechanics working on their cars in the driveway.

Story continues

By the early 1990s, however, the skills and motivation to repair at home, or to start repair businesses, were in decline. As manufacturing jobs shuttered, mechanical and repair skills withered. At the same time, globalized manufacturing drove down the costs of manufactured goods. Once-expensive repairable televisions gave way to disposable $300 flat screens. The TV repair shop, once a fixture in American cities, has largely disappeared.

More intentional reasons for the decline also emerged. Device, appliance and even farm-tractor manufacturers opted to wring more money out of their service and parts businesses by restricting access to repair parts and documentations. For example, on March 31, camera manufacturer Nikon Corp. will stop providing official parts, tools, software and repair manuals to the U.S. repair shops in its authorized repair network. (In 2012, it stopped selling parts to independent camera repair shops.) It will now only provide certified repair and parts in two Nikon-owned facilities. For camera owners, that means waiting longer, and probably paying more, to get their stuff fixed. For independent repair shops, it means one less reason to stay in business.

Nikons practices arent unique. Apple restricts parts, diagnostic software and repair documentation to its stores and a small network of authorized repair shops. It also actively dissuades independent repair shops from fixing Apple products. One of the worlds most valuable companies is suing a small, unauthorized Norwegian phone repair shop for selling aftermarket iPhone screens. Without aftermarket parts, such shops cannot fix iPhones.

And John Deere, once a proponent and partner in the independent repair of tractors, has built a repair monopoly by installing software that effectively prevents anyone but its authorized service centers from doing even simple repairs to its tractors. For some farmers, this practice has resulted in delays in planting, a particularly ominous prospect during a spring pandemic. Equally ominous, if not more so, is the prospect that in-house medical technicians  especially in hospitals in emerging markets  will not have access to repair documentation, software and tools in the midst of the pandemic.

It's too late for manufacturers to provide more convenient, affordable and accessible repair options to most consumers and businesses during this pandemic. But there are some radical steps that could easily make a difference right now. For example, manufacturers of medical equipment such as ventilators should release repair guides for therapy devices to hospitals rather than forcing them to wait for a certified technician. Similarly, Deere and other farm equipment manufacturers should suspend their software locks for the 2020 planting season, at a minimum, to ensure that theres no delay in servicing needed farm equipment. Finally, consumer electronics manufacturers, including Apple, should post information on how consumers can quickly obtain simple repairs like battery and screen replacements while authorized repair is unavailable.

Longer-term, the states and federal government need to pass long-stalled Right to Repair legislation to expand access for all Americans. Key provisions include requirements that manufacturers make repair documentation for their products freely available, and sell parts and diagnostics to independent repair operations at a fair market price.

Self-reliance has long been a part of the American self-image. Giving back the right to repair stuff is a good way to ensure its maintained during and after Covid-19.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Adam Minter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade and the forthcoming "Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale."

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Dr. Susan Partovi, middle, and nurse practitioner Jen King, right, administer medical aid to a homeless patient in a Home Depot parking lot. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

It was late morning when Dr. Susan Partovi and nurse practitioner Jen King set out from downtown Los Angeles on a mission  to track down some of their homeless patients, check on their welfare and warn them about the dangers of the coronavirus.

With so many other daily challenges homeless people have to deal with, Partovi said, the seriousness of an invisible threat hasnt sunk in yet with some of those living in tents. The most vulnerable, she said, including those with severe physical and mental illness, need more than ever to be housed for their own safety and that of others.

I dont think they fully grasp it, said Partovi, who works for Homeless Health Care Los Angeles. Its not real to some of them.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Susan Partovi, left, and nurse practitioner Jen King administer medical aid to a man in a Home Depot parking lot in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

What is real is that while the virus has dramatically altered the daily routines of most people, locking us up in the comfort of our own homes, little has changed for those without a roof over their heads.

At 5th and San Pedro, in the heart of skid row, tents and people  in proximity  still lined the streets. As I headed west, through normally crowded downtown Los Angeles, it was as if thered been an evacuation order and everyone but the destitute got the memo. No traffic. No busy office workers running errands. Just an endless array of misery.

At 5th and Figueroa, a distressed man naked from the waist down wandered into the middle of the intersection, and two police officers were trying to reel him back onto the sidewalk. West of downtown, with no vehicles blocking the view, tarps and tents were even more visible than usual.

Partovi and Kings first goal was to find a 56-year-old man King had been caring for over the last several weeks. Hes diabetic and had been hospitalized for foot wounds, then released.

Heidi Roth, a registered nurse, hands bread to a man living in an encampment on a Los Angeles sidewalk. She and others are asking if anyone is experiencing coronavirus symptoms. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Foot ulcers are so very common in diabetics. They can get infected and if you dont treat that, it can lead to an amputation, Partovi said. We had him admitted and he got discharged a couple of days ago.

I asked if it was wise to release him from the hospital without a home to return to.

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Its a double-edged sword, Partovi said. They might be trying to keep people out of the hospital so they dont get COVID-19, but they shouldve confirmed a place for him to go to.  Were trying to find recuperative care for him.

On Wilshire Boulevard, across the street from The Home Depot, Partovi approached a row of tents and began calling the patients name.

Que pasa? Todo esta bien? Partovi asked, moving among the blue tarps to see if everyone was OK and if anyone had seen her patient.

Partovi was a teenager at Santa Monica High years ago when her church group made pilgrimages to Tijuana to assist the poor. She still vividly recalls a housing development at a landfill and the physicians assistant who ministered to the sick and injured on the trips. That was when she knew, she says, that her lifes mission would be poverty medicine.

The patient finally limped out of a tent with two bandaged feet, but none of the symptoms of coronavirus. Partovi and King asked him some questions about his recovery and escorted him across the street to their van in the Home Depot parking lot.

Nurse practitioner Jen King, right, speaks with a man living in an encampment on a Los Angeles sidewalk. "I feel like when you sign up for this job, you sign up to take certain risks and you have to treat people as safely as you can," she said. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Once there, they turned the parking space next to the van into an outdoor clinic. I watched as Partovi grabbed her medical bag, which also serves as a handy stool for a street doctor. She took a seat next to King and they removed the patients bandages to have a look.

This actually looks pretty good, Partovi said as she examined the mans right foot.

Partovi peered into a deep gash on the mans instep and asked King for a suture remover. The doctor used the tweezer-like tool to remove dead tissue and clean up the wound before rewrapping it. Then she checked the other foot, which also had some lacerations that were healing.

It was a simple medical procedure, but the humanity on display hit me in waves as I watched in admiration. Two selfless front-liners were taking a risk in the middle of the pandemic to help someone in need, here in such an unlikely setting. They wore masks, but social distancing was impossible.

This work is nothing new for Partovi, who has practiced street medicine for years. She signed up quickly for earthquake disaster relief in Haiti 10 years ago, where she said it was not uncommon for advanced medical procedures such as amputations to be performed in makeshift surgery centers. One day, she said, doctors operated under a mango tree with a goat walking by.

Dr. Susan Partovi, who has practiced street medicine for years, treats a homeless man's ulcerated foot in a Home Depot parking lot in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

You make do, she says.

King, who moved west from Boston late last year after becoming a nurse practitioner, said she fell in love with street medicine because of the singular purpose and camaraderie of the people who do this work. She particularly enjoys the satisfaction of building relationships with people in need, earning their trust and knowing their gratitude.

King said friends and family worry about her safety, especially now, when theres more to consider than the usual staph infections and communicable diseases.

If the person Im treating has a cough or fever, or if I have any suspicion they have coronavirus, I have  a gown and face shield and mask and gloves to put on, and thats what I do, King said. But I feel like when you sign up for this job, you sign up to take certain risks and you have to treat people as safely as you can.

Partovi and King returned the patient to his tent and told him they would be back later if they could make an arrangement for him to move temporarily into a hotel. There, King would continue to make daily visits to treat his wound and make sure he had enough insulin and antibiotics.

Next on their list of regular patients was a homeless mentally ill man who has been living in Echo Park. Partovi and King looked for him at the McDonalds on Glendale Boulevard, where he can often be found, but there was no sign of him.

We came upon another homeless man pushing a shopping cart. He said he was feeling fine, and knew of the patient Partovi was looking for. Try the Rite-Aid, he said, the Vons and Triple Beam Pizza on Sunset Boulevard.

They tried all those locations with no luck, then traveled to Koreatown to check on an encampment they were familiar with outside Founders Church. There, a dozen tents lined the street, and Partovi and King were joined by a registered nurse named Heidi Roth, who had a day off from her home healthcare job and asked Partovi if she could help out as a volunteer.

Dr. Susan Partovi searches an encampment for people who may be experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus. "Is anyone around here sick?" she asked. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

The three of them went tent by tent, offering bottled water, snacks and hygiene supplies.

Were really blessed to have our homes to stay in with our families," Roth said. "But so many people have nobody, and if we as providers cant help them, who will?

Partovi called out to those inside tents.

Is anyone around here sick? she asked.

People emerged and nobody reported any coronavirus symptoms. Partovi said she hasnt found a case yet in any homeless encampment, but given the underlying medical conditions so many people have, the virus could spread quickly and shes trying to get ahead of it. She explained to the encampment dwellers what symptoms to look out for. Fever, cough, shortness of breath.

Do you have a mask? she asked, passing one to a woman who was without.

Dr. Susan Partovi, left, and registered nurse Heidi Roth visit a homeless encampment in Los Angeles. "We're really blessed to have our homes to stay in with our families," Roth said. "But so many people have nobody, and if we as providers can't help them, who will?" (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

If someone is really sick and having difficulty breathing, call 911, Partovi said. If youre sick, you should stay inside your tent and not come out on the street.

She asked two men if they were staying in the same tent, and, if so, recommended they keep as much distance between them as possible.

One man asked if anyone could deliver a Porta Potty because residents of this encampment couldnt always get into the nearby gas station bathroom.

"Everybody's worried," a homeless man named Patrick told me, "but if the virus comes here, what can we do about it?

"We don't have a lot of options," said his friend Jhon.

Partovi asked me several times to remind the public and public officials reading this column that theres always a shortage of resources, but the problem is all the more urgent during the pandemic. Obviously theres a need for more temporary housing solutions for the most vulnerable populations, she said, including those with severe mental illness, who might not be aware of the current threat.

With so many other daily challenges homeless people have to deal with, Dr. Susan Partovi said, the seriousness of an invisible threat like the coronavirus hasn't sunk in yet with some of those living in tents. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

We need phones, Partovi said, so people can call for help in an emergency. Also hand sanitizer, tents, dumpsters and syringe bins. For information on how to help, check the Homeless Health Care Los Angeles website at hhcla.org.

At last count, nearly 60,000 people in L.A. County were homeless, and the pandemic's crippling effect on the economy could well lead to greater numbers in the future.

The challenge is overwhelming, which makes the determined, faithful, compassionate work of the citys angels all the more stirring.

By days end, Partovis team had arranged for the first patient of the day  the man with the wounds on his feet  to be moved into a hotel.

One down, tens of thousands to go.

steve.lopez@latimes.com




Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order this week giving California's chief justice broad powers during the coronavirus crisis. (Nick Ut / Associated Press)

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who was given unprecedented powers by Gov. Gavin Newsom, voted with other judicial leaders Saturday to recommend that courts use remote hearings to get people out of overcrowded jails.

During an emergency meeting of the Judicial Council, Cantil-Sakauye said the lack of court hearings and the closure of state prisons to new inmates has left California's jails overcrowded in potentially unsafe conditions.

She said she has received "no assurance" that jails in California are practicing social distancing, that inmates can be transported to courthouses with social distancing or that courtrooms can practice it.

"This is about making sure the courts are not vectors," she said.

Criminal defense lawyers trying to get clients out of jail have complained they have no way to file documents because court clerks have locked their doors.

Under normal circumstances, a defendant must appear for arraignments and preliminary hearings. The recommendation unanimously adopted Saturday calls on courts to use telephonic, audio or video conferencing whenever possible, including for criminal and juvenile proceedings. That includes arraignments and preliminary examinations.

The meeting of the Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the court system, underscored the difficulty of using technology for remote meetings during the coronavirus crisis.

The council's conference call system initially collapsed because too many people, including the members, the public and the media, tried to get through at once. After about 45 minutes, another system was put in place and the meeting proceeded.

Newsoms order, issued Friday, gives Cantil-Sakauye extraordinary powers, including the right to suspend laws.

The law is filled with deadlines, many to protect the rights of criminal defendants. There are public access requirements and rules about how legal matters should be conducted.

The governor said on Saturday the executive order was designed to give the judicial branch the flexibility that its leaders had asked for.

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This will allow them the ability, in real time, to meet the needs of the criminal and civil justice system," he said during a COVID-19 news conference in San Jose.

Cantil-Sakauye said she assured Newsom that the new powers would be assumed "with utmost care and judiciousness."

She stressed they were temporary and needed to ensure "the justice system will be available to those most in need."

"The keyword here for all of us is temporary," said Cantil-Sakauye, who was appointed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Judicial Council on Saturday also approved the extension of legal deadlines.

Certain inmates normally have the right to be released if a hearing isn't held within 10 days. That will be extended to 30 days. Defendants charged with a felony normally must be taken before a judge in 48 hours. The new deadline is seven court days.

With courts largely shut down, 1st Amendment groups have expressed concern that the public will be denied access to documents and proceedings conducted by telephone.

On Friday evening, Cantil-Sakauye issued her own order on how the states highest court will hold oral arguments next month.

The order permits only 15 members of the media into its San Francisco courtroom. Journalists will be admitted on a first-come basis and will have to sit six feet apart.

The public will not be admitted but can watch proceedings online at the Judicial Branch website.

To meet social-distancing requirements, no more than five of the courts seven justices will be seated on the bench. The other two will participate remotely.

Lawyers will make their arguments through video or telephone conference.

Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report.
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Wuhan: In a rare display of public anger in China, dozens of people in central Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak till recently, attacked official vehicles after they were stopped from crossing a bridge and travel to neighbouring Jiangxi after the lifting of the lockdown.

Hubei province with over 56 million people was kept under lockdown from January 23 as part of aggressive measures to bring down COVID-19 cases which rapidly spread in the area.

Videos on Chinese social media on Friday showed unprecedented scenes of police from Hubei and Jiangxi clashing on the bridge connecting the two provinces over barricades erected from stopping Hubei people from moving out over fears of coronavirus spreading.

Policemen from both sides argued over how to verify if people were allowed to enter Jiangxi, according to local media reports.

It was a major relief for millions of people in Hubei province, when the Chinese government which kept it under lockdown lifted the restrictions on travel.

The government will permitted people from the province to travel if they hold a green health code, meaning no contact with any infected or suspected COVID-19 cases.

But people of Hubei to their shock on Friday found roadblocks on the 1st Yangtze River Bridge that separates Huangmei county in Hubei erected by Huangmei county of Jiangxi province.

In local media reports, witnesses were quoted as saying that Huangmei police in Jiujiang erected roadblocks on the bridge to stop people from Hubei from crossing it, a move they alleged stigmatised them.

Video footage shared online showed rows of police armed with riot shields holding back the crowds, while members of the public could be seen damaging and even overturning police vehicles.

In a clip published by the Huanggang city government, which administers Huangmei, the county's Communist Party chief Ma Yanzhou could be heard speaking to the people through a loud hailer, warning them that by gathering in a large group they were increasing their chances of contracting the virus, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

While it is unclear exactly how the clash started, police from the two sides published separate official statements online, which were quickly deleted, it said.

The incident underlines the problems China faces as it seeks a return to normalcy after months of lockdown, the Post said.

After the incident, the governments of Huangmei and Jiujiang on Friday issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to remove the barriers set up to restrict travel during the lockdown, and also to recognise each other's health screening codes to make it easier for people in good health to get to where they needed to be, the Post report said.

An article by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) mouthpiece, People's Daily acknowledged the problems in getting the country back on its feet.

In the past few days, all walks of life have called for governments to accept workers from Hubei, it said. However, it is undeniable that some places, intentionally or not, have set up obstacles for Hubei migrant workers to return to their posts and hold prejudices against them.
The Noida administration passed an order on Saturday, asking landlords to collect rent from their worker-tenants only after a month, amid reports of migrants undertaking the journey to reach their native places on foot during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

IMAGE: Migrant workers return to their native place on foot due to absence of any means of transportation in Ghaziabad. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate (DM) B N Singh said the order comes into effect immediately.

In his order, the DM said it had come to light that in the present situation of a complete lockdown, several landlords were forcing migrant workers to pay the house rent, leaving them with no other choice but to vacate the place.

'Such migrant labourers and workers are forced to come down on roads and go to their hometowns and villages on foot, which increases the chances of the coronavirus spreading even more.

'Also there are migrants living in Noida and Greater Noida, who are involved in production and distribution of essential services, but they too are being forced to leave for their homes. This would also impact production and distribution of essential services and the overall situation,' Singh said.

'Invoking the special powers vested in me as the district magistrate, I order that no landlord will demand rent for accommodation from their tenants, who are labourers or workers working in any of the companies, industries, factories and offices in the district, for the next one month,' the DM stated in the order.

Violation of the order will prompt legal action against a landlord, including a jail term of up to two years or a penalty or both, Singh said.

People can use the administration's integrated control room number -- 0120-2544700 -- to report any such incident happening with migrant tenants or non-compliance by landlords, he added.

*****

Kejriwal urges migrant workers leaving Delhi to stay back

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to migrant workers leaving the national capital to stay back, even as he said that his government has arranged for buses to transport them.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia also made a similar appeal, while stating that the Delhi government has deployed 100 buses for people attempting to walk home from the city.

'The governments of UP and Delhi have arranged buses. Still, I appeal all to remain where they are. We have made arrangements for stay and food.

'Please stay at home. Do not go back to your village, otherwise the objective of the lockdown will fail,' Kejriwal said in a Hindi tweet.

A Delhi Transport department officer said buses were deployed after a large number of people started walking to their home states.

The DTC and cluster buses will drop them at points along the border with UP where buses from that state will carry them ahead, he added.

'100 buses of Delhi government and nearly 200 buses of UP government are transporting people trying to leave Delhi on foot. Yet I appeal all to follow the lockdown. It's a solution to control the effect of coronavirus. There is threat of coronavirus on venturing out,' Sisodia tweeted.
We are getting some stuff. It was there the morning after that surprise 3 inches of snow, and all the stuff was ruined, so it had to go in the garbage, Sterba said. Weve got signs in the back where donations come in saying, No donations, please. Were still seeing a little bit, but were not bringing it in and processing. Its going in the garbage. What happens with our stuff  when the store was operating  theres a company that picks it up and it goes to other thrift stores, and they pay us by the pound, but theyve stopped their operations completely, so were just kind of stuck with the stuff.
NEW HAVEN  Yale University said no.

But the University of New Haven said yes.

An angry Mayor Justin Elicker said he asked Yale University President Peter Salovey whether police officers and firefighters who are asymptomatic, but who have a family member exposed to COVID-19, or who are not symptomatic, but have been exposed to the virus, or are waiting for test results, if they could use a dormitory at the university.

The answer was no.

He said he then called UNH President Steve Kaplan, who in the first 5 minutes of the conversation, said yes. We will make this happen. This is important for the community.

The discussion on this started at the virtual press conference Elicker held to update the city on COVID-19, a session where he announced a second resident, this time a man in his late 40s, had died as a result of the coronavirus as the number of persons infected in the city had almost doubled from 30 to 52.

He made another strong appeal for residents to practice social distancing to hold down the number of infections as the city appears to be entering the beginning of a surge of cases, something Yale New Haven Hospital physicians made clear in a separate press conference they had earlier in the day. He also thanked the 235 people voluteering to be part of a city Medical Reserve Corp, one day after the plea was published

On the issue of the dorm rooms, Elicker said UNH has rolled out the red carpet for us. They have worked to quickly get students belongings out of the dorms and they are working with us to address other logistical and liability hurdles. We are quite close to finalizing an agreement with them so that our police officers and firefighters can begin moving into the space in the coming days.

He said he was very grateful to Kaplan.

Elicker only brought up the arrangement when asked a question on his response to Yale contributing $1 million to a fund being raised in parallel with the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven and the United Way to assist the city in its needs during this pandemic crisis. Yale asked that others join in to bring its total to $5 million, as it matches donations $1 for $1.

Elicker said he had not requested that money, just the dorm space.

My response is this: if your house is burning down and you asked a neighbor if your kids could stay at your house and your neighbor said no, but here is a check so you could stay at the Econo Lodge across town, what would that tell you about your neighbor?

It is in these times of crisis when people are exposed for their true selves. Everyone needs to do their part at this very difficult time and writing a check does not exempt you from that fact, Elicker said.

Karen Peart, spokeswoman for Yale, issued a long statement in response to the mayors criticism, explaining that the students rooms wont be ready for new occupants for weeks.

Our student rooms still contain their belongings, but we have teams planning the feasibility of packing and storing all the student belongings so that the rooms could be utilized, she said.

We are pursuing schemes that involve professional movers and packers, and using temporary storage. The process will take weeks, as all of the residence hall rooms on campus are filled with student belongings. As soon as we have been able to clear any space, we have informed the mayor that we will let him know, Peart said.

We all wish the situation on our campus were different, but because our students had already gone home for spring recess when we implemented our social distancing restrictions, the rooms arent ready for others to live in them. Peart said.

She added that the $5 million fund is not connected in any way to the fact that we are not able to provide use of the residential colleges at this time.

Elicker said Salovey called two weeks ago when the COVID-19 crisis was ramping up, and offered whatever support Yale could give. He said he asked Yale late last week about the dorm space.

The mayor said the dormitory request was to provide a place where firefighters and police officers with symptoms could self-isolate so they didnt have to go home and potentially infect their family or be infected by another family member.

The healthy members could continue to go to work, while those with symptoms would not expose others on the force or in the firehouses, if they had a place to stay.

Elicker said the city faced some of these circumstances in the last few days where there were two firefighters who were exposed to the virus and tested negative, while several others are waiting for test results. They are basically in a holding pattern right now, the mayor said.

He estimated the city needs rooms for between 100 and 150 individuals and UNH has been very collaborative on that.

The mayor said he considered asking Yale if the city could use some dorm space to house homeless individuals, as New Haven is trying to reduce the numbers in shelters that are too crowded to allow for social distancing. He said he had not made that request to Yale.

We are having very productive conversations with other universities in the region, he said on the issue of housing the homeless.

Peart enumerated the ways Yale University is helping the city in response to the spread of COVID-19.

She said the university took bold actions to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 ... for our campus and the broader communities of which we are a part.

She said it will start distributing the funds raised in the Yale Community for New Haven Fund as soon as possible and University Properties has suspended March and April base rent payments for more than 100 businesses in university-owned buildings. Peart also said University Properties was also connecting the merchants with the Small Business Association and inform them of government financial relief programs, The university is also promoting a gift card-buying initiative to support downtown shops.

Peart said Yale Hospitality is continuing to donate food to the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen and is committed to providing food for the organizations that help the homeless, while boosting food purchases from local vendors.

She wrote that Yale is maintaining the salaries of the 6,000 New Haven residents who work at the university and is donating personal protective equipment to local hospitals; also it supports research on COVID-19 and shares that with the city. She said the Yale School of Public Health, faculty and student volunteers are performing contact tracing to help mitigate the spread of the virus, while acting as consultants to the city in addressing food insecurity, seniors housing and homelessness and helps with online tutoring for K-12 students.

She said more than 300 Yale School of Nursing faculty, students, and staff have volunteered to provide support during a possible surge of cases and the school is developing a text-message based survey to track healthcare workers exposed or diagnosed with the virus.

Peart said Yale School of Medicine researchers are studying how the novel coronavirus infects cells, how the immune system responds, and ways of disrupting that process, while its Clinical Virology Laboratory developed testing for COVID-19 in-house.

The university also established a field hospital in Payne Whitney Gymnasiums Lanman Center as an extension of the Yale Health Center to treat members of the university community who might become ill, reducing the number who would need to use the hospital.

We recognize that the pandemic is evolving rapidly, and we will continue to consult with public health and medical experts and local and federal officials as we adapt our response plans and strategies. Our priorities will remain centered on the well-being of our campus and home communities, Peart said.

Elicker said they are looking for more sites for homeless individuals who may contract COVID-19 in addition to the isolation shelter they are establishing at Hill Regional Career High School. He said there are conversations on that with other entities, whom he would not name.

The city has already decompressed the shelters, to an extent, by sending 84 individuals to hotel rooms, some paid for by the state, some by the city. The state is looking to do more of that.

The second tier of homeless is individuals who may be symptomatic of COVID-19 but have not yet been tested. Elicker said it was important for the city to self-isolate those individuals as they should not be interacting with other people.

He said there were a few examples of this already, where one or two in a group shelter, tested positive for COVID-19. He said the remaining people should be tested and separated from those who were already infected. Elicker said the city needs places where the homeless can self-isolate, while their tests are processed.

Yale College Undergraduate Admissions announced Thursday it offered admission to 2,304 students.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577.
According to police, the woman who was admitted to a hospital on Friday died on Saturday.

Chennai: In a bizarre case in Theni district in Tamil Nadu, a 32-year-old Sri Lanka-returned youth who was home quarantined killed an elderly woman two street away by biting her on Friday, police said.

Speaking to IANS, a police officer in Bodinayakkanur in Theni district said: "Manikandan had returned from Sri Lanka. He was home-quarantined. But on Friday, he ran out naked and bit the throat of an aged woman lady living two streets away."

Manikandan had returned a week before to his native and was home-quarantined.

Police said Manikandan was taken to the government hospital and was tested for coronavirus infection and doctors are also looking at his mental stability.

The police officer said there was no previous enmity between Manikandan's family and that of the elderly woman.

The police has registered a case and investigations are on.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has filed several orders and modified policies to help attorneys navigate the covid-19 pandemic and mitigate its impact. While courts across the state are open, some in-person court proceedings have been suspended through April 30. The Court has filed orders or modified policies relating to payments for attorneys providing indigent representation, continuing legal education for both 2019 and 2020, notarized court documents, requirements for in-person proceedings, and the use of technologies including video and audio conferences.

Judges, attorneys, court clerks, and everyone across the court system are working very hard to keep cases moving forward," said Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins. "The legal system cannot just stop. The amount of innovation we are seeing is incredible. Judges and lawyers are holding hearings, meetings, and other proceedings via Zoom and other tools. We recognize and appreciate that this crisis is impacting many in the court system, including attorneys  especially those that accept and provide legal representation for indigent Tennesseans. We value and appreciate this work, now more so than ever.

All of the Supreme Courts orders relating to covid-19, as well as orders, memos, and policies filed by local courts and other resources, can be found on www.tncourts.gov/coronavirus. The webpage was launched in early March and has received more than 10,000 visits. Attorneys should utilize the page for the most up-to-date information and orders from courts across Tennessee.

Appointed Counsel

The Administrative Office of the Courts is charged with running the indigent representation fund program, which processes up to 900 claims for payment a day, and over 100,000 a year. To help expedite payments to attorneys, the Supreme Court has amended Rule 13 to raise the automatic approval rate from $199 to $400. In addition, the AOC is taking action on the approximately 850 claims in the system awaiting judicial approval.

The Chief reiterated yesterday on a conference call to judges the importance of getting those claims approved ASAP so attorneys can be paid immediately, AOC Director Deborah Taylor Tate said. The AOC staff is contacting each judge that has not utilized ACAP yet and either signing them up immediately or accepting alternative methods of sign-off.

Under the current language of Rule 13, attorneys do not have to wait for a case to end to enter a claim into ACAP. If a case has reached the cap amount, or most of the work has been completed, an attorney may decide to file the claim now to expedite payment. The attorney can only file one claim per case, however, and cannot file a second claim once the case is closed. The AOC also strongly recommends all attorneys using ACAP sign up for direct deposit, which can expedite the receipt of payment by over a week compared to receiving a paper check.

The AOC implemented a new payment system  known as ACAP  in February 2018. Under the previous system, the processing of claims often ran between 45 to 60 days. Several months after ACAP came online, claims processing dropped to about 35 days and is now about 25 days in the first quarter of 2020, a 25 percent drop in the last several months.

Continuing Legal Education for 2019, 2020

Another major step that will assist is all attorneys across Tennessee is the relaxation of the in-person continuing legal education requirements. The Supreme Court filed orders allowing all required continuing legal education for 2019 and 2020 to be done through distance learning. Under Supreme Court rules, only eight of the required 15 hours of yearly CLE can be achieved through distance learning and the remainder is required to be live, in-person training, which can be more expensive and require travel. The recent orders allow all remaining 2019 CLE and all 2020 CLE to be earned through distance learning.

Notarized Documents

The second order filed March 26 directly links to the Online Notary Public Act, Tenn. Code Ann.  8-16-301, et seq., which became effective July 1, 2019, and the regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State at Sec. of State, Tenn. R. and Reg. 1360-07-03-.01. Additionally, with regard to court filings, declarations under penalty of perjury may be used as an alternative to a notary. Attorneys are encouraged to use both of these tools.

Suspension of Rules that Inhibit Use of Technology

In addition, any Tennessee state or local rule, criminal or civil, that impedes a judges or court clerks ability to utilize available technologies to limit in-person contact is suspended through Thursday, April 30.

We are encouraging everyone in the legal community to think outside the box and be innovative whenever possible, Chief Justice Bivins said. We need to be accommodating and flexible wherever we can. We are learning day-by-day, even hour-by-hour, how to best work under these circumstances.

Board of Professional Responsibility Proceedings

The Supreme Court issued an order March 27 suspending Board of Professional Responsibility proceedings and extending deadlines through April 30. The Board of Professional Responsibility is open and hearings and other proceedings may be conducted by telephone, video conference, or other means. The Board may respond on an emergency basis as needed. Time periods and deadlines set forth in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 10.4 (bar cards); 10.5 and 10.6 (non-payment delinquency notices, fees and suspension) and Rule 43 section 15 (IOLTA delinquency notices, fees and suspension), are extended through April 30.

Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program

The Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program is open and ready to assist attorneys who may be facing extra stress and pressure because of the coronavirus outbreak and related closures. TLAP is a free, confidential assistance program providing consultation, referral, intervention, and crisis counseling for lawyers, judges, bar applicants and law students who are struggling with substance abuse, stress, or emotional health issues. Judges, attorneys, and others in the legal profession may also refer colleagues to the program.

To all of our legal family, we at TLAP want to let you know that we are up and running during this difficult time of COVID-19 and understand the many complications that have arisen in the legal community, said Judge Michael Spitzer, TLAP Commission chair. Yet, we are confident that this too shall pass, and it will not only make us all stronger, it will help you, as lawyers and Judges, find new ways to serve the public.

Administrative Office of the Courts Open

The Administrative Office of the Courts is open, fully functioning, and will continue to operate.



AOC staff across every division has been working around the clock since March 13 to secure new equipment, expand bandwidth, roll-out new technology, field questions from courts, change policies, and problem-solve," Director Tate said. "Our mission to ensure the efficient administration of justice has never been more important and we are 100 percent dedicated to working through this crisis."
Only nine players make up the O'Neill St. Mary's girls basketball roster in 2021-22 and three of those nine are sophomores. All three started last year as freshmen, all three are averaging in double figures this year and all three have led the Cardinals to an 8-2 start.
China will share its data related to the novel coronavirus pandemic with the US and the country will learn from Beijing's experience, President Donald Trump has said, a day after he held an hour-long conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Trump spoke to Xi over telephone, days after the US president angered Beijing by referring to the coronavirus as "Chinese virus" and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China's ruling Communist Party posed a "substantial threat" to Americans' health and their way of life.

Xi assured full support to Trump in fighting the coronavirus as America emerged as the next major epicentre of the pandemic, but underlined that infectious diseases did not recognise any border or race.

"We talked about it (coronavirus) because he had additional experience of having been much earlier. And he has developed some incredible theories, and all that information is coming over here. A lot of it's already come. We call it data. And we're going to learn a lot from what the Chinese went through," Trump told reporters on Friday.

Trump said he had nearly an hour-long meeting with Xi, which mostly focused on fast spreading coronavirus pandemic.

"One of the things I was asking him is when did you notice that this was happening. We talked about the whole concept, how it happened, when it happened, what was the most effective use. I mean, was it the fact was distance the best thing. We talked about everything," he said.

Trump said that his Chinese counterpart had developed his own viewpoint on the escalating COVID-19 crisis.

"It happened there actually long before it happen here. By the way, it would have happened here a lot sooner had we not kept those people out, the Chinese people coming over to the country, had we not kept amount," he said.

"Our relationship with China is very good. We also talked about the trade agreement. But I must tell you this whole invisible enemy has taken over the world. Nobody cares about trade. Nobody cares about anything. You want to talk about trade, they immediately get back to this (coronavirus)," he said.

According to a White House readout of the call, both leaders reiterated their commitment to cooperate to protect lives and livelihoods.

"The two leaders agreed to work together to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and restore global health and prosperity," the White House said.

Earlier in the day, Trump referring to his phone call with Xi said that they have had a very tough experience.

"And they're doing well and he's doing well. President Xi is doing very well. We learned a lot and we have great communication together," he said.

"We're going to be sent great data from China - things that happened that they see that - you know, they've had an early experience, and we're getting all of that information. Much of it has already been sent. It was sent yesterday and sent to our scientists to study," Trump said.

Meanwhile, the US State Department told reporters that China continued with its negative campaign against the US.

"On China, over the course of the crisis we've monitored a couple of narrative tracks. One is malign disinformation to falsely blame the US as the origin of the coronavirus and the second has been China's effort to turn the crisis into a story highlighting supremacy of the Chinese Communist Party in handling the health crisis," said Special Envoy Lea Gabrielle, Global Engagement Center On Disinformation and Propaganda.

"What we've seen is the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) mobilizing its global messaging apparatus, which includes state media as well as Chinese diplomats, to push out selected and localized versions of the same overarching false narratives," she said.

Of late, there has been initial indications of messaging refinement away from disinformation by Chinese officials on social media, she noted.

China has focused on four prominent narratives. One was China's successful containment of the virus. A second was calls for international collaboration. Third was the World Health Organization's praise of China. And fourth was China's economic resilience. Anti-US tweets comprised a small subset, about .88 per cent of the sample.

This "actually performed poorly as African audiences essentially rejected the claims that coronavirus had originated in the US, and that they also were rejecting claims that the term, quote, "Chinese virus" was a racist reference. They were rejecting that claim. So interestingly, we see that move away that I mentioned of messaging on disinformation, and rather, a refocus on praising China's actions," Gabrielle said.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, 27,333 people have died due to the disease across over 170 coutries. Italy has the highest number of deaths at 9,134, followed by Spain 5,138 and China 3,174.

The United States leads in the number of COVID-19 with 104,007 infections confirmed so far, followed by Italy (86,498) and China (81,906).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prison centrale de Yaounde E. Jules Ntap

Cameroon should protect prison population from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 as overcrowding puts prisoners and detainees at risk, Human Rights Watch has said.

In a dispatch dated March 27, 2020 and signed by Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Central Africa Researcher, the international human rights NGO fears Cameroon could be heading towards uncertain days with no fewer than 88 cases of COVID-19 confirmed, noting that limited testing means the real number is likely higher.

On March 17, 2020 Cameroons government took measures to curb the spread of the virus, including shutting schools, closing borders, banning mass gatherings, and encouraging people to strictly follow hygiene rules.

But Human Rights Watch says in Cameroons prisons, which are notably overcrowded, keeping social distance, practicing self-isolation, and taking basic measures such as hand washing are just not possible.

The central prison in the capital Yaounde currently holds about 5,000 people  5 times its capacity  the majority of whom are in pre-trial detention. The last time I visited the prison was in 2016, and I was shocked by the dreadful conditions, including filthy latrines and hundreds of detainees crammed in the same small cell. The prison had one health center with only one doctor, said Allegrozzi, Senior Central Africa Researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Allegrozzis contacts in Cameroon say nothing has changed. A Cameroonian lawyer who regularly visits the detention facility is quoted as telling Human Rights Watch this week that: In the event of the virus spreading inside the prison, no medical care will be possible. The prisoners are piled on top of each other; its impossible to keep any safe distance. This prison is a volcano ready to explode.

Other prisons are no better. The prison in Maroua, in the Far North region, was built for 350 people but currently holds over 1,470, of whom some 70 percent are awaiting trial. The central prison in Buea, in the troubled South-West region, was built for 700 people, but currently holds over 2,000  again with the majority in pre-trial detention, said Allegrozzi.

Cameroonian authorities are limiting prison visits and asking visitors to wash their hands. But lawyers and family members of detainees say its not enough.

Under international law, Cameroon has an obligation to ensure the health care of people in prison, and it cannot do that in this pandemic with such overcrowding. Authorities should release individuals whose pre-trial detention is not absolutely justified on public safety grounds and put in place a system for considering early or supervised release for those most at risk, including older people and people with health conditions that makes the virus more dangerous for them, as well as those in custody for minor offenses. Anything less will risk the health  and the lives  of thousands of people.
A judge and some police officials in Punjab's Kapurthala district distributed essential items to the people on Saturday.

Kapurthala District and Sessions Judge Kishore Kumar, accompanied by Chief Judicial Magistrate Ajit Pal Singh, distributed ration at Guru Nanak Ashram, Sukhjit Ashram and Arya Vatsalya Greh Vaidic Ashram, an official statement said.

The judge urged others to offer help to the needy in these difficult times, it said.

Meanwhile, DSP Surinder Chand and SHO Onkar Singh Brar distributed food, face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers among the poor in Sabzi Mandi and Dana Mandi areas.

The two officers also demonstrated how to wear a mask and use sanitizer to the children.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Female flight attendants working for Japan Airlines will be allowed to wear trousers and abandon high heels next month, the company said on Thursday, after a feminist campaign took off.

The airline becomes one of the first major Japanese firms to announce the shift after a campaign known as #KuToo last year called to reject mandatory high heels at work, drawing more than 32,000 signatures in an online petition.

The campaign is part of a wider feminism movement in socially conservative Japan, with Japan Airlines saying the new policy was aimed at boosting a 'diverse working environment'.

Japan Airlines' 6,000 female cabin crew will no longer be forced to wear high heels and skirts from next month following a campaign by feminists

The airline said the decision to change the uniform policy was designed to promote a more diverse working environment

Airline spokesman Mark Morimoto said: 'This will be the first time to introduce trousers and to provide additional options for footwear.'

The change - to take effect in April - will allow nearly 6,000 female crew members to choose footwear that 'best fits their needs', with or without heels, the airline said.

The #KuToo campaign has highlighted the rigid beauty standards on women in Japan, ranked 121 out of 153 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest Global Gender Gap index.

The hashtag is a play on the Japanese words for shoe - 'kutsu' - and pain - 'kutsuu'.

It was started by actress and activist Yumi Ishikawa who took to Twitter about being forced to wear high heels for a part-time job at a funeral parlour.

Ishikawa said: 'It's a great step given that Japan Airlines is such a big company.

'It's not only airlines - there are also hotels, department stores, banks and a lot of other companies with this requirement. I hope they follow this example.'

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said this month women should not suffer from dress code requirements, according to local media, although a minister previously said they were 'necessary and appropriate' in the workplace.

In another social media outcry, Japanese women took to Twitter to demand the right to wear glasses to work in November, after reports employers were imposing bans.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the United States, nearly every school district in the country has been closed, affecting at least 55.1 million students. In most states, these closures will last through April, while other districts have already canceled the rest of their school years.

US public schools, which have suffered decades of budget cuts and privatization efforts, are potential centers for disease transmission. Large class sizes, under-equipped janitors, run-down facilities and a lack of school nurses combine to make schools significant vectors for disease transmission. But in many cases, such as New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, school districts resisted calls to close schools until teachers began organizing walkouts to prevent their schools from spreading the epidemic.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with educators on the impact of the pandemic.

Back-to-work

As of this writing, the Centers for Disease Control has not established any clear guidelines for when schools should close and when they should reopen. Initial guidelines recommended short-term closures only at individual school sites if a case was discovered there. Although researchers are still determining the precise characteristics of COVID-19, young people can spread the disease without any obvious symptoms such as fever.

Without any science-based guidelines for when classes can safely resume, and without widespread testing to determine the extent of the epidemic, closures have been done on an ad hoc and local basis, while leaving teachers and students in the dark. Trumps recent calls for a return to work by Easter raise the danger that school districts might re-open when millions of Americans are still infected.

Amy Ellevold

Amy Ellevold, a middle school science teacher at Sweetwater Union High School District, where hundreds of teachers received pink slips this month, explained:

The district is not making their teachers feel at ease because they are not telling us anything other than to wait. It does hurt people to make them go back to work! Scientifically speaking it will take much longer than 15 days to deal with this virus. If someone gets it tomorrow, in 15 days they will still be sick. It doesnt make sense because it will cause another spike in cases and we will have to do it all again. I worry I am not going to see my students again, thats hard for me but at the same time its better to be out a few more weeks or even months.

Katrina Brown, a Detroit science teacher who was victimized for exposing the presence of lead in drinking water at Detroit public schools in 2016, added:

I dont think its correct to try to go back to work by Easter. According to the CDC a large spurt could happen in May or June. The government acts like it is helping people, but are they really? My first concern is the safety of the staff and the students. If we do have to return [before the end of the school year] there should be testing for everyone to make sure it is safe.

Sam, a veteran teacher in Michigan, expanded on the need for testing:

All they have to do is come up with 330 million tests, one for every American, and quarantine those who have it. Look at what South Korea did. They started testing and quarantining right away. They leveled out so that their health system could handle it right away.

Currently the rate of testing for the coronavirus in the US is abysmally low. In California, which is a center of the epidemic, only 1 in 2,000 people have been tested for the disease. Even people with symptoms are refused tests unless they require hospitalization.

Online learning

With no certain return dates, many districts have begun haphazardly demanding teachers immediately develop online curriculum for distance learning with almost no guidance. According to Amy:

I felt very resentful that the same day I had to drive down to the district office and turn in my Request for Hearing paperwork for receiving my pink slip, I got an email talking about creating daily learning targets from the district, an email from our Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) saying they are working on possible guidelines for online curriculum, but there is nothing remotely concrete on what we should be doing. Theres one science TOSA for the entire district of 42,000 students, and theyve already cut her position for next year; she's not creating a curriculum for all 7-12 grade sciences. So I know it is going to be up to us to do it.

In Queens, part of the largest school district in the country (New York City Public Schools), an educator explained:

As far as how distance learning is working, so much is determined by the material conditions in the home, but also what type of school we are talking about. The larger, more factory-like schools are getting killed.

In many districts, students dont just depend on schools for technology but for much of their food. One of the things everyone has to remember is we do so much more at schools than teach, said Sam. Over 50% of the students in my district get free meals and if not for the schools, then what other government institution would do this?

Economic fallout and budget cuts

After the outbreak of the coronavirus in the US, the stock market dropped 30 percent, but later rebounded on the announcement of $6 trillion from the government and Federal Reserve to prop up Wall Street and the major corporations. The current bailout package passed by the legislature is focused almost entirely on guaranteeing the profits of corporations. As in 2008, this looting of societys resources will inevitably be accompanied by attacks on school budgets and teacher pay by both the Democrats and the Republicans. Sam in Michigan explained:

In the relief package theyre giving loans to small businesses, bailouts to travel and hospitality industry, its almost like the $1,200 given to adults is to keep us happy in the short term. The Democratic Party does a lot of piecemeal measures to pacify us, and making us think we are in the loop. $1,200 times 250 million is about $320 billion. They already gave Wall Street $1.5 trillion. Thats not really a lot proportionally from the $2 trillion that is going for this stimulus bill.

The legislation includes only $30.75 billion for the Department of Education, of which $13.5 billion would be for emergency K-12 relief grants. This amounts to less than $250 per student for schools to completely restructure the last three months of the school year into online learning.

The extensive cuts to education since 2008 have already worsened the epidemic, particularly in New York schools. According to the educator in Queens:

There has been no funding for extra custodial staff or allocation of resources in the face of this crisis. But the broader context is that they have significantly reduced funding for maintenance in general. There are less full-time cleaners and kitchen staff. In our building, that has 2,000 people, the head custodian splits time between two sites. This has been the trend over the past four years.

Nationwide, there are still 135,000 fewer school employees than in 2008, despite public schools serving roughly a million more students since then.

The way forward

The question I have about this entire situation, said Sam, is what is the tipping point of capitalism shutting down?

His sentiment was widespread:

The problem is capitalism, the market, said Amy. This is the most clear example of putting the market over people, it cannot get more blatant than this.

The US has been trying to control half the world, said a New York teacher, Ben. There was too much invested in ways to killweapons, tanks, planesbut how much is invested in health care? There is no preparedness and now the chickens have come home to roost.

Educators in the US have been at the forefront of a surge in working-class opposition across the globe. The 2018 wildcat statewide strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona were followed by strikes and protests over much of the country throughout 2019. But in each case the unions fought to isolate the strikes and subordinate them to the Democratic Party.

During the strike last year, said the veteran LA teacher, the union brought in Mayor Garcetti and Eli Broad to help with the negotiations. Up until then, Eli Broad was the bad guy, anti-union and champion of privatization and charter schools. Then were told the mayor and Broad will help negotiate for the teachers.

Every time our union hustles everybody to support the Democratic Party. Anytime theres an election, the union puts out its favorites, the entire slate of Democratic politicians. I think its quite obvious their function in society.

This year, after Biden started winning more states, we havent even seen Bernie Sanders. Hes doing the same thing he did four years ago, except now its Biden instead of Clinton. Obviously there has to be a revolt, but it cant just be haphazard. Ive been reading the WSWS because it has the best analysis out there.
Britain's police chiefs are begging millions of Britons to adhere to Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown as they admit to being powerless to enforce it.

Forces across the country are understood to be confused and divided over the rules and the sweeping powers afforded by the emergency laws.

Guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council states people must stay at home except for medical reasons, essential shopping, or for once-daily exercise.

Police took full advantage of their new authority, using the new emergency powers within the first 12 hours of them being ratified by MPs.

However, the likes of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire - which have used drones to track and shame dog walkers before posting online - have faced charges of 'overzealousness' from ex-MPs, lawyers, and human-rights group.

The Times reports that the NPCC is privately displeased by some of the more excessive measures officers have taken to enforce the lockdown.

Britain's top police are begging millions of Britons to adhere to Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown as they admit to being powerless to enforce it

Britons continue to exercise in close proximity at Paddington Recreation Ground in London, despite the PM imposing an unprecedented, draconian lockdown on Monday

The National Police Chiefs' Council's startling plea comes as forces are confused and divided over the new rules and the emergency powers afforded to them

But NPCC boss Martin Hewitt is urging Britons to obey the rules as police chiefs admit they are powerless to prevent people from exercising more than once a day.

Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Sara Glen told the newspaper: 'There is nothing in the legislation that talks about once-a-day exercise.

It talks about exercise only with a household member.'

'The law doesn't say once a day. The law doesn't specify what that type of activity might be. Many people need to be out in the fresh air.

'We don't want everyone driving to the same area to do their exercise.

'All we are saying is exercise on your own or with other household members, not where there are other people.'

The Lake District has been closed to prevent visitors flooding to the area, though to be the first time ever done, as police forces prepare for a busy weekend of rule-breaking

Guidance issued by the NPCC states that people are to stay at home except for medical reasons, essential supplies, or once daily for exercise

Forces took full advantage of their new authority, using the new emergency powers within the first 12 hours of them being ratified by MPs

The Times reports that the NPCC is privately displeased by some of the more excessive measures officers have taken to enforce the lockdown

NPCC boss Martin Hewitt is urging Britons to obey the rules as police chiefs admit they are powerless to prevent people from exercising more than once a day

Derbyshire Police defended its drone tactics, claiming that people were 'finding excuses or loopholes' not to stay at home. The likes of Big Brother Watch, though, branded the video 'sinister' and 'counter-productive'.

And rights group Liberty slammed the emergency legislation, calling it 'the biggest restriction on our individual and collective freedoms in a generation'.

Under the Health (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, police can slap those who disobey social distancing rules and group controls with fines of at least 60.

These can rise to up to 1,000 per offence, and can even lead to prosecution.

Britons who refuse tests for the coronavirus can be detained and tried, while people who deliberately splutter over emergency workers can be jailed.

After the number of coronavirus deaths yesterday is reported to have risen by 181 yesterday, Government advisers say stricter measures could be rolled out.

Meanwhile, a drunk Norwich woman who coughed at a police officer and threatened to infect her was charged with common assault and imprisoned.

NPCC chief Mr Hewitt excoriated 'deliberate splutterers', adding: 'The thought that anybody does that disgusts me and they should be dealt with very seriously.'

Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Sara Glen told the newspaper: 'There is nothing in the legislation that talks about once-a-day exercise'

Derbyshire Police defended its drone tactics, claiming that people were 'finding excuses or loopholes' not to stay at home. Big Brother Watch called the tactics 'sinister'

Britons who refuse tests for the coronavirus can be detained and tried, while people who deliberately splutter over emergency workers can be jailed
The joke doing the rounds after it was revealed Miriam O'Callaghan would present Friday's edition of 'The Late Late Show' was that all it had taken to give the show its first female host in its 58-year history was a global pandemic.

Actually, if you want to be nitpicky about it, it's only been 57-and-three-quarter years, the first 'Late Late' having gone out on July 6, 1962. So there.

If you want to be an insufferably smug know-it-all, you could point out that, technically, she's not the first female host. During a 1970s edition, Gay Byrne handed control to Marian Finucane during a discussion on feminism.

But this would be like insisting Joanna Lumley's role in a Comic Relief 'Doctor Who' skit makes her and not Jodie Whittaker the first female doctor.

So let's not split hairs. Especially not when it's Miriam's hair, which is far too lovely to be messed around.

Surreal

The 'Prime Time' presenter, who grills evasive politicians with the same ease the rest of us grill cheese on toast, stepped into the breach when regular host Ryan Tubridy developed "a persistent cough" and, observing best practice, decided to self-isolate.

It was no doubt a slightly surreal experience for Tubridy to sit at home watching someone else host the show he's anchored since 2009. In truth, it was initially a little strange for the viewer, too.

'The Late Late Show' hotseat has been an exclusively male preserve for so long, the expectation that the changing of the guard will always be a male affair has practically hardened into an assumption.

What made last night a momentous and tremendously exciting TV event was the fact that the stand-in presenters down the decades have all been men. It's a tiny boys' club.

Video of the Day

When Deirdre Purcell, who'd ghostwritten Byrne's autobiography, was on the show to talk about the book, Andy O'Mahony was drafted in to interview her, while Byrne diplomatically absented himself backstage for the duration.

Most famously, Gerry Ryan filled in for Pat Kenny at virtually no notice at all when the latter's mother died. The much-missed broadcaster did such a terrific job, displaying an assurance that hadn't always been present in his previous TV work, that some of us felt he should have been offered the job full-time when Kenny stepped down. Kenny subsequently did the same for Tubridy when the latter's father died.

And then there's 'The Late Late Show' host who's usually forgotten when anyone writes a piece about the history of the show: Frank Hall.

Hall has become the George Lazenby of 'Late Late' presenters, largely because he did it such a long time ago and, as far as I'm aware, the tapes of his time behind the desk have all been wiped (common practice back then - videotape was expensive).

Hall took over from Gay Byrne for a single season in 1964 after Byrne had decided to return to the UK, where he'd earlier done work for Granada Television. Hall would later become famous for his satirical show 'Hall's Pictorial Weekly' - and later still, infamous for being an extremely conservative film censor ('Monty Python's Life of Brian' was banned on his watch, on the grounds that he found it offensive to Christians and Jews).

Sureness

But as a chat show host he apparently didn't have Byrne's sureness of touch and didn't click with viewers in the same way. Normal Gaybo service was resumed the following year.

When you think about it, it's quite astonishing that the idea of a woman fronting a television show, even if it is, whatever you might think of it, the biggest television show in the country and a landmark of longevity ('The Tonight Show' is the only talk show that's been around longer), should actually be such big news. Or news at all, for that matter.

O'Callaghan, of course, had her own long-running vehicle, the popular 'Saturday Night with Miriam'.

But there was always a sense that it was deliberately frothy; mostly soft, unchallenging summer fare designed to show us the lighter, empathic side of the serious broadcaster.

Last night we got to see the two sides drawn together. It wasn't the easiest night to be standing in. No studio audience to bounce off; some guests in the studio; others, like Brendan O'Carroll and Jennifer Gibney in Florida, and Dara O Briain in London, on Skype link. She emerged with flying colours.

It required a host of tremendous skill to deftly balance the lighter material with the heavier stuff, to switch from interviewing Health Minister Simon Harris to engaging with light entertainers, and to strike exactly the right tone for the right moment on a night when the already sombre national mood dipped further with the announcement, shortly before the show went on air, of new restrictions on movement. Was there really ever any doubt that O'Callaghan was the right woman for the job, on the night or in the future? When the guard changes, her hat will surely be in the centre of the ring.
China claims that coronavirus cases are a thing of the past; there are no new cases; and, as Reuters touted the other day, the country has now begun its "return to normal."

Here's normal:

A huge protest march swept out of China's Hubei province on Friday, with thousands of angry residents pouring across a bridge into neighboring Jiangxi province and clashing with police. The capital city of Hubei province is Wuhan, ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic.

That's part of a comprehensive report from Breitbart describing the explosive state of unrest in China's big central province, based on Chinese citizen-journalist reports and sources watching closely such as Radio Liberty and Canada's Globe & Mail.

Here's just one example:

Footage from Hubei, #China appears to show residents attacking officers and police vehicles on a bridge as they attempt to access neighbouring Jiangxi province. The unrest follows weeks of #coronavirus lockdown in Hubei. pic.twitter.com/VpROreqzy6  Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) March 27, 2020

Obviously, the locals are picking up where they've left off now that all's "normal," which, more to the point, means reckoning time.

Three things seem to be immediately fueling these protests:

One, the people are furious at the cops for treating them like cattle and hurling people, literally kicking and screaming, into pestilence pens, places where, if they didn't have COVID-19 going in, they sure as heck would have after coming out. Remember these images?

Two, the Wuhan people aren't being allowed to return to normal because everyone else still treats them like walking disease vectors. Why's that? Because nobody believes China's government when it says the crisis is over. That lack of credibility has big consequences for Wuhan people whether the Chicom government is lying or not. They are paying that price.

Three, the cops seem to be willing to fight each other in different provinces, and the migrant workers seem to be willing to fight, too, regardless of the issue. That's the sign of a dry tinder regime under stress.

Combine this with the longer-term problems, such as a lousy economy, described here, with GDP going down by at least half, and people have got to be wondering what they need this government for. There already is a strong (and unprecedented) public willingness to blame China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Here's one last thing: the Chicoms know there's a problem, and things are worse internally for them than they look. That would explain their initial cover-up efforts and denial of any problem, allowing five million people out of the city at the lunar new year, to spread the disease through the country, as well as permitting citizen to travel to Italy, for example, where the consequences were particularly lethal.

Two things now suggest they knew that a reckoning was in the cards for them:

One, they shut the borders, speaking of fears of a secondary infection, which is pretty speculative, and if it's a real risk, it is just as likely to come from the inside, given the virus's origins in China.

Two, and even bigger, they expelled U.S. journalists, kicking out the knowledgeable foreign correspondents of the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other reporting outfits, and there aren't many, to make sure there wouldn't be any unpleasant reporting. They even kicked them out of Hong Kong, knowing that that city is a tinderbox, too, and a tinderbox that can spread to Guangdong, China's largest province, which could get uncontrollable and endanger their regime, which is right about the 75-year mark when most intolerable regimes collapse.

These instant riots not more than a couple days after declaring all's normal are not a good sign. Normal people in a normal regime would be breathing a sigh of relief, but China's is not a normal regime.

Update: According to this report, China has seized at least one American-owned factory producing face masks and at least one ship carrying masks, gloves, and other protective gear to the USA to turn around and return to China. (Hat tip: Roger Luchs.)

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
By SA Commercial Prop News

As South Africa goes into a 21-day nation-wide lockdown, Foschini Group to skip Rental Payments.



As South Africa goes into a 21-day nation-wide lockdown, The Foschini Group [JSE: TFG]  whose brands include Foschini Stores, @home, Markham, Totalsports and Sterns  said its stopping rental payments because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

This comes days after Edcon Holdings Ltd., SAs second-biggest clothing retailer, said it may not be able to re-open after the 21-day lockdown.

The Foschini Group (TFG), which account for the bulk of its 2,582 outlets across Africa, are closed after President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a three-week national shutdown from March 27 to combat the pandemic.

ALSO READ: Office Vacancies remain stubbornly High

While essential services such as grocers, pharmacies, banks and gas stations are allowed to remain open, clothing retailers are not.



The Cape Town-based owner of Totalsports and American Swiss jewelery chains is also halting any planned expansion projects and will delay store refurbishments, TFG said in a letter to its landlords seen by Bloomberg and verified by the company.

ALSO READ: Big Property Developments expected to fire up Cape Town

Once the situation normalizes we will then be able to assess the full financial impact on the business and will engage with you further, it said.



Edcon, which had already been under financial strain, said what its experiencing is an indication of the challenge that many other businesses and the government will have to face after the shut down.

Although yet to recover from Edcons woes, Retail landlords are set to face even more intense pressure as Walmart-owned Massmart announced recently the closure of 23 DionWired stores accross the country.

ALSO READ: End of the road for Massmarts Dion Wired stores

TFG, which operates in South Africa, Australia and the UK, occupying space in major centres, went against the prevailing retail trend by producing positive trading updates in a difficult economy. The group pushed up turnover 5.9% for the nine months to 28 December 2019, compared to the corresponding period in 2018.

Coronavirus crisis in South Africa



Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Friday announced that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has hit 1,170  an increase of 243 cases since Thursdays report, while one person has passed away from complications caused by the virus.



Globally, coronavirus cases have reached 607,239, with 27,677 deaths recorded and 134,288 recoveries to date.

ALSO READ: A look at Midrand's massive new R9bn beachfront apartment development



South Africa is also facing additional headwinds after ratings firm Moodys downgraded the countrys credit rating to below investment grade, late Friday evening.



Moodys downgraded South Africas long term foreign and local currency debt ratings to Ba1 from Baa3 with a negative outlook.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 05:13:01|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's largest city Istanbul has fallen into silence on Saturday after the Turkish president announced new strengthened measures against COVID-19 the previous day.

Picnic spots and coastal shores on the Marmara Sea and Bosphorus Strait were empty in line with the measures.

Before the outbreak of the virus, the traffic density in the city on weekends could go up to 70 percent. But on Saturday, the density was around 15 percent.

Press reports said that traffic accidents in Istanbul with a population of over 16 million have lately declined by nearly 35 percent as people have been mostly staying at home over fast-growing cases of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, people were also seen obeying the social distance rule in public transportation.

In Istanbul's main inter-city bus station in the Esenler district on the European side of the city, officials posted notes on the seats, saying that "for your safety, leave an empty seat between each other."

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a tweet that the departures from Istanbul by buses to other regions were banned as of 5:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Saturday.

Those with a doctor's prescription and those whose first degree relatives are sick or pass away would be excluded from the ban.

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a "voluntary quarantine," urging people to stay at home except their basic needs to help contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

He also announced that inter-city travel across the country would be subject to the permission of governors in each province, and all international flights would be suspended.

Additionally, pandemic councils would be established in 30 out of Turkey's total 81 provinces and could take additional precautions if necessary, Erdogan added.

A flexible working system, social distancing, the closure of picnic spots, and a 14-day quarantine for newly recruited soldiers during admission and dismissal were among the new measures.

The death toll from COVID-19 in Turkey has climbed to 108 and the number of confirmed cases has risen to 7,402 on Saturday, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.
Australia should have put a travel ban on the United States and forced return travellers into hotel quarantines in February, medical and economic experts say, as the US races ahead of Italy and China to become the largest centre of coronavirus cases in the world.

The US is responsible for twice as many imported infections into Australia as any other country. More than 85,000 Australian citizens return from short trips to the US every month and up to 70,000 US citizens visit here, the third highest rate in either category according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

On the advice of chief medical officers, the Morrison government resisted putting a travel ban on its most important ally until it sealed off Australia from the entire world, more than a week after it put a ban on Italy on March 11. It had cut off China in January and Iran in February before adding South Korea on March 5. The official US caseload had risen from 74 to 3,500 in the two weeks before the world-wide ban was implemented. It now stands at 103,942.

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Scott Morrison last year. Credit:Bloomberg

One Australian woman who caught coronavirus while on holiday at the US ski-resort of Aspen unknowingly infected at least six people at 21st birthday party in Melbourne on March 14. Australia did not have a mandatory self-isolation period for travellers returning from the US at the time and the woman did not test positive until after the party.
The Centre has asked all states and Union territories to take appropriate action for maintaining proper hygiene in jails and handling prisoners, including foreign nationals, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states and Union territories, the Home Ministry said the prevailing situation in the country is being monitored at the highest level and it is considered necessary that appropriate measures are taken at all levels without any exception.

"While the prison authorities in states and UTs may take appropriate precautions and steps for maintaining proper hygiene conditions in prisons, it may also be necessary to take various steps to reduce movement of prisoners, including their production in courts, for the time being to ensure 'social distancing'," Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Punya Salila Srivastava said in the letter.

The ministry asked the states and UTs to take due care in handling prisoners, including foreign nationals, and visitors to prisons.

"States and UTs are requested to engage with their health departments for arranging screening devices and kits to be used in prisons for screening inmates and their visitors," the letter said.

The states and UTs were also told to encourage the meeting of prisoners with their visitors through the video-conferencing facility available as "e-mulakat", a module under the e-prisons project, for the time being to avoid physical contact.

Citing World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, the Home Ministry said the most effective protective measures are cleaning hands regularly, properly covering the mouth when one coughs and social distancing.

"This is a rapidly evolving situation and information is being updated as it becomes available.

"The government of India is taking a series of measures to check and contain the spread of coronavirus," the letter said.

The home ministry said a large number of prisons and courts in the country have a facility for video-conferencing for production of prisoners in courts.

This includes the traditional video-conference setup (point-to-point) connected to designated places in court complexes and the "Vidyo" system set-up -- established under the e-Courts project, which is an internet-based software solution for a video-conference between courts and prisons.

Most of the prisons and courts in the country are equipped with the "Vidyo" set-up.

However, where the "Vidyo" set-up is not operational, the state NIC units may be approached by the prison and court authorities for obtaining user-ids and passwords and making the system operational.

The system is user-friendly and can be operated on smartphones also. The state NIC units will render all necessary assistance to the prisons in this regard, the ministry said.

This procedure will reduce movement of prisoners and their visit to crowded places such as court complexes.

The states and UTs may engage with appropriate authorities of courts, the State Legal Services Authority and legal service clinics for various measures to reduce the movement of prisoners, the letter said.

"It is expected that with the cooperation of all concerned, these measures can go a long way in checking the spread of coronavirus," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ms. Healeys office said it had received about 140 complaints of price gouging, including a report of a four-pack of toilet paper selling for $25 on eBay and pharmacies charging $30 for 8 ounces of hand sanitizer.

She said her office was investigating. Violators could be fined $5,000, she said.

Its OK to make money, Ms. Healey said. Its OK to make a profit. But there is a line.

The United States attorney general, William P. Barr, recently directed federal prosecutors across the country to prioritize fraud schemes related to the pandemic and to prosecute offenders.

If you have a big supply of toilet paper in your house, this is not something you have to worry about, Mr. Barr said at a White House briefing on Monday. But if you are sitting on a warehouse full of surgical masks, you will be hearing a knock on your door.

Amazon said it monitored price changes using manual and automated methods. It said it had removed more than half a million listings for price gouging and had suspended 3,900 sellers. The company said it had also worked with more than 40 attorneys general to hold predatory vendors accountable.

There is no place for price gouging on Amazon, the company said in a statement. We are disappointed that bad actors are attempting to artificially raise prices on basic need products during a global health crisis and, in line with our longstanding policy, have recently blocked or removed hundreds of thousands of offers.

In many states, regulators said they were racing to investigate the complaints pouring into their consumer hotlines.
Schools will be effectively shut down after Easter but the national cabinet has seized on a temporary reprieve of coronavirus transmission in Australia and held back on implementing an immediate wider lockdown.

In a shift in strategy that will instead see the military patrol hotels in Melbourne and Sydney filled with thousands of Australians returning, the government will try to eliminate the threat of infections from locals coming home to escape the coronavirus crisis overseas.

Chief medical officers told Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders in a four-hour meeting on Friday that Australia was in a "unique position", with the majority of cases coming from returned travellers and limited evidence of significant community transmission.

"The single most important thing we can do is completely stop the capacity for any returning traveller transmitting the virus," said Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy.
OTTAWAThe Canadian government has not issued new directions to its intelligence agencies amid the COVID-19 pandemic, even as other countries track the viruss spread with modern surveillance tools that some call a threat to civil liberties.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blairs office told the Star that even in this unprecedented time, Ottawa will do everything in our power to preserve civil liberties and personal privacy.

The law is still the law, Blairs office said in a written statement Thursday. And the highest law in the land is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which our government will always uphold.

In Singapore, the government has turned to aggressive surveillance methods  as well as voluntary data sharing between citizens and health officials  to slow the spread of COVID-19. In China, state-run surveillance apparatus has been used to track everything from geo-location to credit card purchases.

In Israel, the domestic spy agency has turned to a secret cache of cellphone data  collected in the name of fighting terrorism  to monitor its own population.

But while these techniques may be effective in slowing the spread of the virus, or at least identifying those who may have come in contact with someone who was carrying it, experts say they come at a cost.

We really have to be careful just because we have a technology or a method of surveillance that we use in one circumstance doesnt mean that we should normalize it, said Eugene Oscapella, a lawyer and consultant with experience in security issues.

All you need to do is to look to the Chinese and other authoritarian regimes, Oscapella said. The technology is out there. The question is, what limits we put on that technology?

There is no evidence the federal government has asked Canadas national security agencies to turn their powerful surveillance capabilities on the public.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly made clear that all options are on the table as Ottawa attempts to get its arms around the coronavirus challenge.

If the government does turn to modern intelligence tools to address that challenge  electronic surveillance to collect cellphone data, or even just monitoring Twitter and Facebook posts  it would be better for it to be upfront with Canadians, said Jessica Davis, an Ottawa-based security consultant and former CSIS analyst. At least then Canadians would be able to have a discussion about what is being done in their name to protect their safety.

And unlike situations involving terrorism or foreign espionage, tipping the agencies hand on the techniques being used to combat COVID-19 has little chance of hampering the fight. Unlike terrorists or hostile states, the virus wont change tactics if the Canadian public is made aware of exceptional measures.

Many of the modern surveillance powers employed by intelligence agencies in the Western world were born out of our last shared mass crisis  the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Before 9/11, the idea of the U.S. National Security Agency hoovering up massive amounts of domestic information would be unthinkable to many Americans. Now its assumed.

Having an upfront discussion about exceptional powers, Davis says, will help citizens after the crisis passes to debate what they will permit going forward.

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Vietnam has reportedly begun to put cities under the lockdown and halt all non-essential business operations for at least two weeks to combat the community transmission of the COVID-19 disease. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc declared that strict quarantine measures be implemented as over 169 confirmed cases have emerged.

As cases surge steadily, Vietnam has tested over 30,000 people, including 37 foreign nationals, as per the media reports. Since the outbreak in early January, the countrys infection has mostly been imported brought by either foreign visitors or the repatriated Vietnamese, media outlets quoted the health authorities saying. The government also urged the overseas nationals to reconsider decisions for benefit of the nation.

Most cases have been recorded in Ho Chi Minh City, the most populous city in Vietnam, which was mostly linked with Europe. The Prime Minister ordered the suspension of international air travel and visa issuance facilities. The measure exempted foreign experts, business managers, high-skilled labourers, confirmed the media reports. Assembly of more than 20 people has also been banned. The prime minister also encouraged businesses to allow staff to work from home. The ban took complete effect by March 26 midnight.

Read: English Football Chiefs Set For 'difficult' Coronavirus Decisions

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60,000 people quarantined

According to reports, Vietnam has quarantined over 60,000 people who entered the country from high-risk virus-infected nations. Those who have been exposed to the suspected cases were also isolated, claimed the health ministry. Vietnam tested a cluster of travellers positive among 201 passengers on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Britain earlier this month. The health ministry said that including the hospital the Britons were held in, several accommodation and hotels in Hanoi where the cluster roamed, was put under lockdown.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc threatened to "duly punish" anyone that attempted to escape the quarantine, failed to disclose the travel history, or tried to flee from the hospitals. He told the press conference that a meeting of officials in Hanoi discussed the strong, adequate and immediate measures that the country needed to effectively stop the source of infection.

Read: English Football Chiefs Set For 'difficult' Coronavirus Decisions

Read: Coronavirus Cases Rise To 873 In India, Death Toll 19
TEHRAN, Iran, March 28

Trend:

Iran's Railway officials intend to negotiate with Turkmenistan to resume cargo transit, Rohoullah Latifi, Iran's Customs spokesman. said, Trend reports citing ILNA.

He noted that currently, 131 wagons with Iranian goods are behind the Inche Borun border for more than a month due to the coronavirus spread.

"Turkmen government has decided to prevent the cargo and passenger entrance from Iran and since February 24, about 131 wagons with export goods have remained behind the border," said Latifi. "It is expected that officials of Iran's Railway Company will negotiate with Ashgabat to resume cargo transit across the Inche Borun border."

He noted that the major part of these goods are cement, iron, plastic, chemical materials and plastic equipment for parks.

The official went on to add hat Iran's borders with Iraq will remain closed until April 5, except for the joint borders with Iraqi Kurdistan.

"Shalamche, Chazabeh, Mehran and Khosravi borders with Iraq will be closed until April 5, since the Iraqi officials has extended the ban on entrance of cargo from Iran," he said.

The cargo and fuel export from Iran to Iraqi Kurdistan are currently ongoing through Parviz Khan, Tamarchin and Bashmagh border, added the customs official.
A WOMAN from Nyakiziba Village in Ngara District, Ms Josephina Tumsifu (25), has been arraigned before the Ngara District Court charged with killing her husband, identified as Tumsifu Bakavunye.

Police Inspector Mattu Jummanne alleged in court on Wednesday that the accused committed the offence on March 21, this year.

The accused was not asked to enter a plea as the District Court has no jurisdiction to hear murder cases.

Ngara District Magistrate Ferdinand Kirumbe adjourned the case No 4/2020 until April 4, this year, and ordered the accused to be remanded.

Meanwhile, 32-year old Inchola Burchard from Kituntu Village in Karagwe District is nursing serious injuries after his member was chopped off by his wife.

Kagera Regional Police Commander (RPC), Revocatus Malimi named the suspect as Nyakato Burchard (28), who is helping the police with investigation in connection with the incident.

He noted that Burchard was admitted to Nyakahanga District Hospital (DDH), adding that the suspect would be arraigned after investigation.

In another incident, Kemilembe Paulo (30), from Kikorokoro Village in Kyerwa District was killed by her husband, identified as Kadogi Kabisha (32). He has been held by the police in connection with the incident.

According to RPC Malimi, the couple went out for a drinking spree at a nearby pub, but after taking several beers Kabisha turned violent, accusing Kemilembe of being in love with another man.

He punched her to the extent of making her faint before she died while being rushed to Isingiroi Hospital. RPC Malimi strongly warned people against taking the law into their own hands.

Instead, he said they should report suspected law breakers to police stations for legal action.
The nationwide lockdown announced by the government is estimated to result in a production loss of Rs 30,000 crore to the auto parts industry which employs more than 5 million people.

With a three-week lockdown announced by the government, production has come to a standstill in the automotive industry across the country.

Auto component manufacturers, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions are facing hardships on the cash flow, which if not immediately addressed will lead to insolvency of several companies, a note from the association of component makers (ACMA) said.

Vinnie Mehta, director-general, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association said, The industry was already under pressure due to plummeting sales and there was also uncertainty from BS4 to BS6 [shift]. Everything has come to a standstill. We do not know how long it will last. There is a production loss of Rs 1,200 crore a day for the component industry.

The auto component industry contributes 2.3 percent to Indias GDP, 25 percent to manufacturing GDP and employs over 50 lakh people. In 2018-19, the turnover of the industry stood at $57 billion with $15 billion in exports.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The closure of global markets such as the US, Italy, Germany and the UK will have a significant impact on the component industry. About 33 percent of the industrys exports go to Europe and about 25 percent go to the US. Economies of both regions will be subdued for several months after the pandemic subsides.

ACMA has made certain pleas to the government to help them tide over the situation.

Relaxation of borrowing norms & statutory payments for meeting working capital needs. Norms for NPA recognition should be eased by extending a moratorium on payment of principal and interest by at least 1 year.

Relaxation in fixed electricity charges and relaxation of levy demurrage charges for at least seven days for import cargo clearance are some of the industrys demands.

Despite the challenges, members of the auto components body have decided against cutting down any jobs or salaries.

The industry has decided to pay the salaries of everybody, irrespective of their position in the company for the whole of the month. In fact, quite a few of them have already paid and they have also taken a cal that there will be no lay-offs, added Mehta.

Over 1 lakh contractual employees have already been paid their salary for the month of March. Further, several component manufacturers have promised to extend medical aid to their employees including contractual workers in the unfortunate event of them or their family members contracting the Novel Coronavirus.
Six people  two related to Hanois Bach Mai Hospital and four returning from abroad  were confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus Saturday morning.

"Patient 164" is a 23-year-old man from Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam. A student in the U.K., he landed March 23 at the Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province on Vietnam Airliness flight VN54, seat 22K. He was quarantined at a centralized facility in Ninh Binh Province that neighbors Hanoi and is undergoing treatment at the Ninh Binh General Hospital.

"Patient 165" is a 58-year-old man in Tien Duong Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi. He flew from the U.K. to Vietnam on the same flight as "Patient 164," seat 41C. He is also being treated at the same facility after testing Covid-19 positive on March 26.

"Patient 166" is a woman, 25, from Dong Phu Ward, Luc Nam District in the northern province of Bac Giang. She lives in Thailand and returned to Vietnam March 23 on Thai Airways flight TG564, seat 40B. She is also undergoing treatment at the Ninh Binh General Hospital.

"Patient 167" is a 20-year-old Danish woman who was traveling in Vietnam and staying at a hotel in Hanoi Hoan Kiem District with her boyfriend, whose nationality is yet to be revealed. They landed in Hanoi March 8 on Qatar Airways flight QR0976, seats 37K and 37J. The couple stayed at a hotel on Hang Chieu Street in Hoan Kiem from March 9-12. On March 12, they took a Ngoc Son sleeper bus to Ha Giang Province in the northern highlands bordering China and stayed there until March 15 at the Jasmine-Phuong Thien hotel.

On returning to Hanoi, they stayed at the Kingly Hotel at 8 Ly Thai To Street. On March 17, they traveled from Hanoi to Hue on another sleeper bus. In Hue, they stayed at the Sunshine 3 Hotel on 10 Vo Thi Sau Street until March 19 before they moved to Hoi An where they stayed at the Backpacker Hostel at 250 Cua Dai Street from March 19-23. On March 23, they flew from the central city of Da Nang to Hanoi on VietJet flight VJ530, with her on seat 19E, and stayed at the Kingly Hotel again. On March 24, the couple went to Vietnams National Children's Hospital for testing following an updated regulation at the airport. She tested positive and he negative. They have been moved to the second campus of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the capital city.

"Patient 168" and "Patient 169" are two female employees of Truong Sinh company which provides food and hot water to Hanois Bach Mai Hospital. They tested Covid-19 positive after nearly 5,000 staff and patients at Bach Mai were ordered to take the test. The order was issued after at least three confirmed cases - two nurses and a patient  as well as two other people that tested positive once for the virus were linked to the hospital. Until now, eight patients have been identified to be related to Bach Mai Hospital.

Of the 169 infections confirmed so far, Vietnam has discharged 20 after treatment, including three last Friday. Many of currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals retuning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners visiting from the same regions. Starting March 22, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 27,200 people in 199 countries and territories.
As he settles in Gary, Iwama will find himself in similar surroundings as the Gary Community School Corp. is the first in Indiana to be taken over by the state.
As authorities lifted a two-month coronavirus lockdown in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, residents said they were growing increasingly skeptical that the figure of some 2,500 deaths in the city to date was accurate.



Since the start of the week, seven large funeral homes in Wuhan have been handing out the cremated remains of around 500 people to their families every day, suggesting that far more people died than ever made the official statistics.



"It can't be right ... because the incinerators have been working round the clock, so how can so few people have died?" an Wuhan resident surnamed Zhang told RFA on .



"They started distributing ashes and starting interment ceremonies on

," he said.



Seven funeral homes currently serve Wuhan -- a huge conurbation of three cities: Hankou, Wuchang and Hanyang.



Social media users have been doing some basic math to figure out their daily capacity, while the news website Caixin.com reported that 5,000 urns had been delivered by a supplier to the Hankou Funeral Home in one day alone -- double the official number of deaths.



Some social media posts have estimated that all seven funeral homes in Wuhan are handing out 3,500 urns every day in total.



Funeral homes have informed families that they will try to complete cremations before the traditional grave-tending festival of Qing Ming on , which would indicate a 12-day process beginning on March 23.



Such an estimate would mean that 42,000 urns would be given out during that time.



Various calculations

Another popular estimate is based on the cremation capacity of the funeral homes, which run a total of 84 furnaces with a capacity over 24 hours of 1,560 urns city-wide, assuming that one cremation takes one hour.



This calculation results in an estimated 46,800 deaths.



A resident of Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, said most people there now believe that more than 40,000 people died in the city before and during the lockdown.



"Maybe the authorities are gradually releasing the real figures, intentionally or unintentionally, so that people will gradually come to accept the reality," the resident, who gave only his surname Mao, said.



A source close to the provincial civil affairs bureau said many people had died at home, without being diagnosed with, or treated for, COVID-19.



The source said any talk of the true number of deaths in Wuhan was very sensitive, but that the authorities do likely know the real figure.



"Every funeral home reports data on cremations directly to the authorities twice daily," the source said. "This means that each funeral home only knows how many cremations it has conducted, but not the situation at the other funeral homes."



The source said Wuhan saw 28,000 cremations in the space of a single month, suggesting that the online estimates over a two-and-a-half month period weren't excessive.



Wuhan resident Linan said relatives of those who died are now forming long lines outside funeral homes to collect their loved ones' ashes.



"It has already begun," said on . "There were people lining up in Biandanshan Cemetery , and a lot of people forming lines at Hankou Funeral Home."



Hush money

Wuhan resident Chen Yaohui told RFA that city officials have been handing out 3,000 yuan in "funeral allowances" to the families of the dead in exchange for their silence.



"There have been a lot of funerals in the past few days, and the authorities are handing out 3,000 yuan in hush money to families who get their loved ones' remains laid to rest ahead of Qing Ming," he said, in a reference to the traditional grave tending festival on .



"It's to stop them keening [a traditional expression of grief]; nobody's allowed to keen after Qing Ming has passed," Chen said.



The son of deceased COVID-19 patient Hu Aizhen said he had been told to collect his mother's ashes by the local neighborhood committee.



"The local committee told me they are now handling funerals, but I don't want to do it right now," the man, surnamed Ding, told RFA.



"There are too many people doing it right now."



Chen said nobody in the city believes the official death toll.



"The official number of deaths was 2,500 people ... but before the epidemic began, the city's crematoriums typically cremated around 220 people a day," he said.



"But during the epidemic, they transferred cremation workers from around China to Wuhan keep cremate bodies around the clock," he said.



A resident surnamed Gao said the city's seven crematoriums should have a capacity of around 2,000 bodies a day if they worked around the clock.



"Anyone looking at that figure will realize, anyone with any ability to think," Gao said. "What are they talking about [2,535] people?"



"Seven crematoriums could get through more than that [in a single day]."



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Lau Siu-fung for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
NEW DELHI - The message started with an outlandish claim: The coronavirus was retreating in India because of cosmic-level sound waves created by a collective cheer citizens had been asked to join.

Messages were pinging from phone to phone across this country of 1.3 billion saying the applause Prime Minister Narendra Modi had organized for health workers had been detected by a bio-satellite that confirmed the weakening of the virus.

Soon, Siddhart Sehgals family group chat on WhatsApp was buzzing with messages hailing Modi as Indias saviour.

It of course wasnt true.

As India and other South Asian nations work to stop the spread of the virus, they face another battle: reams of misinformation.

With the pandemic starting to gain a foothold in the region, social media sites are rife with bogus remedies, tales of magic cures and potentially hazardous medical advice. Experts are urging caution and warning that the coronavirus infodemic could have disastrous consequences.

Its a trend also seen elsewhere and governments around the world have been urging citizens not to listen to or spread rumours about the pandemic.

So far it hasnt worked in South Asia, a region where online misinformation has in the past had deadly consequences such as lynchings, arson and communal riots where neighbours turn on one another.

On Tuesday, Indians were ordered to stay indoors for three weeks in the worlds biggest coronavirus lockdown. In announcing the move, Modi reiterated the danger of misinformation.

I appeal to you to beware of any kind of rumours or superstitions, the prime minister said.

Earlier appeals against virus rumours have yet to prove effective.

Poultry sales in India plunged following false claims that chickens were linked to the pandemic. Racial attacks against people from the countrys northeastern states increased after rumours spread that they carried the virus.

On Sunday, people in a remote village in Manipur state locked themselves inside their homes because of rumours that fumigants were being sprayed from the sky to kill the virus.

The government has asked social media companies to launch awareness campaigns about virus misinformation. It also set up a government WhastApp channel where people can ask questions about the virus and vet claims they hear.

Still the falsehoods spread.

On Monday, Amitabh Bachchan, a top Bollywood star who has more than 40 million Twitter followers, said clapping and blowing conch shells would destroy virus potency. He later deleted the tweet after facing criticism.

Elected representatives from Modis Bharatiya Janata Party have also offered bizarre claims of cures for the virus, ranging from cow urine and cow dung to cloves energized by mantras.

Rumours have spawned concerns elsewhere in the region as well.

In Bangladesh, some clerics claimed Muslims would not be affected by the virus and exhorted tens of thousands of people to gather for a mass prayer last week despite concerns about the health risk.

One preacher claimed to have interviewed  in his dream  a man in Italy to obtain a cure for the virus.

When a journalist at a leading private television station reported about the misinformation, he received death threats.

We are monitoring and doing our part, but it (misinformation) comes from various sources, one after another, said Zakir Hossain, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. This is a huge task.

Pakistan too has had to fight against religious leaders urging the devout to attend prayers and promising their faith will protect them. A cleric in Lahore made a video saying it was impossible to catch the virus while praying and said he should be hanged if he were wrong. Police arrested him instead and he made another video urging people to take the pandemic seriously and wash their hands.

On the outskirts of Islamabad the army was called in to shut down a mosque after its prayer leader despite exhibiting symptoms kept his mosque open.

In Sri Lanka, authorities warned that legal action will be taken against people who spread false information over social media. Several people have been arrested.

Pakistan has been the worst hit South Asian nation with some 1,200 virus cases reported. India has reported more than 725.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in a few weeks. But for some it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

There are concerns that if cases were to surge in South Asia, it would overwhelm already strained health systems.

Sumaiya Shaikh, an editor for fact-checking website ALT News, has been tracking misinformation on messaging apps in India since before the pandemic.

In January, when the virus was still largely limited to China, Shaikh said India experienced a deluge of false WhatsApp messages claiming that Chinese police were shooting people suspected of having the disease.

When India started having cases, rumours about cures began, Shaikh said.

This misinformation has reached a critical mass and is jeopardizing public health, she said.

The search for accurate virus information in India is complicated by advice issued by a parallel health ministry, the Ministry of AYUSH, created in 2014 by Modi to promote alternative therapies such as yoga and traditional Ayurveda medicine.

The ministry has recommended herbs and homeopathy as cures for the virus, along with frequent sipping of water boiled with basil leaves, crushed ginger and turmeric.

P.C. Joshi, a medical anthropologist at the University of Delhi, said that advice falls into the category of misinformation which can be hazardous for public health.

The ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The messages spreading online, often shared among friends and relatives, have unnerved many Indians who dont know whether to take them seriously.

When the messages claiming that the virus was retreating in India spread on WhatsApp, members of the Sehgal family wanted to leave their home and join others outside celebrating. But Siddhart stopped them.

My family usually believes whatever they get on WhatsApp regarding the virus, he said. Its hard to explain to them that most of it is fake.

___

Associated Press writers Julhas Alam in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Yirmiyan Arthur in Manipur, India, and Kathy Gannon and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
COVID-19 has brought the greatest disruption to education in generations, but the lessons learned about technology and students' ability to work independently could have major implications for how students are taught in the future, said NSW Department of Education secretary Mark Scott.

His comments came as the country's education ministers discussed changes to the way the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank could be calculated and presented, amid uncertainty about whether year 12 exams will still go ahead this year.

Across NSW, about 90 per cent of public school students are doing their lessons off campus after the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, last week called on parents to keep students at home if possible for the rest of the term, and teachers scrambled to prepare remote lessons.

The forced shift to remote learning could have major implications for the way students learn once the COVID-19 crisis is over. Credit:iStock

It is unclear whether that system will continue when term two resumes in NSW in late April, or if there will be further closures because transmission of the virus is more widespread.
All Australians will be able to have doctors' appointments at home through Medicare as the government pumps $669 million into telehealth services to avoid queues turning up in person at their GPs.

The measure is part of a $1.1 billion package that will also see $150 million provided to support Australians experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence due to the fallout from coronavirus.

The Prime Minister's Office has been briefed by Google on an alarming spike in domestic violence searches since the crisis began in Australia a month ago.

The Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest, Sydney. Credit: Roger Stonehouse

The internet giant is seeing the highest magnitude of searches for domestic violence help in five years with an increase of 75 per cent. The number of cases are expected to surge as Australians are told to stay at home as much as possible for the next six months and domestic violence services struggle to keep up with demand.
Why Dharmendra Rajpoot stands out as a Journalist among others?

Biden praises Indian press, says they are better behaved than US journalists

COVID-19: Case of negligence registered against MP journo who attended Kamal Nath presser

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: A case has been registered against a journalist from Madhya Pradesh for taking part in a press conference and putting several others at risk.

The journalist from Bhopal had attended a press conference of Kamal Nath before he resigned as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. A case of negligence has been registered against him.

His daughter had returned from London and was suspected to have coronavirus. He attended the press conference despite this and put several lives at risk.

#Stayathome and send us your selfie

Officials have said that those who came in contact with the journalist should remain in home isolation for 14 ays. In case anyone of them experience any symptom, then they should contact the coronavirus control room the officials also said.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 11:28 [IST]
Ontario retirement homes will refuse admission to elderly patients being pushed out of hospitals to make room for COVID-19 cases until the government agrees on measures that keep current residents safe.

In a bulletin sent to its 614 members Thursday, the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) asked homes hold off on requests to accept patients from hospitals and Local Health Integrated Networks until a safety protocol is set. ORCA said it is in collaborative discussions with the government on guidelines for admission of outgoing hospital patients.

As the coronavirus spreads, hospitals are trying to free up beds by moving out longtime alternate level of care (ALC) patients, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable. Hospitals are trying to find spaces in government-licensed nursing homes, which have few available beds, and privately operated retirement homes, which have higher vacancy rates.

Retirement homes can be luxurious or basic, offering seniors rooms, meals and, if required, assistance with daily needs, such as medication or bathing. They are inspected and licensed by a regulatory body. Long-term care homes are licensed and inspected by the Ontario government.

In its bulletin to members, ORCA wrote: Over the last few days, you may have been contacted by your Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), local hospital or another health care provider about the urgent need to decant (remove) Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients from hospital into your retirement community.

ORCA encourages members to delay entering into an agreement until the centralized guideline framework can be finalized with government, while negotiations with the government continue, it said.

In a statement sent to the Star, association CEO Cathy Hecimovich said members want to contribute where we can for the good of all Ontarians while balancing our obligation to safeguard the health and well-being of existing residents and staff.

We are in discussion with government about ensuring that we are available, where capacity exists, and in a co-ordinated manner, for patients for whom we can safely provide appropriate levels of care, Hecimovich said.

She did not say when retirement homes would start accepting hospital patients.

The health ministry said Many options and scenarios are being considered.

The delay in accepting hospital patients comes as no surprise to seniors advocate Jane Meadus, a lawyer with the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly.

We are in a very difficult time, Meadus said. Retirement homes are not going to be set up to provide care to people with high care needs.

Many of the hospitals ALC patients have complex medical needs, including dementia. They have been in hospital, waiting for a long-term care bed to become available.

Most retirement homes, which are privately owned and operated, were not meant to care for the most fragile seniors, including those with advanced dementia, Meadus said.

Instead, retirement homes attract older adults who are generally independent and willing to pay roughly $3,500 to $10,000 a month for room and services. It is not clear if patients sent out of hospitals would be expected to pay the full price of a retirement home room or be subsidized by the government.

Hospitals are also trying to send patients to long-term homes, where available beds are few.

The virus is now in at least 12 Ontario nursing homes, according to Advantage Ontario. Among a vulnerable population, the virus can spread quickly, impacting residents and workers.

Lisa Levin, CEO of Advantage Ontario, which represents not-for-profit, municipal and charitable homes, said many operators worry they dont have proper isolation rooms if asked to take patients from hospitals. Some will isolate those new residents, and some will not, Levin said.

Of Ontarios 626 long-term care homes, about 200 have a mix of rooms that are home to three or four residents, leaving limited options for solitary space. Some homes, Levin said, are considering using their auditorium in a COVID-19 outbreak.

To open up more beds, the ministry has changed the designation of some short-stay beds to long-stay, Levin said. It is also allowing some families to take their relative home, changing rules so it is less complicated for that person to return later, she said.

There is not a lot of capacity in the homes, so this is one way to do it, but it wont change overnight, she said.

Most worrisome, Levin said, is the desperate need for more personal protection equipment, such as masks, for staff.

We need to make sure that we can get those supplies right away, she said.

We dont want to have to wait for an outbreak to get them, we want to stop the spread of an outbreak.
The Enugu State Government has ordered the closure of all land borders and inter-state transportation until further notice, effective from March 31, in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof Simon Ortuanya made the disclosure in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.

According to him, the state government ordered the closure of all markets in the state irrespective of the size till further notice with effect from 6pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

The statement said that categories exempted from the shutdown include those dealing on food items, water, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

Others exempted are basic items of domestic need who must comply with the standard protocol as stipulated by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) including hand washing, use of sanitizer and social distancing.

It directed all local government chairmen to ensure strict compliance with the closure of markets within their respective local councils without prejudice to the exceptions.

The government appealed for understanding from residents of the state at this difficult time as no sacrifice is too much to save the lives of the people.

The state government directed security agencies and the state Medical Response Team to enforce all directives as stated.

This is coming after Enugu State recorded it first two new cases of coronavirus, bring the total to 81 in Nigeria.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have arrived at their home in LA after recovering from coronavirus, it has been reported.

Photos showed the Hollywood couple smiling as they returned from Australia, where they were quarantined and treated after testing positive for Covid-19.

Hanks, who had been shooting Baz Lurhmanns forthcoming biopic about Elvis Presley, had posted regular updates about their ordeal, including details of their symptoms and uplifting messages to fans.

In one social media post, the actor said: We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive.

Well, now. What to do next? he wrote. The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

Other celebrities to have tested positive for coronavirus include Idris Elba and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre, Frozen 2 star Rachel Matthews, and singer Charlotte Lawrence.

The stars of pandemic thriller Contagion, including Kate Winslet and Matt Damon, recently shared a series of public service announcements urging people to wash their hands and practise social distancing.
Loading The near-complete stalling of related tourism activities will also lop transport emissions, and a big reduction in petroleum product consumption is under way, says Hugh Saddler, at the Australian National University. Comprehensive figures, though, wont be available for weeks. Distribution businesses may well see spatial changes in demand on their systems, with less in CBDs and more in the suburbs, particularly during working hours, Saddler says. Australias biggest source of greenhouse gases is the electricity sector, contributing about a third. Demand, so far, is comparable to similar period of the past five years, with any reduction in workplaces being made up by extra power demand at home, according to the Victoria Energy Policy Centre. Demand reduction  the main impact of COVID-19  is not yet big in Australia, says Bruce Mountain, director of the centre. We do not expect a lasting impact. In China, the reduction in atmospheric pollution has been profound. Nationwide coal use this year is down 36 per cent over the same period in 2019, the World Economic Forum reported. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, in the month after the lunar new year on February 12, fine particle air pollution was down 25 per cent and nitrogen by 40 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.

Loading The CarbonBrief website estimated in March that the amount of coal flowing through Chinas largest coal port was down by 29 per cent, activity in steel works was off 23 per cent and oil-refining capacity had dropped 34 per cent. Overall, it was estimated that as a result, Chinas total carbon emissions were down by 25 per cent on the previous year. As the virus spreads, similar drops are being measured around the world. Researchers from Columbia University in New York told the BBC their testing found carbon monoxide mainly from cars had been reduced by nearly 50 per cent compared with last year, while CO2 was down between 5 and 10 per cent in the region. Revenge pollution

All of this should be good news, but few experts are celebrating. This is because historically, despite all the rhetoric by governments around the world about the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, the only time they have ever actually dropped has been during global crises. Loading A study published in the journal, Nature, found emissions fell by 10 per cent between 2007 and 2009 due to a reduction in the use of goods and services as a result of the financial crisis, while another in Nature Geoscience shows the only other falls were caused by the two World Wars and the Great Depression. Zeke Hausfather, director of climate and energy at the US-based Breakthrough Institute, also found no silver lining in a report this week that the pandemic would barely trim global emissions this year. Most economists are predicting a plunge in economic activity in all major economies during the first half of the year, with a sharp rebound in the second half. Chinas economy is quickly ramping back up, Hausfather says. None of the past recessions the world has experienced have made much of a long-term dent in emissions, Hausfather says.

Further, he says, governments will be tempted to sideline climate change action as they rebuild economies. "Historically, we've seen climate issues become much less of a priority for policymakers during times of economic downturn as a chronic problem. Climate tends to take second priority to acute problems [such as] pandemics and recessions. Loading Depending on where stimulus money lands, new high-emissions sources could be locked in for the long haul. This process is already apparent in China, which as reported this week, issued permits for more new coal-fired power stations in the first 2 weeks of March than it did all of last year. Li Shuo, a senior climate policy adviser for Greenpeace East Asia, calls the tendency of emissions to leap after crises "revenge pollution". She told CNN earlier this month that she expected economic stimulus in China to cause a leap in emissions in the second half of the year.

Frank Jotzo, director of the Australian National Universitys Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, has a similarly glum view of the drops seen this month. These are the wrong types of emissions reductions. This in no time for jubilation for a few percentage points. Loading Climate scientists and activists are alive to the threat and are already calling for governments to create green stimulus packages. While the restrictions on travel and large meetings are challenging, in turn they may also help us shift our own behaviour to work, education and travel patterns that are much more sustainable, including recognising the opportunities and broader benefits of teleworking and virtual meetings, the World Resources Institutes Helen Mountford argued this month. We are being forced to reset our habits now, but we should use this as a learning moment as we come out of the crisis.
Kate Middleton was pictured putting on a brave face after her split from Prince William in 2007.

The royal couple broke up for a few months in 2007, with Prince William reportedly telling friends "all the fun has gone" from their relationship.

Prince William and Middleton met in college in 2001, reconciled and later got engaged in 2010, and married each other in 2011 at Westminster Abbey. After they tied the knot, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had three children; Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The royal pair went to college at St. Andrews University in Scotland with Prince William studying Geography and Middleton taking History of Art. They initially were friends but things had romantic turn after discovering they share the same naughty sense of humor.

Their split in 2007 was not the first time the couple had separated: the pair reportedly split in 2004 during a summer break in college.

The duke and duchess had a "trial separation" in this period after Prince William was believed to have wanted space.

In 2007, Prince William was stationed outside of London with the Household Cavalry and experienced mounting media pressure which led them to grow apart.

The future King's behavior at clubs did not help him. He was reportedly going out many times with other guys in the barracks and was spotted on occasions drinking, dancing, flirting with women in London, which further angered Middleton. and Middleton's strained relationship and they eventually broke up in April that year.

This kept the couple from seeing each other, as Middleton grew increasingly uncomfortable with the aggressive paparazzi and press attention she was receiving as his girlfriend.

Also Read: Prince Philip Dead: Hoax Stories Circulating Online After Duke Allegedly Made Funeral Requests

Clarence House declined to issue a statement about the relationship's end before, saying, "We don't comment on Prince William's private life."

Author Christopher Andersen in his book "William and Kate: A Royal Love Story," he revealed that Prince William broke up with Middleton over the phone while she was at work.

She excused herself from work to hear Prince William's reasons for wanting to cut ties, which were, "I can't... It just isn't going to work. It isn't fair to you."

They were both very young, Prince William explained during his engagement interview with Middleton. "We were both finding ourselves and such and being different characters and such."

Middleton reportedly fought for their relationship by "playing a waiting game one minute and then hard-to-get the next."

Post-breakup, Middleton fled the country to visit Ireland, making it apparent that she does not care.

While the duke was photographed partying with women in nightclubs, Middleton would get herself photographed looking stylish in several places.

After the split, Prince William and Middleton chose to revive their romance as they made an important pact.

The two made a secret agreement to marry each other, so Middleton had conviction after dating for years and was not yet engaged.

Related Article: Meghan Markle's Exes: What Her Past Relationships Say About Her

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New Zealands total confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reached 451 today, an almost nine-fold increase in seven days. Twelve people are in hospital and two are in intensive care. No deaths have been reported, to this point. Most cases are linked to overseas travel, but there are also cases of community transmission and there could be many undetected cases.

Sistema workers strike over unsafe working conditions (Photo courtesy E Tu Facebook page)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the media she expected NZs cases to increase sharply for at least the next 10 days. A nationwide four-week lockdown began on Thursday, with schools and most businesses closed and non-essential workers instructed to remain home.

The lockdown, imposed after petitions from medical professionals, supported by tens of thousands of workers, is necessary to prevent a catastrophe. Auckland University modeling shows that without such measures the virus could infect 89 percent of the population, overwhelm the underfunded health system and kill as many as 80,000 people.

In the best-case scenario, the number of deaths could be lowered to about 20. Researchers have warned that achieving this goal requires a strict lockdown, contact tracing, quarantines and travel restrictions, most likely lasting much longer than four weeks.

Like its counterparts internationally, the Labour Party-led governments priority is to defend the interests of big business. Multi-billion dollar subsidies, tax cuts and loans have been announced, including a $900 million loan to Air New Zealand even as it lays off thousands of workersall with the support of the trade union bureaucracy. The Reserve Bank has promised to make up to $30 billion (equal to 10 percent of gross domestic product) available for financial markets through quantitative easing.

These enormous sums dwarf the $500 million injection into the severely underfunded healthcare system, and the miserly $25 a week increase to unemployment benefits and pensions.

The state of emergency declared on March 25 is being used to test authoritarian forms of rule. Police have been given broad powers, including the ability to enter homes to enforce self-isolation rules. The military has been placed on standby.

With the agreement of the opposition National Party, parliament was suspended on Thursday until April 28 and replaced with a smaller cross-party committee. All parties in parliament put their campaigns for the September election on hold and pledged support for the government. Some media commentators are suggesting that the election could be postponed, as happened during World Wars I and II.

These measures, accepted by the unions, pseudo-lefts and liberal pundits, go well beyond what is needed to enforce the lockdown. The state is preparing to confront working-class opposition to the worsening economic crisis, attacks on living standards, and the appalling state of the public health system that has been sharply exposed by the pandemic.

Gross domestic product is widely expected to fall up to 10 percent in the second quarter of 2020, with hundreds of thousands of job losses. Shamubeel Eaqub from Sense Partners compared the crisis with the 1930s Great Depression. He told Radio NZ that unemployment could rise from 4 percent to 15 or even 30 percent. During the 1930s, governments used emergency measures to suppress demonstrations by unemployed workers.

Already thousands of workers in the forestry, tourism, hospitality, retail and other industries have been laid off, due to the shutdown of markets and supply chains throughout the world.

Workers who have for now kept their jobs could face savage wage cuts. Employers receiving the wage subsidy of $585 a week per full-time worker, or $350 per part-time worker, are required to pass it on, but do not have to top up the payments to a liveable income.

Workers in industries deemed essential are being placed at risk. A 28-year-old New World supermarket worker with asthma told Radio NZ yesterday that he walked off his shift. Articulating the views of thousands, he said: I just didnt feel safe I know there are a lot of workers around me in the same situation. There are workers with families, with kids, who have had surgeries or are immuno-compromised, and are still working.

Workers for Sistema, a plastic container factory in Auckland, walked out on Wednesday to protest the lack of social distancing and other protective measures. Sistema management had initially claimed to be an essential service but, following the strike and a subsequent inspection by the regulator WorkSafe, the plant will close for four weeks with workers receiving full pay during the shutdown.

Numerous factories have been allowed to remain open, including Imperial Tobaccos cigarette factory in Wellington. A spokesperson for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation told the media the decision was outrageous, particularly given the emerging evidence that COVID-19 infections may be more severe among smokers.

The Otago Daily Times reported yesterday that workers at Alliances meat processing factory in Oamaru felt like cannon fodder due to inadequate precautions. An anonymous Change.org petition calling for all meat processing factories to be shut gained more than 2,600 signatures this week.

One comment on the petition stated: Im signing as my son has lung issues and I want to keep him safe. Another said: Lives are more important than profit.

Another wrote that workers at their factory are not supplied with masks, many carpool with others outside their isolation group & have been told that if they cant go to work because they havent got alternative transport, thats their problem.

One worker explained: There is absolutely no way we can keep a safe distance from one another, there are far too many variables out at the meatworks and a perfect breeding ground for this virus to spread quickly.

The Meat Workers Union has asked that workers be allowed to stay home if they feel unsafe, but did not endorse the petition. The union is working with the Meat Industry Association and the government to ensure that factories remain open during the lockdown.

Many healthcare workers still lack basic personal protective equipment (PPE) despite the government claiming there are enough masks, gowns and goggles. District Health Boards (DHBs) have a thoroughly disorganised response to the pandemic.

One nurse wrote yesterday in the Facebook group New Zealand, please hear our voice: My DHB has just informed me that we are not allowed to wear masks for direct patient contact, only if the patient is symptomatic.

Caregivers who work with elderly and disabled people have also reported inadequate PPE. This is a prime route of transmission of COVID-19, one worker told Newsroom yesterday, Thousands of support workers going through goodness knows how many tens of thousands of homes every day.

Radio NZ reported yesterday that NZ Post courier drivers in Wellington said they did not have sufficient PPE and hand sanitiser, and up to 100 people must share a few, unsanitary toilets.
It should have been a productive year for relations between Asias biggest economy and Europe.

China had secured an interim truce in its protracted trade war with the United States in January. And it had turned its focus back to the European Union, seeking to reassure Brussels that its interests would not be damaged by the trade deal with Washington.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels in December had discussed an ambitious agenda on climate change and the economy, calling for cooperation from Beijing.

Then the new coronavirus hit. Its rapid spread from the first cases in central China in December to a global pandemic has thrown the world economy into recession, according to the International Monetary Fund. It has also brought Beijings political and diplomatic agenda to a sudden halt  2020 had been dubbed the year of Europe by the Chinese leadership  with two key gatherings due to be held in Beijing in March and April postponed, and negotiations on a long-awaited bilateral investment treaty delayed.

The pandemic has also fuelled unease among European diplomats over Chinas approach, with the top EU envoy warning the bloc to be ready for a struggle for influence with Beijing amid a targeted strategy to help certain countries with medical supplies and support.

China, where the coronavirus crisis appears to be easing, has sent badly needed supplies and teams of medical experts to some of the worst-hit countries in Europe, including Italy, as well as nations like Serbia, responding to a call for help. It has also offered emergency aid in other regions as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to climb  more than 560,000 people have been infected with the pneumonia-like illness worldwide, and it has killed over 26,000 so far.

In Europe, Beijing has been reaching out, with President Xi Jinping talking to state and EU leaders by phone, pledging continued support and for health officials to share their experience in battling the virus. He also proposed a health Silk Road to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte  in addition to Beijings global infrastructure scheme the Belt and Road Initiative  as a way of boosting trust and cooperation.

Story continues

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell fired a warning shot at Chinas politics of generosity. Photo: EPA-EFE

Chinese medical aid has been welcomed by countries struggling to cope with the crisis, but there is growing concern over Beijings narrative in Europe.

Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, on Monday fired a warning shot at Chinas politics of generosity, calling on the bloc to defend Europe against detractors and show that solidarity is not an empty phrase.

Other EU diplomats have said there was a sense that Chinas leadership preferred to deal directly with European countries rather than through the EU, which caused disunity within the bloc.

Alice Ekman, senior analyst in charge of China and Asia at the European Union Institute for Security Studies, said China would continue its approach in Europe at multiple levels  EU, subregional and individual  during the crisis.

Strong activism of Chinas diplomacy will probably still be observed at both bilateral and multilateral level, and Beijing will bridge its existing diplomatic initiatives with the global Covid-19 fight as much as possible, she said.

EU members that received help from Beijing could be tempted to support further cooperation with China, Ekman said. And Beijing may possibly ask for favours later on, in particular, support for its position in multilateral settings, she said, adding that its influence was likely to be consolidated in non-EU countries.

President Xi Jinping has spoken to state and EU leaders by phone, pledging continued support in the virus battle. Photo: Xinhua

Ekman said China may try to seize more economic and financial opportunities in Europe, as it did during the global financial crisis in 2008 and the subsequent euro-zone debt crisis, with investments in the Port of Pireaus in Greece, Portugals power grid, and European sovereign bonds.

When the medical and sanitary urgency is over  Europe [will be left] in a difficult economic situation. It is likely that China will shift its offer from medical and sanitary assistance to economic and financial assistance  positioning itself as an alternative to the EU in terms of investment opportunities, and potentially as the saviour of a failed Europe, Ekman said.

Sven Biscop, director of the Europe in the World Programme at the Egmont-Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, said Chinas aid was welcomed regardless of the political agenda attached, but it would not help to conceal its initial attempts to cover up the outbreak.

Within the EU at least, Beijings charm offensive will therefore not really change the image of China as a power whose assertions always have to be taken with a pinch of salt (including its reported numbers of infected and deceased people), Biscop said.

Mario Esteban, a senior analyst on the Asia-Pacific with the Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid, agreed that while cooperation was welcome, European complaints were focused on Beijings narrative that its model had helped to fight the outbreak, though it had suppressed early warnings about the disease.

Moreover, Chinese officials have been spreading fake news about the coronavirus and glossing over the most controversial dimensions of their measures against this disease in order to present China as a role model, Esteban said.

The pandemic has also put a five-year action plan for bilateral relations on hold, according to a European diplomatic source. Beijing and Brussels were to unveil the plan at this months summit which has been postponed, the source said.

The delays could cast a shadow over another high-profile summit between all 27 EU heads of state and Xi due to be held in Leipzig, Germany, in September. That summit was partly aimed at countering Beijings infrastructure and investment push in 17 Central and Eastern European countries, which has also raised concerns about disunity within the bloc.

But Lucrezia Poggetti, a researcher with Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin, cautioned against talk of disunity.

What I see as more concerning for EU unity is the behaviour of populist, Eurosceptic leaders who keenly push false narratives that contrast Chinas support with what they portray as a lack of EU solidarity, Poggetti said.

The EU has also started to communicate more proactively on social media the ways in which EU countries are supporting each other to debunk those false narratives about the lack of EU solidarity, she said. Continue raising awareness and helping each other in Europe is the way to go.

Ding Chun, a professor with the Centre for European Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, also said blaming China was not the answer.

Those remarks in fact reflect the problem of a lack of confidence and trust in some peoples minds in the EU, Ding said. These people should revise their mindsets and do their own work to stick together to contain the virus rather than conjecturing and blaming China.

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Amid the nationwide lockdown over the spread of coronavirus, the Madhya Pradesh government, led by newly elected Shivraj Singh Chouhan, issued transfer orders of Indore Collector Lokesh Jatav and Deputy Inspector General of Police Ruchivardhan Misr on Saturday. Jatav was replaced by Manish Singh and Misr by HN Mishra.

The bureaucratic changes came only days after the removal of Rajgarh collector Nidhi Nivedita, SDM Priya Verma and Rewa Municipal Commissioner Sabhajit Yadav. This happened a day after Chouhan took charge following the fall of the Kamal Nath government.

The women officers from Rajgarh were under the scanner of the BJP leadership for slapping party workers during a rally in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Act some time ago.

This was followed by the transfers of couple of senior police officers, along with those in the police headquarters. Besides, three chief medical and health officers, including Bhopals Dr Sudhir Dehariya, were transferred a day ago. However, hours later Dr Dehariya was reinstated.

The BJP leadership, which had accused the previous dispensation led by Congress Nath for opening a transfer industry in the state, seems to have taken a liking to it.

Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja hit out at the BJP regime for issuing transfer orders at a time when a curfew is in place across the country to check the spread of coronavirus.

Everything should be on standstill due to the coronavirus, but one thing continues to move (in the state)  transfer and transfer amendment industry, he said.

However, a BJP leader said the administrative rejig is being done in the wake of the crisis that has arisen out of the coronavirus crisis. The Congress charges are baseless, said party spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal.

He further said that while BJP workers are busy in Madhya Pradesh extending help in relief measures, the Congress leadership is not playing the role of a constructive opposition.

Around five lakh BJP workers are offering food to 25 lakh persons in MP and we plan to take this figure of beneficiaries to 45 lakh shortly, said the BJP leader.

Following the resignations of 22 party MLAs, Nath had tendered his resignation on March 22 and Chouhan was sworn in as CM a day later.
Do you know how Gen. John J. Pershing (mentioned in a March 7 column about telephone operators who served in World War I) got his nickname Black Jack? What connection does Black Jack Pershing have with Chinese restaurants in San Antonio?

 David Bondor

John Joseph Pershing is best known as commander of the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front during World War I and for heading the 1916 Punitive Expedition into Mexico, pursuing revolutionary Pancho Villa.

Between those two highlights, he served for a little more than two months (Feb. 21-May 2, 1917) as commander of the Armys Southern Department, with headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, then the largest post in the U.S. Army.

The nickname  a bowdlerized form of the original  followed him throughout his illustrious career. It came from his 1892-1898 assignment to the 10th Cavalry Regiment, a unit of all African American soldiers commanded by white officers.

Related: Check out 17 things you should know about Gen. Black Jack Pershing

For young Pershing, the assignment to the 10th was a step up to the regular Army after serving as a military science instructor at the University of Nebraska, and it came with a promotion. With his regiment at Fort Assiniboine Montana, he was involved in the deportation of Cree Indians back to Canada, and later served with the 10th in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

As a first lieutenant, he was temporarily assigned to West Point as an instructor, where cadets gave him a cruder form of the famous nickname, said Jacqueline Davis, director of the Fort Sam Museum, who noted that the cadets at that time were a rowdy bunch, strict military discipline notwithstanding.

The racial slur was soon sanitized to the raffish but printable Black Jack, which clung through many more promotions  up to General of the Armies, the highest rank given at the time and the first since George Washington.

Pershings Chinese connection came via Mexico, where he was sent to hunt down Villa, after his revolutionary forces raided the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. Once the American soldiers had crossed the borders, said Davis, Pershing found it difficult to keep his force of 10,000 men supplied. He was low on funds, and The people of Mexico were unwilling to supply the Americans, either because of sympathy with Villas faction or fear of his reprisals.

Chinese immigrants, however, saw the American Army in a more positive light.

Wherever Villa went, he executed any Chinese he found, Davis said. Having no other place to turn, hundreds of Chinese fled to the Americans for refuge.

In the area of Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico, Pershing assigned space for the Chinese to use, and they immediately opened shops, restaurants and laundries monitored by the Provost Marshal, (providing) supplies and services that the Americans could not obtain anywhere else.

On his return in February 1917 to the United States, Pershing brought 527 Chinese immigrants with him  in spite of the Chinese Exclusion Act that forbade their entry  thanks to Pershings superior, Gen. Frederick Funston, who took responsibility for their temporary stay at Fort Bliss near El Paso.

As the Army prepared to enter World War I, nearly all the Pershing Chinese volunteered to work on the building of Camp Travis, Fort Sam Houstons maneuver grounds for training civilian conscripts.

On ExpressNews.com: Fort Sams Quadrangle has storied past, famous leaders including Pershing

They lived on post in a Chinese Camp, Davis said, to ensure they would not be deported back to Mexico or China, and were employed on other projects after Camp Travis was completed.

Military authorities managed to get them an exemption for their service, and Public Law No. 29, dated January 29, 1922, allowed these Chinese immigrants to become legal residents of the United States.

Most remained in San Antonio and started businesses, the most famous being Hung Fong, San Antonios oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant. Many San Antonio families of Chinese descent are descended from the Pershing Chinese.

San Antonios Pershing Avenue is named for him, and the Fort Sam commanders house at 6 Staff Post Road has been known as the Pershing House since his brief residence there. Its now home to Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Army North.

historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
Hewitt said the district, following federal privacy laws, will not identify the substitute teacher. He said in a follow-up letter that families had been inquiring about which classes the substitute taught so they could determine if their child had been exposed.
With tens of thousands of migrant workers walking down to their homes far way amid the coronavirus lockdown, the government on Saturday directed states and union territories to immediately set up relief camps for them and carry out health check-ups.

Scenes of migrant workers walking endlessly and many trying to cram into buses to reach their destination were common in several parts of the country as the countrywide lockdown entered the fourth day.

With lakhs of these workers stranded on highways and inter-state bus terminus, the government stepped in and asked states and union territories to immediately set up relief camps for migrant workers and others who are returning to their home states or trying to do so during the nationwide lockdown period.

Home Minister Amit Shah said the central government has committed all support to migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown announced to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The Centre also asked state governments and union territory administrations to utilise state disaster response funds, to which Rs 29,000 crore has been allocated for the next fiscal, for providing food and shelter to migrant workers hit by the lockdown.

Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Punya Salila Srivastava said the government has also asked the states and union territories to set up camps for migrant workers fleeing cities and carry out their health check-ups.

With their livelihoods coming to a halt after imposition of the countrywide lockdown, thousands of daily wage workers and labourers, including women and children, with their bags on their heads and backs and many also wearing protective masks waited in long queues to board buses at the Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal in Delhi.

The Uttar Pradesh government announced that it has arranged 1,000 buses to ferry migrant labourers stranded in the border districts.

During the day, several cases of violation of lockdown norms were reported.

Police fired in the air in Assam's Bongaigaon district to disperse a mob at a market after it attacked the security personnel when asked to abide by the lockdown order.

In Cachar district, an Assam Industrial Security Force constable died, after which his wife claimed he was lynched by a mob while enforcing a lockdown at a market, but police said his death was probably due to high blood pressure



In Delhi, 82 cases were registered and 3,485 people detained for violating government orders during the lockdown.

Gujarat Police chief Shivanand Jha said over 1,000 FIRs were registered against 1,595 people since Friday.

The district administration in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu came out with a unique way of engaging those flouting lockdown orders and has decided to send such violators to the quarantine wards to take care of coronavirus patients.

Nawalgarh SDM Murari Lal Sharma also urged people to click photographs of those loitering on roads without any reason and send the pictures to the district authorities.

Kerala Police deployed drones at various places to monitor unlawful assembly of people and book those violating the curfew norms.

The law enforcers took the technical route after finding that a large number of people tend to come out without any valid reason, despite repeated warnings and restriction.

A migrant woman from Bihar, working in Kasargod in Kerala, gave birth in an ambulance after the vehicle was not allowed by police to cross the border road to Mangaluru to reach her hospital.

Both the mother and baby are doing fine, authorities said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the action of Karnataka police in blocking the key state highway ferrying essential commodities to the state and urged him to immediately intervene in the matter.

Meanwhile, the Congress held the government responsible for the plight of migrant workers with Rahul Gandhi demanding that it take concrete steps so that the situation "does not become a major tragedy".

He also appealed to Congress workers to help such migrants by offering them food and shelter.

Sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said when the government can send planes to bring back Indians from abroad, why cannot it provide transport to send the labourers home.

The Congress constituted a task force to intensify efforts of party-ruled states to deal with the situation due to COVID-19 and help mitigate the sufferings of people. The task force includes P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Tamradhwaj Sahu and M Veerappa Moily.

A day after SpiceJet said it is ready to operate some flights to alleviate the suffering of migrant workers, GoAir on Saturday evinced interest in flying stranded workers in various states to the airports closer to their homes.

With the exodus of people posing health risks, apex child rights body NCPCR urged migrant labourers to stay put wherever they are and make decision in the best interest of their children. It also advised state governments to accommodate children living on streets in school buildings to ensure that they are protected from coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 356 prisoners were released on 45-day interim bail while 63 have been released on emergency parole of eight weeks, as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus, Tihar Jail officials said on Saturday.

The Supreme Court had on March 23 asked all state governments to release undertrial prisoners, who are facing charges attracting less than seven years imprisonment, to reduce overcrowding of jails amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde directed all state governments to constitute a high power committee comprising of Law Secretary and the Chairman of the State Legal Service Authority to determine which class of convicts or undertrials can be released on parole or interim bail.

Earlier, various jail authorities in the country released inmates to ease off the congestion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has warned that Japan's economy would be hard hit if Tokyo is locked down due to the coronavirus.

Abe made the comment in response to an opposition lawmaker's question about a recent spike in infections in the Japanese capital.

Abe also said the national government would step up coordination with local authorities, including in Tokyo, to fight the outbreak around the country.

Economic Revitalization Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura is in charge of the nation's coronavirus-response law. He said it was unnecessary to declare a state of emergency at this stage.

He added that the government would consider such a move in consultation with experts if the number of cases grows and if many infection routes are hard to track.
On Friday, five days after Barbara Spencer was admitted to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center for coronavirus, her daughter got some good news:

Spencer, 77, is breathing on her own again.

Spencers daughter, Michelle Spencer, said her mother started out with what appeared to be an ordinary head cold. Last weekend, she didnt have energy to get out of bed. By Monday, she developed a fever. But she didnt have trouble breathing, which can be a sign of COVID-19.

She was able to communicate, said Michelle Spencer, 52, who shares a home with her mother. She would sit and we had discussions and on Monday she said, Do you think I should go to the hospital?'

Michelle Spencer drove her mother to the St. Vincent emergency room that day. She said the medical staff invited her into the waiting room as her mother was evaluated, but she declined, worried she would be further exposed to coronavirus.

So she waited for an update by phone. When it came later that night, she learned her mothers condition had deteriorated quickly. Her oxygen level had plummeted.

Barbara Spencer was placed on a ventilator and admitted to intensive care, where she remained Friday.

Her daughter is now quarantined at home, though she shows no symptoms of the disease. She continues to work from her Tigard home. She is an investigator for Multnomah Defenders, an agency that provides criminal defense for indigent people.

She said she calls the hospital for an update every morning and gets a second update from a doctor each afternoon. She said doctors gave her mother two medications that have brought down her fever.

They have been very, very communicative with me, she said of the staff treating her mother. I cant tell you how invaluable that is since I cant be there.

Michelle Spencer described her mother as a fighter who is in remission from ovarian cancer. She said her mother has worked in banking at the Forest City Trading Group for 52 years. Her colleagues there have overwhelmed Michelle Spencer with calls of concern and requests for updates about her mothers condition. She said she now provides an update to one of her moms coworkers who shares the news with everyone else.

As for the latest update from the doctor, Michelle Spencer said shes encouraged. The doctor said he was surprised at how well her mother had progressed.

He had patients half her age who were not doing as well as she was, Spencer said.

Coping with her moms illness has been compounded by the isolation that public health officials have encouraged to keep the disease from spreading.

The biggest toll for me is that when this happened nobody could come and comfort me and I couldnt go to the hospital and sit at my moms bedside, she said. For me, that is the hardest part. When you get this illness, you are on your own. You are living or dying on your own.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
As one would assume, right now most are concerned about the lack of food options, lockdown anxiety and indefinite work from home.

However, an added worry for all is about the repercussions of missed out salon and grooming appointments. While men may happily ignore unwanted facial hair as a reminder of Movember, are women ready for another Januhairy in the hot month of March? Apparently not.

With the onset of summer, as the wardrobe shifts to pretty, pastel summer dresses, shorts and sleeveless blouses, excessive body hair would just beat the purpose of it all.

Social media is already full of memes of women looking like cavemen after a month of quarantine. Laughable, may be, but still a situation that turn seriously ugly.

Bad hair days

Quarantine didnt affect me much being indoors because I am a stay-at-home working-mom. However, while hair growth on arms and legs can be comfortably covered up during winters, summers makes it seriously unpleasant, says Mansi Ahuja, a marketing professional, who was to make a salon appointment around Holi. But then, the first Coronavirus case popped up in India. So, to take precautions, I started avoiding any contact with outside people. I need to get my eyebrows fixed and arms and legs waxed. God knows what will happen to my eyebrows after another 21 days they will definitely be all bushy.

The lockdown because of the COVID 19 outbreak is the most unfortunate thing for all kinds of businesses, but the beauty industry would surely take a serious hit as most men and women wont be stepping into a parlour for the next few weeks.

Bengaluru-based writer Kaveri Waghela is another person who is struggling through the lockdown.

Not getting basic groceries is definitely more worrying for me than a parlour visit. But I have been utilizing the time at home to keep myself groomed. For instance, I have been using the leftover cold wax strips and tweezers to pull away the extra hair growth in the eyebrow region, Kaveri says.

Vanity affairs

Delhi-based Deepti Jha, a corporate professional, is deeply concerned about her ungroomed quarantine look. She now plans to switch to home-remedies to fix her eyebrows, nails and hair growth.

Threading, facial, nail extensions, pedicure and manicure help boost my self-confidence, but now that I am on house arrest I have to look after my beauty concerns at home. As Im working from home, I do have additional time to pamper myself with home solutions, but I badly miss my salon sessions, Deepti adds with a chuckle.

Though body hair growth is quite different in men and women, there are some interesting ways one can follow to keep it all under control.

Pritika Singh, CEO of Prayag Hospital and Research Centre, shares some of her beauty go-to solutions she has been trying at home during the lockdown.

One can use razors or hair-removing creams to get rid of body hair its quite popular in Europe and other countries where parlour sessions are expensive. For eyebrows, I have tried tweezers and wax to get rid of extra growth. One can also use a double tape method to remove extra hair; I use it with water and wheat powder for a smooth finish,

Pritika suggests, and then adds. But honestly, till we have to stay at home because of the lockdown, lets make the best use of time and not let beauty concerns worry us too much.
Inmates of the Jodhpur Central Jail have called off their indefinite hunger strike after getting assurance from the jail administration that the government is considering their demand to release them in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The inmates, however, threatened to resume their strike if no action is taken till Tuesday.

Superintendent (Jodhpur Central Jail) Kailash Trivedi said efforts were on to make them reconsider their demand but they agreed to call off their strike on Friday.

The inmates of the Jodhpur Central Jail went on an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday, demanding their release as they are "more vulnerable to coronavirus".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the coronavirus outbreak in China seems to have ebbed for now amidst international criticism of its initial cover up, health experts here say Beijing's tough actions to contain the pandemic at its epicentre in Wuhan and the massive resource mobilisation at short notice offer some lessons for India.

While the cases and casualties of COVID-19 in Italy, Spain and the US surpassed that of China where the virus first emerged, there is a growing curiosity here on how India is going to deal with the pandemic and whether the country's ongoing 21-day lockdown will help contain the virus outbreak.

India's nationwide lockdown is broadly compared to that of China's sledgehammer clampdown of over 56 million residents of cental Hubei province and its capital Wuhan since January 23, which reported over 68,000 cases of the country's total 81,340 COVID-19 infections and 3,292 deaths as of Thursday.

While China's lockdown of Wuhan was aimed at confining the disease to the province, the all India shutdown, on the contrary, is aimed at preventing the emergence of Wuhan-like epicentres, the experts told PTI here.

The all India shutdown came as a surprise for health experts here as China had locked down only Hubei province during the worst run of the virus. Though the rest of the country came to a standstill, it remained largely open.

But the international health experts point out that the coronavirus has become such a huge problem for the world to prevent epicentres from emerging because Beijing acted late, which some US officials allege was an attempt to cover-up the crisis.

While China shutdown Hubei province and its capital Wuhan on January 23, India and the world began voicing concerns way before.

A Chinese doctor who spoke of the signs of the virus outbreak in January first week was punished for warning about the SARS-like virus. Unfortunately, the doctor died later of COVID-19.

It is still a mystery why China did not act on time though recent studies showed that the first cases of COVID-19 emerged as early as November and became visible by December by which time some of the doctors in Wuhan began warning people about it.

"Perhaps it would have been less of a problem for China and the world had the Chinese government acted well before the Chinese New Year holidays in the fourth week of January by which time over five million residents of the province left for holiday destinations within the country and abroad," an international health expert working for a global organisation said on condition of anonymity.

While China's massive response to control the spread of the virus after the lockdown of Wuhan and Hubei province came for global praise. The ruling Communist party's late response in curbing the virus came for sharp criticism at home and abroad.

Initially, India and the world succeeded in stemming the virus entering their borders by banning flights and travellers from China. In the early days, most of the cases abroad, including the three Indian students who returned to Kerala, were from Wuhan.

"It is because of these early birds from Wuhan who flew to different countries like Italy and the European Union, the virus began to emerge in different countries through the back door, as people of those countries as well as holidaymakers visited India or returned to the country from holidays, the expert said.

"This is what an early detection and less secretive approach to contain vicious viruses like COVID-19 help," the expert said.

Health experts said China's subsequent response from January 20 to deal with the virus resulting in bringing the virus under control offered several lessons for India and other countries.

While China locked down Hubei province, it ensured putting in place a proper mechanism to supply all essential commodities to the doorsteps of people.

China also did not ban the e-commerce giants like Taobao, Alibaba and others who maintained regular supply of food and other materials in across the country.

The government pressed millions of residential complexes in Beijing and other cities to begin monitoring of body temperatures.

China made full use of its expertise in AI (Artificial Intelligence) in tracing most of the people from Wuhan and Hubei province who had travelled out of the province and began monitoring their health in hospitals or quarantine centres.

China also deployed thousands of military medical personnel as well as soldiers to Hubei province and they helped local authorities to set up huge makeshift field hospitals in record time which also helped in treating the surging number of COVID-19 patients.

A leading group with Premier Li Keqiang as its head has top officials from all ministries who reviewed in detail various aspects of the work on the day-to-day basis ensuring the success of China's top-down approach of governance, which converted a massive initial failure into a huge success by bringing the virus under control, the experts said.

Officials said initially about 3,000 medical personnel were infected by the virus because of lack of equipment but subsequently the situation improved as China procured massive amounts of protective equipment like gloves and masks, medical suits from home and abroad.

While it is a commendable performance, China mostly dealt with one epicentre with moderate spread across the country, but in India's case there is no epicentre yet and the 21-day lockdown will be a success if it prevents the virus from becoming a pandemic in the country, the experts said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 09:00 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df2d66 1 Editorial exodus,mudik,self-quarantine,lockdown,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,Jokowi,Indonesia Free

Almost one month after the first two COVID-19 cases were announced, efforts to contain the virus, including campaigns to stay home, have shown no significant results. Thousands of people have left Greater Jakarta, the national epicenter of the outbreak, for their hometowns in other parts of Java, putting at risk not only their families but the entire population in those areas.



In Central Java alone, the number of recent visitors already tops 7,000, according to Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who has asked regents and mayors across the province to closely monitor the health of the returnees, most of whom are migrant workers.



Fearing a ticking time bomb, some regional leaders are pushing for local lockdowns to protect the population in their territories.

Read also: Top Indonesian doctors call for lockdown, say physical distancing not enough

By Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Indonesia reached 1,046, an increase of 153 from the previous day, with 87 deaths. Only now, after the risky, mass-scale human movement has already begun, is the government considering a ban on the annual exodus for the biggest Islamic festival, Idul Fitri. Last year that movement involved about 23 million people, including nearly 15 million from Greater Jakarta.



We second the governments decision, if it comes, to ban the traditional mudik (exodus) this year. But as pleas for physical distancing and avoiding crowds have not been too effective, we urge immediate partial lockdowns or quarantine; either by islands or provinces.



Some researchers have predicted that the outbreak will only end at the end of May or early June, at the earliest, meaning the crisis will persist as Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri.



The rapid spread of the virus in Italy, the country hit hardest by COVID-19, stemmed from human migration from China, the initial epicenter of the outbreak.



People cannot be blamed for journeying home, as they may have lost jobs or are not well informed about the need for physical distancing and may be anticipating a lockdown. Regional leaders in Greater Jakarta lack the authority to impose travel bans, although they know exactly the danger of the mass movement.

Read also: COVID-19: Local authorities scramble to prevent wider transmission as 'mudik' starts early Restricting human movement is only possible if the government enforces the 2018 Health Quarantine Law. The law stipulates prison terms and fines for residents leaving regions under quarantine. As a consequence, the government is responsible for feeding the residents in those regions, as well as their livestock.



President Joko Jokowi Widodo has repeatedly ruled out this option, despite the mounting pressure for him do otherwise. In a letter that has gone viral, the University of Indonesias Medical Professors Council urged the President to implement local lockdowns, such as in Jakarta, for at least 14 days to significantly curb the virus spread.



Only a few hospitals have ventilators available, leading to a high mortality rate, the council wrote.



Studies show that Indonesia only has two intensive care unit [ICU] beds per 100,000 people [] the lowest proportion in Asia, it added.



The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) says 10 doctors have died in the struggle to treat patients, which experts say could number tens of thousands in a few months unless tough measures are taken.
California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Associated Press

California Governor Gavin Newsom, in an executive order Friday, banned evictions statewide through May 31 for renters impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The order prohibits landlords and law enforcement from evicting tenants who get sick with COVID-19, need to stay home to care for others, or lose their job or income and can't pay rent as a result.

The order is effective immediately, meaning tenants who owe rent on April 1 will be able to get relief, though they must show documentation and are still on the hook for payments later on.

Newsom had previously allowed local governments to pass their own bans, with Los Angeles and several counties across the Bay Area doing so in recent weeks.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Friday banning evictions across California through May 31 for renters affected by the coronavirus. The order prohibits landlords, law enforcement, and courts from evicting tenants for failing to pay rent due to coronavirus-related circumstances.

That includes anyone unable to work because they are caring for someone with a "suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19," as well as anyone laid off, has their hours or income reduced, or must care for a child whose school was closed due to the coronavirus.

Renters would still be required to eventually pay all the rent they owe, and must notify their landlord that they need to delay rent payments within seven days of their rent becoming due. In order to avoid eviction, tenants must show documentation proving the change in their financial circumstances, such as termination notices, payroll checks, bank statements, or medical bills. They also

The order goes into effect immediately, meaning residents with rent due on April 1 can defer those payments.

Newsom had previously issued an order allowing local governments to pass their own eviction bans, which Los Angeles, as well as several counties across the Bay Area, did in recent weeks. But housing activists and lawmakers urged Newsom to go further, which he did Friday by passing a temporary statewide ban.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Smaller companies in the sector are facing losses of Rs 5-6 crore a day and the figure is higher for bigger companies

Around 268 companies in India work in the mobile manufacturing segment.

New Delhi: India's mobile phone sector is likely to face a loss of Rs 15,000 crore as sales take a hit in a country that has been locked down to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

People may not have the time or inclination to think about purchasing new phones while contending with a grocery shortage and balancing work from home and attending to their children. But its not just sales that are hit, it is the supply chain itself.

The phone makers are unable to get ready products shipped from overseas as transport of non-essential cargo has come to a halt.

India Cellular and Electronics Association chairman Pankaj Mohindroo told PTI that the members were approaching the government to help mitigate their losses.

Xiaomi, which leads India's smartphone market, had told all of its 30,000 staff to work from home even before the 21-day lockdown starting March 25 was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An executive of the mobile phone company said that smaller companies in the sector were facing losses of Rs 5-6 crore a day and the figure was higher for bigger companies.

Earlier, the business suffered due to (shortage of) supply of components from China... and now we are facing issues in shipments of ready products, the executive said. There has been no revenue collection since March 23 for companies that sell through retail stores.

There are fixed costs that all the companies have to bear without any revenue inflow, he said explaining the operational loss.

Around 268 companies in India work in the mobile manufacturing segment.

The production of mobile phones in the country stood at around Rs 1.7 lakh crore in 2018-19 and the domestic demand was almost completely being met by domestic production.
Though many negative repercussions of human immunodeficiency virus infection can be mitigated with the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), one area where medical advances haven't made as much progress is in the reduction of cognitive impacts. Half of HIV patients have HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which can manifest in a variety of ways, from forgetfulness and confusion to behavior changes and motor deficiencies.

To better understand the mechanisms underlying HAND, researchers from Penn's School of Dental Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine and from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) brought together their complementary expertise to create a laboratory model system using three of the types of brain cells thought to be involved. Led by doctoral student Sean Ryan, who was co-mentored by Kelly Jordan-Sciutto of Penn Dental Medicine and Stewart Anderson of CHOP and Penn Medicine, the model recapitulates important features of how HIV infection and ART affect the brain.

"Frankly the models we generally use in the HIV field have a lot of weaknesses," says Jordan-Sciutto, co-corresponding author on the paper, which appears in the journal Stem Cell Reports. "The power of this system is it allows us to look at the interaction between different cell types of human origin in a way that is more relevant to patients than other models."

In addition to studying HIV, members of the team plan to use the same model to shed light on the neurological mechanisms that underlie other conditions, such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, and even normal aging.

We're collaborating with a variety of colleagues to use this system to study Alzheimer's disease as well as schizophrenia. We have the components in a dish that we know are interacting in these diseases, and this gives us a new mix-and-match way to understand how certain cells are contributing to neuronal damage." Stewart Anderson of CHOP and Penn Medicine, co-corresponding author on the paper

Indeed, the impetus to create the model grew not out of HIV research but work that Ryan was pursuing in Anderson's lab on schizophrenia.

"We had been looking at the role of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system," says Ryan, first author on the work. "We wanted to see if we could see the mechanistic changes that occur with microglia in schizophrenia."

To do so, Ryan and Anderson were interested in using human-induced pluripotent stem cells--adult cells that are reprogrammed to resemble embryonic stem cells--which can be coaxed into differentiating into a variety of different cell types.

But schizophrenia is a complicated disease with a variety of contributing genetic and environmental factors and a broad spectrum of presentations. Rather than looking at something complex, they sought to apply their new system to a disease that likewise causes neurological damage but does so in a more dramatic way and in which microglia are also implicated: HIV/AIDS infection.

They reached out to Jordan-Sciutto, who has deep experience investigating the mechanisms of HAND and was eager for the opportunity to develop a model superior to those currently available. Together, the scientists identified the three cell types they were most interested in studying: neurons, astrocytes, and microglia.

Neurons aren't directly infected by HIV but are known to be damaged during infection. Meanwhile astrocytes are believed to interact with neurons, causing damage by sending pro-inflammatory factors into the spaces between cells, called synapses. And microglia, which are responsible for maintaining a healthy environment in the absence of disease, are seen to expand and contribute to inflammation during HIV infection.

After nailing the technical challenge of creating this tractable model in which each cell type is generated independently and then mixed together, the team used it to probe how HIV infection and ART impact the cells, both alone and in combination.

"A lot of people are taking PreEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] if they're in a situation where their risk of contracting HIV is heightened," says Ryan. "Just as we want to understand the cognitive impacts of HIV, we also want to see whether these drugs alone are impacting the brain health of otherwise healthy people."

The researchers looked at RNA expression in their cultures to get a sense of what proteins and signaling pathways were becoming activated in each scenario. During infection, they saw inflammatory pathways that had previously been implicated in HIV in earlier research. When they introduced the antiretroviral drug EFZ, which is not in common use in the United States but remains a frontline therapy in many other areas of the world, with an infection, the activity of most of these pathways was reduced.

"But this scenario involved its own unique response," says Ryan. Certain pathways associated with inflammation and damage remained despite the introduction of EFZ.

"EFZ treatment of the tri-cultures that included HIV-infected microglia reduces inflammation by around 70%," Ryan says. Interestingly, EFZ by itself also triggered inflammation, though to a lesser extent than infection.

"It seems a combination of infection and ART is creating its own unique response that is different from the sum of its parts," Ryan says. "Knowing what pathways are still active due to ART could help us appropriately target additional therapies so patients don't develop HAND."

Many features of infection seen in the three-cell culture mirror what is known from HIV infection and ART treatment in people, giving the researchers confidence in the reliability of their model.

"Just looking at the microglia," says Anderson, "we see in our system that they are taking on both of their normal roles in keeping key signaling systems balanced during their normal state and activating and causing damage when they're fighting infection. We're able to model normality and abnormality in a way we haven't been able to before."

For Jordan-Sciutto, the new system "is really going to change the way my lab operates going into the future." She's hopeful many other HIV scientists will take it up to further their studies as she also explores more aspects of HIV's impact on the brain, such as how it navigates through the blood-brain barrier that normally protects the central nervous system from inflammation and infection.

The study authors give credit to the collaborative environment at Penn for this cross-disciplinary project. "Tentacles of this project extend from CHOP to the dental school to the vet school to the medical school," says Anderson. "Penn is a very special place where people seem to be more likely to share their technologies around and let other people work with and develop them. This project is a great example of that."
Coronavirus patients in New York will have to resort to using bag valve masks if the Empire State doesn't have enough ventilators, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference on Saturday.

The state anticipates it will need 140,000 hospital beds and 30,000 ventilators at its "highest point of need"  that is, when coronavirus infections are projected to hit their apex in 14 to 21 days, Cuomo said.

Failure to obtain these ventilators means that patients will need to have air pumped manually into their lungs with a bag valve mask, he said.

"It's a manual ventilator and someone squeezes the bag continuously," Cuomo said. "This looks easy, but if you do this for any length of time, you see how difficult it winds up being."

"This is the alternative if you don't have a ventilator," he said.

New York has already purchased about 3,000 bag valve masks and ordered 4,000 more, according to Cuomo.

"We're even talking about training National Guard people to learn how to operate this device, which is relatively simple to operate, but you need a lot of people to operate this 24 hours a day for each patient," he said.
ALMOs approval rate falls amid coronavirus case increases

Mexico City, Mexico  A poll conducted by Consulta Mitofsky shows a decline in the approval rate of Mexicos president.

According to the poll, which was released Friday, the approval rate of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador fell below 50 percent for the first time since his presidency amid criticism of his management of the coronavirus emergence, concerns about public insecurity and economic problems.

The Consulta Mitofsky poll placed the presidents popularity at 49.6 percent. Roy Campos, director of Mitofsky said that the coronavirus epidemic has seriously been affecting citizen support for the government as well as the national economic outlook.

The president, whose approval was close to 80 percent a year ago, has suffered a substantial drop in popularity amid strong criticism for his handling of the coronavirus crisis since the government reported the first infection in February.

As of March 27, the Ministry of Health for Mexico reported 717 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. Undersecretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell says he will discuss the situation regarding atypical pneumonia, which, he said, has generated doubts and false news. That announcement came after funeral homes began questioning the sudden increase in phenomena deaths, wondering if they were not actually coronavirus-related deaths.

In Quintana Roo, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased to 32. The Ministry of Health says for the state, there were 109 negatives, 40 in study, 32 positives and one death.
THE Immigration Department in Mwanza Region has strongly refuted circulating reports on social media that authorities in Uganda have deported Tanzanian traders who had entered the country for business purposes due to Covid-19 fears.

Mwanza Regional Immigration Officer Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Bahati Mwaifuge said the alleged nine traders were not businesspeople as reported on social media.

According to the regional Immigration boss, the alleged individuals were Mv Upendo Ships crew who had ferried cargo to Jinja in Uganda on February 16, this year.

She said after offloading cargo in Jinja the workers with their vessel, which is owned by Mr Timothy Kilumile, travelled to Kisumu for the same purpose and again returned to Jinja.

After returning to Jinja from Kisumu in Kenya, they were stopped by police officers for Immigration clearance procedures, including undergoing health screening for coronavirus," she added.

Ms Mwaifuge said she spoke to the captain of the vessel, Mr Juma Mchalaganya, and the executive director of the company, Mr Timothy Kilumile, who confirmed that the nine people were not traders, but the ships crew.

She added that they were safe and were going on well with their activities as usual as they had followed all Immigration laws and procedures.

"Let me use this opportunity to ask journalists before they report or broadcast anything for public consumption, especially at this time of the coronavirus pandemic, let them investigate and balance their stories with authorities who are concerned," she said.

For his part, Mv Upendo Executive Director Timothy Kilumile said he was shocked with the circulating news, saying the alleged nine people who were said to be businesspeople were not returned to Mwanza by the Ugandan government for fearing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The nine traders are the crew of my ship and they have never travelled back to Mwanza, but they left the country on February 16, this year, for Uganda even before the deadly disease plagued our country," he said, reminding the journalists to work professionally by making research and coming out with true and balanced stories.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department in the Mwanza Region has arrested six illegal immigrants during its operation mounted from March 17-23, this year, according to the regional Immigration boss.

Speaking to reporters, Mwanza Regional Immigration Officer Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Bahati Mwaifuge said out of the six arrested illegal immigrants three were Burundians.

According to Ms Mwaifuge, one of the illegal immigrants is alleged to be bearing the nationalities of either Kenya or Rwanda while the remaining two also claimed to be Tanzanians, but the authorities are investigating to establish the genuineness of their claims.
In a rare display of public anger in China, dozens of people in central Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak till recently, attacked official vehicles after they were stopped from crossing a bridge and travel to neighbouring Jiangxi after the lifting of the lockdown.

Hubei province with over 56 million people was kept under lockdown from January 23 as part of aggressive measures to bring down COVID-19 cases which rapidly spread in the area.

Videos on Chinese social media on Friday showed unprecedented scenes of police from Hubei and Jiangxi clashing on the bridge connecting the two provinces over barricades erected from stopping Hubei people from moving out over fears of coronavirus spreading.

Policemen from both sides argued over how to verify if people were allowed to enter Jiangxi, according to local media reports.

It was a major relief for millions of people in Hubei province, when the Chinese government which kept it under lockdown lifted the restrictions on travel.

The government will permitted people from the province to travel if they hold a green health code, meaning no contact with any infected or suspected COVID-19 cases.

But people of Hubei to their shock on Friday found roadblocks on the 1st Yangtze River Bridge that separates Huangmei county in Hubei erected by Huangmei county of Jiangxi province.

In local media reports, witnesses were quoted as saying that Huangmei police in Jiujiang erected roadblocks on the bridge to stop people from Hubei from crossing it, a move they alleged stigmatised them.

Video footage shared online showed rows of police armed with riot shields holding back the crowds, while members of the public could be seen damaging and even overturning police vehicles.

In a clip published by the Huanggang city government, which administers Huangmei, the county's Communist Party chief Ma Yanzhou could be heard speaking to the people through a loud hailer, warning them that by gathering in a large group they were increasing their chances of contracting the virus, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

While it is unclear exactly how the clash started, police from the two sides published separate official statements online, which were quickly deleted, it said.

The incident underlines the problems China faces as it seeks a return to normalcy after months of lockdown, the Post said.

After the incident, the governments of Huangmei and Jiujiang on Friday issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to remove the barriers set up to restrict travel during the lockdown, and also to recognise each other's health screening codes to make it easier for people in good health to get to where they needed to be, the Post report said.

An article by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) mouthpiece, People's Daily acknowledged the problems in getting the country back on its feet.

In the past few days, all walks of life have called for governments to accept workers from Hubei, it said.

However, it is undeniable that some places, intentionally or not, have set up obstacles for Hubei migrant workers to return to their posts and hold prejudices against them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
They were not unsettled. Confinement doesnt bother me, Naomi wrote me in an email. My shaky frame can handle more confinement.

Naomi and Eva were introduced by Grace Paley at a reading of her work in the 1980s. They were well past middle-age, long after the tragedies and social disruptions of the previous decades had touched them each with such intimacy. When catastrophe is sequential, it eventually trains its survivors to greet terror with the serenity of the enlightened.

Both Eva and Naomi experienced anti-Semitism at a young age. Eva, who was raised in a family of wealthy Jewish intellectuals outside Vienna, recalls being beaten by a group of children for being a dirty Jew when she was 6. During her childhood in the Bronx, Naomi was privy to the fascist radio broadcasts of Father Coughlin, which were always emanating from the open windows of East Tremont during the summer. Her grandparents had escaped the pogroms in Russia, coming to America at the turn of the century when the habits of immigrants  considered filthy and ignorant  were continually blamed for the spread of disease.

The first of Evas own upheavals came with war. A year after the Nazi annexation of Austria, in 1939, she fled via the Kindertransport, a series of rescue efforts that placed Jewish children in British homes. Eva, then 13, traveled with her siblings first by train to the Netherlands and then by ship to England.

The minute we got to Holland it seemed so wonderful that there were kind people there on the station platform, Eva once told an interviewer for a feminist oral history project. They gave you orange juice and smiled at you.

At first she had thought of it all as an adventure. And then, when we were in England, she said, I very soon realized that I was extremely lonely. Eva and her brothers were dispersed to different homes while their parents stayed behind. In 1940, the family escaped the Holocaust and reunited in America, landing in Staten Island.

By then Evas parents had lost everything, and so her mother worked teaching English to refugees for 25 cents an hour in order to earn the money to become a masseuse. Her father, who had been a prominent architect in Austria, sold vacuum cleaners.
In an effort to reinforce the ranks of medical professionals available to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tom Wolf on Saturday eased restrictions and licensing protocol for a slew of health care professionals.

In a live streamed press conference, Wolf announced he had streamlined the process allowing retired doctors, nurses, medical students, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers to return to work and help ease the burden that the pandemic has placed on the states health care system.

Wolf is also allowing out-of-state practitioners to practice in Pennsylvania, including pharmacists, in certain circumstances. The governor also expanded telemedicine and launched a portal where health care workers can purchase supplies.

All of these steps are about saving lives and giving our health care system time to prepare for the expected increase in patients," Wolf said. "I commend all of the health care workers across our state for your dedication to serving and caring for others at this unprecedented time.

The health department on Saturday revealed that Pennsylvania now has counted 2,751 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and a total of 34 deaths. Among those deaths, were two in central Pennsylvania: one in Cumberland County and one in Lancaster County.

Wolf also added three more counties to those subject to a stay-at-home order, bringing the total to 22. He previously ordered at non-life-sustaining businesses to close as well.

The Department of State has temporarily eased licensing waivers for health care professionals during the COVID-19 disaster declaration. The waivers reduce administrative barriers.

Wolf said easing restrictions on retired medical professionals to the health care community would return doctors and nurses with decades of experience back to the covid-19 frontline.

These retirees dont need to help COVID-19 patients to be a huge help, he said. By taking patients who have everyday concerns, they are helping to reduce the overall burden on our medical system and freeing up others to assist with the pandemic.

Wolf said that Pennsylvania had in recent weeks received 119 applications requesting reactivation of medical licenses.

Newly eased restrictions will also be applied for certified nurse practitioners and pharmacists.

Wolf is also lifting restrictions on out-of-state medical professionals.

We need all the hands we can get, he said.

Wolf reiterated his orders to state residents to stay home in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

He underscored the threat of contagion noting a little math: Wolf said that if one individual infects three others, and those three infect three more, the link five times down the chain quickly climbs to 243 infected people.

Be the missing link, Wolf said. Remove yourself from this chain and save lives.

The administration has said that self-isolation and social distancing are necessary to reduce the rate at which the coronavirus is spreading in Pennsylvania, to keep the states hospitals from being overwhelmed with more patients than they are capable of treating at one time.

So far, the number of cases has been increasing at an exponential rate, which means theyve been doubling every two to three days.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky.  The search for life-saving medical gear needed to battle the coronavirus pandemic is pitting state against state  and even against the rest of the world.

Frustrated governors across the U.S. are duking it out in a worldwide bidding war for face masks and other safety gear that doctors and nurses desperately need to battle COVID-19, which has already killed more than 1,500 Americans and infected more than 100,000 others, with no end in sight.

But the increasingly expensive supplies they're so desperately searching for are selling out before they can get them  or are costing them exorbitant amounts when they can find them.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear recently said his state had a line on some protective equipment when the Federal Emergency Management Agency "came out and bought it all out from under us."

"I am willing to pay whatever it takes to protect the people of Kentucky to the maximum extent that we can," he said.

The problem is, everyone else is willing to do the same.

'On-the-job emergency training': Hospitals may run low on staff to run ventilators

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called the struggle to obtain personal protective equipment, or PPE, a "Wild West" that's forcing his state to overpay for the gear it's able to secure.

And New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters "we're savaging other states" as they all fight for fresh equipment.

Ill contract with a company for 1,000 masks, Cuomo said. Theyll call back 20 minutes later and say, The price just went up, because they had a better offer."

At a White House news conference this week, Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump administration is looking into reports that some states are unable to purchase equipment from the private market because the federal government is buying up supplies.

We want to partner with every governor and make sure the left hand knows what the right hand is doing in terms of acquiring resources, Pence said in response to a question from USA TODAY.

Story continues

While the administration wants to make sure FEMA is able to buy as much of the equipment as possible, as we work with the supply chain, we want to have full coordination with the states, Pence said.

Layman Leasor, a JCPS employee, wraps boxes of personal protective equipment in plastic on a shipping dock at the Young Building on Crittenden Drive in Louisville, Ky. on Mar. 26, 2020. The school system is donating 40,000 items, including masks and gloves to the Louisville Metro Public Health Department to assist in their efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Demand for PPE has soared with the advent of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, experts say production and shipments from China, the world's manufacturing powerhouse, were disrupted while that country fought to contain COVID-19.

"Its kind of the worst possible combination of events," said Tom Derry, CEO of the Arizona-based Institute for Supply Management, a not-for-profit professional supply management organization.

"Its going to be a race against the clock to see if we can protect our health care workers.  Were all just scrambling and trying to react."

Health care workers need personal protection equipment  known as PPE  such as medical masks, gloves, gowns and face shields, to safeguard themselves against the virus as they treat a rising flood of patients.

Top-of-the-line face protection  specifically the N-95 respirator  is high on states' and hospitals' priority lists. So are ventilators that many COVID-19 patients need because they end up with respiratory problems so bad they have difficulty breathing.

But because places such as China and Italy were hit by the coronavirus first, Derry said, the supplies states are ordering now often end up at the back of the line behind requests other countries already made for the same items.

"Normally, in supply chains, the replenishment cycle is very tightly choreographed," Derry said.

But production and shipping delays, along with abnormally high demand, have swamped the system.

And as states turn to American manufacturers for help, Derry said practical constraints are making it difficult to retool facilities to make different products.

"In two to three months well be back to normal, but the crisis is right now," he said.

The end result is a hyper-competitive PPE market that finds states, the federal government and foreign countries all in a frantic competition for resources.

It isn't just Illinois vs. New York or Kentucky versus FEMA.

It's Kentucky and Illinois and Ohio and Indiana versus the world.

And lives are depending on how much equipment these states can acquire as COVID-19 keeps spreading.

Trump to Mike Pence: 'Don't call the woman in Michigan,' aka Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Bidding war for PPE

Exactly how states are trying to find and purchase PPE isn't entirely clear.

The Illinois and Ohio governments did not respond to a USA TODAY Network request for information about their procurement efforts as of Friday afternoon.

And Kentucky's state government did not grant an interview request with a state Finance and Administration Cabinet official who could provide specifics on their process.

However, governors from those and other Midwestern states have been vocal about their struggle to obtain more safety gear for their communities.

Pritzker said the Illinois government is working with manufacturers in the state in addition to battling in the market to buy supplies, according to Capitol News Illinois.

His office recently announced the state has contracts to buy supplies that include 2.5 million N-95 respirators, 1 million surgical masks and 11,000 gloves.

My administration continues to work day and night to scour the globe, Pritzker said.

Pritzker also is welcoming donations of PPE from tattoo parlors and other places.

In Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb has emphasized how companies across the state are stepping up during this pandemic. His office says RV and auto manufacturers are switching lines to help make shields, masks and other supplies.

Asked about competition between states, Holcomb's spokeswoman, Rachel Hoffmeyer, said: Indiana is exploring a number of options to manufacture our own PPE to reduce reliance on the market.

A promising source for ventilators state officials recently touted would involve retooling an idled General Motors plant in Kokomo, Indiana, to produce tens of thousands of those devices.

President Donald Trump said Friday he would use his authority under the Defense Production Act to require GM to accept federal contracts for ventilators, and GM said plans were in motion to put its Kokomo facility to work.

In Kentucky, Beshear said the state government is looking everywhere for supplies and procuring items in ways it never has before.

"Were having to put dollars in escrow at different times so we have a product come in, because you don't know that you're going to get the amount that they say theyre going to send you," he said at a press conference Thursday.

"You then have to make sure that it meets the specs as they come in, and sometimes you make an order and they call you back and they say that it is not available."

And many businesses are trying to help, such as by retooling their operations to produce medical equipment.

Federal government stockpile under fire

Some states also say they haven't gotten what they need from the federal government's Strategic National Stockpile, which is intended to provide medical supplies in emergencies like this.

Officials for Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Rhode Island and other states have said they've received a fraction of the supplies they've requested from the stockpile.

And Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned that the gear her state has received, from the stockpile and through its own efforts, won't be enough for the crisis at hand.

Had the federal government really started focusing when it became clear that the whole world would be confronting this, wed be in a stronger position right now," Whitmer said. "Lives will be lost because we werent prepared."

Indiana Health Commissioner Kristina Box said Wednesday that Indiana recently got its second allotment of supplies from the national stockpile and planned to distribute it to hospitals with the greatest needs.

In Ohio, state health director Dr. Amy Acton said recently that the state had received gear from the national stockpile, but "it's box loads, not truckloads."

FEMAs administrator has said the federal government is prepared to go to zero with the stockpile to meet the demand for supplies.

Hospitals in Ohio and other states across the Midwest know a surge of cases could deplete the stock they have before more can arrive.

So theyre requesting donations and making plans to conserve their equipment and even reuse some of it if necessary.

The 'gray market' for medical gear

With high demand squeezing the supply of PPE, agencies in search of this equipment may be turning to the gray market, said Mike Alkire, president of Premier, a group purchasing company that hospitals and medical clinics rely on for supply needs.

Gray markets involve products being sold outside of the manufacturer's approved channels.

Premier is exploring that market, too, but Alkire said it's made up of unauthorized or unofficial sellers and fraught with fraud.

Alkire said thats also where he thinks the bidding war governors have talked about is happening.

His company is working with its clinical clients (not state governments) to get them what they need during the pandemic, but it's also looking into every lead in the hope of finding a little more equipment until an emerging supply chain can begin to deliver.

You get hundreds of calls a day, maybe 200 calls and emails about people that have masks and all this stuff, he said. And 99% of them are false. ... It's like (the movie) 'Groundhog Day.' It's that every single day.

With evidence that manufacturing in China is returning and as American manufacturers start to retool facilities to make medical equipment, Mike Schiller, senior director of supply chain at the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management, said he doesnt think the supply chain will run dry.

But it will be tight.

As for spiking prices, Schiller said hospitals, states and the federal government are tapping into suppliers that have PPE but typically don't sell to hospitals, such as veterinarian, dental and construction suppliers.

But that brings with it a lack of contracts and set prices.

So what you're seeing here is some market-driven pricing, he noted. Supply and demand. Economics 101.

Contributing: Tony Cook and Tessa Duvall

Follow Morgan Watkins on Twitter: @morganwatkins26.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Coronavirus: States battle each other for critical medical gear
Take a deep breath. Is the air inside your home stuffy? Don't delay: Open a window and let fresh air and sunlight into your quarantined space. It won't just help make your place smell better and feel fresher, it can also make your home healthier. And it may just help elevate your mood in these stressful times.

With a pandemic raging, the Centers for Disease Control recommends all households "increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning." This call for fresh air is in addition to regular disinfecting and best hygiene practices to blunt the spike of COVID-19 cases.

Sunlight plus a cool breeze to assist in the fight against infection isn't a new idea. There's a history of fresh air and sunlight being used to control the spread of disease.

During the 1918 flu pandemic, "open air" treatments were used to treat sick soldiers and sailors, according to public health expert Richard Hobday. It remained a popular therapeutic method to treat infection through the 1950s.

In a recent article, Hobday explains the lessons learned from the 1918 flu outbreak: Over a century ago, medical officers discovered a "combination of fresh air and sunlight sees to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff." Hobday cites a report that indicates open-air treatment during the 1918 pandemic reduced deaths in hospitals from about 40% to about 13%.

In 2018, researchers led by Dr. Ashkan Fahimipour published findings in the Microbiome Journal that show sunlight does help kill bacteria in household dust. However, the doctor cautions there isn't direct evidence sunlight is an effective deterrent for the spread of COVID-19.

"We do have scientific evidence that sunlight inactivates some microorganisms, including viruses," says Fahimipour. "However, to my knowledge, data on the effects of sunlight on COVID-19 do not exist. That said, sunlight is a 'free' potential infection control measure that is easy to implement and unlikely to contribute deleterious effectswith emphasis on potential."

So if the sun's rays and fresh air are an easy way to boost the overall health of your living space, we wanted to focus on that crucial potential for beneficial effects We spoke with a few pros for tips on how to maximize airflow and sunlight in your home.

__________

Watch: How Does Your Vegetable Garden Grow? Indoors

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Open your windows, even if you have to adjust the thermostat

Whether you're in a part of the country in the full throes of spring or still dealing with a deep freeze, think about opening your windows for fresh air and adjusting the thermostat to compensate. And yes, we know it's expensive to run the heater with windows open, but letting the air circulate for a few hours a day can help improve the atmosphere inside your home.

Jeff Scroggins runs Creative Design Group, a design firm focused on high-end homes in Colorado's ski resort towns. Even in the often-frigid Rockies, where air conditioning isn't a standard feature, Scroggins says he has plenty of clients who crack open their windows year-round just for airflow. Even when temperatures dip below freezing, fresh air can offer benefits.

If you have outdoor space, use it

If you're lucky enough to be quarantined at home and have a backyard, use that space for dining alfresco, grilling, or even an impromptu picnic.

And your backyard doesn't need to be designed to the nines to enjoy it. Make the most of what you have right now.

"Pretend you are in a luxurious resort, and start your day by experiencing that first cup of coffee outside, listening to the birds," suggests Susan Solliday, president of the Arizona North Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers. "Pull out chairs and tables suitable for outside, and place them in great morning spots."

No yard? No problem. Designer and real estate agent James Judge says even the smallest outdoor spaces can be transformed into an inviting hangout spot.

"It can be as simple as a yoga mat on the patio or a cute bistro set that you order online," Judge says. "An indoor and outdoor throw pillow can brighten up a space, too."

Ditch heavy drapery for sheer curtains

Judge also recommends sheer curtains to lighten up your space. Now is not the time to live out your vampire fantasiesso consider replacing heavy drapes or thick fabric curtains to allow sunlight to stream in.

"With sheers you can still achieve privacy, but they are a great way to get natural light in, too," says Judge.

There are several options for blinds and shades, like solar shades, which are designed to maximize natural light while cutting down on glare and blocking harmful UV, which could damage furniture or other valuables.

Blinds with larger slats let in the most light, but offer less privacy than those with smaller slats, which is important to consider for windows facing the street.

How you approach letting sunlight and fresh air in to your shelter-in-place lifestyle will be personal. It depends on your home, your climate, and your health. Whatever your situation, try to make every effort to keep your surroundings as healthy as possible. Opening a window is free, easy, and proven to boost your health. And that's something we can all use right now.

The post Take Advantage of Free Disinfectants: How To Fill Your Home With Sunlight and Fresh Air appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
The coronavirus has already caused so much destruction nationwidenot only among the many who have fallen ill, but also among those who are suffering from businesses closing and those who are struggling financially. While the news cycle has been filled with reports of fearful people panicking and hoarding necessities, countless stories have emerged of mutual love and careespecially between neighbors.

Would you like to reach out to your local community? If you're not sure how to, consider these recent news stories a perfect source of inspiration. Let these good deeds serve as a reminder that even during this period of social distancing, people have found a variety of creative ways to reach outor even just to lighten the mood of others during these dark times.

1. Do door-side drop-offs and check-ins

Like many others, Amy McDonald decided to help her elderly neighbors in Fishers, IN, by dropping off groceries for them. She knew that could help lower their levels of exposure to the coronavirus, but what she didnt realize was that she could in fact be saving someone's life.

As USA Today reports, McDonalds 89-year-old neighbor, Jo Trimble, was having strange, flulike symptoms when McDonald arrived at her home to drop off some provisions she'd asked for. Not wanting to leave her alone, McDonald stayed with her neighbor as they waited for paramedics.

It turned out that Trimble didnt have the flu, or the coronavirusshe was having a heart attack. Luckily, she was able to get to the hospital in time to have a life-saving surgery.

Its a good reminder that our neighbors may need someone to check in on them, whether for groceries, illness, or whatever reason.

2. Make the best of canceled events

During this epidemic, many people have had to postpone vacations, weddings, and other celebrations. But when one young New Yorker named Jordana Shmidman had to postpone her bat mitzvah, she decided to turn this unfortunate situation into an opportunity to help others.

According to Insider, the food for the event had already been prepared, but Shmidman and her family didnt want it to go to waste. So they asked the caterers to divide the food into boxes so they could deliver it to families in quarantine in the area.

This proves that while so many events have been postponed or canceled, thoughtfulness and kindness are definitely still on the schedule. And in the end, Shmidman still managed to share her special day with loved ones, livestreaming her bat mitzvah online.

3. Give an impromptu performance

In Italy, many amazing operatic performances have been canceled during the countrywide lockdown. That didn't stop one tenor, Maurizio Marchini, however, from stepping onto his balcony and serenading his neighbors with Puccini's "Nessun Dorma."

And he isn't the only one treating his neighbors to some tunes. One DJ in Palermo, Italy, lit up the night with some beats.

In Barcelona, Spain, a pianist on his balcony was joined by a nearby saxophonist for an ad hoc duet of "My Heart Will Go On." It might not be classic opera, but the healing powers of music apply to all kinds of tastes.

As Marchini explained to Fox News, "Music can lift spirits, and now there are many people who are suffering."

4. Write letters to your local nursing home

In an effort to combat the coronavirus, nursing homes across the nation are putting heavy restrictions on visits from family and friends. This may be saving residents from being infected, but it's leaving many seniors feeling isolated.

Meanwhile, with many public schools closed, kids are stuck at home, bored and with little to do. That's why one family with four young siblings in Westminster, MAMadilyn, 10, Olivia, 9, Cameron, 7 and Jack, 4decided to start writing letters and drawing pictures to nursing home residents across the state.

"The kids love to do anything arts and crafts, and thinking about how stressed everybody is, [we] thought, 'What can we do to make everybody happy? How can we help?'" their mother, Vanessa France, told Good Morning America.

My girls are being creative today! They made cards for the nursing home and senior apartments to let the elderly know we are thinking about them. Hope others do the same thing. Just put them in a plastic bag outside the building and they will deliver them for you. pic.twitter.com/FGGQZgicUV  sarah Halbesma (@Halbese) March 18, 2020

The idea has since spread far and wide, embraced by old and young alike. At a nursing home in Sterling Village, MA, Michele Morin explains, "Letters from the children will bring them joy and will hopefully comfort them during this difficult time. ... We will also be encouraging our residents to write the children back."

5. Become a virtual volunteer

When Kathy Green, a resident of Birmingham, AL, heard that a hospital was asking neighbors to help sew face masks, she decided to rally the troops. Green started a Facebook group to organize local residents who were up to the task of sewing and distributing their homemade masks to those who needed them.

"I felt like I thought there was going to be a need and that it was probably too big for me to manage through email, so I started a Facebook group," Green told Fox 8. The group soon grew to a community of 1,300 volunteers, proving that helping out can be as simple as finding a way to contribute from the comfort of your couch.

6. Create some inspiring window art
Migrant labourers hit by the 21-



day lockdown for the coronavirus outbreak are being given food from 64 stalls in Bhiwandi, a township with a huge population of such people, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde said on Saturday.

Each stall can feed between 500-1000 people, most of whom work in the powerlooms here, currently shut due to the lockdown, he added.

In Thane, guardian minister Eknath Shinde has press into service 25 auto-rickshaws to transport people in case of emergency, while in Kalyan, municipal commissioner Vijay Suryavanshi has set up a special number for senior citizens affected by the lockdown.

Thane Mayor Naresh Mhaske warned doctors against keeping their clinics closed.

Thane Collector Rajesh Narevkar asked migrant labourers to stay put during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought against racial discrimination, has died, a family statement said. He was 98.

A charismatic and fiery preacher, Lowery led the SCLC for two decades restoring the organization's financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africa's apartheid-era regime before retiring in 1997.

Lowery, considered the dean of civil rights veterans, lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness the election of an African American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for President-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, "America tonight is in the process of being born again." An early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama over then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Lowery also gave the benediction at Obama's inauguration.

"We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union, he said.

In 2009, Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

In another high-profile moment, Lowery drew a standing ovation at the 2006 funeral of King's widow, Coretta Scott King, when he criticized the war in Iraq, saying, "For war, billions more, but no more for the poor." The comment also drew head shakes from then-President George Bush and his father, former president George H.W. Bush, who were seated behind the pulpit.

Lowery's involvement in civil rights grew naturally out of his Christian faith. He often preached that racial discrimination in housing, employment and health care was at odds with fundamental Christian values such as human worth and the brotherhood of man.

"I've never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly," he once said. Lowery remained active in fighting issues such as war, poverty and racism long after retiring, and survived prostate cancer and throat surgery after he beat Jim Crow.

His wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who worked alongside her husband of nearly 70 years and served as head of SCLC/WOMEN, died in 2013.

I'll miss you, Uncle Joe. You finally made it up to see Aunt Evelyn again, King's daughter, Bernice King, said in a tweet Friday night.

Lowery was pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1950s when he met King, who then lived in Montgomery, Alabama. Lowery's meetings with King, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and other civil rights activists led to the SCLC's formation in 1957. The group became a leading force in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

Lowery became SCLC president in 1977 following the resignation of Abernathy, who had taken the job after King was assassinated in 1968. He took over an SCLC that was deeply in debt and losing members rapidly. Lowery helped the organization survive and guided it on a new course that embraced more mainstream social and economic policies.

Coretta Scott King once said Lowery "has led more marches and been in the trenches more than anyone since Martin." He was arrested in 1983 in North Carolina for protesting the dumping of toxic wastes in a predominantly black county and in 1984 in Washington while demonstrating against apartheid.

He recalled a 1979 confrontation in Decatur, Alabama, when he and others were protesting the case of a mentally disabled black man charged with rape. He recalled that bullets whizzed inches above their heads and a group of Klan members confronted them.

"I could hear them go 'whoosh,'" Lowery said. "I'll never forget that. I almost died 24 miles from where I was born." In the mid-1980s, he led a boycott that persuaded the Winn-Dixie grocery chain to stop selling South African canned fruit and frozen fish when that nation was in the grip of apartheid.

He also continued to urge blacks to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

"Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears," he said in 1985.

Like King, Lowery juggled his civil rights work with ministry. He pastored United Methodist churches in Atlanta for decades and continued preaching long after retiring.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1921, Joseph Echols Lowery grew up in a Methodist church where his great-grandfather, the Rev. Howard Echols, was the first black pastor.

Lowery's father, a grocery store owner, often protested racism in the community.

After college, Lowery edited a newspaper and taught school in Birmingham, but the idea of becoming a minister "just kept gnawing and gnawing at me," he said. After marrying Evelyn Gibson, a Methodist preacher's daughter, he began his first pastorate in Birmingham in 1948.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

"I believe in the final triumph of righteousness," he said. "The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Lowery is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne. He died at home in Atlanta from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak, the family statement said on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expert help from award winning revise.ie is now available for free thanks to the innovation of Carl Lynch. revise.ie has worked with teachers to offer online, live and interactive classes which are available free to any student to supplement the work they are already doing with schools.

In what started as a means to make this content available to the students of St Kierans College in Kilkenny has now, it seems, gone to a much wider audience. Carl who normally has 30 students in his Leaving Certificate classroom has, this week, had nearly 400 students attending that same class, similar numbers attended English classes which were also available in this first week as were classes for Second, Third and Fifth Year students.

Other subjects are online with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music, Accounting, Business and others expected for Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students. So if you hear the wonderful tones of Daniel ODonnell playing from a computer near you - it turns out that it might not be a change of musical taste for your son or daughter but rather a sign that they are studying hard - this is, it seems, how they do maths today, For more go to www.revise.ie

These are extraordinary times in education. When on Thursday 12th March the Taoiseach and his advisors made the decision to shut schools immediately every school in Ireland, and every teacher in them, made the move to try innovate to ensure that although the classroom experience would be different the education could continue," Karl Lynch said.

All of our schools have done a massive amount of work in this area and anecdotally you hear of wonderful accounts of overworked students still doing homework and classwork albeit now in an online environment. It was an extraordinary ask of teachers and schools, both Primary and Secondary, to try - in a completely new way - to continue their essential work. We are very fortunate with all our schools in Kilkenny, as they have responded generously to this challenge. Students of all ages are busy keeping up their studies.
Akshay Kumar Generously Pledges To Donate Rs. 25 Crores To Fight Coronavirus Crisis, Says 'Need To Do Everything It Takes'
Private hospitals are facing collapse as negotiations falter over a multibillion-dollar bailout package to ensure their capacity to treat coronavirus cases, after the federal government cancelled non-urgent elective surgeries to preserve masks and clear the way for COVID-19 patients.

Australian Private Hospitals Association chief executive Michael Roff said state and territory governments were not honouring their pledge to secure the sector's viability, and that some hospitals would be forced to close this week if a deal was not reached.

"They don't seem to understand the urgency of the situation," Mr Roff told The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age.

Hundreds of nurses were stood down this week after private hospitals were ordered to scale back elective surgeries. Credit:Shutterstock

"If we're not getting any money in the door, then we don't have the capacity to pay our staff, to keep wards and beds open."
Syria's President and one of the United Arab Emirates' most powerful leaders spoke on the phone on Friday signalling a major thaw in Damascus' troubled relations with Arab countries, which had mostly boycotted President Bashar Assad and backed his opposition.

The official Emirati agency said Assad and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak and reviewed preventive measures to fight it.

Sheikh Mohammed, believed to be the Emirates' day-to-day ruler, said Syria and the UAE need to "place the humanitarian solidarity over political issues during this common challenge 'we are all facing'," according to the report.

The crown prince of the oil-rich Abu Dhabi affirmed that Syria "will not be left alone during these delicate and critical circumstances."



Syria's health system and infrastructure have been decimated by years of conflict. Although Damascus has recorded only five cases of infection with coronavirus, there are concerns the fast-spreading virus may prove a major test for the government.

The UAE had been a supporter of the Syrian opposition during the early years of the war, now in its tenth year. But as the war wound down and with the Syrian army capturing most of the territory that was once lost to the opposition, the UAE and a few Arab countries made limited and usually indirect openings toward Assad's government.

In late 2018, the UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus, for the first time since an organized Arab diplomatic boycott soon after the Syrian war erupted in 2011. The embassy representation is at a charge d'affairs level but its very reopening was a sign that more rapprochement is likely to follow.

Friday's phone call, however, is the first publicized contact between an Arab leader and Assad.

The Syrian opposition, which controls one overpopulated stretch of territory in northwestern Syria, is now mainly supported by Turkey, which the UAE and other Arab countries view with suspicion because of its embrace of regional Islamists.

Syria's official presidency Twitter account said the crown prince stressed that the UAE will support the "Syrian people during these exceptional times".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Carl Philpott, University of East Anglia



Symptoms of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) typically include a dry cough, fever and shortness of breath. But evidence is beginning to emerge from other countries and now from the UK that sudden loss of smell - and in some cases, taste - is an early indication of the novel coronavirus infection.



So far, there is currently no hard evidence on this, although many have taken to social media to report smell loss alongside other COVID-19 symptoms. As yet, it has not been listed by Public Health England or on the NHS website as an official symptom to look out for. But in this rapidly evolving situation, this may change.



So why is it that people are reporting a loss of smell and taste from this virus? First, it's worth clarifying that when we eat, we smell and taste together. Try pinching your nose when you eat and see what your food "tastes" like. You'll find that the only things you will detect is if the food is salty, sweet, sour, bitter or savoury. This is because these elements of flavour come from the taste buds on the tongue. Losing the smell of food leads many people to think their taste has gone when in the vast majority of cases it will be intact.



Smell loss (also known as anosmia or hyposmia) can be caused by many things, including swelling in the nose and sinuses (such as chronic sinusitis), head injury, and nerve disorders (such as Parkinson's disease). In some cases, no cause is found.



Loss of smell because of a viral infection, such as the common cold, is the second most common cause of smell loss and accounts for about 12% of all cases of anosmia. These episodes typically happen when the virus infects the nose, giving rise to the usual cold symptoms, including a blocked or runny nose. Your sense of smell usually comes back once symptoms subside.



But sometimes even when other symptoms disappear, your sense of smell doesn't return - or in some cases it's reduced (hyposmia), or is distorted (parosmia). In these cases, the virus has damaged the smell receptors causing them to lose the fine, hair-like endings that allow them to pick up smell molecules from the nasal mucus. Previous studies have looked at which viruses cause this condition - and many have been implicated, including the coronavirus family of which COVID-19 is a member.



Permanent loss?

With COVID-19, however, there is a somewhat different infection pattern to other viral upper respiratory infections. First, smell loss may be the only symptom, and indicates someone who seems otherwise well - or has only very mild symptoms - could be a carrier of the disease.



Some people with this symptom appear to be younger - under 40 years of age. The fact that it has been reported in health care workers, too, suggests that COVID-19's ease of transmission from the nose is because the viral shedding (when the virus reproduces) is highest there - and even more so in severe cases. Those who have been affected also report that sensory loss comes back within seven to 14 days.



A virus usually enters the body by implanting itself and infecting host cells throughout the body, such as in the airways or the gut, then reproducing. The COVID-19 virus is believed to enter the nasal tissues through the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor - though further research is needed to confirm whether this is the case. This protein is abundant in the nose, although the function of it is not clear. By entering the nose through this protein, it may cause temporary damage to the smell nerves. However, this damage appears to get better within one to two weeks after the onset of the disease.



Though most people who have reported this symptom get their sense of smell back, it's still too early to tell how many people may be left with more permanent smell loss after the virus has passed.



An international group of sense experts has been established to try and collect worldwide data on this issue, and determine the extent to which COVID-19 causes smell loss. If current trends continue as the weeks roll by and the pandemic peaks around the globe, we expect that people reporting smell loss will only increase in number. Smell loss as a first warning sign could be important in further preventing the spread.



Carl Philpott, Professor of Rhinology and Olfactology, University of East Anglia



This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.



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TagsCOVID-19, Smell or Taste Loss, Symptoms of Coronavirus
Government has announced that no vehicles will be allowed to travel between areas designated for the partial lockdown as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Ghana.



This restriction which takes effect on Monday, March 28, for the next two weeks will affect parts of Accra, Tema and Kumasi.



President Akufo-Addo on Friday directed that intercity travel in these areas will only be restricted to the movement of essential services.



There shall be, during this period, no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo, he said.



However, commercial transport within these cities will be allowed to continue amid stringent social distancing and hygiene protocols.



All intra-city passenger vehicles, such as trotros and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocolsall commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing. The Ministry of Transport has engaged the transport operators and unions in this regard, President Akufo-Addo explained.



Commercial motorcycle riders, known as Okada have also directed to desist from carrying any additional person within the period.



The lockdown affects areas in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi, where significant numbers of infections have been recorded.



According to the President, the directive is to enable contact tracing of persons who have come into contact with persons who have tested positive for the deadly virus.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By Express News Service

KOLLAM: In the wake of Covid-19 spread in various parts of the country, Mata Amritanandamayi Math has been keeping the district medical officers informed about all details regarding the situation through mails for the past one-and-a-half months, said the math in a statement. Also, the health workers from Alappad panchayat visit the math daily to make sure that everything is done as per the health department orders, it added.

The math clarified that the initial government order was to only quarantine the people coming from China, Thailand, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.

However, in view of the severity of the situation, all 58 foreigners who arrived at the math after February 25 were home quarantined in a separate building outside the ashram premises. The math said although they all are asymptomatic, they are not leaving their rooms or interacting with any other ashram residents.

The district medical office and panchayat health workers are also informed about their health details everyday. Moreover, devotees from other parts of the state and country have not been permitted to enter the ashram from March 5.

Mata Amritanandamayi said it is time for all to be vigilant with regard to Covid 19. All activities in the math are being carried out in a very transparent way. The math is also fully compliant with the government instructions and also informs them everyday. A team of health workers, comprising doctors sent by the district administration, has been evaluating the activities of the math and giving necessary instructions, she added.
Restaurant owners around Casper have been bracing themselves for a while.

First came the cancellation of big-time events. A state high school basketball tournament. Concerts at the Casper Events Center.

All of a sudden those would-be crowds  spending their would-be money on would-be meals and merchandise  just vanished.

Then grocery stores started selling out of food. The schools closed. Banks, administrative offices, public facilities. Locking their doors to the public as the novel coronavirus continued its spread across the U.S.

When Gov. Mark Gordon announced March 19 he and state Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist were ordering public gathering places to close, like venues and dine-in restaurants, many in food service had already been harmed by the contagions impact on local spending.

When Gordon announced Friday the closure order would be extended until April 17, many restaurateurs who have managed to adapt to an interim way of life heaved a sigh of exasperation and pressed on.

Its hard. I guess that goes without saying, said Jason Groves, operations manager at pizza restaurant Ludovico Farm to Wood Flame.

Groves has been anxiously watching the number of cases in the community climb over the last few days. He didnt know about the closure extension before a reporter contacted him Friday afternoon, but he wasnt surprised to hear the news.

We kind of expected it, he said. Weve been trying to hedge our bets a little on what this looks like long term, which has meant investing more heavily in takeout and delivery.

So far the investment has paid off. Groves said theyve had steady enough business to keep all 32 employees on staff, though with reduced hours.

The thanks, he said, belongs to a long list of local supporters.

Its been really heartwarming to see the people willing to wait  for delivery, the people who have bought gift cards for later, he said.

Hes been particularly touched by patrons who have ordered delivery and sent the pizzas to the Wyoming Medical Center for the medical staff, to the police department and to other first responders.

Weve been shocked, he said.

Elsewhere in the community, Jim Childs is trying to avoid the news. He also hadnt heard about the closure extension either before a reporter called him Friday.

Im trying to limit my watching of any of that, he said. I find when Im actually working and being productive my mind doesnt go down the rabbit hole of Oh my God, what am I gonna do.

Childs runs the Mexican restaurant La Cocina with his wife, Andrea, and three children, who are all in their 20s. Right now thats his only staff. When the governor announced the first closure order, Childs told his roughly 30 employees to file for unemployment until the restaurant could reopen.

In the meantime, hes offering takeout and delivery. He and his wife opened La Cocina in 1996. He isnt prepared to give up on it yet.

Were doing the best we can to keep our house in order, he said, adding that without the community rallying around the local restaurant community, things would look much worse.

Ive seen the people who live here really flock to their local favorites and support them, Childs said. Without that support, wed be done for.

Susan Bosco, who owns Boscos Italian Restaurant with her family, has been floored by that community support as well. She said the restaurant hasnt seen a reduction in business, though they have been limited in what they can sell. They arent selling beverages, for example.

That doesnt mean things havent been hard.

It sucks, Bosco said then laughed, answering a call from a reporter Friday. It really does.

But Bosco is trying to be optimistic. All 12 of her employees are still making an income, and her regulars are still showing up for their noon eggplant parmesan.

All of our regulars who usually come ... come and sit in the parking lot, she said with a laugh. I told the girls I should make them wear roller skates.

Not all restaurants will be returning to normal after the orders end. Caspers Good Cooking has closed for good, manager Jess Johnson said. The diners building is now for sale.

Gordons public health orders, which originally went through April 3, include schools, tattoo parlors, bars, salons and most child care facilities, among other businesses.

The best tool we have to reduce the potential burden on our healthcare system and save lives is for all of us to limit our contact with other people as much as possible, Harrist, the health officer, said in a statement a about the order.

While there is a clause in the order that would allow local establishments to petition their county health officer for an exception to the order, Natrona County will not be granting any such exceptions, according to Casper-Natrona County Health Department spokeswoman Hailey Bloom.

We understand that people are feeling many effects from the business restrictions and statewide orders. However, at this time, due to the evolving and increasing number of cases within the state, the Natrona County health officers will not be granting or evaluating any exceptions to the orders until at least the end of the continuation of the statewide orders on April 17, 2020, she said at a press conference Friday.

The latest order is not a shelter-in-place demand. Officials in Colorado, Montana and Idaho have issued orders to that effect, but Gordon said earlier this week that he was doing (his) best to avoid taking similar action.

As of Friday evening, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Wyoming had climbed to 73. Earlier in the week the U.S. surpassed Italy and China for the highest number of cases globally. As of Friday evening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 85,356 cases nationwide.

Staff writer Brady Oltmans contributed to this report.

Follow local government reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @morganhwrites

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 27, 2020 / Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC)(OTCQB:GRCAF) (the "Company" and formerly TriMetals Mining Inc.), reports the release of its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, the related management's discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations ("MD&A") and an update on the 2020 Exploration Plan for the Gold Springs project. In this press release, all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.As at December 31, 2019, the Company had a working capital of $4.09 million including $3.83 million in cash.On September 5, 2019 the Company's wholly-owned Bermudian subsidiary, South American Silver Limited ("SASL"), received from the Government of Bolivia ("Bolivia") US$25,588,525, being net of $209,475 for the Arbitration Tribunal's cost order, as a final settlement amount for (i) SASL's arbitration award against Bolivia and (ii) the transfer of the Malku Khota Project Data by the Company to Bolivia. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company paid $8,408,603 of arbitration award liabilities and on November 4, 2019 redeemed the Class B shares for $0.09827 per Class B share for total redemption proceeds of $11,436,186. These transactions resulted in a fair value income change of $3.31 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. On November 5, 2019 the Class B shared were delisted from the TSX and the OTCQB.On September 26, 2019 the Company closed the transaction with Wealth Minerals Limited and Wealth Copper Limited ("Wealth Copper") for the sale of the Escalones Project (the "Escalones Transaction", refer to New Release of September 27, 2019) which resulted in the Company acquiring a 42.6% ownership stake (equity investment) in Wealth Copper and recognizing a non-cash loss of $13.47 million due to the write-down of the Escalones property asset. During the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company recognized a non-cash loss of $0.1 million for its proportionate share in Wealth Copper's results of operations from the date of acquisition.During Q4 2019, the Company completed a drill program at the Homestake target located in the Nevada side of the Gold Springs project, and continued to manage its costs structure which resulted in general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, remaining consistent year over year at $1.26 million compared to $1.24 million during the year ended December 31, 2018.Exploration spending during the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased to $0.79 million from $1.20 million incurred in the year ended December 31, 2018. The 2019 costs included $0.70 million incurred at Gold Springs and $0.09 million incurred at the Escalones property in Chile, prior to the completion of the Escalones Transaction.The Company reported a net loss of $11.80 million ($0.05 loss per share) for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared with net earnings of $2.59 million ($0.01 earnings per share) for the year ended December 31, 2018.Exploration Plan for 2020The Company's vision is to identify a multimillion-ounce gold resource at its Gold Springs project. Aligned with that vision, the Company's plan for 2020 was to continue to add to the existing gold resources at Gold Springs. GRC had planned approximately 8,700 meters of drilling to start in early Q2 2020, mainly focused on stepping out and testing the extensions of the existing South Jumbo and North Jumbo resources, with the goal of increasing these resources which are open in multiple directions. The plan also included other exploration activities, metallurgical test work and the publishing of a new resource estimate by the end of 2020, capturing the results of the 2017, 2019 and 2020 drill programs.As a result of the social and economic disruption that has emerged as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the impact on the industry and capital markets, the Company has decided, for the present, to defer its 2020 Exploration Plan. The Company will continue to monitor the situation and reassess this decision in the near future, in light of the market conditions at that time.Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance RequirementsPursuant to BC Instrument 51-515 - Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements ("BCI 51-515") of the British Columbia Securities Commission ("Commission") and orders by the other Canadian securities regulatory authorities providing similar exemptions to those provided in BCI 51-515, the Commission granted exemptions from the requirements of section 85 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) to provide certain periodic disclosure about a reporting issuer's business and affairs, and variations of certain Commission rules to extend the time required to comply with such requirements (the "Exemption").The Company announces that it will be relying on the Exemption in respect of the requirement to file its Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2019-(the "AIF") on or before March 30, 2020, and advises that:management and other insiders of the Company are subject to a trading black-out policy that reflects the principles in section 9 of National Policy 11-207 - Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions;the Company expects to file the AIF on or before May 14, 2020;there have been no material business developments in respect of the Company since the date of the annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019.OutlookThe Company's focus is on the exploration and expansion of the mineral resources at its Gold Springs project in Nevada and Utah, USA.About Gold Springs Resource Corp. (Formerly TriMetals Mining Inc.)Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX: GRC and OTCQB: GRCAF) is a growth-focused gold exploration company creating value through the exploration and development of the Gold Springs project in Nevada and Utah, U.S.A. Management has extensive experience in global exploration and the mining industry.Gold Springs Resource Corp. Contact:Matias HerreroChief Executive Officerinfo@ goldspringsresource.com +1 (778) 801-1667Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking s
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 01:08:17|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran has allocated 23.9 billion U.S. dollars to support the economy amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday.

"We allocated the sum to protect economy against huge losses," Rouhani was quoted as saying by Tehran Times daily.

He said about 3 billion dollars has been allocated to the health sector and 1.2 billion dollars as a fund to cover the unemployment costs.

About 17.8 billion dollars will be allocated in low-interest loans to the businesses, Rouhani said, adding that 1.9 billion dollars will be paid in cash handouts to low-income families.

Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East, has confirmed a total of 35,408 COVID-19 cases, of whom 2,517 have died.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development will adopt a multi-faceted approach to cushion the effect of coronavirus pandemic on persons with special needs.

A statement from the ministry in Saturday said it will focus on the poor and vulnerable, the elderly, refugees, IDPs, persons living with disabilities, trafficked persons, petty traders, among others in its response to COVID-19 in the country.

The efforts of the Ministry will be part of the ongoing interventions of the Presidential Task Force on covid-19, but with a focus on the vulnerable groups in the country.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, announced this after a meeting with all the agencies of the Ministry where strategies were fashioned out for the nationwide response with emphasis to target the most vulnerable groups in the society.

We are in an emergency and work must start immediately, the Minister directed.

The Ministrys COVID-19 Response Committee comprises all the agencies supervised by the Ministry working jointly and speedily to deliver emergency relief to vulnerable segments of our society.

Given the current global crisis as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, we must work together and deploy all of our resources in unison to support the national efforts for maximum impact, the Minister emphasised.

The National Emergency Management Agency under the Ministry will lead in delivering services and relief to people and most especially the vulnerable groups along with the other agencies, including NAPTIP, the North East Development Commission ( NEDC) SDGs and the four components of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) namely N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme (NHSFP).

The minister restated that the Ministry and the agencies have a collective responsibility to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and to save lives and alleviate suffering of people in line with its mission and mandate. It is also our responsibility to act and coordinate all interventions that promote social development and strengthen social systems that provide support for and protection of vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

The Minister explained that the Ministry-led intervention will prioritize prevention and community engagement and increase sensitization to curtail spread of COVID-19 particularly among the person of concern in the implementation of the initiative to drive the overall national strategy adopted by the PTF on Covid-19.

The plan includes release of food items, early payments to beneficiaries of Conditional Cash Transfer, N-Power, grassroot communication of Covid-19 control measures using personnel, equipment, GEEP infrastructure, the provision of protective items such as face masks, sanitisers and soap for hand washing.

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The ministry also directed all its agencies to make available both human and material resources to NEMA and the Presidential Task Force for use in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

To provide some respite for the vulnerable, we will provide targeted social interventions to them to ensure every Nigerian identified as a vulnerable person receives support. We will equally leverage the existing social intervention programmes to provide safety nets nationwide,  the Minister added.

Ms Farouq said the importance of the task ahead of us cannot be overemphasized as our innovations and strategies emanating from our collective efforts will cushion the backlash of the ongoing crisis. Given, the lack of precedent for a total lock down, I call on you all to be innovative, flexible, transparent and supportive while being on the lookout for lessons to be learned for future application.
In this March 25, 2020 photograph provided to media by the University of Mississippi Medical Center, test tubes containing samples from individuals potentially infected with COVID-19 sit in a heating rack at the facility in Jackson, Miss. The medical center developed their own testing process and has started in-house testing for COVID-19. (Jay Ferchaud/The University of Mississippi Medical Center, via AP)
This Santa Claus with reindeer and motorized waving hand was the first of more than 150 wooden Christmas displays made by Dan Moussette. It is featured on the roof of his garage at 3073 W. Wildwood Dr. in Tucson, AZ. Moussett has been decorating his house with Christmas lights for 25 years. He holds a canned food drive every year for the Community Food Bank. Photo taken Monday, December 8, 2014.
The coverage on this live blog has ended  but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: More than 614,880

Global deaths: At least 28,687

Top 5 countries: United States (104,837), Italy (86,498), China (81,996), Spain (72,248) and Germany (53,340) The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:50 p.m. Beijing time.

8:22 pm: Swiss government reports 235 coronavirus deaths, 13,213 cases

Switzerland's coronavirus death toll reached 235 on Saturday and a total of 13,213 people testing positive for the virus, Reuters reported.

7:34 pm: Vietnam says it has 174 cases, no deaths

Vietnam health ministry announced 174 confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, saying the country had no deaths so far from the virus.

7:11 pm: Japan identifies 57 cases at center for the disabled

Japanese authorities announced Saturday they've found 57 new coronavirus cases at a center for the disabled in the country's Chiba prefecture near Tokyo.

6:39 pm: Spain's coronavirus cases pass 72,000, deaths exceed 5,600

Spain's coronavirus cases increased to 72,248 on Saturday from 64,059 on Friday, with its death toll climbing to 5,690 from 4,858 in the same period, its health ministry reported.

6:28 pm: Airbus aircraft returns to Spain with 4 million facemasks

An Airbus aircraft operated by Airbus crew touched down in Spain early Saturday morning local time with a cargo of four million facemasks, Reuters reported. Spain has more than 65,700 coronavirus cases and more than 5,000 deaths.

5:40 pm: Iran cases rise to 35,408, deaths pass 2,500

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran have risen to 35,408, according to an Iranian health official cited by Reuters Saturday. The official reported 139 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing Iran's death toll to 2,517.

5:50 pm: Saudi Airlines will operate exceptional flights to London to allow UK nationals to return home

Saudi Airlines will operate exceptional flights from Damma, Riyadh and Jeddah this week to allow British nationals to return home, the British Embassy said Saturday. The first flight will depart Sunday and will go to London Heathrow airport, with additional flights to be scheduled if necessary

5:31 pm: Japan PM Abe says subsidies for companies will increase to protect jobs

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday announced economic measures to aid companies hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, including extending no-interest loans to private sector companies and raising subsidies for companies to protect jobs. Japan's upcoming 'unprecedented' stimulus package, Abe said, takes into account the possibility that the government may declare a state of emergency, according to Reuters reporting. "We will lay out a stimulus package of unprecedented size that will exceed the one compiled after the Lehman crisis," Abe told media, according to a translation provided by Reuters. The prime minister said he disagreed with claims that Japan was hiding its coronavirus cases. He also suggested cash handouts to those in need and warned that the disease's spread could worsen if people did not take proper precautionary measures.

4:46 pm: U.S. working to repatriate Americans in Saudi Arabia

The American embassy in Riyadh said Saturday it was working with Saudi authorities to arrange a commercial flight to repatriate Americans in the kingdom. "No flights or departure/arrival locations have been confirmed at this time," the embassy said in a statement. "It is likely that flights will be scheduled with little advance notice."

4:42 pm: Germany adds more than 6,000 cases, 55 deaths

Germany's coronavirus cases jumped by 6,294 on Saturday to a total confirmed 48,582 cases and its death toll rose by 55 to reach 325, the numbers released by its national institute for infectious diseases revealed Saturday.

3:03 pm: Tokyo reports record daily case increase of 60

The Japanese capital of Tokyo announced 60 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, a record daily increase for the city, Reuters reported.

This aerial photo shows deserted roads during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in New Delhi on March 27, 2020. Prakash Singh | AFP | Getty Images

1:12 pm: India cases top 800 as the country remains in lockdown

India reported new cases that brought the country's total number of infections to 873, according to information on the health ministry's website on Saturday. While that number is relatively low in comparison to other parts of the world, India has also tested far fewer people for the disease. There are 775 active cases at the moment and at least 19 people have died. Earlier this week, most of India's 1.3 billion people went into a lockdown as part of the government's efforts to contain the virus' spread. The finance ministry announced more than $22 billion in stimulus to help low-income households and daily wage earners, who are said to be the most affected by the shutdown.  Saheli Roy Choudhury

11:53 am: Hundreds in Iran reportedly dead after ingesting methanol

According to Iranian media, nearly 300 people have died and more than 1,000 have fallen sick after ingesting methanol and mistakenly believing it would protect against the coronavirus, the Associated Press reported. Drinking alcohol is banned in the country. An Iranian doctor helping Iran's health ministry told the news wire that the problem was greater than what had been reportedly locally; the doctor said around 480 people died and 2,850 people have fallen sick from alcohol poisoning, the AP said. Fake remedies spread across social media in the country as people remain suspicious of the government's handling of the epidemic, the news wire added. Iran has more than 32,300 reported cases and over 2,300 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. To be clear, there are no known cures yet for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.  Saheli Roy Choudhury

11:30 am: Hyundai extends production suspension in US plant

Automaker Hyundai Motor said it was extending production suspension at its assembly and manufacturing plant in Alabama till April 10 to "to protect the health and well-being of our fellow team members and communities." The plant is set to resume production on April 13. "In addition, we must adjust vehicle production to match the anticipated economic impact of the pandemic," Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama said in a statement. The facility employs about 3,000 people, who would be compensated until April 3, the company said. During the shutdown, about 100 employees would be on-site each day to handle essential functions. Production was suspended on March 18, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19; the suspension was then extended till March 31 due to an anticipated decline in demand because of the pandemic.  Phil LeBeau, Saheli Roy Choudhury

10:20 am: Australia to step up quarantine measures for returning travelers

By midnight on March 28, all travelers arriving in Australia will undergo mandatory 14-day self-isolation at designated facilities like hotels before they are allowed to go home. The military will be deployed to support states and territories in ensuring people comply, including those who have already returned and are self-isolating at home. Australia has more than 3,100 cases and 13 deaths; many of them are said to be "imported" as residents returned from abroad. Brendan Murphy, the country's chief medical officer, said Friday that the biggest worry is about community transmission of the virus. He said there were pockets of community transmission observed in Sydney and also in other states.  Saheli Roy Choudhury

9:44 am: South Korea reports 146 new cases, five deaths

South Korea reported 146 new cases, bringing the country's total number of infections to 9,478, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Five more people died, pushing the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the country to 144 thus far. Mass testing, strict quarantine measures, and social distancing efforts as well as keeping tabs on visitors entering the country helped to relatively slow down the infection rate in South Korea. Last month, it was one of the worst affected countries outside of China. Authorities pleaded with the public on Friday to stay indoors and avoid large gatherings, Reuters reported.  Saheli Roy Choudhury

9:36 am: Abbott receives approval for test that can detect coronavirus in 5 minutes

Abbott on Friday announced it received approval for a test that is capable of delivering positive results of the coronavirus in as little as five minutes, and it will begin making those tests available to health care providers next week. The test can detect negative results in 13 minutes. The company said it plans to ramp up manufacturing so it can deliver 50,000 tests per day. "The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus," Abbott Chief Operating Officer Robert Ford said in a statement. This is the second Abbott test for the coronavirus to be launched.  Salvador Rodriguez

9:02 am: China reports 54 new cases of infection, all of them 'imported'

China's National Health Commission reported 54 new cases of infection, all of which were "imported" as residents returned from abroad. Three new deaths were announced and all of them occurred in Hubei, where the coronavirus was first reported.

A worker wearing protective suit checks the body temperature of an employee at the entrance of OrbusNeich Medical (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd amid the coronavirus outbreak on March 6, 2020 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. Chen Wen | China News Service via Getty Images

Starting Saturday, foreign nationals holding valid visas or residence permits for China will not be allowed to enter the country, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. Altogether, China says it has had 81,394 confirmed cases thus far; among them, close to 75,000 patients have recovered and 3,295 died. Data from Johns Hopkins University showed both the United States and Italy have overtaken China in terms of the number of reported cases.  Saheli Roy Choudhury All times below are in Eastern time.

6:20 pm: Gov. Cuomo, the National Guard and FEMA transform the Javits Center into a hospital

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that the construction of a temporary hospital at the Jacob K. Javits Center had been completed with the help of FEMA and the National Guard. The New York City convention center, which usually hosts events like New York Comic Con, is now home to 1,000 hospital beds that will be used to handle patient overflow caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The temporary hospital at the Javits Center in Manhattan is just the first of several that will be built in New York. Cuomo plans to have a temporary hospital in each of New York City's five boroughs as well as in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties.  Hannah Miller, Adam Jeffery

5:45 pm: US coronavirus cases top 100,000, doubling in three days

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. surpassed 100,000 Friday, doubling in just three days as the pandemic accelerates and the U.S. rolls out broader testing measures. Data from Johns Hopkins University showed the total number of coronavirus cases as 101,707 and the total number of deaths in the U.S. as 1,544. The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, in December. It has since spread to more than half a million people in almost every country around the world and continues to pick up speed, the World Health Organization warned earlier this week.

Manhattan's theater district after Broadway shows announced they will cancel performances due to the coronavirus outbreak in New York, March 12, 2020. Andrew Kelly | Reuters

"The pandemic is accelerating," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday at a press briefing from the organization's Geneva headquarters. "It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach 100,000 cases, 11 days for second 100,000 cases, and just four days for the third 100,000 cases."  William Feuer

5 pm: Trump signs $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill as the US tries to prevent economic devastation
Chandigarh, March 28 : No new case of coronavirus was reported from Punjab on Saturday, the government said. Meanwhile, the state's first case -- of an NRI belonging to Hoshiarpur -- was discharged after cured.

The state has seen one death of an elderly man, who too has a travel history to Germany via Italy.

"All other 36 cases are stable and close contacts of all the positive cases have been put under quarantine and surveillance," it said in a statement.

As per the Punjab Health Department bulletin, samples of close contacts and high-risk cases are being collected and sent to designated labs for testing. Teams are working for surveillance.

SBS Nagar, previously known as Nawanshahr, saw the highest number of 19 coronavirus patients, followed by Mohali and Hoshiarpur districts with six each, Jalandhar five and one each in Amritsar and Ludhiana districts.

The bulletin said swab tests of 264 patients have been awaited, while 596 patients tested negative out of total 898 samples collected, which amounts to 4.2 per cent positivity.

The state on March 9 tested the first positive case for the coronavirus.

The man returned to Amritsar from Italy's Milan via Delhi on March 4 along with his two family members.

The patient belongs to Hoshiarpur town and has been hospitalised in the Government Medical College in Amritsar along with his son.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The death toll due to coronavirus in New Jersey reached triple digits on Friday.

The announcement of 27 new deaths brings the total number of deaths to 108 since the COVID-19 outbreak reached N.J. just over three weeks ago.

The total number of cases continued its rapid ascent, reaching 8,825 confirmed cases. The one-day total of 1,982 is the second-largest since the outbreak began.

We mourn with these families and indeed with our entire state every precious life that has been lost, said Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking from the Trenton War Memorial for his daily coronavirus news briefing.

We cant bring them back. That is as stark a reality as we have to face.

Not seeing the above chart? Click here.

Counties across N.J. continue to see growth in their number of positive tests. Of the states 21 counties, 19 saw their number of COVID-19 cases double between Tuesday and Friday.

Not seeing the above chart? Click here.

Bergen County, now at 1,505 cases, continues to lead the state. It also has more cases than 38 U.S. states.

For those looking for ways to help out amid the crisis, donations to organizations such as the Red Cross, the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, and Feeding America are recommended. Click here to find an organization in your area.

Not seeing the above chart? Click here.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Nick Devlin and Disha Raychaudhuri are reporters on the data & investigations team.
A 37-year-old slum dweller from Mumbais Jambhipada with travel history to Italy has tested positive for coronavirus and triggered panic in the city, where over five million live in slums, officials said. So far hundreds of slum dwellers have been quarantined in their homes and activists fear the Covid-19 cases could increase because of the overcrowded nature of the slums.

The list of infected patients in slums includes two each from Ghatkopar and Kalina, and one each from Prabhadevi, Govandi and Cheetah Camp. A doctor, who had earlier treated the 37-year-old or influenza, has also been infected.

The 37-year-old worked at a restaurant in Italy and returned to India in the second week of March and was asymptomatic when he arrived at the Mumbai airport. He later developed cold and cough and visited the doctor. When his condition did not improve, he visited the Kasturba Hospital where he was diagnosed with Covid-19.

Soon after, the doctor also started developing symptoms. On March 25, he was identified with Covid-19 after his swab test. Currently, he is undergoing treatment at Raheja Hospital. His wife and children have been found negative for the virus, said a close friend of the doctor, who did not want to be named.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials have been tracking all the people, who came in contact with these two patients.

A housemaid tested positive for Covid-19 worked for a US-returned couple. She lives in a Ghatkopar slum, where around 25,000 people reside.

On Thursday, a 65-year-old woman, who lived in a Parel chawl and ran a food stall near a corporate house, died at the Kasturba Hospital of Covid-19. The civic body has screened over 25 people who were in close contact with her and quarantined 10. Additionally, hundreds of travellers and slum dwellers, who have been identified as close contacts, have been kept in home quarantine.
Among the 15 deaths Xavier Bettel announced last Friday, one relates to a patient transferred from Alsace to Luxembourg earlier this week.

The news of the patient's death was announced on Friday.

In a video press conference, Prime Minister Bettel clarified that amongst the 15 who have died of the coronavirus in Luxembourg was a patient who had transferred over from Mulhouse.

At the start of the week, seven patients were transferred from Alsace to Luxembourg, and follows the Grand Duchy's promise to provide medical support to French authorities.
STR/Getty

By now, everyone knows the classic symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has grown, so has the medical communitys understanding of the warning signs. Heres what to keep an eye out for.

The Basics

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has identified three key symptoms of a coronavirus infection: Fever, cough (usually dry), and shortness of breath. The severity of these range from person to person, and not every infected person has all of them.

Infected patients have also reported a constellation of other less prevalent symptoms, according to a World Health Organization report: fatigue (38 percent), sore throat (13 percent), headache (13 percent), body aches (14 percent), and chills (11 percent).

Medical authorities say that most people experience mild symptoms that do not require a visit to the hospital. But the CDC says anyone with the following symptoms should seek medical attention: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or inability to arouse, bluish lips or face. Experts say a lingering temperature of 103 to 104 should be flagged to a doctor.

What Counts as a Fever?

The CDC defines a fever as an oral temperature reading of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Keep in mind that our body temperatures fluctuate over the course of the day, so if your temperature is 98.6 in the morning and 99.1 at night, that does not necessarily mean you are developing a fever. Health officials note that you get the most accurate reading if you wait 30 minutes after eating, drinking, or exercising, or six hours after taking any pain reliever or fever reducer.

Other Red Flags

As the number of COVID-19 cases have grown, health sleuths have started to spot new patterns among their patients and put out guidance.

Loss of smell, taste: The American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery put out an alert that anecdotal evidence is rapidly accumulating that these symptoms are associated with COVID-19. Anosmia, or loss of smell, has been seen in patients who tested positive but had no other symptoms, the academy said. An ENT doctors organization in the United Kingdom said that two out of three cases in Germany involved anosmia, and a similar proportion of South Korean patients with mild cases reported loss of smell. There is potential that if any adult with anosmia but no other symptoms was asked to self-isolate for seven days, in addition to the current symptom criteria used to trigger quarantine we might be able to reduce the number of otherwise asymptomatic individuals who continue to act as vectors, not realizing the need to self-isolate, the U.K. group wrote.

Story continues

Digestive issues: The American Journal of Gastroenterology rushed out a China-based study examining how common digestive problems are in coronavirus patients. It found that out of 204 patients, just about half reported a symptommost commonly lack of appetite, followed by diarrhea, with a much smaller number with vomiting or abdominal pain. As the severity of the disease increased, digestive symptoms became more pronounced, the researchers wrote. Clinicians should recognize that digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, are commonly among the presenting features of COVID-19, and that the index of suspicion may need to be raised earlier in at-risk patients presenting with digestive symptoms. However, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Pink eye: The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes there are scattered reports of COVID-19 presenting along with conjunctivitis, better known as pink eye, and at least one study suggests the virus is present in eye secretions. Separately, a nurse at the coronavirus-ridden Washington State nursing home Life Care Center told CNN that she saw what she described as red allergy eyes in all of her elderly, infected patientsalthough there is no official confirmation thats a symptom.

What About Kids?

Children infected with coronavirus can exhibit mild and more generic symptoms. The CDC describes them as cold-likefever, runny nose, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. A study of 2,143 pediatric patients in China, published in the journal Pediatric, found 90 percent of those who had the coronavirus had either no symptoms or mild or moderate illness. The study did find that the younger the child, the more likely they were to develop serious complications, with infants being at the highest risk. But there was only one deatha 14-year-oldin the study group. Why most of the childrens COVID-19 cases were less severe than adults cases is puzzling, the researchers wrote.

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Northern Ireland has been put under lockdown with fines of up to 5,000 for anyone breaking the laws to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The measures come as two further victims of the killer bug brought the death toll up to 15 in the region.

The total number of cases hit 324 after 49 new diagnoses were confirmed today.

No-one is allowed to leave the house without a reasonable excuse and gatherings of more than two have been banned.

Northern Ireland has been put under lockdown with fines of up to 5,000 for anyone breaking the laws to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Pictured: First Minister Arlene Foster yesterday

Anyone not following the regulations - which follow those issued by Westminster earlier in the week - could be fined up to 5,000.

The regulations will come into force from 11pm on Saturday and include a list of businesses that should close and which can stay open.

Manufacturing and most of the service sector would not need to close, the Stormont Executive stated.





Those workplaces that remain open must comply with strict social distancing rules.

A police officer wearing a hazmat suit is seen on the street in Belfast as the spread of coronavirus continues

Anyone not following the regulations - which follow those issued by Westminster earlier in the week - could be fined up to 5,000. Pictured: Police in Hazmat suits in Belfast today

Authorities have the power to close certain premises and prohibit anyone from leaving home without a reasonable excuse.

The executive faced some criticism for the length of time it has taken to translate the Westminster laws into legally enforceable powers in Northern Ireland.

First Minister Arlene Foster said: 'These are extraordinary powers for any Government to have to introduce, but we are living in extraordinary times.

'We are asking the people of Northern Ireland to make fundamental changes to how they live their lives. But we are doing this to keep you safe, to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 infection so that the health service has the capacity to deal with those who need their help the most.

The total number of cases in Northern Ireland hit 324 after 49 new diagnoses were confirmed today. Pictured: A shopper buying toilet roll in Belfast on Thursday

'We know the enormity of what we are asking of the public, but it is proportionate to the threat we all face from this deadly virus. No-one is immune.'

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: 'Protecting the public, supporting the health service and saving lives are the priorities for the executive during this crisis.

'Each one of us has a personal responsibility to do everything we can to fight back against Covid-19 for the good of everyone across society. That's why we are asking everyone to comply with the new measures being introduced today.

'As an executive, we don't want to get to the stage where people are being fined for being out when they should be at home.

Authorities have the power to close certain premises and prohibit anyone from leaving home without a reasonable excuse. Pictured: Stores were already starting to shut in Belfast on Thursday

'But if anyone - even after everything they have heard or seen over the last few weeks - still believes that this does not apply to them, then we will use every power we have to ensure people stay at home so that we save as many lives as we possibly can.'

Health Minister Robin Swann said: 'The coronavirus pandemic is affecting every one of us, and every aspect of public life. We think particularly of those who have lost loved ones to this virus.

'These emergency regulations are an essential component of the strategy to tackle the pandemic and will ensure a consistent approach across the four regions of the UK.

'The extreme disruption to normal life would have been unthinkable just a few short weeks ago. It is a price we all have to pay, to protect each other and the health service.

'Everyone has to take personal responsibility for their actions and to stick rigidly to these restrictions for as long as they are needed. It is a matter of life and death.'
The state and national economies are experiencing a crisis like few weve ever seen. As workers stay home and businesses close, demand in some industries has dropped to near zero. While some companies can weather the hit, others are already in trouble, with catastrophic unemployment numbers reported on Thursday and the potential for lasting damage growing by the week.

The seriousness of the situation, especially in a state like Connecticut that was already in a precarious situation, has some commentators claiming the prescribed solution for the coronavirus could cause more harm than the disease itself. If too many people are out of work, according to this line of thinking, everyone will suffer as the economy moves into a depression and individual outcomes worsen.

It should be a priority to keep people working and, as soon as possible, to return to work the tens of thousands suddenly being idled, a writer argued in these pages just this week. We cant let the cure be worse than the problem, the president said .

Tempting though those arguments might be, this is dangerous, deadly thinking. There are no public health experts arguing for a reopening of our economy now, when the worst of the virus likely has yet to strike. Official pronouncements on workers staying home can and should be questioned, but there is simply no evidence that local leaders, including Gov. Ned Lamont, are incorrect in their policy prescriptions to this point.

The damage to the economy is real, and it will be severe. But it is foolhardy in the extreme to pretend that reopening schools and businesses would itself not tax the economy. A massive wave of sick people, which is what the quarantines are meant to stop, would overwhelm the health care system and bring many businesses to a halt even without a public decree.

Schools cant reopen. Young people, its true, dont tend to get as sick from the coronavirus, but they can catch it and spread it to everyone they see. Protecting people means limiting the virus ability to move from person to person, and schools are a major source of potential contamination. No one, parents especially, wants to see schools closed even a day longer than they have to be, but it is without question the right move. The alternative would be deadly, not to mention economically disastrous.

The coronavirus is not the flu. It cant be compared to auto accidents or opioid deaths, which are not contagious and therefore cannot grow exponentially. It is a unique moment in American history that demands sacrifice from everyone to avert the worst.

It may already be too late for that. People are dying and hospitals as close as New York City are overwhelmed. That is the priority, and given Connecticuts close links to New York, our exposure may be much greater than we have seen to date. Workers must be made whole while they are idled, but opening the economy is not  and cannot be  the immediate goal. We must stay closed until further notice.
The United Nations on Thursday hailed armed groups heeding its call for a ceasefire during the coronavirus crisis, as Security Council and General Assembly members prepared draft resolutions in support of the measure. Armed groups in Cameroon, the Philippines, Yemen and Syria have moved in recent days to reduce violence as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday issued an appeal for ceasefire. The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffith, said he was "heartened" to see positive responses from both the government and Huthi rebels. "I expect the parties to adhere to their words and put the interest of the Yemeni people above all," Griffith said in a statement, calling for an "urgent meeting" on how to put their commitments into practice. The civil war in Yemen, which has dragged on for more than five years, pits the Iran-aligned Huthis against government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition. Experts say that the conflict has created the worse humanitarian crisis in the world. Guterres issued his ceasefire call in a bid to protect civilians in war-ravaged countries like Yemen and Syria -- largely spared so far by the virus -- whose barely functioning health care systems could not handle its spread. Elements of a draft resolution related to COVID-19's impact on "peace and security situations" is circulating between the five permanent members of the Security Council, according to a diplomat who requested anonymity to speak freely. Some UN Countries are "thinking about a text on supporting Guterres' appeal," another diplomatic source told AFP, a move initiated by France. Following a conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that the United States and France were "preparing with other countries a new strong initiative in the coming days." It was not immediately clear whether he was referring to measures being discussed between Security Council member states. In a parallel process, six countries -- Switzerland, Singapore, Norway, Liechtenstein, Indonesia and Ghana -- have drafted a General Assembly resolution stressing the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation amid the coronavirus outbreak, sources told AFP. Unlike in the Security Council, resolutions adopted by the General Assembly's 193 members are not binding but can have strong political value if enough countries sign on. - 'Renewed dialogue' - In Cameroon, separatists in two mainly English-speaking regions have been fighting the government in the majority French-speaking central African country for three years in a war that has left more than 3,000 people dead, many of them civilians. "We welcome the temporary ceasefire announced by the Southern Cameroons Defense Force," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at his weekly press briefing in New York. "The Secretary-General calls on other armed groups to do likewise." That group issued its temporary ceasefire call on Wednesday, but the conflict involves a multitude of groups, and their representatives -- some of whom live abroad -- are not always in close touch with those on the ground. Guterres called for "renewed dialogue" in Cameroon "that will put an end to the violence and human suffering," Dujarric said. In the Philippines, the UN said the armed wing of the Communist Party, which is fighting to overthrow the Manila government, had announced a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday. It added that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the north-east of the country also supported the ceasefire appeal and had announced on Tuesday their "commitment to avoid engaging in military action." The secretary-general meanwhile called on other parties in the Syrian conflict to support the ceasefire. Guterres "hopes that this will serve as an example across the world to silence the guns and come together as we face the global threat of COVID-19," Dujarric said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 01:25:27|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he is considering a short-term quarantine for the state of New York as the situation of the coronavirus outbreak continued to get worse there.

The president told reporters outside the White House that in addition to New York, "enforceable quarantine" might also be imposed on New Jersey and parts of Connecticut to curb the spread of the virus, adding he will make a decision later in the day.

"We're thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot. ... We might not have to do it, but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut," he said.
Premier Doug Ford has stiff new penalties for price gougers  including $750 tickets on the spot  and a snitch line to call if consumers see hefty price tags on products needed in the fight against COVID-19.

The province also clamped down on the size of gatherings, reducing them to five from the current 50, effective immediately, with exemptions for essential services like grocery stores, the premier said Saturday.

There are a few exceptions, including for households with more than five people.

Child-care centres looking after the kids of front-line workers will be allowed to have a maximum of 50 people.

Theres also an exception for funerals, which will allow up to 10 people at a time.

The province had previously restricted gatherings to a maximum of 50 people.

I can assure everyone that we will do everything in our power to stop this virus in its tracks, Ford said in a statement released late Saturday night.

Ford took aim at rogue retailers as well as people who were loading up on hand sanitizers, masks, disinfecting wipes, toilet paper, soap and household cleaners to sell online or in stores with major mark-ups.

If youre out there trying to price gouge and take advantage of this situation  then stop, stop right now, because its un-Canadian its wrong, said Ford.

He admitted being furious on Thursday when he first heard of upscale grocer Pusateris charging $29.99 for a package of Lysol disinfecting wipes. The company insisted the price, many times higher than other retailers charge, was a mistake and offered refunds.

Help us find these people. If you see somebody that is price gouging  let us know, Ford added, touting a hotline at 1-800-889-9768 that will begin taking calls Monday. Theres an online reporting option at ontario.ca/form/report-price-gouging-related-covid-19

The $750 tickets will be for individual offenders, who could face fines up to $100,000 and a year in jail if summoned to court and convicted under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Those penalties rise to $500,000 fines for company directors, and up to a year in jail, and a maximum of $10 million for corporations.

Ford said bylaw officers and police will have to take into account wholesale costs and any higher input costs manufacturers face as suspected infractions are investigated on a case-by-case basis.

While most retailers are being reasonable, Ford said there are a few bad apples not getting the message.

Facing continued criticism from doctors and nurses on the front lines over a shortage of masks and other personal protective equipment leaving them vulnerable to COVID-19, the government invoked the Supply Chain Management Act in a bid to get medical materials to where they are needed.

A number of hospitals, including Sunnybrook and Niagara Health, have issued directives limiting the number of masks given to staff for each shift despite repeated assurances from Health Minister Christine Elliott that supplies are adequate.

Given the scarce supply of masks, everyone needs to do their part to conserve, says a new memo from Niagara Health limiting staff in COVID-19 units, emergency rooms and urgent care centres to two masks per shift.

A respiratory therapist at Sunnybrook told CBC that two masks is inadequate, considering the high number of patients many medical staff encounter.

You wonder how protected you really are, said Julie Nardi.

Police and firefighters have also complained about a shortage of masks. Several police officers have already contracted COVID-19.

Ford said he would raise the concerns about masks in a conference call with hospital executives.

Well make sure the front-line people are equipped.

To date, 91 health care workers in Ontario have contracted COVID-19, although there is no breakdown on how many got it on the job.

The supply chain law empowers the province to centrally manage medical and other supplies and collect data on inventories at various health care institutions so that purchasing can be prioritized and incoming shipments sent where they are needed most, said Government and Consumer Minister Lisa Thompson.

That will ensure theres a fair distribution out there and allow any surpluses of supplies to be shared, chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams told a news conference.

With files from The Canadian Press

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The signing statement also challenged several other provisions in the bill, including one requiring consultation with Congress about who should be the staff leaders of a newly formed executive branch committee charged with conducting oversight of the governments response to the pandemic.

Citing his understanding of his power to supervise executive branch staff positions, Mr. Trump said he would not interpret that as mandatory although he anticipated that they would be consulted anyway.

Mr. Trumps legal team is led by Attorney General William P. Barr, who is known for his embrace of a maximalist interpretation of presidential power, including the so-called unitary executive theory. Under that doctrine, laws that bestow independent decision-making authority on subordinate executive branch officials are unconstitutional because the president wields total control over deciding how to exercise executive power over the government.

Presidential signing statements are official documents issued by presidents when they sign new legislation into law. They leave a record of the presidents understanding of the meaning of newly created statutes and essentially instruct the rest of the executive branch to interpret the laws in the same way. Congress has no opportunity to veto them.

The device becomes subject to dispute when presidents use it to mount a constitutional challenge to a new law that imposes some requirement or limitation on their power, essentially nullifying the new limit in the eyes of the executive branch. Often such disputes center on matters for which there is scant likelihood that the matter will come before a court for judicial judgment, giving the executive branch final say as a practical matter.

Signing statements, which are not mentioned in the Constitution, were once rare, but presidents started to issue them more frequently starting in the second term of the Reagan administration.

They became controversial under President George W. Bush, who used them to challenge more provisions of new laws than all previous presidents combined, including asserting a right to authorize officials to bypass laws like a torture ban and oversight provisions of the USA Patriot Act he had agreed to as a condition of breaking a Senate filibuster to get an extension of the law passed when it was about to expire.
NATO forces intercept Russian aircraft, track Russian ships

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

27 Mar. 2020

Belgian Air Force jets which are part of NATO air policing in the Baltic Sea region intercepted a Russian military aircraft flying close to Allied airspace on Thursday (26 March 2020) after it failed to respect international safety norms. The scramble, the third in consecutive days, happened over the Baltic Sea and comes as armed forces across the Alliance are helping nations to address the coronavirus crisis.

"As Allied armed forces help save lives in the battle against the virus, NATO's ability to conduct operations has not been undermined. Our forces remain ready, and our crucial work goes on, in the air, at sea, and in all other domains", said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu.

The air activity comes after NATO navies shadowed seven Russian warships in the North Sea. While Russian navy ships generally transit through the English Channel on their way between the High North and the Mediterranean Sea, on this occasion they remained in the North Sea for several days. The British Royal Navy and other Allies navies monitored the Russian ships  two frigates, three corvettes and two landing ships.

Meanwhile, this weekend sees the start of a scaled down UK-led maritime exercise off the northwest coast of Scotland. The biannual Joint Warrior exercise also involves the US, Germany, Denmark, Norway and NATO's Standing Maritime Group One. The exercise will run from Saturday (28 March 2020) to 10 April 2020.

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A passenger who was allowed to disembark a cruise ship in Sydney and return home to the UK is now presenting coronavirus symptoms.

Elisa McCafferty and her husband left the Ruby Princess cruise ship and claim they weren't told that anyone on board was showing symptoms of the virus until they landed at Heathrow.

The couple have reported that they are both feeling 'listless', finding it hard to focus and have no smell or taste.

Ms McCafferty says she also has a chesty cough and is throwing up clear liquid.

Almost 500 of Australia's coronavirus cases - or one in seven - have come from cruise ships, the nation's deputy chief medical officer said on Saturday.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly told a national press conference almost 200 cases had come from one ship alone - the Ruby Princess.

The Ruby Princess docked in Sydney on March 19 after a tour of New Zealand and let 2,700 passengers, some showing symptoms, leave for their homes around Australia and across the world, including the UK.

Scroll down for video

Elisa McCafferty (pictured) and her partner have reported that they are both 'listless', finding it hard to focus and have no smell or taste since leaving the cruise ship

The Ruby Princess (pictured) docked in Sydney on March 19 after a tour of New Zealand and let 2700 passengers leave for their homes around Australia

Passengers disembark from the Ruby Princess at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal on February 8 before the ban on cruise ships was put in place

A woman aged her 70s who was taken from the Ruby Princess to hospital after the ship docked in Sydney died on March 24

Daily Mail Australia found the cruise ship is responsible for at least 227 cases across the country, with 121 in NSW, 52 in Queensland, 44 in South Australia, at least eight in WA, and two in the Northern Territory.

The difference may be due to new cases being discovered since the figures were collated for the national medical briefing.

Mr Kelly said other cases had come from other cruise ships including the Diamond Princess that became stranded in Japan.

Other than cruise ships, Mr Kelly said the majority of cases have come from the US and Europe, in particular the UK and Italy.

Those who walked off the Ruby Princess were not tested for the coronavirus, despite some displaying flu-like symptoms and complaining of feeling sick.

They simply gathered their baggage, stepped ashore wheezing and spluttering and disappeared into Australia's biggest city.

More than 130 of those aboard the Ruby Princess have now tested positive to COVID-19, making it the single greatest source of infections in Australia since the outbreak began.

A woman aged her 70s who was taken from the cruise ship to hospital after docking died on Tuesday morning.

Other passengers have since spread across the nation on planes, trains and buses, or flown back to their home countries, potentially taking the virus with them.

Ms McCafferty said: 'Nothing was said at anytime about anyone being sick onboard. It was a distinct lack of information coming through from Princess the entire time,' she told the BBC.

She said she only learned that passengers with coronavirus had been on the ship when she arrived at Heathrow Airport.

'I turned on my phone and I started getting all these notifications from people back in Australia saying 'there's been confirmed cases on the Ruby,'' she said.

'And I was just absolutely petrified. We had just been on two full flights - what if we had infected someone?'

She said she was suffering from coronavirus symptoms and was self-isolating at home.

Border controls are now in place for South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, with only freight and essential travel exempted. Queensland will close its borders on Wednesday.

The federal government suspended all cruise ships - however some, such as the Ruby Princess (pictured), have only just completed their trips

But the most important border - the one that makes Australia an island continent - is still being breached and the most alarming new infections have come by water.

How cruise ships could continue to bring infected patients into the country has led to blame-shifting, anger and bewilderment.

Cruise ships have been an obvious potential source of infected coronavirus arrivals since the Diamond Princess was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February.

More than 700 passengers of the 3,700 people on board that ship quickly developed coronavirus.

Diamond Princess was forced to stay at sea for almost three weeks before the decision was made to quarantine people onshore.

As coronavirus swept the world, cruise ships were barred from docking in Australian ports for 30 days from March 15.

The federal government granted exemptions to four vessels which were already on their way back to Australia.

Those ships - Ruby Princess, Ovation of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice and Voyager of the Seas - arrived in Sydney between March 18 and March 20. All have had cases of coronavirus since docking.

The NSW government gave the all-clear for the Ruby Princess to berth in Sydney Harbour on March 19, considering its arrival 'low risk'.

Passengers who arrived on the ship have claimed they were 'waved through' the port without facing any health screenings.

Some then spent as long as four days onshore potentially spreading COVID-19 before they were ordered to self-isolate for 14 days via emails and phone calls.

As of Saturday afternoon, Australia had 3,603 coronavirus cases, of which 67 per cent were travel-related, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly told a national press conference.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'That is the main reason why there will be enhanced measures at the airport that were announced by the Prime Minister yesterday,' he said.

Professor Kelly said most of the locally acquired cases that had been found had a clear contact with a known coronavirus case, meaning they were successfully tracing contacts and finding the cases to decrease transmission.

Until Wednesday, only those who had returned from overseas and had symptoms or who had contacts with a confirmed case were recommended to be tested.

The recommendations were expanded on Wednesday to include those with severe community-acquired pneumonia without a clear cause, and health care or aged care workers.

Those who spent time in a high-risk location with two or more linked cases are now recomended to be tested in the expanded provisions.

With these restrictions it is unlikely testing could find many community-based transmissions of people with mild or no symptoms who have not travelled.

NSW Health's website on Saturday said it has the capacity was still only recommending is recommending people with acute, cold, flu-like symptoms who are returned travellers, or a contact of a confirmed case, be tested for COVID-19.

Professor Kelly said the authorities would concentrate on forcing people coming into Australia to quarantine for 14 days, and on testing people.

A Princess Cruises spokesperson said: 'As New South Wales Health has stated publicly, the Ruby Princess cruise that began in Sydney on March 8 was regarded as low risk for COVID-19. Notwithstanding this assessment, our onboard medical team was rigorous in its treatment of some guests who reported flu-like symptoms and these guests were isolated.

'In line with existing protocols, the ship reported these cases to NSW Health, which in turn requested swabs to be provided following the ship's arrival in Sydney, some of which subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

'It is practice the world over that tests for COVID-19 are not conducted on board cruise ships. The protocol is for swabs to be tested by the relevant public health authority, and this was done in relation to Ruby Princess. Disembarkation of the ship was in line with the then existing process for health clearance for vessels on arrival in port.

'On disembarkation, guests were aware that anyone arriving in Australia from abroad, irrespective of whether it was by air or sea, would be required by the Australian Government to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. This applied to Ruby Princess guests who arrived in Sydney from an overseas port, in this case from New Zealand.

'Princess Cruises has robust public health standards and practices that are based on the best international public health advice. Ships have sophisticated medical centres that are staffed by medical practitioners and other health professionals.

'The advice from NSW Health that COVID-19 had been confirmed among Ruby Princess passengers came as a disappointment. We share the public health authority's concern and have worked closely with them to make direct contact with all passengers.'
Bolivia's San Cristobal mine, a huge desposit of zinc, lead and silver, has suspended operations after the country imposed tough rules to halt the spread of coronavirus, its operator Minera San Cristobal said in a statement on Friday.

The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japana's Sumitomo Corporation, said it would impose a "temporary suspension of the production and export of concentrated zinc, lead and silver minerals" following the government measures.

Bolivia's interim government said earlier this week it would extend an obligatory quarantine period until mid-April, close the country's border and tighten further the movement of people in light of the global pandemic.

Minera San Cristobal added in a statement posted on Twitter that the move came "in the face of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and as a precaution for the health and life of workers."

The open-pit mine is located in Bolivia's Potosi department near the border with Chile, and is the source of about half of the landlocked country's mining exports.

A skeleton crew of workers was completing the last exports Friday and carrying out maintenance work, the operator said.
Ozark Kevin Cronin Was Here Season 3 Episode 3 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Steve Deitl/Netflix

Another great, tense episode ends with one of the best scenes in the history of Ozark, as Ruth learns the danger her boss and friend now faces. Even before then, this is a tight hour of TV, complete with the kind of darkly humorous beats that elevates the better episodes of this show. At first, it feels like the start of a turf war as Wendy draws her brother Ben closer to her side and Marty aligns with Ruth. But it ends with Marty Byrde suggesting to a federal agent that he could turn on everyone, leaving it all behind. Will he have the chance or is it too late?

Some of the best episodes of The Sopranos filtered the anxieties of its protagonist Tony Soprano through his dreams. The writers of Ozark do that with Wendy Byrde this episode, opening with a dream in which our heroine sings along to REO Speedwagons Time for Me to Fly before pulling a dead dog from her trunk and shooting her husband. What does this mean? Time for Wendy to leave the nest and fly without Marty? Taken with the other dream in which she pays him to leave, Wendys subconscious is clearly telling her that she cant succeed with her husband in her life. But can she succeed without him?

Helen sure thinks so. She plays to Wendys sizable ego, claiming that shes eclipsing Marty professionally, and noting that this same dynamic led to the end of Helens marriage. Does Wendy Byrde need Marty Byrde anymore? And if she keeps him around will she just end up like Helen or, worse, accidentally knocked down a hill to her death like the woman whom shes bullied into selling a business she spent her life building?

While Wendy tries to get the legit business up and running, Agent Maya Miller (Jessica Francis Dukes) comes to share an office with Marty Byrde. Shes very good at more than just naming bands with three letters in their name (REM, ELO, NWA, etc.), and its going to be very difficult to move cartel money under her watch. So Marty suggests to Ruth that theyre going to have to move it through the new casino, but thats not an option either. Wendy and Helen have closed it down, and they want it to be a legit business when it opens anyway. Again, Marty is looking for solutions while Wendy is looking for an empire.

That empire involves Frank Cosgrove, the head of the Kansas City mob, who was promised a cut of the new casino, which is now closed. So he comes to Wendy, revealing what Marty did to try to squash the deal. Uh oh.

This adds to the tension at dinner, and thats before Navarro calls Wendy. Is he threatening or almost flirting? Or maybe both? Hes talking about her skills in the connection and mentioning his virility in relation to his new child being born. Hes still trying to figure her out, but the key piece of advice he gives her is simple: If you cant get what you want with reason, you have to get it with force.

While Wendy is putting the final touches on her push to remove the owners of the hotel/casino shes buying, Helen is feeling out Ruths role in the operation. She wonders if Ruth could run the Missouri Belle while Marty takes lead on the new business, which definitely plays to Ruths need for a greater role to meet her skill set. But Marty realizes the darker undercurrent  Helen isnt trying to find out if he could work at the other operation, shes trying to find out if hes still needed at all. She doesnt really know Ruth, though. If this really blows up into a turf war, its almost certain that Ruth will side with Marty over Wendy and Helen.

Wendy finds out that the last holdout in her new plan just fell down a hill, and she barely pauses before taking on a new deadly project. She really is a shark, always needing something to keep her moving. The new project is getting Zeke back from Darlene, which leads to Wendy picking a fight and getting punched by the hillbilly. She later acts funny about it around Marty  she not only needs a new plan, she needs a new secret from her husband.

Meanwhile, Marty realizes that the REO Speedwagon concert for the dental convention could be a solid target for money laundering. Hysterically, so does REO Speedwagons manager, knowing what Marty is doing when he offers an extra $100K.

Another offer hits the table when Agent Miller tells Marty that she could use his skill set. Go to prison for 18 months, Navarro will think you didnt talk, and then be a contractor for the federal government. Its not a bad way out. And Marty appears to take it, just before hes picked up by Navarros men and thrown in the back of a car. Navarro realized that Wendys phone line was compromised, and probably figured out that Marty was the man on the surveillance. What is he going to do about it?

Dirty Laundry

 I love that Ruth sits in her car singing along to C.R.E.A.M. Wu-Tang Forever!

 Speaking of music, Time for Me to Fly in the first dream is obvious because the Wagon has been a part of the plot, but theres a much deeper cut in the second dream: The Fundamentals by Arthur Ahbez. I thought there might be value in the lyrics: Journey to the center of my mind and youll find  Journey to the center of my soul and youll know  Journey to the center of my heart and youll hear  Nothin. Has Wendy become soulless and heartless?

 Do you think Erin knows her mother ordered the assault on her father? She seems to be way less in the know than Charlotte Byrde, but kids often sense more about their parents than the grown-ups think they do.

 Speaking of Erin, it seems like Jonah has a crush on her? Him asking silly questions on the boat and then being crestfallen when she goes with the older boys along with her sister was pretty sad.

 This was a funny episode even amidst the darkness. The three-letter band game, the REO rider, most of Bens stuff  its always nice when the writers weave in dark humor. The shows that inspired this one, like Sopranos and Breaking Bad, did that often. And too many of their imitators often feel like dirges.

 The question now is how can Marty Byrde prove hes not expendable? By expanding the empire and essentially running it, has Wendy Byrde proven that the cartel no longer needs her husband?

Ruths Most Iconic Lines on 'Ozark'
A Border Security Force (BSF) officer and a Jawan of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) tested positive on Saturday in the first instance of infections among the security forces, raising concerns in the government circles, said officials.

The 57-year-old BSF second-in-command rank officer is posted at Tekanpur (Gwalior), the academy of the border guarding force, and he seems to have picked up the infection from a family member who recently returned from the United Kingdom, one of the officials cited above said.

He and his family members have been put in quarantine at a local hospital and at least two dozen officers/jawans, believed to have come in contact with him are being identified and tested.

The CISF head constable was admitted earlier this week in a hospital in Mumbai after he showed symptoms of the disease. His test came out positive following which he has been shifted to another hospital dedicated to coronavirus patients in Mumbai.

Officials said that all his colleagues, family members and seniors at Mumbai airport are being checked and all facilities where he went in the last two weeks are being sanitized.
Airbnb embraces its hosts  the people worldwide who rent some 7 million rooms, apartments and houses to short-term travelers via its website  as integral to its success. They made the San Francisco vacation rental site a hospitality juggernaut without it spending a penny to construct buildings. That asset-light approach is one reason private market investors had valued Airbnb at $35 billion, far more than any hotel chain.

But now that symbiotic relationship is eroding, as is Airbnbs valuation. With travel ground to a halt indefinitely during the coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb has seen the same spike in cancellations as hotels. Its response was to refund guests their money. But that leaves hosts strapped  and many say they feel angry and betrayed that the cash-rich company hasnt stepped up for them.

At the same time, Airbnb must confront significant corporate challenges. It was determined to head to Wall Street this year to list its shares. That plan to become a public company is in limbo as Airbnbs revenue vanishes and the stock market endures stomach-churning paroxysms.

San Francisco resident Carl Jaeger, 55, embodies the regular person trying to make ends meet that Airbnb likes to tout as typical of many hosts. He jury-rigged the dining room of his two-bedroom condo into another bedroom so he could rent via Airbnb to travelers.

For Jaeger, a single dad, rent on the room enabled me to work less and have time for my kids, he said  and it was enriching to interact with world travelers. The Airbnb income became more crucial when he took time off from his video production work to write screenplays.

But since the pandemic hit, my income went overnight to zero, he said. I went from making my bills to Oh my God. I am scrambling. Hes called his lender to defer his mortgage payments  which many big banks are offering for three months  but hasnt yet reached it because of six-hour hold times. He doesnt want to find long-term renters because his children, now in their 20s, often visit and may need to move home if they lose jobs.

Airbnb lets hosts decide if guests must forfeit some money if they cancel close to a bookings time. But during the crisis, Airbnb overrode hosts policies and refunded all guests money. Jaeger noted that many other travel businesses, both airlines and hotels, instead told travelers that their money would be kept as a credit to use in the future.

Constanza Hevia H. / Special to The Chronicle

Airbnb unilaterally said, Were giving all the money back, he said. I dont know why they thought it was OK to do that without asking me. It has left me high and dry.

His comments were echoed by many hosts.

The general sense is that Airbnb stuck it to the hosts more than the guests, said David Jacoby, president and co-founder of Hostfully, which sells property management software and digital guidebooks for vacation-rental managers. Theyve really upset their core base of hosts who theyve built their business around.

But Chris Anderson, a Cornell professor of operations management who specializes in alternative accommodations, said he thinks Airbnb made the right call for its long-term survival.

I completely agree with it basically bending over backwards for guests versus hosts, he said. Their (marketplace) has more than enough supply of hosts. Their problems will be around having enough guests.

Airbnb did exert itself for hosts by asking Congress to give them some relief in the $2 trillion stimulus package that President Trump signed Friday. The bill allows hosts who cant rent their space because they or a family member have COVID-19 to apply for unemployment. Hosts who report income as sole

proprietors can apply for SBA loans if they can show a drop in earnings, whether they have one listing or 100.

Constanza Hevia H. / Special to The Chronicle

Some hosts, however, say that wont benefit them because they dont file taxes as sole proprietors.

Airbnb says more support for hosts is coming.

We are going to get through this crisis as partners  our success is dependent on the success of you, our hosts, CEO Brian Chesky wrote to hosts this month. We are working day and night on a plan of action that will help you get through this extremely difficult time. We will share this with you as soon as possible in the coming weeks.

The company has started internal belt-tightening. It plans to save $800 million by suspending all marketing; and has halved executive salaries and frozen most hiring, said a person close to the company who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly; The Chronicle granted this person anonymity in accordance with its policy on anonymous sources. Its three founders are foregoing all salaries for the next six months, the person said. Those changes were first reported Friday by the Information, a news website.

Airbnb has sufficient liquidity to outlast an extended downturn, the person said, pointing to its financials: Its 2019 revenue was $4.8 billion, up 25% from 2018, and its operations have been cash-flow positive since 2016.

An internal Airbnb memo on travel in China, where coronavirus restrictions are starting to ease, provides a blueprint of how it hopes the business will recover in other markets.

A survey of its Chinese hosts found that 99% still felt positive or neutral about the company and 72% said they would maintain or increase hosting. About one third of Chinese renters seeking weekly or monthly lodgings searched on Airbnb, the report said, a higher share than used other short-term rental sites.

Constanza Hevia H. / Special to The Chronicle

Ulrik Binzer, CEO of Host Compliance, which collects data on Airbnb rentals to help cities enforce their short-term rental laws, said he thinks Airbnb is in a better spot than hotels to ride out the crisis.

In some 210 North American cities, he found that most hosts were keeping their listings up, signaling an intention to return to hosting once travel restrictions are lifted.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Moreover, Airbnbs asset-light model will help it recover, he said.

Airbnb is very fortunate that it doesnt have to pay rent or mortgages on properties, he said. It doesnt have big fixed costs.

Hostfullys Jacoby also said he thinks Airbnb is well positioned to weather the storm. I think once things turn around, people will feel more comfortable in a separate vacation home than a hotel where everyone presses the same elevator button, he said. Vacation rentals will bounce back quicker than hotels.

But Cornells Anderson had the opposite viewpoint.

I think guests will have some apprehension about going back to Airbnb, he said. People will prefer places with well designed protocols about how they are cleaned. They may feel uncertainty around rentals, (wondering) who stayed there before, were they professionally cleaned?

Meanwhile, some hosts are just trying to get through the next few weeks or months.

Jan Neufeld, 77, a retiree, said renting the master suite of her Dolores Park condo via Airbnb provided about half of her income.

It has made the difference in my being able to pay my mortgage and live comfortably in San Francisco, which is the only place I want to live, she said. Its been a lifeline.

But now the income has stopped and she is seeking lender forbearance because she cant pay her mortgage.

She doesnt know exactly how Airbnb can help hosts but notes that they are integral to the company.

Airbnb is nothing without us, she said. We are it, straightforward, pure and simple.

Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on sfchronicle.com. See More Collapse

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com
Saudi Arabia said on Friday it was not in talks with Russia to balance oil markets despite rising pressure from Washington to stop a price rout amid the coronavirus pandemic and an attempt by Moscow to fix a rift with the de facto OPEC leader. A three-year supply pact between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers, including Russia, fell apart this month after Moscow refused to support Riyadh's plan for deeper production cuts, prompting Saudi Arabia to pledge to raise output to a record high. The resulting supply boost has coincided ...
Despite the government order of strict action against those doctors who close their clinics, at least 80% doctors in the city have opted to shut down their clinics. The reason? Fear of infection.

Dr Sanjay Patil, head of IMA Pune chapter, said, We, at IMA, assure that there would be no issue from our end to the patients. Most of our patients are follow-ups who are now getting telephonic consultation or if needed physical examination on prior appointment. Transportation for hospital staff is a major concern. We need the staff to maintain hygiene in the hospital and break the chain. We are also demanding protective gear from the government as it is not freely available in the market now. Most clinics have reduced the OPD timings and those in isolated areas are shutting down as there is no transportation for the staff.

Dr Dilip Sarda, past president of IMA and current executive member Maharashtra Medical Council, said, Despite our repeated requests to the government to provide basic protective equipment like N95 masks, the government has failed to do so. The district administration has said that they are working on providing these necessities to the doctors, however, no action has been taken in this regard till now.

He said, Over 80% of the doctors in the city have opted to shut their clinics due to the fear and apprehensions of getting an infection. We are directly exposed to such patients and there are many people who are now rushing to the doctors even if they have cold or flu-like symptoms which only puts us at risk. There are 9,000 doctors registered under the Maharashtra Medical Council in Pune alone and we have demanded basic protective gears for all these doctors. There is a shortage of N95 masks and we need the government to provide these masks.

On Friday, an 85-year-old doctor died with suspected coronavirus symptoms in Mumbai while his 50-year-old son is also believed to have contracted the infection. After this news, fear among the doctors community has only grown more, added Dr Sarda.

Dr Sarda also added that in addition to the fear of infection, the non-medical staff working with these doctors and in major hospitals fear police assault. He said, The government is simply promising us the protective gears, but no action is being taken. We have now written to the health minister that they must provide these basic facilities before initiating any action against doctors who choose to shut their clinics.

The district administration on March 6 issued a circular stating strict action against doctors who shut their clinics, including cancellation of their registration with the Indian Medical Council. District collector Naval Kishore Ram said, We had issued an overall notice asking doctors to keep their clinics open, but we have also got demands from the doctors to provide protective kits and we have conveyed their message to the state. We are working on procuring the kits.
A 42-year-old man named Damilare Adeoya has landed in the police net after killing his landlord while having sex with his wife in Osun state.

According to reports, the angry man used a cutlass on the landlord after walking in on him and his wife having sex.

Confessing to the crime, he said he is ready to face the law adding that he has no regret whatsoever.

He said:

who confessed to the crime, said  I have been suspecting my wife and the landlord for about a month now, so i decided to come back home earlier when i saw a text message my wife had sent to a number saying by 11am.

I got in through the kitchen door and went straight to my bedroom where i caught them naked. This is a person my wife do complain about that she so much dislikes not knowing she was saying otherwise.

Read Also: 2nd Wife Sets Husbands House Ablaze Over New Wife In Osun

Im ready to face the law, I really dont care about what happens at this time. Adeoya concluded.

Confirming the incident. the Osun State Public Relations Officer, Idrissu Adeboyejo, said the suspect is in Police custody undergoing interrogations over the act.

He said the matter has been transferred to the State CID and the suspect will be charged to Court as soon as investigations are concluded.
KIPP Cooper Norcross Academys managing director of school operations Amanda Poole gets laptops ready for the volunteers that will take them to the students that were not able to pick them up on March 27, 2020. Because of coronavirus schools need to readjust their teaching methods while students are staying safe at home. The KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy in Camden is supplying its K-8th grade students with laptops so students will still be able to learn remotely. Read more

Cherry Hill schools got computers out to students within a few days of shutting down. Cheltenham was still asking parents this week if their kids had access to technology with plans for some structured learning in mid-April. Philadelphia remains frozen in instructional limbo because its short 50,000 computers. Only on Thursday, as it got $5 million from the personal coffers of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, did Philadelphia officially authorize funding to arm kids with laptops.

Roberts, his tech empire just blocks from beleaguered school offices, said he had been moved to help the long-underfunded district.

This is no way for our nations most essential civic institution to be crawling through the coronavirus shutdown.

It is a scotch-tape approach to figuring out how to educate children during the forced shutdown of schools and an order for everyone to stay home. Sure  lets grant a pass for a week or two. This pandemic has been disorienting, at the least. But here is why anything short of a full commitment to continue with full instruction will be failure:

The have-nots will be left in last year if we dont fix this, and quickly.

The call for aggressive and swift cyberlearning comes at a time of incredible fear for many parents. We are home trying to cobble together school curricula that many districts have failed to deliver. We are worried for our jobs. We are watching our neighbors lose theirs. We cant imagine our kids getting cut down at the knees, too.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cratered the U.S. economy, causing nearly 650,000 unemployment claims in Pennsylvania alone. More than ever, it is American governments obligation to ensure that our kids remain on track.

 READ MORE: As coronavirus closes schools, wealthier districts send laptops home with students. What about poorer districts?

Its not OK to let the majority fall behind while a minority sprint ahead: kids in private schools that made the transition to online learning, or whose parents pay high property taxes for access to the best public schools.

We cant allow this to become the Lost Year of Learning for those not at the tippy top of the economic ladder.

District bureaucrats, governors, policymakers, and the philanthropists whose corporations have done well for years while politicians gutted aid for schools  they must now step up.

Public schools are a pillar of our democracy and they fuel our capitalist system. They unleash brilliance on U.S. soil. Many graduates go on to become some of the most successful people in business and art.

Some teachers in Philadelphia, under no requirement to do so, began to offer remote instruction soon after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered two weeks ago the closure of Pennsylvania schools. But then came a district directive that put a stop to any appearance that teachers were requiring that kids do assignments. Not every student had access to the tools for remote learning. Administrators opted to unequivocally deny mandatory instruction to all of the 120,000-plus students in this stubbornly underfunded district.

I heard a similar echo of concern from even some suburban districts in Pennsylvania, which have been reluctant to send curricula and assignments home for the same reason.

Meanwhile, there has been little disruption in more affluent districts, and Ive heard instruction has continued seamlessly for children at some private schools.

Cherry Hill and Lower Merion got computers into the hands of students almost immediately. Cherry Hill, as Inquirer colleague Melanie Burney reported, has been pushing out lesson plans and remote teacher dial-ins with students on Google Classroom  even for kindergartners.

By denying instruction for much longer, districts will be responsible for students falling behind. By not holding classes, they also are placing a terrible weight on parents who must work while also somehow homeschooling their children.

Shame on any superintendent or governor who pushes the lazy notion that one solution is to make our childrens learning optional. That is not what a tax-funded school system should ever tell its taxpayers  especially in lower-income and middle-class communities, where safety nets are thin.

 READ MORE: Pa. coronavirus shutdown wreaks havoc on economy as new unemployment claims top 645,000

The travesty of underfunding in Philadelphia, while heart-wrenching, was in the making over many years. No one should have been surprised that, amid a global health crisis that would shutter schools and much of our economy, that a high-poverty city and district would struggle mightily.

Even with the donation announced Thursday by Roberts and his family, the last-minute aid from the Comcast titan will still not stop students from losing what is shaping up to be a full month of instruction. Computers will be ready for distribution by April 8, as colleague Kristen Graham reported, but remote learning will begin only by April 17.

Roberts, whose father founded the global corporation that occupies two Center City skyscrapers, told The Inquirer that his familys donation  a gift separate from the philanthropic arm of Comcast, which has come under criticism for not successfully connecting enough needy households to internet  was a very obvious, very tangible thing, to know that every public school kid is going to have a laptop.

He added: "Its a heartbreak to imagine kids not being able to learn who are ready to learn.

On Friday, the governor of Pennsylvania mandated in a new law that districts must make good faith efforts" to continue educating students during the ongoing closures.

Lets hope that is just a first shot. Because it is not good enough. Not at all.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New visitor policies at hospitals across the city to reduce germs and prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) from infecting already vulnerable patients have had heartbreaking ripple effects for some families.

Sick people are being treated at medical facilities operating under a statewide ban on visitation, leaving phone or digital devices the only means of connecting with loved ones.

Visitors are banned from nursing homes, too, isolating elderly patients.

And most devastating are visitation restrictions for people in the last days or hours of their lives -- although hospitals are actively working to make accommodations wherever possible for end-of-life patients.

It is one of the most painful impacts of the new reality for New York institutions wrestling with the coronavirus outbreak.

A MOTHERS HEARTBREAK

Kathy Trues daughter, Josephine Corcoran, has ovarian cancer and is being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

The hospital had to change its visitation policy from one family member per 24-hour window to no visitors overnight, True said, preventing her from being there with her daughter.

They are used to having the care of their family and now theyre alone in fear," True said of patients like her daughter.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website states that it changed its visitor policy on March 20.

We have taken this action in order to protect the health and safety of our patients and staff. This change is consistent with a recent health advisory issued by the state Department of Health, the website states.

It states the policy will be in place with very limited exceptions, that might include imminent end-of-life patients, pediatric patients, and other extreme extenuating circumstances.

Love from family is just as important as medicine to cancer patients, True said.

There is real human suffering involved. My daughter is in a very bad place and I want to touch her. Whatever age you are you want your mother when youre sick, she said.

Adding to the stress of having cancer is fear and the unknowns about the coronavirus.

Were all quarantined with family, theyre with strangers, she said.

BOROUGH HOSPITALS WORKING TO CONNECT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

Both Staten Island hospitals have currently restricted all visitors per city, state, and federal guidelines.

Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) said it is currently working to convert a medical-grade videogame system into a video chat console for patients. Because the console is medical-grade, it can be sterilized in between uses.

The hospital is working hard to make accommodations, the SIUH spokesman said.

SIIUH is still restricting visitors at this time.

A spokesman for Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) said it is also working to make accommodations for patients who are in hospice and end-of-life situations.

Were trying to preserve dignity and respect as much as we can, the RUMC spokesman said.

RUMC is helping to arrange phone calls and video chats using iPads for patients who are alone in the hospital to contact family members.

In extreme circumstances, the spokesman said, exceptions will be made and visitors will be allowed into the hospital. Any visitors allowed in the hospital must be screened before entering, he said.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

NURSING HOME RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE BY STATE

Nursing homes and other adult care facilities are places where elderly adults live alone and often rely on visitation to keep in touch with family.

On March 12, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that nursing homes across the state would no longer be allowing visitors. The only exception would be medically necessary visitors.

If you care about someone in a nursing home, the last thing you want is to endanger that person, Cuomo said. A grandchild going to visit his or her grandmother who walks in with the virus, youre not doing anyone a service.

Previously, the state Department of Health had issued guidance for nursing homes to take precautions such as screening visitors and reducing visiting hours.

SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTS FUNERAL FOR MOM

Debra Barones mother, Lena Colasurdo, died at the age of 91 on March 16, right in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

Barone said she wasnt able to honor her mother the way she deserved to be honored because of the social distancing restrictions put in place by the state.

The funeral homes website states it would be limiting the number of guests in the building to no more than 50 at one time, and all guests would be required to sign-in with names, addresses, and phone numbers in case they needed to be contacted by the authorities at a later time.

The number of chairs in each room would be distanced as well, it said.

But she deserved a larger-than-life celebration, she said.

Barone said her family also had an issue finding a priest to say a prayer during the service, however, a family friend came through in their time of need.

This is whats going to happen to so many elderly people in nursing homes and hospitals, Barone said, about the visitor restrictions at the boroughs health care facilities.

***

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Taking your child out for a driving lesson is not an essential journey, say North Wales Police

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 28th, 2020

Police have once again reiterated the message that people should only be leaving their homes and travelling for essential reasons.

New police enforcement powers were granted by the UK and Welsh Government on Thursday in a bid to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives.

If members of the public are now found now complying with government advice to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel they can face a fine.

Officers from North Wales Police have been carrying out spot checks on vehicles across the region over the last few days. Which in some cases has seen drivers being turned around and told that North Wales is closed.

Police carrying out vehicle checks in Prestatyn on Friday night stopped a driver only to find it was a parent taking advantage of the quiet roads to give a driving lesson.

In post on the forces Roads Policing Unit, a spokesperson said: Taking your child out for a driving lesson because you want to make the most of the quiet roads is not an essential journey.

Do not do it please. We are conducting checks. Stay Home Save Lives.

Officers from the force Intercept Team and Roads Policing Unit set up a checkpoint on the A494 in Deeside on Friday stopping those they suspected were on day trips or journeys to holiday homes.

Mae @NWPInterceptors a @NWPRPU yn cynnal ymgyrch ar y ffin er mwyn siarad a gyrrwyr syn dod i Ogledd Cymru Yn anffodus mae nifer yn anwubyddur neges #ArosAdref gan fod sawl sydd wedi cael eu stopio wedi cael eu gyrru nol Mae Gogledd Cymru wedi cau. ARHOSWCH ADREF#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/RvVPl3yvxu  Heddlu Gogledd Cymru (@HeddluGogCymru) March 27, 2020

Police said: Sadly, some are continuing to ignore the Stay Home Save Lives message as several have been stopped and turned around due to them just coming here for their holiday.

This is unacceptable, North Wales is currently closed. PLEASE STAY HOME.

Those ignoring the message to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel face a fixed penalty notice of 30, which if not paid within 14 days will double to 60

If they are issued with a second or subsequent notice the charge will be 120 those who do not pay a fixed penalty notice under the regulations could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.

Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: This is a public health emergency and compliance with these measures is considered necessary to achieve the objective of effective social distancing.

We have all heard the scientific advice which clearly states this will slow the spread of the virus and save peoples lives.

These new powers will support my officers in dealing with those that have not yet fully understood the gravity of the situation.

The Government has been clear that it expects people to do the right thing in order to protect the NHS and save lives.
Tara Diffley Verboven, a Killashee native living in L'estartit, Catalonia Spain since 2003, has called on the people of Longford to respect government guidelines, or risk a prolonged Covid-19 outbreak.

The mother of two, who ended up in the fishing/holiday resort after studying Tourism in Sligo IT, lives in Spain with her husband Sonny and children Dylan (6) and Sofia May (10 months).

The family have been on lockdown in their home since Thursday, March 12, with her children now homeschooled for the forseeable future.

Tara explained: We have been inside since Thursday 12th March, it's very surreal, like something from a movie.

Every morning when we wake up, we hear of more and more people who have contracted the virus and sadly of more and more deaths.

You can only go outside to the shop for essentials only or to the pharmacy or doctor. In these premises, there are strict guidelines about distance and hygiene etc.

The police and in some areas the army are now patrolling the streets and question everyone they meet outside. Oh, you can also go walk your dog, but only briefly.

The Longforidan told the Leader that local police are handing out fines for anyone not abiding by the rules.

She stated: Police are handing out fines to anyone who disregards the rules, 600 and up.

Read also: 20 midlands youths ignore Covid-19 advice for football match

From today, we must have a form from the town hall stating where we are going/coming from etc if the police stop you outside.

Tara says hospitals in the region are on the brink of collapse, with protective equipment badly needed.

She said: The hospitals are on the brink of collapse, they desperately need masks and gowns, and nurses and doctors are working around the clock.

This morning, Monday, there were 5,925 confirmed covid-19 cases in the Catalonian region, and 245 people in Catalonia have died due to the illness.

That's just in this region. In the whole of Spain there are 33,089 and 2,207 dead! The airports and borders are now shut, only allowing essential flights.

After hearing of social distancing rules not being adhered to in her home county of Longford, Tara has issued a plea to the public to 'act now', stay home and stop the spread of the virus.

She said: Act now, stay home, stay in. A few weeks or maybe a month and you could save lives.

Stop the spread. Social distancing is not working, it's clear to see.

The longer people disregard the rules, the longer this will go on, Tara concluded.

Read also: Kindness continues apace as Longford Town Supporters Club donate Easter eggs to paramedics
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:59:32|Editor: Xiaoxia

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Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (C) speaks during the handover ceremony of medical equipment from the Chinese government to Malaysia in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on March 28, 2020. The joint fight against COVID-19 has bonded Malaysia and China closer as China sending much-needed supplies and support to Malaysia, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Saturday. (Chinese Embassy in Malaysia/Handout via Xinhua)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The joint fight against COVID-19 has bonded Malaysia and China closer as China sending much-needed supplies and support to Malaysia, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Saturday.

In the handover ceremony of medical equipment from the Chinese government to Malaysia, Hishammuddin said China has once again come forward to work closely with Malaysia as his country face very difficult times against COVID-19, quoting a Chinese saying "We really truly know our friends in times of crisis."

The medical equipment arrived in Malaysia on Saturday include test kits, N95 Medical Protective Face Masks, 3-ply surgical masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 200 units of ventilators.

"This is an extraordinary contribution by a country to Malaysia showing the close friendship, solidarity and consideration both Malaysia and China share," said Hishammuddin, adding that his government will make full use of the supplies including distribute them to the frontliners like doctors and nurses.

Hishammuddin applaud China's success in containing COVID-19, saying the joint fight against the pandemic has provided Malaysia and China with an opportunity to further the bilateral relations and cooperation.

"As the Chinese saying goes - In times of crisis, there is a blessing. The blessing of COVID-19 as far as bilaterals with Malaysia and China, it has bonded us and made us closer together," he said.

Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian, who was also present at the handover ceremony, said Malaysia had come to China's assistance in the fight against COVID-19, and the medical supplies sent by the Chinese government served as a token of friendship and solidarity.

Bai said Chinese will continue to provide material and technical support to Malaysia for fighting against COVID-19. "We will for sure win this war against COVID-19 together," he said.

Malaysia recorded a total to 2,320 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday, with a death toll of 27 people.
As a captain in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm, Felix Roque was charged with recruiting doctors, nurses and other medical personnel in order for the military to have enough critical-care workers to support a war. It wasnt easy, the now 63-year old colonel in the Army Reserves said, but the result exceeded expectations.

We started by looking for anesthesiologists. We looked for surgeons because thats what we needed the most in the battlefield," Roque said. We did very well recruiting but it took us about three or four years to be able to gather enough doctors for the fight. Whats happening now in New Jersey is the same scenario, but we dont have that kind of time to find more doctors for this war."

Its why Roque, the former mayor of West New York, is attempting to recruit doctors to assist in what he calls an upcoming tsunami of sick doctors and nurses during the coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in 8,825 cases and 108 deaths in New Jersey, according to figures announced Friday by state officials.

Roque, a Cuban-American doctor who is affiliated with two northern New Jersey hospitals as a surgeon, anesthesiologist and pain management physician, is compiling a database of international medical graduates to help treat coronavirus patients in hospitals around the state. The one issue? Many of the doctors, he said, dont have a license to practice in the United States.

Theyre doctors who got their degrees oversees and theyre in this country taking their exams," Roque said. Some of them already passed their exams but theyre waiting to go into a residency here. But understand most of these doctors already did residency in their country. Theyre anesthesiologists, theyre surgeons. But now what theyre doing is theyre driving Uber, theyre working in Walmart. And theyre hurting because theyre not in position to help."

Roque said he reached out to Gov. Phil Murphy last week about his database, which included 40 doctors as of Friday.

Were going to get it into the hundreds," Roque said. Theyre willing to get activated if the governor gives them the green light. The governor has the authority to grant temporary licenses to foreign medical doctors."

Murphy was non-committal when asked Friday, telling an NJ Advance Media reporter he wants to make sure the doctors have the proper certification.

Felix has reached out to me personally on this," Murphy said during his daily coronavirus press briefing. I think its going to depend on the specifics of the situation. We have waived for other states in the United States to come in and I would suspect that we would do that on a case-by-case basis for non-U.S."

The governor started his press briefing Friday with a call for trained medical personnel, including retired nurses, doctors, med-students and EMTs, to volunteer via an online portal the state created this week.

We are very mindful of the need for trained medical personnel to help us ensure proper staffing as we build out this new capacity (of hospital beds)," Murphy said. We are a state that is blessed to have countless dedicated and committed health-care workers, doctors and nurses and everyone in between. And we need to call for experienced backup."

Judith Persichilli, the state health commissioner, echoed that point, adding: Well take all the help we can get as long as we can identify the safe care that has to be given."

Roque responded with what he called a simple question:

When things worsen, do you want to be intubated by an international medical graduate doctor or die?" said Roque, who also sent an email Friday to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with the same plea. I agree with the governor and that is the purpose of beginning credentialing the applicants before we get hit with the tsunami of infected medical personnel."

Roque doesnt have to go far to find an immigrant doctor who succeeded when given a chance to practice in the United States. He points to Dr. Jose Chavez-Cacho, an American Board certified obstetrician, gynecologist and family practitioner who these days spends his time treating COVID-19 patients in the emergency room at Hudson Regional Hospital. A graduate of a Lima City, Peru medical school, Chavez-Cacho spent a three-year residency in his homeland before immigrating to the United States for residencies in Cleveland and the Bronx, New York, in the early 1990s.

Me and Felix, we both work at Hudson Hospital in Secaucus," Chavez-Cacho said. I was there (Wednesday) and that place looks like a war zone. Oh my God. Scary."

Chavez-Cacho doesnt use the term war zone" lightly. He spent time in the U.S. Army, working with the military corps medical team in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hes experienced first-hand the shortage in medical personnel, saying he knows many of the international medical graduates Roque has on his list.

I believe what Felix is doing is important because no one knows how were going to be able to treat this," Chavez-Cacho said. Look what is happening in Spain. There are people lying on the floor (in hospitals) because the country doesnt have the beds. My fear is thats going happen here. I dont know how were going to have the ability to handle the patients."

As the procurement officer based at Fort Totten in New York, Roque led a team of five officers in the early 1990s. They would go to various residency programs in New York in an attempt to recruit doctors, armed with pizza and financial stipends.

I used to go to Columbia Presbyterian and wed offer their medical students a stipend in return for four years of payback in the Army reserves," Roque said. It was a great deal for us. We were giving $20,000 to a spine surgeon who couldve made hundreds of thousands of dollars after they graduate."

He secured commitments from dozens of medical students during that time, but admittedly took some heat when he convinced his sister, Hilda, to join the ranks.

I recruited her also," he said. My mother didnt like that too much, but what can I tell you?"

These days, Dr. Hilda Roque-Dieguez practices internal medicine in North Jersey and also provides emergency services at hospitals in Hackensack, Hoboken, Jersey City and North Bergen.

That (Army commitment) was no big deal," she said, laughing while taking a break from a telemedicine session with a patient Wednesday. During 9/11, I went down to Ground Zero to help. And when the plane landed on the (Hudson) River, I was one of the first responders there. Its just something innate. You jump into it. You dont just stand around. You have to confront fear because if fear affects you then you fall."

She rattles off a host of names of qualified doctors on her brothers list, and says they share the same mindset.

This pandemic is affecting both the general public and the health-care professionals," she said. So if the pandemic continues the way its going, were going to be needing more medical professionals to help out."

If he gets the go-ahead from state officials to proceed, Roque said he could furnish a database to Murphy within a week.

Credentialing them is simple," he said. You just send an email to their medical school."

If he doesnt get a call, Roque figures hell help in a different way. He said he received an email from the Army on Thursday, asking if he would be willing to become active again with the Reserves.

Thats how grave the situation is," Roque said. I did 36 years in the Army. Im 63 years old. Theyre trying to recruit doctors because they know that they dont have enough doctors either."

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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Under the most recent coronavirus-aid package approved by Congress on Friday, Idaho is set to receive $1.25 billion in federal aid to help offset the toll on the states economy.

The package will provide critical relief to Idahoans, Gov. Brad Little said during a Friday news conference.

Little announced several actions, including fast-tracking money to medical providers for the purchase of personal protective equipment for health care workers, ventilators, rapid test kits, lab supplies, hospital beds and other critical needs to battle the health care crisis.

In addition to rushing aid to the medical community, Little also announced changes to help unemployed workers, small businesses and the state budget.

Record low unemployment numbers will flip

Over the last couple of years, Idaho has experienced record-low unemployment rates. Within a matter of weeks, that number flipped to what likely will be record-high unemployment numbers.

The number of unemployed in Idaho jumped 1,200% in a matter of days, Little said.

Idaho Department of Labor reported Thursday that workers laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak filed 13,341 new unemployment claims, up 12,310 claims from the previous week.

Little said the state does not yet have fully vetted new unemployment numbers and the federal government is asking states to hold off on issuing preliminary numbers.

They are not 2.7%, Little said, referring to the states unemployment rate just weeks ago before the virus broke out.

Little issued a proclamation to streamline help for Idahoans who are temporarily unable to work through no fault of their own because of coronavirus-related illness, quarantines, layoffs or work reductions.

Changes include waiving the one-week waiting period to file and making it easier for employees to return to their jobs.

Employers who pay a quarterly unemployment tax will not be charged when employees are laid off due to the new coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

Additionally, employers and employees will have an additional 14 days to appeal claims decisions beyond the normal 14 days.

Small businesses, too, can get help via low-interest disaster, paycheck protection and other loans along with grants and other aid through the Small Business Administration

State cuts spending, not services

Even though Idaho and other states are getting an influx of federal cash, Little said the state budget will take a hit from the disruption in our economy.

While the impact of the pandemic on state revenue is yet unknown, we must do everything we can to ensure the state is positioned for long-term success, he said. I want to assure Idahoans we have a plan to ensure governmental services will continue and we will meet our constitutional requirement for a balanced state budget without having to raise taxes.

Little ordered all state agencies to cut general fund spending by 1%, which will save approximately $40 million statewide.

The cuts dont apply to agencies providing direct support to the states coronavirus response.

Little explained that with schools closed and some state agencies idled by the economy grinding to a halt or the stay-home order, there are a lot of variable costs that are not accruing. These savings should help ease spending cuts.

There are a lot of agencies whose workload for whatever reason has gone down, Little said, noting that some other agencies, like ones in the health care field, are seeing their workload greatly increase.

Little said cutting services and laying off state employees may not be the best solution in the long run.

We want to be in the best position when this thing turns back, so we can flip the switch and start to grow.

Little staying healthy

Since announcing Idahos first coronavirus case just two weeks ago, on March 13, Little has been traveling the state, attending numerous meetings and holding regular news conferences.

When asked by a reporter how hes doing, Little said hes doing well.

Believe me, you dont go into one of these battles without a good team, like I have, and that makes things a lot easier, he said.

Little said he hasnt been tested for the virus and hes practicing social distancing everywhere he goes.

In addition to his physical health, Little said his mental health and social health are also doing well because Im confident that Im doing the right thing for the people of Idaho.

Im doing fine, he said, but believe me, theres pressure.
A total of six coronavirus patients were discharged from hospital after receiving treatment, officials said on Saturday.

"A total of Six coronavirus patients were discharged from the hospital. Five coronavirus patients from Gurugram and one from Faridabad" said, officials.

A bulletin issued by the health department of the Haryana government said so far a total of 20 cases have been reported positive (Gurugram 10, Faridabad 3, Panipat 4, Panchkula 1, Palwal 1 and Sonepat 1).

Of all the samples collected from the test of Covid-19, 430 were negative and results for 126 samples are still awaited.

The central government has imposed a 21-day lockdown in the country from March 24 onwards in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus positive cases rises to 918 in India including foreign nationals, 80 people have been cured/discharged/migrated so far and 19 deaths have been reported, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
They're at it again.

Spilling out words and phrases we don't know, or want to hear.

First it was Boris with his 'losing loved ones before their time#, then it was Donald, telling us this Covid-19 it's no worse than a common cold.

Now is Leo telling us we have to 'cocoon' ourselves.

What the hell does that mean ?

A mad rush soon followed to the Collins English Dictionary.

'Cocoon', Collins tells me, is 'a silky protective covering produced by a silkworm, or other insect larva, in which the pupa develops'.

Sounds horrible and it is.

This being 'cocooned' which Leo advised all us elderly (excuse me Taoiseach, I'm nearing 77 and don't feel 'elderly') to undertake in his 'state of the nation speech' is just as bad as the prospect of insect larva invading your space.

Suddenly, within days, your life is dramatically changed.

Your newspaper is delivered to your door by your grandson, and you can't even invite him past the patio door.

Gone is the bonus that retirement brings of ambling into town, pleasantly contemplating where to pop in for a coffee.

The '23 Seats' opposite the courthouse, they always have "The Times", I can idle away some time here, if I don't see a familiar face.

No I can't, I can't go out, and even if I did get a pass from the family, almost all the coffee shops in town are closed.

Even the burden of getting a few messages for the wife is gone.

Now the daughter arrives with the dawn birds to collect the shopping list and waves from the gate as she drops off the bags.

Somehow the list of books I always meant to read, but never had the time, has lost it's appeal, now that I have the time.

The only escape from the prison cell that the house has become, and endless doomsday predictions on TV and radio, is the concession of an afternoon walk for good behaviour for complying with the 'social distancing' edict.

Even that, round the familiar Blackrock circuit, that was always enjoyable when not compulsory, now seems like a burden.

The bloom of Spring, always a welcome sight when walking at this time if year, has somehow lost it's magic, for it is impossible to dismiss the invasive thought of those awful death toll figures from Italy and Spain.

Now even the welcome sight of friends undertaking the same walk is awkward, as they are reluctant to stop and talk, anxious to maintain their 'social distance', and making you question 'did I shower this morning or not change my socks'.

Friends phone, trying to keep you're sprits up, and those that don't well . . . .they're off the Christmas card list.

An extra 'lie-in' in the morning that you always craved when working has also lost its appeal, for where once pleasant thoughts, like Dundalk's latest win, were always welcome, now the time is occupied worrying whether this Covid-19 lark was man made to reduce the air pollution levels and warming gases in our atmosphere, or to eradicate the 'black hole' in the old age pension deficit.

What is not easy to banish if the prediction from Leo, and almost nightly as he gives out the latest score of cases, is the apocalyptic warning from the chief medical officer (incidentally he shouldn't have such a kind demeanour for dispensing such grim news) of a tsunami of Covid-19 cases coming our way in the next few weeks.

It's the knowledge that it is coming, but you can't see it coming, like death itself, that is the most frightening.

If you're a shopkeeper along Blackrock village front, you can get the sand bags ready when a high tide backed by a gale force wind is forecast.

Can you do any more to ward of the Covid-19 tsunami ?

You can of course do your best to 'concoon' ourselves as Leo asked . . . but seriously leaving aside the isolation and inconvenience, it is a small price for all of us to pay in support of the common good.

Of course we're all told we'll get through this but there is always the feeling that it is something that has to be said, and done so without any real conviction, or knowledge.

The pace of events, the soaring death toll in Europe, is all very difficult for us all to comprehend.

The podcast Mass, from the Redemptorist, or RTE, different in that you can eat your breakfast while you pray, is welcomed by many, for it provides a beacon of hope, expressed through prayer, in an increasingly grim world.

Our prayer is that what we called normal, or yes boring world, will one day return and that once again the town's hotels, some like Ballymac, closed for the first time in their history, will be a warm, inviting refuge when this if over.

Or that the town's many fine pubs, restaurants and businesses will open again.

We can, and we will survive this 'social exclusion' that has been imposed on us, and in the process we will have learned a lot about ourselves.
CHI Health hospitals in Lincoln, Grand Island and Kearney also will be able to run their own tests soon, Robertson said. Those additions probably are four to six weeks out.

For now, the health system will continue to prioritize testing consistent with state guidelines. At some point, the nation may have enough capacity to conduct surveillance and identify people who have had no symptoms or mild ones. But that likely is months away.

Methodist Health System also is moving forward with plans to purchase additional equipment and reagents, which are chemicals needed to run the tests, in order to bring testing for the virus in-house.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, meanwhile, will receive $3.5 million to bolster testing for people who may be infected with COVID-19. The funds are part of the $58.6 million emergency appropriation the Nebraska Legislature approved this week to fight the virus. Lawmakers included $25 million to be held in reserve and used as needed, bringing the total appropriation to $83.6 million.
The tragedy from the last few months is weve been flying blind because of the delay in testing, said Dr. Thomas Tsai, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Lets not repeat that tragedy going forward for the next three months. That information is going to guide the appropriate response.




About 200 South Korean peacekeeping troops returned home Saturday from South Sudan after completing their nine-month rotational mission.







They arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, shortly before noon on an Ethiopian Airlines plane chartered by the South Korean government.







The soldiers are scheduled to be tested for the coronavirus and be self-quarantined for two weeks if they all test negative.







All the troops, however, will be quarantined at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan County, about 160 kilometers southeast of Seoul, if anyone tests positive for COVID-19, according to the defense ministry.







The troops returned home without replacement as South Sudan asked South Korea and other foreign countries not to send fresh troops due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.







Still, some of the 270-strong Hanbit Unit are staying in South Sudan to perform basic surveillance duties until a replacement contingent arrives, according to the defense ministry.







South Korea said it will continue to consult with South Sudan and the U.N. to swiftly send the new 12th batch to the African country at the earliest possible date.







South Korea began troop deployments to the war-torn country in 2013 at the U.N.'s request in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at assisting peaceful reconstruction work.







The African nation declared its independence from its Arab-dominated northern neighbor Sudan in July 2011 after decades of civil war that killed more than 2 million people. (Yonhap)


Federal cabinet will move to plug a hole in the welfare system that would have seen up to 400,000 Australians laid off during the coronavirus crisis miss out on Centrelink benefits.

The imminent move, to be delivered without Parliament sitting, will see changes to the "benefit cliff," a hard threshold that would have left families struggling to keep up with the cost of living.

Under the current arrangements, sacked or stood-down workers would not have been eligible for either the coronavirus supplement of $550, the Jobseeker payment of $550, or other Centrelink measures such as rent assistance if their employed partner earned more than $1850 a fortnight. The threshold would have hit the partners of critical front-line workers such as teachers or nurses and forced households to survive on $48,000 a year.
Because of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and territories around the globe have imposed restrictions on entry and exit and stopped transit services while many airlines have cancelled their flights.

In accordance with guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Vietnamese representative offices abroad have been exerting efforts in supporting Vietnamese citizens stranded at international airports to return home.

The MOFA warned Vietnamese citizens against travelling and returning to Vietnam at the moment. They are asked to follow COVID-19 preventive measures, regularly update regulations of places they are staying at and of airlines to prepare required documents to take the trip.

Citizens could be stranded in foreign airports if they do not have necessary documents or there is a sudden change in policies of countries and territories and the carriers.

In case of emergency, they are recommended to contact the citizen protection hotlines at official websites of Vietnamese representative offices and of the Consular Department under the MOFA +84.981.84.84.84.


UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan joined Beachwood Mayor Martin Horwitz in issuing a statement to residents Friday (March 27) urging travelers to University Heights and Beachwood from certain states, or those hosting guests from these states, to take the initiative to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days.

We are concerned by the increase of vehicles we have seen in University Heights with New York and New Jersey plates, Brennan stated in his email to residents. "We know many of our residents (myself included) have ties to communities in these states. As we are under a stay-at-home order, now is not a good time to travel or to host guests from out of town.

In addition, we know that our snowbirds will be soon returning from Florida. New York, New Jersey and Florida are among states with the highest number of cases of COVID-19," he said.

The letter goes on to state: If you or members of your immediate family/household have (or recently have had) visitors from New York, New Jersey or Florida, OR If you or members of your immediate family/household are returning (or recently returned) from New York, New Jersey,or Florida, then we request that you participate in a voluntary 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival in University Heights.

Brennan asks the same of those who have traveled to or who have hosted guests from other coronavirus hot spots, including California, the state of Washington, Michigan, Louisiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

University Heights followed the lead of Beachwood which, earlier Friday, issued the same request to residents and visitors.

To protect our city: If you have New York/New Jersey visitors, or if you or members of your family are returning from Florida, we request that you participate in a voluntary 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival in Beachwood, read a portion of the post by Mayor Martin Horwitz on the Beachwood city website.

Read more from the Sun Press.
The evidence is clear: Mass testing for the virus is the key to its eradication  and to saving lives.

Cases of the coronavirus in Italy have continued to soar in recent weeks. The country has reported 86,498 cases and 9,134 deaths as of Saturday, March 28.

But one small Italian town claims to have eradicated coronavirus infections, having now reached zero new cases after implementing a mass-testing programme in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

The town, Vo Euganeo  population 3,300  based in the heartlands of the most contaminated area of northern Italy, saw a cluster of cases of COVID-19 in the third week of February and was home to the countrys first death from the virus, on February 21.

So, while the draconian measures taken in China to get the coronavirus under control may not be suitable for other countries, could we learn, instead, from this small Italian town?

Following the towns first death from coronavirus, the whole town was put under lockdown.

No one was allowed to enter or leave, while goods (medicines and food) could only reach the town if authorised to do so by the Prefetto, the central government representative in Padua. Then all of the towns 3,300 residents, including those with no symptoms, were tested for the virus starting from March 6.

This allowed quarantining of people who had been infected, before they showed any signs of infection and stopped any further spread of the coronavirus in its tracks.

Within 14 days, the virus had been eradicated from the community. This mass testing revealed that about 3 percent of residents were infected with the virus at that point, and, of these, about half were not showing any symptoms when they tested positive.

After two weeks of a strict lockdown of the entire town and the quarantine of infected patients, only 0.25 percent of residents were testing as infected. Vo Euganeo has not reported any new cases since Friday, March 13.

In the first round of testing, 89 people in Vo Euganeo tested positive. In the second round of testing, the number of positive cases had dropped to six.

Because of a combination of universal testing and lockdown across the entire town, Vo Euganeo managed to avoid the number of cases spiralling out of control, thereby minimising the risk of a huge demand on their health services. In effect, they nipped it in the bud by taking aggressive and decisive action early to stop the spread of the disease.

All of this was achieved with a 100 percent recovery rate for those previously infected.

Writing about this case, Andrea Cristani, a professor of microbiology at the University of Padua in Italy who helped carry out the testing, and Antonio Cassone, the former director of the department of infectious diseases at the Italian Institute of Health, said: In the last two weeks, a promising pilot study here has produced results that may be instructive for other countries trying to control coronavirus.

Beginning on 6 March, along with researchers at the University of Padua and the Red Cross, we tested all residents of Vo, a town of 3,000 inhabitants near Venice  including those who did not have symptoms. This allowed us to quarantine people before they showed signs of infection and stop the further spread of coronavirus. In this way, we eradicated coronavirus in under 14 days.

Elsewhere in Italy  as in other countries  however, the authorities chose only to test those who already displayed symptoms.

The decision to only test those who presented for treatment with symptoms of the virus was taken by major Italian public health experts, apparently in line with World Health Organization (WHO) suggestions.

But, according to Cristani and Cassone, asymptomatic or quasi-symptomatic subjects represent a good 70 percent of all virus-infected people and, still worse, a huge number of them can transmit the virus to others without realising they are doing so.

As shown in Vo Euganeo, full community testing gives a clearer picture of how many people actually have the virus, and how many pass it on.

The key factor is that testing only those who display symptoms of the virus gives only a vague and misleading indicator not only of how many people have caught the virus but also of the overall percentage mortality rates.

Other countries should look closely at the results of the case study in Vo Euganeo.

It may be difficult to implement such a testing strategy right across a major city or indeed the whole of a country, but it may well be possible to implement this approach in pocket areas where infections are spreading rapidly and therefore contain the spread of the virus before the number of cases increases. This would help to avoid the risk of high demand on hospitals.

Governments could identify and isolate coronavirus cluster areas, test everyone in these communities and quarantine each resident  whether they have symptoms or not  and then trace their recent contacts, and test and quarantine those people as well.

Full testing is the only way in which countries will gain a clear picture of the actual numbers who have the virus and, therefore, how many people risk infecting others without even knowing they are doing it.

In the absence of a vaccine, the identification of all carriers (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) appears to be the most effective way to control the pandemic.

The mass testing example in Vo Euganeo echoes the recent statement from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

We have a simple message to all countries  test, test, test, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said at a news briefing last week.

All countries should be able to test all suspected cases. They cannot fight this pandemic blindfolded.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
ATLANTA - The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery fought to end segregation, lived to see the election of the countrys first black president and echoed the call for justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream in America.

For more than four decades after the death of his friend and civil rights icon, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the fiery Alabama preacher was on the front line of the battle for equality, with an unforgettable delivery that rivaled Kings  and was often more unpredictable. Lowery had a knack for cutting to the core of the countrys conscience with commentary steeped in scripture, refusing to back down whether the audience was a Jim Crow racist or a U.S. president.

We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back; when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right, Lowery prayed at President Barack Obamas inaugural benediction in 2009.

Lowery, 98, died Friday at home in Atlanta, surrounded by family members, they said in a statement.

He died from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak, the statement said.

Tonight, the great Reverend Joseph E. Lowery transitioned from earth to eternity, The King Center in Atlanta remembered Lowery in a Friday night tweet. He was a champion for civil rights, a challenger of injustice, a dear friend to the King family.

Lowery led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for two decades  restoring the organizations financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africas apartheid-era regime  before retiring in 1997.

Considered the dean of civil rights veterans, he lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness  the election of an African-American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for President-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, America tonight is in the process of being born again.

An early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama over then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Lowery also gave the benediction at Obamas inauguration.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union, he said.

In 2009, Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honour.

In another high-profile moment, Lowery drew a standing ovation at the 2006 funeral of Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, when he criticized the war in Iraq, saying, For war, billions more, but no more for the poor. The comment also drew head shakes from then-President George Bush and his father, former president George H.W. Bush, who were seated behind the pulpit.

Lowerys involvement in civil rights grew naturally out of his Christian faith. He often preached that racial discrimination in housing, employment and health care was at odds with such fundamental Christian values as human worth and the brotherhood of man.

Ive never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly, he once said.

Lowery remained active in fighting issues such as war, poverty and racism long after retirement, and survived prostate cancer and throat surgery after he beat Jim Crow.

His wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who worked alongside her husband of nearly 70 years and served as head of SCLC/WOMEN, died in 2013.

Ill miss you, Uncle Joe. You finally made it up to see Aunt Evelyn again, Kings daughter, Bernice King, said in a tweet Friday night.

Lowery was pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1950s when he met King, who then lived in Montgomery, Alabama. Lowerys meetings with King, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and other civil rights activists led to the SCLCs formation in 1957. The group became a leading force in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

Lowery became SCLC president in 1977 following the resignation of Abernathy, who had taken the job after King was assassinated in 1968. He took over an SCLC that was deeply in debt and losing members rapidly. Lowery helped the organization survive and guided it on a new course that embraced more mainstream social and economic policies.

Coretta Scott King once said Lowery has led more marches and been in the trenches more than anyone since Martin.

He was arrested in 1983 in North Carolina for protesting the dumping of toxic wastes in a predominantly black county and in 1984 in Washington while demonstrating against apartheid.

He recalled a 1979 confrontation in Decatur, Alabama, when he and others were protesting the case of a mentally disabled black man charged with rape. He recalled that bullets whizzed inches above their heads and a group of Klan members confronted them.

I could hear them go whoosh, Lowery said. Ill never forget that. I almost died 24 miles from where I was born.

In the mid-1980s, he led a boycott that persuaded the Winn-Dixie grocery chain to stop selling South African canned fruit and frozen fish when that nation was in the grip of apartheid.

He also continued to urge blacks to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears, he said in 1985.

Like King, Lowery juggled his civil rights work with ministry. He pastored United Methodist churches in Atlanta for decades and continued preaching long after retiring.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1921, Joseph Echols Lowery grew up in a Methodist church where his great-grandfather, the Rev. Howard Echols, was the first black pastor. Lowerys father, a grocery store owner, often protested racism in the community.

After college, Lowery edited a newspaper and taught school in Birmingham, but the idea of becoming a minister just kept gnawing and gnawing at me, he said. After marrying Evelyn Gibson, a Methodist preachers daughter, he began his first pastorate in Birmingham in 1948.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

I believe in the final triumph of righteousness, he said. The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Lowery is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne.

___

Errin Haines, a former staffer of The Associated Press, was the principal writer of this obituary.
(Bloomberg) --

Governments around the world are taking very different approaches to tackling Covid-19, and in many cases they are driven as much by political expediency as the underlying infection rate.

Marc Champion takes a closer look at what the pandemic could mean for the populist leaders ushered into power by the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis.The U.S. is now the site of the most confirmed cases, putting President Donald Trump center stage as he tries to mitigate the impact of the virus on the worlds largest economy in an election year.Like populist leaders in countries from Brazil to Hungary, Trumps natural instinct is to portray the country as under siege  hes called it a foreign virus  and find an enemy to blame. Theres evidence his strategy isnt harming him politically. A recent poll showed 60% of Americans approve of Trumps handing of the crisis.But its unclear how the public will react as the death toll continues to grow, with cities like New York and New Orleans now in the front line.

While its too soon to predict which governments will suffer politically from their approach to the virus, questions are growing over whether populists grip on power will loosen.

Global Headlines

Delivering the aid | The U.S. House is set today to pass a $2 trillion economic stimulus package, clearing it for Trumps signature. But the success of the measure will depend on how quickly the aid reaches beleaguered consumers and businesses  a huge challenge for federal and state agencies that arent built to move quickly.

The U.S. government will rank counties according to their outbreak risk, Trump told state governors as he seeks to return Americans to work by his aspirational Easter deadline. Click here for more on how the virus is complicating Trumps efforts to relax federal regulations.

Europe, fiddling | Euro area governments are struggling to thrash out how to finance their stimulus plans. Finance ministers punted the decision to leaders on Tuesday and last night the leaders punted it right back. Finance chiefs now have another two weeks to agree on how to mobilize the blocs bailout found with hundreds dying each day and the economy in freefall.Under scrutiny | The long lines and stacks of ash urns greeting family members of the dead at funeral homes in Wuhan are spurring questions about the true scale of coronavirus casualties. According to official figures, 2,535 people in Wuhan have died of the virus. But theres skepticism over the accuracy of that tally, particularly given authorities attempts to cover up the initial outbreak, and multiple revisions to the way cases are counted.

Story continues

Gulf irritation | Saudi Arabias oil-price war with Russia is irritating its Gulf allies as it shatters the fiscal defenses they need to combat the coronavirus. As the pandemic shuts down major chunks of the global economy, the Saudi-Russia standoff is helping to drive oil even lower and hampering the Gulf economies recovery from the last price plunge in 2014, Sylvia Westall and Fiona MacDonald report.

Hard choices | While the leaders of Mexico and Brazil have downplayed the virus impact, Argentina has taken strict measures, even if they hurt the livelihoods of President Alberto Fernandezs mostly middle-to-lower class voter base. As Patrick Gillespie and Jorgelina do Rosario report, Fernandezs move to put his country into quarantine was influenced by the views of the WHO and his conversations with the leaders of Spain and Italy, two virus hot spots.

What to Watch

Trump says theres no way he will cancel the Republican National Convention in August, as Democrats look at contingency options for their own gathering a month earlier. South Africa began a three-week lockdown today to curb the spread of the coronavirus as the disease claimed its first two victims in the country. The pandemic has put on indefinite hold a major portion of the U.S. Supreme Courts docket, including a multibillion-dollar clash between software giants Google and Oracle and cases that could affect Trumps re-election chances.

Pop quiz, readers (no cheating!). Which Latin American leader has echoed Trump in calling for an early restart of his economy in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Send us your answers and tell us how were doing or what were missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.And finally ... The only road into Yarrabah shut at midnight yesterday. Like many remote communities across Australia, the town on the tropical far northeast coast is pulling up the drawbridge to stop coronavirus from entering. With Aboriginal Australians among the most vulnerable due to underlying health conditions, its a matter of life or death. Indigenous communities around the world, including the First Nations in Canada, are also preparing for the fight.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority(NIA) Prof. Ken Attafuah has strongly rejected accusation by section of the public of the Authoritys disregard for human lives by continuing with its registration process in spite of the outbreak of coronavirus in Ghana.



The NIA and its Boss came under heavy flak from a section of the public when they failed to comply with President Akufo Addos ban on public gatherings as the Authority publicly indicated that it was proceeding with the registration exercise as it has put in place measures to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.



But in an interview with Kasapa News, Prof. Attafuah stated that his outfit was simply complying with the law.



When you can take precautionary measures, hygienic measures and all of those things and you can still do your work in safety then you go back and do your work. If you can do your work safely but a court order is retraining you until when the disease is eradicated then NIA statutory duty to conduct mass registration cannot happen. That is what is the issue for us.



Prof. Attafuah also denied claims that he solely took the decision to go ahead with the registration exercise.



The governance structure that I talked about doesnt end with the Board, there is also a Minister responsible for the National Identification system. That Minister is a Minister of State at the Presidency[Dr Anthony Akoto Osei]. So decisions doesnt begin with Ken Attafuah and end with Ken Attafuah. It is not a simple matter of Ken Attafuah getting up and making a decision.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
He may be self-isolating as he recovers from the coronavirus, but it seems that has not stopped the Prince of Wales receiving visits from neighbours.

Red squirrels have been coming up to the door of his Scottish sitting room, according to an insider  and Prince Charles has been rewarding them with treats.

'The Prince keeps nuts on his desk and likes to feed the red squirrels who come up to see him,' said a well-placed source.

Prince of Wales pictured in 2008 with a red squirrel at his Birkhall home on the Balmoral Estate

'He's keeping well and this connection to nature is a great source of comfort to him.'

Clarence House has said that the Prince  who is patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust  is in good spirits despite testing positive for the virus last week.

He is expected to make a full recovery. Prince Charles is said to be working in the sitting room of his Aberdeenshire home, which opens on to a sloping lawn leading to the banks of the River Muick.

The Prince normally receives a green box of official papers, but the documents are now being sent to him electronically.

The 71-year-old started showing 'mild symptoms' of the virus last weekend and last Sunday returned to Birkhall, his Scottish residence, with the Duchess of Cornwall.

Both were tested for Covid-19 on Monday and on Tuesday Charles was told he had the virus. Although Camilla was found not to have it, she too is staying at Birkhall but is living apart from her husband.

While the Duchess has been using the video conferencing app Houseparty to connect with friends and family, it is understood that Charles is making phone calls from the cosy retreat, where rooms are decorated with tartan wallpaper.

Elizabeth II holding her weekly audience with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the phone from Windsor Castle in Windsor because of the coronavirus outbreak

The Duke of Edinburgh leaving the King Edward VII Hospital in London December 2019

However, if the virus has forced Charles to spend time on his own, it has brought his parents together.

Since the Duke of Edinburgh's retirement from public duties in 2017, he and the Queen have been living apart, communicating through phone calls and letters.

Prince Philip's home has been Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, while the Queen has spent her working week at Buckingham Palace before returning to Windsor Castle, the residence where she is said to feel most at home, for the weekend.

However, the couple  who have been married for 72 years  are currently together in joint isolation at Windsor.

Although all church services have been cancelled across the country, it is understood the Queen will receive Holy Communion today in the private apartments.

Her Majesty is said to be in good health but in order to minimise contact with anyone who may be carrying the virus, staffing has been kept to a minimum.

Her Majesty is said to be extremely conscious that no member of staff should be working if it can be avoided.

As a result, she has chosen to bypass her daily horse rides as the exercise would mean groomsmen working in the stables.

Last week it was announced that Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, was cancelled. The Queen's carriage horses Cleveland Bays and Windsor Greys, all named personally by her  have been turned out to graze in the absence of official duties.
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Saturday said that no positive case of COVID-19 was reported in Punjab on Saturday.

"ICUs to be set up in all District Hospitals of the state. 50 new ventilators acquired to meet the demand," said Sidhu in a statement.

On Friday, five confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Punjab, taking the total number of patients tested positive for the infectious disease to 38 in the state.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus positive cases rises to 918 in India including foreign nationals, 80 people have been cured/discharged/migrated so far and 19 deaths have been reported, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four migrant workers from Rajasthan were crushed to death and three seriously injured when a tempo ran over them as they were walking along a highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Saturday.

The victims were among hordes of migrants who were stopped at Maharashtra-Gujarat border and sent back as they were trying to return to their home states amid lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The incident took place on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway near Parol village in Vasai tehsil around 3 am, police spokesperson Hemant Katkar said.

As the group of seven was walking back towards Mumbai after they were stopped at the state's border, a speeding tempo ran over them, he said.

While four of them died on the spot, three others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, he said.

The deceased were identified as Ramesh Mangilal Bhat (55), Nikhil Pandya (32), Naresh Kalasuva (18) and Kaluram Bagore (18).

The tempo driver, who fled the scene, was later arrested by the Virar police, he added.

A case under sections 304(A) (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act was registered against the driver, Katkar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members along with Resident Welfare Association (RWA) on Saturday distributed food items to the needy in Mahavir Enclave area near Dwarka Sector 1, amid countrywide lockdown in backdrop of coronavirus.

This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, saying that " social distancing" is the only option to deal with the disease, which spreads rapidly.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Singh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat had on Wednesday hailed the decision of a nationwide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb the spread of COVID-19, and urged people to follow the rules of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus positive cases rises to 918 in India including foreign nationals, 80 people have been cured/discharged/migrated so far and 19 deaths have been reported, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I doubt anyone does. No one should.

The Washington Post is skeptical:

China is winning its peoples war against the coronavirus. Thats the message being sent by Chinese leaders and diplomats and amplified by the Communist Party-controlled press. A central part of the narrative is that Wuhan, the onetime center of the outbreak and the site of a recent visit from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has stopped transmission in its tracks. It went five days without reporting new, local cases. On Monday, Wuhan reported one new case. . . . But Wuhans near-zero count is being called into question by independent reporting and received with suspicion from experts. It underscores wider issues across China. The countrys overall coronavirus numbers have been met with some skepticism since the first signs of crisis. Separate reports from Chinese, Japanese and Hong Kong media suggest the dearth of new cases in Wuhan may reflect a dip in testing. Public health experts also note that China does not include confirmed asymptomatic cases in its figures  a potential blind spot.

Theres also the distinct possibility that Chinese officials are outright lying. According to this report, a single mortuary [in Wuhan] has had 5,000 urns delivered over the past two days, double the citys reported coronavirus death toll. A photo published by Caixin reportedly showed a truck loaded with 2,500 urns arriving at the Hankou Mortuary. The driver said he had delivered the same amount to the mortuary the day before.

The current reported number of total deaths in all of China from the Wuhan coronavirus is 3,295, according to Worldometer. Yesterday, China reported just five deaths. So far today, it has reported three.

South Korea reported eight deaths yesterday (again according to Worldometer). Its population is a very small fraction of Chinas; it was not at the center of the outbreak, as China was; and it has been universally commended for its response to epidemic.

Even Chinas premier, Li Keqiang, seems skeptical about the reporting from Wuhan and elsewhere. He warned local governments Monday not to cover up reporting on the coronavirus for the sake of keeping new case numbers at zero.

Local officials seem to have responded by keeping new case numbers between one and five.

Its possible, however, that the premier issued his warning for show. China suffered a massive (and well deserved) propaganda hit as a result of the Wuhan virus. Its now scrambling to recover prestige.

One way to accomplish this is to claim that compared to the West, it dealt capably with the pandemic. Falsely reporting a very low number of new cases and fatalities bolsters that narrative. As Andrew Nathan, professor of political science at Columbia University and a leading China expert, says, China is trying to bury the embarrassment of the Covid-19 cover-up in a happy story of triumph over the virus.

In addition, Chinese officials want normal life to resume throughout the country so as to minimize the economic blow the virus has inflicted. Fake numbers make it easier fully to reopen the country without scaring citizens (assuming they believe the numbers) and without drawing more international criticism.

Tellingly, China has continued to suppress independent reporting about the Wuhan coronavirus. The expulsion of reporters from the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal is but one example.

Ill give the next-to-last word to Peter Tsang, the director of the China Institute at the London University School of Oriental and African Studies. He says:

China is in the midst of its most intensive propaganda operation in living memory, in trying to project its success in dealing with the virus. There is now an imperative for the statistics to be low, and now we have statistics that serve the political imperative.

No one should believe these politically motivated statistics.
Bengaluru: Keeping in mind the interest of the labourers, vendors, homeless and the ones who run essential services, BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) which had shut all its canteens will run 19 Indira canteens in the city.

All these canteens will follow social distancing while serving food and they will give free food 3 times a day. Officials made this decision as many people, especially the homeless and labourers who run essential services are finding it difficult to feed themselves as there are no hotels or canteens. Of the 191 Indira canteens, BBMP officials claim that everyday nearly 1.7 lakh meals are being served to the poor and homeless.

The canteen will run from 7.30 am till 10 am serving breakfast, lunch will be served from 12 noon till 3pm and the dinner will start from 7.30 pm and close by 9pm.

Officials of the BBMP have been asked by the health department to keep soaps and sanitisers for the visitors. Every visitor should wash their hands with soap before and after food. Also they have asked the food caterers to wear head cap, gloves and mask while handling food.

One metre gap should be maintained between each customer and they should cover their nose and mouth with masks or clean cloth and the one who handles the coupon counter is asked to ensure this, the BBMP official said and added that they have decided to run selected canteens based on the demand.

The 19 canteens which will function are located in BBMP wards- Radhakrisna temple, Shivajinagar, Kamanahalli, Konena Agrahara, Vanarpete, Dattatreya temple, Nandini layout, Hanumanthnagar, Dharmarayaswamy temple, Deepanjalinagar, K R Puram, Doddanekundi, Bagalagunte, Ullalu, J P Park, Kuvempunagar, Attur, Gottigere and Bomanahalli.
Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed President Donald Trump for his call to distribute federal ventilators the state had in storage as the two leaders' war of words over the coronavirus pandemic escalates.

Cuomo argued that the ventilators were stored in preparation for when New York hospitals exceed their capacity as the state has become the epicenter of the American coronavirus outbreak. Cuomo told CNN on Friday that Trump's assessment of the situation 'incorrect and grossly uninformed.'

'Of course we didn't -- that's the whole point,' Cuomo said. 'The hospitals don't need them yet. The hospitals aren't at their apex. The hospitals have enough ventilators today, but their numbers are going up.'

Cuomo added that his office was planning for a peak in cases 'in about 21 days -- that's when we need the 30,000 ventilators, not today.'

'So the point is, 'well they're in a stockpile, you must not need them' is just ignorant -- of course you don't need them today!' Cuomo continued. 'You need them when you hit the apex, which is 30,000. We're not there yet.'

Trump had earlier tweeted that New York should distribute the ventilators immediately. That statement came hours after Trump said in a Fox News interview that he doubted states calling for tens of thousands of ventilators would need them.

'Thousand of Federal Government (delivered) Ventilators found in New York storage,' Trump tweeted Friday. 'N.Y. must distribute NOW!'

Trump and Cuomo, two Queens natives prone to shifting quickly between approval and antagonism, have known each other for years. But coordinating the federal and state response to New York's outbreak, which saw a running total of at least 44,635 cases and 519 deaths on Friday, has put a spotlight on their alternately frosty and supportive working relationship.

A White House official told CNN that Cuomo's pressers have become mandatory viewing in the West Wing, with the New York governor's command and directness driving Trump's own desire to use the briefing room every day to drive coverage of the coronavirus. The two men are interacting multiple times each day, according to sources familiar with their interactions, with the duo speaking upwards of three or four times on some days.

Trump's comments Friday suggested that his stance had taken a turn with regards to the ventilators since Thursday night, when the President told Sean Hannity on Fox News that he was 'getting along' with Cuomo but slammed the governor for wanting tens of thousands of ventilators, which the President doubts are necessary.

'And they say, like Governor Cuomo and others, that say we want 30,000 of them. 30,000. Think of this,' Trump told Hannity. 'You go to hospitals who have, don't even have one, in a hospital and all of a sudden everybody is asking for vast numbers.'

He added later, 'But generally speaking, I'm getting along very well with Governor Cuomo.'

When asked about Trump's dismissal of his projected ventilator needs later Friday, Cuomo told CNN's Erin Burnett, 'I hope the President's right. I'll go better than what the President said -- I hope I don't need any ventilators.'

'But I can't govern that way -- I govern on the data and on the numbers and on the science,' he said, adding that if 'you count the numbers and the trajectory, we're looking at 40,000 possible ventilators, 140,000 possible hospital beds -- those are the numbers.'

Cuomo highlighted his and Trump's working relationship, stressing that 'this is no time for politics -- this is a time for exquisite coordination between the federal government and the state governments, because we need each other.'

He also praised Trump for invoking the Defense Production Act, because it 'gives him the muscle of the law to get companies to actually respond to the production of ventilators, which is exactly what we want,' Cuomo said, later adding that Trump 'needs (accelerated production) and he's right -- these ventilators are going to be the matter of life and death.'

But the New York governor also got in one jab, when asked about Trump's assertion during Friday's coronavirus briefing that the federal government sent ventilators for New York to a New Jersey warehouse 'at the time they were complaining about it.'

'First I've heard that the warehouse was in New Jersey, funny way of delivering it to New York,' he said. 'But I knew very well that the federal government has delivered 4,000 ventilators.'

This story has been updated with additional information.
SOMETIMES it takes a while for the gravity of a situation to sink in.

For me the gravity of the coronavirus has been seeping into my psyche with growing severity over recent days.

Images from Italy have been seared into my mind. These include images the obituary pages of a Bergamo newspaper being turned over and over as I looked on horrified from the safe remove of my phone. The pictures posted by nurses and doctors in London of freshly carved grooves in their red, tired faces from wearing face masks while treating people who have contracted Covid-19.

Sitting dozing on the couch Thursday night, the sobering words of Dr Catherine Motherway, an intensive care physician at University Hospital Limerick, who warned us that we must all treat one another like pariahs - essentially as if everyone has this condition which is killing not only elderly, but also young people in Italy. The message couldn't be clearer: nobody's risk is zero with this.

Although the figures are still relatively small here in Ireland, they could shoot up later this week and early next week as testing is ramped up.

Staring straight down the lens, Dr Motherway's warning was stark. It sent shivers up my spine and made me sit up and listen.

Following a weekend which saw 80 teenagers attend a house party in the Midlands, and people congregating at beaches and public amenities not observing the two metre distancing - despite their efforts I'm sure - her words have come back to me as I write what is, essentially, a cautionary public service broadcast. But then this is what newspapers have been doing in times of crisis for centuries.

Dr Motherway outlined how last week Ireland had half the number of ICU beds compared to the European norm, including in Italy where there have been around 5,500 deaths and almost 60,000 Covid-19 cases.

'We need people to take this seriously,' Dr Motherway implored. 'This is a virus; we know it's near us and that it's in the community in Ireland. We know that if we don't control the surge we know we will have major problems coping. There is no health service that could cope with what Italy has gone through last week or indeed Wuhan in China.'

She said the HSE is funding a significant number of beds, and wards in hospitals have been identified where patients suspected of having coroanvirus can be seen.

'You need to keep two metres away from other people. Stay at home, wash your hands. Prevention, in this instance, is the best cure. That is what the people of China and South Korea have taught us. One in five patients in my ICU lose their lives. The death rate with this is unknown. You need to make sure if you are young that you don't give it to your parents or to your grandparents; that is really important. The only way to do that is for the entire community to act. Really think about this. Keep away from each other. Essentially you must treat each other like pariahs. It's a big change for us but we need to do that to prevent what is happening in Italy happening here.'

Clearly the youths in Longford weren't watching. In these stressful times it is imperative that we face into what is coming down the tracks or it will steam-roll us. That, for a mollycoddled generation not used to making sacrifices, doesn't come quickly.
There has been a surge in lawsuits related to the CervicalCheck scandal since a significant Supreme Court judgment just over a week ago.

Eight new actions have been filed since the Ruth Morrissey ruling, which brought clarity to a key issue the courts and a tribunal will have to consider in cases related to the cancer screening controversy.

The Supreme Court set out its views on the proper standard of approach which screeners should adopt when examining test results.

It found all relevant witnesses agreed a screener "should not give a clear result in respect of a slide unless they had no doubt but that the sample was adequate and did not contain any suspicious material".

However, the court also clarified that every error would not automatically lead to a finding of negligence and that each case would depend on its own facts.

The ruling was important as Chief Justice Frank Clarke noted the courts and the tribunal would have been constrained if there were doubts over how to determine legal liability.

Ms Morrissey, who is terminally ill, and her husband Paul were last year awarded 2.1m over the misreading of her cervical smear slides.

The recent surge in cases brings to 141 the number of lawsuits initiated since the 2.5m settlement with Vicky Phelan in April 2018.

Her refusal to sign a confidentiality clause brought failings in the screening programme out into the open.

The surge in cases after last week's Morrissey ruling was not entirely unexpected and it is likely more legal actions will follow.

The HSE is listed as a defendant in all bar one of the 141 cases initiated since the Phelan settlement.

New Jersey-based screening laboratory Quest Diagnostics is listed as a co-defendant in 90 of the actions.

Another screening laboratory, MedLab Pathology in Dublin, is listed as a co-defendant in 66 of the lawsuits.

MedLab's sister firm Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL) is listed as a co-defendant in 32 cases.

CPL's owner Sonic Healthcare is co-defendant in 17 actions.

The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, which also has a screening laboratory, is listed as a co-defendant in 10 lawsuits.

Several hospital consultants and some screening laboratory staff also feature as defendants in a small number of cases.

Solicitor Cian O'Carroll, who represented Ms Phelan and Ms Morrissey, is acting for plaintiffs in over a third of the cases initiated since the Phelan settlement.

The recent decision by Health Minister Simon Harris to postpone the CervicalCheck tribunal due to the coronavirus crisis may also push up the number of cases being initiated in the High Court.

The tribunal, which will be chaired by Ms Justice Mary Irvine of the Supreme Court, was set up to provide a less adversarial alternative to the courts.

However, some personal injuries lawyers say the tribunal will be just as adversarial as a court case, albeit that it will be held in private.

Some 221 women who developed cervical cancer received wrong smear test results after undergoing screening with CervicalCheck.

But it was not until after the Vicky Phelan case that the majority of these women found out there had been an audit of their test results and that the findings had not been passed on to most of them.
The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, who has been called the dean of the civil rights movement, died Friday, The King Center said.

Lowery, 98, was a co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the Rev. Martin Luther King.

The Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights said he died peacefully at 10 p.m. surrounded by his daughters at home.

Tonight, the great Reverend Joseph E. Lowery transitioned from earth to eternity. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. He was a champion for civil rights, a challenger of injustice, a dear friend to the King family.



Thank you, sir.



[: MLK, Lowery, Wyatt Tee Walker] pic.twitter.com/PGHpBJJjNm  The King Center (@TheKingCenter) March 28, 2020

"Hailed as the 'Dean of the Civil Rights Movement' upon his receipt of the NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Lowery had assumed and executed a broad and diverse series of roles over the span of his nine decades: leader, pastor, servant, father, husband, freedom fighter and advocate," the institute said in a statement.

Lowery, who delivered the benediction in President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama later that year.

"Born and raised in Jim Crow Alabama, preaching in his blood, the Rev. Joseph Lowery is a giant of the Moses generation of civil rights leaders," Obama said at the ceremony. "It was just King, Lowery and a few others, huddled in Montgomery, who laid the groundwork for the bus boycott and the movement that was to follow."

Image: Rev. Joseph E. Lowery's 94th Birthday Celebration, obit (Paras Griffin / Getty Images file)

He was born in Huntsville, Alabama, on October 6, 1921, and in the 1950s, he headed the Alabama Civic Affairs Association, the organization that led the movement to desegregate buses and public accommodations, according to the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute.

Story continues

In 1965, King picked Lowery to chair the delegation delivering the demands of the Selma-to-Montgomery march to Alabama's governor, George Wallace.

When activists crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were attacked and beaten by police in a pivotal moment for the civil rights movement that's become known as "Bloody Sunday."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," The King Center tweeted late Friday. "He was a champion for civil rights, a challenger of injustice, a dear friend to the King family."

Reverend #JosephLowery speaking at the funeral of King Center founder, Coretta Scott King.



We will miss you, sir. pic.twitter.com/sZUz50OLNx  The King Center (@TheKingCenter) March 28, 2020

King was the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, but Lowery served as president for 20 years. He restored the organizations financial stability and pressured businesses not to trade with South Africas apartheid-era regime before retiring in 1997.

He never wavered in his efforts to urge blacks to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears, he said in 1985.

His wife, Evelyn Lowery, died in 2013. She founded SCLC/WOMEN Inc. in 1979, which is a group that works to empower women, girls and families.

Bernice A. King, King's daughter, tweeted that it was hard to imagine a world without Lowery. "Im grateful for a life well-lived and for its influence on mine. Ill miss you, Uncle Joe. You finally made it up to see Aunt Evelyn again," she wrote.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

I believe in the final triumph of righteousness, he said. The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

He is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne.

The family spokesperson told WXIA that Lowery's death was not related to the coronavirus pandemic and that the family was asking for privacy Friday night.

A towering figure and icon has left us. Rest in Power #JosephLowery https://t.co/8KWTYH1mz8  Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) March 28, 2020

Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, was among those paying respects Friday, calling Lowery a "towering figure."

"A towering figure and icon has left us. Rest in Power," she tweeted.

Clark Atlanta University, one of several institutions that awarded Lowery honorary doctorates and home to the institute named for Lowery and his wife, said in a statement that he was "a voice for sometimes voiceless."

"We shall forever hold within our collective memory Reverend Lowery as the epitome soldier for justice who devoted his life to helping the least of Gods children," University President George T. French, Jr. said.
Iran to Increase Explosive Power of Its Missile Warheads - Defence Minister

Sputnik News

15:05 GMT 27.03.2020

Earlier this month, following attacks on a base holding US troops in Iraq, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran will continue to respond to America's assassination of Commander Qasem Soleimani on 3 January.

Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said on Friday that Iran would increase the explosive power of its missile warheads this year.

The senior official added that Iran will unveil new warships and maritime equipment.

"Dena destroyer and Shekar minesweeper will be unveiled after the Iranian New Year (starting March 20) and delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy," he added.

The defence minister has once again commented on the assassination of Lt. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, saying that "our enemies were trying to undermine the security of Iran. But we retaliated, and the enemy realized that through proxy actions they could not challenge the deterrent power of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The US assassinated Soleimani, the long-time commander of Iran's elite Quds Force military unit, in January, prompting Iran to launch a massed rocket strike on a pair of US bases in Iraq, and leading Iraq-based militias to carry out sporadic strikes on American bases and the US Embassy Green Zone in Baghdad.

A Sputnik

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This is the astonishing moment a brawl broke out between two voters in Queensland in a row over coronavirus.

Footage of the incident posted online shows a man wrestling with a larger man on the footpath outside the polling booth at Redbank Plains.

As the pair fall to the ground, a security officer rushes over and attempts to pull them apart as residents watched on in horror.

This is the astonishing moment a brawl broke out between two voters in Queensland in a row over coronavirus

Footage of the incident posted online shows a man wrestling with a larger man on the footpath outside the polling booth at Redbank Plains

Residents were forced to vote in Queensland elections on Saturday despite widespread pleas for people to self-isolate to stop the spread of infection (Pictured: People wearing a masks are seen at Brisbane City Hall in Brisbane)

Voters were told to bring their own pens, gloves and facemasks to polling booths to protect themselves against the deadly virus

Social media users were quick to slam the pair for causing a ruckus and not adhering to social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak.

'Not only are they all over each other, they've involved an innocent security guard too. Just ridiculous.... not everyone takes the CV social distancing seriously,' one person wrote.

'What did the government think was gonna happen when they keep an election going during a pandemic?' another wrote.

'And the thin veneer of civilisation is ripped away in just days,' someone else commented.

Voters arrive at a polling station in Queensland. These residents chose not to wear personal protective equipment

Safety first! An election official wipes down boxes with sanitiser to stop the spread of COVID-19

An election official directs voters at Brisbane City hall polling booth while practising social distancing

Spoiled ballot: One voter seemed to echo the sentiments of many by writing 'corona virus sucks' on their ballot paper

Can't decide? One voter weighs up the candidates as he looks at election posters in Queensland on Saturday

Queenslanders were called to the election booths on Saturday despite a lockdown during the coronavirus.

Limits on the number people allowed to gather indoors mean fewer people within a polling station at any one time and potentially long queues.

Residents were also to bring their own pens and come wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has not only this week urged everyone to 'get in and 'get out' but also urged people to protect themselves from the sun.

'If you're sick, stay home but when you're out and about maintain a 1.5-metre distance,' Ms Young said.

'And then when you go to vote ... take your own pen, make sure you have the card you need for your name to be ticked off the electoral roll.

'And while you're standing out in those queues my only recommendation is to wear a hat and sunscreen.'

She said there would be 'no harm' if people adhered to a 1.5m space in an open environment.

Numbers of people allowed into polling stations were limited meaning that some voters had to endure long queues (pictured: Voters fill out their ballots for the Ipswich City Count election at Ipswich Central State School)

This election official is sanitising a table after a voter has cast their vote in Brisbane, Queensland

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has not only this week urged everyone to 'get in and 'get out' but also urged people to protect themselves from the sun (pictured: A voter is seen wearing a mask as they register)

Voters are seen keeping a safe distance as they fill out their ballot at Brisbane City Hall

An election official directs voters while sanitiser is left at the entrance so people can clean their hands

The Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association this week recommended voters who had face masks to wear them at polling stations.

Polling booth attendances will be down after more than half of those registered to vote already visited a pre-polling station or applied for a postal vote.

The election covers 77 councils and two state electorates and brings with it a wealth of narratives after what has been a chaotic four years.

The voters in Ipswich and Logan have had their victorious mayors of 2016 either resign or be sacked following a corruption investigation.

The mayoral race in Brisbane is between LNP candidate Adrian Schrinner and Labor candidate and former journalist Patrick Condren.

Queenslanders in two-state government electorates will also be voting in by-elections at Bundamba (Ipswich) and Currumbin (Gold Coast).

Polling booths will open at 8am and close and 6pm.

Clean and used pencils are seen at a polling booth so officials know which are safe to touch and which need to be discarded

A voter is seen wearing a mask while casting their ballot at Brisbane City Hall

Voters are forced to keep a safe distance away from each other as they mark their ballots

An election official uses sanitiser to clean their hands amid the coronavirus pandemic
Has the outbreak of the coronavirus marked an end to faith healing practices in Nigeria, Africa and the world? This question has become necessary because traditional, Christian and Islamic faith healing claims have been rampant. And they include claims of healing persons who are suffering from all sorts of illness, the blind, lame or those with HIV/AIDS. Faith healing is huge business enterprise.

Surprisingly, following the Covid-19 crisis, individuals and institutions that claim to possess faith healing powers have been silent, surreally silent. Before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, a Nigerian faith healer said that he would go to China and spiritually destroy the virus. However since the virus came to Nigeria, nobody has heard from this prophet of God. He must be self-isolating or socially distancing himself to avoid being infected! Not only him, but other acclaimed faith healers in the country and across Africa have also been so quiet and have refused to make any direct or indirect claim to heal any infected person. Why? What went wrong? Is it because faith healing is no longer effective? Or that faith healing cannot apply to the coronavirus? From T.B Joshua to Enoch Adeboye, from Rev. Oyedepo, Pastor Mboro and Shepherd Bushiri, the celebrity faith healers have gone underground; they are unable to invite infected persons to their churches or worship centers for deliverance. Instead, they are complying with the ban on religious gatherings. So what happened to their acclaimed faith healing powers?

Healing has been part of the religious enterprise. It is one of the mechanisms that religions have used to legitimize themselves and mobilize and maintain followership. It is claimed that religious healing powers are drawn from the deity and channeled through a human instrument, a prophet, messenger, priest, rabbi, imam, guru, etc who applies it to the sick and the infirm. By a special connection with the divine, such religious personalities are designated as holy and believed to have the ability to get rid of any disease. Incidentally, religions are known to dispense a special type of healing, a miraculous form of healing. This form of healing is counter-intuitive; it is a cure that defies commonsense. The main characters of the various religions are believed to have had healing powers; they cured persons with various ailments during their lifetime. Believers are of the notion that these prophets could still heal people from wherever they are at the moment. Thus the healing abilities of the divine messengers and incarnates have not ceased and will never cease!

Religious healing powers have been transmitted and handed down to their successors and subsequent representatives of the divine or their messengers. Thus every religion is a healing system, a faith-healing system. Every religious center is a faith clinic and every religious leader is a faith doctor. Religious healing formations exist and are in active operation in traditional, Christian, Islamic and mixed strands. Also, Hindu, Confucian, Buddhist, Jewish, Bahai healing enterprises abound.

The question is: why have these religious healing facilities been impotent and ineffective in the face of the Covid-19? Why are faith healers and faith healing not reckoned with in the management and containment of the coronavirus?

Faith healing is often seen as a demonstration of supernatural benevolence or an affirmation of the transcendental capacity of the deities, spirits, and ancestors. So what happened to these supposed abilities of these superhuman agents? Do these deities exist or are they figments of various cultural imaginations? Why have faith healing potentials failed to manifest as the world grapples to contain the pandemic?

Traditional faith healing enterprise claims to draw its potency from the ancestral spirits. It dispenses remedies that the ancestors have revealed, certified and handed down to their chosen human agents. What happened to this healing enterprise? Why has it not advanced a remedy for the coronavirus? Are traditional faith healers also searching for a cure for Covid-19? Is there a break down in communication and transmission between the ancestors and their earthly agents? If the traditional religious healers have no magical remedy for the virus, what does that say about the traditional religious healing formation? Is it a scam? Is it a scheme that self-styled healers use to defraud and exploit desperate gullible folks?

Christian and Islamic faith healers also make wild claims about curing incurable diseases, and performing miracles. So where are the miracle mongers as the coronavirus is ravaging the world? Christian healers such as TB Joshua and Shepherd Bushiri have made fortune out of faith healing. They use the Bible to minister to the sick in Jesus' name. Christian faith healers claim to heal people by stretching their hands and speaking in tongues, by administering holy water, holy oil, and holy handkerchief. They claim to exorcise the demons that are responsible for various diseases. Faith healers compel sick people who are undergoing treatment in hospitals to abandon the recommended evidence-based medical procedures for faith healing rituals. They claim that the Christian God is the ultimate healer, that Dr. Jesus is better and superior to earthly medical doctors. Islamic mallams and marabouts also make wild faith healing claims. They invoke the name of Allah and use verses of the Quran to perform rituals that they claim could heal the sick.

So where are the faith healers of the various religious traditions as the world is trying to find a remedy for Covid-19? Why cant they command as they do during faith healing sessions that the coronavirus be dead and never infect anybody in Jesus or Allahs name? Or have they stopped working and performing miracles? Have they ceased dispensing divinely orchestrated healings? Are faith healers, like scientists, also in their labs trying to ascertain a cure from the gods?

Or better, are we seeing an end to the faith healing enterprise?
A Boherbue man, who moved to the US back in the mid-1980s intending to stay for just a year, has been appointed to one of the key positions in San Francisco's buildings inspectorate.

The mayor of San Francisco, London N Breed, has announced the appointment of Patrick O'Riordan as the interim director of the city's Department of Building Inspections (DBI) with immediate effect.

The department oversees the enforcement of the city and county of San Francisco's construction, housing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and disability access codes across more than 200,000 buildings.

Mayor Breed said Mr O'Riordan, previously the city's chief building inspector, will retain the position while a nationwide search is conducted to permanently fill the role.

The outgoing director, Tom Hui, resigned from the post amid an ongoing investigation into alleged fraudulent activity.

"The department is critical for the residents, businesses, and property owners who rely on their services every day, and I want to thank Patrick O'Riordan for stepping up to serve during this time of transition," said Mayor Breed.

Born and educated in Boherbue, Mr O'Riordan joined the civil service after leaving school and took a sabbatical in the 1980s to travel to San Francisco for a year to spend time with a girl who he met at a Macra na Feirme dance in Boherbue, who is now his wife.

He started working in the construction sector in 1985, working as a carpenter and foreman, before starting his own small business as a general contractor and then joining the San Francisco planning department around a decade ago.

Mr O'Riordan said he was humbled to have been appointed to his new role.

"I accept the responsibilities the commission has given me with sincere humility and appreciation of your confidence in my building and construction experience and expertise," said Mr O'Riordan.

"I will do everything I can to fulfil expectations and to provide the department with the leadership needed during these times of public health challenges," he added.
Actor Karisma Kapoor, who is otherwise rather active on social media, shared a picture from days when her film Raja Hindustani released, back in 1990s. The post, clicked by ace glamour photographer Avinash Gowarikar, was shared by him and later reposted by Karisma.

Sharing it, Karisma wrote: Wonderful memories.. In the black and white picture, Karisma strikes a glamourous pose. Sharing the picture, Avinash had written: #FlashbackFriday. My absolute favvvvourite... Lolo!! This photo is from 1998... Just around the time of #RajaHindustani... I didnt have a studio, so this photo (like many others) was shot under her building with natural light...@therealkarismakapoor. These were the times when she was a reigning diva and Avinash a budding photographer.

Karisma, meanwhile, is pretty regular with her posts and often shares throwbacks, flashbacks and film anniversary posts. A couple of days back, she had posted a picture on her film, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge completing 20 years. Posting a picture with Salman Khan, the films hero, she had written: 20 years of #dulhanhumlejayenge Time flies ! I remember this super fun shoot in mauritius so fondly! @beingsalmankhan @david.dhawan #tuesdaythoughts.

The actor made a comeback in a web series called Mentalhood , where she plays a mother to three children. Speaking about a mothers equation with her children, she said: The most important thing is - for children to talk to us, we have to talk to them. Mentalhood is on streaming platforms - ZEE5 and ALTBalaji.

Also read: Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan were asked why they lived with parents. Here are their fierce replies

Raja Hindustani, when it released in 1996, went on to become one of most successful films of the 1990s. The film featured a kiss between its lead cast -- Karisma and Aamir Khan -- which became rather controversial. A remake of Shashi Kapoor and Nanda film, Jab Jab Phool Khile, the film is the story of a cab driver falling in love with a rich girl. The film won Karisma Filmfare Best Actress Award too.

(With IANS inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Ana de Armas is relatively new to Hollywood, but shes already making waves. The Cuban-Spanish actress actually started acting when she was very young, refining her craft in various soap operas and small roles. These days, de Armas has been in the headlines a lot due to her budding relationship with superstar actor Ben Affleck. Although the two have worked hard to keep their romance private, she recently opened up about her actor boyfriend, paying him a massive compliment.

Who is Ana de Armas?

De Armas was born in 1988 in Havana, Cuba. She developed a fascination with the world of television and film when she was still very young. By the time she was a teenager, she had decided to pursue acting as a career.

By her fourteenth birthday, she had joined the National Theater School of Cuba and worked on several major student productions. When she was 18, de Armas moved to Spain in order to get started on her professional career.

For several years, de Armas worked on various television and film projects in Spain, mostly landing small roles. She got her big break in 2007 when she was cast in the television drama El Internado.

After working on the show for three years, de Armas decided to take her career to the next level and moved to Los Angeles, California, where she hoped to break into Hollywood films. It didnt take long for executives in Hollywood to sit up and take notice of de Armas.

In short order, she appeared in several major movies, including Blade Runner 2049, War Dogs, Knives Out, and the critically-acclaimed Rian Johnson thriller Knives Out.

Ana de Armass new romance with Ben Affleck

After a rapid rise to fame in the United States, de Armas has become one of the hottest actresses around. She has several major movies set for release in 2020  but she is most popular right now for her relationship with Ben Affleck, her co-star in the upcoming thriller Deep Water.

The two first met on the set in late 2019 and according to reports, had great chemistry right from the start. By the spring of 2020, Affleck and de Armas were spotted on a romantic vacation together, prompting many to assume that the two were seriously dating.

Over the next few weeks, Affleck and de Armas were seen together multiple times, from casual coffee runs to sunset beach walks. Affleck has even been commenting on de Armass Instagram posts, proving to many that they are completely serious about each other.

For the newly-sober Affleck, de Armas might be the best thing to have happened to him in a while.

What did Ana de Armas recently say about Ben Affleck?

Ana de Armas | VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

While Affleck hasnt opened up in detail about his romance with de Armas, the actress recently spoke about Affleck in an in-depth interview with Vogue Spain. In her interview, the actress praised Afflecks acting range, saying that not only does he know how to do (move between tragedy and irony) with ease, he also manages to surprise you in every shot. His talent is infinite.

It is clear that their relationship is founded on a great amount of personal respect and professional compatibility as well as mutual attraction. Affleck might be looking at a major career resurgence, just as de Armas is on the cusp of worldwide superstardom.
Every family has its own private calendar of commemorative dates, recalled for events good or ill. For my family, long ago On This Day in History  March 28, 1960  something wonderful happened when a young stray dog found our door in Casper, Wyo. He was destined to leave so sweet a mark that no incident in our lives back then quite compares with his arrival. And since he happened to come along just before I turned a year old, I like to claim him as my perfect first birthday gift.

He was golden brown with a distinctive white stripe between the eyes, and white muzzle, chest, and socks to go with it. On a snowy, cold night, he came into the house on the heels of my father, who had just returned from a business trip. The reward for this daring move was a round of patting, a chorus of Can we keep him? from the children, food and water from my mother, and refuge in our garage. In the days afterward, various Found Dog notices went unanswered, though some months later, as I recall the story, a local waitress overheard my parents describing the mutt and recognized him as her long-gone Yogi, who had been constantly wandering off, chasing cars and the milk truck, and running into other trouble  which perhaps explained why custody went unchallenged. He never lost the independent streak, but in short order he had left his garage quarters behind him and settled into our home. He stayed with us 16 years, with a name that captured our change in circumstance as well as his, inscribed on a tag in case he ever disappeared on us: lucky. please return me to . . .

My brothers, sisters, parents, and aunts would all attest that no finer companion could have followed us through those years. To the serendipity of one stray chancing upon one open door, I owe boyhood experiences I would not exchange for any others, and some lasting lessons I might otherwise have missed. Other blessings, since then, have come my way, but something about this one has refused any command of time to fade away, pulling, well, doggedly at my memory. One of my brothers, who also was especially attached to Lucky and who took care of him most of his life, told me decades later that in some ways Lucky was my most formative influence, leading even to a book in 2002 on the theme of animal welfare  Dominion  that I dedicated to him. And Ill take that compliment, at risk of reproach for misplaced affections or for unseemly excess in tribute to an animal. A guy could do a lot worse than making a dog his inspiration, especially this dog.

Story continues

Having been just a toddler when Lucky appeared, I dont recall much of his colorful prime that followed in Wyoming and then Colorado, Ohio, and New York (the dog wasnt the only restless one in our family). It happened that charge over him fell to me in his later years, after four of five siblings had departed for college in the early 1970s, leaving just me and my youngest sister. My most enduring impressions of Lucky begin then. I suppose I came to see him with new eyes, now that the house was quieter and he was suddenly my regular pal and first serious responsibility. The wisdom, therefore, was what a young teenager stood to acquire from an elderly dog, at a time that found us in New Rochelle, outside New York City. As I think about him now, 44 years since we parted on the trail, it comes down to four canine lessons that have shaped my outlook and enriched my life, offered here as just another entry in the vast literature exploring all that can be learned in the company of a dog.

One lesson I credit to Lucky (Lucky Silver, if were being formal) is an awakening to a profound reality  a heavy lift for a dog, but he did this by simply drawing me outside myself into an appreciation of other creatures, as interesting, worthy, and important in their own right. When youve watched a dog (perhaps especially a senior dog) dreaming  stirring, whimpering, playing out memories or scenes of things feared or hoped for  it alerts you to the fact that youre not the only one in the room with an emotional life going on. Ive long thought that domesticated animals have, from this angle, even more to tell us than wild ones do, being relieved of the relentless pressures and blind instincts of the wild (much as we have been, after all) in a way that reveals their latent capacities and distinct personalities. With a dog even more than with a wolf, you get to see whats really there, who that creature is.

For me, from the age of about 13 to 17, this meant the presence, day and night, of an animal who could be sensitive, proud, sad, elated, content, uneasy, concerned, lonely, curious, apprehensive, depressed, insulted, forgiving, devoted, brave, and loving  while, outside our family, being in his senior years somewhat reserved but generally benevolent, unless you happened to be a rival dog or a squirrel presuming to come too close. Put whatever qualifiers you want on these words and attributes, but for a dog it is the same emotional landscape as it is for us. And thats a big truth for a kid to figure out.

As an adult, I read a few of the more noted books by behavioral researchers, cognition experts, and the like who attempted to demonstrate that the appearance of animal emotions, or even of consciousness, is just that  merely an appearance. Sure, with good old Lucky the jubilant tail-wagging might start when I came within sight or scent from 200 yards off on the way home from school every afternoon, but I shouldnt read too much into that: All such displays by dogs, we are informed, are just pack instinct, hardwired, and their love for us just a projection of our imagination. The faithfulness and self-giving of war dogs, police and rescue dogs, guide dogs, comfort dogs in hospital wards and hospices are all likewise explained away and trivialized by theories that would deny these and other creatures their due.

Enough to say that some people, while giving every appearance of rationality, must be hardwired to deny the obvious. (And by the way, the behavioral theories about what makes us tick usually arent so flattering either.) I knew as a teenager that this was no slavering, stimulusresponse machine passing the days with me, or some being merely placed there for my benefit and enjoyment, with no story or feelings of his own that really mattered. Mature dogs, in particular, acquire an emotional depth that behaviorist doctrine can only strain to account for. Sometimes in his final half year or so, as Lucky and I sat outside in tranquil moments  or else went to some wondrous new place like the shore in Larchmont, N.Y.  he took it all in with that same kind of contemplative, last-glance air I have seen in very old people surveying their favorite sights, a dog of stiff, slowing gait feeling and pondering things even if I couldnt always say exactly what they were.

Aging dogs surely sense that they have many more yesterdays than tomorrows, which might explain as well those looks I used to get late at night, when Lucky was sore and weary and maybe a little afraid, and seemed to need assurance that I was near and everything was all right  as at other times, in his own manner, he offered assurance in return. Once, I noticed an expression so sad (and with a touch of rebuke, as I recall it now) that it made for a kind of revelation. Early one night I was frantically throwing on a change of clothes, about to race off to a high-school friends party I had just heard about. Seeing Lucky sitting across the room staring at me, clearly understanding that our evening plans were off, I suddenly realized that no party could possibly be more important than being with that 15-year-old dog. I belonged with only one friend just then, and so stayed, that night and others thereafter. I guess I wasnt one for half-measures back then: To maximize my Lucky time, I soon vanished altogether from high school, at no loss to the school or to me.

Such impressions, hitting me at an age when they could really sink in, help explain why, when people referred to me as Luckys owner, I insisted on correcting them. How could this thinking, feeling creature and venerable friend of mine be anyones property? He might belong with me, yes; to me, no. And this awareness of one animals standing, as more than just some congenial yet ultimately incidental and replaceable extra in my own story, grew over time into a general respect for all animals as having a place and dignity of their own. Any time other creatures, wild or domesticated, can open our eyes to the reality that they belong here too, that they have pretty exceptional abilities and qualities themselves  that its a big world, and we humans arent the whole show  they do us a favor. Discerning their goodness, as our companions in creation who share in lifes happiness and travail alike, makes the world better and more beautiful, if also, at times, less convenient to our own wishes. The religious-minded might call this the reality of every creature revealing its Makers touch, all dear to Him for their own sake, and were lucky ourselves if we discover it early on.

That leads to empathy  a second timely lesson for a teenager, though for some, of course, it never takes. Lucky was about twelve when the leash was passed to me, beginning his health slide a little past the age of 14. No longer the speed title-holder who once chased our own car and was still gaining on us at close to 30 mph; or the ferocious family hero who one night had scared off burglars in Littleton, Colo.; or the gritty survivor of weeks on the streets after going astray again in 63 or 64; or the twice-a-day regular with the graceful trot around Beechmont Lake in New Rochelle, he was getting frail, unsteady, and in need of help and reassurance that I felt privileged to give. It was just a repaying of debts for all the times he had come to me and to others in our family to guard, cheer, or comfort  never failing, though there were times when I scarcely deserved it.

One day on our walk, I faked a fall from a tree, just to observe Luckys reaction because he always growled uncharacteristically when I began to climb one. Perhaps he still thought of me as the baby of the family, needing extra protective attention, but in any case I had only to reach up and grab hold of a tree branch and, whatever he was doing on our walks  sniffing around, wading into a stream  the moment he noticed me climbing, those ears went up and hed trot over to intervene, growling and a few times taking matters into his own mouth by pulling me down by the pant leg. On this occasion, as I pretended to fall with a yelp and lay limp on the ground, he ran to me, as fast as a guileless senior dog could, nudging me, looking nervously around, whimpering as he tried to figure out how to handle the crisis. Across the lake, in view, was our house at 92 Pinebrook Road. He looked in that direction, then down at me, then over to the house, then at me, and so on for a few more seconds, before bolting to run back around the lake toward our house. Then, just as abruptly, he doubled back and returned for more pacing and nudging, having clearly decided No, I have to stay with him! Reciprocal loyalty, when youve got a dog like that, doesnt get any easier.

Or I think of one night later on when he was distressed by tensions in the house  ever attuned to his emotional surroundings  and knew what to do. Despite arthritic pain and other infirmities, he pulled himself alone up a staircase  steps he hadnt ascended for months without me carrying him  just to be with me at a lonely moment. I missed what must have been the harrowing sight of that climb, realizing he was upstairs only when I heard the familiar claw sounds as he reached the top landing, and saw that white muzzle push open my door as he entered and came over to press his head against me. Evidence, as if any were needed, that the empathy ran both ways.

Those months especially, of looking after Lucky in his twilight, I wouldnt trade for other memories. Years later, in Los Angeles, my wife Emmanuelle and I had an uncannily similar experience with an Australian shepherdtype dog named Herbie, who was 13 or so and dumped at a shelter by someone who, we surmised, thought he was done for and didnt want to deal with the long goodbye. Whoever that person was missed out on the chance  lasting, as it turned out, more than two years  to see how grand, deeply endearing, and loving a senior dog can be in that final stretch of life.

Both experiences brought home for me the vulnerability of all animals who are left to depend on human sympathy and to trust in our good will, their well-being and fate entirely in our hands; and also their innocence in suffering, and the connections that come with the destiny we share. I marvel sometimes at the callousness and arrogance of those who routinely harm animals  shooting, trapping, poisoning, prodding, slaughtering, or experimenting on them with no thought of how it feels on the receiving end, or else even relishing the experience of absolute domination. To see such people so freely dispatching death in every direction, youd think that death has no plan for them. With all of us bound as we are toward the same horizon, there ought to be a little more humility, self-restraint, and sense of solidarity than that.

To connections of a different kind, I trace a third canine lesson that has steered me right, from sentiment to moral conviction. Not everyone draws this lesson the same way from their own experiences; Ive known plenty of people better and smarter than I am who disagree, as to both specific conclusions and the importance of the matter itself. But where humanitys general policy of leniency to dogs is concerned (and there are some grim exceptions), Ive never seen a way around one basic problem.

Here, as I got to thinking in those days with Lucky, was this one animal I knew and cared for. What about other, comparable creatures and my attitude toward them? In the normal process of reasoning from particular to general, I realized that while compassion for one animal is admirable and meaningful, whats it really worth if not part of a consistent way of life?

Dogs are intelligent creatures, capable of suffering and of boundless joy. Everyone with a dog knows the crazed raptures that can follow the mention of going for a walk  or, in Luckys case, even a hushed invitation to go round the lake? But even if more pronounced in dogs, or more vividly expressed, these capacities of mind and emotion are hardly unique among animals. So do other creatures inhabit that world of awareness, happiness, and grief, including the ones we humans subject to such harsher lives  to serve, if were being candid, unnecessary ends justified by not much more than habit and profit. Why is causing one to suffer not the same as causing the other to suffer? Why love the one and ignore the misery of many others  simply putting them out of mind  given that as creatures of conscience we alone have a choice in such matters? Follow that line of thought and theres no going back. Youll no more want to eat an animal from a factory farm than make a meal of the one you just walked around the block.

Such was my youthful thinking, and in 46 years as a vegetarian, the last 23 or so as a vegan, I have never heard a remotely persuasive argument as to why any animal product could be more important than my duty to spare other creatures from needless affliction. All the more these days, as the market brings forth one substitute after another for goods extracted by animal exploitation  new products equal or superior in quality and, as for meat, invariably healthier  what reason is left not to switch to them?

Sometimes it takes a dog to help us think straight. In this case, the lesson was moral coherence. With that came a lifelong loathing of cruelty to animals, in any form or under cover of any excuse, as the abuse of power and betrayal of trust that it is. So many vicious, squalid enterprises profit from animal suffering, employing practices that long ago lost any defensible rationale, on such a fathomless scale that  to take just the meat industry  about 60 percent of all the earths mammals today are pigs, cows, and other animals in factory farms. In a given year, some 70 billion creatures altogether must endure that wretched existence, knowing nothing of life in this world except confinement, pain, and fear. In places carefully hidden from view, these institutional cruelties are permitted in law and encouraged by demand, all because of vague and often arbitrary distinctions bearing little relation to actual need or to objective reality. They are rationalizations for doing the ruthless, easy thing, or for passively allowing others to do it for us. Two kinds of moral logic protect dogs while leaving their animal equals to merciless abuse. Two versions of ourselves allow the contradiction. None of it squares or adds up to anything we could call a set of civilized standards. But a nicer, happier way of stating this lesson is that for humanity, dogs show us the way. We can learn to treat all animals by standards that are more consistent, more honorable, more gentle and peaceful.

The last lesson I owe to Lucky calls to mind a moment that, whenever things havent broken my way in life, has always served to keep the scale in balance, one afternoon when we discovered he was missing. On foot, I searched for miles along our usual paths and beyond. My father just then arrived home from out of town and we continued the pursuit by car. Lucky was old and arthritic, it was winter, starting to snow, and getting dark. At the last glow of daylight, as our dog faced his doom alone, we had to decide where else to look. I urged one way but my dads better instincts said lets try another, on a street where we had lived a few years before. When we came around that curve on Elk Avenue and spotted that limping, wet dog in the distance  and when he turned his head and saw us  it was pure happiness, all around, followed by all the further euphoria of bringing home the wanderer and wrapping him in blankets.

Not so long afterward, I took out the blankets again, on a winter afternoon in February 1976 that must have set a Westchester County record because it felt like spring. On a mattress I had dragged into our backyard for Lucky to lie on  the squirrels darting about, no longer alarmed by his presence  we had one more day to feel the breeze and the warmth of the sun together. That was the first time I heard the expression savor the moment, from my mother, and Ive never heard or read it since without recalling the scene.

I put those memories down, along with others like them, as a general lesson in the sweetness of life, in gratitude, and in all the good that comes from the love of a fellow creature. Not a bad legacy to leave a friend. Not a bad showing for one hound to make.

He died in our house, and when my dad and I carried Lucky in for cremation of his remains  dust to dust, courtesy of Miller and Clark Animal Hospital  I told the vet to leave the collar and tag on, so he might go forth into the unknown with proper ID. Not for us to say what becomes of a beautiful, brave, and noble dog at journeys end. But if he has turned up at some other door, I trust theyll note the name of the family and the request for return.

More from National Review
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it did not give N300 million to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as speculated.

The Commission in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Henry Nkemadu, said the information is mere falsehood.

The statement said in order to put the records straight, no agency of the Federal Government gives subvention to another agency, as by extant laws of the government, every agency makes its budget and gets approval for appropriation from the National Assembly and such budgets are spent according to the appropriation of the National Assembly.

Our budget doesnt contain any allocation for subvention let alone granting same to a sister agency

According to Mr Nkemadu, we cannot create a provision in our budget for another agency to implement. Subventions to all agencies are done by the Federal Government with resources domiciled in the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). Even salaries to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) come from there.

According to Mr Nkemadu, NITDA as an agency of government also draws its budget and spends same to execute its own programmes as it deems fit.

He said since the advent of the new administration, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has always encouraged a working relationship and close synergy between all the parastatals under the purview of the Ministry and not cross-funding of any of the parastatals.

The Honourable Minister has also facilitated support at the highest levels of government to programmes and activities of the Commission, especially in facilitating meetings with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on issues of Right of Way (RoW) for expanding the telecommunications infrastructure and declaring telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), the official added.

We did not receive any directive from the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on funding any activity of NITDA and no approval was given in that regard.

Whoever thinks so simply threw caution to the wind by rolling up speculative information that we know nothing about let alone implementing, he said.

The director also said we have not done any partnership with NITDA to warrant any subvention for capacity building let alone implementing one. So, the aspect of creating a budget for subvention is not true.
The Trump administration on Friday cut off tens of millions of dollars for health care programs and other aid in Yemen, rejecting pleas by humanitarian groups and some members of Congress to delay the decision as the coronavirus spreads across the Middle East.

American officials said the move was a necessary response to longstanding interference by Houthi rebels who control the northern part of Yemen. They have been fighting a civil war for the past five years and have imposed harsh restrictions on organizations trying to deliver aid. The fighting has killed thousands of civilians, and millions more face starvation in what the United Nations has labeled the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

But as a pandemic looms, the American decision created major funding gaps for dozens of programs run by the United Nations and private aid groups, including efforts to supply the Yemenis with hand soap and medicine and to staff clinics with health care workers, humanitarian officials said.

Citing conditions that have already made Yemen a breeding ground for disease, the officials said they feared that populations weakened by hunger and packed into refugee camps would be further decimated by the coronavirus.
[March 27, 2020]

SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS SBT, TUP, TVTY INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits:



Tivity Health, Inc. (TVTY)

Class Period: 3/8/2019 - 2/19/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 27, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

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Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP)

Class Period: 1/30/2019 - 2/24/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 27, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-tupperware-brands-corporation-securities-litigation







Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (SBT)

Class Period: 11/17/2017 - 12/8/2019 or shares issued either in or after the November 2017 Initial Public Offering.

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 27, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-sterling-bancorp-inc-securities-litigation

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The coronavirus pandemic has so far claimed over 23,000 lives worldwide as of this writing. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the number of confirmed cases in Germany is now almost 44,000, exceeding the number of cases in South Korea (9,240) and Iran (29,400), and rapidly approaching the levels in Spain (over 56,000), the United States (almost 76,500) and Italy (almost 81,000), where the highly infectious virus has already killed more than 8,200 people and continues to rage despite a general curfew.

While the army in the north of Italy is still transporting coffins away because they can no longer be buried by the completely overburdened crematoria, in the last 24 hours over 700 people have again fallen victim to the virus.

The criminal inactivity of European governments in recent days has led to a murderous and vicious circle of overwork, infection and work absences in hospitals throughout the continent. The first threatening signs of this were announced by Italian research institutes on Tuesday. According to these reports, 5,760 of the cases of infection in Italy have been among health care workers.

A report in the New York Times gives an insight into the catastrophic conditions already prevailing in European hospitals. In the province of Brescia, the centre of the outbreak in Italy, 10 to 15 percent of doctors and nurses have been infected and incapacitated, according to a doctor from the region. But the problem is widespread throughout Europe. In Italy, France and Spain, more than 30 doctors and nurses have died of the coronavirus, and thousands of others have had to isolate themselves, according to the Times.

In France, 490 health workers have been isolated due to infection with the virus. In Spain, where the number of cases doubles every four days, the authorities say that as many as 5,400 doctors are infected, almost 14 percent of all those who are ill.

In the countryside, the Times says, some Spanish communities have had to send up to 30 percent of their nurses home for health reasons over the past week. In the capital, Madrid, the mass deaths have led to the temporary storage of corpses in the Olympic skating stadium before they can be buried.

In all three countries, the ranks of doctors and nurses are thinning, the newspaper concludes. At the same time, the percentage of infected people who are currently showing no symptoms remains unclear. As they are not sufficiently protected in their daily life-saving missions, and there is a lack of protective equipment at all corners and ends, infected [health care] workers and their clinics are increasingly becoming active disease carriers.

A spokesman for the Spanish nurses union SATSE told the Times that even when it was already known the virus was circulating in hospitals, they were told to limit the use of protective equipment to certain circumstances. The absence of their colleagues, in turn, has increased the pressure on the remaining hospital staff, who are already under extreme stress. Hospitals in Spain are already among the worst sources of infection in the country.

The assessments of leading epidemiologists and doctors leave no doubt that the catastrophe that has shaken Italy, Spain and France could become a bitter reality in Germany in the coming weeks if the appropriate measures are not introduced.

Last Friday, Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute, a public health institute in Germany, warned the press that the pandemic was of a magnitude I could never have imagined myself. Since then, the number of infections in Germany has almost doubled and the death toll has quadrupled to 239. Moreover, serious epidemiologists estimate that the number of unreported cases could be 10 times the official figures.

Anyone who still thinks that the German health care system can easily cope with a situation like the one in Italy has not understood anything, newsweekly Der Spiegel quotes Gerald Gass, President of the German Hospital Federation. Doctors and hospital directors warned the news magazine of an impending catastrophe and the massive effects of the pandemic.

Der Spiegel itself speaks of a state of emergency and an imminent shortage of ventilators. Countless hospitals and nursing staff are already at the absolute limit of their capacity. At least 17,000 nursing positions are presently unoccupied.

Patients are simply pushed directly into the intensive care unit without anyone looking to see if they might be contagious, one nurse told Spiegel. By the time a diagnosis is made, we have all had contact with themand without protective clothing. The whole station then subsequently becomes contaminated.

Consideration that a doctor or nurse has already been infected and could thus have become a risk for patients and colleagues is no longer taken into account in some places, Der Spiegel s cover story continues. A loss of staff cannot be compensated for, despite all efforts to recruit students and retired doctors for the crisis.

The infection rate among medical staff is rising rapidly throughout Germany, like the situation in France, Spain and Italy. At the same time, protective clothing and disinfectants are becoming scarce in more and more German hospitals, so that some clinics have had to provisionally purchase alcohol from industrial painters and meat producers, reports Der Spiegel. The senior physician of a private clinic from Bavaria openly expressed the inhuman situation that nursing staff face under these conditions: Everyone works until they have symptoms. Otherwise it can no longer be managed.

Moreover, the pressure to maintain profits ensures that many clinics are dependent on income from knee prostheses, hip operations or heart catheter examinations. These lucrative procedures are still being performed, although experts often consider them unnecessary.

An open letter from nursing staff to the Federal Ministry of Health, signed by 300,000 people on the Internet within a few days, quotes from a communication of the Baden-Wurttemberg Hospital Association, which was apparently coordinated with the state ministries: Efforts are being made to obtain protective material, but [...] one does not know when it will be available. If none can be organised, we should simply continue working without protection.

In the meantime, reports are piling up in the media of sick people who find themselves in front of closed medical practices in search of COVID-19 tests and are then forced to wait in the cold for hours and fill out countless documents before being granted access to a container clinic.

Wherever infection rates are rising rapidly, Europe lacks the basic necessities to effectively counter the pandemic. For example, nurses in the Grand Est region of France are forced to wrap their shoes in plastic bags and tape because medically sealed boots are nowhere to be found.

Dr. Klaus Reinhardt, President of the German Medical Association, recently sent a confidential letter to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, listing some of the most important shortcomings. On Wednesday, he told former Handelsblatt publisher Gabor Steingart, For weeks now, colleagues working in outpatient departments and their staff have been working without adequate protection. The nursing staff visit elderly people to be cared for mainly at home and thus move unprotected among the group of patients most at risk of death. General practitioners, who in their practice have daily contact with possibly infected patients without protective masks, must nevertheless guarantee the normal care of numerous nursing home patients. The case of a chain infection in a nursing home in Wurzburg with nine deaths is a warning example.

Jean-Paul Hamon, chairman of the largest French doctors association, also expressed particular concern to French television about the lack of protection for geriatric nurses and office-based doctors. The latter made up most of the physicians in France who have died of coronavirus.

In German hospitals, according to Reinhardt, the normal care of people with life-threatening illnesses is beginning to collapse because strokes, heart attacks, cerebral haemorrhages and intestinal obstructions continue to occur unchanged. Meanwhile, Reinhardt continues, general practitioners have no protective material left and it is also not buyable, by anyone, because it has simply disappeared from the market.

The 20 masks per day and per practice promised by the government would not help in this situation, and the masks actually available were in no way sufficient. As reported by Der Spiegel, in some cases clinics currently have to pay 25 times the normal price for respiratory masks.

The immediate cause of the acute shortage of respirators is that a shipment of 6 million respirators, which should have arrived in Germany on March 20, had surprisingly disappeared without a trace. The Federal Office for Armed Forces Equipment is responsible for the central procurement of coronavirus relief supplies. As reported by Der Spiegel, citing an internal report of the military department, the urgently needed masks disappeared under the eyes of the army authority in Kenya. The background to the incident is currently still unclear.

Meanwhile, Attilio Fontana, president of the Italian region of Lombardy, told the news magazine that they would soon not be able to offer the sick any more treatment because there were not enough respirators.

There is a lack of protective equipment everywhere, improvisation is widespread, doctor Antonio Antela told the Times from his sickbed at the university hospital in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The doctor had been admitted to intensive care with pneumonia and a positive coronavirus test. Hamon, who is also infected, concludes, The state is completely unprepared. It owes us an explanation.

The real explanation is that behind the apparent chaos and the omnipresent scarcity, there is a class policy that has been consciously pursued in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and countless other countries by successive governments since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In Germany alone, between 1990 and 2010, approximately 180,000 hospital beds (26 percent) were cut, 360 hospitals (15 percent) were closed, and the number of hospital beds for acute inpatient care was drastically reduced.

This pandemic has been rolling towards us foreseeably for weeks, notes the open letter from the nurses to the Ministry of Health. The letter, which also demands significant wage increases, explains: We expect from you in concrete terms ... an immediate organisation of the procurement of effective protective materials, including all possibilities. In case of emergency, also by nationalising manufacturers and their suppliers to protect us nurses.

The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) advocates uniting workers across Europe and beyond in the struggle against the virus and the criminal indifference of governments. The effects of the global pandemic are, in the eyes of millions of people, proof of the unscrupulousness and moral, economic and political bankruptcy of the ruling class.

The working class must counter this policy with its own programme. A statement by the ICFI published on February 28 explains that the fight against the pandemic requires globally coordinated emergency measures and the immediate provision of trillions of dollars and euros. These demands are part of an international socialist perspective and must be implemented against the resistance of all bourgeois parties and trade unions. We call on all those who agree with these demands to contact us today.
Attorneys Bryan Hoss and Janie Varnell with Davis & Hoss, P.C. representing a Chattanooga Police detective won a victory before the United States District Court Judge Daniel Breen in a civil rights lawsuit involving a suspects claims against the detective and the Chattanooga Police Department.

Nearly three years ago, August 2017, Detective Mike Early saw a suspect with an active warrant behind a business on Rossville Boulevard. Detective Early called for back-up and then proceeded to make an arrest. The suspect fled to his vehicle and then proceeded to drive towards Detective Early trying to strike him. Pursuant to his training and experience, Detective Early fired his weapon striking the suspect who survived. That suspect filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking monetary damages against Detective Early and the city of Chattanooga.

Yesterday, United States District Court Judge Daniel Breen dismissed the suspects lawsuit against both Detective Early and the city of Chattanooga and granted Summary Judgment in their favor.

Attorneys for Detective Early, Mr. Hoss and Ms. Varnell said, This win is the clearest indication that Detective Early followed his training and departmental policy in discharging his weapon that day. At all times, his decisions and his use of force was justified. We applaud not only Judge Breens decision, but also the Hamilton County District Attorneys office who prosecuted the suspect and obtained a conviction for the aggravated assault on Detective Early.

"This Order and decision finally brings this case to a conclusion and shows that what Detective Early did, at all times, was warranted and within the law. Our office will continue to stand up for law enforcement officers in and around Chattanooga who make the right decision to use force when it is justified.




New Delhi: BJP National President JP Nadda interacts with the party state presidents, MPs, MLAs, District Presidents and State office bearers from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka via video conferencing on Day 4 of the lockdown i Image Source: PK

New Delhi: BJP National President JP Nadda interacts with the party state presidents, MPs, MLAs, District Presidents and State office bearers from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka via video conferencing on Day 4 of the lockdown i Image Source: PK

New Delhi, March 28 : BJP President J.P. Nadda on Saturday interacted with state party presidents of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh through video conferencing where measures related to containing the coronavirus pandemic were prominently discussed.

Member of Parliament, MLAs, district Presidents and state office-bearers of these four states were also part of the interaction.

Hailing PM Modi's leadership, Nadda said the BJP will not organize any meeting and all interactions would be through audio or video conferencing. He also gave a detailed charter to the four states on what they should do at the party level to use its cadre base in order to help the needy following the lockdown.

This is the fourth such meeting of BJP President with local party leadership through either audio or video conferencing.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Nadda interacted with all state presidents of the party. B.L. Santosh, the party General Secretary (Organization), underlined the need to scale up the 'feed the poor' programme for migrant and construction workers, daily wagers and those working in the unorganized sector.

On Wednesday, Nadda had spoken to select party leaders on ways the BJP can use its vast resources to help the people locked inside their homes.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
The amount of novel coronavirus cases around the world and in the U.S. continues to skyrocket. By Saturday night, the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases around the world surpassed 664,000.

It was just Thursday that the globe reached 500,000 cases, which was double the number of coronavirus cases from the week before.

The U.S. surpassed 124,000 diagnosed coronavirus cases Saturday, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 2,190 deaths in the country.

At least 140,000 people have recovered from the virus during this pandemic.

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

Today's biggest developments:

Global cases top 650,000 US cases cross 100,000; deaths top 2,000 Italy deaths reach 10,000 Trump will not use enforceable quarantine in NY

Here's how the news developed Saturday. All times Eastern.

11:22 p.m.: Zaandam will pass through Panama Canal

After initially being restricted from passing through the Panama Canal, the country has changed its tune and the cruise ship MS Zaandam will be allowed through.

There are more than 130 people on the ship suffering from "flu-like symptoms," as well as two people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and four elderly passengers who have died.

The MS Rotterdam, owned by Holland America, like the Zaandam, was also waiting to transit the canal.

"We are aware of reported permission for both Zaandam and Rotterdam to transit the Panama Canal in the near future," Holland American said in a statement at 11 p.m. Eastern time. "We greatly appreciate this consideration in the humanitarian interest of our guests and crew. This remains a dynamic situation, and we continue to work with the Panamanian authorities to finalize details."

11:02 p.m.: 1st inmate dies in federal prison of COVID-19

Story continues

An inmate has died from COVID-19 at FCI Oakdale in Oakdale, Louisiana, two sources told ABC News.

This is the first known death inside the Bureau of Prisons.

Patrick Jones, 49, was sentenced to 324 months in prison for or possession of 425 grams of crack cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a junior college, the BOP said in a press release.

Jones was the first inmate inside the BOP to test positive on March 19. He was placed on a ventilator one day later and he died Saturday.

Officials said he had preexisting conditions that contributed to his death.

10:15 p.m.: Knicks, Rangers owner tests positive

Madison Square Garden Company CEO James Dolan has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a spokesperson.

Dolan, 64, took over as CEO of Cablevision, the powerhouse cable company, from his father, Charles, but is most known in New York City for being owner of the NBA's New York Knicks and NHL's New York Rangers.

As chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company, he oversees those teams as well as television station MSG Network and owns the world famous Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

Cablevision was sold in 2016 upon which time he left as CEO.

9:18 p.m.: Trudeau's wife given all clear

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife, has been given a clean bill of health after previously testing positive for coronavirus.

She said in a Facebook post Saturday night that she was cleared by her doctor and Ottawa Public Health.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to everyone who reached out to me with their well wishes. And to everyone who is suffering right now, I send you all my love.

"These are challenging times," she wrote. "I know its not easy to be alone -- we are all social beings, me included! But just because were increasing the physical distance between us doesnt mean we have to do the same emotionally. From social media to a simple phone call, there are so many ways for us to stay connected while were apart and actually deepen our relationships."

Sophie tested positive for the virus March 13. Her husband said he never developed symptoms and continued working.

8:59 p.m.: Maryland nursing home sees outbreak

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced tonight that a nursing facility in Mt. Airy, Maryland, was hit by an outbreak of COVID-19.

A total of 66 residents have tested positive at the facility, with 11 currently hospitalized.

Tonight, Maryland has experienced a tragic COVID-19 outbreak at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mt Airy. Multiple state agencies are on the scene and working closely with the local health department & the facility to protect additional residents and staff who may have been exposed.  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) March 29, 2020

8:26 p.m.: Trump says he won't use enforceable quarantine in tristate

After threatening it earlier in the day, President Donald Trump now says he will not be using an enforceable quarantine in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Instead Trump said he has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a strong travel advisory "to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government."

....Federal Government. A quarantine will not be necessary. Full details will be released by CDC tonight. Thank you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020

The CDC later issued its advisory, writing in a release, "Due to extensive community transmission of COVID -19 in the area, CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately. This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply."

The statement also said the governors of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey would have full oversight of implementing the advisory.

The governors of each of the three states -- all Democrats -- had reacted strongly against the proposed measure.

"That is not a quarantine, that is a lockdown," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in an interview on CNN, likening the restriction to Wuhan, China. "I dont believe it would be legal. I believe it would be illegal."

7:12 p.m.: US death toll surpasses 2,000

The death toll from novel coronavirus passed 2,000 in the United States on Saturday evening.

The number has increased dramatically in recent days, with the toll crossing 1,000 just Wednesday.

There are now more than 30,000 deaths worldwide -- about one-third in Italy.

5:40 p.m.: Hospitals in New York will allow partner in delivery room

New York Presbyterian's hospital network will comply with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order requiring one partner be allowed in delivery rooms during childbirth.

Previously, the hospital network had said no partners would be allowed in the delivery room to combat the pandemic.

Cuomo's order applies to all hospitals in the state, both public and private.

Mount Sinai, which instituted a similar obstetrics ban, also will comply with the order.

Melissa DeRosa, secretary to Cuomo, announced the executive order would be issued on Saturday.

4:01 p.m.: Infant dies after contracting COVID-19 in Illinois

An infant was among the 13 new deaths reported in Illinois, the state's Department of Public Health reported.

"If you haven't been paying attention, this is your wake-up call," Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the state's health agency, said. "We don't want to be one of the hotspots that the Surgeon General predicts Chicago could be.

No details around the infant's death were provided.

Ezike said a full investigation was underway to determine the cause of death.

There has never before been a death associated with COVID-19 in an infant.

The Department of Public Health noted that while older adults are at higher risk of severe illness, and more than 85% of deaths in Illinois are among individuals 60 years of age and older, people of all ages are suffering severe illness.

There were also an additional 465 new cases in Illinois, where there is a total of 3,491 confirmed cases.

UPDATE

Dr. Ngozi Ezike-

Today I am reporting 465 new cases and 13 additional deaths, including the tragic death of an infant. If you haven't been paying attention, this is your wake-up call.  IDPH (@IDPH) March 28, 2020

3:00 p.m.: Global death toll surpasses 30,000

The global death toll has reached at least 30,249, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Italy has the highest number of reported deaths, at more than 10,000, followed by Spain at more than 5,800.

2:14 p.m.: Trump strikes more assertive tone on GM manufacturing ventilators

President Donald Trump said he had compelled General Motors to manufacture ventilators, after saying the day before that "maybe we won't even need the full activation," referring to using the Defense Protection Act.

"This week, I invoked the Defense Production Act to compel General Motors to carry out federal contracts for ventilators and I think they're going to do a great job. I have to say that," Trump said in his speech at Norfolk Naval Base.

The president also said that FEMA has "shipped or delivered" 11.6 million N-95 respirators, 26 million surgical masks and 5.2 million face shields.

2:08 p.m.: New cases in Italy continue to slow, but deaths top 10,000

The number of confirmed cases in Italy continue to slow, with 5,933 new cases reported Saturday -- a 6.8% increase in total new cases, down from Friday's 7.3%.

It was the lowest percentage increase to date in the country. The total number of cases in Italy is now at least 92,472, health officials said.

PHOTO: Hotel Winter Garden in Grassobbio has become a quarantine location for patients recovering from COVID-19 after discharge from a hospital in Bargamo, Italy, March 25, 2020. (Filippo Venezia/EPA via Shutterstock)

In the province of Bergamo, the hardest-hit province, there was a nearly 50% drop in new reported cases, from Friday's 602 to Saturday's 289.

However, the number of new deaths in the last 24 hours hit 889, bringing the total death toll to 10,023.

1:44 p.m.: UN to donate 250,000 masks to NYC

The United Nations will donate 250,000 protective face masks to New York City, an area now considered the epicenter of the pandemic.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the masks would go to medical professionals in the city who have been "working courageously, selflessly, and tirelessly in response to the spread of COVID-19 across the boroughs in the hope that they play some small role in saving lives."

The U.N. and U.S. Mission personnel are working with Mayor Bill de Blasio's office to quickly get the masks to medical facilities in New York City.

PHOTO: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, addresses media while accepting 250,000 face masks donated to city health workers by the United Nations, to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, at UN Headquarters in New York City, March 28, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

1:26 p.m.: Pope, others in Vatican tested for coronavirus

The Vatican press office confirmed Saturday that the Pope has been tested and neither he nor his closest aides have resulted positive.

12:46 p.m.: Trump considering enforceable quarantine in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

President Donald Trump said he may announce an enforceable quarantine in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas.

Trump noted that he "doesn't want to do it, but may have to."

There's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine, short-term two weeks, on New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut, Trump told reporters on the South Lawn.

The president said that he would restrict travel from those areas because "they're having problems down in Florida, a lot of New Yorkers going down, we don't want that." He later said such a quarantine would not apply to truckers from outside of New York who are making deliveries or traveling through the state.

"It won't affect trade in anyway," Trump said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo later responded to the possibility, saying he had not spoken to the president about such a measure and did not know what it would mean.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont also issued a statement, saying, "Our state has already called on residents to stay at home. Further, if interstate travel is absolutely necessary, our state has directed travelers to self-quarantine to prevent against further transmission of the virus." Lamont said that he looked forward to speaking to the president directly, "because confusion leads to panic."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump departs the White House, in Washington, for Norfolk, Va., on March 28, 2020, to attend the departure ceremony for the hospital ship USNS Comfort headed to New York. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

12:30 p.m.: More than 7,600 new cases reported in New York

There are now 52,318 confirmed cases in New York, after 7,681 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference.

The deaths in the state were up to 728 from 519.

Cuomo did say there was a bit of good news: new hospitalizations and new ICU admissions went down in the last 24-hour period. He cautioned that one day does not prove a trend and the situation certainly could go the other way.

There were 372 people admitted in to an ICU Friday and 172 admitted Saturday. For new hospitalizations, the number Friday was 1,154 and 847 for Saturday.

The overall line is still up, Cuomo said. This is good news on a one day number.

The governor also announced he was postponing the presidential primary in the state from April 28 to June 23, the date of the state's down ballot primary elections.

12:16 p.m.: Trump approves disaster declaration for Massachusetts, Michigan

President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Massachusetts and Michigan, ordering federal assistance to the states.

Federal funding will now be available for crisis counseling for those affected in both states.

12:09 p.m.: 1st uniformed NYPD death

A New York Police Department detective has become the department's first uniformed officer to die after contracting coronavirus, police sources told ABC News.

Detective Cedric Dixon was the officer who died. He was the third member of the department to die after contracting the virus, following a janitor and an administrative aid.

We are hurting, we are crying and we continue to fight, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said Saturday afternoon.

Dixon was 48. According to police sources, he had underlying conditions.

11:46 a.m.: SeaWorld to remain closed

The SeaWorld theme parks will remain temporarily closed, according to a statement from the company. The park had originally planned to open at the end of March.

Animal care experts will still be onsite to care for the animals. "During this time, our animal care experts will continue to look after the health and welfare needs of the animals in our care," a statement from SeaWord read.

"We look forward to welcoming our valued guests back to our parks soon," the statement continued.

10:01 a.m.: Nearly 200 US cities lack emergency equipment: Report

Nearly 200 cities in the United States do not have an adequate supply of tests kits or face masks for medical personnel and first responders, including police, fire, and EMTs, according to a report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

About 88% of cities of the cities surveyed, or 186 cities, don't have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) other than face masks to protect the front-line workers, according to the report.

The staggering statistics "illustrates the scope and severity of the need for COVID-19 emergency equipment in this nation's cities," according to a letter from the conference's executive director, Tom Cochran.

One-hundred and thirty-one states have reported receiving no emergency equipment from their states, while 84% of those who are receiving help say it is not adequate for their needs.

The report estimates that across the cities surveyed there is a need for 28.5 million face masks, 24.4 million PPE items, 7.9 million test kits, and 139,000 ventilators.

There were 213 cities in 40 states that participated in the survey.

"It is abundantly clear that the shortage of essential items such as face masks, test kits, personal protective equipment, ventilators and other items needed by health and safety personnel has reached crisis proportions in cities across the country," Cochran said in his letter.

PHOTO:Industrial firm's employees manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), like face shields, to supply New York's health care workers and hospitals at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, on March 26, 2020, in New York City. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

9:53 a.m.: More than 8,000 new cases, 832 new deaths in Spain

Spain reported 8,189 new cases of novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, putting the total number of cases at 72,248, according to the Health Ministry.

There have now been 5,690 deaths after 832 new deaths occurred. More than 4,500 still remain in intensive care.

8:55 a.m.: German Aerospace Center to make masks

The German Aerospace Center will make medical equipment using its 3D printers, according to a statement from the agency.

The printers were tested and can successfully produce protective masks and valves for respirators, the statement read.

The German Aerospace Center had been asked by the European Commission to help in producing much needed medical equipment as the world scrambles to combat the pandemic.

The most powerful printer can produce up to 10 protective masks or 15 valves for ventilators per day, according to the agency. However, it's possible to increase the quantity through networking with other institutes and facilities.

PHOTO: The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has stated that they have successfully tested the conversion of its 3D printer models to manufacture medical equipment during the coronavirus crisis. (DLR (CC-BY 3.0))

6:00 a.m.: Lockdown leads to drop in pollution in Europe

Air pollution has dropped significantly across Europe as lockdowns have been adopted and residents are told to stay home, according to the European Space Agency.

Satellite images from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P show the drop in nitrogen dioxide concentrations, which coincides with the quarantine measures, according to the agency.

The most significant drops were in Milan, Paris and Madrid.

Scientists from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) have been using data from the satellite to monitor both weather and pollution over Europe. The images show the nitrogen dioxide concentrations from March 14 to March 25, comparing it to the averages from last year.

"By combining data for a specific period of time, 10 days in this case, the meteorological variability partly averages out and we begin to see the impact of changes due to human activity," Henk Eskes, from KNMI, said in a statement.

Other countries are also being monitored, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Scientists have said that right now there is a larger variability because of changing weather conditions, making it more difficult to observe any changes.

4:43 a.m.: Rhode Island targeting New York travelers

A day after announcing all vehicles with New York license plates will be pulled over by state police and travelers informed they must quarantine if they are staying in the state, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced that the National Guard would go door-to-door to make sure New Yorkers are following orders.

"We have a pinpointed a risk that we need to address, and that risk is New York City," Raimondo said Friday during her daily coronavirus media briefing. She said the 14-day quarantine for New York travelers is a law and will be enforced, "it's not a suggestion."

Members of the National Guard will be stationed at bus and train stops, as well as airports to collect personal information form travelers when they arrive. State police officers are doing the same for vehicles they pull over. With that information, Raimondo said authorities would go hotels, vacation homes and any type of residence to keep track of New York travelers.

All these measures, she said, are designed to let the state have time to get ready for the spread of COVID-19. If Rhode Island were to have an outbreak right now, she said the state and its healthcare system would be overwhelmed.

"We are not ready for a surge of cases," Raimondo said.

New York City currently has at least 26,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, with 450 deaths. There are more than 44,000 cases in New York state. As of Friday, only 28 of the 203 diagnosed coronavirus cases in Rhode Island have required hospitalization. The state has no reported COVID-19 deaths.

What to know about the novel coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the US and worldwide: coronavirus map

ABC News' Aicha El-Hammar Castano, Josh Margolin, Luke Barr, Elizabeth Thomas, Aaron Katersky, Phoebe Natanson, Clark Bentson and Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report.

US coronavirus death toll crosses 2,000; Trump won't use enforceable quarantine in NY, NJ originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
I usually tell students to remember that the event that will define their generation is yet to come. But its here. This is it. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will reshape the world our kids will inherit.

This is going to be more important than 9/11 and the Great Recession combined. I think its the most important event since WWII reshaped the world. This is the black wwan that no ones really prepared for, especially if faced with another season or two of shutdown. WWII shut down the world in some ways, but it also drove incredible innovation and economic growth in much of the world. I dont think the pandemic is driving economic growth in the same way. We live in a consumer-driven world. If the consumers are all trapped inside, how does that continue?

Imagine a generation spending the better part of two years inside, at home? That leaves an indelible mark. What about a generation watching hundreds of thousands of people, or more, die? What about if a large chunk of this generation ends up with a member of their family killed by the pandemic or the collapse of health care system? That starts to look like a wartime generation. And I cant even begin to think about the mark this leaves on a generation of medical students and professionals if that community experiences severe losses.

Think about it.

Education

The rest of their academic life this generation is likely to have online education embedded in how they learn. The truth is we dont really know how well that works. As an educator, Im worried. I dont think its as capable of helping kids build the soft skills that really matter  resilience, working in teams, adaptability.

Economy

When we come out of this, what does the employment landscape look like? Experts are predicting as high as 20 percent unemployment. But will this accelerate the end of much of the service industry? Self-driving cars and trucks dont get infected. A lot of legal work and other repetitive white-collar work is already being automated. AI might get a computer virus, but not a COVID. Will this accelerate that, too?

The point is that people have been expecting these changes to happen slowly over the next 30 years, but if that gets truncated to 10, society isnt ready. Thats why the soft skills matter more than knowledge  they allow people to adapt to the speed of modern life. But if a generation is weak in them, how will society adapt?

And I havent even addressed the global economic changes on the way.

American society

If the economy is radically altered, do the kind of direct payouts from the government continue because changes mean a larger and larger portion of the population dont have jobs to work at? Andrew Yang isnt crazy. Theres good evidence for a guaranteed basic income. We now have a Republican president instituting what is likely to end up being the largest government spending program since WWII, and it includes what amounts to an emergency guaranteed income.

National security

A failure to take the extreme measures we need to here is the greatest threat to our security. Our national strength starts with the stability of our political system and the dynamism of our economy. If we dont get that back, were in trouble.

This changes everything. Everything. But the impacts will be uneven across the international system. The first thing people need to remember is that foreign policy is always a reflection of domestic politics. What happens inside a country determines what it does on the outside.

The three largest economies of the planet  60 percent of world GDP  are in the midst of the biggest event since probably WWII. This will reshape the whole system. When people think of national security they tend to focus on military factors, but the dominant effect here is on the economy.

To take the U.S., as it crawls out of this having instituted wartime public spending programs, what happens to Social Security or Medicare five years from now? If a new administration tries to rebuild those systems, does it cut the $700 billion we now spend on defense? Does NATO weaken or collapse for similar reasons? Id say one outcome is this is likely to suppress the desire of countries to spend on militaries or engage in peripheral expeditions like Syria (for us, Russia and Iran). Again, domestic pressures will drive foreign policy.

An interesting case is Russia. Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to try to drive out U.S. shale oil producers by driving prices down on the expectation that Moscow could keep their industry pumping long enough to outlast us with massive subsidies. And what about COVID-19 there? This is speculation, but in cold places is there less gathering in public spaces, meaning a lighter effect on the population? I dont know, but its something Im watching for. That could give Russia a window to use the relatively light economic effects of this to its advantage in targeted areas.

And of course China faces the possibility that the global supply chain thats been anchored there and thats been the linchpin of its massive economic expansion suddenly shifts, what happens if theres unprecedented unemployment there? Is the Chinese political system at risk? Already theres been a higher degree of public dissent than weve seen in the past. Does Chinas inevitable rise continue? We just dont know. All we can do now is ask questions.

And the big one is: Will COVID-19 come back? China is just now relaxing some restrictions on movement. Will a second wave start? Will our economies be in lockdown for months or a year or more?

Matthew Schmidt is an associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven.
Thousands of migrant labourers, the poor and daily wage earners on Saturday (March 28, 2020) continued to move out of the big cities including the national capital of Delhi to return to their respective native places on the fourth days of the 21-day lockdown to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus COVID-19. Huge crowds of those wanting to return to their home towns and villages were witnessed in several parts of Delhi, taking the arduous trek of several kilometres on foot even as the coronavirus pandemic infected 918 people across India and over 6.40 lakh worldwide.

With the threat of coronavirus increasing due to the mass migrations, the Centre authorised all the states to use the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide relief measures to the migrant workers during the lockdown period. According to the new rules of the SDRF, provision for temporary accommodation, food, clothing medical cure etc., would be applicable to homeless people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures and sheltered in relief camps and other places, a home ministry official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund), a public charitable trust. The fund has been set up so that the people who want to contribute can do so by following a few simple steps which will help the government tide over the major COVID-19 hurdle.

At least 10 migrant workers were killed in two separate incidents in Maharashtra and Telangana when they were walking back towards their native places.

Four migrant workers from Rajasthan were crushed to death and three seriously injured when a tempo ran over them as they were walking along a highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district. In Hyderabad, six persons were killed when a truck carrying labourers back to their villages in Karnataka was rammed by a lorry on Outer Ring Road on Hyderabad outskirts. Six others were injured in the accident which occurred when 30 labourers, rendered jobless due to lockdown, were returning to their villages in Raichur district of Karnataka.

Coronavirus status worldwide

In an initiative to show solidarity with India and other nations, Burj Khalifa in Dubai lit up in Hindi among other languages over the coronavirus pandemic.

Globally, the total number of positive cases reached 640,589 and 29,848 people died according to figures by Johns Hopkins University at 11:45 pm IST on Saturday. The last 24 hours have been a major spurt in the number of positive cases and deaths.

The latest figures show that much work remains to be done to slow the virus' spread. The US now leads the world in reported infections with more than 110,000 cases followed by other worst-hit five other nations - Italy, Spain, Germany, Iran and France. Italy has recorded the maximum deaths which have exceeded 10,000 while Spain has over 5,000 deaths and Iran 2,500 fatalities.

"We cannot completely prevent infections at this stage, but we can and must in the immediate future achieve fewer new infections per day, a slower spread," German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in quarantine at home after her doctor tested positive for the virus, told her compatriots in an audio message. Merkel appealed to Germans to be patient. Her chief of staff said Germany, where authorities closed nonessential shops and banned gatherings of more than two in public, won't relax its restrictions before April 20.

The virus has already has put health systems in Italy, Spain and France under extreme strain. Lockdowns of varying severity have been introduced across Europe, nearly emptying streets in normally bustling cities, including Paris where drone photos showed the city's landmarks eerily deserted.

In Spain, where stay-at-home restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks, reported 832 more deaths on Saturday, its highest daily count yet. Another 8,000 confirmed infections pushed that count above 72,000. But Spain's director of emergencies, Fernando Simon, saw a ray of hope, noting that the rate of infection is slowing and figures indicate that the outbreak is stabilizing and may be reaching its peak in some areas.

Doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers in Spain's worst-hit regions are working nonstop and falling ill at an alarming rate. More than 9,000 health workers in the country have been infected. "We are completely overwhelmed," said paramedic Pablo Rojo at Barcelona's Dos de Maig hospital. Seven or eight (patients transported today) and all with COVID-19. ... And the average age is decreasing. They're not 80 years old anymore, they are now 30 and 40 years old. Sometimes you become a bit paranoid, you don't know any more when you pick up the phone if you have cleaned your hands if you've sanitized them or not. You touch your face with your hands," Rojo said.

Spain has struggled to get coronavirus tests and protective gear for health workers. The government has started flights to transport the supplies directly from China to reduce waiting times.

In prosperous Finland, police at roadblocks started restricting the movement of people into and out of its worst-hit Uusimaa region, which includes the capital, Helsinki. In parts of Africa, virus prevention measures took a violent turn as countries imposed lockdowns and curfews or sealed off major cities, with police in Kenya firing tear gas and officers elsewhere captured on video hitting people with batons.

Countries are still scrambling bring home some citizens stranded abroad by border closures and a near-shutdown of flights. On Saturday, 174 foreign tourists and four Nepali nationals in the foothills of Mount Everest were flown out days after being stranded on the only airstrip serving the world's highest mountain.

The effects of the outbreak have been felt by the powerful and the poor alike. On March 27, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first leader of a major country to test positive for the virus. He said he would continue to work from self-quarantine.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death. More than 135,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.
27.03.2020 LISTEN

The novel coronavirus that surfaced in December last year, in Wuhan, Hubei province in China, has crossed China into international borders and has affected thousands across the Globe.

Governments in developed and developing countries are battling with the Virus and have put in place measures to curb the spread of the virus. The nature of the Virus and its mode of transmission has made the fight against the virus a hard one for governments everywhere.

From the official Ghana health service website as at 19:00 GMT, routine surveillance indicated 59 confirmed cases, 2 recovered, 53 individuals responding to treatment, and 4 deaths. Those under mandatory quarantine showed 78 confirmed cases. This brings to 137 the total number of confirmed cases.

Several countries in the EU are observing strict lockdown of movement. Movement is allowed for very limited purposes namely essential shopping and traveling to work if "absolutely necessary", for medical needs or helping others in need, or to take exercise and gatherings of more than two people are banned, other than with those they live with. In some of the countries, Failure to comply can result in a fine of 135, rising to 1,500 or even 3,700 and even a prison term for repeat offenders. Countries that have declared this lockdown include Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, and the UK.

Ghanaians are calling on the government to declare a similar lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. A lockdown if declared will have a lot of ramifications on quite a number of Ghanaians.

The Pros

The obvious advantage of a lockdown will be that the spread of the virus will be contained. The virus doesnt move. People move the virus around. So if a lockdown is declared and we are all home, the virus stops moving. With everyone indoors, all attention of medical workers will be put to helping those who have the virus to recover and identifying and screening those with whom they had contact.

The Cons

The above advantage not withstanding, a lockdown will lead to a number of problem.

First, have we thought about the homeless and those on the streets? Where do they go if a lockdown is declared? How will they survive?

Second, if a lockdown is declared, I doubt the the average Ghanaian family will have available money required to stock up food and other supplies for about 2 weeks or a month, especially those who live hand-to-mouth. If a lockdown is declared, demand for food and other essential household items will rise. This will obviously lead to increases in prices, making it even more difficult for those who cant afford.

Three, taking into consideration the poor nature of our online shopping and delivery systems, we are likely to go hungry or be in need of essential items when what we have stocked up gets finished. Is such a situation, we can not easily order and get delivered to our doorstep what we need, be it food or whatever. what do we do?

Four, a lockdown will mean that, the government should be ready to spend to make life comfortable for Ghanaians during that period. The government may have to provide food, water, shelter toiletries for the homeless, those in the streets and the less privileged. The government may also have to distribute food, medical supplies, etc., every now and then to those who may be in need of them. This will will have to be done every day of the lockdown.

The President Akufo-Addo in a meeting with the leadership of TUC on March 26, 2020 said,  People in Ghana are now talking about a lockdown. Majority of people who will be affected by decisions of that nature are the working people of our country, the ordinary people of Ghana. They are the ones who will be affected, and it is important for us to take into account the circumstances and conditions. When we lock down Accra, what are the consequences? A responsible government is required to look at all the implications before decisions are made. And that is the exercise we are currently engaged in, and I am hoping that much sooner than later we will come to an agreement on what those measures are and the Ghanaian people

will be informed.

We believe the President and his advisors and all those in authorities and doing all they can to make the necessary arrangements. They need our prayers and encouragement.

In the mean time, do not forget to wash yourself with soap under running water; use an alcohol based hand sanitizer; avoid unnecessary outings and body contact; and observe social distancing. Our survival is our own hands. Be safe.

Frimpong Mansoh Cobbina

GBC Radio Central

Cape Coast

[email protected]
Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, March 28 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono issued on Saturday an order to dispatch Self-Defense Forces troops as part of his country's efforts to strengthen quarantine steps amid the spread of the new coronavirus.

From Saturday, the dispatched troops are engaged in the work to quarantine people arriving at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda and Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. They are also supporting the transport of such people to designated facilities.

The Defense Ministry dispatched SDF members on a voluntary basis based on a judgment that the current situation represents a case stipulated by the SDF law where the ministry should not wait for a dispatch request from a prefectural governor.

This is the second time for the ministry to dispatch SDF troops in the fight against the new coronavirus.

On Jan. 31, the ministry issued an order to send SDF personnel to deal with mass infections at the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the cost of Japan. This mission was completed on March 16.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Carlfrantzplumbing.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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: A 69-year-old man from Kochi became the first fatal case of the coronavirus in Kerala on Saturday while six more people tested positive for the infection, taking the total under treatment to 165.

The deceased, who had undergone a bypass surgery, was suffering from acute pneumonia on admission to the Kochi hospital on March 22 after returning from abroad, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Of the fresh cases, he said two of them were detected from Thiruvananthapuram, one each was from Kollam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kasaragod.

"Four positive cases have been treated and cured -- one in the state capital, two from Kottayam and one from Ernakulam. At least 1,34,370 people are under surveillance and 620 in isolation wards of various hospitals," Vijayan told reporters after a COVID-10 19 review meeting.

The body of a 69-year-old man who died due to novel coronavirus infection was buried in Kochi in a simple ceremony attended by only five relatives and monitored by officials after it was brought wrapped in leak-proof bag as per the Union Health Ministry guidelines.

Meanwhile, Police said they have registered 1,220 cases, arrested 1,258 people and seized 792 vehicles for lockdown violations. The total cases so far has crossed 8,311.

The state police also began monitoring violations using drones.

The government will initiate the rapid diagnostic test to keep in check community spread and all arrangements would be made in this regard by Sunday itself.

On the issue of roadblock by Karnataka on the borders resulting in trucks carrying vegetables and other essentials being stranded, Vijayan said he has been trying to contact the Chief Minister of the neighbouring state but in vain.

"I have been trying to contact karnataka CM, but it seems like he is busy. However, I spoke to union minister Sadananda Gowda. He assured that he will speak to the Karnataka CM and take necessary steps," he said.

Vijayan also lashed out at Kannur district police chief Yatish Chandra, who made some locals to do sit-ups as a punishment for venturing out of their homes, violating the 21-day lockdown enforced to check the spread of coronavirus.

"Such incidents will tarnish the image and good works done by the force," Vijayan said and added that home secretary has sought a report from the DGP on the incident.

The state human rights commission has also registered a case.

The state government has also responded to the various letters sent by chief ministers of various states expressing their concerns over the "guest workers" (migrants) in Kerala.

The state government and the Chief Minister has been using the term "guest worker" instead of migrant labourers to create "a sense of inclusivity".

"I have assured all the chief ministers that we have been taking care of the guest workers in the state," Vijayan said.

Considering the increasing instances of people showing withdrawal symptoms following closure of liquor outlets due to the lockdown, Vijayan said the government was contemplating making available liquor to those facing health issues in case there was a prescription from the doctor.

A 38-year-old daily wage labourer had committed 'suicide' in Thrissur on Friday, allegedly frustrated over not getting liquor following the coronavirus lockdown and after struggling with withdrawal symptoms.

On Saturday afternoon, the body of the COVID-19 victim was brought to the khabarsthan of a masjid near Mattancherry secured in a triple-layer body bag, exterior of which is decontaminated, to ensure it posed no risk to others while being transported in ambulance.

Five relatives, five volunteers and five officials of the district administration, health department and Kochi city corporation were present for the burial, officials said.

Relatives said final prayers for the departed soul before the body was laid to rest at 3 pm.

They were not allowed to touch the body.

Officials said large gathering was not allowed at the burial ground as a social distancing measure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An additional 92 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in British Columbia, bringing the total in the province to 884.

Additionally, another person has died from the virus in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 17.

The Interior Health region has 77 confirmed cases of the virus.

The number of hospitalizations across the province has also increased, with a total of 81 patients being treated in hospital. Six of these cases are in the Interior Health region, although the Ministry of Health will not disclose the location of these cases.

Province-wide, 52 of these hospitalizations are being treated in the ICU.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the good news is that 45 per cent of all COVID-19 patients in the province have fully recovered from the disease, for a total of 396 recoveries.

Earlier this month, B.C. had the most confirmed cases of all provinces in the country, but as of Saturday, Quebec has 2,498 confirmed cases while Ontario has 1,144.

Photo: Castanet News
Four passengers on a cruise ship bound for Florida have died, the cruise line said. More than 100 passengers on the ship are sick.

Holland America said in a statement posted on its website that four guests had died, but did not say whether the deaths were related to the coronavirus.
Government Formalises Cash Donations in Fight Against Virus

Government has said it is completely confident of its ability to fund the GHA throughout the current COVID-19 crisis and beyond. However, it is obvious that the spirit of generosity among the people of Gibraltar and the business community knows no bounds.

In the same way as hundreds of people have registered to help as volunteers, there are others who wish to contribute in a different way by making a financial contribution to assist in the fight against the virus.

The spontaneous response so far has been truly overwhelming with over 500,000 already donated, as the Minister for Health Paul Balban confirmed yesterday.

Although the funding for the GHA is assured, the Government is nonetheless happy that anyone who wishes to make a cash donation is able to do so.

Any donations should be made to:

ACCOUNT NAME: Govt of Gib Re GHA

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 47620056

SORT CODE: 60-60-60

IBAN:G183NWBK060606047620056

SWIFT:RBOSGIGI

The Reference for your payment should read COVID 19 ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE MADE IN STERLING

Every donation is being itemised and recorded, and will be acknowledged. The Chief Minister says he intends to personally write to every single donor to thank them in the coming weeks.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, said: "These are difficult times that we hope will soon pass. They are also times when Gibraltar shows the best of itself, its community spirit, and its dedication to charity and the support of the most vulnerable in our society. This solidarity is best being shown by large and small organisations and individuals in the donations they are making to the GHA, to other organisations, and through their volunteering. Some donations are also coming in from beyond our shores from those who do business in Gibraltar and want to help. This is also greatly appreciated and welcome. We won't forget those who remembered us at this difficult moment. This is the beating heart of Gibraltar's generosity coming to the fore. Thank you, Gibraltar! Thank you, everyone!"
Tom Cruises behind the scenes photo from the sets of Mission Impossible 7 is breaking the internet these days. The actor, who is known for doing his stunts by himself, can be seen riding and pulling wheelies on a made-in-India BMW G 310 GS.

As per media reports quoted by Visordown, the picture is from the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom. If reports are to be believed, then the shooting of Mission Impossible 7 was earlier moved from Italy to the United Kingdom. However, the same has now been stalled due to the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

In the pictures, one can see him in a black jacket and full-face adventure helmet, with the front wheel, pointed up. The major question that arises is if Tom Cruise is the person in the photograph or is it someone else who is performing the stunt for him?

In a previous interview, Tom had himself revealed that he has spent a lot of time training for motorcycle stunts. He is also known to do a major part of his stunts himself and has done so in the previous Mission Impossible films.

In one of the photos, he can be seen without a helmet on a stationary bike. The safety rig seen in the pictures could just be to prevent any unfortunate incident while filming. The movie is slated to hit the theatres in July next year.
Helena-area law enforcement officials say they do not plan to use a heavy-handed approach when enforcing the state's shelter-in-place order.

Helena Police Chief Steve Hagen said his department and dispatchers have already received numerous phone calls from Helenans concerned and confused about Gov. Steve Bullock's statewide order, which takes effect Saturday.

"Our goal is not to write people tickets," Hagen said. "Our goal is to help the governor stop the spread of this virus."

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said his deputies have been instructed to "use common sense."

"We realize all these people we talk to are our bosses," Dutton said. "We plan to approach this from an educational standpoint."

Hagen said that while most people seem to understand, his officers will be doing plenty of community education.

He said the only instances in which officers might write someone a citation, which could come with a fine of anywhere between $10 and $200, is if they "have a reason to believe they're violating this order or we get a call about someone."

Dutton echoed that sentiment.

"We're not going to be stopping people on the street," the sheriff said. "We know that they are stressed to the max, and we want to be part of the solution."

Bullock on Thursday issued the shelter-in-place order in an attempt to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Bullock said Thursday he understands the hardships it places on Montanans, but told residents it's a necessary step to do everything possible to try to prevent an even sharper spike in COVID-19 cases that could flood the state's health care system.

Under Montana's shelter-in-place order, people will still be allowed to conduct essential activities, like purchasing groceries, exercise outdoors near their homes, and travel to care for others.

Employees of essential businesses are allowed to travel to work as well.

Hagen said such employees do not need a letter from their employer.

"We don't want people thinking this is a curfew or martial law," he said.

Both Hagen and Dutton also said their officers will not be checking on every business to make sure they are in compliance.

If they get a call about a business operating when it should not be, they will issue a warning.

The same goes for groups of people congregating outside; officers and deputies will tell them to disperse.

"Our directive is to help shepherd people through this," Dutton said. "If everyone maintains a level head, us included, we will get through this. ... We're going to be patient, and we ask the public to do the same."

The shelter-place-rule is currently set to expire April 10.

"These are the people who pay our salaries," Dutton said. "We are avoiding any appearance of being heavy-handed."

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Have wanderlust? Can't travel?

You're not alone. Planes are grounded, borders closed and billions of people all over the planet are now restricting their movements, or on outright lockdown, as countries battle the spread of Covid-19.

Even if you can't travel, however, you can still escape... virtually at least. Here, we round up 10 of the best virtual experiences in Ireland and overseas for (temporary) armchair travellers.

Who knows, they may even inspire a future trip...

1. A layover at the Louvre

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As the most-visited museum on the planet, the Louvre was no stranger to overcrowding... until a few weeks ago, at least. With France in lockdown, however, the world's largest collection of art and antiquities now sits behind closed doors. Virtual visitors can delve into three of the gallery's treasures, including the recently restored Galerie d'Apollon, or walk around the remains of its medieval moat. Click here to visit.

Alternatively, Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum offers the chance to see 11 of its exhibits online, including interactive close-ups of works by Dutch masters Vermeer and Rembrandt so detailed, you'll see every crack in the oil paint. Click here to visit.

2. 'Appy days

The 'Teleport' button is the first thing you'll notice when you launch the Ascape VR app (ascape.com), and it's as much a promise as a cri de coeur for the times we find ourselves living in. Available on both Android and iOS, the app gives you access to downloadable videos which transport you, for instance, to the sweat-inducing, impenetrable jungles of Uganda on the trail of mountain gorillas. Google Earth is also highly recommended: it's packed with informative commentaries and practical information, and you (or kids starved for stuff to do) can soar over cities, landmarks and landscapes in stunning 3D. Click to visit here.

3. The Sistine Chapel in solitude

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How else could you be the sole visitor in the Sistine Chapel? In real life, having this place to yourself is impossible. The Vatican Museums' virtual 360-degree tour allows you wander freely without the jostling crowds, however - admiring intricate mosaic floors and the ornate frescoes lining the walls by Renaissance master Botticelli and his ilk at your leisure. The crowning glory is, of course, the ceiling by Michelangelo, whose brushstrokes you can admire in vivid detail without sustaining neck strains or sharp elbows in your sides. Click here to visit.

4. Go to the Guggenheim

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Who could pass up spending a lazy afternoon ambling through airy gallery spaces? Much like the Rijksmuseum, New York's Guggenheim is one of 500 galleries who have partnered with Google Arts & Culture to digitise their collections. Through Google's Streetview function, the gallery is allowing virtual art lovers to explore all six of the museum's spiralling floors, on whose uniquely designed ramp galleries hang many celebrated artworks by Cezanne, Kandinsky, Leger and Chagall. An afternoon on the couch well spent, wouldn't you say? Click to visit here, and see the StreetView here.

5. Lights, Camera, Action!

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Forget Netflix binges... for a few hours, at least. The Irish Film Institute is just one of 14 collections from Irish museums, galleries and libraries on the Google Arts & Culture platform - including Trinity College, the National Library of Ireland and the Abbey Theatre. It's a treasure trove of fascinating black-and-white films (including old public-safety videos) and newsreels. Forgotten snapshots of a bygone era are captured forever on film, and time digesting the collection is well spent for any film buff. Click to visit here.

6. Wondrous National Parks

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As woolly clouds scrape along the top of towering granite monoliths and a breeze whips small ripples on the surface of a lake, you'll feel like you're at the heart of one of America's best-loved national parks with Virtual Yosemite. A groundbreaking virtual 360-degree tour, it comes with audio that helps bring every inch of the wooded valley to life (wear headphones for the best experience). In Scotland, the Great Trossachs Forest boasts some of the UK's most captivating landscapes. Through bold 360-degree panoramas staged at various vantage points across the park, you can track the changes of the rugged terrain as it succumbs to each season in turn. Click to visit here.

7. Virtual visits in Ireland

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There's nowhere like home. And Ireland has lots to offer virtual travellers itching to organise their next staycation. The Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare are rendered in dazzling colour thanks to a 360-degree virtual sunset tour along the cliff tops, for one - you can almost taste the salt and feel the bracing sea breeze if you try hard enough. Wexford's 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse also offers 360-degree tours, including balcony views out over the surrounding storm-battered peninsula. Or did you know you can take a virtual tour of Aras an Uachtarain. Find lots more panoramic and immersive photos in one place on virtualvisittours.com, a website compiled by pro photographers.

8. Feeding time at the zoo

Tune in between 10.30am and 12.30pm, when Dublin Zoo's Asian elephants usually come into view on their enclosure's webcam. One of three live streams at the zoo, it gives you a sporting chance to see Dublin's youngest calf, Kabir. Look closely and you might also spy some of the green-clad zookeepers as they tend to the needs of the animals while the zoo is shuttered. Home to over 650 different species, San Diego Zoo has been voted the best in the world. Its webcams give you access to 10 species, including polar bears, tigers and giraffes, as well as offering a chance to spy the zoo's newest addition, a baby siamang called Selamat. Click to visit here.

9. Awesome aquatic life

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Live streaming is really coming into its own as a means of bringing the world to us as we temporarily retreat from it. Boston's New England Aquarium, for example, is using Facebook Live to great effect, allowing children to tune in at 3pm GMT for daily feedings, including with Myrtle the green sea turtle, and presentations led by the aquarium's expert handlers. One recent highlight was a live vet check-up for Thomas, the aquarium's green moray eel. Click to visit here.

10. Yearning on YouTube

It's easy to fall down a rabbit hole watching videos on YouTube. Maybe that's the secret to its success as an invaluable source of inspiration for future travel plans. From the comfort of your sofa, climb aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train (above) and sit back as the evergreen forests, cascading rivers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies hurtle past with Travel Alberta's 360-degree video. Or better still, get close enough to a Kodiak bear in the Alaskan wilds to see the whites of its eyes with the immersive Discovery VR wildlife watching series (click to watch here).

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Foreign governments on Friday stepped up operations to evacuate tens of thousands of tourists stranded by the coronavirus pandemic in remote locations across South Asia, from Everest base camp to beach hotels in Sri Lanka. A plane chartered by Berlin took 304 people out of Kathmandu in the first of a series of flights aiming to ferry some 10,000 people from Nepal. Almost 17,000 tourists are stuck in Sri Lanka while tens of thousands of travellers and expatriates are in India, according to authorities in the two countries. All have cut or virtually halted international flights over the past week in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. The plane that left Kathmandu on Friday was carrying Germans and other European nationals, Rajan Pokhrel, director general of Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority, told AFP. "Other countries are consulting us about evacuating their citizens," he added. A second German flight was to leave Saturday, and the Australian embassy said it was trying to negotiate a special flight. Other countries, including the United States, were trying to secure joint flights. Nepal's government estimates that about 10,000 people -- from Europe, Australia, South Korea, the United States and India -- are in far-flung places across the Himalayan nation, which halted all international flights last weekend. About 200 trekkers were waiting at Everest base camp. The Nepal Tourism Board said 137 people were brought from high-altitude trekking trails on Thursday and taken to Kathmandu. "I think people are starting to get a bit worried for the last few days with the lockdown and the news," said Elka Wallraf, a 30-year-old Belgian who had trekked to Everest base camp. "We donat have information about a flight back to Belgium yet," added the teacher, who was stuck in the village of Phakding in the Khumbu region near Everest. "Our plans keep changing every minute because we don't know what is the best thing to do." Wallraf said he hoped to get to Kathmandu to get on one of the evacuation planes. France and other governments organised local flights to get their nationals from remote towns to the Nepalese capital. Some hotels have given free rooms and meals to the stranded tourists. France and Germany are also negotiating charter flights to get their nationals out of India. - Stuck at the beach - Sri Lankan authorities have let almost 17,000 foreign tourists use their cancelled flight tickets as passes to get around a curfew, given that they became stuck after incoming flights were halted and a nationwide lockdown was imposed. Many are stranded at beach resorts far from the airport in the capital Colombo. Among those in travel limbo are 2,439 Indians, 2,167 Chinese, 2,061 Russians, 1,732 Germans, 1,377 Britons, 916 Canadians and 614 French, the immigration service said. "We are encouraging other governments to arrange evacuation flights to take back their nationals," Madubhani Perera, director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board, told AFP. The Maldives, whose economy is dependent on tourism, on Friday halted the arrival of all visitors and ordered the 135 resort islands to clear out all visitors within two weeks. The nation of 340,000 people has reported 13 confirmed coronavirus cases, all of them foreigners. The United States said it was organising a special flight next week to evacuate its nationals based in Pakistan.
Interior Minister Ambrose Derry is urging the public to desist from panic buying of foodstuff and petroleum products ahead of the coming into effect of a partial lockdown announced by the president.



President Akufo-Addo announced last night parts of the country will be locked down for two weeks effective Monday as part of measures to curb the spread of the Covid  19 virus.



Ambrose Derry says Ghanaians misunderstood portions of the presidents directive, hence the panic buying.



He told Joy News outside parliament house that markets, banks and fuel stations will continue to operate when the restriction takes effect and so there is no need for panic buying. You can go to the market and buy food. And wherever food is sold will have food. So the rush to buy food is not necessary, Mr Derry said.



He says his tour this morning show banks that usually open on Saturday are closed. He says the move is unnecessary because banks are exempt from the restrictions. I can assure you that these measures by the president are clearly thought through, Mr Derry said.



Filling stations are unnecessarily crowded. That is not safe because it could cause a fire. But they will remain open. That is not necessary, he said.



He says the security agencies are ready to help enforce the restrictions as announced by the president if it becomes necessary.



I advise that you stay at home as much as possible. Come out only within the measures you are allowed to come out. If you dont, I will assure you the security will enforce it.



We will do it firmly and we will do it with all the commitment you can get. Be rest assured, Mr Derry concluded.

Source: Joy News









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Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis today called on Alabamians to remember amid the coronavirus pandemic that Sunday is set aside to remember men and women who served in one of the nations longest and most difficult wars.

The Vietnam Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 established March 29 as the date for annual recognition of the nine million Americans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975.

The troops who served in Vietnam persevered through some of the most brutal conditions ever faced by Americans in war, Davis said in a statement. The suffocating heat, the drenching rains, an enemy that could come out of nowhere and vanish just as quickly, some of the most intense urban combat in history, and battles for a single hill that could rage for weeks.

More than 58,000 American service members lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded. All U.S. troops were withdrawn from Vietnam by March 1973.

Heres the full statement from Davis:

At a time when our nation is confronting a crisis not seen before in modern times, on Sunday, Americans will pause to remember and honor the men and women who served during another turbulent time in our nations history - the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 established National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and every year on March 29, the day is set aside to thank and honor the nations Vietnam Veterans and their families.

This special day recognizes U.S. Armed Forces personnel with active duty service between Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. Nine million Americans served during that time, with an estimated 6.4 million living today.

The troops who served in Vietnam persevered through some of the most brutal conditions ever faced by Americans in war. The suffocating heat, the drenching rains, an enemy that could come out of nowhere and vanish just as quickly, some of the most intense urban combat in history, and battles for a single hill that could rage for weeks.

Some American service members served as ground troops in a combat capacity, some were miles offshore in Navy ships providing gunfire support, some were in the skies over Vietnam, while others provided necessary support roles.

As a nation, we have long celebrated the courage of our forces at Normandy and Iwo Jima, the Pusan Perimeter and Heartbreak Ridge. On March 29, we as Americans, are proud to speak of the Vietnam Veterans courage- at Hue, Khe Sanh, and Saigon, from Hamburger Hill to Rolling Thunder.

After many years of combat, all U.S. troops were withdrawn from Vietnam on March 30, 1973, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, but at a heavy cost: More than 58,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces lost their lives and more than 300,000 were wounded.

This story of our Vietnam service members needs to be told. This day is another opportunity to say to our Vietnam Veterans what we should have been saying from the beginning: You did your job. You served with honor. You made us proud. You came home and you helped build the America that we love and cherish today.

On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we thank the brave servicemen and women of this era for their honorable service.

Kent Davis

Rear Admiral, (Retired), United States Navy

Commissioner, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
Chinese students and their supporters hold a memorial for Dr Li Wenliang, who was the whistleblower of the CCP Virus that originated in Wuhan, China and caused the doctors death in that city, outside the UCLA campus in Westwood, California, on Feb. 15, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Silenced: Stories of Citizens Suppressed for Speaking the Truth About the CCP Virus

Since last December, the Chinese regime has muzzled citizens who have sought to reveal the true situation of the CCP Virus outbreak that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Those suppressed have included whistleblower doctors, citizen journalists, scholars, and business people.

Below are some of their stories.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Li Wenliang. (Courtesy of Li Wenliang)

Whistleblower Doctors

Li Wenliang

Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital, was among the first people to publicize information about the outbreak in Wuhan.

Seven SARS-like cases from the Huanan seafood market have been confirmed, he wrote on Chinese social media app WeChat, in a chat group with hundreds of his former medical school classmates. He attached a screenshot of a diagnosis report.

That was Dec. 30, 2019, a day before Wuhan health officials acknowledged that there was a mysterious viral pneumonia outbreak.

Despite Lis reminder to not spread it externally, screenshots of the conversation showing his full name quickly proliferated on the internet. On Jan. 3, police reprimanded him along with seven other medical professionals for spreading rumors online.

The police statement said he had violated the law.

The public security department hopes you can proactively cooperate with our work, listen to the urging of the police, and stop illegal activities from now. Can you achieve that? He wrote yes.

Dont go against the authorities, dont wear masks, dont make careless remarks, hospital colleague Zhao Chen recalled a department director as saying, after Li was summoned by police. Zhao told state media in a since-deleted interview that the hospital originally planned to fire Li.

Days later, Li contracted the virus while operating on an asymptomatic patient for glaucoma. He died on Feb. 7, leaving behind a pregnant wife and a young son. Shaken by his death, Chinese netizens held vigils in mourning and began a wider call for free speech.

At least 200 health workers at Lis hospital have contracted the virus. Three of Lis colleagues have died.

On March 19, Wuhan police withdrew the statement about Li and issued an apology, saying they will carefully draw a lesson from the incident.

Ai Fen

Ai Fen, an emergency surgeon at the hospital, later revealed that she was the whistle provider who gave the diagnosis report to Li. Realizing that the virus could be contagious, she required everyone in the emergency department to wear masks.

Police didnt go after Ai, but she received an unprecedented, very harsh admonition from her superiors.

Many, many times, I thought how nice it would be if we could turn back the clock, she told Chinese magazine Portrait, adding that she regretted not telling more doctors about the danger.

If I knew what it would be like today, no matter if I got criticized or not, I would have spread it all around, she said.

Someone has to stand up and tell the truth.  There has to be different voices in this world, right?

Fang Bin in a video posted on Feb. 4, 2020. (Screenshot/YouTube)

Citizen Reporters

Fang Bin

Fang Bin, a Wuhan clothes salesman, began filming his trips to hospitals around the locked-down city and posting the videos online in late January. The scenes showed long lines outside hospitals, patients clinging to life, and distraught family members.

In one video that went viral, Fang counts eight body bags in a van parked outside a hospital. So many dead, he says with a sigh. This is too many. Fang then walks into a room in the hospital, where doctors are seen working around a patient who had apparently just died.

Who is he? Fang asks the man.

My father, the man cries.

Hes gone, Fang says, after speaking to the doctors.

That evening, around half a dozen masked men in hazmat suits knocked on his door, demanding to take his temperature. Fang, who recorded the incident, said his temperature was normal and asked them to come back with an inspection warrant. The men forced their way into his house, confiscated his electronic devices, and took him to a police station. There, police questioned him about his videos, Fang later recounted.

Less than two weeks later, Fang went missing. His friends told The Epoch Times that Fang had been detained.

Chen Qiushi

Chen Qiushi, a 34-year-old lawyer-turned-citizen-journalist from eastern China, arrived in Wuhan on Jan. 24, a day after the city was placed under lockdown. Armed with a smartphone, he said he wanted to document stories about the citys residents.

What sort of a journalist are you if you dont dare rush to the frontlines? he said in his first video in Wuhan, filmed with a selfie stick, from the railway station where he had just disembarked.

In just over two weeks, he published more than 100 posts on his YouTube and Twitter accountsboth platforms are banned in Chinathat drew millions of views. He filmed interviews with locals who had lost loved ones, patients lying on temporary beds lining hospital hallways, and, according to Chen, a body left under a blanket outside an emergency ward.

In one hospital, a woman in a protective mask holds up the body of a relative in a wheelchair, whose head is seen drooping downward.

Whats wrong with him? Chen asked the woman.

He has already passed, she said.

The work took a toll on Chen.

Im scared. In front of me is the virus. Behind me is Chinas legal and administrative power, he said in an emotional video, recorded in his hotel room on Jan. 30.

Authorities have harassed his parents, who live in eastern China, probing for his location, Chen said. Then, he said through tears, while pointing at the camera: Im not afraid of dying. Why should I be afraid of you, Communist Party?

On Feb. 7, his mother, in a video shared on his Twitter account, said Chen had gone missing the day before.

Chens friend Xu Xiaodong, a prominent mixed martial arts fighter, later said in a YouTube video that Chen had been forcibly quarantined, but didnt show signs of symptoms.

Li Zehua, 25, a former state broadcast CCTV anchor, during a live stream on Feb. 26, 2020. (Screenshot)

Li Zehua

Li Zehua, a former anchor for Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, was the third video blogger arrested in the outbreak epicenter of Wuhan.

I dont want to shut my eyes and ears.  Im doing this so that more young people like me can stand up, Li, 25, said in a passionate speech live-streamed on YouTube, before police entered the hotel and presumably detained him.

Li arrived alone in Wuhan by train on Feb. 12, tracing the steps of Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin, who had been arrested by local police. It was not by coincidencehe said in his first YouTube videothat the first hotel he checked in was right next to where Chen had stayed.

Over the two weeks, before the police got him, he visited the Baibuting residential compound, where many became infected after attending a large-scale banquet, interviewed a funeral home worker, and went to a local train station where migrant workers were said to be stranded.

On his way back from visiting a local virology lab, however, he realized he was being chased.

Im driving really fast.  Please help me, he said breathlessly from under a mask.

Hours later, plainclothes police knocked on his hotel door.

He at first refused to let them in. He turned his camera on, and began alluding to the student-led Tiananmen pro-democracy protests in 1989, which came to a bloody end after Beijing deployed tanks and guns. Li lamented the ignorance of Chinese youth to recent history, the protests being a heavily censored topic in China.

I feel that its unlikely that I will not be taken away and quarantined. But I want to make this clear: I am not ashamed to face myself, nor my parents, the Communication University of China where I graduated from  and this country, he said shortly before he opened the door and let the police in. The police confiscated his phone and laptop, and cut off the signal.

Businessman

Ren Zhiqiang

Dubbed by Chinese media as the cannon for his fierce, unreserved criticism, 69-year-old Chinese real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang went missing days after he took aim at the Beijing regime.

In a scathing article published online in early March, he criticized authorities for their handling of the outbreak and the censorship of internet information.

This outbreak of the Wuhan pneumonia has verified the reality: when all media take on the surname of the Party, the people are abandoned, he wrote.

Without media to represent peoples interests and report on the truth, people are left to the harms of both the virus and a seriously diseased system.

Ren criticized the Chinese Communist Party for praising its achievements during a February teleconference with top leaders.

The truth as seen from the outbreak is that the Party is defending its own interests, he said.

There was no investigation into the causes of the outbreak, no one reflecting and taking on the responsibility. Instead, they attempt to cover up the truth with all kinds of grand accomplishments.

On March 12, Ren became incommunicado.

Hes not the only one recently punished for criticizing the authorities outbreak response. Xu Zhangrun, a legal scholar at the prestigious Tsinghua University, was placed under house arrest after he published an article, titled Angry People Are No Longer Afraid, in early February, denouncing the regimes hypocrisy.

It is true that the present level of popular fury due to the handling of the epidemic is volcanic; people thus enraged may, in the end, also cast aside their fears, he wrote.

This article was published in The Epoch Times CCP Virus special edition magazine.

Cathy He CHINA EDITOR Follow Cathy He is a New York-based reporter focusing on China-related topics. She previously worked as a government lawyer in Australia. She joined the Epoch Times in February 2018.
Four inmates escaped from the Ludhiana central jail after scaling the compound wall using a rope made of blankets in the wee hours on Saturday.

The jail authorities came to know about the jailbreak during attendance in the morning.

The accused have been identified as Ravi Kumar, 24, of Samrala; Suraj Kumar, 26, of Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, who was living in Kheri Dhandara village; Aman Kumar alias Deepak, 23, of Mandi Gobindgarh and Arashdeep Singh alias Seepa, 24, of Sangrur.

All the accused are facing trial in multiple cases, including theft, snatchings and liquor smuggling. Suraj Kumar has already been convicted in a snatching case.

After initial investigations, the officials found that the accused scaled the compound wall of the jail using a rope made of blankets that are provided by jail authorities to inmates. They first reached the roof of the adjoining women jail from where they climbed down outside the jail complex with the help of the same rope. The officials found the rope fastened with the wall of the women jail.

The officials suspect that the accused could be hatching the conspiracy for the jailbreak for long as they used to remain in a group.

The officials also suspect that the accused got help from some people outside the jail.

The police launched a search operation in the city to nab the accused. They have also released pictures of the accused to alert the city residents.

Police commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said the accused will not be able to go far as curfew is in force. He requested people to inform the police in case they notice any suspicious person in their locality. The residents can share information about the accused on phone numbers 7837018500, 7837018555, 0161-2414932 and 0161-2414933. He added that identity of the informer will be not be revealed.

A case has been registered against the accused at the Division Number 7 police station.

The jailbreak comes as an embarrassment for the authorities as 76 CRPF personnel had been deputed in the jail since November 2019. Despite the tight security, the accused managed to escape. No security man was reportedly deputed at the watch tower of the jail at the time of the incident.
New Delhi: Lakhs of daily wage earners, poor and labourers have been hit hard by the 21-day lockdown from March 24 midnight till April 14 to tackle the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. With their source of income drying, the migrant labourers have been started to move back to their native places, sometimes hundreds of kilometres away from their place of work, negating the entire purpose behind the lockdown announced on March 24, 2020, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Over the last two-three days, thousands of poor and migrant labourers, as well as semi-skilled workers, were seen crossing the Delhi border on National Highway 24 along with their families on foot in order to get back to their native place mostly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Similar scenes have been witnessed in places like Mumbai, Hyderabad and other big cities where the poor are moving back to their native place, increasing the chances of community spread of the deadly coronavirus as such large groups had no concept of social distancing.

Migrants gather in large number near Delhi-UP border NH24 amid lockdown in the country

In a tragic incident, five persons were killed when their van was hit by a lorry on the Outer Ring Road near the Shamshabad highway in Hyderabad. The van was carrying a group of 30 labourers and their family members from Suryapet in Telangana to Raichur in Karnataka. The group was returning to its native place due to the lockdown.

Another accident on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway claimed the lives of four people while three were seriously injured when they were hit by a tempo. This group, too, was returning to its native place from Maharashtra through Gujarat. But they were not allowed to enter Gujarat and so were returning to Maharashtra.

While the state governments have imposed Section 144 to avoid gathering of more than four people, the migrant workers have been taking lifts in trucks and other available vehicle or were simply walking back to their villages.

Uttar Pradesh roadways buses were seen plying for Lucknow carrying a large number of people from Lalkuan, Ghaziabad on Saturday. The bus conductors said that even after instructing people to maintain distance while travelling, no one was not ready to listen as all of them are is in a hurry to leave for their native place.

Uttar Pradesh roadways bus crowded with migrants as it leaves for Lucknow during lockdown

Travelers crowd outside bus to buy tickets

According to the migrants their bank accounts are at their native place, and therefore they will only receive benefits of government schemes once they get back.

They also pointed that without any income and almost no saving, they cannot afford to live in cities and were facing difficulties in buying food items.

In light of the massive exodus, the Union Home Ministry on Friday issued an advisory asking the state governments to prevent the mass reverse migration of labourers, industrial workers and unorganized sector employees from their workplaces to hometowns.

The states and union territories have also been advised to make these vulnerable groups aware of measures taken by the government, including the provision of free food grains and other essential items through PDS, and streamline the procedures.

The alarming situation comes even after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the migrants living in Delhi are the state government's responsibility. He also declared that more than 4 lakh people will be provided food on a daily basis.

Airline company Spicejet, too, extended its helping hand to the helpless labourers and offered aircraft and crew for any humanitarian mission that the government needs. Spicejet mentioned that they would love to alleviate the suffering of the migrant workers especially those from Bihar by flying some flights between Delhi, Mumbai and Patna.



In the wake of the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 in India, the country has been placed under complete lockdown for 21 days. Authorities have asked citizens to maintain strict social distancing to cut the spread of the virus outbreak.

As of 9 am March 28, 2020, the total number of coronavirus positive case in India is 834 out of which - 748 are active cases, 66 recovered, 19 deaths and 1 migrated patient, according to the health ministry.
International air travel from the United States has all but ceased. But hundreds of front-line workers sit side by side in small cubicles processing passport applications for the State Department, even as health authorities implore Americans to stay home.

The employees have 15 minutes a day to wipe their desks clean with supplies they must bring from home, because there is no government stockpile of disinfectant wipes.

The passport specialists, many earning overtime, are whittling down a backlog that had doubled by January to 1.2 million after the Trump administration froze hiring to 2016 levels, officials say. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered the staff to keep working during the novel coronavirus pandemic to ensure the pileup of applications comes down by the time travel returns to normal and President Donald Trump faces reelection, an agency official said.

They're not the only ones. Thousands of federal employees and contractors are still badging in to offices they worry have turned into petri dishes - whether they're answering phones for the Internal Revenue Service in a cubicle farm in Covington, Kentucky, or reading intelligence streams in a special facility at the Pentagon where the government keeps classified information.

This large swath of the workforce is keeping many operations afloat during the crisis. They're not on laptops in the safe space of their homes, either because their roles are not telework-ready or their managers are nervous they'll be out of sight. They're not in crucial health and safety roles inspecting meat, caring for veterans, securing prisons or providing security for the president.

Federal officials have said protecting their employees is their highest priority. But the lumbering, decentralized and risk-averse bureaucracy, the country's largest employer, has been slow to act to protect the health of many in its workforce, particularly those outside Washington, according to interviews with 28 employees, managers and contractors. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about their agency's pandemic response.

"Defining what is truly 'mission critical' is a challenge for the agencies," said Daniel Kaniewski, who stepped down in February as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's second-in-command. "Where do you draw the line?"

It may not be possible to know how many of the 2.1 million federal employees and 4 million contractors are still at the office. It's likely to be hundreds of thousands, at least. About 40 percent of federal workers were eligible to telework in 2017, the last year data was available, although before the pandemic, a far smaller number did.

Day by day, the government appears to be inching toward a worst-case, emergency footing that could send more of the workforce home. But now these employees find themselves in limbo, reporting to work even in states and communities that have ordered sheltering in place and fearing for their health.

As they continue to staff Farm Service Agency field offices, parts of Veterans Affairs and ranger stations at national parks, many question whether their roles really are critical right now - or if the Trump administration is more concerned with showing the public that the government is open for business.

"We're dedicated public servants, but there's been no preparation or plan for this," said Melissa McIntosh, an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration, which runs a court system that adjudicates disability income cases.

The agency is waiting until Monday to let its judges shift to telephone hearings at home.

"Our positions are 100 percent portable," said McIntosh, president of the association that represents the 1,300 judges. While Social Security installs software on their laptops and sets up rules for phone hearings, the judges are still issuing rulings inside 163 open hearing offices, although claimants can call in from home.

The administration has no modern precedent to draw from as it determines which roles are "mission critical" for civil servants and the contracting workforce that supports them. The definition shifts each day.

Agencies and contractors have sent conflicting signals on when their staffs will return to the office from telework or paid leave, with dates ranging from April 6 (Agriculture) to May 4 (National Institutes of Health).

The White House budget office, which has ramped up its directives to focus on "critical" operations, referred questions to individual agencies.

Hundreds of federal workers and contractors have contracted covid-19, the disease the coronavirus causes, and others have self-quarantined after potential infections. It's an older workforce that's particularly vulnerable. As of last March, the most recent data available, about 842,000 full-time federal employees were over 50, and 260,000 were over 60.

The passport specialists can opt out of work if they have underlying health conditions, through an agreement with their union.

The Passport Services Division is issuing emergency passports only in life or death cases. Otherwise, processing applications received before the pandemic is considered "mission critical," a State Department spokesperson said.

Colleagues across the government are asking why they've been designated mission critical, and finding few answers.

"It's not that we're unimportant," said a compliance officer in a West Coast field office of the National Labor Relations Board, which adjudicates private sector labor disputes. The 1,630-person agency, with 26 field offices, has shortened its hours to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when a skeletal staff is required to come to work to open the mail.

"But we're not paramedics," said the employee. "We're not saving lives. Given what's going on, I just don't think we're essential."

- - -

Many offices waited until this week to send employees home, a week after the administration released its 15-day recommendations on March 16 to close schools, avoid groups of more than 10 and stay home. Leaders in the Washington, District of Columbia, area have told residents to leave home only for essential activities.

Federal government leaders have struggled to strike a balance between protecting their staffs and serving the public. This has led to political sensitivities. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt at first left it to national park superintendents to decide whether to stay open or close. But that quickly changed, as pressure built to keep parks open as the administration did during last year's government shutdown.

"They're approaching this with the shutdown mind-set, even though a pandemic is completely different," said one superintendent at a national monument in the Midwest who closed his visitor center but is keeping the monument open.

A Park Service spokesperson said the agency will "evaluate and reassess operations on a park-by-park basis."

The government is hampered by aging technology, an aversion to telework among some Trump political appointees, and a reliance on paper-based systems in many offices.

"The logistics of this are hard," said Chris Lu, who oversaw Cabinet Affairs for the Obama White House. "Even if you send people home, do they have the technology to do all of these jobs? The government is not yet built to telework."

Health and Human Services and the Veterans Health Administration, with front-line medical staffs responding directly to the pandemic, have restricted many others from working from home.

Richard Stone, the VA health system's executive in charge, told his staff in mid-March the agency's strained computer networks had to be saved for vital telehealth services. He later eased his directive and advised employees to telework, but many feared they had been put at unnecessary risk.

Some offices acted relatively early to clear out their buildings. The Department of Education, which rolled back telework under Secretary Betsy DeVos, reinstated it in mid-March. The National Institutes of Health last week restricted staff at labs to one person at a time to maintain experiments.

To reduce the number of workers at government sites, offices that do classified work are telling contractors with assigned desks to relocate to their "home companies." But thinning out density in one place is only creating more of it elsewhere, in offices that aren't set up to handle so many employees.

"There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what functions are 'mission critical' and what are not," said Larry Hanauer, vice president of policy for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, a trade association that represents 500,000 contractors.

Contractors won a reprieve in the $2 trillion federal stimulus package signed Friday by the president, which gives agencies flexibility to allow companies to bill the government even if their employees can't keep working.

- - -

The Defense Department, the largest federal agency, issued a memo last week directing some contractors who are considered part of the country's "Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce" to continue to report to work.

The memo does not say how many people fall in that category but lists a broad array of industries that do, including aerospace, software engineering, security staff work, intelligence support and aircraft and weapons mechanics.

Civilian employees had continued to work at installations where recruits are trained until Thursday, when some were sent home, said an Army official at Fort Benning, Georgia, where the service trains infantry soldiers.

The official described friction as commanders expected civilians to continue reporting to work and sought to get them to agree to be "mission essential." Some employees have called in sick in recent days, concerned they may get the virus from asymptomatic teens joining the Army.

At the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, at least one office is tracking the health of its civilians by requiring updates on a spreadsheet. Each employee is designated as healthy, self-quarantining, exposed to someone who has tested positive for covid-19, or hospitalized with the disease themselves. "DIED FROM COVID (ENTER DATE)," the last column states.

As of Friday morning, 309 service members, 134 civilian employees, 108 family members and 62 contractors across the military had tested positive for the virus. One civilian employee and one Army wife have died, defense officials said.

A defense official who works with the Marines in North Carolina described a lack of uniformity in how other civilians and contractors are treated. A liberal telework policy has been adopted for many employees who can do so, the official said, but others, and some contractors, are still working closely with Marines in tight spaces like flight simulators.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, speaking in a Facebook Live event on Tuesday, said telework will continue for civilians "as long as necessary." He put further restrictions on service members on Wednesday after days of questions about why the agency was allowing commanders to hold large meetings that were not necessary.

Other government offices held large gatherings well after health authorities discouraged them. The National Institute of Standards and Technology gathered dozens of managers in a conference room at its Gaithersburg, Maryland, headquarters in mid-March, urging them to separate themselves for their health, even as officials told the managers they were tracking "multiple potential cases" of the virus, according to a participant.

A senior official at the Department of Commerce, the institute's parent agency, said no employee has tested positive in the Gaithersburg facility. All Commerce employees, including those at the institute, are now under mandatory telework.

In Kansas City, Missouri, the Agriculture Department's Farm Services Agency held an in-person training session from March 10 to 13.

Late last week, the building was closed for deep cleaning after an employee attending the training tested positive for covid-19, two employees and a union leader said.

An economist who works in the building was furious he'd had lunch with people who might have been infected. "I'm surrounded by tons of people with name tags in the cafeteria who are at a conference, and we weren't supposed to be having conferences," said the economist, who is in his 60s.

An agency spokesperson said the office will remain closed "until we can further assess the situation and properly clean facilities" as directed by health authorities.

Managers say they're sifting through difficult questions every day about who to send home and when.

IRS employees are still answering phones at some call centers. While the tax-filing deadline has been delayed until July 15, the agency is racing to issue refunds and will now take on a mammoth new task, distributing stimulus checks.

"Is answering the phone at the IRS a lifesaving activity?" asked Chad Hooper, a quality control manager who is national president of the agency's Professional Managers Association.

"I don't know," he said. "There's no finality yet."
Farmers have warned that the UK's coronavirus lockdown is having a 'damaging impact' on sheep trade, with prices down by 1 per kg liveweight.

Market disruption caused by the Covid-19 virus is now of 'serious concern' for the sector, the National Sheep Association has warned.

The industry body is particularly concerned about market prices and the knock-on effect this will have to farming communities.

Trade collapsed at the start of this week with prices plummeting by 1 per kilogram liveweight.

"On a 45kg lamb thats between 40 and 50 a head less, on a value that was maybe just over the 100 mark," NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said.

The main underlying reason is the closure of the restaurant and catering trade, both in the UK and EU, and the heavy reliance of lamb being a fine dining product.

Mr Stocker said the sector are also hearing of export loads being cancelled. In the UK, the supply chains that serve the catering trade and the domestic supermarket trade are 'quite different'.

"We made Defra aware of this issue and the reasons behind, and now its become apparent that it is having the same, if not worse, impact on the sheep dairy trade with many with a perishable product having no market at all, he said.

The one saving grace is that most of our sheep farmers producing lambs for meat are busy lambing at the moment and not selling lambs, although there are still plenty that are.

"For the sheep dairy sector, although relatively small in size, probably every farmer is affected due to them supplying into the chain every day."

The coronavirus situation has also highlighted concerns over any sudden disruption to the sheep sector's export markets after the Brexit transition period.

"While this has all been brought about by Corvid -19 there couldnt be a starker warning of the impact of sudden disruption to our export markets and it raises the spectre of Brexit and the dangers that lie at the end of this years transition period, Mr Stocker said.
Brazil's Jair Bolsonaros accusations were the latest broadside in an ugly battle with Brazils governors, who have chafed at the presidents view that protecting the economy takes priority over social distancing measures to combat the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Rio De Janerio/Sao Paulo: Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday cast doubt on Sao Paulos death toll from the coronavirus outbreak and accused the state governor of manipulating the numbers for political ends, without giving evidence for his claims.

Bolsonaros accusations were the latest broadside in an ugly battle with Brazils governors, who have chafed at the presidents view that protecting the economy takes priority over social distancing measures to combat the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Following the advice of public health experts, the vast majority of the countrys 26 governors have banned non-essential commercial activities and public services to contain the outbreak in their states.

Follow LIVE Updates on Coronavirus Outbreak here

Im sorry, some people will die, they will die, thats life, Bolsonaro said in a television interview on Friday night. You cant stop a car factory because of traffic deaths.

Bolsonaro said that in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazils economic powerhouse, the death toll seemed too large. Sao Paulo has the most cases and deaths so far of coronavirus in Brazil, at 1,223 cases and 68 deaths.

We need to look at what is happening there, this cannot be a numbers game to favor political interests, Bolsonaro said.

Earlier on Friday, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria, a former Bolsonaro ally who many expect to be a rival in the 2022 presidential election, accused Bolsonaro of promoting disinformation by launching a TV ad campaign criticizing the restrictions, featuring the slogan #BrazilCannotStop.

The slogan is similar to a campaign in Milan before deaths in Italy soared.

Action taken

Brazils justice ministry on Friday barred all non-resident foreigners from entering the country via its airports. The travel ban goes into effect on Monday and follows similar measures in several other South American nations.

Also on Friday, Brazils central bank called for emergency bond-buying powers in line with quantitative easing policies in other countries, while unveiling a 40 billion reais credit line to help smaller companies with payroll.

Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said the government will offer 45 billion reais to self-employed and informal workers, adding that all the governments coronavirus-fighting measures will total 700 billion reais over three months.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in the country jumped to 3,417 on Friday from 1,891 on Monday, as related deaths climbed to 92, according to the Health Ministry.

Bolsonaros popularity has slipped during the crisis, and many people across Brazil bang pots and pans in their windows nightly in protest at his handling of it.

In counterprotests on Friday, Bolsonaro supporters drove honking caravans through major cities to oppose the lockdowns, sharing social media videos with the #BrazilCannotStop hashtag.

The TV advertisement, shared on social media by Bolsonaro allies including his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, was commissioned by the presidents office at a cost of $1 million without consulting the Health Ministry, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

For the neighborhood salesmen, for the shop owners in city centers, for domestic employees, for millions of Brazilians, Brazil cannot stop, said the ad, which shows scenes of crowded classrooms and street markets.

The slogan is similar to #MilanWillNotStop, which became popular in northern Italy in February. Italy went on to become a global epicenter of the outbreak, with more deaths than China.

The mayor of Milan, Beppe Sala, has said he regrets sharing the hashtag.

Many have referred to that video with a hashtag #MilanWillNotStop. It was a video that went viral on the internet. Everyone was sharing it, I also shared it, rightly or wrongly, probably wrongly, Sala said in a television interview.

A Health Ministry official told reporters the ministry would not comment on Bolsonaro and that guidelines recommending social distancing remained the same.
Across NSW, usually bustling schools have turned into ghost towns, as thousands of people follow the Premier's request to keep their children home if they can.

For the small groups of teachers and children still meeting in person in the school buildings each day, life is far from normal. Teachers are grappling with unfamiliar technology to support children at home and at school, while diverse classes and year groups are now combined and supervised by a rotating roster of teachers.

The NSW Education Department said in-person attendance was down to an average of 9 per cent on Friday - 11 per cent for primary schools and just 3 per cent for high schools. One teacher at a public primary school in the Ku-ring-gai Council area reported 16 children out of 900 still attending on site.

Nick Smith picking his son Harper up from school on Friday. Credit:James Brickwood

Nick Smith is the father of Harper, 8, a year 3 student still attending his public school near Redfern. "At this age, their ability to just sort of roll with the punches is really remarkable," Mr Smith said. "He just seems to be getting on with it."
Reigning MLS Most Valuable Player Carlos Vela says he had a chance to join FC Barcelona earlier this year but his current side Los Angeles FC vetoed the deal. Mexico's Vela said while it would have been a great opportunity for him in January he doesn't hold a grudge against his MLS employer. "LAFC did not give me facilities to leave, although it is understandable. In the end, they seek the best for themselves and each for himself. I tried and it did not happen, and nothing happens because I am more than happy here," the forward told GQ Mexico magazine. Vela, 31, said Barcelona offered him a four-month contract. Vela has emerged as an MLS superstar with LAFC since arriving on a transfer from Spain's Real Sociedad in 2018. Last year, Vela scored a MLS-record 34 goals in 31 games, with 15 assists.
There have been many reports about some people around the country not fully adhering to the social distancing guidelines in light of the Covid-19 crisis.

GAA clubs across the country are reiterating the need for social distancing to help curtail the spread of coronavirus in Ireland.

A number of local GAA clubs issued the message in their weekly notes at the weekend.

Austin O'Callaghan, PRO of Drumcliffe/Rosses Point said: "Ordinarily, there's no better sight than seeing a group of young players having an impromptu kick-about but we can't emphasis enough - this is NOT the time for that.

"Please note that the pitches at Oxfield and Rathcormac are closed to all training and games "We fully appreciate the 'cabin fever' but the bigger priority trumps everything else.

"So - can we appeal to all our club members and their parents/guardians: Please - no gatherings for impromptu matches or kick-abouts."

He said that DRP GAA Club members are available every evening this week from 7-8pm to assist anybody who needs a delivery of groceries/fuel from their local shop.

"Two shops are participating in this with us: Carney Checkout & Collins, Rathcormac.

"Simply call either store and place your order.

"A club member will be happy to deliver the order to your home that evening.

"Here are the numbers; Carney Checkout 0719173004 or 0878267967. Collins, Rathcormac 0719141891.

"Please spread the word to anybody in the local area you think might appreciate help on this," Austin added.

Similarly, there are people available in the Eastern Harps area to assist those who need supplies during the Covid-19 crisis.

"As a Club, we are trying to help our community practically and safely.

"If anyone is self-isolating and needs deliveries of food, coal, gas or medications we are offering to assist local businesses with this.

"Please contact the business directly to make arrangements and they will get in touch with us if needed.

"Tansey's Centra Gurteen is 071 9182030 and Gurteen pharmacy is 071 9182940.

"We will also assist Supervalu Boyle and Ballymote, Brogans and Currids pharmacists, or wherever we are needed.

"As this is an unprecedented time, we will work on the details as the situation unfolds.

"For now, if you need help that we can provide, if you can offer help or ideas, please get in touch.

"The contact numbers are Carmel 0872264955, Seamus 0876867227, Padraig 0860691853 and Aisling 0863825903.

"We would also like to remind everyone that the pitch is Keash is still closed and should not be used," the club said.

Every GAA club throughout the county and indeed the country is offering help and assistance throughout their communities during this time of need.

Among them is Shamrock Gaels GAA club. Cormac Kearns, Club PRO said anyone who requires any help at all should contact the people volunteering."The club continues to offer help to those in the community who need it during the current Covid-19 crisis. If you need help in collecting or delivering medicines, groceries or any other essential needs do not hesitate to contact directly any of the volunteers listed or contact the co-ordinators, Lauri Quinn on 087 2684044 or Marina Swan on 086 8589048. Volunteers include, Ursula Lyons, John Quinn, Michael Brennan, Mary Quinn, Michelle McMorrow, David Quinn, Eugene Carroll, Vincent Henry, Nancy Rooney, Cormac Kearns, Andy Kearns, Philip Sheridan, Mairead Tuohy, Mark Tuohy, Eoin Dwyer and Martin McMahon," Cormac added.
Morocco will buy ventilators, intensive care beds and laboratory equipment worth $200 million as the country struggles to contain the spread of the virus, the finance ministry said.

Morocco is buying 1000 intensive care beds, 550 ventilators, 100,000 testing kits, 100,000 collection kits, imaging and scanning devices, pharmaceutical products and other equipment key to treating coronavirus cases.

The number of confirmed cases in Morocco surged to 345 Friday evening, including 23 deaths and 11 recoveries.

The $200 million amount will also be dedicated to increase payment of health workers and the disinfection and protection of health infrastructure.

The EU will redirect 450 million in aid to Morocco including 150 million that will be directly sent to the special anti-coronavirus fund, a joint Moroccan-EU statement said.
A special relief flight reached Chandigarh International Airport on Saturday to rescue 140 Bhutanese nationals, mostly students from Jalandhars Lovely Professional University, stranded in Punjab amid the curfew imposed to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Bhutanese national carrier Druk Airways flight landed here at 12.07pm and flew back at 2.30pm, stated a release of Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL).

The evacuation plan was operationalised as per standard operating procedures by taking all necessary precautions for handling passengers, stated the release, adding that Air India provided ground handling and CHIAL provided all possible help in smooth operations of the flight.

CHIAL chief executive officer Ajay Kumar Bhardwaj said they were working in close coordination with Punjab health authorities, and as part of social responsibility had contributed masks, computer systems, bedsheets and other items to government hospitals.
The J&K government on Wednesday refuted as "fake news" reports on social media that said 4G Internet services were being restored in the Jammu division from this night. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 28 : To help stranded Jammu and Kashmir residents in the national capital and other parts of the country due to lockdown, the J&K Resident Commission has set up a 24x7 dedicated helpline centre.

Additional Secretary Rimpy Ohri is supervising the centre's functioning. Three helpline numbers -- 24611210, 24611108 and 24615475 -- have been announced.

Any J&K resident facing any issue due to lockdown could contact the helpline numbers, said an official spokesperson.

Hundreds of students from across the country had been helped by the commission to return to their homes or stay at various dedicated hotels in Delhi, the spokesperson added.
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of billions of people around the world. For many parents with young children in the United States, shelter-in-place orders implemented in different areas over the past few weeks mean they now spend each day balancing work with taking care of their families. For child care providers, a vital but often under-appreciated part of the American economy, the crisis means dealing with economic uncertainty, but also adapting to serve new roles, including providing care for essential workers.

Child care startups, including home-based daycare networks, apps for finding child care, and benefits and business management software, are working hard to help families. For example, many are using their technology to connect essential workers with carers or provide emergency child care, helping providers navigate government aid programs and, in some cases, raising their own relief funds.

TechCrunch talked to nine U.S.-based child care startups--home daycare and preschool networks Wonderschool, NeighborSchools, WeeCare and MyVillage; Winnie, Komae and Helpr, all apps for arranging child care; and enterprise software companies Kinside and Kangarootime, to see how they are dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Child care for essential workers

Many of the child care startups TechCrunch spoke to are now focused on helping people in jobs classified as essential during shelter-in-place orders, including healthcare, emergency responders and grocery store workers. Several of them are adapting their platforms or services to serve those families more quickly, while balancing their urgent need for care with COVID-19 safety precautions.

For example, Winnie, a platform for finding verified child care providers throughout the United States, is collecting and updating data in real time about which providers are temporarily closed and which ones have availability, says founder and CEO Sara Mauskopf. This week, Winnie launched a portal for parents to find emergency child care with immediate openings.

Story continues

Kasey Edwards, the founder and CEO of Helpr, an app that connects parents with screened babysitters, said it is working with families of essential workers to help them afford child care. Helprs "Out-of-network" feature allows families to add their own care providers to the platform and manage backup care subsidies from their employers.

Meanwhile, Komae, an app that enables groups of families to create babysitting cooperatives and swap care with one another, is offering free care credits and working with seven healthcare organizations to coordinate child care for their workers, said founder and CEO Erin Beck.

The babysitting circles on Komae are private, "which means families from one organization can insulate their caregiving strictly among themselves, getting the care they need without risking exposure to the community at large (like our grandparents or other traditional caregivers)," Beck said. The app currently recommends that users "buddy up" with just one or two other families for their care group.

In some places, small in-home care providers have been allowed to stay open, said Chris Bennett, the co-founder and CEO of Wonderschool, a network of home-based child care and preschools in states including California, New York and Texas.

"Repeatedly, we are seeing county officials allowing small in-home childcare operators to continue to operate, thus providing support for these critical workers under shelter in place orders," he said. "Our programs have now entered into a critical support role that larger preschools cannot support at this time."

Jessica Chang, the co-founder and CEO of WeeCare, another network of in-home child care providers, said the company is "adjusting its support each hour and taking into account the changing protocols in each county. In certain areas such as Northern California and New York City, our providers are changing how they support their community. Instead of caring for children who attend their daycare regularly, they are now caring for children of first responders and essential workers."

In Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker ordered all early child care centers closed starting on March 23. The only centers currently allowed to operate in the state are Exempt Emergency Child Care programs, intended for essential workers and opened by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

As a result, Boston-based NeighborSchools, which partners with home child care providers, closed all its centers to comply with the order. Co-founder and CEO Brian Swartz said some of NeighborSchools provider partners are applying to provide emergency child care for medical professionals, first responders and vulnerable populations. The startup is currently helping providers figure out regulatory requirements and putting together guidance for using government aid. It is also communicating with the EECs leadership to offer full access to its platform.

"While we never envisioned this scenario, the tech weve built for our network is uniquely well suited to automatically match families to child care programs in real-time," said Swartz. "In child care scheduling, we need to account for each childs date of birth, the familys care schedule and the licensed capacity of each program within age range. Our team is ready to drop everything and make this happen if the EEC asks for our help."

On-demand services

Startups are also helping other parents find short-term or emergency child care. Some have launched online services, like digital playdates, to help families balance working from home and their family lives.

MyVillage, a network of home-based care providers in Colorado and Montana, is seeing "an influx of interest from families who are looking for temporary care and/or short-term placement due to large child care centers closing and school districts closing," said co-founder and CEO Erica Mackey. The company is currently working on a short-term placement solution for families in select MyVillage programs who need child care.

To help parents navigate the sudden collision of their work and home lives, Komae and Helpr both started offering online services. Helpr launched online music lessons and tutoring for families on its platform, while Komae is facilitating digital playdates. This means parents use the app to schedule video calls with their childrens friends.

"I never imagined my toddler could be so entertained by her friends on a computer screen, but they amazingly go an hour showing each other their toys and silly faces," said Beck. "That social connection, for all of us, is so essential."

Safety and support

Child washing hands

Safety compliance is always a priority for child care providers, but it is especially critical during this time. In addition to following CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many companies have also enacted safeguards of their own. Some are also implementing financial support programs to help care providers who are forced to close because of illness.

For example, Beck published a letter on Komaes site on March 12, hours before Ohio became the first state to close schools, asking families on the app to immediately stop swapping child care.

"It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make as a founder, because as a parent myself, I was painfully aware of how desperate these families would be for both care and companionship," Beck said. "But adhering to social distance was not a given then like it is now; we had the responsibility as a leader of this vast community to be firm with what needed to be done."

Taking steps like helping parents who work with healthcare organizations find care and launching digital features has allowed Komae to maintain its community, she added. "We knew Komae had the tools to make that happen, so with social distance at our core, we adapted for insulating or digital caresharing."

As a safety precaution, WeeCare developed a feature to monitor caregivers for fevers, using a function already in its app that allows them to take photos and videos of children throughout the day and tag activities. The technology was adapted so providers can submit a video of themselves taking their temperature with a thermometer each morning. Once the video is verified by the WeeCare team, the provider receives a badge on their listing that says "Health Status: Fever-Free," with the date of the verified reading.

Chang says the feature "allows providers to take more proactive measures, as recommended by the CDC, to ensure the health and safety of our community."

Several companies are also providing financial programs to help their providers who are forced to shut down and ensure they dont feel compelled to work even when sick. For example, MyVillage raised additional funding to allow the 60-plus open programs in its network to continue earning their projected income into April. Mackey says that, so far, two anonymous funders have contributed.

"Many of our educators dont have the safety net needed to stop working, so we want to help them stay open so long as its safe," says Mackey. "If parents are exposed or infected and subject to quarantine, our relief funding provides a subsidy to cover 11 of the 14 days of the childs tuition until he or she can safely return to class."

Helpr launched a paid sick leave policy for babysitters on its platform after the first known cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. Sitters are also informed of any sickness in a home through a mandatory disclosure from the family in Helprs app when they book an appointment.

A few days after TechCrunch spoke to Wonderschool, Bennett announced that the company had been forced to lay off team members because of the crisis. Before the announcement, Bennett told TechCrunch that if a Wonderschool care program is forced to shut down because a child, parent or provider shows symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, the company will draw on its network to help its other families find another carer in their area. For financial support, Wonderschool is monitoring state and federal relief policies for businesses.

"These crisis funds will be key in ensuring that in-home providers who have shut down temporarily are available to parents again once people return to work," he said.

Enterprise software

For startups that build enterprise and management software related to child care, the pandemic creates a different set of challenges.

Genevieve Carbone of Kangarootime, business management software for child care providers, said that many of its customers have been relying on its messaging feature to keep families updated on rapidly changing regulations. Its software also enables "low contact," for example by allowing information to be passed to parents digitally instead of on paper handouts, in-app check-in and check-outs, and online payments.

"Were keeping a very close eye on the impact the virus will have on businesses further down the road and how we can better support our customers once the pandemic passes," said Carbone. "Improving billing for agencies/subsidies is something we have explored, assuming there may be an increase in families that will need government subsidies to cover their childcare."

Kinside, whose software helps employees manage family care benefits and find daycares, has seen a 60% decline in incoming parents because of shelter at home mandates and social distancing, said co-founder and CEO Shadiah Sigala. Thousands of daycares in its network have also shut down.

Even places that are not currently under shelter in place orders have seen a drop in parents searching for immediate care because they know "its likely only a matter of time before all states invoke similar measures," she added.

But Kinside is helping essential workers find childcare and has also recently begun working with human resources at hospitals and grocery chains on its platform to "offer white glove child care support to their employees."

After the pandemic

Daycare and school shutdowns have forced families to change their routines under extraordinary and difficult circumstances, and the situation is highlighting the value of caregivers to the economy and the well-being of families. At the same time, it also underscores how vulnerable many providers are, with few safety nets.

Mackey says that MyVillage was created to address structural problems in child care that have existed for a long time "It was tough to make it as a child care provider before this pandemic, and now its even harder. More than 40% of family home child care businesses nationally report that they couldnt make it two weeks without revenue from having children in care," she said, adding that MyVillage was created to help fix "Americas deeply broken child care market, which doesnt work well for educators, who earn on average $11.50 an hour, or for working parents, who pay more than public university tuition for child care in a majority of states."

Sigala said "the pandemic has exposed the essentiality of child care in the everyday working lives of Americans and the overall economy. More of our jobs may be fit to support work from home. But they are certainly not fit for work from home with kids."

After the pandemic is over, many parents may find it difficult to re-enroll their kids with the same care provider or need to find new options that are more financially manageable for them, she added. Kinside currently works with thousands of employers, as well as daycare centers that can add up to one million child care slots. The company plans to offer deep discounts or free access to Kinside to companies while they recover from the crisis.

"We predict company executives will return to running their companies with more empathy than ever," said Sigala. "They, too just experienced the complete lack of child care infrastructure (perhaps for the first time); a problem that many of their employees face on a daily basis. We are ready to engage with heads of HR and key executives with resources and consulting gratis."
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is considering imposing a two-week quarantine on parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

New York has more cases of COVID-19 than any other state (52,318), with New Jersey second (11,124).

Some people would like to see New York quarantined because its a hotspot  New York, New Jersey, Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for Norfolk, Virginia, to see the hospital ship USNS Comfort set off for the New York area, according to a White House transcript.

Maybe one or two other places; certain parts of Connecticut quarantined, the president added. Im thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine  short-term, two weeks  on New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.

Gov. Phil Murphy said Saturday he and Trump did not discuss a possible quarantine when the two spoke by phone Friday.

Ive got no more color on it," Murphy said in Trenton during his daily coronavirus press briefing. Theres no question the greater New York metropolitan area is the number one hot spot. ... Until further notified, were gonna keep doing exactly what were doing. We believe the data and our facts are on our side."

Do we consider regularly taking further steps?" Murphy added. "You bet, whether prompted by president, or more often than not, on our own.

Trump said any quarantine would be enforced. Id rather not do it, but we may need it, he said.

One of the main problems, he said, were people from the New York metropolitan area heading to Florida.

Theyre having problems down in Florida, Trump said. A lot of New Yorkers are going down. We dont want that. Heavily infected.

The president said he wouldnt use the National Guard to enforce the quarantine nor close the bridges, tunnels or the New York City subway system.

During his speech in Norfolk, Trump said any quarantine would not affect truck drivers from outside the region passing through or making deliveries. It wont affect trade in any way, he said.

Before departing, the president offered kind words for Murphy.

Were doing a great job with the governor of New Jersey, Trump said. Hes been very good.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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Civil Rights Leader, MLK Aide Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery Dies at 98

ATLANTA (AP)  The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought against racial discrimination, died Friday, a family statement said. He was 98.

A charismatic and fiery preacher, Lowery led the SCLC for two decades  restoring the organizations financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africas apartheid-era regime  before retiring in 1997.

Lowery, considered the dean of civil rights veterans, lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness  the election of an African American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for President-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, America tonight is in the process of being born again.

An early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama over then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Lowery also gave the benediction at Obamas inauguration.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union, he said.

In 2009, Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor.

In another high-profile moment, Lowery drew a standing ovation at the 2006 funeral of Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, when he criticized the war in Iraq, saying, For war, billions more, but no more for the poor. The comment also drew head shakes from then-President George Bush and his father, former president George H.W. Bush, who were seated behind the pulpit.

Ive never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly, he once said.

Lowery remained active in fighting issues such as war, poverty and racism long after retiring, and survived prostate cancer and throat surgery after he beat Jim Crow.

His wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who worked alongside her husband of nearly 70 years and served as head of SCLC/WOMEN, died in 2013.

Ill miss you, Uncle Joe. You finally made it up to see Aunt Evelyn again, Kings daughter, Bernice King, said in a tweet Friday night.

Lowery was pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1950s when he met King, who then lived in Montgomery, Alabama. Lowerys meetings with King, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and other civil rights activists led to the SCLCs formation in 1957. The group became a leading force in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

Lowery became SCLC president in 1977 following the resignation of Abernathy, who had taken the job after King was assassinated in 1968. He took over an SCLC that was deeply in debt and losing members rapidly. Lowery helped the organization survive and guided it on a new course that embraced more mainstream social and economic policies.

Coretta Scott King once said Lowery has led more marches and been in the trenches more than anyone since Martin.

He was arrested in 1983 in North Carolina for protesting the dumping of toxic wastes in a predominantly black county and in 1984 in Washington while demonstrating against apartheid.

He recalled a 1979 confrontation in Decatur, Alabama, when he and others were protesting the case of a mentally disabled black man charged with rape. He recalled that bullets whizzed inches above their heads and a group of Klan members confronted them.

I could hear them go whoosh,' Lowery said. Ill never forget that. I almost died 24 miles from where I was born.

In the mid-1980s, he led a boycott that persuaded the Winn-Dixie grocery chain to stop selling South African canned fruit and frozen fish when that nation was in the grip of apartheid.

He also continued to urge blacks to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears, he said in 1985.

Like King, Lowery juggled his civil rights work with ministry. He pastored United Methodist churches in Atlanta for decades and continued preaching long after retiring.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1921, Joseph Echols Lowery grew up in a Methodist church where his great-grandfather, the Rev. Howard Echols, was the first black pastor. Lowerys father, a grocery store owner, often protested racism in the community.

After college, Lowery edited a newspaper and taught school in Birmingham, but the idea of becoming a minister just kept gnawing and gnawing at me, he said. After marrying Evelyn Gibson, a Methodist preachers daughter, he began his first pastorate in Birmingham in 1948.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

I believe in the final triumph of righteousness, he said. The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Lowery is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne. He died at home in Atlanta from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak, the family statement said.

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Britain: British foreign minister Dominic Raab is designated to take over leadership of the country if Prime Minister Boris Johnson, currently ill in hospital with persistent symptoms of the coronavirus, is unable to fulfil his role.

On Friday, Johnson, announced that he had tested positive, but maintained that he would continue to ...lead the national fightback against coronavirus." But Raab stood in for him at Monday's meeting of the COVID-19 response committee.

Reports indicate that arrangements for a contingency plan are already underway.

A spokesperson for the Downing Street said on Thursday that Foreign Secretary, Raab would lead the nation owing to his status as First Secretary of State, which gives him seniority over others in the Cabinet, Daily Mail reported.

The spokesperson added that if the designated survivor fell sick too, Johnson would delegate the responsibility to other senior ministers.

Dominic Raab was first Raab elected to parliament in 2010 and has been a part of Johnson's government since he became prime minister in July 2019. Raab is a contentious figure, having stirred many controversies with his comments. In 2011, Raab had termed feminists the most obnoxious bigots in the UK.

He is a hardline eurosceptic, who has long campaigned for Britain to leave the EU. While Brexit minister he was derided for saying that he hadn't fully realised how reliant Britain was on the Dover-Calais ferry crossing for trade. The route is one of Britain's busiest and most important links with continental Europe.

The son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938, Raab was brought up in the southern English region of Buckinghamshire and studied law at Oxford University before becoming a lawyer working on project finance, international litigation and competition law.

Before entering parliament in 2010 Raab also worked for Britain's diplomatic service including a posting in The Hague working on bringing war criminals to justice. He also advised the government on the Arab-Israeli conflict and counter-terrorism.

A karate black belt, he served briefly as Brexit minister under then-prime minister Theresa May before quitting in protest at her proposed deal to leave the EU.

The possibility of Raab stepping in has reportedly ruffled many feathers within the government, with many ministers pushing for Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to take over.

The absence of a formal system of succession in the UK further complicates matters. Many countries have a formal system of succession, which lists individuals who would lead the nation in a situation where the leader is unable to perform the duties. The US, for example, has a designated survivor, who avoids major public events and would step in as commander in chief if something untoward happened.

Hours after Johnson made the announcement, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that he too, had tested positive for COVID-19. Hancock, like Johnson, said, he was experiencing mild symptoms of the disease and has been working from home for the past few days.

Raab, Gove, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are viewed by many, as key figures in the government at a time when UK is reeling under the coronavirus outbreak.

After Prime Minister Johson tested positive, Downing Street is believed to have swung into action, putting in place plans that would guarantee the continuation of the government, but has chosen not to disclose the details publicly, the Daily Mail report said.
Ive never been to New Orleans so this is the next best thing, said Mary Parker of East Chicago, as she picked up her beads from the welcome table. I just heard about this party this morning but my neighbor comes here for all the programs and she said its always a good time.
Kyle Matson and Tracy Meng had to postpone their March 28th wedding in Kauai, Hawaii. Source: Evan Chung

Tracy Meng and Kyle Matson had planned to get married Saturday, March 28. Instead, they're hosting a Zoom ceremony. Welcome to the new normal. Meng, 32, a vice president at Checkout.com and Matson, 32, Chief of Staff at Robinhood, had booked a destination wedding for 120 guests. The two live in San Francisco and had been working for months to assemble of team of vendors from both Hawaii and California to meet in Kauai. Like thousands of other Americans, Meng and Matson had to cancel their wedding as states made the decision to limit group gatherings and the world has shifted to social distancing as a way of life. While Meng and Matson are still planning on having a wedding in Kauai in August, assuming life returns to normal, the two will be celebrating from their home on the date of the wedding. Instead of a normal wedding, they'll be doing a virtual reception where a group of 30 guests, including the wedding parties, will bring dinner and drinks to their computers. Their guests will log in to Zoom, the video conference platform, which has become one of the few runaway business success stories of the past few weeks. Zoom shares have doubled in value since Jan. 31 at a time when the broader S&P 500 has fallen about 20%. "At this point we just have to be OK with things not being perfect, knowing that we're not in control," Meng said in an interview. The U.S. wedding industry takes in billions of dollars each year, with venues, photographers, florists, caterers, videographers and other vendors establishing full-time businesses around the events. A U.S. wedding cost $44,000 on average in 2018, according to "Brides" magazine. Wedding ceremonies have come to an abrupt halt from coast to coast as large gatherings have been banned nationwide. The Pleasantdale Chateau, a wedding venue in West Orange, New Jersey, has already canceled all of its weddings for the next eight weeks, costing it about $2 million in revenue, said Santiago Sevilla, director of operations. Sevilla said he laid off 90% of his staff last week, including waiters, bartenders and cleaning people who have worked together at The Pleasantdale Chateau for more than 10 years. "There's no work for them," Sevilla said. "At least if we lay them off, unemployment can cover them. I haven't done this much crying in years."

Rescheduling madness

The Pleasantdale Chateau is now hoping to rely on a combination of insurance and loans from the government, including a national stimulus package that is dedicating $350 billion in loans to small businesses to help survive the year. The lack of certainty about when weddings can be rebooked is adding to everyone's stress. "I've got brides panicking with weddings in September," said Sevilla. Given venue policies, Lavish Weddings, a wedding planner based in San Diego, is working as a conduit to control the flow of cancellations by only allowing customers to nix weddings through the end of June, said owner Christine Ong Forsythe. Lavish helps plan about 40 weddings per year, working with vendors to coordinate around a time and setting. Now the majority of Forsythe's time is being spent working with vendors and clients to come up with agreeable cancellation policies around deposits. Forsythe estimates about half of her vendors have given couples 100% of their money back if they've had to cancel their wedding, though nearly all have first tried to reschedule before canceling and keeping some of the deposit. "Obviously not everyone has pandemic in their contract," Forsythe said. "It's hard for our clients and it's hard for vendors. We understand if they can't do a full refund -- a lot of people can't. It's not their choice to cancel." Rescheduling events means vendors can't book a different client for the future date, so they're doubling up on reservations and collecting only one fee instead of earning two fees. Moreover, rebooking events for later this year or next year creates hectic weekends and extremely long hours, said Jeremiah Cox, a wedding videographer at ParkLife Wedding Films in Champaign, Illinois. Cox said his company tries to avoid back-to-back weddings because the company films and edits on the fly, showing a six minute highlight film of the day's events to guests at the reception that night. The work is frequently 12 hours of "nonstop, go-go-go work," he said. "It's going to be crazy," Cox said. "We've never taken back to back days before. But it's desperate times." The National Association for Catering & Events chapter of Maine recently held a Zoom conference call for its members championing a campaign from HoneyBook, a business software company for wedding planners and related vendors, entitled "#RescheduleDontCancel." https://twitter.com/honeybook/status/1239644944933048324 The Maine-based chapter has been brainstorming ideas around rescheduling with clients, including altering weddings to smaller groups of people who might be comfortable in certain situations. "Maybe you have 20 people, but they all get caviar and you livestream the wedding to everyone else," said Katrina Petersen, the Program Director of NACE Maine and an owner of a wedding venue. "Maybe you send some gifts to grandma and grandpa. Maybe each couple at the wedding gets their own table to keep distance, and they each get a nine-course dinner and champagne." But many March, April and May weddings are destination weddings, which have led to more outright cancellations than postponements than would occur in-season for cold weather U.S. states, such as Maine. That's caused vendors and couples to start looking at fine print around contracts they never thought they'd have to examine to figure out what deposit money can or should be refunded. "This is a somewhat unprecedented situation," Jonathan M. Dunitz, a lawyer at Verrill in Portland, Maine, said during the NACE Maine conference call. "Even lawyers are scrambling to figure out what's going to happen with contracts."

Scouring contracts

The primary issue is defining a so-called "force majeure," or "act of God," which many contracts contain that say certain external acts allow vendors to keep prepaid fees. But the language around what's covered by force majeure is typically very specific, and "very few cover nationwide epidemic," Dunitz said. "We don't really know if this will be considered an act of God," Dunitz said. Many contracts only require full refunds if the vendor cancels, rather than the couple. That can lead to a game of chicken between the two parties, with each side pushing their coronavirus tolerance to the maximum, said James Dungan, a Chicago resident who canceled his destination wedding in Austin, Texas on March 29 and hasn't rescheduled given the uncertainty of coronavirus quarantines. "It was a really messy process trying to cancel because nobody wanted to cancel," said Dungan, who noted that vendors in Austin had already been hit hard by the cancellation of South by Southwest, the annual conference and festival that was scheduled to run from March 13 to March 22 this year. Dungan said he ended up negotiating refunds on a vendor-by-vendor basis, sometimes trying to push partial refunds to full reimbursements. "I totally described it as a game of chicken to friends," Dungan said. Dungan, 31, and Hurst, 29, are now planning on dressing up for their wedding in full (Hurst picked up her wedding dress earlier this week) and walking over to Lake Michigan on March 29 to celebrate on their own, followed by baking and eating their own wedding cake. "We were planning on making our own for the wedding anyway," Hurst said. "Now we'll just eat it at home ourselves."

Christina Vargas and Dan Kornfeld have made the decision to cancel their May wedding on account of coronavirus quarantines. Source: Christina Vargas

Christina Vargas, 37, and her husband, Dan Kornfeld, 47, were savvy enough to buy wedding insurance in late February after coronavirus beginning spreading wildly in China. Still, the couple found that many policies didn't cover for pandemic and only purchased one after ensuring the language protected them. They've moved their May 16 wedding to December 5 in hopes they won't need to use the insurance at all. Unfortunately, Vargas and Kornfeld already got their May 16 date engraved into their wedding bands. Vargas said she's already made a date with her ring-maker to add December 5 to the ring "as soon as everything clears up." Deciding to cancel, and sending an e-mail to the entire guest list alerting them that the wedding is off, can be emotionally excruciating. Sara Padua, 36, and her husband David Cordua, 37, looked into setting up hand sanitizer stations at their venue in Mexico City and even "had the transportation people agree to put masks in every shuttle" before making the gut-wrenching decision to cancel. They plan to reschedule in Mexico City, in part because they've already paid in full and wouldn't get a refund, said Padua, and also because they still want their dream destination wedding, even if they have to wait.

No end date in sight

Rebooking has become a game for many couples who are deciding how far out they're comfortable rescheduling their wedding while not knowing when quarantines will lift. It's possible some couples may need to reschedule twice if they rebook too early.

Rachel Shkolnik marries Evan Shaffer at her parents' house after cancelling their Cipriani wedding. Source: Rachel Shkolnik
Nobel laureate Abhjit Binayak Banerjee has offered to help the West Bengal government in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic by generating awareness on the disease through social messaging platforms.

According to sources, the Nobel laureate on Saturday had a telephonic conversation with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during which he offered to help the state government in fighting the outbreak.

"There is so much to do. We want to work with them (state government) on effective social messaging," he told PTI, when asked how he would want to go about it.

In October 2018, Indian-American economist Banerjee, his wife Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer jointly won the Nobel "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty."



West Bengal so far has reported 18 cases of COVID-19. Of them, one died earlier this week.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the same day Ontario declared a state of emergency and banned gatherings of more than 50 people, the acting director of the federal governments Indigenous governance operations directorate sent a memo to administrators that 14 mandated First Nations band elections were to go ahead amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

On the same day Ontario declared a "state of emergency" and banned gatherings of more than 50 people, the acting director of the federal governments Indigenous governance operations directorate sent a memo to administrators that 14 mandated First Nations band elections were to go ahead amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"(Elections) are indeed maintained," Yves Denoncourt explained in the March 17 message.

While "mail-in ballots are preferred" for "elderly or at-risk people," on-site polls should have "routine cleaning of voting tables, screens, and other surfaces after every 5-10 voters."

"Usage of masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer is encouraged" and there should be "50 pens available that will be cleaned with wipes should they be used by voters."

When counting ballots, "online streaming of the count" should take place to "reduce need for public attendance."

While communities can choose to postpone elections, they cannot extend the legally limited terms of chief and councils under the Indian Act, so this means "a First Nations will find itself dealing with a governance gap." This almost always means the federal government appoints an independent "third party" (usually an accounting firm) to run affairs.

In other words: hold your election or lose your ability to make decisions, initiate additional programming or access new funding.

This stance led to protest and a stressful election March 20 on Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.

Similar situations occurred in the province March 25 at Nekaneet Cree Nation, and Friday at Beardys & Okemasis Cree Nation.

In an op-ed published online Friday by the Lawyers Daily, Indigenous lawyers Pam Palmater and Maggie Wente wrote it "shows that the federal government is more concerned about controlling First Nations governance practices than the health and safety of their citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Later that same day, after a week of pressure from media and the public, Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller tweeted: "Canada recognizes the health risks of holding elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. We therefore recommend that First Nations do not go forward with upcoming elections (and) will work (with) communities that choose to postpone their election to ensure leadership continuity."

The announcement brought a big sigh of relief to many of the nearly 50 First Nations who have scheduled, mandated elections in 2020 (a handful are in Manitoba, such as Brokenhead on April 18 and Gods Lake on April 22).

No government anywhere in Canada could legitimately  never mind ethically or responsibly  hold elections during a pandemic, but apparently First Nations were expected to.

That stance adds to recent serious bungling by federal Indigenous affairs officials. Some can understandably be chalked up to confusion during a stressful time for government, but mistake after mistake is piling up.

First, there was the promise March 12 to send "isolation tents" to remote First Nations for use by those who cannot self-isolate. Most northern First Nations are still experiencing sub-zero temperatures.

Then, there was the federal governments $107-billion aid package for Canadians impacted by COVID-19, of which, $305 million was allocated to create an Indigenous community support fund. This works out to around $100,000-200,000 per First Nation  enough maybe for a few ventilators, some emergency equipment and a nurse.

Much less money has been allocated to urban Indigenous organizations (around $15 million in the package) and the feds appear to expect cities and municipalities to care for Indigenous peoples under their jurisdiction. The issue is urban governments havent historically done a great job addressing Indigenous-specific issues surrounding poverty, mental health and violence.

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Same could be said for the provinces, who the feds expect to carry the bulk of the load when it comes to Indigenous health care.

However, laws such as the Indian Act prevent provinces and cities from tackling First Nations issues directly (even if they wanted to). The federal government controls the funding, administration, and decision-making powers of First Nations.

Indigenous Services Canada, Miller, and the public know COVID-19 will impact First Nations disproportionately.

Federal officials cannot afford to make mistakes. But they are.

Mistakes that will cost lives.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is about to go ex-dividend in just 4 days. Investors can purchase shares before the 2nd of April in order to be eligible for this dividend, which will be paid on the 1st of May.

Bristol-Myers Squibb's upcoming dividend is US$0.45 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$1.80 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Bristol-Myers Squibb has a trailing yield of 3.4% on the current stock price of $52.79. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Bristol-Myers Squibb's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to investigate whether Bristol-Myers Squibb can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

View our latest analysis for Bristol-Myers Squibb

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. It paid out 83% of its earnings as dividends last year, which is not unreasonable, but limits reinvestment in the business and leaves the dividend vulnerable to a business downturn. We'd be concerned if earnings began to decline. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 37% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio.

It's positive to see that Bristol-Myers Squibb's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Story continues

NYSE:BMY Historical Dividend Yield March 28th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. Fortunately for readers, Bristol-Myers Squibb's earnings per share have been growing at 11% a year for the past five years. The company paid out most of its earnings as dividends over the last year, even though business is booming and earnings per share are growing rapidly. Higher earnings generally bode well for growing dividends, although with seemingly strong growth prospects we'd wonder why management are not reinvesting more in the business.

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Bristol-Myers Squibb has delivered an average of 3.8% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past ten years of dividend payments. It's good to see both earnings and the dividend have improved - although the former has been rising much quicker than the latter, possibly due to the company reinvesting more of its profits in growth.

Final Takeaway

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Bristol-Myers Squibb? Bristol-Myers Squibb's growing earnings per share and conservative payout ratios make for a decent combination. We also like that it paid out a lower percentage of its cash flow. There's a lot to like about Bristol-Myers Squibb, and we would prioritise taking a closer look at it.

In light of that, while Bristol-Myers Squibb has an appealing dividend, it's worth knowing the risks involved with this stock. To help with this, we've discovered 5 warning signs for Bristol-Myers Squibb (1 is a bit concerning!) that you ought to be aware of before buying the shares.

If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
On Friday, Mr. DeSantis extended his quarantine order to cover travelers from Louisiana as well, and authorized highway checkpoints in the Panhandle to intercept and warn them.

President Trump said on Saturday that concerns raised by states like Rhode Island and Florida about travelers from New York City had prompted him to consider imposing a federal quarantine of New York, New Jersey and part of Connecticut. He later backed off the idea.

Legal experts said that states were on shaky ground pulling people over just for their license plates. And Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Saturday that Rhode Islands action was at the point of absurdity.

If they dont roll back that policy, Im going to sue Rhode Island, because that clearly is unconstitutional, Governor Cuomo said on CNN, though he added that he didnt think it would come to that. Well work it out amicably, Im sure, he said.

Even so, Rhode Islands measures were welcomed by many year-rounders who live in the states summer resort communities near the Connecticut border. They have been growing increasingly frustrated with an influx of New Yorkers fleeing the city to second homes and rental properties in the area, and possibly bringing the virus with them.

Local residents have been posting videos and photographs in local Facebook groups of cars with New York tags being pulled over.

John Austin witnessed a stop on Friday in Westerly, a town of about 23,000 in the corner of the state nearest to New York, when a troopers flashing lights followed a driver into the parking lot of Sandys Fine Food Emporium, where Mr. Austin is the store manager.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (C), flanked by (from L) Director Mark Ghilarducci, Cal OES, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of Health and Human Services, speaks in front of the hospital ship USNS Mercy after it arrived into the Port of Los Angeles on March 27, 2020. (Carolyn Cole-Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

California Governor Gavin Newsom Orders Halt to Evictions

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed an executive order to ban evictions of tenants in the state affected by the CCP virus outbreak through the end of May.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide. The virus has infected over 100,000 in the United States and killed 1,693 by late March 27, according to data on confirmed cases.

No one should lose their home because of COVID-19, Newsom announced on Twitter.

The order (pdf) prohibits landlords, law enforcement, or courts from evicting tenants or enforcing evictions for not paying their rent.

Tenants must apply to have eviction proceedings halted within seven days of missing a payment, declaring in writing that they cannot pay all or part of their rent due to the CCP virus.

The tenant would be required to retain documentation but not required to submit it to the landlord in advance, a statement from Newsoms office reads. And the tenant would remain obligated to repay full rent in a timely manner and could still face eviction after the enforcement moratorium is lifted. The order takes effect immediately, and provides immediate relief to tenants for whom rent is due on April 1.

The state had already given local governments the authority (pdf) to ban evictions of people who were affected by the CCP virusin particular, those who became sick from the virus or are experiencing loss of wages or layoffs, which directly affects their ability to keep up with their rents, mortgages, and utility bills. The latest executive order expands the ban of evictions across the entirity of California, Newsom said.

Newsom said on Wednesday that many banks, including five of the nations largest, have agreed to temporarily suspend residential mortgage payments for people whose jobs have been affected amid the pandemic.

Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Citi, and JPMorgan Chase will defer mortgage payments for three months. An additional 200 state-chartered banks and credit unions will offer similar deferrals, Newsom said. The banks also pledged not to initiate foreclosure sales or evictions for the next 60 days, and they promised not to report late payments to credit reporting agencies.

Newsom said everyone is eligible, regardless of how much money they make. He said homeowners must submit some form of documentation, but did not give details.

Almost 4,000 Cases in California

As of Friday, 3,801 people had tested positive for the CCP virus in California and 78 had died, Newsom said.

The governor also said that California has tested 88,400 people for the virus, checking about 10,000 people per day. He added that it was taking a week or more to get results, so it was not immediately clear how many of those tested had contracted COVID-19.

Read More California DMV Offices Close Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

The U.S. Naval Ship Mercy Hospital, a giant hospital ship, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on March 27. It will be used to add 1,000 beds for non-COVID-19 cases so that other hospitals in the city can increase their capacity to care for victims of COVID-19.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Friday that CCP virus cases in the city are spiking and may have as many cases as hard-hit New York in as little as five days.

CCP virus cases in Los Angeles County soared by 50 percent on Thursday and another 20 percent by noon on Friday for a total of 1,465, Garcetti said at a news conference with Newsom aboard the ship. If the increases continue at Thursdays rate, the county will meet New York Citys 25,398 cases in five days; if the cases increase by Fridays rate it will take just a few more days to catch up to New York Citys case numbers.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 05:07:36|Editor: huaxia

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SAN FRANCISCO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Google pledged more than 800 million U.S. dollars of support on Friday to help combat the coronavirus outbreak around the world.

"As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it's taking a devastating toll on lives and communities. To help address some of these challenges, today we're announcing a new $800+ million commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic," said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.

According to Sundar Pichai, the commitment includes 250 million dollars in ad grants to help the World Health Organization (WHO) and government agencies provide critical information to contain the COVID-19.

A portion of 340 million dollars will be available as Google Ads credits to SMBs with active accounts over the past year and 200 million dollars of investment fund will be used to support NGOs and financial institutions on helping small businesses with access to capital, in addition to tens of millions of dollars in other forms such as Google Cloud credit.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is tasked with coordinating with relevant agencies, localities and rice exporters to review the supply, exports and reserves of the food.

It will have to report to the PM by March 28 for consideration of adjustments to rice-exporting activities.

PM Phuc also tasked the ministry, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Finance, with ensuring rice supply for the people amid climate change and the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 18, PM Phuc presided over a meeting during which he stressed that food security must be ensured in a very firm way under any circumstance.

Rice is the main food for the Vietnamese people, and also the countrys major hard currency earner.

Vietnam is currently the third largest rice exporter in the world, after India and Thailand. In 2019, the country exported 6.37 million tonnes of rice with total revenue of US$2.81 billion.

A report of the MARD showed that Vietnam earned US$410 million from exporting 895,000 tonnes of rice in the first two months of 2020, up 32.6% in value and 27% in volume compared to the same period last year.
More than 200 British people are aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Panama, on which four passengers have died.

The MS Zaandam, a Holland America Line vessel, has been sailing north from Chile with 1,243 passengers and 586 crew on board. It is currently about 10 miles south of Panama City, according to the tracking service Cruise Mapper.

The voyage was due to finish in San Antonio, in Chile, a week ago. But all ports along the coast of South America have refused permission for the ship to dock and disembark passengers.

More than 140 people on board are suffering from flu-like symptoms, and at least two of them are reported to have tested positive for coronavirus.

Vanessa Lucas, from Stafford, tweeted: My in-laws are stuck on the Zaandam cruise ship with four dead from Covid-19. We are extremely concerned and worried about them.

Reuters is reporting that a ships officer made an on-board announcement on Friday that one passenger had died several days earlier followed by two deaths on Thursday and another in the early hours of Friday.

Deaths from natural causes are not unusual on cruise ships, because of the older age profile of passengers. But for four to pass away within a few days is very rare.

The cruise lines original intention was to pass through the Panama Canal on Friday and reach Fort Lauderdale in Florida by Monday.

The Panamanian authorities initially refused to allow Zaandam to transit the canal between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

On Saturday, Panamas government announced they would grant those on board humanitarian aid and allow the ship to pass through the waterway. None of the passengers or any members of the crew will be able to disembark on Panamanian soil, the government added.

Holland America Line dispatched another cruise ship, MS Rotterdam, with only crew on board, before the Zaandam had been granted permission.

Passengers who are not displaying symptoms of coronavirus are being transferred from one ship to another.

It is not yet known whether the Rotterdam will also be allowed to pass through the Panama Canal.

Zaandam is expected to sail northwest along the Pacific Coast to San Diego, where there is a big US naval base as well as cruise facilities.

The Independent has been told that a secret call was made by Zaandam at Guayaquil in Ecuador to take on essential supplies, but this report has not been independently substantiated.

No passengers have been allowed ashore since they left Punta Arenas on the southern tip of Chile three weeks ago.

Fort Lauderdale is also the destination for Coral Princess, whose passengers were refused permission to disembark at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

It is currently about 50 miles north of Fortaleza on the northeast coast of Brazil, making for Barbados. The ship will be calling at the islands capital, Bridgetown, on the evening of Tuesday, 31 March for essential supplies.

A Princess Cruises statement said: During the short time at the port, extra provisions will be brought onboard to keep all guests comfortable during the onward journey.

Coral Princess is believed to have over 400 British passengers on board. There have been calls for UK citizens to be allowed to disembark in Barbados and be flown home on government-organised flights.

Princess Cruises said: No guests or crew will be permitted to disembark during this time.

But Debbie Betts tweeted the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, to demand action: Come on FCO, youre still sending flights to Peru and South Africa to bring English nationals home  what about sending a plane to Barbados to meet this ship and bring the Brits home?

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are doing all we can to help British people on board the Coral Princess cruise ship. Our staff are in close contact with the cruise operator and the authorities in the region to ensure British people can get home safely.

A lockdown and overnight curfew begins today in Barbados and will continue until 14 April.
Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey on Friday said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed officials saying that no farmer should face any trouble even when they return with empty vehicles amid nationwide lockdown.

"Farmers get permit while carrying fruits and vegetables to the markets amid lockdown. However, they face trouble, when they return with empty vehicles. Chief Minister has directed that no farmer should face any trouble," Choubey told ANI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had reported a total of 724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jen Gotch is not a particularly private person. The founder of Ban.do, a company beloved for its bright, sunny, fun-focused products, is know for being brutally honest about her experiences with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. She's become a mental health advocate, thanks to her rising profile and platforms that includes the podcast Jen Gotch Is OkSometimes and the new book, The Upside of Being Down: How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes in Work and Life. Gotch sat down with Entrepreneur to talk about the new book, her personal growth as a leader, and why her mental health experiences led her to expanding the mission of her business to be about so much more than just fun.

Youve always been upfront about how your mental health has affected your life, and this book really dives into the role its played in your business. How has your relationship with your mental health impacted you as a leader?

I think the self-awareness and emotional intelligence thats been built in me over the years, just as a result of being so reflective and having gone through therapy  and also being curious about the brain and human psychology  makes me a very empathetic leader. Maybe sometimes to a fault. It also helps me identify when someone else is struggling with anxiety. Some people deal with workplaces where theres just zero sensitivity and zero permission to have those emotions. That was never even an option at Ban.do, because Im like, bringing all of my emotions to the workplace.

Has that evolved at all over the years?

I think now I understand what that idea of permission means in a professional space. Im not always known for being the most professional  somehow I get away with it because Im nice and funny or something [laughs]. So Ive had a lot of personal growth, which allows me to not have a panic attack on the floor of my office, or show up kind of manic. Im a lot more stable  but at the same time, I would never misrepresent how I feel. I had some problems with my depression last year and there were times when I was just like, Im not going to be able to come in today. I can be a little more responsible with it.

RELATED: Ban.do Founder Jen Gotch Opened Up About Her Mental Health and Inspired a Valuable Change at Her Brand

And what does all of that ultimately mean for your team?

I now do a thing called Office Hours, where any member of our team can schedule an hour with me to talk about, really whatever. Feelings, anything. And we have Slack conversations about finding a therapist; theres just an open conversation thats never stigmatizing. And its not like forced participation, right? There are still a lot of people that choose to be very private, and thats great. Its just a matter of giving people permission to feel, both officially and unofficially.

That must create a lot of good trickle-down communication among your team.

Yeah, I hope so. Its a huge passion of mine to help people that are younger than me see that its ok, and see what the future could look like.

When did you start thinking about writing a book about your life and business?

Id been talking with my editor about it since 2015, but I just knew it wasnt the right time. I was really the only person at Ban.do who, at the time, really held the information. Whats the companys plan if I like, get hit by a car? It didnt feel like we had one. Plus, I just felt like, why would anyone want to read this? Its not like Im Michelle Obama.

RELATED: The Entrepreneur Behind a 10-Year-Old Company Shares a Simple Strategy That Will Get You Over Any Creative Block

So fast forward a few years. What had changed within the company that made you comfortable stepping back from the day to day to work on this project?

Id been doing the podcast Jen Gotch Is OkSometimes for a while and felt like I had developed a good sense of themes and stories that resonated with people. And the foundation had really been laid for the direction I wanted Ban.do to go in. Leadership and our entire team really understood my vision and could move it forward.

And what is that vision?

We changed our tagline to, We exist to help you be your best. Its really about personal betterment. We were the fun brand for so long, and that was just a really hard pill for me to swallow. I think fun and joy is an important part of what we do, but its one piece of a larger pie. I want our mission to be more holistic. So were talking about wellness now, and working to educate our customer on what that might look professionally, emotionally, mentally, physically.

In 2018, Ban.do introduced a line of necklaces that read Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar," and it was met with huge success. Was that the impetus to rethink the brands mission?

I already knew I wanted to focus more on wellness, and the necklaces were just a lightning bolt of an idea. Their success kind of popped the bubble and cleared a path for us to do whatever we want.

RELATED: Mental Illness May Plague Entrepreneurs More Than Other People. Here's Why (and How to Get Help).

We do that via social media, and at our IRL events that we host  where weve expanded to talk not just about business but to also talk about anxiety, and make that conversation much broader. But product has to dictate so much of what we do because, well, we are a consumer products company! So the result is a bit more subtle, and our process now includes looking at what boxes need to be checked in order to put it through to production and feel like it really is about personal betterment. How do we make this inflatable pool floatie feel connected to a feel-better journal? Its on us to bridge that gap.

Have customers reacted to this shift?

Its been embraced! We have the luxury of still being very small, and because weve always been very real and authentic and open, this is just an extension of what we were already doing. So it resonates. Its not a construct, and our customers know that.

Related:

How Jen Gotch's Mental Health Struggles Made Her a Better Leader

Shows to Binge During the Pandemic That Aren't 'Breaking Bad' or 'Fleabag'

16 Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed at Work (Infographic)



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed?

You voted:
: Telangana Minister for IT and



Industries KT Rama Rao's Twitter account is flooded with several requests from people seeking help for medical emergency to transport arrangement to out-of-the box requests such as telecast of good movies on TV channels in view of the lockdown.

"Dear @KTRTRS Anna I am getting fed up with my wife at home... My request is plz tell the TV channel to put nice movies in the television. otherwise i have only one option that u better ..plz, a follower requested.

"I just hope (for your well-being) that your wife is not on Twitter," the politician replied in a witty manner.

A cancer patient requested travel permission to go to Hyderabad from Khathalagudem for radiation treatment.

The patient appealed through Twitter that he could not travel due to the ongoing lockdown.

The suave minister who has over two million followers in the social media platform, replied saying that his office will assist him.

Another person said his grandmother passed away in Patelguda in the city and his family wanted to be there from Uppal. He sought his intervention due to the lockdown enforced in the city as part of steps to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Rama Rao immediately responded and asked the Rachakonda police to look into the issue to which police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat replied saying they will look into it.

Describing KTR as "Telangana pride", another Twitter user requested KTR to wear mask when he is in public places.

"Many thanks for the thoughtful advice. Shall do so from now on when I step out," the minister replied.

He appreciated and retweeted several suggestions and videos made by children with regards the awareness on coronavirus and the ongoing lockdown.

The former deputy chief minister of Bihar also thanked KTR through a tweet for helping some of the migrant labourers stranded in Telangana.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Akufo-Addo has reiterated the need for the general public to comply with the ban on all public gatherings in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

The President, in a national address on Sunday [March 15, 2020], banned all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, church activities and other related events as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.

This directive was to be observed for four weeks.

Following his order, most of the stated institutions have complied. Churches, schools, and some business have suspended all their activities.

A few people, however, have disobeyed, leading to the arrest of a pastor for instance who on two occasions organised church services.

But President Nana Akufo-Addo, in a national address delivered on Friday, March 27, 2020 gave a stern repetition of the ban in place, assuring that public that anyone who goes contrary to the law will be dealt with fully.

Let me also reiterate that the ban on public gatherings, religious or social, is still in force. Anyone, irrespective of status, religion or ethnicity, who is found to be flouting them will be dealt with fully in accordance with law. The security services have been clothed with the necessary power to enforce these measures, and I assure you that they will do so responsibly, but without fear or favour, ill-will or malice.

Partial lockdown of COVID-19 hotspots

President Nana Akufo-Addo has imposed a two-week partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi from Monday, March 30, 2020, 1 am.

These cities, which have been identified as the epicentres of the novel coronavirus in Ghana have been shut down as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, in the national address, stated that effective 1 am on Monday, 30th March, some forty-eight hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks, subject to review.

He said the decision will give us the opportunity to try to halt the spread of the virus, and scale-up effectively contact tracing of persons who have come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and, if necessary, quarantine and isolate them for treatment, should they prove to have the virus.

He, however, made exemptions to this directive.

Some essential service providers such as food vendors, fuel station attendants, railway and construction workers, and the Executive will not be forced to lock down.

---citinewsroom
Three South Korean coronavirus test-kit makers have been given the green light to export their devices to the United States, officials said Saturday.

The companies won pre-approval under emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration that allows for the products to be sold in America, South Korea's foreign ministry said, without naming the firms.

The US has more confirmed cases of the coronavirus than anywhere else in the world.

Controversy has swirled around the US government's response to the outbreak, with accusations of insufficient preparations.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said earlier this week that his US counterpart Donald Trump had asked for test kits, although the White House has not confirmed the request.

Moon said Trump had promised to help South Korean manufacturers gain regulatory approval.

A South Korean test kit maker told AFP this week that it is now making 350,000 tests a day -- almost as many as the South has used in the entire outbreak so far, and that daily output will increase to a million next month.

Once the hardest-hit country outside China, South Korea appears to have brought its outbreak under control owing to its huge "trace, test and treat" strategy.

It has tested more than 380,000 people in a process that is free to anyone referred by doctors or those who have links to a confirmed case.

A diagnosis takes up to six hours, and results are released within a day.

More than 50 percent of the country's 9,478 confirmed patients have now recovered thanks to "aggressive tests and active participation in social distancing", authorities said Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three patients who previously had symptoms of coronavirus are in serious condition

Open source

59 cases of infection with Covid-19 reported in the Chernivtsi region today. The press service of the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration informs on this on Facebook.

Among 59 cases, 24 people continue to be treated in medical facilities, 35 people have no symptoms and are treated on an outpatient basis.



In addition, three patients in whom the coronavirus was previously fixed are in serious condition. They are now on oxygen subsidies. The condition of the remaining patients is stable.



59 cases, 1 death reported in the Chernivtsi region. Also 5 people recovered.



As on March 28 in Ukraine, 311 cases of infection with the coronavirus Covid-19 were recorded. Of all 311 cases, 5 are fatal. 5 people recovered.

Related: Ukraine closed all borders for entry and exit due to Covid-19 epidemic

In the Zaporizhya region, the sixth person in Ukraine recovered from the coronavirus Covid-19. The head of the Zaporizhya Regional State Administration Vitaly Turinok wrote about this fact on Facebook.

Good news for the whole Zaporizhya region!  Turinok wrote, noting that this is the first case of recovery in the region.

He also said that the patient discharged from the hospital is a woman who fell ill on March 15 after she returned from Egypt.

In the Zaporizhya region recorded 10 cases of infection with coronavirus.
Trump said during the briefing that the administration would facilitate the production or acquisition of "100,000 additional units" of ventilators through other means over a 100-day period. He also said there are 10,000 ventilators in the national stockpile.

However, Trump expressed concern that these federally supplied devices could be distributed to states that don't need them and argued that the federal government would have a hard time trying to get them back.

"The reason we don't want to distribute that is ... if there is a mad rush in New York or maybe in Louisiana or maybe someplace else, we don't want to have given out all of those units, the ventilators. And then in those sections, we give them to Iowa but they didn't have a problem in Iowa. We give them to Idaho and give them to lots of different places and now we have to try and get them back, which is never easy to do," Trump said.

The President's response comes amid some back-and-forth among the White House, the private sector and states over concerns about a ventilator shortage in the US should the number of coronavirus cases in hospitals continue to rise.
By Angela Hill

Bay City News Foundation

We all know the coronavirus pandemic currently has a chokehold on the world's economy. But that doesn't mean children with behavioral issues in low-income families stop needing regular therapy sessions, or frail seniors can go without delivered meals, or research into other diseases can be put on hold.

And the nonprofits that meet many of these demands are not immune to the impending financial crisis caused by the spread of the virus and the stay-at-home restrictions.

"Things are heading toward disaster on the nonprofit front," said Pete Caldwell, executive director of We Care, (www.wecarechildren.org) a Concord-based agency that provides mental health services for children on a contract basis with Contra Costa County. He also chairs the county's Human Services Alliance.

"A lot of smaller to medium nonprofits are going to go out of business relatively soon without the help of public awareness," he said while working solo in his office Wednesday. "Many of the human service nonprofits, which provide around 65 percent of mental health and drug-and-alcohol treatment in our county, are setting up their layoff lists.

"I'll be laying off 10 people on Monday," he said. "I've never had to lay anyone off before."

Indeed, everything from small mental health agencies and food banks to huge international medical research groups are recalculating operations.

While not at risk of going under, JDRF, (www.jdrf.org) the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - the leading global organization funding Type 1 diabetes research - is poised to lose out on millions of dollars in funding for vital ongoing research if the current curtailing of normal operations continues, said Nicole Friedland, executive director of JDRF's Greater Bay Area Chapter.

"Around the country, we have oodles of events every year," Friedland said. "Here at my chapter, we have two annual major fundraising events that have been canceled or postponed. We have a large community of volunteers and supporters and they love to come together especially for our fundraising events, so we're coming up with innovative alternatives with online auctions and other communication platforms."

But the implications go far beyond reconfiguring social interactions.

"For us, what it really means, is the threat of losing millions of dollars of critical research funding," she said. "It's also deeply concerning to us that, while the shelter-in-place continues, that scientists in the middle of this kind of research - can they get in their labs to work on their cell lines and keep them alive? What if they have patients in the middle of clinical trials? Can they be put on hold? Can the results be threatened? We're deeply concerned about these aspects."

For smaller, local groups that provide services at the county level, the current struggle involves fee-for-service Medi-Cal contracts. Despite Herculean attempts at outreach to clients through online channels, the ability of these groups to provide services - and for families to receive them properly - has been severely hindered by the stay-at-home orders. And that drop in service delivery equates to a dramatic reduction in reimbursement, while their costs remain the same.

Caldwell urges the public to reach out to county supervisors, to lobby them for support for nonprofits. But counties can only do so much, said Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia. "This is on our agenda for next week. We're looking at options with regard to (the nonprofits') contract payments, and also exploring what relief may exist for community-based providers in the new federal stimulus bill," Gioia said.

Alameda County has temporarily switched to a cost-reimbursement model for March and April, which provides these groups with some breathing room. But beyond that, the future remains uncertain.

In San Francisco, the Tipping Point Community nonprofit organization announced it will make $1 million available to its 45 grantees to support programs for low-income families throughout the Bay Area over the next few months. And last week, S.F. city officials said the city would continue to fund nonprofits as long as possible.

Allison Staulcup Becwar, CEO of Lincoln (www.lincolnfamilies.org), an Oakland-based nonprofit with a staff of about 250 providing youths and families in Alameda and Contra Costa counties with critical mental health services, resource connections and education programs in schools, says many nonprofits are determining if they need to lay off staff or close their doors while funding remains insecure.

"Seventy-five percent of our budget is through MediCal contracts," she said. "We do rely on private donations and support from foundations and corporations - and they've really been stepping up."

In the meantime, she said her staff has had to pivot in the last week to a "telehealth" model to provide services, and she's been highly impressed with the creativity involved.

"For instance, we have an amazing art therapy clinician who is implementing a number of innovative interventions, including the white-board feature on Zoom, so even a child who doesn't have art supplies at home can participate in this way," Becwar said.

Lincoln has also set up a special community resource webpage for the crisis.

But while online tools are lifesavers in this emergency, they don't work for everything and certainly not long term.

"Doing therapy with kids, especially with little ones where you might do a 45-minute face-to-face session in a playroom, you can't keep a child's attention that long on a phone call. It's just not as effective," Becwar said. "And in cases when we're working with families with multi-generational trauma, it's often hard for one member of a family to share something confidentially when other family members are sheltering in the same space."

Plus, most of the families Lincoln serves are already teetering on the edge - working through food scarcity, financial problems - and they don't have access to the technology to participate in online services. "We're trying to figure out what we can do about the technology gaps such as the Wi-Fi, trying to get tablets to them, and so on," she said.

With the added stress of COVID-19 effects - job loss, school interruption, isolation anxiety and more - many nonprofit community groups, charities, food banks and other groups expect demand for services to increase during and after this crisis.

"People will need these services more than ever, the strain of being cooped up, fear of lack, the stress on family relationships," Caldwell said. "We have to be here when this is over," Caldwell said. "We're celebrating our 60th year this year, and we have to get to 61."

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
People maintain social distancing while standing in line to enter a Trader Joe's on March 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

The US is the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 101,000 cases and 1,500 deaths.

Experts told Business Insider that the US has not yet seen the worst of this outbreak  its case total is still rising rapidly.

The way to stave off hundreds of thousands of deaths is strict social distancing, enforced uniformly across the country.

Two experts said they would put the entire US on lockdown if they were given a magic wand.

That would buy doctors time to produce tests, antiviral drugs, and potential vaccines. Otherwise, healthcare systems around the nation will be pushed beyond their limits and many more people could die.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US is the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

A week ago, on March 20, just over 19,000 people in the country had gotten infected and 255 were dead. Now the US has the world's highest number of cases: more than 101,000. At least 1,500 people have died.

The question on many people's minds is: When will we have seen the worst of this?

"We have absolutely not seen the worst," Dr. Mark Roberts, a professor of health policy at the University of Pittsburgh, told Business Insider. "Simulations indicate that there could be possibly hundreds of thousands of cases, and potentially even more."

Recent projections from 18 infectious-disease-modeling researchers suggest that anywhere from 195,000 to 1.2 million people could die by the year's end.

Which begs a second question: How do we save the highest possible number of people?

Business Insider asked four experts what they would do in the US if they could wave a magic wand, given the options we have now.

Hospital beds are set up at the Javits Convention Center, which is being turned into a hospital to treat coronavirus cases, on March 27, 2020 in New York City.

Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

They all agreed that strict, nationwide social distancing is necessary. Because the virus spreads person to person when in close contact, the best way to stymie it is to keep people apart.

Story continues

"Pretend that everyone  100% of people everywhere  would stay at home, not go out, and not get near anyone else," Roberts said. "There would be no new infections. Infections are caused by the actual infectivity of the virus, the number of contacts, and the length of contacts. Social distancing decreases the last two components of that."

An infectious-disease epidemiologist from Washington, DC  whose identity is known to Business Insider but is being kept anonymous because their employer has prohibited them from commenting publicly on the coronavirus  said they would immediately issue "a full, nationwide stay-at-home order for a minimum of two weeks but ideally four weeks."

That's necessary, they explained, because the US's response is now "behind the virus' spread." Had officials mobilized the use of public-health tools like testing and contact tracing quickly enough, "perhaps strict stay-at-home orders wouldn't be needed," they said.

The US must break the pattern of exponential spread

A person with coronavirus infects two to two-and-a-half other people, on average. Since it's so new, people have not yet developed immunity, which means it can spread easily.

"Exponential growth is actually a very normal pattern for pathogens that a population has never seen before," Meghan May, a professor of infectious disease at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, told Business Insider. "If no one has any onboard immunity to prevent them from becoming infected, every infected person has the potential to infect many others, who each have the potential to infect many others."

In that sense, she said, the coronavirus is "not necessarily acting in an unusual way  we are just having an unusual experience because so much spread had already occurred in the United States by the time we were able to routinely test for it."

The US has lagged behind other countries when it comes to coronavirus testing. The CDC at first developed its own test, which proved faulty, and the subsequent test-kit shortage has prevented officials from understanding the severity of the epidemic in a timely manner.

A man gets a nasal swab to test for the coronavirus in Pennsylvania on March 27, 2020.

Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

More than a month after the US's first coronavirus case was detected, fewer than 500 tests had been done, according to the COVID Tracking Project. As of Friday, 626,000 tests had been completed.

Whether or not the US's rising number of cases is primarily a product of increased testing capacity (May thinks that's a big part of it) or simply shows a spike in people getting infected (as the Washington, DC, epidemiologist believes), the US so far does not appear to be flattening the curve of the virus' spread.

In fact, we're "nowhere close" to that, according to Dr. Scott Braithwaite, a professor of population health and medicine at NYU Langone Health.

"The way I think about it is, the first thing you have to do is get it out of an exponential growth," he told Business Insider. The next goal is to achieve linear growth, followed by a steady decrease in the number of new infections over time, Braithwaite added  "but we're not there yet."

Strict, long-term social distancing

The experts agreed that the most promising way to stop the US outbreak's sharp upward climb is to enforce strict social distancing.

Ensuring that people stay 6 feet away from one another, Braithwaite said, would mean "each person isn't going to transmit the virus to two to three other people anymore, enabling the virus to die out of a population in three to eight weeks."

President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing ceremony for the CARES Act, a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, in the Oval Office of the White House on March 27, 2020.

Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images

At the very least, social-distancing rules would delay the outbreak's peak and allow health officials to make progress on a four-pronged response, May said: implementing rapid coronavirus testing and isolating patients, using a repurposed antiviral drug to slow the disease, developing an antibody test to determine who has been exposed and recovered, and producing an effective vaccine.

But right now, the patchwork of restrictions and stay-at-home orders in the US  while helpful  aren't enough, all four experts said.

"People with mild symptoms or no symptoms may still be spreading it around if they are not practicing physical distancing," May said.

Twenty-three states and various metro areas have instituted lockdowns  some stricter than others. But this piecemeal version of social distancing is "not working  and that's because we're not doing it right," Donald McNeil, a New York Times health reporter, said on "The Daily" podcast earlier this week.

Without real social distancing, the experts said, patients will flood hospitals, healthcare workers will face dangerous shortages medical resources like protective gear and ventilators, and local healthcare systems will wind up overwhelmed in a matter of days or weeks.

Braithwaite said that if it were up to him, he would put the entire country on lockdown for three to eight weeks.

"If people think, 'Well, if I change my life in this unpleasant way for three to eight weeks and just weather through it, then maybe in order to get things back to normal,' [they] could do it," he said.

Whenever the restrictions lift, Roberts said, people should also get released from containment measures slowly.

"Strict social distancing for four weeks followed by no social distancing only delays the peak," he said. "It is better to gradually decrease the intensity of distancing."

These recommendations contradict President Trump's approach

Workers build a makeshift morgue outside of Bellevue Hospital in New York City on March 26, 2020.

Ron Adar/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

President Donald Trump is pushing for the US to return to normal by Easter.

"We have to open up our country, I'm sorry," Trump said on a phone call with governors this week, according to the Associated Press.

On March 22, he vowed on Twitter to reconsider social-distancing measures in 15 days so that the coronavirus cure does not become "worse than the problem itself."

But Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN on Wednesday: "You've got to understand that you don't make the timeline; the virus makes the timeline."

May said the US has two options: Either leaders institute "greater uniformity and continuity across state lines with regard to testing capacity and physical-distancing enforcement," she said, "or we will get to the other side of this the hard way."

If we go hard way, she added, that would mean "the majority of the population will contract the disease and either become immune  after illness or by asymptomatic infection  or they will contract the disease and have a poor outcome."

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Newser)  Former US Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma family doctor who earned a reputation as a conservative political maverick as he railed against federal earmarks and subsidies for the rich, has died, the AP reports. He was 72. Coburn, who also delivered more than 4,000 babies while an obstetrician in Muskogee, where he treated patients for free while in the Senate, died early Saturday morning, his cousin Bob Coburn told the AP in a text message. Tom Coburn was diagnosed with prostate cancer years earlier. Known for bluntly speaking his mind, Coburn, a Republican, frequently criticized the growth of the federal deficit and what he said was excessive government spending endorsed by both political parties.

story continues below

"I've got a flat forehead from beating my head against the wall," he told voters during a town hall in July 2010. First elected to the US House during the so-called Republican Revolution in 1994, Coburn fiercely criticized the use of federal money for special state projects. He represented northeastern Oklahoma for three terms, keeping a pledge in 2000 not to seek re-election. He returned to his medical practice in Muskogee before asking voters to send him back to Washington, this time to the Senate, so he could fight big spenders and ensure "that our children and grandchildren have a future." He served in the Senate until 2016, leaving after promising not to seek a third term. US Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, called Coburn "an inspiration to many."

(Read more obituary stories.)
Health CS Mutahi Kabwe has been exhibiting a brave face during press conferences in detailing how much effort the government is putting to combat the deadly coronavirus.

It has, however, turned out that the government was completely unprepared for the arrival of COVID-19 in the country and is still groping in the dark on how to handle the pandemic.

READ ALSO: Spanish Flu: Flashback to coronavirus-like flu that nearly wiped out human race 102 years ago

Health CS Mutahi Kabwe has been exhibiting a brave face during press conferences in detailing how much effort the government is putting to combat the deadly coronavirus. Photo: Ministry of Health.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Covid-19: Zimbabwe to go into lockdown for 21 days

Firstly, it took noise, lots of noise from Kenyans who the CS lambasted for their indiscipline, for the government to ban flights from China.

This, after a China Airlines plane landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with over 200 passengers having come from the Asian nation which was the epicentre of the ravaging virus.

That a brave JKIA staff had to be humiliated for leaking a video of the plane showed how callous and careless government mandarins were in securing Kenyans from COVID-19.

It took the Law Society of Kenya to go to court and the very humane court ordered that flights from China be halted and all who were in that plane be forcefully quarantined at a government facility.

READ ALSO: Bungoma priests, nuns arrested for conducting secret night service

But the tracing of the passengers and quarantine never happened.

Just recently, the government claimed it traced all the passengers aboard the China Airlines flight, tested them for COVID-19 and all results came out negative! How impressive!

Soon after a ban on China flights, still, the government allowed other international flights to continue landing at JKIA despite the risk posed.

And when Kenyans made more noise, those who landed were asked to self-quarantine at home for 14 days with no plans to follow them up and ensure they did exactly that.

READ ALSO: Light at the end of Salgaa black spot after construction of life-saving wall

Later, with the government realising its blunder after it turned out all cases of coronavirus were imported' from abroad, all international flights were cancelled.

But more chaos and high chances of spreading the disease ensued.

Kenyans who were allowed to come back home from other nations were subjected to mandatory quarantine at selected hotels and government institutions and the pain they have undergone is untold.

Small wonder a South African woman committed suicide at a quarantine centre in Nakuru following complaints of poor living conditions; her pleas to be allowed to isolate at a hotel falling on deaf ears.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: 101-year-old man released from hospital after making full recovery

If not squalor conditions in government institutions, then it has been exploitation by hotels which have been designated as quarantine centres; Kenyans from abroad are paying through the nose for the quarantine.

Where's the government claimed it was ready for the hundreds of Kenyans jetting in it, turns out it was a huge lie.

The quarantined Kenyans have been heaped together and with no way to know who has COVID-19 or not, chances of the disease spreading among them are very high.

This means should many of them become critical cases, they will obviously put pressure on our fledgling healthcare.

READ ALSO: Hantavirus: Type of disease caused by the virus found in rodents

There are also claims the hotel staff in selected quarantine centres have not been trained on how to deal with the situation and are easily mingling with their guests who could be infected.

Think of the domino effect should those waiters take the disease back home.

And now come the curfew where we have seen the police beat up Kenyans like animals!

The law enforcers were seen on video forcing ferry users in Mombasa to lie down on the mud huddled together like heaps of garbage. Best way to spread the virus.

READ ALSO: Patient 31: Government sues church for contributing to thousands of coronavirus cases

The police need to be reminded we are fighting COVID-19 (which they are not immune to by the way) and not innocent Kenyans.

Kenyans were seen overcrowded in matatus on curfew Day One on Friday, March 27, with no social distancing putting many at risk of coronavirus. This was in the name of beating the curfew.

Where's citizens must do their part especially in social distancing, the government must take full responsibility and work on its huge weaknesses before terming Kenyans as indisciplined.

The writer, Samuel Karanja, is a Copy Editor at TUKO.co.ke

The views expressed here are his and do not in any way represent the position of TUKO.co.ke

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly

Source: TUKO.co.ke
As countries around the world enforce lockdowns due to coronavirus, factories have shut, cars are staying off the roads and businesses have closed to enforce social distancing.

And the impact of these social distancing measures on the environment is already noticeable.

In China, nitrogen dioxide emissions, produced by cars, factories and power plants, have fallen by more than 40 per cent over many of the countrys cities under lockdown.

Coal consumption at power plants has fallen by 36 per cent and restrictions have led to a 25 per cent drop in energy use and carbon emissions, according to the Centre for Research and Clean Air (Crea), which is based in Finland.

And the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite revealed that in in northern Italy nitrogen dioxide emissions have fallen by an average of 10 per cent per week since mid-February, according to the European Space Agency.

Claus Zehner, the satellites mission manager, said: The decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions over the Po Valley in northern Italy is particularly evident.

According to Mr Zehner, the reduction in emissions coincided with the lockdown in Italy causing less traffic and industrial activities.

Pollution levels in the UK have also fallen since Boris Johnson announced strict new measures to halt the spread of the virus.

Besides a drop in nitrogen dioxide, dirty particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted by vehicles has reduced significantly. In London, for example, PM2.5 is noticeably lower than would be expected for this time of year at the roadside, according to Alastair Lewis, professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of York.

But the reductions may not mean good news for the environment on a permanent basis. Ian Colbeck, professor of environmental science at the University of Essex, told The Independent that the reduction in global emissions will most likely be temporary.

Emissions tend to bounce back fairly quickly shortly after a crisis ends, he said. Expect to see short-term impacts on energy and emissions disappear as governments introduce stimulus packages to increase industrial output at the end of the pandemic. Following the global financial crash in 2008-09, carbon emissions increased by 5 per cent as a result of such stimulus.

Many environmental experts say the pandemic presents an unprecedented opportunity to curb global emissions.

Professor Martin Siegert, co-director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, told The Independent that the UK government has an amazing opportunity to shape the economy in a slightly different way by incentivising companies to adopt low-carbon business models. The Conservative government has pledged to make the UK carbon-free by 2050.

We are spending money on almost every company in the country right now. What we should be doing is saying, You can have this money but you need to be compliant with a zero-carbon future by 2050, Professor Siegert said.

According to Professor Siegert, the transition to a low-carbon economy requires trillions of pounds of investment. If it is all spent on managing the coronavirus outbreak, we will not have the financial muscle to invest in a low-carbon future, he said.

Dr Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has also warned that the pandemic could stall global efforts to transition towards clean energy.

We should not allow todays crisis to compromise our efforts to tackle the worlds inescapable challenge, he said in a statement.

The IEA has already predicted that global oil demand will sharply decrease in 2020, by 435,000 barrels a day in the first quarter, due to the pandemic.

The sharp decline in the oil market may well undermine clean energy transitions by reducing the impetus for energy efficiency policies, Dr Birol said.

Cheaper energy reduces the appeal of cleaner, more efficient cars, homes and offices, Dr Birol said, calling on governments to reduce subsidies for fossil fuels. Coronavirus is also likely to stall production of clean energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, while many parts of China are under lockdown.

Governments can use the current situation to step up their climate ambitions and launch sustainable stimulus packages focused on clean energy technologies. Rather than compounding the tragedy by allowing it to hinder clean energy transitions, we need to seize the opportunity to help accelerate them, Dr Birol said.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-28 00:31:01

AURORA, Ontario, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG; NYSE: MGA) today announced that its 2019 Annual Report, including Managements Discussion and Analysis and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, Annual Information Form (AIF) and Form 40-F, are now available on the companys website, www.magna.com. Magna has also filed these documents with the Canadian Securities Administrators (accessible through its website at www.sedar.com) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (accessible through its website at www.sec.gov/edgar).



Our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Thursday May 7, 2020, commencing at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting is being conducted as a virtual-only meeting accessible at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MGA2020 .

Magna will provide a hard copy of its audited financial statements as contained in our 2019 Annual Report to Shareholders, free of charge, on request through our website or in writing to Magna International Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 337 Magna Drive, Aurora, ON, Canada L4G 7K1.

INVESTOR CONTACT

Louis Tonelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations

louis.tonelli@magna.com , 905.726.7035

MEDIA CONTACT

Tracy Fuerst, Vice-President, Corporate Communications & PR

tracy.fuerst@magna.com, 248.631.5396

OUR BUSINESS (1)

We are a mobility technology company. We have over 165,000 entrepreneurial-minded employees, 346 manufacturing operations and 94 product development, engineering and sales centres in 27 countries. We have complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing expertise, as well as product capabilities which include body, chassis, exterior, seating, powertrain, active driver assistance, electronics, mechatronics, mirrors, lighting and roof systems. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA). For further information about Magna, visit www.magna.com .

________________________

(1) Manufacturing operations, product development, engineering and sales centres and employee figures include certain equity-accounted operations.
Takuba will be made of European forces that will fight armed groups in Liptako alongside Malian and Nigerien armies.

France and several of its European allies have officially set up a new task force, called Takuba, made of special forces that will fight armed groups in the West African region of Sahel alongside the armies of Mali and Niger.

After an audio conference on Friday, representatives of 13 countries  Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Mali, the Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the UK  issued a statement in which they committed to further efforts to overcome the terrorist groups resilience.

The statement said Takuba, which means sabre in Tuareg, is planned to have an initial operational capability (IOC) by the summer of 2020 and expected to become operational (FOC) by early 2021.

It added that new task force will assist regional armies in countering armed groups and will complement efforts made by Frances Operation Barkhane and the regional G5 Sahel Joint Force, comprised of troops from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

The new task force will operate in the Liptako region, an area between Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, according to the statement. Liptako is known for being a stronghold for fighters linked to ISIL (ISIS).

Takuba will therefore be part of the counter-terrorism pillar of the Coalition for the Sahel, the broader coordinating framework recently announced in Pau, it said, referring to the France-G5 Sahel summit held in the southern French city in January,

That meeting ended with leaders agreeing to the creation of a new structure aimed at bringing the two parties forces together under a single command, as well as facilitate joint operations and improve intelligence sharing.

During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron also sought a clear declaration by his counterparts confirming their preference for Frances military engagement at a time of rising anti-French sentiment in some countries amid the swiftly deteriorating security situation.

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France, the former colonial power that once ruled several West African countries, already has about 4,500 soldiers in the region conducting Operation Barkhane.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has a 13,000-strong peacekeeping operation in Mali in what may be the world bodys most dangerous mission so far.

The UN, France and the US have poured billions of dollars into stabilising the Sahel, but have seen little success.

The region has seen a rise in violence in recent months, feeding a feeling of increased insecurity among residents, with millions displaced.

In January the UN envoy for West Africa told the UN Security Council that attacks have increased fivefold in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger since 2016. More than 4,000 deaths were reported in 2019.
A medical professional, supported by New York Army National Guard members, collects swabs to test for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in New Rochelle, New York, on March 15, 2020. (Senior Airman Sean Madden/U.S. Air National Guard/Handout via Reuters)

Over 200 Military Medical Students to Graduate Early to Support Pandemic Response

More than 200 military doctors and nurses are permitted to graduate early from the Defense Departments premiere medical school to assist the U.S. militarys effort against the ongoing pandemic.

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), which is based in Bethesda, Maryland, announced Thursday that it will award degrees to its fourth-year medical school students and graduate-level nurses on April 1, six weeks ahead of their normal graduation date.

The students, who are all active duty uniformed officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Public Health Service, will have to meet all graduating requirements before receiving their degrees and being reassigned by their respective services. The officers include physicians, family, mental health, and womens health nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

USU president Richard Thomas said the decision was made when President Donald Trump declared a national emergency earlier this month.

Our curriculum has a specific focus on threats like emerging infectious diseases and disasters that our military and Public Health Service forces are likely to encounter in the course of their careers, Thomas said. This instruction is based on real-life lessons learned, is woven throughout the curriculum and incorporated into our medical field exercises.

Dubbed West Point for doctors, the USU is the only medical school in the United States that is entirely funded by the federal government. It educates, trains and prepares uniformed services health professionals, officers, and leaders to directly support the Military Health System.

Our students are uniquely prepared to meet and address the readiness needs of the Department of Defense and our Nation the moment they step out of our doors, said Thomas. This is exactly what they were educated and trained to do. The Surgeon Generals of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service will receive a competent cadre of healthcare professionals who can augment current resources available to them.

Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. Naval Ship (USNS) Comfort, a floating Navy hospital, is expected to arrive in New York next Monday. Her sister ship, the USNS Mercy, is being deployed to the West Coast.

I think Im going to go out and Ill kiss it goodbye, Trump said during a press briefing from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, adding that he will be on hand at the Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia to see the USNS Comfort off on Saturday.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Police fired teargas canisters and beat scores of people rushing home on the second day of a nationwide curfew meant to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in Kenya, with seven more cases confirmed on Saturday
Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deploy the armed forces to deliver food to millions of migrant workers and poor people across the country, saying the government must help them in their battle for survival under "unprecedented" circumstances.

Ramdas said India is faced with the twin challenge of the coronavirus as well as adverse affects of "global economic pandemic" resulting severe hardships to marginalised section of the society, and immediate action should be taken to help them.

After India went under a 21-day lockdown, hundreds of migrant workers, without food and shelter, were seen taking journeys for hundreds of kilometres on foot in various parts of the country.

"India faces an unprecedented challenge - the likes of which the country has not witnessed since Partition in 1947. We are facing a pandemic because of the coronavirus. In addition we are facing what many are terming as global economic pandemic," Ramdas said in a letter to Modi.

Appreciating the prime minister's efforts to deal with the situation, the former Navy Chief, at the same time, said the 21-day lockdown is causing a huge disruption and loss of jobs to large numbers of people.

He said people who are rushing home are causing violations of the lockdown.

"This calls for urgent action to address the food requirements of millions who are either forced to travel, or failing which, since all public transport is also shut down, have to find both food and shelter wherever they are," said Ramdas.

"It is also essential to ensure that lack of access to food does not allow more numbers to be vulnerable by lowered immunity because of lack of nutrition at this critical juncture," he added.

In the letter, Ramdas said the armed forces should be deployed to facilitate delivery of food to the poor as the services have their units at various places right across the country.

"I am sure the Chief of Defence Staff and his colleagues in the Army, Navy and Air Force would only be too happy to organise and provide food through special kitchens which they can set up and run near their current locations," he said.

He said the food stocks can be directly indented from the district collectors of the districts in which the Armed Forces get deployed.

"This will ensure that large numbers of our people will not have to either physically travel distances in search of food nor go to bed hungry," he added.

"Unprecedented situations call for unprecedented measures and this suggestion may be treated solely in this spirit," said the former Navy chief.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Erratum: The first version of this story stated that a court case has been filed against Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua. We have corrected this mistake in the article below. The charges were only filed before the Cavite City Prosecutor's Office. We apologize for this mistake.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  The Philippine National Police has filed criminal charges against a town mayor in Cavite province, and two other people over the alleged spread of fake reports on a COVID-19 case that caused panic in Cavite City.

The PNP in a statement on Saturday announced that its Anti-Cybercrime Unit in the Calabarzon region filed the charges on Friday before the Cavite City Prosecutor's Office against Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua.

It stemmed from a complaint from the Cavite City government that Chua was behind the spread of fake information on an alleged first coronavirus case in the city.

Also facing charges are Mario Batuigas, owner of online site Latigo News TV and Amor Virata, identified as a vlogger and online reporter.

Their charges include violation of Republic Act no. 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal As One Act," which was passed recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the law, those who create, perpetrate, or spread false information on the COVID-19 crisis shall face two months in jail and/or a fine of up to 1 million.

This is the first reported case against a local-level chief executive under the new law, which seeks to curtail the spread of "fake news" amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The PNP said that early this month, a Facebook account with the name Maggie Bernal posted 10 photos of suspected persons under investigation for coronavirus infection in Cavite City, adding that one patient died of the viral disease at the Cavite Medical Center. The account accused the local government of Cavite City of lack of transparency.

"But the local government debunked the claims of the account and proved that the information is false based on the fact-checking of the Rural Health Unit of Cavite City," the PNP said in its statement.

The city's health unit said the photo was actually that of a COVID-19 patient in Makati City.

"The unverified post has caused panic among citizens of the city," the PNP quoted its Anti-Cybercrime Group as saying.

Authorities found that the Maggie Bernal page was a "troll account... created by Chua in 2010 and was used to attack their political opponents and create intrigues based on the affidavit of a witness who was the creator and former administrator of the troll account."

Cases were also filed against Chua and his co-accused for online libel, unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances, and vioation of the Data Privacy Act and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

The Philippines now has 803 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 54 have died while 31 have recovered.
Help India!

Dr. Ram Puniyani

The carnage or to put it more precisely the anti Muslim violence in Delhi (February-March 2020) has shaken us all. Analysts are burning midnight oil yet again to understand the deeper causative factors of the same. One of the neglected aspects of analysis of communal violence has been the one related to prevalent factor of Caste in Indian society. Caste is inherent in the scriptures called as Hindu scriptures; caste has been the rigid frame work of Hindu society, which has also penetrated into other religious communities in India. The deeper connection between Hindu nationalism or Hindutva and caste has been explored somewhat but not too many studies have taken up the relationship between the communal violence and caste in India. Suraj Yengde (IE, Delhi Pogrom is an attempt to Divert attention from Governments Failures, March 8, 2020) makes some points on this issue. Yengde points out, Many are still downplaying the Delhi riot as an affliction of Hindutva or Hindu-Muslim binaries. It is neither. It is not religious but caste tensions that encourage such treacherous acts.

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He quotes from the Gujarat activist Raju Solanki, in the 2002 Godhra riots there were 2,945 arrests in Ahmadabad. Of these, 1,577 were Hindus and 1,368 Muslims. Among the Hindus arrested, 797 were OBCs, 747 Dalits, 19 Patels, two Baniyas, and two Brahmins. The upper castes became MLAs, the rest were jailed. Also, it is not an accident that Dalits constitute nearly 22% of the total arrests in India; Adivasis 11%, Muslims 20% and OBCs 31%. More than 55% of under trials also come from the same communities (NCRB 2015).

While this data is on the dot it must be stated that while caste has lot of role in the emergence of politics of Hindutva, in the resultant violence the primary focus has been religion, here caste plays a role which is secondary in some ways. To trace the outline of the Hindu nationalisms prime mover RSS; one can definitely say that its formation and rise is primarily due to the rising caste consciousness and the beginnings of struggles aimed at injustices due to the caste Varna System. While Hindu Mahasabha was already on the scene as parallel and opposite to the Muslim League, these formations initially had only Kings and landlords. Later these formations were joined in by some elite, affluent sections of society.

RSS in particular was a response to the ground level changes resulting in coming up of low caste/average people in social and political space. It was the non-cooperation movement led by Gandhi and then the non Brahman movement in Nagpur-Vidarbha area which disturbed the Brahmanical sections, supported by landlord-kings, to take up the agenda of Hindu nation. The core articulation of Hindutva politics was to present the glorious ancient times, when Manu Smritis laws ruled the roost. These were getting a jolt now as the efforts of Joti Rao Phule and later the campaigns of Ambedkar started empowering the downtrodden dalits. This was a serious threat to Brahmanical system.

While this was the core an external threat was to be created to unify Hindu society. And here the Muslims, Muslim Kings rule came in as handy. It is this anti Muslim tirade and actions which was the frontage for Hindutva, while the anti dalit-agenda was the real underlying motive. The whole of Shakha (RSS branches) baudhiks (intellectual sessions) were structured around this. The promotion of communal historiography, the hatred for Muslims was the visible part of RSS training, while glorification of past is the fulcrum which in a way is the code language for retaining the hierarchy of caste and also of gender.

Practically also if we see the strengthening of Hindutva began on the issue of a Muslim king destroying the temple of the birth place of Lord Ram, this campaign got its vitriol after the implementation of Mandal Commission in 1990. The anti Muslim Hate and promotion of values of caste and gender hierarchy are synthesized by Hindutva politics. Thats as far as the political agenda of Hindu nationalism goes. As far as communal violence is concerned, it has been an anti Muslim work through and through. All the statistics shows that victims of communal violence are primarily Muslims, around 80% of victims being Muslims. These Muslims do come from all sections of Muslims, more from the poor.

The caste comes into operation in the mechanism of riot production. Hindutva politics, through its extensive network has been working relentlessly among dalits. The recent book by Bhanwar Meghwanshi, I was a Kar Sevak, brilliantly describes the mechanism of co-opting dalits into the agenda of sectarian politics. RSS has floated innumerable organizations, like Samajik Samrasta Manch, which work among dalits to promote Brahmanical values and to integrate dalits into the scheme of Hindutva politics. They are made to act as foot soldiers of Hindu nationalist politics. Those who spread hate through indoctrination and propaganda are safe in their cozy houses or offices while the poor dalits are made to soil their hands with the blood of religious minorities.

The face of Gujarat violence, Ashok Mochi, now talks of dalit-Muslim unity. The data compiled by Raju Solanki and quoted by Yengde is the norm in the cases of violence in India. Those who are incited, those who are later charged with violence are not the ones who give donations to RSS or support its various activities. Most of these do come from the sections of indoctrinated youth from downtrodden communities.

Yengde has done a valuable job in drawing our attention to the role of caste in communal violence; the problem with his thesis is the undermining the role of Hate against religious minorities, which is the base on which the violence is orchestrated. The extent and degree of indoctrination done through shakhas is very powerful and effective. This can gauzed from the experiences of the likes of Bhanwar Meghwanshi, who tells us the difficulties he had to face to come to grips of reality of caste while overcoming the RSS propaganda.
Pay close attention to the most sensitive person in your family. Try to keep him healthy. Take the whole initiative to keep him free from the virus. 





by Swadesh Roy writing from Dhaka





As the head of the government, the Prime Minister of the country always addresses the nation following the Independence Day. But this time people were much more curious about the speech of Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, for when she was addressing, the country was under lockdown. Everyone's attention was towards the initiative of the government to fight the Coronavirus and what the Prime Minister would say regarding this than the celebration of the Independence Day. The Prime Minister gave the direction about this throughout the most of her speech. As the head of the government and a senior citizen, or as a Guardian, she asked at first, what is the responsibility of everyone in the family at this time? Corona is much more dangerous to older people.









Referring to that, she said in her speech, Pay close attention to the most sensitive person in your family. Try to keep him healthy. Take the whole initiative to keep him free from the virus.  At the same time, all need to keep themselves strong mentally. She emphasized in her speech, "Do not panic, Panic disrupts people's rational thinking. Always be careful so that you, your family members, and your neighbours do not get infected. In reality, panic makes people weak in mentally, even physically. It's basically like dying before you die. This death should not come to the nation. Rather, it is urgent at this time to be careful by keeping our mind stable, the Prime Minister said more like this in her speech, "Your awareness will protect you, your family and above all the people of the country." The countrymen will hopefully listen to her and wont be panicked being careful. And it is not just she; today the head of the governments of all the Covid-19 affected countries is basically saying the same. Sheikh Hasina has said it in simple words which have made it easier to communicate the mass. The head of the government did not lose courage; rather, she encouraged everyone as the Prime Minister. She said, Throughout the ages, many crisis come in national life. People got saved from those disasters because of the collective power of the people. In the past, people have prevented epidemics like plague, smallpox, and cholera. But during those epidemics, the world was not as closely connected as it is now. Such a large number of people did not travel from one country to another or from one place to another. This is why coronavirus has spread throughout the world so fast. However, there has been a remarkable improvement in science and technology. With the concerted efforts of all, the world will surely get rid of the disaster. In reality, the Corona is much more penetrating and frightening than the plague, smallpox or cholera. Even then, the Prime Minister's hope is not wrong; the world is far more advanced in science than in the time of the plague, smallpox or cholera. And the discovery of preventive medicine and treatment of Corona will be possible much earlier than it took in case of the past epidemics and medical discoveries. One more thing to note here is that the Prime Minister is hundred percent confident in science. As a nation, this reality has come to us through this Corona, and anyway, we must trust in science, not in any other dogmatism.





On the other hand, not just the traders of our country, some traders of all countries are seen trying to make more profit by increasing the prices of the goods in the time of national disaster. The Prime Minister cautioned not to do such things in her speech, saying, "We must be tolerant and sensitive during this crisis. Don't try to take any kind of opportunity. There is no shortage of products in the market.  As the Prime Minister reminded the nation, there is a need at this time to keep keen eyes from the administration. The countrymen hope that after the Prime Minister's address, the administration will truly look after it. Besides, citizens will not madly fall into the market. The Prime Minister has said, Now is the time for us to become economical. Without necessary, do not buy any additional consumer goods. Do not stock rather give the low-income people a chance to buy. In addition, at this time everyone should take care of the low-income people of the country. In her speech, the Prime Minister described the government's move for the people of low income, Many people have lost jobs due to Coronavirus. We have to stand beside them. Assistance will be provided to the lower-income people in their respective villages under the 'return home' program. Free housing, 6 months food and cash payments will be provided to the homeless and landless. The district administration has been instructed in this regard. In fact, if you look at the social forums or everything around, people are more concerned about those who lost their jobs as a result of this lockdown. The Prime Minister's speech revealed that they had prepared arrangements for them for six months. But this is for the villages. There are also thousands of people in the slums of the city. They have to think about them too.





On the other hand, it is the duty of the rich to help the downtrodden in such a disaster. Over the past few days, in various social forums, the young people have been appearing and mentioning the names of many industrialists of the country and saying, where are they in this disaster? In the Prime Minister's speech, the claim of the youth came up too, she said, "I urge the rich to come forward with the help to low-income people." After all, it can only be said that all the wealth of the rich is built up with the hard labour of the poor. Therefore, it is time for them to take responsibility for the poor people of the country.





In her speech, the Prime Minister has announced a promotion for these export-oriented industries, so that our export-oriented industries, especially their workers, will not lose their jobs at this time, I am announcing BDT five hundred billion incentive package for export-oriented industries. The money of this fund can be paid only to the workers and employees. The Prime Minister has done her duty towards the workers as the head of the government, but the owner party should not end their duties here, for still we do not know where the situation of the next world economy will stand when this Corona outbreak will be finished. However, it can be said that the wound will be too late to dry. At this time, the owners should also perform their duties towards the workers. They should also spend more from there ends. No doubt, people respect their capital as well as their talent. Despite that, it is also true that, the sweat of the workers brought them here today.





After all, in this corona pandemic time, everyone needs to stay at their homes. The Prime Minister ends her speech, saying "Again: obey the hygiene. Everyone stay in your homes." In reality, it's time to stay home. Let us not make mistakes.




By Express News Service

CHENNAI: State Drugs Control Department has instructed all pharmacies not to give any preparation containing Hydroxychloroquine without doctors prescription to prevent misuse of the drug.

The move comes after Union Health Ministry brought it under the scheduled H1 drugs of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945 after Indian Council of Medical Research recommended it as prophylaxis for healthcare providers and household contacts of COVID-19 confirmed cases.

Following the order, State drugs control department circulated the notification to all chemists and druggists associations and instructed them not to give the drug to anyone without doctors prescription. The drug is mainly used for treatment of malaria and arthritis.

A department official said, It was a non-schedule drug. Now, it has been brought under the scheduled H1 drug now, which means pharmacists should not give Hydroxychloroquine drug without prescription of doctors. In its notification the Union Health Ministry said, Sale by retail of any preparation containing the drug Hydroxychloroquine shall be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945.

The Central Government is satisfied that the drug Hydroxychloroquine is essential to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic COVID-19 and in the public interest, it is necessary and expedition to regulate and restrict the sale and distribution of the drug Hydroxychloroquine and preparation based thereon for preventing their misuse, the notification said.

Move comes after ICMR recommendation

The move comes after Union Health Ministry brought it under the scheduled H1 drugs of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules,1945 after ICMR recommended it as prophylaxis for healthcare providers and contacts of COVID-19 confirmed cases. Sale by retail of any preparation containing the drug Hydroxychloroquine shall be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs specified in Schedule H1, the ministry had said in its notification
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My church has five services on Sunday morning across two sites and in two languages. I preach three services in English, our Hispanic pastor preaches a service in Spanish, and our campus pastor preaches at our second site. Why do people choose one service over another?

Ill give you six reasons from the perspective of my church. However, I believe these reasons apply to many churches offering multiple services.

Language preference. This reason is obvious. If you speak only Spanish, youll likely choose our Hispanic service. However, its not as simple as you might think. Children and students of those who attend the Hispanic service often end up in our childrens ministry and student ministry. Some of our bilingual members go back-and-forth between English and Spanish services. Time preference. Some people choose a service because the time slot works well for them. I have a friend who goes to the 8:00 a.m. service simply because hes up early and likes that time. Style preference. Some pastors and church leaders believe style is the driving factor for service selection. Its important, certainly. A monastic chant service is not likely to grow. But we should not fall into the trap of believing one service is more highly attended than another simply because of style. Group preference. A worship service is often the front door to a church, meaning people will attend a worship service before doing anything else in the church. However, once people decide on a church, a small group preference can dictate which service they attend. In our church, some attend the 9:30 a.m. service because their preferred group meets at 11:00 a.m. Family situation. We do not offer programming for children during our 8:00 a.m. service. The main reason is demandsimply too few children would be present to warrant year-round programming. Therefore, if you do not want to have your child in the service, then 8:00 a.m. at our church is not an option for you. I know of other churches that offer student ministry only at one timeslot. Therefore, families with students end up picking a service based upon ministry availability. Week-to-week decision. Believe it or not, there are some who select a worship service based on what is happening in their lives that week. If they want to sleep in, then they go to a later service. If they want to get somewhere before lunch, then they go to an earlier service. Personally, it does not bother me so long as someone is faithful.

Let me share with you two lessons Ive learned from these six reasons: 1) Dont assume people are attending a service just because of style, which is often the argument. 2) Having more options can benefit your church. In our case, we have multiple services mainly because of parking problems. We fill our parking lot long before we fill our worship space. But having these options enables us to reach more people and keep them.

This article was originally published at the Thom S. Rainer blog here.
On Thursday, the United States accused the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and its other top Venezuelan officers of narco-terrorism. The latest updates of President Trump's administration are now pressuring the opposite campaign in expelling the socialist leader of Venezuela.

Venezuelan officers are now being indicted as the United States administration is concerned about the health and welfare of the people as the United States is now being flooded with cocaine and other drugs, a weapon to undermine the government and the people.

The United States is also serious in moving up the case and further the tensions between the two nations. Together with Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's defense minister and Venezuela's Supreme Court Chief justice are also in the list of the accused officials.

Towards the United States' belief, Washington already accused the Venezuelan president of being a corrupt and brutal leader. Charges against the Venezuelan President are repeatedly rejected.

On top of the charge against narco-terrorism are drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. News reports label "narco-terrorism" is said to be a merger of war in drugs and terror.

Rewards of up to 15 million dollars are announced by Attorney General William Barr as it is being offered for leads of information to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.

Attorney General William Barr also stated that the United States believes that Maduro and his colleagues are on to flood the United States with cocaine. President Trump's administration also minds that their chances of getting Maduro to the custody and other accused individuals are quite low due to the connections and anonymity.

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Attorney General Barr also added that while the people in Venezuela are suffering the corrupt officers are enjoying the money of the people inside their own pockets with their drug money.

During a television state address Maduro stated that the United States' President, Donald Trump is a miserable person. Maduro was dismissed with his charge false and racist. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said that charges were directed in benefiting President Trump's 2020 campaign.

The United States administration also released reports regarding the charges that were filed to Maduro and his family, including the inner circle. Maduro's allies are traced and Maduro argues the United States that held the responsibility against him as he was accused to be the leading consumer.

Vladimir Padrino - the defense minister, Diosdado Cabello - a senior socialist leader, and Maikel Moreno - the chief justice of the country's supreme court, Venezuela government officials were also charged with money laundering, drug trafficking, and corruption and are now facing files and complaints. The United States now offers 10 million US dollars to the people who can be caught and give leading information to Cabello and his colleagues' arrest.

The United States, together with other countries recognized that the true Venezuelan president was Juan Guaido, he was the one who was one and the legitimate president. Maduro's reelection just retained its power because the said false president had a strong back up with the strongest countries military in the world namely, China, Russia, and Cuba.

Cocaine and other drugs were said to be found as a weapon and they remained unsealed in the districts of New York, Florida, and Washington.

The justice department said that it was more than 20 years since Maduro had a closed connection with FARC and was named as the "Cartel of the Suns". It has been since 1999 that Maduro along with his allies Cabello and other officers are leaders and have the highest-ranking of the Venezuelan military officials.
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GoAir has offered to fly migrant workers, thousands of whom have been moving out from cities on foot and cycles, to get back home.

"GoAir stands with the nation and has offered its assistance to the Government in whatever way is useful, including helping our fellow Indian migrant workers get home, as we navigate this unprecedented crisis together," the airline said on Twitter.

SpiceJet has also offered services of its aircraft and crew members to the government for any humanitarian mission during the 21-day lockdown and the airline is ready to operate some flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Patna to alleviate the suffering of migrant workers, especially those from Bihar, its CMD Ajay Singh said on March 28.

"The plight of the migrant workers walking hundreds of miles home with families and little ones is heart-wrenching. We @goairlinesindia are ready to operate special flights to get them closer to home, and have offered our services to the government for this," Sanjiv Kapoor, who recently was appointed as an advisor at GoAir, added from his Twitter handle.

Following the 21-day lockdown to counter COVID-19, thousands of migrant workers started moving out of cities, citing lack of food and basic amenities. But with bus or train transport unavailable, they have been forced to go back home on foot, or in cycles and rickshaws.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The airlines have also suspended their flights till April 14, because of the lockdown. But have offered to ferry people and material for relief measures.

Earlier, IndiGo had told the Civil Aviation Ministry that its aircraft and crew are available to transport medicine, equipment and relief material.
An Arklow man has spoken about his experience of contracting Covid-19.

Solicitor and former Arklow Mayor Donal O'Sullivan says he was among the first in Ireland to be diagnosed with the virus following a ski trip to Italy. As he had none of the symptoms associated with the virus - cough, fever, sore throat - Mr O'Sullivan only became aware that he had contracted it after insisting on a test.

Now fully recovered and back at work, Mr O'Sullivan is urging others to follow the HSE's advice to slow the spread of the virus.

Speaking to this paper, Mr O'Sullivan said he contacted the HSE and ski company before travelling and had been assured that 'everything was fine'.

'We were in Trentino in north-eastern Italy and when we went there might have been 12 or 13 cases in Italy. We were told we weren't in an affected area at all and that we'd nothing to worry about.'

He had travelled to Italy for this ski trip as part of a group of 18. They contacted the HSE before returning to Ireland and were told once more 'everything was fine'.

The group returned to Ireland through Verona Airport where 'maybe one in five people were wearing masks. There was no sense of panic at all,' according to Mr O'Sullivan. He called the HSE again on his return to Ireland on Sunday, March 1. At that stage, as he had no symptoms and had not been in an affected area, Mr O'Sullivan says he was advised to continue as normal.

He contacted the HSE before going back to work and was told '"you're fine. You're not in an affected area. You don't have symptoms so stop creating unnecessary panic". This was fair enough at the time because that's what everybody thought.

'The HSE didn't do anything [wrong] in what they said to me. They didn't know.'

The following Wednesday, a member of the ski group told the others that she had been diagnosed with coronavirus. Mr O'Sullivan immediately went into self-isolation as a precaution.

'She's a nurse and before she went back to work, she'd insisted on getting tested and was found to be positive. I hadn't spent any time in her company and didn't meet any of the exposure criteria to her, but I immediately left where I was.

'I went into self isolation and contacted the HSE. They wouldn't test me because I wasn't close enough to this person to be infected and had no symptoms. I said 'okay' then I rang later and insisted I got tested even though I had no symptoms.'

On Thursday, March 5, Donal received word that he had tested positive for Covid-19. He was taken to the Mater Hospital in Dublin where he spent the next seven days in isolation. This was followed by a further seven days in self-isolation at his home. Several other members of the ski group who had contracted the virus were also treated in isolation at the Mater Hospital.

On his experience in self-isolation, Mr O'Sullivan said 'luckily I live in the country and I had my own area in the house which is normally owned by the cat, but we had to get used to one another. It was fine, I was able to work and to go outside if I wanted.'

Mr O'Sullivan said he had no temperature with the virus and was able to continue to work, but thinks 'it might have affected my sense of smell a little bit.'

'If I hadn't been tested, I'd have never known. I wouldn't have had a reason to be tested except one of the girls was a nurse and got herself tested. Of the seven of our group [infected], not one of them was unwell.'

Last Wednesday, Donal received confirmation from the HSE that he had recovered from the virus.

'They gave me a certificate to confirm that I'm recovered from the virus and I'm immune to the current strain.

'Effectively after 14 days you're deemed to be finished and non-infectious. I have the actual certification from the HSE because I wouldn't go out of my house or anywhere until I got that letter.'

The St Mary's Road office re-opened on Monday with social distancing measures in place. Mr O'Sullivan paid tribute to practice partner Aine Hogan and their staff who continued to work remotely.

While Mr O'Sullivan says the Government are 'playing a blinder', he is urging others 'to be so so careful in relation to what they're doing and where they are going.'

'It's all about buying time to slow the growth of it and that comes down to people being extremely responsible. People have been fantastic and they've responded extremely well to what they've been asked. But, we will be asked to do more and we'll have to do it.'

'Everybody is at risk from this and for most people, it's not going to that bad an experience. The problem is it's going to be a bad experience for people who are vulnerable, have underlying health conditions and the elderly.

'Those people are seriously at risk.'

In particular, Mr O'Sullivan says people should be wary of the information they share on social media to avoid spreading 'nonsense and misinformation',

'That was the hardest part for me. Dealing with the misinformation and rumours being spread around about other people was tough...It doesn't help. People have contacted me to say they think they may have such and such but don't want to be tested because they know what it could draw on them. They were self isolating and doing everything else right. They need to be encouraged to be tested.'

Mr O'Sullivan is full of praise for the HSE and hospital staff who looked after him.

'The HSE have fantastic stuff up now [on their website] and they've been very supportive. Even up until yesterday, the consultant in the Mater was still ringing me to ask 'how are you?'

'These guys are up to their necks and they found the time to ring me. They are absolutely playing a blinder and everyone should be very proud of what they are doing. They are putting themselves in the firing line in a big way. They need to be applauded. We should support them and each other.

'We're in the fight of our lives here. There will be an awful lot of people like me who'll be fine. We'll be back in the world.

'I'm sure everyone is sick of the phrase 'flattening the curve', but that's what they are trying to do to buy us some time.'
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At the beginning of the new Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a strip club proprietor tells the camera, The big cat people are backstabbing pieces of shit. The statement sounds both like nonsense and hyperbole. By the end of the seven-part series, it turns out to have been a vast understatement.

Tiger King, which began streaming on March 20th, unfolds like a wild-eyed hybrid of the popular S-Town podcast and HBOs The Jinx, and follows a protracted feud between two eccentric big-cat owners that nearly ended in murder. Riveting, twisted, and occasionally disturbing, the documentary has become our terribly strange distraction from these strangely terrible times. Each episode is an invitation: Come for the majestic animals, but stay for the meth addicts, cult leaders, and the mystery of the missing millionaire.

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Filmmakers Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin stumbled onto the story of Joe Exotic, the so-called tiger king, six years ago, in 2014. By the time they met the gay, gun-brandishing, self-proclaimed redneck with the bleached blonde mullet and an eyebrow ring that appears perilously close to being evicted from his face, the mayhem of the series subtitle was already well underway.

We started in the world I knew best, which was underground reptile smuggling in South Florida, explains Goode, a former nightclub owner/Madonna cohort, who is also the founder of the Turtle Conservatory. We were looking at the pathology of people that engaged in these subcultures, whether its reptiles or bird people or primate people. What fascinated Rebecca and I was the Best in Show aspect, where the people are almost more interesting than the exotic animals theyre keeping.

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For the past few decades, the larger-than-life Joe Exotic (nee Schreibvogel) bred endangered wildlife  primarily tigers  and charged customers to interact with cubs at his G.W. Zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Hes gregarious, if erratic, and claims that one cub can fetch an estimated $100,000 from customers eager for cuddles and photo ops. But after 16 weeks, the furry attraction ages out of the gig and eventually becomes a 400-pound pet with a costly appetite. At one point, Exotic had 227 tigers on his property.

Enter Carole Baskin, the outspoken founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, a sanctuary for animals that have been bred for captivity but have outgrown their usefulness or are otherwise unmanageable. In the first episode, Goode and Chaiklin marvel at their luck in terms of how willingly these colorful characters play their part. Oh, shes dressed perfectly, whispers Goode as Baskin saunters over to greet him donning a flower crown and decked out in head-to-toe tiger print. Over the years, she has deployed her sizable social media following to try to run breeders like Exotic out of business while, at the same time, opening her Big Cat Rescue to the public for tours and events at a price. We are fixing the problem, they are creating the problem, Baskin clarifies in the series first installment.

Carole and Joe were easy, says Chaiklin, of her main subjects. Carole obviously has this very pointed mission, so she was an open book. And Joe has this insatiable hunger to be a star, so he was over the moon every time we were with him.

In fact, the directors benefitted enormously from their primary subjects penchant for documentation, much like Werner Herzog did with 2005s Grizzly Man, about the life and death of Timothy Treadwell. Exotic was filmed constantly by various boyfriends and employees  a collection of drifters and ex-cons  for his nightly web series, which he largely used as a platform to harass and physically threaten Baskin. His footage constitutes some of Tiger Kings most jaw-dropping moments. When a zoo employee, who identifies as a trans man and goes by the name Saff, gets his lower arm ripped off by a tiger, Exotics cameras capture him lying in a pool of blood, and then follow the host to the gift shop where he informs the tourists and laments possible financial ruin.

That moment is so bonkers, says Chaiklin. Saff opts to partially amputate his arm, and returns to work seven days later to offset any negative publicity, which is our first glimpse into the unexpected power that the exotic-animal subculture can have over the people who work within it. Its the ultimate in terms of somebody having completely lost their ability to navigate life in a way where they stick up for their own best interest, says Chaiklin. Adds Goode: Saff puts on a very stoic front, because all of the people that work in these places know that if theres an accident, do everything you can not to report it.

What fascinated [us] was the Best in Show aspect, where the people are more interesting than the exotic animals theyre keeping.codirector Eric Goode

Chaiklin credits Goode with finessing candid interviews from some of the more wary members of the big cat community. (Goode says he and his co-director never got in a cage with the dangerous animals, as so many people onscreen do.) While Chaiklin edited hours of footage in New York, he spent time on location talking to people like Bhagavan Doc Antle, director of South Carolinas Myrtle Beach Safari  a self-styled guru with multiple wives who rechristens the young women that work for him with exotic names and allegedly forces them to dress provocatively. And Mario Tabraue of the Z.W.F. Zoo in West Palm Beach, Florida, an ex-con who once used snakes to smuggle cocaine and casually admits to having been present when the body of an informant was sawed to pieces and burned. And Jeff Lowe, a polyamorous businessman who eventually takes over the G.W. Zoo from Exotic and drops tasteless gems like a little pussy gets you a lot of pussy.

Eric was super fluent in their language and their world and so we had this incredible access, says Chaiklin. He was able to gain their trust and get us into places that PETA had been trying to get into for 10 years. Most of the properties feature signage with guns that warn We dont call 911. Many of these places never really showed us fully their entire operations, Goode says. We would go to Doc Antles, but we were never allowed in the area where the animals are caged and kept. Theres a lot of smoke and mirrors.

He adds that people who are driven to possess big cats, however, also tend to crave attention. Its the status, like having a Hummer or a Ferrari, he says. You have your tiger, theres something very macho about it. Like, look at me, Im special. Theres a whole other sector of people called monkey moms, and these are usually women that treat monkeys as surrogate children, which is a different, bizarre pathology.

The documentary delivers some decidedly lurid twists. (Spoilers ahead.) Episode three delves into Baskins past, focusing on the unsolved disappearance of her wealthy philandering husband Don Lewis in 1997. Lewiss family from a previous marriage believe Baskin killed him and fed his body to his tigers, an accusation she denies but which Exotic aggressively promoted on his web show and in the preposterous music video Here Kitty Kitty, starring a Baskin lookalike. The mystery lingers over the series.

We did a lot of investigating, we talked to a lot of people, and we were not able to prove anything, and neither were law enforcement, says Chaiklin. Whether they did the best job investigating it  I would wager that maybe they made some mistakes along the way. We leave it to the audience.

The animosity between Baskin and Exotic intensified in 2011, after she successfully sued him for trademark infringement, effectively bankrupting him. In 2017, after years of increasingly vivid threats, which included shooting a Baskin mannequin on his web series, Exotic hired Lowes pal Allen Glover to kill her. (Glover claims he was scatterbrained, took the money, and partied instead.) Despite their ongoing reporting throughout this period, Goode and Chaiklin say they only became aware of the murder plot afterwards.

Bizarrely enough, we were at Joes filming when Allen was setting off to kill Caroleand we were completely oblivious, says Chaiklin. It was about six or seven months later when Eric had gone back and he got wind that Joe had suddenly left and we were trying to figure out why. He spoke to Jeff Lowe and heard that Joe was in serious trouble. Goode adds that Exotic was by then under the scrutiny of authorities for a variety of reasons, including allegations that he had killed several of his tigers, which he later confessed to. We knew, just as we know today, that all of these places were being looked at very hard by the feds, says Goode. Joe was at odds with the USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] and had been very threatening.

In January, Exotic, who also goes by Joe Maldonado-Passage (the surnames of his husbands), was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the animal crimes and attempted murder-for-hire. He hasnt been able to watch Tiger King, but some of the other participants, including Baskin and Antle, have already voiced their disappointment. Ive been in touch with everybody, and its fascinating to see the reactions says Goode. Some like the way theyre portrayed. Some dont. (Exotic, meanwhile, has filed a $94 million lawsuit against his former business partner Lowe and the U.S. government for damages incurred by his imprisonment.)

In the week since its release, Tiger King has become a phenomenon, inspiring Reddit threads, Twitter memes, and speculative casting for the upcoming TV adaptation (Kate McKinnon is already attached to play Carole Baskin). With so many people in quarantine right now, we are quite literally a captive audience who are more than willing to believe that truth is stranger than fiction. But chances are Tiger King would have been catnip for us anyway, for the same reason it compelled one of its directors. I knew nothing about this world coming into it, says Chaiklin, and it blew my mind away.

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The Geological Survey of India (GSI) on Saturday urged its employees to donate one day's salary to the prime minister's relief fund to aid the government's efforts to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

GSI's director general M Sridhar requested heads of the departments and deputy director generals of six regions to appeal to employees to make the donation, according to a statement issued by the organisation.

"As always done, GSI shall do its bid in the fight against the Covid-19.

"In this regard, it is an appeal to all the members of GSI family to come forward and contribute at least one days salary from the pay bills of April 2020 to the PMNRF," the director general said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chennai, March 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu on Saturday reported two new Coronavirus positive cases while one affected person was fully cured and discharged. (File Phto: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, March 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu on Saturday reported two new Coronavirus positive cases while one affected person was fully cured and discharged. (File Phto: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, March 28 : Tamil Nadu on Saturday reported two new Coronavirus positive cases while one affected person was fully cured and discharged.

According to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, two foreign returned males - one who had returned from West Indies and the other from the UK - have tested positive for Coronovirus infection.

He said both had transited via Middle East while returning to India and have been isolated with the condition being stable.

With this, the total number of Coronavirus infected persons in the state has gone up to 40.

Meanwhile a 21-year old male who had come from Dublin, Ireland has completely recovered from the infection and was discharged from the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital after two tests showed negative infection results.

Vijayabaskar said the Dublin returnee will continue to be home quarantined for next 14 days and appreciated the medical team that took care of him.

Out of the total 40 tested positive for the virus, two persons have been cured and discharged while one lost his life in the state.
Another 14 Covid-19 related deaths have been confirmed in Ireland by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.

All of the 14 people were located in the east of the country. This is the highest number of deaths so far in Ireland.

It brings to 36 the total number of Covid-19 related fatalities in Ireland.

The median age of today's reported deaths is 81.

The HPSC has also confirmed 294 new confirmed cases as of 1pm today.

There are now 2,415 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that

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There were 49 new positive cases of Covid-19 bringing the total number of cases in the region to 324.

According to data as of midnight on Thursday, March 26 when there were 1,904 confirmed cases in Ireland there are 91 clusters involving 351 cases.

Of the cases, 53% are male and 46% female.

Of the 1,904 cases, 489 have been hospitalised with 67 admitted to ICU.

Healthcare workers are associated with 445 of the cases.

Dublin continues to have the highest number of cases at 1,070 (56%) followed by Cork with 184 cases (10%).

Community transmission accounts for 52% of cases where transmission status is known, while close contacts accounts for 23% and travel abroad accounts for 25%.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health extended his sympathies to the family and friends of those who have passed away and thanked citizens for complying with the restrictive measures currently in place across the country.

We must remain focused in our shared efforts to prevent the spread of this infection, to prevent severe illness especially that which requires ICU admission and ultimately save lives.

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health reiterated the importance of staying at home and following the advice from the Government.

"The Department of Health, HSE and our frontline workers will continue to take every action against Covid-19, but it is each and every one of us, individually, who has the power to reduce this threat."

Earlier this evening, Health Minister Simon Harris gave a briefing where he said the sanctions on the latest restrictions announced will be finalised tomorrow.

Last night, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that everyone should stay in their homes until Easter Sunday with exceptions for specific circumstances such as

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Mr Harris said that people could face being arrested by Gardai if they breach these restrictions but said that he does not expect that to be the course of action in the finalised list.

"A member of An Garda Siochana could detain or arrest somebody who defies the public health advice.

"I always have to quickly follow those comments by saying it is not my expectation that that is the road we're going.

"Without any legal basis, businesses closed, pubs closed, parades cancelled, rugby matches were called off and people were allowed to work from home, businesses closed so the co-operation from people in this country has been incredible."

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Universities have opted for online lectures as the coronavirus epidemic rages on but are sometimes startled by heavy traffic from people other than students who are tuning in.

In some cases this has caused servers to crash, prompting universities to upload lessons to video-sharing websites like YouTube.

One professor of political science at Jeonbuk National University conducted his lecture through Afreeca TV. The class has 50 students, but more than 350 tuned in.

The university warned sternly that it will eject gatecrashers, and only those logged in with their real name only will be able to access online lectures.
Italy has logged a shocking spike in its already staggering coronavirus death toll, with officials warning the peak of the crisis was still days away, as the global infection rate surges relentlessly upwards.

With more than 300,000 people infected in Europe alone, the disease shows few signs of slowing, and has already cast the world into a recession, economists say.

In the US, which now has more than 104,000 COVID-19 patients, President Donald Trump invoked wartime powers Friday to force a private company to make medical equipment, as the country's overburdened healthcare system struggles to cope.

"Today's action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives," Trump said as he issued the order to auto giant General Motors.

With 60 percent of the country in lockdown, and infections skyrocketing, Trump also signed the largest stimulus package in US history, worth $2 trillion.

It came as Italy recorded almost 1,000 deaths from the virus on Friday -- the worst one-day toll anywhere since the pandemic began.

One coronavirus sufferer, a cardiologist from Rome who has since recovered, recalled his hellish experience at a hospital in the capital.

"The treatment for the oxygen therapy is painful, looking for the radial artery is difficult. Desperate other patients were crying out, 'enough, enough'," he told AFP.

In one bright spot, infection rates in Italy continued their recent downward trend. But the head of the national health institute Silvio Brusaferro said the country was not out of the woods yet, predicting "we could peak in the next few days".

Spain too said its rate of new infections appeared to be slowing -- despite also reporting its deadliest day.

- 'Dramatic evolution' -

Europe has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks, with millions across the continent on lockdown and the streets of Paris, Rome and Madrid eerily empty.

Story continues

In Britain, the two men leading the country's fight against the coronavirus -- Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Health Secretary Matt Hancock -- both announced Friday they had tested positive for COVID-19.

"I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus," Johnson, who had initially resisted calls for a nationwide lockdown before changing course, wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, other countries across the world were bracing for the virus's full impact, with AFP tallies showing more than 26,000 deaths globally.

The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa warned the continent faced a "dramatic evolution" of the pandemic, as South Africa also began life under lockdown and reported its first virus death.

In a sign of how difficult the stay-at-home order could be to enforce, police came up against hundreds of shoppers trying to force their way into a supermarket in Johannesburg on Friday, while the streets of a nearby township buzzed with people and traffic.

However, two months of almost total isolation appeared to have paid off in China's Wuhan, as the Chinese city of 11 million people where the virus first emerged partially reopened.

Since January, residents have been forbidden to leave, with roadblocks installed and millions subjected to dramatic restrictions on their daily life.

But on Saturday people were allowed to enter the city, and most of the subway network restarted. Some shopping centres will open their doors next week.

- Younger patients -

In the United States, known infections jumped past 104,000, the world's highest figure, with 1,711 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In New York City, the US epicentre of the crisis, health workers battled a surging toll -- including an increasing number of younger patients -- while struggling with a severe shortage of protective equipment.

"Now it's 50-year-olds, 40-year-olds, 30-year-olds," said one respiratory therapist.

To ease the strain on virus-swamped emergency rooms in Los Angeles, a giant US naval hospital ship docked there to take patients with other conditions.

In New Orleans, famed for its jazz and nightlife, health experts believe the month-long Mardi Gras in February could be largely responsible for its severe outbreak.

"This is going to be the disaster that defines our generation," said Collin Arnold, director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for New Orleans.

As well as the trillion-dollar recovery plan, Trump signed a separate order late Friday allowing the Pentagon to bring former troops and members of the National Guard back to active duty to help the military combat the virus, the Washington Post said, citing a Pentagon spokesman.

But as Europe and the United States struggle to contain the pandemic, aid groups have warned the death toll could be in the millions in low-income countries and war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where hygiene conditions are already dire and healthcare systems are in tatters.

"Refugees, families displaced from their homes, and those living in crisis will be hit the hardest by this outbreak," said the International Rescue Committee.

More than 80 countries have already requested emergency aid from the International Monetary Fund, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday, warning massive spending will be needed to help developing nations.

"It is clear that we have entered a recession" that will be worse than in 2009 following the global financial crisis, she said.

Meanwhile in Latin America, Sao Paulo has been hit harder by the disease than anywhere else in the region, with 68 of the 92 deaths registered in Brazil.

However the country's president Jair Bolsonaro -- who has compared the virus to a "little flu" -- declared he did not believe his own government's statistics on the toll, saying he suspected they had been inflated to serve "political interests".

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President Donald Trump on Friday took a series of actions to ensure availability of medical resources and equipment to fight the global pandemic, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the US surpassed 100,000, with more than 1,500 dead.

"My administration is taking new action to ensure that America has the medical resources and equipment needed to fight the global pandemic. It has been a brutal pandemic for over 150 countries all over the world," Trump told reporters at a White House conference.

Trump has roped in Army Corps of Engineers to build hospitals all over the country, activated the ready reserve components of the Armed Forces and invoked the Defense Production Act to compel General Motors to accept, perform and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators.

In the next 100 days, he said, the government will either make or get in some form over 100,000 additional units.

"My administration is marshalling the full power of the American government, and we will do that, and that is what we have done, and we will continue to do it until our war is won. Economic, scientific, medical, military, and homeland security all of this to vanquish the virus," he said.

The US is working to sign contracts immediately with the major ventilator companies in the country, including General Electrics, Philips, Medtronic, Hamilton, Zole, and Redmed.

Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, informed President Trump they will be producing and donating face shields to help medical professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Boeing is also offering the use of their Dreamlifter cargo plane -- the largest aircraft in the world - for distribution of products all over the country. Boeing will dedicate up to three planes to the mission of flying medical supplies. Each plane can carry 63,000 pounds of cargo per flight.

Earlier in the day, Trump signed into law the historic USD 2 trillion rescue package to help the Americans and secure the country's economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

The legislation among other things gives USD 3,400 for most of the American families of four, and billions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to small and medium businesses, and big corporations like Boeing.

"We've never signed a bill of that magnitude and you know incredibly it was 96 to nothing in the Senate, and it was essentially the same thing in Congress," Trump said. The US Senate had passed the coronavirus stimulus bill with a massive 96-0 votes on Thursday.

On Friday, Apple launched a new tool created in partnership with Centers for Disease Control, the Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA.

Trump said his administration is actively planning the next phase in an all-out war against this horrible virus.

"We are now testing nearly 100,000 patients per day, more than anybody in the world, and we've now, as of even a couple of weeks ago, tested more than any other country in the world, and our capacity continues to grow," he said.

Widespread surveillance testing will allow them to monitor the spread of the virus and were doing that quite accurately, he said. This surveillance testing, he said, will soon enable the administration to publish updated guidelines for state and local leaders.

"We want every county and region in the country to have the underground evidence that they need to determine that mitigation measures that are right for them," he said, adding that each location is different.

Responding to questions, Trump said he wants the state governors to be appreciative of the work being done by his administration, in particular Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the White House Task Force on Coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent and fiance Randall Emmett announced last Wednesday that they would be postponing their wedding in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

And on the most recent episode of the Give Them Lala...with Randall podcast, the 30-year-old reality star could not help but break down in tears as she discussed having their wedding plans upended.

'I'm going through my planner and I put my wedding day on April 18 in pen because I didn't think I would need to erase it at any point,' lamented Kent, while Emmett attempted to console her.

Emotional: Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent could not help but break down in tears on the most recent episode of the Give Them Lala...with Randall podcast while discussing having her and fiance Randall Emmett's wedding plans upended; the betrothed pair were photographed in 2019 in Hollywood, CA

Postponing the wedding until July meant the couple's pre-wedding plans and scheduled honeymoon have been canceled.

'It's okay to be sad,' reassured Emmett as Lala continued with the waterworks. 'I don't think people realize how devastating it is for someone to have a wedding [canceled].'

The couple acknowledged that other people around the world have suffered more than them at the hands of COVID-19, but said the fear riddled social climate has made them 'extra emotional at this time.'

Emmett continued: 'I've watched you cry and you've seen me upset.'

Devastated: 'I'm going through my planner and I put my wedding day on April 18 in pen because I didn't think I would need to erase it at any point,' lamented Kent, while Emmett attempted to console her

The 48-year-old film producer revealed that him and Kent 'had a full-out cryfest a week ago' when they 'first made the decisions [to postpone the wedding].'

'I don't think anyone is prepared for this,' added Emmett.

Feeling comforted by her fiance's kind words, Lala noted that though the circumstances are not ideal, she is still overjoyed by the fact she will become Emmett's wife.

'No matter what day we choose, it's still going to be [special],' uttered the Vanderpump Rules star.

Her rock: 'It's okay to be sad,' ensured Emmett as Lala continued with the waterworks during the podcast. 'I don't think people realize how devastating it is for someone to have a wedding [canceled]'; Lala and Randall photographed in 2019 in Las Vegas

'I love you and I know it's sad,' said Randall. 'We love each other and we're here and we're safe. At the end of the day, a lot of people would pick this spot.'

In the couple's official postponement announcement, provided to People on March 18, they were 'obviously saddened' to push back the wedding, they had made the decision for the 'safety of [their] families and guests.'

'We have made the decision to wait and see how everything progresses. Safety will always be our number one priority,' concluded the couple's joint statement.

Their announcement came just days after reality persona Lala mocked the threat of the ongoing pandemic, telling her Instagram followers: 'I don't feel that God would give me coronavirus before I get married.'

In clips shared to her Instagram story, the blonde beauty approached the threat of the virus flippantly and confessed that she did not 'see that happening' to her.

Bad timing: The couple's postponement came just days after reality persona Lala mocked the threat of the ongoing pandemic, telling her Instagram followers: 'I don't feel that God would give me coronavirus before I get married'

Emmett proposed to his bride-to-be in September of 2018 during a romantic trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in celebration of Lala's 28th birthday.

Emmett was previously wed to actress Ambyr Childers, 31, from 2009 until their separation in 2017 and the finalization of their divorce two years later. They share two girls, London, 10 and Rylee, six.

Kent shot to fame appearing on the Bravo series Vanderpump Rules, and has more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram.

She recently embarked on an acting career, appearing in 2019's Trauma Center as well at 10 Minutes Gone.
He's joined much of the United States in social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

And Ewan McGregor was in high spirits as he kept a few feet away from his daughter Jamyan while they walked their pet dog in California on Friday.

The Birds Of Prey star, 48, cut a casual figure as he stepped out for a stroll in the sunshine with Jamyan, 18, who he shares with estranged wife Eve Mavrakis.

Keeping safe: Ewan McGregor adhered to the rules of social distancing with his daughter Jamyan, 18, while they walked their pet dog in California on Friday

Ewan opted for a low-key blue padded jacket and matching beanie hat as he headed out with Jamyan and their adorable pooch.

The father-daughter duo protected themselves with latex gloves, with Ewan keeping control of the dog on a lead.

Jamyan opted for relaxed sportswear as she joined her father on the low-key outing in the beautiful sunshine.

Relaxed: The Birds Of Prey star cut a casual figure as he stepped out for a stroll in the sunshine

Low-key: Ewan opted for a low-key blue padded jacket and matching beanie hat as he headed out with Jamyan and their adorable pooch

Ewan is dad to four daughters - Clara, 24, Jamyan, 18, Esther, also 18, and Anouk, nine - whom he shares with estranged wife Eve Mavrakis.

The former couple separated in May 2017, with Ewan filing for divorce in 2018.

It was reported in November last year that Ewan had filed court documents to declare himself and Eve both single, a move known as bifurcation, ahead of their divorce being finalised.

People reports the move was in an attempt to speed up divorce proceedings.

Shielding: The star protecting himself from the ongoing spread of the virus with black latex gloves

McGregor allegedly states in the documents, 'that a termination of the status of our marriage at this time will assist in [the] resolution of the balance of this matter.'

TMZ reports McGregor petitioned for joint custody of their children, while Eve filed for sole custody with McGregor getting visitation.

In the months that followed his split from Eve, whom he married back in 1995, McGregor was seen kissing current partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who he starred alongside in the third season of TV series Fargo.

Proud dad: Ewan is dad to four daughters - Clara, 24, Jamyan, 18, Esther, also 18, and Anouk, nine - whom he shares with estranged wife Eve Mavrakis

Not so single: In the months that followed his split from Eve, whom he married back in 1995, McGregor was seen kissing current partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary was previously married to independent filmmaker Riley Stearns for seven years from 2010 until 2017. She announced their separation in May of that year.

Ewan and Mary recently reunited onscreen in Harley Quinn sequel Birds of Prey.

He has also been filming for new Netflix series Halston, which follows the life of esteemed fashion designer, Roy Halston Frowick, who rose to fame in the 1970s.
Canadas deputy chief public health officer has delivered a sobering assessment of the countrys struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Howard Njoo says the fight is far from over, that it could include a second wave, and that we are certainly in it for the long haul.

Its definitely months. Many months, Njoo estimated Friday as the number of novel coronavirus cases in Canada surged to 4,757, including 55 deaths.

Quebecs COVID-19 caseload has soared to more than 2,000  more than double Ontarios 993 cases.

Meanwhile, members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been told by chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance to stay healthy and be ready to respond immediately to the escalating crisis.

One possible glimmer of hope did emerge from B.C. Friday, where data indicates the provinces COVID experience will likely resemble South Koreas rather than brutally hit Italy. B.C.s health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said she thinks the social distancing strategy is working and she urged residents to keep at it.
Threatened bird species spotted in Cancun park days after mandatory closure

Cancun, Q.R.  After only a few days of park closure, three birds on Mexicos threatened list were spotted for the first time in years, in Cancuns Kabah Park.

Alfredo Arellano Guillermo, secretary of Ecologia y Medio Ambiente of Quintana Roo says the three Crax rubra (Great curassow) were seen in the park only three days after it was closed to people due to the virus pandemic.

Three days after the activities for public use in the Kabah State Ecological Park were suspended, the presence of fauna that was impossible to observe on a daily basis is recorded, he reported.

He said that the three birds consisted of one male and two females, adding that these birds have not been seen in urban areas for years. He added that the hocofaisan crax rubra is listed as an endemic species of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Arellano Guillermo explained that Friday morning, staff from the Institute of Biodiversity and Natural Areas of Quintana Roo recorded the presence of three specimens of hocofaisan crax rubra near the Cancun Museum within the State Protected Natural Area.

In 1995, the state government allocated 41.4 hectares of state heritage land located in SM 53 of the city of Cancun to create the Kabah Park a Protected Natural Area, which is considered one of the lungs of the city.

Earlier this week, a jaguar was caught on a nighttime surveillance camera in the municipality of Tulum wandering past a hotel that has also been closed due to the pandemic.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: All major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have assured to amp up their infrastructure to meet the sudden surge in usage following the lockdown, said IT and Industry Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan.

Speaking at a webinar, Ranjan said, We have had a meeting with ISPs such as Reliance Jio, Airtel, ACT, Vodafone, Airtel. All of them have committed that they will amp up their infrastructure.

With 95 per cent of the IT industry working from home, Ranjan said that Airtel and Jio in Hyderabad reported a 30 per cent increase in demand. From January till March, many ISPs have recorded as much as a 50 per cent increase in their usage. ACT, which provides services to around 6.5 lakh people in Hyderabad, has a 50 per cent increase in their demand, said Ranjan.

The IT Secretary said the ISPs had, using an internal system, identified locations with peak internet demand. They have decided what infrastructure they have to upgrade to handle that load, he said.

The ISPs have not received any major complaints regarding the usage and were able to manage with their current capacity, added Ranjan.Ranjan has assured the companies that all requests for approval and submissions will be fast-tracked by the State government. However, he said there are major issues with the ISPs, which the Central government has to resolve. However, whatever there is to be done at the State level, we are doing it in a a very phased manner.

State to provide relief to industries hit by lockdown

The State government will soon announce relief measures for various industries hit by the lockdown, said Ranjan. It is in the process of considering the recommendations made by various industry associations.

There is a national-level relief package, which has already been announced. Certain measures have been introduced by our CM too. We are taking stock of what can we announce from the State level. We will also be announcing a slew of measures that startups, entrepreneurs, MSMEs can avail. We can hopefully announce the measures by Monday or Tuesday.

Ranjan also assured that deliveries from e-commerce platforms will be hassle free. A delivery executive can just wear the company identity card to go about their job, he said.He cited the example of the hand sanitiser industry from the city. Some hand sanitiser companies can manufacture any amount of sanitisers. But they are facing problems to get raw material from Gujarat. We immediately asked the Central ministry to take note of it.
In what could be a game changer for COVID-19 sample testing, US-based Abbott Laboratories says its molecular test for the coronavirus strain can deliver positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. The company has also been given the US Food and Drug Administration's approval as 'emergency use authorisation' for the test.

The test called "ID NOW COVID" is one of the many approved diagnostic tests is the US to detect the COVID-19 strain of pathogen within 30 minutes. Abbott president and chief operating officer Robert Ford said, "With rapid testing on ID NOW, healthcare providers can perform molecular point-of-care testing outside the traditional four walls of a hospital in outbreak hotspots." Ford was quoted as saying by Forbes.com.

The company said it will be making ID NOW COVID-19 tests available next week with the ability to deliver 50,000 tests per day.

The ID NOW was first launched in 2014 and is also used for Influenza A & B, Strep A and RSV testing, the company said. "The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus," Ford said.

Currently US has reported 104,661 cases of coronavirus with more than 1,700 deaths. US is fast becoming the new epicentre of this disease overtaking Italy and China. So far, almost 6 lakh cases worldwide and more than 27, 000 deaths have been reported worldwide.
In a shocking move that no one saw coming amid the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have left their $14 million rental home on Vancouver Island in Canada for a permanent residence in Los Angeles, California.

Though there had been whispers that the Sussexes were considering a move to LA in the weeks following their Megxit announcement, most royal experts assumed that they would be spending some time in Hollywood for the summer, returning to Canada and the U.K. in the following months.

However, it appears that the Sussexes move to LA has been in the works for many months. They were forced to speed up their plans, leaving Canada just before the border between the country and the United States closed in mid-March. Though the Sussexes are hoping for a peaceful life, the paparazzi will certainly be an issue for them in LA.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys move to Los Angeles is based on their career goals

With her voiceover role as the narrator for Disneynatures Elephant airing on Disney+, there are also claims that the duchess may be looking to relaunch her lifestyle brand, The Tig, and work on a new cookbook. Since the Sussexes are looking to become financially independent, they must strike while they are hot.

They have started to look at homes online and are in the process of interviewing security teams, a source close to the Sussexes told E! News in January 2020. They are getting their ducks in a row and seeing if its logistically possible. Theyve reached out to people in L.A. and would like to assemble a team of locals. Meghan would like to be able to do meetings at the house and also be able to host friends and entertain. Those are two things that are important to her.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are living in a compound near Hollywood

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Sussexes packed themselves and their son, Archie Harrison and flew by private jet to LA.

Harry and Meghan have left Canada now for good, an alleged source told The Sun. The borders were closing and flights were stopping. They had to get out. But this move was planned for some time. They realized Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area. They have a big support network there. Its where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based. Meghan has lots of friends there and, of course, her mum Doria.

Currently, they are self-quarantining and practicing social distancing so they have not been out and about since they arrived in California.

The Sussexes are going to have huge issues with the paparazzi in LA

The duke and duchess got a taste of civilian life on Vancouver Island. However, LA will be a whole new ballgame, especially when it comes to the paparazzi.

They will get photographed and there will be a different photographer working on him, a British photographer told Yahoo U.K. There are a lot photographers in LA daily, up to 100. In London, there is only a handful each day. In the UK, we are not allowed to follow them, doorstep them, we work off our leads, our information. We work out where they could be based on their engagements. LA paparazzi dont play by the rules, they will follow them, they are considered fair game. Meghan is an actress, they are in a weird limbo, they have protection and they are trying to make money. They are going to get photographed a lot more and there is not much they can do.

Hopefully, the Sussexes are prepared for whats to come.
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a telephone conversation with President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian was interested in the process of upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections of Artsakh scheduled on March 31, given that tomorrow is the last day of the election campaign.

Armen Sarkissian expressed hope that like in the previous elections this time as they will be organized and held free and fair by maintaining the principles of democracy and competitive fight.

Armen Sarkissian and Bako Sahakyan highlighted the security and stability of Artsakh, which is the issue and goal of Armenia, Artsakh and all Armenians.

President Sarkissian was also interested in the actions taken in Artsakh to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

No case of coronavirus has been reported in Artsakh as of now.

In Armenia the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 372 according to the latest data.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
A hotel owner was booked here on Saturday for allegedly allowing a prayer gathering of over 100 people at his facility despite the lockdown imposed to check the spread of COVID-19, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the hotel and over a hundred people were found offering prayers in a large hall, a police officer said.

He said some of the people have been sent to a for checkup.

In another incident here on Saturday, a person undergoing checkup after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms tried to flee from MG hospital, police said.

He tried to run away when doctors expressed suspicion that he might be infected, they said.

A woman, who was a suspected case of the virus, had also tried to run away from a hospital here, police said.

Two separate cases have been registered against her, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MICHIGAN -- Nearly 1,000 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded since Friday, with the states death toll reaching 111.

The state Department of Health and Human Services released the updated numbers at about 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28.

There were 993 new cases since Friday, with 19 new deaths, bringing the state COVID-19 case total to 4,650.

Doctors on front lines of Michigans coronavirus crisis: It seems like the sky is falling

The new deaths involved 7 in the city of Detroit, 5 in Oakland County, 3 in Macomb County, 2 in Wayne County outside of Detroit and one each in Missaukee, Livingston and Genesee counties.

Saturdays new cases set another daily record, topping the 801 new cases reported Friday.

The data shows that, as of Saturday, the City of Dettroit has 1,377 cases, up from 1,075 a day earlier. Oakland County has 1,018 cases, up from 824 on Friday.

Wayne County now has 939 cases, up from 735 on Friday. Macomb County has 534 cases, up from 404 a day earlier.

Michigan has become a hot spot in the country for new COVID-19 cases.

Michigan has become a U.S. epicenter for coronavirus. Why?

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The statistics show the percentage of cases among males and females is split at 50 percent.

Those who have died from COVID-19 in Michigan, however, are 68 percent male and 31 percent female. The gender is not known on 1 percent, according to the states data.

Of the people who have died, the average age is 68 years, with the youngest 36 and the oldest 97.

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According to the data, 58 of Michigans 83 counties now has at least one COVID-19 case. Thats up from 56 on Friday.

A majority of the cases are in metro Detroit. Outside of Southeast Michigan, Genessee County has 110 cases, Kent County has 53, Ingham County has 32 and Ottawa County has 23.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency on March 10 after the first cases were identified. She has since closed schools, bars, restaurants and other establishments to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further

On Monday, March 23, Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order, requiring Michigan residents to stay at home except for essential business.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

To read more on MLive:

Friday, March 27: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Detroit-area hospitals seeing tsunami of coronavirus cases in national hot spot
T housands of frontline NHS staff are being tested for coronavirus at Chessington World of Adventures, it has emerged.

The childrens theme park, in Surrey, has had six lanes set up in its car park for doctors and nurses to get checked in a drive-thru facility.

The workers will remain in their cars while medics in protective clothing take a nose and throat swab.

Chessington is understood to be one of several sites nationwide rolling out the tests for all NHS staff, announced on Friday.

The testing site at Chessington World of Adventures, Greater London / PA

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, who was standing in for the Prime Minister at the daily press briefing, said the government was working in a "new alliance" with universities, businesses and researchers to boost testing capacity.

These tests will be trialled for people on the front line starting immediately, with hundreds to take place by the end of the weekend  dramatically scaling up next week," he said.

The tests will initially cover critical care employees but will also cover those in A&E, ambulances and GPs, and will act as a check before they return to work.

NHS employees get nose and throat swabs at the drive-thru facility / PA

More than 6,200 confirmed coronavirus patients are currently in hospitals across England and a further 846 people have been admitted to intensive care wards since the outbreak began.

Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS chief executive, said on Friday: From an NHS perspective, we think it is urgently important that we are able to test frontline workers who are off sick or otherwise isolating."

It came on the UKs darkest day for coronavirus-related deaths, which surged by 181 in 24 hours on Friday, and a staggering surge in UK cases, now standing at 14,579.

Boris Johnson vowed to drastically increase Covid-19 tests from around 5,000 to 25,000, with NHS workers prioritised, amid increasing pressure to match other affected countries testing rates.
NAIROBI  Kenya will embark on mass testing of over 2000 persons, who arrived in the country since March 22, 2020, the health ministry has announced.

The campaign starting Sunday March 29, targets individual currently under mandatory quarantine in various designated hotels and Kenyan government facilities.

Kenya on Friday March 26 confirmed its first death from the coronavirus disease with cases now at 31.

The deceased was a Kenyan national who returned to the country on March 13, authorities said.

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta this week announced a 100 % tax relief for persons earning gross monthly income of up to Ksh. 24,000 (about Shs880,000) as the country seeks to protect its citizens from the effects of coronavirus.

Mr Kenyatta also announced that senior government officials such as President, Deputy President, Cabinet Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries and Principal Secretaries have offered a voluntary reduction of their salaries to free up more funds for the government.

Mr Kenyatta announced reduction of Income Tax Rate (Pay-As-You-Earn) from 30% to 25%, and Resident Income Tax (Corporation Tax) from 30% to 25% in order to protect jobs for our people and to provide some certainty for both employees and their employers.

He also announced a reduction of the turnover tax rate from the current 3% to 1% for all Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The President also announced appropriation of an additional Ksh. 10 Billion to the elderly, orphans and other vulnerable members of our society through cash-transfers by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to cushion them from the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also ordered temporary suspension of the listing with Credit Reference Bureaus (CRB) of any person, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) and corporate entities whose loan account fall overdue or is in arrears, effective 1st April, 2020.

The National Treasury shall cause immediate reduction of the VAT from 16% to 14%, effective 1st April, 2020. That all Ministries and Departments shall cause the payment of at least of Ksh. 13 Billion of the verified pending bills, within three weeks from the date hereof. Similarly, and to improve liquidity in the economy and ensure businesses remain afloat by enhancing their cash flows, the private sector is also encouraged to clear all outstanding payments among themselves; within three weeks from the date hereof, he said.

Mr Kenyatta directed the Kenya Revenue Authority to expedite the payment of all verified VAT refund claims amounting to Ksh. 10 Billion within 3 weeks; or in the alternative, allow for offsetting of Withholding VAT, in order to improve cash flows for businesses.

He also directed that Ksh. 1.0 billion from the Universal Health Coverage kitty, be immediately appropriated strictly towards the recruitment of additional health workers to support in the management of the spread of COVID-19.

Related
JOHNSTON -- Iowas death toll from the novel coronavirus has risen to at least three elderly individuals as the virus has spread to almost half the states counties.

Officials with the state Department of Public Health reported Friday that two more Iowans have died from COVID-19 and an additional 56 residents have tested positive, bringing the total number of confirmed known cases of coronavirus to 235 in Iowa.

The two Iowans who died Thursday night were described as one adult at least 81 years old from Poweshiek County and one adult between 60 and 80 years old from Allamakee County.

Earlier this week, health officials reported a virus-related death involving a Dubuque County resident whose age was between 61 and 80 years old.

During a Friday afternoon news conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds offered her prayers and condolences to the families who lost loved ones.

Sarah Reisetter, the Health Departments deputy director, said one of the victims had underlying health issues.

But no other details  such as when they were tested and whether they were hospitalized  have been released.

The governor also defended tough decisions she has made in closing schools and businesses and invoking other measures to slow the spread of the virus that has now proven more deadly in the United States than in other countries.

Reynolds grew emotional for a brief moment while addressing claims by some that the threat of COVID-19 is being overblown and that actions like business closures are an overreaction to the situation.

Iowans are scared and theyre nervous and I appreciate that, Reynolds said as her voice cracked. But were going to get through it and if you keep doing what weve asked you to do, we will be back to those good days. So hang in there.

Reynolds told reporters she has confronted some of the hardest decisions that I have had to make as the governor of this great state, but its also necessary.

I have to do what I can to protect the well-being of Iowans, especially the most vulnerable Iowans, she said. The last thing that I want to do is impact families and individuals and our businesses that are the backbone of our economy. So as the governor of this state I can assure you that the last thing that I want to issue is an order that shuts down a business.

Earlier this month, the governor declared a statewide public health disaster emergency that included limiting gatherings to 10 people and closing bars, restaurants, casinos and other businesses. She has since expanded the order to include a wider range of Iowa businesses while excluding food stores and essential services.

Reynolds said she took the extraordinary action in activating the public health response and recovery aspects of the state disaster emergency plan to slow community spread of the virus. She said the state soon will face a new test as Iowans return from spring break, adding we encourage very strongly that individuals who traveled outside of the state voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days as a virus precaution.

Since COVID-19 was first confirmed March 8 in Iowa, there have been 3,740 negative tests, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and others.

So far, 46 out of Iowas 99 counties have at least one person who has tested positive for COVID-19, with four in double figures: Johnson 58, Polk 28, Linn 22 and Washington 11.

We anticipated, as we tested more, the number of positive cases to continue to rise, Reynolds said. We think well probably see that through next week as well and hopefully once we get to (March 31) or kind of the time line where weve implemented some of the policies, well start to see that hopefully flatten and eventually maybe, maybe tick down.

Reynolds and state public health officials have met with health professional, hospital administrators and others to discuss their surge capacity plans and prospects for coordinating regional approaches to meeting patient demand if necessary. She hopes to reconvene the interested parties next Thursday to continue the discussions about ongoing health care challenges.

Currently, 32 Iowans are hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms, according to Health Department data posted at coronavirus.iowa.gov/#CurrentStatus.

According to the Health Department, the locations and age ranges of the 56 individuals in the new cases include:

 Benton County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years);

 Black Hawk County, two middle-age adults (41-60 years);

 Butler County, one older adult (61-80 years);

 Cedar County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years);

 Cerro Gordo County, one older adult (61-80 years);

 Clinton County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years);

 Dallas County, one adult (18-40 years), one elderly adult (81+);

 Dickinson County, one older adult (61-80 years);

 Dubuque County, two middle-age adults (41-60 years);

 Hardin County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years;

 Harrison County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years), three older adults (61-80 years);

 Henry County, one elderly adult (81+);

 Iowa County, one adult (18-40 years);

 Johnson County, two adults (18-40 years), five middle-age (41-60 years), two older adults (61-80 years);

 Linn County, three adults (18-40 years), seven older adults (61-80 years);

 Mahaska County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years);

 Monona County, one elderly adult (81+);

 Marshall County, one adult (18-40 years);

 Montgomery County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years);

 Muscatine County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years);

 Page County, one older (61-80 years);

 Polk County, one adult (18-40 years), one middle-age adult (41-60 years), two older adults (61-80 years);

 Tama County, one elderly adult (81+)

 Washington County, one adult (18-40 years), two older adults (61-80 years);

 Webster County, one adult (18-40 years);

 Winneshiek County, one adult (18-40 years);

 Woodbury County, one older adult (61-80 years);

 And Wright County, one middle-age adult (41-60 years).

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The UK television station Channel 5 announced on Thursday it would cut down showings of Neighbours and Home and Away from five night a week, to just two.

The decision comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Channel 5 electing to provide Australia's two biggest soap exports to its viewers for as long as possible.

Filming for both shows has been temporarily halted due to the unprecedented circumstances.

Stretching it out: UK Channel 5 cuts Australian soaps Neighbours and Home and Away down to just two nights per week amid COVID-19. Pictured: Madeleine West

'As a result of COVID-19, we have taken the decision to reduce the number of episodes for Neighbours and Home and Away from five to two per week for both soaps,' the British broadcaster said.

'So that our viewers can continue to enjoy them for as long as possible, both programmes will air on Monday and Fridays, effective from Monday March 30.'

In Australia, Home and Away is currently off air, replaced by news specials after production was halted earlier this month.

Reduction: The UK television station Channel 5 announced on Thursday it would cut down showings of the soaps from five night a week, to just two. The decision comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the broadcaster electing to provide Australia's two biggest TV exports to its viewers for as long as possible. Pictured: Ada Nicodemou

Neighbours ceased filming on Friday night, just days after the cast had returned to set.

The Australian soap had planned to film until its scheduled production break in early April, but COVID-19 restrictions pushed the finishing time forward by one week.

The ensemble cast had only returned to the set in Nunawading, Melbourne on Monday, after an employee who had come into contact with a COVID-19 patient tested negative.

Break: Neighbours ceased filming on Friday night, just days after the cast had returned to set. The Australian soap had planned to film until its scheduled production break in early April, but COVID-19 restrictions pushed the finishing time forward by one week. Pictured: The cast

The first temporary shutdown was announced last Wednesday, which also happened to be the Australian soap's 35-year anniversary. Production has now shut down yet again, with plans to resume in mid-April.

'To allow us to refine the Neighbours production model in light of the current Government restrictions in place, Fremantle has decided to start its planned Easter break one week earlier than scheduled,' a spokesperson told TV Tonight.

They went on: 'The series will break for two weeks from the end of shoot this evening. The health, safety and well-being of our cast and crew and all involved on the series is our priority.'

Around in circles: The first temporary shutdown was announced last Wednesday, which also happened to be the Australian soap's 35-year anniversary. Pictured: Stars Jackie Woodburne and Ryan Moloney

Production is expected to resume April 14 with no interruption to on-air delivery in Australia.

In the UK, there are more than 14,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus and at least 759 people have died.

In Australia, there have been 3,637 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 14 deaths.

Halted: The ensemble cast had only returned to the set in Nunawading, Melbourne on Monday, after an employee who had come into contact with a COVID-19 patient tested negative. Pictured (L to R) actors Jane Allsop, Ben Turland, Tim Robards and April Rose Pengilly
Asia

Pakistan: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police attack government workers

Police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistans administered northern district, assaulted protesting government workers in Dir on Tuesday for violating the COVID-19 related regulations against any gatherings. The Class-IV workers from the District Headquarters Hospital were demonstrating outside the District Accounts Office to demand immediate payment of two months salaries.

The failure to pay salaries on time is spreading across Pakistan, especially affecting workers on lower pay grades. While an increasing number of workers are losing their jobs because of the coronavirus, those who are still employed are severely impacted by the delay in salary payments.

Bangladeshi garment workers strike over unpaid wages

More than 200 garment workers from the Dragon Sweater factory in Dhaka stopped work on Sunday morning and protested inside the factory claiming management had not paid wages and allowances for four months. At 1:30 p.m. they demonstrated on Malibagh-Rampura Street in Dhaka, blocking traffic for two hours. The demonstration ended after police mediated talks between workers and the factory authorities.

Cambodian casino workers protest over unpaid wages

On Tuesday, 100 workers from the Hao Cheng Hotel and Casino in SihanoukVille, a seaside city on the gulf of Thailand, demonstrated outside the complex to demand wages that should have been paid on March 10 and March 15. They were also protesting against the sacking of four co-workers.

Hao Cheng Hotel management claimed the pay delays were due to low customer traffic caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Some workers in the industry are anxious to return to the provinces to support their families in the pandemic, increasing the anger over the theft of their wages.

Australia and New Zealand

Australian Paper mill workers maintain work bans

About 160 maintenance workers from Australian Paper in Maryvale, southeast of Melbourne, Victoria state, are maintaining bans on overtime, not using company phones and paper work. The bans came into force in September and the company has hired workers on contract to maintain full production. Limited rolling strike action has been ongoing for seven months against the companys proposed enterprise agreement (EA).

The workers are represented by three unions, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Electrical Trades Union and United Workers Union, who have been trying to reach a deal with Australian Paper for nearly 12 months. Workers have unanimously rejected the companys demands that they accept a two-tier agreement, which involves 15 percent lower wage rates for all new employees.

The company also wants a freeze on existing employees wages until the pay of new starters catches up. The proposed changes could lead to full-time staff being replaced by contractors, cuts in sick and personal leave and alterations in the way overtime is calculated and rosters devised.

Australian Paper is a subsidiary of Nippon Paper, a global company with a net income of $10.3 billion. In February the Victorian Labor government announced that a $200 million grant was available to the company to shift away from hardwood and towards plantation supply.

New Zealand: Sistema plastics workers walkout over COVID-19 concerns

Sistema plastics factory employees in Auckland walked off the job on March 25 citing health and safety concerns associated with the spread of coronavirus. The plant employs around 500 workers. With New Zealand currently in a national lockdown, only businesses deemed essential are permitted to continue operating.

While Sistema is deemed an essential business, workers said the company had not provided any personal protective gear, such as gloves and masks, and employees were expected to work for hours within one metre of each other. Lockdown procedures currently dictate that, apart from members of their own household, everyone should be at least two metres from other people.

Workers said they would not return to the plant until it was safe to do so. E Tu Union officials met with Sistema management on Wednesday and following a WorkSafe inspection of the plant on Thursday, the company said workers could remain at home and would receive full pay during New Zealands four-week coronavirus national shutdown.
L ockdown has eased in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the global coronavirus pandemic began.

The city of 11 million people, in Hubei province, has been shut off to the world since January as cases climbed to 50,000 and 3,000 died.

Numbers have plummeted over the last two months, with state officials reporting 54 cases on Friday - all of which it said were imported.

Now people from elsewhere in China are being allowed to enter Wuhan, but not leave, and roads reopened to traffic last night, according to reports.

Trains arrived at Wuhan's 17 railway stations for the first time in two months / AFP via Getty Images

The country has brought in a temporary ban on foreign visitors even if they have visas or residence permits in a bid to stop the pandemic returning, with airlines also limited to one flight a week, which has to be more than 75 per cent full.

Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP

Researchers estimate 600,000 confirmed infections have been recorded globally and 28,000 deaths since Covid-19 first emerged in Wuhan in December. It is thought to have began in a wild seafood market.

Authorities say they are taking no chances in the city amid fears of a second wave / AFP via Getty Images

Roadblocks and drastic curbs on civil liberties have confined its residents to total lockdown for the last two months, but state media said the subway would reopen on Saturday as high-speed trains arrive at the citys 17 stations.

State officials say the restrictions on people leaving the city will end on April 8, when domestic flights are due to resume.

The city of 11m people is where Covid-19 first emerged / AFP via Getty Images

Guo Liangkai, a 19-year-old student whose one-month work stint in Shanghai stretched to three months due to the clampdown, said upon arriving into Wuhan on Saturday morning: It makes me very happy that I can see my family.

We wanted to hug but now is a special period so we cant hug or take any actions like these.
A woman wearing a mask walks in Paris. (Getty Images)

Scientists have warned draconian measures to combat the coronavirus should be eased gradually to avoid a second peak in the outbreak.

A team from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) used a mathematical model to simulate the impact of relaxing or extending school and workplace closures in the Chinese city Wuhan, where the new strain emerged.

Results suggest lifting these measures in March may cause a second wave of cases to come to light in late August.

Maintaining restrictions until the beginning of April, however, would likely delay a second peak until October, buying the health service more time.

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The city needs to be really careful to avoid prematurely lifting physical distancing measures, because that could lead to an earlier secondary peak in cases, said lead author Dr Kiesha Prem.

But if they relax the restrictions gradually, this is likely to both delay and flatten the peak.

While the exact timings will vary between countries, the scientists believe the principal of their findings will apply everywhere.

Medical staff move a patient from a specialist high-speed train to an ambulance during a transfer of coronavirus patients from Strasbourg to Angers, western France. (Getty Images)

The coronavirus is thought to have emerged at a seafood and live animal market in the Chinese city Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, at the end of last year.

Unprecedented measures were taken to control the outbreak, with strict travel restrictions being enforced in the city on 23 January.

This was extended to the rest of Hubei on 26 January.

The province, aside from Wuhan, has since lifted its travel restrictions. Wuhan will partially ease the measure on 8 April.

Travel aside, authorities closed schools, extended the Chinese New Year celebrations to keep adults from their workplace and promoted social distancing.

The coronavirus has spread well beyond China, with cases being confirmed in 175 countries across every inhabited continent.

Story continues

Since the outbreak was identified, more than 492,600 patients have been reported, of whom over 119,900 have recovered, according to John Hopkins University.

Cases in China have been plateauing since the end of February, with Europe now the epicentre of the pandemic.

The UK has had more than 9,600 confirmed cases, of whom 465 have died.

Globally, the death toll has exceeded 22,100.

Healthcare workers applaud in return as they are cheered on by local police outside the University Hospital in Coruna, north-west Spain. (Getty Images)

Crucial for policymakers everywhere

The LSHTM scientists based their model on information showing how often people of different ages mix in varying locations.

Numerous assumptions had to be made, including how long the average patient is infectious for and the coronavirus basic reproduction number.

This is the number of people a patient statistically goes onto infect.

For example, a number of three means every patient is expected to pass the virus to three others.

The coronavirus basic reproduction number has been debated, with Professor David Heymann, also from the LSHTM, previously telling Yahoo UK it changes daily as new information comes in.

When it comes to how long a patient is infectious for, scientists from John Hopkins University looked at 181 people who tested positive 4 January and 24 February.

They found most developed the tell-tale flu-like symptoms within five days, while nearly all (97.5%) endured fever, cough and breathlessness within 11.5 days.

Experts claimed this supported a 14-day quarantine.

After taking these assumptions into account, results of the LSHTM research suggest staggering the relaxation of Wuhans interventions until the beginning of April would reduce the number of infections by more than 92% by mid-2020.

By the end of the year, infections would be expected to be down 24%, the scientists wrote in The Lancet Public Health.

Our results won't look exactly the same in another country, because the population structure and the way people mix will be different, said study author Dr Yang Liu.

But we think one thing probably applies everywhere: physical distancing measures are very useful, and we need to carefully adjust their lifting to avoid subsequent waves of infection when workers and school children return to their normal routine.

If those waves come too quickly, that could overwhelm health systems.

Dr Tim Colbourn, from University College London, called the research crucial for policymakers everywhere.

Writing in a linked editorial, he added: It indicates the effects of extending or relaxing physical distancing control measures on the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.

Given many countries with mounting epidemics now potentially face the first phase of lockdown, safe ways out of the situation must be identified.

New country-specific models should incorporate testing, contract tracing and localised quarantine of suspected cases as the main alternative intervention strategy to distancing lockdown measures, either at the start of the epidemic, if it is very small.

Or after the relaxation of lockdown conditions, if lockdown had to be imposed to prevent healthcare system overload in an already mounting epidemic.

A couple with a bunch of flowers walk in Warsaw. (Getty Images)

The world is holding its breath waiting to see what happens

Dr James Gill, from Warwick Medical School, praised the research, saying: The implications of this are profound.

Maintaining restrictions until April appears to have a significant effect on flattening the curve and has the potential to delay any second peak, benefits which the model shows are significantly lost if restrictions are abruptly lifted, rather than reduced in a staggered manner.

The proposals put forward here align with current practices and support the continuation of the quarantine efforts to reduce the case load burden on health infrastructures.

Given the current levels of assumptions already in use for government public health responses, it is gratifying to see a reasoned model which may be able to further guide policymakers.

Prof Tom Solomon, from the University of Liverpool, added we will only know if lifting restrictions triggers a second outbreak after the event.

The world is holding its breath waiting to see what happens when Wuhan eases the physical distancing measures that it imposed some months ago, he said.

Will easing restrictions lead to a second wave of coronavirus?

The measures clearly brought the outbreak under control, but will easing them lead to a second wave of [the coronavirus]?

This modelling paper suggests rather than easing the measures in March in Wuhan, they should be held in place til April to give the health systems more time to recover and prepare for a likely second wave.

There are so many uncertainties, however, I suspect the only way we will know for sure is to see what happens when the measures are eased.

Prof Solomon suggests authorities in Wuhan very slightly ease the measures for three weeks, perhaps by allowing people to spend more time outdoors, but without social contact.

We would then be able to see the impact on infection rates and lock down again if needed, he said.
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Better stay put: A would-be passenger shows a ticket cancellation form at Bekasi Station in West Java on Friday. Many people who had planned to visit their hometowns for the upcoming Idul Fitri festivities with their families have decided to cancel their trips over fears of COVID-19 transmission. (JP/P.J. Leo)

Dozens of medical professors have called for local lockdowns in coronavirus-stricken areas such as Jakarta to battle the highly infectious disease, saying that the governments policy of physical distancing is not enough.

The call comes as the government scrambles to prevent millions of people from leaving the capital, which has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, to celebrate the Idul Fitri holiday in their hometowns.

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The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has notified the Mashpee Wampanoag that their reservation will be disestablished and the land taken out of trust, the tribe revealed Saturday.

Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt notified the Mashpee Wampanoag of his decision on Friday, tribe Chairman Cedric Cromwell stated on the tribes website.

[The] action was cruel and it was unnecessary. The Secretary is under no court order to take our land out of trust. He is fully aware that litigation to uphold our status as a tribe eligible for the benefits of the Indian Reorganization Act is ongoing, Cromwell stated. It begs the question, what is driving our federal trustees crusade against our reservation?

The Mashpee Wampanoag have been involved in a prolonged legal battle over 321 acres of land in Taunton and a proposal to build a casino there.

A bill, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act (H.R. 312), sought to recognize and protect what was described as tribal homeland. It was passed by the House on May 15, 2019 but failed to win passage in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Before it arrived at the Senate, President Donald Trump sharply criticized it in a tweet: Republicans shouldnt vote for H.R. 312, a special interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas) Warren. It is unfair and doesnt treat Native Americans equally!

Cromwell vowed to continue the fight.

We have survived, we will continue to survive. These are our lands, these are the lands of our ancestors, and these will be the lands of our grandchildren, he stated. This Administration has come and it will go. But we will be here, always. And we will not rest until we are treated equally with other federally recognized tribes and the status of our reservation is confirmed.
The governor of Tokyo has again urged people to refrain from non-essential outings, warning that the capital is at a critical juncture in preventing an explosive spread of the coronavirus.

Yuriko Koike made the appeal as she reported 40 new cases in Tokyo on Friday. The Japanese capital has seen 40 or more new patients for three straight days.

She said the figure reaffirmed that the metropolis is on the brink of a sudden surge in the number of cases.

She called on residents to share a sense of crisis and act responsibly, adding that Tokyo will work with neighboring prefectures to stop the further spread of the virus.

The governor said "non-essential outings" refers to outings that can be delayed. They exclude hospital visits by people with chronic ailments and shopping at supermarkets or convenience stores to buy necessities.

She asked residents to make their own decisions on whether they must go out.

Many people gather at parks and other outdoor locations to enjoy cherry-blossom viewing around this time of year.

Koike said the cherry blossoms will bloom again next year, and urged people to give up visiting such locations this spring to help overcome the challenges posed by the coronavirus.
David Lloyd health clubs could be turned into emergency hospitals in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The chain is in talks with the Government about converting a 'handful' of its largest gyms into emergency medical facilities to stop the NHS getting overwhelmed.

The clubs are not currently in use after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered leisure centres and gyms to shut their doors during the coronavirus lockdown.

The chain is in talks with the Government about converting a 'handful' of its largest gyms into emergency medical facilities to stop the NHS getting overwhelmed

A spokesman for the fitness group confirmed discussions were under way.

It comes after photos revealed the inside of the ExCel centre in London, which is being made into a temporary hospital with two 2,000-person wards to aid the health service's response.

The NHS will build more temporary hospitals in Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Scotland.

Incredible images from inside the ExCel Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into London's emergency coronavirus hospital is underway

The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham will add an initial 500 beds, with the potential to grow to 2,000 if necessary.

Manchester Central Convention Complex will add 500 more, with the capacity to expand to 1,000, and Cardiff's Principality Stadium will provide up to 2,000 more.

Efforts are under way to source the doctors, nurses and non-clinical workers to staff the huge units.
Medical and health associations in Ontario issued a warning Saturday as the province  and country  see a surge in the prescription of two drugs that appear to be circulating as treatments for COVID-19 despite both a serious lack of evidence that they work and significant potential side-effects.

Pharmacists across Ontario and across the entire country have reported significant growth in the number of prescriptions being issued for one or a combination of these two products, says a joint statement from the Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Pharmacists Association and Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

The prescriptions in question involve a combination of two medications, hydroxychloroquine sulfate (brand name Plaquenil) and azithromycin (brand name Zithromax). The first is often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and acute malaria attacks, while the latter is prescribed for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by pharyngitis, tonsillitis and community-acquired pneumonia among others.

With our collective memberships of more than 110,000 strong, Ontarios doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners and pharmacists, we have an obligation and duty to educate our patients that any treatment  particularly for COVID-19  needs to be evidence-based, reads the statement, warning of the serious lack of evidence that supports the widespread use of the medications and significant potential side effects.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump called the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine a game-changer in fighting the new coronavirus. But medical associations say it is not evidence-based.

The side effects of using both medications unchecked could also have adverse effects including cardiac arrhythmias, which can be especially dangerous for patients with chronic medical conditions such as hepatic disease or renal failure.

The widespread prescriptions and dispensing of the drugs has created a shortage across Canadian , specifically a serious shortage of hydroxychloroquine sulfate and even an outage in some brands. This could lead to serious challenges for long-term treatment and care of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus patients.

Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists alike are all hopeful for an end to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, and we are collectively confident that effective treatments will emerge soon, But, as evidence-based clinicians, we must be diligent in our efforts not to let blind hope drive our decisions, says the statement. As more studies are conducted in this area and evidence emerges, it is also important that clinicians judiciously prescribe and dispense medications to ensure patients who require therapy continue to have access.

With files from the Associated Press.

Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi

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Reno Omokri, a popular social media commentator and chieftain of the peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has described the now-viral video of the minister for health, Osagie Ehanire and his NCDC counterpart briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on coronavirus pandemic as a mere show.

Read Also: Covid-19: Buhari Receives Health Minister, NCDC DG At Presidential Villa (Photos)

Speaking via his verified Twitter handle shortly after the video broke out, he said they could have communicated via teleconferencing.

The video of the minister of health and DG of @NCDC briefing General @MBuhari was just for show. They could have briefed him by teleconference or phone in the spirit of social distancing. The video Nigeria want to see is of Buhari briefing Nigerians, Omokri said.
A 70-year-old Sikh priest, who returned from a trip to Germany and Italy, is being seen as the one who infected 27 of the 38 coronavirus cases reported in Punjab.

The priest, a resident of Nawanshahr, returned to the state on March 7. He died following a cardiac arrest on March 18, officials said here on Saturday.

The test report of his samples which were positive (for coronavirus) came after his death, they said.

He is responsible for infecting almost 70 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in the state, the officials said.

As many as 27 persons contracted coronavirus after they came in contact with the septuagenarian and his primary contacts, they said.

Of these, 14 were his family members, including his two-year-old grandson, they said.

Among the 27 affected, a majority of them belong to Nawanshahr and a few to Phillaur in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur.

The district administration in Nawanshahr has completely sealed 15 villages and asked around 28,000 people not to go outside their villages, Banga SDM Gautam Jain said on Saturday.

We have traced 700 close contacts of the COVID-19 patients. They are home quarantined and monitored regularly, he said.

Jain said samples of around 350 persons have been taken for testing.

The officials said the septuagenarian, after arriving from Germany, had even attended the Hola Mohalla celebrations at Anandpur Sahib which concluded on March 10.

As reports of the Sikh priest came positive, the administration of Rupnagar conducted a house-to-house survey of Anandpur Sahib residents to check if anyone was showing symptoms of the deadly disease.

An appeal was also made by the administration to the people to get themselves checked if they had met the priest.

During the annual Hola Mohalla celebrations, thousands of Sikh devotees from India and abroad assemble at Anandpur Sahib to pay obeisance at the Gurdwara Kesgarh Sahib and take a dip in the holy Sarovar.

Meanwhile, no fresh case of coroanvirus was reported in the state on Saturday, a medical bulletin said.

In Punjab, 19 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Nawanshahr, six in Mohali, six in Hoshiarpur, five in Jalandhar, one each in Amritsar and Ludhiana.

As of now, a total of 898 samples have been tested, out of which 596 came negative, while the result of 264 samples is awaited, officials added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ministry is inviting all Egyptian physicians to attend the awareness webinar on COVID-19

Egypt's health ministry has announced that it is holding a webinar on Sunday on the protection against and the treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a post on its official Facebook page, the ministry said on Saturday that it is inviting all Egyptian physicians to attend the awareness webinar.

"In light of the ministry's continuous efforts to fight COVID-19, it is our great pleasure to invite Egyptian physicians to attend the national virtual COVID-19 awareness webinar," the ministry said.

The ministry's webinar, which comprises seven sessions, is scheduled to start at 11am and is planned to end at 12:30pm.

In order to attend, the ministry says physicians should first register here.

Egypt has a total of 576 coronavirus cases nationwide, including 36 fatalities.

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Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith posted a video on Twitter saying that its important to continue enforcing parking laws in spite of the coronavirus pandemic.

The video came after other social media posts complaining that UAB health care workers were receiving parking tickets because the UAB employee parking decks were closed.

Smith said the decks remain open. UAB Health System released a statement saying it is making new parking options available for employees. The statement is at the end of this article.

The chief said its important to maintain limits to on-street parking and observance of no-parking zones to maintain access for emergency vehicles, wheelchair access, loading zones, and other needs.

Smith said UAB employees who need parking access can call the UAB transportation office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The number is 205-934-3513.

The City of Birmingham has received several inquires regarding parking. Below is comment from Police Chief Patrick Smith (1/3) pic.twitter.com/ylwtmraw7i  City of Birmingham (@cityofbhamal) March 27, 2020

UAB also says on Twitter that the parking decks remain open.

UAB parking lots and decks remain open. Employees with parking permits are being provided parking in decks within three blocks of the hospital. Any employee needing parking accommodation may contact the UAB Transportation Office at 205-934-3513 between 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  UAB Transportation (@UABTransport) March 27, 2020

The UAB Health System released a statement to employees:

The City of Birmingham has received criticism from hospital employees for ticketing cars parked illegally outside of UAB Hospital in recent days. Even during this unusual time, ... it remains important  for many reasons  for the city to continue to enforce parking laws on the Southside.

Working with UAB Transportation we have made special arrangements to make convenient parking more accessible to you. Effective since March 19, employees who normally park in the Express lot have been given access to closer locations, all within three blocks of the hospital. We ask parkers who have been reassigned to continue to park in those lots/decks to which they are assigned.

In addition, several lots and decks all over campus that are typically gated have been opened and are available to employees. Employees who do not already have another parking reassignment, can now access these options, including the 5th Ave. Deck (entrance at on 5th Ave. S. between 19th and 20th Streets).

These options have been made available for your convenience and to discourage our employees from on-street parking. Mayor Randall Woodfins team has been a good partner to the healthcare community and UAB during the pandemic. We could not ask for a more supportive and cooperative relationship.

If you have questions or concerns about parking, or need an accommodation, please contact UAB Transportation at 205-934-3513 Monday thru Friday between 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

This story was edited at 3:49 p.m. to remove first person language from the statement from the UAB Health System.
The massive aid package aimed at helping the nation cope with the coronavirus pandemic includes both funding and regulatory flexibility focused specifically on schools and students. Here are some of the highlights.

How much of the $2 trillion stimulus package will fund education?

The package sets aside $13.5 billion in dedicated funding for K-12 education through a stabilization fund. That funding could be used for a broad range of educational purposes, including serving special populations like English-language learners and students with disabilities, continuing remote educational programs during long-term closures, and mental-health support for students. The plan also includes $3 billion for governors to use at their discretion to assist K-12 and higher education as they deal with the fallout from the virus.

What strings are attached to the stabilization fund?

In order to access the state education stabilization fund, states would first have to agree to provide funding to education in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 thats at least the same as the average of their education funding over the three prior fiscal years. However, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos could waive that requirement.

The package also requires that any state or school district getting money from the stabilization fund shall to the greatest extent practicable, continue to pay its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to coronavirus.

What else is in the stimulus related to children and schools?

The package provides additional funding for a variety of relevant programs:

$15.8 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;

$8.8 billion for Child Nutrition Programs to help ensure students receive meals when school is not in session;

$3.5 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants, which provide child-care subsidies to low-income families and can be used to augment state and local systems;

$750 million for Head Start early-education programs;

$100 million in Project SERV grants to help clean and disinfect schools, and provide support for mental health services and distance learning;

$69 million for schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education; and

$5 million for health departments to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfecting schools and day-care facilities.

How does the stimulus address remote learning needs?

The K-12 stabilization money could be used to provide students internet connectivity and internet-connected devices to boost access to distance learning

And the package provides $25 million for the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development Programs to support distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband.

But the package doesnt provide additional funding for the Federal Communications Commissions existing E-Rate program, which many schools already use for internet and technology efforts. Some education groups have promoted that funding stream, saying schools are familiar with its regulations and requirements. And theyve called on the FCC to loosen regulations so that the funding can be more easily spent on at-home devices for students who lack internet access.

Does the stimulus package give DeVos any authority to help schools?

1) Through a streamlined waiver process, states and Indian tribes could get significant waivers from accountability, reporting, and testing requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Even before Congress passed the bill, DeVos had begun broadly waiving testing requirements for states. That process would let states essentially freeze in place their schools that have already been identified for improvement. No schools would be added to the list, and no schools would be removed from the list for the 2020-21 school year.

2) States and school districts could also apply for targeted one-year waivers from sections of ESSA dealing with several funding mandates. For example:

They could seek to get waivers from ESSAs requirement for states to essentially maintain their education spending in order to tap federal funds.

They could seek a waiver to make it easier to run schoolwide Title I programs regardless of the share of low-income students in districts and schools.

They could seek flexibility from requirements governing Title IV Part A, which funds programs aimed at student well-being and providing a well-rounded education. Caps on spending for different priority areas would be lifted, and schools would no longer be barred from spending more than 15 percent of their Title IV money on digital devices.

Districts could seek to carry over as much Title I money as they want from this academic year to the next one; normally theres a 15 percent limit.

Finally, they could seek waivers from adhering to ESSAs definition of professional development.

3) DeVos has 30 days from the day the bill is signed to tell Congress if she thinks any additional waivers are necessary from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Actthe federal law governing special educationas well as ESSA, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, in order to provide schools with limited flexibility.
Description

GIS  28 March, 2020: A sum of Rs 7.5 million has been raised, as at date, for the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund put in place to provide support to the population in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, announced the spokesperson of the National Communication Committee on Covid-19, Dr Zouberr Joomaye, at the daily press briefing held, this evening, at the Treasury Building in Port Louis.

With regard to the number of Covid-19 cases, he underlined that during the last 24 hours, a total of 187 tests was conducted out of which eight new positive cases were identified thereby bringing the total of infected people to 102. On the international front, he said, Covid-19 continues to surge in Europe and in the United States where the highest number of people tested positive for the virus has been recorded.

Dr Joomaye also spoke of the disruptions encountered on the online shopping platforms due to an overloaded website traffic. He reassured citizens that necessary actions were being taken to increase the system capacity of these online shopping service providers to allow them to cater for the needs of the population. An action plan with strict sanitary guidelines is in the pipeline for the re-opening of supermarkets, he said,and will be communicated in due course.

Moreover, Dr Joomaye highlighted the important economic measures enumerated in the Financial Support Plan proposed by the Government to relieve operators especially Small and Medium Enterprises from the adverse impact of the Covid-19. He urged entrepreneurs to consult the website of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, mof.govmu.org, for all necessary information that they may require to benefit from the Plan.

He also expressed satisfaction regarding the smooth distribution of food packs to the people in need and reiterated Government's support to the population. The hard work and sacrifice of the staffin the health and other essential services is indeed remarkable during this difficult phase, added Dr Joomaye.

The Director of Health Services, Dr Vasantrao Gujadhur, for his part, provided details on the cases reported positive while highlighting that out of the 102 cases, 58 were transmitted locally and the remaining ones were imported. He added that some 756 contact tracing have been conducted, till date, out of which 60 people were found to be infected with the virus. With regard to the eight new cases, he outlined that seven of them are persons aged between 40 and 60 years. Three medical staff were also tested positive for Covid-19 in the batch of the eight new cases.

He thus urged each and every one to join forces and respect the conditions of the curfew period and social distancing, which he said, are vital so as control the cycle of transmissions and contain all risks of the pandemic. On this score, he predicted that if all laws of confinement are strictly adhered to, Mauritius can experience a flattening curve of the Covid-19 in the near future.
On red cobbled Main Street in Guymon, the biggest town in Oklahoma's panhandle, Jesus Ruiz gives 'high and tight' hair cuts as a red, white and blue barber's pole turns lazily outside.

About half the customers in the barber shop work at the busy pork processing plant in Guymon, a majority Hispanic/Latino community which rises like an island in a sea of corn and grass. Ruiz hopes this remoteness protects it from the coronavirus encroaching on all sides.

'I love it that nobody knows we're here,' says Ruiz, 33, a Mexican-American who said the crime rate in Riverside, California, prompted him to quit the city near Los Angeles two years ago and move to this close-knit town of 11,500, where people often leave their doors unlocked when they go out.

Jesus Ruiz gives a haircut to a client at his barber shop on the main street in Guymon, Oklahoma. Stores are still open in the town as it is yet to declare any coronavirus cases

A flag flies outside Ruiz's barbershop in Guyon, where life has continued to be fairly normal amid the coronavirus pandemic

In contrast to shuttered businesses and tens of millions of people confined to their homes across America, life seems fairly normal in Guymon, the closest case of coronavirus still more than 100 miles away. There is nevertheless fear that COVID-19 may already be here, or will find its way in as workers from Texas, Kansas and other areas of the state commute to jobs in meat processing, feedlots and farms.

Guymon has not been spared the panic buying seen elsewhere and its library and recreation center are closed. All Oklahoma schools are shut for the remainder of their year.

But locally-owned small businesses and restaurants remain open, albeit limiting customers, many owners more fearful of the economic impact of the virus than the virus itself.

Unlike in neighboring New Mexico and Colorado, most Oklahomans do not face a stay-at-home order, but adults over 65 and people with underlying conditions are asked not to go out.

City Manager Joe Dunham said, under an order by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, it will take just one COVID-19 case in Guymon's Texas County for non-essential businesses to close.

'I was hoping to keep restaurants open as long as possible just to create a sense of normalcy and not have panic,' said Dunham, who is still getting used to not shaking hands with visitors to city hall. 'It's a little bit quieter, the highway still seems pretty busy though.'

Rick French curls his granddaughter Britney Woodbury's hair at his salon off the main street of Guyon. His business, like other businesses in the area, is allowed to stay open

Cars drive down the main street of Guyon where locals are still living normally so long as the town doesn't report any coronavirus cases

The small town of Guymon sits close to the border of Colorado, Kansas, Texas and New Mexico

There is nothing quiet about the Seaboard Foods pork processing plant three miles up U.S. Highway 64. It is operating at full capacity with nearly 2,600 workers, more than 80 percent of whom live in Guymon or the county.

People from at least four continents speaking about 19 languages and dialects process more than 20,000 hogs a day. This 'critical' food operation, by far Guymon's biggest employer, has been ordered to stay open.

As hundreds of workers change shifts, four Spanish speaking employees pile out of a Chevy Caprice after car-pooling the 40-miles from Liberal, Kansas. One has worked at the plant for a week, another several months, two of them for years.

'Of course we're scared of coronavirus,' said a 61-year-old woman from Mexico, who asked that her name not be used. 'It's really cold in there and there are a lot of people with flu.'

A truck drives on US Highway 64 on the plains of Oklahoma's panhandle region which is yet to report a single coronavirus case

An abandoned homestead in Oklahoma's panhandle

Plant employees are asked to stay home if they feel sick and Seaboard is offering two weeks paid leave to any worker told to self-quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19, said spokesman David Eaheart. The company is giving extra pay to employees who meet attendance requirements in the busy weeks ahead.

Thirteen coronavirus tests have come back negative in the county, with zero positive and 10 results pending, Texas County Memorial Hospital reported.

Back on Main Street, Kalye Griffin, 42, arranges shirts at her Top Hand western store and trusts in God to safeguard families in this county where eight in ten voters backed President Donald Trump in 2016.

Services have not stopped at Griffin's Victory Center Church and other houses of worship.

'We are very grounded in our faith and know we are protected,' said Griffin, who has seen sales dwindle as rodeos and dances are cancelled. 'The fear is doing more damage than the virus.'

A few blocks north, hairdresser Rick French, 66, is skeptical about shutting businesses to fight a virus he believes may only be as deadly as the flu.

At the same time, he says there is some denial in Guymon that anything as nasty as coronavirus could ever come to town.

'It's almost like we're detached from reality. Nobody can believe it is going to happen here,' said French, who plans to vote for Trump again this year. He said his business has dropped off as older female customers stay home. 'We watch it on TV and just hope it doesn't come here.' (Reporting By Andrew Hay in Guymon, Oklahoma; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Daniel Wallis)
Private hospitals are rushing through cosmetic surgeries and other non-urgent procedures before a ban is implemented this week, defying warnings from health experts that it would further drain resources needed for the coronavirus pandemic.

The Waratah Private Hospital in Hurstville in Sydney's south allowed cosmetic surgeon Dr Anoop Rastogi to schedule five operations for breast implants and reconstructions on Friday, in a move condemned by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Waratah Private Hospital on Saturday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

ASPS President Gazi Hussain said some private hospitals were running their operating theatres 24-hours a day ahead of the ban on semi-urgent elective surgery from Wednesday.

Its a completely irresponsible act to be doing these surgeries just to get in before the shutdown. That is purely driven by greed, Professor Hussain said. The sooner the ban comes in the better."
New Delhi: The union government on Friday (March 28,2020) has approved a financial relief package for the power sector. The relief was announced because the government admitted that electricity consumers will not be able to pay the electricity bill for the next three months which will lead shortage of money to the power supply companies.

The govt statement read, ''Directions have been issued to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to provide a moratorium of three months to Discoms to make payments to generating companies and transmission licensees and not to levy penal rates of late payment surcharge. State Governments are being requested to issue similar directions to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions."

The Ministry of Energy and Power Supply further said that CPSU Generation and Transmission Companies will continue supply and transmission of electricity even to DISCOMs which have large outstanding dues to the Generation/Transmission companies. Adding that there will be no curtailment of power supply during the present emergency.

The Central government has also requested the state governments to issue similar directions to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to ensure that no one faces shortage of power supply during lockdown.

The payment security mechanism will be maintained by the Distribution Companies till June 30, 2020 said the govt. ''Till 30 June 2020 the payment security mechanism to be maintained by the Distribution Companies with the Generating Companies for dispatch of power shall be reduced by fifty percent," said the statement.

In 2019, the government had made it mandatory for state distribution companies (discoms) to offer letters of credit (LC) as part of the payment security mechanisms in power purchase agreements (PPAs) to ensure timely payments of dues.

India is under lockdown for 21-days as called by PM Narendra Modi in the wake of coronavirus pandemic due to which the country has come down to standstill.
The South African National Research and Education Network issued an alert this morning stating there was a break on the West Africa Cable System (WACS) on 27 March.

Making matters worse is the fact that the SAT-3 cable is still down following a break on 9 March.

As a result, Afrihost has described the break as a high impact event that will cause performance degradation for its clients.

Other Internet service providers which rely on WACS and SAT-3 for international connectivity will also be impacted.

Afrihost has informed clients that it is urgently working to secure capacity on alternative international Internet routes.

Im sorry about the slow international Internet: Two undersea cables, WACS and SAT-3, have suffered major breaks, Afrihost CEO Gian Visser told customers.

Were working together with our suppliers to secure an alternative international path ASAP. We understand that you need your Internet now more than ever and I promise you that this is our top priority. Thanks for your patience. Stay safe.

WACS outage  repair ship being arranged

The RENAlerts service from SANREN and TENET has confirmed the break on WACS is on a cable belonging to TATA between Highbridge in the UK, and Seixal in Portugal

RENAlerts reported that TATA is making arrangements for a cable repair vessel to attend to the fault.

Once the vessel is loaded, it will take approximately three days to reach site. We dont have any anticipated repair date at this point, it said.

WACS Outage: TATA is busy making arrangements for a cable repair vessel to attend to the sub-sea fault btw UK and Portugal. Once the vessel is loaded, it will take approx 3 days to reach site. We don't have any anticipate repair date at this point, but will share once obtained.  SA NREN Operational Updates & Alerts (@RENAlerts) March 28, 2020

Repair ship fixing SAT-3 break

While TATA is making preparations to repair the WACS break, the Orange Marine repair ship Leon Thevenin has arrived at the break in the SAT-3 cable off the coast of Congo.

RENAlerts reported the ship departed from Cape Town harbour on 15 March.

The Leon Thevenin cable vessel continues to make progress on the repair, RENAlerts reported yesterday.

The estimated repair completion date for the SAT-3 Segment 3 outage is 2 April 2020.

Five major breaks in one year

The simultaneous breaks on WACS and SAT-3 are reminiscent of a similar situation earlier this year when both cables went down on the same day in January.

Both cables had breaks in the middle of the ocean, also off the coast of Congo, and WACS was affected by a second break near a European landing station.

Bad weather in Cape Town delayed the Leon Thevenins departure at the time, and South Africans were plagued with slow Internet for weeks until WACS was repaired.

The two cables were only fully restored on 19 February.

Now read: Seacom affected by WACS cable break
Computerized communion in the age of coronavirus

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President Donald Trump was among hundreds of thousands of Christians who attended church online across the nation Sunday after he leaned heavily on Scripture on Saturday to declare a National Day of Prayer in the wake of the new coronavirus pandemic.

The online shift comes as many churches responded to a call from public health and other local and federal government officials to abandon physical gatherings to help stem the spread of the virus that has already infected nearly 4,000 people and killed 69 of them in the United States.

Read more at: https://www.christianpost.com/news/church-buildings-left-empty-on-sunday-as-trump-thousands-of-worshipers-move-online.html
Politico asked 34 "macro thinkers" to share some of their thoughts on what the world will look like after we crawl from the wreckage of this thing. Some are hopeful, optimistic. Some, not so much. Definitely good food for thought. Here are a few excerpts.

Mark Lawrence Schrad is an associate professor of political science and author of the forthcoming Smashing the Liquor Machine: A Global History of Prohibition. A new kind of patriotism

When all is said and done, perhaps we will recognize their sacrifice as true patriotism, saluting our doctors and nurses, genuflecting and saying, "Thank you for your service," as we now do for military veterans. We will give them guaranteed health benefits and corporate discounts, and build statues and have holidays for this new class of people who sacrifice their health and their lives for ours. Perhaps, too, we will finally start to understand patriotism more as cultivating the health and life of your community, rather than blowing up someone else's community. Maybe the de-militarization of American patriotism and love of community will be one of the benefits to come out of this whole awful mess.

Eric Klinenberg is professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. He is the author, most recently, of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life. Less individualism

The coronavirus pandemic marks the end of our romance with market society and hyper-individualism. We could turn toward authoritarianism. Imagine President Donald Trump trying to suspend the November election. Consider the prospect of a military crackdown. The dystopian scenario is real. But I believe we will go in the other direction. We're now seeing the market-based models for social organization fail, catastrophically, as self-seeking behavior (from Trump down) makes this crisis so much more dangerous than it needed to be.

Sherry Turkle is professor of the social studies of science and technology at MIT, founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, and author, most recently, of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. A healthier digital lifestyle

Perhaps we can use our time with our devices to rethink the kinds of community we can create through them. In the earliest days of our coronavirus social distancing, we have seen inspirational first examples. Cello master Yo-Yo Ma posts a daily live concert of a song that sustains him. Broadway diva Laura Benanti invites performers from high school musicals who are not going to put on those shows to send their performances to her. She'll be watching; Lin-Manuel Miranda joins the campaign and promises to watch as well. Entrepreneurs offer time to listen to pitches. Master yoga instructors teach free classes. This is a different life on the screen from disappearing into a video game or polishing one's avatar. This is breaking open a medium with human generosity and empathy. This is looking within and asking: "What can I authentically offer? I have a life, a history. What do people need?" If, moving forward, we apply our most human instincts to our devices, that will have been a powerful COVID-19 legacy. Not only alone together, but together alone.

Michiko Kakutani is author of the 2018 bestseller The Death of Truth and former chief book critic of the New York Times. Revived trust in institutions

The coronavirus pandemic, one hopes, will jolt Americans into a realization that the institutions and values Donald Trump has spent his presidency assailing are essential to the functioning of a democracyand to its ability to grapple effectively with a national crisis. A recognition that government institutionsincluding those entrusted with protecting our health, preserving our liberties and overseeing our national securityneed to be staffed with experts (not political loyalists), that decisions need to be made through a reasoned policy process and predicated on evidence-based science and historical and geopolitical knowledge (not on Trump-ian "alternative facts," political expediency or what Thomas Pynchon called, in Gravity's Rainbow, "a chaos of peeves, whims, hallucinations and all-round assholery"). Instead of Trump's "America First" foreign policy, we need to return to multilateral diplomacy, and to the understanding that co-operation with alliesand adversaries, toois especially necessary when it comes to dealing with global problems like climate change and viral pandemics.

Joe Brotherton is chairman of Democracy Live, a startup that provides electronic ballots.



Electronic voting goes mainstream.

One victim of COVID-19 will be the old model of limiting voting to polling places where people must gather in close proximity for an extended period of time. We have been gradually moving away from this model since 2010, when Congress passed a law requiring electronic balloting for military and overseas voters, and some states now require accessible at-home voting for blind and disabled voters. Over the long term, as election officials grapple with how to allow for safe voting in the midst of a pandemic, the adoption of more advanced technologyincluding secure, transparent, cost-effective voting from our mobile devicesis more likely. In the near-term, a hybrid modelmobile-phone voting with paper ballots for tabulationis emerging in the 2020 election cycle in certain jurisdictions. We should expect that option to become more widespread. To be clear, proven technologies now exist that offer mobile, at-home voting while still generating paper ballots. This system is not an idea; it is a reality that has been used in more than 1,000 elections for nearly a decade by our overseas military and disabled voters. This should be the new normal.

Read the rest here.

[H/t Laurie Fox]

Image: Faris Mohammed on Unsplash
All Kendriya Vidyalayas will allow the use of school buildings for temporary housing of likely COVID-19 cases, informed the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

All Kendriya Vidyalaya will allow the use of school buildings for temporary housing of likely COVID-19 cases, informed the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, in view of the coronavirus situation in the country, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases has risen to 724 in India (including 640 active cases, 66 cured or discharged people) and 17 deaths, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The country is under a 21-day lockdown to check the spread of the highly contagious virus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had termed the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11.
"This is not a vacation," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Friday in warning the state's residents to take seriously the 2-day-old, stay-at-home
Add Houston Ballet to the list of major arts organizations temporarily derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a letter to the community Friday afternoon, Houston Ballet Foundation board chair S. Shawn Stephens wrote that all of the companys performances, classes and events are either canceled or postponed for the foreseeable future.

Who knows how long the foreseeable future will be?

PR manager Jacalyn Lawton clarified, We have not canceled the rest of this season or the next season. Unforeseeable in the sense that we dont know when officials will allow us all to go back to work and such.

According to Stephens letter, current cancellations include six mainstage performances, four community performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and six performances from Houston Ballet Academy. Important fundraising and audience engagement events like the Nutcracker Market Spring Spectacular have been canceled.

With the academys classes also canceled, most students who lived in the Houston Ballet dorms or apartments have returned home. About 13 students who were not able to go home are being taken care of by Houston Ballet staff. Academy faculty are creating original digital content for all students, including ballet classes tailored to each level of instruction.

Stephens also said the boards executive committee voted unanimously to use cash on hand to pay dancers, staff and full-time teachers through the end of the current fiscal year. She noted that executive director Jim Nelson and artistic director Stanton Welch are battle-hardened in dealing with crisis management after Hurricane Harvey.

The company could lose $2.9-$4.8 million in revenues this season, depending on how the impact continues to unfold, Stephens added. Every effort is being made to save on expenses.

molly.glentzer@chron.com

Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox
Newborns and babies have so far seemed to be largely unaffected by the coronavirus, but three new studies suggest that the virus may reach the fetus in utero.

Even in these studies, the newborns seemed only mildly affected, if at all  which is reassuring, experts said. And the studies are small and inconclusive on whether the virus does truly breach the placenta.

I dont look at this and think coronaviruses must cross across the placenta, said Dr. Carolyn Coyne of the University of Pittsburgh, who studies the placenta as a barrier to viruses. She was not involved in the new work.

Still, the studies merit concern, she said, because if the virus does get through the placental barrier, it may pose a risk to the fetus earlier in gestation, when the fetal brain is most vulnerable.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine provided an update on coronavirus in the state Saturday afternoon.

You can watch them online here:

There were 533 new confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania as of Saturday, raising the statewide total to 2,751.

At least 34 people have died statewide, including one person in Cumberland County. The virus has reached 56 of the states 67 counties. Perry County has had its first confirmed case. One person has died at Hershey Medical Center, the hospital reported Friday.

Levine said Saturday afternoon that more than 25,000 people have tested negative for COVID-19.

Of the people who were diagnosed, 311 required hospitalization, or about 11%. About 97 of them needed intensive care, half of those on ventilators.

All of those whove died were adults, Levine said.

Stay-at-home orders are in effect or will be starting tonight in 22 counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Centre, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland and York.

Were beginning to see this virus rear its ugly head in every corner of our commonwealth," Wolf said.

He also asked everyone whos been to New York City recently to self-quarantine for at least two weeks. New York has the countrys largest number of coronavirus cases.

Wolf said to help treat increasing number of patients, and to help handle non-virus medical needs, any licensed medical personnel will be able to meet with patients through telemedicine.

Also, retired health care personnel will be able to renew their licenses without fees or classes, the governor said.

Id like to thank all these folks for helping in this time of need, he said.

The state has streamlined the process for retired doctors, nurses, medical students, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers; allowed out-of-state practitioners to practice in Pennsylvania; expanded telemedicine; and launched a portal to purchase supplies, the governors office said.

Businesses considered non-life-sustaining have been closed across the state, and schools are closed at least until early next month. Restaurants are allowed open if they offer carryout or delivery, no dine-in service.

Wolf has said he projected unemployment claims would reach 800,000. Pennsylvanians filed about 650,000 unemployment compensation claims over the past 11 days, the Associated Press reported.

The federal government approved a stimulus package to help individuals and businesses. Itll include checks up to $1,200 per adult.

This is a developing story and has been updated.

More:
Thirty-three medical professionals who flew from South America to Sydney after going on a cruise ignored quarantine orders and got on a domestic Australian flight, police say.

The large group of medics had been aboard the Roald Amundsen and Scenic Eclipse Antarctic cruises before they flew into Australia from Chile.

Despite police telling them they had to quarantine at hotels for two weeks after arriving from overseas, the 33 went to the domestic departures terminal and tried to leave.

The large group of medics had been aboard the Roald Amundsen and Scenic Eclipse Antarctic cruises (pictured) before they flew into Australia from Chile

Passengers are seen arriving at Sydney International Airport on Saturday night

Twenty-seven flew interstate, while police caught up with the other six before they were able to leave, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The group were among 290 people on board the flight from Santiago to Sydne yon Friday night.

From today, all passengers arriving in Australia will be required to quarantine at designated hotels for two weeks.

Police Minister David Elliott was 'disappointed to hear medical professionals chose to ignore rules in place to save lives and protect the most vulnerable in our community'.

He added that 'no one is above the law'.
Phoenix TV : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in an interview yesterday (March 24) talked about moving medical equipment supply chain back to the US from China and elsewhere. President Trump also stressed in a daily briefing on coronavirus that the US should never be reliant on a foreign country for the means of its own survival.

US media reported that the US is preparing an executive order to relocate the supply chain of enterprises. Do you have any comment? Geng Shuang: In an era of globalisation, the interests of all countries are closely intertwined. The formation and ...
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Saturday changed the rules for assistance under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), facilitating availability of money for food and temporary accommodation for migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown.

In a communication to all chief secretaries, the ministry also said medical care and clothing can be provided to migrant workers during the lockdown period announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the new rules of the SDRF, provision for temporary accommodation, food, clothing medical cure etc., would be applicable to homeless people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures and sheltered in relief camps and other places, a home ministry official said.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

There have been reports of a large number of migrant workers leaving their work places in different parts of the country and walking down to their native places, hundreds of kilometres away facing hardships on the way.

The migrant workers are left with no option but to walk as normal transport services have been hit after the announcement of the nationwide lockdown by Modi on Tuesday.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is the mastermind of the dreaded terror attack on a Kabul Gurudwara on Thursday, that left 25 Sikhs dead, a European think tank has hinted.

"The choice of the target for the attack, a tiny minority Afghan group of Indian origin with no real stakes within Afghanistan, drew focus on neighboring Pakistan's role, especially given that it has been behind all other major attacks over the years against Indian interests in the country," said EFSAS.

"Pakistan has made no bones about its keenness to force India out of Afghanistan," said the Amsterdam- based thinktank.

Amrullah Saleh, a former head of the Afghan intelligence agency the National Directorate of Security, was quoted in a recent report of the Afghan Institute of Strategic Studies as saying that, "the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan is not genuine. It is an intelligence game played by some of our neighbors". Pakistan, the report says, supports the ISKP as part of a "hedging strategy".

Another clue that raised the specter of Pakistani involvement was the reported release of a second statement by ISIS after the Gurdwara attack in which it said that the killings in Kabul were revenge for Indian actions in Kashmir.

EFSAS said, "News portals such as the Afghanistan Sun quoted highly placed Afghan sources as asserting that Pakistan's premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had ordered the attack on the hapless worshippers in the Gurdwara".

Hussain Ehsani, a Kabul-based researcher on fundamentalist groups like ISKP, believes that the attack was carried out by the Haqqani network and the Lashkar-e-Taiba, both of which are supported by the ISI.

On why, then, had the ISIS claimed responsibility, Ehsani explained that "A number of attacks have been executed in Kabul recently, with responsibility being claimed by the ISIS. But the ISKP does not have tactical and strategic capabilities for executing such complex attacks. The Haqqani group realized the importance of the ISKP brand and put itself behind the scenes".

"In essence, what Saleh, Ehsani and several other experts believe is that the ISKP serves as a red herring for the Haqqani network. Therefore, despite the rather prompt and loud confessions of guilt by the ISIS, it appears almost certain that the ISI played a clear role in orchestrating the attack", said EFSAS.

It added, "What is absolute without a doubt, however, is that only inhumanly cruel, nauseatingly sick and exceedingly perverted minds could have ordered an attack as dastardly as that on the defenseless innocent worshippers at the Gurdwara".

The Sikh community in Afghanistan that once constituted a vibrant, well-integrated and economically active part of Afghan society has, since the Taliban grabbed power in the 1990s, been persecuted, attacked, killed, and driven away from the country that they had called home for generations.

Their depletion has been so rapid that of the close to a quarter of a million that called Afghanistan home in 1992, a minuscule 1000-odd still remain in the country, barely eking out a livelihood in extremely trying and violent circumstances.

"Their plight is heart-rending", said the think-tank.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Legendary action-film star Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling H-E-B's response to the coronavirus pandemic a "masterclass" in preparation.

"The Terminator" actor and former California governor has been vocal on social media about the need to stay home and ready to help slow the spread of the virus. In doing so, he's also shared glimpses of his home life, providing some levity with videos of his miniature pet horse and donkey. He's also trying to spread hope and promote stories of people stepping up to help their fellow man.

Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com:

He started a Twitter thread, asking people to send him stories of "heroes."

The story that seems to be the inspiration for the thread is H-E-B's response the crisis. On Thursday, he gave the San Antonio-based grocery chain an online round of applause after reading a Texas Monthly article in which H-E-B executives, employees and customers discussed how the stores have rolled out planned-out measures to ensure Texans have what they need while remaining safe during the pandemic.

Executives told Texas Monthly their team started discussing the virus with their Chinese counterparts in mid-January and then started adjusting their pandemic plan, which was first launched in 2005 and then revised over the years, to prepare for the sort of demand the company is seeing now.

The actor shared the story link with his nearly five million Twitter followers.

RELATED: 'Heart and hearth': San Antonians sparing goods to create sidewalk food pantries during pandemic

"I read this story in Texas Monthly today about H-E-B and it is a masterclass in preparation and being ready to support your community," he said.

Some changes H-E-B has made to protect employees and customers during the pandemic include implementing a product limit in early March, extending the company's sick leave policy for employees, temporarily changing its hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in order to restock the shelves. Employees, who the company calls partners, were given a $2 raise.

H-E-B replied to Schwarzenegger's Twitter praise.

"Thanks for the shout-out, Arnold! We're honored to serve Texas," the grocer's official Twitter account responded.

Days before highlighting H-E-B, Schwarzenegger told The Atlantic magazine that he is yearning for the days when he held a leadership position and could be on the ground, directing and helping frontline workers through a crisis.

"There are moments, and especially moments like this, where I feel like, oh that would be really great to be there right now," he said in the interview.

Back on Twitter, he shared another Arnold-ism to remind people of past disasters that have been handled with what he calls the "7 P's."

"This crisis is unprecedented, but we have gotten through disasters, from earthquakes and wildfires to hurricanes & tornadoes by using the 7 P's: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance and by working together," he said.

Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
As the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases rises in India, Ratan Tata, Chairman Tata Trusts and Chairman Emeritus Tata Sons, has committed Rs 500 crore towards manufacturing of personal protective equipment, respiratory systems, testing kits, setting up modular treatment facilities and training of health workers, a statement issued by Tata Trust said.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: COVID-19 positive cases in India cross 1,000 mark; global tally crosses 6.5 lakh

"The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race... At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time," the businessman tweeted, while attaching a statement from Tata Trusts.

The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time. pic.twitter.com/y6jzHxUafM - Ratan N. Tata (@RNTata2000) March 28, 2020

He said that in this exceptionally difficult period, "urgent emergency resources need to be deployed to cope with the needs of fighting the COVID 19 crisis".

"Today, The Tata Trusts continue their pledge to protect and empower all affected communities and is committing Rs 500 crore," he said.

Tata Trusts' contributions:

Personal Protective Equipment for the medical personnel

Respiratory systems for treating coronavirus patients

Testing kits for per capita testing

Setting up modular treatment facilities

Training of health workers and general public

Meanwhile, many other business tycoons have also made their contribution to the country's fight against the pandemic, here's the list:

Mukesh Ambani: India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani pledged to donate Rs 5 crore to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Furthermore, his Reliance Industries had also announced to enhance its production capacity, manufacture around 100,000 masks per day and a large number of protective equipment for health workers engaged in fighting coronavirus.

Anand Mahindra: Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra offered to convert Mahindra Holiday resorts as temporary care facilities. He also said that the group would manufacture ventilators and pledged to give 100 per cent of his salary to the coronavirus fund for the next few months.

Anil Agarwal: Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resources, Anil Agarwal pledged Rs 100 crore to the coronavirus fund.

I am committing 100 cr towards fighting the Pandemic. #DeshKiZarooratonKeLiye is a pledge that we undertook & this is the time when our country needs us the most. Many people are facing uncertainty & I'm specially concerned about the daily wage earners, we will do our bit to help pic.twitter.com/EkxOhTrBpR - Anil Agarwal (@AnilAgarwal_Ved) March 22, 2020

Vijay Shekhar Sharma: Founder of Paytm Vijay Shekhar Sharma posted on social media that he is contributing his two months salary so that the company does not face any issues in remunerating employees.

Anita Dongre: Founder of House of Dongre and 'AND' clothing line, Anita Dongre pledged that she will help self-employed artisans and small vendors function better.

Manu Kumar Jain: Managing Director of Xiaomi India Manu Kumar Jain pledged to donate N95 masks and protective suits.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Authorities will begin shutting down any religious gatherings they see around the city and issuing fines to congregants starting tonight, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday.

I want to say to all those who are preparing for the potential of religious services this weekend, if you go to synagogue, if you go to your church and attempt to hold services after having been told so often not to, our enforcement agents will have no choice but to shut down those services, de Blasio told reporters during a press conference.

We need our faiths during times of crisis, but we do not need gatherings that will endanger people, he continued.

De Blasio said authorities will try to issue warnings to congregants first, but if they do not stop their services, fines will then be issued.

The mayor also said it would be decided at City Hall this weekend whether to close down the citys playgrounds and issue up to $500 fines to New Yorkers not socially distancing themselves out in public

The mayor cautioned that April 5 would be the day after which he would be very very worried about supplies and ventilators to the citys hospitals, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed to 25,573, including 1,440 on Staten Island the morning of March 27.

MAYOR CALLS FOR RENT FREEZE

The mayor also called on the state to immediately suspend the rent guidelines process for calendar year 2020.

I think if ever there was a time there should be a rent freeze, it is now, the mayor said, adding that the policy should especially be extended to rent-stabilized renters.

CITY RELEASES 450 INMATES TO DATE

De Blasio also said that by Friday night, the city would have released 450 at-risk inmates from New York Citys jails.

He said the latest release of new prisoners would bring the citys jail population down to 5,000 -- the lowest its been since 1949.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.

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How the coronavirus hit Staten Island: A timeline of the pandemic in our borough

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Maybe it is destinys plan to condemn 11-year-old Emily Yildiz to a life crammed into confined spaces.

Shes considered this, but isnt yet ready to accept it as her fate.

Yildiz has hunkered down with her sister and mother in East York as their family, in recent days, like so many others across the country and the world, try to avoid COVID-19.

The isolation is a familiar feeling to the young girl. And she has some advice for those struggling with their new circumstances: Be grateful for what you have, especially your family.

Shes just glad that this time, the police arent searching for her and her loved ones.

Yildiz moved to Toronto in September 2018 after being apart from her mother, Arzu, for nearly three years after the failed coup attempt against the government of Turkish strongman Recep Erdogan. Police in Turkey had sought to arrest Arzu for her work as a political journalist.

She shared her story and advice in a letter passed on to the Star by a family friend whos in a PEN Canada writers-in-exile group with Arzu. In the letter, Yildiz offers a brief look, through her own young eyes, at years of turmoil and the fracturing of her family that left her thousands of kilometres away from her mother.

I have no idea if this is destiny or not, but I know only one thing, she writes. If you are with your family and they are safe, thats the most important thing. Hold each others hand, be happy to be living together.

The letter begins on Yildizs seventh birthday in the Turkish capital of Ankara, against the backdrop of the failed coup. She was at her grandparents home with her mother and sister when their father called to say police were looking for Arzu.

Yildiz says she has not been in the same room with her mother, father and sister at the same time since. For the next three months Yildiz, her mother and baby sister were hunkered down in a one-bedroom apartment in Ankara.

We couldnt see out the windows or go outside, because we were scared, she told the Star in an interview. Her mother would not show her face anywhere in case she was recognized.

Arzu said she could leave the apartment to visit her grandparents, but Yildiz didnt want to leave her mother and sister.

As the school year began, the young girl had to return to class and so began to live with her grandparents, while her mother remained in hiding for two more months before making her way to Greece and eventually Canada, where she was granted refugee status.

I remember that my grandma was always trying to make me happy, Yildiz said of her memories from the time. She tried her best to make us happy.

The wait to be rejoined with her mother ended in September 2018, and her sister arrived in Toronto last July. Her younger sister hadnt been with her mother since she was a baby. When she got off the plane Yildiz had never spoken English before, but one wouldnt guess that listening to the ease with which she already speaks the language today.

Yildiz turned her interests to the pursuits of most 11-year-old children, such as painting and playing with friends. Settling in Canada has been an easy transition, she said.

Then, Yildiz once again found her life changed by forces beyond her control.

As she was getting ready for her second Canadian winter, on the other side of the world COVID-19 was beginning to spread throughout Wuhan, China. Eventually it made its way to Toronto, with more than 4,000 cases across Canada, forcing the public to self-isolate to stop the spread.

The virus came just in time to dash her hopes for her first summer in her new home. The threat of a scrapped summer of skateboarding with her new friends in exchange for being stuck in an apartment looms large now, though shes not letting it bother her.

Im now used to it, she said. Its the second time thats happened to me. The difference is that now theres no police, if we go outside, that are looking for us.

Though her life story has been more extreme, Yildizs current situation is like that of many children.

A child psychologist at the University of Toronto, Tina Malti, said its important children in isolation maintain contact with their friends and even teachers, via phone or internet.

There can be psychological effects on children during isolation, such as anxiety, behavioural problems or sadness. Engagement with friends helps maintain a sense of normalcy, Malti said, which is important to help stave off those effects.

Friendships and peer relationships are incredibly important for childrens positive development, she said. Make sure there are some positive interactions.

Otherwise, to help children understand the circumstances, parents need to explain what is happening and why. As well, children may need it explained to them in different ways so they understand, she said.

Malti said that if a child has past trauma self-isolation could exacerbate it. So its important to take advantage of any resources or services in place to help, such as counselling.

Back in her apartment in Toronto, as much of the country grumbles about being in self-isolation, Yildiz insists being with her mom and sister is enough to keep her happy. It should be enough for anyone, she said.

Love your family and say thanks to god for getting you together, ends her letter. Nothing matters more than this.

Emilys letter

Four years ago it was my seventh birthday. The police came to our house. My dad was not there. They were looking for my mom, because she was a journalist. From that day our life changed. It was July 2016.

We never went back to our house. We would never be a family together again. I never saw my dad and my mom together again. For three months I stayed with my mom and my baby sister in an apartment with one room. We did not even look outside the windows. My mom said that I could go to see my grandparents but I didnt want to leave my mom and my sister. I wanted to stay with them. Four years later, me, my mom and my sister live together in Canada.

Everything was great. I started to skateboard. I have lots of friends and summer will be coming. I had plans I wanted to do, but then the Covid 19 started and the school closed. Now me, my mom and my sister have to stay home in one room again without going outside. The same thing was happening after four years.

I have no idea if this is destiny or not, but I know only one thing. If you are with your family and they are safe thats the most important thing. Hold each others hand, be happy to be living together. Because four years ago when we were together with my mom and my little sister after that we could not see each other for two years. But now I am happy that I can see my parents.

Love your family and say thanks to God for getting you together. Nothing matters more than this.

Correction, March 28, 2020: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Yilidz arrived in September, 2019. She in fact arrived in Canada in September 2018. The version also said a family friend from PEN International passed on the letter, it was a friend from PEN Canada. The article has been updated to reflect this.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-27 15:48:14|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Mount Merapi erupts in this photo taken from Kemalang village, Central Java, Indonesia, March 28, 2020. Mount Merapi, the most active volcano in Indonesia, erupted on Friday, spewing a column of ash of up to 5 km high, forcing the authorities to issue a flight warning, the Volcanology Agency said. (Photo by Budi Siswato/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Mount Merapi, the most active volcano in Indonesia, erupted on Friday, spewing a column of ash of up to 5 km high, forcing the authorities to issue a flight warning, the Volcanology Agency said.

The volcano, situated in the main Java Island, started erupting at 10:56 a.m. Jakarta time (0356 GMT), the Center for Research and Development of Geological Disaster Technology of the Volcanology Agency in Yogyakarta province said in a statement.

The wind blows to the southwest of the crater, it said.

The agency heightened the volcano observatory notice for aviation (VONA) to the highest level with a red code from the normal level with a green code.

The red code means that planes are banned from flying through the air space above the area around the volcano.

Residents are prohibited from having activities in the radius of 3 km from the crater.

The volcano last erupted on March 3, spewing a column of ash of up to 6 km to the sky.

The 2,930 meter-high Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia's 129 active volcanoes, has regularly erupted since 1548.

During its eruption from October to November 2010, a total of 353 people were killed and about 350,000 others were forced to evacuate.

Indonesia, a vast archipelagic nation, is prone to volcanic activities and earthquakes as it lies along the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire."
Los Angeles: Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have returned to the US after spending more than two weeks in quarantine in Australia following their COVID-19 diagnosis.

The pair, who were the first celebrities to go public with their battle with coronavirus on March 11, was photographed driving here after flying home on a private jet, reports dailymail.co.uk.

In the pictures, they were smiling and looked at calm while driving.

Hanks and Wilson were on lockdown while recovering in Australia, where Hanks was filming a movie about Elvis Presley. He is playing Colonel Tom Parker, Presley`s manager, in the film directed by Baz Luhrmann. The production of the film is currently suspended.

The couple shared numerous updates with their fans during their self-quarantine.

On March 23, Hanks tweeted an update to his fans that read: "Hey, folks. Two weeks after our first symptoms and we feel better".

"Sheltering in place works like this: You don`t give it to anyone -You don`t get it from anyone. Common sense, no? Going to take a while, but if we take care of each other, help where we can, and give up some comforts...this, too, shall pass. We can figure this out," he added.

Meanwhile, Wilson has been sharpening her rap skills while in isolation.
From purchasing new ventilators to assigning ambulances for COVID-19 patients, the Haryana government has stepped up its efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

Steps have been taken to increase the strength of doctors and paramedical staff, ensure adequate supply of medicines, set up isolation beds and helpline numbers and rope in services of volunteers as part of the state's preparations to fight the deadly disease.

Nineteen positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state so far - 10 in Gurgaon, four in Panipat, two in Faridabad and one each in Palwal, Panchkula and Sonipat.

"The condition of all 19 patients is stated to be stable," Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij said on Saturday. He said the state government is prepared to deal with any situation, while at the same time asserting that "things at present were under control".

Vij told PTI on Friday that in each district, separate ambulances are being assigned for transportation of suspected or confirmed positive cases.

Besides, there is an availability of 722 ventilators in the state's government and private hospitals.

Until a week ago, there were close to 180 ventilators in government facilities. Now, the state government has placed order for 300 more ventilators, the minister said.

PGIMS Rohtak has been designated as tertiary care centre for treatment of critical suspects.

Haryana also has 67 civil hospitals, five medical colleges, 11 urban health centres and 128 community health centres.

As many as 2,500 beds are available in isolation wards, the government said.

The Haryana dispensation on Wednesday had decided to extend the terms of government doctors and paramedical staff involved in essential services who were set to retire this month.

Prior to this, the state government announced that it had sent appointment letters to 447 recently selected doctors.

Approval has also been accorded for the appointment of trained personnel, including doctors and technical staff, for government and government-aided medical colleges across the state on contractual basis for a period of at least three months, Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora said.

Intensifying the efforts to combat COVID-19, the government has asked all government, government-aided and private medical colleges in the state to reserve at least 25 per cent of the beds.

Also, expenditure on the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients whether in government or private hospital would be borne by the state government.

Vij, who is also the state's Home Minister, said that adequate stock of N-95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) kit is available in Haryana.

While15,000 such masks have been delivered, order for additional 20,000 N-95 masks has been placed.

Order for 22 lakh 3-ply face mask has been placed by the Health Department, he said.

Apart from this, the government has received 800 bodysuits. This is in addition to 200-300 bodysuits arranged by the chief medical officers at their own level, officials said.

Of the 33,000 people who have registered themselves as volunteers offering their services to assist the state in its fight against coronavirus, 546 are doctors, 255 nurses and 1,108 are paramedics.

Five laboratories have been made available in the state for the testing of coronavirus and two more testing labs are also being set up.

The officials said testing facilities at the private laboratories will also begin soon at four places at least and that 50 per cent of their capacity would be reserved for the usage by the government.

Vij assured that there is adequate stock of medicines and essential medicines, especially Hydrochloroquine and chloroquine supply would be ensured in sufficient quantity and if necessary, the same would be increased manifold.

The state government had also recently said that a decision regarding planning and notifying dedicated COVID hospitals would be taken soon. Initially, four such hospitals would be designated and later it would be expanded as per the requirement.

Two helpline numbers 1075 and 1100 have been set up where people can share any problem they face related to COVID-19.

The government has also created a revolving fund of Rs 100 crore each for key departments at the forefront of battling COVID-19.

Besides, the Haryana dispensation has deputed 19 IAS, 2 IPS and an IFS officer in the districts for planning, coordination and monitoring, and implementation of all activities for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Western Kenosha County Transit is continuing to offer door-to-door and regular fixed-route public transit to county residents west of Interstate 94.

During Gov. Tony Evers safer-at-home order, riders needing to make essential trips are encouraged to request door-to-door service instead of the fixed route.

The following temporary changes are in effect:

Fare for door-to-door service is $2, the same as the regular route.

Same day trip requests will be honored, if possible. Reservations still encouraged.

Service may be extended to destinations in neighboring Wisconsin counties, based on availability. This may include essential trips to Milwaukee.

Service hours are Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To schedule your trip, call Western Kenosha County Transit at 1-888-203-3498. For questions regarding transportation, call Lauren Coffman at 262-605-6615.

Parkside college donates medical equipment

The UW-Parkside College of Natural and Health Sciences donated personal protective equipment to Emergency Operations Centers in Kenosha and Racine counties, the college announced Friday.

Because we are moving all classes online for the remainder of the semester, that reduced our need for PPE in the labs, said Emmanuel Otu, dean of the college. These items can be used best in the community where we have shortages and need.

The College of Natural and Health Sciences donated approximately 50 Tyvek disposable lab coats, 20 N95 filtering face-piece respirators, 7,000 vinyl disposable gloves, and 10,000 nitrile disposable gloves. The donation was split between the Emergency Operations Centers in each county. The EOCs identified the greatest needs with emergency responders.

Steil supports relief effort in floor speech

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil spoke on the House floor Friday on the importance of supporting families and workers struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The House passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by voice vote.

Steil, R-District 1, made these remarks:

Americans health and American jobs are being attacked by an invisible virus. Congress cannot stand idly by while Americans are suffering.

While the CARES Act is far from perfect, it provides relief. This bill provides free coronavirus testing for Americans and ensures those on the front lines  our doctors, nurses, and health professionals  have the supplies they need.

Additionally, the CARES Act protects the paychecks of people working at places like restaurants and hotels and provides assistance to workers who may lose their job due to coronavirus.

Importantly, the CARES Act includes yet another fix to the to the poorly drafted Medicaid language included in the second coronavirus emergency response legislation. It is vital that we get this language right so states like Wisconsin have the federal assistance to ensure health care is available to our most vulnerable populations.

However, at times, this bill leaves much to be desired. There is unnecessary spending throughout the bill, including $25 million for a Washington, D.C. theater.

We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I will continue working with my colleagues to address this crisis.

Village issues flushing reminders

The Village of Paddock Lake and other communities are cautioning residents about using common alternatives like wet wipes, paper towels, facial tissue and cloth wipes as substitutes for bathroom toilet paper.

While these products are often labeled as flushable, they do not degrade in water like toilet paper and can and do plug sanitary sewer laterals, building drains and sewer collection system mains when flushed down toilets.

In 2019, Village Sanitary Sewer District employees removed several tons of these nondegradable wipes, paper towels and personal hygiene products from the sanitary sewer collection system, costing system users money.

Obstructions and clogs that occur in private sanitary sewer laterals or within residents building drains become the responsibility of the property owner, the village said. During the states safer-at-home order, it is unlikely that plumbers and drain cleaners will be receptive to freeing clogged sewer pipes.

To avoid future sanitary sewer clogs and backups, all residents and users of the sanitary sewer system are reminded to throw wipes, paper towels, tissue and personal hygiene products in the trash.

The village listed these items as never to be flushed down the toilet:

Baby wipes or cleaning wipes

Tampons and sanitary products

Condoms

Paper towels

Tissues

Dental floss

Cotton balls and swabs

Cat litter

Prescription and over the counter medicines

Cigarette butts

Food waste grease, oils

Cloth

Paper
Juba, South Sudan (PANA) - UN Peacekeeping radio stations are playing a vital role  getting information to vulnerable communities in conflict-affected states about the coronavirus pandemic and how people can protect themselves and others from getting the disease
As a pandemic spreads throughout the globe, Latin America took preventive actions to avoid the spreading of the virus.

Officers in the Panama Maritime Authority orders those visiting the terminals to take health measurements and to make sure that they are approved by the Ministry of Health (MINSA). Ports are also gathered to secure and guarantee the health of their workers. The terminals PSA International Terminal Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), Colon Container Terminal (CCT), Terminal Bahia Las Minas Vopak and Cristobal did not stop their operations. They instead continued and did an extra careful preventive action on their workers to avoid the said virus.

The Vice President of marketing in Manzanillo International Termina Juan Carlos Croston said that the company continues to provide their terminal service. They also prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of all their workers as they continue to give their whole service to support and continue the supply chain in Latin America.

The company also implemented protocols and rules according to the level of frequency and depth in all important areas, the areas mentioned are ISPS level 2 measures for vessel and terminal access, online gate process options and new gate hours, and splitting critical teams. The company also collaborates and secures the sustainability of the port's operation.

Reports in Argentina from Latin America now have new controls to be established for the incoming foreign vessel crews that will enter the sea area. Ports free periods in Buenos Aires' terminals will also extend their services from March 20 to April 10 for the cargoes that will continue to operate in the terminals.

MORE ON LATIN POST:

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism in Peru reports that foreign trading and cargo by air, sea, land, trail, and rivers will still be guaranteed amidst the declared State of Emergency.

The port of Santos in Brazil reported that they are now normally operating their cargoes thru ships, trucks and trains. In the sea, road and trail access are continuing their operations without any restriction orders from the government. Reports also added that in order to prevent the contagious disease, the terminal gates are operated by the health official authority to secure and make sure of the protection of the workers, whether they belong to personnel workers, office employees of private companies, truck drivers and other workers under the company.

Cargos in Ecuador in Puerto Bolivar continue their normal operations between dates of March 16 and March 22, 2020. Ten ships that are loaded with 1.8 million boxes of bananas were loaded and arrived at the port Puerto Bolivar.

Ports in Chile are reported to operate normally. The Chilean Maritime Chamber (Camport) also announced that normally operating ports allow the transportation of supplies even if there is a crisis and a virus outbreak. Ports in Chile also added that the port companies adopted and complied with the rules that were established guidelines for the timely transportation of the travellers and other crew workers that may cause the spread through local transmission of the Novel Coronavirus.

Implementation of preventive measures to avoid the spreading of Novel Coronavirus are reinforced and practice through process are practiced in the Terminal Ports in Valparaiso, Puerto San Antonio, STI, Puerto Central and Puerto Panul.
Lucknow, March 28 : The coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown have not only left industries and businesses reeling under its impact, but it is the farming sector which has been hit the hardest considering India is an agrarian country and agriculture sector is the backbone of our economy.

It is double whammy for Uttar Pradesh farmers as well. They don't have farm machines and labourers to harvest the ripe crops of sugarcane and wheat and even if they somehow manage to do it they don't have place to store it. Lakhs of hectares of sugarcane and wheat crops are just ready for harvest.

Agricultural expert Amokant said that the wheat crops are ready to harvest in the last week of March. But this time there are no labourers adding to the woes of farmers. Any delay in harvesting will lead to damage to crops because of forecast of rains. Farmers will suffer in all the cases. Even harvesting machines are not allowed in the villages due to lockdown.

Harnam Verma, Uttar Pradesh president of Bhartiya Kisan Union, said, "The harvest of major rabi crops - wheat, chana, and mustard as well as vegetable crops including potato is already underway. Leaving the harvest mid-way will expose the ready crop to vagaries of the weather. Things will get bad if government does not intervene." Prof Sudhir Pawar, former member of the Planning Commission, said, "Hailstorms, unseasonal rains and squalls have damaged at least 30 per cent of the crops and now came the lockdown. If crops are left in the field they will wither away. Though government has announced a relief package, but God knows when it will reach to the farmers." However, the Utrar Pradesh government has asked the shops dealing in seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to open, and labourers have been allowed to work in the fields, but the fear of coronavirus is topmost in the minds of people. The government must provide proper machinery to alleviate the woes of farmers, experts said.
Frontliners who never stop helping

Ambulance worker Hollie Dowling and firefighter Scott Pearson, right, put their lives on the line every day. But instead of going to bed after their gruelling shifts, they shop for vulnerable neighbours. Hollie, 32, from Wookey Hole, Somerset, has supermarket shopping lists for five different vulnerable people. She says: Our neighbours are 92 and 87. Others suffer from Parkinsons and other health issues so its right we help them. Hollie, who works as an emergency care assistant at South West Ambulance Service, says she and her boyfriend are determined to do as much as they can to help the public. Scott adds: The other day, after finishing our night shifts, I went to deliver prescriptions while Hollie went to the supermarket and shopped for vulnerable people who cant get out of their properties. We both want to help people as much as possible.

NHS Coronavirus heroes: Ambulance worker Hollie Dowling and Firefighter Scott Pearson

Kindness Blossoms

Little Ella Merrett, right, left bunches of spring flowers and notes reading Stay Safe. Love from Ella, aged 4 on the doorsteps of people selfisolating in Allesley Park in Coventry. The flowers came from her florist grandmother Paula, 42, who had a surplus after cancelled orders. She says: It was all Ellas doing. She wrote all the cards herself and signed each with a kiss and a circle, which represents a hug.

Ella Merrett, 4, is leaving flowers on ill people's doorsteps and getting thank you cards in return

Marvellous Medics

Three doctors are putting in extra hours to ensure that all NHS heroes have proper protective equipment. London GP Mona Barzin, right, Dr Salaj Masand, centre, who is treating coronavirus patients in Kent, and neurosurgeon Ravi Visagan, far right, are buying protective gear through a crowdfunding webpage to supply medical workers with visors, masks and gowns. So far the trio have raised 154,904  nearing their 200,000 target  and will donate the equipment directly to those NHS hospitals most in need.

Dr Mona Barzin started training in obstetrics & gynaecology before retraining to become a GP

Mr Ravi Visagan is a neurosurgery Registrar working at King's College Hospital, London

Dr Salaj Masand trained at Cambridge and King's College London. He is working in General Adult Medicine in Kent and will be taking care of many unwell COVID-19 patients

Hero ex-soldier

As well as distributing homework sheets to pupils in lockdown, assistant head teacher Zane Powles, right, is delivering free meals to youngsters in Grimsby  a roll, cake, apple and crisps. The former Grenadier Guard says: I like to stay fit and healthy. This is definitely the safest option for the kids  I fear some would not be eating properly otherwise.

Zane Powles hailed as a hero for delivering children's school meals in virus crisis

Rainbow Smiles

Alice Aske, 34, from Cheddar, Somerset, came up with the idea of children drawing rainbows and hanging them in their front windows to brighten up peoples day. Passers-by can give those stuck inside a cheery wave. Mum Alice, right, says she is flabbergasted by the huge response, adding: I wanted to spread some hope, joy and happiness.

Alice Aske started a Facebook group encouraging kids to draw rainbows to everyone's delight

Super Nurse

After working a 12-hour shift, nurse Lucy Duncan, 24, went to the aid of an elderly man whose car crashed with hers on Thursday evening. The pensioner, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, told her hed been trapped indoors with coronavirus symptoms for more than a week. Lucy, above, who works at the Wigan Infirmary, rang for an ambulance and then waited alongside the 73-year-old at A&E for the next five hours. She says: It was awful to see someone so poorly. He was squeezing my hand as he struggled to take a breath. Sadly, the pensioner was reported to have died last night.

NHS Coronavirus heroes: Lucy Duncan rushed to a the aid of an elderly man who crashed his car into hers and stayed with him despite having just finished a grueling nursing shift

Sanitiser Saint

Gym boss Luke Willmott, above, had already stockpiled gel for his customers so when the virus hit, he decided to hand out 1,000 bottles to the homeless and vulnerable people in Nottingham. He says: Im trying to ensure they get to the people who need them.

ItGym owner Luke Willmott, 30, is giving homeless 1,000 bottles of hand sanitiser

Dishing out dough

Louisa Needham and ten-year-old daughter Olivia, below, have been baking bread for elderly neighbours in Roborough in South Hams, Devon. Louisa, 28, says: The village has many elderly and with shop shelves stripped bare, their No1 wish is to have fresh bread. The pair are also distributing weekend hampers of sandwiches, scones and brownies  spraying door knockers with Dettol as they go.

Louisa Needham and her 10-year-old daughter Olivia have risen to the occasion...by baking bread for her elderly neighbours who are in isolation and can't get regular supplies

Billys pet project

Kennel owner Billy Woodhouse, left, has gone out of business because of the virus  but he has refused to close his doors. Instead, hes looking after NHS workers pets for free while they are at work. The 21-year-old is offering the same service  at a discounted price  for patients in hospital. His Hatton Boarding Kennels in Shifnal, Shropshire, is currently caring for six dogs whose owner is in intensive care with the virus. At least her family dont have the stress of having to find a home for her dogs, he says. The lucky pets are walked three times a day.
As health workers around the globe struggle to find enough hospital beds and medical supplies to cope with the coronavirus crisis, China has stepped in. So too has Germany, the United States, the European Union and many others.

But Beijings efforts  which state media has called Chinas solution to fight the pandemic  have had a mixed response, and analysts say its mask diplomacy will do little to convince critics in the West.

Two weeks ago, as Italy emerged as the new epicentre of the pandemic, China sent its first team of medical experts and tonnes of desperately needed supplies to the country. That was as the situation appeared to be easing in China, where an outbreak of the new respiratory virus was first reported in Wuhan in December.

Other countries have also offered help to those badly affected by the crisis. German hospitals this week said they were taking in critically ill Covid-19 patients from Italy and France.

The US Army Europe said it had delivered medical supplies and equipment  including hospital beds, mattresses and adjustable IV poles  from its base in the Italian port city of Livorno to the hard-hit region of Lombardy. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier that the country had offered more than US$100 million in medical aid to other nations  including long-time enemy Iran.

Supplies sent from the United States are unloaded in Milan. Photo: EPA-EFE

And on Thursday, the European Commission said it would allocate 38 million (US$41.7 million) for health sectors and 373 million for social and economic recovery in the Western Balkans to confirm we stand by the region in the coronavirus fight.

Across the globe, more than 3 billion people are living under lockdown measures to limit the spread of the virus, which has infected nearly 570,000 people worldwide and killed over 26,000.

China, where more than 3,200 people have died from the disease, has extended help to countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It is not the first time it has offered humanitarian aid during a global health crisis, but according to Beijing officials it is the largest such effort since 1949.

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Luo Zhaohui, deputy foreign minister, on Thursday said Beijing had offered emergency aid  including test kits and masks  to 83 countries because China empathises and is willing to offer what we can to countries in need.

He also said the country wanted to share its experience of fighting the pandemic with the world.

But Chinas response has drawn concern in the West, with critics accusing Beijing of seeking to divert attention away from an initial cover-up of the outbreak in Wuhan, which some health experts say could have delayed the international response to what is now a global pandemic.

Marcin Przychodniak, an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, said countries receiving supplies, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, would appreciate Beijings support, but there were worries about the potential political and economic motives behind it.

To secure those medical supplies, governments had to cooperate directly with the Chinese authorities in order to be able to order medical goods, Przychodniak said.

There are possibly strings attached such as underlining the Chinese narrative of wise leader and successful political system which helped to overcome the virus in China, by European partners, he said.

On Monday, Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, sounded a warning about Beijings soft power campaign, saying Europe must be aware there is a geopolitical component [to the crisis] including a struggle for influence through spinning and the politics of generosity.

Miwa Hirono, an expert on Chinese foreign aid at Ritsumeikan University in Japan, said unlike the medical assistance Beijing provided to West Africa during the Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016, its mask diplomacy was often linked with the assumption that China is trying to take the world leadership by improving its image and enhancing its soft power by providing masks.

But Hirono said Beijings motives could not be fully interpreted in that way.

So many other countries have also offered help. Everyone wants to improve their image, so it is not just China, she said. No matter how legitimate these concerns may be, linking up everything China does to Chinas quest for the world leadership, without thinking about the context and history of humanitarian assistance, blinds us from the true nature of Chinas action.

Other countries that have delivered badly needed supplies include Russia, which, despite tensions with the West, sent 14 military aircraft with experts and medical supplies to Italy. Russias top envoy in Washington also said the country was ready to help the US combat the virus.

Cuba  hit by decades of US sanctions  made headlines when it sent an emergency contingent of doctors and nurses to Italy. It also sent medical teams to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Suriname, Jamaica and Grenada.

South Korea donated more than 15,000 test kits to the Philippines, while Taiwan  a self-ruled island that Beijing regards as part of its own territory  said it would send 100,000 protective face masks to the US every week. Taiwanese officials also pledged to donate 1 million face masks to Paraguay, one of Taipeis few allies in South America, after Beijing made the same offer.

It is hard to imagine [countries] will suddenly  buy into Chinas soft power, simply because China gave them masks

Miwa Hirono, Ritsumeikan University

Such offers from Beijing, according to Hirono, were unlikely to do much to improve its image abroad.

In the short term, those countries that receive masks and medical equipment will appreciate Chinas assistance, she said.

But long term, it is hard to imagine those countries that were originally concerned about Chinas international behaviour  say the issues of human rights, technology and [creating] debt traps, among others  will suddenly forget all those problems and buy into Chinas soft power, simply because China gave them masks.

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Social distancing has become the new normal across this great land of ours, and throughout much of the world.

But here in Alabama, keeping our distance during the COVID-19 pandemic doesnt mean that we cant still reach out to lend each other a hand (figuratively speaking, of course) during these uncertain times.

From mowing lawns to buying groceries, delivering care packages to feeding the zoo animals, Alabamians all over the state have performed little acts of kindness for their friends, neighbors and even total strangers.

Here are a few of those inspirational stories that lifted our spirits this week.

Photo courtesy of Merideth Lett

Northport teachers go the extra mile, and then some

In Northport, teachers Merideth Lett and Hollie Nelson missed their fourth graders at Huntington Place Elementary School so much that they put together grocery-store bags filled with school supplies and other goodies and drover around Tuscaloosa County personally delivering them to their homebound students.

It was such a blessing to both of us to be able to put these (bags) together to help these parents, to help our students, and just to let them know that we care, Lett told AL.com. It blessed our hearts so much to see their little faces -- the ones we got to see -- and to see how happy they were.

One of those smiling faces who was thrilled to see her teachers was Emery Norris (above).

READ MORE: Alabama teachers deliver care bags to students stuck at home

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Photo courtesy of Pihakis Restaurant Group

Barbecue for the men and women in blue -- and fire and rescue, too

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Rodney Scott's BBQ in Birmingham has been offering all military, first responders, hospital and health care workers 50 percent off their meals at the restaurant.

But Nick Pihakis -- CEO and founder of the Pihakis Restaurant Group, Rodney Scotts parent company  wanted to do more, so he got up with his friend Don Lupo from the Mayors Office of Citizens Assistance and came up with a plan.

So, at lunchtime on Friday, employees from Rodney Scotts BBQ set up a tent outside the Birmingham Police Department headquarters on First Avenue North downtown and served free barbecue and sides to the men and women in blue.

And this Saturday, Rodney Scotts BBQ did the same for members of the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department at Station 1 on Seventh Avenue North.

We are doing this for free to say thanks to them for their service, and understand that first responders and health-hospital workers dont get to stay home, Angie Mosier, marketing director for the Pihakis Restaurant Group, said.

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UA student starts shopping service for seniors

University of Alabama pre-med student Michael Arundel launched a no-fee shopping service, called Leave It to Us to give access to food and medical supplies for senior citizens in the southwest Chicago suburbs where he lives. His good works earned Arundel Hero of the Day status from NBCs Today show earlier this week.

The reason we started this is because you see the kids on the news that are at the beaches and not doing their part in social distancing, Arundel told AL.com. We thought there isnt much to do in this time and this is probably the best way to spend our time and were doing it safely and trying to prevent the spread.

READ MORE: 'I'll shop for you': Alabama student starts service to help Chicago seniors avoid coronavirus

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Photo courtesy of Rodney Smith Jr.

Lawnmower guy now does deliveries, too

Even as most Alabamians are staying at home right now due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rodney Smith Jr. (in the foreground above), a former student at Alabama A&M University and the founder of the nonprofit Raising Men Lawn Care Service, continues mowing as many yards in the Huntsville area as possible.

Only now, in addition to mowing for the elderly, disabled, single mothers and veterans, free of charge, Rodney is delivering food and supplies as well.

I mow lawns, drop (food and supplies) off and go, Smith said in a phone interview with AL.com.

But he doesnt leave before taking a quick selfie with his clients as they peek out at their newly trimmed lawns. It used to be that Rodney would give a quick hug before he left. Hugs are forbidden now, and he uses a selfie stick to take a photo from a safe, six-foot distance.

READ MORE: In Alabama, Rodney Smith Jr. now doing 'mow and drop'

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Love through the nursing-home window in Perry County

A statewide order banning visitors to nursing homes across Alabama hasnt prevented Quinton Gaines Middlebrooks (above, left) from stopping by the Perry County Nursing Home in Marion to say hello to his 90-year-old mother, Berta Lou Middlebrooks (right).

They just have to visit each other on the opposite sides of the window of her room, with Berta Lou on the inside looking out and her son on the outside looking in.

On one of her sons recent visits, Berta Lou held a sign up to the window for her son.

Its so good to see you, and I love you, it said. She signed it: Momma.

READ MORE: Visiting loved ones through a glass window: 'It is so good to see you . . .'

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Photo courtesy of Ken Austin

Montgomery restaurant owner just can't say no to kids

Since he opened his Full Moon Bar-B-Que franchise in Montgomery about two-and-a-half years ago, Chris Woodward (above, left) has had a hard time saying no when schools, churches and charities have come to him asking for donations.

I dont think Ive told anyone no yet, Woodward told AL.com. If I cant do a lot, Ill at least donate a gift card or some cookies or something to help out.

So, this week, when he found out from Montgomery pastor Ken Austin (above, right) that the nonprofit Mercy House needed help feeding about 500 Montgomery schoolchildren who didnt have the means to pick up their lunches, Woodward was all over it.

Ive done a lot of different things over the last three years, Woodward told AL.com, but when it comes to the kids, that kind of hit a soft spot.

READ MORE: Alabama BBQ restaurant owner steps up to feed schoolkids

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Facebook photo

One Mobile coffee shop helps another

When the oldest coffee shop in Mobile, Carpe Diem Coffee and Tea, closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, owner Alan Tolson reached out to a rival to offer some of his remaining supplies -- a gesture that touched fans of both businesses on social media.

Tolson contacted Jeff Roberts of Yellowhammer Coffee, an upstart in the coffee business that currently operates a drive-thru model, to see if he could use a couple dozen gallons of milk, as well as several cartons of heavy whipping cream and half-and-half.

Roberts happily accepted the offer and expressed his gratefulness on Facebook.

In the middle of the craziness, its not just neighbors helping neighbors, but also coffee shops helping coffee shops, Roberts wrote. Carpe is the oldest coffee shop in Mobile and once this is all over with, they are going to come back stronger than ever before, and well be one of their first customers.

READ MORE: These two Alabama businesses show grace in strange times

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Birmingham News file/Mark Almond

Birmingham's Iron Man shines a beacon of hope

Birminghams Vulcan Park and Museum is doing its part to shine a ray of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vulcan, the 116-year-old Iron Man who overlooks Birmingham from his perch atop Red Mountain, will be illuminated white as a message of hope during the coronavirus scare, Birmingham TV station WIAT/CBS 42 reported. Vulcans pedestal will stay dark.

Vulcan stands a constant reminder of who we were, who we are and who we will be, Vulcan Park and Museum CEO Darlene Negrotto said. The stories of members in our community helping each other in wake of this adversity can serve as an inspiration for us all. It is our hope that the lighting of Vulcan will inspire others to join us in the spirit of community.

READ MORE: Vulcan will be illuminated white a 'message of hope' during COVID-19 outbreak

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Photo courtesy of Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum

Food for the animals in the Montgomery Zoo

The Montgomery Zoo issued a plea to local grocery stores and restaurant to donate their unused produce during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Rather than let all that produce get spoiled and thrown out, the zoo could use it to feed their animals.

And, my, did people respond, as trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables started rolling in from not only Montgomery but also as far away as Opelika, Montgomery TV station WSFA/Channel 12 reported.

We are beyond grateful, Melanie Golson of the Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum said. Our pantry and our cooler and our freezers are full. The response has been amazing.

READ MORE: Food donations pour in at Montgomery Zoo

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Photo by Michael Mercier, University of Alabama in Huntsville

Huntsville scientist joins elite team to fight coronavirus

Dr. Jerome Baudry, a scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, is part of an elite team that is using the worlds most powerful supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to search  super-fast  for medicines to fight the coronavirus.

We are at this point focusing on repurposing existing drugs, Baudry said in a UAH report on the research. That is, to take existing drugs from the shelf and find which ones are active against either the virus itself or can help in treating or mitigating the effects of infection in the severe cases.

READ MORE: Scientists using supercomputer to test virus drugs superfast

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Photo by Brian Francis

Grass-roots effort encourages donors to show health care workers a little love

A grass-roots movement began in Birmingham this week to show some love to the health-care workers who are fighting to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to help local restaurants scrambling to survive in wake of the pandemic.

The initiative, called CareHealth, encourages friends, family members and other donors to send meals from Birmingham restaurants to the doctors, nurses and other medical personnel who are on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.

Saws Soul Kitchen and Post Office Pies in Avondale is one of the participating restaurants, and for chef and co-owner Brandon Cain (above), the CareHealth initiative was an easy sell.

Those are two pretty big priorities for us right now  being able to feed people and being able to pay people, Cain told AL.com. Obviously, the broader scope of it is doing our part to help Birmingham get through all of this.

READ MORE: Here's a way to show health care workers you love them
TV Week has confirmed its annual Logie Awards will not be held as usual this year.

But it plans to proceed with voting in May for a different format.

Fiona Connolly, Bauer Media Group Publisher, said today: Given the global COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 TV Week Logie Awards will not proceed as planned on the Gold Coast on Sunday, June 28, nor any of the ancillary public events.

But we will continue with our nominations announcement and online voting campaign and are working with our partners on a TV broadcast alternative and will advise of those details when we have them.

Connolly said that more details would be released soon but reiterated online public voting across the Most Popular categories is still expected to begin in May.

It isnt clear if the event will be held in a studio format -or something else entirely.
SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - My Awesome Cafe, located along Telok Ayer in the building formerly occupied by the Chung Hwa Free Clinic, had been doing a roaring business for the last six years until recently.

After the Lunar New Year, the Covid-19 outbreak forced the Singapore government to impose travel restrictions. First, the Chinese clientele disappeared overnight in early February. As more companies encouraged their staff to work from home, about 50% of My Awesome Cafes regular clientele vanished, says SC Bong, co-founder of My Awesome Cafe with Franck Hardy.

Another 30% of its clients, the independent travellers who find the cafe on the tourist map, vanished with tighter travel restrictions and lockdown in cities around the world. Like most F&B operators, the co-founders of My Awesome Cafe now hope their landlord will offer some rental relief.



The co-founders of My Awesome Cafe on Telok Ayer Street are hoping for some rental relief from their landlord, Chung Hwa Free Clinic (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

On March 26, the Singapore government announced a $48.4 billion Supplementary Budget with measures aimed at helping such businesses stay afloat and ease rental pressures in the face of the deepening Covid-19 crisis, which has ravaged the economy.

From 30% to 100% rebate

In particular, property tax rebates for retail malls were increased to 100%. Tricia Song, Colliers International head of research for Singapore, estimates that the property tax rebates could translate to 50% rental rebate for retail tenants for at least three months.

Commercial properties such as hotels, serviced apartments, tourist attractions and restaurants, will also enjoy a 100% property tax rebate, while integrated resorts will get a 60% property tax rebate. Office, industrial and warehouse landlords, which did not qualify before, will now enjoy 30% property tax rebates. (See Table).

According to See Wei Hwa, director of tax at KPMG, the 100% property tax rebate for qualifying commercial properties will result in cashflow support of up to 1.2 months of rent for companies in industries adversely affected by Covid-19. The newly announced 30% property tax rebate for other non-residential properties such as offices and industrial properties would result in cash flow support of about 11 days of rent, See estimates.

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I strongly urge landlords to fully pass on the rebate to tenants, by reducing rentals, to directly ease the cash flow and cost pressures faced by tenants, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.



The 100% property tax rebate for qualifying commercial properties will result in cashflow support of up to 1.2 months of rent for companies in industries adversely affected by Covid-19 (Photo: Albert Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

Supplementary Budget Measures to help businesses

Source: Colliers International, Ministry of Finance

REITs and government agencies

The REITs have been swift to respond. Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT) announced it is committing an additional $18 million of rental relief to its retail tenants. SPH REIT says it will pass on fully the total property tax rebates announced by the government on Feb 18, while the rebates announced on March 26, will be targeted at tenants whose businesses have been the most affected by the pandemic.

Government agencies are also encouraged to offer rental waivers to small hawkers, charities and businesses. Hawker centres managed by National Environment Agency (NEA) will receive a rental waiver for three months, up from one month announced during Budget 2020.



Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT) announced it is committing an additional $18 million of rental relief to its retail tenants (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

Other governmental agencies such as JTC, Singapore Land Authority, HDB and Peoples Association will provide two months worth of rental waiver for tenants such as charities, and half a month for other tenants.

Meanwhile, HDB will also suspend all late payment charges for HDB homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments during this difficult period. Late payment charges on HDB mortgage arrears as well as government fees and charges will also be frozen for one year from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

Mall operators such as CapitaLand had announced earlier this month that it was offering rental rebates for two months to 1,000 tenants. In February, following the Budget relief package, Frasers Property had also said that it was passing its 15% property tax rebate to tenants; while UOL rolled out its assistance package for the tenants at its malls.

Challenge for small commercial landlords



Small landlords of strata-titled retail malls said that the property tax concession offered earlier, were not substantial enough to help our tenants. The 100% property tax rebate could be passed down to their tenants as rental rebates (Photo: Albert Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

Small landlords of strata-titled retail malls said that the property tax concession offered earlier, were not substantial enough to help our tenants, says Henry Happy Mok, chairman of the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) for Bugis Cube.

The property tax rebate for the strata titled landlords at Bugis Cube was 15% then. The six-storey Bugis Cube has 197 units. A typical unit on the upper floors has an annual property value of around $40,000. A 10% property tax translates to $4,000, and 15% rebate to $600 a year. That works out to just $50 per month that can be passed on to the tenant. It wasnt very meaningful, says Victor Ng, vice chairman and secretary of the MCST for Bugis Cube.

The average rental rate of a strata titled unit on the upper floor of Bugis Cube is about $2,800 to $3,000 a month. A 100% property tax rebate under this latest series of measures, will translate to about 11% to 12% of the monthly rental rate. These rebates will definitely help, says Mok. The landlords can pass it down to their tenants as rental rebates.

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Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. on Saturday announced an additional 20 cases of COVID-19, bringing the citys total to 75.

There are 14 cases in Shrewsbury, six cases in Holden, 11 cases in Grafton and one case in Leicester, the four towns to which Worcester provides public health nursing services.

The city of Worcester has had five residents die from illness related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, according to Dr. Michael Hirsh, the citys public health director.

I think that those numbers are going to continue to rise, Hirsh said.

With the announcement of new cases, city officials said about half the cases are among people 39 and younger.

People 60 and above and those with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk for complications of COVID-19, according to the CDC.

While that is true, its important to know that people who are younger still get the virus and are getting it in significant numbers, Augustus said.

The citys 75 cases by age bracket are:

1 person age 19 and younger

24% of cases, ages 20-29

24% of cases, ages 30-39

16% of cases ages 40-49

20% of cases ages 50-59

7% percent of cases ages 60-69

7% of cases ages 70 and older

We dont want people thinking just because theyre young that theyre somehow invincible, Augustus said. They need to be taking all of the same precautions around social distancing, hand washing.

Hirsh said he was encouraged by the percentages because it shows the older population has been following social distancing protocols. If more older people were infected with the virus, the citys number of fatalities would likely be higher, Hirsh said.

The state Department of Public Health on Saturday afternoon announced more than 1,000 new cases of coronavirus. At least 4,257 Massachusetts residents have tested positive for coronavirus. A total of 44 people have died from illnesses related to coronavirus.

Worcester County has 291 cases, according to DPH.

About 320 of the Worcesters first responders have been tested, Augustus said. In the Worcester Fire Department, one recruit and three firefighters have tested positive. A total of 41 members of the fire department are currently on quarantine, including 27 recruits.

Mayor Joe Petty thanked residents who have been practicing social distancing.

Related Content:
Community Development through Polytechnics (CDTP) wing of Government Polytechnic College for Girls in Patiala prepared 1500 face masks and handed over to District Administration of Patiala, said Public Relations, Punjab Government on Saturday.

Meanwhile, amid the growing threat of COVID-19, Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has pressed hard to combat this global pandemic and increased the testing capacity in double-fold at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Patiala and Amritsar.

Disclosing this DK Tiwari, Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Research, said the government is combating with this threat on a war footing and Additional Real-Time PCR machines have been installed at GMC, Patiala, and Amritsar to double the testing capacity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated with the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who turns 68 on March 29.

Mr Lawan described the former senator and a two-term governor of Lagos State as an inspirational political leader and champion of national unity and development.

All through his political life, Asiwaju Tinubu has doggedly groomed leaders, set development templates and built bridges for national integration and cohesion, all of which he sees as necessary tools for robust development and great nationhood, Mr Lawan said in a statement by his special adviser on media, Ola Awoniyi, on Saturday.

Asiwaju Tinubus concept of leadership enables him to motivate associates and inspire in them confidence and loyalty. His imprints are indelible on politics and governance at the sub-national and national levels in Nigeria.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said Mr Tinubu has been serving humanity diligently and tirelessly in the last 68 years on earth, noting that having the former Lagos State governor in the country is a tremendous blessing to the citizens.

In a birthday message he signed, the Speaker said Mr Tinubus belief in democratic tenets is unparalleled, and his democratic credentials are unprecedented and unrivalled.

The Speaker added that the history of Nigerias current democratic experience will not be complete without the name of Asiwaju, the Jagaban of Borgu.

He said Mr Tinubu has become a phenomenon in Nigerias politics, and that his school of politics has produced so many great political icons from 1999 to date.

The Asiwaju is someone that has become a household name not only in Nigeria but in the entire African continent.

Today, our current democracy, which started in 1999, enjoys stability due largely to the contributions of Asiwaju and others of like mind.

It is on record that after serving as the Executive Governor of Lagos State for eight unbroken years, Tinubu laid the foundation for a modern Lagos State, where Nigerians from all walks of life are accommodated.

Not only that, Asiwaju began the modern infrastructural development in Lagos State, which all his successors had no problem in sustaining.

But his political frontiers transcend Lagos State as he has become a force to reckon with virtually everywhere in the country. There is no state where Asiwaju does not have a group of mentees due to his openness, accommodating nature, and political sagacity.

Nationally, in the days that he was in the opposition, he ensured that he remained focused and later played significant role in the merger that saw the birth of the All Progressives Congress (APC), about six years ago.

He led the APC as an opposition party to form the government at the centre in 2015 for the first time since 1999. He did this while joining forces with other patriotic Nigerians within the fold of APC.

I make bold to say that Tinubus style of politics will in years to come be a subject of intense research among political scholars. This is because of his uniqueness. There is hardly a politician that gets the kind of loyalty and support that he gets.

Myself as a product of the Tinubus school of politics, I learn every day from the Jagaban, and I have no regrets whatsoever being one of his close political associates over the years. To me, he has been a worthy mentor all these years.

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As he marks his 68th birthday, I pray God Almighty will continue to grant him good health, wisdom, and bless him with more knowledge so that he will continue to do the good works that he has been doing for Nigeria and humanity, Gbajabiamila said.

Also, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State described the APC leader as a man of uncommon wisdom and remarkable vision.

On behalf of the government and the good people of Kogi State, I wish to celebrate with Your Excellency on the occasion of your 68th Birthday celebrations.

You have exhibited uncommon wisdom, remarkable vision, and exemplary leadership to deserve our greatest respect for the lives you have touched and the stability you have brought to our party in your capacity as the National Leader Of our great party; the APC.

In the course of decades, you have made extraordinary memories and woven your own unique story into the Nigerian narrative. As you reflect on your contributions to our nation and humanity at large, we trust you take tremendous pride in all you have accomplished.
Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses.

So if you're like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Hannover Ruck (ETR:HNR1). Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Hannover Ruck

How Fast Is Hannover Ruck Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

Even modest earnings per share growth (EPS) can create meaningful value, when it is sustained reliably from year to year. So EPS growth can certainly encourage an investor to take note of a stock. It's good to see that Hannover Ruck's EPS have grown from 8.79 to 10.65 over twelve months. That's a 21% gain; respectable growth in the broader scheme of things.

I like to see top-line growth as an indication that growth is sustainable, and I look for a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin to point to a competitive moat (though some companies with low margins also have moats). While we note Hannover Ruck's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 14% to 22b. That's a real positive.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

XTRA:HNR1 Income Statement March 28th 2020

Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Hannover Ruck.

Story continues

Are Hannover Ruck Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

As a general rule, I think it worth considering how much the CEO is paid, since unreasonably high rates could be considered against the interests of shareholders. For companies with market capitalizations over 7.3b, like Hannover Ruck, the median CEO pay is around 4.6m.

The Hannover Ruck CEO received 3.0m in compensation for the year ending . That seems pretty reasonable, especially given its below the median for similar sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation isn't a huge factor in my view of the company, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Should You Add Hannover Ruck To Your Watchlist?

One important encouraging feature of Hannover Ruck is that it is growing profits. On top of that, my faith in the board of directors is strengthened by the fact of the reasonable CEO pay. So I do think the stock deserves further research, if not instant addition to your watchlist. It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Hannover Ruck , and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Patient 35 waving good-bye to hospital staff after making a full recovery from COVID-19

Doctor Nguyen Thanh Trung, deputy general director of Danang General Hospital, handed over the health certificates to patients 22, 23, and 35.

For safety and to avoid any potential chance of infection, the three patients will have to spend the next 14 days in isolation. This morning, they have travelled from the Tropical Medicine Department of the hospital to the quarantine area by ambulance.

Accordingly, the 28-year-old Patient 35 is isolated at home in Hai Chau district under the monitoring of the Centre of Diseases Control (CDC) in Danang. The two British visitors (60 and 66 years old) are quarantined at a hotel in Son Tra district.

Leaving the hospital, the female patient smiled and waved her hands, thanked the doctors and nurses, while the two foreign visitors covered their face with sheets of paper.

The three patients leaving the hospital

Doctor Le Duc Nhan, director of the hospital, said that they were confirmed to be cured after testing negative twice, according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health. However, the hospital had done one more test, with 72 house between each test, which was also negative.

Doctor Pham Ngoc Ham, head of the Tropical Medicine Department was overjoyed, saying, The greatest reward is our patients being cured. He has not been able to visit home in the last three weeks.

So far, Danang has reported six cases of COVID-19 infection. Patient 35 is a staff in Dien May Xanh electronics supermarket, who was infected by the two British men (patients 22 and 23) shopping at the store.

The three patients leaving the hospital today increased the number of people recovered in Vietnam to 20. As of early March 27, there have been 153 confirmed COVID-19 infections in Vietnam.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2020 file photo, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, attends a session on the first day of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. Georgieva said Friday, March 27, it is clear that the global economy has now entered a recession that could be as bad or worse than the 2009 downturn. She said the 189-nation lending agency was forecasting a recovery in 2021, saying it could be a sizable rebound. But she said this would only occur if nations succeed in containing the coronavirus and limiting the economic damage.

The head of the International Monetary Fund said Friday it is clear that the global economy has now entered a recession that could be as bad or worse than the 2009 downturn.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the 189-nation lending agency was forecasting a recovery in 2021, saying it could be a sizable rebound. But she said this would only occur if nations succeed in containing the coronavirus and limiting the economic damage.

A key concern about a long-lasting impact of the sudden stop of the world economy is the risk of a wave of bankruptcies and layoffs that not only can undermine the recovery but erode the fabric of our societies, she told reporters at a news conference following a telephone conference with finance officials from the 24 nations that make up the IMFs policy-setting panel.

She said the IMF was updating its economic outlook now and it would be released in a few weeks, allowing the agency more time to assess the economic impacts of the virus.

Asked if the United States was now in recession, she noted that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell had said Thursday that America  may well be in a recession. She said she believed not only the United States but many other advanced economies and a number of developing countries had already entered downturns.

Georgieva said lower income countries were being hit hard by the spreading coronavirus, with 81 nations now seeking support from an IMF emergency financing program being used to provide aid.

She announced that Kyrgyzstan would receive the first IMF support package of $120.9 million to deal with adverse effects of the virus.

She repeated a pledge that the IMF stood ready to make all $1 trillion of its lending resources available to countries being hit by the virus.

We have seen an extraordinary spike in requests for IMF emergency financing, Georgieva said. We are being asked by our members to do more, do it better and do it faster than ever before.

She said to meet the increased demand she would seek to double the emergency financing program and simplify the procedures countries will have to go through to obtain IMF support. She said the IMF was also looking for ways to expand its current lending facilities to provide more help to countries.

Georgieva said the IMF also wanted to find ways to provide more debt relief to the poorest countries.

She said she planned to discuss these issues with the IMFs executive board with the goal of putting together a package of reforms that could be presented at the IMFs spring meetings in mid-April. Because of the virus, the spring meetings of both the IMF and its sister lending organization, the World Bank, will be virtual this year instead of meetings in Washington.

IMF efforts that start to offer debt relief to the poorest countries and that increase financing to help prevent a global financial crisis are really positive and needed steps, said Eric LeCompte, the executive director Jubilee USA, a group that campaigns for increased assistance for low income countries.
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: Setting a unique example of self-awareness, seven tribal migrant labourers, who returned to Purulia district from Chennai, quarantined themselves one banyan and two mango trees.

Since their families live in a single-room mud-hut, they realised their presence at home might invite danger to their family members. None of them entered their village.

They arranged seven charpayas and mosquito-nets. Fearing attack by elephants, they decided to avoid the ground under the tree. They tied the charpayas to the branches of the huge tree and have been staying there since last Monday.

FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON COVID-19 HERE

All seven labourers are from Bhangidih village, located in the foothills of Ayodhya hills in Balarampur police station area. "We boarded a train from Chennai on Saturday last week. We arrived Kharagpur next day and underwent a medical check-up. Though the doctors found none of us contracted coronavirus but advised us for self-quarantine for 14 days. We arrived outside our village on Monday, but did not enter there," said Bijay Singh.

Bijay and others contacted their friends who helped them to arrange seven charpayas and mosquito-nets. "Since this is a season and all nearby fields are full of food grains, there are chances of attacks by elephants. We decided to avoid the ground and shift to the branches of the tree," said Bimal Singh Sardar, another labourer of the group.

The food is supplied to them by their families. "But we are not allowing them to come close to us. They keep the cooked food under the tree, we climb down and eat. We are not even allowing our family members to wash the utensils. We wash it using soap and keep it back on the ground before we climb up again," said Ranjit Singh Sardar.

The other villagers came forward to save the seven of their neighbours from the attack of wild animals and python. "Leopard, bear and wolf are often seen in the forests of the hills. We are keeping a vigil every night with bow and arrow to protect them," Judhistir Singh.

Dhrubapada Shandilya, the block development officer of Balarampur, said no compliment was enough for the seven men. "We are also thinking how the local administration can help them," he said.
MO Dewji Foundation has donated 100m/-to Tumaini La Maisha (TLM), an NGO working in partnership with Muhimbili National Hospital to provide care and treatment for children with cancer in Tanzania.

The donation is part of the Foundations annual commitment to improving the wellbeing of children. The National Childrens Oncology Centre at MNH is the first childrens cancer ward in all of Tanzania.

TLM began with the simple, but ambitious task of ensuring patients at the childrens ward received the highest-possible quality of care of which treatment was provided free of charge.

A press statement issued on Friday by the Foundation stated that since Mr Mohammed Dewji first visited the centre in 2015, he pledged an annual contribution to improve the efforts to cover costs of supplies and medicine, including new equipment, but also to support the clinic programme.

TLMs mission is that all children with cancer in Tanzania have access to quality services leading to cure rates seen in resource rich settings, which means no child in Tanzania suffers or dies from cancer.

TLM offers all care and treatment free to children living with cancer throughout the country, as well as providing for their transport to and from the hospital. TLM Tanzania was registered in November 2011 in Tanzania. The team has since grown from a single room at ORCI to being based at MNH with eight partner centres nationwide, reads part of the statement.

It added that Mo Dewji Foundation would continue its support of Tumaini La Maisha and promote others to do the same.

We believe strengthening the healthcare system will help improve life conditions of Tanzanians.
Rising infections force US warship into maintenance: analysts

Global Times

By Guo Yuandan Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 15:53:40

Following the first three confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) cases on board the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt on Tuesday, the figure reportedly rocketed to 25 on Thursday, as the warship is heading toward Guam. Chinese military experts said on Friday that this latest move indicates the Theodore Roosevelt has now been into a maintenance condition and decided that scheduled military missions be cancelled.

Additional COVID-19 tests among the crew are expected, and possibly "dozens" of new cases could emerge, CNN reported on Thursday, citing an official, while another official said the number of additional cases is expected to be large, to an extent the US Defense Department would be unlikely to publicly specify how many of the Navy's overall cases are amongst members of the crew of the aircraft carrier," due to concerns that adversaries such as China or North Korea could see the ship as vulnerable."

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said that the Theodore Roosevelt is in a process of testing all of the crew, approximately 5,000 personnel, as the aircraft carrier is pulling into Guam, CNN reported.

"No one in the crew will be allowed to leave anywhere into Guam, other than on pier side," CNN quoted Modly as saying.

These measures indicate the US has essentially put the Theodore Roosevelt in a maintenance condition and had all scheduled military missions cancelled, as the aircraft carrier's main mission now has shifted to docking in Guam, quarantining all of its crew members at the military base there and conducting thorough disinfection work on the entire ship, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Friday.

The US Navy is currently flying personnel off the carrier, which is another move that reflects the emerging situation the Theodore Roosevelt is now facing. "It still takes some time for the aircraft carrier to arrive in Guam, and transferring related personnel to Guam via air transportation can reduce the risk of cross infection as much as possible," Song said.

Song said he expects all crew members to leave the ship and be quarantined for 14 days, and the aircraft carrier will likely undergo a full-scale disinfection procedure, including on air conditioning and sewer systems.

Even if such work is completed, the Theodore Roosevelt will not be put into action anytime soon, as thorough tests will follow which has to ensure the risks of infection are reduced to zero, Song predicted.

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This is a tale of two governments. Both were faced with a potential disaster  a new and deadly epidemic. Both made choices that the world will judge.

China. The virus made its first appearance in a Wuhan wet market, an emporium (apparently common in China) that featured live and newly slaughtered animals in close proximity. SARS and avian flu are also thought to have originated in these markets, which amount to an ongoing threat to global health.

From the first reported case, on December 1, 2019, until January 5, 2020, the Chinese government engaged in a cover-up. As National Reviews Jim Geraghty recounted, in early January, Chinas National Health Commission forbade reporting on the new disease. On December 30, Dr. Li Wenliang sent a message to other physicians warning that a SARS-like illness was spreading. He was arrested (along with six others) and obliged to apologize for spreading rumors. (Dr. Li Wenliang died of COVID-19 on February 7.)

Throughout early January, as cases mounted, the Chinese government issued soothing statements suggesting that the new pneumonia was not transmitted from person to person. As late as January 15, after Thailand and Japan had reported their first cases, official government sources were denying that human-to-human transmission had been proven, saying the risk was low.

Only on January 23, six weeks after the first case, did China announce a quarantine of Wuhan. By that time, millions had come and gone from the city during the busy holiday season, and cases had been reported in Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

USA. President Trump engaged in a series of soothing statements himself. On January 22, after the first U.S. case was reported, he said We have it totally under control. On February 2, he boasted that we pretty much shut it down coming in from China. Twice in February, the president promised that when we get into April, in the warmer weather  that has a very negative effect on that, and that type of a virus. On February 26, when cases topped 60, Trump claimed that were going very substantially down, not up. In South Carolina, on February 28, Trump likened criticism of his handling of the pandemic to impeachment, saying this is their new hoax. On March 6, he continued this theme. Facing criticism for his false statement that anyone who wants a test can get a test, Trump tried to string together a fake news/Ukraine theme. He said the tests were beautiful, adding The tests are all perfect, like the letter was perfect, the transcription was perfect, right? Asked whether he was concerned about the viruss spread on March 7, the president said No, weve done a great job.

Story continues

Throughout the first ten weeks of the pandemic, Trump praised China effusively, as The Bulwarks Jim Swift chronicled. On February 7, for example, Trump said: Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help! A few days later, he shared with Fox News his view that China is very, you know, professionally run, in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon.

China. When the lies were no longer tenable, the Chinese government pivoted. Through their propaganda arms, they circulated videos of China building new hospitals (they were actually prefab quarantine wards, not fully equipped hospitals) and fumigating public spaces. This was followed by grand gestures like donating millions of face masks to afflicted countries such as Spain, South Korea, Iran, and the Philippines. Jack Ma, CEO of Alibaba, shipped a million masks and half a million testing kits to the U.S.

USA. When the lies were no longer tenable, President Trump pivoted. Two days after claiming that the disease was under control, Trump declared himself a wartime president and offered that Ive always known this is a real  this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. Trump began to appear daily at press conferences with public-health authorities  a setting he controls, in which every participant must begin with fulsome praise of himself. He pivoted on China too, dropping the unctuous praise in favor of provocative blame.

China. Relentless propaganda lauding Premier Xis great leadership in fighting the coronavirus may succeed with many Chinese. Will the world remember the criminal dishonesty that arguably unleashed this pestilence?

USA. By consistently downplaying and denying the seriousness of the threat, President Trump cost the American people precious time. By encouraging a false sense of security, he prevented the federal, state, and local governments from gearing up for the worst emergency we have faced in 100 years. Will the world remember the dishonesty that permitted this pestilence to hit us so very hard?

 2020 Creators.com

More from National Review
WASHINGTON  Now that Congress has passed the largest rescue package in American history to address the coronavirus pandemic, is there more to come?

That depends on whom you ask.

"We know that this cannot be our final bill," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on the House floor Friday shortly before lawmakers approved the nearly $2 trillion package.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had a different take.

"Well, well have to wait and see what happens," the Kentucky Republican told Fox News when asked Thursday if there will be another funding phase.

Both chambers are scheduled to be out for the first half of April. But that's not an impediment. McConnell said he will call senators back if there's a need to act.

$1,200 cash payments and more: Here's what's in the historic stimulus package for coronavirus

Coronavirus stimulus package: Who will get $1,200 checks and when will they be sent out?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is followed by reporters and staff as she arrives on Capitol Hill on March 27, 2020.

The potential impasse is that Democrats already have a list of additional issues they say need to be addressed while Republicans want to first see the effects of the three packages already approved, particularly the latest, massive bill President Donald Trump signed Friday.

"I would hope anybody that's talking about a phase four would pause right now. We have just passed three bills," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Fox News Friday afternoon. "Let's make sure this is actually working."

The latest stimulus package will provide $1,200 checks to many Americans  and more for families  while making available hundreds of billions of dollars for companies to maintain payroll through the crisis. It significantly expands the nations unemployment safety net and it directs a huge infusion of cash to states and to hospitals and other medical facilities on the frontline fighting the pandemic.

Pelosi, however, said the package had glaring omissions that must be rectified, and that more needs will arise in the coming weeks. Those include:

Story continues

Expanding which workers qualify for unpaid, job-protected leave to care for themselves or a family member under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Stronger safety protections for health care workers.

Free health care services for coronavirus patients.

Increased food stamp benefits.

Pension protections.

More funding for state and local governments.

More funding for hospitals and health centers.

Pelosi also pointed out that the House's initial version of the rescue package had bigger stimulus checks for individuals than were in the final bill.

"I don't think we've seen the end of direct payments," she told reporters Thursday.

Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has criticized the package as falling far short of what his hard-hit state needs.

It would really be terrible for the state of New York, Cuomo said Wednesday. This doesnt do it.

Asked about such complaints from governors, Pelosi said more help will come as Congress moves from addressing emergency needs to a "recovery phase."

Next we will move to recovery," she said again on the House floor Friday, "and hopefully that will be soon.

Some Democrats want to increase the amount of election funding states would receive, along with a requirement that they allow citizens to vote-by-mail or through another remote method this fall.

"Voters shouldn't have to choose between their health & their right to vote," tweeted Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, whose husband is recovering from COVID-19.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said its wrong that many workers still wont qualify for paid sick leave or paid family leave.

Its about supporting people who are being required to stay home, she said. We have to keep pushing on this.

Pelosi said House committees will continue to work  often remotely  on outstanding issues.

Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, the Democratic head of the House panel that oversees taxes, said the fourth response package needs to do more for individuals, including expanding tax credits for families with children and help for low-income workers.

But anything on the Democrats' wish list will have to be negotiated with the GOP-controlled Senate and bipartisan tensions remain despite lawmakers' coming together to pass such a huge amount of spending in a short period of time.

Greg Walden, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has broad jurisdiction over major issues like health insurance, drug development and tourism, said its too soon to say what could be in another package.

Lets see where we are 30 days from now, Walden said on Bloomberg TV Thursday. He noted that lawmakers will still be working on the regular annual funding bills for the federal government.

Pelosi said lawmakers have to be on call for "what we need, when we need it ."

"And we don't know what that might be," she said Thursday. "But whatever it is, we'll be ready."

Contributing: Ledyard King and Todd Spangler, USA TODAY Network.

'Disgraceful.' 'Irresponsible: Colleagues slam Rep. Massie for forcing lawmakers back for stimulus vote

More: What we know about the coronavirus keeps changing  from who is most susceptible, to the virus' shelf-life

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump, Pelosi, McConnell passed stimulus. What's next
Krif Ghana Limited, a leading dealer in the sale and distribution of Superior Quality Office Stationery and Equipment has teamed up with Olympia of Germany and Magner of USA to introduced a new money handling machine onto the Ghanaian market.



The collaboration between Krif and the popular brand and world-renowned manufacturer, Olympia will bring to Ghana money counting machines that can count the new upgraded and security-enhanced Ghana cedi notes.

These new money counting machines, Olympia NC-540, Olympia NC-450 and Olympia NC-620, have been designed specifically for the Ghanaian currency. They count both the existing and the new cedi notes with enhanced security features.



Since the introduction of the upgraded new Ghana cedi notes (GH 1, GH 5, GH 10, GH 20 and GH50) onto the Ghanaian market in May 2019, customers had difficulties counting their notes using the machines calibrated for only the existing currency notes.



According to Rev. Kennedy Okosun, the Executive Chairman of Krif Ghana, Krif is the sole distributor of these upgraded new counting machines from Olympia and Germany.



The collaboration has resulted in the production of 3 models of Olympia Money Counting Machines and 2 models of Magner Money Counting Machines. The Olympia Money Counting Machines are sold and distributed exclusively by Krif Ghana only in Ghana Rev. Okosun said.



He also noted that Krif Ghana Limited for the past 33 years has pioneered innovations in money counting machines from well-known brands such as Toyocom of Japan, Scancoin of Sweden among others.



Explaining the Security features of the Olympia NC540, he emphasized that the security features such as the Ultra-Violet (UV), Magnetic Sensor (MG), Infra-Red (IR), and Contact Image Sensor (CIS) have all been enhanced to count the old upgraded Ghana cedi notes, and detect counterfeit notes.



Counterfeit detection of fake notes as well as the new notes is a major feature of these machines from Olympia of Germany and Magner of USA.



He added that, the machine has; high speed performance with accurate processing of notes, as well as an enhanced IR Sensor to detect double, half and chain notes. Variable speed to process both weak and new notes, he said.



The new enhanced security features on the upgraded notes are; a new improved security thread (RAPID), an optically variable magnetic image (SPARK LIVE), a more prominent watermark and an enhanced iridescent band at the back of the banknote.



Engineers at KRIF have been trained oversees by the management to aid in repairs and maintenance of these machines.

Source: Krif Ghana









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CARACAS, Venezuela  The Russian state-controlled oil firm Rosneft said Saturday it was ceasing operations in Venezuela and selling all of its assets in the country, signaling a shift in Kremlin strategy that could further rattle Venezuelas crumbling economy.

Rosneft had emerged as the biggest economic ally of Venezuelas authoritarian president, Nicolas Maduro, accounting for up to two-thirds of the countrys oil trade and a significant share of crude production. The lifeline provided by Rosneft has allowed Mr. Maduro to maintain a flow of hard currency and supply the country with gasoline.

The United States imposed sanctions this year on two Rosneft oil trading subsidiaries for helping Mr. Maduro. The sanctions, which have hurt the companys business elsewhere in the world, were cited by a Rosneft spokesman Saturday in describing the sale.

Still, the sale of Rosnefts assets is not necessarily a move away from Mr. Maduro by Russia, one of the countrys few foreign backers.
(Photo : Image by Vektor Kunst iXimus from Pixabay )

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About two months ago, the United States reported its first case of COVID-19 infection. A man who returned from China.



Now, the country has the highest cases of confirmed infections compared to any country in the world. The total number of infections even surpassed that of China, where the epicenter of the virus was, and Italy which was the epicenter in Europe.



With cases across 50 states, the US now has a total of 85,653 confirmed cases as of Thursday night. To compare, China has 81,782 and Italy has 80,589.



US reported 11,656 new cases in the past 24 hours. China only had one case of local transmission and 54 new imported cases. Italy has 5210 new cases.



Deaths, however, remain the highest in Italy. The European country has 7,505 total fatalities while 685 people died in the past 24 hours. The US' total deaths are at 884 with 211 deaths within the past 24 hours. China has 3,393 total deaths with only 6 deaths in the past 24 hours.



While the balloon in infection can be attributed to America's population, with 330 million residents and the third most populous nation, critics are saying the people were also not quick to follow quarantine measures in place. Parties and large gatherings went on despite the crisis.



New York state is becoming the epicenter in the US with 37,258 overall cases plus 6,400 new cases as of Thursday - this is close to about 50% of the overall cases in the country. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the spike in cases is driven by the previous backlog of infections which had not been confirmed due to lack of testing.



385 people died in the State on Thursday, up from 285 the previous day. Based on his observation, patients who spent a long time on a ventilator are most likely the ones who don't recover. The governor said 5,327 people were hospitalized, 1,290 are in ICU, and 1,517 have recovered.



Cuomo said the $2 trillion stimulus package approved by the government may not be enough to compensate for the economic loss incurred due to the outbreak. New York City is about to receive $5 billion while businesses have already lost $15 billion.



Meanwhile, New Orleans is shaping to become the next epicenter of the virus in the US. It now has 2,300 cases with 83 deaths. Spike is still expected since the Carnival celebration in February went on even with the risk of the virus already present at the time. More than 1 million people attended Mardi Gras, neglecting calls for social distancing.



Infections are also worrying onboard the Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. There are now 23 sailors infected. Plans are now in place to test all the 5,000 sailors.



Twenty states have now imposed tougher stay-at-home orders and closed non-important businesses.



Here are the COVID-19 numbers per state as of March 27:



Alabama: 531 (one death)



Alaska: 59 (1)



Arizona: 508 (2)



Arkansas: 349 (2)



California: 3,006 (65)



Colorado: 1,430 (24)



Connecticut: 1,012 (21)



Delaware: 143 (1)



District of Columbia: 267 (3)



Florida: 2,353 (28)



Georgia: 1,643 (56)



Guam: 45 (1)



Hawaii: 106



Idaho: 189 (3)



Illinois: 2,538 (26)



Indiana: 645 (17)



Iowa: 179 (1)



Kansas: 168 (3)



Kentucky: 248 (5)



Louisiana: 2,305 (83)



Maine: 155



Maryland: 580 (4)



Massachusetts: 2,417 (25)



Michigan: 2,856 (60)



Minnesota: 346 (2)



Mississippi: 485 (5)



Missouri: 502 (8)



Montana: 90



Nebraska: 73



Nevada: 420 (10)



New Hampshire: 137 (1)



New Jersey: 6,876 (81)



New Mexico: 136 (1)



New York: 37,258 (385)



North Carolina: 636 (2)



North Dakota: 52



Ohio: 867 (15)



Oklahoma: 248 (7)



Oregon: 316 (11)



Pennsylvania: 1,687 (16)



Puerto Rico: 64 (2)



Rhode Island: 165



South Carolina: 456 (9)



South Dakota: 46 (1)



Tennessee: 957 (3)



Texas: 1,424 (18)



US Virgin Islands: 17



Utah: 402 (1)



Vermont: 158 (9)



Virginia: 460 (13)



Washington: 3,207 (149)



West Virginia: 51



Wisconsin: 707 (8)



Wyoming: 55



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TagsCoronavirus COVID-19, US Infections, Italy and China
We are already seeing some patients sick, but were not seeing a big uptick in EMS calls for patients with respiratory illness, Box said. So we still think we are a little bit in the calm before the storm, but we know thats coming and are prepared for that.
Mother of Catholic priest found dead in Turkey, father still missing after abduction

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The decaying remains of an elderly woman and mother of a Catholic Chaldean priest in Turkey were found last week, two months after she was abducted alongside her husband who is still missing.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a Christian persecution watchdog based in the United Kingdom, reports that the body of 65-year-old Simoni Diril was found on March 20 near the mountainous village of Mehre in Turkeys southeastern Srnak province.

Diril was abducted along with her husband, Hurmuz, on Jan. 11. Hurmuz Diril, 71, is still missing. The Dirils are the parents of Remzi Diril, a priest at the Catholic Chaldean Church in Istanbul who is known for providing care to thousands of refugees.

We are deeply saddened by the death of Simoni Diril and extend our sincere condolences to Father Diril and the rest of Mrs. Dirils family and loved ones, CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said in a statement. We are also gravely concerned for the well-being of Mr. Hurmuz Diril, whose whereabouts and condition remain unknown.

CSW is calling for a full and intensive investigation into the case.

Thomas urged Turkish authorities to expedite efforts to secure Hurmuz Dirils release as well as take extra measures to protect the Christian minority, and to tackle hate speech, anti-Christian sentiments and all forms of religious discrimination in Turkey.

According to International Christian Concern, another U.S.-based persecution watchdog organization, the couple's abduction was carried out by PKK members, also known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party. Turkey considers the PKK to be a terrorist group.

International Christian Concern reports that a search conducted in the early days of the couples disappearance was hindered by winter weather but the investigation is ongoing.

The Srnak province borders both Iraq and Syria and Mehre is a historically Assyrian Christian village that has often been victimized by ongoing conflicts.

ICC notes that the village was evacuated in 1989 and 1992 because of conflict between the PKK and the Turkish Army. The Dirils returned to the village about a decade ago, ICC reports.

In interviews with Bianet, an independent Turkish press agency, the victims nephew, George Diril, and Parliament Member Tuma Celik said Dirils body no longer had bodily integrity when it was found.



"The streamside where her dead body was found is 10 minutes from the houses in the village, George Diril was quoted as saying. If the search had been sincerely conducted, maybe, it would not end like this.

"A real search was not carried out, weather conditions were used as an excuse. Drones hovered in the air twice, that was all, he added. "We constantly asked state authorities for help. But they were not sincere. A confidentiality order was imposed on the file.

"On the day when this order was issued, authorities came to the village. It was an utter production. They circled the house, took pictures and left. Then, news were reported that 'search was carried out despite harsh weather conditions.' But no search was done, our voice was not heard. No one cared."

Celik, a member of the pro-minority Peoples' Democratic Party, told the news agency that the body was discovered in a spot that had been checked during the search.

"The dead body has swollen a lot, a long time must have passed, Celik said. But where she was found is very close to the village. It is a place frequently passed by people. The autopsy report will reveal whether the body was left there afterwards and when she was killed. The family is now concerned about the father's fate. Works should be intensified to find him as soon as possible."

The Iraqi Christian Relief Council, an Assyrian-run nonprofit, reports that Dirils body was buried on Wednesday in Istanbul.



Turkey, a predominantly-Muslim country and NATO member, is ranked as the 36th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List.



In January, an Assyrian priest and two other Assyrian Christians were arrested and charged with terrorism reportedly for offering bread and water to Kurdish militants who visited their monastery.

According to CSW, Father Sefer Bilecen was scheduled to have a hearing on March 19. However, that hearing was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

CSW continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Father Aho, who faces unfounded accusations, Thomas said in a statement. We urge the international community to raise this case and others in which Christians have been arbitrarily targeted with Turkey at every opportunity.
Firefighters look for hotspots after fighting a fire at 2046 Bonaffon St. in Phila., Pa. on March 27, 2020. Read more

A 4-year-old boy, 1-year-old boy, and a woman died Friday evening in a Southwest Philadelphia rowhouse fire, authorities said.

Firefighters arriving at the 2000 block of Bonnaffon Street a little after 6:30 p.m. were met by heavy flames emerging from the second floor, said Kathy Matheson, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Fire Department. They gained entry and were able to pull the three victims from a bedroom and begin efforts to save them.

The woman, however, was pronounced dead at the scene by a medic unit at 6:52 p.m.

The children were taken to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where the 4-year-old died at 7:11 p.m., and the younger child died eight minutes later.

Their identities and relationship to each other were not immediately available.

The fire was declared under control at 7:03. Nearly 60 firefighters were on the scene.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. No other details were released.
Gardai have commenced a nationwide operation to ensure compliance with the Governments latest coronavirus restrictions.

Patrols will be run across the country during the weekend.

The policing operation runs from Friday night until 7am on Monday and will involve thousands of gardai on foot, bike and mobile patrols.

The force acknowledged that the vast majority of people in Ireland were behaving responsibly in respect of social-distancing measures.

It said the focus of the operation would be on encouraging people to adhere to the latest clampdown.

But it warned it would intervene where venues or outlets were not in compliance or where groups of people were not adhering to recommended measures.

It is vital that people adhere to the social-distancing guidelines. This will reduce the spread of Covid-19 and save lives

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: An Garda Siochanas priority is keeping people safe and that will continue this weekend. There will be a major policing plan across the country with high visibility of Garda members at key locations.

It is vital that people adhere to the social-distancing guidelines. This will reduce the spread of Covid-19 and save lives.

The vast majority of people are complying with the guidelines and we want that to continue this weekend. By all of us working together, we can flatten the curve and keep our loved ones safe.

Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey added: These high-visibility patrols are to provide re-assurance and social-distancing advice to the public.

Garda members will pro-actively engage positively with people.

An Garda Siochana will police as it has always done with the consent of the people.

It is in everybodys interest that people comply with these measures.

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US President Donald Trump.

Getty

President Donald Trump's pride and ego will have "global repercussions" for tackling the coronavirus pandemic, said a South Korean doctor whose aggressive approach to tackling the virus was a model for the country's success.

Min Pok-kee told Wired this week that the US was "very late" in realizing the importance of mass testing for the virus and now risked suffering a crisis like the one in Italy, the effects of which would be felt across the world.

"Trump has spoken dismissively about testing because of his ego. As we scientists see it, he's motivated by pride," Min said, adding, "In the US, Trump is talking about taking care of his own, but the entire world has to respond in sync."

The US this week became the country with the most cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump's refusal to implement mass testing for the coronavirus in the United States will have "global repercussions," a South Korean doctor said.

In an interview with Wired this week, Min Pok-kee, whose aggressive approach to tackling the COVID-19 virus in the city of Daegu became a model for South Korea's nationwide response, said Trump's failure meant that "it's inevitable that you become like Italy."

"The United States is very late to this," he said. "And the president and the officials working on it seem to think they aren't late. This has both national and global repercussions.

"It isn't enough for Korea alone to survive. In the US, Trump is talking about taking care of his own, but the entire world has to respond in sync."

He said the president's failure to provide widespread testing was because of his "pride" and "ego."

"Trump has spoken dismissively about testing because of his ego," Min said. "As we scientists see it, he's motivated by pride. The doctors in the US all know that this sort of testing is appropriate."

Story continues

The US this week became the country with the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, with over 85,000 as of Friday.

Meanwhile, South Korea's coronavirus strategy has been lauded as a model for other countries. Since the virus hit the country in mid-February, its government has focused on testing lots of people, even introducing drive-thru testing stations.

South Korea's focus on mass testing has helped it "flatten the curve" and take control of the spread of the virus. As of Friday morning, it had 9,332 confirmed coronavirus cases and 139 deaths.

Min, whose daughter attends college in the US, said social distancing should be "instituted comprehensively" in the US to avoid the national crisis seen in Italy.

"How are existing facilities in the US going to handle all the infected patients? They can't," he told Wired.

"So then it's inevitable that you become like Italy. Korea also could have become like Italy, but we assessed the situation very quickly. What should the United States do? For now, social distancing must be instituted comprehensively, and field hospitals must be built."

The UK's 'herd immunity' strategy was 'nonsense'

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Getty

Min also criticized the UK's initial response to the virus, saying that people in South Korea were baffled when the UK government pursued a strategy of achieving "herd immunity."

This strategy, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson abandoned last week, was based on the belief that it would be harder for the coronavirus to spread in the future once it has affected a majority of the British population.

Scientists warned Johnson's government that this risked killing thousands of people. Johnson has since switched to a strategy of strict social distancing, with an ambition to significantly ramp up testing.

Min said that "the UK offers a cautionary tale."

"Its first response was to say that people would develop herd immunity, though it switched course a few days later. I'd already been concerned about the capacity of the British system, and this made me very worried.

"Herd immunity only works if you have a vaccine and 85 to 90 percent of the population is inoculated.

"Right now, in the face of an infectious disease with such a high mortality rate, for the UK to resist acknowledging the reality of the virus could translate into tens of thousands of deaths. It was unthinkable for a government to put out such nonsense.

"We in Korea were thinking, 'Are these people in their right mind?'"

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has requested all District Magistrates (DMs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and other officials not to obstruct the movement of 200 special buses being run to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various places in the border areas with Delhi.

"On the directions of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the UPSRTC is deploying buses to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various points at border districts of Delhi. The buses have started reaching Noida and Ghaziabad. Around 200 buses will depart from for every 2 hours from 8 am onwards," read a letter written by the Managing Director (MD) UPSRTC, Raj Shekhar, to the administration.

"A few buses which have already left Gaziabad, Noida and bordering areas are on the way to various destinations in UP... We have received few issues of stopping these buses at various checking points in various districts. UPSRTC would requests all DMs/SSPs/SPs to inform all their border checkpoints not to stop these buses enroute," it added.

The letter further mentioned that the task of ferrying passengers to their destination in UP will continue till March 29.

The letter further posed a request to the "Destination Points District DMs" to take note of the bus details reaching their district points today and tomorrow and to make arrangements for the medical screening of all passengers alighting at the termination points.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, comprising mostly of migrant workers and their families, gathered at the Lal Kua from Delhi, Gurugram and other places, to take buses to their respective destinations amid the lockdown. The majority of those who arrived at Lal Kua, had completed their journey from their places of stay in Delhi to the place of departure for the buses on foot.

While the Prime Minister had imposed a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the UP administration had decided to ply these buses to help thousands of migrant workers who were stuck in the capital and had started returning, even on foot, to their native places in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The daughter of a Heathrow immigration officer who died from coronavirus was also killed by the disease herself just 24 hours later.

Sudhir Sharma, who worked at Terminal 3, passed away on Wednesday before pharmacist Pooja suffered the same tragic fate the following day, The Sun reports.

The father, 61, from Hounslow in west London, last worked on January 7, therefore officials don't believe he contracted Covid-19 on duty and likely picked it up elsewhere.

Pooja Sharma, pictured left, died of coronavirus just 24 hours after her father Sudhir, pictured right, also lost his life to the disease

Pooja, 32, (pictured) worked as a pharmacist in East Sussex and is thought to have received three days of care and treatment for the virus before her death

He is believed to have had underlying health problems, forcing him to be absent at work, but had recently returned to his job on the frontline.

A source told the website: 'It's an absolute tragedy. He was a lovely, lovely man. Every immigration officer is talking about it.

'There are concerns about his widow being unable to attend the funeral because of the isolation issues. It's just so awful.'

Pooja, 32, worked as a pharmacist in East Sussex at Eastbourne District General Hospital and is thought to have received three days of care and treatment for the virus before her death.

Whether the relatives were in close contact with each other before the tragedies is not clear, but friends and colleagues have since rushed to pay tribute.

The father worked as an immigration officer at Terminal 3, pictured, at Heathrow airport

Nick Jariwalla, director of Border Force at Heathrow, told The Sun: 'Sudhir was a very well-respected, kind and experienced officer. He will be greatly missed by everyone.'

A friend of the daughter posted: 'Really sorry to hear that one of our fellow pharmacists and a friend of mine since university, Pooja, and her father have passed away.

'May their souls rest in peace. Sending my heartiest condolences, prayers and love to their family.'

They added: 'Please, please, please inform family and friends to take this very seriously and to self-isolate, socially distance themselves as much as possible, for their families if not for themselves.'

It came as the UK's coronavirus death toll jumped by a third to 759 after officials announced 181 more victims of the killer infection in the biggest daily rise yet.

Health chiefs also confirmed almost 15,000 Britons have now caught the virus.

Pooja, 32, worked as a pharmacist in East Sussex at Eastbourne District General Hospital, pictured, and is thought to have received three days of care and treatment for the virus before her death

Criticism of the government also grew yesterday as Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock tested positive and are self-isolating, while Professor Chris Whitty, the UK's Chief Medical Officer, is working from home after he developed symptoms.

Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was forced to defend the government's approach to the crisis after it hit hard at the heart of Westminster as he took part in the now daily Number 10 coronavirus press conference.

It was suggested to Mr Gove that ministers had at best been 'careless' and at worst 'negligent' by allowing the killer bug to infect Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock amid criticism of the government's testing efforts.

But Mr Gove argued the fact they had caught coronavirus showed it 'does not discriminate' and 'we are all at risk' as he said: 'The fact that the virus is no respecter of individuals, whoever they are, is one of the reasons why we do need to have strict social distancing measures.'
NEW DELHI: Despite serious measures taken by the governments world over, the number of fatalities and the confirmed cases due to the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic has been rising at an alarming rate. According to the figures provided by the Johns Hopkins University, the United States has now become the first country in the world with more than 1,00000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The US had already surpassed China on March 27 with most number of confirmed coronavirus cases and Italy still remains the worst affected with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Johns Hopkins University data showed that the new coronavirus cases surged by nearly one lakh in a single day to reach close to six lakh COVID-19 positive patients globally on Thursday, with the US on the top of the list with nearly one lakh cases alone.

As of now, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases are 593,291confirmed and total deaths 27,198 globally on Saturday 7.00 AM IST, according to the Johns Hopkins University. The United States, which recorded its first confirmed case two months ago, now has 101,657 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, as reported by the health department.

The nation passed 10,000 cases on March 19 and Thursday became the country with the most confirmed cases. More than 18,000 COVID-19 infections were reported in a single day, mostly in the New York City.

In view of the situation, President Trump has invoked the Defencse Production Act on Friday to make General Motors manufacture ventilators to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. The announcement was made hours after Trump complained in tweets that GM and Ford were not doing enough to help.

Meanwhile, Italy jumped to second place with over 86,000 cases, followed by China and Spain, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre data.

Italy recorded a sudden spike in coronavirus deaths, with 969 new victims which is the worst daily record for any country.

Globally, over 27,198 people have died as the novel coronavirus reaches 176 countries.

According to The New York Times, Congress gave final approval on Friday to the largest economic stimulus package in modern American history, a USD trillion measure to fight the growing coronavirus in the country.

Later, US President Donald Trump signed into law a USD 2 trillion rescue plan to salvage an economy crippled by coronavirus, after the historic measure that delivers cash to suffering Americans cleared Congress.

"I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first," the president said shortly before signing the historic bill in the Oval Office.

"Help is on the way," Trump assured his countrymen as he signed the Bill in the Oval Office at the White House. The Senate and the House of Representatives earlier passed the Bill.

"We got hit by the invisible enemy and we got hit hard," he said, adding the economy would come roaring back. "I think we are going to have a tremendous rebound."

The legislation among other things gives USD 3,400 for most of the American families of four, and billions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to small and medium businesses, and big corporations like Boeing.

"This is a very important day. I've signed the single biggest economic relief package in the American history and, I must say, any other package by the way. It is twice as large as any relief every signed," the President said.

The magnitude of the package can be seen in the context that India, one of the top five economies of the world, is estimated at USD 3 trillion.

"I never signed anything with a T on it," Trump said. "I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first," he said.

The first stimulus check is likely to be sent to the Americans in the first week of April.

More than half of the country's 330 million population is now confined in their homes, Major Disaster Declaration has been announced in over a dozen states and a national emergency has been declared.

A record three million people have applied for unemployment, the entire travel and tourism industry have come to a standstill, companies have stopped their operations and only essential services are running in the US.

The United States is now the hotspot of the coronavirus in the world, where according to Worldometer, over 100,000 confirmed cases of the contagion have been recorded, 1429 people have died and 2,463 people are in critical condition.
The coronavirus crisis is bringing the United States economy to a screeching halt, with every sector feeling the effects of most of the country's workforce staying home.

Satellite imagery combined with other photographic evidence and alternative data sources give a stark look at the U.S. situation: Airplanes are parked on unused runways, the busiest highways are empty during rush hour times, resorts have become ghost towns, ports are seeing sharp drops in shipping activity and more.

The U.S. now has more coronavirus cases than any other nation in the world, as Johns Hopkins University data shows 104,837 cases in the States. Transportation, hospitality and other service industries were the first hit as both leisure and business travel is now limited to what is considered essential.

Investors need to turn to alternative sources to gauge the scope of the economic hit because not many official measures have been released yet. This week markets did get one hint at what's to come from official data. The U.S. Labor Department on Thursday reported that a staggering 3.28 million Americans filed unemployment claims in the previous week. That number shattered the all-time weekly record of 695,000 set in October 1982.

The drop in U.S. consumer and business activity is apparent in satellite imagery collected by companies like Maxar Technologies, Planet Labs, ICEYE and Orbital Insight. Here's what you can see.
By Ned Parker, Linda So, Brad Heath and Grant Smith

NEW YORK, March 28 (Reuters) - Sean Hernandez says he covers his mouth and nose with a t-shirt or towel when he leaves his cell, the only defense he can improvise against the coronavirus outbreak now sweeping through New Yorks Rikers Island jail system.

Inmates have no access to gloves or proper masks and have only cold water to wash their hands, said Hernandez, who was convicted of attemted murder and has served eight years. He said inmates watched on Thursday as a guard coughed, her cheeks turned red and she collapsed to the ground.

We are pleading with officers for better defenses, he said. They just shrug. In the end, we are just inmates, second-class citizens. We are like livestock.

As of Friday, at least 80 staff and 103 inmates at jails across New York City had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The virus appears to be spreading quickly through a jail system famous for its overcrowded cell blocks. The citys Department of Correction said it is taking many measures to protect detainees, and declined to comment on Hernandezs account of an infected guard collapsing.

Across the United States, jails and prisons are reporting an accelerating spread of the new disease, and they are taking a varied approach to protecting the inmates in their charge. Thousands of inmates are being released from detention, in some cases with little or no medical screening to determine if they may be infected by the coronavirus and at risk of spreading it into the community, Reuters found.

Since Sunday, jails have reported 104 staff and 146 inmates with confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to a Reuters survey of cities and counties that run Americas 20 largest jails. The numbers are almost certainly an undercount given the fast spread of the virus. Hot spots include Cook County jail in Chicago, Illinois. Since the first case was confirmed there on Sunday, the virus has infected 38 inmates and nine staff. Test results are pending for 123 other detainees.

Inmate advocates, local officials and public defenders are urging jails and prisons to speed up the release of inmates. Jails typically hold people for relatively short periods as they await trial. They have more flexibility to reduce populations than state or federal prisons, whose inmates have been convicted and sentenced.

Story continues

We are nowhere close to the rate of release we need to see to stop the spread of COVID-19, said Udi Ofer, director of the justice division at the American Civil Liberties Union. Every day that government officials do not act is another day that lives are put at risk.

Some groups are pushing back. Victims rights group Marsy's Law, named after the murdered sister of billionaire Henry Nicholas, has criticized the releases, saying victims of crimes should be notified before the people who committed them are let out -- a process that could delay releases of some inmates by weeks or months. However, officials supervising releases in New York, Los Angeles, Houston and other major cities say they are releasing only low-level, non-violent offenders.

New York City has freed about 450 inmates from its jails since last weekend as it scrambles to contain the virus, which has killed more than 28,000 people, including more than 1,600 in the United States.

The citys independent oversight body for the jails, the Board of Correction, has identified around 2,000 people who could be released -- including inmates aged 50 and above, the infirm, nonviolent, low-level offenders or people jailed for parole violations. The city has declined to disclose the number of inmates it has tested for the virus.

The mayors office said the city was evaluating who to free in consultation with state officials, courts and district attorneys. Hundreds more will be released soon, said Colby Hamilton, a spokesman for the mayor.

THERE IS NO PROTECTION

The United States has more people behind bars than any other nation, a total incarcerated population of nearly 2.3 million as of 2017, including nearly 1.5 million in state and federal prisons and another 745,000 in local jails, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

An inmate released on Monday from Rikers Island said sick and healthy people often mingled freely inside the jail. After a prisoner and a guard in his area of the jail were diagnosed with COVID-19, the inmate said he started spending more time in his two-man cell. But he still had to line up with other inmates at the medicine window to get his daily dose of methadone, a drug-addiction treatment.

There is no protection, said the 32-year-old inmate, who spoke on condition of anonymity. You want to get away from people but you cant.

The New York City Department of Correction said it has taken measures to address the outbreak, including distributing masks to inmates in areas where someone tested positive for COVID-19, promoting distancing between inmates, cleaning cells and providing soap.

The Department of Correction is doing everything we can to safely and humanely house people in our custody amid the broader COVID-19 crisis, said Peter Thorne, the deputy commissioner of public information.

Some jails are releasing inmates who may be ill. In Marietta, Georgia, Aubrey Hardyway, 21, developed a cough, headache, sore throat and a 103-degree fever while held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on theft charges. I just couldnt take it, I was feeling terrible, he said.

Four days after falling ill, Hardyway says he was tested for flu and strep throat. When both came back negative, he was taken to a nearby hospital for blood work and other tests. Hardyway says he was never told if he was tested for the coronavirus. A doctor urged deputies to quarantine Hardyway, he says, but he was released hours later after he returned to jail and his friends paid his bond.

Hardyway says he believes he might have exposed cellmates and guards who were in contact with him. At least one deputy has tested positive for the virus and a second has been quarantined after showing symptoms, according to two sources familiar with the jails operations.

The Cobb County Sheriffs Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Jails report they are adopting different tactics to keep the virus out. Some screen new inmates before they're even booked, taking their temperatures inside police cruisers or garages. Some are quarantining new arrivals until they are medically cleared to join the general population. Some are doing nothing.

Federal prison guards have asked for permission to wear masks on duty, though the Bureau of Prisons had so far declined, said Sandy Parr, a vice president of the union that represents federal prison workers. The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to a request for comment.

A pandemic could be very dangerous for our inmate population, Parr said.

Some courts are beginning to agree: A federal judge late on Thursday ordered federal authorities to immediately release 10 people who were being held in county jails in New Jersey while their immigration cases were being heard. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that each detainee faces an imminent risk of death or serious injury in immigration detention because of the outbreak.

THOUSANDS BEING RELEASED

Inmate releases are being driven by judges, public defenders, prosecutors and occasional orders by political leaders. New Jerseys chief justice ordered the release of 1,000 jail inmates statewide at the start of the week, seeking to prevent deaths behind bars.

Los Angeles County has released at least 1,700 inmates who had sentences with less than 30 days left. In Californias Santa Clara County, authorities cut the inmate population by at least 400 by releasing some people, delaying sentences and other steps. Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, has cut its jail population by at least 500.

In some counties, police are issuing citations for low-level crimes instead of arresting people. Furloughing work-release prisoners is another strategy to try to limit spread of the virus in crowded and often-unsanitary facilities, where the quality of medical care varies dramatically. Some worry the churn of detainees  coupled with the constant shuffle of officers coming from outside  will spread the illness across jails and communities.

Among a dozen large U.S. jails surveyed by Reuters, there was no uniform approach to preventing an infected inmate from spreading the coronavirus into a community.

Some jurisdictions screened inmates before letting them out. Others, such as King County Correctional Facility in Washington, did not.

At this time, there is no enhanced screening of inmates occurring at release unless there is some type of pre-existing medical or psychiatric issue, said Captain David Weirich of the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, where at least one correctional officer has tested positive for the coronavirus according to the county.

In Ohio, the Hamilton County Justice Center is checking the temperature of all released inmates before they leave. At the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole, Florida, if an inmate shows any signs of illness, theyre referred to an outside medical provider. Other jails are offering literature on COVID-19 to exiting inmates.

Inmates in federal prisons said some religious services have been cancelled, along with education programs and most visits.

If the virus gets in here, and we are all expecting it to, we are doomed, said Steven Jones, a 55-year-old inmate at a federal prison in Littleton, Colorado. (Ned Parker and Grant Smith reported from New York. Linda So and Brad Heath reported from Washington. Additional reporting by Peter Eisler, Beatrix Lockwood and Karen Freifeld. Editing by Jason Szep)
Syrian Kurds are surrounded on all sides by conflicting forces, but their internal division has also held them back. Could they finally be ready to unite their efforts to build a workable autonomy?

Kurds have long borne the weight of the Syrian civil war, which this month entered its ninth year. Kurdish cities are home to several militias and military factions, in addition to the Syrian regime and opposition factions backed by Turkey. The Russian army is also deployed in specific Kurdish areas, while the US military has set up its own bases. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-Arab alliance, partnered with the international coalition in the fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, in light of mounting Turkish pressure to establish a safe zone, the United States implemented a partial withdrawal in October. A few days later, Turkey launched its Operation Peace Spring from Ras al-Ain to Tell Abyad in northern Syria. But in November, US forces redeployed to protect oil wells in the region extending from Rumailan and al-Malikiyah to Deir ez-Zor.

Following the offensives of Syrian opposition military factions and Turkish military operations such as Operation Olive Branch in 2018 and last year's Peace Spring, Kurds ended up losing swaths of land. Hundreds of thousands of citizens were displaced from Kurdish areas. Millions of Syrian Kurds fled to other Kurdish regions, Turkey and Europe. Thousands of them lost their lives in battle, especially against the Islamic State.

Meanwhile, the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria obtained independent status as a member of the Syrian oppositions main negotiating body and gained representation on the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva.

On Jan. 10, the KNC and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNC) reached an agreement on the return of those displaced from Syria's Kurdish areas.

Al-Monitor talked to Faisal Yusuf, coordinator of the KNC-affiliated Kurdish Reform Movement. He said, We agreed with the SNC to return the displaced and guarantee their security and safety in Afrin, Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain, and to make sure they get back their properties.

In a separate development, the rift widened between the KNC and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) over administration of the Kurdish area. The KNC views nationalism as a solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria, while the PYD advocates decentralized cantons.

In May, France launched an initiative for a Kurdish-Kurdish rapprochement, but it failed. The United Kingdom also tried to bridge the points of view in August, but was unable to mend the rupture.

Nashat Zaza, a member of the political bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Syria, believes the Kurds, like all components of the Syrian political scene, are divided between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The rift between the Kurds has undermined their political standing. It killed the chances of the federation project," Zaza told Al-Monitor. He argued that the Syrian oppositions lack of a political project encompassing all Syrian components has strengthened the government again after it came close to falling.

Zaza said, The SDF lost several Kurdish areas and did not receive any military support from its allies. In exchange for support, the regime required the SDF to surrender to it. Meanwhile, Turkey and the military factions it backed practiced ethnic cleansing and committed atrocities against the Kurds in those areas.

Zaza continued, In light of field changes in the Kurdish areas and other Syrian areas, the Kurds should reposition themselves on the field and politically. The KNCs membership in the negotiating body and the [Constitutional Committee] has weakened the SDFs position politically and popularly. We now have a good opportunity for rapprochement to save the rest of the Kurdish areas and defend the rights of the Kurdish people. Mazlum Kobane, the SDF chief, should strive for international endeavors for a true partnership between the Kurds."

In the meantime, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, often referred to as Rojava, continued its efforts to obtain political gains from the Syrian government, to no avail.

Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), explained in January 2019 to local media outlets the failure of the discussions that month between the SDC and Syrian government. Damascus refuses to recognize the autonomous administration and only approves of decentralization under Legislative Decree 107. The government has threatened to take military action against the Kurds.

In the last days of December, a Russian delegation and representatives of the Syrian government met with representatives of the Kurdish area including the PYD, the Kurdish National Alliance in Syria and the Kurdish Progressive Democratic Party in Syria.

However, the scope of disagreement between the autonomous administration and Damascus has continued to widen. The SDF's Kobane has repeatedly rejected a military solution in Syria and stressed the impossibility of reaching any solution to the Syrian war without resolving the Kurdish issue.

PYD senior official Fawza al-Yusuf said the Kurds have achieved great accomplishments during the past nine years.

Kurds are protecting their areas from the terrorist Islamic State. They established a self-administration with the participation of all components in northern and eastern Syria, including Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Armenians. The SDF, which represents all the components of the Kurdish area, liberated 30% of the Syrian territories from the terrorist forces. The Kurds formed a democratic model and achieved civil peace and stability in their area, with full equality among men and women in all institutions and complete freedom to practice beliefs and languages," she told Al-Monitor.

Commenting on the current field situation, she said, Turkey supports IS and radical forces while it fights Kurds. Turkey is a non-democratic country that attacked our areas and occupied Afrin, Ras al-Ain and Tell Abyad. Its goal is to strike at stability in Syria and prevent any democratic development in the region.

Yusuf continued, The Kurds tip the balance of power for any side with whom they ally. We demand a decentralized state that guarantees the rights of all components. We want the constitution to give the Kurds their due rights. Syria is plagued by a structural crisis and wont be able to fix its problems with simple reform measures. The existing political regime requires a radical change. The objective and subjective circumstances are riper today than ever for such change. I am optimistic that serious steps will be taken in the near future.

Baz Bakkari, a Syrian Kurdish journalist based in Paris, believes most of the countries with interests in Syria want to sieze the Kurdish card to exploit it in the future. He told Al-Monitor by phone, Russia is pushing to reconcile Kurds and get them to agree with the Syrian regime.  The US steps, however, seem slower than those of its Russian rival, but it also seeks to form a bloc representing the components of Syria's Jazeera canton, spearheaded by Kurds. This would ensure the US a foothold and a legal presence in Syria. Meanwhile, Turkey is trying to win over the KNC to rebut allegations that it is anti-Kurds and to support its theory that it is only hostile to the PYD.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced the setting up of a coronavirus fund.



Members of the public are expected to donate to the fund to help the state to alleviate the impact of coronavirus in Ghana.



President Nana Akufo-Addo made the announcement on Friday, March 27, 2020 in his fourth update to the nation on covid-19.



He said former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo is to oversee the fund.



According to the President, he will be donating his salary for the months of April, May and June to the fund.



















Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday (March 28, 2020) signed into law the historic USD 2 trillion rescue package to help the Americans and secure the country's economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic that has infected nearly 100,000 people across the nation.

"Help is on the way," Trump assured his countrymen as he signed the Bill in the Oval Office at the White House. The Senate and the House of Representatives earlier passed the Bill. "We got hit by the invisible enemy and we got hit hard," he said, adding the economy would come roaring back. "I think we are going to have a tremendous rebound."

The legislation among other things gives USD 3,400 for most of the American families of four, and billions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to small and medium businesses, and big corporations like Boeing.

"This is a very important day. I've signed the single biggest economic relief package in the American history and, I must say, any other package by the way. It is twice as large as any relief every signed," the President said.

The magnitude of the package can be seen in the context that India, one of the top five economies of the world, is estimated at USD 3 trillion. "I never signed anything with a T on it," Trump said. "I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first," he said.

The first stimulus check is likely to be sent to the Americans in the first week of April.

More than half of the country's 330 million population is now confined in their homes, Major Disaster Declaration has been announced in over a dozen states and a national emergency has been declared.

A record three million people have applied for unemployment, the entire travel and tourism industry have come to a standstill, companies have stopped their operations and only essential services are running in the US.

The United States is now the hotspot of the coronavirus in the world, where according to Worldometer, over 100,000 confirmed cases of the contagion have been recorded, 1429 people have died and 2,463 people are in critical condition.

New York, which is the financial capital of the world, accounts for nearly half of the total cases and more than 500 people have died in the Big Apple alone.

Trump, the White House said, is signing bipartisan legislation to provide relief to American families and workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Noting that the CARES Act provides much needed economic relief for American families and businesses who are hurting through no fault of their own, the White House said the legislation will provide assistance to America's heroic healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the outbreak.

USD 100 billion will go to healthcare providers, including hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; and USD 27 billion will go to bolstering life-saving capabilities, including developing vaccines and the development, purchase, and distribution of critical supplies.

USD 45 billion will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, more than doubling the amount available to support the President's Emergency and Disaster Declarations to empower state, local, and tribal leaders to effectively respond.

According to the White House, the legislative package brings security to American families by providing them with economic assistance during the time of crisis. It provides tax free payments, treated as a refundable tax credit, to Americans, giving families the immediate financial support they need.
Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o...
From the start, McConnell believed it was only fair the Senate take the lead in drafting the third phase of the coronavirus legislation and that the Democratic-led House accept it, considering the Senate had done the same for the earlier package despite GOP protestations. That line of reasoning infuriated Democrats, who criticized McConnells own decision to stand on the sidelines for the second phase, then leave Washington to attend an event in Kentucky featuring Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.
NATO boosts capacity of North Macedonia to deal with coronavirus crisis

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

27 Mar. 2020

North Macedonia is using NATO's Next-Generation Incident Command System (NICS) to coordinate its national response to the COVID-19 crisis and to provide its public with real-time information and advice.

In 2019, North Macedonia adopted the NICS system to coordinate all parts of government in the event of an emergency. Experts from the Crisis Management Centre in North Macedonia have now quickly adapted the system to enhance the country's response to the coronavirus.

NICS provides the public with real-time information on the current status of the pandemic in their area as well as information on who to contact for items such as food and medicines. The public website can be found here - http://nicspublic.cuk.gov.mk

The system also enables all of North Macedonia's institutions, as well as organisations like the Red Cross, to communicate and coordinate their activities as effectively and efficiently as possible.

North Macedonia will formally become the 30th member of NATO later on Friday (27 March 2020), upon depositing the instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.

The NICS system is part of the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) project "Advanced Regional Civil Emergency Coordination Pilot" (ARCECP), a collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL), the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the nations of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

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The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Britain has risen to 1,019 up from 759 the day before, according to government figures released Saturday.

"As of 5:00pm on March 27, 2020, 1,019 patients in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have died," the health ministry said, while more than 17,000 people have been infected.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Federal officials have said protecting their employees is their highest priority. But the lumbering, decentralized and risk-averse bureaucracy, the countrys largest employer, has been slow to act to protect the health of many in its workforce, particularly those outside Washington, according to interviews with 28 employees, managers and contractors. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about their agencys pandemic response.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The DRDO has produced a range of products, including multi-layered advanced masks and bodysuit to deal effectively with the outbreak of coronavirus, officials said on Friday.

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has been tracking the spread of COVID-19 since the world media started reporting its devastating impact in China's Wuhan, they said.

"In the first week of March, the DRDO took a call to enhance efforts to create countermeasures to stop the spread of the disease in India, as by then, the number of affected people in India had crossed 30. The DRDO also started focusing on creating mass supply solutions of critical medical requirements," a senior DRDO official said.

As a result of the focused approach, at present, the DRDO is ready with four different items ready to be deployed in "war against coronairus".

These are hand sanitiser, critical care ventilator, N99 masks and bodysuit, they said.

By the third week of March, hand sanitiser was produced in a sizeable quantity and distributed to major offices and establishments, within Delhi.

Approximately 4,000 l of hand sanitiser has been sent to armed forces which include, army, navy, air force and the Armed Forces Medical Core, DSC.

And, 1,500 litres to the Defence Ministry, 300 litres to Parliament, and 500 litres to various security establishments and high offices to address sanitisation issue at first to keep administration work without the fear of contamination, the officials said.

In addition, the DRDO has distributed hand sanitiser to the Delhi Police at about 40 'nakas' all around the city, they said.

"As coronavirus affects pulmonary functions, hence, to cater for this futuristic requirement, the DRDOs SBMT programme was modified with the available vendor with DEBEL, Bangalore (a DRDO lab) and critical care ventilator was created by using existing technologies like breath regulators, pressure/flow sensors.

"Presently, innovation is on to create 'multi-patient ventilator' wherein several patients can be supported by a single ventilator. This innovation is expected to be available within one week," the official said.

The N99 masks are five-layer masks with two layers of nano mesh.

These are one of the critical times to stop the spread of the virus, officials said.

A bodysuit is a critical requirement for doctors; medical staff, sanitation workers so that they are not contacted by the virus during their work, the DRDO official said.

Earlier, the DRDO has developed this bodysuit for medical and paramedical staff to manage and evacuate the casualties in the event of radiological emergencies, which right now is converted as a full bodysuit to stop contamination through coronavirus.

The suit is washable and has passed the ASTM standards.

The suit is widely tested by the DRDO and other agencies and found suitable for the cause, the officials said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 05:52:06|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired at least one unidentified projectile into the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Other details were not immediately available, including how many and what type of projectiles were launched.

It marked the fourth round of such launches this month, Yonhap reported.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has sued several tech companies, including tech giants like Oracle America, Inc., for alleged gender discrimination in pay. These alleged pay disparities are explained by a wide number of non-discriminatory variables that arent easily captured in overly simplistic government statistics. The gender pay gap is the most blatant example of drawing false conclusions from incomplete data.

To the detriment of workers, the DOL has determined that best way to protect against unfounded discrimination claims based on incomplete data is to have one-size-fits-all pay structures that fit neatly into the boxes on government reporting forms. The DOL uses a coarse ham-fisted statistical approach that dismisses sophisticated and elegant statistical data in favor of a everyone gets paid the same approach. This is obviously wrong  and wrongheaded.

When accounting for measurable, relevant factors, the statistical pay gap between men and women all but disappears. Differences in education, experience, choice of industry and occupation, career interruptions, and hours worked are not included in the Department of Labors statistical studies that explore the reasons for the gender wage gap. These excluded factors explain all but 5 cents of the so-called wage gap. Immeasurable components of compensation, such as flexible work schedules and in-kind benefits over wages, likely account for the remaining gap.

The DOLs approach presents a concrete problem to the American working men and women that serves to reduce the availability of flexible work arrangements, which are especially important to working parents. It also leads to the elimination of performance-based pay, e.g., bonuses, that encourages and rewards individual excellence. Can anyone reasonably argue that excellence should be discouraged? Apparently, the DOL despises this effort in government contractors.

Jobs in some occupations and industries (e.g., logging, construction, manufacturing) are more physically unpleasant or dangerous than others: less than 10 percent of all workplace fatalities in the U.S. for 2017 and 2018 are female. In order to attract potential employees, these high-risk male dominated jobs must pay a significant wage differential that accounts for the dangerousness or unpleasantness of the work. Other jobs require specialized skills, education or expertise. Accounting for several observable characteristics shows women with the same skills doing the same jobs as men are paid the same amount. If women, particularly working mothers, tend to place a higher value on some benefits than men do (such as more paid time off or better health coverage), this artificially expands the pay gap. These women accept lower pay in exchange for better benefits, but surveys asking about wages would report only the negative of lower pay. Obviously, market forces compel employers to set pay on the basis of factors that affect productivity. A hospital that paid its doctors and nurses the same wages as orderlies and janitors would find itself chronically understaffedif it had any staff at all.

To put it in a way that would horrify the progressive elites  but one that may help better understand the absurdity of these lawsuit - lets follow the DOLs lead and propose that Meryl Streep shall by law only be paid as much as the Best Boy Grip receives for movies she appears in - and she must repay the wage gap difference between her and the lowest paid workers for her prior films. Everyone gets paid the same in this DOL Workers Paradise! Absurdist heresy? Certainly  but that is the functional equivalent of the DOLs approach to gender pay equity in government contracting as evidenced by the Oracle lawsuit and other prosecutions.

Consequently, can anyone other than a fusty, nostalgic Communist pining for the bleak grayness of the Politburos salad days in the dehumanized 1970s U.S.S.R. find it reasonable to expect that all men and women should all be paid the same, despite different levels of education and experience, working in different occupations, in different industries and with different benefit packages? Apparently, the worshipful progressive socialists at the DOL embrace this Party Line and gleefully file lawsuits based upon this premise.

These DOL policies are a holdover from the Obama-era mandate of hope and trust - hope for the best and blindly trust the government that knows better than you. In Obama's progressive government formulation, the government is not a tool for the people's use, but the very foundation upon which all of American prosperity is built. Obamas was a progressive/socialist government shorn of transparency that laid claim to all successes and disavowed individualism. Genuine fairness, reason or wisdom seldom came into play when policy edicts were delivered to the unquestioning, obedient public. Who can forget: if you've got a business, you didnt build that? In Obamas political realm, government is not dependent upon the people, but the people are dependent upon the government - the opposite of Jeffersonian Democracy and the essence of socialism/communism.

The American People had best never forget this mindset that prevails in the Department of Labor. These lingering legacies of socialist ideology persist to undermine the principle of individual responsibility, which is undeniably the bedrock of liberty and American freedom. These socialist/communist ideological roots buried in the Deep State must be rooted out.

The Trump Administration must awaken, and these lawsuits must be dismissed. The waste and inefficiency of his statistics driven, anti-business Dept. of Labor must be relegated to the rubbish heap of history, joining the Soviet Union, separate-but-equal and other groupthink vestiges of social engineering.

W. Bruce DelValle is a constitutional law, technology law, and international law litigator and founding member of the Washington, D.C. litigation firm Fein & DelValle PLLC. He is a native Texan who grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida, graduated from Penn State University and worked as a nuclear power engineer prior to graduating cum laude from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Iran-backed militias are becoming more audacious in attacking U.S. personnel in Iraq, with rocket strikes against military bases occurring more frequently and, for the first time, in broad daylight.

U.S. officials say they are receiving near-daily reports of "imminent" attacks planned against U.S.-linked military or diplomatic facilities.

But the question of how to deter further militia strikes without putting troops at greater risk highlights how much American security and influence have evaporated in Iraq. In the two weeks since the U.S. carried out bombing raids outside Baghdad to avenge a rocket attack north of the capital that killed a Briton and two Americans, the Trump administration has been wrestling with what additional steps to take to confront the militias without sparking costly retaliation.

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker told reporters last week that the U.S. would "take what steps that we see necessary" to retaliate for militia violence. But the administration remains divided over how, or even when, to strike back.

"This may ultimately come down to how much risk the president is willing to accept in Iraq before our presence there becomes too much of a burden," said a U.S. official.

Meanwhile in Iraq, where more than 5,000 U.S. troops are potentially in the crosshairs of Iran-backed militants, American requests that Iraqi authorities track down and prosecute those responsible for rocket attacks have made little headway.

The confrontation between the U.S. and Iran - the main foreign powers active in Iraq - escalated dramatically in early January when a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killed revered Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the most influential figure in Iraq's militia network.

Although both sides then stepped back from the brink of war, recent rocket attacks attributed to Iran-backed militias by the Pentagon could soon spark another cycle of reciprocal violence

The fatal rocket attacks earlier this month on Camp Taji, a military base north of Baghdad, were blamed by U.S. officials on Kataib Hezbollah, one of the main Iran-backed militias. The U.S. strikes carried out in response were condemned by the Iraqi army, which called it "treacherous," and an Iran-backed militia group threatened retaliation involving "an eye for an eye."

Since then, there have been at least four rocket attacks around U.S. military and diplomatic installations, and U.S. officials say they believe it is only a matter of time before more troops are killed or wounded.

"Kataib Hezbollah wants to pay back the Americans for the killing of Muhandis, absolutely," said a defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

After the deadly rocket strikes on Camp Taji, it is not clear, he said, "if they feel the blood debt's been paid or they're just getting started. There are warnings and indicators that Kataib Hezbollah aspires to attack U.S. forces. But they always do."

Amid what one defense official described as "a lot of chatter about" further militia attacks, the Trump administration is struggling to calibrate its potential response.

Strikes on a broad list of targets, among them sites linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran and Syria, had been considered by the administration on March 11. But these were swiftly dismissed as likely to prompt greater escalation, according to two individuals familiar with the decision-making that night, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Describing Trump's dilemma, Kirsten Fontenrose, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council and a former senior official on President Trump's National Security Council, said that U.S. domestic concerns would play an important role. "My assumption is that the president is going to say: 'I'm not willing to escalate, to start something in an election year while we have coronavirus at home,' " she said.

The U.S. response to future militia attacks could also depend on whether American personnel are wounded or killed, and on the size and nature of the assault. "Where's the red line? That's the fundamental discussion," said the U.S. defense official.

Another militia attack comparable to the assault on Camp Taji, which involved 57 rockets fired by seven quad launchers, would likely provoke a more significant American response than would just a couple rockets, another official said.

Yet another consideration may be the level of confidence the U.S. has in identifying who is behind a particular attack. After the rocket attack on Camp Taji, Britain declined to join the U.S. retaliatory bombing raids because it did not believe the evidence provided by the Americans met the legal threshold to justify a strike against Kataib Hezbollah, according to two officials familiar with the issue. The attack was eventually claimed by the newly announced Usbat al-Thaireen, a group that U.S. officials insist is likely a front for Kataib and other Iran-backed militias.

The prospect of more militia violence is already influencing the U.S. posture in Iraq. More U.S. air defense equipment and personnel have been deployed there, officials said. New air defenses - including C-RAMs and Patriot missile batteries - are expected to be in place in the next week or two.

The U.S.-led military coalition is active in Iraq with the stated goal of fighting the Islamic State. Now that ISIS militants have been largely defeated and Iran-backed militia threats to foreign troops are on the rise, hundreds of coalition personnel have shifted out of smaller military outposts in recent weeks, relocating to larger facilities in Iraq or heading to Syria and Kuwait.

At the same time, the Iraqi government's suspension of joint training due to the covid-19 crisis has prompted the U.S. to withdraw some military trainers from Iraq.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad also said late Thursday that it had ordered nonessential personnel to leave Iraq, citing the security situation and travel restrictions relating to coronavirus.

The U.S.-led coalition has been looking to the Iraqi government to constrain militia violence, asking that individuals be arrested and prosecuted for rocket attacks.

"This has been going on for several months. We complain, the government doesn't do anything. The militias do it again, the government doesn't do anything," said a U.S. government official. "As a government, you ultimately need to be able to demonstrate that you are planning to control your own territory."

Coalition officials suggested that some progress had been made on arrests, highlighting the detention of the owner of the garage from which the alleged Kataib Hezbollah rockets were fired on Camp Taji.

But a senior Iraqi military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, described the American request as unrealistic.

"No judge will issue an arrest warrant against a senior militia member if he wants to stay alive," he said. "Let's be honest. If the militias want to attack the bases we can't stop them."

- - -

Loveluck reported from London. Ryan reported from Washington. The Washington Post's John Hudson and Ellen Nakashima in Washington and Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report.
Twelve more tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the number of positive cases to 33, officials said on Saturday.

On Friday, six people had tested positive including four in Srinagar and two in Rajouri district. The number of cases testing positive on Saturday is the highest in the Union Territory for a single day. Meanwhile, the J&K government declared five villages in Rajouri as red zones after two people who had participated in a religious gathering tested positive.

J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted about the new positive cases in Kashmir.

Hardly do I finish my press briefing - 28 cases- that I get more unpleasant news -5 new positive cases- 2 in Srinagar, 3 in Jammu- all contacts of previously positive ones; All Jammu cases asymptomatic. We are at 33 now, government spokesman Rohit Kansal said in a tweet.

Earlier, in a video briefing, Kansal had confirmed that eight persons had tested positive for COVID 19 on Saturday.

Five cases had a history of contact with already positive cases of the religious congregation while the other three had travel history outside J&K, he said.

Former J&K chief minister, Omar Abdullah who was released recently after more than eight months also expressed concern over the growing number of positive cases.

The number of positive #COVID19 cases in J&K is going up but its not too late to #FlattenTheCurve. All we have to do is follow the guidelines to maintain #SocialDistanacing & #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe. Please disclose your travel history & contacts to the authorities, Omar tweeted on social media.

Most of the positive cases are contacts of a 65-year-old religious preacher from Srinagar who died on Thursday and another infected person who tested positive last week after returning from abroad.

So far 5763 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance. Meanwhile, all six samples tested in Ladakh were reported to be negative. From the past seven days, not a single positive case has been reported in Ladakh where 13 people had tested positive for coronavirus, two out of the infected have already recovered from the disease.
Stopping rice exports will see domestic prices plummet from oversupply, inflicting heavy losses on farmers, experts argue.

Nguyen Trung Kien, vice chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said that most companies at a Thursday meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported having large rice inventories with themselves or with farmers.

Suspending rice exports will hurt both companies and farmers, they said.

The VFA therefore expressed hope that the government would soon resume exports, pledging that companies would strictly control export contracts towards ensuring domestic food security and creating favorable outputs for farmers.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan, principal of the Nam Can Tho University, agreed with the VFA argument. He said that following the General Department of Customs' announcement on rice export suspension, he and a number of experts looked again at Vietnam's rice output for the 2019-2020 winter-spring crop.

With the Mekong Delta currently having over 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) of rice fields, the total output is estimated at 5.5 million tons. "The best solution currently is to reserve only 1.5 million tons of rice, and allow four million tons to be exported for farmers to reap more benefits," Xuan said.

Due to an increase in the number of orders from China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, the price of rice procured from farmers is rising high, allowing farmers to earn higher profits with the current price of VND6 million ($258) per ton.

However, a rice export suspension would cause rice prices to plummet to about VND4 million ($172) per ton, causing farmers to suffer losses.

"Therefore, I hope the government would consider it carefully, resume exports timely, not let the need to rescue rice farmers happen and prevent a repeat of the 2008 rice crisis," Xuan said. "To ensure food security, the government should strictly control exports and impose heavy penalties on speculation cases."

He also argued that Vietnam's food production is going rather well as the rice varieties being grown in the Mekong Delta are short-term, some of which could be harvested after just 85 days. A reserve of 1.5 million tons of rice therefore would be enough to last until May or June, he said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said it would report the opinions of businesses and experts to the prime minister on Saturday.

A recent agriculture ministry report says Vietnam exported nearly 1.3 million tons of rice worth $602 million as of March 15, a 26.5 percent increase in volume and 34.6 percent rise in value year-on-year. Vietnam is forecast to export 6.5-6.7 million tons of rice this year.

Additionally, while the Mekong Delta has been suffering from salt intrusion in coastal areas, most farmers still had a good harvest in the recent winter-spring crop. This, combined with a decrease in global supply due to climate change, would cause rice prices to change in a way that benefits farmers, experts and industry insiders argued.

The General Department of Customs last Tuesday issued an urgent decision to suspend rice exports in an effort to ensure food security as the Covid-19 pandemic intensifies.

Immediately afterwards, the Ministry of Industry and Trade asked the government to allow resumption of rice exports, but a decision on this has not been taken.

Vietnam is the world's third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. Last year, the country exported 6.37 million tons of rice worth $2.81 billion, with the top markets being the Philippines, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, and China.


Vietnamese citizens have their body temperature checked at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC on March 17, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

The Foreign Ministry has advised Vietnamese citizens not to return home at this time as many countries tighten borders over the coronavirus pandemic.

Many countries and territories are taking strong measures to fight the pandemic, including blocking entry and refusing transit. Many foreign carriers have stopped or canceled flight routes. While Vietnamese agencies have supported many Vietnamese citizens stuck at international airports, they cannot solve all problems in all cases, the Foreign Ministry said in a release Saturday.

The release urged Vietnamese citizens not to fly home at this moment and follow anti-pandemic regulations in their respective countries of residence.

In case it is absolutely necessary, citizens need to regularly update themselves with the rules of the host country and foreign carriers, ensuring that they have all necessary documents to return home. Those who do not have necessary documents may be refused exit or transit by foreign countries, the ministry noted.

Vietnam brought 800 of its citizens home safely between March 21 and March 25 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

HCMC's Tan Son Nhat and Hanoi's Noi Bai airports recently received a large number of Vietnamese passengers returning home from foreign countries amidst escalating fears over the pandemic, overloading local quarantine facilities.

The surge forced the countrys two largest airports to suspend all flights carrying Vietnamese citizens home at least until the end of this month.

Such flights have now been directed to Van Don airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh and Can Tho airport in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, southern Vietnam.

Starting March 22, Vietnam also suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers.

Only Vietnamese nationals and foreigners having diplomatic and official passports such as business managers, experts and high-skilled workers will be allowed to enter the country at this time, and all entrants will be quarantined for 14 days.

Vietnam has 174 confirmed Covid-19 cases so far, with most of the active ones being people coming from Europe and the U.S. and others who came into close contact with them.

Among them, three are in critical condition and 21 have been discharged from hospitals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 199 countries and territories, claiming over 27,000 lives.
Karnataka Director General of Police Praveen Sood on Saturday asked philanthropists who want to support the poor during the lockdown to leave food at the nearby police station, who will ensure that it reaches the needy.

The DGP has asked the Bengaluru City police Commissioner to take steps in this regard and ensure fair distribution.

"All philanthropists, in case you want to support poor. Leave cooked, packed, simple food at the police station and it will reach poor. @CPBlr pl announce a nodal officer for deciding the police station for fair distribution," Sood wrote on his official twitter handle.

Bengaluru police's initiative of distributing food, snacks, water and certain essential requirements to those in need has received wide appreciation.

While some police stations are alreadyproviding food to poor and those in need by collecting it from sponsors, coupleof them have even hired a cook, who is preparing food with assistancefrom women police staff for the needy.

The lockdown has affected the poor who depend on their daily wages for livelihood.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  The cities of Olongapo and Navotas confirmed their first COVID-19 cases on Saturday.

An elderly man is the first COVID-19 case in Olongapo City, Zambales, the city government announced in a statement.

The patient is a 75-year old Filipino male, who had a history of travel in Manila.

The patient is now in stable condition at a medical facility in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the announcement said.

In Navotas, Mayor Toby Tiangco confirmed that a patient who died in hospital in the city on March 24 as the citys first positive case of COVID-19.

The patient was admitted to the hospital due to a breathing difficulty. He also had tuberculosis. He died shortly after admission, the mayor said.

Our first COVID-19 casualty lived in a densely populated area. It is also where our Task Force NavoDAMPOT apprehends most of the violators of home quarantine. Unless, we follow the quarantine rules, we can expect more cases of COVID-19 in our city, said Tiangco.

As of March 28, Navotas had 125 persons under monitoring and 21 persons under investigation.

Four PUIs died in Navotas. Of the four, one came out negative and three are awaiting test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Both cities are now conducting contact tracing to contain the spread of the disease.

The Philippines has 1,075 confirmed cases of the disease, as of 4 p.m. today. 68 lives were claimed and 35 have recovered due to COVID-19.
Oakland chef Nelson Germans recent redecoration of his dining room at AlaMar Kitchen  adding a hand-sanitzer station near the door, replacing most of the dining room tables with plants  was inspired less by his own tastes and more by a fast-growing global pandemic.

Since last weeks shelter-in-place order, which directed restaurants to close their dining rooms and switch their businesses to takeout and delivery only, Germans seafood establishment has seen a 50% increase in delivery orders. Most of the people walking through AlaMars doors these days are delivery drivers for DoorDash. To accommodate a health-safety mandate known as social distancing thought to keep the coronavirus from spreading, Nelson said he removed seating.

It was a challenge at first. We had to be mindful of what we could do to make sure everyone was safe because weve been having so many delivery orders, he said. Its not really something you ever expected to think about.

Bay Area diners, newly isolated at home, may be growing tired of their kitchens. Some also say they want to support local businesses. Others might just be hungry, and delivery and takeout are the only choices for restaurant food. But that wave of new business means grappling with how to enforce the required 6 feet of separation between delivery drivers on nights when orders pile up.

That dilemma comes as California braces for a surge of coronavirus cases in the coming days or weeks. More people will stay indoors, longer; that means more orders; and that means more drivers lingering in the entryways of local businesses and the sidewalks outside them.

This was the scene Friday during the dinner rush at buzzy San Francisco Italian restaurant Che Fico. Mixed into the crowd of delivery workers waiting in a line stretching down the sidewalk along Divisadero were customers picking up orders for themselves and their families. Without prompting, they all stood at least 6 feet apart.

Sharon Lim, who spent 30 minutes waiting for her order outside Che Fico, said there had been no trouble maintaining distance with others in line, but people walking past on the narrow sidewalk sometimes got too close.

We just assumed the position, Lim joked.

Spacing was also an unspoken concern among delivery drivers and customers at a nearby Popeyes, where more than half a dozen people picking up fast food stood within a few feet of each other at the locations counter. At 4505 Barbeque and Burgers just a short walk away, people made an effort to socially distance, but doing so was difficult in the small space near the restaurants walk-up window.

While crowds like the one outside of Che Fico police themselves, chef Matt Shuster of Canela, a Spanish restaurant in San Francisco, is one of many local chefs focusing on crowd control inside his restaurant. He also recently moved the tables from his dining room to create more space.

Canela is known for a paella which can take at least 30 minutes to make from scratch. Delivery orders have tripled over the past week for Canela, which means drivers waiting inside as the rice dish finishes cooking.

We knew we needed to take away the tables and chairs because when they were there, there was no way for people to practice social distancing, Shuster said. There arent many things you can control when it comes to the delivery side, but we can make sure theres space while theyre here and everyone is doing things safely.

While local chefs said they feel that enforcing the proper distance at their restaurants falls primarily on them, they say most delivery drivers and customers seem to be supporting the safety measures.

Several restaurateurs  Nelson, Shuster and Brenda Buenviaje of Brendas French Soul Food in San Francisco and Brendas in Oakland  said most of the delivery drivers they see at their businesses are wearing masks and gloves. Many drivers will wait outside of the restaurants if the dining room areas appear crowded, each chef said.

Customers are doing their part, too. We had someone who came to our restaurant upset about something left out of her order, and she was getting really close to people that were waiting at the restaurant. Every person in line was yelling at her to keep the distance from everyone, that 6 feet of separation, Buenviaje said. Were all in this together when it comes to us, the drivers and the customers ordering takeout items.

Major food delivery apps  DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates and Uber Eats  have defaulted to no-contact deliveries amid the coronavirus pandemic, meaning drivers dont have to interact with customers when dropping off food. All have offered guidance on social distancing and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on websites and apps. DoorDash is also providing up to a million hand-sanitizer containers and gloves for free to its drivers.

We started with one order per (courier) to ensure we were able to support as many active (ones) as possible who needed these products urgently, a DoorDash spokeswoman said. We are now working to make reorders available as quickly as we can. We will continue to keep products free of charge and subsidize shipping costs.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Uber Eats has a message on its website stating that delivery drivers are being reminded to respect social distancing (e.g. being advised to stay in the car until the food is ready).

With a record number of people claiming unemployment, delivery is work that can sustain people in a tough economy, despite the danger of exposure. Kittivut Patanapanich, a delivery driver for Caviar, said he works gig jobs 16 hour a day to support his wife and three kids as he picked up an order at AlaMar Friday.

The Oakland Police Department said it had not received complaints about drivers crowding outside restaurants. A department spokeswoman said in an email that it would seek voluntary compliance from businesses and local residents.

A spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department also said it had neither received complaints nor issued citations under the health order, and added that enforcement is a last resort as officers seek to educate the public.

Chefs, too, are learning on the fly about safety practices. Erin Wade, the founder of the mac-and-cheese restaurant Homeroom in Oakland, is lucky: She got a jump on the new world of delivery-only business.

Wade has a full-service restaurant in Oakland and, a block away, a sister restaurant that does takeout and delivery orders. The restaurant is a popular spot on weekends in the East Bay, and delivery drivers can often be seen sitting in cars outside waiting for orders. These days, delivery is available at both locations. Still, Wade said, enforcing the distancing rules among drivers, as well as customers, can be awkward.

Keeping people separated goes against everything we want to do in the hospitality business, but its something that has to be done, she said. Over time I think a lot of people are going to become familiar with how we all have to do things. And it helps that drivers are already wearing masks and gloves. Honestly, theyre the unsung heroes of all of this.

Justin Phillips, Shwanika Narayan and Anna Bauman are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com, shwanika.narayan@

sfchronicle.com, anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com
When Canadian Mennonite University hosts its annual spring fundraiser on Friday, it will look drastically different than usual.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Canadian Mennonite University hosts its annual spring fundraiser on Friday, it will look drastically different than usual.

Titled "Spring at CMU," the event typically draws 400 guests to the universitys main campus at Grant Avenue and Shaftesbury Boulevard for two hours of presentations, music, food and socializing. This year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CMU will present an online version. Supporters are invited to a virtual gathering they can enjoy from their homes: a 45-minute event featuring music, sharing from graduating students and a celebration of the universitys communications and media program.

Cancelling was an option, says Dori Zerbe Cornelsen, director of development at CMU, but having an online event gives staff a chance to connect with supporters.

"We felt like this would provide an opportunity not to just have a fundraising event, but to tell the story about whats going on at the university at this time," Zerbe Cornelsen says. "We want to dispel the myth that CMU has closed (and) tell the story about how students are being supported and how the mission is continuing."

Spring at CMU isnt the only fundraiser affected by COVID-19.

Siloam Mission, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and Make Poverty History Manitoba are just three of the organizations that have cancelled major fundraising events in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Manitoba has postponed its 34th annual Hope Couture Fashion Gala until further notice.

The Dream Factory, a charity that fulfils the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses, did the same. The organizations annual Dream Maker Auction, a flagship event that draws 1,000 people, has been pushed from April to November.

"We wanted to make sure we were doing right by our donors and the community," says Andrew Kussy, development manager at the Dream Factory, adding that its too soon to say what impact postponing the event will have on the organization.

"The community in Winnipeg is incredibly generous and were really lucky to have a really wonderful base of supporters," he says. "Things are changing so quickly. Its tough to predict what November will look like."

The pandemic also created an unusual event for the CNIB Foundation, which held its one fundraising event of the year at the convention centre on March 12.

That day, Manitoba health officials reported the first three presumptive cases of COVID-19. Organizers decided to go ahead with the event after checking in with a number of physicians they knew had planned to attend.

Still, by the time the event started at 5:30 p.m., 98 of the 330 guests who were expected to attend had sent their regrets. While those guests still paid for their tickets, the events live and silent auctions suffered. The event netted the foundation $52,000, as opposed to the $100,000 it usually brings in.

"It was a great evening," says Margot Ross, director of philanthropy at the CNIB Foundation. "It just didnt result in what we had budgeted for."

The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented because a health emergency and an economic crisis are happening at the same time, says Mike Duerksen, principal at BuildGood, a fundraising and donor communications agency.

"There are a lot of people around us who are going to need help, both at home and around the world," Duerksen says. "At the same time, people are losing their jobs and seeing their stock portfolios tank."

Dori Zerbe Cornelsen is one of the organizers of Spring at CMU, which is coming up April 3. The event usually brings in 400 guests, but that won't be possible this year, so they are making it an online event that people can watch from home.

When times are hard, organizations can be tempted to give their donors space and wait six to 10 months before contacting them and resuming fundraising efforts.

Duerksen advises against this.

"The reason they are your donors is because youre solving a big, gigantic problem in the world," he says. "If that problem persists and youre going to work at it in the next little while, you owe it to your donor to help fix that problem. Thats the reason she was your donor in the first place."

For many individuals, financial giving is core to their values and a part of who they are, Duerksen adds.

"A lot of donors use philanthropy to make the world a little bit better, and in these uncertain times, (giving) might be one of the ways they can exert a little bit of control over the situation," he says.

As Ross at the CNIB points out, "The work continues."

The organization has a number of clients who were socially isolated even before the pandemic reached Manitoba.

CNIB staff are focused on working to ensure each of them is having their essential needs met, and that they are still getting the counselling and services they need as people with sight challenges.

The CNIB Foundation will contact its supporters for donations.

"We have wonderful long-term donors and investors at CNIB," Ross says. "Well just reach out to them as well and let them know, because the needs dont stop."

The same goes for the Dream Factory, which is planning online dream parties for the families it serves until its safe for people to travel.

The virtual parties arent the same as sending a child on their dream trip, but they will still create laughter, fun and memories, Kussy says.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"The Dream Factory has always existed to be there for kids and families going through really tough situations and battling life-threatening illnesses, and were going to keep doing that," he says. "Were going to keep doing our best to make that situation easier for families, and we invite the community to join us in doing that."

That sort of response is heartening for Ross, who says seeing Winnipeggers help each other during the pandemic has filled her with pride.

"Well get through this and probably be stronger for it," she says. "And nobodys going to be left behind."

Its a trying time for everyone, CMUs Zerbe Cornelsen recognizes, saying that the university is concerned about its supporters  some of whom will be laid off or will see their savings impacted by market volatility.

"Its not just for ourselves that were concerned," she says, adding that as CMUs fundraiser approaches, the university needs support but wants to be supportive at the same time. "Were all in this together, I suppose."

aaron.epp@gmail.com
Shopping during a pandemic seems just the other side of wrong, but it is also an essential part of our economy. (The New York Times)

Vanessa Friedman

Every day, since late last week, the emails have been landing in my inbox. New Sale Markdowns! Enjoy an additional 20% off! Flash 40% Off Sale!

They are discomfiting and tempting, catnip to boredom and cabin fever. Id rather look longingly at clothes I am no longer wearing, imagining a time when they are once again a part of my life (parties! work events! restaurants!) than face reality (stories of trauma, hospital shortages, businesses on the brink of bankruptcy).

Id rather consider the allure of a fleece and silk knit  so much cheaper than normal!  and how they make me feel swaddled and safe (maybe theyre worth it?) than consider the stock market plunges and the fact I probably should be saving everything I can right now.

Yet shopping during a pandemic seems just the other side of wrong.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

There are people who are terribly sick and dying because of the new coronavirus. People losing family members. People losing jobs. Shopping is so  self-indulgent. So unnecessary. So, as one reader wrote to me, shameful.

Maybe. But it is also an essential part of our economy; retail an enormous source of employment and creative expression. In some ways, the state of shopping is a sign of the times.

When you see 25% off, instead of seeing DEAL, you should actually see WARNING.

And also HELP."

Its easy to lose track of where we are on the calendar when we are cooped up and weekends bleed into workdays, day into night, but we all know this is not sale time.

This should be peak new merch time. This should be the time of year when, as Michael Kors once fantasised, sales assistants call their favorite clients and crow, New stuff is here! And because the magnolias are blooming, and everyone is feeling just a little tired of their winter wardrobe, it would be the time we run off to the stores to shop.

This is not 25-40-60 percent off time.

Except it is, because this is crisis time. The stores are closed. Any retailers with an online presence are desperate to move inventory so that they are not stuck with out-of-season stock no one will want in two months when  if  the curve flattens and the doors reopen. And because online sales are the only source of revenue they have to keep their employees paid and their business afloat.

The last time there was a retail situation like this  and it was not really like this but may be the only comparable time  was after 9/11, when life in New York ground to a halt, and shopping did, too.

Then, department stores, desperate to get people back into spending mode and make their holiday numbers (or anything that could be considered a number), began to put all of their stock on sale in November instead of after Christmas as usual.

In order to stay competitive, brands with their own stores had to drop their prices, too. It started a race to the bottom. And it set a precedent that stores and designers still bemoan all these years later.

Were in the same dangerous place now. The big department stores and online sites have started selling new products at 20 percent off, marked down as soon as they arrive. They are also sending products back to designers without payment, refusing to accept new stock.

Designers with their own sites are dropping prices to keep up.

And yet, as Sacha Rose, chief executive of the British pajama brand Derek Rose, wrote in a recent email to clients, Our online business is keeping us alive right now.

They are not the only ones. Any small designer with a direct-to-consumer digital platform is clinging to it with their fingernails.

After 9/11, George W. Bush urged everyone to go shopping. At first it seemed silly. But what he was really saying was: Redistribute the wealth. Get the economy going again.

Shopping now is as much a moral as a consumer question. Where you spend your money matters. Before you buy, think: What is this about? It could be about helping save a generation of small designers and independent businesses.

Buying directly from a designer, as opposed to through a big multi-brand chain or behemoth, means the profit (if any) goes directly to the designer, and their employees. Buying from an independent multi-brand boutique is a way to keep this part of the ecosystem alive. Stand-alone stores with a singular point of view are often the key to finding and nurturing new talent.

Even liking them on Instagram helps. Its the beginning of a consumer base, which is the beginning of an argument for credit.

I am not saying forsake the department stores. They have thousands of employees, who need to be paid. They also have a bigger cushion of liquidity. The luxury groups are in an even stronger position. And Amazon is experiencing a boom time.

But I am saying, consider the provenance and make an informed choice. That work-from-home lounge wear that is being dangled so temptingly, so surprisingly affordably, before your screen-weary eyes? Those sweats and sneakers? That potholder? They represent labor and ideas, not just stuff.

Sometimes a fleece is only a fleece. And sometimes it can be a creative rescue line, and a bet on the future.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Iowas courts are still operating, even if only at emergency levels, the chief justice of the states Supreme Court said Friday.

In an effort to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Iowa, the states court system was largely shuttered by a March 17 order by Iowa Supreme Court chief justice Susan Christensen.

The order temporarily halted all criminal and civil trials, ordered all initial appearances and bond reviews to be held remotely, and for in-person proceedings to be held only in cases of emergency, like protective orders for domestic or elder abuse, mental health hospitalization, or the protective removal of children.

In spite of these unprecedented measure measures, I want you to know Iowas judicial branch is open for emergencies and essential cases every day. Even now, there are judges, clerks, court reporters, court administration and other judicial branch employees working in new and unique ways to serve Iowans, Christensen said Friday during Gov. Kim Reynolds daily news briefing on the states response to the coronavirus.

Christensen made her comments via a video call from her home, which was fed into the news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Dodge in Johnston, in order to practice social distancing.

Im following your guidelines, governor (to stay home as much as possible), Christensen said.

Christensen said the courts continue to work with other state agencies to ensure the protection of Iowa children and families, and to ensure prison staff and incarcerated individuals are protected from the coronavirus.

She said the judicial branch also is working with county officials to ensure the safe operation of courthouses.

As chief justice of the Supreme Court, I am constantly monitoring these changing events. The judicial branch will keep all Iowans informed on our website as significant decisions are made, Christensen said. Access to justice may look a little different right now, and it may require a bit more patience. But it will not succumb to COVID-19.
Drogheda & District Chamber may have had to close its doors to the public but remains as active and supportive to its members as ever during these trying times.

They are fully supportive of the Government's efforts to effectively limit the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard the protection of public health and that of our members, and are in regular contact with Chambers Ireland, and various government departments.

They will continue to relay important information and updates through email and news updates on their website https://www.droghedachamber.ie/latest-news.

To ensure the safety of the public, they have postponed planned networking events for March and M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet public training courses have been postponed until 3rd April 2020. They will continue to take bookings for programmes commencing in April 2020 and any related queries contact Linda m1skillnet@droghedachamber.com

Chambers Ireland has compiled a list of key resources for Business. https://www.chambers.ie/media/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-business/

If you have an urgent query or would like to share relative business information contact Irene manager@droghedachamber.com 086 0472344

Post Offices stay open

Postmasters have assured the public that in the current Covid-19 pandemic Post Offices are remaining open as an essential service to local communities - and measures have been agreed with An Post to prioritise public safety.

The Irish Postmasters' Union General Secretary Ned O'Hara said: "Social distancing will require Postmasters to limit the number of customers in the premises at any one time.

"The IPU also understands that the Department of Social Protection is working with An Post and will shortly announce new service arrangements to support social distancing.

"Hand sanitisers are being installed in all Post Offices as they become available and health and safety notices on social distancing are being placed in queuing areas.

"Opening hours are being extended and adjusted to suit local requirements and this is being kept under review.
Most Instacart shoppers, who fulfill customers orders and deliver them to their homes, are independent contractors, or gig workers. The company this week said it wants to hire 300,000 more shoppers over the next three months to meet rising demand during the pandemic, including 15,000 in Illinois, more than doubling its current workforce. Order volume grew more than 150% last week, the company said.
New Delhi: Popular television actress and former 'Bigg Boss 13' contestant Rashami Desai has a huge fan following. While in the reality show, Rashami remained one of the most talked-about celebrities, hogging the limelight. After the show got over, Rashami fans were missing her on the small screens and guess what?

The actress entered yet another popular show 'Naagin 4' by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms. She even posted pictures from the sets and introduced her character Shalakha.

Rashami, who has a strong fashion sense is an avid user of social media and recently she posted a red hot picture of hers. The telly star wore a pulpy red coloured velvet dress with a plunging neckline and paired it with huge earrings, looking simply stunning.

Do check her phoo caption too.

Meanwhile, the deadly novel coronavirus has claimed over 25,000 lives globally. And to curb the situation, the government has called for a 21-day lockdown in the country.

The pandemic flu has put all the movie and television shoots to a halt.

Coronavirus which first emerged in China's Wuhan city has now spread across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, prompting the governments worldwide to take extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
Jim Watson/Getty

President Trump appeared to back down late Saturday on the idea of imposing an enforceable quarantine on coronavirus hot spots like New York, deeming the measure not necessary just hours after he sparked criticism for floating it as an option.

On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the @CDCgov to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government, Trump tweeted on Saturday evening.

A quarantine will not be necessary. Full details will be released by CDC tonight. Thank you!

The CDC later released a travel advisory urging New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents to avoid non-essential domestic travel for 14 days.

The announcement came shortly after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned against the proposed quarantine of hot spots, saying it would be nothing short of a federal declaration of war that would pit state authorities against the federal government.

It wouldnt just be New York, New Jersey, Connecticut. Next week it would be Louisiana with New Orleans, and the week after that it would be Detroit, Michigan, and it would run all across the nation. I dont think the president is looking to start a lot of wars with a lot of states just about now for a lot of reasons, Cuomo said in an interview with CNN.

In addition to such a quarantine likely being illegal, Cuomo said, it would cause chaos and mayhem and only make matters worse during the coronavirus pandemic.

The governor said he had not spoken with Trump after the president announced the possibility of a short-term enforced quarantine on hotspots of the novel coronavirus, including New York state, New Jersey, and some parts of Connecticut.

Immediately after Trump voiced the proposal, Cuomo appeared frustrated with the idea of an enforced quarantine (I dont know what that means) and said the president had not discussed the matter with him when they spoke on Saturday morning.

Story continues

I dont know how that could be legally enforceable and, from a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing, Cuomo added. I dont even like the sound of it, not even understanding what it is.

Trump told reporters on the White House lawn on Saturday that he had spoken to Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had complained about New Yorkers traveling southand bringing coronavirus with them.

A lot of the states that are infected but dont have a big problem, theyve asked me if Ill look at it so were going to look at it, Trump said.

Were thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because its a hotspot. We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut. Id rather not do it, but maybe we need it.

The president doubled down on his suggestion in a tweet on Saturday afternoon and in remarks at a Virginia naval base, where he was seeing off the naval hospital ship, Comfort, that is heading to New York.

This does not apply to people such as truckers from outside the New York area who are making deliveries or are simply transiting through, Trump said. It wont affect trade in any way. He added that a decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.

The question of whether the federal government has the power to impose restrictions on states has been a source of speculation since the virus has spread throughout the country.

Federal laws give the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the authority to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states by limiting the movement of people who are reasonably believed to be infected with a quarantinable communicable disease. However there is no law that grants the president authority to prevent an entire nations movements, NBC News reported. Any attempt to do so would likely be challenged in court.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has expressed his support for a potential 14-day national shutdown to slow the spread of the virus. I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing, Fauci said, stressing the importance of social distancing in the fight against the virus. The top infectious disease expert, however, has not provided any explanation for what such a plan could look like or how it could be carried out.

Michael Ulrich, a public health law professor at Boston University, said the federal government would have to be able to justify that some group is a credible threat to others, and thats an easier thing to do on an individual level. He added that it would be a really hard thing to prove.

Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI), a former Republican who has been a fervent critic of Trump, questioned his power to implement such an order. Under which authority? Amash wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

As of Saturday, New York reported at least 52,318 cases of the novel coronavirus, with over half in New York City and at least 7,328 in hospital. Coronavirus cases in the United States crossed the 100,000 mark on Friday, making it the new global epicenter of the pandemic.

New Jersey reported at least 8,825 cases of the virus, and 108 deaths as of Saturday, while Connecticut confirmed at least 1,291 cases and 27 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine tracker.

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BLACKMAN TWP., MI  The Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety is not issuing burn permits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources suspended open burning permits Thursday, March 26, to reduce the chance of wildfires and limit first responders risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in a news release.

DNR suspends burn permits across state as coronavirus precaution

Blackman-Leoni is following that directive, as well, Director Mike Jester said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order Monday, March 23. Only essential businesses  public safety, health care and other critical industries," their suppliers and other distributors  are supposed to be open until 11:59 p.m., April 13.

There are 2,856 cases of COVID-19, with 60 deaths throughout Michigan as of Thursday, March 26. Jackson County has 16 positive cases with 10 people in the hospital, as of Thursday, according to Henry Ford Allegiance Health.

READ MORE JACKSON NEWS:

Body found in river, coronavirus cases hit double digits: Top Jackson headlines March 22-27

Its the right thing to do, CEO says of delaying loan payments amid coronavirus

From shelter to hotels: Jackson community helps place homeless amid coronavirus

Jackson police need help identifying men accused of shooting man in buttocks

Chamber of commerce leaders first day on the job? Day of the stay-at-home order

Read all MLive coronavirus coverage here.
They've spent the past few weeks on lockdown together.

And Ben Affleck proved he still couldn't get enough of his new girlfriend, Ana de Armas, as he was spotted on a PDA-filled walk with her during a fresh air break on Saturday.

The 47-year-old actor dressed casually as he joined the 31-year-old and her pooch around Brentwood.

Going strong: New couple, Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, couldn't help but pack on the PDA during their self-isolating break walk around Los Angeles on Saturday

The Argo star pulled her in close for another kiss, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Ben dressed casually in a navy shirt and a pair of jeans.

The Batman star kept warm in a grey jacket and accessorised with a cap on his head.

She teamed her stylish top with form fitting jeans and some white sneakers.

Can't keep their hands to themselves: The acting couple were all touchy feely during their outing

Layers: The Batman star kept warm in a grey jacket and accessorised with a cap on his head

The Cuban-Spanish actress styled her brunette hair out and appeared to be wearing a natural amount of makeup.

At one point the duo couldn't help but pack on the PDA while out in the outdoors.

Their self-isolating break comes after a source told Us Weekly recently that they were very happy together.

Stylish: Ana showcased her off-duty style in a patterned burgundy bomber jacket

Casual look: She teamed her stylish top with form fitting jeans and some white sneakers

Happy days: 'Ana is very happy with Ben. She loves spending time with him and they have great chemistry and a lot of fun together,' a source recently revealed

'Ana is very happy with Ben. She loves spending time with him and they have great chemistry and a lot of fun together.'

Ben and Ana first set sparks alight when they were seen vacationing in Cuba together earlier in the year.

The actors first met in November 2019 on the set of their new movie, Deep River.

Earlier in the month saw the beauty make things Instagram official with the father-of-three.

Acting couple: The actors first met in November 2019 on the set of their new movie, Deep River

Vacation: Ben and Ana first set sparks alight when they were seen vacationing in Cuba together earlier in the year

She shared a series of photos taken by Ben during their vacation, and while not tagging him, he left a cheeky comment: 'Photo credit pls.'

Since then, the Argo and Knives Out stars have been inseparable.

Ben has had quite a few relationships since his split from ex-wife Jennifer Garner in 2015.

The pair wed ten years earlier and continue to amicably co-parent their children, Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, eight.
A teenager in Lancaster, California whose death earlier this month may have been linked to the coronavirus was rejected from an urgent care center because he didnt have health insurance. He complained of respiratory distress but authorities at the center told him on March 18 to go to a hospital. He did not have insurance, so they did not treat him, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said in a YouTube video. On his way to the hospital, the teenager went into cardiac arrest. When he got to the hospital, health care workers were able to revive him and keep him alive for six hours. But time was of the essence and by the time doctors got to him it was too late. Weve learned that once you go into respiratory issues, you have trouble breathing, youre short of breath and you have a fever, that is the time to get medical treatment without delay, Parris said.

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In the video, Parris says the 17-year-old did not have any underlying medical issues and had been healthy days earlier. The Friday before he died, he was healthy. He was socializing with his friends, Parris said. By Wednesday, he was dead.

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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health initially said the teen died from COVID-19, noting it was likely the first death in the United States from the virus of someone younger than 18. But it later backtracked and said further study by the Centers for Disease Control is needed to make a final determination. Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19, the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement on Tuesday. Patient privacy prevents our offering further details at this time. The teenagers father is an Uber driver and he is suspected of having the virus.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The Navy, the military service hit hardest by the coronavirus, scrambled to contain its first at-sea outbreak, with at least two dozen infected aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of 11 active aircraft carriers whose mission is central to the Pentagon's strategy for deterring war with China and Iran.

The Roosevelt and its contingent of warplanes may be sidelined for days, sitting pier side in Guam as the entire crew  more than 5,000  is tested.

Navy leaders say the carrier could return to duty at any time if required, but the sudden setback is seen as a harbinger of more trouble to come.

The Navy is headed into choppy waters in terms of readiness in the months ahead, says retired Adm.

James Stavridis, a former ship commander who rose to become NATO's top commander in Europe.

In Asia, a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a fundamental shift from fighting insurgent and extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a return to great power competition."

That means, principally, a bigger focus on China, including its militarization of disputed areas of the South China Sea.

The carrier, like other Navy ships, is vulnerable to infectious disease spread given its close quarters.

The massive ship is more than 1,000 feet long; sailors are spread out across a labyrinth of decks linked by steep ladder-like stairs and narrow corridors.

ALSO READ: New York medical workers decry 'abysmal' lack of coronavirus protection

Enlisted sailors and officers have separate living quarters, but they routinely grab their food from crowded buffet lines and eat at tables joined end-to-end.

Stavridis fears that berthing compartments, or sleeping quarters where a dozen sailors are often packed into spaces not much larger than an average kitchen, will become birthing compartments for the virus.

Although the Navy is much smaller than the Army, it accounts for at least one-third of all reported COVID-19 cases in the military.

None has been reported among Navy submarine crews, which are widely deployed and include subs armed with long-range nuclear missiles on constant patrol.

The US Pacific Fleet commander, Adm.

John Aquilino, said in an Associated Press interview late Thursday that it's not clear how long the Roosevelt will be kept in Guam and that its schedule will be adjusted "as needed.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

He said no infected sailor is a critical health risk but some have been hospitalized.

We're clearly interested in ensuring that the ship and the crew are healthy said Aquilino, speaking from his Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, base.

But let there be no doubt the ship's ready to respond if needed.

He said worried family members at home should know everything possible is being done for crew safety.

Family members of Roosevelt sailors have been reaching out to each other on social media.

Expressing shock and anxiety, they alternately worried about their family members on the ship and their children at home, sprinkling their posts with questions about local virus testing and memes about toilet paper shortages and pandemic fears.

The Roosevelt had been in the South China Sea, and its most recent port visit had been at Vietnam's popular coastal city of Da Nang earlier this month.

The carrier was engaged in an exercise with another U.S. warship in the Philippine Sea when it first detected a COVID-19 infection aboard, other officials said.

Asked if the outbreak came as a surprise, Aquilino said, We are operating in the area where the disease started. All the risk and the spread of this disease initiated in this theater. So, if we were surprised, we'd be naive.

Aquilino said procedures are in place to try to minimize any spread of the virus, and based on the status of the entire Pacific fleet, I'm very happy with the commanding officers and the teams for taking this seriously.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Friday that it would take 25 days to test all Roosevelt crew members, based on the ship's current testing capability, but that is being augmented urgently.

Separately, in a telephone interview with a group of reporters from his office in the Pentagon, Gen.

John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Friday he is pretty confident the entire crew will be tested in less than one week.

Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, Modly said that in broad terms the Navy began thinking about global contingency plans in January, although infections have become pronounced only in recent weeks.

I think we're doing okay, he said.

I think obviously, just like everybody else in this crisis, we're having to adjust a lot on the fly as we learn more about the virus and how it's behaving.

As the most-recognized symbol of American sea power, the Navy's carrier fleet has taken on a bigger role in the Middle East over the past year, returning to persistent patrols in the Persian Gulf as part of the Trump administration's strategy for deterring Iran from attacking U.S. and allied interests in the region.
Independent TD Verona Murphy has written to Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan, calling on him to recommend to the Government to implement a Spanish-style ban on beach going, following scenes of thousands of people on beaches across the country on Sunday.

Deputy Murphy has also called on Dr Holohan to ban people from gathering at amenity areas for three weeks, saying people unintentionally may have put others at risk simply by going to the seaside.

She said: 'On Sunday the fine weather and our beautiful public beaches and amenities brought out people in their thousands to get some exercise and fresh air. Inevitably, and without intent, the practice of social distancing was not possible.

'I have written to Dr Holohan to request that he recommend to the Taoiseach that the Government act to implement the strict regulations that apply in Spain where the use of public spaces and the idea of restricting movement around public spaces is precisely in place to avoid what happened today.'

Deputy Murphy continued: 'We, in Ireland, are at a crucial phase in the fight against Covid-19. The crowds that frequented out coastline and amenity areas this weekend cannot be permitted to do so again until this pandemic is under control. Therefore, I have written to Dr Holohan requesting that he advise An Taoisech Leo Varadkar to close off all beaches and public walkways with immediate effect.

'It's not about two or three people being outside. It's because everyone ends up outside; that in and of itself causes problems,' said Deputy Murphy.

'I'm not saying people should be prevented from taking exercise and going out for walks, but you can't stop children running around in close proximity with other children in public spaces. Children are vectors too. The sheer numbers of people at beaches like Clonea and Curracloe On Sunday highlights why this is a necessary, if severe step to take. You can't be sure that when you come home you haven't brought the virus home with you and that is the reasoning behind this.'

She added: 'I realise that when people go to the beach they don't intend to breach the regulations of social distancing but when they arrive they find themselves in a crowded situation. The logic and purpose behind Spain and Italy closing off their beaches and similar outdoor areas where people gather in what are hot climates, is precisely to avoid what manifestly happened in Ireland today.'
All four care centres in the country will be up and running as of 2pm on Friday 27 March.

The four centres are the Daichhal in Ettelbruck, Luxexpo in Luxembourg City, Rockhal in Esch, and the Cultural Centre in Grevenmacher.

Sorting

Upon direct arrival of a patient, that person is directed to one of two areas. The first area, protected and closed, is for patients that are potentially infected with COVID-19. The second area is meant for patients with all other types of health issues. As a safety precaution, patients in both areas receive a mask. The personnel works with masks, gloves and protective clothing throughout the care centre.

Step 1 - Administrative Information

Patients provide their personal information immediately upon arrival. A nurse may then proceed with a basic check-up, such as measuring body temperature.

Step 2 - Doctor's consultation

Then, a doctor attends to the patient in a special and safe "box", where the patient undergoes a medical assessment. The doctor can here provide the individual with a "declaration of incapacity for work", a prescription for the pharmacy, or get the patient tested for COVID-19.

Step 3 - Potential COVID-19 Test

This step is not meant for all patients. Only when the doctor sees this as a necessity, patients are able to do a test on site straight after the doctor's consultation.

Step 4 - Home or Hospital

The patient is either told to go home or, in serious cases, to board an ambulance to be brought to hospital.
Normally a lieutenant governor, at least in Alabama, takes a backseat when it comes to policy and leading the charge in a crisis unless asked to do so or if something happens to the governor.

But this week, Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth lunged into the role of de facto coronavirus response leader. He wrote a biting open letter to Gov. Kay Iveys COVID-19 task force, arguing they were not taking a realistic approach about the looming tsunami of hospital patients.

The governor, on Friday, shot back by saying that Ainsworth wasnt helping the state by not offering up solutions.

As a public official, our greatest responsibility is to be honest with one another and to the people of Alabama, Ivey said during a news conference. I invited (Ainsworth) to be on my task force, and he said he was willing to help.

What is not helpful is raising challenges and criticism and issues we are aware of and (then) offering no solutions and showing no willingness to work with the task force and the team willing to fix it.

Ainsworth, in a statement to AL.com, responded by saying that his letter was intended to be a call to arms.

The COVID-19 crisis will be resolved only if the governors task force recognizes the reality that faces us and works as a team to resolve it, he said.

The comments on Friday further revealed two constitutional officers at odds with one another as the coronavirus pandemic rips through the state.

Its unusual for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to put out such different messages, said Robert Blanton, professor and chairman of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Politically, it indicates a lack of effective communication between their offices, which is somewhat surprising given the gravity of the situation.

Action now

While Gov. Kay Ivey has been scarcely visible, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is trying to ring the alarm on coronavirus.

Ainsworths letter was written one day after Ivey, during a news conference, said the state needed to balance public health with the economy, echoing a statement of President Donald Trump, who was pushing to open portions of the U.S. economy by April 12.

The letter from Ainsworth was received well by lawmakers, and it was praised by Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.

Jones said he spoke with Ainsworth by phone and, during an interview with AL.com, said the lieutenant governor hit the nail on the head with his letter. Jones also criticized Ivey for sending mixed messages about certain businesses being open -- such as gun stores -- while others considered non-essential should close.

Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, also praised Ainsworths stance as being good for the state.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said Ainsworths concerns were similar to his own views. But Marsh also said the concerns are being addressed by (Ivey) and her team.

Ainsworth, the 39-year-old former state representative from Guntersville, has been the beneficiary of positive headlines in recent days after calling on the state to be more prepared. His letter provided some alarming projections not previously discussed by public officials, but reported in state media, regarding what he says is a lack of hospital beds.

Ainsworths letter called on a doubling of hospital beds in Alabama, and he projected the state could have over 245,499 cases by May 1, with 13,914 hospital beds in use (assuming a conservative hospitalization rate of 13% for people diagnosed with COVID-19).

He also forecasts something more ominous: By May 1, the state could have 6,382 patients in intensive care units around the state who will be in need of ventilators. According to Ainsworth, the statewide stockpile is only 1,344 ventilators.

I believe that the publics safety and simple common sense demand that we create a formal plan to double or triple hospital capacity and also provide for adequate staffing levels, Ainsworth said. Even with the help of federal government and FEMA assistance, building capacity takes time, which is why we need action now.

More facts for today. We had 144 new cases confirmed today. That is second in the country for largest percentage increase. This is a major problem. Alabama was higher than New York, California, and Louisiana for percentage of increase today.  Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) March 26, 2020

Ivey, during a news conference Thursday in which she announced the closure of schools for the remainder of the spring, was more direct than she had been in recent days by sounding alarms about the public health crisis in Alabama. She called it a deadly situation.

Gina Maiola, the governors spokeswoman, said that Iveys No. 1 priority is protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all Alabamians, and that very much includes keeping the economy going as much as possible.

In reacting to Ainsworths letter on Thursday, Maiola said, that it only reinforces the actions of her task force, and the governor intends to continue taking a measured and practical approach regarding both the gravity of the virus and also keeping the economy alive.

Ivey, asked to react to Ainsworths letter on Friday, provided the more forceful criticism.

Trains of thought

Singleton, the Senates Democratic minority leader, said its healthy to have multiple viewpoints publicly expressed during the pandemic.

I applaud him in forcing his opinion and how thats hes stepped up, and hes the second person in command in the state, it may (inspire) other folks to look at his position, said Singleton, who butted heads with Ainsworth last May during a Senate debate over the states near-ban on abortion. Ainsworth, a strong supporter of the ban, gaveled down two amendments that wouldve added rape and incest exceptions into legislation, prompting Singleton to respond with anger.

It is good for the members of the leadership who have different trains of thoughts on this, he said. Several Alabama Democratic Party leaders, including Singleton, have called on Ivey to issue a shelter in place order, which she has thus far refused. On Friday she said every part of the state does not have the same needs or issues, that Grove Hill is not Gadsden, Dothan is not Decatur.

Singleton added, It would be good if we all sat down and made those decisions together.

Appreciate the leadership of @AnthonyDaniels and Senator Bobby Singleton. Please do your part and Stop the Spread. https://t.co/h0xYITafOq  Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) March 27, 2020

Indeed, its unclear if Ainsworth and Ivey have directly talked about the COVID-19 response together, though the governors response hints at a lack of communication. The governors office didnt respond to an email question on whether the two have spoken.

Blanton said Ainsworths letter represented a bold stance compared to positions and statements from other high-profile Southern Republican lawmakers such as in Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, who has overridden local authorities by keeping retail stores open, or Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick who recently suggested grandparents like him shouldnt sacrifice their grandchildrens economic future over closing down the economy.

This view of economic growth and public health as being at odds with one another is disturbing, said Blanton, who said Ainsworths approach is much more in line with what medical experts are recommending and that it offered a reset in the states approach toward dealing with COVID-19.

Different political calculous

Ainsworth first talked about COVID-19 on March 17, when posting a self-produced public service announcement on social media encouraging people to protect themselves and their families from the virus.

Ainsworth used a similar strategy in August to announce his opposition to a proposal, backed by Ivey, to assess tolls to help finance a $2.1 billion Interstate 10 improvement project and new bridge in Mobile.

The toll plan was pushed by the Alabama Department of Transportation, but was widely opposed by coastal Alabama residents who flocked to social media to express their disapproval of having to pay tolls to drive on an existing interstate. Ainsworths opposition further fueled the opposition movement, and the project was ultimately declared dead later in the month.

In Alabama, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor. The two do not share their political partys ticket together during either the primary or general elections. Seventeen states elect the lieutenant governor separate from the governor.

Ainsworth is a 2003 graduate of Auburn University and an avid outdoorsman who, along with his brother Austin, founded the popular Dream Camp hunting lodge in Guntersville. According to one published report, the camp attracts over 20,000 people each year. The brothers also partnered and founded the Tennessee River Valley Hunting and Fishing Expo that is held each year at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

Ainsworths rise to the lieutenant governors seat began when was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2014. Four years later, he ran for the statewide seat and won a hotly contested GOP runoff against Twinkle Cavanaugh before cruising in to a general election victory over Democrat Will Boyd.

During an expensive runoff campaign, Cavanaugh -- a much more well-known politician who was the head of the Alabama Public Service Commission at the time -- accused Ainsworth of openly opposing Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Ainsworth was a supporter of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, but he claimed to have always been an admirer of Trump.

The Cavanaugh campaign also attacked Ainsworth for being arrested twice -- in 2001 and 2002. The 2001 incident was for driving an unregistered boat in Jackson County, while the 2002 incident was for what he called a "college prank with fraternity brothers for stealing fiberglass tigers placed in downtown Auburn for a Chamber of Commerce event. Ainsworth, who was 20 at the time, performed community service and the case was dismissed.

Ainsworth, a married father of three, gained a bit of national attention in 2018 for backing a controversial position of arming teachers. He sponsored legislation that would allow teachers and administrators to be armed while at school if they had undergone appropriate firearms training, a move that political analysts said helped raise his political profile among Republicans voters.

In 2018, he asked Ivey to consider a special session to address school safety measures that included arming trained administrators and teachers. No special session occurred, and the legislation never advanced.

Jess Brown, a retired political science professor of Athens State University, said the Ivey-Ainsworth rift is the first time he can recall one occurring that involves the states top two constitutional officers since Republicans took over the Statehouse in 2010.

He said of Ivey and Ainsworth that, weve seen repeated examples of a lieutenant governor differing with the governor on two major policy positions.

Said Brown, It may also suggest the difference in their political careers and where they are in terms of their life cycle. Hes a young fellow wanting a higher level of office. I imagine shes not running for re-election. They will have a different political calculus at times.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir, welcomed today the swift reaction of the Armenian Government in addressing his concerns about the Decree on the State of Emergency, adopted on 23 March, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I welcome the Explanatory Memorandum on measures taken by the Government of Armenia in response to the Press Release of 24 March of the Representative on Freedom of the Media that I received today from the authorities of Armenia, Desir said. I note, in particular, that the Government has decided to amend the Decree on the State of Emergency concerning the regulations of media activity in order to address my concerns, those of media advocacy NGOs and editors in Armenia, as well as the common position of the international mandates on freedom of expression expressed in our joint statement of 19 March.

The Representative added: I want to underline that the Memorandum stated that the Decree of the Government regulates only the publication of information of a medical and epidemiological nature, thus ensuring safeguards for the genuine freedom of media outside this narrow topical framework.

In his press statement of 24 March, the Representative raised his concerns on the State of emergency legislation and insisted that the oronavirus response should not impede the work of the media in Armenia. The decree would have forbidden the media from publishing news on COVID-19 in Armenia from sources other than those released by official government sources.

I share the preoccupation of the Government of Armenia to combat the dissemination of false information related to the health crisis, the Representative said. At the same time, I recall the importance of ensuring the free flow of information, which is a key component for providing the public with information on the vital measures needed to contain the virus, as well as the respect for the right of the media to report on the pandemic and governmental policies.

We will continue to co-operate with the Armenian authorities in this endeavor during this emergency situation and thereafter by developing good practices and a strategy to combat fake news and disinformation, concluded Desir.
A New York hospital is putting two patients at a time on ventilators intended for one, a stopgap move that reflects the desperate shortage of lifesaving breathing devices during the coronavirus pandemic.

The procedure has never been studied in humans. It was briefly pressed into service in the emergency room of a Nevada hospital that ran short on ventilators during the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas and, according to an image on Twitter, in the past few days in Italy.

An emergency doctor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn kept four sheep alive for 12 hours in a 2008 experiment, using a jury-rigged ventilator. But another researcher who tested the idea on simulated mechanical lungs in a laboratory said it is too difficult to be practical, even under current circumstances.

"There's no physician, including myself, who believes this is ideal. This is a doomsday idea," said Lorenzo Paladino, an associate professor of emergency medicine at SUNY Downstate who performed the 2008 experiment. Rather than choose who can have a ventilator and who will be left to die, "I can do this and maybe keep everyone alive," he said.

Doctors at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have two patients at a time on some ventilators. Jeremy Beitler, a pulmonary disease specialist at the hospital that is part of the NewYork-Presbyterian health system, declined to say how many patients are being treated this way.

He said the hospital began the effort in recent days, with the approval of several regulatory agencies and is "scaling up" in response to the shortage.

The ultimate number of additional patients who can be treated this way is unknown, Beitler said. But he cautioned that "this is not a panacea. It's not going to double the number of ventilators."

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an order requiring General Motors to begin manufacturing ventilators, using his authority under the Defense Production Act.

The devices have meant the difference between life and death for many people who have contracted covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that kills by clogging and inflaming the tiny air sacs in the lungs, choking off life-sustaining oxygen.

Ventilators force oxygen into those sacs and through their linings so the bloodstream can carry it to vital organs, and they remove carbon dioxide in the same exchange.

Because equal pressure is being forced into the lungs of two people, the New York doctors must first match them for relatively equal lung size and severity of disease, Beitler said. With the scale of the pandemic, that is not difficult, even within a single hospital, Beitler said.

Sedating the patient and inserting a plastic tube deep into the airway requires caregivers to work close to the patient's mouth, exposing them to greater danger from fine aerosolized droplets that emerge and can hang in the air longer than the larger droplets from sneezes and coughs.

Once on a ventilator, people with severe covid-19 can remain intubated for 15 or 20 days, using the badly needed equipment and critical hospital beds. And quite a few still die; in initial studies out of Washington state and Wuhan, China, intubated patients died at fairly high rates, although many had underlying health conditions.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has begged the federal government to send tens of thousands of ventilators to New York City hospitals that are quickly becoming overwhelmed without them.

"You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die," he said angrily Tuesday after receiving ventilators for hospitals he said need 30,000. "You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators? What are we going to do with 400 ventilators?" Later in the week, the city received a shipment of about 4,000 of the devices.

Trump has disputed the estimates from Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. Speaking Thursday night on Fox News, he said: "I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and they'll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they're saying, 'Can we order 30,000 ventilators?' "

Unlike the disastrous shortage of protective equipment for front-line health-care workers, the scarcity of ventilators is not easily attributed to the government's failure to stock enough for a pandemic, said Julie Swann, a professor of industrial and systems engineering at North Carolina State University who studies the resilience of supply chains in such events.

At prices of as much as $50,000 for top-of-the-line models, ventilators are too expensive for the government to buy enough for a widespread respiratory outbreak such as this one, she said. It's also impractical to move them from cities that are not overloaded with severe coronavirus cases to ones that are, because patients may stay on them for weeks, she said. That approach was reportedly used in China, one expert said.

"We're dealing with an event that may occur once every 100 years. It's extremely difficult to be prepared in advance for such events," Swann said.

Medtronic, which manufactures high-end ventilators for the most severely ill patients, produced about 100 a week at its Ireland plant before the pandemic and is up to making 225, said Rob Clark, the company's chief communications officer. It hopes to reach 500 per week within several weeks, Clark said, by operating around the clock.

But the company's ventilators contain 1,700 parts from 14 suppliers around the world and require 1 million lines of computer code, limiting how quickly the process can be expedited, he said.

The company, and others, are in talks with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to sell additional ventilators to the government and have FEMA take over distribution, he said.

Other ideas under discussion among planners and experts include repurposing some of the estimated 70,000 anesthesia ventilators that deliver gases used for surgeries, creating ventilators with 3-D printers, asking carmakers for help building ventilators and even borrowing veterinary ventilators.

"If it can ventilate a lion, it can ventilate a person," said Lewis Kaplan, a University of Pennsylvania critical care surgeon.

Nicholas Hill, chief of pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said he tested expanding human ventilators on four simulated lungs a few years ago and found the needed extra tubing and supplies unwieldy.

The approach requires "four different people with pretty similar lung mechanics, which is pretty difficult to do," he said. "To be honest, I don't think this is a practical solution. The solution is to get more ventilators."

The Italian doctor who tweeted that he had treated two patients on one ventilator used large masks to supply oxygen, according to his photo. His patients were not intubated, which lessens the difficulty of the process.

But Paladino, the SUNY Downstate researcher, said it may be possible with enough compression to put four or even more people on a single ventilator, though they would have to be very evenly matched and would require intensive monitoring by health-care workers. One key to expanding ventilators, he said, is being able to install the filters that remove viruses from patient exhalations.

Paladino said he was called to a Wednesday meeting at the White House to discuss ways to do it.

"The biggest problem is that most people have never done this, and they don't know how to," he said. "And in a disaster like this, they're doing it for the first time."
An infant in Illinois under the age of one has died after testing positive for coronavirus.

'There has never been a case of COVID-19 death in an infant,' said Illinois Public Health Director, Dr Ngozi Ezike.

'If you havent been paying attention, maybe this is your wake-up call, Ezike said.

The child was among 13 new deaths recorded in Illinois, which now has a coronavirus death toll of 47.

Also among the deaths was an employee at the Department of Human Services.

During a press conference on Saturday, Governor Jay Pritzker said: 'Upon hearing it, I admit I was shaken.

'We should grieve with our family of state employees, with the many people we've already lost to this virus, young and old.'

Illinois is under a stay-at-home order, with all non-essential business and travel banned.

An infant has died after testing positive for coronavirus. It's not clear exactly how old the child was, although officials said they were under the age of one

'Upon hearing it, I admit I was shaken,' Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (seen above in Chicago on Friday) said in reaction to the news of the infant's death

Illinois is under a stay-at-home order, with all non-essential business and travel banned. A pedestrian is seen above carrying shopping bags in Chicago on Saturday

The risk of death and severe illness from COVID-19 is greater for older adults and people with other health problems.

In most cases, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization.

Children have made up a small fraction of coronavirus cases worldwide.

A letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Chinese researchers earlier this month reported the death of a 10-month-old with COVID-19.

The infant had a bowel blockage and organ failure, and died four weeks after being hospitalized.

Separate research published in the journal Pediatrics traced 2,100 infected children in China and noted one death, a 14-year old.

'There has never been a case of COVID-19 death in an infant,' said Illinois Public Health Director, Dr Ngozi Ezike (pictured above on March 12 in Chicago). 'If you havent been paying attention, maybe this is your wake-up call, Ezike said

A coronavirus testing tent is seen above outside Norwegian American Hospital in the Humboldt Park section of Chicago on Thursday

The study found less than 6 per cent of children were seriously ill.

Earlier this week, a three-week-old infant in New York was identified as the youngest patient in the US to test positive for coronavirus.

The baby was treated at NYU Winthrop Hospital on Long Island in Mineola for several days, but has since been released and is now recuperating at home, according to Fox News.

Experts say that it serves as a reminder that children are not immune to coronavirus, warning parents to be on guard to protect their kids from potential exposure.

New York, now the US epicenter of the outbreak, has at least 52,000 confirmed cases, more than 29,000 in New York City alone.

The statewide death toll is nearing 730 as of Saturday.

Worldwide, the youngest confirmed case was a newborn baby in China who tested positive for coronavirus just 30 hours after birth.

Dr. Asif Noor, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at NYU Winthrop, told Fox News that doctors are prepared to treat child patients with supplemental oxygen if needed.

'And when we plan to send them home if they don't require oxygen. They can be observed safely at home,' he said. 'We are instructing these parents to adhere to common sense infection control precautions at home.'

Noor said that it was vitally important to remember to keep children who are symptomatic or test positive for coronavirus away from elderly family members, as well as family members with underlying health conditions.

A jogger runs on the sidewalk in downtown Chicago on Saturday

Pedestrians carry their shopping as they walk on the street in downtown Chicago on Saturday - a week after the governor of Illinois issued a stay-at-home order

Pritzker's order follows statewide schools closures, restrictions on the size of gatherings, and an order for bars and restaurants to suspend dine-in service. Another jogger is seen in downtown Chicago on Saturday

McCormick Place convention center is viewed in Chicago on Saturday. The United States Army Corps of Engineers plans to turn part of the convention center into a hospital for coronavirus patients as soon as April 24, officials said

Common symptoms include dry cough, fever and shortness of breath, but many patients, especially younger ones, appear to display very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while some children and infants have been infected with coronavirus, adults make up most of the known cases to date.

Previously, the youngest US patient reported had been seven months old, and earlier this week the first American under the age of 18 died after testing positive for coronavirus - though the circumstances remain unclear.

Illinois reported 465 new cases on Saturday and 13 deaths, including a state employee.

Six of the deaths, including the infant, were in Cook County, which includes Chicago.

The new numbers bring Illinois total cases to 3,491, including 47 deaths, in 43 counties.

Pritzker urged people to follow his stay-at-home order and practice social distancing when outside of their home, and said new shopping procedures will be starting, such as announcements in stores reminding shoppers to keep six feet apart and a temporary ban on reusable bags.

He also McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago will serve as Illinois' first 'field hospital.'

On Friday, the Army Corps of Engineers commander, Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, told reporters the corps is setting up beds to accommodate about 3,000 patients at the convention center, and will be ready by April 24.

'Were not waiting of the worst,' Pritzker said.

'We're preparing ourselves for the worst.'

The Illinois State Board of Education late Friday set new guidelines for schools as it seems more likely remote learning and other changes will continue further into the academic year.

The board said districts must implement remote learning plans for all schools starting Tuesday.

Districts may use online or non-digital learning, such as giving out homework packets, but must find ways to engage students.

Pritzker has suspended state-mandated standardized testing, including the SAT, which is widely used for college admissions.

The state board said its working on options to allow high school juniors to take the SAT in the fall.

It also said districts should adopt a grading system of 'pass' or 'incomplete,' and students should be allowed to make up or do assignments over.

Pritzker originally ordered schools closed through March but has extended the order through at least April 7 as the state tried to get a handle on the pandemic by issuing a stay-at-home order through the same day.

Chicago Public Schools suspended in-person classes at least through April 20.

Both Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot have said they do not know when schools may be able to reopen, but Lightfoot predicted Friday that Pritzkers stay-at-home order will last 'deep into April.'
Technavio has been monitoring the electric rice cooker market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.8 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200327005441/en/

Technavio has published a latest market research report titled Global Electric Rice Cooker Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. ELECTROLUX, Hamilton Beach Brands, Koninklijke Philips, Newell Brands, and Spectrum Brands are some of the major market participants. The product premiumization and innovation will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Product premiumization and innovation has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Electric Rice Cooker Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Electric Rice Cooker Market is segmented as below:

Distribution channel Offline Online



Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30334

Electric Rice Cooker Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our electric rice cooker market report covers the following areas:

Electric Rice Cooker Market Size

Electric Rice Cooker Market Trends

Electric Rice Cooker Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies multifunctionality of electric rice cookers as one of the prime reasons driving the electric rice cooker market growth during the next few years.

Electric Rice Cooker Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the electric rice cooker market, including some of the vendors such as ELECTROLUX, Hamilton Beach Brands, Koninklijke Philips, Newell Brands, and Spectrum Brands. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the electric rice cooker market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Electric Rice Cooker Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist electric rice cooker market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the electric rice cooker market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour

The growth of the electric rice cooker market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of electric rice cooker market vendors

Table Of Contents :

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Market segmentation by distribution channel

Comparison by distribution channel

Offline Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Online Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by distribution channel

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Multifunctionality of electric rice cooker

Increase in availability of private label brands

Ease of use, portability, and convenience for consumers

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

ELECTROLUX

Hamilton Beach Brands

Koninklijke Philips

Newell Brands

Spectrum Brands

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Two of the country's biggest retail employers will stand down thousands of workers as they close a combined 900-plus stores this weekend in the wake of coronavirus.

About 5000 staff at 280 stores selling the Country Road, Trenery, Mimco, Politix and Witchery brands were told on Saturday that it would be their last day at work for at least one month.

Country Road Group is the latest major retailer to close its stores in the wake of coronavirus. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Country Road Group chief executive Scott Fyfe said: "Due to the small format of many of our retail stores and our commitment to strictly following the social distancing protocols in place, we will suspend trade until the current crisis improves."

The group is owned by the South African-owned Woolworths Holdings, which also owns the David Jones department store.
Bulmers maker C&C has raised around 140m in new debt in the United States private placement market.

It comes a week after the group warned that profits would be affected by the spread of the coronavirus.

The 140m in notes, which have not been secured against the company's assets, have maturities of between 10 and 12 years.

The issue has achieved C&C's aims of diversifying the sources of its debt financing and extending their maturity out to 2032.

Jonathan Solesbury, chief financial officer of C&C, said: "We are very pleased to have successfully completed our first US private placement, particularly against the backdrop of the current market uncertainty. The issue extends the maturity of our debt, as well as diversifying our capital structure. It gives the company access to a broader range of funding options in the future."

C&C also owns brands including Tennent's and 5 Lamps beer. It owns a 47pc stake in Admiral Taverns, a UK pub operator. The fundraising comes at a very difficult time for the food and drink industry, with pubs and restaurants closed across Ireland and the UK in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Last week, C&C said Covid-19 will have a material impact on its performance in the current financial year (FY 2021), due to the decline in footfall.

Patrick Higgins, analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers, said the update was "encouraging". "While the group has a term loan of 105m due to mature in July 2021, [this] placement increases C&C's current total available liquidity to circa 580m and provides the group with further headroom to navigate its way through the current challenging period," he said.
The coronavirus pandemic has infected around 600,000 people across the globe and claimed more than 24,000 lives worldwide, the World Health Organisation states.

From China, the virus spread quickly to the rest of the world, finding a new epicentre in Europe and the United States. For the first time for any country, US Covid-19 figures crossed 100,000 surpassing Chinas record of over 81,000 Covid-19 cases.

Here are key Covid-19 developments from across the globe.

1. The United States continues to lead with 101,657 cases followed by Italy, China and Spain.

2. Covid-19 has already plunged the global economy into recession, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

3. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UK health secretary Matt Hancock and chief medical officer Chris Whitty test positive.

4. Death toll in Italy surged by 919 to a total of 9,134. Its the highest number of deaths in a day.

5. If the rate of growth in Covid-19 cases continues, the New York City area will suffer a more severe outbreak than those experienced in Wuhan, China or the Lombardy region of Italy, says a New York Times analysis. Death toll in New York jumped to 519, 40 per cent of US.

6. A New York hospital has started sharing on ventilators, putting two patients on each.

7. US President Donald Trump signed into law an unprecedented $2 trillion rescue plan Friday to salvage an economy crippled by coronavirus.

8. US President Donald Trump also used for the first time war-time powers under the Defense Production Act, under increasing pressure from state governors, to force a private company, General Motors, to ramp up production of ventilators needed to treat severely ill Covid-19 patients.

9. The US, France, Germany and other countries are engaged in hectic efforts to evacuate close to 14,000 of their nationals stranded in India following the suspension of commercial flights around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

10. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on counterpart Donald Trump to take substantive actions to improve bilateral ties on Friday as the two countries worst hit by the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic continued to trade barbs on, among other things, the origin of the virus.
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday took to Twitter and said that various authorities in the department have been directed to provide food, water and support to those who are trying to go back to their native places in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown.

I have advised Chairman NHAI & Highway Concessioners/Toll Operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places, his tweet read.

At this time of crisis we have to be compassionate for our fellow citizens. I am sure Toll Operators shall respond to this call, Gadkari said.

I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/ Toll Operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places.  Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) March 28, 2020

Earlier in the day, former Congress party chief Rahul Gandhi urged the administration and people to provide food and shelter to jobless workers and daily wage earners. Many migrant workers have taken to the roads, walking home to their villages hundreds of kilometres away.

Today, hundreds of our hungry brothers and sisters along with their families have to walk towards their villages. In such grim times whoever can, please help them with food and shelter. I particularly appeal to Congress leaders and workers. Jai Hind, he tweeted in Hindi.

There was some respite for migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh with the State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) continuing to ferry the migrants to their destinations from different border areas of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Officials of UPSRTCs Ghaziabad region said that till March 27 midnight, they had sent about 96 buses and were arranging more to help the migrants workers reach their destinations like Lucknow, Etawah, Bareilly, Etah, Aligarh and Gorakhpur.
Live music and performance venues have been hit hard during the corona virus outbreak. Having to shut their doors has no doubt done painful economic damage. Heres a roundup of local venues that are offering online events:

Caveat is getting ready to livestream events this week. They write: Going crazy yet? Craving information, but starting to feel desperate to receive it in a non-depressing way? We got you. Beginning this week, your favorite nerdy basement bar will host livestreams 5 nights a week with extra-special online editions of our shows.

HERE performance space is offering free online programming activities. They write: In response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the Obie-winning HERE (Kristin Marting, Founding Artistic Director) is proud to announce several free online programming activities designed to uplift audiences during these challenging times. These programs include #stillHERE, a weekly Livestream featuring a HERE artist who invites viewers to share in the creation of new work; HERE@HOME, a weekly watch party that streams full-length productions previously presented at HERE; and #COVIDEO, a sequential, community-built work of video art that is led by HERE artists and staff, and that the public is invited to participate in.

International Center for Photography (ICP) is offering virtual exhibition tours, online classes and a community-based open call for photographs. They write: If youre a working photographerno matter artist, photojournalist, hobbyist, or something in betweenwe would love to see what you are creating in this moment. Share your images and stories with ICP by using #ICPConcerned on Instagram and well post select images on @ICP.

The Museum at Eldridge Street is offering online classes, story-time, concerts from their archive and Passover Programming.

The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) has been offering free live webcasts of their popular series, MOCA Talks, and has a virtual tour on their website here.

Nuyorican Poets Cafe hosted their first Online Open Mic on Friday, March 26, and plans of host more soon. They are also offering Virtual Mic Challenges on their Instagram page, with weekly poetry prompts, encouraging participants to record and post a poem (5 minutes or less) about the prompt.

Paul Taylor Dance Company is streaming some of their wonderful performances online. They write: PTDF is delighted to share a new, free streaming opportunity: PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY IN PARIS! Stream it today: for a limited time only, you can experience two of Mr. Taylors most cherished masterworks, Brandenburgs and Beloved Renegade, as performed by the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2012 at the Theatre National de Chaillot in Paris.

The Public has cancelled all live shows (as have all our local arts venues) but they are offering some performances from Joes Pub Live! From the Archives, as well as streaming past productions from Shakespeare in the Park, artists conversations, and playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is continuing her Watch Me Work series of classes, everyday next week. The series was formerly hosted on the mezzanine at The Public, now hosted on Zoom.

Rockwood Musichall is offering nightly concerts on Instagram. They write: Join us for Rockwood LiveStream Concerts  taking place at 8PM EST nightly from March 25th, 2020 onward as we strive to bring you live music during this period of social distancing and isolation.

We will update this list regularly. If you are a local arts organization offering online programming, let us know at tips@thelodownny.com.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Indias lockdown will invite perils for its people

by Arun Srivastava

The success of Indias 21-day lockdown to fight Coronavirus depends on how quickly the countrys health system can detect and isolate persons already infected with the disease. It is expected that lockdown will slow down the virus transmission in the larger community. But it is yet not clear that how many people who will be in homes during the lockdown are actually infected.

The lockdown in China was backed by adequate government planning and monitoring of the population, while ensuring that people had access to basic essentials. China has not placed a deadline. It was open. It does not certainly imply that the Chinese authorities were too naive to know that it needed at least 21 days to cut the link.

The Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, as usual, to present himself as super hero acted overboard. He imitated only one part of the solution  the lockdown. It was only after hue and cry that his government took the decision to reach some benefit to the poor. But this is also not fool proof.

Modi has been playing truant with the people of the country in fighting coronavirus. If Modi has been really worried of the welfare of his people it must not have taken two and half month for him to grasp the escalation of the monstrous virus and react to the threat. It was on December 30 the first case of corona virus was reported in Kerala. The victim was a student who along with his three friends had returned from Wuhan, China.

The transmission escalated in the month of March, after several cases were reported all over the country. On 10 March, the total cases reached 50. On 12 March, a 76-year-old man who had returned from Saudi Arabia became the first victim of the virus in the country. The total cases reached 100 on 15 March, 250 on 20 March and 500 on 24 March. The death toll reached 10 on 24 March.

During this period while China and other countries were gearing to face the challenge of Corona, Modi like his rightist capitalist friends Donald Trump and Boris Johnson was busy enjoying life. His coming out of slumber and addressing the nation on March 19 about the threat perspective and cautioning the people was merely a facade purely aimed at keeping his rich and middle class voters in cheers. The manner in which this section of the people responded to his call by beating thali and blowing conch simply reinforces this conviction.

Modi who claims to be a good friend of Chinese President Xi Jin Ping did not imitate his approach to face the challenge. China helped its people under the lockdown to procure food and other supplies, ensured adequate monitoring of the population so that anyone who developed symptoms would be tested immediately and isolated. Instead, our lockdown announcements appeared to be abrupt.

On the contrary our Modiji asked us to be prepared for a long drawn curfew on March 24. The lockdown was slapped on the entire country. Is this a planned response? It doesnt seem so. It simply gives the impression that Modi in order to protect his image imposed the abrupt lockout. He himself has been panicked.

Ironically even after so many days of the lockdown the manner in which the government machinery was behaving, it simply provides an insight that Modi was not prepared and he on his part has not prepared the officials, his ministers, the bureaucracy, district administrators and law enforcement agencies across the country to face the lockdown and the difficult task of detecting and isolating as many infected persons.

In China, even without the majority getting infected, the spread of the coronavirus has been brought down by public health management. What that magical management is, they are not telling the world. Their total burden of infection has been less than 1 per cent. So they seem to claim that they contained it  decline was not natural. Modi could have sought the advice of his friend if at all he was really concerned of the welfare of the people of the country.

The abject intellectual bankruptcy of his ministers was clearly manifest in their response to the questions posed to them about how to reach succour to the poor. In reply to specific questions on what steps were being taken to support the poor and the migrant workers, Prakash Javadekar, the information minister said The government is keeping an eye on the situation. State governments are announcing their measures. Strange.

On a question on the migrant workers descending on the streets of Delhi despite the social distancing measures, the minister said: The government is keeping a watch. But they had been working (in Delhi), they must be staying somewhere. They should stay there only. Excellent. It points to high level of administrative acumen of Javadekar.

Within two days of the lockdown frightening reports have started pouring in of mass hunger of homeless and daily wage earners. Police highhandedness has desisted the NGO to reach out the targeted people.

This action of Modi makes it explicit that his entire endeavour has been to protect the rich and middle class people, who have all the facilities at their command. The government has also promised that all the facilities would reach to their doorsteps. They need not worry and simply take care of their safety. However in this backdrop the nation cannot allow a virus safety mechanism to be used to save only the middle class who have homes and secure jobs.

A recent socio-economic study underlines that around 3.2 lakh families were homeless in urban areas across the country. In rural areas the situation is not good either. More than 8 lakh households survive on alms.

The blue eyed minister, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, of Modi had announced a financial package worth Rs 1.7 lakh crores to help rural and urban poor by transferring money directly into their bank accounts. Her move must be applauded. But will see tell the people the actual number of the poor and daily wage earners the country has and out of them how many have bank accounts? A couple of years back Jan Dhan yojana was launched by Modi government but unfortunately it died in very embryonic stage. She must refrain from refrain speaking farce and fooling the people.

At this stage when the country was facing acute crisis this nature of cruel joke does not behove to her stature or the office she holds. She mut refrain from it. Explaining the package, she said that the Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme will benefit 1,70,00 crore migrants and poor people in the nation. Fine. But will she take pains to inform the mode or mechanism she is going to resort to identify and locate the beneficiaries so that the benefit reach to them. She also announced a Rs 50 lakh insurance cover for doctors, nurses and other frontline workers who are battling to contain the spread of coronavirus.

We know how a well organised gang of criminal middlemen usurp and loot these funds. This time also the same story will be repeated. Since the government never tried to identify and carry out a census of these people, as it has been busy with its communal agenda of identifying Hindu-Muslims, it would really challenging task to reach the money to the proper and genuine beneficiaries.

It is certainly not a pessimistic observation and the fact remains that most of the food grains as usual would found the way to the black market. The government has promised 1kg of pulses and 5kg of wheat/rice for 80 crore poor beneficiaries for the next three months. Will the concerned minister or the responsible will come out with the list of this huge population of poor people?

Its announcement to increase in MGNREGA wages from Rs 182 to Rs 202 will do at least one good; the MGNREGA which has been gasping for fresh financial air will survive for some more time. One also hopes that Rs 1,000 ex-gratia for the elderly, poor widows and poor and old divyang in 2 instalments for the next three months at least reaches to the genuine people.

Though the rich and middle class people are quite ebullient of the lockdown, as it aims at securing their precious lives, the government or even these people are not at all bothered of the social and cultural anxiety and the impact of solitariness on the lives of their kids , their family members and even on them.

There is no denying the fact the fear of being alone due to social distancing during the period of lockdown---the eremophobia  will acquire the character of a mass phenomenon. The fear of unknown will haunt the people. The dilemma of isolation-estrangement-loneliness will have its impact on the body of the individual and also on the body politic of a nation.

I strongly believe that the concept of social distancing is basically flawed and wrong. It should have been physical distancing and not social distancing. Staying physically distant will break the chain of transmission, but the element of social distancing will harm the individual. Lockdown loneliness will undoubtedly hit mental health.

The entire Indian population will remain confined indoor. This would have enormous stress on the mental health of the people. The same is the case around the world. There will be increase in cases of anxiety and depression. In this time of stress, we need more social togetherness; we need more social support than social isolation. We should always be giving the message of physical distancing, which is a safety measure, but social togetherness, which can still be maintained from a physical distance. Saying social distancing will imply that you are alone. Ironically everyone is emphasising on social distancing when actually they should be saying physical distancing but social togetherness.

To ensure that people should not suffer with mental stress and become victims of mental health in the wake of the pandemic the fundamental principle should be the government must convey correct information to people. A vacuum leads to more anxiety. Modi ought to not to create panic by portraying the black side of the pandemic.

Government must ensure that the flow of fake news is stopped. India is notorious for this. Incidentally with 21 days of leisure is enough for the mischief mongers to create havoc. These people will be disseminating all kinds of idiotic mails and messages. As is the human psyche the people during these days will be anxiously waiting for more information and will tend to believe such fake news as correct information. It is a known fact elderly people have been feeling more and more isolated.

The intersection of multiple challenges during the Corona crisisto health, employment, home, and access to resourceshave already produced an extreme confluence of circumstances that significantly increase the risk of depression and the kind of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Squirt of the virus has turned rich and middle class people frightened of their survival. This has its echo in March 24 address to the nation, wherein he cautioned that the virus spreads fast; it took 67 days to escalate to 2 lakh from 1 lakh but two lakh multiplied to 3 lakh within 11 days. His appeal, if one takes it seriously, to seriously observe the lockout makes it explicit that he was really concerned of their welfare.

Being the prime minister he should have dealt the matter in an inclusive manner, but this element was completely missing. The coronavirus has an incubation period of up to 14 days. The 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by Narendra Modi is purely a gamble to stop the alarming increase of patients infected by the corona and allow the microbe to emerge slower. His entire focus was on rich and middle class people. The poor and daily wage earners did not figure in his design.

Modi announced the lockdown on a day Indias cumulative count of coronavirus patients climbed to 600, including 10 deaths, and amid concerns that without strong interventions, the number could rise to hundreds of thousands of patients within a month.

One thing ought to not to be ignored is, Indian doctors during this period managed to pure 41 patients with the traditional medicines and preventive mechanisms. If Modi and his government would have taken the development seriously, just after the first case was reported then India and its poor people might not have to this precarious situation.

Modi has the penchant of self-eulogy and this was visible on March 25 when he interacted with his supporters in Varanasi through video conferencing. He must be complemented for indulging in jugglery of words. He drew a parallel from Mahabharta and told his audience that fight between Kauravs and Pandavas ended after 18 days and the war with corona would terminate on 21 st day. This was really incredible. How could he assure the people that virus crisis will end on April 14, the last day of the 21 st day period? With huge number of vulnerable poor daily wage number exposed to the threat of the attack from corona, his statement is indeed misleading.

The only possible explanation could be the death of these people by corona would be entered into the record book of the government. There are many diseases which could be cited as the possible reasons for their deaths. Incidentally experts assert that the 21-day lockdown is unlikely to completely extinguish the virus. What were doing is buying precious time through good old-fashioned isolation and quarantine, said Gagandeep Kang, a medical virologist and director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad (Haryana).

Virologists say the virus is likely to persist even in the weeks after the lockdown that would require people to continue to adopt hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette to protect themselves from the infection.

The government may manage to meet the challenge for the next three or four months. But what after that? With market already in turmoil and agriculture receiving a major setback, the economic situation will further deteriorate. India has already been the worst ever crisis and shutdown, just before the onslaught of the virus. The financial crunch and production deficiency, with manufacturing activity coming to a complete halt for next couple of months, will push the country to the brink of financial disaster.

A couple of days back Modi reiterated that the Centre and state governments will take all steps to ensure the supply of essential items during the lockdown to combat the coronavirus. But this is also a bare fact that the stock could not be replenished after three month of lockdown. It will completely turn the system dysfunctional. Apprehensions are already expressed that Rabi crop will not be in a position to cope the crisis though officials claim otherwise.
Fashion houses worldwide have been stepping up to aid in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, including Gucci. The Italian luxury house is now partnering with the World Health Organization to help spread useful information about the virus. Specifically, Gucci is supporting the global COVID-19 response by fundraising money for Italian and WHO response funds through its social media channels.

In a recent Instagram post, Gucci revealed that they would be giving just over $2.2 million (2 million euros) to fight COVID-19.

Related | How Fashion Is Fighting Against the Coronavirus Pandemic

The donation will be split between two crowdfunding campaigns: the Italian Civil Protection Department and the United Nations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Each donation will then be matched by Facebook. This follows the announcement that Gucci's parent company, Kerig, would be creating surgical masks and medical overalls in France.

Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele and the President and CEO Marco Bizzarri released a statement about their relief efforts. "Gucci has created a world, open and free: a Gucci global community," it reads. "We ask all of you to be the changemakers in this crisis, to stand together with us in the fight against the coronavirus. We are all in this together."

You can use the Donate Sticker in Gucci's Instagram Stories to give to the United Nations Foundation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, or visit gucci.forfunding.it to donate to the Italian Civil Protection Department.

Photo via Getty/ Giacomo Cosua/NurPhoto
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 05:14:32|Editor: yhy

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An ambulance arrives at Roger Salengro Hospital in Lille, northern France, on March 27, 2020. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in France has risen by 13 percent within a day to reach a total of 32,964 as of Friday, the 11th day of national lockdown imposed to contain the outbreak, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen by 13 percent within a day to reach a total of 32,964 as of Friday, the 11th day of national lockdown imposed to contain the outbreak, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said.

A total of 1,995 people had died, an increase of 299 from Thursday, Salomon added in an update.

Further 1,828 people diagnosed with the COIVD-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, had received treatment in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of hospitalized patients to 15,732. That included 3,787 serious cases, a daily jump of 472.

Some 5,700 infected people were recovered, up from 4,948 reported a day ago.

PARIS REGION HIT HARD

Following "unprecedented epidemic", mortality caused by the flu-like illness was much higher than expected in five regions, notably in Great Paris region, where deaths jumped by 35.7 percent, Salomon noted.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned that an "extremely high" wave of the coronavirus epidemic would sweep the capital and its suburbs, the country's most populous region ad the most important economic hub, in coming days.

Hospitals in the region would be saturated within 48 hours due to fast-spreading contagion, according to Frederic Valletoux, head of the French Hospital Federation.

"We will be at the limit of our capacities in 24 or 48 hours. We will need to show real solidarity between regions, hospitals and increase the numbers of patient transfers," Valletoux told BFM TV.

"If we leave hospitals to deal with the situation by themselves, leave every region hit by the epidemic to cope alone, we shall head towards a catastrophe," he said.

Bruno Riou, a medical director at the AP-HP hospital group in Paris, urged the immediate transfer of patients to less stricken regions to offer a relief to the capital's hospitals.

"We are pushing out the walls everywhere to receive as much as possible patients in intensive care... We have to find solutions," Riou told France inter radio.

LOCKDOWN EXTENDED

To overturn the rapid contagion curve, the French government decided to prolong containment period, set to end on March 31, by two more weeks.

"After these first 10 days of confinement, it is clear that we are just at the beginning of this epidemic wave. It has submerged eastern France and now it is arriving in the Paris region and northern France," Philippe said.

"The same rules as those currently in force will continue to apply. This confinement period may be extended if the sanitary situation requires it," he added.

Under the lockdown, declared on March 17, people can only leave their homes to buy food and medicine, and all non-essential businesses have been closed.

Further strict restrictions on people's movement were decided to fight against the rampant infection cases. Open-air markets are shut down. People would be allowed to go out for a walk with their children or to exercise once a day for no more than one hour, and within one kilometer of their home. Sanctions against those who break the rules are tougher.
The death of a 65-year-old preacher from Malaysia, who came to Bihars Araria along with nine others, inside a mosque has set alarm bells ringing in the region even though authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of his demise.

The preacher, identified as Md Khairani Bin Lookman, had reached Araria on March 21 died on Thursday evening. Lookman had landed in Delhi on March 6.

He offered namaz and soon after fell unconscious and died, a local resident said adding that he was rushed to Araria district hospital where he was declared brought dead.

According to sources, Araia district administration forced the doctor to perform an autopsy in the hospital despite several health officials suggesting it should be done at a bigger centre.

A senior doctor said the postmortem was just a formality.

We cannot say anything at this point whether the preacher was a Covid-19 patient or not, the added.

Prashanth Kumar Ch, Araria district magistrate, could not be contacted as his mobile was switched off.

However, a senior deputy collector, Araria, Shambhu Kumar said, The rest nine Islamic preachers have been quarantined in the mosque where they are staying.

A large number of Muslims abstained from performing the obligatory congregational prayer on Friday at Jama Masjid. However, at some places, they defied the lockdown and gathered at local mosque to perform collective prayers.

There are nine Covid-19 patients in Bihar as the number across the country crossed the 700 mark on Friday.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 05:25:49|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will soon grant Tunisia 250 million euros (279.21 million U.S. dollars) to support the North African country in its fight against the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its social and economic repercussions, announced Tunisian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

"In a telephone conversation, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Oliver Varhelyi informed Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Noureddine Erray that EU had decided to grant 250 million euros to Tunisia," said a ministry statement.

The grant is part of "the distinguished partnership and solidarity relations that unite Tunisia with the EU," it added.

Varhelyi stressed that EU will triple the financial support given to Tunisia in the framework of the "My Health" project, from 20 million to 60 million euros.

The project is financed by the EU. It aims to improve health services in the various provinces of the country.
A Buffalo-area team is working to win approval from the E.P.A. for a retail version of a disinfectant.

A concentrated disinfectant made by one of the firms involved was added by the E.P.A. this month to the list of products that could be marketed to kill germs in the coronavirus family. The company linked up with Joe Mallare, who co-owns a company that makes melamine sponges, to try to sell a diluted version to individual customers. But the E.P.A. informed the team on Thursday that they would need to submit a new application, rather than an amendment to their existing registration for the concentrated blend, which is sold to institutional customers.

Mr. Mallare said his team is still committed to winning approval, and called the E.P.A. very understanding and helpful, including engaging in midnight email exchanges about the application process. With this virus going, everybody in America needs this, he said of his teams product.

Mr. Mallare is being assisted by a pair of Republican operatives, David Ferguson and Peggy J. Ellis. They have enlisted support for the effort from members of Congress and helped Mr. Mallares team connect with the appropriate officials in the E.P.A.s Antimicrobials Division.

Mr. Ferguson, who specializes in conservative issue advocacy and is not a registered federal lobbyist, said were just trying to use our connections to do whats right for the country in a time of national crisis. He said hes doing the work on a volunteer basis, adding this is not my core business, and now is not a time for making money.

For plenty of other Washington veterans, coronavirus is, indeed, a time for making money.

Mike Gula, a veteran Republican fund-raiser whose firm has been paid more than $36 million since 2008 by a range of top Republican politicians and political committees, sent an email on Thursday to clients announcing that he was leaving political fund-raising to focus his full attention on another business outside politics.

That business is a newly incorporated firm called Blue Flame Medical that boasts on its website that it has assembled an array of hard-to-find medical supplies to beat the outbreak, including respirator & surgical masks, coronavirus test kits and a wide selection of personal protective equipment.
Two priests continue to recover from COVID-19

Two priests in the Diocese of Yakima stricken with the coronavirus continue to recover at private residences.

The Rev. Jose de Jesus Chuy Ramirez, 69, a senior priest of the Diocese of Yakima in residence at Our Lady of the Desert Parish in Mattawa, tested positive for COVID-19, Bishop Joseph Tyson announced March 22.

Suffering only mild cold- and flu-like symptoms, Ramirez was ordered by the Grant County Health District to remain in self-isolation until 72 hours after his symptoms have completely cleared up, which could have been as early as Tuesday.

Tyson has asked him to continue to stay home and rest, according to a news release. His symptoms have subsided but he could be more susceptible to other illnesses during the continuing cold and flu season.

Ramirez shares a residence with the Rev. Alejandro Alex Trejo, pastor of the parish in Mattawa. He tested positive a week before that.

Trejo, 48, was released from Kadlec Medical Center in Richland on March 18 after 11 days in intensive care, where he was treated for pneumonia stemming from the coronavirus. He continues to recover slowly at a private residence in Yakima, with skilled nursing care.

"Thanks for your continued prayers for Fr. Alex. I just popped over to see him. Hes doing much better. I kept my required distance," Tyson wrote in a Facebook post on March 25. "Hes not getting regular visitors yet and has another week or so to go but hes doing much better."
By Express News Service

VELLORE: A 49-year-old priest who had recently visited the UK has tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment at the CMC hospital in Vellore. His wife who accompanied him on the trip, however, tested negative.

After the priest tested positive, Barneespuram in Katpadi, where his house is located, was sanitized by workers from the Vellore Municipal Corporation, health department and TN Fire and Rescue Services personnel.

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Officials said that the priests health parameters are normal. He was already kept under quarantine by the district administration. Now, he is fully cured and ready for discharge, district collector A Shanmuga Sundaram said on Saturday.

The priest and his wife had started their return journey from London on 16 March via Dubai before landing in Chennai airport in the wee hours of 17 March and returned to Katpadi in a cab, sources said.

Since then, they had reportedly remained indoors at their house before being admitted to the CMC Hospital on 24 March.

An official team swung into action as soon as the test results were received to trace their contacts.

So far, we have traced eight contacts. They include the cab driver, the patients father, brother and five neighbours, an official said. Two of them are children under three years.

The authorities of the revenue, police and health departments and Vellore Municipal Corporation have locked down Barneespuram, besides pasting quarantine notices. All inmates of neighbouring houses have been warned against stepping out and were assured of the supply of essential goods.
A Michigan health system has acknowledged it's preparing for hard life-and-death decisions after a hospital letter was circulated online detailing who would be able to receive life-saving resources during the coronavirus pandemic if there's not enough equipment.

A spokesman for the Henry Ford Health System told CNN the "letter is part of a larger policy document developed for an absolute worst-case scenario."

"It is not an active policy within Henry Ford, but it is part of our emergency response planning," the spokesman said.

The letter has not been shared with patients, but aims to explain that the coronavirus pandemic has made some medical supplies hard to find.

"Because of shortages, we will need to be careful with resources," reads the letter, which is addressed to patients, families and the community. "Patients who have the best chance of getting better are our first priority."

"Patients who are treated with a ventilator or ICU care may have these treatments stopped," it says, "if they do not improve over time."

The letter goes on to say patients with severe heart, lung, kidney or liver failure, severe trauma or burns, or terminal cancers may be ineligible for a ventilator or ICU care. These patients will instead receive "pain control and comfort measures."

"This decision will be based on medical condition and likelihood of getting better," the letter says.

'What they put out is honest,' mayor says

The letter is not just indicative of the situation in one Michigan health system, but illustrates the widespread challenges hospital systems across the country have described to CNN about dwindling resources as they struggle to care for patients during the pandemic.

In an email to CNN, Henry Ford Health System said none of its hospitals have reached capacity with Covid-19 patients and the hospitals have not reached their limits on ventilators. The health system had 373 coronavirus patients hospitalized in its facilities as of Friday morning, according to its website.

According to Dr. Adnan Munkarah, the health system's executive vice-president and chief clinical officer, all health systems must be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Henry Ford Health System "carefully crafted our policy to provide critical guidance to healthcare workers for making difficult patient care decisions during an unprecedented emergency. These guidelines are deeply patient focused, intended to be honoring to patients and families," Munkarah said in a statement.

"It is our hope we never have to apply them and we will always do everything we can to care for our patients, utilizing every resource we have to make that happen."

Asked about the letter by CNN's Jim Sciutto, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said other major hospital systems dealing with large coronavirus outbreaks are having the same conversations internally.

"Henry Ford is one of America's great healthcare systems," Duggan said. "And what they put out is honest."

"You would be irresponsible as a healthcare system CEO," the mayor added, "if you weren't preparing for that eventuality."

'We are now all together on the Titanic'

Arthur Caplan, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said he agrees it would be irresponsible for hospitals to be unprepared for the possibility of rationing.

"It's good to be public, it's good to be transparent, it's good to be frank," Caplan said of the Henry Ford letter. Other hospital systems around the country are formulating similar policies, he added, if they don't already have them in place.

Caplan is not surprised if people are upset, he said, but it's inappropriate to simply say, "Rationing is wrong and you can't do it."

"That ignores reality," he said, adding, "If there are 10 people and 3 ventilators, a decision is going to get made."

Hospitals will aim to "maximize the likelihood you can save lives by giving access to the resource," he said. They'll also weigh factors like a patient's health condition and age.

Caplan added that rationing within the healthcare system is nothing new, pointing to insurance and organ transplants.

"The revelation that rationing occurs in the healthcare system is shocking only because most people never faced it," Caplan said. "If you didn't have insurance, if you were homeless, you were rationed. It always has been sadly true, it just doesn't get anybody's attention."

The public, Caplan said, will have to accept that this "is a reality."

"We are now all together on the Titanic," he said. "And it's pretty clear that there aren't enough lifeboats and there aren't enough life preservers."
A lengthy national cabinet meeting of federal, state and territory leaders yesterday took no new steps to address the coronavirus pandemic, except a compulsory quarantine of arriving overseas passengers, to be enforced, in an unprecedented fashion, by the army as well as the police.

The number of officially confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia now exceeds 3,500, more than trebling in the past week. A total of 14 deaths are so far attributed to the virus.

People queuing for coronavirus tests at Royal Melbourne Hospital (Photo: WSWS)

New South Wales remains the worst-hit state, with 1,617 cases as of this morning, an increase of 212 in the previous 24 hours. Victoria has 684 cases, after recording an increase of 111 yesterday. Queensland has reported at least 70 new infections and a total of 625. The official figures elsewhere in the country, as of this afternoon, were South Australia 257, Western Australia 255, Tasmania 58, Australian Capital Territory 62 and the Northern Territory 15.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison nevertheless declared: Were getting on top of this and we can keep on top of this and we need to keep doing what we have been doing.

The prime ministers claim was reminiscent of US President Donald Trumps tweet a month ago that the virus was very much under control. Now, the US has the greatest number of confirmed cases in the worldmore than 100,000and the deaths are spiralling above 1,500.

Like the Trump administration, Australias political leaders are determined to keep as many workers as possible on the job in order to shore up corporate profits. Those most exposed to infection, such as in factories, warehouses, large building sites and mining projects, are being required to work.

No new shutdowns were announced yesterday, and there was no expansion of testing. Restrictions still bar most people from being tested for the viruseven those with flu-like symptomsmaking the official count unreliable.

Nor were wage subsidies announced to support the hundreds of thousands of workers who have been laid-off, including more than 40,000 retail workers who lost their livelihoods this week. There were no protections from eviction for tenants who can no longer pay their rents.

Above all, there was no explanation for the refusal of the governments to heed the impassioned calls by thousands of doctors, as well as numerous health experts, for an immediate strict lockdown to halt the diseases potentially fatal spread.

Morrison emphasised the united opposition of all Liberal-National and Labor government leaders to any suggestion of a lockdown. Morrison denounced journalists for even using the word.

Asked why the government was not taking that precaution, Morrison replied: I would actually caution the media against using the word lockdown, because I think it does create unnecessary anxiety.

Morrison and the federal governments Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy dismissed a question about a study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Thursday, which estimated that the hospital systems intensive care unit (ICU) capacity of 2,200 beds will likely be exceeded by about April 5.

Models vary, but most predict that the number of people in Australia who may become infected could fall between 12 million, with some control of spread, and 16 million if out of control. Even if the fatality rate is relatively low0.9 percentroughly 100,000 to 145,000 people will die before the epidemic is over.

There is mounting evidence that the Australian governments are keeping the public in the dark about the true extent of the looming catastrophe.

Under the headline, Planning for the dark side of the pandemic, the Australian Financial Review reported yesterday that teams of medical professionals have begun devising a mass palliative care plan, preparing for the horrific conditions of overwhelmed hospitals already seen in Italy, Spain and the US.

Such a plan would be for people who become seriously ill with COVID-19 and are not able to secure an ICU bed, health editor Jill Margo reported. As there is no other treatment, they will need end-of-life care Under a national plan, they could be taken to town halls, school halls, gymnasiums or other large covered spaces that have been transformed into decent places for people to go for a safe and dignified death.

At yesterdays press conference, Morrison and Murphy downplayed such dangers, saying plans were being made to triple the ICU capacity. But this could be insufficient and would also require thousands of additional trained ICU nurses.

Hospital nurses, doctors and other health workers are continuing to report acute shortages of personal protection equipment such as surgical masks and gowns.

A journalist asked Morrison: Many have suggested that more comprehensive restrictions would result in a shorter disruption and fewer deaths. Now, we know you dont agree with that, but are you willing to release the modelling that explains what the government thinks would happen under each scenario?

Morrison provided no answer. Instead, he attacked critics, accusing them of being cavalier toward job losses. I sometimes note that those who often are pushing for greater restrictions, they will keep their job, he insinuated. I am not going to be so cavalier about it.

In reality, the workers thrown onto the Great Depression-style dole queues outside welfare offices this week are also victims of the refusal of the authorities to take the measures needed weeks ago to introduce mass testing, tracing and isolating of positive cases, as repeatedly urged by the World Health Organisation.

Anger and concern among teachers, parents and retail workers this week shattered the determined efforts of the national cabinet, backed by the trade unions, to force schools to remain open, and keep shopping malls and retail chains open.

Despite being backed by the unions, such as the Australian Education Union (AEU), all the states and territories have been forced to transition schools to mostly online teaching. Retail giants are shutting their doors, joined yesterday by Myer, which laid off 10,000 workers.

There are signs that outrage over unsafe conditions is spreading throughout the working class. About 80 workers at one Coles supermarket warehouse at Laverton, in Melbourne, walked out on Thursday night because they were being forced to work close together, in violation of 1.5-metre distancing protocols and without personal protection equipment. They returned to work after Coles agreed to their demands.

While refusing to take now urgently-needed restrictive measures, the federal and state governments are imposing unprecedented enforcement measures, such as severe fines and jail terms, and the domestic deployment of the military.

At the request of the state governments, Australian Defence Force troops will be on the front line of policing quarantine and self-isolation orders, including visiting peoples homes and residences.

During his media conference, Morrison again thanked the trade union apparatus, saying: I thank the unions for their support and the constructive way they are approaching it.

A report in todays Australian revealed how far the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is going to assist the governments and big business to keep workers on the job, despite unsafe conditions, as well as to slash working conditions, wages and penalty rates.

Morrison personally rang ACTU secretary Sally McManus to express his appreciation and he especially wanted to thank the education unions. He had met AEU leaders during the week to strike a deal to attempt to coerce teachers into staying in unsafe classrooms.

For two weeks, McManus and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter have spoken daily via video-conference to communicate frankly and quickly about the fast-moving, multi-pronged crisis. Porter told the Australian he was now BFF [best friend forever] with McManus.

The ACTU has agreed to what the Murdoch media newspaper called groundbreaking agreements to cut the conditions of hospitality, clerical and restaurant workers. These deals, quickly rubberstamped by the federal governments Fair Work Commission, include sweeping reductions in penalty rates and minimum-hours rules.

While described as temporary, these deals will establish precedents that will be imposed when businesses resume. This dovetails with Morrison and his state and territory counterparts pouring billions of dollars into the coffers of the corporate elite via repeated rescue or hibernation packages to boost profits.

For the ruling elite, winning the war against the pandemic means exploiting the crisis to intensify the exploitation of the working class. Walkouts like those at the Coles warehouse need to be the starting point for workers to break out of the employer-union straitjacket and form their own action committees to develop the fight for the necessary socialist reorganisation of society.


TDT | Manama

The general public here are advised to complete their transactions related to ID cards through National Portal Bahrain.bh to help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement, the Information & eGovernment Authority said the new decision is applicable to all services that do not require attendance in-person. Those services that require personal attendance can be carried out at Isa Town ID card centre branch and the Mina Salman branch.

However, delivery of the service requests will be made only through Bahrain Post. Applicants visiting the ID Card centres in person will not receive the delivery of their request in any of the branches, iGA statement confirmed.

It is important to note that appointments must be made in advance via the National Portal, bahrain.bh to visit Isa Town or Mina Salman ID centre.

iGA also urges everyone to contribute in the national campaign of staying home and being safe noting their services can be completed by visiting the National Portal, bahrain.bh.

Also, users can access the National Suggestion & Complaints System, Tawasul via the National Portal or download its app from Bahrain.bh/apps. For inquiries or assistance contact 80008001.

The latest move also follows an earlier announcement made by the Government executive committee, chaired by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, activating teleworking whenever possible.

Home-based working rule, Civil Service Bureau (CSB) President, Ahmed bin Zayed Al Zayed earlier said, applies to all public sector employee according to the level of emergency.
JOHANNESBURG - Police fired tear gas at a crowd of Kenyan ferry commuters as the countrys first day of a coronavirus curfew slid into chaos. Elsewhere, officers were captured in mobile phone footage whacking people with batons.

Virus prevention measures have taken a violent turn in parts of Africa as countries impose lockdowns and curfews or seal off major cities. Health experts say the virus spread, though still at an early stage, resembles the arc seen in Europe, adding to widespread anxiety. Cases across Africa were set to climb above 4,000 late Saturday.

Abuses of the new measures by authorities are an immediate concern.

Minutes after South Africas three-week lockdown began Friday, police screamed at homeless people in downtown Johannesburg and went after some with batons. Some citizens reported the police use of rubber bullets. Fifty-five people across the country were arrested. The country leads Africa with more than 1,000 cases.

In an apparent show of force on Saturday, South Africas military raided a large workers hostel in the Alexandra township where some residents had defied the lockdown.

In Rwanda, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to impose a lockdown, police have denied that two civilians shot dead Monday were killed for defying the new measures, saying the men attacked an officer after being stopped.

And Zimbabwe, where police are widely criticized by human rights groups for deadly crackdowns, is set to enter a three-week lockdown on Monday. The countrys handful of virus cases already threatens to overwhelm one of the worlds most fragile health systems.

In Kenya, outrage over the the actions of police was swift.

We were horrified by excessive use of police force ahead of the curfew that began Friday night, Amnesty International Kenya and 19 other human rights groups said in a statement issued Saturday. We continue to receive testimonies from victims, eyewitnesses and video footage showing police gleefully assaulting members of the public in other parts of the country.

The tear gas caused hundreds of people trying to reach a ferry in the port city of Mombasa ahead of the overnight curfew to touch their faces as they vomited, spat and wiped away tears, increasing the chance of the virus spread, the rights groups said. Even some health workers reported being intimidated as they tried to provide services after the 7 p.m. curfew.

The police actions were unacceptable and brutal, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Justice and Peace Commission said in a separate statement.

I am appealing to our people to make it very unnecessary for them to engage with police by staying at home, Kenyas Cabinet secretary for health, Mutahi Kagwe, said. I am also urging the police that people must be treated humanely. The country has 38 virus cases.

Kenyas interior ministry on Saturday replied to criticism in a statement saying the curfew is meant to guard against an apparent threat to public health. Breaking it is not only irresponsible but also puts others in harms way.

Kenyas government has not said how many people have been arrested. Because courts are also affected by virus prevention measures, all but serious cases will now be dealt with at police stations, the government has said. That means anyone detained for violating curfew faces time in crowded cells.

The Law Society of Kenya will go to court to challenge the curfew on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and has been abused by police, president Nelson Havi said in a statement. The penalty for breaking a curfew is not corporal punishment, he added.

It is evident that COVID-19 will be spread more by actions of police than of those claimed to have contravened the curfew, Havi said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

If Kenya goes further and imposes a lockdown, there is bound to be violence, said James Shikwati, an economist. People in poor neighbourhoods of cities like the capital, Nairobi, will need a way to access food, water and sanitation.

It will mean for the first day, maybe, they stay indoors, he said. Then the second day, when they are hungry, they will move out.

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Tom Odula in Kenya and Nqobile Ntshangase and Jerome Delay in Johannesburg contributed.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Zelensky conducts personnel changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces

the Head of Armed Forces General Staff Ruslan Khomchak Unian

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Ruslan Khomchak as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, at the same time he was dismissed from the post of chief of the General Staff. The relevant decrees are published on the website of the head of state.

Former deputy of Khomchak Serhiy Korniychuk has been appointed the new leader of the General Staff.

Today, it has also became known about the appointment of a new JFO commander - Serhiy Nayev.

The corresponding decree is published on the Presidents website.

To appoint Nayev Serhiy Ivanovych as Commander of the Joint Forces Operation of the Armed forces of Ukraine, - the decree said.

Serhiy Nayev previously held the post of JFO commander from March 2018 to May 2019. In this post, he was replaced by Oleksandr Syrsky on May 6, 2019 by the then president Petro Poroshenko.

Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since May 1993.

We recall that Ruslan Khomchak headed the General Staff of the Armed Forces in May 2019. In this post, he replaced Viktor Muzhenko.

In early March this year, Verkhovna Rada voted to segregate the posts of Commander-in-Chief and Chief of the General Staff.
A 57-year-old female shrimp seller in China's Wuhan city, the originating point of the coronavirus pandemic, has been identified as one of the first victims of COVID-19, which has claimed nearly 28,000 lives around the world so far, according to media reports.

The coronavirus 'patient zero', who made a full recovery in January after month-long treatment, believes the Chinese government could have checked the spread of the disease had it acted sooner.

Wei Guixian, as identified by The Wall Street Journal, was selling shrimps at the Huanan Seafood Market on December 10 when she developed a cold.

Believing she had the common flu, Wei went to a local clinic for treatment where she was given an injection, the Mirror UK reported.

However, Wei continued to feel weak and visited Eleventh Hospital in Wuhan a day later.

The feeling of lethargy persisted and Wei visited one of the biggest medical facilities in the region -- Wuhan Union Hospital -- on December 16.

At the Union Hospital, Wei was told her sickness was ruthless and that many from Huanan Market had visited the hospital with matching symptoms.

At the end of December, Wei was quarantined when doctors related the emergence of the coronavirus with the seafood market, the Mirror quoted Chinese outlet The Paper.

The article in The Paper concluded that the new coronavirus is likely to become the fifth endemic coronavirus in humans. "Coronaviruses clearly have the ability to cross species boundaries and adapt to new hosts, which allows us to more directly predict more coronaviruses in the future."



So humans need more research to help formulate public health policies to deal with the emergence of similar viruses.

'The Paper' quoted the findings from a review study by Professor Edward Holmes, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Professor Zhang Yongzhen, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University published in the journal 'Cell'.

The so-called "live market" has been closed indefinitely following the coronavirus outbreak.

Wei regained her health in January. The COVID-19 'patient zero' believes she got the disease from a toilet she shared with meat sellers in the market. She said several vendors trading close to her also contracted the killer disease.

In a release, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission confirmed Wei was among the first 27 patients to test positive for COVID-19 and one of 24 cases directly related to the market.

Wei said the virus death toll could have been lower if the government had "acted sooner".

Though identified as 'patient zero', Wei may not be the first person to have contracted coronavirus in China, the report said.

A study in Lancet medical journal claims the first person diagnosed with COVID-19 was identified on December 1.

The total number of deaths from the novel coronavirus stood at 27,989 on Saturday. Over 605,220 infections have been recorded in 183 countries.

According to official figures, Italy is the worst hit with 9,134 deaths, followed by Spain at 5,690 and China at 3,295.

The US has the highest number of infections with 104,837 cases. Other badly hit countries include, Iran, France and the UK -- where Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 1947, teenagers were tending their sheep near the ancient ruins of Qumran in Israel. One of the shepherds tossed a rock into the opening of a cave and heard a shattering sound. Curious as to what he hit, he and his friends entered the cave and found a collection of clay jars housing scrolls made of leather and papyrus. Word quickly spread, and archaeologists excavated this and ten other caves at Qumran, unearthing thousands of other scroll fragments containing texts as old as 2,000 years. Fragments from every book of the whole Hebrew Bible (except Esther) are part of what has come to be known as the Dead Sea Scroll Discovery, and over 100,000 genuine fragments are currently housed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Starting in 2002, 70 more Dead Sea Scroll fragments appeared on the market. Dead Sea Scrolls experts endorsed them as authentic. Between 2009 and 2014, Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby and collector of biblical manuscripts and artifacts, purchased a total of 16 fragments with plans to display them in the soon-to-be-built Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. When they were published in 2016, scholars had already started to doubt the fragments authenticity. While five of the fragments underwent scientific testing in Germany in 2017, the museum opened with the fragments on display, with signs informing visitors of their uncertain status. In October 2018, the German lab concluded that the five fragments were inconsistent with ancient origins. This prompted the museum to investigate its entire collection of 16 fragments more comprehensively, and they sought my help to do so.

I am the founder and director of Art Fraud Insights, a consultancy dedicated to art-fraud-related lectures and training and to specialized investigation of artworks. I have led an anti-fraud initiative for a major online auction house, trained federal agents in forgery investigations, curated museum exhibitions, and lectured at universities and museums throughout the world. My message has consistently been the same: Fakes and forgeries permeate every sector of the art and culture market. The risk of fraud is substantial, and no collector or institution, no matter how affluent or sophisticated, is immune to it.

Story continues

When the Museum of the Bible retained my firm, it gave me the green light to recruit and manage an independent advisory team  of scientists, conservators, and technicians  to design and conduct a rigorous scientific protocol for the imaging and materials analysis of the questioned fragments. Both the museum and the research team agreed that the approach needed to be designed to ensure objectivity, transparency, and reproducibility. That meant that the only role the museum had in our research was to provide access to the collection. It was mutually agreed upon that the museum would not influence the teams research direction or findings and that our report would be final and released, unedited, to the public.

From May through October 2019, comprehensive imaging and scientific research and analysis were conducted on the fragments, with National Geographic photographers capturing several phases of the state-of-the-art process. Museum of the Bible wanted to fully document the process, regardless of the results, to facilitate transparent communication with the scholarly community and the general public. From the beginning, plans were in place for a conference to announce the completion of the scientific research effort and to disclose its conclusions.

After an exhaustive review of all the evidence  physical, elemental, and molecular  the advisory team came to the unanimous conclusion that none of the museums Dead Sea Scroll fragments are authentic. Each exhibits characteristics that suggest they are deliberate forgeries created in the twentieth century with the intent to mimic authentic Dead Sea Scrolls fragments, we noted in our final report.

Instead of quietly removing the fragments from view, Museum of the Bible, to its credit, went public with the news. Although headlines shouted Museum of the Bibles Dead Sea Scrolls Are All Forgeries, the real news was the length to which the museum went to discover the truth, and what it means for other museums and research institutions that also have questioned fragments.

The tools we have today to detect forgeries have advanced since 2002, when a new batch of arguably authentic Dead Sea Scroll fragments appeared on the market. Science is constantly evolving, making it easier for collectors and researchers to distinguish treasures from trickery. Unfortunately, interrogation of works usually occurs too late, only after their purchase. It does nothing to prove legal or ethical ownership status. The more nefarious threat to the historical record comes from the many actors who legitimize dubious acquisitions by lending their professional and scholarly authority to objects that appear on the market, often unprovenanced. This scenario has only two possible outcomes, neither of them acceptable. Either they are forgeries or, worse, authentic and unprovenanced.

The best way for collectors and institutions to guard against deception, which is costly in terms of both economics and reputation, is to insist on solid provenance documentation  that is, to know exactly where an artifact or a piece of art comes from. Requiring original readable signatures, complete contact information for previous owners, and verification of all statements made by sellers about who owned the art or artifact are just some of the necessary steps to ensure that an item has solid provenance and legitimate title and has been legally exported from its source country.

Museum of the Bible and its founder no doubt made mistakes in the past, many of them stemming from a lack of due diligence and provenance verification. The unfortunate result of their mistakes provides a lesson that reinforces their commitment to adhering to collections best practices. I hope that the market will also heed this cautionary tale.

More from National Review
Five fresh cases of coronavirus were reported in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, officials said.

With this, the number of people affected by the deadly disease in the state rose to 55, Medical and Health Principal Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad said.

"Five new COVID-19 cases were reported from the state, taking the number of patients affected by the viral diseases to 55. Cases of infection have come from 13 of the 75 districts of the state," Prasad told reporters here.

Of the 55 patients, 14 have fully recovered, while 41 are undergoing treatment and their condition is stable, he said.

Eight laboratories have been set up for testing -- three in Lucknow and



one each in Aligarh, Varanasi, Meerut, Etawah and Gorakhpur. On testing lab will soon be set up in Jhansi, the principal secretary said.

Of the total 2,196 samples tested so far, 1,993 have tested negative, while reports of 148 samples were awaited, he said.

The state government has 5,000 isolation beds available for coronavirus patients. "Efforts are being made to take this count to 15,000 in the public sector. Talks are also on with private hospitals in several districts of the state," Prasad said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Americans have been buying up chicks as a way to cope with egg shortages and up to 54 per cent increase in prices by the dozen, along with boredom and anxiety in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although chicken hatcheries are traditionally busiest in the period leading up to Easter, they're now reporting that they're sold out of chicks for at least a month, while feed stores have had lines form before opening, as people desperately try to get their hands on the chicks as soon as they hit the shelves.

'People are panic-buying chickens like they did toilet paper,' Murray McMurray Hatchery vice president Tom Watkins told the New York Times.

The hatchery, which is based in Webster City, Iowa, said that is nearly sold out of chicks for the next month.

Hatcheries and feed and farm stores say they are selling out of baby chickens as Americans rush to buy them as a steady food source and a way to combat boredom during social isolation

Meanwhile, Hackett Farm Supply in Clinton Corners, New York, reports that their sales of chicks this March have nearly doubled from previous years.

'People are willing to take breeds that aren't their first choice just to get a flock started now,' Hackett Farm Supply store mananger Stephanie Spann told the newspaper.

Farm store chain Tractor Supply Company was said to have been experiencing lines that go from their outposts' front doors into the parking lots prior to opening on days when chick delivery days - a sight not unlike the lines to buy toilet paper and bottled water witnessed at Costcos around the country in early March.

Although some people on the lines are just picking up orders placed weeks or months ago as part of normal efforts to replenish their chicken flocks, many of the buyers are said to be first-time purchasers.

People who don't normally raise poultry have started buying chicks because social isolation practices and shelter-at-home orders have left them with plenty of free- and alone time.

Hackett Farm Supply in Clinton Corners, New York (pictured), reported that their sales of chicks this March have nearly doubled from previous years.

Hackett Farm Supply said that people are buying breeds they hadn't planned to buy just to start their flocks now. Egg prices have increased dramatically over the last month

Plus, there's the fact that eggs have become a hot foodstuff during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the last four weeks ending March 21, egg sales increased 29 per cent over the same period in 2019, according to Nielsen data obtained by CBS News.

In the last seven days, eggs sales have jumped 86 per cent over the same week in 2019.

The price of eggs has also increased due to demand.

The USDA recently reported that the national price of white, large shell eggs have increased from $1.09 to $2.58 per dozen - a 35 per cent rise.

In coronavirus epicenter New York, the price of the same eggs sent to retailers increased 18 per cent, going from $2.61 to $3.09 per dozen. In the midwest, the price increased 54 per cent, rising from $1.46 to 2.25 per dozen. And, in California, the price went up 35 per cent from $2.28 to $3.07 per dozen.

Musician Amy Annelle, 48, of Austin, Texas, told the New York Times that after the South by Southwest Festival was cancelled, she had the free time to raise poultry, so she bough four hens and a rooster last week.

She and her partner decided to buy some chicks, too, 'before everyone panics at once and buys them' because they would be 'a fun project to keep us busy.'

Having a regular food source was also one of the reasons that she bought the poultry, as her decision to buy came just as her local grocers had started running low on eggs and chicken.

It will be at least five months before Annelle's hens are old enough to lay eggs, but in the meantime, she said, it's been 'very hopeful watching' the chicks grow.

The comforting idea of having baby chicks around also prompted Dominique Greenwell, 26, of Spokane, Washington, to buy four chicks on March 23, after the hair salon she worked at closed the previous week.

Greenwell, who owns multiple other animals, told the newspaper that 'You cant control the world around you but you can control the love you give to your animals.' she said.

She said that she checks on the chicks every 15 minutes to make sure the temperature in their holding area is OK or to hold them.

With schools across the country closed and children left being home schooled, some canny parents have decided that raising chicks in the backyard can be a multi-purpose lesson plan.

'Chickens are a great way of tying in biology, animal behavior, math and other subjects,' Erin Scheessele, 42, of Corvallis, Oregon, told the New York Times.

The mom of two said that she made her 'math-resistant 9-year-old help calculate the perimeter of the coop to figure out how much hardware cloth we had to buy.'

Scheessele said her nine-year-old and 11-year-old sons have been asking if they could raise chicks for a while and with their having been out of school since March 11 and the start of baby chick season, it seemed like as good a time as any to get the ball rolling.

'We needed something to do,' she admitted.

The family is now on 'hatch watch' as they wait for the chicks they ordered to be born. As they wait, her sons are busy reading how-to guides for chicken rearing.

The downside of first-time buyers rushing to get a hold of chicks now is that many are totally unprepared for the task.

Online chicken rearing forums have seen people seeking out advice, as one woman did after her chicks started dying because she didn't know she needed to provide them with a heat source until their feathers grew in, according to the newspaper.

Hackett Farm Supply said they have been getting endless phone calls from prospective chick parents asking 'What do we do?' and 'Are the chicks really coming in on schedule?' along with 'What do we need to be prepared?'

'Its like anxious parents preparing for an infant,' store manager Spann said.

Spann's beginning advice is that people need to prepare a chicken coop or outside area ready to put the chickens in after their eight weeks indoors ends.

'Have the supplies you need before bringing the chicks home,' Spann said.
A second death has been reported from the novel coronavirus in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced at a Saturday press briefing. The second death was a woman in her 70s who died on Friday night, according to Turner.

Turner also announced that 163 additional cases have been identified, bringing Houston's total to 232. This largest single-day surge triples the Houston COVID-19 cases from 69 to 232.
THE majority of votes have now been cast in the Seanad election with Friday the last day for posting votes. Counting is due to begin next Monday.

But all three Seanad candidates from Limerick agree that it has been a campaign like no other. Traditionally, in Seanad elections, candidates do the rounds of their electorate, the councillors, newly elected TDs and outgoing senators who have votes. Traditionally also, this has involved candidates in travelling the length and breadth of the country and into every constituency canvassing for number one votes but also, crucially, for preferences.

This time out was very different, said outgoing Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne who failed to win a Dail seat in the Limerick City constituency last month.

She is hoping to remain a political representative and is seeking one of 11 seats on the Agricultural panel and voting for that panel will begin next Tuesday.

It was my first campaign, said Fine Gaels Tom Neville, who failed to retain his Dail seat in the general election last month and is hoping to win a seat on the Education and Cultural Panel. But he had previous campaigns by his father Dan Neville to compare with. This time, after the first week or so, campaigning had to be done, not in person, but by phone and email. We just had to work from home, he said. He fully expects the counting of votes to go ahead but with restrictions due to Covid-19. The Seanad election, he pointed out, is a crucial element of the countrys democracy.

Mr Neville added that he had no insider information about any government formation talks, as he was no longer a member of the parliamentary party. But he praised the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his ministers for meeting the challenge of Covid-19.

The government has had to react on its feet and with the help of the opposition. I think what they have done is absolutely excellent. They have shown great leadership, he said. The right people are at the helm, he said.

Trade union official and outgoing Sinn Fein senator Paul Gavan is hoping to retain his seat on the 11-member Labour Panel. But, he told the Leader, he effectively stopped canvassing a fortnight ago. In the face of what was happening throughout the country, he explained, ringing people up and asking them to give him a number one didnt seem right.

Instead, he just emailed potential voters and left it at that. Counting of votes for this panel is expected to begin next Wednesday. At the start of the campaign, Sen Gavan was confident that Sinn Fein could win five or possibly seven of the 43 panel seats.

Limerick-born solicitor Linda OShea-Farren is also hoping to win a Seanad seat and is contesting the Industrial and Commercial Panel. The former Presentation and Laurel Hill pupil has been based in Dublin for the past 25 years. She is a member of the NUI Senate and a governor at UCC.

There are 60 seats in the Seanad and the election follows on the general election. Of these,43 seats are divided among five vocational panels: Culture and Education; Labour; Agriculture; Industrial and Commercial and finally, Administrative. Six seats are reserved for universities. Councillors, newly elected TDs and outgoing senators are eligible to vote for the panels. There are also six university seats: three for Trinity College and three for the National Universities of Ireland. Graduates have a right to vote for these seats.

In addition, the Taoiseach, elected by the new Dail, appoints 11 senators. The new Seanad cannot be completed until a government and Taoiseach are agreed. This could have implications for any new legislation proposed after next weeks count.
EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider produces exclusive content and events for those getting in or expanding their operations in the billion-dollar medical marijuana, hemp and legal weed industries.

A medical marijuana dispensary slated to open just blocks from a competitor on the Atlantic City Boardwalk can move forward for now, despite attempts to block it.

On Thursday, a state appellate court denied a motion filed by Compassionate Care Foundation to stay the licensing process of MPX NJ, which plans to open soon and become a competing neighbor of Compassionate Care.

Compassionate Care has argued that putting two dispensaries so close together does not further the goals of the medical marijuana program, which include expanding access to patients. Patients in South Jersey counties such as Cape May, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem, where there are no dispensaries, will still see long commutes to use the two Atlantic City dispensaries.

Compassionate Care opened its Egg Harbor Township dispensary in 2013, becoming one of the first in the state. The company then opened a new satellite dispensary last month on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

That came just weeks after the state Department of Health gave another dispensary, MPX NJ, the green light to start growing marijuana in nearby Pleasantville.

Compassionate Care first took issue with MPXs potential proximity in February 2019, filing for a stay in the process months after the health department awarded six new licenses, an effort to double the medical marijuana programs size and meet growing patient needs. So far, only one has opened.

But an appellate court denied that motion, too, arguing Compassionate Care had not met the standard of irreparable harm in its claim.

The states medical marijuana program began with just six dispensaries, which has led to shortages in supply as the program has grown to include more than 70,000 patients. As the program grapples with the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak, patients have waited hours in their cars to stock up on medical marijuana, sometimes finding the dispensaries have run out of the medicine they sought.

At the time of the 2019 denial, the court said Compassionate Care could seek another injunction if circumstances changed. Thats what happened when the company opened the doors to its second dispensary.

All the while, five applicants for those 2018 licenses who were passed over by the health department have filed an appeal of the licensing process. Compassionate Care had argued the stay was necessary to prevent irreparable harm if the dispensaries open before the appeal wraps up.

CCF will thereby be irreparably harmed because it will have forever lost its ability to challenge the [health departments] decision to allow MPX to pursue its Atlantic City facility," the company argued.

In a statement on the latest denial, Sean Mack, an attorney representing Compassionate Care, expressed disappointment with the ruling, but also noted that it will not necessarily render the ongoing appeal of the licensing moot.

We can only assume the appellate court agreed with the arguments of the [health department] that the stay is not needed because the appeal will not become moot even if the applicants become operational," he said. "As the [health department] argued, Applicants proceed with the process at their own risk, and awardees are well aware of the risk that their permits may be challenged.

Beth Stavola, the chief strategy officer and director of MPX, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The cracks are starting to show in Downing Street as Boris Johnson battles through the deadly coronavirus in order to lead the country from self-isolation - as aides desperately fight to get the government's message about social distancing across to the nation.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both tested positive for coronavirus and just afterwards, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, revealed he too had symptoms.

Now the group are trying to lead the country's fight against the deadly disease from self-isolation as aides are brought in to spearhead the government's coronavirus message.

Mr Johnson has been staying in touch with his cabinet using Zoom - which allows a large number of people to 'dial-in' to a conference call and use computer and phone cameras to be seen by other participants. But concerns have been raised over security and the reliability of the app.

It comes as Britain's coronavirus death toll rocketed by 260 to 1,019 today as the UK suffered its worst day yet and saw a huge spike in victims. It is the biggest daily increase the UK has seen. A total of 120,776 coronavirus tests have taken place, and 17,089 have come back positive.

There are concerns in government that not enough Britons are following the government's advice. The advice says the public should leave their house only to shop for groceries, provide or receive medical care, travel to work or exercise, which is limited to once a day.

But pictures this week emerged of seemingly oblivious sun-seekers soaking up the rays in Southsea, Bournemouth and Somerset.

The man who mapped out the Conservative Party's recent thumping election victory has been brought in to encourage Britons to stay indoors as many continue to flout the rules.

He is little known outside Westminster, but 36-year-old Australian Isaac Levido has been central to the government's communications strategy and its central slogan: Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.

It was revealed yesterday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both tested positive for coronavirus (pictured, the Downing Street floor plan where Mr Johnson is holed up). Just hours after they confirmed they had the virus, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, revealed he too had symptoms.

He is little known outside Westminster, but 36-year-old Australian Isaac Levido has been central to the government's communications strategy and its central slogan: Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives (pictured, campaign chief Isaac Levido (right) with the PM that he helped to victory)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who yesterday said he has tested positive for coronavirus, stands behind a podium with the government's key NHS message: Stay Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives

Isaac Levido (left) has been brought into Downing Street alongside Ben Guerin (right), a social media expert from New Zealand who masterminded the Tories' general election social media strategy, in order to push the Government's NHS message during the lockdown

In other coronavirus developments:

NHS workers began being tested for coronavirus at a temporary drive through testing station in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington

Photos revealed the inside of the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital with two wards, each for 2,000 people, to help tackle the coronavirus response

The British Red Cross said evictions of asylum seekers from Government accommodation are to be halted amid fears about the disease

Police urged motorcyclists to stay out of the countryside and told them they cannot claim it is part of their permitted daily exercise under lockdown rules

Police chiefs want Britons to snitch on any neighbours they suspect of breaching the coronavirus lockdown

Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur

Images from inside ExCeL Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into a hospital

Andy Burnham has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason'

Workers who have not taken a holiday because of the crisis will be able to carry it over into the next two years

NHS staff to be tested for coronavirus from next week at places including Chessington World of Adventures

The coronavirus social distancing limit is four times too short, Massachusetts Institute of Technology warned

He has been brought into Downing Street alongside Ben Guerin, a social media expert from New Zealand who masterminded the Tories' general election social media strategy, in order to push the government's NHS message during the lockdown.

The political aides, who were credited with helping the Conservative Party secure such a large majority in December, have been subcontracted by the civil service to 'build a wall of noise' around the central message of staying home.

Police up and down the country are exercising their new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown - stopping people having picnics and dog walkers in the Peak District by chasing them with drones.

The government hopes however that with the help of Mr Levido and Mr Guerin, the government's key NHS messaging will get across and the country will begin to recover from the virus.

The news comes as Governmental advisers warn that even stricter social distancing measures could be under way if the staggering increase in figures doesn't stop

A senior ally of Mr Johnson told The Times: '[Levido] is a specialist in message discipline and the power of messages. He's trying to build a wall of noise around our core message. This is a campaign.

'In an election you're trying to campaign to change behaviour and get people to vote a certain way, this is trying to change behaviour to save lives. They have gripped the comms.'

Softly spoken and sporting a black beard, Mr Levido was director of politics and campaigning in Conservative Campaign Headquarters  and the undisputed chief of the Tory campaign.

After the results of the exit poll were revealed, staff at the party's Westminster HQ chanted 'Oh, Isaac Levido'  mocking the tribute to Jeremy Corbyn which used to be sung by Labour supporters.

A senior Tory source said: 'Isaac showed real leadership throughout the campaign  he never panicked, lifted spirits on difficult days and had a laser focus on the end result.

'He quickly gained the trust of everyone around him and deserves all the plaudits for an extremely well-run and disciplined campaign.' Under Mr Levido's plans the Tories targeted 50 swing seats and sought to defend another 50, under plans to secure a 'functional' majority.

People exercise in the early morning sun at Hyde Park in central London, during a lockdown over the spread of COVID-19

Members of the public exercising closely with a personal trainer at Paddington Recreation Ground in London, during a lockdown over the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that people should only leave their homes for essential work, groceries, medical necessity and exercise

Shoppers keep their distance as they wait for a Tesco store to open in Leatherhead, Surrey. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have tested positive for the virus and are now self isolating

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack self-isolating after developing coronavirus symptoms Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is self-isolating after developing mild symptoms of coronavirus. The Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway said he has a mild temperature and a cough. He has not been tested for Covid-19 but is self-isolating and working from home. It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed on Friday that they have tested positive for Covid-19 while England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said that he has symptoms. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is self-isolating after developing mild symptoms of coronavirus (he is pictured with Boris Johnson during Scottish Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday) Mr Jack said: 'In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus. 'In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home.' The MP has been at home in his constituency since Wednesday. Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock and Mr Whitty are all self-isolating and continuing to work. The Prime Minister is likely to face further criticism after Mr Jack, the Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, followed ministerial his colleagues into isolation. Mr Johnson sat next to Mr Jack as he took Scottish questions at the despatch box in the House of Commons on Wednesday, immediately before Prime Minister's Questions. Mr Hancock was sitting on the other side of the Scottish Secretary on the Conservatives' front bench. Advertisement

He is a former deputy to controversial Australian election guru Lynton Crosby, who masterminded David Cameron's coalition-busting win four years ago.

But he also went on to work on Zac Goldsmith's failed London mayoral campaign in 2016 and Theresa May's disastrous general election campaign the following year.

More recently Mr Levido worked for Australia's Liberal Party which surprisingly won an election earlier this year.

Guerin on the other hand was brought in alongside Kiwis Topham, 28, to drive the Tories' online election campaign amid fears that dire winter weather could scupper traditional methods of targeting voters.

The pair were brought in by director of politics and campaigning Isaac Levido to toughen up the Conservatives' social media efforts after a dire performance in 2017.

The twenty-something pair, who run agency TG in London, formerly worked for the Tories' Australian counterpart the Liberal Party, whose leader Scott Morrison surprisingly won an election earlier this year.

While there they were known for making 'boomer memes' - content deliberately crafted to look simplistic and basic. They targeted groups like older people online.

They also used content from popular television programmes like Game of Thrones to grab attention.

The intentionally clunky design of the memes meant they were shared widely on Facebook, which because of the way the platform works helped their harder political messages reach bigger audiences.

It comes as Britain's coronavirus death toll surged by 181 yesterday as Government advisers warned that even stricter social distancing measures could be on the way. It was by far the biggest daily increase and means the disease has claimed 759 lives, including young and previously healthy people.

Government advisers said stricter social distancing policies may have to be rolled out next month if the grim figures continued to rise. The measures would be introduced in three weeks as the outbreak reached its peak to further reduce 'person-to-person interaction'.

This week France announced that individuals could only exercise alone  unless with children  for a maximum of an hour and within 1,000 yards of their homes. Spain and Italy have banned exercise altogether, and there are concerns that Britons are deliberately misinterpreting the guidance by travelling to beauty spots miles from their homes.

Yesterday's figures show that London hospitals recorded the highest number of new deaths at 54, followed by West Midlands hospitals with 19. But these numbers do not include patients who die at home or in care homes, meaning the true number may be higher.

A senior government adviser suggested the figures would continue to rise for at least the next three weeks, meaning the peak is likely to hit at Easter. The adviser said hospitals 'should be OK', but admitted 'we can't guarantee it' and stressed some intensive care units may struggle to cope.

Boris Johnson pictured within six-foot of Health Secretary Matt Hancock before a press conference at No10 Downing Street on March 12. Both have tested positive for the virus and chief medical officer Chris Whitty, pictured at the top of the stairs, has symptoms

Boris Johnson pictured announcing to the UK that he has tested positive for coronavirus in a video shared to social media

Boris Johnson today announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus while Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (pictured left) has developed symptoms and will be self-isolating

And should the number of deaths rise significantly, 'greater enforcement' of social distancing policies would have to be introduced. This would include 'anything that can be done to push it (down) further' and prevent people catching the disease.

The adviser added: 'I expect death numbers to increase over two, three or four weeks, and then to gradually decrease.' Officials were generally 'very happy' with the levels of compliance with social distancing guidance, despite some Britons travelling some distance to beauty spots in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales to exercise.

The advice says the public should leave their house only to shop for groceries, provide or receive medical care, travel to work or exercise, which is limited to once a day. The total number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 14,543, up from 11,658. But this is a huge underestimate of the true figure as most patients with the virus are not being tested.

Professor Jim Naismith, an expert in structural biology at Oxford University, said: 'Although Covid-19 is a mild disease for over 80 per cent of us, today's deaths will have come as a terrible blow to families. The increase in the deaths are following the exponential pattern predicted.

This means we are likely to continue to see further increases in the numbers of daily deaths until social distancing measures have their effect. 'The deaths tomorrow and in the days ahead will be of people who were infected before the social distancing measures were implemented.

I understand the temptation to live on each day's numbers, but what matters is what is ahead of us and what we can do to save lives.' Dr Mike Tildesley, of the University of Warwick, added: 'We may expect to see the number of daily confirmed cases continue to climb, before starting to decline once the current social distancing measures start to have an effect.'

Doctors and nurses have begged people to stay indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, pleading with people to stay at home and save lives.

Ambulances are seen outside the Excel Centre, London today while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease

Medical equipment is seen outside the Excel Centre, London today while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues

The Prime Minister has stressed that unless you are a key worker or helping someone vulnerable, the only reasons to go outside are to go shopping for essentials, exercise once a day or fulfil any medical needs.

This comes as police up and down the country exercise their new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown - stopping people having picnics and dog walkers in the Peak District by chasing them with drones.

Police chiefs are encouraging Britons to snitch on neighbours suspected of breaching Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown.

Humberside Police have created a 'hotline' where people can submit tip-offs if they flout social distancing rules, including gatherings of more than two people.

West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have also established online forums for 'snoopers' keen to punish rule-breakers.

The portals have been made in response to an increase in the number of calls to the non-emergency 101 number since Monday.

Despite this, forces yesterday were facing accusations of being overzealous as they use the sweeping new powers to crack down on people flouting the rules, using road blocks, drones and helicopters to enforce it.

Officers have already issued fines less than 24 hours after new laws were brought into force, the National Police Chiefs' Council has said.

Those who ignore the tougher restrictions on movement could be hit with a 60 fine initially - reduced to 30 if paid within 14 days - and another for 120 for a second offence. But fines could reach 1,000-plus for repeat offenders.

It comes as Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock faced accusations they had failed to follow their own advice on social distancing after both tested positive for coronavirus.

The Prime Minister and Health Secretary were pictured at close quarters in the Commons in recent days  well within the advised 6ft limit.

Just hours after they confirmed they had the virus, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, revealed he too had symptoms.

Professor Whitty said he would be isolating at home for seven days having experienced symptoms 'compatible' with the disease on Thursday night.

In fact the Chief Medical Officer  who is also a consultant doctor  had even advised the Prime Minister in person earlier that evening after Mr Johnson complained of coronavirus-like symptoms.

It is not known whether Professor Whitty examined Mr Johnson or took his temperature, but he is unlikely to have been wearing protective clothing.

Warnings to visitors to stay away appear to be mostly working at Lyme Regis in Dorset as is almost deserted on a sunny day as the coronavirus pandemic lockdown continues

A man in a facemask and protective gloves is stopped by a member of the Royal Military Police 150 Provost Company, works alongside North Yorkshire Police, at a vehicle check point near Catterick Barracks in Yorkshrie, to ensure motorists are complying with Government restrictions and only making essential journeys

Richmond park with lots of groups of cyclists who aren't observing the social distancing warnings

A Downing Street spokesman suggested it was unlikely the Chief Medical Officer contracted the disease from the Prime Minister, as the first signs usually take several days to appear.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, revealed on Thursday he was self-isolating with symptoms, and several Department of Health advisers are also thought to have the virus.

That the virus has infected so many senior figures who are co-ordinating the nation's response will raise concerns policies to contain its spread will be impeded.

A Department of Health source said Professor Whitty only had mild symptoms and would still be coordinating the nation's response in self-isolation at home.

Writing on Twitter yesterday, Professor Whitty said: 'After experiencing symptoms compatible with Covid-19 last night, in line with the guidance, I will be self-isolating at home for the next seven days. I will be continuing to advise the Government on the medical response to coronavirus, supported by my deputies.'

Mr Hancock developed a temperature and sore throat on Wednesday evening  just hours after he had been in close contact with the Prime Minister.

As recently as Wednesday afternoon, he was pictured next to Mr Johnson and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is considered more at risk from coronavirus as he has Type 1 diabetes, shortly after Prime Minister's Questions.Mr Johnson, meanwhile, was photographed clapping for NHS staff on Thursday night with Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside Downing Street, when he is likely to have had symptoms, although kept a distance apart.

In recent weeks Mr Johnson has continued to meet his Cabinet and key advisers, including Professor Whitty, while urging the public to work from home wherever possible. Although the Prime Minister and Health Secretary have both tested positive, the Chief Medical Officer has not himself undertaken a test.

Tests are only available to Cabinet ministers if they show symptoms, which raises the possibility that others may have contracted the disease and spread it without realising they were ill.

A spokesman for Mr Sunak, who is not self-isolating, said he has not had any symptoms and therefore has not been tested.

Downing Street has previously confirmed that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would stand in if Mr Johnson was too unwell to continue leading the nation.

If Mr Raab also became ill, the Prime Minister has the power to delegate responsibility to any of his ministers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 12:41:55|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- As the coronavirus has been generally under control in China, China's experience, with a huge sacrifice in both economy and social life, will be very helpful for the world to combat the widespread disease, Libyan experts and analysts have said.

To contain the virus, China has taken unprecedented measures, and also "made huge sacrifices at the expense of its economy and social system," Libyan political analyst Faraj al-Dali told Xinhua.

The experience "has become an inspiration for a number of countries that are eager to apply the Chinese expertise in their medical systems that are now seriously suffering," al-Dali said.

Khalid al-Muntaser, a Libyan professor on international relations, said China has absorbed the most dangerous first shock brought by the virus, worked hard, and shared experience with the world in a timely manner, so that others would benefit from it and avoid making mistakes.

"China did not close (itself) and was transparent by providing all information in the service of humanity, and was proactive in writing a guide explaining methods of prevention and work plan for medical workers to deal with the virus," al-Muntaser said.

"This is highly valuable information the world needs to reduce its human and economic losses," he added.

Kamal Al-Mansoori, a Libyan researcher of economic affairs, said that China, along with its success in meeting the medical challenge against the virus, has done its best to accelerate economic recovery.

"At a time when China continues to reduce infection rates to zero levels, it implements a programmed plan to open major factories and move between cities," Al-Mansoori said. "This means China is waging war on several fronts to ensure world economic stability."

According to the researcher, the world expects China, a key pillar of global growth, to recover quickly.
By Express News Service

MYSURU: Karnataka's Mysuru district saw a steep rise of five new COVID-19 positive cases on Saturday, taking the total infected tally to eight.

Four residents of Nanjangud town and one resident of Yaraganahalli in Mysuru city, who was employed at a Pharmaceutical industry in Nanjangud tested positive on Saturday. All the patients were contacts of Patient-52 (P-52), a 35-year-old man who tested positive recently.

The four patients were residents of Chamundi Pura extension, Ramaswamy layout, Govind Raj layout in Nanjangud while the other patient in a resident of Yaraganahalli new extension.

Confirming this, Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G Sankar said that Nanjangud Town is a cluster case now and containment measures will be initiated as per the procedure.

Vehicular movement into and out of the town will be restricted from tonight. Measures are being put into place to contain the outbreak. Residents are requested to cooperate during these times of crisis, he said. He further added that all the patients are stable and under isolation in a designated hospital.

Soon after the P-52 tested positive for COVID-19, the district administration had deployed health officials and screened hundreds of workers and was asked to remain under house isolation.

Karnataka reported 17 positive cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of positive cases to 81.

In today's list, one is a Bengaluru man with travel history to London, while eleven are contacts of a people who have tested positive earlier.

Among them, three are contacts of Patient 36 who is a 65-year-old male, resident of Uttara Kannada district with a history of travel to Dubai and arrived at Mumbai before travelling home by train.

54-year-old Patient 65 is the wife of P-36, while 28-year-old Patient 66 and 23-year-old Patient 67 are their daughters. All of them are isolated at a hospital in Uttara Kannada.

P-68, a 21-year-old male, is a resident of Bengaluru had a history of travel to London is the son of P-25.

Further, there are five patients who had contact with Patient 19, a 31-year-old male patient from Chikkaballapura with travel history to Mecca. Patient 69 is 23-year-old male, resident of Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh.

Talking about the five contacts of Chikballapura case, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Jawaid Akhtar said, "For this case, we have assigned a team where the officers have headed to Ananthpur and Chikballapur to trace more contacts. The directions have been issued to district authorities."

Further, he pointed out that all the primary contacts are being taken to government-supervised quarantine centre, especially the ones with high-risk contacts. "This is a new rule, the high-risk contacts will be taken to government quarantine centres and the low-risk contacts will be kept in hospital or guest houses which are government decided ones. And so far we have 1000 primary contacts of the positive patients."

Talking about the previous three cases of Mysuru, Tumakaru and Dakshin Kannada who had no travel history, he said, the contacts are yet being traced out.

"Each day is crucial for us and it is not just about one week. We need to be safe and take all the precautionary measures and 1,00,000 testing kits are being ordered which will show quick results, however, it is still under decision stage, depending on the kit's accuracy."
A Cortland police officer was shot in the leg during a standoff Friday night and is being taken to Upstate University Hospital, according to multiple news reports.

The officer was shot near Elm Street in the City of Cortland and is in stable condition, according to the Cortland Standard.

The standoff is ongoing at 12 Elm St., according to radio station WXHC.

The shooting was reported just before 9 p.m. and officers at the scene had little information other than that shots had been fired between at least two people, Lt. David Guerrera told The Cortland Standard.

A person is still inside a building and residents were evacuated from neighboring homes, according to the newspaper.

This is a developing story. Check back for more information.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.

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For weeks, government officials and physicians have highlighted the importance of flattening the curve in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The ideology behind the term is to ensure the number of COVID-19 cases doesnt outweigh the available beds, doctors or nurses in the healthcare system. Many discussed flattening the curve by showing a chart with two bell curves, one representing a steep spike in confirmed cases, while the second relayed a situation where the hospitals could provide care for everyone.

A graph inspired by date from the CDC 13 years ago explains why officials are canceling public events.

Beyond the curves, hospitals across the country are beginning to discuss what an overwhelmed health care system looks like in reality.

Healthcare providers are bound by oath, and in some states, by law, to do everything they can to save a patients life. A do not resuscitate order within the facility changes that.

When hospitals run out of beds, or no longer have personal protective equipment, when they only have 10 ventilators for 50 patients, gut-wrenching decisions have to be made, which include allowing sicker patients to die while physicians help others who are more likely to recover.

They are decisions doctors in China, Iran and Italy were all forced to make. The United States now has the most confirmed cases of coronavirus in the world and hospitals are preparing for the worst, which includes do not resuscitate orders.

Thats almost like dealing with the [Hurricane] Katrina crisis when the power went out and people were on ventilators. What do you do?," Worcester Director of Public Health Dr. Michael Hirsh said. We are far from that.

St. Vincents and UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester have both had conversations about how bad the pandemic could get in the city, Hirsh said.

Columbia University health researchers Sen Pei and Jeffrey Shaman looked at how the pandemic could affect cities across the country. While not specific, their findings showed that Worcester could see a surge ranging between 20,000 cases to about 200,000, Hirsh said.

If we had 200,000 infected people and you did the math, that would overwhelm us, Hirsh said. So then you have to invoke those kinds of things.

Doctors at all hospitals are trained in disaster life support courses, Hirsh said.

The courses develop scenarios where hospitals are overwhelmed beyond capacity, the curve can no longer be flattened and doctors must respond.

Hirsh painted a picture of patients receiving color dots on their heads, which act as color-coated diagnostic charts. A black dot translates to a patient suffering beyond care and shouldnt be resuscitated. A red dot signifies a patient could be saved if immediate care is administered. A yellow dot means a patient is not in bad condition and a green dot signifies a patient is one of a horde of walking wounded.

If you have an older patient who has a lot of medical comorbidities and COVID virus severe enough to require intubation, theres an argument to be made in the absence of unlimited resources to just say, its very unlikely that patient is going to survive, Hirsh said. And at the same time, you have a 25-year-old who is in need of the same kind of resuscitation. The 25-year-old will get it.

Concerns are already mounting across the state that hospitals may run out of beds amid the pandemic.

A recent study by researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health compared the number of hospital beds currently available in Massachusetts with the expected amount needed due to the coronavirus pandemic. They found in the next six months, the state may need more than four times the amount typically available.

While the cases continue to rise in Massachusetts, the state isnt in a dire situation yet where hospital beds are no longer available and surge capacity centers have been activated.

However, the United States and Massachusetts shouldnt feel immune to those kinds of methods.

Im sure were going to have to go to some system like that if that bigger wave comes, Hirsh said.

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The government of India must declared Emergency to battle the coronavirus outbreak, Bollywood veteran Rishi Kapoor opined. Many on social media, however, don't like the idea.

Kapoor took to Twitter to express his views. "Dear fellow Indians. We must and have to declare EMERGENCY. Look at what's happening all over the country! If the TV is to believed, people are beating policemen and medical staff! There is no other way to contain the situation. It is only good for all of us. Panic is setting in," he tweeted.

Dear fellow Indians. We must and have to declare EMERGENCY. Look at whats happening all over the country! If the TV is to believed,people are beating policemen and medical staff! There is no other way to contain the situation. It is only good for all of us. Panic is setting in.  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) March 26, 2020

However, instead of agreeing with him, most users trolled the actor for his views.

One user asked: "How will emergency solve an issue, lockdown won't?"

Another user commented: "Sir it's not so easy...we have no plan for poors on how they will survive."

A user trolled: "Thank you, Can people of Mumbai build a 70 M high wall around his house to make Rishi Kapoor happy and get a feel of emergency."

Despite the actor warning netizens not to make fun of his lifestyle recently, users again commented about his alleged alcohol consumption.

One user commented: "Alcohol does result in perception troubles. Sober up, Mr. Kapoor.

Another user shared: "Alcohol and alcohol withdrawal both cause trouble. Pick one."

Another user suggested: "Dont take him seriously on his after 9 pm tweets."

Recently, after a section of netizens jocularly enquired about his stock of alcohol for the lockdown period, Rishi Kapoor had furiously tweeted: "Anyone cracking jokes about my country or on my lifestyle, will be deleted. Be aware and warned. This is a serious matter. Help us to tide over the situation."

However, it seems the trolls are not in the mood to give up.
(Natural News) Scientists have long considered capuchin monkeys to be one of the most intelligent monkeys in the world. These small primates have been observed using tools in their natural habitat in the wild. A recent study by archaeologists in Brazil shows that this tool use has been part of the capuchins history for much longer than imagined.

University College London archaeologist Dr. Tomos Proffitt and his colleagues have discovered that capuchin monkeys have been using tools for as far back as 3,000 years. Not only that, theyve also identified trends in tool use, as the monkeys changed the types of tools theyve used over time.

Capuchins tool use has changed over multiple generations

Proffitt and his colleagues have been excavating a site in Brazils Serra da Capivara National Park where, to this day, capuchin monkeys continue to use tools to smash open cashew nuts. Here, the team recovered 122 identifiable capuchin stone artifacts.

To figure out the age of the artifacts, the archaeologists used a method called radiocarbon dating. This method involves measuring the amount of carbon-14 present in a material to tell its age. As carbon-14 slowly decays over time, the less of it that is present, the older the item is.

Using this method, the archaeologists found that the capuchin monkeys have been using these tools to crack open nuts for around 3,000 years, or the equivalent of about 450 generations of monkeys. What they found more interesting, however, was the fact that the types of tools the monkeys used changed over time. The monkeys had, for some reason or another, changed their nut-cracking tactics, as well as the tools they used, over time.

Shifting trends in monkey tool use

According to the study, the monkeys at the site first started with smaller and lighters stones to get their food. However, sometime between 2,500 to 3,000 years ago, the monkeys switched to larger and heavier stone tools. After some time, the monkeys once again switched back to smaller stone tools. This latter trend has continued up to the present day.

Proffitt and his fellow archaeologists have put forward a number of theories on why the monkeys switched tools. The first theory posits that different groups of monkeys used different sized stones. The alternative theory is that cashews, which are the monkeys current main source of food, may have been less readily available certain points in time. This would have forced the capuchins to use switch to other types food, requiring different tools to open.

Tool-using animals

With this recent study, capuchin monkeys become one of the very few animals to gain an archaeological record. Aside from human beings, the only other animals with such a record are chimpanzees. Capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees, however, arent the only animals that use tools  a number of other animals have been known to use them as well, including other great apes such as bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. (Related: MONKEY MARKETING: Indonesian monkeys STEAL objects from tourists, then BARTER them to other people for food.)

Outside of monkey and apes, sea otters have been known to use rocks to smash open crabs, sea urchins and clams, much in the same way capuchins use them to crack open nuts. Corvid birds such as crows and ravens have also been observed using tools. In fact, some studies have noted that the way certain species of crows use tools is more advanced than that of chimpanzees. More interestingly, certain species of octopuses have also been observed using discarded clam shells and coconut husks as protection, wearing them like suits of armor.

The common denominator among all these animals is their intelligence, with scientists counting them to be some of the most intelligent of their kind. With this in mind, studying how these animals use tools, and in the case of the capuchins, how their use has changed over time, can give further insight into how our own intelligence developed.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Nature.com

Phys.org

MapOfLife.org

Wired.com
Kolkata, March 28 : Notwithstanding the grim scenario of an ongoing lockdown, people at a south Kolkata market had much to cheer on Saturday, as actor-turned-MP Nusrat Jahan was in their midst, distributing masks and highlighting the need for social distancing to fight the highly infectious Covid-19 disease.

On day six of the lockdown called to prevent spread of Coronavirus infection, Nusrat Jahan paid a surprise visit to the Chetla CIP Market, cautioning the common people to follow the guidelines prescribed by the central and state governments.

The 30-year-old popular actress, donning a mask and a gloves, repeatedly requested buyers to remain within the circles drawn by the administration for each of them to stand outside shops by maintaining social distancing.

The Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member from Diamond Harbour urged the sellers not to hike prices of commodities amid the calamity and enquired about the supply of goods.

She also distributed masks among the vegetable sellers and labourers.
REDWOOD CITY (BCN)

A Redwood City man is suspected of stealing a school bus and crashing into seven cars during an erratic driving spree Saturday morning, police said.

Santos Miguel Murillocuellas, 23, allegedly broke into a school bus storage yard at 1090 Mills Way in Redwood City and shortly thereafter, about 9:45 a.m., began ramming cars on Woodside Road between Spring Street and Massachusetts Avenue, according to a release from Redwood City police.

The collisions involved parked cars and other fixed objects, such as a median fence and signal light pole, and no injuries were reported, police said.

The bus eventually came to rest on top of a PG&E transformer at the Woodside Plaza shopping center parking lot, police said.

Murillocuellas was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, burglary, reckless driving, hit and run, and vandalism.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Traffic Sgt. Steve Fine at (650) 780-7187.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Standing outside her front door with a leather jacket pulled over her pyjamas, Alma Shayakhmetova takes a bag of groceries and medicines from volunteers.

At 67 she is in the most vulnerable age group ordered to stay at home by Moscow authorities to prevent them getting infected with the coronavirus.

A group of young Russians called Medical Volunteers -- many of them medicine students -- takes orders from the elderly over the phone, and brings them right to their door.

They still have to pay for their shopping, but the delivery is free.

For Shayakhmetova's order, the volunteers in face masks and surgical gloves went to a supermarket beside her block of flats for kefir, bread, milk, sunflower oil, bananas and flour.

They also picked up a common non-prescription heart medicine from a pharmacy.

Since Thursday, Muscovites aged over 65 or with chronic conditions are not supposed to leave their homes, a measure to last at least until April 14.

Moscow has paid them 2,000 rubles ($25) as compensation for extra expenses and promised the same payout when restrictions are lifted -- at least for those who observe them.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also rescinded the right to free public transport for those over 65 to stop them making unnecessary journeys.

Some have criticised the measures as both draconian and stingy, particularly hitting those still working in retirement.

But Shayakhmetova said she supported them.

"It's better to be home," she said, adding she had been shocked by television footage of patients in intensive care.

"If we are all disciplined, naturally this will all be in a milder form."



Russia has reported a steady increase in coronavirus cases, with 1,264 infections and four deaths according to Friday's official tally.

Many elderly confined at home find it hard to shop at a distance: Forty per cent of Russians aged over 60 don't use the Internet, according to a survey last year by state polling agency VTsIOM, which rules out online supermarkets for them.

"I was just watching television, saw the number and called," Shayakhmetova said of the volunteer service.

"We elderly wouldn't be able to manage without this project" said the retired English teacher who also cares for her elderly father. "I don't need to go to a shop, they bring it all to me."



The campaign to help those isolated due to the coronavirus is very much a top-down initiative rather than a grassroots one.

The group is working in conjunction with the All-Russian Popular Front, which organises events and rallies for supporters of President Vladimir Putin.

The delivery service is promoted on a website called "We are together 2020," which has recruited around 9,000 volunteers across Russia and 400 in the capital.

Moscow coordinator Aliya Kochesokova is just 19 but she said the volunteer campaign as whole is "supervised by the presidential administration" and "personally by Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin)."



The trade and industry ministry has donated more than 200,000 face masks to the volunteers, who wear distinctive red waistcoats with the name of the group written on them.

Some volunteers with medical training are also helping at Kommunarka, Moscow's infectious diseases hospital.

They don hazmat suits to work in the "dirty zone" with those infected, helping medical staff, said Kochesokova.

She herself is a medical student, now attending lectures and submitting coursework online due to the pandemic.

She says volunteering is good experience for future doctors to learn about effective communication, something they often don't learn at medical school.

Fellow volunteer David Toniya, a 21-year-old dental student, said he began volunteering after hearing about the group at his university.

"With this situation that is happening in the whole world, we just decided to help," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Ann Saphir (Reuters) - A raft of programs from the U.S. central bank and a $2 trillion rescue bill nearing approval in Congress are aimed at providing relief during a 'self-mandated' recession 'so that when the virus is defeated we can walk, we can run, and then we can sprint out of this,' Dallas Federal Reserve bank President Robert Kaplan said on Friday. But that road to recovery, he signaled in an interview with Bloomberg TV, may be difficult.

By Ann Saphir

(Reuters) - A raft of programs from the U.S. central bank and a $2 trillion rescue bill nearing approval in Congress are aimed at providing relief during a "self-mandated" recession "so that when the virus is defeated we can walk, we can run, and then we can sprint out of this," Dallas Federal Reserve bank President Robert Kaplan said on Friday.

But that road to recovery, he signaled in an interview with Bloomberg TV, may be difficult.

Kaplan said he expects U.S. GDP to drop steeply next quarter and the unemployment rate to rise to the low- to mid-teens before falling to around 7% to 8% by year-end. That's about double what the unemployment rate was before the virus struck, and could mean millions of Americans out of work for long periods.

Some small businesses may fold and larger businesses may need to resize, Kaplan said. Meanwhile consumers may emerge from this period more cautious and less inclined to spend money, he said.

"We are going to climb out of this, it's just a question of how fast do we go," he said.

For now, he said, small businesses can expect to be able to borrow money backstopped by the Fed "very quickly" under a new program aimed at bolstering firms hurt by the coronavirus epidemic.

Under the new Main Street lending program, the Fed would likely provide credit support to commercial banks so they can lend to small businesses, he said. "You can be sure that we are working furiously here at the Fed to have this in place and work out the details. And you can have confidence that we are going to do that," he said.

The program is one of several the Fed has rolled out or plans to that are designed to keep credit moving and financial markets functioning as large parts of the U.S. economy shut down to slow the virus' spread.

In a separate interview on Bloomberg TV, Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic said he will be looking at consumer confidence to gauge the likely trajectory of the economy.

"Hopefully all the things we are doing today will give people some confidence and that confidence will carry through to the recovery period," Bostic said.

(Reporting Ann Saphir; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Cokie Berenyi planned on spending spring in Nepal.

She'd already spent the better part of $100,000 preparing to scale Mount Everest. It would be her fifth mountain on a lifelong quest to climb the world's Seven Summits.

But the coronavirus stopped her.

At 12:20 a.m. March 13, Berenyi received an email from her hiking guide: "With a heavy heart, the government of Nepal has officially cancelled all spring climbing expeditions, including Everest."

"Im never awake at 12:20," Berenyi recalled. But on this night, she was.

"I was shocked. Tears ran down my face and I went to sleep."

The BBC reported when all Everest hiking expeditions were canceled that the Nepalese government charges $11,000 per hiking permit and typically earns an average $4 million in revenue from Everest climbers who must pay the government fee.

"And that's not including fees that are typically paid to the travel companies, which can also run up tens of thousands," according to the BBC report.

Berenyi spent more than $70,000 on her guide alone.

She took out a travel insurance policy that she thought would allow her to recoup her money for any reason if the trip was canceled, but the insurance company has only offered to apply the payment she already made to a future expedition.

The morning after she received his email, she realized how much the cancellation had upended her routine.

"My whole framework for my day has changed  even down to what I can eat," she said.

Berenyi had been trying to gain weight before the trip to offset the calorie deficiency she anticipated to experience during the weeks-long trek. Leading up to the cancellation, she also spent several hours a day working out, typically walking on a steep incline with an oxygen deprivation mask to mimic the conditions in the Himalayas. She had encased her bed in a special tent to deprive herself of oxygen when she slept  all in an attempt to acclimate herself to the mountain's harsh environment.

"I was finalizing my estate plan. I was getting a bunch of legal stuff done," said Berenyi, 46, who is raising two teenage daughters. "I almost feel like the mountains closed for me. Its almost like the decision couldnt have been any easier.

Hundreds of people attempt to hike Mount Everest every year, and the number has been growing substantially in recent memory. In 2019, 12 people, including three Americans, died on the mountain, many from exhaustion during descent. It was one of the deadliest years on record.

As a financial planner, Berenyi hasn't had much time to grieve over her trip's cancellation. As the stock market has yo-yoed in response to the growing pandemic, her focus has been solely on work.

"Im in hunker-down biz mode. Im managing hundreds of millions of assets of people who want to retire, who are retired," she said. "I would feel horrible about the idea of leaving my clients (during this crisis)."

But she's still trying to raise money for the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. She previously launched a campaign called "Everyday Everest" to fund a mobile health unit for the hospital that will provide cancer screenings to residents in rural parts of the state. She's already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So instead of summiting Everest on May 17, as she planned to do, she's going to walk an equivalent 25 miles around Charleston on that day to raise awareness for her cause.

"Everyone is having to pivot in life right now and its about using all these pivots for good," Berenyi said. "I've been grounded and I cant go to Everest. How am I going to leverage that?"

She plans to reschedule her Everest trip for next spring.
WASHINGTON

(March 27, 2020)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is awarded ancost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides reliability-centered maintenance for service aircraft, engines, systems (weapons, aircrew escape, avionics and electrical systems), support equipment (avionics support equipment, non-avionics support equipment and aircraft launch/recovery equipment), and a Fleet Readiness Center/depot plant equipment to include modifications during all life cycle phases and levels of maintenance. Work will be performed in various locations within the continental U.S. and is expected to be completed by March 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was a small-business set-aside and competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities; one offer was received. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0028)., is awarded amodification (P00005) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0004) and provides modification for the production and delivery of one King Air 350C Cargo Slick aircraft modified to a UC-12W. Work will be performed in Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $14,291,437 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0532) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0008). This order procures program management support to execute the planning, procurement and delivery of initial aircraft spares in support of the F-35 Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers operational aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be complete in December 2020. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $3,833,787; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,374,818; non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $2,225,726; and FMS funds in the amount of $1,192,734 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00007) to a previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N00019-18-F-0016) against basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0002). Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (84%); Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (5%); Patuxent River, Maryland (4%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (4%); and Amarillo, Texas (3%), and is expected to be completed in May 2021. This modification provides additional funding to support non-recurring engineering and the associated efforts required to incorporate optimized wiring and structural improvements on the nacelle into the V-22 aircraft production line and retrofit of fleet aircraft during depot level maintenance and supports Navy, Marines Corps, Air Force and the government of Japan. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,312,376; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,133,645; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,088,396; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $737,718 will be obligated at time of award, $1,088,396 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data.No applicable data.No applicable data., is awardedfor an advanced acquisition modification (P00167) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0067). This modification procures long lead material and activities in support of lot 11 P-8A aircraft production and delivery. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington (97.04%); Huntington Beach, California (2.4%); Mesa, Arizona (.55%) and El Segundo, California (.01%). The purpose of this contract modification is to procure long-lead material and activities in support of 18 P-8A Lot 11 aircraft (8 Navy, 4 New Zealand, and 6 Republic of Korea). The mission of the P-8A MMA is to provide long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. Work is expected to be completed by June 2020. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $800,000,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., are awarded a not-to-exceedmodification to a previously awarded, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target advance acquisition contract (N00019-20-C-0009). Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30%); El Segundo, California (25%); Warton, United Kingdom (20%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5%); Cameri, Italy (5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5%). This modification procures long lead materials, parts, components and support necessary to maintain on-time production and delivery of Lot 15 F-35 aircraft for the Navy, Marine Corps and government of Italy. Work is expected to be complete by December 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $53,064,400; and non-Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $120,100,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00004) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-19-C-0052). This modification exercises an option to procure four OE-120B antenna groups, three retrofit kits and three delta installation and checkout kits for the Navy in support of the Air Traffic Control and Landing program office. Additionally, this modification provides for the procurement of two OE-120B antenna groups for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed in May 2023. Fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,892,148; fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $170,058; fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $340,116; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,676,444; fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $834,147; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $3,784,296 will be obligated at the time of award, $1,892,148 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 9, 2020), is awarded amodification (P00008) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N00019-18-F-0016) against basic ordering agreement N00019-17-G-0002. This modification provides additional funding to support non-recurring engineering for supportability analysis, interactive electronic technical manual and technical directive requirements necessary for the V-22 Nacelle (combat aircraft) Improvements Phase One Program. This modification supports Navy, Air Force and the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (84%); Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (5%); Patuxent River, Maryland (4%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (4%) and Amarillo, Texas (3%). Work is expected to be complete by May 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,846,466; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $744,575; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,311,555; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $647,119; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $911,066 will be obligated at time of award, $1,958,674 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data., is awarded amodification (P00004) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-19-C-0049). This modification exercises an option to procure Lot Nine, full rate production of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM). This modification includes the conversion of Advanced Guided Missle-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 253 AGM-88E AARGM all up rounds for the Navy, and two Captive Air Training Missiles for the government of Germany. Work will be performed in Northridge, California (80%); and Ridgecrest, California (20%), and is expected to be complete by March 2023. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $159,104,175; fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,599,179; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $1,251,210 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anmodification (P00010) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-19-C-1020). This modification exercises options to provide sustainment, engineering, logistics and test support for MQ-4C Triton aircraft mission control and operator training systems. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (45%); Jacksonville, Florida (25%); Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (20%); and Point Mugu, California (10%), and is expected to be complete by March 2021. In addition, this effort includes procurement of field service representative's technical support to ensure that the MQ-4C unmanned surveillance aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions supporting early operational capability. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $55,500,000; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,813,000; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $200,000 will be obligated at time of award, $5,813,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00004) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-19-C-0052). This modification exercises an option to procure four OE-120B antenna groups, three retrofit kits and three delta installation and checkout kits for the Navy in support of the Air Traffic Control and Landing program office. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed in May 2023. Additionally, this modification provides for the procurement of two OE-120B antenna groups for the government of Japan. Fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,892,148; fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $170,058; fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $340,116; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,676,444; fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $834,147; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $3,784,296 will be obligated at the time of award, $1,892,148 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 9, 2020), is awarded anmodification (P00004) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract (N00019-18-C-1038). This modification exercises options to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support to the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, and the Commander Task Force 57 in forward deployed locations to support on-going overseas contingency operations. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,161,962 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anmodification (P00006) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-18-C-1057). This modification exercises an option to continue phase one design maturity, analysis and test planning for the Stand-off Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) production line in support of the government of Saudi Arabia. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (61%); Indianapolis, Indiana (15%); Melbourne, Florida (9%); Walled Lake, Michigan (8%); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (3%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (4%), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Additionally, this modification replaces obsolete, nearly obsolete, or uneconomical parts to support production and improve future sustainment as part of the SLAM-ER obsolescence redesign program. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $8,006,737 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data., is awarded amodification (P00018) to a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 20 F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the Navy, six F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the Air Force, and six F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67%); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5%); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5%), and is expected to be complete by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $193,331,533; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $73,835,550; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $52,625,274 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides program management, lifecycle logistics, business process improvement, functional assessment, data and gap analysis, engineering requirements as well as management and requirements analysis in support of the Aviation Logistics Environment. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (70%); Patuxent River, Maryland (28%); and San Diego, California (2%), and is expected to be complete by March 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was a small business set-aside, competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal. Three offers were received. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0019)., is awarded amodification (P00050) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost reimbursable contract (N00421-17-C-0033). This modification exercises an option to provide maintenance and logistics support on all aircraft and support equipment for which the Naval Test Wing Atlantic has maintenance responsibility. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $47,233,324; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,038,915; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $921,844 will be obligated at the time of award, $13,038,915 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data.No applicable data., is awarded amodification (P00009) to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1068). This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of tactical missiles (Lot 20 AIM-9X, Block II and Block II plus), captive air training missiles, plus all up round tactical missiles, captive test missiles, special air training missiles, advanced optical target detectors, Block II and II plus guidance units (live battery), captive air training missile guidance units (inert battery), Block I and II propulsion steering sections, electronic units, multiple purpose training missiles, tail caps, maintenance, sectionalization kits, containers and spares for the Air Force, Navy and the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (31%); Andover, Massachusetts (10%); Keyser, West Virginia (9%); Santa Clarita, California (8%); Hillsboro, Oregon (5%); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (5%); Goleta, California (4%); Cheshire, Connecticut (4%); Heilbronn, Germany (3%); Simsbury, Connecticut (2%); San Jose, California (2%); Valencia, California (2%); Anaheim, California (2%); Cajon, California (2%); Cincinnati, Ohio (1%); Anniston, Alabama (1%); San Diego, California (1%); Chatsworth, California (1%); Amesbury, Massachusetts (1%); Claremont, California (1%); Sumner, Washington (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (4%), and is expected to be completed in July 2023. In addition, this modification provides for material in support of repairs, depot maintenance and refurbishment. The following funds will be obligated at the time of award: fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $135,790,070; fiscal 2020 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $129,267,647; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $8,172,170; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,999,656; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $800,197; fiscal 2019 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $6,189,530; fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,262,027; fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) in the amount of $598,896; fiscal 2018 missile procurement (Air Force) in the amount of $503,814; fiscal 2018 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $267,280 and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $104,561,378. $4,369,646 of the funds obligated at contract award will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($144,732,057; 36.88%); Navy ($143,119,230; 36.47%); and FMS customers ($104,561,378; 26.65%). The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anmodification (P00001) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price delivery order N00019-19-F-4133 against basic ordering agreement N00019-18-G-0018. This modification provides for the procurement of 20 E-2 parachute survival ensemble units and 130 FLU-10 inflators for the Navy, in addition to 60 E-2 parachute survival ensemble units and 70 FLU-10 inflators for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona (89%); and Orchard Park, New York (11%), and is expected to be completed in November 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,620,920; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $889,322; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $156,147; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $4,902,326 will be obligated at time of award, $156,147 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($3,666,389; 43%); and the government of Japan ($4,902,326; 57%). The, is the contracting activity., is awarded acost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for the procurement of long lead materials for the production of low rate initial production of propulsion systems (Lot 15 F135) for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (56%); North Berwick, Maine (13%); Indianapolis, Indiana (10%); Jupiter, Florida (7%); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (5%); Bristol, United Kingdom (4%); Rockford, Illinois (2%); Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico (2%); and Phoenix, Arizona (1%), and is expected to be complete by December 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $66,446,810; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $61,396,328; non-DoD participants funds in the amount of $52,153,031; and FMS funds in the amount of $13,784,154 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($66,446,810; 34.3%); Navy ($30,788,105; 15.9%); Marine Corps ($30,608,223; 15.8%); non-DoD participants ($52,153,031; 26.9%); and FMS customers ($13,784,154; 7.1%). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-C-0011)., is awardedfor a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by May 2025. This contract provides digital transformation planning and execution; enterprise alignment; technology exploration; acceleration and integration; digital/information technology (IT) consultation business intelligence; application portfolio management; system integration; enterprise architecture; design and management; web management; Navy Marine Corps Intranet/Next Generation Enterprise Network program management; IT operations; cybersecurity; information assurance; cloud services; maintenance functions; network security; automated data processing support services; digital modeling and virtual environment support; talent change management; data analytics and integration; and business process management and improvement in support for the Naval Air Systems Command Digital Group. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; three offers were received. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0072)., is awarded afirm-fixed-price delivery order (N00019-20-F-0658) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-8008). This order provides for the production and delivery of seven Lift Fan Inter Stage Vane (LF ISV) kits for the Marine Corps in support of the Joint Strike Fighter program. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana. The new LF ISV will provide lift fan operations over an increased temperature range, improved trailing edge angle conformance and will address vibration and flutter concerns. Work is expected to be complete by July 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,681,734 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.
A young paramedic was greeted by a round of applause from her neighbours when she left home on Thursday to work a night shift.

In a short film posted on Facebook, Tayla Porter, 22, is seen leaving her Basingstoke home for her shift at Basingstoke and North Hampshire hospital.

As she leaves the front door and makes her way to the car, Ms Porters entire street is seen and heard clapping loudly and cheering her on.

The emergency care assistant is visibly overwhelmed with emotion at the sight of her neighbours.

There was also a homemade cake and a packet of Cadburys Miniature Heroes chocolates waiting for Ms Porter on the top of her car.

Ms Porters mother, Ali, shared a video of the event on Facebook.

I just love where we live, she wrote.

Everyone in our street united to wave Tayla off on her paramedic shift tonight just the boost she needed.

The Heroes chocolates and homemade cake were a lovely touch too.

Ali added that the applause could be heard all the way up their road.

The video has been viewed more than 1.6 million times, while Alis post has garnered more than 64,000 shares and thousands of comments.

Wow. That made me cry! wrote one person. Great job, Tayla. My son is a paramedic too. So proud.

Ms Porters father, Phil, also commented, writing: Very proud of my daughter and truly lost for words for my neighbours in Queens Road and ours coming out to show their appreciation of the great effort of the NHS and their dedicated staff.

The street-wide clap for Ms Porter comes after the national Clap for our Carers event saw people around the country stand outside their homes to applaud the UKs healthcare workers who are fighting to save those with COVID-19.

Similar events have been held in Europe, with citizens on lockdown in France and Italy standing on their balconies to applauding medical staff.
Marcia Haug -- a 90-year-old mother to three and grandmother to seven  traveled through Europe by bicycle when she was in her 20s, loved nature, made it a point never to miss a Rose Parade and was a teacher through and through.

Haug died Sunday, March 22, after suddenly coming down with a fever and bad cough three days earlier.

She hadnt complained of any ailments that Thursday afternoon but began to show symptoms by nightfall. Staff at the Regency Park assisted living center, where she lived just west of Portlands city limits on Southwest Barnes Road, called one of her daughters and asked how she wanted to proceed.

Daughter Cindy Madden summoned an ambulance and Haug was at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center within 20 minutes. Medical staff gave her a COVID-19 test.

It came back positive early Saturday morning and doctors told Haugs family that same day that they were switching gears to provide comfort care. The next day, Haug died.

Because of concerns about spreading the disease, Haugs family wasnt allowed at the hospital to say goodbye. But Madden and her siblings each got to speak to their mother by phone and through FaceTime, thanks to St. Vincent medical staff.

I think mine was about two minutes, Madden said. Nonetheless, it was priceless.

Madden shared stories about her mom with The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Haug grew up in Minneapolis. While enrolled at the University of Minnesota, she spent her summers waitressing at Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, which fed her love for nature.

Right after graduating with a teaching degree, she moved to Oregon to spend her career as a Portland Public Schools teacher, including a long stint at Faubion School in Northeast Portland.

She and her husband, William K. Haug, married in 1955, raised their three children and enjoyed trips over the years pulling their RV around the U.S. and going on salmon fishing and camping adventures along the Oregon coast.

William Haug died in 2016 after the couple celebrated 61 years of marriage. According to his obituary, they'd lived in the same Northeast Portland house for almost 60 years.

Madden said her mother was a member of Central Lutheran Church during all her decades in Portland.

Her mom loved to travel -- her first big adventure was a bicycle trip around Europe in her early twenties -- and she encouraged her children and grandchildren to do the same, Madden said.

My parents never missed a Portland Rose Parade, Madden wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. They would park the RV on the route and host the grandchildren overnight to save their spot. It was a rite of passage for the grandkids to be invited to stay the night. The night before always included fresh Oregon strawberry shortcake.

Haug was an attentive grandmother and often had lessons for the kids -- whether it was how to tie their shoes or tell time.

She loved books and loved to give them as gifts, Madden said. My mother was a teacher through and through. I will miss her forever."

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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With the threat of a shortage of protective masks looming as the novel coronavirus pandemic grows, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) biomedical engineers and tinkerers had an inspired idea: unleash an army of makers from across the U.S. who could make such masks from 3D printers - a technology that, in recent years, has become widely available.

High schools have a printer capable of making this. Let's make this so simple that a high schooler could do it, yet effective to protect our people." Michael Yost, Ph.D., vice chair of research in the Department of Surgery

In a matter of days, a team came together and developed the Self-Assembly Filter for Emergencies, or SAFE, Cartridge System. The system could be used by medical professionals or by people who just need to go to the grocery store.

The team has been in contact with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to obtain emergency approval of the device. For now, the device remains investigational and should not be used as a replacement for conventional and approved Personal Protective Equipment.

Yost said the team is talking to manufacturers to see if the design can be mass produced once it has received approval.

The N95 masks that are currently in such short supply are essentially filters molded into mask form. Recreating those masks exactly proved too difficult. So instead, the team created a two-part solution: a 3D printed mask that can be cleaned and reused that will work in tandem with a 3D printed disposable filter cartridge. Alternatively, the filter cartridge could be used with an adapted hospital mask.

Joshua Kim, senior designer and program coordinator in the Department of Surgery Human-Centered Design Program, said he was inspired by the NASA engineers during the Apollo 13 disaster, who quickly devised a makeshift carbon dioxide removal system from materials on hand inside the lunar module, including duct tape and plastic.

"How can we utilize materials that people can get at a local hardware store and repurpose those materials to make protective equipment?" he asked.

The "95" in N95 means these masks filter 95% of particulates of a certain size, he explained. HEPA filters, like those used in air purifiers, filter around 99% of particulates. So he bought a HEPA filter and set about experimenting. Using the same testing that's used on N95 masks, he found that using those filters in the homemade cartridge did work - a positive sign that they were on the right track.

Meanwhile, another group was working on creating the masks. Dentists Walter Renne, D.M.D., and Christian Brenes Vega, D.D.S., regularly use 3D printing. "It's just a part of the job," said Renne, who estimated that 20% of dentists and 90% of dental labs have a 3D printer on hand. They enlisted the help of John Yost, a student and independent contractor who serves as a resource for all things associated with 3D printing on campus.

A team at MUSC developed a DIY protective mask that anyone with a 3D printer can copy.

Initially, they developed different prototypes that would work with different types of filters, including filters used by painters or people dealing with asbestos. They 3D scanned a mask to get the basic shape, then designed modifications so the mask could accommodate the disposable filter cartridge. The filter, noted Brenes Vega, is the most important part. Unfortunately, some people have turned to masks that aren't actually offering protection, he said.

Finally, they needed to solve the problem of releasing air pressure, Kim said. The filters are so effective that when the wearer exhales, the air will go to the area of least resistance to escape - in other words, not through the filter again but by causing the mask to lift slightly off the wearer's face. That exposes the wearer to the outside air and renders the mask worthless, Renne said. In response, the team installed a rubber valve, commonly used in other medical applications, that allows the exhaled air to escape the mask. As soon as the wearer inhales, the valve immediately shuts, Kim said, protecting the wearer.

Kim said that, for additional sealing and comfort, they added strips of neoprene weatherstripping foam around the edges of the mask. The foam provides a comfortable fit so the wearer's skin isn't touching the plastic mask and ensures it contours to the face as the wearer moves or talks.

With all the parts in place - the 3D printed mask and 3D printed cartridge fitted with a hand-cut HEPA filter and rubber valve - the group began fit-testing.

They took four prototypes to the Emergency Department and tested them on several users. So far, the masks have fit everyone, Yost said, although they want to expand their testing to include more face sizes and shapes.

The team is already printing masks at MUSC, even as they continue to perfect the design.

The biggest obstacle now is the time it takes to create the masks. MUSC's 3D printers aren't production-level printers. They're meant for creating prototypes when time isn't of the essence. It takes about four to five hours to print a mask and then about an hour to assemble everything.

Because of that time element, Yost is talking to manufacturers who could produce these in greater numbers. But the team is also openly releasing the plans so that anyone with a 3D printer can produce the masks.

In addition to creating the entire mask, makers could create just the disposable cartridge, which can be adapted to fit into the masks used in anesthesiology to deliver oxygen to patients.
Maine's Delegation is calling on the navy to extend protection to private shipyard workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The delegation says their concerned for shipyard workers' , health and safety, such as those at bath iron works, during this time.

They're urging the acting navy secretary to take steps to allow private shipyards to follow the same guidelines for public shipyards.

Here is a statement released to TV5 Friday:

"The Maine Delegation wrote to Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly today, urging him to take actions necessary to allow large private shipyards like Bath Iron Works to follow the same guidance the Navy has issued to public shipyards to protect vulnerable workers and families from COVID-19.

In their letter, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden emphasized their concern for the health and safety of shipyard workers. They also expressed appreciation for the initial steps the Navy has taken following a letter they previously wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary Modly as well as a phone call between Senator Collins and Secretary Modly on this topic.

In response to this pandemic, the Navy earlier issued direction to each of its four public shipyards intended to limit the potential exposure of shipyard workers to COVID-19 while also maximizing the important national security work accomplished, Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden wrote. We urge you to provide similar guidelines to our nations large private shipyards, the workers at which face similar health and safety concerns, and to permit necessary contract or deadline flexibility and funding to ensure such guidance would be feasible to implement for these shipyards.

We appreciate that it would ordinarily not be appropriate for the Navy to require or recommend particular workforce management policies of its private contractors, the Maine Delegation continued. However, we are dealing with a highly contagious and deadly pandemic unlike anything our country has faced in over a century, and private shipyards are working to simultaneously maintain contractual obligations while complying with critical state and local public health orders. Therefore, we believe the Navy should take aggressive actions to ensure the health of the shipyard industrial base workforce is not put at undue risk as governments at all levels work to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Senators Collins and King hold seats on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, respectively. Congresswoman Pingree is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Congressman Golden is a member of the House Armed Services Committee."

You can read the Maine Delegations signed letter here - https://www.collins.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020.03.27%20-%20follow%20up%20letter%20Maine%20delegation%20letter%20to%20Sec.%20Modly%20final.pdf
COVID-19 testing kits are packaged on a production line at the SD Biosensor bio-diagnostic company near Cheongju, South Korea, on March 27, 2020. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Toronto Man Arrested for Shipping Prohibited COVID-19 Test Kits

A Canadian man is facing fraud charges after allegedly shipping prohibited COVID-19 testing kits to the United States, Toronto police said.

Investigators said in a March 27 release that they had taken a 43-year-old suspect into custody in an ongoing fraud investigation that involved illicit home testing kits that claimed to be able to detect COVID-19 infection.

U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) officials intercepted a package at the U.S.-Canada border on Wednesday, and found that the parcel contained 25 individual prohibited COVID-19 testing kits.

Canadian authorities, acting in coordination with DHS and other agencies, including Canada Post, found that multiple parcels containing the COVID-19 tests had been shipped across Canada and into the United States, and traced them back to a Toronto residence.

Toronto police spokesperson Meaghan Gray told CP24, a Canadian news outlet, that the suspect was charging $10 for each kit, and selling masks for $20 apiece.

When asked by reporters if the kits were fake, Gray was cited by CBC as saying, They are considered prohibited as there are no kits that have been approved for personal use in Canada.

She added that Canadian authorities were working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine the legitimacy of the products.

No Legitimate Home Test Kits Available

Authorities said the accused, identified as Jesse Wong, would face charges of fraud under $5000 and possession of a forgery device.

His court appearance is scheduled for May.

Police urged people to be careful not to fall for COVID-19 scams.

Toronto Police would like to remind the public to be extra vigilant when it comes to those trying to sell or provide products or services associated to Covid-19. There are no legitimate home test kits available, they said.

FBI Warns of COVID-19 Scams

The FBI recently warned of new fraud schemes that are exploiting the CCP virus pandemic. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

In a press release on March 20, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams for the District of Oregon and the FBI urged the public to be aware of the rising number of scams that target the vulnerable via fake websites, phone calls, and emails.

Authorities urged Americans to protect themselves by researching and independently verifying the identity of a company before clicking on links, donating to charities, contributing to crowd-funding campaigns, buying products online, and giving out personal information.

They also warned the public to be cautious of any investment opportunities tied to the CCP virus, including those claiming to provide products or services that prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure the virus, for which there is currently no known cure.

Frauds linked to COVID-19 include testing scams in which scammers sell fake at-home test kits or go door-to-door performing fake tests for money; and supply scams in which scammers create fake shops, websites, social media accounts, and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies and personal protective equipment. These products include surgical masks such as N95 masks that have become scarce in the United States because of demand.

Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:58:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's top military academy dedicated to international academic exchanges in defense and security has launched an online teaching system to resume classes for foreign cadets across the world.

Connecting lecturers and interpreters in Beijing with cadets from all over the globe, the system enables foreign officers to keep up with the training programs and have their questions solved in real time, said the International College of Defense Studies with the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army Saturday.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has prevented many foreign officers enrolled in the college's programs from returning to the new spring semester, which generally starts within a month after the Chinese Spring Festival holiday.
Journalists in Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal on Friday protested the district collectors order to paste quarantine notices on the houses of reporters who attended the then chief minister Kamal Naths press conference on March 20 after one of them contracted the coronavirus disease.

A man, who claimed to be a journalist and attended the press conference, has been hospitalised at AIIMS, Bhopal along with his daughter who tested positive earlier for Covid-19.

The notice, which is a warning for other people, reads Covid-19, Do not visit, Home under quarantine.

The protests began after health department personnel accompanied by the police started pasting the notices on the journalists houses. The personnel said they had a list from the collector and the order to paste the notices, said a journalist.

Some of the journalists said they are already following the norms over the coronavirus disease and have self-quarantined after the man contracted Covid-19.

Vatsal Shrivastava, a journalist, has complained to the Bhopal divisional commissioner against what he said was the highhandedness of the government.

If the presence of the coronavirus-affected person in the then CMs press conference is the reason to target the journalists then the then CM, his ministerial colleagues, several ruling party MLAs and several bureaucrats including Bhopal collector too who were present during the press conference should have the notices at their houses, Shrivastava said.

Bhopal collector Tarun Kumar Pithode could not be reached for his comments.

Kalpana Shrivastava, the commissioner, said she was not aware who issued the order.

However, I have spoken to the collector and also commissioner public relations in this regard. The issue will be resolved, she said.

The Congress criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the notices.

This is the real face of BJP as far as its opinion about journalism and journalists is concerned. The BJP has never been in favour of the presence of media in society, Durgesh Sharma, the spokesperson of the Congress state unit, said.

The ruling party said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been apprised of the issue.

The journalists concern was immediately conveyed to the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and he instructed the authorities to look into the matter, Lokendra Parashar the BJPs media in-charge, said.

Thirty-one people in Madhya Pradesh have contracted the disease and almost half of the Covid-19 cases are from Indore. Jabalpur is the second most infected city with eight cases followed by capital Bhopal with three cases.

Two deaths have been reported, one each from Indore and Ujjain, state officials have said.
The extreme social-distancing or lockdown seems to be an intervention available to help individuals stay healthy, break the chain of transmission and give more vulnerable populations a fighting chance of surviving the COVID-19.

As a precaution to counter the spread of COVID-19, the President of Ghana placed a suspension ban on all public gatherings such as festivals, rallies, church activities, weddings, and funerals for four weeks. Also, basic schools, Senior High Schools and Universities, both Public and Private have been closed.

On 21 March 2020, the president updated the nation on the status of the measures put in place to help minimise the possibility of further novel coronavirus infestation. He also placed additional stringent restrictions on travel by ordering the closure of Ghana's land, sea, and air borders to human traffic effective midnight, 22 March 2020.

A substantial number of detected cases in Ghana are from among some of the persons who were mandatorily quarantined by the government after arriving in the country hours to the closure of the country's air, sea and land ports. The number of vertical transmissions or imported cases recorded gives credence to the closure of Ghana's borders.

The exponential growth of the number of cases in Ghana has compelled some associations and individuals to appeal to the President for additional social-distancing or lockdown measures.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) called on the President to immediately lock down the nation with the exception of essential services, to prevent any further spread of the novel coronavirus. According to the GMA, the lockdown is a proven option backed by science.

The Graduate Physician Assistants Association of Ghana has also called for the immediate lockdown of towns and cities with the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country. According to them, the government should either conduct mass testing of all towns and cities with most cases immediately or immediately lockdown the towns and cities with most cases.

The President has said his administration is currently discussing and giving consideration to the issue of a nationwide lockdown proposed by the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) in a recent letter to him.

Starting 23rd January 2020, the Chinese government locked down Hubei Province, including Wuhan, the city of 11 million where the outbreak started. They halted transportation in and out and barred tens of millions of people from working or going to school and closed all shops except those selling food or medicine. In some areas, residents were even forced to limit trips to the store or order supplies for delivery. This unprecedented lockdown of tens of millions of people was considered a vast experiment, but it may have worked. Following the lockdown, cases began to slow.

There is a need to examine the consequences of a similar lockdown in Ghana. We hope that the government will critically look at public health concerns, social and economic implications before any decisions are made.

Ghana is predominantly an informal economy. A large number of the population, over 80% are employed in the informal sector. None of the regions of Ghana has up to 20% of businesses or non-household establishments being formal. Most of them are largely self-employed persons like farmers, artisans and craft-workers, traders, food processors, and others. When it comes to the development of Ghana's economy, the informal sector plays a vital role.

Most informal sector workers are caught up in poverty since they earn a low income. They are mostly people who are self-employed; operating small businesses that are not registered. The informal economy will suffer from the lockdown because of loss of daily sales and income.

At least 80% of families go to farms and normal markets before they are able to feed their families. The majority of families cannot buy bulk food and even then such bulk local food items cannot last for a week without rotting. So locking down an informal economy may starve some people.

Ghana has a housing deficit of over 1.5 million. There are some people in Ghana who don't even have a place to get locked inside. With lockdown, the government must advance plans to shelter them.

What will be the faith of households who go out for sanitary services; toilets and water every day? Total lockdown will minimize the contagion effect of the pandemic but uncollected waste, failing water supplies and intermittent power could prove as dangerous as the virus. The problem is that, as soon as the end of the lockdown, the infections and deaths will soar again.

In other countries where lockdowns are accompanied by bailouts, the leaders know that these can only offer short-term fixes. They have one eye squarely on the calendar and are trying to calculate when they are going to have to tell people to get back to work. The coronavirus lockdown cannot go on too long or the consequences of economic breakdown could be even more deadly than the disease.

Epidemiologists and doctors believe even the most radical social-distancing measures like lockdowns in Italy, Spain, Belgium, and other EU countries can only provide temporary respite. China has chosen to give up on the most radical forms of containment and prioritize economic growth in the coming months.

If Ghana decides to go for a total lockdown, a stimulus package must be given in terms of tax rebates, financial reliefs, refunds, and social assistance to affected businesses and individuals to cushion the economy from the effects. We have to introduce mitigating conditions to strike a balance between health and socio-economic considerations.

Some additional social-distancing measures or restrictions may be needed to halt the further spread of COVID-19 in our communities but must be done incrementally on selected economic activities especially in towns and cities with the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country.
(Photo : Abbott's Official Webpage | via Tiziana Celine) (Photo : REUTERS/Peter Nicholls) Medical staff at an NHS drive through coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing facility in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Chessington, Britain, March 28, 2020.

There's a brand new COVID-19 test from healthcare technology maker Abbott that can tell if someone is infected in as little as five minutes. This U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved kit is so small and portable it can be used in almost any healthcare setting.

The new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test makes use of the Abbott ID NOW diagnostics platform. The kit is roughly the dimensions of a small kitchen appliance.

Its size can be a beneficial way to extend coronavirus testing kit beyond its contemporary availability to more places, including clinics and doctor's offices, and cut down on wait times both in terms of having examined and receiving a diagnosis.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 CURE: Australia Plans To Roll Out The Use of Two Existing Medications After Patients Have Successfully Recovered in Secret Trials

Abbott's kit to help frontline workers fight COVID-19

Abbott Chief Operating Officer Robert Ford said the portable molecular test "adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed" to combat this virus.

John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott Diagnostics, told Bloomberg medical-device maker to supply 50,000 tests a day starting Apr. 1.

The molecular test looks for fragments of the coronavirus genome, which can be detected in as little as five minutes when the strain present at high levels. A thorough search to definitively rule out an infection can soak up to 13 minutes, Frels added.

According to Frels, the new kit will provide a "tremendous opportunity" for frontline workers to close the gap with our testing. He said clinics would be able to turn that result around quickly, while the patient is waiting."

The testing kit from Abbott, according to TechCrunch, already "holds the largest molecular point-of-care footprint in the country." The report added ID Now is "broadly available" throughout doctor's offices, pressing care clinics, emergency rooms, and other medical facilities.

ALSO READ: Researchers Develop an Artificial Intelligence Tool to Help Doctors Make Decisions for Coronavirus Patients; Is it Time to Trust a Machine?

Abbott, other companies to help FDA with testing

This is the second one Abbott test for the coronavirus to be launched. Between the two, CNBC said the company expects to provide about five million tests in a month.

In a statement, Abbott said the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the point-of-care test on Friday. The healthcare company, according to TechCrunch, says the tests can help split new rapid tests and the lab exams it received from FDA's emergency use authorization.

The United States has struggled to supply enough tests to locate the coronavirus, at the same time as the outbreak threatens to overwhelm hospitals in New York, California, Washington, and other states.

Regulators in the country have rushed out diagnostics made by the world's leading commercial testing companies after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encountered problems with its testing kits.

Other agencies also are rolling out faster-testing systems. Bloomberg said Henry Schein Incorporated's point-of-care antibody test, which looks for evidence that a person's immune device has already fought off the infection, was available.

There are more than 591,802 cases of the coronavirus, with at the least 26,996 deaths worldwide, Johns Hopkins University said. The university added there are at least 101,657 cases of the coronavirus, with more than 1,500 deaths in the U.S.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yves here. The financial crisis was such a successful exercise in looting the public purse that our oligarchs are at it again, this time via the stimulus bill.

By Marshall Auerback, a market analyst and commentator. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

When historians look back on our current governments response to a public health emergency and resultant economic depression, there wont be many paeans to profiles in courage. It may seem impressive that Congress has approved legislation worth $2 trillion to help sustain the American economy, but its no New Deal. Rather its a massive economic slush fund that does its utmost to preserve the old ways of doing things under the guise of masquerading as a response to a public health emergency. In reality, the relief provisions are barely adequate.

Had this been another financial crisis like 2008, it is doubtful that Americas oligarch class would be able to secure such huge provision for themselves again. Under the guise of a public health emergency, though, serial corporate predators are being given dollops from this massive public trough with no means of engendering the kind of economic reconstruction that is truly needed right now, or even preventing a sufficiently robust response if this virus comes back in a second or third wave.

As one might expect in a massive bill (representing around 10 percent of U.S. GDP), there are some decent scraps in this dogs breakfast, but overall the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act represents yet another sad indictment of the American polity, even as it provides an excellent civics lesson in teaching us where power truly lies. Theres $150 billion allocated to hospitals, many of which are already stretched to capacity, but thats nothing compared to the trillions directed to corporations with minimal disclosure on how those sums are to be allocated, or any conditionality attached. In fact, we appear not to have learned some lessons from 2008, when at least some members of Congress made efforts to scrutinize how we were spending the money. Pam and Russ Martenss superbly informative digging into the more than 800-page-long bill reveals that:

a) The Fed will leverage the bills $454 million bailout slush fund into $4.5 trillion, and will hand it out through the New York Fed. b) To ensure that they dont have to answer embarrassing questions about which of their cronies got the money, the bill suspends the Freedom of Information Act for the Fed.

Bloomberg has also confirmed that the NY Fed has outsourced picking the lucky recipients for this slushy cornucopia to a private contractor, BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager (Goldman Sachs apparently has done enough of Gods work this time). The more things change in Washington, the more they stay the same.

By contrast, the relief provisions are barely adequate. They expand unemployment insurance (an additional $600 per week for up to four months), feature one-time direct payments to Americans of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year, and $2,400 to a married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 payments per child. However, the bill neither addresses the chronic inequality that now characterizes the U.S. economy, nor is there provision for the self-employed or the millions of independent contractor workers who have no employee benefits.

A better template would have been something along the lines of what was legislated in Norway, although it is unrealistic to expect a U.S. Senate dominated by hardline Republicans to acquiesce to something proposed by a Scandinavian social democracy. But highlighting the contrast, Norwegian journalist Ellen Engelstad writes: Workers put on leave will now get full pay for twenty days (an improvement even on the pre-coronavirus situation), but employers will only cover the first two days, while the rest will be paid by the state. After that period, a worker on leave will receive 80 percent of their previous salary, up to [about $29,000] a year, and 62.4 percent of everything they received on top of that.

So long as we continue to embrace a lockdown strategy, generous relief is key to securing widespread support for its maintenance. It will become politically impossible to sustain a government-mandated lockdown where workers are forced to stay at home, absent some income support to facilitate compliance with that order. So it is good that the government has also recognized that this relief had to take the form of grants, not loans, because additional private debt assumption would exacerbate long-term economic distress. The provision of $350 billion in forgivable loans to businesses are in reality grants, as these loans will be forgiven if the businesses targeted maintain payroll. Thats precisely the kind of conditionality that should be attached to the relief provisions.

There will undoubtedly be other measures required once the scale of the economic fallout becomes clearer. But when we get past relief packages and move toward taking the economy out of its current cryogenically frozen state, the U.S. government must engage in a broader effort of reconstruction so as to finally make this an economy that works for all. Policy should not simply be about getting people back into resorts, malls or restaurants, or exhorting mass consumption as a patriotic duty (as George W. Bush suggested after 9/11). Rather, we should be focused on ramping up mass-production essential goods such as food, as well support for the health care systems via expansion of testing kits, surgical masks, ventilators and palliative care, not only for this crisis, but also to ensure that the system is not overwhelmed in the event of future pandemics (or a possible recurrence of this one as we return to work and reintegrate with one another). It also goes without saying that we should also expend vast sums on research and development to find treatments and a vaccine, as well as rapid training of new medical workers. Substantial increases in funding to the National Institutes of Health would be a good place to start.

As for conditionality, a case has been made that a force majeure Act of God is not the time to play a game of chicken and impose major conditions for aid, especially as it is government policy itself that has precipitated the crisis. On the other hand, political realities and historic precedent suggest that crisis conditions are the only time one gets dramatic reforms; otherwise the elites regain their balance and suppress them (as occurred after 2008). Plus, there are corporate bailout recipients in this bill, such as Boeing, that were heading toward a death spiral, even before the epidemic.

Lets also make clear distinctions here: An Act of God argument was invoked in 2008. That financial crisis was described as a once in a 50-year event, something that couldnt have been planned for or insured against, etc. This was a lie. The banks were not blameless, and there was causation between the crash and their behavior. But Wall Streets bad actors werent punished. There were, however, a lot of blameless victims who were and are still paying a price. They didnt receive compensation and received pain and punishment as if they were responsible, when they were in fact collateral damage.

In many respects, this crisis is even worse. We may not have a financial contagion, but we have a physical contagion that is literally exposing us to conditions comparable to the 1930s. But unlike the 1930s or, indeed, the 2008 global financial contagion, policymakers have a twin task with seemingly incompatible goals: stopping the spread of the virus in many ways exists in tension with the need to arrest the indirect economic fallout from the pandemic. The longer the economic restrictions apply to eliminate the health risk, the greater the economic fallout, which is precisely the dilemma President Trump exposed (in his typically inelegant way), when he signaled his desire to restart the U.S. economy by mid-April.

Trumps public musings were rightly denounced. His moral calculus is skewed; this president is transparently consumed by the desire to safeguard his narrow economic interests and the presidency (along with the fact that he stripped public health agencies of the staffing, resources, and authority they needed to function). A serious president would send teams of epidemiologists to study other countries success models, and adopt them. Instead, Trump is literally gambling with the lives of potentially millions of people as he tries to place this bet on an Easter miracle. Unlike Jesus, those lives lost wont be resurrected, even if the economy ultimately revives.

Beyond that is the question of how best to assist businesses paralyzed for the sake of public health. This is perhaps the most politically loaded part of the process when it comes to assessing how far we go in terms of changing the behavior of our corporate sector versus the notion of simply compensating businesses for losses sustained by an action deemed to be a public health emergency.

Oren Cass, executive director of the soon-to-be-launched think tank American Compass, has made the case for compensating businesses on the basis of the takings clause of the U.S. Constitution, which states that private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation. Establishing just compensation is often in the eye of the beholder, and Cass suggests that a just principle is compensating businesses for the fixed costs they would normally incur in the event that they were able to function as normal operating concerns (as opposed to making estimates of likely profitability and compensating on that basis). The goal is clearly to avoid providing unfair windfalls but to keep businesses solvent until they reopen.

On the other hand, one of the principal complaints directed against the bailouts granted (especially to the banks) in 2008 is that bad corporate actors who were responsible for creating the crisis were given money with no strings attached. In that regard, the bailouts not only allowed them to revive profitability quickly (as the status quo ante was restored), but also actively lobbied against any kind of regulation to prevent a recurrence of the activities that created the crash in the first place.

The lessons many drew from the experience was that the only time to extract concessions and induce changes in behavior from bad corporate actors is at a time when they are economically vulnerable, even if the precipitating cause of that vulnerability was the government-mandated shutdown of the economy. It is impossible to remake an economy if, for example, corporate bailouts are used to perpetuate behavior that undermines economic prosperity. While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act does introduce some restrictions on buybacks and limiting stock dividends, it avoids the more restrictive language that was included in the House version of the legislation, according to Defense News.

Many are trying to distinguish this bailout from 2008 (i.e., this time is a non-economic shock, something that couldnt have been planned for or insured against; businesses that are failing right now are doing so through no fault of their own and theyre still good/healthy businesses), because saying this is just how creative destruction works is clearly untenable right now. In reality, the collapse in aggregate demand caused by the 2008 financial crisis arguably was just as exogenous to the consumer economy. Fatuous distinctions to justify further corporate predation simply provide another illustration that what we had before the coronavirus pandemic clearly was not working for most people. The truth is that for decades weve had a hollowing out of democracy, and a massive expansion of wealth inequality accompanied by Mussolini-style crony capitalism.

During the Great Depression, legislation was implemented to prevent a recurrence of the 1920s bubble. Roosevelts New Deal did not legislate to restore the status quo ante but rather to create a very different sort of economy.

Under the cover of a public health emergency, however, the so-called new normal is looking a lot like the old normal. This bill gives the pigs yet another big feed at the public trough, and Congress is happily ladling out the goodies. Much like the 1930s, then, the very legitimacy of liberal capitalist democracy is at stake. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be an FDR ready to lead us in this acute moment of need.
Kochi: Resentment is mounting over British media reports that coronavirus-infected UK nationals undergoing treatment at the Ernakulam Government Medical College here are being put in filthy and appalling isolation wards.

The Kerala government has already rejected the British media reports and Ernakulam district collector S Suhas has made it clear that all COVID-19 patients in the medical college are being given good care and facilities.

According to the British media reports, a British woman alleged that her aged parents, who tested positive for the virus during their vacation to Kerala, are admitted in unsanitary hospital isolation units infested with rat droppings and were without bedding, toilet paper, soap, towels and only had very basic food rations.

Now, Rajesh Krishna, a UK-based Keralite journalist admitted in the medical college himself, has sent a letter to the British newspaper Guardian. In the letter, the UK journalist has criticised the way in which the Indian healthcare system is being portrayed.

I found this an articulate attempt to draw attention to the irresponsibility and negligence of the UK government and their failure to effectively bring back Britons stranded in India following the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, the article took me by surprise because of the way it defamed the Indian health system, despite all the acclamation it has garnered in the past several days, he said in a Facebook post.

The first corona case ever confirmed in India was in Kerala, on the 30th of January. As of 25th March, Kerala has 118 confirmed cases with zero deaths, with around 75,000 people under observation and isolation. A day later, on the 31st of January, UK confirmed its first case. As of 25th March, 465 people have lost their lives in the UK, he added.

Rajesh Krishna was a passenger on the Emirates flight from which the 19 UK tourists were forcefully deboarded after they tested positive for the virus.

As I was sitting right next to two of the British nationals I decided to cancel my trip and remained in self-quarantine to avoid chances of any further spread, he said. Though he was admitted to the medical college after developing virus symptoms, he tested negative.

Meanwhile, the district collector said, The patients are accommodated in single rooms with attached washrooms. They are provided with wet wipes, tissue papers provided by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. They are given special continental items of their choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner and provided dry fruits as well as fresh fruits and fruit juices. They are provided non A/C rooms as the norms stipulate a room with good ventilation and sunlight. The isolation rooms are cleaned six times a day.

The patients are being given round-the-clock medical care by six teams of doctors and paramedical staff doing four-hours shifts. All the doctors are experienced and qualified with MD degrees in internal medicine. They were also being given counselling by a psychiatry team daily. And all these are done free of cost, the collector said.

There is strong resentment here over the British media reports. The UK couple have been promptly treated using HIV anti-retroviral drugs and they have recovered. And the news report conveniently forgot to add that the UK tourists tried to flee despite being told not to step out of their resort, said a healthcare professional, speaking on condition of anonymity.
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union and a group of 15 nations that includes China and Brazil agreed Friday to settle their trade disputes using an appeal and arbitration system at the World Trade Organization.

The development comes three months after the Trump administration precipitated the paralysis of the WTO appellate body -- which acted as a sort of supreme court for trade -- by blocking all nominees to the seven-member panel.

The EU-led accord provides a legal structure for nations to appeal their disputes to a panel of three trade experts who apply the same procedures of the appellate body to reach a final judgment. As a practical matter, WTO members who sign on to such a system will basically undergo the same process as they would have via the appellate body.

Whats Next for Trade Referee After Sabotage by U.S.: QuickTake

This agreement bears testimony to the conviction held by the EU and many other countries that in times of crisis working together is the best option, EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said Friday in a statement.

Parties to the agreement, include Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; the EU; Guatemala; Hong Kong; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; Switzerland; and Uruguay.

The U.S., which is not a member of the agreement, still has the power to veto any pending cases against it by appealing them into a legal void. The U.S. is facing several potential disputes, including challenges to President Donald Trumps national security tariffs on steel and aluminum goods.

Four other major users of the WTO dispute settlement system are also absent from the agreement: Argentina, India, Japan and South Korea.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




Most auto dealers and service stations are keeping their doors open during the coronavirus pandemic, saying they should not be forced to close because they provide an essential service.

Dealers, who have been hit hard by the crisis already, say their businesses are essential to many Americans who need to buy or fix cars to get to their jobs or other critical destinations like hospitals.

"You have millions of workers who still have to get to their jobs in health care and all types of industries like that, and they need their vehicles, said Marc Cannon, chief marketing officer of AutoNation, the countrys largest dealer network.

To make people comfortable, dealers are practicing social distancing in their showrooms, offering to deliver purchased vehicles, allowing solo test rides and eliminating certain in-person activities to make a purchase.

Theyre also offering steep discounts in the form of incentives passed along by the auto manufacturers, which are scrambling to keep selling vehicles. Auto sales are expected to drop sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In some states, like New Jersey and Michigan, dealerships have been forced to close their showrooms because of stay-at-home orders but can keep their service departments open. In others, like Ohio, they can keep both operating, according to trade journal Automotive News. Details of each state's so-called shelter-in-place directive vary.

Most of AutoNations 325 locations are still open  and recently received shipments of 10,000 hand sanitizers  but many customers are taking steps to schedule free delivery of vehicles theyve purchased or want to test drive, Cannon said.

At Sonic Automotive, one of the countrys largest dealer networks, its a similar story. Most of Sonics stores are open, with the exception of certain locations in California, which has a shelter-in-place order.

Story continues

People dont have to worry about coming into contact with our staff, said David Smith, president of Sonic Automotive. Were disinfecting the cars before and after the test drives, were disinfecting all the areas in service and sales.

And, if somebody wants us to come to their home and deliver a car to them, well do that. We can also come to their house and pick up their car for service.

Smith said its vital for service departments to remain open to help customers who still need to get to their jobs. But he said its also important for showrooms to remain open so that customers who need to replace their vehicle can do so, instead of spending thousands on a car that shouldnt be repaired.

Can you imagine the panic that would be caused if the public could not get to the grocery store, If they couldnt get to the hospital, if they couldnt get to vital places? Smith said.

Sonic is also practicing what Smith called no-contact sales and service and is encouraging customers to fill out most of their paperwork online.

They can do about 90% of the transaction online on our website, he said.

Used car retailer CarMax has temporarily closed at least 39 of its more than 210 locations, including all 27 in California. Like many other dealerships, CarMax is offering customers the option to test-drive vehicles alone if they're uncomfortable riding along with a dealership employee.

At Carvana, which advertises itself as a "car vending machine," "some" locations are closed but customers can arrange for a "contactless delivery" if they live nearby, the company said in a statement. Customers can take delivery of a vehicle without interacting with the person who arrives in the vehicle hauler.

Auto sales fall off during coronavirus

Auto sales are expected to drop because of COVID-19, as Americans hold off on major purchases, much like they did during the Great Recession, which triggered the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler.

At the beginning of the year, forecasts called for 2020 U.S. auto sales of somewhere in the mid-16-million range. But the full-year figure could drop below 14 million in a full-blown recession, Autotrader.com analyst Michelle Krebs said in an email.

The number of people shopping for a new vehicle fell by 25% in the first half of March, compared with a year earlier, according to data source Comscore.

The National Automobile Dealers Association has asked federal, state and local governments to ensure that their members are not prevented from operating because of shelter-in-place orders. The group also wants Congress to include "short-term liquidity for dealerships" through loan guarantees and other measures in the next stimulus package.

Just like every business, business has been off, Smith said. "Theres certainly a slowdown but we believe thats temporary.

Coronavirus car deals

Automakers have offered a slew of incentives to customers. For example, Ford is offering to make three months of new-car payments on behalf of customers, Hyundai is offering to make payments for six months if customers lose their jobs due to the coronavirus and GM is offering 0% financing for 84 months for certain buyers.

The manufacturers have been very supportive. Theyve come out with incredible offers, Cannon said.

Autotraders Krebs said it could be a good time for some people to take the plunge.

Great time to buy a vehicle if you dare to venture out, she said. Sales have fallen off, dealerships remain open and automakers are supporting dealers and consumers to purchase.

While COVID-19 is a significant crisis for the auto industry, its also presenting an opportunity of sorts for certain services.

For example, AutoNation is fielding a surge of interest in its Clorox Total 360 sanitizing service, Cannon said.

The 30-minute, $29.99 service kills 99.9% of bacteria on hard and soft surfaces inside vehicles. AutoNation is offering the sanitizing service for free to first responders in certain markets.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are auto dealers open during coronavirus? They say they're 'essential'
2020 Spring Logo Competition

Gibraltar Cultural Services have announced the winner for this years Spring Logo competition.

Although sadly the Spring Festival will not be held this year, it is important to recognise the efforts of those who took part.

The First Prize and winning entry was awarded to Jenna Lopez. The winning entry will receive a cash prize of 500.

With 418 entries and the high standards received, the panel decided to grant a further 9 highly commended awards as follows:

Sarah Devincenzi - Adult Entry

Nissrine Tadrhi - Westside School

Stella Bosano - Westside School

Amanda Torres - Bishop Fitzgerald School

Emilia Astesiano Soler - Bishop Fitzgerald School

Sofia Vallejo - St Annes Middle School

Kate Piner - St Bernards Middle School

Brooke Gaiviso - St Josephs Middle School

Eve Rodriguez - St Josephs Middle School

Gibraltar Cultural Services would like to thank all participants, all the educational establishments and their teachers for their support.
The cannabis industry has soared during the initial wave of the coronavirus pandemic, but the next stage may be more difficult to navigate as the companies are not eligible for federal assistance.

Since plants containing more than 0.3% THC are classified as Schedule 1 drugs, cannabis businesses have been left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package, are barred from Small Business Administration-funded loans and anticipate problems with some employee benefits.

We find it extremely disturbing that, even in a time of national crisis, the cannabis industry is still not recognized for the value we bring to our communities by federal authorities, said Kevin Reed, the president of the Green Cross in San Franciscos Excelsior neighborhood. The state of California has deemed cannabis business as essential, but the federal government will not support our efforts by providing much-needed assistance to our staff and their families. Rest assured that the Green Cross will do everything we can to make up for our staffs inability to access these crucial benefits. They are putting their lives on the line to provide essential services to patients throughout the country, and they should be recognized for their efforts during this time.

We are all taxpaying citizens who should be treated with the same dignity and respect as other essential workers.

Reed praised San Francisco Mayor London Breed and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for deeming the cannabis industry essential during the states stay-at-home order, and the market appears to agree.

According to Jane Technologies, a cannabis e-commerce service for local dispensaries like Airfield, Apothecarium and Harborside, cannabis sales are skyrocketing.

The average Bay Area store has increased revenue by 52% from January, and new-user ordering has jumped online 142% since February. In the past week, pickup-only sales have increased 52%, and delivery sales have risen 46%.

Harborside, with four stores and $60 million in annual revenues, has seen sales leap by about 25% during the month. Still, theres always an eye on whats next.

Because of the remaining federal issues with decriminalization, we did not expect to be considered for (federal) assistance. The fact, that at this time, we remain open for business as an essential service, means we at Harborside are not in need, CEO Peter Bilodeau said in a statement. Nonetheless, we look forward to, and will continue to tirelessly work toward, the day where legal businesses in the cannabis industry are treated fairly and equally to all other industries.

Cannabis industry trade groups penned a joint letter to Congress urging lawmakers to give their state-legal businesses the same protections as others.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Dale Gieringer is the director of California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). He said he believes that state-level unemployment insurance will continue to provide benefits to laid-off cannabis workers and federal funds could be transferred for states considerations.

But much of it is still unclear.

This is just one of many examples of how the cannabis industry is discriminated against under federal law: lack of legal banking, no business expense deductions, ineligibility for SBA loans, etc., Gieringer said. All because cannabis remains a federally illegal Schedule 1 substance.

No relief can be expected until cannabis is reclassified as a legal substance.

Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron
An ex-soldier claims she has been left to suffer in her own home after being refused testing for coronavirus because she didn't meet the requirements.

Kelly Nelson, 33, is self-isolating at her Williamstown home in Melbourne after claiming to have been rejected from the Sunshine Bay COVID-19 clinic on Saturday afternoon.

Ms Nelson said the clinic staff told her they were unable to test her because they didn't have enough kits.

'They're only testing people who have been overseas in the past two weeks. There is no point in going back. The only point I would be able to go back and get tested for coronavirus was if I was going to die,' she said.

'I'm still out of breath, I'm still throwing up, I still have a severe headache. The thing about this is, what happens if I get worse overnight, what are they going to do?'

An ex military member says she has been left to suffer in her own home after being refused testing for coronavirus because she didn't meet the guidelines

Kelly Nelson, 33, is self-isolating at her Williamstown home in Melbourne after claiming to have been rejected from the Sunshine Bay COVID-19 clinic (pictured) on Saturday afternoon

'Can I go back to hospital? No. Because they're not going to test me for coronavirus. They didn't give me any antibiotics, they didn't give me anything. I'm just in the same position as I was had I not left the house.'

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Ms Nelson attended the clinic around 1.30pm on Saturday March 28 about 48 hours after she started experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

The young woman, who spent 16 years in the military, said she started to suffer from a mild sore throat about two days ago.

She put it out of her mind until she woke in the middle of Friday night struggling to breathe, with uncontrollable bowel movements and vomiting.

After a sleepless night she got up the next day with a severe headache and a shortness of breath so bad speaking was difficult.

'I don't like to be dramatic, and I don't want to obviously go to hospital but I was feeling that sick that I needed to go,' she said.

Hospital staff assist people waiting in line to be screened for COVID-19 outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital

She called the COVID-19 hotline was advised to go to the Sunshine Hospital for testing, but upon arrival after a quick quiz by the nurses she was told she didn't qualify for testing.

The reason: she hadn't been overseas in the past two weeks.

Ms Nelson said the staff told her in confidence they were unable to test her because they had inadequate supplies.

'I pulled one of the male nurses aside and said I've got all the symptoms of this coronavirus. And he said, just between you and me- they won't test you because they don't have enough test kits to test everyone,' she said.

Ms Nelson (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia it seemed like the only way she'd get tested if she was at death's door

The self described 'fit and healthy individual' went to the emergency department after being refused testing where she encountered another woman in a similar situation.

'She was in tears, she was quite distressed. She was talking to her husband on the phone saying how sick she was and she got turned away from the same testing unit, and she actually had a big fight with the lady and said I am so sick, you're going to regret turning me away,' she said.

The 33-year-old said it's outrageous the government is continuing to limit testing to Australians who have returned from overseas in the past few weeks.

'It's not about the people who are coming back from overseas anymore. If you look at the numbers- which are now sitting at 3,600, up about 257 per day. That's not people coming back from overseas- this is community spread.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia was sitting at 3,640 as of Sunday morning

'So they need to start testing people within the community. Not just people that are coming back overseas,' she said.

'Maybe there is a shortage of tests or maybe the government just doesn't want to see how big the numbers are going to blow out once they start releasing the numbers of testing the community.'

The federal government announced it was expanding its testing measures to include several new categories of people after a National Cabinet meeting on Wednesday night.

Tests were previously limited to people who showed flu like symptoms and those who hda recently returned from overseas or come into contact with someone with COVID-19.

But new groups are now eligible for testing including health care workers, aged care workers, and people in hot spots- provided they are suffering from fever or extreme respiratory symptoms.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria Health for comment.
Gary Simpson said he was completely innocent

A Dublin man has been accused of robbing a city centre hotel by threatening the receptionist with a broken bottle top before fleeing when staff confronted him.

Gary Simpson (32) is alleged to have had his face partially covered with a scarf when he carried out the alleged robbery.

Mr Simpson has protested his innocence, saying the suspect seen on CCTV was wearing a tracksuit that "half of Dublin city wears".

Judge Miriam Walsh refused him bail at Dublin District Court and remanded him in custody.

Simpson, with an address at homeless accommodation at Old Cabra Road, is charged with robbery.

Denial

The prosecuting garda said he arrested the accused and brought him to Store Street Garda Station, where his reply to the charge after caution was "completely innocent".

The garda said he arrested the accused at Granby Row, Dublin 1, on suspicion of robbery at Jury's Hotel on Parnell Street on March 25.

Objecting to bail, he said it was alleged a lone male entered the hotel at around 11pm that night with his face partially covered by a distinctive red and white scarf.

He was also described as wearing a distinctive two-tone North Face tracksuit.

The man walked to the side of the desk and then behind it, where he approached the receptionist.

He took a broken glass bottle top from his pocket and threatened the alleged victim, telling her to open the tills, the garda added.

She told him the tills were open and there was no cash in them.

Other staff came over to assist her and the man walked behind the counter and took the woman's smartphone, then attempted to leave.

He was challenged by other staff, the phone was recovered and he fled, the garda said.

The panic alarm was then activated.

When gardai saw the accused at Granby Row, he was wearing a two-tone North Face tracksuit and had a distinctive red and white scarf tied around his face, covering part of it, the garda said.

Gardai viewed CCTV of the alleged robbery which was "very good quality".

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Tracy Horan said it was not put to the accused in interview that the alleged offence involved a broken bottle top or that the alleged robber was wearing a scarf.

He maintained his innocence throughout his detention, she said.

Ms Horan said the garda referred to an individual wearing a tracksuit that Mr Simpson said "half of north inner city Dublin wears".

Distinctive

The garda said certain elements of it were distinctive.

Mr Simpson repeatedly told the court: "I am innocent."

Pleading for bail, he said he would lose his accommodation and job if he was remanded in custody.

"I did not do anything," he said.

"Yes, I have a tracksuit, half of Dublin city and surrounding areas are wearing that tracksuit.

"I am looking you in the eye and telling you I had nothing to do with what happened. Nothing whatsoever," he told Judge Walsh.

The judge refused bail and remanded him in custody, to appear in Cloverhill District Court on March 31.
At least one Indian Army soldier was killed and three injured on Saturday when a massive blast took place an Army base workshop in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur. The incident occurred due to a blast in a nitrogen cylinder at a gun carriage factory in the 506 Army Base Workshop.

Of the three injured, one is in a serious condition. All of them have been rushed to a military hospital and are currently undergoing treatment.

This is a developing story. More details are awaited.
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Rotala PLC (LON:ROL).

What Is Insider Buying?

Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.

Check out our latest analysis for Rotala

Rotala Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Non-Executive - Deputy Chairman Graham Spooner for UK150k worth of shares, at about UK0.56 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK0.27 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

Rotala insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Story continues

AIM:ROL Recent Insider Trading March 28th 2020

Rotala is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Does Rotala Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Rotala insiders own 47% of the company, worth about UK6.4m. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Rotala Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, Rotala insiders feel good about the company's future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. For example - Rotala has 6 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Become a student of change. It is the only thing that will remain constant.  Anthony J. D'Angelo, American author

How can leaders adapt to a rapidly changing environment?

According to D'Angelo, we should learn to embrace the turning of the tide. And theres perhaps no better example of this than the present.

In the coming years, the business world will no doubt be affected by continued periods of crisis that will make remote/virtual work part of our daily lives.

The scale and scope of organizations asking employees to work from home so quickly is unprecedented, writes Harvard professor of business administration, Tsedal Neeley. Its not that people are going to permanently adopt this new format of work, but this experience will expand everyones capacity.

Still, when in-person meetings with teams are likely to be canceled for days or weeks at a time, how do you adjust? These days its hard to get people to pay attention in any meeting, but when people arent in the same room, it can be especially difficult, co-authors Justin Hale and Joseph Grenny write in a story for Harvard Business Review.

And its particularly annoying when you make a nine-minute argument, pause for an expected reaction, and get: Im not sure I followed you, which might as well mean: I was grabbing a cup of tea and didnt realize I would be called on.

I think we can all agree that virtual meetings are no walk in the park. I, for one, am someone who thrives on face-to-face interaction. I hold walking meetings and demo days where my team is encouraged to share their thoughts, discuss ideas and decompress. Its a working arrangement thats proven effective over the 14 years Ive spent growing my business, JotForm.

Since founding my company, weve done away with unnecessary status update meetings and focused instead on innovation and problem-solving. What isnt working? I often ask, and then work my way backward to the answer.

Its important for me to always be questioning how to improve  how to hack away at the inessential.

But I believe part of our success is rooted in our ability to embrace change and evolve with our circumstances. While theres no way of replicating the level of social engagement in live interactions  we can still make the best out of our virtual meetings by planning ahead and encouraging a positive remote culture.

Related: How Can You Better Engage Your Remote Workers? 6 Ways.

A healthy and productive guide to virtual meetings

Virtual meetings will be part of life for every leader at some point or another. And as D'Angelo expressed, wed be wise to approach these interactions strategically. Ive learned a few tricks from my own experience and research that have proved helpful to us at JotForm, and that I hope will work for you.

1. Set ground rules.

Firmly and politely let your team know that they need to turn off their phones and refrain from checking emails while videoconferencing. Studies have found that while most people think they can multitask, they really cant. Doing more than one task at a time takes a toll on productivity.

But more than that, devices are especially distracting to others. This is true of both live and virtual meetings. If someone is presenting or sharing an idea with the group, it can feel particularly disrespectful to see someone looking down or seeming distracted.

2. Connect first.

Without a doubt, one of my favorite things about building a business has been creating a culture that allows people to bring their best selves to work.

You want to strengthen these ties when working remotely, and you do this by using the first few minutes of your videoconference to check in on everyone. Ask how everyone is doing, and be thoughtful about it. Research shows that loneliness is one of the biggest struggles of working remotely, so encouraging positive communication is critical for ensuring a productive meeting.

Related: Why Working From Home Is Beneficial for the Employer and Employee

3. Make it engaging.

Its hard enough to demand attention when youre giving a long, passive lecture in person. Now imagine that on a screen. Can you really blame people for dozing off mid-sentence?

Thats why its crucial to captivate people in the first 60 seconds. Personally, Im a big fan of starting out with a provocative statistic or anecdote where I share something Ive learned. What you want is to help your team understand the problem at hand before coming up with solutions.

4. Avoid mind-numbing data.

Keep this in mind: Jargon is the enemy of connection. Going through a list of talking points and endless slides is the best way to ensure that people zone out. It doesnt matter how smart or sophisticated the group is, if your goal is engagement, you must mix facts and stories, Hale and Grenny emphasize. They encourage leaders to pick the least amount of data needed to inform and engage your team, and not adding a single slide more.

Whenever I organize a meeting, I think back to one of my old college professors, who told us to make our presentations as translatable as possible to the average person. Dont become a slave to the data, hed say.

5. Create meaningful involvement.

One of the biggest mistakes many leaders make is droning on about a problem without reading the room  in this case, the virtual space created between different team members who have an array of distractions at their disposal.

Before setting your agenda, come up with two to three opportunities to create meaningful engagement. This can be in the form of polling people for their opinions, or giving them a few minutes to discuss solutions among themselves.

The point is to keep people feeling engaged, valued and connected.

Its a lesson every CEO of every organization should continuously strive for  to embrace the changing tide and be willing to quickly adapt. Or to quote classical pianist Arthur Rubinstein: Of course there is no formula for success except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.

Related: RingCentral Meetings Makes Aligning Your Remote Workforce Simple

Related:

5 Ways to Set Good Habits That Actually Stick

10 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Actually Get Work Done While Homeschooling Kids

A Healthy and Productive Guide to Virtual Meetings



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Is the EU again being "shown up" by the coronavirus economic fallout?

Not entirely. Unlike the 2008 economic crash, the EU has moved swiftly and decisively this time. They suspended tough EU rules on long-term debt and deficits.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has declared it will buy up national debt to keep countries' money market interest rates down. The European Stability Mechanism - a gigantic EU loan-fund set up in the wake of 2008 - also has up to 400bn available for borrowing. ECB boss Christine Lagarde has said they are ready to go even further.

So, what is this row about so-called 'coronabonds'?

Unsurprisingly, governments in Italy and Spain - under huge pressure as coronavirus deaths remain rampant - want the European Union to go much further. They have gathered an influential group of nine out of the 27 EU member states - which also includes Ireland - demanding more radical action. In essence they want the EU to take on the debt burden - not just help with cheap loans and guarantees.

In Brussels jargon this is termed issuing 'coronabonds'. The nine also include EU founder members France, Belgium and Luxembourg, along with Portugal and Greece.

Who is against 'coronabonds' and why?

This is a re-run of the continuing stereotypical EU divide between "the frugal north" and the "sun-drenched skiving south".

Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and others believe that the EU itself cannot assume member states' debts. As things stand that is illegal under EU law. There are fears, for example, that even before coronavirus, Italy's debts were already unsustainable.

The experience of Greece, whose economic data on joining the eurozone proved inaccurate, and needed years of bailouts, still burns.

What is the case for EU 'coronabonds'?

That this is an entirely unique crisis, with huge cross-border consequences, and for which nobody can be especially blamed. The extent of the crisis will set back the entirety of the European Union for decades.

A truly radical and mutual EU response is needed. Up to now the EU is really only talking about low-interest loans and market solidarity. Some of these loans will come with borrowing conditions limiting national economic and social policies.

A crippling mountain of national debts will be left.

Where exactly is Ireland in all of this?

Ireland hovered between the EU's north-south groups for years. In bitter battles for strong EU farm, regional and social grants, Ireland was with the south. As the Irish economy matures, along with demands to pay more to Brussels' coffers, Irish sympathies drift north.

But Ireland was also badly burned in the row over bondholders in the 2008 bank crash. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar signed on with the 'coronabond nine' this week. In reality the north-south divide on this one is a bit overblown.

What is the likely outcome of this latest row?

Hard to see the big payers' objections to the EU shouldering national debts being overcome. EU leaders concluded their third video-linked summit since the coronavirus crisis this week. Deeply divided, they fudged this one, kicking it back to EU finance ministers in two weeks' time.

But there is still huge scope for EU coronavirus financial support action and the governments could still find a way of expanding these supports.

Is this damaging for the EU more generally?

It is not helpful. The EU has lacked the can-do idealism of people like the late Francois Mitterand of France and Helmut Kohl of Germany for several decades now.

That pair were the last of the generation who suffered directly in World War II and its appalling aftermath of near-starvation. But the EU is often reproached for not doing things which the member states have not given them the power to address.

It has limited competence in health actions because health remains largely a member state competence.

The incomplete merging of economies normally associated with a single currency remains, at best, a work in progress. The simple reality is that it is illegal under current EU law to take on national debts. But, depending on your point of view, a great deal has been achieved since Ireland's undoubted brutal experience of being left swinging in the wind after the 2008 banking and economic crash.

The Economic Stability Mechanism is a major lender to help cushion shocks comparable with the 2008 crash.

But is it time to think way beyond the status quo?

It definitely is. That is where the inspiration of Kohl and Mitterand must be evoked. Coronavirus fallout can fuel the rise of political extremism and conflict. It is time to think as big as is possible.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 09:41 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df643d 1 National Public-Works-and-Public-Housing-Ministry,housing,fishermen,aceh,poverty,poverty-alleviation Free

The Public Works and Housing Ministry handed over 50 homes measuring 28 square meters to fisherfolk living in Linggi village, East Simeulue district, Simeulue regency, Aceh, on Thursday.

Such assistance was expected to help improve the welfare of fisherfolk in the village, as they now had a proper place to live.

Each house comprises two bedrooms, a bathroom and living room, and is built from brick and concrete.

We have also installed land-retaining walls [to prevent landslides] as well as other facilities and utilities in the housing complex, said Lilik Lastantyo Adiarso, the head of the ministrys specific non-vertical housing task force in Aceh, on Thursday.

Read also: Indonesian fishermen grapple with climate change

The ministry allocated Rp 6.4 billion (US$3,9 million) to build the 50 houses in Simeulue, as well as an additional Rp 713 million to build supporting facilities, such as a public road and clean water network.

Lilik went on to say that the housing program was initiated to combat poverty.

We hope the local administration and fisherfolk living in these houses will find these facilities useful and also maintain them so the buildings wont get abandoned he said.

Simeulue Regent Erli Hasim said the local administration had vowed to maintain the housing provided by the ministry. He went on to say that his office would work to relocate local fisherfolk to the housing complex immediately.

The ministry announced in February that it had also provided 25 houses for fisherfolk in North Kayong regency, West Kalimantan. (trn)
Mobile phone companies are being given extra radio spectrum bandwidth due to the increase in mobile phone and broadband use due to Covid-19

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is providing additional capacity for mobile phone and broadband provision due to the steep increase in the use of mobile networks.

Given the extraordinary growth in usage of mobile services, ComReg is moving at pace to provide mobile operators with the flexibility to deploy additional radio spectrum, where this can be of immediate use," ComReg Commissioner, Jeremy Godfrey, said.

Half of Irish households do not have a fixed telephone line and instead rely solely on their mobile phone for communication. One in five households is dependent on wireless internet.

"ComReg will continue to engage with industry and support telecoms companies to ensure that our telecoms networks continue to meet users needs during these extremely challenging and evolving times."

Extra radio spectrum in the 700 MHz and the 2.6 GHz bands will allow mobile network operators to cater for the increase in voice and data traffic over their networks, as well as liberalising the use of the currently licensed 2.1 GHz band so that it can be used for 4G and other technologies, rather than just for 3G. ComReg said this will be a temporary measure in response to the current situation.

Mobile phone companies interested in using the extra bandwidth will have just two business days to respond to its proposals. ComReg plans to make its final decision as soon as possible thereafter so that this radio spectrum can be released quickly and our networks can provide more capacity to cater for the rise in demand for voice and data services.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's urgent intervention against Karnataka blocking roads to Kerala and thereby disrupting the supply of essential commodities to Kerala.

A much aggrieved Kerala Chief Minister also said that even as he tried to contact his Karnataka counterpart B S Yediyurappa several times on Saturday, the latter was not available yet and the issue was not resolved till evening.

Mr. Vijayan said the issue was also brought to notice of Union Minister Sadananda Gowda and he assured to resolve it by evening. Even as Karnataka Chief Secretary assured his Kerala counterpart on Friday that soil heaps made on roads to Kerala would be removed soon, there was not much relief to Saturday evening,

Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here

He also strongly flayed the reports that some local political leaders in Karnataka stated that they would launch a protest if the roads connecting both the states were opened.

Though there was an issue with Tamilnadu also with regard to vehicle movement, the Tamilnadu authorities assured that vehicles transporting essential commodities would be allowed after ensuring that the vehicles were disinfected, said the Kerala CM.

Track the state-wise COVID-19 cases here

Kerala government sources said that many trucks with essential commodities were stranded on the borders unable to enter Kerala owing to the roadblocks.

Kerala Chief Minister sent a letter to the Prime Minister on Friday evening pointing out that the Thalassery - Coorg state highway-30 that connects Kerala with Coorg via Veerajapettah was blocked owing to the action of the Karnataka police. Hence vehicles carrying essential commodities will have to travel a much longer route to reach Kerala.

The Kerala CM pointed out that such a situation would affect the movement of essential commodities and would cause more hardships to the people of Kerala at this time of crisis. Hence the Prime Minister's urgent intervention in the matter was sought.

The Kerala Chief Minister also suggested to Mr. Sadananda Gowda that patients for emergency purposes like dialysis should be allowed to go form Kasargod to Mangaluru by special ambulance.
Seven more people were tested positive for the deadly COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the union territory to 27.

Those include a 56-year-old man from Jawahar Nagar (uptown area), who had a travel history to Indonesia, and four other persons, aged between 28 to 35 years, from Hajin area of North Kashmirs Bandipora district, who had come in contact with a 65-year-old man who died of the disease recently. The other two include a couple, a 45-year-old man, and his wife (40) from Ahmad Nagar suburb in Srinagar. They had returned from Mumbai, sources said.

READ | Restrictions Continue In Kashmir, Police Book Several People For Organising Friday Prayers

A J&K government spokesperson in a tweet confirmed the cases. Tough to be harbinger of unpleasant news. But being informed is being prepared. 7 more positive cases in Srinagar today. 4 cases- history of contact with already positive cases of religious congregation; other three- travel history outside J&K contacts being traced".

READ | COVID-19: Army Distributes Rations To Migrants, Daily Wagers In Kashmir

Likely increase in cases

With these fresh cases, the tally of COVID-19 patients in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up to 27, and one of them, the 65-year-old man from Hyderpora (uptown area), died recently. One of them, a 67-year-old woman who was the first COVID-19 patient in the Valley, has recovered at SKIMS Soura, the Valleys only tertiary care hospital.

Meanwhile, sources said that doctors at SKIMS Soura fear there will be an increase in cases. There are at least three patients with high viral load and their test reports are expected by this evening or tomorrow, sources said.

READ | 4 More People Test Positive For COVID-19 In Kashmir, Number Goes Up To 16 In J&K

Curfew continues

Meanwhile, the restrictions on the movement and assembly of people to curb the spread of the coronavirus continued in Kashmir for the tenth consecutive, even as police booked several people for defying the lockdown by organising congregational prayers on Friday. While most of the mosques and shrines in the Valley were shut, a few mosques held the Friday prayers. Pertinently, the police booked several people for defying the prohibitory orders and organising the prayers.

(PTI photo for representation)

READ | COVID-19 Lockdown: Kashmiri Youths Stuck In Haryana's Hisar, Dy CM Dushyant Chautala Extends Help
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Brussels  Sat, March 28, 2020 09:49 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df647b 2 Health cats,coronavirus,COVID-19,health Free

A pet cat has been infected with the novel coronavirus in Belgium after being contaminated by its owner, Belgian health authorities said Friday.

Cases of contamination of pets are rare and authorities ruled out any risk of contamination to humans from home animals.

The reports follows similar cases in Hong Kong where two dogs tested positive for COVID-19 during a screening campaign carried out on 17 dogs and eight cats living in contact with people carrying the virus.

In Belgium, the discovery was made by researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege.

This is "an isolated case" which can occur after "close contact between animals and infected humans", said Doctor Emmanuel Andre, a government agency spokesman on the pandemic.

The virus can be transmitted from humans to animals but "there is no reason to think that animals can be vectors of the epidemic in our society", he said.

In Hong Kong, "the dogs showed no symptoms", while in Belgium "the cat was suffering from transitory respiratory and digestive problems", said the Belgian food safety agency AFSCA in a statement.

"So far, there is no evidence that a domestic animal can transmit the virus to humans or other pets", the public authority said.

As a precautionary measure, it is "strongly recommended" to apply standard rules of hygiene when dealing with pets: "avoid close contact with pets... wash your hands after handling any animal, do not let the animal lick your face."

The aim is to prevent the transmission of the virus to the animal and to prevent the animal itself from becoming a carrier of the virus.
By Julian Routh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Butler County Republican, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

Mr. Kelly, reached by phone soon after his office revealed the positive test, said he was feeling a little achy earlier this week and thought he might be coming down with the flu. His doctor said he should make sure its not COVID-19 and ordered him a test, which the 72-year-old Congressman took at a drive-through testing site at Butler Memorial Hospital.

The test came back positive Friday afternoon.

Im glad I picked it up early. Im glad I got to my doctor and asked him to check it out for me, Mr. Kelly said, and so far, so good. Its just a matter of getting a lot of rest and staying hydrated.

Mr. Kellys symptoms are mild, he said, and he remains in self-quarantine.

He said his priority is making sure he doesnt pass it to someone else. His wife, four children and 10 grandchildren are healthy, he said  as well as his staffers, who have been working from home and are continuing to provide constituent services by phone.

Awaiting results from his test, Mr. Kelly was not in Washington on Friday for the House vote on the $2 trillion stimulus package.

Mr. Kelly said hes missed work very few times since he was sworn in to Congress in 2011, but this was a little bit different because the disease is so contagious.

It can really be something deadly, especially for our seniors, he said.

Mr. Kelly is the fifth member of Congress to test positive for the virus, and the first from Pennsylvania. Sen. Rand Paul and U.S. Reps. Joe Cunningham, Mario Diaz-Balart and Ben McAdams announced recently that they tested positive.

Mr. Kelly said he is blessed to have constituents who care about his well being. His district stretches from Valencia and Connoquenessing in Butler County up through Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford and Erie counties.

I appreciate the thoughts and prayers, Mr. Kelly said. Its not unusual with the area were from. Weve always had strong community. Its what I expect from the area Ive lived in all my life.

Our hopes and prayers are for everybody else out there, Mr. Kelly added.

As of noon on Friday, Butler County had recorded 26 cases of COVID-19 and one death.
Washington

The United States now has more COVID-19 infections than any other country, and a record number of newly unemployed people, as the coronavirus crisis deepens around the world.

Hours after his nation reached the grim milestone, President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Chinas Xi Jinping, after weeks of bickering and finger pointing over a disease researchers say could kill at least 1.8 million people by the end of the year.

Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China, Trump tweeted. China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect! The warm words -- which were not quite echoed in the Chinese state media readout of the call -- came after a few weeks in which the White House had repeatedly referred to the Chinese coronavirus, angering Beijing.

China, which appears to have got on top of its own outbreak, readied to bar entry to foreigners as it frets over a surge in imported cases, illustrating the difficulty of containing a virus in an interconnected world.

Wuhan, the city where the illness first emerged late last year, was -- from midnight -- to ease severe movement restrictions in place for two months.

That initial lockdown has now been aped around the world, with three billion people told to stay indoors. Healthcare systems in even the most developed nations are being stretched to breaking point with dire warnings they could soon be overwhelmed.

More than 530,000 people globally have been sickened by the disease. A tally by Johns Hopkins University showed that by around 0900 GMT Friday, there were almost 86,000 known infections in the US.

That figure is higher than both China and hard-hit Italy, which accounts for a third of the 24,000 deaths worldwide.
Opioids, heroin and fentanyl remain abundant, cheap and deadly in this part of Kentucky. In 2017, the rate of fatal opioid overdoses in the state was nearly twice the national average. But the sudden abundance of methamphetamine reflects a new reality in Louisa and elsewhere: A very public push to end opioid abuse has unwittingly ushered in the return of crystal meth.

In Concord, N.H., which was ravaged by opioids, the police say methamphetamine now accounts for 60 percent of all drug seizures. In Texas, Hawaii, Oklahoma and Colorado, overdoses from methamphetamine surpassed those from opioids in 2018. And in Mississippi late last year, the police discovered 140 pounds of methamphetamine in one of that states largest drug busts.

Meth, thats our drug now, said Dennis Lowe, commander of a law enforcement task force in central and southeastern Ohio, which was also a center of the opioid epidemic. In the past, it was easy for us to find opioids for sale on the street. Now we have to go look for it. With meth, users are walking around with ounces of it, where a few years ago, it might have been a gram or two.

Doctors and hospitals have unwittingly accelerated the switch to methamphetamine by significantly reducing their patients access to pain medication; opioid users, increasingly fearful about overdosing on heroin and fentanyl, have been desperate for a substitute.

A powerful Mexican organized crime syndicate, the Sinaloa drug cartel, has sought to fill the vacuum by targeting Appalachia, federal drug officials say. The traffickers follow the same business model that allowed them to inundate the nation with heroin: make meth potent and sell it cheap to ensure a steady customer base, and ultimately, mass addiction.
This is a tale of two governments. Both were faced with a potential disaster  a new and deadly epidemic. Both made choices that the world will judge.

China. The virus made its first appearance in a Wuhan wet market, an emporium (apparently common in China) that featured live and newly slaughtered animals in close proximity. SARS and Avian flu are also thought to have originated in these markets, which amount to an ongoing threat to global health.

From the first reported case, on Dec. 1, 2019, until Jan. 5, 2020, the Chinese government engaged in a cover-up. As National Reviews Jim Geraghty recounted, in early January, Chinas National Health Commission forbade reporting on the new disease. On Dec. 30, Dr. Li Wenliang sent a message to other physicians warning that a SARS-like illness was spreading. He was arrested (along with six others) and obliged to apologize for spreading rumors. (Dr. Li Wenliang died of COVID-19 on Feb. 7.)

Throughout early January, as cases mounted, the Chinese government issued soothing statements suggesting that the new pneumonia was not transmitted from person to person. As late as Jan. 15, after Thailand and Japan had reported their first cases, official government sources were denying that human-to-human transmission had been proven, saying the risk was low.

Only on Jan. 23, six weeks after the first case, did China announce a quarantine of Wuhan. By that time, millions had come and gone from the city during the busy holiday season, and cases had been reported in Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.

USA. President Donald Trump engaged in a series of soothing statements himself. On Jan. 22, after the first U.S. case was reported, he said, We have it totally under control. On Feb. 2, he boasted that we pretty much shut it down coming in from China. Twice in February, the president promised that when we get into April, in the warmer weather  that has a very negative effect on that, and that type of a virus. On Feb. 26, when cases topped 60, Trump claimed, Were going very substantially down, not up. In South Carolina, on Feb. 28, Trump likened criticism of his handling of the pandemic to impeachment, saying that this is their new hoax. On March 6, he continued this theme. Facing criticism for his false statement that anyone who wants a test can get a test, Trump tried to string together a fake news/Ukraine theme. He said the tests were beautiful, adding, The tests are all perfect, like the letter was perfect, the transcription was perfect, right? Asked whether he was concerned about the viruss spread on March 7, the president said, No, weve done a great job.

Throughout the first 10 weeks of the pandemic, Trump praised China effusively, as The Bulwarks Jim Swift chronicled. On Feb. 7, for example, Trump said: Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help! A few days later, he shared with Fox News his view that China is very, you know, professionally run, in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon.

China. When the lies were no longer tenable, the Chinese government pivoted. Through their propaganda arms, they circulated videos of China building new hospitals (they were actually prefab quarantine wards, not fully equipped hospitals) and fumigating public spaces. This was followed by grand gestures like donating millions of face masks to afflicted countries like Spain, South Korea, Iran and the Philippines. Jack Ma, CEO of Alibaba, shipped a million masks and half a million testing kits to the U.S.

USA. When the lies were no longer tenable, President Trump pivoted. Two days after claiming that the disease was under control, Trump declared himself a wartime president and offered that Ive always known this is a real  this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. Trump began to appear daily at press conferences with public health authorities  a setting he controls, in which every participant must begin with fulsome praise of himself. He pivoted on China, too, dropping the unctuous praise in favor of provocative blame.

China. Relentless propaganda lauding Premier Xis great leadership in fighting the coronavirus may succeed with many Chinese. Will the world remember the criminal dishonesty that arguably unleashed this pestilence?

USA. By consistently downplaying and denying the seriousness of the threat, President Trump cost the American people precious time. By encouraging a false sense of security, he prevented federal, state and local governments from gearing up for the worst emergency we have faced in 100 years. Will the world remember the criminal dishonesty that permitted this pestilence to hit us so very hard?

Mona Charen is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

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Homeschooling hints

Have a schedule. Allot one-hour increments for learning. Then take 15-minute breaks in between activities. Walk children through the plan for the day, and consider allowing them to pick, for example, whether they want to do language arts work or math during a certain time.

Anything can be a lesson. Or a contest. Especially if you are stuck at home, take another look around the house to see what might be a distraction or lesson. Can you walk around and water the plants together?

Crafts, crafts, crafts. Don't be intimidated. We're not saying you need to set up a complex project while you're on a conference call.

Use learning sites. Consider ABCya!, which has educational games, or ABCmouse for children ages 2 through 8. Adventure Academy has programs for kids 8-13.

Another option? Podcasts. Look for What If World, Story pirates and NPR's But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids.

Keep an eye out for other kids activities that are going virtual. The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is offering craft projects for kids at amset.org.

Give yourself a break. Remember, it's an unusual situation for everyone. No one is expecting you to be a superhero.

Tribune New Service
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  One Lafayette floral shop is showing us the power of the flower. Blooms and Petals Fresh Flowers owner is donating flowers to public service professionals during this pandemic.

"I can't stop the coronavirus but I can control what I do and how I behave in my community," said Paula Davis, Owner of Blooms and Petals Fresh Flowers.

Davis joins dozens of local business owners dealing with the negative impact of COVID-19.

"We had many flowers, green carnations for St. Patrick's Day, that did not happen," said Davis. "We had weddings that were scheduled to come up that they had to cancel because of the uncertainty so it impacted and I had planned for these flowers 90 to 120 days in advance."

With a surplus of flowers and no one buying them, Davis created the "Good Samaritan Project" as a way to donate them. Her focus is on public service professionals.

"Those men and women who are out there serving on the front line in the emergency room, our firefighters our police, all of those who take the risk of going out everyday to protect us," said Davis.

The idea sparked from a Harvard study about factors that impact employee well being. It showed 60-percent of workers had a better mood after receiving flowers versus the group who didn't get any.

"Whenever you look at the flower you see nature, you see hope, you see beauty and that is the power of the flower," said Davis.

While Davis pays it forward by delivering the flowers, those receiving the flowers say it brings a postive ripple effect within the facility.

"Who can look at flowers and not smile," asked Nathan Anderson, executive director of Rosewalk Village Nursing Home in Lafayette.

Rosewalk Village nursing home is the first of many facilities on Davis' list of giving. Anderson said he sees this movement having a great impact even after we make it through the pandemic.

"To be supported by a local business, we can just continue those relationships here in Greater Lafayette and just be tighter as a whole community," said Anderson.

Davis is accepting individually wrapped goods, clean used vases and baskets, and monetary donations for the Good Samaritan Project. You can find information through the flower shop's official Facebook page or email Paula Davis at fit4everflower@gmail.com.
(Newser)  Good thing Americans have nothing else to worry aboutbecause severe storms that might include hail and tornadoes are forecast for a good swath of the country on Saturday, CNN reports. "Over 70 million Americans face the threat of severe weather today, with the greatest threat for a significant weather outbreak covering roughly 45,000 square miles, including Chicago metro," says meteorologist Derek Van Dam. "All weather modeling points to a significant severe weather outbreak for portions of the Midwest today, with lower chances as you travel south towards the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valley Region." Unusually moist and warm air ahead of a low-pressure system appears to be driving the storms.

story continues below

As it stands, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8pm. Cities facing severe-storm threats are Madison, Wisconsin; Columbus and Nashville, Tenn.; Louisville, Kentucky; Des Moines, Iowa; and Little Rock, Arkansas, according to the National Weather Service. Tornado risk is highest in Northern Illinois, followed by Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana, with only a slight risk in the Midwest, Southeast, and Ohio Valley. But the Washington Post warns that "extremely rapid storm motions" are expected, and storms may travel northeastward "at highway speeds" of 60 to 70 mph. Meanwhile National Weather Service is advising people to have "multiple ways" of receiving weather warnings, like the Internet, TV/radio, and outdoor sirens. (Read more severe weather stories.)
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Three students at Western Michigan University have tested positive for coronavirus.

Three students, including one who still lives in the residence halls, tested positive for the virus that is spreading through the state, the university said in a press release Friday, March 27.

The student who lives on campus became symptomatic after distance learning began on March 11 and remains in isolation in a dorm room, university spokesman Tony Proudfoot said.

The university would not disclose which residence hall the student lives in because it is private public health information, Proudfoot said.

The university notified other students living in the residence hall about the positive case following health department guidelines, Proudfoot said.

There are no additional precautions required for the public, the university press release said. We continue intensified and extensive cleaning of spaces throughout the campus, as needed.

Another student, who was last on campus on March 10, notified the university through a family member that they tested positive after moving home to the east side of the state. The university notified the students professors and classmates, WMU said.

A third student, who lives off campus, developed symptoms after the university moved to distance learning, and has been isolating and following protocol, the university said.

As of Friday, March 27, the number of cases in Michigan reached 3,657 while the death toll grew from 60 to 92. In Kalamazoo County, there are 11 positive cases of the virus and 23 tests awaiting results.

Most students were moved out of the residence halls by Sunday, March 22, after they were closed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Students with extenuating circumstances, such as international students, Seita Scholars and Foundation Scholars, were permitted to remain on campus.

There may be other members of the campus community who have developed symptoms or are being treated in other locations, though the university is only aware of the three mentioned Friday, WMU said.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Also on MLive:

Mann+Hummel in Portage lays off 377 workers during coronavirus shutdown

Almost 109,000 in Michigan filed for unemployment last week compared to 5,000 in typical week

Whitmer says Michigan schools very unlikely to reopen this year under coronavirus pandemic

Michigan coronavirus numbers now at 3,657 -- up 801 cases
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Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is set to undergo a heart procedure next week in London, has been summoned by Pakistan's anti-graft body to appear before it on March 31 for allegedly misusing his power in a land case when he was chief minister of Punjab province in 1986.

Sharif, 70, has been in London since November last year for his treatment.

The higher court had allowed him to travel abroad for four months but the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government later did not allow extension to his stay and declared him an absconder'.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has sent a questionnaire to the PML-N supreme leader in the land case involving Jang Group's Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rehman and summoned him to the bureau's office on Tuesday to record his statement.

Sharif's party,the PML-N, says the former premier is not well as he is undergoing treatment in London.

Nawaz Sharif has to undergo a heart procedure next week as his condition is not well, PML-N president and Sharif's younger brother Shahbaz Sharif said.

In a statement, Shahbaz, who is also the Opposition leader in the National Assembly, termed the NAB's case frivolous and asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to secure the bail of Shakilur Rrehman.

The NAB arrested Mir Shakilur Rehman on March 12 in a 34-year-old case related to 54-kanal land he allegedly acquired illegally in the tenure of the then chief minister of Punjab, Nawaz Sharif. He has been on physical remand till April 7.

Rehman says the property in question was bought from a private party and all evidence of this had been provided to the NAB, including the legal requirements fulfilled like duty and taxes. He has denied any wrongdoing in the case.

The NAB alleged that Rehman illegally obtained exemption of 54 plots each measuring one-kanal. It said the allotment of the land had been in connivance with then chief minister Nawaz Sharif (in 1986) against the exemption policy and the laws for monitory gains.

The three-time premier is undergoing treatment in London for coronary artery disease.

The Islamabad High Court also granted bail to Sharif in the Al Azizia Mills corruption case, in which the former prime minister was serving a seven-year jail term, clearing his way to travel abroad for medical treatment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italy, Spain suffer record virus deaths as British PM tests positive

WORLD: Italy yesterday (Mar 27) recorded the most daily deaths of any country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and Spain had its deadliest day, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first major world leader to test positive.

ChineseCoronavirusCOVID-19deathhealth

By AFP

Saturday 28 March 2020, 09:50AM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is suffering mild symptoms after testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Photo: AFP

Italy reported 969 new deaths, Spain 769 and France 299 as Europe reeled from a crisis that led the United States yesterday to finalise an unprecedented $2 trillion stimulus package.

In other grim milestones, over 27,350 deaths worldwide have been confrmed, and a total of 595,000 cases recorded, 300,000 in Europe, after the United States overtook China as the country with the most infections.

Italy showed a continuing downward trend in infection rates and Spain said its rate appeared to be slowing, but other countries were bracing for the viruss full impact.

Ireland announced it was imposing a lockdown, with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar imploring his citizens to stay at home, in all circumstances.

The World Health Organizations regional director for Africa warned the continent faced a dramatic evolution of the pandemic, as South Africa also began life under lockdown and reported its first COVID-19 death.

Johnson, whose country has seen more than 14,000 declared coronavirus cases and 759 deaths, said he had developed mild symptoms and tested positive.

I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the governments response via video-conference as we fight this virus, Johnson, who had initially resisted calls for a nationwide lockdown before changing course, wrote on Twitter.

Europe has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks, with millions across the continent on lockdown and the streets of Paris, Rome and Madrid eerily empty.

She just had a cough

In France, where nearly 2,000 people have died, the government announced it was extending its stay-at-home order until at least April 15.

While severe, the 299 new deaths it recorded yesterday were lower than the 365 reported the previous day.

The death of a 16-year-old girl from the virus has particularly shaken France, shattering the belief of many young people that they were immune.

The girls mother Sabine told AFP that Julie just had a cough at first but deteriorated quickly. She died Wednesday (Mar 25), less than a week later.

Its unbearable, Sabine said. We were supposed to have a normal life.

In the United States, known infections jumped past 100,000, surpassing China and Italy, with more than 1,500 deaths, according to a tracker at the Johns Hopkins University.

In New York City, the US epicentre of the crisis, health workers battled a surging toll, including an increasing number of younger patients.

Now its 50-year-olds, 40-year-olds, 30-year-olds, said one respiratory therapist at the Jewish Medical Center in Queens.

They didnt listen about not going out or protecting themselves and washing their hands, he said.

Historic US stimulus

Wall Street slipped again after three days of recovering this months heavy losses, even as President Donald Trump signed into law the largest stimulus package in US history.

The package will pump US$100 billion (3.24 trillion baht) into hospitals and give checks of up to $3,400 for the average family of four, in the hopes of reviving spending after unemployment claims soared to a new record.

This will deliver urgently needed relief to our nations families, workers and businesses. Thats what this is all about, Trump said.

Trump also invoked an act usually used in wartime to order General Motors to speed up its commitment to make badly needed ventilators.

He said the move should demonstrate clearly that we will not hesitate to use the full authority of the federal government to combat this crisis.

Even as Europe readied its own stimulus measures, experts warned of misery that could rival the Great Depression, with millions suddenly unemployed.

It is clear that we have entered a recession that will be worse than in 2009 following the global financial crisis, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said yesterday.

Pope before empty square

The coronavirus first emerged in China late last year before spreading globally, with more than half a million declared cases in 183 countries and territories.

Over the last six days, as many new cases have been diagnosed around the world as in the previous 80 days.

Beijing managed to contain its spread with lockdowns and quarantines, and its epicentre Wuhan is easing severe movement restrictions in place for two months.

In a historic first, Pope Francis performed the rarely recited Urbi et Orbi blessing to an empty Saint Peters Square.

Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by, he said.

We find ourselves afraid and lost, he said, describing the coronavirus as a tempest.

The WHOs chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva the dire lack of protective gear for frontline health workers was one of the most urgent threats to our collective ability to save lives.

The World Tourism Organization said yesterday it expected tourist arrivals to drop by 20-30% this year, with losses of $300-450 billion internationally.
An Italian army soldier wearing a protective suit helps transport coffins from military trucks in the Bergamo area to the cemetery of Cinisello Balsamo, near Milan, Cinisello Balsamo, March 27. EPA



Italy recorded the most daily deaths of any country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic Friday, while Spain had its deadliest day, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first major world leader to test positive for COVID-19.



Italy reported 969 new deaths, Spain 769 and France 299 as Europe reeled from a crisis that led the United States to finalize an unprecedented $2 trillion stimulus package.



In other grim milestones, AFP tallies showed more than 26,000 deaths worldwide, and a total of 300,000 cases now recorded in Europe, after the United States overtook China as the country with the most infections.



Italy showed a continuing downward trend in infection rates and Spain said its rate appeared to be slowing, but other countries were bracing for the virus's full impact.



Ireland announced it was imposing a lockdown, with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar imploring his citizens to "stay at home, in all circumstances".



The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa warned the continent faced a "dramatic evolution" of the pandemic, as South Africa also began life under lockdown and reported its first COVID-19 death.



Johnson, whose country has seen more than 14,000 declared coronavirus cases and 759 deaths, said he had developed mild symptoms and tested positive.



"I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus," Johnson, who had initially resisted calls for a nationwide lockdown before changing course, wrote on Twitter.



Europe has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks, with millions across the continent on lockdown and the streets of Paris, Rome and Madrid eerily empty.



In France, where nearly 2,000 people have died, the government announced it was extending its stay-at-home order until at least April 15.



While severe, the 299 new deaths it recorded Friday were lower than the 365 reported the previous day.



The death of a 16-year-old girl from the virus has particularly shaken France, shattering the belief of many young people that they were immune.



The girl's mother Sabine told AFP that Julie "just had a cough" at first but deteriorated quickly. She died Wednesday, less than a week later.



"It's unbearable," Sabine said. "We were supposed to have a normal life."



In the United States, known infections jumped past 100,000, surpassing China and Italy, with more than 1,500 deaths, according to a tracker at the Johns Hopkins University.



In New York City, the US epicentre of the crisis, health workers battled a surging toll, including an increasing number of younger patients.



"Now it's 50-year-olds, 40-year-olds, 30-year-olds," said one respiratory therapist at the Jewish Medical Center in Queens.



They "didn't listen about not going out or protecting themselves and washing their hands," he said.



The coronavirus first emerged in China late last year before spreading globally, with more than half a million declared cases in 183 countries and territories.



Over the last six days, as many new cases have been diagnosed around the world as in the previous 80 days.



Beijing managed to contain its spread with lockdowns and quarantines, and its epicentre Wuhan is easing severe movement restrictions in place for two months.



In a historic first, Pope Francis performed the rarely recited "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to an empty Saint Peter's Square.



"Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by," he said.



"We find ourselves afraid and lost," he said, describing the coronavirus as a "tempest".



The WHO's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva the dire lack of protective gear for frontline health workers was "one of the most urgent threats to our collective ability to save lives".



The World Tourism Organization said Friday it expected tourist arrivals to drop by 20 percent to 30 percent this year, with losses of $300 billion to $450 billion internationally.



But there have been rays of hope.



Armed groups in Cameroon, the Philippines and Yemen have moved to reduce violence after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for ceasefires. (AFP)


How is Ontario clearing its backlog of COVID-19 tests? Analyze more, authorize fewer tests.

According to provincial testing data, the number of daily samples taken in Ontario over the past five days has steadily declined. At the start of the week, 3,951 samples were taken in one day from people with symptoms. As of Saturday, only 2,040 samples were taken the previous day.

At the same time, Ontario has steadily been increasing the number of tests it runs each day. At the start of the week, Ontario was running 2,294 tests in a single day. By Saturday, that daily number had increased to 3,424 tests.

Provincial health officials on Saturday would not confirm that this is a strategy intended to curb what has been an embarrassing backlog of tests that grew to almost 11,000 earlier this week. Some of those samples were taken seven days earlier, meaning that the individuals would not have known during that time whether they had the virus.

By Saturday, the provincial backlog had been cut to 8,690 tests  representing people waiting in their homes to learn if they were positive or negative for the virus. Provincial officials announced Friday they hope to be able to analyze close to 20,000 samples a day by the third week in April.

The decline in daily samples taken is due to a change in policy Ontario and other provinces made a week ago. Tests are prioritized for the very sick people who are admitted to hospital and for health care, nursing home and other workers whose frontline jobs bring them into contact with large groups of people.

How this strategy was rolled out  with little public notification in the early days  proved confusing to people who were sent for testing.

One woman, a 28-year-old medical resident from Toronto, had been working and studying in New York City. She came home to be with her family on Sunday March 22. Stepping off the plane she was feeling ill. By night time she had a fever and soon developed a dry cough. Then her lungs became sore and she was tired and drowsy. The woman asked that her name not be used for personal privacy reasons.

The woman did the provincial online assessment and was directed to go to a COVID-19 assessment clinic at Michael Garron Hospital. Her appointment was Wednesday, March 25. The woman was given a mask before speaking to first one, then a second, nurse. The nurses were also wearing masks. When a doctor saw her he told her, she said, that she likely had the virus.

However, the doctor told her that he could not give her a test because they were reserving tests for people who are healthcare workers with upcoming shifts and hospitalized patients.

I sit here all day and tell people I cannot test them, the woman said the doctor told her.

The woman said the care she was given was excellent and she understands that the doctor was following guidelines. But she is concerned that by bringing people in for an assessment, more will get sick.

To me it seemed like a breeding ground, for the infection, she said.

The woman was told to go home and self isolate. She lives with several family members and she said she is making sure to keep to herself so as not to infect siblings and parents. As of Saturday afternoon her fever was down and her cough getting better.

Meanwhile, the Stars ongoing analysis of Ontarios testing trends shows that with each test completed it is more likely that a test is positive. As of Saturday, 3.33 per cent of all completed tests were positive. That percentage has steadily grown. It was 1.77 per cent two weeks ago. Part of this increase can be explained by the people who are being selected for testing, though officials will not confirm this. A recent Star story revealed that due to the backlog, there are many confirmed cases that will soon be added to the official count.
The subject is Mohammed bin Salman, the 34-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Ben Hubbard, who reports on the Middle East for The New York Times, is honest enough to say that it is "hard to paint a detailed picture of his early life," that "much still remains unclear about how MBS spent his twenties" and that, when it comes to why he was chosen for the position that makes him the likely future king, "we are left with little more than informed speculation".

There are a number of possible explanations for these gaps. One is that as a child, Mohammed hardly seemed destined for greatness. "As the sixth son of the 25th son of the founding king, there was little reason to expect that he would rise to prominence," Hubbard notes. Second, unlike many of his royal cousins and half-siblings, Mohammed did not study abroad. And third, the people in Saudi Arabia who might have tales to tell, even benign ones, are too afraid to talk.

"Fear is so widespread that a stray social media post or a private comment could lead to arrest or jail," Hubbard writes. And that points to the real revelation of this book. While it may not chart the inner growth of a future leader, it paints a vivid portrait of how he has altered the kingdom during his half-decade of rule.

While Mohammed has modestly improved the lot of women (they are now allowed to drive) and reined in the intolerant clerics (cinemas have opened), the most fundamental change the headstrong crown prince has brought about, Hubbard shows, is to turn a "soft-gloved autocracy" that featured multiple centres of power, and room for discreet grousing and dissent, into "a laboratory for a new kind of electronic authoritarianism".

"Over time, it would engage in surveillance, harassment, and kidnapping of Saudi citizens overseas, as well as their detention and sometimes torture inside palaces belonging to MBS and his father," Hubbard writes. By the time he finishes writing this book, he realises that "something fundamental had changed in Saudi Arabia".

Hubbard describes how Mohammed consolidated his position with gangster tactics. He locked his own mother away. He took the prime minister of Lebanon hostage. In 2017, he engineered a soft coup against his older cousin, the respected counter-terrorism chief Mohammed bin Nayef, whom Mohammed's elderly and probably ailing father, King Salman, had installed as first crown prince. Just this month, that soft coup turned harder when Mohammed bin Nayef was arrested.

In 2017, Mohammed infamously rounded up dozens of Saudi Arabia's leading princes and business executives, confined them in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and held many of them prisoner for months. It is believed that some were tortured, and between them were forced to turn over assets of more than $100bn. Not incidentally, that episode, which consolidated Mohammed's unchallenged dictatorial rule, won the enthusiastic approval of US President Donald Trump. "Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years!" Trump tweeted. Trump's willingness to excuse absolutely any behaviour reached its low point when he forgave Mohammed for the crime that also serves as the climax of Hubbard's book: the murder and dismemberment of Saudi exile turned Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

"Khashoggi's killing was a wake-up call," he writes. "Sure, Khashoggi was only one man, but the contrast between his reasoned criticism and his gruesome end caught the world's attention."

Hubbard acknowledges that even if the revulsion lingers, its effects may dissipate. The world is likely to continue working with the crown prince as long as he stays in power. So the real question will be "whether MBS is learning from his mistakes. Are his dangerous acts the youthful faults of an inexperienced ruler? Or do they spring from deep in his character and serve as harbingers of things to come?"

MBS does not attempt a definitive answer. But it does not leave a reader optimistic that the crown prince will mature into a wise or humane king.

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 The Washington Post
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:34:56|Editor: huaxia

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BISHKEK, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Kyrgyz government thanked China for its humanitarian assistance and support in the fight against COVID-19, the press service of the Kyrgyz government said Saturday.

The government of Kyrgyzstan appreciates China's contributions and efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and expresses gratitude for the humanitarian assistance and support it has provided in difficult times, the report said.

Earlier, the Kyrgyz government had asked China to provide humanitarian assistance to Kyrgyzstan in the form of test systems and reagents, personal protective equipment for medical personnel, as well as sanitary and disinfection means.

The Kyrgyz side also asked China to send medical experts to exchange experience in the fight against COVID-19.

Kyrgyzstan has received humanitarian assistance from China on Wednesday to combat COVID-19 in the form of 10,000 KN94 masks, 200,000 surgical masks, as well as 1,000 protection suits for medical workers.

To date, 58 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been registered in Kyrgyzstan, according to the country's ministry of health.
The Italian Association of Doctors have confirmed the death of 51 doctors who all died after testing positive for coronavirus.



The doctors succumbed to the disease as of Friday, according to CNN, citing the Italian Association of Doctors.



The death toll comes after Filippo Anelli, the president of the association, on Thursday called for doctors in the country to be provided with more personal protective equipment (PPE).



"The first thing to do is to protect healthcare workers, to make sure they are not the ones spreading the virus. Our doctors have been sent to war unarmed," Anelli told The Financial Times in a Thursday article. "The dead do not make a noise. Yet, the names of our dead friends, our colleagues, put here in black and white, make a deafening noise."



According to the Italian National Institute of Health, more than 6,000 health workers have been infected by coronavirus as of Thursday,



Italy has the highest COVID-19 death toll of any country in the world, Out of over 86,000 cases of coronavirus in the country as of Friday, there were over 9,100 deaths.









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The business will also see a change of guard. Shailesh Chandra, president of EV and corporate strategy, will replace Mayank Pareek as president of PV business, including EV, with effect from April 1. Pareek will be superannuating from the company after a six-year stint at the end of February 2021. Chandra and Pareek will work on transition over the next few weeks.

IMAGE: The PV business has been a drag on the company for many years in terms of financial performance. It incurred an operational loss of Rs 500 crore in the first nine months of the current financial year. Photograph: Saumya Khandelwal/Reuters

Tata Motors will spin off its passenger vehicle (PV) business, including electric vehicles (EVs), unit into a separate subsidiary through a slump sale, the company said in a notification to the stock exchanges on Friday.

The move is aimed at securing "mutually beneficial strategic alliances" that provide access to products, architectures, power trains, new-age technologies, and capital, it added. The slump sale means the PV business will not carry any debt of the existing business.

The business will also see a change of guard. Shailesh Chandra, president of EV and corporate strategy, will replace Mayank Pareek as president of PV business, including EV, with effect from April 1. Pareek will be superannuating from the company after a six-year stint at the end of February 2021. Chandra and Pareek will work on transition over the next few weeks.

TML (Tata Motors) Board has in-principle approved to subsidiarise company's PV business (including EV) by transferring relevant assets, IPs and employees directly relatable to the PV business for it to be fully functional on a standalone basis through a slump sale," the company said in the statement. All the changes are subjected to approvals from regulators, creditors, and shareholders, and the process is likely to be completed in a year.

The PV business has been a drag on the company for many years in terms of financial performance. It incurred an operational loss of Rs 500 crore in the first nine months of the current financial year. "It's a bold and positive move from the strategic point of view and will help them (PV business) get a partner. It will allow them to lend sharper focus on commercial and passenger vehicle business," said Mitul Shah, vice-president at Reliance Securities.

Certain shared services and central functions, however, will be retained at the firm to deliver cost efficiencies for the entire group. The proposed transfer shall be implemented through a scheme of arrangement, which will be tabled for approval to company's Board over the next few weeks, it said.

The move comes amid a rapidly changing landscape of the PV business in the form of tightening emission norms, push towards electrification, enhanced disruptions from autonomous, and connected technologies.

Additionally, India continues to remain an attractive market for global OEMs while the aspiration levels of the Indian consumer continue to rise requiring stepped up investments in contemporary products in a competitive market," said the company.

Some are sceptical of the move, given the company's track record. "I am not sure if this will work in favour of the shareholders given their track record in seeking strategic partner, Mahantesh Sabarad, head of equity at SBICAP Securities.

Tata Motors has hived off several companies in the past in a bid to find a strategic partner but hasn't got much success. The only notable example is the construction equipment business, which it successfully managed to sell to Hitachi Construction after spinning it off as a separate entity, he said.

Over the past few years, its PV business has implemented a strong turnaround in terms of products. It has earned its right to grow by launching a slew of successful products like the Tiago, Tigor, Nexon, Hexa, Harrier, and most recently the Altroz and Nexon EV.

While a fully refreshed BS-VI ready product portfolio based on the Impact 2.0 design philosophy has helped the overall business, the recent covid-19 increases the challenges faced by the business. The company will take decisive steps to strengthen its business over the long-term.
Mass testing has been carried out in the Vatican after a priest living at the Popes residence tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Msgr. Gianluca Pezzoli, 58, head of the Italian section of the Vatican's Secretariat of State tested positive earlier this week. He is a permanent resident at Santa Marta, Efe news reported on Friday.

Pezzoli has now been hospitalized.

Pope Francis has already been tested once before after he had a bad cold but the result was negative. This was the pontiff's second coronavirus test.

On Friday, Roman newspaper Il Messaggero said that another official State Secretary had also tested positive for coronavirus, although he lived in a residence outside the Vatican.

The Holy See has confirmed the existence of four coronavirus cases: workers at the Vatican Museum and an employee of the papal state.

With the infection reported by the Roman newspaper on Friday the total number of Vatican infections would be five.

The Vatican has not reported on the measures that have been taken to protect Pope Francis from possible contagion.

According to the Roman newspaper, Pope Francis has stopped eating lunch in the common dining room and eats alone in his room and has limited visits, although he continues to receive people in private audiences.

He has also refused to move to the rooms of the papal palace, where previous popes lived, and which he rejected as he felt too isolated.

The Vatican has reported that the dicasteries (ministries) and other agencies have not suspended their activities, but have reduced the number of staff in the offices and promoted home working where possible.

The Vatican has also closed St. Peter's Square and the basilica temporarily until April 3, as a preventive measure against the spread of this virus.

Pope Francis offers daily morning mass, the general audiences on Wednesdays and the Angelus prayer which are all streamed online.

The pope has invited the faithful across the world to join him in prayer on Friday at 6 p.m.

The initiative was announced on Sunday's Angelus: "I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the means of communication".

The prayer comes after Wednesday's live-streamed ceremony during which Christians around the world gathered to pray the Our Father in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Friday, Italy reported 80,589 confirmed coronavirus cases with 8,215 deaths, the highest in the world.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art photographed in January, after interior demolition had begun. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is moving ahead with plans to demolish four structures and push forward on its $750-million building project, while the call for a coronavirus quarantine has prompted the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to pause construction.

The demolition of the buildings at the heart of LACMA's campus is set to begin in April, with completion targeted for late summer.

Before the pandemic, LACMA had entered what it called the preconstruction phase of its new, controversial Peter Zumthor-designed main building. All that work  including asbestos removal, demolition of internal walls and the erecting of construction barriers around parts of the campus  is still on track, the museum said, adding that its working with L.A. County officials and following state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health guidelines.

Workers from Clark Construction are wearing standard protective gear, museum representative Jessica Youn said, as well as taking all necessary protective measures in accordance with guidelines related to the virus, such as keeping six feet apart when working and frequently washing hands at additionally provided portable sinks. Planning and information meetings, normally held indoors, now are taking place outdoors. Youn noted that construction work  which is considered an essential business in California  is often an open-air activity that lends itself to social distancing.

Opponents of LACMA's building project have zeroed in on county funding that includes $117.5 million released last April, arguing that the money should be reallocated to address a pandemic that has led to mass shortages of much-needed medical supplies, such as face masks for health workers, COVID-19 test kits and ventilators for sick patients.

Should we be using county funds for this building project during a humanitarian crisis? asked Rob Hollman, board chairman of the advocacy group Save LACMA. Its public money that should be allocated elsewhere or at least available to be used. And if they are moving forward, they should explain why  why does this make sense now, in light of whats going on? Its wrong, ethically and morally.

Story continues

Museum Director Michael Govan said by email that the project was an investment in the future.

"If anything, Los Angeles is counting on us, more than ever, to keep our construction going, Govan said. Thousands of workers will be part of the project over the coming few years. LACMA will be an engine of job creation and economic recovery."

Architect Christopher C. Martin, whose 114-year-old family firm, AC Martin, designed and built Los Angeles City Hall as well as the former May Co. building next door to LACMA, pointed out the ramifications of delaying any work.

The most expensive component of construction is time, Martin said. A delay would cost more than concrete and steel and labor. Itd be foolhardy to reallocate funds because it would significantly damage the investment in place.

The Hammer Museum in Westwood, which is in the midst of a $90-million building expansion, also is moving forward with construction during its coronavirus closure. Workers from Matt Construction are following a 17-point COVID-19 prevention policy, said Marvin Wheat, Matt Construction president and chief compliance officer. The museum has been targeting a late 2020 completion date for the project, which will expand gallery space by 60% and include a new entrance along Wilshire Boulevard.

"The impacts of COVID-19 are still developing, still unfolding, across the museum field in all areas," Hammer representative Scott Tennant said. "So we are monitoring how that might impact construction, but we don't have any comment on what that will do to our construction timeline."

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, rising next door to LACMA, did halt the final stages of its construction a day before Gov. Gavin Newsom's safer-at-home order. The museum will reassess construction timelines as the pandemic unfolds, museum representative Stephanie Sykes said, but the plan is still to open the $482-million complex designed by Renzo Piano to the public on Dec. 14.

The $1-billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, filmmaker George Lucas' addition to L.A.'s Exposition Park, has paused construction for the next two weeks. The Lucas Museum was aiming to complete construction in late 2021, and representative Alex Capriotti said she couldn't speculate on changes to the timeline.

Tony Olea III, vice president of the Laborers International Union of North America, Local 300, which represents more than 8,000 people in L.A. County, said construction workers across the city are not only trying to keep six feet apart but are wiping down equipment.

I dont believe its harmful for them to be working," Olea said, "as long as theyre following safety practices.

LACMA is in the final phase of its troubled and sluggish fundraising campaign. It's now relying on the public to come through en masse to deliver the last $100 million needed for its future home. Despite the coronavirus crisis, soaring unemployment and the volatile stock market, Youn said LACMA has "no immediate concerns" about how philanthropy might be affected.

The balance of the campaign will be raised over the next two to three years, she said. "Since we have years to complete the public phase of the campaign, we have confidence that we can work through the economic crisis and recovery.
ALGIERS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A plane carrying Chinese medical aid arrived on Friday at the International Airport of Algiers, as part of the Chinese efforts to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in Algeria.

The medical supplies worth 450,000 U.S. dollars were donated by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).

The donation ceremony at the airport was attended by senior Algerian officials, Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Li Lianhe and CSCEC Algeria Manager Zhou Sheng.

"China and Algeria are bound by deep friendship and strategic relations. At a time when Algeria urgently needs medical protection equipment, China has managed to urgently purchase the equipment and donate them to Algeria," Li said.

This first batch of donation contains 500,000 medical surgical masks, 50,000 N95 masks and 2,000 units of medical protective clothing and medical face masks as well as respirators for intensive care, he noted.

"The Chinese government, public and private charity foundations, Chinese companies based both in Algeria and China, and Chinese nationals living in Algeria are all mobilized to contribute to the efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Algeria," the ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Lotfi Benbahmed, Algeria's vice health minister in charge of pharmaceutical industry, hailed the deep and strong relations between Algeria and China reflected in the donation.

"We are very proud of the relations and we are committed to strengthening the relations for the benefit of our peoples," he said.

On Friday, the Algerian health authorities announced 409 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 26 deaths in the North African country.
Cairo, March 28 : Iran announced 144 new deaths from COVID-19 and 2,926 new cases of infection. Meanwhile, Turkey's number of COVID-19 infections kept rising fastly as the second hardest-hit country in the Middle East.

The latest figures on Friday brought Iran's death toll to 2,378, as the total number of COVID-19 cases surged to 32,332, of whom 11,133 have recovered, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Friday, Iran started the implementation of a social distancing plan for one week. It could be extended if the authorities deem it necessary.

The plan includes further restrictions of the inter-city travels, the closure of public places like parks, swimming pools and entertaining centres, a ban on gatherings and reducing work hours of civil servants.

Iran is the worst-hit country in the Middle East, and the rise in the number of infections and death toll has not shown signs of easing so far despite the government's tightened efforts to stem the highly infectious disease.

Turkey, which has become the second hardest-hit country in the region, reported 2,069 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 5,698.

Turkey also reported 17 new deaths from the coronavirus, raising the total death toll to 92. So far, 42 people have recovered from the disease.

Meanwhile, Turkish and Chinese COVID-19 experts have exchanged views over fighting the novel coronavirus via a video conference.

Turkey's Science Committee for Coronavirus, and the Chinese officials and scientists exchanged know-how and experience about fighting the coronavirus during the three-hour meeting. The Chinese experts gave a presentation and a question-and-answer session on how to overcome the pandemic.

Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines announced its decision to suspend its flights to and from the U.S. city of New York over COVID-19 concerns.

In another development, the Turkish branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China announced the donation of medical supplies and cash worth about 100,000 U.S. dollars to support Turkey's battle against COVID-19.

Israel reported two new death cases from the novel coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 10, while total confirmed cases reached 3,035, up by 342 from Thursday.

Israeli genealogy and genetic testing company MyHeritage will collaborate with the Chinese biotech giant BGI Genomics to set up a coronavirus testing lab in Israel by April 9 and will conduct up to 20,000 tests a day. With the new lab, the number of daily coronavirus tests in Israel will increase to 30,000 in two weeks.

Iraq on Friday confirmed 76 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, bringing the total number of the infections to 458 and the death toll to 40.

The United Arab Emirates reported 72 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases to 405. Three more COVID-19 patients have fully recovered, bringing the total number of the cured to 55.

Morocco confirmed 58 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 333. A total of 21 people have died from the disease and 11 have recovered.

Egypt announced six new deaths and 41 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the infected to 536 and the death toll to 40. So far, 147 patients have recovered in Egypt, after three French nationals and 11 Egyptians left the hospital on Friday.

Tunisia reported 30 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 227.

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased by 23 to 391, seven of whom have died. The government has enforced a curfew in the cities since Thursday evening in an attempt to stem the spread of the disease.

Jordan reported 23 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 235. So far 16 patients have recovered.

Oman announced 22 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 131. A total of 23 patients have recovered.

Kuwait reported 17 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 225, of whom 57 have recovered and 168 are receiving treatment.

Qatar reported 12 new cases, raising the total number of COVID-19 infections to 549, of whom 43 patients have recovered.

Qatar said it will suspend all unnecessary trade activities starting Friday, including the closure of all cafes, education institutions, recreation facilities and wedding services.

Meanwhile, a plane carrying Chinese medical aid arrived on Friday at the International Airport of Algiers, as part of the Chinese efforts to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in Algeria.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Even though it was House and Senate Democrats who added key provisions to help Americas workers and hospitals, Trump only had Republicans at the bill signing.

Here was the list of attendees as provided to PoliticusUSA by the White House:

Trump Administration

President Donald J. Trump

Vice President Mike Pence

Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Department of the Treasury

Secretary Sonny Perdue, Department of Agriculture

Secretary Eugene Scalia, Department of Labor

Secretary Elaine Chao, Department of Transportation

Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, Trade Representative

Larry Kudlow, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council

Eric Ueland, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs

Members of Congress

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader

Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-TX

Rep. Greg Walden, R-OR

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH

It was Chuck Schumer, and Senate Democrats who stood tall and blocked Mitch McConnells scam coronavirus stimulus bill, and forced the Majority Leader to negotiate with Democrats on a truly bipartisan package.

Nancy Pelosi expertly got the bill through the House and stopped Rep. Thomas Massie from delaying passage. Pelosi and House Democrats negotiated on everything from expanded unemployment to the cash payments to Americans.

Trump and his party are trying to take a partisan victory lap when the real credit belongs to the Democrats who delivered for the American people.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The coronavirus pandemic is rearing its ugly head in New York State, and on Staten Island, as predicted.

More cases and deaths are reported every day. Hospitals are in danger of not having enough beds to deal with the expected influx of new patients. It could be another three weeks before we see the worst of it.

But for far too long, we havent known exactly where COVID-19 is hitting hardest in New York City.

We heard about patients overwhelming Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. We heard that some neighborhoods around the city were hot spots or clusters, places with high concentrations of coronavirus sufferers. Jewish orthodox communities in Borough Park and Williamsburg are reportedly among them.

The city Health Department releases information about how many coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations there are citywide and in each borough. The department also breaks down the number of cases and deaths by age and sex.

But the city hasnt released neighborhood-specific information.

An article from ProPublica slammed the citys handling of the stats, pointing out that cities like Newark, Los Angeles and Charlotte, N.C. provide COVID-19 information by neighborhood or zip code. Other locations around the country do the same.

The city told ProPublica that clusters are not applicable in this situation, given the amount of community transmission. City Hall told the New York Post that they were focused more on expanding hospital and morgue capacity, not on hot-spot demographics.

This even though Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference early in the pandemic said that he would talk about clusters if the need to do so arose. The memory of how the virus exploded in Westchester, and about how hot spot New Rochelle was put under lockdown, were still fresh in all our minds then.

More granular demographic information is needed to help us all deal with the pandemic. Not just for our peace of mind, but for our health.

For example: Given that COVID-19 is a density-driven illness, why do Queens and Brooklyn lead the boroughs in cases even though Manhattan is more densely populated? Why have Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx had more coronavirus deaths than Manhattan?

These are vital questions as New Yorkers look to keep themselves safe from the virus, and as officials look to tamp down the spread of the illness.

No, we dont want to target various ethnicities or religious groups or nationalities by pointing out that their communities have concentrated cases of COVID-19. There has already been enough anti-Asian xenophobia out there based on the fact the virus originated in China.

53 The coronavirus life in New York City: The new normal

Italy was devastated by COVID-19 in part because of its tight-knit families and multi-generational living situations, where grandma and grandpa reside with younger family members.

Is multi-generational living among various ethnic, immigrant or religious groups driving coronavirus numbers in certain areas in New York? Its a valid question, and would help New Yorkers understand just what kind of risk the virus poses, and to whom.

And yes, it might also come to pass that cluster areas might need to remain on lock down longer than areas that dont have high concentrations of virus sufferers. We need to know where those areas are.

On Friday, a map showing percentages of those who tested positive in various areas of the city was included on the Health Department website. Its not nearly enough to give us a clear picture of how the pandemic is affecting the city.

We need all the information we can get. Political correctness, if thats what it is, cant stand in the way of public health. Were in a life and death situation. De Blasio himself has said that we need to gird for battle against coronavirus.

In that battle, information is ammunition. We need more of it from City Hall.

RELATED COVERAGE:

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A 22-year-old Birmingham man is behind bars and charged in the robbery of a woman in the Riverchase Gallerias North parking deck.

Hoover police late Friday afternoon announced the arrest of Aiko Nahsima Deonte Mills. He is charged with first-degree robbery.

The holdup happened shortly before 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, on the third level of the deck. Joy Geer, a 21-year-old Jefferson State Community College baking and pastry major, was in between appointments so decided to kill some time at the mall.

She had just finished reading a text message on her phone and was gathering her belongings together to go inside when she heard, and felt, her drivers side window glass breaking. There was a man screaming but I really just saw a gun in my window, she said.

The assailant, described by Hoover police as an unknown black male, had busted her window with his gun and was yelling demands at Geer. She handed him her cell phone and he was screaming for her to give him the code. She told him there wasnt one.

He was getting frustrated, she said. He then asked for more. I kept telling him I didnt have anything, but he said, I dont care. Give me everything youve got.

Once the suspect got her wallet, he fled to a waiting vehicle and left the scene. The glass had cut me across the face and arms. There was piece lodged in my cheek, Geer said. I know I sat in my car for a second in shock.

I kept looking around hoping somewhere was there, she said, but she was alone. Thats when she sought help inside the mall. I needed to get inside and tell someone because I didnt know what he was going to do to someone else.

She quickly found help inside. Mills had fled the scene.

He surrendered to the Jefferson County Jail at 2:55 p.m. Friday. He is being held on $30,000 bond.

Weve spent a significant amount of time on this case and our detectives were determined to solve it, said Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector. The surveillance images supplied by the Riverchase Galleria were very helpful, as were numerous individuals who knew Mr. Mills and a vehicle associated with him.

Sometimes our society gets caught up in the no snitching mentality but this case is just one example of citizens being fed up with crime. Its always good to see the community involvement and their unwillingness to put up with this type behavior, Rector said. Its really easy for good people to do the right thing. As a department, were certainly not going to tolerate it either.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have been placed under a 14-day travel advisory in the latest effort by United States officials to slow down the rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus.

More than 121,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in the US and more than half are in those states, according to CNN's tally of cases reported by health officials.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new travel advisory Saturday night, urging people in those states to 'refrain from non-essential domestic travel' after President Donald Trump announced on Twitter he had asked for it.

The CDC said this advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services and food supply.

Trump also said a quarantine would not be necessary in those states. Earlier on Saturday, Trump tweeted that he was considering a two-week quarantine due to the pandemic, even though the governors of New York Connecticut and New Jersey were unaware of the possibility.

In an interview with CNN's Ana Cabrera Saturday evening, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a quarantine 'would be chaos and mayhem.'

'It's totally opposite everything he's been saying. I don't think it is plausible. I don't think it is legal.'

In the past days, federal and state authorities have been scrambling to slow down the spread of the deadly virus. The US surpassed Italy and China this week to become the country with the most coronavirus cases in the world.

At least 121,285 people in the US have contracted the virus since the first case was reported in late January. The death toll has reached 2,043, doubling in the last two days.

Tracking coronavirus cases in the US

Developments from around the country

 An infant dies in Illinois: State health officials reported the death of an infant under the age of one who had tested positive for the coronavirus -- believed to be the youngest person to have died with the virus in the United States. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said a 'full investigation is underway to determine the cause of death.'

 Trump approved four more emergency hospitals in New York: The facilities will be in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, Cuomo announced Saturday, and provide 4,000 beds. Additionally, a temporary overflow hospital with 1,000 beds will open at Manhattan's Javits Convention Center on Monday, the governor said. The USNS Comfort is set to arrive in New York City the same day, providing another 1,000 beds.

State officials believe the state will need 140,000 beds when it reaches the apex of the pandemic in an estimated 14 to 21 days, Cuomo said

 At least 215,000,000 Americans urged to stay home: Millions of Americans are under various stay at home or shelter in place orders as of Saturday evening, according to a CNN count based on census data.

 A 15-minute test is approved: On Friday, the FDA approved a coronavirus test that can provide results in less than 15 minutes, using the same technology that powers some rapid flu tests.

Pandemic will hit these states hard, top US doctor says

New hot spots have emerged across the country as case numbers escalate, including Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans, US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told 'CBS This Morning' on Friday.

In Chicago, hospitals and health officials have begun preparing for a surge in patients after Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city could see more than 40,000 hospitalizations in the next week, CNN affiliate WLS reported.

One registered ICU nurse with University of Chicago Medicine, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, told CNN that she's afraid of what the ICU will look like in another week as cases rise.

'The number of Covid patients we are getting is rapidly increasing every day,' she said, 'and all of us collectively worry about what will happen as it gets worse if this is where we are starting.'

University of Chicago Medicine officials did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.

In Louisiana, where deaths surged by more than 40% in a single day this week and continue to jump daily, hospitals are already working under stress.

Some ICU rooms had paper bags by the door that staff members used to store their N95 masks as they went in and out, one hospital employee told CNN. They have to reuse the masks, which are supposed to be disposable, until they are soiled.

New Orleans, already the epicenter in the state's cases, is also short on ventilators and equipment.

'This is going to be the disaster that defines our generation,' said Collin Arnold, director of the city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Meanwhile, officials elsewhere are also concerned their states could follow in New York's footsteps.

In Los Angeles County, cases more than tripled in six days, and one official says numbers will keep going up. Health Director Barbara Ferrer says she expects to see case counts in Los Angeles double every four days for the next two to three weeks.

'No matter where you are, this is coming to you,' Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thursday. 'Take all the measures you can now to make sure people are home.'

100,000 ventilators in 100 days

More than 225 million Americans as of Monday will be under orders to stay inside to help combat the virus.

To support a struggling economy, as thousands of businesses have shut down amid the outbreak and workers are staying home, President Donald Trump on Friday signed the largest emergency aid package in the country's history.

Some of its key elements include sending checks directly to individuals and families, a major expansion of unemployment benefits, money for hard-hit hospitals and health care providers, financial assistance for small businesses and $500 billion in loans for distressed companies.

State leaders have also urged him to respond to a looming shortage of medical supplies. The administration will facilitate the production or acquisition of '100,000 additional units' of ventilators through other means over a 100-day period, Trump said.

'We are manufacturing a lot of them (ventilators) now, we are accumulating a lot. We are taking a lot through the act,' Trump said, referring to the Defense Production Act, which he invoked Friday.

'Maybe we won't even need the full activation,' he said. 'We will find out, but we need the ventilators.'
Twenty-five years ago this month, 14 wolves from Canada were released into an ocean of elk on the rugged sweep of sagebrush steppe and pine forest of Yellowstone National Park to see what would happen.

The new wolves immediately set to out doing what they do best, hunting prey. What has unfolded since is a remarkable, continuing ecological and social drama that has changed the way biologists think about predators and the animals they stalk. It has also transformed parts of the nations oldest national park, redeemed the image of wolves in the popular imagination and inspired similar wildlife experiments around the world.

Wolves were erased from the park and the rest of the Northern Rockies in a sustained campaign of shooting, poisoning and trapping in the early 20th century. They were regarded as vermin, hated by ranchers fearful for their livestock and by hunters and outfitters worried about deer, elk and other quarry. Some of that enmity remains.

But, thanks largely to the wolfs reintroduction into Yellowstone, their reputation has swung from scourge to savior, at least among some, as biologists have come to understand the wolves role in maintaining the parks ecological balance.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:53:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China:

-- Chinese health authority said Saturday it received reports of 54 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Friday, all of which were imported. Three deaths and 29 new suspected cases were reported on the mainland, with all the deaths in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

-- The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 81,394 by the end of Friday, including 3,128 patients who were still being treated, 74,971 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,295 people who died of the disease.

-- Twenty provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland had reported no new domestic COVID-19 cases for more than 28 days by the end of Friday.

-- Wuhan continued to report no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday.

The health commission of Hubei, of which Wuhan is the capital, said Saturday the province also registered zero increase in new COVID-19 cases on Friday.

-- Hubei had removed all 1,450 highway checkpoints, except 51 others in Wuhan, to lift outbound traffic curbs as of Friday.

-- Domestic passenger flights will, starting from March 29, resume operations in Hubei except Wuhan, with cargo flights restoring operations in all airports across the province, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

-- Beijing reported one new confirmed case of COVID-19 from the United States over the past 12 hours by Saturday noon, and three imported cases on Friday, bringing the total number of imported cases in the national capital to 157.

-- Shanghai reported 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from overseas on Friday, all have been sent to designated hospitals for treatment. A total of 88 close contacts on flights have been put under concentrated medical observation.
India buys Israeli arms as doctors demand facemasks

Iran Press TV

Friday, 27 March 2020 7:54 AM

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to go ahead with an arms deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars with Israel, while healthcare workers in the country are grappling with a serious lack of masks and protective equipment in their fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

The Indian government said in a statement earlier this week that Israel will supply the country with 16,479 Negev light machine guns.

The arms deal signed on Thursday was originally authorized by the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) in February last year.

"The provisioning of this operationally urgent and very critically needed weapon will boost the confidence of the frontline troops and provide much-needed combat power to the Armed Forces," India's defense ministry said.

The news of the arms purchase has brought Modi's government under fire for its poor handling of the coronavirus crisis.

India, the world's second most populous country and fifth biggest economy, has so far reported 660 cases of COVID-19, and 13 deaths, according to health officials.

Doctors in need of protective gear

Doctors and healthcare workers came out on social media on Thursday, demanding full personal protection equipment as they are in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.

This came after a doctor in Delhi, along with his wife and daughter, tested positive for the coronavirus.

It was revealed later that some 800 people, who had visited the doctor, had to be quarantined.

President of the Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum, Harjit Singh Bhatti, said Thursday that healthcare professionals face the highest risk of getting infected.

"Thus, I urge the prime minister to provide us with adequate protective gear, like masks, gowns, head covers, etc," he told Turkish news agency Anadolu.

"A doctor can become a super spreader, patients can get affected. If we remain safe, we will help keep others safe," he added.

PM Modi under fire

Indian activists and politicians also denounced the government's decision over the arms deal with Israel.

"Why is the government of India choosing to spend massive amounts on military purchases instead of prioritizing a corona relief package, medical infrastructure, free healthcare and testing for all?" asked activist Kavita Krishnan.

Speaking to the Middle East Eye, a retired professor of International Relations and Global Politics at the University of Delhi called the government's move "extraordinary and highly condemnable."

"India needs every rupee to deal with the very real danger of the coronavirus pandemic spreading in a country of 1.3 billion people," said Achin Vanaik.

In an extraordinary measure on Tuesday, Modi ordered his country's entire population to stay inside their homes for 21 days, starting Wednesday.

"It is clear that the PM had nothing to offer as a government in tackling this crisis," said Apoorvanad, a professor at the University of Delhi.

"Instead, Modi is taking India on the course of demagoguery, and this is all it has to offer the people," he added.

He said that prioritizing "arms at a time of a crisis was only part of a larger attempt" to turn India into a "security state," like Israel.

"The so-called security of the state is all that matters," he said. "So it keeps on invoking enemies, either outside or within. And it has turned people, especially Hindus into paranoid masses."

Modi is becoming the Benjamin Netanyahu of India, a London-based journalist told Press TV recently.

Shahid Qureshi, a writer and political analyst with The London Post, said that Modi "has taken inspiration" from Netanyahu in approving a deal that discriminates against the Muslim population of India.

India has recently been the scene of sectarian riots and communal violence, after the Modi government approved a controversial law that offered a path to Indian citizenship for six religious groups from neighboring countries, but excluded Muslims.

In an incident in New Deli last month, nearly 500 people were killed and over 100 wounded as Hindu nationalist mobs roamed the streets "burning and looting mosques together with Muslim homes, shops and businesses."

The deadly violence, took place on the eve of a state visit by US President Donald Trump who is infamous for his anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies.

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For the past month, as Italy progressively became the new epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, death has been weighing heavily on the shoulders of frontline medical workers.

With the countrys death toll totalling 10,023  almost double that of anywhere else in the world  and with 92,472 confirmed cases, doctors and nurses work gruelling shifts to manage hospitals overflowing with patients, often at the expense of their own psychological wellbeing.

As an anaesthetist trained in providing pain relief and managing resuscitation, Gregorio Spagnolin is as used to saving lives as much as letting them go. Yet nothing prepared him for what he saw during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Accepting the death of a metastatic cancer patient is easier than accepting the death of a 30-year-old patient, he says. Now, its a daily routine.

In one day, he now witnesses as many deaths as he used to in the span of a month. But the sheer size of the catastrophe hitting Italy goes beyond numbers.

The hardest thing to process emotionally is how these people die, Spagnolin tells The Independent. They are alone.

Hospitalised Covid-19 patients follow rigorous isolation and infection control protocols that make family visits impossible. At times, the 31-year-old anaesthetist has bent hospital rules, wrapping his own personal phone in plastic to avoid contagion and give patients the chance to say a final goodbye.

In theory this is not allowed, but its the only humane thing to do, he says. He declined to provide the details of the hospital he works in, which is located in the hard-hit Lombardy region, as he was not authorised to speak in its name.

Medical personnel are working under enormous pressure, including a high risk of infection coupled at times with inadequate protection. More than 5,000 sanitary operators have tested positive to the virus amid a chronic shortages of face masks, swabs and basic supplies.

This can lead to stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, according to a study published on the scientific journal The Lancet in February that focused on medical personnel in Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China, where the virus was first recorded in December.

Spagnolin says the commitment to his work feels too engrossing to allow for any consideration of the long-term psychological repercussions.

Physical contact has been removed from both their professional work and their private lives, at a time when perhaps all they need is a hug Ivan Giacomel, psychologist

When youre at war you do not realise what you feel, he says. You just fight.

But the weight of this responsibility has become too much for some to bear. A 49-year-old nurse working with Covid-19 patients in the province of Venice died by suicide last week, followed by a second 34-year-old nurse, Daniela Trezzi, in Monza, north of Milan.

According to colleagues who spoke to the National Federation of Nurses (FNOPI), Trezzi might have been gripped by guilt for possibly having spread the infection. An inquiry by the hospital was ongoing to ascertain whether she had tested positive to the virus.

Ivan Giacomel, a psychologist providing support to medical personnel in Lombardy and a member of the Italian Society of Emergency Psychologists (SIPEM), says doctors and nurses with no previous experience of dealing with life-threatening conditions are witnessing the deadliest effects of the coronavirus outbreak, with dire repercussions on their psychological wellbeing.

A lot depends on how strong the individual is, but many of them are left feeling shuttered and powerless, Giacomel tells The Independent. They are thrown into a situation where people are dying all around them, which is unprecedented in our sanitary system.

Stress is compounded by isolation, as social interaction with family and friends is annulled in fear of contagion. Physical contact has been removed from both their professional work and their private lives, at a time when perhaps all they need is a hug, he says.

Giacomel compared the current situation to a war zone and predicted that long-term repercussions will include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), undermining the health of the sanitary system as a whole for the foreseeable future.

There are nurses who have not properly rested in weeks in order to fill the gap in personnel Giancarlo Cicolini, head of National Federation of Nurses

Organisations including SIPEM and the Soleterre NGO are offering free psychological support to medical personnel and volunteers experiencing symptoms that may affect their decision-making ability and have a lasting effect on their overall wellbeing.

Giancarlo Cicolini, head of FNOPI, says this crisis has hit nurses particularly hard because of an underlying shortage in staff. According to statistics provided by the organisation, Italys ratio of 5.5 nurses to every 1,000 inhabitants is well below the EU average of 8.9.

There are nurses who have not properly rested in weeks in order to fill the gap in personnel, Cicolini says.

All countries preparing for a surge in coronavirus cases should pull human resources to avoid reaching a similar breaking point.
Actor Suresh Gopi is known for his red-blooded cop roles, be it Bharath Chandran IPS or Mohammed Sarkar IPS. The level of his portrayal as an aggressive yet virtuous police officer remains untouched by any other Malayalam actor till now. He has gained the attention of the people after a recent incident. Well, a video, that has been surfacing over the internet, shows a Kerala police officer clashing with a man who was violating the Coronavirus lockdown. The cop's 'manhandling' has been compared with that of Suresh Gopi's police characters.

While talking about it in an interview with a popular Malayalam news channel, the actor said that the people, criticising the police for arresting the youth during the lockdown, should be slapped. While being questioned on what he feels about the police controlling the public during the outbreak, he said there is nothing wrong in using foul languages or force to control the situation by the police, as far as it is not hurting a person. He added that everyone should support the Kerala police for being impeccably responsible.

Surprisingly, the actor revealed that his younger son is in self-quarantine after returning from London.

On a related note, Suresh Gopi had his recent outing with Varane Avashyamund. The actor had received appreciation for his role as Major Unnikrishnan. He is currently hosting the popular game show, Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran.

Mohanlal & Priyadarshan Are Impressed With Varane Avashyamund
There is so much paranoia and fear around the world due to the coronavirus outbreak and it has become quite natural for people to freak out when a person next to them coughs or sneezes.

This is because the coronavirus which is wreaking havoc is mostly spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Given this situation, it was shocking that someone can joke about deliberately sneezing to spread the virus.

AFP

But unfortunately, this has happened! Mujeeb Mohammad, a resident of Bengaluru posted on Facebook saying: "Let's join hands, go out and sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus." According to his now-deleted Facebook profile he was an employee of tech giant Infosys. After the screenshots of the post went viral on social media, Infosys tech giant had initially believed that it could be a case of mistaken identity.



On Thursday, Infosys had said, "We are deeply concerned with an inappropriate post being attributed to an Infosys employee. We strongly reaffirm our commitment to responsible social-sharing. "Our preliminary enquiry, and discussions with our employees suggest that this could be a case of a mistaken identity... However, given the seriousness with which we take such matters, we are investigating this further and will also assist with any independent investigation. The company would take appropriate action based on its investigation," it added.

BCCL

But later Infosys confirmed that Mujeeb Mohammad was its employee and stated that he has been terminated from service. "Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity," the company tweeted late on Saturday night.



The social media post by the employee is against Infosys code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. Infosys has a zero tolerance policy towards such acts and has accordingly, terminated the services of the employee. (2/2)  Infosys (@Infosys) March 27, 2020

The company said that the social media post by the employee was against Infosys's code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. "The social media post by the employee is against Infosys' code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. Infosys has a zero tolerance policy towards such acts and has accordingly, terminated the services of the employee," it added in its post.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police has also registered a case against Mohammed under Section 505 of IPC. "The person who put this post saying people should go out and sneeze and spread the virus has been detained. His name is Mujeeb. He works in a software company," Bengaluru Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil said in a statement, adding an investigation is underway.

He has been a resident of Bengaluru for around 25 years. A case has been registered against him," Patil said.
New Jersey had another record-setting day Friday in coronavirus statistics: 27 new deaths, the largest yet in a single day, bringing the total to 108 residents who have succumbed to COVID-19.

The number of cases in the state surged to 8,825, from 6,876. Of those, 17 percent, or 1,505, are in Bergen County, which has consistently been the epicenter of the pandemic for the state.

Bergen County alone now has more cases of coronavirus than 38 U.S. states, including Texas and Colorado. When combined with totals across the Hudson River, New Jersey and New York combine for more than half of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco told NJ Advance Media that his jurisdictions high rate of cases is partly due to more testing becoming available. A large number of Bergen Countys 932,000 residents also travel for work to New York City, which has the most cases in the United States.

Heres a roundup of more coronavirus news:

Why is there a 7-day delay to process coronavirus tests in N.J.? Officials originally said that test results would be available within 2 to 5 days. But State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Friday that the backlog of testing" has created an overwhelming volume of requested tests, creating a lag as high as seven days. That means the number of cases in the state is likely higher than what is being reported.

Murphy calls for anyone with medical training to join N.J.'s battle against coronavirus. We need you. State officials are asking retired healthcare workers and anyone with medical training to help New Jerseys medical system battle the coronavirus that threatens to overwhelm it, with a surge in hospitalized patients expected by the middle of next month.

Murphy orders N.J. businesses to disclose protective equipment they have to fight coronavirus. All companies and non-hospital businesses in New Jersey had until 5 p.m. to send the state government an inventory of what protective and medical equipment they have that heath-care workers could use to battle the coronavirus. That includes respirators, masks, gloves, goggles, and ventilators.

Coronavirus outbreak will keep N.J. motor vehicle offices closed an extra 2 weeks.The directive from Commission Chief Sue Fulton Friday means inspections facilities will remain shut and road tests will continue to be suspended. The earliest they can open is now April 13. The closure is meant to reinforce the social-distancing directives Gov. Phil Murphy imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Sorry, hanging out while 6 feet apart isnt coronavirus social distancing, expert says. The six-feet rule is for when people need to leave their homes for essential reasons, such as running to the store for groceries, or going on a run or walk for the good of physical and mental health. Its not meant for neighbors spread out in a circle, drinking beer or wine in the street.

Man arrested after threatening Orthodox Jews over coronavirus rules, cops say. A Howell man was arrested Friday for threatening in a Facebook post to harm members of the Lakewood Jewish community not complying with state-mandated rules about not having large gatherings in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Rebecca Panico, Brent Johnson, Rebecca Everett, Susan K. Livio, Chris Ryan and Chris Sheldon contributed to this report.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Cape-wearing superheroes are not the only ones who save the day. Frontline health workers also are.

The Medical City, in a video posted on Facebook, pays tribute to their medical staff that it says go beyond their call of duty to help sick people.

Some of TMC's doctors and nurses have not gone home to their families since March 14, the start of the Metro Manila quarantine, the hospital says.

They are also not allowed to get in close contact with anyone else outside the isolation ward to avoid passing on the infection to others.

Halfway through the video, the TMC staff is seen dedicating a song Pagsubok by Filipino rock band Orient Pearl to those in the COVID-19 ward, hoping to ease their feelings of isolation.

As of Friday, the TMC said 122 of their health workers were on quarantine.

TMC is also providing health care to 36 COVID-19 patients and 12 other people who may be carriers of the deadly virus.

Nationwide, the virus has infected 803 people and killed 54 as of Friday. At least nine of the COVID-19 fatalities were frontline doctors.
Germany has repatriated more than 160,000 of its nationals from abroad as borders close due to the coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Saturday.

The foreign ministry had earlier estimated that around 200,000 Germans were stranded abroad and seeking repatriation.

Most were tourists who found themselves stuck after the country they were visiting closed its borders and suspended flights in and out.

"We have so far repatriated over 160,000 Germans," Maas said on Twitter. "We are going to continue," he added.

The government last week agreed to spend 50 million euros (USD 56 million) in a deal with commercial airlines to fly citizens home from affected regions.

EU foreign ministers have agreed to share flight capacity and data to help return as many people as possible to the bloc.

On Thursday EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc had managed to repatriated some 100,000 Europeans trapped overseas.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, closed its land borders last week and the European Union has also sealed its external borders to incoming travellers to try to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Germany has also imposed a ban on gatherings of more than two people, and shut schools, non-essential shops, bars and restaurants.

The Robert Koch Institute disease control authority on Friday reported over 42,000 confirmed coronavirus infections in Europe's most populous nation, and 253 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed Centre alleging that it has no contingency plan in place for the migrants who are leaving big cities in the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown.

"Out of work and facing an uncertain future, millions of our brothers and sisters across India are struggling to find their way back home. It's shameful that we've allowed any Indian citizen to be treated this way and that the Government had no contingency plans in place for this exodus," he tweeted.

Earlier today, Gandhi hit out at the Centre over the appalling condition of migrant workers who are walking miles on foot to reach their homes in various parts of the country amid COVID-19 lockdown, and said that bringing citizens to such a state is a "very big crime".

"The government is responsible for this terrible condition. Bringing citizens to such a state is a very big crime," Gandhi tweeted.

Stating that all citizens should at least get support and respect, he urged the government to take concrete steps so that the current situation does not turn into a tragedy.

"Today, in the hour of crisis, our brothers and sisters should at least get respect and support. The government should take concrete steps as soon as possible so that it does not become a major tragedy," he said.

The Congress MP also urged people and Congressmen to come forward to provide food, water and shelter to migrant workers.

"Today hundreds of our brothers and sisters, including the hungry and thirsty families, have to walk towards their villages. Whoever of you can give them food, water, shelter on this difficult path, please give it! I particularly appeal for help from Congress workers and leaders. Jai Hind!" he said.

Hundreds of people, comprising mostly of migrant workers and their families, from Delhi, Gurugram and other places gathered at Lal Kuan in Ghaziabad near Delhi to take buses to their respective destinations amid the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twelve cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed in Kerry by Monday evening according to figures released by the Department of Health, and this will continue to increase almost daily in the coming weeks.

Kerry people are currently being tested at the a centre in the Mitchels area of Tralee.

Other locations have been examined around the county, including hotels, as potential test centres for Covid-19 but on Tuesday the HSE stated there are no plans to open other tests centres in Kerry at the moment However they hope to increase capacity in the Kerry centre to about 500 tests daily amid the wide-spread concerns about waiting times for tests and results.

As the current pandemic continues, the Government has introduced tighter guidelines following on from reports of large gatherings and limited social distancing at outdoor locations and food outlets over the weekend. These scenes caused upset to Micheal Prendergast and his mother, Joan, who know first-hand just how deadly the virus is. Micheal, who is from Castlemaine, is one of the 12 diagnosed cases in Kerry and was rushed to UHK for treatment last Thursday.

The 28-year old has spoken from his hospital bed to the media in a bid to encourage people to stay at home.

"We all think that we are invincible, but this is going to affect everyone in Ireland at varying degrees. It may not affect a young person as bad as me, but it will most certainly affect their parents or grandparents," he said.

"It is a cruel, cruel illness."

Micheal is fit and healthy, and though he has asthma, he has not suffered from an attack in years. Yet he still got extremely ill.

It is believed he may have contracted the disease in London. The former student of the Intermediate School in Killorglin said that he found it difficult to breathe and suffered convulsions from the infection.

Micheal returned home to Castlemaine on Monday and is now recovering isolated from his family. His mother, Joan, who has also been tested and is awaiting a result, also has symptoms, is in isolation in the same house. She said her symptoms include a runny nose and a cough and pains.

It took her four days to get tested and, to date, it has been three days waiting for a result.

Her message to the public is follow the guidelines to save others suffering as her family have but also she says people do recover from the illness.

"Micheal is going to recover. He is still very weak. [But] People do recover."
Two Canadians are among the first passengers transferred from Holland Americas Zaandam cruise ship, where four people have died of COVID-19 and more than a hundred others have flu-like symptoms, to a sister ship called Rotterdam off the coast of Panama.

The cruise line began separating healthy passengers on Friday from those on the Zaandam using tenders, small boats that travel with the ship and are accessible from an opening in the cruise ship just above the water line.

Passengers were given a quick health screening before being allowed to leave, said Greg Weston, who is travelling with his 75-year-old father Fenton Weston, and was on the first boat load of 64 passengers.

I think overall there has been a sense of relief among the passengers to be on the Rotterdam, mixed with sadness for the people that passed away, and sympathy for the sick people still aboard the Zaandam, said Greg Weston in an email.

The transferring of passengers is expected to continue all day Saturday and Sunday, he said.

The federal government is monitoring the situation.

We are aware of 247 Canadian passengers and one Canadian crew member on the Zaandam cruise ship currently anchored in Panama, said Global Affairs Canada in an email Saturday. No Canadians have died.

We continue to engage with the passengers and Holland America. Passengers without symptoms are being transferred to the MS Rotterdam with plans to dock at a U.S. port in the coming days, according to the release. The cruise line was waiting to hear if Panamanian officials would approve the ships passage through the Panama Canal so it could sail to Fort Lauderdale, Florida but that request has been denied.

Holland America said in an email it is working on alternative options.

Zaandam has been at sea after it left Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 7. It arrived at its destination, San Antonio, Chile, two weeks later, where it was denied permission to dock. Holland America had already announced on March 17 that it was suspending global operations.

Passengers on Zaandam started to report influenza-like symptoms to the ships medical centre on March 22, according to a release from the cruise line, at which point all passengers were asked to keep to their staterooms.

As of a March 27 release from the company, a total of 53 passengers and 85 crew had reported feeling sick. Holland America has not provided updated numbers.

The ship has four doctors and four nurses. There are another two doctors and four nurses on the Rotterdam. Medical supplies, including oxygen tanks, have been transferred onto the Zaandam, according to a statement from the Panama Maritime Authority.

The authority also said 401 asymptomatic passengers would be transferred to the Rotterdam. The Zaandam has a total of 1,243 passengers and 586 crew on board, according to Holland America. Guests and crew have been given face masks, with instructions on how to use them.

In a tweet, the Panama Canal authority said personnel, including line handlers, boarding officers and pilots, are required to board ships and that any vessel carrying passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19 cannot transit the canal, as per the countrys health ministry guidelines.

(Late Saturday, Holland America released a statement saying it had received reports that the Panama Canal authority would allow them to transit the canal. This remains a dynamic situation, and we continue to work with the Panamanian authorities to finalize details, according to the statement from the cruise line.)

Greg, who works for a financial firm in Toronto, and his father left Canada on March 4 and spent two days in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before boarding the cruise ship on March 7.

He said things started to unravel, after the first week. A scheduled stop in Ushuaia, Argentina was cancelled because the country was no longer accepting cruise ships. Passengers were then told the cruise would terminate in Punta Arenas, Chile, but officials there wouldnt let passengers disembark, says Weston.

The ship went on to Valparaiso, Chile, to refuel and load up on supplies and then headed for Panama on March 21.

We seemed to be headed on the way home, said Weston, who said all the passengers had passed a health screening in Punta Arenas. We were in the middle of an ocean feeling safe, he said.

But the next day, around 2 p.m., he said the captain announced that several passengers and crew had complained of flu-like symptoms and confined passengers to their rooms. He says they found out Friday that four passengers had died and two had tested positive for the virus.

Weston says the crew on-board the Zaandam and Rotterdam have been absolutely terrific during this time. Can't say enough positive things about them.

It is still up in the air about where we will end up, says Weston. At this point, we just want to get home to start our two-week quarantine period.
Holding the government responsible for the plight of migrant workers who are walking down to their native places in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that it take concrete steps so that the situation "does not become a major tragedy".

He also appealed to Congress workers to help such migrants by offering them food and shelter.

"The government is responsible for this terrible condition. It is a big crime to bring citizens to this condition.

"Today, in the hour of crisis, our brothers and sisters should at least get respect and support. The government should take concrete steps as soon as possible so that it does not become a major tragedy," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He said "hundreds of our starved and thirsty brothers and sisters, along with their families, are forced to walk down towards their villages".

"If you can, please provide them with food, water, shelter to them during this arduous journey. I particularly appeal for help from Congress workers and leaders. Jai Hind," Gandhi also tweeted in Hindi.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said when government can send planes to bring back Indians from abroad, why it cannot provide transport to send the labourers home.

"How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? There are men, women and children who are walking as far as Eastern UP and Bihar," she said.

"We sent planes to bring citizens from Europe, why aren't we organising transport to take the poorest and most vulnerable amongst us home," she tweeted.

She said it is the government's moral duty to help fellow citizens in this time of crisis.

"For God's sake, Modi ji and Amit Shah ji please use the power you have been given to save their lives," Priyanka Gandhi said in an appeal to the PM and Home minister.

"Do not give this treatment to our own Indians. We should be ashamed that we have left them in this state. These are our own. Labour is the backbone of the country. Please help them," she said.

She lauded the efforts of UP Congress in helping the people in this hour of crisis.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram termed it "another distressing example of the government's unpreparedness".

The Congress has been critical of the government's handling of the situation, accusing it of not taking adequate steps to mitigate the plight of migrant labour force.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had also written to the prime minister, urging him to take immediate steps to help the poor migrant labour force, who have been forced to return home on foot in the absence of public transport amid the country-wide lockdown due to coronavirus.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also tweeted: "Respected Prime Minister, It is most important to stop this human tragedy. Two pleas: Full ration, half pay. Just food and medicine, Every person should reach home safely."



The Union Home Ministry on Saturday changed the rules for assistance under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), facilitating availability of money for food and temporary accommodation for migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown.

In a communication to all chief secretaries, the ministry also said medical care and clothing can be provided to migrant workers during the period.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan on Friday opened its borders with its all-weather ally China for a day to accept Chinese medical supplies to fight the growing coronavirus outbreak in the country which has infected 1,235 people and claimed nine lives, officials said. China on Thursday asked Pakistan to open the border between the two countries for one day on Friday so that medical supplies to fight coronavirus pandemic could be transported into the country.

According to Pakistan's health ministry, the number of confirmed cases are nearly 1,235 with Sindh province on the top with 429 patients. The largest province of Punjab followed with 408, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 147, Balochistan 131, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 91, Islamabad 27 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with 2 patients.

According to the government data, 9 patients have died, 23 have recovered and 7 are in critical condition. One new case was reported in PoK, taking the tally to 2. Complete lockdown has been imposed by the regional government and strict measures were taken to prevent the further spread. China was providing critical medical supplies to Pakistan and the Khunjerab pass between the two countries was opened on Friday to let the goods enter Pakistan, according to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad.

"Medical supplies from Xinjiang, China to Pakistan is delivered through Khunjerab (5,000m) port today, highest land port on Earth. Both sides from China and Pakistan braved the cold, cleared the roads, made good preparations for the delivery of the medical supplies at the Khunjerab Pass, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan tweeted on Friday.

Meanwhile, several cases of extreme negligence were also being reported from different areas. A person with suspected coronavirus infection in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was allowed to go home after giving samples on March 24, Geo News reported. Later, he was tested positive and the authorities took him to a hospital and put the entire village in quarantine. On Wednesday, Bhara Khahu town in Islamabad was sealed after several cases emerged in the locality. Earlier, a village of Mardan area was sealed after spike in the cases. Pakistan and China describe their relations as all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests.
The coronavirus outbreak has led to a 900 per cent uptick in hate speech toward China and Chinese people on Twitter, according to a report by a tech startup. "People are spending more and more time on social networks, communication apps, chat rooms and gaming services, and the problems endemic to these platforms -- hate, abuse, toxicity and bullying -- have become accentuated," the Israel-based company L1ght said in its report. "According to our data, much of this hate and abuse is being directed towards China and its population, as well as individuals of Asian ...

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Panama City

Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday, with hundreds of passengers unsure how long they will remain at sea.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

"Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time." It did not identify the cause of death.

The ship, which had been denied passage through the Panama Canal and had been turned away from other ports, was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam, and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

"Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70," the statement said. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Fl., after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of San Antonio, Chile, a week ago.

The cruise line said no one had been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.

On March 22, when a number of passengers began reporting flu-like symptoms, the ship instituted protective measures, the cruise line said.

On Thursday, all passengers and crew received masks and instruction on how to use them.

Panama's Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Arauz said Friday that the ships were authorized to maneuver, but no one would be allowed ashore.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vasquez.

It was not immediately clear on Friday where either cruise ship would go.
After a federal appeals court ruling last year that upheld the Federal Communications Commission repeal of federal net neutrality regulations but at the same time challenged several major aspects of the rollback, the court required the FCC to once again solicit public comments. While the FCCs Donald Trump-appointed chair Ajit Pai was forced to agree, he set a quick deadline of March 30 for the public feedback period.

But while pressure from activists and digital rights groups could not persuade Pai (pictured above) to budge from the early deadline, the coronavirus pandemic appears to have accomplished what they could not. In an order signed on Wednesday, Pai pushed the cutoff date for public comments from March 30 to April 20.

Todays extension of the period for public comment about net neutrality is welcome, said Jessica Rosenworcel, one of two Democrats on the five-member FCC board, and an advocate of net neutrality. However, when it comes to collecting public feedback on what the FCCs net neutrality repeal means when it comes to public safety and low-income consumers, an even longer extension would have been appropriate. The American public cares about net neutrality and should have every opportunity to let Washington know how important it is for every part of our civic and commercial lives.

The FCC first posted a notice for the new round of comments on February 19, but at the time, Rosenworcel criticized Pai for posting the call in the form of a document thats all legalese. She took to Twitter to encourage supporters of net neutrality rules to post comments.

According to a report by The Daily Dot, hundreds of pro-net neutrality comments were quickly posted by internet users from around the country.

Under net neutrality, according to Quartz senior writer Ephrat Livni, service providers cant slow, block, or prioritize one type of data over another, meaning they cant manipulate service to ensure those who can afford to do so spend more for better broadband.

In an op-ed posted to Quartz on Thursday, Livni wrote that the coronavirus crisis demonstrates the need for the internet to be classified as a public utility, due to the need for unrestricted communication of information about the spreading disease.

Under the FCCs repeal order, the internet was reclassified as an information service, meaning that it would be largely unregulated by the government.

Photo by Federal Communications Commission / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
Global air-travel restrictions have caught up to northern Manitoba carriers such as Perimeter Aviation and Calm Air.

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Global air-travel restrictions have caught up to northern Manitoba carriers such as Perimeter Aviation and Calm Air.

Winnipeg-based Exchange Income Corp., which owns those airlines as well as Bearskin Airlines and Keewatin Air, has cut back on all its scheduled service and has had to temporarily lay off staff.

Mike Pyle, CEO of the company, said the layoffs are a result of volume declines.

"It is unfortunate but we have had to respond to the rapidly changing situation (caused by the COVID-19 pandemic) and significantly reduce our scheduled flights," he said.

First Nations in northern Manitoba have imposed essential travel restrictions. Perimeter is the only scheduled carrier to many of those communities.

"We are still flying to all the communities just at reduced frequency," Pyle said. "We very much understand our social responsibility in the North and we are looking after our clients."
Two coronavirus patients in New York City were treated with a new drug 'fast-tracked' for HIV and breast cancer - and they went from being on ventilators in the ICU to regular hospital in a matter of days.

Based on the results of a small initial trial, biotech firm CytoDyn believes their drug, leronlimab, has potential for treating patients severely ill with coronavirus.

They believe that the drug can quell the 'cytokine storm' - a deluge of immune cells that can be as damaging as the infection itself - that triggers life-threatening lung inflammation in coronavirus patients.

Leronlimab has only been tested in seven critically ill patients thus far, but two are now free from ventilators, and another two more show signs that the severe inflammation sending their lungs into organ failure are subsiding.

There are no approved treatments for coronavirus, but the CytoDyn's drug is among the latest being tested to help save the lives of Americans with coronavirus, of which there are now well over 100,000 - and if it continues to show promise it could get FDA approval in as little as little as six weeks.

Leronlimab, a drug under development for HIV and cancer, seems to combat the 'cytokine storm' blamed for devastating lung inflammation in coronavirus

Developing a drug that targets the coronavirus itself take time and money - both of which are in short supply in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientists, universities, and the World Health Organization are all racing to test existing drugs or those in development against the virus that has already killed more than 1,500 Americans.

Among those is a drug that has already been fast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating another virus - HIV - as well as cancer.

Leronlimab is already in trials and showing promise for treating HIV.

But scientists CytoDyn think that their drug's benefit for coronavirus patients is not an antiviral one.

What's killing coronavirus patients is a complication of the virus: pneumonia.

The virus binds to lung cells, and the immune system kicks into high gear to fight the infection with every weapon it has, despite the fact that we do not have antibodies specific to COVID at the ready.

This flood of immune cells, including cytokines - the immune system's communication system.

In New York, more than 1,000 US patients are critically ill, and need ventilators. Seven have been treated with leronlimab, and all but one has shown improvement. Pictured: a patient loaded into an ambulance amid New York's outbreak

Cytokines tell the immune system to send a deluge of chemicals from white blood cells to attack the infection, causing inflammation.

When inflammation gets out of control and fluid starts to fill the alveoli in the lungs, a patient develops pneumonia.

In the case of many of the sickest coronavirus patients, this leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a condition that requires ventilation, and even then can prove fatal.

Leronlimab interrupts this domino effect by calming the cytokine storm.

It's not entirely clear how the drug does this, but it's a phenomenon that CytoDyn has seen not only in its first small set of coronavirus patients but in 840 HIV patients who saw significant reductions in their levels of inflammation.

CytoDyn president Dr Nader Pourhassan said that if the drug continues to show promise, it could get emergency approval in a matter of weeks

For their COVID-19 trial, doctors at a New York hospital gave the drug to seven severely ill coronavirus patients.

The drug is given via two injections - one on each side of the abdomen.

For the first patient, a person in their 70s, improvements came almost immediately, and were considerable, from what the doctor overseeing the trial told the company's president.

'One of [the patients] self-extubating,' meaning they removed their own ventilator tube, 'and was alert an hour or two after treatment,' CytoDyn president Dr Nader Pourhassan told DailyMail.com.

'The doctor said that this patient, in the last three days before treatment, was intubated and extubated and every time they intubated him, within four to six hours they immediately had to intubate him again.'

Since the patient pulled out their own breathing tube, they've been doing well and has been off the ventilator.

This patient as well as the second patient treated have both now been taken off a blood pressure drug that was being used to help them cope with the distress of COVID-19 too.

Three days after the first injections of leronlimab were given, bloodwork from these and two other patients showed that the cytokine storm was subsiding.

A second dose of leronlimab was given a week after the first.

New Yorkers now comprise more than half of the more than 100,000 Americans with coronavirus, fueling particular anxiety in the state of more than eight million residents

All but one of the patients have so far been steadily improving.

Dr Pourhassan says that the company is less than two weeks from turning in all their filings to the FDA for approval of leronlimab for HIV treatment.

The drug's fast-tracked status means it could be approved for HIV in as little as six months, but the FDA has also already asked for a second protocol to approve leronlimab for further coronavirus testing.

CytoDyn is set to give the drug to another 75 patients with mild or moderate coronavirus, and if they, like the first set of patients, show signs that 'the cytokine storm goes down and the patient is not having a problem clearing the virus...it could get FDA-approval very quickly,' said Dr Pourhassan.

The doctor running the trial in New York - who must remain anonymous until the FDA says the hospital and doctor's name can be revealed - told Dr Pourhassan drugs showing promise for coronavirus could be approved in as little as six weeks.
Deliveries of thousands of urns in Wuhan have raised doubts over China's official coronavirus death toll.

Photos have circulated on social media of families collecting ashes of those who have died from the virus.

Meanwhile local media has reported funeral homes have been receiving thousands of urns.

Deliveries of thousands of urns in Wuhan have raised doubts over China's official coronavirus death toll. Pictured: a man wearing a hazmat suit carries shopping bags in Wuhan

One funeral home even received two shipments of 5,000 urns in just two days, according to a Chinese news outlet, via the New York Post.

It is not known how many of the urns were filled with ashes.

China has so far reported 3,300 coronavirus-related deaths, with the majority taking place in Wuhan where the pandemic is believed to have originated.

Funeral workers have refused to comment on the numbers, saying they did not know how many urns were being collected.

It comes as Italy and the US have overtaken China as the hotbeds of the virus.

America is now recording more new coronavirus cases per day than anywhere else in the world, although Italy has a higher fatality rate.

Wuhan has partly reopened after its lockdown, but many are sceptical of the official death toll from the Chinese government

Italy has recorded the second most total coronavirus cases at 86,498 - 9,134 of them fatal - - and China is in third with 81,340.

And the rate of spread in America - 16,819 new cases yesterday alone - suggests that the peak of the outbreak is still weeks away.

Earlier this month in China, officials said they were on the verge of a 'victory' against the deadly virus.

Wuhan has even partly reopened after its lockdown, but many are sceptical of the official lines coming from the Chinese government after it has faced international backlash for the pandemic.
WASHINGTON - The coronavirus pandemic fueled calls this week for rolling back sanctions, even as the Trump administration announced new measures against Iran and Venezuela.

The lobbying for relief has mostly focused on the administration, which has enacted a sweeping series of economic sanctions as a key tool of foreign policy and pushed other countries and the U.N. Security Council to join in.

Iran and Venezuela, frequent targets of the U.S. "maximum pressure campaign" of economic sanctions, both have weakened health-care systems and are now being hit hard by the coronavirus. That has prompted senior officials at the United Nations to urge waiving sanctions, at least temporarily until the global health threat is under control.

"This is the time for solidarity, not exclusion," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres wrote in a letter this past week to the Group of 20 economic powers. "Let us remember that we are only as strong as the weakest health system in our interconnected world."

So far, the United States has shown no inclination to pull back sanctions and has even doubled down as the pandemic spread. The Treasury Department on Thursday designated 20 people and companies it said had profiteered from Iranian electricity sales to Iraq. On the same day, the Justice Department indicted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his inner circle on narcoterrorism charges.

Administration officials note that sanctions allow exceptions for humanitarian and medical aid, though critics say that companies that might meet the rules are worried they may mistakenly trip up and be put under sanctions themselves. U.S. officials also argue that loosening sanctions would only reward governments that have a track record of diverting humanitarian aid to enrich the ruling elites.

In years past, Iranian doctors working with foreign organizations on HIV prevention have been arrested on charges of collaborating with an enemy government, and luxury cars have been purchased with money allotted for medical equipment. In 2018, the United States imposed sanctions on an Iranian pharmaceutical company for funneling money to terrorist groups.

A recent video translated by the State Department shows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praising the Foreign Ministry's public relations campaign to lift sanctions.

"U.S. sanctions exempt medicine and all humanitarian assistance," Brian Hook, the U.S. envoy for Iran, said in an email. "We have repeatedly offered medical assistance to the Iranian people, which the regime has rejected. The Iranian people are not blaming U.S. sanctions for this health crisis, they are blaming the regime for disinformation and mismanagement. And they know from bitter experience that the regime always spends sanctions relief on its proxies, not its people."

Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist, said foreign aid, even to authoritarian regimes during epidemics, has long been effective in fighting diseases such as polio, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

"There are professionals in public health services who put themselves on the front line of danger every day to help save people," he said. "The idea that this is the only choice, putting money in the hands of particular people versus helping countries, is a total falsehood."

The accelerating coronavirus pandemic has caused even some critics of the two governments to question whether it is counterproductive and inhumane to continue with sanctions as usual.

Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the U.S.-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said Tehran's "pride and incompetence" is costing lives and urged officials there to accept U.S. offers of assistance. But he also said the strategy of continuing sanctions is "disconnected from the reality of what is happening all over this planet."

"If a big and pivotal country like Iran cannot control it, we are all in danger," he said in a telephone interview. "This is a time to rise above politics and geopolitics. It's in our own national interest to make sure every country in the world can contain it."

Proponents of waiving sanctions say that doing so during the pandemic could promote the Trump administration's political objectives in ways that have been elusive under its maximum pressure campaign.

Geoff Ramsey, the Venezuela director for the Washington Office on Latin America, said a temporary easing of sanctions imposed on the Maduro government could break the stalemate between Maduro and Juan Guaido, Venezuela's congressional leader who the United States and more than 50 other nations recognize as the legitimate president.

"Venezuela is more sanctioned than Iran right now, but it has not gotten us closer to a democratic transition," Ramsey said. "Providing sanctions relief, with all the necessary guarantees of transparency and accountability and approved by the opposition, could pave the way for more meaningful negotiations."

The pandemic already is chipping away at the animosities between the governments of Colombia and Venezuela. Health authorities from the two nations recently had their first bilateral conversation in more than a year when they joined a virtual meeting to exchange information on covid-19 infections crossing their mutual border.

But otherwise, the idea hasn't gained much traction. The International Monetary Fund this month rejected Maduro's request for an emergency $5 billion loan to fight the coronavirus, saying there was no agreement on who is the country's rightful leader.

Guaido's parallel government has rejected any sanctions relief.

"Maduro is the only one responsible for the vulnerability and defenselessness of Venezuela in the face of the pandemic," said Carlos Vecchio, Guaido's envoy to the United States, in a statement.

Ramsey said sentiment could change as Venezuela's collapsed health system proves incapable of treating a growing number of patients.

"There's very little political will right now," he said. "But as we start to see bodies pile up in morgues across Venezuela, the opposition will come under serious pressure to free up international funds that can get together an appropriate response. And that will likely place greater pressure on the White House."

There appears to be even less political will to ease sanctions on Iran. Even as coronavirus casualties have mounted in the country, Iranian-backed militias have fired rockets at U.S. troops in Iraq, and Iran's uranium stockpile has grown and its oil products still find buyers.

"It's heartbreaking to see the weaponization of the coronavirus crisis in Iran by regime elites for political purposes, like the continuation of the quest for premature sanctions relief so that Tehran can have more cash on hand to inflame the region and engage in other illicit activities," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iranian analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

"Sanctions are not drivers of the crisis between Iran and America, or Venezuela and America. They are responses to ongoing security threats by states that abuse the rules-based order. For sanctions to be lifted, their bad behavior should change."
ATHENS, March 28 (Reuters) - Greece confirmed 95 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to health authorities, bringing the total to 1,061 since the country's first recorded infection on Feb. 26.

Health ministry representative Sotiris Tsiodras said 32 people have died due to COVID-19.

Greece has imposed a curfew until early April, restricting the movement of people with few exceptions. It has also shut its borders to non-EU nationals and Italy and Spain to contain the spread of the virus.

The rise in new infections in Greece has so far been gradual and steady.

Development minister Adonis Georgiadis said earlier on Saturday in 'Open tv' that the restriction measures will be extended beyond April 6 without providing further details.

The Management Crisis Ministry said Greece has stopped all flights from the Netherlands until April 15. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas, editing by Ed Osmond)
As the virus epicentre, Wuhan has faced some of the harshest restrictions. (Photo: AFP/STR)

Wuhan was placed under lockdown in January with residents forbidden to leave, roadblocks installed and millions subjected to dramatic restrictions on their daily life.

But the central Chinese city has now reopened its doors - at least partially.

People are allowed to enter, but not leave, and many trains arriving on Saturday had been fully booked days in advance.

Restrictions on residents heading out of Wuhan will not be lifted until Apr 8.

The major transport and industrial hub is the last area of Hubei province to see travel restrictions lifted.

With the exception of Wuhan, railway stations and airports began resuming operations across the province earlier this week.

As the virus epicentre, Wuhan has faced some of the harshest restrictions. The contagion was detected in December and linked to a market in the city that sold wild animals for human consumption.

People are allowed to enter Wuhan, but not leave, and many trains arriving on Saturday, March 28,

People are allowed to enter Wuhan, but not leave, and many trains arriving on Saturday, Mar 28, 2020 were fully booked days in advance. (Photo: AFP/Noel Celis)

It has also paid the heaviest price, with more than 50,000 people infected and more deaths from COVID-19 - the disease caused by the virus - than any other city in China.

Wuhan initially struggled to contain the outbreak. AFP reporters saw long queues of sick patients at one city hospital in January, with overwhelmed staff unable to process them quickly.

But numbers have fallen dramatically in recent weeks. Official figures show there have been fewer than 20 new cases across the province in the past fortnight.

Most of Wuhan's subway network will restart on Saturday, and some shopping centres will open their doors next week.

Banks re-opened this week and bus routes started operations - although residents are being advised against unnecessary travel and those over 65 have been told to avoid taking public transport.

Trains will begin arriving in Wuhan as travel restrictions on the Chinese city are eased

Trains will begin arriving in Wuhan as travel restrictions on the Chinese city are eased. (Photo: AFP/STR)

A study this week found that the lockdown in Wuhan succeeded in stopping the fast-spreading virus in its tracks and gave health care facilities crucial breathing room - but warned against opening up the city too soon.

Liu Dongru, of the Hubei Health Commission, said Friday that although Wuhan had been reclassified as a "low-risk" area, work to control the virus must continue.

"Zero reported cases does not equal zero risk," he said.

"We have even more of a responsibility to do prevention and control work, with increased difficulty.

"The risk of a partial flare-up of the epidemic will always remain."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 14:30:29|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

"China's swift and determined steps to fight the coronavirus, as well as its efforts to help other countries by sending medical experts and protective materials, or organizing video conferences for medical experts, are excellent," said a French expert.

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's pledge to continue to share good practices and assist countries affected by COVID-19 has won applause from observers from across the globe.

"China will be more than ready to share our good practices, conduct joint research and development of drugs and vaccines, and provide assistance where we can to countries hit by the growing outbreak," said Xi in a speech at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on Thursday.

"China's swift and determined steps to fight the coronavirus, as well as its efforts to help other countries by sending medical experts and protective materials, or organizing video conferences for medical experts, are excellent," said Christine Bierre, editor-in-chief of France's Nouvelle Solidarite magazine and an expert at Schiller France Institute.

The first batch of medical supplies donated by Chinese foundations arrives in Bangkok, Thailand, March 25, 2020. (Xinhua)

Bierre said she hopes that other countries "will be able to adhere from their hearts" to this concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind."

China has generously shared its experience, technical and medical equipment and personnel with many countries to help them combat COVID-19, said Gerishon Ikiara, an economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the role China has been playing in the ongoing war against the coronavirus, Ikiara noted.

China is doing a good job and being responsible by offering useful reference and providing medical support to other countries, said Abdulaziz Alshaabani, Saudi journalist and researcher on China.

Chinese medical expert Yang Honghui (L) instructs an Iraqi medical worker on operating a nucleic acid detection machine at a new Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) lab in Baghdad, Iraq, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua)

China has achieved a great deal in containing the epidemic at home, said Alshaabani, adding that "the experience is worth learning."

China has always been keen to provide information and details in fighting COVID-19 with the WHO, a practice praised by the organization on many occasions, said Awad Baqwer, former chairman of the Omani Journalists Association.

Baqwer said he also noticed that China has shared information and experience, and sent medical teams and aid to many countries. 
Istanbul, March 28 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all international flights would be cancelled as part of the fight against COVID-19.

Announcing new measures against the spread of the outbreak during a televised live broadcast, Erdogan on Friday also noted that inter-city travel across the country would be subject to the permission of governors in each province, Xinhua news agency reported.

"A flexible working system will be implemented with minimum personnel both in private and public sectors," Erdogan said.

"Anti-coronavirus measures will be strictly implemented in 30 major Turkish cities," he added, noting pandemic councils would be established in these cities to take additional precautions if necessary.

Social distancing would be applied in public transport, and picnic spots, forests and archeological sites would be closed on weekends, the president said.

Earlier in the day, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced that 12 towns and villages were quarantined to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

"When the risk of contagion in some villages or towns is high, such a decision can be made," Soylu told the NTV broadcaster.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey has climbed to 92, among 5,698 confirmed cases.
- A 46-year-old woman has recovered from coronavirus in Tanzania, making it the country's first

- The woman tested positive to Covid-19 when she came back to the country from Belgium on Friday, March 15

- Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzanian health minister, said that the patient tested negative to all the tests that were carried out on her to ascertain her subsequent status

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

As the world is hit by coronavirus pandemic, Tanzania has recorded a win as its first patient recovered from the virus.

The news was broken by the countrys health minister, Ummy Mwalimu, who said the patient tested negative in all the three series of tests carried out on her, Daily Monitor reports.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Shatta Wale commends Akufo-Addo for setting some prisoners free

The recovered woman tested positive to the virus on Friday, March 15, after she returned from Belgium on a RwandAir plane.

The country is presently working on the discharge process for the recovered patient. Photo source: Daily Monitor/AJ English

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nana Aba Anamoah exposes a mobile money fraudster who tried to dupe her

Though she was screened at Kilimanjaro International Airport on her arrival, she did not show any symptoms of the virus until she took ill on the second day in her hotel room.

Meanwhile, it was earlier reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed five new cases of the raging coronavirus in the country as Rivers state gets its first case.

READ ALSO: Kafui Danku flaunts her all grown 'obroni' son; Yvonne Okoro reacts

The NCDC said two of the new cases are in Lagos, two are in Abuja while the remaining one is in Rivers state.

With the new confirmed cases, Nigeria now has 51 cases with two patients discharged and one death, as of Wednesday evening, March 25.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Ghana records first coronavirus recovery (video)

Since the confirmation of the index case of the novel coronavirus in Lagos, the Nigerian government has been telling the citizens not to panic, giving assurance that everything is under control.

However, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country increases, Nigerians put pressure on the federal government to restrict movements into the country.

The Nigerian government responded by placing a travel ban on countries with over 1,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

In related news, Bishop Sam Zuga of House of Joy ministry and founder of both Samzuga free medical treatment and Samzuga international has left many of his followers with high hopes after he offered to treat anyone infected with the coronavirus.

The man of God revealed this during a healing crusade organised to sensitize people about coronavirus also known as COVID-19, in Yola, Adamawa state.

Coronavirus in Ghana: Disinfection of Accra Markets against COVID-19 | #Yencomgh

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

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Three sitting BJP MPs from Jammu and Kashmir and all former legislators will donate their one-month salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Union Territory BJP president Ravinder Raina said on Saturday.

It is the responsibility of every citizen to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister to overcome the crisis in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. In addition to the two Lok Sabha members and one Rajya Sabha member, all the former Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) have decided to donate one-month salary towards PMNRF, Raina said in a video message.

He said the entire country is fighting against the coronavirus pandemic and that they need to support the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister and make donations wholeheartedly so that the government can help the people to overcome the crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A medical worker wearing a protective mask and suit treats novel coronavirus patients in Italy.

Flavio Lo Scalzo/Reuters

A 101-year-old man has been released from the hospital in Rimini, Italy, after recovering from the coronavirus.

The man, identified only as "Mr. P.," was admitted to the hospital last week.

The city's deputy mayor said the recovery gives the country "hope for the future."

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A 101-year-old Italian man has recovered from COVID-19 and his city's deputy mayor said the story provides "hope for the future," CNN reported.

Gloria Lisi told reporters the man, identified as Mr. P., had an "extraordinary" recovery.

"Mr. P. made it. The family brought him home yesterday evening," CNN reported Lisi saying. "To teach us that even at 101 years the future is not written."

The man was born during the Spanish flu pandemic, which killed between 30 million and 50 million people around the world, according to CNN. As of Friday, the coronavirus has killed more than 25,000 people.

More than 8,000 of the deaths have been in Italy, which has become the epicenter of the pandemic.

While there have been cases of documented coronavirus among people of all ages  many of whom are young and otherwise healthy  older people are at a higher risk of serious complications related to the virus.

The World Health Organization has called on people to protect "the collective wisdom" of society by looking out for seniors during the pandemic.

"We need to work together to protect older people from the virus," Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently told reporters. "They are valued and valuable members of our families and communities, but they're at higher risk of the more serious complications of COVID-19."

Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story.

Read the original article on Insider
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are self-isolating after they tested positive for coronavirus.

The pair, who are leading the UK's response to the Covid-19 outbreak, both said they have mild symptoms and are continuing to work from home.

It came as the number of people to have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus topped 750.

Mr Johnson, who has a high temperature and persistent cough, said he would still lead the "national fightback" against the virus from his flat above Number 11.

Expand Close Mild symptoms: UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also been struck down by the illness. Photo: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mild symptoms: UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also been struck down by the illness. Photo: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

The 55-year-old noticed he had mild symptoms on Thursday afternoon and received the test results at midnight, Downing Street said.

His pregnant partner Carrie Symonds is not believed to be with the prime minister, and is reportedly isolating alone in Camberwell, south London, with the couple's dog, Dilyn.

Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock have been working closely with the country's top medics, including chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries, and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance. It is not known whether they have also been tested, but Downing Street said the advice on social distancing had been observed.

In a video message posted to Twitter, Mr Johnson said: "I'm working from home and self-isolating and that's entirely the right thing to do.

"But, be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus."

Mr Hancock tweeted: "Fortunately for me the symptoms so far have been very mild so I've been able to carry on with the work driving forward the UK response."

A spokesman for the chancellor said Rishi Sunak has not had any symptoms and therefore has not been tested for coronavirus and is not self- isolating.

Deaths from coronavirus have surged in Spain, while Italy has passed Chinese infection numbers, as Covid-19 continued to grip Europe.

Spain's Health Ministry reported another 7,800 infections overnight for a total of 64,059. Deaths in Spain climbed by 769 to 4,858 - the world's second highest total after Italy's 9,134.

Spain's severely strained health service has 9,444 workers infected with Covid-19, a figure Amnesty International said is the highest among countries affected by the outbreak. The number is nearly 15pc of Spain's total cases.

The day-on-day increase of infections is slightly lower for the first time since a rapid rise in early March. There was a 8,500 increase reported on Thursday. Spain has the second-highest tally in Europe and fourth in the world.

"It's true that we have more deaths than what we saw yesterday, but it's also true that the percentage increase today is similar to that of the past three days and it appears there is a stabilisation," said Fernando Simon, the head of the health emergency co-ordination centre.

The worldwide death toll climbed to more than 24,000, according to Johns Hopkins University, but more than 124,000 people have recovered, about half in China.

Italy has become the second country to overtake China in coronavirus infections after the US, recording 86,498 on the day it recorded its single biggest leap in deaths, with 969 more victims.

Italian epidemiologists warned that the country's numbers are likely to be much higher than reported - perhaps by five times - although two weeks into a nationwide lockdown the daily increase seems to be slowing, at least in northern Italy.

In France, a 16-year-old student became the youngest person in the country to die from the virus. Her sister said she was admitted to hospital on Monday after developing a "slight cough" last week, and she died on Tuesday in hospital in Paris. "We must stop believing that this only affects the elderly," said the sister. "No one is invincible against this mutant virus."

France has reported more than 1,600 deaths and 29,000 infections, and yesterday extended its nationwide confinement measures for another two weeks.

Meanwhile, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is seeking 4,000 more temporary hospitals beds across New York City and ordered schools closed for two more weeks.

There are already more than 6,000 hospitalised Covid-19 patients in New York, with almost 1,600 in intensive care. The state has logged a nation-high of 519 deaths, and has more than 44,000 confirmed cases.
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba discussed the assistance in combating the coronavirus pandemic with UNDP and WHO representatives in Ukraine.

"On March 27, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba discussed the fight against coronavirus pandemic with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Osnat Lubrani and heads of the UNDP, the UNICEF and the World Health Organization offices in Ukraine in a video conference format," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

In particular, representatives of the UN system noted that the organization mobilizes resources to support Ukraine in two areas: for the primary needs of the health care system and to overcome the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic.

The Government has designated the MFA as the coordinator of international humanitarian aid, and we have an effective architecture for such coordination. We can help you channel resources into the most important areas. But right now, we have to consider not only the fight with pandemic but also its consequences for our communities, society and economy, Kuleba said.

The minister stressed that Ukraine supported the UN Secretary-General's call for international efforts to combat Covid-19 and welcomed the launch of a $2 billion global humanitarian response plan to support the countries most affected by the pandemic.

As of the morning of March 28, Ukraine had 311 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases.

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Pitstop has launched the #AtYourService campaign in nine cities - Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad as a service to the ones who are serving the nation, without any service or labour charges.

Delivery personnel, grocery, fire, police, ambulance, medics and workers using a vehicle and facing an issue can reach Pitstop at 6262621234 or log on to "www.getpitstop.com"



Pitstop's team will work with selected partner garages and doorstep van teams to get these vehicles up and running again, the doorstep car service and repairs provider said in a statement.

"We salute the heroes out there who are fighting for us on the streets and ensuring we get our essentials on time during this pandemic and are happy to launch #AtYourService campaign to help them out with any service support they need, at any hour of the day," said Mihir Mohan, CEO & Founder, Pitstop.

In accordance with the state-issued guidelines for battling the outbreak of COVID-19, Pitstop has suspended all doorstep and garage services (except for essential service providers) until April 14, it was stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The large number of postal votes may mean Queenslanders will wait longer than usual to find out who their council will be.

All 77 local government areas, as well as two seats in the Queensland Parliament, are up for grabs on Saturday.

More than half of voters had already cast their ballot or made arrangements to before election day, as the fear of coronavirus overshadows the polls.

More than half a million postal votes were applied for in these elections, which could mean many results will not be known by the end of Saturday.
Last week, as Congress scrambled to finish a $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue plan, Sen. Ron Wyden, of Oregon adjourned to one of the private meeting rooms in the Capitol with Sen. Charles Grassley and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to negotiate some finance and tax issues.

But as the Washington DC power trio and their staffers sat down, they recoiled. In the era of social distancing, they were sitting too close to one another. The ornate Capitol meeting room suddenly felt like a public health hazard.

It was another disconcerting moment in a deadly serious time. With the coronavirus running rampant across the country, Americans were being asked to stay in their homes, employees were being asked to stay away from their jobs, some businesses were being shut down. Thousands were dying, millions were losing their jobs.

Facing this economic wrecking ball Wyden said, has made recent weeks the most daunting in the Capitol since the 2008 economic collapse. But the virus also was a once-in-a-lifetime crisis, Wyden said, that offered unique opportunities.

And Wyden had a plan. By happy coincidence, he and his people had been working on a thorough modernization and overhaul of the federal unemployment insurance program for much of the prior year.

As the bill approached a vote, Wyden and his allies had managed to include as much as $317 billion worth of expanded unemployment benefits into the legislation. A last-ditch Republican attack led by Sen. Lindsey Graham went nowhere.

On Friday, President Trump signed the rescue bill into law.

For the suddenly jobless, that means theyll get $600 a week on top of the money they would get from the existing unemployment program -- in most states a maximum of $450 -- through the end of July. And for the first time, the pool of workers eligible for unemployment will expand to include independent contractors, part-timers and gig workers.

Wyden, a veteran of 24 years in the Senate, is unabashedly proud. You want to help the average joe out there, Wyden said. And we won. This is probably one of the most important things Ive accomplished in public life.

A year ago, when unemployment was hitting historic lows and a pandemic was a cheesy late-night movie, Wyden went to his staff with a strange request. He wanted them to dig into the federal unemployment program learn all its flaws and bring him the fixes.

His people told Wyden his instincts were good -- the 85-year-old program needed a thorough modernization and overhaul. Most recipients were paid a maximum of just $450 a week. Plus, if you were self-employed or if you had a job in the gig economy you generally werent eligible.

Sources said Wyden wanted badly to introduce an unemployment modernization bill. But it would have been difficult given the Republican control of the Senate and the White House. As he considered his options, the virus made its North American beachhead in the Seattle area. Barely two months later, the U.S. has more COVID-19 cases than any other country in the world.

Americans have learned a harsh truth in recent months.

The American economy, even the roaring Trump economy, doesnt stand a chance against a pandemic. As political leaders begged citizens to stay home and isolate themselves, they also restricted operations at businesses, shut down schools and took other steps they hope will stop the spread of the virus.

Sports were cancelled, travel dragged to a near standstill, bars were closed.

The U.S. has seen a sudden stop in economic activity, Oregon economist Josh Lehner wrote on March 25. The unemployment rate will basically double and in some places triple overnight.

After months of dithering and denial, the Republican leaders got serious about a massive rescue plan. On March 19, The House Republicans unveiled their assistance package, highlighted by huge sum of money for companies. In a bill that went on for hundreds of pages, there were eight lines about unemployment insurance.

Then it was up to the Senate. As ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee Wyden was in on many of the key negotiations concerning the rescue bill. He and Grassley, chair of the finance committee, worked well together. Wyden was also impressed with Mnuchin, Trumps powerful treasury secretary. Mnuchin knew that he needed Democrats on board so there certainly was an incentive to work with us from the beginning, Wyden said.

The partisan rancor boiled over at times. Democrats said the Republicans bill was a bailout to business. The Republicans said the Democrats were being obstructionists.

The Democrats didnt get everything they wanted.

Wyden initially called for language that would boost unemployment insurance to the point it would match a workers pay at their prior job. The Republicans balked.

They compromised with an unemployment boost of $600 per week across the board.

Wyden also wanted the expanded benefits to be made permanent. Republicans cried foul. Asking them to lock in new benefits while they were trying to solve a crisis wasnt fair.

Wyden conceded the point.

Last Thursday, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham and three other Southern senators attacked the Wyden plan. Under the bright television lights, Graham predicted workers would quit their jobs to get at the more lucrative unemployment benefits. With a timely assist from Sen. Bernie Sanders, who threatened to delay the bill if Graham succeeded in reducing the unemployment assistance, the 11th-hour opposition got no traction.

On Friday, Trump signed the bill into law. It is the largest fiscal relief measure ever passed by Congress.

It will provide $500 billion to help hard-hit industries and $290 billion for payments of up to $3,000 to millions of families. It will provide $350 million for small-business loans and at least $100 billion for hospitals and health systems.

Also Wydens prized unemployment expansion also survived largely intact. Analysts predict it will make another $250 billion available to the unemployed.

While much of the press coverage of the rescue plan has focused on the one-time payments to eligible Americans, the unemployment expansion is considerably more significant, predicted the economist Lehner. In terms of impact, its huge, he said.

Fiscal conservatives agree that its huge. Hugely expensive and counterproductive. Former Trump administration official Paul Winfree predicted the act will cripple the economy by pushing people away from their employers onto unemployment insurance.

Thea Lee, of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, said Wyden deserves credit for recognizing that these are unique times.

People are losing jobs because we are asking businesses to close and people to stay home , she said. So this extra $600 is absolutely vital.
In a Friday night tweet, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that President Donald Trump had approved his request to deploy National Guard troops in New Jersey to assist the states fight against the novel coronavirus.

Murphy said in the tweet that he had spoken to Trump on the phone Friday afternoon and shared a letter signed by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

The troops will be able to help transport needed supplies, staff testing facilities and any other tasks need in New Jersey. All 50 states, including Washington D.C., as well as Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands, maintain National Guard troops. Murphy will now act as commander-in-chief for New Jerseys flank.

The men and women of the National Guard are Citizen-Soldiers who stand ready to serve their communities as we fight COVID-19," Esper wrote in Fridays letter.

Spoke this afternoon with @realDonaldTrump, who told me he would approve my request for use of @NationalGuard forces in New Jersey under Title 32.



Grateful to our brave men and women in uniform for their support in the war against #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/YjNU2TcwrO  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 28, 2020

National Guard troops were first deployed in California, Washington and New York, states that have also been hard-hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Murphy had previously said he planned to deploy the states National Guard troops.

On Friday, Murphy announced 1,982 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 27 deaths, bringing the states total to 8,825 cases and 108 deaths. Friday was the largest one-day total of new deaths announced by the state since the outbreak began several weeks ago.

On Thursday, Trump approved a disaster declaration for New Jersey making federal funds available to help combat COVID-19. The state, as well as local governments and some non-profits, are eligible for the funds.

In addition to authorizing the National Guard troops, Esper wrote in his letter that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is available to assist New Jersey as well.

For example, Esper wrote, FEMA can "provide access to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for assistance with rapidly developing overflow patient facilities in existing structures such as convention centers and hotels.

In the tweet, Murphy wrote: Grateful to our brave men and women in uniform for their support in the war against #COVID19.

Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey:





Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

J. Dale Shoemaker is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at jshoemaker@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JDale_Shoemaker.
An officer-involved shooting in Newburgh, New York, that left a man dead and an officer injured sparked a riot in the city as people took to the streets to protest the death.

The man, who has not been identified, was shot and killed by a Newburgh police officer Friday night just after 5 p.m.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said in a press release that officers wanted to question the man in connection to a shooting on Thursday when a struggle ensued. The man then pulled out a handgun and fired at the officers, District Attorney David Hoovler said.

"A review of body-worn cameras and street cameras shows that when officers approached the man, he displayed a silver handgun and began fighting with officers, striking one of the officers in the head with a handgun," the press release states. "During the encounter the man discharged the pistol and City of Newburgh police officers fired their weapons."

Image: Police involved shooting (Newburgh Police)

The man died at a hospital in Newburgh, about 60 miles north of Manhattan. An officer was hospitalized with a gunshot wound and injuries to his head, according to Hoovler.

The prosecutor's office and the police department released images from a body-worn camera that shows the man holding what appears to be a gun as three officers surround him. At least one officer has his weapon drawn.

Hoovler said he normally does not release body-camera images this early in the investigation, but did so "to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the investigation."

The shooting sparked a riot and a fire in the city Friday night, according to the Times Herald-Record. The fire was extinguished around 2 a.m. Saturday.

Hoovler said there will be two investigations conducted into the shooting; one before a grand jury and another by the District Attorney's Office.
I f youre of the school of thought that when it comes to Easter eggs, bigger is always better, welcome to the only confectionery list youll need this Spring.

For anyone whos given up chocolate for Lent, Easter offers the perfect opportunity to indulge your sweet tooth. In what better style to break your self-imposed cocoa fast than with a supersized chocolate egg?

Everyones favourite Easter treat, theyre guaranteed to steal the spotlight at any parties or Easter egg hunts you have coming up, whether youre hosting the big event or attending someone elses gathering.

This years hatch is bigger and better than ever; think colossal hand painted versions that are kinder to your wallet than youd think, to bountiful XL displays of cocoa and fanciful sweets painted in the prettiest of pastels. All the Easter eggs weve featured below are 500g or more.

Here are the best giant Easter eggs to buy in 2020

Pierre Marcolini Le Lapin Extraordinaire

Weight: 13kg

Bunnies might normally be known for appearing from a magicians hat most of the year, but at Easter they switch to eggs  and at Pierre Marcolini they do it with unmatched style. This beautifully crafted egg features a while chocolate bunny emerging from a milk chocolate egg shell, its sweet head just peeking out from the top. Be in no doubt, this is a showstopper of a piece, measuring H78 x D44cm and costing a cool grand. If youre looking to make an impression this Easter, this will certainly do the trick.

Fortnum & Mason Hand-Painted Chick Easter Egg

Weight: 500g

This gorgeous hand-painted Easter egg is made with the sort of unmatched standards of care and quality that makes Fortnum & Mason worthy of a royal warrant. The multi-coloured design is fantastically finished by master chocolatiers in Wales with an illustration of a newly hatched chick, a painstaking task that takes weeks to perfect. The egg itself is crafted from Colombian Milk Chocolate that's made up of 45 per cent minimum cocoa solids as well as a layer of creamy white chocolate (minimum 40 per cent cocoa solids). A true celebration, in every sense.

Hotel Chocolat Thick Rocky Road to Caramel Easter Egg

Weight: 500g

Who can resist the sweet charms of Hotel Chocolat's acclaimed chocolate? Easter presents an opportunity to gorge on the St Lucian cocoa with this egg. A game of two halves, the pleasingly thick shell is made up of solid caramel-milk chocolate with notes of dulce de leche and 40 per cent milk chocolate with cookies and puffed rice. Mouth watering yet? Us too.

Once cracked open, the treats continue with mellow pralines and caramels from the chocolate house.

KitKat Salted Caramel Fudge Incredible Giant Egg

Weight: 516g

Dive into a world of salted caramel KitKat with this giant egg which comes wrapped in bright turquoise foil and three Chunky bars.

Butlers Giant Green Wrapped Easter Egg

Weight: 640g

Hailing from Dublin chocolatier Butlers, this elegantly-wrapped egg proves that Easter is not just for the little ones. The fancy recyclable green wrapping, tied with a bright green ribbon, unveils a delicious milk chocolate egg. Inside further sweet treats await in the form of milk, white and dark chocolate mini eggs, filled with flavours including caramel, raspberry, lemon and praline.

Stas Chocolatier Large Birds' Nest Milk Chocolate Easter Egg

Weight: 1.5kg

Back again for another year, this supersize egg packs quite a sugar hit with chocolate beans and mini eggs cradled in a white chocolate birds nest embedded onto a Belgian milk chocolate egg. Made in Kent, its designed to share with loved ones.

Thornton's Marvellous Magnificent Easter Egg

Weight: 650g

Get cracking into this huge chocolate egg with friends and family - at 650g, there's more than enough to go around. If you're thinking of giving this as an Easter treat, you can have a message hand-iced onto the outer shell for free too.

Cadbury Ultimate Dairy Milk Fruit and Nut Easter egg

Weight: 560g

The emphasis is firmly on sharing with Cadbury's giant egg, which comes with two sharing bars alongside a traditional milk chocolate egg.

Hotel Chocolat Classic Ostrich Easter Egg

Weight: 1.06kg

Impressively weighing in at over 1kg, this giant egg from Hotel Chocolat resembles an Ostrich egg  the largest egg in the world. There's something for everyone; not only is there a ginormous egg that would take us a solid week to get through if we were flying solo, but there's a further assorted box of 27 chocolates included too. Expect the likes of pralines, truffles, caramels, patisserie and more. Its enough to turn the Easter Bunny green with envy.

Lindt gold giant bunny

Weight: 1kg

Okay, so it's not an egg, but still on-theme in a giant bunny form. Lindt has given it's iconic confection an XL makeover - this one weighs in at 1000g, but comes wrapped in its trademark gold foil and tiny bell necklace.

Cadbury Chocolate Crunchie Easter Egg

Weight: 570g

Guaranteed to delight the nation's Crunchie fans, Dairy Milk's 570g egg is large enough satisfy all your chocolate fancies. The milk shell is studded with Crunchie bits and there's a further three bars nestled within.

Milk Chocolate Beekeeper's Egg

Weight: 1kg

If it's show-stopping that you are looking for, you have come to the right place. Daylesford has crafted this centre-piece worthy egg to resemble a beehive complete with delicious honeycomb pieces. It is crafted from sustainably grown cocoa to give back to the local community.

Luxury Easter Egg  Milk Chocolate Filled with Mixed Truffles

Weight: 600g

Intricately decorated with a fun design, this extra-large chocolate egg is cracked open to reveal a combination of the brand's bestselling truffles including the house milk, dark and raspberry.

Maltesers White Chocolate Egg With White Truffles

Weight: 287g

Turning a traditional Maltesers Easter egg on its head, this is crafted from white chocolate with a malt, honeycomb and chocolate filling. It is offered alongside the brand's creamy and crunchy truffles.

Galaxy Milk Chocolate Egg With Truffles

Weight: 301g
Photo: Ahmed Muntasir/Pexels An airliner.

Earlier this week, the B.C. government released an extensive list of what it considers an "essential service."

According to the province, essential services are those daily services essential to "preserving life, health, public safety and basic societal functioning." The list includes health-care professionals, law enforcement, first responders and vulnerable population service providers, to name a few.

So how do the self-isolation rules apply to essential service workers?

According to the federal government, essential workers are not required to self-quarantine for two weeks after work-related travel within Canada. However, they are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate immediately if they develop even mild symptoms.

Essential workers who have travelled outside of Canada are still required to quarantine for two weeks from the day they get home. According to the BCCDC, all travellers from outside of Canada are considered potential carriers of COVID-19 and must self-isolate.

The BCCDC website notes essential service leadership should follow the recommended 14-day isolation rule and develop thresholds where delivery of the essential service can no longer be delivered.

Then, and only then, can leadership make decisions to waive individual workers from the self-isolation protocol based on an overall risk assessment of:

Where the person travelled, recognizing that many countries in the world are experiencing significant community transmission of the virus

Duration and type of activity while away (family visit versus large gathering events)

Current symptoms of the individual or household. If there are any symptoms demonstrated by the individual or those they live with, they should be assessed by a health professional before returning to work

Essential service type and overall risk of reduced or minimal staffing

Work environment of the individual e.g. whether they work independently, outside or in a group setting

The BCCDC says workers who return from travel and are critical to the delivery of an essential service may return to work if approved by their leadership. They must take the following precautions if returning to work:

Self-monitor daily for signs and symptoms of illness

Follow infection prevention and control protocols including diligent hand hygiene

Reduce close contact with other workers i.e., maintain a two-metre separation and avoid shared spaces where possible

Avoid close contact with others when travelling to and from work and between shifts

Self-isolate at home on days when not required at their workplace

Avoid any unnecessary public establishments

For more information, click here.
Security forces on Saturday arrested two suspected militants from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said.

During vehicle checking at Pattan town, police arrested two local militants, identified as Showkat Mir and Showkat Yattoo, they said.

One pistol, one hand grenade and some ammunition were recovered from the possession of the arrested persons, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two people were killed Friday evening in a crash in Perth Amboy, a Middlesex County Prosecutors Office spokesperson told NJ Advance Media.

The accident happened around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Chamberlain Avenue and Convery Boulevard.

No other details were released by the prosecutors office Friday evening and it was unknown if any other people were injured or how many other cars were involved.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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ALBANY  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Saturday said the state is preparing for the coronavirus peak by ensuring New York has enough ventilators, masks, beds and other supplies to fight the virus.

The governor, in his daily update from Albany, also said the presidential primary will be moved from April 28 to June 23 in line with the contests for state and other offices, and the deadline to file state taxes is extended three months, to July 15.

Right now, the state is trying to acquire 30,000 ventilators to make sure its prepared for the worst-case scenario. However, with states across the country competing for supplies, its becoming increasingly expensive, Cuomo said. Initially, it cost about $25,000 for a ventilator, but now its about $45,000 because they are in such high demand and states keep outbidding each other.

I don't think you have a price gouging case, Cuomo said. This is just market competition.

Deaths so far in New York, the state hardest hit in the U.S., have reached 728 out of a total caseload topping 52,000, he said. But two good signs: Intensive care unit numbers fell from 374 to 172 and new hospitalizations went from 1,154 to 847 from Thursday to Friday.

The federal government sent New York 4,000 ventilators, which arent in use because the state is planning for the apex or projected peak of cases. Medical experts have told the governor that the apex is about two to three weeks away.

We have been in a reactive posture since day one, Cuomo said. No, you don't win on defense, you win on offense.

Cuomo encouraged hospitals throughout the state to work together. He also said the president approved four new temporary emergency hospital sites in New York City that will be set up in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. He described the emergency sites as appropriate and suitable.

Asked about the president's remarks regarding placing enforceable travel restrictions on New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, where police on Friday night broke up a party of 47 people, the governor said he hasn't been briefed on those details and doesn't like the sound of it.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Elsewhere:

The New York Racing Association said live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park is canceled for the remainder of the winter and spring and the facility is being prepared to serve as a temporary hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.

Columbia County health officials said an elderly person, one of several recently infected, has died of the virus. Details were not provided. The county has 30 positive cases and four are in the hospital.

Rensselaer County reported six new cases on Saturday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 51. Two of the new cases are people in their 20s.
Joe Guthrie is determined to make sure his business survives long enough to bring back employees he was forced to lay off after Michigan restaurants were ordered to close all dine-in services, but eateries have few options to keep the lights on during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gurthrie, co-owner of Vernales in Harbor Springs, transitioned the full-service chophouse into a slimmed-down curbside carryout operation and instituted aggressive new sanitation policies to halt the spread of COVID-19. Hes facing an 85% drop in revenue, which is sustainable until Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive order expires on April 14 but becomes much more difficult to weather if closures are extended.

Its not clear whether a longer ban on sit down dining is coming, but the daily increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases doesnt provide Guthrie much solace.

I think you and I probably both know it might be longer than that, Guthrie said of the orders April 14 expiration date.

He estimated most small businesses could survive four to six weeks with similar losses in revenue, but thats just a ballpark guess.

Its kind of tricky, Guthrie said. I was kind of joking with the banker the other day and I said, you know, weve only been open five years. The first two years I had to have some really strong money shuffling skills to make it, so my skills are still pretty fresh. I just dont know, you know?

Congress passed a historic $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at helping workers and businesses grappling with the coronavirus disruption Friday, but legislators said more action is needed to address months of economic uncertainty. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and U.S. Small Business Administration are providing other loan and grant opportunities, but those measures wont be available for everyone.

The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been more severe in Michigans population centers. Southeast Michigan has by far the largest concentration of confirmed cases, making business scarce for restaurants, bars and cafes in Detroit and suburban communities in Oakland and Macomb counties.

Forty-eight independent restaurant proprietors and chefs in Southeast Michigan penned a desperate letter this week asking patrons to push elected leaders to provide economic relief.

Were screwed," the letter states.

Ray Rahal, head chef at Bromme Modern Eatery in Dearborn, is feeling optimistic due to the generosity of patrons. Regulars still order carryout as usual, he said, though there has been a drop in the normal flow of business.

Bromme Modern Eatery closed its Detroit location before Whitmers executive order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among staff and customers.

The restaurant is offering its full menu at half-price to make it easier for people to eat out. Still, Rahal said there havent been any major cuts in staff, and workers at the Detroit location have been cycled into the employee schedule in Dearborn.

Were just going day by day," he said. The governor calls the shots and were following all the policies and procedures. I mean, were going to keep going. Were rolling. Were not giving up.

Other businesses found it easier to temporarily close their doors.

Grand River Brewery, with locations in Jackson and Marshall, told customers it planned to remain open but ultimately decided to temporarily suspend business after Whitmers order on March 16. Owners could not be reached for comment.

Our top priority right now is ensuring our staff and customers still have a place to come back to when were past this, the pub wrote on its website. We look forward to raising a glass with you all when its safe for restaurants to return to normal operations.

Making the pivot to carry-out or delivery service has required some ingenuity from restaurants that want to stay open.

Bowdies Chophouse is offering pre-assembled meal kits for customers to pick up from its locations in Saugatuck, Lansing and Grand Rapids. The new service started last week.

Its really hard to cook a steak to temperature, put it in a box and send it home, its not exactly up to the quality of what we would like to offer to our customers, said Tyler Bowdish, a manager at the family-run steakhouse. This is a huge change for us.

The proceeds from tips are going to a pool for employees who arent able to work during the dine-in ban. Bowdish said half of the staff was sent home.

While Bowdish and co-manager Josh Nottingham said theyve seen an uptick in business by offering a creative solution, revenue has been down roughly 90% during the last few weeks.

Youve just got to grind and fight, do everything you possibly can, Nottingham said. Theyre putting out a lot of programs and different assistance packages and hopefully theres a little bit more clarity on those in the coming weeks. My biggest fear is that theres going to be so many places that we love, if this goes any much longer, that might not be able to, have the capital to open up at the same rate for what they were doing when they closed.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Michigan hospitals weigh which patients could get ventilators in coronavirus policy

Whitmer says Michigan schools very unlikely to reopen this year under coronavirus pandemic

GM will defer 20 percent of pay for salaried workers worldwide in response to coronavirus

Friday, March 27: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Upper Peninsula reports first death attributed to coronavirus
US Now Leads World in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases

By VOA News March 27, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Twitter early Friday: "Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China. Discussed in great detail the Coronavirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet. China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!"

The tone of this tweet is different from some of the president's recent disparaging remarks about China in his press briefings where he often referred to the disease as "the Chinese virus."

The United States now leads the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, and Congress is on the verge of action to relieve the outbreak's economic toll.

As of late Thursday, a count by Johns Hopkins Medical Center shows more than 85,000 cases in the United States, followed by China with more than 81,000 and Italy with about 80,500.

New York state is the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with New York City the hot spot. There were more 21,000 cases in the country's largest city, with officials saying that number is growing by at least 3,000 a day.

On Friday, the U.S. House plans to pass the $2 trillion economic relief package that the Senate passed Wednesday night, and President Donald Trump has indicated he will sign it.

The centerpiece of the bill is direct cash payments to individuals who have lost their jobs and businesses forced to close their doors because of the outbreak.

Although the U.S. now has the largest number of cases, Trump said Thursday the government will be able to announce in the next two days what he calls good statistics and facts, "which will make your lives easier."

He also plans to go to Norfolk, Virginia, to see the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort leave for deployment in New York Harbor.

A Reuters report says America's home health care industry that can screen for the virus and that provides services to millions of the country's most vulnerable residents is on the verge of collapse in the wake of the coronavirus.

Roger Noyes, a spokesman for New York's Home Care Association told Reuters, "it's a hair-on-fire crisis."

The Reuters account said some caregivers are working without masks or gloves, while other workers have left their jobs and their patients.

Canada is balking at a U.S. proposal to deploy hundreds of Americans troops along the U.S.-Candian border, which is closed to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"Canada is strongly opposed to this U.S. proposal, and we have made that opposition very, very clear," Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday. "The public health situation does not require such action."

In their first-ever remote vote, the EU Parliament members approved a $41 billion package of economic aid to members whose economies have also taken a beating because of the outbreak.

"From one day to the next, our lifestyles changed. Our streets emptied. Our doors closed. And we moved from a daily routine to the fight of our lives," the head of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen, told the lawmakers. Nearly all of them were under lockdown across the 27-member bloc.

Italy and Spain have been particularly hard hit by the outbreak.

Elsewhere, a second U.S. soldier stationed in South Korea has tested positive for the coronavirus. Officials at Camp Humphrey said she is isolated as they clean all areas she was known to have visited. They are also trying to determine who else has been exposed.

China is temporarily closing its borders to all foreign visitors. Nearly all the new coronavirus cases in the past week in China have come from people arriving from overseas.

The outbreak appears to have eased in China, and authorities don't want a resurgence.

South Africa and the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Medina and Mecca  the last are two of Islam's holiest cities  are the latest to go under lockdown.

And the Associated Press reports U.N. ambassadors from eight countries under United States sanctions  China, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela  are asking Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to press the U.S. to lift the sanctions so they can effectively fight the outbreak. The ambassadors accused the U.S. of politicizing the pandemic.

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Have you seen bins overflowing with food waste? If so, email: luke.a.andrews@mailonline.co.uk

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Shoppers who stockpiled fresh food amid the coronavirus panic have dumped much of their hoard after it went out of date.

Ajit Singh Atwal shared a series of images on social media that showed rubbish bins overflowing with discarded food.

Loaves of bread, bunches of bananas and unopened packs of chicken products had all been tossed aside after they went past their use by date.

It comes as Britons are told to only leave the house once a day and to shop only for essentials with supermarkets offering elderly customers priority time slots and cutting down on how many shoppers are allowed to be in the store at the same time.

Britain's coronavirus death toll rocketed by 260 to 1,019 today as the UK suffered its worst 24 hours yet. The number of confirmed cases of the killer bug has hit 17,089.

Mr Atwal, a former Liberal Democrat Councillor, posted the photos on Twitter alongside the caption: 'To all the people in this great city of ours in Derby, if you have gone out and panic bought like a lot of you have and stacked up your houses with unnecessary items you don't normally buy or you have bought in more food than you need, then you need to take a good look at yourself.'

And the post was met with a furious response who called out the behaviour of the stockpilers after similar scenes were also reported across the country, including Frankby, Merseyside.

One, @queentilli, wrote: 'There should be financial penalties for this kind of thing.'

Another, @Stephen34184311, added: 'What a waste!!! Unbelievable that food could have helped somebody who really needed it self greed at it's best.'

A third, @Ant_CFC_203, commented: 'Disgraceful. I hope these people look back and realise they have let themselves and their communities down.'

Ajit Singh Atwal shared a series of images on social media that showed rubbish bins overflowing with discarded food that had been hoarded by stockpilers

Loaves of bread, bunches of bananas and unopened packs of chicken products had all been tossed aside after they went past their use by date

Britons have hoarded food worth 1billion during the past fortnight as a result of panic buying - despite assurances from the government and industry that there is still plenty in the supply chain. Pictured: Customers kept their distance as they queued outside Tesco in Leatherhead, Surrey, earlier today

In other coronavirus developments:

NHS workers began being tested for coronavirus at a temporary drive through testing station in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington

Photos revealed the inside of the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital with two wards, each for 2,000 people, to help tackle the coronavirus response

The British Red Cross said evictions of asylum seekers from Government accommodation are to be halted amid fears about the disease

Police urged motorcyclists to stay out of the countryside and told them they cannot claim it is part of their permitted daily exercise under lockdown rules

Police chiefs want Britons to snitch on any neighbours they suspect of breaching the coronavirus lockdown

Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur

Images from inside ExCeL Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into a hospital

Andy Burnham has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason'

Workers who have not taken a holiday because of the crisis will be able to carry it over into the next two years

NHS staff to be tested for coronavirus from next week at places including Chessington World of Adventures

The coronavirus social distancing limit is four times too short, Massachusetts Institute of Technology warned

National director of the NHS, Stephen Powis, today announced at Number 10's daily briefing that Boris Johnson is continuing to self-isolate as he is still showing symptoms but he was able to hold a meeting earlier today

Powis also announced that keeping Covid-19 deaths in the UK below 20,000 would be a 'good result'

He then revealed that 170million masks, 25million gloves and 30million aprons have been delivered to medical staff fighting virus across the country

Mr Atwal, a former Liberal Democrat Councillor, posted the photos on Twitter alongside the caption: 'To all the people in this great city of ours in Derby, if you have gone out and panic bought like a lot of you have and stacked up your houses with unnecessary items you don't normally buy or you have bought in more food than you need, then you need to take a good look at yourself'

The CEO of Tesco is encouraging shoppers who are able to use stores in order to free-up delivery slots for online orders to the elderly and vulnerable. Pictured: Shoppers wearing face masks as they queue outside a Sainsbury's store in London

Farmers warn of food shortages as travel bans restrict the number of workers available to pick crops British workers have been urged to fill the gap of seasonal foreign workers by picking fruit and vegetables this summer. George Eustice, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said it was 'critically important' there was a supply of seasonal workers for the British agricultural industry. According to the British Growers Association, there was a need for around 70,000 seasonal staff a year. They said that due to the new post-Brexit points-based immigration system being introduced, there was just 10,000 permits available under a seasonal workers' pilot scheme for non-UK nationals - a shortfall of around 60,000. The Government announcement comes as the travel and movement restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have caused labour shortages as the picking season starts. While supermarkets have introduced restrictions on certain products, having become overwhelmed by panic buying as shoppers rush to stock up. 'Our farmers are doing a fantastic job of feeding the nation during this immensely challenging time,' Mr Eustice said. 'I have been speaking with industry today and in the last week about the critically important issue of seasonal workers, who usually come from Europe to pick fruit and vegetables. 'We need to mobilise the British workforce to fill that gap and make sure our excellent fruit and vegetables are on people's plates over the summer months. 'There are already brilliant recruitment efforts under way by industry and I would encourage as many people as possible to sign up. 'We will also be looking at other ways to make sure farmers have support they need ahead of the busy harvest months, while also keeping workers safe and protected.' Meanwhile Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger called for the creation of a new Land Army to help alleviate the current problems. He said some of the thousands of people who are temporarily without work because of the Covid-19 epidemic could harvest vegetables and fruit. And he has called for the creation of a simplified, web-based scheme to match agricultural employers with potential staff. In World War Two, 80,000 women joined the Land Army to help cover labour shortages in agriculture. French government officials have launched an appeal for temporary farm workers to come forward after farming unions warned producers would be short of 200,000 staff this spring because of a ban on bringing in foreign labour. Mr Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said the creation of a similar workforce this side of the Channel would help farmers head off the threat of tons of fruit and vegetables going unpicked over the next few months. 'The NFU president has been warning of the problems farmers are facing because of a foreign labour shortage but I would have thought that here, surely, is a simple solution which the NFU itself could adopt,' he said. 'But it has to be a no-frills operation. We cannot load farmers up with more onerous paperwork because they have more than enough on their plates at the moment. 'These are desperate times and the Government is tearing up the rules on a daily basis to get us through them, so a few more torn ones aren't going to make a heap of difference. 'The difference this scheme could make, however, is that between the nation continuing to be fed and some serious and prolonged food shortages. 'I am certain there will be thousands of people dreading the tedium of having to stay at home for weeks and who would welcome the chance of a temporary job in the fresh air, particularly since social distancing is generally far easier to achieve when people are working outdoors.' Advertisement

Young and healthy people were urged to stay away from supermarkets and make meals from food in their cupboards as demand for groceries and household goods surged during the coronavirus lockdown.

Britons have hoarded food worth 1billion during the past fortnight as a result of panic buying - despite assurances from the government and industry that there is still plenty in the supply chain.

The CEO of Tesco is encouraging shoppers who are able to use stores in order to free-up delivery slots for online orders to the elderly and vulnerable.

But the move has meant that there continue to be lengthy queues outside supermarkets up and down the country as shoppers are forced to maintain their distance as they wait to enter the stores.

NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis accused panic buyers of depriving healthcare staff of the food supplies they need, adding: 'Frankly we should all be ashamed.'

Ocado has been operating at full capacity during the crisis and said yesterday it had around ten times more demand for its services than it did before the outbreak began.

Online orders are now limited to one per week per customer, while some items have also been limited to just two per person.

Chief executive of the online delivery service, Lord Stuart Rose, urged consumers to act rationally as he revealed Britons had hoarded an extra 1billion worth of food over the past couple of weeks.

The boss of the UK's biggest retailer Tesco, Dave Lewis, has written to customers to reassure them there is still plenty of food, but asking the young and the healthy to venture out to their local store.

Users of the retail giant's online service have complained they are unable to secure a home delivery slot. In his letter, he has asked those who can venture out to shop in-store - while taking appropriate precautions.

Supermarkets have recently moved to enforce more stringent precautions for the safety of staff and customers including limiting the number of shoppers allowed into their stores at any given time.

Tesco boss Dave Lewis recently wrote to customers saying staff will draw new floor markings in the checkout areas, install protective screens on checkouts, and introduce one-way aisles.

'Our social distancing plans aim to protect customers from the moment they enter our car parks, to browsing products, to paying and finally exiting our stores,' he wrote.

And in a letter to customers, Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe said the number of people allowed in stores and at ATMs at any one time will be limited.

He said queuing systems will be put in place outside stores and people are urged to arrive throughout the day to avoid long queues forming in the morning, and encouraged people to pay by card.

'We will be reminding people in stores to keep a safe distance from other customers and from our colleagues,' he said.

Mr Coupe said the number of checkouts will be reduced and screens will be introduced.

He said many customers have written to him to say they are elderly or vulnerable and are struggling to book online delivery slots.

'We are doing our absolute best to offer online delivery slots to elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers. These customers have priority over all slots.

'Our customer Careline has been inundated with requests from elderly and vulnerable customers - we have had one year's worth of contacts in two weeks.

'We have proactively contacted 270,000 customers who had already given us information that meant we could identify them as being in these groups,' he said.

Mr Coupe, who apologised to regular online customers, and said they have already booked in slots for 115,000 elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers this week.

Similarly Ocado chairman Lord Stuart Rose issued his own guidance to Brits earlier this week amid the ongoing crisis.

Young and healthy people have been urged to stay away from supermarkets and make meals from food in their cupboards as demand for groceries and household goods surges during the coronavirus lockdown. Pictured: Shoppers observe social distancing as they queue outside a supermarket in Fleet, Hampshire, earlier today

NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis accused panic buyers of depriving healthcare staff of the food supplies they need. Pictured: Police officer from the Hampshire Constabulary looks on as shoppers observe social distancing as they wait in a queue outside a Morrisons supermarket earlier today

Supermarkets have recently moved to enforce more stringent precautions for the safety of staff and customers including limiting the number of shoppers allowed into their stores at any given time. Pictured: Shoppers queueing to enter Tesco in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, (left) and a B&M store in Wolverhampton (right) earlier today

Have you seen bins overflowing with food waste? If so, get in touch and email: luke.a.andrews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

Lord Rose, 71, who is also a former chairman and chief executive of clothing and food retailer Marks & Spencer, has been in self-isolation after suspecting he had contracted the virus.

Rose also called on people in the country to 'make your meals work'.

'If you buy a chicken, roast the chicken, have the roast chicken dinner, the following day turn it into a stir fry, the following day make it into soup,' he said.

'You can make a relatively small amount of food go a long way and I think we live in a very profligate society today - we buy too much, we eat too much, we consume too much and we have to learn new ways.'

A line of shoppers waited to get into a Sainsbury's supermarket in Bath, Somerset. One wore a protective face mask in a bid to stop the virus spreading

But the UK should be braced for food rationing because relying on the public to exercise shopping restraint simply 'won't work', according to an academic expert. Pictured: One shopper with a full trolley (left) and shoppers wearing protective gloves and facemarks at Sainsbury's in London earlier today

Despite shoppers attempting to buy online there were still lengthy queues outside supermarkets up and down the country earlier today as shoppers maintained their distance as they waited to enter the stores. Pictured: Social distancing for customers at Morrisons in Hampshire earlier today

'There is a billion pounds more food in people's larders than there was a couple of weeks ago - what are they doing with it? How much food do you need to eat? How much do you need to store away? Please show some restraint,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'There is no shortage of food... Nobody will starve.'

Coronavirus is continuing to spread across the country at an exponential rate - it took just 13 days for the number of deaths to go from one to more than 100.

And it has only taken a further 10 days for the total to go from 100 to more than 1,000.

The graphic above shows the break down of what Britons spent their cash on in the supermarkets

Police are powerless to prevent people leaving home more than once in a day or driving to beauty spots for exercise Britain's police chiefs are begging millions of Britons to adhere to Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown as they admit to being powerless to enforce it. Forces across the country are understood to be confused and divided over the rules and the sweeping powers afforded by the emergency laws. Guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council states people must stay at home except for medical reasons, essential shopping, or for once-daily exercise. Police took full advantage of their new authority, using the new emergency powers within the first 12 hours of them being ratified by MPs. However, the likes of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire - which have used drones to track and shame dog walkers before posting online - have faced charges of 'overzealousness' from ex-MPs, lawyers, and human-rights group. The Times reports that the NPCC is privately displeased by some of the more excessive measures officers have taken to enforce the lockdown. But NPCC boss Martin Hewitt is urging Britons to obey the rules as police chiefs admit they are powerless to prevent people from exercising more than once a day. Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Sara Glen told the newspaper: 'There is nothing in the legislation that talks about once-a-day exercise. It talks about exercise only with a household member.' 'The law doesn't say once a day. The law doesn't specify what that type of activity might be. Many people need to be out in the fresh air. 'We don't want everyone driving to the same area to do their exercise. 'All we are saying is exercise on your own or with other household members, not where there are other people.' Advertisement

Overall, the number of confirmed cases in the UK is 17,089. But just one week ago, the total paled in comparison at 5,018.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is already having to lead the response to the pandemic from Downing Street after he was diagnosed with the disease.

He has been accused of failing to follow his own social distancing rules after Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive and England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty began self-isolating with symptoms.

The news comes as Governmental advisers warn that even stricter social distancing measures could be under way if the staggering increase in figures doesn't stop.

A statement from NHS England, following the latest surge in cases, said: 'Patients were aged between 33 and 100 years old and all but 13 (aged between 63 and 99 years old) had underlying health conditions.'

The latest figures come after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack revealed he had developed mild symptoms of coronavirus and was self-isolating.

Government advisers said stricter social distancing policies may have to be rolled out next month if the grim figures continued to rise. The measures would be introduced in three weeks as the outbreak reached its peak to further reduce 'person-to-person interaction'.

A senior government adviser suggested the figures would continue to rise for at least the next three weeks, meaning the peak is likely to hit at Easter.

The adviser said hospitals 'should be OK', but admitted 'we can't guarantee it' and stressed some intensive care units may struggle to cope.

And should the number of deaths rise significantly, 'greater enforcement' of social distancing policies would have to be introduced. This would include 'anything that can be done to push it (down) further' and prevent people catching the disease.

The adviser added: 'I expect death numbers to increase over two, three or four weeks, and then to gradually decrease.'

Officials were generally 'very happy' with the levels of compliance with social distancing guidance, despite some Britons travelling some distance to beauty spots in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales to exercise.

A nurse is seen swabbing the driver of a car at a drive through coronavirus testing station at Chessington World Of Adventures Resort

A medic can be seen attending to the occupants of a car at a coronavirus drive-through testing station in Chessington

Britain's coronavirus death toll rocketed by 260 to 1,019 today as the UK suffered its worst day yet and saw a huge spike in victims

Ambulance staff and health workers outside the ExCel Center in London. The NHS is anticipating a Coronavirus 'tsunami' as the peak of infarction rates near

The advice says the public should leave their house only to shop for groceries, provide or receive medical care, travel to work or exercise, which is limited to once a day. The total number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 17,089.

But this is a huge underestimate of the true figure as most patients with the virus are not being tested.

Professor Jim Naismith, an expert in structural biology at Oxford University, said: 'Although Covid-19 is a mild disease for over 80 per cent of us, today's deaths will have come as a terrible blow to families. The increase in the deaths are following the exponential pattern predicted.

A police officer talks to a cyclist at Regents Park in London, during a lockdown over the spread of coronavirus

People walk and run to take their daily exercise allowance in Battersea Park in London today, as life in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic

'This means we are likely to continue to see further increases in the numbers of daily deaths until social distancing measures have their effect.

'The deaths tomorrow and in the days ahead will be of people who were infected before the social distancing measures were implemented.

'I understand the temptation to live on each day's numbers, but what matters is what is ahead of us and what we can do to save lives.'

Dr Mike Tildesley, of the University of Warwick, added: 'We may expect to see the number of daily confirmed cases continue to climb, before starting to decline once the current social distancing measures start to have an effect.'

A paramedic sets up medical equipment outside the Excel Centre, London while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital

People walk to get their daily exercise allowance in Battersea Park in London today
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday asked NHAI Chairman and toll operators across national highways to provide food, water and other necessary support to migrant workers.

The directions came amid reports that migrant workers are facing severe hardships while stranded at various parts in the country on account of nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

"I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/Toll operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places.

"At this time of crisis we have to be compassionate for our fellow citizens," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said.

The minister expressed hope that toll operators will respond to his call positively.

Earlier, Gadkari had asked NHAI to suspend toll on all national highways to ease transportation of essential goods and supplies.

The suspension of toll collection on national highways will ease supplies of essential goods across the country while facilitating movement of patients and needy people who have obtained curfew passes, Gadkari had said.

Urging people to adhere to the nationwide lockdown, the minister has said suspension of toll is for people who have to venture out for necessary travel.

"Even though it's a complete lockdown all over the country, there are provisions to issue necessary passes/permissions for those people who approach the relevant authorities and convince their necessities to travel," he had said.

Such passes are being issued by local authorities so that the needy people can travel, he added.

"Suspension of toll collection is for such people who travel in private vehicles. This will ease their journey without wasting time at the toll plaza.

"Toll collection has been suspended to reduce inconvenience to such people who have been issued curfew pass by local administration/authorities for all vehicles transporting essential goods and even the vehicles carrying patients," the minister said.

At the same time, he urged people to stay indoors and follow advice of local authorities to fight the spread of coronavirus.

The government earlier this week temporarily suspended toll collection on national highways to ease emergency services in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

This will not only reduce inconvenience to emergency services but also save critical time, Gadkari had said.

Maintenance of roads and availability of emergency resources at toll plazas will continue as usual.

Earlier, the road transport and highways ministry had advised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to follow the home ministry's guidelines about toll plaza operations following the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The prevailing condition may be treated as "Force Majeure" of concession or contract agreement in terms of the finance ministry, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accommodation giant Quest has offered all of its 140 hotels across the nation for Australians undergoing mandatory two-week isolation, while turning one of its buildings into a makeshift "health facility" for people suffering with COVID-19.

The 11,000 apartments to be made available under the deal, expected to be signed off in coming days, will represent a major component of the unprecedented effort to house the thousands of Australians returning from overseas who have been ordered into quarantine.

Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday the state's hotel industry had offered a combined 26,000 beds alone, with about 5000 ready to go from when the mandatory quarantine period came into effect at 12am on Sunday.

Mr Andrews expected between 1000 and 1500 returned travellers to on Sunday begin their mandatory 14-day hotel lockdown, which will be enforced by Victoria Police and supported by Australian Defence Force soldiers.
We rely upon the science, he said. We rely upon the experts out there to tell us, Are we on the right trajectory? Are we reaching a peak? When will we reach a peak? What happens on the other side of a peak?
The bizarre seven-part docuseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, has taken the world by storm. The Netflix hit follows the life of Tiger King Joe Exotic, who ran the G.W. Zoo in Oklahoma before his arrest and conviction from a complex murder-for-hire plot. While it may sound like fiction, Joe Exotics marriage to four husbands  two at the same time  became one of many subplots. Among those men is Travis Maldonado, who met an early fate in 2017. The details are disturbing.

Who was Travis Maldonado?

Joe Exotic  Tiger King | Netflix

If you havent heard about Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, the docuseries follows the wild story of G.W. Zoo owner, Joe Exotic, his sordid relationships with four different husbands, and his ongoing rivalry with animal rights activist, Carole Baskin.

Though there are many aspects of the series to comment on, many are attached to the story of [one of Joe Exotics husbands], Travis Maldonado. The [then] wide-eyed 19-year-old began his journey at the exotic zoo in late 2013.

The California transplant allegedly arrived at the zoo with a complicated meth and marijuana addiction history, according to the docuseries. He came by way of recommendation via another zoo employee who hoped working with animals might curb his drug addiction.

He is survived by two sisters, and his mom and dad  who is in cancer remission  as seen via sister, Ashley Maldonados Facebook page.

Details about Maldonados life before joining Exotics zoo have not been disclosed. However, based on photos shared by his sisters, brother Maldonado was very much loved and will be forever missed by all who knew him.

Inside Maldonados relationship with Joe Exotic

One month after joining the zoo team, Maldonado  who previously said on camera he was a straight man  married Exotic, along with his longtime partner, John Finlay, in a three-way ceremony which took place in a dance hall near the zoo. Some of the animals they cared for were in attendance.

The three-way relationship eventually transitioned into a traditional two-way marriage in 2015 when the laws changed. Finlay removed himself claiming Exotic had become controlling and manipulative, according to Screen Rant.

Finlay and Exotics end came with a parking lot brawl whereas Finlay was charged with assault and battery. Meanwhile, Maldonado stayed with Exotic until Oct. 6, 2017  the day he died.

How did Maldonado die?

Maldonado met a tragic end with an accidental suicide. According to witnesses, he removed the magazine from a pistol to show that it wouldnt fire without it, despite having bullets in the chamber. The incident is part of the docuseries.

At the time, Exotic was running for Oklahoma governor. The death caught him, and everyone who knew Maldonado, by surprise.

My entire soul died, Exotic said. He built a memorial for Maldonado on the zoos grounds.

Maldonados sister, Ashley, recently posted a warning on her Facebook page warning viewers of her brothers untimely death.

A WARNING TO ANYONE WHO WATCHES THIS.WHO KNEW TRAVIS im w my dad and sister watching it now.. IT SHOWS THE REAL LIVE FOOTAGE OF THE ACTUAL SHOOTING  not Travis himself but the guy in the room with Travis when it happened . it happened so fast.. i have seen the surveillance footage already but my sister Danielle hadnt and she f*cking lost her sh*t right now so i just wanted to warn you. Ashley Maldonado Facebook

March 22 wouldve been Maldonados 26th birthday. Whatever feelings viewers have about Tiger King, Maldonados end is an unfortunate accident that took a life far too soon.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
JERUSALEM, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli genealogy and genetic testing company MyHeritage will collaborate with the Chinese biotech giant BGI Genomics to set up a coronavirus testing lab in Israel, the Hebrew-language financial website Calcalist reported Friday.

The lab will be set up by April 9 and will conduct up to 20,000 tests for COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, a day, the report said.

The number of daily coronavirus tests in Israel will increase to 30,000 in two weeks, the Israeli Ministry of Health announced on Friday. The creation of the new lab is believed to be the main factor in the increase.

Founded in 2003, MyHeritage is based in the city of Or Yehuda in central Israel and employs about 500 people in Israel and abroad.

The company has a platform for discovering, preserving and sharing family history with advanced cross-check information technology.

BGI Genomics, founded in 1999, is the world's leading provider of genomic sequencing and proteomic services. Based in Shenzhen, China, it has 6,000 employees.

BGI is actively participating in the fields of cancer research, bio-sustainability and personalized medicine through a global network of collaborators.
While many of us are currently enforcing self-isolation, minimising contact with the outside world to 'flatten the curve', for some this way of life, this solitary existence, is a daily reality, virus or no virus.

Thousands of Irish people, of all ages, of all walks of life, live alone and live in social isolation, often going days, weeks without speaking to a single soul.

And in counties like Wexford, with its large expanses of rural lands, this problem is magnified.

In an attempt to address that, and to try and reach out to the many people in our communities who have become cut off from society, a befriending programme has been set up in one of the most affected parts of the county.

Enda Furlong is one of those involved in the service and he explains how it came about.

'It was about a year ago, Ann Marie Laffan from the Council's Community Development Section called us and said she was interested in setting up a telephone befriending pilot service in Ferns.

'She had looked at the CSO stats and seen that Ferns was one of the areas which had the most amount of people living in isolated areas.'

As a member of the Ferns Community First Responders and the local Tidy Towns group, Enda, and his colleague Mary Gethings, already had a wealth of experience when it came to dealing with those within the community.

And it was this experience which saw them placed at the forefront of a service which came to be known as Ferns BFriendly and would serve all those living within Ferns and the surrounding areas of Clologue, Camolin, Ballyduff.

However, before they could begin making calls and befriending those living in isolation, the newly formed team had to undergo specialist training.

'Ann Marie put us in touch with ALONE and told them we were setting up a befriending service,' Enda says. 'They gave us comprehensive training with one of their co-ordinators; showed us how to approach people, which people might need support.

'It included everything from the introduction to the befriending, the boundaries to follow, the referral process, how to match people to the right member of staff, and they gave us access to their portal which enabled us to log calls, to see who we'd spoken to every week.'

But what exactly is a befriending service, and who is it for?

'There may be people who are lonely and living in isolation in Ferns and surrounding areas and this can affect their health and quality of life dramatically. The support offered by a befriender provides friendship and the opportunity to talk to someone on a regular basis.

'Our team of volunteers offer their time each week to talk and listen to a lonely person. Although friendship and the alleviation of loneliness is our prime concern, if the volunteer may identify a need that is not being met this can be passed on to the a designated point of contact.'

Entirely free to sign up for, interested parties can contact 087 1691919 themselves or be referred by a family member or healthcare professional. Consent must be obtained from the person themselves and each applicant is given a full of outline of what is involved in the service beforehand,

And Enda is keen to underline the relaxed nature of the calls, the pressure-free environment at the core of Ferns BFriendly.

'We just talk about anything and everything; the weather, politics, sports, whatever the person is interested in. Some people are reluctant at first, we had one gentleman who used to only stay on the phone for 30 seconds: "Hello. How are you? I'm fine. Thanks for calling." But as time has gone those calls have begun to last a little longer each time and a rapport has developed.'

Yet, in typical Irish fashion, there remains a reluctance among some people to put themselves forward for the service, no matter how great their need.

'Some are reluctant to use it, I think maybe it is down to embarrassment. All it is a call and a friendly chat, you can do it for one week, 10 weeks or 100 weeks, it's up to the person themselves.

'Essentially, it's for anyone who feels they spend a lot of time at home on their own, who've lost connections with people, their partner has passed, children have moved away, and think having a phone call with someone would give them something to look forward to.

'It's for any age group, people can be at home for any number of reason, could have mobility issues, or could be feeling lonely for whatever reason, it gives them someone to talk to during the week.

And the hope for Enda, Ann Marie and the rest of the team is that this pilot scheme will eventually be spread out across the county and eventually involve people meeting face to face.

'I would definitely like to get more people involved, to spread it out across the county and transfer the knowledge we've acquired,' Enda says.

'We're hoping it will develop into a visitation service, but we would need additional resources for that; insurance, paperwork, availability of time, more volunteers. But I do think some of the service users would prefer that.'

If you or someone you know is living on their own and would like a chat with one of the Ferns Bfriendly volunteers or would like more information on the project please call 087-1691919, email info@fernsbfriendly.ie or visit www.fernsbfriendly.ie for more information.
Photo credit: Oscar Wong - Getty Images

From Women's Health

Supermarket Asda has introduced a 'no touching' policy, in a bid to nix the spread of the novel coronavirus in shops.

'There will also be clear signage, directional barriers and floor markings to help you move around our store easily and maintain a two-metre distance from other customers and our colleagues.

'You are allowed to bring your children and other members of your household to our stores, but we ask that you keep this to a minimum to help us maintain social distancing advice. Were asking customers to only touch items they intend to purchase and to use cashless payment wherever they can to minimise contact,' an update on the Asda website reads.

In a similar vein, reporters at the Liverpool Echo say they have seen signs outside Aldi stores asking customers not to touch any trolleys until they are at the front of their stores, to ensure that only those which have been deep cleaned by staff are picked up to wheel around.

To keep you dosed up on the latest, here's the most up-to-date information from all ten national supermarkets - on opening times, priority hours, online delivery service issues and more.

Remember: official advice is only to leave home for essential supplies (or for key worker travel to and from work), wherever possible shop online and minimise trips to the supermarkets.

How are the supermarkets coping with increased demands?

There is an ever growing number of measures being put into practice including limiting shoppers in store, markers on the floor to force people to social distance, plastic screens to help protect customers and staff, and measures to restrict use of cash.

If you were hoping for an easier time, doing your grocery shopping online, think again. At the moment you may have to wait weeks for an available slot as supermarkets struggle to cope with increased demand. You may even have to join a 'virtual' queue to log on and then again to shop.

Story continues

1/ TESCO'S LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: All Tesco stores (except Express stores) will be prioritising the elderly and most vulnerable for one hour between 9am and 10am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. NHS staff will receive early access to large Tesco stores from 9 - 10am every Sunday.

Online deliveries: Customers will face difficulty getting a delivery slot, as Tesco is currently at full capacity for the next few weeks. The retailer is asking those who are able to safely come to stores to do so, instead of shopping online, so that it can start to free up more slots for the more vulnerable.

Social distancing: Tesco is introducing new floor markings to help people keep a safe distance from each other, encouraging contactless payments and implementing protective screens. Where necessary, the retailer will also be limiting the flow of people coming into stores to ensure they dont get too congested.

2/ ASDA'S LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: From store opening until 9am, larger stores are available exclusively for the elderly and vulnerable. Anyone who is not elderly or vulnerable should wait until after 9am when shopping on these days. ASDA has also implemented extra measures to help NHS staff. Large ASDA stores will prioritise their access every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8-9am for NHS staff.

Online deliveries: Customers trying to order online are likely to receive an error message due to high-volume traffic. On its site, the retailer advises: all available [delivery] slots will be displayed online and updated regularly. Please check on your online account for the nearest slot available.

Social distancing: ASDA has introduced social distancing measures, including encouraging contactless payments, protective screens at checkout, floor markers and limiting people in store where necessary. The retailer will also be placing workers outside stores to encourage people to follow social-distancing measures. The supermarket has now introduced a 'no touch' policy  you should only handle goods you intend to buy.

3/ SAINSBURY'S LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: The first hour of shopping in Sainsburys stores will be dedicated to older and vulnerable people every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. NHS staff will also receive priority slots during the first half hour after stores open every day.

Online deliveries: Due to high-demand, Sainsbury's is not registering new customers for online deliveries. Although slots are very limited for existing customers, from March 24th customers who are elderly, vulnerable or disabled have been given priority access to online delivery slots via email. Sainsburys advises any customers who consider themselves to be elderly, vulnerable or disabled and have not received an email, to visit the Groceries Online website for information on how to contact us. For all other customers, the retailer has told us: we are experiencing extremely high demand and advise that customers keep trying to contact us. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible and appreciate customers patience during these challenging times. Sainsbury's is also operating an expanded click and collect service.

Social distancing: The retailer is implementing social distancing measures, including closing every other payment point in our supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol filling stations to keep people further apart. It is also introducing protective screens at checkout, encouraging contactless payments and it is expecting to restrict the number of people allowed in stores at any one time.

4/ WAITROSE'S LOCKDOWN POLICY



Store locator

Early opening: The first opening hour in Waitrose supermarkets will be dedicated to elderly and vulnerable customers and their carers. To help NHS staff, the store is keeping daily essentials aside for NHS Staff and giving them priority at checkout.

Online deliveries: No delivery slots are currently available on Waitroses website. In response to queries, its customer service team via Twitter stated: we're experiencing an unprecedented demand right now, meaning delivery slots are quite a way in the future. We're working to increase our capacity and add more slots'.

Social distancing: Waitrose is implementing measures in stores by limiting the amount of people allowed in store at any one time, with workers being placed outside stores to encourage people to follow social distancing measures. The retailer is also encouraging contactless payments.

5/ ICELAND'S LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: Iceland has special measures in place for the elderly, vulnerable and NHS staff from Monday - Saturday. On these days, the first hour of trading is prioritised for elderly and vulnerable people and the final hour of trading is for NHS staff with ID.

Online deliveries: Iceland is now limiting online delivery slots to customers over the state pension age, those self isolating and other vulnerable people, such as the disabled. Anyone who doesn't fall under these categories is told to shop in store. Iceland warns demand for online deliveries is still very high and some items may be missing when deliveries arrive because of an increase in demand.

Social distancing: Iceland is encouraging people to pay using contactless card payments and has introduced protective screens at tills. It is also using lines on the floor at store checkouts to ensure that appropriate social distancing separation is maintained and, in line with government guidance, is setting agreed limits of between 40-80 people in stores, depending on the size of the store.

6/ LIDL'S LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: Lidls website states it is not implementing shopping hours for the elderly or NHS workers at stores in England, Scotland and Wales.

Online deliveries: Lidl does not offer online delivery.

Social distancing: Lidl is implementing social distancing measures by encouraging Contactless payments and putting up protective screens.



7/ ALDI LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: Aldi will open between 9.30am-10.00am on Sundays for workers in the NHS, Police and Fire Service. These groups will then have priority slots at the checkouts when they open at 10am. Currently, Aldi offers no special measures for the elderly.

Online deliveries: Aldi does not offer online delivery.

Social distancing: Aldi is installing two-metre markers on the floors of stores to encourage responsible social distancing at the checkout. It is also encouraging contactless payments and implementing protective screens for staff.

8/ MORRISONS' LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: From 7am to 8am, Monday to Saturday, NHS workers have a priority hour to shop at Morrisons. Currently, the retailer has no special measures for elderly or vulnerable customers.

Online deliveries: Customers may have difficulty getting onto the grocery site or finding a slot. The retailer has announced on Twitter that this is due to high traffic and technical issues and says it is working to address this.

Social distancing: Measures have been introduced, including encouraging contactless payment, protective screens in place for staff and floor stickers to keep people spaced apart.

9/ M&S' LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: At M&S, the first hour of trading on Mondays and Thursdays will be prioritised for elderly and vulnerable customers. The first hour of trading on Tuesdays and Fridays will be prioritised for NHS staff.

Online deliveries: M&S does not offer online delivery.

Social distancing: Workers are being placed outside M&S stores to encourage shoppers to follow social distancing rules and the retailer is managing the amount of customers allowed in store at any one time. Floor markings are being used to encourage social distancing and paying with contactless card is encouraged.

10/ CO-OP'S LOCKDOWN POLICY

Store locator

Early opening: The retailer prioritises the elderly, vulnerable people and NHS staff from 8am  9am Monday to Saturday, and 10am  11am on Sundays.

Online deliveries: Co op has started offering deliveries. However, its advice on its website states: some of our delivery slots are booked up at the moment. Keep checking back to see when more become available. It also notes that, where slots are available, you will only be able to order up to 20 items.

Social distancing: Co op is implementing social distancing measures. This includes floor markers to define a one metre distance in front of kiosks and a two-metre spacing for customers queues, encouraging contactless payment where possible and reducing the number of tills to allow for greater amounts of space. The retailer will also aim to limit the number of customers in the store at any one time.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

According to the NHS website, the primary symptoms of coronavirus are:

A fever

A new, consistent cough

Other coronavirus symptoms that have been reported include:

Tiredness or fatigue

A headache

Shortness of breath

A loss of smell or taste

Muscle pain

What should you do if you have symptoms of coronavirus?

If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should use the NHS 111 Coronavirus service online. People are being urged to only call 111 if they cannot get help online.

To avoid infecting others, do not go to a GP surgery or pharmacy if you suspect you have coronavirus.

If you need urgent medical help that you cannot get online, call 111. In an life-threatening emergency call 999 for an ambulance.

Disclaimer: The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Herman Bongco, Senior Partner of Modelworks Direct, today announced that the company is now expanding its business to the Japanese market. Modelworks is shifting to LARGE Custom Aircraft Models for industry trade shows. The company offers a wide array of large-scale model airplanes and ships.

Modelworks Direct fabricates custom made aircraft and ship models. All models are made of fiberglass, real mahogany and composite materials such as plastics and metals. All models are hand-painted for accuracy and historical significance. Each model is mounted on a mahogany base or fiberglass pedestal for a perfect presentation.

Paint schemes are selected for historical accuracy and authenticity. The customer receives a product close to the original airplane or ship. Modelworks Direct produces tailor made models based on the client's requirements. The company is also an Architect/Fabricator with memberships in the NBAA, EAA, and AOPA.

The company provides over 2,000 models and builds models from six inches to 60 feet long, with collaboration with its sister company Fiberwerx (http://www.fiberwerx.com.ph).

Herman Bongco, Modelworks Direct CEO said, "Modelworks Direct works with a core team of seven technical experts who have a combined level of 100+ years of experience in this field."

Custom scale models are the ultimate gift for pilots, sailors, enthusiast, history fanatics, and even executives. The company provides a 100 percent money-back guarantee on its model inventory. "We ensure that our customers will receive exactly what they are looking for, because we do not accept anything less than perfection," as stated by Mr. Bongco.

About Modelworks Direct

Modelworks Direct is a custom scale model company based in San Dimas, Calif. The company produces the world's finest handcrafted models from their clients photos and specific requirements. Models produced are museum-quality military, civilian, airline and display models. Modelworks Direct offers a wide array of the products consisting of airplanes, helicopters, ships, boats, sailboats, space shuttles and the newly launched maritime line. Customers may select from over 1,000 unique models including: private aircraft and airlines, models from WW I, WW II, Korean war, Vietnam war and Persian Gulf eras. With superb craftsmanship, combined with the inherent appeal of the airplanes, Modelworks Direct makes aero-sculptures true works of art. For more information, please visit http://www.modelworksdirect.com or call 1-844-8MODELS.

Media Contact

Company Name: Modelworks Direct

Contact Person: Herman Bongco

Phone: 1-224-888-4800

Country: United States

Website: http://www.modelworksdirect.com
The coronavirus has killed more than 500 people in New York State, sickened more than 44,000, and is still on an upward trajectory. The virus also targets the economy, progress and development. Added to the growing list of banned activities: non-essential construction projects. This directive, from Governor Andrew Cuomo, will not affect construction of the downtown Utica hospital. Perhaps a bigger issue: the $300 million the state previously pledged to the project, as a bare bones budget now looms. MVHS officials say they're confident the money will still be there.

"We have been told by DOH(NYS Department of Health) to continue working on our project, so, there are certain people who can do things. There's a lot of work that's being done on that site by people who are outside and away from each other," said MVHS President and CEO, Darlene Stromstad.

When asked if that mean the money would be there, Stromstad replied, "And that the money will be there."

Oneida County Executive, Anthony Picenter, Jr., said that downtown Utica's Nexus Center would likely fall victim to the governor's temporary ban on non-essential construction projects.

"Well, Nexus clearly doesn't fall into that criteria of what the governor established in terms of essential," said Picente.

In Marcy, it does not appear the coronavirus and subseqent government-imposed restrictions will affect the Cree project. The Vice President for Operations for Cree said the semiconductor industry has been granted essential status.

"At this point, we're not planning on any impact to our schedule in Marcy," said Rex Felton, adding that he plans to be in Oneida County in about two weeks.
Princess Maria Teresa of Spain has died aged 86 after testing positive for coronavirus.

The princess, of the Bourbon-Parma Royal Family in Spain, passed away yesterday her younger brother, Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma, announced.

She was born in Paris, France on July 28, 1933 to parents, Prince Xavier and Madeleine de Bourbon, who had a total of six children.

The royals are members of the House of Bourbon-Parma which is a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family, descended from the French Capetian dynasty.

A cadet branch is created when a young member of a Royal Family, who is not the current heir, is granted lands and titles of his own.

Members of the family once ruled as King of Etruria and as Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Guastalla, and Lucca until 1859.

Princess Maria Teresa de Bourbon Parme and her nephew Prince Jaime de Bourbon Parme arrive for the presentation of her book ion 2014

Maria Teresa Of Bourbon Parma Wearing A Jacques Heim Evening Dress in her younger years

Princess Maria did not have any children of her own. But she is survived by a number of nieces and nephews, including Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Princess Margarita and Prince Jaime.

The news comes after it was revealed Prince Charles, 71, has a 'mild' form of the illness.

He is on the Balmoral estate with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who has tested negative and is without any symptoms of the virus, which has killed 435 and infected 8,200 more in the UK so far.

It comes as Spain registered a record number of coronavirus deaths in a single-day period with the army now being handed emergency powers to transfer bodies because undertakers are unable to cope.

The number of deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours is 832, it emerged this morning, bringing the nation's death toll to 5,690 since the outbreak began.

Today's tally beats the previous Spanish record for a single day of 769 coronavirus which was recorded on Friday.

It puts Spain now firmly in second place as the worst-hit nation ahead of China with 3,295 in total.

Spain has registered a new record number of coronavirus deaths in a single-day period with the army now being handed emergency powers to transfer bodies because undertakers can't cope. Pictured: Priest gives a response in front the coffin of a woman who died of coronavirus disease

The number of deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours is 832, it emerged this morning. Pictured: Field hospital in Madrid

The number of new coronavirus cases registered in the past 24 hours is 8,000.

Spanish Ministry of Health figures show 72,248 people have been infected, 40,630 have needed to be hospitalised, 4,575 people have been admitted to intensive care and 12,285 people have been cured of the disease.

Only Italy's single-day death tally is worse than Spain's - with 969 dying there from coronavirus in the 24 hours between Thursday and Friday.

On Monday a second makeshift morgue is due to start functioning in Madrid after a retail centre ice rink where families paid six pounds a time to skate became its first stop-gap body drop because of the saturation funeral parlours were facing.

The new temporary morgue, known locally as the Donut because of the way it looks from the sky, was built to be Madrid's Institute of Forensic Medicine but never opened.

The figures comes after the army was given special powers to transfer bodies because of the saturation undertakers are facing.

The number of deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours is 832, it emerged this morning. The grim statistic means 5,690 people with the virus have now died in Spain

The figures comes after the army was given special powers to transfer bodies because of the saturation undertakers are facing. Pictured: Members of the Military Emergencies Unit

The new temporary morgue, known locally as the Donut because of the way it looks from the sky, was built to be Madrid's Institute of Forensic Medicine but never opened (pictured)

Reaction from Spain's emergency health director Spain's emergency health director Fernando Simon claimed today: 'The disease is stabilising and we can say some areas of the country may have surpassed the peak, although we can't say the same at a national level.' Responding to overnight reports in Spanish media pointing to the likelihood the number of coronavirus deaths was higher than the official figures, he insisted: 'It's true we can't test all those people infected and there may be some that escape us. 'But Spain is making a great effort to be as transparent as possible.' He said the key at the moment was making sure intensive care units were not 'saturated' and avoiding a hospital collapse in the worst-affected areas. During questions from the press at a daily coronavirus he declined to specify which areas he believed may have surpassed the peak. Advertisement

The sharp increase in the number of deaths caused by coronavirus has laid to bodies being left longer than normal.

The government gave soldiers temporary authorisation to fill the void and help alleviate the problem by publishing the new order in an official state bulletin today.

The Ministry of Health-issued order states: 'The Armed Forces that form part of the operation against Covid-19 are authorised to drive and transfer corpses at the request of the appropriate authorities.'

Health Minister Salvador Illa said: 'Special attention needs to be paid during this health crisis to the issue of the transfer of corpses, to properly manage the removal and conservation of bodies through accumulation and the absence of available funeral services.'

The task of removing coronavirus victims' bodies is expected to fall on Spain's military emergency unit called UME which has been at the forefront of the mass disinfecting of residential elderly care homes and other public areas.

The order is valid until mid-April but are expected to be extended if Spain's state of emergency goes from four weeks to six.

Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles told a Spanish TV programme earlier this week soldiers tasked with disinfecting the homes as part of the fight against coronavirus were discovering abandoned bodies.

She said: 'The army, during some visits, has seen elderly people absolutely abandoned, if not dead in their beds.

The sharp increase in the number of deaths caused by coronavirus has laid to bodies being left longer than normal. Pictured: Members of the Emergency Military Unit

Spain is now the fourth worst effected country in the world. Pictured: Medical staff in Madrid transfer a patient in a wheelchair

The latest figures recording the rise in Spain's coronavirus death toll come after:

Queen Letizia was forced to go into lockdown after coming into contact with a minister who has since tested positive for coronavirus.

Harrowing video from a hospital in Albacete, 85 miles west of Valencia, showed patients lining the corridors of a hospital waiting to be treated.

The Spanish government forced to return 'faulty' coronavirus testing kits to China that were delivering incorrect test results.

Spanish government forced to return 'faulty' coronavirus testing kits to ChinaHer comments have been criticised by senior nursing home workers who say the problem has been that undertakers were saturated by the number of deaths and could not cope.

Spain extended a nationwide lockdown on Thursday by a further 15 days to April 12 and said it was fighting a 'real war' over medical supplies to contain the death toll.

Only Italy's single-day death tally is worse than Spain's - with 969 dying there from coronavirus in the 24 hours between Thursday and Friday

Health authorities are hoping it will soon become clear whether the lockdown is having the desired effect.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose wife is infected with the virus, previously said this is the country's most difficult moment since its 1936-39 civil war.

'Only the oldest, who knew the hardships of the civil war and its aftermath, can remember collective situations that were harsher than the current one.

'The other generations in Spain have never, ever had to face as a collective something so hard.'
The merger process of Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank could face a slight delay in the wake of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, an official of the Kolkata-based lender said on Saturday.

Basic banking transactions, however, will commence from April 1, the effective date of merger, he said.

"Due to the prolonged lockdown, there could be some slight delay in completing the merger process... but transactions like cash deposits, withdrawals and money transfer will begin from April 1," the official told PTI.

As per the swap ratio of the merger, 115 shares of Indian Bank will be exchanged with every 1,000 shares of Allahabad Bank.

The official also said post the amalgamation, Allahabad Bank will vacate its iconic head office building on NSC Bose Road here and move to a nearby premise.

He said the name 'Allahabad' will be retained in the new logo just below the slot for Indian Bank.

"We will vacate the head office building, hopefully after three to six months once the merger takes place. This is a rented building and we will move to our annex building across the street on India Exchange Place," he said.

The official said though the branches are noT operating at full strength due to the lockdown, all internal guidelines have been disemminated to the staff regarding standardisation of products, process and procedures.

Post the merger, the total business volume will be to the tune of Rs 8.40 lakh crore, he said, adding, all the staff will be retained.

The current MD and CEO of Indian Bank will become the new chief of the merged entity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a matter of weeks, Westports coronavirus outbreak has grown to the fourth-largest in the state, resulting in the shutdown of dozens of local businesses, recreational spaces and town facilities. Life isnt what it was before, and likely wont be for some time.

How did we get here?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus in the United States in the state of Washington on Jan. 21. The patient, a male, returned to Seattle from a trip to Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of pneumonia, caused by the novel coronavirus, began in December.

COVID-19, as it became known, spread throughout Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., where the first patient was being treated. The virus spread to North Carolina, where a resident visited a patient at Life Care Center.

There are tens of thousands of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. In Connecticut, 1,993 people have been infected with the illness, causing the death of 34 state residents. Over 1,000 people in the U.S. have died so far of COVID-19.

Westport has the fourth-most of COVID-19 in Connecticut as of Sunday with a total of 114, behind Norwalk, Danbury and Stamford with 226, 182 and 126 cases, respectively. Neighboring Weston has 23.

Health authorities have said at least 20 of Westports cases originated from a party that was held in town on March 5 that included more than 100 guests. Town officials have also suggested the coronavirus spread to Westport was imminent due to its proximity to New York City, which now has over 23,000 cases.

Heres a timeline of the coronavirus spread in Westport and Weston:

This timeline will be updated as the coronavirus situation develops.
Part Two: Medium Strategies.

KAMPALA  Yesterday, I highlighted some of the short-term measures (1-3) months that the government needs to focus on to ensure the survival of its people during the lock-down. Today, I take the stretch to focus on strategies that cover the medium term (3-9) months, following the survival strategies outlined in my first write-up. In the medium term, the focus of government should be on working closely with the private sector to ensure continuity of activities even though at a small scale; ensure essential services can continue and salary earners continue earning some money to push through the storm.

STATUTORY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES: I do not agree with Rwakakamba regarding the 10% NSSF payout. NSSF may not have these funds considering that theyre held in government borrowing through treasury bills and bonds. Some of the NSSF funds are also held in shares, stocks and real estate and would require time to liquidate. NSSF doesnt operate like a bank, that you walk in and get your money anytime. It is an investment fund with a clear time horizon and that is how it earns the interest it pays to members. NSSF, however, maintains some liquidity to pay-out those that withdraw from the fund as per the funds criteria. These funds are not in any way enough to pay every saver 10% as being suggested.

At a time like this, it is therefore not practical for NSSF to liquidate funds held in various investment instruments to afford the 10% payout Rwakakamba is suggesting or getting a government already in distress to buy back the treasury bills and bonds.

Since salaried employees are looking for ways to survive and any income earned would smoothen consumption, my proposal to the 10% would be to terminate NSSF contributions immediately and allow the 15% [employee-employer) monthly contribution instead paid to employees as part of the salary. This would help increase the average income available to spend in the medium term for all salaried employees.

SURVIVAL OF COMPANIES: As business activity slows, some companies are likely to go under and with them, millions of jobs. We need to ensure these companies can survive in the medium term even if it means limping on through the 18 months  the period we have been told the vaccine will/might be available. To do so, we need to quickly grant a tax holiday to these companies but encourage them to keep staff even if it is means maintaining them at quarter pay for purposes of survival in the medium term. The companies can review critical staff positions that can be placed on half-pay and probably send the rest on leave at half or quarter pay depending on what these companies can afford. The governments tax amnesty and a future stimulus that I will tackle in the long-term strategies should be enough to convince these companies to take this path. RENT: After food and school fees, rent presents the biggest pain point for many people especially the local income earners. They rent places of residence, but also places of business. A slump in income means they can have no place to work nor place to stay. While the government does not control the property market, it can still convince landlords to reduce rent by 50-60% during the six months for both residential places but suspend rent for business premises except for those trading in essential services such as food. Those trading in food will continue working and therefore can continue paying rent. The government can in return offer tax amnesty on the property and rental tax to land-lords for one year. A few landlords will argue that some of the houses are built on loan, in the short-term strategies I addressed this issue and therefore it cannot suffice. It is also not fair to push residential rent suspension completely as some landlords entirely depend on these rent collections to survive with their families.

REMOVE VAT ON ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES: Commodities that are used in day to the life of the people should be zero-rated. This should be done to keep prices low and affordable to everyone at least for a period lasting six to nine months.

How will the government meet the revenue shortfall?

Most Ministries still have funds leftover funds for the period ending June 30th, 2020. Except for essential ministries such as health, agriculture, and energy, that critical at this time, the treasury should collect all unspent monies from these ministries, departments, and agencies that had been earmarked for activities that will not happen because of the Covid19 disruption. I am confident that these funds are still significant and should be re-directed to fill the revenue gaps arising from tax cuts.

All civil servants and parastatal employees earning a salary of over 10 million Uganda shillings should take a 30% pay cut. While we are encouraging those in the private sector to do the same, the same principle should apply to government officials whose salary exceeds 10 million as most of them have alternative income sources and can survive over 6 months. Borrow: The World Bank has set aside $14b in emergency financing to help countries deal with the Covid19 effects. These funds are available and can be quickly accessed to fund some of the initiatives the government finds difficult to finance as tax collections will continue to drop during this period. These funds can be used in the long-term as well to help stimulate and finance recovery efforts for some private sector actors who will not be able to bounce back given the impact of Covid19.

In my final write-up, I will tackle the long-term strategies (9-18) that should border on bouncing back the economy, stimulating some activity and easing the effects of lock-down. If the Government adopts the short-term strategies, we should not register new infections and therefore people can already get back to work and activity should quickly bounce back in six to seven months if the experience from Wuhan is anything to go by.

============================================

Nathan Were is the President of The Nathan & Christine Were Foundation. A charity with interests in Education, Health and Social Welfare of the Poor.

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Mumbai, March 28 : Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar's "Gully Boy" was a favourite at Critics' Choice Film Awards this year.

In the Hindi category, Ranveer Singh picked up Best Actor (Male) for his role in the film that saw him showcasing his rapping skills. The Best Director award went to Zoya Akhtar for the "Gully Boy", which also the Best Film honour.

The Best Actor (Female) was given to Geetika Vidya Ohlyan for "Soni". Anubhav Sinha and Gaurav Solanki won the Best Writing award for "Article 15".

Critics' Choice Film Awards winners were announced on Saturday. The event that was supposed to be held on March 14 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The team of Critics Choice Film Awards then decided to announce the winners digitally.

There were awards for Best Film, Best Actor (Male), Best Actor (Female), Best Director and Best Writing for releases in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati languages, too.
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Abbott announced it has received the United States Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its rapid, portable, point-of-care molecular test for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The test, called ID NOW COVID-19, delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes, Abbott said.

Abbott said it makes the tests available next week to healthcare providers in urgent care settings in the US, where the majority of ID NOW instruments are in use today.

At the moment Abbott's testing will be confined to the US.

Abbott's testing kit will be a major game-changer, as currently even in advanced countries such as the US and Europe, it is taking 24-48 hours to get a laboratory test done. The process testing is an expensive and time-consuming process that involves a phlebotomist going for the collection of a swab sample, then processing the sample in the lab through RT-PCR testing.

The Abbott test, on the contrary, will run on the company's ID NOW platform, providing rapid results in a wide range of healthcare settings such as physicians' offices, urgent care clinics, and hospital emergency departments.

The ID NOW COVID-19 test comes a week after the company launched its Abbott m2000 RealTime SARS-CoV-2 EUA test, which runs on the m2000 RealTime System located in the hospital and reference labs around the world.

Between the two platforms, Abbott expects to produce about 5 million tests per month.

The ID NOW platform is small, lightweight (6.6 pounds) and portable (the size of a small toaster), and uses molecular technology, which is valued by clinicians and the scientific community for its high degree of accuracy.

"The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus," said Robert B. Ford, President, and Chief Operating Officer, Abbott.

With Abbott's point of care healthcare providers can perform molecular point-of-care testing outside the traditional four walls of a hospital in outbreak hotspots.

The company said it working with the US government to deploy tests to areas where they can have the greatest impact.

First introduced in 2014, ID NOW is the leading molecular point-of-care platform for Influenza A & B, Strep A and RSV testing in the US. The rapid, instrument-based, isothermal system for the qualitative detection of infectious diseases. Its unique isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology provides molecular results in just minutes, allowing clinicians to make evidence-based clinical decisions during a patient visit.
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President Trump is considering quarantining New York, Connecticut and New Jersey in desperate efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The move will restrict travel to and from the three states, which are some of the hardest-hit by the outbreak, as it emerged that 209 people died in New York in the last 24 hours.

'Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot  New York, New Jersey maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut quarantined. I'm thinking about that right now,' he said Saturday.

'We might not have to do it but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine - short term - two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.'

He said the possible quarantine would be 'short-term' but that it would be 'enforceable'.

The president dismissed the idea that he would need to deploy the National Guard to ensure residents comply with the quarantine rules.

'We're not going to need that,' he said.

President Donald Trump speaks in front of the US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, Saturday. He said he is considering quarantining the whole of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey in desperate efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic

The move would help tackle the issue other states are facing where New Yorkers are fleeing the city and traveling to other states and areas, where they are potentially risking more lives and spreading the disease further afield.

'Restrict travel, because they're having problems down in Florida, a lot of New Yorkers going down. We don't want that,' he said.

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo hit back at the president's plans in a press conference Saturday.

'I don't even know what that means. I don't know how that could be legally enforceable,' said Cuomo.

'And from a medical point view, I don't know what you would be accomplishing.

'But I can tell you, I don't even like the sound of it.'

Cuomo said he had spoken with Trump earlier Saturday and the two had not discussed a possible quarantine.

The president made the comments as he touched down in Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews around noon Saturday and spoke to reporters.

The president and Defense Secretary Mark Esper wave off the ship in Virginia as it heads for New York to assist hospitals responding to the coronavirus outbreak

'We're looking at it,' he said about the possible quarantine of the three states.

'We're looking at it and will be making a decision. A lot of the states that are infected - they've asked me if I'd look at it so we're going to look at it. Maybe for a short period of time.'

'It would be for a short time' for parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, he said.

However when asked if he would shut down the New York City subway he said: 'No we wouldn't do that.'

He said he would talk to New York state Governor Cuomo about the measures later today.

Trump also took the opportunity to praise the work Congress had done to pass the $2 trillion emergency bailout package, which he signed into law Friday.

GRAHAM CALLS TRUMP Senator Lindsey Graham privately phoned President Trump earlier this week and begged him not to reopen the country before medics say it is safe, a new report reveals. Three White House insiders have told The Washington Post that Graham phoned Trump Sunday and bluntly told the Commander-in-chief that he will 'own the deaths from the novel coronavirus' if he orders people to return to work too early. According to the sources, Trump listened to Graham but 'made no promises' and told his longtime ally that 'Americans must get back to work and businesses need to reopen as quickly as possible'. Prior to the phone call, the President had caused widespread outrage by wanting the country 'opened up and raring to go by Easter [April 12]', despite doctors warning that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause an effective shutdown stretching into summer. According to The Washington Post report, Trump is still toying with the idea of getting Americans back to work early despite the backlash, as he feels pressured by big business and stressed by the fluctuating stock market. Advertisement

'We have great oversight - a lot of oversight. We have a lot of people watching. It's a wonderful thing we've done for the workers and for the citizens,' he said.

'A lot of people are going to work. It will bring back the economy I think very fast.'

Trump reinforced the quarantine claims on leaving the air base and traveling to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, where he was sending the US Navy Comfort on to New York where it will be turned into a makeshift hospital.

'We will make a decision, very quickly, very shortly' on quarantining the 'hot areas' of those states, he said.

'We'll be announcing that one way or the other, fairly soon.'

The president said that, if enforced, the move would not restrict trade coming in and out of the states.

'This does not apply to people, such as truckers, from outside the New York area,' he said.

'It won't affect trade in any way.'

His comments on a possible quarantine seemed to backtrack on his previous claims that he wants to get the economy and normal life back up and running as soon as possible.

It left Virginia Saturday afternoon, after President Trump's visit, and will now travel down the Elizabeth River, into Willoughby Bay, into the Chesapeake Bay, to the Atlantic for its voyage to New York. The president said that, if enforced, the quarantine would not restrict trade coming in and out of the states

USNS Comfort is headed for New York where it will be turned into a makeshift hospital to ease the burden on the state's hospitals. Trump said a decision on the potential quarantine would be made very soon

Trump said this week that he wanted the US 'opened up and raring to go' by April 12 for Easter.

One in three Americans have already lost their jobs following state shutdowns designed to stop the outbreak in its tracks.

The number of new unemployment claims soared to 3.3 million Thursday, and experts have warned that those in low-income jobs have been hardest hit.

But the president's plan to rush through the country's reopening has been slammed by healthcare professionals and other politicians.

Although there are dramatic regional differences within the country, public officials worry that without a continued clamp-down, the disease will spread unabated bringing a deadly crush on hospitals.

Lindsey Graham, Senator and Trump's golf buddy, warned the president not to reopen the country too soon and that if he does, he will be responsible for the coronavirus deaths that follow.

In a call last Sunday, Graham advised Trump that if he opens the economy too soon, more lives will be lost, according to the Washington Post.

He warned the president that he and the rest of the Republican Party would be held personally responsible for the deaths that arose from them ignoring advice of medical experts.

The move could be detrimental to the upcoming presidential elections, he said.

Fauci, America's top disease expert, also poured cold water on the president's plan saying: 'I think what the President was trying to do, he was making an aspirational projection to give people some hope.'

'But he's listening to us when we say that we've really got to reevaluate it in real time, and any decision we make has to be based on the data,' he told CNN.

More than 800,000 doctors across the United States also sent a letter to Trump Friday, urging him to rethink his strategy and warning him that opening the economy by Easter could 'gravely jeopardize the health of all Americans.'

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo hit back at the president's plans in a press conference Saturday: 'I don't know what it means  I don't know how it will be enforceable. I don't like the sound of it'

The Council of Medicinal Speciality Societies addressed the letter to Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and White House Coronavirus Task Force Ambassador Deborah Birx on Friday.

It said medical staff are risking their lives to treat coronavirus patients and called on the Trump administration to support 'science-based recommendations' on social distancing.

Trump appeared to slightly back away from his push Friday, suggesting he would defer to government health experts.

'We'll be sitting down on Monday or Tuesday, depending on which is the best for everybody and we'll be making that determination. We'll be making it,' Trump said, referencing top officials with him at a White House briefing.

Trump even adopted the mantra of health officials  seeking to impact the chart showing a rapid increase in infections, something that can be accomplished through social distancing measures. The administration's initial 15-day campaign to slow the spread of the coronavirus is set to be met technically on Monday.

Trump has suggested areas of the country with limited transmission may be able to reopen even as New York and other hard hit areas remain shuttered to try to ward off a crush of hospital cases.

'If we need more time people won't have a problem waiting it out,' Trump said.

Trump has come under fire for his plans to have the US 'opened up and raring to go' by April 12. Experts and even his own party have warned him that the move could cost lives

US President Donald Trump departs the White House in Washington, DC, on Saturday, as he spoke of a short-term quarantine that could be enforced in three states

He had previously suggested those against a quick reopening might be trying to harm him politically, saying: 'I think there are certain people that would like it to do financially poorly, because they think that would be very good as far as defeating me at the polls.'

The number of deaths in New York state reached 728 Saturday, with 209 people dying in a single day as the US's epicenter for coronavirus struggles to bring the pandemic under control.

The death toll in the city rose to 450 as of early Saturday morning as its healthcare system is threatened with imminent collapse.

On both Thursday and Friday, another 85 people died of the virus, or an average of one New Yorker every 17 minutes. There are 26,697 confirmed NYC cases as the national total soars over 100,000.

Queens is emerging as the epicenter of the epicenter in New York City with 8,214 cases, a one-day increase of 32 percent.

In just the past week, one funeral home in Queens has held service for close to a dozen people who have died from the virus, and is expecting to do more.

Manhattan patients are testing positive at a significantly lower rate than the outer boroughs with no neighborhood reporting over 40 percent of patients confirmed positive.

The city's healthcare system is buckling under the strain of the rise in cases.

Medical emergency calls were up 40 percent to about 6,500 a day, shattering historical records and leading to up to 170 callers being put on hold at a time, according to EMS union officials.

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort is headed for New York to be used as a makeshift hospital amid the pandemic

Inside the city's hospitals, healthcare workers faced unspeakable scenes of suffering and death.

'Hell. Biblical. I kid you not. People come in, they get intubated, they die, the cycle repeats,' said Dr Steve Kassapidis of Mount Sinai Queens, in an interview with Sky News. '9/11 was nothing compared to this, we were open waiting for patients to come who never came. Now they just keep coming.'

'The hospitals look like a war zone,' Dr Emad Youssef of Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn told CBS News. 'People lining up out of the hallway, through the EMS bay, through the ambulance bay, with masks on themselves, with oxygen on their nose.'

USNS Comfort is headed for New York where it will be turned into a makeshift hospital to ease the burden on the state's hospitals.

It left Virginia Saturday afternoon, after President Trump's visit, and will now travel down the Elizabeth River, into Willoughby Bay, into the Chesapeake Bay, to the Atlantic for its voyage to New York.

A medical worker at the coronavirus testing tent set up outside Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York on Saturday: The number of deaths in New York state reached 728 Saturday, as the US's epicenter for coronavirus struggles to bring the pandemic under control

The death toll in New York City rose to 450 as of early Saturday morning as its healthcare system is threatened with imminent collapse

Neighboring state New Jersey has also been grappling to bring the outbreak under control, with 8,825 confirmed cases and 108 confirmed deaths.

Last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order mandating that all non-essential retail businesses close their stores and almost all state residents stay home to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The order affects some 9 million residents in the state and exempts those who work in essential services such as healthcare and the food industry, the governor said at a news conference.

It banned all gatherings including weddings and parties, Murphy said.
: Three more people tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 41, the government said.

While two men had recently returned from abroad, the third person was a 60-year old man hailing from Rajaplayam in Virudhunagar district and all are in stable condition under isolation in different hospitals, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said on his Twitter handle.

A 42-year old man, a resident of Kumbakonam, had arrived here from the West Indies, the other, a 49-year old had come to the city from the United Kingdom.

The National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, in a tweet said both had come through transited via the Middle East.

The total number of 41 cases includes two discharged following recovery and one deceasedd, an official told PTI.

Meanwhile, in Coimbatore state Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani said a little over 1,500 beds had been kept ready in various government-run and private hospitals for providing treatment to suspected coronavirus patients in the district.

These included 340 beds in the ESI Hospital, now converted as an exclusive coronavirus care centre, a report from Coimbatore quoted him as having told reporters.

Of the 147 people with symptoms, only two were tested positive for COVID-10 so far in the district and are undergoing treatment in the ESI Hospital, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an amended order directing that all in-person proceedings in all state and local courts in Tennessee are suspended until Thursday, April 30.



Red Bank City Court and the Clerks Office will remain open under this directive, but will not hear any in-person cases during this time other than certain in-custody and constitutionally-mandated matters. Criminal and traffic cases set during this time will be rescheduled although traffic citations may be paid as set forth below.



In addition to being present in the Red Bank Court Clerks Office to accept payments and reschedule matters, the clerk will be available via telephone at 423-874-0055 and email at crader@redbanktn.gov during regular business hours.



Payments may also be made through the mail to Red Bank City Court Clerk, 3117 Dayton Blvd., Red Bank, Tn. 37415. Please make sure identifying information is included.



For any questions, contact the Clerks Office at 423-874-0055.
Dutch officials have recalled tens of thousands of masks imported from China and distributed to hospitals battling the coronavirus outbreak because they do not meet quality standards, the health ministry said Saturday.

They received a delivery of masks from a Chinese manufacturer on March 21, the ministry said in a statement to AFP.

They received a first indication they did not meet their standards when they were inspected.

Part of the shipment had already been distributed to health professionals, the statement said. "The rest of the shipment was immediately put on hold and has not been distributed.

"A second test also revealed that the masks did not meet the quality norms. Now it has been decided not to use any of this shipment," said the statement.

Future shipments would undergo extra testing, the statement added.

The recall concerned nearly half of the shipment of 1.3 million masks, known as FFP2 -- 600,000 had already been sent to hospitals, the public television channel NOS reported.

The problem with the masks was that they did not close over the face properly, or had defective filters, the station added.

France's Health Minister Olivier Veran has announced that he had ordered more than a billion masks, notably from China, to help the country fight the coronavirus pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Brunei says a 64-year-old citizen has become the tiny oil-rich kingdom's first death from the new coronavirus.

The health ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the man started showing symptoms four days after he returned March 4 from a trip to Kuala Lumpur and Cambodia. It said he was hospitalized March 12, but died Friday night.

Brunei has reported 115 cases since dozens of its citizens returned from a mass religious gathering in Malaysia that has sickened hundreds in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is trying to develop 'multi-patient ventilators', wherein several patients can be supported by a single ventilator to meet the huge demand if the Covid-19 outbreak goes out of control.

"This innovation is expected to be available within a week. Around 5,000 ventilators will be produced in the first month and 10,000 subsequently. The DRDO has identified local alternatives to the supply of critical components. Already Secretary (Pharmaceuticals) has identified nine companies for design transfer to produce and Anand Mahindra for the fabrication of components. Each ventilator unit will cost around Rs four lakh," the government said in a statement.

It said since COVID-19 affects pulmonary functions, keeping in mind the futuristic requirement, the Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT) programme of the DRDO has been modified to cater to the current situation. Defence Bio-Engineering and Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore (a DRDO lab), has identified a vendor, Scanray Tech, Mysore, to produce critical care ventilator. It has been created by using existing technologies like breath regulators, pressure/flow sensors, etc.

Reportedly, the Union government has already reached out to five automakers -- Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), Hyundai Motor India, Honda Cars India and Maruti Suzuki India to explore the possibility of making ventilators at their plants.

It is estimated that India has only about 40,000 ventilators at present, including about 8,500 in public hospitals. Kerala, which currently has the largest number of COVID 19 patients, has about 5,000 ventilators; Mumbai has less than 1,000; 1,500 in Tamil Nadu; and 1,800 in Madhya Pradesh.

In some eastern states, the number of ventilators is in single digits. The Health Ministry has reportedly asked a public sector unit to make 10,000 ventilators and another 30,000 would be supplied by Bharat Electricals, a PSU under the Ministry of Defence, by June, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal has said.

The move to invite corporates to make multi-patient ventilators is also being experimented by the United States, where the number of COVID-19 patients has crossed over a lakh. Major auto giants like Ford and General Motors are working on war footing to manufacture ventilators. On Friday, Ventec Life Systems and General Motors announced a partnership to produce more than 10,000 ventilators per month starting as early as April.

Also read: Coronavirus: Here's how Mahindra, Maruti will produce ventilators at plants

Also read: Battle against coronavirus: Maruti ties up with AgVA Healthcare to produce 10,000 ventilators per month
The economic impact of the



lockdown is likely to be very severe, Chief Minister K Palaniswami told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and sought a Rs 9,000 crore grant to combat coronavirus and its aftermath.

Many state governments, including Tamil Nadu, have announced relief packages, which have been supplemented by the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, he said in a letter to Modi.

Further relief measures would still be required in the days to come and substantial expenditure would also be required to be made to ramp up health infrastructure and medical supplies, he said.

Eventually, measures would also have to be taken to revive economic growth, assist various sectors to return to their growth trajectory and to stimulate consumption and investment demand, the Chief Minister noted.

"The economic impact of the lockdown is likely to be very severe and unprecedented," he said adding such difficult times called for unconventional measures to ensure that the economy is revived and conventional economic "doctrines and dogmas will need to be set aside temporarily."



Under the circumstances, he said: "... I request that the Government of India, in addition to permitting the additional borrowing by State Governments, should provide an aggregate amount of at least Rs one lakh crore as a special grant to them to combat the COVID 19 virus and its aftermath."This needs to be in addition to the other forms of financial transfers to the States envisaged in the Union Budget and can be financed by the Government of India's borrowing from the Reserve Bank of India, he said.

The funds can be distributed in proportion of the size of each States GSDP to the national GDP,since the "expenditure out of this grant will also pump prime the economy and lead to its revival, he said and requested that Tamil Nadu be given a grant of Rs 9,000 crore.

Palaniswami also recalled having requested Modi on March the fiscal deficit limits of 3 per cent of GSDP for the financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21 and additional borrowing of 33 per cent above the level permitted for the fiscal year 2019-20 may be allowed for 2020-21, to enable states meet additional expenditure requirements.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, March 28 : The issue of exodus of migrant workers has reached the Supreme Court. A PIL has been filed in the apex court seeking direction to the local administration/ police authorities across India to immediately identify stranded migrant workers and shift them to the nearest government shelter homes with proper food, water, medicines and under medical supervision, in a dignified manner, until the coronavirus lockdown continues.

Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, the petitioner in the case, has urged the Centre to immediately redress the heart wrenching and inhuman plight of thousands of migrant workers families -- women, small children, elders and differently-abled persons -- walking on foot for hundreds of kilometers, from cities to their native villages: without food, water, transport, medicine or shelter, amid coronavirus crisis. The apex court is likely to take up this matter on March 30.

Srivastava said, "The entire world is witnessing an unprecedented health emergency due to deadly novel coronavirus or COVID-19". He expressed solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on March 24, calling for 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the outbreak of coronavirus.

"Such Lockdown is very essential for controlling the spread of the deadly coronavirus... the biggest sufferers of this crisis situation are the poor, unregistered migrant workers, working in various big cities of India as rickshaw-pullers, ragpickers, construction workers, factory workers, house-maids, servants, unskilled and semi-skilled workers etc.," said the petition.

The petition contended that migrant workers, amid this crisis, are jobless and stranded. As a consequence, they are struggling to make ends meet besides fighting social stigma of being labeled 'virus' carriers. Hence, they may face discrimination in their native villages.

The petitioner claimed that it is not safe to allow these migrant workers, who might be infected from deadly coronavirus, to mingle with their village populations, as it may exponentially contribute to the increase of the virus with fatal consequences.

The petitioner submitted on March 26, the Centre announced a packaged of Rs 1.75 Lakh crore under "Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme" to address the concerns of poor, migrant workers and those who need help in the present coronavirus crisis situation.

"However, the concern of the Petitioner is that the aforesaid migrant labourers, who are already travelling or stuck at different places, may not be able to avail the benefits of the aforesaid Scheme immediately. Such workers are travelling in groups and can be easily identified by the local administration, particularly on national and state highways," said the petition.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the city of Huntsville and police officer William Ben Darby for the 2018 fatal shooting of Jeffrey Parker.

The two-count federal lawsuit, which was filed this week on behalf of Parkers estate, accuses the city and Darby of excessive force. The 15-page lawsuit also alleges the city failed for years to address systemic deficiencies" regarding the use of force by Huntsville police officers.

Attorneys who represent Darby and the city didnt return calls for comment Friday afternoon.

The lawsuit doesnt list a specific amount of money sought by the plaintiff but requests payment of court costs, interest and damages in an amount determined by the jury.

We want justice for the family, said Martin Weinberg, one of the lawyers representing Parkers family. That includes in the criminal proceeding as well as civil.

[You can read the lawsuit here or at the bottom of this story]

About a month after the April 3, 2018 deadly shooting, the police department announced Darby was cleared of wrongdoing by an internal review board. But about three months later the Madison County District Attorneys Office took the case to a grand jury, which indicted Darby on a murder charge. Darby has argued he killed Parker in defense of himself and other officers. The murder case hasnt yet gone to trial.

In the meantime, Darby remains on desk duty at the police department and continues to be paid by the city. The city has also paid $125,000 of public money toward Darbys criminal defense.

The shooting

It was a Tuesday afternoon when police were called to 49-year-old Parkers west Huntsville home on Deramus Avenue, which is just east of Bridge Street Town Centre, across Alabama 255. Parker called police to report that he was armed and suicidal.

Parker was sitting on a couch with a gun to his own head, police body-worn camera footage shows. City officials have declined to release the video footage to the public, but it was shown during one of Darbys court hearings last year.

Huntsville police officer William Darby shown in a Madison County courtroom for a hearing on April 3, 2019. Darby is charged with murder.

At that court hearing, Darby testified that he killed Parker with a shotgun because he saw Parker move his gun. Two other police officers  Genisha Pegues and Justin Beckles  testified they didnt see Parkers gun move.

[Read more: Huntsville cop testifies against fellow officer]

Parker never moved the gun he was holding to his own head; nor did he move in any way, the lawsuit says.

Darby was the third officer to arrive on the scene that day. Pegues testified that she was de-escalating the situation with Parker  until Darby pushed past her and Beckles to take over the situation.

When Darby first walked up to the home, he shouted at Pegues to Point your f---ing gun at him, body camera footage revealed. Within about 20 seconds, Darby pushed past Beckles and Pegues  both officers with more experience  and entered the front room of the home. Darby told Parker multiple times to drop the gun and within 11 seconds of entering the home, Darby shot him in the face.

Darby asked Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate to grant him immunity from prosecution. The judge declined to do so, and Alabamas appellate courts upheld her ruling.

A date for Darbys murder trial hasnt been set.

Use of force

The lawsuit also accuses the city of refusing to discipline and hold police officers accountable for use of force. During the years preceding Parkers shooting death, the police departments internal review board almost always determined that officers use of force was proper, even in situations where the force was excessive, unconstitutional or unskillful, the lawsuit alleges.

In doing so, the city condoned such use of force so that all HPD officers knew would always protect them if they used excessive, unconstitutional, and/or unskillful force, the lawsuit alleges.  the HPD officers subjectively believed, and had good reason to believe, that they would never suffer any repercussions

About a month after Parker was killed, the police departments internal review board determined Darby had not violated department policy during the incident. While the police departments review board includes representatives from the district attorneys office and a citizen advisory council, only three police supervisors vote on whether an officer acted in accordance with policy and training.

The lawsuit alleges that the supervisors have repeatedly cleared officers of wrongdoing even when the officers violated policy or used excessive force. The lawsuit lists previous cases as examples of such alleged behavior: A man who was shot multiple times by Huntsville police, who mistakenly went to his house while serving a search warrant in 2006; a man who settled a lawsuit with the city after being shot by police during a traffic stop in 2008; and a woman who settled a lawsuit with the city after she was choked by a police officer in 2002.

The lawsuit is expected to be put on hold pending the outcome of Darbys murder trial.
27.03.2020 LISTEN

Mr. Kofi Amankwaa Manu, a Presidential Staffer who is aspiring for the NPPs Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency Parliamentary seat has stated that he represents the new face of hope and aspiration for the people in the constituency, and has therefore called for support for his bid to be the candidate of the party for the 2020 election.

According to him, in pursuit of his vision, he would be propelled by the fundamental elements of hard work, honesty, and humility, competence, character, and care which were basic ingredients required for quality leadership for the party to win more votes for the party.

Mr. Kofi Amankwaa Manu made the disclosure on Friday, March 27, 2020, on OTECFMS political show dubbed DWABEREM, hosted by Dr. Cash where he firmly established his contribution to the party and the constituents.

The former Youth Wing President of the NPP at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology maintained that it was practically impossible for him let his people down if he is given the nod looking at his vast experience in politics and affiliations amongst the party leadership and the business fraternity.

The Presidential Staffer who is making a third time attempt in annexing the seat disclosed he has already served the constituency through the provision of social interventions to the needy youths and assisted in the construction of some dilapidated school buildings in the constituency.

According to the former Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency NPP's first Vice-Chairman he has resourced some schools in the area with no computer labs, provided scholarships to university students including those financed abroad adding that those in the informal sector were also not left out.

Touching on his plans for traditional authorities in the area, Mr. Kofi Amankwaa Manu enunciated that the authority would play a key role in his administration as the Member of Parliament, maintaining that most MPs have failed due to poor attention paid to the traditional authorities.

He pleaded during the interview, I want to appeal to the people in the constituency to vote for me to accomplish this novelty of a vision. Atwima Kwanwoma deserves the best because we have everything to succeed as a community.

On the Coronavirus and its accompanied calls for a possible lockdown in the country, Mr. Kofi Amankwaa Manu posited that there was the need for Ghanaians to support whatever decision the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo would come up with. He maintained that though Ghana was not in normal times, we ought to be law-abiding in order not to cause the total widespread of the COVID-19.

---OtecfmGhana.com/Asante-Yeboah Benedict
All City of Midland buildings and facilities are now closed to the public through April 13, including City Hall, the Municipal Service Center, the water treatment plant, the wastewater treatment plant, the Law Enforcement Center, and all Midland Fire Department stations. In addition to these new closures, the following previously-announced closures and service changes will remain in effect until Monday, April 6: the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library and Midland Civic Arena will remain closed to the public; rental certification inspections through the Building Department are postponed; and visitors to Washington Woods and Riverside Place senior housing complexes are limited to essential care providers only. During these closures, doors to city facilities will be locked. Individual public access may be allowed in extenuating circumstances, but by appointment only.

The following service changes will be implemented:

 The sanitary landfill will be closed to residential customers. Commercial customers may continue to utilize the facility as needed.

 The start date for spring yard waste collection is postponed through Monday, April 13.

 Monthly brush collection is suspended through Monday, April 13.

 Dial-A-Ride Transportation will operate normal phone and bus service hours to provide rides for essential travel only.

 Water service installations are postponed through Monday, April 13.

 Building permits and inspection services will be limited to emergency needs only.

 All public meetings of all city boards, commissions, and committees have been cancelled through April 14. A decision regarding the scheduled meeting of the Midland City Council on April 13 will be announced at a later date.

The Midland Fire Department has suspended all station tours, fire prevention education programs, and non-emergency services until further notice. Visitors outside of fire department personnel's immediate families will not be permitted at the city's three fire stations. Emergency response will be provided as normal.

City of Midland rental certification inspections have been suspended through at least Monday, April 6. Affected property owners will be contacted by Midland City Building Department staff to reschedule any pending inspections.

Senior Services has closed or limited a number of its services for the next several weeks, including the five Activity and Dining Centers and all activities, classes, clinics and events for the next eight weeks. They hope to resume normal operations beginning Monday, May 11.

The Midland County Register of Deeds office closed to public access.

From the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw: Holy Week celebrations will not be offered publicly this year in the Diocese of Saginaw. Visit the diocesan website, www.saginaw.org, where you can watch daily Mass, soon find ideas about celebrating Holy Week and Easter at home, sign up to receive our email updates and more.

Due to K-12 school closures and large-event restrictions in place amid the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the April 18 competition day event for the 2019-20 A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition has been postponed until further notice.

The April 26 Midland Community Orchestra concert has been cancelled.

The Chippewa Nature Center canceled multiple events including: Spring Break Mini-Day Camp for March 30-April 2 and Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour for April 3-4.

A series of lectures and concerts by Midland pianist and teacher George Fee were postponed until the fall. They were "Chopin: Poet of the Piano;" "Franz Liszt: Spiritual Seeker;" and "Claude DeBussy: Seeker of the Inexpressible."

The Midland Business Alliance has decided to postpone all events through Friday, April 3, which includes April WakeUp! Midland for April 3.

The Leadership Midland Alumni Association Night at Dow Diamond that was scheduled for April 20 is also canceled.
Leading the number of global positive cases of Coronavirus, the United States has become the new epicenter of the pandemic surpassing China, Italy, and Iran. With over 102,396 cases (10 AM IST), the Donald Trump administration faced momentous criticism for failing to contain the outbreak.

From downplaying the Coronavirus threat to disregarding intelligence reports and calling to revive the economy amid a health crisis here is how the Donald Trump administration jeopardised the COVID-19 crisis:

Rejects need for ventilators

US President Donald Trump on Thursday rebuffed the need for new ventilators by the New York Governor to treat the patients affected by COVID-19. The biggest cluster by far has been in New York, which has become the home to almost half the cases, overwhelming the hospital system.

READ| Trump shoots back instantly when asked about US overtaking China's Coronavirus count

Two days ago, Trump told Fox News, "I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than theyre going to be." "I dont believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know you go into major hospitals sometimes, theyll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden theyre saying can we order 30,000 ventilators?" he added.

"Look, its a very bad situation. We havent seen anything like it, but the end result is weve got to get back to work, and I think we can start by opening up certain parts of the country," Donald Trump added on Thursday. A day later, the US became the country with the highest cases in the world.

'Chinese virus' jibe

The Group of Seven (G7) countries failed to reach an agreement recently on the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, due to skirmishes over the name of the virus. The US State Department insisted on using the 'Wuhan virus' in the joint statement, which was rejected by the group, thus resulting in separate statements. The G7 includes the US, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, and Japan.

The US President has repeatedly branded the Coronavirus as a 'Chinese virus', further justified the branding of the pandemic. Asked why he keeps calling Coronavirus as 'Chinese virus' when scientists say the disease doesn't respect borders and is not caused by ethnicity, Trump told reporters at the White House that he doesn't consider it a racist remark. Its not racist at all," Trump said, adding that he calls it the Chinese virus because he wants to be accurate.

READ| Pakistan PM Imran Khan tests positive for Coronavirus?

Downplayed Coronavirus

Playing down the severity of Coronavirus, Donald Trump often put up a straight-face and claimed it was "under control" and that "it's going to be just fine" despite the soaring numbers in China. Following the first case of Coronavirus in January in the country, Donald Trump trivialised the issue by stating that it was just "one person coming from China," the country which was the epicenter of the virus.

Late in January, when countries including the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and others confirmed cases of Coronavirus, Donald Trump said, "We have very little problem in this country," after five cases. A similar tone was maintained until March 5, even when the virus had managed to creep into diverse parts of the world, including Italy and Iran. The US President was also accused of prioritising economy revival over human life after Trump announced that he wanted the US market back to normal functioning level by Easter. "This cure is worse than the problem," the US President had said.

READ| Coronavirus: Taliban advises people to pray; assures passage of health organisations

No domestic travel ban

Countries including India, China, Iran immediately halted domestic inter-city travel in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. However, despite topping the charts with the most positive cases, the United States has still enabled travel within the country.

The US President has not announced any travel restrictions domestically. While asked the people to avoid "discretionary travel" for the next 2 weeks, however, said that the domestic ban on travel is still under consideration. The US although has imposed a ban on various international travels. "Were not really. We hope we dont have to. We think that hopefully, we wont have to do that. But its certainly something we talk about every day. We havent made that decision," Donald Trump said.

Intelligence failure

The Washington Post had claimed that the US intelligence community had warned the US President and Congress about the glaring threat of Coronavirus, early in January, however, the Trump administration evidently overlooked the warning. Purportedly the intel reports on the pandemic started funneling in since early-January, however, they were disregarded throughout January and February. Trump, however, downplaying the impending crisis had even said 'warm weather would neutralise the threat'. The claim has been dismissed by the World Health Organisation.

WATCH: US President Trump ignores social distancing, passes pens to key Coronavirus staff


Researchers at Duke University have found a way to clean N95 respirator masks to allow doctors and medical staff to wear them dozens of times amid severe shortages during the coronavirus pandemic.

The masks have been in such short supply that some physicians were forced to wear used respirators - which are typically just one-use - risking infection for themselves and their patients.

But a team at the Duke Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, North Carolina, has discovered a method, using vaporized hydrogen peroxide, to kill microbial contaminants that can stay on the masks for a week after they are worn, allowing them to be reused.

The researchers have shared their findings with hospitals in the hopes of helping to meet the desperate demand.

COVID-19 testing is carried out at Elmhurst Hospital Center, New York. 27 March 2020. The medical staff member wears an N95 respirator mask

Boxes of N95 protective masks for use by medical field personnel are seen at a New York State emergency operations incident command center during the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle, New York, U.S., March 17, 2020. The masks have been in extremely short supply

The method, which requires special equipment, has been used in labs for decades to decontaminate equipment. The team can decontaminate 500 masks at once, and each mask can be reused between 30 and 50 times before it needs replacing.

Wayne Thomann, director emeritus of the Duke Occupational & Environmental Safety Office said decontaminating the masks keeps medical staff fighting the coronavirus safer and helps treat patients.

'The N95 respirator is the most appropriate respiratory protection for patient care personnel attending Covid-19 patients, particularly performing aerosol-producing procedures on those patients,' he told CNN. 'Reprocessing helps us ensure they will have the best PPE to protect them.'

Hospitals around the country have been struggling to meet demand for the masks during the pandemic.

Tennessee's Department of Health is even advising doctors to use diapers and swim goggles to protect their faces if they cannot obtain personal protective equipment due to shortages related to the COVID-19 outbreak, a doctor revealed.

Meanwhile, companies across the U.S. are switching their production lines to produce masks that can be used by doctors and nurses that are in desperate need for PPE (personal protective equipment) as they treat patients with coronavirus.

Cities bearing the brunt of the epidemic such as New York stated on Monday that they might only be able to get through one more week of treating patients before supplies get desperately low.

One such company, based in Washington State is Tom Bihn. The company usually manufactures laptop bags and backpacks. Now they are among several companies pitching in to make surgical masks.

Employees at Tom Bihn, a producer of specialty travel bags, laptop bags, and backpacks, assemble protective masks for healthcare workers in Seattle, Washington

Fong Lui, an employee at at Tom Bihn assembles protective masks for healthcare workers in Seattle

The company is one of many manufacturers that have pivoted to fill a shortage in safety equipment for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak

'The masks we are able to make are simple cotton surgical masks that can be washed, dried, and reused. They can be worn by those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or over N95s in an effort to extend their life. Make no mistake: what we're making is not first rate medical equipment  but we do hope they will help in the situations in which their use is appropriate,' the company wrote in a statement to DailyMail.com.

The company is making 10,000 of the masks a day at a cost of around 90 cents each.

'That may seem like a lot of masks, but you know like we do that it's a small drop in a big bucket. We plan to set aside part of our production capacity for individual healthcare workers across the country who may need these masks and will do our best to meet requests,' the company say.

epa08327166 Honguyen Phan, an employee at at Tom Bihn is now making thousands of masks a day to manage the shortage

Irma Barajas, right, cuts straps while Edelmira Martinez stacks material to be cut for safety masks at Tom Bihn

Irma Barajas, an employee at at Tom Bihn, that normally makes bags is using her skills to help medical professionals

Yinmei Huang, an employee at at Tom Bihn, is another of those who is working to help address the surgical mask shortage

The backpackas are on hold for the time being as a more pressing need has arisen. Trung Vo can be seen working away

Across the other side of the country in Maine, a tiny sail maker are also doing their part.

Eric Baldwin and his staff of two usually spend their days selling, repairing and washing sails for boats. They normally transform their surplus sailcloth into tote bags to bring in extra money.

But when the coronavirus outbreak slowed business, they turned their industrial sewing machines to a new task: making cotton masks for caregivers and others who need protection from the disease.

'We wanted to do something to give back,' Baldwin said from his North Sails workshop in the small village of South Freeport, about 20 miles north of Portland. 'Doing something like this just makes you feel good.'

The 53-year-old Baldwin, who has operated his shop, known as a loft, for about 25 years, got the idea from employee Karen Haley. They went to work immediately and are now shipping to recipients as far away as Arizona after word spread on social media that masks were available.

'People are out there just pleading for masks and have no supplies. Eric immediately said yes,' Haley said.Haley's mother is a quilter. She raided her mom's stash of cotton remnants to turn into double-ply rectangles called for by a mask pattern they found on a hospital website. Baldwin's former wife got a Jo-Ann fabric store to provide elastic at a discount.
Seven-day work, 14-day home-quarantine and back to work.

That is the routine the teams of doctors and other medical staff attending to coronavirus patients at Lucknow's King George's Medical University are following.

The hospital management has constituted three teams with 27 members each -- a senior doctor, a senior resident, six junior doctors, a sister in-charge, six nurses, six ward boys and as many sanitation workers to take care of the coronavirus positive patients at the facility.

The teams take turn to work in the isolation ward for a seven days. And when one team is on work, the other two are in self-quarantine, KGMU spokesman, Dr. Sudhir Singh, told PTI.

For the seven days each team is on duty, they don't come out of the isolation ward. They work there, take their food there and rest there in turn, Singh said.

On completing their seven-day schedule, the members of team come out of the ward post proper-screening and they go directly in home-quarantine, Singh said.

Besides taking full care of themselves while in the isolation ward, they have strictly been instructed to follow all norms prescribed during the quarantine period, he said, adding special care is taken when the team is entering the isolation ward back for work post quarantine.

A junior doctor at the hospital had earlier tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to the isolation ward where he is is now recovering, Dr Singh said.

"For the past one month our teams have been working among those infected with the coronavirus. Among them was a Canada women. She has now been discharged after fully recovering," the KGMU spokesman said.

Prof. Virendra Ratam, the head of the KGMU Medicine Department and the overall in charge of the isolation ward has constituted the three teams.

Dr. Sandeep Tiwari, a member of the COVID-19 task force at the KGMU, said there are 200 beds in the isolation ward of the hospital. Presently, seven patients are admitted.

If the need arises, isolation wards can be set up in other departments and the total capacity could be raised to 4,000 beds, Dr Tiwari said.

As of now, only serious patients related to heart ailments, cancer and pregnant women who are due are being admitted.

Dr Tiwari said coronavirus positive patients are also being treated at SGPGIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the state capital. But their isolation wards are smaller.

The KGMU is the biggest hospital which has the capacity to admit patients in big numbers, Dr Tiwari said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dubai: Nearly 300 people are reported to have been killed and more than 1000 have become ill after ingesting toxic methanol across Iran amid rumours it can help cure coronavirus.

In the Islamic Republic, drinking alcohol is banned, and those who do drink rely on bootleggers.

Firefighters disinfect a square against the new coronavirus in western Tehran, Iran. Credit:AP

Stories about fake remedies for coronavirus have spread across social media in Iran, where people remain deeply suspicious of the government after it downplayed the crisis for days before it overwhelmed the country.

The news comes as authorities announced another 144 deaths from the coronavirus on Friday and said thousands more were in critical condition as the military completed work on a 2000-bed field hospital in an exhibition centre in the capital.
(Bloomberg) -- In a deal thats currently at risk of falling apart, a handful of investors would be the main beneficiaries of SoftBank Group Corp.s plan to buy $3 billion of WeWork stock, according to a person familiar with the matter.

As part of the agreement, scheduled to be completed next week, $2.1 billion in proceeds from stock purchases is slated go to five investors, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Benchmark, the venture capital firm that backed WeWork from its earliest days, is seeking to sell up to $600 million worth of shares, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. That figure puts Benchmark behind only Adam Neumann, WeWorks co-founder and former chief executive officer, who has the right to sell as much as $970 million in the deal.

Representatives for Benchmark and Neumann didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. WeWork declined to comment.

SoftBank, the biggest investor of WeWork parent We Co., has threatened to withdraw from the deal, the proceeds of which would not go to WeWork itself, but rather to its institutional investors and other shareholders. Still, if the transaction falls apart, it will have negative repercussions for the company, which would not receive $1.1 billion in debt from SoftBank.

Besides Neumann and Benchmark, other top sellers in the deal include WeWork investor T. Rowe Price Group Inc., former WeWork Chief Financial Officer Ariel Tiger, who served in the Israeli military with Neumann and another venture capital firm, the person said. A spokesman for T. Rowe Price declined to comment. Tiger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SoftBank remains fully committed to WeWorks success as its largest shareholder and is proud of the tremendous progress the company has made over the past six months, a spokesman for SoftBank said in a statement.

SoftBanks stock buyback was scheduled to close April 1, but the Japanese conglomerate has said that it is not obligated to go through with the purchase. SoftBank has said under the terms of its original agreement, it could withdraw from the offer if certain conditions werent met, and that unresolved government investigations into WeWork qualify. Two board members disputed that assertion.

Story continues

SoftBank agreed to the rescue package for WeWork in October, shortly after the companys plans for an initial public offering dramatically unraveled. SoftBank said it has provided $13.4 billion to WeWork, including $5 billion in working capital since October, and is honoring its obligations as laid out in the agreement.

A special committee of WeWork board members has said that it is weighing options including legal action if SoftBank does not follow through with the purchase. That committee has two members: Benchmarks Bruce Dunlevie and independent director Lew Frankfort. A representative for the committee declined to comment.

Other investors slated to sell a large amount of WeWork stock to SoftBank in the deal include JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Jefferies and Fidelity Investments, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Spokespeople for JPMorgan and Fidelity declined to comment. Representatives for the other investors did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Less than 10% of the proceeds from the stock buyback would go to WeWork employees, SoftBank has said. Many employees repriced their stock options and thus arent part of this stage of the tender offer.

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(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Looking at a map of Covid-19 cases nationwide, its hard not to long for home.

Im in New York, a state with 31,000 cases of the infection; but South Dakota, where I grew up, has 41, one of the very smallest counts of any state in the U.S.  spread out over 77,000 square miles. Yes, South Dakota has fewer people, but thats still only one in 21,500 people infected. In New York, the ratio is one in 634.

But South Dakota is worried nonetheless, and with reason. Those 41 cases as of Wednesday represent an increase of more than a third in one day, and community transmission is occurring in six counties. Governor Kristi Noem warns that 30% of state residents may contract Covid-19 over the next several weeks.

This illustrates one of the frustrating truths about the coronavirus. While transmission may occur more easily in crowded cities, it happens, silently and invisibly, anywhere that an uninfected person comes into contact with an infected one. And its not always possible to know whos infected.

Like other governors, Noem has told state residents to avoid gatherings of 10 or more, to follow the CDC guidelines on hand-washing and cough-covering and to keep six feet away from one another. And people are doing their best to comply.Deadwoods casinos are shut. The Black Hills National Forest is essentially closed, and visitor services at Mount Rushmore are suspended. K-12 schools are closed. College classes have moved online, and spring graduation ceremonies are canceled. Office workers have set up shop at home. Funerals are being livestreamed. Kids in Eagle Butte are standing outside the Medicine Wheel Village assisted living center with signs to comfort quarantined residents: Stay strong, youll get through this. Grocery stores have empty shelves where paper products should be.

Parts of this may sound familiar. But South Dakota also has special challenges, because it relies on rural hospitals to provide much local health care, and many of these were struggling to survive even before the pandemic. Efforts to persuade Congress to carve out special Covid-19 funding for rural hospitals in the $2 trillion stimulus package were unsuccessful. These hospitals will need to settle for some new grant money and increased Medicare funding.

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Its not known whether the state has enough hospital beds or ventilators to handle a large outbreak. State health officials have declined to publicize the numbers. The larger hospitals in Sioux Falls are expected to handle the most critically ill patients, including those who need ventilators and other advanced life support. Those patients may need to be transported from less-equipped rural hospitals. Hospital administrators say they expect to also rely on telemedicine to help patients with milder infections.

Given its sparse population, South Dakota should have an easier time testing people and finding the contacts of those who are positive. But it has faced the usual supply problems with tests, protective gear, enzymes, reagents and so on. (Noem called on the CDC and Vice President Mike Pence to restock needed supplies.) And its not immune to the difficulty of identifying those symptomless carriers contributing to the spread.

Rumor has it the state may soon be locked down like any big city  which gives you a sense of the general level of worry. Just 41 cases is little cause for comfort when the number is on its way up. South Dakota is a haven in many ways. But no place is safe from Covid-19.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Mary Duenwald writes editorials on energy, health care and science for Bloomberg Opinion. She was deputy editor of the New York Times op-ed page and a senior editor at Harpers Bazaar, Real Simple, the Sciences and Vogue.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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The government has announced there are now 1,187 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa, with one confirmed death.

Gauteng leads the number of confirmed coronavirus cases with 533, followed by the Western Cape on 271, and KwaZulu-Natal on 156.

We must outrightly state that these numbers do not indicate a reduction in the number of infections, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

He said it is merely a reflection of positive results that were received, verified and ready for reporting.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases explained it is actively cleaning COVID-19 patient data to ensure that the information is verified and accurate.

Data cleaning is required to conduct deduplication of contents and to correct details of patients in order to determine the most effective public health intervention, it said.

As such, figures may not always add up sequentially due to the activities being performed with regard to data cleaning and quality assurance of the dataset.

It said as of 28 March, the number of COVID-19 cases increased by 112  bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,187.

Health workers

Mkhize added they have noted with concern a number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in health workers who work in private and public hospitals. This includes doctor and nurses.

We mention this because health workers are in the frontline of this battle. They are exposed not only to their families but to the patients who they are meant to treat, he said.

Flu vaccines

We must inform our people that South Africa received a very limited stock of flu vaccines. These are pre-ordered a year in advance, the Health Minister added.

At the time the country placed its orders, we had not anticipated this COVID-19 pandemic. This means that as it stands, our flu vaccines are understocked.

He said the government has engaged with the pharmaceutical industry and it became clear the distribution of this vaccine has to be rationalised and prioritised.

We have therefore taken a decision that health workers in the country will be given priority in receiving the flu vaccine, he said.

This is precipitated by the fact that the country cannot afford to have them sick, especially as the flu season approaches.

This is one of the major lessons that we have learnt from countries that have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, Mkhize said.

Now read: Big increase in coronavirus recoveries in South Africa
Once the COVID-19 crisis is over  whenever that may be  we need to be sure theres something worthwhile to come back to.

We need to make sure the sudden shutdown of virtually all public life doesnt devastate businesses and the people who rely on them. That neighbourhoods can come back to life once the pandemic has passed.

The strengthened program for small- and medium-sized businesses announced on Friday by the federal government  including wage subsidies of up to 75 per cent and interest-free loans  provides real hope on that front.

It gives business owners a strong incentive to keep employees on the payroll instead of laying them off. It offers them a lifeline to get through the next few months instead of just giving up and walking away.

It will cost an enormous amount, but its clear now that governments are barely counting the cash they intend to shovel out the door to avoid total economic collapse.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau was straightforward about that on Friday. Asked whether there was a cap on federal spending at this time, he said: Were not going to put a cap on it. Were going to do whatever it takes.

The entire country, indeed the world, will be dealing with the consequences of this for many years to come. But now is not the time to skimp.

Everyone wants to know how long the shutdown will last. No one knows, but federal officials are talking in terms of months, not weeks. The governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz, ventured that it would be say, three months, four months.

Thats an awfully long time to close down the economy, hence the importance of making sure that we dont come back to a world of permanently shuttered storefronts and bankrupt businesses once we can venture out once more.

Canadian governments are promising an awfully lot on all fronts  to individuals and to businesses. The federal government, in particular, has announced plans that so far add up to around $200 billion, an unprecedented amount.

It has also pledged to deliver that money very quickly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week committed to delivering money under the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit program within two weeks of people applying.

Actually getting that money out the door and into the hands of those who need it in a timely manner will be a key test for the government.

Governments are notorious for bungling when it comes to executing plans quickly. To cite just one infamous example, Ottawa has been struggling for years simply to pay its own workers properly through the broken Phoenix pay system.

Now its promising to get billions to individuals and businesses in record time, through programs whose details are still fuzzy. If by mid-April people are clamouring for money that hasnt arrived, trust in the government may melt away.

In that regard, it is disappointing, to say the least, to see frontline federal workers refusing to staff offices across the country where people can apply in person for Employment Insurance, pensions and Old Age Security.

Their union said they didnt feel safe during the coronavirus pandemic because the Service Canada outlets were crowded with people trying to apply for EI. Many refused to show up for work, so the government has simply closed the 317 centres and now almost everyone must apply online.

Surely a better solution could have been found. Supermarket cashiers, pharmacists, liquor store clerks and many others are continuing to provide essential services through the pandemic despite the risks.

How is it that the very federal employees whose job it is to process EI claims cant work something out that protects them while maintaining a key service in a time of crisis?

The government should know that delivering on its promises will be absolutely essential in the next few weeks. It can announce all the aid it wants, but it wont be worth much if it doesnt get into the right hands when its needed most.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:57:11|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government has decided to establish a continental anti-COVID-19 fund to be used in the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak in Africa.

A recent teleconference of the Bureau of AU heads of state and government, which President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Arica convened in his capacity as Chairperson of AU, has agreed for immediate contribution of 12.5 million U.S. dollars as seed funding, according to an AU statement on Saturday.

The Bureau has urged the AU member states, the international community and philanthropic entities to contribute to the Fund.

Noted the critical role of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and its under-funding, the member states of the Bureau have agreed to contribute an amount of 4.5 million dollars towards boosting the capacity of the Africa CDC.

The Bureau has expressed concern about the possible shortages of medicines and vaccines as factories close or countries retain supplies for their own consumption.

In this regard, the Bureau underscored the vital importance of coordinating efforts to increase global production and improve the availability of medical products and equipment.

Given the limited health infrastructure in Africa and the reality that most of the pharmaceuticals and medical supplies consumed on the continent are imported, the Bureau has called on the international community to encourage open trade corridors, especially for pharmaceuticals and other health supplies.

The Bureau has urged the G20 to immediately provide African countries with medical equipment, testing kits, protective gear to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the Bureau has urged G20 countries to provide an effective economic stimulus package that includes relief and deferred payments.

In this regard, the Bureau has called for the waiver of all interest payments on bilateral and multilateral debt, and the possible extension of the waiver to the medium term, in order to provide immediate fiscal space and liquidity to governments.

The Bureau has also urged the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other regional institutions to use all the instruments available in their arsenal to help mitigate against the scourge and provide relief to vital sectors of African economies and communities.
Kabul attack: A classic false flag operation by the ISI

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: The Indian agencies have said that the terror attack on a Gurdwara is a classic covert false flag operation by the ISI.

While the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, investigations have found that operatives of several other terror groups were part of the operation. When the ISIS was setting up its modules in Afghanistan, the ISI provided a large number of operatives from its proxy outfits in a bid to aid the outfit.

For instance the Kabul attack was led by Mawlawai Aslam Farooqi, a Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative. He was in fact asked to take over the leadership of the ISI at the behest of the ISI. The ISI stepped in to aid the ISIS in Afghanistan for various reasons. For one attacks by the ISIS could take the heat away from the Taliban and the ISI itself.

Kabul Gurdwara attack: Kerala operative was one of the earliest recruits in Khorasan module

Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia that the ISIS in Afghanistan has since day one been nurtured by the ISI. It has provided the outfit with logistics, men, women, arms and ammunition.

The brief for the ISI was clear and that it should recruit as many from the sub-continent, the focus being largely on India. The ISIS has been successful in radicalising a large number of Indian Muslim youth and also taking them into its fold. Over 20 persons from Kerala alone have joined the ISIS in Afghanistan.

The Indian intelligence says that in the Kabul attack, there is a clear ISI hand. It is not possible for the ISIS to carry out an attack of this magnitude without the help of an agency such as the ISI. The ISIS Khorasan is relatively new in the region and needs the support of agencies such as the ISI.

Kabul Gurdwara attack to avenge Indias amended citizenship law?

Moreover if one looks at the composition of the ISIS Khorasan, there are operatives from various groups in it. There are operatives of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Taliban part of the outfit and each one is handpicked by the ISI.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 7:56 [IST]
Leader of Yemen-based Houthi rebels offers Saudi pilot and officers in a swap for Palestinian activists in Saudi jails.

When the leader of Yemens Houthi rebels recently offered a surprise prisoner exchange to Saudi Arabia, the announcement brought to light the case of dozens of Palestinians on trial in the kingdom, where they are accused of supporting terrorism.

In a televised address to mark the fifth anniversary of the Saudi intervention in Yemen, Abdul Malek al-Houthi offered to swap a Saudi military pilot and four other prisoners of war held by the Houthis for the Palestinian activists.

Al-Houthi said the offer was made because his group stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people against those who conspire against its legitimate cause.

Saudi Arabia put dozens of Palestinian activists on trial on March 8, accusing them of supporting the Hamas group, which governs the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza and is considered a terrorist group by Riyadh. The activists first court appearance was held in secret without legal representation to defend them against the charges, according to the families of the detainees. The next court date is scheduled for May.

Hamas sees itself as a national resistance movement against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Genuine offer

Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a political analyst who is close to the Houthi movement, told Al Jazeera via telephone from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, the Houthi initiative is genuine and is not a show-off offer as some critics have made it out to be.

He said the people of Yemen support the Palestinians and their cause, and feel it is their duty as fellow Arabs to stand with them, especially at a time when many Arab governments seem to have deprioritised the Palestinian cause and have strengthened relations with Israel.



Al-Bukhaiti said the Houthis sought the release of the Palestinians over the release of Houthi prisoners held by Saudi Arabia because the Yemeni prisoners would likely be exchanged eventually in a separate future prisoner swap.



Saudi Arabia formed a coalition of some Arab states and launched a military intervention in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis took over the capital Sanaa the previous year and forced President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee.

The Saudi-led coalition has since dwindled and is now largely made up of forces aligned with Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates who have sought to remove the Houthis from power and restore the internationally recognised government. The Saudi-led effort has largely failed to drive the Houthis out of power.

Hamas welcomes gesture

Hamas issued a statement on Thursday in response to the Houthi offer stating that it highly appreciates [al Houthis initiative] and the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity it expressed with the Palestinian people.

We express gratitude for [al-Houthis] concerns and for his initiative, it added.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya issued a statement last week asking the Saudi government to release its activists at a time when the coronavirus outbreak spreading in the region could endanger the detainees.

Basem Naim, a Gaza-based Hamas spokesman, told Al Jazeera by telephone that the Palestinian people appreciate any effort from any group or state that would help their cause.

Naim said the Palestinian detainees were innocent and had not committed a crime that would warrant terrorism charges.

The detainees are well known in Saudi Arabia and have been living there for decades and have never once tried to undermine the Saudi security. Therefore we find it very unusual for the Saudi government to consider them as terrorists, he said.

Naim added Saudi Arabia had a long history of support for the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli occupation.

Among those arrested was Mohammed al-Khudari, 81, a longtime Palestinian resident of Saudi Arabia and a retired physician suffering from colon cancer, his family told Al Jazeera by phone from Gaza.

Regional power play?



Saeed Thabet, a Doha-based analyst who focuses on Yemen, told Al Jazeera that the Houthi initiative may not necessarily be a genuine attempt to secure the release of the prisoners but could be a tool to promote the Houthi movement within the region.

Using the Palestinian prisoners, al-Houthi is trying to expand his status from a local player into a regional one, he said.

Thabet argued that Saudi Arabia is unlikely to engage in a prisoner swap with the Houthis because Riyadh does not want to give them the status they seek.

The Palestinian cause enjoys strong support among all Yemenis regardless of their political affiliation. Dragging them into the Yemeni conflict is very dangerous, he added.

Saudi-Israel alignment

Mahjoob Zweiri, a political science professor and director of Gulf Studies Center at the University of Qatar, viewed the Houthi initiative through the lens of Iranian regional goals, which include casting the Saudi government in a negative light.

He said the Houthi initiative was essentially a tactic to deploy the Arab public opinion against Saudi Arabia.

Zweiri added that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans (MBS) effort to secure the Saudi throne led him to back US President Donald Trumps Middle East plan and liquidate the Palestinian cause altogether. He said this explains [the Saudi] animosity toward the Palestinians.

The US plan supports the Israeli goals of annexing large sections of the occupied West Bank, which the Palestinians want for a future state, and legitimises Israeli settlements built on occupied land.

The Trump administration also recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital  a move the Palestinians and the Arab League condemned as a violation of international law, as well as a violation of the 1993 Palestinian-Israeli Oslo agreements and numerous international resolutions. The Palestinian government in Ramallah wants the eastern half of the city to be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports
(Source: Getty, Facebook)

Shoppers have accused Coles and Woolworths of price gouging even as supermarket shelves are being emptied by shoppers panic-buying amid fears of a looming shutdown and tens of thousands of job losses.

Disgruntled shoppers on the hunt for supermarket essentials took to social media in order to air their frustrations about high prices and missing specials.

Why are there no specials in your stores at the moment - normally aisles are full of special offers but nothing- is this not price gouging while people are struggling with making ends meet? posted one user about Coles.

Another posted a photo of broccoli advertised for $11.50 per kilo. Broccoli is typically priced around $5 per kilo.

One user posted a picture of $11.50 broccoli at Coles. (Source: Facebook)

Some users said they paid $5 for half a head of cauliflower, and others said they saw lettuce going for up to $8 a head.

Another also said Coles prices were not only high, but stock was low, and asked what supermarkets were doing to help the country.

The lack of specials did not go unnoticed by shoppers, with one saying there was not one special on the shelves and accused Woolworths of profiteering.

Supermarkets respond

A spokesperson for Woolworths said that there were multiple factors behind the price rise of produce, such as the drought and bushfire seasons impacting supply.

Due to pressures throughout the horticultural supply chain caused by drought, unseasonal weather and an unprecedented spike in demand, we're currently seeing an impact on the availability of some fresh fruit and vegetable lines, the spokesperson said.

This has led to higher wholesale costs for some fruit and vegetable lines across the market and we're working closely with our growers to help manage this as best we can.

We understand the uncertainty facing households right now and remain focused on offering quality Australian grown food to our customers at competitive prices.

A Coles spokesperson told Yahoo Finance that the drought had hit Australian producers hard.

Story continues

We are seeing upward price pressures across many agricultural categories as a result of the sustained drought across many of our producing regions.

In the case of produce, much of what our hard-working supplier partners are harvesting now was planted during tough drought conditions, the spokesperson said.

This is particularly true of vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, beans and corn.

Meanwhile, extreme hot weather during Christmas and January saw the volume of tomatoes, capsicums and cucumbers impacted.

Our suppliers are enjoying more favourable growing conditions over recent weeks and we are confident that vegetable volumes will improve.

For meat, the sustained drought and record low herd numbers has also put upward pressure on livestock costs.

Not price gouging

The head of Australias competition watchdog also sought to assure shoppers that supermarkets higher prices did not appear to be price gouging.

We've had a lot of feedback that prices, particularly of fresh produce, have gone up, Sims told Fairfax Media.

The story we're getting is that's due to flow on from the drought and the bushfires, and also the continual de-stocking when it comes to products such as meat. So that all seems logical.

Any price rises will be scrutinised in order to make sure they are going to producers, not to supermarket giants bottom line, he added.

We want to check if prices are going up a bit that it's really the farmers who are benefiting, Sims said.

"If prices are going up and there's no change in margin at supermarkets or wholesalers and it's all benefiting farmers, that's okay. I don't think anybody's going to begrudge the farmers making a bit more money at the moment or recovering past losses."

Where to shop

The Council for Small Business Organisations (COSBOA) has urged shoppers to shop at independently run grocers, convenience stores and smaller supermarkets.

We need to ensure the needs of all outlets are considered, not just the big ones, said COSBOA CEO Peter Strong.

He added that this was also a health issue as higher volumes of shoppers congregated at large supermarkets.

The health issues and social distancing is much more easily achieved in the suburbs. The home delivery services and support of aged care facilities by the local butchers and grocers and other outlets is rarely mentioned but is vitally important, he said.

We are hearing that the duopoly has cornered the market on items such as Perspex, needed for safety barriers and has purchased whole farm lots of potatoes. This creates problems for small business in the suburbs.

Smaller stores may also open for longer hours as they shift their business model to deal with the crisis, he added.

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COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, has spread to every continent except Antarctica. While there is still no vaccine for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, scientists across the world are working to develop one.

ANI

In the race for finding a cure for the deadly disease, Bengaluru-based oncologist, Dr Vishal Rao, has applied for a government review of a new concoction of drugs developed by his team, which he says claims will prove to be effective.

According to reports, the treatment involves retriggering of the immune system which gets compromised after a person is infected by Sars-Cov-2 virus, said the doctor. He clarified that the medicine which was under preparation was not a vaccine.

Surgical oncologist Dr Rao said that he had conceived of a mixture of cytokines, which when injected into coronavirus positive patients could re-activate their immune system, as reported by news agency ANI.

Cytokines are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells, as per medical definition.

"Human body cells release interferon chemicals to kill viruses. But it can't be released by cells in the case of COVID-19 cases, leading to a weak immune system. We got hold of some preprint suggesting that interferon is effective in COVID-19," Dr Rao was quoted as saying by ANI.

#WATCH We have built a concoction of cytokines which can be injected to reactivate the immune system in #COVID19 patients. We're in a very initial stage&hope to be ready with its first set by this weekend. We have applied to the govt for an expedited review: Oncologist Vishal Rao pic.twitter.com/vymRyTrL0R  ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2020

Interferons are a group of signalling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.



We got hold of some preprint suggesting that interferon is effective in Covid-19, Rao was quoted as saying.



Twitter

According to a research, published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, several approaches to treat Covid-19 were being developed, including blocking the virus from entering human cells, disrupting its replication, suppressing the human immune response and vaccines, said another agency report.

The study says Sars-Cov-2 is easily transmissible due to the spike proteins on its surface which bind efficiently to the molecule angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the surfaces of human cells. ' The most promising compound is remdesivir (GS-5734), a nucleotide analog prodrug currently in clinical trials for treating Ebola virus infections. Remdesivir inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV in tissue cultures, and it displayed efficacy in non-human animal models,' reads the study.

As of now, the researchers say, the most promising antiviral for fighting Sars-Cov-2 is Remdesivir, which blocks its replication as seen in laboratories. However, they said more data is needed on its effectiveness.
Irish air traffic controllers bade farewell to an Aer Lingus jet which is flying to China to pick up PPE gear for health care staff across the entire island.

The Northern Ireland Executive has joined with the government in Dublin to buy the vital equipment directly from China.

An Aer Lingus Airbus A330 departed Dublin Airport this morning in the first flight on the mercy mission.

An Aer Lingus Airbus A330 departed Dublin Airport this morning for China in the first of ten flights to bring 210 million worth PPE equipment for front line health care workers battling the coronavirus outbreak

The airline volunteered to collect the equipment using jets which were otherwise lying idle as a result of the coronavirus shut down.

The captain of the Aer Lingus jet responding to the message said: 'We are happy to be able to do it.'

The flight is the first of several which will bring in more than 200million worth of PPE equipment to last until the end of the year.

Between now and Tuesday, ten flights will bring the equipment back to Dublin from where it will be transported across the 32 counties on the island of Ireland.

Normally, the Irish government spends around 12m a year on PPE equipment.

The airline volunteered to collect the equipment using jets which were otherwise lying idle as a result of the coronavirus shut down

Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced that the region's powersharing executive had joined forces with health chiefs in the Irish Republic to source the in-demand equipment for healthcare workers on the front line of the pandemic.

He said it was a 'significant order' that would satisfy supply needs in Northern Ireland.

Earlier this week, Ireland's Health Minister Simon Harris said the state would be spending 210m on new stocks of PPE this year.

At Friday's Stormont press briefing on the coronavirus crisis, Mr Murphy declined to confirm if the PPE earmarked for Northern Ireland would be on the first flight or was part of a later delivery.

The minister said Northern Ireland would also receive additional supplies through UK-wide procurement efforts to meet the soaring high demand for PPE.

Mr Murphy said it was important that there was an all-island approach to the issue as well.

'I can assure you it is a very significant order and it should satisfy our supply demands,' he said.

Ireland's Health Minister Simon Harris said the state would be spending 210m on new stocks of PPE this year.

Mr Murphy said securing supply was a 'crucial' issue.

'We've today agreed that joint order with Dublin, there is procurement going on with the British system as well, but I think to be prudent we want to ensure that if the crisis that is coming our way becomes more severe in Britain and those supply lines across the Irish Sea start to dry up, that we have our own supplies.

'This is a joint effort with the Dublin Government, the order has been placed, so I can't give certainty in terms of the flights, but we obviously want to get it here as quickly as possible.

'We also want to ensure that where we do have - and we do have supplies of PPE - that that gets to frontline workers as quickly as they need it and that we give them certainty that if and when that is used, then we have a sufficient back-up supply coming.'

Medics who are dealing with the unfolding crisis continued to raise concerns about the standard and supply of PPE in Northern Ireland.

Stormont Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the current situation was 'not good enough'.

Stormont Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the current situation in Northern Ireland was 'not good enough'

'Even today we're hearing reports of by people in the front line not having access to PPE,' she said.

'That's not good enough and that needs to be resolved and needs to be resolved now and we will make sure we do everything we can to make sure that that is the case.'

Earlier on Friday, Health Minister Robin Swann said 'concrete action' was being taken over the region's stocks.

'Demand for PPE will inevitably intensify in the days and weeks ahead,' he said.

'We are therefore taking every conceivable step to keep building up our stocks to meet this demand. It is very welcome news that key global supply chains are starting to reopen.

'We will pursue every feasible supply route, both local and international, to enhance our supplies.'

On Friday, a nurse said she is treating patients with a 'knot in her stomach' amid fears of infection.

She urged the Department of Health to intervene to ensure workers are better protected from Covid-19.

The A&E nurse, who spoke anonymously to the BBC, claimed medics were having to wear paper surgical masks rather than the seal-proof FFP3 masks they had been promised.

The nurse said she feels fearful as she goes about her work treating coronavirus patients.

'We feel exposed,' she said.

'I had been with a lady all day, working with bodily fluids, working in very close contact, and I had just got this fluid shield mask with an apron and gloves, and I honestly felt I had a knot in my stomach for most of the day in fear that, if she did come back positive, that was the only PPE I had on.'

She added: 'I have yet to speak to a healthcare worker on the front line that says, 'Yeah, our PPE is really good, I feel really well protected' - because we don't.'
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday asked National Highway Authority of India chairman and toll operators across national highways to provide food, water and other necessary support to migrant workers.

IMAGE: Migrants wait for a bus to their native village in Ghaziabad, on Saturday. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

The directions came amid reports that migrant workers are facing severe hardships while stranded at various parts in the country on account of nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

"I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/Toll operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places.

"At this time of crisis we have to be compassionate for our fellow citizens," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said.

The minister expressed hope that toll operators will respond to his call positively.

Earlier, Gadkari had asked NHAI to suspend toll on all national highways to ease transportation of essential goods and supplies.

The suspension of toll collection on national highways will ease supplies of essential goods across the country while facilitating movement of patients and needy people who have obtained curfew passes, Gadkari had said.

Urging people to adhere to the nationwide lockdown, the minister has said suspension of toll is for people who have to venture out for necessary travel.

"Even though it's a complete lockdown all over the country, there are provisions to issue necessary passes/permissions for those people who approach the relevant authorities and convince their necessities to travel," he had said.

Such passes are being issued by local authorities so that the needy people can travel, he added.

"Suspension of toll collection is for such people who travel in private vehicles. This will ease their journey without wasting time at the toll plaza.

"Toll collection has been suspended to reduce inconvenience to such people who have been issued curfew pass by local administration/authorities for all vehicles transporting essential goods and even the vehicles carrying patients," the minister said.

At the same time, he urged people to stay indoors and follow advice of local authorities to fight the spread of coronavirus.

The government earlier this week temporarily suspended toll collection on national highways to ease emergency services in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

This will not only reduce inconvenience to emergency services but also save critical time, Gadkari had said.

Maintenance of roads and availability of emergency resources at toll plazas will continue as usual.

Earlier, the road transport and highways ministry had advised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to follow the home ministry's guidelines about toll plaza operations following the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The prevailing condition may be treated as 'Force Majeure' of concession or contract agreement in terms of the finance ministry, it said.
By Toby Sterling and Inti Landauro

AMSTERDAM/MADRID (Reuters) - European Union divisions were laid bare on Friday as the bloc's leaders haggled over how far to go to cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic, with the ailing south left fuming at the resistance of the richer north to extend more support.

The bloc's 27 national leaders had failed to agree on more economic support in a six-hour call on Thursday, struggling to show unity on issues ranging from economic stimulus to sharing medical equipment and tightening controls on the continent's normally open borders.

European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde's call on governments to act more decisively fell flat as Germany and the Netherlands came out forcibly against a push by Italy, Spain, Portugal and France to issue joint bonds.

The leaders also disagreed on the idea of setting up a precautionary credit line from the euro zone's ESM bailout fund, instead buying time by telling their finance ministers to work out more details of how this would work over the next two weeks.

Italy, where more people have died from the virus than anywhere else in the world, and Spain - also one of the worst-affected countries - expressed fury on Friday at what they saw as the breakdown of EU solidarity.

"We are in this EU boat together. We hit an unexpected iceberg. We all share the same risk right now... History will hold us responsible for what we do now," said Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said.

The governor of Italy's Veneto region, one of the hardest hit, likened the situation to the 2015-16 migration crisis that saw the Mediterranean states overwhelmed by a spike in arrivals from the Middle East and Africa, while the rest of the EU sparred over how to respond.

"This EU is totally in hiding, a scandalous absence, without the least amount of direction and health coordination," said governor Luca Zaia. "It appears to be a replica of the immigration saga."

Story continues

The fight also echoes EU arguments over debt mutualisation at the height of the bloc's 2008-12 euro zone crisis that damaged EU unity.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte played down the rifts.

"There were differences of opinion between a number of more northern and a number of southern countries along the known dividing lines, but nothing that can't be resolved," he said.

But Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa suggested the dispute could deal the bloc, which has already seen its first ever departure when Britain left earlier this year, a fatal blow: "Either the EU does what it has to do, or it will end."

CRISIS OF UNITY

EU diplomats said it would be hard for ministers to agree on their next steps given how deeply split their leaders are.

"The idea of joint debt issuance has never been alive. Just because some people want this does not mean it is already a European project," said one senior euro zone official.

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the ESM was the right tool to address the crisis, Rutte made clear it could only be a last resort and would come with conditions.

Berlin and The Hague were backed by Austria, Finland and others in saying it was too soon to say how long the virus would affect Europe, or the scale of the economic damage.

They said all EU countries were still able to finance themselves in the debt market and the bloc should retain some firepower to be able to step in forcibly later on if needed.

The EU has already loosened state aid rules and limits on public borrowing to allow member states to carry their economies through the expected slump.

As the bloc argued over what more to do, eurosceptics were quick to point out the depth of the crisis of unity.

"It's visible that in times like this, in the most difficult times, national states are the most important," said Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

"If the EU is to keep citizens' trust, it must respond in an adequate manner."

(Reporting by Riccardo Bastianello, Balazs Koranyi, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Inti Landauro, Catarina Demony, Marcin Goclowski, Toby Sterling, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Zoe Hauser, 67, in a New Delhi hotel where she is being quarantined for 21 days

Fears are growing for an elderly British school principal who is being held in a New Delhi hotel during Indias coronavirus lockdown.

Zoe Hauser, 67, has developed a high temperature and her concerned family is pressing the Foreign Office to help end her solitary confinement.

Divorcee Ms Hauser, head of Mumbais BD Somani international primary school, is being held at the Ibis hotel at New Delhis Indira Gandhi Airport, guarded by officials in hazmat suits.

She has been banned from leaving her room, which has a sealed window, and is the only European among around 300 Indian detainees.

Ms Hauser, who has taught in Britain and the United States and moved to India in 2015, has two children and five grandchildren.

She was returning to Mumbai from a weeks holiday in Nepal when she landed in New Delhi to transfer flights last Saturday.

She said: I had been on an international flight and had to go through immigration. The lines were enormous and it took around four hours.

The room at the Ibis hotel at New Delhi airport where Ms Hauser is being forcibly held

The scenes of chaos that greeted Ms Hauser upon her arrival at New Delhi airport on Saturday

Grandmother Zoe Hauser, 67, poses at her school desk before the Coronavirus epidemic

There were thousands of people jammed together in highly dangerous proximity, with no food and no knowledge of what was happening.

Then the immigration officer took my passport away and I havent seen it since.

I was moved around the airport for a total of 11 hours before I was taken into a room, where two doctors in full protective clothing were distanced at the other end of a table.

They said they were there for health screening, which was nothing but questions about travel and medications, information that I had already provided on three forms during those hours of waiting.

She added: They asked me if I had any symptoms and I said I hadnt. But they still decided I was vulnerable because of my age.

I was forcibly separated from my friends and I was put onto a bus and was on there not knowing what was happening for around another three hours.

The officials told me everybody over the age of 60 must be in government quarantine.

A few hours later, they dumped me in a tiny, dark hotel room with no information and no fresh air. I have been here ever since and I only have my iPad and phone to contact the outside world.

I went into the corridor yesterday to try and stretch my legs and the guards who are wearing hazmat suits yelled at me.

It is like being in prison or like being a caged animal.'

India deems people over the age of 60 to be senior citizens or of an age when they can retire or be offered discounts on travel.

Ms Hauser said all the detainees being held at the hotel were over the age of 60, except for one Indian man in his early forties who had told officials he was on blood pressure tablets.

She added: India is in full shutdown and I am going to be here for 14 days. But then I will have nowhere to go, as hotels are closed and flights have been stopped for 21 days.

It is a living nightmare and the worst part of it is that I cant isolate under my own terms.

The window of Ms Hauser's Ibis hotel room is sealed and she is not being allowed fresh air

The bathroom in the Ibis hotel room where Ms Hauser is in enforced quarantine

Ms Hauser said she has now developed a temperature of 37.8C (100F). On Saturday morning, she was visited by a doctor and a counsellor, who gave her paracetamol and promised to monitor her condition regularly.

Ms Hauser said the food she is being given consists of cold rice, chapati and dhal and that she hand-washes her clothes in the tiny bathroom sink.

The respected headmistress added: I dream of being in my lovely home and at school. Teachers have sent me lovely video messages, making me cry.

I am grateful for my loving, but worried, family members and the school community.

Her sister Sandra Connor, who lives in High Wycombe, said: We have been in touch with the Foreign Office and the British Embassy in Delhi.

There is little they say they can do in terms of interfering with Indian government policy.

I am very worried about Zoe, as she is claustrophobic and it will be very difficult for her to be in that tiny space where she cannot even open the window.

To cope with the ordeal, Ms Hauser has set up a number of video conferences with fellow teachers who are also in lockdown at their homes in Mumbai.

MailOnline has contacted the Indian High Commission for comment.
Before the vote, board member Jeremy Jensen asked board chairman Beth Smith if Cox could address the board. Smith said the vote needed to proceed with the vote on the resolution and that the resolution, which was agreed to between Cox and the board, spoke enough to the situation without Cox addressing the board.

Because Smith didnt allow Cox to address the board, Jensen and two other board members voted against the resolution, which passed by a 7-3 vote.

After the vote, Smith made a motion to name Parr, a long-time employee of the Nebraska State Fair since its days in Lincoln, as interim executive director.

Nine members of the board voted to name Parr the interim director. Jensen abstained from voting only to say that he was not happy about what went on during the executive session.

Beginning March 13, Cox took a medical leave of absence citing health concerns.

Cox, 50, was named the fairs executive director in January 2018.
Brasilia: A doctor working with the largest indigenous group in the Amazon has tested positive for the coronavirus, Brazil's Health Ministry said on Friday, ringing alarm bells that the epidemic could spread to vulnerable and remote indigenous communities with devastating effect.

The doctor, who has not been named, had returned from holidays on March 18 to work with the Ticunas, a group of more than 30,000 people who live in the upper Amazon near the borders with Colombia and Peru.

A representative of the Huitoto and Ticuna indigenous communities drinks Coke in Leticia, on Colombia's Amazon river border with Brazil and Peru. A doctor working with the Ticunas has tested positive for coronavirus. Credit:AP

He developed a fever later that day and went into isolation, testing positive for the respiratory disease COVID-19 a week later, the ministry said.

Eight tribe members he treated on his first day back working for the indigenous health service Sesai have also been isolated in their homes and are being monitored, the ministry said.
Mr. Trump had come under intense criticism from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, who assailed the idea as a declaration of war on states.

Mr. Cuomo, in an interview with CNN, expressed frustration and confusion over Mr. Trumps vague suggestion that he was considering somehow sealing off New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has the New York City area as its epicenter.

The idea, Mr. Cuomo said, was at odds with Mr. Trumps professed desire to restart the economy. You would paralyze the financial sector, the governor said.

But on Saturday night, Mr. Trump appeared to abandon the proposal, announcing on Twitter that, A quarantine will not be necessary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with Radio Jockeys (RJs) via video conference where he appreciated the role played by the RJs in spreading awareness about coronavirus He said it is praiseworthy that even in lockdown, RJs are discharging their responsibility and recording programmes from home.

PM Modi said that through the reach of the programmes, RJs are like members of families of millions of Indian households. "People not only hear but also follow them. RJs have a great responsibility not just to disseminate and disabuse superstitions but also motivate people," the PM told them.

Apart from spreading information about the views of experts and steps taken by the government, the PM also requested RJs to provide feedback about the difficulties and challenges faced by the people so that the government can resolve them.

Calling the Prime Minister as a part of the RJ fraternity since he has been hosting the widely successful Mann ki Baat on radio since 2014, the RJs pointed out the unprecedented response to Prime Minister's call for 'Janata curfew'.

The PM also asked them to showcase and celebrate the contributions of the local heroes such as police officers, doctors, nurses, ward boys who are in the frontline of India's fight against coronavirus.

The Prime Minister appeared to have taken serious note of misbehaviour with a few doctors. Underlining the importance of empathy, he said that it is important to tell the stories of misbehaviour with doctors, healthcare workers and airline staff due to societal fears about them being infected by the virus, so that such challenges are overcome.

He also underlined the importance of educating the public about the dedication of police personnel who are working continuously to assist the public.

During the course of interaction, PM Modi said that the public should cooperate with the police, adding that while police should avoid usage of strongarm tactics, it is also necessary to enforce discipline. "130 crore Indians should act as national volunteers in fighting the pandemic", he said.

Modi listed a number of measures to assist the poor and under-privileged in this difficult time. He stressed that it is important that information about these announcements reaches the intended beneficiaries swiftly and in a timely manner.

Prime Minister Modi urged them to educate the people about social distancing and the importance of self-quarantine as well.

The Prime Minister said that public broadcaster All India Radio has a particularly important role to play in stopping rumours. He also requested the RJs to also work towards checking rumours.

Prime Minister said an attitude of togetherness combined with positivity is the key to facing the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting were also part of the interaction.
Amid a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many migrant workers set out on foot from parts of Haryana including Panipat to travel to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Some workers, who were accompanied by their wives and children, covered long distance on foot to reach Delhi.

Carrying some luggage on their head, Rohit Kumar and Dinesh, who set out from Panipat, told the media that they worked as construction workers in Panipat and were headed to their home town Jhansi in UP.

After the lockdown was announced, we were left with no work. The landlord at the rented premises in Panipat where we were staying told us to vacate. We have exhausted all our money. What will we feed our children? asked Rohit.

Another migrant worker who set out from Panipat, which is famous as a textile hub, said, I used to work as a painter. Our contractor has not paid us for the work this month citing the lockdown.

When pointed out that the government had made arrangements for workers including free food and stay, he said, My family has not eaten properly for a week. The food does not reach us every time and on occasions we go hungry. At least in our homes in UP, we can do something.

All these workers were headed towards Delhi for an onward journey to their hometowns in UP and Bihar.

There were reports of migrant workers setting out on foot towards Delhi and onwards from few other places in Haryana, including Gurugram, Faridabad and Bahadurgarh.

Panipat Deputy Commissioner Hema Sharma told PTI over the phone that they had received reports that there was some movement of workers from Panipat on Friday.

We have assured all migrant workers, daily wage earners, street vendors and other poor sections of society that they need not worry as the administration will take care of their needs in the present situation, she said.

On Saturday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar directed the officers of district administrations across the state to make appropriate arrangements for setting up the medical, shelter and food facilities for the migrant workers working in the state.

The CM gave these directions while presiding over the crisis coordination committee meeting with senior officers through video-conferencing here, an official statement said.

Anil Vij, the state's Home Minister, told PTI on Saturday thatthe state government has decided to provide food and shelter to the migrant workers, street vendors, homeless and other poor sections with directions already given to deputy commissioners to make all arrangements in this regard.

The purpose of a lockdown is that nobody takes up movement from one place to another, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Ministerdirected the officers to closely monitor the movement of migrant workers in their respective districts and added that the maximum number of workers who are working in state should be asked to stay in the 'safe camps' being set up by the state government in each district.

Apart from this, medical testing of the migrant workers should also be done by setting up special medical camps. If there is any chance of a migrant testing positive of coronavirus, then they can be quarantined, the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Khattar said that checkpoints should be set up in each district to stop the movement of workers and encouraged them to stay in 'safe camps' or relief shelters which have been specially set up for them.

The Chief Minister further directed district-level officers to ask industrialists in respective districts to make staying and food arrangements for the migrants working in factories and industrial units run by them.

For the poor people who are not included in the Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samridhi Yojana and Construction Workers Board list, Khattar wanted their registration work to be expedited so that they too can get financial help of Rs 1,000 per week along with other basic assistance.

The Chief Minister directed the officers to also ensure maximum involvement of volunteers, social organisations and NGOs to ensure that the supply chain of essential commodities does not get disrupted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Books Are Magic is an independent store in Brooklyn that is celebrated for its author events. Last April, Sally Rooney was due to appear at the store to promote her second novel, Normal People. Demand for tickets was so high that it had to be moved to a nearby church. Vanity Fair quipped that the Irish author's readers weren't so much fans as disciples while it prompted the American culture magazine Vox to publish an article entitled 'The Cult of Sally Rooney'.

The 29-year-old from Castlebar, Co Mayo has achieved a measure of success that most can only dream of. Her two books, Conversations with Friends and Normal People, have sold hundreds of thousands of copies each, have been translated into several languages and have enjoyed ecstatic critical acclaim.

Right from the off, Rooney has attracted a host of celebrity admirers - everyone from Taylor Swift to Barack Obama. The latter included Normal People in a list of the books he most enjoyed in 2019. Sarah Jessica Parker, best known for her portrayal of Carrie in Sex and the City, was especially gushing. "This book. This book," she said of Conversations With Friends, "I read it in one day. I hear I'm not alone."

Next month, BBC Three - in partnership with US streaming service Hulu - will screen a 12-part adaptation of Normal People. The project has attracted significant talent, including the Irish director Lenny Abrahamson, who made the Oscar-nominated Room, and Mark O'Rowe, the acclaimed theatre director, who co-wrote the script.

And, even before a single minute has aired, the Dublin production company behind the project, Element Pictures, announced that it would also be adapting Conversations with Friends for the small screen. It was also be screened by the BBC.

Declan Meade was one of the first to recognize Rooney's talent. The founder of the Stinging Fly literary magazine - which has given many Irish authors their first break in the 20 years of its existence - says Rooney first signalled her talent while still in school. "She sent us poetry she had written," he recalls. "I don't think it was published until she was at Trinity [College] but there was no doubt that there was considerable talent there."

Rooney had a comparatively normal upbringing. Born in 1991, she is the middle of three children, a sister and brother. Her father, Kieran, worked for Telecom Eireann and her mother, Marie, ran an arts centre in Castlebar. By her own admission, she wasn't a stand-out student at school. But her love of reading was apparent from early on - as was a desire to demonstrate her own creative writing.

"I never thought that I wouldn't be writing," she has said. "I always thought that no matter what I did, I would always have writing. I couldn't imagine sort of navigating the world without having recourse to writing stories about it. I would feel quite like lost without the ability to put words together on paper and try to, like, capture something."

She blossomed when she went to Trinity at 18, although she has admitted to have been troubled by the disproportionately high number of privately educated students who go there. She joined the university's debating society and was part of a team that won a major European debating competition. Rooney was said to be a diligent student and one keen to make an impression outside the confines of the university.

It was an essay in another literary journal, The Dublin Review, that effectively launched her career. 'Even if You Beat Me' was inspired by experience of being a formidable student debater. The London-based agent Tracy Bohan read it and soon took her on.

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It was while doing a Masters in American Literature at Trinity that Rooney wrote Conversations with Friends. Its first draft was completed in just three months. The book concerns an on-off bisexual couple, Trinity students Frances and Bobbi, and their complex relationship with an older and outwardly successful husband-and-wife. It excited a lot of people when Bohan first sought a publisher.

Faber and Faber - the renowned British publishing house - won the rights after a veritable seven-way bidding war. A figure from Faber described Rooney as "the Salinger of the Snapchat generation", and the line stuck: it's been trotted out time and again and Rooney is now said to hate it.

Even before the book was published, there was huge excitement about Rooney in literary circles. And, on publication, the reviews were glowing. A rapturous New Yorker notice described Rooney as a "psychological portraitist" who is "acute and sophisticated about the workings of innocence".

Conversations with Friends was published in 2017 and featured in several best-of year-end lists. It was also nominated for the Folio Prize - an award considered by some to be an alternative to the Booker.

Rooney wasted little time in writing a follow-up. Normal People came out in 2018 to even greater acclaim, as well as appearing on the Booker longlist. A story of young love between a boy and girl from a fictional Sligo town and the challenges their relationship faces once they both go to Trinity, its universality connected with readers from around the globe.

And it soon came to be seen to be ripe for adaptation. "Young people's lives now, more than ever, are complicated and confusing and yet they are exerting agency on the world and that I think makes them - and their stories - relevant to all of us," according to Piers Wenger, the BBC's controller of drama.

It's a sentiment shared by Lenny Abrahamson, who shared directorial duties on the series with the English film-maker, Hettie Macdonald. "The territory is so interesting," Abrahamson told the Guardian. "It's a positive account of two young people falling in love. It sounds simple, but there's a lot cynicism around that kind of material. It's a look at intimacy in the 21st century and a portrait of a very tender relationship. It's radical in a sense."

So what makes Rooney's books so popular? Niamh Boyce, author of the admired novel, The Herbalist, says: "To be simplistic, the popularity lies in the fact that the novels are good reads that capture the zeitgeist. Rooneys prose flows with a directness and honesty that's very clean, and makes the novels compulsive reading.

"It's refreshing that work which explores female intellectual and emotional coming of age is being taken seriously for once, and not packaged away under pink covers. The marketing and covers have done justice to the work, which isn't always the case."

Rick O'Shea, presenter of RTE Radio 1's The Book Show, says Rooney writes brilliantly about young millennials. "It's that dreaded 'Voice of a Generation' tag, but not many people were writing about that generation - certainly not Irish people - before she came along," he says. "The first time I read Conversations with Friends, I was struck by what a unique voice she had. The characters seemed to jump off the page, they were so real and authentic - and when a writer is able to do that, they're going to draw readers in."

O'Shea is even more enamoured with Normal People. "I think it was a really big step up," he says. "To write one acclaimed book is something, but to follow it up with something that's even more striking makes you feel that Sally Rooney is a writer who will be around for a long time."

For Declan Meade, Rooney's success mirrors that of young Irish writers generally. "This is a really strong period for fine Irish writing," he says. "And publishers are looking to this country because they can see the talent that's there." Some of those who have signed book deals in Rooney's wake have been compared to her, not least Naoise Dolan - whose debut novel, Exciting Times, has been whipping up a considerable buzz ahead of its publication next month.

Not everyone is enamoured with Rooney's writing, however. When approached by Review for an appraisal, one well-known Irish author demurred: "I'd be strung up if I went public on this," he says, "but I'm really not that wild about her books. Of course there's a lot of technical skill there, but Normal People in particular feels quite slight. Maybe I'm being a bit unfair, but the adulation seems disproportionate."

The English author, Will Self, is not a fan. "You only need to look at the kind of books being lauded at the moment to see how simple-minded they are," he told the [London] Times last year. "What's now regarded as serious literature would, 10 or 20 years ago, have been regarded as young-adult fiction. I read a few pages of the Sally Rooney book. It may say things that millennials want to hear reflected back at them, but it's very simple stuff with no literary ambition that I can see."

Rooney, herself, is unlikely to care what the naysayers think. A figure in the small Dublin literary world says she has remained grounded. "Her head is very much on her shoulders," she says. "I think she's really appreciative of how people have responded to the books, and I know she wants to get the next one finished. One downside of making such a big impact all over the world is that you're constantly in demand, especially if you're involved with a TV adaptation and while that's well and good, it can eat into the time you'd need to get another book done to your satisfaction."

Right now, Rooney is a fellow at the New York Public Library's Cullman Center. She's working on her third book, tentatively titled, Beautiful World, Where Are You? According to the press release from the centre, the book is "examining aesthetics and political crises."

Rooney has demonstrated a keenness to only publish when she is ready and not for the sake of it. Only a handful of her short stories have been published, including 'Mr Salary', which was nominated for the Sunday Times' short story award - the most financially lucrative prize in short fiction.

Ever whimsical, Rooney was motivated by one of the standout recent moments in Irish sport for one of her best stories. Its title? 'Robbie Brady's Astonishing Late Goal Takes Its Place In Our Collective Histories'.

'Normal People' airs on BBC Three in April. Date to be confirmed.
Restaurants across Las Vegas are continuing to offer takeout, curbside pickup and delivery services throughout this crisis. Supporting these establishments will help our favorite local restaurants continue to provide jobs for their employees as well as food for the community. This list will be updated continuously and is available here. Restaurants looking to be added to this list can complete this quick form.

Mirroring other cities across the nation, Las Vegas also has launched a Virtual Tip Jar to support newly out-of-work restaurant, bar and club employees during the mandated shutdown. In lieu of visiting favorite restaurants and bars, Las Vegans can support local industry staff by sending a tip to their favorite bartenders, servers and more via Venmo, Cash App, Paypal and Zelle. Industry workers can fill out this form to be added to the list while those interested in donating can view responses in this grid.

Restaurants looking to launch touch-free takeout in their parking lots can contact OneDine, which will turn any restaurant with a parking lot into a curbside operation within 24 hours  for free during the current gathering restrictions. Using OneDines technology, restaurant patrons can order, pay and pick-up without leaving their cars.

Below is a list of restaurants Las Vegans can enjoy via curbside pickup, drive-thru or delivery services. Restaurants in red are new additions to the list:

Arashi Ramen (4555 S Fort Apache Rd, Ste 110) For ramen, noodles, and other Japanese dishes, guests can order pickup or delivery from Ramen Arashi. Currently, the ramen hot spot is offering a Tonkotsu special for $12.50. To place orders for pickup, please call (702) 485-3222 or use their website. To place orders for delivery please use Grubhub, Postmates, Uber Eats, or DoorDash.

(4555 S Fort Apache Rd, Ste 110)

Archis Thai (9310 S Eastern Ave, Ste 101) Archis Thai offers a robust menu of Thai favorites and lunch specials for delivery and curbside pickup. To place orders, please call (702) 916-3949.

(9310 S Eastern Ave, Ste 101)

Bahama Breeze (375 Hughes Center Dr) For a taste of the Caribbean, guests can order takeout from Bahama Breeze. Orders can be placed on the website for the restaurant.

(375 Hughes Center Dr)

Boulevard Bar & Grille (9860 S Las Vegas Blvd) Italian classics and American favorites are staples at Boulevard Bar & Grille. Guests can place orders for pickup by calling (702) 939-2583 or use Postmates to place orders for delivery.

(9860 S Las Vegas Blvd)

Brio (6653 S Las Vegas Blvd) Family meals are taken care of with help from Brio. Theyre offering family meals for four to go, which come with choice of salad, sourdough bread, choice of entree, a large bottle of San Pellegrino, and Tiramisu. Guests can purchase one family meal for $44 or three meals for the week for $130. Additionally, Brio is also offering a take home pizza kit for $6 that will keep families entertained while feeding them a delicious meal. Takeout orders receive a 20% discount. To place an order for pickup or delivery within ten miles of the restaurant please call (702) 914-9145. Pickup orders can also be placed online and delivery is also available through DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates.

(6653 S Las Vegas Blvd)

Buca di Beppo Buca di Beppo crafts Italian favorites like pizza and pasta as well as salads, sharable sides, family feasts, and desserts. Guests can enjoy free delivery of Buca di Beppos family-style classic Italian favorites. Orders can be placed online for the Summerlin (7690 W Lake Mead Blvd) and Paradise (412 E Flamingo Rd) locations. Additionally, delivery orders for Summerlin can be placed on Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats. Delivery orders for Paradise can be placed on Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats.



The Capital Grille (3200 S Las Vegas Blvd) The Capital Grille at Fashion Show mall offers a new takeout menu of classic American fare, steaks, and seafood as well as a Butcher Shoppe selection of uncooked steaks, hand-carved by its in-house butcher and packaged with house-made seasoning and steak butter for guests to prepare at home. To place an order please call (702) 932-6631.

(3200 S Las Vegas Blvd)

El Dorado Cantina (430 S Rampart Blvd) Enjoy El Dorado Cantinas award-winning authentic Mexican cuisine featuring organic, sustainably sourced, non-GMA ingredients. Guests who order pickup or delivery will receive complimentary chips and salsa. To place an order for pickup or delivery please call (702) 333-1112 or use Grubhub, Postmates, or DoorDash.

(430 S Rampart Blvd)

Five Guys All of the Las Vegas locations of Five Guys are serving up their handcrafted burgers and fries for delivery and curbside pickup. Delivery orders placed on the Five Guys website receive free delivery for orders over $15.



Forte Tapas (4180 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 806) Family owned Forte Tapas serves up an array of European comfort food, from Mediterranean salads to juicy pelmeni dumplings, available for takeout at 15% off. Guests can pair their meals with a bottle of wine from Fortes selection. Beginning Saturday, Forte Tapas will open for lunch at noon. The restaurant is also offering home-cooking kits for purchase, which includes a virtual cooking class with owner Nina Manchev. This Sunday, Mar. 29, Nina will be making Thracian Clay Pots. Guests can purchase the kits, which includes the ingredients as well as the pot, for $30 on Secret Burger. To place orders and for more information, call (702) 220-3876.

(4180 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 806)

Graffiti Bao (7355 S Buffalo Dr) Graffiti Bao, a chef driven fast casual restaurant with Southeast Asian flair, is offering their signature bites for delivery and curbside pickup. To support the community, Graffiti Bao is offering free kids bowls with purchase and 30% off for those in need. To place pickup orders, please call (702) 323-6033 or use Postmates for delivery.

(7355 S Buffalo Dr)

Hi Scores Popular Las Vegas bar and arcade Hi Scores is offering takeout and delivery, serving up an array of breakfast, burgers, pizzas, and more at both of their locations in the valley. Theyre offering guests free delivery within 10 miles of either location as well as 50% off growlers of craft beer. To place orders for pickup or delivery for the Blue Diamond (4785 Blue Diamond Rd) location please call (702) 888-1999 or use Postmates or Uber Eats. To place orders for pickup or delivery for the Stephanie location (65 S Stephanie St) please call (702) 979-9777 or use Postmates or Uber Eats.



HUMMUS HUMMUS allows guests to create fresh and bright bowls, wraps, and salads with bold Mediterranean flavors. Pickup orders can be placed through the website. Delivery orders for the Henderson location (10895 S Eastern Ave) can be placed on Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats. Delivery orders for the Rampart location (1000 S Rampart Blvd, Ste 7) canbe placed on Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash. Delivery orders for the Rainbow location (7645 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 100) canbe placed on Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.



Jason James Pizza Bistro (8680 W Warm Springs Rd, Ste 100) Jason James Pizza Bistro offers a selection of crispy, thin crust pizzas and chef driven bistro dishes for carry out and delivery. Guests with a SNHD food handlers card receive 15% off their orders. To place orders for pickup or delivery, which is free within five miles, please call (702) 478-9098 or order online. Delivery orders can also be placed through Grubhub and Uber Eats.

(8680 W Warm Springs Rd, Ste 100)

Mama Bird Southern Kitchen (10550 Southern Highlands) Southern goodness and BBQ is served for breakfast, lunch, and supper at Mama Bird Southern Kitchen. Guests can receive free delivery through Uber Eats or 10% off their takeout orders, which can be placed by calling (702) 570-6135. In addition to Uber Eats, delivery is also available through Grubhub and Postmates.

(10550 Southern Highlands)

Mama DePalmas (9845 S Maryland Pkwy) Mama DePalmas serves up fresh Italian food inspired by its namesake grandmother. Guests can place orders for pickup and free delivery by calling (702) 837-6262 or through Grubhub, and Postmates.

(9845 S Maryland Pkwy)
Thrissur, March 28 : Kalyan Jewellers, has announced that it would set aside Rs 10 crore towards the cause of fighting the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The company will partner with local and government bodies to ensure that the funds are allocated in a meaningful and efficient manner.

Ensuring availability of supplies and providing food and other essentials to the vulnerable sections of society, will be giving top priority.

Talking about this decision, T.S. Kalyanaraman, Chairman and Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers said, "The situation created by COVID-19, and the tremendous impact that the pandemic has had on humanity globally, is unprecedented. These have proved to be very challenging times, and our Central and State Governments are doing everything they can, to combat this. We at Kalyan Jewellers understand the magnitude of this crisis, and would like to extend our humble contribution of Rs 10 crore towards the fight against COVID-19." The company vowed to collaborate with various local as well as government bodies to ensure that the funds are allocated to deserving projects. The fund will be primarily used to provide food and other essentials to the vulnerable sections of society, who have been affected or displaced by this pandemic.

Early last week, the CMD of Kalyan Jewellers had issued a letter addressed to all employees, announcing that there would be no salary cuts in non-operational showrooms.

In the letter, the company also committed to pay all its over 8000 employees their full March and April salaries, regardless of the impact on Kalyan Jewellers' overall business. This COVID-19 relief announcement of Rs 10 crore is in line with Kalyan Jewellers' ongoing philanthropic initiatives.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Panama City

Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday, with hundreds of passengers unsure how long they will remain at sea.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

"Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time." It did not identify the cause of death.

The ship, which had been denied passage through the Panama Canal and had been turned away from other ports, was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam, and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

"Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70," the statement said. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Fl., after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of San Antonio, Chile, a week ago.

The cruise line said no one had been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

On March 22, when a number of passengers began reporting flu-like symptoms, the ship instituted protective measures, the cruise line said.

On Thursday, all passengers and crew received masks and instruction on how to use them.

Panama's Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Arauz said Friday that the ships were authorized to maneuver, but no one would be allowed ashore.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vasquez.

It was not immediately clear on Friday where either cruise ship would go.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:18:28|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN-backed Libyan government on Saturday released 466 prisoners due to the fears about the spread of COVID-19.

"As part of the plan to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and to implement the recommendations of the Higher Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice to reduce prison overcrowding, the public prosecution issued a decision to release 466 inmates from correction and rehabilitation institutions of the Judicial Police in Tripoli," the Ministry of Justice said in a statement.

The released prisoners included pretrial detainees pending investigation, as well as those who meet the rules for conditional release, the statement said.

The ministry also said it planned to release more prisoners in the future, including those who have spent more than half their sentences, the elderly, and those with special health considerations.

A few days ago, Libya announced the first case of COVID-19 infection in the country, a 73-year-old man who returned from Saudi Arabia.

The UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj recently declared a state of emergency and mobilization against the virus.

The government also took measures against the coronavirus, such as closing airports, border crossings, education institutions and mosques, banning large gatherings, and imposing a curfew.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says he is on self-isolation based on the advice by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to governors who attended the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

In a live tweet chat monitored in Ibadan on Saturday, Mr Makinde said that governors who attended the NEC meeting came in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

We were all advised to self-isolate and go for test. I have been in self-isolation since then. he tweeted.

On compliance with all directives aimed at curbing the spread of the disease in the state; the governor said: We have an enforcement team which will ensure compliance.

If there is a gathering of more than 10 people, for instance, they will be dispersed. If it is a nightclub, we seal it, until the ban is lifted.

The governor said that the states testing capacity was limited, but it improved by setting up two diagnostic centres in collaboration with the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

According to him, more people can be tested once NCDC certifies the facilities.

Setting up testing centres will enable us to test more people which means that those showing symptoms can get tested regardless of their travel history, he said.

On efforts toward public sensitisation; Mr Makinde tweeted, We are stepping up both enlightenment campaigns and enforcement measures.

We have disease surveillance and notification officers in all the 33 LGAs and 35 LCDAs.

Also, local government caretaker chairpersons are involved in enlightenment campaigns and implementation of directives.

Of course, if we have sustained community transmission, we will have to implement cluster lockdowns which are more effective than general lockdowns.

He said the order placed against social and religious gatherings was not targeted at any religion or social group.

On the number of isolation centres in the state, the governor tweeted that the state had a four-bed isolation unit in Ogbomoso, 10 at Jericho, four in the University of Ibadan and 100 at Olodo to be ready soon.

 Also, Tristate Hospital, Ibadan, has offered a 40-bed capacity unit including eight Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds with ventilators, he said.

Mr Makinde added that additional four had been ordered for.

The ICU beds in the state currently have ventilators. We are also collaborating with private hospitals.

As I stated earlier, Tristate Hospital has offered its facilities which include ventilators.

(NAN)
New York, March 28 : The US government was arranging to airlift American citizens stuck in India because of the lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a State Department official.

Ian Brownlee, the official dealing with consular affairs, said on Friday: "We are working directly with both US and foreign carriers to lay on aircraft direct from India to the US," to bring them back.

He said that the flights could start in about three days, "but it's the permitting that takes a while both in India and the US".

Last week, the State Department issued a "Level 4" travel alert advising its citizens not to travel internationally and asking those abroad to return home.

India is under a lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic with all commercial passenger flights cancelled.

Brownlee said that about 1,500 Americans in the New Delhi area, between 600 and 700 in the Mumbai area and 300 to 400 elsewhere had expressed interest in returning home.

He said that a church group has chartered a large aircraft to bring 150 or so Americans from India and the State Department was helping them get the necessary permits for the plane.

He said that an American citizen, who had tested positive for the virus in Bhutan, was brought back to the US about 10 days ago and "is doing very well".

The principal deputy assistant secretary was briefing reporters about help for American citizens abroad affected by the pandemic and visas for doctors to come to the US.

Brownlee said that while routine visa services were suspended, visas would be processed for medical personnel already accepted in US programmes. But he added, "We are not going out looking for others." He said globally the State Department was looking about 33,000 citizens stranded abroad due to lockdowns and/or cancellation of flights who wanted help returning home.

Some Americans have decided to wait out the curfew or the quarantine where they are and many of them are expats with homes in the countries they are located in, the official added.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
It takes a rare kind of leader  whether in business or politics  to admit they have suffered from a mental health challenge. Premier Brian Pallister joined the ranks of those leaders when he admitted on Friday that at times, he has suffered from depression.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It takes a rare kind of leader  whether in business or politics  to admit they have suffered from a mental health challenge. Premier Brian Pallister joined the ranks of those leaders when he admitted on Friday that at times, he has suffered from depression.

His low point took place several years ago following his mother's death. On Friday, as the premier held a news conference to announce an online emergency mental health strategy, he took a framed copy of the Optimist's Creed, which one of his daughters had made for him to help ease the burden of his loss. He made his admission, and showed his framed creed, to set the table for the new online tool.

Manitobans who are 16 or older will be able to access mental health professionals through an online portal without a doctor's referral. Manitoba is the first province to offer this kind of online mental health support. But even with his deeply personal admission, the pledge to provide emergency online mental health services was awkward and, at times, bizarre.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, who admitted he suffered depression following the death of his mother, holds a copy of the Optimist Creed. Pallister announced an online mental-health portal to provide mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)

Pallister's announcement came less than an hour before public health officials confirmed Manitoba's first death from COVID-19. The premier has typically done a media availability following the daily COVID-19 briefing from public health officials. On Friday, however, he decided to pre-empt the tragic news of Manitoba's first virus-related death with what he described as a "good news story."

Manitoba has, thankfully, not experienced the high infection rates or death toll experienced in other jurisdictions. But that first death is a seminal moment in the battle against the virus, and it was odd to have it confirmed after the premier tried to raise everyone's hopes with his mental health announcement.

Journalists and commentators trying to wrap their minds around the pandemic have been wearing out a quote from Eric Walters, a prolific Canadian author of young adult fiction. Walters wrote that "crisis doesn't change people; it reveals them." Although our premier still has an opportunity to show people he is the right man for the current crisis, there is little doubt the pandemic is revealing some of his limitations.

We are all suffering from an overload of fear and anxiety.

Chief among them is a chronic and intractable stubbornness. We saw that this week when  after weeks of absorbing pointed criticism  he abandoned his plan to further cut the provincial sales tax at a time when the provincial treasury is clearly going to be depleted. Only a leader with a robust-bordering-on-blind confidence in his own judgment would have waited so long before changing course.

That same stubbornness is on display in Pallister's continuing refusal to do more to help ease the economic disruption caused by the crisis, a problem that is no doubt at the heart of many of the mental health problems the premier is trying to address.

We are all suffering from an overload of fear and anxiety.

There is fear that we or our families or friends will catch the virus. For the most part, Pallister and the province's public health officials are doing what they need to do. We are screening, testing and treating as many potentially ill people as possible, while severely restricting the movements of healthy people to stop the spread of the virus. Although there have been some rough spots, for the most part this aspect of the government's response has been more than adequate.

But there are a range of other concerns related to the economy. For those who have lost their jobs, fear comes from the uncertainty about being able to pay basic bills and protect their families. For those who still have jobs, it is the fear of uncertainty about the future. Again, while Manitoba has, so far, escaped the worst of the public health problems, we are in lock-step with the rest of the country in terms of economic disruption.

Despite that, Pallister continues to demonstrate a stoic reluctance to directly help the economically displaced, arguing the federal government should be the first source of support.

Despite that, Pallister continues to demonstrate a stoic reluctance to directly help the economically displaced, arguing the federal government should be the first source of support.

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Manitoba's support has been limited to a freeze on evictions and rent increases, payment deferral of some provincial taxes, and additional money to subsidize daycare for essential health care workers. Meanwhile, just about every other province has introduced its own measures to augment or improve federal programs. The other provinces are providing basic income support for the unemployed or underemployed, financial aid for food banks, and programs to sustain businesses that have had to close due to public health directives.

To be fair, the online mental health supports are not unwelcome; a free, direct route to a therapist will no doubt help a lot of people. But this is not an antidote for the stress that is keeping Manitobans up at night.

Introducing the mental health portal right before public health officials confirmed the first COVID-19 death was clumsy and politically tone-deaf. It's like unveiling a new government program to buy smoke detectors just before a news conference where we find out all the houses are on fire.

The province has done a lot of positive and constructive things in its response to the outbreak and the premier should share in the credit. But that is only half of the job at hand. Premiers have to protect everyone from economic collapse.

Protecting people from economic disruption doesn't require a 24-hour-a-day online portal. It just requires some political will.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
More than 400 beds have been made available for the sickest COVID-19 patients who are expected to soon flood Ontario hospitals, provincial health officials say.

Even more critical care beds, equipped with ventilators to assist with breathing, are being created in anticipation that the pandemic is about to hit the province hard, a news teleconference was told Friday.

Leaders of the provinces COVID-19 Command Table said plans are also being made for a worst-case scenario, such as those experienced in jurisdictions such as Italy where the number of required ventilators exceeded the number available.

We are creating as much critical-care capacity as possible, said deputy health minister, Helen Angus, who is co-chairing the command table.

As international research on the coronavirus accumulates, more is being learned about the outcomes of patients treated on ventilators, explained Kevin Smith, president of the University Health Network. He is co-chairing what is known as the Critical Care COVID-19 Table.

There is a small proportion of patients who dont survive even with the breathing assistance from ventilators, he noted.

If we find ourselves in a worst-case situation like Italy and other jurisdictions have found themselves in, it will be important to (determine) whether or not a patient should even go on a ventilator or on other advanced forms of life support, he said.

Accumulating evidence is showing that patients who are ill even before contracting the virus, particularly those over 80 who have co-morbidities or multiple illnesses, do not fare well, even with the assistance of a ventilator, Smith said.

This includes people with advanced heart and lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Healthcare planners are now studying if care should be withheld under an ethical framework, Smith said.

The thorny issue needs to be addressed so that front-line clinicians are not left to make decisions on rationing care.

Such decisions would be dictated by guidelines established in advance before we start what might be considered futile care, Smith said.

If we ran out of ventilators that would be a process we would have to consider, he told reporters.

He hastened to add that there will be no age cut off for ventilators. Some parts of Italy have restricted use of ventilators to those under age 80, or even under age 60.

Health-care leaders hope it never comes to pass that any treatment options would be withheld from anyone, Smith said.

But thats up to Canadians and their willingness to abide by public health recommendations on physical distancing and self isolation, he said.

The 400 critical care beds for COVIID-19 patients were made available through such means as cancelling elective surgeries.

In total, the province currently has upward of 2,900 ventilators, including those already in use in intensive care units, those from an emergency stockpile created after the 2003 SARS epidemic, and those used in schools that teach health-care workers. This also includes about 400 anesthesia machines, which are equipped with both ventilators and monitors.

The province expects to get access to 200 ventilators from the federal governments stockpile.

So far, only 40 of about 800 ventilators ordered from industrial partners have been delivered. It will take months to get the remaining, said Matt Anderson, president of Ontario Health and co-chair of the COVID-19 Command Table, explaining that some are coming from manufacturers in different parts of Canada and around the world.

Hospitals are continuing to increase capacity by decanting alternative-level-of-care, or ALC patients, Anderson said.

They are being moved to long-term-care homes, retirement homes and in some cases are going back home to live with relatives.

Discussions are underway with hotels to move some there.

Consideration is also being given to the creation of field hospitals should demands on the hosptial sector continue to mount, Anderson said. These could take the form of tents located beside hospitals. They would not be for COVID-19 patients, but could, for example, help out emergency departments.

Smith said that heated garages or large open manufacturing spaces could also be used.

All of those (options) are on the table if the curve isnt flattened, he said.
The World Health Organization listed several common symptoms when afflicted by COVID-19. However, as the novel coronavirus creeps to various countries slowly, health workers relate different telltale signs among their patients. (Photo : Pixabay)

The World Health Organization (WHO) listed several common symptoms of COVID-19. However, as the virus creeps to various countries slowly, health workers relate different telltale signs among their patients.

It is crucial to know the symptoms to take necessary actions for it. Here is what one needs to know about it COVID-19 symptoms:

Fever

Fever is a condition where the temperature of the body is higher than the normal. The normal temperature varies per person, but a fever is usually at 37.7 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. One gets it because the body is working naturally to get rid of bacteria and viruses. These viruses and bacteria fare well in normal body temperature. But in cases of fever, it is harder for them to survive. Fever is the body's mechanism to activate its immune system.

Cough

The dry cough that Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville described is bothersome. It would seem like it's coming from your breastbone or sternum, a sign that bronchial tubes are inflamed or irritated.

Difficulty breathing

Shortness of breath is a severe indicator of COVID-19. It can happen on its own, even without a cough. The chest becomes tight, or one begins to feel the inability to breathe deeply enough to get a good breath. Other symptoms related to the difficulty or shortness of breath include persistent pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face, sudden mental confusion, and lethargy or the inability to rouse -an indication of lack of oxygen. CDC recommends getting medical help should these symptoms arise.

Flu-like symptoms

Many other issues resemble that of flu: headaches, body aches, digestive problems, and fatigue. Other symptoms can be like that of cold or allergies: runny nose, sore throat, and sneezing.

Experts, however, emphasize that you might have COVID-19 if symptoms listed above, especially the shortness of breath, do not show signs of improvement or worsens after a week.

Loss of sense of smell and taste

Lack of sense of smell (anosmia), or lack of taste (dysgeusia) should be included in the list of symptoms for COVID-19, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery said. The said symptom should "warrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals", the statement declared.

Red Eyes

A veteran registered nurse said that it was the red eyes among patients that became the most critical sign that she and other staff at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington mark as a telltale sign of COVID-19. The facility was the source of a major outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S. since February. This situation led the American Academy of Ophthalmology to alert to their eye doctor members that the novel coronavirus can cause mild follicular conjunctivitis. They were warned to take necessary precautions when handling potential COVID-19 patients.

What to do if I got the symptoms?

If you have symptoms that are similar to cold and flu and ranges from mild to moderate, American Medical Association president Dr. Patrice Harris suggests you stay home, rest, hydrate, and use Tylenol. If experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, however, call your health care provider, local urgent care, or the emergency department immediately, Harris added.
A Queensland man has been charged with illegally importing gun parts from the United States.

It will be alleged the 55-year-old Tin Can Bay man imported six packages containing firearm parts between December 2019 and February 2020.

A police photo of one of the guns allegedly imported from the US.

Police believe he sent them to Australia while he was in North America.

The first package was detected on December 24 last year when Australian Border Force officers in Melbourne inspected a consignment from the US.
CALIFORNIA - Governor Gavin Newsom announced on March 27 he had granted clemency to 26 people.

"A clemency grant recognizes a persons subsequent efforts in self-development," said his office. "It does not forgive or minimize the harm caused by the crime."

The Governor granted five pardons, allowing removal of barriers to employment and public service, restoration of civic rights and "prevent unjust collateral consequences of conviction, such as deportation and permanent family separation". This does not erase a conviction.

Also granted were 21 commutations allowing inmates to go before the Board of Parole Hearings so the Parole Commissioners can ultimately determine whether the inmate is suitable for release.

This was all set in progress before the coronavirus crisis, according to the Governor's office.

"In addition to the public safety and justice factors that the Governor normally considers when reviewing clemency cases, he also considered the public health impact of each grant, as well as each inmates individual health status and the suitability of their post-release plans, including housing," the Governor's office said.

Upon the factors weighed by the Governor in review for clemency are self-development and conduct since the offense, if a grant is consistent with public safety and in the interest of justice, and the impact of a grant on the community.

CLICK HERE for copies of the clemency certificates to find each case granted clemency by the governor.
NEW DELHI: Despite expressing grave concerns over the alarming rise in coronavirus COVID-19 cases across the world, the recently concluded G20 Virtual Summit failed to corner China on COVID-19 pandemic. According to an analysis done by Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary in his extremely popular show DNA, China kept mum ever since the coronavirus crisis first broke out in December last year in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province.

During the G20 Summit, no one questioned Beijing for maintaining a stoic silence over the issues and concealing real facts and figures from the rest of world for several weeks, which eventually had a catastrophic impact on the global economy affecting millions of lives.

Either due to Chinas superpower status or President Xi Jinpings clout, no one bothered to discuss Beijings mysterious role in the COVID-19 crisis for which the people across the world are paying dearly.

Based on his research, the Zee News Editor claimed that China concealed the lab samples of those who died due to the deadly virus, its authorities kept pretending for weeks that the situation is fully under control.

What was even more shocking to see that even though US President Donald Trump had openly blamed China for the outbreak of the virus, he didnt dare to confront China on this.

During his interaction with Xi Jinping, Trump praised Chinas for its role in containing the virus by taking unprecedented measures.

In a recent tweet, Trump said that the two countries are now working together to combat coronavirus since Beijing has more understanding of the nature of the deadly virus.

He also pointed out that China has faced a worst time due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

A source present during the G20 Summit said that despite questioning China, the "spirit of the meet was cooperative, the members did not see reference to origin or crisis and who was responsible but focussed on mitigating the hardship due to crisis."

The first case of the coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province. In a matter of 3 months, close to six lakh people globally have got the coronavirus infection.

The source said that no effort to blame" China or anyone was taken but to "deal with the issue". Adding, "individual leaders spoke in one voice about the crisis."

China is being criticised for cover-ups initially that led things to go out of control. China has been miffed over the use of the word "Chinese virus", made more popular by US President who has been using the term in his twitter posts.

The G20 countries met on Thursday evening for the first time via video conference to come up with a joint action plan to deal with the coronavirus issue. During the emergency meeting, it was decided that G20 countries will inject USD 5 trillion into the global economy to deal with the social, economic and financial impacts of the crisis.

The G20 nations also pledged 'united front' against coronavirus threat and 'robust' support for developing nations. It also assured of a commitment to ensure the flow of vital medical supplies and resolve disruptions in global chains due to COVID-19.

Speaking at the virtual G20 Summit, PM Narendra Modi had said that the world has taken time to respond to the coronavirus crisis even as he has called on a new concept of globalisation in which collective well-being of humankind is the focus.

"Even 3 months after the crisis, we are trying to find coordinated response," PM said, saying "G20 meeting shows international community has come together" but it has "taken some time to respond to the crisis with this magnitude and dimension".
The cargo ship bound for the Port of Mobile gave advance notice that it had a crew member in quarantine, so authorities in Mobile were ready. After the ship docked, the ill man was medically evacuated and given a battery of tests.

It turned out his flu-like illness wasnt COVID-19, said Jimmy Lyons, President and CEO of the Alabama State Port Authority. It was the flu.

The incident reflects one small facet of the ports responses to the global epidemic now rampant in the United States. Lyons said early Friday afternoon that hed spent half his day dealing with coronavirus-related issues

What might come as more of a surprise is what he says about the epidemics impact on shipping operations. It has been less dramatic than a casual observer might expect, and he thinks itll fade away sooner.

This week the Port Authority announced that it had begun widespread screening measures for personnel, starting with temperature screening for everyone entering the main docks complex and the Truck Control Center. About 1,000 people were screened on Wednesday, the first day of testing, and five individuals were turned away due to fever, based on CDC guidelines. A port statement said they were referred to their employers and/or medical providers.

The same statement said the temperature screening program would be extended to gates at all the ports facilities within a few days and that it was augmented by federal screening protocols for ships and crewmembers, travel and visitor restrictions, and other CDC-recommended steps.

The Ports highest priority is for the safety of our employees and those entering the port terminals, it said. Our second highest priority is to ensure businesses and their cargo transactions can operate to avoid further impacts to the local and statewide economy.

Temperature is not the only symptom, but it is the most common, Lyons said. Its the best indicator you can get. Screeners also watch for other symptoms such as a dry cough.

Inside the ports buildings contractors have been brought for additional cleaning and sanitizing work such as regular wipedowns of commonly touched surfaces. Elevators are limited to two passengers at a time.

Outside, the virus has brought a variety of changes. Crew quarantine issues are the purview of the Coast Guard, Lyons said. But disembarking crew arent the only vector to think of. There are also the bar pilots who board incoming and outgoing ships to steer them up and down Mobile Bay.

The pilots have their own procedures, said Lyons. Before they board a vessel nowadays, any control stations they might use on the bridge have to be wiped down, he said. Incidental contact with crew members is eliminated and the number of people on the bridge is cut down to the bare minimum while theyre present.

Lyons said that APM Terminals, which operates the container terminal, has told clients to let it know about any incoming shipments of medical supplies. It has promised to expedite handling for those supplies, he said.

Meanwhile, Lyons said, officials continue to believe that incoming goods pose no danger. All of our Asian ships are 40 days, plus or minus, he said. Thats far longer than the virus can remain viable on surfaces, so he figures the odds of transmission are almost nil or nil.

On the economic side, he said port operations are subject to a time lag. March has brought a decline in incoming container ship traffic, but thats not because of whats happening in the United States in March. Its because of what was happening in China in January and February, when the epidemic erupted there.

The flow of goods out of the Chinese terminals was diminished by countermeasures taken against the spread of the virus, he said. The availability of trucking was down to 40% of the usual level.

What the steamship lines are doing is, theyve been skipping ships, Lyons said. In consequence, Were actually going to be down about seven ships at the container terminal in March.

He expects that dip to ease off during April and for business to be back to full blast by May. Meanwhile other operations, such as coal exports, are running at normal or elevated levels.

The port normally handles 450,000 tons per year of Eucalyptus pulp coming in from South America, because there are tissue mills in Alabama that like to blend it with native pine. Demand for that is up.

Of course the paper mills are just running flat out all over the country, Lyons said. Everything except containers is going up.

I was on a conference call with a lot of our major industrial partners earlier today, he said. Theyre doing the same kind of things we are.

That can mean screening and sanitizing measures. But it also can mean things like adjusting work schedules so that traffic for incoming and outgoing shifts doesnt overlap. What he hasnt seen so far is major operations planning shutdowns.

Theyre doing a lot of things differently but theyre not seeing any interruptions, he said.

Projections show March being an okay month, on the whole, with a better prognosis for April and May.

Were doing everything we can to keep everybody healthy and keep the goods people need flowing, Lyons said. We feel like were one cog in the supply chain and we want to keep our cog working.
Press Release

March 28, 2020 Reply to the Batangas Captain Narito po ang nilalaman ng aking sagot sa sulat na ipinadala ng aming Punong Barangay kahapon na nag-uutos sa akin at sa aking pamilya na kami ay mag-self quarantine. Nais ko lang linawin na bago ko pa man natanggap ang sulat, nagsimula na kaming mag-quarantine ng pamilya ko. Ang ipinagtataka ko lang po ay kung bakit kumalat agad ang kanyang sulat sa social media na hindi niya man lang ako tinawagan upang alamin kung ano ang katotohanan sa naging viral na picture namin ni Sen. Koko Pimentel. Ang naganap po noong March 4 (hindi po March 10 tulad ng napabalita) ay isang political meeting ng PDP Laban at hindi "partying". Nawa'y maging maingat po tayo sa ating mga ikinakalat sa social media. Ang nais ko po ay makapagsilbi ng maayos at maging inspirasyon sa lahat sa gitna ng mga pagsubok na ating hinaharap. We will fight this pandemic together and we will be victorious, all by God's grace. **************************************************** March 28, 2020 MS. ROSSANA HWANG

Punong Barangay

Barangay Dasmarinas

Makati City Dear Ms. Hwang: Greetings! Your letter dated March 27, 2020 expressing your concern for my family's well-being is highly appreciated. We fully support the community's effort to address this pandemic. I write this letter to clarify certain matters that you have raised in your letter . The picture that you may have been referring to, wherein I was seen interacting with Sen. Koko Pimentel and other officials, was a political meeting with PDP-Laban members in my residence. This event happened on March 4, 2020. I am sure our Dasmarinas Village guards have records of this if only a proper verification was made. Let me also emphasize that it was not "partying" as stated in your letter. It was a political meeting. The word "partying" casts me as someone insensitive to the current crisis of the nation . Even prior to your DIRECTIVE, the members of my family and I have been observing the proper physical distancing and have once again placed ourselves on quarantine since March 24, Tuesday. We have three designated staff for essential errands and they have no direct contact with this household as they are staying at my house in Forbes. We are grateful for your offer to deliver our needs to our doorstep but we do not wish to burden our community with these matters which are well within our means and capabilities. Rest assured that we have and shall continue to strictly and conscientiously abide by the rules governing the enhanced community quarantine. It may interest you to learn that I have tested negative for the virus using a Rapid Testing Kit from South Korea. Although such test was not conducted under the guidance of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, I am willing to undergo a confirmatory test only if the need arises because I firmly believe that we have a lot of Persons Under Investigation or PUI who have to be prioritized in terms of testing. With all due respect, may you please allow a member of my household to go out to buy or do essentials pursuant to IATF guidelines? Accordingly, kindly have the appropriate Home Quarantine Pass delivered to my residence. Finally, it has come to my attention that your letter has been the subject of several news reports and malicious social media posts. In this regard, I wish to know how this private letter addressed to me went around social media with total disregard to my right to privacy. Meantime, I will refer this matter to the appropriate agency for proper investigation to avoid the same incident from happening. In this regard, I would like to remind you that it is in the best interest of our immediate community, and of the general public, if we refrain from making assertions or conclusions based on unverified news items and malicious social media posts. We also ask that your office refrain from sending out official barangay communications directed to individuals to news outlets and social media. We do not wish to cause unnecessary panic during these trying times. Thank you. Respectfully, EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
About 10 a.m., a 27-year-old man got into a fight with someone who pulled out a gun and shot him in the shoulder. That shooting happened in the 4100 block of West Kamerling Avenue in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood.
U.S. households are being mailed a version of the COVID-19 guidelines released almost two weeks ago by the White House Coronavirus Task Force  and the guidelines are specifically called "President Trump's," a designation some argue comes across as political.

The postcard is part of the "Slow the Spread" campaign launched by the White House on March 16.

The strict guidelines and advice contained on the mailed postcard are largely similar to those released nearly two weeks ago  encouraging Americans to take social distancing seriously and practice good hygiene. It also advises them to "listen and follow the directions of your state and local authorities."

But on the front of the postcard, below the phrase "slow the spread," there is larger font that reads, "President Trump's Coronavirus Guidelines for America."

The document released by the White House on March 16 read, "The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America." Below that, in larger font, it read, "15 Days to Slow the Spread." Vice President Mike Pence held up a printed version of these guidelines during an interview Friday on CNBC.

Both of the guideline documents contain the logos of the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
John Mele was cleaning the inside of the Ocean County Jail Tuesday morning when a guard called his name.

The 48-year-old had heard on the news that some inmates might be released because of the coronavirus crisis. But he was stunned to be handed bus tickets just hours after hed woken up.

I am happy that Im out of jail, he said Thursday, while sitting in a Lyndhurst park. Im not happy that Im homeless.

Mele was one of more than 700 county jail inmates cleared for release this week around the state, hundreds more than previously reported, according to new data from the American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey.

The unprecedented move to head off a possible coronavirus outbreak behind bars has brought new challenges for both those released and the people tasked with caring for them.

A Supreme Court order initially flagged nearly 800 low-level offenders to be set free, according to the data, but county prosecutors objected to 260 of those. Judges overruled prosecutors 171 times, according to the data, but agreed to keep 81 people detained. Two dozen cases are still pending appeal.

Amanda Leese, who helps oversee prisoner reentry for the Camden-based Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, found out Sunday night that inmates at several South Jersey jails would be leaving in the next 48 hours.

The biggest struggle was that we couldnt be in the facility doing the screening in person, Leese said, although jails were able to get them information about who needed rides, beds and groceries.

Inmates were checked for COVID-19 symptoms before they left, she said, and many were then loaded into 15-passenger vans. Only one person was allowed per row, she said, and vans were cleaned after every pickup.

Checkups from social workers and substance abuse counselors have moved to phone, Volunteers of America employees said. The group is trying to move some job training online, but not everyone has a computer.

When all of this lifts," Leese said, "we have a group of individuals that were released with minimal notice that are gonna need the job training and the employment placement and the treatment options that we still offer.

Many former inmates are safe, officials have said, but at least one young man overdosed the night he got out and was ordered back to jail, according to New Jersey Public Defender Joseph Krakora. He was the only one returned so far, according to the data.

Reentry is hard in the best of times, said former Gov. Jim McGreevey, who leads the nonprofit New Jersey Reentry Corporation. A lack of housing, health care and jobs makes it even more difficult, he said.

Five Republican lawmakers and at least one Democratic county official released statements this week criticizing the release.

The court order was lunacy, state Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, said in a Thursday statement with two Assembly colleagues. Jail populations were already down because of bail reform and drug court, they said, which should allow social distancing behind bars.

We should not be putting them back out into society and asking that they distance themselves, they said.

In an interview Thursday, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal reiterated that this was the best of bad options. An outbreak behind bars could be catastrophic for everybody, he said, and he warned the newly freed to not even run a red light.

I am going to hold them accountable," Grewal said. "On the other side of this emergency, I will make sure that the two months they had left on their sentence turns out to be another year if they went out there and committed additional crimes.

Mele, the former Ocean inmate, stayed in a motel for two nights that his girlfriend paid for. But her job cutting hair is gone amid the statewide shutdown, he said, and she cant pay for more. He said this was the first time in his life he didnt have housing.

Meles been in and out of jail for drug, robbery and traffic charges, according to court records, and he had about three months left on his current sentence after being charged with burglary, theft and driving with a suspended license in June. A judge will decide whether hell finish that sentence in jail later, according to release paperwork he received from Ocean County. (The jail did not return requests for comment.)

The New Jersey Reentry Corporation is helping him find housing, but hes also worried about others who left with him that he doesnt think have places to sleep. The added stress of an airborne virus could make them even more desperate, he said.

What do you do if youre homeless and your backs against the wall? he said.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

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Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.
From around 2 per cent of all global cases on March 1, the US and three European countries -- Italy, Germany and Spain -- togather account for over 50 per cent of the current worldwide Covid-19 count. In the UK, British prime minister Boris Johnson revealed on Friday that he has contracted the infection. His announcement was followed by similar revelations by UK health secretary Matt Hancock and chief medical officer Chris Whitty.

British PM Boris Johnson, UK health secretary test positive for Covid-19

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the first leader of a major nation to contract Covid-19, but he insisted on Friday that he remains in charge of the UKs response to the outbreak.

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Italy, Spain report their deadliest day of corona outbreak

Italy and Spain reported their deadliest day yet since the coronavirus outbreak began even as Paris warned that hospitals will be swamped in the next 48 hours.

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Covid-19 cases in US shoot past Italy and China

The US now has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, overtaking China and Italy, as the state of Louisiana witnessed a massive surge in infections and fatalities.

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Lessons to tackle Covid from a cruise ship

More than half the 17% of people who were diagnosed with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess were asymptomatic, indicating that a large number of infected people may be undetected, and consequently suggesting that the fatality rate of the disease may be lower than the current global estimate, according to researchers analysing data from what was until last month the site of the biggest outbreak outside China.

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In UK, dogs are being trained to sniff out Covid-19

A British harity has teamed up with scientists to see whether dogs could help detect Covid-19 through their keen sense of smell, they said on Friday.

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Devaraj B Hirehalli By

Express News Service

TUMAKURU: The kin of the COVID-19 victim who died in Sira on Friday are not only facing social stagma but also lacking in adequate medical care at the hospital where they have been isolated.

According to a source, two grandchildren of the victim -- one-year-old twin girls - have been crying since morning for milk. Their mother has no milk to feed them and she has also been weeping helplessly.

Perhaps the outcries of the wailing sirens of the fire tenders, the ambulances and the police warnings to people to keep indoors have drowned their cries.

ALSO READ: How madrasa manager's Delhi trip turned Karnataka's Sira into potential COVID-19 hotspot

The facilities in the new building which was constructed by the Health and Family Welfare department to house the Mother-Child Hospital are reportedly not upto the mark.

"The food has been supplied through a window and pleas to meet the requirements of the inmates have been falling on deaf ears," alleged the source.

Two more minors -- also the grandchildren of the victim -- have been ailing with neurology problems since childhood and have no tablets to take.

As many as 19 people including the two babies and seven other minors have been kept in the isolation ward and the results of their tests are expected to arrive soon. "Inshallah, we hope the reports are negative", the source remarked.

Meanwhile, the authorities have taken all measures including sanitisation of the roads in Sira town.

The fort town held significance prior to the British Raj as the Bijapur Sultans and Mughals had ruled the province with Sira as the headquarters, which is why the town has a large Muslim community.

It is famous for the Mallik Rehan Darga, the tomb of the governor of the province from 1638 to 1687 whom the community considered a 'holy person'.

"Now with this incident, a section of people in Sira has been looking at the community suspiciously and this issue should be addressed," said Gomaradahalli Manjunath, a progressive writer from a village in Sira.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree "On Amending the "List of Raw Materials Exempted from Value Added Tax", approved by decree of the President of Azerbaijan No. 1654 of November 2, 2017."

According to the decree, the import of shoe covers, sterile and non-sterile gloves, medical masks (for surgical operations and procedural) and respirators is exempt from VAT.

The decree will be valid until June 1, 2020.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 28

Trend:

U.S. Department of State, USAID are providing $1.7M in health assistance to help Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing U.S. Department of State.

To fight the spread of COVID-19, U.S. Department of State and USAID are providing $1.7 million in health assistance to help Azerbaijan prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts for response and preparedness, bolster risk communication. Over the past 20 years, the United States has invested nearly $41 million in health alone in Azerbaijan, and more than $890 million in total assistance.
COVID-19 has shaken the market worldwide. Investor sentiment is unusually low as experts fear the economic impact of the lockdown and widespread coronavirus.

Global brokerage JP Morgan expects about 60 percent of the GDP to be significantly hit by the lockdown.

Deutsche Bank thinks India's GDP growth will collapse in April-June and maybe a negative print of 5 percent year-on-year (YoY) or even more. It said there is a possibility that the July-September real GDP will also be negative.

The gains of the last two consecutive sessions have given bulls some support. However, experts say the market will see a sustained rise only if the cases of coronavirus show a continuous decline going forward.

"The rally was driven by expectations of stimulus measures to support the respective economies and not because of any change in ground realities. A much more stable rally can happen only after any news regarding the virus containment comes in," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

During times of uncertainty, have a prudent approach in stock picking. A well-calculated move will maximise the chances of gains and minimise the risk if one has a long-term approach, say experts.

Brokerage firm Kotak Securities suggests following 10 large-cap stocks for accumulation. Take a look:

ICICI Bank | Buy

As per Kotak, the company has seen no major signs of stress in any other retail segment. Corporate slippages of Rs 2,470 crore (nearly 4.2 percent of corporate loans) were mainly from outside the BB and below book (nearly 70 percent of corporate slippages) and were largely driven by stockbroking account (fully provided during the quarter) and a South India-based industrial account.

The estimates of Kotak shows ICICI Bank's net NPL may reduce to about 1 percent by FY22E with slippages of nearly 1.7 percent in FY21-22E. Loan growth may improve to nearly 17 percent by FY21-22E while it expects CASA CAGR of nearly 13 percent over FY19-22E and stable CASA ratio of nearly 46 percent. Calculated NIM may stand at nearly 3.6 percent over FY20-22E.

Kotak believes ICICI bank's RoE is well-positioned for nearly 15 percent or even more in medium term. They have a positive value and value the bank at Rs 615 implying 2.4 times book and 15 times December FY21 EPS.

Bajaj Finserv | Add

With increasing share of protection business (6 percent of APE in FY2019) and non-par savings (18 percent of individual APE in Q3FY20, up from 4 percent in Q2FY19), VNB margins will likely expand, said Kotak.

Kotak has retained its fair value of Rs 10,200 for Bajaj Finserv. Bajaj Finance, valued at its RGM-based fair value, adds 74 percent to the SoTP. It values the general insurance business at 4.5 times book, similar to the valuation multiple assigned to ICICI Lombard. It values Bajaj Life at 1.5 times EV, significantly lower than its peers, as it expects its operating RoEV to remain at 11-12 times.

HDFC | Buy

Kotak believes HDFC's gross stage-3 loans will remain stable around about 1.5 percent over FY21-22E (up from 1.4 percent in FY19) with 49 percent coverage, 17 percent CAGR in AUM over FY21-22E, core NIM to increase to 2.6 percent in FY22E from about 2.4 percent in FY20E.

Moreover, Kotak expects HDFC to deliver 17 percent core earnings CAGR in FY20-22E on the back of 11 percent YoY growth in FY20E. At its fair value of Rs 2,680, HDFC will trade at 2.6 times core book December 2021E (juxtaposed to medium-term RoE of 19-20 percent even as near-term RoE may be lower).

HDFC Life Insurance Company | Add

In Q3FY20, HDFC Life reported a 25 percent growth in VNB on the back of 19 percent APE growth and moderate VNB expansion to 24.7 percent from 23.4 percent in Q3FY19.

HDFC Life remains a highly profitable life insurance company with about 20-21 percent operating RoEV and 20 percent EVOP CAGR during FY2019-22E; this is supported by VNB margins of nearly 26 percent.

Colgate Palmolive (India) | Add

Kotak highlighted that selective price hikes and favorable RM environment cushioned the impact of continued aggression on promotions.

"It is encouraging to note that Colgate has continued its brand investment in Q3FY120 where several of its peers pulled back sharply. Ad spend effectiveness remains low, however," Kotak said.

Lower revenue growth, as well as margin assumptions, drive a 6-7 percent cut in our FY20-22E EPS forecasts. "We keep the faith and retain 'add' even as the street may now prefer waiting for evidence," said Kotak.

ITC | Buy

National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) hikes in the Budget, different for different stick lengths implies a portfolio level weighted-average tax/stick increase of around 10 percent, Kotak said.

"Weak 9-months FY20 numbers, NCCD hikes and ability to protect volumes in a poor macro backdrop prompt us to lower our volume assumptions and now bake in a 5 percent EBIT growth for the cigarette business in FY21E versus 9.7 percent earlier," said Kotak.

"Valuations are cheap, especially on a relative basis, but unlikely to act as a trigger. We remain buyers; fair Value revised to Rs 300 per share," Kotak said.

Titan Company | Add

Even assuming Titans addressable market is around 50-60 percent of the total jewellery market in India, Titans share of the addressable market is in the 10-12 percent range, Kotak said.

After Q3FY20 results the company had maintained its guidance of 11-13 percent revenue growth for Q4FY20.

Kotak has now lowered the cost of equity assumption in its DCF by 50 bps to 10.75 percent and also taken up terminal growth rate assumption by 50 bps to 5.75 percent. "These two changes, plus rollover, drive an increase in fair value estimate to Rs 1,475," said Kotak.

Cipla | Buy

Kotak highlighted that Ciplas Goa facility had received a warning letter but its earnings impact is limited given limited new product dependence on Goa.

The impact of the warning letter is not material to FY21 earnings, considering that single source products from the facility account for less than 10 percent of US revenues (nearly 20 percent of US in total) and limited (single digit) approvals linked to the facility over the next 12-18 months.

Cipla management has been highlighting its renewed commitment to the domestic business, which accounts for more than 50 percent of EBITDA. Kotak believes the domestic business should grow in line or slightly higher than the market over the next few years.

Moreover, Kotak sees a strong US generics build-out over FY21-23, given Q4CY20 launch for ProVentil and Q4CY20 partner launch for CiproDex.

Kotak expects the momentum to continue in FY22/23 with potential launches of generic Advair (March 2019 filing) and Abraxane.

Reliance Industries (RIL) | Buy

RIL turned FCF positive for the first time since Q3FY13, with capex declining by 27 percent QoQ to Rs 14.020 crore.

Kotak reiterates a 'buy' notwithstanding a bleak downstream outlook, as the company may benefit meaningfully from plausible consolidation in telecom, the culmination of key transactions, rising FCF trajectory and sustained growth in the retail segment.

Kotak believes higher crude discounts, weaker rupee and potential hike in ARPUs may mitigate lower downstream margins.

Bharti Airtel | Buy

"Bharti is extremely well positioned to benefit from whatever direction industry dynamics take from hereon, in our view. From an execution standpoint, there is ample evidence to suggest that the company is now operating in top gear," said Kotak.

"Sharp run up in the past year or so notwithstanding, Bharti remains a solid multi-year compounding play as long as the company and R-Jio resist the alpha-male tendencies in the forthcoming spectrum auctions," Kotak added.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
With Spain reporting its deadliest day yet of the outbreak, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez convened an emergency cabinet meeting to try to chart a way out of the crisis rapidly engulfing his nation.

Spain's Health Ministry yesterday reported another 769 deaths, lifting the total number of fatalities to 4,858. Confirmed cases climbed to 64,059, with Spaniards near the end of a second week of a state of emergency set to last at least until April 11.

With the country on almost complete lockdown, the government is counting on limited social interactions helping contain the spread of the virus, which has already killed more people there than in China where the pandemic originated.

Spain is grappling with one of Europe's worst outbreaks alongside Italy.

The head of the World Health Organisation tried to rally support for the battle against the disease, even as some world leaders like US President Donald Trump question the need for extreme measures.

Yesterday British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first world leader to test positive for the coronavirus. Mr Johnson, who was criticised for being slow to react to the threat, is self-isolating in his Downing Street offices with "mild symptoms" after a test confirmed he has the illness.

EU leaders have largely recognised the danger but at a virtual summit on Thursday struggled to agree on a joint strategy to limit the economic impact.

They left key details to be hammered out in the weeks ahead as thousands fall ill and hundreds die each day across.

In the absence of a shared EU response, national governments have been going it alone. In Germany, the upper house of parliament gave the final green light yesterday to a package of measures totalling more than 750bn.

They include a supplemental budget with new borrowing of 156bn, as well as loans, guarantees and aid for companies. The government may also buy stakes in and even nationalise certain stricken businesses.

The Spanish government last week announced a stimulus package worth as much as 100bn. It includes assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises - which account for the bulk of its economic activity - as well as tax deferments and loan guarantees.

Spain's economy could shrink as much as 4.5pc in 2020 due to the impact of the virus, according to a report published yesterday by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.

"An extraordinary crisis like Covid-19 requires the use of all economic policy tools," the bank said.

"In this situation, fiscal-policy makers should do all they can to mitigate the possible permanent consequences." ( Bloomberg)
Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: - Wuhan eases travel rules - Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus first emerged last year, partly reopened on Saturday after more than two months of near total isolation for its population of 11 million. People are now allowed to enter the city but not leave. AFP saw crowds of passengers arriving at Wuhan railway station, most wheeling suitcases alongside them. The metropolis in Hubei province was placed under lockdown in January with its outskirts ring-fenced by roadblocks and drastic restrictions on daily life. - Security talks cancelled - A top Asian security conference that gathers defence ministers -- including from the US and China -- and senior military officials was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Shangri-La Dialogue, held annually since 2002, had been scheduled for early June in Singapore with more than 40 countries set to participate. - Indian migrants walk home - Thousands of migrant workers in India, left jobless and penniless by the full shutdown of the country, are walking long distances back to their home villages after all transport was stopped except for essential services. Many are also cramming onto buses organised by state governments to get them home. There were chaotic scenes at the Anand Vihar bus terminal on the Delhi border with Uttar Pradesh on Saturday with queues up to a kilometre long and people fighting over seats. - Brunei reports first death - Brunei reported its first coronavirus death on Saturday -- a 64-year-old man who was the country's 25th confirmed COVID-19 case. The man had travelled to Cambodia and Kuala Lumpur but did not take part in a huge Islamic gathering in the Malaysian capital last month that has been linked to infections across the region, authorities said. It came as Malaysia, which has recorded more than 2,320 virus cases, received tens of thousands of virus test kits, masks and items of protective clothing from China, and 200 ventilators. - South Korea recoveries - More than 50 percent of South Korea's 9,478 confirmed coronavirus cases have now recovered, authorities said Saturday. The figures are "a small achievement that our entire society can celebrate together", disaster agency official Yoon Tae-ho said. Once the hardest-hit country outside China, South Korea appears to have brought its outbreak under control. It has tested more than 380,000 people in a process that is free to anyone referred by doctors or those who have links to a confirmed case. - Super-spreader Indian guru - At least 15,000 people in northern India who may have caught the coronavirus from a super-spreader guru are under strict quarantine after the Sikh religious leader died of COVID-19. The 70-year-old guru, Baldev Singh, had returned from a trip to Europe's virus epicentre Italy and Germany when he went preaching in more than a dozen villages in Punjab state. It has sparked one of India's most serious alerts related to the pandemic and special food deliveries are being made to each household, under even tighter restrictions than the 21-day nationwide stay-at-home order imposed by the government. - Aussie local election goes ahead - People in the Australian state of Queensland were urged to vote in local elections or face a fine of Aus$133 ($80), as polls went ahead despite most citizens being encouraged to stay home to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Many of the three million eligible voters had cast their ballot early, or remotely by post or telephone. But long queues were reported outside some booths on Saturday due to limits on the number of people allowed inside at once. - Police officer tested after alleged spitting - An Australian police officer is being tested for COVID-19 after a 25-year-old woman arrested in Sydney for speeding allegedly spat and coughed in their face. The woman claimed she was on her way to be tested for the virus, police said. Although the woman was not showing any symptoms, the officer is now undergoing testing. It is the latest of several reported incidents of people maliciously coughing towards others as the outbreak spreads. burs-kaf/rma/amj
The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has expressed grave concern over the status of prisoners locked in jails across the country.

As the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has driven the country towards a lockdown, the plight of citizens in Sindh's jails needs to be taken care of, the SHRC said in a statement, Dawn reported.

The coronavirus is contagious and spreads easily from person to person. The latest information also suggests that the coronavirus appears to be airborne. Hence, keeping in view the intensity of the threat the pandemic is posing to the masses, the commission suspects that jails could become breeding grounds for the virus if not taken care of as a timely measure, added the SHRC in a statement on Wednesday.

The commission filed information through various governmental sources on different occasions that the jails in Sindh are overcrowded and hence the commission believes that all the inmates, whether undertrials or convicts are at a greater risk of contracting and multiplying the coronavirus with thousands of other inmates.

Hence, keeping in view the enormous risk factor, the commission urged the authorities to add jails of the province in their mitigation plan by introducing coronavirus testing services inside each jail of the province, the formation of an isolation ward and quarantine facility inside jail premises with the provision of medical and paramedical staff and identify and closely monitor the aged and weak inmates as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions and shift them to separate barracks.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,408 on Friday after more people tested positive in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad Capital Territory, and Balochistan, Geo News reported. Eleven people have succumbed to the contagious infection in the country so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State emergency plans to ration ventilators if the coronavirus pandemic worsens are raising thorny ethical questions, as New York considers lotteries for access to the machines and other states contemplate denying them to those with mental disabilities.

The White House says that as yet, no one has been denied a ventilator who needed one. But as the crisis deepens, several states are putting grim plans in place to ration the vital machines.

In New York, the state's ethical guidelines for allocating ventilators in a pandemic call for devoting scarce resources to the patients who are most likely to be saved.

However, the New York report concluded that in the rare case when multiple patients are equally likely to recover, but there are limited resources to help them, hospitals should 'utilize "random selection" (e.g., lottery) methods.'

A coronavirus patient is transferred from Elmhurst General Hospital in Queens on Thursday. New York state's ethical guidelines call for ventilator lotteries in a crisis shortage

The panel concluded that a lottery was more equitable than treating people on a first-come, first-serve basis, which could disadvantage 'those who are of lower socio-economic means who may not have access to information about the pandemic or to reliable transportation, or minority populations who might initially avoid going to a hospital because of distrust of the health care system.'

The New York guidelines are not binding, and hospitals there are already forming their own ethics panels to determine how to ration care in the event of a critical shortage -- a scene that has already played out tragically in Italy.

Meanwhile, in the absence of national protocols, states around the country have been devising their own, some of which have drawn outrage from disability rights advocates.

On Tuesday, Alabama's Emergency Operations Plan for mechanical ventilator triage was the subject of a complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights.

A ventilator is pictured in a file photo. Health officials fear that a shortage of the machines in the pandemic could lead to rationing, and heartbreaking decisions about who gets care

Part of Alabama's Emergency Operations Plan for mechanical ventilator triage is seen above

In the event of a crisis shortage, the Alabama protocol lists several health conditions for which providers should 'not offer mechanical ventilator support,' including heart failure, respiratory failure and metastatic cancer.

It also says 'persons with severe mental retardation, advanced dementia or severe traumatic brain injury may be poor candidates for ventilator support.'

Those categories could include people with Alzheimer's, as well as people of any age with disabilities such as Down syndrome, outraging disability rights advocates.

Alabama 'is poised to make life-and-death decisions that will deny needed medical treatment to countless individuals based entirely on their underlying disabilities,' the complaint says.

'The mere fact that a person has an intellectual or cognitive disability cannot be a basis for denying care or making that person a lower priority to receive treatment.'

'In this time of crisis, we cannot devalue the lives of others in our community based on their disabilities. It's morally wrong, and it violates the law,' said James Tucker, Director of the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, in a statement.

Medical personnel screen a patient for coronavirus symptoms in Alabama. The state's emergency protocol for ventilator triage has drawn a complaint from disability groups

The group pointed to 37-year-old Matthew Foster, a resident of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, as an example of someone with Down syndrome who could be affected by the state's emergency plan.

'When Matthew was told about this policy, he responded: 'I have Down Syndrome. It's not going away. But I have a right to live. I'm worth it,'' the group said in a statement.

Down syndrome advocate Matthew Foster says 'I have a right to live' of Alabama's ventilator triage protocols

Matthew, who has held a job for the past twenty years, has 'enormous gifts and talents because of his disability, not in spite of it,' said his mother, Susan Ellis, according to the group.

'He's had a positive impact on our family and community. The idea that his life is not worthy because of his intellectual disability is devastating and wrong,' she said.

Disability rights groups also filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights on Monday in regard to Washington state's emergency protocol.

The complain says guidance distributed by the Washington State Department of Health last week recommends that triage teams consider transferring hospital patients with 'loss of reserves in energy, physical ability, cognition and general health' to outpatient or palliative care.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he is using wartime federal authority to force production of up to 100,000 ventilators.

Trump made the comment just hours after announcing he was invoking the Defense Production Act to force General Motors to to produce ventilators under government contracts.

'We are prepared for things that nobody has any idea that wed be prepared,' Trump said at the White House.
BAGHDAD - Under the sign Take out only and a tall bottle of antiseptic by his side, Mazin Hashim, 54, rearranged the coals heating a water pipe outside his famed cafe in Baghdad.

He put up the placard to satisfy recent government restrictions on movement and gatherings that are aimed at slowing the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Once inside, however, thick white plumes of fragrant smoke choked the air as over a dozen young men whiled away the hours in defiance of the directives.

As the pandemic continues to spread, governments across the Middle East are clamping down on the regions cherished traditions: No more massive weddings and celebrations. Restrictions on sales of qat, a mild plant narcotic chewed in groups in Yemen. No more evenings spent mostly by men in traditional coffee shops across the region. And most importantly, no more smoking of the beloved shisha, or water pipe, in public places.

In a region where life is often organized around large families, communal meals and tribal rules, social distancing can be difficult.

In Iraq, clarion calls sound twice a day to remind people to adhere to the ban on public gatherings. But that has little impact at Hashims shisha parlour, second home to 29-year-old Mustafa Ahmed who comes every day to meet friends and seek solace from the monotony of domestic life.

Not even at the height of Iraqs sectarian wars was he made to spend seven straight days at home. He and his friends smoked shisha at Hashims instead.

Its normal for us to come here during times of crisis, said Ahmed. The only difference this time is we are hiding from the police.

Safety tips being traded by many in Iraq often fly in the face of global appeals by experts to avoid physical contact and keep a safe distance from others.

Iraqs revered Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose opinion is sought by many, said it was necessary to avoid shaking hands, hugging and kissing except when the necessary precautions were taken, including sterilization, masks and gloves.

But Hashim said his acquaintances routinely ignore even such warnings. In Iraq, the custom is to plant one kiss on each cheek. That is why he keeps the bottle of antiseptic nearby.

Whenever someone greets me I quickly wipe my hands and face with it, he said.

Down the street from Hashim, Tony Paulis, 60, said he tried to promote social distancing with a poster outside his barbershop door. It has an X over an image of two men leaning in for a greeting, and a warning message: Please limit yourselves to handshakes and do not kiss given the current difficult situation.

The attempt was futile. Iraqis arent scared of coronavirus, but they should be, he said.

At least 40 people have died in Iraq from the coronavirus, which causes mild or moderate symptoms in the majority of people but can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

Checking out with a kilo (two pounds) of oranges from the local grocer in Baghdads Karrada neighbourhood, Najm Abdullah Saad, 70, said the curfew was wreaking havoc on his marital life.

Going out to smoke shisha every night was my escape, he said.

Shisha-smoking isnt the only public pastime affected.

In Yemen, which has already endured five years of civil war, the chewing of qat is a daily activity that brings groups together to exchange gossip and debate.

Authorities in Yemens southern city of Aden have banned qat markets to prevent the spread of the virus. However vendors have found ways to keep selling it, either with help from armed factions controlling the city, or in the outskirts.

In the north, which is controlled by Houthi rebels, authorities said they plan to move crowded qat markets to open areas and ban gatherings of more than eight people.

The measures might be hard to implement as the country has busy markets in almost every city and town. At around noon every day some 90% of Yemeni men converge on local markets to buy qat, according to Houthi health ministry spokesman Youssef al-Hadhri. He said markets will remain open since they become crowded only a couple of hours a day.

Its not dangerous, he insisted, despite growing fears that an outbreak could prove devastating to the Arab worlds poorest country.

The Lebanese port city of Sidon, south of the capital Beirut, is mostly deserted. It once bustled with people flocking to its traditional coffee shops where elderly men gathered to smoke cigarettes and play cards and backgammon. Those closed after the Lebanese government ordered a lockdown last week.

Qassem Bdeir, a fisherman, sat with a group of friends near a hidden segment of the port, discussing the situation, each seated a meter away from the other.

We used to meet at the coffee shop after a days work to talk and play cards. Now theres no work, and we steal these few moments to talk and commiserate sitting away from each other before we go home to lock ourselves up, he said.

The virus has also upended plans for weddings  often extravagant affairs in the region, with hundreds of invitees.

In Beirut, Bassam Makki, the 42-year-old owner of a jewelry shop had been in the final stages of planning his wedding when the pandemic started. He and his fiance took out a loan and planned a celebration for 130 people at a four-star hotel in Beirut. The party, which had been scheduled for April 10, has been cancelled.

I guess it wasnt meant to be, he said, trying to offer a smile.

Others pressed ahead with weddings.

Rawan Mohammed found an open tract of agricultural land outside the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk for his wedding after the Kurdistan Regional Government closed wedding halls as part of preventive measures.

We told everyone at the beginning, they can come by to tell us congratulations and take pictures, but without handshaking or hugging, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut, Ahmad Mantash in Sidon, Lebanon; Maggie Michael and Sam Madgy in Cairo, Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad and Salar Salim in Irbil contributed reporting.
On March 26th at 1:04pm notification was received from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), that two of the four samples sent on Monday, March 23rd from Anguilla had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and two had tested negative.

The first positive case was identified as an imported case  a 27-year old female visitor from the US, who arrived in Anguilla on March 11th. The second positive case, a 47- year old male resident, is a close contact of the first case. This was taken as an indication of local transmission.

In accordance with public health practices for containment and prevention of spread:

The individuals, who both presented with mild symptoms, were placed in isolation upon suspicion and they remain in isolation at this time.

the Ministry of Health and Health Authority colleagues have initiated aggressive contact tracing to identify every individual who may have come into close contact with this patient. All individuals thus identified will be placed under quarantine and tested.

Furthermore, additional social distancing measures for the general public as outlined in the Plan for Escalation of Measures for COVID-19 will be announced shortly.

The Government of Anguilla has been preparing for the arrival of COVID-19 since late January. We urge residents not to panic and instead be guided by the helpful practices that you can do prevent the spread of COVID-19. To date, out of a total of nine suspected cases of COVID-19, five have tested negative, two have tested positive and two are pending.

Members of the general public are once again urged to follow proper hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and comply with the social distancing guidance in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Ministry of Health and the Government of Anguilla maintain that the health and safety of the nation continue to be the utmost priority.

The Ministry will continue to provide timely and accurate information as the situation continues to evolve. Persons with any questions or concerns that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call the Ministrys hotlines at 476-7627, that is 476 SOAP or 584-4263, that is 584-HAND.

The Ministry of Health will continue to provide timely updates through our media partners, our official Facebook page or at www.beatcovid.ai.

Related:

The March 26th update circulated by CDEMA summarised the situation in Anguilla as follows:
By the time I talked to Torous, Id learned enough about Talkspace that I no longer felt comfortable sharing my secrets, and switched over into reporter mode. The models research deficit is obvious from Talkspaces own site. The relevant page offers four promising quotes from respected journals and institutions that link to other pages that on close reading simply arent relevant. Two pertain to studies about real-time video therapy, which compared to texting indeed has some solid supporting evidence. A third relates to a rigorously structured kind of correspondence course. The fourth link takes you from a Columbia University insignia to an unrelated page from the British Journal of Psychiatry.
The latest:

CDC advises against travel for residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory urging people in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to "refrain from non-essential domestic travel" for the next two weeks.

President Donald Trump had asked the CDC Saturday to issue the advisory after he had floated the idea of a quarantine earlier in the day.

The CDC said this advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the United States Department of Homeland Security and have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedules.



Trump says quarantine of some states will not be necessary

President Donald Trump, who earlier suggested quarantining New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut to contain the novel coronavirus, said on Twitter such measures will not be necessary.

Earlier, Trump had floated the idea of quarantining the three states to counter the spread of COVID-19. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the possible order would lead to "total mayhem." He also said the quarantine would be a "federal declaration of war" on states.

More than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S.

More than 2,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States as of 7:45 p.m. EST Saturday, according to a CNN count compiled through data on state health department websites. There are 2,010 deaths reported as of Saturday. The U.S. reached 1,000 deaths Thursday.

NY Gov. Cuomo says possible quarantine would be a "federal declaration of war"



President Donald Trump said Saturday he's considering mandatory short-term (two-week) quarantine on New York, certain parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. Trump says itd be an enforceable quarantine.



New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN locking down states isn't legal and would lead to "total mayhem." He called Trump's suggestion a "federal declaration of war" on states.

"I dont even believe its legal," Cuomo said. "Thats not a quarantine, thatd be a lockdown. If you said that were geographically confining people, thatd be a lockdown. Then we would be Wuhan, China, and that wouldnt make sense."

First death of infant in connection with coronavirus reported in U.S.

A Chicago baby is the first infant death in the U.S. associated with coronavirus, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Saturday.



"There has never before been a death associated with COVID-19 in an infant. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of death," Ezike said. "We must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. If not to protect ourselves, but to protect those around us."

An investigation into the cause of death is underway, Ezike said.

The death of a child younger than one year with coronavirus has previously been reported in China. That child had a pre-existing condition.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo moves state's presidential primary

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state's presidential primary election will be postponed from April 28 until June 23 amid coronavirus fears, making it the 13th presidential primary contest date change due to the virus.

"I don't think it's wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote," Cuomo, a Democrat, said Saturday during a news conference. He also extended the state's tax filing deadline to July 15.

As of Saturday morning, New York had at least 728 reported deaths due to coronavirus and at least 52,318 reported cases, making it the state with the most reported cases in the U.S., according to CNN Health's tally.



Several states report spike in cases

Several states are reporting a spike in coronavirus cases, raising fears more hotspots will emerge in the U.S. after New York as soon as next week.



The U.S. surpassed Italy and China this week to become the country with the most coronavirus cases in the world  with more than 101,240 known cases, according to CNN's tally.

At least 1,588 Americans have died. At least 402 of those deaths were reported on Friday alone.

More than a third of the country's cases are in New York  which has been in a partial lockdown for a week as officials try to slow the spread of the virus and hospitals scramble to keep up with the patients streaming in.

The state's healthcare system is already overwhelmed.

One hospital was forced to create a makeshift morgue and another reported 13 patient deaths in 24 hours. New York and its National Guard are now assembling four 1,000-bed temporary, overflow hospitals in existing buildings.

The rate of new cases may be slowing in New York, but the governor says it may take 21 days for the state to hit its peak  the highest point of reported cases before that number begins going down.



Meanwhile, officials in other states are warning they could be next.

In Los Angeles County, cases more than tripled in six days, and one official said numbers will keep going up. Health Director Barbara Ferrer said she expects to see case counts in Los Angeles double every four days for the next two to three weeks.

"No matter where you are, this is coming to you," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thursday. "Take all the measures you can now to make sure people are home."

President Trump says he's considering short-term quarantine for some states

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he's considering a short-term quarantine of New York state, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut, as cases of coronavirus continue to rise.

"We're thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot. ... We might not have to do it, but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut," he told reporters as he departed the White House.

"I'd rather not do it, but we may need it," the President said.

Trump said that the possible quarantine would be "enforceable" and "restrict travel" from those parts of the tri-state area.

"Restrict travel, because they're having problems down in Florida, a lot of New Yorkers going down. We don't want that," he said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he spoke with Trump on Saturday morning, but that the two had not discussed a quarantine for the state.

Pandemic will hit these states hard, top US doctor says

New hotspots emerged as the numbers escalate in other states, the country's top doctor said.

Those include Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CBS This Morning Friday.

"The virus and the local community are going to determine the timeline. It's not going to be us from Washington, D.C. People need to follow their data, they need to make the right decisions based on what their data is telling them," he said.

"Everyone's curve is going to be different," Adams said.

Related video: Cities across the U.S. hope to slow coronavirus by 'flattening the curve'

In Chicago, hospitals and health officials have begun preparing for a surge in patients after Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city could see more than 40,000 hospitalizations in the next week, CNN affiliate WLS reported.

"This morning, we spent time with folks from the state and my team and Army Corps of Engineers at McCormick Place. We were looking at what it takes, not in a theoretical way, to layout thousands of beds," Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady of the Chicago Department of Public Health told the news station.

But there is a shortage of lab technicians able to analyze coronavirus tests, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said, adding that even if he was able to obtain more machines for testing analysis, they wouldn't have enough people to operate them.

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In Louisiana, where deaths surged by more than 40% in a single day this week and continue to jump daily, hospitals are already working under stress.

One hospital employee told CNN ICU rooms had paper bags by the door that staff members used to store their N95 masks as they went in and out. They have to reuse the masks, which are supposed to be disposable, until they are soiled.

New Orleans, already the epicenter in the state's cases, is already short on ventilators and equipment.

"This is going to be the disaster that defines our generation," said Collin Arnold, director of the city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

100,000 ventilators in 100 days

More than 196 million Americans are under orders to stay inside to help combat the virus.

To support a struggling economy, as thousands of businesses have shut down amid the outbreak and workers are staying home, President Donald Trump on Friday signed the largest emergency aid package in the country's history.

Some of the key elements of the package include sending checks directly to individuals and families, a major expansion of unemployment benefits, money for hard-hit hospitals and health care providers, financial assistance for small businesses and $500 billion in loans for distressed companies.

State leaders have also urged him to respond to a looming shortage of medical supplies. The administration will facilitate the production or acquisition of "100,000 additional units" of ventilators through other means over a 100-day period, Trump said.

"We are manufacturing a lot of them now, we are accumulating a lot. We are taking a lot through the act," Trump said, referring to the Defense Production Act  which he invoked Friday.

"Maybe we won't even need the full activation. We will find out, but we need the ventilators," he said.



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Ryanair has kicked off an influx of 'I didn't know it was a party' memes mocking Boris Johnson after he was forced to apologise for hosting a 'party' in the Downing Street garden in May 2020. The popular low-cost carrier posted an image of the Prime Minister's face edited onto a popular meme showing dancing party-goers with the caption 'Boris Johnson for 25 minutes on 20 May 2020' and 'I don't know I'm at a party' next to Mr Johnson's face. Mr Johnson today finally admitted he went to a 'party' in the Downing Street garden at the height of lockdown - but argued he thought it was a 'work event' and 'technically' within the rules. At a stormy PMQs, Mr Johnson said he wanted to 'thank' staff at the event in May 2020 but recognised that in 'hindsight' it should not have happened. He said he understood public 'fury' and 'took responsibility', but said he had believed it was a work event. 'I bitterly regret it. I wish we could have done things differently,' he said. Social media erupted into a hive of memes mocking Mr Johnson, with one showing Ant and Dec in a fit of giggles - alluding to the television presenter's previous jibes at the Government.
Dear Answer Man,

Now that it's finally happened and we've all been ordered to stay at home, I'm wondering what happens if I don't. Are police going to be patrolling the streets and stopping everyone out? Can I still go to the grocery store or get take out?

Where can I turn if I have a question about the order?

Sincerely, At home wondering

Dear Wondering,

ADVERTISEMENT

I would say it looks like you have ample time on your hands but that I imagine that's not true. Many of us are working from home, helping children stay on task with school work or caring for loved ones from a distance. And even if you do find yourself with time on your hands, it likely isn't the pleasurable experience you may have dreamed of weeks ago while stressed out at work.

These are trying times, indeed. But fear not, the Answer Man may be physically distancing and self-isolating, but he's always here to answer your questions. So in the order they were asked, here are your responses.

Here in Olmsted County, the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and the Rochester Police Department will continue to enforce traffic laws vite violators, but they will not be pulling over citizens in relation to Gov. Tim Walz's stay-at-home executive order.

Other states are requesting drivers receive employer-issued permissions to travel for their work, but at this time, this paperwork is not being requested or checked by local law enforcement in Minnesota, the city of Rochester said in a news release late this week.

Grocery stores will remain open, as will liquor stores and those restaurants that offer take-out so there is no need to hoard food.

If you have questions about the order, one thing you should NOT do is call 911. Instead, head to the state's website -- www.mn.gov/governor/covid-19 -- or call one of the hotlines.

Wash your hands for 20 seconds. Don't touch your face. Take care, be well and be kind.

ADVERTISEMENT

Health questions:651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903

Schools and child care questions:651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504

Both are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says the lockdown in place to battle the spread of the coronavirus is one of the strictest in Europe  and many Spaniards agree.

Under the rules, unlike in France and the UK, Spaniards aren't allowed out of confinement for a walk or a jog. They're only allowed out if their work can't be done from home, if they need to buy basic necessities like food or medicine or for an urgent reason like helping a vulnerable relative.

That's particularly tough on people cooped up in small flats, living alone or with children. No wonder the regional government in Aragon is asking the government to allow families to take their children out for a walk.

Almost two weeks into Spain's lockdown, morale is low. The latest figures show a record number of deaths from Covid-19 in a single day. On Friday evening, the death toll for past 24 hours was at 569. But the previous 24-hour period was up to 769 deaths, beating the previous record of 738.

Fears that devolved heath systems can't cope

With the lives lost to the virus at 4,934 as of Friday, the second highest in the world, it's difficult for Spaniards to feel the battle is being won.

The nation is proud of its national health service, evidenced by the way the Spaniards started the trend, copied in France and the UK, of clapping their doctors and nurses from their balconies and windows during the lockdown at 8pm every evening.

But they're wondering if their hospitals are up to this challenge and if the regional governments running them are up to the job. Online videos show overcrowded intensive care units, patients sleeping in corridors on plastic chairs and doctors and nurses wearing makeshift protective suits and masks made from plastic bags.

The health ministry normally has a limited role in running day-to-day health services since Spain devolved powers to regional governments. But under the state of emergency enacted during the crisis it has a special brief to lead the battle against Covid-19 and to meet the calls to buy more protective equipment and ventilators.

Faulty test kits put health workers at risk

So, it was particularly embarrassing that the government had to admit to having bought a bad batch of 50,000 Covid-19 tests, which were supposed to be crucial in determining within 15 minutes whether health workers with symptoms had the virus or could keep going on with their jobs. Health Minister Salvador Illa said the tests would be replaced, that they were bought from a Spanish company using a Chinese supplier and that they were EU-certified.

That's cold comfort for the health workers risking their lives to save others'. Some 15 percent are among the 64,000 confirmed cases of the virus, a higher rate than neighbouring Italy. One described the situation like dealing with the 2004 Madrid bomb attacks but with no end in sight.

The pain of social distancing, even in death

As Spaniards enter their third weekend of lockdown, the police and army continue out in force, checking people aren't out making unnecessary journeys. Those who have lost relatives to Covid-19 have usually not been able to hold their hand at the end of their days or to receive their family and friends at the funeral parlour, as is the usual Spanish custom, to see them off.

In Madrid, the worst hit region, an ice-rink is being used as a morgue to take pressure off the funeral parlours. Patients from crowded hospitals are being ferried to a giant field hospital set up at the IFEMA conference centre where soldiers, firefighters and volunteer plumbers have rigged up 15 kilometres of oxygen tubes.

Crucial days lie ahead, say the health authorities, forecasting the number of those needing to be hospitalised and in intensive care due to the virus could peak in the next week. The number of those recovering from the virus and being released from hospital rose to almost 9,400 patients by Friday, compared to 7,000 the day before.

The government says it's asking for one last effort from a population it knows is making sacrifices. And a frustrated population is waiting for a little light at the end of the tunnel.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 virus has impacted not only schools, pubs, restaurants and businesses in Fingal, but even local politics.

Last week, Sinn Fein Deputy Louise O'Reilly announced her offices in Swords and Balbriggan would close until further notice, meaning constituency clinics would no longer be held.

Speaking to The Fingal Independent, Deputy O'Reilly explained the reasons behind her position and how the decision to close her two offices was not made lightly.

She said: 'We're as busy as ever we were, but I closed my clinics on the basis that we'd just try and help people over the phone if we can. We're just trying to minimise the amount of movement, we don't want to be contributing to people moving about, just to be on the safe side.

'It was based on public health advice, that people are supposed to minimise social contact. The office is quite big and we were worried for people coming in and out, just with the advice from the HSE. So we're doing as much as we can over the phone and email. I think once the decision was made to close the schools it was the only responsible course of action to take.'

She said: 'It was a very big decision for me to take, principally because we're the only party that offers that full-time constituency service in the area, so we know how much it means to people and we know how important it is for people. But we had to follow the best advice from the HSE, that where people would have to limit their social contact, that we wouldn't facilitate that social contact.'

Deputy O'Reilly said the decision to close the clinics in Swords and Balbriggan was a difficult one, but that she felt it was the right thing to do under the circumstances.

Her offices would still be offering the same level of service, she said, but it would just be carried out 'in a different way.'

'We didn't take the decision lightly, because we know how much people depend on the services we provide. But we decided that in the interest not only of the people working in the offices, but of the people coming into the offices that it was the only responsible things to do.

'We still are making the representations to help out where we can, but it's just being carried out in a different way. It's the same level of service but it's just being carried out in a different way.'

The coronavirus looks set to cause widespread disruption in Fingal over the coming weeks, and possibly beyond.

For now though, Deputy O'Reilly said she'd like to send a clear message to her constituents in these unprecedented times: 'Stay safe, look after each other and observe the guidance from the HSE. Don't get your information from Whatsapp, get it from the HSE.'
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has expressed disappointment in the ruling of the High Court which gives the National Identification Authority (NIA) the green light to proceed with Ghana Card registration in n the Eastern Region.

According to him, the ruling effectively gives others the right of way to flout the President's directive on banning public gatherings.

Addressing the press in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu disagreed with the judgement of the court.

I am profoundly disappointed in the ruling of the court not giving meaning and support to the directive of Nana Akufo-Addo that Ghanaians not more than 25 for the purposes of public gathering should gather in order to protect human lives and to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus threat.

To hear that the court has ruled that the National Identification Authority can continue with mass registration will mean that they are giving the license to public gatherers and that defeats the purpose of the Presidents directive hence citizens will be better justified to disrespect the Presidents directive. I am disappointed by that ruling. It means that we are prioritizing elections at the peril of Ghanaian lives. That can only be disappointing.

The High Court in Accra on Monday dismissed an injunction application seeking to stop the NIA from continuing with its registration in the Eastern Region.

NIA sued

Kevow Mark-Oliver and Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah sued the NIA and succeeded in securing an interlocutory injunction preventing the NIA from going ahead with the exercise.

The NIA subsequently suspended the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region due to the injunction.

The exercise was suspended pending the final determination of the application, the NIA noted in a statement.

Insistence

Before the suspension, the NIA insisted that its decision to carry on with the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region was not in violation of the directives concerning public gatherings.

This was despite reports indicating that citizens looking to register for the card were massing at some registration centres in contravention of expert advice for curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Observers also criticized the NIA for continuing with the exercise .

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), for example, said the continuation of the registration was a breach of international and regional human rights instruments.

CHRAJ in a statement also said the NIA's actions were a disregard of the existing World Health Organization (WHO) precautionary measures aimed at containing and combating the novel coronavirus.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) also complained that the continuation of the exercise defeated the precautionary measures declared by the state to combat the pandemic.

citinewsroom
To the annoyance of some shareholders, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BME:BBVA) shares are down a considerable 35% in the last month. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 39% in that time.

All else being equal, a share price drop should make a stock more attractive to potential investors. In the long term, share prices tend to follow earnings per share, but in the short term prices bounce around in response to short term factors (which are not always obvious). The implication here is that long term investors have an opportunity when expectations of a company are too low. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth.

Check out our latest analysis for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Does Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's P/E of 6.67 indicates some degree of optimism towards the stock. As you can see below, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a higher P/E than the average company (5.9) in the banks industry.

BME:BBVA Price Estimation Relative to Market March 28th 2020

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So investors should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

If earnings fall then in the future the 'E' will be lower. That means unless the share price falls, the P/E will increase in a few years. Then, a higher P/E might scare off shareholders, pushing the share price down.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria saw earnings per share decrease by 38% last year. But EPS is up 3.2% over the last 5 years. And it has shrunk its earnings per share by 1.6% per year over the last three years. This growth rate might warrant a low P/E ratio.

Story continues

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context.

So What Does Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's Balance Sheet Tell Us?

With net cash of 8.9b, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 43% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio.

The Bottom Line On Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's P/E Ratio

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a P/E of 6.7. That's below the average in the ES market, which is 14.1. Falling earnings per share are likely to be keeping potential buyers away, the healthy balance sheet means the company retains potential for future growth. If that occurs, the current low P/E could prove to be temporary. Given Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's P/E ratio has declined from 10.2 to 6.7 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for deep value investors this stock might justify some research.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order authorizing the secretaries of homeland security and defense to call up military and Coast Guard reservists to active duty.

This will allow us to mobilize medical disaster and emergency response personnel to help wage our battle against the virus by activating thousands of experienced service members, including retirees, Trump said at a Friday briefing of the COVID-19 task force.

Under the order, the two secretaries are authorized to order reservists from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard to active duty for up to two years not to exceed 1,000,000 members on active duty at any one time.

The announcement comes as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads in the United States, with more than 104,000 confirmed infections and over 1,700 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins.

We have a lot of people, retirees, great military people, theyre coming back in, Trump said, adding: They dont say, How much? They dont say, What are we getting paid? They just want to come back in. Its really an incredible thing to see. Its beautiful.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement cited by Military Times that following the executive order, decisions about which individuals may be activated are still being reviewed.

Hoffman said the troops will mostly consist of units and personnel with high demand medical capabilities whose mobilization would not negatively impact their civilian communities.

My administration is marshaling the full power of the American government, and we will do that, and thats what weve done, and we will continue to do it until our war is won. Economic, scientific, medical, military, and homeland securityall of this to vanquish the virus, Trump said at Fridays briefing.

Earlier Friday, Army officials said over 9,000 former soldiers with medical training expressed interest in assisting with the COVID-19 response.

That followed an Army announcement earlier in the week that three of its expeditionary hospital facilities received deployment orders and would be heading to New York and Washington state to assist with COVID-19 response efforts.

The U.S. Army Public Affairs division said on March 24 that the 531st Hospital from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 627th Hospital from Fort Carson, Colorado, and the 9th Hospital from Fort Hood, Texas, would deploy.

As more people are exposed to COVID-19, the U.S. Army is preparing to provide medical support and hospital capacity to help states and other national agencies to contain the virus and protect the nation, the statement said.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and spark a global pandemic.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
Sunitha Natti By

Express News Service

Perhaps for the first time in several years, the RBI has allowed a 3-month moratorium on all term loans. Here's a cheat sheet on what gets covered and what doesn't.

What's a moratorium?

In financial literature, a moratorium implies a temporary suspension of payment of interest or principal or both by borrowers or lenders during financial distress. The government or the central bank can exercise special powers and impose limits for a temporary period. The moratorium will be lifted after overcoming the financial hardships. The most recent instance of a moratorium includes Yes Bank, where the government barred the bank from lending money besides capping depositor withdrawals.

What does the RBI's 3-month moratorium cover?

All term loans including agricultural term loans, retail loans like home and auto loans, consumer durable loans on mobiles, and television sets, education loans and crop loans given by all banks, all-India Financial Institutions, and NBFCs, including housing finance companies will come under the 3-month moratorium window. The equated monthly instalments due between March 1 and May 31 will now be rescheduled to June.

Will it attract penalty?

There won't be any penalty for late payments up to June. However, interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding portion of the term loans during the moratorium period.

Does the moratorium affect all loans automatically?

According to the RBI, banks will have to frame board-approved policies to provide relief to all eligible borrowers. While the SBI said all loan repayments stand cancelled, banks may come up with directions in the coming days on how they will go about it. Whether the moratorium covers all customers by default or if it'll be a need-based deferral will be determined by individual banks. Borrowers should get in touch with respective lenders for clarity.



Is this a one-time waiver?

No. This is only delaying payment of monthly EMIs by three months. It means that after June, repayments will commence as usual. However, it's unclear if pending dues of March and May will need to be paid at once or if it'll be a monthly outgo. Individual banks are expected to issue clear directions in this regard.

What happens to your credit score?

The 3-month delay won't impact your credit score as long as you honour payments after June, when repayment terms re-commence.

Does the moratorium cover credit card payments?

Yes. Since credit cards are defined as revolving credit and not term loans, credit card dues are also covered under the moratorium. However, RBI isn't explicit about loans taken on credit cards and if those payments along with interest are eligible for the 3-month deferral.

What's in it for businesses?

All working capital loans sanctioned in the form of cash credit or overdraft facility by all lending institutions are permitted under the 3-month moratorium. It'll be applicable for interest payments due between March, 1 and May, 31. The accumulated accrued interest shall be recovered immediately after the completion of the moratorium. While this won't alter the terms and conditions of loan agreements, it will not result in asset classification downgrade either affecting the credit profiles of borrowers.
The temporary health site at McCormick Place will function as a field hospital, providing a large quantity of beds, including 500 anticipated to come online in the coming week. We remain focused on working in partnership to build up resources and staffing for this site and across the system so that we can combat COVID-19, alleviate added stress to our hospitals and healthcare workers, and ensure patients across Chicago receive the care they need, the statement read.
Riyadh declared an oil war after Moscow refused to back a proposal for deep output cuts to offset virus demand blow.

Saudi Arabia said on Friday that it was not in talks with Russia to stablise crude prices despite overtures from Moscow and rising pressure from Washington to call a truce in an oil price war.

A three-year supply pact between the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies led by Russia fell apart earlier this month after Moscow refused to support Riyadhs plan for deeper production cuts to offset dwindling demand resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia responded to the breakdown in relations by lowering the prices it charges for crude and pledging to pump oil next month at record levels.

The resulting supply boost has coincided with plummeting demand as governments around the world implement national lockdowns to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The twin-pronged assault on prices has sent Brent crude to a 17-year low below $25 a barrel and hammered the income of oil producers.

There have been no contacts between Saudi Arabia and Russia energy ministers over any increase in the number of OPEC countries, nor any discussion of a joint agreement to balance oil markets, an official from Saudi Arabias energy ministry said, referring to the wider grouping of oil producers.

The comment came after a senior Russian official said on Friday that a larger number of oil producers could cooperate with OPEC and Russia, in an indirect reference to the United States, the worlds biggest producer, which has never cut production.

Joint actions by countries are needed to restore the [global] economy  They [joint actions] are also possible in the OPEC deals framework, said Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund.

Dmitriev and Energy Minister Alexander Novak were Russias top negotiators for the previous pact between OPEC and its allies  a grouping known as OPEC+. That deal officially expires on March 31. Dmitriev declined to say which nations could be included in a new one.

The alliance between OPEC and Russia broke down after Moscow declined to support bigger output curbs, arguing that it was too early to estimate the pandemics impact.

Officials and oil executives in Russia have been split on the need for cuts, with Dmitriev and Novak supporting cooperation while Igor Sechin, the head of Kremlin oil major Rosneft, has criticised supply cuts for providing a lifeline to the less competitive US shale industry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said little since the OPEC deal collapsed.

Economic warfare

The idea of Washington cooperating with OPEC has long been seen as impossible, not least because of US antitrust laws. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed anger with the cartel because its actions lead to higher prices at the pump.

However, Saudi Arabias latest move has put Washington in a difficult position. Its battle for market share has led to very low prices, but also undermined the US shale industry, which has much higher costs than Saudi or Russian production.

The US administration is facing multiple calls to save the highly leveraged shale industry, which has borrowed trillions of dollars to allow the country to become a large oil and gas exporter despite often uncompetitive costs.

A group of six US senators wrote a letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week saying Saudi Arabia and Russia have embarked upon economic warfare against the US and were threatening US energy dominance.

They called on Saudi Arabia to quit OPEC, reverse its policy of high output, partner with the US in strategic energy projects or face consequences.

From tariffs and other trade restrictions to investigations, safeguard actions, sanctions, and much else, the American people are not without recourse, the senators, including John Hoeven of North Dakota and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said in a letter.

Two other senators from oil-producing states introduced a bill on Friday that would remove US armed forces from the kingdom.

Trump last week said he would get involved in the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia at the appropriate time.

US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, meanwhile, told Bloomberg TV on Monday that forging a US-Saudi oil alliance was one of many, many ideas being floated by US policymakers.

The head of the International Energy Agency, an adviser to the US and other industrialised countries, on Thursday also called on Saudi Arabia to help stabilise the market.

Algeria, which holds the OPEC presidency at present, has called for a meeting of the groups Economic Commission Board to be held no later than April 10 to discuss current oil market conditions.
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The ACAAI has provided the following statement:With the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with the Spring allergy season, you may be concerned about using your intranasal corticosteroids for nasal allergies and your inhaled corticosteroids for your asthma.There is no data to suggest that continuing these allergy and asthma medications will have any effect on increasing your risk of getting the COVID-19 infection, or if you get the infection, lead to a worse outcome. It is important to control your allergy and asthma symptoms as they could potentially lead to misdiagnosis of COVID-19 if there were an overlap of some symptoms.If you have questions about your allergy and asthma medications, please contact your allergist or asthma specialist.Source: Newswise
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday that the states presidential primaries, originally scheduled for the end of April, will be postponed by two months as New York braces for its expected apex of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

New York residents were scheduled to cast their votes in the 2020 presidential primaries on April 28, but they now will do so on June 23, when the congressional and legislative primary elections are scheduled.

I dont think its wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote; a lot of people touching one door knob, a lot of people touching one pen, Cuomo said.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

New York is the latest on a list of 13 other states that have already postponed their primaries as the threat of coronavirus has been spreading throughout the United States.

Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wyoming and Puerto Rico all have rescheduled their primaries to later in the year.

Cuomos decisions came as part of a series of updates he provided in his daily press conference.

During the same press conference, the governor announced that President Donald Trump had approved the plan to turn portions of the College of Staten Islands Willowbrook campus into a 1,000-bed field hospital and use more than 200 beds at South Beach Psychiatric Center for infected patients.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Coronavirus cases mount on Staten Island; over 1,700 reported

Heartbreaking coronavirus ripple effect: Families separated from loved ones isolated at medical facilities

Its going to be an ugly and sad day: Cuomo prepares for coronavirus apex, now predicted in 3 weeks

Preventing coronavirus: How to properly clean your home

ER doctor: Heres what to do if youre feeling ill

Coughs, sneezes, surfaces. Heres how coronavirus is and isnt spread.

A look inside transformed Javits Center coronavirus field hospital; is CSI next?
Andy Burnham has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason' during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester called for stricter policy on businesses from the government after being flooded with more than 300 complaints about 150 separate companies in his constituency.

He added that he would also be seeking legal advice about whether it was possible to enforce action against the business that were putting its employees at risk.

Andy Burnham (pictured) has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason' during the coronavirus lockdown

Speaking to the BBC earlier today, Mr Burnham said that the announcements that Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock had both tested positive for Covid-19 brought 'sharply into focus is the whole question of workplaces and are we doing enough to keep people safe in workplaces.'

He added: 'The virus is doubling every two or three days and what I think is going on in some of our workplaces is contributing to that...

'I'm talking really about policy and workplaces across the country.

'I received over 300 complaints when I put the call out for people to report what they thought was wrong.

'And that named 150 companies - some of them had a good reason to be open but not all of them by any means.

'And it seemed that some of them are nowhere near observing the safe distancing rules laid down by Public Health England. So I would like to see a stronger policy on workplaces now.

'We are about to hit the critical phase of this and we shouldn't be allowing this virus to spread unnecessarily.'

Mr Burnham tweeted yesterday with an update on the situation saying that he had been 'inundated with complaints about firms not observing the 2m rule.'

He added: 'I am now contacting all & will take action to protect the health of our residents.

'But again I ask this of the Government: please call time on non-essential work.'

He previously wrote: 'I am taking legal davice

It comes after a total of 759 people have now died in UK hospitals after being diagnosed with coronavirus with more than 14,500 conformed cases

It comes after the government announced that NHS staff would be tested from next week after hospital bosses reported a 50 per cent staff absence rate as many self isolated after showing symptoms.

A total of 759 people have now died in UK hospitals after being diagnosed with coronavirus with more than 14,500 conformed cases.

More than 18,000 doctors, nurses and other former NHS staff have volunteered to return to work to fight the virus.

The en masse effort came after NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens was forced to defend his track record heading the service after the country's proportion of intensive care units before the crisis among the lowest in Europe.
Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay

State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County.
- Akufo-Addo has said he will not rush to declare a lockdown in Ghana

- The president believes his decision to mandatorily quarantine all persons who arrived in the country after March 21 was the right one

- Ghana has so far recorded 136 positive cases

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

President Nana Akufo-Addo says his decision to mandatorily quarantine all travelers who arrived in Ghana after March 21, 2020, has yielded good results.

According to the president, he has been vindicated following the number of persons who tested positive after tests were conducted on the persons who are being held upon arrival in the country.

Akufo-Addo opined that majority of the countrys Coronavirus (COVID-19) case count is from the population of people under mandatory quarantine.

READ ALSO: High Court gives NIA go ahead for mass registration amid COVID-19 fears

He reiterated that this shows that the decision was appropriate and in the best interest of the populace.

I have been vindicated by facts. It turns out that the overwhelming number of cases are all from people who came from abroad and of those who came and have been quarantined, an extreme number have been found to be carrying the virus, Nana Addo said when he met the Trades Union Congress (TUC) leadership at the Jubilee House on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Meanwhile, Ghana as of Friday, March 27, 2020, has recorded 136 cases of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and the countrys death toll still remains at three.

The rising cases of Coronavirus in the country have led to calls for Ghana to declare a lockdown in order to stop the spread.

READ ALSO: 5 devastating coronavirus news on Thursday, March 26, 2020

But President Nana Akufo-Addo, in response to the calls, said extensive consultations will be made before government declares a state of lockdown.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus or COVID-19.

A video shared on the official Instagram handle of the UK Prime Minister indicated that the British politician, writer, and former journalist now serving as Prime Minister is self-isolating but not stepping back from his duties for the time being.

The report has taken the world by storm as the prime minister for the United Kingdom's centre of power and leader of the Conservative Party since 2019 was least expected to be infected with the novel coronavirus.

Coronavirus in Ghana: Disinfection of Accra Markets against COVID-19 | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Aside coronavirus, NDC is a virus in the lives of Ghanaians - Abronye DC

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
KAMPALA  Buganda Road Magistrates Court on Friday, March 27 charged 37 Chinese nationals, with various offences, including illegally trading in Uganda.

The group appeared before Grade One Magistrate Marion Mangeni who charged them with unlawfully procuring of 1895 Airtel sim-cards, carrying on businesses in Uganda without trading licenses, being in unlawful possession of wildlife protected species, and having suspected stolen property.

According to prosecution, the group committed the offences between December 2019 and March this year in various parts of Uganda.

The session was conducted in the compound of the court to observe social distancing in line with government guidelines to contain coronavirus.

Thirty-three of the suspects pleaded guilty to the charges.

The whole group was remanded to the newly constructed Kitalya government prison on Mityana Road until March 31 for sentencing for those who pleaded guilty and April 9 for plea taking for those who denied the charges.

Prosecution states that three of the suspects were on March 19, 2020, found disassembling several mobile phones and computers for trading purposes, albeit without a trading license. The offences were reportedly committed in Kireka, Kira Municipality in Wakiso district.

A day later, during a search at their premises in Kireka, the same group was found with suspected stolen property, which included computer motherboards, phones and electricity meters.

They were also in possession of 1,895 Airtel and 223 MTN Timecards which they were using in sham financial transactions and protected wildlife species including six tortoises and pangolin scales.

Related
A young man under home quarantine for coronavirus after return from Sri Lanka suddenly ran out of his house nude and fatally bit a 80-year old woman in his neighbourhood in a village near here, police said on Saturday.

The woman with injuries in her neck was hospitalised late Friday after the incident but died on Saturday without responding to treatment, they said.

The man, a resident of Jakkamanayakanpatti and engaged in seasonal business in clothing, was overpowered and handed over to police, who arrested him and investigations were on.

He had recently returned from Sri Lanka and directed to remain under quarantine by health authorities as per the protocol for foreign returnees to check coronavirus spread.

He came out of his house on Friday evening and all of a sudden, denuded himself and began running through the street.

Shocked family members -including his father gave a chase even as he caught hold of Nachiyammal, seated on her house's front yard and bit hard her neck.

The man's kin overpowered him and admitted the woman to nearby Bodi Government Hospital where doctors on Saturday said she succumbed to her injuries, not responding to treatment.

Health authorities were unavailable for comments immediately.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Crystal Mason has, like all people, made mistakes.

The Tarrant County mother and grandmother is one of the unlucky few, however, whos been penalized for what was by most accounts an honest and understandable error arising from a civic activity: she decided to vote in 2016.

Mason was ineligible to vote at the time, due to a felony conviction for tax fraud in 2011; she had served her sentence, but was still on federal supervised release.

She maintains that she didnt realize her voting rights were suspended under Texas law, until she completed the period of supervision.

And whether Mason actually voted is a matter of debate. She cast a provisional ballot, at the invitation of a poll worker, which ultimately wasnt counted after election officials determined there was an issue with her eligibility.

Mason was one of several thousand Tarrant County voters to cast provisional ballots in the 2016 election, most of whom were subsequently deemed ineligible for various reasons. But she was the only Tarrant County voter prosecuted, and she was prosecuted aggressively. In 2018 she was sentenced to five years in prison for illegally voting, a second-degree felony. A state appellate court affirmed the judgment this week  a deeply disappointing decision worth highlighting even amid a pandemic.

The case has attracted national attention as a reflection on Republican leaders whose enthusiasm for cracking down on illegal voting borders on voter suppression, especially of black and Latino voters.

Mason is African-American. She cast her ballot in 2016 at the urging of her mother, who preached civic responsibility, and to send a positive message to her own children.

Its a case that should disturb all Texans because it suggests a dearth of both common sense and compassion on the part of our leaders.

This ruling is a severe misinterpretation of the law, said Masons defense attorney, Alison Grinter, in a statement. It undercuts efforts to encourage voter turnout through the Help America Vote Act and punishes ordinary voters for attempting to fulfill their civic duty in a way that is at complete odds with our democratic principles.

The act requires that poll workers provide provisional ballots to would-be voters whose eligibility cant be determined at the polling site.

We don't think she did anything wrong, said Tommy Buser-Clancy, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas, who is among the lawyers working on Masons case. She submitted a provisional ballot that was not counted, and she also had no idea that the state considered her ineligible to vote.

The three-judge panel concluded both of those points were irrelevant. In their opinion, written by Justice J. Wade Birdwell, Mason voted  and although she may not have known she was ineligible, she knew about the circumstances that determined her ineligibility. The ACLU plans to appeal the case to the full 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth.

Mason is just the victim of a potentially confusing state law. In 1997, then-Gov. George W. Bush signed a law authored by state Rep. Harold Dutton restoring voting rights to felons who had completed their sentences, including prison time, parole or supervision.

Last year, Dutton co-authored a measure, along with state Reps. Senfronia Thompson, Garnet Coleman and Alma Allen, that would have extended the right to vote to felons on parole or supervision as well. The bill was left pending in the House.

If she knew she couldn't vote, or she didn't reasonably believe she couldn't vote, I don't know why you'd stick a five-year sentence on her, Dutton, the long-serving Houston Democrat, told me Friday. It boggles the mind.

It really does. In fact, it boggles the mind that Mason was prosecuted in the first place, given that all she did was cast a provisional ballot at a poll workers suggestion. A person who does so explicitly affirms his or her eligibility to vote in the election at hand, but also implicitly acknowledge that the state may disagree.

Buser-Clancy, the ACLU attorney, said that Masons case is the only one of its type that hes aware of in Texas history.

There's no reason she would have cast a ballot if she was aware she was ineligible, Buser-Clancy added, explaining that Mason was raising her brothers four children and her own three, and getting her life back on track after serving her time for the 2011 conviction.

And consider that as prosecutors have doggedly pursued Mason, the states top prosecutor, Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been conducting the peoples business (and even won reelection) while under indictment for alleged violations of state securities laws in 2015. Paxton maintains his innocence in the case, which has seen delay after delay in going to trial.

In Masons case, by contrast, the full force of the law has been wielded. The message that Masons case sends to other voters is an ominous one, especially because the 2020 elections are going to be shaped by the coronavirus.

The pandemic will shape when we cast ballots and how, potentially. The coming primary runoffs, originally scheduled for May, have been moved to July. Voters who are eligible to cast ballots by mail will be encouraged to do so, and some advocates are arguing to expand vote-by-mail eligibility so that Texans can fulfill their civic duty while maintaining social distancing.

Under such conditions, honest errors can easily be made, by voters and poll workers. Its chilling to think that such errors might result in the kind of draconian consequences faced by Mason, who was returned to federal prison after the illegal voting conviction before being released to a halfway house last year. She will not go into state custody while the appeals process is ongoing.

Mason told the Texas Tribune last year, I feel God has a purpose for everyone. Right now, Im walking my purpose. Asked what it was, she said, Activist, I think  maybe educating on voting rights, your dos and your donts.

We all care about the security of our elections. But the people who participate in those elections, in various ways, are prone to making errors, which are easily distinguished from voter-fraud schemes.

For the state to crack down on the former with the kind of energy that should be reserved for the latter sends a chilling message indeed.

erica.grieder@chron.com
Mr Edem Elliot Agbenorwu, the Municipality Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South in the Volta Region has said 14 Ghanaians and two foreign nationals who entered Ghana "illegally" this week were in quarantine at a designated facility in the Municipality.



He alleged the 16 persons were aided by commercial motor riders through the over 25 unapproved routes along the Ghana-Togo border but handed over to the Municipal Assembly by personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).



Mr Agbenorwu told the Ghana News Agency that, "the two foreigners are Nigerians and the 14 Ghanaians were returning from UK, U.A.E, South Africa and America via the Airport in Lome, Togo."



He said due to the development, the Municipal Security Council had banned commercial motor activities along the beats (unapproved routes).



"The Military will assist the Ghana Immigration Service at these unapproved routes and will deal with any commercial motor rider for insubordination," he told GNA.



The Ghana News Agency earlier reported that travelers were allegedly using unapproved routes at Zukope, Akporkploe, Apedido, Fihokope and Aveyiborme to cross to and from Togo at night and dawn after the main Aflao-Lome border was closed as part of measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
K Ezhilarasan By

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: When all hope is lost, help comes from unexpected quarters sometimes. A Tamil family from Malaysia that is stuck in Tiruchy found their messiah in a driver. The family of four from Selangor in Malaysia - Alvin Kumar, his wife Revathi, her sister Kavitha and Kavithas son Thifaash - arrived in Tiruchy on March 12, on a religious tour.

They visited temples in Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vaitheeswarankoil and Madurai and left for Kodaikanal. To their horrors, a day later the government ordered shutdown of all resorts. With nowhere to go, the family returned to Tiruchy and planned to leave earlier than they had planned, on March 19. However, as all flights were grounded due to the pandemic.

This is when, Shakthivel of Palur near Samayapuram stepped up. He was their driver during their tour and he gave the family a roof over their heads. Kumar said, I have been coming to Tamil Nadu since 2006, once every three years to visit temples. Ever since my first trip, I have been employing Shakthivels services. When we had nowhere to go, he took us to his house. Incidentally, there about 200 stranded Malaysian Tamils staying in various hotels in the city.

On March 21, a flight was operated from Tiruchy to Malaysia. Kumars family rushed to airport but as luck would have it, they did not make the flight as 186 other passengers were ahead of them. Again, two flights were operated on March 24, but the family failed to get on the passenger list. Kumar lamented, I do not know on what basis they selected the passengers as we had booked our flight for March 19. As far as I know, those who booked tickets for April got ahead of us. We have been trying to reach out to our embassy officials but there has been no positive response till now.

Meanwhile, health department officials pasted a sticker mentioning the names of Kumars family on Shakthivels house and informed them they had been home quarantined till April 20. As Malaysia is also under lockdown, Kumar, an IT professional, is working from Tiruchy. Meanwhile, there are about 25 Malaysians staying at a private hotel near Chathiram bus stand for the past one week. A teary-eyed Vaani, one of the passengers, said, I have left my three children in the care of my mother and mother-in-law. They have been video-calling and repeatedly asking when my husband and I would return. I do not know how to comfort them.

Apart from the Malaysian Tamils, no others are staying in hotels. The hotels are charging them rent.

At one hotel, they are paying only for food but not for rooms. They have promised the hotel management that they would credit it once they get back. However, they had paid some initial amount.

We do not know how long are we going to stay here and how much the rent would be by then. Everyone hopes the situation would change for the better, soon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:59:32|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia on Saturday received medical supplies and equipment from China to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Tunisian presidency.

"China has responded without hesitation to the presidency's request to protect the medical and paramedical staff, as well as all agents of various other sectors who are standing in the frontline of this war that all humanity is fighting," the presidency said in a statement.

It underlined the need to distribute the Chinese aid to all the concerned persons, including health workers, the security and military forces, as well as the media staff.

As of Friday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tunisia reached 227, including seven deaths.
Figure1 A local medical staff member, left, hugs a member of a medical assistance team from Chongqing on March 23, before the team departed after helping with the COVID-19 recovery effort at Yunmeng county in Xiaogan city in China's central Hubei province. AFP



By Amanda Price



I am an information junkie. I admit it.



Turning down an offering of freshly picked information is hard for me. Stopping myself from indulging my obsession is even harder.



Information fills a void. It feels gratifying, except that the more you indulge, the more addicted you become.



There is sorely little help for this psychological disorder.



Sadly, as the coronavirus crisis has filled the media, in both the social and professional spheres, many have begun to rely on their daily doses of facts and figures. And the media has been keen to keep up the supply.



Without those figures, many fear they will be more vulnerable.



In the midst of the unknown, numbers are the known  the only way available for us to measure the need for calm or to justify us when we turn to panic.



When the coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, I checked the figures on Worldometer.com every day. When it spread outside China, I checked the figures several times a day. I read articles from reliable sources, but in copious amounts that kept me suspended in a haze of over-information.



In between the rushes, data fatigue would sink it and I would promise myself I'd be better  until another surge of coronavirus figures hit the streets.



Then one morning, in what can only be described as a moment of revelation, my rational brain punched through the haze and made me look at what I'd become.



I had elevated numbers and statistics to a position of power and influence. But worse, I had awarded them a legitimacy that they neither earned, nor deserved.



Numbers and statistics had become my master and I their slave. I had begun to follow them as if they were worthy of my trust and deserving of my full attention.



John Allen Paulos, professor of mathematics and author of "A Numerate Life," explained in The New York Times: "Numbers have a certain mystique: They seem precise, exact, sometimes even beyond doubt. But outside of the field of pure mathematics, this reputation is rarely deserved. And when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic, buying into that can be downright dangerous."



Part of ensuring that the public is kept safe, according to biological anthropologist Dr. Jennifer Cole, falls on officials who need to ensure that the media and the public understand that figures are never concrete. They are based on what we know, and do not include what we do not know, until we do, at which time they change again. She added: "Estimates and projections should always be put in context. If figures and estimates change, it's important to clearly explain why this has happened."



Of course, the two figures of most importance in the midst of the coronavirus crisis are the number of cases, and the number of deaths. From the equation that relies on these figures we arrive at the case fatality rate, that is, the percentage of confirmed infected patients who are dying.



One would need to be either ignorant or a fool not to care about these statistics. They are, understandably, the statistics that impact and overwhelm us the most.



We use them to rate the chances of survival for ourselves, and for those we love.



We are lifted when they go down, and depressed when they go up.



Ultimately, we expect them, and expect them in terms that we understand.



And so healthcare authorities take mountains of data, endless equations and countless variables and shove them into bite-sized pieces of information that we can consume.



But working out case fatality rates is like having to summarize "War and Peace" in a paragraph. You have to leave a lot out to make what you do know fit in.



John Edmunds, a professor of infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explains: "It is surprisingly difficult to calculate the 'case fatality ratio,' or death rate during an epidemic.



"The statistics that we see in print or online depend entirely on the number of confirmed cases, but as every international expert agrees, in most countries the number of undocumented cases of infection far exceeds the number of 'confirmed cases.'



"We do not report all the cases. In fact, we only usually report a small proportion of them. If it were possible to identify every case of infection, only then would we be able to arrive at an accurate rate of case fatality".



Consultant in infectious diseases at the University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Dr. Toni Ho, supports Professor Edmunds' explanation.



"The quote case fatality rate of 3.4 percent is taken from 'confirmed' deaths over totally 'reported' cases. This (case fatality rate) is likely an overestimate, as a number of countries, such as the U.S. and Iran, have undertaken limited testing. Hence, few of the mild cases have been picked up and the total number of cases we are observing are the tip of the iceberg."



Summing up his findings, Edmunds explained that the only thing we can safely say "is that if you divide the number of reported deaths by the number of reported cases (in order to get the case fatality ratio), you will almost certainly get the wrong answer."



Of course, in countries like South Korea, which were able to fast-track the production of test kits and undertake community-wide tests on both symptomatic and asymptomatic citizens, the discrepancy in figures will be much smaller.



Epidemiologist Jeffrey Shaman, from the School of Public Health at Columbia University, led a team of international researchers from London and Beijing in an in-depth study of undocumented Covid-19 infections. Their research was based on data taken from Chinese hospitals from January 10-25. Their paper can be found in the journal "Science."



"As physicians and researchers have seen since the start of the outbreak, many infected people never become sick," they say. "As few as 14 percent of people in Wuhan with 'early' coronavirus infections were being detected."



If we are to assume this research is correct, 86 percent of early infections in Wuhan went undetected.



Adding to the number of undocumented cases is the number of mildly symptomatic people with no travel history, choosing protective measures over confirmation. Thousands of people are assuming the worst and strictly self-isolating rather than venturing out onto streets or to hospitals, where, if they are infected, they may pass the virus on.



And healthcare workers are encouraging these decisions.



"If you're feeling a bit under the weather but you can walk, eat and breathe without difficulty, and are not in a high-risk category, stay home in strict isolation for four weeks, not two. Increase your fluids and salts, disinfect everything and don't even go out for a walk. Don't have visitors. Only go to seek medical help if your symptoms get worse or you have been in contact with a confirmed case. The odds are on your side, and you are freeing up resources for those in real need of medical care."



Dr. Mark Morocco, of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre, explained that the average healthy person with a mild cough should not be racing into already crowded hospitals, unless they have been in contact with someone who is infected or have traveled overseas.



We don't know how much worse things will get, he said, "but it's critical to limit the spread of the virus through isolation and social distancing, and by not rushing to the hospital if all we feel is a bit under the weather."



There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions (apart from the rightly termed "Covidiots") who will ride this storm out at home, drinking Grandma's chicken soup, FaceTiming friends, playing Sudoku and binging on Netflix.



When the virus has been contained, experts estimate that millions of people will have been infected with either no idea they were carrying the virus, or at most a vague suspicion.



What all this adds up to is a statistic that we may well be able to reduce.



Professor Mark Woodhouse, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, is quoted in "Medical News Today" as saying: "Though there is a disagreement about this, some studies have suggested that (the case fatality rate) is approximately 10 times too high."



The number of undocumented cases may well decrease the case fatality percentage, but it also has a darker and much more nefarious side.



Undocumented cases of the coronavirus are now thought to have been the most significant reason for the spread of the virus. Asymptomatic carriers, or those with only very mild symptoms, escape detection and have moved among communities and populations  from city to city and country to country  as if they did not present an immediate risk.



This is why lockdowns are necessary, not because most people are doomed to die, but because we simply cannot be sure who is carrying the virus. This virus is not bullet proof and some people's immune systems have a better ability to keep the virus from compromising their health.



Some do not.



This is the human side of the crisis, in fact the only side that really counts. It is not about numbers and statistics, but about our commitment to each other and to the welfare of people that we've never met and probably never will.



Too often we cannot see these people for the numbers.



If instead of checking the latest numbers, we use the time to contact a friend, check up on a neighbor or send some fruit to an elderly relative, we would be actively taking a stand against the virus.



We can all read, and most of us can even count, but that doesn't mean that numbers and statistics should take places of priority in our lives. Those places are reserved for human beings.



The virus will spread and the numbers will increase  that we can be sure of. We no longer need statistics to motivate us to do what we all know we must.



Less thinking about numbers and more time thinking about each other might strike the balance we so desperately need.



Think about it  but not for too long.


Theres a fatalism that no matter what he does, hes going to get blamed by half of the country, said a former senior administration official with knowledge of Trumps thinking. If there is something he has some measure of control over, which is the economy, why not potentially try to take action? Yes, there will be a death toll, and hell get blamed one way or another, but in all likelihood, whether he gets reelected or not will depend on where the economy is and where peoples perceptions of the economy are six months from now. Thats where he is primarily focused.
The immediate past President of MUSIGA, Bice Obour Osei Kuffour has officially announced the death of his 75-year-old father, Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour, who tested positive for Coronavirus. Obours father passed away at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on Friday evening.

In a statement issued on social media, Obour sorrowfully said With sadness and a heavy heart I announce the death of Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour my biological father.

The Aspiring NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Asante Akyem South said his father returned from the United Kingdom on 19th March after his yearly visit to the family. But few days after his return, Nana Boansi Osei Kuffour began to cough on Sunday 22nd.

We arranged for his blood sample to be tested and he tested positive for malaria. We began treatment for malaria but his condition got worse. We arranged to bring him to Accra to be tested for COVID-19 at Ridge Hospital on Wednesday [25th March]. They informed us that his report will be ready on Friday but we should keep him in quarantine which we did.

The statement indicated that on Thursday night, Obours father had extreme difficulty in breathing, and the family thus made a distress call to the National Ambulance Service and informed them of his condition.

Obour and his family according to the statement duly informed them that the patient had tested for COVID-19 and awaiting his results, and must, therefore, come along with the appropriate apparel.

It said that upon reaching the Ridge Hospital around 11 pm on Thursday, March 26, the family divulged the same information about his travelling history and health condition to the nurse on duty.

Late this afternoon, the doctors informed us that he is likely to be a confirmed COVID-19 case and as such we should take steps to do a contact trace and quarantine ourselves. Sadly, he passed on this evening. It is very tough for us as a family, as he was the best father anyone could wish for.

Meanwhile, several messages of condolences are pouring in for Obours father from prominent personalities including one of his key competitors in the Asante Akyem South Parliamentary primaries, Mr Eric Amofa.
Two girls from Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, who sat next to the lone COVID-19 patient from Mizoram on a New Delhi-Guwahati flight, have tested negative for the disease, a senior health official said.

Their samples were sent to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for tests, Health Secretary P Parthiban said.

The Tawang district administration had placed the two girls under home isolation after they shared the flight with the 50-year-old COVID-19 patient on March 16.

The pastor from Mizoram, who recently returned from the Netherlands, is the second COVID-19 patient in the Northeast after a woman from Manipur who tested positive for the disease after her return from the United Kingdom.

Parthiban said that 12 persons have so far been tested for coronavirus in the state of which seven results have returned negative and the rest are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 21-year-old city resident, who tested positive for the virus on March 20, has been cured of the disease. Two subsequent tests have shown him to be negative for the virus. He was discharged from the Rajiv Gandhi Government General you on Friday.

The youngster, an MBA student in Ireland, tested positive upon return to Chennai. He will be under home quarantine for 14 days. He is believed to have come in contact with around 95 persons here.

Meanwhile, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said the first exclusive government hospital for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu has been set up at Omandurar, with 500 beds.
DANBURY  The second of the states field hospitals is officially set up to handle a potential influx of patients as the number of coronavirus cases rise.

The 25-bed facility outside Danbury Hospital would not be used until the demand arises, but officials said it is critical to be prepared.

This asset is here, said Matthew Cassavechia, director of emergency medical services at Danbury Hospital. Its at the ready.

Installation of the tent began Wednesday in collaboration with the state and was completed Friday. It is one of two of these facilities in the state, with the other at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

The state picked these locations because they were seen as the areas of most need, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said.

With 85 cases, Danbury has the third-highest number of cases of all municipalities in the state, while Fairfield County exceeds other counties, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. The city borders New York, which has the most cases in the country.

We know were near a hot spot, Bysiewicz said. We know this will get worse before it gets better.

The main and mobile hospital are open to New York residents, too, said Sharon Adams, president of Danbury and New Milford hospitals, which are part of the Nuvance network.

We take anybody that comes to our doors, she said.

The hospital could look to add another tent in the future, although there are still beds available inside the hospital, Adams said.

We are not close to capacity and we continue to look for areas of growth, she said.

The hospital has 70 ventilators, which are key to treating coronavirus patients and have been in demand throughout the country, Adams said. Through Nuvance, the hospital is able to share resources, but the availability of ventilators remains a challenge.

We know were going to need more ventilators, Adams said.

Bysiewicz expects more ventilators and personal protective equipment could arrive this weekend. Businesses and individuals have been donating equipment, while the state is vetting 400 vendors to make more, she said.

There are 900 ventilators in the state, and the governors request Thursday for federal assistance could mean more are coming, Bysiewicz said.

Officials practiced the precautions they have encouraged to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, standing feet apart from each other when talking to reporters.

Bysiewicz wore gloves, despite the warm weather, and greeted a Hearst Connecticut Media reporter with a no-touch elbow bump from feet away.

Were trying to model social distancing, she said.

The facility has stretchers and wheelchairs, with equipment, such as an IV and oxygen tank, at each bed that could serve patients with any diagnosis, Cassavechia has said.

The space may be used as a triage center or to treat either patients with or without coronavirus, he said.

Based on the situation and as it changes, were adapting to what were presented with and well be able to use this mobile field hospital, Cassavechia said.

The hospital could even switch up how the space is used once it opens, Adams said.

That could change as well, as needs evolve, she said.

The same precautions taken inside the hospital to keep patients and staff safe will be used in the mobile facility, said Laurie Brentlinger, director of infection prevention for Danbury and Norwalk hospitals.

Were making the same modifications in the tent as we have in all of our facilities to make sure we keep our population safe, keep our population separated, she said.
A national congressionally mandated commission charged with evaluating the Selective Service System announced this week that it will recommend to Congress that women be required to register for future military drafts.

The 11-member bipartisan National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service has spent the last two years holding information sessions on the issue in 42 cities and 22 states. The commission issued its findings in a 49-point report titled Inspired to Serve.

U.S. Army (photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Klika/Released)

The purpose of the commission was to consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and public service in order to address national security and other public service needs of the Nation, according to the executive summary of the report.

The proposition that women register for possible obligatory military service was prompted after then-Defense Secretary Ashton Carter opened all positions in the armed forces to women, including combat duty. The decision was understood at the time to also potentially expose women to the requirement of registering for the draft, because a 1981 Supreme Court ruling only exempted women from registering because they did not participate in frontline combat duty.

After failing to get the provision passed in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, the late Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Jack Reed (Rhode Island) formed the commission to study the issue and make recommendations to Congress.

It is clear from the extent of the commissions findings that its real purpose extended far beyond the question of mandating women to register for the draft.

The majority of its 49 recommendations are focused on marketing and recruiting into the military, especially among youth. Proposals include cross-service marketing, recruitment, and retention, a vast range of military outreach programs around the country, and an immense increase in targeting youth to get them to explore service.

A second important element of the commissions findings is the emphasis put on the need to convey to registrants their potential obligation for military service, to improve the readiness of the National Mobilization System, and even to build National Mobilization Exercises.

The report states bluntly that In the case of a national emergency, a successful mobilization of the Nation may ultimately rely on the moral mobilization of the American people: their support for the cause, which is based on the context of the national emergency, their trust in Government, and their perception of an equally shared obligation.

Therefore, the commission also recommends in point 36 that Congress amend the [Military Selective Service Act] to require the Selective Service System to develop and implement methods to convey to registrants the solemn obligation for military service in the event of a draft and to appropriate funds to accomplish this. The report explains that every registrant should understand the purpose and potential implication of their registration with the Selective Service System.

In other words, the United States government is preparing for a major military conflict in which tens of thousands if not millions of workers and youth will be required to fight on behalf of Wall Street. Furthermore, they are aware of the overwhelming hostility that exists in the population toward war and militarism.

It is clear that the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service was, therefore, tasked with finding ways to prepare the public for coming wars through a massive marketing campaign in schools across the country, and to prepare the government for a forced reinstitution of the draft under conditions of immense opposition from workers and youth.

The focus on the question of requiring women to register for the draft is part and parcel with the broader plans to prepare for another major war. The inclusion of women into the Selective Service would vastly expand the pool of potential military conscripts, who would be much needed in the event that any one of the dozens of military flashpoints around the world were to metastasize into a major military conflict, or a third world war.

U.S. Marine Corps (photo by Sgt. Michelle Reif)

The commission raises this point directly in the report, explaining that the US population growth rate is at its lowest point in more than 80 years and that seven out of ten Americans of draft age, both male and female, are unfit for military service. Roughly doubling the pool from which the Nation might obtain conscripts, the commission writes, would improve military readiness by raising the quality of those who might serve, as some women would be more qualified to serve than some men.

The expansion of US military cannon fodder in the form of conscripted soldiers has been a long-sought-after goal of the US political establishment. In a 2017 report to Congress, the Department of Defense said explicitly: Were Congress and the President to authorize the registration of women, the current cohort of about 11 million women in the primary age range of 18-25 would need to be registered in short order. ... Annually thereafter, the inclusion of females would almost double the number of registrants.

Senator Reed, one of the commissions architects, made it clear in a press conference Wednesday that Congress would work hard to act on the commissions recommendations quickly: This is not a report that should sit on the shelfthis is a call to action. He went on: It focuses on ensuring that our military and public sectors can attract and retain the talent necessary to defend and support the nation.

The mechanism by which this provision will be sold to the American people is by invocation of womens equality as the underlying motivation for the change. The report states: That women register, and perhaps be called up in the event of a draft, is a necessary prerequisite for their achieving equality as citizens, as it has been for other groups historically discriminated against in American history. Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, is quoted in the report to make the case, ostensibly on behalf of all women: Its insulting to suggest Americas mothers and wives and daughters couldnt contribute, whether the need were rebuilding levees after a natural disaster or repelling an invasion from our shores. ... Americas daughters should be slotted into service as their physical and emotional suitability proves capable of, just like Americas sons.

Debra Wada, the panels vice chair for military service, justified the call to broaden the draft in a conference call with reporters, declaring, By leveraging the skills, abilities and talents of all Americans, regardless of gender, qualified men and women alike will be able to fill any and all personnel needs.

Women bring a whole host of different perspectives, different experiences, said Wada, a former assistant secretary for the Army, noting that being drafted does not necessarily mean serving in combat. In a time of national crisis, the government could draft people to a variety of positions, from clerical work to cybersecurity.

If the threat is to our very existence, she said, wouldnt you want women as part of that group?

The reinstatement of the draft has long been promoted by figures within the Democratic Party. Its leading female representatives, such as Hillary Clinton, have positioned themselves as the spokespeople for these reactionary measures on the pretense of promoting womens equality.

Such measures so sharply expose the class divide among women. Upper-class women, who would never have to fight in a war, and whose money would certainly find a way to exempt their sons and daughters, put forward most earnestly the demand for womens rights in the service of US imperialism and for the benefit of Wall Street. Simultaneously, they fight tooth and nail for the most reactionary economic and social policies, which leave millions of workers, men and women, to survive on the brink of starvation.

The promotion of such reactionary policies owes a debt of gratitude to the #MeToo movement, spearheaded by most right-wing layers of petty-bourgeois women who have sought to use the concept of equality of women to dull the democratic sentiments of the population in the most recent period. For this layer, womens forced conscription into military service is surely hailed as a great triumph for all women.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has over 12,000 suspected COVID-19 cases, a top health official said on Saturday as the confirmed infections reached 1,495 with the Punjab province emerging as the new epicenter of the deadly disease in the country.

Advisor on health to the government Zafar Mirza was addressing a daily briefing to inform the magnitude of infection and measures taken to combat coronavirus pandemic.

"There are currently 12,218 suspected COVID-19 patients in the country," he said.

Most of the infected people had returned from Iran, where the confirmed cases are over 30,000 with more than 2,300 deaths.

The confirmed coronavirus cases include 557 in Punjab, 469 in Sindh, 188 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 133 in Balochistan, 107 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 39 in Islamabad and 2 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the Ministry of Health said.

So far 12 people have died of the disease, 25 recovered and 7 were in critical condition. Punjab is emerging as the new epicenter of the deadly viral infection in the country.

Of the 490 cases in the province, the highest number of 207 were reported from Dera Ghazi Khan district.

Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar tweeted that a 22-year-old COVID-19 patient died in Faisalabad, taking the total number of deaths due to the disease in the province to five.

In Islamabad, at least 30 doctors of the Polyclinic Hospital were quarantined after one of them was tested positive. Mirza also said that everyone having minor symptoms of virus were needed to undergo the coronavirus test.

"PCR (Polymerase Chain Traction) test is considered the most authentic in the world and there are 14 Labs in the country authorized to carry out this test," he said.

Mirza said that the ratio of death in Pakistan was 0.78 per cent which was far below than many other countries.

Moeed Yusuf, advisor on security, said that the country's air traffic would remain suspended until April 4.

"We have also suspended the outgoing flight from tomorrow until April 4," he said.

He said with the arrival of a flight tonight bringing passengers from Bangkok, the process of repatriation of all stranded Pakistanis would be complete.

Yusuf said that air traffic will be gradually reopened after April 4 after putting in place on the ground the necessary infrastructure to screen and check every incoming passenger.

He also said that the eastern (with India) and western borders (with Iran and Afghanistan) will remain closed for two more weeks.

Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal said that the number of testing laboratories would be increased gradually to 50 in the coming weeks.

He said that more testing kits and protective gear was being imported from China and the deficiency of ventilators would also be met soon.

Police sealed the headquarters of the Tableeghi Jamaat in Hyderabad city of Sindh after one of its members was tested positive.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Hyderabad, Adeel Chandio confirmed that the entire mosque had been placed under quarantine and that no one is allowed to come out.

Mirza also said that a team of eight Chinese doctors will arrive in Pakistan to review the steps taken by the government to fight the coronavirus outbreak and they will share their experience with local doctors.

"The government will fully benefit from the experience of Chinese doctors," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who is very close to Prime Minister Imran Khan, denied news reports surrounding the premier's health.

"News regarding PM Imran Khan tested positive for #Covid19 is NOT True. Please refrain from spreading Fake News," he tweeted.

As government urged clerics to stop congregation in mosques, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asked people to follow guidelines of medical experts.

"When doctors recommend that people should take maximum precautionary measures and not go near affected people, then people are bound to abide by these guidelines and follow instructions of the district administration in this regard," he told media.

Police on Saturday arrested four clerics and booked 15 others in Punjab and Sindh provinces for violating lockdown rules and holding Friday congregations despite a fatwa issued by a top global Islamic body to suspend them to contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Also, the interior ministry announced an easy procedure for the already registered international non-governmental organizations if they wanted to help the government in the fight against the deadly virus.

They will get permission by following the guidelines.

Earlier, Pakistan had made a tough law for the international non-governmental organizations to operate in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund said it would consider Islamabad's request for financial assistance to control the adverse impact of the coronavirus on its economy.

"Our team is working expeditiously to respond to this request so that a proposal can be considered by the IMF's executive board as soon as possible," said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in a statement.

According to officials, cash-strapped Pakistan is looking to get new loans from the international agencies to support its economy hit badly by the coronavirus pandemic.
There were no new positive cases Saturday for coronavirus in Midland County, as well as Bay, Gladwin and Isabella counties, according to information released at 3 p.m. by the state.

The state reported 993 new cases on Saturday along with 19 deaths. Friday's numbers showed 801 new cases and 32 deaths.

The majority of cases are in a four-area region in southeast Michigan. To date, the City of Detroit has recorded 1,377 cases with 30 deaths; Oakland County 1,108 cases with 31 deaths; Wayne County, 939 cases with 16 deaths, and Macomb County with 534 cases and 17 deaths.

Overall, Michigan has 4,650 cases with 111 deaths as of Saturday.

We cannot stress enough how important it is for our community to be diligent in their community mitigation efforts," said Fred Yanoski, Midland County Public Health director/health officer. "We know that COVID-19 is in our community, and our residents can make a huge impact on slowing the spread of disease by following the recommended precautions."

The health department continues to encourage residents to take these precautions:

 Continue to practice social distancing as recommended by federal, state and local officials

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

 Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

 Disinfect commonly touched surfaces

 Stay home when you are sick

 Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available call Mid Michigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or Mid Michigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100.

MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also send an e-mail to: COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708.
Today, March 28, in Kyiv recorded 19 new confirmed cases of infection with the coronavirus Covid-19. There are 74 infected in total in Kyiv. The mayor of the capital Vitaly Klitschko reports this in Telegram.

Among the newly confirmed cases are 10 men aged 25 to 54 years. Also 9 women from 17 to 62 years old.

This morning we received another 19 laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus infection from the state institution Kyiv City Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, - Klitschko wrote.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health reported that in Ukraine the number of people infected with coronavirus has increased to 310 people. Of these, 5 were fatal, 4 people were cured, and another is being prepared at the discharge.

The Ministry of Health noted that almost 50% of all Covid-19 infected with coronavirus in Ukraine are people from 18 to 49 years old. It is the people of this age group who disregard the threatening situation that looms over the world, including Ukraine.

As we reported, the number of coronavirus infected in Ukraine has increased to 310 people.
Glentis Matthew, a laundry manager at Luis Hospital on St. Croix, is suited up during a recent donning and doffing training session at the hospital. Both hospitals in the territory are bracing for a potential increase in hospitalizations as a result of the Covid-19 virus.
Second Chances  Refugee Voices in Denmark is a series of portraits of refugees who have found protection in Denmark and have had the opportunity to rebuild their lives here. The portraits tell stories of struggle and resilience. Of determination and hope. Join these people as they trace their journeys to Denmark from different war-torn countries and reflect on their path back to normality in their new home Denmark.

Rahmes story begins in Syria as a new wife and mother of two small children, a son and a daughter. Her family lived a very nice lifestyle, as her father, and also her father-in-law, owned large olive orchards and produced their own olive oil. Both Rahmes and her husbands family are Kurdish, and they lived in Afrin  between the city of Aleppo and the Turkish border  where the majority of inhabitants are Kurdish. As a woman, Rahme spent most of her time taking care of domestic duties in the home. She went to primary school but does not have a lot of academic education since she was not able to finish high school. After they got married, Rahme and her husband moved closer to Aleppo to be near the bigger city.

After the war in Syria intensified in 2012, she left her home by car and drove toward Turkey with her husband and two children. Her son was three years old and her daughter was two at the time. Its with many tears and great fear that Rahme remembers the traumatic journey:

The bombs were coming in, and we were driving very quickly. When we reached Turkey there was a man who took everything, including my bag and passport. We had nothing other than the clothes we wore. Then we walked from Turkey to Greece. We walked all day, and it was very, very hard. My daughter was very sick with a fever. We had nothing to drink or eat, no water and no food. We finally came to the Turkish-Greek border and the Greek police took my daughter from my arms and threatened to shoot her. My husband was holding my son and they were pointing at him saying, Go back. Go back or we will shoot your wife and daughter. So we went back.

It was with help from smugglers that the family was eventually able to cross the Greek border. They were put on a train to Denmark, although at the time Rahme had no idea where they were going. Arriving at Copenhagen central station, they were taken to a Red Cross asylum center, where the family ended up living for two years, before being granted refugee status.

We had nothing to drink or eat, no water and no food.

Now my son is ten years old and my daughter is nine. My son can still remember when we fled Syria. The first two years, he was always talking about our trip and what happened at the borders. Now he talks about it less. When we would take the train and someone would come to check our ticket, he would think it was the police coming. I took him to a doctor for his psychological trauma. Now we can talk a little about Aleppo and Syria.

A Familys Loss

After she was settled in Denmark, Rahme was able to contact her mother, father, brother and sister, who were still back in Syria with no electricity, water or phones. She encouraged them to leave as well, and after her family had fled to Turkey, they were united in Denmark through the family reunification program. Even with her family now here with her, Rahme reflects on her former life in Syria with a huge sense of loss.

We had many things in Syria. We had a big house, my father had an olive oil farm and produced olive oil. Now everything is gone. Its very hard. My father also thinks about these things. Nothing is left and he had to start here from zero. Maybe for me thats ok. I am young and I still have a future that I can build. But my father spent 50 years of his life working hard to earn the things he had.

Rahme does not have any family left in Syria now. Her uncle and 16-year-old nephew were killed, and another uncle had both legs amputated after a bomb went off in his shop.

I hope that people will stop with the bombing and killing people. I cannot watch the television anymore. Every day, there are bombings. There is nobody left. Everybody has fled to Germany and here. Before Afrin was all Kurds, but now all the Kurds are gone.

Rahme has heard that new people have moved into her familys house. However since the family has no paperwork remaining, there is no way to prove that the house belonged to them.

The worst thing I think we lost are the photos from our wedding and of our children. They are all gone, and we cannot get that back. Everything is gone.

A New Danish Beginning

Today, Rahme is very happy with her new life in Denmark and hopes that she will not be sent back to Syria.

I would like to stay here in Denmark. If I had to go back to Syria now I would have to start over from zero again. We have heard that the Danish government is saying many refuges can go back now, but we have nothing left there. I would be afraid to go back. We are very happy to be in Denmark. My husband and I both have jobs here, my children go to Danish school, and we all speak Danish. We are all Danish.

The integration process for Rahme was made easier by a teacher at the language school.

She helped me learn to speak Danish, how to do my shopping, how to find my way to the daycare for the children, and how to just be in Denmark.

When Rahme completed her Danish language class, she was to do an internship, and by that time her teacher had opened a kitchen at the language school, and so she was offered to intern in the kitchen. That was four years ago.

My children are almost Danish with their food. They eat a lot of rye bread, liver pate and salmon.

But then two years ago the same teacher called to tell me I could come work in the kitchen as my first proper job and be paid. I was very happy with that. I really like making food and working in the kitchen.

Rahme works full-time making the meals for the cafe in the language school and deciding on the menu for the week.

I like making Danish meals because I learn more from that. I also make different meals at home, not just Syrian food. My children are almost Danish with their food. They eat a lot of rye bread, liver pate and salmon.

New Freedoms

The differences between Syrian and Danish cultures are plenty, but one thing that Rahme is most grateful for is the freedom women enjoy here.

In Syria women dont work. Women cannot wear normal clothing and cannot go shopping. Women should just be at home, and my life was like that. Here, I am tired from the hard work all day, but I dont have any problems. And my husband then helps out a lot.

Rahme remembers one spring night in Copenhagen, when she went by herself to the beach to enjoy the evening alone  something she thinks would not have been possible in Syria, even before the war.

Im happy here because there is nobody making decisions for me, as both a woman and a Kurd. No one else is deciding how I should live. In Syria I could not go to school because I am Kurdish. Here, everybody is the same regardless of your religion. Why does it matter what religion you are? It should not make a difference.

One thing that Rahme is grateful for is the freedom women enjoy in Denmark. Sasja van Vechgel Rahme knows that while it is important to remember the past, she must also look ahead to the future. Sasja van Vechgel

Naturally, there are still things that Rahme misses about her home.

I miss Syria. If the situation was safe I would like to go visit in the summer so I could walk around and pick fruit. You can pick oranges, pomegranate, lemons, avocados, lettuce. And in the summer we would pick strawberries and figs.

Rahme knows that while it is important to remember the past, she must also look ahead to the future.

My dream is for my family. I would like us to stay and live here in Denmark. I would like to continue to work here and have my children finish school and grow up here. Also, I think I would like to work in a restaurant, or even start my own. I like making my own food to serve others.

The Authors

The portrait series Second Chances  Refugee Voices in Denmark is produced by Amy Cunningham and Sasja van Vechgel for UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe.

Amy Cunningham is an American freelance writer who focuses on telling human stories to foster empathy, expand understanding, and cultivate connections. She strives to give the subjects of her stories their own unique voice, empowering them to link us all in new capacities. Her love of travel and exploring different cultures has led her to meet diverse people from around the world, each with their special story to share.

Sasja van Vechgel is a dutch photographer, born in the Netherlands in 1975, known for de-stigmatizing her subjects, humanizing people again. Her work is characterized by a combination of social documentary photography, often focused on human rights and health issues with an artsy flavor. She has been living and working in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Tanzania, Indonesia and Denmark for the past 18 years, which has resulted in a variety of assignments for multinationals and NGOs, international awards and exhibitions.

Read also the stories of Moudi, Fawad and Elisha.

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President Donald Trump speaks to a press gaggle as he departs for the Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, from the White House on March 28, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

Trump Considering Imposing Quarantine on New York Area

Quarantines may be imposed on New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

More than 50 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States are in the New York area. Most of those are in New York City.

Trump told reporters as he left the White House that some people want to see New York quarantined.

Im thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it but theres a possibility sometime today well do a quarantineshort-term, two weekson New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut, Trump said.

The president cited the number of New Yorkers flying to Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a mandatory quarantine for people from New York or New Jersey arriving at airports because of the thousands who fled stay at home orders.

The quarantine would be enforceable, Trump said.

I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020

The president was flying to Norfolk, Virginia to attend a send-off ceremony for the USNS Comfort. The U.S. Navy ship was heading to New York to help in the response to the CCP virus.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

Trump told those assembled in Virginia that his administration would announce a decision on a quarantine very soon. Policies wont affect truckers who are dropping off supplies in New York or trade, the president added.

The president told those assembled in Virginia that our nation is at war with an invisible enemy.

Trump indicated a day prior he was considering a quarantine.

A doctor from SOMOS Community Care prepares to test a patient at a drive-thru testing center for COVID-19 at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York City on March 28, 2020. The center, opened March 23 at Lehman College, can test up to 500 people per day for the CCP virus. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Were being very strong on quarantine and on people not leaving, especially certain states and going to other states where they have less of a problem, Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump said he hears constantly about people leaving New York and going to Florida, adding: Understand, we are not playing games.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he spoke with Trump on Friday but a quarantine didnt come up.

Theres no question the greater New York metropolitan area is the number one hotspot in America right now, Murphy told reporters at a press conference.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters in Albany on Saturday afternoon that he didnt speak with the president about the possible quarantine.

I dont know how that would be legally enforceable, Cuomo said. Not even knowing what that is, I dont like the sound of it.

Medical staff check in people to get tested for the new CCP virus at Elmhurst Hospital Center in the Queens borough of New York City on March 26, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

State officials have dismissed calls from the White House for people who left the New York metropolitan area within the past two weeks to quarantine themselves wherever they are until 14 days have elapsed from when they left the region.

Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said at a press conference in Washington on Friday that the calls stemmed from concerns about those people.

It was for them to voluntarily self-isolate and take care of themselves because we felt they could be exposed and we wanted to alert them that the rates in New York City were high and increasing and that they were probably exposed during some of the most exposure time period before the mitigation efforts went in, she said.

Earlier in the week, Birx talked about how her grandmother took the Spanish flu into her home when she was a baby. Her grandmothers mother died from the flu.

Florida is threatening up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for anyone who violates the 14-day mandatory quarantine for people flying in from New York and New Jersey. Texas mandated a similar quarantine for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut travelers, while Rhode Island is enforcing an isolation protocol by tracking cars arriving from New York, in addition to people coming in on buses and trains.

I understand this is an extreme measure, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo told reporters on Thursday, adding that the measure was needed because New York City and the surrounding areas are a hot zone and the infection rate is skyrocketing.
Over 400 prisoners from Delhis Tihar jail complex were released on Saturday in a bid to reduce overcrowding in light of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, jail authorities said.

Of the 419 prisoners released, 356 were released on a 45-day interim bail, while 63 others were released on an eight-week emergency parole.

This is the first batch of prisoners to be released after the jail officials had said a few days earlier that they would be letting out nearly 3,000 inmates to ease congestion in the prison complex.

The interim bail is for 45 days. The emergency parole is for eight weeks, a senior jail official said. More prisoners would be released over the next few days, the official added.

Earlier, inmates were entitled to only four-week parole but the Delhi government amended the prison rules to decongest the prisons in light of Covid-19.

With over 18,000 inmates, the Tihar jail is the most overcrowded prison complex across Delhi. The jail complex has a capacity of housing only 10,000 prisoners,

Sandeep Goel, director general, Delhi Prisons, had earlier said the inmates would be released after officials observe their conduct inside the prison, and records from the time they were last out of prison. The released inmates do not include hardened and dangerous criminals. Those who were awarded less than seven years of a prison sentence( for non-heinous crimes) would be considered for this release, he had said.
(TNS)  If residential broadband networks crash or slow to a crawl, then the push to have adults work from home and students learn from home will become a lot more complicated. And now that Colorado has joined other states in ordering residents to shelter in place, the strain on the Internet is only going to grow.So are the states networks up to the task or should we eventually expect to play board games and read books to fill the hours now spent online?Weve seen no evidence of networks being outright overloaded by the shift in consumer demand over the past week. Well continue monitoring this as the situation progresses, but for now, theres nothing tangible to suggest that consumers need to drastically alter their behaviors online, even in areas that have seen more significant dips in download speeds, said Tyler Cooper, editor-n-chief of BroadbandNow, which helps consumers connect with Internet service providers.BroadbandNow looked at the range of median download speeds available in 200 cities between Jan. 1 to March 14 and then compared them with the median download speed during the week of March 15-21 to see where the median dropped below the prior range, a sign of a network under stress.The good news is that in a majority of places, speeds are holding up. Only 88 out of the 200 cities studied have experienced median speeds below the prior range. And of those, only 24 cities had a dip in median speeds of 20% or more below the old range.That group includes Littleton, which experienced a 22% drop in median download speeds, the worst of any Colorado city in the study. But Littleton started with blazing fast Internet and it boasts a median download speed of 57.8 Mbps even with the drop. Denvers median download speed dropped 13% to 25.75 Mbps last week. Fort Collins speeds are down 7% to 34.4 Mbps, while speeds in Colorado Springs are off 6% to 26.1 Mbps..Cooper said the speed degradation seen in Denver and other cities isnt overly concerning and reflects the variations in traffic being experienced. They are moderate compared to the three metros that have seen the biggest drops: Austin, Texas, down 44%; Oxnard, Calif., down 42%, and Winston Salem, N.C., down 41%.It could simply be due to employees logging into their work environments from their home connection via VPN, which would be a bit slower in general, Cooper said.But Alex Moulle-Berteaux, the chief operating officer for Starry, a startup which deploys 5G broadband, said the real test of the system comes in upload speeds, which are being taxed.Networks using coaxial cable, the kind that dominate in metro Denver and other cities, are designed to provide download to upload capacity at a 10:1 ratio. Normally that is sufficient. What Starry has found on its network is that the ratio has shifted to 5:1. Starry can handle that, but older technologies cant, he warns.Its not designed to handle that kind of increase in upstream traffic, i.e.video conferencing that requires two-way communication, he said. Theres just no upstream capacity to support a massive uptick in demand.If the network comes under further strain in the days ahead, the answer wont be to ask those not working to stop streaming movies and shows during daylight hours. Rather, the call should be for employers to limit bandwidth hogs like video conferencing.Some management consultants recommend employers require video conferencing each day so employees working remotely dont mutti-task during a meeting or lounge around unkempt in a bathrobe. But that advice may be misguided if it strains networks.CenturyLink is monitoring traffic across its network to ensure that it flows smoothly and securely as more people work or learn from home, said Kerry Zimmer, a spokesperson for the telecommunications providers.We are adjusting when needed by moving network traffic to less congested routes and adding capacity to our network backbone, Zimmer said.Centurylink also offers some tips on boosting speeds in a home setting. They include placing the router where wireless devices are most in use; making sure devices that use that signal have the same technology as the modem, and looking for interference from devices such as wireless keyboards, cordless phones, microwaves and Bluetooth headsets.
Sonja Tiernan (left) and Charlotte Hall (right) celebrating their wedding at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney with a view of Dublin Bay in the background in April 2019. Photo: Lorcan Tiernan

Every mobile phone across New Zealand rang with an emergency tone at 6.30pm on Tuesday 25th March, announcing a National Emergency and a lockdown from 11.59pm, likely to stay in place for a number of weeks. We have now entered our first full day of isolation.

Originally from Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, I moved here in June last year with my wife Charlotte, shortly after our wedding. We moved so I could take up my dream job as Professor of Irish Studies at the University of Otago.

Thankfully, it has worked out and we both now work at the University, we love this beautiful country and Kiwis are some of the best people you could meet.

We lived in England before our move and wanted to escape the post Brexit climate there. It was important that we moved to a country where we could have confidence in the government. We quickly realised that New Zealand has an impressive Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

Our visa application process was put on hold due to the horrendous Christchurch mosque attacks in March 2019. New Zealand emigration prioritised visas for families of the victims because that was the right thing to do.

Ardern has become known to act swiftly and humanely but with resolve. Thankfully, this has been the case during this crisis. New Zealand is currently weeks behind Ireland in rates of infections. Once the figure of those infected reached 100 people, the PM increased our Covid-19 alert to Level 3 for a 48 hour period. During this time, speedy action was taken. If tourists arrived without plans to self-isolate for 14 days, they were deported.

Living in New Zealand, concern is intensified not only because of the enormous distance but the uncertainty of when harsh travel restrictions will be lifted to make it possible to navigate three flights for a visit home.

Myself and Charlotte postponed our honeymoon, due to our move here. We were due to go to Fiji in just over a week where we would celebrate our first wedding anniversary.

Now our one year anniversary will be spent in lockdown! However, we know we are lucky. While I am deeply concerned about my family and friends, and would love nothing more than to walk Dun Laoghaire pier with my mother and father, I am also relieved to be in New Zealand during this time, we feel safe here.

We are living history. The challenges posed by Covid 19 are similar the world over but everybodys experience of this emergency will be different. In this special series, Lockdown Letters' gives our readers at home and across the globe an opportunity to share their stories about how the Coronavirus and the measures to tackle its spread are impacting their lives in these unprecedented times.

Please email your submission (400 words max.) to stories@independent.ie along with a photograph. We will publish as many letters as possible on Independent.ie and a selection in print every week.
 Flash

The Group of 20 (G20) major economies should uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and strengthen unity, coordination and cooperation to resolutely stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and stabilize the world economy with all their strength, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday.





In a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Xi noted that with the king presiding, G20 leaders successfully held an extraordinary summit on COVID-19 on Thursday, and reached important consensus on fighting the pandemic in solidarity and stabilizing the world economy, which has sent a positive signal to the international community.





China, he added, appreciates the tremendous efforts Saudi Arabia made for the meeting as this year's G20 chair.

Viruses respect no national borders, and only with a collective response can the international community prevail over them, stressed the Chinese president, adding that China is ready to maintain close communication with Saudi Arabia and strengthen the momentum of G20 cooperation.





Xi recalled that after the coronavirus disease broke out in China, King Salman immediately expressed sympathies and support to him, and the Saudi government and various sections of Saudi society extended a helping hand one after another, and provided China with multiple batches of material assistance.





That will be engraved in the hearts of the Chinese people, Xi said, adding that the Chinese nation is a grateful nation that returns a favor with a favor.





Noting that now Saudi Arabia is also facing the severe challenge of COVID-19, Xi said China firmly supports the Saudi side in fighting the epidemic, and stands ready to provide as much assistance as its capability allows.





China, he added, is also willing to share its epidemic prevention and control experience with the Saudi side, and help Saudi Arabia purchase medical supplies, so as to protect the lives and health of the people in both countries, and jointly safeguard global and regional public health security.

Meanwhile, China is ready to join hands with Saudi Arabia to continuously enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and lift their comprehensive strategic partnership to new levels, said Xi.





Salman, for his part, said that the Chinese government carried out decisive and strong measures and has successfully contained the outbreak, and he highly appreciates and sincerely congratulates China on that.





Stressing that China's success has sent a positive signal to the entire world, he said he has firm confidence in the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and believes that China will win the battle soon and grow stronger.





Saudi Arabia and China are friends that stick together through thick and thin, and bilateral relations are developing at a high level, said the king, who thanked China for providing assistance in testing and medical supplies.

The Saudi people will not forget that, and will always stand firmly with the Chinese side, he added.





Saudi Arabia, he said, hopes to learn from China's successful experience and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in health care and other fields, and believes that the friendship between the two countries will grow deeper and stronger in the joint fight against the epidemic.





Expressing gratitude for Xi's support for Saudi Arabia in hosting the G20 extraordinary leaders' summit on COVID-19, the king said the Saudi side hopes to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China within the G20 framework and jointly help the world overcome the current crisis as soon as possible.
Chris Jackson was halfway through his overnight shift sorting the mail for delivery when he and several colleagues were summoned into a windowless conference room.

The senior manager of the mail facility was there along with a representative from the union and other postal officials.

They confirmed the rumors that had been swirling all night. One of their colleagues in the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, mail facility had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

They gave the staff the option of going home, and about half did. But the facility wasnt going to shut down. Instead, they set up cones around the area where the sick worker had been, and the overnight crew continued until dawn preparing the mail to be sent to peoples homes.

They said we need to have the delivery trucks out there, Jackson said. They said delivery trucks really instill confidence that its business as usual, that the mail is still getting to you.

Neither sleet nor snow  nor the coronavirus. With tens of millions of people across huge swathes of the country on state-ordered lockdown, the mail has remained one of the few physical tethers to the wider world. Medicine, packages bought online, at-home coronavirus tests, even mail-in presidential ballots  all require a reliable federal mail system.

But mail delivery requires a healthy workforce, and postal workers have been falling sick across the country  Miami; Manhattan; Seattle; Portland, Oregon, and more have reported sick workers, according to Paul Hogrogian, national president of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union.

On Thursday, 13 postal workers had tested positive; by Friday, that number was 20, including the one from the Bethlehem facility where Jackson works, according to Hogrogian. On Sunday, postal officials in Washington said the number was fewer than 30.

With a workforce of 630,000, those numbers are still relatively small, but they are expected to keep rising in the coming days and weeks. Jackson and other rank-and-file postal workers worry that the USPS isnt doing enough to protect them and that they could become unwitting carriers of the virus.

They had no plan, and they werent proactive at all, Jackson said. It was just crazy to me.

FedEx and UPS workers are facing similar fears that their warehouses were contaminated or soon will be.

When Jackson returned to work the night after the meeting, he said the cones had been removed from the sick workers station, and the crew was expected to keep going. Another Bethlehem colleague, Sean Craig, said hes continuing to report for work but is worried about his infant son and his 82-year-old mother.

The concern is there just wasnt a plan in place, Craig said. It was fly by the seat of your pants, which made me very angry.

Craig and his colleagues have the option of staying at home and using their sick days or vacation days if they feel uncomfortable working. One employee reported for duty at 10 p.m., learned that a colleague had fallen sick and was out the door by 10:30 p.m., Jackson said.

Those that stayed debated whether they should use their time now or bank their sick days in case things become even worse. Jackson reasoned that since hes 34, healthy and lives alone, he could afford the risk. We havent hit the peak yet, so lets work through this right now, he said, reflecting the view of some of his colleagues.

But he said he felt like the nonessential parts of his job should be jettisoned to focus on delivering important goods and products. Were still sending brochures for cruise trips, thousands of them, he said. This doesnt need to happen.

In a message to postal employees last week, Megan J. Brennan, the postmaster general, said that there is no evidence the virus can spread through the mail. A recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the virus disintegrates over the course of a day on cardboard.

But direct handling of the mail is only one aspect of the job inside postal facilities. Hundreds of people rotate through most warehouses, handling equipment, loading trucks, and preparing the mail to be delivered door to door by letter carriers who in turn fan out to homes across their area. That leaves plenty of opportunities to spread the disease, Jackson said, and there hasnt been enough planning or support.

A lot of people asked, would they shut down the building for cleaning? Not an option, he said.

As for letter carriers who go door to door, new rules are quickly taking hold. Letter carriers walking up to peoples doorsteps are instructed to politely ask the customer to step back a safe distance and to ask for their name instead of requesting their signature.

Hogrogian, the union president, said that he has been in direct conversation with senior postal officials about how to protect his people. The most glaring gap, he said, was that sometimes it took several days for officials to identify the people who had been in close contact with those who have tested positive.

If they cant determine whos been in close contact for three or four days, he said, thats three or four more days that employees are allowed to work.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday said his government is prepared to deal with the crisis emerging out of the coronavirus outbreak.

The state government is procuring medical equipment, taking precautionary measures and readying facilities to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, Rio said in an address on the fourth day of the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

No positive coronavirus case has been reported in Nagaland so far.

"The world is going through turbulent days, the likes of which we have never experienced before. Its impact is being felt by all of us.

"But let me assure you that despite constraints, we are fully geared up to deal with this crisis and I am sure we can defeat this invisible enemy," said Rio.

The chief minister said that 173 isolation beds have been made available to treat COVID-19 patients and 175 more have been identified in state-run hospitals.

He said the state has 16 ventilators, 1712 personal protective equipment (PPE), 551 N95 masks, and 16 cardiac monitors.

The state has received 1,536 equipment including triple-layer masks, PPE, BD universal viral transport and swab sticks and is expected to receive another 2.16 lakh equipment by Monday and 33 more ventilators by next week, he said.

The state government's top priority is to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals, police personnel and journalists, who are in the front line of the combat against COVID-19, Rio said.

A total of 3,076 people, including students, who recently returned to the state, reported to the respective district surveillance teams and were subsequently placed under home quarantine for the stipulated period, he said.

Out of 18 samples that were sent for testing, results for 13 were negative and the remaining reports are awaited, Rio said.

He said that the flow of essential goods into the state has been unhindered during the lockdown.

Rio appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other chief ministers to extend help to Nagas stranded in other parts of the country.

He also urged people to maintain social distancing and stay at home.

Meanwhile, the state government has decided to give Rs 2,000 each to 24,457 construction workers registered with the Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, state Labour Commissioner S L Wati Aier said.

He said the measure was taken to help them sustain during the lockdown, adding Rs 4.8 crore will be spent on the initiative.

Meanwhile, Rio launched a mobile application through which health department officials can track COVID-19 cases and prevent community spreading.

The 'Self Declaration COVID-19 Nagaland' application tracks registered individuals through GPS.

On the other hand, Principal Secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha said control rooms have been set up in all the districts to monitor the supply of essential commodities.

He said there is no shortage of foodgrains, grocery items, milk and medicines in the state.

A total of 27 people have been arrested till Saturday for violating restrictions on the movement of people, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chandigarh, March 28 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday asked local authorities to facilitate the people, especially migrant workers, who are stranded in the state with the imposition of lockdown and want to return to their natives places.

"Came across this video of Kashmiri migrant workers who could comfortably travel back to their homes because of the considerate attitude of the District Administration of Patiala. Good work and keep it up!" he tweeted by tagging a video.

In the video, a youth was heard expressing gratitude to the Amarinder Singh government for always coming to the rescue of people of Kashmir in the times of crisis like Pulwama attack.

"At that time also, we the migrant workers were in problem and he (Amarinder Singh) came to help us. In this time of crisis owing to coronavirus, he provided us the bus (to travel back) and we want to express gratitude to him," said the youth who was sitting in a bus along with other passengers by maintaining a social distance to prevent the spread of the virus.

Sensing hardship being faced by migrant labourers with the imposition of lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the state government on Friday authorised all tehsildars (local revenue officials) to issue curfew passes to enable them to return to their native places.

Earlier, only Deputy Commissioners were authorised to issue such passes.
Global influence: The funeral procession of Terence MacSwiney (1879-1920) who died on the 74th day of his hunger strike. Photo: Getty

Precisely a century ago, on March 28, 1920, Terence MacSwiney took over as Lord Mayor of Cork from his murdered colleague and friend, Tomas Mac Curtain.

MacSwiney's story, culminating in his death on hunger strike in October 1920, making global headlines, was central to the escalating violence and Ireland's struggle 100 years ago. His inaugural speech carries a message on the value of endurance which has a curious resonance for Ireland today struggling with the exigencies of coronavirus.

"This contest of ours is one of endurance - it is not to those who can inflict the most but to those who can suffer the most, who will conquer," he said in his opening address all of a century ago.

The year 2020 has so far proved unkind - but in Ireland, as the year 1920 advanced, it brought considerable fears also to the people. It was a time of escalating violence and reprisal - with very questionable things being done by both sides as the War of Independence built to a crescendo.

Cork's first republican lord mayor, Mac Curtain, had been murdered by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in a flagrantly illegal reprisal for the killing of three RIC officers in the previous three days. Mac Curtain and MacSwiney were cut from the same cloth woven of idealism and action.

MacSwiney was born in Cork in 1879 and had a huge interest in education and culture, engaging with people like Daniel Corkery in a variety of projects. He had a keen interest in the Irish language and forged strong links with the people of Beal Atha an Ghaorthaidh in the West Cork Gaeltacht, whose GAA pitch is named in his honour.

Like Mac Curtain, MacSwiney mobilised in Cork with the Volunteers at Easter 1916, but the group obeyed the original countermanding order from their commander, Eoin MacNeill. But he was still imprisoned in 1916/1917 and then resumed his nationalist activities on his release.

Elected Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Cork in December 1918, he helped the move to set up Dail Eireann in January 1919. He was also prominent in efforts to set up a parallel courts system to bypass the British system and further an Irish rule of law.

His election as the replacement lord mayor of Cork did not improve relations with the British authorities. In August 1920 he was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing seditious documents and he immediately embarked on a hunger strike at Brixton Prison in London.

This soon captured international attention building to his death in October 1920 when he died after 74 days without food. A guard of honour of people in the prohibited Irish Volunteers' uniform accompanied his funeral cortege through the streets of London as thousands of Irish exiles lined the route.

As news of his death spread across the globe there were dramatic demonstrations of support. In Milan that night, the famous opera, 'La Scala', remained closed because Irish soprano Margaret Burke Sheridan felt unable to perform.

The St Patrick's Society of Montreal, the Bilbao Juventud Vacay Society and the Chicago Police Lieutenants' Club were among dozens of groups worldwide that sent his widow, Muriel, messages of sympathy. The authorities stymied a monster funeral procession in Dublin by having his body sent directly to Cork. But again there was a huge attendance, estimated at 100,000 people, at his funeral and his body lay in state at Cork City Hall. He was buried close to his friend and comrade Mac Curtain.

MacSwiney was dubbed an inspiration by many revolutionary leaders across the world, notably the Indian nationalists. His story of struggle was also cited by future North Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh, who was working in London washing dishes at the time.

"A nation that has such citizens will never surrender," Ho Chi Minh later wrote.

Cork historian and language activist, the late Padraig O Cuanachain, later cited MacSwiney as a catalyst for Indian nationalists, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. These leaders closely followed Ireland's example in their independence struggles. In 1981 hunger striker Bobby Sands invoked his name.

He is the subject of many books, notably Francis J Costello's 'Enduring the Most' and Dave Hannigan's 'Terence MacSwiney. The Hunger Strike that Rocked an Empire'.
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Number of people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world has surpassed 617,000, according to the latest updates by coronavirus research centers.

Death cases are over 28,000.

137,336 patients have recovered.

Statistics

US tops in terms of the largest number of confirmed cases. Number of people infected with the novel coronavirus in the United States has reached 104,277. 1704 patients have died in from COVID-19.

Then comes Italy with a total of 86,498 confirmed cases. The number of deaths is 9,134.

Italy is followed by China where the outbreak started. The total number of confirmed cases in China is 81,394. 74,971 patients have recovered, 3295 have died.

China is followed by Spain which confirmed 72,248 cases. 552 deaths were reported in one day, bringing the total number of death cases to 5,690.

Then comes Germany (53,340), followed by Iran (35,408), France (32,964), UK (14,543), Switzerland (13,377), the Netherlands (9,762).

Russia confirmed 1264 coronavirus cases, Turkey  5,698 and Georgia  85.

According to the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in more than 195 countries and territories.

US becomes first country to exceed 100,000 coronavirus cases

The United States has become the first country in the world to exceed 100,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), The Guardian reported.

US President Donald Trump signed into law the largest economic stimulus package in US history, a $2.2tn bill designed to rush federal assistance to workers and businesses.

The number of coronavirus cases in the US has increased by 15,000 as of March 27. 6,000 infected people are hospitalized in New York, nearly 1600 of them are in intensive care.

Hospitals in New York City, New Orleans, Detroit and other virus hotspots have sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, medical supplies and trained staff.

228 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Russia in one day

228 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed in Russia in one day, bringing the total number of infected people to 1264, TASS reported citing the anti-coronavirus task force.

The cases were registered in 62 regions of Russia, 114 are in Moscow.

So far, 49 patients have recovered.

A new death case has been reported. The total number of deaths in Russia from COVID-19 is 4.

832 patients die from coronavirus in Spain in one day

832 people have died in Spain from the novel coronavirus in the past one day, bringing the total number of deaths to 5,690, RIA Novosti reported.

8189 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Spain. The total number of infected people is 72,248. 4,500 patients are in critical condition. 12,300 have already recovered.

Madrid reported 21,500 COVID-19 cases, 2,800 people have died.

Spain is the second in Europe after Italy in terms of the number of COVID-19 deaths and infected people.

Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia reaches 85

Number of people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia has reached 85, RIA Novosti reports citing Georgias disease control and monitoring website.

The Georgian authorities declared a statement of emergency until April 21 to prevent the spread of the disease in the country.

So far, 14 people have recovered.

4641 citizens are quarantined.
Healthcare workers in protective gear check the temperature of everyone who enters the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Ten people, including four foreigners, were confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus Friday, raising the countrys tally to 163.

Of the 10 patients, three had close contacts with an infected person at Buddha Bar in Ho Chi Minh City, and three others are related to "Patient 133", a 66-year-old woman from northern Lai Chau Province who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus after staying for three weeks for treating a heart condition at the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

Three having close contacts with an infected person at Buddha Bar include:

"Patient 157" is a 31-year-old British woman who resides in District 4, HCMC. She had contact with a Covid-19 patient at the Buddha Bar. She has showed no symptoms and is being monitored at Cu Chi Field Hospital in HCMC.

"Patient 158" and "Patient 159" are Brazilian men aged 45 and 33. They live in District 2, HCMC. Both of them had contact with the Covid-19 patient at the Buddha Bar on March 14. They have showed no symptoms and are being treated at HCMCs Tropical Disease Hospital.

Three cases related to "Patient 133" include:

"Patient 161" is an 88-year-old Vietnamese woman who lives in Van Lam District, northern Hung Yen Province. On March 17, she had a headache and fell into a coma. She was rushed to the province's Pho Noi Hospital where she was diagnosed with internal brain hemorrhage.

She was then moved to Bach Mai Hospital, where she was treated in the same room with "Patient 133" from March 17-22.

After nine days of treatment, her condition got better. On March 24, the Bach Mai Hospital took her samples and they tested positive a day later. The patient is now being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

"Patient 162" is a 63-year-old Vietnamese woman who lives in Hanoi's Long Bien District. She is the daughter-in-law of "Patient 161". Her health is stable and she is asymptomatic despite her samples testing positive. She is also being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases.

"Patient 163", a 43-year-old Vietnamese woman, is a granddaughter of "Patient 161" who lives in Hanois Long Bien District. She was a caretaker for her grandmother at the Bach Mai Hospital. She is being treated at Hanoi's Duc Giang Hospital. She is in good health and has shown no symptoms so far.

The remaining four patients are:

"Patient 154" is a 23-year-old Vietnamese woman who resides in northern Ha Long Town. A student in the U.K., she flew back to Vietnam, landing March 22 at the Can Tho Airport on Vietnam Airlines flight VN50, seat 12C, with "Patient 145" as a co-passenger.

On arrival, she reported having fever, cough, breathing difficulties and nausea. She was quarantined first at Can Thos Military School. On March 24, she had developed a fever again and was transferred to the Can Thos Lung Disease Hospital for further treatment.

"Patient 155" is a 21-year-old Vietnamese woman who lives in Hung Yen Provinces An Thi Town. She is student at the Huddersfield University in the U.K. On March 22, she also landed in Can Tho on Vietnam Airlines flight VN50, seat 2K.

She showed no symptoms and was quarantined at Bac Lieu Provinces Military School. Once her samples tested positive, she was transferred to the Bac Lieu General Hospital for monitoring, along with her roommate in the quarantine zone.

"Patient 156" is a 21-year-old Vietnamese man studying in the U.K. He resides in Ward 7, southern Tra Vinh Town. He landed March 23 in Can Tho on Vietnam Airlines flight VN50, seat 23G.

He showed no symptoms on arrival and was quarantined at the Bac Lieu Military School. After testing Covid-19 positive, he and one roommate at the quarantine zone were taken to the provincial General Hospital for monitoring.

"Patient 160" is a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman who lives in Loc Phat Ward, Bao Loc Town, Central Higlands Lam Dong Province. On March 20, she developed a cough and had some throat pain, but no fever.

A month earlier, shed been in Madrid, Spain and had contact with her sister who was infected with the Covid-19 virus. She flew from Madrid to Moscow Aeroflot flight SU2605 and from Moscow to HCMC on Aeroflot flight SU292. She was taken to the HCMC's Can Gio Hospital for treatment.

Hanoi is currently the city with most Covid-19 cases in Vietnam with 55, followed by HCMC with 44.

Also Friday, three Covid-19 patients were discharged from the Da Nang Hospital after testing negative three times in succession. Vietnam has so far discharged 20 of its 163 Covid-19 patients.

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 199 countries and territories so far, claiming over 24,000 lives.
Shareholders might have noticed that Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:KOF) filed its full-year result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 5.4% to US$38.82 in the past week. It was not a great result overall. While revenues of Mex$194b were in line with analyst predictions, earnings were less than expected, missing statutory estimates by 12% to hit Mex$56.95 per share. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Coca-Cola FEMSA. de after the latest results.

See our latest analysis for Coca-Cola FEMSA. de

NYSE:KOF Past and Future Earnings March 27th 2020

Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus from Coca-Cola FEMSA. de's 14 analysts is for revenues of Mex$222.5b in 2020, which would reflect a solid 14% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to soar 37% to Mex$78.86. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of Mex$236.0b and earnings per share (EPS) of Mex$88.20 in 2020. The analysts seem less optimistic after the recent results, reducing their sales forecasts and making a real cut to earnings per share numbers.

The analysts made no major changes to their price target of US$70.37, suggesting the downgrades are not expected to have a long-term impact on Coca-Cola FEMSA. de's valuation. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Coca-Cola FEMSA. de at US$89.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$53.00. These price targets show that analysts do have some differing views on the business, but the estimates do not vary enough to suggest to us that some are betting on wild success or utter failure.

Story continues

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. The analysts are definitely expecting Coca-Cola FEMSA. de's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 14% growth ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 6.5% per annum over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to grow their revenue at 3.7% per year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Coca-Cola FEMSA. de is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. They also downgraded their revenue estimates, although industry data suggests that Coca-Cola FEMSA. de's revenues are expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Coca-Cola FEMSA. de analysts - going out to 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here.

And what about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Coca-Cola FEMSA. de you should know about.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
"I feel as though my role is more important than ever, and I have an enormous responsibility," says Melbourne arts philanthropist Jane Hansen.

With the coronavirus shutdown erasing the country's cultural life and posing an existential threat to its artistic institutions, the country's biggest arts philanthropists are marshalling new resources to try to keep the sector on life support.

But they warn they cannot single-handedly rescue all struggling companies, some of whom were already fighting to stay solvent and now face the loss of box office revenue and corporate sponsorship.

Jane Hansen and Paul Little in 2015. Credit:Peter Casamento

"The arts are so often overlooked it's even more vital," Hansen said. "Most major philanthropists in arts are extremely conscious of their important role, and of the fact that the sector depends so heavily on them  and that would only be magnified now."
As a precautionary measure against the novel Coronavirus, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma on Saturday morning directed people to practice social distancing at a locality in Shillong. In a video by the news agency, ANI, the Chief Minister is seen directing people to keep at least a distance of one metre. Currently, no cases of the deadly Coronavirus have been detected in the Meghalaya region.

#WATCH: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma directs people to practice social distancing as a precautionary measure against #COVID19, at a locality in Shillong. (27.03.2020) pic.twitter.com/tFSgELRM0y  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight of March 25 to deal with the spread of Coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is the only option to deal with the disease, which spreads rapidly.

Read: Cop dons 'Coronavirus' head mask, educates lockdown violators on social distancing

The Coronavirus Crisis

As of date, India has reported over 850 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Out of all the states, Kerala has crossed a total of 170 positive cases becoming the highest number of cases detected in the country. Meanwhile, 19 people have died so far due to the deadly virus. Due to the outbreak, India has been put under a national lockdown for 21 days. Further, India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.

Read: Total coronavirus cases in national capital rise to 40: Delhi Health Department

Presently, there are around 594,377 confirmed cases of COVID-19 which has led to the death of around 27,250 people. Meanwhile, around 133,006 have reportedly been recovered. Currently, as per reports, the hardest-hit region is the United States of America, followed by China, and then Italy, Iran and South Korea, where the number of cases is rising by the hour.

Read: Coronavirus crisis: Nearly 4,000 new reported COVID-19 cases in France in 24 hours

Read: COVID-19: US announces $174 million aid to 64 countries including $2.9 million to India
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., stops to speak with reporters as he leaves the Capitol after the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was passed in the House on Friday, March 27, 2020.

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and Former Secretary of State John Kerry came together for once  over their frustration with a GOP representative.

The politicians had some choice words for Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who almost delayed the coronavirus relief package's passage by requiring a formal vote.

The $2 trillion plan passed in the House Friday afternoon, despite Massey's call for a recorded vote.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

American politicians on opposite sides of the aisle don't tend to agree on much in today's political climate. But on Friday, politicians from the GOP and the Democratic party, including President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State John Kerry, came together in a series of curse-laden tweets.

The unlikely coalition came together in frustration with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who called for a recorded vote to pass the $2 trillion bipartisan coronavirus emergency relief package. Massie's insistence that all members of the House be present to formally vote on the bill would have forced many representatives to travel back to Washington, DC from their home districts and further delayed the stimulus, Politico reported.

Trump tweeted that the Kentucky Republican was a "third rate Grandstander" who "just wants the publicity." Kerry, who has long been a foe of the president, shared the tweet in agreement. "Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an a-shole," Kerry said in a tweet. "He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He's given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!)"

The budding friendship continued as Trump tweeted that he "never knew John Kerry had such a good sense of humor."

Story continues

Liberal Twitter personality Dr. Eugene Gu was one of many to marvel at this unlikely pairing.

Writer Rick Wilson sang the same tune, writing, "Who knew it would be Thomas Massie who united America at long last?"

Massie defended his decision to delay the vote in a series of tweets, arguing that it was his constitutional responsibility to ensure a quorum would formally vote on the stimulus package.

In a comment to Politico, he said, "You know what, there are a lot who aren't mad at me. They're quietly expressing their support to me."

In the end, the House had enough members present on Friday afternoon to pass the legislation and overrule Massie's request for a recorded vote. The estimated $2 trillion stimulus package now heads to the White House for the president's approval.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Haryana's Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday directed district officials to inform about people who have travelled to their villages in the state from abroad during the past 15 days.

He was presiding over a review meeting regarding COVID-19 arrangements being done in rural areas of Haryana.

Chautala also directed the officials to inform about persons who have come to their villages during the past fortnight from other states or cities.

The meeting, which was held through video conference, was attended by additional deputy commissioners, and district development and panchayat officers, an official release said here.

Chautala directed the officials to inform "about the people who have come to the villages in the last 15 days from abroad or from other states or cities, and if such persons have come then the sanitisation of the entire village should be done with a spray of sodium chloride and such persons should be quarantined immediately by informing the district administration," it said.

The release, quoting Chautala, said that there is a possibility of some NRIs living in Punjab could visit districts in Haryana, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

Therefore, the sarpanch of each village which borders Punjab have been asked to take "special care and not allow anyone to enter and if anyone enters, then the same should be reported to the district administration immediately," it said.

The sarpanches will have to keep a close watch in their respective villages, Chautala said.

He said the nationwide lockdown period till April 14 "is very crucial for all of us and we all have to fight this pandemic together".

The deputy chief minister also informed that the central government has granted permission to farmers to go to the fields for harvesting of their crops, provided that they follow social distancing.

He said sarpanches would also have to take special care of this and people will also have to be motivated to maintain social distancing.

The deputy chief minister said that panchayats which would do good work to stop the spread of coronavirus would be presented as a model in the country and would be specially honoured.

It was informed that all the sarpanches of Rai block of Sonipat district and village panchayats of Faridabad district have announced to donate their six months honorarium towards the Haryana COVID Relief Fund.

Haryana has so far recorded 20 COVID-19 cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Springfield Narcotics Unit detectives arrested a Pomona Street man who is wanted in four Massachusetts jurisdictions. Brayan Mejias, 20, was arrested on Vermont Street Friday evening after police had him under surveillance for most of the day.

Ryan Walsh, Springfield Police Department spokesman, said detectives received information that Mejias was at his Pomona Street home Friday afternoon and he was armed.

Police knew he was a suspect in numerous incidents, including a recent home invasion in Indian Orchard and had an arrest warrant out of the Worcester District Court.

Detectives arrested Mejias on Vermont Street just before 8 p.m. as he walked to a stolen car police said he had been driving. Upon arrest, he was found to be carrying a loaded firearm, 71 bags of heroin and a key to the stolen vehicle.

Police said Mejias was the last of four suspects wanted in connection with a home invasion in Indian Orchard recently. Walsh said information on the crime would be released to the public Monday.

Following his arrest Friday, Mejias was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, committing a firearm violation after three violent or drug-related convictions, receiving stolen property valued greater than $1,200, possession with the intent to distribute a Class A substance and carrying a firearm while the subject of an arrest warrant.

Mejias also had an earlier outstanding arrest warrant out of the Springfield District Court for two counts of home invasion, firearm kidnapping, armed firearm robbery and intimidating a witness. as well as a default warrant charging him with possession with the intent to distribute a Class B substance, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and receiving a stolen motor vehicle

The Lynn District Court holds an outstanding arrest warrant for Mejias for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Mejias is also the subject of a default warrant out of the Eastern Hampshire District Court for OUI drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Mejias is being held pending arraignment in Springfield District Court.
SPRINGFIELD  The school board held a meeting observing the protocols necessary under the circumstances of COVID-19  including final approval for a new bus storage facility. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, several items on the March agenda were deemed important enough to hold the meeting in a timely manner, with several member dialing in remotely.

Superintendent Tony Barber, Executive Director Don Mooney and Board President Bruce Lord were present at the administration building, and board members attended via a conference call. A summary of the meeting was provided by Mooney.

The consent agenda included payment of bills and reports needed for payroll and other financial matters to keep the district and personnel on course.

Among the board actions was the long-awaited solution to the bus storage situation as the high school master plan moves forward. The board approved the agreement of sale between Fern Hill Realty Corp. and the school district for the sale of 2.835 acres of land and other improvements located at 501 Eagle Road for the aggregate purchase price of $2.31 million. The cost will be funded from the capital projects bond proceeds.

The parcel will accommodate the districts current 35 buses and 25 vans, and has office space for operations to be housed in an on-site structure improved by the seller. The property will require a lot line change with Fern Hill retaining a larger portion and business venture. Mooney said there is no conflict for the two entities operations.

The district has been working to find an off-campus location for bus and van storage since early in the master plan design of the new high school. The issue gained considerable attention in summer 2018 when the district proposed leasing a portion of property on the Holy Cross campus. Dozens of adjacent neighbors loudly objected to the move.

As construction began on the overall property between Leamy and Saxer avenues, the district was able to lease necessary property from Cardinal OHara High School for the buses, with the vans being parked at E. T. Richardson Middle School.

Mooney said the district has been negotiating with the Fern Hill owner since fall 2019. The remote site will accomplish two major goals: add approximately 100 parking spaces on campus, and eliminate bus traffic from the adjacent neighborhoods. The master plan has been carefully designed to minimize the impact of pick up and drop off at the new high school.

With regard to construction progress, the district was required to shut down as of March 20 according to Gov. Tom Wolfs executive order banning non life-sustaining business. Mooney said while there may be waivers to allow activity, nothing is currently known, nor is there a defined time line. However, the district continues planning and execution, such as soliciting bids for demolition of the existing school, and ratifying the Plancon phase with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

In other business, the board approved the final reading of the 2020-2021 calendar, which will see the start of school prior to Labor Day. Budgets related to Delaware County Intermediate Unit were approved, and an agreement was reached with Kelly Services Inc. for substitute teacher, nurse, instructional aide and clerical temporary placement services starting July 1, 2020.

With regard to the remainder of the academic year, Mooney said virtual learning for grades six through 12 is scheduled to begin March 30 with all students furnished with the necessary technology. Elementary students will also have assignments for learning furnished by teachers through email and other communication. The district is working on two-week blocks at this time.
Bahrain's national carrier announced today that it will restrict the entry of passengers through the Bahrain International Airport to Bahrain citizens and residents only.

This was confirmed by Gulf Air on its official page on Twitter today, stating: "All passengers including transit passengers into Bahrain International Airport have been restricted to citizens and residents of Bahrain and passengers with a valid Prior Permission Granted letter."

However, no statements were available from the Civil Aviation Affairs in the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications if the same will be applied to other airlines.

This comes while many countries, including fellow GCC countries, announced this week complete ban on travelling and halting the issuance of residency visas until further notice.

The move comes as part of the measures taken by governments around the world to contain and combat the global outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 10:50:13|Editor: yhy

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WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday warned against taking antimalarial drug chloroquine phosphate used to cure fish disease in aquariums as treatment against COVID-19 cases.

The warning followed a misuse of the drug in Arizona, which caused one death and one critical illness.

The FDA said some consumers may mistake chloroquine phosphate used to treat disease in aquarium fish for FDA-approved drugs that are being studied as a COVID-19 treatment for humans.

"Unfortunately, we have learned that one person in the United States has died after he and his wife reportedly took chloroquine used to treat their fish in an attempt to prevent COVID-19; his wife also became very ill," said the FDA in a letter to stakeholders.

"While FDA is aware of the use of unapproved drugs to treat aquarium fish, our primary concern during the COVID-19 pandemic is the imminent threat to the health of consumers who may take animal drugs thinking they are interchangeable with approved human drugs," said the agency.

Chloroquine products sold for aquarium use have not been evaluated by the FDA to determine whether they are safe, effective, properly manufactured, and adequately labeled for use in fish, let alone humans.

People should not take any form of chloroquine unless it has been prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and is obtained through a legitimate source, the FDA noted.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier an antimalarial drug, which he called as "chloroquine" or "hydroxychloroquine", will soon be made available with a prescription to treat the novel coronavirus.

Trump said the drug has shown "very, very encouraging" early results, adding he has pushed the FDA to eliminate barriers to getting therapeutics for coronavirus patients.

But some medicine and immunology experts expressed concern about the results and safety of the drug.

"The drugs of this class can have side effects and it is also still quite possible that it is not effective," Robert Schooley, professor of medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, told Xinhua.
This month, weve got empty roads, Victorian romance, tango, and more. To submit a first line, email booklifeeditor@booklife.com.



Arnold Falls

CHARLIE SUISMAN

Its a good forty minutes until sunrise and the roads of Arnold Falls are empty, except for one silver Rascal mobility scooter making its way toward the courthouse.

Clara Colby: The International Suffragist

JOHN HOLLIDAY

We may never know why three-year-old Clara Dorothy Bewick was left behind in England when her parents and three brothers departed for a new life in America.

Dead Week: A Cassandra Sato Mystery

KELLY BRAKENHOFF

If Cassandra Sato had to pinpoint the moment enthusiasm for her dream job faltered, it was when her weather app displayed a morning temperature of thirty-eight degrees with a projected high of forty-two.

Desperately Seeking Novelty: A Memoir about ADHD and Adaptation

SANDRA AMAU-DEWAR

 Is this kid on Ritalin? demands Dr. Bailey, the gray-haired physician who will soon be performing emergency eye surgery on my six-year-old son.

Heaven, Indiana

JAN MAHER

Elephants paced restlessly, their immense feet beating slow syncopations.

Intoxicating Tango: My Years in Buenos Aires

CHERIE MAGNUS

I should have left when he hit me; just packed up my piano music and my cat and left Buenos Aires behind me.

Just the Way He Walked: A Mothers Story of Healing and Hope

KATHLEEN POOLER

For twenty-three years, I feared my son Brian would die from his addiction to alcohol.

The Lord Chamberlains Daughter

RON FRITSCH

As soon as Fortinbras learned Ophelia was still alive, he sent her a message asking if he could pay her a visit.

The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance

MIMI MATTHEWS

Sylvia Stamford smoothed out the skirts of her plain, dark gray gown, as she followed her employer, Mrs. Dinwiddy, down the stairs.

Singing Out Loud

MARILEE EAVES

In early spring of 1962, while I was living in a locked ward at McLean Hospital, no longer hallucinating, in therapy every day and recovering from the psychotic break that had landed me there, an attendant came to my room to tell me I had a phone call.

Tell, or the Adventures in Themiddle

L.N. MAYER

Though few people have heard of Thepending, those who have could hardly give you directions on how to get there.

The Will to Die

JOE PULIZZI

Besides intermittent periods of sleep and steady drinking, the PopC account consumed my life for the past three weeks.
LOS ANGELES  The prognosis for restaurants and other retailers forced to close by the novel coronavirus pandemic is so grim that many are expected to skip rent payments on April 1. Many may never reopen.

The economic pain  especially for laid-off workers  will be unprecedented.

Although analysts predict a rebound by the end of the year, the new retail landscape may look different from the old one, as mandated closures knock out weak malls and merchants. Online shopping is likely to permanently grab an even bigger share of buyers money, particularly for groceries because house-bound consumers grew comfortable getting their food picked out by someone else and delivered.

After the coronavirus effect is over, many of those people who are ordering online right now will continue to do so, said analyst Robin Trantham of real estate data provider CoStar.

For now, though, the outlook is terrible for businesses closed by the pandemic. Landlords face a wave of missed rent payments from tenants who were ordered by public officials to lock their doors to slow the rate of infection.

We are at the mercy of this virus, said Los Angeles shopkeeper Fraser Ross, who rents two stores on Robertson Boulevard for his chic Kitson brand but doesnt intend to write rent checks next week for his landlords.

You leased me an area to make retail sales, he plans to tell them. We are not open so I am not going to pay rent.

Industry observers expect many tenants such as Ross to invoke provisions in their leases including force majeure, contract language that excuses them from meeting their financial obligations because of extrordinary circumstances beyond their control. Current circumstances are decidedly unusual for a majority of stores, restaurants and other businesses such as gyms.

Weve never seen on such a large scale, people just staying home, Trantham said.

Federal coronavirus relief packages so far havent addressed commercial rents, Bloomberg reported, but Federal Reserve actions may allow banks to defer mortgage payments, which would give property owners more leeway to delay rent. Disputes between tenants and landlords could soon flood the courts.

The largest commercial landlord in Orange County, the Irvine Co., told tenants in an email Sunday that they could delay making rent payments for three months but must eventually pay the money without interest over a 12-month period starting next year.

Many retailers in Irvine and elsewhere want more than a rent delay. They want to skip rent for the time they cant operate.

Were not sending any checks, period, said Andy Nguyen, co-owner of the Afters Ice Cream chain and a tenant of the Irvine Co. We are the ones who are on the front line right now. Taking the hit is not fair.

Nguyen is a partner in about 50 restaurants, including Ground House Burgers, Portside Fish Co. and Dough & Arrow cookies. Some are closed while others are selling take-out and delivery fare.

The stores had more than 600 employees combined, but more than 200 have been let go. Nguyen has dozens of landlords and said the Irvine Co. is the only one who offered a rent assistance program to tenants.

Some landlords have told us no, they have their own bills to pay, he said. Others havent responded to anyone.

Nguyen predicted that some of his restaurants will reopen. Others wont have enough financial reserves to make it through the disaster.

Were going to hang on as long as we can, he said. Its tough.

Another Irvine Co. tenant, upscale Mexican restaurant Red O, is selling groceries, margaritas and even toilet paper at curbside to stay in business. The landlords rent payment delay will give us the breathing room we need to stay on our feet, spokesman Robbie Dye said.

Rick Caruso, one of Southern Californias biggest independent shopping center owners, said he is still figuring out how to best help his tenants, the majority of whom have been closed for several days.

We frankly dont know what we are going to do yet, but of course we are going to support them, Caruso said in a phone call from his Palisades Village center in Pacific Palisades.

The issue is complicated because, he said, financial concessions should best come from multiple parties including tenants insurance companies and the government.

Its a partnership and the risk needs to be shared, he said. We certainly are going to do our part.

Caruso said he is keeping all of the companys more than 1,000 employees on the payroll during the shutdown. He also opted to keep his outdoor malls  including the Grove in Los Angeles and the Americana at Brand in Glendale  open to strolling visitors, even though most stores are closed and restaurants are selling food to-go only.

The lights are bright and the music is on, Caruso said. We hope people find a little bit of joy in a complicated time. We are happy we can do it.

Forced isolation has made the pandemic in some ways more distressing than other catastrophic events in the past, he said, when people could connect with other suffering people over food and drink.

As a community, we have gone through a number of crises together  the earthquake, 9/11, Caruso said. The difference now is we dont have places to come together and feel a sense of warmth and safety. That is one of the things that is hitting me the most personally. I think there is going to be a real eagerness to get back to that.

Formerly quarantined Chinese citizens have resumed gathering in public, much to the interest of analysts and American business leaders including Starbucks Chief Executive Kevin Johnson. He told CNBC recently that the companys China business is on the mend and that it would have 95% of its stores in the country operating by the end of the month including outlets in hard-hit Hubei province.

Whats happening on the ground in China is reason for objective optimism in the face of the storm, said Spencer Levy, chairman of Americas research for real estate company CBRE.

More than 80% of Chinese shopping centers are open and hotel occupancy is on the rise, Levy said. Demand for big-ticket items such as homes and cars is lagging, but long queues are lining up to luxury stores and restaurants because of pent-up demand.

He expects a similar pattern will happen in the U.S., but not until many retail businesses go through dark times that are hitting their employees hardest.

Distress starts at the bottom of the chain and works its way up in missed payments, Levy said. We need to be here now for the most vulnerable people.

National real estate trade organizations including the International Council and the Mortgage Bankers Association are working to ensure that the most vulnerable including the tenants, employees and other parties are protected immediately and then given the tools to get back on their feet shortly thereafter, Levy said.

He predicted that the U.S. economy will have a rough row to hoe for the next six to eight weeks but would rebound strongly before the end of the year, perhaps even late in the third quarter.

It may be several years before the economy returns to normal normal, he said, but it will bounce back faster than a lot of people think.

But will the retail landscape look different then, after the panic is over? Are empty malls going to stay that way as shoppers grown accustomed to keeping their distance from one another decide to keep buying what they need online?

Its too early to know, he said, but Levy doesnt expect a radical shift.

I will not accept at all that people will stop going to restaurants or gyms or other places people congregate, he said. That is not going to happen.

The big shutdown may well, however, accelerate a years-long decline for traditional shopping centers that included record store closures in 2018 and more losses last year. Closures in January and February suggested a new record might come in 2020, according to CoStar.

Retail was already in a state of flux and coronavirus is only going to compound those effects, Trantham said.

Malls are definitely going to be the most impacted, he said, because more than 70% of most mall space is occupied by traditional retail such as apparel stores and department stores. Those are most impacted by e-commerce.

The vast majority of restaurants will eventually reopen, he said.

The ongoing slow demise of conventional malls that are basically a collection of stores could clearly be accelerated by the shutdown, said George Belch, professor of marketing at San Diego State University. Malls that have invested heavily in experiential features, such as restaurants and activities that give people things to do besides shop, are positioned to survive, he said.

Caruso said people in Southern California will be eager to get back to enjoying themselves when the pandemic has passed.

The human spirit is built not only to survive but thrive, he said. The minute there is a signal you can get back to normal life, it will be a celebration.



By Roger Vincent of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story.

2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
City of Laredo officials have denied a report of Laredo's first COVID-related death.

READ MORE: Laredo, Webb County agree on Stay at Home/Work Safe order due to coronavirus

KGNS News reported Friday afternoon that they had confirmed through multiple sources that a COVID-19 patient at Laredo Medical Center had died.

However both the City of Laredo and the hospital denied the claim.

There is no confirmed COVID-19 patient who has died under our care, the hospital said in a statement. We continue to work collaboratively with the City of Laredo Health Department and the CDC. We want to reassure you that we remain alert and ready to provide care as necessary.

The City of Laredo later issued a video with Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino, who had been asked on KGNS if a local death was caused by the novel coronavirus.

That had to be confirmed. And after further investigation and discussion with other authorities, we determined that this wasnt the case, he said. So in order to allay any apprehension or confusion, were saying there has been no deaths here in Laredo because of the coronavirus pandemia. This is true up to now, and this is the fact that we have to disseminate throughout the public: no corona deaths here in Laredo at this point.
A paroled murderer is believed to have killed the daughter of a woman he killed 24 years ago, according to a local sheriff.

Travis Santay Lewis, 39, is suspected of killing Martha McKay - a member of the influential Snowden family - who was found dead at the Snowden House at Horseshoe Lake in Arkansas on Wednesday.

Lewis drowned when fleeing from authorities, Crittenden County Sheriff Mike Allen said in a statement.

Travis Santay Lewis, 39, is suspected of killing Martha McKay - a member of the Snowden family - who was found dead at the Snowden House at Horseshoe Lake on Wednesday

'Deputies today responded to an alarm at the historical Snowden House in Horseshoe Lake,' Allen said, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

'Two deputies that arrived found an open back door and upon clearing the house located a possible suspect who jumped from an upstairs window and ran to a vehicle that he drove across the yard and got stuck in the yard.

'The suspect then jumped from the car and ran and jumped into the lake. He was observed going under the water and never came back up.'

According to the sheriff, the department's rescue team and Arkansas Game and Fish used sonar equipment to find Lewis' body.

The Snowden House - built in 1919 - is just miles away from where McKay's mother, Sally Snowden McKay, was murdered with her nephew in 1996

McKay was found dead inside the home.

A state medical examiner is still determining the cause of death but witnesses at the scene claim McKay was stabbed while others claimed a hammer had been used as the weapon.

The Snowden House - built in 1919 - is just miles away from where McKay's mother, Sally Snowden McKay, was murdered alongside her nephew in 1996.

Lewis was just 17 when he pleaded guilty to killing McKay and nephew, guitarist Lee Baker, in 1996. He was sentenced to 28-and-a-half years for the killings.

Baker was a well known guitarist in Memphis who was associated with such acts like Moloch and Mud Boys & Neutron.

Lewis was paroled in 2018.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump sought to seize control of the nation's medical supply crisis Friday after a week of failures to deliver needed equipment to hospitals overrun with coronavirus patients, even as he said he expects governors receiving federal help to praise his administration's job performance.

Following days of sustained criticism for his administration's slow efforts to distribute ventilators, personal protective equipment and other materials, Trump used his power under the Defense Production Act to compel a ramp up in production.

Trump issued an order to allow his government to force General Motors to manufacture ventilators, after a breakdown in negotiations with the auto giant caused in part by what aides said was White House indecision, and announced that eight existing ventilator manufacturers, including General Electric and Phillips, had agreed to speed up their production. The president vowed that the efforts would produce a combined 100,000 ventilators over the next 100 days.

Trump's action - which came on the day the United States recorded more than 100,000 cases of the novel coronavirus, surpassing every other nation- represented an about-face after the president on Thursday largely dismissed the outcry for ventilators.

Trump said he believed that governors whose states were experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases were inflating their needs. And the president said state leaders ought to be fending for themselves and effectively shamed them for seeking federal help, even though he declared a national emergency two weeks ago and has described himself as a "wartime president."

This week's quarrel among leaders in Washington and besieged states over supplies and the federal government's willingness and ability to marshal emergency resources reached a fever pitch as Trump sought to politicize and personalize the fight for medical supplies, as he has with many other aspects of his management of the pandemic.

Trump said he expects public praise from governors who receive federal help, when asked what more he wants from governors in states such as Washington and Michigan who have been publicly critical of the federal response.

"Very simple, I want them to be appreciative," Trump said at a Friday evening news conference. "I don't want them to say things that aren't true. I want them to be appreciative. We've done a great job."

The president criticized Democratic governors Jay Inslee of Washington and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, whom he called "the woman in Michigan," and said he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to call them because they were not sufficiently complimentary of him and his administration.

"You know what I say? If they don't treat you right, I don't call," Trump said, allowing that Pence has a different standard of leadership and continues to communicate with Inslee and Whitmer.

Trump sought to shirk blame for the shortage of ventilators, personal protective equipment and other supplies at hospitals. He has repeatedly targeted Inslee and Witmer, as well as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, in recent days - all three of whom have criticized the federal response. And he derided GM's chief executive, Mary Barra, for her management of the company.

Trump often reacts impulsively to his portrayal in the media, and he awoke Friday to a batch of tough headlines at the end of a week full of them.

In New York, the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, Cuomo's pleas for federal help grew louder this week by the day. On Thursday, the governor excoriated the Trump administration for its slow engagement to help address the supply shortage. Cuomo said New York needed 30,000 ventilators, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency had provided roughly 4,000.

Calling into his friend Sean Hannity's show Thursday night on Fox News Channel, Trump cast doubt on New York's needs.

"Governor Cuomo and others that say we want, you know, 30,000 of them - 30,000," Trump said. "All right. Think of this. You know, you go to hospitals, they'll have one in a hospital. And now all of a sudden everybody's asking for these vast numbers."

The president added, "A lot of equipment's being asked for that I don't think they'll need."

Cuomo said Friday that every credible projection shows New York needing between 30,000 and 40,000 ventilators once the outbreak reaches its peak.

"I don't have a crystal ball," Cuomo said at a news conference. "Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. But I don't operate here on opinion. I operate on facts and on data and on numbers and on projections."

He added: "I hope we don't need 30,000 ventilators. I hope some natural weather change happens overnight and kills the virus globally. . . . [But] the numbers say you may need 30,000."

Still, Trump countered Friday evening, "I think their estimates are high."

Trump claimed in a tweet Friday that ventilators sent by the federal government to New York had been discovered in storage. "N.Y. must distribute NOW!" the president wrote, apparently reacting to a report that morning on cable news. Trump later quipped, "They didn't know they got them."

Cuomo addressed the report, saying the state has been purposefully stockpiling new ventilators so they can quickly be distributed to hospitals whenever needed.

Leon Panetta, a former White House chief of staff, defense secretary and CIA director under Democratic presidents, said these governors are in a difficult position because of their disagreements with Trump about the severity of the pandemic and how to mitigate it.

"Normally, if the president were a different commander in chief, they and the governors would all be speaking the same language," Panetta said. "Both governors and the president would be putting pressure on those who need to produce. But they aren't."

At the White House, Trump announced Friday that trade adviser Peter Navarro would serve as national policy coordinator for the Defense Production Act, working with various companies on supply lines.

Navarro, a fierce protectionist and China hawk, is a Trump loyalist dating to the 2016 campaign and has clashed sharply with administration officials who serve as conduits to the corporate world, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow.

Administration officials this week negotiated with GM and other companies about transforming their manufacturing plants to produce ventilators on short order.

As talks with GM advanced, there were concerns in the administration that the ventilators would take too long to build and may not be received by hospitals until after the peak of the outbreak had largely subsided, according to a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail internal discussions.

The first GM ventilators would not be finished until the end of April, and it would take until the summer to reach a pace of more than 10,000 a month, with the capability of building 20,000 a month later in the year, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to discuss the arrangement on the record.

This person said it takes time to get a factory online because the company would have to buy parts, hire hundreds of employees and train them on the process of building complicated machines.

"You're starting totally from scratch," this person said.

Thinking the deal was done, GM had planned to announce earlier this week that, together with Ventec Life Systems, it would begin ventilator production in a GM plant in Kokomo, Indiana, but waited on the White House, this person said. The plan was announced Friday.

"Ventec, GM and our supply base have been working around the clock for over a week to meet this urgent need," GM said in a statement. "Our commitment to build Ventec's high-quality critical care ventilator, VOCSN, has never wavered."

Trump offered a different account of the breakdown in talks. He told reporters Friday that he has long had an unfavorable view of GM because of its outsourcing of some manufacturing operations over the years, as well as its closure last year of a plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Eventually, Trump said, ventilator talks with GM "got to be a debate over cost." He added, "We're not looking to be ripped off on price."

"We didn't want to play games with them," Trump said.

On Twitter, Trump was even harsher in his assessment.

"General Motors MUST immediately open their stupidly abandoned Lordstown plant in Ohio, or some other plane, and START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!!!!!!" he tweeted. In another tweet, Trump wrote, "Always a mess with Mary B.," referring to Barra, GM's chief executive.

- - -

The Washington Post's Colby Itkowitz and John Wagner contributed to this report.
The Wuhan coronavirus crisis has removed Joe Biden from the front page and rendered him largely irrelevant. Meanwhile, President Trump, after a less than stellar start, has hit his stride in daily briefings about the outbreak. A majority of Americans say hes handling the crisis well.

Hoping to regain relevance, Joe Biden did an interview with Jimmy Kimmel. I had never seen Kimmels act before. He came off in this interview as ill informed and not terribly bright.

The word frivolous comes to mind. Maybe thats the key to his success.

Biden has long come across as not terribly bright. He did again with Kimmel. And perhaps surprisingly, since Biden told Kimmel he consults with health experts daily for 45 to 90 minutes (tape at around 7:40), Biden also came off as ill informed about matters relating to the virus. I provide examples below.

At times, Biden also had trouble articulating his views and maintaining the thread of his thought (see around 11:30 and 12:20). In the latter instance, as Biden sputtered into incoherence, Kimmel tried to cover for him by interjecting.

One lowlight of the coronavirus portion of the interview occurred when Kimmel and Biden couldnt figure out why President Trump hasnt enlisted industry, e.g., through the Defense Production Act, to produce items needed to respond to the pandemic (around 9:10 and 9:20). But private industry has been enlisted (see here for examples).

Moreover, as Trump has explained in his briefings, he uses the threat of invoking that Act to get industry to do what he wants. He was about to use the law to commission 60,000 testing kits when, at the last minute, the administration was able to procure the test kits from the private market without relying on the law. (Today, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to require GM to produce ventilators.)

Another lowlight occurred when Kimmel asked about Trumps disbanding of the White House pandemic team. Biden couldnt explain that one either. Good thing he didnt try. The team wasnt disbanded.

Heres the video. Watch as much of it as you can tolerate.


CHICAGO - Liz Smiley's bidet, a toilet paper alternative that sprays a cleaning stream of water, took a bit of getting used to, but now she says she wishes she had switched sooner.

"You just feel cleaner," said Smiley, 45, of Chicago.

Long a punchline among Americans, the bidet (bih-DAY) is finally getting some respect due to coronavirus-related concerns about toilet paper shortages. On Amazon, a few popular models are sold out, and the Brooklyn bidet-maker Tushy said in an email that sales are 10 times higher than before the coronavirus. Tushy is taking preorders for April 20 shipping on two models, and increasing production.

Among the bidets available online were the portable Tushy Travel and a range of highly rated models on Amazon. Prices and configurations vary widely, with some bidets taking the form of toilet seat replacements, and others operating as attachments or simple hand-operated sprayers.

Bidets reduce the need for toilet paper, which is generally used just for drying.

In recent weeks, concerns about the availability of toilet paper have grown, with frustrated shoppers posting photos of empty store shelves on social media.

Last Saturday police in Newport, Ore., asked residents to stop calling 911 because they had run out of toilet paper. Police explained that they can't deliver the household staple, and there are plenty of alternatives.

Facial tissues such as Kleenex are a good substitute for toilet paper, but even patting with paper towels or napkins can work, according to a written statement from Dr. Amy Paller, chair of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Remember, though, that toilets are not designed to accommodate thicker materials - so please make sure to discard elsewhere. If using fabric towels or household rags becomes necessary, be sure to wash and dry on hot," Paller wrote.

Smiley said her brother gave her a bidet for Christmas, along with the magic words, "I will install it for you." He's a handy guy, she said, but not a professional, and it took him 15 minutes. Her version is the Tushy Classic, an add-on that goes under your toilet seat.

"It's the best thing ever," she said, echoing other bidet converts.

"We went on vacation and actually missed it, and now with the coronavirus, (toilet paper) hasn't really been a huge concern. Our toilet paper consumption has dropped dramatically."

(c)2020 Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Authorities have ordered the intensified manhunt of 76 suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre who are still at large.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen Archie Gamboa said on Saturday the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) issued a memorandum dated March 13 to all units "on the tracking and accounting of wanted persons involved in the Maguindanao Massacre."

The memo prompted the the publication of the names and photos of the suspects.

A bounty was also placed on each of the suspects: 300,000 each for the capture of Datu Bahnarin A. Ampatuan and Datu Saudi Ampatuan Jr., and 25,000 for each of the remaining.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco said, "As I have mentioned time and again, the PTFoMS and our member-agencies like the PNP, will stop at nothing in fulfilling our mandate and commitment to our media workers."

Egco added they were working closely with various offices to bring the suspects to justice.

In December 2019, eight members of the Ampatuan clan were found guilty and sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison for the murder of 57 people in Maguindanao ten years ago.

Among those convicted were Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan, Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, and Datu Anwar, Sr.  sons of the late former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. who prosecution witnesses said masterminded the crime.
TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / March 27, 2020 / Electrovaya Inc. (EFL.TO),(EFLVF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that all of the resolutions that shareholders were asked to consider at its 2020 Annual Meeting held on March 27th, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, were approved. The six directors named in the management information circular of the Company, being Dr. Sankar Das Gupta, Dr. Bejoy Das Gupta, Dr. James Jacobs, Dr. Alexander McLean, Dr. Carolyn Hansson and Mr. John A. Macdonald, were each elected as directors by over 96% of the votes cast for and less than 4% of the votes withheld at the Meeting for each director individually. Detailed results of the vote are set out below:

Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld Percentage of Votes For Percentage of Votes Withheld Dr. Sankar Das Gupta 38,200,847 510,554 98.68% 1.32% Dr. Bejoy Das Gupta 37,288,597 1,422,804 96.32% 3.68% Dr. Alexander McLean 38,516,537 194,864 99.50% 0.50% Dr. Carolyn Hansson 37,630,437 1,080,964 97.21% 2.79% Dr. James K. Jacobs 37,645,097 1,066,304 97.25% 2.75% Mr. John A. Macdonald 37,649,391 1,062,010 97.26% 2.74%

Goodman & Associates LLP, were re-appointed as the auditors of the Company.

Additional details will be included in the report of voting results filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Update with Respect to Settlement of Outstanding Debentures

The Company's 9% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures (the "Debentures") issued to an institutional investor in the principal amount of $15 million mature on March 27, 2020. The Company is in negotiations with the debenture holder and its secured lenders with respect to the Debentures. The Company will update the market with additional information as soon as it is available.

For more information, please contact:

Electrovaya Inc.

Email: ir@electrovaya.com

Phone: (905) 855-4618

About Electrovaya Inc.

Electrovaya Inc. (EFL.TO),(EFLVF) designs, develops and manufactures proprietary lithium ion batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation and other specialized applications. Electrovaya is a technology-focused company with extensive IP. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Electrovaya has production facilities in Canada with customers around the globe.

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To learn more about how Electrovaya is powering mobility and energy storage, please explore www.electrovaya.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's intentions with respect to settlement of the outstanding $15 million principal amount of convertible unsecured debentures, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited the debentureholders' and secured lenders' intentions and actions with respect to any settlement of the debentures. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended September 30, 2019 under "Risk Factors", and in the Company's most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Qualitative And Quantitative Disclosures about Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Electrovaya, Inc.





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Hyderabad, March 28 : Telangana on Saturday reported first death due to coronavirus while six more persons tested positive.

A 74-year-old man, who had gone to New Delhi with family members, fell sick on his return and was admitted to a private hospital, where he died on Thursday night.

Health Minister Etela Rajender told a news conference that the body was shifted to Gandhi Hospital and the screening showed he was Covid-19 positive.

The minister said the family members of the deceased were quarantined and four of them tested positive.

He said the deceased person with his family members had visited historic Jamia Masjid in Delhi.
Shoreview, Minnesota-based Deluxe invented the checkbook a century ago. Now it may play a key role in distributing government stimulus checks, as well as help its small business clients get through the coronavirus crisis. Deluxe Corp.

Chances are that your first checkbook bore the stamp "Deluxe" on the cover. Now there's a good chance that if you receive a coronavirus stimulus check from the federal government, it could be sent by Deluxe. Founded in 1915 by W. R. Hotchkiss, who is credited with creating the first flat checkbook, Shoreview, Minnesota-based Deluxe remains a major printer of checks. As one of the few companies with the capabilities to handle payments on this scale, Deluxe is in a good position to be among the disbursement agents for the coronavirus government payments. But Deluxe has become much more than a check-printing company. (The name was never a reference to the quality of the checks but to the company that printed them.) Today Deluxe offers a broad range of services, including cloud services and web hosting, and lists clients from the Federal Reserve to 4,000 financial institutions and 5 million small business customers  many facing a business shock caused by the pandemic. There are millions of small businesses in the U.S. employing others where concerns remain high that government assistance cannot get out fast enough or far enough. According to a recent Goldman Sachs survey, 96% of small businesses say they've already been hit by the coronavirus and only half of small businesses expect to be able to sustain operations for another three months. In the distressed restaurant, leisure and hospitality sector, current estimates are that as many as 30,000 individual franchise owners may permanently close in the next 45 days, causing approximately 330,000 job losses.

Deluxe, which has 6,500 employees and revenues projected to top $2 billion this fiscal year, is paramount to the functioning of the financial system, helping businesses pay and get paid, and processing more than $2.8 trillion in annual payment volume, or roughly 14% of the U.S. GDP. This means much of the work Deluxe is doing now, such as supporting small businesses and any potential role in helping get government stimulus checks out to Americans, means it has to ensure its own workforce health. To that end, many Deluxe employees are working from home in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, while at the office the company is cleaning and disinfecting surfaces so employees there can continue to perform critical financial duties. "We have a lot to offer businesses at this time of need, from helping health-care payers to streamline and digitize the process of paying providers, which is difficult to do when back-office services have been disrupted, to providing a package of resources so that restaurants can digitize their menus and accept payments online  and so much more," says a Deluxe spokesman. "We are working overtime to help minimize the impact of this pandemic on our clients and the economy." With checks' use fading steadily in the digital era, CEO Barry McCarthy was scrambling to reposition the 105-year-old company for 21st-century relevance well before the current crisis unfolded.

A new CEO whose prior job was 'eliminating checks'

Under McCarthy's predecessors, growth was driven largely by acquisition. Deluxe had acquired more than 50 companies and allowed them to operate as separate entities. It now has a total of 80 under its umbrella. "We were run as a company of companies, not as a company of products," said McCarthy in an interview conducted before the coronavirus spread in the U.S. The result was 50 different CRM systems and 150 different sales compensation plans. Sales teams for one product knew little about the products other teams were selling and had no incentive to pitch them to their customers. Despite the plethora of offerings, the average customer used just 1.1 Deluxe products, he said. McCarthy, who came to Deluxe from credit-card processing giant First Data in November 2018, was wary of the job when he was first approached. "I spent the last 14 years of my career trying to eliminate checks," he recalled. But he changed his mind when he saw the range of product offerings. "I saw a collection of unparalleled assets with unparalleled reach in the marketplace and an opportunity to bring those assets together to drive growth and transformation." He has spent the last year building a team to carry out his plan. He created a Transformation Leadership Office to break down barriers between parts of the company. Key is chief revenue officer Chris Thomas, who came aboard last July. His primary task is to drive organic growth. "The company of companies model made it difficult to drive a sustainable sales organization," said Thomas, who joined Deluxe after stints at DXC Technologies and Hewlett-Packard.

Partnering with Salesforce

In January, Thomas led a first-ever meeting with the company's entire sales staff. It focused on training sales reps to cross-sell products to existing customers. Some sales executives who had been with the company for 25 years learned for the first time about offerings from other parts of the business. Last July, Deluxe announced an agreement with Salesforce.com to implement its CRM software company-wide, creating one database of customers and enabling each salesperson to see what contacts the customer was having with other Deluxe units. It has helped create a singular view of the company's customer base so salespeople could cross-sell better by integrating customer service, direct and indirect sales, digital commerce and analytics into a single system. In the past, Deluxe salespeople would run into each other at customer sites and discover they were pitching to the same person. "We've put in place some intelligent best practices, and we have now built an engine which has allowed us to build a win rate," said Thomas.

Deluxe CEO Barry McCarthy (R) with Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff (C) at the Dreamforce conference. The two companies have a new partnership focused on small business services. Deluxe

In the agreement, Deluxe will offer its customers Salesforce's cloud services for small business, Salesforce Essentials. "Salesforce and Deluxe both have championed small businesses since the beginning, providing access to technology that has previously only been accessible to larger enterprises," said Meredith Schmidt, executive vice president and GM of Salesforce Essentials and SMB. "By making technology easy to use and affordable for entrepreneurs, both companies are supporting the growth of small businesses and making an impact in communities around the world." Deluxe is already winning new business. In 2019 the company landed three of the largest deals in its history, including a five-year contract that could be worth $100 million with Stamford, Connecticut-based Synchrony Financial and one with CIBC, one of Canada's "big five" banks, opening opportunities to sell lockbox processing, data-driven marketing and treasury management to financial institutions in the Canadian market. "We have created a cultural rallying cry, and we call it 'Everyone sells,'"said Thomas.

I've always sought opportunities at businesses that were at inflection points, whether they needed to be turned around, reinvigorated or new pathways to growth. Barry McCarthy Deluxe CEO

McCarthy conceded that creating a single company culture out of many long-independent units was one of his greatest challenges. In April 2019 the company gave shares of stock to every employee, with the minimum amount per employee at $750. "People that are shareholders respond differently from people who are just employees," said McCarthy, who says he wanted to get across that "silos have no place in a company where we are all driving value from the same stock." Thomas said the new team approach has already paid off, with leads for new customers coming from all parts of the company. The company has also reached out more broadly to customers. It opened its annual client event  usually limited to financial services  to all customers in February. Deluxe Exchange at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix drew 480 attendees.

Deluxe shares remain under pressure
Two missiles were intercepted above the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh and the southern city of Jazan, according to Reuters.

Coalition forces were able to intercept and destroy [Unmanned aerial vehicles] launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Houthi militia toward civilian objects, a state news website reported.

Residents in the capital reported to state media that there were multiple blasts followed by the sirens of emergency vehicles in northern districts.

Who fired the ballistic missiles is unclear, but the Saudis have been part of a coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemens protracted war who have launched hundreds of missiles across the border.

The last attempted strike on the capital was in June 2018.

The Yemeni Civil War began in 2015 between the Saudi Arabian backed Yemeni government and the Iran-aligned Houthi armed movement.

Amnesty International has stated that there have been gross human rights violations on both sides of the conflict that shows no real signs of abating as it enters its sixth year."
Social distance markers are being seen everywhere in Bengaluru. (DC Photo: Satish B.)

Pinarayi irked by Karnataka's border closure

Irked by Karnataka sealing it's border, Kerala chief minister Piranayi Vijayan has written to prime minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to ensure free movement between the two states.

Former Speaker and Madikeri MLA K G Bopaiah said that Kerala patients were being brought to Karnataka as the medical facility was bad there.

A day after a Covid-19 positive person died at the District Hospital in Tumakuru, his home town Sira was completely shut down, with only essential commodities allowed in.

Home town of Covid-19 victim put under high alert

A day after a man from Sira died of Covid-19 infection, the whole town has been locked down. Nineteen members of his family and two maid servants have been kept under medical supervision. Medics are going from house to house in the neighbourhood asking whether anyone has corona symptoms.

Indira Canteens revived to serve homeless

The Bengaluru civic authority BBMP has revived the Indira Canteens to provide food for homeless people and migrant workers. Measures have been taken to maintain social distance and meals will be served three times a day.

Passenger tests positive

A person who had travelled from Bengaluru to Mangaluru on March 31 in a KSRTC bus has tested positive for COVID-19.

Ten more positives in Karnataka

With 10 more lab reports testing positive, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka has gone up to 74.

Quarantine in the lap of nature

A group of youngsters of Markal village in Chikkamagaluru district have set up camp in the forest as a way to stay out of reach of the Covid-19 virus. They packed food and groceries sufficient for a fortnight and are camping deep in the jungle, where virus carriers presumably would not venture.
Beaming at the camera, Adam Harkins Sullivan seems much like any fit, healthy young man his age. But, tragically, last week the 28-year-old painter and decorator from North London, became one of the youngest British victims of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, it has been reported.

Arsenal fan Adam, father to seven-year-old Harry, was admitted to University College Hospital with pneumonia.

He was put into an induced coma, and later died, his family said.

Adam Harkins Sullivan, pictured, 28, tragically last week became one of the youngest British victims of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, it has been reported

We are all just in shock, because he was only a young man, said his devastated mother Jackki Harkins, adding: He was healthy. You didnt have to tell him to eat his greens, he was always like that.

Yesterday, amid further tragedy, it was reported that Birmingham-based hospital pharmacist Pooja Sharma, 33, had also died with Covid-19. She passed away just 24 hours after the illness claimed the life of her father Sudhir, 61, a Heathrow worker.

On paper at least, those over the age of 50 and, in particular, people with other health problems, including heart disease and diabetes, have most to fear from the new coronavirus.

Early studies from Wuhan, China, where the disease was first identified in December last year, suggested 80 per cent of all deaths were in those over the age of 65, with the worst outcomes for patients in their 80s.

Younger people were much more likely to suffer a mild illness, or no symptoms at all.

And this is part of the reason the virus has spread so fast, say experts. People often dont know theyve got it, so go about their normal lives, unknowingly infecting others.

However, 15 per cent of patients suffer a severe illness  and emerging evidence suggests this is not just a worry for the elderly. So, undoubtedly, there will be more  perhaps many  tragic cases like that of Adam Harkins Sullivan and Pooja Sharma.

Over the past month, reports have emerged of youngsters in many countries ignoring advice to practise social distancing. Such is the concern, World Health Organisation boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus last week warned young, healthy people they would not be invincible during the pandemic.

Many groups of cyclists, who appear not to be observing social distancing warnings, in Richmond Park, London, amid the coronavirus lockdown (file photo)

Although older people are hardest hit, younger people are not spared, he said.

The most recent US figures show just that. While fatalities are highest in those over 85, one study found that out of 500 hospitalisations, 18 per cent were aged 45 to 54, and 20 per cent were 20 to 44.

One in ten ICU admissions  the most perilously ill  were in this youngest age bracket.

Dr Stephen Griffin, a virus expert at Leeds Institute of Medical Research, warns: Everyone, potentially, is at risk. Yes, the odds get worse as we get older. But each time a person is infected, a struggle begins between the virus and that persons immune system. And you cant say, with any certainty, which will win  because genetics, and many other factors we dont yet understand come into play.

VIRUS FACT As of yesterday, Covid-19 was in 199 countries. But Tonga, Barbados, Botswana, Fiji and Syria all claim no confirmed cases. Advertisement

So, while its true that eight in ten patients with severe disease will be over 65, two will be younger. And when you multiply that on the huge scale, that is a lot of young people who could be killed by this virus.

Dr Nathalie MacDermott, a paediatric infectious diseases specialist at Kings College London, agrees, saying: We have seen people in their 20s and 30s die from this virus.

Some had underlying medical conditions, others didnt.

Another patient who knows all too well what its like being on the unlucky side of the statistics is Michael Prendergast.

The fit, healthy, gym-going 28-year-old, from Kerry, Ireland, began to suffer a headache a fortnight ago, shortly after coming back from a trip to London. Within 24 hours, the symptoms came on with brutal speed: a soaring temperature, uncontrollable shaking, and sudden, extreme breathlessness.

There is a misconception that this is just a cold or flu, said Michael, in a video he recorded from his hospital bed. It is not. It is harrowing. It feels like youre not far from death.

Brutal: Michael Prendergast, pictured, 28, in the video he made from hospital after Covid-19 overwhelmed him. He said: 'I never would have imagined I would be so sick'

Im young, sporty and go to the gym. I never would have imagined I would be so sick.

His mother Joan, 61, added: He kept calling me from hospital saying he was terrified hed die alone.

It was horrible because I wasnt allowed to go in the ambulance or to the hospital, in case I was infected, too.

Thankfully, only a handful of people in Kerry have been infected  and, crucially, hospital staff had the time to give Michael their full attention.

He needed all the experts around him doing constant checks because he was having sporadic attacks of breathlessness, Joan says. And it took five days in a hospital bed to get him stabilised. It terrifies me to think of what might have happened had they been overwhelmed, like hospitals elsewhere.

Michael returned home on Tuesday. But he has not yet recovered.

He is still having periods of total breathlessness and the unbearably high temperature, says Joan. He cant eat anything, so hes losing weight. Im leaving drinks and prescribed nutrition supplements outside his room. Hes anxious that he wont get better. I feel so powerless  I cant even go into his room in case he passes it to me. I use FaceTime and texts to check hes OK.

Suddenly, I couldnt smell perfume or taste spicy pizza Up to a third of patients infected by covid-19 may temporarily lose their sense of smell and taste. In some patients, this may be the only symptom or it may be a first sign. In others, it can persist, even after the telltale cough and fever have subsided. Nnenna Idegwu stevenson, 27, from manchester, says it was one of the worst parts of her illness. When she first developed a dry cough on march 6, the business analyst presumed she had picked up a chest infection. But one symptom was bizarre. Nnenna says: I first noticed it about a week after the cough started, when I was putting on deodorant. I couldnt sense the perfume at all, which is quite strong. and that evening, my husband mark bought me my favourite spicy meat pizza for dinner. But it was like eating paper, no taste came. On March 11, with her temperature climbing towards 39C, she called NHS 111 and staff advised her to go to hospital for investigations. Five days later, while self-isolating, she received a call from her doctor who told her shed tested positive for Covid-19. at this point, her fever and cough were improving. But her sense of smell and taste (much of our flavour perception is actually due to receptors in the nose) were still absent. Studies of Covid-19 patients in south Korea and Germany have found that up to a third may experience the condition, known as anosmia. Experts say anyone who loses their sense of smell now should self-isolate. Nnennas tastebuds came back to life on Monday. I had a spoonful of rice for lunch and suddenly I recognised it again, she says. That evening I made my favourite  jollof rice and chicken  and savoured every sensation of heat from the spices. Savouring life again: Nnenna and Mark on their wedding day Advertisement

Meanwhile, Joan is still awaiting her own test results, having been screened last Friday.

She says: At the beginning of the week I had a runny nose, a slight dry cough and some muscle aches, but theyve reduced now. So, if I have had it, its extremely mild  nothing compared to what Michael has been through, and Im twice his age.

It has been almost three months since the Chinese government alerted the WHO about the new coronavirus  subsequently named SARS-CoV-2  which causes Covid19. And, since then, scientific understanding of the virus and the way in which it causes illness, has been growing at breakneck speed.

But one important question remains unanswered: why do some people become severely unwell with Covid-19, while others  the majority  experience few, if any symptoms? Some scientists believe the amount of the coronavirus an individual is exposed to in the first instance  the infectious dose  may have something to do with it.

Once a virus enters the body, it colonises cells and begins to replicate. And some think the higher the infectious dose of SARS-CoV-2 at the beginning, the worse the subsequent illness. This is seen with flu.

It may also explain why some healthcare workers  including Li Wenliang, the 33-year-old Chinese ophthalmologist who first sounded the alarm about coronavirus cases, and who died in February  have been reported to suffer Covid-19 more severely.

There have been a number of reports of previously fit and well junior doctors, and ear, nose and throat specialists with Covid-19 being placed on ventilators.

Doctors and medical staff may be exposed to a high infectious dose while examining the face, mouth or nose of their patients  as the virus can be carried in the breath, even if a patient has no symptoms. It could be the result of spending time close to one infectious patient, or a cumulative effect.

Friends of Pooja Sharma, the 33-year-old hospital pharmacist who died last week, claim that she too caught the virus at work.

If in a confined space such as a pharmacy, or even a pub or train carriage, where many people pass through, there could be more virus circulating in the air.

The way SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the body, and the immune system may also be key.

Older people are typically more vulnerable to all infections because, with age, our immune systems become less sensitive and not so able to mount a defence. But this new coronavirus is also able to disguise itself so the immune system is less able to attack it, and kill it off, explains Dr Griffin.

When it first enters the body, the virus colonises the upper airways  the nasal cavity and throat.

And this, for some, will be the extent of infection. The immune system recognises an invader and kills it off.

These patients will experience only a mild cough and cold-like illness. But in some individuals  for reasons not fully understood  the virus multiplies and infection spreads deep into the lungs.

To combat this, the body floods the area with fluid containing immune cells and also sends out chemical messengers called cytokines that cause inflammation  the aim is to create a hostile environment to kill off the virus.

But this can, in some cases, develop into pneumonia.

This is the medical term for swelling and the build-up of fluid in the lungs caused by the immune response, which can lead to extreme breathing difficulties.

Cyclists pass electronic billboards displaying public health information campaign messages from the UK government and local government in London (file photo)

A police officer from North Yorkshire Police reinforces the importance of social distancing and staying at home during a vehicle stop near Aysgarth Falls National Park (file photo)

If the virus is cleared, other compounds are released to reduce the inflammation, the fluid dissipates, and the patient begins to recover.

However, with pneumonia caused by Covid-19, experts are seeing something worrying.

In some, the body isnt killing off the virus, says Dr MacDermott. Instead, the immune system goes into overdrive.

This leads to a state known as hyper-inflammation, where the body continues to attack and send out cytokines.

Patients also, at this point, begin to suffer secondary infections as, with weakened defences, normally harmless bacteria invade the bodys tissues and blood.

Ultimately, the rise in levels of inflammatory compounds begins to compromise other organs, culminating, in some cases, with a cytokine storm.

Molecules designed to protect us instead overwhelm the body, destroying organs and causing rapid death.

In most cases of Covid-19 were seeing, its not the virus, but the immune system itself doing the damage, adds Dr MacDermott.

At present, there are no treatments approved for Covid-19. Patients in hospital are offered breathing support, in the form of oxygen masks or, in the most severe cases, ventilators. These are specialised machines that can take over breathing for the patient when the lungs fail.

Experts are now working on a vaccine to protect people from infection  and stop the virus spreading. It could be a year  or longer  before one is ready, however, due to the rigorous testing needed to ensure it works and is safe. But there is hope.

A global mega-trial named SOLIDARITY  unprecedented in scale  has been launched by the WHO, to test some of the most promising drug treatments, some of which are already used to treat other illnesses.

Possible treatments fall into two main categories  drugs with the potential to stop the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 from replicating in the body, and antiinflammatory medicines, which dampen the immune systems response to the virus.

Similar efforts are under way in the UK. Last week, a University of Oxford trial enrolled its first Covid-19 patients from NHS hospitals, and thousands more are expected to be recruited.

It could be months before we know which  if any  of these drugs works best.

And although they have the potential to reduce the number of patients needing critical care, as the University of Readings Dr Simon Clarke says, this alone wont be enough to end the pandemic. Treatment wont stop it spreading. Only a vaccine can.
US Pledges Additional Foreign Aid to Battle COVID-19

By Nike Ching March 27, 2020

The United States announced additional foreign assistance funding Thursday to help 64 at-risk countries battle the COVID-19 global pandemic while welcoming "continued, no-strings-attached" contributions from other nations.

"Today, I am pleased to announce that the United States has made available nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian funding," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday in a statement.

The $274 million in foreign aid includes $100 million that was announced in early February, $110 million in new international disaster assistance, and $64 million in humanitarian assistance for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist in its pandemic response efforts for some of the world's most vulnerable populations.

The funding will "support countries by providing protective services, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security, livelihood assistance, and humanitarian response coordination in order to mitigate the broader economic stabilization and security effects of the outbreak," said USAID Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick in a telephone briefing Thursday afternoon.

Among the 64 most vulnerable nations that are facing the threat of the deadly virus are Afghanistan, Angola, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Africa, Tajikistan, the Philippines, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Ethiopia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam, according to Glick.

The U.S. government's new pledges in foreign assistance came as China is stepping up its outreach to nations that are particularly hit hard by the pandemic. Planeloads of Chinese medical supplies, doctors and quarantine specialists have begun landing in European capitals almost daily, with governments of the hardest-hit countries, including Italy and Spain, openly welcoming China's help.

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a phone call that China is ready to share "experience on COVID-19 control and treatment" with Germany while cooperating on "the research and development of the vaccines."

"The Chinese Communist Party has a special responsibility to provide no-strings-attached assistance around the world and take responsibility for what everyone realizes is the result of the cover-up that happened in Wuhan," said James Richardson, who is USAID director of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources.

The U.S. is the largest health and humanitarian donor in the world.

"The United States contributes close to 40 percent of the world's global health assistance every year, nearly five times larger than the next donor, which is the UK, and 30 percent of the world's humanitarian assistance," Richardson said.

Thursday, the U.S. surpassed China and Italy to become the country with the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases.

Senior American officials have expressed frustration at Beijing's unwillingness to cooperate and provide transparent information at the initial stage of the pandemic when it was still confined to China's Hubei Province. The U.S. said China declined its offers of assistance.

Beijing was upset when the U.S. announced travel restrictions on people traveling from Hubei Province and China and was disturbed by Washington's decision to evacuate the U.S. consulate in Wuhan.

"U.S.-China relations were on the decline long before the pandemic started. But it's really the mutual animosity that's only increased since the outbreak," said Drew Thompson, a visiting senior research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

"The threats to embargo the export of medical equipment from China to the U.S., including protective gear, and the war of words between government officials about the national origins of the virus, indicates that we probably have not yet found the floor of the bilateral relationship, and tensions are probably going to continue and potentially even get worse," Thompson told VOA.

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In a bid to curtail the spread of coronavirus infection and to provide food to stranded people, more than 500 community kitchens are being operated in Uttar Pradesh, a state government official said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters here, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said, "As many as 527 community kitchens are being operated in the state. Thousands of food packets are prepared here that is being distributed to people stranded at the railway stations and other places."



"We would like to link all the social and religious organisations with this. If any person or family goes hungry, then information can be given to the concerned district magistrate through the control room," he added.

Awasthi informed that there are over 3.23 crore ration card holders in the state. Out of this, 1.94 crore card holders have been given ration by the food and civil supplies department.

He informed that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited and inspected COVID-19 testing facility at SGPGI here on Saturday. The CM also inspected a centre where food packets are being made.

"The Chief Minister reviewed the supply of foodgrains, vegetables and milk to public during the lockdown period and held a meeting with officials. As many as 26,298 vehicles have been made available for home delivery of items. Of this, 8,285 are four-wheelers and 18,013 hand-driven carts," Awasthi said.

Till 9 am on Saturday, a total of 4,642 cases have been registered against people for violation of the lockdown while 14,115 people have been challaned. Over four lakh vehicles were checked and 1.15 lakh challaned. Fine amounting to Rs 2.35 crore has been realised so far, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With factories closed and cash flow virtually dried up, small and medium private firms want the government to come up with financial support for payment of employee salaries.

In a video-conference held by Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday afternoon, members from the MSME sector said that they would find it difficult to pay salaries of staff in the absence of government support during the lockdown period. Industry bodies such as Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), FISME and Laghu Udyog Bharati represented SMEs in the meeting. They indicated that in absence of some aid it will be difficult for them to retain employees.

"United Kingdom (UK) government has announced it will pay 80 per cent of the salaries for certain employees. On the same lines, financial support can be given here too," an industry representative who attended the video conference said.

He said that massive retrenchment would be inevitable in case lockdown is extended and business establishments remain shut.

The agenda of the interaction with industry representatives was to discuss how industry was operating to make the lockdown effective, implementing work from home format, state-level issues and also how the exempt and essential services are being operated.

Speaking to BusinessToday.In, two senior industry members confirmed the discussion and hoped that government could work out a plan for salary payments.

Members of industry bodies Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) and Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) attended the high-level meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while announcing Janata Curfew on March 19, days before declaring a complete lockdown, had appealed companies to not cut salaries and wages of employees. He also advised them not to retrench staff.

The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector employs 110 million people and contributes 29 per cent to the GDP and nearly half of India's exports.

"While we may not be able to retain employees in the wake of Covid-19 (coronavirus) crisis, the industry would face huge problems in getting the workers especially unskilled ones back after the crisis is over. It will take almost six months to return normalcy," Managing Director of a Mumbai-based firm said.

Also read: Coronavirus: Here's how Mahindra, Maruti will produce ventilators at plants

Also read: Battle against coronavirus: Maruti ties up with AgVA Healthcare to produce 10,000 ventilators per month

Also Read: Coronavirus crisis: DRDO working with Tata, Mahindra on 'multi-patient ventilators'
Italy recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus on Friday, the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China where the virus first emerged.

Rome: Italy recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus on Friday, the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China where the virus first emerged.

Italy was the first Western country to introduce swingeing restrictions on movement after uncovering the outbreak five weeks ago. It has tightened them week by week, banning all non-essential activities until at least next Friday.

Yet only the United States has now recorded more cases, while Italy has suffered almost twice as many deaths as any other nation.

Follow LIVE Updates on Coronavirus Outbreak here

We havent reached the peak and we havent passed it, the chief of the Superior Health Institute, Silvio Brusaferro, told reporters before the data was released.

Nonetheless, he said there were signs of a slowdown in the numbers of infections, which slipped from the previous 24-hour period.

When the descent begins, how steep it is will depend on our behaviour, Brusaferro said.

Franco Locatelli, head of the council advising the government on health matters, said the existing restrictions on movement were likely to be extended beyond the hoped-for end date of April 3:

If I had to decide using todays data, I believe it is inevitable these measures will be prolonged.

The number of confirmed cases rose by 5,959 on Friday to 86,498, taking Italy past China, with the death toll at 9,134.

School shutdown extended

Schools and universities were among the first places to be shut down, closing nationwide on March 5. Education Minister Lucia Azzolina said the closure would have to be extended past 3 April.

Our aim is to ensure that students return to school only when we are completely sure that it is safe, she told the state broadcaster RAI.

The northern region of Lombardy, centered on the financial capital Milan, has accounted for 43 percent of Italys known cases and 59 percent of deaths.

Once again, the city of Bergamo saw the newest cases on Friday - 602 - with Milan in second place with 547. However, the region as a whole saw a slight dip.

The infection rate is not growing and I think it is about to fall, said Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana.

He said testing was being expanded, with people now having to present only a single coronavirus symptom to be swabbed, rather than at least two.

In an open letter, more than 300 doctors and scientists called on the government to let them use their own laboratories to speed up testing and identify the mild and asymptomatic cases that are currently going undetected.

At present, only a few, specialist labs are checking swabs, severely restricting the number of tests and information the true extent of the epidemic.

In Italy, there is an extraordinary community of researchers who could contribute immediately and very significantly and at zero cost to the current emergency situation, they said.

There was no immediate response from the Health Ministry.

The national federation of doctors, surgeons and orthodontists said on Friday that 46 of their colleagues had died so far, many of them family doctors in northern towns and cities.
The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus disease was first detected, is slowly reopening after two months of lockdown.

The city with population near 11million had crowds of passengers arrive at Wuhan train station on Saturday.

According to reports, people are being allowed to enter but not leave after the city saw more than 50,000 coronavirus cases and at least 3,000 people in Hubei died from the disease.

Recent checks reveal the numbers have reduced dramatically.

The United States is now taking the lead with nearly 105,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to a tracker by Johns Hopkins University.

However, China recently reported 54 new cases which it said were all imported.

Read Also: Coronavirus: Consult Native Doctors For Solution  Enugu Monarch Tells FG

As it battles to control cases coming from abroad, China has announced a temporary ban on all foreign visitors, even if they have visas or residence permits.

It is also limiting Chinese and foreign airlines to one flight per week, and flights must not be more than 75 percent full.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:44:04|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Omani Ministry of Health announced Saturday 21 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 152.

All the new cases are Oman citizens, eight of whom are related to travels, eight related to contact with previous cases, and the five others still under epidemiological investigation, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that so far 23 patients have recovered.

Meanwhile, the ministry called on everyone to observe the quarantine procedures, avoid going to public places and ensure personal hygiene.
Paris, March 28 : The French government has decided to extend the nationwide lockdown by two weeks until April 15 to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced.

"After these first 10 days of confinement, it is clear that we are just at the beginning of this epidemic wave. It has submerged eastern France and now it is arriving in the Paris region and northern France," Xinhua news agency quoted Philippe as saying on Friday.

"With the agreement of the President of the Republic, I'm announcing the extension of the confinement period by two weeks, starting from next Tuesday until April 15," he added.

Under the lockdown, declared on March 17, people can only leave their homes to buy food and medicine, and all non-essential businesses have been closed.

Further strict restrictions on people's movement were decided to fight against the rampant infection cases.

Open-air markets are shut down.

People would be allowed to go out for a walk with their children or to exercise once a day for no more than one hour, and within one kilometer of their home.

Sanctions against those who break the rules are tougher.

"The same rules as those currently in force will continue to apply. This confinement period may be extended if the sanitary situation requires it," Philippe said after a cabinet meeting.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen by 13 per cent within a day to reach a total of 32,964 as of Friday, the 11th day of national lockdown, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said.

A total of 1,995 people have died, an increase of 299 from Thursday, Salomon said, adding tha come 5,700 infected people were recovered, up from 4,948 reported the previous day.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Linkedin Michael Kahn and Claudia Cristoferi (Reuters) Prague and Milan, Italy  Sat, March 28, 2020 22:09 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e0ca9d 2 Parents pregnant,pregnancy,parents,health,childbirth,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

To prepare for the birth of her first child, Veronika Legat, a 35-year-old Czech lawyer, has cut off contact with her family and friends to avoid getting ill from the coronavirus or even catching a mild cold.

Her hospital told her that if she had any symptoms of a cold, a fever or runny nose, her newborn baby, due in April, may be isolated from her for two weeks as a precaution against the new disease. She might not be allowed to breastfeed.

"I'm not afraid of the virus but I feel angry," Legat said from her home in Prague. "Until the birth, we are staying home, and won't meet with anyone."

As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across Europe, prompting restrictions on public life and putting unprecedented strain on hospitals, pregnant women like Legat are preparing to give birth with a mixture of anxiety, anger and hope.

Some are worried about being separated from their babies. Others regret not being able to have a partner present at the birth. Many are having to accept reduced pre-natal medical appointments.

Healthcare authorities have introduced varying rules in different countries, deciding whether a woman can be accompanied during childbirth, for example, of if she must be separated from her baby if she is sick.

In some cases these rules are more stringent than recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), reflecting global uncertainty about how the virus acts and how best to prevent it spreading.

The WHO says there is no evidence that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness than the general population if they contract the COVID-19 disease, caused by the new coronavirus.

It recommends that women who have tested positive for the virus should be encouraged to care for and breastfeed their newborns as normal, provided they maintain stringent hygiene.

Read also: COVID-19 not transmitted from pregnant mothers to newborns, suggest recent case studies

Afraid of being alone

Marika Antolec-Walczak, 34, a judge from Tychy in southern Poland, knew if she went into labor early she would not have been able to travel to her nearby hospital, converted into an infectious disease unit because of the pandemic.

But what she was most afraid of was being alone.

"The first two times I gave birth, my husband was indispensable in helping me cope with the pain," she said.

Most hospitals in Poland do not allow women to be accompanied during childbirth, even though the WHO recommends "having a companion of choice present during delivery".

"It's a threat not only to the patient and the child but also to medical personnel," said Michal Bulsa, an obstetrician in Szczecin, a city in northwestern Poland. "I wouldn't allow it."

For women elsewhere in Europe, having a partner share the experience of childbirth is an option. In Italy, which has been the hardest hit by the disease in Europe, some hospitals allow women to be accompanied during the birth, but not afterwards.

The challenges of giving birth during the coronavirus crisis do not end there.

Some women have been told not to arrive at the hospital too early - a tough call to make, especially for first-time mothers - to minimize the chance of infecting others or being infected.

Shopping for a newborn is also tough, with most stores closed in many parts of Europe. Borrowing a crib from a friend in another town may no longer be possible with travel restricted across much of the continent.

Valentina Draghi, a 41-year-old speech therapist from Milan, started her maternity leave in February, weeks before her April 7 due date.

She had hoped to go shopping for clothes with her baby girl's grandmothers and attend prenatal classes.

"All of a sudden nothing of what I had planned is left," she said.

She was told she would have to go through labor wearing a protective mask.

"My partner may be present, but in two weeks I do not know what will happen," she said. "My biggest fear is that they won't let him in. I know it's forbidden elsewhere."

"It's my first pregnancy. I'm 41 years old. I'd like it to be a unique and important event," she said.

For Louise Koldsgaard, trusting the healthcare system in Denmark gives her a sense of calm.

"My midwife told me: maternity wards have never been cleaner," she said. "I try not to let it get to me too much. I still walk my dog every day and drink coffee at the local shop."

But Brandon Allen, 48, from Detroit in the United States, fears what awaits his family beyond the birth of his fourth child due next week.

"It's surreal. I've never seen anything like this in my life," he said. "People around me I know are dying.

"I'm freaking out about that. We are bringing a baby into this pandemic," he said.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The All India Institute of Medical Science here has set up a 206-bed isolation facility with 20 ventilators on standby exclusively for coronavirus patients.

The premier health institution has also started conducting COVID tests free of cost.

Director of the institute Dr Gitanjali Batmanabane said the institute is in complete readiness to tackle coronavirus cases.

The AYUSH complex, which is separated from the main hospital building, has 20 isolation beds with 10 ventilators. Besides the 36 private cabins, the entire J Block with 150 beds has been kept ready, she said.

We have ordered 40 more ventilators that are expected to reach us by end of next month. We have sufficient medical consumables and testing kits to deal with the crisis. Standard operating guidelines has also been prepared for doctors and employees, who will be coming in contact with patients, she informed.

As a precautionary measure, regular OPD service has been suspended. Those who are seriously sick and require treatment are being attended to.

All elective surgeries have been cancelled and only urgent life saving surgeries are being performed.

However, casualty is functioning 24x7. A COVID screening OPD has been opened where suspects are advised to take necessary steps. After screening, a decision on tests are being taken as per protocol. We have decided to start telemedicine services in next couple of days for patients who can consult doctors through the digital platform.

"This would prevent patients from travelling from far off places, Dr Batmanabane said.

The AIIMS Director said Odishas second COVID patient admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital is recovering fast and he has no complication.

He is fit both physically and mentally. All close contacts of the patients are also doing well and they have not yet developed any symptoms. Samples of some of them were tested negative, she added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday appealed people to donate money to the Chief Minister's relief fund to help the government tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

A special bank account has been set up for this purpose, a statement from his office said.

Donations can be sent to the account "Chief Minister's Relief FundCOVID 19"at the State Bank of India's main branch in Fort area here.

The donations would get income tax waiver under Section 80(g).

The bank account number is 39239591720. The bank code is 00300 and IFSC code is SBIN0000300, the statement said.

Several NGOs, corporates and religious organizations are coming forward to contribute to the state's efforts to tackle the crisis, it added.

As of Saturday, Maharashtra has recorded 167 coronavirus cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Huawei Technologies Co said on Friday it will invest $200 million this year to support third-party developers that use its computing solutions, as the Chinese tech giant underlined once again its long-term commitment to computing.



The move is part of a broader $1.5 billion package that Huawei announced in 2019 that it would invest over the next five years to build a vibrant ecosystem of developers.

"Developers are the key to changing the computing world. They are the engine of enterprise innovations, and the soul of new industry ecosystems," Hou Jinlong, president of Huawei's Cloud & AI business group, said.

"We will continue to work with global developers and industry partners to provide robust, economical computing power by leveraging the multi-core, high-concurrency advantages of Kunpeng processors. Together, we will unlock the trillion dollar blue ocean market of the computing industry and share the success of the digital economy," Hou explained.

Kunpeng processors are developed by Huawei on the basis of ARM chip architecture, a chip design developed by the British company Arm Holdings.

Hou said the company now has 1.6 million developers working on Huawei Cloud, and it hopes to increase the number to 5 million developers by the end of 2025.

Charlie Dai, principal analyst at business strategy and economic consultancy Forrester, said Huawei's computing strategy demonstrates the importance of leveraging holistic hardware and software spectrum to fully unleash the power of AI in the cloud.

ARM-based chips have unique value for computing. Huawei's investment in ARM-based servers not only supports broader business scenarios. It also effectively improves business agility in the increasingly dynamic macroeconomic environment, Dai added.

Analysts said China's recent emphasis on developing new infrastructure such as data centers will bring opportunities to Huawei's computing business.

Early this month, a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee called for accelerated efforts to build new infrastructure, including 5G base stations and data centers, in China.

Hou said: "The infrastructure for a digital society is computing power and Huawei has a unique edge in this respect. We hope to partner with all developers to build China's new infrastructure."

Huawei also announced on Friday it is working with partners such as Tencent Games to be part of the Kunpeng ecosystem and the company hopes that Kunpeng can become the foundation for future IT development in multiple markets. It added this will mutually benefit all players in the digital economy.

In November, Huawei partnered with Peng Cheng Lab, a key research facility in Guangdong province, to launch an upgraded AI computing system called CloudBrain. The system is an underlying architecture to support a wide range of applications such as smart healthcare, smart transportation and urban management.

"In the first stage, CloudBrain's computing ability will increase five times and it will be enhanced by another 10 times next year. It will become the world's largest AI computing cluster by then," PCL director Gao Wen said.
Can you imagine what it was like to live here before there were radios, television, a telegraph system, newspapers? Today, when the Russians launched a satellite, we heard about it on the radio a few hours after it began whirling around the earth. There were no radios or telegraph lines from Ontario to the Rocky Mountains. A few people in the Red River settlement received newspapers from London or from Toronto but the news was always weeks, even months old.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Can you imagine what it was like to live here before there were radios, television, a telegraph system, newspapers? Today, when the Russians launched a satellite, we heard about it on the radio a few hours after it began whirling around the earth. There were no radios or telegraph lines from Ontario to the Rocky Mountains. A few people in the Red River settlement received newspapers from London or from Toronto but the news was always weeks, even months old.

In 1859, two young men, William Coldwell and William Buckingham, set out from Toronto to establish a newspaper at Fort Garry. They had been working on newspapers in Toronto and whenever they could, they interviewed people who had been in the Red River Valley; people who could tell them about the opportunities there for enterprising newspaper men. They found out how to get to Fort Garry. They made lists of what they would have to take with them printing press, type, paper, ink, etc., for they knew they would not find any of these things in the settlement.

University of Manitoba Archives An agreement to publish dated 1859-08-22.

Coldwell and Buckingham assembled their equipment in St. Paul and there they bought three Red River carts and oxen to draw them. On the morning of September 29, 1859, they made, as Coldwell described it, "a very wild start, indeed". In the second issue of the paper, Coldwell wrote, "Hardly had the oxen been yoked to the carts when they kicked up their heels and ran off in every direction. Being unused to the yoke and fresh from the pasture the animals were as wild as harnessed buffaloes and kicked and plunged for nearly an hour."

The oxen were not used to harness and it is quite probable that the young men were not used to handling oxen. They had to gather up the type which had been scattered in the streets of St. Paul before they could go on their way.

In those days travellers from St. Paul to Fort Garry liked to travel in parties for fear of Indian attacks. There had not been any difficulty with the Cree in the Red River Settlement but the warlike Sioux had been causing trouble south of the border. Coldwell and Buckingham joined a party which was proceeding to Fort Garry by the Crow Wing Trail. They had still about four hundred and sixty miles to travel before they would reach their destination. There were rivers to be forded, swamps to be crossed, and sometimes the carts were upset on the rough trails. Coldwell wrote, "In our slow-going sleepy travel we did not exceed fifteen or twenty miles a day." It took from September 28 to November 1, thirty-five days, to make the journey which we can make today in less than a day by train or motor car.

As the weather grew colder the travellers began to fear that they might not reach the settlement before the Assiniboine froze over. On the last day of October, the weather turned very cold and snow began to fall. The leaders decided that they must make haste. On the morning of November 1, they broke camp before three oclock, ate their breakfast in a blinding snowstorm, and set out long before daylight on the last lap of their journey. That night they reached Fort Garry safely.

One member of the party was young Jemima Ross, daughter of Sheriff Ross, the man who subscribed to the London Daily Times. In thirty-five days on the trail the young people had plenty of time to become acquainted. William Coldwell did not waste any time. Shortly after the young editors established their newspaper, Jemima Ross and William Coldwell were married.

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University of Manitoba Archives An edition of the NorWester dated Dec. 28, 1859.

At that time there were very few buildings where Winnipeg now stands. Coldwell and Buckingham took a small mud and plaster hut near the corner of Main and Water Streets for their printing shop. They had to do everything themselves. They were, as Coldwell wrote, "our own editors, reporters, compositors, pressmen, news boys, and general delivery agents, besides having to undertake a house to house canvass throughout the entire settlement."

The first subscriber to the newspaper was an Indian chief, Chief Hole-in-the-Day, whom the young men met in Minnesota on their way to Fort Garry. We do not know whether he could read but we do know that he paid the required three dollars and told Coldwell that this was "the first big news" to which he had subscribed. They did not find it as easy to persuade the people of the settlement to part with their money. "We met people," Coldwell said, "who said they did not need the newspaper because they knew more local news than we could, and as for foreign news, they could learn about it from papers which came from London or Toronto or Montreal."

The Norwester was the name chosen for the paper. It was a good name for this was the first newspaper in the northwest, the first one in British North America between Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains. The plan was to publish the first number on New Years Day, 1860, but when the editors learned that the Hudsons Bay Company was sending out a shipment of mail on December 28th they decided to have their paper ready to go out then. Otherwise they might have had to wait several days before the mail would go out again. As they had more subscribers outside the settlement than in it, they naturally did not want to miss the mail.

In those days it was the custom to dampen the paper the night before printing. Coldwell and Buckingham dampened the paper as they had been accustomed to do in Toronto. In this country, however, the weather is usually very cold in December, and the editors were surprised to find when they went to the shop the next morning, that the paper had frozen into a solid block. They had to thaw it out before they could begin the printing.

The Norwester was very different from the newspapers published in Winnipeg today. It consisted of only four pages. There were no full-page advertisements, only small notices stating what the advertisers had to offer. There were no pictures nor comic strips. Since there was no telegraph service to Fort Garry accounts of news from Eastern Canada or from Europe were published weeks, sometimes months, after the events had taken place. In the Provincial Library in the Legislative Buildings in Winnipeg, there is a file of the copies of The Norwester, now yellow with age, carefully preserved so that historians may study this first newspaper to be published between Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains.

This article was originally published in the Manitoba Pageant by the Manitoba Historical Society in January 1958. All of its archived material is available free to the public. For archived stories go to: www.mhs.mb.ca
China's behaviour during the coronavirus pandemic will eventually result in a 'reckoning' in relations with Beijing, close allies of Boris Johnson have warned.

Senior Ministers think China risks becoming a pariah state unless there are sweeping reforms when the crisis abates, and they are demanding an urgent review of Britain's relationship with the Communist super-state.

It comes as the Prime Minister faces renewed Cabinet pressure to block the deal with the Chinese technology giant Huawei to build vast swathes of Britain's 5G network.

The Chinese government, led by president Xi Jinping, pictured, is under fire for a misinformation blitz around the virus, restrictions on vast amounts of protective medical equipment being exported, and animal rights abuses blamed by experts for the outbreak

There is fury at the top of government about the Chinese Communist Party's misinformation blitz around the virus, restrictions on vast amounts of protective medical equipment being exported, and animal rights abuses blamed by experts for the outbreak.

There is particular irritation in Downing Street about attempts to falsely blame a US Army delegation to the city of Wuhan, the outbreak's epicentre, for causing the crisis.

A source said: 'There is a disgusting disinformation campaign going on and it is unacceptable. They [the Chinese government] know they have got this badly wrong and rather than owning it they are spreading lies.'

Mr Johnson has been warned by scientific advisers that China's officially declared statistics on the number of cases of coronavirus could be 'downplayed by a factor of 15 to 40 times'. And No 10 believes China is seeking to build its economic power during the pandemic with 'predatory offers of help' countries around the world.

A major review of British foreign policy has been shelved due to the Covid-19 outbreak and will not report until the impact of the virus can be assessed. A Government source close to the review said: 'It is going to be back to the diplomatic drawing board after this. Rethink is an understatement.'

Another source said: 'There has to be a reckoning when this is over.' Yet another added: 'The anger goes right to the top.'

The Prime Minister faces renewed Cabinet pressure to block the deal with the Chinese technology giant Huawei, pictured, to build vast swathes of Britain's 5G network

Such concerns are today echoed by former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. Writing in this newspaper, he says: 'Once we get clear of this terrible pandemic, it is imperative that we all rethink that relationship and put it on a much more balanced and honest basis.'

Critics of Mr Johnson's decision to allow Huawei limited involvement in 5G are mobilising to press him to reverse the plan.

A senior Cabinet Minister said: 'We can't stand by and allow the Chinese state's desire for secrecy to ruin the world's economy and then come back like nothing has happened. We're allowing companies like Huawei not just into our economy, but to be a crucial part of our infrastructure.

'This needs to be reviewed urgently, as does any strategically important infrastructure that relies on Chinese supply chains.' Mr Johnson is resisting changing tack as he vowed in last year's manifesto to roll out superfast broadband for the whole country  and that will be hard to achieve on time without Huawei.

Separately, there is growing pressure for Britain to lead the way in urging China to reform its record on animal rights.

A senior Minister said: 'We have always known their wildlife markets are a recipe for a pandemic. China needs to close these down immediately. If they don't, they will rightly become a pariah state.'

Ministers are calling on Boris Johnson, pictued, to launch an urgent review of Britain's relationship with the Communist super-state

China also contributed to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) desperately needed by Britain's doctors, nurses and other health professionals. At the height of the epidemic in Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province, Chinese leaders commandeered vast amounts of PPE, made in factories across China and destined for export.

UK safety equipment firm JSP had its two factories in China 'requisitioned by the government to make disposable RPE [respiratory protection equipment] for Chinese government agencies', according to a letter its chief executive Mark Johnstone sent to customers on February 3.

In addition, Chinese state-backed operatives working abroad were directed to bulk-buy medical supplies from Western countries.

Overseas offices of Greenland Group, a property firm backed by the Chinese government, bought three million masks, 700,000 hazmat suits and 500,000 pairs of gloves as it 'felt compelled to assist in efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which had caused a shortage of crucial medical supplies in China,' according to a company newsletter seen by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ironically  and for critics, cynically  China has now started to donate masks and other equipment to other countries. Bank of China has sent 200,000 PPE items to Ireland and Chinese tycoon Jack Ma has given test kit, masks and other supplies to 54 African nations.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat said: 'Beijing is masking the greatest health emergency in a century and the cost of this deceit is global.'
(Bloomberg) --

Abbott Laboratories is unveiling a coronavirus test that can tell if someone is infected in as little as five minutes, and is so small and portable it can be used in almost any health-care setting.

The medical-device maker plans to supply 50,000 tests a day starting April 1, said John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott Diagnostics. The molecular test looks for fragments of the coronavirus genome, which can quickly be detected when present at high levels. A thorough search to definitively rule out an infection can take up to 13 minutes, he said.

Abbott has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by authorized laboratories and patient care settings, the company said on Friday.

The U.S. has struggled to supply enough tests to detect the virus, even as the outbreak threatens to overwhelm hospitals in New York, California, Washington and other regions. After initially restricting testing to high-risk people, and problems with a test designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. regulators have rushed out diagnostics made by the worlds leading commercial-testing companies.

This is really going to provide a tremendous opportunity for front-line caregivers, those having to diagnose a lot of infections, to close the gap with our testing, Frels said. A clinic will be able to turn that result around quickly, while the patient is waiting.

The technology builds on Illinois-based Abbotts ID Now platform, the most common point-of-care test currently available in the U.S., with more than 18,000 units spread across the country. It is widely used to detect influenza, strep throat and respiratory syncytial virus, a common bug that causes cold-like symptoms.

The test starts with taking a swab from the nose or the back of the throat, then mixing it with a chemical solution that breaks open the virus and releases its RNA. The mixture is inserted into an ID Now system, a small box weighing just under 7 pounds that has the technology to identify and amplify select sequences of the coronavirus genome and ignore contamination from other viruses.

The equipment can be set up almost anywhere, but the company is working with its customers and the Trump administration to ensure the first cartridges used to perform the tests are sent to where they are most needed. They are targeting hospital emergency rooms, urgent-care clinics and doctors offices.

Last week, Abbotts m2000 RealTime system got U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use in hospitals and molecular laboratories to diagnose the infection. That system can churn through more tests on a daily basis, up to 1 million a week, but it takes longer to get the results. Abbott plans to provide at least 5 million tests a month between the two systems.

Other companies are also rolling out faster testing systems. Henry Schein Inc. on Thursday said its point-of-care antibody test, which looks for evidence that a persons immune system has already fought off the infection, was available. The blood test can be given at the point of care and delivers results in about 15 minutes, though it cant be used to definitively diagnose a current infection.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
A person wearing protective clothing and a respirator mask donates protective equipment to the Elmhurst Hospital Center in the Queens borough of New York, U.S., on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Medical staffing firms are racing to help meet the demand for doctors and nurses in states where coronavirus outbreaks are creating an unprecedented need. But what they need most to build up medical staff quickly, they say, is for states to ease licensing regulations. "That's really where we need the help from everyone, is to make sure we have a quick licensing process and that we can get people on the ground where they're needed," said Dr. Cole Edmonson, chief clinical officer at staffing firm AMN Healthcare. AMN Healthcare is seeing the biggest demand right now from major hotspots for coronavirus infections, including New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, California, and Spokane, Washington. "We are seeing an increase in demand, in particular, for nurses in [intensive care unit] and emergency room care  but every specialty is really increasing the need right now," Edmonson said. The firm is also seeing a higher demand in Houston and Atlanta, though those areas are not considered major hotspots right now. Nomad Health, a staffing firm with more than 100,000 registered clinicians, is seeing demand for COVID-19 staffing across more than 30 states, with facilities in places such as Spokane, Washington, offering up to $120 an hour for medical ICU nurses, a number that's well above normal pay. "People are saying: 'We'll pay anything, we'll pay anything,'" said Nomad CEO Alexi Nazem. Nazem says while states are moving to ease credentialing, under the current emergency it would be more helpful to have a uniform national policy.

Temporary licensing rules can help

As of Friday, 30 states had temporarily eased requirements, allowing doctors and nurses already credentialed in other states to practice across state lines without having to apply for in-state licensing. More than two dozen states have also taken steps to make it easier for retired medical professionals whose licenses have lapsed to be recertified during the pandemic, according to data compiled by the Federation of State Medical Boards. New York has done both as the number of cases in the state has surged. Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the outpouring of response from retired doctors and nurses in New York. The state saw 10,000 volunteers sign up in a single day, after asking for help and announcing that the state is easing rules for reinstatement. "These are people who are retired, who did their duty, who could just sit at home, but they are coming forward," said Cuomo. In all, New York has more than 62,500 clinicians who have volunteered to help with the pandemic response.

Beyond state licensing, hospital flexibility

Analysts at health-care consultancy Advisory Board say states may need to help hospitals meet the anticipated nursing shortage by easing credentialing rules around the nursing requirements in hospitals during the crisis. "People are going to have to be creative about what types of nurses are caring for which types of patients at any given time," said Christopher Kerns, Advisory Board vice president and director of health care strategy. Kerns said hospitals may need to let licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, take on duties that are typically done by registered nurses, or RNs, who have more training. LPNs typically have two-year degrees and assist with primary-care needs in doctor's offices, while RNs have four-year degrees. "A second way to manage this is to relax nurse-to-patient ratio ... so that nurses could care for more patients. In some areas that might be the only alternative," Kerns said. But putting more pressure on an already stretched staff could lead to more staffing issues.

Potential absenteeism headwinds
STAMFORD  The number of patients at Stamford Hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 is almost five times higher than it was a week ago.

As of Friday, the hospital had found 19 people with the respiratory illness, according to spokesperson Andie Jodko. On March 19, that number was four.

Because of the quick spike, and in anticipation of the number of cases growing, the hospital is asking anyone who can to donate personal protective equipment, or PPE, at the Tully Health Center, starting Monday.

The situation is fluid and we are concerned, Jodko said. We have what we need to keep staff and patients safe right now, but we are doing everything we can to acquire additional PPE thru donations and creative sources.

She said the hospital is trying to conserve supplies while they last.

Some of the ways we are doing that is by reusing PPE when its safe and clinically appropriate, and by establishing new systems for distributing PPE, she said.

While the situation at Stamford Hospital is not as dire as some hospitals in New York, caregivers are testing positive for the virus, and the battle against the illness is only growing.

Every emotion thats being felt in the community is being felt here: fear, anxiety, a lack of clarity as to where this is all going, said Chris Riendeau, senior vice president of fund development at Stamford Health. Theres never been a need greater than right now.

Starting Monday, March 30, residents can drop off PPE donations at a safe and secure curbside drop-off zone located at Tully Health Center at 32 Strawberry Hill Court. Volunteer staff will be available to accept the donations Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In a letter to the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, hospital officials described the items that would be accepted.

They include disposable face masks, N95 masks (sometimes called respirators), face shields and safety goggles, disposable gowns, disposable gloves (especially non-latex), disposable surgical caps, disposable foot covers, wipes (bleach or antimicrobial), hand sanitizer (at least 60 percent alcohol) and infrared/temporal thermometers.

All items should be in their original, unopened packaging.

Outpouring of support

Coronavirus has made it impossible for the hospital to host its typical in-person fundraisers, but the health provider has still been able to raise money through online fundraisers and by Stamford residents stepping up to help out.

Riendeau said the support the hospital has received, both in monetary contributions and other donations, has been inspirational to witness.

The outpouring has been incredible, and it will continue, he said. It is truly making a difference.

That support has come in many forms, from one anonymous donation that will match any funds raised, up to $1 million, to a delivery of Girl Scout cookies. One woman even came to the hospital in person to deliver a $150 check. The hospital was grateful but told her, and others, to send any monetary donations electronically in the future to be safe.

The hospital has set up a COVID-19 Pandemic Response Fund where people can easily donate.

Besides money, local businesses have been donating meals to hospital staff too. Riendeau said the number of businesses that have contributed was too lengthy to name them all.

The hospital only accepts individually packaged meals, however. That means that pizza and trays of loose food, which requires people taking food from the same surface and coming into close contact with one another, is not allowed.

Jodko reminded people to practice social distancing and follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how not to spread the virus.

The fewer people we have to take care, the better care we can give to those who need it, she said.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
The winners of the 2020 Louth and Meath Education and Training Board Robert Ballagh Art Com petition were presented with their prizes at a reception in the Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, earlier this month.

Now in its fifth year, the competition is open to students and learners attending all of LMETB's post primary schools, Post Leaving Cert Colleges, VTOS Centres, Youthreach Centres and Community National Schools across Louth and Meath.

The competition is named after one of Ireland's best known artists, Robert Ballagh who volunteers his time to judge the visual art entries. The photography section is judged by internationally renowned Drogheda photographer, Des Clinton.

The competition is organised to provide an opportunity to showcase the work produced by the talented young artists, whose work was professionally framed Dealg Design, Ardee. The 30 winners all received art packs sponsored by Tara Art Supplies and had their work exhibited in the arts centre.
EMPLOYERS must continue to follow the laws of the TCI when choosing how to approach staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has warned.





They have obligations with regard to layoffs and reducing hours while their employees have rights, the Ministry of Immigration, Citizenship, Labour and Employment Services said.





"We are conscious of the economic strain the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on the business community in the TCI and the world at large.





"It has come to the departments attention that it is the intent on employers to either lay-off staff or decrease their hours of work ie. place them on short-time.





"The ministry would first like to recommend that all employers make every effort where possible to create alternative work schedules i.e. allow staff to work from home, create compressed and flexible work schedules in order to retain staff during this period.





"Secondly employers are reminded that all changes to the terms of employment needs to be properly documented and communicated to the staff in writing and in accordance with the applicable laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands.





In a statement on Thursday (March 26), the ministry said that where the circumstances require employers to place staff on short-time, they are encouraged to be mindful of Part IV 13. (2) and 14 of the Employment Order.





It reads: "Where by reason of a diminution in the work provided for an employee by his employer (being work of a kind which under his contract the employee is employee is employed to do) the employees remuneration for any week is less than half a weeks pay, he shall for the purpose of this part be taken to be kept on short time for that week.





And: "An employee shall not be entitled to severance pay by reason of being laid off or kept on short-time unless he gives in writing to his employer indicating (in whatsoever terms) his intention to claim severance pay in respect of lay-off or short-time (in this order referred to as a notice of intention to claim) and, before the service of the notice, he has been laid-off or kept on short-time for eight or more consecutive weeks of which the last before the service of the notice ended on the dated of service thereof or ended not more than four weeks before that date.





Staff are eligible for severance once they have been employed continuously for a period of two years by the same or associated employer.





Severance pay shall be paid at the rate of two weeks basic wage (based on the latest basic wage) for each year of service, and pro-rata for each incomplete year.





Employers are asked to be mindful that where staff are laid off consideration must be given to section 106 (4) of the Employment Ordinance.





It states: "No employer shall lay-off or make redundant an employee who is a Belonger and within three months prior or six months after, obtain, extend or renew, or apply to obtain, extend or renew, a work permit for a non-Belonger to work in a similar position, or carry out similar duties for the employer, as did the Belonger.





Employers should ensure that the layoff or short-time process is fair and persons are not singled out without just cause and in line with section 72 of the Employment Ordinance.





"Where the reason or principal reason for the dismissal of an employee was that he was redundant, but it is shown that the circumstances constituting the redundancy applied equally to one or more other employee in the same undertaking who held positions similar to that held by him and who have not been dismissed by the employer, and either:





"A. that reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which he was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in section 70(1); or





"B. That he was selected for dismissal in contravention of a customary arrangement or agreed procedure relating to redundancy and there were no special reasons justifying a departure from that arrangement or procedure in his case.





"Then, for the purpose of this part, the dismissal shall be regarded as unfair.





Employees who are being laid off are asked to contact the Employment Services Department to register for current unemployment benefits such as maintenance of NHIP benefits.





Work permit holders

Employers are also reminded that work permit holders who are laid off during this period and are not able to travel due to the travel restrictions are still their responsibility.





Once the restrictions are lifted cards must be submitted to the office for cancelling and the individuals returned to their home country.





Employers are prohibited from provided release letters to employees for this is not allowed under current legislation.





The Commissioner of Labour in line with section 33 (1) of the Employment Ordinance is also requiring that employers to submit a report to the commissioner on the list of persons being laid off and placed on short-time.





This report must be submitted before or on the date the information is being communicated to the effected staff members.





Anyone who provides false information would be committing an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $25,000 or to a term of imprisonment of six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.





Late fees on renewal of work permits are suspended for work permits that would have expired between Saturday (March 28) and April 17.





The ministry has established a hotline to answer all employment related matters during this period.





Anyone with employment related matters can call 348-3085 or 348-9340 and for stimulus package information they can call 347-2943.





The general public can also submit questions and provide information through the email address [email protected]




Reid Davies had a successful career in software sales, and as a yoga enthusiast, he always had it in the back of his mind that when he retired he wanted to be a yoga teacher.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reid Davies had a successful career in software sales, and as a yoga enthusiast, he always had it in the back of his mind that when he retired he wanted to be a yoga teacher.

He was a longtime member of Modo Yoga, formerly called Moksha Yoga, and as part of the studios "energy exchange" became its handyman in lieu of membership fees.

Last summer, he started talking about buying into the business, which has two locations. In January, he acquired a controlling interest.

He quit his software sales job in mid-March.

A week later, he had to shut down the businesses he had just bought.

"My big piece of life advice now is dont buy a yoga studio right before a pandemic hits," says Davies.

Normally, Modo Yoga is a busy enterprise with 50 employees, thousands of members and 140 classes per week.

Davies is determined to show that if any retail service business is pandemic-proof, its Modo Yoga.

Yoga puts people in a better state of mind and maybe allows participants  including the ones responsible to pay the bills and keep the lights and heat on (Modo Yoga is hot yoga)  to be better able to deal with the anxiety of a government-mandated shutdown for an indeterminate amount of time.

"We have a great group of people," he said. "I am a little stressed but Im very optimistic about what is at the end of this. It is not going to last forever."

Modo Yoga is offering on-line classes via Instagram. Most of the studios monthly members are continuing to pay their fees, and a larger international community is very active via an online portal that was set up by Davies partner, Ryann Doucette (from whom Davies acquired controlling interest in the Winnipeg studios).

Davies has the kind of energy that comes with embarking on a new challenge, which just happens to be a business whose mission is to promote the healthy practice of yoga worldwide.

"My wife and kids ask me how things are going. I am still excited about it," he said. "Its a bit of a bump in the road but I am super-excited about the next 10 years."

Meanwhile he is trying to be prudent, figuring out where the business can cut costs while keeping his community  both employees and members  together.

Davies said he would pay the staff for two weeks after the studios closed before he knew what was going to happen. Meanwhile, hes holding regular meetings with staff via the Zoom videoconferencing app.

"When the Canadian government emergency-response benefits kick in, it will help the staff out immensely," he said. "I cant tell you how happy I am about that. These arent big earners. They are in the yoga business because they love it."

Davies has invested a "significant portion" of his net worth in the business and doesnt want to speculate on just how long he will be able to survive with the business closed. It does sound like he is making all the right moves.

He is waiting to hear back from his suppliers and landlords after making payment proposals.

Davies gets emotional talking about the loyalty of Modo Yoga members.

"What is really helping us right now is our members," he said. "They are being very supportive of us. We understand some have been hit hard by this (the shutdown of normal life caused by the pandemic). We are so grateful for the people who are continuing to support us."

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There is no business manual to guide anyone through these uncertain economic times  never mind the frightening public health scenario.

Davies has the benefit of a supportive client base and the kind of energy that hot yoga can generate, but he also has the attitude that many others might be able to learn from.

Another thing going for him is that, when the crisis ends, yogis will clamour to get back in to the studio to sweat it out.

"This is definitely a tough time, but I am looking at it as a time to figure out what I can do while we are closed to make our business stronger for when we reopen," he said.

"We are trying to be defensive but thinking about how do we reopen with a bang."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
The Peak Districts toxic Blue Lagoon has been dyed black to deter people from gathering at the beauty spot during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown.

Derbyshire Police revealed it had changed the colour of the water in the disused quarry near Buxton after reports of people congregating there.

The force said it hoped the move would make the picturesque site less appealing to visitors.

Sharing photos of officers standing near the water in full body protective suits on Wednesday, the force wrote on Facebook: Yesterday we received reports that people were congregating at the Blue Lagoon in Harpur Hill, Buxton.

No doubt this is due to the picturesque location and the lovely weather (for once!) in Buxton.

However, the location is dangerous and this type of gathering is in contravention of the current instruction of the UK government.

With this in mind, we have attended the location this morning and used water dye to make the water look less appealing.

Police often dye the water in the former limestone quarry black to deter swimmers from entering.

Despite the pool having a pH level of 11.3, making it almost as toxic as bleach and ammonia, many people still flock to it.

Signs have been put up around the site by the council in recent years to warn people the water contains car wrecks, dead animals, excrement and rubbish.

Derbyshire Police has already faced criticism this week for using drones to track people visiting the Peak District after the government imposed a nationwide lockdown on Monday.

The force released a 90-second video showing about seven vehicles in a car park near Curbar Edge in the national park, as well as people in pairs enjoying a stroll and walking their dogs.

It said daily exercise should be taken locally to your home and under government guidance all travel is limited to essential travel only.

Former justice secretary David Gauke was one of a number of people to criticise the move on Twitter.

He wrote: This is badly misjudged. People should maintain social distancing, which is what these people are doing.

We need to maintain public support for fundamental behaviour change which requires the authorities to focus on genuinely bad behaviour.
Russias largest oil producer, Rosneft, has announced that it is halting operations in Venezuela and selling its assets there to a company fully owned by the Russian government.

Rosneft said in a statement on March 28 that it concluded an agreement with the company 100 percent owned by the government of the Russian Federation, to sell all of its interest and cease participation in its Venezuelan businesses," including multiple joint ventures, oil-field services companies, and other activities.

The move appeared to be aimed at protecting Rosneft from U.S. sanctions while Russia continues supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States has imposed sanctions on two Rosneft subsidiaries, including a company based in Geneva that sells crude oil to European customers.

Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontyev was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that the company expects the United States to now waive sanctions against its subsidiaries.

He said the decision was aimed at "protecting the interests of our shareholders."

Rosneft is led by Russian President Vladimir Putin's longtime associate Igor Sechin.

Based on reporting by Tass, AP, and AFP
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:25:07|Editor: xuxin

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DAKAR, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Amadou Ba on Saturday expressed "sincere thanks" of Senegalese authorities to China for taking care of its students blocked in Wuhan during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing, the Senegalese chief diplomat said China has shown "a lot of solidarity" by ensuring the supply of essential goods and medical follow-up to Senegalese students living in Wuhan.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, Senegalese President Macky Sall decided not to repatriate the country's students.

Given most of the COVID-19 cases in Senegal are imported ones, Ba also called for non-discrimination against Senegalese living abroad, as well as foreigners living in Senegal.

Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday morning, bringing the country's total number of cases to 130.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Associated Press )

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday pardoned five people who had already served their time and commuted the sentences of 21 state prison inmates, including more than a dozen convicted of murder or related crimes. The victims were children in two of the cases and a pregnant woman in a third.

The clemency requests were being considered before the coronavirus crisis, and, as resources permitted, the governor decided to move forward with them, spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email.

Attorneys representing inmates asked federal judges this week to free thousands of inmates to help prisons better confront the pandemic, which has sickened one inmate and 12 employees. Newsom said mass inmate releases would further burden strained community healthcare systems and homelessness programs. But he stopped transfers into the system for 30 days.

Aside from his usual consideration of public safety and justice factors, Waters said that because of the pandemic the governor also considered the public health impact of each grant, as well as each inmate's individual health status and the suitability of their post-release plans, including housing.

Many of those given clemency or pardons were younger than 26 at the time of their crimes, and they have since participated in rehabilitation programs, Waters said. Most of the commutations allow inmates to seek parole, but release decisions will still be made by the Board of Parole Hearings.

Newsom's commutations include 14 inmates convicted of murder or related crimes.

Suzanne Johnson, 75, of San Diego County has served 22 years for assault on a child causing death, while 64-year-old Joann Parks of Los Angeles County has served 27 years but denies setting a fire in her home that resulted in the deaths of her three young children.

Rodney McNeal, 50, of San Bernardino County has served 22 years for fatally stabbing his pregnant wife, a crime he also denies.

The others include:

Kristopher Blehm, 35, of Santa Barbara County, who has served nearly 12 years for helping murder his crime partner's romantic rival.

Story continues

Steven Bradley, 56, of Kern County, who has served 32 years for killing a gas station attendant during a robbery.

Jason Bryant, 40, of Shasta County, who has served 20 years for armed robberies, including one in which a victim was fatally shot by an accomplice.

Rosemary Dyer, 67, of Los Angeles County, who has served more than 33 years for fatally shooting her husband.

Samuel Eldredge, 61, of Humboldt County, who has served 25 years for fatally shooting his crime partner's housemate.

Richard Flowers, 64, of Tulare County, who has served more than 25 years for killing a woman during a robbery.

Robert Glass, 48, of Los Angeles County, who has served more than 26 years for murder during a burglary.

James Harris, 56, of Los Angeles County, who has served more than 30 years for a drug-sales-related kidnapping and the killing of two victims.

David Jassy, 45, Los Angeles County, who has served 11 years for killing a man during an altercation.

Shyrl Lamar, 68, of Sacramento County, who participated in a robbery in which her crime partner fatally stabbed two victims.

Ramon Rodriguez, 49, of Los Angeles County, who has served 22 years after he was paid to kill a victim.

Two of the pardons are intended to help lawful immigrants who face the possibility of being deported based on crimes they committed years ago. Waters said that would be an unjust collateral consequence that would harm their families and communities.

One is Tri Thai, whom the governor's office said was 18 in 1994 when he was convicted of receiving stolen property and 21 when he was convicted of a gang-related assault with a firearm, second-degree burglary and attempting to dissuade a witness.

The other is Monsuru Tijani, who was convicted of perjury in 1986, check fraud in 1991, submitting false financial statements in 1995 and submitting false financial statements in 1999. The governor's office said he has turned his life around, but he faces religious persecution and possible incarceration if he is deported to Nigeria because of his conversion to Christianity.

The remaining three pardons are all Los Angeles County cases.

Gabriel Garcia and Shannon Thomas-Bland were separately convicted of drug offenses in their early- to mid-20s about three decades ago. Brenda Ibanez robbed two convenience stores in 1999, and in 2005 she tried to buy motorcycles with a fake driver's license.




Authorities on Saturday were still investigating the cause of a house fire that claimed the life of a 61-year-old man.

The blaze was reported at about 4:47 p.m. Friday at 19 Moore Street in Moorestown. When emergency personnel arrived, the residence was heavily engulfed in flames, Moorestown Police Chief Lee R. Lieber said in a statement Saturday morning.

Lenola and Moorestown fire departments fought the fire, along with mutual aid from surrounding departments, the chief said. Its being investigated by Moorestown detectives and fire investigators, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office and the Burlington County Fire Marshall.

No details were available yet about where or how the fire started, he said.

Three residents of the home were able to escape but a fourth resident, Michael Edwards, was found deceased inside the one-and-a-half story home, the chief said.

Property records indicate it is a 1,437 square foot single family residence that was built in 1923.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is fighting the Wuhan virus with its usual obfuscation, lies, denials, and accusations. Calling the virus a concerted effort by the U.S. and Israel to infect Iran, the government has demanded an end to Western sanctions  and money, lots of money -- because, it says, American sanctions are preventing medical supplies from entering the country.

The first claim is nonsense and the second claim is nonsense.

Sanctions are aimed at reducing the amount of money Iranian government officials and entities have to engage in nuclear weapons development and the sponsorship of terrorism. With limited resources, they are supposed to weigh malign behavior on the one hand, and the needs of the Iranian people on the other. Thus far, the Iranian government has chosen the first hand. Because sanctions are not aimed at the general Iranian public, there is, and has always been, a medical exemption -- an existing EU importation mechanism was augmented in February with a Swiss channel.

The website Iran International was reported to have seen documents indicating that in mid-January, Fardavar Azma (an) Iranian company, which is the exclusive representative of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, announced its readiness to import coronavirus test kits. In early February, agents representing South Korean companies said they were prepared to import test kits from South Korea.

In addition, the U.S. has offered Iran supplies. Brian Hook, the U.S. Special Representative for Iranian Affairs, told reporters, U.S. sanctions are not preventing aid from getting to Iran, adding that the U.S. had sent a diplomatic note to Tehran offering help and it was quickly rejected.

Supreme Leader Khamenei agrees. Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic. That is strange because you face shortages in America. Also, you are accused of creating this virus. I do not know whether it is true You could be giving medicines to Iran that spread the virus or cause it to remain permanently Our number one enemy is America. It is the most wicked, sinister enemy of Iran... its leaders are terrorists... Liars and charlatans.

Iran does not want our medical supplies because they can only be used as medical supplies.

Iran wants cash money -- one thing the mullahs and their IRCG and Basiji minions dont lack. In 2013, Reuters estimated Khameneis wealth in the neighborhood of $95 billion. An updated assessment done with Daily Sabah in 2019 indicated upwards of $200 billion. Irans IRGC is estimated to control 20 percent of the Iranian economy (admittedly a declining asset).

Outside money would allow Iran to keep doing what it is doing and keep its tools operating. One of those tools is Mahan Air. Sanctioned since 2011 by the Treasury Department, it was flying to and from China as late as February and wasnt grounded until this month. (Mahan planes were also flying into Italy until November of last year.) According to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, In February, Irans chief terror airline, Mahan Air, continued to fly at least 55 times between Tehran and China, spreading the #WuhanVirus. At least five countries first cases of #COVID19 were a direct result of the Iranian regimes disregard for everyones health. The Iranian regime ignored repeated warnings from its own health officials, and denied its first death from the #WuhanVirus for at least nine days.

So, if it has become clear that a) the Iranian government is at least in large measure responsible for the importation and spread of the virus, which it now is having great difficulty controlling, and b) that the United States is correct (and generous) to offer only non-fungible aid, is there a path forward for Iran?

Yes. Ending the sanctions entirely when Iran meets the conditions outlined by Secretary Pompeo nearly two years ago. In short form:

Meet the requirements of the UN and IAEA for nuclear accountability and inspections, including ending enrichment and closing the heavy water reactor; and end ballistic missile development and production as required by the UN.

Release all U.S. citizens, as well as citizens of our partners and allies.

End support to Middle East terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and for the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Houthi militias in Yemen; and for Shiite militias in Iraq.

Withdraw all forces under Iranian command from Syria.

End threatening behavior against its neighbors (including) -- threats to destroy Israel, and its firing of missiles into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (and) threats to international shipping... and cyber-attacks.

Far from a high bar, this is more along the lines of what my grandmother would have called being an international mensch. And surely, in the context of a pandemic, it would be a decent atonement and a decent price for the Iranian government to pay for the rescue of its people.

Shoshana Bryen is Senior Director of The Jewish Policy Center and Editor of inFOCUS Quarterly
By late last week, the average price of Brent crude in the London platform hit $30.40 per barrel for May contracts, down 30 per cent since late January, and the average price of WTI oil was $24.96 per barrel for April contracts, down 20 per cent in the same time.

Laying behind such a price drop is a shrink in demand for transport and travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, and not a reduction in crude oil supplies.

The falling oil price will affect the state budget as Vietnam is also an oil exporter

In March, Standard Chartered forecast that the global oil price would hover at $29-35 per barrel, while the fresh projection of the International Energy Agency reached $38-43 per barrel, and Morgan Stanley also predicted the price to be around $50 per barrel this year.

Vietnams Ministry of Finance (MoF) earlier aimed to see a price of $60 per barrel for 2020.

Following such a price decline, two weeks ago, the cost of petrol E5RON92 and RON95 in Vietnam were reduced by over VND2,000 (8.7 US cents) per litre. Prices of other items such as diesel and kerosene have also lowered remarkably.

Many logistics firms such as locally-invested Azina Logistics and Singaporean-invested Indo Trans Logistics Corporation (ITL) said they are currently benefiting from a reduction in oil prices.

A source from ITL told VIR that each month the firm has to spend hundreds of thousands of US dollars on petrol to fuel its 200 tractor trailers and 110 trucks. Petrol is now accounting for 35 per cent of the firms transportation costs.

The reduction in petrol price can help hundreds of other logistics firms in Vietnam reduce input costs. For example, it can help ITL save 4-5 per cent of transportation costs, especially in the context that a reduction in goods transport demand is driving logistics firms into increasing difficulties, the source said.

In another case, Azina Logistics possesses 100 trucks and petrol is occupying 30 per cent of the companys costs.

A reduction in petrol price has been good news for firms like us, a firm representative told VIR. However, other costs are also on the rise. We hope that the petrol price will stay on a downtrend.

Meanwhile, many production enterprises like Vietnam Stone Work  Top Fabrication also sees the oil price drop as a cost saver. Currently, oil cost accounts for a significant part of the firms total costs.

Its good news, especially in the context of rising costs in material inputs, said a firm source. All transport firms and those engaging in delivery services and producing materials from crude oil will benefit.

According to the MoF, the falling oil price will help local production bounce back as fuel accounts for a significant part of local enterprises' costs, especially those involving transport and production which are now bogged down in difficulties caused by the current health crisis.

However, a drop in crude oil price in the global market has also been responsible for a fall in Vietnamese state budget revenue, because the country is also an exporter of crude oil.

In the first two months of 2020, Vietnams revenue from crude oil totalled $122.4 million, down from $378.26 million in the same period last year. Notably, the total was reaped not based on an average price of $50 per barrel in February, but a high price of $68 per barrel fixed previously.

State-run PetroVietnam is reported to be suffering from a loss of $2.35 billion from this drop.

The MoF said that a reduction in global prices will likely lead to a decrease in Vietnams crude exports, causing a dent of VND7-17 trillion ($304.35-739.13 million) to the state budget in 2020.

Under PetroVietnams plan, in 2020, `the group will exploit 10.62 million tonnes of crude oil, 9.74 billion cubic metres of natural gas, and produce 21.6 billion kWh of power and 1.56 million tonnes of nitrate. It will also manufacture 11.8 million tonnes of petrol. Total revenue this year will be VND640.9 trillion ($27.87 billion).
Erdogan announces strict monitoring of travel within Turkey among other measures, calling on Turks to show patience.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has imposed additional nationwide restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.

While stopping short of declaring a lockdown, Erdogan on Friday announced the suspension of all international flights to and from Turkey as well as strict monitoring of domestic travel.

As of Friday, the number of coronavirus-related deaths in Turkey had risen to 92, while total cases reached 5,698.

The new restrictive measures include seeking approval from local governors before making intercity trips, and the closure of picnic areas, forests and archaeological sites over weekends.

Erdogan did not give a timeline as to when the restrictions would end.

The duration of these measures will depend on our peoples determination to follow instructions, Erdogan said, calling on Turks to show patience and sacrifice.

God willing, we will overcome this issue in the shortest time possible if all measures are strictly followed, he added.

Most public spaces, schools and universities are closed, and public transportation is curtailed [Umit Bektas/Reuters]

The president said the measures will be implemented with greater scrutiny in 30 metropolitan areas, including the countrys four most populous cities: the capital, Ankara, the financial hub, Istanbul, Kocaeli and Izmir.

He called on citizens to voluntarily self-isolate if they feel unwell. We can see from the rest of the world what happens when people dont abide by the rules. Look at the United States, he said, referring to the country with the most officially confirmed coronavirus cases.

200327233253010

Additionally, Erdogan said that a pandemic board would be established in all of the countrys 81 provinces.

Over the last two weeks, most public spaces, schools and universities have been closed and public transportation has been curtailed.

The movement of people aged 65 years or older and those with chronic illnesses has also been restricted.

When the risk of contagion in some villages or towns is high, such a decision can be made, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told the private NTV television on Friday.
Over the last number of years Cork County Council has been producing a heritage book each year, from bridges to houses and churches to castles. What is very evident in these pages is the great number of wonderful heritage sites scattered throughout the County; not to mention the household names and legendary cultural characters that are synonymous with the Rebel County of Cork.

In 2019 Cork County Council undertook two new publications - the Industrial Heritage of County Cork, which was a continuation of the very popular Heritage of County Cork Publication Series, and a colouring book for all ages was also undertaken for the first time, titled 'the Colourful Heritage of County Cork'.

2020, will see the undertaking of two further publications in the same vein. The Archaeological Heritage of County Cork will be the eighth in the series, a series which, has each year, been supported by the Heritage Council, and Volume Two in the Colourful Heritage of County Cork will also be undertaken, supported by the Heritage Council and also through the Creative Ireland Programme.

With social distancing and isolation impacting so much on our daily lives due to Covid-19, now is a perfect opportunity for groups throughout the county to put their thoughts together on what sites they would like to see included in each publication, and with regard to the Colourful Heritage of County Cork Volume 2 publication, perhaps even put their pens to paper in drawing some of the County's heritage sites and historical characters for inclusion in the book.

Volume 1 of the colouring book, undertaken in 2019, has met with great reviews and included drawings by a number of people from throughout the County. Copies of this publication are available in many bookshops around the county as well as from the Heritage Unit on floor 3 of the County Hall.

For the Colourful Heritage of County Cork Volume 2, Cork County Council is again inviting people to put forward any number of suggestions to include everything from natural and built heritage to archaeological sites and famous people from our past, even including traditional crafts and modern day festivals.

The publication, which will be bilingual in both Irish and English, will include numerous drawings and associated text, as well as an overall map to indicate the location of the sites in the context of one another.

The primary aim of the publication is to highlight the vastness of culture and heritage in County Cork, and in particular sites that can be visited and enjoyed by all the family. Everyone who submits and has a drawing included in the book will receive a number of copies of the publication to be shared with friends, colleagues, classmates and family alike and it is anticipated that the book will be published just before Christmas 2020.

Cork County Council will be delighted to receive all suggestions and recommendations, and in particular, any drawings or sketches, up to the closing date of Friday the 29th of May.

With regard to the County's archaeological heritage, this truly is vast. One certainly does not need to travel far to come across an archaeological feature in the county, not surprising given that there are over 19,000 entries alone in the archaeological record (Cork Archaeological Survey).

While previous publications in the Heritage of County Cork Series have touched on many more recent aspects of archaeology, this upcoming publication will pay particular attention to prehistoric monuments and those from the later periods that have not yet featured covering a range of periods from the Mesolithic; Neolithic and Bronze Age, to the Iron Age; Early Christian Age and elements of the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods. Archaeological sites and monuments tell so much of Cork's history and heritage, ranging from stone circles and megalithic tombs to ring forts and Fulacht Fia, and this publication sets out to convey how our archaeology is at the heart of community, particularly with regard to the identity of place.

One of the most important elements of this publication, if not the most important, is the input of local heritage groups and enthusiasts. Past publications in the Heritage of County Cork Series have benefited hugely from a great number of public submissions including photos for use, stories, and indeed lists of recommended sites that should be featured in the book(s).

With respect to the upcoming publication on the County's Archaeological Heritage, the Heritage Unit of Cork County Council would be delighted to see a similar response in 2020. To this effect local heritage societies, community groups and individuals are requested to get involved in the project by submitting any specific information/stories/photos of interest to Cork County Council by Friday 29th May 2020.

The publication will set out to include and reference as many submissions as possible and for further information email cork.heritage@corkcoco.ie or phone 021 4285905.

For those interested in previous publications by Cork County Council's Heritage Unit and indeed for information on a whole range of heritage aspects, the heritage section of www.corkcoco.ie is full of fascinating information covering everything from archaeology and built heritage to cultural heritage and natural heritage. Indeed, there are also a number of articles online written by Ted Cook as well as an extensive links section to a range of other sites.

While so many upcoming events have been cancelled the website provides a good opportunity to take stock of the depth and breadth of the wonderful heritage that exists in the County of Cork.
A spokeswoman for Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the government was looking at further measures. "Welfare assistance may be available to some other temporary visa holders if they face significant financial hardship under the special benefit payment," she said. "We are investigating options for expanding support to vulnerable people which could include assistance for paying bills and buying other essentials such as food, clothing and petrol. There are no residency restrictions to access existing or expanded emergency relief services." Meanwhile, institutions are helping affected residents. A spokeswoman for the University of Sydney said it was helping feed some of the students in its campus accommodation, especially those who needed to self-isolate. "Were managing any requests for specific assistance from any of our students on a case by case basis, and we'll continue to monitor the situation," the spokeswoman said.

The Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) said stand downs and redundancies had a disproportionately negative effect on international students and migrant workers. RLC is seeing an influx of clients on temporary visas, who have been left stranded in Australia with no access to work, no access to welfare benefits and no way to return home in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, an RLC spokesman said. For some migrant workers sponsored by employers, their visa conditions prevent them from accessing employment with other employers at this time, even if they have been stood down without an income. This may be disastrous for many temporary visa holders with limited support networks." One client from New Zealand on a special category visa who had been stood down indefinitely was not able to meet requirements for Centrelink benefits despite having lived in Australia for six years. Matt Kunkel, the director of the Migrant Workers Centre in Melbourne, said his organisation has seen temporary visa holders in financial distress, despite being taxpayers. He said jobless migrants in dire financial hardship needed welfare support to avoid becoming homeless and contributing to a public health crisis.

"There are literally people begging for food on Facebook because there is little option," he said. "One person came in and said they had no money, no food in the cupboard and can't pay the rent. It has hit our migrant communities harder because they don't have access to our social safety net." Giada Bonadei Romero, a 28-year-old international student from Spain, has been Australia for two years but lost her waitressing job at Sydney restaurant two weeks ago. "I am not thinking about university fees, I am thinking about survival, not being homeless and getting food," she said. "I have been trying all week to get assistance and told I cannot get any benefit as an international student. My family in Spain and Italy cannot help me economically because they are in a worse situation than me." Carolina Del Rio Serna, an international student from Colombia who lives in Noble Park, said she and her husband had lost their school cleaning jobs last week and were struggling to pay the rent and buy food. She is on a student visa and studying project management.

"We are very worried," she said. "We are stuck, we cannot leave Australia and do not have money to survive here. We come here and pay student fees and taxes, so I think the government should give us a little help." Carolina Del Rio Serna, a temporary visa holder from Colombia who has lost her job, at her home in the Melbourne suburb of Noble Park. Credit:Luis Ascui Ms Del Rio Serna said many other students were struggling to buy food. "A community of Colombian students are on a Facebook site and restaurants are giving us one free meal. That is how we are surviving," she said. "We are also applying for Salvation Army food. With rent we are trying to talk to our landlord to see if they can give us more time to pay rent." Sean Cantwell From Ireland, who lives in Richmond on a working holiday visa said he was living "week to week" and has felt helpless since losing his hospitality job last weekend.

"I don't have enough money to go home to Ireland and I am stuck in Melbourne with barely enough money for rent," he said. "I have no source of financial to provide essentials like food." Jenny Stanger, executive manager for the Catholic Archdiocese Sydney Anti-Slavery Taskforce said 11 per cent of Australia's workers were on temporary visas. "Their economic contribution to Australia is enormous," she said. "Its critical that the governments response to COVID-19 include rights and protections for them, if needed. "Existing welfare payments such as Special Benefit could easily be extended to those in need and would mostly be spent in local communities." ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said the union movement has been advocating for visa workers to have the same access to welfare as other workers.

"They cannot return home, they should not go to work if sick and many cannot be left with no income if they lose their jobs," she said. "The government has assured us that they will address this issue through special benefits, but we are yet to see the detail. We have also raised the need for all non-residents to be able to access the Medicare system as a matter of urgency. Carla Wilshire, chief executive officer of the Migration Council Australia, said it was a particular problem for temporary residents who had worked in hospitality and tourism - industries devastated by the shut downs and consequent job losses. One in our workers in those industries were on temporary visas, she said. "We need to ensure anyone in dire hardship has the means to self-isolate particularly if they are showing symptoms or are sick," Ms Wilshire said. The United Workers Union has called for a jobs guarantee or emergency income for every Australian resident. President Jo Schofield said financial support and access to Medicare should be extended to all temporary visa holders. "Every person irrespective of their citizenship or visa status must be supported through this crisis," she said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden said he agrees with Bill Gates' call for a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. (Associated Press)

Former Vice President Joe Biden is calling for an immediate nationwide stay-at-home order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, saying the main mistake that leaders can make in a pandemic is "going too slow."

The Democratic presidential candidate told CNN on Friday that he agreed with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates that the uneven patchwork of state and local lockdowns in effect in the United States will inevitably cost lives and prolong the economic catastrophe.

"Why would we not err on the side of making sure that we are not going to have a repeat?" Biden said from his home in Wilmington, Del.

President Trump has urged Americans to practice social distancing but has declined to issue a nationwide stay-at-home order, leaving it to governors and local officials to decide whether to shut down nonessential businesses. He said this week that he'd like to have the country "opened up and just raring to go by Easter," which is just over two weeks away.

Biden said he'd watched Gates' appearance on CNN on Thursday night and found him "really insightful." "I thought Bill Gates knew what he was talking about."

Joe Biden says there should be a nationwide lockdown "for the time being" amid the coronavirus outbreak in the US: "Two weeks in what is going to be a long fight to deal with this is a small price to pay" #CNNtownhall https://t.co/2WixulLJJ7 pic.twitter.com/fNodu0b16B  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 28, 2020

Biden's hourlong town hall on CNN was part of a series of television appearances in recent days to keep himself in the news as Americans are consumed by the upheaval of the pandemic. It came as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, his lone remaining rival in the race for the Democratic nomination, was holding an online forum with healthcare workers.

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Biden has built an all but insurmountable lead in the race for delegates and is trying to pivot to the general election without angering Sanders or his supporters.

Gates, a philanthropist whose family foundation has spent billions of dollars to curb the spread of malaria, AIDS and other diseases, told CNN on Thursday that the coronavirus will keep spreading out of control "anywhere you don't have a serious shutdown."

Were entering into a tough period that, if we do it right, well only have to do it once for six to 10 weeks," he said. "But we have to do it. It has to be the whole country.

For the lockdown to be effective, Gates said, a dramatic increase in testing for the virus is essential.

Its exponential growth if youre not stopping it," he said. "The sooner you engage in the shutdown, the easier it is to get to that peak. We have not peaked. The parts of the country that arent shut down, in late April we should see the numbers peak there.

"We're entering into a tough period...If we do it right, we'll only have to do it once for 6 to 10 weeks, but...it has to be the whole country."

Bill Gates says the US hasn't yet peaked and needs further shutdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic#CNNTownHallhttps://t.co/X6BKvxnMg0 pic.twitter.com/fTvLUOV7h9  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) March 27, 2020

Biden, who took questions recorded by viewers in their homes, faulted the Trump administration for eliminating a National Security Council directorate at the White House that was charged with preparing for a pandemic. Trump has said he knew nothing about it.

"I just dont think he has taken this seriously from the outset, Biden told CNN.

Biden also criticized Trump for feuding with some Democratic governors. Trump said Friday that he told Vice President Mike Pence, who leads his coronavirus task force, not to call Govs. Jay Inslee of Washington or Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, adding, "I want them to be appreciative."

"Do your job," Biden said sternly into the camera. "Stop personalizing everything.

Responding to a question from a New Yorker who said he'd just lost his job on Broadway and couldn't pay his rent, Biden said he would support a three-month suspension of rent. "Freeze it and forgive it so youre able to stay in that place, he said. No one should be evicted during this period. Period.

Biden also called for a nationwide freeze on shutoffs of water or electricity for delinquent bills. "The vast majority of people who worry about their utilities being shut off," he said, "are people who are living hand- to-mouth."
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) has announced the successful sale of Parc Santa Fe, a 344,542-sq-ft industrial property located in Denver, US, for $58 million.

Launched in April of 2018, the investment involved the acquisition and development of a greenfield land parcel into a Class-A industrial facility.

The sale of the property, which was in line with the initial investment strategy, delivered a net internal rate of return to investors (IRR) of 27.7% and a Return on Equity (ROE) of 49.6%, said a statement from Markaz.

Both return metrics exceeded initial estimates of 11.9% (IRR) and 43% (ROE) driven by strong market selection, excellent project execution and active monitoring & oversight of the project, it stated.

Markaz said it has been active in the US real estate market since 1977 with the launching of its first syndicated transaction. Since 1988, Markaz has been conducting real estate transactions in the US through Mar-Gulf, the US real estate arm and a subsidiary of Markaz.

"For over 30 years, Markaz continued to strengthen its presence in international real estate markets and we have been able to achieve strong results and witness the growth of our portfolio by building lasting relationships with market leading operating partners, service providers and lending institutions," noted Sami Shabshab, President of Mar-gulf Management.

"Our philosophy is and continues to be sector and strategy agnostic under which we identify and source opportunities depending on market trends and timing," stated Shabshab.

"We have bought, sold, developed and renovated real estate assets across all major sectors

(industrial, office, multifamily and retail). Our main focus is to create value to our investors, shareholders and stakeholders through prudent due diligence, timely acquisitions and worldclass execution," he added.

Sadon Abdullah Al Sabt, VP (International Real Estate) at Markaz, reiterated the

companys continued commitment towards its real estate investment program both in the

US and in Europe.

"This exit is one of a series that have achieved more than the initial expected IRR. In 2019, Markaz successfully exited two development projects within our US development program with returns exceeding original pro-forma expectations," stated Al Sabt.

Furthermore, we fully exited one of our distressed debt assets in Arizona and currently have only one remaining. In addition, we broke ground on four different development projects in 2019 including two industrial projects in Europe (Germany and Poland).

"The weighted average IRR generated by international real estate projects reached 19.5% in the current real estate cycle (since 2010)," he explained.

Al Sabt said Markaz's current international real estate portfolio consists of 15 standalone

investments worth over $450 million across various markets.

"The full economic implications of the Covid-19 are not yet clear and uncertainty still prevails due to the unprecedented nature of the event. However, our existing portfolio is well positioned to weather the downturn and strongly recover as the crisis subdues," noted Al Sabt.

"We strongly believe in the long-term value proposition of our investment program, which is designed to capitalize on real estate opportunities in the US and in Europe," he noted.

"The current crisis will no doubt bring to the market unique transactions with significant long term upside which Markaz is ready to capture," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Pedro Bravo Castillo, shown at the Enforcement and Removal Operations processing center in downtown L.A., was one of two detainees ordered released. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A federal judge Friday ordered the immediate release of two men held in the Adelanto detention center after their attorneys cited their severe risk of contracting coronavirus.

The two  Pedro Bravo Castillo and Luis Vasquez Rueda  are among a number of detainees who have been ordered released across the country since the pandemic broke out.

"They've been spared a potential death sentence," said Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney with Public Counsel, which  along with Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP  represented the two men. Hopefully now ICE is going to do its part to prevent the spread of the deadly virus."

The attorneys are asking that the men be given a coronavirus test and appropriate garb before they go into isolation at home.

In his order, Senior U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. noted that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. had exceeded those in every other country. In San Bernardino County, where the detainees are being held, confirmed cases have "tripled over the past five days."

An outbreak at Adelanto, he wrote, would further endanger everyone.

"This is an unprecedented time in our nations history, filled with uncertainty, fear and anxiety," the judge wrote in his order. "But in the time of a crisis, our response to those at particularly high risk must be with compassion and not apathy. The government cannot act with a callous disregard for the safety of our fellow human beings."

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in L.A. confirmed that the judge's order had been received and transmitted to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE did not respond to a request for comment.

In a court filing, the government argued that concern about the men contracting COVID-19 at Adelanto if not released was "based on mere speculation."

"Petitioners have provided no evidence that ICE has failed to take proper precautions against COVID-19 or that there have been any cases of COVID-19 in Adelanto," the government wrote.

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In his order, Hatter cited a 2018 report that found health and safety risks at Adelanto.

Predating the pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general found 14,000 health and safety deficiencies at contracted detention facilities between October 2015 and June 2018. At least 10 migrants have died in ICE custody this fiscal year.

In a supplemental declaration, Dr. Ranit Mishori, a senior medical adviser with Physicians for Human Rights, stated that the conditions in which Bravo Castillo and Vasquez Rueda were being held at Adelanto violated issued guidance that called for people to "avoid congregative environments and practice scrupulous social distancing."

"The conditions at Adelanto place both petitioners at a significantly heightened and medically unacceptable risk not only of contracting COVID-19, but also of suffering severe complications and serious outcomes if they do become infected," Mishori wrote.

Rosenbaum called the detention center "a breeding ground for the virus."

Bravo Castillo and Vasquez Rueda were arrested by ICE agents last week, days after the governor and L.A. mayor ordered people to ramp up their efforts of social distancing over the coronavirus.

Bravo Castillo was convicted in 2015 for DUI causing bodily injury and hit-and-run. Vasquez Rueda was convicted in 2017 for DUI.

Facing criticism from across the country for continued enforcement actions amid the coronavirus pandemic , ICE said it would shift its focus to public safety risks.

The agency said it would also focus on those subject to mandatory detention based on criminal grounds. For those who dont fall into those categories, ICE said it would "exercise discretion to delay enforcement actions until after the crisis or utilize alternatives to detention, as appropriate.

It is unclear when Bravo Castillo and Vasquez Rueda will be released. Bravo Castillo's family said they are happily awaiting his return.

Were so glad that hes able to come home now," said his stepdaughter, Martha Jaimez, 24. "I have so much weight lifted off my shoulders."

Times staff writer Molly O'Toole contributed to this report.
Landlords are reporting plunging revenues as occupancy drops and struggling tenants seek discounts over coronavirus impacts.

For almost two months, Ha has been losing VND40 million ($1,700) a day from the 30 serviced apartments she rents out in HCMC. This month, she has no tenant despite lowering prices to half or a third of the price tag before the novel coronavirus epidemic hit.

Last year, her apartments were almost always fully occupied by a variety of Vietnamese and foreign tenants, but the situation began to change towards the end of January when Vietnam started recording its first coronavirus infections.

"I am helpless. All I can do is to be patient and wait for the pandemic to pass," she said.

Quan, landlord of a 10-aparment complex in Thu Duc District, has seen his revenues go down 80 percent as his tenants, mostly blue-collar workers, left the city for their hometowns after their jobs got cut.

The remaining tenants are asking him for discounts, even though he himself is struggling to repay the long-term loans (until 2025) he has taken to invest in the complex.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hurt Vietnams apartment industry sector as tenants income drop or they lose their jobs.

About 10 percent of businesses have had to scale down their production in February due to coronavirus impacts, and the figure rose to 15 percent by the second week of March, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

In the worst case scenario, it is estimated that between 880,000 and 1.3 million people will lose their jobs or have their working hours reduced, it added.

Nguyen Loc Hanh, CEO of HCMC-based real estate firm Ngoc Chau A, estimated that rent revenues are falling by an average of 50 percent in the market, and the figure could go up to 70-80 percent if the pandemic persists.

Landlords who have borrowed money to invest in apartments will be hurt the most as cash flow drops, and the best solutions for them is to accept discount proposals by tenants to avoid zero revenue, he said.

"Its better to lose some than to lose all," he said, adding that market demand will return to normal when the disease is contained.

Meanwhile, both landlords and tenants are struggling. Lan, who has three apartments for rent in HCMCs District 9, has not found new tenants for two since December.

The remaining apartment is rented by a family of five in which the husband, who works in the construction sector, has been unemployed for months.

"Ive given them a 20 percent discount, but even with that they ask to pay the rent in three installments each month because their income is limited."
Dr. Coburn saw himself as a contrarian who wore his intermittent unpopularity as a badge of honor and grew irascible when others tried to convince him that party loyalty trumped his core beliefs. I am not a go-along, get-along guy if I think it is the wrong way to go, he once declared. He developed a reputation for rigorous leadership on matters of congressional oversight, even when it entailed confronting powerful forces in his own party.
As the coronavirus pandemic is worrying people worldwide, fake news are swarming on social networks and Morocco is not immune to this virus.

However authorities are on the alert, tracking on the net fake content relating to the pandemic of new coronavirus (Covid-19).

The central computer monitoring cell of the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) had detected a number of false digital content, disseminated on social networks and via instant messaging applications.

The operation is part of the continuing research and investigations aimed at combating fake digital content pertaining to the pandemic, the DGSN says.

Some fake postings evoke alleged cases of infection by Covid-19, while others deny the existence of the coronavirus or incite people to violate the prevention measures adopted to limit the spread of the virus , said the DGSN. This situation necessitated the opening of judicial investigations and the carrying out of meticulous technical research, which made it possible to identify the people involved in the making and dissemination of these false contents.

The authors of the fake news that may disturb public order and harm the populations serenity are brought before justice.

In this connection, the secretary general of the presidency of the public prosecution, Hicham Balaoui, told MAP this Saturday that so far, 56 individuals have been prosecuted for publishing fake news about the spread of the Covid-19.

He pointed out that about 450 people have also been arrested for violating the health emergency, since its entry into force on March 24.

The presidency of the Public Prosecutor had called, at the beginning of the week, on authorities to be firm regarding the enforcement of the provisions related to the health emergency.

The draft laws governing the quarantine period aim to guarantee the health and safety of citizens, while respecting their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms. The texts include sanctions against those who violate the precautionary measures laid down by authorities to curb infections with the new disease.

Those who disobey the protective measures during the quarantine period face jail terms from one to three months and fines from 300 to 1300 dirhams.

Moroccan local authorities, security services, backed by elements of the Royal Armed Forces, have been patrolling streets and closely monitoring the populations movements, which are only allowed upon authorizations.

Morocco declared health emergency from March 20 to April 20, banning all movements except for buying foodstuff or medicine or going to work. Only supermarkets and shops selling food, pharmacies, banks and other critical business remain open.

Total coronavirus cases in Morocco reached 358 by Saturday noon, including 23 deaths, and 11 recoveries.

Globally, Coronavirus Cases reached 622,316 and 28,800 deaths.
Mhow : , March 29 (IANS) A 24-year-old labourer Mukesh Sikarwar, was killed and five others travelling were wounded when the auto-rickshaw carrying them to MP's Morena district overturned on Saturday here, police said.

Most occupants of the autorickshaw -- overloaded with 13 passengers -- were labourers returning from Gujarat. More than 30,000 labourers have been travelling through past four days on foot or whatever transport they could manage to rush home after they were left with no work due to the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

While the congregation of people is banned and trains have been stopped in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, panicked labourers have ignored safety alerts, Rau police station in-charge Inspector Dinesh Verma said.

The five injured have been rushed to MY hospital in Indore city 25 km away, he said.

The migrant labourers, who worked in Gujarat, entered the state from Pitol check post of Jhabua district in western MP and were on their way to their home district Morena, the Inspector said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a televised message said he spoke with Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of other states to request them to hold back the state workers out there.

"I have requested them to make food and stay arrangements for our people in their states in the wake of lockdown to check the spread of COVID- 19," Chouhan said.

Thousands of migrant labourers from MP overlooked Gujarat government's request to stay back. Labour contractors who engaged them were reluctant to pay for their stay and meals leaving them to fend for themselves.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Courtesy of the US House of Representatives

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez scolded GOP lawmakers on the House floor Friday before a House vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill.

She said it was "shameful" that Senate Republicans had fought for "one of the largest corporate bailouts with as few strings as possible in American history."

"There should be shame about what was fought for in this bill and the choices that we have to make," she said.

Elements of the massive relief bill sparked intense criticism from progressives, such as a $500 billion pot of money to be loaned to large corporations hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a scathing rebuke of Republicans Friday morning at the House floor Friday morning.

Before a vote on the massive $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, the New York congresswoman blasted Senate Republicans for pushing to bail out large companies and industries in dire financial straits as a result of the unprecedented shutdown of the American economy.

"What did the Senate Majority fight for?" Ocasio-Cortez said. "One of the largest corporate bailouts with as few strings as possible in American history. Shameful!"

She noted that the district she represents in Queens has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, as New York City struggles to treat a surge of infections that's beginning to overwhelm hospitals there. The state reported over 39,000 coronavirus cases on Thursday  or 7% of the global total.

"Our community's reality is this country's future if we don't do anything," she said. "Hospital workers do not have protective equipment, we don't have the necessary ventilators."

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She also expressed alarm the bill guaranteed loans for large businesses and said it didn't do enough for average people, arguing it would contribute to income inequality.

"The option that we have is to either let them suffer with nothing or to allow this greed and billions of dollars ... to contribute the largest income inequality gap in our future," she said.

Read more: The coronavirus crisis has pushed $1 trillion in corporate debt to the brink of default. Here's where UBS said to expect the most carnage  and which industries will be spared.

"There should be shame about what was fought for in this bill and the choices that we have to make," she said.

The $2 trillion coronavirus economic relief bill is the largest federal spending package ever assembled by lawmakers. The Senate passed it in a 96-0 vote on Wednesday and the House is expected to vote on it Friday.

The legislation is slated to send $1,200 checks to millions of Americans and expand unemployment benefits. It will also provide distressed businesses and industries with hundreds of billions of dollars in zero-interest loans, tax breaks, and other emergency aid.

But provisions within it triggered intense criticism from progressive lawmakers like Ocasio-Cortez. The bill set aside $50 billion in emergency relief for major airliners now squeezed financially by a steep drop-off in the number of people traveling and by nations around the world sealing their borders to curb the spread of the virus.

That was part of a broader $500 billion fund for loans from the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve to large businesses hammered by the outbreak. Critics called it another bailout for corporate America.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jolly former military men make up the caretakers of Britains historic compound, and its a right laugh to see them in full Beefeater get-up on their mobile phones and computers, giving each other a bit of stick. Their segments are certainly more entertaining than those on the repair job under way on the spiral staircases, but not as informative as the guided tour through the Towers macabre past. With world travel in lockdown, you can cross this tourist site off your virtual list.

The Sweet Life with Elise Strachan Credit:

THE SWEET LIFE WITH ELISE STRACHAN

New series 

8.30pm, SBS Food
Kathleen Carrolls neighborhood in Montclair, N.J., is tight-knit. They look out for each other; when someone gets sick or a new baby is born, neighbors help make dinner for the family. The Inwood Avenue block party is well-attended every year, too  tons of food, games and laughs.

So when Carroll brought a local restaurant owners plight to her neighbors attention, she wasnt surprised that they not only stepped up  they found a way to help a local charity as well.

Stuffed Grass-fed Burgers, also in Montclair, has been feeling the economic effects of COVID-19, so Carroll pooled funds with a bunch of friends on her Inwood Avenue block. They ended up raising more than $1,200 to buy frozen meat from owner Dan Campeas inventory.

Neighbor Emily Grand had another idea: donate the food to Tonis Kitchen, a local soup kitchen.

I just sent a note around everybody and said, 'Hey, Im gonna buy some food, if you want some heres how to do it. And [Grand] said, Im in, but lets donate the food to Tonis," Carroll said. It all happened within just a couple of days, zoom zoom zoom. I think people want to feel like theyre doing something."

Tonis Kitchen started in 1982 at St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Montclair, and has been providing thousands of meals, food bags for deliveries during the coronavirus crisis. Partnerships with Montclair and Bloomfield Public Schools have allowed the kitchen to get lunches to children during the crisis. Connecting with Montclair Senior Services and the Kiwanis Club of Montclair has gotten their food to hundreds of seniors throughout the area.

Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the economy. Restaurants in New Jersey, like in Pennsylvania, can serve only takeout and delivery.

Campeas said business is down more as much as 70% since the coronavirus outbreak.

Its like the best of both worlds, Campeas said. I mean, I think the nicest thing that Ive seen especially in Montclair is just the amount of attention to small businesses people are showing, and I just think I think its awesome. I hope it stays when everything comes back to normal because we need it.

The restaurants need the help, the kitchens need the help, and Carroll says those who can help need to step up.

More will be called upon, those of us who have the ability to help out others are going to just have to keep doing it because were going to be in this for a while, Carroll said. Hopefully other people get together and do things like this.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Former Secretary of State John Kerry went after GOP Rep. Thomas Massie on Friday because of his possible attempt to delay a vote on the coronavirus stimulus package.

He tweeted, Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an asshole. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. Hes given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!)

His tweet was a reaction to President Donald Trumps statement, Looks like a third rate Grandstander named @RepThomasMassie, a Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT State, Kentucky, wants to vote against the new Save Our Workers Bill in Congress. He just wants the publicity. He cant stop it, only delay 

Also Read: 'Today' Host Hoda Kotb Breaks Down After Reporting on Coronavirus Impact in New Orleans (Video)

After Kerry made his proclamation, Trump responded.

Never knew John Kerry had such a good sense of humor! Very impressed! he tweeted.

Trump has been at odds with Democrats  namely New York governor Andrew Cuomo  over the handling of the spread of the coronavirus, so the decision to attack a GOP congressional representative and praise Democratic Kerry was particularly noteworthy. Trump has been interested in getting the economy up again, mentioning during a Fox News town hall earlier this week he hopes to see people back to work by Easter.

Read original story Trump, John Kerry Call GOP Rep Thomas Massie a Grandstander and Ahole for Blocking Stimulus Bill At TheWrap
Amsterdam: European Union divisions were laid bare on Friday as the bloc's leaders haggled over how far to go to cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic, with the ailing south left fuming at the resistance of the richer north to extend more support.

The bloc's 27 national leaders had failed to agree on more economic support in a six-hour call the day before, struggling to show unity on issues ranging from economic stimulus to sharing medical equipment and tightening controls on the continent's normally open borders.

Coffins with coronavirus victims from Bergamo arrive at the Cinisello Balsamo cemetery near Milan, Italy. Credit:LaPress/AP

European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde's call on governments to act more decisively fell flat as Germany and the Netherlands came out forcibly against a push by Italy, Spain, Portugal and France to issue joint bonds.

The leaders also disagreed on the idea of setting up a precautionary credit line from the eurozone's European Stability Mechanism bailout fund, instead buying time by telling their finance ministers to work out more details of how this would work over the next two weeks.
Abbott on Friday announced it received approval for a test that is capable of delivering positive results of the coronavirus in as little as five minutes, and it will begin making those tests available to health care providers next week.

Abbott on Friday announced it received approval for a test that is capable of delivering positive results of the coronavirus in as little as five minutes, and it will begin making those tests available to health care providers next week.

The Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the point-of-care test on Friday, the company said in a statement. The test can detect negative results in 13 minutes. The company said it plans to ramp up manufacturing so it can deliver 50,000 tests per day.

"The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus," Abbott Chief Operating Officer Robert Ford said in a statement.

This is the second Abbott test for the coronavirus to be launched. Between the two, the company expects to produce about 5 million tests per month, the company said in a statement. The Lake Bluff, Illinois, company makes diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and medicines.

A challenge might be that clinicians, due to the personal protective equipment shortage, might not feel safe administering these tests to patients, especially those with respiratory symptoms.

Around the world, there are more than 591,802 cases of the coronavirus with at least 26,996 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the U.S., there are at least 101,657 cases of the coronavirus with at least 1,581 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

--CNBC's Christina Farr contributed to this report.
Somrita Ghosh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Even as 1,200 people were put under home quarantine after they came in contact with a mohalla clinic doctor who tested positive of COVID-19, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday took the decision to keep the clinics, which see over 100 patients daily, open.



To keep mohalla clinics open is a necessity to check patients with the slightest doubt of infection and screen and test them before it is too late. If the nearest facility is closed, it will become more difficult to get poor people evaluated, said Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, National President, Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum (PMSF).



COVID-19 LIVE | India tally nears 850 as Andhra, Tamil Nadu report fresh cases

Because of the panic many people with ordinary respiratory illnesses are also rushing to tertiary care hospitals, severely compromising the care of potential COVID patients. However, many of the false positives can be screened at these mohalla clinics, said Dr Satendra Singh, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi University and Founder, Doctors with Disabilities.

Managing the crowd will of course be the challenge. It is good that the clinics are open but it should not be turned into a routine OPD for routine complaints. Unless, it is a case of emergency, the locals should avoid coming in, added Dr Naval Vikram, Professor, Medicine, AIIMS. However the medical experts also stressed that sufficient PPE kits should be made available to doctors.



ALSO READ: Cat found infected with coronavirus in Belgium



With adequate personal protective equipment and social distancing norms, it will be a boon if the mohalla clinics are kept functional. The clinics will be catering to patients in the community during lockdown. This will help avoid overcrowding at main hospitals, said Dr Shivaji Dev Burman, President, FORDA.Yet some medical professionals raised concern over how safe it can be  both for doctors and patients to visit the clinics.



It is very difficult to maintain distance inside these clinics. And per day patient count is often above 100, said a doctor on the condition of anonymity.
They promised "12 hours of power" and the best tunes overlooking one of the world's most famous beaches, Bondi.

"Get ready to release your inner Caribbean dancer," the organisers of the Tropicana party said. "At the Bucket List you can get the best view, best people and not silly restriction (sic) over the bar."

Photos posted on social media by the promoter show partygoers dancing, hugging and kissing at the event held at Bucket List bar at Bondi Beach on the night of March 15.

Meanwhile that afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was announcing new guidelines on social distancing - such as keeping 1.5 metres away from other people - which have come to define our lives. A ban on public events of more than 500 people also came into effect the next week.
CP Premiere: Matt Redman wants world to know Jesus is the same in every season, even in a pandemic

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Two-time Grammy Award-winner Matt Redman released his 14th album, Let There Be Wonder, at the top of the year that includes the new single, The Same Jesus, and said he now wants the world to hold on to that phrase more than ever.

"In a moment when theres so much uncertainty and anxiety swirling all around us, its so important to sing unchanging truth, Redman told The Christian Post on Wednesday.

Amid concerns surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic, the popular U.K. worship leader said he wants people to stay focused on who Jesus is.

When we worship Jesus, we encounter the One who is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. He is the ultimate unchanging truth  the same Jesus through every season, every problem, and indeed, every pandemic, he said.

The video for The Same Jesus was recorded live at Heart of God Church Singapore before many churches stopped holding large gatherings to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The Heart of God Church Singapore, an independent youth church founded by pastors Tan Seow How and Cecilia Chan, welcomed Redman and his band with open arms as they all worshiped together.

View the video premiere here:

The lyrics to The Same Jesus are inspiring and a reminder that God is in control.

This Jesus / Who carried our shame / This Jesus / Who rose from the grave / The same Jesus / We worship today, we worship today

He came to us / In grace and in truth / He's still with us / And still on the move / The same Jesus / He is making us new X2

I know that my Redeemer lives X2 / He's still keeping all His promises / The same Jesus X2

He's commanding / The wind and the waves / His kingdom / Forever shall reign / And we know that / He is coming again X2

The Same Jesus was a collaboration between Redman and producers Jacob Sooter and Joshua Silverberg. Let There Be Wonder is now available.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 12:48 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206dfd29e 1 Art & Culture artists,musician,Indonesia,Education-and-Culture-Ministry,coronavirus,#coronavirus,COVID-19,#COVID19,art-performance,workshop,online,YouTube Free

Indonesian artists and musicians are scheduled to perform and share their knowledge online on YouTube from March 30 to 31.

To be aired on the Budaya Saya channel, the event is part of the #bahagiadirumah (happy at home) campaign initiated by the Culture Directorate General of the Education and Culture Ministry. The event can also be re-watched later on.

On March 30, dancer-choreographer Eko Supriyanto will be sharing his knowledge about contemporary dance and choreography from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Born in 1970, Eko earned a master's degree in fine arts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the United States, and a doctorate in performance studies from Gajah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta. Among Ekos celebrated works is a choreography series titled Trilogy of Jailolo that consisted of Cry Jailolo, Balabala and Salt.

Read also: No quarantine blues: Making music in the time of COVID-19

On the same day, music group Riau Rhythm will perform on the same channel from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Originating from Riau in Pekanbaru, the music group combines elements of Melayu traditional music with modern musical instruments, according to kompas.com. The group has performed internationally, including in Portugal in 2019 as part of the Riau Cultural Mission 2019 program supported by the Riau administration and the Indonesian Embassy in Lisbon.

On March 31, the community storytelling show Ayo Dongeng Indonesia can be watched from 9 a.m. Launched in December 2011, the community views storytelling as a social activity to develop imagination and share happiness and motivation.

In the afternoon, the public can watch a live concert by the ISI Yogya band from the Yogyakarta Institute of the Arts (ISI) from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Darmawati, who works in public relations at the Culture Directorate General, told The Jakarta Post on Friday about the possibility of upcoming online performances and workshops. Were currently preparing the schedule, Darmawati said.

The #bahagiadirumah campaign aims to be a platform for Indonesian artists and musicians to stay productive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Friday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia had reached 1046 cases with 87 fatalities. (wir/wng)
By Trend

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on the ministries in the country to prevent the ongoing rumors about the coronavirus outbreak, Trend reports via the presidential website.

During the phone talks with the ministers, Rouhani discussed the implementation of Iran's social distancing plan.

He urged to make sure that the process of having people return from celebrating the Nowruz holidays to their homes would not overwhelm the entry into cities and slow down the process of screen-testing for revealing the infected.

Rouhani also asked the restrictions to be implemented in accordance with the orders made by National Committee on Combating Coronavirus and to avoid any strict or negligent actions.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 27,300. Over 597,000 people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 131,700 people have reportedly recovered.

Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 32,300 people have been infected, 2,378 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 11,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
Researchers from the Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University have successfully found a gene that could work towards accelerating the progression of ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The study titled, "The loss of TBK1 kinase activity in motor neurons or in all cell types differentially impacts ALS disease progression in SOD1 mice," was published in the latest issue of the journal Neuron.

What was the study about?

The researchers looked at several genetic markers that could predict the worsening and progression of ALS. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that slowly weakens the ability of the patient to move, speak, eat, or swallow and eventually leads to respiratory paralysis and death. This study was an attempt to look at the changes in the gene called TBK1 and its effects on ALS.

Their study revealed that mutations in the TBK1 gene can lead to both positive as well as negative effects on the progression of the disease in mice. These mice were genetically modified to mimic the symptoms of ALS.

Tom Maniatis, Ph.D., a principal investigator at Columbia's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, a senior author, said, "One of the greatest challenges to finding a cure for ALS is using genetic data to understand the disease's underlying mechanisms." He added, "For example, neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS involve multiple cell types that are constantly changing as the disease progresses, so a drug that is beneficial in the early stages of the disease could detrimental at later times. Our study provides a glimpse into the complex relationship between ALS genetics and its mechanisms, and highlights the challenge in developing safe and effective drugs to treat the disease." He is also the Isidore S. Edelman Professor of Biochemistry at Columbia's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Representative confocal microscope image of the ventral horn of the spinal cord from an ALS mouse. Several microglial cells (green) infiltrate the spinal cord as ALS disease progresses. Single molecule FISH detected IRF7 (an interferon-inducible gene) RNA molecules (red) in microglia and other cells (Credit: Valeria Gerbino/Maniatis lab/Columbias Zuckerman Institute).

ALS and the TBK1 gene

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that originates in the spinal cord and leads to the accumulation of an abnormal protein in the motor neuron. This abnormal misfolded protein often accumulates in the nerve cells of the motor neurons, and this can affect the movements.

The researchers explain that TBK1 is one of the 25 genes that are associated with the proteins associated with ALS. Here TBK1 they write has a role in cellular functions, including autophagy. Autophagy is a process by which the abnormal proteins, as well as damaged cells and bacteria, are removed. TBK1 can also help develop a response to bacterial and viral infections by releasing interferons.

Valeria Gerbino, Ph.D., an associate research scientist in the Maniatis lab and lead author of the paper, said, "TBK1 helps cells clear away clumps of misfolded proteins and defends the body against invading viruses and bacteria. And because individuals with certain mutations in TBK1 have ALS, we wanted to develop a deep, mechanistic understanding of how these mutations affect cellular functions in the spinal cord during the course of the disease."

What was done?

The team used mice with TBK1 mutations that cause ALS. The mice had no symptoms of motor neuron disease.

Dr. Maniatis, director of Columbia's Precision Medicine Initiative, said, "This was not surprising, as only a few of the many human ALS mutations tested thus far in mice by other ALS researchers have resulted in motor neuron disease."

The team of researchers took mice model of ALS called the SOD1 mice. In these, they inserted TBK1 mutations. Then they tracked the progression of the disease in the mice.

What did they find?

The researchers found that these SOD1 mice, which had TBK1 mutations, had a different course of the disease compared to mice with just SOD1 mutations. In these SOD1 mutated mice with TBK1 mutations, the onset of the disease was found to be earlier.

Dr. Gerbino said, "We found that mice bearing both SOD1 and TBK1 mutations experienced earlier movement abnormalities compared to those bearing only SOD1 mutations. A closer examination of the mice also revealed damage to motor neurons, and the loss of muscle connections earlier than expected."

Next step of the experiment and results

Carrying their study further, the team them looked at another group of SOD1 mice in which the TBK1 genes were deleted within the motor neurons. These neurons play a role in the movement of the animal. The gene was not deleted in other cells within the spinal cord.

Those with not TBK1 activity in their motor neurons led to a loss of the process of autophagy in the motor neurons of the animals. Thus there was an abnormal accumulation of the altered proteins leading to deaths of the motor neurons. This snapped the connection between the neurons and muscles.

Overall findings

From both experiments, an exciting finding was noted. Mice that had TBK1 mutation in all cells lived 25 percent longer than mice that had TBK1 deletion in their motor neurons only. The researchers noted that TBK1 mutations could suppress the interferon responses of the body in the glial cells of the nervous system  the microglia and the astrocytes. These could trigger toxic responses within the spinal cord that could be dangerous for the motor neurons, they said.

Dr. Maniatis said, "The loss of TBK1 in microglia and astrocytes diminishes the interferon response in the spinal cord of ALS mice. This correlates with significantly extending their lives."

Future directions

Dr. Gerbino added, "Our study provides an example of how multiple pathways within and between cells can be targeted through manipulation of a single gene, and how modifying these pathways in ALS can be beneficial -- or detrimental -- at different stages of disease progression."

Dr. Maniatis said, "All neurodegenerative diseases ultimately begin with genes. As we continue to gather critical genetic information, we can identify mutations, like those in TBK1, which will provide additional mechanistic insights. These genes and the pathways they control will hold the key to developing drugs that make a difference in the life of ALS patients."
In the latest edition of 'Rewind,' Robert Smith retraces and recalls the 1956 opening of the New Woodbine Racetrack just north of Metropolitan Toronto. While the facility was designed and built for thoroughbred racing, it would in later years serve as host to harness racing for almost a quarter century. The opening of this track signaled the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in Canadian horse racing which embraced both Standardbred and thoroughbred interests. As usual a number of old photographs help to tell the story.

On the afternoon of June 12, 1956 a giant step was taken in the building of the history of Canadian horse racing. A huge crowd was on hand to attend the opening day at North America's newest and perhaps finest racing plants as the track known as "New Woodbine" held its first ever program. Located on a 780-acre tract of land a bit north of the City of Toronto in Etobicoke Township, it was built for a whopping $13,000,000 *(see below) and included every feature and amenity that anyone could imagine at that time. It was truly the showplace of Canadian sport and reportedly the largest racetrack in the world at the time of its opening.

* The building cost converted to 2020 would equal approx. $126,680,000.

As far back as 1947 when E.P. Taylor was appointed as the director of the Ontario Jockey Club, he began to plan for the day when horse racing in Canada would rise to a level equal to or above its counterparts around the globe. After travelling to Hollywood Park in its Golden Era, a plan began to take shape in his head. Following years of planning, research and consulting, his "dream" came into fruition on this day. Although this was a layout designed for thoroughbreds, it began to pave the way for both breeds and in time more new tracks followed. Many years later in 1994 the trotters and pacers began to race here and remained as part of the annual racing calendar until 2018 when all harness activity switched to the renamed Woodbine at Mohawk Park.

At the 1953 annual meeting of the O.J.C. held in February of that year it was announced that the yet to be built track would be called NEW WOODBINE. The intention was to capture and perpetuate the heritage and history of the existing Old Woodbine track. A Globe and Mail article stated "The present race course has an international reputation. Being the oldest track in Canada the decision to retain the name will preserve the continuity of the east-end track with its colorful historic background."



Grading of the track and other infrastructure installations near completion in this 1956 photo prior to opening day Grading of the track and other infrastructure installations near completion in this 1956 photo prior to opening day

Just prior to opening day, on June 9, 1956 famed sportswriter Jim Hunt wrote an extensive column in the Toronto Star covering the many attributes of the new plant. I have reprinted a portion of it below to better describe this memorable happening from close to 65 years ago.

Photos From New Woodbine Racetrack



An aerial view of the New Woodbine track taken in 1957 the year after it opened An aerial view of the New Woodbine track taken in 1957 the year after it opened

The following is a brief list of features of the new track not mentioned elsewhere:

Private quarters for Ontario Jockey Club directors with a private kitchen were located in the upper reaches of the new track

Opening day race program cost 15 cents

There were 250 mutuel windows reportedly capable of handling a $5 million play "if and when it ever came"

There was an on-premises bank for depositing winnings or more likely cashing a cheque

A 22-bed Hospital was on site

A flower shop "where a horseplayer can send his ladylove flowers" was included

The homestretch was 975 feet compared to 1,320 feet at Old Woodbine Stands were heated in early spring and late fall

Two dining rooms and a cafeteria available for fans

Free parking for 25,000 cars

Both elevators and escalators carried patrons to the seating and viewing area

120 buses were available from several locations in Toronto and had their own parking lot at the track

Thought For The Week: I can recall an incident from many years ago that has never left my memory bank. During the summer months when off school I worked for a Company that did agricultural crop spraying. The job involved visiting many farms each day and consequently chatting with many farmers. I found many of them wise in their ways as well as wise in their years. Along the route was a man named Leo Dingle. He said that he felt sorry for people who lived in cooped-up territory, where they literally had little room to breathe. From where we were standing he pointed toward a long lane way that led to the back of his farm. He said that often when something bothered him deeply that he took a long walk by himself down the lane. He finished the story by saying said that nearly always when he returned that he felt much better about his plight.

Who Is It?

Can you identify this driver? Looks like the horse was listening to the photographer and looking straight at the camera.

Who Else Is It?

Can you identify this gentleman?

Who Else #2

Can you name the driver and maybe even the horse?
Relocated to California: Britains Prince Harry and wife Meghan in London earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have left Canada to set up a new permanent base in California, according to reports.

The couple left their rented home in Vancouver and took a private flight to the US before the border between the two countries closed last week, it was reported.

Harry, Meghan and baby Archie are now said to be living in lockdown close to Hollywood in accordance with the sunshine state's Covid-19 containment measures.

A source said: "Harry and Meghan have left Canada now for good. The borders were closing and the flights were stopping. They had to get out."

"But this move was planned for some time."
In Israel no death from C-19! this is how the first line of a fake message, which is now being widely circulated online, starts. It then goes onto say how theres a cure for coronavirus and also falsely claims that the virus didnt cause any deaths in the country. The message then details a supposed cure for the pandemic  a combination of lemon, water, and bicarbonate (baking soda). Further the message even presents an explanation that the mixture alkalizes the immune system and thats why people of Israel is relaxed about this virus.

Its being circulated widely on WhatsApp by many:

The fake news is now being shared by many.

Here are the other platforms where the message is being shared by people.

The message is fake and misleading. Israels Ministry of Health has launched a website with information and updates regarding the pandemic concerning the country. On the site, they also have a press release section where they have updated details on number of patients or any other official statement on a given day.

According to a popular daily, The Times of Israel, as of today, the numbers of patient in the country is over 3,000. Also, so far five people have died in Israel, as per reports published by several popular dailies, including Live Hindustan.

Further, there is no report by World Health Organsation (WHO) or other authoritative bodies on lemon and bicarbonate mixture being a cure for COVID-19.

Hence the claims that there are no COVID-19 cases in Israel or that this mixture can cure the virus are false
For the past year, Stone Soup has operated as a lunch counter and job training center in downtown Portland, feeding the public while preparing those at risk of homelessness for careers in the food and hospitality industry.

When Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a ban on gatherings of more than 25 people and closed restaurants and bars across the state to all but takeout and delivery on March 16, it put a temporary end to both sides of Stone Soups work.

But just as founders Craig and Ronit Gerard were searching for grants or other funding to keep the nonprofit afloat, another opportunity emerged. Last week, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury announced a plan to open hundreds of shelter beds at four new sites to allow homeless people to practice social distancing, and to provide a place for the sick to recover. Once up and running, those temporary shelters -- at the Oregon Convention Center, Charles Jordan Community Center, East Portland Community Center and the Jupiter Hotel -- would require individually wrapped meals for upwards of 500 residents and staff, three times a day, seven days a week.

Stone Soup, which already worked with local restaurants to secure job placement for graduates of its 12-week training program, was well situated to help. The county agreed, tapping the nonprofit to wrangle Portland restaurants to take part. More than a dozen agreed, including Bowery Bagels, Bhuna, Grand Central Bakery, Hot Lips Pizza, Kachka, Lardo, Meat Cheese Bread, Revelry, Sammich, Sisters Gourmet, Tierra del Sol and Toro Bravo Inc.

They join a growing number of restaurants stepping up to provide meals for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, including those experiencing homelessness as well as the nurses, doctors and other workers on the front line of the pandemic. And by taking part, the restaurants potentially get to retain or rehire some kitchen workers laid off in the wake of Browns order.

Stone Soup co-founder Craig Gerard praised the county for opening the additional shelter space and agreeing to work with a local nonprofit and their local restaurant partners.

For some of these restaurants, it has been a real lifeline, Gerard said. It shows a lot of leadership from the county that they didnt just farm this out to a big national caterer that could cover all of it. Instead, theyre really seeking out small businesses that can help in this crisis, but that helps the small businesses as well.

Among the restaurants Stone Soup reached out to was the Pearl Districts Irving Street Kitchen, which had previously hosted the nonprofits trainees for week-long externships. But chef Sarah Schafer and general manager Anna Caporael had already begun putting the beast to bed -- Caporaels term for the week-long process of shutting the large restaurant down, perhaps for good. After all the restaurants food had been given away at a free grocery store event on Tuesday, March 17, Caporael reached back out to Stone Soup, first lending the nonprofit bus tubs, sheet pans and other kitchen equipment, then asking how she could personally help.

Gerard told her the county was gearing up to open a women-only shelter at the East Portland Community Center, and that Stone Soup would soon be in need of more restaurants to provide meals. Caporael got to work, emailing contacts to see if they might be able to make meals for the new shelter, eventually pulling together a list of restaurants that is 80 percent women-owned.

Here are all these restaurant folks, their businesses are crumbling, and when I start out my conversation they dont even know that there will be any compensation, and theyre still like, Well, I want to help, let me just try to figure out how to make this happen, Caporael said.

Multnomah County employees set up a temporary shelter in the Oregon Convention Center on Friday, March 20.The Oregonian

Sisters Gourmet Deli, a restaurant with locations in North Portland and Maine, recently agreed to provide breakfast for the East Portland center. Owner Michaela McVetty says she will bring breakfast to about 80 people per day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each of the delis meals will include something healthy and balanced, with 10% of the total being vegetarian, plus a piece of fruit or other portable snack, a beverage and utensils in an individual package.

It feels silly to say something is a win-win because nothing is a win right now, but its the best that we can do, McVetty said. Its definitely helping us. Our business has decreased by 90 percent. To get this partnership where we can be feeding 80 people, its literally almost all of the sales that I do that day.

McVetty is also signed up with Feed the Frontline PDX, a caregiver meal train that uses donations to provide meals to doctors, nurses and support staff working during the coronavirus pandemic. (Meanwhile, Northeast Portland sandwich shop Guero and wine bar Dame are working with Country Financial representative Ben Weinstein to provide $8,000 worth of meals to hospital workers, and other restaurants and food carts have offered free meals to laid off service industry workers.)

Though Gerard wishes there were a more environmentally friendly option than individually wrapped items, a traditional soup kitchen-style buffet line was not an option given the need for social distancing. The cost of that is probably worth it when you compare it to the cost of preventing the spread of disease, Gerard said.

And despite the additional shelter space, Gerard is concerned that the massive spike in unemployment could lead to a huge upswing in people who need services from nonprofits already feeling the pinch from a shrinking donor class.

Those are the people Im most concerned about, Gerard said. For people who are used to accessing resources and navigating this complex system, this is just another hurdle. Whereas if youve never accessed any of these services before, getting help might seem like a giant wall.

Lardo chef Rick GencarelliThe Oregonian/file

Lardo chef Rick Gencarelli was one of the first chefs to sign up when Gerard called, providing about 100 lunches to the Oregon Convention Center every day since Sunday. So far, his sandwich menu has included a smoked tri tip, a corned beef and swiss and a grilled cheese with tomato soup. Saturday will be turkey, with a black bean burger for vegetarians. The menu changes day to day, based partly on what overflow donations Gencarelli picks up from Blanchet House or other nearby social services organizations. Each sandwich is about as large as one you might find at Lardo, only with simpler ingredients.

I havent seen any Yelp reviews yet, Gencarelli joked Friday. The feedback I do get is more like, Hey, can you do 10 more vegetarian meals,' or Weve got enough apples, no more apples please,' or 'Dont put mayo and mustard on the bread, just put it in packets on the side, just things I dont really think about."

Compensation is based on which meal is being served. For lunch, that means about $10 for each individually wrapped sandwich, plus a healthy snack. So far, Gencarelli has assembled most of the sandwiches himself out of Lardos North Park Blocks commissary kitchen, a throwback to his early days in Portland running Lardo as a one-man food cart.

If Im careful with my raw ingredients and labor I can just about break even, or maybe do a little better, and it helps the people who need the food," Gencarelli said. "And on a personal level, doing something good in the middle of this (extremely unappealing ingredient) sandwich is helping me get through it.

Read more

Social-service organizations are preparing to step up and help. Heres what you can do.

-- Michael Russell
Albay (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Three villages in Legazpi were placed under lockdown on Friday in an effort to contain the coronavirus disease in the city, Mayor Noel Rosal has said.

Affected are Barangay 8, Barangay 13 and Barangay 14, Rosal said in a Facebook post. The mayor also ordered to have the villages disinfected.

The regional health department confirmed that there are now four cases of COVID-19 in Bicol Region, one of whom is in Legazpi City.

Rosal said one of the people infected with COVID-19 in Bicol was an American man, who arrived in the city sometime in March. He has rented a house in Barangay 13, the mayor added.

The foreign national consulted at the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital because of his cough, the local chief said. He was then tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19.

After his specimen was taken, he went missing, authorities said. The foreign national turned out to have the virus, Rosal said. Police searched for him upon the orders of the Legazpi mayor. He was found and is now isolated in a house in Barangay 8 along with his girlfriend. Health authorities are monitoring their medical conditions, with police officials guarding their whereabouts.

Contact tracing is also being conducted to prevent the spread of the virus.

Bicol-based Stringer Rosas Olarte contributed to this report
New Delhi, March 28 : Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday evening met key officials and discussed with them the situation across the country following the 21-day shutdown.

The meeting was attended by officials of different departments working in the control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs, apart from his two deputies, Nityanand Rai and Kishan Reddy.

"As per the instructions of the Prime Minister, (there was a) review of circumstances of COVID-19 and (attempts being made) to reach out to the people in terms of their daily needs," Shah tweeted.

Reports have been pouring in about citizens, particularly from the marginalised sections of society, facing difficulties due to unavailability of rations. Migrant workers too are walking back to their villages, drawing attention of various political parties.

The meeting was to fine-tune the supply of essentials and ensure hardships aren't faced by anyone due to the shutdown which was imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, sources said.
The coronavirus is a once-in-a-century incident, proving quite dangerous. This has affected a lot of industries, and Marquita Payne Chicago explains the impact on travel.

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / March 28, 2020 / The coronavirus is a complicated beast and has very quickly turned into a global pandemic after originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan and quickly spreading all over the world. The virus is highly transmittable, though it should be noted that it is not airborne. In order to combat the virus, governments and other organizations have strongly encouraged various measures, including self-isolation and social distancing in order to avoid catching the disease. This has had a huge impact on various industries, including travel, both internationally and domestically, and Marquita Payne Chicago explains why.

Marquita Payne Chicago explains how coronavirus has impacted travel

One of the methods of travel that had the most impact is international, following a ban on travel to 26 different countries, including Denmark, Israel, Egypt, Ukraine, Peru, and others. Some cases allow for necessary travel, such as with Canada. Marquita Payne Chicago explains that the travel ban has resulted in people avoiding traveling, either because they have the coronavirus or because they are afraid that they may catch it. There are people who throw caution to the wind when it comes to the coronavirus, which Marquita Payne Chicago recommends against. While younger people may not have much to worry about personally if they have a healthy immune system, but avoiding the coronavirus is not just something one should do for themselves personally, Marquita Payne Chicago points out. When you go out, you run the risk, even if small, of contracting the virus, you run the risk of infecting not only the workers who must continue to expose themselves to others but people who do not have the means to defend themselves from the virus. This may be because they are very young, very old, or because they have a compromised immune system. So be sure that when you travel somewhere that you maintain distance from people, sanitize thoroughly, and avoid touching your face whenever necessary, Marquita Payne Chicago recommends.

Story continues

According to Marquita Payne Chicago, travel has reduced to a significant degree due to the aforementioned reasons, with people choosing to reduce their travel much in the same way that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This has resulted in prices of travel tanking, especially for flights. This has made travel right now theoretically appealing, but people are not biting as much for obvious reasons. This has lead to significantly reduced profits for airlines, having them seek 150 billion dollars in aid from the United States government, hoping to counteract the loss of profit with an influx of money. A lot of people are not as enthused by the idea of such aid packages unless guarantees are made that the employees of the companies will have their jobs protected, Marquita Payne Chicago mentions.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/582932/Marquita-Payne-Chicago-Explains-What-the-Coronavirus-Means-for-Traveling




Portland officials are encouraging people to thank health care workers amid the coronavirus pandemic by cheering every night from their homes at 7 p.m.

The citywide recognition in Portland begins Friday and follows a global trend where people go out onto their balconies, open their windows or stand at their open front doors and make noise to honor and boost the morale of frontline workers such as doctors, nurses and other first responders. Rituals in other areas have occurred at 8 p.m. and been dubbed Solidarity at 8.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

Portland officials also suggest banging on pots and pans as an alternative to cheering.

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Planning, Jammu and Kashmir is slated to interact with media persons through WhatsApp at 6 pm on Saturday, Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) said.

Kansal is also the spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today held a telephonic conversation with a student evacuated from China's Wuhan city and a nurse at the Naidu Hospital in Pune to motivate them to combat COVID-19 outbreak.

"To keep social distancing in view of coronavirus pandemic, the respected media persons are requested not to come physically. They can interact with Rohit Kansal for their questions/suggestions on WhatsApp Numbers -- 9149667744/9419258856/9419007064," an official statement said.

"The video of media interaction will be provided by DIPR to all media houses immediately," it added.

During the telephonic conversation, the Prime Minister spoke to Nizamur Rehman, a resident of Kaskoot, Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir, who is pursuing MBBS in Wuhan, the city from where the coronavirus originated. Along with 60 Kashmiri students, Rehman was recently evacuated from China.

Later, the Prime Minister spoke to nurse Chaya, who works at the Naidu Hospital in Pune and expressed gratitude to health workers for working selflessly towards the well being of the nation amid the crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Olivia Rose

THE TURKS and Caicos Islands will be under a three-week lockdown from Friday evening - five days after the territory confirmed its first case of COVID-19.





The 24-hour curfew means no social gatherings can be hosted, non-essential businesses must close and residents cannot leave their homes except to shop for groceries and medicines.





Inter-island travel has been halted and returning residents have been banned from travelling back to the Islands until the lockdown is over.





Residents will no longer be allowed to visit hospital patients, the prison, the detention centre, residential care homes or anyone under quarantine.





And during the three weeks, police officers have the power to stop, detain and arrest anyone in violation of these new regulations.





On Wednesday (March 25), Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson revealed the Government had declared a state of emergency due to the global coronavirus pandemic.





Minister of Health Hon. Edwin Astwood and Governor Nigel Dakin joined her as she addressed the nation on the latest updated regulations agreed in Cabinet.





"Emergency powers came into effect last evening under a Declared State of Emergency at midnight and this allows for ease of governance, she said.





"We assure our people that these powers will be accessed and responsibly used for the purposes of preventing, controlling and suppressing the spread of the virus.





"This leadership partnership that you see before you today, is vital for us at this time but your role is even more important.





According to lockdown protocols, people must stay home except for very limited purposes.





All non-essential shops and community spaces will be closed and all gatherings of more than two people in public are not allowed.





On Thursday, a curfew was imposed on all people and businesses from 8pm to 5am.





And on Friday at 8pm, a curfew is to be imposed every day until April 14 for 24 hours "except as provided herein or as may be approved by the governor, the premier said.





She added that all provisions remain under review but the 24-hour curfew will remain in place for a period of 21 days.





Only essential services will be allowed to operate during the shutdown.





Cartwright Robinson stressed the move was taken in order to protect the entire population, especially the most fragile and vulnerable individuals.





She explained what changes in societal behaviour will be expected during the lockdown.





"residents are to shelter in place and shall remain confined to their place of residence (inclusive of their yard space) to avoid contact outside of their family, save for the exceptions provided.





"all businesses and offices may only continue their business operations by allowing their employees to work remotely from home utilising virtual means unless workers are permitted to work under these regulations or are designated as essential services.





She said these provisions will also be extended to the public service.





"All establishments, institutions, businesses, offices, stores and organisations shall suspend operations except those designated as essential services in the regulations and for the hours permitted.





The premier added that it is now a punishable offence to spread false information regarding the pandemic.





Police powers

In an effort to enforce the Governments strict curfew, the police force will be given extraordinary powers to ensure people adhere to the law.





"A police officer has the power to stop, detain and arrest any in violation of these regulations.





"No one shall obstruct any officer empowered under these regulations to carry out their duties.





"And no person shall declare the sale or offer of sale of goods during this period of public emergency at an unconscionable price.





Stricter social distancing protocols will also be implemented for those offering and accessing essential services to suppress the spread of the virus.





"no person shall host or attend any social gatherings except those approved by the governor on the advice of the Ministry of Health, the premier added.





Last week the Government cancelled all public gatherings including the Inter Primary School Sports, conferences and the weekly Islands Fish Fry. Public beaches will be closed as well.





Cartwright Robinson revealed that during the 21 days there will be a restriction on visitation at facilities.





"there will no visits to anyplace of quarantine, to a patient at the hospital or under residential care at a facility, the detention centre or the prison.





"Effective today, all returning residents are banned from returning to TCI for a period of 21 days. We have now agreed to take this step following our repeated appeals.





All inter-island travel will also be restricted except for those accessing essential services.





The premier further explained that the governor shall have the power to requisition any building, ship, aircraft and vehicle with notice during this period of emergency.





"He shall likewise have the power to reasonably requisition management and control of any essential service.





Difficult times ahead

Cartwright Robinson stressed that although the Government is doing everything in its power to protect the nation, the onus rests upon every individual to do their bit.





"This hand has been dealt to every country across the globe, has challenged us not just as leaders but as citizens to take proactive steps





"In these times, governments do have a responsibility to aid our people, and as promised, TCI Government like a few governments thus far will present a list of measures.





"Countries dealing with the fallout have had to juggle figures that are shifting by the day.





"The response of the TCI has been a measured one and one that has looked around sectors to see how we can assist individuals and businesses.





Cartwright Robinson said the situation remains volatile and as such she encouraged everyone to be prudent with their budgets and spending during this crisis.





"As we are all uncertain of the length of this period, we ask that you tighten your boot strap where you are able to and consider the uncertainty.





"Whilst TCI Government will do what it can, we ask corporate citizens to not close their bowels of compassion and we ask us as individual citizens to be our brothers keepers.





"We need each other. The road ahead may become increasingly difficult.





"These are indeed uncertain times but I remain confident that if we take individual responsible action, we can come through this the best way possible.





"This uncertainty does not make us powerless. In fact, this empowers each of us to take this matter seriously and in our own hands and it has rewarded those who act responsibly together.





She told residents to partner with the Government by breaking contacting and by heeding the Ministry of Healths practical advice.





"Wash your hands properly or use a 70 percent alcohol based sanitisers, cover your cough and/or sneeze and disposable of any tissue properly, avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose, sanitise frequently used surfaces including your cell phone and practice social distancing.




Newly-arrived migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos have been left to their own devices constructing a makeshift camp on Friday as the country remains on lockdown in an attempt to contain the new coronavirus.

Fifty-six migrants were staying in the village of Petra after landing on the shores of Gavathas, at the north of the island on Monday. They complain that they have been given no gloves or masks to help protect them from the new coronavirus.

Last month neighbouring Turkey said it would no longer stop migrants on its territory from heading towards European Union member-state Greece.

The move has prompted a border crisis between the two historic regional rivals, with Greek authorities saying no migrants who arrived after March 1 could apply for asylum. Instead they will be detained pending deportation.

Konstantinos Pappos, deputy mayor of west Lesbos, asked that the law concerning post-March 1 arrivals be implemented.

Camps on Lesbos and other islands of the eastern Aegean are already overcrowded and operating above their capacity. The island's officials have complained there is no more room for new arrivals.

Astrid Castelein, head of UNHCR's office on Lesbos, said that the conditions the migrants are living in "is not a humane situation."

Greece has been on lockdown since Monday, with all residents required to stay home or risk being fined. The measure is an effort to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
Getty Images

This article, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson return home to US after coronavirus isolation in Australia, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have returned to their home in the US, following a period of self-isolation in Australia after being diagnosed with COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
Italys coronavirus deaths surpassed 10,000 on Saturday even as the pandemics spread remained substantially stable. Europes hardest-hit country had 889 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, health authorities said, with a slight decline compared to Fridays record. New cases rose marginally to 5,974, bringing the total count of patients in the country to 92,472.

The government is set to extend its drastic containment measures until the middle of April and will more than double the amount of financial stimulus for the paralysed economy.

Lombardy, the region around Milan which is at the epicentre of Italys outbreak, reported 542 deaths on Saturday and 2,117 new cases, according Lombardys top health official Giulio Gallera.

The pandemic has killed more than 20,000 people in Europe, according to a tally of official figures gathered by AFP on Saturday.

Europe is now the most affected continent with well more than 20,000 deaths from a total of over 337,000 cases.

The deadly coronavirus outbreak has killed 9,134 in Italy and 5,690 in Spain - the two hardest-hit countries in the world, accounting for three quarters of all deaths across the European continent.

Earlier on Saturday, Spain announced a record 832 deaths in just 24 hours, as officials said the epidemic appeared to be close to the peak. Although Spains latest figures showed a daily increase of more than 8,000 cases, raising the overall number to 72,248, the rate of new infections appeared to be slowing, with officials saying the epidemic could be nearing its peak.

The increase is slowing or stabilising little-by-little, said Fernando Simon, the health ministrys emergencies coordinator, indicating the figures were very, very close to peaking.
DANBURY  The novel coronavirus pandemic is disrupting many aspects of everyday life  and the judicial system is no exception.

The day after a Danbury court clerk tested positive for COVID-19 and the courthouse closed until further notice, Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III ordered the temporary shut down of three other Connecticut courthouses due to coronavirus concerns.

One will be the Litchfield District courthouse in Torrington, where a marshal tested positive for the virus, said Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt, whose Geographical Area 4 courthouse will be handling Danbury and Litchfields arraignments for the time being.

COVID-19 continues to challenge the operations of the Connecticut Judicial Branch as we seek to protect the safety and health of the public and our employees and judges. At the same time, we must meet our constitutional obligations, Carroll said.

The two other Connecticut courthouses that will close after Friday are in Rockville and Danielson. Their cases will be transferred to the Hartford and New London courthouses.

We chose these three courthouses based on caseload data that we have collected since ordering this month that only Priority 1 Business Functions be handled in state courts, Carroll said.

Priority one includes domestic violence and juvenile matters, as well as arraignments of individuals held in custody without posting bond.

Because those are the only types of court matters being dealt with right now, those are what will be transferred over to Waterbury, said Danburys States Attorney Stephen Sedensky.

The transfer of cases from the Danbury and Torrington courthouses means Waterbury will be handling arraignments for 40 municipalities  but Platt said shes not concerned about caseload.

Since law enforcement agencies have vastly reduced the number of individuals taken into custody during this time of crisis, we do not anticipate that assuming responsibility for these arraignments will substantially increase our caseload, she said.

Platt said she has been in close and daily contact with Sedensky and Litchfield States Attorney Dawn Gallo, who will continue to supervise their own jurisdictions.

Sedensky said prosecutors from the Danbury courthouse are going to be handling arrest and search warrants online as much as possible, and arrangements are being made to have a judge available to sign search warrants and arrest warrants.

Were making arrangements to have locations where the judge can meet the police officers to get these warrants signed once theyve been approved by a prosecutor, he said.

Sedensky said theyre trying their best to streamline processes and be mindful of stuff that can wait and stuff that cant wait like domestic violence cases and violent crime.

Despite operating on a skeleton staff, Platt said things have been running pretty smoothly at the Waterbury courthouse so far.

We are only permitted to have two prosecutors, one clerical and one inspector working in the office at one time, Platt said. All other personnel are working from home.

She said the states attorney offices in Danbury and Torrington are ready and willing to assist us in any way possible, and have repeatedly offered to staff our office, if and when, they are needed.

In order to prevent the further spread of the disease by co-mingling our offices, I have agreed with States Attorneys Sedensky and Gallo that for at least the next two weeks, only personnel from the Waterbury States Attorneys office will provide staffing, Platt said.

After that two-week period, she said they will reassess the situation.

As a result of the case priority order earlier this month, many Danbury cases were postponed to late-March and earlier April. But with no sign of the COVID-19 situation improving any time soon, Sedensky said the continuance is being extended.

We gave continuances until the end of March and beginning of April, and then saw that wasnt going to work out so we extended it to after May 18, he said.

When the Danbury courthouse is back up and running, Sedensky predicts it will take a while for things to really get back to normal.

Im guessing that theres probably going to be a six-month time period where its going to take a while to get back up to speed, and people will need to be given notice as to when their next court dates are, he said.
Death is dreadful. Death is deadly. Death is a mystery. Death confounds human reasoning. Death is incomprehensible. Death is simply deadly. Death is a final blow to any human being. Death is a journey of no return. Death is one way traffic. Death is a powerful instrument that reduces man to nothingness. Throughout the ages, anthropologists and sociologists have wrestled with the idea of death and tried without success to cut through the maze and mystery of death. Religion had also tried to understand the complexity of death with limited success. In fact, religion is predicated on fear and that puny and mortal man cannot solve his earthly problems and decided to invest that power on a supreme being. Whether the pseudo Jewish cum Christian concept of death as transition to either Heaven or Hell, the Egyptian concept of death as a journey to another life or the Indian beliefs that man can take another form of life in animals, trees or human beings depending on one`s deeds during the first journey, the fact remains that death still poses mystery to man.

Yours sincerely cannot even comprehend death and I am talking about these philosophical postulations about death because of the coronavirus ravaging the world. Even the most industrialized nations with nuclear nukes are at the mercy of this agent of death. Whether it was the making of biological weapon that went awry or a means of reducing the world population, I will not break my head over such conspiracy theories.

However, allow me to take solace in the literary positions of two world famous wordsmith. John Donne, the English metaphysical poet makes fun of death, boasting that death shall remain stingless, boasting that `death shall die`. It is a futile effort as death is still very much alive causing havoc all over the place. The English Bard, William Shakespeare takes more sober view about death, saying `man what a piece of clay`. It is an echo of the Holy Bible position `dust you are, and to dust you must return`. Therefore from whatever intellectual prism you look at death, one inescapable fact is that man is programmed to die.

Today the rich and famous in the world are at the mercy of the coronavirus. Name them  the British prime Minister, Boris Johnson, the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister, the Chancellor of Germany, it is an endless list. Here in Nigeria, the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, the son of Atiku Abubakar and a governor of a state. What one can decipher from the menace of coronavirus in Nigeria is that those who travel to overseas  China, Europe and America are the carriers of this deadly virus. Another stinging reminder of this disease is that the rich and famous in Nigeria have no way to run to. All of us are at the mercy of death, a reminder of the doomsday scenario. Europe or America is no longer a safe haven and let no one brag about his junketing activities in Europe and America. Coronavirus has passed a powerful message. Stay in your country and develop it.

Beyond the lockdown measures and social distancing, and free medical treatment available to coronavirus patients, it is hoped that our leaders will use this window of opportunity to develop the hospitals in this country. That it does not really make sense to steal public money and stash them in Europe and America. The patients of coronavirus are getting free medical care because the rich, mighty and powerful are in the painful realization, should they be indifferent, the agent of death shall come knocking on their doors. It is a tragedy with some mixed blessings.

As I said earlier, man is programmed not to live forever. Today science and technology is at the mercy of death. Therefore those politicians who delude themselves that they are gods, death is a leveller and final message on the absurdity of life. I remember with nostalgia my days in Akoka especially in absurd literature class. The message still rings after many years of graduation. Life is nothing surrounded by something or something surrounded by nothing. Religion and philosophy are just useless tools of trying to make meanings from a meaningless life.

Let the federal government continue with its stringent method of border closing and not allowing any international flights. Let my people continue to observe social distancing, washing of hands and those who returned from abroad recently present themselves to the nearest medical facility. Life is so sweet that people will not like to taste the bitterness of death, which unfortunately is inevitable. Let us continue to fight a war that we cannot win, which is death. Coronavirus is a civics lesson on the shortcomings of science and technology. I rest my case.

Julius Oweh, a journalist, Asaba, Delta State. 08037768392


In Singapore, a group of workers has been given an important job in the fight against the new coronavirus.

The workers are called contact trackers. Their job is to interview infected individuals as soon as possible after the patients are confirmed to have COVID-19 the disease the virus causes.

The contact trackers speak with hospitalized patients over telephone. They are separated from infected individuals by two glass walls.

The information they collect is then used to find out as much as possible about the patients movements and contacts during the two weeks before they were hospitalized.

Conceicao Edwin Philip is one of the contact trackers. For several weeks, he has kept himself ready to get to the hospital as quickly as possible to interview new patients.

We have to drop everything, scramble and figure out where these patients have been, said Philip, an employee of Singapore General Hospital.

Philip is not a medical professional. But his work has become very important in the city-states efforts to fight the virus.

Singapore has won international praise for taking strong and immediate measures to battle COVID-19, which first appeared in China. Early on, Singapore had one of the highest infection rates outside of China. But other nations have since reported much higher spreads.

One example of how seriously Singapore is taking the virus fight came last month. Officials charged a Chinese couple with giving false information to workers seeking to track the couples movements and contacts.

Philip said one way he tries to get patients to remember details about their movements is to ask them about all their meals on each day.

Because once they can remember who they sat down with for a meal, that would give a rough estimate of the number of people in their surroundings, Philip said. And they can usually remember what they did.

Philip has experience tracking patient contacts for other diseases. He says it can be very difficult to get people to remember small details. But he added that it helps to stay cheerful.

You have to be very, very patient with them, he added. Dont get angry, because, just like you and me, most of us cant remember a lot of things.

Philip usually has about two hours to interview patients about their whereabouts, travel history and contacts. He also examines their work calendars, computer records and purchase history. Philip also uses hospital records to identify which health workers have come into contact with COVID-19 patients.

Philip gives his results to a health ministry team that then speaks with identified individuals. Sometimes, police also use video from security cameras to find those at risk. Those people are then put into quarantine and closely watched for signs of the virus.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

track  v. to follow

interview  v. to ask someone questions about a particular subject

scramble  v. to move quickly

figure out  v. to finally understand something or someone after a lot of thought

rough  adj. general, not specific

patience  adj. the quality of being able to stay calm and not get angry

quarantine  n. a situation in which a person or people are kept away from others to prevent a disease from spreading
Heightened social distancing efforts have left religious organizations adjusting their operations to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Houston area communities are now figuring out how to worship together while apart.

Trish Woodruff, pastor of discipleship at Lakewood United Methodist Church in northwest Houston, is usually in charge of the churchs Bible studies, teaching and she preaches half of the time plus oversees their financial assistance ministry. But her job these past few weeks has changed.

The people in their community are having different needs so theyve adjusted to worshiping in real-time: offering service online every Sunday, increasing bible studies on podcasts, and conducting bible studies and Sunday school on Zoom.

Were taking it on a week-to-week basis because things are changing so quickly, Woodruff said. Were getting more feedback and views than we normally have in worship on Sunday. The church is more than a building; it is about people.

Lakewood staff has been handing out activities for the childrens ministries via drive-thru pickup. As of Friday, the church has kept its food pantry open, welcomes people in need of financial assistance, and has a blood drive scheduled for Sunday, April 5th.

We have an outpouring of appreciation for our services, people calling asking how they can volunteer and checking on our elderly, Woodruff said.

Lakewood has received feedback from people who have enjoyed the online services who normally would not be on their computer for service. Nonmembers are even tuning in online.

Constraints call us to be creative, Woodruff said. We have opportunities, avenues that we have not had before.

Shuler Sitsch is an associate pastor at Lakewood, overseeing young adults, small groups and contemporary worships. Instead of meeting weekly, theyve purchased a Zoom account and groups have started meeting exclusively online.

Its teaching us to be quicker on our feet, Sitsch said. It hurts but I think we have a duty, everyone in our congregation, to recognize the severity of COVID-19 and to make difficult sacrifices in order to flatten the curve.

Increased functionally

Besides updating the website, theyve also partnered with a company called Amplify Media, which Sitsch described as essentially Netflix for bible study or speakers, and have given everyone in their congregation access so they can sign up and browse books and guides to continue their own spiritual journey.

Were able to still reach out and grow through this different era that were in, Sitsch said. The physical building might be closed but work of the church never stops.

TheMET Church, a Baptist church in northwest Houston, has completely shifted to online. Theyve been streaming their services for years but havent set it up to allow people to engage with them during service online.

However, Church Online is up and running now, a platform provided by Life.Church that allows one to have chat rooms, engage and take prayer requests. Theres an app and resources available online for kids every week, plus student services are posted on Instagram; and the teaching staff puts together activity bags for the parents of kids from the preschool.

A lot of increased functionally for folks to engage with us during the service, said Michael Turk, executive pastor of organizational development at TheMET Church. All of our functions kind of changed. How do we resource to families differently during this time? Thats been our focus.

Last week, TheMET recorded 1,600 unique devices watching, not including Facebook Live. Turk says its encouraging to see people continuing to tune in. Lead Pastor Matt Roberson has also been putting out daily encouragements on the website and social media. The church has reached out to officials about volunteering to be a mobile testing site, Turk said.

It makes such a difference when you know that you have a hope and a security that cannot be shaken by what goes on in the world around us, Turk said. This is an opportunity to be a part of something bigger.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston continues to focus on supporting vulnerable populations during the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, remote learning in Jewish day schools and synagogues is up and running.

Many have already attended virtual Shabbat services, learning webinars, cooking classes, and other programs which help people feel connected.

According to JFGH, the most impacted have been the Orthodox community because the technology constraints affiliated with that lifestyle mean that on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, they cannot stream services.

The JFGH says this is a great time to connect or reconnect with a synagogue, to find a learning opportunity, or to explore new ways to do Judaism at home.

Responding positively

Gideon Estes is the Rabbi of Congregation Or Ami, a synagogue in Westchase, which is not having in person services but have been offering more streaming online through social media. They stopped face-to-face even before the recent stay-at-home order for Harris County, which is challenging since their website was not set up for live streaming yet.

Estes says the idea of preserving health and life is most important but what he has been doing at his synagogue is broadcasting Erev Shabbat service Fridays at 6:45 p.m. over Zoom and Facebook Live (@RabbiGideonEstes).

Friday night and Saturday mornings during Shevat are traditionally the times when Congregation Or Ami has worship services. In this time of social distancing Estes has started having the services three times a day, which are broadcast on Facebook and Zoom.

People are responding very positively to it, Estes said. So, while its hard because people are missing their routine its kind of giving us new routine, which people are finding very comforting. People who normally wouldnt come to services are coming. People out of state are tuning in for services, which is a nice thing.

He added that Passover ceremonies are not going to be the usual and there are certain prayers in Judaism that one can only say in the presence of a prayer quorum for his denomination, but they are finding creative ways of how to constitute that prayer quorum in these times.

Well make do, theres room for innovation and its great opportunity to try our best to support one another, Estes said.

Estes is the president of the Houston Rabbinical Association, who are having weekly Zoom meetings to hear how different communities are adjusting to the circumstances. The HRA developed guidelines on community life cycle events in order to protect the health of members including funerals, unveilings, shiva, birth, brit and naming ceremonies, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah (Bar mitzvah), and weddings.

Its a hard thing but we are doing the best that we can, Estes said. Smaller synagogues are figuring out ways to stream services. People are all figuring it out together.

The Islamic Society of Greater Houston, established in 1969 and representing 21 communities from all over the Houston area, announced March 20 the closing of all ISGH Masaajid (mosques) and Musallahs (places where prayers are performed) to the public and no congregational prayers or Jumma prayers at the Masaajid until further notice.

The ISGH recommends communities perform their daily prayers and Jumma as four rakah duhr at home, are asking everyone to increase their dhakir, or remembrance, of Allah; make dua, an invocation, for the safety of the public; and use this time to pray with family at home.

Communities are responding very well, Sohail Syed, President of Islamic Society of Greater Houston said.

Northwest Houston mosque Masjid AlSalam is closed to the public as of March 18 for Jummah and the five daily congressional prayers until further notice, per ISGH directive. But the mosque has begun utilizing Zoom to hold classes, which are available every Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-noon for Quran and Arabic and 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. for Islamic studies.

It is essential to offer services like that, Syed said. So, the people are still connected with God and still oblige by the local regulations and help the community contain the virus.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston extended the closure of all public Masses and Catholic schools indefinitely, March 18, as well as the cancellation of all extra-curricular activities through April 10, with confession, baptism, weddings and funerals also affected.

The current situation is affecting our spirituality by challenging our habits, said Father Italo DellOro, Vicar for Clergy.

But parishioners have the opportunity to view Masses either through network television or other livestream options online. Several churches like Christ the Redeemer in Cypress and St. Ignatius in Spring are livestreaming their Sunday and daily Masses.

To offer videos of the Eucharistic celebration is to reassure the faithful that Jesus sacrifice is still present on our midst; to offer video reflections, is to tickle the mind to thoughts about God and to realize that God has not abandoned us nor has he abandoned me, DellOro said.

According to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Navigation has been getting several thousand views from its livestreaming. A list of those live streaming Mass can be accessed at www.archgh.org/onlinemass.

Videos do not substitute the reality of Christian faith as lived in both the liturgy and in daily life; but they allow us to maintain our memory alert and our desires alive, DellOro said.

alvaro.montano@chron.com
Controversial politician Pauline Hanson has demanded politicians take a cut to help pay for the coronavirus crisis.

The 65-year-old Queensland senator believes politician and government bureaucrat salaries should be trimmed, with benefits reduced in order to keep the economy afloat during the disease pandemic.

Nearly one million Australians have lost their job due to the virus, with many private sector executives and sporting identities taking extreme pay cuts to keep their businesses alive.

The leader of the One Nation party told The Sunday Mail politicians should do the same.

Pauline Hanson believes politicians should take a pay cut to help pay for the coronavirus crisis

Three women wearing protective face masks walking through Rundle Mall in Adelaide on Saturday

'I have no problems with politicians wages being cut back in areas, and Im happy to tell the Prime Minister where to start,' she said.

Scott Morrison's government requested a pay freeze from the Remuneration Tribunal and Australian Public Service Commissioner during the coronavirus period for parliamentarians, chief executives of government agencies and judges.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

In his address to the nation on Friday Mr Morrison said 'there will be a burden for everyone to share' during the crisis and Ms Hanson believes politicians must take a hit to cut costs through this period.

'Everyone, including politicians need to act responsibly to stem the impact this Chinese virus is having on Australia,' she said.

The base salary for an Australian member of parliament is $207,100, with Ms Hanson's salary larger than due to being the leader of a minor party in the senate.

Ms Hanson said politicians perks should be removed, such as flying business class instead of economy and that committee payments should cease.

Her sentiment was echoed by Drought Coordinator General Shane Stone, who said he would sacrifice up to half of his salary during the pandemic and other officials should too.

Drought Coordinator General Shane Stone followed Ms Hanson's sentiment and said he would sacrifice half of his salary during the crisis

'You can't just say the words, you've got to mean it and one way that the senior executive service at a federal, state and territory level can mean it is to take a cut in their salary packages,' he said.

The federal government may step in to pay the wages of workers whose companies are struggling because of the coronavirus crisis, a media report suggests.

The Australian Financial Review cited sources as saying Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg were considering temporary wage subsidies of between 75 per cent to 80 per cent for businesses that retain their staff on the employment books amid the expected economic downturn.

The AFR reports an announcement about the emergency wage payments - which would be capped at middle income earner levels - could be made as soon as Sunday.

There are currently 3,640 cases of coronavirus in Australia, with 14 deaths.
New Delhi, March 28 : A Delhi court has sent a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist to police custody till April 4, in connection with a case in which Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Davinder Singh was earlier arrested.

Special Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh sent Syed Naveed Mushtaq to custody of police as investigators told the court that he and co-accused were planning to execute terror attacks in the national capital and other parts of the country.

Police said the accused was required to be confronted with Davinder Singh and other co-accused to unearth the conspiracy.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Davinder Singh was caught while ferrying two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists in a vehicle from Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on January 11.
New Delhi, March 28 : Mass exodus of migrant workers employed in the informal sector is emerging as a big issue amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday issued another advisory urging all states and Union Territories (UTs) to take immediate relief measures to provide temporary accommodation, food, clothing, medical care etc, to homeless people, including migrant workers stranded due to the lockdown.

On Friday, the Centre issued an advisory directing all states and UTs to take immediate steps to provide adequate support, including food and shelter to them. This advisory was modified to include clothing and medical care, which culminates into temporary rehabilitation until the public health crisis settles.

Joint Secretary Sanjeev Kumar Jindal in a letter, to states and UTs, said the relief measures should be applicable to homeless people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures and shelter in relief camps and other places providing them food, "for the containment of the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country." The three-week nationwide lockdown, which entered its fourth day on Saturday, has left several thousand daily wagers without jobs and reduced their means of sustenance. Reports of workers choosing to travel on foot to their villages have emerged from many parts of the country, as public transport has also been shut down for the period of the nationwide lockdown.

The earlier advisory issued by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged to take steps to help migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers and other unorganized sector workers during the 21-day nationwide COVID-19 lockdown to stop their migration.

According to the home ministry officials, authorities concerned have been asked to maintain the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities. And, all precautions and social distancing measures should be duly adopted while involved in such measures, said an official.

Similarly, states and UTs have been advised to take steps to ensure that students, working women from other states are also allowed to continue in their existing accommodation.

Bhalla, through the advisory, also advised the states and UTs to make these vulnerable groups aware of the measures taken by the government including provision of free food grains and other essential items through Public Distribution System (PDS), and streamline the distribution system. This would help prevent avoidable movement of such people, the advisory suggests.

The Home Ministry had also advised that states and UTs need to ensure that hotels, rented accommodations and hostels continue to remain functional and delivery of essential items is streamlined so that students, working women, hostel inmates are allowed to continue in existing facilities while observing precautions.

"While ensuring supply of essential goods and services, states and UTs are being repeatedly directed to enforce the lockdown strictly and take action against violators under various provisions of law. This is imperative to contain the spread of COVID-19," the ministry said.
Manitobas devastated restaurant industry is calling for quick action to allow liquor sales with delivery and takeout, as other provinces have done.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobas devastated restaurant industry is calling for quick action to allow liquor sales with delivery and takeout, as other provinces have done.

The Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association released a statement Thursday that said the province has a responsibility to allow alcohol delivery and takeout similar to British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

SUPPLIED Manitoba Restaurant & Food Services Association executive director Shaun Jeffrey

It would be "a small ray of hope to a struggling restaurant industry and its employees" as the coronavirus pandemic results in closures and layoffs, the association said.

Association executive director Shaun Jeffrey told the Free Press that a conversation with Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton had made it apparent Manitoba would not follow suit but was "working on it," despite having introduced legislation to allow liquor to be sold with licensed takeout and delivery establishments in 2019.

"Its a little bit troubling, considering we have had tabled legislation in this province for that actual service, so it has some support, because it wouldnt have passed the first reading if it didnt have support," he said.

Ontario has also announced it would amend regulations to allow bars and restaurants to provide takeout and delivery alcohol, effective immediately.

Jeffrey said the association was "very disappointed" by the slow response from the province, adding Wharton didnt provide him with a timeline.

"Their feedback to us is that it remains a priority, and that they want it to happen, but theres a lot of factors... the way that the Liquor Control Act has been written that is not allowing them to be able to proceed with the emergency measure," he said.

In a statement, Wharton said the province was "aware of and (appreciated) the current pressures faced by small businesses in Manitoba during these unprecedented times" and intended to "make these changes as soon as reasonably possible."

Passing this legislation could help local restaurants recoup their losses, Little Pizza Heaven operations manager Fabio Haiko-Pena said.

"I think it could be a very good idea to be helping the restaurants  not just us, but in general. There are so many restaurants where their main income is based on dine-in service," he said.

He said the loss of alcohol has hurt A Little Pizza Heavens revenue.

"It could help us to increase sales a little bit, to deliver some beers in cans together with pizzas," he said.

Little Bones Wings managing partner Jeff Klause said he has had to lay off staff and take extra safety precautions to keep takeout and delivery running.

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But he said while offering takeout and delivery alcohol might marginally increase sales, he wants the province to provide more direct support.

"Opening up booze sales for restaurants, I think its a great idea, it should be done, but the argument should not be that this is going to save restaurants," he said. "This is not going to save restaurants."

Klause said he would prefer the provincial government provide sanitization services to establishments.

"We have a huge amount of people being laid off all over the place in the industry, so the ones that are actually staying open, we could use the help from the government; not more regulation, not more things that we should be doing," he said. "Actual human beings who are helping. Otherwise, just keep out of it."

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
Former chief statistician Pronab Sen has warned that if food requirements of migrant workers with no income are not fulfilled amid countrywide lockdown, then 'food riot' may be a real possibility.

In an interview toThe Wire, Sen said thatif the coronavirus pandemic spreads in rural areas, containment will be impossible.

In wake of the countrywide lockdown to combat the coronavirus threat, thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states have started returning back to their home states from cities, including Delhi and Mumbai.

"The problem is that if food is not made available (to migrant workers) and this, we have experienced in this country earlier, we had food riots during the times of famine.

"...we could have food riots again if food is not made available. Let's we clear about this," the economist said while replying to a question on impact of the lockdown on India's vulnerable section.

"If supply system doesn't come unstuck, if the requirements of people who have no income are not met then food riots are very real possibility," Sen asserted.

On Friday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had said thatfrom Saturday the government will be serving lunch and dinner to nearly four lakh people at over 224 night shelters, 325 schools and other locations.

He pointed out that the whole objective of the lockdown was to arrest spread of the coronavirus.

"Now, If we are in a situation when a very large number of population are forced to come together at a very short period of time in order to access food, whether it is cooked meal in rain basera or what they have done in Punjab and uttarakhand which is shops will open only three hours in the morning which is a classic curfew model...you will probably get a higher spread of infection because of this....," Sen observed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A white nationalist's plan to blow up a hospital was foiled after the FBI began investigating another bombing plot by a U.S. Army soldier who also planned to kill Beto O'Rourke.

Timothy Wilson, 36, was killed during a gunfight when the FBI attempted to serve him a warrant in Belton, Missouri. Wilson was rushed to a nearby hospital when he died from his injuries.

When the FBI arrived, Wilson was attempting to detonate what he thought was a bomb but was actually an inert device.

Timothy Wilson, 36, was killed during a gunfight when the FBI attempted to serve him a warrant in Belton, Missouri

Wilson was incited to commit the act after the mayor of Belton issued a shelter in place order in response to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the New York Times.

'With the current COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson decided to accelerate his plan to detonate a [car bomb] to cause severe harm and mass casualties,' the FBI wrote in an alert.

'Wilson may have also believed the additional stress on society posed by the COVID-19 pandemic provided unique opportunities to exploit.'

According to the Informant, Wilson was associated with the neo-Nazi groups National Socialist Movement (NSM) and Vorherrschaft Division (VSD).

Wilson posted on social media site Telegram that coronavirus was an 'excuse to destroy our people.'

He added, 'Mark my words it's coming I hope people are ready.'

The FBI learned of the plot from Jarrett William Smith, 24, a white supremacist who was an active duty member of the U.S. Army, according to Law & Crime.

Smith had plans to kill former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and blow up a major American news network.

Jarrett Smith, who was an active duty member of the U.S. Army, passed on 'instructions on how to make an [improvised explosive device] with another  Domestic Terrorism (DT) subject'

The FBI arrested Smith in September 2019 when he 'distributed information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction'

Smith also planned to kill former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and blow up a major American news network

Smith also had plans to go to Ukraine to fight with a violent far-right group, and pass along information online on how to make bombs

Smith was arrested in September 2019 when the FBI says he 'distributed information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction,' which violates federal law.

He also had plans to join a far-right extremist group in the Ukraine.

The FBI says Wilson shared with Smith 'instructions on how to make an [improvised explosive device] with another  Domestic Terrorism (DT) subject.' This could mean the two men belong to a network of white nationalists who are planning domestic terrorist acts.

The FBI had been tracking Wilson for months after they pinpointed him as a potentially violent extremist, driven by racial animus, religious zealotry, and distrust of the government.

The agency said, 'Wilson was actively planning to commit an act of domestic terrorism  a bombing  and over the course of several months considered several targets.'

Those targets included 'a school with a large number of black students, as well as a mosque and a synagogue,' according to the New York Times.

FOX4 video

But after the coronavirus pandemic hit, Wilson shifted his focus to bombing the hospital.

Specifically, Wilson had planned on using the 'vehicle-borne' explosive mechanism to blow up a hospital near Kansas City.

He purposely targeted a hospital treating people suffering from coronavirus to inflict 'severe harm and mass casualties.'

The FBI says Wilson was armed when they attempted to arrest him. At the time, he was picking up what he thought was a truck bomb but wasn't actually a bomb.

Wilson was angered by the decision of the mayor of Belton to issued a 'stay-at-home' order

Timothy Wilson lived with his grandmother (pictured right) at a house in Belton, Missouri

Wilson was shot and killed by FBI agents while trying to pick up what he thought was a bomb truck at this facility

This sign near a highway in Kansas City asks people to stay home to stop spread of coronavirus

Kansas City has a 30-day mandatory 'stay-at-home' order in place requiring all residents to remain in their homes during that time

According to the agency statement, Wilson grew frustrated with federal government efforts to slow coronavirus and 'decided to accelerate his plan to use a vehicle-born improvised explosive device in an attempt to cause severe harm and mass casualties.'

Wilson was a fan of a now-defunct white supremacist group called 'The Order,' which had been around for 30 years for the FBI disbanded it. The leader of the group was a man named Robert Mathews.

On a Facebook post, Wilson wrote, 'Uncle Bob,' and wrote recently, 'Don't be the cuck that gives up without a fight. Make uncle bob proud.'

The group was held together by its white Christian identity and its members believed that taxes were 'a conspiracy by the federal government to take money from white Christian Americans and put it in the hands of Jews.'

'If you don't think this whole thing was engineered by Jews as a power grab here is more proof of their plans.'

'Jews have been playing the long game we are the only ones standing in their way.'

Wilson was also estranged from his wife, who filed divorce from in last year, Missouri court records show.
PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed regional and district disaster management committees to join forces with COVID-19 coordinators in their respective areas to fight the novel virus.

The Premier also stressed the need for Tanzanians to continue taking precautionary measures against the viral disease by avoiding unnecessary crowding, especially when they visit places such as markets and bus terminals among others.

Mr Majaliwa issued the directives on Thursday evening while leading a meeting with the members of the national committee on the fight against coronavirus at his office in Dodoma.

The meeting involved, among others, members from Mainland and Zanzibar. He, however, directed Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender Elderly and Children to dispatch health experts in areas with high demand such as airports, bus terminals and ports.

Our aim is to ensure that the country remains safe Tanzanians should continue to take precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the disease, especially when they seek various services, he said.

He said the committee should make a follow up and effective supervision to ensure that people entering the country undergo screening and make more follow ups to establish the history of their trips in a period of 14 days, with the aim of preventing the spread of the disease to the society.

Mr Majaliwa however commended the media for its cooperation with the government in educating the public on how to prevent themselves from the disease.

On March 23, the PM formed three committees as part of efforts to fight COVID  19 in the country.

They include the National committee which is led by Prime Minister, with members including the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Minister of State, Prime Ministers Office, Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Employment and Disabled, Minister for Defence and National Service, and the Minister for Education, Science and Technology.

Others are Minister of State, Presidents Office, Regional Administration and Local Governments, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Minister of State, Vice Presidents Office, Union Affairs, Minister of State, Second Vice-Presidents Office  Zanzibar, Minister for Health from Zanzibar, Permanent Secretary in Prime Ministers Office, Government Spokesperson, Finance and Planning Minister from both mainland and Zanzibar.

The PM, however, added two members on Thursday to join forces in the fight against the disease, who are Home Affairs Minister and Minister of State Presidents Office Regional Administration and Special Department.

Speaking in Dodoma on Thursday, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu directed regional authorities to set up mandatory isolation areas which are affordable for people from all walks of life, as she assured the public that being in isolation does not mean they are positive but rather consider it a prevention measure.

According to the minister, as of Thursday, the existing lab had managed to test 273 samples, out of which 13 tested positive.

The breakdown showed Arusha region had two patients, Dar es Salaam (8), Zanzibar (2) and Kagera (1). All the patients are doing well, and no critical case has been reported so far.

From January 1st this year, 1,890,532 travellers were screened at 27 countrys entry points. As of yesterday afternoon, global coronavirus cases had reached 542,533, with 24,369 deaths.
Do you have questions about COVID-19? Please, dont ask your doctor. When it comes to coronavirus, most of us have no idea what were talking about.

Im a general and infectious disease paediatrician in Sydney. Im caring for kids hospitalised with suspected or proven COVID-19, so I want to call out some colleagues contributing to the confusion.

There are two types of doctors. Those who see patients (clinicians) and those who look after the population (public health doctors). Clinicians are the doctors to see if you have COVID-19; but the vast majority of us have never managed a pandemic in our lives. In fact, the first time most of us heard of "flattening the curve" was March 2020.

Some public health doctors, however, model and manage outbreaks for a living. Many have done so for decades. These women and men advise the body of chief medical officers chaired by Professor Brendan Murphy, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. Its recommendations are made public every time they meet and the national cabinet is bound by them.
New Delhi: Delhi Police on Saturday (March 28, 2020) issued an advisory regarding warning people against cybercrimes in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. In its advisory, the Delhi Police warned people against fraudulent cyber schemes being run by some people with an aim to dupe them by taking advantage of the situation.

The advisory issued by the police warned people against falling prey to online frauds, telephone frauds and phishing. Listing the do`s and don`ts for people, the advisory read, "Avoid opening suspicious e-mails and clicking on unverified coronavirus related links circulated on social messaging apps, emails, etc."

It also read, "Use strong passwords and multi-level authentication option for social media and banking activities; and people need to check the credentials of charity fund before donating money.""If you become a victim, ensure you alert Delhi Police immediately," the advisory read.

Delhi Police also urged people to follow socoal-distancing while buying groceries and vegetable and other household items during the lockdown period.

The Delhi Police, which has been making desperate efforts to help people in the times of coronavirus crisis, has been issuing several advisories making people aware of the present situation and creating awareness about the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed close to 27,000 lives and affected close to 6 lakh people globally.
Midland Memorial Hospital has been using an experimental drug regimen to treat patients who have or are suspected to have the novel coronavirus with some good success, President Russell Meyers said during a press conference Friday.

He said two drugs, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, have been used to treat 11 patients. Hydroxychloroquine is often used to treat malaria, while azithromycin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic.

We have had some good success, he said.

Most patients who are believed to have COVID-19 are being treated with the drug regimen, Meyers said.

That protocol was developed by our clinical pharmacy team in conjunction with our infectious disease physician, he said. Infectious disease has consulted on all these patients, and so theyre determining who gets the drug regimen, but the majority of our patients are taking it, he said.

Patients are either receiving treatment and completing the regimen in the hospital or being discharged and given the two drugs to continue at home, he said. He said he did not know what form the drugs were being given for at-home use or for how many days.

Meyers said patients who are suspected to have the virus are being treated with the medications before they are confirmed positive.

Theyre suspicious enough that the physicians are proceeding to use the drug regimen even though we dont have test results back on them, he said.

The two drugs do have the potential to cause some side effects, including cardiovascular issues, Meyers said. He said patients receiving the regimen are closely monitored to see if they develop any serious side effects.

While several patients who have received the drug regimen have recovered or are improving, Meyers cautioned that there is not concrete evidence yet to support the drugs effectiveness.

Theres a fair amount of anecdotal evidence  Nobody has done the kind of testing on this drug regimen that will confirm its efficacy, he said. We are getting anecdotes that it works, so were working off those likelihoods but not scientific certainties. I think the same thing is probably true here. We think its working for some people. We dont know that for sure.

Meyers said its possible people are fighting off the virus without the assistance of the medications, or that the management of their symptoms is improving their conditions.

We have had several patients who have gotten better and a few of them have been discharged from the hospital so far, he said. So, something is working for those folks.

The man in his 60s who died from coronavirus complications earlier this week was receiving the drug regimen, Meyers said. He said he did not know how many days the man was receiving treatment.
The number of known coronavirus US cases soared well past 115,000, with more than 1,900 dead, as President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was considering imposing a quarantine on the hard hit New York region.

American healthcare workers in the trenches of the pandemic are appealing for more protective gear and equipment to treat a surge in patients that is already pushing hospitals to their limits in virus hot spots such as New York City, New Orleans and Detroit.

Trump told reporters he could order a quarantine on three states, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which between them have recorded at least 64,000 infections and 895 deaths.

He also appeared to soften his previous comments calling for the US economy to be swiftly reopened. Asked whether he thought the United States would restart by Easter Sunday, April 12, Trump replied, "We'll see, what happens."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he had no details on any possible quarantine order for his state, telling a briefing: "I don't even know what that means. I don't know how that would be legally enforceable, and from a medical point of view I don't know what you would be accomplishing."

He said New York was postponing its presidential primary election to June 23, from April 28.

As the crisis deepened, nurses at Jacobi Medical Center in New York's borough of the Bronx protested outside the hospital on Saturday, saying supervisors asked them to reuse personal protective equipment, including masks. Some held signs with slogans including "Protect our lives so we can save yours."

"The masks are supposed to be one-time use," one nurse said, according to videos posted online. "Now, all of a sudden the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is saying that it's fine for us to reuse them. These choices are being made not based on science. They're being made based on need."

One resident at New York Presbyterian Hospital said they were issued with just one mask.

"This is your mask forever. You can bring it home with you. Here's how you can clean your mask," said the resident, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "It's not the people who are making these decisions that go into the patients' rooms."

Doctors are also especially concerned about a shortage of ventilators, machines that help patients breathe and are widely needed for those suffering from COVID-19, the pneumonia-like respiratory ailment caused by the highly contagious novel coronavirus.

Hospitals have also sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, oxygen tanks and trained staff.

By Saturday afternoon, the US number of cases stood at 115,842 with at least 1,929 deaths, according to a Reuters tally. The United States has had the most recorded cases of any country since its count of infections eclipsed those of China and Italy on Thursday.

BLACK MARKET

As shortages of key medical supplies abounded, desperate physicians and nurses were forced to take matters into their own hands.

New York-area doctors say they have had to recycle some protective gear, or even resort to bootleg suppliers.

Dr. Alexander Salerno of Salerno Medical Associates in northern New Jersey described going through a "broker" to pay $17,000 for masks and other protective equipment that should have cost about $2,500, and picking them up at an abandoned warehouse.

"You don't get any names. You get just phone numbers to text," Salerno said. "And so you agree to a term. You wire the money to a bank account. They give you a time and an address to come to."

Nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York said they were locking away or hiding N95 respirator masks, surgical masks and other supplies that are prone to pilfering if left unattended.

"Masks disappear," nurse Diana Torres said. "We hide it all in drawers in front of the nurses' station."

One nurse at Westchester Medical Center, in the suburbs of the city, said colleagues have begun absconding with scarce supplies without asking, prompting better-stocked teams to lock masks, gloves and gowns in drawers and closets.

An emergency room doctor in Michigan, an emerging epicenter of the pandemic, said he was wearing one paper face mask for an entire shift due to a shortage and that hospitals in the Detroit area would soon run out of ventilators.

"We have hospital systems here in the Detroit area in Michigan who are getting to the end of their supply of ventilators and have to start telling families that they can't save their loved ones because they don't have enough equipment," the physician, Dr. Rob Davidson, said in a video posted on Twitter.

Sophia Thomas, a nurse practitioner at DePaul Community Health Center in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras celebrations late last month fueled an outbreak in Louisiana's largest city, said the numbers of coronavirus patients "have been staggering."

In the nation's second-largest city, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said spiking cases were putting Southern California on track to match New York City's infection figures in the next week.
As many daily wage earners are facing troubles in the wake of lockdown announced to stave off Covid-19 crisis, several residential societies in the city have come forward with efforts to help those in need, including migrant labourers and construction workers.

The Apartment Owners Association (AOA) of Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77 has started collecting funds from residents to make food packets containing essential groceries to be distributed among the needy, with the help of Gautam Budh Nagar administration.

The residents of the high-rise aims to distribute 500 food packets to be distributed among labour settlements primarily in sectors such as 101 and 120.

Each food packet contains wheat flour, rice, pulses, mustard oil, spices, sugar, soaps and toothpaste, which should last for at least 15 days for a family. We are procuring them from different vendors and hope to start packaging from Monday after which we will distribute them with the help of the police and administration, said Amit Gupta, president of Prateek Wisteria AOA.

Each packet costs Rs 610 and so far the society has collected funds for 225 such packets.

If a needy person comes to us directly, we will give it to him/her. Also, such people will go to the administration to collect the packets. The idea came to us after the police made an organizing officer for relief work. None of the items in the food packets are perishable and will help the people for long, said Gupta.

Several high-rises and colonies are constantly helping their staff and domestic helps in every manner possible.

Rajiva Singh, president, AOA, Stellar Kings Court in Sector 50, said, In addition to helping the housekeeping and security staff, we have created a separate Covid-19 fund which so far has received contributions of Rs 1.5 lakh from several residents. We will use the fund to help domestic helps and daily wage earners like rickshaw pullers. We are working out on how to reach out to maximum number of people and help the administration.

On Friday, the district magistrate had appealed to the citizens to contribute directly to the DM relief fund. Along with individual residents, organizations and manufacturing firms are also coming forward to help the administration. Noida-based plastic manufacturing firm, Uflex, donated Rs 25 lakh on Saturday to fight against the virus outbreak.

The Gautam Budh Nagar police have appointed the deputy commissioner of police (women safety) as the organizing officer for all relief works. We are helping people proactively. We have distributed 11,000 food packets in the last three days. Eleven of our PRVs are stocked with ration only and they are roaming around the city. Every police post and station have been stocked with essential food items and people in need are going there directly to get help, said Vrinda Shukla, the organizing officer.

The police are not taking monetary contributions, but are accepting material help, including cooked food packets, to be distributed among the needy.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 27, 2020 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX-V:QZM),(OTCBB:QZMRF) announces that the Company has completed the $500,000 private placement announced on December 30, 2019.

The Company also advises that it issued 600,000 shares on December 6, 2019 in settlement of debt.

For further details, contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Leonie Tomlinson

Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements include expectations about the likelihood of completing the financing. Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third-party discretion such as regulatory personnel. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings as www.sedar.com and its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE: Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/582922/Quartz-Mountain-Closes-500000-Private-Placement
If you are working from home during the 21-day lockdown, it is a good idea to sign up for a virtual private network (VPN) service.

A VPN allows you to funnel your Internet traffic through an encrypted channel which is protected against snooping by your ISP or external attackers.

It can also shield your IP address from public view, maintaining your anonymity when browsing the Internet and allowing you to access region-locked services.

Many businesses use VPNs to secure traffic to and from their internal networks, and it may be required for remote workers to connect through their companys virtual network to access their servers.

The security advantages of using a VPN to protect your traffic are numerous, especially if you are working remotely for a company that hosts sensitive data.

How a VPN works

A VPN works by routing your devices Internet connection through a private server so that when your data is transmitted to the Internet, the destination server receives it from the VPN provider rather than directly from your PC and ISP.

As a VPN encrypts your Internet traffic, information that is sent over your connection cannot be intercepted by other parties that are on the same network as you, like hackers who are connected to the same Wi-Fi hotspot.

For employees working remotely, this means their traffic is protected against many external attacks.

However, it is important to use a paid-for VPN from a reputable provider such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or CyberGhost.

It may be tempting to sign up for a free VPN, but many of these services collect user data and sell it to third-party advertising companies or the authorities.

There are a number of VPN types, including browser extensions, standalone services, router VPNs, and corporate VPNs.

Browser extensions only secure browsing data, and router VPNs must be installed on your network hardware to secure all the devices in your household.

It is advisable to use a standalone VPN if you are working remotely on a single device.

Improved security

Checkmark cybersecurity director Rudi Dicks told MyBroadband that South Africans who are working remotely should make use of their companys VPN or personal VPN to make sure their connection is secure.

Use a VPN. If you have a VPN connection to your office, connect it before you do any work, Dicks said.

This VPN will create a secure tunnel to the office increasing your security significantly.

If you dont have an office VPN, consider buying an annual subscription from a reputable VPN provider. Never make use of free VPNs.

This will ensure your data is encrypted and will prevent many of the cybersecurity risks associated with working from home.

It is important to note that while they offer greatly improved security for remote workers, using a VPN may result in reduced upload and download speeds, depending on your home Internet connection.

Now read: iOS vulnerability blocks VPNs from encrypting all traffic
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Javits Center, the 760,000-square-foot convention center located in Midtown Manhattan, is one of the facilities that will be used as a 1,000-bed hospital as New York City fights the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The College of Staten Islands Willowbrook campus will also be transformed into a field hospital.

"We have a plan in place to get all of these new facilities and beds online in the next three to four weeks, which is the same timeline the apex is expected to hit our state, so when it does eventually hit our hospital capacity will be as high as it can possibly be," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Here's a look inside the Javits Center:

Gregg Vigliotti

A closer look at the hospital beds at the Javits Center.

On Friday, March 27, 2020, Gov. Cuomo held a press conference, inside the Javits Center to unveil the measures taken to turn the center into a makeshift hospital, which can hold 1,000 beds. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News/TNS)

Don't Edit

Gregg Vigliotti

A closer look at the hospital beds at the Javits Center.

On Friday, March 27, 2020, Cuomo held a press conference, inside the Javits Center to unveil the measures taken to turn the center into a makeshift hospital, which can hold 1,000 beds. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News/TNS)

Don't Edit

Gregg Vigliotti

A closer look at the hospital beds at the Javits Center.

On Friday, March 27, 2020, Cuomo held a press conference inside the Javits Center to unveil the measures taken to turn the center into a makeshift hospital, which can hold 1,000 beds. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News/TNS)

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Kevin P. Coughlin

The Javits Center has been transformed into a 1,000-bed temporary hospital, with similar satellite hospitals to be set up in the coming week. The governor also ordered all schools in New York State shall remain closed until at least April 15, 2020. (Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

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Kevin P. Coughlin

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo gives a coronavirus update at the Javits Center in Manhattan on Friday, March 27, 2020. (Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

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Don't Edit

John Minchillo

U.S. National Guard members stand beside crates of medical supplies at the Jacob Javits Center, Monday, March 23, 2020, in Manhattan. New York City hospitals are just 10 days from running out of "really basic supplies," Mayor Bill de Blasio said late Sunday. De Blasio has called upon the federal government to boost the city's quickly dwindling supply of protective equipment. The city also faces a potentially deadly dearth of ventilators to treat those infected by the coronavirus. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Don't Edit

John Minchillo

U.S. National Guard members walk through the Jacob Javits Center, Monday, March 23, 2020, in Manhattan. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
As Im sure youve noticed, that continues to be easier said than done. Even with confirmed cases and deaths rising exponentially across this country, as well as right here in the Fox Valley, there are still too many people who just dont get it. Who still think its OK to let their kids play on the swings at the local park. Who think its OK to gather for small group jogs. Who hit the grocery stores a few times a week, not so much to restock shelves, but just to get out of the house.
The five, who belong to one family, are a nine-month-old baby, a six-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy and two women aged 27 and 45, a health official said.

Kolkata: West Bengal on Friday reported five fresh cases of COVID-19 including that of an infant, the highest number of confirmed cases on a single day in the state, pushing the total number of positive cases to 15.

Of the five fresh cases which were reported from Nadia district in South Bengal, four did not have any recent travel history.

The five, who belong to one family, are a nine-month-old baby, a six-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy and two women aged 27 and 45, a health official said.

The 27-year-old woman had visited Delhi, where she came in contact with a person from the UK who recently tested positive, the official said.

"We tracked the entire family and tested eight of them. Five were found positive," the official said, adding that they are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nadia district.

Follow LIVE Updates on Coronavirus Outbreak here

"We are now trying to track down those with whom these five patients came in contact," the official said.

Of the 15 afflicted with the disease in the state, one has died and an elderly patient is in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday evening and appreciated the state government''s role in controlling the spread of COVID-19, sources close to the CM said.

During the 10-minute conversation, Modi also took stock of the current situation in the state in the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak.

The chief minister also warned people against posting or sharing fake information on the COVID-19 pandemic, saying strong action would be taken against those found guilty.

She said all international flights to Kolkata will continue to remain suspended till April 14.

Banerjee also asked officials to facilitate the opening of 27 night shelters for the homeless in the city.

Various parts of the state wore a deserted look on Friday as people preferred to stay indoors on the third day of the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

The prime minister had on Tuesday evening announced a three-week lockdown in the country, as part of the central government''s measures to fight the pandemic.

Private and public vehicle operators largely stayed off the roads, while business establishments, barring those dealing with essential commodities, remained shut.

A few markets witnessed people shoving each other, though many adhered to the social distancing rules while buying essentials at grocery stores.

More than 2,000 people have been arrested in the state this week for violating the lockdown prohibitions.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has reserved two burial grounds and a crematorium for last rites of coronavirus victims in the city.
Meghan and Harry remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Harry will keep his position as sixth in line to the throne, but they are banned from using their HRH titles for commercial work

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are under increasing pressure to pay their own multi-million pound security bill as they prepare to finally cut their working ties with the Royal Family this week.

From Wednesday, with the agreement of the Queen, Harry and Meghan will cease to be working Royals and will not be able to use their HRH titles as they seek to become financially independent.

And now they have moved from their bolthole in Vancouver, Canada, to base themselves and their ten-month-old son Archie permanently in Meghans home city of Los Angeles  despite the spread of the coronavirus, which has seen LA become a pandemic hotspot.

The bill for their security, which includes a roster of nine highly skilled British officers shuttling between the UK and US, is estimated to be as much as 8 million a year and is covered by British taxpayers through the Metropolitan Police budget. They also received support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A poll for Good Morning Britain show suggested that more than 90 per cent of the public believed Harry and Meghan should foot the bill themselves  and that was before the couple jetted to LA.

The Sussexes have been clear from the beginning that they wish to stand on their own feet and there are already lucrative contracts in the pipeline, including one with the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Norman Baker, former Home Office Minister and author of And What Do You Do?: What The Royal Family Dont Want You To Know, said: Theyre going to Los Angeles in order to make packets of money. There will be waterfalls of dollars cascading their way. And theyre now private citizens. Why should we pay for them?

They were reportedly smitten by Petra Manor, a 12,249-sq ft mansion in Malibus Serra Retreat community, pictured above

We cant have a situation in which members of the Royal Family can choose to live anywhere in the world, however dangerous, and expect us to pay. The dangers in LA are much more significant than in the backwoods of Windsor.

Meghan raised eyebrows at the palace last week when a Disney trailer was released for an elephant documentary for which she had provided the voiceover.

The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this year that Harry and Meghan met Bob Igor, head of Disney, at the premiere of The Lion King, telling him that Meghan was available for voiceovers and that they were there to pitch despite attending the function on official duties.

This week Meghan and Harry are expected to announce details of a new non-profit organisation which will see them abandon the Royal Foundation model they set up when they first got married.

Petra Manor (pictured above inside) was previously home to Mel Gibson, and has been rented by Kylie Jenner for 11,000 a night

They are also yet to confirm whether they have refunded the 2.4 million spent on the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, their five-bedroom home on the Windsor estate.

It emerged yesterday that Meghan and Harry have hired Canadian PR guru Catherine St Laurent, who previously worked for Microsoft billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates.

In an email announcing her new role, St Laurent wrote: Beginning next week I will be acting as Chief of Staff and Executive Director of the new non-profit enterprise for Meghan M and Harry. They are embarking on a new chapter themselves and I am thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in realising their vision and enabling them to achieve impact on the issues that matter most to them.

Meghan and Harry remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Harry will keep his position as sixth in line to the throne, but they are banned from using their HRH titles for commercial work.

Reports in the US said they were looking for a home in a gated community. Beverly Hills estate agent Tracy Tutor claims the couples search for a home has been focused on Malibu, and they previously visited at least half a dozen properties in the millionaires playground, most priced around 15 million.

They were reportedly smitten by Petra Manor, a 12,249-sq ft mansion in Malibus Serra Retreat community. It was previously home to Mel Gibson, and has been rented by Kylie Jenner for 11,000 a night.
Pope Francis urged the world not be scared and have faith in a special papal address on Friday focusing on the coronavirus crisis. The head of the Catholic church likened Covid-19 to a furious storm, describing people as "fragile" and imploring society to look out for the elderly and those in need.

During this time it is important that everyone is together and everyone comforts one another," Pope Francis said in his Urbi et Orbi sermon.

Francis said all members of the family are important, referring to humankind's struggle against the coronavirus.

He asked rhetorically several times, why are you scared? encouraging Christians to have faith, as he spoke in the rain at Vatican City.

The pontiff made several analogies of the world being vulnerable in the face of a storm, or being in a boat and at risk of drowning, referring to passages in the Bible.

People must show appreciation for doctors and nurses fighting the virus, as well as workers in supermarkets and those involved in law enforcement who are looking out for everyone, according to the Argentine Jesuit.

Francis said people have to think about older members of society who are at risk and the "screams of the poor", saying how people are trying to be healthy in a world that was already sick. Francis spoke in front of St Peter's Basilica in a square that was almost entirely empty.
The shutdown happened after two new infection cases associated with the hospital were confirmed Saturday morning. "Patient 168" and "Patient 169" are two female employees of the Truong Sinh Company which provides food and hot water to the Bach Mai Hospital. They tested positive for the novel coronavirus after nearly 5,000 staff and patients at Bach Mai were ordered to take the test.

The two have been quarantined and are under treatment.

The Bach Mai Hospital was immediately shut down and three of its units isolated - the Heart Institute, the Department of Neurology and its Center for Tropical Diseases, along with personnel working there.

The hospital has since stopped accepting patients and deployed a no-trespassing measure. Nearly 1,000 patients currently being treated at Bach Mai will not be discharged until they test negative for the virus.

"No entering or leaving the Bach Mai Hospital at this point," a notice at the hospital reads.

Since Friday afternoon, the surroundings and interiors of the hospital were deserted. The parking lot, usually filled to capacity, was only a third full.

By Saturday morning, the entire hospital was isolated. The police have erected checkpoints at the main gate to stop people from coming in for checkups and advise them to go to a different facility. A group consisting of a doctor and two medical staff in blue protective clothing man each of these checkpoints.

Essential goods delivery trucks are allowed to enter and unload goods in quick time. Doctors and medical staff have been informed they cant leave once they enter. Doctors still arriving for their shifts can enter, but not leave.

The Health Ministry has said transmission within groups of hospital visitors and the hospital staff getting infected by outsiders is a possibility. It has asked families and those who had visited the Bach Mai Hospital in the past two weeks to contact and submit health declarations at the nearest medical facility.

All hospital staff have taken the latest developments in their stride, despite the escalating pressure and negative optics, said Dr Duong Duc Hung, Deputy Director of the hospital.

"In case where we have to treat Covid-19 positive cases, there are 600-700 staff who have volunteered to participate. They are aware of their responsibility to the people, community and to their jobs.

"They have also been trained on how infections work and taught prevention techniques," Hung said.

In the worst case scenario, if the health of a staff worsens and proves fatal after contracting the virus, the day they come into work could be the last they would see their family, he noted.

"But none of the hospital staff has asked for unpaid leave. This is the morale of all health workers, not just of Bach Mai Hospital. I believe we will fight the disease successfully," Hung said.

As of Saturday, eight people who tested positive once for the novel coronavirus were linked to the hospital. Two nurses of the hospital became the first members of the medical fraternity in the country to test positive for the virus last week. They contracted the virus outside the hospital first.

"Patient 133", a 66-year-old woman from Lai Chau Province in northern Vietnam was confirmed positive for the coronavirus after staying for three weeks at the hospital to get a heart condition treated.

She was treated in the same room as "Patient 161," an 88-year-old Vietnamese woman who lives in Van Lam District, northern Hung Yen Province, from March 17-22.

Two family members of Patient 161 who visited her, "Patient 162" and "Patient 163" also contracted the virus.

The latest cases related to the hospital are "Patient 168" and "Patient 169". They either contracted the virus from caretakers whose family members are being treated at the hospital or from an outside source.

The ministry has predicted that there might be cases found in other hospitals in Hanoi and HCMC and asked staff to be vigilant and conduct testing like the Bach Mai Hospital has.

Vietnam has recorded 169 infections so far, with six added Saturday morning. Of these, 21 have been discharged from hospitals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 27,300 people in 199 countries and territories.
China will take effective policy measures to stabilize its strength in attracting foreign investment in 2020 and provide high-level services to existing foreign-invested companies across the country, a senior commerce official said on Friday.

The country will ensure domestic and foreign firms enjoy equal access to government assistance and rescue policies for companies in need to mitigate the impact caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce, during a video conference in Beijing.

Wang said the government will support the growth of various business platforms and continue to optimize its commercial environment for global businesses.

The vice-minister noted China has a huge market, abundant human resources, complete industries and well-developed infrastructure facilities. Its economic growth is backed by tremendous resilience and vitality.

"Foreign investors' investment confidence and market expectation in China will not change in the long term," he added.

Foreign direct investment from nonfinancial sectors in the Chinese mainland  which have been affected by the epidemic, the extended Spring Festival and factory standstills  dropped by 8.6 percent year-on-year to 134 billion yuan ($19.4 billion) in the first two months of this year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
BOSTON  States are pulling back the welcome mat for travelers from the New York area, which is the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, and some say at least one state's measures are unconstitutional.

Governors in Texas, Florida and Maryland this week ordered people arriving by plane from the New York area including New Jersey and Connecticut  to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival.

Connecticut officials have also pleaded with New Yorkers and others from out of state to avoid visiting unless absolutely necessary.

Rhode Island State Police on Friday began pulling over drivers with New York plates so that National Guard officials can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine if they're planning to remain in the state.

Gov. Gina Raimondo ratcheted up the measures Friday afternoon, announcing she'll also order the state National Guard to go door-to-door in coastal communities starting this weekend to find out whether any of the home's residents have recently arrived from New York and inform them of the quarantine order.

The Democrat had already deployed the guard to bus stations, train stations and the airport to enforce the executive order, which also applies to anyone who has traveled to New York in the last 14 days.

"I know it's unusual. I know it's extreme and I know some people disagree with it," she said Friday, adding that she has consulted with state lawyers.

"If you want to seek refuge in Rhode Island, you must be quarantined."

Raimondo maintains she's within her emergency powers to impose the measures, but the American Civil Liberties Union has called it an "ill-advised and unconstitutional plan."

Governors have the authority to suspend some state laws and regulations in a state of emergency, but they can't just suspend the Constitution, argued Steven Brown, head of the ACLU's Rhode Island chapter.

"Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not, and cannot, constitute 'probable cause' to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver, no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be," he said.

It's the latest sign of worry for civil rights and libertarian groups already concerned about fundamental freedoms being tossed out in the name of public health.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

New York has by far the most cases in the country.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

Florida was the first state to try to deter fleeing New Yorkers, ordering tri-state area arrivals on Monday to go into mandatory quarantine for two weeks. It has since expended the restrictions to travelers from Louisiana. The federal government followed up Tuesday with a recommendation to do the same country-wide.

"If you were in New York state, you left when you were told to shelter in place," Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said earlier this week. "You defied that and then you got on a plane and came here, and so we don't want there to be any fallout here."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned those who don't comply with his Thursday order, which also extends to those coming from New Orleans, risk jail time.

Connecticut officials worry that people from New York and elsewhere are returning earlier than normal to their summer homes, but Gov. Ned Lamont has so far not issued an official order for out-of-staters to self-quarantine.
By Trend

Citizens who, under the special quarantine regime or social isolation due to the threat of the COVID-19 spread, can order food without leaving their homes in Azerbaijan, the Agency for Development of Small and Medium Businesses (SMEs) told Trend on March 28.

This can be done through an online supermarket, which has been created with the support of the agency, and it can be accessed through an app - BakuMart Supply, said the agency.

As a result of negotiations held by the Agency with companies specializing in the supply, retail and logistics sectors, BakuMart Supply application was improved and brought into compliance with the current quarantine regime to organize food delivery to citizens, said the agency.

Within the business cooperation platform, along with the agency, the companies in the field of logistics, supply and online payment also took part in the process.

Delivery of orders made during the quarantine period through BakuMart Supply is completely free.

Orders can be made here: https://bakumart.az/#/landing and through the app:

- iOS users can download the application by linking to: bit.ly/bakumartiosA,

- Android users  by linking to: bit.ly/bakumartandroid

The agency continues measures to improve the need for food and non-food products of citizens at home due to the special quarantine regime, as well as to expand the use of relevant electronic services.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 28, 2020 - 23:55 | All, Japan, Coronavirus, World

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday that Japan will compile its "boldest-ever" stimulus package including cash handouts to struggling households to cope with the negative economic impact from what could become a prolonged coronavirus outbreak.

The size of the stimulus will be larger than the 56.8 trillion yen ($526 billion) emergency package put together in the global financial crisis following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, Abe told a press conference. The package entailed actual expenditures of 15 trillion yen.

The government will craft an extra budget for fiscal 2020 to finance the planned stimulus measures and submit it to parliament within 10 days, Abe said.

"We will draw up the boldest-ever package by using all policy tools, such as reducing or exempting tax payments and extending financial assistance," Abe said.

The virus outbreak that began in China late last year has come at a sensitive time for the Japanese economy which is seen as teetering on the edge of a recession. Calls have grown for the government to give cash to all households and to reduce the consumption tax rate, which was raised to 10 percent from 8 percent in October.

Abe indicated that the government will limit the scope of eligibility for cash handouts. He also struck a negative tone about lowering the tax rate, saying he will favor steps that could cause an economic boost rapidly.

The envisaged package will also prioritize extending support to small and midsized companies hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak that has led to travel curbs and disruptions in economic activity.

The government will enable banks to extend loans with no interest or collateral, Abe said. At present, the state-owned Japan Finance Corp. has been largely in charge of such a loan program to help smaller companies suffering sharp revenue drops.

The government will also offer subsidies to companies that maintain employment despite worsening business conditions.

Japan has already drawn up two emergency packages in response to the outbreak, the first totaling 15.3 billion yen and another with 430 billion yen in actual spending.

A sense of vigilance has heightened in recent days as the Tokyo metropolitan government is scrambling to prevent an explosive increase in infections. The number of daily reported cases has been on the rise in the capital, with 63 new cases confirmed on Saturday.

Across Japan, the number of cases, including about 700 from the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, has surpassed 2,400. Globally, infections have exceeded 600,000 based on a tally by Johns Hopkins University of the United States.

Tokyoites have been asked to stay home and people in neighboring prefectures to refrain from going to the city, to reduce transmission risks.

"I have to say that people need to brace for a battle (against the coronavirus) that could be prolonged," Abe said, adding that the government will formulate the stimulus package while considering the possibility of declaring a state of emergency.

"At this point, we don't need to declare a state of emergency...but we are still facing a critical moment," Abe said.

The government launched a national headquarters on the coronavirus response on Thursday, setting the stage for Abe to make such a declaration to allow prefectural governors to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, even though people's rights would be restricted.

In the press conference, Abe unveiled plans to distribute 11 million washable cloth face masks to all elementary and junior high schools in the country.

Abe's government has decided to allow schools to reopen when the new academic year begins in April, ending its request made in late February that all schools shut.

The request has troubled parents, with many of them forced to take time off to care for their children.

However, Abe said Saturday he will ask health experts next week to reexamine the appropriate timing for school reopenings, hinting that they might be further delayed.

The pandemic has also affected the schedule for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. After facing intense pressure from athletes and sports officials, the International Olympic Committee decided this week to postpone the events for about a year from this summer.

"No global leader can say at this point when the outbreak will end," Abe said. "Unfortunately, I myself cannot answer that question, either."

In the latest Kyodo News poll released Saturday, 78.7 percent said the delay of about one year was "appropriate."

Even with the delay, Abe will likely witness the Tokyo games as prime minister as his term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ends in September 2021.

As the term of House of Representatives members will end next year, some are wondering when Abe will dissolve the lower house for a general election.

But he said, "I will put that out of my head completely and focus on this battle against the virus."
Brussels, March 27 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has pledged close cooperation in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, vowing to address issues ranging from medical supplies to internal market.

Leaders of the EU and its member states issued a joint statement on Thursday after a video conference, recognizing the most acute priority as "ensuring urgent and adequate provision of medical equipment throughout the European Union", Xinhua reported.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, is asked to explore ways to speed up the EU's joint procurement initiatives for personal protective equipment, ventilators and testing supplies.

The statement also recognizes increasing testing capacities as a matter of urgency, based on recommendations from the World Health Organization.

A coordinated temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU has been in place, and the statement said it will be reviewed "in due time" to "decide and decide whether or not to prolong these measures."

Certain EU member states have introduced temporary internal border controls, and the statement said the bloc will urgently address current problems at internal border controls, including concerning people as well as goods and essential services by land, sea or air.

The EU will do everything possible to support research, coordinate efforts within Europe on COVID-19, including on vaccines, and also work together with key partners in the Group of Seven and Group of 20 countries, the statement said, adding the bloc will also increase and accelerate its support to European researchers to share scientific information and to collaborate both within the EU and worldwide.

The leaders also acknowledged the significant socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and back the policies from the European Central Bank, the Eurogroup, and member states to support the economy and society.

The statement added that more efforts will be made to ensure that EU citizens stranded in third countries who want to go home can do so.

The leaders also backed the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, according to the statement.

--IANS

pgh/
Over the last two weeks Ohio, Texas and Mississippi have effectively implemented a temporary ban on abortion under the guise that it is a nonessential procedure that must be delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement has drawn criticism from both associations of medical professionals and abortion rights groups, who have pointed to the time-sensitive nature of the medical procedure and the political motivations behind the decision to ban it.

All three states currently have Republican governors in office, and in recent years have passed legislation that severely curtails a womans right to an abortion. Last year both Mississippi and Ohio legislatures passed bills that ban abortion at the moment when a fetal heartbeat can be heard by ultrasounda possibility within six weeks of conception, when some women may not even know they are pregnant. These fetal heartbeat laws are currently being challenged by separate lawsuits against the respective states.

On March 20, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sent letters to the Womens Med Center in Dayton and Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohios Cincinnati Surgery Center calling on them to cease surgical abortions because of requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE). The previous Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health issued a statement calling for all nonessential and elective procedures to halt in order to preserve PPE, such as surgical gloves and N95 masks, which are currently in short supply due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Yosts letter states, You and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing nonessential and elective surgical abortions. Nonessential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient. It also warned, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures if the clinics did not comply.

Preterm, a Cleveland-based abortion and reproductive health clinic, told the Daily Caller that they would continue to provide a full range of abortion care services because it is essential care.

Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio also stated that they would comply with the order related to the use of personal protective gear, but would continue to perform essential procedures, including surgical abortion.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has stated that his policy of effectively banning abortions is primarily a deterrent to encourage people to stay at home and minimize the spread of the virus. However, a spokesman for DeWine, Dan Tierney, has stated that the state is investigating the allegations in the complaints [of abortions continuing at different facilities], and its ongoing at the moment.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued a statement banning nonessential medical procedures. On March 23, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a clarification of Abbotts statement, declaring that no one is exempt from the governors executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers.

Paxtons office also said that violation of the order could result in fines of up to $1,000 or up to 180 days in prison. The sole exception is if the operation is medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.

On Wednesday, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), along with other pro-choice organizations, filed a lawsuit against Abbott, Paxton and several other government officials. The lawsuit claims that Abbotts declaration and Paxtons interpretation violate the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution because they are singling abortion providers and their patients out for differential treatment from providers of other medical services and their patients.

The suit also argues that the primary motivation for the governors order is to ban abortions, and not to conserve limited resources during the coronavirus epidemic. The lawsuit notes that surgical abortions require very little PPE, and abortion by medicationwhich is also illegal under Paxtons interpretation of the orderdoes not require any.

In another show of vitriolic opposition to abortion, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves vowed at a press conference Tuesday to take action against his states sole abortion clinic, known as the Pink House. He stated that he wanted to make Mississippi the safest place in America for unborn children. He later attempted to claim that the decision to ban abortions was because there was a need to conserve PPE because of COVID-19.

Exposing his own hypocrisy, Reeves on the same day signed an order labelling gun stores, department stores, and real estate offices as essential and critical businesses. The order overturns advisories put forward by cities to close nonessential businesses in order to limit the spread of the virus. Reeves order reflects sentiments similar to those of Trump, who has called for lifting restrictions on businesses by Easter.

Two days prior to the letters being sent to the clinics in Ohio, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, alongside other professional associations for physicians, issued a statement about the importance of continuing to offer abortions during the ongoing health crisis. They wrote, Abortion is an essential component of comprehensive health care. It is also a time-sensitive service for which a delay of several weeks, or in some cases days, may increase the risks of potentially making it completely inaccessible.

Despite these warnings, it is possible that the abortion bans could be expanded. According to the New York Times, various anti-abortion groups sent a letter to Alex Azar, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, demanding that broad emergency authority be used to stop abortion clinics from operating and prevent the spread of telemedicine abortion.

The recent moves to ban abortion reflect the combination of a massively underfunded health care system with the reactionary right-wing anti-abortion agenda. While the recent attacks on abortion rights have been carried out by Republican governors and district attorneys, they have been prepared through endless capitulation by the Democrats, including agreements that Medicaid and Obamacare would not be allowed to cover abortions.
Most of New Zealand is closed down in the grip of the covid-19 pandemic but exercise has never been more important in the countrys history, ExerciseNZ chief executive Richard Beddie says.

"One thing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has stressed in recent days it is still okay for Kiwis to exercise in wide open spaces or from home, Richard says.

"Gyms and fitness facilities are now closed for four weeks like everything else but ExerciseNZ is working with gyms, clubs and trainers, supporting them and advising them on how to stay healthy and get through this dire and unparalleled situation.

"People can still get out, with safe distancing, go for a walk, a bike ride, exercise at home and find activities online.

Many gyms and trainers are delivering online options which include everything from 1:1 PT sessions to small group and group exercise classes, he says.

"We are all in this together. We want to make sure that the exercise industry survives, so that post-coronavirus, providers are there to help Kiwis become more active again when facilities reopen.

Richard encourages members of gyms, users of studios and PTs to support them in whatever way they can.

People can use their online products, seek them out, and for those that can afford to do so, keep using their PT or gym in some shape or form.

"The coronavirus has changed our lives in so many ways: the way we shop, the way we work, the way we socialise, and the way we exercise. It is more important during this pandemic than ever, especially when it comes to easing the frustrations so many of us are experiencing right now.

"We support the governments stringent lock-down measures and Kiwis just have to adapt to a new way of life, like never before.

Most New Zealanders have never experienced this kind of mass uncertainty which makes it so important to look after ourselves, he says.
Goldman Sachs is investing in the health of New Jerseyans amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Wall Street investment bank where Gov. Phil Murphy and former Gov. Jon Corzine made much of their fortunes is donating a combined 400,000 N95 breathing masks to New Jersey and New York state, a spokeswoman for the firm, Leslie Shribman, said in an email.

The two states  which the Manhattan-based firm and many of its executives call home  are getting roughly two thirds of the total number of masks that Goldman has given away to help slow the spread of the increasingly deadly COVID-19 virus.

We have donated approximately 600,000 N95 masks to hospitals with 400,000 of those going to New York and New Jersey, Shribman said in an email Friday night. With these updated numbers, we have donated the vast majority of the masks that wed had in storage from previous epidemics.

Breathing masks have been in such short supply that grassroots efforts have sprung up to stitch them together by hand using surplus fabric and to run them off on 3D printers.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

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Two Lubbock residents were arrested at a College Station motel on Thursday on charges they used violence to force two women into prostitution.

According to College Station police, around 9:15 p.m. Thursday, authorities received a call from a woman who said her daughter and a friend may have been forced into prostitution. She believed that someone was holding the women captive in a College Station motel room.

Authorities responded to the motel and spoke with Christopher Ryan Scott, 47, and Veronica Lee Willis, 45. Officers held Scott on an aggravated robbery charge out of Tom Green County.

Officers spoke to two women found in two motel rooms who were taken to a local hospital. The women gave corroborating stories about how they had been forced against their will to have sex with customers in various Texas cities. The women said if they did not comply with a customers sexual request, Scott would beat them and Willis would threaten them.

Willis and Scott are charged with compelling prostitution by force, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Willis is being held in the Brazos County Jail on $20,000 bond, while Scott is being held on $520,000 bond.
Have you seen whats happening in Italy? she replies. The fatality rate there appears to be just north of 10 percent  as of Friday, 9,134 dead out of 86,498 confirmed cases. My mother was born in Milan (or, as she would correct me, Mi-LA-no), and she takes her native citys suffering especially to heart. When I point out that one likely reason why Italy has been so hard hit is that it is much more densely populated than the U.S. and has one of the worlds oldest populations, she asks tartly, And how is that supposed to comfort me?

I think of my mom as a stoical pessimist. She considers herself a highly experienced realist. She knows that calamities happen in the lives of people as well as nations  and that they happen far more quickly, unexpectedly and irreversibly than most members of my generation have either known or been led to expect.

She has been widowed twice, first at 26 and again at 71. Her mother fled Moscow and the Bolsheviks shortly after the October Revolution of 1917 and Berlin and the Nazis sometime after the Reichstag fire of 1933. She remembers the Allied bombings of Milano, which obliterated much of the city. She remembers the poverty after the war, and the time she snuck into a vineyard to liberate some grapes. She remembers the prejudice, when a grocer told her mother to go back to where you came from.

When I see her, she recalls a memory from around the time she was 3, when a young nun abruptly pulled her under her habit. By then the Nazis had effectively taken control of northern Italy. She must have smelled that I was Jewish, she surmises, without knowing for sure what had induced the nun to hide her. Well, not smelled. Sensed. Maybe thats why Ive always been fond of the Catholic Church.

The conversation returns to the coronavirus pandemic. Youre not taking this seriously enough, she says. I do take it seriously, I reply. I just dont think we should panic. She gives me the kind of look I used to get over some doubtful assurance that Id done all of my homework.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday questioned the Centres preparedness as he pointed out the migration of hundreds of thousands of workers from the cities to villages during the 21-day lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus disease.

Chidambarams tweet came as these migrant workers, stranded in cities without work and money, were seen walking back to their villages in hoards.

Back to villages in crowded buses or on foot has significantly dented the lockdown. It is another distressing example of the governments unpreparedness, Chidambaram tweeted.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday sent hundreds of buses to evacuate the migrant workers from the state who have been stranded in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses continued to ferry them to their destinations from different areas of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar as the norm of social distancing were broken at the bus terminals.

As crowds packed the buses, the administration later started thermal screening of the passengers at Kaushambi.

What are the central and state governments doing about the migrant workers who were allowed to leave the cities and towns and who are finding their way back to their villages? the former finance minister asked.

Before Chidambaram, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet that the countrywide lockdown will devastate our poor and weak and sought a compassionate approach to deal with the crisis.

The Congress also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government on Twitter, alleging it had imposed the lockdown without proper planning and has been unable to control the reverse migration.

BJPs lack of planning has rendered tens of thousands of people hungry and homeless. The government should have come out with a targeted plan to help them before implementing nationwide lockdown, it said.

Suspended transport, disrupted supply chains, misinformation to the police and active racism, such is the outcome of a #LockdownWithoutPlan, the party said in another tweet.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the three-week lockdown, he had emphasised the restrictions will help maintain social distancing and cited experts who have said it was the only way to deal with the coronavirus crisis across the globe.

There is no other way to deal with coronavirus and we need to save ourselves. And we have to break the cycle of its infection, the Prime Minister had said.
Medline, which stopped its sterilization operations in mid-December because it could not meet the new requirements, was not allowed to resume its operations until the process is complete. A company spokesman said the company had continued to make the surgical kits it produces at the site but had a third party sterilize them.
Global investor confidence declined in March as the novel coronavirus became a global pandemic, according to the State Street Investor Confidence Index.

The index, developed by State Street (NYSE:STT), decreased four points from February to 74.5. Confidence was lowest in North America, where the index dropped 2.9 points to 67.8. Europe saw the sharpest decline, falling from 110.6 to 95.6. In Asia, the index rose 8.7 points to 94.5.

State Street's index measures investors' risk tolerance by analyzing institutional buying and selling. A reading above 100 means institutional investors are increasing their allocations; below 100 means they're decreasing.

"As the concerns over Covid-19 moved from China to Europe, the Investor Confidence Index has reflected this shift," said Lee Ferridge, State Street's head of multi-asset strategy for the Americas. "Rapidly growing case numbers in Europe pushed sentiment down by a marked 15 points, back below the neutral line of 100 for the first time since August. North American sentiment declined from an already low level, hovering near all-time lows as investors wait to see the breadth of fiscal and monetary response. In contrast, however, as the number of active cases in China declined, investor sentiment in Asia actually rebounded in March by 8.7 points, largely reversing February's decline."

This month's 74.5 overall score is the lowest since April 2019, when it was 72.9. In North America, the 67.8 number is actually up slightly from January, when it was 66.2.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Violators of the curfew set by authorities during the enhanced community quarantine period will still be arrested even without the presence of inquest officers, Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said on Saturday.

Malaya clarified the statement of Philippine National Police deputy chief of operations PLGen. Guillermo Eleazar, who said earlier today that violators are no longer subject to arrest.

Tuloy pa rin yung panghuhuli ng ating mga pulis. Dadamputin pa rin po sila, said Malaya in an interview with CNN Philippines Menchu Macapagal.

(Translation: Our police are continuing to arrest. The violators will still be held up.)

Malaya added they will coordinate with the Department of Justice to have skeletal workforce of inquest officers as most of them are on home quarantine.

Ngayon kung walang inquest fiscal, we will release the suspect after 12 hours. Ngunit dadamputin pa rin po sila ng pulis, he said.

(Translation: If there is no inquest fiscal present, we will release the suspect after 12 hours. But they will still be arrested by the police.)

Eleazar said there is a directive for all police to not arrest those who violate laws during the enhanced community quarantine.

Nagbigay ng utos ang chief [ng] PNP na lahat ng curfew violators ngayon, hindi na po ikukulong, kukunin [na lamang] ang circumstances at ipa-file na lang namin. At large ang mga iyan para pagkatapis ng krisis na ito, pananagutan 'yon , Eleazar said at a briefing by the Laging Handa, the government's COVID-19 crisis communications platform.

(Translation: The PNP chief gave the order that all curfew violators will no longer be arrested. Instead, we will make notes of the violations and file them. They will remain at large so after this crisis, they will be made to answer for their misdeeds.)

The move was recommended by the Justice and the Interior secretaries, Eleazar said.

Pictures of alleged curfew violators being rounded up in cages and reports of others being made to stay under the sun for long periods have been posted on social media, triggering anger from some people who said rights were being violated.

Eleazar said these reports would be investigated, adding that the PNP ha has continuously reminded its people not to physically harm offenders.
WASHINGTON - The tone was set in a St. Patrick's Day phone call between Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell, when the House speaker requested the top four congressional leaders to begin negotiating a package rescuing the economy from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

McConnell told her no - he would bargain exclusively with Senate Democrats and their leader, Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York.

But that did not settle the issue, and when Pelosi and McConnell ultimately met face to face the following Sunday at an all-leaders meeting he had called to outline his bill, Pelosi showed up with "a laundry list" of what the Senate majority leader and other Republicans viewed as liberal demands unrelated to the crisis.

From the perspective of Schumer and Pelosi, McConnell's bill under construction offered help for corporations but not much for the average American. There were no worker protections on the corporate rescue funds. No state and local bailout fund. Not enough spending for hospitals.

The two sides went their separate ways after the meeting. Senate Democrats blocked a procedural vote, angering Republicans. Pelosi declared she would write her own bill - giving Democrats something to rally around.

But with the stock market tanking and the U.S. death toll climbing, congressional leaders and Trump administration officials managed to compromise with trade-offs such as more generous unemployment insurance and restrictions on the corporate help that satisfied both parties.

And on Friday, the House voted unanimously to approve the measure, a $2.2 trillion emergency aid package that is the costliest in U.S. history, forged amid economic conditions that worsened by the moment, a tempestuous president and tempers that flared in a Congress rattled with genuine fear of a pandemic.

The first step requested of Congress by the White House was on Feb. 24, a comparatively paltry $1.8 billion in new spending to address rising health concerns stemming from the virus. Now - just one month later - Congress sent Trump a package that is more than 1,000 times greater, underscoring the frantic scramble from policymakers trying to arrest the economic calamity.

There were plenty of hiccups, up until the moment the chief negotiators finalized the deal.

As Schumer, Mnuchin and Eric Ueland, the White House director of legislative affairs, met Monday night to smooth out an agreement on the $2.2 trillion economic rescue package, thousands of phones across Washington started buzzing.

The president had tweeted.

"Republicans had a deal until Nancy Pelosi rode into town from her extended vacation. The Democrats want the Virus to win?" Trump tweeted. "They are asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies. They want Open Borders & Green New Deal. Republicans shouldn't agree!"

Schumer, who had spent days negotiating with the administration, felt that tweet did not reflect the reality of the progress they had made. After being informed by his staff of the 279-character missive, Schumer delivered - via speaker on Mnuchin's phone - a pressing message: "For the good of the country," Schumer told Trump, according to an official familiar with the call, "you should not be attacking anyone."

After Trump hung up, Schumer quipped to others in the room: "He must've been watching TV."

Both sides claimed credit for the bill. Senior Republicans portrayed the legislation as a largely bipartisan, yet right-of-center package, and Democrats argued that they wrested the measure away from one that shortchanged workers and lacked accountability over corporations.

"The major advantage that we had is, this is a crisis. And the Republican philosophy of little government, let the private sector do everything, diminish government, just doesn't work," Schumer said in an interview with The Washington Post. "So we sort of naturally had the upper hand."

For McConnell, it was a chance to assert the power of his Republican majority after the Senate mostly took a back seat in the previous $100 billion emergency coronavirus bill. Forgoing any concerns about the deficit, McConnell and administration officials were encouraged by a president who urged negotiators behind the scenes to "be bold, be brave and go big."

That second tranche of spending, which cleared Congress on March 18, was largely a product between Mnuchin and Pelosi and loathed by several Senate Republicans over paid family leave provisions. But McConnell, recognizing the money had to go out immediately, told his members to essentially swallow the bill and look toward the next, much more expansive economic package that lawmakers were under pressure to craft.

On that package, McConnell told Pelosi on that March 17 call, he planned to negotiate directly with Schumer.

McConnell canceled a scheduled Senate recess, tapped key GOP senators on separate task forces to negotiate the four primary sections of the relief package and urged them to get some Democratic buy-in. Still, he was confident the final product largely reflected conservative priorities.

"They did do that for a couple days, made themselves look very foolish, but that did not change the core product - which was mostly Republican," McConnell said of Democrats in an interview with The Post.

The sweeping rescue package injects enormous amounts of federal spending into the American economy - sending checks to more than 150 million U.S. households, establishing massive loan programs designed at keeping both small and large businesses afloat, and dramatically expanding unemployment benefit programs while upping spending for hospitals struggling for basic equipment.

Yet after countless twists and turns as it moved through the Senate, one last complication awaited Friday in the House as a single GOP member forced lawmakers to return to Washington en masse to ensure a quorum would be there to vote - even though ultimate passage of the bill was inevitable and the gathering was contrary to public health advice.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., raised procedural objections that required a majority of the House to be physically present to swiftly reject his request. Once they did, the House passed the legislation by voice vote shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday and sent it to the president who signed it mere hours later.

That last-minute scramble was an appropriate ending for frantic negotiations that were fraught with tensions from the beginning.

From the start, McConnell believed it was only fair the Senate take the lead in drafting the third phase of the coronavirus legislation and that the Democratic-led House accept it, considering the Senate had done the same for the earlier package despite GOP protestations. That line of reasoning infuriated Democrats, who criticized McConnell's own decision to stand on the sidelines for the second phase, then leave Washington to attend an event in Kentucky featuring Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Key senators negotiated for days in separate task forces established by McConnell. There was enough progress that this past Saturday, Mnuchin told GOP senators during a meeting at the Capitol that he had just left Schumer's office and believed there were no major issues that would prevent them from reaching a deal later that night.

But then that night, McConnell had appeared to shut down the negotiations and prepared to release his own legislation. On Sunday, Pelosi - who had flown in the day before on an Alaska Airlines flight with her security detail and a dozen others on a plane that usually seats 200 - felt it was bizarre that McConnell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted there was a deal, even as she and Schumer detailed a list of provisions they felt were problematic.

It spiraled further downward during the meeting with the four leaders on Sunday, after McConnell declared Republicans would release their plan - crafted in part with Democratic input - and Pelosi said she would produce her own bill.

"It underscored why I didn't want to start with four corners to begin with," McConnell said, referring to the quartet of congressional leaders. "What it did was slow down the process for three days to get to an outcome that we could both buy in to."

When Schumer hosted a Democratic lunch in the spacious Kennedy Caucus room in the Russell Senate Office Building later that day where both parties had shifted their party meetings to allow for more distancing among members, he stressed that the plan McConnell had released earlier was largely a corporate bailout that did little for workers.

Yet, even after those contentious meetings - and the angry floor speeches, two Democratic filibusters and an unusually hot-tempered McConnell - the negotiations continued apace.

"It was hot on the floor and cool in the room," said one senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk freely.

All throughout, the fear among senators, particularly those from hard-hit states, was palpable.

When news broke during a Democratic caucus lunch on Sunday that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., had tested positive for the coronavirus, Schumer promptly broke up the meeting, and senators dispersed to their offices to continue via conference call. The Strom Thurmond room in McConnell's wing of offices - where some of the meetings had taken place - had been disinfected and left a strong odor of cleaning solution; the negotiating team ultimately moved to a separate meeting space named after former president Lyndon B. Johnson.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., was concerned well before the rest of her colleagues based on what she had witnessed in her home state, where most of the early coronavirus cases were concentrated.

Even during the impeachment trial that consumed the Senate for the first several weeks of the year, Murray was worried other senators were not taking the emerging public health crisis seriously. The No. 3 Senate Democrat quickly stopped going to in-person meetings and urged Schumer to hold conference calls instead. She was adamant her own aides stay off the congressional premises as much as possible.

At a Feb. 26 retreat with other Senate Democrats, Murray delivered a bracing message as headlines began to trickle out about the mysterious outbreak at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington: "What's happening in Washington state is coming to you."

In the subsequent weeks, that urgency spread to other states and its leaders, as New York and California joined Washington state as the epicenters of the pandemic. The frustration and desperation for massive federal assistance was underscored in a Wednesday call between New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and members of the state's House delegation, during which the governor repeatedly slammed the bill - that Schumer, the state's senior senator, negotiated - as insufficient.

Targeting Schumer, Cuomo said he knows the famously media-savvy Schumer wants to do a news release that he got something passed, but then the governor had to figure out how to run a state budget - and that he couldn't do anything with the money allocated to New York under the package.

"I'm paying the whole g-----n bill here," Cuomo told the New York House members on the call.

Cuomo urged the House delegation to get New York more money, and they responded that they would try. But ultimately, the House passed the bill unchanged from the version Cuomo lambasted.

"What happened was that we kept our eye on what needed to be done, which really fit the national need - much more money for hospitals than they proposed, far more accountability on corporate bailouts than they proposed," Schumer said in The Post interview. "Money for state and localities, which they had none of. And more stuff for working and unemployed people, and they really, our Republican friends, didn't have much to say."

As of Friday, more than 100,000 Americans have contracted the virus, with more than 1,400 deaths. Multiple large companies have been brought to their knees. Millions of Americans lost their jobs, and economists predicted a second coming of the Great Depression as the U.S. economy screeched to a halt.

When it came time to vote late Wednesday, senators were reminded that the crisis was everywhere, including inside the Senate chamber. On the Republican side of the clerk desk, where votes are tallied, GOP senators were greeted with a white sheet of paper that had, in blood-red design, a two-word greeting: "SOCIAL DISTANCE."

Across the table, Democrats were greeted by a more complex design with stick figures explaining how far apart they should stand, with a similar two-word admonition: "CREATE SPACE."

As the last two votes unfolded, Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., took over as the presiding officer, always a cumbersome task, but one that now has a different regimen involved: He reached under the desk to grab a large disinfectant sheet, then wiped down the desk to assure no viral germs were there.

The legislation had easily passed, with 88 yeas and not a single vote of opposition. Murray stood on the edge of the chamber, unwilling to enter a place that was about to close up for its own deep cleaning. Most senators do not know when they will return to vote again.

She held her finger up waiting for a clerk to see her off in the distance, before finally Schumer pointed at clerks to recognize her.

She flashed a thumbs up.
The Bachelor alum Ben Higgins is officially engaged to his 24-year-old girlfriend Jess Clarke.

The 31-year-old reality star, who has been dating Clarke since February of last year, confirmed the big news to Us Weekly on Saturday.

The betrothed pair are currently quarantining at Higgins' parents' home in Indiana amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Congratulations: The Bachelor alum Ben Higgins confirmed on Saturday that he is officially engaged to 24-year-old girlfriend Jess Clarke

Higgins hinted at a potential engagement in January, when he was asked by the outlet if he would take the plunge with Clarke.

'I don't think that's a question,' he replied. 'We're great. It's fun. It's just healthy.'

He continued: 'I think [Jess] would say the same. Our relationship is healthy. I'm a better version of myself, a more free version of myself than I've been in a while.'

Higgins kicked off his relationship with Clarke last year when he direct messaged the brunette beauty via Instagram.

Confirmation: An Instagram post by Jess on Saturday confirmed that she said 'yes'

Big step: The 30-year-old reality star, who has been dating Clarke since February of last year, confirmed the big news to Us Weekly on Saturday

Since then, the pair have been navigating a long-distance style relationship with Higgins residing in Denver and Clarke remaining in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

In an interview with Us Weekly, just days before announcing their engagement, Ben revealed that entering quarantine with Jess has made him 'excited' for the next steps in their relationship.

'I believe that all time together helps you prep for the next steps,' he explained.

'This has definitely been another time where being with Jess has made me excited for our next steps.'

Excited: In an interview with Us Weekly , just days before announcing their engagement, Ben revealed that entering quarantine with Jess has made him 'excited' for the next steps in their relationship

Ben stated that he would not be dating the aspiring model if he did not see the relationship being a part of the future.

At the time, he insisted that he was ready for marriage and believed his bond with Jess to be the real thing.

Im 30, Im ready, Im excited about it. So there would be no reason for me to date anybody if it wasnt something I believe was the real thing.

He also added that Jess wanted to be engaged to the former The Bachelorette contestant prior to moving in to his Denver residence.

Chances with love: Higgins rose to fame in 2015, when he appeared on season 11 of the hit ABC reality series The Bachelorette, which starred bachelorette Emily Maynard

Higgins rose to fame in 2015, when he appeared on season 11 of the hit ABC reality series The Bachelorette.

In 2016, the Indiana native returned to the spotlight for his very own season of The Bachelor, where he got engaged to contestant Lauren Bushnell.

Higgins and Bushnell called off their engagement in 2017.
Photo: Colin Dacre

A nursing student at the University of B.C. Okanagan campus has filed a lawsuit against the Kelowna RCMP over alleged police brutality.

The student, who Castanet News has agreed to not name, alleges in a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court this week she was at her home under mental distress on Jan. 20 when her boyfriend contacted police and requested a health check.

Attending RCMP officer Const. Lacey Browning entered the apartment and found the woman lying on the bathroom floor in a state of semi-consciousness, the lawsuit claims.

The plaintiff was not a danger to Browning, nor did the plaintiff act in a manner that would cause Browning to be in fear for her safety, the suit says.

The civil claim alleges Const. Browning failed to introduce herself as RCMP and did not make any attempt to assess the students need for medical attention, instead ordering her to stand.

The plaintiff could not stand on her own, and therefore, the plaintiff did not respond to Brownings commands, the suit says.

The claim alleges Browning stepped on the students arm and kicked her in the stomach while she was down, assaulting her while shouting stop being dramatic and control your [expletive] dog, dont make me hurt him.

The plaintiff was then handcuffed and dragged through the apartment on her stomach, causing injury to the students face, upper thigh and torso.

Browning dragged the plaintiff to the elevator while punching the plaintiff in her face, the lawsuit continues. The plaintiff suffered bruises to the face, broken blood vessels to the left eye, swollen right eye, and bruising to the right temple.

The student was taken to Kelowna General Hospital where, the suit claims, Browning misled hospital staff by telling them the student was high on meth.

The plaintiff has never used methamphetamine or any illicit drugs, the lawsuit claims. The toxicology report from KGH showed that at the time the plaintiff was admitted, she had no illegal drugs in her body or blood.

The lawsuit seeks a variety of damages, calling Const. Brownings actions abusive and repetitive in the extreme that resulted in mental and physical injury.

The lawsuit also names the Attorney General of Canada and B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. None of the defendants have filed a response. The RCMP typically does not comment on matters before the courts.

None of the above allegations have been proven in court.
Dr. Vida Nyagre Yakong, Senior Lecturer, UDS and Member of the NDCs COVID-19 Technical Team has appalled to Government to institute urgent measures to ensure the safety of Head Porters normally called Kayayei and Paa O Pa in other not to spread COVID-19 Pandemic upon return to their hometowns.



To her, these are the people that need special attention during this period of rapid spread of COVID-19 Pandemic.



In a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, Dr. Vida Nyagre Yakong stated that: The GHA is concerned that without any medical screening whatsoever, these returning Kayayie and Paa o paa workers have the greatest potential of carrying the Coronavirus to their rural hometowns in the Northern and Upper Regions of Ghana.



In this regard, GHA calls on the government to ensure that all are properly screened in their originating locations and quarantined at their destination locations for the required 14 days and retested before they are cleared to join their helpless families and communities, she said.



Read full statement below;



Head porters popularly known as Kayayo/Kayayei and Paa O Pa are mostly young girls and men who often migrate from deprived communities to the bigger cities to perform menial jobs for a living. The majority of them come from the northern part of Ghana. Whilst in the bigger cities, mostly Accra and Kumasi seeking for their so-call greener pastures they face a mirage of challenges ranging from lack of access to accommodation, water and sanitation to food. Most of these people live on the streets and are exposed to all manners of abuses and diseases. They are by all standards, a category of the vulnerable groups in the country that need special attention during this period of rapid spread of COVID-19.



His Excellency the President announced yesterday that Accra, Kumasi and other cities will be lockdown in a bid to contain the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic



Following this announcement, all lorry parks in Kumasi, Accra and Obuasi have seen many residents of these cities travelling to their home towns to avoid the effect of the Virus. The GHA notes that no screening is made of such travellers returning to their home towns. Of biggest concern to the GHA is the return of the many young head porters or Kayayie and young men engaged in Street Hawking and Paa O Pa and other menial jobs in these cities.



The GHA is concerned that without any medical screening whatsoever, these returning Kayayie and Paa o paa workers have the greatest potential of carrying the Coronavirus to their rural hometowns in the Northern and Upper Regions of Ghana.



In this regard, GHA calls on the government to ensure that all are properly screened in their originating locations and quarantined at their destination locations for the required 14 days and retested before they are cleared to join their helpless families and communities.



The GHA calls on the government to take the following measures

1. Screen all persons including the Kayayie and Pao o Pa young men

2. After a thorough medical screening the government must transport them in the State Transport and Metro Mass buses to their destinations.

3. The Municipal Assemblies must put up Emergency Medical Teams to receive the Returning persons from Accra and Kumasi etc.

4. The Regional NaDMO should prepare school classrooms to receive and keep the returnees

5. The NaDMO must supply them with Blankets, Sanitary Pads Cleaning and other life keeping materials

6. The District Medical Director should set up District Medical Team to monitor the health of the Returnees, especially the children.

7. The Social Welfare should begin to design Retention Programmes in Vocational and Technical Skills for training post coronavirus pandemic.

This is the time for the government to care for the poor and vulnerables. Let's treat them as human beings deserving of quality of life and not as mere objects of elections.



GHA remains optimistic that government would respond to the call to support these people and save innocent lives.



(Ghana Health Alert is a Civil Society Organization made up of Medical and Public Health Consultants, Senior Health Personnel, Academics and Researchers with the goal of advocating for improved health and educating Ghanaians on the importance of public health)



Sign



Dr. Vida Nyagre Yakong (Senior Lecturer, UDS)

Executive Secretary, GHA & Member of the NDCs COVID-19 TECHNICAL TEAM)

0506750315





Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Learning to know, learning to do, learning to be, and learning to live together are the four pillars of learning as defined by UNESCO.

Nguyen Hoang Nguyen Tu, a literature teacher at Ly Tu Trong High School for the Gifted in Can Tho City, who has 15 years of experience, said she knows many excellent students with deep knowledge and understanding about subjects, good thinking and dynamism, but they lack soft skills.





A high school teacher in Hanoi also said some of his teachers are clever and very good at social sciences, but remain passive in dealing with daily problems.



They even cannot tell the difference between the plants on streets. They lack confidence when speaking before the audience and they dont have teamwork skills, he said.



Lacking soft skills is a problem of many students nowadays. In modern social conditions, most students are surrounded and cared for thoroughly, and they dont have many opportunities to communicate with the outside world.



As a result, they do not have understanding about life and social relationships around them. Many children rely on parents and relatives, and do things as arranged by adults. They dont think about what they need to do and how to live.

Lacking soft skills is a problem of many students nowadays. In modern social conditions, most students are surrounded and cared for thoroughly, and they dont have many opportunities to communicate with the outside world.

Therefore, equipping students with skills is a very important task for schools and parents.



However, educators complain that there are many barriers in educating soft skills for students. There is not much time to organize integrated activities and the activities cannot be carried out regularly.



Teachers only have one period (45 minutes) a week to carry out a lot of activities, from weekly reviewing, discussing plans for the next weeks and organizing extracurricular activities. Sometimes, the activities are reduced to spend time on learning, which is believed to be more important.



Meanwhile, teachers dont have much experience in organizing the activities and providing lessons on soft skills. Many students are reserved and reluctant to participate in collective activities or express their opinions. Therefore, the activities are only significant to a part of students.



Tu, in an effort to equip her students with soft skills, has drawn up plans to organize integrated education activities based on many different topics.



The minimum time for extracurricular activities is 15 minutes and maximum time is 30 minutes. The activities are part of the weekly review period and take place at least twice a month.



The topics vary: effective cooperation, career guidance, setting goals and ways to reach goals, creative thinking, and positive behaviors.

Le Ha

Vietnamese students still lack soft skills Employers all say Vietnamese university graduates are weak at soft skills, while schools have been blamed for not equipping their students with these skills.
With students being stuck at home, for the time being, many of them have no choice but live in an unsteady home life. From parental neglect to domestic abuse and drug addiction, some students are at a higher risk of experiencing abuse from home then they would be if they were in school.

For Texas Can Academies, a group of charter schools committed to helping struggling students stay in school, many students have preexisting issues that can be exacerbated by sheltering at home.

Thats why the academy is offering a free 24-hour telephonic mental health service that any student can use; if the students entire household demonstrates a need for counseling services Texas Can Academies can offer group counseling, free of charge as well.

Our students can deal with a whole host of issues, said Jose Luis Torres, the executive director of Student Services. Mental illness in the home, parental incarceration, domestic violence in the home, substance abuse in the home. Were seeing a lot of tension.

The charter schools work with students from ages 14-21, an age in which students readily rely on support systems that are normally found in school, often coming from their friends or school staff. When theyre out of school and stuck at home throughout the day, social isolation can incubate preexisting issues such as depression and anxiety.

Additionally, being quarantined adds extra anxiety surrounding not being able to attend prom or graduation or whether they can even be allowed to graduate in the spring in the first place. Many students have lost a necessary job.

Theres a significant amount of stress, especially for seniors. Theyre thinking about what theyre not going to be able to do. Theres no prom, theres no commencement ceremony. They wont be able to have their senior day, said Torres. If they have preexisting problems, they can get worse.

School counseling services help students work through how to handle this unusual and unsettling situation and to discuss any issues they may be having, big or small.

One of the most critical things for kids is their sense of connectedness and belonging, said Torres. That belonging comes from school.

Texas Can Academies is a network of 14 charter schools located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The schools are tuition-free, open enrollment, public high schools of choice serving students who have struggled in a high school setting.

Stay connected with positive social relationships, Torres said as a reminder to students while theyre stuck at home. It begins at home.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
The exodus of migrant workers from Delhi, mostly to destinations in Uttar Pradesh and some even beyond, to Bihar, saw a sea of humanity jostling to get into buses at the Delhi-UP borders. On Twitter, the criticism over the handling of the lockdown and the large-scale migration triggered a political spat between the Aam Aadmi Party which rules the national capital and the BJP, which is in power in Uttar Pradesh.

Both sides accused each other of playing dirty politics and blamed the other for the plight of the migrant workers.

It is unclear how the blame game started. But by evening, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths advisor Mrityunjay Kumar appeared to be the key players. The BJPs national secretary BL Santhosh also weighed in.

Also Read: Thousands on the streets as Indias Covid-19 count crosses 1,000

Sisodia lashed out at claims by some BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh that accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of trying to force migrant workers in the national capital to leave the city.

According to one version being circulated by BJP leaders, the Delhi government had allegedly disconnected power supply to areas which had a high proportion of migrants. A second version spoke about how the city government had ferried scores of migrants to the Anand Vihar bus terminus in east Delhi, close to the border with UP.

Sisodia accused the BJPs Yogi Adityanath government of spreading lies.

I am very sad that BJP leaders are doing petty politics during the coronavirus pandemic. @myogiadityanaths government has alleged that @ArvindKejriwal ordered to disconnect power and water supply to migrants in Delhi, forcing them to leave. It is the time to unite with seriousness to save the country, not for cheap politics, Sisodia said in his tweet.

Yogi Adityanaths adviser Mrityunjay launched a sharp counterattack, accusing the AAP leader of attempting to save face by issuing statements claiming the Kejriwal government had dealt with all the residents with an equal hand setting an example for other states. Mrityunjay alleged the exodus was engineered by the Delhi government.

This huge exodus from Delhi is your governments doing. They neither got shelter nor food. No shelter even during rains... Yogi government made arrangements overnight to provide them with buses, shelter and food. Dont attempt to save face by speaking untruth, Mrityunjay tweeted.

BJP leader BL Santosh waded in, blaming the city government for the exodus. There were videos of migrant voters, he said, where they were seen talking about how they had been told that there would be buses at Anand Vihar bus station to take them home.

Some forces want India to fail when #IndiaFightsCorona, Nation will not forgive them, he tweeted, questioning how 50,000 migrant workers were allowed to break the lockdown.

This wasnt the only one spart on Twitter. There had been a sideshow of AAP vs BJP through the day that had been set off by AAP MLA Raghav Chadhas now-deleted comment that BJP leaders alleged, accused UP Police of beating migrant workers trying to cross over to UP from Delhi.

Mrityunjay said the UP government will take action against such statements.

This is downright fake news, their party is not shying away from dirty politics even at the time of such pandemic, how can the Aam Aadmi Party stoop to such lows? UP police and government will definitely act on this tweet, he said.

Click Here for Latest Reports on Coronavirus

Mrityunjay responded to Sisodia and accused him of attempting to save face by issuing statements claiming Kejriwal government had dealt with all the residents with an equal hand setting an example for other states. Mrityunjay alleged the exodus was the doing of Delhi government.

This huge exodus from Delhi is your governments doing. They neither got shelter nor food. No shelter even during rains... Yogi government made arrangements overnight to provide them with buses, shelter and food. Dont attempt to save face by speaking untruth, Mrityunjay tweeted.
Tests kits for the novel coronavirus will be prioritized for health care workers and first responders in San Francisco, Mayor London Breed announced Friday.

The announcement comes after union leaders representing workers at both Laguna Honda Memorial Hospital and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital called on Breed and the Department of Public Health to create a plan to protect frontline workers from contracting COVID-19.

During a briefing with city leaders at the city's Emergency Operations Center, Breed said the city's healthcare workers and first responders will now be able to access COVID-19 tests through their Kaiser Permanente or Blue Shield insurance plans via their primary care doctors.

"Now, thanks to Kaiser and Blue Shield, we will be able to provide testing for the healthcare workers who are on the frontline and working with patients who have been infected, as well as many of our public safety officials; our firefighters, police officers and those who are on the frontline," Breed said.

The new measures come in light of six confirmed cases of employees at Laguna Honda Memorial Hospital contracting COVID-19, as well as one patient. In response, two units at the hospital have been placed under quarantine.

Additionally, according to Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax, an emergency department staff member at San Francisco General Hospital has also tested positive and is self-isolating at home.

A man who had been a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship is the first novel coronavirus-related death recorded in Marin County, health officials said Friday.

The man, who was in his 70s, had been on the ship that came to the Bay Area on Feb. 21 and on March 9 was reported as the first Marin County resident to contract COVID-19.

He died Friday afternoon after being hospitalized for nearly three weeks, officials said in a release.

The Marin County Public Health Division said its staff is working closely with local hospital personnel, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the California Department of Public Health to monitor confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county and coordinate the testing and monitoring of patients.

The division estimates nearly 700 individuals have been tested at its field-testing site, in addition to testing efforts conducted by hospitals and medical facilities.

BART will continue providing service on Sundays for now even though its ridership plunged 92 percent this week in the wake of shelter-in-place orders due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, a transit agency spokeswoman said on Friday.

Eliminating Sunday service because of the declining ridership was a possible scenario presented by BART staff members at the transit agency's board meeting on Thursday.

But BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost wrote in an email on Friday, "The Sunday service elimination is the last resort of the options presented (at Thursday's meeting) and at this time is unlikely."

Trost said, "Many board members clearly stated they were not in favor of that option."

BART is looking at various scenarios for cutting costs and service to save its operating budget or if a high number of its employees become sick and can't come to work or if it is mandated by government officials to reduce service, Trost said.

BART staff estimated in their presentation Thursday that if the shelter-in-place order continues through the end of the fiscal year at the end of June that fare revenue will decline 30 percent, or $140 million, below budget for the fiscal year.

Two more Santa Rosa police officers have tested positive for novel coronavirus, making five total cases confirmed in the department since this week, officials said Friday.

The first three cases were announced on Tuesday.

In announcing the new cases, Santa Rosa Police Chief Rainer Navarro said that the department is working with the Sonoma County Public Health Officer to begin testing more personnel, in particular those who may have come in contact with the confirmed cases.

"This measure will help the Police Department to prevent further potential spread and get a better understanding of potential additional impacts to the organization," the department said in an announcement. "Transparency continues to be a department priority, and as test results become available, that information will be shared with the public."

Twenty department employees have been tested to date, with four getting a negative diagnosis and 11 awaiting results that are expacted early next week.

Officials said public health nurses will conduct a detailed interview of each person confirmed, and advise anyone people they have had contact with to self-quarantine for 14 days and report any symptoms to their health care provider and Sonoma County Disease Control.

All San Mateo County Parks have been closed until further notice due to a sharp increase in visitors despite the shelter-in-place and social distancing orders enacted to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, officials said Friday.

San Mateo County Parks had kept 17 of the 23 sites it manages open as of this week.

An increase in visitors last weekend and observations of park and trail use over the past several weeks led to the closure order.

Data collected from mid-February to March 25 showed increases of 50 percent to 300 percent in park use following the shelter-in-place order.

Park staff also noticed people gathering in groups and failing to keep a safe distance.

Entrance gates and parking lots will be locked and notices will be posted that the parks and trails are closed.

It appears that a fatal shooting in broad daylight in Berkeley last week resulted from a road rage confrontation, according to court documents released on Friday.

Hosea Askew, 52, of Richmond, was charged with murder on Thursday for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Diante Craig of Richmond near the corner of Chestnut Street and University Avenue at about 12:20 p.m. on March 20.

Officers who responded to the shooting found Craig slumped over the driver's seat of a blue Acura SUV and he was pronounced dead at the scene, Berkeley police Officer Andres Bejarano wrote in a probable cause statement.

The suspect's vehicle was described as a blue four-door sedan and investigators later connected it to Askew and arrested him at his home in Richmond at about 5 p.m. last Saturday, Bejarano said.

Surveillance camera footage from businesses and residences in the area showed that Askew and Craig were both traveling west on University Avenue just before the shooting, according to Bejarano.

Detectives who arrested Askew at his residence in Richmond found a 9mm pistol that appeared to have been recently cleaned and also found evidence that he was in Berkeley just before the shooting, Bejarano said.

Askew's wife, Mercedes Askew, 62, is charged with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly trying to help him cover up his role in the shooting.

A moratorium on evictions and other emergency resolutions in response to the novel coronavirus emergency were approved Friday at a special meeting of the Fremont City Council.

The moratorium applies to "all residential rental units and small-scale commercial tenants where the failure to pay rent is due to income loss resulting from the declared COVID-19 public health crisis," the city said in an announcement.

The council also passed an anti-gouging ordinance extension that limit individuals, contractors, businesses and other entities from increasing prices more than 10 percent for designated goods and services.

A new anti-hoarding and anti-grouping/social distancing ordinance "Condemns the act of hoarding essential goods and requires social distancing practices as directed by Shelter in Place Order and other applicable public health directives related to COVID-19."

The enactment of an emergency zoning administrator permit process expedites permit approval and reduces public notice and appeal period requirements "where a proposed use is reasonably related to the protection of life or property as affected by COVID-19."

The council also approved a resolution that designates agents to enter into agreements related to state and local emergency financial assistance and applies to current and future disasters for up to three years.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
In a bid to help the homeless and needy persons amid the lockdown due to COVID-19, a corporator of Lucknow Municipal Corporation has initiated 'Mission Har Ghar Ann' in his area.

BJP corporator Dilip Srivastava, who represents Lucknow's Maithilisharan Gupt ward, on Saturday said that following the directives from UP BJP chief Swatantradev Singh, 'Mission Har Ghar Ann' (mission to provide foodgrains in every house) is being conducted.

"Under this, food (wheat flour, rice, dal, sugar, oil and biscuits) were distributed to the helpless and needy at Bhuiyandevi Mandir. This will continue on a daily basis, and no one will remain hungry," Srivastava said.

Meanwhile, thousands of migrant labourers continue to face hardship as they decided to return to their home towns and villages.

On Saturday, more than 20 UPSRTC buses departed from Gorakhpur to bring back some migrant workers to their destinations.

"Since morning more than 20 buses have arrived and more than 16 have departed. The capacity of a bus is around 50 passengers. We are putting in all efforts to ensure that all passengers reach their destinations," regional manager of UPSRTC, Gorakhpur, D V Singh said.

Narrating his ordeal, Sanjiv, a resident of Tamkuhiraj (in Kushinagar district) and working as a labourer in Haryana, said, "I started walking three days back with my wife and two children and fortunately as I entered UP border, I got a bus and now I am going to my home. At Gorakhpur bus station, I got food packets and also my screening was done."



The officials gave him instructions to maintain social distance and take care of hygiene, he said, adding that he felt thankful to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Gorakhpur administration.

More than 200 construction labourers are stranded at the under-construction zoo in Gorakhpur and the city magistrate has assured provision of food and other necessary items to them.

Reports of police coming to the help of people in Hamirpur and Chitrakoot came from Banda district.

Banda DIG Deepak Kumar said, "Ramesh Kumar, who is stranded in Gujarat, tweeted me and Hamirpur police stated that his mother is ill in Hamirpur. The ration stock has exhausted and they sought help. The address of Ramesh's mother and her mobile number was obtained from him. Ration was immediately made available to her."



Narrating another call of a help coming from Hyderabad, the DIG said, "Manish Patel, a resident of Chitrakoot stranded in Hyderabad sought help to enable her eight-month pregnant wife reach fron Banda to Chitrakoot. Police vehicle was used to help her.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the country being put under the 21-day lockdown period due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, people have been ensconced in their home. But, the lockdown has not deterred animals from venturing into an open area, and they seem to be taking advantage of the prevailing situation.

Recently, Odishas Gahirmatha Beach and Rushikulya Rookery, the most preferred nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley sea turtles, witnessed lakhs of them.

According to a news report published in The New Indian Express, around 3.7 lakh Olive Ridleys have laid eggs at Rushikulya Rookery till now, while 4.2 lakh Olive Ridleys have turned up at Gahirmatha Beach for laying eggs.

The report added that over 6 crore eggs will be laid this year.

To prevent the possible intrusion of wildlife predators, forest officials have increased patrolling at both the beaches.

The Hindu quoted Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Amlan Nayak, as saying that two trawlers, two speedboats and a country boat have been deployed to man the spots, thereby preventing fishing trawlers from plying along the coast.

Olive Ridley turtles are endangered species and nearly 50 per cent of the world population of these rare turtles come to Odishas coast for nesting every year, according to the Odisha Wildlife Organisation ( OWO).

In India, the COVID-19 has infected more than 800 people and claimed 19 lives.
Though Haryana recorded its 20th positive case in Faridabad on Saturday, six coronavirus patients have been cured and discharged so far, bringing the number of active cases in the state to 14.

Haryana director general, health services, Dr SB Kamboj said a total of 20 positive coronavirus cases had been reported in Haryana till date, of which 10 cases were from Gurugram, four from Panipat, three from Faridabad and one each from Panchkula, Palwal and Sonepat. Six patients have been discharged so far, he said.

Senior health officials said five patients from Gurugram and one from Faridabad had been discharged in the last three days.

The first case of Covid-19 was reported from Gurugram, which has the maximum positive cases in the state, on March 16. The latest patient is a 32-year-old man, who worked at a company in Gurugram, which was frequented by foreign nationals.

Faridabad general hospital doctors said they had put 55 people who were in close contact with him under observation.

126 SAMPLES RESULTS AWAITED

Of 574 samples, 430 were found negative and 126 results are awaited. As per the health departments bulletin while the number of persons who had completed surveillance period of 28 days was 645, the number of persons still under surveillance was 11,259 and the number of person currently hospitalised is 185.

FIVE LABS TO WORK SOON

The state government has also decided to upgrade the capacity of testing laboratories at PGIMS, Rothak and BPS medical college for women, Khanpur Kalan (district Sonepat), besides setting up new ones at SHK Mewati government medical college, Nalhar (Mewat), Kalpana Chawla government medical college, Karnal and Maharaja Agrasen medical college, Agroha (Hisar).

It may also be recalled that chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has already accorded approval for appointment of trained personnel, including doctors and technical staff at government and government-aided medical colleges across the state on contractual basis for a period of at least three months.

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Delhi Police on Saturday issued an advisory regarding cybercrimes in the wake of coronavirus, warning people against fraudulent schemes.

The advisory issued by the Police warned people against falling prey to online frauds, telephone frauds and phishing.

Listing the do's and don'ts for people, the advisory read, "Avoid opening suspicious e-mails and clicking on unverified coronavirus related links circulated on social messaging apps, emails, etc."

It also read, "Use strong passwords and multi-level authentication option for social media and banking activities; and people need to check the credentials of charity fund before donating money."

"If you become a victim, ensure you alert Delhi Police immediately," the advisory read.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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__________________________
ALBANY While schools and college campuses close across New York, the Albany Training Academy on New Scotland Road continues to train hundreds of recruits.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions academy on the outskirts of the city has doubled up classes amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has shuttered businesses and limited large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to a DOCCS email obtained by the Times Union.

DOCCS officials say correction officers are considered essential staff for the state, and so they've "shortened the eight-week residential academy in order to graduate these essential personnel early."

The academy trains thousands of recruits to staff facilities across the state, and the Academy currently has the capacity to house 125 trainees on campus, a capacity DOCCS is looking to more than double through an current expansion. DOCCS officials said they increased the number of classrooms to ensure instructors and trainees can maintain a six-foot social distancing protocol, but officials did not elaborate on the specific number of recruits nor how many are in a class.

I dont know how you can hold a class when groups of 10 or more are prohibited, Albany County Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce said. If training continues at the DOCCS facility, it should end immediately for the safety of the staff there, the trainees and the community at large.

Recruits are housed at the training academy, but DOCCS did not clarify Saturday whether trainees are allowed to go home on the weekends. A DOCCS spokesperson bristled at the notion the academy's continued activity could jeopardize the community.

"These ongoing training efforts do not pose a threat to the community, as the Academy is self-contained and, especially at this time, conducts all activities on Academy property," DOCCS spokeswoman Rachel Connors said in an email.

The number of coronavirus cases climbs daily in New York, across the country and the globe, with many believing the Empire State has yet to hit the apex of cases. New York's confirmed cases have now surpassed those of any other state in the country, and deaths from the illness continue to mount.

The number of New York's confirmed cases rose another 7,681  from 44,635 to 52,318  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Saturday. There have been 728 deaths.

When the number of COVID-19 cases began to climb in New York, the governor limited large gatherings - shuttering gyms, movie theaters, schools and college campuses - and reduced workforce capacity. All non-essential businesses have closed, or have employees working from home. Across the country, health experts remind the public to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Businesses deemed essential, which include public safety agencies, are allowed to operate without restrictions. Other services deemed essential include hospitals, pharmacies and grocery stores.

While training continues at the Albany Training Academy, DOCCS officials said classroom sizes are reduced, the graduation ceremony is canceled and everyone is practicing social distancing. Despite prison populations declining, DOCCS officials said they need to fill vacancies due to retirements, promotions and other attrition.

The academy, housed in the former Mater Christi seminary, is currently undergoing a $40 million, 38-acre expansion in the citys Normans Kill neighborhood.

The project, which includes a three-story residence and classroom building and a new gym, has been a sore spot for Albany residents who demanded transparency from the state when they received no notice of the plan prior to work beginning.

The expanded campus will be able to house 391 people, more than double its current capacity at 125, and the gym will seat 350 people and provide space for graduation ceremonies and physical training. Two new classrooms and study lounges also will be added. Its expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Polarized is a weekly series featuring Americans from all 50 states sharing their views on the 2020 elections. Click here if you would like to be a part of this project

Like hundreds of millions of Americans across the country, Maggie Gates life was virtually upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 22-year-old recent college graduate lives in Spokane, Washington with four roommates  two of whom lost their jobs as businesses in the state were forced to shutter to the public.

Despite having grown up in Colorado, Gates has lived in the community for nearly five years, and is an active member of several local social justice groups. Since the governor ordered Washingtonians to stay at home, Gates says shes been experiencing a mix of feelings  both of hope and despair  about the global pandemic, as well as the 2020 presidential elections.

Gates and her roommates all have student debt to pay off, so its definitely a scary time for people who dont have savings  were trying to figure out our rent situation right now, she says in a recent interview with The Independent.

But its been sunny here, and Ive had some time to sit on my porch. I really enjoy seeing people going on walks with their families  Ive seen a lot of my neighbors talking to each other for the first time, so thats been nice.

Gates local utility company has stopped payments amid the unfolding crisis, while Spokanes transit service offered free rides for people with jobs considered essential during the shutdown. All this, as Congress passes a historic, $2tn relief package that includes direct payments of nearly $1,200 to most Americans.

(Photo courtesy Maggie Gates)

The federal government is rolling out free testing across the country for patients exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms, while promising additional forms of relief in the weeks and months to come, as analysts fear a potential long-term recession or even depression.

Theres something frustrating about the fact that it has taken all of this for much of the country to support bold action for the American people, according to Gates.

Story continues

Everyone turns into a progressive when theres a crisis, she says. People become more compassionate suddenly, when they can look around and see how everything is screwed up. Our entire system is only serving wealthy people and corporations. It exposes the entire system for people who dont typically think about it, or people who do, and have some sort of an awakening.

Gates didnt need an awakening, however: she was working on the front lines of climate action, housing rights and criminal justice reform long before 2020, serving as a hub coordinator for nonprofit environmental group the Sunrise Movement while also working for the Lands Council, a small environmental nonprofit, as an outreach coordinator. She also serves on the board of a local justice nonprofit thats working to protect tenant rights in Spokane, which she notes is grappling with a housing crisis, and to prevent another jail from being built in the area.

And though it doesnt seem as if she has much to be following the 2020 elections, Gates says shes been obsessed with paying attention to the campaign trail.

Earlier this year, Gates cast her ballot in the 2020 Democratic primaries for Bernie Sanders with strong enthusiasm.

This moment in history shows just how crucial it is to have someone like the progressive Vermont senator in the White House, she says.

Ever since Covid has really taken off, Bernie has been raising money for the effort, hes been putting out his plans, every single day hes doing something about it, she says. He is showing the type of leadership we need in a president.

Meanwhile, she says former Vice President Joe Biden has gone MIA in the midst of the pandemic.

Biden is nowhere to be found. Hes had a couple interviews, but they havent been good, she says. He doesnt seem to be taking a hard stance on what should happen. Hes just saying hes better than Trump, which I dont think hes doing a good job of convincing people of.

She adds: If he wins, I think were looking at another four years of Trump, which is scary.

Gates admits that it appears Sanders path to victory in the Democratic primaries has narrowed following the former vice presidents strong showings in a slate of recent votes.

She says shes not sure other young progressives like her will vote for Biden come November if he secures the nomination.

I think myself and many other young people are feeling really disillusioned with the Democratic party as a whole, she says. They dont represent the interests of regular working people, theyre not taking the actions necessary to address climate change  I definitely dont consider myself a Democrat.

While Gates says she begrudgingly voted for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, she says she wont be voting for the former vice president if he wins the nomination.

Asked what she thinks comes next for Sanders, Gates says she believes his legacy will live on whether or not he wins this year, though she obviously hopes and has been putting in a lot of hours to hopefully make sure he does.

Its an interesting moment to look around and see how Bernie and progressive coalitions have been able to bring these issues to the forefront, she says.

It also shows you that the whole argument about needing to be moderate and trying to meet in the middle is total bullsh**, because there are huge actions taking place right now that people have said are not possible, she adds. They point to the deficit, they come up with excuses and claim it isnt possible, when it is. It just takes the political will to fight for people so they dont get evicted and become homeless, so they get the medical care they need and dont die.

She concludes: Bernie has that political will.

Click here to read more of The Independent's series, Polarized: Voices From Across America

Read more

Meet the Utah Trump supporter running for congress in 2020

Why this man plans to vote for Trump despite rebuking his bullying

Why this Democratic voter 'loves Uncle Joe' but still supports Sanders
Ghanas President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has won the admiration of Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker.



Van gave the president a thumbs up after he announced partial lockdown for some parts of Ghana as one of the measures to curb the coronavirus spread.



In an Instagram post sighted by Zionfelix.net, the popular actor praised the president for taking such a tough decision in these difficult times.



He also urged all citizens who live within the lockdown areas to adhere to the restrictions.



Van Vicker wrote: Well done Mr. President. A tough decision to make in these difficult times. The citizenry will be affected at different levels depending on where one finds oneself in the value chain, so I agree with you that there should be a critical observation and a constant review where necessary of the directive.



Meanwhile I urge all citizens who live within the lockdown areas to adhere to the restrictions. We all hope this stringent measure will help ameliorate the spread of the corona virus. God Bless Ghana #vanvicker #theyounggodfather #Ghana #coronavirus.











Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
A screen at the United Nations headquarters in New York shows a virtual joint briefing by the UN principal organs to member states on COVID-19 response, on March 27, 2020. The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, in his capacity as president of the Security Council for the month of March, attended a virtual joint briefing by the UN principal organs to member states on COVID-19 response. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, in his capacity as president of the Security Council for the month of March, attended a virtual joint briefing by the UN principal organs to member states on COVID-19 response.

COVID-19 is posing huge challenges to the operation of UN organs, including the Security Council, which has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, said Zhang.

As president of the Security Council for March, China attaches great importance to the work of the council and has been working closely with other council members in addressing the challenges brought by the pandemic and discharging the council's responsibilities under the UN Charter, he said.

The council has adjusted its work plan in a timely manner so as to proactively prevent and control risks of the virus. As the outbreak worsened in New York City and in view of the relevant arrangements by UN Headquarters, the council postponed its meetings in the third week of March, and adjusted its meetings this week, with the use of new methods of discussions, said Zhang.

The council is actively exploring new working methods as the pandemic has made physical meetings at UN Headquarters more difficult, he said.

Council members, with the support of the technical department of the UN Secretariat, set up a video teleconference (VTC) system and the first VTC meeting was held on Tuesday, followed by another one on Thursday.

Council members are discussing a provisional procedure for the adoption of resolutions under current circumstances, said Zhang. Council members have reached consensus on several draft resolutions. The president believes that the council will take action soon on those draft resolutions, said Zhang.

The Security Council is working hard to carry out its duties by responding timely to hot-spot issues and, at the same time, to keep the transparency of its work, he said.

Due to the adjustment of working methods, there are more uncertainties about the work program of the council at this moment. Council members fully understand the importance of information access and transparency, he said.

In this context, council members have tried their best to provide press elements after VTC discussions. With the further improvement of methods, UN member states will have more information access to the work of the Security Council, he said.

Zhang emphasized that the council is in action and does not relax in its duties for even a moment. While addressing the challenges of the pandemic, council members will do whatever they can to fulfill the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

President of the General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the Economic and Social Council Mona Juul, together with several senior officials of the UN Secretariat attended the joint briefing. UN member states participated and raised questions via the Internet.
If he is too sick to continue as President he should resign and let someone else take over the reigns of power but if he is well enough to continue he should get off his high horse, purge himself of his contempt for our people, come clean and behave like a responsible modern-day leader and not a feudal Arab Sheik or primitive tribal warlord.
Superintendent of schools for Tomball ISD Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora announced via a video update that the contract with Texas A&M for Tomball High School and Tomball Memorial Class of 2020 graduation has been canceled.

The new date, time and location for graduation will be announced at a later date.

We do plan to honor you and all of your 12 years of formal education in some way, Salazar-Zamora said. We do plan to honor you with a graduation in the future but unfortunately I cannot tell you when or where at this time.

Tomball High School was originally scheduled to celebrate graduation on 10:00 a.m., May 30, at Reed Arena on the campus of Texas A&M, followed by Tomball Memorial High School at 1:30 p.m.

I understand that this news comes with sadness, and I am so sorry for the fact that this pandemic event has changed your senior year in many ways, Salazar-Zamora said.

The Tomball ISD staff is working to see that students have all the information for graduation and next chapter in life. Salazar-Zamora also advises seniors to look for the correspondent that will be titled senior correspondents which will come out shortly.

I know there are opportunities still hopefully in the future where we can celebrate different things at different times, Salazar-Zamora said.

Tomball ISD announced last week that its school closures would be extended through April 10 as the number of coronavirus cases continues rising in greater Houston.

Related: Northwest Houston school districts continue curbside meal programs, begin remote learning

The school district launched Tomball ISD Remote Learning Plan, a virtual education website through which parents, students and staff can access academic resources for Week 1 of remote learning beginning Monday, March 23.

First-week assignments wont be graded as students acclimate to their new virtual learning environment, according to a March 20 community message from Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora.

As the weeks progress, the online learning will become easier to navigate and new methods and techniques will be added by the teachers to enhance the learning experience. Teachers will be communicating office hours in which they will be available online in the Google classroom to answer any student questions in real time, Salazar-Zamora states in the March 20 message.

To access the Tomball ISD Remote Learning Plan, visit sites.google.com/tomballschools.net/tomball-isd-remote-learning/home.

Free curbside meals will continue being offered to Tomball ISD students. Families can pick up meals from 8-11 a.m. on either Tuesday or Wednesday at the front entrance of Tomball High School. The district asks families to choose only one of the days and to have their students ID numbers available to provide when picking up meals.

Tomball ISD created Travel Self-Reporting surveys for staff and families, which the district asks people fill out online if they traveled outside of Texas during Spring Break.

Tomball ISD has a page dedicated to coronavirus-related updates that can be accessed through the districts website, www.tomballisd.net.
Those of us fortunate enough to be locked down in a home that is well-equipped with facilities such as running water, electricity, gas, and a kitchen for hygienic cooking, now have plenty of time to think about the way we live our lives and the changes that will come about as a result of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19).

In his address on March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, This crisis has certainly brought on a very difficult time for the poor. Perhaps we, the fortunate ones, should think about the reasons why, once again, it is the poor who are going to bear the heaviest burden of this health disaster.

British author Simon Kuper wrote in The Financial Times that even at this early stage, some change has occurred. ... the coronavirus has achieved something that government policies and moral awakening couldnt: it is pushing us into green living, he said, referring to the dramatic increase in people working from home. Fewer commuters mean less pollution created by the transport system. There is already good news about declining carbon emissions over recent days.

Avoiding commuting in trains and buses so crowded that there isnt room for the proverbial sesame seed will reduce the strain on commuters. But what about those who have travelled great distances to their places of work  Indias 120 million or so migrant workers? They continue to live in slums, dotted all over India or on the sites where they work, like the Haryana brick-kiln workers I wrote about in this column earlier, held as bonded labour in miserable conditions. The migrant slumdwellers are unable to take the recommended precautions against Covid-19.

Their cheek-by-jowl housing with perhaps five people living in a space of 100 sq-ft, the muddy passages so narrow that they cant pass each other without touching, makes social distancing impossible. As for washing hands regularly, forget it. All too often, there isnt the water and soap needed for that. Their only hope is the governments scheme to provide them with housing by monetising the land on which their slums stand takes off in a big way.

In an article in The Business Standard, Sunita Narain of the Centre for Science and Environment stresses the need to redesign demand so that water wastage and water supply are reduced. At present, she points out, Large numbers of people in our cities do not get access to piped water supply. They get water from tankers or depend on dirty and unreliable water sources.

Those of us who can afford private sector medical care by bypassing government health services, and can hire guards to provide us security, often crib about the government. But we should think about what would happen if the government was not there to fall back on now. We have relied on government hospitals to treat cases which have tested positive for Covid-19. Governments, both state and central, are providing the police to enforce the quarantine. Governments are now being called on to pay the wages for workers that employers are not able to.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote, The mystery of human existence lies not just in staying alive but in finding something to live for. It is natural at this time to think about staying alive, but the lockdown gives us time to think about the purpose of staying alive, too. The purpose or goal that the pandemic points to is the achievement of governance, which looks after everyones basic needs.

That to me means thinking beyond the tired binary alternative of capitalist market magic versus socialist government domination. It means looking for a balance between the two, the middle-path, the traditional Indian way. That is to say the public and private sector having mutual respect, and each working in their proper spheres for the greater common good.

The views expressed are personal
Both Northern Arizona Healthcare, which operates Flagstaff Medical Center, and Tuba City Regional Health Care will reach critical care capacity by Saturday due to care of COVID-19 patients, Coconino County officials said Friday.

Marie Peoples, County Incident Commander and Deputy County Manager, said in an update to the Board of Supervisors that with both organizations intensive care units (ICUs) and critical care areas nearly full, the County is now looking to declare a crisis of care emergency and seek assistance from the National Guard.

We are going to need alternative care sites to be able to handle the medical surge that were already seeing and that we anticipate, Peoples said.

The situation was communicated to the County on Friday morning in an emergency call between the two health care organizations and representatives from the Countys Emergency Operations Center. Declaring a health emergency will require the County to work directly with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs to determine the scope of the situation, such as the number of existing beds and remaining ventilators.

In an interview with KAFF News on Thursday, Northern Arizona Healthcare CEO Flo Spyrow said the Flagstaff and Verde Valley facilities were at 60 percent capacity.

According to the County's coronavirus website, there are 55 confirmed cases in the county as of Friday, with 19 in Flagstaff and 12 in Page. There have been 324 negative tests and results are pending on 136 tests. The state of Arizona is up to 665 confirmed cases.
A worker fumigates the interiors of a Karnataka Interstate Transport bus to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Bangalore, India, on March 19, 2020.

Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images

A coronavirus "super-spreader" who refused to self-isolate prompted the quarantine of about tens of thousands, officials said.

The "super-spreader" did not self-quarantine after traveling to Italy and Germany, and attended a large Sikh festival in India in mid-March.

The man died shortly after the festival, and was posthumously diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

His diagnosis prompted officials to lock down 20 neighboring villages in northern India in a bid to contain the spread.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A coronavirus "super-spreader" who refused to self-isolate after traveling prompted the quarantine of about 40,000 people in India, officials said.

Residents from 20 villages in northern India have been quarantined after coming in contact with a 70-year-old man at a Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla, which attracts about 10,000 per day of the six-day festival in mid-March, BBC reported.

Related: What Its Like to Travel During the Coronavirus Outbreak

The man refused to self-quarantine after traveling back to India from Italy and Germany, according to the BBC report. He died shortly after the festival and was posthumously diagnosed with the coronavirus.

BBC reported that a week after his death, 19 of his relatives tested positive for the coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19.

"So far, we have been able to trace 550 people who came into direct contact with him and the number is growing. We have sealed 15 villages around the area he stayed," an official told BBC. Another five adjoining villages were later put on lockdown as well.

The coronavirus has infected more than half a million people worldwide, and the global death toll has surpassed 27,000. In India alone, the country has nearly 900 cases and 20 deaths, but with one of the lowest testing rates in the world, experts believe the figures could be much higher, BBC reported.

India imposed a nationwide lockdown for 21 days earlier this week, impacting 1.3 billion people.

"There will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a televised address, though residents are still able to buy essentials like medicine and food.

Business Insider
The schemes for the merger of ten state-run banks into four lenders are coming into force from April 1, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

The banking regulator in separate releases announced that the branches of merging banks will operate as of the banks in which these have been amalgamated.

The government on March 4 had notified the amalgamation schemes for 10 state owned banks into four as part of its consolidation plan to create bigger size stronger banks in the public sector.

Bank officers' unions, however, earlier this week wrote to the prime minister seeking to defer the merger schemes of lenders due to the lockdown triggered by coronavirus outbreak.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday had clarified that the mega bank consolidation plan was very much on track and would take effect from April 1 despite the onslaught of coronavirus pandemic throwing the country out of gear.

As per the scheme, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will be merged into Punjab National Bank; Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank; and Andhra and Corporation banks into UnionBank of India.

Under this, the branches of Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will operate as branches of Punjab NationalBank from April 1, 2020, and branches of Syndicate Bank as that of Canara Bank, the RBI said in a separate releases.

Allahabad Bank branches will operate as those of Indian Bank while the branches of Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank will function as the branches of Union Bank of India from the beginning of next fiscal year 2020-21, the RBI said.

"The Amalgamation of Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India into Punjab National Bank Scheme, 2020 dated March 4, 2020, issued by the Government of India... The scheme comes into force on the1st day of April 2020," RBI said.

Customers, including depositors of merging banks will be treated as customers of the banks in which these banks have been merged with effect from April 1, 2020, the RBO noted.

Banking services across the country are impacted due to the effect of COVID-19 as a near shut down is being observed across the country.

In a letter written to the Prime Minister on March 25, the All India Bank Officers'' Confederation (AIBOC) said, "The finance minister yesterday announced a slew of measures in view of the deleterious effect of the contagion. We are also expecting an extension of closing related activities and the revision of the closing date itself from March 31 to June 30, which is the need of the hour.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai late Friday announced a more than $800 million commitment to support small businesses, health organizations, governments, and health workers impacted by Covid-19.

For small businesses, Google is offering $340 million in Google Ads credits for those with active accounts since the beginning of 2019, though the exact amount per business has not been disclosed. The credits will be posted to your Google Ads account within the next couple months and can be used through the end of the year, across Google's advertising platforms.

The tech giant also set up a $200 million investment fund to support NGOs and financial institutions globally to help provide small businesses with access to capital.

"As one example, we're working with the Opportunity Finance Network in the U.S. to help fill gaps in financing for people and communities underserved by mainstream financial institutions," Sundar Pichai said in the announcement on Google's blog. "This is in addition to the $15 million in cash grants Google.org is already providing to nonprofits to help bridge these gaps for SMBs."

Another $20 million in ad grants will go to community financial institutions and non-governmental organizations for PSAs on relief funds and other resources for small businesses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies will also receive $250 million in ad grants from Google to share information about Covid-19 and other measures to help communities. This is an increase from the $25 million Google announced last month.
The rapidly growing number of cases of coronavirus-infected patients across the globe has roiled the equity market. With the virus gradually engulfing the world, there arises a heightened need for medical gear for COVID-19 patients and front-line healthcare workers. To this end, the 3D printing industry is now stepping up to combat the pandemic.

Governments Extend Lockdowns to Curb Coronavirus

In view of the coronavirus outbreak, which is classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, more governments across the world are extending strict nationwide lockdowns.

Per compiled data of Johns Hopkins University, the virus was first detected in China late last year and the total number of infected people across the world totaled 532,253, as of Mar 27. The virus has already spread across 176 countries, killing 24,072 people, the compiled data suggests. On the brighter side, the data shows recovery of 122,627 infected people.

3D Printing Steps In

Hospitals are now grappling with the shortage of protective gears for its staff. To meet the mounting demand, the 3D printing industry has started utilizing their tools in completely new ways. The additive manufacturing industry is stepping up to make protective equipment that include face shields, hands-free door openers, among others, for medical providers. For patients, the much-needed ventilators are also being made by additive manufacturing companies.

Stocks in the Watchlist

We are presenting one stock with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and three with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) that are well positioned to gain amid the current scenario. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, HP Inc. HPQ is building 3D printed hands-free door openers, mask adjusters and face shields, with more than 1,000 already being supplied to hospitals. The company stated that its research and development centres are prioritizing to rapidly increase production for meeting the most urgent needs. Currently, the stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and is likely to see earnings growth of roughly 8% in fiscal 2020.

Story continues

Stratasys, Ltd. SSYS, headquartered in Eden Prairie, MN, is also leveraging their expertise to combat health risks. For instance, the company has decided to manufacture clear plastic shield and 3D-printed frame that will allow health workers to cover their face entirely. The stock, with a Zacks Rank of 3, is likely to witness earnings growth of 24% in the next five years compared with the industrys expectation of 15.3%.

Relying on its 3D printing capabilities, Ford Motor Company F is going to manufacture plastic face shields. The Dearborn, MI-based automotive giant has projected the production rate of face shields to be more than 100,000 units per week. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Volkswagen AG VWAGY is in talks with authorities and has established an international task force to explore options. The German carmaker, with a Zacks Rank of 3, is exploring the possibilies of leveraging its industrial 3D printers for building hospital ventilators and medical gear.

The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All

Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.

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Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, people have been asked to self-quarantine themselves in order to stop the virus from spreading any further. The very first step taken by the government was to shut down all the gyms, theatres, schools, malls and all the other public places where people could gather in large numbers. Its already been more than two weeks that people are locked in their homes with no physical contact from the outside world. Now, PM Narendra Modi has also announced a 21-day lockdown which means we have been restricted to our homes for a longer duration now. Well, people are also working from home and with gyms being shut, their movements are also restricted. So, the only thing to keep your body active is to either work out or burn off calories in doing the household chores.



People on social media platforms are complaining that they are lacking the motivation or are finding it difficult to figure out a few easy and handy exercises that can be done at home.



In order to address their problems, I got in touch with Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawans personal trainer Prashant Sawant and asked him to share some of the easy exercises that can be done by anyone at home.





He told us, I have built my career on the basis of repetitions so I advise you should start with a minimum of 20 reps in one set. Let me tell you that anyone can do exercises at home without weights. Here are 5 exercises you can do as advised by Prashant :



1. Surya Namaskars



When I started, I used to do like 100 in one go. But, I would suggest starting with 10 as a beginner.

2. Squats

You can totally do squats as they will help you burn those extra calories quickly.

3. Pull-Ups



You can have something to hang on to, and easily incorporate pull-ups in your daily regime.



4. Planks and Whole Abs Workout



This is the time you can focus on strengthening your core muscles. You can do planks and crunches staying at home.



5. Cleaning and Focusing On Household Chores



I have been taking care of my kid and playing with him and also cleaning the house and this is helping in burn calories. I would suggest to keep yourself busy with something.

Furthermore into the conversation, I told him that people who werent actively involved with working out earlier at the gyms have now become even more lethargic given the current situation. So, I asked him for his suggestion for the people who are completely inactive during this lockdown.



On this, he told me, For all the people who are not active, they should start taking small steps. They can start with a 20-minute workout regime. They can do a bit of warm-up and they can start with 10 reps (repetitions) and then keep increasing their stamina. I would suggest a very basic workout regime as nowadays, all the movements have been restricted and the body is going into a lethargic mode. As people are working from home, they are sitting in one place and no one knew that they would be restricted for this long. It's better to start moving a bit as this can only help in keeping your body active.









I also wanted to understand why are people getting demotivated and are not willing to continue with their workout regime at home. Explaining his stance on the same, he told me, People, maybe, are getting demotivated by seeing workout videos on Instagram. One reason could be that they are not able to cope with what other people are doing and the kind of exercises they are doing. I would suggest following a tutorial that has stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3. He also went on to add, Do not lose hope and be consistent with working out, you will eventually see the impact. Build on your stamina step by step. I wouldn't suggest sweating out hard in the first three days and then, you lose the grip so keep it slow and gradual progress will help you attain your goals.



Prashant is not only just a trainer but he also owns a chain of gyms which are shut due to the outbreak. I asked him how is he taking of all as the business is surely getting impacted. On this, he said, I am taking it positively and for the gym owners, they will have to be patient and stay calm because of this outbreak. Well, it's time to be with your family. I would advise keeping yourself busy with whatever you like, be it reading, cooking or playing with your kids. This will help in keeping your mind healthy.



As we are about to end the conversation, I take up the chance to ask him the golden question about how is SRK working out at home.









, I have been training Shah Rukh sir for good 22 years and the rapport we share now is quite strong. I have already given him the workout and he is doing it twice a day at his home. Right now, he is focusing more on strengthening his legs. He explained. I would suggest keeping working out at home as it will keep your mind sane, he said and signed off.



Well, MensXP hopes that you will take Prashants suggestions seriously and incorporate them into your lives.
Coronavirus Global Update

Covid-19 may have come from China but its spread has been horrifyingly global. This useful new BBC podcast takes a step back from whats unfolding in Britain and explores how the virus is being tackled abroad.

Covid-19 may have come from China but its spread has been horrifyingly global. This useful new BBC podcast explores how the virus is being tackled abroad

The show draws on interviews with experts, ordinary people and BBC correspondents. Episodes are thrillingly compact at only four minutes, so its ideal for anyone wanting to dip just a toe into corona coverage.

Mel Giedroyc Is Quilting

This new podcast is proper comfort food, served up weekly by radio presenter Andy Bush and Mel Giedroyc. Every week, the two friends make low-key jokes for half an hour or so as they sew a patchwork quilt.

Listeners are urged to send in scraps of fabric for the pair to incorporate into the quilt, or at least weave into their meandering conversation. Its an odd premise for a podcast, but Giedroyc radiates such warmth and cheer that it works.

Feel Better, Live More

Theres something indefinably reassuring about this podcast hosted by Rangan Chatterjee, a GP and TV presenter. Every week he interviews health experts and fellow doctors, covering everything from sleep cycles to the importance of breathing through your nose.

The two-hour episodes are reliably intelligent and measured.

Blackout

This eight-part drama stars Academy Award-winner Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), who plays an ordinary radio DJ from a backwater town in New Hampshire whose life is abruptly turned on its head.

This eight-part drama stars Academy Award-winner Rami Malek (above), who plays an ordinary radio DJ from a backwater town in New Hampshire whose life is abruptly turned on its head

When the power grid goes down across the United States, he must fight to protect his family from the ensuing chaos. The series came out last year but feels creepily now, for obvious reasons. Prepare to feel tense  and gripped.
The message emanating from pharmacies throughout the county is a simple one: There is enough stock, and we will remain open for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

With so much uncertainty in the air and misinformation continuing to circulate on social media, those at the frontline of healthcare services in Wexford have moved to allay the concerns of the general public.

Grants Pharmacy operate stores in Wexford town, Enniscorthy and Gorey, and owner and pharmacist Leonie Grant said the welfare of their customers remains their primary concern.

'For us it's about keeping people calm and reassuring them we have a supply of medications. We're not closing, we will be open the entire time throughout this,' said Leonie.

To protect both customers and staff, Grants have erected protective pods complete with perspex barriers to minimise the risk of infection and have asked customers to queue outside while they wait for their prescription.

'The pod is two metres in depth and has a perspex barrier beteen customers and staff,' explained Leonie. 'We can still interact with customers, still give advice, but it creats a barrier between us.

'We're cleaning the pods every hour, and cleaning the credit card machines, we're even cleaning the baskets we use for collecting the medication.'

And Leonie says the public reaction to the restrictions has been almost overwhelmingly positive.

'I think the general public have been massively understanding, they've been thanking us through text, and they're all very respectful which makes life a lot easier for us.

'When we tell them they need to wait I haven't come across any upset. The only additional advice we'd give is that it's much easier if you email or call for your presciption in advance. It saves you having to come in and out of the pharmacy twice.'

With staff at Grants continuing to work as a team to ensure the most vulnerable members of society are looked after, Leonie said her only concern was the lack of acknowledgement those in her profession were receiving from the Irish government.

'I'm hoping the government realise how much of a frontline service we are, I don't think we're recognised enough in that sense,' she said.

'We see the public more than the GP does, people present at their pharmacy more often than their GP. And that's not something which is even acknowledged by our government. They're focusing on test centres and hospitals. Maybe after this passes pharmacies will receive more acknowledgement.'

At Fortune's Pharmacy in Ferrybank South, Managing Director Ciaran Lynch is cognisant of the fears of his customers but says he and the rest of the staff will continue to serve the community as the crisis unfolds.

'We're dealing with people who are vulnerable and scared, they're scared for what it means for their health,' said Ciaran. 'But the message from this pharmacy is we will plough on. Our staff have been brilliant, it has been challenging but everyone is working together.'

By following guidelines set out by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), dividing staff into teams to limit social interaction, and asking those exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 to remain at home, Ciaran says Fortunes are taking every possible precuation to ensure the safety of their customers.

They have also recently taken delivery of specialised protective equipment, gowns and masks which staff may need to wear if the scale of infection continues to rise.

For now though the priority is getting prescriptions into the hands of those unable to come to the pharmacy in person.

'We're delivering to vulnerable patients and we will increase that further if cocooning is necessary. Pharmacies are quite efficient at what they do, and in some ways we've already been through a mini-version of this with the snow and the floods.

'We have an efficient logistical service from suppliers. We just want to keep going and serve people as best we can,' said Ciaran.

And while spirits remain high at the pharmacy, Ciaran says there are a couple of issues beyond the control of he and his staff.

'We're still expected to collect levies from patients on medical cards which is difficult,' he said. 'And also, a lot people collecting their scripts, particularly older people, don't have access to contactless payments and therefore have to pay in cash.'

Maintainng social distancing at Garahy's Pharmacy in Enniscorthy presents problems of its own. Given the modest size of the store it can become crowded very quickly.

And so, to protect both staff and customers, Garahy's have decided to close their doors while still remaining open for business.

Pharmacist at Garahy's, Maria Ryan explains, 'We have physically closed our doors to minimise contacts. We've had to close the doors and are now handing out scripts when people arrive outside.

'Our shop is quite small so it's hard to maintain social distancing inside. So if customers ring ahead they will be both minimising contact and saving time. Some people have come with their prescription and then returned to the car and we call them when their medication is ready.'

And Maria echoes Ciaran's concerns about some older people not being able to pay for their prescription through contactless.

'This is something we're seeing a lot of, some of our customers don't know what to do. But we know most of our regulars quite well so we facilitate them where possible.'

The welfare of staff and alleviating their concerns surrounding Covid-19 is also something which Garahy's are prioriting.

'It's been quite a challenging time for us, but we're trying to make sure our customers are looked after,' said Maria. 'We've split into two teams, and there's no crossover, so if someone on the A team contracts the virus the B team can pick up their shift.

'A lot of the staff have been here for many years so we're very close knit, and we're maintaining our spirits.'

However, as a cohort very much on the frontline of the healthcare system, Maria believes she and her colleagues need additional protective equipment as a matter of urgency.

'I think more needs to be done for us in that regard, the support we've received from the government in relation to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is very little. But if hospitals are finding it hard to get then I can understand why we don't have it.'
WASHINGTONYuanyuan Zhu was walking to her gym in San Francisco on March 9, thinking the workout could be her last for a while, when she noticed that a man was shouting at her. He was yelling an expletive about China. Then a bus passed, she recalled, and he screamed after it, Run them over.

She tried to keep her distance, but when the light changed, she was stuck waiting with him at the crosswalk. She could feel him staring at her. And then, suddenly, she felt it: his saliva hitting her face and her favourite sweater.

In shock, Zhu, who is 26 and moved to the United States from China five years ago, hurried the rest of the way to the gym. She found a corner where no one could see her, and cried quietly.

That person didnt look strange or angry or anything, you know? she said of her tormentor. He just looked like a normal person.

As the coronavirus upends American life, Chinese-Americans face a double threat. Not only are they grappling like everyone else with how to avoid the virus itself, they are also contending with growing racism in the form of verbal and physical attacks. Other Asian-Americans are facing threats, too, lumped together with Chinese-Americans by a bigotry that does not know the difference.

In interviews over the past week, nearly two dozen Asian-Americans across the country said they were afraid  to go grocery shopping, to travel alone on subways or buses, to let their children go outside. Many described being yelled at in public  a sudden spasm of hate that is reminiscent of the kind faced by American Muslims and other Arabs and South Asians after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

But unlike in 2001, when U.S. president George W. Bush urged tolerance of American Muslims, this time, U.S. President Donald Trump is using language that Asian-Americans say is inciting racist attacks.

Trump and his Republican allies are intent on calling the coronavirus the Chinese virus, rejecting the World Health Organizations guidance against using geographic locations when naming illnesses, since past names have provoked a backlash.

Trump told reporters Tuesday that he was calling the virus Chinese to combat a disinformation campaign by Beijing officials saying the U.S. military was the source of the outbreak. He dismissed concerns that his language would lead to any harm.

On Monday evening, Trump tweeted, It is very important that we totally protect our Asian-American community in the United States. He added they should not be blamed for the pandemic, though he did not comment on his use of the phrase Chinese virus.

If they keep using these terms, the kids are going to pick it up, said Tony Du, an epidemiologist in Howard County, Md., who fears for his son, Larry. They are going to call my eight-year-old son a Chinese virus. Its serious.

Du said he posted on Facebook that this is the darkest day in my 20-plus years of life in the United States, referring to Trumps doubling down on use of the term.

While no firm numbers exist yet, Asian-American advocacy groups and researchers say there has been a surge of verbal and physical assaults reported in newspapers and to tip lines.

San Francisco State University found a 50 per cent rise in the number of news articles related to the coronavirus and anti-Asian discrimination between Feb. 9 and March 7. The lead researcher, Russell Jeung, a professor of Asian-American studies, said the figures represented just the tip of the iceberg because only the most egregious cases are likely to be reported by the media.

Jeung has helped set up a website in six Asian languages, to gather first-hand accounts; some 150 cases have been reported on the site since it was started last Thursday.

No one is immune to being targeted. Dr. Edward Chew, head of the emergency department at a large Manhattan hospital, is on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus. He said that over the past few weeks, he had noticed people trying to cover their nose and mouth with their shirts when they are near him.

Chew has been using his free time to buy protective gear, like goggles and face shields, for his staff, in case his hospital runs out. On Wednesday night at a Home Depot, with his cart filled with face shields, masks and Tyvek suits, he said he was harassed by three men in their 20s, who then followed him into the parking lot.

I heard of other Asians being assaulted over this, but when you are actually ridiculed yourself, you really feel it, he said the following day.

In the San Fernando Valley in California, a 16-year-old Asian-American boy was attacked in school by bullies who accused him of having the coronavirus. He was sent to the emergency room to see whether he had suffered a concussion.

In New York City, a woman wearing a mask was kicked and punched in a Manhattan subway station, and a man in Queens was followed to a bus stop, shouted at and then hit over the head in front of his 10-year-old son.

People have rushed to protect themselves. One man started a buddy-system Facebook group for Asians in New York who are afraid to take the subway by themselves. Gun-shop owners in the Washington, D.C., area said they were seeing a surge of first-time Chinese-American buyers.

At Engage Armament in Rockville, Md., most gun buyers in the first two weeks of March have been Chinese-American or Chinese, according to the owner, Andy Raymond.

More than a fifth of Rockvilles residents are of Asian ethnicity, and Raymond said buyers from Korean and Vietnamese backgrounds were not unusual. But Raymond said he was stunned by the flow of Chinese customers  in particular, green-card holders from mainland China  that began earlier this month, a group that rarely patronized his shop before.

It was just non-stop, something Ive never seen, he said.

Du is trying to remain hopeful. He spends his weekends training to become a volunteer with Marylands emergency medical workers. He is part of a group of Chinese-American scientists who organized a GoFundMe account to raise money for protective gear for hospital workers in the area. In three days, they raised more than $55,000 (U.S.), nearly all in small donations.

But he said he was afraid of the chaos that could be unleashed if the U.S. death toll rises significantly.

For American-born Asians, there is a sudden sense of being watched that is as unsettling as it is unfamiliar.

Its a look of disdain, said Chil Kong, a Korean-American theatre director in Maryland. Its just: How dare you exist in my world? You are a reminder of this disease, and you dont belong in my world.

He added: Its especially hard when you grow up here and expect this world to be yours equally. But we do not live in that world anymore. That world does not exist.
Brad Pitt and his oldest son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, used to share a tight-knit relationship. But things took a bad turn in 2016 when the two got into a heated altercation that allegedly turned physical.

The fight reportedly put a major strain on their relationship and led to their eventual fallout. But as time has passed, it appears that things are looking up. New reports suggest that two are finding common ground again and moving toward a healthy relationship.

(L-R) Brad Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt | Steve Granitz/WireImage; Han Myung-Gu/GC Images

A recap of the fight involving Brad Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt

In case you forgot or missed it, the incident went down on a private plane in September 2016. TMZ reports the two had been flying from France to California along with their family when Pitt got into an argument with Angelina Jolie.

Jolie-Pitt reportedly intervened and tried to diffuse the situation, which sparked an argument between him and his father, who was said to be intoxicated at the time.

At some point, the Ad Astra actor allegedly lunged at his son and made some kind of contact with him. Though sources deny that he hit Jolie-Pitt, the fight was serious enough that the Salt actress filed for divorce from his dad just days later.

Their son would also distance himself from Pitt, who went on to seek therapy and give up alcohol. He suggested to reporters in 2019 that their relationship still hadnt improved but didnt seem opposed to the possibility of making up. Jolie-Pitt told the press: Whatever happens, happens.

Brad Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt reportedly reconnected in February

In February, a source told In Touch Weekly that Pitt and his son had slowly been working on their relationship. The source claimed that the actor had even skipped the 2020 BAFTAs in London on Feb. 2  where he won an award for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood  so he could spend more time with Jolie-Pitt, who was home on a break from a school.

Brad fully intended to go to the BAFTAs, the insider said. But at the last minute, he learned that his son Maddox was back in L.A. from college. So Brad prioritized things and stayed in town to see him. And hes glad he did.

Maddox gave Brad the chance to talk and he dropped everything, a source added to The Sun of the Yonsei University student. Being a father is the most important thing in [Brads] life and he would do anything to repair their relationship.

Brad Pitt will reportedly be spending even more time with his family amid the coronavirus outbreak

Now that the coronavirus pandemic has forced people inside, it is believed that these two will have even more time together.

A source told HollywoodLife on March 27 that Jolie-Pitt is once again back home from Yonsei University and with his family. While its reportedly a priority for him to hang out with his mother and five siblings, hell also allegedly be carving out some quality time for his old man, too.

The insider noted that their relationship has really improved and with any luck, itll continue to get better.

Read more: Angelina Jolie Says That Brad Pitt Is Stopping Her From Moving Abroad With Their Kids
A Rochester man was arrested early Friday morning after he allegedly pointed a gun at a 19-year-old man.

Nicholas Gerken, 34, was arrested around 1 a.m. in the 300 block of 55th Street Northeast in Cascade Township on suspicion of second-degree assault.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office was called there after Gerken allegedly showed up extremely intoxicated and pulled out a gun on a 19-year-old man who opened the door to the residence.

The man was able to close the door and call 911. A small group of people, including the 19-year-old man, went out to find Gerken and tried to calm him down until law enforcement arrived, according to Olmsted County Sheriff's Capt. Scott Behrns.

When a deputy arrived and asked Gerken if he had any weapons, Gerken quickly pulled the gun out of his waistband, Behrns said. The deputy was able to take it. The gun turned out to be a an air soft gun that was modeled to look like a Colt 45 handgun.

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Gerken was taken to the Crisis Receiving Unit/Detox after being arrested. A preliminary breath test done at the scene found Gerken had a BAC of 0.32, according to Behrns.
To recap another busy Sunday, Victoria lost its fourth victim early on Sunday with a man in his 80s dying while the number of infection people in this state grew to 769 cases.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a $1.1 billion package to fund telehealth, mental health support and domestic violence services and food charities.

Thousands of Australians returned home from overseas and were put into two weeks of isolation in hotels in Sydney and Melbourne as the government looks to prevent anyone carrying COVID-19 from sharing it further.

On Sunday night, Morrison and the national cabinet slashed allowed public gatherings from 10 to two, put a stop to any evictions of renters for the next six months.

He also pleaded with Australians over the age of 70 to stay at home due to their enhanced risk of picking up the infection.

Some holidaymakers and revellers filled beaches and major shopping places over the weekend, others failed to observe social distancing while having parties or gatherings. But many others have heeded the messages to stay at home, keep away from all people bar those you live with and make sure your friends and loved ones do the same.

Thanks so much for following along today, there are plenty of important stories on the website at present and more blog coverage coming up early tomorrow morning.

Be well and wash your hands!

Ill finish this marathon day with a video from France of ducks making their way around a largely deserted Paris.
Indonesia's coronavirus crisis is far worse than being officially reported and the government's response is "in tatters", the country's doctors association warned Friday as the death toll climbed to 87. The world's fourth-most populous country only reported its first confirmed infection this month but the number had ballooned to over 1,000 by Friday. Indonesia's 87 confirmed coronavirus deaths are the highest toll in Southeast Asia, with public health and diplomatic officials warning that its weak health system is being rapidly overwhelmed. "The government's plans are in tatters and they appear to be avoiding a lockdown," said Indonesian Doctors' Association spokesman Halik Malik. "Our health system is not as strong as other countries." A London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine study warned this week that cases in Indonesia -- with a population of more than 260 million people -- could be vastly underreported. The government's virus task force has estimated as many as 700,000 people were at risk of infection nationwide. But the rate of testing has been low compared with many other countries -- only 2,300 were conducted before the government stopped announcing the number of tests. Authorities have come under heavy criticism for not imposing lockdowns in major cities, including the capital Jakarta, a vast city home to about 30 million where most of the deaths have been reported. "The COVID-19 situation in Indonesia is very serious and getting worse quickly," the Canadian embassy in Jakarta said Thursday, saying it was urgently advising citizens to leave. "The health care system in Indonesia will soon be overwhelmed. The ultimate number of fatalities will be very high." Indonesia had fewer than four doctors for every 10,000 people, according to World Health Organization data from 2017. In comparison, neighbouring Malaysia had about 15 doctors and Australia had 35 per 10,000 people. Images shared on social media have shown Indonesian doctors threatening to go on strike if resources aren't beefed up, with concerns about a lack of ventilators, protective gear and other equipment needed to handle coronavirus cases. At least seven doctors have died of the virus, according to the official figures. In a tweet that went viral, the brother-in-law of one of those doctors slammed the Indonesian government's handling of the crisis. "You were infected as you actively served people. Many health workers have been infected and left. The limited amount of protective equipment is hard to forgive," wrote Pandu Riono, a University of Indonesia public health expert. The government has pledged to boost testing to upwards of one million checks as extra equipment and test kits are flown in from China. It has also turned an athletes village built for the 2018 Asian Games into an emergency treatment centre to help ease the pressure on hospitals.
What is going to be the future of Covid-19 in India? For how long coronavirus will infect people here? How many people are going to fall sick with Covid-19 in India? And how many people may die of Covid-19 here? No one has a sure answer to these questions. Possibly because no one can have an answer to these questions. But in case you are curious there is an online tool created by a machine learning expert that shows the course Covid-19 pandemic may take in India. It is a simple tool, but one based on SEIR model that scientists and public health experts use to predict epidemic in a given region.

The tool has been created by Gabriel Goh, a machine learning researcher.

There is nothing official about the tool but during a time when the information from government experts may not be coming or coming fast enough it can shed some clarity on what Covid-19 can do to India. Depending on what measures the country takes, and what impact these measures have on Covid-19 infections in India, coronavirus may end up killing around 1000 people to 5 million people in India, according to the Epidemic Calculator. Why such gap between these two numbers?

According to the Epidemic Calculator, it all depends on flattening the curve, bringing down R0 the rate at which infections spread and at what stage the lockdown was enforced and ordered.

Calculations in a while but before that a few words about the tool. You can check the tool here (http://gabgoh.github.io/ COVID/index.html):

At the time of writing, the coronavirus disease of 2019 remains a global health crisis of grave and uncertain magnitude. To the non-expert (such as myself), contextualizing the numbers, forecasts and epidemiological parameters described in the media and literature can be challenging. I created this calculator as an attempt to address this gap in understanding, notes Goh. This calculator implements a classical infectious disease model -- SEIR (Susceptible > Exposed > Infected > Removed) -- an idealized model of spread still used in frontlines of research.

By default the tool already has the relevant data, based on the research reports that have come out on Covid-19 from China and other countries so far, in the required fields. To see how Covid-19 will progress in India on the basis of this available data about coronavirus, and how it infects people, how many it kills, for how long it keeps people sick, all you need to do is change the population of the region to India's population.

Here are some projections this tool gives as far Covid-19 and its future progression in India is concerned:

Covid-19 in India with default data

With default data, which considers the infection rate R0 of 2.2 it means a coronavirus patient is likely to infect at least two more people the coronavirus Epidemic Calculator indicates that in a year the disease will infect a little over 1 million people in India. Of these, it will kill little over 20,000 people. While you look at these numbers, there are a few important bits to remember.

-- By default the Epidemic Calculator assumes that on the 100th day after the first reported case the government has forced the region or country into a full lockdown.

-- The lockdown or intervention in some other way, brings down the R0 to less than 1. This is very important.

-- If the lockdown or intervention has brought the R0 lower earlier, say just 50 days after the first case was reported, the total number of cases will be significantly less and number of fatalities exponentially lower.

-- It is also important to remember that by default the Epidemic Calculator considers fatality rate for Covid-19 as 2 per cent. In China, it has been slightly more. In South Korea and Germany it is significantly less. In Italy and Spain, it is alarmingly high, particularly in Italy where it is above 8 per cent. If you consider other figures for India depending on which one you do the covid-19 picture will change.

The covid-19 case fatality rate for India is something neither experts nor Epidemic Calculator can predict. The global fatality rate for swine flu is less than 0.1 per cent. But in India, in the previous swine flu epidemics, the death rate has been close to 6 per cent. For Covid-19 only time will tell what is the fatality rate in India.

Covid-19 in India a best case scenario

So, what is the best case scenario for covid-19 in India. If everything works well in India, if government mounts a good response, and death rate is not above 2 per cent, health care system holds up, quarantine is effective, then covid-19 may end up infecting a little above 15,000 people. This also takes into account the fact that in India the first case was detected on January 30 and the lockdown was ordered on March 24. Assuming that the coronavirus became infectious in India a few days before the first patient was detected, we can say that the country mounted effective response on around Day 65 of the disease. This can potentially limit number of Ccovid-19 cases in India to around 15,000 and deaths to around 300. Let's hope this is the case.

Covid-19 in India worst case scenario

Now, take the worst case scenario. This is the one where the data that we have so far from the government is not accurate, the quarantine is not effective, the health system is not ready and will not be able to hold up well, that the disease is spreading in India undetected for far longer even though the first case was only found on January 30. In this case, also assume that India's poor health system will not be able to cope up with Covid-19 when cases start to rise and let's move the case fatality rate to 4 per cent, which is still significantly lower than what Covid-19 is showing in Italy and Spain but is higher than the global rate. Let's also assume that the quarantine doesn't bring down the R0 much. May be a half per cent or so but not enough to flatten the curve in one year.

In this case, given that population of India is little over 1.3 billion, we may end up seeing around 180 million infected in the country this year and little over 5 million dead.

This is all projection

It's important to note that Covid-19 epidemic calculator is a tool that creates projections on the basis of data you feed into it. And as far as Covid-19 and novel coronavirus are concerned, right now not enough data, and not accurate enough data, is available. Everything is an approximation. What is the real fatality rate of Covid-19? Different countries are showing different numbers and they are all over the place, with extremely huge gaps between them. How quickly and how widely this is R0 that Covid-19 spreads? Again, we don't know the exact number. Some studies say it is 4. Some say it is 2. Some even say that it is 6.

Then there are other unknowns. Can Covid-19 re-infect people who were sick with it and then got better? We don't know for sure. Does temperature India is a very hot country and dry air summer is coming in parts of India affect this coronavirus? And if it does, how much? We don't know for sure. There are many more factors, like real world conditions. How long Covid-19 patients take to recover? For how long they are infectious? For how long they have to be in a hospital? For how long a country can care for its ICU patients? These are the figures that government experts and policy makers probably know. An online epidemic calculator doesn't. So if you are giving the online epidemic calculator created by Gabriel Goh a spin, keep this in mind.
Bharatpur [Nepal], Mar 28 (ANI): An aircraft of Nepal Airlines skidded off the runway while landing at the Ranjha Airport in Nepalgunj on Saturday afternoon.



No casualties or damage to the aircraft have been reported after the Y-12 aircraft skidded off the runway and landed in a nearby grassland, Nepal Police Spokesperson Umeshraj Joshi confirmed.

"We have got confirmation about the plane skidding off the runway. No casualties has been reported, it is not a big accident," Joshi, Senior Superintendent of Police, told ANI over the phone.

Five people, including two crew members, were onboard the aircraft.

The aircraft was sent to Nepalgunj to collect swab sample of suspected COVID-19 infected people from Banke District. (ANI)


The relationship between the United Kingdom and Australia is not usually a flashpoint in international relations. After all, the two allies share a common language, ancestry, and monarch. So what caused a dustup recently that saw a senior Australian parliamentarian rebuke the British foreign secretary, and for a group of Australian MPs to then cancel a trip to London in protest?

The answer is fears over Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant at the center of the 5G next-generation wireless debate. Australian officials were miffed when the British government recommended that the company be allowed to play a limited role in the U.K.'s 5G deployment despite calling it a high risk supplier due to its close ties to the Chinese government (the companys founder, Ren Zhengfei, served for many years as an engineer in the Peoples Liberation Army). The Australian government, a fellow member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (which includes the two countries plus the United States, Canada, and New Zealand), disagreed back in 2017 when it barred Huawei on national security grounds.

Now, two close allies are at cross purposes about the very future of the internet. What's at stake is not just who equips the future of telecom infrastructure, but the very values that the internet itself holds.

Two countries, ocean(s) apart

Its not just Australia and Britain that find themselves separated by an ocean (or two). In America, Huawei has become the Trump Administrations favorite company to hate. In a speech at this years Munich Security Conference, Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the company todays poster child for nefarious activity while another White House official compared the company to the Mafia. It should come as no surprise that the company is the target of trade restrictions, a criminal action against its CFO, and a concerted diplomatic campaign.

Americas concerns are twofold. First, that critical infrastructure provided by a Chinese company with such close ties to the country's central leadership is an unacceptable security risk. Second, that arresting Huaweis increasing dominance risks surrendering any chance for American leadership in 5G technology.

Story continues

National security considerations have predominantly driven policymakers in Australia. More alert by geography to the strategic risks posed by China, Canberra moved early and decisively to bar Huawei from participating in its 5G networks at all. The fundamental issue is one of trust between nations in cyberspace, writes Simeon Gilding, until recently the head of the Australian Signals Directorates signals intelligence and offensive cyber missions.

That lack of trust between China and Australia is compounded by the difficult geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific. Its not hard to imagine a time when the U.S. and China end up in some sort of conflict, says Tom Uren of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). If there was a shooting war, it is almost inevitable that the U.S. would ask Australia for assistance and then wed be in this uncomfortable situation if we had Huawei in our networks that our critical telecommunications networks would literally be run by an adversary we were at war with.

Its simply not reasonable to expect that Huawei would refuse a direction from the Chinese Communist Party," Gilding warned. And no matter what reassurances Huawei executives have given, they just simply havent been able to allay those concerns. Beijing didnt help Huaweis case when it passed its 2017 Intelligence Law, which obliges all Chinese companies and individuals to assist with intelligence efforts if asked. People were always afraid [that might happen], adds Uren, and having it in writing really solidified those concerns.

As a result, Canberras policy to ban Huawei has been largely uncontroversial. With the exception of some of the country's telecom companies, the decision [to ban Huawei] has bipartisan backing, says Simon Jackman, CEO of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

Calling out London

American officials wish their British counterparts shared Australias outlook and havent been shy about saying so. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the UK to relook at the decision and lobbied Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the issue on a recent trip to London. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Esper has made clear that electing to use Huawei could threaten allies access to American intelligence. If countries choose to go the Huawei route, Mr. Esper told reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, it could well jeopardize all the information sharing and intelligence sharing we have been talking about, and that could undermine the alliance, or at least our relationship with that country.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves 10 Downing Street after a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 30 January 2020 in London, England. (Photo by WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

British officials not only believe this to be a bluff  the Five Eyes intelligence alliance is much too strong in their view  but have a different assessment of the risk Huawei poses. Everyones perception of the Huawei risk is particular to them, says Nigel Inkster, a former deputy chief of MI6 now at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The U.K. goes even further though. Experts in the British government, which started using Huawei in its 3G and 4G networks back in 2003, believe that not only can the risks be mitigated, but they are being overstated in the first place. The Australian approach is driven by the kind of worst-case analysis of the risk 5G could pose in effect on the brink of war, says Inkster. I dont think the U.K. envisages going to war with China any time soon.

Inkster and other top officials remain confident in the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC), which was established by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) back when Huawei was first introduced into Britains telecom networks. Weve never trusted Huawei, wrote NCSC Technical Director Dr. Ian Levy in a January 2020 blogpost. As a result, the U.K. has always treated them as a high risk vendor and worked to limit their use in the UK and put extra mitigations around their equipment and services.

Levy and the governments other cybersecurity experts believe that their system will continue to work. The basic cyber security measures that have been used for 3/4G also apply to 5G, argues Marcus Willett, who also served as the first Director of Cyber at GCHQ, Britains signals-intelligence agency. If Huawei had been playing games, we would have discovered it by now, says Pauline Neville-Jones, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, and previously security minister and cybersecurity advisor in former British Prime Minister David Camerons government.

British regulations already restrict Huawei and other high-risk vendors in several ways, including capping their market share at 35% and ensuring their equipment is continuously evaluated by HCSEC. In addition, by preventing Huawei's 5G kit from being used near sensitive sites and limiting it to the periphery of the network (as opposed to the core), British officials are confident that they can contain any additional risk.

Thats not to say Huawei doesnt face stiff opposition from some corners. Even if you mitigated the risk, its quite a leap to allow the Chinese to be intimately involved in something as sensitive as this, one U.K. retired diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, told me. And the company is no ones first choice. If the U.K. didnt have Huawei in its system, it wouldnt choose to have Huawei now, Lady Neville-Jones told me. But we are in a different place [than Australia] and we have set up a system which we believe enables us to manage the risk. And by God, we will be on alert. Were not stupid. [But] you say to yourself, at the end of the day, do you trust your technical people or not? And theres never been a complaint on backdoors or traps. Indeed, government experts have often caught coding errors she adds. I suspect the result of [British inspections] is that technically Huawei is a better company than it might otherwise have been.

The British position is also rooted in game theory. Even if you could [bring down the network], when would you do it? asks Willett, formerly of GCHQ. It is effectively a one shot capability  if used by China, it would undermine the position of all Chinese companies in the world tech market. China would therefore presumably save the one shot for war or near-war, in which case it would need to be sure it would work. That is not easy.

Australian experts are skeptical, though. I think [the British] are overconfident in their ability to mitigate [the risk], Uren, the ASPI expert, told me. His view  widely shared in Australia  is that defenders always think they can defend a system until they cant, and giving a Chinese company access to the network is already a concession too far. Cybersecurity is all about raising the costs for the attacker, writes Gildling, the former Australian official. Network access through vendors  which need to be all over 5G networks to maintain their equipment  effectively reduces the access cost to zero.

The economic equation in Europe

Its hard to understate the difference geography makes, though. In America and Australia  Pacific powers  China is physically present. For Europeans  including Britain  the risks of a rising China dont carry the same emotional weight.

The idea of China being a direct security threat is still somewhat abstract, says Dr. Janka Oertel of the European Council on Foreign Relations. With the exception of countries like Poland and Estonia which are reliant on U.S. military support and thus more willing to toe Washington's line, European governments have just begun to assess the risk China can pose in the cyber realm. Partly to allay those rising concerns, Huawei about a year ago established a a Cyber Security Transparency Centre in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union. Unlike Britains HCSEC, however, it is not an independent evaluation center and it is not designed to carry out the same functions.

Economics dominate the conversation on the continent more than national security concerns. The fragmented telecom market in Europe (105 mobile operators versus just four in America), has also proven beneficial to Huawei. In a competitive environment where cost has become everything, the state-subsidized Huawei is often able to underprice its competitors. Even in Britain, security concerns were weighed against the fact that stripping out [the Huawei components already in the system] and starting again would carry enormous costs, Inkster told me.

Still, Oertel thinks the debate in Europe is being debated on the wrong grounds. Its really hard to say Huawei is cheaper than Ericsson or Nokia. No one has the numbers because these are all contracts between private companies. Were talking a lot of hypotheticals. Her concern is that while Huawei might seem cheaper now, that might change if its able to squeeze out competitors and raise prices.

The battle isnt over yet, though. Ericsson and Nokia maintain that they are competitive on technology and cost. Indeed, Ericsson is already running 27 5G networks in 15 countries and was just selected by the Danish government to build the country's 5G network, displacing existing Huawei equipment. Meanwhile in Germany, the governments move toward using Huawei has run into sharp opposition in the Bundestag, the German federal parliament. Norbert Rottgen, a prominent member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's own party, helped draft a bill that would bar any untrustworthy company from both the core and peripheral networks.

Norbert Roettgen, CDU at the Bundespressekonferenz the occasion of the candidacy for the CDU chairmanship, on February 18, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Felix Zahn/Photothek via Getty Images)

The Trump Administration is still concerned enough about Huaweis potential ability to dominate 5G worldwide that it is actively campaigning for a Western alternative. We are encouraging allied and U.S. tech companies to develop alternative 5G solutions, Defense Secretary Esper said in Munich, where he also exhorted fellow security officials to develop our own secure 5G network  so we dont regret our decisions later.

Other American officials have suggested even more extraordinary measures. Declaring in a February speech that nothing less than our economic future is at stake, Attorney General William Barr (who also served formerly as a long-time lawyer for U.S. telecom and TechCrunch parent company Verizon) bluntly called on the U.S. and its allies to actively consider a proposal for the government and U.S. companies to take a controlling stake in Nokia and Ericsson. Putting our large market and financial muscle behind one or both of these firms would make it a far more formidable competitor.

Ericsson dismisses these comments. Personally, I find it odd that Barr is even thinking like this really, Gabriel Solomon, a senior Ericsson executive in Europe, told me. We were first to commercial deployment in four continents. We are in a very competitive market.

Indeed, that echoes a common view in Europe: that the goal of American policy on Huawei is less about security and more about market share  and making sure America, not China, owns the future of 5G. And that has its own risks. Cutting out Huawei altogether potentially moves us toward a kind of bipolar, bifurcated internet, which if taken to logical extreme would have some very serious adverse implications for everyone in terms of cost, a slowdown in innovation, and general reduction in intellectual and technical interchange, says Inkster, the former MI6 official.

Things would be easier, Europeans say, if America presented an obvious alternative. Without one, Americas allies feel they have little choice but to use Huawei if they dont want to fall behind technologically. The West has got itself in a mess, says the retired British diplomat. It is a striking failure of political cooperation and coordination that we should find ourselves in this position.

There is still optimism on both sides of the Atlantic that a Western solution can be found. As Rottgen of Germany wrote in a tweet in February:

The #USA & EU could team up to counter #Chinas #5G dominance. We share the same security concerns & should cooperate to expand  alternatives. But to do so we must know that tariffs against Brussels are off the table. Partners dont threaten one another. https://t.co/ZPvZFKWNYq  Norbert Rottgen (@n_roettgen) February 8, 2020

Rather than pick a champion, another solution would be to level the playing field. Telecoms security doesnt pay, concedes Dr. Levy of HCSEC. And externalising the security costs of particular choices (including vendor) will help operators make better security risk management decisions. Another option: better national screening investment mechanisms that would limit the ability of state-owned enterprises to operate unfairly.

But to get there requires coordination and cooperation  and that isnt necessarily as forthcoming as you might expect. Germans still remember that the NSA hacked Chancellor Merkel's phone  and the Trump Administrations trade war has targeted Europe almost as much as it has China. Rottgen cautioned that cooperation on 5G was connected: [W]e must know that tariffs against Brussels are off the table, he said in the same tweet. Partners dont threaten one another. Meanwhile, Huawei is earning goodwill by sending medical equipment to Europe to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technology was supposed to unite us, laments Jackman, the Australian professor; instead its driving us apart not just from our rivals, but our allies, too.
Hobby Lobbys president Steve Green has said he is repatriating 11,500 antiquities to the Iraqi and Egyptian governments after amassing the pieces without verifying their ownership histories.

According to a report by The Washington Post. the millionaire said he was conceding to criticism of his accumulation of artefacts, and that he was coordinating the return of around 5,000 ancient papyrus fragments and 6,500 ancient clay objects which dont have legitimate historical sourcing.

Artefacts which dont have confirmed provenance and paperwork are troubling because this means they could have been stolen.

One area where I fell short was not appreciating the importance of the provenance of the items I purchased, Mr Green told the Post.

Mr Green said that when he started collecting biblical-era antiquities in 2009 he knew little about the world of collecting.

The benefactor said that resulting criticism for his Museum of the Bible, of which he is a founder and chairman of the board, was justified.

The criticism of the museum resulting from my mistakes was justified, he said.

Before the museum even opened in 2017 it was surrounded in controversy as antiquities scholars and US Customs agents fielded curators about Mr Greens procurement of artefacts.

The controversy was sparked in July 2017 when Hobby Craft paid $3 million to settle a US government lawsuit alleging that the crafts company had smuggled 3,800 Iraqi antiquities into the country.

Last year, the benefactor and the museum and faced more scrutiny when it returned 13 ancient fragments of allegedly stolen biblical passages that were bought by his team.

The museum chairman told the Post that the rest of the ancient and pre-modern materials in his collection have now been researched to be sure they contain the necessary records, and research of the provenance of everything else is underway.

Only one of the pieces being repatriated was exhibited at Museum of The Bible, the museum said.

In terms of future acquisitions, Mr Green assured the paper that he and the museum have implemented strict procurement strict protocols to ensure any new pieces have legitimate ownership histories.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has urged the European Union to launch a "recovery bond" to help fund the response to the coronavirus outbreak, saying failure to tackle the emergency would be a "tragic mistake" for the bloc.

In an interview with Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore on Saturday, Conte said a common debt instrument was needed to spearhead a European recovery and reinvestment plan to support the economy of the whole area.

Using, instead, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to borrow on the market and lend cheaply to governments under some conditionality would not be the right response, he said.

"The ESM is a tool created to help single member states that face financial problems caused by asymmetric shocks," Conte said, adding that the virus outbreak was instead causing a shock for whole Europe.

"If Europe does not prove to be up to this historic challenge, the whole European building risks losing, in the eyes of our own citizens, its raison d'etre".

Conte added that, even with the launch of a European recovery bond, each country would continue to remain responsible for its public debt.

A summit of EU leaders on Thursday failed to reach an agreement over a joint economic response to the virus and gave euro zone officials two weeks to come up with a way to support the economy during the epidemic.

The support tools need to satisfy members with completely opposing views: those calling for joint debt issuance and those fiercely against it.

Nine countries, including Italy, France and Spain, have called for common debt, but Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland are opposed.

Italy, which has seen more fatalities from the coronavirus than any other country so far, is preparing a second stimulus package in April worth more than the 25 billion euro ($28 billion) one adopted in March.

Conte confirmed in the interview that the total value of the stimulus measures would be more than 50 billion euros, adding the country's public debt would not spiral out of control.

"Our debt is completely sustainable," he said.

The extra spending means Italy's 2020 budget deficit looks certain to climb above 4% of GDP, from the 2.2% target set in September and the 1.6% reported in 2019, which was the lowest in 12 years.

Credit rating agency Scope warned on Thursday the economic costs of the epidemic could easily push Italy's debt-to-GDP ratio above 145%.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by his decrees divided the posts of Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Chief of General Staff.

Zelensky signed the respective decrees on March 27, according to a posting on the official website of the head of state.

Zelensky dismissed Ruslan Khomchak from the post of Chief of General Staff, Chief Commander of Armed Forces and appointed him Chief Commander of Armed Forces.

The president also appointed Serhiy Korniychuk Chief of General Staff.
Warner Music Group has made a donation to Heart to Heart International and MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund launched last week.

According to Variety, CEO Steve Cooper in a memo said: "We're backing the brave efforts of medical professionals around the world, as well as helping the musicians hurt the most by this crisis. We're making donations to Heart to Heart International and to MusiCares and will continue to contribute to relief efforts in badly affected areas."

"It's inspiring to see how you're supporting each other, our artists, our songwriters, and our partners. You've adapted fast to this unprecedented situation, with imaginative solutions such as remote songwriter sessions, virtual promo tours, special playlists, and in-game merchandise. By helping to entertain and comfort people with music, we're also keeping our company healthy and upbeat," Steve continued.

Warner's donation joins contributions from a range of companies in the music industry, including Amazon Music, Facebook, SiriusXM and Pandora, Spotify, TIDAL, and YouTube Music.

The fund will be used to directly support those in the music community with the greatest need.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dallas and Janet Weaver wear protective masks March 18 as they return from a walk on the Huntington Beach pier. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Orange County on Saturday said total coronavirus cases jumped to 403, including four deaths.

The rise came as the county is doing more testing. As of Saturday, the county had performed more than 4,800 tests.

Officials on Friday began released city-by-city coronavirus cases, with Anaheim, Irvine and Newport Beach having among the highest totals.

But officials cautioned about how to view that list.

COVID-19 now has reached community transmission status, which means people may have contracted the illness elsewhere in the county. This may not necessarily be in the city where they live, the county said in a statement. These data should not be interpreted as an indication of activity in any specific location. Under a community transmission status, the true prevalence of this disease may not be known, as most cases are likely not diagnosed or reported.

David Souleles, director of public health services for the Orange County Health Care Agency, added at a news conference Friday: "We know that there is risk countywide. We dont need people to assume that either if their city has a high number or a low number that they are either at a greater risk or a lesser risk.

Davis writes for Times Community News.
We continue to see people move and we definitely see activity, its just markedly different than it was before, he said. The reality is people need to move ... and thats going to continue. Were having to be a lot more creative in the short term, but we do anticipate that we will weather the storm and we will be able to get back to some normalcy as soon as things ease up.
Coronavirus deaths surged in Europe yesterday, with several countries recording their highest daily totals to date. Throughout continental Europe 34,028 new cases were reported and 2,352 deaths. The total number who have perished in the continent in just six weeks since the first death is approaching 20,000 (18,754).

Manchester Royal Infirmary

Italy saw 919 fatalities, taking the overall number to 9,134. The number of recorded infections climbed past China to 86,498. There are fears that the poorer southern regions of the country will soon be put under the same pressures suffered by the richer north.

Spain also suffered its worst 24-hour death toll of 769 deaths, bringing its total to 4,934. The number of cases increased from 56,188 to 64,059.

France saw 299 deaths, with the total now at 1,995. There are currently 32,964 cases of infection and 3,787 people are on life support, meaning nearly half of Frances ventilator beds are occupied. The government has extended a national lockdown by two weeks.

The UK recorded an additional 185 deaths, bringing the toll to 759. Recorded cases of infection increased to 14,543, but this number is kept artificially low by a lack of testing. The spread of the disease is indicated by the fact that Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty all tested positive yesterday. Prince Charles is already infected.

The COVID-19 pandemic is preying on Europes 500 million-plus population whose health care services have been decimated by years of government austerity and private sector looting. Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 immediately after taking partoutside the front door of 10 Downing Streetin a national demonstration of support for beleaguered doctors, nurses and support staff in the National Health Service (NHS). Millions left their homes at 8:00 p.m. to cheer and bang pots and pans, after reports of hospitals full to overflowing and exhausted staff working without personal protective equipment and falling ill as a resultscenes already all too familiar in Italy, Spain and elsewhere in Europe.

That Johnson joined in was an act of monumental cynicismnot only because his inaction for weeks has allowed the spread of the coronavirus, but because the NHS has been slashed to the bone by his Conservative Party in government over the past decade, leaving it unable to meet the challenge it now faces.

Health care spending per head grew at a rate of just 0.6 percent per year in the period 2009-10 to 2016-17, compared to 5.4 percent between 1996-97 and 2009-10. In 2015, the NHS was told to find 22 billion of efficiency savings by 2020. Forty-seven percent of NHS trusts were in deficit in 2018-19 as well as 67 percent of acute hospital trusts. The overall shortfall is estimated at 5 billion.

The UK has fewer doctors and nurses per head than any developed economy bar Poland. Britains 2.8 doctors and 7.9 nurses per thousand population compare to an OECD average of 3.6 doctors and 10.1 nurses per thousand. There are currently 44,000 vacancies for nursing jobs (12 percent of the necessary workforce) and 10,000 for doctors. Overall, the NHS has 100,000 vacancies, roughly one in every 12 jobs.

Manchester Royal Infirmary Accident and Emergency department

The number of hospital beds has dropped dramatically17,230 were lost in just nine years between April-June 2010 and 2019, taking the total to 127,225. In 1987, there were 299,000 beds. Since then, the population has increased by over 9 million and grown older. The number of beds per thousand population has dropped from around four in 2000 to around 2.5 today.

Huge cuts to medical resources have resulted in chronically overcrowded hospitalswith occupancy of overnight general and acute beds regularly topping 95 percent over the winter. The NHS has a maintenance backlog, half of it considered safety-critical, totalling 6 billion.

In France, the health service has likewise been gutted by at least three decades of cuts and so-called modernisation efforts. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of hospital beds was reduced by around 15 percent. Approximately 64,000 inpatient beds were lost in the 13 years between 2003 and 2016.

After years of budget cuts, nearly half (48 percent) of French hospitals were running a deficit in 2016, and between 2002 and 2012, the indebtedness of public health care establishments tripled.

A 2018 health bill demanded 960 million of savings, with a further 910 million demanded last year. A new health bill, passed by the French Senate in July 2019, aims to make a further 3.8 billion of savings by 2022.

French medical workers at over 200 facilities took strike action on multiple occasions last year in opposition to this devastating assault on the health service and against attacks on their pay and working conditions.

In Italy, the government reduced public health financing by 900 million in 2012, 1.8 billion in 2013 and another 2 billion in 2014. In 2016, 18 out of the 20 Italian regions exceeded their annual health budget within the first half of the year.

The health service in Italy has seen staff numbers drop 6.5 percent between 2009 and 2016, from 693,716 to 648,663, and hospital bed numbers fall 11 percent, from 218,264 to 192,548. Wait times to see a specialist increased by between 20 and 27 days, depending on the complaint, between 2014 and 2017.

In Spain, health care funding per capita is around 15 percent less than the European Union (EU) average. In 2012, the Popular Party government of Mariano Rajoy adopted a new health care bill which would see 7 billion in cuts over two years. Dozens of public hospitals and other health care centres were privatised or closed and nearly 20,000 nursing positions wiped out.

Hospital bed numbers fell by around 4.26 percent between 2010 and 2016, dropping from 115,426 to 110,509. Spain ranks in 73rd place in the world for hospital beds, with only three beds per 1,000 people. Even prior to the pandemic, waiting times for key operations continued to grow, with patients in some parts of Spain having to wait up to 177 days before hospitals could operate.

The consequences for the European working class have been brutal. The European Commissions Health at a Glance report for 2018 notes: While life expectancy increased by at least 2 to 3 years over the decade from 2001 to 2011 in all EU countries, the gains have slowed down markedly since 2011 in many countries particularly in Western Europe, increasing by less than half a year between 2011 and 2016.

In words that sum up the terrible human cost of the slashing of public health services by governments of all political stripes, the report states, More than 1.2 million people in EU countries died in 2015 from diseases and injuries that could have been avoided either through stronger public health policies or more effective and timely health care.

Especially concerning in light of the coronavirus pandemic the report suggests: This slowdown appears to have been driven by a slowdown in the rate of reduction of deaths from circulatory diseases and periodical increases in mortality rates among elderly people due partly to bad flu seasons in some years (emphasis added).

This trend falls most heavily on the most oppressed sections of the working class. According to the same report, On average across the EU, 30-year-old men with a low level of education can expect to live about 8 years less than those with a university degree. For women, the gap is four years, These gaps largely reflect differences in exposure to risk factors, but also indicate disparities in access to care.

The COVID-19 pandemic is throwing the consequences of these years of health care cuts into sharp relief. Austerity was justified on the grounds that there was simply no money available to address pressing social needs. Now hundreds of billions have been made available by governments to corporations across the continent, proving that what has taken place is a class policy of social devastation in service to the profits of a tiny elite. The working class must respond with their own class programme of socialist internationalism.
HAILEY  Blaine County and its cities have issued isolation orders more strict than the governors self-isolation order now in place, officials say.

The orders will be in effect from Monday through April 12.

This public health pandemic requires measures of this proportion, which we are not taking lightly, Hailey Mayor Martha Burke said in a statement from City Administrator Heather Dawson. Please cooperate fully with the State Order and for the next two weeks with this additional Hailey City Order. Lives depend on it.

The citys order was taken in unison with other Wood River Valley Cities and Blaine County, the statement says, and will be enforced by all local law enforcement agencies.

Ketchum and Bellevue have followed suit to extend the isolation order to include shutting down residential construction and commercial projects. Plumbers, electricians and other trades can only perform work that is immediate and essential. Residential services such as landscaping must cease.

In addition, the following restrictions apply:

Blaine County residents returning home from out of state must self-quarantine at home for 14 days. Visitors from out of state must also self-quarantine for 14 days.

Travel outside of Blaine County to obtain items otherwise available in the county is prohibited.

Any businesses permitted to operate under the March 25 statewide order shall comply with social-distancing requirements.

Haileys order also affects a 5-mile radius around the city, Burke said in a statement.

Other jurisdictions within Blaine County are enacting identical measures to provide uniform requirements throughout Blaine County, Haileys order states, but each jurisdiction recognizes that its Order is only applicable within its statutory jurisdiction.

Blaine County commissioners on Friday passed the additional requirements of the order.

We need to take this step, Commissioner Dick Fosbury said in a statement.

All three commissioners acknowledged the new measures will impact residents, workers and businesses throughout the county and cause some anxiety and hardships, at least temporarily.

This is invisible. Its not a flood where you can see the river rising Fosbury said. Its not a fire where you can see the spread.

Haileys order and links to the state isolation order can be found online in English and Spanish online.

Ketchums order can be found at www.ketchumidaho.org/covid19.

City Clerk and Treasured Marian Edward is working to get Bellevues order online.

City offices in Carey were closed Friday and could not be reached.
This article, Google pledges $800 million to coronavirus relief, mostly in free ads, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Google on Friday said it's committing more than $800 million to help small businesses and crisis responders dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. The aid will come in cash and advertising credits for the search giant's platforms.

"As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it's taking a devastating toll on lives and communities," CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post. "To help address some of these challenges, today we're announcing a new $800+ million commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses, health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic."

The biggest chunk of the package will be in the form of $340 million in ad credits for small- and medium-sized businesses. The credits will go to accounts that have been active over the last year, and will be usable until the end of the year. Another $250 million will go to ad grants for the World Health Organization and other agencies trying to keep people informed about the pandemic. The company is also setting up a $200 million investment fund to help NGOs and financial institutions to provide small businesses with capital. Another $20 million will go to Google Cloud credits for academics and researchers.

Google also said it's working with one of its supply chain partners to ramp up production of 2 to 3 million face masks for the CDC Foundation, which supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's critical health protection work.

The news comes as Google and other tech companies try to aid in the response to COVID-19, the respiratory illness that's killing people across the world. Earlier this month, Verily, the life sciences arm of Google parent Alphabet, launched a coronavirus screening website for California residents.

Apple earlier Friday launched its own COVID-19 website and app with a screening tool and other information about the coronavirus, in partnership with the CDC, the White House coronavirus task force and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Hundreds of migrant workers on Saturday were seen queuing at Uttam Nagar Bus Terminal here, waiting for buses going to Anand Vihar, from where they will board buses to their respective hometowns.

This comes as a 21-day countrywide lockdown has been imposed in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has led to a sharp decline in daily wage work opportunities.

"I am a daily wage labourer. There is no work available right now. What else are we supposed to do? No arrangements made by the government have reached us. We are going to our village. If we stay here, we will starve to death," said a migrant worker boarding a bus here.

Meanwhile, a huge gathering was also witnessed at Ghazipur, near Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, where people were waiting to board special buses arranged by the Uttar Pradesh government for their native districts in the neighbouring state.

The Uttar Pradesh government has arranged bus services from Anand Vihar in Delhi for people who have been stranded in the capital due to the lockdown after hundreds were seen leaving the city on foot owing to the lack of transport.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 909 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the deadly virus has claimed 19 lives.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As hospitals brace for an influx of patients as part of the COVID-19 pandemic, health-care providers across Canada are becoming increasingly concerned about their ability to provide end-of-life care, a crucial service for Canadians suffering from painful and irreversible medical conditions.

Amid rapid changes being made in hospitals and long-term care facilities across the country, access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) has become uncertain  part of the broader health-care impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus thats infected thousands and killed dozens across the country.

Hospitals in two Ontario regions  including Hamilton Health Sciences, a hospital network with 10 sites  are temporarily suspending assisted-dying services so health care staff can focus on pandemic efforts.

This was not an easy decision, said Lillian Badzioch, a spokesperson for Hamilton Health Sciences.

Suddenly, those with grievous and irremediable medical conditions seeking to end their life worry they may no longer have access as health-care resources dwindle. Meanwhile, doctors and nurses venturing into homes and long-term care facilities are afraid for their own safety  and beyond that, about becoming vectors for the disease.

There is a great unknown, said Dr. Stefanie Green, a Victoria-based MAID provider and the president of the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP).

It is possible that resources are diverted and its possibly appropriate that resources are diverted. I dont know what to tell people about what its going to be like in four weeks  So everybodys a little on edge.

We are starting to see, and would expect to see, continued concern from Canadians who are wishing to access MAiD services and who are already in intolerable suffering, said Helen Long, CEO of Dying with Dignity, a national end-of-life rights charity.

This is a situation unlike one weve ever faced in Canada before.

MAiD is available to Canadians over the age of 18 who have an illness, disease or disability that is serious and incurable. The disease must be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability and cause intolerable physical and psychological suffering, according to Dying With Dignity. MAiD can be provided by both doctors and nurse practitioners.

Among the difficult decisions health regions across the country are now weighing: whether to halt some or all MAiD-related in-patient or community services, either to stop the spread of COVID-19, to preserve health-care resources, or both.

According to doctors in the region, among those taking steps to halt MAID services is the Champlain Local Health Integration Network, serving the Ottawa area. A spokesperson did not respond to questions sent by the Star Friday but deferred them to Ontarios Ministry of Health.

Badzioch said where appropriate, medical death referrals in her network are being sent to MAiD providers within the community, for patients who are still at home or can be discharged from hospital.

A spokesperson for Ontarios Ministry of Health said the ministry has not taken any action to limit access to MAiD as a result of COVID-19.

We are actively monitoring the situation, including the availability of services at local levels, said Hayley Chazan, spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott.

Long said she is hearing some networks are making the decision to halt some services, and certainly we appreciate that every institution or provider or region has to make the decisions that are best for them, she said.

However, she stressed that clinicians in most areas in Canada are continuing to be able to support end-of-life care.

Amid efforts to socially distance, and as retirement homes and long-term care facilities close their doors to thwart the spread, doctors and nurses providing the procedure face practical challenges.

Am I expected to go in and out of peoples homes at this point to do assessment and provisions of MAiD? How safe is that, and how can I do that in a safe way while still keeping their needs at the forefront? asked Green.

There are also ethical concerns around physical distancing and MAiD, she continued. If MAiD providers follow all COVID-19 social-distancing rules, were talking about not touching the patient, not having their families around, not allowing their loved ones into the facility to say goodbye to them  Thats a hard pill to swallow.

There are also problems accessing personal protective equipment. Dr. Chantal Perrot, a Toronto-based family doctor who devotes a significant part of her practice to providing medical assistance in dying, said she was able to borrow a couple of masks from colleagues prior to providing the assistance in dying to a patient this week.

Were not really well equipped to go into the community or even to go into the hospitals, because we dont have the gear, Perrot said in an interview this week.

Perrot said a major concern prior to the MAiD procedure was whether the nurse from the nursing agency would come and start the IV, a necessary part of the procedure.

I was almost afraid to answer my messages through the week, wondering if they were going to cancel, but fortunately they didnt, and the nurse did come.

But she was not wearing a mask, gown, or gloves, Perrot said.

Those of us that are still doing it are trying to cobble it together and be as safe as we can, for ourselves as well as for the patients and their families while at the same time providing this service, because we think it is necessary, Perrot said.

Among other pressing concerns for end-of-life providers: the impact of physical distancing on requirements earlier in the MAiD process. For example, Canadian law requires two independent witnesses to watch as a patient signs a request for MAiD.

In a letter sent to all Canadian medical colleges Thursday, CAMAP called on regulatory bodies to urgently consider modifications that would still allow patients seeking MAiD to apply for it while respecting social-distancing requirements.

That includes the recommendation that witnesses be allowed to watch virtually, via Skype or Zoom, for example, while a patient reads and signs the required forms, the letter states.

We strongly urge that virtual witnessing of MAiD request forms be explicitly allowed and encouraged whenever possible, the letter says.

British Columbias College of Physicians and Surgeons has already made such changes to MAiD practices to account for the COVID-19 pandemic, including letting assessments of the patient be done by telemedicine.

Long said she is hopeful that other regions follow suit and take similar steps to support MAiD amid COVID-19.

We are encouraging provinces to really think about how they can continue to support Canadians looking for a MAiD solution during the crisis, Long said.
This week, Newfoundland police say, they arrested a woman for failing to self-isolate and obey the provinces public coronavirus regulations.

Then, according to police, they had to do it again.

Following up on community complaints, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers found a woman Tuesday near a shopping centre in Corner Brook, N.L.

After confirming that she had arrived from outside the province within the past 48 hours, police said, officers informed her of Newfoundlands current regulations, which stipulate that people arriving from outside the province must self-isolate for 14 days.

The officers, said RNC spokesperson Sgt. James Cadigan, were met with non-compliance.

The woman was arrested and stayed overnight in jail, pending a court date the following day, after which she was released Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, RNC officers, following up on a complaint about the same woman being out in public, found her near a residential property in Curling, N.L.

Officers were met with similar non-compliance, police said.

They arrested the woman for a second time in relation to the Public Health Protection and Promotions Act.

Our focus is to work with the community, prevent the spread of this virus and ensure that our community members are educated as to how we can work together to do so, said Cadigan.

If youre going to put our community at risk, we will intervene and respond appropriately.
The spread of the coronavirus, and the lockdowns have created economic havoc in the lives of the millions who are part of the informal sector, not just daily wagers, but also workers of the gig economy.

The spread of the coronavirus, and the lockdowns have created economic havoc in the lives of the millions who are part of the informal sector, not just daily wagers, but also workers of the gig economy.

According to the Employment-Unemployment Survey, 2015-16, over 80 percent of Indias workforce is employed in the informal sector. One-third are casual labourers.

Within 24 hours of the prime ministers address on 19 March, crowds at railway and bus stations across these metros began swelling. If they cannot earn, they wanted to get home where they would have at least some food and shelter.

Distress video messages from groups of young men in little hovels are circulating on WhatsApp, with them appealing to their respective chief ministers from far-off lands to get them home.

The economic situation resulting from the lockdown that is necessary to contain the spread of the virus will affect even those who will escape the disease. The government did not plan for this beforehand, and the announcement made by the finance minister yesterday missed out on a large range of people in distress.

Here are some suggestions that need to be rolled out as soon as possible.

A. In urban areas:

The measures announced yesterday left out an important category of vulnerable people: these are people working as migrants in urban areas, whose homes are in rural areas. With the lockdown they are stuck without work, and sometimes even without shelter in urban areas. They will not be covered by any of the measures announced yesterday. Special measures are needed for them.

1. Shelter for migrants: Use stadium and community halls to accommodate migrant workers temporarily. Provide soap and other hand-washing facilities to reduce risk of community transmission.

2. No harassment of migrant workers: Strict instructions to police in all states that they cannot harass, beat, extort migrant workers stuck in cities. Action must be taken against such officers to deter such behaviour. Videos of police violence have emerged from different parts of the country on 22 March (see for instance, from Goa and Bhiwandi). Migrant labourers are more vulnerable.

3. Community kitchens for all: As a large part of the workforce is in the informal sector, many are out of work and either returning home or stuck in cities without employment. Such people need food and shelter.

For food, the Central government can supply free food grain and dal from the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Migrants can use this to run community kitchens (such as Amma Canteens in Tamil Nadu, Indira Canteens in Karnataka, daal-bhaat kendras in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand).

These can be self-managed by the workers, and provide them an opportunity to earn some money. Target railway stations and bus stations, and in rural areas, block headquarters, for setting up new community kitchens for those who are similarly affected.

To minimise the chances of community transmission, the density of such feeding centres needs to be very high, where entry is either regulated (10 to 15 at a time, or providing food packets for pick-up).

4. Essential services: Each state should clearly specify what services are included under essential services and the administration must ensure that the providers of these services are not harassed. This needs to be communicated to the state police forces urgently.

5. Controlled prices for essential goods: As cities lock down, make provision of essentials at controlled prices (not necessarily subsidised) to reduce panic buying and hoarding. Existing (govt and private) networks of shops can be used for this purpose. For example, in Delhi Safal outlets can be used, in Bangalore Hopcoms, and so on.

6. Control panic: Each district administration needs to set up a daily (area-wise) roster for people to get essential goods and services, to minimise disruption of daily life.

B. In-kind assistance:

Given the possibility of hoarding, of disruption in the supply chains and the lack of work opportunities, providing in-kind assistance is important at this stage. If hoarding happens on a large scale, it may lead to price rise, eroding the value of cash.

After the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Public Distribution System (PDS) covers two-thirds of the Indian population. This broad network, which still suffers from exclusion errors, must immediately provide assistance.

It provides priority households 5 kg grain per month for Rs 1 to 3/kg. Antyodaya households get 35 kg per month. There is currently a problem of surplus stocks of food grain with the FCI. The wheat procurement season has already begun in some states, and is about to begin in others.

An earlier recommendation has been included in what was announced yesterday: doubling rations for existing 80 crore ration card holders for an initial period of three months. This must be extended if the emergency situation continues.

1. Discontinue ABBA: One important modality, which will not cost money, has not yet been announced by the Centre. The Central government must stop Aadhaar-based biometric authentication (ABBA) immediately because of risk of transmission.

It has already discontinued Aadhaar-based attendance for Central government employees on the same grounds. At least two studies show that ABBA achieves nothing in terms of reduced corruption and possibly makes matters worse by increasing transaction costs and exclusion. A few states, including Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha, have suspended ABBA already. A Central notification is urgently required.

2. Expand or universalise PDS coverage: Excess stocks can also be used to provide 20 kg per household to general cardholders (also called APL in some states) at least at a controlled price (say Rs 10/kg). Better still, the government should universalize the PDS temporarily, give to anyone who shows up at ration shops.

3. For advance or free distribution: Some states have announced free distribution for 1 to 2 months (Karnataka), advance distribution (Chhattisgarh).

4. Inclusion of other essentials: The government muster consider provision of soap, dal and oil through the PDS for the coming months.

5. Home delivery of food for children: Close anganwadis and schools, provide dry rations at home. Try to give eggs and dates in the pack because both of long shelf life and high nutritive value. Following Keralas announcement, several states have announced this, other states can emulate the same model.

C. Cash assistance

The world over, including in India, cash transfers are being advocated as the first line of action. At first glance, they seem like the easiest and quickest option at first glance, but there are some caveats attached to it:

a. Deciding the base is not trivial: Who gets the cash, and how much? Should it be all National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) workers, should they all get the same (irrespective of how much they worked in the past?

b. The possibility of hoarding and price rise may erode the value of cash.

c. The density of bank branches in rural areas is thin, mass cash transfers will create crowding, which in turn will create risk of community transmission.

d. There is also a largely unacknowledged issue of a mess in the banking system due to the move towards the Aadhaar-Payment Bridge System, that results in rejected payments and diverted payments. Recent data from the health ministry suggested that nearly 10 percent of direct benefit transfer ((DBT) transfers failed due to this payment bridge. Besides this, payments that appear successful on the DBT portal get misdirected into other peoples accounts.

Yet, there are cash transfers that can (and must) be used. Given the urgency, it would be better to ride on existing cash transfer programmes. This will still leave out some vulnerable populations (the urban poor), but for them other measures are suggested below:

1. Revert to NEFT payments: For all cash transfer schemes (pension, NREGA wages, PMKY), avoid Aadhaar-Payment Bridge System because of the problem of rejected and failed payments. As mentioned above, the failure rates are high. NEFT is more reliable.

2. Advance payments: Give three months pension (old age, widows, persons with disabilities) in advance in April. The elderly survive on the goodwill of other earning members of the family. As family earnings dry up, the elderly may suffer.

3. Enhanced payments: The Central governments contribution to social security pensions has been stuck at Rs 200 per person per month. These must immediately be increased to at least Rs 1,000 per month. The one-off payment of Rs 1,000 over three months is just not enough.

4. Universal coverage: Universalize social security pensions. Identifying all those who are above 60 years of age, single women is one easy way of scaling up cash transfers.

5. Clear arrears: For NREGA workers, the Central government must clear all wage arrears from the 2019-20 financial year immediately. Apparently, an announcement has been made to this effect today, details are awaited.

6. Cash transfers for NREGA workers: Provide 10 days wages for job card, in cash or through their bank accounts for the coming three months, without work due to risk of community transmission. This will amount to approximately Rs 2,000 per month per household for all job card holders (just under 14 crore households). This will cost approximately Rs 1 lakh crore over three months.

7. Work guarantee for NREGA workers for later: In later months, when risk of community transmission subsides, assure them work for at least 20 days per month for those who are willing to work. In any case, 100 days of work on demand is a legal obligation of the Indian government under NREGA.

As other economic activities pick up and the work requirement is reintroduced for NREGA, the numbers will automatically fall. According to nrega.nic.in, currently only 8 crore job cards (of 14 crore) are active.

D. Urgent health-related measures

1. Education, not surveillance: Deter community members from indulging in peer-to-peer surveillance. Instead, educate people regarding the importance of self-isolation.

2. More public education: Launch very widespread messaging regarding washing hands, logic of social/physical distance, not touching their mouth, eyes and nose without washing their hands.

3. Enhanced testing: Let people know what symptoms to watch out for, and at what stage they should approach doctors. Do not deter them from approaching doctors for fear of escalating numbers.

4. Free testing: Scale up testing immediately. Tests should be made free, whether they are conducted by the private labs or by government.

5. Mobilise front line workers for education: Mobilise ASHA workers, anganwadi workers and helpers, ANMs to create mass awareness about symptoms, spread and precautions. Enhance their salaries/honorarium, and provide protective gear for them.

6. Public hygiene: Provide hand washing stations across cities, especially at railway stations and bus stations. That will send an important message.

7. Nationalise or regulate private health services: Wherever necessary (in the case of protective equipment), the government may consider temporary nationalisation (for instance, the NHS has taken over private hospitals). At the very least the government must take step to ensure price regulation of these sectors, by taking exemplary and swift action against unscrupulous behaviour (fake testing, inflated pricing of masks, soap, sanitizers). In Chhattisgarh, the state government has taken over one private hospital (in Raipur) and reportedly in Rajasthan, the state government has done the same in Bhilwara.

8. Listen to public health professionals: More health-related recommendations have been made by the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, available here.

This article was originally published in Ideas for India, an economics and policy portal that publishes evidence-based analysis and commentary on issues pertaining to growth and development in India. It has been republished with permission.
A section of the media is always eternally obsessed chasing the private lives of stars, and when it comes to Bollywood one of the major fetishes on the part of the gossip press has been the salary of the nanny of Taimur Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and S Image Source: PK

Mumbai, March 28 : Bollywood couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan's three-year-old son Taimur is quite frequently seen on social media. The little boy recently made a 'special appearance' in a live interview where his father Saif was interacting with a news TV journalist about the coronavirus lockdown, on a video call.

The final part of the interview, however, did not go down well with the viewers when the journalist requested Saif to give the viewers a glimpse of Taimur once again.

A video is doing the rounds on the Internet in which the journalist is seen asking Saif if his little boy could come to the camera and give a flying kiss to the viewers.

Visibly irritated Saif shared that his son was in the toilet.

To which, the journalist responded: "Its an important place to be in and nobody can interrupt him or disturb him there." The video has irked netizens a lot, who have slammed the journalist for focussing on "Taimur's flying kiss" amidst such a crucial heath crisis as the coronavirus pandemic.

A user tweeted: "This is ridiculous. Look at level to which our mainstream TV News channels have gone." Another one wrote: "Is this called journalism? Sharam karo." "Taimur's Potty news is making waves in a time like this!... This is absolute trash!! There is a lot happening outside which requires focus and attention," a social media user commented.
India has reported as many as 149 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. With this, the total positive Covid-19 cases in the country have climbed to 873.

Around 80 people have successfully recovered from the infection while 19 people have lost their lives. The southern state of Kerala and Maharashtra remain on top of the tally with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. Here is a statewise breakup of coronavirus cases across the country.

Maharashtra

With 180 Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra is the worst-hit state by Covid-19 infection. The state has registered five coronavirus deaths so far while 25 patients have been recovered and released.

Kerala

The southern state has 173 positive cases of coronavirus as per the latest data by the Ministry of Health. The state hasnt witnessed any Covid-19 death yet. 11 people have successfully recovered.

This is the time for youth to shoulder responsibility. We are planning a volunteer force of 2 lakh members. Food supply to hospital work they will be trained. Their expenses will be met by local and civic bodies, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said this week.

Karnataka

The state has recorded 55 Covid-19 cases and two deaths. Three people have been cured and discharged.

Telangana

48 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported here so far. One person has made a recovery from the virus while no one has died of Covid-19 in the state.

Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state has registered 45 coronavirus cases and no recoveries so far. As many as 3 people have died from the infection in the state.

Rajasthan

The state has 48 positive cases of coronavirus with no reported cases of fatalities. Three patients have recovered from the infection.

Uttar Pradesh

45 people have been infected from Covid-19 in the state. While 11 people have recovered from Covid-19 in Uttar Pradesh, no one had died from the infection here.

Delhi

As many as 39 people have been tested positive of coronavirus in the national capital. One person has died from the infection while 6 people have made a recovery.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged citizens not to step out of their homes and has assured that no one will go to sleep on an empty stomach. He also assured a smooth supply of all essential commodities across the National Capital Territory and said that the administration is prepared to handle 100 Covid-19 cases in a day.

Haryana and Punjab

The neighbouring states have 33 and 38 Covid-19 cases respectively. While one person has died of coronavirus in Punjab, Haryana has seen no deaths. 11 people have been recovered from coronavirus in Haryana, one in Punjab.

Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh

The southern state has registered 38 Covid-19 cases and seen two recoveries. Madhya Pradesh closely follows with 30 positive cases of coronavirus in the state. While Tamil Nadu has seen one patient die from Covid-19, two people have died in Madhya Pradesh.

Besides this, Jammu and Kashmir has 18 positive cases of coronavirus. One person has died from the infection while one was cured. Andhra Pradesh has 14 positive Covid-19 patients and one case of recovery. West Bengal has 15 people who tested positive for the infection with one death.

In Chandigarh, 7 people were found infected from Covid-19. Chhattisgarh has recorded 6 cases of coronavirus. In Bihar, 9 people have tested positive for coronavirus, one has dies.

Uttarakhand has 5 coronavirus patients. Goa and Himachal Pradesh have recorded 3 cases each, one patient has died in Himachal. Odisha also has three Covid-19 positive patients. Andaman has recorded two coronavirus patients.

States and Union territories with just one positive Covid-19 case include Manipur, Mizoram and Pondicherry.

On Saturday, India entered the fourth day of the 21-day long nationwide coronavirus lockdown announced by PM Modi to break the chain of Covid-19 infections in the country.
A man has been charged in connection with a suspected gun seizure in Co. Limerick on Thursday.

Shortly before midnight that day, a Garda patrol tried to stop a car in the Ballynanty area of Limerick and after a high-speed chase through a number of housing estates it was stopped with the help of the Armed Support Unit.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana could be a month away from the peak of illnesses from the coronavirus outbreak, the states top health official said Friday as seven more virus-related deaths were reported to bring the states death toll to 24.

Indiana has seen its number of confirmed COVID-19 cases more than double since the state health departments Wednesday report to the 981 cases announced Friday. The number of deaths has doubled from Tuesdays report of 12.

Dr. Kristina Box, the state health commissioner, said the projected illness peak in Indiana is expected in mid- to late April. She said that projection was based on modeling done by state agencies and how other states have seen the illness spread.

We are already seeing some patients sick but were not seeing a big uptick in EMS calls for patients with respiratory illness, Box said. So we still think we are a little bit in the calm before the storm, but we know thats coming and are prepared for that.

A statewide stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Eric Holcomb took effect Wednesday, with exemptions for essential businesses to remain open and for necessary trips for food and medicine.

COVID-19 testing has been limited around the state, but Holcomb said the locations of confirmed cases show that all parts of Indiana are seeing illnesses.

We dont see the peak yet, these numbers are compounding, Holcomb said. This is like a snowball thats rolling downhill and getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP'S PREVIOUS STORY IS BELOW.

Indiana's coronavirus cases surged by more than 300 to nearly 1,000 statewide Friday, and seven more deaths were reported, bringing the state's death toll to 24, state health officials said.

Indianas number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, grew by 338 to 981 across the state, following corrections to the previous days total, the Indiana State Department of Health said.

Nearly 7,000 people statewide have been tested for the coronavirus, officials said Friday, citing test results reported to the state agency, which also released its first demographic data on Indianas confirmed coronavirus cases.

That data shows that slightly more females than males have been infected with the virus: 52% of the cases are women. About 56% of infections are among people aged 50 and older, and about 38% are among people age 60 and older  the age group most at risk of having a severe infection.

State health officials have said they are targeting tests for those most at risk and health care workers.

Coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

The data includes no information about how many of Indiana's health care workers have been infected by the coronavirus. The department also released no demographic information about Indianas COVID-19 fatalities, which stood at 24 as of Friday.

On Thursday, the Indianapolis 500 joined a long list of sporting events postponed by the coronavirus. The race will take place Aug. 23, not May 24. Gov. Eric Holcomb's stay-at-home order took effect Wednesday.

Holcomb and Dr. Kristina Box, the state health commissioner, were scheduled to deliver another coronavirus briefing Friday afternoon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 12:11:52|Editor: Yurou

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WELLINGTON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Air New Zealand said on Saturday that eight crew members have tested positive for COVID-19.

A spokesperson from Air New Zealand said that eight Air New Zealand employees have tested positive for COVID-19, including one who has now recovered.

The eight confirmed cases are among the 451 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand.

The spokesperson said that all eight employees work on the company's long-haul fleet and operated sectors to Los Angeles or London.

It is understood that they have been self-isolating at home while contact tracing have been undertaken.

"None of these staff have flown since being diagnosed positive with COVID-19", said the spokesperson from Air New Zealand.

On Saturday, New Zealand reported 78 new confirmed cases and five new probable cases of COVID-19. Twelve patients are in hospital, including one on a ventilator and one in intensive care.

While most confirmed cases in New Zealand are related to overseas travel, community transmission is also seen in Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Hamilton.
Radio hams assist Homeland Security

The Wiscasset newspaper reports on one of the radio amateurs who are assisting Homeland Security with ham radio communications



An East Boothbay man is part of the U.S. Homeland Security team as an amateur radio operator. Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens appointed Al Sirois N1MHC, 88, as one of three Maine ham, or civilian amateur radio operators participating in Homeland Securitys Shares program.

Shared Resources high-frequency radio program (Shares) provides an additional means for users with a national security and emergency preparedness mission to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. Team members use existing high frequency radio resources to coordinate and transmit messages for critical functions during emergencies. Sirois is responsible for central Maine. Two other operators are located in northern Maine and York County.



Sirois monitors the network on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and another shift at 7 p.m. Occasionally, he works a Monday shift. Sirois monitors continuous wave communications to ensure communications between local government is possible with Homeland Security. Sirois began as an amateur ham radio operator in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a short wave radio MARS (military affiliated radio station) operator. In 1993, Sirois worked for Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant and applied for a civilian license.



Read the full story at

https://www.wiscasset

newspaper.com/article/sirois-assisting-homeland-security-ham-radio-communications/132275
In the thick of the Coronavirus crisis, the Taliban Health Commission in Afghanistan reportedly held an information session on the pandemic. Back on March 19, the Taliban raised concerns over the outbreak in Afghanistan, and called it a god-sent disease for the 'disobedience and sins of mankind.'

In a picture released by the armed group, the terrorists participating in the open-air session could be seen practising social distancing, wearing masks and even bodysuits. Weirdly, a giant gun was also seen in the center of the session with big hoardings around.

Taliban's Health Commission in Afghanistan holding #Covid19 information session in areas it controls with a giant gun in the centre, just in case they have to...shoot the virus? pic.twitter.com/UJ1ACMyhCU  Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) March 28, 2020

Afghanistan government on Thursday decided to release up to 10,000 prisoners in the wake of the Coronavirus scare. Prisoners, including women and children, will be released on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's decree. The Afghan government said that those being released will 'not pose a major threat'. The Taliban or Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists are not included in this list.

READ| Coronavirus: Taliban advises people to pray; assures passage of health organisations

Taliban's Coronavirus advisory

Through its directive, the Taliban urged people to pray, and surprisingly, asked its fighters to follow the safety guidelines issued by health organisations and experts. "Coronavirus is a disease ordained by the almighty perhaps been sent because of the disobedience and sins of mankind or other reasons," the Taliban remarked. Further adding, "As per the directives of scholars- people should recite effective prayers."

Promising safe passage to healthcare organisations, the Taliban's statement read, "International relief, health, and humanitarian organisations should execute their obligation of sending necessary equipment, medicine and aid to areas under our control and we shall lay the groundwork for their secure travel." The move was considered as unprecedented as the Taliban had previously banned the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in September 2019, claiming that the two organisations were conducting "suspicious" activities. Coronavirus cases in Afghanistan reached 110 on Saturday, TOLO news reported.

READ| Taliban likely to flout Afghanistan peace agreement, US intel claims

READ| Coronavirus Outbreak: ISIS advice terrorists to 'cover mouth while yawning, sneezing'
In the past week, more countries around the world have introduced travel bans and closed their borders. With so much change happening in a short space of time, we're seeing holidaymakers being left to fend for themselves as they join the scramble to get home, paying hundreds more just for a ticket on a last-minute flight. And those with travel booked for Easter, the summer and beyond are now unsure what to do next. Here PA travel correspondent Simon Calder has answered some of your Covid-19 concerns

Q We've had a trip to India and cruise with Silversea, due to start March 9, 2020, cancelled by the cruise company. When I asked the travel agent when I could expect a refund I was told I had to wait until the cruise company refunded the agent. It also included a Golden Triangle tour and flights with British Airways. I know these are extraordinary times but just wonder if this is the norm? - GS

A The short answer is: the travel agent is wrong. Under the Package Travel Regulations 2018, you are entitled to a full cash refund within two weeks of the cancellation becoming apparent. The fact that the agent has not received the money back from the cruise line should not be your problem.

In practice, these times are so extraordinary that I am not surprised the payment has not arrived. Travel firms are experiencing more financial stress than at any time in modern history, with no new bookings coming in and money flowing out.

Abta, the travel association, is asking for support from the travelling public, saying: "If possible, postpone your holiday or travel arrangements, don't cancel - this will mean you have a holiday to look forward to in the future and it will help your travel provider maintain its cash flow through the short-term challenges."

Abta adds: "If you are not able to postpone, they may offer you a refund credit voucher instead of a cash refund. Abta is in urgent talks with the Government to ensure that these credit arrangements have the full cover of financial protection. You should await further guidance on this." But your right to a full cash refund remains.

Q We have a couple of flights booked for mid-April with Transavia and Ryanair, and also Eurostar tickets back from Amsterdam to London. Unfortunately, we have no insurance (I know!). Currently, they're all offering just a voucher or rescheduling the dates. Is it wise to wait further for the possibility of getting a refund or should we just reschedule now? We would rather get the refund to be honest. - Alve

A Without wishing to sound uncharitable, you seem to have done everything possible to minimise your consumer protection: organising separate flights and train tickets, and not taking out insurance.

However, you should certainly wait a while longer before doing anything. The travel industry is (understandably) trying to persuade customers to take vouchers or postpone, because it saves them from having to hand out real money if and when they cancel. Ryanair, indeed, has been actively trying to persuade passengers in April to rebook for later in the year.

But if you sit tight, I am fairly sure that the flights will be cancelled and you can look forward to a full refund on those. Ryanair is the most financially robust airline in Europe, while Transavia is part of the Air France-KLM group, also looking strong.

The train is a different matter. It may operate, in which case Eurostar's option of a voucher or postponement is actually more than it legally needs to offer. But wait until the start of April before taking any action.

Q We are due to pay the balance of a holiday to Turkey, we should be going in July and the balance is due on April 2. We are very concerned about paying the balance off. Currently we would only lose 100 deposit and we have enquired about changing dates but we would be charged an extra 100. - EllenP8

A If you can afford to do so, please pay the balance. While I have no idea what will happen in the next four months, there is a significant possibility that your trip to Turkey will go ahead as normal, in which case you should have a happy and safe holiday. There is some likelihood that the trip will be cancelled. If that happens, you can expect a full refund of the whole cost of the trip within two weeks.

But deciding not to pay the balance would mean that you lose the money - and, looking at the 100 you paid, it appears to me that you may have taken advantage of a low-deposit offer. The travel company could actually come after you for the rest of the "normal" deposit, which could be hundreds of pounds.

If the holiday does go ahead and you decide not to travel, you will lose most or all of your money. But I suggest that would not be a rational choice: if the holiday happens, that will be because the UK Government, the Turkish authorities and the holiday company all believe you will be able to make the trip with no significant risk of being placed in quarantine.

Q We had a package holiday to Florida booked for next month but our tour operator has told us that we cannot have a refund. Instead one of two options: either delay the date (we have no idea when it will be safe for vulnerable people to travel there, neither would we be able to go to the USA again), or take a credit note to spend with the travel company. The credit note is less than the sum for non-refundable hotel rooms the firm booked for us. The company said terms and conditions we signed last year have now changed because of this crisis. Is this right? Is there no way we can insist on a refund? - TrickyP

A If it is a proper package holiday (flights and accommodation, and possibly other services, booked in a single transaction) then the travel company knows it is talking nonsense.

Committing to a date in the future, particularly for older travellers or those with medical concerns, would be a mistake. And for the travel company to say that you can have a credit note for less than the cost of the trip is preposterous (except in the most unlikely situation that you booked those hotels with the company as a separate and later transaction). Finally, do send me anything in writing from the travel firm refusing a refund and I will add it to my dossier of misdeeds. I know it's a tough time for everyone in travel, but unless the industry does the right thing by customers, rebuilding trust will take even longer.

Q Just in the process of rescheduling our Caribbean Celebrity Cruise, NYC stay and BA flights cancelled for next month, to December. It's all part of a package so usual protections apply. Firstly, am I mad?! Secondly, what are the potential insurance implications? - Graham2k

A With the greatest respect, I think it is irrational (though not actually mad) to postpone. I say "not actually mad" because I guess it is conceivable that the cruise line, British Airways and the New York hotel are all saying: "Graham, in return for you not cancelling your April trip, we are going to give you an extra special deal for Christmas and New Year which would normally cost much more."

If you are being offered, say, a trip departing on Saturday, December 19 and returning a fortnight later, that would be interesting and tempting. For almost any other dates, though (particularly in early December), there is no possible advantage that I can see. The cruise industry is sadly going to be on its knees for at least the rest of this year, and will have to offer extremely good deals to lure anyone on board.

While the inevitable downturn in air travel means fares to New York could well increase somewhat after the crisis, that will be offset by the rate cuts in Manhattan that hotels will be obliged to make when so many international guests can't reach the city so easily. So ask politely for a full refund and it should be with you before Easter.

Q We got caught up in the mess of the ski holidays last weekend. Two of my party went, I did not because of the fear of exposure to the virus. So I forfeited a refund. However, the French government issued on its website recommendations not to travel to certain areas, one of which was where my resort was. So my argument is the ski companies should have cancelled and offered refunds on the Friday. - Leethetree

A Europe's winter-sports industry - and about 300,000 British skiers and snowboarders - have been traumatised by the coronavirus crisis. The past weekend, which should simply have been a busy changeover, degenerated into a rush to get home.

Regrettably, though, I don't believe that a recommendation by the French government not to travel to an area obliges a UK travel firm to cancel trips. The subsequent draconian rules on mobility would have done so. But it seems likely you are in the same legal position as many other prospective travellers who, by cancelling their trip, forfeited future rights. Sorry I can't be more optimistic.

Q Currently, my parents and son (both British citizens) and my wife (biometric residence permit holder) are in Singapore and soon due to fly back to the UK via Emirates. What is the travel advice for them? - Om1234

A While Emirates, like other airlines, is cancelling some flights, there are many departures from Singapore to Dubai and onwards to the UK and I expect they will be able to travel largely as planned. They should be very careful when proceeding through Singapore and Dubai airports.

Each day, thousands of people from all over the world converge with a multiplicity of germs at big international airports. Research in Finland found that the trays used at security checkpoint are the most dangerous items in an airport, and they should certainly wash their hands immediately after handling them.

Travellers should be aware too of other surfaces frequently touched by passengers - and wherever possible use contactless payment rather than handling cash.

They should do their best not to stand in queues with lots of people they don't know, and the best way to do this is to hang back during the boarding process. On board the plane itself, there is little opportunity for social distancing.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says the likelihood of infection spreading from another passenger is "medium" if you are seated on an aircraft within 6ft of a traveller "with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 infection". This distance correlates approximately with two economy-class seats in each direction.

Passengers in the same or adjacent rows sat further away have a low risk; everyone else is categorised as "no identifiable risk". On arrival in the UK, again, they should be circumspect about queues; they might want to wait in a corner until most fellow passengers have been processed through passport control, and also hang back at baggage reclaim.

Q We have tickets booked with GoTui for Disney parks in Orlando and hotel and flight with Tui. There are reports that the flights and hotel are back on for the summer but the parks are closed, there will be no refund for cancelling. Like many, we are only going for the parks. The key question is: are GoTui and Tui the same "company", hence fall under the package regulations? - Ian3799

A Given the time between the dire circumstances today and the summer, any answer is speculative. Personally I think it unlikely that the flights would go ahead as planned, and hotels would welcome guests, yet the Disney experiences (and other theme parks) would remain closed. But I can at least address your rights about what would happen in these circumstances.

GoTui is simply the "experiences, activities and tours" component of Europe's biggest holiday company, Tui. If you booked a package comprising flights, accommodation and theme-park tickets in a single transaction, you could make a reasonable argument that accessing the parks was a critical part of the trip. Subtracting the parks would then count as a "significant change" to the package, entitling you to a full refund.

If, however, you bought the park tickets as a separate transaction, you lose that layer of protection. All that GoTui would need to do is refund your tickets. Tui could then say: "Ian, you booked flights and a hotel. We can provide them. What's your problem?"

Anyway, let's hope it's academic.

Q My daughter is currently trying to get back home to the UK from New Zealand. She's had to book a flight on Saturday via Los Angeles and Miami. We're really concerned about her getting stuck and stranded in the States with nowhere to go. How high is the risk of this, should we look at an alternative route? She also has family friends she could stay with in New Zealand, so although the priority is her coming home, we would rather she got stuck in NZ than in the US. - Clara1998

A I am hopeful that your daughter (presumably a UK citizen) will be one of few British travellers allowed to complete her trip. The current presidential decree banning many arrivals applies to people who have been in the UK, Ireland or the Schengen Area "within the previous 14 days before their planned day of arrival in the USA".

If she can demonstrate that she has been safely in New Zealand for the past two weeks, she should be allowed on the flight from Auckland to Los Angeles. Upon arrival in California, your daughter will be required to pass through customs and border protection. Unlike almost everywhere else in the world, the Americans insist that even people changing planes must go through immigration. She will need an Esta (available through esta.cbp.dhs.gov) but should be able to get through.

Her flight to Miami will be on a domestic flight, which means she would have to clear immigration anyway. There is no reason I can see why she would get stuck in the US. Flights are still operating across the Atlantic.

And while authorities across the world are disunited about many things, there is general agreement that people should be allowed to travel home. So by Monday morning, you should be able to welcome your daughter back.

Q My wife and I are due to go on a Viking River Cruise in Ukraine on May 17. We are insured and the holiday has been paid in full (nearly 10,000). Viking has cancelled all operations until May 1 but there are no decisions beyond that date.

The FCO has advised against cruises for those over 70 - we are in our seventies -and all but essential travel to Romania and Ukraine and the borders are currently closed to UK travellers by the local authorities.

Cancellation charges, if we cancel, up to 30 days before the cruise are 25% and 100% thereafter.

My preferred outcome would be that Viking recognises soon that the cruise cannot happen and then cancel and refund the full cost. However, if that does not happen and if I cancel on the basis of existing FCO guidance, can I make the claim now or do I need to wait for some further event to crystallise the claim? And should this happen before the 30-day deadline? What do you advise? - RayCP

A Anyone who is 70-plus is in the invidious position of being told that they should not take cruises. Your case looks to me like a prime example of the advantage of a robust travel insurance policy. The UK government currently recommends that you don't make the trip. It is possible that the official advice might change. And I wouldn't assume at this stage that the cruise will be cancelled. But it is certainly worth talking to your travel insurer before the 30-day cancellation deadline and explaining your position and concerns.

The insurer may well say, "okay go ahead and cancel, we would rather take a 2,500 hit than risk a 10,000 payout." Alternatively, the firm might say: "Wait a while longer."

Given that you will possibly lose in excess of, say, 500 under the terms of your insurance, I will also point out that you are at liberty to transfer the cruise to someone else in return for a nominal payment (typically 50 per person). That might possibly be a good outcome if the cruise goes ahead and you have younger friends or family who would like to take it off your hands.
But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider.
Five more infections confirmed on Saturday evening, including three being linked to a major hospital in Hanoi, have raised Vietnams number of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases to 174.

The five new cases were announced by the Ministry of Health at 6:00 pm Saturday.

Patient No. 170 is a 27-year-old Vietnamese man whose registered address is in Dinh Hoa Commune, Kim Son District in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

A day laborer, the man was employed at the beginning of March to install plaster ceilings at a residential complex in Gia Lam District, Hanoi, where he lived with four other people.

He had daily contact with these four people and a supervisor at the construction site. During this time, he was in good health with no symptoms of illness.

He left Hanoi for his hometown on March 14 or 15 to visit his sickened father, hailing a Grab ride from Gia Lam District to Giap Bat Bus Station in Hoang Mai District.

He got on a passenger bus operated by Duc Long Buslines at 9:30 am and arrived at his home in Ninh Binh at around 12:00 pm on the same day. He stayed inside his home for the next 5-6 days.

On the morning of March 20, he and two uncles took with his sick father on a rented car from Ninh Binh Province General Hospital to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

His father was admitted to the emergency department at Bach Mai Hospital at around 12:00 pm that day before being transferred to the infirmary's gastroenterology department around two hours later.

Between March 20 and 22, he had meals five times at the hospitals cafeteria.

On the morning of March 22, he took a motorbike taxi from Bach Mai Hospital to Giap Bat Bus Station to travel back to his hometown on a Duc Long passenger bus. His wife picked him up at 12:00 pm that same day.

He developed a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius on the same evening but was only taken to Kim Son District General Hospital the next night.

At 10:30 am on March 25, he was sampled for coronavirus testing and had the initial result turning out positive for the virus.

Patient No. 171 is a 19-year-old overseas Vietnamese student whose registered address is in Ward 11, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.

She traveled from the U.S. to Vietnam on March 13, with transit time in the Philippines. As she did not show symptoms of illness, she was asked to undergo quarantine at home upon her entry.

On March 24, she was sampled by the Medical Center of District 10 as per Vietnam's new policy on testing all arrivals since March 8.

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City concluded that her sample was positive for the coronavirus on Saturday. The patient has continued to be quarantined at her house.

Patient No. 172 is a Vietnamese woman who is a daughter-in-law of patient No. 133 from the northern province of Lai Chau.

Patient No. 172 has been taking care of patient No. 133 for 23 days at Bach Mai Hospital while the latter is being treated there.

Patient No. 173 is a Vietnamese woman who lives and works in Moscow, Russia.

She left the country for Vietnam on March 25 and was placed under quarantine at a FPT University campus in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, located in Thach That District, Hanoi.

The patient is hospitalized with a fever of about 38 degrees Celsius, accompanied by a severe coughing and body aches.

Patient No. 174 is a Vietnamese woman working at the cafeteria of Bach Mai Hospital, where she came into contact with many people.

She has had a fever of 38.6 degrees Celsius for two days along with coughing, and has been hospitalized.

Patients No. 170, No. 172 and No. 174 are the latest cases that can be traced to Bach Mai Hospital -- a special-grade public hospital and the largest general hospital in Vietnam -- as thousands of people are being tested for COVID-19 there.

The eight COVID-19 patients linked to Bach Mai Hospitals to date include two nurses, two workers in charge of supplying boiled water for the cafeteria, a cafeteria attendant, a patient, and two visitors of the sick.

Vietnam has announced 174 COVID-19 patients so far, with 21 having been discharged from the hospital by Saturday.

No fatality related to the disease has been reported in the country to date.

The Ministry of Health has warned people against going out and to comply with the governments regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

When in public places, people must keep a two-meter distance from others. Residents are also advised to regularly wash their hands with soap or alcohol rub.

In addition, the Vietnamese government has required that people wear face masks at crowded public places like airports, bus stations, and supermarkets from March 14, with administrative penalties for those who fail to comply.

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by Lu Haitao

Thousands clash with the police who repel people from Hubei over suspicions, they are still infected with the coronavirus. Authorities have lifted Hubei from isolation, but checkpoints and controls are still operative in many places. Mistrust in official propaganda, which proclaims that the epidemic has been eradicated.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - Thousands of inhabitants of Huangmei County (Hubei) took to the streets yesterday because their fellow citizens from Hubei were refused entry to the nearby city of Jiujiang (Jiangxi).

The protest was sparked by a clash between people from Hubei and Jiangxi police. The latter was not allowing people and vehicles from Hubei to enter because they are still considered infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus. The police and crowd clashed and some police cars were overturned.

The episode reveals mistrust in official statistics which now only speak of "imported" cases in China, while the National Health Commission ensures that the whole country is now free from the epidemic.

As of March 25, government authorities ordered an end to the isolation imposed on the cities of Hubei since January 23 last. The city of Wuhan, considered the epicenter of the epidemic, will remain isolated (or semi-isolated) until April 8.

But there are still checkpoints across China and many cities are still in self-isolation to avoid contagion from the outside. Official media say there are no new infections, but people still regard Hubei people as a high risk of contagion group. In recent days, Beijing has also implemented stricter isolation measures.

Videos released online (visible in this article) show thousands of people from Huangmei (Hubei) attempting to cross the bridge over the Yangtze River, which connects Huangmei with the city of Jiujiang (Jiangxi). The demonstrators marching on the bridge, shout slogans like "Hubei, come on! (Hubei Jia you!)" and they clash with the Jiangxi police who want to block them. Protesters turned over several police cars.

Huangmei Communist Party Secretary, Ma Yanzhou, came to the bridge and tried to persuade the protesters to disperse, ensuring that the local authorities were already reaching an agreement.

The slogan "Hubei, come on!" often appears in the official media, but the people of Hubei continue to be discriminated against. Many provinces continue to have an entry ban for people from Hubei, who are not allow to return to live in the apartment they have rented, or to work. Several of them now have problems in finding a job.

After the video was released on social media, the comments reiterate that the conflicts and checkpoints in China show mistrust of official propaganda that continues to ensure that the epidemic is under control.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 05:04:25|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan authorities have so far prosecuted 56 individuals over COVID-19 fake news, the public prosecutor's office announced on Saturday.

Moroccan police have denied the veracity of two video sequences, which show individuals throwing stones at security forces and claim that they are riots related to the containment measures over COVID-19 in Casablanca.

Hicham Balaoui, secretary general of the presidency of the public prosecutor's office, told official RIM radio that 450 others have been arrested for violating the state of health emergency.

They could be sentenced up to three months in prison, and a fine of 140 U.S. dollar, according to a new law adopted on March 23 by the parliament regarding emergency measures violation over COVID-19.

Morocco on Saturday announced 26 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 359.

The death toll from the novel coronavirus has increased to 24, while 13 patients have recovered, said the Moroccan Ministry of Health in a briefing.
Two men armed with a knife and what appeared to be a pistol robbed a Bach Hoa Xanh grocery store in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City on Friday evening, police said Saturday.

According to CCTV footage of the robbery, two men wearing jackets, helmets, and face masks entered a store of Bach Hoa Xanh -- a major Vietnamese grocery retailer -- on Son Ky Street in Tan Phu District at around 9:55 pm Friday.

One of them wielded a knife while the other carried a pistol-shaped object. Around five employees and some customers were inside the store at the time.

They threatened the employees with the weapons and took an unspecified amount of cash and a computer before fleeing the store. The robbery happened in less than two minutes.

Two armed men rob a Bach Hoa Xanh grocery store in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City in this CCTV footage.

Police in Tan Phu District said on Saturday they had received a report on the incident and were conducting an investigation into the robbery.

Armed robbery is punishable by between seven and 15 years behind bars in Vietnam, according to the country's Penal Code.

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The Washington National Cathedral will donate thousands of medical masks to two hospitals in the nation's capital after discovering a trove of the much-needed protective equipment just feet from where Helen Keller and other prominent Americans lie in the cathedral's underground crypts.

Bought in 2006 as a precaution during an outbreak of H5N1 flu, also known as bird or avian flu, the more than 5,000 N95 respiratory masks had been forgotten until early this month, when the cathedral's chief stonemason, Joseph Alonso, remembered coming across them in an unfinished area of the crypt level.

Though still in their original packaging, the masks were technically expired, and cathedral staffers first reached out to the manufacturer and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine whether they were safe to use.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. last month, mass purchases of N95 masks has resulted in a critical shortage at medical centers. Doctors across the country have been reusing masks, along with medical gowns and eye shields, risking spreading the disease to multiple patients or contracting it.

Given the dire situation, Kevin Eckstrom, the chief communications officer at the cathedral, said they were told the decade-old masks "were either fine or better than nothing."

The Rev. Randy Hollerith helped load boxes of N95 respiratory masks from the cathedral to vehicles distributing the donations to hospitals.

On Wednesday, 3,000 masks were donated to Georgetown University Hospital and 2,000 will go to Children's National Hospital in D.C..

When the cathedral reached administrators at the two hospitals, they asked, "How quickly can you get them to us?" according to Eckstrom.

The cathedral kept fewer than 200 masks, said Eckstrom, for clergy to wear when visiting vulnerable people who need pastoral care, for cathedral cleaning staff and staff dealing with the public during a viral outbreak.

While best known to the public as the stage for funerals for presidents and other high officials, most recently the December 2018 state funeral for President George H.W. Bush, the cathedral is also an Episcopal parish with 1,400 congregants.

"We are not doing many pastoral visits at the moment because of health concerns," Eckstrom said. "But if they had to do last rites (a sacramental anointing of the sick) they want to be suited up as best they could be."

This isn't the first time Alonso, the stonemason who found the masks, made headlines. A 35-year veteran of the cathedral's staff, Alonso was crucial to a $32 million restoration project following a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in 2011.

He placed the final stone on the cathedral when it was completed in 1990. It was commissioned in 1893 and begun in 1907.

"Joe is always crawling around every part of the building and knows every nook and cranny," Eckstrom said. "If anyone was going to find them, it's him."
The U.S. braces for an onslaught

After erupting on the East and West Coasts, the coronavirus outbreak has made its way inland, threatening to overwhelm parts of the United States where medical equipment is in short supply and official guidance is sometimes contradictory.

In Louisiana, which may have the fastest-growing outbreak in the world, New Orleans is the epicenter. The citys case count topped 1,100 on Friday, as speculation mounted among medical experts that last months Mardi Gras festivities had helped fuel the rapid growth.

Across the country, many cities and states with zero cases last month now face looming explosions: Chicago and its suburbs have nearly 2,000 cases; Detroit has identified over 1,000; and Milwaukee County, Wis., has reported 468.

Counties and cities outside of major urban centers have also seen striking numbers, as in Albany, Ga., whose population of 73,000 has been hit with more than 160 confirmed cases and 16 deaths.
Sri Lankas president has pardoned a soldier who was sentenced to death for killing eight civilians during the countrys civil war, leading to accusations that the government was taking advantage of the chaos from the coronavirus pandemic to free a wartime ally accused of atrocities.

The pardon reverses one of the very few convictions from the 26-year civil war, during which dozens of militants and military officers were accused of war crimes. The pardoned soldier, former Staff Sgt. Sunil Ratnayake, was sentenced in 2015 for blindfolding eight civilians from the Tamil ethnic group, slitting their throats and dumping their bodies into a sewer in 2000. Three of the victims were children.

The pardon brought outrage from rights activists and opposition politicians, but little obvious reaction from the broader Sri Lankan public, which is under a strict curfew in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the Ministry of Justice to release Mr. Ratnayake from prison on Thursday. Mr. Rajapaksa, who was elected in November, is himself accused of having ordered war crimes during the civil war, when he served as defense secretary.
The Delhi government has started converting schools in the Ghazipur area into night shelters to accommodate stranded migrant workers amid the lockdown imposed across the country to contain the spread of COVID-19, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Saturday.

The 21-day lockdown imposed from Tuesday midnight has triggered a mass exodus of migrant workers from cities in several states to their villages.

Hundreds of migrant workers belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand have gathered in Ghazipur and nearby areas of the Delhi-UP border.

"We have started converting schools (in Ghazipur) into night shelters. We have made arrangements if they (migrant workers) want to stay at night shelters, Sisodia told reporters.

"Emotionally, they want to go back to their homes. It will not be right if we forcefully stop them," he said.

At the same time, the deputy chief minister appealed to migrant workers to not leave Delhi as sufficient arrangements have been made for them.

"The Delhi government is in position to feed the entire city, he said.

So far, 40 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the national capital.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of total COVID-19 cases climbed to 918 in India on Saturday, while the death toll remained at 19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pregnant women across the United States are wondering how COVID-19 could affect them and their babies. They also want to know how health professionals are making sure they stay safe and healthy. To get some answers, Yahoo News spoke to Dr. Lance Bruck, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Womens Health at Jersey City Medical Center, in New Jersey. Here is what he told us:

As of today, what we know about COVID-19 and pregnancy, unfortunately, is very little. We do not believe and will not have any special recommendations for women in pregnancy that are really any different than what the current CDC state and local authorities are telling everyone to do.

Those recommendations are covering your cough, washing your hands and what Bruck says is the most important for everyone but especially moms-to-be: staying away from people. Even people who dont show symptoms may be carriers of the coronavirus. My recommendation really is social distancing, Bruck says. And in particular, if a family member is ill, you need to try to distance yourself as best as your home situation allows.

Research is underway to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women, but so far there is no evidence suggesting that they are at higher risk of severe illness than the general population.

But what scientists do know is that pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. They also know how other respiratory illnesses similar to COVID-19 have affected pregnant women in the past. We do have information about flu that occurs every year and when there was SARS and MERS epidemics that pregnant women may be at increased risk. So clearly we would want for all of our pregnant women to adhere to the CDC guidelines that have been issued.

Physicians and hospitals across the country have also put into effect new guidelines for the safety of all patients, visitors and their staff. These vary from hospital to hospital and are changing day to day.

Story continues

A pregnant woman wearing a surgical mask. (LSOphoto/iStock/Getty Images; digitally altered by Yahoo News)

When it comes to routine exams during pregnancy, women who are in their first or second trimesters and do not have any health issues are encouraged to do a telemedicine visit if possible. But Bruck described some checkups that must be done in person. There are certain visits in pregnancy that women do need to attend to, for their glucose screening, during the third trimester of pregnancy, checking with their physician to monitor the blood pressure and fetal status is important. However, we are really kind of moving toward eliminating visits that are not critical.

If a woman goes into labor, hospitals and clinics are limiting the number of people in the delivery room. At Jersey City Medical Center, where Bruck practices, maternity and labor and delivery units are allowing just one person to accompany the mom. Other hospital systems like the NewYork-Presbyterian are taking more strict measures and banning all visitors, including partners. Even though this rule is difficult for families and affects the experience of giving birth, doctors believe it is very important during this time. The goal is to protect the patient that comes to the hospital. We also have to limit exposure to health care professionals. If we start to get health care professionals ill, it could have a dramatic impact on taking care of the community as a whole.

But what if a mother has COVID-19? To date, the COVID-19 virus hasnt been found in amniotic fluid or breast milk. Unlike the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and cause birth defects, there is no evidence at this point that COVID-19 is transmitted to the fetus and the newborn. However, if a woman is diagnosed with coronavirus disease, most doctors are trying to minimize the amount of time that the newborn is exposed to the mother, particularly to respiratory secretions.

Unfortunately, this means breastfeeding, which is such an important part of keeping both the mom and the baby healthy after delivery, is being avoided at many hospitals. Instead, some doctors recommend that women express milk manually or using an electric pump. To make sure that the mothers milk is not contaminated, women should clean their breasts before pumping milk, as well as wear a mask and have a nurse or other parent bottle-feed the baby.

Even though the current circumstances are not ideal, Bruck encourages all pregnant women and new mothers to stay positive. Pregnancy is supposed to be a happy time  there really is a special connection between mom and fetus, even when in utero. Its important to stay upbeat for both of you.

___

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James Govan is not taking any chances with the novel coronavirus.

A retired federal employee who lives in Arlington, Virginia, he's 83 and has a heart condition. He doesn't go outside for food and hasn't left the house for two weeks.

When Govan tried to order groceries online from Safeway, he found the store's system would let him fill his virtual cart but wouldn't let him schedule a delivery. All the slots were taken for several days, and a calendar for later dates wasn't available.

Govan won't starve. He has friends and a son who can help, although he said he doesn't "feel like imposing." The shopping experience worried him: If grocery stores can't make timely deliveries, seniors will need to shop in person or rely on a network of friends and family members, which some don't have.

"I took an hour diddling with this online shopping business - it's kind of new to me," Govan said. "I guess they're just having a stress of staff power."

Govan stumbled on a hiccup in the food supply chain affecting grocery stores across the nation as the number of coronavirus cases surges and people avoid public places. Stores are struggling to hire more workers to fill and deliver additional online orders.

Andrew Whelan, a spokesman for Albertsons, Safeway's parent company, said the grocery giant plans to hire 30,000 workers and is partnering with companies in the service industry, such as Hilton and MGM Resorts, that have laid off workers to find them. Whelan said the new hires will boost the timeliness of online deliveries.

"As you can imagine, we are experiencing high demand. We appreciate our customers' patience on this," he said. "Certainly, as you know, these are unprecedented times."

Other companies are making similar moves. Instacart is planning to hire 300,000 personal shoppers. A Giant spokesperson said the company is hiring store clerks, pharmacy technicians, delivery drivers and warehouse workers - and suggested customers use Instacart as well as Giant's own drivers.

A Whole Foods Market spokesperson said the company is seeing an increase in online orders and is "working around the clock to continue to deliver grocery orders to customers as quickly as possible." The company declined to release details about grocery delivery demand but referred to Amazon's companywide announcement of plans to hire 100,000 full- and part-time workers. (Whole Foods is an Amazon subsidiary, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

There seemed to be a bottleneck Friday in the delivery process from grocers in the Washington region. Safeway's earliest delivery time was noon Tuesday. Peapod, Giant's delivery service, had no delivery available through April 3. Amazon, which delivers for Whole Foods, had a delivery slot at 9 p.m. Friday but none Saturday, the only other day listed. Toilet paper was unavailable at all three.

Seeking to keep shoppers safe in a period of social distancing, several grocers have introduced special hours reserved for older shoppers and those with compromised immune systems, an effort to reduce their risk of infection. Some shoppers are finding plexiglass shields for cashiers and marked floors so shoppers can stand six feet apart to maintain social distancing.

At least one grocery store in the Washington, D.C., region is switching to curbside pickup, worried that shopping inside isn't safe.

The Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op closed this week to transition to an online ordering system. Mike Houston, the store's general manager, said he hopes to reopen Saturday to complete orders filed with the web-based system, which was built from scratch.

The co-op has operated "massively beyond capacity" since the coronavirus outbreak hit, Houston said. Worried about risks to shoppers and employees in a 4,200-square-foot store - and skeptical that special hours for older guests will prevent infection - he decided "the only safe way to protect our employees and the public is to close the store off entirely."

"It's unbelievably hard," he said. "I've been in natural foods for a long time. Closing your door to people that purchase food goes against my DNA."

At least two small co-ops, in Minneapolis and Seattle, have had to temporarily close after employees tested positive for the coronavirus. From small grocers to national chains, some stores have boosted worker pay by $2 an hour amid the outbreak.

Houston said his store's brief closure might preserve business in the long run. He said he's "a week ahead of a bunch of other stores in coming to this conclusion."

"I would love to think we can sanitize our way out of this," he said, "but I don't think it's safe for people to crowd into a grocery store to shop."

In Northwest Washington, the Broad Branch Market's newest delivery method removes the possibility of human-to-human coronavirus spread: Deliveries are being made with robots. The small, six-wheeled computer-controlled vehicles resemble large white coolers.

After a customer places an order, the cargo hold is filled, and using global positioning data, the battery-powered robot buzzes off to its destination, generally a few blocks away. The customer is alerted to keep an eye out.

Such robots have been around for a while, often on college campuses, but are new to the Broad Branch Market.

"You've got to change the batteries a lot," store owner Tracy Stannard said. "They've gotten stranded a couple of times, going too far. It adds a little fun to the dire situation."

The robots are loaded with sensors and cameras, and they proceed cautiously. Each can carry two full bags of groceries. And they are fairly sanitary.

"It's pretty hands free," Stannard said. "We've been wiping them down anyway."

If there's one glitch, it's that the cargo area is too small for the store's long baguette.

Other businesses are reluctant or unable to switch to alternative delivery methods. Scott Nash, founder of Mom's Organic Market - started in Maryland in 1987, now with 19 locations in four states and the District of Columbia - said it doesn't do curbside pickup or delivery and has no plans to.

Nash said the store is trying to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, taking precautions such as increasing the frequency of cleanings and encouraging social distancing, while also hiring laid-off restaurant workers. But a switch to delivery in the grocery industry isn't sustainable for the long term, he said.

"Curbside and home delivery is a bit of a debacle right now with so many people placing orders," he said. "I feel like with the precautions that we've taken, each person can - if they're careful, mindful - be in control as to whether they catch it at the store."

- - -

The Washington Post's Hannah Natanson contributed to this report.
Bengaluru, March 28 : Karnataka recorded 10 new positive COVID-19 cases, raising the total to 74, an official said on Saturday.

"Till date, 74 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed which includes three deaths and five discharges," said a health official.

The new cases rose between 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Karnataka's 65th positive case is a 54-year-old woman from Uttara Kannada, wife of another positive case - a 65-year-old man from Uttara Kannada district who travelled to Dubai and returned to India via Mumbai on March 18. He took a train to Uttara Kannada.

The 65-year-old man's 28-year-old daughter has tested positive as the 66th case. Similarly, his second daughter also, a 23-year-old woman, tested positive to emerge as the 67th case.

Next, a 21-year-old man from Bengaluru with travel history to London tested positive as the 68th case. He is the son of a positive case and returned to India on March 17.

The 25th case was a 51-year-old man from Bengaluru who returned from London on March 13.

A 23-year-old man from Hindupur, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, a contact of the 19th case, has tested positive as the 69th case.

The 19th case was a 31-year-old man from Chikkaballapura with travel history to Mecca, Saudi Arabia who returned to India on March 14.

Five contacts of the 19th case tested positive for the virus, the other four include: a 70-year-old man from Chikkaballapura, 32-year-old woman from the same place, 38-year-old man from the same place, and an 18-year-old man from Hindupur, the 73rd case.

The last case on Saturday morning and the state's 74th case is a 63-year-old woman from the city with travel history to London. She returned to India on March 16.

All the new cases have been admitted in designated hospitals.

Meanwhile, city civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a public notice to provide free food at Indira Canteens to daily wage workers and poor people between 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
He returns to airwaves on March 30, prepared to mount his talk show solo as the coronavirus pandemic keeps Hollywood crews stuck at home.

But first, Conan O'Brien enjoyed his remaining down time, with the 56-year-old TV host seen biking around his neighborhood of Santa Monica on Friday.

The comedian appeared to have taken his mountain bike off-road recently, with plenty of mud seen spattered across its frame.

Two-wheeler: Conan O'Brien enjoyed his down time, with the 56-year-old TV host seen biking around his neighborhood of Santa Monica on Friday

The late-night host will resume putting out new episodes of Conan on March 30. His staff will remain at home, and the show will be cobbled together with O'Brien on an iPhone and guests via Skype.

'This will not be pretty, but feel free to laugh at our attempt,' said O'Brien on Twitter.

The late-night shows have all shut down production due to the coronavirus pandemic to avoid congregating live audiences and large TV crews. Some hosts have pumped out web videos.

Last days of freedom: Conan returns to airwaves on March 30, prepared to mount his talk show solo as the coronavirus pandemic keeps Hollywood crews stuck at home

Beneath the helmet: O'Brien seen here back in May 2019

Howdy neighbor: Conan seen here chatting with a neighbor - and practicing social distancing while doing so

Jimmy Fallon has produced 10-minute At Home shows for NBC's 'Tonight.' In one episode, he did a video chat with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Jimmy Kimmel and David Spade have given monologues from their homes. On Monday, Stephen Colbert delivered a 10-minute monologue from his bathtub in a segment that was added to an episode that was otherwise a rerun of CBS's The Late Show.

O'Brien, though, is the first to try to remotely mount a full broadcast from home.

'The quality of my work will not go down because technically thats not possible,' O'Brien joked in a statement.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the virus.
Shane Morigeau, a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, is a Democratic candidate for State Auditor in Montana.

Over the last few weeks we have seen numerous efforts brought forth to protect Montanans during these trying times. Many Montanans are stepping up to help one another and Governor Steve Bullock has taken measures to provide coverage for uninsured Montanans who need coronavirus testing, and if necessary, treatment.

We also saw the four major health insurance companies in Montana step up to expand telehealth coverage to combat COVID-19 and waive customer costs for coronavirus testing . But is this really enough? In this time of financial uncertainty and pandemic, all insurance companies, not just health insurance companies, should consider premium holidays (waivers) or extensions for those in need.

Im heartbroken to learn of Montanas first death due to COVID-19. Montana truly is one big small town  this news hits us hard, but were in this together. My family and I send our love and support to the family, friends, and community of our fellow Montanan.  Steve Bullock (@GovernorBullock) March 27, 2020

As we continue to see layoffs throughout the state, more Montanans will lack the funds to pay bills and put food on the table for their families . As layoffs continue, some Montanans will struggle to keep up with their insurance premiums, and we will see more gaps in coverage. When this happens, financial ruin is only a single accident or illness away, putting even more lives in jeopardy.

I recognize that in the face of this public health crisis, companies have voluntarily done some good work in Montana  especially on health insurance. But we need to take further and decisive action to protect our Montana families health and livelihoods. The fact is, many families will struggle to pay monthly premiums like home and auto. Gaps in coverage for these families could be devastating should the worst happen.

We cant afford to see uninsured rates rise in the middle of a public health emergency. A premium holiday or extension for all types of insurance coverage would go a long way for those who need to get back on their feet when its over. This is especially true for those who need access to essential health services throughout the crisis.

Insurance companies need to recognize this, and move immediately to develop a plan to provide premium holidays or extensions to families in need during this crisis.

As State Auditor, I will address these issues head-on, and I will fight for Montana families. Ill work with both our insurance companies and our state and federal partners to ensure all Montanans are protected from financial ruin. We need to do everything we can to ensure Montanans are protected from catastrophic events as they unfold, and help working families get back on their feet when things return to normal.

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As Easter approaches, images from an empty St. Peter's Square during a prayer Friday paint a stark portrait of the Vatican, which, along with surrounding Italy, has been afflicted by coronavirus.

During the Urbi and Orbi prayer, Pope Francis stood underneath a canopy as he spoke to an empty St. Peter's Square.

The Pope likened the coronavirus pandemic to an "unexpected, turbulent storm" that brings us on "the same boat."

He also expressed gratitude for the "ordinary people ... who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines"  doctors, nurses, grocery store workers and cleaners, among other essential employees working at the frontline of the pandemic.

'How we can show love for the most vulnerable': Churches cancel in-person Easter services

This moment of prayer provides an example of how the pope will celebrate many of the Catholic Church's largest masses amid this crisis. He will celebrate Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Easter vigil and Easter Sunday at the basilica's central altar.

Italys outbreak includes the worlds highest number of deaths for a single nation. The Vatican has four confirmed cases.

Pope Francis gives the Urbi et orbi blessing after presiding over a moment of prayer in St Peter's Square. March 27, 2020

Pope Francis prepares to give the Urbi et orbi blessing after presiding over a moment of prayer on the sagrato of St Peter's Basilica, the platform at the top of the steps immediately in front of the facade of the church.

Pope Francis says a prayer in St. Peter's Square. March 27, 2020

Praying in a desolately empty St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis on Friday likened the coronavirus pandemic to a storm laying bare illusions that people can be self-sufficient and instead finds "all of us fragile and disoriented" and needing each other's help and comfort.

Pope Francis He also expressed gratitude for doctors, nurses, grocery store workers and cleaners, among other essential employees working at the frontline of the pandemic. March 27, 2020

Pope Francis presides over a moment of prayer in St. Peter's Square. He likened the coronavirus pandemic to an "unexpected, turbulent storm" that brings us on "the same boat." March 27, 2020

Pope Francis presides over a moment of prayer on the sagrato of St Peter's Basilica, the platform at the top of the steps immediately in front of the facade of the church. March 27, 2020

Pope Francis performs a blessing on Friday to an empty St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Four people there have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. March 27, 2020

Pope Francis arrives to deliver an Urbi et orbi prayer from the empty St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis arrives to deliver an Urbi et orbi prayer from the empty St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. March 27, 2020.

Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Pope Francis prays to empty Vatican, St. Peter's Square
The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a $2.2 trillion aid package - the largest in American history - to help people and businesses cope with the economic downturn inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, France 24 reported.

The massive bill also rushes billions of dollars to medical providers on the front lines of the outbreak. Republican President Donald Trump is expected to sign it promptly into law.

"Our nation faces an economic and health emergency of historic proportions due to the coronavirus pandemic, the worst pandemic in over 100 years," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at the close of a three-hour debate on the House floor. "Whatever we do next, right now we're going to pass this legislation."

Democrats and Republicans in the Democratic-led House approved the package on a voice vote, turning back a procedural challenge from Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who had sought to force a formal, recorded vote.

Massie, an independent-minded Republican who has repeatedly defied party leaders, wrote on Twitter that he thought the bill contained too much extraneous spending and gave too much power to the Federal Reserve. His fellow lawmakers overruled his request.

On Twitter, Trump called Massie a "third rate Grandstander" and said he should be thrown out of the Republican Party. "He just wants the publicity," wrote Trump, who last week began pushing for urgent action on coronavirus after long downplaying the risk.

Democratic and Republican leaders asked members to return to Washington to ensure there would be enough present to head off Massie's gambit. Lawmakers from as far away as California were present for the debate. The session was held under special rules to limit the spread of the disease among members, who used hand sanitizer and in at least one case wore protective gloves.

At least three members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than two dozen have self-quarantined to limit its spread.

The Senate, which approved the bill in a unanimous vote on Wednesday evening, has adjourned and is not scheduled to return to Washington until late April.
If you live in a world where American citizenship means nothing, it might seem pretty logical to cut $1,200 checks to anyone who can make it across the border to collect them.

So now the braying begins about also handing out $1,200 checks to the 22 million illegal aliens currently in the states. Advocates don't think the checks should stop at Americans or legal residents.

Here's the Breitbart report:

Illegal aliens are demanding they too receive $1,200 in federal checks from the government as part of a Chinese coronavirus crisis relief package. Open borders organizations like the George Soros-funded United We Dream, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and the National Immigration Law Center  all of which represent the roughly 11 to 22 million illegal aliens living in the United States  are pleading with the federal government to cut federal checks to illegal aliens who have Individual Tax Identification Number (ITINs).

Here's the congressional champion of the idea from that "dead" congressional district with 9% voter turnout based on its huge base of illegals who are not, legally at least, able to vote.

To clarify, $1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers, NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs (ITINs).



Thanks to GOP, these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants,* who get nothing. Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon.



Wall St gets $4T  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 26, 2020

Which for illegals, is quite a pretty penny. Yes, there probably are illegals who can use those checks here. Think of how many there are in the restaurant, and low-paid services industries which are the hardest hit.

But the $1,200 checks also are roughly equal to the entire annual salary of a worker from Cambodia, so if you're an illegal here from that country, it's a free year without work, you can fly home and live high on the hog for a full year, or send it to someone back home and give them a year's vacation. It's close to the same from Ethiopia and Pakistan, both of which send illegals here in large numbers. It's about two months' salary of the average worker from Mexico, and when you consider that the average illegal from that country has far lower skills as well as earning power of the average Mexican, it's quite a bit of the year free from worry about work, too.

The normal response of illegals in a downturn is to head back home. This is a move by the illegals-industrial-complex to keep them and institutionalize them here, citizenship be damned, but for heavens sake, keep George Washington on the payments, don't bother with some global bitcoin currency from the United Nations. The money is billed as "free" but actually it's not free. Those of us here legally pay for it. Those who take, who aren't here legally, have no obligation to spend it in the U.S. economy to revive it, which is its purpose. With no loyalty to the U.S. they can just as easily ship it back home.

But the biggest problem is the advocates who are calling for this bad idea. They're the ones who "need" illegals - to serve as funding justification for their NGOs or else as fodder for their low-turnout congressional districts -- who continuously encourage people to stay illegal, given the cash it draws for their organizations to "serve" them. That $350 million in the stimulus bill just passed for "immigrant and refugee services" is just that.

Instead of calling on their left-wing congressional buddies to increase immigration quotas, which Congress has the power to do, or, to make it easier for people to immigrate, certainly something that ought to be do-able for illegal immigrants in genuinely necessary jobs such as farm work, they prefer to nullify citizenship entirely as an idea, blurring the distinction between legal and illegal, and demanding taxpayers to fork out the checks to all comers.

The whole proposal, if they get their way, passing maybe as a supplementary measure, would tack $26.4 billion onto the current stimulus bill, free of charge to illegals from U.S. taxpayers. It would amount to an incentives to illegals to pay the cartels to come on through, bringing in a new wave of border surges. Something like that would make those checks effectively a subsidy for Mexico's drug cartels.

This isn't really about illegals. It's about empowering left wing lawyers and their Democrat patrons who gain so much from illegal immigration. And they're willing to junk citizenship as having any meaning to do it. To heck with that.
TDT | Manama

Kuwaiti citizens in Bahrain have been repatriated in recent days in close coordination with Kuwaiti authorities here, said Information Minister.

Minister, Ali bin Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, said the repatriation was held in coordination with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain, Shaikh Thamer AlJaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The decision, Minister said, follows the directive of HM the King issued considering Kuwaitis in Bahrain as Bahraini citizens. All GCC nationals are Bahraini citizens under various circumstances, His Majesty explained.

The minister was speaking during an interview aired by Kuwaiti Al-Rai TV. Al-Rumaihi described Bahrains participation in the repatriation as a national duty reflecting the deep-rooted solid fraternal bilateral relations.

Kuwait reportedly flew back 306 citizens back to the country on board three planes coming from Lebanon, Egypt and Bahrain as part of a plan to bring back citizens from coronavirus-affected countries.

An Arabian Business Industries report quoting Kuwait ministry said, 195 Kuwaitis came from Egypt, 74 from Lebanon and 37 from Bahrain. They were all tested in airport facilities specially installed for this purpose and then taken to compulsory quarantine, according to Kuwait news agency KUNA.

Al-Rumaihi told Al-Rai TV that the current exceptional situation strengthened cohesion and solidarity among the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In this regard, presenter of the Min Alakhar programme, Dr Barakat Al Wegyan, said that the outstanding ties between Kuwait and Bahrain are a model to be emulated adding that the brotherly gesture is not strange to Bahrain.

Bans gatherings exceeding five

Meanwhile, Bahrain has tightened its measures to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) by announcing several measures recently. On Thursday, Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa announced banning gatherings exceeding five people in the Kingdom.

The directive prohibiting gatherings of more than five individuals on roads, yards, beaches, parks and other public places follows an Executive committee meeting chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.

Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh, Minister of Health, added that the Kingdom is set to close non-essential businesses from 26 March 2020 to 9 April 2020 during which only hypermarkets, supermarkets, cold stores, bakeries, pharmacies, and banks will remain open.

Restaurants will limit their service to delivery and takeout only. Violators will face a penalty of up to three years jail term or/and fined up to BD5000.

Bahrain tests 30506

According to the ministry of health statistics, Bahrain until now has tested 30621 people. There are 227 active cases in the Kingdom with 226 in stable condition and one person in critical condition.

Health Authorities has discharged 235 people from quarantine while declaring four deaths. The ministry has also introduced several measures including a contact tracing app BeAware to provide advance contact tracing services and awareness about active virus cases here.

The app provides users with locations of active cases and alerts while approaching an active carrier or location, taking care to ensure privacy. Latest reports say Bahrains current treatment centres capacity stands at 1,667 beds, of which 249 beds are occupied. Current quarantine centres capacity stands at 2,504 beds, of which 139 beds are occupied.

$5 trillion boost

Other governments in the Middle East and North Africa region are also ramping up their efforts to stopping the spread. In a wide-reaching decision, G20 nations pledged a united front Thursday in the fight against coronavirus, saying they were injecting $5 trillion into the global economy to counter the pandemic amid forecasts of a deep recession.

It is our responsibility to extend a helping hand to developing countries and (the) least developed countries to enable them to build their capacities and improve their infrastructure to overcome this crisis and its repercussions, King Salman said.
The family of the late Betty Ryan have expressed their awe as a community stood by them in Baile an Fheirtearaigh on Thursday, with locals lining the route taken by her Funeral cortege as a mark of respect for their friend, who passed away last week after a long battle against a blood cancer.

Due to blanket Funeral restrictions in place as part of Ireland's COVID-19 precautions, Betty's wake and Funeral had to be held privately, but locals were not to be denied their chance to say goodbye to a much-loved member of the community.

On both sides of the road between the parish church and Dun Urlann cemetery, people donned their high-vis jackets and, keeping the appropriate distance from one another, stood out as the hearse made its way along the roughly-two-kilometre route. Others chose to remain in their cars, but were there to salute the cortege as it filed past.

Betty battled bravely after being diagnosed with Myelodysplasia syndrome three years ago, but she succumbed to illness in University Hospital Kerry on St Patrick's Day.

Betty - who was a potter with facility in Baile an Fheirteirigh, and also worked in Naionra Ceann Tra - had previously undergone a bone-marrow transplant in London, but sadly relapsed some three months later.

A video was posted online by Sean Mac an tSithigh of the emotional tribute paid by the community to Betty, and it has captured hearts and minds throughout Kerry, Ireland, and further afield. Sean said the video had drawn nearly 685,000 views through Twitter alone, and the total number of views, factoring in other platforms, would likely put it over the one-million mark.

It has also featured in news outlets worldwide, including the New York Times.

The Kerryman contacted the Ryan family, and Betty's husband, Dennis, saluted back at the community who saluted his family.

"This was a beautiful way for the community to express their love for a beautiful person," he said. "Three years ago, Betty was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, which was the eventual cause of her death. Ironically, her blood type was also her motto for life: 'B-positive', and through her darkest days she said [that]: be positive.

"It's very hard to find the words to say thank you to all in the community for yesterday. We felt every hug and every handshake in each of the faces on that journey to the graveyard.

"Betty would be so proud and so happy for us to have that support. We would also like to thank the medical teams in Tralee, Cork and London who gave it everything, as did she. And almost made it. We are so very proud of her."

It was Tor Cotton and Teresa O'Connor who mobilised the effort, which began with reverent, spell-binding silence in the Gaeltacht village as the Ryan family moved from the church to a chilly Baile an Fheirtearaigh afternoon.

"It was a tribute as much as anything else to the Ryan family, who are just very popular, very nice people," Tor said. "The Funeral traditions are so culturally entrenched in West Kerry: the simple handshakes, the filing past a coffin, the opportunity to pay their respect. And I think people just realised this was another way of doing this.

"The idea came to me because I would be friendly with Betty's daughter, Carol, and I met her husband in Garvey's [SuperValu, Dingle], where he explained to me the restrictions that were in place for the Funeral. But I wanted to show up for Carol; for her husband; for Betty's husband, Denis; and all the kids. I put my idea to Teresa O'Connor, who worked with Betty in the Naionra, and she thought it was brilliant. So we composed a text and spread the word on social media; I rallied the Baile an Fheirtearaigh side, while Teresa looked after the Ceann Tra side, more or less. We met an overwhelming response, and it just seemed to grow its own legs.

"The silence in the village was spell-binding as they left the church, and then, I understand, people began to sing Oro Se do Bheatha Bhaile as they approached the school."

The late Betty was predeceased by her sister, Margaret, and is survived by her husband, Denis; son, Denis Og; daughters Carol, Triona, and Jenni; sisters, Catherine and Trisha; brothers, Christy and Joe; grandchildren; daughter-in law, Niamh; sons-in-law, Mark, Fergal, and Dan; nieces and nephews; relatives; and, evidently, many, many friends.
Can you blame the Democrats? They had 20 characters running for president a year ago. The debates turned into an argument about who could go farther to the left.

In the end, former vice president Joe Biden survived, and now a lot of Democrats cringe every time he goes on TV.

Enter Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York.

Let's be fair and recognize that Gov. Cuomo is facing a major health crisis, and I wish him the very best.

Nevertheless, a lot of those "cringing" Democrats want Gov. Cuomo to get in. They enjoy watching him answering questions and being in charge, the alpha male missing in the party.

Will it happen? My guess is no, but I also didn't think Mr. Trump would be nominated in 2016.

What would Gov. Cuomo bring to the voters? His record may not play well in the heartland, as Professor Jacobson wrote:

Anyone who is familiar with Andrew Cuomo knows how horrible a national candidate he would be. He will play well in liberal circles and big cities, but he's been poison in much of the nation. His SAFE Act gun control legislation has led to a revolt by all but one upstate county and is deeply unpopular outside downstate. He banned fracking, allowing the Southern Tier of upstate New York to crumble while areas across the border in Pennsylvania to thrive. He forced through one of the most aggressive and abusive pro-abortion laws.

Yes, I can't wait for Catholic bishops to talk about that abortion law the legislators were cheering about in Albany.

Once again, we wish Gov. Cuomo the best in dealing with a horrific situation. Eventually, the virus will pass, and this week's "flavor" won't taste that good.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

Caricature by DonkeyHotey, CC BY-SA 2.0.
In a bid to infuse professionalism in its efforts to arrest the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus, the Odisha government is mulling inviting expression of interest from experts across the globe to manage the emergent situation in the state.

The evolving scenario presents dynamic challenges and calls for high-level professionalism, Chief Secretary A K Tripathy said in an official statement.

The statement was issued by the state government after the administration feared that the coronavirus could be advancing towards community transmission in the state after a 60-year-old man with no recent travel history tested positive.

We have witnessed overwhelming interest from senior professionals across the globe to lend their expertise voluntarily, Tripathy said.

Therefore, the state administration intends to invite expression of interest from senior professionals with long experience of working in large corporate initiatives in healthcare, hospital infrastructure and management, international logistics and sourcing of equipment, accessories and materials, and governments, private and public charitable sectors, he said.

Such individuals may write to the chief secretary for consideration to be engaged as honorary advisors to work with the government.

They will be required to assist the government at senior management level, he said.

The government has also named the officer to be contacted for the purpose, he added. Anyone interested to join the states efforts may contact Vishal K. Dev, IAS, OSD to Chief Secretary for COVID- 19 via telephone - 0674-2536727, Fax - 0674-2396348 or e- mail:vishal.k.dev@gmail.com, an official said.

The state government has already engaged Odisha Skill Development Authority Chairman Subroto Bagchi, a co-founder of Mindtree and a business author, as its Chief Spokesperson for the COVID-19.

The state has so far reported three COVID-19 positive cases.

A total of 4,495 people have registered through the 104 helpline and the portal after returning from abroad, while 37 persons are in hospital Isolation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan. March 28

Trend:

Azerbaijans State Migration Service has automatically accepted all requests from foreigners to extend their stay in the country, which ended (or will end) during the period from March 16 to April 30, the Migration Service told Trend.

The Migration Service has already decided to extend the temporary stay of persons who are allowed to stay in the country from March 16 to March 31, 2020.

Decisions regarding persons with a temporary stay until April 30, 2020 will be adopted by the State Service in stages.

Information about this will be posted in a short time on the official website of the service.

The State Service noted that foreigners and stateless persons acquire the right to stay in the country on the basis of decisions made only after payment of the state fee (duty payment numbers are already available on the website https://eservice.migration.gov.az/public/payments-search).
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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump has decided against imposing a quarantine on New York as the state battles the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the @CDCgov to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government, Trump announced late Saturday on Twitter. A quarantine will not be necessary. Full details will be released by CDC tonight. Thank you!

Trump disclosed earlier in the day that he was considering a short-term quarantine for New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, which also have been hard-hit by the coronavirus. Trump suggested a quarantine would be enforceable and would probably last about two weeks.

"Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hot spot," he said.

On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the @CDCgov to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo questioned the need for a quarantine, telling reporters in Albany that he didnt know what it would entail and how it could be enforced legally. From a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing, he said.

Trumps announcement that he was weighing a quarantine came amid a decision by a handful of states to put in place precautions for New Yorkers traveling to their areas.

Governors in Texas, Florida, Maryland and South Carolina this week ordered people arriving from the New York area  including New Jersey and Connecticut  and other virus hot spots to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival. Rhode Island State Police on Friday began pulling over drivers with New York plates so that National Guard officials could collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine.

Story continues

 Michael Collins

Trump says he may impose quarantines on NY, parts of Conn. and NJ

ALBANY, N.Y.  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had not spoken about a potential quarantine on New York when he spoke with President Donald Trump on Saturday morning.

"I havent had those conversations. I dont even know what that means," Cuomo told reporters during his daily briefing at the state Capitol.

Trump said Saturday he is considering imposing an "enforceable" quarantine on New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, areas hard-hit by the coronavirus.

Asked more about Trump's comments, Cuomo reiterated, "I dont even know what means. I dont know how that could be legally enforceable. And from a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing. But I can tell you I dont even like the sound of it; not even understanding what it is.

- Joseph Spector

Utah Rep. Ben McAdams released from hospital, to quarantine at home

Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah, who has coronavirus, was been released from the hospital on Saturday.

"I was released from the hospital today feeling relatively better after getting treatment for the past week for COVID-19," McAdams said in a statement. "Im grateful for the excellent care I received from hospital staff. I look forward to continuing my recovery at home as I remain quarantined, including from my family, and gradually getting back to my normal routine as my health improves."

McAdams tested positive for the virus on March 18, which was three days after he said he started showing symptoms. Two days after he tested positive, he was admitted to the hospital after experiencing "severe shortness of breath."

In a tweet, he urged everyone to take the threats of #coronavirus seriously."

McAdams is one of four U.S. House members who have tested positive.

 Savannah Behrmann

Trump sends off naval hospital ship USNS Comfort

Speaking from a pier at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, President Donald Trump called the USNS Comfort a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York.

The president and Defense Secretary Mark Esper were in Norfolk as part of a send-off for the Comfort, which is going to New York City to help the city combat coronavirus.

Were here for you, were fighting for you, and we always will be, Trump said.

Trump said the naval hospital ship is equipped has 12 operating rooms, 1,000 hospital beds, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, radiology, CAT-scan equipment, two oxygen-producing plants and a helicopter deck. Its stocked to the brim with equipment, medicines and everything you can think of, he said.

Coronavrius patients won't be treated on the ship, Trump said. Instead, it will be used to treat New Yorkers who don't have the virus but still require urgent care.

"By serving these emergency patients away from the hospital, beds will be opened up all over the city for those who are infected, Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks in front of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va., on Saturday. He is accompanied by Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

We will stop at nothing to protect the people of New York, he said.

Trump said the nation is engaged in a war against a horrible, invisible enemy.

But, through it all, the world has witnessed the unyielding resolve of our American people, he said. We are a nation of colossal strength.

We will win this war, and we will win this war quickly  with as little death as possible, he said.

After completing his brief remarks, Trump and Esper turned to face the massive hospital ship and then waved as it sounded its horn and pushed off from the pier. A tug boat pushed the ship toward the open sea.

The ship is scheduled to arrive in New York Harbor on Monday and begin treating patients the next day.

- Michael Collins

Esper: hospital ship is a symbol of 'medical care and compassion'

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper gave a send-off to the USNS Comfort, a naval hospital ship set to travel to New York City to help the city battle the coronavirus outbreak.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the Comfort one of our most powerful symbols medical care and compassion."

- Michael Collins

Trump says he may impose quarantines on NY, parts of Conn. and NJ

President Donald Trump said Saturday he is considering imposing a two-week quarantine on New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut to deal with the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

"Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hot spot," Trump told reporters from the White House South Lawn as he departed for Norfolk, Va. "I'm thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it, but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine."

Trump said he planned to speak to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo later Saturday. He said a quarantine would be "enforceable" if he decides to order one but that he has no plans to close New York City's subway system.

A quarantine decision "will be made, one way or another, shortly," Trump wrote on Twitter.

I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020

Trump's remarks come as a handful of states have put in place precautions for New Yorkers traveling to their areas.

Governors in Texas, Florida, Maryland and South Carolina this week ordered people arriving from the New York area  including New Jersey and Connecticut  and other virus hot spots to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival. Rhode Island State Police on Friday began pulling over drivers with New York plates so that National Guard officials can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine.

Meanwhile, Trump is traveling to Norfolk on Saturday to give a ceremonial send-off to a naval hospital ship departing for New York City to assist with the city's coronavrius response.

The USNS Comfort is equipped with 1,000 hospital beds and will carry more than 1,200 medical personnel and supplies to New York, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. As of Friday, the state reported 46,094 confirmed cases of the deadly virus, nearly half of all cases reported in the U.S.

The doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, x-ray technicians, orderlies and other medical staff aboard the vessel will support New York Citys medical community and conserve hospital capacity by treating some coronavirus patients aboard the ship, the White House said.

The ship had been in maintenance and was not scheduled to leave for New York Harbor for another three weeks, but officials pushed up its departure date because of the rapid spread of the virus. It's scheduled to arrive in New York on Monday.

Grim milestone: US becomes the first country to reach 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases

U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort is heading to New York City to help officials respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump will give remarks before the ships departure from Naval Station Norfolk.

Ill kiss it goodbye, he joked at a White House briefing on Thursday.

The 150-mile trip to Norfolk is Trumps first outside of Washington since March 9 and has raised questions because it comes as his administration has advised other Americans to practice social distancing and to refrain from travel. But the 73-year-old president defended his decision to go to Norfolk, telling reporters at the White House on Friday that he thought it was important to send a message to the country.

Its right down the road, practically. Right? he said. It doesn't mean I'm going to be hugging people, and it doesn't mean that I'm going to be shaking people's hands and everything. But I think it sends a signal when the president is able to go there and say thank you.

Also Friday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a grim warning about what lies ahead for the city, saying that medical personnel already are working in what he described as battlefield type conditions.

Were going to need help from the outside to get through the sheer magnitude of the crisis ahead, he said. People need to be ready for battle.

The USNS Mercy, another naval hospital ship, arrived Friday in Los Angeles to help in the city's response to the global pandemic.

The U.S. on Friday became the first country to record 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

New York primary postponed from April to June

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that hes postponing the states presidential primary.

The primary originally set for April 28 has moved to June 23. It now corresponds with state and congressional primaries.

I don't think it's wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote, Cuomo said during a press conference.

New York currently has the largest amount of coronavirus cases across the nation. At least a dozen states have postponed their elections due to the coronavirus pandemic.

- Rebecca Morin

Coronavirus spread: US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump says NY-area quarantine 'will not be necessary'
The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, the World Health Organisation warned. The virus has infected around a staggering 600,000 people across the globe. 24,000 people have already succumbed to death due to Covid-19 infection worldwide. With the virus heading westwards, European nations as well the United States of America have reported more severity in the number of cases as well the rate of Covid-19 fatalities as compared to the original epicentre - China.

Italy, Spain, Iran, France and the United States have the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths besides China. What is peculiar is that these countries are also witnessing a dramatic rise in the number of daily fatalities.

Italy, this week, recorded the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in a day with over 800 people dying. Death toll in Italy surged by 919 to a total of 9,134 on Friday. Spain was not behind and registered over 700 deaths in a day earlier this week. Over 300 Covid-19 deaths were reported in France on Thursday. The United States, which now has over 1,000 coronavirus deaths, recorded over 300 deaths from Covid-19 on Thursday.

According to reports, the total number of coronavirus cases in America tops a whopping 100,000 now, surpassing Chinas record of the highest number of Covid-19 cases with over 81,000 patients. According to an analysis, New York City area may suffer a more severe outbreak than those experienced in Wuhan, China or the Italys Lombardy region if the rate of growth in Covid-19 cases continues. Death toll in New York alone jumped to 519 on Friday, 40 per cent of total US coronavirus deaths.

In India, 19 people have been killed by the deadly virus. On Saturday, as per the health ministry data, the number of positive Covid-19 cases in the country jumped to 873. Nearly 90 Covid-19 patients in the country have recovered from the virus.
Michelle Keegan reportedly pulled out of an appearance on Saturday Kitchen Live this weekend in order to self-isolate at home with her husband Mark Wright.

The actress, 32, is believed to have followed government legislation to stay at home in a bid to protect herself and others from the coronavirus pandemic.

While Michelle decided to pull out of her appearance, some guests including Silent Witness star and comedian Liz Carr still featured on the programme.

Staying safe: Michelle Keegan reportedly pulled out of an appearance on Saturday Kitchen Live this weekend in order to self-isolate at home with her husband Mark Wright

The former Coronation Street star was thought to be appearing on the morning show to promote the latest series of her show Our Girl.

A source told The Sun: 'Michelle's priority is staying safe and following the government advice so she stayed at home in isolation with Mark.'

MailOnline have contacted Michelle's representative's for further comment.

The BBC revealed earlier this week that there are currently no plans to cancel Saturday Kitchen Live, hosted by Matt Tebbutt.

Promo: The former Coronation Street star was thought to be appearing on the morning show to promote the latest series of her show Our Girl

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said earlier this week: 'Saturday Kitchen Live is continuing, closely following guidelines from healthcare officials.'

Michelle and Mark are currently isolating in their 2million property, which has six bedrooms, three bathrooms and plush furnishings.

She gave an inside look at their home on Tuesday's This Morning after she was forced to deliver an interview via videolink from her bedroom.

The former Coronation Street star's bedroom boasted several luxury details such as a padded velvet floor-to-ceiling headboard, a collection of plump velvet pillows and gold bedding.

Lavish: Michelle teased a glimpse of her lavish home with husband Mark in Chigwell, Essex

Calling Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby from home, Michelle, who plays Georgie Lane in the show, joked; 'Good job Ive cleaned, my house has never looked so clean!'

Then talking about Our Girl, she said: 'So Georgie is back and training a new batch of medics. Theres an underlying sense of grief for Elvis that we'll see earlier in the series

'Last season ended on a cliff-hanger and the thing is you dont know who survives, its down the line, she's got a promotion...'

Dreamy: The Our Girl actress and former TOWIE star purchased the 2million property in 2013 and it has six bedrooms, three bathrooms and plush furnishings

Then her dogs start barking. Michelle said: 'See its all gone wrong already. Im shutting my door. sorry about that they get back to afghan and she's conflicted about whether to go or not.'

Michelle said that there won't be any sign of romance with Captain James in the new series.

She said: 'No, unfortunately hes not back this season. I think with Georgie she's married to her job in a sense she puts her job first. Shes trying to get over the death of Elvis and she needs closure with that.'

A glimpse: Michelle gave an inside look at their home on Tuesday's This Morning after she was forced to deliver an interview via videolink from her bedroom amid the UK coronavirus lockdown

Michelle also spoke about how she's finding being in self-isolation.

She said: 'Dont get me wrong Im keeping busy. Ive been doing jigsaws non-stop, Ive been exercising, taking the dogs for a walk, and cleaning.

'Im enjoying being home with my dogs and Mark, and I want to say hi to my family and friends I've not seen in a while.'

Michelle has now left Our Girl and said she's looking forward to pastures new.
The Government has tightened its lockdown in the battle against the coronavirus and is telling people to stay in their houses almost around the clock.

"We're not prisoners of fate," Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last night as he announced new, stricter measures.

"We can influence what's going to happen to us next. There is no fate for what we make for ourselves."

For a two-week period, everyone is to remain indoors, other than making essential trips for food, household goods, to attend medical appointments and for "vital" family reasons.

Supermarkets will remain open. Non-essential shops will be closed.

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Expand Close Two women wearing face masks on an almost deserted Henry Street yesterday. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire / Facebook

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Brief exercise is allowed, but only within 2km of home.

Mr Varadkar said the 2km restriction would be "very hard" to police, but the Government had enacted laws to allow gardai to detain people and impose penalties.

All public and private gatherings are prohibited.

"Apart from the activities that I've listed there should be no travel outside of 2km radius of your home for any reason. These are radical actions aimed at saving as many people's lives as possible in the days and weeks ahead," he said.

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Cocooning will be introduced for all of those over 70, and for categories of people who are extremely vulnerable to Covid-19, meaning they must say indoors for the two-week period.

It came as it emerged that a nurse is among those to have died from the virus here.

The death toll from the virus has continued to mount as three more people died from the deadly infection yesterday.

The number of new daily confirmed cases also reached a record high of 302, pushing the total up to 2,121 so far.

There was also a worrying rise in the number of severely-ill patients needing high-level treatment, with 419 hospitalised and 71 people critically ill in intensive care.

More men than women continue to contract the infection, accounting for 54pc of cases.

There have been 79 clusters of infection, involving groups of people who caught the virus.

Of those who were struck with the virus, nearly one in four are healthcare workers.

Community transmission, in which people contract the virus and have no known source, makes up 56pc.

In Dublin, 922 infections have been confirmed.

The speed with which the virus is gaining traction is revealed in figures which show the number of infected people has jumped from 683 to 2,121 in just a week - a rise of 1,458.

The Taoiseach said the death toll was "impossible to predict" as the virus was new and "we're only still learning about it".

"If you take the average flu season in Ireland, there'll be roughly 500 deaths," he said.

"If you take a bad flu season in Ireland, there'd be roughly 1,000 deaths.

"So it would be a surprise, and a very pleasant surprise, if the number of deaths at the end of this is less than 1,000."

Mr Varadkar also said that Intensive Care Units (ICUs) will be full in the coming days but the health service was working to increase capacity.

Tadhg Daly, of Nursing Homes Ireland, representing private nursing homes, accused the HSE of poaching some of its staff at this critical time.

Staff from private nursing homes who were on a HSE recruitment panel are now being contacted to take up work, and private nursing homes are being asked to provide references for them.

"The objective should be to pool staff at this stage," he said.

He said he will raise the urgent issue with Health Minister Simon Harris at a meeting on Monday and any new staff recruited to the HSE at this stage should not be coming from the private nursing home sector.

"We have seen, which gives us concern, a number of nursing homes, 10 in the country in total, and a number of other residential facilities, as well as healthcare institutions, reporting clusters of infection," chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said.

"Given the vulnerable nature of the populations in some of those settings, we think all of those measures in combination show that, although we've seen some slowdown in the growth of cases overall, some of the other measures have continued to increase."

Dr Holohan said he was concerned about a number of clusters of coronavirus breaking out in nursing homes.

He said experts hoped that the restrictive measures would reduce transmission significantly.

"We think that now, over the course of this week having seen that data, some of those important indicators have more than doubled in the course of three or four days," he said.

"We thought it was not appropriate for us to wait until next week and the next scheduled meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team to evaluate whether further action was necessary.

"For that reason we met this challenge so that we continue our pattern of early and decisive response to the measures and the changes that we see happening in relation to the disease.
The $2 trillion federal stimulus package President Donald Trump signed Friday is a crucial first step toward stabilizing an economy crushed by the unfolding coronavirus outbreak, but our states will need more support and we will continue to fight for more, the governors of New Jersey and Massachusetts wrote in an op-ed in the New York Times.

The column on Friday, penned by Gov. Phil Murphy and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker read like both a genteel and patriotic thank-you note and a respectful warning to the president that they would be back again asking for more.

New Jersey expects to get $5.8 billion under the bill Trumped signed Friday. Massachusetts is slated to receive $2.67 billion in aid.

The governors said they shut schools and businesses to save lives and contain the spread of the invisible enemy, borrowing a phrase Trump uses to describe the coronavirus.

Even when we are able to lift our states of emergency and direct our businesses to reopen and our people to once again move freely, it will take time for our economies to recover. We can already estimate the impact of our actions to date in billions of dollars in lost economic activity. We cant simply make this up when the emergency ends and we begin to restart our states, Murphy and Baker wrote.

We made these decisions to protect our residents. It would be cruel for us to slash the programs our residents are depending on to get their lives back to normal, the governors wrote.

This is what has made the federal rescue bill a crucial first step in supporting our states survivals, let alone our nations. But to be clear, our states will need more support. And we will continue to fight for more. Our work in this effort has only just begun.

Murphy, a Democrat, and Baker, a Republican, both graduated from Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts, in 1975.

Our states are diverse collections of millions of residents with equally diverse viewpoints. We hardly ever agree on anything at the same time," the governors wrote. But on one thing we have found common purpose. Our states are, at their core, families  just as we are all part of the American family. And as any family does in times of crisis, we come together, and we look forward with confidence that well emerge stronger than before.

New Jersey, a state of 9 million residents, has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the nation, with 8,825 cases as of Friday afternoon.

Massachusetts  which has 7 million residents  has at least 3,240 known cases, including at least 35 deaths.

New Jersey officials say they expect the peak number of cases to be less than three weeks away, with a surge in hospitalized patients by mid-April.

The Trump administration has sent New Jersey two shipments of personal protective equipment for health-care workers and agreed to help build four pop-up hospitals.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli has said the state requested 2,300 ventilators, more than double the number hospitals now have, in anticipation of the surge of patients. If the supply runs low, the state will create guidelines suggest which patients ought to receive a ventilator and which should not.

The governors also invoked the front-line heroes in their plea for ongoing support.

We will need more to continue to fully support the front-line heroes who have emerged in our fight against the coronavirus: the doctors, nurses and public-health workers tending to the sick; the members of law enforcement and public-safety operations who are looking after our communities; the grocery store workers keeping a supply of food and other essential goods on the shelves; the janitors and custodians cleaning our buildings; and the many others who have put serving their fellow residents above serving themselves, they wrote.

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Chevron is contributing $230,000 across Permian Basin nonprofits responding to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release from the oil company.

Organizations receiving funding include the West Texas Food Bank and United Way agencies in Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented and evolving crisis that necessitates a community-wide response, Nathan Carroll, Chevron Operations superintendent in Carlsbad, said in a statement. Whether its an individual doing their part to social distance, a teacher facilitating tele-learning from their home, or a healthcare worker on the front lines, we want to say thank you to our Permian heroes. Chevron is proud to do our part.

Funds from Chevron will go toward community COVID-19 response efforts, with a focus on food and housing security.

The West Texas Food Bank distributes food to children, families and senior through a network of 80+ partner agencies across 34,000 square miles of West Texas, says Libby Campbell, executive director of the West Texas Food Bank.

Linda Dodd, executive director of the Eddy County United Way, said, This donation comes at a time when our agency is going full throttle to fulfill our mission of meeting community needs, whether they be senior citizen meals, food for children and families, housing insecurity, and more. We see a long road ahead, and we cant thank Chevron enough for this vital support.

Chevron and its legacy companies have operated in the Permian Basin for almost 100 years, said Don Puckett, general manager of Operations for the Chevron Mid-Continent Business Unit. We have weathered many storms alongside our Permian communities, and we will weather this one the same way we have the others  together and with a focus on helping our neighbors in need.
HONG KONG, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday slammed Human Rights Watch for grossly interfering with the HKSAR's judicial independence, urging the foreign non-governmental organization not to go further down the wrong path.

The spokesperson of the commissioner's office has firmly opposed and condemned the unwarranted remarks by Human Rights Watch that the Hong Kong police's legal action against a district councilor suspected of violating the law is "political persecution" and that the case should be immediately dropped, the commissioner's office said in a statement.

Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law, said the spokesperson, where no one is above the law, still less at liberty to knowingly break the law.

By openly condoning doxxing and incitement to violence and hatred under the pretext of human rights, Human Rights Watch has made a travesty of human rights, trampled the rule of law, and grossly interfered with the HKSAR's judicial independence, said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson pointed out that Human Rights Watch has a track record for meddling with Hong Kong affairs and played a disgraceful role in the unrest last year.

"In total disregard of the facts and the law, it whitewashed the extremists' outrageous violence as peaceful and rational demonstrations, and smeared the Hong Kong police's restrained law enforcement efforts as excessive use of force."

"It even sent members to join the street rioters, cheered the latter on and acted as their accomplice by hampering the police's performance of duty," said the spokesperson. "Therefore, it should shoulder a good part of the blame for the rampant violence in Hong Kong."

The spokesperson emphasized that "all Chinese people, including our Hong Kong compatriots, will never allow Human Rights Watch and other anti-China organizations to run amok on China's land, or to sow trouble by exploiting Hong Kong affairs".

"If Human Rights Watch insists on going further down the wrong path, it will find itself on the opposite side of the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Hong Kong," warned the spokesperson.
The Centre has accepted a request



from the Maharashtra government to give a 3-month extension to state chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, who will now remain in the post till June 30, an official said on Saturday.

His first 6-month extension was to end on March 31, he added.

"This has been done as a special case, in public interest, considering the public health emergency situation," the letter from the Union ministry of personnel to the state government said.

The country is in the midst of a 21-day lockdown to battle the novel coronavirus outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Navy, the military service hit hardest by the coronavirus, scrambled to contain its first at-sea outbreak, with at least two dozen infected aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of 11 active aircraft carriers whose mission is central to the Pentagon's strategy for deterring war with China and Iran.

The Roosevelt and its contingent of warplanes may be sidelined for days, sitting pier side in Guam as the entire crew more than 5,000 is tested. Navy leaders say the carrier could return to duty at any time if required, but the sudden setback is seen as a harbinger of more trouble to come.

The Navy is headed into choppy waters in terms of readiness in the months ahead, says retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former ship commander who rose to become NATO's top commander in Europe.

In Asia, a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a fundamental shift from fighting insurgent and extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a return to great power competition." That means, principally, a bigger focus on China, including its militarization of disputed areas of the South China Sea.

The carrier, like other Navy ships, is vulnerable to infectious disease spread given its close quarters. The massive ship is more than 1,000 feet long; sailors are spread out across a labyrinth of decks linked by steep ladder-like stairs and narrow corridors.

Enlisted sailors and officers have separate living quarters, but they routinely grab their food from crowded buffet lines and eat at tables joined end-to-end.

Stavridis fears that berthing compartments, or sleeping quarters where a dozen sailors are often packed into spaces not much larger than an average kitchen, will become birthing compartments for the virus.

Although the Navy is much smaller than the Army, it accounts for at least one-third of all reported COVID-19 cases in the military. None has been reported among Navy submarine crews, which are widely deployed and include subs armed with long-range nuclear missiles on constant patrol.

The US Pacific Fleet commander, Adm. John Aquilino, said in an Associated Press interview late Thursday that it's not clear how long the Roosevelt will be kept in Guam and that its schedule will be adjusted "as needed. He said no infected sailor is a critical health risk but some have been hospitalized.

We're clearly interested in ensuring that the ship and the crew are healthy said Aquilino, speaking from his Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, base. But let there be no doubt the ship's ready to respond if needed. He said worried family members at home should know everything possible is being done for crew safety.

Family members of Roosevelt sailors have been reaching out to each other on social media. Expressing shock and anxiety, they alternately worried about their family members on the ship and their children at home, sprinkling their posts with questions about local virus testing and memes about toilet paper shortages and pandemic fears.

The Roosevelt had been in the South China Sea, and its most recent port visit had been at Vietnam's popular coastal city of Da Nang earlier this month. The carrier was engaged in an exercise with another U.S. warship in the Philippine Sea when it first detected a COVID-19 infection aboard, other officials said.

Asked if the outbreak came as a surprise, Aquilino said, We are operating in the area where the disease started. All the risk and the spread of this disease initiated in this theater.

So, if we were surprised, we'd be naive. Aquilino said procedures are in place to try to minimize any spread of the virus, and based on the status of the entire Pacific fleet, I'm very happy with the commanding officers and the teams for taking this seriously.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Friday that it would take 25 days to test all Roosevelt crew members, based on the ship's current testing capability, but that is being augmented urgently. Separately, in a telephone interview with a group of reporters from his office in the Pentagon, Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Friday he is pretty confident the entire crew will be tested in less than one week.

Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, Modly said that in broad terms the Navy began thinking about global contingency plans in January, although infections have become pronounced only in recent weeks.

I think we're doing okay, he said. I think obviously, just like everybody else in this crisis, we're having to adjust a lot on the fly as we learn more about the virus and how it's behaving.

As the most-recognized symbol of American sea power, the Navy's carrier fleet has taken on a bigger role in the Middle East over the past year, returning to persistent patrols in the Persian Gulf as part of the Trump administration's strategy for deterring Iran from attacking U.S. and allied interests in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Midland Planning Commission discusses assisted living facility... During its first meeting of the year, the Midland City Planning Commission discussed a concept...

Midland County COVID-19 Report  Jan. 13, 2022 Midland County added 287 new COVID cases and two deaths from Jan. 11-12, according to the state...
As the world grapples with coronavirus pandemic, the situation in China where the lethal virus originated last year is gradually improving.

Looking into the details of the chain of events that have played out over the last three months globally, often raise some doubts and concerns, even as much is written and discovered about coronavirus everyday.

Consider this -- there are nearly 40,000 coronavirus cases in New York City in the US, located at around 15,000 km from Wuhan, the Chinese province which was the epicenter of the outbreak.

Similarly, Italy, which came into the tidal wave of infections, and which is located at over 8600 km from Wuhan has reported more than 80,000 cases and over 9,000 deaths.

By contrast, Shanghai, one of the global business hub and Beijing, two Chinese cities located at 839 and 1152 km respectively from Wuhan, have been almost untouched by the epidemic.

It remains a mystery that when almost the entire world, as far as the US, Italy or even Iran have been infected by the virus, then how did the Chinese capital so close to Wuhan, remain untouched by it.

That the US leaders have resorted to blaming China should come as no surprise. The US President has repeatedly referred to the pathogen as the - Chinese virus.

Even though in early January, the Chinese authorities had reportedly accused the whistleblower doctor who tried to warn others of the possible outbreak of illness that resembled SARS, the WHO in late January congratulated the Chinese government for taking "extraordinary measures" to contain the outbreak.

A statement from the DG on WHO website dated January 30, reads: "The Chinese government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak, despite the severe social and economic impact those measures are having on the Chinese people."

The defence for China and flowering praises for the dictatorial regime did not end there.

"...The speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive, and beyond words. So is China's commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries. In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response. It's not an exaggeration."

In return, the Chinese diplomats have often referred to praise heaped by the WHO to defend their government.

In early February, the Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong in an interview to ANI referred to this praise and said: "As the Director-General of WHO Dr. Tedros said, the speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive, and beyond words."

Not just this, when the countries announced travel restriction in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the UN health body stressed that it does not recommend limiting trade and travel.

The entire sequence of events has left people wondering about the role of WHO and the role of its DG.

Nearly six weeks after the first evidence of human-to-human transmission was found, the World Health Organisation in its January 14 statement, echoed China's assessment, "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in Wuhan, China."

Here in South Asia, when the outbreak happened, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with leaders from SAARC nations to share ideas on combating it.

PM Modi also announced an emergency fund to tackle the outbreak. Several SAARC nations have contributed to this fund.

Days later, PM Modi held talks with Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman where the two leaders discussed the global situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Prime Minister emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to adequately address this global challenge, which has impacted not only the health and well-being of several hundred thousand people but also threatens to adversely affect the economy in many parts of the world. In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned India's recent initiative to organise a video conference among SAARC countries," said an official statement.

According to the official statement, the two leaders agreed that a similar exercise at the level of G20 leaders, under the aegis of Saudi Arabia as the Chair of G20, would be useful at a global scale, both for discussing specific measures to address the challenges posed by the global outbreak of COVID-19 and also to instil confidence in the global populace. This extraordinary virtual summit took place recently.

China wants India to remove its untouchability in the international community after the leadership demonstrated by India in these summits.

WHO too praised the India government's commitment to combat the deadly virus.

"I think the commitment of the Indian government from the top level -- the Prime Minister's office himself -- has been enormous, very impressive. This is one of the reasons why India is doing very well. I am very impressed that everyone has been mobilised," Henk Bekedam, the WHO Representative to India had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With most upcoming films either delayed or pushed directly onto streaming platforms, actor David Harbour has suggested that the latter might be the best bet for Black Widow as well. The Marvel superhero film was slated for an April release, before being pushed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In a live Instagram Q&A session, Harbour said, My publisher also sent me an email saying Black Widow had been postponed and I think I replied shocker. Wouldnt it be fun if we all could just stream it? But thats above my pay grade.

Also read: The real Black Widow villain isnt Taskmaster, its someone youve already seen in the trailer

Harbour plays Red Guardian, Natasha Romanoffs father, in the film. The actor will next be seen opposite Chris Hemsworth in Netflixs Extraction. But hes more popular for the sci-fi series Stranger Things. Harbour was filming the shows fourth season when all production was halted. He suspects this might cause the show to probably be pushed back. He added that season four was supposed to come out early next year, I think, although I dont have authority on this.

Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson, is a prequel, and is set between the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. The film also stars Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and OT Fagbenle.

Other major films to be delayed are Mulan, No Time to Die, Sooryavanshi, 83, and others. The coronavirus pandemic has affected close to 600000 people worldwide, including over 800 in India.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Chelsea winger Pedro admits he is finding it hard separated from his children due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Pedro's kids are back in Spain and the 32-year-old is unable to go home to see his family because of the travel restrictions imposed around the pandemic.

The Spaniard has remained in England and the separation has been an unsettling experience.

"It's hard not to be seeing your children, your parents, your siblings, not having them close by at a complicated, difficult time for us all," Pedro told Chelsea's website.

"We are in permanent contact on the phone, keeping in touch about what we are up to in isolation and trying to be as close as possible.

"Of course, we would have liked to be there but for safety reasons that isn't possible so for now we are going to stay where we are and try to get through it as best we can."



The Premier League remains suspended until April 30, but that date could be extended as the spread of the virus remains a major concern.

Pedro is helping the community effort in Spain through his own foundation, while the Blues' senior squad has made a sizeable donation to the Chelsea Foundation to help those in need in west London.

Pedro has kept in contact with several of his Spanish Chelsea team-mates.

"It's a very delicate, complex situation; a critical situation because there have been lots of cases of infection, especially in Madrid and Catalonia, which are probably the most affected regions, but now it has spread across the country," Pedro said.

"They are in total lockdown in their houses so they are living through a crisis situation. It's also an economic crisis, of course, but at the moment that is secondary.

The most important thing is that people stay at home with their family.

"The police and army are on the streets and the situation is maybe more controlled than here in the UK but we are living in a situation of chaos and crisis because of this pandemic.

"I've been on the phone to Kepa (Arrizabalaga) and Marcos Alonso. I've also called Jordi Alba from Barcelona. I'm in touch with other players too, to see how they are handling the situation, with players who are alone, which can sometimes be difficult.

"These are tough times and we are in constant contact. I'm also speaking a lot to Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coors beer cans are seen for sale at a store in Manhattan, New York, U.S., April 29, 2016.

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Molson Coors Beverage Co., the maker of Coors beer, plans to produce hand sanitizer at its craft brewery locations in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Coors pledged to give a $1 million donation to the United States Bartenders' Guild, an organization that helps bartenders and other service industry professionals.

The company is also providing meals to non-profits, distributor partners, and employees.

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The maker of Coors beer, Molson Coors Beverage Co., is producing hand sanitizer at all six of its craft breweries in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the company announced.

The company's craft breweries are not only using their equipment and raw materials to make hand sanitizer, they're also giving meals to nonprofits in their communities as well as their distributor partners and employees, in addition to donating funds to help bartenders and service industry workers affected by the massive bar and restaurant closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fighting the coronavirus is a nationwide call, and making hand sanitizer has become a concerted effort among breweries and distilleries across the US as companies big and small begin to alter their production lines to help make more hand sanitizer during the nation's massive shortage.

"Craft brewers were built beer by beer in their hometowns and they are all about community," Paul Verdu, vice president of Tenth and Blake, Molson Coors' U.S. craft arm said. "Doing the right thing to lift up our communities, including our retailer and distributor partners, to lend a hand to the very people who helped establish these businesses isn't a heavy lift for our craft brewers because that's who they are as people and that's what their businesses are all about."

One craft brewer, Leinenkugel's, plans to give 165 barrels of bulk beer to the nearby Chippewa River Distillery in Wisconsin to use for the manufacturing hand sanitizer.

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Coors also donated 50,000 cans of water to the Salvation Army Intermountain Division in Denver, Colo, the company said. And Coors pledged to give $1 million to the United States Bartenders' Guild, an organization that helps bartenders and other service industry professionals.

Tito's Handmade Vodka, Pernod Ricard which makes drinks such as Absolut Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and Malibu, as well as smaller distilleries and New York State, are also making hand sanitizers.

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The entire staff of the state Assembly have been quarantined and the Assembly building is being sanitized after an employee at Odisha Legislative Assembly was found to have contacted a COVID-19 positive person.

"After an employee at Odisha Legislative Assembly was found to have contacted a COVID-19 positive person, the entire staff of the Assembly have been quarantined & Assembly building is being sanitized," SN Patra, Odisha Assembly Speaker said.

"The Assembly session that is scheduled to start from 30th March will be shifted to Loka Seva Bhawan. I request all political parties to attend the session with 1/3rd of their MLAs," he said.

A total of 724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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On Friday, emerging from the latest national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders, Prime Minister Scott Morrison remained relatively upbeat in the face of the pandemic, announcing tougher enforced quarantine for overseas arrivals and declaring here in Australia it's a vital time, but we are getting on top of this. I would rather be in Australia now [doing what we are doing] than in any other country in the world today, he said. As the number of deaths rise in Seriate, Italy, one of the areas worst hit by coronavirus, Australian health officials say we are better placed than Italy, Spain or the US. Credit:AP The nations health authorities continue to reassure that the country is in a far better place than Italy, Spain or the US in terms of testing rates, death and intensive care rates and the extent of community spread. Yet MacIntyre remains alarmed by Canberras dogged determination to proceed by way of incremental steps  what officials call scaleable, proportionate and sustainable measures. The window to have acted decisively has grown a lot smaller, she says. Because we have only been testing people with symptoms, we remain on a similar trajectory to the United States and Italy.

New South Wales alone was heading towards 1500 cases on Friday, a threat exacerbated by the disgorging of thousands of untested passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney the week before last (a blunder which has led to energetic finger-pointing between NSW Health and the Australian Border Force). MacIntyre labels it a debacle. It means there will be people without symptoms who are transmitting it, its going to be spreading silently throughout our community she warns. You may not see a hit on the health system for 4 to 6 weeks through a couple of incubation cycles. But that has compounded everything. So she takes little comfort from the fact that so far, there are low numbers of COVID-19 patients in intensive care here. She and others expect that to change markedly in coming weeks, perhaps as soon as late April or early May, a fear underscored by an article in the Medical Journal of Australia on Thursday warning Australian hospitals do not currently have the capacity to accommodate what they foresee might be the demand on intensive care beds. Heslop feels that significant numbers of Australian lives, many thousands, into the tens of thousands are now at stake.

With medics and nurses fearful of shortages of personal protective equipment, MacIntyre alerted health authorities last June to the fact that 30 million respirators, or P2 masks (which filter out airborne particles) would be needed if there was a serious epidemic lasting six months in Sydney. It is understood this was nowhere near the amount the nation had stockpiled. Sydney University virologist associate professor Tim Newsome also doubts history will judge the country to have acted fast enough. Will we look back and say we did enough? Our trajectory is looking disastrous at the moment. He adds the proviso that every country is different. Singapore is a city state, China has measures which it can deploy as an authoritarian government. But the social measures weve adopted up until this week have not, in European countries, led to a significant drop; theyve had to go much stricter. Chris Richardson, a director of Deloitte Access Economics, lays out stark numbers. We have never before dealt with a problem that gets four times bigger every week, he says. People dont understand the immensity of that. After five weeks the problem is already 1000 times bigger. After 10 weeks it's a million times bigger. When you have a geometric crisis, a decision taken today is four times more effective, four times more valuable, than the exact same decision taken a week later.

He does not envy our political leaders their agonising dilemma. Every day you buy is a stunningly valuable commodity in terms of lives saved. But don't forget how awful the trade-off is, the knock on of jobs lost, mental health, domestic violence. There are no good answers, every answer is terrible. Professor Raina MacIntyre, who heads biosecurity at the Kirby Institute in Sydney, says she's alarmed by Canberra's dogged determination to proceed by way of incremental steps. Credit:Peter Braig He says the case for more emphatic social and workplace restrictions remains open, but the faster the acceleration in case numbers , the greater the weight of economic argument swinging towards that. The walking-the-wire act the government is trying to pull off has appeared to be under growing strain at several points this week. Morrison has declared it a twin crisis, a crisis on a health front which is also causing a crisis in the economy. And both of them can be as equally as deadly. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the government is trying to keep the economy in the best least bad shape possible through this period.

The outcome on Tuesday night was a somewhat surreal press conference in which Morrison and Chief Health Officer Brendan Murphy laid out a long list of new measures - a laundry list, as some described it - designed to keep Australians at a distance from one another, while seeking to keep faint signs of life pulsing through the economy. But the anomalies were puzzling. Five at a wedding, 10 at a funeral, no gatherings outdoors but 10 in a boot camp was okay. A whole raft of small businesses providing personal services shut down but not hairdressers, who could tend to their clients for 30 minutes and no more (a stricture relaxed a day later). Murphy declared the intent was to put restrictive measures in place without destroying life as we know it. But even while shopping centres and many non-essential retailers were allowed to stay open, customer traffic was falling off a cliff. I think we will look back and be critical of the way this has been handled. David Heslop, Associate Professor, UNSW On top of the strictures placed on clubs, pubs, restaurants, cafes, and events, Tuesdays proclamation tipped tens of thousands more into the ranks of jobless with big-name retail brands including Just Jeans, Portmans, Athletes Foot, Skechers, General Pants and others pulling down the shutters.

For many businesses its become the death of a thousand cuts, and there is a growing view, espoused by the likes of the Grattan Institute's incoming director, Danielle Wood, that the economy might be better off with a New Zealand or British-style full shutdown (barring essential services) for a defined period. There were a lot of people [economists included] early on dismissing the scale of this, Wood says. They did not understand the health shock, what the exponential curve was going to mean for cases and hospital admissions. But she believes a short sharp shock now would be a better way to go. I think it's the uncertainty that is killing business right now, she says. What we really need to do from an economic perspective is make sure that what is a temporary hit to income does not become a permanent hit to the productive capacity of the economy. Thats an easier problem to address when you know that [a shutdown] is for a fixed, between six and eight weeks, period ... But if you want to talk about this rolling on for six months or more because you are just going for a halfway-house approach, I think that will see a lot of businesses go to the wall.

Founder and CEO of hairdressing chain Just Cuts Denis McFadden put it bluntly on Thursday night: We need the government, now, to shut us down! But Morrison again on Friday made clear that keeping people in jobs remains a top priority for himself, and other leaders. In the absence of a compelling health reason, he said, I will fight for every job I can because I know that that job means something very important to that person and their family. Loading Inside the national cabinet of state and territory leaders the Prime Minister presides over, tensions over strategy have at times broken into the open. The two biggest states, with by far the greater burden of cases, have been increasingly restive about the incrementalism of the social distancing measures adopted to date. Victorias Chief Medical Officer has openly flagged his wish for tougher action. NSW has signalled the time might come when it wants to do the same, though so far Premier Gladys Berejiklian has not revealed what the trigger for that might be, apart from saying it will depend on the rise in community transmission of the disease and how the hospitals are coping. On Friday NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay called on Berejiklian to press for a full lockdown at national cabinet or else go it alone.

In Melbourne, the head of the prestigious Burnet Institute, Professor Brendan Crabb, broke his silence to tell the Herald and The Age that I would urge speed, and the clarity that would bring to the messaging. Referencing the horrors unfolding in Italy, where the death toll is currently running at close to 10 per cent, he says you cant say we are on track to be Italy, but we dont know that we are not, either. My answer is to do everything you can now, to buy yourself some time. Measures more akin to the lockdowns in New Zealand and in Europe would, he argues, buy precious time: time that could be spent drumming up more supplies of personal protective equipment, hundreds more vital ventilators, time for reserve health workforces to be trained up into intensive care roles, and time for the expanded testing regime announced on Thursday to get a better handle on the silent spread of the virus through community transmission. The government rightly underscores that most cases are still coming in from overseas, whether through infected travellers or their direct contacts. But the proportion of cases with no clear origin of infection is growing. That is the ticking time bomb that has public health experts so concerned. Our death rate is thus far mercifully low, at 0.37, or 13 deaths so far from around 3000 cases.

But for how long? It was chilling to hear New York Governor Andrew Cuomo saying this week that hed pleaded for 30,000 ventilators from federal authorities yet only 4000 were on the way. You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die, he said, in a voice breaking with anger and frustration. In Australia, cuts to elective surgery are a small taste of the ethical dilemmas likely to confront the health system in a few weeks time. More than 1000 Australians, for instance, will now need to spend months more on dialysis, their hopes for kidney transplants on indefinite hold. Loading Theyre the kind of choices that no wants to make, and which drive the urgency of those who dont want governments to wait another day, let alone a week, a fortnight, or month, to slam the brakes on the virus with every ounce of collective will . A group of experts convened by the Group of Eight prestige Australian universities at the request of Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy a fortnight ago were asked to give the government their view of the severity of social distancing measures that should be adopted. The overwhelming majority in the group urged a strategy of go now, go hard and go smart.

The doubling time [of case detection] is approximately 1.6 days in Australia compared to 6 days in February they wrote On March 22. [This] is an indicator that the window for proactive intervention is very small. At this rate Australia could theoretically expect  over 50,000 cases by Easter. But go now, go hard did not find favour in Canberra. As Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly later explained, what was at issue was essentially two schools of thought. One was go hard, go fast, while the other was what he called a scalable proportional response. And he added, Im a scalable, proportional responder. There are still many voices in the academic community who support the governments more phased approach, prominent among them the Australian National Universitys infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon. There are others who confess, in private, to increasing unease about taking a contrary position publicly. Yet most are agreed on one thing: there must be full transparency about the science and the evidence going forward to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the peak body of government medical advisers.
The chief executive of Cork County Council has said that, while there was no current legal basis to allow for a commercial rates waiver, the authority would do its best to ease the burden on businesses that have been forced to close or scale back their operations due to COVID-19.

Speaking at last Monday's council meeting in County Hall, Tim Lucey urged ratepayers and those living in local-authority housing to contact the authority if they are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Lucey said that any ratepayers that can continue to pay their outstanding rates should continue to do so in the normal way.

"I trust you will appreciate that Cork County Council has a long-established, solid relationship with our ratepayers, and this is a matter that we will be working to preserve at this difficult time," said Mr Lucey.

"The key message to any concerned businesses or individuals is to engage early with the relevant section and Cork County Council will continue our history on engagement on a case-by-case basis to provide assistance to all our tenants, borrowers and ratepayers in this ever-evolving situation."

Mr Lucey said that commercial ratepayers facing difficulties in relation to rates payments falling due up until the end of May should contact either their area collectors (contact details are on the 2020 rate bill) or the collection office on (021) 428 5252 to discuss options and arrangements.

He went on to say that council tenants in receipt of HAP/RAS seeking a rent reduction due to loss of earnings or employment due to COVID-19 should scan or post confirmation of their reduced income from either their employer or the Department of Employment Affairs to the authority.

HAP/RAS tenants can email hap@corkcoco.ie or post to HAP/RAS, Housing Section, Floor 4, Cork County Council, Carrigrohane Road, Cork, T12 R2N. Cork County Council tenants can contact rentassessment@corkcoco.ie or post to the Rent Assessment Unit, Cork County Council Offices, Kent St, Clonakilty, County Cork, P85 X375.

Local authority housing loan borrowers seeking a reduction or freeze on mortgage repayments due to loss of income relating to COVID-19 should direct their queries to the Housing Loans Collection Unit on (021) 428 5262; e-mail housingloanscollection@corkcoco.ie or post to Housing Loans Collection Unit, Floor 5 Extension, County Hall, Cork, T12 R2N C.

Mr Lucy said Cork County Council was sending out a clear message of support to individuals and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, in respect of payment of housing rents, housing loans and commercial rates.

"Council staff have been responding to many calls and queries with regard to payments in recent days and would like to reassure concerned members of the public that the staff and services are in place to react promptly as the situation develops."

The Mayor of County Cork Cllr Ian Doyle praised the authority for the manner in which it is responding to the COVID-19 crisis

"These are generally difficult and worrying times for members of the public, and financial strain only adds to these concerns. I am really pleased to see Cork County Council adapting and responding so quickly in implementing these new measures to alleviate some of these issues for members of our community," said Mayor Doyle.

"It is an extraordinary time for everyone; the implications for business across the county have been huge. I welcome anything that can be done to lessen this hardship."
Karisma Kapoor shared a picture from days when her film Raja Hindustani released, back in the 1990s. The post, clicked by ace glamour photographer Avinash Gowarikar, was shared by him and later reposted by Karisma.

READ: After 'MentalHood', Karisma Kapoor Opens Up On Working With Sister Kareena Kapoor

Sharing it, Karisma wrote: Wonderful memories.. In the black and white picture, Karisma strikes a glamourous pose. Sharing the picture, Avinash had written: #FlashbackFriday. My absolute favvvvourite... Lolo!! This photo is from 1998... Just around the time of #RajaHindustani... I didnt have a studio, so this photo (like many others) was shot under her building with natural light...@therealkarismakapoor. These were the times when she was a reigning diva and Avinash a budding photographer.

Raja Hindustani, when it released in 1996, went on to become one of the most successful films of the 1990s. The film featured a kiss between its lead cast -- Karisma and Aamir Khan -- which became rather controversial. A remake of Shashi Kapoor and Nanda film, Jab Jab Phool Khile, the film is the story of a cab driver falling in love with a rich girl. The film won Karisma Filmfare Best Actress Award too.

Karisma, meanwhile, is pretty regular with her posts and often shares throwbacks, flashbacks and film anniversary posts. A couple of days back, she had posted a picture on her film, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge completing 20 years. Posting a picture with Salman Khan, the films hero, she had written: 20 years of #dulhanhumlejayenge Time flies! I remember this super fun shoot in Mauritius so fondly! @beingsalmankhan @david.dhawan #tuesdaythoughts.

READ: Karisma Kapoor Spreads Positivity On Social Media Regarding Social Distancing

The actor made a comeback in a web series called Mentalhood , where she plays a mother to three children. Speaking about a mothers equation with her children, she said: The most important thing is - for children to talk to us, we have to talk to them. Mentalhood is on streaming platforms - ZEE5 and ALTBalaji.

READ: Karisma Kapoor Reveals That Her Children Prefer Watching Kareena Kapoor's Films More

READ: Karisma Kapoor Opens Up About The Paparazzi Attention That Taimur Ali Khan Receives

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
The Justice Department wants the power to detain suspects indefinitely without trial. That was the storyline last week. DOJ, you were to believe, was exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to carry out a Constitution-shredding gambit, completely in line with two intertwined media caricatures: Donald Trumps authoritarian streak and Bill Barrs long held affinity for executive branch imperialism. If you listened to enough of the commentary around the initial reports, you were pretty sure Trump and Barr were about to lock up Joe Biden, the prime-time hosts at MSNBC, and maybe even the New York Times editorial board.

It should by now go without saying that the distorted story was remote from reality.

The Justice Department made some proposals . . . but it did so at the urging of Congress, not unilaterally. The upshot was to empower the courts, not the executive. In fact, empower is an overstatement. The idea was to give judges latitude to deal with due process deadlines that necessarily become problematic when some catastrophic event undermines the capacity of courts to function.

The profound challenge that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to our health-care system, potentially in all U.S. states and territories, is the predominant news story of 2020. Less obvious but all too real nonetheless is the challenge it poses for the criminal-justice system.

This is an unavoidable consequence of any kind of critical incident  the jargon that security personnel and first responders use to describe catastrophic events, which include everything from natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes) to medical emergencies to terrorist attacks.

I was still a federal prosecutor when we had to deal with the 9/11 attacks. The World Trade Center, which was destroyed on September 11, 2001, was located just a few blocks from the federal and state courthouses in lower Manhattan. Also in the vicinity were detention facilities, the headquarters of both the New York City Police Department and the FBIs New York field office, and prosecutors offices (including the Southern District of New York, where I worked).

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Because conditions were too dangerous near Ground Zero, we had to move operations to a nearby offsite along the West Side Highway. It became the hub of what developed into the most expansive investigation in American history. The probe stretched nationwide and overseas, in conjunction with desperate search and rescue operations (nearly 3,000 Americans having been killed  and original estimates suggesting the death toll could be multiples higher), intelligence analyses indicating that additional jihadist strikes could be imminent, a campaign of anthrax mailings (real and fake) that further compromised government functions, and preparations for responsive combat operations in Afghanistan.

As it turned out, although many of the 9/11 security precautions remain with us to this day, the emergency arrangements in the justice system were short-lived. There were no additional waves of attacks, so the imperative of further hardening government facilities that were obvious targets (such as courthouses in which jihadists had been prosecuted) ebbed. Terrorist attacks are different from natural disasters in that they raise legal issues pertaining to treatment of the criminal culprits: questions about whether civilian due process must be applied; about who can be detained, where, and on what standard of proof; and so on. But these special contingencies only applied to a relatively small subset of people.

By contrast, there are systemic complexities that addle the administration of justice regardless of whether a catastrophic event is caused by criminal conduct. They are a function of constitutional and statutory safeguards for persons accused and convicted of crimes. These complexities are apt to be more vexing in the current infectious-disease crisis than they were after the terrorist attacks two decades ago. That is why the Justice Department was asked to address them. Indeed, DOJ would have had no choice but to do so even if Congress hadnt asked.

For one thing, the ongoing crisis will be more extensive in geographical and temporal scope. The coronavirus is spreading throughout the country. Although some states have hot spots while others have barely been affected, all states will have to prepare. Even if President Trumps optimistic hope to begin a return to normalcy in a couple of weeks proves to be practical, the return will be gradual and social distancing will be a fact of life throughout America for many months. To put it mildly, that complicates the convening of grand juries, the conducting of jury trials, the making and processing of arrests, the detention of prisoners, etc.

By law, any accused has the right to a speedy and public trial, based on an indictment returned by a grand jury. Federal offenses have statutes of limitations (usually, five years); if a charge is not filed within the limitations period, prosecution is time-barred. Under the Speedy Trial Act, if a defendant is arrested on a complaint (a sworn statement establishing probable cause), prosecutors have a limited time in which to file an indictment  basically, between ten and thirty days, depending on whether the defendant is detained or granted bail. Once an indictment is filed, the trial must presumptively commence within seventy days of arraignment. There are various legal grounds for extending some of these deadlines, including a court finding that it is in the interests of justice to do so. Even in normal times, then, a defendant who is denied bail can languish in custody for a long time awaiting indictment and trial. That is not uncommon in violent crime cases, as well as cases involving defendants who pose a high risk of flight.

These are not normal times. In COVID-19 hot-spot areas, such as New York City, many court functions have been suspended. If a grand jury cannot convene, it is legally impossible to file an indictment. If a statute of limitations lapsed during that time, no future prosecution would be permissible. If a petit jury cannot convene because the threat to health is too serious, there can be no trial; if a trial cannot be scheduled, the defendants speedy trial rights could be violated (even if the statute of limitations has not run). And, as should be obvious, social distancing is not conducive to maintaining conditions of prison confinement, which are innately populous and intrusive. If these matters were not addressed, the epidemic could result in the release of many dangerous criminals back into the community, and the inability to prosecute them for provable felonies.

To forestall these problems, the Justice Department has proposed that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court be vested with authority to waive the statute of limitations in the event of a national emergency. In addition, DOJ has suggested that the chief judges in all 93 federal districts be authorized to extend other deadlines; individual judges already have this power (and are actively exercising it), but conferring the power on a single experienced judge in each district would promote uniformity (while nevertheless accounting for the fact that conditions in various states and federal districts are different, and may call for different resolutions). Meanwhile, Attorney General Barr has directed the Bureau of Prisons to prepare to transfer to home confinement inmates who are elderly or in poor health. The idea is to ameliorate prison crowding, a condition that can contribute to the spread of virus.

Would one result of these proposals be that some defendants will be detained indefinitely without trial? Of course it would . . . but that cant be helped because we do not know when the COVID-19 crisis will subside enough for routine court functions to resume. But we are not talking about locking the jailhouse door and throwing away the key. DOJ suggested that the continuing need for the emergency measures be regularly reevaluated, and that the measures be terminated upon a judicial finding that they are no longer necessary. Indefinite detention here means we do not now know a definite date; it does not mean forever.

Lets remember, too, that what DOJ posited were proposals. It would be up to Congress to enact them into law.

In short, this was the very opposite of a power grab. It was an exhibition of executive branch respect for the Bill of Rights and the separation of powers, not a matter of running roughshod over them.

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As for Westgate and her new doctoral student, they came up with a survey that they are sending to bored people, asking them how they are spending their time and why and when they chose to do certain activities. If they were bored, how did they deal with it? Did they do something new for the first time?
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted an emergency fund of USD 300,000 to Bangladesh to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic, a media report said on Saturday.

Coronavirus has claimed five lives in Bangladesh along with 48 confirmed cases.

The ADB grant will fund the procurement of N95 masks, goggles, aprons, thermometers, and biohazard bags.

The procurement list has been prepared by the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh.

The grant is part of the Asian Development Bank's Regional Support to Address the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Potential Outbreaks of Other Communicable Diseases.

"ADB is fully committed to supporting Bangladesh in the fight to control COVID-19, and this is only the first of the planned support that ADB is preparing to help the government deal with this difficult situation," said ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash.

"This assistance will invigorate Bangladesh's ability to strengthen prevention, improve health professionals' protection from the disease, test people to detect infection, manage severe cases, and reduce the risk of the deadly virus' mass transmission."



Experts say Bangladesh, a nation of 160 million people, is at high risk of increased infections because hundreds of thousands of overseas Bangladeshi workers have returned home in recent weeks from Italy and other virus-affected nations.

Many ignored government requests to stay at home after their return and attended social gatherings.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NHS bosses could have prevented 'chaos and panic' in a system left 'wholly unprepared for this pandemic', according to the editor of a British medical journal.

Dr Richard Horton, writing in The Lancet, argued that numerous warnings were issued to the NHS but that they were not heeded.

He added that the Government's Contain-Delay-Mitigate-Research plan had failed.

Dr Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, has argued that numerous warnings were issued to the NHS but that they were not heeded.

In an article published earlier today, Dr Horton cited an example from his journal from January 20.

It read: 'Preparedness plans should be readied for deployment at short notice, including securing supply chains of pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment, hospital supplies and the necessary human resources to deal with the consequences of a global outbreak of this magnitude.'

He said: 'It failed, in part, because ministers didn't follow WHO's advice to 'test, test, test' every suspected case. They didn't isolate and quarantine. They didn't contact trace.

The statement comes after a total of 759 people have now died in UK hospitals after being diagnosed with coronavirus with more than 14,500 confirmed cases

Dr Horton went on to express concerns over the Government's new SuppressShieldTreatPalliate plan. Pictured: An emergency department nurse during a demonstration of a coronavirus pod

'These basic principles of public health and infectious disease control were ignored, for reasons that remain opaque.'

Dr Horton went on to express concerns over the Government's new SuppressShieldTreatPalliate plan.

He added: 'But this plan, agreed far too late in the course of the outbreak, has left the NHS wholly unprepared for the surge of severely and critically ill patients that will soon come.'

'The result has been chaos and panic across the NHS.'

In response, Professor Keith Willett, NHS Strategic Incident Director for Covid-19, said: 'Actually the NHS declared a Level Four - the highest - National Emergency on January 30, the day before his magazine article that Dr Horton claims should have been the signal, and fully six weeks before the World Health Organisation itself declared coronavirus a pandemic.

'Since then the NHS has mobilised right across the country at every level - to free up 33,000 beds for coronavirus patients - a third of all hospital capacity. We've enabled 18,000 nurses and doctors to return to practice, supported by 730,000 new volunteers.

'And we've struck an unprecedented deal with the independent sector to use en bloc their 8,000 beds, as well as building three new Nightingale hospitals and procuring all available ventilators and clinical equipment.

'So in respect of our NHS responsibilities and response, the facts clearly speak for themselves.'

The article echoes Dr Horton's sentiment broadcast on BBC Question Time on Thursday where he said: 'Honestly, I am sorry to say this, but it's a national scandal'

Dr Horton reiterated his sentiment on BBC Question Time on Thursday where he said: 'Honestly, I am sorry to say this, but it's a national scandal.

'We shouldn't be in this position. We knew this was coming.

'The message from China was absolutely clear that a new virus with pandemic potential was hitting cities, people were being admitted to hospital, admitted to intensive care units and dying - and the mortality rate was growing.

'We knew that 11 weeks ago and then we wasted February when we could have acted.

'It was a time where we could have ramped up testing, time when we could have got personal protective equipment ready and disseminated.

'We didn't do it.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'The UK's science-led action plan is led by global experts in the principles of infectious disease control.

'We have followed a clear plan, underpinned by scientific evidence, to contain, delay, research and mitigate the outbreak.

'We acted swiftly to contain the spread of the virus and our world-class surveillance, including intensive contact tracing and quarantining of early cases, helped to slow it significantly - and targeted contract tracing continues.

'We have tested well over 100,000 people and have already set out plans to increase testing capacity to 25,000 a day.

'The NHS has been mobilising for months and we are working around the clock to give the NHS and the wider social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak.

'On Thursday alone over 21 million facemasks, 9 million aprons, 20 million gloves and 700,000 eye protectors were delivered to frontline workers.'

Dr Horton's warning came as the UK saw its biggest day-on-day rise in deaths since the Covid-19 outbreak began with Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock both testing positive for coronavirus.

A total of 759 people have now died in UK hospitals after being diagnosed with coronavirus with more than 14,500 confirmed cases.

But the government also announced that NHS staff would be tested from next week after hospital bosses reported a 50 per cent staff absence rate as many self isolated after showing symptoms.

More than 18,000 doctors, nurses and other former NHS staff have volunteered to return to work to fight the virus.

The en masse effort came after NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens was forced to defend his track record heading the service after the country's proportion of intensive care units before the crisis among the lowest in Europe.
CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced Friday, March 27, 2020 that she will close the borders of Cebu City as more positive cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) were reported.

Cebu City is bordered by Balamban and Toledo City in the west; Mandaue City and Compostela in the north, and Talisay City in the south.

The governor will issue an executive order Saturday on the border closure, which she said will take effect on Monday, March 30.

That, as officials of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) sub-national laboratory conducting tests for Covid-19 have confirmed 12 positive cases in the Visayas.

The announcement was made by Department of Health (DOH) Regional Epidemiologist Juanito Zuasola on Friday during a press conference held at the VSMMC sub-national laboratory in Cebu City.

Of the 12, eight were tests conducted on patients whose results were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City for confirmation, Zuasola said.

The four others were from tests conducted at the VSMMC testing center on Friday, March 27, which were no longer sent to the RITM for confirmation as VSMMC was now certified to conduct tests and release results.

The VSMMC, however, did not give a breakdown per location of the 12 positive cases.

Other laboratories nationwide that are now certified to conduct Covid-19 testing are Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP NIH).

Asked to comment on the VSMMC announcement, DOH 7 Director Jaime Bernadas urged the public to wait for DOHs own report.

VSMMCs report is different from ours because its possible that what they entered there as positive is a repeat examination, not cases-based, Bernadas said in a mix of Cebuano and English in a phone interview with SunStar Cebu.

The DOH 7 has sent a total of 16 samples to the RITM for confirmation including the repeat examination of the first Covid-19 case in Cebu in Mandaue City.

Story continues

As of 12 noon Friday, the DOHs situational report on the Covid-19 in Central Visayas showed a total of 129 persons with severe acute respiratory infection (Sari).

Of the number, 127 are admitted in hospitals while two are under home isolation, the DOH said.

The DOH 7 also recorded a total of 1,201 persons with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and 15,856 persons under monitoring (PUMs).

As this developed, the Cebu Provincial Government has announced it will restrict the entry of its citizens into Cebu City starting Monday, March 30, when the province-wide lockdown begins.

Once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is implemented, residents of Cebu Province, except those with essential work functions, cannot enter Cebu City.

Garcia told reporters on Friday that she decided to close off the Provinces borders due to the increasing number of presumptive positive cases of the Covid-19 admitted in Cebu City hospitals.

The Mandaue City government will also adapt the Provinces measures.

Essential workers

Only those with essential work functions such as medical personnel, emergency response units and members of the media, can cross those borders.

Even employees living in the Province but working in exempted establishments in Cebu City such as construction firms, business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, supermarkets and others can no longer enter Cebu City.

Garcia urged firms and business establishments that continue to operate despite the border closure to provide adequate temporary housing for their employees.

Starting Monday, those who want to visit Cebu City to work will have to stay there for the time being. After that, they can no longer go out of the city, Garcia said in Cebuano.

Cebu City

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Government will be issuing one ECQ pass per household.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said the passes will be issued for free and are absolutely not for sale.

Aside from the one per household pass, others who can secure ECQ passes are non-residents who are qualified to enter and exit the city, residents who are qualified and need to exit and enter the city, and all other persons as determined by the City.

Only City Hall can issue the passes but their distribution will be coursed through the PNP, barangay officials and other duly-authorized persons.

The City will be issuing four types of ECQ passes: the Green pass for Cebu City residents; Red pass for employees and officials of government offices; Blue pass for non-residents of Cebu City; and White pass for crisis management teams and other frontliners.

Cebu City residents are given a five-day transition period before the strict implementation of the no pass, no exit policy on April 1.

The green passes will be distributed house to house starting Saturday, March 28.

Those who will distribute the passes will have to maintain a record of the issuances with complete details of the recipients name, birthdate, address, contact numbers and other members of the household.

For the red, blue and white passes, the applicants must submit a letter request to the mayors office personally or through email at ccg.ecqpass@gmail.com.

A letter request is good for only one individual. Each request will be evaluated by the Office of the Mayor.

Those exempted from the Stay at Home Order are no longer required to secure ECQ Passes, and are only required to present their Company ID, Certificate of Employment, or any bona fide document to prove they are exempted.

Unauthorized reproduction or use of the ECQ passes will subject the violator to criminal charges.

People just need to present clearance if they want to move around, said Acting Cebu City Police Office Director Col. Hector Grijaldo.

Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, Police Regional Office 7 chief, for his part, urged barangay officials to deploy vehicles in case of emergencies such as citizens who need immediate help from clinics and hospitals. (WBS, ANV, JJL, AYB /CBQ / JKV)
Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. on Friday announced the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the city has increased by 17, for a total of 55 cases now.

There are six cases in Shrewsbury, six in Grafton, five in Holden and one in Leicester, the four towns to which the city of Worcester provides public health services, Augustus said.

As weve said all along, we expect those to grow significantly in the days and weeks ahead, Augustus said.

About 275 of the citys first responders have been tested for the respiratory illness, officials said.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Friday afternoon said that 35 residents have died from illness related to COVID-19. At least 3,240 people have tested positive for the virus.

In Worcester County, 219 people have tested positive. A total of 29,371 people across the state have been tested, DPH said.

Augustus said the gym area of Worcester Technical High School is going to be the location of a city medical shelter as of tomorrow.

The area will have space for people who come from the citys shelters, including the homeless population and people who live in congregate areas like group homes, to quarantine while waiting for test results or after exposure to someone with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

A separate space in the area will be for people in those communities who have tested positive for coronavirus. They will be isolated from those awaiting test results in quarantine and will be cared for in that setting, Augustus said.

This is probably the most significant thing that we can do to protect not only this vulnerable population but really to protect all of us in the community by keeping open the hospital system and not having people who are awaiting results, need to be quarantined, or are positive who dont have a place to be, he said. They dont necessarily need to be in the hospital but there is nowhere else for them to safely quarantine because of the kind of congregate living situations that they may have been in.

Augustus said that to date, about 15,000 meals have been provided to young people in Worcester as schools are closed in the state until early May.

Related Content:
New York, March 28 : The US coronavirus caseload over the next 10 days will not reflect the impact of mitigation strategies and social distancing guidelines in place since the last two weeks, the White House warned as the country surged past the 100,000 mark for confirmed cases and deaths topped 1,500.

"We understand that this week and next week will not reflect that mitigation, whether it's New Orleans or whether it's New York and the New York metro area," Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus co-ordinator, said at a task force briefing on Friday as anxious Americans hunkered down and US cities resembled ghost towns.

New York remains the worst hit city in the US with 55 per cent of all cases while worrisome infection data were now surfacing from New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit as well.

Birx said the hospitalisations this week and the next will be from infections that hit before the mitigation measures were put in place across America.

President Donald Trump plans to reassess on Monday the "15 days to slow the spread" social distancing guidelines currently in place in the US and reassured Americans that he wants to "do it safe".

"I certainly want to open the country up fast but I want to do it safe. If we don't do that, what did we do?," Trump queried.

Speaking to pervasive comparisons with the China and South Korea experience, Birx explained that the US guidelines were adapted to fit into America's culture and domestic reality.

"You can't ever just take an off-the-shelf approach and then put it into action in our community. We have to understand your communities," Birx said.

Citing examples from China and South Korea, Birx said that people who were positive in those countries were "removed" from their household and "segregated" away from their families.

"We did not think that our Americans would adopt and adapt to that situation. And so that's why in our guidelines we asked people to try to self isolate in the household." Responding to a question, Birx said the US continues to prioritise testing as a diagnostic tool very "intentionally" in the current situation, rather than as a surveillance mechanism.

"The important thing about testing it only tells you if you're positive or negative that day. You could become positive the next day. And so, testing should be used intentionally as a surveillance tool or a diagnostic tool," she said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious diseases doctor on the White House task force described the COVID-19 pandemic as a time that "no one has ever experienced in our generation".

"We're really being challenged to not only learn in real time but to be able to respond in a way that is helpful and effective. But we're also in unchartered waters...it isn't as if we have an example of how to do it," he said, reflecting on the time since the first US death was reported in early March from the West Coast.

Yet, Fauci has struck a cautiously upbeat tone saying he feels "confident" with all the knowledge now available on the virus.

"We will have some sort of therapy, that gives at least a partial if not a very good protection in preventing progression of disease," he said this week.

Randomised control trials are how the US is planning to get the best drug as quickly and safely as possible to the people.

Until then, the US government is hoping the $2.2 trillion stimulus package signed on Friday will soothe a bruised economy, millions of newly jobless and an overwhelmed healthcare system. Lawmakers in both parties lined up behind the law designed to put cash directly into the hands of most Americans.

(Nikhila Natarajan can be contacted at @byniknat)
The novel coronavirus has swept through developed countries like China, Italy, South Korea, Spain and the United States, killing thousands and disrupting their economies, but the world has yet to see mass outbreaks among the most vulnerable populations.

These places include camps for refugees and internally displaced people in Iraq and Syria or Myanmar and Bangladesh, in active war zones like Yemen and in countries with crumbling health systems, like Venezuela.

Humanitarian experts and the United Nations are warning that day will come soon, posing a deadly threat to millions of people and demanding an urgent response from the international community -- but one that so far hasn't come together.

MORE: Coronavirus map: Tracking the spread in the US and around the world

"This pandemic can only be won when countries and means and resources are put and pooled together to contain and to fight the spread of the of the virus," Robert Mardini, director-general designate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, told ABC News. "This is the only way forward."

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

PHOTO: Dozens of people stand in a long line to stock up on medications and personal hygiene products at a pharmacy in Caracas, Venezuela, March 25, 2020. (EPA via Shutterstock)

There are nearly 71 million displaced people around the world, including nearly 26 million refugees forced to flee their home country. Syrians in Jordan and Turkey, Rohingya in Bangladesh and Somalis in Kenya are among the approximately 2.6 million refugees who live in camps, according to U.N. data.

In those temporary shelters, the tactics used to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak like hand washing or social distancing are all but impossible, and health care systems -- already severely limited -- certainly don't include the sophisticated intensive care resources needed to combat respiratory infections brought on by the virus.

MORE: As fighting in Syria intensifies, pressure is rising for US action amid the crisis

Story continues

While Iraq has seen over 150 cases, largely from individuals crossing the border from Iran where there is a massive outbreak, there have been no reported cases in its camps for displaced people and refugees.

The greatest concern, however, is over Idlib province in northwest Syria, where some three million civilians are now cramped into an area that used to house 300,000, after strongman president Bashar al Assad's offensive, backed by Russian warplanes and Iranian-commanded militias.

Those civilians were displaced "under extremely violent conditions in a very short period of time who are now living in already deeply tenuous circumstances," according to Hardin Lang, a veteran of U.N. humanitarian missions.

Lang added that they are at an even higher risk because of the poor health conditions, incredible stress, lack of nutrition and high population density, which places like Wuhan, China, or New York City have shown makes contagion quicker.

PHOTO: A member of the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the 'White Helmets', disinfects a tent in the Kafr Lusin camp for the displaced by the border with Turkey, in Syria's rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib, on March 24, 2020. (Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images)

"The lack of a health care system, much of which was destroyed by the Russian bombing campaign" means there's little ability to detect or prevent the spread," he said

Once cases start to pop up, isolation and hygiene will be "extremely difficult," Lang said, especially with the COVID-19's spread facilitated by food lines, families crammed in tents together and front-line health care workers' lack of personal protective equipment.

Even as conflict continues to displace hundreds of thousands of civilians, calls for a global ceasefire have so far been largely ignored.

MORE: What you need to know about the conflict in Yemen

All factions of the war in Yemen initially welcomed that call, with the U.N. special envoy for the conflict calling for "an urgent meeting to discuss how to translate their stated commitments to the Yemeni people into practice," but there were a series of attacks Friday. The Saudi-led coalition said Houthi rebels fired drones into the kingdom's territory.

In five years of war, much of the countries health care system has been destroyed, leading to deadly outbreaks of diseases rare in the developed world, such as cholera, with 1.3 million suspected cases of the disease to date, according to the World Health Organization -- a sign of how ghastly a COVID-19 outbreak would be in the country of nearly 29 million.

"In countries like Europe, the United States, China who enjoy a very sophisticated health system, when the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 start to skyrocket, those very sophisticated health systems are totally overrun and overwhelmed," Mardini said. "So one can only imagine what will happen in places like Syria and Yemen who are running on 50 percent or even less of their medical and health capacity."

PHOTO: Orphans wear masks they received as an aid against the coronavirus in an orphan center in Sanaa, Yemen, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua via Newscom)

Some experts warn that the outbreaks could also be sinisterly used by authoritarian governments to advance dangerous agendas, such as instituting martial law, cracking down on civil liberties, or even committing violence against vulnerable populations.

In Myanmar, for example, the military could use the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to increase attacks on the Rohingya population that is already made vulnerable by its paltry health care.

MORE: Top UN court rules that Myanmar must prevent genocide of Rohingya minority

"The risk of genocide persists for this community," said Naomi Kikoler, the director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, adding that "the tools we have to mitigate that risk are no longer employable" during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as welfare visits by U.S. and other foreign diplomats, assistance distributed by aid organizations or attention from international bodies like the U.N. that is consumed by the pandemic elsewhere.

"Who's monitoring or tracking whether [COVID-19 is] in Rohingya communities? If they do get sick, will they be given treatment?" Kikoler continued. "They have been denied treatment, they have had very poor living conditions for a long time. So you have a community that is incredibly vulnerable" by both their own compromised health and a government that has not cared for them.

PHOTO: In this picture taken on March 24, 2020, Muslim Rohingya refugees perform ablution before praying in a mosque at Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia, Bangladesh. (Suzauddin Rubel/AFP via Getty Images)

But despite the global need, the pandemic has forced the world's leading powers to care for the crisis at home, leaving the world unprepared for what could come next in these fragile communities.

"Large donors and Western governments that usually lead the charge in the international humanitarian architecture are deeply focused on their own populations, and that is completely understandable," said Lang, now vice president for programs and policy at Refugees International.

But given "the scale of what will be required" and the medical resources and professionals "already deeply in short supply," he added, "You're going to have to make really tough decisions about where limited sources are pushed and surged ... You're not going to be able to do that if you don't have very high levels of cooperation across countries."

MORE: Trump budget proposes cuts to global health amid two global health crises

It will also require money -- at least $2 billion, according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In remarks on Wednesday, Guterres urged countries to contribute to a new U.N. fund to fight COVID-19 in the world's poorest countries and most vulnerable populations.

"The world is only as strong as our weakest health system, he said. "If we do not act decisively now, I fear the virus will establish a foothold in the most fragile countries, leaving the whole world vulnerable as it continues to circle the planet, paying no mind to borders."

To that end, the Trump administration announced an additional $174 million of international assistance, including $64 million to the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees in order to "to assist in its pandemic response efforts for some of the worlds most vulnerable populations," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Thursday -- bringing the U.S. total to $274 million in emergency funds to combat the pandemic.

MORE: Pompeo pushes 'Wuhan virus' label to counter Chinese disinformation

In addition, the first coronavirus response package passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on March 6 included $1.3 billion for foreign assistance to help other countries, but that money has not yet been allocated.

Several aid organizations welcomed the new funds Thursday as an important first step, but warned about the deep division between the U.S. and China, as Chinese officials sow disinformation over the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. criticizes China's response to the outbreak, especially its lack of transparency in the first weeks.

Pompeo in particular has consistently condemned China, accusing the Communist Party of not cooperating and using the term "Wuhan virus" to make clear where the outbreak first exploded.

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: coronavirus map

"It's such an uninteresting question at this stage about whether and how it originated in China, that it's baffling that we're spending any diplomatic energy or political capital talking about it," Land said. "The only way that anything gets done on this is if you see tremendous levels of cooperation across countries that are dealing with the outbreak."

He added, "The outbreak is not going to respect borders, even if you close borders."

ABC News' Mel Madarang contributed to this report.

Fears grow over coronavirus outbreak devastating refugees, civilians trapped by war originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 19:23:05|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 79 million members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have voluntarily made donations totaling 8.26 billion yuan (about 1.17 billion U.S. dollars) for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention and control as of Thursday.

Earlier, the CPC Central Committee called on Party members to make donations on a voluntary basis. The donation campaign is still underway.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are officially on the move. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently flew to Los Angeles to reportedly purchase a home in the area. Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have not confirmed their plans to set down roots in the City of Angels, but did they move to Los Angeles because of her career ambitions?

Meghan Markle | Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Meghan Markle returns to Hollywood

Although Meghan and Harrys exit from the royal family does not become official until the end of March, the former Suits star has already returned to the world of Hollywood.

Last summer, Meghan agreed to narrate a documentary for Disney titled Elephant. According to Hello Magazine, she recorded the voiceover last fall and the movie is set to premiere on Disney+ on April 3.

Meghan Markles paycheck for the new project will go directly toward Elephants Without Borders, an organization that works to protect the animals in Botswana. pic.twitter.com/2j46CEdfMV  Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 27, 2020

When she signed the contract with Disney, Meghan Markle announced that she will donate all of her earnings to a charity called Elephants Without Borders. The work was completed a few weeks before Harry and Meghan took an extended holiday in Canada.

It is unclear if Meghan and Disney have plans to work together on other projects, but there is no denying that she is comfortable with the idea of returning to acting. After all, she agreed to be a part of Elephants before announcing her exit from the monarchy.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex move to Los Angeles

Although the entire world is currently dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently moved from Canada to Los Angeles. The couple is reportedly looking to purchase a home in the area and were previously staying at a rental on Vancouver Island.

The Sussexes flew to California right before Canada and the United States shut down their borders to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Have Left Canada and Are Now Settled in the L.A. Area https://t.co/CIXunqkfSQ  People (@people) March 26, 2020

We do not know if Prince Harry and Meghan have already purchased a home in California, but they are reportedly in self-isolation amid the ongoing crisis. Inside sources also claim that the two planned the move to Los Angeles a long time ago.

Buckingham Palace has not commented on Harry and Meghans most recent move. The entire royal family is currently on lockdown following the reports that Prince Charles has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Are Meghan Markles career ambitions the real reason she left Canada?

There are plenty of reasons why Harry and Meghan have chosen Los Angeles as their second home. Aside from the fact that Meghans mom, Dorian Ragland, lives in the city, her career ambitions likely played a role.

As part of their exit strategy, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer be accepting public funding. They are also prohibited from using their royal titles, a move that will make it tricky for them to build their brand.

Exclusive: Meghan has heaps of projects in the works, a source tells Us. https://t.co/aUzceT6f7v  Us Weekly (@usweekly) March 27, 2020

In order to fund their various endeavors, Harry and Meghan will need a reliable source of income. Meghan Markle returning to acting could be the solution to their problem, and living in Los Angeles will make it easier for her to restart her career.

We cannot say for sure that this played a part in the couples decision to leave Canada, but it is likely that it did.

Meghans Hollywood plans delayed

While we wait to see what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle do next, any plans to relaunch her career in Hollywood have been delayed. California has issued a shelter in place mandate for all citizens, which has put a pause on all filming in the city.

Studios all over the world have postponed projects, which means Meghan will not be able to move forward until the pandemic is under control. Exactly when that happens remains to be seen, but we probably wont hear much from the Sussexes in the coming weeks.

Like clockwork, we get a negative Meghan Markle story in relation to Prince Charles Coronavirus status.



He is in isolation so no-one can visit. Someone pls make it make sense?! pic.twitter.com/FRYc7mK91U  Nola Thee Journalist (@NolaMarianna) March 25, 2020

Harry and Meghan are self-isolation somewhere in Los Angeles. Their exact location has remained a secret, and they are expected to remain out of the spotlight for the next few weeks.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not commented on the reports surrounding their future plans. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finished the last round of their royal engagements at the beginning of March.
WUHAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan Friday called on journalists working on the frontline of the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to continue reporting Chinese stories well to boost confidence and unite the people.

Sun made the remarks at a symposium with journalist representatives who have been working in the once outbreak epicenter city of Wuhan in Hubei Province.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended regards and gratitude to frontline journalists on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and expressed hope for them to continue covering the COVID-19 response to create a mighty force that enables the people to tide over the hard times together.

Since the coronavirus outbreak, a total of 445 journalists have voluntarily come to Wuhan to work with their local counterparts. Together, they have made more than 500,000 reports and submitted more than 20,000 requests concerning public wellbeing to the authorities, according to the symposium.

Undeterred by the difficulties and risks, these journalists have been working on the ground in places such as hospitals and wards for severely ill patients, Sun said, noting that their reports have recorded touching anti-epidemic stories and reflected the difficulties and issues of public concern.

Commending the journalists' professional ethics and noble spirit, Sun lauded them as "epidemic fighters" and "heroes" and said they have greatly boosted the morale in people battling the virus on the front line.

Noting that the task of guarding against the spread of the virus is still arduous, Sun called on frontline journalists to make unremitting efforts to report on the major decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and issues concerning medical treatment, community efforts and business resumption.

Sun has been leading a central government group to oversee the epidemic control work in Hubei since the outbreak.
In this photo taken March 20, 2020, cattle rancher Joe Whitesell rides his horse in a field near Dufur, Oregon, as he helps a friend herd cattle.

U.S. farmers have endured a slew of financial hardships over the past few years.

The U.S.-China trade war sent scores of farmers out of business. Record flooding inundated farmland and destroyed harvests. And a blistering heat wave stunted crop growth in the Midwest.

Now, the coronavirus pandemic has dealt another blow to a vulnerable farm economy, sending crop and livestock prices tumbling and raising concerns about sudden labor shortages.

"We were already under extreme financial pressure. With the virus sending the prices down  it's getting to be the straw that broke the camel's back," said Iowa farmer Robb Ewoldt.

"We were hoping for something good this year, but this virus has stopped all our markets," he said.

Farmers are worried about labor shortages right before planting season starts in April. In an effort to curb the spread, the Trump administration recently restricted immigration from Mexico  a key source for cheap farm labor in the U.S.

Farm trade groups are lobbying the administration to provide financial aid for farmers enduring price drops, as well as temporary work visas for seasonal farm workers from Mexico.

But panic is surging as more states shutter businesses and order people to stay mostly indoors. Consumer demand for items like beef, chicken and fish has dropped as restaurants close indefinitely. More people are opting for cheaper, nonperishable goods like pasta and beans at grocery stores.

"It's not looking good. Product can't be moved. Farmers are very concerned," said Aubrey Onley, a farmer in Perquimans County, North Carolina.

The numbers are grim: Corn futures have declined almost 10%, soybean futures more than 4% and wheat futures nearly 2% in the past several weeks. Futures prices for lean hogs have dropped 12% in the past two weeks and prices for cattle have declined nearly 13%.

Dairy prices have also fallen as school cafeterias and fast-food restaurants shutter, though grocery sales have surged. But milk prices are expected to fall by as much as 25% this year, a serious blow to milk makers already grappling with record low prices.

"It comes down to every business's ability to absorb loss," said upstate New York dairy farmer Nathan Chittenden. "All those coffeehouse and restaurants closing in the city not using cream is a huge hit to us."

Chittenden depends on truck drivers to pick up milk from his farm every day. But he's worried about possibly losing that service as infections surge in the state. "We are used to temporary uncertainty," he said, citing weather disasters that affect operations. "But not this prolonged situation."

Corn farmers are getting hit especially hard. A combination of low oil prices and a sudden reduction in driving across the country has cut demand for ethanol. Corn is a primary input in ethanol production.

Ewoldt, the Iowa corn and soybean farmer, said he doesn't have the capital to continue farming the same amount of land, especially since lenders have less money to provide farmers amid the price drops.

He's decided to farm on less land this year because he can't afford to rent it out the usual acreage, and is already in two years of debt exacerbated from trade war tariffs and climate-related disasters.

"We've stopped saying it can't get worse," Ewoldt said, adding that several years of financial losses coupled with the price drops from the virus have made farm operations impossible.

"Our corn operation is not profitable anymore," he said. "It's not profitable."
A confounding aspect of the virus that has thrust the world into tumult is that its beyond the detection of human senses. We cant see when its near, we cant feel when it attaches to our skin, we cant smell or taste when we breathe it in.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

A confounding aspect of the virus that has thrust the world into tumult is that its beyond the detection of human senses. We cant see when its near, we cant feel when it attaches to our skin, we cant smell or taste when we breathe it in.

We want to avoid it, but we dont know where it is. That makes us eager for any clues to the whereabouts of this invisible killer.

People in the Waterloo region of Ontario got a break this week when their health officials said they will begin announcing the locations where people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus may have caught it. By listing the places on a website, the officials hope to alert other people who were at the same locations to self-monitor for symptoms.

Its a sensible idea that could be adopted in Manitoba. National health officials said this week that almost half of Canadas COVID-19 are now caused by a spread in the community, not by travellers. In Manitoba, confirmed community contagion has been slow to arrive but weve been warned it has emerged and, unless health officials change their ways, we wont know where in our community the virus is spreading.

Many of us are anxious to know whether we crossed paths with virus carriers in our workplace, book club, church, in a restaurant or in our childrens schools.

As an example of how it should be done, Nova Scotias chief medical officer of health announced Thursday that someone contracted the novel coronavirus at a St. Patricks Day party attended by 50 people, and he named the community centre where the party was held.

Health officials in Manitoba could be similarly helpful. They know the names, home addresses and locations of people who have tested positive for the virus. They wont disclose that information, with one exception: early on, officials identified a specific airline flight that led to at least two coronavirus infections in Manitoba.

Several callers to the Free Press and commenters on news stories have suggested Manitoba health officials should stop being so secretive. They argue that we could social distance more effectively if we knew who is carrying the virus, where they live, and where theyve been in the past three weeks.

They cite countries such as South Korea that have their contagion largely under control, partly because officials publicize lots of information every day. In that country, a national mobile phone alert warns nearby residents when a new case is detected and includes detailed information about the last few places visited by the patient.

Manitoba journalists have asked for more information, but officials have declined, citing the privacy of patients. In normal times, their refusal is understandable for legal and ethical reasons. But everyone will agree these are not normal times.

Although legal safeguards about patient information are outlined in Manitobas Personal Health Privacy Act, most rights and liberties of Manitobans were suspended on March 20 when the province declared a state of emergency.

As far as ethical objections to publicizing information about virus carriers, theres a strong argument that the greater good of Manitoba trumps the desire of the patients to stay anonymous. Extreme measures are needed to minimize Manitoba infections and the resulting economic woes that threaten to be alarmingly deep.

Personally, I believe Manitoba officials can help by releasing information about the locations involving community contagion. But I dont agree with those who argue health officials should publicize personal information to identify the carriers.

I fear that if it became policy to publicize the identities and home addresses of carriers, it would discourage some people from getting tested when they first experience symptoms because they fear  wrongly, I hope  that public disclosure would lead to shaming.

I believe there is little chance of shaming when it comes to COVID-19. Reasonable people dont think less of people who test positive, realizing its not their fault, they did nothing wrong.

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To illustrate how shaming is unlikely in the case of coronavirus carriers, here is a quick quiz: do you have any less esteem for Tom Hanks, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau or Prince Charles?

People who test positive can rise high above possible stigma  and warrant considerable respect in the eyes of others  if they choose one courageous action: self-disclose.

After they test positive, they can keep others from being infected by personally notifying people who were in their orbit in the past three weeks, including households of friends and neighbours. They can also self-disclose on social media, listing times and places they visited. It can read like this: "Ive tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On March 19, I was at the 7 p.m. screening of the movie Emma in theatre 3 at Scotiabank Theatre.

We all want to stop this virus in its tracks, but we cant track it unless we get better information from health officials and the people who test positive.

carl.degurse@freepress.mb.ca

Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.
A woman has been overwhelmed by the kindness of ordinary Australians after a stranger gave her elderly mother a packet of antibacterial wipes straight from her trolley because she 'needed them more'.

Sue Martin's mother 80-year-old Jean (pictured) is still 'fiercely independent'

Sue Martin, 53, lives in Colloroy in north Sydney, just under 20 minutes drive from her 80-year-old mother Jean's apartment in an independent living facility in Bayview.

After living with chronic heart disease for years, Jean underwent open heart surgery in September 2019, an operation which triggered a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.

Her medical history places her in the highest risk category for contracting COVID-19.

Jean was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease earlier this year but her 'fiercely independent' and determined nature has made it difficult for her to adjust to life with the degenerative condition.

True to form, Jean defied her daughter's wishes to take a short bus ride to Mona Vale Woolworths on Thursday in search of disinfectant wipes which have been almost impossible to find since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis in January.

Jean went to Woolworths in search of antibacterial wipes which have been almost impossible to get in Australia since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis in January (pictured, elderly shoppers wait for Woolworths in Balmain, Sydney to open for its dedicated 'seniors hour' on Tuesday, March 17)

Ms Martin told Daily Mail Australia she was furious with her strong willed mother when she discovered she was out pottering around the supermarket.

'I couldn't believe she was out and about. Luckily I was out getting a coffee in Mona Vale, so I went straight to Woolies to pick her up,' she said.

When she arrived, Jean told her daughter that the shop was completely sold out of antibacterial wipes, but a woman overheard Woolies staff telling Jean there was none left.

'She told me the woman reached into her trolley, handed a pack and said here, you need these more than me.'

Ms Martin shared a post in a north Sydney community group on Facebook, thanking the shopper for her selfless, generous gesture during a time when many Australians - especially the elderly - are 'doing it tough'.

Sue (left, with her mother Jean, right) was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers, all eager to help during a time when many Australians are 'doing it tough'

She was inundated with offers of support from other strangers keen to help her mother just minutes after she posted her message of thanks.

'I've had probably 10 ladies message me privately saying "I live around the area, if your mother needs help I can do her grocery shopping or whatever she needs",' she said.



One woman from the Mona Vale area said she would be happy to deliver shopping to Jean or any elderly person in need of assistance.

Ms Martin was inundated with offers of support (like this one) from other strangers keen to help her mother just minutes after she posted her message of thanks

Ms Martin said it was lovely to see everyone doing good for each other during these frightening and uncertain times

Others encouraged Ms Martin to simply 'shout out' whenever her mother needed anything.

'Your mum needs to be safe and sound inside, not out at supermarkets. Please private message if we can do anything at all,' said one woman.

A young Woolworths worker even messaged Ms Martin to say she would gather whatever her mother needed and leave it in a bag behind the service desk once a week to save her going around the busy shop.

'Everyone is trying to do their best for everyone, it's lovely to see,' Ms Martin said.
Help is on the way for workers, businesses and hospitals, and none too soon for the more than 31,000 New Mexicans who recently applied for unemployment benefits.

The $2.2 trillion economic rescue package approved by Congress and the president this week provides much-needed economic relief for laid-off employees all across New Mexico who are struggling to make ends meet as state and national jobless claims soar. It also provides critical funding for businesses battling to stay afloat and emergency funding for hospitals preparing for an onslaught of COVID-19 patients while short of basic supplies. Hopefully it will alleviate some of the anxiety of those 31,849 New Mexicans who joined the unemployment line March 19-26 and have no idea when they will return to work, and help struggling small businesses owners throughout the health and economic crises.

The mammoth bill, whose price tag is half the size of the entire annual federal budget, provides income-eligible payments of $1,200 per adult and $2,400 for married couples, with $500 payments per child. The bill also ensures paid leave for contractors at national labs, allocates $15.5 billion for a surge in food stamps, provides $150 million in grants for cultural and arts venues that are closed, prohibits foreclosures for 60 days on all federally backed mortgage loans, and places a 120-day moratorium on evictions from any property for which a landlord has a federally backed mortgage.

The bill will help owners and employees of bars, retail stores and theaters that have been forced to close, and restaurants that have been forced to limit service to carry-out and delivery, with a $367 billion program to help small businesses keep making payroll. Thats also good news for dental hygienists, optometrist office employees and others now home since the governor stopped non-essential health care services.

The bill also includes a $500 billion program for subsidized loans to larger industries, including airlines, $150 billion in grants to states and local authorities to fight the virus, a cash infusion estimated at $130 billion for hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients, and $400 million in grants to states to expand voting by mail  an issue New Mexicos leaders need to tackle and resolve with the June 2 primary looming.

While the bill was trimmed of several non-germane provisions, it still contains too much funding for pet projects, such as $1.2 billion for renewable jet fuel, $75 million for public television and $25 million for the Kennedy Center.

Like New Mexicos annual capital outlay bill that appropriates goodies to every state lawmakers district, the 880-page economic rescue package appears to have something for everyone on Capitol Hill. Providing funding for programs unrelated to the pandemic was an unfortunate but necessary concession to get bipartisan agreement and pass the U.S. Senate 96-0 Wednesday and the U.S. House by voice vote Friday.

Passage was the easy part; implementation is another issue. Doling out $2.2 trillion will require extensive oversight to ensure the money reaches the intended recipients. Remember shovel-ready? Meanwhile, it will provide furloughed workers $600 more per month on top of state unemployment benefits. Republicans worry that it incentivizes some not to work, begging the question why not emulate other nations and reimburse companies that keep folks on the payroll instead?

It was imperative the federal government, the only American entity that prints and backs money, pass the economic rescue package to help the country get to the other side of this deepening health crisis. Its a sad commentary that keeping it to a targeted emergency aid package was a bridge too far for our politicians.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Jonathan Bachman/Getty

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell defended her decision not to cancel the city's Mardi Gras festivities earlier this year, when the coronavirus had already been ravaging the US.

She told CNN that if the outbreak had been taken seriously on the federal level at the time, they would have called off the event.

"When it's not taken seriously on the federal level, it's very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions," Cantrell said, adding that the federal response "backed up by the response of our national leader."

Louisiana has grown to be one of the virus' epicenters in the US, with Orleans Parish having the most per-capita cases in the country.

As of Friday, 83 people died of COVID-19 in the state and there were more than 2,300 positive cases.

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Revelers parade in the New Orleans French Quarter during Mardi Gras on February 25, 2020.

The mayor of New Orleans appeared to blame President Donald Trump's administration for her decision not to cancel this year's Mardi Gras celebrations in the city, which led to a spike in coronavirus cases in Louisiana state and turned it into one of the virus' hot zones in the US.

Though New York state remains the epicenter of the outbreak, Orleans Parish currently has the most cases per capita in the entire country by a longshot, according to NOLA.com. As of Friday, there were more than 2,300 cases in the state of Louisiana, and 83 people had died.

In a Thursday interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Mayor LaToya Cantrell explained that the city's Mardi Gras planning happens year-round and in close coordination with the federal government. This year's Mardi Gras celebrations took place on February 25.

She was given "no red flags" about a public health threat at any point, so they decided to continue with business as usual.

The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) March 26, 2020

"When it's not taken seriously on the federal level, it's very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions," Cantrell said. "But when the experts told me that social gatherings would be an issue, I moved forward with canceling them."

Story continues

When Blitzer asked if it's correct to say that federal officials made no suggestion that the event should be canceled, Cantrell responded: "That's absolutely correct, and it was backed up by the response of our national leader."

"Allowing science to lead us, it does matter," Cantrell went on to say. "Leaders on the ground, we rely on the facts to make decisions for the people that we serve. Given no red flags, we moved forward. In hindsight, if we were given clear direction, we would not have had Mardi Gras, and I would have been the leader to cancel it."

President Donald Trump.

Getty

Trump initially downplayed the coronavirus for weeks before declaring a national emergency on March 13. The World Health Organization declared the disease a pandemic on March 11.

A study from Imperial College London, which estimated that more than 2 million Americans would die if the country didn't institute social distancing measures, was reportedly the impetus for the administration's change in tone.

On March 16, Cantrell shut the cities' bars and ordered restaurants to close unless they could fulfill take-out orders.

A deserted Bourbon Street in New Orleans on March 25, 2020.

Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

Mardi Gras was 'the perfect storm' for the coronavirus spread

Louisiana, meanwhile, has become one of the coronavirus' epicenters in the US, and scientists have linked the outbreak there to Mardi Gras.

Dr. Rebekah Gee, who heads Louisiana State University's healthcare services division, called Mardi Gras "the perfect storm" for the spread of coronavirus, according to a Wednesday report from Reuters.

"New Orleans had its normal level of celebration, which involved people congregating in large crowds and some 1.4 million tourists," Gee said. "We shared drink cups. We shared each other's space in the crowds. People were in close contact catching beads. It is now clear that people also caught coronavirus."

Gary Wagner, a professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, also found that during in the first two weeks of the outbreak in state, it had the highest growth rate of the virus in the world.

"It seems the virus was there when crowds were around for Mardi Gras and it may have turned into a super-spreader event," Wagner told The Washington Post.

"You can see what's happening in Italy and Spain, and there is every reason to think the same events are going to happen here."

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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Former RTE editor Cliodna OFlynn lives in Tenerife now

A former RTE editor is the voice of the coronavirus warning system in the Canaries

Cliodna O'Flynn's dulcet tones boom across the streets of south Tenerife from a patrol van.

In no uncertain terms, she tells the locals to "stay at home" and "do not leave your house".

The freelance journalist works for the communications department of the local council in Adeje and her multilingual expertise was called upon two weeks ago

She is now responsible for translating all of the health information bulletins from Spanish into German and English.

Speaking from her home on the island, Cliodna described her friends sending her videos of the van broadcasting her warnings to locals and ex-pats.

Expand Close Cliodna worked with the late, great Marian Finucane / Facebook

Twitter

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Whatsapp Cliodna worked with the late, great Marian Finucane

Odd

"It's amusing and a bit odd," she said.

The 58-year-old is currently in lockdown with her daughter Brianna (15).

While Tenerife has been her home for 20 years, her heart is with Ireland and she still listens to RTE's Morning Ireland every day.

"I work in the communications department for one of the local councils in Adeje," she said.

"When the coronavirus struck about two weeks ago I got a call to voice up the instructions.

"I had people phoning me up and sending me videos of my van patrolling the streets and my voice telling everyone to get back inside."

Cliodna is no stranger to broadcasting having worked with Ireland's greatest, including Marian Finucane and Gay Byrne.

"I was one of the editors on Morning Ireland and I took a year-long career break and came to Tenerife in September 1999. I'm here ever since," she said.

"When you work in news you move around a lot so I was a producer on The Pat Kenny Show and Liveline.

"I worked with Marian Finucane for years. I was desperately sad to hear of her passing.

"She was one in a million, totally unique and such a fantastic person.

"She was an amazing broadcaster, as was Gay Byrne.

"Both of them were astonishing professionals and that's what made them such an easy listen on air."
Almost 500 of Australia's coronavirus cases - or one in seven - have come from cruise ships, the nation's deputy chief medical officer said on Saturday.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly told a national press conference almost 200 cases had come from one ship alone - the Ruby Princess.

The Ruby Princess docked in Sydney on March 19 after a tour of New Zealand and let 2,700 passengers, some showing symptoms, leave for their homes around Australia and across the world, including the UK.

One couple, who returned home to the UK after leaving the Ruby Princess, is now showing symptoms of Covid-19 and says that there was a distinct lack of information from the cruise ship company.

Elisa McCafferty and her partner have reported that they are both 'listless', finding it hard to focus and have no smell or taste.

Ms McCafferty says she also has a chesty cough and is throwing up clear liquid.

Scroll down for video

The Ruby Princess (pictured) docked in Sydney on March 19 after a tour of New Zealand and let 2700 passengers leave for their homes around Australia

Passengers disembark from the Ruby Princess at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal on February 8 before the ban on cruise ships was put in place

A woman aged her 70s who was taken from the Ruby Princess to hospital after the ship docked in Sydney died on March 24

Daily Mail Australia found the cruise ship is responsible for at least 227 cases across the country, with 121 in NSW, 52 in Queensland, 44 in South Australia, at least eight in WA, and two in the Northern Territory.

Elisa McCafferty (pictured) and her partner have reported that they are both 'listless', finding it hard to focus and have no smell or taste since leaving the cruise ship

The difference may be due to new cases being discovered since the figures were collated for the national medical briefing.

Mr Kelly said other cases had come from other cruise ships including the Diamond Princess that became stranded in Japan.

Other than cruise ships, Mr Kelly said the majority of cases have come from the US and Europe, in particular the UK and Italy.

Those who walked off the Ruby Princess were not tested for the coronavirus, despite some displaying flu-like symptoms and complaining of feeling sick.

They simply gathered their baggage, stepped ashore wheezing and spluttering and disappeared into Australia's biggest city.

More than 130 of those aboard the Ruby Princess have now tested positive to COVID-19, making it the single greatest source of infections in Australia since the outbreak began.

A woman aged her 70s who was taken from the cruise ship to hospital after docking died on Tuesday morning.

Other passengers have since spread across the nation on planes, trains and buses, or flown back to their home countries, potentially taking the virus with them.

Elisa McCafferty flew home to London after disembarking from the Ruby Princess with her husband.

'Nothing was said at anytime about anyone being sick onboard. It was a distinct lack of information coming through from Princess the entire time,' she told the BBC.

She said she only learned that passengers with coronavirus had been on the ship when she arrived at Heathrow Airport.

'I turned on my phone and I started getting all these notifications from people back in Australia saying 'there's been confirmed cases on the Ruby,'' she said.

'And I was just absolutely petrified. We had just been on two full flights - what if we had infected someone?'

She said she was suffering from coronavirus symptoms and was self-isolating at home.

Border controls are now in place for South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, with only freight and essential travel exempted. Queensland will close its borders on Wednesday.

The federal government suspended all cruise ships - however some, such as the Ruby Princess (pictured), have only just completed their trips

But the most important border - the one that makes Australia an island continent - is still being breached and the most alarming new infections have come by water.

How cruise ships could continue to bring infected patients into the country has led to blame-shifting, anger and bewilderment.

Cruise ships have been an obvious potential source of infected coronavirus arrivals since the Diamond Princess was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February.

More than 700 passengers of the 3,700 people on board that ship quickly developed coronavirus.

Diamond Princess was forced to stay at sea for almost three weeks before the decision was made to quarantine people onshore.

As coronavirus swept the world, cruise ships were barred from docking in Australian ports for 30 days from March 15.

The federal government granted exemptions to four vessels which were already on their way back to Australia.

Those ships - Ruby Princess, Ovation of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice and Voyager of the Seas - arrived in Sydney between March 18 and March 20. All have had cases of coronavirus since docking.

The NSW government gave the all-clear for the Ruby Princess to berth in Sydney Harbour on March 19, considering its arrival 'low risk'.

Passengers who arrived on the ship have claimed they were 'waved through' the port without facing any health screenings.

Some then spent as long as four days onshore potentially spreading COVID-19 before they were ordered to self-isolate for 14 days via emails and phone calls.

As of Saturday afternoon, Australia had 3,603 coronavirus cases, of which 67 per cent were travel-related, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly told a national press conference.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'That is the main reason why there will be enhanced measures at the airport that were announced by the Prime Minister yesterday,' he said.

Professor Kelly said most of the locally acquired cases that had been found had a clear contact with a known coronavirus case, meaning they were successfully tracing contacts and finding the cases to decrease transmission.

Until Wednesday, only those who had returned from overseas and had symptoms or who had contacts with a confirmed case were recommended to be tested.

The recommendations were expanded on Wednesday to include those with severe community-acquired pneumonia without a clear cause, and health care or aged care workers.

Those who spent time in a high-risk location with two or more linked cases are now recomended to be tested in the expanded provisions.

With these restrictions it is unlikely testing could find many community-based transmissions of people with mild or no symptoms who have not travelled.

NSW Health's website on Saturday said it has the capacity was still only recommending is recommending people with acute, cold, flu-like symptoms who are returned travellers, or a contact of a confirmed case, be tested for COVID-19.

Professor Kelly said the authorities would concentrate on forcing people coming into Australia to quarantine for 14 days, and on testing people.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  President Donald Trump said he was considering a quarantine as early as Saturday for coronavirus hotspots in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, though it wasnt clear whether he had the power to order state residents to stay put.

Trump told reporters at the White House that he had spoken with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, among others, and that "a lot of the states that are infected but dont have a big problem, theyve asked me if Ill look at it so were going to look at it.

But New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who criticized the federal governments response as his state became the country's virus epicenter, said the issue had not come up in a conversation he had with Trump earlier Saturday.

I dont even know what that means, the Democrat said at a briefing in New York. "I dont know how that could be legally enforceable, and from a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing. ... I dont like the sound of it.

The federal government is empowered under the law to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states, but it's not clear that means Trump can ban people from leaving their state. It has never been tested in the modern era  and in rare cases when any quarantine was challenged, the courts generally sided with public health officials.

Courts have ruled consistently for years that the authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with the states, under provisions in the Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states. The federal government, though, would have power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travelers or those traveling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases.

Still, it is entirely unprecedented that governors or the president would prevent people from traveling from one state to another during an infectious disease outbreak," said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor and public health specialist who questioned Trump's ability to order a quarantine on states.

But as Trump traveled to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a U.S. Navy medical ship setting sail for New York City to help with the pandemic response, he tweeted: I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.

He may not need to order a legally justifiable quarantine. One idea under consideration would be to tell residents of those areas to isolate themselves and not travel for two weeks, just as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have instructed anyone who recently left New York to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to one person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing deliberations.

The measure wouldn't necessarily come with any legal justification or penalty, just the hope that people would comply to try to contain the virus spread.

The governors of Florida, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas already have ordered people arriving from the New York area to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival. In a more dramatic step, Rhode Island police have begun pulling over drivers with New York plates so that the National Guard can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine.

Trump said the idea of isolating many in the trio of Democratic strongholds in the Northeast was pushed by DeSantis, one of the president's most outspoken supporters. It came a day after Trump made clear he wanted governors to be grateful when asking for federal support for the pandemic.

Trump said people go to Florida and a lot of people dont want that. So well see what happens." He later clarified it would not affect truckers or people transiting through, and would not affect trade.

We'll be announcing that one way or the other fairly soon, he said.

Florida is a perennial swing state, and one Trump must win come November  plus he recently moved his residence from New York to Florida. It also has a population of 21 million with a large percentage of old people, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus.

The U.S. leads the world in reported cases with more than 115,000. There were roughly 1,900 deaths recorded by Saturday.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he did not talk about quarantining the tri-state area in his recent conversation with Trump, and learned of the president's comments as he walked into Saturday's daily briefing.

Until further notified we're going to keep doing exactly what we're doing, because we believe the data and the facts are on our side in terms of this aggressive, as aggressive as any American state right now, in terms of social distancing and flattening the curve, he said.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrive to speak in front of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va., Saturday, March 28, 2020. The ship is departing for New York to assist hospitals responding to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)AP

The quarantine idea comes a day after the president took a round of steps to expand the federal governments role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic, even as he warned the leaders of hard-hit states not to cross him.

I want them to be appreciative, Trump said Friday after the White House announced he would be using the powers granted to him under the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to try to compel auto giant General Motors to produce ventilators.

Yet Trump  who hours earlier had suggested the need for the devices was being overblown  rejected any criticism of the federal government's response to a ballooning public health crisis that a month ago he predicted would be over by now.

Trump said he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to call the governors of Washington or Michigan  two coronavirus hotspots  because of their public criticism. If they dont treat you right, I don't call, Trump said.

In Norfolk, Trump saw off the ship with a speech before only a few people and then watched as the USS Comfort slowly made its way out of port. The 1,000-bed hospital ship had been undergoing planned maintenance, but was rushed back into service to aid the city.

It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier a week after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast.

We will stop at nothing to protect the health of New Yorkers and the health of the people of our country in their hour of need, Trump said.

The ship has 12 operating rooms as well as radiology suites and a CT scanner. It also has ICU beds, a lab and a pharmacy. The 1,100 or so medical staff on board are mostly active duty service members from the U.S. Navy, and some reservists, who serve on the East Coast.

The president acknowledged that making the 140-mile trip to Naval Station Norfolk wasnt necessary, but said he did it to recognize the work of sailors and medical professionals who worked to get the ship out of maintenance more than a week ahead of schedule.

Trump, 73, is in a high-risk category because of his age, and federal guidance for weeks has advised those in that pool to refrain from non-essential travel of all sorts.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.
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They must have been relieved to touch down at Sydney international airport, but any feelings of elation will have been short-lived for these returning travellers.

As soon as they made their way through immigration they were bundled onto a bus and transported to a hotel under police escort.

Once at a hotel officers in masks ushered them into Rydges hotel where they will be forced to live for two weeks.

These confronting images come a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a mandatory 14 day quarantine for all arrivals into the country from midnight on Saturday.

Anyone who ignores instructions to self-isolate could face arrest or hefty fines.

International travellers returning to Australia escorted into Rydges Hotel by police on Saturday

Armed police wearing facemasks gather outside a bus stop in Sydney to enforce strict new quarantine measures

Police wear bulletproof vests in front of Rydges hotel a day after Scott Morrison announced draconian new measures to contain the stop of coronavirus

The draconian new rules were introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus which as of Saturday afternoon had infected 3603 Australians. A total of 14 people have died from the deadly respiratory condition.

Two thirds of coronavirus cases in Australia are or have been caused by an Australian returning home from overseas.

On Saturday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Sydney could have to forcibly quarantine up 5,000 people a day for the 'foreseeable future.

Ms Berejiklian said Border Force and the ADF would be stepping up to support the government in making sure people stayed in self isolation.

'We have thousands of people in hotel rooms under self isolation,' she said.

'We do rely on them doing the right thing. We do have hundreds of police officers out there enforcing orders that come into effect in midnight.'

Authorities want to prevent a repeat of the debacle where 2700 passengers disembarked the Ruby Princess cruise ship on March 19 in Sydney.

The cruise ship is now responsible for at least 227 cases across the country, with 121 in NSW, 52 in Queensland, 44 in South Australia, at least eight in WA, and two in the Northern Territory.

One female passenger in her 70s, who was among the first on board to test positive for the virus, died in a Sydney hospital on Tuesday.

Ms Berejiklian said it would be frustrating for people and asked everyone to do the right thing, warning there would be both state and federal enforcement of the rules.

NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller said those getting off the planes would be checked by health officials and Border Force then sent to hotel rooms under 'broad security' for 14 days.

Anybody showing symptoms would be taken to hospital for treatment while those going to the hotels are only considered to be potentially higher risk because they have been travelling.

'To be clear, everyone coming off the plane at Sydney airport gets health checked and appropriately processed by Border Force,' Commissioner Fuller said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (centre) speaks at a televised conference about the new rules. NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller (left) assured people that NSW is not a police state but officers would be taking steps to keep people safe

Police at Rydges Hotel, Sydney, as travelers are taken into forced 14-day quarantine

The Ruby Princess leaving Sydney Harbour on March 19 after 2,700 passengers disembarked, many of them spreading coronavirus around Australia as they returned home

Australia's coronavirus cases rose to 3,603 on Saturday afternoon, while deaths rose to 14

Commissioner Fuller said higher risk returnees such as cruise ship passengers would be offered accommodation, also those from interstate who would be travelling on to get home after the quarantine ended.

Commissioner Fuller said putting people into hotel rooms was a challenge for NSW Police.

'We don't put police on every door. We're not running a police state,' he said.

'This is why it is so important that new powers come in tonight to give police, government and the community certainty, that the people coming off these planes will go into hotel rooms, and they will be isolated, under broad security, for 14 days.'

Commissioner Fuller said they would take entire hotel floors or even entire hotels so that if a health response was needed then other hotel guests would not be affected.

'We are absolutely doing our best to treat people respectfully but we're not getting the sort of compliance that I feel we need,' Commissioner Fuller said.

'That's why it's important tonight we really switch over to a much more controlled police style operation and, again, I acknowledge some people won't be happy with that. But I truly believe this will bring an end to this much, much quicker than just relying on individuals.'

Anyone who enters Australia from another country must isolate themselves for a 14-day quarantine, with fines of up to $11,000 or six months prison if they do not comply under the NSW Public Health Act.
Australian model Jessica Hart went makeup free and cut a casual figure in Los Angeles on Thursday, as she enjoyed a coffee run on her 34th birthday.

The stunner - who has walked for the likes of Victoria's Secret - was joined on the low-key outing by her lookalike sister, Ashley Hart, 31.

Jessica kept relaxed on the day in activewear, wearing khaki leggings and an oversized white hooded jumper.

Low-key celebrations? Jessica Hart (right) cut a casual figure in activewear on Thursday in LA, as she enjoyed a coffee run on her 34th birthday. She was joined by lookalike sister Ashley (left)

She teamed the look with black and white runners and long socks.

Meanwhile, Ashley kept warm in a black hoodie with multicoloured jeans from Wonder Anatomie.

Ashley teamed her outfit with a black sneakers and a dark, round sunglasses.

Casual: Jessica kept relaxed on the day in activewear, wearing khaki leggings and an oversized white hooded jumper

Adorable! Joining the sisters on their sunny outdoor stroll was Jessica's cute Yorkshire Terrier, Floyd

Joining the sisters on their sunny outdoor stroll was Jessica's cute Yorkshire Terrier, Floyd.

After picking up their coffees, the sisters made their way back home and chatted away.

On Friday, Ashley paid tribute to her older sister for her birthday.

She shared a photograph online of Jessica with her NASCAR driver boyfriend, James Kirkham. Jessica and James started dating last year.

Ashley wrote: 'Happiest of Birthdays to my incredible sister. It doesn't get cooler than you!'

Sweet: On Friday, Ashley paid tribute to her older sister for her birthday, sharing a photograph online of Jessica with her NASCAR driver boyfriend James Kirkham (pictured). Jessica and James started dating last year

'You are the sweetest soul... and for so many years, I never would have thought I'd say that ha!'

The blonde added in part of her post: 'I'm so blessed to call you my sister in this life, you've been my number one since day dot and will be till the day I die. I love you beyond words and worlds, here's to the best years of life, still yet to come!'

She also thanked their mother, Rae, and wrote: 'And mum, thank you, I kiss your feet in gratitude for what you brought into the world today. Happy birthing-day Mummah Hart! So much love!'
WSU Part of National Climate Change Webinar

March 31, 2020

Although the COVID-19 crisis is demanding our attention, Weber State Universitys Sustainability Practices and Research Center (SPARC) remains focused on the looming crisis of climate change and how Utahns can make a difference.

SPARC, along with WSUs Environmental Initiatives Committee, will host a statewide live-webcast on climate solutions, April 7 from 5-7 p.m., as part of a nationwide virtual teach-in/discussion event called Solve Climate by 2030.

Due to its leadership and involvement in sustainability, Weber State was asked to serve as the host for the Utah webinar. The series will include 52 university-hosted webinars, including one in almost every state, Puerto Rico and five countries internationally. The webinars are focused on three ambitious but feasible state and local ideas to help solve climate change by 2030.

We will focus on what Utahns can do to help improve our future in the face of climate change, said Alice Mulder, SPARC director. We want to translate the solutions identified by the state experts to actions we can each take on the ground. This next decade is our window to make a significant difference in reducing the impacts of our changing climate.

COVID-19 has shown how fragile our health and economic systems are in the face of extreme events. Our best climate scientists have also told us clearly that, unchecked, climate change will turn our lives into a series of extreme events around the world. There is still time to change that future.

The Center for Environmental Policy at Bard College in New York initiated the project. According to Eban Goodstein, center director, solving the energy-half of climate change by 2030 is looking more, not less likely, than it was four years ago. The cost of solar, wind, batteries and electric vehicles have plummeted. In many cases, they are already less expensive than polluting fossil fuels  and getting cheaper every day.

The important action on climate is now in cities, at local electric utilities and with states, Goodstein said. The challenge is bad local laws and regulations that are slowing the clean-energy revolution.

Weber States webinar will begin with a short presentation from Bard College followed by a Utah-focused panel presentation and community discussion.

Faculty and teachers across the country, and across disciplines, will assign the webinars as homework to springboard discussion for climate solutions and energy justice. Subject-area online resources are available to #MakeClimateaClass.

To watch the free webinar, Register here. For more information, or if you would like a link to the recording, contact katherinemeyr@weber.edu

Weber State Sustainability Projects

Through its multiple sustainability efforts, Weber State has saved $1,984,280 on its water and energy costs in fiscal year 2019. Since 2007, WSU has reduced its direct carbon footprint by 39 percent, while the university has grown by more than 475,252 square feet.

The university is in the process of installing its first solar covered-parking array over the W10 lot, on the north west side of the Ogden campus. The array will house 550 kilowatts of solar panels that will feed directly into Lindquist Hall and the campus electrical grid. The power produced by the array is expected to offset 80 percent of Lindquist Halls energy consumption.

Other Weber States sustainability efforts have included a series of ground source wells that help heat and cool campus. The university built a seven-acre solar field that supplies the energy needs to the WSU Davis campus in Layton. Students are also involved in a collaborative project with Ogden City to construct a net zero home in Ogden as part of an international competition hosted by the Department of Energy. You can learn more about Weber State sustainability work at this link.

Webinar Schedule

5-5:10 p.m. Welcome

Eban Goodstein, Bard College

5:10 - 6 p.m. Climate Solutions Live Panel

Sarah Wright, Utah Clean Energy Executive Director

Brad Mortensen, Weber State University President

Aimee Urbina, Sunrise Movement Coordinator, Ogden

Piper Christian, youth activist leader and University of Utah student

6-7 p.m. Moderated Community Dialogue

For more information about SPARC, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
With a lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak, scores of migrants here were seen heading back to their hometowns on foot to nearby districts in Uttar Pradesh.

The migrants were spotted on ITO and Vikas Marg in large numbers and many of them cited reasons pertaining to no availability of food and landlords throwing them out.

"We are obeying the government orders but where would we get food from? If the government will provide food, when does it plan in doing so? Till when can we stay alone inside a room," one of the migrants told ANI.

He added, "By going home, at least a person would be surrounded by his family members and there is a guarantee of getting food."

Echoing similar sentiments, another migrant who also lived in rented accommodation said that when the rationing of staples was taking place, he was refused to be given any ration as shopkeepers found him healthy.

"Do I not have a stomach? Shall I die of hunger? Who do we complain to as there is nobody to hear our complaints? Landlords have kicked us out asking for rent. Where do we go," he said.

With no work available in factories, employers have laid off workers amid lockdown. "There is no facility or money being provided. We have been waiting for over four days now. I have kids who are unwell. I am unable to go home as there is no transport," a factory worker said.

Police stopped people in large numbers on late Friday evening who tried to cross the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a relief package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore for the underprivileged, poor and migrant workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is the only option to combat the disease.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 873, including 78 cured, discharged and migrated cases and 19 deaths, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DETROIT -- The 2020 North American International Auto Show has been canceled because the TCF Center - formerly known as Cobo Center -- has been selected by the Federal Emergency Management Administration as a field hospital site, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The center will be used for at least six months as health officials continue to battle the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

Sponsors were told the show is scheduled to return in 2021. Attempts by MLive to reach officials with the NAIAS were unsuccessful.

In a statement, obtained by the Detroit Free Press and Crains Detroit Business, NAIAS executive director Rod Alberts said the venue was the right place to use for the field hospital and the health and welfare of those in Detroit and in Michigan are paramount.

The 2020 show was scheduled to take place during the summer for the first time in three decades. Several different events, gatherings and parties were planned around the show, but those appear to have been canceled as well. Press preview days were scheduled for June 9-10 while the public show was set to run from June 13-20.

More than 770,000 people attended the 2019 Detroit auto show which brought an estimated economic impact of $430 million to the region. That economic benefit is spurred by the large numbers of people visiting restaurants and bars in the city, along with the thousands of hotel rooms rented during the near two-week show.

The decision to take over the center by FEMA comes a day after U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams called Detroit a hot spot for the COVID-19 virus and said the situation is going to get worse in the next week.

Related story: Detroit-area hospitals seeing tsunami of coronavirus cases in national hot spot

On Saturday, officials updated the number of confirmed cases and deaths in the state related to COVID-19. Officials say 111 people have died in the state and 4,650 cases have been confirmed.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration for the state at the urging of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. That declaration means more federal medical supplies will be sent to the state.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

 Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

 Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

 Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

 Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

 Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

 Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces(computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

 Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

READ MORE

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus
Not everyone, and not even every household, will get economic relief checks as the U.S. government's $2.2 trillion package parcels out aid to those taking economic hits from coronavirus consequences.

The direct payment amounts you've heard about are a maximum: $1,200 per adult, $2,400 per couple, $500 per child.

You'll need to make less than $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 per couple to get the full amounts.

People who made more than $99,000 and households totaling $198,000 or more in income reported on 2018 taxes won't be eligible for any direct payment, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The government is expected to begin issuing payments as soon as April 6.

Much of the roughly $2 trillion package rushes aid to businesses and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. Details of the package, written by Trump administration officials and Democratic and Republican Senate leaders, are still emerging.

 Tax breaks: Temporarily waives penalties for virus-related early withdrawals, eases required minimum annual disbursements from some retirement accounts; increases deductions for charitable contributions. Employers who pay furloughed workers can get tax credits for some of those payments. Postpones business payments of payroll taxes until 2021 or 2022.

 Small business: The plan includes $350 billion in loans for companies with 500 employees or fewer, including nonprofits, self-employed people and hotel and restaurant chains with up to 500 workers per location. Government provides eight weeks of cash assistance through loans to cover payroll, rent and other expenses, much of which would be forgiven if the company retains workers. Also $17 billion to help small businesses repay existing loans; $10 billion for grants up to $10,000 for small businesses to pay operating costs.

Here are other key elements of the package:

Loans and guarantees to businesses, state and local governments $500 billion. Includes up to $50 billion for passenger airlines and $8 billion for air cargo carriers, half the money specifically for paying workers. $17 billion for "businesses critical to maintaining national security." Companies accepting loans may not repurchase outstanding stock or pay dividends until one year after borrowing is repaid; must maintain employment levels they had March 24, 2020, "to the extent practicable" through Sept. 30, and not cut jobs by over 10 percent from that level; or give raises to executives earning over $425,000 annually until loan repaid. Companies are not eligible for loans if top Trump administration officials, members of Congress or their families have 20% control.

 Emergency unemployment insurance: $260 billion. Weekly benefit increase of $600 for four months. Includes extra 13 weeks of coverage for people who have exhausted existing benefits. Also covers part-time, self-employed, gig economy workers.

 Health care: $150 billion. Includes $100 billion for grants to hospitals, public and nonprofit health organizations and Medicare and Medicaid suppliers.

 Aid to state and local governments: $150 billion, at least $1.25 billion for smallest states.

 Department of Homeland Security: $45 billion for disaster relief fund to reimburse state and local governments for medical response, community services, other safety measures. Extends federal deadline for people getting driver's licenses with enhanced security features, called REAL ID, from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.

 Education: $31 billion. Includes $13.5 billion for states to distribute to local schools and programs, $14 billion for universities and colleges.

 Coronavirus treatments: $27 billion for research and development of vaccines and treatments, stockpiling medical supplies.

 Transportation: Includes $25 billion for public transit systems; $10 billion for publicly owned commercial airports, intended to sustain 430,000 transit jobs; $1 billion for Amtrak.

 Veterans: $20 billion, including $16 billion for treating veterans at VA facilities; $3 billion for temporary and mobile facilities.

 Food and agriculture: $15.5 billion for food stamps; $14 billion for supporting farm income and crop prices; $9.5 billion for specific producers including specialty crops, dairy and livestock; $8.8 billion child nutrition. Money for food banks, farmers' markets.

 Defense: $10.5 billion for Defense Department, including $1.5 billion to nearly triple the 4,300 beds currently in military hospitals; $1.4 billion for states to deploy up to 20,000 members of National Guard for six months; $1 billion under Defense Production Act to help private industry boost production of medical gear. Money cannot be used to build President Donald Trump's proposed wall along Mexican border.

 Social programs: Includes $3.5 billion in grants for child care and early education programs; $1 billion in grants to help communities address local economic problems; $900 million in heating, cooling aid for low-income families; $750 million for extra staffing for Head Start programs.

 Economic aid to communities: $5 billion in Community Development Block Grants to help state and local governments expand health facilities, child care centers, food banks and senior services; $4 billion in assistance for homeless people; $3 billion for low-income renters; $1.5 billion to help communities rebuild local industries including tourism, industry supply chains, business loans; $300 million for fishing industry.

 Native American communities: $2 billion for health care, equipment schools and other needs.

 Diplomacy: $1.1 billion, including $324 million to evacuate Americans and diplomats overseas; $350 million to help refugees; $258 million in international disaster aid; $88 million for the Peace Corps to evacuate its volunteers abroad.

 Elections: $400 million to help states prepare for 2020 elections with steps including expanded vote by mail, additional polling locations.

 Arts: $150 million for federal grants to state and local arts and humanities programs; $75 million for Corporation for Public Broadcasting; $25 million for Washington, D.C., Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

 Congress: $93 million, including $25 million for the House and $10 million for the smaller Senate for teleworking and other costs; $25 million for cleaning the Capitol and congressional office buildings.

Sources: Legislative text, summaries from Senate Republicans and Democrats.
A 4-year-old girl lost with her dog for more than 48 hours in rural Alabama woods shared the story of her ordeal in a video her family posted on Facebook.

Evelyn Vadie Sides, who vanished while walking her red hound dog, Lucy, was found about 3:20 p.m. Friday after almost two full days of searches.

We took a walk but then I got too fast and got running and got lost and then I started calling for nanny but nanny was too far, Vadie said in a video her family posted Saturday morning.

The child said she and Lucy once were separated but eventually reunited.

I slided, slided down a waterfall  I was brave not to go in, while the dog ran away, Vadie said.

I do not have enough words to express the proper gratitude to all of our community that came out to help us find this little angel. Jay Jones, Jimmy Taylor, and the rest of the Lee County Sheriff's Department, Lee County, Alabama Emergency Management Agency, Auburn PD, Opelika PD, Air Force National Guard, Macon County Sheriff's Department.... the list goes on and on. Thank you all so much. We have been overwhelmed by the unending unbelievable support we've gotten from this community. Also, the people who kept me alive, force fed me water and chicken broth, searched the woods endlessly, and basically lived at Nanny's house until she was found.. Amanda D. Odom Yeager, Doug Yeager, Jennifer K Johnson, Jessie Smith, Melanie Payne, Kyle Payne, Willie Terrell Payne, Nick Reardon, Erin Lance Hunter, Pamela Lee Sides, Kenneth Busby, Carole Corsby, Wes Burt, and Samantha Burt Copelan, I will probably never be able to thank you all enough. To all of the volunteers who came out in the middle of a global pandemic to traipse around in the woods, sometimes into the early morning hours, God Bless you all. Anyone I've forgotten just know that you are loved and we are incredibly grateful. We have been on an emotional roller coaster the last few days, and today I'm finally starting to breathe normally again. Vadie is still recovering in the hospital, but she is doing very well. She asked me to record her telling her story. It is what I would call the short version for sure, but below is the video of Vadie telling me what happened to her. I'm sure she will have more details in the future. Posted by Amanda Sides on Saturday, March 28, 2020

I found her because I was going the right direction, because I could smell, she added.

I slept by a road one, the first night, and  and the second night I slept where they found me.

The childs safe recovery was a balm to a community that has had more than its fair share of emotional blows over the past year or so.

Her story could have ended much differently, the way many others have in Lee County lately like the disappearance and death of Aniah Blanchard, the shootings of three Auburn police officers that left one dead and the others seriously injured, or the March 2019 tornadoes that left 23 residents dead.

This time, there was a happy ending.

We needed this badly, said Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones. This was really good, solid, positive news in a time when I think people need it the most, with all the medical concerns going on.

Several volunteers said this is such good news at a time when we need it Jones said, and I couldnt agree more.

When found by volunteer searchers, the 3-foot tall, 40-pound Loachapoka girl, was more than OK.

She was talkative and wanted to know why so many people were in the woods, the sheriff said with a laugh. One of the statements she gave was, I spent two nights in the woods.

Vadie was last seen in the 5000 block of Lee County Road 66 in Loachapoka, a town about a half mile west of Auburn. Authorities said she was under the supervision of her caretaker, who is in her 70s, and walking her dog when she and the dog essentially just disappeared. The caretaker also watches Vadies infant sister.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies were on the scene Wednesday night searching for the little girl. The search efforts continued Thursday and Friday with the use of helicopters and drones, people on horseback, tracking dogs and divers for the creeks in the area. The search area was wooded, though not dense, and sparsely populated.

We were using experienced teams who are in the business of that kind of work  finding missing people, Jones said. We had dog teams from all over the state, aerial assets, horseback, K9 and dive teams.

On Friday, the sheriff said, they discovered possible indications of activity in an area north of the home where Vadie disappeared. He said thats when they transitioned from the precision searches, set up checkpoints along the road for about a two-mile stretch and put out the call for volunteers.

Apparently just waiting for that call, 400 volunteers showed up at a church that served as the staging site.

We deployed them along the roadway and set up a search pattern, a grid going straight ahead, Jones said. We deployed them about 2:35 p.m. and at approximately 3:20, in less than hour, one of the teams found her as they were in the designated search area. She was less than a mile from where she disappeared.

With a bark, Lucy heralded their presence to searchers. Vadie then popped up from her resting spot on the ground. She was just sitting, the sheriff said. The dog was with her. The dog barked and bolted.

Obviously frightened by the burst of activity, Lucy ran off but later returned home.

Vadie was in good spirits. She was responsive and answering questions, Jones said. She did not present as scared. She was animated, and talkative and chowing down the last time I saw her in the back of the ambulance.

Volunteers handed Vadie Gatorade, water, a banana and other snacks they had brought along with them. EMS checked her out at the scene. Her vitals were excellent, Jones said. She was a little bit dehydrated but not that much worse for the wear, frankly.

Vadia was taken by ambulance to East Alabama Medical Center where she remained Friday evening. I understand everything looks great considering her circumstances, Jones said. Tough little girl.

Im so happy and grateful to God for watching over my beautiful granddaughter and bringing her safely back to us, said her grandmother, Harriet Sides.

Because medical attention was the first priority, the sheriff said there are still a lot of unanswered questions about what Vadie did for the 49 hours she and Lucy were lost. It appears she was wandering around as the teams were looking for her, so she wasnt staying in anyone place for a long period of time, Jones said.

There sheriff said there is no way to name all involved in the search, but said it included state, federal, city, and first responders from multiple Alabama counties.

The area where she was found had been covered numerous times by search teams, but today we put out the call to citizens and thats when she was found.

I just cannot say enough about the people in this county and the surrounding areas that put their personal safety behind them and put this little girl in front of them, he said. Within an hour she was located and reunited with her mom and dad. Thats the best part.

Jones said they dont know what all Vadie and Lucy encountered in the woods, but animals  especially snakes  and creeks in the area were among the primary concerns. I think the dog had a lot to do with protecting her, he said. She was with her by her side the whole time apparently.

Jones said he and others were well aware of the odds they faced. Having been in this business for a long time, thats always in the back of your mind that things may not end well, he said. Obviously, the longer period of time that goes by, the more that creeps into your thoughts.

But we were bound and determined that we were not leaving the area until we found that little girl, he said. Theres no doubt in my mind that all the prayers these people were putting up were answered here this afternoon. Thats what it is, an answered prayer.
Mental health organisations and professionals have recognised the severity of the impact on people's mental health and are responding to the crisis by optimising digital modalities of communication, through hosting webinars, Instagram lives, and curating pro-bono counselling helplines.

This is a follow-up to our report on the rising mental health concerns posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

***

A recent article published by the Harvard Business Review about the psychological toll of the coronavirus outbreak was titled 'That Discomfort Youre Feeling Is Grief'. It addressed how the various measures in place all over the world to deal with the pandemic  social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, curfews both full and partial, lockdowns  had led to a loss of routine, cut people adrift from many of their vital day-to-day moorings. There is fear surrounding the wellbeing of loved ones, uncertainty about financial futures and what a post-pandemic world might even look like. Pre-existing mental health conditions may also have been exacerbated by the crisis.

Mental health is intrinsically linked to social, political and environmental factors and hence it comes as no surprise that the pandemic and its consequences are not in the least conducive to mental well-being. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently released a resource addressing psychosocial considerations during the coronavirus outbreak, urging people to be kind, empathetic and support each other through these tough times.

Mental health organisations and professionals have recognised the severity of the impact on people's mental health and are responding to the crisis by optimising digital modalities of communication, through hosting webinars, Instagram lives, and curating pro-bono counselling helplines.

One such example of an intervention is the Counsellors on Call helpline initiated by Project Mumbai, a not-for-profit which works to create social transformation through initiatives of scale, in collaboration with Prafulta, another organisation that works in the psychological well-being space. Explaining the Counsellors on Call concept, CEO and founder Shishir Joshi, and project coordinator Malvika Fernandes, state that the team curated a list of counsellors across the country, with varied language fluency, including in Hindi, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu. The counsellors who came on board underwent virtual training, and were equipped with legitimate health resources and articles from the WHO/UNICEF.

For professionals and organisations in urban locales, use of virtual platforms has not been completely novel as many say that Skype and telephonic sessions are time effective, and offer a viable option to avoid city traffic. However, moving all case-load online is challenging (even for a tech-friendly millennial population) as being cooped up at home with family members fails to provide a space that is quiet and ethically-safe for therapy. The Alternative Story (also known as thealtstory), a Bengaluru/Mumbai based organisation that works at the intersection of technology and mental health recently conducted a webinar to address the lack of community healing present in times of social distancing. Its director Rashi Vidyasagar says that while the organisation has always upheld values of the psychosocial model of mental health, their webinar was aimed at creating a mutual realisation that depression and anxiety are normative responses/reactions to an abnormal situation, its not something that we call pathological.

In light of the 21-day lockdown, mental health professionals are also feeling the need to address specific themes  for instance, psychotherapists Lamia Bagaraswala and Anjali Nairs attempt to merge webinars and support groups through their initiative An Online Safe Space. Another of their initiatives is titled A Shared Learning Space which is aimed at co-creating a virtual group for adults to pool in tools and resources for mutual support to work their way through their work from home routines, address possible stressors and guide them through boundary-setting.

While these online spaces are open to all, every individual might choose to participate differently. Bagaraswala says, As facilitators, we try our best to be mindful of the heterogeneity of the group and allow for participants to respond to each other while moderating the spaceand using the chat option really helps especially for those who can listen but not talk from their home spaces. We also ensure that we take feedback in writing from every participant to take into account their experiences of the session.

While there is a steady discourse on mental health and service delivery for persons with mental health concerns in the virtual space, mental health practice in institutions that need clients to come in for timely, direct contact with practitioners are severely impacted. For instance, Sadaf Vidha, senior counselor at Sukoon, a TISS field action project that works in courts in the area of psycho-social stress in matrimonial litigations, says that with courts working at 5 percent capacity, check-ins and follow-ups of cases are being done over phone. A complete transition to digital communication would be impossible, given that they are bound to legal jurisdiction and specific guidelines of operation.

Mental health professionals continue to be concerned about how barriers to accessing mental health care will continue to prevail among the most marginalised sections of society. Rashi Vidyasagar (from thealtstory) adds that women with the load of responding to partners, elderly parents/in laws demands, children and persons with disabilities, queers persons, freelancers and daily wage workers will be at a higher disadvantage. A response to these very unique life stressors of particularly vulnerable communities is therefore vital.

Anushree Diranganes Free psychotherapy project, for instance, aims to address psychological distress and trauma of health professionals owing to possible exposure to the novel coronavirus, resources limitations, and prejudice and discrimination from the public for the possibility that they might have treated a patient with the virus. Besides one-on-one and group therapy, advocacy resources creating awareness are also essential. An easy to follow resource for LGBTQ persons is one such guide created by independent activists in Sri Lanka (including the Collective for Feminist Conversations) to address psychosocial well-being and how home might not be safe spaces for many people who identify as queer or gender non-conforming.

While mental health in India confronts this very novel crisis that has changed the course of our routine lives, mental health professionals and organisations question the concerns that have pervaded the sector in India even before the COVID-19 crisis. The already worrying mental health burden, large resource gap, and the alarming scarcity of barefoot mental health professionals to provide psychological first aid at the rural and grassroots level continue to be pressing concerns even as this health crisis is upon us. The Central Governments responsibility and accountability to address the mental health care of citizens is therefore crucial as we grapple with health inequities of this global health crisis.

Lorelle completed an MA in Social Work in Mental Health from TISS (Mumbai) in 2017, and has been working in the education space since. Her research interests include mental health, culture and gender studies.
Around 600 European nationals, stranded at various trekking routes and tourist spots in Nepal after the government imposed a week-long nationwide lockdown to control the spread of the novel coronavirus have been evacuated and flown back to their respective countries, according to the German embassy here.

In view of the emergency situation caused by COVID-19, the embassy in coordination with Nepal's Ministry of Tourism arranged two chartered flights for repatriation of tourists from Nepal on March 27 and 28, it said in a press release.

The tourists included 400 German nationals, while the others were from Finland, Austria, Poland, Norway, Switzerland and UK.

They were flown back to their respective countries by the chartered flights of Qatar Airways, it said.

The aircrafts flew to Nepal with only crew members and left with the stranded tourists.

According to the embassy, 200 German tourists are still in different regions of Nepal, mostly in the Himalayas.

"The embassy is currently looking for ways of ensuring their safe movement in close coordination with Nepalese authorities," it said.

Nepal on Tuesday announced a week-long nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

The number of people infected by the deadly virus in the country climbed to five on Saturday after a 19-year-old female who returned to the country from Belgium via Qatar tested positive for the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chief Executive of Sligo County Council Mr Ciaran Hayes, has advised councillors that the proposed increase in rents for Council tenants will be deferred. He also said that as rents are calculated on the basis of income, the Council will prioritise the recalculation of rents for tenants who lose their job as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

Cllr Declan Bree, who was one of the councillors who voted against the increase in rents at the Budget meeting, said: "Currently in Sligo there are in excess of 3,000 tenants including those availing of the HAP and RAS schemes. Given the unprecedented situation and the proposals at a national level to introduce a temporary ban on rent increases in the private sector, I certainly believe the decision was correct.

"I also understand the Department has indicated that businesses that are impacted by Covid-19 may defer their commercial rate payment and I assume that rates will have to be waived in respect of premises which have been obliged to close as a result of the crisis.

"A genuine and realistic income support scheme for workers who have been laid off is also urgently required for the thousands of people who have lost their job.

"In addition measures will need to be introduced to protect the many small businesses which are coming under immense pressure as a result of the pandemic. In this context the self-employed are particularly vulnerable."

"In 2008 this country bailed out the banks to the tunes of tens of billions of Euro; clearly now is the time to bail out our workers, their families and the small businesses which face immense challenges in these unprecedented times." said Cllr Bree
Government watchdogs are warning against potential abuses of state laws hastily adopted amid the coronavirus outbreak that relax standards for local governments in responding to document requests and providing access to public meetings.

"The Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act give citizens the information and power to become problem-solvers in their city or town, advancing solutions to a community's most important challenges, Harry Pozycki, founder of Metuchen-based Citizens Campaign, said in an email. It is essential that the spirit of these important citizen rights are maintained during this emergency and restored fully as soon as possible."

It isnt hard to see why elected officials would take drastic measures in response to the COVID-19 virus, with the number of confirmed cases and fatalities escalating daily. As of Thursday, state officials reported the totals had risen to at least 6,876 known cases and 81 deaths. (Track the virus county by county here.)

Last week, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a package of bills that included one that amended the states OPRA law to eliminate the 7-day time limit that municipalities, school districts and public authorities previously had to respond to requests for documents like meeting minutes, emails from lobbyists, public contracts, or other records that can reveal corrupt or wasteful official actions  or, for that matter, show off open and efficient government.

Elimination of the original OPRA laws 7-day response deadline applies not merely to the state of emergency declared for the coronavirus outbreak, but to any, state of emergency, public health emergency, or state of local disaster emergency. And the law does not expire.

As the New Jersey State League of Municipalities stated in its interpretation of the new law, The seven business day or soon as possible deadline to respond to Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Act requests does not apply.

At the same time, Murphy also signed legislation that allows local governments, school districts, water and sewer authorities or other public entities to hold meetings online or even by telephone, that is, meetings that the public cannot attend in person but can watch via video conferencing apps or by essentially dialing into a conference call.

Like the OPRA amendment, the new electronic meeting law can be invoked under any emergency declaration and does not expire. The law does state that the Department of Community affairs may craft specific rules for its implementation, which would be effective for 18 months before having to be renewed or replaced.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a package of bills in response to the coronavirus one day earlier, including a measure allowing public bodies to hold meetings online or by phone, and another that eliminates the 7-day deadline for a resposne to public records requests. Watchdogs say the measures could cloud government transparency. Murphy is seen here in Paramus on March 21. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The law also allows meetings to be advertised online, rather than in traditional print media, as long as the action taken in the meeting relates to the continued operation of that local government, district or utility during the declared emergency.

Walter M. Luers, a lawyer specializing in transparency issues who is president of the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, or NJ FOG, said online council meetings make sense when gatherings are simply out the question. But, Luers added, relaxing OPRA standards is an overreaction when document requests are typically made online and public records custodians are already entitled to seek extensions under the existing law if, for example, their local government is understaffed due to the virus.

"I think its important to note that the changes were made as permanent changes, said Luers. This is something that was rushed through. Im not aware of anyone who was asked about it, and Im in contact with folks from the newspaper community and open records community.

Betsy Cross is on the front lines of the transparency fight as a regular attendee of Wall Township Council and Board of Education meetings, where she often takes elected officials to task during public comment segments, as well as filing frequent requests for documents. Cross said the changes to the OPRA request law in particular could make her job as a self-appointed watchdog  watching out for her tax money and her neighbors  more difficult.

Our government should be able to handle this without any change to the legislation, Cross said of the OPRA law. This allows Custodians of Records who are not operating in the best interests of the taxpayers or possibly not above-board member to withhold public information without the need for a legal reason.

Lori Buckelew, a senior legislative analyst with the state League of Municipalities, defended the changes in both the open meetings and OPRA laws. Buckelew said ruling bodies up and down the state, in Verona, Fair Haven, Highland Park, and elsewhere had conducted online meetings to authorize payments and otherwise conduct municipal business, with their constituents able to watch online from the health and safety of their homes.

You still have to operate government, youve got to pay your bills, Buckelew said. Both laws are for declared emergencies, so its very narrow as to when you can use these laws.

You need the flexibility during emergencies to be able to run government and respond to the emergency at hand, she added.

In terms of the original OPRA law, Buckalew acknowledged that records custodians could, indeed, seek extensions, but only with the consent of the requestor. Frivolous or burdensome requests that could not be met within seven days could be subject to a vindictive requestors appeal to a judge to intervene.

Custodians are acting in good faith for the most part, Buckelew said. They are going to try to respond to the request.

Transparency is a matter of degree when it comes to meetings. For example, Highland Parks Borough Council held a telephonic meeting on Tuesday night to adopt a $9 million temporary budget, when members of the public were invited to listen in over the phone by dialing in on a special number and entering a pass code. Asbury Park did something similar on Wednesday night.

Residents could follow the action they were hearing while viewing an online agenda, and could unmute themselves to speak if they had registered for the public comment portion of the meeting.

Asbury Park Mayor John Moor said, "I totally agree, 100% with the concerns of transparency advocates.

But, Moor added, under the current situation and conditions, I think its the best we can do.

New Jersey is far from alone in adopting measures intended to give municipalities more leeway in conducting the peoples business and responding to inquiries at a time when public gatherings can have fatal health consequences and municipal employees are working at home or not at all.

The measures have prompted a nationwide response from Americas transparency community, with 132 non-profit watchdogs, news organizations and trade groups, including the New Jersey Broadcasters Association signing onto a joint statement urging public entities to recommit to, and not retrench from, their duty to include the public in the policy-making process, including policies relating to COVID-19 as well as the routine ongoing functions of governance.

John Marion, who heads the Rhode Island chapter of Common Cause and tracks transparency issues for the group nationally, said at least 17 states had enacted such measures, including 10 by executive order, five by the state attorney generals opinion, and two  New Jersey and Oklahoma  through legislation.

Its preferable that legislatures weigh in, because theyre representative of the people, verses governors giving emergency powers to waive statutes, said Marion. But its a difference without much of a distinction.

Marion likened the rush to adopt anti-coronavirus measures to Congress hurried approval of the Patriot Act in October 2001, a sweeping bipartisan measure intended to bolster U. S. security in response to the 9/11 attacks that included surveillance and other provisions criticized by some as infringing on Americans civil liberties.

Even the Patriot Act was subject to considerable debate in Congress, Marion said. The few examples of legislation weve been seeing by the states seem to be really bare bones, moving fast, because legislatures dont seem to be sure how much longer they can meet.

If were not careful, Marion said, transparency could be lost in the shuffle.

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Health-care systems in New Mexico are postponing elective surgeries and moving to video or telephone visits with doctors in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a Presbyterian Healthcare Services news release, its Presbyterian Medical Group is arranging phone or video visits for patients at specialty clinics and outpatient departments.

Patients have the option for a visit via telephone or video visit, but they can also still have an in-person visit if needed, said PHS spokeswoman Melanie Mozes in an email.

Many older patients with chronic conditions were transitioned to telephone visits the week before last, and clinic staff members are calling patients to discuss remote communication options, according to the release. If children need vaccinations, staff members direct the parents to a drive-thru site.

Also, according to the release, staff members ask patients COVID-19 screening questions during appointment-reminder calls. If the patient needs testing, employees send them to an appropriate site.

Lovelace Health System Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Serena Pettes said Lovelace Medical Group had implemented e-visits and video visits for most medical specialties. Patients can schedule appointments at 727-2727.

Surgeries

On Wednesday, the governor ordered that procedures that can wait three months without undue risk to a patients health be delayed to conserve personal protective equipment for medical personnel.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams decision to postpone all elective procedures is in line with Presbyterians existing approach and we fully support the decision, according to the release.

Doctors are still performing urgent and emergency surgeries.

PHS employees have already encouraged patients to delay hospital-based surgeries and outpatient procedures that and be put off without compromising their health. Bariatric surgery and joint replacements are examples of elective surgeries.

According to the release, postponing those operations allows critical staff members to work in other areas, as well as lessening the use of personal protective equipment. Mozes said the decision wasnt based on available beds.

Lovelace Medical Group CEO Dr. John Cruickshank said Lovelace is delaying elective procedures as per the governors declaration as well.

While some elective surgical cases can be postponed for a period of time, there are circumstances that require immediate and emergent attention, he said. Our surgeons are also adhering to the American College of Surgeons recommendations on elective surgical procedures during the COVID-19 occurrence.

At UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, hospital staff members have postponed elective surgeries in compliance with state order, but they had already begun ranking cases into tiers based on urgency and canceling procedures that could wait.

We began canceling surgical cases that could wait longer than three months more than two weeks ago, said SRMC President and CEO Jamie Silva-Steele. We are also actively evaluating other less-invasive treatment plans for those cases that need to be completed within the three-month timeline to see if they can be pushed to lower tier levels without causing lasting issues to the patient.

Every scheduled case is being evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team to determine which tier level that visit falls into, Silva-Steele said. Non-essential cases are being tracked to be scheduled when its appropriate.

We are confident that we have implemented a decision-making process that will ensure the best outcomes for our patients  and for the community at large as we work to lessen the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Silva-Steele said.
The city of Santa Clara is transforming its convention center into a temporary hospital for up to 250 COVID-19 patients with non-emergency symptoms who may need it. The space is stocked with beds and enough medical supplies and medicine for at least three days.

On Friday, members of the California National Guard placed white blankets and towels on dozens of new beds at the Santa Clara Convention Center, adding the final touches on what is now a federal medical station operated by federal, state and local authorities.

Statewide and in the Bay Area, counties are preparing for a surge of patients stricken with coronvirus that could come within days or weeks.

In Contra Costa County, health officials are eyeing Alhambra High School in Martinez  which is close to the county hospital  as a possible site for a makeshift pandemic hospital. Marin County officials say they expect to establish such sites, and Alameda and San Mateo counties are working with state and federal officials to identify places for that purpose, as well.

We have a legal obligation as well as a moral and ethical obligation to provide the highest level of cooperation during this time, Contra Costa County officials said in statement this week.

The U.S. now has more cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, than any other country, Johns Hopkins University reported Thursday. That number exceeds 86,000, with at least 1,300 deaths.

California had 4,208 positive cases as Friday morning, including 1,525 in the Bay Area. Statewide, 85 people have died.

Experts say early measures in California, especially in the Bay Area, discouraging people from gathering in crowds and then ordering them to shelter in place could soften or even prevent a surge. Nonetheless, officials and health-care providers are preparing for an increase in patients, particularly as more widely available testing reveals more cases of infection.

Santa Clara County is the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis with 574 confirmed cases  more than in any Bay Area county.

Nearly half of the patients at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center have or are believed to have COVID-19, a Kaiser executive said Wednesday.

When it comes to preparing for a surge, the three essential factors are supply, space and staff, said Jim Morrissey, the Alameda County tactical medical program director.

The county is working with state and federal officials to identify locations for alternative care sites, mobile field hospital and surge capacity medical facilities, he added. No locations have yet been selected.

We are preparing for at least certainly the supplies, Morrissey said. There are a number of plans in place for increasing the surge capacity of hospitals and clinics.

Morrissey said the county had a nearly 30% reduction in 911 emergency calls since Alameda Countys shelter-in-place order on March 16. The reduction in emergencies  more people staying at home, the less chance for an emergency  keeps hospital beds open, and allows for more fire and police officers to be available, he added.

Currently, the county has 421 available hospital beds, 86 isolation beds, 39 ICU beds and 141 ventilators.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Time will tell if we actually flatten this curve, Morrissey said. We all realize that this could get bad at some point and hopefully it doesnt. But we will do our best to be ready if it does.

Similarly, San Mateo County officials are working with the state and federal officials on plans for additional care facilities and surge protocols, but declined to give specifics.

Laine Hendricks, a spokeswoman for Marin County, said the county works all year with hospitals and medical facilities to prepare for disaster responses. Using the countys flu pandemic plan as a baseline, officials are expanding its response to COVID-19 as they learn more about the virus and how it spreads, she said.

Local hospitals are preparing to create field hospitals or skilled nursing facilities for an influx of coronavirus patients, but not specific details were immediately available, Hendricks said.

We have been in contact with our hospitals, she said. They worked really hard to increase capacity within their facilities and we are looking at how we can expand beyond that as need be.

Elsewhere in the state, Los Angeles is also preparing for a surge. The Navys Mercy hospital ship, with room for 1,000 beds, has arrived at the Port of Los Angeles to help.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
The Japanese government will create a special system to provide a one-year grace period for companies to pay tax and social insurance premiums due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Nikkei has learned.

The period will cover the payment of corporate tax, sales tax and social insurance premiums. The government will exempt delinquent tax and will not ask companies to provide collateral.

The unprecedented measure comes amid slowing economic activity after the central and local governments have asked citizens to stay home and refrain from large gatherings as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Any companies or self-employed business operators whose sales have sharply dropped since February will be eligible to receive the benefit.

They do not have to prove that decreased income is caused by the coronavirus if it declined beyond a certain percentage level during an approximate one-month period. The government will decide on the percentage.

The measure marks the first time for the government to designate "sharp declines in income" as a single condition for offering such a grace period or exemption for delinquent tax.

The government aims to incorporate the establishment of the special system into a package of urgent economic measures to bolster the economy that it will compile in April.

The grace period will cover a wide range of taxes including sales tax, corporate tax, and income tax that business operators declare to tax authorities. Social insurance premiums such as for pensions and health insurance will also be covered by the special measure.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Social media was abuzz on Saturday with rumours that actor turned politician Kamal Hassan had contracted COVID-19 and was home quarantined at his Alwarpet residence in Chennai.

This was after Chennai Corporation staff pasted a Home Quarantine sticker at the actors house on Eldams Road. However, within an hour, the sticker was removed.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES

Corporation officials said the staff pasted the quarantine sticker at Kamal's residence because Gautami (his ex-partner) had returned from Dubai recently and her passport had his address.

However, after the rumours went viral, Kamal issued a statement that he had not been living at his Alwarpet residence for two years and it was being used as the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office.

Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said it was a clerical error as the civic body has been pasting such notices in large numbers recently.

The sticker was based on the passport details. One or two instances may happen like this. Please dont blow it up, said Prakash.
BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to send a medical team to Laos to assist in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic and to provide assistance within its capabilities, a senior Chinese official said on Friday.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Xi Jinping at the core, has seen an increasingly positive trend in containing the epidemic, and an ever faster return to normalcy in daily lives and production, Song Tao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said in a phone conversation with Sounthone Xayachack, head of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee's commission for external relations.

Noting that Xi made an important speech at the extraordinary G20 leaders' summit on Thursday, Song said the speech has shown the direction for and injected impetus into global cooperation to battle the disease.

In the early days of the outbreak, General Secretary Bounnhang Vorachith immediately sent a letter of sympathies to Xi, and the Lao party, government and people from all walks of life offered help and support to China, which vividly demonstrates the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, Song said.

At present, the epidemic prevention and control situation in Laos is grim, Song said, adding that following the instructions of Xi, China has decided to send a medical expert group to Laos and to provide assistance within its capabilities.

In the phone conversation, Sounthone said that Xi's speech at the extraordinary G20 leaders' summit has substantially promoted global cooperation on public health security, and fully displayed the responsible role as a big political party and a major country.

Sounthone said that the Lao side is deeply grateful for the Chinese assistance, and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC and to jointly build the Laos-China community with a shared future.

Sounthone also wished the CPC new achievements in leading China's development.
Ark. church coronavirus infections rise to 37 as it grieves death of beloved greeter

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Greers Ferry First Assembly in Cleburne County, Arkansas, is now mourning their beloved long time greeter who passed away Tuesday from the new coronavirus as the number of infected persons connected to the church rose to 37 Wednesday, their pastor said.

We currently have 37 that have tested positive, with only a small handful that are still waiting on test results," Pastor Mark Palenske said in a statement on Facebook Wednesday. "Many of us are recovering from a long list of symptoms that seem to be common with this virus, and we certainly appreciate the hints of restored health that are headed our way. We are familiar with the expanding scope of the Covid-19 crisis and that daily individuals are being treated and advised accordingly. Our prayers are that God would strengthen them just as he did with us. Please continue to listen to the public directives that we are being guided with.

Palenske mourned the death of 91-year-old William Bill Barton, who died Tuesday morning at Conway Regional Medical Center.

With the consent of his family, I acknowledge that our 91 year old greeter has passed away. Bill Barton was the first encounter in our First Assembly experience. Each Sunday, the door would be opened for you and a white-haired, well-dressed gentlemen would extend a characteristic smile, the pastor said.

He then revealed how the beloved greeter retired from his post several years ago but returned because it was too difficult for him.

It had been his post for years. He retired from the position several years ago, but returned after only a few months, saying that he really didnt want to give it up. Our hearts are broken, and his family is feeling his loss deeply, he said.

The church will celebrate Bartons life as a precious gift from God church but Palenske could not state when that will be due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

When we are able, and can gather confidently, (I dont know when that will be) we will celebrate his life as a precious gift from God. Bill loved the Lord deeply and his heart was so tender to the presence of God," he said. "His life was immensely transformed by Gods grace, and I am assured that the greeter has indeed been greeted into heaven itself. Your continued prayers for his family are greatly appreciated.

Barton's death was the second coronavirus fatality in the state, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The first was a 59-year-old Sherwood man who had underlying health issues.

Days before, Palenske, who is recovering from the coronavirus along with his wife Dena, warned others not to underestimate how dangerous the virus is and treat it with wisdom and restraint.

There was very little in my training for the ministry that covered the full measure of what our church family has dealt with in the past few weeks, he said in an earlier statement on Facebook.

The intensity of this virus has been underestimated by so many, and I continue to ask that each of you take it very seriously. An act of wisdom and restraint on your part can be the blessing that preserves the health of someone else.

Palenske and other officials at his church previously stated that church members and others connected to the church started getting sick after a childrens crusade earlier this month. On Wednesday, he clarified that the event took place on March 6-8 instead of March 5-8 as previously stated.

He also emphasized to the public that they did not flout any local restrictions on gathering and members of his church started getting sick prior to the first case of coronavirus being diagnosed in the state.

The Kids ministry event was held the weekend of March 6th-8th, several days before there was even a confirmed case in Arkansas. Our last service was Wednesday, March 11th. We canceled services prior to anyone in our church testing positive, and prior to any local, state or national directive. We cherished the wise council of local medical professionals, and their quick and decisive actions more than likely have kept the effects of this virus from going even farther than it has, Palenske stated.

Of the more than 300 cases of coronavirus in Arkansas, officials revealed that more than 10 are children. Data from Johns Hopkins as of Thursday morning showed that more than 69,000 people across the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and there are now just over 1,000 deaths. Approximately 25% of those deaths are in New York City. Global figures stood at nearly 500,000 infections and more than 22,000 deaths.

Officials say the outbreak of the virus at Greers Ferry First Assembly of God is responsible for the spread of the disease in the relatively small Cleburne County which has a population of 25,000. The county now has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in the state.

"It appears, from what I know at this time, most of the cases that we have in our county" are related to the Greers Ferry church, Jerry Holmes, county judge of Cleburne County, told the Gazette.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has empowered gram panchayats to buy medicines and food for the daily wage laborers and poor people out of the funds at their disposal, informed Public Relations Department, Punjab Government.

Each Gram Panchayat has been authorised to spend up to Rs. 5000 daily subject to a maximum expenditure of Rs 50,000.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister has permitted Municipal Bodies to buy medicines and food for daily wagers and poor persons as well as fodder for 'gaushalas' out of Municipal Funds at their disposal.

Disclosing this, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that detailed instructions have been issued in this regard by the Local Government Department to enable all the Municipal Corporations, Committees and Councils/Nagar Panchayats to bear the necessary expenditure on this count to mitigate the hardships faced by the urban poor amid the curfew imposed in the state in the light of the COVID-19 crisis.

Declaring these expenses as a fit charge in view of the prevailing crisis, Captain Amarinder Singh has directed the Local Government Department to utilize the municipal funds under the relevant provisions of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976 and of Punjab Municipal Act 1911.

Given the large populations in these cities, the Municipal Corporations of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar have been empowered with the daily expenditure of Rs one lakh, subject to the maximum limit of Rs 20 lakh for the entire period of lockdown/curfew. The other Municipal Corporations would be entitled to spend up to Rs 50,000 daily, subject to maximum Rs 10 lakh during the lockdown/curfew period.

Likewise, the Nagar Councils (A- Class Municipal Committees) have been empowered to incur an expenditure of Rs 25,000 daily, with a maximum limit of expenditure up to Rs 5 lakh during the period of lockdown and curfew. The Nagar Councils (Class B & C)/Nagar Panchayats would be eligible to bear the expenditure of Rs 15000 daily on this count, subject to the maximum amount of Rs 2.5 lakh during the entire lockdown and curfew period.

On Friday, the Chief Minister had authorized Sarpanches to use Panchayat funds to provide emergency relief to the poor and needy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gujarat recorded six new cases of coronavirus in the last 12 hours, taking the state's tally of COVID-19 patients to 53, a senior official said on March 28.

As many as six new cases were reported since March 27 evening, taking the count of coronavirus patients to 53, principal secretary Health Jayanti Ravi said.

Of the six cases, three were reported from Ahmedabad, one each from Vadodara, Gandhinagar and Mehsana, she said, adding that eight districts in the state have reported positive cases.

The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Ahmedabad has risen to 18, followed by Vadodara at nine, Rajkot and Gandhinagar at eight each, Surat at seven, while Kutch, Bhavnagar and Mehsana have one patient each, she said.

The state has reported three deaths so far, one each in Surat, Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar, Ravi added.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Gujarat has also covered 4 crore people under its surveillance programme, after first targetting areas where positive cases were reported, then expanding it to cover the entire state, the senior official said.
Bihar School Examination Board has issued an official statement saying that the evaluation of answer sheet of Bihar board Class 10 examination is not complete and any news about the date of declaration of result is not correct.

BSEB spokesperson Rajeev Dwivedi refuted reports in a section of media regarding the date of declaration of Bihar matriculation results.

The evaluation of Bihar board class 10 answer sheet has not been completed. The board will conduct physical verification and interview of the toppers after the evaluation process is completed. However, due to the lockdown in country to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the evaluation process is not taking place right now. So dont believe in any information about time of declaration of matric exam results right now. Prior information about the time of declartion of results will be given, Dwivedi said in the statement.

Earlier on Sunday BSEB had ordered suspension of all evaluation work for class 10th examination due to the lockdown in state in view of coronavirus outbreak. The board had halted the evaluation till March 31. However, the central government announced a lockdown in the whole country till April 14. The evaluation process will be resumed only after the lockdown is called- off.

BSEB has already declared the class 12th result of arts, science and commerce stream exams on March 24. A total of 80.44% students passed the exam.

Click here for full coverage on Bihar Board Result

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Spain extended its coronavirus lockdown on Thursday, and said it was fighting a "real war" over medical supplies to contain the world's second-highest virus death toll, turning to China for many critical products, where officials reported fraud and massive price increases.

A further 655 people died overnight, pushing Spain's toll to 4,089, second only to Italy and further beyond China, where the outbreak began.

Elderly nursing home residents have been particularly hard hit. An analysis by radio network Cadena Ser found 1,307 residents had died from the coronavirus, nearly one third of the total dead. "Old people have been abandoned in an astonishing way," said Carmen Flores, head of patient rights group Defensor del Paciente.

The government said it was collecting data from the regions managing such homes and could not confirm or deny the report.

In Madrid, Spain's biggest city and located in the country's worst affected region, an ice rink has been converted into a morgue and 13-times Champions League winners Real Madrid said their Santiago Bernabeu stadium would be used to store medical supplies.

Coronavirus cases rose by 18 per cent to 56,188, a slower rate than in the past few days. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon said the start of mass testing would reveal more infections, even as Health Minister Salvador Illa cautiously told the parliament the data "make us think we are starting a stabilization phase."

Global shortage of equipment

With the world's fourth-highest number of cases, Spain is feeling the pinch of a global shortage of protective equipment. "We are in a real war to get hold of ventilators, face masks and quick test kits," government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero told Telecinco television. "All the countries are fighting to secure domestic production, fighting to get supplies from China," she said.

Spain has ordered 432 million euros ($471.4 million) of goods from China, asked NATO for help and pledged to support factories adapting their production lines to make goods more at home.

Separately, the government returned a batch of faulty Chinese-made rapid tests to the Spanish firm that supplied them. China's Embassy in Madrid wrote on Twitter that the manufacturer did not have a licence to sell. Spain countered that the products had European certification.

A diplomatic source told Reuters prices had gone up 10-fold in some cases and Chinese firms were demanding payment upfront. A health authority source said there were queues of aircraft in some Chinese airports just to buy such supplies and middle-men often defrauded buyers.

The officials did not name those sellers, saying only they were usually smaller, private firms.

Emergency extended

Parliament extended until April 12 emergency measures including the lockdown that has confined people to their homes except to buy food or medicine and to work. "It is not easy to extend the state of emergency," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told parliament. "I am convinced the only efficient option against the virus is social isolation."

Although the main opposition conservative People's Party supported the measure, its leader, Pablo Casado, chastised Sanchez for what he called a late and inadequate response.

While Spain's death toll is still well below Italy's 8,165, it has been rising faster, and has soared 10-fold since Spain declared the state of emergency on March 14.

Also read: In a first, Indian scientists take images of novel coronavirus

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India enters Day 4 of lockdown; total cases rise to 873
Endangered gorillas in Africa are at risk from the coronavirus, according to conservationists.

Congos Virunga National Park, home to about a third of the worlds mountain gorillas, is barring visitors until 1 June, citing advice from scientific experts indicating that primates, including mountain gorillas, are likely susceptible to complications arising from the COVID-19 virus.

Some 23,335 people have died from the coronavirus and more than half a million cases are now confirmed around the world, according to the UN.

Neighbouring Rwanda also is temporarily shutting down tourism and research activities in three national parks that are home to primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees.

Around 1,000 mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda, for whom tourism is an important source of revenue. Restrictive measures have been put in place following the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, Thomas R Gillespie and Fabian H Leendertz of the Great Ape Health consortium, warned of the danger that Covid-19 held in killing off our closest living relatives.

It is unknown whether the morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 in humans are similar in apes. However, transmission of even mild human pathogens to apes can lead to moderate-to-severe outcomes, they wrote.

They recommended that tourism be suspended and field research reduced.

Virunga National Parks decision has been welcomed by conservationists in the region.

Paula Kahumbu, chief executive of the Kenya-based conservation group WildlifeDirect, told the Associated Press that every possible effort must be made to protect mountain gorillas because so few are left in the wild.

We know that gorillas are very sensitive to human diseases, she said. If anyone has a cold or a flu they are not allowed to go and see the gorillas.

With coronavirus having such a long time of no symptoms in some cases, it means that we could actually put those gorillas at risk.

Even existing measures may not be enough to protect them.

According to Ugandan conservationist Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka with Conservation Through Public Health, a study published this year by her group and Ohio University showed that measures in place to protect gorillas from humans are not effective in practice.

Uganda has not announced a shutdown of gorilla tourism, although tourist traffic from Europe and elsewhere has dwindled.

The regions mountain gorilla population dropped sharply in the past century because of poaching, illness and human encroachment. Mountain gorillas have been listed as critically endangered or endangered since 1996, although their numbers are now said to be growing as a result of conservation efforts.

In Rwanda, where tourism is the top foreign exchange earner, the government has prioritised the protection of gorillas, even launching a naming ceremony for baby primates.

Some worry the loss of tourist revenue during the coronavirus pandemic could further expose the primates to poachers. Virunga, established in 1925 as Africas first national park and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has long been vulnerable in a volatile part of eastern Congo.

I think this is going to have a huge impact on their sustainability, Kahumbu, the Kenyan conservationist, said of Virunga. I call on all donors and governments that support these national parks in Africa to make it easy for the parks that need to shut down to do so and survive.

Poachers could do even more damage to gorillas if they think the anti-poaching efforts have been reduced, she said.

Associated Press contributed to this report
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27

Trend:

A total of 43 more tested positive for coronavirus in Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers.

Currently, there are 147 people with active coronavirus in Azerbaijan in special treatment hospitals under medical supervision, the condition of six of them is assessed as serious, the condition of 11 people is of moderate severity, and the health of others is stable. The necessary measures are underway for their treatment.

Appropriate measures are being taken to examine 3485 people in various quarantine zones in order to reveal infection cases.

The cases of coronavirus in Azerbaijan are detected among people who arrived from abroad and as a result of infection of each other within the country.

Therefore, in order to prevent the spread of the infection, everyone should follow the requirements and recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers.

Citizens must adhere to the self-isolation measures. People must not leave home unless absolutely necessary. It is also imperative to contact less with other people, not to visit crowded places and strictly comply with the requirements of preventive measures.

From March 24 to April 20, a special quarantine regime was announced in Azerbaijan in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection and possible complications. According to the rules of the special regime, people over 65 are not allowed to leave home, in accordance with the law, the provision of social services to lone people of this category of persons is provided. With the exception of special-purpose vehicles, including ambulances, emergency recovery and rescue services, as well as trucks, entry and exit to Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron district is limited, crowds are not allowed in public places, including on streets, boulevards in parks and other places in groups of more than 10 people.
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders on Friday on forming a negotiating team for talks with Taliban.

"This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations," he said on Twitter.

Late on Thursday, Afghanistan's government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a tentative sign of progress for the United States-brokered peace deal that had previously been marred with delays, in part due to a bitter feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah.

(Reporting by Orooj Hakimi; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Alex Richardson)
American actor Kristen Bell and husband Dax Shepard are doing their part to help financially-strapped people living in the Los Angeles buildings they own, by waiving rent for April.

According to TMZ, the couple waived the rent payments of tenants in a California building they own in an effort to provide a bit of relief to those who are struggling to make ends meet during the current coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, Kristen Bell explained during an appearance on 'The Bobby Bones Show' "It was a no-brainer. People over profit," reported Us Weekly.

Earlier this month, No Kid Hungry highlighted the Hollywood couple for their generous donation of 150,007.96 USD to help send grants to schools and provide meals for those in need.

Bell explained via Instagram the reason why the number is odd because when her daughters, 6-year-old Lincoln and 5 year-old Delta overheard the actor making the donation, "they asked if they could also donate the money from their piggy bank."

The 'Veronica Mars' star shared "I couldn't have been prouder to add that extra and important 7 dollars and 96 cents ... I encourage anyone with the means to share to donate as well, any amount helps, so we can get through this together.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Haven for Hope closed its intake department Thursday amid the coronavirus pandemic, but officials said they havent closed the Courtyard, an emergency shelter which houses up to 700 people.

But to get into the Courtyard, new clients must go through intake. People already registered will be able to take shelter at the Courtyard, officials said.

The closure, according to a news release on the organizations website, is consistent with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidance and San Antonios stay-at-home order.

Haven for Hope is the largest homeless service provider in San Antonio. About 1,700 people are served daily at the campus.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

The two main parts of Haven for Hope are the Transformational Campus Program which houses people and provides intensive services and the Courtyard.

People who have already gone through intake and are accepted into Havens programs have a pass that gives them access to the campus and the Courtyard.

The intake department remained open until 3 p.m. on Thursday to allow additional new people experiencing homelessness to enter Haven for Hope before the closure.

In the meantime, some advocates are concerned about where homeless people can go if they arent already registered at Haven. The Salvation Army shelter, which houses more than 200 people, also is closed. San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries primarily accepts families and was near capacity Thursday night.

The city said staff has been monitoring the situation closely and are working with Haven for Hope, the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, other homeless service providers and the San Antonio Police Department.

In response to potentially unmet basic needs of unsheltered homeless, the Citys Department of Human Services is coordinating the resources of service providers, faith-based groups, businesses, and volunteers to open resource hubs around the community, with the goal of providing food, hygiene kits, hand washing, showers, and referral assistance, as applicable and available based on location said Roland Martinez, a spokesman from the citys Department of Human Services.

Martinez said Christian Assistance Ministries and Harvest, which dont offer overnight shelter, will be used as locations for resource hubs, starting as soon as next week. He said there are several other locations in the works.

Martinez added that city staff are assessing the need for additional emergency shelters for individuals not presenting Covid-19 symptoms.

He said an isolation unit for general population, including homeless individuals, is in the works at the Emergency Operations Center who do need to be quarantined.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio homeless service providers ramp up cleaning and hand sanitizer use

Haven for Hope also closed its volunteer center and suspended all tours of the campus.

This is an important and necessary measure to protect the health and safety of Haven for Hope clients and its essential employees and partners, the website said. The temporary closure is also required to maintain essential operations and provide continued care and support for the many men, women, and children who currently call Haven for Hope home.

When asked Thursday if Haven would also close the courtyard, CEO Kenneth Wilson said, Absolutely not.

As of Wednesday, there had not been any reported Haven for Hope clients who have been tested for coronavirus.

However, on Sunday, CentroMed announced that a health care provider that works at CentroMeds Sarah E. Davidson Clinic at Haven for Hope had tested positive for the virus after being exposed to a family member who had the disease.

One Haven for Hope client who had flu-like symptoms was being monitored, Wilson said earlier in the week, adding that Haven staff have been working closely with Metro Health.

With guidance from these health professionals, Haven for Hope has taken several steps to mitigate any risks presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Haven website states. Haven for Hope follows rigorous cleaning procedures including multiple cleanings of Haven buildings throughout the day. Health professionals have also advised consistent hand washing, limiting physical contact such as handshakes and hugs, providing accessible hand sanitizer throughout the campus and avoiding accessing the campus if feeling ill.

Based on San Antonios 2019 Point-in-Time Count, the communitys homeless population was at nearly 2,900 people.
The Centre announced on Saturday it will procure a million masks from other countries as it moved to urgently plug the shortfall in equipment for medical professionals fighting to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The government has also been in talks with Indian companies for manufacturing more Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as coveralls, goggles, gloves and masks, used by medical staff to protect themselves while performing Covid-19 tests or treating patients.

There is a shortage already, which will escalate if the numbers rise substantially. The ministry of external affairs will reach out to all countries and all manufacturers to try and procure 10 lakh PPE kits. Most of our PPE kits are imported and hospitals had routine supply but nobody in the world had anticipated such an outbreak, said a senior official from the health ministry on condition of anonymity.

India needs around 38 million masks and 6.2 million pieces of PPE to take care of Covid-19 patients, a Reuters report said quoting an internal report from Invest India. Invest India said it contacted 730 companies for ventilators, ICU monitors, protective equipment, of which 319 firms had responded so far.

The order for new masks came on a day the number of Covid-19 cases shot past 1,000 even as many doctors complained that a shortage of PPE was hampering their efforts. Earlier we needed very few of these kits to do H1N1 testing, now that the requirement for PPE has gone up and the availability is low. I am not able to procure PPE needed to do the tests, said Dr Navin Dang, founder chairman of Dr Dangs Labs.

Resident doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi have written to the administration about a shortage. We have pointed out to the administration several times that there is a shortage of PPE in the hospital. We keep getting reassurances... But, the fact is that there is a shortage in the market, said Dr Srinivas Rajkumar T, general secretary of the resident doctors association of AIIMS.

At present, the doctors are wearing the HIV kits, which are not adequate as it does not cover the whole body. They use an N-95 mask, a scarf to cover the head and a towel to cover the neck along with the HIV kits. When the swab samples are collected from the back of the throat, people gag and cough, this is ejected onto the person taking the sample. Hence, adequate protection is needed.

Several companies are responding to our calls for PPE procurement, however, the ministry guidelines clearly state that the material should be such that blood and other secretions do not enter. But the ones that we have tested with water so far are not equipped to protect against moisture, said Dr JC Passey, director of Lok Nayak hospital in Delhi, which is handling six positive Covid-19 cases.

The government is also in talks with Indian manufacturers for making quality kits.
Johns Hopkins University on March 28 clarified that it did not authorise the use of its logo in the report titled 'COVID19 for India Updates'. While the university noted that the report was co-authored by its faculty along with researchers from Princeton University and the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP), it added that the same does not reflect their views.



To clarify: Faculty with appointments at @JohnsHopkinsSPH co-authored this report with @CDDEP and Princeton researchers. The report has been updated to clarify its authors affiliations and does not reflect the views of CDDEP, Johns Hopkins, or Princeton.https://t.co/QrFhRDq1Fs

 Johns Hopkins University (@JohnsHopkins) March 28, 2020

The varsity, in a tweet on March 28, said, "The report has been updated to clarify its authors' affiliations and does not reflect the views of CDDEP, Johns Hopkins, or Princeton."

The original report, which was published on March 24 and is available on the CDDEP website, made an observation pertaining to the possible number of COVID-19 cases in India in the months to come. It said that come July, as many as 40 crore (400 million) Indians are likely to be infected (assuming there is no intervention). It also pointed out that community transmission of the coronavirus in India most likely started in early March, a claim which is not in line with the government's position on the subject.

As a result of the 'alarming claims' it made about the possible spike in the number of coronavirus cases in India in the months to come, the report was circulated widely.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Responding to a Twitter user's query in this matter, Princeton University, on the other hand, said, "This work was indeed done at Princeton. An earlier version of the report included an unofficial logo and therefore needed to be corrected."



@CDDEP

If JHU and Princeton are distancing from the study why is the study still there on cddep site with ur logos@JohnsHopkins @Princeton

Time to get your act together.  Prakash C (@prakashlive) March 29, 2020



The report uses the IndiaSIM Model to arrive at the key conclusions pertaining to the spread of coronavirus in India. The key parameters used include the force of infection, age- and gender-specific infection rates, severe infection, and case-fatality rates.

Joint Secretary (Health) Lav Agarwal on March 26 said that there was no proof of community transmission of coronavirus in India as yet, reiterating the government's stance that the country has not yet entered 'Stage-3' of the COVID-19 transmission. However, contrary to this, the CDDEP report noted that community transmission (Stage-3) of COVID-19 in India had most likely started in early March.



High: trajectory with current lockdowns but insufficient

physical distancing or compliance.

physical distancing or compliance.

Medium  most likely scenario with moderate to full compliance

but no change in virulence or temperature/humidity sensitivity.

but no change in virulence or temperature/humidity sensitivity.

Low  optimistic scenario with decreased virulence and

temperature/humidity sensitivity.



The graph depicts the numbers in three possible scenarios depending on the risk factor: high, medium and low.

Even as the number of cases in India had breached the 800-mark as on March 28, with the country under a 21-day lockdown, the report says, "A national lockdown is not productive and could cause serious economic damage, increase hunger and reduce the population resilience for handling the infection peak. Some states may see transmission increase only after another 2 weeks and lockdowns should be optimized for when they could maximize the effect on the epidemic but minimize economic damage."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 13:28:55|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China donated an additional of 20,000 fast test kits for COVID-19 to Cambodia on Saturday to help fight the virus, said a statement from the Cambodian Health Ministry.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian handed over the items to Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bunheng at a ceremony held at the ministry in Phnom Penh, the statement said.

The items were donated by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation through the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia.

Bunheng expressed his sincere and heartfelt thanks to China for providing the test kits, which are very useful for the kingdom to combat COVID-19.

"More medical supplies donated by China will subsequently arrive in Cambodia in the near future," he said in the statement. "The items are crucial for Cambodia to strengthen the measures of prevention, control, and response to the COVID-19 spread."

Last week, China donated 2,016 fast test kits for COVID-19 to the kingdom.

Earlier this week, a seven-member team of Chinese doctors, along with tons of medical supplies, also arrived in Phnom Penh to help fight the virus.

Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 102 confirmed cases of the virus, according to the Health Ministry on Saturday, and 13 of them have recovered and been discharged from the hospitals.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal



Corporation has sealed the intensive care unit, CT scan and some other facilities in Mumbai's Saifee Hospital after a 85- year-old retired urologist died of COVID-19 and his 50-year- old son tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Saturday.

Forty people, including hospital staff and patients, who came in contact with the duo have been indentified and they would be isolated and tested for the virus, said BMC Additional Commissioner Suresh Kakani.

A BMC health department official said the hospital had been told to stop new admissions and halt OPD operations.

The deceased doctor had tested positive on March 26, a BMC release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre emphasised on Saturday that Indias response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was pro-active, and rubbished allegations that prosperous Indians were allowed to return from abroad without mandatory screening at airports. The government contended that over 3.6 million passengers were screened at 30 airports, 12 major and 65 minor ports and at land borders.

In an official statement, the government said a comprehensive response was in place at its borders much before the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30.

Screening of incoming air passengers followed by suspension of visas and ban on international flights was done much ahead of any other country, it added. The government stressed that thermal screening of incoming international passengers from China and Hong Kong was started on January 18, while first Covid-19 positive case was detected in India on January 30.

A look at the global scenario would highlight that Italy and Spain, which are devastated by Covid-19, started screening of travellers 25 days and 39 days, respectively, after the first reported case, the statement said.

The Centre, according to the statement, took several proactive measures such as travel restrictions, adding more countries and airports for screening, suspension of visas and self quarantine to effectively contain, prevent and manage the spread of Covid-19.

It maintained that travel advisories were revised and thermal screening was expanded to all airports as the global spread of the disease evolved.

Passengers were quarantined or sent to hospitals, based on risk assessment by health authorities, after they were screened at airports, the government said.

The details of even those who were cleared by health authorities were shared with the state authorities in a bid to keep them under surveillance by respective state/Union Territory government mandatorily for 14 days, it added.

The statement that prosperous Indians were allowed to return without screening, is preposterous, the government said.

A section of social media users have been alleging that the lockdown was ordered without proper preparations on the part of the government.

The government said every traveller, including Indians returning after business, or tourism, students and foreigners, was screened and each individual was tracked down who tried to avoid surveillance or who did not follow quarantine measures.

So far, the Centre has held 20 videoconferences chaired by Union health secretary Preeti Sudan with state governments and six by cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba with the state chief secretaries to step up the preparedness to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.

Integrated disease surveillance system, including monitoring of international travellers, have also been put in place.

The government also listed a chronology of its decisions taken:

Jan 16: Advisory issued to avoid travel to China

Jan 18: Thermal screening of passengers from China and Hong Kong

Jan 30: Strong advisory issued to avoid travel to China

Feb 3: E-visa facility suspended for Chinese nationals

Feb 22: Advisory issued to avoid travel to Singapore; universal screening for flights from Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia

Feb 26: Advisory issued to avoid travel to Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Passengers coming from these countries to be screened, and maybe quarantined based on screening and risk assessment

March 3: Suspension of all visas for Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan, and China; compulsory health screening for passengers arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, and Taiwan.

March 4: Universal screening of all international Flights. Quarantine or isolation at home or sent to hospital-based on screening and risk profile

March 5: Passengers from Italy or South Korea need to get a medical certificate before entry

March 10: Home isolation: incoming international passengers should self-monitor health and follow govt. Dos and donts: passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain, and Germany to undergo home quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival

March 11: Compulsory quarantine: Incoming travellers (including Indians) arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, and Germany after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

Comprehensive advisory (March 16-19):

March 16: Expanded compulsory quarantine for travellers from or through the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait for a minimum of 14 days.

Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India totally prohibited

March 17: Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia prohibited

March 19: All Incoming international flights suspended, with effect from March 22
Medical marijuana in Germany, one of the world's top markets for that form of the drug, experienced a boom in 2019. Quoting statistics from the country's National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, Marijuana Business Daily said that insurance companies reimbursed German patients 123 million euros ($136 million) that year for cannabis as medicine. That was 67% higher than the 2018 figure.

Much of this was due to a leap in the number of prescriptions for the drug. These rose by 44% year over year to reach over 267,000 in total. The disparity between the gains in the sales figure and the number of prescriptions suggests that patients were being prescribed larger amounts.

This is despite the fact that major foreign supplier Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) was not active on the market. In November, Germany suspended Aurora's sales activity, apparently due to issues with its licensing. Those issues have since been rectified, and the marijuana company is again selling product.

Germany is a fairly new arrival on the global medical marijuana scene. The country's parliament legalized it in 2017, and it came into force in March of that year. Even now, however, Germany is one of the few European countries that has legalized any form of cannabis, although several have decriminalized recreational use and sale.

On Friday, Aurora shares rose nearly 14% while the broader stock market indexes sank by single-digit percentages. Most likely, this is not due to the news out of Germany; instead, investors are optimistic that state governments desperate for cash after the coronavirus outbreak subsides will legalize at least some form of marijuana (that is, if they haven't done so already).
21 Pro Video

A confrontation between cousins on the South Side ended in a shooting Friday night, according to San Antonio police.

Several people were at a residence on West Pyron Avenue when a car pulled up shortly after 11 p.m. and a male suspect fired several shots at the house, hitting one man in the head, according to police.
A senior police officer on Saturday shifted some students from a quarantine facility to a hotel in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir after they complained that there were no facilities at the government-run isolation space, officials said.

The IGP-level officer visited Radha Swami Ashram and shifted nine students who were undergoing quarantine there to a nearby hotel after they approached him through social media seeking his intervention, they said.

However, a police party led by another officer visited the hotel and brought back the students, the officials said.

They said the department has taken a serious note of the unnecessary interference of a senior officer of the rank of IG and sought a detailed report from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Samba.

Meanwhile,a team of 300 volunteers comprising police personnel and civilians was formed in nearby Kathua district to provide free home delivery of essential supplies ordered by households and medical assistance to the residents.

"In order to make it convenient for the citizens of Kathua to stay at home and get supplies, J&K police in association with district administration along with various groups of responsible citizens have formed a team by the name 'United Kathua JKP' to reach out to the people," a police spokesperson said.

He said the team will have around 300 civil and police motorcycle-borne volunteers with backpacks to provide free home delivery of essential supplies ordered by households, medical assistance and to feed the needy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An explosion reportedly rocked Akure in the early hours of Saturday morning which destroyed some houses, schools and churches.

It was learnt that it also divided the road leading to Akure/Owo into two along the church axis.

According to the Nigerian Tribune, the incident which happened less than a kilometre to Akure Airport, affected many residents of Eleyowo community, destroying completely a church and a school in the area.

Read Also: Ikeja, Eti-Osa Have Highest Numbers Of COVID 19 Cases In Lagos  Sanwo-Olu

People who lived within the church premises were said to be injured while some were rescued by the people of the community
A leading Melbourne infectious disease expert working on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis has issued a stark warning to young people that they are not immune from the deadly pandemic.

Professor Anton Peleg, the head of infectious diseases at The Alfred hospital , said while mortality rates were significantly higher in older people, it was still possible for younger adults to develop a severe form of the disease or even die from it.

Groups of people sunbathe at St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday in front of a sign warning against gathering on the foreshore. Credit:AAP

This is not an all-or-nothing disease and while it is much less common for young people to develop severe illness they are not spared or immune to it, Professor Peleg said.

Professor Peleg's warning comes after police moved crowds of people, many of them young adults ignoring social distancing rules, off St Kilda beach and foreshore.
Landlords in Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Budh Nagar cannot force their tenants to pay rent for the month, the district administration has ordered in an attempt to stop hundreds of migrants from leaving after they were forced out of their jobs amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

The order was issued by BN Singh, the district magistrate, following reports that migrants workers from the district were going back to their villages as they had no money for food and rent.

Singh said the order was issued as the movement of migrants can lead to the spread of Covid-19 and it was also important to ensure people have food and roofs over their head.

Landlords can ask for rent after a month or even later if the time period is extended keeping the situation in mind. The order has also said migrants include both daily wage workers and employees of companies engaged in providing essential services.

We are expecting that this move will encourage migrants to not leave their houses and the district. We will lodge an FIR against the landlords who will not follow the order. Strict legal action will be taken as per the disaster management act, Singh said.

Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, a person can be imprisoned up to one year along with a fine and it can reach up to two years if any life or loss of assets takes place following the act of the defaulter.

Also read: Food, shelter in governments aid plan for migrants amid lockdown

Officials have also provided a helpline number1120-2544700for tenants to lodge a complaint if they are harassed by their landlord for the payment of rent.

Migrant workers in the district said the order has come as a relief.

I live on rent with my family in Shahdara village and we were worried that how are we going to pay the rent on April 1. If the district magistrates order is followed then at least we will get some relief, Maya Rani, who works as a housemaid in a high rise in Noidas Sector 137, said.

Ranis family is from Madhya Pradesh but they have decided to stay back.

Also read: Noida fixes vendors for each sector for home deliveries of essentials amid coronavirus lockdown

Sachin Bhati, a painter and resident of Shahdara village in Sector 142, said there are many who live in the area and are trying their best to reach their respective villages following the coronavirus outbreak.

This decision of the administration is a relief but it will be great if they arrange vehicles for these people to reach their villages. Migrants really want to go back to their loved ones and home to feel comfortable, Bhati said.

The district administration has also formed committees headed by sub-divisional magistrates to ensure that migrants are getting food and are not harassed by their landlords.

I have been providing food packets to around 5000 migrants every day. There are migrants in every part of the district whom we are trying to reach out to provide food. Many locals have come forward who are providing for these people, Rajiv Rai, who is responsible for giving food packets to the migrants, said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 28

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

BP continues operations in Azerbaijan in strict compliance with Cabinet of Ministers' recommendations, BP Azerbaijan told Trend.

Our offshore and onshore operations continue with all precautionary and preventive measures being taken as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Azerbaijani government. All of our office staff are working from home, the company said.

In Azerbaijan, BP operates under several production sharing agreements and host government agreements (HGAs) signed with the government of Azerbaijan.

BP operates large offshore hydrocarbon assets in Azerbaijan, such as Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of oil and gas fields and Shah Deniz gas and condensate field.

It is engaged in transportation via Sangachal terminal  an oil and gas processing terminal south of Baku, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC) linking Sangachal terminal to Ceyhan marine terminal in Turkey, South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), Western Route Export Pipeline (WREP) linking Sangachal terminal to Supsa on Georgias Black Sea coast.

BPs exploration activity includes Shafag-Asiman exploration area and the shallow water area around the Absheron Peninsula.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 19:53:19|Editor: mingmei

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Medical team members supporting virus-hit Hubei Province leave Shenyang Taoxian International Airport by bus for quarantine in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, March 28, 2020. The third batch of medical assistance teams from Liaoning, which consists of 162 members, left Hubei Province as the epidemic outbreak in the hard-hit province had been subdued. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
police car

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Rhode Island State Police are pulling over those with New York license plates "due to New York's high rate of the COVID-19 cases" a trooper told Insider.

Rhode Island authorities will advise the New Yorkers to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Police will then refer the drivers to the National Guard, which is tracking New Yorkers in the state.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

State Police in Rhode Island are pulling over cars with New York registrations traveling on I-95 and advising them to self-quarantine. New York has more than 30,000 cases of coronavirus and is an epicenter of the outbreak.

"We're stopping vehicles with NY registrations in an effort to get ahead of the medical pandemic going on, due to New York's high rate of the COVID-19 cases," Trooper Felice, who declined to give his first name, told Insider on Friday. "They're being advised that if they're residing in Rhode Island, like going to a beach house or something like that, they are required to do a 14-day quarantine. If they're just passing through the state, they're OK."

The move comes after an executive order from Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo. In addition to the interstate stops, Raimondo pledged to put officers at bus stops and train stations to identify New Yorkers and issue self-quarantine orders.

"We're stopping vehicles going into the state and telling them to go to the National Guard for more information," Felice said. "As far as the actual tracking of people coming into the state, that's being conducted by the National Guard."

The country's smallest state is a vacation destination for many in New York and elsewhere. It's known for it's sandy  and rocky  shorelines. Newport, RI, is famed for sailing and it's Gilded Age mansions, The Breakers.

As of Friday, there were 203 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Rhode Island.

Story continues

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island took issue with the governor's move to allow state police to stop New York vehicles.

Its executive director, Steven Brown, said in a statement that the group recognizes that strong measures are needed to address the public health crisis, but called the measure "a blunderbuss approach" that can't be justified.

"While the Governor may have the power to suspend some state laws and regulations to address this medical emergency, she cannot suspend the Constitution," executive director Steven Brown said. "Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not, and cannot, constitute 'probable cause' to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver, no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be."

Read the original article on Insider
I have instructed the State Ministry for Works to commence the rehabilitation of the alternate route, a rural road through Iluabo, due to the importance of the Akure-Owo Road. We will also engage the Federal Government on how to fast track the repair of the damaged portion. pic.twitter.com/5VIdiBJ8KZ
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

A 17-year-old Southern California boy who tested positive for coronavirus and died this week didn't have health insurance and was denied care at an urgent care center, according to the mayor of Lancaster.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris confirmed the boy's death in a YouTube video posted Wednesday and said the urgent care facility referred him to the local public hospital. Hospitals cannot refuse treatment over payment in their emergency departments.

"En route to AV Hospital, he went into cardiac arrest," the mayor said. "They were able to revive him and keep him alive for about six hours. But by the time he got there, it was too late."

Parris emphasized the need to practice social distancing and keep kids and teenagers home. He said the incident is a reminder that once a coronavirus patient goes into respiratory issues and has trouble breathing and a fever, it's important to call a doctor immediately.

"He'd been sick for a few days. He had no previous health conditions," the mayor said. "The Friday before he died, he was healthy. He was socializing with his friends. By Wednesday, he was dead."

Health officials have gone back and forth on whether the boy died of COVID-19 complications and Parris said the video was meant to clear up the information.

Los Angeles County health officials said Wednesday that they no longer are including a 17-year-old boy in the tally of coronavirus deaths until they do more to determine his precise cause of death.

The countys public health director, Barbara Ferrer, said shes asked the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the death of the teen from the Mojave Desert city of Lancaster. The county has tallied 799 residents who have tested positive.

While the child did test positive for the coronavirus, there were "extenuating circumstances that pointed to an alternative diagnosis as well," she said.

Ferrer announced the death of the youth during a briefing Tuesday.

Parris said later Tuesday that the boy had been hospitalized with respiratory problems and died from septic shock, a reaction to a widespread infection that can cause dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure.

The mayor said the boys father also has coronavirus and worked in a job where he had close contact with the public.

Parris added that the boy may have had long-term health problems in the past but was healthy recently. He said he doesn't doubt that the teen died from complications of COVID-19.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday chided county officials for the backtrack. "We all have been reminded in this moment its not just speed, its accuracy that must be front and center," Newsom said.

A report last week by the CDC found no coronavirus deaths in the U.S. among people 19 and under. That age group accounted for less than 3% of all hospitalizations.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 21 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on March 28

The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Microsoft said Friday it is pulling its investments from a facial-recognition startup that scans faces at Israeli military checkpoints, even though the tech giant couldn't substantiate claims that the startup's technology is used unethically.

Microsoft late last year hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to lead a team of lawyers to audit Israeli firm AnyVision.
A 29-year-old woman who was asked to stay quarantined at home violated the instructions and took two trains from New Delhi to reach Tehatta, about 170 kilometres north of Kolkata. She has tested positive for Covid-19, along with her six-year-old son and nine-month-old daughter, a 45-year-old relative and her 11-year-old son. The family allegedly socialised and went to the local market too.

What has complicated matters is that the people who came in contact with the family are refusing to admit it. The district administration has appealed to the locals to voluntarily disclose whether they came in contact with the family without which the disease could spread in Bengal.

Not many people are admitting that they came in touch with the family. This could aggravate matters, said a senior district official.

The 29-year-old woman is a resident of Uttarakhand and her 45-year-old relative is a resident of Delhi.

According to a senior health official of Nadia district in West Bengal, the woman had on March 16 met her cousin in New Delhi who had returned from UK, following which she was advised by the Delhi administration to stay in home quarantine. However, she took the Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani Express on March 19, reached Kolkata on March 20 and took a passenger train to reach Tehatta in Nadia district.

Her children were with her. She was accompanied by another relative. These five people travelled together and all of them have tested positive for Covid-19 on March 27.

Her male cousin, who had returned from UK, was admitted at a hospital in New Delhi from March 19 with symptoms of the novel coronavirus and tested positive on March 20.

They travelled from Sealdah to Tehatta in a passenger train in an unreserved compartment. After de-boarding from the train, they took an auto-rickshaw. Over the next two-three days, they also socialised and went to the local markets.

They have come in contact with so many people that it is extremely difficult to track all of them, said Asit Kumar Dian, chief medical officer of health, Nadia district.

The five people were at their relatives place in Tehatta between March 20 and 24, until being hospitalised after reporting symptoms.

We are appealing to people to voluntarily tell us if they have come in contact with any of these five, Dian said.

A number of their relatives living at Tehatta have been isolated and their blood samples have been sent for tests. The results are awaited.

A senior health department staff said many of their neighbours at Tehatta took the nine-month-old baby in their lap.

Ajay Chakraborty, director of health services, expressed his grievances at not being informed by the Delhi Police about the 29-year-olds violation of quarantine.

Delhi should have informed us. The woman was asked to stay in isolation and the administration in Delhi must have had all the information related to her. How could she come here without those responsible for her whereabouts knowing anything? Chakraborty asked.
Dist. 4 Congressmember Tom McClintock speaking on the House Floor View Photo

Sonora, CA  Some mixed reaction from California lawmakers as the federal governments COVID-19 supplemental stimulus package is passed with the governor cheering it and a Mother Lode congressman jeering it.

Despite Mother Lode Congressman Tom McClintocks vote in favor of the federal stimulus package or CARES Act, before casting that vote he made his objections known on the House Floor Friday.

The unprecedented spending in this bill threatens to destabilize the fiscal structure of our federal government and suppress future economic growth. But in order to deal with those issues, we must first arrest the damage caused by actions that have plunged us into recession, stated McClintock. In the end, he conceded, Despite all its flaws, passage of this bill today is therefore imperative. But it is no substitute for getting Americans back to work. The congressmans entire speech can be found at the bottom of this page.

Governor Gavin Newsoms take on the bill was exactly the opposite. Newsom asserted that the stimulus bill will provide critical support for California to fight COVID-19 and strengthen hospitals and the health care system. He further expounded that it means an additional $600 a week in unemployment insurance, provides emergency loans and grants to help small businesses and non-profits keep people employed and provides direct aid to state and local governments.

Noting that states and local governments are on the front lines of fighting this pandemic, he adds, They will need additional and flexible funding to ensure they can continue responding to this crisis and continue critical services. California businesses and residents will also need additional federal support to weather this economic storm.

McClintocks entire CARES Act statement can be read below:

Covid-19 didnt kill our economy. Government policies, however well intentioned, did. In just a few weeks, they derailed the most prosperous and promising economy of our lifetimes and put us in imminent danger of permanently destroying millions of American jobs.

The CARES Act will much more than double the current deficit, which is already unprecedented and unsustainable. It threatens to destabilize the fiscal structure of our federal government, suppress future economic growth and create fiscal pressures that will take decades to unravel.

But in order to deal with the future problems this bill creates, we must first deal with the immediate crisis by arresting the damage caused by recent actions that have laid waste to our prosperity and plunged our nation into a sudden and deep recession.

The government has created a liquidity crisis for both employers and families. Employers revenues have plunged, giving them the Hobsons choice of firing employees, selling assets in a fire sale or defaulting. Jobs temporarily lost will quickly become jobs permanently lost. They need ready access to capital, and the core of this bill does so. Families face a similar challenge. They need their jobs restored quickly and a way to recoup their financial losses.

This strongest argument for this bill is that it provides liquidity for employers and spending money for families. The strongest against it is that it does so inefficiently, wastefully and at enormous cost.

If there was any practical reason to believe the defeat of this bill would be followed quickly by a measure that would correct its many flaws, I would vote no. Congress is operating in a blind panic and the massive temporary damage to the economy will soon become permanent damage if relief is delayed for more than a few weeks. I have no confidence that a better measure can be quickly forthcoming.

Our system wasnt designed to make the best possible decisions, but rather the best decisions acceptable to the most people. Given the current Congress, this is it.

And now for the good, the bad and the ugly:

1. Provisions of the bill cut the red tape that prevents or delays new medicines and vaccines from coming to market and advances telemedicine as a safer and low-cost alternative to conventional consultation. These reforms are vital to bring vaccines and treatments to market as quickly as possible.

2. It re-writes Dodd-Frank to restore to lenders and borrowers the flexibility to adjust the provisions of loans to meet changing conditions. It is not in the interest of lenders to have their borrowers go under, and in a crisis like this, lenders need the flexibility to forebear repayments to prevent a liquidity crisis for their borrowers from becoming an insolvency crisis. Dodd-Frank denies them that flexibility. This provision restores it. Other provisions adjust reserve requirements and other regulations that will make access to capital easier.

3. The ONLY answer to a liquidity crisis is liquidity  easy access to capital through discounted loans and loan guarantees. This bill provides $529 billion of capital in this manner so that businesses can meet obligations without facing insolvency. This is critical to prevent permanent destruction of businesses that just a month ago were thriving. It is unfortunate that the bill provides special carve-outs for certain sectors  in effect picking winners and losers  and imposes operating conditions on those businesses. But these are minor flaws in a provision absolutely essential if the economy is to recover.

4. Small businesses need exactly the same access to credit. Instead, this bill makes forgivable loans (grants in reality), up to 250 percent of a business payroll it agrees to keep all employees. This will probably keep most cash-strapped businesses afloat and their employees paid. It will also give a windfall to others who dont need it. A grocery store thats just had the best month in its history is in no need of capital, and has no intention of firing anybody, but would be foolish not to take the offer. Meanwhile, the dry cleaner next door has had the worst month in its history  it has a small payroll but huge debt service for equipment and probably doesnt have enough of a payroll to cover the rent and debt service on its equipment. It defaults and goes under. Each small business has different needs in this crisis, and ought to have access to federally guaranteed loans to get through. Loans provide these businesses the incentive to borrow just what they need; grants provide an incentive to take whatever is available whether it is needed or not. This provision is seriously flawed, but still does more good than harm. Unfortunately, it also guarantees a serious misallocation of resources.

5. The bill spends upwards of $500 billion to provide $1,200 cash grants for individuals, $2,400 for couples and $500 for children up to $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. For millions of families who have seen their paychecks stopped and their savings dwindle this is a Godsend. Others have been able to maintain their incomes. Giving cash grants to everyone regardless of whether theyve lost earnings dilutes the provisions objective to get cash into the hands of cash-strapped families, again assuring a misallocation of resources.

6. This bill extends and expands unemployment benefits for those not previously covered to 39 weeks, in addition to the 26-week extension (for a total of 52 weeks) already enacted. Extended benefits were a feature of the governments response to the 2008 mortgage meltdown and caused many workers to delay their re-entry into the workforce. Another provision adding $600 to benefits will actually pay many workers more not to work. Unemployment insurance should be a safety net providing a recipient the time to transition to another job as quickly as possible. That is especially important now.

7. The bill provides for a staggering amount  $340 billion  for a wide array of assistance to everything from states and counties to local colleges and universities with no objectives and no oversight. This appropriation may or may not be justified, but no effort has been made to do so. Past experience convinces me that this money will disappear into various government budgets with few tangible benefits. This, most of all, is the steep price of getting this bill through the Democratic House.
Why India may be in the third stage of the coronavirus pandemic

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: The Indian government has not yet confirmed a community spread of the coronavirus as yet. However several experts say that it needs to be called the Stage 3 although it has not officially been stated.

Stage 3 refers to community transmission and it is the most critical stage of the outbreak. Dr. Girdhar Gyani, in an interview with The Quint says that the next five to ten days would be crucial to control the virus as those who are asymptomatic may start showing symptoms. He says that the government does not have enough testing kits. Dr. Gyani, the founder of the Association of Healthcare Providers was part of a video confenrce of healthcare professionals with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that was held on March 24.

You can check the full interview here: https://www.thequint.com/news/india/coronavirus-covid-19-india-in-stage-3-community-transmission-says-dr-gyani-task-force-for-covid-19-hospitals

Meanwhile, India is now fully preparing to fight the community transmission of the virus. Both the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Health have maintained that the community spread has not taken place as yet.

India is now looking to expand its testing facilities by opening gates to private laboratories.

#Stayathome and send us your selfie

However the government is leaving no stone unturned and working to fight stage three of COVID-19. Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal said that currently his government is ready to handle with 100 cases a day. The Delhi government is working on a plan to tackle stage-3 he also said.

On Friday, Odisha had expressed concern that the virus could be advancing towards community transmission in the state. This comes after a 60 year old man with no recent travel history testing positive.

Odisha's chief spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said with a third confirmed case having no foreign travel history, we see the possibility of the outbreak moving into stage-3.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 14:31 [IST]
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority Board of Directors have voted during an emergency meeting to set aside $35 million for a mining road in northwest Alaska, bypassing standard requirements for taking loans from its revolving fund.

Authority President Tom Boutin said that the action by the board will allow the authority to issue loans more effectively to offset potential economic side effects brought on by the coronavirus. The meeting was originally called to approve a series of economic measures intended to combat the pandemic.

Funding for the Ambler Road Project was put on the emergency agenda to stimulate job creation, Anchorage Daily News reported.

Were going to create 100-200 jobs immediately that otherwise would have gone to waste and been postponed to 2021, board member Al Fogle said.

The proposed 200-mile (320-kilometre) industrial road would stretch from Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District northeast of Kotzebue and cross Gates of the Arctic National Park to access an undeveloped copper-zinc mineral belt.

We can do this. We can deploy the money. We can get people out working, said Mark Davis, the authoritys chief infrastructure investment officer. Any work is contingent upon financial support from one or more of the mines that would use the road.

Environmental groups have criticized the cost of the project and raised concerns over its route through a national park, while others have said the project could affect federal subsistence rights.

Conservation group Alaska Wildlife Alliance called the decision to fund the project inappropriate when there are more pressing economic impacts facing residents of Alaska, KTOO-FM reported.

During the emergency meeting, the board also approved a measure that waives its normal loan-granting procedures and another that immediately provides $50 million to underwrite small loans issued to Alaska businesses by Alaska banks.

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THE government has stated that cross border truck drivers must undergo coronavirus preliminary diagnosis at border posts as a precautionary measure against the spread of the deadly virus.

The important measures intend to help long safari truck drivers plying within and out of the country to protect themselves and refrain from being catalyst to the virus spread.

The measure was announced by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East Africa Cooperation, Dr Damas Ndumbaro on Thursday when speaking to drivers at Manyovu border in Kigoma region.

Manyovu is the border post between Tanzania and Burundi.

According to Dr Ndumbaro, only three people will be allowed to move with the truck.

They include two drivers of the truck and an assistant and or the owner of the transported cargo.

Much as the drivers are being allowed to offer the crucial services, the Deputy Minister maintained that they needed to take all the precautions to protect themselves and limit spread of the virus.

"Like the way we are exerting care in containing the killer disease...it should be understood that lack of important services flowing in the country is going to kill us. "Thus, we have allowed penetration of goods and trucks to go in and out of the country," said Dr Ndumbaro.

He pointed out that for individuals and goods to enter the country they will have to go through routine COVID-19 checks before being allowed in.

The Deputy Minister also used the opportunity to inspect various surveillance centres along the Tanzania and Burundi border.

While this is an indication of an alert and effective surveillance, it also puts the spotlight on the need for more aggressive and whole of society efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

On Thursday, the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Ms Ummy Mwalimu told reporters that the government was setting up six new laboratories to enhance Coronavirus testing in the country.

The minister said the new laboratories are set at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) centres of Mbeya, Tanga, Mwanza and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology.

Currently, Tanzania relies on a single available level-three laboratory at the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to perform COVID-19 diagnosis.

According to Ms Ummy, as of Thursday, the existing lab had managed to test 273 samples, out of which 13 tested positive.

Recent world reports indicate that the number of cases which have been recorded as of yesterday show that 551,246 people have contracted the virus, deaths (24,915) and 128,703 have recovered.
Reports reaching the Ghana News Agency (GNA), indicate that some Ghanaian residents in La Cote d'Ivoire have been crossing the Elubo border to Ghana through unapproved routes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.



Many of these Ghanaian nationals are indigenes of Elubo and its environs who are conversant with the terrain and as a result, decide to disregard the main entry point to Ghana for fear of being denied access to enter the country.



The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Jomoro, Mr. Ernest Kofie confirmed the incident in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.



He told the GNA that Ivorian nationals rather used the Elubo border to undergo the safety protocols before entering the country since they did not know the bush paths.



It would be recalled that La Cote d'Ivoire recorded cases of the COVID-19 when Ghana had not recorded any case of the disease. It was weeks after that Ghana recorded its first case.



As to what measures the Assembly had put in place to contain the pandemic, Mr Kofie said the Assembly was financially constrained taking cognizance of the quantum of protective health kits and others to be procured for distribution to the District.



The MCE, therefore, appealed to the central government to come to the aid of the Assembly to reach out to the people.



Mr Kofie, however, said series of sensitization and education was on-going to deepen the understanding of the people on the COVID-19 pandemic and advised the people to continue with the social distancing safety protocol as the first measure to avoid contracting the virus.

Source: GNA









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President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a congratulatory message to a former governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, who clocked 68 Saturday.

The president, who spoke through his aide, Femi Adesina, praised Mr Tinubus courage, forthrightness and diligence in providing exemplary and broadminded leadership for the political party.

He said the leadership example set by Mr Tinubu in Lagos has steadily provided a ladder for budding leaders to grow and contribute to national development.

Asiwaju greatest strength lies in his ability to look beyond religious, ethnic and political stereotyping, embracing the reality of Nigeria as one entity, Mr Buhari was quoted as saying.

Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan felicitated with Mr Tinubu whom he described as a patriot and political leader who has contributed so much to the growth of the nations democracy.

As a patriot, politician and leader, you have contributed so much to the advancement of our nations democracy and nurtured many individuals to greatness. I wish you more years of sound health, peace and glory, as you celebrate. Happy birthday, Your Excellency, Mr Johnathan said, through his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze.

For Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Tinubu is a leader of leaders and political colossus who has paid his dues in the countrys political firmament and beyond, thus deserving the respect of all and sundry across party lines.

Mr Fayemi, through his press secretary, Yinka Oyebode, added that Mr Tinubus actions inspire us  his admirers  to dream more, learn more, do more and become more. He is a political colossus who will continue to bestride the Nigerian political landscape for many more years to come.

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, while congratulating Mr Tinubu, urged members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to learn from the APC chieftains consistency and loyalty to his partys course by remaining committed to ensuring that the party returned to power in 2023.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olisa Ifeajika, said in a statement that Mr Tinubu played a tremendous role in Nigerias attainment of democracy and the promotion of peace and unity.

Tinubus selfless service to the nation and his many accomplishments in personal and public life readily comes to mind at a time like this.

As national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has continued to play significant roles in the growth and development of the nation as a political bridge-builder, Mr Okowa noted.

On his part, the national publicity secretary of the APC, Lanre Issa-Onilu said the party was proud to appreciate Mr Tinubu for his contributions to the party.

In the last 30 years, Asiwaju Tinubu has dedicated his life to the tenets and ethos of progressive politics with unwavering commitment, focus and dedication, Mr Issa-Onilu wrote in his statement.

As an opposition leader, Tinubu exemplified a strong fidelity to responsible politics, taking on the retrogressive inclination of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre with gusto, superior ideas and principles through legal and constitutional channels.

While wishing him more years, Mr Issa-Onilu praised Mr Tinubu for his patriotism to the Nigerian cause, doggedness and tireless efforts to make our party a strong political unit that can deliver on its promises to the Nigerian people and overcome current and future challenges.
A New High

According to recently published reports in the New York Postlike just a day ago seems forever during these endemic dayscannabis sales in the United States and Canada have increased as consumers stockpile the magic substance in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

According to yesterdays story in the Post, there has been a 50 percent increase in sales of recreational cannabis here and in our Canuck neighbor to the north; thats an increase of more than 40 percent over last year, according to data gleaned from Flowhub.

Canada, in fact, has been a big player in the recent increase. In the province of Ontario, where online purchases can take place, the Canadian Governments web shop has seen a huge rise in sales and Ontario Cannabis Store director of communications Daffyd Roderick said that sales last weekend were twice as high as they were just two weeks ago, before the global COVID-19 crisis fully emerged.

Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, Cannabis sales skyrocketed. They rose just more than 75 percent during the past week, according the the provincial agency that regulates cannabis in that part of Canada, the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission.

While reports from New Mexicowhere only medical marijuana is legalare just coming in, they seem to reflect the same trend. According to an employee at a local dispensary, sales of medicinal marijuana continue to grow with customers coming in non-stop and creating sustainable medicine and jobs for those involved.

Essential Medicine

Meanwhile, many states are moving forward in their official determination that dispensaries are essential businesses during these trying times. An article in todays New York Times spotlights the phenomenon, as seen through the lens of a potentially disastrous health situation developing across the nation.

Cannabis dispensariesmedical and recreationalhave been determined to be essential businesses in many states facing health-related closures and massive changes to the American business structure in the past couple of weeks.

Among the states participating in the cultural sea change: California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington and yes, even New Mexico. In San Francisco, a city hard hit with the potentially deadly outbreak, the declaration of the value of dispensaries in todays world was reflected as huge increase in sales.

Headset, a cannabis research group, told the Times that sales in the City by the Bay had risen at least 150 percent over the figures for the same time last year. Liz Connors, the director of analytics at the heady research firm contacted by the newspaper said, It shows that a lot of people think cannabis is just another consumer good, like beer or wine. Connors also noted that edible products are becoming more and more popular, because customers were taking precautions to avoid infection. Its probably the easiest way to get high without touching your face very much, she concluded.

In Pennsylvania, the report finishes by announcing that liquor stores were ordered closed, while dispensaries will be allowed to stay open. New Mexico declared cannabis dispensaries to be essential businesses this week when Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a statewide stay at home order.
Connecticut, Illinois and New York joined California on Friday in ordering nonessential workers to remain at home to slow the spread of coronavirus, which means more than 1 in 5 Americans live in a state under general stay-at-home orders.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was hoping to alleviate what he said was an approaching "a total overwhelming" of the health care system.

J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, home to 12.6 million people, told reporters at an afternoon briefing that is still underway: "To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives, we must enact an immediate stay-at-home order."

People who break the Connecticut order could be fined, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

Connecticut's order for its 3.5 million residents goes into effect Monday at 8 p.m. In Illinois, it starts at 5 p.m. Saturday.

President Donald Trump said Friday he doesn't anticipate ordering such measures nationwide, though his administration already has urged Americans not to gather in groups of more than 10.

"You go out to the Midwest, you go out to other locations, they're watching on television, but they don't have the same problems. They don't have, by any means, the same problems," Trump said Friday.

As thousands more Americans get tested, the number of reported coronavirus cases has climbed to more than 17,000. At least 225 people in the US have died.

Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that between 9 and 11% of Americans who have been tested get a positive result. That would mean at least 170,000 people in the United States have been tested, but there are samples that are part of a backlog of tests that need to be examined this weekend, she said.

For the stay-at-home rules in Connecticut, Illinois, New York and California, exceptions exist -- such as for people traveling to or working at groceries and hospitals -- and some states allow for solo outdoor exercise. But the moves by these four states alone mean about 75 million Americans live in a state with general stay-at-home orders, nearly a quarter of the entire country.

"This is the most drastic action we can take," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose state of 19.5 million residents has the most confirmed cases of any state at more than 7,000.

"These are not helpful hints. ... There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that is not in compliance" starting Sunday, Cuomo said.

Cuomo described the measures as an attempt to "close the valve" of sick patients to hospitals because the increasing number of cases "portends a total overwhelming of our" health care system.

Echoing other state and local leaders, Cuomo pleaded with businesses to manufacture or otherwise donate more equipment, such as masks for health care workers and ventilators for the sick.

The state announcements come a day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled similar measures for the nation's most populous state, home to 39.5 million people.

"Every state will head this way," CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem said Friday morning. "People need to prepare themselves that this gets harder before this gets easier."

The nation also is grappling with the economic consequences of encouraging people to stay home.

While federal lawmakers on Friday consider a stimulus bill that may give checks to some Americans, Goldman Sachs economists are predicting the number of US unemployment claims this week will be the highest on record.

Hospitals desperately need more supplies, doctors and politicians say

Doctors and state and local politicians nationwide, meanwhile, are warning that hospitals do not have enough supplies of masks, ventilators and other equipment needed to protect physicians and help patients.

Details about how the federal government is trying to influence production are hazy.

On Friday, Trump said he invoked the Defense Production Act -- under which the government can direct industries to ramp up production of necessary equipment to address shortages of medical gear and equipment.

"We need certain equipment that ... states aren't able to get by themselves ... like the masks, like the ventilators," Trump said early Friday afternoon at the White House.

But as his news conference wore on, it appeared he had not ordered American companies to scale up production. Instead, Trump said companies were offering up their services without the government demanding it.

Speaking alongside Trump, Vice President Mike Pence teased a "a major procurement from the federal government of N95 masks" coming over the weekend. 3M said in a statement on Friday it has doubled its global output of N95 respirators.

Birx told CNN that "we just unlocked 90 percent more of the masks than we had just two days ago."

States and hospitals can't successfully procure all that's needed by themselves, said Dr. Megan Ranney, a Rhode Island emergency physician and researcher at Brown University.

"That would be like saying that you're sending your troops to war and that you're letting them get their own body armor and helmets," she said Friday morning. "We need the federal government to stand up a response to distribute this appropriately."

Trump on Friday expressed hope over the Food and Drug Administration's announcement that it is reviewing drugs such as the antimalarial chloroquine as potential treatments. But one of the country's top health officials cautioned against over-optimism.

It might turn out to be effective, but more data is needed to show that it is useful and safe under the conditions of this disease, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, at Friday's White House news conference.

He told NBC earlier Friday that Americans probably will need to avoid crowds for weeks.

"If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks in other areas, it's at least going to be several weeks," Fauci said on NBC's "Today" show.

Why California issued a general stay-at-home order

Spurring California's general stay-at-home order, Newsom said, were models showing that the virus could sicken 25 million of California's nearly 40 million people in eight weeks. That could require the hospitalization of more than 19,000 people beyond the state's current capacity, he said.

California's order won't be enforced by police, Newsom said, but instead, by social pressure that will "encourage people to do the right thing."

San Francisco paved the way for orders directing residents to stay put. Throughout California, similar directives went into effect by multiple counties this week, leading to the governor's sweeping measures.

Five states -- Connecticut, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- announced other restrictions Friday. Grooming businesses, like barbershops, nail salons and piercing shops, will be closed to the public starting Saturday at 8 p.m.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday closed beaches in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Other beaches, including Panama City and the Florida Keys, have been ordered closed by local officials.

Economists predict big increase in unemployment claim filings

The country is only just beginning to understand the economic consequences of the pandemic.

Although a government report showed 281,000 Americans filed for their first week of unemployment benefits last week -- a 33% jump over the week before -- economists are predicting the next weekly report will be much worse.

Goldman Sachs economists predict next week's report will show 2.25 million Americans filed for their first week of unemployment benefits this week -- eight times the number of people who filed last week and the highest level on record.

The federal government has made some moves to delay certain bills facing Americans. Student loan borrowers will be able to suspend their federal student loan payments without penalty and without accruing interest for at least 60 days, the Department of Education said Friday.

The federal tax filing deadline will be moved from April 15 to July 15, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday.

Medical supply shortages loom

Health care facilities that are facing a "crisis" should consider options to combat shortages, even if those options "are not commensurate with US standards of care," the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in new guidance.

That includes using masks beyond their designated shelf life and reusing masks during encounters with different patients, cautioning however that not all types of masks can be reused.

As a last resort, the agency said health care providers could consider using "homemade masks" -- such as bandanas or scarves -- to care for coronavirus patients, ideally in combination with a face shield.

The guidance comes as hospitals and medical care workers have begun to sound the alarm on a rapidly vanishing inventory of supplies.

Governors highlighted those concerns Thursday to the President, with many saying their main worry was that there isn't enough personal protection equipment available in their states -- like masks, disposable gowns and other supplies.
GLEN CARBON  If there is any comfort for parents who now have their children at home around the clock after their local daycare center closed, it is in knowing that they are not alone.

As part of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers executive order last week, the nearly 10,000 licensed daycare centers in Illinois were told to temporarily close as of last Saturday in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Hundreds of daycare centers remain open around the state after applying for an emergency license to serve the children of designated essential workers. But that still leaves thousands of children without a daycare center, which means they will be at home along with their working-from-home parents.

Its a situation that is not ideal for child care providers or parents, but local daycare centers are doing their best to help parents cope.

Jennie Fuller is president of Early Explorations in Edwardsville and Early Explorations Too in Glen Carbon. Early Explorations Too was initially scheduled to reopen next week under an emergency license, but that has been pushed back until at least the week of April 6.

Fuller realizes that parents whose jobs are deemed non-essential by the state will be taking care of their kids at home for the near future. She is offering some help and advice for parents of preschoolers during the quarantine.

We are assisting our families and we have a parent educator who is working remotely right now, and she is sending e-learning activities to the families of our kids each day, Fuller said. Parents need to set up a normal routine and stick with it, which helps the sanity of the parent as well as the wellbeing of the child.

Having a scheduled time that you are going to work every day and scheduled time that you are going to do child interaction, napping, eating, etc., and just being consistent with it is important while they are stuck in the house.

The only local daycare center currently open is the Goddard School of Edwardsville, located at 801 S. Arbor Vitae.

The Goddard School serves 165 families, but only 25 of those families are currently attending the school under the essential workers provision.

Were sending distance learning programs to all of our families considered non-essential and our teachers are still doing circle time activities for our children that are unable to attend, said Barbara Burrows, owner of the Goddard School of Edwardsville. Were sending curriculum and lesson plans to parents every day we dont lose connection with the children.

Burrows said that parents can also go to www.goddardschool.com for age-appropriate learning plans and curriculum for their children.

Videos for parents are also being posted on the Goddard School (Edwardsville) Facebook page.

One of the parents affected by Pritzkers executive order is Michelle Webb of Highland. Her 2-year-old-son, Henry, has attended Early Explorations Too since he was six weeks old.

Webb, who works for the Illinois Department of Human Services in East Alton, is considered an essential employee but is currently working from home.

Now that the daycare is closed, it is posing a little bit of an issue because Im trying to balance working from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. with getting everything taken care of for Henry, Webb said. Its chaotic and its different, but Im getting through it.

Getting through it, though, doesnt mean it is easy. With her son at home, Webb finds herself multitasking more than ever.

Were trying to potty-train him in the middle of all this, so its all kinds of fun right now, Webb said, laughing. Im trying to keep him as close to his schedule as possible in terms of breakfast, snacks, lunch and naps. He is in such a good routine from being (at Early Explorations Too) that I would hate to do anything to strike from that.

The only difficulty Im having is trying to get any type of lessons done. Were doing a little singing now and then, but with me having to work from 8:00 to 4:00, Im stuck on a computer and if he needs anything, I have to break away from that for a brief moment.

While Webb enjoys spending time with her son, she worries about the mental stimulation and social interaction that he is missing.

Hes watching Dinosaur Train right now, so hes perfectly content, but at the same time I still kind of think about what he is not getting at school, Webb said. He learned something there every day and right now hes at that point where his brain is absorbing everything. It stings for me because I feeling like Im letting him miss out on stuff.

Webb has a three-word message for other parents who are dealing with a similar situation.

Just be calm, Webb said. When you rely on the daycares to help to watch your kids and all of a sudden youre working from home and being a full-time caregiver during those eight hours that you normally have somebody else watching them, its a huge adjustment.

Just take a deep breath and it will be OK, and at some point this will all return to normal. Then your kids may be upset going back to daycare because theyve gotten used to being with you at home.

Henry, at least for now, is ready to return to Early Explorations Too.

He tells me all the time that he wants to go back and see his buddies, Webb said.

Fuller said that parents who need assistance during the quarantine can call the Childrens Home and Aid Society Office in Granite City at 618-452-8900.

They are open with a short staff right now and are accepting calls and helping people that need emergency child care services, Fuller said.

Another local daycare center, Edwardsville KinderCare at 500 Goshen Road, is temporarily closed.

KinderCare does not have any locations open in Madison County or St. Clair County, but is also doing its part to help parents cope with the closing of daycare centers around the nation.

In addition to partnering with local health departments and closely monitoring the latest updates from the CDC and WHO to ensure it is following their guidance on the most up-to-date recommendations, KinderCare is partnering with Dr. Ray Fabius as its guide in navigating the coronavirus with its employees and families.

Fabius is a pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He also brings over 40 years in health care helping some of the nations biggest companies with medical planning and strategy.

Health tips for families are available from Fabius at www.kindercare.com.
No end to woes of local textile and garment industry

Since the middle of March, China is step by step bringing the epidemic under control and is reviving production  and with it trade with Vietnam. 600-800 containers go through customs clearance between the two countries a day, which provides a significant supply of raw materials for local production.

However, while the chokehold on raw material supply is lifted, other difficulties are coming. According to the Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK) in Ho Chi Minh City, the country's biggest export market for textile and garment products  the US  has just announced halting garment product imports from Vietnam for three weeks. Earlier, importers in the EU also informed local partners of a cessation in receiving textile and garment products in the next one month.

Enveloped by challenges

Viet Thang Jean Co., Ltd. (VITAJEAN) is in a tough spot because a lot of its partners in the EU and the US have suspended imports. Company chairman Pham Van Viet confirmed that they received notices to temporarily stop imports to the EU from March 13 and to the US from March 18.

The interruption could last for at least two months because the pandemic has yet to reach its peak. When the pandemic passes its peak and EU countries can contain its spread, the production and business activities will recover and exports will be restarted, VITAJEAN chairman said.

Fashion items to the US make up 30-35 per cent of the company's export turnover, while the EU accounts for 20 per cent and Japan and South Korea capture 40 per cent. Of its main markets, South Korea, the US, and the EU have seen disruptions. The company still maintains exports to Japan, although the number of cancelled orders still reaches 50 per cent in this market.

South Korea did not close its borders, but they have stopped receiving goods for the last three weeks. Fashion products are seasonable, we had bought the materials and the fabric six months ago. Cancelling these orders means our material and fabric will have to be saved until next summer (2021) and half of them will have to be sold, he added.

In the same situation, Cecile Le Pham, general director of international garment manufacturer Dacotex Group, said that businesses in this sector will face more difficulties because most of the orders in the last two months have been cancelled.

Due to the health crisis, partners delayed many orders to next year. It makes us extremely worried, as we have just finished preparations to restart production because materials and raw materials have just arrived, she said.

On March 18, Dacotex has taken over the latest shipment of imported fabrics, ready for cutting and export to Denmark at the end of March, but the plan has been put off.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) forecast that the export volume to the EU in the first and second quarters will be reduced by 6-8 per cent if the pandemic lasts until June. The EU is the second-largest export market of Vietnam with a two-way trade turnover at $56.4 billion in 2019, with Vietnamese exports to the EU contributing more than $41 billion of this.

Finding new ways

Faced with these challenges, businesses have to move to survive  and there are still a few good news for businesses. A footwear producer said that in addition to cancelled orders from the US, businesses in Japan and EU partners still maintain orders without any cancellation or delay.

Despite the abundant difficulties, several firms like Dong Xuan Knitting Company (Doximex) still managed to find opportunities and maintain operations. Tran Viet, general director of Doximex, said that the company has a closed production line, including making knitted fabric. Besides, 90 per cent of its orders go to the Japanese market, so Doximex's operations have not been disrupted to the degree as other players. Its revenue still increased thanks to manufacturing cloth masks and supplying fabrics to other firms.

Doximex is one of the few businesses that were not impacted by the global crisis because fortunately our orders were not cut, although Japan is going into great lengths to control the pandemic. Over the last two months, some sewing lines that had been producing for exports were transferred to sewing masks for the domestic and overseas markets," said Viet.

Beset by challenges, businesses can find the silver lining if they adopt a flexible approach to seize opportunities.
Bareilly District administration has set up at least 10 community kitchens at different locations in the district to ensure the food reaches to the needy.

Bareilly district magistrate (DM) Nitish Kumar said that the authorities also set up a helpline number (0581-2457042) on which people facing any problem can call. These community kitchens have been set up with the help and financial support of the citys wealthy residents and additional district magistrate (city) Mahendra Kumar has been tasked with the coordination work. One can approach ADM on 9454417198 for any query related to contribution towards community kitchens, the DM said.

We have set up 10 kitchens with the help of NGOs that can cater and supply food to at least 5,000 daily. Around 100 people have approached us till now for the cause. We are issuing vehicle pass to them, the ADM said.

In Shahjahanpur, DM appealed to locals to support those who were facing difficulties and make urgent donations to support the needy. The residents have been urged to donate directly into the bank account of District Magistrate Corona Relief Fund Shahjahanpur, said ADM RS Dwivedi.
The world faces a shortage of condoms, the worlds largest producer has warned after being shut for more than a week due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Malaysias Karex Bhd, which produces one-fifth of condoms globally, had to close its three factories because of the lockdown enforced by the Malaysian government.

Over this period, the company would usually make 100 million condoms.

The factories reopened on Friday after being exempted from the restrictions, but are only operating at half capacity.

Goh Miah Kiat, chief executive of Karex Bhd, told Reuters: "It will take time to jumpstart factories and we will struggle to keep up with demand at half capacity."

"We are going to see a global shortage of condoms everywhere, which is going to be scary, he added.

The chief executive also expressed his concern for humanitarian programmes in Africa, which he thinks might experience condom shortages for months.

A spokesman for Durex said the companys operations would continue as normal and it was not experiencing any supply shortages.

He added: "For our consumers, many of whom will be unable to access shops, our Durex online stores remain open for business."

Malaysia, with 2,320 infections and 27 deaths, is southeast Asias worst-affected country.

The countrys lockdown, which is scheduled to last until 14 April, has also affected the makers of critical items such as medical gloves.

Additional reporting from Reuters
The number of coronavirus cases



in Madhya Pradesh increased by one to 34 on Saturday with a Border Security Force (BSF) officer testing positive for the infection.

The officer's wife had returned from abroad recently, said coronavirus nodal officer of Gwalior district Dr Mahendra Kumar Piproli.

The 57-year-old officer is posted at BSF Academy at Tekanpur in Gwalior district.

"A health department team went there and found that the officer's wife had recently gone abroad so the entire family is now quarantined," he said.

Meanwhile, a person whose test report came out positive on March 25 was later found not to have the infection after his fresh samples were examined, Piproli said.

"So far, 34 positive coronavirus cases have been found in the state. Of these, two COVID-19 patients, one from Indore and another from Ujjain, have died," said Additional Director, Health, Dr Veena Sinha in an press release.

The patients include 16 residents of Indore, eight from Jabalpur, three each from Bhopal and Ujjain and two each from Shivpuri and Gwalior.

Earlier in the day the Bhopal police registered a case against a local journalist who had attended a press conference of then chief minister Kamal Nath on March 20 even though his daughter had been advised home quarantine after return from the UK.

Days after the press conference the journalist and his daughter tested positive for the infection. Both are undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhopal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The sound of silence fills long days under lockdown in my New York City apartment that feels more cramped by the hour. The occasional cry of sirens from ambulances breaks up the monotony. Silence and empty streets are strange occurrences in the city that never sleeps, but which has now become the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

There are now more than 68,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and we know that things will get much worse before they improve. Remember that New York, where medical care is accessible and of relatively high quality, is hardly prepared for this massive looming health crisis. Beyond Americas borders, the pandemic has become a bigger humanitarian and development crisis.

Coronavirus spans the planet



It concerns me deeply to think about countries with much less infrastructure and preparedness. A shutdown to contain the virus and flatten the curve looks far different in the global south than in uptown Manhattan. According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus spans the entire planet, with a foothold in more than 200 countries and territories.

If this crisis is not contained and comprehensively addressed quickly, it will lead to catastrophic social, economic, and political crises, and the scars could last for years. Consider that many countries are on the brink of having the development gains of the last two decades reversed in a matter of weeks or months. Much of this impact will be felt in places already facing severe humanitarian crises because of conflict, disasters, and climate change. The global economy may take a hit of US$1 trillion during 2020, and those who already do not have social protection, just over half of the worlds population, will be in a much more dire situation.

We have to support countries to set up a comprehensive approach to face the challenges that go beyond the health sector to both limit the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate the potentially devastating impact on vulnerable people and economies.

Prepare, respond and recover



Drawing from its vast experience in the field, the UN has coordinated a blueprint to mitigate the humanitarian impact of the coronavirus. The US$2 billion COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) that was launched this week focuses on three priorities: containing the spread of the pandemic; addressing the deterioration of human rights, social cohesion, and livelihoods; and protecting and assisting refugees, internally displaced people, migrants and host communities particularly vulnerable to the pandemic.

The role of UNDP will be particularly significant. We will provide crucial support to country health systems, livelihoods, community engagement and social cohesion, as well as address issues related to stigma and discrimination, and ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, justice, and security needs of vulnerable persons and communities. We will draw on our experience in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and on our longstanding partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to help the 51 countries covered by the HRP to protect, respond, and recover.

Beyond the HRP, however, our work has already started. In Madagascar, together with the World Bank, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme, we are helping to develop an innovative social protection initiative to support vulnerable groups whose livelihoods face an ever-greater risk.

In Lebanon, our Disaster Management Unit embedded in the Office of the Prime Minister is providing direct support to the government in managing and coordinating this crisis, thanks to a fully equipped crisis centre we helped set up back in 2015. A centre of this kind is critical in moments like this.

Or consider Africa, where we will not only help with the procurement of essential medical equipment, including personal protective equipment, ventilators, and testing kits but also develop strategies to repair the social contract between state and citizens and carry out more effective public messaging on the COVID-19 virus. A critical need at this phase in the crisis is to rebuild the frayed public trust in government institutions.

Acting quickly and boldly



Our presence in roughly 170 countries and territories allows us not only to act quickly and boldly but also to plan and possibly prevent other types of crises that can occur as a consequence of the pandemic. These include increased vulnerability of women and girls to violence, increased discrimination against migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people, mass protests, and a general degradation of law and order.

We are working around the clock to adapt, whenever possible, our existing programmes to respond to this crisis. The goal is to come up with new and innovative solutions that are comprehensive, equitable, and inclusive, so that no one is left behind. Countries across the world have made incredible progress toward achieving their Sustainable Development Goals since 2015 and we want this to continue in the next decade.

UNDP is determined to prevent COVID-19 from wiping out that progress as part of an integrated UN response. Lets put in place governance antibodies to inoculate countries hardest hit by this pandemic. Lets all act now together.
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Linkedin Delphine Touitou (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Sat, March 28, 2020 09:09 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df3999 2 Food united-states,restaurant,food,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,crisis Free

It was supposed to be a happy time for Will, a musician in the Washington area. He was planning a wedding reception at a local restaurant.

Instead, he had to cancel the party due to the coronavirus crisis.

And, despite a few misgivings, he's also decided to ask the restaurant for a complete refund right away -- in case the pandemic forces the eatery to shut its doors forever.

"My original plan was just to save the money to credit and to have a big party there in the future," the 47-year-old told AFP, who asked that his last name not be used.

But then, he lost his job at a music store. And of course, he can no longer perform in restaurants and bars, because they are all closed for the foreseeable future.

"We're just too worried about them shutting down the business and not getting the money back," he said.

The restaurant industry has been one of the hardest-hit since local governments across the United States started ordering residents to stay at home as much as possible to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Many Americans have launched appeals to help their local restaurants, which are either closed or only offering takeout while the country rides out the crisis.

Such help could come in the form of buying gift cards, which are a "much-needed revenue source during the pandemic disruption," according to the National Restaurant Association.

"In the best of times, restaurants operate on razor-thin margins, typically three to six percent, and 90 percent are small businesses with less than 50 employees," the association's executive vice president of public affairs, Sean Kennedy, told AFP.

Read also: Tokyo tourist sites 'nearly empty' as coronavirus bites

A key US sector

Of course, a few gift cards are not going to save the sector, a vital one in the world's largest economy.

It is the country's second-biggest employer, only behind the health care sector.

There are more than one million bars, restaurants and fast food outlets across the United States.

Before the coronavirus crisis took hold, the National Restaurant Association had said it was expecting sales of nearly $900 billion this year.

Now, it says the industry could lose at least $225 billion -- and five to seven million jobs -- over the next three months. There are no guarantees those jobs would be restored after the crisis.

So far, 40 of the 50 US states have ordered restaurants to shut their doors or severely curtail their activities. For many, their very survival is on the line.

A survey carried out by the restaurant association among 4,000 places of business and released Wednesday showed that three percent were forced to close for good.

Another 11 percent said they would have to do so in the next month.

Restaurant owners have asked for $455 billion in government aid, including a $100 billion emergency fund, $130 billion to pay unemployment benefits and $45 billion in loans.

Read also: Food & Beverage industry hit hardest by COVID-19: Report

'No nest egg'

Since last week, two petitions have been circulating -- and gaining hundreds of thousands of signatures -- to ask local authorities for relief, including waived payroll taxes and rent abatement.

"Just as many individuals live from paycheck to paycheck, so too do restaurants and bars. There's no nest egg," says the "Save America's Restaurants" petition signed by more than 320,000, including a number of celebrity chefs, as of Thursday.

"We are on the brink of extinction," it warns.

Kennedy says while takeout and delivery meals have kept some restaurants going, it is no substitute for regular service.

"That is just a lifeline, and is not sustainable," he told AFP.

Kennedy, who has been lobbying national leaders for more help, hailed the Senate's passage of a $2 trillion economic rescue plan, which the House of Representatives will consider on Friday.

"This measure is an important first step to help restaurants weather the storm, take care of our employees, and prepare for when we are given the signal to open our doors once again," he said.

But he warned of the "challenges that remain".

Restaurant owners say they hope the emergency funds will come quickly -- and not get tied up in bureaucratic red tape.

Alain Roussel, who owns La Ferme in Maryland, is supposed to celebrate 35 years in business in November. In recent days, he was forced to lay off his 38 employees.

"I am lucky -- I own the place and I don't have any debt. But I can only hold on for a couple of months," Roussel said.

As for whether he can eventually rehire his staff, he said that would depend on his customers, and how quickly they come back.

"After the global financial crisis, business was slow to pick up again," he recalled.
Let everyone think of their neighbour from a business and personal point of view, Paddy Malone of Dundalk Chamber has advised.

He was speaking on the back of an appeal by Chambers Ireland calling for all businesses, Government and State bodies to be flexible and responsible to ensure business continuity at this difficult time.

Mr Malone, an accountant by profession, has urged a common sense approach.

'Some places in Dundalk are shutting down, some aren't. I'm asking employers to be flexible with staff as far as they can, and pay heed to what the Government is asking.'

From his own experience he points out everyone seems to be prepared to help out.

'A lot of our members have called to say they are closing, such as hairdressers, because nobody is coming in to them and they can't keep people the required distance apart, which is understandable.

'I hope everyone rallies around. The Government and opposition, everyone seems to be playing ball,' Mr Malone continued.

He believes the Government does need to forget about VAT payments - which are made on the 23rd of the month - in the short-term.

'Dundalk Chamber offices are manned and open for business with a reduced number of staff.'

One priority at present is the Shop Local Vouchers which the chamber is making sure are cashed as usual.

Another priority is providing certificates of origin for exports to countries outside the EU.

'It's a service we do for the north-east which is becoming more significant and is a positive one. Exporters have to be able to say their goods originate in the EU.'

On a separate issue, Mr Malone says if banks are deferring or reducing mortgage payments, and landlords are getting that benefit then they should pass it on to their tenants.

Wearing his accountant's hat, Mr Malone advises everyone to tighten their belts and spend money wisely.

'Let everyone think of their neighbour from a business and personal point of view.'

Meanwhile, Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot has warned some businesses may not reopen.

'The tragedy of this illness, and the resulting loss of life deeply saddens both myself and every member of our network.

'Our retail and hospitality sectors are bearing the brunt of this first wave of measures that have made up the Government response to the Corvid-19 epidemic. The closures and the drop in business have done immense damage to the sector, damage that will take considerable time to recover from.

'Many of the great names of Irish business may never re-open without an effective State and policy response.'
By Delana Isles

HARD days are ahead for the tourism industry, with the closure of airports and now a lockdown of the territory.





Earlier this week, Todd Foss, president of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA), called on tourism workers and businesses to hold fast as the territory tries to control the spread of COVID-19, while also staying financially afloat.





Foss revealed that he has been in talks with the Government to consider offering assistance to owners of tourism related businesses in the way of credit and to banking institutions to offer moratoriums.





All in an effort to afford these businesses to retain as many of their staff as possible, while also staying afloat as the territory, and the world, recovers.





"We are working with the premier and governor offering ideas for a strategic custom-tailored financial stimulus package that matches the unique business model of the Turks and Caicos tourism industry, Foss said.





"Such a package will be essential for the sector to survive this world-wide unprecedented situation and must include a massive cash injection into the economy.





On Thursday evening, after time of press, the Government was scheduled to reveal their stimulus package to the territory, outlining who will benefit and by how much.





The TCHTA president noted that while there are many unknowns during the current global emergency, the priority of the association and its members is to their thousands of dedicated employees.





"As the countrys tourism sector moves closer to a zero-revenue situation for an undetermined period, our goal is to promote limited layoffs and opt for salary cuts as a measure to keep funds flowing to as many industry workers as possible, even when closures must occur.





"Each property and business will have to make human resource decisions based on their respective current cash-flow position.





He noted that for any business, cash on hand and the availability of credit are the most important elements of survival when revenue no longer exists.





As such, the TCHTA has engaged the banking sector, which has since announced that all banks will be offering some form of payment moratorium to both private and corporate customers.





"We are hopeful the Government will also assist by making credit available to businesses, Foss said.





He stated that the formula to survive for the medium term of six months and then through a longer-term recovery period is for the Government, the tourism industry and employees to share in the hardships.





"Together we will be successful and restore our tourism industry as strong as ever.





Foss said that within the TCHTAs membership, support is being provided with educational materials, webinars and digital forums to ensure members and their staff are properly equipped with the tools and information to practice as safely and carefully as possible to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect staff members.





He said sharing best practices and making acute efforts to preserve normalcy in operations is critical at this time.





"As a small country dependent on a single industry, we must look out for one another.




- President Hage Geingob of Namibia has appointed a 23-year-old lady as the country's deputy information and technology minister

- The appointed deputy minister identified as Emma Theofilus has become Namibia's youngest minister and member of parliament

- In reaction to criticism that she is inexperienced, she says she is not and she is able to do anything she sets out to do

A 23-year-old Namibian lady, Emma Theofilus, has been appointed as the country's deputy information and technology minister.

Emma's appointment has made her Namibia's youngest minister and member of parliament, Face 2 Face Africa reports.

Legit.ng gathers that Emma's appointment was criticised by the country's old elites, questioning her capacity and competence.

Emma Theofilus. Photo credit: Face 2 Face Africa

Source: UGC

In reaction, the deputy minister said she is not inexperienced and she is able to do anything she sets out to do.

She said: I do not think I am special, but I do not think I am inexperienced, and I do not think being young or female has anything to do with my appointment.

"Anything I set myself to and any environment I want to work into, I can do it; so the issue of inexperience does not hold any water."

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app

In other news, the chief executive officer of JoshForTech is a 10-year-old Nigerian programmer identified as Joshua Agboola.

Joshua started coding at the age of six and made a record by becoming the youngest speaker to present at a technology talk at the ICTel Expo of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry in July 2019.

The young boy was also the youngest to speak at TechPoint Inspire.

Joshua's father sent him to an academy for summer school when he was six, but the school said he was too young for the existing curriculum.

His father drafted a curriculum for him and Joshua surpassed the curriculum that was set by his father.

Joshua, who is one of the young software engineers in Nigeria, has built a number of games, a healthcare app and a few websites.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better

There is a 'genius' in every Nigerian family - Comic Con founder | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
Many companies have been doing their part to assist amid the Cpvid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. CenturyLink is no exception. They installed and donated high-speed connectivity to the hospital ship U.S. Naval Ship Mercy when it arrived at the port of Los Angeles from San Diego Friday, March 27.

When the ship entered the port, CenturyLink was at the dock working with military personnel, the port authority and commercial providers to meet the projects demanding 48-hour timeline.

The USNS Mercy is being specially deployed to assist with COVID-19 response efforts and is usually used to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The Mercy will provide 1,000 extra beds and more than 800 medical personnel as a back-up hospital for patients needing critical medical services not associated with COVID-19, thus allowing local Los Angeles health professionals and area hospitals to focus on treating patients with COVID-19.

Due to the critical and complex nature of the work onboard, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) needed a technology company that could provide high-capacity network services safely, securely and quickly.

CenturyLink stepped up and is waiving installation fees and providing a 1 gigabit Ethernet circuit at no charge for 12 months that connects DISAs shored-based Naval Air Station North Island to the USNS Mercy.

CenturyLinks network agility and speed, as well as its complex problem-solving skills and project management expertise, enabled it to prepare for rapidly connecting a hospital ship arriving on the shoreline of a major city.

Ed Morche, CenturyLinks President of Enterprise And Government Markets

When the military reached out to us about providing dockside connectivity to the USNS Mercy with two days notice before it arrived in Los Angeles, we quickly put our network expertise to work to make it happen, said Ed Morche, CenturyLinks President of Enterprise And Government Markets.

We are focused on solving complex customer problems and combining that know-how with our commitment to always doing the right thing. We are honored to be able to donate our time and services to support our nations military and healthcare professionals during these trying times. We choose to serve those who serve.

In related news, Apple and Google have new sites dedicated to Coronavirus information and today Google donated $800 million to the cause.

In addition, Replicant.ai has a voice AI chatbot which can help field call center inquiries since physical call centers have closed. CafeX is giving you free time on its new Challo service and Uplevel Systems is giving free VPN access.
The City of Winnipeg could soon declare a state of emergency and offer residents some financial relief, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg could soon declare a state of emergency and offer residents some financial relief, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city will also close playgrounds and cancel event permits as the public health risk continues.

Votes on the emergency declaration and support for those paying property or business taxes are now slated to take place at a special council meeting April 3.

"Declaring a state of local emergency would provide the necessary tools for the city to protect essential services. This declaration, if approved by council, would allow the city to crack down on price gouging for vital supplies, potentially allow the city to use private buildings, such as hotels, to house vulnerable people and restrict access to areas of the city that may be contaminated," Mayor Brian Bowman said Friday.

The mayors office said vulnerable people could include those who are homeless, as well as those with physical or mental disabilities and/or mental health concerns.

While he doesnt expect the extra powers are needed yet, Bowman said declaring a state of emergency next week would allow the city to quickly respond to urgent issues as they arise.

"I want to make sure that the public service has the tools that they need in real time going forward," the mayor said.

For example, a state of emergency would allow the city to impose set prices for certain products to combat price gouging, said Jason Shaw, assistant chief of emergency management.

"The city just wants to be prepared to be able to take any action required to protect its citizens and the essential services," said Shaw.

The mayor said its not yet known if council will vote on a move that would defer business and property taxes for 90 days past the current deadlines, which are set for May 29 and June 30, respectively. The options in an upcoming public service report could also offer a different form of financial relief, he said.

The votes were just two of several pandemic-related announcements the city made Friday.

The following changes will also take place:

 All city-owned playgrounds and picnic shelters will close indefinitely, starting Saturday. The parks themselves will remain open.

 All street permits for special events and festivals will be suspended through June 30.

 The city will add downtown and Exchange District "curbside pick-up locations" that offer 15 minutes of free parking to let customers pick up food and products, starting Saturday.

 The city will offer one hour of free parking at all city parking meters.

 The city will redeploy 25 community services staff to help Winnipeg Harvest food bank sort and stock hampers.

The playground closures come after many local school divisions opted to close play structures earlier this week, over concerns the high-touch areas could help spread the novel coronavirus.

The city hasnt set a fine for those who use closed playground structures, and will begin to implement the change by posting signs that state the new rules.

Options to enforce the change and block access to play structures with tape or fences will be considered, if required, Shaw said.

"We will be looking at potential enforcement measures, in terms of what that looks like, but I think its more about communication at this point," he said.

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Shaw said the permit suspensions reflect his expectation social-distancing recommendations may remain in place for a long time to come.

"We know that were in this as a city and a province, to potentially be social distancing for many weeks and into months," he said.

The mayor also offered condolences to the family and friends of the first Winnipegger to die from COVID-19, a woman in her 60s. Bowman said the death, which was reported Friday, highlights the serious nature of the pandemic.

"The tragic news of this loss is a stark reminder of the seriousness of the global pandemic that were facing together. It reinforces for me how essential it is for all of us as Winnipeggers to diligently follow the direction of our health-care and our emergency professionals," he said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
(Newser)  The "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") prayer recited by the pope is typically only offered on three occasions: on Christmas, on Easter, and when a new pontiff is chosen. On Friday, however, Pope Francis climbed the steps of St. Peter's Basilica in a rainy Vatican City and delivered the rare blessing to an empty St. Peter's Square, praying for an end to the coronavirus pandemic that's sweeping the globe. AFP says the pontiff's address, with no live audience, was a "historic first," with people watching from around the world on TV and social media, as well as listening in on the radio. "Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by," he noted, comparing the virus to a "tempest" and imploring the world to stick together to fight it.

story continues below

"We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us now called to row together," he continued from under the canopy that had been set up to keep him safe from the elements, per the AP. The pope also offered praise for the "ordinary" and "forgotten" people who've been helping the world get through the pandemic, including "doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, cleaners, caregivers, providers of transport, law-and-order forces, volunteers," and members of the clergy. The pope himself had reportedly been tested for the virus at the beginning of March and come up negative. Per Italian media, he may have been tested again (with another reported negative result) after a prelate who lived in a guesthouse in the Vatican was said to have been hospitalized Wednesday with COVID-19, AFP reports. (Read more Pope Francis stories.)
Amid the ongoing pan-India Coronavirus lockdown, former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, on Saturday wrote to the new CM Shivraj Chouhan asking a quick economic relief package to the farmers who are facing crop damages due to unseasonal rains, hailstorm and the ongoing Coronavirus spread. He suggested that the farmers be given Rs 7500 per head immediately so as to offset their losses. Currently, Madhya Pradesh has 30 positive cases and 2 deaths.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India enters Day 4 of lockdown; active cases soar to 775

Kamal Nath writes to Shivraj Chouhan on farm relief

MHA instructs states to provide food, shelter to stranded migrant workers amid lockdown

Chouhan takes oath as CM

On March 23, a day before the nationwide lockdown was announced, BJP MP chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan took oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh at Raj Bhavan for the fourth time. Chouhan said that his only goal was to stop coronavirus, inspite of hosting a public meeting where all BJP MLAs were seen celebrating, garlanding Chouhan, hugging him, feeding sweets and raising joined hands. BJP came back into power after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party along with 22 MLAs, reducing the Congress to a minority government with 92 MLAs.

MASSIVE: Indian scientists reveal first microscopic image of Coronavirus from 1st patient

Coronavirus crisis in India

As of date, 873 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 78 have been discharged and Maharashtra reporting the highest at 180. 19 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and the Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 25 March to April 15.

Shivraj Chouhan takes oath 4th time as Madhya Pradesh CM; Kamal Nath attends ceremony

India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with states declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. All domestic airplanes and trains have ceased operation. Visit the official government site here: MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Some mixed winter precipitation possible early. Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low around 25F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Some mixed winter precipitation possible early. Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low around 25F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
They are about 180 candidates. We arrested them all over the country. We are harmonising the list and following up on it to ensure that all of them are arraigned, he said.
North Korea is preparing to redeploy migrant workers to Russia to reestablish a much-needed source of foreign cash that had been put on hold due to concerns over the coronavirus crisis.

Sources in Vladivostok tell RFAs Korean Service that North Korean authorities are drawing up plans to send the workers back, which would defy sanctions put in place by the UN to deprive Pyongyang of funds that could be channeled into its nuclear and missile programs.

The North Koreans who withdrew last year because of [sanctions] are preparing to enter Russia again, a Russian citizen of Korean-descent from Vladivostok told RFA on Wednesday.

We expect that they will be dispatched as trainees and tourists, the source said.

The sanctions mandated that migrant workers return to North Korea by Dec. 22 last year. In addition, countries cannot issue new work visas for North Koreans, but admitting workers on trainee or tourist visas allows Russia to claim it is not in violation of the sanctions.

Last week, a senior official from the North Korean diplomatic office, someone Ive known for a long time, asked me to look for a local company [in need of] North Korean labor, the source said.

[North Korea] might send us workers starting in May, so he asked me to look for jobs for them in construction, processing, manufacturing and agriculture, the source added.

North Korea had been planning to send workers back to Russia earlier, but the coronavirus pandemic derailed that possibility.

Most of the North Korean workers in Russia that left in December said they would return in the spring. This didnt happen because of the unexpected coronavirus situation, said the source.

To date, Russia has reported slightly more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus, while North Korea has yet to report a single case.

Experts believe it is very unlikely that the virus has not taken hold because Pyongyang has taken extensive measures to prevent its spread, including the quarantine of entire counties and the cancellation of major public events.

But the risks presented by the epidemic do not seem to be a major concern for North Korea or the companies in Russia that wish to hire its manpower.

In fact, most Russian companies cant wait to hire North Koreans. They prefer them because they make better workers and have more skills than Central Asians coming from places like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and their labor costs are lower, the source said.

Another Russian of Korean decent in Vladivostok told RFA Thursday, North Korean restaurants here in Vladivostok are currently open.

The restaurants were once booming businesses in Asia and the Russian Far East, known more for their female entertainer-waitresses than the cuisine they serve. In recent times the restaurants were seeing tough times as the novelty has worn off and sanctions de-legitimized their workforces.

The workers are expected to come back soon. In a little while there will be so many North Koreans here, the second source said.

I heard from a manager at one of the restaurants in Vladivostok that theyll be dispatched soon. He claimed that they are now in preparations in Pyongyang and will begin arriving in May, the second source added.

The second source said that the migrants will use education, training and tourist visas, and each have terms that the workers would need to satisfy to be deemed legitimate.

The three-month tourist visa or the one-year training visa cost more because the workers must travel in and out of North Korea often to keep them valid, said the second source.

This is why most of the North Koreans can only work in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, because those cities are connected to North Korea by train, the second source said.

But the coronavirus situation might delay the migrants return.

It is doubtful that the North Korean workers can return in May, with the coronavirus situation ongoing, the second source said.

Russian restaurants have stopped operations and most factories and construction sites are temporarily closed, the second source added.

North Korea is facing a foreign currency crisis because of the sanctions and the coronavirus, but it is rushing to dispatch its workers anyway. It remains to be seen if theyll really be back in May.

RFA asked the UN Sanctions Committee about this issue, but has not received any response as of Friday evening.

Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Abbott Laboratories says it has received emergency authorization from the FDA to produce portable novel coronavirus tests, which the company indicates can detect the virus within five minutes and will be available starting next week.

Why it matters, via Axios' Sam Baker: The U.S. doesn't have the capacity to do enough COVID-19 testing right now, and the tests that are available can take a week to produce results. Closing both of those gaps will be key to getting the virus under control.

Details: Abbott Laboratories says it is working with the Trump administration to deliver portable test kits to "areas where they can have the greatest impact"  likely virus hotspots such as New York, New Jersey and California.

The medical-device company plans to deliver 50,000 tests daily beginning April 1, per John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott, Bloomberg reports.

What they're saying: "The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus," Abbott president and COO Robert Ford said in a press release on Friday.

"With rapid testing on ID NOW, healthcare providers can perform molecular point-of-care testing outside the traditional four walls of a hospital in outbreak hotspots."

Go deeper: What the U.S. can learn from other countries in the coronavirus fight
Representative image

Indian airlines are currently in "grave and immediate danger" of insolvency as a result of disruption in air travel due to the coronavirus pandemic that can reduce about 5.75 lakh jobs in the Indian aviation industry, global airlines body IATA has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a letter to the PM dated March 24, Alexandre De Juniac, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said, "IATA estimates that COVID-19 could result in a 9 per cent loss in passenger volumes and US$2.1 billion loss in passenger base revenues for the air transport market in India in 2020".

India is currently under a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of coronavirus. Therefore, all domestic and international commercial flights have been suspended during this period.

"The disruptions in air travel from COVID-19 could reduce about 575,000 jobs and US$3.2 billion in GDP supported by the air transport industry in India," Juniac said in the letter.

IATA has around 300 airlines as its members, comprising around 82 per cent air traffic globally.

"Unless government action is taken now, the post-pandemic economic recovery in India would be seriously impeded," Juniac stated in the letter, which has been accessed by PTI.

Various Indian airlines have already announced their cost-cutting measures as there has been a drastic fall in revenues due to the virus outbreak.

IndiGo has announced that its senior employees would be taking a pay cut of up to 25 per cent. GoAir has laid off its expat pilots, introduced leave without pay for employees on a rotational basis, and announced a pay cut for all employees. Vistara stated on Thursday that its senior employees would go on compulsory leave without pay for up to three days.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, India's air transport industry's economic contribution was estimated at US$35 billion, supporting 6.2 million jobs and contributing 1.5 per cent to GDP in India, the IATA DG said.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the "destruction" of air travel demand on an "unprecedented" scale, Juniac said.

"India's scheduled carriers are currently in grave and immediate danger of insolvency. A cessation of operations would trigger a host of serious consequences. The contributions that the airline industry makes to the economy of India will be wiped out if the airline industry collapses," Juniac stated.

At stake is not merely the survival of the airlines and related industries, but whether a "safe, efficient, and viable commercial aviation system" will be available to contribute to the post-COVID-19 restoration and recovery of trade, travel, and indeed the economy of India itself, Juniac noted in the letter.

More than 720 people have been infected and 17 people have died due to novel coronavirus in India as on Friday, according to the Union health ministry.
UPDATE (3/29): Monroe County is a coronavirus hot zone; Pa.'s COVID-19 cases climb by 634 cases with 4 new deaths

Two more people in the Lehigh Valley have died from the coronavirus, Pennsylvania officials said Saturday in reporting 12 total additional deaths and 533 new positive cases statewide.

Lehigh and Northampton counties each reported a single new death, bringing the areas total to 7.

The states total death toll is at 34, with Montgomery and Philadelphia counties at the top with 5 deaths each, according to the latest figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Most of those who have died have been patients ages 65 or older, state Health Secretary Rachel Levine said. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

Pennsylvania now has 2,751 total coronavirus cases in 56 counties. Philadelphia has the most positive cases at 709, followed by Montgomery County with 411.

Lehigh County has 109 cases and Northampton County has 94 as of Saturday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced Saturday it will share basic information and statistics about the status of COVID-19 in the state prison system at cor.pa.gov. The department says no inmate has tested positive for coronavirus.

Every inmate who meets criteria for testing will be tested, state Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said in a news release. Testing capacity is not an issue."

In terms of total cases statewide, of those who have tested positive, 39 percent are between the ages of 25 and 49, representing the largest age group of positives, followed by 28 percent who are between the ages of 50 and 64. People ages 65 and older comprise the largest portion of those hospitalized, at 49%, followed by those ages 50-64 (27%) and ages 25-49 (20%).

Officials also announced Saturday that Gov. Tom Wolf expanded his stay-at-home orders to include Beaver, Centre and Washington counties, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday and running through April 6. The rules now apply to 22 counties, including the Lehigh Valley.

Health officials say that because of the coronavirus ability to stay dormant up to two weeks, they expect to see more cases in the coming weeks and urge residents to stay home as much as possible. By decreasing risks of exposure or transmission, hospitals will better be able to handle patients without becoming overwhelmed.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Abby Titcomb, head distiller for 3 Floyds in Munster, says the distillery also has switched production to hand sanitizer and is readying its first batches. The hand sanitizer is destined for first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. Like Fanning, Titcomb said plastic bottles are hard to come by and badly needed so the distillery can distribute the hand sanitizer to those who need it.
Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Deutsche Lufthansa (ETR:LHA) share price has dived 31% in the last thirty days. Indeed the recent decline has arguably caused some bitterness for shareholders who have held through the 54% drop over twelve months.

Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth.

Check out our latest analysis for Deutsche Lufthansa

Does Deutsche Lufthansa Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

Deutsche Lufthansa's P/E of 3.55 indicates relatively low sentiment towards the stock. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (5.6) for companies in the airlines industry is higher than Deutsche Lufthansa's P/E.

XTRA:LHA Price Estimation Relative to Market March 28th 2020

Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that Deutsche Lufthansa shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitor director buying and selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Companies that shrink earnings per share quickly will rapidly decrease the 'E' in the equation. Therefore, even if you pay a low multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become higher in the future. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

Story continues

Deutsche Lufthansa saw earnings per share decrease by 44% last year. But it has grown its earnings per share by 85% per year over the last five years. And over the longer term (3 years) earnings per share have decreased 13% annually. This could justify a low P/E.

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings.

Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context.

Is Debt Impacting Deutsche Lufthansa's P/E?

Deutsche Lufthansa has net debt worth 88% of its market capitalization. If you want to compare its P/E ratio to other companies, you should absolutely keep in mind it has significant borrowings.

The Bottom Line On Deutsche Lufthansa's P/E Ratio

Deutsche Lufthansa's P/E is 3.5 which is below average (16.5) in the DE market. The P/E reflects market pessimism that probably arises from the lack of recent EPS growth, paired with significant leverage. Given Deutsche Lufthansa's P/E ratio has declined from 5.1 to 3.5 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer invest in growth, this stock apparently offers limited promise, but the deep value investors may find the pessimism around this stock enticing.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Deutsche Lufthansa. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
MUMBAI: Private airline SpiceJet has offered to fly people going back to Bihar from Delhi and Mumbai due to the 21-day lockdown announced by the Prime Minister to combat the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued by the airline, its CMD Ajay Singh said that SpiceJet is ready to offer the services of its aircraft and crew members to the government for any humanitarian mission during the 21-day lockdown and the airline is ready to operate some flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Patna to alleviate the suffering of migrant workers, especially those from Bihar.

While domestic and international passenger flights have been banned till April 14 midnight, IndiGo and GoAir have also offered their aircraft and crew and staff members to the government for any mission required to contain the spread of coronavirus.

"We have offered our aircraft and crew for any humanitarian mission that the government needs us to fly. We are already flying food, medicines and medical equipment for government every day (on our freighter aircraft)," the SpiceJet CMD CMD said.

"We would like to alleviate the suffering of the migrant workers, especially those from Bihar, by flying some flights between Delhi/Mumbai and Patna," he added.

PM Narendra Modi had on Tuesday imposed a 21-day lockdown, which came into force on Wednesday, to check the spread of the deadly virus which has claimed at least 19 lives and infected over 700 people so far in India

Currently, while there is a ban on international and domestic passenger flights in the country, all-cargo flights and flights specifically approved by the DGCA can operate as usual, according to the aviation regulator.
A suspected mugger sprayed deodorant into a woman's face before assaulting her as he tried to snatch her bag, then fled on a Dublin bus, it is alleged.

A court heard homeless drug user Colin Larkin (28) had been unable to make money from begging in the city centre anymore because of the reduced footfall due to the coronavirus crisis and became sick and "desperate".

Judge John Cheatle refused to grant him bail at Dublin District Court and remanded him in custody for a week.

Mr Larkin, with an address at a city centre hostel, is charged with attempting to rob a woman at Nassau Street on Tuesday, March 24. He has not yet indicated how he intends to plead to the charge.

Objecting to bail, Garda Caroline Thornton cited the seriousness of the allegations and the strength of the proposed evidence.

She said it was alleged the accused approached the woman as she was walking on Nassau Street and sprayed deodorant in her face to restrict her vision as he attempted to steal her handbag.

It was alleged he pulled at it and hit her on the arms and legs in an attempt to get it.

The prosecution would also say Mr Larkin pushed the alleged victim to the ground.

Bus

A number of members of the public who saw what happened came to her assistance and the alleged assailant left the scene empty-handed, Gda Thornton added. The woman had marks on her arms and was visibly shaken.

Around five people saw the accused allegedly assault the woman while attempting to steal her bag and two of them followed him to St Stephen's Green while keeping in phone contact with the other passers-by, the court heard.

It was alleged the accused boarded a 46a bus which was stopped by gardai at Leeson Street, Gda Thornton said.

The two people who had followed him identified him, and when searched, he was found in possession of a number of aerosol cans.

Mr Larkin made certain admissions in interview.

Gda Thornton said the accused was an unemployed heroin user who funded his drug habit from begging.

Footfall in the city centre had dramatically decreased, the accused was unable to beg and had told gardai he would be suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor John Shanley said it was an unusual set of circumstances and Mr Larkin could be in custody for up to two years awaiting trial if he was refused bail.

The garda said her concerns would not be alleviated by bail conditions.

Refusing bail, Judge Cheatle adjourned the case to April 1.
Editors note: This post includes updates related to COVID-19 and its effects on Albuquerque and the rest of the state.

PICTURES





UPDATES

8:00 p.m.

UNM students can opt out of letter grades

About 98% of University of New Mexico courses are ready to be done remotely, and students will be able to opt out of letter grades  and either pass or fail each class  for the rest of the school year.

On the health sciences side of campus, leaders meet daily to talk about the virus, and the hospital has postponed hundreds of elective procedures to free up capacity in case it has a surge of COVID-19 patients.

UNM leaders held a virtual town hall Friday afternoon during which they talked about the various ways that the coronavirus pandemic has affected UNM, and how the school has responded. That made for a wide-ranging conversation for an institution that includes the states flagship university and only Level 1 trauma center.

For academics, UNM has already announced that coursework would be done remotely for the rest of the semester and commencement would be postponed. Provost James Holloway said nearly all coursework is set up for remote instruction, and the school launched programs to lend students laptop computers and provide them with grants for internet access.

Read more >>

 Ryan Boetel

3:42 p.m.

17 new COVID-19 cases, 2nd death reported in NM

The state reported 17 additional cases of COVID-19 and a second death on Saturday as dozens have reportedly recovered from the virus.

Nora Meyers Sackett, a spokeswoman for the governors office, said a Bernalillo County man in his 80s died Friday after being hospitalized for the virus.

She said the man had multiple chronic underlying health conditions.

There are now a total of 208 cases of the novel coronavirus statewide.

Of the new cases, 11 were in Bernalillo County, three in Chaves County and one each in Dona Ana, Eddy and San Juan counties. There are currently 19 people hospitalized for the virus across the state.

This number may include individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 out of state but are currently hospitalized in New Mexico. Meyers Sackett said.

She also said that, so far, 26 people have recovered from COVID-19.

Friday saw the states largest spike in cases with 55 being reported, a 40% jump, and hospitalized patients increasing from 13 to 17.

 Matt Reisen

11:19 a.m.

2 deaths as Navajo Nation virus cases jump to 92

As the number of Navajo Nation cases of COVID-19 increased by nearly 30% Friday, tribal health officials announced two deaths related to the virus.

There was no information provided about the people who died, but they are the first since the virus was reported on the reservation on March 17.

Since then, the number of people infected has skyrocketed to 92, with the most recent 21 cases announced by the Navajo Nation presidents office Friday night.

Our condolences and prayers go out to the families of the two individuals who have passed on, President Jonathan Nez wrote in a release. We also pray for all of those who are fighting to recover from the virus.

The Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, has about 350,000 members. While not all of them live on the reservation, the number of reported cases brings the rate of infection to more than 26 per 100,000 members.

This is nearly three times New Mexicos rate of infection, which has 191 cases in a reported population of a little more than 2 million.

Seventy three of the Navajo cases are on the Arizona side of the reservation, while 17 are in New Mexico and two in Utah.

Residents on the reservation were told to stay at home more than a week ago in an emergency order on March 20.

Nez continues to ask people to follow the order.

Our public safety officers are needed in our communities every day, and we dont want to have to take them away from those duties to force people to stay home  we dont have to go to that extent if people simply listen to the health care experts, he wrote in the release.

The Navajo Health Command Operations Center can be reached at (928) 871-7014.

 Robert Browman

10:20 a.m.

Access to technology varies across school districts

As schools work on uprooting the way they teach children due to school closures, shifting to exclusively online instruction isnt a reality for many New Mexican districts.

Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart announced Friday that statewide school closures will be extended for the rest of the current academic year, due to rising coronavirus infection rates. But students will still be taught without in-person instruction  an effort that will look different depending on where children go to school.

The PED is not requiring districts to use a wholly virtual learning model. Stewart said districts and charters will be creating plans to continue learning and those plans will address how instruction will get to students  physically, digitally or both.

Accessibility is a big hurdle districts face, because not all students have access to the internet or to computers. There are also logistics to iron out with printed lessons, such as making sure all students obtain the resources.

Read more >>

 Shelby Perea, Kyle Land

9:12 a.m

State pension funds take billion-dollar hits

New Mexicos two large public retirement systems have already taken billion-dollar hits from a steep market downturn caused by actions taken in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the leaders of both pension funds say investment portfolio changes made in recent years have positioned the funds to ride out the storm  however long it lasts  and keep paying out benefits to retirees.

Weve lost money  every investor has  but we could have lost a lot more money if we hadnt taken a more defensive position, said Wayne Propst, executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association.

He said the retirement funds value has dropped from about $16 billion in January to about $14 billion as of this week, though the market is fluctuating daily.

But only about 35% of the pension fund is invested in equities, with the rest in bonds, alternative investments and a healthy amount kept available in cash.

Read more >>

 Dan Boyd

8:14 a.m.

Virus puts nonemergency health care on hold

If you need to see your primary care physician, his or her office should be up and running.

But if you were scheduled to have your teeth cleaned, your eyes checked, your spine adjusted, cataracts removed or were gearing up for a routine colonoscopy, youre going to have to wait.

Many medical providers ranging from dentists to eye surgeons to chiropractors have been restricting their practices for the past three weeks in an attempt to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus.

In some cases, certain procedures are banned for the next three months  unless delay would seriously affect the patients health  under an order issued Wednesday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham designed to conserve supplies of protective gear.

Some providers have closed completely, while others have restricted clients to emergencies only.

Read more >>

 Mike Gallagher

7:25 a.m.

Seeking normalcy

Though a spreading coronavirus has turned the world upside down, leading to business closures and stay-at-home orders, a bike ride in the bosque or a jog in the foothills is still, well, the same as its always been.

And it appears many residents are flocking to the great outdoors for a sense of normalcy. Trailheads in Albuquerque the past two weeks appear to be drawing large numbers of people.

Everyone is keeping social distance, and you dont see people in groups of five or more. But there are just tons of people, said Glenn Maxwell, a retired Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputy who was getting set for a bike ride on the Paseo del Bosque Trail from the Alameda Open Space parking lot Wednesday afternoon. Theyve got to get out and feel normal about something.

Read more >>

 Ryan Boetel

6:05 a.m.

City, shelter, adjusting ways to care for homeless due to COVID-19

A little more than two weeks after the state began seriously grappling with the spread of COVID-19, city officials say theyve identified at least one homeless person who has tested positive for the virus.

Lisa Huval, the deputy director of the citys housing and homelessness efforts, said she was told Friday evening that medical staff were transporting someone to the Westside Emergency Housing Center to stay in isolation. She said she doesnt know anything about where the person came from or who else the individual might have had contact with prior to being isolated.

The positive test comes as advocates tweak their procedures for minimizing the risk of spreading the virus among the homeless population.

Huval said the city and Heading Home  the nonprofit that runs the Westside Emergency Housing Center  initially hoped to be able to screen everyone before they were bused 20 miles out to the facility.

But it turned out there werent enough Medical Reserve Corp. volunteers or thermometers to do so.

Read more >>

 Elise Kaplan

6:05 a.m.

Health care leaders in NM to address COVID-19 readiness

New Mexico has taken bold steps in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools are closed. Many business have been shut down as nonessential. Court hearings are being done by video. Nonessential surgical procedures have been banned to conserve medical supplies and equipment. Dental offices, eye doctors and others will see only those patients with an emergency. Hospitals have been gearing up for an anticipated surge in patients.

People want accurate information from authoritative sources.

In an effort to provide that information about the health care system at this time, some of the top leaders of New Mexicos medical establishment have agreed to a 90-minute, livestream panel interview on Wednesday. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m.

Panelists will include Dr. David Scrase, secretary of the state Human Services Department; Dale Maxwell, president and CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare Services; Dr. Paul Roth, chancellor for Health Sciences and CEO of the UNM Health System; and Ron Stern, president and CEO of Lovelace Health System.

Journal Senior Editor Kent Walz will moderate.

The session will stream live on ABQJournal.com.

The Journal is inviting readers to submit questions that could be asked of our panel. Please limit them to general policy issues and do not include any specific cases or individuals. If you would like to submit a question for consideration, please send it to newsroom@abqjournal.com.
THE government has called upon Tanzanians to do away with the mentality that COVID-19 is a disease that affects white people, and instead every person should take necessary precautionary measures against the spread of the deadly virus.

Speaking to Community Development (CDOs) and Social Welfare (SWOs) officers from Dar es Salaam region in the city yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MCDGC), Mr John Jingu said the presence of 13 confirmed cases in the country proves that the disease can attack anybody irrespective of race.

He said CDOs and SWOs are duty bound to sensitise the public on the symptoms of the viral disease, insisting that the public should be left to proceed with daily activities.

The entire world is on the battle field, and any person can be infected; the most important thing is taking needed precautions against the virus.

He noted that guidelines and instructions provided by the government are the ones to be followed.

There are things that are prohibited in other countries, but not in Tanzania. As public servants we should not go and prohibit them to the society, rather we should help our citizens take serious protective measures as they go on with their normal routines. Generally the nation is safe, however, we should not relax but continue adding more efforts to make sure the country continues to remain safe, and the main weapon for this war is education, he asserted.

He said CDOs and SWOs are experts in providing awareness and changing the mindsets of the community, therefore winning the battle needs people to stop some of their practices, like handshakes and hugs.

He stressed that this needs minor yet important protocols that need change, especially social distancing and maintaining cleanliness.

He said the work needs to be done beyond employee mentality, adding that it needs team work and is a multiple obligatory.

Public Health Emergencies Risk Communication (MCDGC) Officer, Dr Tumaini Haonga insisted that this is the time to put more efforts and focus on protective measures against the virus before it hits local transmission.

The disease has ripple effects, especially in the social and economy aspects of the nation. CDOs and SWOs need to put more effort to ensure it is restricted, he said.
People wearing masks and latex gloves have been escorted from the airport to a bus then to a hotel as Victoria enforces strict quarantine rules on international arrivals to stop the spread of COVID-19.

A heavy police and security presence flanked the entry to the Crown Promenade hotel on Sunday morning following the introduction of the new restrictions that kicked in at midnight.

All international arrivals were transported from Melbourne Airport directly to the city.

Australians returning from overseas are being bussed from the airport to the Crown Promenade hotel in Southbank where they will spend 14 days of forced isolation in a bid to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases. Credit:Penny Stephens

After stepping off the bus with baggage in tow, check-in procedures began at the hotels front desk, with gloved staff taking details and distributing room keys.
Dehradun: Dehradun district administration has allowed all restaurants in the city to keep their kitchens open for take away and food deliveries from Saturday amid 21-day nationwide lockdown. The vehicles of people rendering and availing essential services will not be stopped.

"Restaurants in Dehradun can keep their kitchens open for take away/food deliveries from today, amid coronavirus lockdown. Also, vehicles of people rendering/availing essential services will not be stopped," said Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Kumar Srivastava .

On Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had said that the state is in the first stage of COVID-19."The situation is being continuously monitored and as of now Uttarakhand is in the first stage but we are taking precautions," Rawat said.

The Chief Minister had held a meeting with Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Premchandra Agarwal, among others, on the situation.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 748, including 67 cured, discharged and migrated cases and 19 deaths, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- The University of Michigan Health System will now accept 3-D printed face shields as part of its personal protection equipment donation drive to prepare for a potential surge of coronavirus cases, officials announced Thursday.

Michigan Medicine began accepting most new and unused personal protection equipment, or PPEs, Saturday, March 21 to prepare for the rising number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Face shields can be made with a 3-D printer, so long as the shield portion is at least 9.5-inches in length. The hospital asks anyone interested to contact ppe-donations@umich.edu to indicate interest before printing.

Heres where you can drop off gear to help Ann Arbor hospitals fight coronavirus

According to Michigan Medicine, the health system has received the following since the drive began from Saturday to Thursday:

24,992 masks

1,276 face shields

7,223 shoe covers and Bouffant caps

1,390 boxes of gloves, totaling more than 139,000 gloves!

480 lab coats

Innumerable boxes of hand sanitizer

The drive continues each weekday from noon until 5 p.m., and Saturday, March 28. The collection location is at the N90 loading dock near the North Campus Research Complex dining hall in Building 18, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor.

Michigan Medicine is treating 69 patients for COVID-19, according to data released by the hospital Friday afternoon. There are more than 150 confirmed cases of the disease in Washtenaw County residents as of Friday. The death toll in county residents remains at 3.

Theres now more than 150 reported cases of COVID-19 in Washtenaw County

St. Joseph Mercy Health System is also accepting personal protection equipment for its healthcare workers at the following locations:
WEST DEER, Pa. (AP)  A fast-moving fire roared through a western Pennsylvania home, killing a 14-year old girl and her dog, authorities said.

Emergency responders went to the home in West Deer, Allegheny County, around 9:15 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters tried to enter the residence to reach the girl, identified as Dayanna Joy Shafer, but were forced back by the intense heat and flames before part of the home collapsed, authorities said.

It wasnt clear if anyone else was in the home when the fire broke out, but no other injuries were reported.

Her aunt Jackie Hutz said Shaffer was an often quiet 14-year-old girl who spent the last two years playing flute in the marching band at Deer Lakes Middle School, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. She also enjoyed hunting.

She was with her six-year-old puppy, a dachsund named Nessie, who she adored, her aunt told the Post-Gazette. The dog did not survive.

After realizing the house was on fire, Shaffer called 911 at about 9:15 a.m. Thursday and remained on with a dispatcher until the line went dead, West Deer police Chief Jon Lape told the Post-Gazette.

Two firefighters were injured, one with burns to his face and hand, the other suffering an eye injury, the Post-Gazette reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
SHIMLA: With an indefinite curfew in place, scores of migrant workers from Kashmir are stranded in Himachal Pradesh where they work as porters. Though the government has ordered the district administrations to ensure that migrant workers get essential supplies, the porters or Kashmir Khans in local parlance, are keen to return home even if it means trudging back on foot.

The Khans from Kashmir have been carrying Shimlas economy on their back literally, delivering heavy loads to the localities that are inaccessible by road.

There are nearly 8,000 Kashmir Khans registered with the police.

ADVISORY BUT NOWHERE TO GO

Due to the lockdown, we cannot do anything. There is no work for us here. The government should make arrangements to send us back home, says Abdul Majid, who along with other Kashmiri porters, stays in Shimlas Jama Masjid.

The imam of the masjid has been telling us not to crowd this place, but we have nowhere to go,said another Kashmiri porter.

Rajesh Balli, the president of the local Waqf Board, said, There is a government advisory not to let people crowd the mosque in times of social distancing to check the spread of coronavirus but its difficult to relocate the Kashmiri porters at this time. They have no other shelter.

STRANDED, ABANDONED

There are 40 Kashmir labourers stranded in Chopal from where they have been making repeated calls to the local administration, urging it to make arrangements for their food and stay.

For the past three days, we are just stuck in in our shanties. The locals dont want us to be out amid the coronavirus outbreak. Its a desperate situation, said Sherab Khan.

At this hour, all we want is to be back with our family. If the administration allows us, we can walk back home, he said.

Twenty-eight Kashmiri labourers are stranded in Arki. The local contractors have simply abandoned us at this critical juncture. Where do we go? said Chander Prakash, a labourer from Kashmir.
The mortal remains of Beni Prasad Verma, a founding member of the Samajwadi Party and former Union minister, were cremated here in the presence of family members and admirers.

His son Rakesh Verma lit the funeral pyre.

Social distancing was ensured at the cremation which took place on the grounds of Mohanlal Degree College established by the late socialist leader.

Beni Prasad Verma, who was considered close to SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, passed away on Friday. He was 80.

The Rajya Sabha MP was not well for the past few days. He was admitted to a private hospital in Lucknow, where he died around 7 pm, his son Rakesh Verma told PTI yesterday.

Verma was the telecom minister between 1996-1998 in then prime minister H D Deve Gowda's cabinet and was the steel minister in the Congress-led UPA government.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav had reached the hospital after Verma's demise. Verma is survived by three sons and two daughters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Doctors and nurses are ramping up calls for increased COVID-19 testing for healthcare workers and access to protective equipment after a deadly outbreak in a Melbourne hospital ward brought home the danger of allowing the coronavirus to spread to patients from clinicians.

Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone said news that two cancer patients had died of COVID-19 on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at The Alfred hospital was "really sad" and underscored the need for increased tests, social distancing and personal protective equipment.

Healthcare workers are worried about a scarcity of protective gear as they battle the coronavirus. Credit:Jason South

"Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are in the front line and are really subject to the risks," Dr Bartone said.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Annie Butler said the lack of personal protective equipment was "a massive issue" and that health authorities must ensure that guidelines for the use of PPE were based on the best international evidence.
A Woodland Park boy with a history of giving has used his philanthropy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jayden Perez, 11, and his family donated over 1,000 hand sanitizer sprays to the borough school district, fire department, police department and library as concerns around the spread of COVID-19 grew.

"Jayden is the heart and soul of our community," Mayor Kieth Keith Kazmark said.

"The idea came to Jayden as coronavirus spread in New Jersey," said his mother, Ana Rosado.

"He was concerned that some students didn't have sanitizer because they were selling out everywhere," Rosado said.

Jayden Perez, 11, of Woodland Park is donating 1,000 spray sanitizers to the borough school district amid coronavirus concerns.

Rosado said she and Jayden got lucky and were able to order hand sanitizer spray in bulk towards the end of February. New Jersey's first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 was announced on March 4.

Jayden donated 50 hand sanitizer sprays to the library, 50 more to the fire department and another 50 sprays to the police department. The rest went to anyone who needs one.

"You know what, he spreads kindness. That's what we do. And it's a crisis right now," said Rosado.

Jayden and his family have a history of giving back. He even has his own nonprofit called "From the Bottom of my Heart." He says he truly does everything from the heart.

"All kids, we should all come together. People, we should come together in a crisis like this, and we should all help one another with this crisis because some people, they can't even find simple things that they need, like milk, eggs, cheese. So with this crisis, just be there to help one another," advises Jayden.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Boy donates 1,000 hand sanitizers to people in need
Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India, on Saturday said it is ordering advanced diagnostic testing kits for coronavirus infection from South Korea as part of its measures to combat the pandemic.

These advanced kits have a very high level of accuracy and can help serve over 25,000 people, Hyundai Motor India Ltd ( HMIL) said in a statement.

"Post receiving the shipment, the kits will be distributed in consultation with the Centre, and state governments to the hospitals in affected areas," it added.

Commenting on the initiative, HMIL MD & CEO SS Kim said, As part of our global direction - Progress for Humanity', Hyundai is committed to supporting the Government of India's spirited fight against the COVID-19 crisis."



He further said, "Our contribution towards supplies of Advanced Diagnostic testing kits will help over 25,000 people.

The company continues to monitor the situation closely and support the Indian government with multi-layered CSR initiatives to bring back normalcy at the earliest, he added.

Hyundai has also announced initiatives to support customers in these challenging times. Its 24X7 roadside assistance will be available for customers to ensure help in case any demanding situation arises, the company said.

Additionally, customers who were unable to avail vehicle's warranty/extended warranty/free service due to health emergency or dealership shutdown in affected cities, HMIL will offer extended support of two months, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Balikatan 2020 Exercise Cancelled Over Coronavirus Concerns

By Carla Babb March 27, 2020

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has canceled Exercise Balikatan 2020 over concerns of the coronavirus spread.

Balikatan is an annual military exercise between the Philippines and the U.S. in which Australia also participates.

In a statement on Friday, the command said that made the decision "due to concerns for the health and safety of the participating exercise forces and local populations near the planned exercise areas."

The exercise was scheduled to take place in the Philippines May 4-15.

"In light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest of the health and safety of both countries' forces, it is prudent to cancel Balikatan 2020," Adm. Phil Davidson, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said.

The cancellation follows international travel restrictions implemented by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Philippines in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

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US President Donald Trump has signed into law the historic USD 2 trillion rescue package, setting in motion a desperately needed financial relief for millions of Americans and secure the country's economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 1,700 and infected more than 100,000 people across the nation.

Trump signed the bill on Friday just hours after the House passed it in a bipartisan vote.

The far-reaching legislation is the largest emergency aid package in US historyand promises to deliver a tidal wave of cash to individual Americans, businesses and health care facilities all reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Help is on the way," Trump assured his countrymen as he signed the bill in the Oval Office at the White House. The Senate and the House of Representatives earlier passed the Bill.

"We got hit by the invisible enemy and we got hit hard," he said, adding the economy would come roaring back. "I think we are going to have a tremendous rebound," he said.

The legislation among other things gives USD 3,400 for most of the American families of four, and billions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to small and medium businesses, and big corporations like Boeing.

"This is a very important day. I've signed the single biggest economic relief package in the American history and, I must say, any other package by the way. It is twice as large as any relief every signed," the President said.

The magnitude of the package can be seen in the context that India, one of the top five economies of the world, is estimated at USD 3 trillion.

"I never signed anything with a T on it," Trump said.

"I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first," he said.

The first stimulus check is likely to be sent to the Americans in the first week of April.

More than half of the country's 330 million population is now confined in their homes. Major Disaster Declaration has been announced in over a dozen states and a national emergency has been declared.

A record three million people have applied for unemployment, the entire travel and tourism industry have come to a standstill and companies have stopped their operations and only essential services are running in the US.

The United States is now the hotspot of the coronavirus in the world, where according to Worldometer, 104,256 confirmed cases of the contagion have been recorded. a total of 1704 people have died and 2,463 people are in critical condition.

New York, which is the financial capital of the world, accounts for nearly half of the total cases and more than 500 people have died in the Big Apple alone.

According to the White House, Trump is signing bipartisan legislation to provide relief to American families and workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Noting that the CARES Act provides much needed economic relief for American families and businesses who are hurting through no fault of their own, the White House said the legislation will provide assistance to America's heroic healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the outbreak.

USD 100 billion will go to healthcare providers, including hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; and USD 27 billion will go to bolstering life-saving capabilities, including developing vaccines and the development, purchase, and distribution of critical supplies.

USD 45 billion will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, more than doubling the amount available to support the President's Emergency and Disaster Declarations to empower state, local, and tribal leaders to effectively respond.

The legislative package brings security to American families by providing them with economic assistance during the time of crisis. It provides tax free payments treated as a refundable tax credit to Americans, giving families the immediate financial support they need, the White House said.

The novel coronavirus, that first originated in wuhan in December, has wreaked havoc across the globe, upending life and businesses.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, 27,333 people have died due to the disease across over 170 countries. Italy has the highest number of deaths at 9,134, followed by Spain 5,138 and China 3,174.

The United States leads in the number of COVID-19 with 104,007 infections confirmed so far, followed by Italy (86,498) and China (81,906).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Private health insurers are to meet with government next week to ascertain how supporting the public system will impact on more than a million customers.

Last week, the Government announced a framework agreement with private hospitals to bring their capacity into the public system to help deal with the expected influx of patients as a result of Covid-19.

The Government is leading a single national healthcare response managed through the Public Health System.

Health insurers such as Vhi and laya healthcare have been inundated with thousands of phone calls asking whether there would be a moratorium on payments for members and what the national directive means for other health concerns such as emergencies.

Laya healthcare has pleaded with customers to stop phoning them to inquire about what financial measures they are taking to ease costs during the protracted crisis.

Insurance Irelands Interim CEO Gerry Hassett, which is the umbrella representative group for private health companies, said: Private health insurers will work with the government and the private hospitals to play a constructive role in supporting the public system during this crisis. It is understood that the health insurance consultative forum will be meeting shortly to discuss the implementation of these necessary steps.

On Friday night, laya Managing Director Donal Clancy issued a statement to the health insurers 600,000 members committing that they will introduce a financial measure to support them.

Our team are busy at this time answering urgent calls so Id ask you not to call us about the financial support measures were considering  as soon as we have details, well contact you directly and update our website also.

Rest assured, we will look after everyone. No-one will be left behind. We plan to introduce a measure of financial support for all our members on private healthcare schemes in response to the ongoing Covid-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

Before we can commit to the exact details of any measure of financial support, we have some critical details around our claims costs we need to work out carefully.

The governments deal with private hospitals is not yet finalised, we are still paying government stamp duty on premium and claim costs for urgent and non-urgent healthcare including maternity care, cancer and cardiac care amongst others.

Our members are still getting sick with non-Covid-19 related illnesses and injuries and we want to be there for them to provide cover when they need us.

Mr Clancy added: It is understood that the health insurance consultative forum will be meeting shortly to discuss the implementation of these necessary steps.

We just need a little more time to consider the breadth and depth of what we can offer. Theres a lot we still dont know. We need to manage our claims costs in a prudent manner that allows us look after our members healthcare costs into the future and maintain the services theyve come to rely on us for operating as usual.

We will update you as a matter of urgency once details become clearer. We are due to meet with the Department of Health and other government and industry stakeholders next week and will push for more clarity to allow us move quickly to announce details of a financial support package for our members.

A spokesperson for the Vhi, which has more than one million customers, explained that the company is actively considering the matter, and it is still too early to understand the implications of the framework agreement but once we have clarity on the matter we will be in a better position to assess the impact for our customers.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Two people died on Saturday in a clash with communist rebels in Rodriguez, Rizal.

The two casualties are a member of the Philippine Armys Community Support Program team and a member of the New Peoples Army.

Maj. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., commander of the Armys 2nd Infantry Division based in Rizal, condemned the incident as it violated the reciprocal declaration of ceasefire declared between the national government and the communist rebels on March 26.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, NPA, on March 19. The ceasefire will last until April 15.

RELATED: Duterte declares unilateral ceasefire with CPP-NPA to focus on COVID-19 fight

The CPP, through the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, also recommended a ceasefire to heed the United Nations' call for global truce amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

RELATED: Reds concede to UNs call for ceasefire

Concerned citizens alerted the Army troops about the presence of the NPA rebels in Barangay Puray at around 3 p.m. today. .

The two sides engaged in an encounter, resulting to two other soldiers wounded in action. Both are now in stable condition.

Our 18 soldiers were able to repel the planned attack by around 30 terrorists, whom we believe suffered considerable losses as manifested by the heavy bloodstains in the encounter site, said Burgos.

The military recovered the dead body of the NPA rebel, along with with his M16 rifle, hand grenade, rifle grenade and jungle pack.

Despite the attack, Burgos affirmed the militarys commitment to securing the safety of the Filipinos and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

We will remain steadfast in performing our mandate to serve our people and secure this part of our land while committing ourselves to the urgent task of containing the spread of Covid-19. We will adhere to the provisions of the unilateral ceasefire without prejudice to the safety and security of the people in our communities, he said.
As the world continues to battle rising cases of Covid-19, the United Nations Childrens Funds (UNICEF), has called on world leaders, to ensure that lifesaving health interventions and immunisation against other ailments do not suffer major setbacks.

The international organisation said countries can ill-afford to face additional outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

In a statement published on its site on Thursday, UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore said the COVID-19 pandemic is overstretching health services as health workers are diverted to support the response.

She also said the physical distancing policy is leading parents to make difficult decisions on routine immunisation.

Physical distancing is leading parents to make the difficult decision to defer routine immunization, she said. Medical goods are in short supply and supply chains are under historic strain due to transport disruptions.

Flight cancellations and trade restrictions by countries have severely constrained access to essential medicines, including vaccines, she added.

Vaccinations

According to Ms Fore, critical life-saving services like immunizstion will likely be disrupted as the pandemic progresses.

This she said, is at the highest risk of children from poorest families in conflicts affected countries.

As the pandemic progresses, critical life-saving services, including immunisation, will likely be disrupted, especially in Africa, Asia and the Middle East where they are sorely needed.

At the greatest risk are children from the poorest families in countries affected by conflicts and natural disasters.

We are particularly concerned about countries that are battling measles, cholera or polio outbreaks while responding to COVID-19 cases, such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, the Philippines, Syria, and South Sudan.

Not only would such outbreaks tax already stretched health services, they could also lead to additional loss of lives and suffering. At a time like this, these countries can ill-afford to face additional outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The message is clear: We must not allow lifesaving health interventions to fall victim to our efforts to address COVID-19, she said.

Planning ahead

She urged all countries to begin rigorous planning on how to intensify immunisation activities once the COVID -19 pandemic is under control

In the days to come, governments may have to temporarily postpone preventive mass vaccination campaigns in many places to ensure that the delivery of immunisation services does not contribute to COVID-19 spread, and to follow recommendations on physical distancing.

UNICEF strongly recommends that all governments begin rigorous planning now to intensify immunisation activities once the COVID -19 pandemic is under control.

These vaccination activities must focus on children who will miss vaccine doses during this period of interruption and prioritize the poorest and most vulnerable children.

To successfully roll-out vaccines against COVID -19 when they become available, we need to ensure that our immunisation programmes remain robust and can reach those that will need these vaccines the most.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 26, 2020 | 03:11 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY





The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has caused a severe decrease in blood donors, although blood donations are still safe and in constant demand.



In response to the crisis, the Kentucky Blood Center will be taking blood donations from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, at the Lone Oak Fire Department-Station 3, 111 W.B. Ford Dr., Paducah.





"We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the number of people willing to come out and roll up their sleeves to save lives in the face of a national crisis," Martha Osborne, Vice President of Marketing for KBC said. "We know that this type of support must be sustained over the long-term as we continue to provide critically needed blood products to hospitals throughout this pandemic. Our friends at the Lone Oak Fire Department were gracious enough to host a drive to allow our great community supporters to donate during this important time."





In an effort to maintain social distancing in response to the virus, all donors MUST schedule a donation appointment in advance, at the Kentucky Blood Center's link below. Donors who are used to, "dropping in," to give blood should use this method instead for everyone's safety.







Officials ask that all donors bring a photo ID. As a thank you, all donors will be receiving a KBC T-shirt.







Other blood drives have been scheduled across the area. In fact, one was held Thursday at Paducah's Twelve Oaks Baptist Church. If you can't be in Paducah on Saturday, see the most current list for the Tennessee Valley region at RedCrossBlood.org .

The Kentucky Blood Center is hosting a community blood drive today.

On the Net:
Tom Coburn, an ultraconservative Oklahoma Republican and family physician who in 16 years in Congress crusaded for limited government, using a rule-book technicality to block so many bills that frustrated legislators called him Dr. No, died on Saturday in Tulsa. He was 72.

The cause was cancer, said John Hart, his former communications director. Mr. Coburn had said in 2013 that he was being treated for a recurrence of prostate cancer, and in 2014 he announced that he would retire.

Mr. Coburn was an obstetrician who treated some 15,000 patients and delivered 4,000 babies in a maternal and family practice in Muskogee, Okla., before embarking on his political career  three terms in the House of Representatives (1995-2001) and, after a four-year hiatus, two terms in the Senate (2005-15). He retired two years before the end of his second term because of deteriorating health.

A visceral foe of Washington long before such disaffections coalesced into the Tea Party, Mr. Coburn swept into Congress with the class of 1994, when Republicans gained control of the House for the first time in 40 years and installed Newt Gingrich as speaker and his Contract With America agenda to shrink government, cut taxes and promote welfare reforms and business activity.
Medical workers in England on the front line of the CCP virus pandemic started to be tested on Saturday as the number of virus deaths in Britain topped 1,000 after a record 260 people died in the previous 24 hours.

Government figures showed 1,019 people had died as of 5 p.m. local time on Friday, while the number of confirmed cases stood at 17,089 on Saturday morning, up 17.5 percent on a day earlier.

Britain is bracing for the epidemic to peak in the coming weeks, and is building field hospitals in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Cardiff to bolster the response from its state-run National Health Service (NHS).

The government, which had been criticized by some doctors and nurses for not providing them with enough protective gear and testing kits, announced on Friday it was introducing a much bigger testing regime, with checks for health workers in England.

Frontline medical staff in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are already being tested.

The country is largely on lockdown, with Britons urged to stay home. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and health minister Matt Hancock are among those who have tested positive.

The minister for Scotland, Alister Jack, said on Saturday he had developed a mild temperature and a cough in the past 24 hours and was now working from home in isolation. He has not been tested for the virus.

He spoke in the House of Commons on Wednesday, immediately before Johnson appeared at the weekly Prime Ministers Questions session, during which Jack was seated on the government bench behind Johnson.

Efforts were under way to keep building up the NHSs capacity to cope with the epidemic.

A drive-through CCP virus testing facility for health workers has begun operating at a popular resort near London.

NTD News refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

The Chessington World of Adventures theme park, which usually hosts families seeking a fun day out, has turned one of its car parks into a testing unit for NHS staff, a spokeswoman said on Saturday.

More Hospitals

Health workers, who remain in their cars, are tested by nurses who carry out swabs in the nose and mouth through the windows.

We are proud to be able to offer our assistance to the NHS during this unprecedented time, the theme park said in a statement.

The government said on Friday it was partnering companies including Thermo Fisher Scientific, Randox, and Boots, and top UK universities, to scale up the testing regime.

The first of three new hub laboratories that are being put into place is expected to process around 800 samples over the weekend. The number of tests being processed will then rise dramatically, according to the health ministry.

The NHS is also setting up four new temporary hospitals in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Cardiff. At the enormous Excel Center events venue in east London, large numbers of ambulances and paramedics were on site on Saturday ahead of the facilitys opening next week.

The government also said it was starting to deliver food boxes to people deemed at high risk from the illness, who have been advised by the NHS to stay at home for 12 weeks.

In what it described as the biggest effort to deliver supplies to those in need since World War Two, the ministry of housing, communities, and local government said the first of 50,000 free food boxes containing items such as pasta and tinned goods would be delivered over the weekend.

Some 1.5 million clinically vulnerable people have been advised to shield themselves at home for 12 weeks.

Like many other countries, Britain has brought in strict social distancing measures.

People have been instructed to stay at home, going out only to buy food or medicines or for exercise once a day. Schools, shops, pubs, restaurants, and cafes are closed and anyone who can work from home is expected to do so.

By Estelle Shirbon
Japanese star Naomi Osaka says she's disappointed not to compete at the Tokyo Olympics this year but supports the decision to postpone the event to 2021. The 22-year-old former world number one said on Twitter Saturday that she thinks the event will be better for moving to next year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "Sport will eventually unite us again and be there for us always, but that time is not now," Osaka wrote. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Olympics after athletes worldwide expressed concern about trying to stage the spectacle amid so much uncertainty. "Everyone knows how much the Olympics means to me and how proud I will be to participate in my home country. Of course I'm disappointed that it won't happen this year," Osaka said. "But we'll all be ready to go stronger than ever in 2021! I support Prime Minister Abe's brave decision and the IOC 100%." Osaka, the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open champion, asked the Japanese people to stay strong. "This is the time for people from all countries, backgrounds and races to rally together to save as many lives as we can," Osaka said. "To me that's the Olympic spirit." Japan's Osaka says she will be disappointed not to compete in the Tokyo Olympics this year but she supports the postponement
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-27 22:57:46|Editor: huaxia

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Villagers attend a spring ploughing ceremony in Jiaru Village, Gurong Town, Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Chogo)

The dark serfdom history of Tibet is forever gone. With 2020 a milestone for Tibet and the motherland, Tibet shall have an even brighter future with greater prosperity through the efforts of people of different ethnic groups in the region as well as support stemming from the socialist country's institutional strength.

BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) --- Sixty-one years after the landmark democratic reform which abolished the backward and barbarous serfdom in 1959, Tibet Autonomous Region is embracing another milestone in development -- a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Saturday marks Serfs' Emancipation Day, which was set up in 2009 by the regional legislature to mark the historic reform which liberated 1 million miserable serfs from heavy exploitation and oppression by privileged government officials, nobles, and upper-ranking lamas in monasteries. These privileged groups, or called three major estate-holders, possessed almost all means of production and held the power of life and death over serfs in old Tibet.

The epochal democratic transformation led by the central government after an armed rebellion by reactionaries from the upper class in the government of old Tibet, ushered in a new era of brightness, development and continuously improved welfare of people of different ethnic groups living in the plateau region.

Over the past 61 years, since people became masters of the new society, the region has achieved miraculous development in various fields. Such enormous progress would be unimaginable and impossible under theocratic feudal serfdom and can only be achieved under the socialist system and the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

In 2018, Tibet's GDP was 147.76 billion yuan, about 192 times the 1959 figure of 174 million yuan, calculated at comparable prices. Last year, the region's GDP exceeded 160 billion yuan (22.72 billion U.S. dollars).

The Saishiteng Tunnel along the Dunhuang-Golmud railway in northwest China, Dec. 15, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Today's Tibet is in its best period of development. In 2019, the region lifted the remaining 150,000 people out of poverty and took the last 19 counties off the poverty list, a landmark feat for the region as it is striving for a moderately prosperous society in all respects along with the rest of the country this year. Consumer products such as TVs, fridges, computers and mobile phones are common among residents.

The region provides free 15-year education. Highways reach all counties. With railways and airports, it is so convenient for local people to travel outside and tourists to visit the region. Before 1959, the region had no such infrastructure or services. The region has developed its unique industries such as processing of farm and livestock products, Tibetan medicine, tourism and logistics.

Along with the region's unprecedented leap of progress, people's human rights to subsistence, development and health, among others, have been respected, protected and promoted. Normal religious activities are respected and held. All the monks and nuns registered in the autonomous region have been included in the social security net. With the greatly improved medical services and living standards, the average life expectancy of the people in Tibet has risen to 70.6 from 35.5 before 1959.

Through the people's congresses at various levels, the people in Tibet exercise their right to participation in the administration of state and local affairs. Currently, deputies from the Tibetan and other ethnic groups account for 92.18 percent of the total of deputies to the people's congresses at all levels in Tibet.

Furthermore, Tibetan language and culture have got better protection and development, thanks to bilingual teaching, hefty investment and modern technology. Making ecological conservation a priority, the region has invested 11.7 billion yuan over the past decade under an ecology safety barrier construction project.

The dark serfdom history of Tibet is forever gone. With 2020 a milestone for Tibet and the motherland, Tibet shall have an even brighter future with greater prosperity through the efforts of people of different ethnic groups in the region as well as support stemming from the socialist country's institutional strength. 
Dr. Jessica Kiss has had just one N95 respirator mask since March 16, when she got a box of five for her practice from a physician friend. "I have four small children," says the 37-year-old California family physician, who has one daughter with asthma. "I'm always thinking of them." (KHN Illustration/Lynne Shallcross; photos courtesy of Jessica Kiss)

Dr. Jessica Kiss  twin girls cry most mornings when she goes to work. Theyre 9, old enough to know she could catch the coronavirus from her patients and get so sick she could die.

Kiss shares that fear, and worries at least as much about bringing the virus home to her family  especially since she depends on a mask more than a week old to protect her.

I have four small children. Im always thinking of them, said the 37-year-old family physician, who is based in Los Angeles and has one daughter with asthma. But there really is no choice. I took an oath as a doctor to do the right thing.

Kiss concerns are mirrored by dozens of physician parents from around the nation in an impassioned letter to Congress begging that the remainder of the relevant personal protective equipment be released from the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal cache of medical supplies, for those on the front lines.

They join a growing chorus of American healthcare workers who say theyre battling the virus with far too little armor as shortages force them to reuse personal protective equipment, known as PPE, or rely on homemade substitutes. Sometimes they must even go without protection altogether.

We are physically bringing home bacteria and viruses, said Dr. Hala Sabry, an emergency medicine physician outside Los Angeles who founded the Physician Moms Group on Facebook, which has more than 70,000 members. We need PPE, and we need it now. We actually needed it yesterday.

The danger is clear. A March 21 editorial in the Lancet said 3,300 healthcare workers were infected with the COVID-19 virus in China as of early March. At least 22 died by the end of February.

The virus has also stricken healthcare workers in the United States. On March 14, the American College of Emergency Physicians announced that two members  one in Washington state and another in New Jersey  were in critical condition with COVID-19.

At the private practice outside Los Angeles where Kiss works, three patients have had confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Tests are pending on 10 others, she said, and they suspect at least 50 more potential cases based on symptoms.

Story continues

Ideally, Kiss said, shed use a fresh, tight-fitting N95 respirator mask each time she examined a patient. But she has had just one mask since March 16, when she got a box of five for her practice from a physician friend. Someone left a box of them on the friends porch, she said.

When she encounters a patient with symptoms resembling COVID-19, Kiss said, she wears a face shield over her mask, wiping it down with medical-grade wipes between treating patients.

As soon as she gets home from work, she said, she jumps straight into the shower and then launders her scrubs. She knows it could be devastating if she infects her family, even though children generally experience milder symptoms than adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, her daughters asthma may put the girl at greater risk of a severe form of the disease.

Dr. Niran Al-Agba of Bremerton, Wash., said she worries every single day about bringing the COVID-19 virus home to her family.

Ive been hugging them a lot, the 45-year-old pediatrician said in a phone interview as she cuddled one of her four children on her lap. Its the hardest part of what were doing. I could lose my husband. I could lose myself. I could lose my children.

Al-Agba said she first realized shed need N95 masks and gowns after hearing about a COVID-19 death about 30 miles away in Kirkland last month. She asked her distributor to order them, but they were sold out. In early March, she found one N95 mask among painting gear in a storage facility.

She figured she could reuse the mask if she sprayed it with a little isopropyl alcohol and also protected herself with gloves, goggles and a jacket instead of a gown. So thats what she did, visiting symptomatic patients in their cars to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in her office and the need for more protective equipment for other staffers.

Recently, she began getting donations of such equipment. Someone left two boxes of N95s on her doorstep. Three retired dentists dropped off supplies. Patients brought her dozens of homemade masks. Al-Agba plans to make these supplies last, so shes continuing to examine patients in cars.

In the March 19 letter to Congress, about 50 other physicians described similar experiences and fears for their families, with their names excluded to protect them from possible retaliation from employers. Several described having few or no masks or gowns.

Two said their health centers stopped testing for COVID-19 because there is not enough protective gear to keep workers safe. One described buying N95 masks from Home Depot to distribute to colleagues; another spoke of buying safety glasses from a local construction site.

Healthcare workers around the country continue to risk exposure  some requiring quarantine and others falling ill, said the letter. With emergency rooms and hospitals running at and even over capacity, and as the crisis expands, so does the risk to our healthcare workers. And with a shortage of PPE, that risk is even greater.

Besides asking the government to release the entire stockpile of masks and other protective equipment  some of which has already been sent to states  the doctors requested it be replenished with newly manufactured equipment that is steered to healthcare workers before retail stores.

They called on the U.S. Government Accountability Office to investigate the distribution of stockpile supplies and recommend ways to ensure they are distributed as efficiently as possible.

They said the current system, which requires requests from local, state and territorial authorities, may create delays that could cause significant harm to the health and welfare of the general public.

At this point, Sabry said, the federal government should not be keeping any part of the stockpile for a rainy day.

Its pouring in the United States right now, she said. What are they waiting for? How bad does it have to get?

Laura Ungar writes for Kaiser Health News (KHN), a nonprofit news service covering health issues. KHN is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
The email came from the boss.

Were watching you, it told Axos Financial Inc. employees working from home. Were capturing your keystrokes. Were logging the websites you visit. Every 10 minutes or so, were taking a screen shot.

So get to work  or face the consequences.

We have seen individuals taking unfair advantage of flexible work arrangements by essentially taking vacations, Gregory Garrabrants, the online banks chief executive officer, wrote in the March 16 message reviewed by Bloomberg News. If daily tasks arent completed, workers will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Straight-up Big Brother, perhaps, but its perfectly legal for businesses to keep an unblinking eye on employees as long as they disclose theyre doing it. Of course, digital surveillance has been used for years on office desktops, yet it seems a violation of privacy to a lot of workers when theyre required to have software on their computers that tracks their every move in their own homes.

Workers at various companies have complained of excesses, but many of them are new to telecommuting, with its temptations of a midday nap or the demands of children out of school. Employers justify going full Orwell by saying that monitoring curbs security breaches, which can be expensive, and helps keep the wheels of commerce turning.

With so many people working remotely because of the coronavirus, surveillance software is flying off the virtual shelves.

Companies have been scrambling, said Brad Miller, CEO of surveillance-software maker InterGuard. Theyre trying to allow their employees to work from home but trying to maintain a level of security and productivity.

Axos spokesman Gregory Frost said in a statement that the enhanced monitoring of at-home employees we implemented will ensure that those members of our workforce who work from home will continue to meet quality and productivity standards that are expected from all workers.

Frost declined to comment on whether Garrabrants, one of Americas top-paid bank CEOs in 2018, is subject to the same monitoring when he works from home.

Along with InterGuard, software makers include Time Doctor, Teramind, VeriClock, innerActiv, ActivTrak and Hubstaff. All provide a combination of screen monitoring and productivity metrics, such as number of emails sent, to reassure managers that their charges are doing their jobs.

ActivTraks inbound requests have tripled in recent weeks, according to CEO Rita Selvaggi. Teramind has seen a similar increase, said Eli Sutton, vice president of global operations. Jim Mazotas, innerActives founder, said phones have been ringing off the hook.

Managers using InterGuards software can be notified if an employee does a combination of worrisome behaviors, such as printing both a confidential client list and a resume, an indication that someone is quitting and taking their book of business with them.

Its not because of lack of trust, Miller said, who compared the software to banks using security cameras. Its because its imprudent not to do it.

The software can also be a way for employers to grant more flexibility to workers to fit their jobs around other parts of their lives. It may also let managers spot areas that are overstaffed or where they may need additional hands.

I can honestly say, as a Hubstaff user, that I actually like the monitoring and productivity features. I promise, said Courtney Cavey, the firms chief marketing officer. So my personal advice is to use it as an advantage, as a way to prove to your manager that youre capable of working autonomously.

Hubstaff allows users to view their activity range and aim to beat it, Cavey said. Most monitoring can be customized, so not all employees are tracked in the same way.

Employers go too far if their monitoring software remains active outside work hours, according to Stacy Hawkins, a professor at Rutgers Law School.

Workers air their grievances on forums such as CodeAhoy, presumably using devices not being watched by their bosses.

Ive heard from multiple people whose employers have asked them to stay logged into a video call all day while they work, said Alison Green, founder of the workplace-advice website Ask a Manager. In some cases, theyre told its so they can all talk throughout the day if questions come up, but in others, theres no pretense that its for anything other than monitoring people to ensure theyre working.

Other managers take a more low-tech approach, insisting on constant status updates, Green said.

How these managers are going to get anything done themselves in the midst of all these updates is another question, she said.

Employers so worried about workers every moves might have a bigger issue to deal with, said Sutton of software maker Teramind.

Its not about spying on the user, Sutton said. If you hired them, you should trust them. If you dont, they have no reason to be part of the organization.

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Four more people tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 42, the government said.

While two men had recently returned from abroad, the third person was a 60-year old man hailing from Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district and all are in stable condition under isolation in different hospitals, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said on his Twitter handle.

The fourth positive case was a 25-year old man from West Mambalam here and he is undergoing treatment in isolation at a private Hospital and he is stable as well, the Minister added.

Ending speculation about the reason behind three deaths in south Tamil Nadu, the Minister said these deaths at the Kanyakumari Medical College Hospital "were not related to #Covid19."



A 2-year old male child, a 66-year old man and a 24-year old man died at the Kanyakumari hospital due to different conditions. However, their blood and swab samples have been sent as per Standard Operating Procedure for test to see if they were infected by the coronavirus, he said.

Tamil Nadu police, meanwhile, said as many as 7,119 cases were registered and 5,501 vehicles seized for lockdown violations.

A 42-year old man, a resident of Kumbakonam, had arrived here from the West Indies, the other, a 49-year old had come to the city from the United Kingdom.

The National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, in a tweet said both had come through transited via the Middle East.

The total number of 41 cases includes two discharged following recovery and one deceasedd, an official told.

Meanwhile, in Coimbatore state Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani said a little over 1,500 beds had been kept ready in various government-run and private hospitals for providing treatment to suspected coronavirus patients in the district.

These included 340 beds in the ESI Hospital, now converted as an exclusive coronavirus care centre, a report from Coimbatore quoted him as having told reporters.

Of the 147 people with symptoms, only two were tested positive for COVID-10 so far in the district and are undergoing treatment in the ESI Hospital, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump departs for the Naval Station Norfolk from the White House in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

Trump Says He Might Use Defense Production Act On Two More Companies

President Donald Trump said in remarks to reporters Saturday that he may invoke the Defense Production Act with respect to two more companies to compel them to make supplies amid the outbreak-related shortage.

Were looking at two companies that have not lived up to what they said, Trump said, according to footage shared by reporter Kelly ODonnell on March 28.

Trump said the companies heard were going to use it, referring to the Korean War-era law that lets a sitting president order private sector businesses to make items deemed critical for national security, adding, and now theyre rolling out the red carpet.

I would say well use it again maybe once or twice, we have a couple of little problem children and well use it when we have to, Trump said.

The president did not name the companies or provide further details about what type of supplies specifically the firms are in talks to produce.

We want to get our country back to work. The doctors, nurses, first responders, everybody doing a phenomenal jobbeyond good, Trump said of the people on the front line of the pandemic.

Earlier Friday, Trump said he deployed the Act and used it three of four times, adding that he pulled it back three times because the companies came through in the end, they didnt need the Act.

Its been great leverage, Trump added.

Trump invoked the Act on Friday to compel General Motors to produce more ventilators.

The rapid outbreak of the CCP virus, which has killed thousands of people globally, has strained health care systems around the world and led to a shortage of ventilators needed to treat patients suffering from the flu-like illness, which can lead to breathing difficulties and pneumonia in severe cases.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

After indicating he had invoked the Act with respect to GM, Trump said that negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course.

He said the action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives.

GM said in a statement in response to Trump it has been working with ventilator firm Ventec Life Systems and GM suppliers around the clock for over a week to meet this urgent need and said its commitment to Ventecs ventilators has never wavered.

The act grants the president power to expand industrial production of any key materials or products for national security and other reasons.

Also on Friday, Trump named Peter Navarro as the national Defense Production Act policy coordinator.

My order establishes that Peter will serve as national Defense Production Act policy coordinator for the federal government, Trump said at a White House briefing. Thats a very important position. More important probably than its almost ever been in our country.

Trump said his administration would either make or get 100,000 ventilators in the next 100 days, amid fears of a looming shortage of the life-saving devices.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Guwahati/Agartala, March 28 : The northeastern states battled with issues of curbing the novel coronavirus pandemic while maintaining a non-stop supply of essentials, vegetables and medical necessities, all for which the region is largely reliant on the rest of India.

Because of its central location, food grains and vital essential commodities first reach Assam by train or by road before being ferried to the neighbouring six states - Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

An official of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said that even though they are operating their freight trains as much as possible in the northeast but there are problems of loading and unloading of various commodities and cargos as the availability of workers become a difficulty in view of the lockdown and maintaining of social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Even as the NFR expanding the railway networks in all the states in the regions - five of the eight capital cities - Imphal, Shillong, Aizawl, Kohima and Gangtok are yet to connect with the railway network causing the dependence on trucks to ferry the goods by mountainous and landslide prone roads.

In Assam, Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna directed Deputy Commissioners of all 33 districts to provide food and other essentials for seven days to daily wagers including rickshaw pullers, labourers and others stranded in the urban areas who are among the worst hit by the lockdown.

After reviewing the preparations and actions being taken to contain the spread of the pandemic, Krishna held a meeting of the state-level task force and issued a set of directives.

The Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metropolitan District had notified 66 places and localities in Guwahati and its outskirts, where vegetables would be sold from vans.The Chief Secretary had asked the officials of different departments to increase the area of coverage, as per the demand of the people.

Krishna also asked the manufacturing units of bread, biscuits, packaged water, rice mills and flour mills to carry on production with minimum workers, maintaining the social distancing norms.

Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb wrote separate letters to Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urgently to sanction allocation of rice and transport fuel and cooking gas, respectively.

In Mizoram, the state's influential NGO Young Mizo Association (YMA) are working from the front in all across the mountainous state and reaching out at the doorsteps to maintain supply of essentials and vegetables.

YMA volunteers and members are assisting the government officials and state, district and sub-divisional level task forces to keep the supply chain unhindered. Meanwhile, a cargo aircraft carrying the first consignment of various protective gear and equipments besides medicines from New Delhi arrived in Aizawl on late Friday evening.

Health Department officials said that another consignment comprising personal protective equipment kits, hand sanitizers, and various other medical necessities are on the way to Aizawl from Guwahati by road.

Meanwile, the samples of wife and children of the COVID-19 positive 50-year-old patient have tested negative. A Christian pastor from Mizoram had tested positive for coronavirus, making it the second case in the northeastern region following a 23-year-old Manipuri woman.

The Mizo man had returned to Aizawl from Amsterdam, via Delhi and Guwahati on March 16 while the Manipuri girl returned from the UK on March 21 via Delhi, Kolkata and Agartala.

Health officials in Imphal and Aizawl said that conditions of both are "stable".

In Sikkim, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced an economic package to provide immediate relief to people belonging to economically weaker sections.

The package includes provision of rice, pulses, edible oil, salt, potatoes and onions to families without a government job and a daily wage of Rs 300 for labourers working in all pharma companies operating in Sikkim during lockdown.

The Sikkim government has also announced a one-time monetary incentive of Rs 3,000 for various sections including Sikkim Police personnel engaged in screening and maintaining law and order, Health Department workers posted at hospitals and checkposts, truck drivers under state Transport Department engaged in carrying of essential commodities and 'Safai Karamcharis' working during the lockdown period.

The State Government has also decided to provide insurance to all these frontline workers, besides permitting the State Bank of Sikkim to allow three-month moratorium on all loans.

In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma took to the streets in capital city Shillong to educate people about the practice of social distancing.

Sangma talked to people while urging them to maintain a distance of at least one metre between two people. The Chief Minister also asked the policemen on duty to ensure that people follow the guidelines.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (R) and WHO Health Emergencies Program Director Michael Ryan attend a press briefing on COVID-19 in Geneva on March 6, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Backs Easing Some COVID-19 Lockdowns if Sophisticated Surveillance in Place

'If you know where the virus is, you can break the chain,' a WHO official said

Countries can plan to end lockdowns in certain regions if they have widespread COVID-19 testing and very sophisticated surveillance to spot resurgent virus hotspots, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Responding to a question by a reporter, who at a WHO briefing Friday asked when countries that have few COVID-19 cases could begin to ease onerous lockdowns that are changing our lives, WHO Health Emergencies Program Executive Director Michael Ryan said that while the run of the epidemic is unpredictable, containment and mitigation measures should be adapted to the situation on the ground.

At this point, no one can predict how long this epidemic is going to last, he said, adding, we are moving through an uncertain future.

Ryan said lockdown policies should be calibrated to reflect the situation on the ground and would reasonably vary across countries and regions, explaining that some countries are just beginning the cycle of the epidemic, while others have had some success in stemming the spread of the virus.

The real trick for countries is to look at the national situation, to look at the sub-national situation, to see if you know where the virus is, he said. If you know where the virus is, you can break the chain.

If you know whats happening in every town, if you know whats happening in every municipality, in every county, in every province, you can then begin to adapt your measures for the situation in that particular area, he said.

Ryans comments came after President Donald Trump told state governors that he would like them to ease the lockdowns that have paralyzed life in parts of the United States amid the COVID-19 surge.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Trump said his goal is to ease the guidelines and open things up to very large sections of our country and that I hope we can do this by Easter. The president added that our decision will be based on hard facts and data.

The administrations early response was hamstrung by a lack of COVID-19 tests.

We took over a very depleted place, in a lot of ways, Trump said at a briefing Thursday. As you know, the testing is going very, very well. And that was obsolete and broken, and we fixed it and its been going really good.

Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that more than 550,000 people have been tested.

So this is what were talking about: how to do surveillance, how to do contact tracing, and how to do each of these items to make sure that you prevent that spread, according to COVID-19 task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, who spoke at the briefing.

In his remarks, Ryan said focused testing would be key to moving to end lockdowns.

And in order to do that, and in order to transition from the current measures that are in place, countries simply have to have in place a system to detect, isolate, contact-trace, and quarantine, as well as to continue appropriate hygiene and physical distancing measures, he said.

If you know who has the virus, if you know who the contacts are, you can break that chain, Ryan said, adding, you can only take action at the level at which you can measure.

All of us want to see the measures that were using for public health at the community level to be adapted to the maximum control of the disease but to the minimum impact on the economy and social life, he said.

Ryan added that officials who decide to ease restrictions should remain vigilant.

They must be in a position to reimplement measures should the situation deteriorate, he said. That takes a very sophisticated surveillance system. It takes a very strong health system to absorb the surge of cases in any particular area.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.
Social media has been awash in people sharing how their lives are changing due to the coronavirus. Efforts to "flatten the curve" have meant people are spending much more time cooped up at home, and many have turned to baking.

As of Friday, the hashtag #stressbaking had over 26,000 posts on Instagram, while #quarantinebaking had nearly 12,000.

Roxane Gay churros

stress baking tweet

I made this cake the other night

Maya Kosoff, 27, a freelance reporter and editor living in New York City, says she is baking as a balm for the current chaos.

"It's gratifying to produce something tangible (a loaf of bread, a tray of cookies)," Kosoff tells CNBC Make It.

"It's also soothing and meditative," she says. "I've been making recipes I'm very familiar and comfortable with, and I find it comforting to make and eat foods I've made and eaten a hundred times before. It provides a sense of normalcy, which I think many people are craving right now."

Indeed, that's a big reason people have been stress baking, according to Julie Ohana, a culinary art therapist. (Culinary art therapy helps people communicate and manage stress through cooking.)

"I do love that in these crazy times so many people are turning to their kitchens," Ohana tells CNBC Make It.

"When times are turned on its head we look for ways to cope," she says. "So the heart of the explanation is that cooking and baking bring comfort. Baking a loaf of bread, some cookies, etc is so basic but fills such a void.

"The process helps aid the baker and the finished product helps comfort the person or people receiving the delicious outcome."

I've been stress baking cookies.

Like Kosoff, Ohana gets a sense of satisfaction from having control over something.

"When I'm in the kitchen, I know what I can expect. I'm in control of what dishes I cook and what our meal time will look like," she tells CNBC Make It. "Since right now so much in the world is unknown and out of our hands  When will I be able to go back to work? Send my kids to school? Travel for vacation?  it is important we find other ways to have a say in our lives."

For many, the act of baking is also calming, because making cookies or baking bread is a form of mindfulness, says Ohana.

"When we are inundated by news and scary information, it's helpful to tune out the world and spend a few minutes or hours being present in something else," she tells CNBC Make It. "It's so important right now that we all take a few minutes away from the scary stuff and reset our minds and thoughts."

And baking, more than cooking, demands focus, says Valerie Van Galder, the CEO of the Depressed Cake Shop Foundation, an organization that raises money for mental health issues with baking events. While cooking is an art, baking is largely science  the exact mixes of ingredients being combined and reacting as they're supposed to is chemistry.

baking and sharing baked goods can be a valuable tool in one's mental health self care kit

Baking "requires and rewards being very specific and following the directions very carefully," Van Galder tells CNBC Make It. So your brain is "very absorbed in the activity at hand and doesn't have time to think about other things that might be worrying you," she says. (Van Galder herself became passionate about baking in 2011 as a way to mitigate stress when she started to care for a mentally ill relative. The Depressed Bake Shop has had over 180 bake shop events around the world and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for mental health charities, she says.)

Another perhaps surprising benefit to baking through the coronavirus pandemic the sense of community it has created.

"It was going to bake my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies like I might usually do otherwise on Sunday, but ... I decided to go live on Instagram," Kosoff says. "It was a lot of fun, and the format really lent itself to conversation  friends and family dropped in to ask questions or tell me what they were planning to bake." One hundred and fifteen of them to be exact, according to her Instagram numbers.

Maya cookies

Ohana went live on Facebook on Friday, March 20 to make challah bread for Shabbat (the Jewish sabbath, which extends from sundown on Fridays to sundown on Saturdays). She did it to "share and connect with friends and loved ones," she says. "It was fantastic!"

Van Galder is part of an online community of sourdough bread bakers as well as Depressed Bake Shop bakers.

"I feel like I'm friends with the man who created the tool I used to slash my sourdough. His name is Tyler  I've never met him. I feel like I'm friends with Jim Hall who developed the Challenger bread pan that I make my bread in," Van Galder tells CNBC Make It. "I tag them like they're my friends in all of my Instagram posts."

On Thursday, Van Galder had a Zoom conference call with Depressed Bake Shop bakers from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, England and Scotland. Van Galder baked bread during the digital hang out.

Photo credit: Valerie Van Galder

There is even science to back up the benefits of baking: Several studies show creative activities such as baking can be helpful in managing stress. And at least one study found that "maker" activities, like baking, are good for young adults in particular.

But the psychological benefits of baking aside, baked goods are also generally a pleasure, says Van Galder. And during the grim coronavirus pandemic, that's a welcome respite.

"Baking, especially cookies and cakes, is a little bit of a treat" and "feels celebratory," Van Galder says. "People usually bake for happy occasions, so you can kind of trick your brain if you have cookies or cake or cupcakes around."

See also:

Bill Gates: If I were president, this is what I would do now to fight coronavirus

Look inside the hospital in China where coronavirus patients were treated by robots

Andrew Yang's nonprofit is giving away over $1 million in free cash in response to the pandemic
A letter supposedly written by F Scott Fitzgerald while in quarantine has gone viral during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the note, Fitzgerald explains that he is coping with isolation in the south of France during the Spanish Flu outbreak (1918-1920) by stockpiling red wine, whiskey, rum, vermouth, absinthe, white wine, sherry, [and] gin.

Despite the looming darkness, Fitzgerald remains upbeat, and ends the letter with: I focus on a single strain of light, calling me forth to believe in a better morrow.

The text, which has been shared by many who believe it to be authentic, is in fact a parody letter by Nick Farriella, a writer for humour website McSweeneys.

A recent report by Reuters said the letter has been shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by people who believe it is real.

McSweeneys website now contains a disclaimer: NOTE: This is a work of parody and is not an actual letter written by Fitzgerald.

Despite attempts to tell people the letter is fake, it has still been shared by many, including American songwriter David Crosby and writer Joyce Carol Oates.

Farriela responded to Crosbys post, joking: I must be in some kind of purgatory for this.

Most recently, publicist Dan McCormick spotted a poster version of the letter outside a pub in Dalston.

The letter in full reads:

Dearest Rosemary,

It was a limpid dreary day, hung as in a basket from a single dull star. I thank you for your letter. Outside, I perceive what may be a collection of fallen leaves tussling against a trash can. It rings like jazz to my ears. The streets are that empty. It seems as though the bulk of the city has retreated to their quarters, rightfully so. At this time, it seems very poignant to avoid all public spaces. Even the bars, as I told Hemingway, but to that he punched me in the stomach, to which I asked if he had washed his hands. He hadnt. He is much the denier, that one. Why, he considers the virus to be just influenza. Im curious of his sources.

The officials have alerted us to ensure we have a months worth of necessities. Zelda and I have stocked up on red wine, whiskey, rum, vermouth, absinthe, white wine, sherry, gin, and lord, if we need it, brandy. Please pray for us.

You should see the square, oh, it is terrible. I weep for the damned eventualities this future brings. The long afternoons rolling forward slowly on the ever-slick bottomless highball. Z. says its no excuse to drink, but I just cant seem to steady my hand. In the distance, from my brooding perch, the shoreline is cloaked in a dull haze where I can discern an unremitting penance that has been heading this way for a long, long while. And yet, amongst the cracked cloudline of an evenings cast, I focus on a single strain of light, calling me forth to believe in a better morrow.

Faithfully yours,

F. Scott Fitzgerald

It was never intended to be taken as real, Farriella told Reuters.

Id like to think that people have responded to the optimistic sentiment of the message. That in these seemingly dark times, the line of true and untrue was blurred by the need for hope. I think that was something that was at the core of Fitzgeralds life and work, an unwavering faith in better things to come.

For real works by Fitzgerald and other suggestions for what to read during self-isolation, click here.
Max relishes routine  something school used to provide for this kindergartener.

But these days, the five-year-old, who is autistic and non-verbal, is lashing out. He recently pulled down the dining room chandelier, bit his mothers arm and pulled her hair.

Some of our kids really dont understand whats happening  that just heightens their anxiety, says mother Maria Garito, of Milton, who advocates on behalf of special needs students.

Families (of children with special needs) are in crisis mode ... for the last week, Ive been in survival mode.

Her comments come in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, prompting the province and city to declare states of emergency, and the shuttering of non-essential businesses and schools.

Garitos son used to spend half a day in class with the Halton Catholic District School Board and half a day in therapy  but that was abruptly halted.

His learning is based on a specific type of teaching that only a professional really should be doing, says Garito, who worries Max will regress. The hard work (done) over the last year, how much of it is he going to lose?

Garito supports closing the schools and shutting down the broader community services Max relied on but is crestfallen speaking about the disruption to his routine, a routine that is key to development.

The Ministry of Education has provided some online learning resources for students, and Garito hopes to see more for those with special needs. Its a comment echoed by educators and experts who have raised concerns about special education as the province develops learning plans for kids.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce is consulting boards, unions and his advisory council on special education on how to support students as the province plans for an extended school shutdown.

In a statement to the Star about the provinces general plans for learning, Lecce said he reached out to union leaders Wednesday to discuss how we can support and educate students during this unprecedented time.

They discussed critical topics, but the crux of each conversation centred on our overriding priority to maintain student and staff safety and ensure our kids continue learning from the safety of their home, he said.

They also talked about ways to minimize student learning loss, strengthen professional development of educators to better support students online and outside the classroom, and efforts to ensure a continuum of professional care on issues such as mental health and special education needs.

NDP education critic Marit Stiles is hearing from families worried about now and the future.

What happens when they go back? she said. The government needs to work with the front-line workers who support these students, connecting them directly with families.

Students who receive services such as speech therapy or social work at school need to know whats going to happen to those services during a lengthy shutdown, she added.

Speech therapists and other specialists are creative but also need to be supported to do this work remotely, Stiles said.

A ministry source says it is working to unlock front-line workers, such as social workers, physiologists, special education educators within school boards, to reach out and assist special-education students during the closure.

At the Toronto District School Board, where childrens mental health is a key issue, professional staff have been asked to reach out to students they already have relationships with. Other boards are considering similar check-ins to ensure kids well-being.

Mississauga mother Rachelle Manios, whose daughter Tayla, 10, is non-verbal and significantly delayed cognitively and physically, is struggling to maintain her daughters learning.

Another daughter in Grade 7, whos in a mainstream class, can do e-learning and make use of online resources  but not Tayla.

Because online learning doesnt work for all students, some are urging the province to ensure there is also a paper option for kids, as well as different programs for students with autism and other special education needs. Children with special needs, especially those with autism, may already use iPads or apps for their learning that can be used at home to keep up routines. For children with behavioural issues, some are calling on the government to consider setting up respite care to aid parents who may be overwhelmed at home.

Manios can help Tayla with life skills activities, such as holding a spoon and using a toothbrush. But the equipment teaching assistants use with Tayla  including a special-needs tricycle, balance beam, weighted ball and trampoline  are at her school. And Manios doesnt know how to access them.

The Peel District School Board says its creating a distribution plan for parents such as Manios but must wait until its safe to reopen schools for this purpose. The board says its also creating resources to support students with special education needs.

There are so many kids that are special needs who have support (while in school)  and now have nothing, said Manios. I hope the school boards dont have special-needs kids and special education as an after-thought in the process of setting up at-home learning.
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Once an idyllic holiday destination much of Bali now resembles and abandoned ghost town after the country imposed a lockdown to prevent the spread of coronaviurs.

Startling pictures of the Indonesian island show abandoned streets, bars, restaurants and beaches where usually hundreds of tourists would gather.

Some visitors are also taking an extreme approach to personal protection equipment as the island runs critically low on surgical gloves and masks.

One enterprising young man arrived at immigration for a visa extension dressed in scuba diving gear to protect himself against the deadly virus.

A confused bystander put a picture of the diver on social media and captioned it: 'Just when you think you've seen it all. Shot from immigration in Bali today.'

One man was captured wearing scuba diving gear as personal protective equipment in the immigration office while applying for a visa extension

To curb the spread of the virus, Bali's Governer said armed security guards from nearby villages will patrol the streets and the only reason for someone to be outside is for supplies or seeking medical help

The streets of the south island of Bali, Kuta, is a famous beach and resort area but is now completely deserted

Beaches in Bali, which were once tourist hotspots, have been mostly deserted and all that remains are empty chairs scattered across the coast (pictured: Kuta Beach in Bali)

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Bali has reported nine cases of coronavirus and two deaths while Indonesia has reported 9,000 with 79 deaths.

To curb the spread of the virus, Bali's Governor said armed security guards from nearby villages will patrol the streets.

The island has also imposed a strict lockdown residents are only able to leave their homes to get food or seek medical help.

Nearly 3,000 tourists entered Indonesia's Immigration office in Bali to apply for an emergency visa extension in the wake of border closures and commercial aircrafts being grounded.

Only 20 Australians applied for the visa extension that replaces the $100-a-day fine for those who overstay.

Brisbane man, Nick Boynton, told The Herald Sun there were about 1,000 people waiting during his visit to the immigration office.

'We queued from about 7.30am and about half an hour later staff told us to go to a table outside to collect and fill in some forms. By this time there were about 300 people waiting,' Mr Boynton said.

'Naturally, there was a stampede to that table. What do the immigration people think is happening? Do they all want us to contract the virus and the number of people arriving was surging by the minute? There were about 1000 people in one small area by the time I left.

'This is no way to handle the situation at all.'

In the wake of large crowds at the immigration office, Indonesia has established an automatic visa extension.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has rejected calls to lock down the nation's capital, Jakarta, which is home to 10million people (pictured: Empty Bali airport)

The inside of the Bali airport is completely empty as tourists are told they can not leave Indonesia until restrictions are lifted

Many resorts, restaurants, and bars have been closed and tourists have been told to stay inside to avoid the spread of the coronavirus

Bali has reported nine cases of coronavirus and two deaths (pictured: Empty streets in Bali)

Two hospitals have stated they are woefully under prepared for a coronavirus outbreak which has killed more than 27,000 people worldwide.

They have called for donations of disinfectant spray, face masks, medical gloves, surgical masks and gowns.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has rejected calls to lockdown the nation's capital, Jakarta, which is home to 10million people.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd released a statement about the impact in Indonesia.

'Our friend and neighbour Indonesia, population 275 million, (is) now on the cusp of a full blown coronavirus disaster,' Mr Rudd tweeted.

'This has grave national security implications for both Jakarta and Canberra. This will require solidarity and deeply skilled diplomacy ahead.'

Nearly 3,000 tourists entered Indonesia's Immigration office in Bali to apply for an emergency visa extension in the wake of border closures

Immigration officers in Bali have been checking the temperature of foreign tourists before letting them stay in the country
Bhilwara in Rajasthan, which is among the worst-hit disrict in the state with most positive coronavirus cases, is ready with an arrangement to quarantine 15,000 people, if the need arise, an official said.

Along with the present quarantine facility for 400 people, the district administration has acquired 1,541 single rooms at various hospitals.

Apart from present quarantine facility for 400, we have acquired 1,541 single rooms at various hotels. We have also marked places to set up 13,000 beds. We are ready with arrangement to quarantine 15,000 people, if required," Bhilwara District Collector (DC) R Bhatt told media persons.

On Friday, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Rajan Nanda, informed that a COVID-19 positive patient, who had comorbid conditions including diseases relating to kidney and blood pressure, died in Bhilwara.

Seven new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Rajasthan, taking the total number of positive cases to 50 in the state, said the state's Health Department on Friday.Curfew has been imposed in one kilometre radius of the person who tested positive in Ramganj area of Jaipur as it is a highly congested area.According to Rajasthan Health Department, Additional Chief Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh, intense contact tracing has started.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 873, including 78 cured, discharged and migrated cases and 19 deaths, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 19)  Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the use of tricycles and motorcycles is against the safety measures of social distancing, which aims to contain the spread of the virus.

In a press briefing following the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting Wednesday night, Nograles said that the national government is concerned with the use of tricycles during the enhanced community quarantine period.

Concerned talaga ang gobyerno dito sa pag gamit ngtricycle dahil hindi namin lubos makita o maintindihan kung paano mag-social distancing sa tricycle, he said.

[Translation: The government is really concerned with the use of tricycle because we cannot understand how you will practice social distancing in a tricycle.]

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto recently ordered the mobilization of tricycles in the city during the first day of the Metro Manila community quarantine to help send health workers to hospitals.

Nograles added that other local government units comply with the safety measures they have released.

Lets all stick to the common ground rules, he said.

Authorities urge citizens to stay home while the enhanced community quarantine is in effect in Luzon.
New Delhi: India has proposed a shared electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices for jointly combating the coronavirus epidemic.

India proposed that till such time the electronic platform is fully operational, a network of experts representing the Health Services of all SAARC countries may set up on email/whatsapp to enable exchange of all relevant information between the SAARC countries on real time basis.

The suggestion was made earlier at a video conference of health professionals on Thursday on the Coronavirus Pandemic in which all eight SAARC member-nations including Pakistan participated, the MEA said in a statement on Friday, adding that the participation was at the level of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and chaired by India.

Pakistan had been the only SAARC country not to make a monetary contribution to the SAARC Covid-19 fund that had been proposed by India and subsequently created and operationalised.

But despite that New Delhi on Friday said the enthusiastic and constructive participation by all SAARC member states demonstrated the shared commitment to work together to defeat the challenge posed by the coronavirus epidemic in the region.

The MEA said, It was informed that considerable work has already gone into the creation of the (shared electronic) platform, which could also serve as a multipurpose vehicle to further discuss and conduct activities such as online training for emergency response personnel, knowledge partnerships, sharing of expertise in disease surveillance, including the corresponding software, and joint research for new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for epidemic diseases.

It added, The Prime Minister had announced at the Video Conference of SAARC Leaders on 15 March 2020 that health professionals of all SAARC member states could hold a video conference to carry forward collaboration in the common fight against Covid19 at the practical level. As implementation of that announcement, a video conference of health professionals representing all SAARC countries at the level of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) was held on 26 March 2020.
Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Se han tomado 10 896 muestras, de las cuales 671 personas han dado positivo. Hasta la fecha, se han hospitalizado a 84 personas, de las cuales 33 estan en UCI.
On the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new contributory fund for emergencies and invited citizens to make donations, several public and private entities came forward with generous contributions to Indias fight against coronavirus. Heres a list of some notable contributions to different funds announced on Saturday

Tata Sons and Tata Trusts jointly announced 1,500 crore. While Tata Trusts committed 500 crore, Tata Sons announced another 1,000 crore support.

Supreme Court Judge Justice N V Ramana donated one lakh each to the Prime Minister Relief Fund and chief ministers relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia announced 30 lakh donation to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers Relief Fund

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar donated 25 crore to PM CARES Fund, that was announced on Saturday

BJP announced that all its 386 MPs will donate 1 crore from their MPLADS fund to the Central Relief Fund. Party president JP Nadda said in addition all party MPs and MLAs will also donate their one month salary to the fund.

Former BJP MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir said they will donate one-month salary to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan donated one months salary to Chief Ministers Relief Fund and handed over a cheque of Rs.3.5 lakh to the Principal Secretary, Disaster Management.

The Union Grants Commission (UGC) announced that its staff will contribute one days salary to the Prime Minister National Relief Fund.

Geological Survey of India asked all the employees to contribute one days salary to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF), said a news agency.

Uttarakhand Polices gazetted rank officers decided to contribute two days salary and non-gazetted ranks decided to donate one days salary, an agency reported.

The Railway Board urged all railway employees to donate one days salary to the prime ministers relief fund.

ime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new contributory fund for emergencies and invited citizens to make donations, several public and private entities came forward with generous contributions to Indias fight against coronavirus. Heres a list of some notable contributions to different funds announced on Saturday

Tata Sons and Tata Trusts jointly announced 1,500 crore. While Tata Trusts committed 500 crore, Tata Sons announced another 1,000 crore support.

Supreme Court Judge Justice N V Ramana donated one lakh each to the Prime Minister Relief Fund and chief ministers relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia announced 30 lakh donation to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers Relief Fund.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar donated 25 crore to PM CARES Fund, that was announced on Saturday.

BJP announced that all its 386 MPs will donate 1 crore from their MPLADS fund to the Central Relief Fund. Party president JP Nadda said in addition all party MPs and MLAs will also donate their one month salary to the fund.

Former BJP MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir said they will donate one-month salary to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan donated one months salary to Chief Ministers Relief Fund and handed over a cheque of Rs.3.5 lakh to the Principal Secretary, Disaster Management.

The Union Grants Commission (UGC) announced that its staff will contribute one days salary to the Prime Minister National Relief Fund.

Geological Survey of India asked all the employees to contribute one days salary to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF), said a news agency.

Uttarakhand Polices gazetted rank officers decided to contribute two days salary and non-gazetted ranks decided to donate one days salary, an agency reported.

The Railway Board urged all railway employees to donate one days salary to the prime ministers relief fund.
This story was corrected March 31 to reflect the amount of budget cuts being made by Apache Corp, The company is cutting between $600 million and $700 million from its 2020 capital expenditure budget.

Houston oil company Apache Corp. is making deeper budget cuts, capping a week in which crude oil continued to sink, oil-field services companies slashed their budgets and the rig count, a barometer of the industrys health, plummeted.

Apache said Friday it cut $1.3 billion from its 2020 capital spending budget, reduced its annual dividend by $340 million and cut $150 million in other expenses. The company had already announced a $700 million capital spending cut.

The further reductions come two weeks after Apache said it would reduce the number of its rigs in the Permian Basin to zero and a week after it laid off 85 workers at its Midland office. Standard & Poor's reduced Apaches credit rating from BBB to BB+ on Thursday.

In a statement responding to the credit downgrade, Apache's Chief Financial Officer Stephen Riney said the company has $4.0 billion of credit from 18 banks through through March 2024.

Apache has ample liquidity and a very manageable bond maturity profile for the next five years," Riney said. "We have taken aggressive actions to protect our balance sheet and cash flows."

Apache returned to the chopping block as numerous energy companies cut billions of dollars from their budgets in response to rapidly falling oil prices. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, settled Friday at 21.51 as a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia exacerbates a global supply glut created by the coronavirus pandemic.

The industrys troubles can be seen in the oil patch, where the number of operating U.S. oil and gas rigs plummeted by 44 this week, according to the Baker Hughes. The rig count is seen as a leading indicator of oil and gas production activity in the U.S. The number of operating rigs in the U.S. is now 728.

U.S. operators have shed 77 rigs in 2020, after an already steep drop off in activity in 2019. Last year, the rig count dropped by more than 25 percent. A year ago this week, there were 1,006 operating oil and gas rigs in the U.S.

Texas has 368 rigs, half the nation's total. More than half of the rig losses this week were in the Permian Basin, in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. .

Meanwhile, three of the largest rig operators in Texas joined the industry this week in cutting their budgets.

Although exact figures have yet to be released, Helmerich & Payne, the top drilling rig operator in Texas, has pledged to cut its capital spending budget on top of already existing plans to cut operating costs by $200 million.

Nabors Industries, the second most-active drilling rig operator in Texas, is cutting $75 million dollars from its capital spending budget, suspending dividends to stockholders, cutting salaries for its CEO and chief financial officer by 20 percent and cutting salaries of all employees who make more than $100,000 by 10 percent.

"The announced reactions from operators have been swift and substantial, and the market conditions we face are sure to be difficult," Nabors Industries CEO Anthony Petrello said. "We are acting quickly and decisively. We remain committed to improving the company's capital structure this year even under the expected market conditions, and we are confident these announced measures will support that goal."

Patterson-UTI, the fourth most-active drilling rig operator in Texas, also plans to make cuts but has yet to release exact figures. In an investor presentation released on Tuesday, the company reported that it has a strong balance sheet and has a financial runway that may be able to outlast the oil price downturn.

The drilling rig operator has a $100 million loan but it is not due until 2022 while $875 million worth of senior notes are not due until 2028 and 2029.

Many rigs that are drilling today have been told that they will be relieved of service once their current wells are finished, West said. This is already leading to massive layoffs across the oil patch. We can also expect completion and pressure pumping activity to be cut in half.
As the 21-day nationwide shutdown is practiced to aim Social Distancing, the weaker sections of the society take a major hit with no one to feed or tend to them. Skoruz Technologies - A US based Data Analytics firm with Offices in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad has stepped up efforts to tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 situation and the consequent socio-economic impact on the weaker sections of society. Aided by support from their CSR funding and Employees contributions, the company is working to tackle the crisis and help out vulnerable sections of the population, especially vendors, daily-wage earners, gig-economy workers and elderly / mentally retarded people on the streets. The company along with some NGO partners in Bangalore and Chennai have already distributed over 500 packaged meals so far to the vulnerable groups in India in the past two days. They plan to distribute 1000 + packaged meals each day to underprivileged people on the streets across Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Commenting on the initiative, Mr Saminathan , CEO and Co-Founder of Skoruz Technologies said "This was just an idea that i had and when i shared it with my team, they immediately took it up and actioned it within 12 hours. It was very heartwarming to see our employees contribute to this initiative as well. We are actively working with the local authorities to take this to more people in the coming days Along with food, the volunteers also educate them on personal hygiene and social distancing to help them safeguard themselves from the deadly coronavirus. The company has always been active in supporting society in times of need. They distributed food and basic amenities to those people who got affected by the Chennai Floods in 2015 which displaced over 1.5 million people.
On Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said not as many students had enrolled in the program as we would have expected.

He attributed that to the general fear and confusion of life amid a pandemic, as well as the large numbers of people staying home from work, which offered some parents other child care options. Either way, he said, there was certainly plenty of room at the centers.

Theyre there for essential workers, he said. So, heres what it comes down to  so long as the essential worker, if theyve got a better arrangement, thats fine. We just need to support them to make sure they can show up and doing the lifesaving work theyre doing.

Still, some found the sight of near-empty classrooms to be jarring. A cafeteria worker at one center at P.S. 125 in Harlem, where the playground was empty and the halls were pin-drop quiet, said school employees far outnumbered children on Tuesday. Over the course of nearly an hour, only one child could be seen when her mother arrived to take her home.

There are barely any kids in there, said the cafeteria worker, who declined to be publicly named because she was not authorized to speak to the news media. One classroom might have just one kid in it, one classroom might have three kids, most of the classrooms have no kids.

A similar scene could be found at an enrichment center at P.S. 19 in the Corona section of Queens, where employees said between five and 10 students showed up on Tuesday. At another center on West 120th Street in Harlem, a security guard said the school was mostly empty.
15 United States senators sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday urging authorities to shift away from antiquated and stigmatizing donation policies of blood donations by gay men during the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

We must take every possible step to secure our nations blood supply in this critical time, the senators wrote, advocating for donation policies that are scientifically sound, based on individual risk, and inclusive of all potential healthy blood donors.

Because of the lockdowns, social distancing and self-isolation to prevent coronavirus spread the American Red Cross reports it has resulted in the cancellation of 2,700 blood drives and 86,000 fewer donations.

Under a regulation change in 2015, gay and bisexual men must refrain from sex for a year before they are permitted to donate blood. This replaced a former 1983 ruling that stated gay and bisexual men could not donate at all leftover from the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when little was known about the disease or how to test for it. Now all blood donations are screened for tested for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis, and HTLV (human T-lymphotropic virus), which can cause a blood or nerve disease.

Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., the first out lesbian elected to Congress, spearheaded the letter. Other signatories include Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

In a statement, Baldwin said she has long fought to end discriminatory blood donation policies

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a nationwide blood shortage, and we must work to increase our nations supply based on science and facts. The FDA needs to change their discriminatory blood donation policies to address this challenge and help save lives.
Following quarantine rules is near impossible for many Roma, who do not have financial backup or job security.

Rome, Italy  Weeks into Italys national quarantine and social media has been overtaken with rosy footage of sunset balcony serenades.

But vulnerable communities are still struggling with the countrys strict lockdown measures.

At a Roma camp on Via Salviati, on the outskirts of the capital, an olive-green military cruiser sits parked outside the crowded, dilapidated settlement  home to 100 or so families living side-by-side in caravans.

A constant police presence ensures that the camp abides by Prime Minister Giuseppe Contes decree, announced on March 9, that banned all non-essential movement.

They are always there. But they dont help us with anything, says 28-year-old Zdravko Ahmetovic, who has not set foot outside the camp since Contes public address.

If I go out theyll put me in prison or give me a fine [for 206 ($230) euros].

Elsewhere in Rome, house-bound Italians are working remotely, providing smartphone-supported school lessons to their children, and enjoying rooftop yoga sessions on Zoom.

But underneath the ubiquitous hashtag #iostoacasa (I stay at home) is concern about the unequal effects of coronavirus and virus-related restrictions  so much so that Rome-based Binario 95, which offers support to homeless populations, rolled out its own hashtag: #iovorreistareacasa (I would like to stay at home.)

Zdravko Ahmetovic, 28, with his nephew, standing outside their home in Rome [Ariel Sophia Bardi/Al Jazeera]

For Roma families in the camp, who scrape by on meagre, hand-to-mouth earnings reselling iron scraps or used clothing in weekly mercatini, or flea markets, the Italian governments decree poses both unique health risks and a critical economic hit  a virtual death sentence when it comes to maintaining precarious livelihoods.

They cant work. They dont have money for food, said Rosi Mangiacavallo, Italy facilitator for the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), a Roma-led litigation and advocacy organisation. The fact that they are already living on the margins makes this a really difficult situation.

Roma are known as Europes largest and most persecuted ethnic minority.

There are between 150,000 and 180,000 in Italy; most are indistinguishable from other Italians.

But an estimated 30,000, many Italian-born, or from former Yugoslavia or Romania, live in camps like the one on Via Salviati, known as campi nomadi  literally, nomad camps.

The designation (nomadi and Rom are used interchangeably in Italian) leans on the spurious perception of Romani people as inborn wanderers, a stereotype often weaponised to deny them stable employment or to justify camp expulsion orders.

These local prejudices have a long and persistent history, notes Mangiacavallo.

When Roma began settling in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries, thats the time when nation-states were forming, when borders were being decided, Mangiacavallo said. They were outsiders, with different cultures, different ways of living.

Driven from cities, they became the enemies.

Lines extend down the block outside a neighbourhood supermarket on the outskirts of Rome [Ariel Sophia Bardi/Al Jazeera]

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has laid bare many shaky social and political fault lines around the globe.

Italy has shown how the precarious living conditions of the most vulnerable communities  not only Roma camp residents, but also refugee and migrant populations and the homeless  are likely to make them the hardest hit.

Annie Wilkinson, a health systems researcher at the Institute of Development Studies, saw first-hand the impact of the Ebola virus on informal settlements in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Whole slum areas were put under quarantine, said Wilkinson, which were then guarded by the army or police  with no infrastructure set up to replace lost livelihoods. People ended up breaking quarantine, because they simply had to survive.

Densely populated, usually with multi-generational households, and often with minimal sanitation or running water, slums and camps are not conducive to the current coronavirus prevention measures. Social distancing is simply impossible.

According to the ERRC, more than half of Romani people rely on water sources located more than 150 miles away from their homes.

People simply for lack of running water or space cannot do the primary things that people are being told to do, said Wilkinson, referring to the basic guideline of frequent handwashing.

There can be a whole criminalisation of not adhering to control measures that were inappropriate for those groups to begin with, added Wilkinson, while antagonistic relationships with police or government can put them at risk for further persecution.

The specific prejudices against Romani communities have also had repercussions when it comes to the handling of coronavirus cases.

Rosi Mangiacavallo points out that media reports in Italy that deal with Roma are relentlessly negative, focused on robbery and petty crime.

When a Roma person commits a crime, the guilt is seen as collective and not individual, belonging to the whole community.

Similarly, when it was discovered that a resident of the Roma camp of Cuneo, in Italys northern Piedmont region, had come into contact with a coronavirus-infected person, the entire camp of 50 people was quarantined together.

Caravan homes in the Roma camp of Via Salviati 72 [Ariel Sophia Bardi/Al Jazeera]

Back in Via Salviani, Zdravkos mother, wife and extended family are keeping to themselves in their sparse, lilac-walled caravan, nervous about steeply rising infection rates and the households ability to cope without savings or income.

Every Sunday, the Ahmetovic family used to travel to Porta Portese, the citys biggest flea market, sprawled near the banks of the Tiber River, to sell their wares.

Now it remains closed, along with all Italian businesses deemed inessential.

The family only leave home one at a time, if at all. Queuing for groceries can take up to an hour, longer when the police check each bag at the entrance to the camp.

Zdravko says that a few Roma families from Via Salviati have even fled the country.

Standing inside their open door, 38-year-old Mejra Ahmetovic peers out onto a cluster of pale grey caravans  close neighbours.

How will we live without work? she worries aloud.

Outside, the military vehicle sits idle, police and the army still coming and going, keeping watch.

They say, Dont go out,' she says, a catch in her voice. But then, they have to help us.
We had mostly sunny skies and mostly dry weather across northern California today, but scattered showers will be returning to areas closest to the coast and the Oregon border tonight. Temperatures topped out in the 50's to low 60's in the valley, and in the mid 40's to mid 50's in the mountains and foothills. Winds have been out of the south to around 15mph.

Wet weather will become more widespread through your weekend, but showers are expected to be scattered and light. The first wet system will approach the north state tonight, but widespread showers are expected to hold off until mid to late in the day on Saturday. The second wet system will be on the way for Sunday and will bring slightly higher precipitation amounts to northern California but is still not expected to pack much of a wet punch. Mountain areas are expected to see the majority of the wet weather. Snow levels will start out between 3000' to 4000', but will climb into the 4000' to 5000' range by Saturday afternoon. Snow levels are expected to stay in that same range on Sunday. Up to 4 inches of snow is expected in areas above 4500'. Valley areas are mostly projected to get up to around a quarter of an inch of rain this weekend, but the far northern portion of the valley may see up to around a half an inch of rain. Temperatures will start out in the 40's in the valley on Saturday and will end up in the mid 50's. Mountain areas will start out in the 20's on Saturday and will end up in the 40's. Low and high tempretares are both expected to be slightly warmer on Sunday.

The latest models are showing mostly dry weather and slightly warmer temperatures ahead for your Monday. The best chance for showers will be in areas closest to the Oregon border, with the chance for showers becoming much lower heading to the south. Valley areas will end up back in the mid 60's on Monday afternoon, while mountain areas return to the high 40's to mid 50's. The warming trend is expected to continue through Wednesday, when valley areas top out in the mid 70's. Warm and mostly dry weather is currently projected to persist through the end of next week.
In this article:

Robin Williams teaching a class in a scene from the film 'Dead Poets Society', 1989. (Photo by Touchstone Pictures/Getty Images)

Set your DVR & keep your family entertained all week with more movies than you can shake a hoarded stash of loo roll at today as TopFilmTip brings you the best non-subscription films on TV for Saturday, 28 March.

Teenage boys lives are forever changed under the inspirational tutelage of Robin Williams in Peter Weirs classic bitter sweet drama Dead Poet's Society 2:05pm Sony Movies UK

Reluctant lion king returns to long lost family in witch doctoring, zebra spitting, rump shaking kids treat Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa 3:30pm BBC1

Time-slipped boy awakens years after disappearing to inventive engaging alien adventure in mercurial mystery Flight Of The Navigator 3pm SyFy Channel

Daughter of neglectful cheese chomper aids bug eating boy's fiendish friends in delightfully dark, grotesque comedy curio The Boxtrolls 2:15pm Film4

Read more: The best 4K TV deals

Stirring score & cinematography as Sly Stallone, Michael Caine & Pele team up for incongruously wonderful career interrupting gem Escape To Victory 4pm ITV4

Escape to Victory sees Bobby Moore and Pele teaming up with Michael Caine and Sly Stallone to take on Nazis. (Paramount)

Wise cowboy mends bodies & souls of broken family with delicate emotional coaxing & painful personal sacrifice The Horse Whisperer 4:35pm Sony Movies Channel

Flame headed & fiery souled archer set on forging her own fate must face consequences of her hubris in ursine adventure Brave 5:15pm BBC1

Relic robbing gadget freak Jackie Chan turns artifact preserver in full-body-skate-chasing, skydive-kungfu-ing gem Chinese Zodiac 7pm Sony Movies Channel

Lackluster Viking teen loner befriends wounded winged reptile & learns heretical truth in exhilarating fun How To Train Your Dragon 7:05pm E4

Foolish humans visit dinosaurs' island providing many meaty snacks for cunning, flying & giant-poo pooing lizards in Jurassic Park III 7:15pm ITV1

Failed father Tom Cruise & despondent kids flee tenacious tentacled tripods amidst civilian incinerating alien invasion War Of The Worlds 9pm Sky 1

Post apocalyptic gated communities, racism, flesh eating corpses & an anti-zombie tank form unflinching Romero allegory in Land Of The Dead 9pm Horror Channel

Story continues

Troublesome boy & his mourning mother face wrath of grievous ghoul in charismatic, chilling, psychological creepfest as emotional allegory in The Babadook 9pm SyFy Channel

Broken by bombing, Bostonian boyfriend becomes focus of city's love but must mend emotional fractures & re-builds himself from inside out in empowering true story Stronger 9pm BBC2

CIA rookie chases, protects & bonds with a very dangerous, jaded criminal in spectacular character driven action drama Safe House 10pm ITV 1

Grieving virgin is targeted by film-quizzing, stab-happy Edvard Munch-inspired serial killer in 1990's teen meta horror Scream 11:05pm 5Star

Three men revive their raucous glory days in lube fighting, Will Ferrell streaking, orgy-avoiding cathartic comedy Old School 11:20pm BBC1

Neil Marshall directed the 2005 British horror film 'The Descent'.

Spelunking women face their differences & hordes of blood-thirsty, cave dwelling creatures in claustrophobic horror The Descent 11:20pm Film4

Loan dealing money-men spend eve of finial crisis ruining global economy for personal gain in intricate insight Margin Call 11:35pm BBC2

Mutual respect grows between an unlikely pair as a rancher ferries a criminal to a prison pick up point in top western remake 3:10 to Yuma 00:50 am Sony Movie Channel:

Enduring ostracised status at wedding, oddballs & outcasts bond in Breakfast Club-inspired, character-led feel good fun Table 19 2:15am Film4

Follow TopFilmTip on Twitter for daily film recommendations.
They hoped to secure jobs on political campaigns, at fashion brands and law offices, and in sales and finance. Instead, they've had internships canceled and interviews postponed, wandered through empty job fairs and seen recruiters ignore their anxious emails.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced college students across the country to leave campus in early March, the abrupt departure was especially painful for seniors. It meant rushed goodbyes, canceled graduation ceremonies  a sense of loss.

Now many of those seniors are home with their families, contemplating an even worse prospect: a job market more grim than any in recent history.

As the economy barrels toward a recession, college seniors fear they could become the next class of 2009, which entered the workforce at the peak of the Great Recession as companies conducted mass layoffs and froze hiring.

"That is definitely on everyone's minds," said Tarek Ziad, a senior at Yale studying ecology and evolutionary biology. "We have to hike up our boots."

A number of major companies, including Yelp and Disney, have suspended their internship programs, a common route to a first job for many graduating seniors. At some job fairs in early March, major companies simply didn't show up; now all those career events have been canceled.

The number of new job listings posted between mid-February and mid-March dropped 29 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data from the job marketplace ZipRecruiter. Postings for retail stores fell 14 percent, events jobs went down 20 percent, and casino and hotel jobs dropped 23 percent.

The hiring situation will probably get worse as closures and cancellations ripple across the economy. "These are still early effects. The first wave of industries hit will not be the last," said Julia Pollak, a labor economist at ZipRecruiter. "There will be a large human cost."

Looking into the void

Andres Salerno, a senior at Butler University in Indianapolis, stayed in his off-campus house after classes went online, one of only a few remaining undergrads in what feels like a ghost town. Practically everyone he knows is anxious about the job market. Some of his roommates are Peace Corps recruits who don't know whether they'll be able to leave the country. His girlfriend is a dancer whose professional auditions have been canceled.

For his part, Salerno had hoped to get a job on a political campaign in his home state of Texas  an option that no longer seems viable as canvassing has ground to a halt.

"Everyone has a different job or career, and all of it's upended," he said. "I had a loose idea of what I was doing in a few months. And now I'm just looking into the void."

For three years in a row, Isabel Serrano applied for an internship at the same New York lobbying firm, starting when she was a sophomore at New York University. She finally got it last year and started working in January as she finished her last semester at NYU. She hoped it would turn into a job after graduation in May.

But a couple of weeks ago, as she took a walk in her parents' neighborhood in Union County, N.J., Serrano got an upsetting phone call: The internship was canceled because of the coronavirus.

"It's just a sad thing to hear," she said. "I had two more months left to really advocate for myself, and that is gone now."

Decade of 'scarring'

Historically, college students who graduate into a recession have settled for lower-paying jobs at less prestigious companies than people who finished college even a year earlier. Economists have found that the impact of that bad luck can linger for as long as 10 or 15 years, leading to higher unemployment rates and lower salaries  a phenomenon known as "scarring."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Whether the class of 2020 will face long-term consequences depends on a range of factors, including the length of the pandemic and the severity of the recession. But it doesn't look good.

A severe downturn could also jeopardize the career prospects of students who graduate later this year or in 2021.

Career counselors at some major universities are trying to stay upbeat. Kerin Borland, director of the University of Michigan Career Center, said recruiters have continued to interview students over video chat. The school also turned an in-person job fair into a digital one through a partnership with CareerEco, a virtual recruiting platform. And Borland said she has encouraged undergraduates to keep in touch with recruiters so they are in the pipeline for future jobs.

"The hope is, we will get through this unusual circumstance and move forward," Borland said. "Employers don't want to have to start from scratch in terms of building relationships with students."

Some industries, like nursing, have even seen an increase in job listings, according to ZipRecruiter. The number of e-commerce listings rose 228 percent over the past four weeks compared to last year. Personal consulting jobs went up 26 percent.

Moves are useless

Over the last few weeks, many job-hunting seniors have engaged in an awkward dance with recruiters in industries like law, journalism and technology, asking for updates. All the traditional rules of engagement in a job hunt suddenly feel irrelevant.

Kaylie Ramirez, a senior at Boston College, said she spoke with several recruiters in recent days to discuss job opportunities in financial and strategic communications. One said he empathized with Ramirez, noting that he graduated in 2009 and also faced a bleak job market. He promised to be as helpful as he could. But others advised her to hold off on sending her resume given the uncertainty.

"It was a reality check," Ramirez said. "I've gradually been lowering my expectations, and I think that confirmed what I knew deep down anyway."








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Today, I heard that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to move troops up near the Canadian border during this global coronavirus pandemic.

Supposedly, the reason is out of concern of people illegally entering the United States from Canada, resulting in the further spread of the coronavirus.

But we all know that President Trump should have more than enough to deal with regarding this domestic situation.

The United States ha salready become dubiously recognized as evolving into the new global epicentre for the coronavirus.

Therefore, such a pretext to move American troops up to Canada must be absolute hogwash, and you can bet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau knows this too.

So, what do you think the real reason is then?

Prime Minister Trudeau wouldn't be able to diplomatically express such concerns... but....

It wasnt many months ago that Donald Trump wanted to buy Greenland. Remember that one?

Having been rebuffed by the Government of Denmark, it looks like Mr. Trump is now turning his sights to Canada and seeking to use a global pandemic as a pretext for annexation designs.

Historians will remember that the last time the United States moved its troops to the Canadian border, they invaded Canada, leading to the War of 1812.

If Mr. Trump puts troops alongside the Canadian border, shouldn't a self-respecting sovereign country like Canada also put our own troops there, along with NATO allies like the United Kingdom, if necessary, in order to secure our borders from U.S. troops wandering into Canada?

Let's keep our borders demilitarized as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.

Let's continue to keep Canada sovereign and free to any imagination in Mr. Trump's head of using this crisis to seize control of Canada under the pretext of "national security."

Rest assured, if Trump moves American troops near the Canadian border, they will keep moving closer and closer to the Canadian border until they are in our lap unless we Canadians learn the lessons of history and resist such an apparentlydistrustingmove!

Aren't Canada and the U.S. now supposed to be friends and allies?

Indeed, moving troops near or at another country's border should never be regarded by that other country as a friendly move.
As a child, Osborne had lived with his mother about two blocks from the Metro station in public housing that predates the development around the Safeway store. He spent much of his teenage years living with his father but returned to the Waterfront area after he graduated two years ago from High Road Academy in the District, which is now closed. After getting into disputes, he moved in with fiance in Southeast. His mother didnt respond to a request to comment; his fiance could not be reached.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 28

Trend:

Due to the special quarantine regime, entry and exit from Gazakh district are restricted,Trend reports referring to the regional press service group of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ganja on March 28.

According to the ministry, the officers of the Gazakh district police department are taking a number of measures due to the special quarantine regime announced by the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

In accordance with the requirements of the special regime, from the morning of March 27 restrictions for the entry and exit from the district have been applied, the ministry said.

In addition, officers of the district police department urged the population to stay indoors.

Also, explanatory talks were conducted with people over 65 years of age. The police officers, reminding them of the requirements of a special quarantine regime, once again emphasized that these measures serve to protect the health of citizens and to prevent other consequences caused by the coronavirus infection.
The Maharashtra chapter of



Jamaat-e-Islami Hind urged the state government to set up a special fund to help daily wagers and unorganised workers who are left without a livelihood due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, president of JIH Maharashtra Rizwan-ur-Rahman Khan suggested that the government set up a special fund for daily-wage workers and allocate money from its budget.

The government can ask industries to divert their corporate social responsibility donations of the first quarter for the cause and also appeal to the general public to chip in, Khan suggested.

The JIH also proposed a series of measures to help those who were hit the hardest by the nationwide lockdown, which has been imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The organisation asked the state government to double the distribution of food grains and other essentials at ration shops.

It has also proposed that the state government allocate a monthly compensation of Rs 5,000 to approximately 3.65 crore unorganised labourers in Maharashtra or provide them free meals and shelter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Yorkers across the city paid tribute to medical staffers and essential workers on Friday by applauding in unison through their windows and balconies amid a rising coronavirus death toll.

The citywide tribute came about as word spread on social media on Friday urging residents to collectively applaud for healthcare workers at 7pm.

In neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs, people in apartments cheered and clapped.

Some even banged on pots and pans and yelled 'You're saving lives.'

One video posted to Twitter shows locals in the West Village section of Manhattan ascend to their rooftops and applaud.

A few blocks away from Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, where healthcare professionals bravely battle the pandemic, residents of several apartment blocks in Jackson Heights gave a two-minute standing ovation.

New Yorkers across the city paid tribute to medical staffers and essential workers on Friday by applauding in unison through their windows and balconies amid a rising coronavirus death toll

People shared the heartwarming moment on social media Friday

The citywide tribute came about as word spread on social media on Friday urging residents to collectively applaud for healthcare workers at 7pm

Similar tributes were seen and heard along Long Island City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and other parts of New York.

The initiative was first started by Karla Otto, an international public relations agency.

Karla Otto started the trending campaign on social media using the hashtag #ClapBecauseWeCare.

The campaign asked citizens to give doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, truck drivers, sanitation workers, mail delivery people, and other essential employees a two-minute ovation.

The moving tribute came as New York state's coronavirus death toll rose by 209 between Friday and Saturday.

The number of deaths in New York state reached 728 Saturday, as the US's epicenter for coronavirus struggles to bring the pandemic under control.

The death toll in the city rose to 450 as of early Saturday morning as its healthcare system is threatened with imminent collapse.

On both Thursday and Friday, another 85 people died of the virus, or an average of one New Yorker every 17 minutes. There are 26,697 confirmed NYC cases as the national total soars over 100,000.

The tribute to healthcare workers has become something of a ritual to residents in other Canadian and North American cities struck by the pandemic.

Hundreds of people in a Vancouver apartment block were seen on Wednesday standing on their balconies and applauding healthcare workers.

'Everybody's outside on their balconies, cheering on our healthcare workers,' the woman filming the video can be heard saying.

The tear-jerking moment took place at 7pm on Wednesday evening and saw masses of people congregate on their balconies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cases of COVID-19 have steadily risen in British Columbia. The region has a total of 792 confirmed cases and 16 deaths as of Friday night.

Many of those have been recorded in Vancouver - with particular concern now that a cluster of cases has cropped up at one of the city's care homes.

Brooklyn cheering health and essential workers for #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/OIALsyWeYi  Dino A. Dai Zovi (@dinodaizovi) March 27, 2020

The West Village in NYC came out tonight on their roofs to thank the Healthcare workers here in the city, the country and around the world. Thank you for all you do. #StayHome @NBCNewYork #clapbecausewecare pic.twitter.com/W73EJhO5GD  Chas Pressner (@cjpressner) March 27, 2020

To every healthcare professional, grocery store worker, delivery person, truck driver, sanitation worker, friend and neighbor: We appreciate you. #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/yXsX63UJYK  Chirlane McCray (@NYCFirstLady) March 27, 2020

Canada is now testing 10,000 people a day and has tested more than 165,000 people overall.

The country has more than 4,700 confirmed and presumptive cases and at least 55 deaths.

Another similar campaign, #ClapforourCarers, was also trending worldwide earlier this week, with people coming out in a show of support across the UK, France, Italy, India and Dubai.

This is the heartwarming moment on Wednesday when hundreds of people in a Vancouver apartment block stand on their balconies and applaud healthcare workers (left and right) as part of the 'Clap for our Carers' movement

In coronavirus-stricken nations Spain and Italy locked down locals have been seen paying tribute to their healthcare workers each evening in Madrid, Milan and Rome.

In the UK, people across the nation took part in a mass round of applause from their doorsteps, windows and balconies Friday evening at 8pm in support of NHS workers.

This came after an unofficial tribute began earlier in the week, after the message spread on social media.

Gov. Cuomo unveils 1,000-bed Manhattan field hospital - as NY state death toll soars by 146 to 603

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a rallying call to action to National Guard to 'kick coronavirus a*s' from a new, 1,000-bed field hospital at the Javits Center.

In the live broadcast Friday, Cuomo announced he was keeping all schools across the state closed for another two weeks, until April 15, to try to stop the virus spreading.

He spoke at a press conference at the Javits Center, one of the field hospitals where 1,000 beds will be placed, and addressed a crowd of National Guard troops.

He also revealed his multi-stage plan to keep the city from being overwhelmed.

Over the next three weeks, multiple field hospitals are to be built as they are needed to help ease the strain on the city's health system.

Gov. Cuomo gave a rallying call to action to National Guard troops on Friday at the Javits Center in New York City where he said there had been another 134 deaths overnight in the state of New York . In the background, hospital beds that have been set up to take in patients

He has another three in his sights that will be built at the campuses of CUNY Stony Brook, CUNY Westchester, SUNY Old Westbury.

Those three and the Javits Center provide 4,000 additional beds.

Cuomo wants to build another four sites, which will add another 4,000 beds.

He wants to put one in each borough of New York City - Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Queens and Brooklyn - and one in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester beyond the city.

A potential field hospital is the Marriott Hotel Brooklyn Bridge as is the Brooklyn Center.

The USNS Comfort, a Navy ship with 1,000 beds, is also on its way to New York City where it will dock on Monday, bringing 1,200 medical personnel with it.

They will go up in college campuses, hotels and exposition centers. Cuomo needs the president to sign off on the plan for him to be able to put it into action.

In a rallying speech to the National Guard troops who will build the sites, he said on Friday: 'This is a different beast, an invisible beast, an insidious beast.

'This is not going to be a short deployment where you go out for a few days work out and go home.

The troops were distanced to avoid spreading the disease. Cuomo praised them for their work so far and urged them to keep going

A closer view of one of the hospital rooms that has been set up in the Javits Center in the last week by the National Guard

'You are living a moment in history. This is one of those moments that they're going to write about, talk about, this is a moment that forges character, forges people, changes people, make them stronger, weaker, this is a moment that will change character.

'In 10 years from now you'll be talking about today to your children from grandchildren and you will shed a tear because you will remember the lives lost and faces and names and you'll remember how hard we worked and that we still lost loved ones.

'You will shed a tear and you should because it's sad but you will also be proud.

'That you showed up - when other people played it safe, you had the courage to show up and you had the skill and professionalism to make a difference and save lives.'
Residents from Hubei Province packed a bridge where police from the neighboring Jiangxi Province blocked their entry. (Screenshot/Social media)

Riot Breaks Out in China as People Try to Leave Virus-Hit Hubei

A riot erupted on March 27 on a bridge connecting Chinas Jiangxi Province and the virus epicenter of Hubei, where provincial authorities had lifted lockdown measures days earlier.

Footage of the incident shows residents from Hubei shouting and stomping on police cars, overturning multiple vehicles after Jiangxi police blocked them at the checkpoint on the bridge.

Go Hubei, go Hubei! Locals shouted, according to videos posted on social media.

One video filmed from a distance showed that throngs of people had filled almost the entire length of the bridge.

At least five officers from the Jiangxi side were injured, according to a police report leaked on Chinese social media.

The report also mentioned two attacks on Hubei police officers, with a deputy police chief from the local bureau pinned to the ground and another officer seized by the throat. It is unclear if any more Hubei officers were injured.

The confrontation started from around 8:00 a.m. in the morning and continued until late afternoon, local residents said.

They stop anyone from Hubei, and we couldnt leave even if we tried, Xu, a resident from the nearby Huangmei County in Hubei told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times.

They came prepared to beat people up, she said about the police from Jiangxi, adding that they wont listen to reasons.

Hubei, home to around 60 million, removed travel restrictions in regions outside Wuhan City on March 25, allowing residents to leave the province so long as they possess a green code to certify that they are in good health.

But elsewhere in the country, hostility and discrimination toward Hubei residents fueled by fears over the virus has been on on the rise. Migrant workers from Hubei have found it difficult to shake off this stigma as they return to work in other regions of China.

We are quarantined and bullied once we go out, Xu said. A dozen migrant workers that Xu knows had tried unsuccessfully to obtain work. Once the word Hubei was mentioned, they were immediately turned down.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday complained that migrant lobourers in his state belonging to Uttar Pardesh and other jurisdictions are being denied entry in their home state.

"On the directions of Union Home Ministry to our ACS Home last midnight, interstate migrants are being facilitated to reach their hometowns safely. But unfortunately migrants belonging to UP are being denied entry to their home state," Gehlot said.

He said that officials in UP informed that they don't have any direction in this regard.

This problem is being faced by migrants belonging not only to UP, but also to other neighbouring states too, he added.

"Kindly intervene. Necessary directions may be given to all states as given to Rajasthan. Though Rajasthan is well-prepared and equipped to take care of all brothers and sisters in the hour of this health crisis," Gehlot requested to the Union Home Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In cities throughout the United States, hospitals are approaching capacity as the number of people infected with COVID-19 doubles every two days. On Friday, the number of cases topped 100,000, after nearly 20,000 new cases were reported. More than 250 people died, bringing the total number of deaths to over 1,500.

Meanwhile, doctors and nurses are faced with a nationwide shortage of protective gear and health care equipment.

Nurses at Mount Sinai West in garbage bags. (Photo: Facebook, Diana Torres)

The shortage of lifesaving ventilators is rapidly emerging as a central factor that will vastly increase the death toll from the coronavirus.

In Metro Detroit, which is emerging as a center of the pandemic in the US, Henry Ford Health System warned patients that because of shortages, those who are extremely sick may be ineligible for ICU or ventilator care. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (a former health care executive) praised the letter yesterday, declaring that what they put out is honest.

Other health care systems are preparing even more horrific measures. The states of Washington and Alabama are activating statutes that would allow them to deny lifesaving care to the mentally disabled.

A lawsuit filed by the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program noted that the states emergency plan for ventilator rationing specifically singles out and excludes certain people with intellectual disabilities from access to ventilators in the event of rationing Hospitals are ordered to not offer mechanical ventilator support for patients with severe or profound mental retardation This policy also applies to children.

Within days, medical professionals will be living their worst nightmare, forced to determine who lives and who dies.

Trumps claim that nobody in their wildest dreams would have ever thought that wed need tens of thousands of ventilators is an outright lie. In fact, innumerable reports and articles from epidemiologists, health care professionals and even government agencies have made precisely such warnings.

A 2003 report from the Government Accountability Office warned that few hospitals have adequate medical equipment, such as ventilators that are often needed for respiratory infections. In 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services published a Pandemic Influenza Plan noting that in a severe pandemic it is possible that shortages, for example of mechanical ventilators, will occur

In June 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report from epidemiologists, Stockpiling Ventilators for Influenza Pandemics, which stated: Substantial concern exists that intensive care units (ICUs) might have insufficient resources to treat all persons requiring ventilator support. Prior studies argue that current capacities are insufficient to handle even moderately severe pandemics

However, the federal government, under both Democrats and Republicans, did nothing. The amount spent on the military every year over the past two decades is more than 50 times what it would have cost to build a national stockpile of one million ventilators. To produce such a stockpile would have cost about $15 billion, a minuscule fraction of what was used to bail out the banks.

Now, in the face of a critical ventilator shortage, major corporations see the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to generate enormous profits through price gouging and profiteering.

On Friday, the New York Times reported that plans by General Motors to produce ventilators fell through because the Trump administration balked at the price demanded by the company.

The move came after the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it needed more time to assess whether the estimated cost was prohibitive. That price tag was more than $1 billion, with several hundred million dollars to be paid upfront to General Motors. GM reported profits of $6.5 billion last year.

The Times added, The $1.5 billion price tag comes to around $18,000 a ventilator. And the overall cost, by comparison, is roughly equal to buying 18 F-35s, the Pentagons most advanced fighter jet.

GM subsequently announced that it would go ahead with producing the ventilators, in partnership with medical device company Ventec.

For its part, the Trump administration refrained for weeks from invoking the Defense Production Act to enforce the production of ventilators and other equipment because it did not want to impose any demands on the corporations. On Friday, Trump announced that he would utilize the act to compel GM to do something it had already pledged to do.

With parts in short supply, almost none of the ventilators will be available for the massive expansion of demand expected in the next two months. The Times noted that the overall boost will not have a major effect until early summer, industry executives saidperhaps in time for a second wave of infections.

As the Trump administration and the auto giant haggle over how much will be paid and how much GM will profit, people are dying.

The Socialist Equality Party fights for the conversion of all major corporations, including the gigantic health care and manufacturing companies, into public utilities, under democratic control. All resources must be made available not for bailing out the corporations and buying up the assets of Wall Street investors, but for an emergency program to produce ventilators and other equipment and build hospitals.

To the extent that private property gets in the way of saving lives, it must be swept aside. The vast technological and scientific advances and the enormous productive forces of humanity must be freed from the constraints placed on them by the profit motive and the nation-state system.

Every serious effort to deal with this coronavirus crisis, and to prepare for it, has been sabotaged by private ownership of the means of production. This is the basic issue: whether economic life is directed by the ruling elite on the basis of profit and the accumulation of wealth, or whether it is directed by the working class on the basis of social need. Capitalism or socialism.

We call on all workers and young people to join the Socialist Equality Party today and take up this fight.
More than 800,000 doctors across the United States sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to reinforce social distancing after he suggested the economy could reopen by Easter.

They claim opening the economy by Easter could 'gravely jeopardize the health of all Americans.'

The Council of Medicinal Speciality Societies addressed the letter to Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and White House Coronavirus Task Force Ambassador Deborah Birx on Friday.

In the letter, they said medical staff is risking their lives to treat coronavirus patients and ask that the Trump administration support 'science-based recommendations' on social distancing.

More than 800,000 physicians across the United States sent a letter to The White House, asking that they use scientific data in discussions about reopening the country

They wrote: 'Significant COVID-19 transmission continues across the United States, and we need your leadership in supporting science-based recommendations on social distancing that can slow the virus.

'Statewide efforts alone will not sufficiently control this public health crisis.

'A strong nationwide plan that supports and enforces social distancingand recognizes that our health and our economy are inextricably linkedshould remain in place until public health and medical experts indicate it can be lifted.'

Trump previously said in a press conference that he'd love to see the U.S. economy and businesses reopen by April 12.

He's since eased his stance slightly after Dr. Anthony Fuaci pushed back against the premature deadline, but has not officially backed down.

President Trump (pictured) mentioned earlier this month that the American economy could reopen by Easter - despite pushback from health officials

The letter also said that reopening the economy could severely jeopardize Americans.

They wrote: 'Federal, state, and local governments should only set a date for lifting nationwide social distancing restrictions consistent with assessments by public health and medical experts.

'Lifting restrictions sooner will gravely jeopardize the health of all Americans and extend the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.'

More than 40 national medical organizations signed the letter, including the Society of Hospital Medicine and the American Geriatrics Society.

Medical staff have reported that hospitals resemble a 'war zone' after the coronavirus pandemic swarmed hospitals with patients and diminished medical supplies

The White House has yet to respond to the letter.

As of Saturday, the United States has recorded 112,480 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 1,846 deaths.

In New York City, the death toll is now 517 and there are 29,766 confirmed cases.

There are more than 100,000 cases of coronavirus in the United States

Across the city, medical emergency calls were up 40 percent to about 6,500 a day, shattering historical records and leading to up to 170 callers being put on hold at a time, according to EMS union officials.

FDNY officials are strongly urging New Yorkers to call 911 only if they are having urgent emergencies, such as heart troubles or problems breathing.

'Please allow first responders to assist those most in need. Only call 911 if you need help right away,' the department said in a statement.

On both Thursday and Friday, another 85 people died of the virus here, or an average of one New Yorker every 17 minutes.

Recent reports found that the country has amassed the largest numbers of infections in the world, surpassing both China and Italy.

Despite the grim figures, Trump claimed that data being released by China - which has claimed zero new domestic infections in recent days - could not be trusted and that higher rates of testing in the US was behind the surge in cases.

In New York City, there are more than 29,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus

He also accused Andrew Cuomo - the governor of hardest-hit New York - of exaggerating the state's need for ventilators, a key piece of equipment used to keep coronavirus patients in critical condition alive.

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top disease expert, was forced to again pour cold water on Trump's repeated suggestion that the US could be back open for business by April 12.

'I think what the President was trying to do, he was making an aspirational projection to give people some hope,' Facui - who was briefly banished from coronavirus press briefings after contradicting Trump - told CNN.

'But he's listening to us when we say that we've really got to reevaluate it in real time, and any decision we make has to be based on the data.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured) said Trump's Easter deadline may have been a 'aspirational projection' to give anxious citizens hope

Trump previously called his Easter deadline a 'beautiful time.'

'I thought it was a beautiful time. A beautiful timeline,' he said at his daily White House briefing on the coronavirus outbreak.

It wasn't revealed what data the Trump administration decided on that particular timeline.

'It was based on a certain level of weeks from time we started and it happened to arrive, we were thinking of terms of sooner. I'd love to see it come sooner,' President Trump said.

Trump has since appeared to soften his timeline and told Americans that some areas could remain closed while others opened.

Pictured: a graph showing several states', including New York and Washington, rate of coronavirus deaths thus far

The United States has reported at least 112,480 infections and 1,846 deaths as of Saturday

'So were going to be talking, and it could be we'll do sections of our country,' Trump said Wednesday at the White House.

'There's big sections of our country that are very, you know, little affected by what's taking place, then there are other sections that are very heavily affected,' the president said.

'Then there are other sections that are very heavily affected, so theres a big difference,' Trump said.

'I would say by Easter we'll have a recommendation,' he said  indicating he would be guided by health experts and other advisors.

On Friday, the Surgeon General said some states may be battling coronavirus until as late as Labor Day.

'Everyone's timeline is going to be different. Some places haven't hit their peak yet,' said Dr. Jerome Adams on Good Morning America.

'We're trying to give people the testing data to make informed choices. It doesn't matter if it's Easter, Memorial Day or Labor Day.

'We know we want people to be thinking about what they can do now to get through as few deaths and hospitalizations as possible,' he said.

Dr. Jerome Adams (pictured) told Good Morning America that some areas in the United States may be closed until Labor Day

As officials work to find a realistic deadline on social distancing, doctors and medical staff across the country are in a 'war zone.'

Health care workers in New York are pleading for more medical supplies, like ventilators and face masks, as they face an influx of patients.

Early research said that medical staff is more likely to contract coronavirus than the average person and, unfortunately, could experience more severe symptoms.

Dr. Colleen Smith, of Elmhurst Hospital, told WLNY just how dire the situation at the medical center is.

According to Anthony Almojera, an employee with the EMS officers union, emergency workers are falling ill from the many coronavirus related call their answering, saying: 'Our concern is that we dont have the resources like masks and other protective equipment'

'I want people to know that this is bad. People are dying. We dont have the tools that we need,' she said.

'Our concern is that we dont have the resources like masks and other protective equipment,' said Anthony Almojera, an employee with the EMS officers union.

'9/11 didnt have this many calls. Were doing it now everyday for the last two weeks the call volume has gone up and up,' he added.

'From the perspective of being properly prepared, the training is there. The equipment is not.'




Twenty-five new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Manitoba since Friday morning, bringing the total number of probable or lab-confirmed cases to 64 as the province prepares to enact new, stricter guidelines on gathering sizes in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Twenty-five new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Manitoba since Friday morning, bringing the total number of probable or lab-confirmed cases to 64 as the province prepares to enact new, stricter guidelines on gathering sizes in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.

It was too soon to say whether any of the 25 new cases came through so-called "pop up" community transmission, Manitobas chief public health officer Brent Roussin said at Saturday mornings news briefing. So far, he said, all of the previously identified cases have been linked to travel.

Roussin emphasized the significant increase is not surprising, as COVID-19 continues its march across the globe.

"These are numbers that we expected to see," he said. "These are the numbers weve been planning all along to see, and we know that were going to expect numbers to increase over time. Were going to see community transmission here in Manitoba. Its what weve been preparing for."

One person is now battling the virus in intensive care, Roussin said. He had no further details about that patient.

The increase in cases comes as Manitoba is preparing to implement stricter public health orders, which will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Public gatherings will now be limited to 10 people, while retail stores and public transit must ensure there is space of one to two metres between people.

The 10-person limit applies to places of worship and gatherings such as weddings and funerals. It does not apply to health-care facilities or social service providers, such as child-care centres and homeless shelters. These changes, along with Manitobans adherence to physical distancing, can help contain COVID-19, Roussin stressed.

"This is not the time for fear," Roussin said. "This is the time for knowledge. Its the time for credible information. And its time for action. So if you havent been able to implement those social distancing strategies yet, start today. Its not too late. We can interrupt the transmission starting today if everyone starts doing their part."

Meanwhile, Manitoba is still working to get a handle on a mountain of COVID-19 tests and notifications.

On Friday, 919 tests for COVID-19 were processed, bringing the total number of completed tests to 7,147. New screening sites opened Friday in Portage la Prairie and Eriksdale, which tested 19 and six people respectively. In addition, the new Pine Falls site tested 18 people in advance of its official opening on Monday.

Chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa stressed that these are not walk-in locations. Testing in Manitoba is done via referral only. Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links at 204-788-8200, or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257 to see if a test is required.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, delivers a COVID-19 update at the Manitoba legislature.(John Woods / The Canadian Press files)

Siragusa also described how the province is making progress clearing a large notification backlog for negative tests, after enlisting laboratory company Dynacare to help handle making calls. While positive tests were given priority for notification, those with negative results waited days just to learn they didnt have the virus.

With Dynacare taking over some of that backlog on Friday, 800 Manitobans were informed of their negative results, Siragusa said. She added that those still waiting for results can expect a call on Monday.

Some Manitobans have found their lives disrupted by the slow pace of notifications.

After returning from a trip to the U.S. early this month, one Winnipeg health-care worker began a 14-day quarantine. When she developed mild flu symptoms, she was referred for testing at the Access Fort Garry site on March 19, and was initially told she would receive results within four days.

Saturday  nine days later  a call confirmed her test was negative.

On Saturday, the provincial NDP called for greater transparency from the province around testing. Specifically, the opposition is asking the province to publicly report how many swabs have been taken and tests completed at each screening site, and to report on the number of tests in queue to be processed.

"Testing plays an important part in our ability to flatten the curve," NDP leader Wab Kinew said in a statement. "When armed with all the information they need, Manitobans will feel better about their health, and the health of our own communities."

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Elsewhere in Canada, there are some early signs of hope.

The jump in Manitoba comes one day after British Columbia released new internal data showing that its mitigation strategies, including physical distancing, may be showing success at flattening the curve of the viruss spread from an average 24 per cent daily increase to 12 per cent as of March 21.

The two provinces are at very different places in the epidemics spread. B.C. recorded its first case of COVID-19 in January, and has documented community transmission since the first week of March. But its models could offer an encouraging sign that efforts to slow the spread of the virus can work.

Roussin said Manitoba hopes to have similar projections to show Manitobans in the coming weeks.

"We are working on that, and we will try to get something together," he said. "All along weve had early statistical analyses done... We have partners at the national level helping us."

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
I MUST prepare as if Covid-19 is coming for me! I must behave as if I already have it! writes Fr Roy Donovan, parish priest of Caherconlish & Inch St. Laurence.

He was asked to write about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected his life and priestly duties and he kindly penned this piece for the Limerick Leader

Wash hands. Dont travel. Stay at home. Social distancing. The over 60s are put out as among the most vulnerable. Understandably, because most priests are over 60, we need to be extra careful and even more so given that up to 28 priests have died in Italy because of Covid-19 (as of March 18). Many more are in critical conditions. It is a learning curve, in that we are slowly taking on board the seriousness of our fast facing reality.

I find that the psychiatrist, Elizabeth Kubler-Rosss five stages of grief, put forward in her book, On Death and Dying, is a helpful framework for understanding the emotions I am presently experiencing.

These are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. It doesnt have to be in that particular order. Denial tends to be huge - I cant believe this is happening. Why me? Why Now? It is surreal. I cant get my head around it. Sometimes I find myself holding my head in my hands. As if my head is spinning and I want to calm it. There is confusion, shock and fear.

I am not sure about the Anger. There was huge anger among people with the Celtic Tiger demise. What is our current mood? There is certain anxiety, irritation and frustration. So many have lost their jobs.

There is Bargaining - a struggle to find meaning in this. I want to reach out to others. I want to tell my story.

Depression? Feeling down  very low beat. Feeling overwhelmed / helplessness. No light at the end of the tunnel. How long is this tunnel?

There are brief moments of Acceptance of reality  of adjusting to a rapidly changing situation with few remaining securities and certainties. I do find myself being more patient and creative. These moments can be followed quickly with disbelief, shock and further fear. This framework helps me to name what is happening inside me and enables me to maintain good emotional and mental wellbeing.

I could argue that I have lost my job too  in that the whole sacramental system / weekend public Masses which are a large part of my life are gone. I can also identify more with the 70% of people who get on without the sacramental system.

Yes, I have become largely redundant. I am experiencing what Seamus Heaney calls in his poem, Clearances  the space we stood around had been emptied ..... clearances that suddenly stood open.

I am back to myself the person, Roy, stripped of the priestly roles and priest identity. All the escape routes of being busy and running away have been blocked.

It is a bit like the song Ive Never Been to Me  I've been to Nice and the isle of Greece, been to paradise, never been to me.

This is good. I welcome this as a great opportunity for quietness, reflection, being in nature, cooking, reading and prayer. It has, at times, the feel of being on a long retreat. Or is it a foretaste of what retirement is like?

On the other hand, I am still 24/7 with mobile and social media connections. We have our parish website, Facebook and weekly community newsletter.

There are the sick calls and the possibility of funerals. Some priests are providing a daily Mass on the webcam from behind closed doors.

Etty Hillesun, the young Jewish woman, who was killed in the Holocaust, states that her practice of prayer became an act of kneeling as if my body was made for kneeling. Her kneeling was not pleading or interceding but Listening to that hidden source within me. That God is discovered as that which is deepest and best in me.

We have come to the end of the listening process initiated by Archbishop Kieran OReilly and now we must plan ahead. Interestingly, listening became Ettys primary mode of believing. I am listening in other ways too  how am I today, have I got any of the symptoms? Am I coughing? Have I a fever? Am I attending to my immune system? Am I getting enough sleep?

It is to be noted that Bishop Brendan Leahy in his Lenten letter emphasised the need for ecological conversion  attending to the earth as our common home. Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff states, Not by accident did the virus break out where there is more pollution.

He believes that current diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika virus, SARS, Ebola, measles, the current coronavirus and the generalised degradation in human relationships, marked by profound inequality / social injustice and the lack of a minimum of solidarity, are a reprisal of mother earth for the offences that we continuously inflict on her.

He states that the earth begs for a different attitude towards her: of respect for her rhythms and limits, of care for her sustainability and of feeling more than the sons and daughters of mother earth, but as the earth itself that feels, thinks, loves, venerates and cares.

I agree with Boff and I believe that Etty Hillesum got it right. Deep listening became the primary mode of her believing.

Listening to that hidden source that is within me and that God is what is deepest and best in me.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Europes leaders must protect free flow of information to tackle COVID-19: (...)

International Press Institute, 25 March 2020

The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today called on European leaders to protect free flow of information and ensure that media freedom will be guaranteed as states strive to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

IPI joined together with eight other press freedom bodies to express its profound concerns about the dangers of governments taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to punish independent and critical media and to introduce restrictions on the access of media to government decision making and action.

While recognizing that certain emergency measures are needed to combat the pandemic, IPI said that such measures must be necessary, proportionate, strictly time-limited and subject to regular scrutiny, in order to solve the immediate health crisis.

The groups also stressed that the free flow of independent news is more essential than ever, both for informing the public on vital measures to contain the virus as well as in maintaining public scrutiny and debate on the adequacy of those measures.

o o

Dear,

Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Charles Michel, President of the European Council

David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament

We, the undersigned press freedom and freedom of expression organisations, are writing to express our profound concerns about the dangers of governments taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to punish independent and critical media and to introduce restrictions on the access of media to government decision making and action.

The free flow of independent news is more essential than ever, both for informing the public on vital measures to contain the virus as well as in maintaining public scrutiny and debate on the adequacy of those measures.

In this respect we support the joint statement put out by the three global and regional special rapporteurs for freedom of expression, David Kaye (U.N.), Harlem Desir (OSCE) and Edison Lanza (OAS), that the right to freedom of expression, , applies to everyone, everywhere, and may only be subject to narrow restrictions.

While we appreciate that certain emergency measures are needed to combat the pandemic, all such measures must be necessary, proportionate, strictly time-limited and subject to regular scrutiny, in order to solve the immediate health crisis. Unfortunately, numerous governments around the world are already using the pandemic to claim excessive powers that can undermine democratic institutions, including the free press. These dangerous developments could easily outlive the current health crisis unless we act urgently to stop them.

This week, the Hungarian government is demanding an indefinite extension of the state of emergency and the power to impose prison sentences of up to five years on journalists and others for promoting false information related to COVID-19.

Our organizations are acutely aware of the dangers of disinformation and how it is used by unscrupulous groups to spread panic and division. However, this does not justify draconian powers that risk being used against journalists whose work is indispensable in protecting public health and ensuring accountability.

It is little surprise that Hungary, with its record of undermining media freedom, should be the first EU member state to make such an extreme and opportunistic power grab. The few remaining independent media outlets in the country are regularly attacked and accused of spreading fake news for raising simple questions about the governments preparedness and strategy for tackling the pandemic. If approved, this new law would grant the Hungarian government a convenient tool to threaten journalists and intimidate them into self-censorship. We fear this is a step toward the complete repression of media freedom in Hungary that could outlive the pandemic.

Were this law to pass it would set a fearful precedent for other European Union member states tempted to follow Hungarys example  troubling signs exist in other states as well  and do untold damage to fundamental rights and democracy as well as undermining efforts to end the pandemic.

Secondly, our organizations are also concerned about the proliferation of enhanced surveillance measures introduced to monitor the spread of the virus. While we understand the potential benefits, the use of surveillance must have proper oversight and be clearly limited to tackling the pandemic. Unchecked surveillance endangers privacy and data rights, while journalists ability to protect sources is undermined and self-censorship rises.

Thirdly, our organizations are concerned about media access to government officials, decision makers, medical experts and those on the front line of the pandemic. Many countries have introduced restrictions on freedom of movement which we insist must not be used to prevent media from bearing witness to the crisis.

At the same time many governments are restricting access to officials by reducing the physical presence of journalists to press conferences. Slovenia and the Czech Republic for example announced ending them altogether. Such measures must not be allowed to restrict media scrutiny of government.

We are in the early stages of the pandemic where, for the most part, governments and media are cooperating closely as they struggle to respond to this unprecedented threat to public health. They both have a duty to ensure the public are fully informed and the response to the pandemic is as effective as possible.

However, we are acutely aware that as the crisis persists, the death toll mounts and as widespread job losses and a certain global recession loom, the actions and decisions of government will come under intense examination. The temptation for some governments to abuse new found emergency powers to stifle criticism will, in some cases, be overwhelming. This must not be allowed to happen.

In a period when our citizens fundamental rights are being suspended around Europe, the need for media scrutiny to ensure no abuse of these new powers are stronger than ever.

We therefore call on you to use the power of your offices to ensure that fundamental human rights and press freedom will be guaranteed as the European Union strives to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular we ask you to:

1. Robustly oppose the measures currently before the Hungarian parliament and make it clear that the European Union will not accept the application of Emergency legislation that undermines fundamental human rights and media freedoms

2. Demand that governments ensure full access for media professionals to decision makers and actors on the front line of the health crisis as well as the broader workings of government,

3. Declare journalism and the free flow of information as essential to Europes efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic

Kind Regards,

ARTICLE 19

Association of European Journalists (AEJ)

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Index on Censorship

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
The government of Ghana has imposed restrictions on movement in some major parts of the country for two weeks effective 1 a.m. March 31.

Addressing the nation Friday evening, President Nana Akufo-Addo said stricter measures were needed to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Prevailing circumstances mean stricter measures need to be put in place to stop the spread of the virus in-country in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi which have been identified by the Ghana Health Service as the hotspots of the infections, he said.

In doing this, we cannot afford to copy blindly and do all the things some other well-developed countries are doing. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to this pandemic. We have a unique situation in our country, and we must take it into account in dealing with the disease, whilst meeting all the six (6) key WHO guidelines on the most effective ways of combating the pandemic, he said.

The presidents decision is backed by the new Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) which was passed by Parliament last week despite opposition from the main opposition political party, the National Democratic Congress. The bill gives legal backings to the presidents directives to deal with the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Effective 1 am Monday 30th March, some 48 hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on the movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East) and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two weeks, subject to review, he said.

Essential service providers are exempted from the lockdown. These include members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, journalists, members of the security service assigned lawful duties, producers, distributors and marketers of food and beverages and fuel station staff.

President Akufo-Addo also announced a COVID-19 Fund to receive contributions and donations to assist the poor and vulnerable. He said he is donating his April, May and June salaries to the fund as seed capital.

I am announcing tonight the establishment of a COVID-19 Fund, to be managed by an independent board of trustees, and chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, to receive contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. I have directed the Controller and Accountant General to pay my next three months salary, that is April, May and June, into this Fund, he said.

The country as of March 27 has recorded 137 cases of Covid-19. The majority of cases, 78, are travellers who have been mandatorily quarantined and tested following a directive by the president last week. A total of four deaths and two recoveries have also been recorded.

Calls for a Lock Down

Calls for a lockdown of the country, especially the epicentre of the disease, Accra and Kumasi, have been deafening following an exponential increase in the number of confirmed cases on Tuesday, March 24. The number of confirmed cases jumped from 27 to 53.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) at the time indicated the increase was as a result of tests performed on travellers who had been mandatorily quarantined following a directive by the President.

The sudden spike in case incidence is as a result of the mandatory quarantine and compulsory testing for all travellers entering Ghana, as directed by the president information on the GHS Covid-19 dedicated website read.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) lent its voice to the calls on Wednesday noting that a restriction on movement is in the countrys best interest.

The Lockdown though not a comfortable decision for leadership and citizens alike is a proven option backed by science and along with the other measures will ultimately be in our best interest, the GMA said in a press statement.

The Minister of Information, Kojo Nkrumah, had, in response to the calls said the government was considering all available options.

All options are on the table. Government continues to receive advice which is subjected to analysis by experts. The decision to lockdown is not one that is taken lightly or because weve seen other persons doing it. Experts continue to provide advice to decision-makers, he said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Government was given clearance to arrange a repatriation flight following a phone call between Tanaiste Simon Coveney and the Peruvian foreign minister. Stock photo: Getty

More than 100 Irish citizens stranded in Peru are expected to be flown back to Ireland tomorrow.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Government was given clearance to arrange a repatriation flight following a phone call between Tanaiste Simon Coveney and the Peruvian foreign minister.

Arrangements are being made for the internal transport of those in Cusco and Lima.

"Diplomatic clearance has been given for a repatriation flight now scheduled for Sunday at 4pm," a statement from the DFA said.

"Our embassy in Santiago (Chile) is in contact with our citizens on the ground in Peru keeping them informed.

"A large amount of effort is also going into arrangements for the internal transport of our citizens, especially from Cusco to Lima.

"That remains a very challenging situation."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:49:00|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The following are the updates on the contagious illness.

ISLAMABAD -- An 8-member medical expert team organized by the Chinese government arrived here on Saturday to help Pakistan fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the Chinese medical team at the Islamabad International Airport and thanked them for coming to Pakistan to help the country overcome the disease.

"I would like to thank the Chinese people, and the Chinese government...for going out of the way to support Pakistan and our effort to fight the COVID-19," he said.

- - - -

KUALA LUMPUR -- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies must put an end to trade-restrictive policies to help fight COVID-19, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) said on Saturday.

Such practices would hamper and delay recovery efforts if the engines of trade and investment could not be restarted quickly, Chair of ABAC Rohana Mahmood said in a statement released on Saturday.

- - - -

LAGOS -- One of Nigeria's largest financial institution, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), has announced a donation of 14 million U.S. dollars, to catalyze a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a statement made available to Xinhua on Saturday, the bank's donation, which will be provided through UBA Foundation, will create significant and much-needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to governments.

- - - -

MEXICO CITY -- As the novel coronavirus is spreading across the world, Latin America, which is home to about 650 million people and where the infection cases are climbing, is doubling down on efforts to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hardest-hit countries, including Brazil, Ecuador and Chile, have imposed blanket quarantine measures and night curfews, and shut down most businesses as the region's confirmed cases have exceeded 10,000 with over 160 fatalities, according to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University.

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia on Saturday decided to impose temporary entry restrictions for foreign travelers for one month in order to stem the spread of COVID-19, according to a foreign ministry's statement.

The measure will take effective from March 30 at midnight, the statement said.

It said the kingdom decided to suspend the issuance of tourist visa, e-visa and visa on arrival to any foreigner for a period of one month.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable.
By Yuan Shenggao, China Daily | Mar. 27, 2020

On Feb 20, a China Southern Airlines aircraft took off from Guangzhou, Guangdong provinces, carrying 95 medical workers and over 4 metric tons of medical equipment, to help in the fight against COVID-19 in the city of Jingzhou, Hubei province.

As Jingzhou's airport is still under construction, the flight landed at Yichang at 6:33 pm, which is 100 kilometers away.

Yichang Sanxia Airport is located in a mountainous area, which poses challenges for night flights. The airline chose two experienced captains and six crew members.

Hong Yuan, one of the crew members, has 17 years of work experience. "I felt proud to contribute toward the nation's epidemic control," he said.

On the same day, six other chartered airplanes of the airline took medical workers from Shenyang, Harbin and Chongqing, to Wuhan, Hubei, as arranged by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the National Health Commission. On that day, the airline transported 707 medical workers and 40.1 tons of medical supplies in total.

Liu Limin, purser on the flight from Shenyang, will retire in May. "It's the most precious and unforgettable flight in my career," she said, referring to flying with those selfless "white angels"-- her way to describe the medical workers.

The 200 passengers were from the intensive care, respiratory and contagion departments of 36 medical institutes in Liaoning province where Shenyang is its capital.

During the key period for domestic epidemic control, China Southern Airlines allocated 50 all-cargo flights every week to transport medical supplies and production parts from overseas, including Japan, the Netherlands, Thailand, South Korea, Germany, the United States and Kenya.

On Feb 24, a flight carried 41.2 tons of necessities, including protective suits, face masks, gloves and goggles, from Sydney to Wuhan. This was the first time for the airline to operate a direct overseas flight to Wuhan after the outbreak.

On Feb 18, a cargo flight arrived in Shanghai from Frankfurt, Germany, with 66 tons of auto parts. Some carmakers in China faced a shortage of parts due to the suspension of logistics. China Southern Airlines launched the temporary flight to meet their demand.

By March 9, the airline had sent 5,022 flights serving 16,045 medical workers and other passengers, as well as transporting more than 4,637 tons of necessities, data from the company showed.

Wang Changshun, Party secretary and chairman of the airline, said epidemic control is the most important work, so the company has pooled all its resources.

China Southern Airlines was one of the first airlines to send medical workers to Wuhan on Jan 24. Since Jan 26, it has charged no fees for the transportation of medical necessities used in the outbreak. Cleaning and disinfection of cabins are also conducted under strict guidance.

The company has donated 10,000 protective suits, 10,000 face masks and 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) to Hubei province for epidemic control.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that all the States have been directed to provide temporary accommodation, food, medical care and other necessary facilities to migrant labourers during the nationwide lockdown using SDRF's funds.

"On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, today all the States have been directed in view of COVID-19 to provide temporary accommodation, food, clothing, medical care, etc., to all the homeless people, migrant laborers and those who are staying in relief camps due to the lockdown, using the SDRF's fund allocation," tweeted Shah.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the people should be given shelter in relief camps' under SDRF fund allocations.

The Centre had announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for 21 days to fight COVID-19 on March 22. All road, rail and air services have been suspended during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Across the country, health care professionals have mobilized to treat patients suffering from the novel coronavirus, and many are doing so without adequate supplies and equipment.

Now, some are sharing what it's like inside their hospitals as they face an unprecedented crisis. Some are overwhelmed, they told CNN, and others are afraid. Their hearts break for their patients and their patients' families.

Here's what they have to say.

'It's extremely heartbreaking'

A registered ICU nurse with University of Chicago Medicine told CNN she's scared about what the ICU could look like in another week, as the US Surgeon General said Chicago was one of several emerging coronavirus hot spots in the United States.

"The number of Covid patients we are getting is rapidly increasing every day and all of us collectively worry about what will happen as it gets worse if this is where we are starting," said the nurse, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

And she's not the only one who's afraid, she added.

"When I was working on the Covid unit, some nurses did not want to eat or drink for 12 hours because they were scared to take off and put on the same PPE (personal protective equipment)," she said.

It's been hard, she said, to see the toll the coronavirus takes on families who are unable to visit their loved ones in the hospital.

"It's extremely heartbreaking for the families of these patients to have to stay at home while their loved ones fight for their lives," she told CNN. "It's brought me to tears a few times updating family on the phone and hearing their frustrations just hoping their family member will start to get better soon."

University of Chicago Medicine has not responded to CNN's request for comment.

'I cried the entire ride home'

In a social media post Wednesday, one nurse at a large Long Island hospital in New York shared her feelings on social media, saying, "I haven't slept because my mind won't shut off."

The nurse, who said she works in a Covid-19 triage area, said the previous night was "so far the worst I have seen."

Patients were streaming in nonstop, she said, coughing and sweating, with fevers and "fear in their eyes." The nurse wrote that she cried in the bathroom during her break, peeling off the PPE that left indentations in her face.

"I cry for my co workers, because we know it will get worse and I already feel like that is impossible and we are already at our breaking point," she said. "I cry for the parents, children, siblings, spouses who cannot be with their loved ones who may be dying but can't have visitors because there is no visiting allowed."

"I am begging you to stay home," she wrote. "Please. I cannot stay home and if you do not listen this will not end. It looks like a movie but it's real life and I cannot believe it's real."

'I may be the last face they see'

Dr. Cory Deburghgraeve, an anesthesiologist at the University of Illinois in Chicago, said he's working 94 hours this week. He's the designated "airway anesthesiologist" giving coronavirus patients breathing tubes in a procedure called intubation.

Deburghgraeve shared a video with CNN of him donning his PPE, putting on gloves, a protective gown, a face mask and then another mask that looks like a space helmet.

Intubation, he said, is considered a high-risk procedure "because we are so close to the patient's mouth while placing the tube and they often cough up secretions which releases virus into the air we breathe."

Deburghgraeve said he and his colleagues have been "shocked" at the ages of some of their patients. He's had several in their 30s, 40s and 50s, he said. The coronavirus, he warned, doesn't just affect older people.

"What's very devastating for me is some people we know will not survive," he said, "and since they're not allowed to have visitors, I may be the last face they see and voice they hear ever as I put them to sleep (general anesthesia) prior to being on a ventilator.

"So, despite being busy ... I try to show extra compassion, extra emotion, try to hold their hands and as much as I can (have) human connection, despite the fact that I'm wearing what looks like a space suit."

'There's patients everywhere'

A physician assistant working in an emergency room in Queens, New York, told CNN there was an "every man for themselves" mentality when it came to the PPE at the hospital.

"You have people out on the streets that have masks and meanwhile the hospitals are all running out of masks," said the physician assistant, who CNN is not naming because they feared repercussions for speaking to the media.

The physician assistant said they were told they would have to make their N95 mask last for five days. The PPE is being prioritized, the physician assistant said, for staff working with intubated patients, who are most at risk of infection.

The physician assistant described a crowded emergency room that is essentially doubling as an ICU because of the large number of patients who need to be intubated. Chairs and stretchers are being brought in to compensate for the influx of patients.

"There's patients everywhere," the physician assistant said

Hard to move in cramped conditions

An emergency room physician at a hospital in the New York borough of Queens said doctors and nurses must deal with cramped spaces.

"Stretchers are packed in metal-to-metal, stacked three deep head to toe, with no space ... to walk to patients," the physician said. "When patients deteriorate, you hope you see them from across the room and hope you can move enough stretchers out of the way to get that person to a critical care area."

The doctor added that "critical care patients are stuffed into the critical care area with patients floating in the middle of the room," and that some admitted patients are sitting in chairs because they do not have any more free stretchers, and there is no room.

The physician said the availability of portable oxygen tanks is a concern. "We are in danger of running out of those tanks every day," the doctor said.

'Everything is not fine'

At Elmhurst Hospital in New York, health care workers are living in a "constant state of paranoia," according to one person who identified as a nurse there but did not want to be named.

"We don't know if we even have the virus," the person said, "and we're so scared to give it to someone else."

At least 13 people died at the Queens hospital within a 24-hour period, according to a Wednesday statement from NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst. The hospital is "at the center of this crisis," the statement said, and the staff is "going above and beyond" to address it.

"Leaders from various offices from the President to the head of Health and Hospitals saying things like, 'We're going to be fine, everything's fine.' And from our perspective, everything is not fine," Dr. Colleen Smith, an emergency room doctor at Elmhurst, told The New York Times in a video.

Smith shared footage from inside the hospital, of hospital beds and a room she said was filled with coronavirus patients. Outside the building, a refrigerated truck was being used to store the bodies of patients who died, she said.

"I don't have the support that I need, and even just the materials that I need physically to take care of my patients," Smith said. "And it's America and we're supposed to be a first-world country."
LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - Britain's failure to join a European Union procurement programme for ventilators to treat those ill with coronavirus was due to a communications issue, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said.

The email mix up meant that the United Kingdom did not receive an invitation to join the EU procurement process, a British government spokesman said.

"There was an issue in terms of communications so the tendering process on those schemes had already started," Sharma told BBC radio. "If there are future schemes we will absolutely look to see whether we should be joining them." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Kate Holton)
The six sectors hit hardest by shutdowns and disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic may not see a restart until 2021, an analysis by the global consultants McKinsey has said.

The consultancy group said the aerospace/defence industry and the air/travel industry will take the longest to recover and could well stretch into the first half of next year. But it wont be easy for others either. The economic shock of coronavirus would be huge. In the US, it said, the impact could exceed anything seen since the end of World War II.

Nothing is going to be the same. This is a new normal, a different way of operating, McKinsey global managing partner Kevin Sneader told news channel CNBC.

I think for our clients, theyre worried about their employees, their customers, and cashin that order. And they are worried about cash, he said.

The shock to our lives and livelihoods from the virus-suppression efforts could be the biggest in nearly a century. In Europe and in the United States, the required lockdowns of the population and other efforts to control the virus are likely to lead to the largest quarterly decline in economic activity since 1933.

In a series of reports outlining the challenges and road ahead for countries and companies, the group called for action across five stages from the crisis to the new normal that will emerge after the battle against coronavirus has been won: Resolve, Resilience, Return, Reimagination, and Reform.

It may take years to recover from production and supply chain stoppages, due to critical vendors located in areas impacted by the virus. Long order backlogs mitigate some concerns, though rapid adoption of remote work technologies may put a dent in high-profitability business travel, the report noted.

The group has also cautioned companies against only looking at the short term. Immediate and effective response is vital but the longer-term dimensions are even more critical. Recession may set in. The disruption of the current outbreak is shifting industry structures. Credit markets may seize up, in spite of stimulus. Supply-chain resilience will be at a premium, the consultancy group said.

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The US Department of Commerce announced last Wednesday that it has given an additional four weeks for the public to decide on granting Chinese tech giant Huawei a temporary license of doing business with US companies. The last day was supposedly set for March 10, 2020, but the extension allowed Huawei to acquire US goods until May 15.



According to the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), it has extended the public comment period on Huawei Temporary General License (TGL) extensions until April 22, 2020. The imposition would extend to Huawei and its affiliates covered by the department's Entity List of companies that were recognized to pose security risks thereby restricting the sale and transfer of US tech goods to Huawei.



The restriction has been adjusted five times in the last year. The BIS claimed that it is seeking public comments on future extensions of the business license of the TGL and its non-US affiliates. Several requests were received by the department from entities in the relevant industry to allow for additional comments about the request for an extension. The said requests were to support robust consideration of future extensions of the TGL.



A report published by FxStreet claimed that the announcement is a trade-positive notice as the market focuses on alleviating the adverse effects of the pandemic in the US economy. The aid packages dimmed traders' focus on the deal and the announcement.



The US trade ban against Huawei has barred US firms from dealing with the Chinese manufacturer. The extension goes as long as 45 days after the grant of a prior extension last February 14, 2020. It was, however, unclear whether companies that have already received licenses to trade with Huawei would be adversely affected once the ban is imposed. Microsoft, one of the prominent firms that have a license to transact with Huawei, has received positive feedback and allowed continuance with its dealings with the Chinese tech giant.



The FCC, however, has proposed a reimbursement program for those adversely affected by the ban to help alleviate the financial troubles associated with the discontinuance of trade. These include providers of tech and communication services such as ZTE that use Huawei technological equipment for its networks.



In other news, South China Morning Post reported that Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is eager to develop new technologies amid the pandemic. The outbreak did not defer the company's plans to develop internally developed technologies to remain as the largest telecommunications equipment supplier globally.



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Juwanna Mann star Miguel A. Nunez Jr. has been arrested.

According to reports, Nunez was arrested after he left a grocery store with some items without paying.

Nunez left a Los Angeles Ralphs supermarket with groceries even after his credit card got declined.

Read Also: Ghanaian-American Actor, Michael Blackson Signs Autograph On Womens Boobs

His purchase was worth hundreds of dollars, according to TMZ.

TMZ reported that Miguel returned to the same Ralphs a few days later, but he wasnt allowed inside and cops were called.

He was then placed under citizens arrest, and when LAPD showed up, police cited him for misdemeanour shoplifting and he was sent on his way.
Detroit

President Donald Trump attacked General Motors Friday, alleging that the company promised to build thousands more breathing machines than it can deliver for coronavirus patients and that it wants too much money for them.

"As usual with 'this' General Motors, things just never seem to work out," Trump wrote on Twitter, adding that the company promised 40,000 ventilators quickly but now says it will build only 6,000 in late April.

Trump also tweeted that Ford should start making ventilators fast.

The move escalated a feud involving the president, GM, several governors and medical experts over the severity of the crisis and how many ventilators will be needed to handle it.

Experts say the U.S. is hundreds of thousands of breathing machines short of what it likely will need to treat a rapidly rising number of COVID-19 patients.

The series of tweets came just hours after Trump, during a Fox News interview Thursday night, said he had "a feeling" that the number of ventilators being requested to handle the virus was too high.

Trump threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act and wrote that GM should reopen its now-closed factory in Lordstown, Ohio, or some other facility to build ventilators. GM sold the Lordstown plant to a company that wants to make electric commercial vehicles.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

GM issued a statement announcing its agreement to build ventilators with Ventec Life Systems, a small Seattle-area company.

It also will help Ventec ramp up production.

The automaker addressed Trump's price-gouging claim by saying it is offering resources to Ventec "at cost."
Confirmed Covid-19 cases shot up by 149 in India on Saturday morning, taking the total count to 873 as the country recorded its biggest jump in a 24-hour period, the Union health ministry said.

In the updated list, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country stood at 775. It added that 78 people were either cured or discharged, and that one had migrated from India. The health ministry said there were two new deaths  one each in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The data said 19 people have died in India, where a 21-day nationwide lockdown has been enforced to stop the fast-spreading Sars-Cov-2 virus, which causes the deadly infection. Maharashtra topped the list with 177 cases, followed by Kerala at 165.

Till date, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported from Maharashtra (5), Gujarat (3), Karnataka (2), Madhya Pradesh (2) and one each from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

According to Worldometer, a global case tracker which says it gives live statistics, India reported 906 infections and 20 deaths till 1pm on Saturday.

Coronavirus outbreak Live Updates

The health ministrys Friday morning data said there were 724 cases and 17 deaths in the country.

The number of cases in India has spiked to over 800 from just 50 a little over two weeks ago. The first death was reported on March 11.

For complete coverage on coronavirus pandemic, click on this link

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) maintains that there is no community transmission in the country. Community transmission is that phase the outbreak when the source of an individuals infection cant be traced and isolated.

On Friday, Kerala reported 39 new cases, sparking fears of community transmission. Kasargod district reported 34 of the 39 cases, in an indication that the disease may have spread deep.

India has taken unprecedented steps to fight the disease - the latest being a complete lockdown and increased surveillance.

When the disease has spread to 192 countries, it means screening at entry points will serve no purpose. India anyway is in a state of lockdown that will show benefits if people follow the dos and donts. Since the disease is here, what we need to do now is improve our case management and strengthen surveillance within the community. Our efforts now are concentrating on not letting it spread further, Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary in the Union ministry of health and family welfare, said on Friday.

Hospitals across the country have also started preparing for a possible surge in the number of cases.

In Delhi, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday the government is equipped to handle up to 100 new cases a day, and is working to ensure that it is prepared even if the numbers go up to 500- 1,000 new cases.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, is also keeping its 800-bed National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, ready to accommodate a higher number of patients.

There are four main stages of the outbreak. Stage I is usually when cases are imported and are not of local origin. Stage II is when there is local transmission, which means a section of people testing positive have come in contact with a positive patient having a travel history. Stage III is community transmission. Stage IV is an epidemic, when there several clusters of the infection.

To prepare for stage III, the government has prohibited export of ventilators and asked two PSUs to manufacture 40,000 ventilators. The government is also ensuring adequate supply of personal protection equipment (PPE), N-95 masks and hand sanitizers, which are crucial in infection control.

(with agency inputs)

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Sometimes you can't control the curveballs life throws at you. But you can strive to bring a little light and laughter in face of the most difficult times.

When Houston-based photographer Yuli Vargas first thought about how she could make a positive difference in this pandemic, she was uncertain.

"I was really bummed. Many of my photo shoots were cancelled," Vargas said.

STAY POSITIVE: Here are 15 new pieces of good news amid coronavirus pandemic

Then, a friend of hers encouraged her to think of something she could do for her Rancho Verde community on the east side of Houston, near Channelview.

"Maybe this will be something for people to look at that will be positive, instead of all the negative stuff that we're seeing," Vargas said.

That's when she came up with the idea to do a creative neighborhood photo shoot, showing how all of her neighbors were surviving "Pandemic 2020." Most importantly, the photo shoot was also a fun tool to encourage people to "stay home, stay safe."

"I told them, 'You don't have to pay anything. Just have fun for free,'" Vargas said.

At first, Vargas' photo shoot only drew three neighbors. Then, it blossomed to to 13 sessions a day.

"They loved the photo shoot!" Vargas said. "One neighbor said, 'I'm so glad you did this, because this uplifted my spirits.'"

CORONAVIRUS EXPERT: 'Real possibility' Houston is the next major hot spot

Vargas added that she also had families who wanted to bring smiles and signs of encouragement to first responders who were working on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.

"One of my favorites is of the elderly couple, who held up this sign, 'We're too old for this!'" Vargas said. "When I saw their sign, I just started laughing."

Vargas said that at first when news of the pandemic spread, she didn't want to even venture out of her home. But her photoshoot idea inspired her and ended up bringing smiles and unity to the entire neighborhood.

"It was cool to see neighbors helping each other out during this situation," Vargas said.

alison.medley@chron.com
: Telugu movie industry biggies have set up "Coronavirus Crisis Charity", an organisation to helpthe cineworkers who are affected as all shoots have been cancelled due to the lockdown, a press release from the industry said on Saturday.

The committee is headed by former union minister and 'Mega Star' Chiranjeevi who announced Rs one crore for the initiative, it said adding Nagarjuna and Junior NTR also announced Rs one crore and Rs 25 lakh respectively.

"The sole aim of the CCC is to work for the welfare of the industry workforce who are facing hardships due to the lockdown," producer T Bharadwaj said.

Director N Shankar said several industry personalities are keen to be part of the initiative to ensure the welfare of cine industry workers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foreign passengers with coronavirus who were let off a cruise ship in Australia now make up half of all the COVID-19 cases in Western Australia's intensive care units.

A dozen passengers from the MV Artania are being treated for COVID-19 in Western Australia, after the ship was allowed to dock at Fremantle on Friday.

While there were initial estimates only seven people were infected, the potential number of positive cases surged to 50 on Saturday based off estimates from the ship's captain.

But the patients have been placed into private hospitals, to ensure the state's public hospital beds stay open for local residents, according to ABC News.

A dozen passengers from the MV Artania are now being treated for COVID-19 in Western Australia, after the ship was allowed to dock at Fremantle on Friday

On Saturday banners and Australian flags were seen adorning the cruise ship, in a message of thanks from the passengers and crews stuck on board.

While the reason behind the new decorations isn't widely known, it's likely due to the government's decision to allow the ship to dock after originally turning it away.

The bulk of the 800 passengers and crew still remain aboard the ship, where they are expected to wait for another 24-48 hours before private transport out of the country.

On Saturday banners and Australian flags were seen adorning the cruise ship, in a message of thanks from the passengers and crews stuck on board

Thank you messages are seen hanging from the MV Artania docked at Fremantle, Western Australia on Saturday as crew wearing face masks look over the side of the vessel

Passengers trapped aboard the MV Artania look out over the deck in front of handmade thank you posters on the cruise ship's railing

More than 800 people are still trapped on the MV Artania as it sits at Fremantle Port in Western Australia

The state's hospitals now have six COVID-19 cases in the ICU, half of those came off the MV Artania cruise ship, according to WAtoday.

Health Minister Roger Cook confirmed two of the passengers who were originally taken off board for 'non-coronavirus related medical emergencies' tested positive for the disease.

Mr Cook said the third passenger taking up a bed in the ICU is still waiting for their test result.

'We all know the score, it is highly likely that will be a positive,' he said.

They're being treated at Fiona Stanley and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals.

Paramedics wait a the Fremantle Passenger terminal where the MV Artania was berthed in Fremantle, Western Australia on Saturday

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The federal government has secured a further 28 beds at the Hollywood Hospital in Nedlands and 10 at Bethesda in Claremont for sick passengers from the cruise ship.

WA Premier Mark McGowan told ABC news while they will be treating foreign passengers off the cruise ship it's unlikely to put a strain on the state's healthcare system.

'I have sought Commonwealth assistance to ensure WA public hospital beds are free and ready for Western Australians,' he said.

'This morning I spoke with the Prime Minister and we agreed on an approach that minimises the impact on the West Australian health system and our wider community.'

The senitiment was echoed by Health Minister Roger Cook, who said health authorities were prepared to deal with the cases after the cancellation of elective surgeries.

Paramedics wait on the wharf at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal to attend to passengers of the MV Artania on March 27, 2020 in Fremantle, Australia

'Obviously they'll need to take extra care, but they have the capacity to deal with anyone with an infectious disease,' he said.

All passengers will be treated in isolation under the watchful eye of Australian Federal Police officers.

The remaining 800 passengers were being arranged transport out of the country via chartered flights around by the German cruise ship company Phoenix.

None of the travellers are Australian, with the majority coming from Central Europe including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The announcement sick passengers would be allowed into the state has raised concerns they'll use healthcare resources which could be needed by WA residents.

Four planes have already left Frankfurt on route to Perth to transport the passengers off Australian soil on Sunday afternoon.

The remaining 800 passengers were being arranged transport out of the country via chartered flights around by the German cruise ship company Phoenix leaving from Perth Airport on Sunday

They're expected to embark at some point in the next 24 to 36 hours.

Phoenix issued a statement to ABC News confirming they'd be providing transport for passengers, stating they needed confirmation non German nationals had subsequent travel arranged on arrival in Germany.

'In order to be able to organise this, we are in contact with the respective embassies or consulates,' the statement said.

WA Premier Mark McGowan previously said he would not be allowing any infected passengers to be let off in the state, after what happened in New South Wales with the Ruby Princess.

'No one will be disembarking unless they are in a life threatening emergency,' Premier Mark McGowan said.

'Our position is clear. We are not going to have a Sydney Harbour fiasco on our watch.'

But the state premier conceded on Friday they'd allow the passengers off the ship for treatment and then quarantine them away from the Australian public.

Minister McGowan had asked the federal government to place the patients in a Defence facility, but was unable to do so

Federal Senator Matthias Cormann told The Sunday Times they've been working with the WA government to reach the find the best solution for all parties.

Minister Cormann said it was vital to show compassion to the sick while ensuring allpowing infected passengers into Australia didn't pose a risk to the community.

'In relation to those passengers who have shown symptoms of having contracted COVID-19  we have to treat them with compassion and care as fellow human beings and in the same way as we would want Australians in the same circumstance to be treated by foreign governments around the world,' he saod.

While there were initial estimates only seven people were infected, the potential number of patients surged to 70 on Saturday based off estimates from the ship's captain

'Our mission is to get all passengers who can travel back to Europe as soon as possible so that the ship can leave as soon as possible too,' he said.

He indicated the measures would go a long way to ensuring Australians in a similar situation around the globe would be treated with the same compassion.

'Right now we have about 3000 Australians and several hundred West Australians stuck on cruise ships in similar circumstances all around the world. We will rely on the co-operation and goodwill of all those governments around the world to ensure we can look after those Australians welfare to the best of our ability,'

The state was forced to turn to the Federal Government for help, fearing a potential health crisis would overwhelm Perth's hospitals with hundreds of sick foreigners.

The Artania and Vasco Da Gama were pictured side-by-side in the Western Australian dock as they await orders from the WA government

WA has recorded 278 cases of coronavirus, after 23 new cases were confirmed on Saturday.

Of those cases only 13 are West Australian residents.

Premier Mark McGowan had been reluctant to allow passengers to be treated in the city's hospitals and suggested anyone requiring medical attention be taken to a defence base.

He said under 'no circumstances' would they be permitted to 'wander the streets in our state.'

Any infected passengers with a life-threatening emergency could only go to a federal government facility such as a defence force base, the premier said, but the Artania must continue on to its next port in South Africa 'urgently'.

'This ship needs to leave immediately,' he told reporters on Thursday.

'The main thing we want is the ship gone.'

Premier Mark McGowan had been reluctant to allow passengers to be treated in the city's hospitals and suggested anyone requiring medical attention be taken to a defence base
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Baguio City has announced it will not be allowing the entry of non-essential travelers beginning Saturday, March 28.

In a statement, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city will no longer allow Baguio residents who are stranded in other provinces (except Benguet) to enter the City in the next two week.

Deliveries of food and other essential items and cargoes are exempted from the ban, he said.

The move, aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19, is an escalation of the enhanced community quarantine earlier imposed by the city government, the mayor added.

"During our meeting this afternoon (March 27, 2020), I learned from health officials that we don't have any local transmission. With this information, an opportunity is present to fasttrack our healing process by closing our borders in the next two weeks to non essential travels except food and other essential item deliveries and cargoes," he said.

The mayor appealed to the public for their cooperation.

Baguio City confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 23, a 61-year-old woman who has a travel history to Italy.
Palestinians urged to mark Great March of Return by raising flags on their rooftops.

Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip have cancelled mass rallies planned for next week along the border with Israel amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in the densely-populated territory, organisers said on Saturday.

The rallies were called for March 30 to mark the second anniversary of the so-called Great March of Return which had prompted weekly protests by Palestinians seeking to regain access to land, now in Israel, from which their ancestors were forced to flee during the Nakba, the Palestinian exodus, in 1947-48.



They also mark Palestinian Land Day which commemorates the events of March 30, 1976, when Israeli police shot and killed six Palestinian citizens of Israel as they protested against the Israeli governments expropriation of land.

We call upon our people not to go to the Return encampments on March 30 and to stay home in order to maintain the safety of our people in the face of this lethal pandemic, said Khaled al-Batsh, a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) armed group.

Instead, al-Batsh called on Palestinians in Gaza to mark the day by raising Palestinian flags on their rooftops and burning Israeli ones.

Traffic will also be stopped for an hour and sirens will sound across the territory to mark the occasion, the statement said, adding that a news conference would also be held for a limited number of attendees.

According to Gaza medical officials, 215 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers firing from the other side of the border during the protests, with another 8,000 suffering gunshot wounds. In the past few months, the weekly protests have been smaller.

One Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper during the demonstrations.

In 2019, UN Human Rights Council investigators said Israeli forces may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, with children and paramedics among the casualties.

So far, nine out of the 97 coronavirus cases in the Palestinian territories have been confirmed in the Gaza Strip.

Gazas hospitals, which were overwhelmed during the protests by gunshot wounds and amputations, are now gearing up for the challenge of containing the coronavirus in the coastal enclave of two million Palestinians, many living in refugee camps.
District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash on Saturday visited different parts of the city to assess the on-ground situation. He visited areas such as Kesar Bagh, Hazratganj, Rumi Darwaza, Mahanagar, Gole Market, etc.

He has appealed to the people to maintain social distancing in the given situation and has also given instructions to ensure that there is no shortage of stocks at shops of essential commodities like fruits, vegetables, and medicines.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 918 including 19 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 28, 2020] Nav Offers Support Connecting Small Businesses to CARES Act SBA Funds

SALT LAKE CITY, March 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Greg Ott, the CEO of Nav , a service that gives business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing , sent a letter to Congressional leaders offering Nav's support in overcoming the unprecedented challenges being experienced by small business owners and financial lenders. "Now that President Trump has signed the CARES Act, the government is going to need immense help to get the $367 billion of relief funding into the hands of small business owners," said Ott. "As Nav's purpose has always been to help business owners understand their financing options and provide the simplest path to procurement, our company is perfectly positioned to help the government and SBA lenders disburse funds to business owners as quickly as possible." In the letter, Ott suggests that fintech companies like Nav are uniquely suited to help streamline the access to relief funding for small business owners, pointing to four distinct factors: 1. Underwriting needs to be nimble.  "We have seen some of our lending partners go from free-flowing capital to tightened restrictions to no fundings in a matter of days. As small businesses survive this crisis and rebuild to thrive again, approved lenders disbursing these funds need the ability to adjust underwriting requirements. It must be dynamic and flexible to fit the variety of businesses in the U.S." 2. There is no one lender, bank or tech giant that can underwrite the diverse U.S. small business landscape.  "What a restaurant in New York City needs right now is different than what a landscape business in Mobile, Alabama needs. Multiple banks and non-bank lenders are neded. No bank or non-bank lender has built themselves to underwrite across the entire US SMB population. We recommend presenting all of those lending options through one portal to make clear the source of the funds and the confidence borrowers should have in those options."



3. Data is more important than ever.  "Just as underwriting needs to be nimble, the real-time data to understand a small business's financial health is even more important. Personal credit, business credit, cash flow, revenue, time in business, industry -- the full picture is needed to connect SMBs to the right option. Nav sits on all of this data for our business owner customers through our unique industry partnerships with all three major business credit bureaus, and we advise them on how to manage it with our education and expertise, all for free." 4. Small businesses need a trusted partner for the long haul.  "When the country looks back on the COVID crisis years from now, shoring up the small business ecosystem will be a pivotal moment. The stakes are high -- executing here can help strong businesses bounce back better than ever, but missing the mark can have a ripple effect on the economy for years to come if business owners don't understand how to manage these funds. Nav, along with the entire fintech ecosystem, is here to help meet the challenge."

Since the COVID crisis began, Nav has advised tens of thousands of American business owners on their funding options and seen record numbers of loan and credit card applications through its data-driven, rules-based lending marketplace. "Small business owners need help now more than ever, and Nav's service and dedicated team are ready and able to be part of the solution our country needs," shared Ott. Since launching in 2012, Nav has connected more than 1 million business owners to their credit data, affording the opportunity to better understand their financial health and ability to obtain access to capital. A complete copy of the letter can be accessed here. About Nav

Nav gives business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing & SBA funds. The leading Business Financial Management app, Nav hosts a robust marketplace with more than 110 business financing products , and gives business owners free access to personal and business credit reports from major consumer and commercial credit bureaus including Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and TransUnion. The marketplace uses a unique, lender-neutral approach to help business owners find the best financing options for their needs. Nav's solution is also leveraged by other business service providers to enhance their customer experience. The company has offices in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City. To learn more, visit Nav.com . CONTACT:

Amanda Triest

Nav PR Manager

[email protected]

801-890-5024 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nav-offers-support-connecting-small-businesses-to-cares-act-sba-funds-301031293.html SOURCE Nav

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After weeks of self-quarantine in Australia, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have returned to the United States, Page Six reports (Hanks's smile in the photos alone are just what you need for the upcoming weekend). The publication notes that the two arrived in Los Angeles via private jet and took a Range Rover back to their home. On March 11, Hanks and Wilson were among the first celebrities to come forward with their positive coronavirus diagnoses and kept the public up to date with their recovery and doctor-ordered quarantine on social media.

Hanks stretched and danced on the runway after disembarking, Page Six adds. The two were in Australia working on pre-production for Biz Lurhmann's Elvis Presley biopic, which has subsequently been put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. After testing positive, Hanks and Wilson were admitted to an unnamed Australian hospital and released into self-isolation at a private residence.

Michael Tran/Getty Images

RELATED: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Are Feeling "Better" Two Weeks Following Start of Coronavirus Symptoms

"Sheltering in place works like this: You dont give it to anyone  You dont get it from anyone. Common sense, no?" Hanks wrote on Twitter, encouraging his followers to follow government requests to stay inside to stop the spread of the virus.

Weeks later, he told followers that he was finally feeling better and Wilson shared a quarantine playlist with fans. Details about Hanks and Wilson's current coronavirus status is not known.

"Tom and Rita are doing very well and continue to recover," Hanks's rep, Leslee Dart, said while the two were still in quarantine. Their recovery is very much on course for healthy adults with this virus. They are feeling better each day."
Ozark Boss Fight Season 3 Episode 4 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Steve Dietl/Netflix

How can Wendy Byrde and Helen Pierce keep Marty Byrde alive and keep their money-laundering operation going at the same time? Is it possible? After all, if the Missouri Belle succeeds while Marty is being held prisoner by Omar Navarro, then hes no longer required to live, right? And hes always been a dangerous proposition for Navarro.

Boss Fight picks up right where the last episode ended, with the kidnapping of Marty Byrde. The immediate aftermath means that Ben Davis has to be brought in on everything going on with the family. Ruth stops him from calling the cops, and Wendy fills him in bluntly: I work for a Mexican drug cartel.

And then theres a whole lot of panicked waiting. Ruth cries; Helen makes some calls; Wendy tries to reach Navarro. And Marty is in a cell. (Is he all the way in Mexico? Probably.) Hes being tortured with hot, bright lights and loud music. And occasionally questioned by Navarro as to what he wants. Its a good question. Marty always says he wants stability, but what does that mean to Navarro and his operation?

Everyone in the Ozarks has to cover for Marty as he goes through life-changing trauma south of the border. Ruth tells Agent Miller that her boss is out of town on business, and she goes about the job of running the Missouri Belle in a way that has to be delicately balanced. How can she ensure Martys seen as necessary by Navarro and Helen? And maybe even Wendy? And this could be a binary situation. Succeed and Marty is redundant; fail and Helen/Wendy are. After all, Navarro really only needs one side of this turf war.

Flashbacks to a young Marty Byrde being stuck at a hospital as his father fades from life are cut through the episode. Theyre a little on the nose by the standards of this seasons so-far excellent writing, especially as they keep cutting to young Marty playing a game called Beast Slayer, trying to encourage the idea that our hero will slay this beast too, even as death lingers in the other room.

Navarro tells Marty, She wants it all. So what do you want? Again, its a good question that Marty may not have asked himself. He gets emotional, saying he wants to see his wife and kids. That response only earns him a beating and being called a liar. Marty wants more than that, and Navarro needs honesty or he will likely kill Marty.

Meanwhile, Ruth gets the operation going back at the Belle. Maya notices the spike in money being laundered and decides to walk the floor. She sits next to Ben, fishing for a break in the story by asking if Marty is still sick. Ben doesnt bite. Ben is going to be an interesting player this season. At first, it felt like he might be a dangerous wild card. However, hes increasingly seeming like he could be a hero, someone who saves the day for Wendy, Ruth, or even both. Lets just hope he makes it out alive.

Back in Mexico, Marty gets intense and tells Navarro that he hopes they chop his head off. Thats a start, his captor says. And then Agent Miller drops something interesting in Wendy Byrdes lap. She suspects that Marty is in trouble and tells Wendy that if a cartel kidnaps an American citizen, they can go after Navarro. She is giving Wendy an out. Just as Walter White was given several outs and kept going as he built an empire, Wendy Byrde doesnt seem even remotely interested in the safe option. She could report the kidnapping and the U.S. government would come down on Navarro and his cartel. She doesnt take it. She doesnt even appear to think about it.

Finally, Marty Byrde proves his worth to Omar Navarro, and is able to verbalize exactly what he wants. After showing off by moving the laundered money around in a way that releases it from a locked account, he yells at Navarro, getting in his face. He reveals two things. One, what he really wants is only to launder the cartel money when HE thinks its safe enough to do so. Two, hes going to compromise an FBI agent. Hes going to find a way to turn Agent Miller. And after he does that, everyone is safe.

Dirty Laundry

 How is Marty planning to compromise Maya Miller? Its an interesting plan in that Marty has always been fixated on safety, and whats safer than having someone on the inside of the force trying to bring you down?

 Were getting an interesting parallel between Charlotte Byrde and Erin Pierce. The former knows a lot, but its clear that this isnt an option for Erin. Helen tells Charlotte, There will be consequences for anyone who speaks truth to my daughter. That sounds like foreshadowing to me.

 The new players this year have been excellent without stealing too much focus with stunt casting or familiar faces. Shows like Ozark often bring in high-priced names after winning Emmys, but relatively less familiar faces like Tom Pelphrey (Ben) and Felix Solis (Navarro) are making the most impact this season.

 What now? Marty proved his worth, and it feels like maybe the threat of being a widow could end the turf war from Wendys side. Will they work together to turn Miller? To get Zeke back? The show has been pulling them apart since well into last season, but maybe this is the point in which the rubber band snaps them back together.

 One thing to consider there: Bens involvement. It seems like Wendy is worried about him being a part of the operation in a way that could make her value Martys stability principles more.

Ruths Most Iconic Lines on 'Ozark'
Iraq's anti-terror PMU holds drill in preparation for possible war with US

Iran Press TV

Friday, 27 March 2020 10:07 AM

The anti-terror Iraqi resistance group Kata'ib Hezbollah has held a military drill, dubbed 'Hunting the Crow', to prepare itself for battling occupying US troops after suspicious American activities recently.

Jaafar al-Husseini, a spokesman for the Kata'ib, said thousands of Iraqi fighters took part in the maneuver in order to prepare themselves for four scenarios, the first of which was tackling heliborne operations by US troops.

The drill was held in the town of Jurf al-Nasr, some 60 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, with the aim of achieving combat readiness and preparing for any emergency situation, al-Husseini said.

Sophisticated weapons with live ammunition were used in the exercises, he added.

The exercise simulated a number of engagement patterns, including confronting airstrikes and land exposure, and fighting in a forest environment. It also tested the effectiveness of urban warfare, the spokesman noted.

Al-Husseini said the "successful" war games were a warning to the enemies of Iraq that resistance forces are fully prepared to counter possible US threats.

Kata'ib Hezbollah had earlier blown the lid off a plot by the US military to carry out massive aerial operations  backed by ground troops  against the bases of the anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), which is currently helping the government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kata'ib Hezbollah reported "suspicious activities by the US and its mercenaries" in Iraq in preparation for an operation.

The US plans to conduct heliborne operations backed up by ground troops and fighter jets against positions belonging to security agencies and positions of Iraq's resistance groups, the statement added.

Anti-American sentiment has been running high in Iraq following the US assassination on January 3 of Iran's top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq's PMU, and their companions.

The terrorist US act promoted the Iraqi parliament to vote for the expulsion of American forces from the country, but the government has not acted on the decision yet as it is grappling with a political deadlock.

The US-led military coalition has reportedly handed over a strategic air base in the northern province of Nineveh to the Iraqi military, an Iraqi security source said Thursday.

According to the source, forces from the US-led alliance departed Qayyarah Airfield West, which lies some 70 kilometers south of Mosul and on the west bank of the Tigris River, handed it over to Iraqi government troops.

France has also followed suit and announced that it will remove all of its troops currently stationed in Iraq for the time being.

"France has taken the decision to repatriate until further notice its personnel deployed in operation Chammal in Iraq," the French armed forces ministry said on Wednesday.

The French military claims the withdrawal is because of concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

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Representatives of Ukrlandafrming's Agrocompany Prykarpattia LLC handed over to the Ivano-Frankivsk City Clinical Hospital medical equipment (a disinfector) and consumables for sanitizing premises.

Agrocompany Prykarpattia LLC, which is part of one of Ukraine's largest agricultural holdings Ukrlandfarming, owned by businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk, purchased equipment and material for medical facilities in Ivano-Frankivsk region, required in the context of the coronavirus epidemic in Ukraine.

Representatives of Ukrlandafrming's Agrocompany Prykarpattia LLC handed over to the Ivano-Frankivsk City Clinical Hospital medical equipment (a disinfector) and consumables for sanitizing premises. This is primarily required to protect medical staff who are in contact with infected patients, as they remain the main risk group, doctors say. "We are grateful for such help, because the number of patients is increasing daily," says Taras Masliak, chief physician at the Ivano-Frankivsk City Clinical Hospital.

According to the agricultural holding's press service, healthcare facilities from almost all across Ukraine are now turning to Ukrlandfarming enterprises for similar assistance. In particular, Agrocompany Prykarpattia LLC is also providing assistance to the Regional Clinical Center for Emergency Healthcare and Disaster Response in purchasing hazmat suits for all ambulance teams in the region, helping Horodenkivska Central District Hospital and Monastyrska District Hospital in Ternopil Region with the purchase of mechanical ventilation devices, and having already purchased for Chemerovets District Hospital in Khmelnytsky region four ultrasonic inhalers.

Ukrlandfarming is one of Ukraine's largest agricultural holdings, which is engaged in cultivation of crops and seeds, production of eggs and egg products (Avangardco IPL), as well as livestock, in 22 regions of Ukraine. The owner of the agricultural holding is a Ukrainian businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk.
A giant US naval hospital ship arrived in Los Angeles Friday, where it will be used to ease the strain on the city's coronavirus-swamped emergency rooms.

The USNS Mercy, which docked in the Port of Los Angeles, will quickly become the city's largest hospital with 1,000 beds. It will not receive coronavirus patients, but instead take patients with a wide range of other conditions or injuries in order to free up facilities on land.

The 894-foot (272-meter) Mercy, a converted oil tanker, has 15 patient wards and blood bank capacity of 5,000 units.

Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking at a joint press conference after touring the vessel with Mayor Eric Garcetti, said the ship will play a key role as California braces for a surge in COVID-19 infections that could require 50,000 hospital beds statewide in the next six to 10 weeks.

Los Angeles is "on track within a week to be aligned with where New York City currently is," he said, referring to America's most populous city which has almost half of US's 100,000-plus coronavirus cases.

California officials lobbied intensely for the ship to come to Los Angeles, overriding a competing claim from northwestern Washington state which is also badly affected but less populous. According to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University, California has more than 4,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 90 deaths.

Los Angeles alone reported nine new deaths and over 400 new cases on Thursday. Nationwide, there have been 1,544 deaths.

The Mercy's arrival precedes the passage of its sister ship, the Comfort, to New York.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday asked officers to ensure compulsory quarantine of all migrant workers, who returned to state in the past three days, a state government spokesman stated in an official communique.

The chief minister, who has been supervising implementation of the Corona Action Plan and worked with officers on Friday night to provide transport to workers in transit from other states, gave these directions at a review meeting here on Saturday.

We have asked all the district magistrates to ensure that the workers returning to UP from other states are quarantined at home compulsorily. Under this, the local authorities put up a notice at the gates of the residence of a person in quarantine or at the gates of their respective housing society. Village pradhans in about 60,000 village panchayats have been sensitised by the chief ministers office and they are also informed about the person to be quarantined, said principal secretary, medical and health, Amit Mohan Prasad.

Adityanath also asked officers to strengthen the supply chain of food grains, vegetables and milk and display the rate list to check black-marketing of essential commodities during lockdown. He said food should be provided through community kitchens to the poor, labourers and homeless by seeking cooperation from NGOs and religious organisations.

Adityanath said appointment of nodal officers for some states had shown positive results. He said the state government would appoint nodal officers for all the remaining states.

All the necessary equipment/material needed for treatment of patients and to contain the coronavirus must be bought, he said.

The nodal officers would work to resolve the issues concerning the food and the stay of states residents, Adityanath said. He said medical and health and sanitization services in Ghaziabad and Noida must be strengthened. He urged the people to stay back at the places of their work during the lockdown period.
In a relief to farmers during the lockdown, the government has granted relaxation to agriculture-farming and allied activities to ensure uninterrupted harvesting of crops.

The Union Home Ministry has issued the second addendum to the guidelines related to the nationwide lockdown and activities related to agriculture have been brought under the exception category from the 21-day lockdown enforced in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

A release by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry on Saturday said that the step will allow unhindered harvesting of crops.

The categories exempted from the lockdown include agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP (minimum support price) operations and 'mandis' operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee or as notified by the state government.

It also includes farming operations by farmers and farmworkers in the field and 'Custom Hiring Centres (CHC)' related to farm machinery.

Manufacturing and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seed and intra and inter-state movement of harvesting and sowing related machines are also in the exempted category.

The release said that Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been constantly monitoring issues related to the farmers since the lockdown was enforced on Tuesday midnight.

It said the issue about difficulties that farmers could face in the harvesting of their crops and transporting foodgrains to markets was considered urgently and sympathetically on directions of Prime Minister and a practical solution was found.

It said the decision will facilitate unhindered activities related to agriculture and farming to ensure that common man continues to get essential supplies and farmers do not face difficulties during the lockdown.

The release said the government has issued necessary directions to the concerned ministries and departments and designated officials of the states and union territories for implementation of the decision.

The Congress had also demanded that harvesting and procurement operations should be declared part of essential services during the lockdown, saying that wheat in an area of 334 lakh hectare was ready to be harvested and farmers will lose 40 per cent of standing crop if they delay harvesting till mid-April.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Isha Foundation has offered its buildings and premises in Coimbatore to be used for medical purposes to extend support to the Tamil Nadu government's efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

If needed Isha volunteers will also provide support in government hospitals, the Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said in a release here.

He stressed the fact that hunger and starvation has the potential to cause a civil unrest and lack of employment would lead to starvation of daily wage earners and their families.

To support this vulnerable group, Foundation has also requested millions of its volunteers across the world, especially in India, to take care of at least two such people and ensure they are properly nourished, he said in a release here.

Jaggi Vasudev also appealed to the people to extend help to the state government during the lockdown in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man who was considered one of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's loudest critics was arrested for allegedly helping the leader ship 250 tons of cocaine a year into the United States.

Retired Venezuelan army general Cliver Alcala was charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and associated firearms, according to the Associated Press.

Alcala surrendered to the Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Barranquilla, Colombia before heading for arraignment in New York.

'We had everything ready,' Alcala said in social media video.

'But circumstances that have plagued us throughout this fight against the regime generated leaks from the very heart of the opposition, the part that wants to coexist with Maduro.'

This arrest comes two days after the U.S. Justice Department indicted Maduro along with four co-conspirators on narco terrorism charges.

Retired Venezuelan army general Cliver Alcala was charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and associated firearms

The indictment says Retired Venezuelan army general Cliver Alcala helped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ship 250 tons of cocaine a year into the United States

The Justice Department had put up a $10 million reward for Alcala's arrest.

Alcala was living Columbia since 2018, when he fled Venezuela after it was revealed he was trying to organize a coup to oust Maduro.

When he was an aide to then-president Hugo Chavez in 2008, Alcala was ordered to organize drug shipments to rouge members of the Venezuelan army and guerrillas with the terrorist group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

The Justice Department had put up a $10 million reward for tips leading to Alcala's arrest

U.S. Justice Department indicted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with four co-conspirators on narco terrorism charges

Oddly enough, Maduro has accused the DEA of working with Alcala to assassinate him.

Alcala took responsibility for a cache of assault weapons and military equipment that was made in the U.S. and seized in Columbia. Alcala said the weapons were to be used to help out Maduro, based on a contract he had with opposition leader Juan Guaido and his American advisers.

In a social media video, Alcala said: I face the responsibilities for my actions with the truth.
Australian Survivor star Sharn Coombes has shared her heartbreak over her father's terminal cancer diagnosis.

The 42-year-old Crown prosecutor told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that her father has lung cancer, and that he got diagnosed after she came back from filming the All Stars series in Fiji.

Sharn added that as his sole carer, she's worried about 'getting too close' to him due to him being at high-risk of the coronavirus.

Devastating: Australian Survivor's Sharn Coombes (pictured) shared her heartbreak this weekend over her father's terminal cancer diagnosis... and admitted she's concerned about 'getting too close' to him amid the coronavirus pandemic

'I was gone for two months and when I got home I noticed a difference in him physically,' Sharn told the publication.

She said she took him to the doctors when he was diagnosed with the disease. He has been having radiation and chemotherapy for five months.

Talking about coronavirus, she said: 'It's a concerning time for us now.'

'I'm caring for him... but at the same time can't get too close,' she said.

Struggles: 'I'm caring for him... but at the same time can't get too close,' she said. Pictured on Australian Survivor

Final three: The mother-of-four meanwhile is still in the running to win the latest series of Australian Survivor: All Stars, which is still airing on TV. She will be competing against professional model David Genat and retired AFLW player Moana Hope to win the show and the $500,000 prizemoney (all pictured)

The mother-of-four meanwhile is still in the running to win the latest series of Australian Survivor: All Stars, which is still airing on TV.

She will be competing against professional model David Genat and retired AFLW player Moana Hope to win the show and the $500,000 prizemoney.

The self-proclaimed 'Golden God' of Survivor, David, guaranteed his place in the final three after beating Brooke Jowett in a challenge to win immunity on Tuesday's episode.

His victory ended Brooke's five back-to-back immunity challenge winning streak.

The Australian Survivor: All Stars finale airs Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Being totally honest, the Paul Martin pity party was in full swing.

I sat at the dinner table, across from my mum, stepdad and sister Lucy, shoulders hunched and with the demeanour of a man heading for a date with the gallows.

Mr Showbiz to Mr No-biz in the space of one Government 'lockdown' announcement.

Precisely five minutes earlier my girlfriend Jenny had FaceTimed me from Miami - where she is working on the frontline in Miami Children's Hospital - to tell me her flight for our luxurious Easter weekend at The Lanesborough had been cancelled.

It was, it seemed, a fatal blow. First world problems, I think they call it.

Mum poured me another glass of wine and then, quite out of the blue, ordered Alexa to play Madness songs.

Quite appropriate, I thought, given these fraught and cataclysmic times as we battle coronavirus.

Family and fun. The luxury we take for granted but are rapidly rediscovering the value of as a society. And that is a beautiful thing

As Boris started his evening address on the big screen TV behind us, the Suggs' Eighties anthem Our House began belting out of the tiny speaker at considerable decibel levels.

My mum ordered us up off the table, the anthemic and empowering celebratory lyrics 'Our house, it has a crowd; There's always something happening; And it's usually quite loud' rattled defiantly off the walls and the rooftop and, well, we danced like our very lives depended on it.

We spun, we laughed, we leapt over sofas and - times being as they are - we committed the entire scene of chaos to Insta stories. After all, it didn't happen if it's not on 'The Gram,' right?

By the end of the 20-minute dance off I was sweating enough gallons to fill the Lagan and had laughed so much I could barely catch my breath.

Family and fun. The luxury we take for granted but are rapidly rediscovering the value of as a society. And that is a beautiful thing.

In the fast-paced life of a showbiz journalist, it's all too easy to throw money around and accept VIP, Champagne-drenched invitations to flashy opening nights and forget about what life is really all about.

I'm well aware that social distancing isn't as easy for everyone. For people who live alone, the sense of isolation in these trying times must be overwhelming.

Older people who are less likely to turn on the tap of social media, the young and able at the other end of the age spectrum so full of energy but unable perhaps for the first time in their lives to expend it, the incapacitated or infirm for whom life's difficulties are multiplied by the lack of social contact and the downward pressure on an already compressed health service.

If there's someone like that living near you, or within your range, remember their plight and do what you can. In times like these the little things can mean so much to people who are truly isolated.

I've heard people of my generation, and some older folk who should know better, comparing the fight against this pernicious predator to wartime.

Whatever happens in the next few weeks, I don't believe anyone will be shaving my head, putting me in a uniform, handing me a lethal weapon and marching me to a muddy rat-infested trench where my sole purpose in life will be to slaughter some unknown adversary.

Neither me nor anyone else in my family will be cowering in fear in a makeshift shelter while the enemy bombers fly overhead, never knowing if our next breath could be our last.

God willing, and panic-buying aside, we won't be queuing up for meagre rations of bread, butter and milk as our grandparents did within living memory.

We are urged to summon up the 'wartime spirit', but that might be difficult because most of us don't even know what it means.

How we, the peacetime generation, cope with the next few months will tell us a lot about where our modern values lie, whether our family units are fit for purpose - or if the idea of a truly caring society has been submerged beneath the tsunami of mass information, commercialism, consumerism and globalisation that we accept as the driving forces of life in the 21st century.

And do you know what? I think we've got this!

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This is a test for us all but let's keep it in perspective. Shifting gears to gym at home in my lunch break, making do with FaceTime rather than real time with my girlfriend Jenny and replacing my favourite weekend Chelsea match viewing with a good book isn't exactly a hardship in the grand scheme of things.

Ambiguously, while the virus is a product of nature, it has in some way brought us closer to the beauty of Mother Earth and all that it has to offer.

So, while I'm all for social distancing, I'm hopeful that it won't be long before Bob Dylan's enlightened lyrics in I Will Not Go Down Under The Ground - written during the Cuban Missile Crisis - will come home to roost... 'Let me sleep in your meadows with the green grassy leaves, Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace'.

And it is now those very natural wonders that the famed lyricist yearned for during those dark days when mutual nuclear destruction was mankind's greatest fear that tantalise me more than the next big party on my latest celebrity interview. So at least that's progress. With or without a mask.
Mainstream Media Silent on Serious Biden Sexual Assault Allegation

Commentary

Believe the woman! was the mantra of the liberal-left during the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

As practically everyone in this country over the age of 6 knows, Christine Blasey Ford accused the federal judge of sexually assaulting her in 1982, give or take a year or two.

Despite the lack of any semblance of corroborating evidence, every Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee took her word as gospel. They chose to ignore innocent until proven guiltythe very fulcrum of our jurisprudenceand automatically believed the woman.

Among those who swore, on this and many other occasions, his allegiance to this reactionary feminist mantra was one Joe Biden.

Now, to quote another mantra from yet another well-known (though somewhat less patriotic) figure, The chickens have come to roost.

Biden has been accused of, if anything, a considerably more brazen sexual assault than Kavanaugh and one of significantly more recent vintage1993, when the frequent presidential candidate was a senator, and not a high school student as the justice was.

Thats when then-staffer Tara Reade says the senator assaulted her in a less-traveled location in either the Russell office building or the Capitol itself.

Im not going to get into the lurid details of what she alleges happenedyou can read about them elsewhereexcept that the famously handsy senator allegedly went a bit further than that, lifting a skirt and going where he didnt belong.

Reade was and is vastly more specific, and therefore more believable, than Ford, although I admit thats just my view and lacks corroborating evidence. Its been clear for a while that these days, and probably always, we believe what we wish. I am no exception. (I am inherently suspicious of those who publicly proclaim themselves ardent feminists. Among them, one will find feminism is a form of virtue signaling, or what we used to call, simply, hypocrisy.)

Bidens campaign has denied Reades allegations.

What interests me here, however, is the practically total silence of the media about this scandal that could sink a candidacy.

Who can doubt that if this were about Trump, the accusation would have been around the world and back in 15 minutes, probably less? And not just in red at the top of the click-hungry Drudge Report, but on CBS, NBC, The New York Times, and so forth.

This is true, although Reade initially made her current accusation on The Katie Halper Show on March 25. Actually, she had previously attempted to tell part of the story almost a year ago to a nonprofit affiliated with the #metoo movement. At first helpful, the nonprofit backed off because of an accusation that Reade waswait for ita Russian agent. Whered that come from, I wonder?

She had also recounted the event contemporaneously to family and friends, who corroborate the story today.

In fairness to those who question Reade, they point out that in the current presidential election cycle, she had been an Elizabeth Warren supporter and now backs Bernie Sanders. But is that enough to take such a sledgehammer to her former boss? And why, if she is telling the truth, would she ever have even considered supporting him?

Whatever the case, her story merits reporting.

Several outlets have already done so, including The Intercept and Reason, but not our friends in the mainstream media. Unlike during the Kavanaugh hearings, they await substantiating evidence or, more likely, they await it all blowing over so they dont have to write or say anything.

Lets not let it. This is no mild accusation. What Reade alleges Biden did doesnt just disqualify you for the presidency. Nowadays, despite having occurred in 1993, it puts you in jail. As the Law & Crime blog reminds us:

As of May 3, 2019, the District of Columbia eliminated the statute of limitations on all sex crimes. Before that date, the statute of limitations was 15 years for sexual abuse (which is the District of Columbias term for rape) in the first and second degrees and 10 years for sexual abuse in the third degree.

Roger L. Simon is The Epoch Times senior political columnist. He is also an award-winning novelist and an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. His most recent book is The GOAT.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
LIKE other rural Manitobans, Im proud of being from a small community. I like knowing my neighbours by their first names, and the safety and security of knowing that if something goes wrong for a family here, the people of my home community of Vita will be there to pitch in and make it alright.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

LIKE other rural Manitobans, Im proud of being from a small community. I like knowing my neighbours by their first names, and the safety and security of knowing that if something goes wrong for a family here, the people of my home community of Vita will be there to pitch in and make it alright.

There are times, though, when the situation is bigger than us  as we in Vita found out during the 2012 wildfire that threatened our community. A disaster like that drove home to me and my neighbours how important our government is, how important emergency preparedness is, and why we need to continue investing in public services.

Ive been thinking of this during the last few weeks, as all of us find ourselves having to navigate the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world suddenly seems a much smaller place, and its truly inspiring to see the way all Manitobans are helping their neighbours, doing what they can to slow the spread of COVID-19, and giving our health system a fighting chance to meet the evolving needs of our community.

Manitobans, and many others around the world, are determined to do the right thing. But the reality is, this crisis is bigger than any of us as individuals. Extreme public health precautions and restrictions will have a devastating effect on our economy. Working families are losing work and income, and are scrambling to figure out how to pay their bills. Businesses are being pushed to the financial brink.

Manitoba is now the only province that has not yet announced some form of

income-support program to complement those

implemented by the

federal government.

The federal government has put in place backstops for workers and families that are facing hardships and lost income at this time. These include expanding eligibility for Employment Insurance, waiving the waiting period for benefits, and introducing the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit.

Its time for the provincial government to step up to do its part.

I have written to the Manitoba premier twice over the past two weeks, asking that his government partner with the federal government to top up EI benefits.

This will help working families hurt by the pandemic pay their bills, and help our economy weather the storm unleashed by public health restrictions.

Our union is not alone in calling for provincial action on income support. On the weekend, Canadas leading business organizations, as well as the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, called on our governments "to cover as much as 80 per cent of the incomes of workers who are laid off as a result of the health emergency."

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While we would prefer that federal benefits be topped up to 95 per cent of regular earnings (the maximum allowed for by federal rules), there is virtually unprecedented unity among public- and private-sector leaders in the belief that significant top-up of federal income support measures is in the best interest of Manitobans.

Manitoba is now the only province that has not yet announced some form of income-support program to complement those implemented by the federal government.

Like other Canadians, Manitobans in the midst of a crisis need their provincial government to have their backs. And our economy needs provincial support to get through the pandemic.

We are learning each and every day how interconnected we truly are. We rely on each other for our mutual success.

In times like these, we see how each of us as neighbours and citizens can and should contribute, and how our tax dollars can and should be used to ensure we weather the storm, together.

Michelle Gawronsky is president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) and a proud resident of Vita.
Keeping the number of coronavirus deaths below 20,000 will still be a good result for the UK, a health chief says, as he urged the public not to become complacent.

Stephen Powis distanced the NHS from a new study predicting the UK is on course for 5,700 deaths fatalities  far lower than originally predicted  suggesting it was far too low.

If its less than 20,000, that would be a good result, although every death is absolutely a tragedy, he told a Downing Street press conference.

And he added: We shouldnt be complacent about that. Although that would be a good result, it will only happen if we stop the transmission of the virus.

It doesnt happen by luck, its not just chance  its because of the actions that you take, I take, we all take, to reduce the transmission of the virus.

The figure repeats the projection made, almost two weeks ago, by Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser.

On Friday, statisticians at Imperial College London said their new best guess for the UK deaths was 5,700  compared with 28,000 in Italy and around 46,000 in Spain.

But Mr Powis, the medical director at NHS England, said even under 20,000 would only be achieved if people really lock down and hone down on what we have been asked to do.

I cannot emphasise enough. You have the chance to save a life, you have the chance to stop a ventilator being used that otherwise would need to be used. It really is as simple as that, he said.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

The comments came after it was announced that the number of UK deaths has passed 1,000, with 260 further victims of the epidemic.

Worryingly, the increase, from 759 to 1,019, was by far the biggest day-on-day rise in fatalities since the outbreak began.

More than 120,000 coronavirus tests have taken place, with more than 17,000 positive results, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

At the press conference, Alok Sharma, the business secretary, insisted there were no gaps in government, despite Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, joining Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock in isolation.

The prime minister was still leading the response from the front, he insisted, saying he had chaired a videoconference earlier.

Mr Sharma also announced changes to insolvency rules to give firms greater flexibility to survive the crisis.

Measures to cut red tape, to allow companies to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitiser more quickly, were also unveiled.

The temporary suspension of rules on wrongful trading would remove the threat of personal liability from directors trying to save their companies, Mr Sharma said.

The British Chambers of Commerce said: Businesses will welcome the governments sensible steps to amend insolvency laws to help protect companies weakened by the impact of coronavirus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 23:53:21|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka' Health Ministry said on Saturday that a 60-year-old man tested positive for the COVID-19 had died while being under critical care at the National Infectious Disease Hospital on the outskirts of Colombo.

This marks Sri Lanka's first death from the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that the man underwent a kidney transplant a few years ago and was admitted to the National Infectious Disease Hospital recently after testing positive for the COVID-19.

The ministry further said that presently 113 patients were confirmed with the virus in Sri Lanka after five patients tested positive on Saturday.

Out of this number nine patients had been discharged after fully recovering from the illness.

A total of 199 people remained under observation in designated hospitals across the country.

Sri Lanka is under a nationwide curfew aimed at preventing the spread of the virus and people have been banned from leaving their homes.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and First Lady Lauren Baker rolled up their sleeves Saturday to offer direct support to health care efforts in donating blood.

This is an essential service, Charlie Baker said Saturday.

The American Red Cross put out an urgent call for blood donors, amid a severe blood shortage nationwide.

Thousands of blood drives across the United States have been canceled due to the growing threat of coronavirus, resulting in hundreds of thousands of blood donations uncollected after spaces where blood drives are typically held - schools and businesses - were closed. In Massachusetts, more than 55,000 units of blood were uncollected.

The average red blood cell transfusion offers three units of blood. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.

Type O is the most often requested by hospitals.

There are many hospitals where the Red Cross is their sole provider of blood, Holly Grant, CEO of of the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, said, emphasizing the need.

The Red Cross has adjusted its way of collecting blood, scheduling collections by appointment only.

Donors will have their temperature tested before donation - which Baker attested to on Saturday, saying he had a temperature of 97.7 degrees when asked about his health amid a growing number of positive coronavirus tests in the state, including Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel.

Additionally, Red Cross staff will provide hand sanitizer for use before entering the appointment area and enhanced disinfecting of equipment.

Blankets typically used by platelet, Power Red and AB Elite donors at Red Cross blood donation centers will be laundered after each use.

There is no data or evidence that this virus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, the Red Cross said. However, it implemented new blood donation requirements asking people tp postpone donations for 28 days after: diagnosis of COVID-19; contact with a person who tested positive; or travel to China, Iran, Italy or South Korea.

The severe blood shortage has renewed calls for the United States Food and Drug Administration to lift its ban that prevents men who have had sex with men from donating blood. The FDA doesnt allow blood donations from men who have had sex over the last 12 months. There are no restrictions on women who have sex with women.

This antiquated ban is not only discriminatory, but has been debunked by leading medical organizations for years, GLAAD said in a statement. The American Public Health Association has argued that the current ban is not based in science but appears to be modeled after other countries choices and fears.

GLAAD, citing a study by the Williams Institute, said that lifting the FDA ban could provide an additional 360,000 men that would likely donate blood. That amount of blood could save a million lives.

As of Friday afternoon, 35 Massachusetts residents have died from complications of COVID-19. At least 3,240 residents have tested positive for the virus, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Across the world, over 600,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus. There have been 28,823 deaths and at least 135,736 people who have recovered, according to a real-time map produced by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

On Friday, Baker asked anyone traveling into Massachusetts to self-quarantine for 14 days to reduce the risk of spreading the respiratory illness.

As the state responds to the outbreak, schools are closed until at least May 4, gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited and restaurants and bars cannot serve food or drinks on-site through April 6.

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Thousands of parents in the capital city are spending restless days as they have no clue about how to get united with their children studying in the metro-based colleges amid lockdown.

Ajit Kumar Sinha and his wife Felicita Kullu, residents of Lodipur, are worried for the past couple of days as their daughter, pursuing post-graduation in Mumbai since one year, is stuck in the metro city amid the lockdown. With all the state borders sealed and modes of transportation coming to an unprecedented halt, they are haplessly waiting for an order from the government to get their children back home safely.

Father Sinha regrets decision to not convince his daughter to visit them during the Holi vacation. He said, I would have not let her go amid this Covid -19 spread had she visited us (for Holi). She was insisting that she had to stay in Mumba due to her assignments and on-the-job training so we allowed her to stay there. Suddenly, nationwide lockdown was announced and we were left with no transportation facility to reach to her.

Her mother shared that video calling and the internet is the only source left stay in touch. We talk to her at least four times a day. We guide her to take preventative measures and cautiously use essentials goods. Every night we go to bed with a heavy heart, praying to god for her well-being, sighed Kullu.

Vibha Devi, a resident of Mithapur, is facing a similar situation as her daughter is stuck in Punjab, where she had gone to pursue higher studies. She said, Most of my daughters classmates have vacated the hostel. We got no time to call her back as all modes of transportation, including bus, train and flight operations got suspended one by one.

She is getting food in the hostel but I am worried about her other daily needs. She is not allowed to go out of the hostel room. We play online games with her to keep her engaged.

Resident of Boring Road, Radha Mishra, whose daughter is pursuing MBA in Kolkata, said, Ir am worried how my daughter will manage to survive amid the crisis. We never faced such insecurity before. I hope the lockdown would not be extended further.

Sanjay Kumar and his wife Meena Sinha are counting restless days as their two children are stuck in Mumbai and Delhi respectively .

Kumar expressed that children remain young for the parents no matter what age they attain. Though, both of my children are working professionals in their 20s, their parents our concern is still as same as they were young.

Both children assure us that they are taking good care of themselves but their father and I know how restless we feel, lamented Sinha..
It was a Daffodil Day with a difference yesterday for the Irish Cancer Society.

Instead of the familiar sight of buckets on streets and people walking around with the distinctive yellow blooms in their lapels, it was a digital Daffodil Day, with people being urged to donate online towards the society's vital services.

Earlier this month, the charity was forced to make the difficult decision to cancel street collections and events because of the coronavirus crisis.

Every year, Daffodil Day generates 4m for the charity, and is its biggest fundraiser.

People have instead been encouraged to download a digital daffodil to show their support.

Society chief executive Averil Power said people yesterday were taking part in virtual events, such as venues streaming online fundraisers and solo walks.

"When we made the decision earlier this month to cancel all Daffodil Day events and street collections, we were blown away by the response," she said.

"Across Ireland, we've seen people take up safe ways to raise funds.

"We've had dozens of offers from companies wanting to help in various ways."

Ms Power said it was important for society to be able to operate even during the Covid-19 emergency.

"Each year, more than 40,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, this will remain the case, even with the coronavirus outbreak," she said.

"What's more, there are approximately 200,000 people in Ireland living with and beyond cancer, many of whom are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness if they catch coronavirus.

Crucial

"The Irish Cancer Society is continuing to provide crucial services including our NightNurse service, providing end-of-life care for people in their homes, our volunteer driving service to transfer patients to chemotherapy and other support services.

"We're determined to be there for everyone who might need us.

"But as only 3pc of our funding comes from the State, we can't do that without the support of the public, so please help by donating what you can on cancer.ie."
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Linkedin Paul Carrel (Reuters) Berlin, Germany  Sat, March 28, 2020 08:08 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df1f5e 2 Lifestyle astronaut,lockdown,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,mental-health Free

Stick to a daily routine, stay connected with family and treat yourself occasionally - those are some of the tips German astronauts gave for surviving lockdown during the coronavirus crisis, which they said was much like their time in space.

Thomas Reiter, 61, who was the first German astronaut to perform a spacewalk, recalled during a Skype conversation with other astronauts on Thursday how he had a tight daily routine in space.

"I think it's important to follow a conscious routine in such a situation ... keeping that routine all week," said Reiter, now retired.

But weekend treats were important to look forward to.

"During the week we picked out the things from the food container that each person liked the most for a Friday or Saturday evening and then had a bit better food," he said.

Reiter recalled using Skype to connect with his family from the International Space Station. Sitting in front of a bookshelf, he recommended using lockdown to catch up on reading.

"You have to be able to retreat," he said, but added that in confinement with others, people must put the group first. "You work together as a crew, you have to think of the others."

Matthias Maurer, 50, the newest addition to the European Space Agency's astronaut corps, said it was important to address any niggles before they blow up into arguments.

Read also: 'Embrace your passion': Confinement tips from French barrel sailor

"Everyone of us has a quirk which we are comfortable with but which can annoy others," he said, recalling how his taste for bananas annoyed a colleague who couldn't stand their smell.

"If he hadn't said that so politely and clearly, I would have continually annoyed him," said Maurer.

Alexander Gerst, 43, who commanded the International Space Station, addressed the anxiety people may feel during the coronavirus epidemic.

Before a mission, astronauts think about the worst that could happen and then train how to respond.

"Then you have the feeling not that you are losing control, but that you have some control over the situation," he said.

"Now the situation is similar. We have a very effective means of limiting this illness - that is that we stay at home."

Reiter urged people to act likes astronauts going into quarantine before a mission - a protocol to prevent illness in space.

"Some people take the attitude 'I'm young, I'm not at danger, I have no symptoms, so I don't need to pay attention'," he said. "It is up everyone to behave appropriately now, just like for us in quarantine."
Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Saturday said that all grocery and daily needs shops would remain open in the state to avoid panic like situations.

The service providers have also been warned not to sell things at higher prices.

Deshmukh has urged the people to stay at home and not step out until necessary. He has also asked the people to maintain social distancing.

The Home Minister said that the government is getting the support of 90 per cent of the people of but there are others who are not cooperating with the police in the given situation.

According to the Ministry of Health, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 918, including 19 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A representative of fuel distributors in Iran has warned the government that 70 percent of gas stations might soon shut down due to lack of sales.

Assadollah Qolizadeh, who is president of fuel distributors association told ILNA news website March 28, Sale of Super gasoline [high octane] has reached zero and sale of diesel has decreased by up to 70 percent.

He also said that operating cost of gas stations has increased by 30 percent due to additional expenses resulting from the coronavirus epidemic; including health safety measure, masks and protective gear.

The decrease in sales began with a 30 percent rise in fuel prices last November, when the government suddenly decided to reduce gasoline subsidies. This led to days of widespread protests and unrest in the country, during which security forces killed up to 1,500 people.

With the coronavirus epidemic sales dropped by up to 70 percent, as Mr. Qolizadeh has told ILNA.

Gas stations in Iran always belonged to the government but three years ago a program of privatization was launched, and an undetermined number of fuel stations were sold to private investors. There are 6,800 gas stations in Iran.

Despite Qolizadehs warning, a day earlier the government company in charge of distributing oil products denied any plans to close gas stations, reiterating that all distribution centers will remain open 24 hours.
From Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to closer home on the borders of Uttar Pradesh, migrant workers from Bihar continue to remain anxious, torn between a disease that dictates they stay where they are and economic and emotional compulsions, which are pushing them to return home.

This, in turn, has sparked contrasting political responses  with the Bihar government seeking to help people at the border of the state, as other, including opposition party leaders, make personal interventions and appeal for more active government help. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, for his part, is concerned about the possibility of workers bringing the virus back to their villages, due to the decision of state governments to arrange their transport.

Ram Kumar Mandal is a labourer in Mumbai from Bihar. He has lost his livelihood, and is worried about his family back home. He is with a group of 23 other migrant workers from the state, struggling with what to do next.

We have no food and no money. We are sitting idle. We cannot get back home and we dont know how long we can survive like this without any work and money, said Mandal, adding the labour contractor who had brought them to Mumbai had also switched off his phone.

The huge population of migrant labourers from Bihar, who have got stranded across the country due to lockdown in view of Coronavirus pandemic, are making desperate calls for support. Many have begun searching for ways to return home, using whatever they can, be it cycle, a cart or rickshaw, or just walking.

Many students studying in Delhi University or other institutions in the national capital from Bihar are also struggling.

Many of the students live in Delhi by giving private tuition to pursue their studies. They live in rented accommodations and now face a dual problem  their academic work is affected and they are struggling to meet their monthly expenses, said Rajesh Jha, executive committee member of DU.

At the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border, in a key crossing, the Bihar government has opened shelter homes with free food and lodging facilities. It is also arranging free transport to their respective home districts after their health check-up.

Following the inflow of migrant labourers on the National Highway- 2 (GT Road) from UP, the administration in the bordering Bihar district of Kaimur opened a special check post at a toll point near the border. A magistrate, police force and a doctor with paramedical staff were deputed round the clock for screening the visitors.

Migrant labourers, originally from different districts in Jharkhand and hilly areas of south-west Bihar, and working in UP and other northern and western states, are using this route to return. It is also used by health patients from Bihars Rohtas and Aurangabad districts to travel to specialised medical facilities at Varanasi, Lucknow and Delhi.

Two shelter homes have been opened in Mohania and Bhabua. After the health check up at the border and provision of food and rest at the shelter points, the administration is arranging vehicles to send workers to their respective districts free of cost, district magistrate, Kaimur, Nawal Kishor Chaudhary said.

The Bihar disaster management department (DMD) has also set up relief camps and community kitchen, as it did during floods, at schools and colleges in Gardanibagh of Patna, and in some other districts, to provide meals free of cost to the poor, including labourers, affected by the lockdown, said principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, in the meantime, has expressed his reservations on the UP governments decision to run special buses to ferry migrants from Ghaziabad-Noida. This may provide relief to migrants but on the flip side if anybody among them is a carrier, it will spell further trouble, said Kumar.
It is more fitting to seek the truth of the matter than to have imaginary conceptions.

In the midst of the deepening coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, which so far has caused more than 24,000 deaths, the truth about Russia policies and the intentions of President Vladimir Putin are not easy to fathom. This is particularly the case as Putin, though exercising virtual dictatorial power, has no apparent categorical or predetermined political positions or ideological outlook, as had leaders of the former Soviet Union. Rather, he is opportunistic, nationalistic, eager to play an important role in international affairs in what he considers a multipolar world, and above all determined to remain in power.

There is no need for Kremlinology to explain Russian behavior, no single key. Rather, there are fits and starts, short-term goals, at times a pivot to Asia and end to Eurocentric attitudes, conflicting and at times contradictory forces in Russia. Noticeable are assertions of national pride; skepticism of the West; and resurgence of the state, especially since the state share of the economy has grown from 25 to more than 60 percent under Putin.

Putin had at first believed that the spread of the coronavirus was under control. But after it became clear that the number of reported virus cases had increased by one third, amounting to an official number of 658, Putin declared the absolute priority was the health and safety of the Russian people, and the safe thing was to stay home. Putin's decision, incidentally, means the postponement of the celebration in the Red Square, due on May 9, of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany.

Putin was obliged to act after the mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, asserted that the number of people infected by the pandemic was far more than the government was admitting. This lack of veracity and misrepresentation of information is familiar in Russian history, bringing back memories of the newspaper Pravda, "Truth," which from 1912 until its dissolution had been the formal paper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, disseminating "fake" as well as honest news.

Putin has been hesitant. He did not impose a total quarantine on Russia, but agreed, with French president Emmanuel Macron, to coordinate the issue of sending citizens to their home countries and transporting medical equipment. He did close land borders with China on January 30, 2020; then he closed all borders, with some exceptions, until May 1.

Russia has encouraged business to have employees work from home and closed theaters, museums, schools, universities, cafes, shops, and non-essential services for a short period. People are instructed to stay at home for at least a week. Foreigners have been banned from the country, and most international flights have been canceled.

For Putin, it's a blue world, with an indigo hue. On March 24, 2020, wearing a hazmat suit, he visited a hospital for virus patients on the outskirts of Moscow. Yet he has continued to attend public and private meetings without wearing a face mask or insisting on a safe distance from other people. At the same time, rapid changes have been made. Inspired by China, which in February 2020 built a hospital with 1,000 beds in ten days in Wuhan, Russia built a hospital, with facilities for 500 patients suffering from infectious diseases, in an area 40 miles from the Kremlin, and another hospital was ordered to be built close to the Chinese border. Most remarkably, Russia, using 3,000 soldiers, is building 16 new hospitals by mid-May, which will hold 1,600 patients, and a new specialist hospital in Moscow.

The Russian decisions were taken in the context of Putin's proposals for changes in the Russian political system and his engagement in another war, battling with Saudi Arabia over oil production and prices after the Saudis left the market collaboration with OPEC in February and crude prices of oil had dropped over 40 percent in a month.

Putin for some time had been considering various alternative plans by which he could retain power and, as he argued, ensure political stability. On March 10, 2020, Putin, in a speech to the Duma, spoke of the transfer of some presidential powers to the State Duma and the Federation Council, of the substantial expansion of the parliament's authority. This would be a duality of power, a public divide, and would, he held, lead to closer work between the representative and executive branches of government and produce stability. Parliamentary government, the kind in many European systems, he held, is not for Russia. He was not proposing a new constitution, but only important amendments, which were guarantees for a regular change of government.

Earlier in January, Putin had not proposed changes that would have allowed him to remain president. However, he changed his mind and adopted amendments that allow him to serve an additional two terms of six years. In effect, this would mean his remaining in office until 2036. Putin denied that he is a tsar who sits there and gives orders; "on the contrary, I work every day." Yet the image of Stalin remains.

Russia may have sealed its borders, closed schools, postponed sorts events, and closed cinemas and night clubs to halt the spread of the virus. But it has not postponed a vote on a new constitution proposed by Putin. He has downplayed the threat of the virus and urged people to remain calm. The proposal for the new constitution was passed by both houses of Parliament and endorsed by the constitutional court. It will enable Putin to run in two more elections and rule until his 83rd birthday, and he won't have to step down in 2024 as originally promised.

The U.S. and the Western world may rightfully have some concern over this and over apparent aggressive action. Very surprising have been demonstrations in recent weeks by seven Russian warships in the English Channel and the North Sea. These led to a response by nine U.K. vessels, supported by helicopters and radar, tasked with shadowing the Russians. In addition, RAF Typhoon FGR4 planes, multirole combat aircraft, were scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft approaching U.K. airspace in the Outer Hebrides.

One can understand Putin's desire to stay in power and to increase the prestige of Russia and himself, to be a player in international affairs. The world already has been confronted by the prospect of Xi Jinping being Chinese president for life. Now it faces Putin's plan to retain the mechanisms of power and rule for life. Even Stalin ruled as general secretary of the Communist Party, not as an official minister. Putin has proposed a complicated system of checks and balances and rules a complex system that combines personal rule with syndicates and enforcers, some of whom appear to be more interested in self-enrichment than effective rule.

That system may be genuinely troubled by its fear of the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia, and above all by the prominence, power, and culture of the United States. But these fears do not explain its hesitation in coming to grips with the coronavirus, or in overseas aggressive moves. It certainly does not explain the fact that the official Russian statistics vastly understate the much larger number of outbreaks of COVID-19 in the country. Can Putin be trusted?
The doors of a Cornelius church have been closed for more than two weeks as part of the efforts to slow the insidious spread of the novel coronavirus.

Such closures are being played out at houses of worship across Oregon, a way to practice social distancing, a phrase few had even heard of just two months ago.

We have no idea when we will open, said Holly Witte, a longtime member of St. Alexander Catholic Church. We all miss each other. Were relying on faith to get us through this time.

But faith in isolation is not as powerful as is faith together.

When the doors to this church finally open again members will greet each other. The absence they were forced to experience will be replaced by the energy and strength that builds when a community gathers its people.

And in this church, a powerful symbol of that truth is a simple quilt that hangs above the sanctuary doors. Handmade, it represents the lives of the members who proudly describe themselves as working class.

The church was formed by Germans in 1910. Over the decades the church became a hub for its Spanish-speaking community, reaching out to migrant farm workers and drawing members from Washington County, Portland, Vancouver, Sherwood and Tillamook.

Latinos now make up the majority of the church members, and services are held in English and Spanish. As membership grew  a series of weekend Masses typically draws 1,900 parishioners  the parish needed a bigger church. Members spent years raising the money to construct a new building, which opened in 2017.

To honor their history and accomplishment, members of the churchs design committee wanted to buy a hand-woven tapestry to display on a sanctuary wall above the front doors. When they learned it would cost tens of thousands of dollars, they accepted the disappointing news with grace.

And then, while sitting in the pew during a service last year, Mary Kline felt what she called a nudge of faith.

She believed she was being called to make a quilt for that wall.

It made no sense.

She had no studio, and while she made quilts for beds, shed never attempted to make something large enough to be hung on a wall.

I had my doubts, said the 66-year-old Kline, a member of St. Alexander for more than 16 years. But sometimes were being used and dont know why. Im no theologian. My desire is not to understand faith, but to trust in it with the faith of a child.

When she told Father David Schiferl of her plan, he blessed her, praying Kline receive the guidance and strength shed need to embark on this project.

It was to be.

Eight months later, in late 2019, the quilt was hung on the wall.

The main panel measures 10 feet by 12 feet, with two side panels each measuring 10 feet by 3 feet.

The scene depicts Jesus, his arms outstretched, surrounded by a group of people. More than art, the quilt reflects the church community because of the fabric.

A quilt hangs in St. Alexander Catholic Church/San Alejandro in Cornelius, Oregon, on March 26, 2020. The doors of the church have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Browns order to stay home. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian/OregonLive

Kline asked members to give her cotton fabric or garments that represented their family or cultural heritage. The quilt shows people with eight different skin tones, two people in wheelchairs and two with canes.

The pieces of fabric come from, or represent, Peru, Holland, India, Navajo Indians, Mexico, Scotland, Philippines, Hungary, Tanzania and Ecuador.

Pieces of lives and cultures are in this quilt, said Father Schiferl. In this quilt, you get a picture of who we are as a faith community.

Eva Alvarado donated a shirt that someone in her family wore while competing in the charreria, a rodeo popular in Mexico. Seeing a portion of the shirt, she said, reminds her of her roots and her place in this church community.

While not a church member, Emily Lux, an artist and Beaverton teacher, heard about the project and came up with a conceptual painting for the quilt and gave it to Kline.

That helped me visualize, said Kline. I am a laborer by nature.

She had to search through all the fabric to find the right piece, and the right size piece, cutting and shaping the way an artist uses a brush.

A girl in the quilt was to have blonde braids. The first fabric made them look white, the second made them look like the color of a school bus. Kline finally found the right fabric, a process she had to repeat for each section of the quilt.

I prayed frequently, she said with a laugh.

At first it was suggested that people in the church gather to make the quilt.

Some projects need to be done alone, said Kline. Each sewing machine is different and if something is off by just a quarter inch, it wont fit together and lay flat.

Kline sewed at the kitchen table, and then took pieces to a master bedroom where paper had been taped to give her a sense of what the quilt would ultimately look like.

When it came time for the final assembly, Kline pulled her car out of the garage and then mopped the floor. She and her husband used blue painters tape to block out the quilts dimensions on the floor.

She rented a professional quilting machine to sew the pieces together, walking from her kitchen back to the garage to see how they fit.

The white strip in the center is from Peru, said Kline. The red-and-black reminded a woman of the shirt her father wore to work every day. A woman whose father is from India gave me a purple skirt from India.

A mans vest from Mexico

A piece of plaid from a man with a Scottish background.

A blouse from Hungary.

A section of a flag from the Philippines.

A purse from Guatemala.

A servilleta, a woven napkin from Mexico.

A pillowcase from a man whose mother long ago painted it for him.

A Jewish member who comes to church with her Catholic husband gave Kline an afikomen bag used by Jewish families during Passover.

Kline remembers when the quilt was unveiled.

It is not fancy work, she said, but we are not fancy people. We are humble, hardworking people. We are fat, we are skinny, we are educated and not educated. Together we are beautiful.

Kline said that by tradition a quilter always makes an error, the belief being that only God makes something perfect. She chose to turn a small piece of Dutch fabric, blue and white, upside down.

A woman just happened to have that piece of fabric in her purse in church one day, Kline said. She gave it to me.

Dan Allie, a church member since 1987, donated upholstery fabric that Kline used on the edge of the quilt, a symbolic choice because the upholstery, while not flashy represented the church cornerstones.

When I see that quilt, it reminds me that that people can give just a small piece of themselves to create something beautiful, said Allie. It took Mary to put it all together for us.

Witte, who said church members are keeping in touch with each other over the phone, all mention the healing power of a quilt that hangs on a wall.

On the day services start again, everyone in the sanctuary will turn around for the opening processional, she said. What we will all see is that quilt and the love it represents.

A parishioner prays in a closed St. Alexander Catholic Church/San Alejandro in Cornelius, Oregon on March 26, 2020. The doors of the church have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Browns order to stay home. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian/OregonLive

 Tom Hallman Jr; thallman@oregonian.com; 503-221-8224; @thallmanjr

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SAN ANTONIO, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavors received an official notification from FEMA on March 20, 2020, indicating our request for additional funding to continue disaster case management services supporting survivors of Hurricane Maria was denied. As a result, Endeavors will close most offices providing Hurricane Maria disaster recovery in Puerto Rico on April 3, 2020, due to a lack of funding.

"Endeavors' mission is to serve those in crisis, so we are disappointed we were not provided additional funding to continue helping the many survivors of Hurricane Maria," said Chip Fulghum, Endeavors Chief Operating Officer. There are currently over 7,000 remaining individuals and families who have registered for help in the 50 municipalities served by Endeavors, with over 6,000 classified as a critical need.

Our Puerto Rican employees serving under FEMA's Disaster Case Management program will be affected by the closure. Endeavors Puerto Rico offices are no longer accepting clients recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Endeavors will be working to transition remaining clients to FEMA.

"As a community-based nonprofit, we are dependent upon federal funding to continue our services. This news is disheartening as there are currently 311 local employees serving survivors in Puerto Rico," said Mr. Fulghum. Endeavors provides client-focused services for short-term relief and long-term recovery. The nonprofit assists in developing recovery plans, creating safe environments, and referring assistance to individuals impacted by natural disasters.

Endeavors has served over 12,600 individuals and families in 2019 alone. "We are very proud to assist the families of Puerto Rico. We have served almost 13,500 cases since we began operations in September 2018," said Jon Allman, Endeavors President, and CEO. "Responding to these major disasters takes a team effort from compassionate, caring, and experienced employees, government officials, and volunteers. We appreciate all who have helped along the way."

Despite the lack of funding, Endeavors will continue to have a permanent presence in Puerto Rico, finding opportunities to serve Puerto Ricans. For further questions on the development of services in your community, please contact FEMA at 1 (800) 621-3362.

ABOUT ENDEAVORS

Endeavors, a San Antonio based nonprofit, is a longstanding national nonprofit agency that provides an array of programs and services in support of children, families, Veterans and those struggling with mental illness, disabilities, disasters or emergencies. Endeavors serves vulnerable people in crisis through personalized services. For more information, please visit www.endeavors.org.
Last week, in a devastating dispatch, one terror-struck doctor at a major London hospital told how she was forced to watch helplessly as patients died in agony. Now, in a chilling new account, she reveals how medics are at breaking point as they face a tsunami of new coronavirus patients and crippling equipment shortages.

Monday

I would love to say I am returning to work well rested but that would be a lie. I have worked as a medical doctor for more than a decade and last week was unlike anything I have experienced.

Just getting to work today was terrifying  my Tube is packed. In every carriage there will be an NHS worker just like me, likely to be carrying coronavirus because of the sub-standard personal protection equipment (PPE) were using.

The NHSs view is if you dont have symptoms, you carry on. I feel deeply uneasy, squeezed against people, potentially killing them and them bringing death to me. Yet what choice do I have?

An 18-year-old patient suffering from coronavirus is brought into San Raffaele hospital in Milan, Italy, on March 27

There is camaraderie among staff in the hospital. Keep talking and smiling and well get through this seems to be the unofficial motto. But the sense of doom is palpable.

There remains a PPE shortage. Even basic scrubs are in short supply and I am forced to wear a pair several sizes too large.

A number of my patients died at the weekend. I am relieved I wasnt there to see them die. There is only so much death one can take at the moment. One nurse tearfully tells me they cant cope with managing beds because of the tsunami of new patients. Meanwhile, the geriatric ward is full of confused dementia sufferers who have no idea whats going on. They are all Covid-19 positive. They will all likely die.

Im called to tend to an elderly patient who is dying but hes not in a Covid-19 bay. He has developed a fever. Hes clearly caught the virus. Here we go again, I think, as I stand before him with no PPE. We take him to a side room to be tested. But honestly, whats the point? He cant be saved. A draining sense of helplessness washes over me. Later in the day, his breathing becomes laboured. I hold his hand to comfort him but that look of terror, deep in his pupils, is there. Youre doing great, I tell him from behind my mask. Soon he will die. In isolation. Away from loved ones. Alone.

There is a terrible obstacle I have to face this evening which I cant avoid: how do I discharge patients who are better but still have the virus? Its not just families to liaise with  some are being released to old peoples homes and sheltered accommodation. Its a headache but what else can we do?

Workers crammed onto the Circle line on March 24. There have been calls for TfL to put on more tubes so that passengers can sit further apart

I leave at 8pm. I feel lucky to have got out after 11 hours. There wont be many days as calm as this for a while. My dad calls. His friend has been hospitalised and is on a ventilator. My sister knows someone who today lost their mother.

Tuesday

Another sleepless night. Even something as simple as opening the communal front door to the flats where I live feels as if I could be harming a neighbour. I use a tissue but will that help? Probably not.

Despite Boriss pleas last night, the Tube is packed again.

Theres a pressing issue about the hospitals cleanliness but many of the cleaning staff are off sick. The wards are becoming chaotic, with medical notes strewn everywhere and bin bags stuffed with used PPE piling up. This is not what a hospital should look like. Ambulances are queuing up outside with more sufferers. Ive never seen so many. It is a stomach-churning spectacle. Throughout the day we review the intensive care unit set-up to cope with the influx.

I tell him he is doing great and hold his hand. But soon he will die. All alone.

Many Covid-19 patients are being kept in A&E  it is dangerous but we are at bursting point.

In the afternoon, I take a call from a nursing home about a 90-year-old woman with symptoms. After much back and forth, the decision is made to leave her where she is. I advise the home to isolate her as best as it can but she will be a risk to other residents and staff. She will probably die soon. Confused and alone. A pang of guilt pinches my insides as I think of my grandparents.

The TV in the staff room shows the makeshift hospital at the ExCel Centre. It is a chilling image.

After I get home following a 12-hour day, my dad unexpectedly drives across London to drop off a food parcel and toilet roll.

Standing at the end of the path after leaving the boxes on my doorstep and ringing up, he chats as I do my best to stay composed. Id love nothing more than to hug him. The desire for human contact is overwhelming, even more pronounced by the fact that I live separately from my partner.

After a few minutes, Dad wanders back to his car and disappears into the night. I turn to carry the stuff through the door to my empty flat. Exhausted, I slump against the door and put my head in my hands. An uncontrollable sob follows. Pull yourself together, I think to myself. Your grandmother survived the Blitz, your grandfather fought throughout the Second World War, this should be a walk in the park.

As Britain prepares for the coronavirus epidemic, No10 Downing Street released photos showing London's ExCel Centre converted into an emergency hospital

Wednesday

I arrive at 9am to find there has been a huge intake of Covid-19 patients. Its beginning to feel like a war zone. Reports of a nurses suicide elsewhere has further darkened the mood.

Before Covid-19 patients get so bad that they need invasive ventilation, we treat them with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks that help them breathe. There has been much talk about the shortage of ventilators, but there is also a frightening shortage of CPAP machines. We are overwhelmed with patients who require them.

If they dont get them soon they could die. Ive lost count of the times my pager sounds. I feel like one of those elastic kids toys that can be endlessly stretched.

Now I am forced to play God. A sweet lady in her 80s is struggling to breathe with the CPAP machine. There is nothing I can do to help her  and because of her pre-existing conditions and age, she is simply not a candidate to take to intensive care.

Sounds callous, doesnt it? But there are 11 people elsewhere in desperate need of her mask. There is unease among staff and no real consensus on what we should do.

As painful as it is, I know that those 11 other people all stand a better chance of surviving than she does. Taking her to intensive care would be a folly.

I call her daughter. She is understanding. She doesnt say much. But no one wants to be told on the phone that a hospital is going to leave their mother to die. Will she be comfortable? was her first response. In truth, its hard to be comfortable when dying with Covid-19.

While I am on the phone explaining this, my pager goes off, alerting me to yet another critical case.

I am so dehydrated I can feel my head throbbing. I dont think Ive had a drink all day, let alone anything to eat. Later on, I discover a 68-year-old man who is not responding to the CPAP and is reaching the end of the road. I cant bring myself to take him off the machine just yet, though. He surely is too young. I tell the other doctors and nurses we need to give him another 24 hours. It is likely in vain. I eventually get out at 11pm and walk into Londons empty, dead streets  I dont think Ive ever felt so alone.

Above are ambulances at the NHS Nightingale hospital in the ExCel Centre, London

Thursday

The flood of patients appearing on regular wards with symptoms this morning is never-ending.

I keep picturing a humongous tin of poisonous red paint being dropped on to the hospital, smashing through the ceiling and splattering everywhere. No corner of the hospital is safe.

Do I sound mad? The lack of sleep is catching up with me.

Sadly, the sweet old lady died overnight. Its easy to ignore death statistics. But everyone who dies is someone to somebody. She was a mother and a grandmother.

We are running out of space to test patients. The side rooms where we swab and isolate people are at full capacity. Its becoming impossible to manage.

I arrive to find a huge new intake of patients. The ward looks like a war zone.

The chaos caused a terrible accident late this morning. Patients are cleared from a regular bay after someone tests positive for the virus. Unfortunately, miscommunication results in A&E bringing up patients into the infected area. (They all subsequently test positive for coronavirus.)

Its no ones fault. A&E is at over-capacity and they thought they were taking these patients to a safe place. I really feel quite sick. Its easy for people to forget that were still trying to run a normal hospital. In the afternoon, the emergency alarm goes off and I find a non-coronavirus patient, a man in his 70s, unresponsive. After four minutes of compressions we fortunately get him back.

Shortly afterwards, though, it becomes apparent he likely has the virus. The voice in my head is repeatedly screaming, Oh f***. CPR is a contagious procedure that requires enhanced PPE. Countless staff and other patients in the bay could have caught the virus during the compressions.

If I didnt have it before, I most likely have it now. The man is in the vulnerable category with underlying health issues and is therefore not a contender for ICU  he will be lucky to make it through the night.

Shortly before I leave, a decision is made to continue the CPAP treatment for the 68-year-old gentleman who yesterday we gave another 24 hours. He isnt responding but we give him another day.

Its a downward slope once we start letting people in their 60s go. We cant face that  yet.

I set off shortly before 8pm. I am left dumbfounded by the NHS applause. Its incredibly humbling. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I dont feel alone.

Other medical staff carried out 'dummy runs', wheeling a model of a fake patient on a trolley into the ExCel exhibition centre on Saturday morning

Friday

ANOTHER early start but thankfully the Tube is empty.

The man who went into cardiac arrest yesterday died overnight. The others who were in the bay next to him when we performed CPR have all tested positive.

But it isnt all doom and gloom. Younger patients are getting better and coming off the CPAP machines.

The lunchtime news that Boris has tested positive leads to some staff joking about how he managed to get tested. Of course hes the PM and absolutely must be tested, but it remains shameful that exposed frontline staff are not afforded the same courtesy. The 68-year-old still isnt responding to CPAP. We will have to stop his treatment.

His daughter, however, refuses to accept this and barges into his room without full PPE on. CPAP machines generate a lot of aerosols and there will be virus particles everywhere. Its very dangerous for her but she is inconsolable.

Through sobs she pleads for us to save him. Please, she repeatedly cries. Poor girl is in her mid-30s. I have a sister that age. It could easily be her. Just as the dying man could be my father. The ward sister eventually subdues her. Going on without a loved one is a terrible burden.

Bodies are piling up in the resuscitation area. The hospital mortuary is clearly struggling to cope.

Now we are also running out of surgical gowns. Some nurses are wearing bin bags instead, which is horrifying to see.

Admin is struggling to keep up with the death rates. An oncologist calls the ward to touch base with one of their patients, only to discover they died from Covid-19 days before. The collateral damage of this virus for normal patients will stay with us for a while.

Its not a good time to get sick from something else. Hospitals are not safe places. One doctor tells me they are concerned that a patient who likely has an underlying cancer cannot have a scan for at least three months. There is a worry this patient could become unwell in the meantime with widespread cancer.

But hes powerless. There will be countless cases like this.

I get out late, shortly after the 68-year-old is taken off the CPAP machine. Its been a long week.

A fellow doctor sends a message about figures from Italy saying 51 doctors have died from coronavirus. Ill blank that one out, thanks.

I should text my mum. Shes always worrying and I wont have a moment tomorrow as I know my pager wont stop going off. As I type, a cough comes out of nowhere. So there you are, I think. Ive been expecting you. What took you so long?
Central security agencies are looking into the role of Kerala youth -- Mohammed Muhsin -- who is believed to be one of the terrorists of ISIS that claimed responsibility of an attack on a gurdwara in Afghanistan killing 25 people, officials said on Saturday.

The youth hails from Kasargod, Kerala, and had left India to the UAE in 2018 from where he is believed to have joined the ranks with the global terror organisation in Afghanistan, they said.

His identity was established after an Islamic state publication posted his picture identifying him with his 'kunya' (Arabic name) Abu Khalid al-Hindi, the officials said.

They said he, along with his family, had returned to Kerala from Malaysia in 2017 and later had left for Saudi Arabia in search of work.

The same year he returned and stayed with his family for sometime before leaving for the UAE in 2018, the officials said.

At least 25 worshippers were killed and eight others injured when a heavily armed suicide bomber stormed his way into a prominent gurdwara on Wednesday in the heart of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, in one of the deadliest attacks on the minority Sikh community in the strife-torn country.

The Islamic State terror group, which has targeted Sikhs before in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The central agencies with the help of local police reached out to the family of the accused, who identified him to be Muhsin from the published picture which had ISIS flag in the background, they said.

The parents had claimed to have received a message from the ISIS confirming the death of their son during the attack on gurdwara in Kabul on Wednesday, the officials said.

Muhsin, the 28-year old school dropout, is believed to have landed in Afghanistan as a member of ISIS in the Khorasan Province, they said.

With one of the victims in the gurdwara attack being an Indian, the amended NIA Act gives the agency mandate to take over the investigation but a call is yet to be taken by the Home Ministry, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KYODO NEWS - Mar 28, 2020 - 07:20 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

A U.S. naval base outside Tokyo has been locked down through the weekend after an aircraft carrier using the base as its home port reported coronavirus infection cases on board, Fox News said Friday, citing U.S. officials.

Two sailors aboard the carrier Ronald Reagan have tested positive. Everyone on the Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture has been told to stay indoors for the next 48 hours.

(Photo taken April 23, 2019, shows the U.S. aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan berthed at its home port in Yokosuka.)

Ronald Reagan is the only American aircraft carrier to be homeported abroad.

The U.S. Navy has also confirmed positive cases of the COVID-19 disease on aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, which was sailing in the Indo-Pacific region. The carrier has arrived in Guam, according to a statement released by the Navy on Thursday.

Fox News said the number of infection cases aboard Theodore Roosevelt has surged to more than 30, compared with only three known cases three days ago, and that U.S. officials are expecting the number to rise in the coming days.
Millions of travelers visit the Emerald Isle each year to view its historic castles, seaside villages, and striking landscapes. Whether kissing the Blarney Stone or savoring a fresh pint of Guinness, the people of Ireland are sure to make you feel at home. Blue skies are a rare treat in this part of the world, but dont let the forecast discourage you. Grab an umbrella and a pair of Wellies and add these top ten attractions to your Ireland itinerary.

10. Jamison Distillery

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

John Jameson is known to produce Irelands most famous whiskey, but the founder is not native to Ireland. Jameson is actually from Scotland. He moved to Ireland to begin his distillery as he felt Ireland lacked a proper whiskey. Though Jameson is no longer produced in Dublin as it moved to the countryside for larger space, visitors can still tour the original distillery located on Bow Street to learn all about the whiskey-making process.

9. Molly Malone Statue

Photo by Ana Candida on Shutterstock.com

Dublins Molly Malone Statue is one of Dublins most iconic monuments. The famous song by the same name - also known as Cockles and Mussels - is the unofficial anthem fo the city. Its said that Molly was a fishmonger who peddled her fish throughout the city from a pushcart, but the true story remains a mystery. Its unclear if Molly ever actually existed or if shes nothing more than an urban legend.

8. Killarney and Kenmare

Though Ireland is peppered with more than its share of quaint fishing villages, two of the islands top visitor attractions are Killarney and Kenmore. Killarney is located in County Kerry, in the southwestern part of Ireland. Its the larger of the two villages with loads of restaurants, shops, and pubs playing live traditional Irish music. Kenmare is less touristy and gives more of an authentic Irish village vibe. Its about a 40-minute drive from Killarney and provides a great starting point for the Ring of Kerry.

7. Dublin Castle

Photo by Jeremy Matteo on Unsplash

With a history going back over 800 years, Dublin Castle has witnessed some of the most memorable events in the countrys history. Visitors can learn about the history of one of Irelands most well-known castles on a 70-minute guided tour. Visitors will be lead through the castles staterooms, St. Patricks Hall, the Chester Beatty Library, and Revenue Museum. The highlight of the tour is a visit to the medieval undercroft. The foundation was built by Vikings using mortar made of ox blood, eggshells, and horsehair. Who knew that mixture would have that level of staying power?

6. Cliffs of Moher

Photo by Jesse Gardner on Unsplash

Located on the countrys west coast in County Clare, Cliffs of Moher is a top natural attraction offering breathtaking views across the sea. Formed over 300 million years ago, visitors can take in the natural beauty from the top of these sandstone, silt, and shale cliffs covering five miles and reaching 700 feet above the ocean.

5. Guinness Storehouse

Photo by Tavis Beck on Unsplash

Guinness Storehouse is one of Dublins top attractions and offers visitors an immersive experience for the brewing process of the famous beer. Visitors begin their interactive experience on the bottom floor and work their way up. The tour ends at world-renowned Rooftop Gravity Bar, offering breathtaking 360 views of the city. Be fairly warned, one sip of a pint served at Guinness Storehouse and patrons are forever spoiled. Its the freshest pint of Guinness anywhere in the world.

4. Giant's Causeway

Photo by Hugo Kemmel on Unsplash

This geological wonder is a natural rock formation of basalt columns formed in mostly hexagonal shapes. According to legend, Giant's Causeway was built by the magical giant, Finn McCool. It is said he built the causeway to reach Scotland without ever having to get his feet wet. The scientific explanation is Giants Causeway is a formation created some 50 million years ago by volcanic activity.

3. Temple Bar

Photo by Diogo Palhais on Unsplash

With its cobblestone streets, eclectic eateries, quaint cafes, and Irish pubs, Temple Bar is a top Dublin attraction. Located on the South bank of River Liffey, the area has a bohemian feel with artsy vendors and a vibrant nightlife. The Temple Bar Pub is the areas iconic structure dating back to 1840. Patrons can enjoy the largest whiskey collection and in Ireland or a favored pint.

2. Ring of Kerry

Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash

The Ring of Kerry is a 111 miles long circular route around Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Irelands County Kerry. It holds some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in existence, with its gorgeous coastal landscape and quaint fishing villages its top attraction for visitors to the well-known island. There are plenty of stone forts, historic castles, secluded beaches, and natural parks to explore. Ladies View is one of the most visited vistas. This scenic overlook is located in Killarney National Park as part of the Ring of Kerry. Which way to drive the Ring of Kerry is a decades-old debate, clockwise or counterclockwise. Tour buses operate the route in a counterclockwise direction, making it a preferred choice. No one wishes to navigate around a vehicle that large on those narrow winding roads.

1. Blarney Castle

Photo by Morgan Lane on Unsplash

This century's old medieval fortress is located in Blarney near Cork. The castle dates back to the 10th century and is one of Irelands most visited castles. The main attraction is the castles famous Blarney Stone, where visitors can kiss the limestone block to be bestowed with the gift of gab. But its no easy task. After the climb to the top of the tower, visitors lie on their back and lean backward over a ledge while holding on to iron railings for support and then pucker up - it certainly provides something to gab about.
A frontline nurse at an Irish hospital is criticising the lack of personal protective equipment available to medical staff at present, and says the situation is tearing the heart out of us.

Mary (not her real name) is employed at a regional hospital in the Midlands.

She told the Irish Examiner that the shortage of protective equipment has led to nurses wearing the same paper masks for a full 13-hour shift, and even to some physical altercations between medical staff fighting over access to scarce equipment.

She says the equipment that is available is essentially food PPE, too low a grade for the medical purpose were using it for.

We are supposed to be treating everyone that comes in the door as a potential [positive case], but with such little equipment, were having to ration it for confirmed cases, or at the behest of those who come in and think they may have it.

"Those at the acute end, in ICU, have to have PPE, so those of us on the frontline and meeting these people first, have nothing.

This is absolutely breaking my heart. We were led to believe if we came in contact with a confirmed case, wed be stood down for 14 days, or until we got swabbed. That isnt happening.

"We are swabbing patients and then continuing to nurse them, and we are not being stood down because we simply dont have enough staff.

She further claimed staff were discouraged from sharing the dire circumstances at present with the public in order to avoid panic.

When you see the likes of doctors begging on Twitter for PPE, then you know youre in trouble.

"And what is available is being diverted to the acute hospitals in Dublin, its not trickling down.

The HSE said it is currently seeking to redistribute stocks to sites with particular shortages and is encouraging staff to use these resources appropriately at this stage of the crisis.

The HSE has acknowledged that PPE is running dangerously low in Irish hospitals, but said that the first batch of a giant 28m procurement order will be arriving via air from China at the weekend.

Mary said, however, that stretched resources have led to a system that is at breaking point: People are being forced into work in a very passive-aggressive, subliminal way  they may only have a scratchy throat, and that might be ok if youre working on a computer  it is not fine when youre going to nurse an 80-year-old woman.

"And they may be in for a broken hip, but its the Covid that will kill them.

"And if we are transferring it to people that otherwise wouldnt be exposed, then were complicit in something that goes far, far deeper than the pandemic.

Were not experts, and were not heroes. We are humans that are doing a job, and were afraid too.

She said she has never seen anything like Covid-19 in terms of the diseases aggression: Its horrendous, absolutely awful.

"I have nursed MRSA patients, C-Diff patients  they are nothing compared to this, it goes from zero to 90 and, before you know it, a patient has fluid in their lungs and needs to be respirated.

"And those patients are creating aerosols (from persistent coughing), which were told are the biggest danger, and we dont have the protection.

She said that every worker in a hospital at present should be wearing a mask, from the moment they get to the car park.

It might be scary, but what theyll see in the hospital itself is far scarier.

Mary said that we are absolutely overloaded with suspected cases.

Whatever about the confirmed numbers, what about the 30 people who are sitting coughing in our emergency department?

"People coming in with broken ankles, but theyre displaying Covid symptoms as well.

There have been reports over the past few days suggesting that, at certain rural testing centres, very low percentages of appointments are currently being attended, with the inference that due to the testing backlog, peoples symptoms are abating and they are not attending as a result.

Mary disagrees: Its not because theyre feeling better, they are walking into A&E, which we were told would be avoided.

"Theyre doing what theyre told, staying at home for three or four days, theyre getting worse and theyre coming in in quite severe respiratory distress.

"Thats who Im meeting at the front door, someone whos been at home for seven or eight days, waiting for a test.

She said that in her experience, the disease knows no age boundaries, having dealt with as many patients in their 40s as in their 80s.

Smoker or non-smoker, it makes no difference, this thing is lethal.

As for the problem of short staffing  a fact the HSE has tried to remedy with its Covid-19 recruitment drive in recent days  Mary said the combination of a lack of protective wear and low staff numbers is seeing the situation spiral out of control.

We had a recruitment embargo for years, she said.

Now, if one person gets Covid, youre losing 16 staff for 14 days.

"There are not enough people going around, and thats not including the pressure that nursing homes are under. And were already feeling it.

She added that, in her opinion, the measures and restrictions taken by the Government to date are not working.

If scaring people is what it takes then thats what it takes, because this thing is not working.

"We can give it the two weeks to see if the lockdown is effective, but at the moment this is just tearing the heart out of us.

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The death toll crossed 1,000 on Saturday with the latest figures showing 1,019 dead and 17,089 cases, as the coronavirus pandemic struck at the heart of the Boris Johnson government with another cabinet minister going into self isolation.

The death toll rose by 260 in a single day from 759, and the number of cases by 2,546 from 14,543 on Friday. Alister Jack, secretary for Scotland in the Boris Johnson government, also announced his symptoms and self-isolation.

Jack joins Prime Minister Johnson, health secretary Matt Hancock and chief medical officer of England Chris Whitty who revealed their affliction from the virus on Friday. Prince Charles tested positive on Monday and has since been in isolation in Scotland.

Jack said: In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus. In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home. Officials said he has not been tested for the virus.

Anticipating a surge in the number of patients in the coming weeks, the government announced the conversion of at least three large conference and exhibition centres into hospitals, equipped to treat at least 4,000 patients each.

The first of the three  the ExCel Centre near Canary Wharf in east London  will open next week. The other two sites are Birminghams National Exhibition Centre and Manchester Central Conference Centre  both spread over a large area, due to open in mid-April.

Further such hospitals will follow, said Simon Stevens, head of the National Health Service in England. The ExCel Centre facility is called NHS Nightingale Hospital.

Stevens said: We have reconfigured hospital services so that 33,000 hospital beds are available to treat further coronavrius patients. It is also why we are taking the extraordinary action to build new hospitals in very short order, starting with the NHS Nightingale hospital.

Since the issue is not confined to London, he added: I have given the go-ahead to the building of two further NHS Nightingale hospitals... with further such hospitals to follow. He also announced immediate testing of health professionals after facing intense criticism over lack of such testing.

It is urgently important to test frontline staff who are off sick or are self-isolating. The number of tests carried out will be doubled by the end of next week compared to this week, Stevens added.

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TAYLORVILLE  Officials confirmed Montgomery County's first case of COVID-19 on Saturday and said that one of the two cases in Christian County was at a senior apartment complex.

The announcements came from the Christian-Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency. The agency has said it will not release identifying details about patients for privacy reasons.

Officials said the Montgomery County patient is quarantined at home and is doing well. Public health officials have begun an investigation by talking to people who have been in contact with the individual and may quarantine anyone who was in significant contact with the person if warranted.

One of the two confirmed cases in Christian County was at the Rolling Meadows Senior Living apartments in Taylorville. The other residents of the complex are being tested by the Christian County Health Department, and precautions, including self-quarantine protocols, are being followed, officials said.

Officials had said Thursday that both cases in Christian County were linked to services held March 15 at Crossroads Apostolic Ministries in Taylorville. The congregation has fewer than 50 members.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry asked residents to continue to follow shelter at home practices and avoid fear and panic, going out only for essentials such as food or medical needs and essential work duties.

Christian County Health Department asks residents to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19: fever and/or chills, cough, shortness of breath and fatigue. If you have symptoms, call the health department at (217) 824-4113. If the symptoms are severe, call the emergency department before going to the emergency room. If the symptoms are severe enough to be life-threatening, call 911 and tell the dispatcher you have flu-like symptoms.

The Illinois Department of Health has established a COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931.

Daily updates are posted on the Chris-Mont Emergency Management Agency Facebook page.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham privately phoned President Trump earlier this week and begged him not to reopen the country before medics say it is safe, a new report reveals.

Three White House insiders have told The Washington Post that Graham phoned Trump Sunday and bluntly told the Commander-in-chief that he will 'own the deaths from the novel coronavirus' if he orders people to return to work too early.

According to the sources, Trump listened to Graham but 'made no promises' and told his longtime ally that 'Americans must get back to work and businesses need to reopen as quickly as possible'.

Prior to the phone call, the President had caused widespread outrage by wanting the country 'opened up and raring to go by Easter [April 12]', despite doctors warning that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause an effective shutdown stretching into summer.

According to The Washington Post report, Trump is still toying with the idea of getting Americans back to work early despite the backlash, as he feels pressured by big business and stressed by the fluctuating stock market.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham privately called President Trump earlier this week and begged him not to reopen the country before medics say it is safe, a new report reveals

One source told The Post that 'the President has been driven much more by economic concerns' than by the outbreak itself.

'Whether he gets reelected or not will depend on where the economy is and where people's perceptions of the economy are six months from now. That's where he is primarily focused,' they stated.

Trump is allegedly 'distraught' by the grim economic situation as he 'has long viewed the stock market as a barometer for his own reelection hopes'..

Additonally, the President has been 'inundated' with calls from business leaders and wealthy supporters 'urging him to get Americans back to work and stave off further calamity, even if doing so carries health risks'.

As of Saturday afternoon, 112,000 Americans have tested positive to COVID-19, and 1,846 have died

Reportedly left unsatisfied by his Sunday night phone call with Trump, Graham sent out a series of tweets the following day

Reportedly left unsatisfied by his Sunday night phone call with Trump, Graham sent out a series of tweets the following day.

'We are fighting a two-front war -- trying to destroy the virus while keeping the economy afloat. As Dr. Fauci has consistently said, we should always err on the side of doing more - not less - when it comes to containment,' Graham wrote on Twitter.

'President Trump's best decision was stopping travel from China early on. I hope we will not undercut that decision by suggesting we back off aggressive containment policies within the United States,' he added.

The Washington Post report comes after more than 800,000 physicians from The Council of Medicinal Speciality Societies addressed a letter to Trump uging him not open the country back up prematurely.

In the letter, sent Friday, they said medical staff are risking their lives to treat coronavirus patients and they ask that the Trump administration support 'science-based recommendations' on social distancing.

They wrote: 'Significant COVID-19 transmission continues across the United States, and we need your leadership in supporting science-based recommendations on social distancing that can slow the virus.

'Statewide efforts alone will not sufficiently control this public health crisis.

'A strong nationwide plan that supports and enforces social distancingand recognizes that our health and our economy are inextricably linkedshould remain in place until public health and medical experts indicate it can be lifted.'

Trump previously said in a press conference that he'd love to see the U.S. economy and businesses reopen by April 12.

He's since eased his stance slightly after Dr. Anthony Fuaci pushed back against the premature deadline, but has not officially backed down.
More than a decade after announcing that it would keep Polaroid's abandoned instant film alive, The Impossible Project has done the... improbable: It has officially become the brand it set out to save. And to commemorate the occasion, there's a new camera, the Polaroid Now.

The convergence of the two brands has been in the works for years, and in fact Impossible Project products were already Polaroid-branded. But this marks a final and satisfying shift in one of the stranger relationships in startups or photography.

I first wrote about The Impossible Project in early 2009 (and apparently thought it was a good idea to Photoshop a Bionic Commando screenshot as the lead image), when the company announced its acquisition of some Polaroid instant film manufacturing assets.

Polaroid at the time was little more than a shell. Having declined since the '80s and more or less shuttered in 2001, the company was relaunched as a digital brand and film sales were phased out. This was unsuccessful, and in 2008 Polaroid was filing for bankruptcy again.

This time, however, it was getting rid of its film production factories, and a handful of Dutch entrepreneurs and Polaroid experts took over the lease as The Impossible Project. But although the machinery was there, the patents and other IP for the famed Polaroid instant film were not. So they basically had to reinvent the process from scratch  and the early results were pretty rough.

But they persevered, aided by a passionate community of Polaroid owners, continuously augmented by the film-curious who want something more than a Fujifilm Instax but less than a 35mm SLR. In time the process matured and Impossible developed new films and distribution partners, growing more successful even as Polaroid continued applying its brand to random, never particularly good photography-adjacent products. They even hired Lady Gaga as "Creative Director," but the devices she hyped at CES never really materialized.

Story continues

Gaga was extremely late to the announcement, but seeing the GL30 prototype was worth it

In 2017, the student became the master as Impossible's CEO purchased the Polaroid brand name and IP. They relaunched Impossible as "Polaroid Originals" and released the OneStep 2 camera using a new "i-Type" film process that more closely resembled old Polaroids (while avoiding the expensive cartridge battery).

Polaroid continued releasing new products in the meantime  presumably projects that were under contract or in development under the brand before its acquisition. While the quality has increased from the early days of rebranded point-and-shoots, none of the products has ever really caught on, and digital instant printing (Polaroid's last redoubt) has been eclipsed by a wave of nostalgia for real film, Instax Mini in particular.

But at last the merger dance is complete and Polaroid, Polaroid Originals and The Impossible Project are finally one and the same. All devices and film will be released under the Polaroid name, though there may be new sub-brands like i-Type and the new Polaroid Now camera.

Speaking of which, the Now is not a complete reinvention of the camera by far  it's a "friendlier" redesign that takes after the popular OneStep but adds improved autofocus, a flash-adjusting light sensor, better battery and a few other nips and tucks. At $100 it's not too hard on the wallet, but remember that film is going to run you about $2 per shot. That's how they get you.

It's been a long, strange trip to watch, but ultimately a satisfying one: Impossible made a bet on the fundamental value of instant film photography, while a series of owners bet on the Polaroid brand name to sell anything they put it on. The riskier long-term play won out in the end (though many got rich running Polaroid into the ground over and over), and now with a little luck the brand that started it all will continue its success.
Days after Delhi government agencies assured uninterrupted delivery of essential commodities, customers continued to complain that e-commerce websites were yet to resume service.

E-commerce websites, meanwhile, said they were catering to heavy demand, affecting their customers.

Delivery of essential items through e-commerce has been placed under the essential items list released by the ministry of home affairs hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown on March 24. Since then, however, there have been reports of many delivery agents being harassed by the police.

Many customers around the city said that even though online grocery services such as Big Basket, Grofers, FreshToHome, and other such services are claiming to operational, the reality is very different. When one logs on to these websites or their apps, a message appears that fresh orders were not being accepted because of surge in demand and operational constraints.

Arti Mehta, a resident of east Delhis IP Extension said that while she had stocked up on basic groceries before the 21-day lockdown was announced, she is now running short of vegetables and other perishables. She said she has been trying to place an order with Big Basket for the last two days to no avail.

My order on Saturday was abruptly cancelled with a message that the authorities were not allowing delivery agents to deliver orders. I still cannot place any fresh order, Mehta said.If you want people to stay in, you will have to provide things. But limiting basic services, what option will a person have but to step out.

In a notification issued by the central government on Wednesday, the first day of the lockdown, people were encouraged to call for home deliveries of essential commodities to ensure that people stay home and to make sure that retail stores are not crowded. However, on the first two days of the lockdown, many e-retailers had complained of facing problems on ground. On March 25, Delhi police officials met with representatives of these e-commerce companies to ensure smooth deliveries.

Big Basket spokespersons said that they were not accepting fresh orders to first cater to those customers who had already paid and placed orders.

With the exceptionally high demand over the last few days, we are left with a huge backlog of orders. Our first priority will be towards customers who have paid and waiting for their orders to be fulfilled, the company said in a statement. We are witnessing a huge surge on our app and website traffic, which is causing our service to slow down occasionally. We are solving this by investing in additional servers and backend infrastructure.

Grofers also claimed to be in service in the national capital. However, their mobile application was not allowing any orders till late Saturday evening.

We are accepting orders in Delhi but there is a possibility of a longer delivery time because of the unprecedented number of orders that we are receiving and we are still working our way up to full operations capacity, Grofers said in an official statement.

Meanwhile, vegetable retailers in the city said that after a shortage of certain vegetables and fruits, the supply has started arriving.

I think the stage of panic is over and people are coming in at their own time to buy what they are short on without crowding the store. We are also ensuring that we provide home delivery to our customers. Many of our regular customer call us and we delivery their order to them, said Subhash Mehta, owner of a supermarket chain in south Delhi.

The authorities asserted that all help was being given to the providers to retailers, including e-commerce sites so that people are not inconvenienced.

The trouble might be from their end, we are doing all we can to ensure that the delivery agents carrying orders of essential products are not stopped anywhere, said a senior Delhi police official.

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For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday morning, the Temescal Farmers Market in the Oakland DMV parking lot bustled with activity. Well, six-feet-apart activity. Lines for different stalls stretched out onto the sidewalk, with socially-distanced waiting spots outlined in chalk. Some shoppers wore masks. Others cleaned their hands at a handwashing station. Instead of rifling through the produce, people pointed out the fruits and vegetables they wanted, and farmers placed them in bags.

And lo and behold: Onions! Garlic! Long-lasting root vegetables! Eggs! Milk! Items that are near-impossible to find at the grocery store right now were in abundance. And despite long lines for some items, such as strawberries and avocados, the atmosphere was quite calm compared to the hysteria of a Trader Joe's or Safeway right now.

Before the shelter-in-place order was implemented in counties across the Bay Area, farmers markets were unsure if they would be allowed to continue operating during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Farmers markets were kind of in this grey zone because they weren't called out explicitly in some of the orders getting issued around what was essential," said Brie Mazurek, communications director at the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, which runs the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco. "We really didn't want them to get shut down because they are such a lifeline and direct line to our food source in the community, especially in a moment of crisis like this."

Some farmers markets did shut down, like the Jack London Square market. But the shelter-in-place order announced on Mar. 16 permitted them to continue operating. Organizers argue this decision is not only vital to the livelihood of small local farmers, but also to the health and well-being of the community as a whole.

RELATED: How to keep restaurants afloat amidst the coronavirus lockdown

"Right now I think definitely farmers markets are a much safer environment in that you are outside in open air, and there's a lot more room to move and maneuver than in a grocery store," said Mazurek. "The food is also coming a much shorter distance  there are fewer hands handling it from the moment it's picked to the moment it's available at the market."

Other measures the market is taking to protect the community include adjusting the market layout to provide more space between booths for social distancing, suspending product sampling, providing hand washing stations, postponing cooking demos, eliminating cafe seating and requiring prepared food vendors to package food in to-go containers.

"People aren't being encouraged to linger in the farmers market  which is hard because many people want the social experience  but we encourage people to get their food and go on with their day," explained Mazurek.

Okay, so farmers markets might be great for fresh fruits and vegetables, but what about all the rest of the food you need? Mazurek says that it's a common misconception that you can only get produce at the farmers market. In fact, you can actually find a lot of pantry staples as well, such as dried beans, rice, flours and grains, nuts and nut butters, pickles and canned goods (CUESA published a guide to pantry staples at the farmers market you can find here).

And while some items may be pricier than at the grocery store, Mazurek also notes that people can spend their CalFresh EBT benefits at CUESA farmers markets and get the value matched with the Market Match program. For the price, she says you're also getting fresh, sustainable food and supporting local farmers  who typically rely on now-declining sales from restaurants  in the process.

RELATED: I ordered to-go cocktails from a San Francisco restaurant. Here's how it went.

"With a lot of restaurant closures seeing a huge hit in their sales, that is trickling down to our farmers too," said Mazurek.

The Ferry Plaza market has been unusually quiet since the pandemic set in  which is good for social distancing, albeit not great for sales. Markets in more residential areas, however, have been busier. The Temescal Farmers Market, which is one of ten markets run by the Urban Village Farmers Market Association, was fairly busy last Sunday, although they were implementing all of the same safety measures as the Ferry Plaza market.

There were a few too many people there to practice social distancing perfectly, especially when walking between vendors. But it still felt safer than the confined environment of the grocery store. And getting food felt less desperate.

"I think right now grocery stores are struggling to keep up with the demand," said Mazurek. "Farmers markets have such an important role to play in getting the food that is right there in our backyard to the people that need it right now."

If you're thinking of visiting a farmers market, Mazurek recommends getting there right when it opens  it'll be the quietest time of day, and you'll have the most options to choose from. And if you're trying to get in and out even faster, some farms are also offering CSA-style produce boxes customers can order ahead online and pick up at designated locations, including some farmers markets.

Visit localharvest.org for a searchable directory of farmers markets, but check ahead with your local markets website to confirm its open.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (San Francisco): Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Temescal Farmers Market (Oakland): Sunday 9 a.m to 1 p.m.

Madeline Wells is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22
Karnataka Deputy Chief



Minister Govind Karjol on Ssturday said the coronavirus epidemic has reached the third phase and cautioned people defying the lockdown orders.

"Today the coronavirus epidemic has entered the third phase. By and large people are cooperating," he told reporters at Bagalkote.

The deputy chief minister said there were some people defying the lockdown orders by roaming in groups without wearing masks.

He said he has directed the district authorities to take stringent action against them.

Karjol also said the government has taken adequate measures for the treatment and prevention of this disease.

Steps have been taken for door-to-door supply of grocery items in Bagalkote, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Kenosha County Joint Information Center has implemented a COVID-19 question-and-answer program.

Residents may send questions to the Kenosha County Division of Health at COVID19@kenoshacounty.org.

The most frequently asked questions will be answered each week. The Kenosha News will publish the questions and answers.

The Joint Information Center will not provide medical diagnoses or legal advice. If you have a question regarding the welfare of a person you are unable to check on, you are encourage to contact law enforcement.

Those seeking immediate answers to questions regarding COVID-19 are encouraged to dial 2-11 or visit https:// 211wisconsin.communityos.org.

Here are questions and answers by Kenosha Police Lt. Joseph Nosalik, assistant public information officer for the Joint Information Center, on behalf of law enforcement:

Q: Is there a curfew?

A: There is no COVID-19 related curfew established by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Safer-At-Home order. Both the County of Kenosha and the City of Kenosha do have longstanding ordinances that address curfews for people under the age of 18 years old. These ordinances have not changed and are still in effect in the respective jurisdictions.

Q: Are car dealerships allowed to be open under Gov. Evers Safer-At-Home order?

A: Yes. Under Gov. Evers Emergency Order #12, which is the Safer-At-Home order, item #13 (k) states that gas stations and businesses needed for transportation are allowed to operate. Directly quoted from order:

 All entities described in this section shall meet Social Distancing Requirements between all individuals on the premises to the extent possible.

 Essential businesses and operations shall, to the greatest extent possible, use technology to avoid meeting in person, including virtual meetings, teleconference, and remote work (i.e., work from home).

The full version of the SaferAtHome order can be found at: https://evers.wi.gov/Documents/COVID19/EMO12-SaferAtHome.pdf

Q: Can I still drive to the lake to watch the sunrise?

A: Yes! Enjoy the outdoors. Exercise! Work at being healthy. Both the county and city governments have noticed that the social distancing guidelines and Safer-At-Home order are being followed. We thank you and ask you to continue to put the social distance guideline and the governors order into practice.

These questions are answerd by Liane Blanck of the Kenosha County Division of Health:

Q: Are there any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Twin Lakes?

A: We have 24 confirmed cases in Kenosha County as of Friday afternoon, and in following with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are not sharing specifics on where in the county each case is located due to it being too identifying with our low number of cases. It is community spread, so please continue to practice social distancing and wash your hands.

Q: Is it possible to list the ages of those that test positive, and keep an updated list posted in the Kenosha News? I think that will help people who are not taking the stay-at-home request seriously.

A: Ages of those who test positive vary greatly. Our current positive cases range in age from 7-87. More information will be coming soon on an updated website for Kenosha County Division of Health.

Q: What are the steps I need to take if I have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms and I do not have a primary physician?

A: You should reach out to a local emergency department and inform them you are having symptoms associated with COVID-19. They will then triage you over the phone and determine if testing is necessary. If they deem testing to be necessary, they will instruct you on where you can be tested. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, make sure to call 911 and inform them you are having symptoms of COVID-19. Always call ahead, stay separated from others, and cover your mouth and nose if you suspect COVID-19. You can also contact the Kenosha Community Health Center. KCHC is working to keep our community healthy during this time and prevent the spread of infection while also offering options for easier access to care. If you have a fever, cough or other respiratory symptoms, please dial the Call the Center at 262-383-4091 prior to visiting one of the KCHC facilities, so you can be screened by one of their providers and directed on what type of visit is appropriate: Phone, video conference or in-person.

Q: Is approval needed before I just show up at an ER or drive-thru test site?

A: Please call ahead before heading to the ER or a drive-thru test site. Here is the information on Froedtert Souths drive-thru testing site: If you are experiencing symptoms and/or you believe you may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, please call (262) 671-7777 for an initial phone evaluation. If indicated, you may make an appointment for drive-thru testing  this is moving on Monday to 6308 Eighth Ave. This site will be operational Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. You will be registered and given a date and time for your appointment.

You can also go to Advocate Auroras website at http://aah.org/covid-19 and walk through the symptom checker on the site. It will take you through simple steps and provide you with recommended next steps.

Q: Local providers are trying to screen their emergency patients by where they have been and with who. It would be nice if you would post travel paths and areas of contact so we could have a better idea of questions to ask our patients.

A: COVID-19 is widely community spread at this point and any travel is not recommended. For the best information on saturation of cases state and nationwide, follow up with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.

Q: When its spoken "KENOSHA COUNTY" where is the true location?

A: Kenosha County includes the City of Kenosha, the villages of Bristol, Paddock Lake, Pleasant Prairie, Salem Lakes, Somers and Twin Lakes, plus the towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland, and smaller communities within villages and towns, like Trevor and Wilmot.

Q: I have read that pneumonia can be one of the serious complications in those who contract COVID-19 and was wondering whether there was any difference in symptoms or outcomes between COVID-19 patients who had previously received the pneumococcal vaccine and COVID-19 patients who had not previously received the pneumococcal vaccine.

A: According to the World Health Organization: No, vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and the haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. The virus is so new and so different that it needs its own vaccine.

Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 and the World Health Organziation is supporting their efforts. Although these vaccines are not effective against COVID-19, vaccination against respiratory illness is highly recommended to protect your health.

More information about COVID-19 is also available at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/covid-19.htm https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov https://www.kenoshacounty.org/2043/COVID-19-Information-Center

Together, we can and will slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned the EU could 'lose its purpose' with a strong response to the virus

European Union leaders could not agree action plan during midweek conference

Coffins from Bergamo, Northern Italy, are being moved to less affected regions

The second highest death toll increase comes as total cases in Italy hit 92,472

Italy's coronavirus death toll has skyrocketed by 899 in just 24 hours bringing the total number of deaths to 10,023.

The second highest death toll increase comes as the total number of cases in Italy hit 92,472.

The Italian Army were today brought in to ferry coffins out of Bergamo, Northern Italy as its morgue and crematorium struggle to cope with the surge in fatalities from the pandemic.

Italy's coronavirus death toll has skyrocketed by 899 in just 24 hours bringing the total number of deaths to 10,023. Pictured: Red Cross staff at work in Turin

The second highest death toll increase comes as the total number of cases in Italy hit 92,472. Pictured: Police officers perform checks at a road block in Rome

Italy's largest daily toll was registered on Friday, when 919 people died.

Prior to that, there were 712 deaths on Thursday, 683 on Wednesday, 743 on Tuesday and 602 on Monday.

Italy has the second highest number of cases, behind the United States. It surpassed China's tally on Friday.

Italy's death toll increased by 969 yesterday, bringing the total to 9,134, the largest 24-hour increase in the country to date. Pictured: Army medical staff disinfect coffins being kept in a church near Bergamo, Italy

Harrowing photos from Bergamo show officers wearing protective hazmat suits as they work to store bodies in churches and halls.

Italy's Prime Minister today warned the European Union could 'lose its purpose' if it fails to respond strongly to coronavirus - after the country saw its worst spike in deaths to date.

Giuseppe Conte gave the stark statement as grim statistics revealed 969 more deaths yesterday, bringing the total to 9,134, up 11.9 per cent.

The Italian Army has been brought in to ferry coffins out of Bergamo, Northern Italy, as its morgue and its crematorium struggle to cope with the surge in fatalities

Harrowing photos from the town show officers wearing protective hazmat suits as they work to store bodies in churches and halls

Conte aired his grievances after the 27 EU leaders could not agree on an action plan during an argumentative six-hour video conference Thursday and gave their finance ministers two more weeks to forge a policy that could please Italy and Spain.

The two countries hardest-hit by the pandemic blocked Thursday's statement because it did not go far enough.

The crux of the argument is about the extent to which the EU - facing what Italy views as an existential threat - should abandon its policy of keeping within tight budget constraints.

The bloc has already untied its purse strings in ways not seen since the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

A priest blesses the coffins of the deceased inside the church of San Giuseppe in Seriate, Italy

Giuseppe Conte today warned the European Union could 'lose its purpose' if it fails to respond strongly to coronavirus - after the country saw its worst spike in deaths to date

Conte aired his grievances after the 27 EU leaders could not agree on an action plan during an argumentative six-hour video conference Thursday (pictured while taking part in the conference)

Conte argues that this is not enough.

Rome and Madrid want the EU to start issuing 'corona bonds' - a form of common debt that governments sell on markets to raise money and address individual economic needs.

More spendthrift nations such as Germany and the Netherlands are balking at the idea of joint debt.

Conte said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had 'not just a disagreement but a hard a frank confrontation' Thursday about how to proceed.

Pope Francis last night presided over a moment of prayer in a deserted colonnade in front of St Peter's Basilica

The crux of the argument is about the extent to which the EU - facing what Italy views as an existential threat - should abandon its policy of keeping within tight budget constraints

'If Europe does not rise to this unprecedented challenge, the whole European structure loses its raison d'etre (reason for existing) to the people,' Conte told the Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper.

The entire eurozone is expected to slip into a recession over the coming months.

But Italy is facing the threat of a near economic collapse after being the first European country to shutter almost all its businesses on March 12.

Some forecasts suggests that its economy - now the third-largest among nations that use the euro common currency - could contract by as much as seven percent this year.

Carabinieri officers wearing protective suits have been pictured taking coffins out of Ponte San Pietro, near Bergamo, Northern Italy after the region's services became overstretched

Conte warned that EU leaders were in danger of making 'tragic mistakes' that 'leave our children the immense burden of a devastated economy'

It shrank by 5.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2009.

Conte warned that EU leaders were in danger of making 'tragic mistakes' that 'leave our children the immense burden of a devastated economy.'

'I represent a country that is suffering a lot and I cannot afford to procrastinate,' Conte said.

The energetic 55-year-old has seen his popularity shoot up thanks to a general sense that he was doing all he could to help the country through its worst crisis since World War II.

Italy's world-leading death toll is on course to eclipse 10,000 this weekend and its painful shutdown of businesses and many factories could last for months

Italy set a new global record by registering more than 900 deaths on Friday - and 1,600 in just two days

Italy's world-leading death toll is on course to eclipse 10,000 this weekend and its painful shutdown of businesses and many factories could last for months.

The country's COVID-19 contagion rates are slowing but deaths are still being recorded at frightening rates.

Italy set a new global record by registering more than 900 deaths on Friday - and 1,600 in just two days.

But a growing number of medics are warning that its fatalities could be much higher because retirement homes often do not report all their COVID-19 deaths.

The number of people who have died from the new disease at home is unknown.

'This is something very different from the 2008 crisis,' Conte said. 'We are at a critical point in European history.'

Spain has registered a new record number of coronavirus deaths in a single-day period. Pictured: Field hospital in Madrid

And yesterday Spain also suffered record virus deaths as the country's infection rate soared past 72,248.

The number of deaths from Covid-19 registered in the past 24 hours is 832, a record number for the country in a single-day period.

It beats the previous Spanish record of 769 coronavirus deaths which was announced on Friday.

The grim statistic means 5,690 people with the virus have now died in Spain.

The number of new coronavirus cases registered in the past 24 hours is 8,000. Pictured: Medical staff in Madrid transfer a patient in a wheelchair

The number of new coronavirus cases registered in the past 24 hours is 8,000.

Spanish Ministry of Health figures show some 40,630 have needed to be hospitalised, 4,575 people have been admitted to intensive care and 12,285 people have been cured of the disease.

On Monday a second makeshift morgue is due to start functioning in Madrid, Spain's worst affected area, after a retail centre ice rink where families paid six pounds a time to skate became its first stop-gap body drop because of the saturation funeral parlours were facing.

The new temporary morgue, known locally as the Donut because of the way it looks from the sky, was built to be Madrid's Institute of Forensic Medicine but never opened.
Kabul Gurdwara attack: Kerala operative was one of the earliest recruits in Khorasan module

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: A recruit from Kerala has been identified as one of the suspects in the Kabul Gurdwara attack that claimed 25 lives earlier this week.

Identified as Mohammad Mushin, he hailed from Kannur in Kerala, officials from the Intelligence Bureau confirmed. His picture was published by Naba, an Islamic State magazine, following which his parents identified him.

His mother said that she had received a message on Telegram by an associate of his son.

The associate told the mother that her son had attained martyrdom in Afghanistan. IB sources tell OneIndia that Muhasin had left for Afghanistan in 2018. A year later 21 more persons from Kerala left for Afghanistan to be part of the Islamic State Khorasan, a wing of the outfit that operates out of Afghanistan.

Kabul Gurdwara attack to avenge Indias amended citizenship law?

Muhasin had gone to Dubai looking for a job. However he came in contact with some persons part of the Islamic State. The dossier prepared on him states that he was lured into the ISIS by these persons, following which he agreed to travel to Afghanistan. These were early days for the ISIS in Afghanistan and they were at that time setting up their modules in the country.

The ISIS sought to recruit a large number of persons from the sub-continent for their operations in Afghanistan. The officer cited above said that the ISIS did have some success in recruiting persons from India. The largest number of recruits into the ISIS for the Khorasan module were from Kerala, the officer also said.
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President Donald Trump backed down from attempting to quarantine New York and instead ordered a travel advisory after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the proposal to the limit the spread of coronavirus would be tantamount to a 'federal declaration of war'.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the advisory late on Saturday, saying: 'Due to extensive community transmission of COVID -19 in the area, CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.'

The advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, 'including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply,' the CDC said.

The agency said that the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have 'full discretion' to implement the advisory.

On Saturday night, Trump backed down from his threat to impose a quarantine on the Tri-state area.

'On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the [CDC] to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government,' Trump tweeted on Saturday from the White House.

'A quarantine will not be necessary. Full details will be released by CDC tonight. Thank you!' he continued. On Saturday night, confirmed cases of coronavirus hit 123,788 and deaths surpassed 2,100 nationwide, with 672 deaths in New York City alone.

President Donald Trump, seen returning to the White House on Saturday, has said he will not attempt to quarantine New York

'If you start walling off areas all across the country it would just be totally bizarre, counter-productive, anti-American, anti-social,' said Cuomo in an interview with CNN on Saturday

Trump had said earlier on Saturday that he was considering quarantining 'heavily infected' New York, and parts of Connecticut and New Jersey, in a desperate effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Within hours, Cuomo blasted the proposal in strong terms. 'If you start walling off areas all across the country it would just be totally bizarre, counter-productive, anti-American, anti-social,' said Cuomo in an interview with CNN on Saturday evening.

'This is a civil war kind of discussion,' Cuomo said of the proposal. 'I don't believe that any administration could be serious about physical lockdowns of states.'

Cuomo said that it would probably be illegal to quarantine New York, as well as totally ineffective, given the rise of other virus hotspots in the country such as New Orleans.

'It makes absolutely no sense and I don't think any serious governmental personality or professional would support it,' Cuomo said.

Trump's earlier proposed quarantine would have restricted travel to and from the three states, which are some of the hardest-hit by the outbreak, as it emerged that 209 people died in New York state in the last 24 hours.

New York state now has at least 53,399 confirmed cases, nearly half the national total of more than 123,000.

In New York City alone, there are 30,765 confirmed cases, and there have been at least 672 deaths.

'Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot  New York, New Jersey maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut quarantined. I'm thinking about that right now,' he said Saturday.

'We might not have to do it but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine - short term - two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.'

Trump said his proposed quarantine would be 'short-term' but that it would be 'enforceable'.

The president dismissed the idea that he would need to deploy the National Guard to ensure residents comply with the quarantine rules.

'We're not going to need that,' he said.

'We're looking at it and will be making a decision. A lot of the states that are infected - they've asked me if I'd look at it so we're going to look at it. Maybe for a short period of time,' Trump said.

'It would be for a short time' for parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, he said.

However when asked if he would shut down the New York City subway he said: 'No we wouldn't do that.'

Cuomo said he had spoken with Trump earlier Saturday and the two had not discussed a possible quarantine. The governors of New Jersey and Connecticut also said that they had not spoken with Trump about a potential quarantine.

It was not clear whether Trump would be able to block road, air and sea travel out of a region that serves as the economic engine of the eastern United States, accounting for 10 percent of the population and 12 percent of GDP.

Some states have already imposed limits. New Yorkers arriving in Texas, Florida and Rhode Island face orders to self-isolate if they intend to stay.

Trump speaks in front of the US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, Saturday. He said he is considering quarantining New York and parts of Connecticut and New Jersey in a desperate effort to slow the spread of coronavirus

An elderly patient is wheeled into the emergency entrance to Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York on Saturday

A medical worker prepares to reenter a COVID-19 testing tent set up outside Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York on Saturday. The hospital is caring for a high number of coronavirus patients in the city, and New York leads the nation in cases

A man wears a face mask while he visits Times Square as rain falls on Saturday in New York City. Trump said on March 28, 2020 that he's considering a short-term quarantine of New York state, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut

A map shows which parts of New York City have had the highest rates of positive test results for coronavirus

The Rhode Island National Guard started going door to door on Saturday in coastal areas to inform any New Yorkers who may have come to the state that they must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo also expanded the mandatory self-quarantine to anyone visiting the state.

Raimondo also ordered residents to stay at home, with exceptions for getting food, medicines or going to the doctor, and ordered nonessential retail businesses to close Monday until April 13 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

She also directed realtors and hotel operators to include new requirements that any out-of-state residents must quarantine for 14 days in their purchase agreements.

State Police set up a checkpoint on I-95 in Hope Valley on Friday where drivers with New York license plates must stop and provide contact information and were told to self-quarantine for two weeks.

A sign in Rhode Island instructs motorists with New York license plates to pull over at a checkpoint on I-95 over the border with Connecticut on Saturday. Rhode Island's governor ordered the military-style checkpoints

A member of the Rhode Island National Guard Military Police directs a motorist with New York license plates at a checkpoint on I-95 near the border with Connecticut on Saturday. All New York motorists must register and self-quarantine

In Rhode Island on Saturday, drivers with New York license plates must stop and provide contact information and were told to self-quarantine for two weeks after entering the state

If New Yorkers don't comply, they face fines and jail time, Raimondo said, adding that that's not the goal.

'I want to be crystal clear about this: If you're coming to Rhode Island from New York you are ordered into quarantine. The reason for that is because more than half of the cases of coronavirus in America are in New York,' Raimondo said, adding that it's not meant to be discriminatory.

The governors of Pennsylvania and West Virginia have also asked visiting New Yorkers to voluntarily self-quarantine.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu on Saturday asked all visitors to his state who don't come for work reasons to voluntarily self-quarantine.

Trump said any New York-area lockdown would only apply to people leaving the region. It would not cover truckers making deliveries or driving through the area, he said.

U.S. law gives the president the authority to restrict travel between states, legal experts said. But he would not be able to enlist local police to set up checkpoints along state lines, and it would be difficult to determine who would be allowed to get through, said Louisiana State University law professor Edward Richards.

'The logistics of deciding who is an essential person or essential cargo could shut down the ability to transport essential personnel and supplies,' he said.

Even if it were possible, a New York-area lockdown might have come too late for the rest of the country.

The number of coronavirus patients in California hospitals increased by more than one-third overnight, Governor Gavin Newsom said.

Officials in Louisiana, where Mardi Gras celebrations late last month in New Orleans fueled an outbreak, reported 17 additional deaths and 569 new cases on Saturday.

The disease has proven most fatal among the elderly, but Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said on Saturday that an infant had died in his state.

NYC healthcare workers warn of dire shortages of protective gear and equipment

New York City healthcare workers are appealing for more protective gear and equipment as they face a surge of patients.

Doctors are also especially concerned about a shortage of ventilators, breathing machines needed for those suffering from COVID-19, the pneumonia-like respiratory ailment caused by the highly contagious novel coronavirus.

Hospitals have also sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, oxygen tanks and trained staff.

On Saturday, nurses protested outside the Jacobi Medical Center in New York, saying supervisors asked them to reuse their masks, putting their own health at risk.

A nurse demonstrates along with others outside the emergency entrance to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx on Saturday, where some nurses say they don't have enough personal protective equipment and have forced to reuse theirs

The city leads the nation in the number of coronavirus cases. Nurses at Jacobi and across the city say they are having to reuse their protective equipment, endangering patients and themselves

Nurses demonstrated on Saturday demanding resupply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in New York City

One medical trainee at New York Presbyterian Hospital said they were given just one mask.

'It's not the people who are making these decisions that go into the patients' rooms,' said the trainee, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Inside the city's hospitals, stretched to their limits by the crisis, healthcare workers faced unspeakable scenes of suffering and death.

'Hell. Biblical. I kid you not. People come in, they get intubated, they die, the cycle repeats,' said Dr Steve Kassapidis of Mount Sinai Queens, in an interview with Sky News. '9/11 was nothing compared to this, we were open waiting for patients to come who never came. Now they just keep coming.'

FDNY officials are strongly urging New Yorkers to call 911 only if they are having urgent emergencies, such as heart troubles or problems breathing.

'Please allow first responders to assist those most in need. Only call 911 if you need help right away,' the department said in a statement.

On both Thursday and Friday, another 85 people died of the virus here, or an average of one New Yorker every 17 minutes.
At the request of the Government of India, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) examined its ability to assist in the production of ventilators, masks and other protective equipment. An arrangement has been entered into with AgVa Healthcare, an existing approved manufacturer of ventilators. MSIL would work with AgVa Healthcare to rapidly scale up production of ventilators. The intention is to reach a volume of 10,000 units per month.

AgVa Healthcare would be responsible for the technology, performance and related matters for all the ventilators produced and sold by them.

MSIL would use its suppliers to produce the required volume of components and use its experience and knowledge to upgrade systems for the production and quality control of the higher volumes. Any other assistance required would also be provided. MSIL would also help, to the required extent to arrange financing, and obtain all permissions and approvals required to enable the higher production. MSIL would provide these services free of cost to AgVa Healthcare.

Also Watch:

Krishna Maruti Limited, a joint venture of MSIL with Mr. Ashok Kapur, would be manufacturing 3-ply masks for supply to the Haryana and Central governments. Production is expected to start as soon as all approvals are received. Mr Ashok Kapur will provide 2 million masks free of cost as his own contribution.

Bharat Seats Limited, a joint venture of MSIL with the Relan family, would be manufacturing protective clothing as soon as all approvals are in place.

All manufacturing units would take maximum care to protect the safety and health of the workers in accordance with the government recommended practices.
Father Paul Dempsey, Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Achonry has postponed his ordination and he will remain on as parish priest in County Kildare at least until the summer.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Father Dempsey said:

"It is with regret that we have had to postpone my Episcopal Ordination as Bishop of Achonry which was planned for Sunday 19 April.

"I requested the postponement in light of the coronavirus pandemic. I have asked that the ceremony be rescheduled until sometime in the summer.

"This decision has been difficult but it would not have been appropriate to proceed with the ordination at this time.

"The decision has been made in consultation with the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okola, and with the Diocese of Achonry.

"I am grateful to Archbishop Okolo and to the priests, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Achonry for their patience and understanding as we deal with the unprecedented consequences of Covid-19 in our country and in our world.

"I am grateful to Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, who has asked me to continue for the moment as parish priest in Newbridge Parish.

"I ask for your prayers at this time for all those affected by the coronavirus pandemic."

Fr Dempsey was born in Carlow town and then, when he was seven, his family moved to Athy in Co Kildare, where he lived until he was eighteen.

all of his life as a priest over the past twenty-two years has been spent serving in County Kildare and is presently working in Newbridge parish.

Father Dermot Meehan has been administrating the diocese of Achonry since Bishop Brendan Kelly was appointed to Galway almost two years ago. Father Dempsey's brother, Tony lives in Kiltimagh along with his wife Mary and family,

The annoucement of the appointment of Father Dempsey as the new Bishop of Achonry was made at the end of January.
Health technology firm Abbott announced Friday it received approval for a test that could provide a positive result of the coronavirus in as little as five minutes.

CNBC was among the first to report the news Friday, stating that tests would be available to healthcare providers next week.

Abbott Laboratories could produce 50,000 tests per day to hospitals, urgent care clinics and family physicians.

This is a significant leap forward, John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott, told Reuters on Friday.

You can get a positive result in five minutes and a negative result in 13 minutes. You can literally walk into a clinic and literally get results while you are there.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the approval under its Emergency Use Authorization.

Abbott was previously approved for an automated diagnostic test that can be used in laboratories and stated last week that 150,000 of those tests were being distributed across the country. Combined, Abbott expects to produce about 5 million tests per month, the company said in a statement.

Last week, the FDA approved another rapid test from molecular diagnostics company Cepheid, with results provided in under an hour.

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It was a day that Manitobans knew was coming, but that didn't make it any easier for the premier, the chief public health officer or anyone else closely watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a day that Manitobans knew was coming, but that didn't make it any easier for the premier, the chief public health officer or anyone else closely watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold.

Restrictions on public gatherings The reduction in the allowable size of public gatherings in Manitoba takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. It applies to any indoor or outdoor place or premises. click to read more The reduction in the allowable size of public gatherings in Manitoba takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. It applies to any indoor or outdoor place or premises. This includes places of worship, gatherings and family events such as weddings and funerals. The order does not apply to a facility where health care or social services are provided including child-care centres and homeless shelters. Retail businesses, including grocery or food stores, shopping centres, pharmacies or gas stations, must ensure separation of one to two metres between patrons assembling in the business, said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer. Public transportation facilities have to ensure that people are reasonably able to maintain a separation of one to two metres. The order does not affect other workplaces and businesses, where existing social distancing guidelines should be followed, he said. Employment legislation exemption As Manitobans face layoffs resulting from the COVID-19 response, the province is relaxing the rules so employees arent considered terminated after being laid off for eight weeks or more in a 16-week period. Finance Minister Scott Fielding said Friday that the exemption to employment standards legislation applies to Manitobans laid off after March 1, is temporary, and applies to situations where employees will eventually be rehired once the COVID-19 crisis has subsided and economic activity picks up again. Under the exemption, any period of layoff occurring after March 1 wont be counted toward the period after which a temporary layoff would become a permanent termination with the worker entitled to wages in lieu of notice. That gives employers more time to recall laid off workers and avoids workers from being permanently let go, said Fielding. He said the exemption was done in consultation with representatives of both employer and labour organizations. Close

Dr. Brent Roussin delivered the grim news Friday morning that the province recorded its first coronavirus-related death  a Winnipeg woman in her 60s who had been in intensive care.

At a news conference an hour earlier, an emotional Premier Brian Pallister talked about his personal experience with depression as he announced a mental health initiative to help Manitobans through the crisis.

Roussin, while announcing three new coronavirus cases (bringing the total to 39), told Manitobans that it's now time to limit gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.

By early afternoon, the province had installed highway checkpoints along its borders with Saskatchewan and Ontario to inform travellers about public health measures to slow the spread of the virus.

For Manitobans, frightening pandemic scenarios from around the world became a harsh new reality on Friday.

"It's a tragic loss," said Roussin, who has been updating Manitobans daily on the COVID-19 front for several weeks. "It's a Manitoban that we lost, and our hearts go out to their friends and family.

"But this is our time to act now. To stay home if you can, practice good social distancing, wash your hands... all Manitobans have a role to limit days like this."

While the province ramps up safety measures, employees who continue to provide essential services or work on the front lines are carrying on. For some, it's a sense of duty, for others, such as bus drivers, it's a work-day filled with dread.

"Now every cough and sneeze is almost more threatening than someone shouting fire! in a crowded theatre," one transit driver said.

As of 9:30 a.m. Friday, there were no new hospital admissions of coronavirus patients. The woman who died had been the sole COVID-19 patient in hospital at the time.

Roussin said the new measure to limit public gatherings  inside or outdoors  to 10 had been in the works for some time and was not decided in reaction to the death.

"It didn't play a role in our decision, as we were creating this order prior to knowledge of this tragedy," he said.

"Now we're seeing increasing transmission around us. We're seeing in Canada increased community-based transmission and we know it's coming to Manitoba."

The government, in an attempt to help Manitobans cope with the anxiety caused by COVID-19, announced that further online mental-health supports would be available in a couple of weeks.

In announcing the measure, Pallister opened up about issues in his own life.

"Ive faced up to the challenges of depression at various times in my life, never so bad as when my mom passed away a few years ago," he revealed.

He noted that nearly one in three Manitobans will deal with a mental-health issue at some point in their lives.

Meanwhile, the premier implored Manitobans to follow the chief public health officer's advice to contain the coronavirus.

"Manitobans have the chance to save a life," he said. "Follow the instructions and directions that are protecting yourself right now. Follow them diligently, and you can not only protect yourself and those you love... but you can protect others, as well."

Roussin said Manitoba has been getting out ahead of the pandemic by closing schools and significantly limiting crowd sizes before there was any sustained community transmission of the disease. As of Friday morning, he said, all positive cases in Manitoba could either be linked to travel or to people who subsequently were in contact with infected returning travellers.

As soon as someone tests positive for COVID-19 that person's contacts are traced, and measures are taken to make sure anyone at risk of infection is tested and directed to self-isolate, Roussin said.

While he would not discuss details related to any individual testing positive for the coronavirus, Roussin said more information would be shared with the public in instances where health authorities had difficulty reaching those affected.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The virus is spread only through symptomatic individuals after prolonged, close contact, he said. In the event that a health-care worker tested positive, for example, people in close contact with them would be notified.

"Not everyone in that facility needs to be contacted," he said.

Roussin emphasized that 80 per cent of people who test positive have mild symptoms and don't require hospitalization, and most who require hospitalization survive. One earlier COVID-19 case involving a Winnipegger who was hospitalized in stable condition with mild symptoms was discharged from hospital.

Manitoba Health will soon be reporting the numbers of people who've tested positive as well as those who've recovered, he said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders

Legislature reporter After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020. Read full biography
Actor Priyanka Chopra has said in an interview that having a child with husband Nick Jonas is on the agenda. Priyanka appeared on the May cover of UKs Tatler magazine.

Right now, this years really packed for me in terms of the work that Im doing and the work that Ive taken on, she said. But having a family is very important to me and it always has been. It is something that I definitely want to do and Im hoping that whenever God wills it, at the right, opportune time, itll happen.

Priyanka has been making waves in Hollywood, where she has a romantic comedy with Mindy Kaling lined up, in addition to a role in Robert Rodriguezs Netflix superhero film and Matrix 4. She credited her parents for being the biggest influence in her life.

She said, All my mothers sisters were academics and my dad was a free-thinking creative, a musician and an artist, as well as a surgeon. My grandmother  my dads mum  always used to say, about me, Whos going to marry her? She cant cook. And my dad would say, Ill send a cook with her. She never needs to go into the kitchen. My mum didnt know how to cook when she got married. My dad taught her how. And he taught her everything he liked to eat. Clever man.

Also read: Is coronavirus airborne? Does heat kill it?: Priyanka Chopra asks WHO chiefs questions about Covid-19

Priyanka and Nick are currently in self-isolation in the US, where coronavirus cases skyrocketed past 100000 on Friday. In India, over 800 cases have been reported, while the global tally has surged past 500000. Priyanka has been spreading awareness about precautionary measures one should take to combat the spread of the virus, and recently conducted a live interaction with WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
A union representing healthcare works said Thursday that it had located 39 million N95 masks and was connecting their supplier to hospitals and state and local governments.

That's more than the number of masks in the US national stockpile, which has about 12 million N95 masks and 30 million surgical masks.

The masks are set to be distributed in California and New York at a cost of $5 each.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Laborers working on PFF2 respirator masks at a plant in Brazil on March 3.

REUTERS/Rahel Patrasso

A union representing healthcare workers on Thursday said it had located 39 million N95 masks and was connecting their supplier to healthcare facilities and state and local governments to protect those treating coronavirus patients.

The masks will be distributed in California and New York, according to a copy of the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West's statement posted by the labor reporter Noam Scheiber.

The stockpile of masks is far larger than the roughly 12 million N95 masks in the US government's stockpile as of earlier this month.

The masks will cost $5 each, according to the union's statement posted by the NPR investigative reporter Tim Mak. In the statement, the union said it had "no financial interest in the transactions."

The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said SEIU United Healthcare Workers West itself would be selling the N95 masks. The union said Thursday that it was connecting the supplier to buyers and did not have a financial interest in the sales.

Business Insider
NY Continues Search for Ventilators; Trump Questions Call for 30,000

By Margaret Besheer March 27, 2020

New York's governor said Friday that he was continuing to shop "around the globe" to purchase 30,000 ventilators, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that he thought the figure was overblown.

"Maybe you don't need 30,000. Well, I don't have a crystal ball," Andrew Cuomo said at his daily news conference. "Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. But I don't operate here on opinion. I operate on facts, and on data, and on numbers and on projections."

Trump questions numbers

In a phone interview with Fox News late Thursday, Trump appeared to dismiss the New York governor's effort to acquire the breathing machines for patients seriously sickened with COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

"I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators," Trump said. "You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes and they'll have two ventilators, and now all of a sudden they're saying, 'Can we order 30,000 ventilators?' "

New York state has 19.5 million residents. On Friday, there were nearly 45,000 confirmed cases of the respiratory virus, more by far than in any other state. Nearly 6,500 people were ill enough to be in the state's hospitals, and nearly 1,600 were in intensive care unit beds, which are equipped with ventilators.

Death toll on the rise

Friday was the second consecutive day that the state's death toll exceeded 100. In all, 519 New Yorkers have succumbed to the virus.

Cuomo said that projections from experts, including a major New York hospital and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, predict the peak in cases, which is expected in his state in about three weeks, could see 140,000 people hospitalized and 40,000 of them requiring breathing machines.

"Those are numbers  not I feel, I think, I believe, I want to believe," the governor said. "Make the decisions based on the data and the science. And we are following the data and the science, and that's what the data and the science say."

Help is on the way

The state is continuing to ramp up its hospital capacity, currently working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard to build four field hospitals. Cuomo said he would ask Trump to approve four additional field hospitals for New York to more evenly distribute health care coverage.

New York state is also looking at converting hotel rooms and university dormitories into care facilities. On Monday, the U.S. naval hospital ship Comfort will arrive in New York Harbor. The ship has 1,000 beds as well as 12 operating rooms and is likely to take on noncoronavirus cases to relieve the burden on overwhelmed hospitals.

"We are now doing the impossible," Cuomo said.

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During an already stressful time for hospitals around the nation, another medical concern has surfaced: a potential blood supply shortage. Blood drive cancelations nationwide due to COVID-19 concerns has yielded a significant drop in donations, according to the American Red Cross.

Related: Coronavirus live updates: Trump grants Texas major disaster declaration, Abbott celebrates

Cy-Hope, a nonprofit benefiting low-income families in Cy-Fair ISD, hosted a blood drive run by Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, a nonprofit blood center, on March 25 at The Hope Chest Resale Center. Cy-Hope is one of several Houston area entities taking action to keep the blood supply replenished for patients in need.

We met with a rep from the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (and) they are desperate for blood, said Lynda Zelenka, executive director of Cy-Hope.

The donation event came at a time when other blood drives were being canceled, businesses scaled back on operations and citizens were being instructed to practice social distancing by staying home.

Thats why its super important now, during (the spread) of COVID-19, to let people know that blood donations are still needed. There are still a lot of patients in the hospital that are still in vital need of blood, said Cameron Palmer, community development coordinator for Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.

Palmer said that Harris Countys Stay Home-Work Safe order does not prevent people from coming to donate after making an appointment.

People still need to come out and donate blood and they still can donate blood, Palmer said. One thing, we want to kind of spread out our donations and let them know we dont want to stockpile blood because blood does have an expiration date. We want a steady supply of blood coming into our centers and to help us support the hospitals.

Blood banks are considered an essential operation under the stay-at-home order. Drive organizers have taken safety precautions to ensure the donation process does not pose a risk to the health of donors. The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Centers drives are now all by appointment only to prevent overcrowding.

During the Cy-Hope blood drive, volunteers and professionals with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center practiced social distancing and sanitation during the blood donations, which were done out of a Blood Center donations truck. Donors were checked in from their vehicles. Fittingly, the Elite Auto Experts offered free services to those who donated blood.

Zelenka said the drive was successful, with 80 scheduled appointments. Cy-Hope scheduled another blood drive for the following Tuesday as well.

While low donations mean blood is needed especially during this time, Palmer emphasized that blood is needed at all times of the year.

Even though there are times of crisis, such as with COVID-19, the need is always going to be there, he said. People are always going to need surgeries. People are always going to need chemotherapy treatment. There are so many reasons why people need blood donations, but the need is always there. Come out, make a donation and save someone who is fighting for their life in the hospital.

Upcoming GCRBC mobile blood drives in northwest Houston include:

HEB at 28550 Hwy. 290 in Cypress, April 2, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lakewood United Methodist Church, 11330 Louetta Rd. in Houston, April 5, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Get Wrapped Church, 23221 Aldine Westfield Rd. in Spring, April 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tomball United Methodist Church, 1603 Baker Dr. in Tomball, April 6, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce: Health & Wellness Alliance, 1150 W Main St. in Tomball, April 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball, 605 Holderrieth in Tomball, April 10, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CHI-St. Lukes Health-Springwoods Village Hospital, 2255 E. Mossy Oaks Rd. in Spring, April 10, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

To find more upcoming blood drives and schedule a donation, visit www.giveblood.org.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday evening held a phone conversation with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that when the Chinese people were in a difficult time to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, the Austrian government and its people provided valuable support and help, Li said that as the pandemic is spreading rapidly in Austria, China firmly supports Austria's efforts to fight the outbreak and stands ready to provide assistance within its capabilities.

China will continue to provide convenience for Austria's purchase and transportation of medical supplies from China, Li said, expressing hope that the Austrian side guarantees the safety and the convenience of life of Chinese nationals, including Chinese students, in Austria.

Kurz said Austria is deeply impressed by China's achievements in fighting the novel coronavirus.

Noting that Austria and China are good friends, Kurz said that Austria is currently facing severe challenges in epidemic prevention and control, and still needs to purchase necessary medical materials and equipment.

He hopes that China will continue to provide help in this regard.
Human rights groups have condemned the unnecessary and excessive use of force by Kenyan police as the country imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew amid efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

On Friday, police fired tear gas at a crowd of ferry commuters in the port city of Mombasa before the 7pm to 5am curfew came into force, 20 human rights groups, including Amnesty International, said in a statement on Saturday.

This forced hundreds of people to touch their faces as they vomited, spat and wiped away tears, increasing the chance of the viruss spread, the statement added.

Some health workers even reported being intimidated by police officers as they tried to provide services after the curfew, according to the rights groups.

Elsewhere, officers were captured in mobile phone footage beating people with batons, causing uproar in the country.

We continue to receive testimonies from victims, eyewitnesses and video footage showing police gleefully assaulting members of the public in other parts of the country, the rights groups said.





Kenyas interior ministry on Saturday replied to the criticism in a statement saying the curfew is meant to guard against an apparent threat to public health. Breaking it is not only irresponsible but also puts others in harms way.

The guidelines issued to security forces on the curfew say that police can use proportionate force where non-violent means are inadequate to achieve the objectives of the curfew.

The government has not said how many people have been arrested. Because courts are also affected by the virus prevention measures, all but serious cases will now be dealt with at police stations, the government has said.

That means anyone detained for violating curfew faces time in crowded cells.

Kenya has so far confirmed 38 cases of the new coronavirus, which causes a highly infectious respiratory disease called COVID-19. The country has taken a series of measures to stop its spread, including shutting borders and banning most air travel.

The Law Society of Kenya will go to court to challenge the curfew on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and has been abused by police, President Nelson Havi said in a statement.

The penalty for breaking a curfew is not corporal punishment, he added.

It is evident that COVID-19 will be spread more by actions of police than of those claimed to have contravened the curfew, Havi said.

Additional reporting by Pauline Mpungu in Nairobi
By Yasin Ebrahim and Kim Khan

Investing.com - The Covid-19 pandemic is pushing and pulling the markets into all kinds of uncharted territory.

Even those just looking at the major equity indexes would have a tough time looking away from the screens this week, where big moves on small amounts of information were common.

While bulls cheered this weeks action, there were already questions about whether the bears could really be gone. The consumer was predictably downbeat, but how did that compare historically? And is even looking at current economic data an antiquated idea?

Here are three things that flew under the radar this week.

1. Wall Street Debates Bottom as Wild Swings Continue

The wild ride on Wall Street continued this week as the Dow's slump on Friday, did little to take the shine off its best week since 1938. The milestone arrived after a three-day rally through Thursday saw the index end its three-week bear market, its shortest on record, stoking hopes that the bottom may be in.

But some on Wall Street remain wary of calling a bottom.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) identified two conditions that need to be met before any talk of market bottom can be taken seriously: The pace of Covid-19 infections will have to flatten in the U.S. and Europe and visibility will needed on how long the two respective economies will take to recover.

But there is little hope the pace of infection is nearing the end game. The U.S. has seen surge in infections this week, surpassing that of Italy and China.

Meanwhile, several companies in the U.S. and Europe have recently pulled their guidance, underscoring the lack of visibility on the impact of the virus.

The wave of stimulus rolled out by the federal government and the Federal Reserve, however, has some convinced the market has bottomed.

"I found the rally off the bottom in the few couple days impressive. I think its gone as far as it should go," billionaire investor Lee Cooperman told CNBC. "The market is in the zone of fair valuation. Until we get more of a handle on the virus, I would think that one should be very defensive."

Story continues

2. No Silver Bullet for Sentiment

The University of Michigans consumer sentiment indexs final March reading was the biggest drop since the Great Recession in 2008, down 11.9.

But a more comparable decline was likely the 11.8-point drop after the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the survey publishers said.

In that case, sentiment had turned around by March 1991, when the reading posted an all-time gain of 17.3 points. The two readings bookended the 1990-1991 U.S. recession.

The index can be expected to decline further in the months ahead, like in 1990, but any sort of bounce-back is uncertain.

The extent of additional declines in April will depend on the success in curtailing the spread of the virus and how quickly households receive funds to relieve their financial hardships, the university said. Mitigating the negative impacts on health and finances may curb rising pessimism, but it will not produce optimism.

There is no silver bullet that could end the pandemic as suddenly as the military victory that ended the Gulf war.

3. A Fog Rolls in Over the Data

When it comes to economic data, there is also the possibility that were in a new landscape where the old rules dont apply, and we dont even know it.

The March U.S. employment report is coming Friday, April 3. Normally this would be a must-see event. But maybe investors would be better served spending the time on something else.

University of Michigan Economics Professor Justin Wolfers speculated on a Twitter thread Thursday that the numbers arent going to be reliable for a while.

The jobs report will be on data on unemployment and payrolls from the 2nd week of March which is before the coronavirus shutdown, Wolfers tweeted. So we need to wait six weeks, until May 8, when we'll get numbers on the April labor market.

GDP wont capture the major effects until the Q2 release, which is July 30, and managers can reply any time for ISM March numbers, so that wont be a true picture, he added.

Relying on initial claims? The unemployment insurance landscape will completely change with the fiscal stimulus package, he said.

Point is, social isolation has so completely changed economic life that the historical relationship of any individual indicator with the state of the economy has likely shifted, perhaps dramatically, Wolfers said.

Bottom line: We're sailing into an economic data fog.

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PANAMA CITY (AP)  Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

COVID-19 TESTS: Private Fort Bend County center charging $140 for tests, says it has plenty of them

Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam, the statement said. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.

The ship was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Photos show how Houston is heeding the stay-at-home order

Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70, the statement said. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of Chile a week ago.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The Rotterdam rendezvoused with the Zaandam Thursday evening.

It is only authorized to do ship-to-ship maneuvers. No one aboard is allowed to come ashore, said Panama's Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Arauz.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vasquez. The Health Ministry did not give permission, Vasquez told reporters Friday. The ship is in territorial waters but has to remain isolated.

Holland America Line had announced March 17 that it was voluntarily suspending its cruise operations for 30 days Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution. At that point, the company said none of its passengers or crew had tested positive for the virus.

The Seattle-based cruise line is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.
Abdullahi Sule

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, has tested negative for coronavirus.

Sule who disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Lafia, urged those who have had contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19 to go into self-isolation to reduce the spread of the disease.

The governors sample had been taken for test for coronavirus at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the result turned out negative.

He said he went into self-isolation immediately he discovered that some people he had contact with in the cause of discharging his duties tested positive for COVID-19.



I went into self-isolation while I was waiting for the outcome of my result. I did that so that I dont infect other people assuming I had it. Thank God the result is negative, he said.

Sule said those who had contact with confirmed cases should immediately go into self isolation in their own interest and to protect the lives of others.

He added that such people should endeavour to contact the appropriate authority while in isolation for their samples to be taken to NCDC for testing.

The governor called on the general public to maintain social distancing, avoiding hand shake, kissing and hugging in order not to contract the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had earlier banned religious and other social gatherings that involved more than 50 people.
New York will delay its presidential primary and 27th congressional district special election from April 28 to June 23. That is the previously scheduled date for the state's non-presidential primaries. The congressional seat has been vacant since Rep. Chris Collins resigned last September.

With this move, a rescheduled Ohio contest is the only one remaining on April 28, which was to have been the second busiest day on the 2020 Democratic calendar. That now looks to be June 2 with 686 pledged delegates available across 10 states and Washington, D.C. The month of June now potentially has 1,075 delegates up for grabs, almost 2/3 of the 1,668 remaining from contests not yet held.

We say potentially because Louisiana, Kentucky and now New York have scheduled their contests after June 9, the latest allowable date per Democratic Party rules. It is possible the states could be penalized with a loss of half of their delegates. That seems unlikely given the situation, but those are the rules as written.

Separately, Hawaii has moved the deadline for its now all-mail primary from April 4 to May 22. This leaves Wisconsin, on April 7, as the next primary on the schedule. Whether this can go forward in a way that doesn't disenfranchise many voters remains to be seen.

Delegate Update

As of March 28, per NPR and Associated Press, Joe Biden has a 303 delegate lead over Bernie Sanders. 1,677 delegates remain (including 9 from completed contests). Biden needs to win just over 46% of those to clinch the Democratic nomination.
(CNN) -- The World Health Organization announced on Friday that the first patients enrolled in its Solidarity trial, which will examine potential treatment options for Covid-19, will be based in Norway and Spain. The first patient enrolled in the trial is at the University of Oslo in Norway.

"We are delighted to announced that today in Norway and Spain, the first patients will shortly be enrolled in the Solidarity trial, which will compare the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against Covid-19," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"This is a historic trial which will dramatically cut the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs work. Over 45 countries are contributing to the trial and more have expressed interest," Tedros said. "The more countries who join the trial, the faster we will have results."

WHO announced last week that it had organized the trial to test coronavirus treatment approaches across several countries and compare data to find which treatments may be most effective. When the announcement was made, WHO noted that many countries agreed to join the trial, including Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.
Usually, when writing about coronavirus layoffs, we feel strong sympathy for those whose lives and livelihoods are being so terribly affected by this Black Swan event. When those layoffs occur in the media, though, I'm sorry to report that the dominant response isn't sympathy; it's schadenfreude, that unseemly emotion of feeling joy in the face of another person's distress.

While there are undoubtedly many decent, honest journalists in America, and many journalists with families depending on them, one can't escape the fact that American journalism is mostly partisan, careless, and vicious. Moreover, to the extent that journalists are biased, that runs in one direction, with 94% of journalists at the major media outlets donating to Democrats from 2008 to 2016. Over the decades, journalists have morphed from reporters, who provide reasonably objective factual information, to propagandists, who try to flood America with a single political viewpoint.

The fewer of these people, the better, which brings us to a CNN report that "Hundreds of journalists are being laid off, right when the public needs them the most." That title, incidentally, is an example of why "journalism" in America is so bad. That hundreds of journalists are being laid off is a fact; that "the public needs them the most" is simply the media's sense of their importance, which is a highly subjective standard.

According to CNN, media outlets, which have been dogged by diminishing ad revenue in recent years (probably the consequence of providing a debased product), had high hopes for 2020. Alas, it was not to be:

But no one could have predicted that a global health crisis would hit just as business was picking up. BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti told staffers in a memo this week that the company had been knocked off track because of coronavirus. "Though we were well on track to be profitable this year, the impact of the coronavirus on the global economy will almost certainly cause the company to lose money, even as we take aggressive action to control costs," Peretti wrote. BuzzFeed has instituted paycuts and scaled back on travel and hiring. According to the memo, which was obtained by CNN Business, Peretti will not take a salary for the rest of the year. [snip] CNN Business reported on Sunday that at least 100 people in local newsrooms in the US lost their jobs in March. By Friday, that number shot up to at least 300 people as the impact of coronavirus continues to roil newspapers and digital media companies.

While BuzzFeed is cutting salaries, other outlets are firing people outright:

BuzzFeed avoided layoffs through salary reductions, but that strategy isn't being implemented everywhere. Future PLC, which owns Laptop Mag, Tom's Guide, Live Science and other publications, is planning to lay off at least nine employees out of 59 in the union, according to a statement from its union on Tuesday.

The CNN article notes an irony about the firings:

The sad twist about these layoffs and restructuring is that they come just as the public is hungry for information about the pandemic, but there are now fewer journalists to provide vital information about it. Traffic is up for many sites and TV ratings have increased as people are stuck at home watching the news.

If readership and viewership are generally up because of the virus, the above paragraph suggests that revenues are down because readers and viewers are finding that much-needed information from sources other than mainstream outlets. After all, these outlets have proven themselves to be inaccurate and hysterical.

Twenty twenty is also the year in which California's A.B. 5 is taking effect. This is the legislation that allows freelancers only 35 submissions per year to any single outlet. Faced with bookkeeping madness, media outlets dumped their freelancers. In another irony, A.B. 5 is a leftist initiative.

Journalists are turning their lonely eyes to other countries that are propping up their media outlets, such as Britain's BBC or Canada's CDC. However, Joel Kaplan, a media studies professor at Syracuse University, warns that the U.S. government won't help. The government's involvement is limited, he said, to NPR and PBS. (Given those outlets' overt political bias, many of us wish the government would be less involved.)

No wonder that conservatives on Twitter reveled in schadenfreude:

I actually first thought this was a joke headline and article from @TheBabylonBee



Hundreds of journalists are being laid off, right when the public needs them the most - CNN https://t.co/IX8TVmurz6  bluemoon (@bluemoo43107939) March 28, 2020

I actually first thought this was a joke headline and article from @TheBabylonBee



Hundreds of journalists are being laid off, right when the public needs them the most - CNN https://t.co/IX8TVmurz6  bluemoon (@bluemoo43107939) March 28, 2020

If the Democrat Deep State Propaganda Machine is silenced will the hysteria disappear and sanity be restored? https://t.co/KXBkpb6FGE  More Good Than Bad! (@MikeBinkley3) March 27, 2020
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 26 held separate phone talks with his Lao and Cambodian counterparts, during which the leaders discussed coordination between Vietnam and the two countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 26 holds separate phone talks with his Lao and Cambodian counterparts.

During his talks with Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith, PM Phuc lauded the Lao Governments efforts in preventing the disease, stressing that Vietnam is willing to support and stand side by side with the country in the combat.

He proposed the Lao PM and Government create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country to stabilise their lives and access essential conditions to prevent the epidemic.

The Vietnamese PM also called for the Lao sides close coordination in maintaining social and security stability, especially in border provinces.

For his part, PM Thongloun spoke highly of Vietnams efforts and successes in containing COVID-19 and expressed his hope that the two countries will enhance information sharing, coordination and mutual support in this field.

The two leaders agreed on the need to maintain bilateral cooperation in the present circumstance and pay due attention to the effective implementation of agreements reached at the 42nd meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee early this year.

The two sides also consented to facilitate the flows of goods between the two countries, and work harder to maintain the growth of bilateral trade and investment by flexible measures.

Vietnam and Laos would work together to overcome difficulties caused by the economic downturn resulting from the epidemic, the two leaders committed.

While talking with Cambodian PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen, PM Phuc suggested the two sides facilitate citizen protection and assistance by representative agencies of each country.

He also urged Vietnamese and Cambodian ministries, agencies and localities to join hands in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, maintain trade activities and make it easier for the transportation of goods along their common border.

PM Phuc said Vietnam stands ready to coordinate with the Cambodian side to repatriate Cambodian citizens who have been quarantined in Vietnam for COVID-19 if they want.

PM Hun Sen highly valued Vietnams measures in preventing and controlling the pandemic and agreed to order Cambodian ministries, agencies and localities to support the Vietnamese community in the country.

During the talks, PM Phuc stressed that the coordination and support between the three countries in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak is necessary and significant.

Vietnam is willing to send medical experts to the two countries if requested, he said, calling for stronger coordination between the three countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)./.VNA
A senior health care assistant on a gerontology ward in north west England spoke this week to the World Socialist Web Site about his experiences at work during the coronavirus pandemic. He raised some of his serious concerns about the safety of both patients and staff as they attempt to deal with the crisis.

The main thing is lack of clarity going forward, a play it by ear, one day at a time approach. Management call in daily but seem bewildered and cannot answer the concerns of staff. No one is happy.

Most of us are calling to be tested, but you only get tested once you have been hospitalised. That is coming from the government. Before that, if you show symptoms, you self-isolate for seven days or family members for 14. We are all concerned that we are spreading the virus from patient to patient. Plus, you might have it but be asymptomatic.

I think theres a fear that if we are tested, most of us will come back positive and the NHS will collapse. Why else are they not testing? Unless the primary reason is cost. Either way its cynical and dangerous.

My ward is specifically for elderly care, dementia and Parkinsons disease. Someone on the ward suspected of having COVID-19 was tested. The results took days to come back and were positive. The person had been in a bay with other patients.

Wed been wearing minimal PPE [Personal Protective Equipment]. We do have PPE where we work, but its standardnothing like you see on TV with people in China and Italy treating COVID-19basic masks, gloves, visors and aprons. It doesnt feel adequate.

Were told to change our uniforms when entering and leaving the hospital, but no facilities are provided for this. Theres a lot of tokenism going on, but management have no solid strategy.

A patient came over from a main hospital last week. Shed been receiving chemotherapy, and they had moved her for her own safety because of a COVID-19 outbreak there. She was on our ward for 24 hours and moved backIm not sure why or what was going on.

We found out later that she was confirmed to have COVID-19. Maybe two days later, two patients in the bay on the ward where she had been started spiking temperatures of around 39.9 Ca temperature above 37.5 is classed as fever. They were tested. The thing is, though, the tests take days to come back. In the meantime, the patients were classed as possible COVID-19.

The tests did come back positive on Monday. We swabbed two other ladies in the bay. I asked a colleague via text if the test results were back, and she said no. The testing is taking too long. Whether thats because of a backlog, I dont know.

All visiting only stopped on March 23. Before that, it was for one hour between 6 and 7 p.m. and one visitor per patient, but that was only implemented a few days previous. In the preceding weeks, it was normal visiting!

Theres a sort of creeping panic on our ward. Everyone tries to stay calm, but theres an underlying stress.
China blasts meddling as US signs new Taiwan support law

Iran Press TV

Friday, 27 March 2020 8:50 AM

US President Donald Trump has signed a congressional bill into law that entails greater American support for Taiwan at a global level, amid Beijing's long-time criticism of Washington not to interfere in Chinese internal affairs and to recognize its sovereignty over the breakaway island.

Trump signed into law on Thursday the so-called Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act, which calls for the strengthening of Taiwan's diplomatic ties on an international basis and requires Washington to "alter" engagement with countries that undercut Taiwan's security.

"This bipartisan legislation demands a whole-of-government approach to ramp up our support for Taiwan, and will send a strong message to nations that there will be consequences for supporting Chinese actions that undermine Taiwan," said Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, one of the authors of the bill.

Reacting to the move, Beijing on Friday censured the new US law aimed at strengthening Taiwan's international position, insisting that it obstructed other nations from developing normal ties with Beijing.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang (File photo)

Speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang further called on Washington to stop meddling in its affairs.

Taiwan currently maintains diplomatic ties with only 15 countries of the world -- almost all of which are small and developing nations such as Nauru, Belize and Honduras.

The development came a day after China's defense ministry reacted strongly after another US warship passed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, accusing Washington on Thursday of playing a dangerous game with its persisting support for Taiwan.

The US Navy's Pacific Fleet confirmed in a Twitter posting earlier on Thursday that one of its guided-missile destroyers -- USS McCampbell -- had on Wednesday sailed through the strategic waterway that separates Taiwan from China.

Taiwan's defense ministry confirmed the transit in a statement, calling the sailing an "ordinary mission" through the sensitive waterway and no cause for alarm.

China has sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan, and under the "One China" policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty, saying the island is part of China's territory awaiting reunification.

While Washington also recognizes Chinese sovereignty over the island, it has long courted Taipei in an attempt to counter Beijing.

Although the United States maintains no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei by law, it continues to remain the island's largest arms supplier and an international backer of Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen's government, causing growing tensions with Beijing over trade and a host of other issues.

The US regularly carries out what it deems as "freedom of navigation" operations through the narrow strait, angering Beijing, which has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its full control.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The next plenary meeting of Azerbaijans Parliament will be held at 11:00 (GMT+4) on March 30, Trend reports.

Before the meeting, on March 27, MPs of the parliament will pass tests for coronavirus.

Azerbaijan has announced a special quarantine regime from March 24 to April 20 in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection and possible complications. According to the rules of the special regime, people over 65 are forbidden to leave home, in accordance with the law, social services are provided to single people of this category of people.

Entry and exit to Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron district is limited with the exception of special vehicles, including ambulances, emergency recovery and rescue services, as well as trucks. Crowds of more than 10 people in public places, including on streets, boulevards, parks and other places are not allowed.

Currently, coronavirus infection is detected both among people who have arrived in Azerbaijan from abroad, as well as within the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Andhra Pradesh has decided to quarantine migrant labourers coming from the neighbouring states in hotels and marriage halls close to inter-state borders.

It is not possible to allow migrant labourers and other people belonging to AP coming from the neighbouring states, unless they are cleared by the health authorities of any Covid-19 infection, state health minister Alla Nani told reporters.

He suggested that people from Andhra Pradesh stranded in neighbouring states should stay put. We shall extend all possible help to them from the government. But if they want to come to AP, they should be prepared to be quarantined, he said.

Chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed all the marriage halls and hotels at inter-state borders be brought under the control of the state government and converted into quarantine centres, after being sanitised thoroughly. The migrant labourers and other people coming from the neighbouring states be kept their under 14-day quarantine, Nani said.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to US President Donald Trump over the phone to discuss the coronavirus pandemic soon after he took to social media to



announce that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has gone into self-isolation.

The 55-year-old, who is believed to be the first world leader to have tested positive for the deadly virus, said his symptoms are mild which means he will carry on leading the response to the outbreak in the UK where the death toll jumped by 181 to hit 759 and the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 stood at 14,543 on Friday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke with US President Donald Trump today. The President wished the Prime Minister a speedy recovery from coronavirus, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Friday evening.

They agreed to work together closely, along with the G7, the G20, and other international partners, to defeat the coronavirus pandemic, the spokesperson said.

The call came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his best wishes to Johnson on Twitter, describing him as a fighter.

You're a fighter and you will overcome this challenge as well. Prayers for your good health and best wishes in ensuring a healthy UK, said Modi.

Earlier in the day, Johnson had posted an upbeat video message insisting that we will win against the virus if we carry on following the advice to "stay at home".

Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus, he said.

Carrie Symonds, Johnson's pregnant fiance, has reportedly moved out of Downing Street and is understood to be self-isolating separately with the couple's dog Dilyn at her south London flat.

It was also confirmed on Friday that Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, both of whom have been leading the UK government fightback and were regulars at the daily Downing Street briefings through the crisis, have also tested positive with mild symptoms.

Working from home and wishing Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock a speedy recovery, said UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak in a Twitter post with an image of him at his desk.

The Indian-origin finance minister has also been seen working in close proximity with the UK prime minister and Hancock on the government's economic response to the crisis, most recently joining Johnson outside NO. 10 Downing Street in the clap for carers on Thursday night as his neighbour at No. 11.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, stepped in to host the daily Downing Street briefing on Friday evening instead, during which he said that the government was preparing to dramatically roll out thousands of antigen tests for frontline National Health Service (NHS) staff.

Increasing our testing capacity is absolutely crucial in our response to and our fight against coronavirus, said Gove.

This is a particular priority for those who work in the health and social care sector and are working so hard to keep us all safe, he said.

NHS and social care workers with symptoms or those who live with people who have symptoms will be checked starting with critical care doctors and nurses.

It follows criticism over a lack of testing for health workers. An antigen test determines if someone is currently infected and risks spreading it to others. A more effective antibody test, which confirms if someone has already had the virus and therefore immune, is still some way off with Public Health England saying that it is ordering it in the millions and will distribute it as soon as it is confident about its accuracy.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the move towards testing NHS staff in England was "long overdue".

"For every healthy member of staff at home self-isolating needlessly when they do not have the virus, the NHS is short of someone who could be providing vital care to patients on the front line," said the BMA's Indian-origin chairman, Dr Chaand Nagpaul.

Previously, only seriously ill patients in hospital with flu-like symptoms were being routinely tested for the virus. At the moment about 6,000 people are tested daily. But by the end of March the government wants to test 10,000 people a day, rising to 25,000 by mid-April.

Expert analysis suggests the rate of infection in the UK has been doubling every three to four days and the number of cases are likely to continue to increase over the next two to three weeks, before the effects of social distancing lockdown measures and restrictions on everyday life begin to have an impact.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pictures of of beaches packed with people in Ain Sokhna and Alexandria were circulated on social media over the weekend causing a lot of controversy

Red sea Governor Amr Hanafi announced on Saturday the closure of all beaches in the governorate after they were seen packed with people during the hours prior to the 7 pm to 6 am coronavirus curfew.

Governor Hanafi directed authorities to close the beaches starting Saturday and until further notice.

The governor urged people to stay at home and to go out only when it is urgent.

Hanafi warned that legal measures will be taken against violators of the precautionary measures adopted by the government to limit the spread of the virus.

On Tuesday, Egypt imposed a two-week night-time curfew from 7 pm to 6 am as part of stricter measures to tackle coronavirus.

Egypt also extended the two-week suspension of study in schools and universities -- that should have ended on March 29 -- for 15 more days, and closed all coffee shops and restaurants except for delivery services.

Pictures of of beaches packed with people in Ain Sokhna and Alexandria were circulated on social media over the weekend causing a lot of controversy.

Social media users criticised beach-goers for ignoring calls for staying at home and practising self-isolation and social distancing despite the threat of the virus.

A number of citizens took advantage of the lockdown period and went to the beaches to to hang out, and others organised trips to Alexandria from neighbouring governorates," Alexandria governorate said in a statement on Friday.

Alexandria consequently decided to close its beaches starting Friday morning.

Egypt on Friday recorded six coronavirus deaths and 41 new cases, bringing the total to 536, including 30 fatalities.

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The worlds biggest maker of condoms warned of a global shortage as supply falls by almost 50% while its stockpile is set to last for just another two months.

Malaysia-based Karex Bhd., which makes one out of every five condoms worldwide, only restarted its factories on Friday after a week-long closure, working with just half its workforce to comply with a lockdown that the country imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The company said condoms are mainly made in China and India, which are both heavily impacted by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, demand is growing at double digits as governments around the world issue stay-at-home notices and many people abstain from having children due to the uncertain future, said Goh Miah Kiat, group chief executive officer at Karex.

The company produces for brands like Durex as well as its own line of specialty condoms such as Durian-flavored ones. It churns out more than 5 billion condoms a year and exports them to more than 140 countries. That has become more challenging as governments shut borders and airlines cancel flights.

I would definitely say this is an unprecedented stage, we have never seen such a disruption, Goh said in an interview on Friday.

Condoms could also get much more expensive, he warned. We are still paying all our workers full salaries but workers only come in half the time so generally there will be a cost increase, he said.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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The Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday urged police forces in the country to act with restrain while maintaining law and order during the coronavirus lockdown.

The lockdown has left millions stranded, struggling to search for food and water, Amnesty International India (AII) executive director Avinash Kumar said in a statement.

"Unfortunately for these people, a state machinery has become a larger threat than the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

This is "unfortunate" and the Indian government must ensure that "insensitivity and brute force be replaced by people-friendly measures in battling the pandemic", he said.

Kumar said India should respect and protect the rights of those under quarantine and ensure that their basic needs are met, including adequate shelter, food, water and sanitation.

HRW South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly too urged Indian authorities to ensure that everyone has access to food and medical care, and that the poor and marginalized are not mistreated or stigmatized.

"The Indian government's responsibility to protect its people from the outbreak should not come at the cost of human rights violations," she said.

Tens of thousands of out-of-work migrant workers are stranded with rail and bus services shut down in the country. "Police actions to punish those violating orders have reportedly resulted in abuses against people in need," she alleged.

"Indian police should be ordered to act with restraint while enforcing the lockdown. In several states, photos and videos show police beating people who are trying to get essential supplies. In West Bengal, police allegedly beat a 32-year-old man to death, after he stepped out of his home to get milk," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump has signed into law the historic $2 trillion rescue package, setting in motion a desperately needed financial relief for millions of Americans and secure the country's economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 1,700 and infected more than 100,000 people across the nation.

Trump signed the bill on March 27 just hours after the House passed it in a bipartisan vote.

The far-reaching legislation is the largest emergency aid package in US history and promises to deliver a tidal wave of cash to individual Americans, businesses and health care facilities all reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Help is on the way," Trump assured his countrymen as he signed the bill in the Oval Office at the White House. The Senate and the House of Representatives earlier passed the Bill.

"We got hit by the invisible enemy and we got hit hard," he said, adding the economy would come roaring back. "I think we are going to have a tremendous rebound," he said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The legislation among other things gives $3,400 for most of the American families of four, and billions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to small and medium businesses, and big corporations like Boeing.

"This is a very important day. I've signed the single biggest economic relief package in the American history and, I must say, any other package by the way. It is twice as large as any relief every signed," the President said.

The magnitude of the package can be seen in the context that India, one of the top five economies of the world, is estimated at $3 trillion.

"I never signed anything with a T on it," Trump said.

"I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first," he said.

The first stimulus check is likely to be sent to the Americans in the first week of April.

More than half of the country's 330 million population is now confined in their homes. Major Disaster Declaration has been announced in over a dozen states and a national emergency has been declared.

A record three million people have applied for unemployment, the entire travel and tourism industry have come to a standstill and companies have stopped their operations and only essential services are running in the US.

The United States is now the hotspot of the coronavirus in the world, where according to Worldometer, 104,256 confirmed cases of the contagion have been recorded a total of 1704 people have died and 2,463 people are in critical condition.

New York, which is the financial capital of the world, accounts for nearly half of the total cases and more than 500 people have died in the Big Apple alone.

According to the White House, Trump is signing bipartisan legislation to provide relief to American families and workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Noting that the CARES Act provides much needed economic relief for American families and businesses who are hurting through no fault of their own, the White House said the legislation will provide assistance to America's heroic healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the outbreak.

$100 billion will go to healthcare providers, including hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; and $27 billion will go to bolstering life-saving capabilities, including developing vaccines and the development, purchase, and distribution of critical supplies.

$45 billion will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, more than doubling the amount available to support the President's Emergency and Disaster Declarations to empower state, local, and tribal leaders to effectively respond.

The legislative package brings security to American families by providing them with economic assistance during the time of crisis. It provides tax free payments  treated as a refundable tax credit  to Americans, giving families the immediate financial support they need, the White House said.

The novel coronavirus, that first originated in Wuhan in December, has wreaked havoc across the globe, upending life and businesses.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, 27,333 people have died due to the disease across over 170 countries. Italy has the highest number of deaths at 9,134, followed by Spain 5,138 and China 3,174.

The United States leads in the number of COVID-19 with 104,007 infections confirmed so far, followed by Italy (86,498) and China (81,906).
The Kaduna State government has arrested two Islamic clerics for violating the restriction order imposed by the state government to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Aminu Umar Usman and Umar Shangel were arrested in Malali and Ungwan Kanawa communities of Kaduna North Local Government Area for holding congregational prayers.

Their conduct violated government orders as well as advice given by leaders of faith.

According to a statement by the state commissioner of internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the clerics violated the order not to organise religious gathering including Jumaat prayers.

The two Imams held Jumaat prayers despite the consequences.

Meanwhile, all other mosques in the state obeyed the stay at home order, the release added.

Kaduna State has imposed a total lockdown in the state to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the state.

About 89 people have so far contracted the disease in Nigeria across 11 states.

The Kaduna State Government wishes to commend citizens that are abiding by the terms of the quarantine imposed on the state as a preventive measure against Covid-19.

The state government is especially grateful to religious and community leaders who have joined in appealing to the public to abide by public health warnings. We thank the media for amplifying the message of prevention and the security agencies that are enforcing the extraordinary measures.

However, government has also sadly noted that certain individuals, including clerics, are violating the restriction of movement, large gatherings, trading and congregational prayers. This is patently illegal and irresponsible conduct at a time that requires sober and rational conduct to protect our people from coronavirus, it said.

It said the state government arrested two clerics for conducting congregational prayers on Friday, March 27 in two communities.

Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel were arrested in Malali and Ungwan Kanawa communities of Kaduna North Local Government Area for holding congregational prayers. Their conduct violated government orders as well as advice given by leaders of faith.They will be prosecuted accordingly.

Government wishes to reiterate that it expects compliance with the quarantine orders and will continue to enforce them. Anyone who decides to jeopardy (jeopardise) their prestige and social standing by wanton violation of orders made to protect public welfare and good health can expect a firm response.
An Audi driver who allegedly spat at a police officer after claiming she was on her way to get tested for COVID-19 has 'psychological issues', according to her defence lawyer.

Hannah Ayoub, 25, allegedly failed to stop for police in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, on Friday afternoon, after driving at speeds exceeding 120km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Traffic and Highway patrol allegedly saw Ayoub run a red light and overtake a vehicle on unbroken lines on Waterloo Road and gave pursuit.

During the chase, police allege she ran through a stop sign before she was halted by heavy traffic on Roberts Road where the officers caught up to her around 5pm.

Police will allege that footage of the shocking incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Ayoub spitting in the officer's face

She was placed under arrest but allegedly refused to get out of her car, forcing officers to physically removed her from the vehicle.

As she was handcuffed, she allegedly told the officer she was on her way to get tested for coronavirus before spitting in his face.

Ayoub was charged with drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45 km/h, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and assault officer in execution of duty.

Her matter was heard in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, but she was not present as she was undergoing hospital treatment.

The court heard that Ayoub, who is unemployed, also told the officer that her brother had coronavirus.

Defence barrister Tom Hughes said she had serious psychological issues, including post traumatic stress disorder and depression, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Mr Hughes said the arrest was a collision of circumstances heightened by the anxiety both in the community and in police by the ongoing pandemic.

'This woman has not been tested positive and nor has her brother been tested for coronavirus,' Mr Hughes said.

The prosecutor argued that Ayoub knew she did not have coronavirus when she made the claim, indicating that the incident was callous.

She was placed under arrested just after 5pm on Friday but allegedly resisted requests to get in the officer's car before spitting in his face twice

She did not display any coronavirus symptoms but the officer was tested as a precaution.

'That is another officer off the streets for two weeks at a time when the community certainly needs them,' the prosecutor said.

Ayoub was granted bail until she is due to appear at Bankstown Local Court on June 17.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The bail conditions included a strict curfew at her parents home, a $5000 surety, and not driving.

Police allege that footage of the shocking incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows Ayoub spitting and coughing in the officers face.

After spitting on the policeman the officer can be heard saying 'do not spit on me or I will put you on the ground.'

Ayoub can be seen demanding the officer let her speak to her lawyer and to let her go, but when he didn't respond, she smashed her head against the back seat window.

The officer asked the woman if she understood why she was under arrest but she continued to protest and said she was on her way to the doctor.

She spat in the officer's face a second time and he yelled 'do not f***ing spit on me' and slammed the woman onto the ground.

In response, the man who filmed the incident said 'Don't f***ing touch her.'
This week, the American Association of Medical Colleges released guidelines for medical students who are volunteering in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The association was careful to note that the guidelines did not take the place of any directives from an academic medical centre, but made special note that students should not be working in medical facilities at this time.

"Many of our students live in areas where restrictive local or state directives are in place," the guidance document stated. "Our medical students can best contribute to their local and state efforts by fully complying with these restrictive directives. This way, they are help flatten the curve by avoiding getting infected themselves and serving as role models and educators for their families, friends, and communities."

The guidelines also said that medical schools were working on ways to include students in "non-direct patient-contact activities," and that this should be the course of action unless there are unique needs.

"Our AAMC guidance continues to strongly support that unless there is a critical health care workforce need locally, medical students should not be involved in any direct patient care activities," the guidelines stated.

Harry Cheung, 25, is a second-year student at Yale School of Medicine. He is a clerkship student, which means he temporarily works on all of the major rotations, which are different specialities at a hospital or clinical setting. The school asked students to stop attending their clinical rotations for their safety and to preserve protective equipment, which is in limited supply. The students help in other ways.

"Some students in my class have been really proactive and awesome about organising ways for students to help out with tele-health," Mr Cheung said. "So, one thing we're doing is calling up patients since a lot of outpatient providers had to cancel their appointments because of the pandemic, and because it's unsafe for patients to come in."

Many medical students at Yale School of Medicine call patients, who have cancelled appointments, to ask if anything feels urgent, about prescription refills, or symptoms. Mr Cheung also said that some medical students, after 14 days of self-isolation, have offered to help in the food pantry and that some offered to provide childcare for healthcare workers with children who no longer have access to daycare. He is currently helping with research on cases in Connecticut, which is a study that is rapidly changing.

Robertha Barnes, 27, a first-year student a State University of New York Medical School, is aspiring to be an infectious disease doctor and is now taking her courses virtually because of the pandemic. She said she wishes she was qualified to help.

"My biggest regret during this time is that I am not qualified to help out yet," said Ms Barnes. "I still have to create a bubble around me to pass my exams because I won't be able to make the influence I want to in the future if I don't become a doctor."

The continued anxiety over exams, which are a large part of most medical school curricula, was expressed by another State University of New York Medical School student. Arnav Rana, 25, is an MD/PhD student in his second year. He said that at his school, second-year studies consist of studying for STEP 1, which is a licensing exam, from March until May. Students often work independently, but he said that he feels much more isolated because many of the school buildings closed, and everyone is physically distancing themselves from others.

"There's a feeling of uncertainty," Mr Rana said. "A lot of second-year students are finding it difficult to sit down and study for this test when they're not certain when they'll be taking it. You know, for example, Prometric is the company that administers the test, and they closed all their testing centres until April 15."

Mr Rana said many of the students he know are taking the test in early may but that people are wondering if the closure will continue in these ever-changing times. His PhD focus is in biochemistry, and he focuses on the heart and how mitochondria functions, but the state of the world has sparked some new possibilities.

"This virus is kind of making me wonder if my efforts would be better served in an infectious disease lab," said Mr Rana.

Mr Rana also said that physically distancing from others is also a service because it "flattens the curve," a term that refers to slowing the spread of the virus so that healthcare providers are not overwhelmed.

Sydney Russell Leed, 26, a third-year student at a school in upstate New York, said that medical students in her year are helping with a Covid-19 helpline. She said that most people working on the hotline are registered nurses, and she's worried that medical student volunteers will take shifts that could go to nurses who need to work remotely for income.

Ms Leed's clinical rotations have been replaced by interactive video learning. She said that she's a little disappointed that there will be no clinical surgery rotation because she's not going into a surgical speciality and won't have another opportunity to be in an operating room.

"But it's the ethical thing to do to stay out of the hospital," Ms Leed said.

Orly Naddell Farber, a student at Stanford University School of Medicine, wrote an opinion editorial for Stat News on March 14.

"There's no online substitute for learning direct patient care; sending students home would likely halt their education," said Ms Farber. "It could even delay graduating an entire class of new physicians, since students work on tight timelines to finish all the requirements necessary to become doctors."

Basia Giannakakos, 26, is a third-year student at State University of New York Medical School and said that many of her fellow students are eager to help. Some, she said, have expressed that they would love to work on the frontlines in roles different than a typical medical school curriculum, like as a nurse's assistant. However, she expressed that her fellow students also understand that, as medical students, they need supervision. In a health crisis, supervising could take up healthcare workers' attention, limiting capacity. Instead, the students are looking for other ways to help.

Ms Giannakakos said students in her year are helping with a blood drive and at a diabetes clinic, checking blood sugar levels, to help with other aspects of healthcare during the pandemic. Many students are also helping with State University of New York's Covid-19 hotline, set up on March 8, which helps field questions from patients who are worried about symptoms.

"We feel like we want to be useful, and we're almost there, but it's really just too early in our career to really be independent and be able to help independently," Ms Giannakakos. "So, this is like one of the best ways that we can help because at this point in our career we know how to talk to other people. We have learned a lot about that."

For now, students can't help in hospitals. Last Tuesday, the American Association of Medical Colleges released a directive on medical students' clinical participation.

"Starting immediately, the AAMC strongly supports our member medical schools in placing, at minimum, a two-week suspension on their medical students participation in any activities that involve patient contact," the directive stated.

The purpose for this, as outlined in the released statement, was to allow medical schools a two-week gap to develop programmes to educate their students to return to clinical rotations, a plan that may change as news of the pandemic progresses. The programmes would include information on Covid-19, and steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of their patients.

Another reason for the two-week suspension was to conserve personal protective equipment like N95 respirator masks, which the CDC recommends now only using when in direct contact with fluids from an infected patient. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, this means risking exposure if healthcare workers use other types of surgical masks that may not offer the same level of protection.

Mr Cheung, the student at Yale Medical School, said that he feels that his school's administration is doing the best they can in terms of communication, especially in these challenging times.

"[The administration] understands that are kind of at a crossroads where we want to help out, but we don't really necessarily have the complete skill set or the ability to help in the ways we wish we could," said Mr Cheung. "I think they're pretty active about helping us stay engaged."

"As hopeful future providers, we are going to be flexible in this great time of need," said Mr Cheung. "We are working with each other on helping with telemedicine and other things. We are working really hard to serve the community."
Chess players from France look at the board during a game at a hospital in Murmansk

MURMANSK, Russia (Reuters) - When a group of French chess players travelled to the Russian Arctic city of Murmansk for a tournament this month, they didn't expect to end up in quarantine and face delays in getting home.

Hailing from the Ile-de-France region, the 14-strong group, which includes eight minors, arrived in Murmansk, 1,480 kilometres (920 miles) north of Moscow, on March 12 to play opponents from Russia, Ireland and the Netherlands.

But the tournament was derailed when an Irish player was diagnosed with the coronavirus, forcing other participants into quarantine.

Jurriaan Kien, an official accompanying the French players, told Reuters from quarantine in a Murmansk hospital on Saturday that the group are due to return to France on Monday despite Russia having grounded all international flights.

He said that he had received assurances from the airline that their flight from Moscow had so far not been cancelled.

"We have a Plan B because we are chess players and always anticipate the next move," Kien said. "If for some reason we arrive in Moscow and we can't leave, we will be hosted at the French embassy's residence in Moscow. They have already prepared 14 beds."

The group has kept a regular schedule while in quarantine, where they have all been tested three times for the virus and were found to be healthy. Each day they follow their school curriculum, practice English, hold a French dictation and play chess.

Russia, which has recorded 1,264 cases of coronavirus, has halted all international flights and on Saturday said it would be closing all border checkpoints from Monday. [L8N2BL0EA]

Chess grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, currently ranked eighth in the world, returned to France this week from a tournament in Yekaterinburg, a city 1,400 kilometres (885 miles) east of Moscow, just as all international flights were being suspended.

Vachier-Lagrave was tied for the lead in the Candidates Tournament, which brought together contenders vying for the chance to challenge defending world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway for the world title, when it was abruptly suspended on Thursday because foreign participants were at risk of remaining stranded in Russia. [L8N2BJ88J]

"We made the effort to come play because this is a very important tournament, but we knew there was a chance it would not be completed," Vachier-Lagrave told Reuters from his home in Paris. "You just have to remain calm and wait for the world to do better. Then when everything is resolved, we can play chess again."

(Reporting by Reuters TV and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Mike Harrison)
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by Adam Koffler | Broncos Correspondent | Fri, Mar 27th 10:52pm EDT

DT Shelby Harris is re-signing a one-year, up to $3.25M deal with the Denver Broncos, with $2.5M guaranteed. (Nicki Jhabvala on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact:

Harris will be back with the Broncos for a fourth season. He set a career-high in sacks last season with six, to go along with 49 tackles. After only starting six games in his first two years in Denver, Harris started all 16 games in 2019. Hell look to build on his impressive 2019 campaign and provide the Broncos with a solid pass rush in 2020.
The Military.com Spouse Changemaker of the Year award has one goal: find men and women who are making sizeable, measurable, focused change for military spouses  and honor them.

In 2019 that meant singling out three of the best advocates we could find and noting their work, ultimately recognizing Libby Jamison as the Military.com Spouse Changemaker of the Year during an Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year reception in May.

This year things look a little different for in-person events. But things havent shifted at all for the changemakers. They are still out there doing the hard work. They still need to be recognized.

This year, we have selected three 2020 changemakers who deserve to be recognized for their tireless work in the military spouse space. Over the next several weeks, well share detailed profiles on each spouse. Then, well announce our winner the week of May 3. Unlike other awards, there is no public vote. Instead, the winner is selected by our internal Military.com panel.

The 2020 Military.com Spouse Changemakers of the Year finalists are: Lisa Colella, Megan Harless and Abby Malchow. Heres a little bit about each finalist.

Lisa Colella

Domestic violence against military caregivers and veteran spouses is a real problem  but not a popular topic for most advocates and policy makers. Its hard to talk about, emotional to address and complicated to handle.

But those barriers didnt to stop Lisa Colella from taking it on. She tirelessly advocates for caregivers and spouses through her nonprofit Healing Household 6. Through that organization, her team of volunteers connects those in need with whatever support is available, including local resources that are not specifically aimed at veteran families. But she doesnt stop there. It was her behind-the-scenes work with the Department of Veteran Affairs that pushed intimate partner violence and abuse support into a recent caregiver program rule proposal, the first time any such action has been taken.

Megan Harless

Anyone who endured a military move in 2018 remembers how the entire system seemed to fall apart without warning. Items ended up broken or missing in what felt like record numbers. The process seemed like a total disaster.

In the midst of that stood fed-up Army spouse Megan Harless. Disgusted by what she saw, she hit publish on a Change.org petition demanding intervention from the Pentagon, and shared it on her Military Spouse Chronicles Facebook page. The petition went viral, and she was thrown into the world of military moves.

Instead of letting the petition run its course and calling it a day, Megan pushed to become a major player in the PCS reform space. Her work and consistent advocacy is directly connected to the Pentagons decision to outsource the management of the military moving system to a contractor, an unprecedented change to the systems structure. She also has become a well-versed expert on the Joint Travel Regulation, a 500-page military document that governs all aspects of military moves and travel.

Abby Malchow

Navy veteran Abby Malchow isnt a military spouse, and until recently, she says, she didnt even know many military spouses. But that didnt stop her from taking on the challenges they face with employment and entrepreneurship as her very own in her role at Amazon.com.

A senior program manager in the companys military affairs section, Abby is the drive behind the Military Entrepreneurship Program, which is designed to connect military spouses and veterans with the selling power of Amazons storefronts, and then to help train them to be successful on the platform. And unlike many programs which are aimed first at veterans and then later include spouses, Abby started her program to solve spouse employment problems first and foremost. Her work behind the scenes has made a sizeable difference in the way military spouse and veteran-owned small businesses are able to operate through Amazon.
Lawmakers in Washington have worked hard all week to try to come up with legislation to help those whom the coronavirus pandemic has hurt financially. With a $2 trillion stimulus package having passed through the Senate on Wednesday night, many are hopeful that by the end of Friday, the nation could start getting some of the positive effects of financial assistance from the federal government.

By far the most attention among average Americans has gone to the coronavirus checks that are included in the Senate bill. That makes sense, given the immediate impact that $1,200 for adults and $500 for children can have on your finances. But not everyone will get a coronavirus check, because eligibility is subject to income limits.

Also included in the Senate bill is a provision that would unlock an additional tax break for millions of taxpayers who haven't been able to use it in recent years. Not only is it good news for taxpayers, but it'll also help some worthy causes that are in the best position to offer further aid to those in need.

Bringing charitable deductions to all

Historically, the tax laws have allowed taxpayers to claim a deduction for money that they gave to charitable organizations. Whether educational, religious, scientific, or literary organizations, those charities that filed for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS could accept donations and offer tax deductions to their donors.

However, charitable deductions have generally been available only for those who itemize their deductions on their tax returns. Prior to tax reform efforts in late 2017, that wasn't as big of a problem, as the standard deduction was relatively low and the ability to itemize a wide variety of different expenses was greater.

When tax reform caused the standard deduction to nearly double and imposed new limitations on the deductibility of other expenses, especially state and local taxes, it greatly reduced the number of people who itemized their deductions. That in turn made it far less likely that charitable donations would actually result in an additional deduction. At the time, charities were worried that giving levels would go down, and early indications did indeed show reduced giving levels in 2018 and 2019.

A new break for those who don't itemize

One solution that charities suggested was to eliminate the need to itemize deductions as a precondition of claiming a tax break for donations. That plea went unanswered until Congress took up the coronavirus stimulus bill.

Buried in the hundreds of pages of the coronavirus bill, you'll find a simple tax break for donors. The provision is titled "Allowance of Partial Above the Line Deduction for Charitable Contributions," and it effectively eliminated the need to itemize in order to claim at least some of your charitable donations as a deduction.

Specifically, the version of the bill that the Senate passed would allow taxpayers to claim up to $300 in charitable donations as what's known as an "above the line" deduction. That term is legal jargon for a deduction that you don't have to itemize in order to get. Additional contributions would still be eligible for deduction if you itemize, ensuring that the measure won't hurt anyone who already gets a tax break from their charitable giving. The measure would be effective for the 2020 tax year, so those who haven't filed their taxes yet this year shouldn't expect to see this break on their 2019 returns.

A small but important deduction

Admittedly, being able to write off a $300 deduction will have a relatively small impact on people's taxes, saving them anywhere from $30 to $111 depending on their tax break. Nevertheless, the news is good for charities -- and it could represent the small opening that could let charitable organizations get their foot in the door and eventually negotiate more extensive tax breaks for giving in the future.
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket launches 34 new OneWeb internet satellites into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on March 21, 2020.

Satellite internet startup OneWeb has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a move that comes less than a week after the company launched nearly three dozen satellites into orbit.

The London-based OneWeb announced the bankruptcy filing late Friday (March 27) after Softbank, its largest investor, nixed a request for additional funding, according to media reports. The company is also laying off some employees as it seeks to restructure its business.

"It is with a very heavy heart that we have been forced to reduce our workforce and enter the Chapter 11 process while the Company's remaining employees are focused on responsibly managing our nascent constellation and working with the Court and investors," OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel said in a press release announcing the bankruptcy filing.

Video: Watch Soyuz launch 34 OneWeb satellites into orbit!

In photos: OneWeb launches new global satellite internet constellation

Steckel cited the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as a reason for the Chapter 11 filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York's Southern District.

"Our current situation is a consequence of the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis," Steckel said, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus. "We remain convinced of the social and economic value of our mission to connect everyone everywhere."

In the news release, OneWeb representatives said the company had been seeking new funding since the start of 2020, but was unable to finalize the deal.

"Since the beginning of the year, OneWeb had been engaged in advanced negotiations regarding investment that would fully fund the Company through its deployment and commercial launch," the company said in the release. "While the Company was close to obtaining financing, the process did not progress because of the financial impact and market turbulence related to the spread of COVID-19."

An artist's illustration of a OneWeb satellite in orbit. (Image credit: OneWeb)

OneWeb aims to build a 650-satellite megaconstellation to provide space-based internet access to customers around the world, including remote areas that typically have not had reliable connectivity. To do that, the company seeks to mass-produce high-speed broadband internet satellites, each of which weighs 325 lbs. (147 kilograms), at its factory near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

On March 21, OneWeb launched 34 satellites into orbit on a Russian-built Soyuz rocket that lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The mission, provided by Arianespace, came just a month after a similar 34-satellite launch on a Soyuz from Baikonur on Feb. 6. OneWeb launched its first six satellites into orbit in February 2019.

To date, OneWeb has 74 satellites in low Earth orbit. Before Friday's Chapter 11 filing announcement, the company had aimed to begin internet service in 2021. According to SpaceNews, OneWeb had raised $3.4 billion in funding to date, $2 billion of that from Softbank, but some outside analysts have suggested the company would need up to $7.5 billion to complete the satellite constellation.

OneWeb is not the only company aiming to provide high-speed internet access from space using a satellite megaconstellation.

The company's chief rival SpaceX has already launched 360 of its Starlink satellites since 2019 as part of its own megaconstellation plan, a project that aims to grow to at least 12,000 satellites. Amazon and Telesat have also announced plans for internet satellite networks.

So far, SpaceX is the only other company to have begun megaconstellation launches. The company has said it aims to begin internet service later this year.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
Four migrant labourers were



crushed to death and three others seriously injured when a speeding tempo ran over them on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Saturday, police said.

The incident took place at around 3 am near Parol village in Vasai tehsil, where the speeding tempo knocked down a group of migrant labourers from Rajasthan, who were travelling towards Mumbai on foot, police PRO Hemant Katkar said.

While four were crushed to death, three others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, he said.

The tempo driver, who initially fled the scene, was subsequently arrested by the Virar police, he added.

A case under sections 304(A) (death by negligence), 279 (rash driving) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act was registered against the driver, he said.

The deceased were identified as Ramesh Mangilal Bhat (55), Nikhil Pandya (32), Naresh Kalasuva (18) and Kaluram Bagore (18), he said, adding that their bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

The victims were among thousands of migrant labourers from Gujarat and Rajasthan who were headed to their hometowns on foot, but were stopped at Maharashtra border and sent back.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands of visitors flocked to Glendalough over the weekend, with many ignoring social distancing guidelines introduced to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Outdoor activities are now expected to be further curtailed as members of the public continue to ignore recommended precautions.

Wicklow County Council took the decision to close the Upper Lake car park at Glendalough on Sunday, while all food franchises at the location were also closed until further notice.

On Sunday, Gardai diverted traffic away from approach roads leading to Glendalough due to overcrowding. Access to the Sally Gap was also restricted from Annacarter Cross on one side of Luggala and from Boley Hourigan car park on the other side due to traffic volumes and careless parking. A number of badly parked cars were towed away in case emergency services needed access.

Pat Casey, owner of the Glendalough Hotel, which will remain closed until the crisis is under control, said the number of visitors descending on the popular hot-spot over the weekend was 'frightening', with some people still not taking the Government's advice seriously.

'Things weren't too bad to begin with but by 1 p.m. on Saturday things were completely out of control. There was a frightening number of people here - it must have been in the thousands. It was really bad. A lot of people don't have anywhere but the country to go to. There are no sports, matches or family activities taking place. It wasn't just Glendalough. Devil's Glen was packed and so was Roundwood. You had nearly four miles of parked vehicles leading toward Turlough Hill. It would have been impossible for the emergency services to get through.'

On Sunday, the Gardai blocked access to the Glendalough Valley at the Wicklow Gap junction due to unprecedented visitor numbers and social distancing concerns.

Wicklow County Council also took the decision to close the Upper Car Park and food franchises located in Glendalough.

'The Council has taken this decision due to concerns regarding social distancing requirements. We regret the inconvenience caused and would ask members of the public to observe HSE guidelines as regards social distancing,' stated the Local Authority.

It is understood that the Government plan to announce stricter measures regarding gatherings in public and open spaces due to the crowded scenes experienced at Glendalough and elsewhere over the weekend.

Deputy John Brady said it was 'unbelievable' that people were still ignoring health guidelines, such as social distancing and not meeting in groups.

Deputy Brady said: 'I was contacted by a large number of people who expressed serious concerns about large numbers of people queuing at the food stalls in Glendalough.

'People have been asked to socially space and avoid large gatherings. The reports about Glendalough are concerning. Given the request for people to play their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19, it's unbelievable that some people are still not taking these requests seriously.'
(@FahadShabbir)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Libya has received 164 reports from humanitarian actors about access difficulties brought about by COVID-19 related curfews, OCHA Libya Public Information Officer Jennifer Bose Ratka told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th March, 2020) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Libya has received 164 reports from humanitarian actors about access difficulties brought about by COVID-19 related curfews, OCHA Libya Public Information Officer Jennifer Bose Ratka told Sputnik.

Libya confirmed its first coronavirus disease case on March 25 in Tripoli.

"Ongoing clashes, along with COVID-19 restriction measures, hamper humanitarian access to those who need assistance and the free movement of medical and other humanitarian personnel in the country. We received 164 reports from various humanitarian actors on access constraints linked with the COVID-19 related curfews being imposed in East, West and South Libya," Ratka said.

Earlier this week, another international humanitarian agency, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), announced it would suspend some of its operations in Libya, particularly with regard to activities in refugee arrival centers and detention facilities, in light of shortage of personal protective equipment of its staff.

It has sparked concerns within the migrant community in Libya that they would end up cut off from international aid.

"OCHA is not scaling back and our staff is fully engaged, supporting the development of preparedness and response plans, bolstering coordination and providing information management services," Ratka told Sputnik.

She said the agency had taken measures to change the way it operates in line with WHO and national guidelines to minimize the risk of viral transmissions, particularly be adhering to a do-no-harm approach that includes remote coordination by virtual means and increased social distancing on the ground.

"With almost 900,000 people in Libya in need of emergency assistance, we are here to support the response to the pandemic and ensure that we can continue to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable including refugees, migrants and displaced people," Ratka said.
BOSTON  States are pulling back the welcome mat for travelers from the New York area, which is the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, and some say at least one state's measures are unconstitutional.

Governors in Texas, Florida and Maryland this week ordered people arriving by plane from the New York area including New Jersey and Connecticut  to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival.

Connecticut officials have also pleaded with New Yorkers and others from out of state to avoid visiting unless absolutely necessary.

Rhode Island State Police on Friday began pulling over drivers with New York plates so that National Guard officials can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine if they're planning to remain in the state.

Gov. Gina Raimondo ratcheted up the measures Friday afternoon, announcing she'll also order the state National Guard to go door-to-door in coastal communities starting this weekend to find out whether any of the home's residents have recently arrived from New York and inform them of the quarantine order.

The Democrat had already deployed the guard to bus stations, train stations and the airport to enforce the executive order, which also applies to anyone who has traveled to New York in the last 14 days.

"I know it's unusual. I know it's extreme and I know some people disagree with it," she said Friday, adding that she has consulted with state lawyers.

"If you want to seek refuge in Rhode Island, you must be quarantined."

Raimondo maintains she's within her emergency powers to impose the measures, but the American Civil Liberties Union has called it an "ill-advised and unconstitutional plan."

Governors have the authority to suspend some state laws and regulations in a state of emergency, but they can't just suspend the Constitution, argued Steven Brown, head of the ACLU's Rhode Island chapter.

"Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not, and cannot, constitute 'probable cause' to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver, no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be," he said.

It's the latest sign of worry for civil rights and libertarian groups already concerned about fundamental freedoms being tossed out in the name of public health.

New York has by far the most cases in the country.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

Florida was the first state to try to deter fleeing New Yorkers, ordering tri-state area arrivals on Monday to go into mandatory quarantine for two weeks. It has since expended the restrictions to travelers from Louisiana. The federal government followed up Tuesday with a recommendation to do the same country-wide.

"If you were in New York state, you left when you were told to shelter in place," Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said earlier this week. "You defied that and then you got on a plane and came here, and so we don't want there to be any fallout here."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned those who don't comply with his Thursday order, which also extends to those coming from New Orleans, risk jail time.

Connecticut officials worry that people from New York and elsewhere are returning earlier than normal to their summer homes, but Gov. Ned Lamont has so far not issued an official order for out-of-staters to self-quarantine.
Ireland has recorded its highest daily death toll in the coronavirus outbreak, with 14 people having lost their lives in 24 hours.

The deaths, all in the east of the country, bring the total number of victims in the state to 36, just a day after Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a total lock down in the country in a bid to tackle the spread.

Another 294 cases of coronavirus were reported today, bringing to 2,415 the number of confirmed cases in Ireland. The median age of the 14 people who died was 81.

Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday announced the country is in lockdownin a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus

The deaths were announced on the first day of a major clampdown on movement in Ireland with restrictions ordered by Government amid fears that critical care hospitals will soon be overwhelmed by cases.

People have been ordered to remain in their homes in all but a limited set of specific circumstances until Sunday April 12.

One of the largest mobilisations in the history of the Garda is under way to ensure compliance with the lockdown, with 2,500 gardai on duty across the country.

On Saturday evening, Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said: 'Today, we have our highest recorded number of deaths so far.

'Our condolences are with the family and friends of all patients who have died as a result of Covid-19.

In a televised address yesterday, Mr Varadkar imposed a range of further restrictions for the next two weeks

'We thank all citizens who have complied with restrictive measures, who continue to follow public health advice and remain concerned for those around them.

'We must remain focused in our shared efforts to prevent the spread of this infection, to prevent severe illness especially that which requires ICU admission and ultimately save lives.'

There were reports of panic buying in supermarkets on Saturday as the two-week period of restrictions started.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urged people not to stockpile, insisting food supplies were not going to be impacted by the measures.

Assistant Secretary to the Government, Elizabeth Canavan giving a media briefing at Government Buildings today, at which the list of essential retail services was published

People are allowed to leave home for travel to or from work deemed to be essential, food shopping, medical appointments, brief exercise, farming activity and vital family reasons.

Those who leave their homes for exercise are required to stay within a 2km radius. They can travel outside 2km for shopping or to collect medicines.

All people over the age of 70, and other people considered vulnerable to the disease, have been told to 'cocoon' for the two-week period and not leave home at all.

Local authorities are to establish hubs to ensure those people confined to their homes are properly supported, with food deliveries and transport to medical appointments.

The scenes along the North Dublin coastline on day one of the nationwide two week Lockdown put in place by the Government to try to contain the spread of the Coronavirus

Non-essential surgery, health procedures and other non-essential health services are being postponed as part of the new measures.

All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited and social visits to relatives beyond the family unit at home are not allowed.

The Government published a list of what it considers to be 16 essential categories of services on Saturday night, so employers and employees could determine if they can continue to travel to work.

Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein had both criticised the authorities for not making the list public when the restrictions were announced on Friday night, claiming the delay had created confusion.

A prolonged travel shutdown would make about 760 million euros (approximately 680 million) of Irish budget airline Ryanair's revenue eligible for refund in the second quarter

A senior official at the Department of the Taoiseach said 'a lot of work and consideration' had gone into drawing up the list.

Liz Canavan, assistant secretary at the department, highlighted that companies that were providing essential services to other parts of the world were included.

'The Government recognises that many companies in Ireland are critical to global supply chains that are responding to the Covid-19 crisis and many companies also perform critical global roles in many other aspects of medicine, as well as security, cyber, cloud data centre infrastructure,' she said.

'It is intended that these essential global roles are encompassed within these national guidance.'

She advised all essential workers to carry ID or a letter from their employers when travelling to or from their workplace.

The coronavirus testing centre on Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin where Naval service personnel are assisting medical staff

On panic buying, Ms Canavan said: 'There's a lot of images doing the rounds online today of people panic buying. The Taoiseach has assured us there's no need to stockpile or bulk buy. Food stores and takeaways will remain open in the emergency.'

The Taoiseach tweeted on Saturday morning: 'No need to do all shopping or stockpile this morning. Food stores and takeaways staying open in the emergency. The 2km is about exercising locally. You can go beyond the 2km to buy food and medicines. The supplies are good. We all have a part to play in rising to this challenge.'

As well as the pressure on intensive care beds, health chiefs are concerned that more than 50% of confirmed cases in Ireland involve community transmission and that clusters are developing in places such as nursing homes and residential care settings.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Varadkar warned that intensive care units will be at capacity 'in a number of days'. Pictured: Mr Varadkar visiting a fruit and vegetable wholesaler in Dublin today

Health minister Simon Harris said the latest restrictions on public life will not be sustainable for a long period.

Mr Harris expressed hope there could be some relaxation of the measures after an initial two-week period of enforcement, but he warned that life will not be returning to normal in the short term.

The minister said admissions to intensive care units are expected to rise significantly over the next week with people already infected with Covid-19. But he expressed hope the new measures could start to slow admission rates.

He told RTE Radio One: 'Will we be in a position on the 12th of April where life in Ireland will return to normal? Absolutely not and let's be honest with each other.

'And these are measures that we're going to need to continue to work on. Do we hope to be in a position in two weeks' time to say that we've made progress and some of the measures can be tweaked, removed, changed? Absolutely.

'The measures that we put in place last night are so significant that they cannot be kept in place for too long. You cannot ask people to sustain this for a very long period. That's why we are really asking people to double down now for the next two weeks, it's going to be tough.'

Earlier on Friday, Mr Varadkar warned that intensive care units will be at capacity 'in a number of days'.

He said that while there are currently a number of empty beds, the situation would change over the coming days, adding that it would become 'very difficult'.

'The way things are heading indicate that ICU will be at capacity in a number of days.

'That's already the case around Europe, it may happen here. We have to plan for that.

'We need to make sure we have capacity, ventilators, all of those things.'
Cryptocurrency accepted by the alleged ringleader of a Telegram chat group in exchange for abusive sexual material may never be retrieved.

Cho Ju-bin, 25, is said to have charged users anywhere between 200,000 to 1.5 million Korean won (around $160 to $1,200) to access images and videos of women, many younger than 16, who were forced to perform sex acts on themselves.

An investigation from CoinDesk Korea found Cho primarily dealt in the privacy-enhancing cryptocurrency monero (XMR) so he could cover his tracks.

Related: US, European Stocks Up but Crypto Traders Remain Cautious

Korean authorities took the unusual step Wednesday of publicly naming Cho as the alleged ringleader of a Telegram chat group known as the Doctors Room, following a petition signed by more than five million South Koreans. He stands accused of violating the child protection, privacy and sexual abuse acts, as well as charges surrounding abuse, blackmail and threatening others.

Following a Supreme Court case in 2018, cryptocurrencies are considered a form of property subject to forfeit after conviction in South Korea.

But there are complications. Authorities have to find the wallets in which digital assets are stored, as well as the private key to access them. We may say that Mr. Cho has forgotten his private key, said Han Seo-hee, a Korean lawyer, to CoinDesk Korea. If I refuse to submit it, there is no way to force it [from him].

Although CoinDesk Korea has been able to show Cho received more than 8,800 ether (ETH), currently worth around $1.2 million, from more than 500 wallets from around the world, the majority of his payments were in monero.

Related: US Says Venezuelan President Maduro Hid Massive Drug Ring Proceeds in Crypto

Unlike other cryptocurrencies, where transactions can readily be viewed on a public blockchain, monero jumbles them together, making it next to impossible for third parties to trace payments. Even the amount he received may never be known without his cooperation.

Story continues

Cho is accused of blackmailing at least 58 women and 16 girls to send degrading and sexually exploitative images of themselves, forcing many to carve slave into their bodies. He operated multiple rooms on Telegram, with users paying extra to view more graphic or extreme material. Korean authorities have also arrested 124 suspects and 18 operators linked to the case.

I apologize to those who were hurt by me, Cho said following his public reveal Wednesday. Thank you for ending the life of a demon that I couldnt stop.

Cho did not respond to questions from reporters on whether he had admitted to the charges.

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Ireland hopes to be in a position in two weeks to tweak or remove some of the highly restrictive measures introduced on Friday if it can slow down the rate of admission to intensive care units, Health Minister Simon Harris said.

"Will we be in a position on April 12 where life in Ireland can return to normal? Absolutely not. Let's be honest with each other, these are measures that we are going to need continue to work at," Harris told national broadcaster RTE on Saturday.

"Do we hope to be in a position in two weeks' time to say that we've made progress and some of the measures can be tweaked, removed, changed? Absolutely.

"The measures that we put in place last night were so significant that they cannot be kept in place for too long. You cannot ask people to sustain this for a very long time."

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Linkedin Nina Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 08:47 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206df2caa 1 World COVID-19,novel-coronavirus,coronavirus,Malaysia,migrant-workers,Indonesian-Embassy,virus-corona,house-of-representatives,Lawmakers Free

As Malaysia plans to extend its lockdown until mid-April, a lawmaker has urged the Indonesian government to provide aid for many informal-sector workers in the neighboring country, whose livelihoods are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Many of our migrant workers in Malaysia are construction workers, factory workers, waitresses or janitors. They are paid daily or weekly," Golkar Party lawmaker Christina Aryani said in a statement on Friday.

She explained that 10 days after Malaysia went into lockdown, she had received reports that workers in Malaysia were beginning to struggle to meet their basic needs.

"They need staple food aid immediately," she said. "We have urged the government to send them staple food via the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur."

Read also: Should I stay or should I go?: Overseas students in limbo as global lockdown fears mount

Besides staple food, Christina explained that the migrant workers also desperately needed face masks.

"I hope the government can ensure that both urgent needs [are met] for our migrant workers," she said.

On March 18, Malaysia enforced a national lockdown as part of stepped-up measures to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The lockdown was initially set to expire on March 31. However, on Wednesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the lockdown would be extended to April 14.

The director of the Indonesian Citizen Resolution Center in Malaysia (P3WNI), Dato M Zainul Arifin, said many of the migrant workers were afraid they might starve.

"Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia aren't afraid of COVID-19, they are afraid that they would be starving since they can no longer work," he said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

Read also: Malaysia steps up coronavirus tests as it braces for 'worst scenario'

Zainul explained the problem was exacerbated by the fact that many of them had gone to Malaysia illegally.

"Many of them were illegal immigrants, and some don't have the necessary permits for their jobs. For example, they have a permit to work at a plantation but work at a restaurant instead. That means they don't have employers or bosses who can legally take care of them [during the lockdown]," he said.

As of Friday afternoon, Malaysia has recorded 2,161 COVID-19 cases, the highest in Southeast Asia.
BRIDGEPORT  So far, no members of the already understaffed police department have fallen ill, the union said Friday.

And officials are taking measures to keep it that way, from breaking up two-man patrols to issuing masks, gloves and other safety equipment to members of the force.

In an address on Facebook late last week, Mayor Joe Ganim emphasized how crucial it was to keep all emergency and healthcare workers safe from exposure given the repercussions even one coronavirus infection could have on thinning the ranks.

During Fridays Facebook address, Ganim announced that, for the time being, there would no longer be two officers paired up in the same patrol vehicles.

Theres added costs (and) inconvenience, the mayor said. But he characterized the change as another effort to force social distancing to prevent the virus spread.

Ganim prefaced that news by sharing that the number of diagnosed cases in Bridgeport was up to 31  five times the six he announced last Thursday.

Not as bad in overall numbers as were seeing in larger cities across the country, the mayor said. (But) were far from past this.

The police department is currently comprised of 383 officers  dozens less than the 450 optimum Chief Armando Perez has said is the ideal for Connecticuts largest city. And of the existing force, 30 are eligible to retire in April.

Police Sgt. Chuck Paris, the union president who just announced his retirement, in an interview following the mayors comments Friday said he was consulted on the shift to one officer per cruiser. Paris said in some of the more dangerous neighborhoods one police car will shadow another.

Paris said a couple months ago the Ganim administration broke up the two-man cars in what he characterized as a way to try and appear to have a greater police presence in some areas.

Theres other ways of doing that, Paris said. We filed a prohibitive practice (complaint) and came to an agreement they cannot split up two-man cars unless they give us prior notice on it. So they sent me an email saying this is a decision on a temporary basis until this pandemic gets reduced.

Paris said he understood the health reasoning but have obviously some safety concerns for officers used to traveling in pairs.

He also said it was imperative the city decide what to do about the need for a current class of two dozen cadets whose training requires they ride along for several weeks with more senior officers.

Scott Appleby, Bridgeports head of emergency management, also said that personal protective equipment kits containing gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and wipes were being provided to the force, along with training sessions required by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Its a slower process, but theyre doing the best they can with it and anticipating 35 or 40 (officers trained) a day, Paris said. Two hundred as of yesterday were approved.

Policing requires plenty of face-to-face, and often hands on, contact, Paris said, and there was an internal directive for officers to try to keep the spacing and keep the contact as minimal as possible. Obviously in our work ... thats not always the case.

He also said that, while helpful to have it, choosing when to don the protective gear is also something that will take getting used to.

You cant just jump out of a car with this equipment on, Paris said. Id be a little concerned with the guns and gloves. Were not trained to shoot with a glove on.

Staff Writer Daniel Tepfer contributed to this report
Navigating a cancer diagnosis during a pandemic is no laughing matter, but John Smith couldnt help but chuckle in disbelief at the unimaginable situation he finds himself in.

The 56-year-old from Belleville, Ont., son of the late Harry Leslie Smith, a.k.a. the worlds oldest rebel, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in January. Surgery to remove three centimetres of rectal cancer was set for Friday at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto. His surgeons office called Wednesday with the bad news. There would be no surgery until the coronavirus crisis had passed.

Theres a sense of complete absurdity because you keep on going, When will I wake up?  Smith said from his home Thursday. Its one thing having cancer and then you throw a pandemic into the loop.

Surgeries and treatments for cancer patients are being cancelled or postponed indefinitely across Ontario, as the province responds to the coronavirus outbreak. Small comforts that cancer patients rely on, like transportation services, clinic visits and having family at their side, are inaccessible, too.

Provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott asked Ontario hospitals to take a planned approach on ramping down surgeries on March 15, according to a spokesperson for the University Health Network, which includes the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto.

Emergency surgeries continue, but cancer surgeries are among those on the chopping block, as hospitals work with Cancer Care Ontario, a branch of the health ministry, to determine what constitutes life-or-death.

Unfortunately this is something we need to do unless that persons life is in danger, Elliott said on Friday.

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is currently performing surgery if the treating physician feels the patient faces imminent harm if not treated within the next 14 days, and tracking every patient to make sure they are ready to be rebooked as soon as operating resources become available.

Richmond Hill resident Cris Dulfos full mastectomy, following a stage-three breast cancer diagnosis last November, had been scheduled for April 7 after three months of chemotherapy. The 46-year-old saw her surgeon Wednesday, only for the operation to be cancelled on Thursday.

This was all smooth going, everything had been planned out, until we get slapped in the face with this, said her husband, Steve Reich, who spoke to the Star on behalf of Dulfo, a native of the Philippines who speaks limited English.

Dulfo, who previously worked as a caregiver, has lost all her hair, and her nails have turned black from chemotherapy, Reich said. She didnt take news of the cancellation well, especially with no indication of when the surgery would go ahead.

She shut down a lot  Im sure she wants to have everything done and in her mind she wants all this gone with, he said. The faster the better, right?

Reich called hospitals in Montreal and Ottawa but was told the situation was the same in those cities. While the couple understands the risks of COVID-19, particularly to immunocompromised patients like Dulfo, they also believe all patients have a right to treatment, even in a pandemic.

We have to figure out something  to serve the people who need it, Reich said. Its terrible, this virus, but its also terrible for people who have cancer. Cancer can spread fast, right?

The coronavirus has affected more than just surgeries for cancer patients. Outside of hospitals there are less drastic ways in which treatment regimens have changed, but they are often no less significant to patients.

For a lot of cancer patients, support groups are the backbone of their emotional resilience. But many of those groups have been disbanded for the sake of social distancing in the last few weeks. Some have been replaced with online groups, some have not.

We absolutely know that (emotional support) plays a really important part of someones experience, said Laura Burnett, vice-president of Cancer Information and Support Services for the Canadian Cancer Society. Right now, that is changing because people cant get together like they did prior to social distancing.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Cancer Society suspended its Wheels of Hope program, which provided transportation to cancer patients to and from cancer-specific medical appointments. Patients must now turn to friends and family to get back and forth from their appointments.

That is, if those appointments still exist. For many patients, face-to-face meetings with doctors have given way to virtual appointments. Over 50 per cent of clinic visits at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre are now happening virtually.

But virtual appointments can disrupt routines, and mean that, in some cases, alternative means have to be found for some tests.

Dynacare provides many of those tests for cancer health-care providers.

According to Christopher Trevors, director of genetic testing at Dynacare, theyve expanded their capacity for diagnostic tests as hospitals have begun to shift their resources to deal with the pandemic.

Where we see the impact on patients being treated for cancer is in their ability to access the doctors like their family physician who they would go to with their health concerns, the physicians who order the testing or perform the biopsies which are sent to Dynacare for analysis, said Trevors.

As a result, he said, they have had to adapt, working with physicians and clinics to use other sites or even patients homes to collect samples for testing.

Some radiology scans and screenings for women at high risk of developing breast cancer have also been put off amid the coronavirus crisis, according to MJ DeCoteau, the founder and executive director of Rethink Breast Cancer, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting young women with breast cancer.

The number of emails DeCoteau has received from women frightened about deferred surgery or radiation has grown in the past week. Rethink Breast Cancer has launched a social media campaign called #stayhomeforcancer to promote social distancing and is looking into providing professional psycho-social support, with a trained counsellor, for breast cancer patients as they deal with heightened anxiety during the pandemic.

When youre in active treatment you want to do everything you can to control the cancer, to make sure its not going to come back to those mind games of, Oh, its being delayed. Whats the long-term impact going to be of that? That anxiety is huge,  DeCoteau said.

In many cases, cancer patients now have to navigate those worries alone as hospitals close their doors to visitors to reduce foot traffic and promote physical distancing.

For Brian Fraser, a radio producer in Ottawa who was admitted to hospital with acute leukemia earlier this week, those new protocols meant holding a nurses hand while his parents, Rick and Sheila, and his two cats, Spiff and Pinwheel, talked him through a painful bone marrow transplant over video chat on Wednesday.

Its been truly, truly terrible not seeing them, said Fraser, 25. You realize quickly how much we take our families for granted.

Fraser, like his fellow cancer fighters, asks people to practise social distancing  and to donate much-needed blood.

If people stay home, the chances that I could see my family while Im here  they go up, Fraser said. People going out to parties and stuff like that  youre taking time away that I could have with my family.

Meanwhile, Smith, who has colorectal cancer, will have to hold his own hand when he wakes up from surgery on Friday. His operation, which had been cancelled Wednesday, was rescheduled Thursday after doctors told him his case was reviewed

It cost Smith $400 to rent a social distancing-friendly limousine to drive from Brockville to Toronto early Friday morning. He will recover in the hospital for three to six days and then return home to isolation.

But to Smith, going under alone was better than not going under at all.

Id rather have it done now and take my chances rather than hope things can get better quickly, he said. I hope Im proven wrong, that this gets cleared up and in two weeks were back to normal, but I dont think were really going that way.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 17:37:18|Editor: xuxin

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HARARE, March 28 (Zinhua) -- The number of people in Zimbabwe who have tested positive to COVID-19 has risen to seven, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said Friday night.

In an update to the nation, the ministry said the last three people to test positive had not traveled outside the country.

One person tested positive on Thursday and the other two tested positive on Friday.

"Of the cases confirmed to date, three are due to contact with an infected individual locally. Our teams are currently seized with enhanced surveillance through contact tracing by following up all known contacts of these cares.

"Therefore the ministry would like to remind everyone of the need to maintain social distancing by avoiding close contact (1 meter) with anyone who is unwell, coughing or sneezing," the ministry said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday ordered a 21-day complete shutdown as Zimbabwe, like several others in Southern Africa, battles to contain the spread of the disease which has so far claimed one life in the country.
India Abroad, an iconic news publication that chronicled the advent and rise of Indian Americans, announced Friday it was closing down because of pre-existing troubles worsened by the flight of advertisers, who are the mainstay of any news outfit, in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.

Compounding all of this, publisher Suresh Venkatachari said in a farewell note referring to earlier problems, was the advent of the ominous coronavirus pandemic and the devastating repercussion in its wake which led to several advertisers cancelling their advertisements and hence the looming outlook for future revenue generation looking even more bleak.

The publication never really managed to expand its reach from print to online despite that being the obvious course of action pursued by all other news outfits. It remained a print-only weekly publication, with the print version also available to subscribers online.

Aziz Hanifa, the Sri Lankan-origin editor of the publication at the time of its closure, had not responded to a request for comments till the filing of this report.

India Abroad has struggled for some time (I tried to get folks to buy it!), said S Mitra Kalita, a one-time contributor to the publication and a part of the team that founded Mint, the business paper published by HT Media Ltd, parent company of Hindustan Times. But this leaves a huge void in coverage of South Asia and its diaspora. So now what?

India Abroad was a successful offshoot initially of rediff.com, one of the pioneering online-only Indian news websites. It changed ownership several times in a bid to stay afloat in the face of an increasingly challenging environment driven by online competition. But it had been struggling for a while now.
CINTHIA DELGADO

I am a graphic designer.

Cinthia Delgados husband was a refugee when they met in Venezuela in the 1990s. He had just fled Colombia and the carnage of Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord.

In the city Juan Pablo Chalacra was leaving behind, Medellin, Escobars thugs were roaming the streets, pressuring men to take up arms and join their fight against the government.

But in Ms. Delgados Venezuelan border town, San Cristobal, Mr. Chalacra found a haven. And he found Ms. Delgado.

He was among countless Colombians pouring into Venezuela back then, few of whom expected to return home. I can tell you, we all had a Colombian family member back then, Ms. Delgado said.

When she thinks back now, Ms. Delgado remembers working as a graphic designer, sketching out designs for logos and business cards at a firm, where business was booming. She remembers the Saturday barbecues, and her dogs Lulu and Dolly. But what she most remembers is the home she shared with her new husband.

It was a work in progress. As Ms. Delgados extended family grew larger, so did the house, with new floors built for cousins, aunts and grandparents. The apartments were modest, but they were built to taste.

Mine had the big windows, because I like big windows, she said.

As Venezuelas economy plummeted, however, so did Ms. Delgados personal fortunes.

When Mr. Chalacra had a motorcycle accident, injuring his legs and back, the struggling hospital could not offer the CT scan he needed. When it came time to operate, doctors gave the family a shopping list: On it were sutures, antibiotics and gloves.

Mr. Chalacra recovered, but when it was clear that Venezuela would not, the couple realized they had no choice but to reverse the path he had taken decades earlier, and move to Colombia. Now, Ms. Delgados husband would be the one offering refuge  and in the very country he once fled.

Like Mr. Chalacra decades before, Ms. Delgado crossed the border in 2018 with her pockets almost empty. She and her 22-year-old son carried only clothes and enough money to buy tickets for the afternoon bus to Medellin, where Mr. Chalacra was preparing their home.

At first Medellin frightened Ms. Delgado. All she really knew about her new home in the Andes was the gruesome tales her husband had told of the Escobar era. I spent almost a year like I felt I was going to cry, she said.

But because her husband was Colombian, at least she had a home.

We didnt arrive like so many Venezuelans that have to sleep on the street, she said. We arrived at a house. We arrived to his family.

Still, Ms. Delgado had much to learn.

She tried working in a restaurant. Then she tried caring for the children for a wealthier family  her first job as a domestic worker.

When her husband began selling food on the street, she said, she cried. How far they had fallen, she thought.

Her husband, the more seasoned refugee, set her straight. He told me this work isnt dishonorable, she said.

Now, Ms. Delgado can be found right next to him.

He told me: My love, we must work. Food wont wait for us. Hunger wont wait either.

Image Andrea Calabrese and her mother. Credit... Andrea Calabrese

Andrea Calabrese

I am a classical musician.

Her violin was made in Italy, and as she was growing up in Caracas, she used to dream of performing Beethoven for concertgoers in evening wear  little surprise, considering her family.

Andrea Calabreses mother was a viola teacher, her father a well-known composer and conductor. Some families go to the park on Sundays, she said. We went to the concert hall.

She was 10 when she first picked up a violin, practicing scales after her homework. Her parents marriage ended when she was young, but their life project  to raise a musician  continued.

Her mother, Joyce, patiently taught her to play between lessons with her other students. In the evenings the child would watch her father composing orchestra works in his studio. He often paused to tell stories about the lives of composers.

Ms. Calabrese lived the life of a young upper-middle-class woman, and for a time her family felt shielded from the economic crisis overtaking the country, even as staples like corn meal and coffee began to disappear from store shelves.

But at her orchestra rehearsals, the fraying threads were impossible to miss. Musicians went unpaid for months, and many left the country.

The marches against the government began in 2017, and many musicians took part, some bringing their instruments to play amid the tear gas and rubber bullets. Ms. Calabrese remembers the day one, only 18, was shot dead by the police. He had played the viola  her mothers instrument.

Ms. Calabreses course became clear some months later, when she got a call from a friend who said she was leaving for Buenos Aires: For her, too, the musician realized, life in Venezuela was over.She joined her friend at the airport.

Ms. Calabrese was abandoning her country, but not her dream. The violin from Italy was among the few belongings she grabbed before leaving.

In Argentina, a friend recommended her for a local orchestra, but the pay was too low to cover food and rent. So Ms. Calabrese quit, and sought an audience elsewhere, waking at 4 a.m. to play at Station 11 of the Buenos Aires metro, and living off spare change.

I could earn in three days what I earned at the orchestra in a month, she said.

But other musicians, some Venezuelan, got the same idea, and Ms. Calabreses earnings fell.

Recently, she put her violin away and took a job behind the counter at an Italian restaurant downtown.

Just going to a concert is a luxury, though she did see a performance by a soprano from Venezuela, Mariana Ortiz, who had come to sing at the Teatro Colon, Buenos Airess storied opera house.

She sang so many times in my fathers orchestra, Ms. Calabrese said. But she has left the country too.
New Delhi, March 28 : The Delhi government on Saturday said 570 buses have been deployed to drop migrants to the Uttar Pradesh border, expecting the Yogi Adityanath government to press buses in the neighbouring state.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said the city government wants migrants to stay back in the city.

"But for those who want to leave for UP, the Delhi government is making necessary arrangements. As many as 570 buses of Delhi government will leave these people at the UP border. We would be very happy if the UP government sends its buses to take all these people," Gahlot tweeted in Hindi.

A nationwide lockdown has been announced by the Centre from Tuesday midnight, following which thousands of migrants have started walking back home in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states.

The migrants say they are moving back home as there is no employment, food and shelter due to the 21-day lockdown.

Thousands of such migrants are already at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border and more are coming after the UP government said it will deploy about 200 buses for transporting the migrants.

The Delhi government from Saturday has made arrangements to provide food to eight lakh people in need at more than 800 locations across the city.
San Francisco, March 28 : Microsoft has announced to divest its stake in third-party Israeli facial recognition company AnyVision despite an investigation that cleared the firm of any unethical practices.

Microsoft's venture capital arm, M12, invested in AnyVision as part of a $74 million funding round in June last year, reports NBC News.

The law firm Microsoft hired for an investigation into the Israeli firm said on Friday that the technology is used at border crossing checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank.

"Available evidence demonstrated that AnyVision's technology has not previously and does not currently power a mass surveillance programme in the West Bank that has been alleged in media reports".

However, Microsoft said in a statement that it will no longer invest in any third-party facial recognition companies.

"By making a global change to its investment policies to end minority investments in companies that sell facial recognition technology, Microsoft's focus has shifted to commercial relationships that afford Microsoft greater oversight and control over the use of sensitive technologies," said the tech giant.

AnyVision, founded in 2015, is a leading computer vision company specializing in face, body, and object-recognition software.

It develops core software solutions that make all cameras smart. These solutions are agnostic to all cameras, computing frameworks, and use-cases.

AnyVision currently develops technology for security and surveillance, mobile authentication, access control, and real-world analytics.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, March 28 : In a bizarre case in Theni district in Tamil Nadu, a 32-year-old Sri Lanka-returned youth who was home quarantined killed an old woman two street away by biting her on Friday, police said.

According to police, the woman who was admitted to a hospital on Friday died on Saturday.

Speaking to IANS, a police officer in Bodinayakkanur in Theni district said: "Manikandan had returned from Sri Lanka. He was home-quarantined. But on Friday, he ran out naked and bit the throat of an aged woman lady living two streets away." Manikandan had returned a week before to his native and was home quarantined.

Police said Manikandan was taken to the government hospital and was tested for coronavirus infection and doctors are also looking at his mental stability.

The police officer said there was no previous enmity between Manikandan's family and that of the old woman.

The police has registered a case and investigations are on.
Foreign governments on Friday stepped up operations to evacuate tens of thousands of tourists stranded by the coronavirus pandemic in remote locations across South Asia, from Everest base camp to beach hotels in Sri Lanka. A plane chartered by Berlin took 304 people out of Kathmandu in the first of a series of flights aiming to ferry some 10,000 people from Nepal. Almost 17,000 tourists are stuck in Sri Lanka while tens of thousands of travellers and expatriates are in India, according to authorities in the two countries. All have cut or virtually halted international flights over the past week in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. The plane that left Kathmandu on Friday was carrying Germans and other European nationals, Rajan Pokhrel, director general of Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority, told AFP. "Other countries are consulting us about evacuating their citizens," he added. A second German flight was to leave Saturday, and the Australian embassy said it was trying to negotiate a special flight. Other countries, including the United States, were trying to secure joint flights. Nepal's government estimates that about 10,000 people -- from Europe, Australia, South Korea, the United States and India -- are in far-flung places across the Himalayan nation, which halted all international flights last weekend. About 200 trekkers were waiting at Everest base camp. The Nepal Tourism Board said 137 people were brought from high-altitude trekking trails on Thursday and taken to Kathmandu. "I think people are starting to get a bit worried for the last few days with the lockdown and the news," said Elka Wallraf, a 30-year-old Belgian who had trekked to Everest base camp. "We don?t have information about a flight back to Belgium yet," added the teacher, who was stuck in the village of Phakding in the Khumbu region near Everest. "Our plans keep changing every minute because we don't know what is the best thing to do." Wallraf said he hoped to get to Kathmandu to get on one of the evacuation planes. France and other governments organised local flights to get their nationals from remote towns to the Nepalese capital. Some hotels have given free rooms and meals to the stranded tourists. France and Germany are also negotiating charter flights to get their nationals out of India. - Stuck at the beach - Sri Lankan authorities have let almost 17,000 foreign tourists use their cancelled flight tickets as passes to get around a curfew, given that they became stuck after incoming flights were halted and a nationwide lockdown was imposed. Many are stranded at beach resorts far from the airport in the capital Colombo. Among those in travel limbo are 2,439 Indians, 2,167 Chinese, 2,061 Russians, 1,732 Germans, 1,377 Britons, 916 Canadians and 614 French, the immigration service said. "We are encouraging other governments to arrange evacuation flights to take back their nationals," Madubhani Perera, director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board, told AFP. The Maldives, whose economy is dependent on tourism, on Friday halted the arrival of all visitors and ordered the 135 resort islands to clear out all visitors within two weeks. The nation of 340,000 people has reported 13 confirmed coronavirus cases, all of them foreigners. The United States said it was organising a special flight next week to evacuate its nationals based in Pakistan. Security personnel stand guard during a nationwide lockdown in Namche Bazar in the Everest region -- thousands of tourists and trekkers are stranded in far-flung areas of Nepal
Hours before the Canadian borders close, Meghan Markle and husband Prince Harry left Vancouver Island as they move to Markle's hometown in Los Angeles. Their relocation surprised many since they initially stepped down from royal duties to live in Canada and focus on their family. Dubbed Megxit 2, their exit from Canada amid fears of lockdown due to coronavirus surprised many as they settle for a permanent home in LA.

Many believed that the pair would be spending some of their time in Los Angeles since Markle's mother Doria Ragland resides in the area. Others also believe that the couple will be visiting Britain from time to time.

However, it appears that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were actually planning to live in LA. This happened weeks after the couple did their last royal duties back in London.

Living closer to Markle's mother and network

Residing in Los Angeles isn't a surprising decision because apart from being Markle's home, this is also the location of Hollywood.

Going back to her roots also means that she will be close to her mother Doria. Daily Mail reports that Doria was recently seen walking her dog in View Park while wearing a relaxed and comfortable outfit. The news outlet adds that Doria will be seeing her daughter and grandson more often now that they are living in Los Angeles.

Also read: Does Meghan Markle Have a Secret Daughter? The Truth Revealed!

It is said that this move was planned for some time after they realized that Canada would not work out for them and that being based in Los Angeles would be a lot better. Markle and Prince Harry also have a big support network in LA since this where Hollywood agents, PRs, and business managers are based. Aside from that, Meghan's friends and mom Doria is also there.

Royal ties continue

Now that the pair, along with their 10-month-old son Archie is in Los Angeles, many are wondering if they will be going back to Britain even for short-time visits. For now, this query wouldn't be addressed since everyone is living in isolation to avoid contracting coronavirus.

Recently, Prince Harry's father Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19. Luckily, his symptoms are just mild, but he is still in self-quarantine in their Windsor home. Daily Mail further reports that Harry is in constant communication with his father and his brother Prince William. It also said that Prince Harry is grateful that they were able to spend time with the family before the coronavirus nightmare affected the U.K. and the royal family.

Markle's return to Hollywood

Amidst Megxit 2, Disney announced that Meghan will do a voiceover for the movie "Elephant" after a direct request from filmmakers. CNN reports that she did the recording in London this autumn months before their royal exit.

A trailer for the film was released, but it did not give viewers the chance to hear part of Markle's narration. This new Disney movie follows a "family's extraordinary 1,000-mile journey across Africa on an adventure that will change their lives."

Reports indicate that Markle will be going back to Hollywood after this Disney announcement. Could this be Markle's first step to getting the Hollywood spotlight back? Will Prince Harry start doing films too after recording a song with Bon Jovi?

Related article: Meghan Markle's Relationship With Mother Doria Ragland: What's the Real Score?

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VIETTEL Tanzania PLC (Halotel) and five senior officials were yesterday arraigned at the Kisutu Resident Magistrates Court in Dar es Salaam facing ten criminal charges, including money laundering and occasioning over 78bn/- loss to the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

The company officials in the dock, who are all Vietnamese nationals, are Son Anh Nguyen (46), the Managing Director, Nguyen Binh Minh (40), a Manager; Ha Min Tuan (39), whose official capacity identified was mentioned as CTO, Vu Van Tiep (30), a Manager, and Nguyen Thanh Cong (35), the Chief Finance Officer.

Other charges against them are leading organised crime, failure to observe assignment requirements, fraudulent use of network facility and fraudulent traffic.

The accused persons were not allowed to enter plea to the charges because they fall under the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act.

Principal Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba, who conducted the proceedings, informed the accused persons that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain anything, including trying the case and the question of bail because the economic case involved money laundering, which is unbailable offence.

As a result, therefore, the magistrate ordered all accused persons to remain in remand until April 9, 2020, when the case comes up for mention.

Investigations into the matter, according to the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Monica Mbogo, are incomplete.

Prosecuting, the trial attorney, who was assisted by Senior State Attorney Wankyo Simon and State Attorney Tilumanywa Magigo, told the court that the accused committed the offences between 2016 and 2020 within United Republic of Tanzania, in particular, in the Commercial City of Dar es Salaam.

It is alleged that on diverse dates between June 8, 2017 and March 26, 2020 at Mikocheni area in Kinondoni District and at various places within the United Republic of Tanzania, jointly and together and with intent to reap profit, all the accused persons intentionally organised a criminal racket.

The court heard that within the same period and places, jointly and together, the accused persons allegedly used radio frequency spectrum with microwave frequency of two different channels without obtaining relevant individual assignment from TCRA.

It is alleged also that between July 7, 2016 and March 26, 2020 at Mikocheni area and various places within the country and unknown places within the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, all accused persons created a system designated to fraudulently use network facility, which is Virtual Private Network (VPN).

The prosecution alleged that within the same period at Mikocheni area in Dar es Salaam, with intent to avoid payments to TCRA, the accused persons fraudulently used telecommunication facilities by setting up VPN connection between Viettel Tanzania PLC and Vietel Vietnam.

On diverse dates between June 8, 2017 and March 26, 2020 at Mikocheni area in Kinondoni District and at various places within the United Republic of Tanzania, by their willful acts, the accused persons allegedly used the radio frequency channels, thereby causing TCRA to suffer pecuniary loss of 75bn/-.

The prosecution alleged that between July 7, 2016 and March 26, 2020 at Mikocheni area and various places within Tanzania, by their willful acts, the accused created the system designated to fraudulently use network facility to Socialist Republic of Vietnam, thus causing loss of 3,036,000,000/- to TRCA.

The Halotel officials were charged with money laundering in that within the same period and places in Tanzania, they acquired 3.036bn/- while knowing at the time of acquisition the money was proceeds of predicate offence of fraud and related offences and participating in organised criminal group and racketing.

Viettel Tanzania PLC was also separately charged with money laundering involving the same amount.

The court heard further that between June 8, 2017 and March 26, 2020 at Mikocheni area in Kinondoni District, company officials and Halotel, respectively, acquired a total of 75bn/-.

The prosecution alleged that at the time of such acquisition, the money involved was proceeds of predicate offence of participating in an organised criminal group and racketing.

Immediately after the court session, TCRA Director of Legal Services, Mr Joannes Karungura, sounded a strong warning to mobile service provider companies to follow the required procedure and laws of the land in conducting their duties for the interest of both parties.

He warned that no one will be spared if caught violating laws.

"We urge them to follow the laws of the land and pay the exact revenues as required by the rules and regulations. This is the third time the company is involved. To show that we are serious, we will not spare anyone," he warned.
The coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Saturday reached 1,321, including 11 deaths, with the Punjab province emerging as the new epicentre of the deadly viral infection in the country.

Punjab recorded a total of 448 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, up from 419 cases on Friday. The number surpassed Sindh's tally of 440 cases. Sindh was the province, which reported Pakistan's first coronavirus case.

Of the 448 cases in Punjab, the highest number of 207 were reported from Dera Ghazi Khan district. Most of the infected persons had returned from Iran, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 180 cases, Balochistan registered 133, Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 91 cases, while it was 27 in Islamabad and 2 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Twenty-three people have recovered so far.

Punjab chief ministe Buzdar tweeted that a 22-year-old COVID-19 patient died in Faisalabad, taking the total number of deaths due to the disease in the province to five.

Meanwhile, Health Advisor Zafar Mirza said a team of eight Chinese doctors will arrive in Pakistan to review the steps taken by the government to combat coronavirus outbreak. They will share their experience with local doctors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China temporarily opens Khunjerab Pass in Xinjiang for medical supplies to Pakistan

Global Times

By Ding Xuezhen in Pakistan Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 23:41:32

China temporarily opened the Khunjerab Pass on the China-Pakistan border in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday to help Pakistan receive urgent medical supplies against the spread of COVID-19.

The Khunjerab Pass, with the altitude of more than 4,700 meters, is reported to be the highest port in the world. It closed from December 1 to March 31 due to the cold weather.

According to Pakistan's newspaper Dawn, the Khunjerab Pass, which usually opens on April 1, opened on Friday to transfer medical supplies from China to Pakistan.

A spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy to Pakistan told the Global Times on Friday that "Pakistan is facing a severe challenge of the COVID-19. This batch of assistance from China is urgently needed by Pakistan. The Xinjiang regional government took the responsibility of purchasing and transferring. China and Pakistan made the decision within three days to temporarily open the Khunjerab Pass and send two tons of medical supplies to Pakistan."

The Kashi government quickly accomplished the preparation work on the Chinese side - including customs clearance, cleaning the roads and coordination work, which ensured the smooth transfer, the spokesperson said.

The Embassy made a livestream of the event on Friday, with hundreds of netizens praising and making comments.

According to a screenshot of the livestream, there was a road swept by working staff on the snowy-capped Khunjerab Pass and a donation ceremony in front of the port.

A netizen named AmjadSohail said that "A friend in need is a friend indeed!" Another netizen JamshedKhokhar said that "there is an old saying in China that "the grace of dripping water should be reciprocated by a gushing spring. China and Pakistan share the same views. China-Pakistan friendship stands forever!"

Some netizens also said that China's assistance help cement Pakistan's confidence of defeating the virus and "with the reliable support, nothing is undefeatable!"

Sherry Rehman, PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Pakistan senate, appreciated China's support through good and bad times, according to a tweet she posted on Friday.

This was the second time that Xinjiang region has provided assistance to Pakistan since the COVID-19 outbreak. The aid materials include 200,000 medical masks, 2,000 N95 masks, 2,000 medical protective clothing, and 2,400 test kits as well as five ventilators, the Global Times learned. On March 20, Xinjiang donated 100,000 medical masks to Pakistan through the Chinese Embassy to Pakistan.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal revealed that there are around 2,200 ventilators across Pakistan at the moment, according to local media dawn.com. Only around half of them would be available if needed for COVID-19 patients, the report said.

"Unfortunately, nothing is available anywhere except in China," he was quoted as saying in the report.

Pakistan has seen the number of coronavirus infections surge to 1,179 as of Thursday and nine deaths, according to media reports. The hardest-hit region Sindh has ordered a lockdown to contain the further spread of the disease, and the Punjab government also announced a lockdown in the province.

According to the plan, the Chinese government medical team and a new batch of aid materials sent from Xinjiang will arrive in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Saturday.

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On Aug. 24, Johnson was called to a meeting at One Off headquarters with the accountant and two of the company's partners. After she was confronted with a stack of financial papers showing the fraud, Johnson "avoided eye contact" with those in the room and said, "This is me, I did this," according to the complaint.
REYKJAVIK, Iceland  Gestur Palmason has spent the past few weeks running down leads and profiling suspects, but those whom the veteran police detective is chasing arent criminals, they are coronavirus carriers.

The 40-year-old with a shaved head is part of a team of contact tracers operating at Icelands National Crisis Coordination Center, the high-pressure heart of this small countrys singular strategy to combat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Every second somebody is getting infected, so obviously we want as few people infected as we possibly can, he told NBC News. As quickly as we can, we have to reach everyone that might have been in contact with someone whos positive, and try to stop them before they get in contact with more people.

Image: Gestur Palmason (NBC News)

Together with dozens of other top detectives, Palmason has been racing to locate individuals who have been in close physical proximity to known carriers of the virus  often just minutes after the original carriers receive a positive diagnosis. The people he helps identify are almost immediately placed in a two-week quarantine to prevent further transmission.

Across this remote and rugged island nation of a little more than 364,000, as of Friday morning there were almost 10,000 men, women and children  equivalent to 9 million Americans  under this form of state-enforced lock and key.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

These contact-tracing and quarantine measures are only part of what make Iceland unique in its response to the pandemic. It is also testing widely and proactively in a way that few other countries are able to do, allowing emergency workers to make informed decisions that they hope will minimize the impact of the coronavirus. Plus, its civil servants and scientists are leading the coronavirus response, while the countrys politicians take a back seat.

Search and separate

Rapid diagnosis is essential to the efficacy of chief inspector Palmasons work. And earlier this week it was his turn to be tested, on the fourth floor of a glass office building in the Icelandic capital.

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Medical staff in full personal protective equipment swabbed the back of his throat and deep inside his nostrils, before he returned to his temporarily assigned workspace, where distinct shift patterns separate his team from other co-workers to avoid cross-contamination. He later said he had tested negative.

Last week, up to 1,800 people were tested in a single day; Iceland has tested a far greater proportion of its population than anywhere else on earth, including South Korea  another country touted for its effective response to the pandemic.

But what makes Iceland unique is that test samples are not only taken from high risk individuals who have exhibited symptoms, came into contact with known carriers, or returned from countries such as China and Italy, they are also offered to thousands of ordinary members of its general population, who are nonsymptomatic.

The data derived from this widespread testing show that while almost a fifth of those from the high risk population prove positive for COVID-19, roughly 1 percent of the general population also carry the virus asymptomatically  without showing or experiencing obvious signs of sickness.

Identifying these invisible and unwitting carriers early has helped to break chains of transmission in Iceland. But it could also provide scientists in many other countries with crucial information about the pathology of the virus.

Image: Deserted streets in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Willem Marx / NBC News)

A combination of contact-tracing and genetic sequencing of each individual sample generates data about the virus transmission path that researchers can then analyze, to better understand the role of asymptomatic carriers, the point at which such carriers are at their most infectious, and the overall transmission rates from this theoretically low-risk population.

Unlikely media star

Ordinary Icelanders praise the actions and demeanor of the man responsible for the testing, Icelands chief epidemiologist, Thorolfur Gudnason, who has become an unlikely media star thanks to his daily televised updates. A pediatrician who specialises in infectious diseases, he says his country has spent years readying for just such a pandemic.

We have been writing up response plans anticipating this event coming, he said in an interview. We have been preparing different partners in the society for this to happen, and so it's relatively easy for us to activate the plan. A recent poll found that more than 90 percent of the residents surveyed overwhelmingly supported the countrys current approach.

But the implacable nature of the virus may soon test this support. The countrys first positive diagnosis was in late February, when an Icelander brought the virus home with him from a vacation in northern Italy. The island nations remote geography and low population density may have helped protect its population slightly since then, but this week authorities recorded the first death of an Icelandic resident, a grim milestone.

Officials involved in coordinating efforts to counter the pandemic insist that centuries of physical hardship have cemented a strong esprit de corps in communities here, inuring Icelanders to adversity.

Science

When the going gets tough, we are used to stick together, says Vidir Reynisson, chief superintendent of the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, who is the overall commander of the national response effort. When we have something that unites us, we stick together, even if it's in a difficult situation.

And even as the aggressive testing uncovers a rising number of confirmed cases, the chief epidemiologist Gudnason says many of those new cases are being identified among those already in quarantine.

We will probably have more widespread disease because we are testing so many. So that will affect our prediction modeling, he explains, but knowing how the virus might transmit and expand is crucial for health care decision-makers. That will affect how we anticipate how many patients we will have to admit to the hospitals and how many patients we will have to admit to the intensive care units.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

The countrys health director, Dr. Alma Moeller, says the epidemic will likely peak in mid-April, and under the worst-case scenario based on current models it may require up to 20 intensive care beds with ventilators to treat patients at any one time. Right now, the entire country has only 13 or 14 spots, she says, and so her focus is on increasing that capacity and expanding her staffing numbers.

Image: Closed shops in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Willem Marx / NBC News)

Telling stories through science

And beyond these implications for Icelands domestic health service, another aspect of the efforts here could prove useful to scientists and policymakers around the world. A Reykjavik-based biotech firm, deCODE, has led the testing drive among the nonsymptomatic population, but has also volunteered use of its advanced laboratories and scientific team to genetically sequence every single sample of the virus.

The companys founder and CEO, Kari Stefansson, says this has expanded the worlds knowledge of the virus by highlighting differences between the various strains that arrived in Iceland, from separate case clusters in Italy, Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States.

I am blessed enough to be able to participate in the response to this crisis, and not to have to sit on the sidelines feeling useless, Stefansson said. A sharp-tongued scientist with a dry sense of humor, his company has been at the forefront of genetic sequencing and research for more than a decade.

All my life Ive been wanting to tell stories through my science, he says.

Now, with his team sequencing the molecular structure of each virus sample, hes helping to tell the story of the worst pandemic in a century. They have identified what he calls the virus unique barcode, and the way it has transformed over time and across different geographies.

These mutations, in addition to providing us with a barcode, they may be giving us an indication of how the virus is changing, he says, "and potentially become more virulent  that is, more infectious, or deadlier.

The former Harvard University neuroscience professor says one better case scenario is that this coronavirus mutates instead into a seasonal phenomenon, like the influenza. He intends to publish some of his teams findings shortly, for counterparts around the world to learn more about the virus, while Iceland continues its own efforts to follow the World Health Organizations suggested strategy of test, test, test.

Im not going to be proud until this is over, Moeller, the health director, a former intensive care specialist, says. There is no best way to do this. But we are using science and the best evidence there is  every moment.
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders on Friday on forming a negotiating team for talks with Taliban. 'This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations,' he said on Twitter.

KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders on Friday on forming a negotiating team for talks with Taliban.

"This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations," he said on Twitter.

Late on Thursday, Afghanistan's government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a tentative sign of progress for the United States-brokered peace deal that had previously been marred with delays, in part due to a bitter feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah.

(Reporting by Orooj Hakimi; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Alex Richardson)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel has tested positive for COVID-19, she said Friday.

I was tested Thursday night and received the results back today from the State Public Health Laboratory, Bharel said, in a statement. As the public health commissioner and an essential state employee, I have been vigilant about practicing social distancing from my colleagues and members of the public.

Bharel said she will be working remotely while recuperating from the virus. She says her symptoms have so far been mild.

I have notified my appropriate close contacts and will rest and recuperate at home, while continuing to carry out my work responsibilities remotely, she said. The Department of Public Health offices will be thoroughly cleaned over the weekend.

Bharel has not been seen alongside Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker at the daily coronavirus briefings since Monday.

Bakers office declined to say whether he had been tested, given his close contact with the commissioner. He told reporters in a recent news conference that he had not gotten tested because he had no symptoms.

Lt. Governor Polito and I wish Dr. Bharel a speedy recovery and are glad she is recuperating at home," Baker said in a statement on Friday. Dr. Bharel is doing exactly what everyone should be doing, which is staying home if you feel sick and taking this virus very seriously.

There are at least 3,240 cases of coronavirus statewide, health officials said on Friday. Thirty-five people have died.

Related Content:
Aerial view of San Ysidro port of entry on the Mexico-US border as seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on March 21, 2020. (Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images)

Mexican Protesters Block Border Traffic, Tell Americans to Stay at Home

In a seemingly paradoxical turn of events, Mexican protesters on March 25 blocked incoming traffic at the U.S. southern border, demanding their government do more to restrict American travel into their country.

A group of about a dozen protesters, holding signs and wearing face masks, used two vehicles to block southbound traffic coming out of a U.S.-Mexico port of entry near Nogales, Arizona, according to the Arizona Republic. The protesters said their stunt was meant to highlight the dangers posed by incoming U.S. residents who might carry the coronavirus.

The protesters also voiced their displeasure with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, saying he is not doing enough to protect Mexicans from the deadly virus.

There are no health screenings by the federal government to deal with this pandemic, Jose Luis Hernandez, a member of the group, told the Arizona Republic. Thats why were here in Nogales. Weve taken this action to call on the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to act now.

The protesters, who identified themselves as Sonorans for Health and Life, blocked traffic for several hours and made clear their concern of incoming Americans. Some of their signs explicitly told U.S. residents to stay at home.

Jose Vera, 53, who is traveling to Colorado from Zacatecas, Mexico, wears a mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 while waiting for his bus to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on March 20, 2020. (Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images)

Hernandez said the blockade was the first warning, and that the government should expect more unless Lopez Obrador does more to protect Mexicans from the spread of COVID-19.

This is for your health. This is for your family, he said. Or what do you want to happen? That this becomes worse given the irresponsibility of the Mexican government? Of course not. Thats why were here.

The United States has, by leaps and bounds, been harder hit by the coronavirus pandemic than Mexico. As of Thursday morning, more than 68,000 people across the United States have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least 990 have died from the virus. Mexico, in contrast, has only seen 475 people sickened from coronavirus, and six have died so far.

The Trump administration announced a closure of all non-essential travel through its northern and southern borders. While Lopez Obrador has worked with the Trump administration on the ongoing closure at the U.S.-Mexico border, he has refrained from adopting the same sort of lockdown orders seen across the United States.

Fearful about hurting the fragile Mexican economy, Lopez Obrador has not executed any wide-scale closure of businesses, and he has continued to hold massive rallies.

We are still in the first phase, he said. I will tell you when not to go out anymore.

By Jason Hopkins

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From The Daily Caller News Foundation

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A few days from now, Meghan Markle is about to embark on a new chapter in her life. From actress to lifestyle blogger, royal fiance, to becoming a wife, a Duchess, and a mother, Meghan sure did had an adventure these past few years.

Earlier this year, Meghan and Prince Harry dropped their bombshell announcement to step down as senior members of the royal family. They made it clear that they want to lead an independent life while still supporting the Queen, by balancing their time in North America and the United Kingdom.

Right now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are enjoying their newfound private life away from the U.K.. Now that Meghan is set to leave her royal life behind, she has reportedly set a path for her post-royal hustle and next career move.

Just recently, Disney Plus revealed that the Duchess acted as narrator in the upcoming movie called "Elephant."

The "Disneynature" feature follows the journey of an elephant mother who travels across the Kalahari Desert together with her calf.

"Disneynature's Elephant, an Original Movie narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, starts streaming April 3, only on #DisneyPlus," the streaming giant wrote on Twitter.

What's Next For Meghan After the Disney Deal?

According to reports, the former "Suits" actress wanted to revive her passion for writing by releasing another cookbook. It was in 2018 when she penned the foreword for the book "Together: Our Community Cookbook," and it looks like she wanted a follow up on her own by line.

Apart from the cookbook, a source also told Us Weekly that Meghan is planning to relaunch her fashion and lifestyle blog called "The Tig." Before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan managed a blog site which was described as a "hub for the discerning palate-those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion, and beauty."

Meghan shut down the blog site when things get serious with Prince Harry and left a farewell message to her readers, thanking them for supporting her blog for three years.

The source also said that the Duchess is looking into developing a kitchenware line as part of her post-royal hustle.

Baby No. 2?

The royal insider revealed that Meghan is also interested in giving their 10-month-old son Archie a baby sister or brother soon.

While the source said that Meghan and Harry are keen to "start trying in earnest pretty soon," the couple is now prioritizing to adjust on their new life and look after Archie, who will be turning one this coming May 2020.

Charity Works

Aside from her personal career move, Meghan wants to continue her charity work plans with Prince Harry.

On their "Megxit" announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that they would launch their own charitable entity after quitting as senior royals. The source said that the couple is still invested in pursuing such philanthropic acts even outside their royal bubble.

"Meghan has heaps of projects in the works," the source said.
(Newser)  President Trump said he was considering a quarantine as early as Saturday for coronavirus hotspots in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, though it wasn't clear whether he had the power to order state residents to stay put, the AP reports. Trump told reporters that he had spoken with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, among others, and that "a lot of the states that are infected but dont have a big problem, theyve asked me if Ill look at it, so were going to look at it. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who criticized the federal governments response as his state became the country's virus epicenter, said the issue did not come up in a conversation he had with Trump earlier Saturday. "I dont even know what that means," the Democrat said in New York.

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"I don't know how that could be legally enforceable, and from a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing. ... I don't like the sound of it," Cuomo added. Trump made his remarks while on a trip to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a US Navy hospital ship heading to New York City to help with the pandemic. At the event, he spoke to a sparse crowd and cautioned Americans to take virus protections. The federal government is empowered to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states, but it's not clear that means Trump can ban people from leaving their state. It has never been tested in the modern era  and in rare cases when any quarantine was challenged, the courts generally sided with public health officials. (Meanwhile, four states have targeted fleeing New Yorkers.)
The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought against racial discrimination, died Friday, a family statement said. He was 98.

A charismatic and fiery preacher, Lowery led the SCLC for two decades  restoring the organizations financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africas apartheid-era regime  before retiring in 1997.

Lowery, considered the dean of civil rights veterans, lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness  the election of an African American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for President-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, "America tonight is in the process of being born again."

An early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama over then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Lowery also gave the benediction at Obama's inauguration.

"We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union, he said.

In 2009, Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor.

In another high-profile moment, Lowery drew a standing ovation at the 2006 funeral of Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, when he criticized the war in Iraq, saying, "For war, billions more, but no more for the poor." The comment also drew head shakes from then-President George Bush and his father, former president George H.W. Bush, who were seated behind the pulpit.

Lowery's involvement in civil rights grew naturally out of his Christian faith. He often preached that racial discrimination in housing, employment and health care was at odds with fundamental Christian values such as human worth and the brotherhood of man.

"I've never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly," he once said.

Lowery remained active in fighting issues such as war, poverty and racism long after retiring, and survived prostate cancer and throat surgery after he beat Jim Crow.

Lowery also took a stand in favor of same-sex marriage in 2012. I dont think you can say we believe in equal rights for some people but not for others... I think if you believe in equal rights, you have to grant them to all the people. https://t.co/ZkyfdGAvus  Jeremy Gray (@jgray78) March 28, 2020

His wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who worked alongside her husband of nearly 70 years and served as head of SCLC/WOMEN, died in 2013.

Ill miss you, Uncle Joe. You finally made it up to see Aunt Evelyn again, King's daughter, Bernice King, said in a tweet Friday night.

Lowery was pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1950s when he met King, who then lived in Montgomery, Alabama. Lowerys meetings with King, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and other civil rights activists led to the SCLCs formation in 1957. The group became a leading force in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

Lowery became SCLC president in 1977 following the resignation of Abernathy, who had taken the job after King was assassinated in 1968. He took over an SCLC that was deeply in debt and losing members rapidly. Lowery helped the organization survive and guided it on a new course that embraced more mainstream social and economic policies.

Coretta Scott King once said Lowery "has led more marches and been in the trenches more than anyone since Martin."

He was arrested in 1983 in North Carolina for protesting the dumping of toxic wastes in a predominantly black county and in 1984 in Washington while demonstrating against apartheid.

He recalled a 1979 confrontation in Decatur, Alabama, when he and others were protesting the case of a mentally disabled black man charged with rape. He recalled that bullets whizzed inches above their heads and a group of Klan members confronted them.

"I could hear them go 'whoosh,'" Lowery said. "I'll never forget that. I almost died 24 miles from where I was born."

In the mid-1980s, he led a boycott that persuaded the Winn-Dixie grocery chain to stop selling South African canned fruit and frozen fish when that nation was in the grip of apartheid.

He also continued to urge blacks to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

"Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears," he said in 1985.

Like King, Lowery juggled his civil rights work with ministry. He pastored United Methodist churches in Atlanta for decades and continued preaching long after retiring.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1921, Joseph Echols Lowery grew up in a Methodist church where his great-grandfather, the Rev. Howard Echols, was the first black pastor. Lowerys father, a grocery store owner, often protested racism in the community.

After college, Lowery edited a newspaper and taught school in Birmingham, but the idea of becoming a minister "just kept gnawing and gnawing at me," he said. After marrying Evelyn Gibson, a Methodist preachers daughter, he began his first pastorate in Birmingham in 1948.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

"I believe in the final triumph of righteousness," he said. "The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Lowery is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery. He died at home in Atlanta from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak, the family.
Majority of Americans Disapprove of How Media Handled Pandemic: Gallup Poll

A new Gallup poll that asked how nine leaders and institutions responded to the pandemic in the United States found eight of the nine received positive ratingsexcept for news media which garnered a negative review.

The way hospitals handled the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, received the highest approval rating with 88 percent. A majority of Americans also approved of how schools, day cares, the State Department and health agencies responded to the pandemicall garnering over 80 percent approval.

The poll, which surveyed 536 employed adults, also found 60 percent of Americans approved of how President Donald Trump handed the pandemic. It used data from March 13 to 22 and asked the question: Do you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following [leaders or institutions] is handling the response to the coronavirus in the U.S.?

Gallup concluded that overall, Americans are largely approving of how U.S. institutions and leaders are responding to the coronavirus situation.

News media received the lowest approval rating out of the list, garnering a 44 percent approval rating while 55 percent disapproved of how it covered the pandemic. It was the only institution that received a negative approval rating.

The second lowest rated institution was Congress, which gained a 59 percent approval and a 37 percent disapproval rating.

When looking deeper into the data, Gallup found that Republicans gave greater approval ratings than Democrats on most of the institutions and leaders listedexcept for news media.

Only on the news medias handling of the coronavirus are Democrats more approving than Republicans61% vs. 25%, respectively, the polling company stated. Gallup has consistently found that Democrats have more confidence than Republicans in mass media.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Beijings Disinformation

U.S. officials and federal agencies meanwhile, have in recent weeks ramped up efforts to counter an aggressive disinformation campaign executed by the Chinese Communist party (CCP).

Federal agencies are setting up new websites that separate fact from fiction in a bid to counter disinformation spreading in the United States while U.S. government officials and spokespersons are becoming more vocalin some cases responding directly to Beijing officials and debunking their propaganda in real time.

Countless articles and op-edsoften peddling false conspiracy theories about the CCP virus or shifting the blame onto the United Statesare being posted through Facebook and Twitter by Chinas state-run media accounts. At the same time, a considerable number of Chinese diplomats are actively pushing state-sanctioned narratives on their own social media accounts.

In recent days, state-run media outlets have been pushing the hashtags Trump Pandemic and Trump Virus on social mediaand some in the United States are following along.

Bonnie Glaser, a former consultant for the departments of Defense and State, said Beijing seeks to protect the portrayal of its country internationally, as well as internally. She noted that there already several legal cases that Americans are filing against China, including The Berman Law Group, which recently filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Chinese regime for causing the pandemic.

It will harm Chinas global image if Beijing is blamed for mismanaging the epidemic early on and allowing it to affect the rest of the world, Glaser told The Epoch Times previously. Glaser is a senior adviser for Asia and director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

China seeks to be seen as a responsible global player that can contribute effectively to addressing global problems, she said. By demonstrating the effectiveness of Chinas domestic governance system, Beijing can advance its goal of leading global governance reform and promote the Chinese model as an option for developing countries to copy.
Three people have been given hefty prison sentences of up to three years in Serbia for breaking self-isolation rules imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, local media reported Friday.

Serbia has declared a state of emergency and adopted strict measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has seen 530 people infected and eight die in the Balkan nation.

A 38-year-old man was jailed for a maximum of three years in the southeastern town of Dimitrovgrad after being found guilty for violating a law that requires citizens to respect medical orders during an epidemic, portal Juzne Vesti reported.

All Serbian citizens returning from abroad are required to spend 14 to 28 days in self-isolation.

The man broke this rule at the airport in the southern town of Nis upon his return to Serbia earlier this month, the report said.

He was tried online and entered a plea from detention, while the judge, prosecutor and a court-appointed lawyer were in the courtroom, following instructions from the justice ministry, the report added.

Two other people were sentenced to two and two and a half years respectively in the eastern town of Pozarevac for breaking the same measure, N1 television network reported.

A total of 111 people have been detained for the same offence, N1 said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus: PM Modi's Mann ki Baat today, first since lockdown

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday address the nation through his first Mann Ki Baat radio address during the three-week shutdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has crippled several nations.

"Tune in tomorrow at 11 (AM). Tomorrow's episode will be focused on the situation prevailing due to COVID-19," Modi tweeted late on Saturday night.

Mann ki Baat radio programme is aired on the last Sunday of every month and the prime minister speaks on the latest issues.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in India reached 918 with 179 fresh cases being reported on Saturday, the highest single-day increase so far, while the death toll rose to 19.

Deaths have so far been reported from Maharashtra (5), Gujarat (3), Karnataka (2), Madhya Pradesh (2) and one each from Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

In its updated data at 5.45 PM, the ministry stated that the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country was 819, which is an increases of 179 since Friday when it was 640. The total number of 918 cases in the country included 47 foreigners, the data stated.

As many as 79 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases so far at 180 (including three foreign nationals), followed by Kerala at 176, including eight foreign nationals

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Story first published: Sunday, March 29, 2020, 0:49 [IST]
Wizz Air has won a tender commissioned by the Macedonian government to perform three repatriation flights for stranded Macedonian nationals in Germany. The budget airline will tomorrow operate flights to Berlin and Cologne Bonn, while it will run rescue flights to Ljubljana and Memmingen today.
(CNN)  Google is committing to donate more than $800 million to support businesses, organizations and healthcare workers as part of its coronavirus response -- most of it in the form of free advertising.

The tech company said it will give the World Health Organization and global government agencies a total of $250 million in ad grants  up from the $25 million it announced a few weeks ago  to share information on how to battle the spread of the virus, CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post on Friday.

Another $340 million in Google ad credits will be available to small and medium-sized businesses whose accounts have been active over the past year, Pichai said, with an additional $20 million earmarked for announcements on relief funds and support for small businesses.

Google is one of several tech companies putting some of their vast financial and technical resources toward trying to combat the global pandemic. Apple on Friday released a website and an iOS app that allows users to screen themselves for coronavirus symptoms, days after announcing that it would donate more than 10 million respirator masks across the US and Europe.

Facebook, like Google, has offered free ad credits to the WHO and other institutions to provide accurate information about the coronavirus, but the WHO has not officially placed any ads on Facebook yet. The organization is working with Facebook in other capacities, including the company's Coronavirus Information Center and a health alert account on WhatsApp launched last week.

Tech firms from other countries are also pitching in to combat the virus in the US, where the number of confirmed cases is now the highest in the world. Japanese conglomerate SoftBank and Chinese tech giant Alibaba have pledged to donate around a million masks each to US health workers.

Beyond its advertising initiatives, Google is setting up a $200 million investment fund to help small businesses get access to capital as well as offering $20 million in Google Cloud credits for academics and researchers working on combating the coronavirus.

Google is also working with one of its suppliers, Magid Glove & Safety, to produce up to 3 million masks in the coming weeks that it will donate to the CDC.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Google is donating $800 million to help with the coronavirus crisis"
The number of cases of COVID-19 detected in Alabama nursing homes jumped from zero just two weeks ago, to two a week ago, to 8 confirmed cases now spread across six different centers.

Two Alabama facilities reported multiple cases: South Haven Health and Rehab in Hoover, where two employees tested positive, and Arbor Springs Health and Rehab in Opelika, where one employee and one resident became infected.

According to a statement, the two nurses who tested positive at South Haven Health and Rehab worked on different floors.

The group of residents whom these nursing assistants cared for are all being tested, according to a statement from NHS Management, the Tuscaloosa company that runs the nursing home. We do not have any residents at South Haven infected with the virus at this time.

A resident in another NHS Management-operated facility, Aspire West Alabama in Northport, came down with flu-like symptoms last week, tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently under the care of doctors at DCH Regional Medical Center. Other cases have been detected at Extendicare Health and Rehabilitation in Dothan, Plantation Manor in McCalla and Aspire Cahaba River in Vestavia. Two Alabama nursing homes that reported COVID-19 cases late last week still havent released the results of follow-up testing from March 19.

Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called nursing homes ground zero of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Their residents, older people and those with underlying health conditions, have the highest mortality rates and the close quarters provide ideal conditions for viral outbreaks.

On March 13, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates nursing homes, issued guidelines prohibiting almost all visitors, except for end-of-life situations. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced an order making that official statewide six days later. Despite the measures, the number of cases has steadily ticked up.

A resident of Arbor Springs Health and Rehab in Opelika was admitted to East Alabama Medical Center last weekend and received positive results Monday for COVID-19. An employee from the same nursing home tested positive the next day.

We will be testing all employees and residents, according to a statement from Arbor Springs. Protective protocols remain in place, and access to our facility is restricted in accordance with federal health care guidelines. Only visits that are medically necessary or related to hospice will be allowed, and then, only under restricted conditions.

A single nursing home was at the center of an early, deadly outbreak in Washington state.

A report released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 129 COVID-19 cases associated with Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, including 81 residents and 34 staff members. As of last week, 35 people associated with the facility had died from the virus. The CDC investigation found that employees who worked while sick spread COVID-19 to residents of Life Care and other facilities where they also worked.

The findings in this report suggest that once COVID-19 has been introduced into a long-term care facility, it has the potential to result in high attack rates among residents, staff members, and visitors, according to the CDC report.

Read more about the outbreak at Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington.

At the retirement home Lambeth House in New Orleans, about 40 people have been infected and 11 have died, according to news reports. In Illinois, the Chateau Nursing and Rehabilitation Center reported 46 cases.

Public health officials identify clusters of cases where two or more can be linked. So far, no clusters have been announced by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Brandon Farmer, president and CEO of the Alabama Nursing Home Association, requested Friday priority for nursing homes from federal grants. Facilities in other states have struggled to maintain staff and services as the virus spreads.

In Spain, some nursing home residents were found abandoned, as staff was overwhelmed by the deadly illness.

In our lifetime, there has never been a greater threat to our most vulnerable citizens than the threat posed by COVID-19 to the residents of our nursing homes, Farmer said. Congress on March 18 approved federal assistance funding to help provide for our nursing home residents. Other federal assistance for long-term care may be forthcoming. The history of this virus proves that nursing homes must be a central focus for prevention and containment of this disease.

Here is the full list of nursing home cases in Alabama:

Plantation Manor  1 resident

Extendicare Health and Rehabilitation - 1 resident

Aspire Cahaba River  1 employee

South Haven Health and Rehab  2 employees

Aspire West Alabama  1 resident

Arbor Springs Health and Rehab  1 resident and 1 employee

Updated at 4:06 p.m. with additional information about nursing home cases. Capitol Hill Healthcare in Montgomery was initially included, but the case there is under investigation and has not been confirmed.
The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police seized 5000 bottles of hand sanitizers worth over Rs 2.5 lakhs from a medical store in Mahim area on Friday.

The Mumbai police is conducting raids to curb hoardings of essential items amid rising COVID-19 cases.

Three people have been arrested for allegedly selling them at higher prices and the godown has been sealed.

Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 873, including 19 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four persons were crushed to



death and three seriously injured when a tempo ran over them at Vasai taluka in Maharastra's Palghar district on Saturday, police said.

The incident took place at Parole village at around 3 am, when the speeding tempo ran over the victims, who were travelling towards Mumbai from Gujarat on foot, an official said.

While the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, the bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem, he said.

The tempo driver was taken into custody and the Virar police is registering a case in this regard, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Infosys which had initially believed that it could be a case of mistaken identity, confirmed later that Mujeeb Mohammad was its employee and stated that he has been terminated from service.

Bengaluru: The Insofys software engineer who gave a call to the public to sneeze in public to spread the coronavirus has been sacked, the company said.

The tech giant, which had initially believed that it could be a case of mistaken identity, confirmed later that Mujeeb Mohammad was its employee and stated that he has been terminated from service.

"Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity," the company tweeted late on Friday night.

Follow LIVE Updates on Coronavirus Outbreak here

The company said the social media post by the employee was against Infosys's code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. "Infosys has a zero-tolerance policy towards such acts and has accordingly, terminated the services of the employee."

The social media post by the employee is against Infosys code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. Infosys has a zero tolerance policy towards such acts and has accordingly, terminated the services of the employee. (2/2)  Infosys (@Infosys) March 27, 2020

Mohammad had posted on Facebook, "Let's join hands, go out and sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus." He was arrested on Friday night.
Sandhya Mridul, who is back in yet another powerful role of an obsessive mother, named Ajo,in web show, Mentalhood, turns 45 on Saturday. While the actor insists she is nowhere close to her character, she doesnt mind bullying her mother to make her stay indoors amid lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak. The actor is currently maintaining a strong front by keeping herself busy with cooking, cleaning, singing and what not.

As Pearl in Page 3, Sandhya won plaudits and was showered with offers but refused to be repetitive. She continues to be choosy with projects and would do anything to not be stereotyped into just one role. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sandhya opened up about what keeps her away from stereotypical roles, her choices in life and her time in quarantine. Excerpts:

You have been good in academics and had a corporate job, you were a lot different from your role of a homemaker in Mentalhood.

Ajo is not at all like me, she is too much. I can also be too much but in a different way, not in an Ajo way. The thing about roles is that you dont always have to play who you are. The reason I agreed for the show was that my character was different from me, from what I believed. As an actor, I am always looking for things I havent been, characters I dont connect with. Most of the days, I used to get irritated with Ajo as myself because I used to agree with Shilpas (Shukla) character but I had to fight with her all the time. Thats what makes it interesting for an actor - to be things you are not.

Will you like to become a homemaker  like your character?

That is too black and white statement, I dont see any reason to give up everything that I have earned and be so obsessed with my children that I forget myself. To forget your own happiness and joy is a crime. That doesnt mean you have to be a bad mother. But I am sure there is a balance somewhere.

You and Shilpa Shukla are good friends but were at loggerheads on the show. How did that go?

We had met once at somebodys house many years ago. After my Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II and Page 3, she came up to me and said that shes a big fan of mine. After Chak De! India, I messaged her that I loved what she did. We became friends only through this show (Mentalhood). Even then, being at loggerheads with Shilpa was difficult. We connect almost instantly, we always used to give each other a hug after our fight scene. She used to come to my van and we used to chat about interesting things. Its nice that you are doing it with someone with whom you get along. There can be misunderstandings because actors like me and Shilpa really get into our character. We were horrible to each other on screen but knew that all was fine between us.

You played a very dominating character on the show. How are you in real life?

I can be dominating with people I love. I really bully my mother. I feel its for her good. I can be very much like Ajo with my mother. Yesterday I called her and said, You are not stepping out of your room. She had gone to buy vegetables four days ago. I told her I told you not to step out of the house. Shes like my child.

You moved away from TV because you said you cant keep on playing a bahu in a sari and lipstick. Do you think TV has changed now?

I dont know because I dont watch TV. The statement was in isolation. I said that I cant keep on playing that. I played a really good role in Koshish Ek Aasha, with Ekta Kapoor. The show not just got success but also acclaim. I didnt want to be stereotyped as that girl. Kajal was a unique character and I loved playing her but I didnt see a reason to keep repeating that. I did a lot of different stuff on TV even in those days - Hu Ba Hu, Koshish, Banegi Apni Baat, Swabhimaan and so many more.

And when the repetition started, I left. I didnt leave actually, content left me. I am somebody who doesnt like to play the same part. Even after Page 3, people said that we will see her everywhere now. But I wasnt seen that much as people started offering me the same part as Pearl because she became a hit. I was like I cant do this in every film. As an actor, I am capable of playing different parts so I cant be seen repeating a part just because it did well.

Is this the reason you are doing fewer shows and films these days?

I do a lot of Indie stuff  I did two films last year that have been travelling to many festivals. I did Business of War with Nikhhil Advani  a show that I really enjoyed doing. So when I get work which I can really enjoy, I do it. Acting is not a job  we dont have to sit in an office. Acting is my playground, I like to have fun, I need to enjoy. Now I think its a little better. There are far more options  even the two other shows that I am doing are very different. The parts are different  even the age bracket is different. I am playing a variety of roles now and I think its a great time for actors that way and now maybe you will be seeing more of me.

Also read: Dino Morea to make a comeback after nine years, says he didnt want to be a part of crappy films

What is your action plan during the lockdown?

I am somebody who has believed in social distancing. I go out very little. Now its bit difficult, its complete isolation. It worries me sometimes that my mother is far away in Delhi, but I talk to her every day. One new thing that I have started is that I do a lot of video chats these days with my friends, which I never used to do because I am not a phone person. But its nice, all my friends who know I am all alone, call me up and we chat.

I am also cooking, something I dont really like to do. I gave my staff off so I am cooking and cleaning. My yoga and meditation is a daily thing. I also find respite in singing, so every two days, I have decided to pick up a new song that I learn. Whether I can sing or not, it gives me a lot of healing. I am trying to not just keep watching shows on streaming platforms and do other stuff as well.

I sometimes sit down and be with myself, sometimes it becomes very hard. I have to be honest, I want everyone to know that we all feel lonely. Those who are alone, my heart goes out to you. Nobody understands how hard it is to be alone in times of panic. But hang in there, we are all together in some way and this is really natures way of shutting us down and telling us to take a reality check. The dolphins are in the waters again, the pigeons are on the streets again, you can hear the birds. There is some good and we can keep our eyes on that.

I am very busy yaar, so much of cleaning, I even burnt khichdi yesterday as the cooker didnt blow the whistle. I was so hassled. But now I have started enjoying cooking as well, so in a way there is so much happening in a day. But there is worry for the country.

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(CNN) -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States topped 100,000 on Friday as infections quickly spread to new areas of the country.

As of Friday evening, the US has at least 100,013 known cases of coronavirus and 1,545 people have died, according to CNN's tally of cases reported by health officials.

More than two months have passed since the first case of coronavirus was reported in the country and the US has become the epicenter of the global pandemic, overtaking China and Italy. The virus has hit New York and Washington especially hard but a new wave of coronavirus hot spots is already emerging.

Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans are seeing a rapid increase of cases and health officials there are pleading for medical resources to meet the surges.

Doctors and nurses in the Detroit area are "using one mask for their entire shift," Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the Michigan health department's chief medical executive, told CNN Friday.

"I've heard of (them) putting their mask in a paper bag ... and taking it out when they think they have a patent who has coronavirus," Khaldun said.

"We don't have enough masks; we don't have enough gowns; and we need more from the federal government and others."

US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told "CBS This Morning" on Friday that hot spots like Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans "will have a worse week next week than what they had this week."

Earlier this week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said cases in his state were growing faster than anywhere in the world. Jefferson and Orleans parishes, which make up most of metro New Orleans, ranked among the top seven counties nationwide in deaths per 100,000 residents for areas reporting 100 cases or more.

For the third day in a row, health officials across the US reported a record number of deaths in a single day since the pandemic outbreak. At least 359 coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday.

Latest developments around the country

 Defense Production Act implemented: President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act, to compel General Motors to produce more ventilators due to increased hospitalizations.

 $2 trillion stimulus package approved: Trump has signed the historic legislation on Friday. It's key elements include sending checks directly to individuals and families, a major expansion of unemployment benefits and financial assistance for small businesses.

 More travelers asked to self-quarantine: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Friday that anyone entering the state should self-quarantine for two weeks. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he's planning to extend a similar order to include travelers arriving from Louisiana.

 Hospitals are building new wards: Chicago's Rush University Medical Center is converting a large part of its lobby into a potential ward with beds to help handle an expected surge of patients. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city could be expecting up to 40,000 hospitalization in the coming weeks.

 Navy hospital ships deployed: The USNS Mercy, a 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship, arrived Friday at the Port of Los Angeles to treat non-coronavirus patients from area hospitals. A second Navy hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, is expected to reach the New York area next week for the same purpose.

New York governor: President's ventilator tweet 'incorrect and grossly uninformed'

Outbreaks in New York, which has just under half the country's cases, have hospitals already low on staff and running out of some equipment, like protective wear.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo days ago said his state needed another 30,000 ventilators on top of the 7,000 it had. New York has been "shopping literally around the globe" for them, he said Friday.

President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted that thousands of federally delivered ventilators had been found in "New York storage," and that the state "must distribute them now."

Cuomo told CNN Friday that this was "incorrect and grossly uninformed."

The state does have ventilators in a stockpile, and they all haven't been delivered because "the hospitals aren't at their apex" yet.

"Of course you don't need them today. You need them when you hit the (projected) apex, which is 30,000. We're not there yet," he said.

Michigan hospitals preparing for 'worst-case scenario'

A prominent Detroit-area hospital system acknowledged on Friday that it's preparing for hard life-and-death decisions after a letter was circulated online detailing who would be able to receive lifesaving resources if there's not enough equipment.

A spokesman for the Henry Ford Health System told CNN the "letter is part of a larger policy document developed for an absolute worst-case scenario."

"It is not an active policy within Henry Ford, but it is part of our emergency response planning," the spokesman said, noting none of the system's hospitals are at capacity with coronavirus patients.

The letter, addressed to patients and their families in the event it is sent, says patients with the best chance of improving would be the first priority. It also says patients treated with a ventilator or ICU care may have those treatments stopped if they do not improve over time.

"Henry Ford is one of America's great health care systems, and what they put out is honest," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan told CNN's Jim Sciutto on Friday. "... Everybody is doing everything we can to stop it, but you would be irresponsible as a health system CEO if you weren't planning for that eventuality."

Cuomo: New York may be 21 days away from a peak in cases

The rate of new coronavirus cases is slowing in New York, but it still may take 21 days for the Empire State to hit the apex, Cuomo told reporters Friday in New York City.

The number of new cases is now doubling roughly every four days, down from what had been every two days, Cuomo said.

The state and its National Guard already are assembling four 1,000-bed temporary, overflow hospitals in existing buildings, including at Manhattan's Javits Convention Center.

New York Bellevue Hospital Center created a makeshift morgue using tents and refrigerated trucks. At Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, 13 patients died from coronavirus within 24 hours this week.

Several health officials and experts say the fight against coronavirus is still beginning.

"We are in for a bumpy ride for the next 12 to 18 months," Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said Thursday. "If we are aggressive now about stopping things, shutting down, building up a test regime, we can then open up again .... and most places can go back to work."

"But only when we are ready. And we are nowhere near ready now," he said.

When President Donald Trump said he hopes to have Americans back at work by Easter, he was making an "aspirational projection," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Doctors, nurses on the front lines

Responding to the rising numbers, some hospitals say they've reached a breaking point -- both because of overworked staff and few medical supplies left.

A Long Island hospital nurse said patients were streaming in with "non-stop coughing, sweaty, fevers" and with "fear in their eyes."

"I haven't slept because my mind won't shut off. I cried in the bathroom on my break, as I peeled off the PPE from my sweaty self, mask indentations on my face. I cried the entire ride home," the nurse, whom CNN is not naming, wrote in a social media post.

In one New York City hospital, an assistant nurse manager who suffered from asthma died less than a week after testing positive for the virus.

Kious Jordan Kelly was a "beloved member" of the nursing staff at Mt. Sinai Hospital, the hospital said.

The coronavirus crisis has "turned our frontline professionals into true American heroes," Mt. Sinai said in a statement Tuesday. "Today, we lost another hero -- a compassionate colleague, friend and selfless caregiver."

This story was first published on CNN.com "US coronavirus cases reach 100,000 as reported deaths hit new daily high"
Highlights Medical workers are risking many things while working with infected patients Such a video has surfaced online It captures the raw emotions of a doctor

Each day, doctors, nurses, and other medical workers are braving all odds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. They are not only working long hours and risking infection, but also dealing with the plight of maintaining distance from their loved ones. This heartbreaking video demonstrates the toll it takes on them emotionally and makes the I stayed at work for you, you stay home for me line that much more hard hitting.

The video captures the moment a frontline doctor meets his son. The clip shows the little boy running to hug his father but the doctor dad, still in his scrubs, is forced to stop him from getting too close. As the kid stops in his tracks, the doctor completely breaks down. This emotional moment has tugged at heartstrings of many and may even leave you teary-eyed.

A Saudi doctor returns home from the hospital, tells his son to keep his distance, then breaks down from the strain. pic.twitter.com/0ER9rYktdT  Mike (@Doranimated) March 26, 2020

Since being shared a day ago, the video has received over 4.5 million views and several emotional comments.

Heartbreaking hope father and son have lots of cuddle time. God bless this doctor, wrote a Twitter user. Its a message more than a scene describes what happening to medical staff around the world, wrote another. This hurts the heart to watch. That doctor is such a hero, tweeted a third. What a toll this virus & stress must take on those at the battlefront. Social distancing when we most need a hug. May God bless them & their families, wrote a fourth.

Some mentioned that the doctor needs to be more careful and it wasnt smart going near the kid while still in uniform. A few also mentioned that he shouldnt have touched his face.

Hes a fool. He should strip out of those clothes, take a long shower, then love on his son the rest of the night, expressed a Twitter user. The doctor may be wrong in touching his face, but... this is the purest emotional love between the little kid (who does not know much about the seriousness of the issue) and the father (who just realized the seriousness). His only concern at that time is to safeguard his son, wrote another.

The aim of the clip was to make citizens and residents aware of hazards of the coronavirus and to comply with arrangements and instructions of the Health Ministry, the doctor, identified as Nasser Ali Al Shahrani, told Saudi newspaper Okaz, cited Gulf News. He added that through the video he wanted to highlight the changes in the personal lives of health professionals.

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Ravalli County Elections Administrator Regina Plettenberg will ask the county permission Tuesday to hold a mail ballot election for the June primary.

She said there really is no other option.

About 85% of election judges who work at Ravalli County polling places are over 70 years old.

I dont even know if I have enough judges to run one polling place that are not in the high-risk category, Plettenberg said. I cant ask people over 70 years old to work. And the younger people, honestly, are too scared to do it.  Who am I going to get to operate the polls?

And that doesnt even take into account that many of the people who prefer to vote at polling places are in the high-risk category by being over 60.

In my opinion, even if we ran the election at the polls, right now I would have to send something out to my non-absentee voters suggesting that if they are in the high-risk category that they get on the absentee list, she said. And then I would have to offer everyone else to do it as well.

Ravalli County has about 27,000 active voters. About 17,000 of those are already on the absentee list.

Of the remaining 10,000, Plettenberg said about 45% usually turn out to vote.

With absentees, we get between 80 to 95%, she said.They are good voters. People really like it.

Absentee voting has grown dramatically in Ravalli County over the last eight years.

I remember when I started 20 years ago if we got 300 absentees it was a big deal, Plettenberg said. When we hit 500, it was like, Holy cow. Now, its just grown like crazy. Eight years ago, we had 6,000. Now were at 17,000. I think its going to keep growing.

Mail-ballot elections are easier to administer.

All the work is done up front, she said. The bulk of the work is done 30 days before the election. Whereas with a poll election, you not only have that work that comes 30 days before the election, but you also have to get the polls ready.

You dont know how many people are going to show up, Plettenberg said. And you have to get your judges. They have to do provisional votes. They have to collect absentees. And it takes longer because you have to wait for the polls to close before you can count your polling place ballots.

Statewide, 70 to 75% of ballots are cast by mail.

Plettenberg said that when she tells out-of-state election administrators that, they always ask why Montana isnt already a mail ballot state. Plettenberg is the former president of the Montana Association of Clerks and Recorders.

Its going there, Plettenberg said. The voters are taking it there. Its not about what the legislators want or even the election administrators, its what the voters want. This is an optional thing that the voters are already doing.

I think this changes the landscape for elections in Montana, she said. I think it shows where we need to have online voter registration. I think there are some steps that Montana needs to move forward on elections. Well get there.

Plettenberg said the Ravalli County Commission has been supportive of her in the past. She hopes they will be again on Tuesday at the meeting scheduled for 1 p.m.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock gave counties the option Wednesday to conduct an all-mail election for the June primary under the powers of an emergency declaration over coronavirus he made earlier this month.

The order came after Bullock consulted with the secretary of state, county election administrators, public health experts, emergency management professionals and political leaders from both parties.

This is about protecting Montanans' right to vote at a time we face unprecedented challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, Bullock said in a press release. Locally elected officials best understand the voting needs of their communities, and taking this action now ensures they will have the time to make the right decisions for their localities.

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The coronavirus has left millions living in fear since it began its devastating spread across the planet. The outbreak has not paralysed us, however. It has inspired an unprecedented surge of voluntary efforts to save and protect our neighbours.

In the UK, an army of more than 700,000 people have responded to the governments call to help support the NHS and deliver essential food and medical supplies to the 1.5 million most vulnerable in the country.

Across the globe, ordinary people have signed up to bolster their emergency services and set up new, grassroots groups to look after everyone in their community. The Independent has taken a closer look at some of the heartening work going on in different parts of the world.

Italian Red Cross volunteers have been on the front line of the coronavirus crisis in the worst-affected region of Lombardy  transporting patients to the hospitals in the organisations own ambulances, and delivering food and medicine to the homes of vulnerable people.

Maria, 23, has been volunteering at her local Red Cross branch in the regions capital Milan since 2015, but hasnt experienced anything like the current emergency. About 80 to 90 per cent of our calls are Covid-19 patients, she says.

Samuele is volunteering with the Red Cross in Lombardy (Italian Red Cross) (Samuele Davide Nava)

The volunteer says some people are too scared to go to the hospital even if they need to, for fear of never coming out [again]. The hospitals in the area remain swamped, she adds.

Samuele Davide Nava, 24, is another Italian Red Cross volunteer working in Monza, north of Milan. The situation is not good at the moment, he tells The Independent. It is very difficult to see the families upset when they see people taken to hospital. But it helps to be part of an amazing group. Cooperation and teamwork is the best way to fight this disease.

Others have been signing up to join the Protezione Civile  Italys civil protection department  as volunteers. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company had made a significant donation to the organisation to help the heroic first responders, medical personnel and volunteers.

Marieke van Wijngaard, 43, is one of many people in the Netherlands stepping in to help at food banks across the country since many of the mainly older volunteers have been forced to stay at home.

Van Wijngaard is a project manager at a social housing organisation in Rotterdam, and is helping pack food crates for the Netherlands Red Crosss Ready2Help network whenever she has time outside of work.

Marieke van Wijngaard, one of the Netherlands Red Crosss army of volunteers (Marieke van Wijngaard) (Marieke van Winjngaarden)

I got involved back when they needed more people during the refugee crisis a few years ago, she tells The Independent. But when the coronavirus came I thought it was time to help some more. A lot of elderly people do this work here  so hopefully we can do something for them now and get them what they need.

She added: Its good to be useful right now, to have a bit more of a daily purpose during this crisis. If you are fit and able at the moment  just doing something small is still useful. Many of my friends are asking how to get involved now.

A group of friends in Bangalore launched an online network of helpers for older people and those with underlying health problems stuck at home after the India government began to recommend social distancing two weeks ago.

Mahita Nagaraj, the founder of the Caremongers collective, says it began when she got a call from a friend in the UK asking her to help make sure her elderly parents had enough food and medicine.

Mahita Nagaraj has set up the Caremongers volunteer support group in India (Mahita Nagaraj)

After positing about it on Facebook, she was soon receiving requests from other people to help their familes too. I began receiving messages from other people willing to do the same for others in their cities, the 38-year-old digital marketer tells The Independent.

Remarkably, with the nation now in lockdown, the group has established a database of more than 4,000 vulnerable people across India supported by a volunteer army of more than 8,500 people  all organised using Facebook and an emergency helpline.

The idea of bringing everyone together on a common platform  we are trying to address the feeling of helplessness, says Nagaraj.

Helle Rotting has signed up to be a volunteer with the Danish Red Crosss new help network  set up to make sure older and vulnerable people across the country get food, medicine and other essentials during the nationwide lockdown.

The 57-year-old works as a project manager at a bank, but has arranged to collect and drop off groceries for several people in and around her town of Koge, south of Copenhagen.

Helle Rotting is delivering food and medicine for the Danish Red Crosss new network (Helle Rotting) (Helle Rtting)

In some cases I havent actually met the people, Im just leaving things at the door or in their garages, she says. One lady I did speak to from her doorway. She was so, so grateful  it almost made me cry.

Rotting adds: I hope when this is all over we can learn from it and keep doing this kind of thing. Because its not difficult  it is really just helping your neighbour and helping the community around you.

City Harvest, New York Citys largest food aid organisation, is mobilising to feed some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in a city hit by the virus more severely than anywhere else in the country.

Designated an essential service by the New York state governor, the charity has continued to use its fleet of delivery trucks to pick up excess food from restaurants, grocers and manufacturers before distributing it across the five boroughs.

Organisers have seen an upturn in volunteers and a 30 per cent increase in attendance at mobile markets  an outdoor food bank  despite having to take extra care with social distancing measures.

Katie Workman has been packing food for City Harvest in Queens (City Harvest)

Volunteer Katie Workman, 52, has been helping pack in Long Island City in Queens.

Everyone deserves to have access to nutritious food, everyone deserves to feed their families, nobody should be hungry in this country, she says. It wasnt even a question  I just felt I needed to be there, to help. And being with other people who came to volunteer felt super-inspiring, and makes a very big city feel cohesive.

The charitys chief operating officer, Jen McLean, says: What Ive seen is an outpouring of people wanting to help. I know we all feel the love right now. We just need to keep our distance so that we can get this food packed and out to people that are relying on it.

How you can help

In Britain, the government is appealing for volunteers to help in four areas  community response, patient transport, transport of NHS supplies, and to help the lonely as check-in and chat volunteers. To register your interest visit: https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS. To find out more about the British Red Crosss work in the coronavirus crisis, or to volunteer or donate yourself, click here.
Couch charters are being arranged to bring groups of civilians to a checkpoint and stage a conflict, blaming Ukraine for a "criminal act of denying entry to own citizens".

Ukraine's Joint Forces have warned of a provocation attempt being plotted by occupation authorities at one of the crossing checkpoints in Donbas.

Ukrainian Command recalls that, in order to counter the spread of coronavirus, the passage of persons and vehicles through the demarcation line was temporarily suspended on March 21, while Joint Forces allow exceptions on a case-to-case basis, taking into account humanitarian circumstances that arise.

"Such a humane approach sparks discontent among Russian armed groups. Therefore, Russian occupation authorities once again decided to resort to provocations aimed at discrediting Ukraine in the eyes of the international community," the statement reads.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Russian invaders violate truce 12 times in past day

On March 28, representatives of the Russian-terrorist administration are planning to stage a provocation at one of the crossing points: "The invaders have already arranged several buses (carrying 10-20 civilians each) that will arrive on one of the checkpoints where a conflict will be staged to blame Ukraine for a 'criminal act of denying entry to own citizens'. Moreover, specially invited Russian propagandists are expected to provide media coverage of this provocation. This way, the enemy is planning to compromise the incumbent Ukrainian government."

JFO HQ urged Ukrainians not to succumb to enemy provocations, noting that the units of the Joint Forces are prepared for any developments.
B oth the Prime Minister and Health Secretary have tested positive for coronavirus as they lead the country's response to the outbreak.

Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock will now face the added challenge of communicating at a distance as they work to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PM insisted on Friday that he would still be able to work with his "top team" through "the wizardry of modern technology".

Meanwhile, the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said Mr Johnson was already using "digital tools" to manage meetings.

Here's how Boris Johnson will lead the country in isolation:

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

How will Boris Johnson lead the country from self-isolation?

While he self-isolates, officials will be working to ensure Mr Johnson has access to the information he needs, as well as staying in touch with key personnel.

This includes Cabinet ministers, political advisers such as Dominic Cummings, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty - who is self-isolating due to virus symptoms - as well as Sir Patrick.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister was pictured speaking to the Cabinet using the Zoom video conferencing platform that has exploded in popularity during the virus outbreak.

This was despite Ministry of Defence staff being banned from using it amid security fears.

Boris Johnson taking meetings by video conference / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

Only the PM, Mr Hancock, Prof Whitty and Cabinet Cabinet Mark Sedwill attended in person.

Alan Woodward, professor of cyber security at the University of Surrey, said the Government would be able to rely on "secure telephone units" to help Mr Johnson make important phone calls from Downing Street.

"Inside Government they have a secure telephone system, it used to be called Brent two," he said.

"The Prime Minister is lucky he lives above the shop, he's got one there, and it doesn't take much to fit them, so people like Matt Hancock doubtless has one.

Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus: What does this mean?

"So just talking is simple and you can talk at the highest levels of classification on it."

The Queen has already been pictured at Windsor Castle holding her weekly audience with the Prime Minister by telephone.

Prof Woodward acknowledged that the use of Zoom by Cabinet had "raised eyebrows", with the company having "fairly serious security problems" in the past, but none he was currently aware of.

He said it was about ensuring that "when people are in a new context of working, they don't resort to having conversations they shouldn't be having over channels that they shouldn't be using".

Prof Woodward said: "I'm sure that the national cyber security centre will be looking at these things to make sure there are no holes."

He added: "Zoom does support end-to-end encryption but obviously it's not necessarily been tested to work at the highest levels."

Prof Woodward said officials will be ensuring communications channels use encryption, and will be relying on the existing Government secure intranet for some emails.

This intranet can be used up to a certain level of classification, with even more secure networks also existing, he explained.

"I don't see it being a huge issue for them in terms of security, because they do it as a matter of routine anyway."

He announced he had coronavirus on Friday

Prof Woodward also highlighted that much of Mr Johnson's information is received in physical form through his ministerial red box.

Catherine Haddon, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government, suggested the Prime Minister would be receiving more digital information in the near future.

Who will take over from Boris Johnson if his condition worsens?

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been selected to stand-in for Mr Johnson in case he became too unwell.

Ms Haddon said the early decision to select Mr Raab was to avoid any problems between ministers.

"They were already doing a certain amount of remote working, we know that Cabinet has been using video conferencing, so has the G7, G20," she said.

Ms Haddon emphasised that Mr Johnson said his conditions were mild so his workload capacity was unlikely to change much.

She explained the Government's Cabinet system allowed ministers to deputise for the Prime Minister should he become more unwell, such as by chairing the Cobra committee.

The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would take over from the PM, it was previously announced / AP

Ms Haddon added: "I assume that one of the reasons for naming Raab as the 'designated survivor', the phrase that has been used possibly inappropriately, is to avoid any political battle if there was suddenly a vacuum at the top.

"It's more about the political leadership in all of this, rather than constitutional or Government decision-making processes."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:38:30|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 43 Nigerian federal ministers have donated 50 percent of their March salaries to support the government's efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The donation was a gesture of solidarity and support for the federal government's efforts to tackle the disease, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said in a statement reaching Xinhua on Saturday.

This global virus outbreak will require nations, continents and smaller communities to pull together to contribute their resources and support one another, he added.

Meanwhile, some wealthy Nigerians and organizations, including banks, have also announced donations running into billions of Naira in support of the fight against the virus.

Among them is the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which announced a donation of 14 million U.S. dollars.

Some oil industry players, led by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Friday, announced a combined donation of 30 million dollars.

As of Friday night, Nigeria had 81 confirmed cases and one death from COVID-19.
Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has registered highest ever single day coal production of 4.29 lakh tonnes on March 27 amid the countrywide lockdown to contain coronavirus.

Employees, currently 42,000, are working 24x7 in both underground & opencast coal mines to produce and despatch enough coal to its linked power plants, so that there should be no disruption in electricity supply in the country at present necessary to combat the menace of COVID-19, WCL said in a press release.

Coal Mining activity and its transportation has been declared as Essential Service during the lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak.

"In line with other Essential Services and without affecting their morale under the present crisis, WCL with its 42,000 employees has registered highest ever single day coal production of 4.

29 lakh tonnes on March 27 2020. The last highest production registered by the company was 4.02 lakh tonnes on March 30, 2019," the release said.

WCL has already broke its earlier record on March 20 by surpassing 53.18 million tonnes produced during 2018-19.

The company is now heading to surpass its annual target of 56 MT for 2019-20.

WCL also surpassed its annual target of 2018-19 by registering a growth of over 15 per cent, release said.

WCL operates 55 mines in 10 areas spread over Maharashtra and MP.

" In order to provide safe work place to its employees during the threat of COVID19, all the areas are working hard to make available all precautionary measures required for safety of workers. Around 25,000 masks have been provided to the employees and further 10,000 to be distributed shortly," the company said.

WCL supplies 80 per cent of its production to power plants located in Central, Western and Southern India.

"WCL has been able to maintain sufficient coal stock at the above plants and continues to do so by dispatching more than 1.5 lakh tonnes of coal per day by Rail & Road mode during the present crisis also so that nation continues to be energised," it said.

It has also made provision of 75 beds in its 10 different area hospitals in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for use of quarantine of suspected corona cases.

Doctors, Nurses & Para-Medical Staffs have been put on alert to deal any eventuality.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It is unquestionable, the COVID-19 outbreak has managed to overthrow all existing human capabilities across the globe. It seems our only hope remains to be our Almighty God.

With death-toll rising rapidly, Italy is already the worlds most affected country by the coronavirus. Indeed, the only hope remains up in the sky.

From Vatican, in Italia, Pope Francis asked the Virgin Mary to beg the lord so that he flees the world from every form of pandemic! Our President, John Magufuli straightened the point by telling Tanzanians to keep on praying but also to continue working to build our nation while obeying all measures given by the authority.

To be on the safe side, Tanzania announced the closure of learning institutions, banned public gatherings excluding prayer activities. The Chairman of the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) Chief sheikh Abubakar Zuberi added extra announcements, such as; the postponement of madrasas as precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus.

Once again, religion is called upon, to rescue the situation. Whereas for a multi-religious country like Tanzania, such an assignment turns into a joyful one. We have an exemplary existence of peace and harmony between our religions.

No wonder, that it was quite easy to form an Interfaith Organization under the leadership of the main National religious bodies;

1. National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA),

2. Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC)

3, The Office of Mufti of Zanzibar,

4. Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) At the helm of this unique civil society (Tanzania Interfaith Partnership (TIP), there is Ms SAIDA SALIM MUKHI - MSUMI.

As a CEO, this Social Scientist & Journalist is the overall in charge of activities undertaken by this civil society (TIP) has imposed itself with a huge task of permanently prevailing the named historical existence of peace and harmony in the country. Saida was born in the seventies at the KCMC, in Moshi, Kilimanjaro.

I m the firstborn (followed by two younger brothers Saidi and Ally) to the late Mama Farida Ally (a Teacher at Korogoni Primary School) and the late Mzee Salim Mukhi (an Accountant at the Tanzania Bag Corporation). Muungano Primary School (in Moshi) was Saidas first encounter with education.

Just a year before her graduation, a by then typical corruption incidents witnessed by the young Saida at Mawenzi Hospital, made her to dream of becoming a Journalist, I just wanted to report and abolish injustices done to the poor within our society.

For her O-level between 1987 - 1990, Saida was at Mawenzi Secondary School (in Moshi) and finalized her A-level at Zanaki High School (in Dar-es-Salaam).

We are the last batch to undergo through the compulsory National Service (JKT), Our intake got the name Operation Miezi 6 and we went through it at Makutupora - Dodoma. A truly memorable period that made us love our country even more.

Soon after completing her military services, in 1994, Saida went on to undertake a 2 years Diploma course of her dream profession at the Tanzania School of Journalism (TSJ).

Between 1996 and 2006 I was employed (as Radio and TV News Reporter and Programs Moderator/producer) at the Africa Media Group Company Ltd. In between, Saida accumulated her certificates by attending several short courses on Journalism including the Nordic-SADC Journalism (NSJ).

I also attended an International Broad-cast Journalism & Internet at the Radio Netherland Training Centre, in Holland. Thereafter, between 2006 - 2011, Saida was employed as the Trainings and Communications Coordinator at the Balm In Gilead Tanzania. Here too, I continued attending more short courses.

Saida also holds a certificate in Project Planning and Management. A 2020 - certificate in Directorship Course, but also attended a training workshop on Gender and International Gender Network- 2000, among many. Between 2009  2012 She pursued Bachelors of Arts in Development studies at the KIU (Kampala International University), in Dar.

A year later (2012  2014), Saida continued with her studies (M.A. in Public Health Leadership) at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono, Uganda. Since 2011 until to date, Saida is faithfully fulfilling her assigned responsibilities at the Tanzania Interfaith Partnership (TIP).

Last year, TIP organized a grand meeting of faith leaders on Corona and Ebola preparedness. Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is among our main advocacy. Says Ms Msumi. Beginning from houses of worship and beyond, the time WASH ll be no longer a problem to the lives of all people in the country.

What a coincidence with the current world-wide pandemic of Coronavirus! Nevertheless, with such a smart, calm and cool minded lady like Ms SAIDA SALIM MUKHI  MSUMI at the helm of advocacy, we are assured of being on the safe side.

By the way, at home too, Saida is tuned to her husband of over two decades, Mr Hamisi Msumi (a Cross Cultural Psychologist), the couple is blessed with three children (Farida, Khadija and Hawa). The lady is a true role model and worthy to be illustrated.

 David Kyungu is a veteran cartoonist, actor, illustrator, journalist, film, radio & TV director producer based in Dar es Salaam. matatizomedia@gmail.com www. matatizomedia.com
Houston, March 28 : An Indian-American woman from Sugar Land, Texas, has been charged for the murder of her four-year-old son, who was found dead on March 21 at the family's home, according to media reports.

Sugar Land officers responded at 10.40 a.m.on March 21 to a house in the 5200 block of Weatherstone Circle after the woman's husband came home, India-West on Friday quoted a report by the Houston-based KHOU TV station as saying.

The woman, Ritika Rohatgi Agrawal, 36, is charged with capital murder of a person under 10 years old, the KHOU report said.

Her bond is set at $950,000.

Investigators said Agrawal was walking around the house with wounds to her body, while her son was upstairs.

He had died from a knife wound to the throat, police said, according to the media outlet.

The woman was taken to the hospital, where she was being treated for injuries not considered life-threatening, according to the report.

Investigators, who were still looking into the incident, said that Agrawal's wounds appeared to be self-inflicted, the report added Authorities believe that Agrawal may be suffering from mental illness and will determine if she is mentally competent to understand her charges and face trial should it come to that, another local media report said.
Life in the state capital has gone turned upside down following a complete lockdown implemented by the government across the state to fight against Covid-19 outbreak.

While families in the city are trying to cope up with prohibition on going out and essential items fast disappearing from stores, its mainly the students staying away from their families who seem to be in real trouble these days.

Though majority of such students, who were put up at private lodges and rented rooms, have already left, partly because of the pressure by the district administration and partly because of lodge owners wanting to vacate the rooms avoid spread of Covid-19, some continued to stay back and are now feeling the heat of the lockdown.

 Were ruing the day we decided to stay back to concentrate on our studies and preparations. As some examinations were scheduled in April and June, we did not want to break the tempo of our studies. But, we had no idea that getting even essential materials would get cumbersome, Yogesh Bharat, a student from Nawada sharing a rented room with five other students in Ashok Rajpath area of the city, said.

Earlier, the students used to have food at a mess located close to their accommodations. After the government announced closure of all restaurants and hotels across the state, the mess owner also pulled the shutter down. For days, we managed to sustain on ready-made food items like Sattu and Chura or beaten rice but could not eat it for any long, he said.

Total lockdown has put students in a far more difficult situation with food items not being available at the general stores and going to other areas too is not possible due to strict local administration, he added.

For these migrant students, while going back to their native places is difficult now as no transport facility is available, even staying back doesnt look like a better option, he added.

Riya Sinha, a school teacher at Rajendra Nagar, said some students who were living in the flat opposite hers had left for their villages before Holi. But some are still staying. Far more distressing is how prices of food materials have gone up and its getting difficult for the students to afford living here, she said.

Santosh Kumar, a social activist from Gandhi Setu area in the city, said that the administration should do something for the students stranded in the city. They should be provided ready-made food items to sustain, he said.

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The crisis response team with participation of representatives of parliamentary factions and groups of the Verkhovna Rada led by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is processing the proposals of the Finance Ministry to make changes to the law on the national budget for 2020, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov has said.

"Yesterday, we created a crisis response team at the Verkhovna Rada. It was headed by the Prime Minister. I would like to immediately say that it will be developing those bills that will help Ukraine overcome this crisis. And here the parliament is ready to help the government and any other institutions, to reduce the impact that the coronavirus inflicts on Ukraine and the whole world," Razumkov said on Friday evening after a meeting of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, asked what changes will be made to the 2020 national budget.

According to the Verkhovna Rada, for the second day at the team is working on proposals of the Finance Ministry regarding the amendments that need to be made to the country's budget.

"This is a complicated process, the second day meetings with deputies of the Verkhovna Rada, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers are held. That's why the team was created. The proposals that were submitted by the Finance Ministry are being processed, there is no final version yet," Razumkov added.
Job increases in manufacturing, agriculture, distribution, transport and call centres, as well as the medical sector are offering a glimmer of hope to Australia's growing population of unemployed workers.

There were 900 more jobs offered in state and territory hospitals in March than in February, including doctors, nurses and nurse support workers, but other sectors are also experiencing demand.

There were 900 more hospital jobs in March compared to February.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education, Skills and Employment said there had been growth in logistics jobs such as truck drivers, store persons, shelf fillers and in some retail jobs such as pharmacists, checkout operators and commercial cleaners.

In manufacturing, demand increased in the categories of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, food and groceries.
Four labourers were killed on the spot while three others were seriously injured when a truck ploughed into them at Virar on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway around 3 am Saturday, police said.

The Virar police have seized the truck but the driver is absconding, said Assistant Police Inspector Ranjitsinh Pardeshi of Mandvi police check post.

A group of seven labourers were going to their villages in Rajasthan on foot when the Gujarat police turned them away Friday night at Bhilad (Gujarat-Maharashtra border) and they were returning to their shanties in Vasai.

Two of the dead have been identified as Kalpesh Joshi (32), and Mayank Bhatt (34) while the rest are yet to be identified. Of the three admitted to hospital, the condition of one is serious. The police officer said.

The seven were among thousands of daily wage labourers rendered jobless by the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had turned off street lights on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway due to traffic restrictions and the area where the accident took place was in total darkness, the official.

Also read: Covid-19: What you need to know today

For many labourers from Gujarat and Rajasthan who work as masons at construction sites, there is no work now and scores of them have been forced to walk back to their villages in the absence of any transport due to the lockdown.

The lockdown has sparked migrations from major metros as workers and daily wage earners headed home in different states, mostly on foot.

Maharashtra continues to have the highest number of Covid-19 infected people at 159 while the total number of infections in the country has crossed 800.
Terrified dogs and cats crammed into rusty cages. Bats and scorpions offered for sale as traditional medicine. Rabbits and ducks slaughtered and skinned side by side on a stone floor covered with blood, filth, and animal remains.

Those were the deeply troubling scenes yesterday as China celebrated its 'victory' over the coronavirus by reopening squalid meat markets of the type that started the pandemic three months ago, with no apparent attempt to raise hygiene standards to prevent a future outbreak.

As the pandemic that began in Wuhan forced countries worldwide to go into lockdown, a Mail on Sunday correspondent yesterday watched as thousands of customers flocked to a sprawling indoor market in Guilin, south-west China.

Cats waiting to be slaughtered for their meat in a market in Guilin, Southwest China

Here cages of different species were piled on top of each other. In another meat market in Dongguan, southern China, another correspondent photographed a medicine seller returning to business on Thursday with a billboard advertising bats  thought to be the cause of the initial Wuhan outbreak  along with scorpions and other creatures.

The shocking scenes came as China finally lifted a weekslong nationwide lockdown and encouraged people to go back to normal daily life to boost the flagging economy. Official statistics indicated there were virtually no new infections.

The market in Guilin was packed with shoppers yesterday, with fresh dog and cat meat on offer, a traditional 'warming' winter dish.

A traditional medicine stall at Dongguan market in southern China advertising bats and other wild animals such as lizards and scorpions as legitimate remedies for common ailments

'Everyone here believes the outbreak is over and there's nothing to worry about any more. It's just a foreign problem now as far as they are concerned,' said one of the China-based correspondents who captured these images for The Mail on Sunday.

The correspondent who visited Dongguan said: 'The markets have gone back to operating in exactly the same way as they did before coronavirus.

'The only difference is that security guards try to stop anyone taking pictures which would never have happened before.'

The first coronavirus cases were traced to a market in Wuhan but the outbreak was kept silent by officials for weeks and whistleblowers were silenced, including 33-yearold Dr Li Wenliang, who later died of coronavirus.

Dogs and rabbits are butchered and sold at a meat market in Guilin, southwest China, on Saturday, 28 March 2020 despite infection concerns about this type of market

Now, after a dramatic fall in infection rates within China, the Beijing government is promoting conspiracy theories that the outbreak did not begin in China at all. A discredited story, shared widely on China's Weibo social media platform, claims coronavirus was first detected in Italy in November.

Meanwhile, Chinese officials have promoted groundless conspiracy theories that the US Army brought the virus to its shores. The only Chinese city still under lockdown yesterday was Wuhan, but yesterday even the restrictions there began to be lifted, with high-speed trains allowed to operate.
BERKELEY (BCN)

It appears that a fatal shooting in broad daylight in Berkeley last week resulted from a road rage confrontation, according to court documents released on Friday.

Hosea Askew, 52, of Richmond, was charged with murder on Thursday for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Diante Craig of Richmond near the corner of Chestnut Street and University Avenue at about 12:20 p.m. on March 20.

Officers who responded to the shooting found Craig slumped over the driver's seat of a blue Acura SUV and he was pronounced dead at the scene, Berkeley police Officer Andres Bejarano wrote in a probable cause statement.

The suspect's vehicle was described as a blue four-door sedan and investigators later connected it to Askew and arrested him at his home in Richmond at about 5 p.m. last Saturday, Bejarano said.

Surveillance camera footage from businesses and residences in the area showed that Askew and Craig were both traveling west on University Avenue just before the shooting, according to Bejarano.

He wrote, "Based on footage and witness statements it appeared this incident began as a road rage incident."

Detectives who arrested Askew at his residence in Richmond found a 9mm pistol that appeared to have been recently cleaned and also found evidence that he was in Berkeley just before the shooting, Bejarano said.

When investigators interviewed Askew he admitted being in Berkeley but denied being on University Avenue until he was confronted with surveillance camera footage showing he was there, according to Bejarano.

Askew denied ever seeing Craig or his car and denied being involved in any altercations, according to Bejarano.

When investigators presented Askew with a search warrant to obtain a DNA sample he was hesitant and later threatened to file a lawsuit against them, Bejarano said.

In addition to murder, Askew is charged with shooting at an occupied vehicle and assault with a semi-automatic firearm.

Askew's wife, Mercedes Askew, 62, is charged with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly trying to help him cover up his role in the shooting.

Bejarano wrote that when detectives interviewed Mercedes Askew she was "adamant" that he was with her at their Richmond home all day on the day of the shooting.

At the request of Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, whose district includes Berkeley, the Board of Supervisors adjourned its meeting on Tuesday in Craig's honor and held a moment of silence for him.

Carson said Craig's mother is an Alameda County employee.

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A 74-year old man became Telangana's first coronavirus fatality as samples of him taken after his death two days ago tested positive for the infection on Saturday as the total number of COVID-19 cases mounted to 67, state Health Minister E Rajender said.

The city-based man had a travel history to Delhi and been suffering from breathing problems since March 20 and collapsed in his house on March 26. He was declared brought dead at a corporate hospital here the same day.

"It was only after his death we came to know that he was positive for coronavirus," he added.

The Minister said the man had initially taken treatment locally and was rushed to the corporate hospital.

"The hospital authorities have informed us about his death as mandated by the government (for suspected cases). After tests, he was coronavirus positive case," Rajender told reporters.

He said the family members of the deceased are currently under quarantine.

The total COVID-19 cases in the state stood at 67, including one death and one discharge, he added.

The Minister said the number of cases in the state have gone up during the past two days with more people from two families, including that of the deceased, testing positive.

Sources in the corporate hospital said the man had been to Delhi and came back on March 17 by air and was having left eye infection since then and taking treatment for it at a local hospital.

Later, he developed cough and shortness of breath and had taken some antibiotics in the house before collapsing on March 26 past 10 pm.

After he was declared dead on arrival by the emergency response physician, on suspicion that he might be affected by coronavirus, they took swab samples adopting all precautions as mandated, the sources said.

Five staff who were in close contact with patient have been quarantined and are doing well, they added.

Rajender said out of those under treatment, ten have tested negative in fresh tests and after one more test they will be discharged.

He appealed to people not to attend congregated religious prayers to avoid large gatherings and ensure social distancing.

The minister said additional medical infrastructure was being created as part of precautionary measures for tackling COVID-19 in case of requirement.

The government has already declared state-run Gandhi Hospital as full-fledged hospital and another two medical facilities partially for coronavirus treatment, he said.

According to him, the number of persons under quarantine is reducing day by day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Every few seconds, a batch of white plastic cases shoots along a conveyor belt in a South Korean factory a- coronavirus test kits destined for export around the world as the global pandemic sends demand soaring. SD Biosensor is one of five South Korean companies whose COVID-19 diagnostic tests are being used in the country, where a huge "trace, test and treat" effort appears to have brought the epidemic under control. The factory on a nondescript industrial estate in Cheongju, south of Seoul, is ramping up production of kits that could be crucial to the world's anti-virus efforts. It is now making 350,000 tests a day -- almost as many as the South has used in the entire outbreak so far -- up from 20,000 in January. And managers plan to start 24-hour operations next month, taking daily output to more than a million. "Treatment for the virus begins with accurate diagnosis," company vice president Park June told AFP. "I have been in the diagnostic industry for 35 years and never I have felt such a strong spotlight on our work," he added. The company is already exporting to eight countries including Germany, Iran, India and Italy, and is in discussions with around 60 more, led by the United States -- which has now confirmed more cases than anywhere else in the world. Controversy has swirled around the Trump administration's response to the outbreak, with accusations of insufficient preparations, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said this week that his US counterpart had asked for test kits, although the White House has not confirmed the request. Park anticipates Washington's Food and Drug Administration will grant his firm an emergency use authorisation next week, and expects the US will become its "biggest export market". - Clinical trial - More than 100 workers in white protective suits staff the production lines, where machines pump out the tests at the rate of 2.5 per second. SD Biosensor began developing its tests in January, soon after the virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The South Korean government issued an emergency authorisation for their use in just two weeks, expediting a clinical trial process that usually takes a year to complete. That speed was a key factor in the South's rapid scaling-up of its testing programme -- a result of its painful experience in dealing with the 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak, when 38 people died. Nearly 120 countries are now seeking to secure South Korean-made tests, a foreign ministry official told Yonhap news agency on Friday, either as purchases or humanitarian aid. Seoul was prioritising the US, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, he said. "The country on which we put the foremost priority is the US," the official added, "as there has been a spike in new infections there, and President Donald Trump has also made a request to us himself, while the US has not barred the entry of our citizens and struck a currency swap deal with South Korea".
New Delhi [India], Mar 28 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah today over phone, regarding the Kashmiri students who are stuck in different states due to coronavirus lockdown imposed in the entire country for 21 days.

According to sources, Ghulam Nabi Azad asked Home Minister Shah to announce the special helpline number to help the students and labourers of Jammu and Kashmir stranded in various states.

Moreover, seven more people have been tested positive for coronavirus in Srinagar today. Four have a history of contact with already positive cases of religious congregation other three have travel history outside J & K contacts who are being traced.

PM Modi has announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for 21 days in an unprecedented drastic measure to try halt the spread of coronavirus.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 873 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in the country and 19 fatalities have been reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar speaks during a news conference on the CCP virus at Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland, on March 24, 2020. (Steve Humphreys/Pool via Reuters)

Ireland Locks Down for 2 Weeks, Prime Minister Says Stay Home

Irelands citizens will undergo two weeks of lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as the countrys prime minister says people must stay home until April 12.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that people can only leave their homes to shop for groceries or brief individual physical exercise within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of their homes and to make family visits that are absolutely essential, such as providing care to elderly or vulnerable people. Almost all shops will be shut, and all public gatherings outside of family units will be prohibited completely.

People can also travel to and from work for an essential service which cannot be done from home, a list of which would be provided, Varadkar said. People can also travel for medical appointments and farming purposes.

Those who are over 70 years old and those who have chronic diseases must stay in their homes completely until at least April 12, the prime minister added.

Tonight, the Government has received further recommendations on the actions that we need to take to protect our people. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/2bmDzEt22q  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) March 27, 2020

Im appealing to every man, woman, and child to make these sacrifices for the love of each other  Show that you care for your family and friends: Stay home, Varadkar told a news conference in Dublin on Friday.

There isnt much more we could do beyond this to restrict movement. These are radical actions aimed at saving as many peoples lives as possible in the days and weeks ahead, he added.

A sign notifies passersby of the 2-meter social distancing measures in place, as people exercise in Phoenix Park in Dublin, after Ireland introduced measures to help slow the spread of the CCP virus, on March 25, 2020. (Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images)

As of Saturday morning local time, Ireland has 2,121 confirmed cases of the CCP virus and 22 related deaths.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

Related Coverage Editorial: Giving the Right Name to the Virus Causing a Worldwide Pandemic

Intensive care units in Ireland will be at capacity within a few days given the rate of the spread of the virus, Varadkar also said.

I am [concerned]. As things stand, we have empty beds in our ICUs but just the way things are heading would indicate that our ICUs will be at capacity within a few days, he said.

Thats already the case across Europe, it looks like it may happen here so we need to plan for that. We need to make sure we have backup ICU capacity, ventilators, CPAP [continuous positive airway pressure] machines. All that is happening. An unprecedented effort is being made to tool up.

Earlier in mid-March, Ireland closed schools, universities, childcare facilities, and pubs. Varadkar on Tuesday announced that all non-essential businesses will shut until at least April 19, before the latest two-week lockdown announcement on Friday.

Reuters contributed to this report.
While President Trump closed the U.S. border against entry from China at the end of January, his overall instinct was right. The CCP virus was nasty, but no worse than a supercharged flu.

Health professionals overwhelmed Trump and his inner circle with doomsday scenarios, bullied by panic-obsessed virologists and epidemiologists  begging for attention and copying the alarmist playbook from the climate/global warming extremists, allied with the MSM Trump-haters.

And now the government has completely suffocated economic demand, creating a depression, an unnecessary calamity that is destroying lives, livelihoods, families, and fortunes for a generation. It is becoming apparent that the end-of-the-world predictions, computer models warning of an apocalyptic black plague worldwide, are all wrong.

Those paying attention were warned that the worse-case scenarios were hysterical, by the likes of Stanford epidemiologist John P.A. Ioannidis.

In dramatic fashion, U.K. Imperial College scientist Neil Ferguson published a doomsday scenario on March 16. Now, just ten days later, he has reversed his outlook, essentially settling on a prediction no worse than a bad flu season.

Most telling, the two U.S. public health icons, Drs Fauci and Birx, are both saying the extreme models that provoked extreme measures bear little resemblance to the actual data on the ground. From the New England Journal of Medicine dated March 26, but first published Feb 28, 2020, co-authored by Fauci:

This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.

Re: Dr. Birx from The Hill:

Birx, speaking at a White House press briefing, singled out a recent study on the United Kingdom that originally predicted 500,000 people would die from the virus and has since been revised down to predict 20,000 deaths in the U.K. She said the data the government has collected does not show that 20 percent of the U.S. population would be infected with COVID-19, cautioning against predictions that say so. "When people start talking about 20 percent of a population getting infected, it is very scary but we don't have data that matches that based on the experience," Birx said. "There's no ... reality on the ground where we can see that 60 to 70 percent of Americans are going to get infected in the next eight to 12 weeks," Birx later continued.

Perhaps Trump had no other option than to go with the flow when this crisis unfolded. But he is not usually a slave to consensus. He was elected because he is a contrarian. His contrarian antennae have already sent signals that he must reset the economy, pronto.

Trump wants America to reopen by Easter. Despite his ambition being ridiculed and criticized, he's right to pivot from hysteria to rebound.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  The Philippine government will import rice, country's main food staple, if the situation amid the COVID-19 outbreak calls for it, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles has disclosed.

If necessary, the importation of an additional 300,000 metric tons of rice through government to government arrangements with ASEAN trading partners and/or from all sources including India and Pakistan at the ASEAN tariff, Nograles said via Facebook Live Friday night.

Separately, the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) ordered farming and fishing activities to continue despite the enhanced community quarantine.

Nograles said the Department of Agriculture shall be provided with 31 billion in order to implement, expand, and increase food adequacy in the country.

RELATED: Agriculture dept. seeks 32-B extra funds for unhampered food supply
Speaking alongside the Prime Minister today, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said Australia had just under 4000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and this was much less than might have been without mitigation measures.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy . Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

There is evidence that the public health measures that we are putting in place and the social distancing measures are likely to be having some early effect, he said.

Professor Murphy also noted Australias high testing rates and relatively low numbers of confirmed cases.

We feel reasonably confident that we are detecting a significant majority of the cases in Australia. That means that we can get on top of cases when they are detected, he said.

But it is not enough. We have to slow it further. We have to slow it further and we have to stop the thing that's worrying us most, which is community transmission."

Professor Murphy said numbers needed to stay low enough to allow for effective contact tracing and suppression of the spread.

It is very simple. We need to all stay home unless we are going out to shop, to do personal exercise, to go to medical appointments, or to go to work or study if you can't work from home. So anyone who doesn't need to be out of their home should be in the home. This is radical, he said.

Professor Murphy praised the majority of people for complying with advice while admonishing the very silly behaviour from some.

Continue to follow these rules and hopefully these early signs of flattening will mean that we can keep going and getting a reduction in the rate of increase every day, he said.
The people of Longford are being urged to show their support for people living with cystic fibrosis and their families by donating online at 65rosesday.ie on Cystic Fibrosis Irelands 65 Roses Day, Friday, April 10.

The annual fundraising flag-day is the largest fundraising event of the year for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and unfortunately collections have had to be cancelled due to Covid-19.

At this time of unprecedented challenge, now more than ever, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland need your support so they can continue to provide much needed support for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland. You can get behind the appeal by donating online at 65rosesday.ie

Among the well-known faces to lend their support to this very worthy cause, and encouraging the public to rally behind it, is local TD, Sorca Clarke and Joe Flaherty who recently attended the national launch of the fundraising campaign.

Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in the world and some of the most severe types. There are almost 1,400 people living with CF in Ireland and the number is increasing each year as a result of improvements in treatment and care. According to recently-published statistics from the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland, there were under 10 people with CF registered as being from Co. Longford in 2018.

WATCH | Longford's Jillian McNulty: 'I haven't fought tooth and nail, every day of my life, to survive cystic fibrosis and to be wiped out by coronavirus'

65 Roses Day collections cancelled

CFI depends almost entirely on the public for the provision of its services and this 65 Roses Day is hoping to raise more than 200,000 for much-needed services for people with CF through the call for donations at 65rosesday.ie.

This includes the additional counselling and advice and other services put in place to deal with support required in relation to Covid-19 for the CF community with people with Cystic Fibrosis in the high risk group from the virus.

Funds are also need for normal support services including patient grants for exercise, fertility treatment, and transplant assessment, covering the cost of a number of CF clinical staff in hospitals, and raising funds to assist in the building of the new CF in-patient unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin which serves people with CF across the North East region and beyond.

People can support 65 Roses Day by:

Donating online at 65RosesDay.ie

Texting Fight CF to 50300 for 4 [Text costs 4. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will receive a minimum of 3.60. Service Provider: LIKE CHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.]

For more information on how you can support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland on 65 Roses Day, please call Brendan on LoCall 1890 311 211, email fundraising@cfireland.ie or visit 65RosesDay.ie

People can find the appeal on Facebook at facebook.com/ CysticFibrosisIreland and on Twitter at twitter.com/cf_ireland. The campaign hashtag is #65RosesDay.

Read also: Parties are irresponsible to those being careful, says Longford's Jillian McNulty
Bosses are panic-buying spy software to keep tabs on remote employees. Zoom is doing some shady stuff with your conversations and online data. And the FBI suddenly wants you to download a fitness app.

Add in news about tracking people (and their temperatures) via their smart devices and were pretty much where we were right after 9/11  throwing privacy out the window in the name of public safety.

As Kate Kaye wonders at Fast Company, does privacy matter during the time of COVID-19?

Its already begun. Cities are using thermal cameras to detect sick people, drones are monitoring social interaction, and as Kaye notes, the White House has considered using mobile location data analytics for tracing contact among residents.

But that same, admittedly helpful data could be used by private health insurance firms to determine insurance rates or deny coverage, according to Aaron Shapiro, author and research fellow at NYUs Information Law Institute.

And while the U.S. does not have the current ability to organize something like a government-wide scanning system, some cities and companies have been working with thermal camera company FLIR Systems to install their machines to detect COVID-19 cases.

The real issue is how much of that data is collected and then shared. If cities are doing it, they would ideally have a privacy officer whos raising these issues ahead of time, as Adam Schwartz, senior staff attorney at Electronic Frontier Foundation, told Fast Company. It needs to not be the department of transportation director and a corporate salesperson who do this.

What investigators do have more access to is mobile location data and credit card transactions, all of which can help pinpoint when a patient made contact with others or where they visited. This contact tracing method has been used by China, South Korea and Israel, and has started to make headway into corporations and the government here in the U.S. (places like Hong Kong are even demanding arriving passengers wear a trackable wrist device).

Although theres talk about some opt-in devices and methods here in the U.S., health and privacy do need to be balanced. This could get Orwellian very fast, Schwartz noted, later adding, Whatever extra measures we use to deal with coronavirus, they have to expire when coronavirus ends.

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The post Your Privacy May Be a Victim of COVID-19 Monitoring appeared first on InsideHook.
A spontaneous idea by a Dallas-area woman for keeping her doctor husband quarantined from the rest of the family when he is off duty during the coronavirus crisis has blossomed into ad hoc, national volunteer service to match medical personnel with people willing to donate an RV or camper.

The idea, launched a week ago, is simple: Provide a cheap way for medical personnel to remain near their families without risking infecting them.

Emily Phillips tells USA TODAY that she was concerned when her husband, Jason , would return home in scrubs and medical gear after working with numerous patients daily as an emergency physician.

She said she was afraid he might inadvertently infect her, or her children, 8-year-old Landon, 5-year-old Ella, and 6-month-old Beau, who live in a large house on secluded acreage in Celina, north of Dallas.

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Should you cancel vacations to Mexico? Travel experts discuss

While her husband has so far not knowingly dealt with a coronavirus patients, he does work with emergency cases daily.

"I've been terrified," she said of her husband's arrival each evening.

"I'm looking at him, and I say, 'oh my god, he could easily be exposed to this virus,'" Phillips said. "It only takes one droplet to contaminate the family.

She said her mother suggested they get a RV and park it on by the house, so he would be near his family without making closer contact.

An appeal on her Facebook page a week ago quickly turned up two local offers of RVs. By the time they brought one home, Craig Reese Brockman, a local doctor who supervises residents at Parkland Hospital, a major Dallas facility, had expressed interest in getting one. Emily and Jason gave up theirs and took a second one.

Dr. Jason Phillips, left, of Celina, Texas, and and Dr. Craig Reese Brockman,of Frisco, Texas, examine a donated RV that Brockman will use during the coronavirus crisis. Phillips's wife, Emily Phillips, started the volunteer project, "RVs for MD's" to donate RVS to doctors to alow them to self-quarantine from their families without having to go to hotels.

Emily Phillips then took the idea online on a Facebook page dubbed "RVs 4 MD's."

"Every doctor or nurse that we can self-quarantine, not in a hotel, we thought we could be saving thousands of lives," Phillips said. "Because if they expose their families, their families go to the grocery store, and all these other people catch it."

Story continues

That's when everything exploded.

There are now 10 online administrators who work 24/7 trying to match RV donors with medical people looking for a camper.

"Wow, this is amazing," Alyssa Prescott wrote on the Facebook page. "My husband is an ER physician here in grapevine TX and I am worried sick about him and our family. We have five young children ... He is already seeing symptomatic patients daily right now and I worry around the clock about exposure for him and us. If there was an RV available in our area we would be thankful from the bottom of our hearts."

Phillips said the team was able to match up the Prescotts with an RV.

Julia Brandenburg, of Marysville, Calif. got involved by donating her RV. She thenvolunteered to work on the Facebook site as an administrator.

"I am just so happy to be able to do something for the medical community, and I wish I could do more!!" she said.

She said more than 1,400 people from around the country  from Sacramento to Houston to New York  have posted offer to donate or lend their RV.

Her one requirement: the whole process must be entirely free.

"No dollars are to be exchanged," she said. "It is completely and totally donations."

So far, they have matched RVs and doctors or nurses in Minneapolis, Little Rock; Lynchburg, Va.; Phoenix; Oklahoma City, and 5 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

"It's been unbelievable," she said.

Emily Phillips, her husband, Dr. Jason Phillips, and their 6-month-old son, Beau, at home in Celina, Texas. Emily became concerned about her doctor husband infecting the family, so she started a volunteer service for people to donate RVs to medical personnel so that they can stay near their families while off-duty without the danger of passing along the coronavirus.

Other appeals await a response: "Right now I have 1 in Sacramento.. 1 in Springfield Mo and 1 in Houston. Let me know if you know any docs there .. nurses etc," reads one posting. Says another: "We need an RV for Syracuse NY And south east Michigan ASAP".

Martin Tate, who lives near Houston, weighed in with an offer, saying he has two units just north of Houston: "I want to find a nurse or Dr that NEEDS them to keep them away from family and have their own space.."

All RVs and campers must be cleaned and disinfected first and meet requisite legal and insurance requirements, but that hasn't slowed the response, first reported by the local newspaper Culturemap Dallas.

The project, less than a week old, has been so successful that Phillips, who owns a software company, has been overwhelmed. The team working on the site spend all their time tediously trying to match RV donations with medical personnel in the area.

She said she is looking for someone who could it take over and manage the operation. She also hopes someone could develop a basic app  like Tinder  that would allow RV donors to swipe left and medical personnel in need of a camper to swipe right.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus good news, how to help: Donate RVs for healthcare workers
Members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-Enactment Society (EHRS) travelled to Hugginstown in County Kilkenny recently to participate in the 100th anniversary commemoration of the first successful capture of a Royal Irish Constabulary barracks in Leinster.

That capture occurred on March 8, 1920, and 100 years later, to the day, the Enniscorthy re-enactors joined their hosts in Gairdin an Ghorta Historical Society to commemorate the event.

The barracks was located in Hugginstown, south Kilkenny, and it was captured in 1920 by the Kilkenny brigades of the old IRA.

Spokesperson for the EHRS, Maria Nolan said the organisation was delighted to be invited to to participate in such a historically significant event.

Local historian and author of 'The Flying Column West Kilkenny', Jim Maher, was guest speaker at the ceremony.

He gave a detailed history of Kilkenny`s involvement in the War of Independence, beginning with the attack on Hugginstown Barracks - where 35 men from the Kilkenny Brigade, led by Thomas Tracey, climbed on the roof, broke slates and dropped grenades into the barracks.

The police surrendered after a stand-off of around 45 minutes.

The IRA captured six rifles, two revolvers and some ammunition. Constable Thomas Ryan was wounded in the attack and died two days later, leaving behind his pregnant wife and five children.

Mr Maher, who comes from a strong Republican background, is informative and passionate about the struggle for Irish freedom.

He has spent many years travelling the highways and backroads of counties Kilkenny and Tipperary, talking to the quiet men and women who knew the days of the Flying Columns, brigades, battalions and companies of the IRA and Cumann na mBan.

Ms Nolan said it was very fitting that Mr Maher was asked to unveil a commemorative plaque, at the site of the former RIC barracks, which was unveiled in memory of all the men and women who played their part in writing the history of our country's path to freedom.
The next seven days will test the National Health Service like never before, as the number of coronavirus patients needing life-saving treatment begins to approach unsustainable levels  with predictions that patient numbers could double every few days.

Across the country hospitals are hoping the 33,000 extra beds in makeshift wards that have been fashioned out of old clinic spaces, offices and surgical theatres will give the NHS the capacity it needs.

The number of UK deaths has passed 1,000, with 260 further victims of the epidemic. The increase, from 759 to 1,019, was by far the biggest day-on-day rise in fatalities since the outbreak began.

NHS chief Stephen Powis told a Downing Street press conference that while every death is a tragedy, less than 20,000 would be a good outcome for the UK. We shouldnt be complacent about that, he added. Although that would be a good result, it will only happen if we stop the transmission of the virus.

There is mounting concern among NHS leaders and senior nurses, who have told The Independent there is a major risk over safely staffing the extra beds and treating patients who need help to breathe, alongside concerns that large numbers of staff could become sick themselves.

One chief nurse at a hospital in the midlands told The Independent what was now being considered for intensive care would have been unthinkable in normal times. This is going to push staff who arent used to this sort of acute care of patients to the limits.

Nicki Credland, chair of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN), added: We are doing everything we possibly can, but we simply do not have enough intensive care nurses. We are going to have to accept we cant save everyone.

London is expected to be the worst hit during the next 10 days with the rest of the country following behind within the first few weeks of April.

On Friday NHS England confirmed there were 6,300 Covid-19 patients in hospital, with at least half thought to be hospitalised in London. Cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Friday that the number of cases was doubling every two to three days, suggesting London would be overwhelmed without the additional 4,000 beds which have been opened at Londons ExCel centre.

But an email to NHS staff from one London hospital, seen by The Independent, made clear staff who volunteered to work at the newly named NHS Nightingale Hospital would be expected to effectively live on site. It said staff volunteering to work in the hospital would need to be prepared to live-in for the period the field hospital is open.

St John Ambulance volunteers are also being asked to help staff the hospital, but some are thought to be having only a few days of training ahead of the hospital opening in the coming days.

More field hospitals are expected to be opened, at the Birmingham NEC and Manchester Central conference centre, in the next few weeks to try and relieve pressure on local hospitals.

But as the numbers of patients inexorably rise, the plans hastily put in place by NHS bosses in recent weeks will be forced to take the strain of what will rapidly become a national emergency.

NHS guidance issued on Thursday to hospitals made clear that staff from across hospitals, including non-nurses such as care assistants, therapists and pharmacists may have to be used to care for patients with intensive care nurses expected to oversee teams of carers across several patients.

Normally intensive care wards operate on a ratio of one nurse to one patient.

The documents said the NHS was heading into the crisis with 10 per cent of posts vacant, with normal business maintained thanks to the use of agency nurses. It said: Opening additional beds in surge is therefore a challenge to staffing capacity.

It said normal rules on training for nurses would need to be relaxed to preserve life using every available resource.

The document added: It is acknowledged that a period of pandemic such as coronavirus will place pressures on and challenges to providing safe, effective, quality care to the critically ill patient.

Ms Credland from the BACCN, who helped agree the guidelines, said: What we have needed to do is to think about how we deploy staff who dont traditionally work in intensive care such as theatre and outpatient nurses.

It is not going to be perfect. We are going to try and do the absolute best we can for the most people we can possibly do it for.

The situation in London is awful and we know we will start to see that disseminate through the rest of the country and you cant just teach people to be a critical care nurse in a matter of days and weeks.

She warned nurses and other staff could suffer serious mental health impacts from the next few months: Staff are going to see a lot of patients die in one shift and they wont have been able to deliver the level of care they are used to. The risk of post-traumatic stress is absolutely astronomical.

Nursing is only one aspect of staffing levels for critical care beds. One doctor at the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, explained: Its all very well making extra space and extra ventilators, but will we have enough staff for those areas? We will need physios, runners like healthcare support workers, pharmacists, admin staff, security, cleaners.

The added: Every Covid area, a four-bed bay and each side room, must have a runner outside. Usually ITU [intensive treatment unit] nurses would pop out to a storeroom a billion times per shift to get bits and pieces and new drug infusions and find the doctors to ask questions or get a prescription. Now it will all have to be done by runners. We wont have enough phones to keep doctors in contact.

They also said a team of at least five would be needed to lie patients prone, on their stomachs, which can actually help their lungs to cope with the infection.

Researchers and clinicians from Kings College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Trust have also warned NHS staff face what they described as a moral injury from the decisions made during the crisis.

Professor Neil Greenberg said the psychological distress can result from actions, or lack of them, which violate someones moral or ethical code. In an article for the British Medical Journal, he wrote: During the Covid-19 outbreak many healthcare workers will encounter situations where they cannot say to a grieving relative, We did all we could, but only, We did the best we could with the staff and resources available, it wasnt enough. That is the seed of a moral injury. It will hurt, and perhaps hurt for a long time, unless we now start to prepare and support our staff who will have to face this challenge.

Professor Alison Leary, chair of healthcare and workforce modelling at London South Bank University, said the NHS needed to employ the principle of a slow-moving major incident and consider how it would cope during the second and third wave as well as the initial crisis.

She added: We need to understand many staff will be working beyond their scope and competency. We have to accept we are working well beyond our risk envelope that we would normally accept as health professionals and as a society.

She said the longer-term mental health of staff and patients from the pandemic was likely to last for years to come.

Helen Buckingham, director of strategy at the Nuffield Trust, said that there also needed to be consideration of the social care and nursing homes that could undermine the NHS response if they had to send patients to hospital or could not receive new patients. We should remember there are more staff working in social care than there are in the NHS, around 1.5 million people, she said.

But Ms Buckingham said the NHS was as ready as it can be in the circumstances, adding: It is clear from the modelling that we are going to see the numbers rise significantly in the next few days. We will only really know with hindsight if that is enough.
As a minority investor, Microsoft does not have enough oversight to ensure that the startups tech is not used for mass surveillance

In this representative image, commuters walk through ticket gates equipped with facial recognition systems at a metro station in Moscow on January 27, 2020. (Photo | AFP)

Redmond: Microsoft said Friday it is pulling its investments from a facial-recognition startup that scans faces at Israeli military checkpoints, even though the tech giant couldn't substantiate claims that the startup's technology is used unethically.

Microsoft late last year hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to lead a team of lawyers to audit Israeli firm AnyVision.

AnyVision had announced a $74 million investment in June from a group including Microsoft's venture capital arm. The firm and its Microsoft backing attracted public scrutiny as the Israeli military installed face scanners at border crossings where Palestinians enter Israel from the West Bank.

Holder's team was asked in October to determine whether AnyVision's technology applications comply with Microsoft's ethical principles against using facial recognition for mass surveillance. Microsoft and AnyVision jointly announced Friday that the audit didn't substantiate any breach of Microsoft's principles.

A statement from the Washington-based law firm Covington & Burling, where Holder works, said that available evidence demonstrates that AnyVision's technology has not previously and does not currently power a mass surveillance program in the West Bank that has been alleged in media reports. The law firm said the audit included a review of accounting records and a site visit to AnyVisions facilities in Holon, Israel.

But Microsoft also said Friday it is still divesting its stake in the startup, and will stop making minority investments in companies that sell facial-recognition technology.

The company based in Redmond, Washington, said that the audit underscored the challenges of being a minority investor in a company selling sensitive technology because it may not have enough oversight or control over how the technology is used.

AnyVision has previously said its technology is used at border crossings similarly to how facial recognition is used at some airports.
In countries around the world, music has brought momentary relief from the pall of the coronavirus pandemic. It flows in impromptu harmonies from balconies in Italy, serenades for health care workers in Spain, concerts from rooftops, terraces and apartment windows. In the Houston area, that balm came from a quarantine flash mob, orchestrated by Parker Elementary School teacher Lisa Vosdoganes.

The cellist wanted to find a way to help her students keep up with instrument practice and ease their anxiety. So she began coordinating social-distancing correct concerts. Every Monday morning, her students troop out to front lawns, driveways and sidewalks and play along to Vosdoganes direction, which she streams on Facebook Live.

Suzuki music teachers around the country have followed Vosdoganes lead  turning what began as a practice challenge for her students into a nationwide movement.

As the coronavirus outbreak forced schools to cancel classes, Vosdoganes and educators everywhere have had to scramble to repurpose lessons for digital learning. In between, they are finding ways to connect with students at a distance through emails, Zoom conferencing and caravans such as one on Tuesday that wound past the homes of Kingwood Middle School students.

During the two-hour long Cougar Convoy, teachers waved, honked and shouted to their students from their cars. One mom saw my car window and shouted We miss you! BELIEVE ME! WE MISS YOU!!! tweeted one teacher. Seeing my students was the highlight of my day....no, MONTH! I adore and miss these kiddos so much, wrote another.

The scene was repeated in districts throughout the Houston area  in Humble ISD and Pearland ISD  and around the country  in Oklahoma City and Long Island, New York  a reminder that schools may be closed, but teachers are still hard at work.

So are health care workers, grocery store clerks, long-haul truckers, delivery drivers and farmworkers. Custodians, pharmacists and childcare workers. EMTs, home health aides and warehouse stockers, as well as mail carriers and restaurant takeout cooks.

These people provide encouragement in a time of upheaval and uncertainty are the heroes of our moment.

Like the first responders clambering into the World Trade Center rubble after the 9/11 terrorist attack, the Cajun Navy fleet rescuing hundreds during Hurricane Harvey, the neighbors offering food, friendship and shelter after fire and flood, they are the warriors and helpers who are emerging in the moment of our need, just as others have always emerged in moments of crisis.

They are the supermarket checkout clerks, shelf stockers, food delivery drivers and the staff handling restaurant takeout orders  and all those keeping us fed as we hunker down at home. They are people like Mariam McVaugh, a hostess at Chachis Mexican restaurant in Kingwood.

The 18-year-old high school senior was praised this week on local Facebook groups for her beaming smile and unflappable demeanor as she juggled a flood of online orders, brought meals out to customers waiting in cars, and manned the cash register.

Its her job. But for McVaugh and other food service workers, that job now also comes with a fair amount of risk  and a heightened level of stress.

If people come in overly anxious or when Im dropping off a delivery, I always try to be overly conscious to respect those fears, McVaugh said. Even if they lash out at you, if youre really nice everything calms down.

That last thought could be an anthem for our anxious times. Its spirit is echoed among the cadres of volunteers answering the call for help: Designers like Chloe Dao and David Peck, who have begun making surgical masks to fill a growing shortage. TX/RX Labs, a nonprofit fabrication workshop in Houstons East End, which partnered with Memorial Hermann to produce face shields and prototypes for desperately needed respirators.

Naomi Przygoda just wanted to do something to bring people a little happiness.

So the Kingwood mother scooped up a few goodies from around her house and made care packages for her neighbors, each one containing a light-hearted note of encouragement. With toilet paper rolls and antibacterial wipes, Were on a roll kicking this viruss butt, very shortly we will be out of the rut. With puzzles, After every storm comes a rainbow.

Then Przygoda and her two sons, who are 12 and 8, dropped the packages by the front door of 20 homes around the neighborhood.

We are choosing to live by faith and not fear, Przygoda, a teacher whose family recently moved to the Houston area, told the editorial board. So if I can do that for someone else, its the least I can do.

While Przygoda sprinkled joy in her corner of the city, efforts such as Houston ShiftMeal, which is helping feed hospitality workers who have lost their jobs, and Crowdsource Rescue, a nonprofit which coordinated rescues during Hurricane Harvey and other natural disasters, are reaching out on a wider level.

At Crowdsource, more than 500 volunteers signed up to do no-contact deliveries of groceries and supplies to the elderly and others who rely on programs shuttered because of COVID-19.

The world has changed very quickly and it can be overwhelming, said co-founder Matthew Marchetti. Going out to help gives a little shred of certainty.

Its up to all of us, Marchetti said, to fight back during this pandemic and outsmart the coronavirus in whatever way we can.

Nowhere is that battle more visceral and more pressing than in hospitals  where doctors, nurses and other medical workers are waging war against a virus that leaves people gasping for air. They risk infection, face isolation from loved ones and confront shortages of supplies and protective gear that could keep them safe.

One Memorial Hermann nurse described the challenges in a Facebook post  the palpable anxiety of co-workers, the world reeling around them, the fear of bringing danger and dread home to their families. There is a storm brewing in all of our hearts, she wrote, but we will not stop fighting.

In the coming days of social isolation and sickness, when we feel discouraged and demoralized  as surely we will  solace can be found in examples like hers  and in all the heroes among us.

They are bright lights in this grim present, a sorely-needed salve for all of us struggling to cope. The world may feel broken, but through the cracks, there are glimmers of hope.
On 27th March, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with Radio Jockeys (RJs) via video conference.

Prime Minister appreciated the role played by the RJs in spreading awareness about COVID-19. He said it is praiseworthy that even in lockdown, RJs are discharging their responsibility and recording programmes from home.

Prime Minister said that through the reach of the programmes, RJs are like members of families of millions of Indian households. People not only hear but also follow them. RJs have a great responsibility not just to disseminate and disabuse superstitions but also motivate people.

Apart from spreading information about the views of experts and steps taken by the government, PM also requested RJs to provide feedback about the difficulties and challenges faced by the people so that the government can proactively resolve them.

Prime Minister exhorted the RJs to disseminate positive stories and case studies, particularly of those patients that have fully recovered from coronavirus infection, and also inter-play such stories in different parts of the country, thus bringing the entire country together. He also asked them to showcase and constantly celebrate the contributions of the local heroes like police officers, doctors, nurses, ward boys etc. at national level.

Underlining the importance of empathy, Prime Minster said that it is important to tell the stories of misbehavior with doctors, health care workers and airline staff due to societal fears of them being infected by the virus, so that such challenges are overcome. He also underlined the importance of educating the public about the dedication of police personnel who are working continuously to assist the public. He said that the public should cooperate with police, adding that while police should avoid usage of strong arm tactics, it is also necessary to enforce discipline. 130 crore Indians should act as national volunteers in fighting the pandemic.

Prime Minister said that the government has announced a number of measures to assist the poor and under-privileged in this difficult time. It is important that information about these announcements reaches the intended beneficiaries swiftly and in a timely fashion. Prime Minister said that as mass communicators, the RJs can play a proactive role in informing their listeners about the announcements, along with educating them about social distancing and the importance of self-quarantine.

In their response, the RJs called the Prime Minister as a part of the RJ fraternity since he has been hosting the widely successful Mann ki Baat on radio since 2014. Pointing out the unprecedented response to Prime Ministers call of Janta Curfew and his innovative idea of thanking the front line warriors, the RJs praised the leadership fo the Prime Minister and said they would be happy to play the role of the voice of the nation in the battle against the pandemic.

Prime Minister observed that public broadcaster All India Radio has a particularly important role to play in stopping the flow of rumours. He also requested the RJs to also work towards checking the spread of rumours.

Prime Minister urged the RJs to work towards ensuring a constructive and positive attitude in society. He said that an attitude of togetherness combined with positivity is the key to facing the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting also participated in the interaction.
Many businesses have been donating surplus Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to local hospitals.

Beauty salons, restaurants and nail bars that have closed due to the spread of Covid-19, have been giving their left over surgical masks and latex gloves to healthcare workers.

It is hoped that the donations will tide them over until the next delivery arrives from China on tomorrow.

Funeral director, Robert Massey Maguire, said giving supplies to help frontline staff is the right thing to do.

Mr Maguire said: "We're a community business, James' Hospital is in our community. These nurses and doctors are really frontline and to think that they were in any way struggling for the right protective gear, we just thought we had to do anything we could.

"We need this gear as well but thankfully one of our suppliers had some stock left over so, and we'll continue to do it as we move forward, keep them in mind as we keep our stock going. We'll do that."

[snippet1]987600[/snippet1]
rst89 BHPian



Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 162 Thanked: 661 Times

Re: The Road trip across Jordan How to Swim free in Dead Sea?



Now dead sea part of Jordan is heavily commercialised with 5 star properties. They allow you to use their facilities at cost of 20 JOD per person and above. Even the therapeutic dead sea mud is not free sometimes here.



Next is Amman beach, it costs less than the 5 star ones but here also you have to pay to enter.

We had read that there is a spot in Dead Sea where local swims for free and there is hot spring water to wash off the salts after the swim. We anyways had a car, if we didnt find the spot, we will go back to Amman beach.



Driving parallel to Dead Sea to reach our spot





The Dead Sea with Israel-Palestine border on the opposite side.





Bookmark



After changing our clothes in the car, we followed the spot where the locals were going. We finally reached the shore and were pleasantly surprised to find the locals had dug up small pools which collected hot sulphur water coming from the



Experience in Dead Sea.



We knew that the therapeutic dead sea was somewhere around the corner and a local Jordanian showed us how to extract the mud from the shore. We applied copious amount of the dead sea mud on ourselves. There were some people around us, including a European family with the kids refusing to leave the Sulphur water pool. Israel was right opposite to us.



You cant swim in Dead Sea, you just float in it. This is due to the high salinity in the same and only fresh water source is River Jordan. There is literally no life in Dead Sea.



This is the shore where we ventured in the Dead Sea





We set up our GoPro, let the mud dry for some time and entered the sea. The sea shore is rocky and you have to place your legs carefully. We entered the water till our thighs, now was the real test.



We floated on our backs and we were not ready to leave our hands that were resting on the sea bed as we were not confident that the Dead sea allows you to float. Slowly we released our hands and we started floating. The feeling was surreal to stay the least. The floating was something that you need to experience in your life. You just float and drift with the current.



Once in a lifetime experience in Dead Sea.





After some 10 minutes I saw Mr. K coming out of water while I floated for half an hour. After coming back to shore, he said keeping head out of water is an extra effort and his non existent abdomen muscles have started to pain. I told him to enter water again and I took his pics and he did the same after I entered the water.



The sea water is really salty and by mistake it entered my mouth when one wave came to the shore. You may not want it to taste in your life.



After lazing some more time in the sea, as I was coming to the shore, I had a small cut on my hand while getting up and even on my sole of leg as the shore is rocky. You need to be careful here. Then we just relaxed in those sulphur pools that locals had dug up and washed ourself of all the salt on our body.



Now I understood why those pools were inviting for those small kids and warm water from the hot water springs high up was soothing. We didnt want to leave it at all. It was 1600h by the time we decided to go back to our car.



We did some unthinkable thing that I would have never done in India. We again took a bath on the roadside in Jordan with cars whizzing past you. The locals have set up a free shower system with continuous flow of same hot water spring. The shower was again good and I felt very fresh after the same.



I just feel the shore can be a little more clean as I saw locals nonchalantly throw waste over the fence in dead sea.



We changed again in the car and had some snacks and tea at one of the stalls that the locals had set up. It was 1630h and then we decided to visit the dead sea panorama centre. There was an elevation gain of 400m to reach the same and it was 16km odd from our spot.



We paid an entry fees of 2 JOD per head to enter the same. This place has a restaurant and we just wanted to catch the sunset over the Israel from this point. After layering up as it was getting cold, we reached the point and just had time with ourself and witnessed the sun go down.



The Sunset and the views we got overlooking Israel-Palestine.





















Dead Sea to Wadi Musa.





Around 1800h we knew, we had a long distance to cover of around 190 kms and we will be driving in night. Set the location to our hostel in Wadi Musa and again descended to Dead sea. We took the highway that went parallel to Dead Sea and then with the border to Israel. At one point along highway, we were so close to Israel-Palestine border that we were only 500m from the border and we can see lights on the other side.



In the mean time, I was getting hungry and a little bit restless due to continuous driving and asked Mr.K to find a spot to eat. After some time, on the other mobile, he set up a location in middle of nowhere very close to the Israel-Palestine border.



We just stopped at



Sipping the tea, we causally asked him if there is anything to eat and he made us a vegetarian dish consisting of tomatoes, caramelised onions and few spices which was served to us right in the pan along with Hummus, some lamb salami and yoghurt. Enjoyed the meal with the pita bread and replenished our tanks here. And all this including custom made tea for 6 JOD, way better than the restaurant near Jerash in morning. We spent around one hour here and since being a border area, we saw pick ups loaded with guns coming to the stop.



Started again the journey to Wadi Musa. After leaving highway no. 65, the Jordan valley highway, we saw maximum 3 cars in opposite direction to us. The roads were empty and then the crazy hair pin bends started. We were gaining height quite rapidly with the high beams of the Creta showcasing that we were missing some amazing desert scenery around us.



We came across a landslide with a rough road on the sides, Mr. K face was frozen and he was like we have to go back. The rough road was navigable and we reached other side where the road again met us. Finally after 2 hours, we saw lights and were closer to Wadi Musa.



Navigated to our hostel,



The winds were guzzling outside like anything. He took out luggage while I parked the car somewhere ahead of the hostel property. Completed the checkin formalities, and slept on our beds.



What a long day it has been, so many experiences and driving in one day, all in 350 odd kilometres. Now dead sea part of Jordan is heavily commercialised with 5 star properties. They allow you to use their facilities at cost of 20 JOD per person and above. Even the therapeutic dead sea mud is not free sometimes here.Next is Amman beach, it costs less than the 5 star ones but here also you have to pay to enter.We had read that there is a spot in Dead Sea where local swims for free and there is hot spring water to wash off the salts after the swim. We anyways had a car, if we didnt find the spot, we will go back to Amman beach.Bookmark this spot on Google maps for the location. You will find cars parked of local people on the road side. There is open shower system along side the road which had running hot water from the hot springs, all this for free. The fence is broken at one spot where we have to hike down to dead sea shore.After changing our clothes in the car, we followed the spot where the locals were going. We finally reached the shore and were pleasantly surprised to find the locals had dug up small pools which collected hot sulphur water coming from the Ma'in Hot Springs where you can laze after floating in dead sea.We knew that the therapeutic dead sea was somewhere around the corner and a local Jordanian showed us how to extract the mud from the shore. We applied copious amount of the dead sea mud on ourselves. There were some people around us, including a European family with the kids refusing to leave the Sulphur water pool. Israel was right opposite to us.You cant swim in Dead Sea, you just float in it. This is due to the high salinity in the same and only fresh water source is River Jordan. There is literally no life in Dead Sea.We set up our GoPro, let the mud dry for some time and entered the sea. The sea shore is rocky and you have to place your legs carefully. We entered the water till our thighs, now was the real test.We floated on our backs and we were not ready to leave our hands that were resting on the sea bed as we were not confident that the Dead sea allows you to float. Slowly we released our hands and we started floating. The feeling was surreal to stay the least. The floating was something that you need to experience in your life. You just float and drift with the current.After some 10 minutes I saw Mr. K coming out of water while I floated for half an hour. After coming back to shore, he said keeping head out of water is an extra effort and his non existent abdomen muscles have started to pain. I told him to enter water again and I took his pics and he did the same after I entered the water.The sea water is really salty and by mistake it entered my mouth when one wave came to the shore. You may not want it to taste in your life.After lazing some more time in the sea, as I was coming to the shore, I had a small cut on my hand while getting up and even on my sole of leg as the shore is rocky. You need to be careful here. Then we just relaxed in those sulphur pools that locals had dug up and washed ourself of all the salt on our body.Now I understood why those pools were inviting for those small kids and warm water from the hot water springs high up was soothing. We didnt want to leave it at all. It was 1600h by the time we decided to go back to our car.We did some unthinkable thing that I would have never done in India. We again took a bath on the roadside in Jordan with cars whizzing past you. The locals have set up a free shower system with continuous flow of same hot water spring. The shower was again good and I felt very fresh after the same.I just feel the shore can be a little more clean as I saw locals nonchalantly throw waste over the fence in dead sea.We changed again in the car and had some snacks and tea at one of the stalls that the locals had set up. It was 1630h and then we decided to visit the dead sea panorama centre. There was an elevation gain of 400m to reach the same and it was 16km odd from our spot.We paid an entry fees of 2 JOD per head to enter the same. This place has a restaurant and we just wanted to catch the sunset over the Israel from this point. After layering up as it was getting cold, we reached the point and just had time with ourself and witnessed the sun go down.Around 1800h we knew, we had a long distance to cover of around 190 kms and we will be driving in night. Set the location to our hostel in Wadi Musa and again descended to Dead sea. We took the highway that went parallel to Dead Sea and then with the border to Israel. At one point along highway, we were so close to Israel-Palestine border that we were only 500m from the border and we can see lights on the other side.In the mean time, I was getting hungry and a little bit restless due to continuous driving and asked Mr.K to find a spot to eat. After some time, on the other mobile, he set up a location in middle of nowhere very close to the Israel-Palestine border.We just stopped at Mid-way restaurant hoping that we will get some good solid food. And guess what, we got chai made Indian style here. The Jordanian person serving the food here had studied English in Pune 20 years back and when we asked for Chai, he readily made us it Indian style with ginger in it. It was good chatting with a local guy who knew good English and was working here as its off season for him or else he hikes the Jordan trail with tourists.Sipping the tea, we causally asked him if there is anything to eat and he made us a vegetarian dish consisting of tomatoes, caramelised onions and few spices which was served to us right in the pan along with Hummus, some lamb salami and yoghurt. Enjoyed the meal with the pita bread and replenished our tanks here. And all this including custom made tea for 6 JOD, way better than the restaurant near Jerash in morning. We spent around one hour here and since being a border area, we saw pick ups loaded with guns coming to the stop.Started again the journey to Wadi Musa. After leaving highway no. 65, the Jordan valley highway, we saw maximum 3 cars in opposite direction to us. The roads were empty and then the crazy hair pin bends started. We were gaining height quite rapidly with the high beams of the Creta showcasing that we were missing some amazing desert scenery around us.We came across a landslide with a rough road on the sides, Mr. K face was frozen and he was like we have to go back. The rough road was navigable and we reached other side where the road again met us. Finally after 2 hours, we saw lights and were closer to Wadi Musa.Navigated to our hostel, Nomads hostel and told Mr. K to take our bags and stuff outside. As soon as he opened the door, he entered again back in the car using back door very quickly. I was like, planning to sleep in car for the night? He said it was windy and chilly outside.The winds were guzzling outside like anything. He took out luggage while I parked the car somewhere ahead of the hostel property. Completed the checkin formalities, and slept on our beds.What a long day it has been, so many experiences and driving in one day, all in 350 odd kilometres. Last edited by rst89 : 27th March 2020 at 23:54 .
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has denied the rumours of him becoming CEO at Aston Martin. It was reported the Austrian would leave for the British supercar manufacturer in 2021 to guide them in their new Formula 1 adventure.

The rumors started when Wolff missed the crucial phone call that took place between all team bosses to discuss the coronavirus situation. Technical director James Allison was the stand-in for the former Williams team boss. There was no explanation for Wolff's absence.

In 2021, Aston Martin will take over the current Racing Point team, after Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll bought a stake in the British carmaker. He would like to lure Wolff to his side in exchange for a job as CEO.

Wolff denied this rumour via WhatsApp to Motorsport.com.

"The story is not true, I am not going to be the CEO of Aston Martin," Wolff sent from the Maldives, where he and his family are spending their time during the forced stop in F1 season.

Wolff has previously invested in teams. He owns part of Mercedes' Formula 1 team, and he used to be the same at Williams and HWA. He is said to be interested in investing in Aston Martin as well.
Most people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will get more money to buy groceries on Sunday and again in April in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and its destabilizing effects on the economy, state Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson announced.

New Jersey is getting $5.8 billion out of the $2 trillion aid package President Trump signed Friday. SNAP aid account for $70 million of New Jerseys share.

We want every individual and family to be able to have the food they need as they comply with the governors directive to stay at home. For many New Jerseyans and their families that means needing more NJ SNAP support, and these benefits are coming on Sunday, Johnson said.

We appreciate our congressional delegations continuing work to support the critical needs of all New Jerseyans during this challenging time.

SNAP, formerly known as the food stamps program, serves 670,000 New Jerseyans in 340,000 households, according to the Department of Human Services. Only 205,000 are eligible to receive the additional cash benefit because they do not already receive the maximum amount of aid based on their family size and income, the departments announcement said.

For individual SNAP recipients, an average of $94 will be loaded onto their Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT debit card on Sunday and again in April. A household of three will receive an average of $205 per month more for two months, department spokesman Tom Hester said.

We appreciate the dedicated staff at the County Boards of Social Services who are essential to getting these critical services to New Jersey families, said Assistant Commissioner Natasha Johnson, who directs the departments Division of Family Development and oversees the SNAP program.

During this difficult time, we encourage residents who need food assistance to visit and apply for SNAP online at www.NJHelps.org.

The Trump administration also has extended SNAP benefits for six months for people whose enrollment would have expired in March, April and May, Johnsons announcement said.

SNAP rules prohibit the purchase of Alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, non-food items like toilet paper and diapers, vitamins and medicine and hot or prepared food or meals.

Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey:





Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

N.J. Advance Media Staff Writer Jonathan Salant contributed to this story.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
UPPER THUMB  Area health departments reported two additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tuscola and Huron counties March 28, bringing the total number of cases between the two counties to six sick and one dead.

According to a press release from the Huron County Health Department, a 55-year-old and a 76-year-old male are the latest to test positive in Huron County.

The health department is not releasing information as to where the individuals live or have recently been. However, officials will contact people who have been in contact with the patients.

Earlier today the Tuscola County Health Department confirmed the third positive Tuscola County resident was an 84-year-old male at the Tuscola County Medical Care Community.

HCHD and TCHD Health Officer Ann Hepfer said the Tuscola County Health Department is working closely with TCMCF to mitigate any further infection, and the medical care facility staff are working around the clock to reduce any transmission of the virus to other residents.

(TCMCF CEO) Brenda Kretzschmer and her staff have been on top of this infection from the very beginning of this pandemic, Hepfer said in the release. They took all the measures they could have very early by stopping all visitors and implemented strict infection control measures. This just shows you how infectious this is for people who are in the most vulnerable state of health.

The fourth case is a 60-year-old female who is not associated with TCMCF. However, the health department is not releasing where the female is from or who they had contact with.

Residents should behave as though the virus may be present when they are in public places in the community, Hepfer said. It does not matter where these cases are located in the county, this is highly infectious. Assume everything you touch could be infected with the virus.

The health departments are urging people who are not working to stay at home.

This is not a vacation, a release reads. Do not travel to your vacation homes. If you are currently in Florida or other states, stay there, it is actually safer for you.

According to health officials, the virus is within control if everyone stayed home and businesses did their part by reevaluating if they are essential services. If a business determines it is essential, it needs to start screening workers before they start work, even if they are outside.

As a precaution, the health department is asking anyone with symptoms they believe may be COVID-19 to self-isolate for 14 days to avoid exposing others. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of break.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, we urge Huron and Tuscola County residents to make efforts to reduce the spread of illness, Hepfer said. (The) health departments are working hard to manage and respond to the presence of COVID-19 through established public health measures such as quarantine, isolation, and contact tracing.

According to the health department to prevent the spread of COVID-19, people should:

Wash their hands.

Stay home when sick.

Avoid close contact with sick people.

Avoid touching their face.

Disinfect commonly touched surfaces.

Avoid shaking hands.

Follow suggested guidelines for social distancing.

For social distancing, we recommend the following:

Keep six feet between yourself and others when possible.

Avoid public places at their busiest times.

Work from home when possible.

Cancel gatherings of more than 50 people as required by Michigan law. However, it is recommended gatherings not exceed 10 people. This includes baby showers, and bridal showers.

Limit travel.

People who are concerned that they may have COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider and call ahead before visiting any healthcare facility. Mildly ill people are encouraged to stay home and contact their healthcare provider by phone for guidance. If you feel well, you do not need to be tested. Testing is determined based on a CDC risk assessment.

Information about the COVID-19 is rapidly changing. For general questions about COVID-19, call the state hotline at 1-888-535-6136. For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html, https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus, www.tchd.us and www.hchd.us.
DK is one of the few publishing brands that is recognized by consumers, so when the company set out to give a new look to its logo as part of a brand redesign, executives didnt want to stray too far from tradition. DK is a heritage brand, said Rebecca Smart, managing director, publishing for DK, in an interview at the companys New York City office in February. But it needed to be freshened up. The rebranding campaign, announced in late January, will see the logo appear on reprinted and new DK titles beginning in the middle of the year.

Smart said the rebranding effort is coming at the right time for the company. The Penguin Random House division has just posted three years of profit growtha turnaround engineered by Ian Hudson, who took over as CEO in June 2017 and then handed the reins to Carsten Coesfeld on March 9. Hudson brought in a number of new people, including Smart, who joined DK from Ebury in January 2019. The current DK is also more streamlined, as Hudson sold Rough Guides to APA in 2017 and closed the Prima Games division in early 2019.

DK is based in London, but with offices in eight countries and publishing in 68 languages, it is very much a global publisher, and that continues to influence its publishing. In the childrens group, for example, DK editors are looking for books that entire families can enjoy in all of its markets. And while much of DKs list is still generated by ideas from its editors, it is publishing more author-led titles, Smart said. Weve also become more nimble, she noted.

Last year DK published The CBD Oil Solution, and though initial sales were a little slow, as interest in all things CBD has continued to increase so have sales of the book, said Mary Marotta, senior v-p, North America for DK.

A new addition to DKs childrens group is fiction. The Secret Explorers is a series slated to launch in July and aimed at reluctant readers ages seven to nine. It features characters in action-driven adventures. The series is in keeping with DKs goal to entertain and inspire.

Nothing is more fundamental to DK than its use of photography in its books, but the company has been adding illustrations to many of its books as well. DK had early success with The Wonders of Nature, which has illustrations, as well as more statistics than the company has typically included in its books, Marotta said. Wonders has sold more than 200,000 copies worldwide. DK is also giving a fresh design to its new edition of The Visual Encyclopedia, which is set for global release in October. All other titles in the Visual Encyclopedia line will also feature the new design when they are updated, Marotta added.

The U.S. remains DKs biggest market, and within America the trade channel is its largest channel. But Marotta said the company is looking to increase its presence in the library and education markets, including gaining course adoptions in high school and college markets.

DK has also entered the fast-growing audio publishing market. Its list is developed in the U.K. and currently available in English only. The company has released about 100 titles, and Marotta noted DK will add to the list as titles become available.

Though DK has been publishing for nearly 45 years, Smart said that as its recent actions have shown, the company will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of its customers.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which partners with more than 300 pantries and 400 other food services organizations, is shifting from fresh produce to nonperishable foods that keep longer and are easier to pack. The agency also is encouraging its partners to give prepackaged boxes and bags of food instead of letting families they serve walk into a pantry to take what they need.
In this time, when the Wuhan virus is ravishing the U.S., it is beyond nauseating to read that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants America to stay dependent on China for pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and other manufacturing goods.

That might seem hard to believe, but it appears to be the case. Tom Donohue, the 82-year-old, well coiffed, and highly compensated president of the CoC, is objecting to the Trump administration's "Buy American" mandates for medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. This, the silver-tongued Donohue says, will "damage U.S. trading relationships for years to come."

It doesn't seem to disturb Mr. Donohue that the trade relationships and practices he wishes to protect and preserve with China are exactly the ones that have hollowed out the American middle class. They have also left the U.S. dependent on that communist country for over 90 percent of our prescription drugs and much of our medical equipment and supplies, a truly surreal situation.

The CoC and the other trade groups associated with it gussied up their plea to stop the "Buy America" mandates as being in the American interest. This is the same approach they used when they essentially wrote the disastrous trade deals of the 24-year Clinton-Bush-Obama era. It's all for the American good, they argued. But that line is specious. The fact is that the CoC does not represent America. It's the front group for the big international corporations and Wall Street. While the middle class stagnated, these interests grew rich in deliberately de-industrializing the U.S. Now they want to protect their investments in China. It's really as simple as that.

In this time of crisis, how could Donohue have such a tin ear? How can he be so oblivious to what is happening here and throughout the world? Does he not know the old rules of "doing business" have radically changed? Donald Trump is president, and he has some hard as nails trade negotiators like Peter Navarro and Wilbur Ross at Commerce who are not going to blink.

The CoC and its ilk have gotten away with what they have in the past because they basically flew below the public's radar. Then there was little risk to influence-peddling on the Hill. That was considered business as usual in Washington. Not anymore. When people's lives are directly affected as they are now with this Chinese virus, they pay strict attention. Taking money to support China, even if it is washed through a number of intermediates, will find few political takers.

My advice to Mr. Donohue is to tell his big corporation clients to start selling off their investments in China for what they can get and plan on coming home. If not, someone else will make what their Chinese factories do. Now, that's in America's national interest.
By Kevin Abourezk, Underscore.news

As the coronavirus increasingly makes its presence known in tribal communities across the country, a leading Senate Democrat took the Trump administration to task Friday for skimping on help for tribes.

Sen. Tom Udall, New Mexicosenior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agenciessaid the landmark legislation approved by Congress would infuse $10 billion into the coffers of tribal governments and federal programs that serve tribes to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Thats half of the amount he had requested.

The legislation, given final approval Friday, would bring $8 billion directly to tribal governments, plus $2 billion for federal programs that serve tribal nations.

The Indian Health Service, the federal agency that provides healthcare to tribal communities, has reported 110 positive cases of coronavirus in its facilities nationwide, including 72 within its hospitals that serve the Navajo Nation. (In Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation briefly closed their casino for cleaning after a staff member tested positive. Other Oregon casinos have closed to maintain social distancing required under Gov. Kate Browns executive order.)

In a conference call with reporters Thursday, Udall said several senators and representatives, including Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM), who is one of the first Native women in Congress, had initially requested $20 billion for tribes. Udall said the Trump administration only wanted to provide $3 billion to tribes.

After the White House and Senate Republican leaders proposed leaving Tribes almost completely empty handed in their initial proposal, I am relieved that we were able to secure these urgently needed resources for Indian Country by staying at the negotiating table and refusing to relent, Udall said in a statement Friday. I will keep working to ensure Tribal communities have the support they need from the federal government to stay healthy and financially afloat in this challenging time.

McSally said she went to the mat with high-level officials from the White House and from the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the Republican Senate Majority Leader, to keep the $8 billion alive after attempts to reduce itand even remove it.

Udall, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said the House approved funds for agencies that serve tribal governments, including $1 billion for the Indian Health Service, $453 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to meet tribes safety needs and to purchase protective equipment and another $327 million for the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) has been forced to close 183 schools across the nation as a result of the coronavirus.

The package also includes $300 million for Indian housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. There's also $100 million for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations at the Department of Agriculture.

Udall said the money for tribal stabilization marks the first time tribes have received such funding. We were asking for a lot more. We think the need is a lot bigger than $8 billion, he said.

He said he is especially happy to see the funds for HUD programs that serve tribes. He said addressing problems of overcrowding and housing shortages will be key to stopping the spread of coronavirus in Native communities.

Indian Country is already facing housing shortages, overcrowding and lack of funding, all of which will be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. The funding made available will help provide emergency relief to tribes to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Udall said lawmakers looked back at what Congress appropriated to federal agencies that serve tribes in the federal stimulus packages approved in 2008 and 2009 to decide what to include in this weeks $2 trillion coronavirus relief package.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $100 million in grants to be awarded to health centers as part of coronavirus relief, including $2 million for 30 health centers in Oregon. The Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA), a Native-owned and operated residential family and outpatient treatment program in Portland, received $54,000 from the relief fund.

Underscore.news is a nonprofit news team based in Portland, Oregon. We produce news reporting in collaboration with other media. Our work is funded by foundations, corporate sponsors and you! Please consider a donation to support our reporting in Oregon.

Kevin Abourezk serves as Managing Editor for Indianz.com, a Native American news website, and has spent 21 years as a professional journalist, including 18 years as a reporter and editor for the Lincoln Journal Star. He is an enrolled citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
The 21-day coronavirus lockdown entered its fourth day on Saturday. While cities and towns across the country wore a deserted look, migrant workers, stranded hundreds of kilometres away from their native land, were seen taking desperate measures to make their way home.

On Saturday, hundreds of migrant workers continued their march into the state of Uttar Pradesh from Delhi-UP border.

The UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) continued to ferry scores of migrant workers to their destinations from different border areas of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Till March 27 midnight, about 96 buses were already sent with the migrants while more are still being arranged to help them reach their destinations.

The buses have been dispatched with migrant workers to areas like Lucknow, Etawah, Bareilly, Etah, Aligarh and Gorakhpur among other areas in Uttar Pradesh.

Migrant workers were seen scurrying around the bus depots, hopping on to the vehicles in desperation to reach home. Many were seen travelling on top of the buses as the vehicles jam-packed within minutes.

Regional manager of UPSRTC told Hindustan Times that buses from ISBT Kaushambi are being dispatched.

Ghaziabads Lal Kuan intersection is another point from where the buses were being dispatched. The administration is working to dispatch more buses from other depots.

The movement of migrant workers started on March 24 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

The lockdown entered its fourth day on Saturday and will last till April 14. The number of coronavirus cases in the country on Saturday jumped to 873, as per the data released by the health ministry. As many as 19 Covid-19 patients have died from the infection in India.
43 ministers in President Muhammadu Buharis cabinet have announced they would donate half of their March 2020 salaries to support the Federal Governments efforts to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, coordinated the donation, according to a statement signed by the Special Assistant To The President, Segun Adeyemi, on Saturday.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, quoted Ms Saraki as saying it was a gesture of solidarity and support for the Federal Governments efforts to tackle the disease.

READ ALSO:

This global virus outbreak will require nations, continents and smaller communities to pull together to contribute their resources and support one another. This will facilitate an early resolution of the problem, she said.

The ministers also commended President Buhari for his leadership role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Banks and some wealthy Nigerians have donated billions to fight the epidemic in Nigeria.

The United Bank for Africa on Thursday announced a N5 billion donation to support the fight against the pandemic.

Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Herbert Wigwe, Segun Agbaje and Aliko Dangote also donated N1 billion each to support the cause.

As at 11.55 p.m. on Friday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had confirmed 11 new cases, totalling 81 confirmed cases in Nigeria.
After the intervention of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state government has started arranging for buses to ferry people who are coming in from other states and are stranded on the border districts. Take a look at the pictures...Migrant daily wage labourers crowd a bus as they travel to their hometowns following a lockdown amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in New Delhi. (Image: AP)
Restaurant owners are closing their dining rooms as they adhere to social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Many are hoping that take-out service will provide a lifeline. But they worry that the public is confused about whether its safe to even pick up meals in this age of coronavirus.

Heres what the experts say: Go ahead and order, but exercise a little caution.

The good news is the virus is not likely to be transmitted by food itself. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says there is currently no evidence to suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging.

So, while ordering take-out food poses low risk for catching COVID-19, in general, public health officials also offer guidance for keeping the risk extremely low.

If you get take-out, youll want to keep your distance from other people, including employees at a restaurant or the delivery person, as much as possible.

The coronavirus is generally spread through respiratory droplets produced by a cough or sneeze.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between those who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

Many establishments are working to provide contact-less deliveries, such as leaving food on a porch when its requested.

Ted M. Ross, the director of University of Georgias Center for Vaccines and Immunology, added its better to use your debit or credit card than exchanging money with a delivery person or cashier.

As for the food, people shouldnt worry about that, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Its all about the people, he emphasized, and being exposed to people who may potentially have the virus.

He emphasized that servers at a restaurant or cooks preparing the food pose no greater risk than the other patrons in the restaurant, or anyone else for that matter.

Human beings are all the same, he said.

The FDA has issued a statement stressing the importance of everyone in the food supply chain following good hygiene practices, including washing hands and surfaces regularly.

There are additional steps that members of the public can take, especially older adults and those with weakened immune systems who need to be more careful. For example, Ross said, people could use gloves to pick up or receive food. They could then remove the food from the packaging and put it on a plate. Then they should dispose of the gloves and wash their hands before eating.

Want to take it one step further? Yes, heating the food up will kill the virus. But Dr. Francisco Diez-Gonzalez suggests skipping the microwave, which doesnt heat the food uniformly. Turn to your stove instead and reheat the food to a temperature of at least 165 degrees, he said.
 Flash

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States has topped 100,000, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

As of 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday (2200 GMT), there have been 100, 717 confirmed cases in the United States, with 1,544 deaths, an interactive map maintained by the CSSE showed.

In the United States, New York State has been hit the hardest, with 44,870 cases, followed by the states of New Jersey and California, respectively with 8,825 cases and 4,569 cases.

Globally, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has exceeded 590,000, with nearly 27,000 deaths. More than 130,000 have recovered from the disease, according to the CSSE.

The numbers were reported a day after the United States surpassed China and Italy to become the nation with the largest number of COVID-19 cases.

While the pandemic has disrupted the U.S. economy and people's lives, the country's doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff are dealing with a shortage of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment for themselves and ventilators for patients.

In a joint letter to the White House recently, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, and the American Nurses Association said that they "have concerns that increasingly there are dwindling supplies of N95 respirators, isolation gowns, isolation masks, surgical masks, eye protection, intensive care unit equipment and diagnostic testing supplies in areas that had the first community outbreaks and in many other areas of the country."

"Even with an infusion of supplies from the strategic stockpile and other federal resources, there will not be enough medical supplies, including ventilators, to respond to the projected COVID-19 outbreak," the associations said. "We have heard of health care providers reusing masks or resorting to makeshift alternatives for masks."

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he had ordered General Motors (GM) to produce ventilators under the Defense Production Act, a wartime law he recently invoked to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course," Trump said in a statement.

GM will build ventilators at a factory in Kokomo, Indiana, in partnership with Ventec Life Systems, according to a press release.

"Depending on the needs of the federal government, Ventec and GM are poised to deliver the first ventilators next month and ramp up to a manufacturing capacity of more than 10,000 critical care ventilators per month with the infrastructure and capability to scale further," the release said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  When the coronavirus pandemics devastating effect on the economy began to take shape, Cleveland landlords Scott Kroehle and Anna Perlmutter reached out to their tenants with a message: Nobody has to worry about losing their house during the COVID-19 crisis.

The couple knew that many of their tenants would be dealing with lost income and employment, and might be unable to pay rent on April 1.

Its a hardship with which millions of Americans are grappling. But how exactly that plays out for tenants may depend on where they live.

Ohio, at least for now, has left it up to local courts to decide how to proceed with eviction cases. The coronavirus relief bill Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Friday gives courts greater flexibility in how quickly they hear cases, including evictions. While the governor said Thursday that courts need to have the ability to move forward with evictions due to criminal activity, We want everybody to stay home. Obviously people have to have a home to stay in.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Ohio Supreme Court has advised local courts to temporarily halt evictions and foreclosures. And the federal government has taken steps to halt foreclosures on federally backed mortgages, evictions of renters in homes covered by federally backed mortgages, and evictions for most tenants in federally subsidized housing.

In Cuyahoga County, all local courts have put a moratorium on evictions, but each courts order is unique.

Many orders are likely to change, as Ohio is not expected to reach the peak of the virus until May, but heres how each one is handling evictions, as of March 27, according to the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland:

How to handle evictions right now seems to be a puzzle that everybody is trying to put together to get to the same goal, which is to keep people in their homes, said Susan Jagers, director of the nonprofit Ohio Poverty Law Center, which is among the advocacy groups that have called for a statewide eviction moratorium. Giving the courts the flexibility to postpone eviction cases is a piece of that puzzle, she said, and advocates hope further guidance from the Ohio Supreme Court will lead all local courts to halt evictions.

Housing advocates have also pushed for an increase in rental assistance, to help prevent evictions and homelessness, because, they say, simply delaying evictions may result in a surge of evictions months from now.

An eviction pause would be good, but it wont help people pay the rent, said Marcus Roth, a spokesman for the nonprofit Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. We dont need a flood of evicted people showing up at homeless shelters when the pandemic subsides.

UNDUE STRESS

Leah, a resident at an apartment complex in Akrons Highland Square neighborhood who asked that her last name be withheld, said she has received almost daily calls from the complexs property management company, inquiring about her employment and ability to pay rent. And although courts arent hearing eviction cases right now, earlier this month she received a three-day eviction notice for nonpayment of rent, which usually sets in motion the eviction process. She plans to move out anyway, but the experience has disheartened her.

It just puts undue stress on people. At a time like this, we need people to be more compassionate, she said.

Another resident of the apartment complex, who asked that his name be withheld because he fears retaliation, is also behind on rent because income from his sales job has taken a hit in recent weeks. He, too, has received an eviction notice.

The personal issue that caused Leah to be behind on rent predated the pandemic, but the coronavirus has exacerbated her problems. Shortly after a phone call with a reporter, she sent a follow-up text message: She just found out she was getting laid off.

The Plain Dealer has also heard from numerous Cuyahoga County residents who have recently received eviction notices or been told their landlord wont be renewing their lease, prompting fears that theyll be left without a home during a pandemic.

Emergency shelters are already overburdened, and local officials have been trying to drastically reduce shelter populations so that social distancing is possible.

It is a public health interest to keep people in place where they are now, said Molly Martin, director of strategic initiatives for the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless.

HELP IS AVAILABLE

The inconsistencies in how evictions are being handled is likely to cause confusion.

But Abigail Staudt, managing attorney of the Legal Aid Society of Clevelands housing law practice, outlined some steps that tenants who are experiencing economic hardship due to the coronavirus can take.

First of all, they should communicate with their landlord about their situation and whether they will have income, such as unemployment benefits, coming in soon, she said.

If they are served with an eviction notice, she recommends checking the website of their municipal court to see how that court is handling evictions.

Those in need of assistance should call 211, a United Way helpline that connects callers with resources that might be available to them.

If someone is dealing with a significant housing condition issue that is not being addressed, or is unsure about how to respond to an eviction notice or order, they can call Legal Aids tenant information hotline, at 216-861-5955 for Cuyahoga County or 440-210-4533 for Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga or Lorain counties.

The message from our governor is, the most important thing is we keep people safe and healthy, and that means staying in their homes, Staudt said. So before moving out of a unit, find out what resources are available, in order to continue trying to flatten the curve.

Many landlords may be willing to work with their tenants, given the circumstances.

Kroehle and Perlmutter are offering rent deferrals to tenants who need it, and may consider rent reductions or abatements for tenants who will experience long-term financial instability due to the pandemic.

Its better for everyone to keep people in their homes, Kroehle said. He noted that there are a growing number of mortgage deferral options landlords can take advantage of, which is something he plans to look into.

For the landlord, this can be a very challenging business, he said. But I think its important to understand that were all going to have to take a hit here.

If there are widespread evictions for nonpayment of rent, landlord-tenant relationships will be shattered and the customer base on which landlords rely will be unstable for a long time to come, he said.

This is a time to dig deep and figure out what you can do, and do your part, Kroehle said. Everybody is going to have to make concessions here. We either do it kicking and screaming, or we do so thoughtfully and collectively and make these hard choices together.

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Help India!

Dr. Nadeem Zafar Jilani

I am speechless hearing the news of the attack on Sikh worshippers in a Gurudwara in Kabul. At a time of global pandemic, it is the Sikh community

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Who is one of the firsts to come out to start Langar delivery services for the isolated, old, and unfortunate (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/in-oz-canada-uk-us-sikhs-start-langar-delivery-for-vulnerable/articleshow/74720916.cms).

Just weeks back in the aftermath of the Delhi riots, we saw our Sikh brethren feeding and sheltering the Muslim and Hindu victims (https://qz.com/india/1809634/delhi-riots-have-brought-hindus-muslims-sikhs-together/). Not long ago, it was these Sikh farmers and elderly who came forward and stood with Muslims and effectively thwarted a threat of rightwing attack at Delhis Shaheen Bagh. In a unique act of kindness, one of them, D S Bindra, even sold his flats to continue a Langar for protestors. It is no more surprising that Sikhs are the first community to deliver food and amenities to war hit areas and conflict zones all around the world. One Google search and we can approximate the big-heartedness of this warm and friendly community, Sikhs, who are at the forefront of any humanitarian work across the globe.

But what led ISIS to attack the Kabul Gurudwara at a time of a global outbreak of a deadly virus? Is it just another twisted ideology of the IS feeding a revenge motive or is it the multi-million dollar Islamophobia industry at work? No one can deny rightwing media having a field day blaming Islam and Muslims even during a crisis which is bringing communities together. One cannot forget how even the widely read The Hindu, English daily published an Islamophobic cartoon in its March 26 edition, for it later apologized (https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/cartoon/cartoonscape-march-26-2020/article31167023.ece). At such a time, one needs to ask the right questions instead of feeding in to the hysteria.

An important question, in my opinion would be  Why does ISIS want to drive a wedge between Muslims and Sikhs at a time when both the communities are showing gratitude for each other in the wake of the deadliest violence in the national Capital of India? Who is going to benefit (sorry for using this word which may sound insensitive) from the mindless bloodshed in Kabul? Certainly not, Muslims. If they claim to be soldiers of Islam, it will only tarnish the image of the faith and help further escalation of Islamophobia. Is this the real motive (https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/scooping-low-world-media-uses-the-coronavirus-to-fuel-islamophobic-tropes-34884)?

Reminiscent of the Chittisinghpura massacre of Sikhs in Kashmir some 20 years ago, the killings in Kabul will only benefit the cause of those who do not want communities to come together. Those who have to show the world that Sikhs are being persecuted in SE Asia in the lands that are predominantly Muslims. So who is paying ISIS mercenaries to play these dirty games is the real question. While the guesses can be many and the answer to these questions cannot come except from long term analysis of world economics, one must be able to not let hate take over.

Almost a year ago ISIS targeted churches in Sri Lanka killing Christian worshippers on the Easter Sunday. Today it is a Gurudwara. Incidentally, the Easter attack on churches in Sri Lanka came only weeks after New Zealand mosque shooting which had shown a great outpouring of sympathy for Muslims and brought Muslim and Christian world closer. It is evident that someone somewhere doesnt want Muslims and other communities to come together.

And as a Muslim I know that is it is ISIS, then they are enemies of both Muslims and the whole of humanity.

As an Indian Muslim, I am shocked at the atrocity unleashed on our Sikh brothers and sisters in Kabul. The attacks in the New Zealand mosque left the Muslim world scarred, and the recent vandalizing of mosques in Delhi riots just revived the wound. I know what it feels like, to be attacked for a dress code, for a piece of cloth on the head, for a facial feature, for your very identity. And at a such a time of distress, I want my Sikh brothers and sisters to know that the Indian Muslim community is with you at this hour of grief. We understand your pain because Delhi violence is fresh in our minds. While the targeted carnage continued for three days in broad daylight, we also found many Hindu families saving our lives. And that tells me, it is not just us. We are also victims of bigger players who are ruling in the name of faith.

We want to reiterate that cold-blooded killers do not represent any faith. Whether in Kabul or in Delhi, or elsewhere in the world, they are a group of mercenaries who are acting at the behest of someone else to bring a bad name to, particularly, Muslims. Please stay strong and hold each other in this hour of agony inflicted on you by inhuman monsters.

I hope one day their sponsors get exposed and pay for their sins and pray to Almighty that these foot soldiers, these evil incarnates, rot in hell forever.

(Author: Dr. Nadeem Zafar Jilani is a UK based Paediatrician currently working in Qatar who writes on contemporary issues affecting Muslims)
Four inmates escaped from the Ludhiana Central Jail on Saturday, police said.

This came to the notice of the jail authorities at the time of attendance in the morning, they said.

The inmates have been identified as Ravi Kumar (24) of Samrala , Suraj Kumar (23) of Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, Aman Kumar alias Deepak (23) of Mandi Govindgarh and Arsh deep Singh alias Deepa (24) of Sangrur, police said.

They scaled the main wall of the jail near the main entrance adjoining the residential flats of the prison staff, they said.

Police have not ruled out the possibility of internal involvement.

It is the first jail break after the CRPF took over the charge of the security of the Ludhiana jail a few months ago.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A recommendation for all frontline NHS staff to be given protective equipment during a flu epidemic was rejected as too costly, an explosive memo reveals.

Labour said the decision  made in 2017, when Jeremy Hunt was the health secretary  left serious questions for ministers to answer about whether underfunding was now costing lives.

In recent weeks, doctors and nurses have protested against a shortage of equipment which has left them at risk of contracting  and spreading  coronavirus on hospital wards.

Now the document shows advisers called for eye protection for all hospital, community, ambulance and social care staff who have close contact with pandemic influenza patients.

Either visors or safety glasses should be provided, because of evidence of becoming infected via the eyes when in close contact with pandemic influenza patients, they said.

The recommendation came from Nervtag, a body set up in 2015 to prepare for the new and emerging threat from respiratory viruses.

However, according to minutes of a meeting in June 2017, seen by The Guardian, a health official rejected it because of the very large incremental cost of adding in eye protection.

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labours shadow health secretary, said: There are serious questions for the government to answer about why warnings on providing equipment were ignored and dismissed because of underfunding.

The country came together in admiration and thanks for our NHS staff. They must now be given the protection they deserve.

A minute from the 2017 meeting shows that what is now the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) feared a four- to six-fold rise in the cost of protective equipment, arguing there was a very low likelihood of cost-benefit, The Guardian reported.

Nervtag then changed its official advice to buy only enough eye protection for exceptional usage in higher-risk circumstances.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

A spokesperson for Mr Hunt, now the Commons Health Committee chair, said: Jeremy does not believe he was personally involved in decisions about PPE [personal protective equipment] for NHS staff.

The DHSC defended the decision, saying it was right to take into account cost effectiveness and practical considerations, such as shelf life and storage, as well as expert clinical advice.

The government has prepared and stockpiled for an influenza pandemic, a spokesperson argued.

The documents clearly state that the scientific evidence did not support a vast increase in procurement expenditure on face masks with integrated eye protection for pandemic influenza.

The DHSC has said that more than 15 million face masks have been delivered to the frontline, as well as 24.6 million gloves and 1.9 million sets of eye protection.

But the British Medical Association on Saturday said: GPs around the UK are still at risk because of inadequate protective equipment.
B oris Johnson has made an urgent plea to the US for more ventilators amid the coronavirus crisis, according to Donald Trump.

The prime minister, who is self-isolating after being diagnosed with Covid-19, reportedly made the appeal on a call with the US president on Friday.

Before he even said hello he said, we need ventilators, Mr Trump said in a press conference.

I said, wow thats a big statement. Hopefully hes going to be in good shape.

Downing Street declined to comment on Mr Trumps remarks.

Donald Trump made the comments about his call with Boris Johnson in a press conference / AFP via Getty Images

The government is desperately trying to source more ventilators for the NHS to cope with the expected surge in coronavirus cases over the coming weeks.

Britain currently has 17,089 cases and 1,019 deaths, after fatalities jumped by their highest amount yet - 260 - on Saturday. The true number of people carrying the disease is thought to be much higher, as some are asymptomatic.

Mr Johnson held a conference call with businesses involved in the manufacturing of ventilators on Thursday evening, where he was updated on how soon more could be produced, Number 10 confirmed.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

Number 10 said on Thursday that 8,000 additional ventilators had been ordered by the Government to boost the stock of 8,000 already available to the health service, with thousands more available in the coming weeks when the virus is expected to peak.

Dyson is among the companies that the government has floated a mass order from, with 30,000 thought to be needed. The company is awaiting clinical approval for its models and could mass manufacture 10,000 respiratory devices if it is granted.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and President Donald Trump attend briefing about the coronavirus outbreak in the press briefing room at the White House on March 17, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration is considering an $850 billion stimulus package to counter the economic fallout as the coronavirus spreads.

President Donald Trump on Friday wrote in a signing statement accompanying the $2 trillion stimulus bill that he believes the inspector general overseeing a $500 billion relief fund for businesses will not have as much regulatory power as Democrats had sought.

The bill includes a $500 billion fund that companies, such as the struggling airlines, can tap to support their business. The fund is overseen by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. In original drafts of the Republican Senate bill, Mnuchin had wide discretion in overseeing that money. After criticisms from Democrats, Republicans agreed to add on a congressional oversight committee and Inspector General as added control measures.

The language gives the Inspector General power to report back to Congress information including the nature of the loan and its recipients. It has the power to make informational requests from other agencies "to extent practicable and not in contravention of any existing law." It is required to let Congress know if those requests are blocked.

Trump, though, said Friday he believes the Inspector General needs his permission in order to make such reports to Congress.

"I do not understand, and my Administration will not treat, this provision as permitting the [the Inspector General] to issue reports to the Congress without the presidential supervision," he wrote in a signing statement. A signing statement indicates how the president intends to interpret a law. Trump has a record of seeking to withhold information from Congress, most notably during the recent House Intelligence Committee's probe of his dealings with Ukraine. He likewise fought efforts by House committees to subpoena his financial records

Oversight of that $500 billion fund was one of the last major sticking points in Senate negotiations, CNBC previously reported. Senate Democrats cheered the ultimately agreed-upon language as a victory. They were wary of repeating the mistakes of the bank bailout after the financial crisis, in which Democrats were criticized for allowing bank executives to reward themselves with bonuses after receiving federal money.

"The president's statement is indicative of the difference between Democrats and Republicans when it came to this bill," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Friday about the language.

"It's not a surprise to anyone," she said of Trump's signing language. "But Congress will exercise its oversight  and we will have our panel appointed by the House to, in real-time, make sure we know where those funds are being expended."

A Senate Democratic aide said, "We fully anticipated Trump shenanigans, so that's why there are multiple layers of strict oversight in this bill, including a council of existing inspectors general and GAO review, in addition to the Special IG, reporting requirements and a Congressional Oversight Commission."
Even as Brazil leads Latin America in both confirmed cases of and deaths from the virus, Bolsanaro has railed against social distancing as mass confinement and called on people to go back to their regular routines. He has blamed the media for fueling hysteria. He has continued to shake hands with people and says he has no concerns for his own heath, despite being, at age 65, at increased risk of complications. In my particular case, with my history as an athlete, if I were infected by the virus, I wouldnt need to worry, he said. I wouldnt feel anything or, if very affected, it would be like a little flu or little cold.
Ex-Venezuelan General Indicted in Narco-Terrorism Case Surrenders to DEA Agents - Reports

Sputnik News

22:32 GMT 27.03.2020(updated 22:51 GMT 27.03.2020)

A former Venezuelan general has surrendered to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just a day after being indicted by US federal prosecutors and having a $10 million reward posted for his capture.

On Friday, Cliver Antonio Alcala Cordones, a former major general of the Venezuelan Army, surrendered to Colombia's National Intelligence Directorate in Bogota and is now in the custody of the US DEA, El Tiempo reported, citing unnamed sources.

Alcala left his position in Venezuela's armed forces in 2013. US federal prosecutors alleged he had been "a leader and manager of the Cartel of the Suns," a supposed drug smuggling ring inside the Venezuelan government the US government has claimed makes leading Venezuelan officials "narco-terrorists." Alongside 13 other Venezuelans, Alcala was indicted in the Southern District Court of New York on Thursday on narco-terrorism charges and the State Department placed a $10 million bounty on his head.

Incidentally, Alcala was already making headlines this week: when Colombian authorities seized an arms shipment on Wednesday, Alcala admitted he had been plotting a coup d'etat against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on behalf of self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, who is backed by both Washington and Bogota but enjoys no support in Venezuela.

The charges by the US Department of Justice claim that in 2008, Alcala helped provide support for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a communist militia group in rebellion against the Colombian government and which plays a role in cultivating coca, used to manufacture cocaine.

 Sputnik

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NORFOLK, Va.  President Donald Trump backed away from calling for a quarantine for coronavirus hotspots in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, instead directing Saturday night that a strong Travel Advisory be issued to stem the spread of the outbreak.

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted that the CDC was urging residents of the three states to refrain from non-essential travel for the next 14 days.

The notion of a quarantine had been advocated by governors, including Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who sought to halt travelers from the heavily affected areas to their states. But it drew swift criticism from the leaders of the states in question, who warned it would spark panic in a populace already suffering under the virus.

Trump announced he reached the decision after consulting with the White House task force leading the federal response and the governors of the three states. He said he had directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government.

He added: A quarantine will not be necessary.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has criticized the federal governments response as his state became the countrys virus epicenter, said roping off states would amount to a federal declaration of war. Cuomo said the prospect of a quarantine didnt come up when he spoke with Trump earlier Saturday, adding that he believed it would be illegal, economically catastrophic, preposterous and shortsighted when other parts of the U.S. are seeing cases rise, too.

If you start walling off areas all across the country, it would be totally bizarre, counterproductive, anti-American, anti-social, Cuomo told CNN. He added that locking down the nations financial capital would shock the stock market and paralyze the economy at a time when Trump has indicated hes itching to get the economy back on track.

Trump made his initial remarks while on a trip to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a U.S. Navy hospital ship heading to New York City to help with the pandemic. At the event, he spoke to a sparse crowd at the naval base and cautioned Americans to take virus protections, even though he himself, at 73, is in a high-risk category and among those who have been advised to refrain from all non-essential travel.

The federal government is empowered to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states, but its not clear that means Trump can ban people from leaving their state. It has never been tested in the modern era  and in rare cases when any quarantine was challenged, the courts generally sided with public health officials.

Courts have ruled consistently for years that the authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with the states, under provisions in the Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states. The federal government, though, would have power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travelers or those traveling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases.

Still, it is entirely unprecedented that governors or the president would prevent people from traveling from one state to another during an infectious disease outbreak, said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor and public health specialist who questioned Trumps ability to order a quarantine on states.

But as Trump traveled to Norfolk, he tweeted: I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.

A lot of the states that are infected but dont have a big problem, theyve asked me if Ill look at it, so were going to look at it, Trump said.

When asked about legal authority for quarantine, the incoming White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said officials are evaluating all the options right now.

Administration officials were discussing less-stringent measures as well. One idea under consideration would be to tell residents of the hard-hit areas to isolate themselves and not travel for two weeks, just as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has instructed anyone who recently left New York to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to one person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing deliberations.

The measure wouldnt necessarily come with any legal force or penalty, just the hope that people would comply in an effort to try to contain the virus spread.

The governors of Florida, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas already have ordered people arriving from the New York area to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival. In a more dramatic step, Rhode Island police have begun pulling over drivers with New York plates so that the National Guard can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine.

Trump said the idea of isolating many in the trio of Democratic strongholds in the Northeast was pushed by DeSantis, one of the presidents most outspoken supporters. It came a day after Trump made clear he wanted governors to be grateful when asking for federal support for the pandemic.

Trump said people go to Florida and a lot of people dont want that. So well see what happens. He later clarified it would not affect truckers or people transiting through, and would not affect trade.

Florida is a perennial swing state, and one Trump must win come November  plus he recently moved his residence from New York to Florida. It also has a population of 21 million with a large percentage of old people, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus.

DeSantis confirmed he had spoken with the president about the possibility of a quarantine for the New York City area. Speaking Saturday to reporters, DeSantis said Florida will soon set up a checkpoint along Interstate 95 to screen travelers from that area, similar to one already in place along Interstate 10 to screen people from Louisiana. Many airports in Florida also are screening travelers from certain areas, requiring them to self-isolate for 14 days.

The U.S. leads the world in reported cases with more than 121,000. There were roughly 2,000 deaths recorded by Saturday night, according to John Hopkins University.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted Saturday night that hes been in communication with Trump and Pence and that their guidance does not change the rules that have been established and in place for over a week now in New Jersey. He said the frontline response effort, like health care and supermarket workers, are still needed. I encourage all New Jerseyans to continue practicing aggressive social distancing and take personal responsibility to help us get through this public health emergency.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, also a Democrat, said at a news conference that Trumps words about a quarantine have created a certain amount of confusion and that confusion can lead to panic. He said such a quarantine order would be impossible to enforce given the spider web of roads and that he hoped the White House would clarify what it wants.

After speaking in Norfolk, Trump watched as the USS Comfort slowly made its way out of port. The 1,000-bed hospital ship had been undergoing planned maintenance, but was rushed back into service to aid the city.

It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier days after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.

___

Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York City, Matt Perrone, Jill Colvin and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Michael Tarm in Chicago, Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Curt Anderson in Miami and Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.
Pregnant Big Brother star Krystal Forscutt showed off her baby bump on Friday, while in lockdown amid the coronavirus.

The former reality TV star showed off her belly on Instagram in a pair of white shorts and a cosy beige knit.

It comes after Krystal revealed last week that she almost suffered a devastating miscarriage.

Growing and glowing: Pregnant Big Brother star Krystal Forscutt showed off her baby bump while in lockdown on Friday... after revealing she almost suffered a miscarriage

The 33-year-old personal trainer can be seen posing up for a selfie, looking radiant and with a pregnancy glow.

In the photo, Krystal wears her dark locks out and over her shoulders and natural-looking makeup.

She captioned the photo: 'Today I heard "mum" approximately 10896 times... how about you?'

Struggles: Earlier this month, Krystal announced that she was pregnant with her third child. But last week, she revealed on Instagram that she almost suffered a devastating miscarriage

Krystal added the hashtag, 'day four' and tagged herself in 'lockdown.'

Earlier this month, Krystal announced that she was pregnant with her third child.

But last week, she revealed on Instagram that she almost suffered a devastating miscarriage.

Krystal thought she was going to lose her baby after losing a significant amount of blood.

Scary! Krystal thought she was going to lose her baby after losing a significant amount of blood

Krystal, who is 14 weeks pregnant, has suffered two miscarriages in the past.

She said that doctors have told her to be 'cautiously optimistic' with the rest of her pregnancy.

'We had the fright of our lives, in a public bathroom I had a really bad bleed and we were convinced that there was no way our little baby would make it after losing so much blood,' Krystal explained.

Tragic: Krystal, who is 14 weeks pregnant, has suffered two miscarriages in the past. Pictured with her children, Nakoda, one, and Sunny, five

'I went to emergency and was told that I was most likely suffering an impending miscarriage.'

She added: 'That evening my heart felt like it was being crushed. I was mourning for another child that I had never met. I just couldn't believe this was happening again.'

Krystal and her husband, property developer Neil Hipwell, prayed for a miracle.

Family: Krystal and her husband, property developer Neil Hipwell (pictured), prayed for a miracle when they thought she was having a miscarriage. When she eventually went to her doctor's appointment, she was amazed when the specialist heard their baby's heartbeat

When she eventually went to her doctor's appointment, she was amazed when the specialist heard their baby's heartbeat.

'We were so shocked that our little baby had survived,' she said. 'We believe it is nothing short of a miracle! We still aren't completely out of the woods just yet.

'We are scared but hopeful for our baby's future and so grateful to God.'
Manama

Dr Waleed Al Manea, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, today made a statement regarding the repatriation of Bahraini citizens. His Excellency emphasised that the Ministry is committed to protecting all citizens and residents, noting that the department is taking all necessary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.



The Undersecretary also outlined the coordination taking place with Omani authorities to organise the repatriation of Bahraini citizens currently in Muscat. Al Manea added that a chartered flight is currently being scheduled for the citizens who arrived in Muscat from Iran via Doha.



Al Manea highlighted that the returning citizens will be subject to vigorous containment protocols upon arrival to Bahrain, in line with existing measures in place for individuals arriving from countries affected by the virus.



Dr. Al Manea underscored the strict preventive efforts that the Kingdom is enacting to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which requires all arriving passengers to test for COVID-19; a test that will determine whether they require treatment or quarantine, in accordance with the World Health Organizations recommendations.



Dr. Al Manea concluded by highlighting the progress of repatriation, noting that the Ministry is working with a range of authorities to expedite the safe return of citizens.
If there are two individuals who have emerged as sentinels of sanity over the course of the past three weeks, they are Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

On the former: Just a few days ago, I received a phone call from my father that I could not immediately pick up because I was on one of the conference calls that have come to dominate my attic-bound workday. Terrified that my father was calling to say he was being rushed to the hospital, I dropped out of the conference call and rang him back.

"I'm just watching Cuomo's briefing  he's making a lot of good points," said the 85-year-old lifelong Republican, a Kentucky resident who has over the course of the past decade-plus listened to me tell all manner of stories  all of them scrupulously accurate  about covering our governor during my tenure at the state Capitol.

Then I went downstairs to get lunch, and encountered my son stretched out in the living room.

"Cuomo's briefing was pretty interesting," he said.

Cuomo himself took the opportunity last week to offer similar praise for Fauci. "I call him late at night; I call him in the middle of the night; I call him in the morning," Cuomo said, immediately raising questions about why he seemed resistant to calling Fauci in the afternoon. "And he's been really a friend to me personally and the state of New York."

So here's a question: What do these two men have in common, other than their status as outer-borough natives  Queens for the governor, Brooklyn for Fauci  and the grandsons of Italian immigrants?

The answer, of course, is that they're both experts in their respective fields  specialists who have for decades studied complex systems and looked for ways to put the resulting knowledge into practice.

Say what you will about the governor, no one has ever accused him of not knowing how to work the gears and levers of politics to get things done. While he began that education in his father's service, he subsequently served as HUD secretary and state attorney general. When he has drawn criticism, it's not for being a doofus about state government.

The same goes for Fauci, who began working for the National Institutes of Health in 1968, and went on to play lead roles in the battles against a rogue's gallery of killer contagions  HIV, MERS, swine flu, Ebola, H1N1 and more. This is not his first epidemiological rodeo.

If there is any scrap of positive change to emerge from the expanding COVID-19 pandemic, it will be the tardy realization that the world needs to be better prepared to respond with lightning speed to these diseases as they emerge. But if there's a more general lesson that we as a society should be learning, it's to place our faith in elected officials who in turn place responsibility in the hands of people who actually know their stuff.

This should not be a stunning breakthrough. And yet we are now led by a man who selected as his own HUD secretary someone who has never had experience in public housing administration, and chose as his energy secretary someone who not only did not know the scope of the agency's mission, but had in fact called for it to be eliminated as a federal agency.

Donald Trump chose Ben Carson and Rick Perry, respectively, for those posts not because they had any skills in these complex areas of public policy, but because they had virtually none  claiming that what was needed at these supposedly hidebound agencies were outsiders, disrupters who would shake up the bureaucracy.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

It turns out that the people best equipped to overhaul such agencies are people who understand them down to the ground after years of experience in what works and what doesn't.

Remember: In "Airport 1975," Karen Black's scrappy flight attendant isn't selected to fly a jumbo jet because the head of the airline thought it would be cool to shake up deep-state aeronautical culture. She is flying the plane because everyone else in the cockpit is dead or injured. It isn't an optimal situation.

How did we come to this pass? Primarily by electing a president previously best known for skills, such as playing a rich jerk on TV, that are not readily transferable to his current job  or at least not transferable in a way that benefits the country.

Trump regularly derides experts, who are perhaps in his personal demonology second only to journalists  another professional category that has come in for a fresh load of his invective this month.

In recent days, he has taken to sharing his feelings or hunches about the efficacy of a given drug, or whether or not our medical system will actually need the number of ventilators that Cuomo and other state officials are calling for. No one can argue against a feeling or hunch, because those things exist beyond the realms of evidence in the netherworld of faith.

Often, he has done this with Fauci standing alongside him in White House briefings that have not served as models of social distancing. There is much attention paid to Fauci's expressions as the president serves up another dubious claim, and much speculation that the scientist is being hustled to the chute like so many other members of Trump's court who failed to show proper fealty  experts and dingbats alike.

seiler@timesunion.com  518-454-5619
The state touched a single-day high of 10 positive cases for the first time since the crisis began on Friday. (AP)

Hyderabad: With a declaration that Telangana reported 10 more positive cases of novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total positive cases to 59, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday announced that the state has augmented its capability to handle Covid-19 positive cases by increasing Intensive Care Units (ICU) and quarantine facilities in Hyderabad.

While addressing a press conference at Pragati Bhavan, Chandrasekhar Rao said that his government was fully geared to meet any eventuality arising out of the spread of coronavirus in the state.

He declared that the state government has kept 1,400 beds prepared as part of an Intensive Care Unit readied at Gachibowli stadium to tackle any eventuality after the state touched a single-day high of 10 positive cases for the first time since the crisis began.

The chief minister said that Telangana has now augmented its capability to handle over 60,000 Covid positive cases simultaneously. Chandrasekhar Rao disclosed that he had discussed the issue over phone with prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning, in which Modi had assured the state of all possible help.

Explaining the steps taken for gearing up the official machinery to tackle any kind of eventuality, he said the State has prepared a finalised pool of 11,000 healthcare professionals to be pressed into service.

Retired doctors and fresh medical graduates in the state will be requested to help Telangana fight coronavirus. The government has made arrangements to create facilities at isolation centres and quarantine facilities to handle as many as 11,000 people are suspected to have contracted the virus, he added.

He said that as of now, nearly 20,000 people have been under surveillance either in voluntary home quarantine or at government-run isolation centres.

Asserting that the only way to contain the spread of coronavirus is social distancing and maintaining hygiene, he appealed to people to follow strict self-discipline and abandon the attitude of nothing-will-happen-to-us.

The state government is prepared for any eventuality, even if it is a full-blown situation, Mr Rao said. All efforts by the government would, however, be futile if people do not cooperate, he said.

The threat of further import of the virus from foreign returnees has now been nullified with cancellation of international flights, he said.

Now it is time to be cautious and contain the spread of virus through local contacts. From the government's side, we are making all arrangements. But people should complement the government's efforts by staying indoors, maintaining social distancing and avoid gathering in groups.

He pointed out that any deviation from these norms would only distract and divert much needed government focus and effort to avoidable exercises.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with a student evacuated from China's Wuhan city and a nurse at the Naidu Hospital in Pune to motivate them to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Modi spoke to Nizamur Rehman, a resident of Kaskoot Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir, who is pursuing MBBS in Wuhan, the city from where the coronavirus originated. Along with 60 Kashmiri students, Rehman was recently evacuated from China.

While speaking to Rehman, Modi asked him to share his experience from China to the quarantine centre in India. "You must have realised how dangerous this virus is," said the Prime Minister.

"Sir, I study MBBS in Wuhan. We were very tense in Wuhan. We thank Indian government for helping us and bringing us back to the country. We did not face any difficulty during the quarantine," said Rehman.

"We were provided with every facility including indoor games. We were 60 students from Kashmir. We are spreading awareness in our region. We all are safe in the Valley," responded Rehman.

The student further thanked Prime Minister Modi for extending timely support to all students. Later, the Prime Minister spoke to nurse Chaya, who works at the Naidu Hospital in Pune and expressed gratitude to health workers for working selflessly towards the well being of the nation amid the crisis.After the Prime Minister asked Chaya how is she managing with work and family, she said: "I am good, Sir. We are tense about our family but we have to work. It is our duty. Patients come in a worried state. We boost their morale."

"Seven COVID-19 patients have been cured in the hospital. We talk to patients very politely and try our best to make them comfortable. Patients' families are not allowed. Only staff is allowed as the hospital is quarantined," she said.

While giving a message to all healthcare providers and doctors, Chaya said: "No need to fear, keep working. With our combined efforts, we will soon win the corona battle."

She also expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Modi for working day and night against the COVID-19 battle.

Earlier, the Prime Minister had held a video conference with various sections of society like medical equipment and medicine manufacturing industry, stakeholders of print and electronic media, radio industry, captains of the industry and constituents of Varanasi.

He has also been regularly in touch with various Chief Ministers, Ministers of the Central government over the phone.

Meanwhile, he also interacted with AYUSH sector practitioners via video conference.

He said that the AYUSH sector has a long tradition of keeping the nation healthy and its importance has increased manifold in the ongoing efforts to tackle COVID-19. The Prime Minister asked them to spread the message of good practises, which need to be adopted in the efforts to control the spread of the virus.

He also praised the ongoing efforts of AYUSH Ministry in promoting yoga at home to de-stress the mind and strengthen the body during this difficult phase.

Prime Minister Modi underlined the importance of countering and fact-checking unsubstantiated claims of AYUSH having a cure for the disease, adding that AYUSH scientists, ICMR, CSIR and other research organisations must come together for evidence-based research.

"The country must be ready to use the entire healthcare workforce to meet the challenge, and if the need so arises, help from private doctors connected with AYUSH may be sought by the government," he said.

The AYUSH practitioners mentioned their efforts to conduct research for symptomatic treatment.

The Prime Minister stressed that it is important to create awareness about India's traditional medicines and medical practices all over the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Minister for Health Simon Harris has confirmed that most construction workers will not be considered "essential" through the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Government is expected to publish a full list of the workers it classes as essential later this morning.

As of midnight, everyone in Ireland has been ordered to stay at home except in limited circumstances in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

People can go outside to shop for essential items, pick up medicines and health products, attend medical appointments and exercise within 2km of their homes. Food shopping is exempt from the 2km travel limit.

We are only permitted to go to work if it is deemed essential and if it cant be done from the home.

Health Minister Simon Harris has confirmed construction sites are NOT essential services - unless its the building of an essential facility #NewstalkBreakfast  Susan Keogh (@susankeoghnews) March 28, 2020

On Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh this morning, the Health Minister said construction workers will only be permitted to continue if they are building something that is essential to this pandemic.

So for example if we were to decide that we need to put in modular units or adapt a hotel or build things that we need to actually get through this pandemic  of course that would be essential, he said.

But in general, the message is really simple here. I need everyone in Ireland to stay at home.

You should only be leaving your home if you are absolutely doing something that is essential to getting us through this pandemic and keeping our people safe and well."

Mr Harris acknowledged it was a stressful and worrying time.

But we do have to strip back all of the noise and actually remind each other what were trying to do here, were trying to keep each other alive and were trying to make sure we dont go the way that some other European countries have done, he said.

When we look back on this, and we will look back at this at some point and we will get through this at some point, we want to be able to say that the measures we all took together were really tough but helped keep people alive and well.

He also admitted that the restrictions will not be sustainable for a long period.

Mr Harris expressed hope there could be some relaxation of the measures after an initial two-week period of enforcement, but he warned that life will not be returning to normal in the short term.

He said admissions to intensive care units are expected to rise significantly over the next week with people already infected with Covid-19.

But we would expect, and our medical advisers would expect, that these measures that weve put in place could start to slow down that curve in about 10 days to two weeks, thats what were working towards, he told RTE Radio One.

Will we be in a position on the 12th of April where life in Ireland will return to normal? Absolutely not and lets be honest with each other.

And these are measures that were going to need to continue to work on.

Do we hope to be in a position in two weeks time to say that weve made progress and some of the measures can be tweaked, removed, changed? Absolutely.

The measures that we put in place last night are so significant that they cannot be kept in place for too long.

You cannot ask people to sustain this for a very long period. Thats why we are really asking people to double down now for the next two weeks, its going to be tough.

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The United States is ready to supply a large number of ventilators needed by its friends and allies in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump said on Friday.

Having ramped up the production of ventilators and other medical equipment required inside the US to treat the large number of people infected with the novel coronavirus, Trump said his administration will be distributing those throughout the world to other countries.

Trump said when he spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the first thing that the PM asked him for help was ventilators.

"Boris Johnson was asking for ventilators today. Unfortunately, he tested positive. And that's a terrible thing, but he's going to be great. I'm sure he's going to be totally great. But they want ventilators. Italy wants ventilators, Spain wants ventilators, Germany wants ventilators," he said.

"They're all calling for ventilators. Well, we're going to make a lot of ventilators and we'll take care of our needs, but we're also going to help other countries," said the President as he announced that in the next 100 days, the US will be making more than 100,000 ventilators.

Responding to a question, Trump said there is a very good chance that the US might not need that many.

"I think frankly there is a great chance that we are not going to need that many. There are a lot of other people who are going to need them and we have countries all over the world that are friends of ours and we will help them," he said.

"We are in a position to do things that other countries can't so we have sort of an interesting position. We can make them because we are going to be making over 100,000 pretty quickly so we can make them and if we donate them, that's okay because we can help Italy and UK, especially Boris Johnson. I mean when I say how are you feeling and the first thing Boris said to me is we need ventilators," Trump said.

On Friday, he also invoked part of the Defense Production Act, requiring certain companies to produce ventilators.

"We need industrial mobilization to make adequate ventilators, particularly in the very short run to help the people in New York, Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, Denver, Seattle all around this country as this virus bears down and the ventilators really the most important thing for patients who become most seriously ill. They are literally the lifeline for people," said the President's advisor Peter Navarro.

The White House has been working with 10 different companies to manufacture ventilators. The federal government currently has 10,000 ventilators in stockpile and is ready to use them rationally across the country.

Meanwhile a Congressional delegation from the Washington State called the Trump administration to expedite the request for 1,000 additional ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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We have all heard of the smartphone and any day now, most of us will have one. Not far behind: the smart home. Writing in the latest issue ...
Spain's capital has stopped using a rapid Covid-19 test kit made by a Chinese company after an extensive research suggested that the said test kit does not provide accurate and reliable results.

Testing done in Spain's capital has hit a hitch, because of unreliable Chinese coronavirus test kits for COVID-19. It suggests that the Chinese company who was responsible for manufacturing the kits was not thorough in the process of making them.

According to reports, most of the results were not accurate, as the Spanish count has risen considerably on Thursday with 56,188 to 4,089 deaths. Not adding the worldwide total of 542,385 cases and 24,368 death toll.

The specialists from the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), a top Castillan research institution, reported on its website that the nose swabs developed by Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology were only accurate at less than 30%.

The El Pais Spanish paper said that the Madrid City government stopped using the Bioeasy kits, and requested the health ministry for replacements for the defective kits as demand.

Sources mentioned that the central government has procured 340,000 test kits from the biotech firm.

Zhu Hai, manager of Bioeasy was offering no more comments from the Spanish reports,"I'm not clear about the situation. I still haven't seen the report [from Spain], so I'd need to find out more about it."

One of the complaints with the test kits is that it was supposed to be accurate to 80%, but the rapid test kit according to El Pais was not correlating to SEIMC's findings.

Samples used for the test are taken from the nasopharynx, which is located near the base of the skull.

Also read: Woman Stabs Young Girl to Death in Queens Park in Front of Her Parents

Next step is diluting the samples and placing it inside a cartridge with a strip inside, the strip will indicate if the result is either positive, negative, and invalid. This antigen test can have results in 10 to 15 minutes.

A Professor Leo Poon Lit-man from the University of Hong Kong's medical faculty mentioned that claiming an 80% accuracy for using nasal swabs was doubtful and a test like it is full of inaccuracies.

Last Thursday, the Chinese embassy tweeted that the Bioeasy test kits were not approved by the National Medical Products Administration, neither included in the medical supplies sent to Spain either. Thereby disavowing any knowledge about the test kits procured by the Spanish administration.

Sources reported that a list of approved supplies of medical supplies was given to Spain, it is alleged that Bioeasy Biotechnology was never in the list.

Cost of the test kits is US$468 million to order Chinese medical equipment and supplies, with 550 million face masks, 5.5 million testing kits, including 950 ventilators.

The Chinese embassy alleged that the order was not shipped from China, and the testing kits were not made by Bioeasy.

Related article: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Good Evening,

Tonight, I want to speak to you about the next stage in our national response to the Coronavirus Emergency.

Before I do so, I want to express my condolences to the families and friends of those who passed away today  one of whom was a health care worker.

I want to thank all of you for continuing to abide by public health advice.

By doing so, you are saving lives and protecting our health service and its staff.

Once again, thank you to everyone who is working as part of this Great National Effort whether at work or working from home.

Our country is rising to this challenge.

I am convinced that we shall prevail.

At the beginning of this emergency, I told you that there would be difficult days ahead.

We knew that the virus would spread in our country, that tragically, many of our citizens would suffer and that some would die.

I also promised that we would do all that we could do to protect the health of our citizens, to prepare our health service, to support our healthcare staff and to try to cushion the blow to the economy, our businesses and your livelihoods.

Today, with cross-party support, the Oireachtas has passed further emergency legislation.

This will help businesses to keep their staff in work, it will increase social welfare payments for people who lose their jobs, as a consequence of the emergency, including the self-employed.

Payments under these new schemes have already commenced.

Rents are frozen. There will be no evictions.

When I spoke to you on St. Patricks Day I said that more actions would be required in the coming weeks to slow the spread of the virus.

Over this month we have seen the numbers of people falling ill increase every day. We have seen loved ones die.

Guided by the expert advice of our Public Health Emergency Team, led by the Chief Medical Officer, we believe that this is now the time for these actions.

I also told you that there would be a calm before the storm.

The aim of every single action that we have taken is to reduce the impact of the storm on our country.

To slow down this virus, to push it back and contain it.

Throughout all of this, the Government has acted on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and the National Public Health Emergency Team - an expert team of public health doctors, virologists and scientists.

Today, they informed the Government that:

The number of confirmed cases in Ireland exceed 2,100.

Sadly, the number of deaths is 22.

There is a day on day increase in the number of admissions to intensive care units, and the number has doubled since Monday.

Transmission in the community accounts for more than half of all cases.

There continues to be an increasing number of clusters, many of which are in nursing home and residential care settings.

The Government has received further recommendations on the actions that we need to take to protect our people.

These are in addition to all of the existing measures that are already in place.

So, with effect from midnight tonight, for a two-week period until Easter Sunday, April 12th.

Everybody must stay at home in all circumstances, except for the following situations:

To travel to and from work, or for purposes of work, only where the work is an essential health, social care or other essential service and cannot be done from home. A list will be provided.

To shop for food and household goods or collect a meal.

To attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products.

For vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people.

To take brief individual physical exercise within 2km of your home, which may include children from your household, as long as you adhere to strict 2m physical distancing.

For farming purposes, ie food production or care of animals.

All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are prohibited.

The virus might be in your household already  so dont spread it to someone elses.

Sadly, this prohibition includes social family visits that are not for the vital reasons I have already mentioned.

A further range of non-essential shops and services will be closed.

The guidance given earlier in the week, in respect of essential retail outlets will be revised, to reflect this.

Adult community education centres and local community centres will be shut.

All non-essential surgery, health procedures and other non-essential health services will be postponed.

All visits to hospitals, residential healthcare centres, other residential settings and prisons are to cease, with specific exceptions on compassionate grounds.

Shielding, or cocooning, will be introduced for all those over 70 years of age and specified categories of people who are extremely vulnerable to Covid-19. Detailed guidance will be available.

Travel to our offshore islands will be limited to residents of those islands.

Pharmacists will be permitted to dispense medicines outside the current period of validity of the existing prescription in line with the pharmacists clinical judgement.

All public transport and passenger travel will be restricted only to essential workers and people providing essential services.

Apart from the activities I have listed, there should be no travel outside 2km radius from your home for any other reason.

These are radical actions aimed at saving as many lives as possible in the days and weeks ahead. We are not prisoners of fate  we can influence what is going to happen. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

As we enter this most intensive phase of restrictive actions, the Governments emergency response will be ramped up.

Local emergency response will be led by Local authorities who will bring together all the state agencies, as well as local community groups, charities and volunteers, to ensure that all of our citizens get the help they need at this exceptional time.

Freedom was hard won in our country, and it jars with us, to restrict and limit individual liberties, even temporarily. But freedom is not an abstract concept.

We give it meaning every single day  in the way we live our lives  and in the decisions we take willingly to protect our loved ones.

So I am asking people to give meaning to our freedom and liberty by agreeing to these restrictions. Restricting how we live our lives so that so that others may live.

I am asking us for a time, to forego our personal liberties and freedoms for a greater cause.

Tonight I am appealing to every man, woman and child in our country to make these sacrifices  not out of self-interest but for each other.

To begin each day knowing that every single imposition, every inconvenience, every irritation will save lives and help our health service cope.

The whole world is suffering during this pandemic, and Ireland is no different.

What happens now is up to each one of us.

Show your support to our healthcare staff.

Show your support for everyone who is working in essential services or looking after our vulnerable citizens.

Show that you care for your families and friends.

Stay at home.

Ta an domhain iomlan ag fulaingt agus nil Eireann difriuil.

Is ar gach einne anois cad a tarloidh.

Taispeain do chuid tacaiocht doibritheori slantiuil.

Taispeain do chuid tacaiocht don seirbhisi riachtanach agus daoine ata ar lag/chuidiu.

Taispeain do bhfeicfidh tu i ndhiadh do chlainn agus do chairde.

Fan abhaile.
The coronavirus outbreak has led to a 900 per cent uptick in hate speech toward China and Chinese people on Twitter, according to a report by a tech startup.

"People are spending more and more time on social networks, communication apps, chat rooms and gaming services, and the problems endemic to these platforms -- hate, abuse, toxicity and bullying -- have become accentuated," the Israel-based company L1ght said in its report.

"According to our data, much of this hate and abuse is being directed towards China and its population, as well as individuals of Asian origin in other parts of the world," added the startup that uses artificial intelligence to detect harmful content in social networks.

It said although there are some uplifting stories being shared online as people confined because of the pandemic first detected in China turn to the Internet, there is also plenty of hate being shared.

"Toxic tweets are using explicit language to accuse Asians of carrying the coronavirus and blaming people of Asian origin as a collective for spreading the virus," the study found.

It said that a lot of people are using racist hashtags such as #Kungflu, #chinesevirus and #communistvirus as they tweet about the pandemic. Internet traffic to prominent hate sites has also increased 200 percent, the report said, as have posts against Asians.

It said that certain media outlets have also encouraged backlash against Asians, pointing to a video on Sky Australia titled "China willfully inflicted coronavirus upon the world." "The video now has over 5k comments, the majority of them toxic and hateful," the report said.

The findings come as numerous US rights groups, activists and politicians have sounded the alarm about a surge in the number of racist incidents directed at Asian Americans.

Critics say US President Donald Trump's repeated references to the COVID-19 virus as the "Chinese virus," has also resulted in xenophobia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wicklow County Council is working to address a number of issues which have arisen due to the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland.

With many sporting and leisure activities unavailable because of the conronavirus crisis, people have instead been flocking to the outdoors for their recreational pleasure. This has led to challenges in the likes of Laragh, Brittas Bay and Glendaloguh in relation to poor parking, overcrowding and the failure to adhere to HSE social distancing guidelines.

The Local Authority is working to provide more parking spaces in Laragh, while Brittas Bay North and South carparks are both open and no parking charges apply.

Meanwhile, tenants of council properties who have experienced a drop in household income should contact the council offices for advice in relation to rent payments.

A deferral of rates payments for the most immediately impacted businesses has also been announced by Government and the council is working on introducing new measures to assist businesses.

Head of Finance, Mr Brian Gleeson, said: 'Wicklow County Council is currently reviewing the measures necessary to implement this initiative and will issue further communications in due course. Wicklow County Council is also cognisant that in a prolonged Covid-19 situation the categories of ratepayers experiencing difficulties may change and we will therefore be taking a pragmatic approach during this period and engaging with those ratepayers with regard to flexible payment options. However, for ratepayers fortunate enough to not have been impacted to date, it is critical they continue to contribute to national efforts to maintain the economy by continuing to pay their rates.'

Wicklow County Council Buildings remain open including the Municipal District Offices of Bray, Arklow, Greystones, Wicklow and Blessington/Baltinglass. However, members of the public are urged not to attend the offices unnecessarily and to avoid bringing children into public buildings. Online and postal services can be availed of as an alternative; motor tax applications can be processed online and renewal applications may be forwarded to the Council by post. Planning applications may also be submitted by post.

All Wicklow libraries are closed, but services remain. Swimming pools in Bray, Arklow, Greystones and Wicklow town are all closed. Wicklow Gaol is also shut to the public, as are all Wicklow County Council playgrounds.

Wicklow County Council Chief Executive, Frank Curran, said: 'The challenges in dealing with COVID 19 are being monitored daily by the Wicklow County Council Crisis Management Team and all efforts are being made to ensure a continuity of services across our key operations which also involves liaising with Government Departments and Agencies across the Eastern Region. We urge the public to adhere to HSE guidelines on social distancing and keep themselves informed of measures to combat the spread of the virus.'

Members of the public with additional queries regarding Wicklow County Council services are encouraged to contact us by telephone (0404) 20100 or by email: corporate@wicklowcoco.ie.
A man who punched a woman in the back of the head and spat at her in an unprovoked incident has been jailed for 12 months.

Gary Kelly (24) was told by a judge he is 'an absolutely disgusting person to spit at a woman'.

Swords District Court heard the injured party and her friend were on a bus returning from the semi-final match between Dublin and Galway in Croke Park in 2018.

The defendant, who was intoxicated, was also on the bus and started shouting and threatening people.

'He was looking into her (the injured party's) face and became aggressive,' a garda told the court.

'He then jumped up with his chest and arms out and approached her in an aggressive manner.'

The injured party got off the bus at Corduff and the defendant punched her in the back of the head.

She fell onto the grass and the bus driver came to her aid.

The injured party attended her doctor the following day with a sore head and damaged ligaments in her ankle.

He also smashed the bus door and after he was arrested he caused damage to a ceiling tile at Swords Garda Station, the District Court heard.

The defendant, of Moneymore in Drogheda pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman on the R132 in Corduff on August 12, 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the bus door and criminal damage to a ceiling tile at Swords Garda Station.

He further pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on the same date.

He has 15 previous convictions including convictions for assault, criminal damage and burglary.

The court heard the defendant is currently serving a 10 month prison sentence.

Defence barrister Annette Kealy said the defendant, who was working as a chef at the time, went out with friends that day and 'had too much alcohol'.

'He remembers being on the bus and being told to stop singing. He got upset and annoyed and his instructions were that he fell off the bus and bumped into the woman,' said Ms Kealy.

'He doesn't remember much. And he doesn't remember spitting at her. He is upset over that and is deeply ashamed and highly remorseful,' said Ms Kealy, adding the defendant has 'always been respectful of females and would never dream of assaulting a woman'.

Ms Kealy said the defendant 'grew up in a troubled area'.

'He went down the wrong road of drugs and alcohol but then worked hard to stop his drug and alcohol use and had made progress.'

'But on this night, he had a lapse and consumed far too much,' said Ms Kealy.

Ms Kealy said the defendant attended DIFE in Dundalk where he qualified as a chef.

'He wants to stress to the court he has no excuse. It was his doing in the first place for drinking and he is deeply, deeply ashamed and disgusted and he is sorry for what happened.'

Ms Kealy said the defendant is 'shocked at his own behaviour' and wishes he could take it all back.

Judge Miriam Walsh told the defendant: 'You are an absolutely disgusting person to spit at a woman.' She imposed a 12 month prison sentence for all of the offences.
: Seven labourers from Karnataka



were killed and four injured when the van in which they were travelling was hit by a truck near Pedda Golconda on the outskirts of the city late on Friday night, police said.

The deceased included two children.

Of the 31 workers in the van, five died on the spot and two while underoing treatment at a hospital, Assistant Commissioner of Traffic Vishwa Prasad said.

Four others were hospitalised and the condition of one of them is critical, he said, adding the other workers in the van escaped with minor injuries.

The workers were on their way back to their home town Raichur in Karnataka as the road project they were working in at Suryapet here was stalled due to the lockdown, Prasad said.

He said initital investigations revealed that the mango laden truck, which was on its way to Gujarat,was overspeeding.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JOINT KINGDOM APPROACH CRITICAL 

PHILIPSBURG:---  March month COVID-19 madness is almost behind us. Ahead, however, awaits many uncertainties as we continue to work in an effort to mitigate the negative effects on our economy and on our way of life, since this apparent

man-made virus hit the world.

It is only a matter of time before we will know the exact and indisputable facts that led to this pandemic costing both innocent lives and economies to crumble or paralyzed in worse cases

Arrindell states: pay- rolls are due for most companies, excluding the public sector which includes government owned companies. A stimulus package is being worked on locally, according to news reports. This proposed package is aimed at the unemployed, those who lost or at risk of losing their jobs. The objective is to alleviate the expected strain on our economy due to the Government mandated closures.

A closer look within the Kingdom of the Netherlands tells us what steps Governments have taken for their respective constituents.

1. An emergency relief package has already been debated and AGREED UPON in the Netherlands for Holland, Bonaire, Saba, Statia. Note Holland, as well as other countries outside of the Kingdom, choose the SZV system to administer the relief on companies' pay-rolls.

2. Curacao approved a solidarity package for its citizens.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister for Kingdom Relations Knops, recently publicly disclosed that the larger islands Curacao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten will not be left out and be considered to receive a financial relief package.

It is of essence that our Governments, Council of Ministers and Parliament approach Aruba and Curacao in order to submit post haste a joint or unified request for support unrelated to the Trust- fund relief Sint Maarten received post-Hurricane Irma. The joint Stimulus package would be similar to what the BESS islands are about to receive from the Netherlands.



Gracita said: our local government presented a proposal which includes food vouchers. The proposals are yet to be debated and approved by Parliament. In the midst of this all, current interim Ministers are leaving office as NEWLY appointed members enter the public arena. We wish them much wisdom and fortitude to act expeditiously on the stimulus package for businesses.

These are not easy times and all hands are needed on deck to overcome the challenges we face together.

Constructive criticism is healthy for everyone involved.

It is important to note that the approach of our Government (Minister of Finance) should be intense on its relief purposes towards energizing (businesses) to be pro-active.

Keeping most people EMPLOYED should be a collective (public and private sector) main objective. Those who are or have been unemployed prior to the COVID- 19 virus pandemic, would rightfully be eligible for the voucher program.

Food vouchers do not fall under the category of STIMULUS.

Food vouchers are part of our safety net, especially geared towards sustaining the most vulnerable among us, including, elderly, pensioners, homeless.

Employers should not be ( unintentionally) motivated by Government to lay off staff. Hopefully, our Government will apply the meaning of the word Stimulus literally when it decides on the final financial package of measures to be taken. This decision is not a minute too soon.

Gracita concludes: Sint Maarten is a small beautiful Island.

We can manage our issues when they arrive. When we plan ahead and consult in a timely fashion our stakeholders, we can overcome our challenges.

Once again, our social security structure (SZV) is in place to handle the disbursement of the financial Stimulus package on short notice. Time is of the essence.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India has entered the third or community transmission stage of the COVID-19 outbreak despite a 21-day lockdown enforced earlier this week by the Union government, official sources have told this newspaper.

We have detected early signs of community transmission as at least three patients without any international travel history or contact history with COVID-19 positive people have been found to be infected, a top official in the Indian Council of Medical Research said.

COVID-19 LIVE | India records highest single-day jump, fresh cases in UP, Bengal, Tamil Nadu

These cases are in high viral density areas and all the data is being analysed now to understand the extent of outbreak progression. Its obvious now that community transmission cannot be stopped by any means, he added.

The admission came as the country registered the highest jump in positive cases in a day. India now has 918 COVID 19 cases. The total number of confirmed cases stood at 724 on Friday morning.

The detection of community transmission, authorities explained, came as now all patients with severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARI) hospitalized across the country are being tested for COVID 19, apart from symptomatic travelers who have returned from abroad in the recent past, close contacts of those who have tested positive and healthcare workers.

In the daily press briefing of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare too, a senior ICMR official conceded that signals of community transmission of COVID-19 in the country have been detected but refused to give specific numbers and instead blamed patients for memory lapses.

There are some sporadic cases of COVID-19 where the patients do not have travel or contact history but those numbers are too few so it cannot be said that there is widespread community transmission yet, said Dr R R Gangakhedkar, chief epidemiologist with the ICMR. Sometimes, patients do not remember their exposure history and there have been instances where some patients even try to hide their travel history, he added.

ALSO READ: Total cases in Karnataka jumps to 81 as five more test positive in Mysuru

Infectious disease experts have been insisting for some time that given the rising number of cases and nature of the outbreak, community transmission has already happened in India. They said that the government should be more transparent and upfront during a public health emergency like the present one.

It is not an indictment of the government that community transmission has happened as it is an inevitable progression of the outbreak and I am happy that they are admitting that now, said Dr Shahid Jameel, senior virologist and chief executive officer of Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance.

He added that the outbreak can be managed by aggressive cluster containment strategies by quickly identifying areas where community transmission has happened and taking appropriate measures.
- The president of Ghana has assured the country that importation of COVID-19 into the country has stopped

- So far the number of cases of COVID-19 imported into Ghana has been 78 out of the 137 total cases

- That number has not increased in a while and the president has assured Ghanaians that it has truly ended

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians in his address to the nation on March 27, 2020, that importation of COVID-19 has stopped.

Indeed, after the spike in coronavirus cases in Ghana that were recorded among new persons who returned to Ghana from different countries and were put in quarantine, no other imported case of COVID-19 has been reported.

It would be recalled that by the morning of March 26, 2020, the total number of cases of the deadly coronavirus increased drastically to 132 as 78 cases in total were confirmed among people in mandatory quarantine after returning to Ghana.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Total recoveries in Ghana double in 1 day -Ghana Health Service report

Since then, Ghana's cases have not been stable as the total number of cases confirmed in the country as at the evening of March 27, 2020, is now 137.

This number is fully from the regular surveillance among Ghanaians and none has been imported into Ghana.

It appears that the strict directive given by the president on March 21, 2020, for all borders both land and air to be closed has been fully enforced, hence the results.

READ ALSO: New case of COVID-19 hits Ghana; total number climbs to 137 with 4 deaths

In other news, a Ghanaian gentleman Opoku Ababio and his wife Dorothy Opoku along with three other accomplices have been arrested for making and selling fake hand sanitizers.

In a video report sighted YEN.com.gh on the official Facebook handle of Joy FM, the illegal hand sanitizer manufacturing unit was at a suburb of Techiman where all the five suspects were arrested.

Ghana as a country is witnessing a shortage in hand sanitizers following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country which requires constant washing of hands or use of hand sanitizers.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Only God can save Ghana from the Coronavirus outbreak - Pastor declares | #Yencomgh

Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Doctors put on protective gears at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, March 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said the Covid-19 patients tally will not reach 1,000 if prevention measures continue to be strictly followed.

It takes an average of nine days for the number of cases to increase from 100 to 1,000 based on global statistics, except in Japan where it took 28 days.

Vietnam could have topped 1,000 by March 31 based on this, but it was not going to happen "because its measures are very effective."

"We have and are controlling the outbreak points well, even going into potential ones and wiping out the disease immediately."

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said outbreak points like Son Loi Commune in the northern province of Vinh Phuc and Truc Bach Street in Hanoi had been controlled efficaciously by the authorities. Both areas were locked down after a few cases of Covid-19 were confirmed.

Other outbreak points are also well under control, Long said.

At Bach Mai Hospital, one of the largest in Vietnam which has been linked to at least eight patients, the authorities have isolated three units - the Heart Institute, the Department of Neurology and the Center for Tropical Diseases, along with personnel working there, he said.

The Ministry of Health has isolated 573 staff, patients, students, and caregivers at the hospital who came into contact with the confirmed cases.

It has also directed Covid-19 tests to be done by Sunday for the nearly 4,000 medical staff and 1,000 patients at the hospital.

The hospital also ordered its personnel to close their private clinics. Patients who are being discharged after treatment will be tested for Covid-19 and monitored by local medical officers at home.

In HCMC, Long said, the outbreak at Buddha Bar in District 2 has been major. At least 13 people who were at a party at the bar on March 14 have tested positive, with a Vietnam Airlines pilot being the first. Fifty nine others have tested negative, while the results of 26 other people are still awaited.

Some 153 people who came into direct contact with the confirmed cases have been quarantined.

Long said outbreaks caused by a 55 year-old man in HCMC's District 8 who returned from Kuala Lumpur and by a woman who returned from Washington D.C. to Phan Thiet in south central Vietnam have been zoned and isolated. Hundreds of families have been tested and authorities are still searching for suspected cases.

Local quarantines would become more commonplace and would be operated by the police, officials from the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control said at the meeting. The Ministry of Public Security will coordinate with the Ministry of Health for this task.

According to the committee, Vietnam has not employed fast testing and instead been using test kits developed by the Vietnam Military Medical University and Viet A Technologies company and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has set up a treatment roadmap and ensured there is enough stock of medicines needed for Covid-19 treatment. Doctors and other medical staff at lower levels are being trained by the Ministry of Health to treat mild cases, the committee said.

Vietnam has 169 confirmed Covid-19 cases so far, with most of the active ones being people coming from Europe and the U.S. and others who came into close contact with them.

Among them, three are in critical conditions and 20 have been discharged from hospitals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 199 countries and territories so far, claiming over 27,000 lives.
Cork County Council has been forced to padlock control boxes on flashing speed signs installed in villages after thieves forced hem open and stole their batteries

Callous thieves are putting the lives of motorists and pedestrians in north Cork villages at risk - by stealing the batteries from roadside flashing speed-warning signs.

Cllr Tony O'Shea (FG) has slammed those behind the thefts, which have forced Cork County Council to put padlocked chains around the units in order to prevent them being damaged.

Cllr O'Shea said the issue first came to his attention when the signs outside Glantane National School recently stopped working.

"When I reported this to the council I was shocked to find out the reason behind this was that the boxes containing the mechanisms under the signs had been forced open and the batteries stolen," said Cllr O'Shea.

"The same thing has happened to signs in Bweeng and Dromahane. From speaking to fellow county councillors from around Cork, it is my understanding this has also been happening at other locations across the county," he added.

Typically, these signs are located at outside schools, in built-up neighbourhoods and at areas with there are high accident rates, in order to slow down the flow of traffic and reduce the risk to both pedestrians and other road users.

They are part-funded by Cork County Council, with local parent associations and community councils making up the required shortfall to cover their installation.

"The bottom line here is that these lights have been put in place to slow down speeding traffic and ensure the safety of all road users. It beggars belief that people would deliberately put the lives of others at risk by rendering these signs inoperable," said Cllr O'Shea.

"It is also sticking two fingers up to the community organisations that have invested so much money, time and effort into getting these potentially lifesaving signs put in place," he added.

A Cork County Council official confirmed they were aware of the thefts and said the authority was closely monitoring the situation.

"If this continues we will have to look at taking further action," they said.
SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Companies and workers in Singapore are bracing themselves for several more weeks of disruptive work arrangements, even as the epicentre of the pandemic has shifted to Europe and the United States. Speaking in Parliament on March 25, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong says Singapore should expect more cases as overseas Singaporeans return home in the coming days.

Co-working operators here are bracing themselves for tougher times ahead too. As part of efforts to stem community transmissions while ensuring economic continuity, the buzzwords of the day are Business Contingency Plans (BCP) and Work from Home (WFH) arrangements. But this also means a decline in demand for some flexible workspaces.

Safe distancing

Many co-working operators have already implemented government guidelines such as temperature screening, the filling up of declaration forms and safe distancing in their co-working locations. JustCo, the largest homegrown co-working operator, says it is working with their building managers to implement these steps. The company manages 42 co-working centres in eight cities in the Asia-Pacific region, including 19 co-working centres in Singapore.



A picture taken in 2019 of JustCo's coworking location in Marina Square. The company has implemented government guidelines such as temperature screening, the filling up of declaration forms and safe distancing in their co-working locations (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

According to Brandon Chia, vice-president and head of Singapore and Indonesia at JustCo, We have also increased the cleaning frequency of our centres, and our cleaners are also instructed to be more detailed and thorough in their daily cleaning routine  including common areas such as the hot-desking space, collaboration corners, breakout area, and games areas.

Other operators have taken to removing half the seats and desks in some common work areas to comply with government guidelines on safe distancing between people. Dominique Vincent, CEO of Found8, says this has been done in their hot desk areas and meeting rooms in their five locations island-wide.

Story continues

Shutdowns

Country-wide shutdowns in China and Malaysia have also impacted those operators with a regional footprint. Matthew Chisholm, COO of Arcc Spaces, says that some team members from their Beijing office were stuck in their hometown in Wuhan  where the novel coronavirus is said to have originated  when the city went into lockdown. The operator also had to close its four co-working spaces in Kuala Lumpur when the Malaysian government announced its movement control order (MCO) on March 18 which will now end only on April 14 after an extension.

According to Chisholm, its co-working centres in Beijing and Shanghai saw office usage drop to about 10% in the past two weeks, but attendance in its Singapore workspaces only fell by 10% over the same period.



An artist impression of Arcc Spaces coworking location at High Street. The company says it has only seen a 10% fall in attendance among its tenants in Singapore over the past two weeks, compared to a 90% fall in attendance in its centres in Beijing and Shanghai (Picture: Arcc Spaces)

[In Singapore] the response from our tenants has been reflective of the general population and most people are trying to go about as business as usual. We dont see a whole lot of attrition or fall off on people coming to work, he says.

However, this is because the company targets SMEs with less than 100 people, and provides security and exclusive access into each floor and office space. The co-working operator has two centres in Singapore  at Suntec Tower 2 and a building at 75 High Street. It has 18 other office locations in five other cities in Asia.

Sanctuary plan

Arcc Spaces has also come up with short-term initiatives to help companies affected by work disruptions. Three weeks ago, it rolled out The Arcc Sanctuary Plan, which has been designed to help companies whose office spaces have been shut down temporarily but still need a business space for operations to continue running.

The Arcc Sanctuary Plan enables some companies to reserve a temporary workspace in their Singapore or Hong Kong locations, relocating staff within one business day when a disruptive event occurs. Flexible contractual terms are also available for a part of the cost of a standard office lease, providing greater flexibility for a company to resume their operations as soon as possible.



Arcc Spaces COO Matthew Chisholm says they are offering a Sanctuary Plan for business affected by work disruptions (Picture: Arcc Spaces)

According to Arcc Spaces, the initiative has already attracted more than 12 enquiries from different companies that have between 20 to 100 people.

Other short-term initiatives the company has rolled out include virtual office packages and in selected cases, it has offered to decrease monthly rentals for some tenants, but also adding a couple of months to the end of the lease term.

Read more: Arcc Spaces homecoming

Where is the demand?

Some established co-working operators here say that they are not too exposed to cash flow risk for now as most of their floor space is set up for private offices and larger team rooms. At Found8, the company says that team rooms and private offices take up about 85% of the floor space while hot desks make up the remaining space. The co-working operator has centres in Amoy Street, Anson Road, Cuppage Road, North Bridge Road and Prinsep Street.

According to Dominique Vincent, CEO of Found8, the company recorded an increase in demand for its private spaces and hot desk spaces from the start of February to early March. This is because many of our members tend to travel around for work, but because of the current situation travel has significantly reduced. As a result, they are still coming to work in their office space with us, he says.



The uncertain economic situation is forcing some of the members in Found8 to pause their memberships (Picture: Found8)

However, the situation developed quickly and things have changed significantly over the past two weeks. Now we are seeing less people because quite a few have either decided to work from home, while others have been called back home by their parent companies. We also have a few who are suffering from the [economic] situation, which is forcing them to pause their memberships, says Vincent.

Big players scale up

On the other hand, larger operators like JustCo have been scaling up their operations in recent years to attract enterprise or corporate clients. According to Brandon Chia, JustCos head of Singapore and Indonesia, enquiries have remained healthy and this can be seen from the encouraging take up rate of our upcoming new centre at OCBC Centre East.

Chia adds, Amid the ongoing Covid-19 developments, companies and members have viewed JustCos fully furnished and ready-to-move-in offices ideal for their business continuity plans, where employees can still function productively. However, he says that its weekly networking and community events have either been postponed or suspended to minimise the risk of transmission.

JustCo is not alone in this area. The Work Project (TWP) has also announced that they are postponing community events and the operator has stopped selling its day passes as well as stopped accepting external bookings of its meeting rooms from non-members.

Read more: JustCo to open new co-working centre at The Centrepoint in 3Q2020



Junny Lee of The Work Project says that they have suspended day passes and external bookings for meeting rooms in its spaces from non-members (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)

TWP has five centres in Singapore in OUE Downtown, Capital Tower, Asia Square, Great World City, and in Bugis. It also has a centre in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. The operator says that its centres are close to fully occupied and that it does not expect to be exposed to much risk at this time.

Junny Lee, CEO of TWP, says that their clients depend on them to keep centres open and this has played a critical role for some clients and their business. The company also has a taskforce that updates its SOP in line with government guidelines, as well as scenario training for situations such as having an infected case in their centre.

However, he reckons that the next six months are likely to be an uncertain time for the co-working industry in the region. Smaller companies that only operate out of flexible space might have to downsize as a response to the economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, corporations with core office locations will be able to organise their BCP between multiple locations, he says.



Smaller companies that only operate out of flexible space might have to downsize as a response to the economic uncertainty, says Junny Lee, CEO of The Work Project (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)

TWP says it is still working towards the opening of a new centre in CapitaGreen this June, and the space had been almost fully pre-committed ahead of the opening. They are also still working to open a new location in the upcoming CapitaSpring next year. Separately, Arcc Spaces also says they are working towards the opening of their 19,000 sq ft flagship space at One Marina Boulevard in April this year but will continue to monitor the situation in Singapore.

However, other operators like Found8 say they have decided to put their expansion plans on hold until after the pandemic subsides. The co-working operator says it had planned to roll out a second centre in Kuala Lumpur, as well as new locations in Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and Sydney.

Says Vincent, We have reconsidered our expansion plans and at this stage we are putting all this on hold. We need to rethink if its the right thing to do, and right now we are regrouping and working on our centres in Singapore and seeing how we can continue to encourage the innovation ecosystem in our spaces here.

Post-Covid-19

The pandemic and widespread adoption of BCP measures in Singapore will likely become a trigger for some companies to reconsider flexible workspaces, says Vincent.

I wont be surprised if we see some corporations who will be eager to discover what co-working can do for them. BCP and split team arrangements are likely to remain in place for a while, and while working from home is nice for the first two to three weeks, at some point, people need to socialise and thrive on ideas. Nothing beats social interaction, he says.



Dominique Vincent, CEO of Found8, says that the widespread WFH in Singapore could serve as a trigger for more companies to consider flexible workspace in the future (Picture: Found8)

However, Vincent does not expect a recovery to occur within the next six months. Instead, he is gearing up for a tougher time that could last for about nine months at best.

Lee of TWP also expects the uncertainty to continue for at least the next six months. But he is optimistic towards the long-term outlook for the office market in Singapore post-Covid-19. Im very confident in the long-term outlook for the office market in Singapore. Generally, trust in the government is strong and in TWP trust between team members is also holding strong.

Read also:

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These suggestions address the exigencies of the moment. But the time has long passed for the country to open the door to the information age for communities that are locked out.

The daunting challenge of trying to get distance learning up and running comes as school districts are already struggling to feed students who rely on school breakfasts and lunches to stave off hunger. An analysis of policy statements by 46 districts that was released last Friday by the nonpartisan Center on Reinventing Public Education found considerable confusion among districts about how to deal with issues of technology and internet access. Only about a third of the districts said they were working to deliver laptops or tablets to students. Only five said they were delivering mobile phones or wireless hot spots to students, while more were encouraging parents to sign up for internet service. Few districts had comprehensive learning plans, and most were sharing links to optional assignments on publicly available websites. No district examined by the center had a clear solution for ensuring that 100 percent of students have a  device and reliable, long-term access to the internet.

This scramble is taking place in an atmosphere of uncertainty over how long the shutdown will last. Districts will need more money  and new expertise  if it turns out that a comprehensive online infrastructure is needed for the long haul.

The pandemic-driven changes undertaken by KIPP, the nations largest public charter school network, give a sense of how schools have had to adapt and how obstacles vary by region. The network is using its buses to deliver food to communities that need it. Where internet connectivity is poor, the networks buses also drop off work packets that are later picked up for grading. The lack of internet access in poor and rural communities comes up again and again as educators talk about the pandemic.

Commissioner Rosenworcels access plan focuses on expanding the federal program known as E-Rate, which helps qualifying schools, school systems and libraries acquire broadband at up to a 90 percent discount. E-Rate program funding is based on demand, up to an annual F.C.C.-established cap of $4.15 billion. It would be a simple matter for the commission to extend the program so that schools can buy hot spots that are then distributed to needy students.
The Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria in Lagos State has offered to complement the state government's effort to curb the community transmission of coronavirus through optimised enlightenment and advocacy.

The Amir (President) of the MSSNLagos, Dr Saheed Ashafa, made the appeal in a press statement on Saturday.

While commending the proactiveness of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he appealed to Lagos residents to obey the government's stay-at-home directive.

This is as coronavirus confirmed cases have risen to 81 in Nigeria, with Lagos recording 52.

Ashafa said, "We commend the Lagos State Government on the various measures set in motion to combat the ravaging COVID-19.

"Indeed, there has never been a more challenging period in our history as a people, hence the proactiveness of the governor and his team and their desire to put an end to the scourge is equally unprecedented.

"We passionately appeal to Lagosians to respond positively to directives issued by the government and also put up appropriate synergy with the government. This remains the only valid means of ensuring a better output for all the efforts of the state government.

"As an organisation, the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit shall not relent in complementing government efforts particularly in the areas of advocacy and enlightenment and more importantly collaboration with the appropriate government representatives and agencies. We have set up a COVID-19 Incident Volunteers' platform to get this actualized."

He also advised members of the MSSNLagos "to cooperate and be willing to pay required sacrifice at this trying period for the entire humanity".

He subsequently prayed that "this terrible experience will soon become a thing of the past".

Meanwhile, the MSSNLagos urged members of the House of Representatives to consider donating their newly-purchased exotic cars to fight against coronavirus.

This, the students-based body said, would go a long way to show how the lawmakers love their constituents.

He also said it would serve as an unforgettable legacy for upcoming leaders in the country.

Ashafa appealed to the lawmakers to complement the efforts of their state governments and philanthropists who had already made donations.

He said, "The coronavirus has come to show us the essence of sacrifice, humanity, and humility. Our lawmakers should also follow this line. Leaders in the country must find ways to assist the masses and donate to the fight against the virus.

"For instance, lawmakers in Nigeria could show leadership beyond the words of mouth by sacrificing their newly-purchased exotic cars during this pressing period for logistics and other purposes that they could be used for.

"There is absolutely no better time to know a good leader than now. Donating these exotic cars will boost Nigerians confidence in Nigeria's democracy."

Signed:

Amir and Leader, COVID-19 Incident Volunteers

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Miquel Benitez/Getty

BARCELONAIt was a perfect Barcelona day. The wet air was filled with spring smells. The citys pollution rate had declined by 89 percent. Crime had dropped more than 70 percent. Police cars, lights flashing, sat idle on the empty street. The ambulances, around 10 of them, were parked in front of my local health center. One rode past, its lights on but with the siren silent.

A perfect day, except the COVID-19 death toll had just exceeded that of China, a country of 1.4 billion.

After Putins Big Fail, Russia Braces for COVID-19 Onslaught

Spain is reeling from the coronavirus epidemic. By Friday, the daily death toll reached 769 over 24 hours. As of this writing, Spain has suffered 4,858 fatalities overall with 64,059 confirmed casesincluding 9,444 health workers. Some 36,293 people are hospitalized. Only 9,357 patients have recovered. All this in a county with a population one-seventh the size of the United States.

The mood in this context of looming mortality is surreal. The virus is invisible, death omnipresent and the silent streets speak to an almost ghostly existence.

The only reasonably good news was that Thursday saw only a 14 percent increase in cases compared with 18 percent a day earlier and 20 percent on Wednesday.

Across the country, the army has been deployed to deep-clean hospitals and other facilitiesincluding some 900 nursing homes where at least 1,517 deaths have been recorded. Members of the Military Emergencies Unit found corpses, including some totally abandoned elderly peopleeven some who were dead in their beds, Defense Minister Margarita Robles told the Ana Rosa TV program.

Nearly two weeks into a general quarantine that the government says will last at least until April 12, and it is hard to remember a time when people rubbed shoulders, drinking and dancing in the ciudad condal. Now, the time of revelry feels like a distant era. To be sure there are the nightly 8 p.m. cheers for health workers on the front lines of the crisis. And on a Friday night clutches of young people put out disco lights and dance on their balconies. The spectacle lasts for maybe 10 minutes before they go back inside and shutter their doors.

Story continues

How did it all go so wrong so quickly?

While China was busy fighting the virus, warnings about the critical importance of being prepared for what was coming went largely unheeded. Perhaps stopping the entry of the virus was impossible, because it involved confining a country without [visible] cases, wrote a Spanish researcher, a consultant physician in internal medicine and infectious diseases, in an opinion piece in the Spanish daily El Periodico. But we could have bought equipment and designed protocols that would not put our health workers in the battle that they are currently fighting piecemeal and without adequate weapons.

Even when the disease had arrived at Spains doorstep there was a feeling of business as usual. In a country where the elderly often pick up their grandchildren, schools didnt close until just before a national emergency was declared. Airports didnt bother to screen passengers for signs of fever. The week before, on March 8, a huge march celebrating International Womens Day was allowed to take place, despite the obvious danger.

An unprecedented number of Spains politicians began to fall ill. Every ideological faction was hit, and right at the top.

Spains Minister of Equality Irene Montero, who attended the rally, tested positive, as did Isabel Diaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid. Meanwhile Santiago Abascal, leader of the ultra right-wing Vox Party, along with Javier Ortega Smith, the partys secretary general, fell ill with the disease. So did Quim Torra, a leader in Catalonias independence movement. Even Maria Begona Gomez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, was stricken.

Throughout the country, but particularly in the Spanish capital of Madrid, the dead began to pile up. On Wednesday, reports surfaced that a new residence for the elderly in the posh district of Chamartin had been decimated by the virus. Some 25 people at the facility had perished, and 50 were infected. Management called the military for help as the silent plague raged around them.

The virus has spread quickly to the countryside as well. In addition to Madrid, the Basque Country and Catalonia, the disease has reached Castilla y Leon, Castilla-La Mancha, and Valencia. Major hospitals as far as Murcia and Andalucia reportedly are inundated by coronavirus patients.

To be sure, both Spanish authorities and citizens generally are doing whatever they can to combat the onslaught of disease and death. In Madrid the military has been hard at work trying to create extra capacity for the overflow of patients from hospitals struggling to keep up with an exhausting caseload.

On Wednesday, more than 300 coronavirus patients were transferred to Pavilion 5 at the Madrid exhibition center, where scores of beds with oxygen tanks had been installed. A small laboratory was built to analyze patient data, and radiology equipment was brought in largely for chest X-rays. The hope is that an intensive care unit consisting of some 96 beds will be ready by Saturday. Our role is to unclog all the hospitals in the region, said Eduardo Lopez Puertas, the director general of Ifema, which manages the complex.

Meanwhile, citizens played their part. Unlike in Los Angeles, where there are reports that businesses refused to close after a general quarantine was declared, Spaniards throughout the country cooperated as best they could. Faced with a shortage of medical supplies, people brought out their sewing machines and stitched together makeshift masks, which were donated to the elderly. Soup kitchens for the poor and the vulnerable began to emerge.

In the United States, supermarkets were scenes of much-publicized chaos and disrespect for social distancing, but in Barcelona and elsewhere, people gently lined up two meters apart, giving the elderly and the vulnerable preference. In Barcelona and other cities, some even took the time to make sure the citys pigeons had enough feed to survive the plague. In the absence of humanity, rats braved some streets as never before. A wild boar was even reported rummaging for food in the city center.

When the elderly, living alone and vulnerable, decided to go outside, normal people at newspaper kiosks and on street corners told them to stay in doors. Better loneliness than death, they urged. And while the police fined some for being outdoors, their response with the vulnerable was generally more an expression of concern than anything else.

Still the number of intensive care beds, only some 5,000 spread throughout the country, did not nearly match the number who needed them. At the Severo Ochoa Hospital in Leganes, on the outskirts of Madrid, there were more than 260 patients in an emergency room with a capacity of 90.

Medical professionals throughout the country had to begin to prioritize who would receive precious oxygen and artificial respiration machines. Patients lay on floors or sat in plastic chairs.

Whatever could go wrong went wrong.

On Thursday it was learned that fast coronavirus tests that government officials had purchased from a Chinese supplier were essentially garbage. The tests manufactured by a Chinese company were supposed to have a sensitivity level of 80 percent when in fact the level of sensitivity was 30 percent. The tests are to be returned.

The lack of molecular testing kits means that the overall number of dead may be underreported in some parts of the country by as much as 70 percent, according to research conducted by the Institute of Health Juan Carlos III that was published in Spains El Pais newspaper. The institute cited abnormally high overall death rates in hard hit parts of the country, even taking into account coronavirus mortalities.

On Wednesday, associations of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and veterinarians representing some 721,000 medical professionals issued a joint statement in which they warned of a health care system on the verge of total collapse. Health-care professionals find ourselves in a situation of total insecurity and helplessness, due to the lack of basic supplies, the statement said. Already, as of Wednesday, some 14 percent of the infected were medical professionals.

A large hospital can use as many as 5,000 surgical masks per day. Now, at some facilities, hospital workers were jerry-rigging their own equipment including protective pants made from plastic garbage bags. On social media some doctors were touting the use of adapted one-piece diving masks as a protective measure. Workers caring for the elderly clamored for protective equipment, but to no avail.

Yet as absolutely frightening as this situation is, virtually no one I know would trade enduring coronavirus in Spain with having to face it in New York, Los Angeles or Seattle, where quarantines and school closures werent enacted until the very last minute.

It is unbelievable to think that there are places that could be worse than Spain right now. But the overwhelming fear for those of us who care about Americaand there are many hereis that the United States will endure an even greater catastrophe than we have seen.

The new reality is that the virus creeps silently among us, eroding and in many cases destroying whatever sense of safety we had even a month ago. Cooped up in their apartments, people hear the sirens of passing ambulances riding along empty streets. They peek from the windows when the health workers stop to pick up another victim. The disease has become a neighbor.

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Dr. Kathy Lofy, the health officer of Washington State, said in an email, We are very concerned that people believe our scarce resource guidance might discriminate against people with disabilities so we are in the process of setting up time to meet with disability advocacy groups to discuss their concerns.

The guidance in Washington around managing scarce resources during emergencies was largely designed to avoid discrimination during the allocation of scarce resource and involves a regional team to ensure resources are being allocated in a fair way, Dr. Lofy said.

An emailed statement from the Alabama health department said that the states ventilator triage guidelines had been greatly misunderstood and were solely intended as a tool for providers making difficult choices. The statement said the document, which remained on its website on Saturday, was over a decade old and had since been replaced by a more comprehensive set of guidelines for health care emergencies. Those newer guidelines did not address ventilator triage, but said that the allocation of care should not be discriminatory.

Dr. Doug White, who published a proposed framework for rationing critical care in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Friday, said in a webinar that it was important to have triage guidelines that dont exclude groups of patients. He said a score-based approach, endorsed by Pennsylvania, would allow as many patients to be treated as possible, so that if suddenly 1,000 new ventilators become available, nobodys sitting without a ventilator.

Still, some citizen groups who have looked at draft protocols expressed fears that even using predicted survival to determine who would get access to resources  the most common strategy  might be inherently discriminatory.

In a report of a community exercise held in Seattle, some participants said they were concerned that using the likelihood of survival as a rationing criterion was problematic because some groups, such as African-Americans and immigrants, might have poorer health as a result of institutional racism in the health care system.

The plans typically include protocols for removing ventilators from people after a certain time period if they do not appear to be improving. In some states, including New York, people who required ventilators long-term, such as those who have certain spinal cord injuries, could be subject to having their ventilators reassigned under the protocol if they were admitted to hospitals during the crisis.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday asked officers to ensure compulsory quarantine of about one lakh people, who returned to the state in the past three days.

The chief minister, who has been supervising the implementation of the Corona Action Plan and worked with officers on Friday night to provide transport to workers in transit from other states, gave these directions at a review meeting here on Saturday.

We have asked all the district magistrates to ensure that the workers returning to UP from other states are quarantined at home compulsorily. Local authorities have been told to put up a notice at the residence of the person to be quarantined or at the gates of their respective housing society. Village pradhans in about 60,000 village panchayats have been sensitised by the chief ministers office and they are also informed about the persons to be quarantined, said principal secretary, medical and health, Amit Mohan Prasad.

Adityanath also asked officers to strengthen the supply chain of food grains, vegetables and milk and to ensure that correct rates are displayed to check black-marketing of essential commodities during the lockdown. He said food should be provided through community kitchens to the poor, labourers and homeless by seeking cooperation from NGOs and religious organisations.

Adityanath said the appointment of nodal officers for some states had shown positive results. He said the state government would appoint nodal officers for all the remaining states.

All the necessary equipment/material needed for treatment of patients and to contain the coronavirus must be bought, he said.

Adityanath added that medical and sanitization services in Ghaziabad and Noida must be strengthened. He urged the people to stay back at the places of their work during the lockdown period.
The number of Detroit police officers who are off duty and quarantined is remarkable.

As of Friday, 468 of the departments 2,200 officers, more than 20% of the force, were under quarantine due to having close contact with someone who contracted COVID-19 or because they were showing symptoms themselves. Another 39 officers were off-duty after testing positive for the coronavirus, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said Friday.

Even Detroit Police Chief James Craig contracted the virus. Three Detroit-based law enforcement employees, Detroit Police Capt. Jonathan Parnell, a 38-year-old Detroit police 911 dispatcher and Commander Donafay Collins of the neighboring Wayne County Sheriffs Office, all died this week after testing positive.

While the outbreak inside Detroit Police Department may be the most widespread, and so far, the most deadly, the issue of coronavirus staffing losses isnt limited to law enforcement in the Motor City.

While the total number of Michigan police agencies with officers whove been quarantined or have contracted the virus is not being tracked, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police President Robert Stevenson said hes heard from up to 20 departments that have one or more officers off duty due of the the coronavirus.

I think its important that the citizens are assured that theyre not going to lose their public safety, of some sort, Stevenson said.

A key to ensuring public safety is upheld, even if departments lose officers to the coronavirus, is mutual aid agreements, he said.

All departments throughout the state are part of have been part of some mutual-aid task forces, Stevenson said. " ... Weve discussed this for years as possible and have a contingency plan."

Stevenson recently met with director of the Michigan State Police Col. Joseph Gasper and Michigan Sheriffs Association Vice President Matt Saxton.

Weve talked about what we would do and how we would help each other out if something were to happen in a particular city, Stevenson said. I do know that the colonel has spoken with the chief from the Detroit Police Department and I know that the Michigan State Police would be there to help in some degree if a department was hard hit and couldnt field a police force for a period of time.

" ... The leaders in the policing field have been together have talked about this and we will make sure that communities have policing."

Most agencies MLive inquired with didnt divulge any specifics about their contingency plans.

We have a plan in place, Saginaw Township Police Chief Donald F. Pussehl Jr. told MLive. "I am hopeful that we will not have to implement it.

Our officers are practicing the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and are being very careful about their surroundings. So far, everyone is healthy and no one is exhibiting any of the signs of the virus.

Eastpointe Public Safety Director George T. Rouhib Jr. said his department is cautious but in good shape.

Anything can happen at this point, he said. " ... If we do begin to lose officers, many of our officers assigned to other positions other than patrol will respond to calls along with the administration. The county is working on a mutual-aid agreement between the state ,county, and local agencies. We can always as usual depend on our neighbors."

Since the coronavirus began to spread in Michigan, police agencies have taken precautions to combat the potential spread, especially during interactions with the public but also among themselves.

After Gov. Whitmer declared a State of Emergency, several police agencies said they will no longer respond to low-level crimes, such as minor thefts, in person and will instead take reports over the phone.

Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green in a March 12 coronavirus exposure mitigation memo told his officers, until further notice, not to respond in person to reports of larceny; property destruction; retail fraud, if a suspect isnt known or the value of the theft is under $1,000; attempted break-ins or break-ins at unoccupied buildings, including garages or vacant homes; ID theft when the victim isnt financially harmed and reimbursed by their bank; harassing phone calls or emails; credit card theft if the charges arise outside Lansing and calls of lost property.

In Montcalm County, 911 dispatchers began asking callers about possible symptoms of illness, which they then shared with medics, firefighters or police responding to a call.

In an effort to promote safety for everyone involved, a new line of questioning has been introduced to our call in-take process, Montcalm County Central Dispatch posed to its Facebook page. "Until further notice, we will be asking questions about the health and exposure risk of all of our 911 and business line callers where a responder could potentially have face to face contact with the public.

We assure you that our added questioning is not going to slow down response times.

Detroit and Pittsfield Township are among departments that have instituted medical screenings for each officer, every shift. Detroit takes each officers temperature and allows no more than two police in the same elevator together.

Lansing and other departments say they are debriefing officers at the end of their shifts to determine if they may have any risk of exposure to the coronavirus based on the calls they responded to.

Lansing Police Department has protocols and procedures in place for numerous scenarios that involve Covid-19, Lansing police spokesman Robert Merritt said. As you know this virus is ever changing paths and angles. Lansing police continue to plan, react, battle on a day-to-day basis.

Despite police assurances, many Michigan residents rushed to gun stores across the state in the week leading up to Gov. Whitmers stay-at-home order that closed all non-essential businesses, including gun shops.

Philip Sheridan, the owner of Sheridan Arms in Saginaw, said nearly half of the customers he served were first-time gun owners.

People are frightened and they want to make sure they have a personal protection firearm in case things get really crazy," he said.

Stevenson said theres no reason to worry about a lack of police to maintain peace and order.

At this time when theres so much anxiety, we dont want people to think, Oh, my God, were not going to have any police here,'" said Stevenson, a retired Livonia police chief. You will have police there.

"Were working together closely, and thats one thing that law enforcement has always been very, very good at, is working back and forth in times of emergency and disaster.

Another 801 cases of coronavirus COVID-19 were reported in Michigan, with the total number reaching 3,657 on Friday, March 27, up from 2,856 from the day before.

Ninety-two people have died, according to the states daily update on coronavirus numbers. Thats up from 60 on Thursday.

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CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

To read more on MLive:

Friday, March 27: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

GM will build ventilators in Indiana, surgical masks in Warren

Whitmer says Michigan schools very unlikely to re-open this school year

Michigan medical chief fears hospitals will run out of room
Chinese Government has donated medical equipment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in support of the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhuo Pingjian, while delivering the medical items at the ministry in Abuja, said the outbreak of COVID-19 has posed threats to peoples health and security of lives globally.

According to him, it has become important for the international community to strengthen confidence, act in unity and work together in collective response against the disease spread.

Pingjian said: At the most difficult moment in our fight against the outbreak, China received a strong political support and assistance in various means from Nigeria.



Such expression of friendship will always be remembered and cherished by the Chinese people, as a Chinese saying goes: Give a plum in return for a peach.

China firmly supports Nigerias fight against the COVID-19 and stands ready to assist if needed, to the best of its capacity.

China will try its best to provide medical supplies to Nigeria and do whatever it could to support the country, as well as continue to share information and experience with Nigeria.

China will strengthen cooperation on containment, treatment and vaccines in response to COVID-19 challenge with a view to building community of shared health for mankind.

He reiterated that just like Nigeria supported China by all means, the country would try its best to support Nigeria too to overcome difficulties in its fight against COVID-19.

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Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 : In a show of unity, cutting across caste communities and religious line, top religious and social leaders in Kerala on Saturday appealed to all in the state to adhere to the government's directives so as to help check the spread of Covid-19, which has taken a heavy toll in the state.

As on Saturday, there are 164 coronavirus positive cases in Kerala and the virus has now spread to all the 14 districts of the state.

There are 110,299 people in the state who are under observation which includes 616 at various hospitals.

Among the leading signatories who issued an appeal include cardinals, bishops, Muslim religious leaders, besides socio-cultural leaders from the Hindu communities.

"Covid-19 has by now hit 196 countries and Kerala has not been unaffected, starting with the first case in the country in January. But after that today the world is looking at the way how we have been able to contain the spread, which has not been possible in the most advanced and developed countries," read the letter.

"In the past, we in Kerala have been able to stand together when tragedy struck. We have led from the front by even deciding to call off religious activities in places of worship as our primary objective is to provide solace to the affected and also to ensure safety to all by trying to prevent it from spreading. For this we all have to adhere to the steps taken by our government, which is doing a great job and hence we will have to stand by the government, which is helping us in a big way," reads the letter.

"We should see that we now use our time that we spend at home productively. We know our state has a good number of elderly and we should ensure that they are taken utmost care, as we have seen that this has taken a heavy toll in other countries," said the letter further.
Refugee children in Australia are well adjusted and beating their non-refugee peers in academic achievement and behaviour.

That's the conclusion of a research paper published in BMC Medicine, using data from the Building a New Life in Australia study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Dorothy Hoddinott, formerly the principal of Holroyd High School near Parramatta for 23 years and now presiding pro-chancellor at the University of Sydney, is not surprised by the results.

Dorothy Hoddinott, in her former role as principal of Holryod High. Credit:Wolter Peeters

"Generally, the refugee children that I've seen have been stoic and resilient and very committed to getting themselves an education," Ms Hoddinott said. "They work very, very hard and sometimes against great difficulties."
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NEW ORLEANS, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT).

On May 8, 2019, the Company disclosed an "erosion in the number of legacy product line, non-direct deposit active accounts," that its strategy "to attract high-value long-term customers" at the expense of low value customers had negatively affected performance, and a $60 million investment "for the purpose of aggressively marketing our new products." On August 8, 2019 the Company disappointed investors when it disclosed its 2Q2019 results including cuts to earnings guidance due to "an acceleration in declining unit sales in our legacy prepaid card product line combined with a later than expected launch of our new and limited product." Then, on November 7, 2019, the Company announced its 3Q2019 results including a continuing decline in its active consumer business of approximately 620,000 accounts. Finally, on December 18, 2019, the Company disclosed the departure of both its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Green Dot's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Green Dot's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Green Dot shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-gdot/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Related Links

https://www.ksfcounsel.com


At a time when countless universities have sent students home, one university is reopening its doors. About 1,900 students returned to Liberty University, a private evangelical Christian university, in Lynchburg, Virginia, a spokesman confirmed to CNN on Tuesday.

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. and other leaders discussed whether to extend spring break and "risk students having a longer time to become exposed to the virus," the school said in a statement. It decided it was safer to bring the students back to campus.
The Defense Production Act (Pub.L 81-774) is a United States Federal Law that was executed on September 8, 1950 as a response to the start of the Korean War. The Defense Production Act (DPA) enables the US government more power during emergencies to control industry production. The DPA was also created to be a part of the USA defense in the Cold War. The act has been reauthorized over 50 times and been changed throughout the past seventy years.

The DPA is divided into three key parts.

Priorities and Allocations: the president can accept and prioritize contracts for any services and materials the US defense it says is necessary.

Expansion of Productive Capacity and Supply: the president can make incentives for industry to make important materials.

General Provisions: this provision gives the government authority to stop foreign corporate mergers with the private industry that could be a threat to national security and the right to build a volunteer group of industry executives who could be asked to help the government.

The DPA was originally meant to be used to support the US military by mandating that private sector companies use their skills and ingenuity to make materials to help the military in wartime. The DPA has grown to include natural hazards, terrorist attacks, and national emergencies that the president could intact the law over. President Trump invoked the law in March 2020.

Not Enough Medical Supplies

The Defense Production Act was recently invoked because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

President Trumps plan to invoke the law was because top health officials reported that there were not enough critical medical supplies to combat COVID-19. Officials said there was a desperate need for masks, gowns, ventilators, and gloves.

Nancy Pelosi, house speaker, has pushed for the president to invoke the law so health professionals have the critical supplies they need to care for those who have been infected with COVID-19. President Trump has insisted that state governors should take more responsibility in securing life-saving equipment like masks, gloves, gowns, and ventilators.

Securing Medical Equipment

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says that New York is in serious need of medical equipment, including 30,000 more ventilators. Photo by Jair Lazaro on Unsplash

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York has asked President Trump to step-in to help secure vital medical equipment. Gov. Cuomo insisted that New York needs 30,000 more ventilators to aid his state's efforts in fighting COVID-19.

On March 25, 2002 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator stated the law was going to be used to produce thousands of COVID-19 test kits. However, by the end of that day, a spokesperson for FEMA announced that they were able to find enough test kits.

President Trump has resisted invoking the law because he has stated that no manufacturers have turned his requests down, and manufacturers are producing enough masks. The US has also secured enough COVID-19 test kits. He also has stated that some companies would not know how to produce a ventilator. Opponents of the law insist that it has only been used to push companies into volunteering their services to help the US. President Trump has stated that he does not want to use the law because it nationalizes businesses.
Blank Social Security checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 11, 2005. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

Stimulus Checks Wont Be Sent to Americans Who Are Behind on Child Support

Americans who have past dues on child support will not be receiving a direct cash payment that was authorized by Congress on Friday amid the CCP virus pandemic.

Owing other types of debt to the government or back taxes will not disqualify people from receiving a check, said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the head of the Senate Finance Committee.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

The new $2 trillion bill will turn off nearly all administrative offsets that ordinarily may reduce tax refunds for individuals who have past tax debts, or who are behind on other payments to federal or state governments, including student loan payments, Grassley wrote in a statement.

However, the only administrative offset that will be enforced applies to those who have past due child support payments that the states have reported to the Treasury Department, Grassley said.

Paramedics move a patient into the hospital during the outbreak of the CCP virus in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York on March 25, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

The bill is slated to provide $1,200 to individuals and $2,400 for couples, with $500 added for each child, based on 2019 tax returns for those who filed them and information from 2018 if they havent.

The amount, however, decreases for people who earn an adjusted gross income of more than $75,000 a year, according to Grassley.

It means that a typical family of four is eligible for a $3,400 recovery rebate, he said.

The rebate amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 that a taxpayers income exceeds the phase-out threshold. The amount is completely phased-out for single filers with incomes exceeding $99,000, $146,500 for head of household filers with one child, and $198,000 for joint filers with no children. For a typical family of four, the amount is completely phased out for those with adjusted gross incomes exceeding $218,000, Grassley wrote.

For those with children, he said that in general, a child is a dependent of a taxpayer under the age of 17.

For the vast majority of Americans, no action on their part will be required to receive a rebate check since the IRS will use a taxpayers 2019 tax return if filed or their 2018 return if they havent filed their 2019 return. This includes many individuals with very low income who file a tax return despite not owing any tax in order to take advantage of the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, the longtime Iowa Republican said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the direct deposits will likely be sent out by mid-April.
There is a photo in our Lock 52 Historical Society archives that shows the downtown area of Port Byron festooned with flags, bunting and banners saying, Welcome Brave Boys. What we are seeing is the village in preparation for the August 1909 Northern Central New York Volunteer Firemans Convention. This annual convention traveled about the Northeast and brought together men from many volunteer companies. Of course, this major event was given front-page coverage in The Port Byron Chronicle, so even after all these years, we can learn what took place.

The annual convention was a mix of business and fun. On the first day, about 80 officers and representatives of the many volunteer groups attended meetings to carry out business. While they heard speeches, approved of minutes and did other typical business things; outside on the streets, between five- and six-thousand people were descending on the village. They came by trolley and train, and horse and buggy. Because once the business meetings were over, there would be parades, concerts and competitions. There would be food to eat and many things to drink. In all, there were 26 companies and 14 bands in attendance.

The 1909 convention almost did not take place. A newspaper report from March 1909 noted that the village (or the firemen) had raised only $200 of the needed $1,000 to $1,200 to host the convention. The fact that the firemen tended to consume large amounts of booze was running headlong into the temperance movement (anti-alcohol) that was sweeping over the land. In fact, by 1907, the drys had been able to restrict all sales of alcohol in the village to the hotels. So, for some, playing host to many thousands of merry makers was not to be tolerated. And yet by April, somehow the event had been rescheduled in the village.

All conventioneers need to be warmly welcomed by the local dignitaries. So, when the firemen showed up for their party in August, they were greeted with somewhat dry speeches. One speaker said, I must caution the visiting firemen to be careful about what Brother Smith called the ozone. The last time the convention was held some of the boys had so much of that ozone that they did not reach home for three days. Not to be too obscure, the same speech maker noted, that the fireman should make a cast iron rule in favor of good conduct while attending convention. One bad actor spoils a play, he noted, and one intoxicated member brings discredit on a whole company.

James Hearn, a local man and the president of the fireman's association, took a somewhat opposite stance to the temperance crowd. He said, Of course a convention costs a lot of money; there is a lot of work and worry about it. Everyone is glad when it is over with, but firemen get little enough of pleasure, little enough of praise and commendation in return for the risk they incur and the labor they perform. They deserve a day or two of pleasure each year; surely they earn it. There was no follow-up on how many men were troubled by the ozone, so we can assume everyone was well-behaved.

The Northern Hotel that we see in the photo is interesting. The 1907 law restricted the sales of booze to the hotels, which might be the reason for this hotel. In 1906, this building is listed as a saloon. So once the law went into effect, it may have been easy to switch to be a hotel. Or maybe it was converted only for the convention. A quick search shows that it wasnt around for very long. Two years after this photo was taken, it is listed as a closed restaurant.

The Lock 52 Historical Society is pleased to announce that thanks to a very generous donation from the family of the late Wesley Mills, we will be able to copy and digitize years of old newspapers that have not been readily available to the public. These newspapers include The Port Byron Herald, The Port Byron Gazette, The Port Byron Times and The Port Byron Chronicle. Some of these are already on microfilm, and others are real paper papers. All will be digitized and then made available through the Seymour Library digital archives and also on our Lock 52 Historical Society site. The goal is to offer the researcher more years, and clearer copies. Once this project is completed, we will be digitizing years of the old Orange and Black, the school newspaper from the 1920s and 30s. If you happen to have copies of old newspapers or the Orange and Black, drop us a line. We are very excited to be doing this, and it is another reason of why your membership is important in supporting local history.

Michael Riley is the Mentz town historian and the president of the Lock 52 Historical Society. The Lock 52 blog can be found at portbyronhistorical.org. Riley can be reached at mriley20@twcny.rr.com.

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The last time Jim Tomlin, 77, saw his wife, Marcia, he was being loaded into an ambulance at their home at Bull Lake south of Troy, where he had begun feeling feverish and confused, and suffering a persistent cough Monday evening.

Having just returned from a California vacation as that state went into lockdown, health care workers were concerned it could be COVID-19, and wouldnt let his wife ride along, in hopes of preventing any further infections.

Three days later he died at a hospital in Kalispell, the states first coronavirus death. His death came 7 minutes after Gov. Steve Bullock ordered the state's residents to shelter in place starting Saturday.

His son, G. Scott Tomlin, documented on social media the stress, the waves of hope and the crushing loneliness suffered by his father as he succumbed to the pandemic. A Facebook post Thursday night, just hours after his father died, has been shared more than a thousand times. On Friday, Tomlin recounted the experience to the Missoulian, in hopes people will take the threat of the virus seriously, even in a rural place like Montana's northwestern corner.

Its just one man, but I know its affected at least the 1,200 people whove shared it (the post) so far, he said. Itll affect the thousands he knew and thousands he didnt know. To think this virus is not going to affect you is a misnomer. You will know someone who dies from this.

His father was rushed to the hospital in Libby just after 6 p.m. on Monday evening, where he was immediately quarantined as a host of tests, including a COVID-19 screening, were performed. As all of the rapid-screening tests came back negative, he was kept isolated while doctors awaited the results of the COVID-19 test.

Nonessential personnel and visitors were barred from being with him at the hospital. Local family  as well as those, like his son, scattered across Washington state, which was already under a statewide shelter-in-place order  were left waiting to hear occasional updates from Jims wife Marcia. He was given oxygen, which eased his confusion, and things were looking up by the end of Monday, his son said.

Because Libby is a hotspot for lung diseases due to the past asbestos mining there, Jim Tomlin was under the care of a highly trained respiratory specialist, his son said, leaving the family relieved by the high level of care he was receiving.

On Tuesday, his wife was able to talk with him on the phone, after which she reported to family that he seemed upbeat. His son said they were still hopeful he might pull through, as they continued to wait for the results of his COVID-19 test.

But Jim Tomlin's confusion came back strong on Wednesday morning, forcing doctors to restrain him as he tried to leave his bed and remove his oxygen supply. After declining the option to call his family, doctors updated his wife, leaving the family worried that the isolation and confusion were taking a toll on their father. That night, his COVID-19 test came back positive.

By far the worst part of this is the isolation these people have to live in for the final days, and the lack of infrastructure to communicate with them, his son said. Fortunately the family is well connected through the internet and Facebook, so we were able to chat, but not being able to see him or hear his voice before he died was really hard.

Despite efforts to isolate his family and other contacts once he was taken to the hospital, the Lincoln County Health Department confirmed Friday that two more cases were confirmed in the county, both related to Jim Tomlin's case.

His condition began slipping, doctors reported to the family, so he was driven to Kalispell where he could be put on a ventilator.

In a medically induced coma, being kept alive by a machine just three days after returning from a desert vacation, doctors said he had a 5% chance of making it out alive. His wife made the call on Thursday to end his fight, Scott Tomlin said. His Last Rites were read to him over the phone, and his wife spoke through the phone one last time to tell him his family loved him.

It doesnt matter if youre in Troy, Montana, or in Seattle or New York, you have to isolate until we figure out how to deal with this, Scott Tomlin said. How many intensive care units does Libby have? Two, maybe? Kalispell, maybe 10 at most. Thats just not enough and once those are full, these people will die and they will die quickly. It can be avoided to some degree if we all do our part.

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By ANI

WASHINGTON DC: American actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson are back in Los Angeles from Australia after testing positive for coronavirus and quarantining for two weeks.

According to People magazine, the couple was photographed driving in Los Angeles, where Hanks was seen behind the wheel and Wilson on the passenger seat.

They have returned to the U.S. from Australia, where Hanks was busy filming Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley biopic. This comes just days after Hanks shared a statement on how the couple was feeling on Twitter.



COVID-19 LIVE | 149 positive cases in 24 hours as India tally crosses 850

The Oscar-winning actor wrote in a joint statement with his wife, "Hey, folks. Two weeks after our first symptoms and we feel better."

The couple then urged their followers and fans to stay home and self-isolate, reminding people that it was the most effective way to avoid the virus, as well as help stop the spread.

On March 11, Hanks had announced that he and Wilson had contacted the coronavirus. According to a representative from the film in Australia, "Filming for the movie has been halted following Hanks' diagnosis. The actor is the only person on set believed to have tested positive for the virus."

On March 16, Hanks and Wilson were released from a Queensland hospital. At the time, a representative for People magazine told that they were "doing very well" under quarantine at their home in Australia.

Hanks' rep, Leslee Dart, said, "Tom and Rita are doing very well and continue to recover. Their recovery is very much on course for healthy adults with this virus. They are feeling better each day."
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this image from video, members of the House practice social distancing as they sit on the floor and in the public gallery above during debate on the coronavirus stimulus package on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 27, 2020. (House Television via AP)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic.

Acting with unity and resolve unseen since the 9-11 attacks, Washington moved urgently to stem an economic free fall caused by widespread restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus that have shuttered schools, closed businesses and brought American life in many places to a virtual standstill.

This will deliver urgently needed relief," Trump said as he signed the bill Friday in the Oval Office, flanked only by Republican lawmakers. He thanked members of both parties for putting Americans first."

Earlier Friday, the House gave near-unanimous approval by voice vote after an impassioned session conducted along the social distancing guidelines imposed by the crisis. Many lawmakers sped to Washington to participate  their numbers swollen after a maverick Republican signalled he'd try to force a roll call vote  though dozens of others remained safely in their home districts.

The Senate passed the bill unanimously late Wednesday.

Today we've all acknowledged our nation faces an economic and health emergency of historic proportions, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. She said Americans deserve a full-on government response to address these threats to their lives and their livelihood and they need it now.

The $2.2 trillion legislation will speed government payments of $1,200 to most Americans and increase jobless benefits for millions of people thrown out of work. Businesses big and small will get loans, grants and tax breaks. It will send unprecedented billions to states and local governments, and the nation's all but overwhelmed health care system.

This is not a time for cynicism or invective or second-guessing," said GOP Whip Liz Cheney of Wyoming. This is a time to remember that we are citizens of the greatest nation on Earth, that we have overcome every challenge we have faced, and we will overcome this one.

Despite reservations, arch-conservatives joined with progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to back the bill, which moved quickly through a Congress thats been battered by partisanship and is itself not immune to the suffering the virus has caused. Reps. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., announced Friday that they'd tested positive, bringing the number of infected lawmakers to five.

Tea party Republicans said government orders to shutter businesses merited actions that conflict with their small-government ideology. Liberals accepted generous corporate rescues that accompany larger unemployment benefits, deferrals of student loans, and an enormous surge of funding for health care and other agencies responding to the crisis.

President Donald Trump speaks before he signs the coronavirus stimulus relief package in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, March 27, 2020, in Washington. Listening are from left, Larry Kudlow, White House chief economic adviser, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchinm Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarty of Calif. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Im going to have to vote for something that has things in it that break my heart, said conservative Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz.

The bipartisan amity went only so far. Top congressional Democrats were not invited to the White House signing ceremony, said Democratic aides speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the situation.

And in a statement released after the signing, Trump objected to efforts to establish congressional oversight of spending in the bill and said his administration will continue the practice of treating provisions like these as advisory and non-binding.

Many lawmakers summoned the bipartisan spirit of 9-11 and efforts to fight terrorism. Others praised the roles low-income workers play in keeping the country going and the heroism of health care workers. Some, like Iowa Democrat Abby Finkenauer, who had just learned of two additional coronavirus-related deaths in her district, came close to tears.

Others couldnt restrain their partisan impulses. Republicans chided Democratic leaders for delays and provisions they see as extraneous, such as funding for public broadcasting and the arts; Democrats said too many elements are a bailout for corporations that may not need it.

Still, in a chamber increasingly populated by lawmakers whose chief skill often seems to be partisan attacks, Fridays debate was a noteworthy break.

We have no time to dither," said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. "We have no time to engage in ideological or petty partisan fights. Our country needs us as one.

The run-up to the vote contained an element of drama because libertarian conservative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced plans to seek a roll call vote.

Leaders of both parties united to prevent that because it would have forced lawmakers back to the Capitol or blemished their voting records if they stayed home. Instead, they made sure enough lawmakers would attend Friday's session to block Massie's move under the rules, and lawmakers took the unprecedented step of sitting in the visitors galleries to establish the necessary quorum.

The House promptly adjourned for a weeks-long recess but will return later in the spring to consider further legislation.

This bill is not only a rescue package, its a commitment  a commitment that your government, and the people whom you elected to serve you, will do everything we can to limit the harm and hardship you face, both now and in the foreseeable future, said Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

The massive CARES Act started as a draft plan among Republicans controlling the Senate who were seeking a greater voice in the coronavirus response efforts -- especially after Pelosi was a dominant force in earlier legislation imposing a sick leave mandate on businesses.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., welcomed Democratic participation a week ago, and signed off on a major expansion of unemployment insurance, but his efforts to freeze out Pelosi and force a quick agreement were met with Democratic demands for large infusions of aid to states and hospitals, as well as an assortment of smaller items. McConnell and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York wrestled for days, along with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other administration officials.

Negotiations finally produced a deal early Wednesday morning, and the Senate passed the measure by a 96-0 vote.

The legislation dwarfs prior Washington responses to crises like 9-11, the 2008 financial crisis, and natural disasters.

Key elements are untested, such as grants to small businesses to keep workers on payroll and complex lending programs to larger businesses. Rebate payments will go to people who have retained their jobs. Agencies like the Small Business Administration and state unemployment systems will be severely taxed, and conservatives fear that a new, generous unemployment benefit will dissuade jobless people from returning to the workforce.

The bill amounts to a bridge loan for much of the economy and carries a price tag that equals half the size of the entire $4 trillion-plus annual federal budget.

The legislation also establishes a $454 billion program for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries in hopes of leveraging up to $4.5 trillion in lending to distressed businesses, states, and municipalities.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

There is also $150 billion devoted to the health care system, including $100 billion for grants to hospitals and other health care providers buckling under the strain of COVID-19 caseloads.

It also seeks to strengthen the safety net for the poor and homeless. Schools and students would get relief, small business loans payments would be deferred. Evictions from public housing would be put on pause.

Republicans successfully pressed for an employee retention tax credit designed to help companies keep workers on payroll. Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax. A huge tax break for interest costs and operating losses limited by the 2017 tax overhaul was restored at a $200 billion cost in a boon for the real estate sector.

Most people who contract the new coronavirus have mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.



AP writers Zeke Miller, Mary Clare Jalonick and Matthew Daly contributed.
Inside Hook

When everyone began panic-buying toilet paper in anticipation of impending coronavirus lockdowns a few weeks ago, a certain set of individuals decided to allot a sum of their quarantine preparation cash to stocking up on firearms and ammunition instead.

While pre-quarantine gun-buyers cited various reasons for their purchases, from a need for protection in the event of a total breakdown of the social order to defense against anti-Asian threats, those that did so out of a fear that gun stores would get shut down amid the pandemic can count those purchases justified.
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Reopening US businesses on April 12, as the US president proposes, is the wrong move.

It is one thing to provide hope during a crisis  it is quite another to address peoples fears with empty promises. Unfortunately, US President Trump is engaging too much in the latter and not enough in the former as the coronavirus threatens to upend the United States healthcare system.

The latest development in the presidents critically flawed response to the pandemic is the false optimism that he has created by stating that the country could open for business by Easter.

What the US needs, right now, is leadership. Politicians who are true leaders in times of crisis provide well-conceived plans that prioritise the most vulnerable, while also issuing clear and calming statements when discussing matters with the public.

Is this what we receive from the White House? No, far from it  when we need clarity, we get confusion, and where facts and research should provide guidance, we are told that the economy takes precedence over everything else, people included.

So, what exactly are the facts?

On this front, many of us are in the dark. To know the actual extent of the coronavirus pandemic requires testing folks who may have it. That way, we would know who is sick and where they are.

Yet, the US lags significantly behind most other countries that have been administering tests, such as South Korea.

It is unclear what the administrations efforts have been in this regard, for instance, whether the government turned down kits from the World Health Organization (WHO), or simply was slow to get the FDA to approve an alternative.

The result, however, is that the reported number of coronavirus cases is most likely an underestimate.

Yes, we can point fingers all we want, but we cannot change the past. We can plan with whatever information we do have.

We know from existing research that approximately 15 percent of the people who are infected will require hospitalisation. For every 1,000 people who have the virus, this means that about 150 people will need to be admitted to hospital.

We also know that people above the age of 65, individuals with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease or respiratory illnesses, as well as folks with weakened immune systems, are likely to fall seriously ill if they contract coronavirus.

It is also clear that the vast majority of those who catch the virus survive  studies place the death rate at 2 percent, perhaps even lower.

Research also shows that quarantine works. That much, at least according to the United Nations, has been made clear by analysing how China has successfully brought the spread of the virus under control.

Two clear action plans result from this information  first, the government needs to act swiftly and dedicate emergency resources for healthcare. Second, politicians should clearly tell people to stay at home.

Yet, where such steps need to be taken, Trump either drags his feet or misleads.

Consider the governments slow action with respect to the Defense Production Act of 1950 which gives the president powers to compel businesses to follow orders deemed necessary for national defence. The president signed two decrees authorising the use of this Act which would make private companies prioritise carrying out government orders. However, he took days to issue any specific orders under the Act  only doing so on Friday to compel General Motors to produce ventilators.

And why did it take so long? According to some reporting, Trump was worried about complaints from big business on how using the act would interfere with the market and private property.

There are others who would also prioritise the economy over everything else  the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, Daniel Patrick. In expressing fear over economic collapse and that we are losing the whole country, this week, he followed Trump in stating that perhaps in a few weeks people should get back to work.

Yet, it seems that the Lieutenant Governor may not be the best person to consult at times like these. He is a small businessperson  not a doctor or healthcare professional  so lets listen to them before we open businesses and go back to living as usual.

More importantly, we are receiving mixed messages from across the country as a whole. Individual states, such as California, New York and, more recently, Minnesota, have ordered non-essential workers to stay at home. There is no expiry date set with these orders.

It seems that Trump and Patrick think that they should expire at a certain time, while state governments have a different opinion.

More importantly, what will people do? If the president and some of his supporters think it is ok to resume our typical daily routines in three weeks time, why not make it two? Hell, why stay home at all?

With cases rising by the thousands daily across the country, and as something like 30 percent of infected people show no symptoms according to the research, then this seed of doubt concerning the need to stay home could grow into a monster.

In effect, it could render null all attempts to contain the virus, granting the contagion fertile ground to continue to spread globally.

So, will the US be open for business by Easter? Is this possible? I cannot say one way or another. But really, opening or closing the US is not the issue. What is necessary is for our leaders to act cautiously, with the information that is available, to create well-thought-out plans that keep the most vulnerable among us safe.

For the sake our friends, families and also for all the other people we do not know who have heart disease, AIDS, cancer or who are our elders, the president needs to act as if their safety is the reason for his actions.

This is what a leader would do  the question is, will Trump?

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Sanjoy Sen is a chemical engineer in North Sea oil. He contested Alyn & Deeside in the 2019 general election.

Whoever said you should always have a Plan B in life was wrong. You also need at least a C and D.

Last year, I came within 214 votes of successfully executing Plan A in Alyn & Deeside. But I did have a consolation Plan B: travel for a few months before re-entering the job market. I pondered various permutations and carefully got my finances in order. But, in hindsight, I now see I was somewhat remiss in not factoring in global pandemics. (Come to think of it, Plans C and D wouldnt have been much use right now, either.)

Never mind. For now, Im back in Derbyshire (where I was born and raised) and signing up as a volunteer. And, until last week, I was heading out to the Peak District regularly, walking nearby areas that Id never fully appreciated before.

But all that changed on Monday following the new Stay at Home instruction. For me, the permission to take daily exercise was unclear: could you keep driving out in to the countryside for a walk (or bike ride) or not? Elliot Kech mentioned here yesterday that he got in the car and headed for the countryside. Meanwhile, I played it safe and confined my expeditions to shorter walks closer to home.

And its perhaps just as well that I did. Otherwise I might have starred in Derbyshire Polices now infamous drone-cam footage of folks shamed (but luckily not named) for continuing to venture into the Peak District. The Twitter response (always a reliable barometer of the public mood) so far has varied from whole-hearted support of the polices robust stance to scathing remarks over Orwellian levels of intrusion. Plus the usual why arent you busy catching real criminals although, in fairness, the two things neednt be mutually exclusive.

So was the Derbyshire Polices stance right?

One things for sure, things had to change  and quickly. Last weekend, local tourist hot-spots, including Matlock Bath, were jam-packed with visitors. Social distancing would have been a challenge, so I steered clear. Sadly, whilst fresh air and exercise are vitally important, it was vital for the government to urgently impose restrictions on movement. And given that the police cant be everywhere, forces needed to send out the right messages to encourage us to all abide by the rules.

Whilst the townies (identifiable by the designer gear and pristine white trainers) kept to the best-known locations, experienced walkers (plus the born-again Alfred Wainwrights such as me) headed off the beaten track and essentially had the place to ourselves.

So if folks continue to properly socially distance, whats the problem? I guess the answer, as per some of Derbyshire Polices later tweets, is that such activity can lead to other hazards  and one more rural road-traffic accident or one additional fracture from a hillside fall is just one too many for the emergency services right now.

What is needed is a common-sense approach. On my more local walks, unsurprisingly, footpaths get busier closer to housing. Maintaining the rules in such places has to be more of a priority  and, in fairness, they were well respected even in the absence of the police. And a friendly reminder instead of a fine probably strikes the right tone for most transgressions.

Once this is all over, we do need a robust debate about the level of surveillance (by drone or otherwise) that is appropriate. Its a complex issue in which many of us are happy when technology snares the bad guys but arent too keen on being monitored as we go about our everyday lives.

This week, Ive been hearing a lot from my relatives over in India where a total curfew is being rigorously enforced. Compared to the restrictions they are living through, we are relatively lucky here in the UK. Lets just hope that mis-use of our current mini-freedoms doesnt lead to further infections and further restrictions. Whilst I find the present curtailment of my personal right to roam the Peak District frustrating, I reluctantly sympathise. Whilst Elliot is right that being filmed by a drone whilst in the middle of nowhere has a somewhat dystopian feel, the Derbyshire Police and the other emergency services have a lot on their plate right now. Perhaps the tone of the message jarred but its still the right message.
California [USA], Mar 27 (ANI): Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) revealed there were fewer phishing attacks last year compared to the year before, indicating its new protections are working.



In an official blog, Toni Gidwani, Security Engineering Manager, Threat Analysis Group, noted that in 2019, the company sent almost 40,000 warnings against government-backed phishing or malware attempts, nearly 25 per cent drop from 2018.

However, it was also observed that one in five accounts that received a warning against phishing was targeted multiple times by attackers.

There has also been an increase in the number of attackers, including those from Iran and North Korea, impersonating news outlets or journalists to spread disinformation or malware. (ANI)


Taliban forces have taken control of a district headquarters in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Badakhshan, an overnight development that was followed on March 28 by an announcement that the militant group will not negotiate with a team recently unveiled by the Afghan government.



The district headquarters in Yumgan was overrun by Taliban fighters after heavy fighting, resulting in an undetermined number of casualties, provincial councilors told the German dpa news agency.

Four villages in neighboring Jurm district were also taken by the Taliban, according to the councilors.

The militant group followed up on the development by announcing that it is refusing to deal with the 21-member team approved on March 26 by the Afghan government in an effort to end the country's 18-year-old war.

The team is led by Masoom Stanekzai, the former head of head of Afghanistans National Directorate of Security (NDS), and includes politicians, former officials, and representatives of civil society. Five members are women.

Under a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban in Doha on February 29, Taliban representatives agreed to commit to direct talks with the Afghan government.

In return for the start of talks and a series of security commitments from the Taliban, all U.S. troops and other foreign coalition forces are meant to withdraw from Afghanistan within 14 months.

U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders for forming what he called an inclusive negotiating team.

The Taliban long controlled the Yumgan and Jurm districts of Badakhshan Province until government forces retook them late in 2019.

Yumgan is close to the district of Kuran wan Munjan, which the Taliban took this month after days of clashes with Afghan forces.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP
Due to the increasing number of coronavirus patients, hospitals are experiencing shortages of important supplies, such as hand sanitizer. Many hospitals are even asking for and accepting donations of N95 masks and other supplies.

To help fight against the spread of COVID-19, major beauty companies are now starting to repurpose their manufacturing facilities to make hand sanitizer. Apparel and other retailers are also making masks, gowns and face shields to help.

Here is a list of the beauty companies who are manufacturing hand sanitizer to help hospitals across the world:

Clarins

This French beauty company is helping combat coronavirus in France by dedicating its manufacturing facilities in Pontoise, Strasbourg and Amiens to produce and deliver hand sanitizer to French hospitals, the company announced in a statement.

About 14,500 bottles already have been delivered, the statement says.

Our objective is to actively continue the production of hand sanitizer as long as necessary, and always in adequate sanitary and safety conditions for all of the employees currently mobilized in our factories, Clarins said in the statement.

Coty Inc.

The parent company of big brands like Covergirl and O.P.I announced it is now producing hand sanitizer for healthcare workers who are facing shortages.

The products are free but depend on the resources and materials available, as well as local government regulations in specific areas, the statement says.

As a responsible beauty company, we make our resources and facilities available to help the communities we are operating in during these exceptionally challenging times, Pierre Laubies, CEO of Coty Inc., said in the statement. We are proud to support the brave professionals fighting on the frontlines against COVID-19 by providing hand sanitizer where it is needed.

Estee Lauder Companies

The company that operates top brands like MAC, Too Faced and its own beauty empire has reopened its manufacturing facility in Melville, New York, to produce hand sanitizer for high-need groups and populations, including front-line medical staff, the company announced in a statement.

Its unclear where the hand sanitizer will be distributed.

LOreal

LOreals North American manufacturing facilities has begun the production of hand sanitizer, the company announced in a statement.

The hand sanitizer will be free to all employees, partners and healthcare professionals working on the front-lines, the statement says.

The statement also says surgical and respirator masks are planning to be donated to hospitals near its New Jersey and Arkansas facilities.

LVMH

The parent company behind select luxury brands announced its perfume and cosmetics production facilities will be dedicated to making hand sanitizer.

The hand sanitizer will be donated to French healthcare workers, the statement says.

Dior, Givenchy, and Guerlain perfume and cosmetics are the brands produced in these facilities.

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GARDAI have set up checkpoints across Limerick to ensure people are observing the mandatory order to stay home.

Members of the force are also patrolling the streets in order to prevent the breach of the effective two-week lockdown ordered by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last night.

More than 2,500 members of the force are on duty nationwide, and will be stopping people to make sure their journey is essential

Garda Commisioner Drew Harris said this morning that the force will have the power to issue public fines and prosecutions to those making non-essential journeys.

The streets of the city and county are largely empty this Saturday  but queues have been forming outside supermarkets.

Until Easter Sunday, April 12, people are being told to remain at home, apart from in certain exceptional cases. Its in a bid to fight the coronavirus, which continues to rage across the country, with more than 2,100 cases confirmed as of last night.

People are only being allowed leave home for essential work, to buy food, or for certain vital reasons such as attending medical appointments. An effective curfew of two kilometres around your home place is also in place  apart from for the essential reasons outlined above.

Social family visits that are not for urgent care of children, the elderly or vulnerable people are not allowed, as society fights to slow down Covid-19.

At a briefing this Saturday, Mr Harris said: The difficulty is there will be people in our society who will make poor choices. But there is a whole array of power given to members of An Garda Siochana to deal with this. We will receive the regulations very shortly then we will be in a position to enforce them.

Elsewhere in the city, it was confirmed that the University of Limerick (UL) hospitals group has announced further restrictions of the Maternity Hospital will take effect from next week.

Visiting will be restricted to the partner or support persons of mothers in the labour ward only. Theres a strict limit of one visitor per patient.

Mr Harris also encouraged members of the public to report large groups of gatherings to the gardai, and said members of the force will be stopping individuals, asking them if their journey is essential.

An ID badge, and some form of description of what their work is may be requested.
Hong Kong Arrests Pro-Democracy Politician Under Colonial Sedition Law

2020-03-27 -- Concerns are growing in Hong Kong after the arrest of a pro-democracy district council member that the government may not need to enact controversial new laws to accuse people of sedition and subversion.

Hong Kong police on Thursday arrested Cheng Lai-king, the chairwoman of Central and Western District Council, on suspicion of "seditious intention" under existing colonial-era laws.

Pro-democracy lawmakers and lawyers have said the offense of seditious intent, which carries a fine of HK$5,000 (U.S.$645) and a jail term of up to two years, could contravene Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

The concept applied under British colonial rule to anyone who incites disaffection against "the person of His Majesty, or His Heirs or Successors, or against the government of this colony."

Cheng was held for more than 10 hours and then released without charge, although police said an investigation is still ongoing.

Cheng could also face a lawsuit brought by the city's secretary for justice for contempt of court after she was accused of sharing a Facebook post containing the personal details of a police officer believed to be linked to the shooting of Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah while she was covering protests last September.

Veby lost her sight in one eye after being hit by a police projectile believed to be a rubber or textile bullet.

No such post was visible on Cheng's Facebook page on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Cheng's arrest prompted a protest by around 100 members of the Democratic Party, of which she is a member, and their supporters, outside Kwai Chung police station, where she was being held.

100 Democrats rally in support

Superintendent Swalikh Mohammed said Cheng is believed to have shared the officer's name, picture, staff number, address and phone number, via her social media account.

"If you look online, there are a lot of words which are in fact, causing a lot of incitement," he told government broadcaster RTHK.

"What we have noticed in the past eight, nine months is that somebody incites some violence and you see it happening on the streets immediately. That's what concerns us and that's why we have to take appropriate enforcement action against people who breach the law."

About 100 Democrats went to Kwai Chung Police Station on Thursday morning to express their support, criticizing the police for over arrest and retaliation.

Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui, who is also a district councilor, said it was significant that a pro-democracy councilor had been singled out under an outdated law.

"The police are only targeting speech by pro-democracy politicians," Hui said. "Why have they only targeted speech by the chairwoman of a district council?"

"I think this is a pretext for political retaliation on the part of the police, because one of our district councilors exposed wrongdoing and abuse of power by the police," he said. "This is extremely shameful."

In January, Cheng ordered plainclothes police officers who refused to show credentials at a meeting of the Central and Western District Council to leave the chamber, in the presence of police commissioner Chris Tang.

She also ordered police supporters to leave after they heckled the meeting from the public seats.

Voters rebuke Beijing

Millions of voters in Hong Kong delivered a stunning rebuke to Beijing and the administration of chief executive Carrie Lam with a landslide victory for pro-democracy candidates in District Council elections last November, after months of pro democracy and anti-government protests in the city.

Pro-democracy candidates won 388 seats, an overwhelming majority of the 452 council seats up for grabs, after 71 percent of registered voters -- nearly half the city's population -- turned out to vote, delivering control of 17 out of 18 districts to pro-democracy groups.

Since then, police have arrested 15 newly elected pro-democracy councilors, including three chairmen and women and one deputy chairman, sparking concerns that they are targeting the local politicians for political reasons.

Pro-democracy politicians fear that the use of colonial-era sedition laws could be a way of testing the waters in the light of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's insistence that Hong Kong enact sedition and subversion laws as required by Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Mass protests against the Article 23 legislation led to the early resignation of then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, after which the bill was shelved.

But Beijing has repeatedly said it shouldn't be put off any longer.

Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung said the colonial laws had remained on the statute book after the 1997 handover to Chinese rule because of government "indifference."

"Put simply, this is equivalent to an incitement [to subversion] law," Yeung said. "In making use of an illiberal law left over from colonial times, the Hong Kong government is absolutely violating human rights law."

Democratic Party lawmaker James To said that if this law is brought back into use, there will be no need to enact new laws under Article 23.

"If they have the guts to use the Crimes Ordinance [in this way], it means that we already effectively have Article 23 legislation here in Hong Kong," To said.

"I have reason to believe that they want to use this as a test to make a case for using these existing laws as Article 23 legislation," he said. "They want to see how the courts will decide if they start using them again."

The sedition laws were used to prosecute the pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao newspaper and dissidents who criticized the British colonial government.

Reported by Lu Xi and Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

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Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma obstetrician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, where he became known as "Dr. No" for his unyielding opposition to federal spending and pork-barrel largesse, died March 28 at his home in Tulsa. He was 72.

The cause was complications from prostate cancer, said a former aide, Roland Foster. Coburn had survived decades of health problems, including melanoma in his late 20s and a later bout of colon cancer.

Recurrent prostate cancer hastened his retirement from the Senate in 2015, two years before his second term -- the last he pledged to serve - had expired. He had previously fulfilled a campaign promise to serve no more than three terms in the House, arguing that "our founders saw public service and politics as a calling rather than a career."

Norm Ornstein, an American Enterprise Institute congressional scholar, said Coburn was known primarily for his unwavering commitment tosocial and fiscal conservatism, particularly his opposition to abortion rights, same-sex marriage, global-warming science and the expansion of federal government.

In some ways, Coburn presaged elements of the tea party movement, with its contempt for the Washington establishment. After the tea party roared to life in 2009, he expressed admiration but kept his distance, preferring the part of dissident to faction leader. "He didn't care if heenraged or alienated his fellow Republicans, including the leaders," Ornstein said. "He held pretty stubbornly to principles."

Coburn saw himself as a contrarian who wore his intermittent unpopularity as a badge of honor and grew irascible when others tried to convince him that party loyalty trumped his core beliefs. "I am not a go-along, get-along guy if I think it is the wrong way to go," he once declared. He developed a reputation for rigorous leadership on matters of congressional oversight, even when it entailed confronting powerful forces in his own party.

"I see them make decisions every day that benefit their career, rather than the country," he told the CBS program "60 Minutes" in 2014. "And that's what's so sickening about Washington. To me, it's about our future. It's not about the politicians. And we've switched things around where now it's about the politicians and not the future of the country."

Coburn, who once said he was "aloof from the counterculture" and had "never even heard of marijuana" while attending Oklahoma State in the late 1960s, married his childhood sweetheart (a Sooner State beauty queen) and was a prosperous businessman and physician in Muskogee and deacon in his Southern Baptist church before running for the U.S. House in 1994.

He plunged into the fray on Capitol Hill amid the Republican "revolution" led by Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., whose "Contract With America" promised to slash the sizeof government.

Viewed as anobstructionist even by some Republicans, Coburn considered himself a fiscal hawk at all costs amid a billowing federal deficit and the growing cost of entitlement programs. "It is evil to spend your kids' money, spend away their future," he told The Washington Post. "It is good to be frugal. This is good and evil, black and white."

He at times grated on senior leaders of both parties with his denunciations of expensive pet projects and earmarks -- while also making a distinction between "legitimate" tax breaks for oil and gas companies from his petroleum-producing state and costly "subsidies" for ethanol producers in Iowa.

In the Senate, where he won election to an open seat in 2004, Coburn was notorious for his procedural objections, becoming one of the most prolific brandishers of "holds" and unrelated amendments to thwart legislation or appropriations that he found objectionable.

He drew the ire of the late senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, one of the most veteran legislators in the chamber, when he objected to the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects in the Alaska wilderness widely derided as "bridges to nowhere." In contrast with some of his colleagues, he did not view such projects as prerogatives of seniority.

He blocked Democratic efforts to fund food safety measures, scholarship grants, home health care for veterans and aid for young victims of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, saying he would desist when Congress made reductions elsewhere to "stuff that is not working."

Like the late senator William Proxmire, D-Wis., who attracted national notice for his Golden Fleece Awards highlighting wasteful and often bizarre federal spending, Coburn issued an annual "Wastebook" to denounce what he considered abuses of taxpayer money. Among the examples he once highlighted was a $500,000 annual subsidy for a sparsely used Oklahoma airport.

He showed an "iconoclastic streak," Ornstein said, by embracing concepts poisonous to many in his party: tax increases on the wealthiest earners (in order to balance the budget) and a respectful working relationship with President Barack Obama, a Democrat and onetime Senate colleague.

Their high-visibility hug in 2009 when Obama delivered an address to Congress surprised many observers. But Coburn said they had "really hit it off" when they attended Senate orientation together, and he worked with the future presidenton bills to increasegovernment transparency and accountability. In 2006, they successfully co-sponsored an act to create a searchable central database recording recipients of billions of dollars in federal contracts and grants.

Coburn supported Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the 2008 presidential campaign but said he felt a kinship with Obama, who won that race, because he stood by his principles in a city where not all politicians did. McCain died in 2018.

"I'm adamantly against 80% of President Obama's policies," Coburn told the Oklahoman newspaper. "But he is an honest liberal. He said he was going to nationalize health care, he said he was going to do all these things. And he's doing it."

"Am I to hate him because he has a different viewpoint than I do?" Coburn continued. "Or should I love him and try to touch his heart and change him?"

Thomas Allen Coburn was born in Casper, Wyoming, on March 14, 1948, and grew up in Muskogee, where his father started a company specializing in the processing of optical lenses.

The firm consumed family life, with young Tom Coburn and his siblings working for a quarter an hour sorting bolts, nuts and washers. By the time the future senator was in high school, Coburn Optical Industries had grown into the city's largest employer.

But his home life was difficult, with an alcoholic father from whom he grew apart. "It was painful, mainly," he told the Hill, a Capitol Hill publication. "If you see someone you love doing something you know is hurting him, there's heartache. I'm sure that has a lot to do with my personality today, but I haven't really been to a shrink to find out what."

In 1968, he married Carolyn Denton, who had been crowned Miss Oklahoma the previous year. In addition to his wife, survivors include three daughters, operatic soprano Sarah Coburn, Katie Coburn and Callie Coburn; a brother; a sister; and nine grandchildren.

With a single-minded drive for business success, he graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1970 and went to work for Coburn Optical, managing its lens division. His unease around his father led him to open a branch of the company in Virginia, near Richmond.

Revlon, the cosmetics giant, bought the company in 1975, but Coburn found it hard to disguise his distaste for the new management imported from New York. At the same time, he was diagnosed with advanced melanoma and given a 20% chance of survival.

He came through the disease with a life-altering passion for medicine. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma medical school in 1983, established an obstetrics practice in his home town and spent a decade delivering thousands of babies. (He continued his medical practice while serving in Congress, leading to years of tussling with ethics officials about such outside work, but he said he essentially donated his services by providing them at cost.)

His political ambitions were stoked in the early 1990s when the Muskogee paper quoted the local Democratic congressman, Mike Synar, speaking in favor of nationalized health care. "Somebody's got to run against this guy," Coburn recalled thinking to himself.

The traditionally Democratic district, a swath of northeastern Oklahoma that included Tulsa, was becoming increasingly conservative. Synar, a liberal eight-term veteran of Capitol Hill, was bested in the primary by aretired schoolteacher, and Coburn won the general election.

Coburn sought to establish himself in Washington as a voice of moral rectitude. For young staffers, he conducted workshops with graphic slideshows on sexually transmitted diseases. He claimed to speak for his constituents when, amid debates over the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as a heterosexual union, he declared that "homosexuality is immoral, that it is based on perversion, that it is based on lust."

He objected to NBC's decision in 1997 to broadcast the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama "Schindler's List" during prime time, saying that scenes of nudity, violence and profanity exposed children to "irresponsible sexual behavior." Amid a torrent of criticism, he apologized to "all those I have offended."

For all his sharp edges -- he was among several junior congressmen who mounted an unsuccessful coup against House Speaker Gingrich in 1997 -- Coburn was regarded as a hard-working and earnest congressman. Because of his self-imposed term limits, he was often placed on committees and panels charged with delivering hard truths and bad news.

In 2010, then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., put him on a federal debt-reduction commission that proposed tax increases. The next year, he and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., issued a stinging report on the causes of the 2008 financial crisis that accused Goldman Sachs and other powerful interests of deception and greed and also denounced paltry oversight by federal regulators.

While serving as a ranking member on several investigative committees, Coburn helped lead inquiries into foreign corruption in the United States, corporate tax avoidance and fraudulent Social Security disability claims. He gained the respect of Democratic investigative staff because he insisted on rigorous probes and was not deterred in questioning witnesses, including major GOP donors.

"Tom Coburn was a terrific oversight partner in the Senate - tough, fearless, and more interested in facts than politics," Levin said in a statement.

After departing Congress, Coburn continued to work with public policy groups and other organizations devoted to reducing government. He wrote a book, "Smashing the D.C. Monopoly." His time in government, he told the Hill, hadn't taught him anything he didn't know from his years in business. "Corporate America," he said, "is often like the federal government - full of power centers that protect the power."

- - -

The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger contributed to this report.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 27, 2020 | 05:36 PM | HICKMAN COUNTY





After completing a deck repair project on the bridge last Friday, someone moved the Road Closed signs and drove through the wet concrete, creating a new major repair to the bridge deck that took about a week to complete.





This week the bridge crew worked to repair the new damage. Instead of replacing the original work at a cost of $2,300, the crew used a milling machine to remove the surface concrete on the damaged area, and replaced it with a less expensive overlay.





The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be monitoring the site to ensure the concrete decking on the milled area will hold up.







The KYTC is asking for the public's assistance with identifying the owner of the vehicle that caused the additional damage. The driver is facing several hundred dollars in citations for moving the signs, and could be held responsible for approximately $1,500 in extra concrete.

KY 1772 in Hickman County has reopened at the Bowles Creek Bridge.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  City detectives continue to investigate a possible motive in a shooting that left one man dead late Friday night, according to police.

Police officers were dispatched for a ShotSpotter activation for multiple gunshots in the area of Wordin Avenue and Cherry Street at 11:11 p.m., according to Capt. Brian Fitzgerald, head of the Detective Bureau.
In January 2020 the United States lifted restrictions on the deployment of anti-personnel landmines by American forces. This ban had been imposed in 2014 for American troops everywhere except those in South Korea. That decision was criticized worldwide because most nations had signed and ratified the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning the manufacture or use of landmines.

The new American rules allow U.S. troops to use landmines that are activated or deactivated electronically and permanently deactivate after a set period or when their battery runs out of power. The Americans believe the mines are essential in Korea because North Korea has been threatening to attack again.

The U.S. believes the Ottawa Convention is largely a failure because landmines are still widely used. While 161 nations signed the Ottawa treaty, the 36 which did not comprise some major military powers like China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel (and the Palestinians), both Koreas, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Most of these nations still see a pressing need for landmines, although many are trying to find replacement weapons.

Landmines were outlawed in 1999 but most of the nations that rushed to sign the Ottawa Convention either didn't have landmines or didn't have any reason to use them. While landmine casualties have declined from about 20,000 a year when the Cold War ended (1991) to about 5,000 now, that was largely due to the collapse of many communist governments, which were always the biggest landmine users, mainly to keep people from entering or leaving their territory. The fall of communism led to more open borders and a lot of mines were taken out of service. Thus the treaty backers like to take credit for 87 countries destroying 46 million landmines. The reality was that most of those mines would have been destroyed anyway because the collapse of so many communist governments made most of those mines.

Despite the anti-landmine efforts, some countries still manufacture and use them. In the last few years Israel, Libya, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar (Burma) planted new mines. Some nations that still use landmines, like Israel, have taken the lead in developing new technology and techniques for quickly clearing landmines, especially old ones whose location was never recorded.

In addition, there are three countries still manufacturing landmines (India, Myanmar, and Pakistan). Arms dealers still provide large quantities of Russian and Chinese landmines, many of them Cold War surplus. China, Russia, and other communist nations were the major producers of landmines during the Cold War. The mines were produced not so much for use against potential enemies but to aid in keeping the borders closed and preventing citizens from leaving these unpleasant dictatorships.

There has been a growing list of outlaw organizations that are ignoring the 1999 ban. The Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan are manufacturing landmines in primitive workshops and using them against Pakistani, Afghan, and foreign soldiers, as well as Afghan civilians who refuse to support Islamic terrorism. Rebels and gangsters have not signed the international agreement and find the mines a cheap way to control civilian populations and slow down the movements of the security forces. It takes more time, money, and effort to remove these mines than to place them.

Despite the 1999 treaty, landmines are still causing over 5,000 casualties a year worldwide. About 20 percent of the victims are killed and 90 percent of them are males. This is largely because men are more likely to be out in the bush or working farmlands that still contain mines. A third of the casualties are security personnel (police and soldiers). This is because in many countries rebels and criminals are still using landmines, either factory made ones from countries that did not sign the Ottawa Convention or locally made models.

Landmines are simple to make and workshops are easily set up to do it. There's no shortage of mines out there, despite the fact that so many have been destroyed in the name of the 1999 Ottawa Convention. There are believed to be over 100 million mines still in the ground and at least as many in military warehouses for future use.

The 1999 Ottawa Convention was supposed to have eliminated the threat of landmines. It hasn't worked because the owners of the largest landmine stockpiles, especially Russia and China, refused to sign. Chinese landmines are still available on the international arms black market. China is believed to have the largest stockpile, mostly of anti-personnel mines. The old ones are often sold before they become worthless. But even these mines, which go for $5-10 each, are too expensive for many of the criminal organizations that buy them. Land mines, competitive with the factory built ones from China, can be built for less than $3 each. You can find all the technical data you need on the Internet.

Meanwhile, the most effective way to get the mine-clearing done is by training local volunteers to be part of the part-time mine-clearing teams. The government must provide training, pay (which should be good by local standards), and health and life insurance. When a new bunch of mines is found (usually by an animal coming across them), the team gets to work.

Landmines continue to be a nasty problem for many nations. This is especially true of countries in out-of-the-way places that rarely generate many headlines for any reason. A typical case is Tajikistan. One of the northern neighbors of Afghanistan, Tajikistan long had mines on its borders because of communist policies towards free movement (as little as possible). After becoming independent of Russia in the early 1990s, Tajikistan went through several years of civil war in which both sides planted thousands of Cold War surplus landmines. Russia helped settle that internal conflict and supplied peacekeepers, who also manned the Afghan border to try and keep the Afghan heroin and hashish out. This involved more new minefields along the Afghan border. There were also some mines planted on the new international borders (with other former parts of the Soviet Union).

While Tajikistan got some foreign aid to help with clearing all those mines, only about 30 percent of the known minefields have been cleared so far. Fortunately, the mines tend to be planted in thinly populated areas, so only about 350,000 people live near enough to the mined areas to be in any danger. Thus, since 1991, 20-30 people a year have been killed by the mines, with another 30-40 wounded. Civilians are the most frequent victims of landmines.

India and Pakistan continue to maintain extensive minefields along their 900 kilometer border. Both countries still manufacture mines. Same deal with the two Koreas and Israel on its Syrian border.

The United States believes it cannot ignore this vital tool in conventional warfare. This is especially true in an increasingly unstable strategic environment. The ethical problem is an important one. Unilateral disarmament is a fools errand when likely adversaries wont join in. Since 2016 the Americans have been developing landmines with a self-destruct and self-activate function. These landmines would be rendered harmless after a conflict. There are two approaches to the problem. First one aims to add additional sensors and connect smart mines into wireless network supervised by a solider who decides to detonate landmines or not. Meanwhile, the second way involves the addition of self-destruct and self-activate mechanisms that activate after a set time or when the battery power is exhausted.

There is still a problem because self-destruct mechanisms are not 100 percent reliable. International agreements allow a 10 percent dud rate. This could be higher due to the delivery method. The landmines are usually scattered by aircraft or artillery at a rate of thousands in a matter of minutes, with little precision. These are similar to cluster munitions and some landmines might fail to arm or their self-destruct system get damaged. For example, Russia has used smart mines which are still dangerous in Chechnya many years after the conflict. Even more advanced networked minefields pose a serious danger for friendly forces passing through them when in off-mode as did dumb minefields during Gulf War of 1991.

Moreover, the old demining problem still remains unsolved because even in deactivated minefields some landmines will go-off, although less frequently than usual. --- Przemyslaw Jurasze
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Covid-19: Modi, Putin to coordinate efforts

March 26, 2020

Soon after Russian President Vladimir Putins address to the nation on Wednesday on the governments coronavirus response and measures to be adopted to deal with the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him on the phone. The Indian and Russian readouts (here and here) have alike highlighted that the two leaders agreed to strengthen coordination in the coronavirus response effort (Kremlin).

The two countries are facing similar challenges. Having done very little by way of testing, the actual figures of coronavirus patients could be higher than the official estimate in Russia and India alike.

The total number of infected people as of today touched 840 in Russia, while the Indian figure has reached 660. Importantly, the figures are dramatically rising. There was a 28% jump in Russia since Wednesday.

Putin has admitted candidly that the outbreak is worse than what he had thought previously. The head of a top Moscow hospital treating coronavirus patients told Putin on Tuesday when he visited the patients undergoing treatment that Russia needs to prepare for the Italian scenario.

To a degree, the relatively low number of cases so far in both India and Russia can be attributed to an early ban on entry for Chinese citizens at the time the epidemic was at full swing in that country.

But India has been ahead of Russia in denying entry to all foreigners except diplomats and members of official delegations. It was only last week that Russia imposed such restrictions. Again, India shut down international flights earlier than Russia which announced the decision only today.

Both Indian and Russian authorities were inclined to project an upbeat view on the situation, claiming that all measures have been taken to prevent a bigger outbreak. But both have acknowledged lately that there is indeed a crisis looming ahead.

On Tuesday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who leads a task force on dealing with the virus, told Putin at a meeting in the Kremlin that provincial governors must receive orders to move more quickly to ready hospital beds for the gravely ill. Otherwise, the system wont be able to cope, he said.

Sobyanin has ordered all Moscow citizens over 65 to stay home starting Thursday. Construction of a new hospital for coronavirus patients that is being built from scratch is going on at breakneck speed in Moscow suburbs.

Basically, Russia suffers from the same disadvantages as India to cope with a big coronavirus crisis  underfunded healthcare system, paucity of hospital beds, shortage of protective gear for medical communities, grossly insufficient network of labs to conduct / analyse coronavirus tests and so on.

But the Russian system is better adapted to handle such crises. Sobyanin signed a decree today to temporarily suspend  from 28 March to 5 April, the work of restaurants, cafes, canteens, buffets, bars, snack bars and other catering establishments, with the exception of takeaway services without citizens visiting the premises of such enterprises, as well as order delivery.

Shops, except pharmacies and those selling essential goods, will suspend operation during this weeklong period. Sobyanin was almost apologetic: The restrictions introduced today are unprecedented in the modern history of Moscow and will create many inconveniences in every persons daily life. But, believe me, they are absolutely necessary to slow down the spread of the coronavirus infection and reduce the number of cases.

The big question is whether these measures will suffice or Putin will also opt for a total lockdown, as Modi ordered on Tuesday. But then, Russia is a vast country spanning 9 time zones, and the Kremlin can always ramp up measures as cases grow. The regional imbalances are simply mind-boggling  between Moscow and St. Petersburg (European Russia) on the one hand and the Caucasus, Urals, Siberia or the Russian Far East (Asiatic Russia) on the other hand.

Having said that, the crucial difference is that Russia is a developed country in most ways in the social sector, thanks to the Soviet rule, whereas India is a developing country with a much lower level of social formation.

The mammoth population of India puts additional pressure on social sectors of the economy. Again, the structure of the Russian economy is very different. It has nothing comparable, for example, to Indias informal sector or migrant labour that infinitely add to the complexity of the present crisis.

Russia was all set to join the OECD when the Ukraine crisis erupted in 2014 and the European Union imposed sanctions. In fact, at that point in time, Russia had already signed on to some of the landmark OECD standards.

However, the raison detre of the two countries desire to to strengthen coordination in the coronavirus response effort lies in their capacity to show a third way in addressing the present crisis.

Neither Russia nor India has followed Chinas Wuhan model of suppressing the coronavirus and moving on to resuscitate the economy.

On the other hand, their humanistic traditions also do not allow the pitiless approach that US President Donald Trump espouses.

Both Russia and India stress social distancing as the key. PM Modi used a powerful metaphor from Ramayana which every Indian would understand, to drive home that ones home is ones ultimate citadel in these extraordinary times. Putin meant much the same thing when he said, Dont think: This cant happen to me. It can happen to anyone. The most important thing is to stay home.

Putin announced paid leave for all Russians next week due to COVID-19. He announced, amongst other relief measures for the economy, that families eligible for maternity capital will receive an extra 5,000 rubles ($44.80) per month from the government for each child under 3 years old.

Small and midsized businesses will receive a six-month tax deferral. And those who lose their jobs or take sick leave will receive payments at minimum wage until the end of the year. The allowance for the unemployed has bene raised by 50 percent and brought on par with the prescribed minimum wage.

Today, Modi government also announced a massive $22 billion package of cash transfer and food security exclusively targeting the poor people.

Both Russian and Indian leaderships are acutely conscious of grim economic warnings for their countries. Both economies could shrink significantly in a worst case scenario. Nonetheless, both Putin and Modi have chosen to concentrate on socially sensitive clusters  pensioners and families with children in Russia, the teeming hundreds of millions of poor people in India.

One may say they stay true to their history as populist leaders. But this time around, it is far from an opprobrium.
Before heading to her night shift at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly last week, Krystal Horchuck listened to her three young children laughing with her husband in another room.

The sound of her happy family  the people she loves most  are how the Burlington County nurse copes with the anxiety that comes with being a healthcare worker during the global coronavirus pandemic.

I think I have a different level of anxiety than Ive ever had, Horchuck said. Ive been having headaches everyday, not sleeping. Im scared to bring [coronavirus] home to our kids.

Regardless, shes committed to helping her patients.

Even though I feel an overwhelming heaviness as I walk through the ER ... I know I have committed myself to be there for the community, my peers, my friends, my second family, she said.

Nurses across the state spoke with NJ Advance Media about being on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. While most New Jerseyans have been ordered to work from home, healthcare professionals are among those who not only must continue to clock in, but who see the virus first-hand.

As of Saturday, the coronavirus has infected more than 8,800 New Jerseyans and killed 108 residents.

Megan Harning, an intensive care unit nurse at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, said she has been limiting her exposure to others. She stopped caring for her grandmother, shifting those responsibilities to her father.

Another challenge for Harning: toeing the line between keeping her family informed about the virus seriousness, but not scaring them.

Its like youre dancing this line of not trying to panic people, but trying to educate people, Harning said.

In Horchucks home, she and her husband, a nurse at a Philadelphia hospital, are taking extra precautions to keep their three kids safe.

While Horchuck says they have always been careful about not tracking germs into their house after work, theyre now more vigilant than ever.

Horchucks new routine: Strip off her scrubs after work, immediately throw them into a washing machine outside her home and run to her upstairs shower.

For the foreseeable future, she says her elderly parents wont be visiting.

I havent kissed my kids, she said.

Concerns among the medical community have only intensified following reports of personal protective equipment shortages. Last week, representatives from six labor unions called on the Murphy administration to ensure all healthcare facilities have the supplies, training materials, and staffing support they need to reduce everyones risk of exposure.

The workers fears are far from unfounded. The New Jersey Doctor-Patient Alliance told NJ Advance Media a number of nurses and doctors have either tested positive, or were in quarantine with suspected cases of COVID-19.

New Jersey nurses are also endlessly trying to keep up with the medical communitys evolving understanding of the virus. They feel like theyre entering uncharted territory.

Shazam Bacchus is an intensive care unit nurse in Newark caring for coronavirus patients during the pandemic.Provided by Shazam Baccus

The closest parallel to the coronavirus was the Ebola scare in 2014, said Shazam Bacchus, an intensive care unit nurse at University Hospital in Newark, who is treating COVID-19 patients.

But the short length of the Ebola scare, and the fact that there were only 11 cases in the U.S., sets the coronavirus apart, Bacchus said.

People werent really worried, he said. Everyone is very concerned right now."

Due to the nature of COVID-19, Harning said its difficult for nurses and patients to communicate. Patients are frequently intubated and dont have family members to advocate for them during their stays because of visitor bans at hospitals.

Some are able to point at letters and words on a communication board, but many cannot, Harning said.

Doctors and nurses are providing as much communication to family members as possible via phone calls, but its not a substitute for face-to-face interaction, Harning says.

Thats the scary thing, these patients are sedated, but they still are aware. Theyre not knocked out, so they know theyre alone in a room and they hear a lot of noises, and they have nobody who can go in there and hold their hand, Harning said.

With no end in sight for the virus spread, fears are further compounded, said Dr. Aline Holmes, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Nursing. The peak of coronavirus cases in three of New Jerseys hardest-hit counties could be three weeks away, state officials have said.

This is an anxious time for everyone, including nurses. We all came into this profession for our desire to help others, Dr. Holmes said. Human resources departments are pulling a lot of resources together.

Most hospitals are offering stress management and meditation classes to help physicians and nurses cope with coronavirus-related stress, Holmes said. Social workers, psychologists and clergy are also on hand.

Despite challenges, all three nurses said they were committed to their patients and are leaning on each other for support.

Sometimes going into work and seeing all the signs up can be nerve-racking, but I feel supported by my coworkers and staff, Horchuck said. We will get through this, we just have to take it one day at a time. Weve been trained for this.

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The head of Canada's armed forces has said preventing the spread of the coronavirus in the country is the "primary concern" of his troops.

"Today, our mission along with the armed defence of Canada is to safeguard our health, safeguard the health of Canadians, and be prepared to respond to calls for assistance," General Jonathan Vance said in a statement Friday.

Units will be able to "deploy by sea, road or air" to support authorities in the battle against the pandemic in Canada, the statement added.

Domestic and global operational commitments will be maintained, the statement said, although some missions "will be reviewed" and scaled back to protect the health of soldiers.

All those returning from deployment will be quarantined for 14 days.

Canada has so far reported 4,757 infections and 55 deaths from the coronavirus.

On Thursday the defence ministry announced it was scaling down its training of the Ukraine military -- started in 2015 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea -- due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two hundred soldiers were scheduled for deployment in early April to relieve a group already in Ukraine, but the number will be reduced to 60.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CHICAGO  An infant and a state Department of Human Services employee who both tested positive for coronavirus disease have died, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said on Saturday. Eleven additional people have died, it was announced Saturday.

"I know how difficult this news can be, especially about this very young child," Pritzker said during a press conference.

The state Department of Public Health in a statement said the child was an "infant younger than 1 year in Chicago."

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike in a statement said: There has never before been a death associated with COVID-19 in an infant. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of death. We must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. If not to protect ourselves, but to protect those around us.

Older adults are at higher risk of severe illness, and more than 85% of deaths in Illinois are among individuals 60 years of age and older, but people of all ages are suffering severe illness.

Health officials also reported 465 new cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois and the 13 new deaths.

Cook County: infant; two males 60s; two males 70s; one female 70s, female 80s, male 80s

McHenry County: male 50s

Kane County: two males 70s

Lake County: female 90s

Will County: female 90s

Carroll, Fayette and Macon counties also reported cases.

On Friday, Chicago was among several large American cities identified as hot spots for COVID-19 infections, the U.S. surgeon general said.

At the Pentagon, the Army Corps of Engineers' commander, Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, told reporters the corps is setting up beds at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center to accommodate about 3,000 patients. The makeshift hospital, which will include 750 beds in what Semonite called self-contained units, will be ready by April 24.

Worldwide infections approached the 650,000 mark with more than 30,000 deaths as new cases also stacked up quickly in Europe, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. leads the world in reported cases with more than 115,000, but five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France. Italy alone now has 10,023 deaths, the most of any country.

New York remained the worst-hit U.S. city. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said defeating the virus will take weeks and weeks and weeks. The U.N. donated 250,000 face masks to the city and Cuomo delayed the state's presidential primary from April 28 to June 23.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

More than 135,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Friday, ordering General Motors to begin manufacturing ventilators. He also signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package approved by Congress that will send checks to millions of Americans, boost unemployment benefits, help businesses and toss a life preserver to an overwhelmed health care system.

Dr. John Brooks of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Americans remained in the acceleration phase of the pandemic.

"There is no geographic part of the United States that is spared from this," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story will be updated.

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A closer look at China's efforts to guarantee supplies in COVID-19 epicentre

People's Daily Online

(People's Daily Online) 13:54, March 27, 2020

After locking down Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei province, which used to be the epicenter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, China mobilized nationwide resources and made all out efforts to guarantee a stable supply of living materials for the city's residents. Many provinces around the country joined efforts to guarantee sufficient sources for these materials.

At the same time, various vehicles, including buses, military transport vehicles, cold chain logistics vehicles and postal vehicles were used to guarantee delivery coverage and efficiency in transporting living materials.

Staff members from major shops and supermarkets, community workers, volunteers, and Communist Party of China (CPC) cadres dispatched to grassroots levels helped transport, sort, purchase, and deliver living materials in the city, guaranteeing targeted and convenient services for the citizens of Wuhan.

Guaranteeing supplies

After the lockdown, demand for daily necessities in the city soared for a short period, which led to a surge in prices and made it difficult to ensure emergency supplies of living materials.

Efforts had to be made to ensure there was more supply than normal demand, said Lian Weiliang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), at a press conference held by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council on Feb. 3.

It's better to get ready for something that doesn't happen and prepare more supply than actual demand than be caught unprepared, Lian said, demanding resolute efforts to prevent shortages.

The leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of COVID-19 established a dedicated working group to guarantee supply of living materials through prompt joint efforts, and made every effort to guarantee supplies of daily necessities, Lian explained.

"We coordinated vegetable resources in six provinces neighboring Hubei and prepared nearly 60,000 tons of existing stocks, which could guarantee about 8,000 tons of supplies for Wuhan on a daily basis," Lian said.

In addition, 10,000 tons of frozen pork released from central reserves were prepared for transport to Wuhan from Shanghai, Lian added.

In addition to supply sources, smooth transportation of goods was also an important part of the country's efforts to ensure sufficient supplies for the epidemic epicenter.

At the beginning of last February, Hubei province established five transfer stations for emergency supplies.

The transfer stations were located in the suburbs of Wuhan, which allowed vehicles transporting supplies to the city to quickly unload and then leave, explained Yi Fei, deputy general manager of Jie Li Logistics, a local logistics enterprise whose warehouse base was transformed into one of the five transfer stations.

After the supplies arrived at the transfer stations, local logistics companies would transfer them to urban areas, Yi said, noting that this contactless transfer of materials helped reduce the risk of cross-infection.

By March 21, three warehouses of Jie Li Logistics had helped provide more than 4,600 tons of box-packed milk and yogurt, over 1,550 tons of vegetables, and more than 920 tons of rice, flour, grain, and cooking oil.

For some time, control measures put in place to curb the epidemic had caused difficulties for Wuhan citizens trying to buy or sell live fish.

To deal with the problem, the city rolled out a measure called "bringing live fish to communities", with the aim of bringing about targeted supplies of live fish for all communities.

According to statistics from Wuhan's bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, the city consumed a total of 6,782 tons of live fish from March 11 to 23, and saw more than 720,000 orders of aquatic products directly provided for communities from Feb. 27 to March 23, with the aquatic products weighing 2,229 tons.

Stocks of basic daily necessities such as rice, flour, cooking oil, and pork in key areas including Hubei and its capital Wuhan can now meet people's consumption needs for more than 30 days, said Meng Wei, spokesperson with the NDRC, on March 17.

"There weren't many varieties of vegetables at the beginning of the outbreak, when we had to eat radishes and cabbages for several days. Now we can have anything we want, as basically all vegetables are available," said a Wuhan citizen named Li Yuhua.

Moving goods around

After the city went into lockdown, a ban was also quickly imposed on public transport and all motor vehicles, posing great challenges to allocation and transport of living materials in the city.

On Jan. 27, the commerce department of Wuhan mobilized 50 postal logistics vehicles and 50 cash trucks through emergency coordination, arranging for them to help shops and supermarkets deliver goods, including vegetables.

In an effort to further address the pressure on transport of living materials, a dedicated assistance team was quickly established by armed forces stationed in Hubei.

"They transferred 130 military transport vehicles, and 260 military officers and soldiers were assembled at 5 p.m. on Feb. 1. The assistance team received a transport task at 10 p.m. on the same day, and directly set out to do the job that night," said Huang Wei, political commissar of the team.

"Soldiers in the assistance team did the jobs of both drivers and also porters. They had to ensure that every package on every truck was properly delivered," Huang said, revealing that soldiers in the team all competed for jobs and none of them complained.

"More than 120 trips were made a day during the peak period. With the gradual alleviation of the epidemic situation and resumption of work in logistics companies, we now make just over 50 trips a day," Huang said.

According to Huang, the assistance team had made a total of 4,052 trips and transported 14,430.5 tonnes of vegetables and other living materials by March 23.

Based on the request from the epidemic prevention and control command of Wuhan, a bus company in the city has transferred 520 buses since Feb. 24, which have been arranged to deliver living materials purchased by citizens via online shopping platforms from 165 outlets of supermarkets and e-commerce platforms to communities.

"I make two trips a day on average, taking more than 200 packages on each trip. Once, I carried 700 packages on one trip, which almost filled up the whole carriage," said Yue Jun, who has been a driver on the No. 585 bus for more than 11 years.

With more and more logistics companies resuming operations in Wuhan, the market's ability to move around goods is gradually recovering.

Since March 20, various courier service companies in Wuhan have gradually resumed work, with 60 percent of the work expected to be resumed by the end of this month, and over 90 percent to be resumed by mid-April, according to Sun Meng, deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Postal Administration.

Stabilizing prices

In addition to ensuring supplies, Wuhan also adopted several favorable policies and measures to stabilize the prices of living materials.

Since Feb. 24, the city has been mobilizing major shops and supermarkets to launch special offers for the city's low-income groups, providing them with packages containing 5 kilograms of vegetables priced at 10 yuan (about $1.40).

By March 22, over 2.9 million of these vegetable packages, which allows consumers to pick three from six varieties of vegetables, had been provided for low-income people in the city.

Wuhan recently decided to increase the quantity and vegetable varieties of the special package, bringing the number available every day from between 60,000 and 80,000 to 200,000, and the varieties from six to 13.

The number of outlets that sold these vegetable packages has also risen significantly, with the number of large shops and supermarkets participating in the campaign rising from five to 12, while the price of the package has remained at 10 yuan for 5 kilograms.

Since March 3, Wuhan has accelerated efforts to ensure supplies of meat products, planning to release all the frozen pork in local government reserves into the market.

By March 22, the city had sold 7,781 tons of frozen pork from government reserves, covering nearly 70 percent of the households in urban Wuhan, according to Zhang Wenbo, deputy director of the city's commerce department.

Statistics released by the Wuhan Municipal Development and Reform Commission have shown that the prices of meat and eggs in the city had remained stable on March 22, while the price of lean pork ranked 27th among the 36 big and medium-sized cities in the country.

Ten varieties of vegetables in supermarkets were sold at basically the same price as the same period of last year, and prices of certain foods had dropped by as much as 38 percent from the same period last year, according to the commission.

Better services

Since the implementation of the closed-off management system in local communities, "group buying" has become the main way that shopping is done in the city. Many large shops and companies have joined online shopping platforms and started to have goods delivered to communities.

To ensure "last 100 meters" delivery services, an enormous number of community workers and volunteers were mobilized to provide the needed services in their communities.

So far, Wuhan has recruited and mobilized more than 20,000 volunteers from society, and encouraged over 44,500 CPC members, cadres and staff members from the Party and government institutions, enterprises, as well as public institutions to work in more than 7,000 residential complexes of over 3,000 communities.

"Residents just need to place orders online, and we will handle the 'last 100 meters' of the delivery of live fish from the entrance of the community to their doorstep," said Liu Chang, a volunteer who is responsible for delivering materials to 312 people in 92 families at one community.

Zhan Feng, a resident who lives in Wuhan's Jiang'an district, is a volunteer who helps buy meat for people in his community.

Zhan is the head of a volunteer team that has been buying meat and vegetables from supermarkets for residents in his community every day since Feb. 19. He has been nicknamed "meat purchase squad captain" by his neighbors.

In Wuhan's Hannan district, post-90s CPC cadre Han Jiyue has teamed up with Zhang Nanhong, a grid-based community worker at Nihuhe community in Hannan district, serving the "special group" in Zhang's grid for more than 40 days.

They deliver "care vegetables" to these people, and help them pay their gas fees and buy goods such as drugs and live fish.

"We visited another 10 households after work. Some of the people are families of medical workers, some of them are seniors who live alone, and some are people living under special circumstances who need comfort and contact I hope we can all be patient and restrain ourselves for a little longer," Han wrote on her WeChat Moments at 10:30 p.m. March 20.

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KYODO NEWS - Mar 28, 2020 - 15:05 | Feature, All

In the not too distant future, global warming could deprive Japanese cuisine of an essential element: "konbu," or edible kelp.

A Hokkaido University research group has warned that 11 principal breeds of natural konbu may cease to exist by the 2090s.

That also poses a threat to sea urchins, prized as a delicacy themselves in Japan for the edible part called "uni," and other sea fauna that depend on this ecological system for their survival.

(Harvested kelp is unloaded in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on June 21, 2014.)

Researchers at the university's Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, headed by professor Masahiro Nakaoka, predicted the habitat distribution of konbu in the 2040s and 2090s.

They worked out various scenarios in which a rise in seawater temperatures could kill off breeds of konbu, including the most popular types such as "naga-konbu" and "ma-konbu."

If global warming advances at the current pace, the seawater temperature around Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's main islands, will rise by as much as 10 degrees Celsius in the 2090s compared with the 1980s, the group said. The habitat distribution of konbu will thus likely be reduced to between zero and 25 percent of that in the 1980s, they said.

They calculated that even if the pace of global warming slows, naga-konbu, a long konbu kelp best suited for meals such as "oden" hot-pot dishes, and three other breeds of konbu may vanish from dinner tables by the 2040s.

The supply of konbu in the market has declined each year, according to an Osaka-based Japanese konbu association. There was an estimated 13,000 tons of kombu produced in fiscal 2019, compared with a peak of 38,000 tons in the year ending in April 1990. The bulk of edible konbu is gathered in waters around Hokkaido.

Konbu Doi, a konbu wholesale processor, also located in Osaka city, distributes natural ma-konbu from Shiroguchihama, Hakodate in Hokkaido. The thick, broad leaves are used to produce high-quality broth, and supplied to traditional Japanese restaurants, among other locations. But the prices the company pays for the konbu have roughly doubled from five years ago.

Junichi Doi, 45, the company's president, laments that the price hike has made it difficult to continue doing business as usual with natural konbu alone. "Though we also handle cultured konbu now, the quality has fallen," he said.

Naga-kombu, which is also used in Japanese traditional "tsukudani" preserved foods, may be being affected by rising seawater temperatures ahead of other breeds, said Kenji Sudo, a member of the group.

(Kelp is dried in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on June 21, 2014.)

While naga-konbu is used in oden as it is soft and easy to chew, Sudo said, "convenience stores may raise prices of konbu in oden or even stop using it."

Seaweed beds, where konbu grows densely, are rich in sea fauna such as urchins and abalones, and sea otters and other marine animals gather there to eat them.

Short-spined sea urchins and "kitamurasaki" sea urchins, which rely on konbu for survival, may cease to exist, said Yukio Agatsuma, a professor at Tohoku University familiar with ecological systems in coastal sea areas and reefs.

Agatsuma said the drop in edible kelp attributed to global warming could hurt those seafood products as well.

"Fishery operators will suffer a big blow as the catch of high-priced sea urchins falls," Agatsuma said.
The Goa bench of the Bombay High



Court has directed the state government to facilitate home delivery of essential commodities during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The single-judge bench of Justice M S Sonak on Friday also observed that people are not interested in defying the curfew and queuing up in front of grocery stores and pharmacies.

"The state government and its agencies must be proactive in encouraging and facilitating home delivery of essentials, so that there is no need to visit grocery shops during the period of lockdown," the HC ordered.

It is not as if people are interested in defying the curfew and queuing up in front of the shops and pharmacies, it stated.

"If a robust system for home deliveries of essentials is in place, the implementation of the lockdown and the policy of social distancing will be achieved," the judge observed.

The high court made these observation while disposing of the petitions filed by lawyers Abhjiit Gosavi and Rohit Bras de Sa over the state government's "failure" to provide essential commodities to the people during the lockdown.

Even the directives of the National Disaster Management Authority and Central government encourage home deliveries, the bench ruled.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the Yeni Clinic medical facility in Baku.

As part of the event, Ilham and Mehriban Aliyevs met with doctors who will work in the clinic.

After the meeting, the head of state applauded the doctors, noting that the applause was in their honor, AZERTAC reports.
Since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, the number of cases worldwide has risen to 600,000 with nearly 28,000 deaths.

The coronavirus pandemic started in Wuhan, in the Chinese Province of Hubei and has infected 598,245 people and killed 27,762 worldwide since then.

The explosion of cases in the United States accounts for a sixth of the total and half of them are in New York.

According to Saturdays Global Balance Update from Johns Hopkins University, the pandemic has spread to 177 countries and territories and 131,772 patients have beaten the virus, 75,098 of them in China.

The four countries worst affected by Covid-19 are the United States, Italy, China and Spain and the growth rate of COVID-1 has accelerated sharply in recent weeks.

It started in Wuhan City in November 2019 and just 67 days later, there were first 100,000 cases. By day 78 there were 200,000 and by day 82 there were 300,000 and by day 85, a total of 400,000 people worldwide had tested positive.

Since Thursday, 104,839 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the United States, taking the global figure above the 500,000 mark.

The number of cases in the US has grown exponentially in the last week with daily increases of more than 5,000 cases and there have been 1,711 deaths from Covid-19 in America.

The situation in New York is now critical with a total of 44,000 infected and 519 dead, according to State Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Coronavirus cases are increasing from both coasts to the centre of the country and infections are likely to appear in Detroit, San Antonio or New Orleans by next week.

Italy has 86,498 confirmed cases and 9,134 deaths, more than China which has 81,946, 3,299 dead and more than 75,000 patients have been discharged.

Spain has 65,719 confirmed cases, 5,138 fatalities and 9,357 patients have been discharged and now has the second highest number of fatalities after Italy.

Germany has 50,871 cases, 351 dead and 6,658 patients discharged.

France has 33,414 positive cases, 2,000 fatalities and 5,707 discharged.

Iran has 32,332 people with coronavirus, 2,378 dead and 11,113 discharged.

The UK has moved into eighth place in the world with 14,751 confirmed cases, 761 fatalities and 151 patients discharged. The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is the first world leader to test positive for COVID-19.

Switzerland has 12,928 confirmed cases and 231 dead.

South Korea used to be the second most affected behind China, but now has 9,478 cases, 144 dead and 4,811 patients discharged.

The Netherlands has 8,647 positives cases and 547 fatalities, Austria has 7,697 infected and 58 dead, and Belgium has 7,824 positive cases and 289 deaths.

Turkey has 5,698 confirmed cases and 92 fatalities, Canada has 4,460 cases and 56 deaths and Portugal has 4,268 cases and 56 deaths.

Norway, Australia, Brazil, Sweden and Israel have more than 3,000 positive cases, Brazil, Denmark, Malaysia and the Czech Republic, Ireland and Chile have more than 2,000 and Luxembourg, Ecuador, Japan, Romania, Poland, Pakistan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Finland and Russia have over 1,000 cases.
RACINE  City voters can still cast their ballots on Saturday March 28 and April 4 but only at City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.

Initially, Saturday in-person absentee ballot voting was supposed to also be held at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2221 Douglas Ave., and Tyler Domer Community Center, 2301 12th St., but the city decided that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, those locations would remain closed.

"During the work week, we have established a process at City Hall that spreads people out and uses social distancing to protect both voters and our staff," said Mayor Cory Mason. "We will use this same process on Saturday here at City Hall. I am grateful for the staff and volunteers who are willing to come in on the weekends to make sure residents are able to exercise their right to vote.

Absentee ballots

The city is still encouraging voters to request absentee ballots for the April 7 election. All absentee ballot applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 2.

"Requesting a mailed ballot is the safest way to vote," Mason stated. "However, in person, absentee voting is the next best thing you can do and having a Saturday option is a good way to accommodate voters who cant get to City Hall during the work week."

In-person absentee ballot voting is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 28 and April 4 at City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.

Voters can request absentee ballots by:

Emailing a request to clerks@cityofracine.org

Texting your request to 262-822-9692

Submitting a request online at myvote.wi.gov

When submitting a request, voters must send:

Their first name and last name

Date of birth

Copy of a photo ID

And their mailing address

Current state law requires mailed ballots to be counted on April 7th. If voters are worried about mailing ballots back to City Hall, the Clerks Office has put a large, red mailbox outside of City Hall by the parking lot to enable voters to drop off absentee ballots.
The United Nations has announced that a conference to review the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 191 states parties were expected to attend the conference that had been scheduled for April 27 through May 22 at UN headquarters in New York.

Participants meet every five years to review the treaty, considered the cornerstone of global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the review conference will be rescheduled as soon as the circumstances permit, but no later than April 2021.

The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, completed 50 years ago, is credited with preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to dozens of nations.

As part of the treaty, nations without nuclear weapons committed not to acquire them. Countries already holding such weapons committed to move toward their elimination.

Every nation is a party to the treaty except India, Pakistan, and North Korea -- which hold nuclear weapons -- and Israel, which most experts suspect of being a nuclear power but which has never acknowledged it.

Based on reporting by AP
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Sat, March 28 2020

Almost one month after the first two COVID-19 cases were announced, efforts to contain the virus, including campaigns to stay home, have shown no significant results. Thousands of people have left Greater Jakarta, the national epicenter of the outbreak, for their hometowns in other parts of Java, putting at risk not only their families but the entire population in those areas.

In Central Java alone, the number of recent visitors already tops 7,000, according to Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who has asked regents and mayors across the province to closely monitor the health of the returnees, most of whom are migrant workers.

Fearing a ticking time bomb, some regional leaders are pushing for local lockdowns to protect the population in their territories.

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Former Vice President Joe Biden said that Donald Trump should be taking notes on leadership from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, not lobbing petty, partisan attacks at her in the middle of a crisis.

In a statement, Biden said, Donald Trump could learn a thing or two from Governor Whitmer  speed matters, details matter, and people matter.

Biden added, Shes secured more than 10 million N95 masks, more than 4 million gloves, thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer, and critical equipment for health care providers.

While the former VP said that Gov. Whitmer has been working tirelessly to fight the coronavirus outbreak in her state, he said that theres only so much that can be done by governors.

[S]tates like Michigan need more help from this administration, Biden said. They cant go it alone, and they need help now.

Trump is abandoning Michigan in the middle of a health emergency

As governors in both parties step up to the plate to manage this pandemic, Donald Trump is putting petty politics before public health by essentially punishing states and governors who dont bow down to him like hes a king.

Trump basically admitted as much during Fridays coronavirus briefing, saying, I want [governors] to be appreciative of him in return for federal assistance.

He even suggested that Vice President Mike Pence, the man running the White House coronavirus task force, shouldnt even be communicating with governors who dont treat you right.

It is nothing short of disgusting to be slinging mud at states and governors in the middle of a global pandemic. But its even worse that Trump appears to be withholding life-saving medical equipment from places who need it most, all because of his fragile ego.

This behavior will almost certainly lead to more coronavirus infections and deaths across this country in the weeks and months ahead.

When Michigan voters go to the polls in November to cast their vote in the presidential election, they shouldnt forget how Donald Trump abandoned them in this time of crisis.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > PMs financial package of Rs 15,000 crore for healthcare is very little - (...)

DOCUMENT

Communist Party of India

Ajoy Bhawan

15, Indrajit Gupta Marg

New Delhi - 110002

March 25, 2020

Press Release

CPI Terms Rs 15,000-Crore Modi Package as Very little

Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja issued the following statement on March 25, 2020 terming PMs financial package of Rs 15,000 crore for healthcare as very little:

The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India is of the strong view that the financial package of Rs 15,000 crore for healthcare in the wake of Corona pandemic, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengthening of personal protection equipment for medical professionals, increasing isolation wards and ICU beds and for training of medical and paramedical manpower as very meagre.

Party considers that the Modi government which has been pursuing pro-rich, pro-corporate policies and giving massive concession to them including cutting down the corporate tax must now show some concern for the poor people by imposing COVID-19 tax on all corporates and high-net-worth taxpayers so that the poor hit by lockdown get some relief. A state like Kerala has allotted Rs 20,000-crore financial package.

It may be noted here that if the Centres allotment is distributed among its states, it comes to a meagre sum of around Rs 500 crores for each state. Rather than making a ritual package, the government should have announced a comprehensive economic package and allotted more funds to meet the requirements.

The Party is of the view that the Prime Minister has not announced any relief package for the poor and unemployed. With the total lockdown, the daily wage earners and the unemployed will not be able to have minimum essentials. Nutritious food is vital to increase immunity. India is already at 102nd position in World Hunger Index out of 117 countries.

Moreover, the situation demands testing of Corona virus widely across the country. Social or physical distancing is a major problem in India. Efforts must be made to improve hygiene and sanitation

The Party wants the government to be more sensitive to the poorer section of the people and accordingly raise the allotment manifold, drawing lesson from the LDF government of Kerala.

(Roykutty)

Office Secretary
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:01:18|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait reported 10 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 235, the Health Ministry announced in a statement on Saturday.

Among 10 cases, seven cases are Kuwaiti nationals who returned from the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France and one case is a resident who returned from Canada, it said.

Out of the 235 cases, 64 of them have recovered and 171 are still receiving treatment, it said.

The Kuwaiti government has decided to impose a nationwide curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

On March 13, Kuwait suspended all commercial flights. The government has also closed stores, malls and barbershops.
Maharashtra reported six new cases of Covid-19 in the state, taking the number of people infected with the coronavirus disease to 159, news agency ANI reported citing the health ministry.

According to ANI, five people contracted Covid-19 in Mumbai and one in Nagpur.

The state government has reached out to the Indian Army, seeking its assistance, if required, to set up hospitals. The armys assistance has been sought to construct makeshift hospitals, streamline supply lines and other related aspects in case of a big spike in numbers.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the help was only sought for medical support.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in his address to the people of Maharashtra, via live stream, said that the state is at a very crucial turn, where the virus can go on multiplying, resulting in the rise of patients multifold.

There is no need to panic as many patients have gotten cured after timely and right treatment. I appeal to people with international travel history to come forward if they have missed the coronavirus test after coming back, he said.

There is a possibility of new cases coming to light after having gotten into contact with people with international travel history. The cases may rise, but there is no need to be scared, he added.

Thackeray yet again appealed to people to stay at home.

To arrest the spread of the coronavirus, the state government is also focusing on tracing close contacts of the patients infected by the coronavirus.

Public health minister Rajesh Tope, through his Facebook Live address, said the government is now working on the principle of three Ts  Tracing, Testing, and Treatment  to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Mexico City: The rare birth of a baby Bengal tiger called "Covid" has brought a glimmer of hope to a private zoo in eastern Mexico even as normal life seizes up in the country to contain the deadly coronavirus that inspired his name.

Named by the family that owns the zoo as the global pandemic intensified, Covid was born on March 14 in a small zoo in the city of Cordoba that specializes in rescuing animals from circuses and exotic private collections.

The coronavirus causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, which is often used synonymously with the virus.

The tiger`s birth came as a surprise to everyone, said Kitzia Rodriguez, daughter of the zoo owner and a vet there.

"We didn`t know he was on the way," Rodriguez told Reuters.

"He`s going to have a big impact because the situation right now is difficult for everyone, even for us," she said. "But I think the birth, in spite of the situation, will help us and gives us hope to carry on, so we can have visitors. Covid was a gift."

The BioZoo in the state of Veracruz is still operating even as public life slowly winds down in Mexico to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed over 22,000 people worldwide.

Covid was born to an 8-year-old tigress that had been in a circus and was nursed back to health after needing an operation for a hip fracture, said zoo owner Gonzalo Rodriguez.

The cub`s father, age 6, joined the shelter after hurting his mouth by biting into a vase at the private home where he was kept, said Rodriguez, who has run the zoo for over two decades.
The number of coronavirus cases increased to 61 in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after 11 people tested positive for the disease, a senior health official said.

"Cases of infection have come from 13 of the 75 districts of the state (till now)," Principal Secretary Medical Education and Health Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.

In a statement, State Surveillance Officer for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme Vikasendu Agrawal said 11 new patients have been confirmed as positive for COVID-19.

"These are: nine at Noida, one at Varanasi and one at Meerut," he said, adding that the total number of samples found positive are 61 now.

There are 27 positive cases in Noida, 10 in Agra, five in Ghaziabad, eight in Lucknow, two each in Varanasi and Philbhit, and and one each at Lakhimpur Kheri, Moradabad, Kanpur, Jaunpur, Shamli, Baghpat and Meerut, he said.

"Fourteen patients (seven in Agra, two in Ghaziabad, four in Noida and one in Lucknow) have been declared recovered and discharged," Agarwal said.

Principal Secretary Prasad said, "Eight laboratories are working to test COVID-19. Of this, three are in Lucknow, while one each has been set up in Aligarh, Varanasi, Meerut, Etawah and Gorakhpur."



The ninth laboratory will be soon set up in Jhansi, he told reporters.

So far, as many as 2,196 samples have been tested of which 1,993 have tested negative. Testing of 148 samples is underway, Prasad said.

He added that for treatment of COVID-19 patients in the state, more than 5,000 isolation beds have been made available.

"Efforts are on to take this count to 15,000 in the public sector. Talks with private hospitals has also been done in most of the districts of the state," Prasad said.

The principal secretary informed, "For treatment of COVID-19, one community health centre will be made a dedicated COVID hospital after transferring the patients of the said community health centre and others. Training of the staff, which will be posted in this hospital is going on."



He said that any person, who is experiencing the symptoms of the disease, can call on CM Helpline 1,076. Along with this, the 18001805145 helpline of the health department can also be consulted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One person was injured when two cars collided Friday evening in Oxford Township, police said.

The crash was reported at 5:25 p.m. at the intersection of Belvidere Avenue and Buckley Avenue, Washington Township police Lt. John Kaufmann said.

The driver of a Toyota sedan was injured, and was the only person in the vehicle, Kaufmann said. The driver of the Subaru, also the only occupant, was not injured.

The crash is under investigation by Washington Township police.

Officers were assisted by the Oxford and Washington emergency squads, Oxford Volunteer Fire Company, and paramedics form Hunterdon Medical Center.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Lee Carson was caught off guard Thursday when she learned that a client had donated to a GoFundMe page set up to support Hyatt Training, the Northwest Portland gym that she co-owns with her husband.

Hyatt Training had been forced to close and move operations online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Carson had no intention of asking clients for donations. Instead, she had asked people to support the gym by booking virtual sessions with personal trainers to ensure that her staff could work during the outbreak.

But Yelp and GoFundMe went ahead and set up a fundraiser seeking $2,500 for Hyatt Training anyway, without getting Carsons consent.

Business owners have all kinds of different ways that they want to handle the financial impact, Carson said. I dont think its appropriate for any business to make a decision for another business for how they would like financial relief.

The fundraising page was set up as part of a small business relief partnership that Yelp and GoFundMe launched this week to help small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis. The companies automatically generated fundraising pages for over 1,000 businesses in Portland and tens of thousands of companies nationwide.

After facing backlash from owners, Yelp stopped adding the GoFundMe campaigns to business pages Thursday.

We have paused the automatic rollout of this feature, and are working with GoFundMe to provide a seamless way for businesses to opt into the program moving forward, as we have received a great deal of interest and support for the program from both consumers and businesses alike, said Yelp in a statement provided to multiple media outlets.

The decision to pause the campaign came after business owners took to social media to express their outrage with the way the program had been rolled out.

Andy McMillan, who is in the process of opening an alcohol-free bar in Portland called Suckerpunch, took to Twitter to express his displeasure with the campaign Thursday after Yelp failed to respond to emails asking that the Suckerpunch fundraising page be taken down. McMillan said that the Suckerpunch fundraising page was finally removed after his Twitter post gained traction.

Still, the majority of the fundraising campaigns remained live on GoFundMe as of Friday afternoon, despite Yelp indicating that the automatic rollouts had been paused.

Carson said she reached out to both Yelp and GoFundMe Thursday to try to get the page for Hyatt Training removed. She was forced to enter her Taxpayer Identification Number on a GoFundMe opt-out form. The company then sent her an automated email saying that the page would be removed in 7-9 days. Yelp has removed all links to the campaigns from its website, but the Hyatt Training fundraising page remains live on GoFundMe.

As a small business owner right now, Im already very busy dealing with lots of things related to keeping my business open," Carson said. "So, for me to spend the extra time to call Yelp yesterday and try to contact GoFundMe and have to put in my Tax ID to get the page taken down, I wasnt very happy about it.

Other business owners in Portland werent even aware that campaigns had been created on their behalf.

Michael Macfarlane, the owner of Petisco, a cafe in Northeast Portland, and Jon Finley, the owner of Sckavones Restaurant in Southeast Portland, both were unaware that fundraising pages had been created for their restaurants until they were informed by The Oregonian/OregonLive Friday. GoFundMe has yet to remove the fundraising pages for either restaurant.

Petisco has continued to offer food for pickup since Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ordered restaurants to stop all on-site dining on March 16. Macfarlane had to temporarily lay off two full-time employees and three part-time employees and has been coming in on his own each day from noon to 6 p.m. to offer food for pickup for his customers. He said the best way to support Petisco would be to order takeout or buy gift certificates for future use.

I can see Yelp just assuming that everyone needs help, but its weird that they didnt ask anybody, Macfarlane said. I guess I just hope that Yelp isnt going to somehow or another profit off of this.

When Yelp and GoFundMe unveiled the partnership earlier this week, they announced that they would be waiving fees and would match up to $1 million in total donations. But GoFundMe also set up the recommended tip on the donation pages at 15 percent. That tip would go to fund GoFundMe services.

Finley questioned Yelp and GoFundMes motives for unveiling the campaign without first getting permission from businesses and said he worried about how the campaign could affect his business and reputation. While Sckavones Restaurant has still been taking orders for pickup, Finley said he is not interested in accepting donations for his restaurant. If Yelp and GoFundMe move forward with the campaign by asking businesses to opt-in, Finley wont be participating.

The worlds in trouble right now, Finley said. I dont want people giving money to me. I find that very insulting for somebody else to make that decision for me.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A man is pictured wearing a hazmat suit in Wuhan, China. Boris Johnsons allies turned on China over the coronavirus crisis yesterday

Boris Johnsons allies turned on China over the coronavirus crisis yesterday, as Britains death toll from the epidemic reached four figures.

Ministers and senior Downing Street officials said the Communist state now faces a reckoning over its handling of the outbreak and risks becoming a pariah state.

They are furious over Chinas campaign of misinformation, attempts to exploit the pandemic for economic gain and atrocious animal rights record.

The Prime Minister, who now faces Cabinet calls to reverse his decision to let controversial Chinese firm Huawei build large parts of Britains new 5G telecoms network, today warns that the epidemic is likely to worsen in the coming weeks  but that he expects the British spirit to overcome the crisis.

In a letter to 30 million households, Mr Johnson  who was yesterday working in self-isolation in Downing Street after testing positive for the virus  says: Things will get worse before they get better.

Ministers and senior Downing Street officials said the Communist state now faces a reckoning over its handling of the outbreak and risks becoming a pariah state. People are pictured in the city of Wuhan after lockdown restrictions were relaxed

In another dramatic day:

The UK death toll soared to 1,019  up 260 in 24 hours, including the first surgeon to die from Covid-19;

NHS medical chief Stephen Powis said every one of us has a part to play if deaths were to be kept below 20,000;

As No 10 released pictures of Mr Johnson at work, a poll found Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the voters favourite to be interim Prime Minister if Mr Johnson cannot perform his duties;

Tracking by this newspaper suggested the virus sweeping Whitehall may have originated with the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier;

The first images emerged from inside Londons ExCel Centre as it is being transformed into a 4,000-bed makeshift hospital;

Deaths across Europe exceeded 20,000, with Italy suffering 10,023 fatalities and Spain seeing its biggest daily rise of 889 to reach 5,690;

Global infections hit 600,000;

Ministers were considering using the RAF to airlift Britons stranded abroad after Opposition pressure;

A front line NHS doctor gave a harrowing account to this newspaper about how medics are having to play God due to equipment shortages;

Amid fear of more domestic abuse cases, Home Secretary Priti Patel warned culprits they would be brought to justice;

Police risked fresh claims of snooping by tracking motorists cars to check how far they have travelled;

Panic buyers provoked anger by throwing away excess food  some of it unopened;

US President Donald Trump suggested he may try to put New York in quarantine;

Wuhan, the Chinese epicentre of the crisis, partially reopened after more than two months in isolation;

The latest British victims of the epidemic to be named include the first surgeon to die from the virus.

Transplant consultant Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, who died on Wednesday, is thought to have become infected while was working at a hospital in the Midlands.

His cousin, the BBC presenter Zeinab Badawi, said: Adil was a stoic and an optimist and thought he would soon recover. This virus is unforgiving, indiscriminate and it can be brutal.

Azam Khan, 95, a four-time British squash champion, was also named among the latest victims, alongside amateur DJ Danny Sharma, 38, from London, retired telecoms engineer Pat Bewley, 79, from Suffolk, and taxi driver Spencer Kurash, 57, from Chigwell, Essex.

In his letter, which will land on doormats from Tuesday, Mr Johnson says he understands the disruption caused by the lockdown, but describes it as absolutely necessary, adding: The more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost. And he says that it is with great British spirit that we will beat coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced yesterday that insolvency rules would be changed to allow firms greater flexibility as they dealt with the crisis.

He also unveiled measures to boost the supply of personal protective equipment, such as face masks and aprons, to front line NHS staff, and to allow new hand sanitisers to be available in a matter of days.

Following disputed reports that the death toll might be lower than feared, NHS medical director Stephen Powis urged people to stay locked down to defeat the virus, adding now is not the time to be complacent... I cannot emphasise enough to everybody today  you have the chance to save a life.

As the fight against coronavirus continued, there was growing resentment towards the Chinese in No 10.

One senior Government source said: Of course, the only priority now is to deal with the crisis, but everybody knows that there has to be a reckoning when all this is over.

Writing for The Mail on Sunday, former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith says: For too long, nations have lamely kow-towed to China in the desperate hope of wining trade deals. But once we get clear of this terrible pandemic, it is imperative that we all rethink that relationship and put it on a much more balanced and honest basis.

The Prime Minister, who now faces Cabinet calls to reverse his decision to let controversial Chinese firm Huawei build large parts of Britains new 5G telecoms network, today warns that the epidemic is likely to worsen in the coming weeks  but that he expects the British spirit to overcome the crisis. He is pictured addressing a Cabinet meeting via video link after testing positive for the virus

Will they ever learn? Chinese markets are still selling bats and slaughtering rabbits on blood-soaked floors as Beijing celebrates 'victory' over the coronavirus

By George Knowles For The Mail On Sunday

Terrified dogs and cats crammed into rusty cages. Bats and scorpions offered for sale as traditional medicine. Rabbits and ducks slaughtered and skinned side by side on a stone floor covered with blood, filth, and animal remains.

Those were the deeply troubling scenes yesterday as China celebrated its 'victory' over the coronavirus by reopening squalid meat markets of the type that started the pandemic three months ago, with no apparent attempt to raise hygiene standards to prevent a future outbreak.

As the pandemic that began in Wuhan forced countries worldwide to go into lockdown, a Mail on Sunday correspondent yesterday watched as thousands of customers flocked to a sprawling indoor market in Guilin, south-west China.

Cats waiting to be slaughtered for their meat in a market in Guilin, Southwest China

Here cages of different species were piled on top of each other. In another meat market in Dongguan, southern China, another correspondent photographed a medicine seller returning to business on Thursday with a billboard advertising bats  thought to be the cause of the initial Wuhan outbreak  along with scorpions and other creatures.

The shocking scenes came as China finally lifted a weekslong nationwide lockdown and encouraged people to go back to normal daily life to boost the flagging economy. Official statistics indicated there were virtually no new infections.

The market in Guilin was packed with shoppers yesterday, with fresh dog and cat meat on offer, a traditional 'warming' winter dish.

A traditional medicine stall at Dongguan market in southern China advertising bats and other wild animals as legitimate remedies for common ailments

'Everyone here believes the outbreak is over and there's nothing to worry about any more. It's just a foreign problem now as far as they are concerned,' said one of the China-based correspondents who captured these images for The Mail on Sunday.

The correspondent who visited Dongguan said: 'The markets have gone back to operating in exactly the same way as they did before coronavirus.

'The only difference is that security guards try to stop anyone taking pictures which would never have happened before.'

The first coronavirus cases were traced to a market in Wuhan but the outbreak was kept silent by officials for weeks and whistleblowers were silenced, including 33-yearold Dr Li Wenliang, who later died of coronavirus.

Dogs and rabbits are butchered and sold at a meat market in Guilin, southwest China, on Saturday, 28 March 2020 despite infection concerns about this type of market

Now, after a dramatic fall in infection rates within China, the Beijing government is promoting conspiracy theories that the outbreak did not begin in China at all.

A discredited story, shared widely on China's Weibo social media platform, claims coronavirus was first detected in Italy in November.

Meanwhile, Chinese officials have promoted groundless conspiracy theories that the US Army brought the virus to its shores.

The only Chinese city still under lockdown yesterday was Wuhan, but yesterday even the restrictions there began to be lifted, with high-speed trains allowed to operate.

Since publication of this article we have received the following letter from the Chinese Embassy in London:

I cannot agree with your articles about how Downing Street says China faces a reckoning over its handling of coronavirus and how it risks becoming a pariah state. Such reports completely disregard the tremendous efforts and huge sacrifice of China and its people in its battle against Covid-19, and deny Chinas significant contribution to global public health and safety. We are shocked and deeply concerned. The Chinese Embassy in the UK has expressed grave concern to the British Government regarding those claims and remarks, and has urged the latter to clarify. Senior officials have replied that the reported remarks do not represent Government position, and that Britain speaks highly of Chinas contribution to the global response to Covid-19 and regards the China-UK relationship as fundamentally important.

After the outbreak of Covid-19, China wasted no time in identifying the pathogen of the virus, sharing the genetic sequence with the World Health Organisation, taking the most effective, strict and comprehensive measures to contain the spread of the disease, sharing experience with other countries in need, and providing assistance to more than 120 countries, including the UK, and to four international organisations.

These efforts and contribution of China should not be distorted. As Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, says, China deserves our gratitude.

I would like to emphasise that the virus respects no borders, nor does it distinguish between races. It is a common enemy of mankind and could be defeated only through concerted efforts of the international community. Prejudice, vilification and discrediting would only undermine the global response.

We urge relevant British media and politicians to abandon their arrogance and prejudice, take an objective view of Chinas efforts and achievements in combating Covid-19, and contribute positive energy to global public health and safety, instead of doing the opposite.

Zeng Rong, Chinese Embassy, London

China's efforts to blame coronavirus on a US army delegation to Wuhan infuriate No. 10 as Boris Johnson's advisers say Beijing's statistics on its cases could be downplayed by a factor of 40

Ministers demand review of Britain's relationship with Communist super-state

It comes amid fury over China's misinformation blitz around Covid-19 outbreak

PM urged to block deal with technology giant Huawei to build UK's 5G network

By Harry Coleand Stephen Adams for The Mail on Sunday

China's behaviour during the coronavirus pandemic will eventually result in a 'reckoning' in relations with Beijing, close allies of Boris Johnson have warned.

Senior Ministers think China risks becoming a pariah state unless there are sweeping reforms when the crisis abates, and they are demanding an urgent review of Britain's relationship with the Communist super-state.

It comes as the Prime Minister faces renewed Cabinet pressure to block the deal with the Chinese technology giant Huawei to build vast swathes of Britain's 5G network.

The Chinese government, led by president Xi Jinping, pictured, is under fire for a misinformation blitz around the virus, restrictions on vast amounts of protective medical equipment being exported, and animal rights abuses blamed by experts for the outbreak

There is fury at the top of government about the Chinese Communist Party's misinformation blitz around the virus, restrictions on vast amounts of protective medical equipment being exported, and animal rights abuses blamed by experts for the outbreak.

There is particular irritation in Downing Street about attempts to falsely blame a US Army delegation to the city of Wuhan, the outbreak's epicentre, for causing the crisis.

A source said: 'There is a disgusting disinformation campaign going on and it is unacceptable. They [the Chinese government] know they have got this badly wrong and rather than owning it they are spreading lies.'

Mr Johnson has been warned by scientific advisers that China's officially declared statistics on the number of cases of coronavirus could be 'downplayed by a factor of 15 to 40 times'. And No 10 believes China is seeking to build its economic power during the pandemic with 'predatory offers of help' countries around the world.

A major review of British foreign policy has been shelved due to the Covid-19 outbreak and will not report until the impact of the virus can be assessed. A Government source close to the review said: 'It is going to be back to the diplomatic drawing board after this. Rethink is an understatement.'

Another source said: 'There has to be a reckoning when this is over.' Yet another added: 'The anger goes right to the top.'

The Prime Minister faces renewed Cabinet pressure to block the deal with the Chinese technology giant Huawei, pictured, to build vast swathes of Britain's 5G network

Such concerns are today echoed by former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. Writing in this newspaper, he says: 'Once we get clear of this terrible pandemic, it is imperative that we all rethink that relationship and put it on a much more balanced and honest basis.'

Critics of Mr Johnson's decision to allow Huawei limited involvement in 5G are mobilising to press him to reverse the plan.

A senior Cabinet Minister said: 'We can't stand by and allow the Chinese state's desire for secrecy to ruin the world's economy and then come back like nothing has happened. We're allowing companies like Huawei not just into our economy, but to be a crucial part of our infrastructure.

'This needs to be reviewed urgently, as does any strategically important infrastructure that relies on Chinese supply chains.' Mr Johnson is resisting changing tack as he vowed in last year's manifesto to roll out superfast broadband for the whole country  and that will be hard to achieve on time without Huawei.

Separately, there is growing pressure for Britain to lead the way in urging China to reform its record on animal rights.

A senior Minister said: 'We have always known their wildlife markets are a recipe for a pandemic. China needs to close these down immediately. If they don't, they will rightly become a pariah state.'

Ministers are calling on Boris Johnson, pictued, to launch an urgent review of Britain's relationship with the Communist super-state

China also contributed to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) desperately needed by Britain's doctors, nurses and other health professionals. At the height of the epidemic in Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province, Chinese leaders commandeered vast amounts of PPE, made in factories across China and destined for export.

UK safety equipment firm JSP had its two factories in China 'requisitioned by the government to make disposable RPE [respiratory protection equipment] for Chinese government agencies', according to a letter its chief executive Mark Johnstone sent to customers on February 3.

In addition, Chinese state-backed operatives working abroad were directed to bulk-buy medical supplies from Western countries.

Overseas offices of Greenland Group, a property firm backed by the Chinese government, bought three million masks, 700,000 hazmat suits and 500,000 pairs of gloves as it 'felt compelled to assist in efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which had caused a shortage of crucial medical supplies in China,' according to a company newsletter seen by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ironically  and for critics, cynically  China has now started to donate masks and other equipment to other countries. Bank of China has sent 200,000 PPE items to Ireland and Chinese tycoon Jack Ma has given test kit, masks and other supplies to 54 African nations.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat said: 'Beijing is masking the greatest health emergency in a century and the cost of this deceit is global.'
India batsman Suresh Raina on Saturday donated Rs 52 lakh to the countrys fight against COVID-19 pandemic and urged others also to contribute in these times of health crisis.

Rainas contribution is biggest from any Indian sportspersons across disciplines.

Its time we all do our bit to help defeat COVID19. Im pledging Rs 52 lakh for the fight against Corona Rs 31 lakh to the PM-CARES Fund & 21 lakh to the UP CMs Disaster Relief Fund). Please do your bit too. Jai Hind, Raina tweeted.

Its time we all do our bit to help defeat #COVID19. Im pledging 52 lakh for the fight against #Corona (31 lakh to the PM-CARES Fund & 21 lakh to the UP CMs Disaster Relief Fund). Please do your bit too. Jai Hind!#StayHomeIndia @narendramodi @PMOIndia @myogiadityanath  Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) March 28, 2020

The 33-year-old left-handed batsman has played for India in 18 Tests, 226 ODIs and 78 Twenty20 Internationals between 2005 and 2018. He is currently with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Friday donated Rs 50 lakh to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed 21 Indian lives and more than 28,000 deaths globally.
Bryan Buttler walks from his car up the steps of the Valley Forge Presbyterian Church in King of Prussia on March 25 to drop off food items for the Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard. Buttler is trying to do one small good thing every day as the coronavirus spreads its misery. Read more

Two weeks ago, amid the new normal of hoarding and isolation, Bryan Buttler found himself in a Starbucks parking lot in Wayne. The back seat of his silver 2017 Nissan held a bag of precious cargo, hard-to-find Pedialyte for a friend of a friend  a mother desperate to find the electrolyte-replenishment beverage for her terminally ill child.

Buttler left the car, his friend opened her car door, grabbed the bag, and drove off.

It was almost like a drug deal, Buttler laughed.

Its hard to find a laugh as the coronavirus makes its deadly march through the region. But Buttler is determined to spread a counterattack of kindness, community, and concern. Its a mission made for a well-connected publicist, Buttlers job in the pre-virus world.

Hes made a commitment to daily small acts of caring. If I can do something each day  it makes me feel good and it spreads a sense of humanity, he said.

 READ MORE: Follow all of The Inquirer's coronavirus coverage here

Buttler, 37, sort of balding, sort of spiky-haired, wears a wry smile along with glasses both campy and conservative. A natural connector, hes got friends and clients in theater, opera, and music circles in Philadelphia and beyond.

As a publicist, he has witnessed  and communicated  the devastation as theaters closed their doors. There is a lot of uncertainty for me and what is going to happen with my clients, he said, listing some on his roster  the Arden Theatre Co., the Wilma Theater, Simpatico Theatre, Theatre Horizon, Cirque du Soleil, all dark. Actors, set designers, costume makers and, yes, even publicists lose their income one darkened theater at a time.

And these days Buttler has time. Heres how he described the Pedialyte drop on Facebook: I just met my friend Lisa in a parking lot where it looked like we did a drug deal of Pedialyte, he began, including a crying-with-laughter emoticon. In all seriousness, I saw Lisa post on her Facebook that a friend of hers desperately needed it for her child with a feeding tube and it was nowhere to be found.

I did a quick search of the Target app to find the store by me had some. A curbside pickup and plastic gloves later, here we are! I am trying desperately to do one good thing a day [for] someone else during this hot mess. I feel it brings a little joy.

The friend, Lisa Sonneborn, directs media arts at Temple Universitys Institute on Disabilities. She made another Pedialyte pickup and delivered bottles to her friend. What was really lovely was that we soon had everything we needed for the short term, said Sonneborn.

Sonneborn and Buttler had met as client and publicist when the Institute produced A Fierce Kind of Love, a play about Pennsylvanias intellectual disability rights movement. I love Bryan, she said. He brings amazing energy and positivity to everything he does."

If he, as a public relations person, can elevate others to do the same, its good, she said. Its a time we really need to be reminded of all the good we can do. We need to be reminded of all the good that is in the world.

Some of Buttlers daily do-good deeds involve care packages of bath salts and sanitary wipes. He ordered a gallon of hand sanitizer before it became scarce and has paid that forward, too.

Sometimes it takes an emergency or a tragedy for us to realize how much a bit of kindness or help can mean to people. I think we are seeing that right now, said Buttler, of King of Prussia. I think people had forgotten what being nice means and that you dont do it for any other reason than because you like people and you see a need.

Even before this, we were craving a sense of goodwill that had been hard to find, he said. But we leveled the playing field in two weeks. Everyone is in the same boat. Before we were craving goodwill, but now were really craving it.

Not surprisingly, many of Buttlers daily deeds focus on theater.

I realized that even when things get back to normal, it will never get back to normal for these organizations, he said. So many have been let go. Many of them are without ... jobs. All their gigs have been canceled  any type of performing arts, theater, live music. Many of them did not have an emergency plan. This is unprecedented."

 READ MORE: Philadelphia's museums and theaters go dark to help stem the spread of COVID-19

Nationally, hes using his publicist skills pro bono to help the Artist Relief Tree raise a million dollars to distribute small grants  $250 apiece  to performance artists worldwide impacted by COVID-19.

Locally, Buttler donated $50 of his own money to Theatre Horizon, which curtained The Agitators two weeks early. For him to give back some of the fee we regularly pay him was meaningful, said Artistic Director Nell Bang-Jensen.

Buttlers and others donations allowed the Norristown theater to pay The Agitators personnel through its final performance March 22. Among those was designer Marie Laster, of Fairmount. She, in turn, donated $50 to Theatre Horizon.

For its part, Theatre Horizon has announced it will pay artists $45 for short videos. So, Liz Filios, a Northern Liberties actor who appeared in two Theatre Horizon shows, produced a delightful video to entertain homebound children and teach them about some unusual musical instruments.

Filios has lost nearly every gig. Its like being on a subway and it stops partway to where you are going, said Filios. She teaches choral music in two West Philadelphia elementary schools; now theyre closed. I was going to be singing at a nursing home. I cant do that, she said. Almost every person I know is either completely unemployed or nearly unemployed.

Filios spent her $45 on a $49.99 video editing program, so I guess Im out about $5. The program will help her make more kids videos and include other unemployed actors and musicians. Therell be an online pay-what-you-wish capacity, so that by helping bored kids, she can also help friends make the rent. My intention is to share it with as many other artists as possible, she said.

Buttler also donated money to Simpatico Theatre, which, on March 25, would have opened the world premiere of Philadelphia playwright Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters Esther Choi and the Fish That Drowned. We are committed to paying all our contracted artists and technicians. That includes Bryan, said Allison Heishman, artistic director. He made a nice donation back to the company which I thought was very generous.

Bryans donation inspired me to make donations to other companies, she said. Heishman donated to a live-stream performance by actor and musician Pax Ressler, singing from the upcoming album Queer Love Songs.

There is so much of my work that Ive lost, said Ressler, who was performing in Shakespeare In Love, when it ended early at Peoples Light in Malvern.

Peoples Light paid personnel through the end of the run. I have a lot of privileges. I have access to funds and a family network. So, I thought it would be good to give to the Philadelphia Performing Artists Emergency Fund.

The March 17 concert raised about $850. Ressler forwarded half and soon learned that three artists had been helped. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of folks.

When people are moved by generosity, they are much more ready to be generous themselves, Ressler said. These acts of kindness ripple into other things.

janevonbtheater@gmail.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:15:58|Editor: huaxia

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Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (R front) welcomes Chinese medical team at the Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, March 28, 2020. An 8-member medical expert team organized by the Chinese government arrived here on Saturday to help Pakistan fight the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Liu Tian)

ISLAMABAD, March 28 (Xinhua) -- An 8-member medical expert team organized by the Chinese government arrived here on Saturday to help Pakistan fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the Chinese medical team at the Islamabad International Airport and thanked them for coming to Pakistan to help the country overcome the disease.

"I would like to thank the Chinese people, and the Chinese government...for going out of the way to support Pakistan and our effort to fight the COVID-19," he said.

"We have learned from you. We have stood by you, and you're standing with us. So this (COVID-19) challenge has brought the peoples of China and Pakistan even closer. In this challenging time, the (Pakistani) people expected China to come forth and China has lived up to their expectations," the foreign minister told Xinhua.

The team, organized by China's National Health Commission, consists of experts selected by the health commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and aims to provide consultations of pandemic control, patients treatment and laboratory works and guide and train Pakistani medical staff.

Head of the medical team Ma Minghui told Xinhua that the team will also share the Chinese experiences on coronavirus control with their Pakistani counterparts.

The medical team also brought medical assistance including over 110,000 face masks, 5,000 protection suits, 12 ventilators and other medicines to Pakistan.

The team will stay in Pakistan for around two weeks and will also visit Punjab and Sindh provinces.
The Taliban on Saturday rejected an Afghan government negotiation team set up to hold talks with the insurgent group in a bid to end the country's 18-year-old conflict.

After months of delays, the government on Friday announced a 21-member team -- including five women -- to take part in the upcoming talks, a crucial step in bringing the warring parties to the table and getting a floundering, US-led peace process back on track.

But the Taliban in a statement said the government had failed to put forward an "inclusive" team.

"We shall only sit for talks with a negotiation team that conforms with our agreements and is constituted in accordance with the laid out principles," the statement said.

"In order to reach true and lasting peace, the aforementioned team must be agreed upon by all effective Afghan sides," it said, adding that the majority of those involved in the "intra-Afghan" talks had rejected the team, without specifying which parties.

Under a deal signed by the US and the Taliban last month, the insurgents agreed to resume talks with the Afghan government and discuss a possible ceasefire.

In return, the US and foreign partner forces agreed to withdraw from Afghanistan over the next 14 months.

The Taliban had previously refused to meet with the administration of President Ashraf Ghani, calling him an American stooge.

The Kabul government said the negotiating team would be led by former intelligence chief Masoom Stanekzai and include Batur Dostum, whose father Abdul Rashid Dostum -- a notorious former warlord -- is accused of human rights violations.

It is not clear when or where the "intra-Afghan" talks would start, but the Taliban has not heeded calls for a ceasefire, instead intensifying their attacks across the country.

On Friday, the militants attacked several districts of northeastern Badakhshan province, capturing three districts and killing at least 10 Afghan security forces, an official said.

Several Taliban fighters were also killed when reinforcements were sent to the area, the defence ministry said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On Thursday, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announced that three unaccompanied migrant children, who had been placed under its care, had tested positive for COVID-19. The ORR, a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for housing migrant minors and is currently responsible for nearly 3,400 unaccompanied minors detained by the US government.

According to the agency, 18 children were tested for the virus, with three confirmed cases, 11 negative and four still pending. Five staff members and one staff contractor at three separate facilities in New York recently tested positive for COVID-19. One staff member at a facility in Texas, and one foster parent in Washington State have also tested positive.

These numbers, it must be kept in mind, are just the tip of the iceberg. Earlier this week, ICE confirmed the second case of COVID-19 amongst detainees in one of its centers in New Jersey. However, given the cramped conditions, bare essentialif thatmedical care, and reports of generally dubious standards of hygiene in detention centers around the country, it is hard to believe that the numbers are a reflection of anything other than the very limited testing being carried out.

Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice), a non-profit law firm, published a letter two days ago from immigrants detained in the Broward Transitional Center (BTC) in south Florida. The letter written on behalf of hundreds of detainees held in the center is a shocking expose of the extremely dangerous conditions prevailing in such places and a desperate plea from immigrants who face the very real danger of falling victim to the escalating coronavirus pandemic.

BTC is a non-criminal facility run by the Geo Group, one of the biggest private contractors benefitting from the vast network of detention centers put in place by the Obama and Trump administrations. Its inmates, currently over 700, include a large number of immigrants with family members who are American citizens.

In the past few weeks, the detention center has claimed that it has taken necessary precautions to protect detainees from the spread of the coronavirus. These measures have included ending family visitations, reducing library access and preventing release of private property. However, given the situation described by the detainees, these appear to be more punitive than part of a rational and measured response to safeguard public health.

While ICE has claimed that it has limited the number of detentions in the past weeks, arresting only those who pose a public safety risk, the reality as described by the detainees seems to be quite different. Every day, new detainees are being brought into the center without any measures other than a cursory temperature check. Even though the new detainees could conceivably still be carriers of COVID-19, they are released into an already crowded facility in which six people share a small 10 by 12 foot room, and nearly 300 people are crowded in the cafeteria three times a day.

If that were not bad enough, the letter spells out the callousness of the facilities operators who have failed to provide the conditions for even basic hygiene during this public health crisis. On March 17, detainees experienced a water stoppage at the facility. While they were not given an advance notice, they were told that it would last two hours. It ended up being over 5 hours, with people having no access to hand washing stations, showers or toilets.

The harrowing conditions are described in the letter: At the regular lockdown at 18:30, we were instructed to go back to our rooms with feces in most of the toilets. When security was notified about the unsanitary conditions, we were told to proceed to the rooms and turn on the toilet vents in order to vacate the disturbing smell and spread of germs and bacteria.

It was only after a peaceful protest by the detainees that the water supply was finally turned back on. As the letter writers point out, it shouldnt be a matter of struggle to have running water or sanitary conditions, particularly the midst of a pandemic. A large number of detainees, the letter states, are already exhibiting flu-like symptoms and the possibility of contagion is becoming more and more likely under prevailing conditions.

AI Justice quoted Rafael, a US citizen whose wife is being held in BTC: My wife has asthma and is diabetic. If she gets the virus inside, she could die. ICE should let them out; she doesnt deserve to be there and with the virus she should be released soon. The children miss her very much and are affected by her detention.

Even before the coronavirus outbreak, detention facilities for immigrants across the country had become notorious for their unsanitary conditions, poor medical facilities, and in some cases, outright physical and sexual abuse of detainees. These conditions have only been exacerbated in recent times.

As AI Justice executive director Cheryl Little noted: Over the years, detainees held in ICE custody have been routinely subjected to poor, and often appalling, medical care. Detainees are entirely at the mercy of ICE to determine what medical care, if any, they get. Lives are literally at stake, and the urgency to obtain the release of those confined in immigration detention now cannot be overstated. Even the former acting director of ICE, John Sandweg, urged the agency to release all immigrants not subject to mandatory detention, since the detention centers, are extremely susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Immigrants in federal custody have staged protests and hunger strikes demanding better safeguards against the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Wall Street Journal, guards in facilities across the country have used pepper spray to contain protesting detainees at least three times this past week alone. As of this posting over 350 immigrants held in the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia have been on a hunger strike since Thursday. Nearly 2,000 immigrants are being held in the detention center (formerly a jail), which is 50 miles from Dougherty County, which has the third highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.

Speaking to Siembra NC, an immigrant rights advocacy group, Ventura Quintanar-Rico, 32, of Mexico, one of the detained men, said: Were just waiting to get infected. Theyre not taking the most basic coronavirus precautions at this place. If one of us gets infected, all of us will, we are not able to stay six feet apart from each other. We share space with 62 other people. We dont want to die here and it usually takes three to four days to get medical attention here.

To continue the system of detention under such conditions, particularly given that many detainees have prevailing health issues that make them vulnerable to infection, as well citizen family members who have expressed their desire and willingness to provide shelter, is nothing short of criminal.
TEDDY HART CHARGED WITH STRANGULATION RESULTING IN BODILY HARM, COULD BE FACING UP TO FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT

Edward "Teddy Hart" Annis was arraigned this morning on charges of strangulation resulting in wounding/bodily harm this morning in Richmond, Virginia following his arrest on Thursday 3/26.

The victim in the case has been named publicly as Ring of Honor star Maria Manic, who Hart had been dating off and on for several months. Prior to Hart being arrested yesterday, Virginia-based independent wrestler Ace Montana posted a video on his Facebook page where he exits a house, telling someone (believed to be Manic) to lock the door behind him. After exiting the house, he confronts Hart, warning him that the police have been called and that "she would be pressing charges" while threatening Hart that he needed to leave. In the video, Hart denied ever touching Manic before heeding Montana's orders and leaving the immediate premises.

Montana wrote the following blurb for the video: "I literally had to pull my gun on #Teddyhart ?? and throw him out of my friends house?. This piece of sh** literally choked out and physically assaulted Maria Manic and would not let her get help. she texted me Im in danger never ever did I think I would meet a piece of sh** like this guy who has now been arrested with a felony against him. I dont think this guy knew how close to death he was. #f***youteddyheart This video is me kick[ing] him out before the cops came and arrested him???." Note - PWInsider.com has censored the expletives from the original post.

Hart is currently being held without bail at Richmond City Jail and is scheduled for a hearing on 4/22 at 2:15 PM.

Under Virginia law, strangulation is considered a class six felony. Should Annis be convicted, he could be looking at 1-5 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,500.

Manic has not commented publicly on the situation.

Yesterday's arrest is the third for Hart in the State over Virginia over the last six weeks.

Hart's legal issues began when he was arrested in Richmond after being pulled over by authorities on 2/12. According to court records, Annis was charged with possession of a schedule III narcotic and possession with intent to sell or distribute. According to Virginia law, Possession of a Schedule III controlled substance is a Class 1 misdemeanor and can be punished with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. Possession of a Schedule III controlled substance by a prisoner (Va. Code 53.1-203(6)) is a Class 5 felony, punished with up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $2,500. According to SwangoLaw.com, narcotics that fall under Schedule III in Virginia include anabolic steroids, ketamine, codeine, and hydrocodone. Court records also indicate Hart was charged with not carrying/exhibiting his registration card or license, improperly mounted license plates and failure to use lights with wipers. Those charges are still pending.

In a now-deleted YouTube video featuring a phone conversation between Annis and Manic, who he was in a relationship with, Annis stated that after the 2/9 Ring of Honor Free Enterprise event (which he was visiting at in Baltimore), he left Manic at their hotel in Maryland and drove to Virginia to get marijuana. He stated he was alone as Manic had "hit her head hard" during an angle where she was put through a table on the ROH event. Hart stated he was pulled over due to an ongoing issue with his license plate not matching the registration for his car, something he claimed had been "taken care of." Authorities searched his car and found marijuana and steroids. In the video, Hart stated he had a "prescription" but does not clarify which he has a prescription for. According to court records, Annis has charged with possession of a schedule III narcotic, possession (first offense) and possession with intent to sell or distribute. Steroids would fall under a schedule III description under Virginia law. In a previous video released by Manic several days before, she referred to steroids in Hart's car as being the reason for his arrest. Hart claimed that authorities have already discovered all is OK with his car and that it will be released back to "his company." Hart stated that he hoped to get the situation cleared up and get back to performing for fans as soon as possible, saying he was born to perform and make others happy.

Hart was released under house arrest, staying at an apartment that Montana had arranged for him, only to be taken back into custody for violating the rules of his house arrest on 3/4. Hart was released from that arrest on 3/19 and seven days later, was arrested again, on far more serious charges.

Hart has a 4/23 court date at 9 AM regarding the charges from his February arrest, so he'll be making back and back appearances in court that week as he has a 4/24 hearing for the stangulation charge.

Annis was released from his MLW contract in December 2019 after several requests to be cut loose from his contract.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 10:41:45|Editor: yhy

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Photo taken on March 27, 2020 shows the empty pedestrian walk on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the United States. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed the mark of 100,000 by Friday afternoon local time, according to Johns Hopkins University. New York State reported 44,870 confirmed cases, followed by the states of New Jersey and California, respectively with 8,825 and 4,569 cases. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed the mark of 100,000 by Friday afternoon local time, according to Johns Hopkins University.

As of 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday (2200 GMT), there were 100, 717 confirmed cases in the United States, data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at the university showed.

New York State reported 44,870 confirmed cases, followed by the states of New Jersey and California, respectively with 8,825 and 4,569 cases.

A total of 1,544 deaths have been recorded nationwide. New York State reported the highest death toll of 366 among all states, while 157 deaths occurred in Washington State.

In Washington D.C., U.S. President Donald Trump signed a 2-trillion-dollar stimulus package amid mounting COVID-19 fallout, hours after the House of Representatives approved the bipartisan bill.

The Senate approved the bill on Wednesday night, following rounds of strenuous negotiations between Democrats and Republicans.

"The legislation developed in the Senate is the first step to restoring confidence and stability to America's economy," Trump said.

The bill, aimed at cushioning the economy from COVID-19 ravages, will provide small businesses emergency loans, business tax breaks, expanded unemployment benefits, 1,000-dollar-plus direct payments for working Americans, government aid for such industries as airlines and hotels, as well as more support for hospitals and state and local governments.

"It will get emergency cash to families and small businesses and surge resources to doctors, nurses, hospitals, and the race for new treatments and vaccines," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican.

Also on Friday, Trump said he ordered U.S. automaker General Motors (GM) to produce ventilators under the Defense Production Act, a wartime law he recently invoked to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Today, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators," Trump said in a statement.

The action will help ensure a quick production of ventilators, which are critical in treating severe cases of COVID-19.

"We desperately needed the Defense Production Act invoked to ensure the production of life-saving ventilators. We are relieved that just happened," New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted Friday afternoon.

The hardest-hit state will be facing a severe shortage of hospital beds and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, which are equipped with ventilators, in days, local officials have said.

Photos circulating online on Friday showed that medical workers in a New York hospital who could not get medical gowns were wearing black garbage bags while taking care of COVID-19 patients, arousing public concern over their safety.

In California, U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy, which carries more than 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday morning to aid COVID-19 response.

It will provide 1,000 hospital beds as a "referral hospital" to treat non-COVID-19 patients, relieving the strain put on local hospitals by the pandemic.

California ranks the third nationwide in caseload, with over 4,600 confirmed COVID-19 cases by Friday evening. Los Angeles county suffered the most in the state with more than 1,400 cases and 26 deaths.

The Mercy also has 11 general-purpose operating suites, a 5,000-unit blood bank, 15 patient wards and room for 80 intensive care beds, according to the ship's official website.

Mercy, home-ported in San Diego, is one of the two hospital ships operated by the U.S. Navy. The other ship, Comfort, will arrive in New York City on Monday for the same service, Trump said Thursday.

The president said he would travel to Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday to bid farewell to the ship.
It was meant to be another regular trip to Mexico for Donna and Marcello Prete, until COVID-19 swept across the globe and put international flights at a standstill by the end of March.

Prompted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus call for travellers to return and on the advice of their doctor in Mexico, all they wanted was to come back to Canada. However, the costs for them to do so  and many Canadians  were soaring.

Donna, who is immunosuppressed and had undergone a lung transplant, frantically searched for earlier return flights with Air Canada. Donna was unable to get a representative on the phone, and navigating the companys website only gave her the option to cancel her original flight, scheduled to return to Canada on April 27  not to change it to an earlier date. She explained that cancelling outright would leave her only an $85 refund and no means to get home.

I was desperate at that point and I didnt know what to do, she told the Star in a phone interview. Unable to reach a representative, her desperation grew. The couple had flights booked with both Air Canada and discount airline, Swoop, at one point  at that time, Swoop was charging $589 for two passengers on a one-way flight back to Toronto. However, in just one day, both airlines promptly cancelled the flights.

Now I have no flights home. So again, I start panicking ... I look continuously for flights. After an exhaustive search at 1 a.m., Donna finally settled on a one-way flight for two on Sunday, March 22, with Swoop. The final cost? Just under $1,500.

We just felt like we were being taken by the airlines in the moment when we needed their help, Donna said.

The Pretes arent the only returning Canadians feeling that airlines left them high and dry: Daniel Capobianco, a Toronto market research consultant, had been in Milan for work since the beginning of February  before the pandemic struck. His $1,200 round-trip flight was originally scheduled for the end of March. Seeing a worsening situation, he pushed for an earlier date: I was in a situation of crisis, it wasnt going to get better in Milan, Capobianco explained, I was in the epicentre of the virus!

Capobianco aimed for a March 12 flight at the one-way cost of $2,280 from Rome to Toronto. This was booked before Air Canada tweeted that the last flight out of Italy would be a March 11 flight from Rome to Montreal. Desperate to come home, Capobianco took that last flight from Rome a day before his flight. The cost of that change was $3,846 for a one-way economy flight. On top of that, the flight from Montreal to Toronto ran him an extra $487.64.

(Air Canada) said it was supply and demand. I have a masters in economics  I know supply and demand very well. They were just taking advantage of the situation.

There is a wave of similar stories of returning Canadians scrambling through a frenzy of cancellations, rebookings, and plans to get back home. Many flyers aired out their bad experiences on the Air Passenger Rights (Canada) Facebook group, formed by air-rights advocate Gabor Lukacs.

The group offers resources and guidelines on how to receive a refund from an airline that has cancelled the flight, provided the passenger holds proof that the flight was cancelled by the airline (such as an email notification or even a screenshot of the cancelled flight reservation on the website), hasnt already accepted a future credit, and has tried to contact the travel agent by all means to request a refund (making it important to keep a record of all contact attempts to help your case). Lukacs explained that these cases may have to be processed through small-claims court.

Lukacs explains on his website, AirPassengerRights.ca, that consumers are entitled to a full refund  not just a company credit to be used at a later date  if airlines cancel any segment of the booked flight or if passengers are forced to give up their original travel plans in response to a government or health advisory. Also, airline staff must be reachable, or else the airline may be in breach of contract and the traveller could be entitled to a full refund on that basis.

With mounting complaints against the travel industry, there is now an online petition on Change.org from Lukacs group to push the government to intervene. The petition calls for the Minister of Transportation to enact measures protecting travellers returning home and prompt airlines to provide these coronavirus-related travel refunds.

Airline passengers can also request assistance or file a complaint provincially through the Travel Industry Council of Ontario website or federally through the Canadian Transportation Agency website (note, however, that air-travel disputes have been suspended on their website until June 30, 2020).

Air Canada responded to the Stars request for comment by noting that flights almost always rise in price when booked last-minute. Normally, airline prices change all the time and we have complex systems that manage our fares, explained a representative. Typically, as you get closer to a flight, the fare will go up as the plane fills. This is called yield management, and most airlines do this.

The response added that special one-way fares were put into effect near the beginning of March that passengers may have missed, leaving them with higher fares. Air Canada, like many other airlines at this time, waived cancellation fees for travellers looking to come home because of COVID-19.

A response from WestJet explained that remaining seats on recent returning flights were capped at the lowest economy fare for Canadians looking to come home. The company said that prior to these rescue flights there was no intentional price gouging or change to flight systems  fares were all adjusted based on demand.

At press time, Air Transat and Swoop had not responded to requests for comment.

These supply and demand explanations do little to satisfy air travellers who have had their originally booked, more affordable flights cancelled and forced to take a flight for almost twice the cost.

Advocates like Lukacs advise travellers to know their rights, keep all documentation of contact with the airline, and to file complaints accordingly. As for extra costs and a refusal to issue refunds, Lukacs guide is clear for travellers: Stand your ground. Do not take no for an answer.

Stephanie Hughes is a business writer and financial journalist in the Canadian markets.

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A body has been found in a burnt-out house after an early morning blaze at a Narre Warren property.

Emergency services were called to Linlithgow Court around 3.30am on Saturday. Fire crews extinguished the blaze, and then found a body inside the home.

A body was found inside this Narre Warren home. Credit:Joe Armao

The cause of the fire and circumstances around the death are still unknown.

Police are investigating.
Q: Sitting at home with my family, watching the effects of this pandemic unfold has shown me that civilisation is a thin veneer, and were always only days away from descending into a dog-eat-dog world where only the fittest survive, and greed and selfishness rule. Can we endure a crisis like this and still maintain a humane and just society for our children?

A: The first months of this decade have been a shocking wake-up call to all humans who thought we had tamed Mother Nature with technology and globalised power structures. We have been revealed to be as helpless in the face of natural forces as our more primitive ancestors. Our civilisation is indeed a very thin veneer, and this realisation is terrifying.

Maureen Matthews Credit:Simon Schluter

One symptom of fear is anger, and we have seen this in action in unedifying reports of people fighting over toilet paper, taking goods from each others trolleys, almost trampling underfoot the frail, elderly and the disabled in the rush to get into shops, and so on. These compelling news stories serve to fuel further panic, and selfish behaviour.

We need to share anecdotes about the acts of kindness that are also occurring, quietly, throughout the community. People are keeping an eye on their more vulnerable neighbours, are setting up online community groups, and beginning to build support networks. It is vital that we are told about these efforts in order to counter fear and despair.
Kathmandu, March 28

The Indian government has proposed sending a rapid response team of medical personnel to support the coronavirus controlling initiatives of Nepal. However, the Nepali government has stressed that it needs medical equipment more than the personnel currently.

Indias offer comes days after the Chinese government floated a proposal to send any kind of support it needs for combatting the crisis. Acting on the proposal, the government is sending an aircraft to fetch various medical equipment to Nepal from China today.

We have received a proposal [from India also] and we are discussing the issue, Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Gyawali tells Onlinekhabar, But we have stressed on the medical equipment.

Meanwhile, a high-level medical officer of the Nepal Army also says that the government should not accept any medical team from India now. We are ready to take control of the situation now. We have made all the preparations.
Prison visits have been cancelled across Ireland to try and avoid the potential of an outbreak of coronavirus.

Prisons have been placed into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

It comes after the Irish Prison Service (IPS) freed inmates on temporary release in recent weeks.

The number of prisoners released on temporary release at the beginning of March was 305, which increased to 589 by Thursday.

Are you recently retired from the Irish Prison Service, would you be willing to help support your former colleagues during the Covid-19 emergency. We need you https://t.co/obaH8xDfnZ  Irish Prison Service (@IrishPrisons) March 27, 2020

It is understood that the IPS will release further inmates over the coming weeks to help curtail any spread of Covid-19.

On Friday the IPS said that all family visits to prisons will cease from Saturday.

All future visits to prisons will be over video calls with arrangements currently being made to introduce visits by video calls early next week.

This change, the IPS said, does not impact professional visits.

The IPS is working to implement the technology necessary to provide the new process.

In a statement a spokesman for IPS said: In addition to assisting the Irish Prison Service in its efforts to prevent the potential introduction of Covid-19 into a prison setting, these electronic visits will also negate the need for visitors to gather in the visitor centres at each prison.

This is in line with the recommendations announced this week by the Taoiseach regarding the need to people to desist from gathering in groups of more than four people.

The IPS is asking retired prison guards to consider coming back to work (Andrew Milligan/PA)

That announcement also recommended that individuals should only undertake essential travel at this time, by providing electronic visits the Irish Prison Service are able to facilitate vital contact between prisoners and their families while protecting them from the need to travel.

The sheer volume of people entering and exiting our prisons on a daily basis mean effective infection control and vigilance is absolutely essential.

Our prisons are home or the place of work of over 7,000 people on a daily basis.

The authorities have also asked retired prison staff from all grades to register their interest in returning to work during the health crisis.

The statement added: Therefore having information on those of you who wish to make themselves available to support our efforts to maintain prison operations would be extremely helpful, as we plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Retirees who express their interest will be contacted if their skillset, availability and geographic preference match with the emerging needs of the prison service.

This means we are responding to needs as, where and when they arise. We cannot predict where the need will arise.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 17:10:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's index of export container transport edged up in the past week, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

The average China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) stood at 897.69, up 0.4 percent from a week earlier, according to the exchange.

The sub-reading for the Republic of Korea service led the increase with a week-on-week growth of 5 percent, followed by those for west coast America and east coast America routes, which rose 2.7 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, from last week.

The sub-index for South Africa service led the decline by a 6.9-percent fall from the previous week, while that for South America service dropped 3.8 percent.

The CCFI tracks spot and contractual freight rates from Chinese container ports for 12 shipping routes across the globe, based on data from 22 international carriers.

The index was set at 1,000 on Jan. 1, 1998.
An Algerian journalist was arrested on Friday, press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said, accusing the country's government of using the coronavirus crisis to crack down on independent media.

Khaled Drareni, who serves as RSF's Algerian correspondent, has been arrested several times for covering "Hirak" anti-government protests that had been held in the capital Algiers every Friday since February 2019 until they were suspended last week.

"This evening Algeria arrested our correspondent Khaled Drareni," said RSF's North Africa Twitter account on Friday.

It went on to denounce the "the shameless use of COVID-19 by the Algerian regime to settle scores with free and independent journalism".

The CNLD prisoners' rights group said Drareni had been taken to a police station and faced indictment on Saturday.

He was arrested on March 7 while covering a Hirak protest, accused of "inciting an unarmed gathering and damaging national integrity". He was then released on March 10.

The weekly "Hirak" protests were suspended over COVID-19, which has killed 26 people and infected 409 in Algeria, according to official figures.

However the courts have continued their work, with Karim Tabbou -- a key figure in the anti-government protests that have rocked the North African country -- sentenced to a year in prison on Tuesday.

Rights groups say several dozen people connected with the protest movement remain in detention, though the exact number is difficult to establish due to rearrests.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lone Star College-Kingwood is helping support local hospitals during the novel coronavirus pandemic by loaning eight ventilators, five nebulizers and 75 personal protective equipment kits.

Houston Methodist Baytown received three ventilators, CHI St. Lukes in the Woodlands received two ventilators and HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood received two ventilators, one neonatal ventilator and 75 PPE kits. The five nebulizers have also been distributed among the three locations, which turn liquid asthma medicine into a fine mist that is inhaled through the lungs, whereas ventilators pump air into the lungs through a tube inserted into a patients windpipes. Patients who need a ventilator because of a severe illness, such as the coronavirus, are cared for in a hospitals intensive care unit.
The Navy hospital ship Mercy arrives at the Port of Los Angeles on March 27. The vessel, which could provide an extra 1,000 beds, will not be used to treat COVID-19 patients but will accept patients with other medical issues in an attempt to relieve the burden on hospitals. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Looking east, California can envision its coronavirus future in the overflowing hospital wards of New York City. Looking west, it can draw hope from the disease's swift decline in Asian nations that quickly imposed strict physical-isolation measures on infected people.

Two months after its first confirmed case of the deadly respiratory illness in California, the state is preparing to confront what public health authorities agree will be the cruelest month  an April that portends a peak in sickness and death.

How cruel remains to be seen. Officials hope that sharp limitations on work and public activity, imposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 19, and subsequently ratcheted up in some cities and counties, will hobble the COVID-19's racehorse spread.

The enormous social reengineering of recent days has closed businesses and emptied public places. But its ultimate effectiveness remains one of multiple unknowns  dependent on innumerable actions by millions of Californians.

Preparing for the worst, hospital administrators across the state continued Friday to clear all available beds for an influx of patients. San Francisco ordered priority testing for doctors and nurses to try to prevent sick health practitioners from becoming super-spreaders of the disease. Los Angeles County shut all of its beaches to limit social interaction. And the Navy hospital ship Mercy cruised into the Port of Los Angeles, with 1,000 beds and 800 staffers ready to help ease the county's healthcare system.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in California jumped from 1,468 on Sunday to 4,598 Friday, while deaths climbed from 27 to 93. But because the case count remains reliant on testing, which is being expanded but still lags behind other states, the actual incidence of the disease is certainly much more widespread.

The numbers can get huge, which means the implications for the healthcare system are equally dramatic, said Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles Countys public health director. Without slowing the spread, we could easily overwhelm our system here in L.A. County and the entire healthcare system in California.

Story continues

Although a system overload remained the fear, one projection from University of Washington epidemiologists suggested that Californias 9-day-old stay-at-home order might keep the hospital overload below catastrophic levels. And Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a UCLA epidemiologist, said Friday that after a considerable uptick in cases, I think we should be able to see some leveling off of those numbers in a couple of weeks, because of the physical distancing measures.

While the U.S. now stands to have the worst outbreak of any developed country in the world, UC Berkeley biostatistics professor Nicholas Jewell said California will soon learn whether its limits on work and public movement have paid dividends.

Because of a lag time of as much as two weeks between transmission of the illness and the onset of symptoms, gauging the benefits of physical distancing takes time. With California's stay-at-home order eight days old on Friday, people reporting the illness might have been infected prior to the limitations.

"We need another week or two to really tell if California's fairly quick shelter in place did make a difference," Jewell said. "It has the potential to make a huge difference. I know that mathematically  But I don't know that with any degree of certainty."

Some experts remain fearful that the disease curve will flatten, but at a dangerous level that sends too many patients to hospitals for months. "The problem is not the peak of the epidemic wave," said Stanford University infectious disease expert John Ioannidis. "The problem is: How long are we above the point of saturation for the medical system?"

But projections from the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation show California could end up with a milder peak of cases than New York state is projected to have.



While New York state could see its worst daily death toll of roughly 550 fatalities from the coronavirus by the second or third week of April  with a range that includes as few as 124 deaths daily to a maximum of 1,357 on the possible worst day  California could see its worst daily death toll in late April, perhaps around 150 deaths in a single day, the computer simulation found.

A best-case scenario puts the California toll at two deaths a day and a worst-case projection envisions as many 370 deaths daily at the peak in late April.

The study acknowledges a number of possible outcomes. In all, it suggests California could see 6,109 deaths, but theres a wide variation  as few as 898 deaths and as many as 13,650 deaths. New York would see 10,243 deaths, with as few as 5,167 deaths and as many as 26,444 deaths. And the death toll for the U.S., for instance, could range from 38,000 to 162,000.

The University of Washington researchers cautioned that their projections are freighted with considerable uncertainty, gleaned from thousands of computer simulation runs to come up with a single, most-likely outcome.

Unlike other models of the trajectory of the new coronavirus, the study relies on death counts from the United States and around the world. The scientists believe those numbers are more reliable than counting the confirmed number of infections, which vary greatly because of disparate testing rates around the U.S. and the world.

And the variations on the number of hospital beds that will be needed in California also diverged wildly, from as few as 1,200 to nearly 36,000. The ICU bed demand also got a broad projection, from a low of 90 to a high of 5,700.

"What we think well see is a quite late peak in the epidemic in California, and thats because theres been a very slow trajectory of growth  of deaths and cases in California," said Dr. Chris Murray, the author of the study and of the institute. "And that may be because of earlier social distancing. We dont know. But certainly it is not the trajectory were seeing in New York, or Louisiana, or Georgia, for example."

The debate over possible outcomes was put into clear view in the Silicon Valley, where the city of San Jose projected the number of possible deaths for the region, only to promptly have its estimate called into question by officials in Santa Clara County.

City officials said during a discussion with the San Jose City Council on Thursday that they projected a death toll from the illness of at least 2,000 for Silicon Valley and as high as 16,000, by the end of May. A day later, Santa Clara County released a statement saying it had not "produced, reviewed, or vetted" the San Jose projections.

The lessons from overseas seem to be that physical-isolation measures can work, said Kim-Farley, the UCLA epidemiologist.

Italy imposed strict orders to stay in the home, but it's likely they went into place only after the coronavirus had spread widely. "I would be expecting that within another week or two  the number of cases or deaths will slow down and ultimately will become less and less, like we saw in China," Kim-Farley said.

American experts will also be looking overseas to see what happens when social separation rules are loosened, as they will be when the Chinese begin to return to work in the coming weeks. "It's hopeful they would not see a major second wave," Kim-Farley said. "That is the $64,000 question: What will happen?"

The uncertainty did not sit easily with nurses, doctors and other hospital workers who are preparing for an onslaught of cases.

An emergency room nurse at one large hospital in Los Angeles said anxiety is rising among staff as the number of COVID-19 patients grows, with fears exacerbated by a global shortage of protective gear.

A lot of us are really scared to go to work, said the nurse, who was not authorized by her institution to speak to the media. Our families are literally afraid when we come home from work. When she sees people outside the hospital failing to abide by physical-distancing rules, she gets mad.

We wish we could stay home too," said the nurse, who declined to be named. "But we can't."

An operating room nurse at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Los Angeles County shared that sense of foreboding, saying guidance on how workers should best protect themselves changes daily, with the guidelines steadily becoming less rigorous.

Were all just kind of like, 'What in the world did we get ourselves into?' This is not what we signed up for," said the nurse, who also asked not to be named. "We didnt think we would ever be in the position of healthcare workers working in a Third World country, in the middle of the woods  Its been chaos."

Another unknown is how California's homeless population will affect the crisis.

California has more than 150,000 people living in unstable housing conditions, with 108,000 living outdoors. The tens of thousands of people living on the street represent a risk to hospitals because they are especially susceptible to severe cases of the novel coronavirus  they are aging, often have underlying health conditions and live in environments where sanitation is difficult.

Boston researcher Thomas Byrne compares the homeless population to those in nursing homes, and points out that those living on the street often have the medical conditions similar to housed people 20 years older.

Byrne released a study this week that predicts up to 2,600 homeless people in Los Angeles alone could wind up in hospitals with the coronavirus, and about 900 could need intensive care, tying up crucial resources.

Gov. Gavin Newsom last week set in motion an ambitious plan to move tens of thousands of homeless people into hotels and motels. But so far, only a few thousand unsheltered people across the state have been relocated to shelters and a few hundred of the first available rooms  though Newsom said more than 4,000 have been leased or purchased.

Kim-Farley urged Californians to remain hopeful, saying: "There is life after COVID-19. It is not an existential threat to all of mankind. We will overcome this."
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Online SAARC platform proposed by India to fight coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: India has proposed setting up of a common electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share expertise and best practices to jointly combat the spread of coronavirus, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly pitched for a regional approach to deal with the pandemic.

India made the proposal at a video conference of senior health officials of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on Thursday.

The SAARC is a regional grouping comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

At an India-initiated video conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, Modi suggested that health professionals of the member nations could come together to jointly fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Pakistan only SAARC nation to skip COVID-19 fund

"India proposed a shared electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices for jointly combating the coronavirus epidemic," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

It was informed that considerable work has already gone into the creation of the platform, which could also serve as a multipurpose vehicle to further discuss and conduct activities such as online training for emergency response personnel, the MEA said.

The Indian side proposed that till the electronic platform is fully operational, a network of experts representing the health services of all SAARC countries may set up on email/whatsapp to enable exchange of all relevant information on real time basis.

All the SAARC member nations are reeling under the coronavirus pandemic.

#Stayathome and send us your selfie

Globally, the pandemic has killed over 21,000 people and infected close to 5,00,000.

"The enthusiastic and constructive participation by all SAARC member states demonstrated the shared commitment to work together to defeat the challenge posed by the coronavirus epidemic in the region," the MEA said.

The video conference, chaired by India's Director General of Health Services, deliberated on a wide range of issues relating to the pandemic.

The MEA termed the deliberations as extensive with purposeful.

The Indian side also made a comprehensive presentation on the country's response, covering the aspects of disease surveillance, contact tracing, travel restrictions and evacuation, risk assessment, clinical management of patients, treatment options and protocols and safety of healthcare providers.

All other SAARC countries also shared their own experiences of dealing with the COVID-19 challenge.

SAARC: PM Modi proposes emergency fund to tackle coronavirus

"All countries also highlighted their specific vulnerabilities, capacities, best practices, gaps in resources and logistics, private sector participation as well as levels of preparedness," the MEA said.

It said community engagement and participation was identified as an important element in any anti-COVID-19 strategy to augment the large scale emergency measures undertaken by the governments in the SAARC region.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 9:19 [IST]
An 85-year-old surgeon died of the coronavirus disease died in Mumbai late on Thursday. Now the primary reports of his son and grandson have revealed both have tested positive for the virus.

Representational Image/PTI

His son, a heart specialist and grandson, both of whom had returned from the United Kingdom, are now awaiting their confirmatory test reports.



The 85-year-old, who had underlying conditions of diabetes and heart disease, is suspected to have caught the infection from his grandson, who returned from the UK on March 12.

While his son was quarantined at their home, the cardiac surgeon continued his consultations at Sir H N Reliance Hospital and Saifee Hospital. He has claimed he stopped doing surgeries a week ago. Local authorities are now trying to trace his patients.

AP

According to the Airport Health Organization (AHO), the two were not screened at the airport after arrival in Mumbai as the UK was not on the list of countries requiring compulsory checking of travellers. The UK was included in the list of universal screening on March 17, officer from AHO was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.



The government in a statement on Friday confirmed the death of the senior doctor (who was a diabetic and had a heart ailment). The swab sample of the patient was tested by Metropolis Diagnostics. Kasturba Hospital needs to run a confirmation test, said a medical health officer.



BCCL

India saw a surge in coronavirus cases as the number jumped to 873 today, including 19 deaths, with Maharashtra and Gujarat registering more infections.
The Channel Tunnel has remained open despite France battling an extremely high surge in Coronavirus cases with 319 new diagnoses in just 24 hours.

Trains between London and Paris were still running after French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the epidemic wave was sweeping his country with remarkable strength'.

France's coronavirus death toll today hit 2,314 and the number of confirmed cases reached 37,575, up 4,611 on the day before.

Mr Philippe added: It is submerging our care system and our hospital system with remarkable strength.

Despite a surge in positive coronavirus cases, the Channel Tunnel remains open and in use

Our medical teams are facing it with precision and courage, and have greatly increased their capacity, which is a remarkable project.

But the situation is going to be difficult over the next few days, and I want to be clear about that.

Hospital chiefs in Paris were particularly worried, with Frederic Valletoux, president of Frances federation of hospitals, saying: We will clearly need help in the Paris region because what happened in the east is coming here.

We will be at the limit of our capacities in 24 to 48 hours. If we let every hospital cope by itself and let every territory that has been taken by the epidemic cope alone, then we shall he heading towards catastrophe.

Mr Valletoux said that 1,300 of its 1,500 intensive care beds reserved for coronavirus patients were already occupied.

We have not yet reached the peak of the epidemic, said Bruno Riou, medical director of the AP-HP hospital group that serves the Paris region. We will have to find solutions.

In other coronavirus developments today:

 A record 260 people who tested positive for coronavirus in the UK have died in the biggest 24-hour spike to date, bringing the total number of those who died from the bug to 1,019;

 Scottish Secretary Alister Jack self-isolates with coronavirus after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock catch it;

 Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur;

 Images from inside ExCeL Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into a hospital;

 Andy Burnham has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason';

 Workers who have not taken a holiday because of the crisis will be able to carry it over into the next two years;

 NHS staff to be tested for coronavirus from next week at places including Chessington World of Adventures;

 The coronavirus social distancing limit is four times too short, Massachusetts Institute of Technology warned.

French Prime Minister Eduoard Philippe says the epidemic wave was still sweeping his country with remarkable strength as coronavirus numbers mount

An undertaker prepares to place the body of an elderly COVID-19 victim into a coffin at the Saint Morand hospital morgue in Altkirch, France

Despite this, travellers including many Britons were still travelling freely between France and the UK.

Those who arrived at the Gare du Nord in Paris on Eurostar trains found the city in lockdown, with police asking them for documentation.

Foreigners who arrive are finding the situation difficult, but face fines just like everybody else, said a local police spokesman.

Fines equivalent to 120 are issued to those without a permit allowing them an hour on the street, while punishments can soon rise to a six-month prison sentence for repeat offenders.

Mr Philippe today confirmed that 260,000 French people had been fined for breaking the lockdown rules since they were imposed 11 days ago - meaning fine revenue of more than 25million.

Prime minister Philippe warned that France must remain highly mobilised in the fight against the epidemic, that by Friday had killed 1,696 people on French soil.

This warning was echoed by Director General of Health Jerome Salomon, who also predicted that the weekend would be very difficult.

Mr Salomon said: The objective is to put a brake on the epidemic so as to limit the peak and overcrowding of the hospitals.

The next few days will certainly be hard but then we all hope there will be an improvement.

Paris is on lockdown as the city braces itself to be hit strongly by the rapidly spreading virus

Those who arrive in Paris on the Eurostar are met by police asking for documentation

Last week, a bright and much loved French schoolgirl with no underlying medical condition become the youngest person in Europe to die from Coronavirus in a Paris hospital.

Tributes were paid to Julie Alliot, 16, who succumbed to respiratory problems on Wednesday after first developing a slight cough a week ago.

We must stop believing that this virus only affects the elderly, said her heartbroken sister, Manon Alliot.

Spain has registered a record number of coronavirus deaths in a single-day period. Pictured: Members of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) prepare to carry out a general disinfection

The Spanish army now being handed emergency powers to transfer bodies because undertakers can't cope. Pictured: Priest gives a response in front the coffin of a woman who died of coronavirus disease

No one is invincible against this mutant virus. Julie just had a slight cough last week. It got worse last weekend with mucus and on Monday we went to see a general practitioner.

It was there that she was diagnosed with respiratory distress. She had no particular illnesses before this.

Julie died in the Necker Hospital hospital in Paris on Wednesday, and her funeral will take place on Monday.

Italy - the worst affected country in Europe - saw 889 more deaths in one day bringing the total death toll to 10,023.

The number of deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours in Spain is 832, it emerged this morning. Pictured: Field hospital in Madrid

Italy's largest daily toll was registered on Friday, when 919 people died.

Prior to that, there were 712 deaths on Thursday, 683 on Wednesday, 743 on Tuesday and 602 on Monday.

Spain, the second worst-hit European nation behind Italy, today reported 832 deaths in just 24 hours bringing the total death toll to 5,690.

The Spanish Army has now been handed emergency powers to transfer bodies because undertakers are unable to cope.
The first death from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been registered in Togo, local media reported

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th March, 2020) The first death from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been registered in Togo, local media reported.

According to Republique Togolaise news portal, the patient was Dominique Aliziou, the editor-in-chief of Chronique de la Semaine newspaper.

Aliziou, who suffered from asthma, returned from a trip to Belgium on March 17.

Togo has so far confirmed 25 COVID-19 cases across the country.

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11. To date, more than 598,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 27,000 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.
CHP patrol car View Photo

Oakdale, CA  New information is being released on a double fatal crash on Highway 108/120 where the impacts force ripped a vehicle in half.

Just before 7 a.m. on Thursday, two vehicles collided on Highway 108/120 at the Atlas Road intersection, east of Oakdale, as reported here. Modesto CHP reports that a 67-year-old male was driving a 2004 Pontiac coupe eastbound on the highway and for unknown reasons, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The car spun counterclockwise into the path of an oncoming 2015 Nissan sedan driven by an 85-year-old male.

The front of the sedan struck the right side of the coupe, splitting it in half. The wreckage from both vehicles blocked the roadway. Officers directed traffic for about 20 minutes until a tow crew was able to remove it.

Both drivers, two male adults, one from Modesto and the other from Newark, sadly died in the crash and were the only occupants in the vehicles. Their names are not being released pending notification of family. It is not yet known if drugs and/or alcohol contributed to this collision, as investigators are awaiting autopsy reports.
BALTIMORE  A fire at the Urban Bible Fellowship Church Saturday morning caused part of the steeple to fall.

Baltimore City firefighters battled a four-alarm fire Saturday at the Urban Bible Fellowship Church in East Baltimore, a former Roman Catholic parish nearing its bicentennial that has been on the National Register of Historic Places for almost four decades.

Firefighters responded to the scene about 9:30 a.m. Saturday. No injuries were reported, though the church steeple was ablaze and eventually fell.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore said the building was the former home of St. James the Less Roman Catholic Church, which closed in 1986 and then was sold. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

While the churchs cornerstone was laid in May 1833, according to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Library of Congress records say the structure was built between 1865 and 1867, right after the Civil War. It was designed by George A. Frederick, whose other works include Baltimore City Hall. It featured tall stained glass windows by Josef Mayer and other notable murals and sculpture.

The church primarily served German immigrants and was operated by the Redemptorists, who opened a school at the site. In 1966, the parish merged with another and became known as St. James and St. Johns until its closure two decades later.

Nathan Ruiz is a Baltimore Sun writer.
The Faridabad Police has arrested 89 people for defying the lockdown orders imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In this regard, 68 FIRs have been registered at different police stations. Also, 346 vehicles have also been impounded.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is the only option to deal with the disease, which spreads rapidly.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 873 on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The total number of active cases in the country rose to 775, while 78 patients have been cured and discharged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabias air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles above the kingdoms capital, Riyadh, and the southern city of Jizan, the first attack on the kindoms capital in more than a year.

Military spokesman Turki al-Malki, in a statement quoted by the Saudi Press Agency, blamed the foiled assaults on Yemens Houthi rebels and said the missiles were destroyed at 23:23 (20:23 GMT) on Saturday.

Al-Malki said the interception of the missiles resulted in debris scattering on some residential areas in Riyadh and Jizan.

The SPA later said two civilians were slightly injured due to the falling of the intercepted missiles debris as it exploded in mid-air over residential districts. Residents in Riyadh reported at least three blasts late on Saturday, followed by emergency vehicle sirens in some northern districts.

Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television said US Patriot missile defence systems were used in the interception.

Yemens Iran-aligned Houthis battling the Saudi-led coalition have launched hundreds of missiles and drones across the border, mostly at nearby military and civilian targets, but also at Riyadh.

The city is about 1,000km (620 miles) north of the border with Yemen, and the last attempted attack on the capital was in June 2018.

A military spokesman for Yemens Houthis on Sunday said the groups forces launched rockets and drones at sensitive sites in Riyadh and at economic and military sites in Jazan, Najran and Asir, near the Yemeni border.

Spokesman Yahya Saria said Zulfiqar missiles and Samad 3 drones were launched at Riyadh, and other drones and missiles at the southern areas. Saria warned of further painful operations against Saudi Arabia if aggression against Yemen continued.





The latest missile attack comes after all parties in Yemens long conflict offered support on Thursday for the United Nations call for a ceasefire to protect civilians from the novel coronavirus pandemic. The call coincided with the fifth anniversary of Saudi Arabias intervention in Yemens civil war, at the helm of a military coalition supporting the internationally recognised government against the Houthi rebels.

In his statement, al-Malki said firing missiles at this time by the Houthis and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps showed the real threat the group, and the Iranian government supporting it, posed.

He added: This escalation by the Houthi militia does not reflect its announcement of acceptance of the ceasefire and de-escalation, nor any seriousness in engaging in confidence-building measures and reaching a comprehensive political solution with the Yemeni government to end the coup.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemens civil war in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, deposed by the Houthis in 2014. The conflict has killed more than 100,000 people, many by Saudi-led air raids. It has also created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical shortages.

The warring sides had earlier shown an interest in de-escalation, with a Saudi official saying in November that Riyadh had an open channel with the rebels with a goal of ending the war.

The Houthis also offered to halt all missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia after attacks on its oil installations last September, which were claimed by the armed group but widely blamed on Iran, despite its denials.

But those efforts seem to have unravelled. Observers say the rebels may have used the lull to bolster their military capabilities.

PR offensive

Sami Hamdi, editor-in-chief of the UK-based International Interest magazine, called the attack a PR stunt by the rebels aimed at appearing stronger than they are.

Noting the Houthi support for a ceasefire, as well as an offer last week by the group to release Saudi captives in exchange for Palestinian Hamas members, Hamdi told Al Jazeera: This is part of a PR offensive to win the wider Arab public opinion outside Yemen  They knew the missiles wouldnt cause any damage to Riyadh. They knew the missiles would not cause any impact militarily against Saudi Arabia, but the aim is to show the world Look how the Houthis are sending missiles towards the Saudis.

With the recent escalation in fighting in Yemen, more than 40,000 people have been displaced since January, adding to the roughly 3.6 million who have fled their homes since the war began.

A number of those fleeing in recent weeks, including women and children, escaped on foot, walking for days without food or water across open desert, according to a recent statement by the United Nations refugee agency.

Yemens broken healthcare system has not so far recorded a case of the COVID-19 illness, but aid groups have warned that when it does hit, the effect will be catastrophic in a country already regarded as facing the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of the disease at home. The kingdoms health ministry has reported 1,203 coronavirus infections and four deaths from the disease so far.

A military spokesman for Yemens Houthis on Sunday said the groups forces had launched rockets and drones at sensitive sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh and at economic and military sites in Jazan, Najran and Asir, near the Yemeni border.

Spokesman Yahya Saria said Zulfiqar missiles and Samad 3 drones were launched at Riyadh, and other drones and missiles at the southern areas. Saria warned of further painful operations against Saudi Arabia if aggression against Yemen continued.
Nurses at Oregons premier psychiatric hospital say that Legacy Health delayed implementation of safety protocols at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, putting staff in a uniquely dangerous situation.

Legacy Health firmly denies the allegations, and listed many steps taken since COVID-19 was recognized as a threat to Oregonians.

The Oregon Nurses Association complained that staff were told mixed messages about whether they were required to work when sick, that patients were not informed of social distancing guidelines and that management has been hands-off at points during the crisis. This week, the nurses requested a formal meeting with Legacy leaders to discuss their worries.

Nurses across hospital systems have similar complaints, said union spokesman Kevin Mealy. However, he said, Unity Center for Behavioral Healths unique patient population and physical set-up make the worries more pressing.

Once patients are admitted to Unity, they are essentially locked in until discharged. Many are in states of psychosis, severe agitation or are trying to harm themselves. They are held in a large room together where they must sit in reclining chairs until admitted to an inpatient bed, usually in a single or double room.

The physical set-up makes the space a powderkeg if someone has coronavirus, say nurses. And the illnesses that some patients are struggling with make it harder for them to grasp the severity of the situation and observe rules around not touching other people or objects.

Unity hasnt shown that the model it is based on works well and in instances of a pandemic it is showing even more problems than we anticipated, Mealy said.

The union also said that Legacy had sent emails that told staff to come to work if they had manageable symptoms, which nurses have interpreted to mean from any illness, including the fever, fatigue, dry cough and shortness of breath that are the hallmarks of COVID-19.

Union nurses also claim that one doctor continued to work while sick and then came back to work without knowing the results of a COVID-19 test.

Unity nurses unionized last year after significant staff and patient safety issues were revealed to have plagued the 110-bed mental health hospital since its opening. They have claimed that Legacy management does not take their concerns into consideration and that they are often put at risk.

The union also raised the issue that nurses and other staff have had to disinfect surfaces and enforce hygiene protocols themselves, without guidance from upper management.

They claim Legacy officials have not been as communicative or transparent about what safety guidelines the hospital is implementing and when, and hasnt provided enough protective equipment, such as masks.

Legacy strongly denies the allegations.

The threat posed by COVID-19 is unprecedented and fast-evolving and we are doing everything we can to stay on top of developments as they occur so that we continue to provide critically important behavioral health care to patients in crisis while keeping both our patients and staff safe, said Legacy spokeswoman Sarah Erickson.

Erickson said that Legacy has prohibited anyone who is showing signs of illness, other than seasonal allergies, from coming to work.

When patients meet with staff, she said, they are told about the importance of handwashing and social distancing. Legacy also placed signs and disinfectant wipes out and moved recliners in the emergency room six feet apart, she said.

Legacy did not deny that some staff who had been sent home, returned to work only to be quarantined at home again. Erickson said that is the result of Legacy trying to adapt to changing guidance from health authorities.

Public health officials have estimated that waiting days or weeks can exponentially increase the infection rate of coronavirus, which is part of the underlying tension between nurses and Legacy.

Nurses fear that the slow roll-out of preventative measures could mean that staff or patients are carrying the virus and already passed it along.

Its frightening to think of how fast this virus could spread in our locked facility and how unprepared and ill-equipped our staff would be in treating them, said a nurse who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Some of the issues also boil down to disagreements between staff and management, as they head into contract negotiations this year.

Nurses want more masks at Unity, but Legacy said they dont need more because patients who have medical problems will be transferred to a hospital, rather than treated at Unity.

Nurses want more direct guidance, but Legacy says that management already sends daily emails and calls staff huddles, which should be sufficient.

We are following Legacy Healths system-wide guidance for infection control, as well as guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority, Erickson said. We are committed to regular communication with employees about the details of our COVID-19 response.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
An online sales platform founded by a Cork entrepreneur is doing its part to support local retailers through the COVID-19 crisis by offering them the opportunity to list their products for free through its portal.

The NRG Store, a division of the Sea Box Group, was initially set up to produce Ireland's first all-inclusive 'click-and-delivery' service specialising in the construction and energy sector, while also focusing on home improvements, home ware, furnishings, design and trades materials.

It currently sells more than 13,000 products through it website, www.nrgstore.ie, ranging from tools to furniture to smart devices.

Its founder and managing director, Patrick Hogan, said the idea behind the store was to provide customers with a wide choice of goods and services that would allow them to fully complete a home build from conception to completion.

However, he said that all retailers now face considerable difficulties as a result of the dramatic changes in how they are forced to interact with their customers, with many also not having an online sales presence.

With this in mind, he said the NRG Store is now offering to host Cork retailers and businesses on its sales platform for free as the Coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the more-established face-to-face trading practices.

"Technology can and should be used to support all retailers during this time. With this in mind, we believe our platform can be adjusted to support many more businesses that are at risk of a significant drop in traditional income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Mr Hogan.

He said the initial plan is to invite companies based in Cork city and county to join the NRG Store. Should this prove successful, Mr Hogan said the initiative can be extended to other businesses.

"Goods ordered through NRG Store can be shipped from traditional retail outlets using established delivery pathways, and offers consumers the option of completely contactless sales," he said.

Any Cork business seeking to join NRG Store is asked to make contact with the company by email via Patrick@nrgstore.ie.
New York Governor Andy Cuomo, like President Trump, is delivering daily coronavirus briefings. Unlike President Trump, he is being swooned over by liberal reporters. At American Greatness, Julie Kelly collects some examples. Here is just one:

If social media is a reflection of how people are feeling, Cuomos image during the coronavirus outbreak is one of authority, yet hopea role people value enough to begin visualizing his presidency, one smitten CBS News reporter cooed.

This is odd, if only because New York is the epicenter of COVID-19 infection in the U.S. The disease is more widespread there, and more problematic, than anywhere else. According to the CDC, New York has 38,977 COVID-19 cases out of the countrys 85,356, vastly more than any other state. California has 3,777, and Washington 3,207. So why would those in charge of New Yorks response to the epidemic be held up as heroes, and Cuomo touted as a replacement for Joe Biden as Democratic presidential nominee?

The fact that New York is the epicenter of the COVID crisis in the U.S. is no coincidence. It flows from the policies of Governor Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio, as well as New York Citys nature as an international hub and a closely-packed city. Back to Julie Kelly:

[N]either Cuomo nor New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio deserve attaboys. A toxic combination of Big Apple hubris, devotion to open borders regardless of the imminent threat, and Trump-hating obstinacy fueled a stubborn strategy that left their citizens vulnerable for months. Further, New Yorks political leaders have acknowledged that the worlds financial capitala city home to nearly 9 million people, the most densely populated city in the countryhas no comprehensive plan to deal with a pandemic or any viral public health threat.

Governor Cuomo came very late to the effort to shut down the Chinese virus:

By January 31, the day President Trump suspended flights from China, outbreaks were already growing in over 30 cities across 26 countries, most seeded by travelers from Wuhan, according to one model by the New York Times. But even by late February, Cuomo boasted about his states accessibility to foreign travelershis state, the governor said on February 26, is the front door for visitors from around the worldwhile only instituting voluntary quarantines for suspected coronavirus carriers. Our operating paradigm has always been, prepare for the worst but hope for the best, Cuomo said. That paradigm, apparently, did not include prohibiting hundreds of thousands of potentially infected travelers from entering his state since January. Tourists and business travelers continued to pour into the Big Apple during the first several days of March without any comprehensive screening or restrictions. Cuomo this week again bragged about his states open arms, which resulted in New Yorks current crisis. The reason New York now has so many more cases of coronavirus, even more than California, is because we welcome people from across the globe, he said on March 25. We have people coming here, we have people who came here from China, who came here from Italy, who came here from all across the globe.

Nice going, Governor! Open borders take priority over everything, including your own constituents lives.

New Yorks hospitals are overburdened and experiencing problems, but this is not a recent development:

A public policy researcher in 2015 detailed long waits in New York City emergency rooms. The head of the emergency department for the Mount Sinai hospital system quit in 2018 after less than a year on the job. I had to follow my moral compass and leave and decide this is not an organization that cares for patients, Dr. Eric Barton told the New York Post. Last year, city nurses threatened to strike due to overcrowding at three major hospital systems. Nurse Anthony Ciampa said he had to choose recently between feeding an elderly patient at New York Presbyterian and treating several acutely ill patients because there werent enough other nurses on duty, according to a March 2019 report in the Daily News. And the outcry about ventilators? State officials were informed several years ago that the stockpile of ventilators was woefully inadequate to handle a severe pandemic. But instead of preparing for a looming crisis and buying 16,000 ventilators, the states health commissioner formed a task force to develop a system to ration the life-saving equipment. The task force came up with rules that will be imposed when ventilators run short, the New York Post reported last week.

Now, of course, the same incompetent reporters who are swooning over Cuomo blame President Trump for longstanding problems in New Yorks hospital system.

In a sane world, the idea that the governor of the state with by far the worst coronavirus record would be singled out for praise by reporters would be unthinkable. But of course, we do not live in a sane worldnot a sane media world, anyway.

UPDATE: A brilliant medical student, the daughter of a Power Line reader, has just accepted a residency in emergency medicine. She wrote: [T]he reason NYC is hurting so bad is because the EDs there operate just on the edge in normal times. Would never consider residency there because residents already worked like dogs with minimal resources / support. Programs malignant. Now they are seeing the results.

JOE adds: What a hero.
The number of coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 873, and the deadly virus has claimed 21 lives so far. The latest victim of the virus was a 63-year-old patient from Kerala. With this, the state has reported first coronavirus related death. Only 78 patients have been cured and discharged from hospitals in India thus far. Across the world, the virus has infected 607,166 people and has claimed 27,774 lives. After a sudden increase in cases, the US has now the highest number of coronavirus patients in the world with 104,256 cases. Italy leads with the most deaths at 9,134.

Check all the latest updates on coronavirus outbreak on BusinessToday.In live blog

4.32 PM: It has been found, as per reports world over also, that elderly people are at a higher risk: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry.

4.30 PM: A 46-year-old COVID19 positive patient in Ahmedabad passes away. She was admitted to the hospital on 26th March She was suffering from Hypertension, Diabetes and was on ventilator: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital. -ANI

4.15 PM: University Grants Commission to contribute one day's salary to Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to combat COVID19. UGC also appeals to VCs of Universities & principals of colleges to urge their teaching & non-teaching colleagues to also contribute. - ANI

4.00 PM: Watch Health Ministry briefing on coronavirus, on 28th March

#WATCH Health Ministry briefing on coronavirus, on 28th March https://t.co/eGbw2Xlbao  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

3.18 PM: Stay where they are, Kejriwal to migrant workers

"We have made arrangements for living, eating, drinking, everything in Delhi," says the Delhi CM.

UP   -                     ,      , , ,                        https://t.co/fbtqhhck86  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 28, 2020

3.15 PM: Priyanka Gandhi on mass exodus

How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? asks the Congress leader.

How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? There are men, women and children who are walking as far as Eastern UP and Bihar. We sent planes to bring citizens from Europe, why arent we organising transport to take the poorest and..1/2 pic.twitter.com/ujLicxnutA  Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 28, 2020

3.10 PM: Supply line issue in Kerala

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor requests the state governor to address issue of "vital supply line". "Several trucks with essential goods for Kerala are stuck at the border," says the leader.

This has become a major issue since a vital supply line to Kerala is effected. Several trucks w/essential goods for Kerala are stuck at the border. Requesting @DVSadanandGowda ji as Kerala coordinator in the cabinet &ExCM Karnataka to pl use your good offices to resolve! pic.twitter.com/CV9hiRLGFT  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 28, 2020

3.05 PM: Maha govt not to recover stamp duty

In wake of coronavirus crisis, for two years starting from April 1, 2020, the Maharashtra government will not to recover additonal 1 per cent stamp duty in MMR and areas of Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur civic bodies. The duty was imposed in February 2019 to mop up funds for infra projects.

3.00 PM: Maruti ties up with AgVA Healthcare to produce ventilators

India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Saturday said it had entered into an arrangement with AgVA Healthcare to try and produce up to 10,000 ventilators per month to help bridge the shortfall of the life-saving medical device in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Maruti said AgVa Healthcare, which is an existing approved manufacturer of ventilators, would be responsible for the technology, performance and related matters for all the ventilators produced and sold by them. The company would use its suppliers to produce the required volume of components and use its experience and knowledge to upgrade systems for the production and quality control of the higher volumes.

Also read: Battle against coronavirus: Maruti ties up with AgVA Healthcare to produce 10,000 ventilators per month

2.45 PM: Five new cases in Noida

In a latest development, five new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported from Noida, following which authorities have sealed their houses, reported Aaj Tak. Earlier today, it was reported that three persons, including two women, were tested positive of COVID-19 in the city. All were reportedly infected by a UK-based man staying at a luxury hotel in the city.

2.40 PM: FM to talk to banks today

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to hold talks with all heads of public sector banks and private banks today. The FM will discuss banks' plans to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in India, in which banks will lay out their plans.

2.30 PM: Chennai police finds unique way to spread awareness on COVID-19

Chandigarh: Labourers heading towards their native places in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh amid #CoronavirusLockdown. "What will we eat if we will not leave for our homes? I have Rs 200 left in my pocket which I'll use to buy snacks for my child en route home," says Heera, a worker. pic.twitter.com/3e9me2KLz2  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

2.22 PM: India's response to COVID-19 has been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded", says government, brushes aside allegations that 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced without any planning.

2.12 PM: Six new coronavirus cases reported from Maharashtra and Gujarat each.

2.07 PM: Landlords can take rent only after a month: Noida DM

Landlords can take rent from tenants only after a month in Gautam Budh Nagar in wake of coronavirus lockdown. No exodus of workers on ground of rent will be allowed in present circumstances, says District Magistrate BN Singh. - ANI

2.00 PM: Bengal women held for posting fake news

The police has arrested a woman from the city for allegedly posting fake news about a doctor working at a state-run hospital here. The 29-year-old woman, on her social networking account, had said that the doctor working at Beliaghata ID Hospital was infected with COVID-19 while treating patients afflicted with the disease, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said on Saturday. She was arrested by the officers of the cyber crime cell of Kolkata Police on Friday night.

1.45 PM: Italy death toll crosses 9,000

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has surged by 919 to 9,134, the Civil Protection Agency said on Friday, easily the highest daily tally since the epidemic emerged on Feb. 21.

Also read: Italy reports 919 new coronavirus deaths, highest since outbreak

1.29 PM: Migrants' exodus from Chandigarh

Labourers heading towards their native places in Tikamgarh,Madhya Pradesh, amid coronavirus lockdown. "What will we eat if we will not leave for our homes? I have Rs 200 left in my pocket which I'll use to buy snacks for my child en route home," says Heera, a worker.

Assam: Stones pelted at police personnel at Bhawlaguri Bodi Bazaar under New Bangai police station area in Bongaigaon amid #CoronavirusLockdown. SP RS Milli says, "When policemen asked shopkeepers to shut the market, some locals attacked them. Four arrested & case registered". pic.twitter.com/nziHDVyXMs  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

1.21 PM: Tamil Nadu reports two new positive cases

"A 42-year-old man Kumbakonam who had returned from West Indies and 49-year-old man from Katpadi who had returned from UK at Vellore Pvt Hospital. Both had travelled via Middle East. They're in isolation and stable," says Tamil Nadu Health Minister.

1.17 PM: Lockdown may cost economy Rs 8.76 lakh crore

India is now facing its greatest crisis since its independence. There is a 21-day lockdown to enforce self-distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and flatten its growth curve. It is natural that in the process, the economy is on complete bed rest. The exercise is to find out the cost of this lockdown.

Also read: Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 lockdown may cost the economy Rs 8.76 lakh crore; here's how

1.10 PM: The plight of migrant workers

Migrant workers here say that they are facing a lot of trouble, especially when it comes to food, amid coronavirusLockdown. Sanjay, from UP's Raebaerli says, "Police had come 2 days back and distributed pizza among us. Didn't get anything after that. What should we do?"

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia visits Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School in IP Extension which has been converted into temporary night shelter. "Food is being provided at around 600 schools in Delhi. Homeless people can stay at night shelters & these schools. #Coronaviruspic.twitter.com/CuzJsTO8Ft  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

I am coming from Ahmedabad in Gujarat & have to go to Agra in Uttar Pradesh. I did not want to leave the city but my employer refused to give money & ration. I have not eaten properly for the past 3 days: A labourer in Jaipur, Rajasthan. #CoronavirusLockdownhttps://t.co/yZw9BS5GQypic.twitter.com/2awYU8X1LX  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

12.59 PM: 600 schools in Delhi providing food, please stay at home: Sisodia

"Food is being provided at around 600 schools in Delhi. Homeless people can stay at night shelters and these schools," says the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister.

    100       200               .            .          .        .  Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) March 28, 2020

12.51 PM: Mass exodus amid nationwide lockdown

A labourer in Jaipur, Rajasthan, says he's coming from Ahmedabad in Gujarat and have to go to Agra in Uttar Pradesh. "I did not want to leave the city but my employer refused to give money & ration. I have not eaten properly for the past 3 days," he adds.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with AYUSH professionals via video conference over #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/5gRe6LToMo  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

12.46 PM: Urge people to stay put: Sisodia on exodus

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia visits Ghazipur near Delhi-UP where people have gathered in huge number to board special buses for their homes in Uttar Pradesh.

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12.45 PM: Kerala reports first death

A 69-year-old man died due to COVID-19 at Kochi Medical College today, says Ernakulam District Medical Officer Dr NK Kuttappan. This is the first death in Kerala due to coronavirus.

12.40 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with AYUSH professionals via video conference over COVID19.

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12.29 PM: Naval aircraft carries samples of suspected COVID-19 patients

The Indian Navy helped the Goa government in transporting 60 samples of suspected coronavirus patients in the state to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing, an official said on Saturday. A Dornier aircraft of Indian Navy, carrying 60 samples for COVID-19 testing, took off from INS Hansa for Pune on March 27, a spokesperson of the central government said. The samples were carried by a technician from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), which is located near Panaji, he said. - PTI

12.20 PM: As India goes under lockdown, Delhi sees cleanest air

The sun shone bright in a cloudless blue sky in the national capital which recorded a significant drop in the mercury on Saturday due to intermittent rains over the last two days. The city and its surrounding areas also recorded lowest concentrations of PM10, particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter, since August 18 last year. At 10 am, PM10 levels in Delhi-NCR stood at 32.5 microgram per cubic meter, the lowest since 15.9 g/m3 recorded on August 18 last year. The city's overall air quality index at 11 am stood at 40, which falls in the "good" category. - PTI

12.10 PM: Indian railways to convert coaches into isolation wards

The idea is to reach hinterland to treat infected patients, says Railways on converting coaches into isolation wards.Once finalised in next few days, every railway zone will produce a rake of 10 coaches every week. - PTI

12.05 PM: Kerala's first COVID-19 death reported from a hospital in Kochi: State government.

12.00 PM: Ola to contribute Rs 20 crore: Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder & CEO

Millions of drivers and their families find themselves without an income today. To support them, we're launching the 'Drive the Driver' fund. I'm contributing my next year salary and Ola along with employees will contribute Rs 20 crore to the fund.

11.45 PM: Centre approaches manufacturers for all kinds of supplies

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, would like to reach out to you, if you are in the field of manufacturing or supply of following items related to use in COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Please do the following: Inform State Government/UT of your State/UT; register as supplier in Government e Market Place (GeM) at https://gem.gov.in; and download list of items related to use in COVID-19 (coronavirus)," says the MSME Department.

11:20: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Modi about Karnataka blocking state border

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Narendra Modi on Karnataka blocking prominent border state highway, causing hardship for cargo movement to Kerala

11:10 AM: Indian Railways prepare isolation cabins on trains to fight coronavirus

Isolation coaches have been prepared by the Indian Railways to fight the #Coronavirus Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/41T9Q71Zdr - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

11:00 AM: Religious leaders in Kerala issue joint statemnet to help curb coronavirus

Kerala: Religious leaders, including that of the Christian community, issue a joint press statement stating 'to curb the spread of the virus, we enforced certain restrictions on entry to pilgrim centers. We're fighting this menace, by highlighting the concern for the others..." - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

10:50 AM: GoAir offers assistance to government for transportaion of migrant workers

GoAir has offered its assistance to the Government in helping migrant workers get home. Earlier SpiceJet had also offered assistance to government is transportaing migrant workers

10:40 AM: Noida Authority authorizes 260 pharmacies for avaliability of medicines

Authority had authorised 260 pharmacies, 450 groceries, & eCommerce companies, with a strength of 1,500 delivery boys, for #homedelivery of essential goods at the doorsteps of Noida residents. This service will be available from 28.03.2020. #StayHomeStaySafe#IndiaFightsCoronapic.twitter.com/s7maTYLPz1 - CEO NOIDA Authority (@CeoNoida) March 27, 2020

10:30 AM: Congress President Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi on plight of migrant workers amidst lockdown

Congress President & CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi drawing his attention towards the plight of migrant workers amidst the lockdown. pic.twitter.com/vaEmdAlao1 - Congress (@INCIndia) March 27, 2020

10:20 AM: Five confirmed in West Bengal today got infected from a UK-returned

According to the state health department, all 5 have a history of contact with a positive case from Delhi who came from UK on March 16. The state govt claims that all those who tested positive belong to "a closed group of siblings and relatives'.

10:10 AM: Five more people test positive for coronavirus in West Bengal

Five members of a family, including three children, tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal on Friday, taking the number of such cases in the state to 15. Among the new cases is a 9-month-old, rest are family members

9:50 AM: Police checks passes and identity cards at Delhi-Noida border

Delhi: Passes and identity cards of people being checked at Delhi-Noida border as they commute to their work or to provide/avail essential services, amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/PY42NHfwXT - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

9:40 AM: Two more cases of coronavirus confirmed in confirmed in Punjab

Two coronavirus positive cases found in the state today - a 23-year-old man in Ajmer, who travelled to Punjab and a 21-year-old woman in Bhilwara. Total number of positive cases in the state now rises to 52: Rajasthan Health Department

9:30 AM: Six more cases discovered in Gujarat, total rises to 53

Six more people have been tested COVID19 positive, taking total number of cases to 53 in Gujarat: Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health and family welfare Department

9:24 AM: 149 cases of coronavirus reported in the last 24 hours in India

Total positive cases in India now stand at 873. Updated state wise distribution released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Total number of #Coronavirus positive cases rises to 873 (including foreign nationals; 79 people cured/discharged, 19 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/vsMz3jcIPK - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

9:18 AM: Total number of coronavirus cases in India rise to 873

Total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 873 (including foreign nationals as at 9.30 AM; 79 people cured/discharged, 19 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

9:12 AM: Bengal woman booked for spreading misinformation on social media

A 29-year-old woman has been booked & arrested for allegedly spreading misinformation on social media about a doctor being infected with coronavirus in Beleghata area of Kolkata.

9:10 AM: Six more coronavirus cases confirmed in Maharashtra

6 new coronavirus positive cases found in Maharashtra today. Five in Mumbai and ne in Nagpur. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 159: Maharashtra Health Ministry

9.00 AM: Coronavirus update from Bhilwara

Bhilwara (Rajasthan) District Collector, R Bhatt, says that apart from present quarantine facility for 400, the authorities have acquired 1,541 single rooms at various hotels. "We've also marked places to set up 13000 beds. We're ready with arrangement to quarantine 15000 people,if required," he added.

8.40 AM: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO on COVID-19

There are now, more than half a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 20,000 deaths. These are tragic numbers, but let us also remember that around the world, more than a hundred thousand people have recovered.

8.32 AM: Odisha Assembly staff quarantined

After an employee at Odisha Legislative Assembly was found to have contacted a COVID-19 positive person, the entire staff of the Assembly have been quarantined and assembly building is being sanitised: SN Patra, Odisha Assembly Speaker.

8.31 AM: US reports 345 new coronavirus deaths; 18000 new cases in the United States in one day.

8.30 AM: US House approves $2 trillion coronavirus bill

The US House of Representatives on Friday approved a $2.2 trillion (Euro 1.77 trillion) aid package - the largest in history - to help cope with the economic downturn inflicted by the intensifying coronavirus pandemic, and President Donald Trump quickly signed it into law. The massive bill passed the Senate and House of Representatives nearly unanimously. - Reuters

8.15 AM: Stop mass exodus of migrant labourers, MHA to states

The Union Home Ministry on Friday asked state governments to prevent a mass exodus of migrant agriculture labourers, industrial workers and unorganised sector employees from their workplaces to hometowns amid a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus.

8.00 AM: US announces USD 174 mn aid to 64 countries

The United States on Friday announced USD 174 million financial assistance to 64 countries including USD 2.9 million to India to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic. This is in addition to the USD 100 million aid announced by the US in February. - PTI
President Donald J. Trump said Saturday he is considering a two-week quarantine on parts of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Some people would like to see New York quarantined because its a hotspot, New York, New Jersey, Trump said before departing for Norfolk, Va., to see the hospital ship USNS Comfort set off for New York, according to a White House transcript.

Maybe one or two other places; certain parts of Connecticut quarantined, said Trump. Im thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks, on New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.

Health care workers, public health workers, public safety officials and transportation workers are exempt.

Id rather not do it, but we may need it, Trump said.

He later tweeted, I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing hot spots, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he spoke with the president Saturday morning prior to his statements and a possible quarantine was not discussed.

I dont even know what that means. I dont know how that could be legally enforceable, Cuomo said during a news conference Saturday. But I can tell you, I dont even like the sound of it."

New York has more cases of COVID-19 than any other state, with New Jersey second.

New York has over 50,000 reported cases and at least 728 coronavirus-related deaths as of Saturday morning.

New Jersey reported a single-day increase of over 2,000 positive diagnoses, bringing the total Saturday morning to 11,124 with 140 deaths.

We are now into five digits, as we predicted, at the pace we expected, N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy said during his daily coronavirus press briefing.

In Connecticut, the largest number of cases have been reported in Fairfield County. As of Friday, 1,291 Connecticut residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 27 coronavirus-related deaths reported.

Citing concerns about tri-state travel, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker advised people that are coming from other states into Massachusetts to self-quarantine for 14 days to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Encouraging people and instructing people who come back to Massachusetts from someplace else to self-quarantine for 14 days is a perfectly reasonable and logical thing to expect them to do, Baker told reporters Friday morning.

Bakers travel restrictions apply to people coming in from out-of-state who arrive at Boston Logan International Airport and South Station, as well as those who drive into Massachusetts. Health care workers, public health workers, public safety officials and transportation workers are exempt.

The number of confirmed cases in Massachusetts rose to 3,240 in Massachusetts on Friday, up 823 from Thursday. State health officials reported Friday that 10 more Massachusetts residents have died from the diseases, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 35.

More than 29,000 people have been tested in Massachusetts.

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Red Cross workers prepare emergency relief kits packed with basic necessities for delivery to impoverished people experiencing difficulties amid the spread of the new coronavirus at a facility of the Korean National Red Cross in Seoul, Friday, March 27, 2020. AP



The government said Saturday that it has achieved a 50 percent recovery rate for people infected with the new coronavirus, a feat that underscored the importance of aggressive testing, quarantine and social distancing in the fight against COVID-19.



South Korea has released 4,811 fully recovered COVID-19 patients from hospitals as of Saturday, up 283 from a day earlier, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



This marked the first time the number of recovering people exceeded the number of quarantined patients  which stood at 4,523  since Jan. 20, when the virus was first detected on South Korean soil.



"The 50 percent recovery rate is a small achievement that all in our society should celebrate, though we have a long way to go," Yoon Tae-ho, director-general for public health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said in a briefing.






New Delhi, March 28 : India's response to the COVID-19 has been pre-emptive, pro-active. India had already put in place a comprehensive response system at its borders much before WHO declared it as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30.

Timeline of the decisions taken by the Indian government so far:

January 17: Advisory issued to avoid travel to China

January 18: Thermal screening started of passengers from China and Hong Kong.

January 30: Strong advisory issued to avoid travel to China.

February 3: E-visa facility suspended for Chinese citizens.

February 22: Advisory issued to avoid travel to Singapore; Universal screening for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

February 26: Advisory issued to avoid travel to Iran, Italy and Republic of Korea. Passengers coming from these countries to be screened, and may be quarantined based on screening and risk assessment.

March 3: Suspension of all visas for Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China; Compulsory health screening for passengers arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan.

March 4: Universal screening of all International Flights. Quarantine or isolation at home or sent to hospital based on screening and risk profile

March 5: Passengers from Italy or Republic of Korea need to get medical certificate before entry

March 10, Home isolation: incoming international passengers should self-monitor health and follow government Dos and Don'ts: passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo home quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival

March 11: Compulsory Quarantine- Incoming travellers (including Indians) arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

16, 17, 19 March- Comprehensive advisory:

March 16: Expanded compulsory quarantine for travellers from or through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait for a minimum of 14 days.

Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India totally prohibited

March 17: Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia prohibited

March 19: All Incoming international flights suspended, with effect from 22nd March

March 25: Extension of suspension of all incoming International Flights to India extended till April 14.

-- Syndicated from IANS
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Three of China's listed state-owned banks reported forecast-beating fourth-quarter results on Friday, as non-performing loan ratios held steady. China's largest banks have enjoyed some preferential policies from the government - such as state support to tackle bad loans. They often also lend to the less risky biggest state-owned firms, which has helped to buoy their profits despite the downturn in the economy

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Three of China's listed state-owned banks reported forecast-beating fourth-quarter results on Friday, as non-performing loan ratios held steady.

China's largest banks have enjoyed some preferential policies from the government - such as state support to tackle bad loans. They often also lend to the less risky biggest state-owned firms, which has helped to buoy their profits despite the downturn in the economy.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), reported a 4.2% rise in fourth-quarter net profit, beating expectations.

The Bank of Communications Co Ltd (BoCom) and the Bank of China Ltd (BoC), both followed suit with a 4.9% rise and 3.8% rise respectively, both also beating expectations.

Non-performing loans held steady at the three banks.

BoC reported a NPL ratio of 1.37% at the end of December, flat from the end of the previous quarter. Likewise, BoCom logged a 1.47% NPL ratio, flat over the same period. ICBC's fell slighty from 1.44% to 1.43%.

Despite the strong results, BoC and ICBC warned that the coronavirus crisis will cause downward pressure on assets this year.

The outbreak of the virus in January, which left much of the country paralysed for more than a month, has taken a toll on airlines, hotels and other businesses and left many of them struggling to survive.

ICBC President Gu Shu said the epidemic "will put some pressure on our asset quality."

The economic fallout from the virus will have "impacts, to a certain extent, on the groups asset quality and returns from certain businesses," the Bank of China Ltd (BoC), said in its annual results, which were reported to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

"We expect there will be an increase in overdue loans in the first quarter and first half," BOC Chief Risk Officer Liu Jiandong said.

ICBC warned of "increasing hotspots of turmoil and risk around the globe," in its annual report, while BoCom said: "Risks in some areas may be aggravated, especially under the impact of the coronavirus outbreak."

Net interest margins - the difference between what banks pay on deposits and earn on loans - varied among the three banks.

At BoCom, NIM rose slightly at the end of December from the end of the previous quarter, while at ICBC, it fell. BoC's NIM stayed steady over the same period.

($1 = 7.0904 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Zhang Yan, Cheng Leng in Beijing, Engen Tham in Shanghai; Editing by Himani Sarkar/Edmund Blair/Jane Merriman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
David Gauke is a former Justice Secretary, and was an independent candidate in South-West Hertfordshire at the recent general election.

Are you relieved not to be dealing with this? is a question I am asked quite a lot at the moment. The honest answer is not really. I suspect most former Ministers feel a sense that they would rather be back in post, at the centre of things, able to make a difference.

That said, I feel great sympathy for my former colleagues who are in office. They face far greater challenges than any their recent predecessors faced. There are a range of only bad options, the evidence of the nature of the threat and the advice received by Ministers can change very quickly and there is a strong desire in the media to apportion blame. If something is wrong, someone must be at fault. Ministers will always be high up on the list of candidates.

Not everything has gone smoothly in terms of communication but sometimes it is necessary to try to convey quite complex messages. The Government has tried to communicate messages that reflect a dynamic situation that moves us along the spectrum from business-as-usual towards lockdown. If, as a society, we can only cope with simple, binary positions we will not be able to respond sensibly to the threat we face.

Getting the judgements and messages right has been difficult as we adopt extraordinary measures to combat the virus. This may be even more challenging when it comes to deciding how to relax these measures. There will always be a case for delaying any relaxation, but at some point we will have to move in the direction of normality. Those decisions will probably be the hardest to make.

         

A further challenge for the Government is that there plenty of things which people are demanding be done immediately which is just not operationally possible. Most journalists and politicians spend their time focused on the questions of what, why and who but the most important question at the moment is how.

How do you provide support to the self-employed? How do you expand healthcare provision in a pandemic? How do you enrol millions of new claimants onto Universal Credit?

Apart from the NHS, the two most important delivery departments at the moment are HMRC and DWP. I spent nearly seven years as the responsible minister for one or the other of them, and the tasks in front of both of them are enormous.

As far as I can see, the staffs at both organisations are responding very impressively but do not underestimate how challenging then next few weeks and months will be for both organisations. Operational constraints mean that some problems dont have a perfect answer.

         

Progress in delivering public services digitally is helping us get through this crisis better than we would otherwise do. When I was at the Treasury, I was a strong supporter of updating how PAYE operated and brought in Real Time Information, which is crucial to the operation of the Governments furloughing scheme. I also initiated Making Tax Digital, which  as the name suggests  meant that our tax system became more digital.

It was always going to be a long term reform but considerable resistance to the plan meant that it isnt as advanced as it might have been. Had it been more advanced, I cannot help think that it would have been easier for the Chancellor to develop policies to help the self-employed.

Once we are over the current crisis, we will need to think about how public services can be more resilient in the event of a future pandemic. Improving our capability of delivering services remotely will be key to that. Online school lessons and university courses. GP surgeries by videolink. Greater ability for prisoners to maintain contact with their families electronically.

And are there some tasks which need to be done but dont require people at all? We need tube trains to keep running. The Docklands Light Railway isnt vulnerable to drivers being sick because they dont need drivers. It is time that we move to the same situation with the London Underground.

         

Ten days or so ago, my wife returned from our village supermarket. The shelves were empty not because the shop didnt have the necessary items, but because they didnt have the staff to stack the shelves. Our friendly but frazzled store manager was doing it all himself.

Keen to make use of my career experience (the bread and other bakery products shelves, Asda, Ipswich, summer 1991), I went down to the shop and offered to volunteer to do some shelf-stacking. Our store manager was keen but called the regional office, and it was all too difficult with worries about liabilities and so on.

As the response to the National Help Service demonstrates, there is a big appetite for people to volunteer. In the weeks ahead, we may see many shortages in critical parts of the labour market  not just in relation to the NHS  and emergency volunteers will be crucial in plugging gaps.

For the most part, the market will fill lots of shortages (supermarkets are rapidly recruiting new staff) but finding ways of quickly filling an emergency shortage with a willing volunteer  removing all bureaucratic obstacles  would be very beneficial.

Of course, identifying what needs to be done is easy. The challenge is how, operationally, this could be done.

         

It is quite possible that, in a few weeks, we will have in society a special class of person. This will be a person who has been tested for the Covid-19 antibodies and is found to be immune from catching and spreading the disease.

Anyone who has received such a greenlight could return to living a normal life or could become super-volunteers, able to perform urgent people-facing tasks without the risks facing the rest of the country.

If that situation emerges (and it is, as yet, only a possibility dependent on many assumptions), there will be a new divide in society. The greenlighters versus the rest. The greenlighters will be able to do more for the rest of society but it will be impossible to impose on them the restrictions that apply to everyone else.

This will create its own difficulties. For example, how easy will it be to maintain a message that most of the population have to stay at home but the minority who are greenlighters can go to the pub with their greenlighter friends served by greenlighter bar staff?

For a short period of time, a new caste of the Covid immune will enjoy their privileges, whilst the majority look on enviously.

         

We are often being told that the current crisis is like the Second World War and that, once this is over, we will move in the direction of higher spending and higher borrowing. If we can do that now, why not in the future?

I suspect we may see higher spending, but I think it is worth reminding ourselves about one oft-forgotten attribute of the post-War Attlee Government. From 1948/9, it ran big Budget surpluses. Exceptional borrowing is justified in exceptional circumstances. Once the exceptional circumstances are over, the exceptional borrowing must come to an end.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28) - The national government has directed local government units in the country to identify possible isolation or quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force, said the Department of Interior and Local Government will issue guidelines regarding this order.

The local government units in the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels, as well as those in the Bangsomoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, are directed to identify government facilities that maybe temporarily converted into isolation or quarantine facilities, said Nograles in a virtual address late Friday.

He said the directive will also apply to government-owned and -controlled corporations.

Private hospitals like The Medical City and St. Lukes Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City said recently that they have already reached maximum capacity and can no longer accept additional COVID-19 patients.

Nograles said the Department of Public Works and Highways is tasked to conduct site operations on the identified quarantine facilities.

The Department of Health on Thursday said it is eyeing the Quezon Institute and the Philippine Red Cross as the countrys first community quarantine facilities for patients under monitoring and investigation, and those who are newly discharged.

The Department of Education, meanwhile, already allowed LGUs to use public schools as temporary quarantine sites.

The local governments of Quezon City and Manila have already set up their own quarantine facilities made up of tents.

READ: LGUs eye public schools, hotels as quarantine facilities; consider more hospitals to house COVID-19 patients

DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire noted that quarantine sites must be closed-door but with enough ventilation.
In February 2020 Australia was told that an unnamed foreign country had established an enormous intelligence operation there, and that foreign intelligence activities in Australia had reached levels surpassing anything seen during the 1947-1991 Cold War. These revelations had some weight because they were delivered by Mike Burgess, the new head of ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organization), which is similar to the American FBI or British MI5. The new ASIO chief was somewhat different than his predecessors in that his entire career was intelligence related. Before taking the ASIO job he spent 20 years with ASD (Australian Signals Directorate), which is similar to the American NSA. He actually retired from ASD in 1995 after 18 years and spent 22 years in non-government jobs, mostly involving cyber-security. Then in 2017, he returned to government work as head of ASD for two years. Appointing Burgess to head ASIO (for a seven year term) was somewhat controversial because previous chiefs were deliberately chosen from among non-intel backgrounds. That meant career military, diplomatic and other government veterans. Before Burgess ASIO had been run by a retired army general with a background in special operations.

What seemed to make Burgess the ideal candidate this time around was his long experience with Five Eyes, the post-World War II intel cooperation group consisting of the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Five Eyes Intel agencies shared an unprecedented amount of intelligence on foreign threats during the Cold War. The main threat was Russia (Soviet Union) and its allies, especially the Warsaw Pact and China. After the Soviet Union, and most other communist governments collapsed between 1989 and 1991, the Five Eyes gradually shifted its primary attention to China, Islamic terrorism and cyber-security. Burgess had a lot of experience dealing with all three threats and his work with Five Eyes gave him a broader perspective. His recent disclosure that Australia was subject to enormous foreign intelligence activity and efforts to manipulate Australian public opinion government decisions was based on his extensive knowledge of all these foreign activities.

The Five Eyes nations do not always agree on how to interpret and react to foreign intel activities in their own countries or those of the other four. Then there is the agreement to maintain secrecy about Five Eyes efforts, if only because a lot of these intelligence collecting operations were successful in part because opponents, from the Cold War to the present, often did not know how many of their secret operations were not so secret. Australia was a unique case because of the economic growth of China since the 1980s was a key element in the decades of sustained economic growth Australia has enjoyed. Australia was a major source of raw materials and other goods for China. In return, China expected respect, which often meant muting criticism of less savory Chinese activities. That led to the current revelations by Burgess of unprecedented intel and manipulation by a foreign power that he did not name but was clearly China. Australia, or at least Australian media, has been less reticent about naming names and countries responsible. While some of that was just headline mongering to pay the bills, a lot of these news stories had a basis in truth. Burgess was apparently seeking permission to go public with some of what Australian intel and law enforcement already knew without the bothersome requirement of being discreet about identifying the country behind a lot of it.

An example of how this works occurred two months after Burgess took over ASIO. In November 2019 an Australian resident from China named Liqiang Wang, known locally as William Wang came forward and claimed to be a Chinese intelligence officer who wanted to defect and obtain asylum. This was a first for China, which has thousands of such intel professionals operating in Western nations overseeing rapidly expanding Chinese espionage operations. China has lost some of these operatives in the past and ASIO soon concluded that Wang was involved with these Chinese operations but at a much lower level than he claimed. Wang is still in Australia and apparently being protected from threats that are unpublicized. China wants Wang returned to China, as a common criminal. This is an approach China takes for any Chinese citizen they want removed from the public eye.

Wang brought with him some knowledge of Chinese intel and influence operations in Australia and elsewhere in the region. The problem was verifying enough of it to support what cannot be verified. Many items that Wang brought up, and were made public, were not exactly top secret but did annoy the right people in China and other East Asian countries where China also has major espionage and influence operations.

Like many Cold War era defectors from the Soviet Union, Wang will always be at risk of prosecution or assassination by China. Defectors or simply detractors like this can do major damage to foreign intelligence operations. Wang provided revealing, but not really unknown, details about Chinese intel operations inside Australia. This included aggressive efforts to control public opinion and protect Chinese interests. Before Wang came forward, Australia had detected Chinese efforts to use economic clout, combined with clandestine media and public opinion manipulation to keep Australia compliant and cooperative with whatever China wanted, even if some of these goals were not in Australiss best interests. Wang offered similar information about Chinese clandestine operations in neighboring nations as well as the current crisis in Hong Kong. Again it appears that Wangs disclosures were merely the insights of a low-level operative who could better connect many of the pieces that foreigners had a hard time doing.

Of more immediate interest was details of how China planned to interfere with national elections in Australia and Taiwan. Wang named some names and revealed how Chinese controlled companies acted as recruiters of Australians who might be inclined to adopt pro-Chinese attitudes or a less anti-Chinese outlook. Much of this had long been suspected by some Australian officials but without evidence, those suspicions were never a real threat to Chinese intel operations. It is now believed that ASD and ASIO did have a lot of evidence, but lacked permission to act on it. Wang described how Chinese Cyber War operations (hacking and Internet media influencers) worked in Australia and Burgess had a lot of experience trying to cope with that. Wang also provided details of how this worked in Hong Kong where those subversive operations played a major role in triggering the current popular demonstrations. Wang was thought to be providing details that could lead to indictments and prosecutions of Australians who were actively working for China. Wang insisted that these operations have over the years used the same playbook that is applied throughout the world, especially in the United States and Europe. One thing is for certain, all this has proved devastating for Chinese clandestine operations. Wang himself sounds too good to be true but the new ASIO chief came forward with the confirmation of several Wang accusations against China.

Chinese espionage efforts are increasingly being detected in many Western countries. In the last few years, the United States has been indicting, prosecuting and convicting a growing number of Chinese-born men (and a few women) conspiring to commit, or who had already carried out, economic espionage in the United States. Some of these suspects are naturalized American citizens but a growing number are Chinese citizens here on legitimate visas. This is the sort of thing Wang claims has been going on in Australia.

By 2012 most American officials had come to openly admit that a whole lot of American military and commercial technical data has been stolen via Chinese Internet (and more conventional) espionage efforts as described by Wang. Details of exactly all the evidence of this are unclear, but apparently, it was pretty convincing for many American politicians and senior officials who had previously been skeptical. The Chinese efforts have resulted in most major American weapons systems having tech details obtained by the Chinese, in addition to a lot of non-defense or dual-use technology. Its not just the United States that is being hit but most nations with anything worth stealing. Many of these nations are noticing that China is the source of most of this espionage and few are content to remain silent any longer.

Its no secret that Chinese intelligence collecting efforts since the late 1990s have been spectacularly successful. As the rest of the world comes to realize the extent of this success, there is a growing desire for retaliation. What form that payback takes remains to be seen. At the moment more scrutiny is making it more difficult for the Chinese to operate but is not stopping them.
Quang Thi Lan works at an industrial park in the northern province of Bac Giang, where she earns VN10 million (US$440) per month, including overtime and bonuses.

A meal at a rented house in Ha Noi of young ethnic people from Son La Province.  Photo tienphong.vn

Her salary is the equivalent of what her family makes growing rice and corn in a small ethnic village.

Thats why the girl from the Thai ethnic group decided to leave her village in the northern mountainous province of Son La seven years ago when she was 19 years old to work in the city, hoping for a better life.

I am now the breadwinner for my family. I can also save money to build a new house. Many people from my village want to work in industrial parks as well, she told Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

Many young ethnic people living in mountainous remote areas like Lan have recently headed to the cities, bringing not only positive changes but also negative impacts to the ethnic community.

According to the National Assemblys Committee of Ethnic Affairs, those from ethnic minority groups account for more than 55 per cent of the total number of poor people nationwide.

Since last year, more than ten of Lans cousins in Muong Bam Commune have left the village to work with her.

Than uc Thi, the owner of a rented house complex where Lan and her cousins stay in Bac Giang Province, said there had been an influx of ethnic minority workers from northern mountainous provinces to the area. Before 2017, most workers were from lowland areas, but now 70 per cent of his guests were ethnic people.

Lo Van Sam, chairman of Tong Lanh Commune, Thuan Chau District, Son La Province, said last year about 600 local people moved to the cities and industrial parks. Each of them earns between VN5 million and VN7 million per month, and many can afford to buy expensive items for their families and build new houses now.

The positive thing is that we have a generation of young people who dare to take action to improve their lives, he said.

Quang Van Kien and his wife are an example.

In 2014, Kien moved to downtown Son La Province, then Ha Noi and Lam ong, and worked for aluminium and glass door stores while his wife was hired to sew clothes.

Two years later, after learning how to do their jobs, they returned to their village to open their own stores.

Last year the couple earned VN400 million and plan to open more shops in downtown Son La.

Chairman Sam said thanks to the number of young people heading to the towns, local people were less dependent on authorities.

Dark side

Most young people have moved to the cities, leaving only old people and children behind in the villages.

60-year-old Luong Van Duong and his wife have to take care of ten grandchildren while his sons and daughters are working in the cities. Some of them only visit home once or twice a year.

Duong is worried that his grandchildren lack attention from their parents.

Many of my grandchildren are reaching puberty with a lot of changes to their physical and mental health. I am worried that without their parents, they will be influenced by social evils.

Living in a small house nearby, Quang Van Buon, 80, feels empty as most of the family members have left.

The old man feels tired having to care for his paralysed wife and raise a grandchild without support from his sons and daughters.

Ly A Phao, an ethnic migrant worker from Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai Province, said ethnic minority people working in the cities are like Vietnamese working overseas in the Middle East or East Asia countries. They face risks like language barriers, scams and being exploited. Young ethnic people are also easily lured by temptations from social evils.

Bui Van Lich, head of the Ethnic Policy Department at the National Assemblys Committee of Ethnic Affairs, said the large-scale migration from the mountains to the cities had not been fully reviewed by management agencies.

We are following the migration to prepare a socio-economic development programme for ethnic minority people for 2021-30 and a national target programme to be submitted to the National Assembly in May. This will serve as a foundation to approve new policies to offer more training and job orientations for them, he told Tien Phong.  VNS

Ethnic minority people vulnerable to illegal surrogacy trade The trade of unborn babies to China and illegal surrogacy have become a serious problem in northern mountainous provinces.
U.S. provides Ukraine with medical, humanitarian assistance for over $12 mln to combat COVID-19  embassy

The United States provides Ukraine with medical and humanitarian assistance in the amount of more than $12 million to counter the coronavirus disease COVID-19, the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States has reported.

"The assistance provided will be aimed at preparing laboratory systems, detecting the disease, providing technical support in responding to and communicating the risks of spreading COVID19," the embassy said in a statement on the official Facebook page on Saturday night.

The United States will begin to allocate money to selected foreign countries from April 3.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 28, 2020 - 14:50 | All, Japan

The first passenger plane to be mass produced in Japan after World War II was transported by trailer through the streets of Tokyo early Saturday on its way to a theme park in a nearby prefecture.

After leaving Haneda airport around midnight, the trailer carrying the fuselage of the very first YS11 propeller plane to roll off the production line passed through Shinagawa, Ueno and other city districts on a five-hour, 120-kilometer journey to Hirosawa City theme park in Ibaraki Prefecture.

The wings and other parts of the plane have already been shipped to the theme park in Chikusei, where mechanics will reassemble the aircraft over the coming months before it goes on display.

"I think putting it back together is more difficult," said Tadao Sakai, 67, who heads a Tokyo company responsible for the rebirth of the plane. "I want many people to see this example of Japan's high technical capabilities."

Before being stored in a hangar at the Tokyo airport by the National Museum of Nature and Science for about two decades, the YS11 was used by the transport ministry as a flight inspection plane.
The coronavirus epidemic has taken a new turn in recent days as officials from upstate counties and other states attempt to keep outsiders away. While Gov. Andrew Cuomo can overrule local officials in New York, his options are limited beyond state boundaries.

The governor has promoted a multi-state approach to battling the coronavirus in recent weeks, but his efforts have faced a new test in recent days as governors in Florida and Rhode Island  with the blessing of President Donald Trump  begin implementing restrictions on New Yorkers entering their states.

I have not heard that, Cuomo, who is chair of the National Governors Association, said of quarantine restrictions put in place by Democratic Gov. Gina Marie Raimondo of Rhode Island. I dont know any details about that. The governor will reach out to Raimondo later today, said Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa.

Trump also suggested on Saturday morning that he would impose a quarantine on New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut. I didnt speak to him about any quarantine, Cuomo said of his Saturday morning conversation with the president. I dont know how that could be legally enforced, and from a medical point of view I dont even know if that would be effective. I dont like the sound of it.

State troopers have set up checkpoints on the Rhode Island at entry points into the state where they are checking for New York license plates and demanding that any person coming from the state abide by a 14-day quarantine. Door-to-door searches by police and the state National Guard are also part of efforts to isolate anyone who has been in New York during the past two weeks.

While state governments have significant powers in an emergency, that does not mean the state can override the U.S. Constitution, according to the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties. Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not, and cannot, constitute probable cause to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver, no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be, reads a Thursday statement from the organization.

Raimondo began implementing the new restrictions on Friday. Similar measures have also been rolled out in Florida in the past week, with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis now requiring all people coming from New York to self-quarantine for two weeks. He also called on the National Guard to keep tabs on passengers arriving on flights from New York and then turning that information to local officials, according to Politico.

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, a Republican who has taken controversial stands before on issues like drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, is pursuing measures that would require people coming to the county from New York City and Westchester County to report to county health officials and quarantine for 14 days. Pandering to fear and prejudice, whether against a racial and ethnic minority or a minority coming in from elsewhere, is not helpful, said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

The U.S. Supreme Court leaned on the Interstate Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution in striking down a California law in 1941, and similar laws in other states, that restricted the movement of people. The legality of similar moves during the pandemic could likewise be challenged in court, though it remains to be seen what Cuomo or civil liberties groups can do about the situation in the short term. New Yorkers are not the only target of restrictions by communities across the country. Some island communities in Maine and North Carolina are barring all visitors. What happens next is unclear considering the fast-moving pace of the epidemic.

An economic downturn, state border checkpoints and increasing desperation among people across the country suggest that as time goes by the story of coronavirus will only become more like a John Steinbeck novel whose ending no one can yet know. The bum blockade garnered attention, and criticism, throughout the state and nation, reads one history of the Great Depression in California. After the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in federal court, (law enforcement) backed down, and the bum blockade ended. But the anti-Okie sentiment continued. Now, it is New Yorkers who are facing the wrath of their fellow Americans.
The jury in the trial of a husband accused of murdering his wife has been discharged after three jurors contacted the court to indicate they were not in a position to attend.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon told the Central Criminal Court in Dublin last Wednesday that one of the three jurors will probably never be in a position to attend the trial, while the availability of the other two jurors is "unknown" and would not be clear for at least a week.

The 12-juror panel was scheduled to hear closing speeches from the defence and the prosecution in Rafal Karaczyn's murder trial, after the speeches were rescheduled.

Rafal Karaczyn (34), of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old wife Natalia Karaczyn, at their family home in Crozon Park between April 29th, 2018 and May 1st, 2018.

Ms Justice Creedon said the trial did not have a full complement of 12 jurors as three had contacted the court to say they could not attend.

She said she was conscious of the privacy of the three jurors and did not want any "unnecessary reporting" as to the reasons the three jurors couldn't attend.

However, she added that one of the jurors "will probably never be in a position to attend" while the position of the other two jurors is "unknown" and would not be known for at least a week.

Mr Bernard Condon SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Ms Justice Creedon that his instructions were to ask that the jury be discharged and for the case to return to the list to fix dates.

He said "nobody knows" when the trial could resume and it would be "unfair" on the jury to be expected to "reassemble" at some unknown point in the future.

Mr Michael Bowman SC, for the accused, with Mr Keith O'Grady BL instructed by Ms Laura Spellman, solicitor said it was a "matter for the court", adding that it was "unsatisfactory" but "nothing could be done" and he was leaving it in "the court's hands".

In turn, Ms Justice Creedon said everybody was conscious that the trial had "nearly concluded".

She added that in the interest of the "fair trial rights of the accused", while acknowledging that things are "entirely uncertain at this stage, given the seriousness of the situation", she would accede to the application for the jury to be discharged and put the case back for mention.

The judge then asked the jury minder to tell the nine jurors, who didn't appear in the court, that they were discharged and would have no more dealings with the trial. She also asked the minder to thank them and to apologise to them.

Mr Karaczyn was then remanded in custody with consent to bail, under the same terms and conditions, until March 30th.
Srinagar, March 28 : With the surfacing up of another COVID-19 positive case late on Friday who had come into contact with the 'Tabligi' (Preacher), now deceased, fears are rising whether the dead preacher has left behind trail of devastation that is slowly, but steadily haunting the people down in J&K.

The Tabligi Kashmiri had travelled far and near in both the Jammu division and the Valley in recent days.

He visited Samba district and Jammu district in Jammu division and visited areas in Srinagar, Baramulla and probably some other places in the Valley before he was admitted with full blown symptoms to Srinagar's chest diseases hospital.

So far, 50 people who came into contact with him have been quarantined.

Fortunately so far, reports say two doctors who came into contact with him have tested negative.

It is hoped that the people who came into contact with the Tabligi, who unknowingly had become a transmission vehicle for the dreaded virus, are safe.

The arrival of Kashmiri students from Iran, Bangladesh and China is another worrisome area for the authorities.

While most of these students have been put into isolation, the fact remains that some ignorant parents have on the sly managed to take their wards home where they are now reportedly hiding.

Authorities have appealed neighbours and well wishers of such families to come forward with information in order to protect the areas where such students might be hiding.

With 1500 people already under isolation/quarantine so far, authorities are trying to earmark more hospitals and beds to coup up with the future demand, if it arises.

Mosques where the 'Tabligi' preacher had held congregations in Pulwama district have been sealed and declared as administrative quarantine centres by the local DM.

Borders with neighbouring Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have been sealed.

"Coming two weeks are going to be crucial. All undiscovered cases of infection, if any, are going to become full blown during these two weeks. If we successfully observe the 21-day long national lockdown then there is hope that the storm would pass," said a senior doctor who wished not to be named.

Kashmir being an international destiny that has hosted people from all countries and cultures is at such crossroads of its history today where it has to shut its doors on the outside World.

It is safe to assume that once the storm is over, which hopefully the country will survive, people in J&K like those in the rest of the country will be borne into a new World with challenges the human race has not witnessed for centuries.
Poultry giant Sanderson Farms Inc. on Monday reported the first case of a worker at a major U.S. meat producer testing positive for coronavirus. The employee and six more from the McComb, Mississippi, plant were sent home to self-quarantine, with pay, but operations continued as normal.

A few days later Smithfield Foods Inc., the worlds biggest pork producer, confirmed a positive case at its Sioux Falls, South Dakota, facility. On Friday, beef producers in Canada and Argentina shuttered plants after virus cases.

In all likelihood, the number of cases will keep going up at meat plants, farms, warehouses and packaging factories across the globe.

The infections speak to a growing threat to the worlds food supplies. Massive operations where workers pick berries together, cut meat side-by-side on a production line or load warehouse trucks in sometimes close proximity risk slowing down. Some facilities may have to shutter for cleaning and worker quarantines. Produce could end up rotting in fields if there arent enough healthy workers.

If we cant flatten the curve, then that is going to affect farmers and farm laborers  and then we have to make choices about which crops we harvest and which ones we dont, said Al Stehly, who operates a farm-management business in Californias North San Diego County, growing about 250 acres of citrus crops, 250 acres of organic avocados and 60 acres of wine grapes. We hope no one gets sick. But I would expect some of us are going to get the virus.

To be clear, the food from a plant where infection pops up doesnt pose health concerns because by all accounts Covid-19 isnt a food-borne illness. Supplies from a farm or a production plant with a confirmed case can still be sent out for distribution.

And its important to note that so far theres been no major interruptions to food supplies. Inventories are still ample, and major bottlenecks have not yet developed in the supply chains, which tend to react quickly to changing situations.

Still, there is a risk to continued production. When a worker gets sick, the employee and every person theyve come into contact with has to be quarantined. That could mean limited impact in some cases, like at the Sanderson factory, where the infected individuals work was contained to one small processing table. But the more employee mingling there is, the bigger the threat to production.

One of our beef plants feeds 22 million people per day, so its vital that these plants stay open, Dave MacLennan, chief executive officer of Cargill Inc., the worlds largest agricultural commodities trader, said in a recent Bloomberg Television interview.

At many meat-processing plants, workers are essentially elbow to elbow, said Thomas Hesse, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 401, the largest private sector union in Western Canada that represents 32,000 members, mostly in food processing and retailing. Though employees are usually wearing protective gear, the risk of contagion is difficult to completely eliminate.

Theres underlying tension, theres fear and theres anxiety, Hesse said, calling on employers to act more diligently to keep workers safe, including by increasing the space between work stations.

Moves like that would likely hamper output though. Its a tricky balance for producers who are prioritizing worker safety but also trying to meet the huge surge in demand that the virus has unleashed. Grocery store shelves across the world are running empty as consumers load their pantries in anticipation of long lockdown periods.

Just about every major agricultural and food producer is stepping up its sanitary procedures to keep workers from getting infected. Companies are enforcing hand washing, spraying down plants and break rooms and wiping down door knobs. Workers are covered in head-to-toe protective gear, shifts are staggered and lunch breaks are taken alone.

In Sabah, the state that churns out about a quarter of Malaysias palm oil, the local government ordered plantations and factories in three districts to shut after some workers tested positive for Covid-19. To avoid further disruption, the countrys industry is in a desperate bid to starve the virus, disinfecting tractors, providing workers with antibacterial body soap and distributing face masks to employees and their families, said Joseph Tek, CEO of palm-oil producer IJM Plantations Bhd.

Its hard to say if all that will be enough. Given the real possibility of an illness-driven labor crunch, some companies are stepping up hiring now to prepare.

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kellogg Co., said bringing in additional workers is part of the companys mitigation plans, without specifying how many employees have been added.

Were going to see some creative solutions where folks that are being laid off are going to be able to find new opportunities that continue to support the essential critical infrastructure, said Mary Coppola of the United Fresh Produce Association. Many food companies will be trying to aggressively hire, including in distribution centers and in retail stores, she said.

But it may not be that easy to lure people into the field. For all their import, these are not glamorous jobs.

Think of the back-breaking work of tomato pickers, the dangerous conditions at slaughter houses and what many would consider the unpalatable environment of large livestock-feed operations. The wages are often low, benefits meager and contributions hidden from the public eye: How many social-media posts have you seen bursting with appreciation for the grain-export inspectors?

Now theyre putting their health at risk by keeping food flowing. Not surprisingly, theres been some backlash. Unions in South America have threatened to strike over safety concerns. And some poultry workers in the U.S. recently walked off the job.

Food companies are ramping up efforts to make sure employees feel appreciated. Cargill, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Campbell Soup Co., Mondelez International Inc., Kraft Heinz Co. and Hormel Foods Corp. are among those paying bonuses or premiums to workers.

In some places, more unusual solutions are being deployed.

Dairy producers in Vermont recently put out a call through social media, asking for volunteers to come milk cows if farmers start falling ill. A day later, more than 80 relief milkers had signed on as standbys.

It started when we got a couple of calls from dairy farmers who were super worried they might get sick and wouldnt be able to milk their cows, and that would be it  theyd lose their farms, said Kim Mercer of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, which posted the online plea. We now have people everywhere all across the state who are ready to go.
New York -- which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic's spread in the U.S.-- will now be on June 23, the latest state to postpone or drastically change the status of its April 28 presidential primary.

Six states slated to vote that day have delayed or moved to expand absentee voting to continue on with their elections in the midst of the health emergency.

"I don't think it's wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote. A lot of people touching one door knob, a lot of people touching one pen, whatever you call it -- device on the ballots. So, we are going to delay that, and link it to an election that was previously scheduled on June 23," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a press conference on Saturday that he's postponing the state's presidential primary to the same date of the state's down ballot primary elections.

New York was the only state originally scheduled to hold its presidential contest on April 28 - the so-called "Acela Primary."

Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and Pennsylvania are all now voting on June 2.

One potential problem for New York, however is that, June 23 is after June 9, the Democratic National Committee cutoff date for states to hold nominating contests. States that move outside the window could face a penalty of up to a 50% reduction in delegates.

New York has the second-most delegates of any state with 274. Louisiana and Kentucky have also moved their elections outside the approved window.

The New York State Election Commissioners Association, along with other voting access groups, had called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to consolidate the states presidential primary election with another primary set for June 23, and argued that the additional time would allow counties to properly prepare and organize around a potentially very different method of voting.

(MORE: Coronavirus government response updates: Drama as House passes $2T relief package)

Story continues

Many issues contributed to what the commission said would be a difficult election to pull off, according to the organization's president Kelly Penziul. Closed polling sites, lack of poll workers and public health concerns are at the top of the list.

It's going be kind of tough to pull this off if we have to stay with April 28. The fact is we don't want to jeopardize the health of our employees, Penziul told ABC News prior to Cuomo's announcement. You can't quarantine people and then turn around and say, Oh yeah, by the way, there's an election, go vote. You really can't do that in my eyes at all.

Other states scheduled to vote late April are expanding their absentee voting process to make sure ballots get cast. Ohio enacted similar changes which would allow for no-excuse absentee voting up until April 28, although some groups argued that the turnaround time is too short for that fix to be sufficient.

PHOTO: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Fran DeWine, Dr. Amy Acton and Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted walk to the State Room before their daily update regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the state's response on March 25, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (Columbus Dispatch via USA Today Network)

That'll be a challenge. We have to know that. I don't think we can go to total absentees because we'd never be able to handle that, especially in the big cities, Anthony Scannapieco, the Republican caucus chairman for the commissioners association previously said.

Common Cause New York, a voting rights group, had called on Gov. Cuomo and state officials to consolidate the primary, contending that officials have made it clear that they wont have the bandwidth to conduct an entirely absentee election by late April.

We don't have the infrastructure in place to do it quite frankly, so that's anything from having enough paper to print all the ballots, to making sure that we have prepaid postage, to make sure folks can return their ballot. It's a lot of smaller logistical decisions and preparations that would need to have started weeks ago, Sarah Goff, the deputy director of Common Cause New York had previously said.

To switch to an all-mail election requires years of transition periods, John Conklin of the New York State Board of Elections said, citing states that have used multiple cycles to make that switch.

A lot of the states that do vote by mail didn't do it overnight, didn't do it in a single election. They built to it over time. It had expanded vote by mail over multiple election cycles and even multiple years, Conklin said. So, I think that would be a drastic change for our system, and would require a lot of changes.

(MORE: Trump abruptly demands ramped-up ventilator production after downplaying need)

Since counties frequently utilize public facilities -- many of which are closed due to coronavirus concerns -- officials were worried that if the April 28 day of voting did proceed, there would be nowhere to hold elections.

PHOTO: Early voters maintain a distance from each other while casting their ballots at city hall on March 19, 2020, in Neenah, Wis. (William Glasheen/USA Today Network)

Penziul said that under the previous orders from Gov. Cuomo, it would be impossible to open any of her current polling sites in a way that would prevent large gatherings.

You have whole sites themselves that are becoming unavailable: schools, public buildings, places that are being shut down, Conklin said.

The concerns about processing absentee ballots factors into staffing as well. Approximately 55% of poll workers are over the age of 60 in New York, Conklin said, putting many of those who administer the election at risk of contracting or spreading the disease.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James had also called for no-excuse absentee voting, which the state does not currently offer, in order to allow the April 28 election to continue.

Voters shouldnt have to choose between their health and the right to cast a ballot, James said in a press release. If we act now, we have more than a month before the presidential primary and numerous special elections across our state to take action and ensure every eligible New York voter receives an absentee ballot.

ABC News' Quinn Scanlan contributed to this report.

New York presidential primary postponed amid record numbers of coronavirus cases originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Avoiding Stage 3 is an ideal case scenario. More developed and less populated countries than ours havent been able to manage it.

The 21-day lockdown in India was implemented in the hopes of controlling and reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus. We know that the infection spreads from human-to-human. India was said to be in Stage 2 of transmission at the time - meaning that the only ones who have the virus were either imported cases (Stage 1) or the ones who were exposed to people who were confirmed cases. The source of the transmission in all cases in Stage 2 could be tracked.

Limiting movement, maintaining hand hygiene and keeping a social distance at all times was the best way to protect yourself from contracting the virus, according to the World Health Organization as well as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Another thing the WHO said to do was expand testing exponentially - and while India has opened up more testing facilities and updated its criteria for testing, it is currently testing only 2,000-3,000 per day for the last few days. Before that, as per ICMR, the average was 1338 samples per day.

But yesterday, Arwind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, posted a tweet that said preparations were being made for a possible Stage 3 outbreak of COVID-19 in the Capital and that this preparation had been recommended by a panel of doctors headed by Dr SK Sareen. This means theyre preparing for a situation in which 1000 patients start getting reported per day in Delhi - while remaining optimistic that it wont come to that.

I have recd the report from the panel of doctors headed by Dr Sareen recommending measures to prepare for a potential Stage 3 outbreak of Covid-19 in Delhi We are ramping up our capacity for an eventuality of 1,000 daily positive cases, for testing, treatment and isolation.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 27, 2020

What does Stage 3 mean?

The four stages of transmission are being defined by medical experts as the following:

Stage 1: Imported cases

When all the confirmed cases have a travel history of going to an affected country.

Stage 2: Local transmission

When the virus is transmitted from cases of Stage 1 to people they came in contact with.

Stage 3: Community transmission

When the source of transmission cannot be traced for a majority of cases. The confirmed cases in this stage neither have travel history to affected countries nor have they come in contact with any confirmed patients.

Stage 4: Epidemic

When the disease takes the form of an epidemic, the transmission gets completely out of control and the disease has no clear end.

Entering the stage of community transmission would mean that a large number of patients (going by Kejriwals tweet, 1,000 per day) will need to be tested, isolated and treated. The healthcare infrastructure is under a lot of pressure already - Indias planning body Niti Aayog put out a call for doctors who are fit and able to volunteer in the fight against COVID-19. This would include doctors who are retired or those who may work in the private or military sector. Additionally, many healthcare workers have already tested positive for the novel coronavirus in India since personal protective equipment (PPE), which is essential for them at this point, is in short supply. Unless it is made more easily available, we may see more cases in healthcare providers in Stage 3 - just like Spain did.

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures! In the fight against the #COVID19, the Govt requests volunteer #doctors who are fit and willing to be available, to come forward & provide their services during this global pandemic. Register: https://t.co/EbQDwiELbR pic.twitter.com/0bXl89nWmv  NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) March 25, 2020

No community transmission - yet

As of now, the Health Ministry still maintains that there are no signs of community transmission. The question has been raised multiple times during press briefings and each time the answer is the same: if we all practise social distancing, India will not enter Stage 3.

Avoiding Stage 3 is an ideal case scenario. More developed and less populated countries than ours havent been able to manage it. Maybe its best that our leaders are taking all the precautions they can at this point so were ready to fight the disease at a greater scale if we do enter the stage of community transmission.

For more tips, read our article on How does COVID-19 spread?

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
After more than a week of pleading by New Orleans leaders, the federal government has agreed to allow emergency access to a vast stockpile of food that will be used to meet exploding demand at local food banks.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday evening that it would grant waivers allowing faster and wider use of about 4 million pounds of federally managed food stored at Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans and other Louisiana food banks. The coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the local economy has stretched food bank resources thin. Some New Orleans food banks say supplies could run out this weekend.

It was really in the nick of time, said City Councilwoman Helena Moreno, who helped lead negotiations with the USDA. I think, at the time, (the USDA) was not understanding the situation on the ground, particularly in New Orleans.

+12 Lines for free food grow as services for New Orleans' homeless dwindle during coronavirus closures The line of people waiting for food at one of the last places still serving free meals in New Orleans stretched for four blocks on Wednesday a

Second Harvest president Natalie Jayroe said said this week that the flood of people seeking food has just gone beyond what we can count.

The citys employment base is heavily dependent on the tourism and hospitality industries. Already low-paying, many of these jobs disappeared almost overnight when the pandemic forced the closure of hotels, restaurants, bars, convention centers and other businesses.

The USDA relented after Louisianas congressional delegation got involved late last week. U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, and staff from the office of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., argued forcefully on the food banks behalf, Moreno said.

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No disaster is normal, but this one is especially unique, David Stokes, Kennedys chief of staff, said Saturday. When you have 4 million pounds of food that cant get to needy individuals because of bureaucratic hangups, we just needed to do something about that.

Moreno said USDA officials initially doubted there was great need in New Orleans, citing the citys relatively well-stocked grocery stores. They also suggested those seeking food at food banks apply for assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which grants SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. But that process can take weeks.

We told them tens of thousands of people have been laid off in the hospitality industry, and they need food now, Moreno said. Then they kind of got it.

The USDA did not respond to requests for comment Saturday. A letter sent Friday from the USDA headquarters in Washington D.C. to the regional office overseeing the Louisiana food stockpile indicated a waiver would be granted due to the current economic situation and the severe impact of the COVID-19 emergency on the hospitality industry in Louisiana. The waiver is effective from Saturday through April 26.

The most recent waiver application cited a Louisiana Workforce Commission report showing a 4,300% increase in unemployment applications during the third week of March. On Monday, the commission estimated the weeks unemployment payout at $11 million to $17 million, compared to the regular weekly payout of about $2 million.

Much of the USDA food stockpile is already at food banks waiting to be distributed. A large share of it is fresh food, including vegetables, meat and dairy products, acquired by the government to support U.S. farmers during recent trade wars.
THE teenage pregnancy rate in Nkasi District in Rukwa Region has dropped significantly in the past three months, thanks to cooperation between the government and some nongovernmental organisations to solve the problem.

The NGOs include Plan International Tanzania working together with Jhpiego and Africare funded by the Canadian government and Grace Community Development Education (GCDE) financed by the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS).

Latest statistics show that 551 students dropped out of school in Rukwa Region between 2017 and August 2019 after being impregnated.

Nkasi District Council Executive Director (DED) Missana Kwangula said since January to March this year the number of pregnant students had dropped from nine students to one per month.

Mr Kwangula said this after handing over a wheelchair to a lady living with a disability, Ms Mary Denis, in Namanyere Township yesterday.

The wheelchair, donated by GCDE, is among the 16 wheelchairs that will be given to people living with disabilities (PLWDs) in Rukwa Region.

Our district had an alarming rate of early pregnancy, but now the story is quite different as only one case has been recorded each month from January to March this year.

The success story has been made possible due to concerted effort made by two NGOs Plan International Tanzania and GCDE for reaching and sensitising members of the public on the vice.

"The police have also played an active part by taking the culprits to court, explained the DED.

He further explained that even district ward councillors during their full council meeting discussed the best ways of finding a permanent solution to the problem.

The big challenge was with ward and village executive officers bent on solving early pregnancy cases outside a court room, added the DED.

For her part, Ms Denis expressed gratitude to GCDE for the donation, assuring that she would take care of the property because it is an integral part of her human organs. GCDE Executive Director Baptiser Mbwana said the wheelchair was worth over 700,000/-.
Some squabbling was, in fact, unavoidable as Victoria split with the Commonwealth on the speed of the response. There has been, as everyone now acknowledges, two schools of thought: the Commonwealths approach of slowing transmission, with a gradual increase in restrictions on the community, and Victorias eradication strategy which recommends an earlier move to lockdown. Debates of this nature are to be encouraged, not suppressed. On their own, they shouldnt challenge the federation.

Neither level of government would have anticipated this particular shock when they first met to co-ordinate a national response to the health crisis a fortnight ago. A unity of purpose, with a clear chain of command was taken for granted because leaders assumed the combination of the Commonwealth chequebook, respect for expert advice and a whatever-it-takes spending for state hospitals would help Australia avoid an American, British or Italian-style catastrophe. "All too often we squabble about health, not at this [meeting]," Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews assured the public at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister and fellow premiers and chief ministers on March 13. "We are all united."

The tension was laid bare on Tuesday as Scott Morrison made policy on the run to keep hairdressers open while Western Australia became the first of the mainland states to close its borders to the rest of the country. A prime minister mired in the weeds of regulation while premiers and chief ministers exercised the equivalent of wartime powers offers a telling example of the power of COVID-19 to shatter political hierarchies as it shuts down the economy. On that same Tuesday, March 24, the New South Wales government confirmed that one of the first passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise to test positive for the virus, a woman in her 70s, died .

What will change the way the country is run in the future is the example of the Ruby Princess, the boat the Commonwealth didnt think to stop. There is an irony here because primary responsibility rests with the NSW health and port authorities, which allowed the 2700 passengers to disembark without testing. The Commonwealth has some justification in blame-shifting on this point. But the Commonwealths failure is the more relevant. The buck for border protection ultimately stops with the Morrison government, and the states and territories will not have missed the implication of this loss of control. A failure of Commonwealth co-ordination mutated with state neglect, undermining every governments trust in the federation. It should not surprise Morrison that the states are going their own way where they can.

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The isolation of state from state is forging a new unity of purpose by default. Tasmania, the poorest state with the oldest population, was first to move last Friday, closing its border with the mainland. By Thursday, every state and territory was in a form of lockdown. The borders of Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland were effectively closed, while Victoria was pushing the Commonwealth to the inevitably of a tougher policy response with a stage-three national lockdown.

These examples of state and territory assertions of power wont be easily forgotten. It is too early, of course, to predict the outcome of the pandemic, let alone what the federation will look like in the recovery. Suffice to say, the premiers and chief ministers will no longer view the prime minister, whoever he or she may be, as the only person in charge of the country. This is a structural shift that would have occurred regardless of Morrisons performance in this crisis, because the problem is the federation itself. The coronavirus is a stress test of systems: the Commonwealths tax, spending and migration policies, and the states delivery of health and education services. It uniquely challenges both jurisdictions at the same time, punishing the weak links where the roles between the Commonwealth and the states overlap. The Ruby Princess is what happens when two tiers of political ego and bureaucracy rub up against each other. Neither is ever responsible, and all sides are wise after the event.

Australia will have plenty of time to think about the federation because after the first wave of the pandemic passes, the country will remain physically separated from the rest of the world to guard against a second wave of infections. Other nations will be thinking the same thing. This week, China closed its borders to foreigners.
Vladimir Putin can do anything, literally anything, and still be flexing on any and every single person. It's just in his blood, or maybe he's developed that fear in people over the years.

With so many politicians and world leaders at high risk, and so many already tested positive for coronavirus, Putin is making sure he's absolutely safe in the most hilarious way possible. Just roaming around in his custom made corona hazmat suit, he's staying safe AND stylish during the chaos.

Honestly, I'm still not sure if the pictures of him in a cabinet meeting dressed in that hazmat suit are real or not - so many sources are saying it's real - but I just wanted to add a disclaimer. Moreover, I wouldn't put it past Putin to show up with all the precautions, tbh.

"Are you wearing the.." "The custom corona couture? Yes, I am."

Putin striding into the hospital dressed in Custom Corona Couture is the biggest world leader flex yet. pic.twitter.com/GUX9wWE6Tl  Ordinary Guy (@ordinarytings) March 24, 2020

Show me something more gangster than Putin in a hazmat suit pic.twitter.com/SpLYZYUxNk  YIMMY (@MightbeaCommee) March 28, 2020

Say what you want about Putin, but hes not playing around. pic.twitter.com/40buQmS1GI  An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) March 28, 2020

Im sorry, but Putin is cool as fuck. I wish I had a hazmat suit. pic.twitter.com/EMdE6IHTwz  Cassandra Fairbanks (@CassandraRules) March 28, 2020

Putin has me SCREAMING dawg pic.twitter.com/z4L0tzOeXm  Stoney (@Stone_Marley) March 27, 2020

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is not here for jokes pic.twitter.com/qBiasTGQNC  Maximus Ekabua (@ekabua_maximus) March 28, 2020

Vladimir Putin is ready LMAOO aint nothing gonna catch him lackin pic.twitter.com/IVgcwIoUgr  Rigel (73%) ACNH (@RigelDerg) March 28, 2020

Vladimir Putin new levels of trust no one...#CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/hsxvWSx7hW  I am Mr #This Sammy  (@MachetheS) March 27, 2020

President Vladimir Putin of Russia refuses to take chance

Prevention is better than cure  pic.twitter.com/Vlb4Y6Iw9F  Meghan Nimwiza (@MeghanNimwiza) March 27, 2020

This is how much effort *VLADIMIR* is trying to *PUTIN*#COVID19Updates pic.twitter.com/uU8lDzCcJk  Undefined Abba (@undefined_aba) March 27, 2020

Vladimir is nowhere close to Putin his health in danger pic.twitter.com/4gFTEFQ7mM  Daddy Cool (@Ikizzy_Born) March 27, 2020

A whole new level.Mixtape dropping soon.Definitely not.Our new fashion inspiration.Quality content.Of course not.Can't catch him slipping.It's a good habit.It always is.A good pun.Never.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 28

Trend:

Details added: first version posted on 13:49

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent a telegram to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani MFA press service.

According to the ministry, Wang Yi noted in the telegram that since the coronavirus infection appeared, Azerbaijan has supported China in the fight against the epidemic, and in this regard expressed gratitude on behalf of his country .

"China, in turn, is ready to assist Azerbaijan in the fight against coronavirus," Wang Yi stressed.

"Minister Wang Yi noted that the new coronavirus pneumonia is rapidly spreading throughout the world, and the facts of infection were also revealed in Azerbaijan. He expressed his deepest condolences to the fraternal Azerbaijani people on behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as well as personally on his behalf, and wished the infected a fast recovery," the ministry said.

The telegram also noted that China and Azerbaijan are friendly countries and good partners.

"In this regard, China is ready to render all possible assistance to the Azerbaijani side, maintain close contacts regarding the epidemiological situation, prevention of pandemic and exchange of experience in controlling the disease, as well as the medical treatment. We believe that the Azerbaijani side will quickly eliminate the threat of infection, and relations between China and Azerbaijan will receive a new and even greater impetus for development," the telegram says.
"We pray for families who are beginning to feel the need because of the pandemic." I often think: they are good people - priests, nuns - who lack the courage to go and serve the poor. Something is missing. What these people were missing, the doctors of the Law. They lost their memory, they lost what Jesus felt in his heart: that he was part of his own people ".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - There are those who are hungry. The prayer intention of Pope Francis at the mass celebrated this morning in Casa Santa Marta was dedicated to those suffering from hunger because of the coronavirus pandemic. In these days, in some parts of the world, we are beginning to see some consequences of the pandemic, he said. One is hunger. We're beginning to see people who are hungry because they can't work. They may not have had a regular job, and from many other circumstances. We're beginning to see the aftermath that will come later. But it's beginning now. We pray for the families who are beginning to find themselves in need because of the pandemic.

Pope Francis focused on the separation between the leaders and the faithful, holy people of God evidenced in the Gospel reading from John 7:40-53.

After disputing whether Jesus was the Messiah, the Gospel says then each went to his own house. Everyone returned to their own convictions, Pope Francis explained. The people were divided in two camps. The first listened to Jesus, loved Him and followed Him. Religious leaders comprised the second group. They despised the first group and reject Jesus because, according to them, He was not observing the law.

The holy, faithful People of God believe in Jesus, they follow him. They can't explain why, but they follow Him. He enters their hearts, and they dont get tired. We can think of the day of the multiplication of the loaves. They were with Jesus the entire day to the point that the Apostles say to Jesus, Send them away so that they can go buy something to eat. The People of God had a huge grace: the sense of knowing where the Spirit was, even though they were sinners like us, that sense of knowing the path to salvation.

And this small group of the elite, the doctors of the law, they separate themselves from the people and don't welcome Jesus.

Pope Francis explained that the religious leaders had forgotten that they too belonged to the People of God due to a huge defect.

They had lost the memory of their own belonging to the People of God. They had become sophisticated. They had risen to a another social class. They felt authoritative. This is clericalism that we see here.

The Pope then reflected on what some people are saying regarding priests and religious leaving their homes to care for the poor. Some say they should not expose themselves to the virus, that priests are there to offer the Sacraments. This is how we create the same type of division among us. Some belong to the upper class and should not get their hands dirty by serving those who are considered to be in a lower class. Something is missing, the Pope said, if we do not have the courage to go and serve the poor.

Its the same thing that the doctors of the law were lacking. They have lost their memory, they have lost what Jesus felt in his heart  that He was a part of His own people. They have lost the memory of what God said to David, I took you from the flock. They have forgotten the memory of their own belonging to the flock. And so each one goes back to their own home.

Pope Francis also told a beautiful story of a priest in mountain village. Notwithstanding freezing temperatures and snow, he brought Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to the small villages in his area to give benediction.

It didn't matter that it was snowing or that the cold metal of the ostensorium was burning his hands. The only thing that mattered was bringing Jesus to the people.

Concluding his homily, the Pope recommended that we recall the advice that the Apostle Paul gave to the young bishop, Timothy: Remember your mother and your grandmother (see 2 Timothy 1:5). If Paul advised this it was because he knew well the danger of where this sense of elitism leads.
A lone cat walks along a market street in the center of the Jordanian capital Amman, during a nationwide curfew imposed by the authorities in order to control the spread of the CCP virus, on March 21, 2020. (Khalil MazraawiAFP via Getty Images)

Cat Tests Positive for CCP Virus

A cat tested positive for the new CCP virus, Belgian authorities said.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

The cats owner contracted COVID-19 and the cat was in direct contact with the owner, Steven Van Gucht, a virologist who serves as head of the Division of Viral Diseases at Sciensano, the Belgian national institute for public and animal health, told reporters this week.

About a week after the owner developed symptoms of the new disease, the cat showed symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.

Workers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege discovered the virus in the cats feces.

A homeless person sits with his cat on a street in Paris on March 21, 2020. (Joel Sagat/AFP via Getty Images)

Experts believe the situation was a human-to-animal transmission and consider the risk to humans very small.

It is an infection that does not pass from animal to human, Gucht said. Researchers also have no indication that this is something that often occurs.

The countrys Federal Food Agency said in an analysis issued after the positive test that CCP virus patients should not come into close contact with their animals and wash their hands after any contact to prevent passing on their infection to their pet.

Do not let the animal lick your face, it said.

Relatives or friends can take care of pets if owners have to go to the hospital for care.

The cat that became infected is now improving, the agency stated.

The other two pet animals known to test positive for COVID-19 were both dogs in Hong Kong.

A woman walks her dogs in Hong Kong on March 5, 2020. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

Neither dog showed symptoms of the virus. One later died, though it was aging, authorities noted. The dogs owner blocked officials from conducting an autopsy.

A spokesman for Hong Kongs Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department said that mammalian pet animals including dogs and cats from households with persons confirmed as infected with COVID-19, or close contacts of patients, should be put under quarantine.

The primary way COVID-19 is believed to spread is from person to person between people in close contact through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Those droplets can land in peoples eyes, nose, or mouth or be inhaled by them.

Touching a contaminated surface and then touching ones eyes, mouth, or nose is also believed to be a source of transmission.

The origin of the virus has not been confirmed but researchers believe it originated with an animal. Coronaviruses typically circulate in animals but can, in rare cases, jump from animals to humans before spreading from person to person.

Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report.
Pennsylvania voters will now go to the polls on June 2 to pick their Republican or Democratic nominee for president as well as choices for congressional and a number of state offices.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday announced he signed legislation that delays the April 28 primary due to overriding concerns about the health and safety of voters, poll workers and election workers amid the coronavirus outbreak. In Pennsylvania, the number of cases are closing in on 1,700 and health officials expect that figure to continue to surge.

Delaying this years primary election as several other states have done is in the best interests of voters, poll workers and county election officials, Wolf said in a statement announcing the signing of this bill and other coronavirus-related legislation. I commend the General Assembly for acting quickly on this critical legislation. The Department of State will continue to work with local election officials to ensure Pennsylvania has a fair and accessible election.

The House and Senate on Wednesday unanimously voted  the majority of them voting remotely from outside the state Capitol  on legislation to postpone the primary as at least 10 other states and territory has done.

The move was hailed by county officials as necessary to allow them more time to prepare for the primary and finding poll workers and places to host polling places. Several county election directors said that they were facing a shortage of both because people and places were bowing out over COVID-19 concerns.

York County welcomes the changes enacted by the governor and Legislature to move the primary to June 2, said Mark Walters, a spokesman for that county. We will use the additional time to continue preparing York County for a safe and successful primary.

Common Cause Pennsylvania also applauded the unprecedented move in an emergency situation. Not only does it protect the safety of all voters, the government reform organization says it ensures integrity in the election.

Rescheduling a primary election is not a decision that is made lightly, but moving this election now prevents us from having to implement last minute changes, which can disenfranchise voters, a statement from Common Cause said. We witnessed last weeks confusion in Ohio, when its government cancelled an election at the last minute. We dont want that in Pennsylvania.

Along with changing the date of the election to as late as it possibly could go to avoid interfering with the national party conventions, the legislation also:

Allows polling places to be consolidated.

Permits polls to be located in places that serve alcoholic beverages provided voting not take place in the same room where those beverages are served and where voters dont have to pass through an area where alcoholic beverages are served.

Allows county elections officials to begin processing mail-in and absentee ballots at 7 a.m. on Election Day.

Not everyone was happy that the bill didnt do more. Election officials would have liked it to lift the ban on government workers from serving as poll workers to help fill the void created by many of the senior citizens who often handle that task bowing out due to coronavirus concerns. Some also wanted it to allow more time before Election Day for processing the anticipated high volume of mail-in and absentee ballots.

Others also would have preferred a mail-in only primary using postage-paid ballots. But House State Government Committee Garth Everett, R-Lycoming County, said in his floor remarks on Wednesday he didnt favor that idea. He said voters should be able to choose how they want to vote and requiring them to vote in a certain manner would have exceeded lawmakers authority.

But as Dauphin Countys elections director Jerry Feaser said, Im going to attempt to rise to the challenge that this election presents but I dont know that theyve really given us viable options to address the two most important pillars of conducting an election: poll workers and polling places.

Voters who want to vote by mail-in ballot rather than going to a polling place on Election Da and sign up for either a mail-in or absentee ballot using the commonwealths new online application . Already, more than 215,000 registered voters have signed up for either a mail-in or absentee ballot.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.


Chinese authorities announced it will launch an investigation on Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology after it was accused of selling faulty COVID-19 test kits to Spain and the Czech Republic at marked-up prices.

The announcement comes after local news outlets in Spain reported the majority of rapid test kits bought from the Chinese firm were deemed too inaccurate to produce reliable diagnosis on potential COVID-19 patients.

A news site in the Czech Republic reported 120,000 out of the 150,000 portable quick COVID-19 test kits from China were substandard. The test was said to be able to produce results in less than 15 minutes. However, the error rate was too high to be of any use.

It was reported the Chinese firm was paid $546,000 for over 100,000 test kits. The Interior Ministry, who paid for the other 50,000, refused to disclose the amount paid.

In Spain, health officials found the kits only correctly identified 30 percent of virus cases. The country has since returned 9,000 test kits due to a high error rate.

"It's not our fault"

Bioeasy said the unreliable results were due to the health workers' failure in collecting samples and using the kits correctly. They also said company representatives have not had a chance to teach buyers how the kits worked.

The Chinese company offered to replace all faulty test kits. It also assured officials "the sensitivity and specificity needed" to help the hard-hit country fight against COVID-19.

The Chinese manufacturer said they contacted the Spanish Ministry of Health after it received news of the faulty COVID-19 test kits. They immediately gave an instructional video and related cards to healthcare officials in Spain.

An institute on infectious diseases and clinical microbiology in Spain has tried the new bath of products and said the results produced were accurate so far.

Bioeasy claimed the Spanish Health Ministry has extended their contract and ordered another batch of COVID-19 test kits.

Spanish officials said they will now rely on slower molecular laboratory testing while waiting for the replacement. The laboratory test takes approximately four hours to produce a result and needs the supervision of specialized personnel.

Not Purchased Through the Chinese Government?

The Chinese Embassy in Spain said Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology was not included on the list of recommended companies they provided to Spanish authorities.

The Spanish government made a statement on Thursday, clarifying the issue. The statement said the faulty test kits involved in the incident were not the ones it bought from the Chinese government.

The kits were said to be imported by a Spanish supplier from a Chinese manufacturer. The products had a certification stamp that allowed it to be sold within the European Economic Area. The stamps are used to indicate conformity with health, safety, and environmental standards.

The failure of the test kits set back Spanish medical authorities who are struggling to manage the rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

It has also tarnished China's image which the Asian country was seeking to rehabilitate after took hits due to its faulty early response to the virus.

A health official in Spain said the country is trying to import over 6 million testing kits while Spanish biotechnology firms are hard at work in producing fast and reliable testing kits.

GET THE LATEST NEWS ON COVID-19:
Coronavirus: Amid the epidemic, thousands of migrants working in capital started heading towards their native places and gathered at Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Gaziabad border.

At the time when people have locked them selves inside their houses following Prime Minister Narendra Modis guidelines to stay safe from novel coronavirus, thousands of migrant workers headed towards Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Ghaziabad boarders taking an arduous trek on foot after a news surfaced that Uttar Pradeshs Yogi Adityanath government has arranged special buses to help them reaching their respective destinations.

Reports said after waiting for hours, stranded people took buses from Gaziabads Lal Kuan.

Most of the migrants are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana who are panicked and have no option left except for going back to their native places as India is observing a 21-day lockdown to eliminate spread of Covid-19.

As people started gathering at Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Gaziabad, Delhi-Gurugram boarders, the neighboring states made special arrangements for people to stay, distributed edibles and water bottles.

During the episode, policemen continued to perform their duty and requested people to maintain a foots distance, cover faces with masks and use hand sanitizers.

Meanwhile, UP CM Yogi Adityanath announced that terents no need to pay rent for this month adding if house owner asks for rent, he/she has to face police action.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal too asked people to stay where they are and assured that the government will take Care of them but people are not pay heed to his appeal.

Prime Minister Naremdra Modi had announced India lockdown so that people should observe social distancing but tese pictures tell a different story and a threat of virus to reach the remotest corners and villages still looms.

As per the ministry of health and welafes website, number of positive coronavirus cases in India has shoot up to 918.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 09:33:33|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (L front) holds a welcome ceremony for Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2017.(Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Noting that now Saudi Arabia is also facing the severe challenge of COVID-19, Xi said China firmly supports the Saudi side in fighting the epidemic, and stands ready to provide as much assistance as its capability allows.



BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Group of 20 (G20) major economies should uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and strengthen unity, coordination and cooperation to resolutely stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and stabilize the world economy with all their strength, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday.

In a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Xi noted that with the king presiding, G20 leaders successfully held an extraordinary summit on COVID-19 on Thursday, and reached important consensus on fighting the pandemic in solidarity and stabilizing the world economy, which has sent a positive signal to the international community.

China, he added, appreciates the tremendous efforts Saudi Arabia made for the meeting as this year's G20 chair.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud attends the extraordinary G20 leaders' virtual summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 26, 2020. (Department of Public Information of Saudi Arabia/Handout via Xinhua)

Viruses respect no national borders, and only with a collective response can the international community prevail over them, stressed the Chinese president, adding that China is ready to maintain close communication with Saudi Arabia and strengthen the momentum of G20 cooperation.

Xi recalled that after the coronavirus disease broke out in China, King Salman immediately expressed sympathies and support to him, and the Saudi government and various sections of Saudi society extended a helping hand one after another, and provided China with multiple batches of material assistance.

That will be engraved in the hearts of the Chinese people, Xi said, adding that the Chinese nation is a grateful nation that returns a favor with a favor.

Noting that now Saudi Arabia is also facing the severe challenge of COVID-19, Xi said China firmly supports the Saudi side in fighting the epidemic, and stands ready to provide as much assistance as its capability allows.

China, he added, is also willing to share its epidemic prevention and control experience with the Saudi side, and help Saudi Arabia purchase medical supplies, so as to protect the lives and health of the people in both countries, and jointly safeguard global and regional public health security.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Meanwhile, China is ready to join hands with Saudi Arabia to continuously enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and lift their comprehensive strategic partnership to new levels, said Xi.

Salman, for his part, said that the Chinese government carried out decisive and strong measures and has successfully contained the outbreak, and he highly appreciates and sincerely congratulates China on that.

Stressing that China's success has sent a positive signal to the entire world, he said he has firm confidence in the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and believes that China will win the battle soon and grow stronger.

Saudi Arabia and China are friends that stick together through thick and thin, and bilateral relations are developing at a high level, said the king, who thanked China for providing assistance in testing and medical supplies.

Photo taken on March 1, 2020 shows that Saudi Arabia's coronavirus follow-up committee holds a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

The Saudi people will not forget that, and will always stand firmly with the Chinese side, he added.

Saudi Arabia, he said, hopes to learn from China's successful experience and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in health care and other fields, and believes that the friendship between the two countries will grow deeper and stronger in the joint fight against the epidemic.

Expressing gratitude for Xi's support for Saudi Arabia in hosting the G20 extraordinary leaders' summit on COVID-19, the king said the Saudi side hopes to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China within the G20 framework and jointly help the world overcome the current crisis as soon as possible. 
The police has arrested a woman from the city for allegedly posting fake about a doctor working at a state-run hospital here.

The 29-year-old woman, on her social networking account, had said that the doctor working at Beliaghata ID Hospital was infected with COVID-19 while treating patients afflicted with the disease, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said on Saturday.

She was arrested by the officers of the cyber crime cell of Kolkata Police on Friday night.

Without revealing the identity of the woman, the police officer said that the accused has been booked under the IT Act.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday had warned those who have been uploading fake on the social media.

My health secretary has forwarded the post to me where it was mentioned that a doctor treating Covid-19 patients has fallen sick. This is totally baseless. I have been saying that people having exposure to corona victims are most vulnerable, but the is baseless. I have referred the matter to the detective department, she said during a press briefing at the state secretariat.

Meanwhile, the police on Saturday morning arrested two persons from the Cossipore area for hoarding rice.

The two failed to give an appropriate reply to why they had stored rice. They are no businessmen and they dont own any godown. Around 30 sacks of rice, weighing more than 300 kg, were found inside a room, a policeman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two militant associates belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were on Saturday arrested from Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said, adding a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from their possession.

A police spokesman said the two have been identified as Showkat Ahmad Mir alias Molvi, resident of Wussan Pattan, and Showkat Ahmad Yatoo, resident of Chanderhama, Pattan in the north Kashmir district. Arms and ammunition including one pistol, pistol magazine, six pistol rounds, a hand grenade, AK- 47 magazine, 32 AK-47 rounds and other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession, the spokesman said.

He said a complaint was received by Police Station Pattan about a missing person Abid Qayoom Lone, a resident of Wussan, who was studying at a government college in Jammu.

During the course of investigation, it was learnt that Mir and Yatoo had managed a visa for Lone for Pakistan and on February 23 this year, Lone crossed over to Pakistan at the Wagah Border apparently for seeking admission in MBBS, the spokesman said.

The investigating officers also learnt that Lone was sent to Pakistan for joining the terrorist outfit, he added.

The investigation also revealed that earlier in the year 2018, the duo had managed visa for four youths identified as Umar, Gulzar - both residents of Wussan area - and Adil Ahmad Mir and Umar Khan- both residents of Liver Pahalgam- to Pakistan.

A case has been registered and further investigation is going on, the spokesman added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
American actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson are back in Los Angeles from Australia after testing positive for coronavirus and quarantining for two weeks.

According to People magazine, the couple was photographed driving in Los Angeles, where Hanks was seen behind the wheel and Wilson on the passenger seat.

They have returned to the U.S. from Australia, where Hanks was busy filming Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley biopic. This comes just days after Hanks shared a statement on how the couple was feeling on Twitter.

The Oscar-winning actor wrote in a joint statement with his wife, "Hey, folks. Two weeks after our first symptoms and we feel better."

The couple then urged their followers and fans to stay home and self-isolate, reminding people that it was the most effective way to avoid the virus, as well as help stop the spread.

On March 11, Hanks had announced that he and Wilson had contacted the coronavirus. According to a representative from the film in Australia, "Filming for the movie has been halted following Hanks' diagnosis. The actor is the only person on set believed to have tested positive for the virus."

On March 16, Hanks and Wilson were released from a Queensland hospital. At the time, a representative for People magazine told that they were "doing very well" under quarantine at their home in Australia.

Hanks' rep, Leslee Dart, said, "Tom and Rita are doing very well and continue to recover. Their recovery is very much on course for healthy adults with this virus. They are feeling better each day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Minutes after actor Akshay Kumar pledged to donate Rs 25 crore from his savings to the PM's relief fund, wife Twinkle Khanna has nothing but all good words for the decision.

The 46-year-old actor took to Twitter handle to share how much her husband makes her proud.

In the tweet, the 'Barsaat' actor recalled the conversation they had regarding the decision of making a 'massive amount' of donation.

"The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said -- 'I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing," she tweeted.

The appreciation post came in after the 'Kesari' actor went online to pledge to contribute Rs 25 crore from his savings to the Prime Minister's relief fund set up to fight against the novel coronavirus.

The actor has been making the complete use of social media platforms to raise awareness about the coronavirus and was also seen urging people to take the government's advisory of self-isolation seriously amid the rising cases of the virus.

The country is in a three-week lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which according to the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs, has claimed 19 lives so far and infected 873 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Manitobas devastated restaurant industry is calling for quick action to allow liquor sales with delivery and takeout, as other provinces have done.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/3/2020 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobas devastated restaurant industry is calling for quick action to allow liquor sales with delivery and takeout, as other provinces have done.

The Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association put out a statement Thursday saying the province had a responsibility to allow alcohol delivery and takeout similar to British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan to Manitoba as "a small ray of hope to a struggling restaurant industry and its employees" as the coronavirus pandemic results in closures and layoffs.

MRFA executive director Shaun Jeffrey told the Free Press that a conversation with Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton had made it apparent Manitoba would not be following suit but was "working on it," despite having introduced legislation to allow liquor to be sold with licensed takeout and delivery establishments in 2019.

"Its a little bit troubling, considering we have had tabled legislation in this province for that actual service, so it has some support, because it wouldnt have passed the first reading if it didnt have support," he said.

Yesterday, Ontario also announced it would amend regulations to allow bars and restaurants to provide takeout and delivery alcohol, effective immediately.

Jeffrey said the MRFA was "mind-boggled" and "very disappointed" by the slow response from the province, adding Wharton didnt provide him with a timeline.

"Their feedback to us is that it remains a priority, and that they want it to happen, but theres a lot of factors... the way that the Liquor Control Act has been written that is not allowing them to be able to proceed with the emergency measure," he said.

Wharton did not respond to a Free Press request for comment Friday.

Passing this legislation could help local restaurants recoup their losses, Little Pizza Heaven operations manager Fabio Haiko-Pena said.

"I think it could be a very good idea to be helping the restaurants  not just us, but in general. Theres so many restaurants where their main income is based on dine-in service," he said.

He said the loss of alcohol has had a noticeable impact on Little Pizza Heavens revenue.

"It could help us to increase sales a little bit, to deliver some beers in cans together with pizzas," he said.

Little Bones Wings managing partner Jeff Klause said he has had to lay off staff and take additional safety precautions to keep takeout and delivery options running.

But he said while offering takeout and delivery alcohol might marginally increase sales, he wants the province to look beyond legislation and provide more direct support to restaurants.

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"Opening up booze sales for restaurants, I think its a great idea, it should be done, but the argument should not be that this is going to save restaurants," he said. "This is not going to save restaurants."

Klause said he would prefer the provincial government to provide sanitization services to remaining establishments.

"We have a huge amount of people being laid off all over the place in the industry, so the ones that are actually staying open, we could use the help from the government; not more regulation, not more things that we should be doing," he said.

"Actual human beings who are helping. Otherwise, just keep out of it."

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson was continuing to work from the Number 11 study on Saturday and held a video conference call this morning, as he remains in self-isolation after contracting coronavirus.

A Number 10 spokesperson confirmed today that Mr Johnson's condition was 'the same' and he was only suffering with 'mild symptoms' of the deadly coronavirus.

Mr Johnson has been continuing to lead in the fight against the virus while holed up next-door in Number 11, joining a meeting of key advisers this morning, beaming himself into the room via videolink.

It follows the PM's announcement yesterday he tested positive for the virus at midnight on Friday after complaining of feeling 'rough' on Thursday afternoon.

In a 4pm press conference, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said Mr Johnson held a video conference call this morning and continues to lead the Government's efforts to combat COVID-19 despite testing positive himself.

Boris Johnson was seen today hosting a video meeting while in self-isolation from coronavirus

Thew PM is determined to lead the government's fight against Covid-19 despite being laid up at Number 11 Downing Street with 'mild symptoms' of the potentially life-threatening virus

In a 4pm press conference, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said Mr Johnson held a video conference call this morning and continues to lead the Government's efforts to combat COVID-19 despite testing positive himself.

Mr Sharma confirmed that Mr Johnson only showed 'mild symptoms' of coronavirus.

'He continues to lead the government's effort in combating Covid-19,' Sharma told reporters.

'This morning he held a video conference call and he will continue to lead right from the front on this.

'What this has reminded us is that no one is immune and that is precisely why we ask people to follow the Government advice in terms of staying at home where they are able to do that,' Sharma said.

Mr Johnson remains holed up in the spacious flat above Number 11, which has five bedrooms, playrooms and drawing rooms that lead off the double-height atrium.

It is thought that the Prime Minsiter's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds is no longer on the premises with him.

Britain's Business Secretary Alok Sharma holds a coronavirus news conference with NHS England Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis (left) at 10 Downing Street on Saturday afternoon

Boris Johnson pictured conducting his weekly audience with the Queen via telephone on March 25. The Prime Minister was continuing to work from the Number 11 study on Saturday as he remains in self-isolation after contracting coronavirus

It is thought Carrie Symonds is no longer on the premises with him and could instead be living at Chequers, the PM's official residence

She could instead be living at Chequers, the PM's official residence, or Chevening, in Kent, another government home the couple have used in recent times, as concern for her health mounts.

Carrie herself also suggested she had moved out after posting on her Instagram account a photograph of her with the couple's dog Dilyn, a Jack Russell cross, with the caption: 'Self-isolating isn't so bad with this one'.

The Prime Minister has been accused of failing to follow his own social distancing rules after Health Secretary Matt Hancock tested positive.

Proving the virus had reached the heart of power in the UK, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, also announced yesterday that he has begun self-isolating with symptoms.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday morning he had tested positive for coronavirus

Mr Johnson remains holed up in the spacious flat above Number 11 (floor plan above), which has five bedrooms, playrooms and drawing rooms that lead off the double-height atrium

Health secretary Matt Hancock also revealed yesterday he had tested positive for the virus

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack revealed today he had developed mild symptoms of coronavirus and was self-isolating.

Questions have arisen as to why the officials did not 'practice what they preach'. The Prime Minister and Health Secretary were pictured at close quarters in the Commons in recent days  well within the advised 6ft limit.

The Chief Medical Officer  who is also a consultant doctor  had even advised the Prime Minister in person earlier that evening after Mr Johnson complained of coronavirus-like symptoms.

Britain's COVID-19 death toll rocketed by 260 to 1,019 today as the UK suffered its worst day yet and saw a huge spike in victims.

It is the biggest daily increase the UK has seen. A total of 120,776 coronavirus tests have taken place, and 17,089 have come back positive.

The total number of deaths is 34 per cent higher than the equivalent figure on Friday and the largest day-on-day percentage increase since March 18, when the total rose from 71 to 104 (46 per cent).

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Chaos in the Downing Street bunker: Boris Johnson battles coronavirus from his self-isolation in No11, aides sleep in cabin beds in No10 while staff struggle to stay in touch as Zoom conferences keep crashing

The cracks are starting to show in Downing Street as Boris Johnson battles through the deadly coronavirus in order to lead the country from self-isolation - as aides desperately fight to get the government's message about social distancing across to the nation.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both tested positive for coronavirus and just afterwards, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, revealed he too had symptoms.

Now the group are trying to lead the country's fight against the deadly disease from self-isolation as aides are brought in to spearhead the government's coronavirus message.

Mr Johnson has been staying in touch with his cabinet using Zoom - which allows a large number of people to 'dial-in' to a conference call and use computer and phone cameras to be seen by other participants. But concerns have been raised over security and the reliability of the app.

It comes as Britain's coronavirus death toll rocketed by 260 to 1,019 today as the UK suffered its worst day yet and saw a huge spike in victims. It is the biggest daily increase the UK has seen. A total of 120,776 coronavirus tests have taken place, and 17,089 have come back positive.

There are concerns in government that not enough Britons are following the government's advice. The advice says the public should leave their house only to shop for groceries, provide or receive medical care, travel to work or exercise, which is limited to once a day.

But pictures this week emerged of seemingly oblivious sun-seekers soaking up the rays in Southsea, Bournemouth and Somerset.

The man who mapped out the Conservative Party's recent thumping election victory has been brought in to encourage Britons to stay indoors as many continue to flout the rules.

He is little known outside Westminster, but 36-year-old Australian Isaac Levido has been central to the government's communications strategy and its central slogan: Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.

It was revealed yesterday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both tested positive for coronavirus (pictured, the Downing Street floor plan where Mr Johnson is holed up). Just hours after they confirmed they had the virus, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, revealed he too had symptoms.

He is little known outside Westminster, but 36-year-old Australian Isaac Levido has been central to the government's communications strategy and its central slogan: Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives (pictured, campaign chief Isaac Levido (right) with the PM that he helped to victory)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who yesterday said he has tested positive for coronavirus, stands behind a podium with the government's key NHS message: Stay Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives

Isaac Levido (left) has been brought into Downing Street alongside Ben Guerin (right), a social media expert from New Zealand who masterminded the Tories' general election social media strategy, in order to push the Government's NHS message during the lockdown

In other coronavirus developments:

NHS workers began being tested for coronavirus at a temporary drive through testing station in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington

Photos revealed the inside of the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital with two wards, each for 2,000 people, to help tackle the coronavirus response

The British Red Cross said evictions of asylum seekers from Government accommodation are to be halted amid fears about the disease

Police urged motorcyclists to stay out of the countryside and told them they cannot claim it is part of their permitted daily exercise under lockdown rules

Police chiefs want Britons to snitch on any neighbours they suspect of breaching the coronavirus lockdown

Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur

Images from inside ExCeL Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into a hospital

Andy Burnham has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason'

Workers who have not taken a holiday because of the crisis will be able to carry it over into the next two years

NHS staff to be tested for coronavirus from next week at places including Chessington World of Adventures

The coronavirus social distancing limit is four times too short, Massachusetts Institute of Technology warned

He has been brought into Downing Street alongside Ben Guerin, a social media expert from New Zealand who masterminded the Tories' general election social media strategy, in order to push the government's NHS message during the lockdown.

The political aides, who were credited with helping the Conservative Party secure such a large majority in December, have been subcontracted by the civil service to 'build a wall of noise' around the central message of staying home.

Police up and down the country are exercising their new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown - stopping people having picnics and dog walkers in the Peak District by chasing them with drones.

The government hopes however that with the help of Mr Levido and Mr Guerin, the government's key NHS messaging will get across and the country will begin to recover from the virus.

A senior ally of Mr Johnson told The Times: '[Levido] is a specialist in message discipline and the power of messages. He's trying to build a wall of noise around our core message. This is a campaign.

'In an election you're trying to campaign to change behaviour and get people to vote a certain way, this is trying to change behaviour to save lives. They have gripped the comms.'

Softly spoken and sporting a black beard, Mr Levido was director of politics and campaigning in Conservative Campaign Headquarters  and the undisputed chief of the Tory campaign.

After the results of the exit poll were revealed, staff at the party's Westminster HQ chanted 'Oh, Isaac Levido'  mocking the tribute to Jeremy Corbyn which used to be sung by Labour supporters.

A senior Tory source said: 'Isaac showed real leadership throughout the campaign  he never panicked, lifted spirits on difficult days and had a laser focus on the end result.

'He quickly gained the trust of everyone around him and deserves all the plaudits for an extremely well-run and disciplined campaign.' Under Mr Levido's plans the Tories targeted 50 swing seats and sought to defend another 50, under plans to secure a 'functional' majority.

People exercise in the early morning sun at Hyde Park in central London, during a lockdown over the spread of COVID-19

Members of the public exercising closely with a personal trainer at Paddington Recreation Ground in London, during a lockdown over the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that people should only leave their homes for essential work, groceries, medical necessity and exercise

Shoppers keep their distance as they wait for a Tesco store to open in Leatherhead, Surrey. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have tested positive for the virus and are now self isolating

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack self-isolating after developing coronavirus symptoms Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is self-isolating after developing mild symptoms of coronavirus. The Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway said he has a mild temperature and a cough. He has not been tested for Covid-19 but is self-isolating and working from home. It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed on Friday that they have tested positive for Covid-19 while England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said that he has symptoms. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is self-isolating after developing mild symptoms of coronavirus (he is pictured with Boris Johnson during Scottish Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday) Mr Jack said: 'In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus. 'In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home.' The MP has been at home in his constituency since Wednesday. Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock and Mr Whitty are all self-isolating and continuing to work. The Prime Minister is likely to face further criticism after Mr Jack, the Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, followed ministerial his colleagues into isolation. Mr Johnson sat next to Mr Jack as he took Scottish questions at the despatch box in the House of Commons on Wednesday, immediately before Prime Minister's Questions. Mr Hancock was sitting on the other side of the Scottish Secretary on the Conservatives' front bench. Advertisement

He is a former deputy to controversial Australian election guru Lynton Crosby, who masterminded David Cameron's coalition-busting win four years ago.

But he also went on to work on Zac Goldsmith's failed London mayoral campaign in 2016 and Theresa May's disastrous general election campaign the following year.

More recently Mr Levido worked for Australia's Liberal Party which surprisingly won an election earlier this year.

Guerin on the other hand was brought in alongside Kiwis Topham, 28, to drive the Tories' online election campaign amid fears that dire winter weather could scupper traditional methods of targeting voters.

The pair were brought in by director of politics and campaigning Isaac Levido to toughen up the Conservatives' social media efforts after a dire performance in 2017.

The twenty-something pair, who run agency TG in London, formerly worked for the Tories' Australian counterpart the Liberal Party, whose leader Scott Morrison surprisingly won an election earlier this year.

While there they were known for making 'boomer memes' - content deliberately crafted to look simplistic and basic. They targeted groups like older people online.

They also used content from popular television programmes like Game of Thrones to grab attention.

The intentionally clunky design of the memes meant they were shared widely on Facebook, which because of the way the platform works helped their harder political messages reach bigger audiences.

It comes as Britain's coronavirus death toll surged by 181 yesterday as Government advisers warned that even stricter social distancing measures could be on the way. It was by far the biggest daily increase and means the disease has claimed 759 lives, including young and previously healthy people.

Government advisers said stricter social distancing policies may have to be rolled out next month if the grim figures continued to rise. The measures would be introduced in three weeks as the outbreak reached its peak to further reduce 'person-to-person interaction'.

This week France announced that individuals could only exercise alone  unless with children  for a maximum of an hour and within 1,000 yards of their homes. Spain and Italy have banned exercise altogether, and there are concerns that Britons are deliberately misinterpreting the guidance by travelling to beauty spots miles from their homes.

Yesterday's figures show that London hospitals recorded the highest number of new deaths at 54, followed by West Midlands hospitals with 19. But these numbers do not include patients who die at home or in care homes, meaning the true number may be higher.

A senior government adviser suggested the figures would continue to rise for at least the next three weeks, meaning the peak is likely to hit at Easter. The adviser said hospitals 'should be OK', but admitted 'we can't guarantee it' and stressed some intensive care units may struggle to cope.

Boris Johnson pictured within six-foot of Health Secretary Matt Hancock before a press conference at No10 Downing Street on March 12. Both have tested positive for the virus and chief medical officer Chris Whitty, pictured at the top of the stairs, has symptoms

Boris Johnson pictured announcing to the UK that he has tested positive for coronavirus in a video shared to social media

Boris Johnson today announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus while Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (pictured left) has developed symptoms and will be self-isolating

And should the number of deaths rise significantly, 'greater enforcement' of social distancing policies would have to be introduced. This would include 'anything that can be done to push it (down) further' and prevent people catching the disease.

The adviser added: 'I expect death numbers to increase over two, three or four weeks, and then to gradually decrease.' Officials were generally 'very happy' with the levels of compliance with social distancing guidance, despite some Britons travelling some distance to beauty spots in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales to exercise.

The advice says the public should leave their house only to shop for groceries, provide or receive medical care, travel to work or exercise, which is limited to once a day. The total number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 14,543, up from 11,658. But this is a huge underestimate of the true figure as most patients with the virus are not being tested.

Professor Jim Naismith, an expert in structural biology at Oxford University, said: 'Although Covid-19 is a mild disease for over 80 per cent of us, today's deaths will have come as a terrible blow to families. The increase in the deaths are following the exponential pattern predicted.

This means we are likely to continue to see further increases in the numbers of daily deaths until social distancing measures have their effect. 'The deaths tomorrow and in the days ahead will be of people who were infected before the social distancing measures were implemented.

I understand the temptation to live on each day's numbers, but what matters is what is ahead of us and what we can do to save lives.' Dr Mike Tildesley, of the University of Warwick, added: 'We may expect to see the number of daily confirmed cases continue to climb, before starting to decline once the current social distancing measures start to have an effect.'

Doctors and nurses have begged people to stay indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, pleading with people to stay at home and save lives.

Ambulances are seen outside the Excel Centre, London today while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease

Medical equipment is seen outside the Excel Centre, London today while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues

The Prime Minister has stressed that unless you are a key worker or helping someone vulnerable, the only reasons to go outside are to go shopping for essentials, exercise once a day or fulfil any medical needs.

This comes as police up and down the country exercise their new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown - stopping people having picnics and dog walkers in the Peak District by chasing them with drones.

Police chiefs are encouraging Britons to snitch on neighbours suspected of breaching Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown.

Humberside Police have created a 'hotline' where people can submit tip-offs if they flout social distancing rules, including gatherings of more than two people.

West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have also established online forums for 'snoopers' keen to punish rule-breakers.

The portals have been made in response to an increase in the number of calls to the non-emergency 101 number since Monday.

Despite this, forces yesterday were facing accusations of being overzealous as they use the sweeping new powers to crack down on people flouting the rules, using road blocks, drones and helicopters to enforce it.

Officers have already issued fines less than 24 hours after new laws were brought into force, the National Police Chiefs' Council has said.

Those who ignore the tougher restrictions on movement could be hit with a 60 fine initially - reduced to 30 if paid within 14 days - and another for 120 for a second offence. But fines could reach 1,000-plus for repeat offenders.

It comes as Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock faced accusations they had failed to follow their own advice on social distancing after both tested positive for coronavirus.

The Prime Minister and Health Secretary were pictured at close quarters in the Commons in recent days  well within the advised 6ft limit.

Just hours after they confirmed they had the virus, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who has been the face of the nation's coronavirus response, revealed he too had symptoms.

Professor Whitty said he would be isolating at home for seven days having experienced symptoms 'compatible' with the disease on Thursday night.

In fact the Chief Medical Officer  who is also a consultant doctor  had even advised the Prime Minister in person earlier that evening after Mr Johnson complained of coronavirus-like symptoms.

It is not known whether Professor Whitty examined Mr Johnson or took his temperature, but he is unlikely to have been wearing protective clothing.

Warnings to visitors to stay away appear to be mostly working at Lyme Regis in Dorset as is almost deserted on a sunny day as the coronavirus pandemic lockdown continues

A man in a facemask and protective gloves is stopped by a member of the Royal Military Police 150 Provost Company, works alongside North Yorkshire Police, at a vehicle check point near Catterick Barracks in Yorkshrie, to ensure motorists are complying with Government restrictions and only making essential journeys

Richmond park with lots of groups of cyclists who aren't observing the social distancing warnings

A Downing Street spokesman suggested it was unlikely the Chief Medical Officer contracted the disease from the Prime Minister, as the first signs usually take several days to appear.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, revealed on Thursday he was self-isolating with symptoms, and several Department of Health advisers are also thought to have the virus.

That the virus has infected so many senior figures who are co-ordinating the nation's response will raise concerns policies to contain its spread will be impeded.

A Department of Health source said Professor Whitty only had mild symptoms and would still be coordinating the nation's response in self-isolation at home.

Writing on Twitter yesterday, Professor Whitty said: 'After experiencing symptoms compatible with Covid-19 last night, in line with the guidance, I will be self-isolating at home for the next seven days. I will be continuing to advise the Government on the medical response to coronavirus, supported by my deputies.'

Mr Hancock developed a temperature and sore throat on Wednesday evening  just hours after he had been in close contact with the Prime Minister.

As recently as Wednesday afternoon, he was pictured next to Mr Johnson and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is considered more at risk from coronavirus as he has Type 1 diabetes, shortly after Prime Minister's Questions.Mr Johnson, meanwhile, was photographed clapping for NHS staff on Thursday night with Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside Downing Street, when he is likely to have had symptoms, although kept a distance apart.

In recent weeks Mr Johnson has continued to meet his Cabinet and key advisers, including Professor Whitty, while urging the public to work from home wherever possible. Although the Prime Minister and Health Secretary have both tested positive, the Chief Medical Officer has not himself undertaken a test.

Tests are only available to Cabinet ministers if they show symptoms, which raises the possibility that others may have contracted the disease and spread it without realising they were ill.

A spokesman for Mr Sunak, who is not self-isolating, said he has not had any symptoms and therefore has not been tested.

Downing Street has previously confirmed that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would stand in if Mr Johnson was too unwell to continue leading the nation.

If Mr Raab also became ill, the Prime Minister has the power to delegate responsibility to any of his ministers.
The Royal Mint is to manufacture up to 4,000 medical visors per day to help protect NHS staff from coronavirus.

Engineers developed a successful prototype in 48 hours and the first visors are already in use at a hospital in Wales.

Since news of the visor production emerged, the Royal Mint has received requests to supply hospitals across the UK.

Production is now moving to 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Royal Mints site in Llantrisant, south Wales.

A total of 750 visors were made on Saturday and the team is aiming to increase this to 4,000 per day from Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mint said: We have received requests from NHS trusts and hospitals across the country since we announced yesterday. We have increased production as a result to help as many as possible.

She said engineers at the site, used to working on coins and related machinery, created the first design within seven hours.

A Royal Mint employee checks the fit of a full-face visor (Ben Birchall/PA)

They then outlined the materials required to produce the visors and designed the component parts.

The Royal Mint worked with its supply chain in the UK to source the materials so final prototypes could be made for the NHS to review.

Approval came within 48 hours of the company beginning work on the visors.

We are already an fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturer so a lot of the techniques could be easily transferred, the spokeswoman said.

We use anti-static washing to ensure coins are in mint condition. This same technology ensures the visors are free of debris.

Royal Mint employees assemble full face visors in the cafe inside the Royal Mint Experience (Ben Birchall/PA)

To develop new products we use cellular manufacturing techniques  enabling one person to make a product from beginning to end  and were using the same techniques here to speed up production of visors.

Our experience in FMCG means we could also set up a production line with assembly, packaging, quality checking and dispatching within a few hours.

The visors are already in use at the nearby Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

Companies including Brammer, TJ Morgan and Technical Foam Services have worked with the Royal Mint to source the components needed.

Thank you Royal Mint!

Cwm Taf Morgannwg would like to say thanks to the Royal Mint as the organisation starts to mass manufacture medical visors for the NHS to support the response to COVID19.https://t.co/yTcbLGOJZo  Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB (@CwmTafMorgannwg) March 27, 2020

Huw Davies, clinical director for anaesthetics at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, said staff were really grateful for the visors.

It was actually quite emotional for our teams when they came in and offered their support and expertise to us to help keep us safe, he said.

It is a great example of collaboration and a real goodwill gesture from their team.

Dr Sharon Hopkins, the chief executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, also thanked the Royal Mint for their contribution.

This equipment will be vitally important for our frontline staff to protect themselves and others as they work to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.

The Royal Mint is appealing for manufacturers across the UK to help source 1.0mm clear plastic, which is currently in low supply.

Anyone who can help should contact visors@royalmint.com.
Newlyweds, Fella Makakafui and Medikal whom you can now call Mr and Mrs Frimpong, have fulfilled their promise.



Some few days ago, the couple shared their intention to gift items to the less privileged as the Coronavirus lockdown has distorted some business, rendering some people helpless whilst also in need of some essential items to manage the health crisis.



Yesterday, the actress and her husband with their teams, hit the streets of Accra to share packages of toiletries, sanitizers among others to people. The generosity of the Ghanaian rapper and his wife also saw them donating some of the items to the Ghana police.



Sharing filmed highlights from their charity exercise, Medikal wrote "We couldnt forget our Ghana Police and our brothers and sisters on the street! God be with us, stay safe guys #Covid19". Ghana has so far recorded confirmed 132 cases and 3 deaths.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Rev. Lowery was also one of the four black ministers sued in the seminal case of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), in which an Alabama official accused the newspaper and the civil rights leaders of libeling him in an advertisement. The ad was intended to raise money for Kings defense against felony charges related to his 1956 and 1958 Alabama tax returns, but the lawsuit caught Lowery by surprise. He and the other defendants had not been informed that their names would be used in the ad.
Guinea has voted to back a contested new constitution, the country's electoral body said Friday, in a blow to President Alpha Conde's opponents who fear the reforms are a ploy to extend his grip on power.

The proposal to change the constitution was hugely controversial in the West African state, spurring mass demonstrations in which at last 32 people have been killed, according to an AFP tally.

Independent National Electoral Commission president, Amadou Salifou Kebe, told reporters that 91.59 percent of ballots were in favour of adopting the new constitution, while 8.41 percent were against.

Turnout was 61 percent, he added, saying that these were provisional figures.

The vote was originally planned for March 1 but was postponed until March 22 because of international criticism of its fairness.

The authorities went ahead with it after scrubbing some 2.5 million unverifiable names from its electoral register, following advice from the West Africa bloc ECOWAS.

The day of the vote was marred by violence, with scores of polling stations ransacked across the country and, according to the country's political opposition, dozens killed.

Authorities have said only a few deaths occurred on polling day, and that the voting took place in peace.

Protesters have taken to the streets over Conde's reform proposals since October. By CELLOU BINANI (AFP)

In a sign of impatience with Conde's government abroad, however, France, the United States, and the United Nations have all expressed their reservations about the vote on March 22.

France, the former colonial power, condemned election-related violence in Guinea this week and said the vote was not credible.

The United States also said this week that the situation in Guinea was worrying and that it shared international concerns about the fairness of the vote, and the lack of political dialogue surrounding it.

The United Nations' special representative to West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, released a statement too, saying he was following developments "with great concern".

Eric Humphery-Smith, a senior analyst at risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, said the election outcome was "no surprise," but that the scale of the president's win was.

"The result is a victory for Conde, allowing him to stand for that prized third term," he said.

Third term

The result may open the way for Conde, 82, to pursue another term in office when his second one runs out this year by bypassing term limits.

A former opposition figure jailed under previous hardline regimes, Conde made history in 2010 as the first democratically-elected president in a country with a chronic history of military coups and turmoil.

Voters returned him to office in 2015 for his second and final five-year term under the current constitution, but critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian.

Map of Guinea. By Gillian HANDYSIDE (AFP)

The government argues that the constitution needs to be updated to usher in badly-needed social changes, especially for women.

Reforms would include banning female genital mutilation and under-age marriage and giving spouses equal rights in a divorce.

The draft charter would limit presidential terms to two but extend the length of the term to six years.

However, critics fear that a new constitution would in effect reset the presidential term counter to zero, potentially enabling Conde to govern for another 12 years.

Conde himself has not denied that he might use the proposed changes to seek another term.

Embattled opposition

The referendum result will also increase pressure on Guinea's beleaguered political opposition.

Major opposition parties boycotted the referendum -- and parliamentary elections which were held on the same day -- arguing that Conde's manoeuvres amounted to a "constitutional coup".

Former premier and leading opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo told AFP last week that "there is no basis on which to say this vote will be transparent, fair".

Attention is now set to turn to Guinea's presidential election, which is expected to take place by the end of this year.

Conde told French media that there was "nothing more democratic" than holding a referendum and it was up to his party to determine whether he would run for president again.
New Delhi, March 28 : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday urged MPs to allocate Rs 1 crore from their MPLADS fund in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Birla in a letter requested the MPs to contribute the fund towards purchasing protective equipment for health workers, masks, testing kits and other essential medical equipment. He has already announced that he would contribute his one month's salary to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

"As public representatives, it is our duty to stand with the people", said Birla in a letter to all Lok Sabha members.

Birla also urged the MPs to explore ways as to how the poor and the needy can be helped in three-week lockdown.

The three-week nationwide lockdown, which entered its fourth day on Saturday, has left several thousand daily wagers without jobs and reduced their means of sustenance. Reports of workers choosing to travel on foot to their villages have emerged from many parts of the country, as public transport has been shut down.
By IANS

WUHAN: Domestic passenger flights will resume operations in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, except in the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, according to country's civil aviation regulator.

Flight operations will resume on March 29, Xinhua news agency quoted the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as saying in a statement on Friday.

Staring on April 8, the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will restore operations for domestic passenger flights, the CAAC said.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

Meanwhile, cargo flights will resume operations from March 29 in all airports in Hubei rovince.

Aviation companies are encouraged to add extra domestic and international cargo flights to stabilize the supply chain, according to the CAAC.

The announcement come on the same day when Wuhan, Hubei's provincial capital where the virus originated last December, had its COVID-19 risk evaluation downgraded from "high risk" to "medium risk".

Liu Dongru, deputy head of Hubei province's health commission, said earlier on Friday that coronavirus risk evaluation for five districts of Xinzhou, Huangpi, Jiangxia, Caidian and Dongxihu have been further lowered to "low risk".

ALSO READ | China to lift lockdown over coronavirus epicentres Hubei province, Wuhan

He also declared the transmission of the coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan has been "basically blocked".

Since March 18, Wuhan has only reported one new confirmed case.

Friday's announcement comes after authorities in the provincial capital on Tuesday announced that travel curbs will be lifted in Wuhan from April 8 after over two months of lockdown.

On January 23, Wuhan declared unprecedented traffic restrictions, including suspending the city's public transport and all outbound flights and trains, in an attempt to contain the epidemic within its territory.

Similar restrictions were soon introduced in other areas in Hubei.

As of Saturday, there were 81,946 confirmed cases in China and 3,299 deaths

Although the virus emerged in China, it now has fewer cases than the US and fewer deaths than Italy and Spain.
WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - Pakistan has requested an emergency loan disbursement from the International Monetary Fund to help fight the coronavirus under the fund's Rapid Financing Instrument program, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

She did not identify the size of the loan, but under the program, Pakistan would be able to borrow up to its full quota -- about $2.76 billion -- over two years, or $1.43 billion over a single year to meet urgent balance-of-payments needs.

Pakistan already has an IMF $6 billion Extended Fund Facility loan program and Georgieva said the Pakistani authorities "have reaffirmed their commitment to the reform policies included in the current arrangement." (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Islamabad: Due to the coronavirus crisis worldwide, countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have banned all kinds of prayers from mosques to prayers. But the situation in Pakistan is exactly the opposite. The Pak government is compelled before the fundamentalists and does not want to get angry with them. In Pakistan till Friday, 11 people have died due to Coronavirus and more than 1200 cases have been reported.

France: 299 patients died in single day due to coronavirus

According to the report, the Pakistan Army is against banning the offering of lakhs of prayers in mosques and mosques in the country. Actually, the Pakistan Army is dependent on these fundamentalists for terrorist activities against India in Afghanistan and Kashmir. That is why she does not want to ban them.

Coronavirus: This minister makes control room in house to help public

Thousands of young people are recruited in terrorist camps running in Pakistan and radicals play an important role in recruiting these youths into terrorist organizations. The Pakistan Army does not want to buy the anger of the fundamentalists. This is the reason that it is opposing any such decision of the Imran government, in which attempts are being made to ban mosques.

CM Yogi instructions officers to provide necessary things to public
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British investment bank HSBC Holdings will be holding off its previously announced business overhaul due to the "extraordinary impact" of the viral outbreak. The bank originally announced its restructuring plan in February; a plan that would include massive job cuts and other cost-cutting measures.



The multinational bank, which is one of the three lenders in Hong Kong that is authorized to issue currency, mentioned to staff members of Thursday that it would be temporarily holding off its restricting plan.



According to a previously published memorandum, HSBC is planning to remove the vast majority of redundant positions within its business. This is estimated to affects about 35,000 jobs, resulting in a reduction of annual costs of up to $4.5 billion.



To ensure the security of its workers during these trying times, HSBC stated that it will be freezing all of its hiring operations, except for business-critical and frontline positions.



HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn mentioned in an internal memo that the restructuring plan will still be implemented when the crisis is over and it will be crucial to transform the business. He added that the decision to postpone the implementation of the overhaul was made to support its current staff given the present uncertainties caused by the viral outbreak.



Quinn was permanently appointed as the bank's head last week. He took over former CEO John Flint and became the company's interim CEO in August last year. Immediately after he took the position, Quinn announced a series of overhauls, including a massive staffing overhaul for its Asian business.



The London-based company generates a majority of its revenues in Asia, with a good portion of its operations located in the region. Part of its long-term strategy involved taking advantage of the rising incomes of people in China and Southeast Asia, particularly in cities located in the Greater Bay Area.



HSBC previously revealed that it plans to shift a portion of its capital from its underperforming business in the United States and Europe to other rapidly growing markets. Some analysts predict that HSBC could be reducing its workforce in less-profitable markets and then shifting its focus on building its business elsewhere.



Sources with knowledge of the matter revealed that HSBC plans to cut its retail branches in the US by as much as 30 percent, while also reducing its investment banking business in Europe. Similar to other banks, HSBC's global business has been greatly affected by the ongoing viral outbreak. The global lockdowns have greatly reduced business activities around the world, negatively affecting the bank's operations.



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TagsHSBC, Restructuring Plan, Viral Crisis
China will help, US needs to act: Xi to Trump

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 23:08:40 Last Updated: 2020/3/28 0:47:50

Washington with urgent task to seek assistance in face of epidemic

Less than 20 hours after the G20 leaders' online summit ended, US President Donald Trump, who had rarely interacted with Chinese President Xi Jinping at this unusual meeting in addressing the widening pandemic, invited the Chinese top leader to a phone call on Friday morning, proving that the coronavirus spread has become so severe in the US that Washington had to seek Beijing's help despite the war of words provoked by the Trump administration in recent days.

China has also delivered a clear message to the US that cooperation is the only correct choice, urging the latter to take practical moves to show its goodwill and sincerity to work with China in battling the pandemic, which is a common enemy of humankind, observers said.

Three days ago, Trump stopped using the controversial term "Chinese virus," and such a shift in attitude showed that asking for help from Beijing has become an urgent task. However, US officials and organs including the Secretary of State and US Embassy in Beijing continue to use provocative rhetoric, leading to growing doubts in China on the real intention and willingness of the US to cooperate.

America's crisis

The US has had more confirmed coronavirus cases than any other country as of Friday, with more than 85,000 infected cases, and the death toll in the US surged to 1,300, according to Johns Hopkins University. The Trump administration has been harshly criticized for its delayed response and ineffective handling of the public health crisis, considering the severe shortages of medical supplies and lack of preparation, which is now weighing heavily on the US' health system.

Since the outbreak in China, Trump has also been playing down the impact of the coronavirus in the US, even comparing it to last year's seasonal influenza, ignoring warnings from communities and medical professionals.

Doctors and nurses across the country are scrambling to cope with a surge in coronavirus patients, and in the US epicenter New York City, authorities set up makeshift morgues outside hospitals - the first time since 9/11 - and a nurse without enough personal protective equipment (PPE) had reportedly died, media reported. Some medical workers even wear trash bags to protect themselves, as safety gear is scarce.

"The gravity of the situation in the country has forced Trump to express willingness to seek China's help, not to mention that the US needs to buy a huge amount of medical equipment, including personal protective equipment, test kits and ventilators," Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

"This is an objective that Trump needed to achieve [through the phone call]," Li said.

Xi told Trump that China understands the current difficult situation of the US and is willing to provide support within its capacity, and some provinces, cities and enterprises in China are providing medical supplies to the US.

As the largest manufacturer of medical supplies, China exports essential hospital supplies to the world while the yearlong trade war between the US and China has forced US companies and medical providers to access other countries for the procurement of vital equipment, which could not timely meet the growing demand in the US, as the disease has spread faster than ever.

For instance, the US imported about 48 percent of PPEs from China, including 42 percent of face shields, 70 percent of mouth-nose-protection equipment, and 39 percent of gloves, according to data compiled by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. China's factories hit by outbreaks from January to February, leading to declining export orders, also stifled supply to the US.

The more urgent and critical task for governors in the US is to purchase ventilators, which are necessary to prevent Americans from dying. However, states like New York face a severe shortage in equipment, which has already forced local officials to start ordering from China.

"Responding to the pandemic is a global matter and its success relies on the effort of each country in the world, and no country should be absent," Diao Daming, a US studies expert at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday.

The US should cherish a consensus that the international community has reached after the G20 summit by making joint efforts to fight the COVID-19, pushing forward international cooperation instead of bringing unnecessary obstacles, Diao noted.

China is expected to deliver this clear and positive message to the US side through joint efforts in pandemic response that "collaboration is the only correct choice," urging it to take practical action, he said.

Time to act

Following the phone call with Xi, Trump said in a tweet that, "China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!"

The Trump administration has been engaged in a smear campaign in recent days, shifting the blame by accusing Chinese authorities of a lack of epidemic information which caused a delay in its response to this unprecedented public health crisis. In a much more malicious attempt, some senior officials, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, GOP lawmakers Tom Cotton, Paul Gosar and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy made racist remarks by calling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," which drew harsh criticism in China and in the US.

The US Embassy in Beijing has intentionally exacerbated the ongoing war of words launched against China and provoked Chinese netizens as it posted two statements on its Sina Weibo account on Thursday that referred to COVID-19 as "Wuhan virus."

The embassy made no direct comment on using such term when it was contacted by the Global Times on Friday via email.

Lu Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday that since Trump promised to Xi that he will ensure interruptions or obstacles to China-US cooperation would be removed, and has stopped calling COVID-19 "Chinese Virus." It is time for him to take control of his senior officials inside the administration, "especially Pompeo and his trade advisor Peter Navarro."

These officials keep stigmatizing China and passing the buck of the US outbreak on many occasions, including the G7 meeting and interviews with US media, the analyst said.

As an apparent positive gesture of calling the top Chinese leader, the Trump administration is considering moving toward a "truce" amid clashes between the two countries. However, analysts said it is unlikely to change the course of China-US ties due to growing confrontations on geopolitical and ideological fronts.

For instance, Trump's signing of the "Taipei Act" also reflected its intention to serve its own interests at the expense of damaging China-US ties to provoke instability in the region, analysts warned.

China-US relations are at an important juncture, Xi emphasized during the phone call. Cooperation between the two nations is mutually beneficial, while confrontation will only hurt the two sides, the Chinese President said.

"Trump should give the public of the two countries an explanation - can't he control his officials or is he just conniving with them? If this hostile behavior doesn't stop, cooperation and assistance from China will not take place as he wants," Lu noted.

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There are fears that a mass exodus of New Yorkers could occur within the coming days after President Trump said he was considering a quarantine of the city, which would last at least 14 days.

On Saturday, the president said that a quarantine would be 'enforceable' and 'restrict travel' from parts of the tri-state area, including New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

'We're thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot. ... We might not have to do it, but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut,' he told reporters as he left the White House.

President Trump is considering quarantining the whole of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey in desperate efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic

President Trump said he was considering a short-term quarantine of the city on Saturday

Beaches in the Hamptons have been filling up earlier than usual and local stores have been ransacked of goods as an influx of New Yorkers

Coronavirus refugees who are fleeing New York City face a growing crackdown from other states who are using police and the national guard to force them into quarantine

People were spotted out and about in the Hamptons displaying no social distancing measures at all

Numerous people could be seen in Sag Harbor outside a couple of coffee shops and a drive through coffee and burrito stand

Very few people dared to go to the beach on a rainy Saturday but some were spotted in groups of three

Signs have been put up warning of the covid-19 dangers urging people to stay apart

'I'd rather not do it, but we may need it,' the President said.

'Restrict travel, because they're having problems down in Florida, a lot of New Yorkers going down. We don't want that,' he said.

On Twitter, the reaction was mixed.

'The idiot has just started a mass exodus out of New York with this moronic statement,' wrote Ken Gaskin online.

'About to see a massive exodus out of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut,' said @Jeezelouise.

'Thanks for giving people a heads up to bolt if they need to,' tweeted Bridget Phetasy.

Hamptons' locals were not happy at the sudden influx of people, mainly from New York City

A number of people agreed that Trump's comments could see thousands preparing to leave

Hamptons hot spots, usually popular in the summer were packed on Friday, mainly full of New York City escapees

Beaches in the Hamptons start filling up and rental properties are now scarce as New Yorkers flee the city amid the Coronvirus pandemic

A number of men came out to Poxabogue Golf course to practice on the driving range

Although many businesses are closed in Sag Harbor to an extent it appeared like a normal Saturday

Grindstone Coffee & Donuts still seems to be doing business despite a statewide lockdown

At least once group of ten men showed no intention of sticking to the new rules of social distancing

Others took a more considered viewpoint as to whether the president's idea for a quarantine was a good idea.

'Setting aside whether this is a good or bad idea, it's two weeks too late to be effective. I'm tweeting from a half-empty apartment building in Manhattan because many of the residents with summer homes left NYC weeks ago,' added Brian Stelter a correspondent for CNN.

'I don't agree with a quarantine of developing 'hot spots' like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or any other areas in the United States. First of all, what does quarantine even mean for Trump? Is that where everyone can't even leave their homes without government permission?' asked Dr Eugene Gu..

Former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart came down hard on Trump.

'WTF is wrong with you? You don't govern by tweeted what you might do. And, btw, the are not 'developing' hot spots...they are hot spots where people are dying.'

Others took a more considered approach and analyzed what the president meant

Stelter has a point. Many beaches in the Hamptons were already starting to fill up on Friday with the sunny weather, some two months earlier than usual.

Even rental properties are now had to come by with New Yorkers fleeing the city as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.

The beachside communities in Long Island have seen a surge in visitors ever since New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a stay-at-home order to help stop the spread of the virus.

The unusual surge so early in the year has prompted local leaders in the Hamptons to urge Gov Cuomo to ban non-locals from the area during the outbreak.

Rhode Island is planning to send the National Guard to hunt down any New Yorkers who have fled to the state

The National Guard will be deployed to knock door-to-door looking for anyone who has evacuated the coronavirus-stricken state and arrived in Rhode Island

Locals in the Hamptons, which is usually a summer hotspot for New Yorkers getting out of the city, have reported larger than normal crowds at beaches and busier beachside parking lots.

Some have claimed no one - whether at the beach or in the towns - is adhering to the social distancing that health officials have been pushing for.

Locals who already live in the Hamptons want to ban coronavirus refugees coming from the Big Apple and force those that are there to quarantine inside for 14 days.

In other states, Rhode Island is sending out the National Guard to hunt down escaping New Yorkers who have fled to its towns, after wealthy residents appeared to take over the areas as they escape the virus epicenter.

Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Maryland also require a mandatory 14-day quarantine for new arrivals from New York.
Nurses stand on a grassy hill outside the emergency entrance to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 28, 2020, as they demonstrate with members of the New York Nursing Association in support of obtaining an adequate supply of personal protective equipment for those treating coronavirus patients. A member of the New York nursing community died earlier in the week at another New York hospital. The city leads the nation in the number of coronavirus cases. Nurses say they are having to reuse their protective equipment endangering patients and themselves. Read more

NEW YORK  Gov. Andrew Cuomo postponed New Yorks presidential primary from April to June to keep people from gathering  even to vote  amid of the states coronavirus outbreak. With cases expected to mushroom toward a mid-to-late-April peak, nurses made anguished pleas Saturday for more protective equipment and rebuffed officials claims that supplies are adequate. Cuomo took a manual-pump air mask in hand to show what might lie in store if needed ventilators dont arrive.

Here are the latest coronavirus developments in New York:

PRIMARY DELAYED

Cuomo said he was delaying the state's presidential primary from April 28 to June 23, when the state plans to hold legislative congressional and local party primaries.

I dont think its wise to be bringing people to one location to vote," the Democrat said.

New York joins over a dozen states that have delayed some elections. A smaller group including Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Indiana and Kentucky have also postponed their presidential primaries.

The governor's decision came as election commissioners across New York warned they were "risking" their health and safety to meet impending deadlines for testing machines and preparing ballots ahead of the April 28 date.

Local election boards have said they were facing shortages of polling places and inspectors and had called on legislative leaders and Cuomo to allow for increased use of absentee balloting for quarantined individuals and greater flexibility for elections officials to run June elections.

NURSES APPEAL FOR MASKS

At a news conference outside city-run Jacobi Hospital, nurses called for more masks and other gear to safeguard themselves against the virus that has so far sickened more than 52,000 people and killed over 700 in New York state, mostly in the city.

At least one health care worker, Mount Sinai West assistant nursing manager Kious Kelly, 36, has died of the virus. Others also have fallen ill around the metropolitan region.

Jacobi nurses said managers at the Bronx hospital have been rationing protective equipment, making them unable to change out the high-end particle-filtering masks known as N95s as often as they should.

We have a number of workers -- two in this hospital, two nurses -- fighting for their lives in the ICUs right now, pediatric nurse Sean Petty said, blaming a scarcity of equipment.

City officials have insisted theres enough protective equipment for roughly the next week, though theyre worried for the weeks after. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city delivered 200,000 N95 masks to hospitals Friday, with 800,000 more to come Saturday, along with loads of less-protective surgical masks and other gear.

The city hospital systems president, Dr. Mitchell Katz, said at a news conference Friday that staffers working exclusively with coronavirus patients could conserve supplies of N95 masks by wearing one throughout their shifts, with surgical masks over it that can be changed more frequently. Some others have chosen to wear helmets with reusable air filters -- somewhat like a Darth Vader mask, he said.

In some patient-care settings, a surgical mask will suffice, he said, but if you feel more comfortable wearing an N95 mask, we're good with that.

Petty said policies on protective equipment were being driven by shortages, not science, and he slammed officials as subjecting medical workers to avoidable risks of contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

We will not let any health official or government official say that we have enough protective equipment, he said, until every health care worker has an N95 for every time they interact with a COVID-19 patient.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

MANUAL AIR MASKS

As the state continues scrambling to try to amass 30,000 ventilators ahead of a projected mid-to-late-April peak in coronavirus cases, Gov. Andrew Cuomo bluntly illustrated the alternative: masks with manually operated air bags.

He said the state has bought 3,000 of them, has ordered 4,000 more and is considering training National Guard personnel to operate them. It entails pumping the bulb-like bag by hand -- 24 hours a day for every patient in need.

If we have to turn to this device on any large-scale basis, that is not an acceptable situation, Cuomo said, so we go back to finding the ventilators.

The federal government has sent over 4,000 ventilators to the state and New York City this week.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 05:56:40|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Adel-Fattah al-Sisi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed on Saturday efforts exerted to combat the novel coronavirus.

Sisi posted on his official Facebook page that he discussed with Al Nahyan, during a phone conversation, ways to enhance mutual cooperation to fight the spread of the virus.

The president added they touched upon the possibility of exchanging medical experiences to contain the pandemic.

Sisi noted that he also discussed with the UAE official a number of recent regional and international issues.
CHARITY organisation , Time To Help in collaboration with Feza schools and Ministry of Education Zanzibar have launched a major water project, expecting to drill more than 20 water wells for primary and secondary schools in Zanzibar.

The project which is expected to be implemented this year will cost more than 150m/-.

The launching of the project was conducted on Friday in Zanzibar by the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Simai Mohamed Said at the Ministry offices.

Other officials who were present during the launch included the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the ministry, chairperson of SABIL, who are the owners of Feza schools Zanzibar, head teacher of Feza School Zanzibar, Ali Nungu and the chairperson of Time To Help, Ramadhani Praph.

The Time To Help chairperson, Ramadhani Praph said in a period of two years, Time To Help and Feza schools have managed to dril 30 water wells for Unguja and Pemba, and this year they expect to drill 20 more.

He said they have already identified areas for the wells, adding that about four wells have already been completed and were launched at Muanda and Wete Secondary, and Pujni and Mizingani primary and secondary schools.

He added that the construction of three other wells at Sebuleni Primary School and Mgambo Kijumbani primary and secondary school is still going on.

He added that the aim is to help the government efforts in reducing water shortage for primary and secondary students and ensure they access safe and clean water.

He said when students access clean and safe water; they in turn concentrate on studies instead of spending many hours looking for water, adding that availability of water will boost their performance.

Deputy Minister for Education, Simai Mohamed Said congratulated Time To Help and Feza schools for their contribution of clean and safe water to different schools.

On his side, the ministrys Deputy Permanent Secretary, Abdulla Abdulla, apart from praising Time To Help and Feza schools for the donation, said he hoped the collaboration by the organisations will be sustainable.

We need this spirit of collaboration to continue in other sectors, we appreciate your assistance and we expect to continue working together, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday suggested that AYUSH medicine producers could utilise their resources to produce essential items such as sanitisers, keeping in mind the high demand for such items following the coronavirus outbreak.

The prime minister also said there is a need to counter unsubstantiated claims that AYUSH has the cure for the disease.

Ayurved, Unani, Siddhi and Homeopathy come under the AYUSH system of medicines for which there is a separate Union ministry.

Modi made these remarks while interacting with AYUSH practitioners via video.

He praised the efforts of the AYUSH Ministry in promoting "Yoga At Home" to de-stress the mind and strengthen the body during this difficult phase, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

"The prime minister underlined the importance of countering and fact-checking unsubstantiated claims of AYUSH having cure for the disease, adding that AYUSH scientists, ICMR, CSIR and other research organisations must come together for evidence-based research," it added.

Modi said if need be, the government will seek help from private doctors practising the AYUSH system to counter the spread of the deadly virus.

He also urged the AYUSH practitioners to utilise the platform of telemedicine to reach out to the public and generate constant awareness to fight the pandemic.

The prime minister said it is important to create awareness on India's traditional medicines and medical practices all over the world.

He thanked the AYUSH practitioners for constantly striving to serve the people and highlighted the important role they have to play in India's fight against COVID-19, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALL patients accessing TCI Hospitals Emergency Departments must report to new external pre-triage areas for screening and sorting before entering.





Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales and Cockburn Town Medical Centre in Grand Turk have the expandable areas near the entrance of each Emergency Department.





The changes came into place on Tuesday (March 24) and are based on an infection prevention and control risk assessment process.





"The priority of the Emergency Department is to ensure early detection of infectious patients who may be unknowingly transmitting COVID-19, a TCI Hospital press release said.





It added that it needed to commence immediate source control prior to anyone entering the facility thereby further reducing the risk of disease transmission within the department.





"The objective of the department is also to provide immediate activation of the COVID-19 response team as needed, and a pre-identified space for isolation away from the department.





Anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19 such a coughing, fever or shortness of breath, should contact their family physicians and the Ministry of Health hotlines on 333-0911 or 232-9444 immediately for guidance on the next steps.





"It is crucial to call ahead as special precautionary preparations are required for the controlled transport and receipt of patients with symptoms similar to COVID-19 for both ambulance and hospital-based response teams, the statement said.





"The Ministry of Health supports these prudent and necessary measures and wishes to assure the public that the decision for the process being implemented is in the best interest of patient care.




Amid the monotony of home isolation, Sarah Jessica Parker stepped out for a trip to the supermarket in The Hamptons on Saturday.

The Divorce actress, who turned 55 on Wednesday, kept a laid-back look clad in a navy cardigan, over-sized black sunglasses and cuffed trousers.

After going into the store, the mother-of-three was spotted loading a number of grocery bags into her trunk with a pair of black gloves, as a precaution against coronavirus.

Braving the supermarket: Sarah Jessica Parker stepped out for a trip to the supermarket in The Hamptons on Saturday amid the global coronavirus crisis

For the casual outing, she kept her signature blonde tresses in their naturally curly state and added a pop of color to her look with a hot pink crossbody bag.

The Sex and the City alum kept her makeup minimal, as she purchased food for her husband Matthew Broderick, 58, twin daughters Marion and Tabitha, 10, and son James, 17.

Earlier this month, Broderick's sister, Rev. Janet Broderick, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Full cart: The Divorce actress, who turned 55 on Wednesday, kept a laid-back look clad in a navy cardigan, over-sized black sunglasses and cuffed trousers

Supermom: The Sex and the City alum kept her makeup minimal, as she purchased food for her husband Matthew Broderick, 58, twin daughters Marion and Tabitha, 10, and son James, 17

His 64-year-old older sister is a reverend at the Beverly Hills, California-based All Saints Episcopal Church.

Janet recently traveled back from Louisville, Kentucky where she was at the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, attended by more than 500, according to the church.

The church said that Janet was assessed, then 'moved to the ICU and placed under isolation,' when the positive test came back on March 11.

Stocking up: After going into the store, the mother-of-three was spotted loading a number of grocery bags into the trunk of her car with a pair of black gloves

Just days ago, SJP replied to a caring fan on Instagram, who asked for an update on her sister-in-law's condition: 'She is better. She was very sick. Home from the hospital now. Recovering. Thank you for asking. X.'

While Matthew's family lives across the country from his sister, the Manhattanites are proceeding with an abundance of caution.

The family-of-five have moved over to The Hamptons after a stay-at-home order was issued for New York state to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
United Airlines planes at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The bipartisan coronavirus aid package passed by Congress on Friday offers $58 billion to the nation's airlines, split evenly between loans and payroll grants.

The payroll grants will pay airline workers salaries as travel demand plummets. By accepting the grants or the loans, airlines will agree not to furlough or lay off staff through September, 2020.

But in a candid letter to employees, United's CEO and president warned that, based on how the virus is expected to spread and the predicted impact to the economy, staff reductions will likely be necessary after that.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Workers at US airlines are safe from furloughs or layoffs through at least September 2020, after Congress agreed to $29 billion in payroll grants to airlines as part of the $2 trillion stimulus package that President Donald Trump signed on Friday.

However, United Airlines says that after that, it's likely that jobs will end up being cut.

In a candid letter to employees and seen by Business Insider, United CEO Oscar Munoz and president Scott Kirby warned that, depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, it's likely that travel demand will not recover "for some time."

"And, based on how doctors expect the virus to spread and how economists expect the global economy to react, we expect demand to remain suppressed for months after that, possibly into next year," they said. "We will continue to plan for the worst and hope for a faster recovery but no matter what happens, taking care of each of our people will remain our number one priority."

"That means being honest, fair and upfront with you," they added. "If the recovery is as slow as we fear, it means our airline and our workforce will have to be smaller than it is today."

Under the terms of the payroll grants and operational loans in the stimulus package, airlines accepting aid are prohibited from involuntary furloughs or layoffs through September 30, 2020.

Story continues

The speed and scope of the pandemic's impact on the global economy and aviation market has been virtually unprecedented, with demand drops and capacity cuts outstripping the weeks after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the worst of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

US airlines have slashed capacity across domestic and international networks and grounded significant portions of their fleets as borders have been closed, travel bans have been implemented, and social distancing guidelines have been pressed with more urgency, including lockdowns in some parts of the US.

United has reduced its schedule by more than 60% in April, and expects planes that continue to fly to be mostly empty.

During a press briefing on Friday, a senior United official said that the stimulus package bought the airline some time and breathing room, and would allow it to plan its next steps more deliberately  and to develop contingency plans for various outcomes.

Do you work for an airline and have thoughts or tips to share? Email this reporter at dslotnick@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It's remarkable how events can change the narrative around a stock. Just a couple of short months ago Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) investors were looking forward to an exciting future with merger partner United Technologies (NYSE:RTX), or specifically, the aerospace business of UTX, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace.

The deal made perfect sense and the valuation looked attractive -- even using management's conservative looking guidance. However, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole investment outlook may have changed. Here's why, plus what you need to know before buying Raytheon stock.

Why Raytheon has underperformed

The following chart goes a long way in explaining what's going on. As you can see below, Raytheon's defense peers Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have outperformed the S&P 500 index in 2020, but Raytheon and its merger partner UTX have notably underperformed. The reason is that the measures taken to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic have hit the commercial aviation industry very hard.

As such, Raytheon investors must have felt as if the stock is already being treated like the company it will become: Raytheon Technologies, and that includes UTX's aerospace businesses too.

Raytheon looks like a good value, caveat emptor

Based on the information in UTX's SEC filings regarding the merger, the stock looked like a good value at the time, and it looks an even better value now.

Raytheon shareholders will get 43% of the new company. Based on Raytheon's current market cap of $40.5 billion, the market cap of the future Raytheon Technologies is valued by the market at around $94 billion. Add in the $26 billion in net debt and you get an enterprise value (market cap plus net debt), or EV, of $120 billion.

Using the approximation for EV and the figures for earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) shows that the new company looks a great value based on the forecasts discussed above.

Metric 2020 2021 2022 2023 EBITDA $15 billion $16.3 billion $17.1 billion $17.9 billion EV/EBITDA multiple 8 7.4 7 6.7 EBIT $11.4 billion $12.6 billion $13.3 billion $14 billion EV/EBIT multiple 10.5 9.5 9 8.6

The problem

Unfortunately, the earnings assumptions above are coming under severe threat from the slump in passenger traffic created by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the coronavirus has spread from its origin in China, the potential losses in revenue to airlines have mounted.

Of course, if airplanes aren't being flown, there will be no aftermarket demand for Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines. Moreover, if airlines are going bust, there will be cancellations of aircraft orders -- not good for Collins Aerospace, and disastrous for Pratt & Whitney's goal to generate a long-term income stream from servicing its airplane engines.

The jewel in UTX's crown is Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan (GTF) engine, which competes with CFM International's (a joint venture between General Electric and Safran) LEAP engine on the Airbus A320 NEO. UTX currently has a 40% share, but has won 50% of the orders in the last year according to UTX CEO Greg Hayes. The question is, what happens to the assumptions around long-term cash flows from the GTF if airplane orders start to get cancelled?

All told, nearly all of UTX's commercial aerospace revenue streams are under threat from ongoing weakness in the industry.

Should you buy Raytheon stock?

Ultimately, this decision comes down to a personal view on the medium-term future of the commercial aviation market and the COVID-19 pandemic. You could split up the range of outcomes as follows, starting with the most bullish first:

The containment measures work as they did in China and there is a relatively quick global recovery; commercial air traffic normalizes in line with how it did after the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003.

Containment measures work over time and damage the aviation industry; commercial air traffic normalizes as outlined above.

Containment measures work over time; commercial air traffic enters a protracted period of lower growth as consumers are reluctant to travel.

Containment measures work, but only over an extended period; commercial air traffic recovery is delayed and a new normal of lower growth is ushered in due to ongoing hesitancy.

The likely outcome

It's impossible to know which one of these outcomes, if any, will occur. However, if it's the first, or something in between the first and second, then it's reasonable to expect a financial outcome along the lines of what's outlined in the table above but with a delay. In other words, Raytheon stock could be a very good value.

However, the third scenario requires a significant reappraisal of the new company's earnings prospects, and the fourth probably means you should avoid buying stocks altogether.
Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) said it had confirmed 70 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 802, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

Among the 70 new confirmed cases, 41 were imported cases with recent travel history abroad and 29 were local cases. Of the 29 local cases, 15 are linked to clusters or previous cases while 14 are currently unlinked.

The ministry said a total of 198 patients have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital. Of the 420 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving, with 19 in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Previously, Singapore said two confirmed cases had passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection.

All Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning to Singapore are issued a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) which will be strictly enforced. From March 25, those returning from Britain and the United States will serve their 14-day SHN in dedicated facilities, MOH said.

The government announced earlier Saturday that all long-term visit pass (LTVP) holders, including those who had been granted in-principle approval (IPA) for an LTVP, and student pass
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are among the wealthiest men in the US.

Gerard Julian/AFP and Nicolas Liponne/NurPhoto

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced on Friday that it's contributing $25 million to an accelerator run by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for finding treatments for COVID-19.

The project seeks to discover affordable treatments to COVID-19 patients that can be distributed at scale.

The accelerator is just one of several ways tech giants are helping combat the spread of COVID-19.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan launched in 2015, announced on Friday that it's contributing $25 million to Bill Gates' accelerator for developing therapies and medicine to treat COVID-19.

The contribution from Zuckerberg and his wife comes after the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator earlier in March. Mastercard and charity foundation Wellcome are also partnering with Bill & Melinda Gates as part of the initiative, which started with $125 million in seed funding at its launch.

The goal of the project is to develop affordable treatments to COVID-19 that can be distributed at scale. The accelerator will evaluate new and repurpose existing drugs to for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and hopes to use its research to fight other viral pathogens in the long term as well. The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will also be working with the World Health Organization on the project.

Evaluating existing drugs is particularly important because since they've already gone through clinical safety trials, it would be much quicker to make them available at scale than developing a new vaccine, Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.

The announcement is one of several efforts that Silicon Valley tech giants are making in an effort to help combat the spreading coronavirus, which has killed nearly 25,000 people around the world and infected more than half a million.

Amazon and Microsoft contributed to a $2.5 million relief fund for deploying resources to organizations working with communities impacted by the coronavirus outbreak in the Seattle area. Facebook has also launched a $100 million program to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic, and Apple said it would donate 10 million protective face masksto relief efforts in the United States.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WHO urges all countries to unite against COVID-19 pandemic

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:39, March 27, 2020

GENEVA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged all countries to unite against the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that "millions could die" without aggressive action.

"Almost half a million people have already been infected, and more than 20,000 have lost their lives. The pandemic is accelerating at an exponential rate," WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at the G20 Extraordinary Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 held via a teleconference on Thursday.

WHO reports show that the first 100,000 cases took 67 days; the second 100,000 took 11 days; the third 100,000 took four days and the fourth 100,000 just two days.

"Without aggressive action in all countries, millions could die. The full social, economic and political fallout, only time will tell," Tedros said.

He raised three requests to address the global crisis that demands a global response. The first is to fight. "Fight hard. Fight like hell. Fight like your lives depend on it -- because they do. The best and only way to protect life, livelihoods and economies is to stop the virus. No excuses. No regrets," the WHO chief proclaimed.

"We must immediately build, expand, train and deploy health workers to find, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact," he added.

The second is to unite. "No country can solve this crisis alone. We're all in this together, and we will only get out of it together," he said, urging global solidarity from all countries.

The third is to ignite. "Repurpose the industrial might of your nations for this effort. Ignite global production for the tools we need to save lives now. Ignite innovation for vaccines and therapeutics. And ignite a global movement to ensure this never happens again," he said.

"The actions we take now will have consequences for decades to come," the WHO chief said, as COVID-19 is also the opportunity for everyone to "come together as one against a common threat, and to build a common future."

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Price gouging is illegal in California during a declared state of emergency, but that hasnt stopped some vendors from attempting to make a quick buck off the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, state officials and some online retail sites are attempting to crack down on the now-illegal practice of raising by more than 10% the pre-emergency price of highly sought items such as food, cleaning supplies and, of course, toilet paper.

Teresa Drenick, an Alameda County assistant district attorney, said the vast majority of complaints arent about large retailers like Costco or Target, but rather mom-and-pop shops in low-income areas.

These stores are the lifeblood of neighborhoods where people dont have the ability to drive to a mall or a big store, Drenick said. People who live in food deserts rely upon these small stores.

She said that inspectors with the offices consumer protection division have fielded a flood of complaints since the countys shelter-in-place order took effect two weeks ago. One telltale sign: Bar codes on the products are crossed out with a marker.

Among the markups recorded in Alameda County: a 12-pack of toilet paper increased from $6 to $10; a 20-pound bag of onions that usually costs between $8 and $16 was selling for $39.99; a 10-pound sack of potatoes went from $2.79 to $9; and a 20-pound bag of rice went from $12.99 to $19.99.

The inspectors are handing out warnings for now, but will issue citations if the practice continues, Drenick said.

Officials with the California attorney generals office are tracking complaints as well. Reports have included a bottle of rubbing alcohol for $25, a six-pack of toilet paper for $28, isolation gowns for $65 each and a 10-pack box of 2300 N95 masks for $130.

This law applies to the prices of certain goods or services when a declared state of emergency results in disruptions of the market, including with respect to food, emergency and medical supplies and other consumer goods, a representative of the state office said in an email.

We encourage all Californians to report potential price gouging or false advertising to our office using our online complaint form at oag.ca.gov/report, or to contact their local law enforcement.

Alameda County district attorneys office photos

But while inspectors can easily visit brick-and-mortar stores, online price gouging is more difficult to rein in.

On Wednesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and 32 counterparts around the country sent letters to Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Facebook and Craigslist, asking for the companies to crack down on the practice on their sites.

We believe you have an ethical obligation and duty to help your fellow citizens in this time of need by doing everything in your power to stop price gouging, the attorneys general wrote in the letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

In a blog post last week, Amazon said it had removed over half a million listings because of coronavirus-based price gouging and had suspended more than 3,900 accounts.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

But some vendors have created their own websites, where its more difficult to nab price gougers.

Investigators must prove that the same item previously sold for less  at the same retailer  before the state of emergency was declared.

One website purporting to be in San Francisco is selling two ounces of hand sanitizer for $25, 36 rolls of toilet paper for $67 and 80 Lysol disinfecting wipes for $150. The Brannan Street address, near San Franciscos Caltrain station, looks to be a warehouse, though no one answered the door.

Alex Bastian, a spokesman for San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, said the office has developed a price-gouging task force because of the coronavirus outbreak.

We are tracking the complaints that come in and are following up on all of them, he said.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
The coronavirus death toll shot past 20,000 in Europe on Saturday, with Italy and Spain each reporting more than 800 dead in one day, as US President Donald Trump pulled back on putting the hard-hit New York region under quarantine. Up to one-third of the world's population is under lockdown as the virus leaves its devastating imprint on nearly every aspect of society: wiping out millions of jobs, straining health care services and weighing heavily on national treasuries for years to come. Globally, the death toll has surged past 30,000 and officials in some countries say the worst still lies ahead. But in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus outbreak first struck, officials took tentative steps back toward normality, partly reopening the city after more than two months of near total isolation for its population of 11 million. Trump decided late Saturday against imposing a broad lockdown on New York and its neighbours after a strong pushback from local political leaders and warnings of the panic it could spark. "A quarantine will not be necessary," Trump tweeted, about eight hours after he stunned the New York metropolitan region, the epicentre of the US coronavirus outbreak, with a proposal to place it under quarantine to prevent residents from leaving. Instead, he was asking federal authorities to issue a "strong Travel Advisory" against movement to and from the area. Trump's reversal came on the same day the US death toll topped 2,100, more than doubling in just three days. Of the 2,147 deaths, more than a quarter -- 672 -- were in New York City. Health officials say they fear New York may follow the deadly path charted by Italy, with health professionals exhausted and hospitals desperately short of protective equipment and ventilators. The United States now has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, at 122,666, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. One of the deaths announced Saturday was that of an infant in Chicago who was younger than one year old, marking an extremely rare case of juvenile death in the global pandemic. - Italy and Spain - Compared to the US, European nations have been harder hit on a per capita basis, with 20,059 deaths. Italy on Saturday announced 889 new deaths, pushing it past the 10,000 mark. Spain, which has the world's second-highest death toll, added 832 deaths for a total 5,812. Madrid toughened a nationwide lockdown, halting all non-essential activities, though officials said the epidemic in the country seemed to be nearing a peak. Russia, which has reported relatively low levels of the virus, said it would close its borders Monday in an attempt to slow the pandemic's spread. More than 640,770 cases of the novel coronavirus have been officially recorded around the world since the outbreak began late last year, according to an AFP tally. Variations in testing regimes -- and delays in providing sufficient tests in some countries -- mean the true number is likely far higher. In France, which has seen close to 2,000 deaths, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned the "battle" was just beginning. The first two weeks in April would be even tougher than the past fortnight, he said. The British toll passed 1,000 on Saturday. Elsewhere, Iran announced 139 more deaths and India sealed off a dozen Punjab villages that had been visited by a guru now known to be infected and a possible "super-spreader". Sri Lanka and Qatar recorded their first deaths and Turkey hit 100 fatalities. South African police resorted to rubber bullets in Johannesburg to enforce social distancing on a crowd queuing for supplies outside a supermarket during a national lockdown. - Wuhan partially reopens - Two months of almost total isolation appear to have paid off in Wuhan. Residents have been subject to dramatic restrictions on daily life and forbidden to leave the city since January, but on Saturday, people were allowed to enter Wuhan and most of the subway network restarted. In the US, Trump invoked emergency powers on Friday to force automaker General Motors to produce medical equipment. With 60 percent of the US in lockdown, the president signed the largest relief package in US history, worth $2 trillion -- with more seen as likely in coming months. - 'Enough, enough' - In Italy, one coronavirus sufferer, a cardiologist from Rome who has since recovered, recalled his hellish experience. "The treatment for the oxygen therapy is painful, looking for the radial artery is difficult. Desperate other patients were crying out, 'Enough, enough'," he told AFP. Infection rates in Italy are on a downward trend. The head of the national health institute Silvio Brusaferro predicted a peak "in the next few days". Belgium and Luxembourg saw a steep climb in deaths, with 353 recorded in the former on Saturday -- up from 289 the day before -- and 15 in the grand duchy, up from nine. Europe has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks, with millions across the continent on lockdown and the streets of Paris, Rome and Madrid eerily empty. Other countries across the world were bracing for the virus's full impact. As even rich countries struggle, aid groups warn the toll could be in the millions in low-income countries and war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where health care systems are in tatters. burs-acb/it A healthcare worker at a drive-through testing location for COVID-19 at University Hospital in Burgos, Spain on March 28, 2020, as the country's death toll topped 5,800 US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper watch as the hospital ship USNS Comfort departs Norfolk, Virginia for New York City A South African Police Service (SAPS) officer stands at the entrance of Alexandra Mall as shoppers enter on March 28, 2020, the second day of a 21-day national lockdown Lithuanian groom Dainius and bride Ramune wear protective masks while posing for photos after their wedding in Vilnius, Lithuania Workers in protective gear wait for passengers arriving at the railway station in Wuhan, China after travel restrictions into the city were eased following two months of lockdown Countries and territories with confirmed new coronavirus cases as of March 28 at 1900 GMT Migrant workers and their families line up at New Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal to return to their villages during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against COVID-19
Parents of backpackers are paying for them to stay in Australia because going home to countries such as the United States is so dangerous amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Catherine, Allie and Maddie, three friends who live near New York City, arrived in Bondi, Sydney a week ago from Melbourne just as strict lockdown restrictions were issued by the federal government.

'We were originally going to stay in a backpackers but then with the coronavirus outbreak we decided to stay in an AirBnB,' Catherine told Daily Mail Australia.

'Our parents were worried about us, they told us we shouldn't go to the airport and get on a flight because it's not better where we live.'

Allie (left), Catherine (centre), and Maddie (right) are from New York and said their parents were paying for them to stay in Australia because it's safer in the coronavirus pandemic

Backpackers socialise in groups of two on the roof of a Bondi backpackers amid lockdowns

Some of those visiting Bondi beach on Saturday were less focused on the social distancing guidelines

'Slowly we've been hearing more and more people we know have been diagnosed with coronavirus. It's really prevalent in our area because everyone where we live works in New York city and it's very bad there.''

'We've got housing here till mid-May but we don't know what the virus will be like then. We are just out of Uni so we're lucky to have parents who will support us,' Maddie said.

The three were headed down to Bondi beach on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Catherine's 23rd birthday.

'It's her birthday today so that's where we're going, we know the beach is closed but we can just go hang out on the rocks,' Maddie said.

The group said they wanted to immerse themselves in the Australian culture but since they have been in Sydney they haven't been able to socialise because everything is closed.

'We have working holiday visas and that only lasts for one year and we won't be able to get another visa for ten years. So we are trying to make the most of it and hopefully everything will become normal soon.'

The effect of social distancing on the park looking out on Australia's famous Bondi beach

Guidelines from the health department recommend keeping at least 1.5 metres apart

British backpackers Dani and Jordan were also trying to make the most of the sunny Bondi weather on Saturday.

'Most of the backpackers here are stuck, all the transit between Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, everything is closed,' Jordan said.

'The flight price to the UK has gone up to $13,000 and they're cancelling all the flights,' Dani added.

'One of the airlines told us we need to have been checked [for coronavirus] within the last 72 hours but the results take three to four days at least to come back so that makes it impossible.'

Dani explained she is supposed to be in Queensland but couldn't get through because the border was shut.

'I've booked $2,000 worth of stuff like a Whitsundays trip and I can't get refunds because they say it's valid for a year so you can come back - but there not extending our visas so we can't.'

'It sounds weird being stuck in Bondi but that's how it is,' Jordan said.

Tourists were still out enjoying the sunshine on Saturday despite restrictions brought in the slow the spread of coronavirus

Two visitors are seen socialising on Saturday afternoon on the roof of a Bondi backpackers

A day earlier on Friday evening, Police were forced to shut down a gathering held at Bondi Beach Backpackers Club which had been advertised on the venue's Facebook page.

People commenting on the post were quick to condemn the gathering.

'Really??? Happy Hour??? A sausage sizzle for all guests?? Have you heard of social distancing? You are a disgrace,' one person said.

In a now-deleted post, the backpackers had advertised its weekly sausage sizzle and happy hour beginning at 6pm

Earlier this week, an Argentinian backpacker and her 10 friends were reported to have contracted coronavirus after attending a party with hundreds of people on Bondi Beach.

The beach party was held before Scott Morrison banned non-essential services and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people.

The 24-year-old woman went to Prince Wales Hospital on Monday where she was told that she had tested positive.

Her diagnosis came after several more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in backpackers in the Bondi area.

'There were two recent parties that some of the cases attended where the cases may have acquired their infections,' a spokesman for NSW Health said.

Beaches in New South Wales and Victoria were flooded with sunseekers on Saturday despite COVID-19 warnings from health authorities.

Startling pictures show groups of young people at St Kilda in Melbourne flouting social distancing guidelines to work on their tans, despite repeated calls for people to stay at home or maintain a 1.5m distance from one another.

Several large signs were put up by officials warning people to stay away, with one even pleading 'Stop COVID-19' while another read 'No Gatherings'.

Groups of people are seen sunning themselves at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday, despite a nationwide clamp down on social gatherings to help combat the coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus cases in Australia soared to 3,640 on Saturday night

A sign put up at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) told residents that the beach was closed - but many ignored the warning

There were similar scenes at Brighton Beach, which was full of sunbathers despite being closed, and forced police officers to patrol the beach and turf off offenders.

Along with Bondi beach in Sydney, St Kilda beach was closed altogether, with other Sydney and Melbourne beaches were closed to groups.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews warned sunseekers they were putting people's lives at risk by gathering in large numbers.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

On Saturday night the NSW government closed a number of beaches in addition to Bondi including Bronte, Tamarama, Maroubra, and Palm Beach.

The number of coronavirus cases in Australia has soared to 3,640 while New South Wales remains the worst-hit state with 1,617 cases.

The majority of COVID-19 infections in the state have been reported to be emerging from Sydney's eastern suburbs, where hundreds of people were seen flocking to the region's popular beaches last week.

The state and federal government have since issued multiple calls for Australians to 'do the right thing' and adhere to guidelines that could potentially save hundreds of lives.

On Saturday, officials closed Maroubra beach after defiant sunbathers had flocked to the sand following other beach closures in the city.

Beachgoers were told to leave the area at 11.30am.

Police from Thursday have the power to hand out fines of $1,000 to individuals and $5,000 to businesses that breach public health orders or ministerial directions.

The move comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced tougher restrictions to try and slow the spread of the disease in the Australian community.

People in the firing line include returned travellers who contravene the requirement to self-quarantine for 14 days and those diagnosed with COVID-19 who similarly don't follow the rules.

Fines will also apply for breaches of the prohibition on outdoor gatherings of 500 people and indoor gatherings of 100 people.

A group of young women are spoken to by a police officer on Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) after dozens flocked to the closed beach to enjoy the sunshine despite the coronavirus pandemic

This group of young people didn't appear to be 1.5 metres apart, and were sat directly in front of a sign telling residents 'No Gatherings' during the COVID-19 pandemic




Alister Jack, secretary of state for Scotland in the Boris Johnson government, announced on Saturday that he has developed mild symptoms for coronavirus and has gone into self-isolation.

He is the second cabinet minister to be so affected after health secretary Matt Hancock and Prime Minister Johnson revealed their affliction on Friday. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty is also in self isolation.

Jacks aid: In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus. In line with medical guidance, I am self-isolating and working from home. Officials said he has not been tested for the virus.

The police have been given new powers to enforce self-isolation as the UK went through the fifth day of the three-week lockdown, but there are reports that local council workers undertaking routine work have been spat on or sworn at in parts of the UK.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said there had been a number of sickening physical and verbal assaults on workers as it called on the public to respect the tireless efforts of council staff.

James Jamieson, LGA chairman, said: It is becoming increasingly concerning to hear that local government workers are being subjected to physical and verbal abuse as they try and play their part in keeping the country running through this crisis. This is unacceptable, and it has to stop.

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[March 27, 2020] OneWeb Files for Chapter 11 Restructuring to Execute Sale Process

LONDON, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OneWeb ("OneWeb," "the Company"), the global communications company with a mission to bring connectivity to everyone everywhere, announced today that the Company and certain of its controlled affiliates have voluntarily filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The Company intends to use these proceedings to pursue a sale of its business in order to maximize the value of the company. To date, the Company has successfully launched 74 satellites as part of its constellation, secured valuable global spectrum, begun development on a range of user terminals for a variety of customer markets, has half of its 44 ground stations completed or in development, and performed successful demonstrations of its system with broadband speeds in excess of 400 Mbps and latency of 32 ms. In addition, OneWeb's commercial team has seen significant early global demand for OneWeb's high-speed, low-latency connectivity services from governments and leaders in the automotive, maritime, enterprise, and aviation industries. This demand for connectivity delivered from low Earth orbiting satellite constellations underscores the tremendous need for high-quality connectivity, especially for rural and under-connected communities worldwide. The OneWeb ecosystem has transformed the satellite industry introducing innovative new technologies and operational advances. These developments have fundamentally changed the economics of satellite communications, opening up new markets such as cellular backhaul and connectivity on the move. Since the beginning of the year, OneWeb had been engaged in advanced negotiations regarding investment that would fully fund the Company through its deployment and commercial launch. While the Company was close to obtaining financing, the process did not progress because of the financial impact and market turbulence related to the spread of COVID-19. <>Today, the Company has filed a number of customary motions with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking authorization to support its ongoing operations during the Chapter 11 process, including approval for the consensual use of its existing cash collateral to continue to fund the business. In addition, OneWeb is actively negotiating debtor-in-possession financing, which, if acquired and approved by the Bankruptcy Court, will ensure OneWeb is able to fund additional financial commitments as it conducts a sale process under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Together, these actions will allow OneWeb to meet post-petition obligations to its remaining employees and certain vendors in the ordinary course.



Adrian Steckel, Chief Executive Officer of OneWeb, stated, "OneWeb has been building a truly global communications network to provide high-speed low latency broadband everywhere. Our current situation is a consequence of the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. We remain convinced of the social and economic value of our mission to connect everyone everywhere. Today is a difficult day for us at OneWeb. So many people have dedicated so much energy, effort, and passion to this company and our mission. Our hope is that this process will allow us to carve a path forward that leads to the completion of our mission, building on the years of effort and the billions of invested capital. It is with a very heavy heart that we have been forced to reduce our workforce and enter the Chapter 11 process while the Company's remaining employees are focused on responsibly managing our nascent constellation and working with the Court and investors." Additional information about the Company's Chapter 11 cases can be found at http://www.omniagentsolutions.com/onewebglobal, or by calling the Company's claims agent at 1-866-680-8121.

Milbank LLP is serving as OneWeb's legal counsel, FTI Consulting is serving as its restructuring advisor, and Guggenheim Securities, LLC is serving as its financial advisor. About OneWeb

OneWeb's vision is to enable Internet access for everyone, everywhere. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of global gateway stations and a range of user terminals to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service for businesses and governments around the world. OneWeb has business solutions for broadband, government and cellular backhaul. Its global communications network will offer game-changing mobility solutions to industries that rely on global connectivity, such as aviation, maritime, automotive and more. OneWeb is dedicated to responsible space practices on the basis that space is a shared natural resource which, if used responsibly, can help transform the way we live, work, and connect. Find out more at http://www.oneweb.world View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oneweb-files-for-chapter-11-restructuring-to-execute-sale-process-301031259.html SOURCE OneWeb

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- Gunmen have once again attacked communities in Niger state, kidnapping scores of people

- The attack was carried out by suspected bandits numbering over 50, who killed a policeman and a six-year-old girl

- The incident was confirmed by Wasiu Abiodun, the police public relations officer of the Niger state police command

There was mayhem in Niger state as suspected bandits launched a renewed attack in some parts of Shiroro and Minta local government areas.

According to Leadership, armed men with more than 50 motorcycles shooting at random to scare residents attacked Galkogo and Zumba villages and killed one policeman and shot three other officers in a joint patrol team.

During the attack, a six-year-old girl was also killed while an unspecified number of the villagers were allegedly abducted by the gunmen.

In another report by Vanguard, gunmen numbering over 50 rode into the villages and killed about twenty people and left scores injured. According to the account of eyewitnesses, the attack lasted for about two hours.

Suspected bandits have carried out fresh attacks in some communities in Niger state

Source: Depositphotos

The police public relations officer of the state police command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Wasiu Abiodun, confirming the attacks said details of the incident were yet to be ascertained.

However, Abiodun revealed that special squads have since been deployed in the area by the state commissioner of police, Adamu Usman, to help tackle the challenges.

He said: Details of the attacks are still very sketchy. I called the area commander in the affected local governments, although he confirmed the attacks, he said that they were still gathering information.

"So, we have not received any information about the casualties. At the moment, the commissioner of police, CP Adamu Usman has deployed all special squads in the area, including anti-kidnapping squad, anti-terrorists squad, among others. They are on the trail of the assailants.

Meanwhile, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa representing Niger East senatorial district has commiserated with the people of Galkogo and Zumba communities over the unfortunate incident.

He condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate, barbaric and sad at a time when the entire world is battling to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Legit.ng previously reported that eleven persons were killed and four women kidnapped as gunmen attacked five communities in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

Kudodo, Galapai, Dnakpala Makera and Dnalgwa communities were attacked in the early hours of Saturday, January 25. The bandits were said to have moved from house to house to carry out their activities.

The attack came barely one week after eight communities were sacked by bandits in the same Shiroro local government where a village head and 16 others were killed.

In other news, the governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has reportedly declared a shut down in the state, declaring restriction of movement from 8am to 8pm, as Nigeria's confirmed coronavirus cases rise.

The restriction of movement which the governor announced in a state broadcast on Monday, March 23, will commence on Wednesday, March 25. Governor Bello said the move became necessary due to the new cases emerging from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noting theta Niger state is very close to the FCT.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!

Who do you think can replace President Buhari in 2023? Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
Vessels with COVID-19 patients on board are not allowed to "transit the Canal," according to the Panama Canal Authority.

LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images

The MS Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship dealing with an outbreak of respiratory illness onboard, cannot enter the Panama Canal with cases of COVID-19 on.board, according to a statement put out by the Panama Canal Authority.

Four passengers have died aboard the ship, and Holland America confirmed that two individuals have tested positive for COVID-19.

The cruise line also confirmed there are 138 sick passengers and crew members on board the Zaandam.

"We saw the announcement and tweet by Panama Canal Authority and are working on alternative options," a Holland America spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider.

Are you a cruise-ship passenger or employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Panamanian health authorities have ruled that the MS Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship with two confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board, cannot enter the canal due to health and safety concerns.

"Following protocol of Panama's Ministry of Health, if a vessel has individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 on board, it cannot make any port operations or transit the Canal," the Panama Canal Authority said in a statement sent to Business Insider on March 27.

"Like all vessels that use the Panama Canal, the Zaandam had to comply with the regulations on health and prevention of contagious diseases," a spokesperson said in a statement sent to Business Insider on March 28.

The Holland America previously considered having the ship sail through the Panama Canal in order to head back to Fort Lauderdale for a March 30 arrival.

"We saw the announcement and tweet by Panama Canal Authority and are working on alternative options," a Holland America spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement on March 28.

The Zaandam has been stranded off the coast of South America and Central America after different ports began closing to cruise ships due to coronavirus concerns. A bout of respiratory disease then broke out on the ship, prompting 138 sick passengers and crew members to report to the vessel's medical center.

Story continues

Holland America confirmed that four passengers have died on board, and two individuals have tested positive for COVID-19.

The cruise on the Zaandam was scheduled to last 14 days, embarking from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. For some passengers, the cruise would end after 14 days in San Antonio, Chile. For others, it was due to April 7 in Fort Lauderdale. Those plans were diverted because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the cruise ship rerouted its course to sail north to an undetermined destination.

In a statement released on March 27, a Holland America spokesperson said that the Zaandam had rendezvoused with its sister ship the MS Rotterdam off the coast of Panama.

"We received approval from Panamanian authorities to conduct ship-to-ship operations at anchor between the two vessels," the spokesperson said in a statement.

On March 22, the cruise line released a statement saying that its intention was to have the Zaandam head to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 30, where it was initially supposed to arrive on April 7. At that time, the Holland America spokesperson said in a statement that the company was "still working on securing a reservation to transit the Panama Canal."

"Alternative options are also being developed," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Are you a cruise ship employee or passenger? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

Read the Panama Canal Authority's full March 28 statement:

Holland America's ship Zaandam arrived Friday, March 27 to Panamanian waters. Like all vessels that use the Panama Canal, the Zaandam had to comply with the regulations on health and prevention of contagious diseases.

Holland America confirmed there were COVID-19 cases on board, and following the protocol laid out by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) , the vessel was placed under quarantine and cannot make any port operations or transit the Canal.

The Panama Canal will continue to follow MINSA's guidance as it relates to vessel transits and after a thorough vessel inspection is completed by the health authorities.

Read the Panama Canal Authority's full March 27 statement:

Holland America's ship Zaandam arrived Friday, March 27 to Panamanian waters. Like all vessels that use the Panama Canal, the Zaandam had to comply with the regulations on health and prevention of contagious diseases.



Following protocol of Panama's Ministry of Health, if a vessel has individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 on board, it cannot make any port operations or transit the Canal.



All ships transiting the Panama Canal require personnel, including line handlers, boarding officers, and Panama Canal pilots, to board the ship throughout the transit in order to ensure a safe passage throughout the waterway. These protocols are in place to safeguard our customers and workforce.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Local Governments have again been urged to freeze rates and charges to lessen the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on household budgets.

Premier Mark McGowan last week called on the sector to do its bit in reducing the burden on households, but by March 26 only the City of Perth, City of Albany and City of Bayswater had responded to the governments call.

Local Government Minister David Templeman. Credit:Nathan Hondros

Local Government Minister David Templeman said the state government had already frozen rates, fees and charges and they were simply asking councils to do the same.

The Premier has sent a very clear message to local governments across Western Australia  now is the time to step up, and demonstrate that you understand the challenges that households are facing in your communities, he said.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the city of Detroit and surrounding suburbs continued to escalate dramatically on Friday, straining the health care system to the breaking point. Amidst the dramatic escalation of cases, Detroits Democratic Party Mayor Mike Duggan endorsed, on national television, the recently released policy of Henry Ford Health System limiting essential medical resources such as ventilators to patients most likely to survive the virus, leaving the most vulnerable patients to die.

Detroit Health Department heat map published on Friday shows the coronavirus "hot spots" in the city with a toal of 1,075 confirmed cases

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported that the city of Detroit had 1,075 people with COVID-19 as of 2:00 pm Friday, an increase of 224, or 26, percent from the previous day. Of the state of Michigans total of 3,657 confirmed coronavirus cases, 3,038, or 83 percent, are in the Detroit Metropolitan area of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Michigan rose to 92 on Friday, with 23 in Detroit and 77 in the Tri-County area. MDHSS also reported that the average age of the deceased is 68.4 and that two-thirds of them are men.

City health officials provided a chilling depiction of the virus spreading throughout Detroit on Friday, with the publication of a heat map showing the hotspots in neighborhoods where the virus is concentrated. The number of people with the virus in Detroit has grown by a multiple of 23 over the past nine days. There were 48 infected individuals in the city as of March 18.

As the WSWS reported yesterday, Henry Ford Health System publicly acknowledged its policy of rationing care, stating that only the patients with the best chance of getting better" were "our first priority. It added that due to shortages of supplies and equipment, Patients who are treated with a ventilator or ICU care may have these treatments stopped if they do not improve over time.

A spokesman for the hospital system said that the policy has been developed as part of a larger policy document developed for an absolute worst-case scenario, and is not an active policy. However, multiple reports by emergency room nurses on social media say that area hospitals are already practicing this live-or-die decision-making policy.

Melissa Steiner, an ICU nurse at Beaumont Health, posted a video from her car in which she broke down in tears as she described the COVID unit in her hospital. Steiner explained in her video: So today was the first day that Ive worked since our unit was designated the second COVID ICU in my hospital. And I dont know what the f**k just happened for the past 13 hours. Honestly guys, it felt like I was working in a war zone  completely isolated from my team members, limited resources, limited supplies, limited responses from physicians, because theyre just as overwhelmed as we are dealing with a ton of other stuff.

So basically I just spent the last 13 hours, like, treating two critically ill COVID patients on the bed, basically by myself. And this is my normal for the next however many months it takes for this virus to die down. Im already breaking, so for f**k sake people, please take this seriously. This is so bad.

For the second day in a row, the situation in Detroit was featured on national television news media. On Thursday, CNN asked Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan about the live-or-die policy at Henry Ford Health System. Duggan resigned himself to a growth in the number of Detroit residents who will die by backing up the program as prudent, saying, Henry Ford is one of Americas great health care systems, and what they put out is honest... Everybody is doing everything we can to stop it, but you would be irresponsible as a health system CEO if you werent planning for that eventuality.

This statement comes as no surprise given Mayor Duggans record of subordinating the citys medical facilities to corporate interests. Before he became mayor of the city in 2014, Duggan was CEO of the public nonprofit Detroit Medical Center (DMC), located near the citys cultural center and Wayne State University.

Duggan oversaw the sale of DMC in 2010 to Vanguard Health Systems and aggressively attacked the nonprofit model as killing health care in Detroit because it had long served as a last resort for the citys indigent population. Bringing the private equity investment company Blackstone Group to the table, Duggan helped transform the only major public health care complex in Detroit into a facility that would not serve those without health insurance.

Duggan has also been on the front line of the campaign to shut off water service to Detroiters unable to pay their water bills. Since 2014, the city has shut off water to 141,000 city accounts, and last year, 23,000 households had their service disconnected. This basic necessity of life is now more critical to survival than ever in a city overrun by the coronavirus. While scrupulous personal hygiene is essential to staving off the disease, tens of thousands of people cannot wash their hands, bathe, shower or wash their dishes or clothes.

Despite a March 9 promise from Mayor Duggan and Democratic Governor Whitmer that water would be turned back on through the so-called Coronavirus Water Restart Program, service has been restored to only 850 households, leaving more than 5,000 homes without water.

It is under conditions of immense poverty, unemployment, low wages and lack of health insurance or access to medical facilities that the overall health of city residents has deteriorated dramatically over the past decade. All of these circumstances are contributing factors in the explosive spread of the coronavirus in Detroit now underway.

In addition to the spike in cases among residents, Michigan Public Radio reported on Friday that there are now 24 confirmed cases of coronavirus among inmates at eight Michigan state prisons and nine cases among corrections officers.

Byron Osborn of the Michigan Corrections Organization, the prison workers union, said, The problem is the ability to actually distance people inside the facility, thats where the problem lies. Osborne said that with a staffing shortage in Michigan prisons, the spread of COVID-19 is going to make matters much worse. He warned that a tidal wave of infected inmates is coming.

Dr. Homer Venters, an epidemiologist at the New York University College of Global Public Health and the former chief medical officer for the New York jail system, told Michigan Public Radio: I think that most of our governors and our policy makers and certainly the CDC haven't yet contemplated how horrific its going to be in terms of people dying who dont need to die.

The primary thing is to get these facilities less crowded, and particularly less full of people who have the risk factors for serious illness and death.

Venters added that state prisons are not prepared to move large numbers of very sick inmates to outside hospitals, and the hospitals are not prepared for such an influx. He said, What you do is you create a really toxic atmosphere that can quickly turn violent.
For far too long, Americas response to the coronavirus lacked what you might call rational panic. From the experts to the markets to the president and his cable-television court, an irrational calm prevailed when a general freak-out might have prepared us for the crisis.

Today, at last, we have panic in surplus  however unevenly distributed and still-insufficient in some places. But now we need something else to leaven it: Along with rational panic, we need sources of rational hope.

Rational hope is not the same as reckless optimism. It doesnt require, for instance, quickly lifting quarantines based on outlying projections of low fatality rates, as some return-to-normalcy conservatives have been urging in the last week. Rational hope accepts that the situation is genuinely dark, but then it still looks around for signposts leading up and out. It recognizes that things are likely to get worse, but keeps itself alert to the contexts in which they seem to be getting better  or at the very least, getting worse more slowly. It doesnt expect miracles, but it rejects a grim helplessness, a spirit of inevitable doom.

Here are three sources of rational hope, three patterns where Im finding optimism right now.

[Listen to The Argument podcast every Thursday morning, with Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt.]
Ten migrant labourers were on



Saturday found travelling to Rajasthan from neighbouring Thane district by hiding themselves inside an empty milk tanker amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown, police said.

All the 10 persons, including some women, were detained by the police at Talasari in Palghar district, located along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, an official said.

"Ten persons, including some women, hid themselves inside the milk tanker. They started their journey from Kalyan in neighbouring Thane district and wanted to go to their home state of Rajasthan. They chose this method as regular transport vehicles are currently not available due to the lockdown," spokesperson of Palghar police, Hemant Katkar, said.

"When the vehicle reached Talasari check-post, the police sensed something amiss and checked the tanker. During the search, they found the ten persons hiding inside," he added.

All of them are labourers from Rajasthan working in and around Mumbai, Katkar said.

"They have been detained and booked under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)," he added.

On Friday, the Thane city police had caught 40 migrant labourers when they were heading to Uttar Pradesh in a truck. They had been booked by the police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The group was formed to get people to put their Christmas lights back up to give families something to look at during their nightly walks.

"There's really nothing to do right now except go for a walk," Harris said. "It doesn't even have to be Christmas lights, just a porch light or a candle in the window. It's just something bright and comforting to look at."

Harris said there are about 300 people participating in Nightlights2020.

"We all just want to do something to bring brightness in this time," she said.

Randy Bretz had a similar mindset.

After seeing videos of neighbors in Italy and Spain singing on their balconies during quarantine, Bretz urged his neighbors and fellow Lincolnites to do the same to thank those working tirelessly because of the pandemic. He called people to come outside each night at 8 p.m. until people no longer have to be under quarantine.

"I wanted there to be a way where we could all say 'thank you' to people working in health care, police, fire and even people at the grocery store," he said. "We all need to be encouraging each other during this time."
Two cancer patients at The Alfred have tested positive to COVID-19, after another two cancer patients died from the virus there, prompting calls for Melbourne hospitals to do more to protect vulnerable patients.

The diagnosis of the two patients has prompted calls for at-risk patients to wear masks and for a rapid ramp-up of testing to stop further outbreaks in Victorian hospitals.

Two cancer patients at Melbourne's The Alfred hospital have been daignosed with coronavirus, after two other oncology patients there died of the condition. Credit:Luis Ascui

The Australian Medical Association has also called for a rapid escalation of testing in Victoria as the state dramatically falls behind NSW and Queensland.

AMA federal president Tony Bartone said "many hospitals" were now reviewing their procedures to prevent a repeat of The Alfred's coronavirus outbreak, with emergency departments already separating COVID-19 patients from general admissions.
The show will go on as scheduled  for now  at this summers Country Thunder Music Festival in Twin Lakes.

But the situation remains extremely fluid.

Two events on the 2020 schedule, one in Kissimee, Fla., and the other in Florence, Ariz., have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, with decisions pending on the remaining tour, according to Gerry Krochak, director of marketing and media relations for the festival.

Country Thunder is set to arrive in Twin Lakes from July 16-19.

The show in Florida has been moved to mid-October, Krochak said, while the Arizona event will be held in late October.

From there, decisions on the rest of the slate are pending. A show in Iowa is set for June 12-14, followed by Saskatchewan, Canada, July 9-12, then Twin Lakes. The tour ends in Alberta, Canada, Aug. 21-23.

There are a lot of moving parts going into decisions, Krochak said.

We dont know whats happening in five minutes, let alone four months, he said. We havent made any decision on Wisconsin yet. ... As of right now, our next show is scheduled for mid-June in Iowa, so that will be the next one well have to deal with depending on how things happen the next few months.

And Krochak fully expects things to keep changing at a rapid pace.

The first time I heard the term, COVID-19, I was talking to some newspaper folks in Florida, and I said, Whatever we say on Monday is irrelevant by Tuesday, and we all look like idiots by Wednesday, he said.

Any place where people gather, no matter if its sports, movie theaters, concerts or gatherings of any kind, its all up in the air right now.

The four-day Twin Lakes event annually draws around 100,000 people. Headliners scheduled to appear this year are Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown and Dustin Lynch.

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
CCP virus rapid tests imported from China often fail to detect the virus accurately, according to medical professionals in Spain and Czech Republic. The tests failed in 70-80 percent of cases.

The CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan around November 2019 and was allowed to spread across China and the world due to a coverup and mismanagement by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Some countries, including Czech and Spain, bought hundreds of thousands of tests from China that are supposed to show results in less than 30 minutes, as opposed to the several hours needed for the regular tests.

But healthcare professionals have complained that the tests are unreliable.

The rapid tests, manufactured by the Chinese company Bioeasy, based in Shenzhen, have a sensitivity of 30 percent, when it should be higher than 80 percent, reported Spanish list El Pais, referring to a source who participated in testing of the kits undertaken at several large Spanish hospitals.

The Chinese embassy in Spain commented to El Pais that Bioeasy hasnt been licensed by the Chinese regime to sell the tests and wasnt on the list of suppliers the Chinese trade ministry had given Spain.

Bioeasy didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Czech authorities ordered 300,000 of the rapid tests for some $2 million. At least 150,000 of the test kits have already arrived. They came from Shenzhen, though the authorities havent released the name of the supplier.

The tests returned a false positive or a false negative result in about 80 percent of the cases, Czech media reported, referring to regional health officials.

Unfortunately, the error rate was relatively high so were now waiting for results of further testing from the whole country, said Pavla Svrcinova, public health officer of the Ostrava region in the northeast of the small central European country.

The Czech National Healthcare Institute warned that the tests check for antibodies and thus cant detect the virus in the first 5-7 days of infection, when the patient is most infectious, but has not yet developed the antibodies.

Its not a diagnostic test, the institute concluded, according to the Czech news site Seznam Zpravy.

The government still intends to use the test as a supportive measure to screen people who already have had symptoms of the infection for several days or who are finishing their two-week quarantine.

The government wanted to use a third of the tests to quickly screen its law enforcement, military, customs officers, and firefighters. Its not clear whether the tests can still be useful for that purpose.

Czech has been one of the less affected nations with about 2,000 cases and nine dead as of March 27.

Spain, on the other hand, is one of the worst affected, with over 64,000 cases and nearly 5,000 dead.

From The Epoch Times
Joseph E. Lowery, a civil rights leader who was among the prominent ministers who founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. and later served as the group's president for 20 years, died March 27 in Atlanta. He was 98.

He died from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak, a family statement said, according to the AP.

Lowery's civil rights work began in the late 1950s when he helped start the SCLC, a nonviolent, civil disobedience organization. He was a member of the SCLC board and traveled often to meet with King and other leaders to help steer the organization, providing advice and participating in protests at the height of racial unrest in the South.

One night in 1963, a last-minute decision to take a late-night train home to Nashville to see his wife saved Lowery's life. The Birmingham, Alabama, hotel room that King had offered him that night was bombed. No one was killed but Lowery often recalled how close he came to death. He later used that and other near-death experiences to describe himself and other participants in the cvil rghts movement as "a little crazy, good crazy," willing to risk their lives to shake up the segregated South and usher in equal rights for blacks.

Lowery often worked in the background, behind King. In March 1965, he came to the fore as chairman of the committee appointed to take protesters' demands to segregationist Gov. George Wallace of Alabama at the end of the five-day, 54-mile "Bloody Sunday" march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery.

Lowery described walking to the State Capitol steps and seeing a sea of blue-uniformed state troopers standing in front of the governor's office. The National Guard was there too, authorized to protect Lowery. The guardsmen tramped in front of the state troopers and Lowery passed through.

"Moses had the red sea, I had the blue sea," he said in a 2008 interview with The Washington Post.

Lowery was also one of the four black ministers sued in the seminal case of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) , in which an Alabama official accused the newspaper and the civil rights leaders of libeling him in an advertisement. The ad was intended to raise funds for King's defense against felony charges related to his 1956 and 1958 Alabama tax returns, but the lawsuit caught Lowery by surprise. He and the other defendants had not been informed that their names would be used in the ad.

An all-white jury initially ordered the ministers to pay $500,000 each. Lowery's 1958 Chrysler Imperial sedan and other property were seized in Mobile, Alabama, and sold at a state-ordered auction. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually vindicated the ministers in a landmark ruling and set a higher standard in defamation lawsuits by establishing the precedent that public officials must prove that a defendant knowingly and maliciously made false statements about them.

Lowery's stature and reputation grew as he outlived many other civil rights leaders. Following King's assassination in 1968, the SCLC became rudderless and beset with infighting. By the time Lowery was elected SCLC president in 1977, the organization was $10,000 in debt and membership had fallen drastically.

Lowery raised money and returned the organization to solvency, while focusing it on a new set of civil rights issues.

He described his busy years at the helm of SCLC to Ebony magazine: "First we went to Mississippi and jumped on the Southern Company for buying coal from South Africa. Then we went to North Carolina and marched for Ben Chavis. Next we went to Decatur, Alabama, for Tommie Lee Hines."

Chavis was part of the so-called Wilmington Ten, whose members were arrested in 1972 in North Carolina and convicted of conspiracy to murder charges. He and the others spent nearly a decade in jail.

Hines was a mentally disabled black youth charged in 1979 with raping a white woman in Decatur. Lowery and a few hundred others marching in support of Hines were fired upon by a group of robed Klansmen when they stepped onto the white side of town. Lowery and his wife, Evelyn, escaped the barrage of bullets shaken but without a scratch; a few marchers were injured but none critically. The SCLC held a second march in the town a week later that drew 4,000 protesters. An all-white jury initially convicted Hines, but on appeal a year later he was found incompetent to stand trial and was released.

Much of Lowery's work in the 1980s and 1990s never made headlines, which chafed him. He often said the media thought "the movement died with Martin." Lowery retired from the SCLC presidency in 1997 but became known as the dean of the civil rights movement - a revered authority on its legacy. He preached often, shook hands and posed for photos after sermons, even as he grew frail. His messages from the pulpit centered on the struggle for black rights and King.

"They have made Martin a glorified social worker, and they have almost made our young folks believe that all Martin did was go around dreaming," Lowery told members of an Atlanta church before a King holiday celebration in 2008. "He was a nonviolent militant. He was a Christian radical."

Late in his life, Lowery returned to the news pages when he became a vigorous supporter of Barack Obama, who chose Lowery to deliver the benediction at his presidential inauguration. Lowery said he saw in Obama a young man whose words tapped into the heartbeat of the people - just like the well-known speeches of the civil rights movement.

"Rev. Joe Lowery was the most important bridge between the wonderful legacy of the civil rights movement and the message of hope and change that Obama expressed for the future," said Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law School professor and civil rights lawyer. "He was not a fair-weather supporter. He was one of Obama's central faith leaders in the turbulent 2008 campaign."

Aside from his life's work as a civil rights agitator, Lowery pastored Methodist churches for nearly 50 years.

Joseph Echols Lowery was born Oct. 6, 1921, in Huntsville, Ala., and grew up with a Methodist church steps from his childhood home. His father owned small businesses and his mother taught school part time. His mother would drag him to church and make him sing and make speeches before the congregation, he recalled.

"I went to church so much, I swore once I got grown I would never go back to church, [but] the church became a part of me," he said in an interview.

Joseph's childhood was also his introduction to Southern racism. The summer he was 14 he entered his father's store to get some candy. As he left the store, a large white policeman hit him in the stomach with a nightstick and said, "Get back boy, don't you see a white man coming in?"

He ran home to get his father's pistol, intent on challenging the officer. His father, who was usually not home in the middle of the day, providentially came home and stopped his son. After the incident, Joseph vowed to fight prejudice when he grew up.

He graduated in 1943 from Paine College in Augusta, Ga., with a bachelor's degree in sociology. For a time, he worked as a journalist in the black press, but soon decided to become a minister. He attended Paine Theological Seminary and in 1948 accepted his first pastorate in Birmingham, where he met his future wife, Evelyn Gibson. She died in 2013.

Survivors include three daughters, Yvonne, Karen and Cheryl. Lowery also had two sons, Joseph Jr. and LeRoy III from a previous marriage to Agnes Moore, which ended in divorce.

Lowery retired from pastoring in 1992 but remained a busy speaker and preacher unafraid to use his place behind the pulpit to make political rebukes. In 2006, at the funeral of Coretta Scott King, Lowery decried the Iraq War as President George W. Bush sat a few feet behind him. Bush hugged Lowery as he left the pulpit and the minister later said his intention was to offer a loving correction in the tradition of the black church.

"I think Joe always believed like [King] did, that his purpose was to speak the polite truth as he sees it, irrespective of political calculation and social niceties," civil rights historian David Garrow said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Meg Smith contributed to this story.
The Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Saturday issued an advisory regarding care and protection of children moving with migrant families, living on streets and staying in care institutions in light of COVID-19 outbreak.

The NCPCR in its advisory stated that given the intensity of the situation it is suggested to maintain social distancing and wherever exceptions the given measures are allowed, the organisation has to follow the measures given by the Ministry of Health.

"The Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPO) shall regularly monitor if any abandoned children are found on the streets within the police station's jurisdiction. CHILDLINE may be requested to identify such children and bring to the notice of CWPO for further action," the advisory stated.

NCPCR also advised that whenever such child/children are found, the CWPO shall record the details of each child such as name, age, gender, place of origin, alone or with family, etc.

"The CWPO shall make arrangements for conducting the medical check-up of each child. In case, any symptoms of Covid-19 or any other condition requiring medical attention are identified, the protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should be followed," the advisory highlighted.

The advisory stated that in case an illegal child is alleged to have been trafficked, immediate relief such as food, shelter, toiler, clothing, counseling, medical aid, etc. be provided under MWCD's Ujjwala Scheme during the interim period.

NCPCR said all the protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be strictly adhered to keeping in view the safety and security of such vulnerable children.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases now stands at 53 in the state while the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 873 on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The lockdown to contain coronavirus has changed lives in ways we never thought of and in these hard times police across the country are doing their best to reach out those who need help.

Recently we heard of Delhi cops who fed two starving daily wagers who called them for help. Now again, in another heartwarming gesture, a Uttar Pradesh police went out of his way to help a pregnant woman.

Uttar Pradesh Police came to the rescue of a pregnant woman whose husband was stuck in Noida due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Tamanna Khan, 25, a resident of Bareilly, sent a video message to the SSP Bareilly Shailesh Pandey, seeking help as she was expecting her first baby while her husband was stuck in Noida.

The SSP reached out to the woman promptly and contacted the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Noida.

ADCP Noida Ranvijay Singh then made sure that the woman's husband reached Bareilly on time. Touched by the Singhs' timely effort to bring her husband close to her, Tamanna named her baby after him.

"Ranvijay sir now holds immense importance in our lives, despite so many responsibilities and in such times he personally went and met my husband and made sure that my husband reached Bareilly in time," said Ms Tamanna. "I did not have any hopes of getting any help while I was making the video. But Shailesh Pandey sir reached out to me and called my husband," she said.

"For me, cops are the real heroes, and I have named my child Mohammed Ranvijay Khan," she added while expressing gratitude for the help.



SSP Bareilly Shailesh Pandey told ANI, "I got the message through social media wherein Tamanna Khan has sought help from police. We reached out to her and subsequently requested Noida police to help bring her husband Anees to Bareilly from Noida."


By Michael Kahn and Joanna Plucinska PRAGUE/WARSAW (Reuters) - Eastern Europeans with strong memories of authoritarian Communist rule have taken a 'been there, done that' attitude to the restrictions on free movement and shortages of some basic goods caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The shuttered stores, sealed borders and other measures have revived memories of life behind the old 'Iron Curtain' before the fall of Communism and advent of democracy in 1989. As Czech scientist Jan Konvalinka, 57, joked on Twitter, 'Shut borders, nothing on shelves, store closures?

By Michael Kahn and Joanna Plucinska

PRAGUE/WARSAW (Reuters) - Eastern Europeans with strong memories of authoritarian Communist rule have taken a "been there, done that" attitude to the restrictions on free movement and shortages of some basic goods caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The shuttered stores, sealed borders and other measures have revived memories of life behind the old 'Iron Curtain' before the fall of Communism and advent of democracy in 1989.

As Czech scientist Jan Konvalinka, 57, joked on Twitter, "Shut borders, nothing on shelves, store closures? Welcome to my childhood."

"We've been there, done that," he added.

Scenes of shoppers in Britain, the United States and elsewhere plundering supermarkets for toilet paper, pasta and canned goods have bemused many in a region where people once had to wait years to be able to buy a car or where they would queue hours for a rare delivery of bananas at a state-run store.

"In the UK, where youve had democracy for years, people panic when theres an unusual situation. We are behaving in a more rational way, we are detached," said Piotr Adamowicz, 59, an opposition member of the Polish parliament and former anti-communist activist.

Echoing that comment, Andrea in Budapest said: "People here are not panicking".

"My grandmother lived through two wars, my mom was born during World War II and then we had Communism. We are prepared for this," said Andrea, an ethnic Hungarian who grew up in Romania and spent time in a detention centre before 1989 after trying to cross into Hungary.

TEMPORARY MEASURES

People do not expect the current restrictions to last very long, unlike the privations they endured in the past.

"For me these border closures dont hurt me as much as during Communism because I know they will open one day," said Filip Antos, 51, owner of Czech online travel service A-Hotel.com.

"This is not like Communism because we know this will end. During Communism we didnt think it would ever end."

Access to trustworthy news sources today has also eased the strain for those who remember Moscow-dominated rule that ended in a series of mostly peaceful revolutions in 1989. Under Communism, governments that nobody trusted were the main source of people's information in a pre-Internet world.

i For younger east Europeans, however, the experience of shortages and closed borders is novel.

"I never thought such things could happen again," said Tomas Klima, 31, who was born a year before the 1989 Velvet Revolution in then-Czechoslovakia.

But, noting the hugely expanded role of the state in many countries to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and cushion the economic impact of the disruption caused, he added:

"We tend to forget too quickly what it used to be like back then. The state controlled everything, you had to ask for permission to travel abroad etc.

"I hope people will realize soon that by allowing the state to take control of various aspects of people's lives, even if with good intentions, they lose a lot of their liberty."

(Additional Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in Warsaw, Jan Lopatka in Prague and Krisztina Than in Budapest, Editing by Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
March 20 marked the beginning of Nowruz, the new year in Iran and one of its most cherished holidays. It was also match day, the day when medical students found out which residency program would continue their training. As a fourth-year medical student on a gap year, my morning was filled with celebratory video calls with classmates and family members across the world. But while it should have been a day for celebration and joy, it was marked by sadness and fear.

Choosing not to travel during the coronavirus outbreak, my family celebrated Norooz over a video call as the new year rang in at 11:49 p.m. Eastern Time. The call was riddled with uneasiness.

My sister, a physician in California, found out she would have to begin caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients in the upcoming surge. She mentioned that personal protective equipment is in short supply in many hospitals throughout the country, and joked that she might have to start whipping out her spare bandannas.

While we tried to make light of a situation that terrified us, my sister also noted that some infants have become critically ill from the coronavirus.

My thoughts drifted to her infant and toddler, understanding that her concern could not be limited to her own well-being and the well-being of her patients, but also to the well-being of her children. She realized that, with the massive shortages of personal protective equipment, she could become infected. This meant her young children would as well.

During our call, my thoughts also drifted to Iran, which has been battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world. Irans slow response to initial cases undoubtedly contributed to their massive outbreak. However, the U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran since 2018 have contributed to major documented shortages of medications and medical supplies, even prior to the outbreak. I couldnt stop thinking about how, for shortages to already be this bad in the United States, they must be unimaginable in Iran.

Health care providers across the world are putting their lives on the line battling the coronavirus outbreak  my sister among them, and my closest friends and classmates poised to join them in a few short months. However, the selflessness inherent to our profession is underscored by a dark reality: In the process of risking their own lives, many providers are risking the lives or well-being of their loved ones as well. How does one even begin to weigh these risks?

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, providers are being asked to sacrifice more than ever, all while there is a seemingly blatant disregard for their lives. Stories have circulated about providers sleeping in their cars or garages to prevent potential exposure to their families.

My sister made the difficult decision to send her young children to live with our parents, knowing she may not see them for months.

The risk to providers and their loved ones could be minimized, yet our leaders have failed to ensure they have the supplies necessary to work safely. President Trumps failure to quickly invoke the Defense Production Act, which could mobilize the immediate production of personal protective equipment, is a clear example. Providers are instead officially being asked by the CDC to substitute bandannas for proper masks, with the knowledge that this is nothing short of futile.

More than ever, we need solidarity and compassion for one another. We must demand the resources necessary for providers to do their jobs without risking their lives. Community members must do their part in flattening the curve. But local solidarity is not enough. This advocacy must extend internationally, with the realization that providers all over the globe are facing similar risks as they continue their commitment to patient care. This is true for providers in Italy, for providers in China and for providers in Iran.

The virus does not discriminate by nationality, by ideology or by race. It sees our shared humanity sometimes better than we can see it ourselves, and is a reminder of our deep interconnectedness.

As the ancient Persian poet Saadi eloquently said years ago: Human beings are members of a whole, in creation one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain.

It is time that we put these words into practice.

Laila Fozouni, an Iranian American, is a fourth-year medical student at UCSF and a recent graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 12:11 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206dfc54f 1 News COVID-19,coronavirus,WHO,Singapore,Malaysia,health,students,campaign Free

Medical students from Malaysia and Singapore, Ian Soh, Aaron Goh and Klaus Tan, have started the #MoreViralThanTheVirus campaign.

It is an initiative that urges youngsters to stay home to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

A letter translated into 27 different languages can be found in their website.

We stand in solidarity with the World Health Organization [WHO] and Dr. Tedros Adhanom in the global fight against COVID-19, they said in a statement.

We are medical students from the countries most affected by COVID-19. We need your help to fight for our generation. Lets change the situation with responsibility, they added.

Read also: Youth warned against 'fever dream' of coronavirus invincibility

The campaign was created after observing the worrying attitudes of many young adults around the world regarding the pandemic.

We believe our message is timely and relevant as recent news has stated that this age bracket forms the largest group of cases in Singapore.

The message urges youngsters and young adults to stay put and avoid going out, because if the social distancing appeal is not adhered to, wearing masks and washing hands will not be enough to flatten the curve.

Victory is near when our distance is far, the statement concluded.

As of Friday, Malaysia tops the number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia with 2,031 cases, 24 deaths and 215 recoveries, while Singapore has 683 cases, two deaths and 172 recoveries. (gis/wng)
By PTI

TEHRAN: Iran announced Saturday that 139 more people had died from the novel coronavirus, raising the official death toll to 2,517 in one of the world's worst-affected countries.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a news conference that 3,076 more cases had been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 35,408.

"The condition of 3,026 of those hospitalised is critical in one way or another," he said, adding that 11,679 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Jahanpour said that 57 million Iranians had been screened for the virus.

ALSO READ: 300 Iranians dead after drinking industrial alcohol to cure coronavirus based on social media forwards

He said the data received had been "significant" and had helped with early detection and intervention.

Iran has imposed strict new containment measures, after weeks of public appeals largely failed to deter hundreds of thousands taking to the roads to visit family for the Persian New Year holidays.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

They include a ban on intercity travel by road and fining and impounding violators' cars.

The restrictions, which will remain in force at least until April 8, include a ban on all intercity travel by road.
Editors note: This story was updated to remove erroneous information from the state Department of Health on ages of most of the people hospitalized.

There were 533 new confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania on Saturday, raising the statewide total to 2,751.

The first deaths in central Pennsylvania were reported in Cumberland and Lancaster counties, as well as the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Perry County.

The state Department of Health says 34 patients have died due to the virus statewide, including 12 new deaths reported Saturday.

Coronavirus cases have been reported in 56 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties.

All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.

Our notable increase in cases over the past week indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. Pennsylvanians have a very important job right now: stay calm, stay home and stay safe. We have seen case counts continue to increase and the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home.

The number of patients in Pennsylvania who have tested negative stands at 25,254. The department no longer provides data on the number of pending test results, since most tests are now being performed in commercial laboratories.

The number of coronavirus cases continues to climb: Fridays tally saw 531 new coronavirus cases. Hershey Medical Center on Friday reported the hospitals first coronavirus death. Its not known if that was among the state totals, as the state counts people based on where they live, rather than where they are being treated.

The number of coronavirus cases in Cumberland and Dauphin County now stands at 22 and 23, respectively. Lancaster County has 45 cases, Lebanon County has 15 and York Countys total is 37.

Most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

Pennsylvania has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses closed and schools are closed statewide at least through April 6. Currently 19 counties are under stay-at-home orders.

Worldwide more than 600,000 people have been infected and at least 28,000 have died, Johns Hopkins University is reporting. Italy tops the number of fatalities with 9,000 coronavirus-related deaths  most in the world.

RELATED: How did a bat transmit COVID-19 to humans? Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, professor and associate director of Penn State Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, will share his insights noon on Saturday in the next Coronavirus Q & A on PennLives Facebook Live.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While the U.S. Navy prepares to deploy a hospital ship in New York Harbor to treat coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, it has decided to cancel this years Fleet Week.

The Navy is now refocusing its efforts to quickly prepare hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) for deployment to New York City to help support non-COVID-19 medical needs in the area.

We did not come to this decision lightly, but feel it is necessary to cancel this years Fleet Week New York to help mitigate further spread of the virus, said Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic of Fleet Week, which was supposed to take place May 20-26. Fleet Week is a tremendous partnership between the people of New York City and our Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard team. We appreciate your understanding during these challenging circumstances.

The last time Fleet Week was canceled was in 2013 as a result of budget shortfalls due to sequestration., said the U.S. Navy.

Currently, there are no plans to postpone or reschedule the event to a later date this year. This is one of many steps the Navy is taking to mitigate the spread of the virus, according to the Navy.

Perviously, the Comfort has been deployed around the world in response to wars and natural disasters. Most recently, the ship deployed to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to assist nations healthcare systems, according to the Navy.

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But the lack of face-to-face contact and meeting up at their favorite hangout spots in town is starting to wear my daughter and her friends down. Its starting to wear us all down. My daughter and her friends are realizing that the real relationship is being together  physically, in the same room.

If this ordeal has done nothing for us but proven one lesson that I have been trying to teach my daughter, it is this: Staying connected is seeing people and being with people.

For the longest time, teenagers have looked at their phones and depended on them to stay connected with their friends. And yes, phones are very good for that. However, there is nothing like getting together with friends and being there for each other in the same room, making eye contact, laughing with each other and celebrating the fact that you are making a connection that is real.

Colin Yoder

Greensboro, N.C.

To the Editor:

While most college students are likely grieving lost experiences or perhaps an underwhelming return on their spring tuition, thankfully, many havent yet suffered the loss of a friend or family member in the early days of this pandemic. In the week since my abrupt departure from campus, I have remained one of these lucky ones. My family is in good health, and the same fortune has extended to my peers.

My focus, like that of millions of other students worldwide, has shifted to completing online courses and adjusting to social distancing in lieu of a social life.

In the early days of quarantine, Ive come to realize that this unique pause in life presents an opportunity for young adults. While it may feel like one frustrating snow day after another, we may never find a better opportunity to attend to ourselves and the objects of our daily neglect for years.

I would urge my fellow students to take care of yourselves during this strange time but to challenge yourselves as well. Enjoy that takeout from your favorite restaurant and start the new show youve been dying to watch on Netflix, but why not fix your sleep schedule and study a bit harder this semester as well? Above all else, stay safe, stay healthy and stay connected.
A medical staff member checks medicine used on a patient with COVID-19 at Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on March 11, 2020.(STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of Ash Urns at Wuhan Funeral Home Fuel Further Skepticism of Chinas Virus Death Toll

Thousands of ash urns have been delivered to a funeral home in the virus epicenter Wuhan in recent days, as relatives start picking up the remains of loved ones, further calling into question the true scale of the outbreak in China.

Families of those who died of the CCP virus were permitted to collect their relatives cremated remains from seven government-run funeral homes with crematoriums, beginning on March 23. Since then, photos of long lines outside a funeral parlor have circulated on Chinese social mediaand promptly deleted by the regimes censors.

Photo posted by Weibo user @ . Some wuhan ppl, after months of shelter-in-place, are waiting in line at Hankou Funeral Home to pick up family members ashes. This is heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/pceIslxpa9  Tony Lin (social distancing aka introverting) (@tony_zy) March 25, 2020

At one of those facilities, the Hankou Funeral Home, trucks delivered about 2,500 urns on both Wednesday and Thursday, Chinese financial magazine Caixin reported. One picture published by the outlet showed 3,500 urns being stacked by employees inside the facility.

Some families told Caixin they had to wait in line for up to five hours to pick up the ashes.

Hankou Funeral Home said it would endeavor to release 500 ash urns a day, according to Chinese news aggregator Toutiao. The funeral parlor hopes to complete the task by Tomb-sweeping Day on April 4, a traditional Chinese festival when people visit the graves of their ancestors.

When Caixin contacted funeral homes in Wuhan, staff at six of the facilities answered the phone, either saying they did not have information on how many urns were to be collected, or that they were not permitted to disclose the numbers.

Officially, Chinese authorities have reported over 2,000 deaths in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged. However, experts and locals have long been skeptical of Chinas official figures, in light of Beijings initial coverup of the outbreak; Wuhans overstretched health system, which meant that many people had been unable to receive testing and treatment; and several changes to the way infections were officially counted.

Earlier in February, The Epoch Times conducted an undercover investigation, calling funeral homes in Wuhan in order to understand the true death toll of the epidemic.

At the time, the Hankou Funeral Home confirmed that its crematorium was using 20 furnaces to cremate bodies 24 hours a day, the sudden rise in intake suggesting that more people were dying of the CCP virus than officially reported.

Officials at other funeral homes in the city also described sharp upticks in bodies the facilities received for cremation. An employee at the Caidian Funeral Home located in a Wuhan suburb also The Epoch Times at the time that they needed at least 100 body bags every day.

Mr. Ding, a Wuhan resident who lost his mother to the virus, has yet to collect her remains. He told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times that his local district authorities said they would help families with doing paperwork; getting processing fees and cost of ash urns waived; and receiving discounts for burial plots, provided the tasks are completed before Tomb-sweeping day. After this date, such assistance could not be guaranteed.

He criticized authorities for forcing families to sort out the burials within such a short time frame, especially given that no funeral ceremony or rites are permitted. How can I accept this? Ding said.

He said the only consolation for families would be for officials to acknowledge the truth of what happened and accept responsibility.

If authorities could acknowledge fault and accept responsibility, then this would be the greatest consolation for families of the deceased, and amount to paying respect to the dead, Ding said.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.




The foreign ministry expressed regret to Australia's ambassador to Seoul, Friday, after a South Korean citizen was assaulted in southern Australia in an apparent racist attack over the coronavirus.







In the southern city of Albany, a local woman reportedly assaulted a Korean man March 15, after telling him to stop moving around and stay at home in what was believed to be an attack driven by racial hatred over the global spread of the new coronavirus.







Seoul has criticized such attacks for eroding global collaboration against the COVID-19 pandemic.







On Friday, a foreign ministry official voiced regret over the incident and called for efforts to prevent a recurrence in a phone call with Australian Ambassador to South Korea James Choi, a senior ministry official said.







"The South Korean Embassy in Australia also sent a letter to the Australian government regarding this matter," the senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "It pointed out the insufficient response by the Australian police and called for a stern response."







The increasing number of such hate incidents, including racial slurs targeting Asians, has been a source of concern for the foreign ministry and one reason why it has been stressing international cooperation in preventing them in key diplomatic events.







Earlier in the day, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young held a conference call with his counterparts from six countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia, and requested multinational efforts to prevent racial hate crimes. (Yonhap)


A convicted paedophile who most recently targeted a seven-year-old girl has been released from prison because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Corey Karl Devlin, 29 fronted the Southport District Court on Friday for flashing his penis at the child who rushed to tell her father and grandmother, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Devlin had previously been convicted of two counts of having sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14-16 and one count each of possessing child exploitation material and failing to abide by sex offender reporting obligations between 2012-2014, the court was told.

A convicted paedophile who most recently targeted a seven-year-old girl has been released from prison because of the coronavirus pandemic (stock image)

The girl's father and grandmother reported the incident to police.

The prosecutor told the court he was ten months into a suspended sentence and probation order when he offended against the young girl.

His defence barrister told the court he was a heavy smoker and had weakened physical health.

Despite being concerned the man would re-offend, Judge Julie Dick, said that the courts were 'under a lot of pressure to get people out of custody' because of COVID-19.

'I'm going to let you out because of the virus.' she said.

She sentenced Devlin to 149 days prison which he had already served and also extended his probation by two years and suspended sentence by one year.

'You keep offending against children  you have a problem. And eventually it is possible for a court to order you don't be released ever, if it keeps going on,' she said.'
A 38-year-old man who set out on foot from Delhi to his home in Morena in Madhya Pradesh collapsed and died on Saturday morning after walking nearly 200kms in nearly three days, according to police officials who said the cause of death was a heart attack possibly brought on by the exertion.

The death is the first recorded fatality among the tens of thousands  some estimates put the numbers into six digits  of migrant workers walking back to their villages for food and shelter after losing work in metropolitan cities during the three-week lockdown put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The man was identified as Ranveer Singh, who delivered food orders for a restaurant in south Delhis Tughlakabad, said Agra district police chief Babloo Kumar. Singh and two others from Delhi were walking to Morena. On reaching Agra on Saturday morning, he complained of chest pain and collapsed, the senior police officer said.

The village they were heading to was another 100km from where Singh died.

An autopsy later identified the cause of death as myocardial infarction  the medical term for a heart attack.

The heart attack was probably caused because of exertion in walking to Agra from Delhi. The post-mortem was conducted on Saturday and body was handed over to family members who turned up from the village, said Arvind Kumar, the Station House Officer of Sikandra police station.

The incident brings into focus the unforeseen problems now emerging after the government took the drastic step to shut down most of the country, leaving only a few exceptions meant to keep essential services and utilities running.

Food delivery at restaurants have been covered by the list of exceptions but most establishments such as the one Singh worked at have not been functioning since availability of raw material and staff has been constrained due to the strict rules.

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Kenya may only have 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus but the government is already taking drastic measures to curb the spread.

A curfew from 7 pm to 5 am will begin on Friday evening and thousands of Kenyans have lost their jobs due to social distancing.

In the impoverished Nairobi shantytown of Kibera, where more than half-a-million earn less than a few dollars a day, the layoffs and curfew have left residents worrying about a rise in crime and how they will feed themselves.

Economists have warned that any lockdowns must have provisions in place for the poor to receive food and water or there is likely to be violence.
US president says he is considering a two-week enforced quarantine on New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.

US President Donald Trump has said he was considering imposing a two-week quarantine on New York state and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut as part of efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Trump said on Saturday that he was considering placing a two-week enforced quarantine on New York, which he called a hot spot. The quarantine might also apply to parts of the states of New Jersey and Connecticut.

This would be an enforceable quarantine, Trump said from the White House. Id rather not do it, but we may need it.

Later, the US leader confirmed the idea on Twitter. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly, he said

But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who spoke with Trump earlier on Saturday, said this issue did not come up in those discussions.

I dont even know what that means, Cuomo told a news briefing. I dont know how that could be legally enforceable. And from a medical point of view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing, Cuomo said.

But I can tell you, I dont even like the sound of it. Not even understanding what it is, I dont like the sound of it, the governor said

The number of coronavirus cases reached over 52,000 in New York, the US epicentre of the outbreak, Cuomo said on Saturday.

The sum of total known coronavirus cases in the US soared to 115,842, eclipsing the toll the disease has taken on China and Italy. At least 1,709 people have died in the country, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Asked whether the military would be deployed to enforce any new quarantine in New York, Trump said. Were not going to need much. And the people in New York, they understand it better than anybody and theyll be great. Trump added that he planned to discuss the issue with Cuomo later in the day.

Trump appeared less certain about an earlier pledge to try to reopen US businesses by April 12. Well, were going to see what happens, Trump said. We want to get our country back to work.

Trump said that while most companies were assisting in combating the epidemic, he said he may have to invoke the Defense Production Act to compel one or two companies to produce further medical supplies.

We have a couple of little problem children, and well use it where we have to, he said. But, overall, I tell you, the private free enterprise system is at work like nobody has seen in a long time.
Rhode Islands National Guard and state police have an unusual job this weekend: hunting down New Yorkers. Authorities are on the look out for cars with New York license plates and theyre also going door-to-door in coastal towns to find anyone who recently arrived from New York. Anyone who recently traveled from New York to Rhode Island must undergo a 14-day quarantine or else risk a $500 fine and 90 days in prison. I know this is unusual. I know this is extreme. And I know some people dont agree with it, Gov. Gina Raimondo said. Its absolutely not a decision I make lightly.

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New York has become the center of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States with more than 52,000 cases and 728 deaths as of Saturday. Rhode Island has 203 confirmed cases and two deaths. As the two deaths were announced Saturday, Raimondo expanded restrictions, calling on everyone in Rhode Island to stay at home. She also said anyone entering Rhode Island from out of state must self-quarantine for 14 days. There is an exception for those who travel for work but any Rhode Islander who leaves the state for work must self-quarantine when they return.

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Those who arrived from out of state can quarantine anywhere they are staying, regardless of whether its a hotel or a rental home or a home they own. Hotels and rental companies have been told to inform their guests of the order. But chances are someone likely got to them before considering that in addition to stopping cars with New York plates, National Guard troops are being posted at train stations and bus depots.

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Raimondo said the harsh measures were necessary because the small state isnt prepared to deal with a large increase in COVID-19 cases. I wouldnt do it if I didnt think it were necessary, she said. If you want to seek refuge in Rhode Island, you must be quarantined.

The move faced objections, including from the ACLU of Rhode Island. While the Governor may have the power to suspend some state laws and regulations to address this medical emergency, she cannot suspend the Constitution, ACLU of Rhode Island executive director Steven Brown said in a statement. Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not, and cannot, constitute probable cause to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver, no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be.
I have always felt a silent solidarity upon encountering another runner on the trail. Theres something about sharing an unspoken purpose, a common goal, an identical ritual, that unifies you with that stranger, a stranger who doesnt actually know you but somehow understands you. This feeling, for me, has always been driven home by the power of a simple gesture: the runners wave.

The beauty of the runners wave lies in its simplicity. While all runners waves share certain characteristicssmall, direct, concise, and encouraging movementseach is somehow distinct, like a signature or fingerprint, holding a part of the runners identity and passing that on to someone else. Mine involves eye contact, a short smile, a slow uncurling of the fingers, a small raise of the wrist, and a four- to five-second hold. When I pass the other runner, wave completed, I always feel an extra force driving me forward.

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While Ive always appreciated the runners wave, I never knew what that simple gesture meant to me before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Im on Day 30wait, sorry, I guess its only Day 10of self-quarantine, which means leaving my house only for my daily runs. (Experts say its safe to run solo outside, as long as its not prohibited by your local health officials and youre healthy.) The only in-person interactions I have outside my family are with the strangers I see on the trail or road, our only communication a small hand gesture from more than six feet apart.

Humans are social creatures, and we crave interaction with others. In times like these, even surface-level, safely distanced interactions can mean a lot. In a survey conducted by Mizuno, a sporting goods company, in 2016, 89 percent of runners said they acknowledged others while running, and about a third of those people did so by waving. Similarly, 79 percent said they had positive feelings about waving. If we were to redo that survey now, with a new pool of socially starved and stressed athletes, I have full confidence those numbers would be even higher.

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The pandemic is affecting all of us, in both vastly different and eerily similar ways. Its given us big responsibilitiesour actions have the ability to save lives by slowing the spread of the disease. In order to get through this thing, we need to work together as a community, but its hard to do that when you feel isolated.

In the face of that tension, the power of the runners wave is that it reminds me that there are other people out there, people whose minds are saturated with the same worries that fill my own, trying to clear their heads, trying to reach for a sense of normalcy, a routine. It reminds me that the steady drumbeat of someone elses feet hitting the trail brings them the same peace that my rhythmic strides bring me.

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As every news alert brings more bad news, as governments have announced self-quarantine and shelter-in-place orders, and as social distancing has moved most of our human interactions to a computer screen, I think many of us are desperately searching for two things: a sense of control and a sense of community.

A daily run can impose a sense of order and control amid chaos, which is something runners knew long before the COVID-19 pandemic started reshaping our lives in the dramatic, terrifying, and disorienting ways that it has. As Talya Minsberg recently documented for the New York Times, the pandemicand its closure of gyms, pools, and general lifehas incited a running boom, with new runners merging into the rivers of old-timers, sharing between them a silent current of mutual encouragement. Minsberg talks about the runners nod, which she describes as a step below the wave, which itself is sometimes upsized by the thumbs-up.

For me, the wave is still the most sacred gesture. For me, the wave means I see you, during a time when we all want to be seen. It is both a cheer of encouragement and a promise.

The encouragement: You can push through this. The promise: We will push through it together.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
The chief medical officer of Gautam Budh Nagar has ordered that an FIR be filed against the company whose 14 employees tested positive for COVID-19--13 in Noida and one in Ghaziabad--- even as nine more people were found to have been infected by the Sars-CoV-2 in the district. Of these nine people, four are from one family. The total number of COVID-19 patients in the district touched 26 Saturday evening.

The nine persons include an 11-year-old girl, three members of her family from Greater Noida West and five employees of a company that makes fire extinguisher in Sector 135 of Noida. The five employees include the companys 52-year-old managing director who stays in C Block, Sector 44, Noida.

The FIR was initiated because three persons, including a British national with a travel history to UK, had jumped their mandatory quarantine period of 14 days and were working at the firm which led to spread of COVID-19 to other employees and their family members.

The network of people who got infected allegedly through a British national and the two employees of the company who had flown down from London in Sector 135 is yet to be fully tracked.

Till Friday evening, nine people were found positive for COVID-19 who had directly or indirectly come in contact with the British national or the two employees, including the MD. The total number of people related to the firm who have been found positive for the virus has now reached 14, including a case from Ghaziabad.

The CMO has asked the Expressway police station to register an FIR against the firm. The CMO has written that appropriate legal action should be taken under the Uttar Pradesh Epidemic COVID-19 Act 2020. The letter was sent on Saturday afternoon.

Officials have taken samples of around 30 people, including more employees of the said company and their family and friends.

The MD did not show any symptoms but he got himself and his wife tested for COVID-19 at a private lab; he was found positive for the virus. The health officials again took his sample to get it confirmed and it again came out positive on Saturday; the wife tested negative, chief medical officer Dr Anurag Bhargava said.

The other four employees are  a 53-year-old man from sector 128, a 53-year-old woman from sector 37 and two men in their thirties from a highrise in Greater Noida. Officials have sealed the residential societies where all the four employees reside for two days. Officials will be sanitising the buildings and the premises of the societies. No movement of residents will be allowed as per the orders of the district magistrate.

There are 26 cases in the district till now. We have identified the source of infection in all the cases. The family of the 11-year-old got infected through her uncle who had returned from Denmark. There are 13 employees and their family members who got the virus from the MD who had returned from UK on March 1. Another employee had returned on March 7 and then an auditor from London came in third week of March. They didnt keep themselves under home quarantine as per the protocol, and thus the spread. We have asked the police to register an FIR against the company, said Dr Bhargava.

Also, the health officials have sealed the hotel in Sector 135 where the Briton had stayed and have put the staff of the hotel under home quarantine. Officials are keeping a tab on the health of all the people related directly or indirectly to the chain of positive cases from the sector 135 company. We are collecting samples of suspects and the ones coming forward with symptoms, said Dr Bhargava.

The 30-year-old employee from Dadri lived alone.

From these cases, we can learn that social distancing is very important to avoid contracting COVID-19, the CMO said.

MINOR GIRLS CASE

The 11-year-olds uncle (37) and grandmother (67) were found positive for COVID-19 on March 22. The girl and her family were put under quarantine after four of them were found positive Saturday. There are 10 members in the family of the 37-year-old man who returned from Denmark. Six have tested positive for COVID-19 till now. All family members of the positive patients have been put under home quarantine and the procedure of collecting their samples is in process.

The Noida Extension residential society, where the minor lives, was sanitized after her uncle and grandmother were found positive. The girl has been admitted in the isolation ward of a Super Speciality Children Hospital and the remaining persons have been admitted to Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS).

By Saturday evening, the health department had tracked 1,124 travellers, 1,849 person were under surveillance, 483 samples were collected, 366 reports have come negative, 26 positive cases were found positive while 91 reports are awaited. Officials have admitted 15 persons at GIMS, Greater Noida and 10 are at the Super Specialty Children Hospital, Sector 30.
The measure is at odds with the World Health Organisation's guidelines. However, some countries, including France, have announced a nationwide ban on birthing partners during the pandemic (stock photo)

Mullingar Regional Hospital has banned partners from attending the births of their children due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus.

It became the first maternity unit in the country to make the "painful decision".

The hospital said it "understands and apologises for any distress caused to both parents and birthing partners".

The measure is at odds with the World Health Organisation's guidelines. However, some countries, including France, have announced a nationwide ban on birthing partners during the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the Mullingar Regional Hospital defended the move.

"We are doing this to protect the service, the staff and the patients," she said.

"I know it is distressing and it's an astringent approach but it's only for a few days. We are in the middle of a national crisis and who knows, this might start happening in other hospitals outside Dublin."

Master of the National Maternity Hospital Professor Shane Higgins said he and his staff do not intend to introduce the same policy.
We cannot but ask China of very uncomfortable questions. Why did it hide the initial occurrences until the virus spiralled out of control? Why is it misleading the World? What is the reason? We would like to know.





by A. Jathindra





China has continued to object to Coronavirus being referred to as Wuhan Virus or Chinese Virus which by all accounts originated in Wuhan of Hubei Province, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also instructed to stop referring the new strain of coronavirus as Wuhan or Chinese flu. The WHO has been urging for many years not to identify flus by geography or animals (swine flu, bird flu, monkey pox).









However, there is no doubt that this dreaded virus spread from China and has now locked down the whole World! In such disastrous circumstances, it would not be derogatory to refer to it as the Wuhan or Chinese flu. Naming of flus is not something that is new. There are many viruses referred to by countries or regions in which they originated.





Take the West Nile Virus, which first appeared in the West Nile district of Northern Uganda and named it by its starting place. Or St. Louis encephalitis, a viral disease that came out of St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. How about Japanese encephalitis? It was called so because it was first documented in Japan. Another good example would be the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. China never objected to such names.





Other good example is MERS which was first appeared in Middle Eastern countries in 2012 and then it was named as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. No one made a fuss over such name-calling nor did they refer to it as racist. In fact, many diseases are named after human beings: Hodgkins disease after Thomas Hodgkin and Parkinsons disease after James Parkinson.





When China objects to the terminology, the question that springs to mind is what did China do when the virus hit Wuhan. Was China sincere in sharing the incidents soon after occurrence with the World?





Researchers from the University of Southampton have found that had interventions in the country been conducted one week, two weeks, or three weeks earlier, cases could have been reduced by 66 percent, 86 percent and 95 percent respectively, thus, significantly limiting the geographical spread of the disease. But China did not and instead threatened those whistle blowers who mentioned about the seriousness of the disease.





According to the Chinese official sources, the case was first reported on 10th December 2019 where a person  Wei Guixien was affected by the illness. Guixien used to visit Wuhan wild animal market.





On 31st the Chinese government officially stated that they found many people who visited the same market were affected by the new virus outbreak in Wuhan those who and also announced that there was no reliable evidence of human transmission. Until January, 22 to 24, the Chinese Government did not share anything with the international community. But the situation went out of control during the same period and the disease spread to many countries.





China forbade the media from reporting what transpired in Wuhan. The state machinery monitored and silenced the media. Zhang Zhenyu, a former reporter with a pro-Beijing media agency, revealed Beijings instructions to about 300 Chinese state media reporters who were dispatched to Wuhan. The top priority of these on-the-ground reporters was to not report any negative news.





The so-called Press Corps is a string tied around every reporters neck.  You have to go wherever you are asked to go, Zhang said in an interview. They eat and live together, and act in concert, monitoring each otherits basically a prisoners dilemma.





The Chinese regime has now awarded itself as the global leader in the fight against this pandemic because the United States is in lockdown. The Chinese regime even blamed the U.S military for having brought this virus into Wuhan. It boasts about how China had overcome this easily and claimed that the United States has shot itself in the foot.





We cannot but ask China of very uncomfortable questions. Why did it hide the initial occurrences until the virus spiralled out of control? Why is it misleading the World? What is the reason? We would like to know.





A.Jathindra, Sri Lanka based Political Analyst.
A group of NGOs has urged Norway to divest from Chinese technology companies for their involvement in human rights violations in China's Uyghur Region.

A 'coalition of six Human Rights organisations' in an open letter to the Government Pension Fund of Norway has called for divestment from Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology.

"Chinese technology companies Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology, both (of which) are directly implicated in gross and continued human rights violations in the Uyghur region of China. The Fund must take immediate steps to divest from both companies," reads the letter, carried by Norway News.

The Norwegian Uyghur Committee, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Norwegian PEN, Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, Uyghur Human Rights Project and the Uyghur Congress have jointly published the letter.

The letter highlights that Hikvision, the world's largest maker of "surveillance cameras", and Dahua, a large provider of video surveillance products and services, have both won more than $1 billion worth of Chinese government-backed contracts in the Uyghur region since 2016.

China has faced international condemnation for rounding up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic Turkic minorities in internment camps in Xinjiang, where rights groups say inmates endure political indoctrination and forced assimilation into the majority Han society.

Beijing, however, says the facilities are "vocational training centres" necessary to combat terrorism through job training and teaching Mandarin.

The letter published by the human rights organisations says the products and services of the two companies have been utilised by the communist regime in China to "monitor and suppress Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other religious and ethnic groups, including the mass arbitrary detention of at least 1 million in internment camps."

"The issue has been repeatedly raised by human rights groups, the European Union, the UN and by the Norwegian Government itself, on a number of occasions," the letter read.

They underlined that both companies were added to a US trade blacklist in October 2019 which includes 20 Chinese public security bureaus and six other companies, all "implicated in human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims including mass detention and surveillance."

"The Oil Fund makes clear its focus on responsible investment. It recognizes a set of international standards which includes integrating human rights into company policies and strategy, reporting on salient human rights issues, and engaging transparently on human rights through grievance mechanisms. The Oil Fund also has expressed its support for, and compliance with, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights," the letter said.

The letter stated that while immediate divestment will not solve the human rights crisis, it would send a clear signal to these investors that the world's largest sovereign wealth fund is not interested in supporting those that participate in, or enable, gross and systematic human rights violations.

"It would likewise ensure that the Oil Fund does not continue to profit from those violations going forward. While we acknowledge that the Fund's Ethical Council has indicated greater attention to investigating whether technology companies' tools are being used for "improper surveillance", the time is now to seriously reassess its investments in Hikvision and Dahua and to take appropriate action to ensure it complies with its own ethical standards," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We never thought that we would be stuck at home for so long and that stepping out would mean a threat to life. Amid the 21-Day lockdown due to coronavirus, fans demanded Doordarshan to re-telecast Ramayan and Mahabharat, and Prasar Bharti heard their prayers.

The first episode of Ramayan was telecast on the channel today, and everyone kickstarted their weekend watching it together with family, getting nostalgic and reliving the good old days.

Nostalgic to see the late Ashok Kumar on TV narrating the start of #Ramayan pic.twitter.com/HXkg9cXgsc  Aman Sharma (@AmanKayamHai_ET) March 28, 2020

Happening right now #Ramayan .. It's important for all us to watch Ramayana & Mahabharata as it will offer you spiritual answers and also answers to the fascist propaganda being run by RSS-BJP in the garb of religion.



Watch it, won't find any reference to Hindutva! Jai Shri Ram! pic.twitter.com/tQFGqgXXPp  Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) March 28, 2020

Remembered waching Ramayana with whole family and neighbours who didn't have TV also used to gather. TV room used to get full. Never seen such excitement for any serial those days.#Nostalgic #Ramayan #Doordarshan pic.twitter.com/qSj9zkL3hj  Aman Gautam (@aman_gautam1) March 28, 2020

Full attendance infront of the TV @ 9am. We are re-living our childhood (I was 7 years old and my parents bought a Bush TV for me to see this show)... my kids might never understand but Im happy they are watching with me. #Ramayan @DDNational pic.twitter.com/pYIM7zj4wD  Shweta Shalini (@shweta_shalini) March 28, 2020





Not only Ramayan and Mahabharat, the channel will also re-run Shah Rukh Khan's Circus and detective show Byomkesh Bakshi.

MUST WATCH -#RajitKapur in a role with which he will be associated forever! Detective show #ByomkeshBakshi from 28th March at 11 am only on @DDNational pic.twitter.com/OTQpoAtCOx  Doordarshan National (@DDNational) March 27, 2020

Meanwhile, the iconic cast of Ramayan of expressed their happiness on the same.

Arun Govil who played the role of Ram feels the re-telecast is a great way to teach the young generation about the "morals, teachings and values of Ramayan".



"The new generation will get a chance to watch it. They will get to understand the morals, teachings and values of Ramayan. If they will watch it with the family, they can interact also. If they have queries then their family members of the older generation can explain things. It is a family show. How relationships should be...has been shown in the show. Positivity is there. Right now there is a lockdown, you can't go anywhere. So watching it will be a good way to use the time," Govil told IANS.



jansatta.com

Deepika Chikalia, who became immensely popular playing SIta, said, "It is a very good feeling to know that the show is coming back. And also this is the right time when Prakashji decided to re-telecast it. People will get benefited. It is very important that people make use of the re-run and watch it, despite the presence of many channels. They should also utilise the lessons that they get from the show. Every one should value our culture."



assettype.com/swarajya

Deepika also feels it will give another reason for people to stay indoors.



"There must be something about the show that it is back on public demand. It is very important for people to watch it and use it as a medium to learn something. It is another reason to stay indoors and stay safe," said Deepika, who is overwhelmed with phone calls since the news has been announced.



Twitter

Vindu Dara Singh, son of veteran actor and wrestler Dara Singh, has called it a wonderful move.



"It's been 33 years since the show went live on the TV. Whole India used to standstill to watch the show Today, it is coming back after 33 years. It is wonderful. Well done, what a lovely time to get it back on the small screen amid the lockdown. It's a great idea. Hats off to you. It will be an enjoyable experience when India will get together to watch the iconic show again," said Vindu.






The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a lieutenant to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who helped organize a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement  the bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala.  and who gave the benediction at President Barack Obamas inauguration more than half a century later, died on Friday at his home in Atlanta. He was 98.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change announced his death on Twitter.

Even before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus on Dec. 1, 1955, Mr. Lowery had successfully campaigned to integrate buses in Mobile, Ala., where he was a young Methodist minister. After Ms. Parkss action, he huddled with Dr. King and other Alabama ministers to oversee a 381-day boycott of Montgomerys segregated buses.

In November 1956, the Supreme Court ended racial segregation on buses in Montgomery and, by extension, everywhere else.

Mr. Lowery was at Dr. Kings side almost until the day of his assassination in April 1968. At Dr. Kings request, he presented the demands of voting-rights marchers from Selma, Ala., to Gov. George C. Wallace in 1965. Mr. Lowery also helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. Kings signature organization, and led it for 20 years, from 1977 to 1997.
Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has placed an order for COVID-19 Advanced Diagnostic testing kits from South Korea that will help serve over 25,000 people. These advanced kits reportedly have a very high level of accuracy. Post receiving the shipment, the kits will be distributed in consultation with Center and State Governments to the hospitals in the affected areas.

Speaking about the initiative, SS Kim, MD and CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, Hyundai as a responsible and caring brand has always been at the forefront in community services. As part of our global direction - Progress for Humanity, Hyundai is committed to support the Government of Indias spirited fight against the COVID-19 crisis. Our contribution towards supplies of Advanced Diagnostic testing kits will help over 25000 People. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and support the Indian Government with multi-layered CSR initiatives to bring back normalcy at the earliest.

Hyundai India had temporarily stopped operations at the Chennai facility last week over the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the company had announced initiatives to support the customers in form of 24X7 roadside assistance and extended two months support for customers who were unable to avail vehicles warranty/extended warranty/free service due to health emergency or dealership shutdown in the affected cities. Additionally, the company has deployed more than 1000 doorstep advantage bikes /emergency road service cars from dealers to reach customers for assistance in case of emergency and minor repairs.

Hyundai
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 00:18:30|Editor: huaxia

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Beds are seen in one of the seven new Intensive Care Units (ICU) in Vall d'Hebron Hospital, in Barcelona, Spain, March 26, 2020. (Vall d'Hebron Hospital via Xinhua)

The total number of confirmed infections in Spain has increased from Thursday's 56,188 to 64,059 on Friday.



MADRID, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare said on Friday that 769 people died of the COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest number on a day-to-day basis.

It raised the total death toll to 4,858 in the country. Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed infections has increased from Thursday's 56,188 to 64,059 on Friday, and 4,165 people are currently in intensive care. The number of recoveries was up from 7,015 to 9,357.

Spain's health emergency chief said that 9,444 health workers have tested positive to the coronavirus.

Madrid continued to be the worst affected area in Spain with 19,243 cases and 2,412 fatalities, followed by the Catalan region with 12,940 cases and 880 deaths.

The Spanish Health Ministry also announced on Friday that the government is seeking to employ 200 foreign health service professionals to help cope with the ever-increasing number of cases and provide cover for the over 9,000 health workers who have been infected with the coronavirus.

"We hope that around 200 doctors and nurses (who are) from third countries and currently residents in Spain will be incorporated in the following days into the National Health System (SNS) in a decisive moment to combat the health crisis provoked by the spread of the COVID-19 in our country," said the ministry. 
Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, stand in front of the hospital ship USNS Mercy that arrived into the Port of Los Angeles on Friday. Both Newsom and Garcetti have announced a delay on evictions for tenants who cannot pay their rent because of the pandemic outbreak. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

As the number of deaths and confirmed cases of coronavirus surged across California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced a delay on evictions for tenants who cannot pay their rent because of the outbreak.

Under Newsom's order, renters cannot be forced out of their homes over the next two months if they fall behind on rent because they have been laid off, seen their pay cut, or were forced to miss work to care for a loved one or recover from illness.

The order could grant temporary relief for tens of thousands of workers struggling to pay April rent amid layoffs, pay cuts and other economic harm sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Renters could still be evicted later in the year for failing to repay April or May rent payments.

To qualify under the governors executive order, tenants must notify their landlords in writing about the missed payment within seven days of the rent deadline. Renters who qualify for the eviction postponement would still be required to pay back the money owed, Newsom said.

The push to protect renters comes as the number of coronavirus deaths continued to rise across California, with 102 deaths and 4,905 cases reported across the state.

In Los Angeles County, health officials reported five more fatalities due to COVID-19, bringing the county's death toll to 26, the highest of any county in the state. All five of the victims reported Friday were older than 60, and four were men, officials said.

Almost 11,000 people had been tested in Los Angeles County as of Friday. The number of confirmed cases rose to 1,482, a 20% increase from the previous day.

Officials continue to warn that Los Angeles could soon resemble New York, the center of the nation's coronavirus epidemic. On Friday, the number of cases there rose to nearly 45,000, more than nine times as many as in California.

If each person who has tested positive for the virus infected two others, more than a million Los Angeles County residents would be infected within a few weeks, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health. Officials have ordered all those who have tested positive for COVID-19 to self-isolate, along with those in close contact with them.

Story continues

L.A. County's mortality rate from the virus is about 1.8%, higher than New York City and the United States overall, Ferrer said. But the region has tested far fewer people than New York, meaning health officials do not have as firm a grasp on the total number of infections.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Friday that UPS will pay for, deliver and pick up COVID-19 kits to residents who meet the criteria for testing. The program, which could start as early as next week, could allow Los Angeles to test thousands more people every day, he said.

Newsom said this week that California will need 50,000 hospital beds for coronavirus patients, a significant increase from the 20,000 beds his administration had forecast last week. The states 416 hospitals are doubling so-called surge plans to 40% of their capacity, which includes providing 30,000 new beds across the system, Newsom said.

Garcetti said only 1,500 beds in Los Angeles and about 900 ventilators in the county are available now. The city is sorting through credentials for the more than 2,700 medical workers who have volunteered to help, he said.

The Navy hospital ship Mercy arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday. The 1,000-bed vessel will become Los Angeles largest hospital and will house patients who do not have COVID-19, in an effort to free up space in hospitals for an expected surge of coronavirus patients.

Some patients who are already hospitalized in Los Angeles County will be transferred to the ship for ongoing treatment, port officials said.

In an effort to enforce social-distancing guidelines to slow the spread of the virus, L.A. County officials Friday announced the temporary closure of beaches, piers, beach bike paths, beach access points, public trails and trailheads through April 19. The city of Los Angeles followed suit later in the day, announcing the closure of park amenities and trails.

The Los Angeles City Council agreed Friday to expand its temporary ban on evictions related to the coronavirus, including waiving late fees and expanding the repayment period for back-rent to one year. But the members narrowly rejected a proposal that would have banned all evictions in the city.

The council also mandated 10 more days of sick leave during the pandemic for full-time workers at businesses with at least 500 employees nationwide, on top of the six days required under city law.

Workers would qualify for additional leave if they had a medical condition such as asthma or diabetes that places them at heightened risk of the coronavirus or were forced to stay home to self-quarantine or care for an ill relative.

The original proposal would have required most employers in Los Angeles to provide 10 additional days of paid leave. Lawmakers scaled back the measure after business owners said they could not afford the measure amid the economic fallout of the pandemic.

Public health officials are also monitoring a homeless person who might have COVID-19 and is now in isolation. Health officials are working to identify who the individual has been in contact with, Garcetti said.

The confirmed number of coronavirus cases in Orange County climbed by 25% Friday, from 256 cases on Thursday to 321 on Friday. Health officials also reported two more deaths, bringing the total to three.

Friday also marked the first time the county shared city-level specifics regarding its cases  information some residents have been demanding for weeks. Officials said the cities with the most cases were Irvine with 33, Newport Beach with 32 and Anaheim with 28.

The number of cases in Riverside County rose Friday to 185, health officials said. The county has reported eight deaths.

The death toll in San Diego County rose to six Friday, with three new fatalities reported: a man in his mid-50s, a man in his early 80s and a 25-year-old pharmacy technician with no underlying health conditions.

The nine-county Bay Area has seen 37 deaths, with 20 of them in Santa Clara County, according to health officials. The region has 1,624 confirmed cases, a 14% increase from Thursday.

Times staff writers Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Richard Winton, Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser contributed to this report.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2020) - ICEsoft Technologies Canada Corp. (CSE: ISFT) (the "Company" or "ICEsoft") is pleased to announce the issuance and sale of 3,900,000 units for gross proceeds of CAD $312,000 and 11,639,005 units pursuant to the completion of securities for debt transactions whereby CAD$931,120.48 of secured debt and accrued and unpaid interest was converted into units, all as part of the closing of the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of up to 30,001,438 units (the "Private Placement"). Each unit consists of (i) one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share"), and (ii) one half of a common share purchase warrant (each full warrant, a "Warrant"), with each full Warrant entitling the holder to subscribe for one additional Common Share at an exercise price of CAD $0.12 per share at any time prior to the day that is 24 months from the grant of the Warrant.

No finder's fees will be paid with respect to the completion of the final tranche of the Private Placement. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are expected to be used for general working capital and to accelerate sales and fund new market expansion efforts.

The securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws, which will expire four months plus one day from the date of the applicable closing of the Private Placement. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

On the basis that Bruce Derrick is a director and a beneficial owner of, and/or has control or direction over, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Common Shares, Nine Three Holdings LLC, a beneficial owner of, and/or has control or direction over, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Common Shares, and Bluesky Equities Ltd., which is owned and controlled by Derrick Hunter, a director and a beneficial owner of, and/or has control or direction over, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Common Shares, have each participated in the final tranche of the Private Placement, the sale and issuance of 1,250,000 units for gross proceeds of CAD$100,000.00 and 2,297,434 units pursuant to the conversion of CAD$183,794.79 of secured debt, including accrued and unpaid interest, to Mr. Derrick, the sale and issuance of 1,250,000 units for gross proceeds of CAD$100,000.00 to Nine Three Holdings LLC and the sale and issuance of 9,029,071 units pursuant to the conversion of CAD$722,325.69 of secured debt, including accrued and unpaid interest, to Bluesky Equities Ltd. are a "related party transactions" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61 101 ("MI 61 101").

In conducting their review and approval process of the Private Placement, the board of directors of the Company determined that the preparation and distribution of a formal valuation and the seeking of shareholder approval for, and in connection with, the Private Placement was not necessary under MI 61 101 because: (a) for the purposes of Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61 101, no securities of the Company are listed on a stock exchange, and at the time the related party transactions were agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the related party transactions, exceeded 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization; and (b) the disinterested directors of the Company (i.e., those other than Mr. Derrick and Mr. Hunter) have all approved the Private Placement. The material change report in relation to the related party transactions was not filed less than 21 days before the closing date of the final tranche of the Private Placement as the Company wished to complete the Private Placement as soon as commercially feasible.

Mr. Derrick owned or controlled 25.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares prior to the final tranche of the Private Placement and 29.7% on an as converted basis. Following the Private Placement, Mr. Derrick owns or controls 17,041,959 Common Shares, Options to purchase 200,000 Common Shares, and Warrants to purchase 4,408,200 Common Shares, being 21.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and 25.9% on an as converted basis. Nine Three Holdings LLC owned or controlled 19.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares prior to the final tranche of the Private Placement and 21.1% on an as converted basis. Following the Private Placement, Nine Three Holdings LLC owns or controls 11,250,000 Common Shares and Warrants to purchase 1,875,000 Common Shares, being 14.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and 16.2% on an as converted basis. Mr. Hunter, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled 13.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and 25.7% on an as converted basis prior to the final tranche of the Private Placement. Following the Private Placement, Mr. Hunter, directly or indirectly, owns or controls 15,932,357 Common Shares, Options to purchase 200,000 Common Shares and Warrants to purchase 17,595,737 Common Shares, being 20.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and 23.4% on a as converted basis.

Each of Mr. Derrick, with an address of 3900 Essex Lane, Suite 340, Houston, Texas, Nine Three Holdings LLC with an address of 3900 Essex Lane, Suite 340, Houston, Texas, and Mr. Hunter with an address of #2010, 150 9th Av. SW, Calgary, AB, advises that the securities have been acquired for investments purposes. Each of Mr. Derrick, Nine Three Holdings LLC and Mr. Hunter advises that each may, depending on the market and other conditions, increase or decrease his or its beneficial ownership of the Company's securities, whether in the open market, by privately negotiated agreements or otherwise, subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and other available investment and business opportunities. To obtain a copy of the report filed by each of Mr. Derrick, Nine Three Holdings LLC and Mr. Hunter required by securities legislation, please contact ICEsoft Investor Relations at 403-993-3322.

About ICEsoft Technologies Canada Corp.

ICEsoft Technologies Canada Corp. is a software-as-a-service ("SaaS") company. ICEsoft's current software, which is available as freeware with a pay to use version, is used by some 150,000 developers, 20,000 companies, and some 400 paying customers. ICEsoft's newest product Voyent Alert! is an affordable Community Alerting Service specifically designed to meet the needs of small to medium sized municipalities, regional governments and campuses. The flexible platform serves the dual purpose of alerting and advising residents during a critical incident as well as providing targeted day-to-day communication services.

For more information, please contact:

Brian McKinney

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 403-663-3320

Address: Suite 370 - 3553 31st St. NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2K7

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS MARKET REGULATOR (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE THIS NEWS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES AND THE COMPANY IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.

Forward-Looking Information Advisory

Certain statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information herein include, but are not limited, to statements or information with respect to the completion of the Private Placement, and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including receipt of all approvals required for the Private Placement and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Although our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include the ability to receive the approvals necessary to complete the Private Placement, and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Listing Statement dated May 27, 2019 and in the Company's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada.

All forward looking statements and information contained in this News Release are qualified by this cautionary statement.



NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53902
A "despicable and disgraceful" man who spat at police officers while claiming he had coronavirus symptoms has been jailed for a year.

Paul Leivers, 48, admitted two counts of assault on an emergency worker after being arrested in Mansfield on Thursday.

Nottinghamshire Police said Leivers, of Tideswell Court, Mansfield, spat at custody officers.

He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Saturday in front of District Judge Leo Pyle.

Paul Leivers who has been jailed for a year at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Saturday after he spat at police officers / PA

The court heard Leivers did not have coronavirus or any symptoms of the disease.

Sentencing the defendant, District Judge Pyle said: "It was in the public interest to deal with the matter sooner rather than later.

"These are two distinct acts and it was appalling behaviour, these offences were deliberate and pre-mediated.

"Emergency workers have a difficult job at the best of time, even more so at the minute and the court will not flinch to protect officers."

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This sentence sends out a very powerful and clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated in any shape or form and especially not now in the current climate.

"In these worrying times for us all, having someone spitting at front line officers threatening them with coronavirus is both despicable and appalling.

"Our officers are putting their duty to the public ahead of their own welfare at this current time. They put themselves at risk every single to day in order to protect our communities - they should not and will not have to put up with this.

"I want to thank the judge for making an example of this situation which I know will send a message loud and clear not just here in Nottinghamshire but across the country."

Chief Constable Craig Guildford added: "This is the exact reassurance our officers need - that this will not be tolerated and new powers we now have means swift action will be taken to deal with those that choose to offend in this way.

"Despicable, thoughtless and disgraceful acts such as this will not go unpunished."
Individual students and staff members who are believed to have been in close contact with the teacher are receiving an additional communication identifying them as a medium risk for exposure, according to the statement. Individuals who have had contact with this staff member should also monitor themselves for any signs of illness through Friday March 27, which is 14 days after the district-wide school closure date of March 13. Coronavirus symptoms may appear between 2-14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Photo credit: Marc Piasecki - Getty Images

From ELLE

All six of Angelina Jolie's children, including her oldest son, college freshman Maddox, are home with their mother in California. E! got an update on what their lives are like: They're having fun but are also still very devoted to their intellectual pursuits.

"They are keeping up with their schoolwork, practicing their languages, playing instruments, board games, and helping cook dinner," a source told the outlet. The source added that in some ways, "it hasn't been too much of an adjustment since they are used to doing their schoolwork at home."

Maddox, 18, recently joined his siblings after South Korea's Yonsei University switched to online classes for the start of its spring semester. According to People, Maddox is "using the downtime to focus on his Korean and Russian studies."

Pax, 16; Zahara, 15; Shiloh, 13; and twins Vivienne and Knox, 11, have "love" spending the time with their parents. "They are having a lot of family time and just hanging out together watching movies," the source said.

The source also noted that the kids are still seeing their father Brad Pitt too. "All the kids are home with Angelina but they have continued seeing Brad and go over for their regular visits," the source said.

Jolie made headlines earlier this week for donating $1 million to No Kid Hungry for its coronavirus relief efforts. In a statement, she said, as of this week, over a billion children are out of school worldwide because of closures linked to coronavirus. Many children depend on the care and nutrition they receive during school hours, including nearly 22 million children in America who rely on food support. No Kid Hungry is making resolute efforts to reach as many of those children as possible.

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Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller has described a decision by the state and federal governments to use two private Perth hospitals for any COVID-19 patients from the Artania cruise ship as 'planning on the run' and would hurt the health system in the long run.

AMA WA president Andrew Miller. Credit:Lauren Pilat

Earlier today WA Premier Mark McGowan said 46 passengers and crew aboard the Artania, which is currently docked in Fremantle, had come down with coronavirus symptoms.

He said any patients with the virus would be sent to Bethesda and Hollywood private hospitals in secured wings to free up the public system for West Australians.

Mr McGowan described the decision as a good solution to a 'complex' problem.

Dr Miller said the decision was a political one and not in the best interest of the broader health system.

"It is unclear to us the wisdom of putting them in private hospitals, which have not had any great time to prepareeven less time than the public hospitals," he said.

"They could have gone to be treated like any other human being in our state in one of our public hospitals, which are at a much more advanced stage of preparation in terms of gear as well as for the staff.

"Again this seems to be planning on the run for what seems to have been a pretty predictable problem from a cruise ship. I think everybody knows what happens when cruise ships pull into town."

Dr Miller said the news the state had now lost two backups.

"Now we have two of our key private hospitals which will have these patients which are now assets lost as backups for the public system where we thought that what they were going to be used for all of the routine work," he said.

"Let's not forget the public system was already so full that there were ambulances ramped out the front."
Over 3,000 migrant workers from



Gujarat and Rajasthan, currently working in the Mumbai metropolitan region, who started walking back to their native places, got stranded at a village in Maharashtras Palghar district as the border has been sealed by the states amid the lockdown, police said.

These people, who work in parts of Mumbai, Boisar, Virar, Vasai, Vashi and other adjoining places, got stranded in Acchad village in Talasari taluka of Palghar on Friday, police said.

After hours of efforts by the district and police authorities, they finally returned to their places in the Mumbai metropolitan region, they added.

According to police, these people had started their journey to Rajasthan and Gujarat on foot as no transport facility was available due to the ongoing lockdown. The governments in Maharashtra and Gujarat have sealed their borders due to the lockdown.

"More than 3,000 migrant workers from Rajasthan and Gujarat, who currently work in and around Mumbai, started walking back to their native places on Friday. But as the Maharashtra-Gujarat border has been sealed, they could not enter the neighbouring state," inspector Ajay Vasave of Talasari Police Station said.

"As they could not cross the border, they got stuck in Acchad village. They squatted along the border for hours. Since it was very risky to gather at one place in such large numbers amid the coronavirus outbreak, the district and police authorities started persuading them to go back to their places in and around Mumbai," he added.

Initially, they were adamant on going to Gujarat and Rajasthan, but later agreed to return to their places, the official said.

"The authorities provided food to them and also made arrangement for their transport," Vasave said.

The authorities heaved a sigh of relief after all of them left the place, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Millions of families across Britain are adjusting to a strange new existence. Kitchens have been turned into classrooms and spare rooms are now makeshift offices.

Perhaps the strangest, and for many, most uncomfortable new experience is that of usually busy, independent lives grinding to a halt. Instead of coming and going pretty much when and how we like, now we are shut in.

The strain this can potentially place on our mental health and relationships, say experts, should not be underestimated.

Loggerheads: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a bickering couple in War Of The Roses

In Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak, hundreds of couples came out of a month-long lock-down and immediately separated. And last week, top divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton predicted the same could happen here.

So how can you stop this sardine-like existence from destroying your marriage?

DON'T NAG - GIVE A NUDGE INSTEAD

We've all been there. Your partner seems somehow incapable of putting out the rubbish. So you make a snide comment and do it yourself. And all the while, a resentment builds up inside you before eventually you explode.

But this situation is easily avoided, according to relationship counsellor Andrew G. Marshall. In his The Happy Couples Handbook, the details an effective alternative to nagging. He says: Try nudging, a concept that comes from politics, which means gently pushing people towards certain choices, rather than forcing it.

Set a new, equal default. For instance, whoever comes home from work first does the chore, instead of it being a favour.

This makes your partner feel like they have the freedom to opt out, rather than it being an order.

Reinforce the nudge by thanking them sincerely.

Studies show that using praise and positive language is an effective way to change behaviour.

DIVIDE THE ROLES... AND THEN SWAP

If one person would rather take on financial responsibilities or arrange the social calendar, let them, so long as it feels equal, writes Eve Simmons (file photo)

About a third of all arguments in British households are about chores, according to a 2017 study. Morning meetings in the kitchen throw up plenty of fuel for a row  unwashed dishes, clothes not taken out of the tumble dryer, drinking the last of the milk, says Marshall.

To avoid squabbling over split milk  literally  draw up a timetable to split the control of different responsibilities equally.

And if one person would rather take on financial responsibilities or arrange the social calendar, let them, so long as it feels equal.

If the balance is uneven, discuss which areas can be divided up better, he says. Decide who has the final say on each but always consult your partner. Be careful not to be little opinions.

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And to help each other understand the important of your respective responsibilities, try swapping roles at weekends. Marshall says: If you normally take the children swimming, your partner should do it instead.

'Ditto cleaning the bathroom or balancing the bank account. At the end of the weekend, relax and talk about your experiences of being each other, the insights gained and what you might do differently in the future.

A KISS IS BETTER THAN A CLASH



It is in times of exceptional stress that the most inoffensive comment can send you flying off the handle. But acting in an opposite way to how your feeling can avoid an explosive row.

When youre upset, the automatic response is to punish by withdrawing or criticising, says Marshall. And your partner is likely to follow suit. Instead, lead by example and do something nice instead, like give them a kiss.

Before long, your partner will return the favour  and youve set up a positive cycle.

And you dont need to buy a bunch of roses or order their favourite takeaway to make someone feel special. Just check in on them after a days work rather than big romantic gestures, advises Marshall.

REMEMBER, IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU

If you do end up in the middle of a slanging match, theres a tried and tested method that will defuse it as quickly as possible.

First of all, try to acknowledge something you both want to achieve from the conversation, says couples counsellor Dr Kalanit Ben-Ari. She also advises to avoid focusing on what the other person has done wrong, and instead report what you feel about it.

Try to separate the behaviour that has upset or irritated you from the person doing it.

First of all, try to acknowledge something you both want to achieve from the conversation, says couples counsellor Dr Kalanit Ben-Ari (file photo)

Dr Sarah Vohra, a consultant psychiatrist in Nottingham, says: Instead of calling someone useless or stupid, focus on the thing they did or said.

And let the other person speak, repeating back to them what theyve said in your words, to show that you understand.

Neither should people be needlessly stubborn, says US-based psychologist Dr John Gottman. Do not continue fighting when you know youre in the wrong.

And if you really cant reach an understanding, agree to approach the topic again when youre both calm, says Dr Gottman.

AGREE A PEACE DEAL - AND STICK TO IT

There is truth to the adage of never go to bed on an argument.

Dont let anything fester overnight  youll just have the same argument in the morning, says Dr Vohra. An easy way to fast-track to the end of the row is to divert the conversation to a practical solution. Its hard, but one of you needs to acknowledge that the argument has to end at some point  and neither of you wants to get more upset, says Dr Vohra.

Try to find a resolution. Agree to the deal and stick to it.

And just because you argue, it doesnt mean your relationship is doomed. Dr Gottman says: The most successful couples refuse to accept hurtful behaviour from one another. If youre feeling hard done by, dont ignore it.

Additional reporting by Angela Epstein. The Happy Couples Handbook, by Andrew G. Marshall, is in paperback. For details, go to andrewgmarshall.com.

What to read, watch and do READ The Changing Mind: A Neuroscientists Guide To Ageing Well With new evidence suggesting decision-making and happiness levels peak in our 80s, psychologist and leading neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explores what really happens to our brains as we grow old. 18.99, Penguin Books WATCH Coronavirus: Can Our NHS Cope? Dispatches investigates the strain that Covid-19 is placing on doctors and nurses working in an already stretched NHS. Tomorrow, 8.30pm, C4 DO Keep fit  dont let social-distancing stop you from working out Barrys Bootcamp, the gym loved by celebrities, is live-streaming exercise classes twice daily on its Instagram page  and you can do them in your living room. You can access routines from previous days by clicking on the IGTV tab. instagram.com/barrys Advertisement




No patients? India's biggest COVID Care Centre in Bengaluru to be shut from Sep 15

One in 10 COVID-19 patients return to hospital after being sent home from ER: US Study

Coronavirus cases: 25 sickest patients have died in last 24 hours at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Coronavirus outbreak: Patients suffering from COVID-19 shows sign of recovery in Uttarakhand

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Dehradun, Mar 28: With the severe outbreak of coronavirus in the country, two IFS probationers, who were being treated for coronavirus in Uttarakhand looked on way to recovery on Saturday.

According to reports, one was discharged from hospital on Friday after testing negative twice.

According to an official communique, all three have tested negative for the novel virus. One was discharged from hospital on Friday after testing negative twice for the disease, while the other two are still at the Doon Hospital isolation ward.

#Stayathome and send us your selfie

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said their recovery shows the efficiency of doctors treating them.

In total, there are five coronavirus positive cases in Uttarakhand, including the three IFS probationers, one man in Kotdwar and a foreign national.

Four of them had a travel history to Spain and one is a US national.

Meanwhile, 84 people from Uttarakhand who had got stranded in Delhi while returning home from their respective places of work outside the state have been brought to Dehradun, Haldwani and Tanakpur.

They will be sent home after a medical check-up, officials said, adding that they are being looked after properly.

69 year old is first fatality from Kerala due to coronavirus

A mobile app has also been launched by the Health Department to help people inform authorities in case they show symptoms of coronavirus such as cough and cold, irritation in throat or feverishness.

(With inputs from agencies)

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 13:04 [IST]
The (TRAWSO), Osun State on Friday offered rituals to the gods to wane the spread of coronavirus in the world especially Nigeria.

A masquerader accompanied by some Ifa priests offered the propitiation in Osogbo, Osun state capital.

The masquerader carrying earthen pot which contained the propitiation also making enchantment to appease to the gods, to stop the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria and the world placed it carried from where it was prepared to a junction.

After the rite, the Vice president of the association, Chief Ojebowale Olojede explained that the propitiation is to allay the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria and the world.



Chief Olojede said they have consulted the Ifa oracle and it has prescribed the needed things to do before they offered the sacrifice to the gods.

He said, the sacrifice is prepared to save Nigeria and also the world from the pandemic of coronavirus.

The masquerader that carried the propitiation is part of what the Ifa oracle recommended for the process.

The heavy downpour of 2019 was what caused the pandemic because in the olden days whenever such happen the dry season that would follow there is going to be pandemic.

According to our own deity, the entire world is divided into five and based on that we prepare the sacrifice that will halt the spread of coronavirus. He said.

However, Chief Olojede lamented that neglect of traditional worshippers for other religions has caused Nigeria and the world to be caught unaware.

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No-frills carrier GoAir on Saturday evinced interest in flying thousands of stranded migrant workers in various states to the airports closer to their homes amid the lockdown across the country, and said it has approached the government on this issue.

With both passenger train and flight services shut till April 14 and no source of income due to the closure of all businesses, these migrant workers are stuck in major cities and looking for means to reach their native places.

Some of whom have been forced to even walk to their home towns and villages regardless of the distance.

Due to suspension of air services, the aircraft of all domestic airlines are grounded.

India's millions of migrant workers are the most affected sections of our society during the ongoing 21-day lockdown in view of COVID-19, the airline said.

"In response to their plight and after seeing scenes of workers trying to walk hundreds of kilometres home with their families, including children, GoAir has reached out to the Civil Aviation Ministry and offered its services to fly these workers and their families to the airports closest to their homes," the airline said.

Earlier, the airline on Thursday offered its grounded aircraft fleet, cockpit and cabin crew, and airport staff for carrying out emergency services and repatriation of citizens.

The city-based airline flies to 35 destinations, 27 domestic and seven international ones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The entrance of the arcade outside The Ritz with Union Jack flags in London, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images Images)

The Ritz Hotel in London has been sold to a private Qatari investor for 800m ($997m)  significantly less than the 1bn price tag the owners had wanted for the luxury venue.

Sir Frederick and Sir David Barclay acquired the Mayfair, central London, hotel in 1995 for 75m.

The deal, announced late on Friday night with limited detail, has reportedly further inflamed a bitter feud in the billionaire Barclay family.

The dispute became public last month after a court hearing revealed Sir Frederick was being secretly recorded by a nephew at the hotel.

Sir Frederick previously said there was "no place for any sale at less than full value," and warned he would sue his relatives over the deal to offload the legendary hotel at a cut price.

It is with great sadness that we have taken the decision following the Governments advice, to temporarily close The Ritz London, the first time in our history. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will reopen our doors.

Please take great care of yourselves.

Sal & The Ritz Team pic.twitter.com/5Vp4TCjUQL  The Ritz London (@theritzlondon) March 25, 2020

News of the sale came on the same day that the coronavirus pandemic forced the hotel shut its doors for the first time in its 113 year history of service to the worlds royalty and elite.

In a statement, Macfarlanes said it had advised one of its private Qatari clients on the acquisition of the hotel that first opened in 1906.

It is a privilege to become the owner of the iconic Ritz Hotel and have the opportunity to build on its innate style and grand traditions, the new owner said in the statement Friday.

Read more: Coronavirus: UK unemployment 'worst since 2015' as jobs boom stalls

The Ritz was sold together with an adjoining property that offers the potential for an extension. The sales process kicked off prior to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, ensuring bidders were able to inspect the property before travel restrictions were imposed.
All the concerns around decision-making at different levels, from individual to inter-governmental, that have fuelled the climate change debate have been brought into sharper focus by the unfolding coronavirus pandemic.

Until January 2020, anthropogenic climate change was the most clear andpresent danger facing human civilisation. We were told we had to act soon and we had to act collectively to avoid the worst effects of increasing global temperatures, and by all accounts, we still have to.

All the concerns around decision-making at different levels, from individual to inter-governmental, that have fuelled the climate change debate have been brought into sharper focus by the unfolding coronavirus pandemic.

The questions are similar, but the timeline is much more compressed and consequences potentially catastrophic. Consequently, the need to establish paradigms of sound decision-making has scarcely ever been as urgent as it is today.

The World Health Organisation guidelines on what is expected of individuals are pretty clear, however, they are not straightforward to adhere to. For instance, it is almost impossible to not touch your face or keep away from surfaces that might have been touched by others.

Hence, we had more the more severe, but easier to implement measure of quarantine. The severity of the quarantine was sequentially increased from being initially restricted to high-risk cases to a generalised lockdown. The increase in severity of the measures has at least partly driven by the inability or unwillingness of individuals to adhere by the less severe ones.

From the UK to Germany to India, law enforcement agencies are being empowered to make sure that people comply with lockdowns. France has its army policing the streets of Paris and this might very soon be a reality for the big cities in India.

But while their presence will be a deterrent, it will not completely eliminate the possibility of individuals violating the lockdown. In this context, it is imperative to carefully assess the incentives and trade-offs that underlie the choices that individuals make. Why is it that even in the face of a demonstrable threat, people have not taken adequate precautions: violated quarantine, traveled long-distance, even partied.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the decisions that individuals have to make it is important to concede that the present crisis challenges ingrained habits and the road ahead is going to be very difficult. As a species that evolved to survive the African savanna, we tend to seek comfort in groups. This instinct serves us well in times of danger. But congregating in groups is exactly what we have been asked to limit the spread of the virus.

In addition to the force of habit, the choice boils down to the individual perception of the (opportunity) cost of being locked indoors. For instance, if none of my friends have to go to the office, more people can join my party, increasing its payoff and consequently increasing the cost of maintaining quarantine.

On the other hand, the cost of partying is the increase in the probability of the individual getting infected with a deadly virus due to attending a party. But before we pontificate on the obviousness of choosing to avoid a party in these times, consider that on average 10 people die every day on the railway tracks of Mumbai's suburban railway.

Our subjective perception of evaluating the probability of our own mortality is not very well tuned, leading to many flawed decisions.

It is, therefore, very important to identify the ways in which our assumptions about costs can go wrong. Consider the following situation: person A is in a cave, A's decision to leave the case depends on whether there is a tiger outside the cave. There are two possible kinds of errors that A can make: (1) assume that there is a tiger outside the cave when there isn't one (2) assume that there is no tiger when there is one.

A reasonable argument can be made that type 2 error is far more dangerous. And therefore it is very likely that we evolved to avoid making the type 2 error, erring more on the side of being cautious than cavalier.

However, it is equally likely that in their tendency to commit type 2 errors, humans are distributed over a spectrum ranging from extreme paranoia to extreme risk-taking. This is why even under normal everyday circumstances we observe disparate responses to the same situation. The same trait that makes someone a successful entrepreneur makes them take more risky decisions in times like these.

In addition to the extreme risk-takers, there is also the fact that modern civilisation has created an environment in which type 2 errors are not as risky as they would have been in times gone by. This is not to critique the advances that we have made in modern medicine, engineering, and governance structures, it is merely to point out that by reducing the cost of errors we have made people more likely to make errors even in times when the cost is likely to be very high.

And while this is more true in the richer countries, the well off in the global south have not been immune to these changes. In the past few days, there were exhortations by the ones in the know to their near and dear ones to buy basic food items. But in times of Amazon pantry and BigBasket, it is so difficult for people to imagine food shortages, that many ignored the advice, only to find themselves in a perilous situation in the ensuing lockdown.

It seems that paradoxically, the progress of human civilisation might have created an environment that endangered its further progress.

In additional to errors in estimation of personal costs, it is also obvious that the impact of the decisions made by individuals is not limited to the decision-makers themselves. If a person increases their risk of infection, they might join the chain of infection, becoming a potential vector that increases the probability of others being infected.

This (negative) externality whereby the choices of an individual affect others; complicates decision even more as the social cost of an action, say organising a party, is much higher than its personal cost. The standard prediction in such a scenario would be that people will over-engage in such activities.

Climate activists have been pointing out a similar problem, where individuals consume more fossil fuel than is socially optimal as the cost they pay individually does not reflect the cost their decision imposes on the entire society.

When it comes to complying with quarantine and lockdown measures, the deck is seemingly stacked against us (i) we need to do things that go against our basic instincts (ii) our ability to gauge the cost of an activity in terms of probability of mortality seems to be very limited(iii) even if we can take personal costs into consideration, our decisions will impose costs on society that are difficult to estimate.

How do we address these problems in our decision-making? Possibly the best way forward is to at least in the current scenario: (a) try to consciously move toward the paranoid end of the scale (b) try to maximise considerations of social costs of your actions by thinking of people around you who your actions might immediately impact.

The choices we make will determine the impact that COVID-19 will have on our society. In a country like India, there is going to be a very large number of people whose choices will be much starker: starvation versus risk of infection and for many others who have no home to lock themselves in. The least the rest of us can do is to make sure we make responsible decisions.

Stay at home, stay safe.
Press Release

March 28, 2020 Suppressing freedom of speech during COVID-19 crisis, a Martial Law tactic - De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urges local and national government officials to stop threatening critics of lackluster government response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. De Lima made the call in light of the reports that government officials in some areas are abusing Section 6(f) of the recently enacted "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" to intimidate citizens who call out incompetence or inaction, threatening them with jail time and exorbitant fines. "Knowing the vindictiveness of this regime, this provision can be abused by authorities to suit their political agenda and curtail freedoms of expression and opinion of those who call out government's inanities and languid response to the COVID-19 outbreak," she said. "Virus ang kalaban natin, hindi ang kapwa Pilipino. Takot na ang mga tao, huwag na nating takutin pa. Bukod sa virus, nangangamba rin ang maraming Pilipino sa gutom at lalong paghihirap ng kanilang pamilya," she added. Days after some public officials claimed that human rights and the writ of habeas corpus are suspended during a state of emergency, other officials announced that they will go after anyone who voices negative comments on social media on the government's response to COVID-19. Reports said that a Cebu-based rapper was made to swear in public to never criticize the government again before sending him home. The Cebu provincial government is mulling over charges to file against the rapper to set an example for other detractors. In some areas under the "enhanced community quarantine", De Lima also denounced cruel, inhumane and degrading punishments given to alleged violators of the lockdown, including having them stand or sit for hours under the heat of the sun, or locking them up in dog cages. "Huwag natin gawing solusyon ang pananakot at dahas. We must treat this crisis more as a public health concern than a peace and order issue," the former justice secretary said. "What we need now is full transparency from the government, not a measure to suppress rights and freedom of speech. Sagipin, at huwag gipitin, ang kapwa Pilipino," she added. De Lima, the most prominent critic of extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration - who herself has been in jail for more than three years now - is seen by many as an example of the vindictiveness of a regime that cannot handle criticism. Since her arrest on 24 February 2017, De Lima has been illegally detained based mainly on concocted accounts of drug lords and other shady personalities rounded up by Duterte sycophants and allies. Despite the limitations caused by her detention, the lady Senator from Bicol has continued commenting on the national situation regarding the ongoing crisis dealt by the deadly novel coronavirus, which paralyzed economies worldwide. As of March 27, the Philippines have lost 54 persons to COVID-19, with 803 others getting infected by the highly contagious virus.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg promised during a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba that the Alliance would consider providing additional support to Ukraine.

"Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the Allies plan to discuss provision of additional support to Ukraine within the Comprehensive Assistance Package," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

As noted, Kuleba was receptive to the partners' decision to reschedule the NATO meeting with participation of Ukraine and Georgia in view of the complex epidemiological situation in Europe and the world.

The Foreign Minister also assured Stoltenberg that the policy of the new Government of Ukraine regarding NATO remained unchanged.

Among the key short-term priorities for bilateral cooperation, Kuleba mentioned the granting of Enhanced Opportunity Partner status to Ukraine as an additional tool for deepening military cooperation and resuming the NATO-Ukraine Commission high-level meetings, as well as updating the NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package.

In addition, the parties exchanged views on the latest destructive steps of the Russian Federation, in particular, the prohibition of owning land in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea by non-Russian citizens.

"It was emphasized that such actions are unacceptable and grossly violate the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as international humanitarian law," the statement reads.

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As the coronavirus continues to spread, reports of racial discrimination and harassment targeting Asian Americans in Pennsylvania are rising, advocates say.

Chad Dion Lassiter, the executive director of the state Human Relations Commission, said Pennsylvania must attack the virus of hate. The coronavirus first emerged in China and some Asian residents have endured racial incidents.

We do know theres an uptick, specifically in Philadelphia because its been the epicenter, Lassiter said. The bulk of Pennsylvanias patients infected with the virus are in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.

Were seeing people boycott businesses," Lassiter said. "Were seeing graffiti on property. Were seeing some verbal confrontations. Some of the incidents have occurred in Philadelphias Chinatown neighborhood, he said.

Its not just mean-spirited behavior, he added. Its racism. Its xenophobia.

Lassiter expects more cases of discrimination and harassment will be reported as more people suffer financially. Hundreds of thousands in Pennsylvania have lost jobs and a record 3.3 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week.

State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, said shes outraged by the reports of bias.

A member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Kim urged residents to understand that the virus doesnt discriminate. She also reminds residents the state has hate crime laws and an ethnic intimidation law to protect residents.

The problem is, when it happens to somebody, its shameful. People feel vulnerable and want it to go away, Kim said. "I have a feeling some people arent reporting it.

Hostility and aggression

Around the country, there are troubling reports of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders being subjected to racial harassment tied to the coronavirus.

A new center in California was established last week to track such incidents. The STOP AAPI HATE center, founded by three Asian advocacy groups, said it has received more than 750 reports of what it termed coronavirus discrimination. The incidents are being reported by various Asian nationalities; more than 60 percent of those who filed reports were not Chinese, the center said.

Two-thirds of the complaints involved verbal harassment or name-calling, the center said. Women are three times more likely to be targeted than men.

Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, said the number of complaints reported tell only part of the story.

These numbers do not detail the hate and vitriol that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are experiencing," Kulkarni said in a statement. And they dont make evident the fear and anxiety that community members feel when they leave their homes to buy groceries, pick up prescriptions, or just leave their homes for a walk in their neighborhoods.

Asian Americans United, an advocacy group in Philadelphia, held a virtual town hall Thursday on anti-Asian rhetoric and violence. Alix Mariko Webb, the groups director, said it was organized to address "the rise of anti-Asian bias were seeing at this moment.

President Donald Trump and some lawmakers have called the coronavirus the Chinese virus," drawing sharp criticism from advocates and health care experts who say the term spurs racial harassment of Asian residents.

Earlier this week, Trump said in a tweet: It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States." He added the spread of the virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape or form.

Still, Helen Gym, a Philadelphia city councilwoman, said in the virtual town hall that Trumps rhetoric has spurred more harassment of Asian Americans.

Gym said the Asian American community "is facing just a shocking amount of hostility and aggression.

She said members of the Asian community of all ages are feeling the impact of racism, either on the street, using public transit or seeing it on social media. Gym plans to introduce a resolution in city council denouncing violence targeting Asian Americans.

Racism and hate is a virus that spreads, Gym said. "It impacts a lot of people.

Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym, shown at a July 2019 rally for Bernie Sanders, said Asian Americans in Philadelphia are seeing shocking amounts of hostility and aggression. | Julia Hatmaker | jhatmaker@pennlive.com

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Kim, who is Asian American, said she hasnt heard reports of bias incidents in the Harrisburg region but said incidents have been reported in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

She stressed that those who witness someone being harassed should do what they can to show support for the victim.

Ive been attacked because of my ethnicity and I know how it feels when it happens, Kim said. "People need to reach out to the victim. Its frightening and they feel signaled out. If you see something obvious, be an upstander, not a bystander.

Tell them to quit. One sentence: leave her alone, Kim said. Send a signal that people are watching.

Lassiter offered more advice for those who witness someone being subjected to harassment or racial slurs tied to the coronavirus. If someone is being harassed in a grocery store, for example, and you dont feel comfortable confronting the aggressor, get the store manager.

Another option is taking out a cellphone and recording the encounter and putting it online to deliver some social media justice," Lassiter said.

However, he cautioned that people should be cautious about how they intervene in such a situation. If you choose to engage someone whos already using racial slurs and losing their temper, be prepared for a response, he said.

I want people to be careful when they approach individuals engaged in xenophobia and racial acts, Lassiter said.

If someone doesnt wish to confront the aggressor, another option is offering comfort or solace to the victim when the encounter is over, Lassiter said.

Kim encouraged those who are being harassed to contact her office.

Some people have no idea this is happening, Kim said. I think reporting it gives strength and draws attention.

Lassiter said he plans to organize town halls in the future to address discrimination targeting the states Asian residents.

Those who wish to report incidents of discrimination or harassment can visit the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commissions website to file a complaint or email the commission: PHRC@pa.gov.

The commissions offices are closed due to the pandemic, Lassiter said, but the staff continues to work remotely and can offer assistance.

As Kim said, These stories need to be told.

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Emergency responders might be told locations of coronavirus cases; why cant everyone know?
The Zaandam cruise ship is anchored in the bay of Panama City, on March 27, 2020.(Arnulfo Franco)

People With COVID-19 Symptoms Banned From Travel by Air, Train, Trudeau Says

OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau says that as of noon Monday, boarding of domestic flights and trains will be denied to people showing any symptoms related to CCP virus.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Trudeau said all Canadians are being asked to remain home as much as possible in an effort to stop the spread of the disease, but in particular those with symptoms of COVID19 should not go out. Those symptoms include fever and cough.

We are giving further tools to airlines and rail companies to ensure that anyone exhibiting COVID19 symptoms does not travel, he said Saturday. He said it will be up to the companies to ensure the new rules are followed.

Trudeau also addressed the situation of the 248 Canadians stranded on a cruise ship off the coast of Panama, where some passengers have tested positive for COVID19 and four others have died.

The federal government is working with the Panamanian government and Holland America, which operates the Zaandam, in an effort to get the Canadians home.

He said the efforts are part of the herculean task Global Affairs Canada is undertaking to repatriate stranded Canadians around the world.

Two passengers on board the MS Zaandam have tested positive for the disease while 53 passengers and 85 crew have flulike symptoms, Holland America said in a statement.

There are 1,243 passengers and 586 crew on board, the company said in a statement. The Zaandam is anchored off the coast of Panama and plans are underway to move healthy people to its sister ship nearby, Holland America said.

We continue to engage with the Panamanian government, and are working with Holland America on their plans to get passengers home, said Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Angela Savard.

Michael Kasprow is terrified for his 81yearold mother, Julie, who is currently contained to her room with her friend on the Zaandam. She is healthy, he said, and had her vital signs checked yesterday.

My moms demeanour certainly changed in the past 24 hours from, This will be OK, to hearing news that people on board had passed away, Kasprow said.

My mom is my superhero and is incredibly circumspect when it comes to things like that, but its really stressful and scary to her, and this definitely rocked her a bit.

The crew is preparing to move his mother to the sister ship, the Rotterdam, he said.

From what I understand, they are going to move healthy and asymptomatic passengers over to the Rotterdam to find some place to dock, Kasprow said.

All ports along its route are closed, Holland America said.

While the onward plan for both ships is still being finalized, we continue to work with the Panamanian authorities on approval to transit the Panama Canal for sailing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the company said.

Kasprow, from Toronto, said he is dealing with a mixture of emotions with the uncertainty about his mother, who lives in Thornhill, Ont.

I just want her home in her stupid chair for 14 days so we have everybody in the same area and I can talk to her from the end of the driveway, he said.

Meanwhile, Canadas chief public health officer Theresa Tam said the latest data shows about seven per cent of COVID19 cases in the country have resulted in hospitalization, three per cent have required critical care and about one per cent have been fatal.

She noted that about 30 per cent of people hospitalized are aged 40 and under.

We continue to keep a close eye on the severity of the disease, because although there will be daytoday fluctuation, a sustained trend of increased severity could point to a higher rate of infection in vulnerable populations or that the health system is being overwhelmed, Tam told a news conference.

But she also noted signs of hope from British Columbia, where data indicates the provinces COVID19 experience will likely resemble South Koreas rather than brutally hit Italy.

Tam noted that B.C. was the first area of Canada to experience community transmission. It is too early to know for sure, but after weeks of public health interventions, the rate of growth appears to be slowing, she said.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
One of the stars of Netflixs controversial true-crime documentary Tiger King has criticised the way she is portrayed in the series.

The show investigates the story of Joe Exotic, a tiger trader who became embroiled in a rivalry with Carole Baskin  owner of the Big Cat Rescue Sanctuary in Florida  who accused him of breeding big cats unethically.

Baskins ex-husband, Don, went missing 21 years ago. In the documentary, a number of people accuse her of being responsible for his death.

Accusations aired in the series include one that Baskin fed her husbands body to the big cats at her sanctuary, a claim she brands ludicrous.

Baskin has never been charged with anything related to Dons disappearance.

In a lengthy post on her website, Baskin claims interviewees in the series are not credible and that it has a segment devoted to suggesting, with lies and innuendos from people who are not credible, that I had a role in the disappearance of my husband Don 21 years ago.

The series presents this without any regard for the truth or in most cases even giving me an opportunity before publication to rebut the absurd claims, she writes.

They did not care about truth. The unsavoury lies are better for getting viewers.

Sharing a photo of a small meat grinder, she wrote: The idea that a human body and skeleton could be put through it is idiotic. But the Netflix directors did not care. They just showed a bigger grinder.

CaroleBaskinappears in Netflixs new true crime docuseriesTiger King (Netflix ) (Netflix)

Netflix told Radio 1 Newsbeat it has no comment at this time.

Joe Exotic, born Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is a big cat breeder who ran an exotic animal park in Oklahoma named GW Exotic. He appeared in a 2011 Louis Theroux documentary about dangerous pets.

He was jailed last year for 22 years, for crimes including trying to hire someone to murder Baskin, and for various crimes related to endangered species and conservation.

Baskins response follows the news that Kate McKinnon has reportedly been cast to star in a film adaptation of Tiger King.

Tiger King is currently available to stream on Netflix.
A cargo aircraft loaded with essential commodities landed at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport here on Saturday, the first since the 21-day lockdown was imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, officials said.

The cargo flight operated by Air India landed at 1.40 pm carrying essential items weighing 457 kg from Kolkata, an airport official said.

A helicopter landed at the airport on Friday carrying 33,000 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), 7,000 N 95 masks, hand sanitisers and other medical items from Kolkata, he said.

Meanwhile, state Health Secretary Debasish Basu said no COVID-19 case has been detected in the state so far, adding there is no dearth of medical equipment.

On the other hand, Airports Authority of India Regional Director for Northeast, Sanjeev Jindal said the AAI has started a cargo flight to the region.

"We have decided along with the help of Centre to operate a cargo flight in the North-eastern region. The Ministry of Aviation has accepted our request and a flight of Air India has started operating from today itself. The flight will not only carry the medical emergency but also other essential commodities," he said in a video message.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Modified On Mar 28, 2020 01:24 PM By Dinesh

A team of engineers at Mahindra has developed a prototype within 48 hours of the announcement by Anand Mahindra

With the number of coronavirus cases in India growing rapidly with each passing day, various corporate houses have come forward to play their part in fighting the pandemic. Among them is the Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, who had announced that Mahindra will be manufacturing ventilators in its factory considering the shortage of the life support device in the country. It is to be noted that the indigenous ventilators will be an automated version of the Ambu bag (Bag Valve Mask ventilator).

Now, within a few days of the announcement, a team of engineers at Mahindra has developed a prototype. Announcing the development, Anand Mahindra tweeted:

So, so proud of our Kandivali & Igatpuri teams who confined themselves to the factories & without sleep produced this in 48hrs. With humility, we will seek guidance from specialists on the usefulness of the device. Whatever the outcome, they have shown India fights back... pic.twitter.com/LrVXm4Acku  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 26, 2020

Revealing the details of the indigenous ventilator, Pawan Goenka, MD of Mahindra & Mahindra, said, We are working on an automated version of the Bag Valve Mask ventilator (commonly known as Ambu bag). We hope to have a proto ready in three days for approval. Once proven, this design will be made available to all for manufacturing.

Compared to a standard ventilator, which costs around Rs 10 lakh, Mahindra has announced its plans to price the indigenous ventilator at less than Rs 7,500. This device is an interim lifesaver and the team estimates it will cost below Rs 7,500, Anand Mahindra informed.

If things go as planned, this step can really help in cutting down the ventilator shortage in the country, which is very crucial since it is an integral part of the coronavirus treatment.

Mahindra is not only working on an automated bag-type ventilator but it has also teamed up with existing ventilator manufacturers to help them simplify the design and scale-up production. Notifying the same, Pawan Goenka tweeted, We along with two large PSUs are working with an existing manufacturer of high-spec ventilators to help them simplify design and scale-up capacity. Our engineering team is right now with them working on it.

Anand Mahindra has taken various other initiatives to fight the pandemic. The business tycoon has offered to convert all Club Mahindra resorts into medical facilities as well as donated his entire salary to a fund for fighting COVID-19.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Steps To Sanitize Your Car Against COVID-19
She needed water not only to stay hydrated for her recovery but to keep herself clean. Her husband found two gallons discarded on a random aisle of a nearby store  everyone was panic-buying by that point  and her sister drove an hour-and-a-half to retrieve another two gallons, she said. They used what they had to bathe and flush the toilet.
With their livelihoods coming to a halt after imposition of the countrywide lockdown, thousands of daily wage workers and labourers thronged the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Saturday in the hope of reaching their homes in far-flung areas, notwithstanding the threat of spread of the coronavirus disease.

IMAGE: Migrants wait to board a bus to their native villages at Kaushambi in Ghaziabad, on Saturday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Hordes of people, including women and children, with their bags on their heads and backs -- many also wearing protective masks -- waited in long queues to board buses at the Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, the Uttar Pradesh government announced that it has arranged 1,000 buses to ferry migrant labourers stranded in the border districts owing to a countywide lockdown.

IMAGE: In the absence of availability of transportation, a large number of migrants undertook long journeys to their home on foot after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nation-wide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

The Delhi government also announced that 100 buses have been deployed to help those trying to reach on foot their homes in other states, many of them hundreds of kilometres away.

Although the police had made people stand in three queues, the serpentine lines didn't seem to end as there was a steady flow of migrant workers who wanted to go back to their towns and villages citing lack of employment due to the lockdown.

IMAGE: Daily wage workers were among the worst hit by the lockdown and thousands started heading back home in different states. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

Many struggled to board the buses packed to the hilt. The police also made people de-board overcrowded buses to avoid spread of the infection.

Good Samaritans distributed food to those preparing for their journeys.

IMAGE: With the UP and Delhi governments arranging buses to ferry those stranded on the state borders, many decided to take a chance, thereby crowding the Delhi borders. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nation-wide lockdown from March 25 following which all transport services -- road, rail and air -- were suspended.

Daily wage workers were among the worst hit by the lockdown and thousands started heading back home in different states.

IMAGE: Migrants sits on top of a bus to their native villages during a nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic at Kaushambi, in Ghaziabad. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

In the absence of availability of transportation, a large number of them undertook their long journeys on foot.

But with the UP and Delhi governments arranging buses to ferry those stranded on the state borders, many decided to take a chance, thereby crowding the Delhi borders.

IMAGE: Policemen try to regulate as migrants try to cross a boundary wall in an attempt to board a bus at Kaushambi, in Ghaziabad, on Saturday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Jwatam Kumar, 24, who works in a faucet factory, said his unit has been shut due to the lockdown.

He is paid Rs 8,000 a month on a fortnightly basis. With no means of making a living and paying for food and accommodation, he wanted to go back home in Aligarh.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to migrant workers leaving the national capital to stay back, even as he said that his government has arranged for buses to transport them. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

"I had made up my mind to walk back, but now I heard through news channels that Uttar Pradesh government has made provision of taking people to their homes. So, I will take the bus," said Kumar, who was headed to Anand Vihar ISBT.

Sachin Kanojia, 29, who took a shared auto-rickshaw from Rohtak to Delhi that charged Rs 500 per seat, said the factory he worked in was closed due to the lockdown.

IMAGE: Migrants board a bus to their native villages at Kaushambi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

He earns Rs 10-12,000 per month but now with no income for the next three weeks, he was heading back home.

"I will get a bus from Anand Vihar," said Kanojia, who was headed to Lucknow.

IMAGE: The DTC and cluster buses will drop the migrant workers at points along the border with UP where buses from that state will carry them ahead. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

Like Kanojia and Kumar, Omkar Maurya too was headed home to Amethi. Maurya, who works as a daily wage worker putting up tents for marriage ceremonies, said with no money in his pocket it was better for him to go back home.

"Now that there are bus services, it is good that I go back home till the situation becomes normal," Maurya said.

IMAGE: Migrant families wait in a queue to board a bus to their native village at Anand Vihar in New Delhi, on Saturday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Earlier in the day, a UP government spokesman said that officials of the Transport Department bus drivers and conductors were contacted on Friday night to help the people who were stranded in Noida, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar and Aligarh, among other places.

"Till late in the night, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was busy issuing instructions for arranging buses for the purpose," the spokesman said, adding that the CM also directed officials to arrange for food and water for such people and their families.

IMAGE: Migrants board a bus to their native village at Ghazipur Delhi-UP border, Ghaziabad, on Saturday. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

On Saturday morning, senior police officers reached the Charbagh bus station in Lucknow to ensure that those arriving there were provided with food and water.

The buses later left for Kanpur, Ballia, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Faizabad, Basti, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Gonda, Etawah, Bahraich and Shravasti.

IMAGE: UPSRTC has requested various district administrations to arrange for screening of these migrants upon arrival and also maintain their records for 'further monitoring'. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

UP Director General of Police Hitesh Chandra Awasthi and Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Kumar Pande were personally present at the bus station to monitor the arrangements, the spokesman added.

IMAGE: Volunteers provide meals to migrant workers inside a bus in Moradabad, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Delhi minister hits the streets, urges migrant workers not to leave city

Meanwhile, Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam hit the streets in the national capital on Saturday to urge lockdown-hit migrant workers not to leave the city.

The social justice minister reached the Anand Vihar area around 12.30 pm and addressed migrant workers, labourers and daily wagers, who usually come to Delhi in search of a livelihood, with the help of a mic installed in his car.

IMAGE: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia informed that the Delhi government has deployed 100 buses for people attempting to walk home from the city. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

"Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sent me here. I appeal to you please don't leave Delhi, please return to your places," he said.

The minister said the Delhi government has made arrangements to give them shelter and free food.

"You will be given free food in nearby schools. Those who don't have a place to live can stay in night shelters," he said.

IMAGE: Police personnel distribute food among stranded passengers in Prayagraj. Photograph: PTI Photo

10 hide themselves in tanker to reach Rajasthan, held

10 migrant labourers were on Saturday found travelling to Rajasthan from neighbouring Thane district by hiding themselves inside an empty milk tanker amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown, police said.

All the 10 persons, including some women, were detained by the police at Talasari in Palghar district, located along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, an official said.

IMAGE: Migrant workers board a bus at Ghazipur Delhi-UP border, Ghaziabad. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

"10 persons, including some women, hid themselves inside the milk tanker. They started their journey from Kalyan in neighbouring Thane district and wanted to go to their home state of Rajasthan.

"They chose this method as regular transport vehicles are currently not available due to the lockdown," spokesperson of Palghar police, Hemant Katkar, said.

IMAGE: Migrants run towards a bus at Ghazipur Delhi-UP border, Ghaziabad. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

"When the vehicle reached Talasari check-post, the police sensed something amiss and checked the tanker. During the search, they found the 10 persons hiding inside," he added.

All of them are labourers from Rajasthan working in and around Mumbai, Katkar said.

"They have been detained and booked under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)," he added.

On Friday, the Thane city police had caught 40 migrant labourers when they were heading to Uttar Pradesh in a truck.

They had been booked by the police.
A 22-year-old man has been charged after a York Regional Police officer was found with serious injuries in a mall parking lot on March 27 in Richmond Hill.

York Regional Police Services received a call from an officer requiring assistance at 3:40 p.m., in the parking lot of Hillcrest Mall, at 9350 Yonge St.

Responding officers found a constable suffering from serious but not life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to hospital where he is still being treated for his injuries.

The officers found the suspect on the scene, uninjured, and arrested him.

Police say that the officer, a four-year member of York Regional Police, was sitting in his parked cruiser when he was approached by the suspect who allegedly began to assault him. The altercation continued outside of the cruiser where it is alleged the suspect took the officers baton and beat him with it.

Chidubem Anthony Okeke, 22, of no fixed address, has been charged with attempted murder and failure to comply with recognizance.

Okeke was to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on March 28.

Investigators are seeking any video surveillance or dash cam that may have captured the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact YRP District 2 Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423.

Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi

Read more about:
- ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap was erroneously announced positive for COVID-19 despite not exhibiting symptoms

- At the time, he still went to work because he did not feel any difficulty breathing or any dizziness at all

- Photos showed that he was at several government meetings before the erroneous test results came out

- A Malacanang photo showed that he had contact with Senators Bong Go and Alan Peter Cayetano, as well as Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte

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ACT- CIS Party-list Representative Eric Go Yap, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, was erroneously confirmed positive for coronavirus.

As per ABS-CBN, it was found out that prior to the outcome of the tests, he still went to work despite having been tested on the disease.

When asked why he did it, he explained that he reported for work because he was not showing symptoms of the dreaded disease.

However, the initial results turned out that the congressman was positive for COVID-19, when in fact he was not.

Photos revealed that he came close to a number of government officials, including those in Malacanang. Manila Bulletin reported that Yap was called to the meeting after his testing on March 21.

Congressman Eric Yap explains why he was with Senators Bong Go and Alan Cayetano before results came out (Photo: Eric Yap/Facebook)

Source: Facebook

Rappler reported that the lawmaker indeed admitted having attended meetings with high-ranking government officials.

His defense at the time was that he was not talking, and even made reference to a photo where he was just "smiling."

He also said that he was "mostly far away from the others."

Among those whom he came in contact with then include Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, and Rep. LRay Villafuerte.

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In a previous report by KAMI, the government faced problems when they imposed the initial community quarantine, which was elevated into the now ongoing enhanced community quarantine. It also suspended transportation causing massive problems with commuters.

The coronavirus outbreak started out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Scientists believed that the virus came from an animal at one of Wuhan's wet markets. At present, the Philippines is under a state of calamity while the entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine.

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Are you an avid fan of a celeb? You might want to challenge yourself and see if you can guess the voice of celebs through recordings. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
Cyrus Habib:

Earlier today, I announced that I will not be running for re-election as Washington States lieutenant governor and have decided to enter the Society of Jesus. This decision follows two years of careful and prayerful discernment. But because that process has been almost entirely private, I realize that this will come as a major surprise to my constituents and supporters. Many will be wondering why someone who has spent the last eight years climbing the political ladder and who has a not insignificant chance of acceding to the governorship next year, would trade a life of authority for one of obedience. I want to take a moment to discuss this decision as well as to express my profound gratitude to all those who have helped make these eight years in elected office so successful and rewarding. I was elected as state representative in 2012, state senator in 2014 and lieutenant governor in 2016. My reasons for running for those positions and my priorities in office were firmly rooted in Catholic social teaching, which places the poor, the sick, the disabled, the immigrant, the prisoner and all who are marginalized at the center of our social and political agenda. I knew from childhood what it was like to be excluded for being a blind kid from an Iranian family, and I have tried to use the power I have been given by the voters to ensure that we move urgently toward that day when no one will feel left behind or left out in our society.  But over the past couple of years, I have felt called to a different vocation, albeit one that is also oriented around service and social justice. I have felt a calling to dedicate my life in a more direct and personal way to serving the marginalized, empowering the vulnerable, healing those who suffer from spiritual wounds and accompanying those discerning their own futures. For me, this is rooted in my faith in Christs Gospel. But my desire to encounter something greater than myself by walking with the poor and abandoned of this world will be familiar to those of many different spiritual traditions. I have come to believe that the best way to deepen my commitment to social justice is to reduce the complexity in my own life and dedicate it to serving others.

Amanda Jackson:

(CNN)Heroes come in all shapes and sizes -- this one just happens to have four legs and a furry coat. Wynn, a service dog in training, is bringing joy and comfort to the medical staff on the front lines of the coronovirus fight in Denver. The one-year-old yellow Labrador serves up cuddles to health care workers who need a much needed mental break from the emergency room at Rose Medical Center. Wynn is no stranger to the medical staff, as she's being trained by Susan Ryan, an emergency physician at the hospital. Ryan shared an image of the two of them on Sunday. In it, the doctor is seen wearing a face shield and a mask while sitting on the floor of the hospital petting Wynn. "I saw Wynn coming back in from being walked outside," Ryan told CNN. "I just slumped down on the floor and said 'can I just have a minute with her'?'" Ryan said she had just finished with a patient and washed up before getting some quality time with Wynn. "Seeing stuff and hearing stuff that you can't unsee has an impact on you," Ryan said. "That's where the dogs come in. When you are in the presence of the dog and petting them you are taking a moment to ground yourself at that present time." Wynn is currently being trained to become an assistance dog for Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit that provides assistance dogs free of charge to adults, children and veterans with disabilities, according to its website. Ryan has been training Wynn since she was eight weeks old. She frequently takes the pup to the hospital for visits. "It's been the brightest part of our day," Ryan said.

On COVID-19:

Gregory Kaebnick:

Anthony Fauci has been an extraordinary presence during the COVID-19 crisis: calm yet urgent, informative yet plain-spoken. Along the way, hes doing something even more difficult than explaining COVID-19. Hes providing insight about the role of the scientific expert in a liberal democracy. Scientific experts are considerably diminished from what they were some decades ago, as our debates about climate change, vaccinations, genetically modified organisms and many other topics reveal. Archon Fung, a scholar of democratic governance at Harvards Kennedy School, describes our state of affairs as wide aperture, low deference democracy: almost everything is now up for public debate, even climate science, and those who have traditionally led such debates are losing their influence. There are many reasons for the decline of experts. The new media environment, political polarization and growing economic inequality have all helped make the public suspicious of people seen as belonging to the existing power structure. We're in an increasingly revolutionary mood. In politics and elsewhere, were attracted to ideas that seem to flout the rules. In the midst of this transformation, what it means to be an expert has also changed. At one time, one could qualify as an expert just by being particularly smart or well educated about a technical topic and having been anointed as an expert by other experts, like university officials or political leaders. Think of 1950s scientists and doctors whose lab coats signified their training and the respect and deference they deserved. Today, more is required. To qualify as an expert is to meet the criteria for a special social role, and nowadays, having the requisite knowledge, ability and recognition is only part of what one needs. Credentials alone no longer make one credible. This is where Fauci shines. Hes showing us how to be not just trustworthy but actually trusted.

New methods of testing:
BRIDGEPORT  Some came with empty baby strollers, others with large shopping and garbage bags.

There was no line, but a fairly steady stream of parents and students pulled up to a line of coolers at the front entrance of Curiale School late Friday morning.

Each cooler was labeled  one for breakfast, one for lunch and one for supper. Taped to the containers were instructions on how to heat up or store the meals.

Since a Grab-and-Go meal distribution program began two weeks ago when coronavirus shut down schools, participation has grown to more than 6,700 daily in the district, Acting Schools Superintendent Michael Testani said by text on Friday.

Since the program started, an estimated 32,000 meals had gone out.

State-wide, 128 districts are authorized to serve meals at 387 locations. In some districts, volunteers are even using school buses and trucks to deliver meals to school bus stops and apartment complexes at designated times.

In most cases, the meals are funded through the traditional federal school lunch program as well as a federal At-risk After School Meals Program,

Everything is going well, Testani said of the Bridgeport program. Every day, my numbers are going up.

Cafeteria worker Janice Northrop agreed.

We are so busy, Northrop said, running back and forth to refill coolers with the brown bagged meals.

They come in waves, she said of the parents.

Glancing at the sign that said the meals were for students age 18 and under, one young taker proudly announced himself a kindergartner.

The kids are all the time eating, said Alejandro Valencia, his father.

Northrop said she misses the students, but is happy to get the chance to finally meet many of their parents.

If school were in session, shed be serving about 460 lunches a day and another 90 dinners at the after-school Light House program.

Today, she and another cafeteria assistant were assembling about 100 bagged meals at a clip.

Breakfast this day was french toast, juice and milk. Lunch was pizza, mixed beans and a juice. Dinner was packaged mini-cheeseburgers and Tater Tots.

During his daily Facebook Live briefing, Mayor Joseph Ganim, who stopped by Curiale in the morning with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, declared it good food.

Murphy said thousands of meals are being served across the state during the crisis although the exact number was not available. In Bridgeport, 20 schools are open for meal pick-up from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The more we get out from school, the more the demand seems to be, said Curiale Principal Brett Gustafson.

On Friday, some parents were just now picking up school work packets distributed last week.

More than 500 have been picked up by Curiale parents, Gustafson said. Another 60 were printed out online by parents.

Angel LaForest was there to pick up meals for seven children.

It helps, and its good, LaForest said. One day they had chicken. The next day, pizza. And the cereal they give has less sugar in it.

See you Monday, Northrop called out to Marco Villa and his sister Quetzalli, after they collected their bags.

Marco said he was bored and ready to come back to school.

lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck
The campaign team of Mr. Davis Opoku Ansah, known as OPK, has distributed three thousand hand sanitizers and Veronica buckets to the various communities in the Mpraeso Constituency.



The gesture is to support the efforts of the Government and the Kwahu South District Assembly in the combat against the Corona Virus pandemic.



Educating taxi drivers, market women, and religious groupings, the team shared educational materials on COVID-19, printed in Twi and hoisted banners on the preventive measures.



Youth groups and individuals who benefited from the gesture from the NPP youth activist were of high praise for the Parliamentary aspirant for his support to the community.



Eric Osei, a trader in Mpraeso jubilantly said," What OPK has done today is novel. We are aware he's recovering from the gory accident he had last month so for him to think about us in his hospital bed is worth praising."



The chairman of his campaign team, Dr. Simon Ofori, urged all to obey instructions from the President, who is seeking the collective good of Ghanaians.



He said, "Taxi Drivers can help prevent the spread of the virus. He admonished them to regularly clean the handles of their vehicle, wash their hands with water and soap or applying the hand sanitizers to help stop the spread of the pandemic."

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Bosky Khanna By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Sir please let me go, I have to take home the ration and cooking gas cylinder urgently, said a two-wheeler rider on Magadi Road, commuting without a helmet on Tuesday as the police stopped him at the barricade that they had put up.

As he continued pleading, the police identified that he was not wearing a helmet, and one of the officers told him, Park your vehicle to the side and pay penalty for not wearing the helmet. Give me your address, and I will get the ration and gas delivered to your house. When he tried to escape, the police gave him the taste of lathis to make him understand how important it was to stay at home when the coronavirus lockdown was in force.

He was not the only one. Despite prohibitory orders across Bengaluru, many people were seen breaking the rules and travelling on roads that were empty.

Going around the city, this correspondent found that while some areas maintained the lockdown, others did not. Though the main roads were closed and police were seen stationed at junctions, the by-lanes were crowded and even non-essential stores like boutiques and hair salons were kept open. But the police said they were unaware of such establishments being kept open.

At Magadi, Mysuru and Tumkuru roads, the entry points to Bengaluru, the police had put up barricades with big stickers explaining which vehicles were allowed. But a large number of people were seen thronging the barricaded points and some even finding ways to squeeze through. But as the day progressed the police also gave up and were seen sitting under the shade of buildings only to see people break the rules.

How much can we do? We have been trying to educate people, but it is of no use. People come up with all types of reasons. One said he had to go for dialysis, and he was on a two-wheeler. That left us also wondering whether he was faking or not. But since he was an old man we let him go, said a police official. on Tumakuru road.
U.S. Denies Pushing Plan For Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap

By RFE/RL March 27, 2020

The United States says it has no "secret plan" to push land swaps between Kosovo and Serbia, rejecting speculation by some Kosovar officials that such a move was in the works.

The State Department issued the statement on March 26, days after the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti collapsed amid a dispute over coronavirus measures, as well as the continuing impasse between Pristina and Belgrade.

"We want to make clear there is no secret plan for land swaps between Kosovo and Serbia, as some have speculated," the State Department said in a statement. "Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell has never seen nor discussed such a plan."

European Union-mediated negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade broke down in 2018 over reports of a proposed land swap and after Kosovo imposed a 100 percent tax on Serbian imports in November.

Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008 in a move rejected by Belgrade.

Both Kosovo and Serbia aspire to join the EU, which has made the normalization of relations a precondition.

Complicating any solution to the dispute has been continued political instability in the country, heightened by the fall of Kurti's government after just four months in power.

The U.S. statement, which was signed by Grenell, Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett, and Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer, said Washington remains committed to working with any government formed "through the constitutional process."

"In this time of uncertainty, we urge Kosovo's leaders to follow Kosovo's constitution and the rule of law," the statement said.

In normal circumstances, a snap election could be held, but that is unlikely amid the battle to stem the spread of the COVID-19 illness.

For now, according to the country's constitution, Kurti is staying as caretaker prime minister until his leftist-nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party puts forward a candidate for premier as required in the next 15 days.

But the toppling of the government leaves the small Western-backed nation without strong leadership as it struggles to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. statement linked the battle against the virus with the tariffs, urging their removal.

"We believe the tariffs are harming the people of Kosovo by hindering regional cooperation against COVID-19  including by delaying the entry into Kosovo of needed supplies  and hindering economic growth," it said.

Authorities have confirmed more than 71 coronavirus infections and at least one death, that of an 82-year-old man with underlying health issues.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s- denies-pushing-plan-for-kosovo-serbia -land-swap/30512952.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Public Statement on COVID19 Crisis released by Peoples Alliance for (...)

DOCUMENT

Press Release by Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS)

(20 March, 2020)

India is passing through the first stage of the most serious health crisis in its recent history. How we respond to it as a society is crucial to mitigating effects of COVID 19 on our individual health. Democracy is ultimately a system of social relationships, of everyone with everybody else, that respects the twin principles of equality and individual autonomy, so that everyone becomes responsible to everyone else without the use of threat, fear, and social power. If there are many characteristics of our society and government which make us undemocratic, this crisis can also be an opportunity to strengthen our democracy.

India has a very unequal medical delivery system. While the prosperous Indians can get as good health services in private hospitals and clinics as available anywhere in the world, vast swathes of rural India are bereft of any public health services. Areas of urban poverty are also similarly deprived. Indian government takes care of only 27% of health expenditure, spending only 1% of GDP on health. In China government takes care of more than 56% of the health expenditure. In many other countries government expenditure on health is more than 80%, which ensures everyone gets required health care, rather than only those who can afford it. Given the state of affairs of public health system in the country, poor and rural Indians are likely to be the primary sufferers of acute health crisis from coronavirus. It is essential that the state machinery resolves to provide equal quality care to every Indian, and all available health resources are pooled in and distributed according to the requirement of individual sufferers, rather than on the basis of how much they can pay. Resources of private hospitals too must be diverted to meet the pandemic and opened to every Indian free of cost. Government of India has advertised a separate test price of Rs4500/ for private hospitals. This will only mean that people who can afford this price will get tested, poor will be left to languish in stressed public health system. Instead of this discriminatory practice, widespread testing at zero price should be started urgently. As the experience of COVID19 crisis even rich capitalist countries like Italy, Spain and US shows, privatised health care under capitalism is a drag on public health. Socialised and free health care is necessary for social well being.

Indian state authorities have historically been more intent upon imposing their power on people, rather than taking care of their own responsibilities. Government of India has lost precious three months window available for preparing for the impending crisis. Even basic masks, and personal protective equipment are not readily available to our nurses and doctors. ICU beds and ventilators are going to be in short supply. In the national address announcing three week countrywide lockdown, Prime Minister Modi did not mention that essentials of everyday life will remain available, which led to an unnecessary panic. It is obvious that daily wagers, contract workers, and people working in the informal sector are going to be the worst economic sufferers of the lockdown. State plans for how they are going to be compensated should have been in place before the lockdown was announced. As during demonetisation, the PM thinks that his grandstanding will take care of problems people are going to face. Before stopping bus and train services the government should have ensured that millions of migrant workers who need to be with their families, safely reach their native places. What kind of quarantine a working family living in a small dingy room in a slum can afford? State needs to immediately open spaces for public quarantine in all empty public buildings like schools, colleges, stadiums, and even shopping malls.

According to medical experts, widespread testing and quarantine of all positive and suspected individuals is the only way to slow the spread of the virus. General lockdown becomes essential because even seemingly healthy people too can be carrying the virus and spreading it to others. However, Indian state authorities need to understand that public lockdown under an extended health emergency like COVID19 must be fundamentally different from a short term curfew imposed after a riot, when the assumption is that anyone on street is a potential trouble maker. Telangana chief minister is already threatening to issue shoot as sight orders to make people stay indoors. Ministers, officials and prosperous people may have enough supplies at home to last them three weeks. How can ordinary people stay indoors for that long? While enforcing the lockdown in Wuhan, the Chinese government had ensured an elaborate delivery system employing thousands to provide essentials to people at home. It seems Indian state authorities are more focussed on forcing people indoors, rather than providing them with essentials so that they can stay indoors.

Social stigma, public humiliation and even lynching are endemic to our society. If anything, the ideological attacks of the ruling dispensation on minorities, oppressed castes, and the so-called anti-nationals generally have heightened these tendencies. There is an acute danger that patients suffering from Coronavirus, their families and friends, and hospital and other staff taking care of them, may end up facing ostracization. There are already some cases of nurses being asked to vacate by their landlords. Even airline staff who brought back Indians from countries infected with the virus have faced problems in their housing societies. Since in popular media China is presented as responsible for the pandemic, people of North-East living in other parts of India have faced public humiliation. Certain steps of our governments, like physically stamping people ordered to remain in quarantine further encourage such behaviour. The identity of Coronavirus victims has been revealed in media in many places. These steps not only violate the right to privacy, but also fundamental rights to personal safety and dignity. Only Orissa government has issued orders that the identity of Coronavirus sufferers cannot be revealed. Other governments should also issue similar orders.

Given the nature of Coronavirus, probably more than half of Indians are going to be infected by it in coming months. However, only the most vulnerable, namely little children and the elderly in already weak health will require hospitalisation and critical medical care. It is necessary that rather than panicking and stigmatising victims of this virus, we as a society provide all necessary medical and psychological care, and economic relief to any Indian who is going to suffer.

PADS demands that

1. Indian state ensures equal and quality medical services to every Indian suffering form the Corona virus. In particular, no double streams of medical services, one comfortably curative in private hospitals for the rich, and the other understaffed and undersupplied stream for the poor in government hospitals, be allowed to continue. All medical resources available in the country should be distributed only on the basis of need, rather than wealth and status.

2. As the crisis has probably already reached stage three in the country, it is essential that crucial health infrastructure like virology labs in every district, and training of ASHA workers for preventive care in rural India be provided immediately.

3. Measures to financially compensate people working in the informal sector of the economy should be announced and enforced immediately.

4. Enough places of public quarantine are made available to the poor living in crowded conditions.

5. Doctors, nurses, and safai karamcharis attending to victims of Coronavirus are provided protective gear immediately.

6. Elaborate systems of pubic delivery of essentials at door-step are made.

PADS appeals to the people of India to realise the gravity of the crisis and observe all quarantine protocols. They should refrain from and confront any stigmatisation of sufferers of Coronavirus and their families. Overcoming the crisis would require significant voluntary effort from all Indians in providing help and care to the needy. Only that will deepen our democracy.

Released by Battini Rao, Convenor PADS (95339 75195, battini.rao[at]gmail.com)
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has released a statement announcing that he tested positive to coronavirus.

The statement, which he personally signed, reads, Earlier this week, I submitted a sample for the Covid-19 test. The result came in this evening, and I regret to say that it is positive.

According to the protocols for managing Covid-19, I am in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the NCDC for a someone that is no showing symptoms.

I wish to appeal to the people of Kaduna State to continue to closely observe the preventive measures already announced.

It is most important that everybody should do their utmost to stay safe, stay home and stay alive.

The Deputy Governor is chairing our Covid-19 Taskforce and will continue to issue statements from time to time.

Mr El-Rufai had on March 18 attended a meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum. Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who has also tested positive to the virus, was also in attendance.

The following day, March 19, he also attended a meeting of the National Economic Council. Again, Mr Mohammed was at that meeting. The following day, the Kaduna governor joined his colleagues for a breakfast meeting with officials of the World Bank.

Sources close to the Kaduna Government believe Mr El-Rufai may have contacted the virus at one of the high profile meetings he attended during the period.

With the governor testing positive, cases, Nigeria now has a total 90 cases. Three of the cases have been treated and discharged from hospitals while one death has been recorded.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control had earlier this afternoon announced seven new cases, with Benue, a North-central state, recording its first case.

Providing an update on the ongoing pandemic, the NCDC said on its Twitter handle that seven of the new cases were reported in Lagos while one (1) was reported in Benue.

With its 59 cases, Lagos remains the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with the capital, Abuja trailing behind with 14 cases.

Below is a breakdown of cases by states as at 8 pm Saturday, March 28, 2019.

Lagos- 59

FCT- 14

Ogun- 3

Enugu- 2

Ekiti- 1

Oyo- 3

Edo- 2

Bauchi- 2

Osun-1

Rivers-1

Benue- 1

Kaduna -1
WESTPORT  Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order to waive the requirement for budgets to be approved at town meetings may alleviate pressure on some municipalities combating the coronavirus crisis, but in Westport, business will be conducted as usual.

Our town attorney Ira Bloom has reviewed that executive order as have I, and were in agreement that it does not apply to our budget process, First Selectman Jim Marpe said Monday. The RTM will still have its normal role in approving the budget.

Unlike neighboring town Weston, which approves its budget through a town referendum, Marpe said the Representative Town Meeting falls outside of the type of government entity the order applies to.

The executive order was speaking to more traditional types of town meetings, which mostly communities smaller than Westport conduct, he said.

With ongoing limitations of social gatherings  as of Monday, Westport had 74 confirmed coroanvirus cases  the town is now preparing to conduct its meetings through the Zoom conference app in cojunction with streaming and televising meetings.

It will require a different process of public input, but public input will still be entertained, encouraged and accepted as part of our normal meeting process, Marpe said.

The Board of Education has already moved to an online format for its meeting Monday night, with public comment being taken through Google Docs.

Before town hall closed, the Board of Finance was in the process of reviewing budgets and unanimously voted to trim the first selectmans proposed $75.7 million budget by 1 percent, or about $757,000.

The finance board is next scheduled to vote on the schools $123 million budget on April 1.

On April 2, the Board of Education will meet again, BOE Chairman Candice Savin said in an email to parents on Monday. Our agenda will include our response to the Board of Finances budget decision, an update on remote learning, an update from the CMS (Coleytown Middle School) Building Committee, and an update on our plans for a before school program to accommodate our shift to later start times.

In an earlier order, Lamont gave local leaders an additional 30 days to adopt their budgets. But according to Marpe, the RTM will look to have its first hearing on the budgets on May 4, as scheduled.

In terms of timing of the overall process, we are still planning to follow the schedule that we have laid out, he said. There may be one or two meetings between now and the setting of the mill rate where the date changes, or we add a meeting just to better complete the process, but the overall time frame remains the same.
The media is also exempted from the partial lockdown in some parts of the country.

Even though President Akufo-Addo left out the media as one of those exempted from the lockdown, his Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah later tweeted that the media is exempted from the restrictions.

In his twitter post, he stated, "Nana Akufo-Addo had just completed his address to the nation on updated COVID-19 measures. For the avoidance of doubt, the media is included in services exempted from the restrictions. The legal instruments that give full effect to H.E's address will include the media."

President Akufo-Addo has imposed restrictions on movement in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions effective Monday March 30 beginning 1pm.

The partial lockdown will last for two weeks and subject to review.

The President said in his fourth nation address on Friday night March 27.

The President however indicated that "if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, medicine, water, undertake banking transactions or to use public toilet facilities. But as much as possible, stay at home.

There shall be, the President noted, during this period, no intercity movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas affected by the restrictive measures except for vehicles and aircraft providing essential services and those carrying cargo. Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person and all intracity passenger vehicles such as trotros and taxis must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols. Additionally, all commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing.

He stressed that markets are to ensure social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols. In any event, only persons involved in the food value chain can operate in the markets during this period.

Akufo-Addo added that, individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions: members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages; environmental and sanitation activities; staff of VALCO, road and railway construction workers, mining workers, fisherfolk, members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties, staff of ECG, GWCL, telcos, e-commerce and digital service providers and staff of fuel stations.
The families of three men who were brutally murdered by a terror cell from the so-called Islamic State have said they are 'deeply concerned' about a ruling made by the UK's highest court.

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that it was unlawful for the UK Government to share evidence with the US authorities about El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey.

The pair, who were caught in January 2018, are accused of belonging to a brutal four-man cell of executioners in Syria, nicknamed The Beatles because of their British accents, responsible for killing 27 captives.

Their capture sparked an international row over whether they should be returned to the UK for trial or face justice in another jurisdiction - though the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is reviewing the case and may bring a prosecution.

In this March 30, 2019, file photo, Alexanda Amon Kotey, left, and El Shafee Elsheikh, who were allegedly among four British jihadis who made up a brutal Islamic State cell dubbed 'The Beatles,' speak during an interview at a security center in Kobani, Syria, Friday, March 30, 2018

In a joint statement released on Friday evening, the parents of three American men held captive before being beheaded by the cell said they wanted the accused killers to face justice in the US.

The statement read: 'We the parents of James Foley, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, and Steven Sotloff ... are deeply concerned about this week's United Kingdom Supreme Court ruling.

'The decision ... has serious implications for accountability for their brutal crimes against our children.

'We want Kotey and Elsheikh to be forced to face their crimes in front of a US Federal Criminal Court under Article III of our Constitution.

In this November 2012 file photo, posted on the website freejamesfoley.org, American journalist James Foley is pictured while covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria. In a horrifying act of revenge for US airstrikes in northern Iraq, militants with the Islamic State extremist group beheaded Foley

American journalist Steven Sotloff, left, and aid worker Abdul-Rahman (Peter) Kassig (right) were executed by ISIS during their campaign of terror across Syria and Iraq

'Only this would hold them fully accountable for the horrific acts they have committed against our sons.'

The statement, issued by the James W Foley Legacy Foundation on behalf Diane and John Foley, Ed Kassig and Rhonda Schwindt, and Shirley Pulwer and Arthur Sotloff, urged co-operation between the UK and US to ensure the pair will be tried in America.

It continued: 'We implore both UK and the US to work together to ensure that these men are prosecuted before a US Federal Criminal Court to the fullest extent of the law.

File photo of the UK Supreme Court in London on Friday. The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that it was unlawful for the UK Government to share evidence with the US authorities about El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey

In this June 19, 2019 file photo, Diane Foley, mother of journalist James Foley, who was killed by the Islamic State terrorist group in a graphic video released online, speaks in an interview in Washington

'Only this will fulfil our commitment as nations to truth, justice and accountability, and demonstrate our resolute adherence to the rule of law, a principle upon which all democracies are built, and the foundations for which criminal organisations like IS will be defeated.'

On Wednesday, a panel of seven justices ruled that then-home secretary Sajid Javid's decision to share evidence with the US was unlawful and was made at a time when when UK authorities were coming under 'political pressure from the US'.

They also said that the pair may face trial in this country following a reconsideration of the case by the CPS.

Elsheikh's mother, Maha Elgizouli, brought a challenge to Mr Javid's decision to share evidence with American authorities without seeking assurances the men would not be executed if convicted in the US.

A Kurdish security officer escorts Alexanda Amon Kotey, left, and El Shafee Elsheikh, who were allegedly among four British jihadis who made up a brutal Islamic State cell dubbed 'The Beatles,' for an interview with The Associated Press at a security center in Kobani, Syria, Friday, March 30, 2018

Ed Kassig (right) and Paula Kassig (left) speak to the media about the recent execution of their son Peter Kassig by ISIL forces on November 17, 2014 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kassig was a US aid worker and former Army Ranger, and was executed after being held hostage for over a year by ISIL

Conservative MP and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid (right) stands in Westminster, central London on March 2, 2020

Her case was dismissed by the High Court in January last year, but her appeal was unanimously allowed by the Supreme Court justices.

Announcing the court's decision, Lord Kerr said the decision was 'based on political expediency, rather than strict necessity' under the statutory criteria.

The Home Office said in a statement that it was 'disappointed' with the ruling, adding: 'The Government's priority has always been to maintain national security and to deliver justice for the victims and their families. This has not changed.'

In June 2018, Mr Javid authorised the sharing of 600 witness statements gathered by the Metropolitan Police under a 'mutual legal assistance' agreement in a letter to then-US attorney general Jeff Sessions.

Mr Javid faced intense criticism after the letter to Mr Sessions was leaked, with MPs accusing him of breaching the UK's long-standing opposition to the death penalty.

An undated photo shows the parents of Steven Sotloff speaking out after Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi's death at the hands of US Special Forces

Then-prime minister Theresa May supported Mr Javid's original decision, which was also backed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was foreign secretary.

Kotey and Elsheikh, who were raised in the UK but have been stripped of their British citizenship, were captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces in January 2018.

At a hearing last July, Ms Elgizouli's lawyers said a response by the Director of Public Prosecutions to a separate legal challenge indicated that there is enough evidence for them to face trial in the UK.

The Supreme Court was told there was a 'historical decision in February 2016' by the CPS that there was enough evidence to charge Kotey with five offences of murder and eight of hostage taking, and to prosecute Elsheikh for membership of a terrorist organisation.

Combination picture shows Alexanda Kotey and Shafee Elsheikh, who the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claim are British nationals, in these undated handout pictures in Amouda, Syria released February 9, 2018

The CPS concluded there was 'insufficient evidence' to prosecute them in the UK, but is now understood to be reconsidering the decision now they are in US custody and no longer with Syrian forces.

They are said to have been members of the cell that also included Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015, and Aine Davis, who has been jailed in Turkey.

Emwazi appeared in a number of videos in which hostages, including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, were killed.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh



Koshyari on Saturday directed the government machinery to stop people from entering the state from other parts of the country or vice versa during the ongoing lockdown.

He held talks with the six divisional commissioners in the state- Nagpur, Amravati, Nashik, Pune, Konkan and Aurangabad- via video-conferencing to take stock of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Taking into account the rising incidents of migrant workers leaving Maharashtra for their native places during the lockdown, the governor asked the divisional commissioners to direct the district collectors to stop such people from moving out of the state and stay put wherever they are, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

He asked the authorities to make announcements in all major cities and industrial townships to urge the people to stay wherever they are right now.

People should be informed about the steps being taken for their accommodation and food by the government and non- governmental organisations, Koshyari told the officials.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The message is simple - stay home.

The practice, in some instances, is anything but.

In times of turmoil, people turn to their loved ones for support.

My mother is currently lying in a bed in the intensive care unit at a Monash hospital.

I haven't seen her in weeks.
By Jeffrey Dastin

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp on Friday said it would sell its stake in AnyVision, an Israeli facial recognition startup, and said it no longer would make minority investments in companies that sell the controversial technology.

The decision marks a policy change for the Redmond, Washington-based software maker, which has aimed to shape how the technology industry approaches facial recognition. Microsoft has laid out principles to guide its own development of the technology, saying it should perform without bias and must not impinge on democratic freedoms.

Civil liberties groups have said police use of facial recognition could lead to unfair, arbitrary arrests and limit freedom of expression.

Microsoft came under scrutiny last summer for participating in a $74 million funding round for AnyVision, which critics said contradicted the company's principles.

AnyVision, based outside Tel Aviv, came under scrutiny following media reports that its technology was used to surveil Palestinians who lived in the occupied West Bank. Microsoft later hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and a team from Covington & Burling to investigate the claims.

The law firm found that AnyVision's technology was in use at checkpoints in border crossings between Israel and the West Bank - as the startup had said - but that it had not fueled a mass surveillance program there, according to a copy of the audit's findings posted on the website of M12, Microsoft's venture fund.

Even so, Microsoft said that as a result of the probe it decided to exit the business of investing in facial recognition startups altogether.

"For Microsoft, the audit process reinforced the challenges of being a minority investor in a company that sells sensitive technology, since such investments do not generally allow for the level of oversight or control that Microsoft exercises over the use of its own technology," Microsoft and AnyVision said in a joint statement posted on M12's website.

Story continues

Microsoft did not have a timeline to share for when the divestment will occur and who will buy its stake, a spokesman said. It was not immediately clear if other M12 investments were impacted by the policy change.

AnyVision did not immediately comment.

While Microsoft has turned down some facial recognition sales on human rights grounds, such as declining a deal for the capital city of a country that nonprofit Freedom House said was not free, it continues to develop the software for other commercial and public sector uses.

Microsoft said there was no change to its internal work on facial recognition.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco and Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio and Leslie Adler)
FLINT, MI  A health care worker in the Genesee County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19.

Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson said he learned of the on-call Corizon Correctional Healthcare employees positive testing at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

The employee worked at the jail on March 16 and again on March 23, the sheriff said.

Our screening process and sanitation protocol will continue to identify any other pre-existing symptoms of our staff, volunteers, and vendors, the sheriff said.

The afflicted person is now resting at home with mild symptoms, Swanson said.

My hope is that our screening, cleaning, sanitizing and distancing protocol will ward off any more cases for both staff and inmates, said Swanson.

Genesee County has had 91 of the states 3,657 positive coronavirus cases as of Friday. Of the 92 coronavirus-related deaths in Michigan, four are Genesee County residents.

Related:

Genesee County Jail, Flint City Lockup implement new screening measures due to coronavirus

Michigan prisons may take visitors temperature as part of new coronavirus screening plan

www.mlive.com/coronavirus

Hospitals need more supplies to process COVID-19 tests, get results

Bay City woman with coronavirus: Save yourself and save others health as well'
A senior official of Irans Ministry of Cultural Heritage has said that the cotronavirus epidemic will cost $200 million to the countrys tourism industry in three months.

Mr. Vali Taymuri, the ministrys deputy in charge of tourism, told the official IRNA news website on March 28 the government has tried to help hotels by cancelling their insurance and utility bills, but it cannot prevent layoffs.

He did not say how many workers have lost their jobs in the tourism sector.

Although tourism from Western countries was limited before the epidemic, many people and especially pilgrims from neighboring countries visited Iran in recent years.

Iran had 7.8 million tourists from March 21, 2018 to March 20, 2019 with 93 percent from regional countries, the majority coming from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the airlines association told ILNA the coronavirus crisis will cost $200 million in damages to Irans airline industry until early April.

He said domestic flights have been reduced by 90 percent and three airlines have completely stopped flying. He added that he has no information about layoffs, but if the current situation lingers on airlines will be forced to reduce their workforce.

Iran has been hit hard by the epidemic, with tens of thousands infected and more than 3,000 dead.
Iran, already struggling to fight the growing spread of novel coronavirus, is now coming to grips with an alcohol poisoning problem that has killed hundreds of people this year.

In the wake of the deaths, officials initially blamed misinformation on social media for convincing victims that drinking alcohol could protect them against coronavirus. But a change in explanation from doctors is opening eyes to a larger problem of bootleg alcohol in the country.

MORE: Iran rejects coronavirus aid amid conspiracy theories and sanctions

"The first few days we all thought patients had drunken alcohol to protect themselves of corona, as some of them claimed so," Gholam Hosein Mohebbi, head of the public relation of Imam Hospital of Ahwaz, told ABC News.

"But later we realized from their families and friends that they were mostly alcohol users who would get their alcohol from bootleggers, but this time what they had been handed over was a methanol-based drink, not their usual booze, named araq, mixed with water and ethanol," he added.

Trading and drinking alcohol is illegal in Iran, and those seeking alcoholic drinks often rely on a chain of black market dealers without knowing where and how the drinks are produced. The dealers themselves are often not sure of the source of the alcohol.

PHOTO: Members of firefighters wear protective face masks, amid fear of coronavirus disease, as they disinfect the streets, ahead of the Iranian New Year Nowruz, March 20, in Tehran, Iran March 18, 2020. (Wana News Agency via Reuters)

"One of those [who] died of poisoning in our hospital was an alcohol dealer," Mohebbi said, cautioning people not to trust anyone selling alcoholic drinks and pleading on behalf of a medical staff already overwhelmed with coronavirus infections.

At least 2,197 people have been poisoned by alcohol across the country since the first reported cases of coronavirus in early February and 244 had died as of Sunday, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Iran is already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic; it is the hardest hit country in the Middle East.

The country has an official death toll of 2,378 from 32,332 infection cases, the spokesman of the health ministry, Kianoush Jahanpour, said on Friday, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.

Story continues

The rising number of poisoning casualties alarmed other alcohol users to avoid trusting their former dealers.

"People are afraid of buying booze from their dealers," said a 29-year old student who did not want his name to be mentioned for security reasons. He lives in Ahwaz, the capital of the province of Khuzastan, which ranks second in the number of alcohol poisoning casualties. The shortage and increasing price of ethanol has led some producers to end up adding poisonous methanol to the drinks instead of drinkable ethanol, he believes.

"My friend has started making alcohol at home after he lost a friend to poisoning earlier this month," he added.

However, making alcohol at home can also be dangerous.

"If you are unfamiliar with the process, you might end up poisoning your own stuff with a minor mistake. That's why I can't trust his first products," the student said. He said he rejected his friend's invitation to a drink at his place.

"I said no, but can't stop thinking about him as he is an alcoholic and can't just quit easily, especially now with so much free time he has under quarantine," he added.

PHOTO: Members of Iranian Red Crescent test people with possible coronavirus COVID-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway to check every car following ordered by the Iranian government, outside Tehran on March 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Mohebbi expressed his concerns about people with alcohol problems, too.

"We know that those who have alcohol problem[s] have a tough time, but it is banned in our religion. I hope they try to stop drinking at least for now," Mohebbi said.

MORE: As Iranian New Year begins, fear of new wave of coronavirus cases emerges

Despite the illegality of drinking alcohol, those who are poisoned and taken to the hospital are not being prosecuted or arrested, Mohebbi emphasized.

"As medical staff, we are loyal to our duty, which is treating everyone. It doesn't matter if a patient is poisoned by alcohol or is infected by corona," he said. However, to reach the main sources of methanol contamination, police ask questions from the patients.

"Police does not pressure the patients at all. They just try to gain as much information as they can to find the source and prevent more casualties," Mohebbi said.

Iran confronts deadly alcohol crisis in midst of dealing with coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Light snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low around -7C. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%..

Tonight

Light snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low around -12C. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%.
Those who found 1917 the wrong kind of harrowing  the fun kind  will surely experience the Russian drama Beanpole a different way. Making its Chicago premiere Friday at the Gene Siskel Film Center, its a striking reminder that the variety of war stories can and must be as varied as the human history marked by war itself. And the stories of returning and making sense of home, whatever it looks like, tell the often neglected chapter of that history.
Srinagar, March 28 : Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Altaf Bukhari on Saturday demanded immediate evacuation of J&K residents, including students and labourers staying away from their homes within and outside the country.

In a statement issued here, Bukhari urged the government to take urgent measures in order to ensure availability of food, shelter and medicines to such stranded J&K residents, including students and labourers who are stuck in different parts of the country amid COVID-19 lockdown.

"I appeal to the Union government to take concrete measures for their safe evacuation and till then, make all arrangements through the receptive state governments for their shelter and sustenance," Bukhari said.

He said hundreds of students, traders, especially dealing in handicrafts, and labourers from J&K are stranded in different parts of the country including Goa, Kolkata, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Mumbai, Punjab, Uttrakhand and Hyderabad who have sent distress calls to their families.

"I am told that most of these stranded students and labourers are facing immense difficulties, including shortage of money due to the lockdown. The Central government must take concrete measures to address their woes," Bukhari said.

The JKAP President said if the evacuation of J&K's stranded students, traders and labourers from the rest of the country and outside is not possible at the moment due to the unprecedented situation, the minimum the government could do is to reach out to them with the help of respective state governments and embassies in different parts of the world wherever such people are stranded.
With the announcement of several new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state Saturday, Nebraska has topped 100 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

A "dramatic" increase in testing has pushed the number of confirmed cases higher over the past few days, according to Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department.

"We have been anticipating this as testing has greatly expanded," she said after the department reported 10 new confirmed cases of coronavirus Saturday.

Nebraska Medicine, the Nebraska Public Health Lab, as well as CHI and private labs outside the health system, have all increased testing capacity.

"This knowledge will allow us to better respond to the outbreak," Pour added.

Washington County reported three new cases Saturday  people all in their 80s and residents of the Carter Place senior living home in Blair, which has now had five residents test positive. Dodge, Gosper, Madison and Buffalo counties also each reported one new case Saturday.

As of 6 p.m., the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said there were 108 confirmed cases in the state.

But while the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, there were no more reported deaths as of Saturday evening after two deaths were reported Friday.

A 59-year-old Omaha man who died at his home Tuesday from COVID-19 became the first recorded death in Nebraska because of the coronavirus, his son wrote in a Facebook post Friday.

Ralph Marasco, a longtime realtor in Omaha, died from what was initially thought to be heart disease, his son Nico Marasco said, but was later determined to be the coronavirus.

Nico Marasco urged others who may have had contact with his dad to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and self-quarantine for 14 days.

Douglas County health officials, in confirming the Omaha man's death, said he suffered from "serious underlying health conditions."

In Hall County, a woman described as being in her 60s with underlying health conditions, became Nebraska's second death in the global pandemic, health officials said.

There was no available information about the woman's identity Saturday.

Saturday evening, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department provided more details about the county's fourth confirmed case.

The case, reported Friday afternoon, is a man in his 30s who traveled to Colorado from March 6-8 and became symptomatic March 12. The health department said none of his identified contacts have symptoms.

The department said Saturday that it is monitoring 163 people because of their travel history or exposures. Lancaster County has now tested 219 people, with 215 negative.

Also Saturday, Gov. Pete Ricketts expanded the health measure to include Burt, Cuming, Madison, Stanton, Butler, Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Seward and York counties.

The health measure mandates a 10-person limit on public gatherings, a 6-foot separation between people in gatherings of fewer than 10 people, as well as the closing of bars and restaurants, while allowing those establishments to still offer takeout, drive-thru or curbside services.

Similar directed health measure restrictions were already in place in Lancaster, Saunders, Dodge, Douglas, Cass, Sarpy and Washington counties.

Earlier this month, Ricketts said a confirmed case of COVID-19 in which health officials are unable to trace its source would trigger the tightened restrictions.

Butler, Polk, Seward and York counties in the Four Corners Health Department were added to the directed health measure because they border counties where there is community spread of the coronavirus.

"To be clear, at this moment we still do NOT have any lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our District, but as cases of community spread are detected around us, it becomes more probable that it is here as well, but undetected," executive director Laura McDougall said in a statement.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS
Judas. When you hear that name it often brings a negative connotation. How many parents do you know are naming their sons Judas? To be called a Judas is an insult. It means you have turned your back on or betrayed a trusted ally, friend or relative. No one wants to be called or labeled a Judas.

However, like every other person in history there is a story to his life. There are hows to the life of Judas. For example, how did Judas become a disciple? How did he betray Jesus? How did Judas die? How did he get from being a trusted ally chosen by Jesus, to hanging from a tree, dying alone?

The answers to these questions are in the middle. Lets take what we know about Judas from the scriptures, and fill in the gap.

The Call of Judas

There is not much background given to Judas life within the gospels. What we do know is that he is often referred to as Judas Iscariot (Luke 6:16) or Judas, son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71). Iscariot is derived originally from a Hebrew word ishq'riyoth which means man of Kerioth, which was a city located in Palestine. Another way of thinking of his name would be to say Judas a man from Kerioth.

Interesting enough, his name  Judas  is derived from the Hebrew Judah, which means praise or let God be praised. This is fascinating when you consider the direction and shape his life took.

Like every other disciple, Judas was called and chosen by Jesus. Whats makes Judas choosing so remarkable is that Jesus chose him after a season of intense prayer. Luke 6:12-13 reads:

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.

The names of the apostles are listed and in verse 16 we read - Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor, listed among them.

Judas was chosen and was made to be one of the original apostles by Jesus himself. You might be wondering why Jesus, being God and knowing all things, would choose his own betrayer? The answer is to fulfill what was prophesied in Psalm 41:9, Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

Jesus refers to this prophecy in John 13:18, I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: He who shared my bread has turned against me. In essence, Jesus had to choose Judas in order to fulfill the word of God spoken before.

Judas Role as a Disciple

Judas was the treasurer of the group; he was in charge of the money. Unfortunately, we also know that he was not a man of character. The Bible calls him a thief. In John 12 Jesus is having dinner at the home of Lazarus, not too long after he raised him from the dead. Mary anoints Jesus feet with an expensive bottle of perfume. Judas however had an interesting response to this event:

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, Why wasnt this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a years wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it (John 12:4-6).

Judas was not only a betrayer but also a thief. He did not have great character even though he was chosen by Jesus. So often when he was mentioned in the gospels he had a tag line  the one who was going to betray him. This was his destiny all along.

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

As we consider the scriptures there seems to be two driving forces behind Judas betrayal of Jesus.

1. Personal Gain  Consider Matthew 26:14-16

Then one of the Twelvethe one called Judas Iscariotwent to the chief priests and asked, What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you? So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

We already know Judas was a thief and he liked dipping into the money bag. His desire to betray Jesus flowed out of a desire to get something. We can make a reasonable assumption he wanted money because he was a thief, but maybe it was something else.

What we learn from Matthews gospel is that Judas initiated the conversation of how to betray Jesus. Its true the chief priests were looking for a way to kill Jesus. Judas simply became the open door to allow them to pursue this course of action.

2. Satan  Consider Luke 22:1-4

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

We learn from this Scripture that beyond personal gain there was direct influence from Satan. This influence moved Judas to pursue the actual betrayal of Jesus. Simply put, Judas, under the influence of Satan, entered into agreement with the chief priests to hand over Jesus at the right time.

So, a combination of influence and personal gain, thirty pieces of silver, led to Judas betraying Jesus.

How Did Judas Die?

We have seen glimpses into how he lived, but how did Judas die? Eventually Judas followed through and handed Jesus over to the chief priests. What happened after that? Matthews gospel give us the answer

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us? they replied. Thats your responsibility. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:1-5).

We dont know the exact time, but it could be that Judas hanged himself before Jesus was crucified. Regardless of when this happened, the end result of Judas betrayal was remorse and eventually death. The money he received was used to buy the potters field, which they called the Field of Blood. Yet the question of how did Judas die doesnt quite end there. You must also consider Acts 1:18-19:

With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.

How do we reconcile these two accounts? To help bring this picture into full perspective I give you a quote from the Tony Evans Bible Commentary on these verses:

Realizing that he had sinned by betraying Jesusbut unwilling to repentJudas threw the money he received from the chief priests into the temple and hanged himself  Refusing to take back Judas blood money the chief priests used it to buy the field in which Judas hanged himself. There, Judass decaying body eventually fell and burst open and his intestine spilled out.

What Can We Learn from Judas Life?

There are two key lessons I want you to take from Judas life

1. There may be wolves among the sheep.

There are some people who are hanging around Jesus not because they love him or have a heart to serve him but because of what they can get from being around him. For Judas, it was the opportunity to steal money and maybe more.

For others it could be prestige, popularity, money or some type of gain. Paul warns of this in 1 Timothy 6 where some see godliness as a means for financial gains. If it happened to Jesus, it could happen in your church too  and yes even to you as well. I am not calling everyone a wolf, but be aware they do exist.

2. Sin will always bring remorse.

Judas eventually felt remorse for betraying Jesus. There is no record in Scripture of him repenting, but he did feel bad for what he did. This will be the reality for everyone who dies in sin. They may not recognize it now but eventually they will.

If you remember the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), he eventually regretted the choices he made. Anyone who chooses to reject Christ in this life will at some point, either in this life or in eternity, regret the decision they have made.

And Now to You

We have answered the question how did Judas live? We have also answered the question how did Judas die? The question now turns to you. How will you live? As I said at the beginning, no one wants to be a Judas. So  dont be one. Live a life fully devoted and committed to Christ. Love him and serve him not because of the things he can and often will do for you. Love him and serve him because of who he is. I encourage you to live your life for Christ to the fullest and be everything he wants you to be. No betrayals and no turning back.

Photo credit: Getty Images/gabrielabertolini
STOCKHOLM  When the coronavirus swept into the Scandinavian countries, Norway and Denmark scrambled to place extensive restrictions on their borders to stem the outbreak. Sweden, their neighbor, took a decidedly different path.

While Denmark and Norway closed their borders, restaurants and ski slopes and told all students to stay home this month, Sweden shut only its high schools and colleges, kept its preschools, grade schools, pubs, restaurants and borders open  and put no limits on the slopes.

In fact, Sweden has stayed open for business while other nations beyond Scandinavia have attacked the outbreak with various measures ambitious in their scope and reach. Swedens approach has raised questions about whether its gambling with a disease, Covid-19, that has no cure or vaccine, or if its tactic will be seen as a savvy strategy to fight a scourge that has laid waste to millions of jobs and prompted global lockdowns unprecedented in peacetime.
A driver was pulled over by fake cops (not pictured) (Picture: Getty)

A female driver has been pulled over by fake police officers who tried to issue a 60 fine for unnecessary travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The carer was driving through Brandesburton, East Yorkshire, on Friday, at around 9.30am when two men signalled for her to stop.

The scammers, dressed in black zip-up hoodies, carrying walkie-talkies and wearing earpieces, demanded the woman pay an on-the-spot penalty in cash.

She refused to pay 60 and drove off.

Read more: Council workers spat on and sworn at during coronavirus pandemic

Humberside Police have confirmed they are not stopping vehicles in relation to Covid-19 (Picture: Getty)

Humberside Police later confirmed it was not stopping vehicles in relation to Covid-19.

Chief Superintendent Darren Downs said: I would like to make clear that our current approach to new legislation and powers does not involve routinely stopping any vehicles to enquire where people are driving to and if its an essential journey.

In our general day to day policing role, we do stop vehicles where there is a reason to do so, for instance driving erratically, speeding or without due care or attention, and this will continue.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area

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However, there are no checkpoints or stop areas in place and drivers will not be pulled over by officers to just ask where they are going, unless it is in response to a specific event, for example we see or become aware of a number of vehicles that are travelling to a mass gathering.

Our approach to policing the new rules is around engagement with the public as opposed to enforcement, and with any of the powers, we will always try to talk to people first and explain the situation, to encourage individuals to adhere to the Governments guidance.

Read more: Woman who exhaled on police officer after claiming to have coronavirus admits assault

CS Downs added: Please be aware and alert to anyone who may attempt to take advantage of these unprecedented times we find ourselves in.

Story continues

We know the majority of people are all pulling together, however there will always be a small number of people who choose to exploit situations, and we will take strong action against them.

This comes as the government has handed police unprecedented powers in a bid to curb the spread of the killer virus.

Introduced on Thursday with immediate effect, the new powers allow enforcement officers to disperse groups using reasonable force and arrest those who fail to comply.

Those who ignore the tougher restrictions could be hit with a 60 fine and 120 if they re-offend.
Artists and musicians around the world are turning to the world wide web to keep in touch and to lift the spirits in these unprecedented times.

From streaming concerts and performances to hosting virtual exhibitions, local artists and musicians have been joining this virtual community in a bid to combat social isolation and provide solace to their audiences.

Dundalk folk outfit The Mary Walllopers even set up a bar in their home so that viewers could enjoy an authentic Irish session on St Patrick's Day.

They ended up playing to an audience of thousands who tuned in to see them play on Tuesday evening, with people sharing photos on line of their families dancing and playing along with their session.

'It was brilliant,' says Charles Hendry, who along with his brother Andrew and Sean McKenna, make up the three-piece.

He explains that they decided to play a gig from the sitting room of their rented house after a number of live concerts which they were due to play were called off due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

'We were supposed to be playing in Germany on March 13 and 14 and then flying to London after the second gig to play to a gig in Trafalgar Square to 10,000 people for the London Irish Centre, and on St Patrick's night we were supposed to be playing support to Lanklum in the Cork Opera House. We also had a gig in Belfast the following night with out other band TPM, with gigs in April being pushed back to August.'

Once the gigs were cancelled they came up with the idea of hosting a virtual session from their home, even going to the trouble of setting up a bar in their sitting room.

Using pallets and posters, they captured the atmosphere of an Irish bar and after spreading the word on social media that they would be playing live on St Patrick's evening from 8pm, the launched their virtual gig.

'It went really great,' says Charles. 'We got loads of videos from people around the world who were watching the gig, with people dancing in front of the telly and another one with someone's Dad playing the tin whistle.'

'The highest number of people on the stream was 3,500 and everyone seemed to love it.'

Since then, over 25,000 people have viewed the gig on YouTube.

'It was really heart-warming to see people watching the gig and feeling that they were celebrating St Patrick's Day. It's important for people to have some craic and not all doom and gloom.'

Charles says the band are hoping to live stream more gigs in the coming weeks.

'We love playing live and doing the gig felt normal.'

And at the prompting of fans, they included a link where people could make a donation, as they have lost out on earnings from the cancelled gigs.

Traditional musicians Zoe Conway and John McIntyre also shared a video of them playing in their Cooley home on St Patrick's Day which has been viewed over 10,000 times.

Visual artists have been also being using social media to create virtual exhibitions and galleries. The local AXE (Art as Exchange) collective have been posting images created by members each day on Facebook and Instagram while local artists Petra Berntsson and Adrienne Finnerty are among the artists contributing to the Art in Lockdown virtual exhibition.

'From the safety and comfort of your own home, we will present a piece of art from each of the 20 participating artists at 6 p.m. daily. We all need something uplifting to see these day,' say the organisers.
Thirty-three medical professionals who landed at Sydney Airport on a flight from South America on Friday night disobeyed orders to go into quarantine at an airport hotel and instead headed to the domestic terminal to fly home, police say.

Police Minister David Elliott said he was "disappointed to hear medical professionals chose to ignore rules in place to save lives and protect the most vulnerable in our community". "No one is above the law," Mr Elliott said.

Australian Federal Police at the International Airport Rydges Hotel, one of 10-15 hotels that will be used for mandatory quarantine. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

A NSW Police spokesperson said police officers assisted with health screening and NSW Health told a number of passengers to go into quarantine at designated hotels in Sydney. When police returned a short time later to serve public health orders, they found 33 of the quarantined passengers had left.

The spokesperson said the Australian Federal Police managed to locate six of the 33 in the domestic terminal and send them back to quarantine. But the remaining 27 were believed to have already departed interstate.
A Covid-19 testing centre is opened opposite the Mater Hospital in the Crumlin Road Health Centre

A motorist is checked by NHS staff at the drive through Covid-19 testing facility on the Crumlin Road near the Mater Hospital in north Belfast. Photo by Peter Morrison

Two more people have died as a result of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland with confirmed cases passing the 300 mark.

On Saturday the Public Health Agency announced that 49 new cases were confirmed in Northern Ireland, bringing the total to 324. From Friday 272 people were tested for the virus.

It is the biggest daily increase in cases to date. The death toll in Northern Ireland now stands at 15.

The death toll for the whole of the UK has risen by 260 to 1,019, by far the biggest day-on-day rise in the number of deaths since the outbreak began.

Fourteen more people have died in the Republic of Ireland, taking the countrys death toll to 36.

There are 294 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country, with 2,415 cases in total.

Read More

On Saturday PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd reminded the public of the guidelines around public gatherings.

Police received reports of people gathering in Co Down on Tyrella and Murlough beaches and in Newcastle town centre.

"The public should be well aware of the advice from our public health partners and the Government about social distancing and movement and, on that basis, we would encourage people not to drive to local beauty spots for their daily exercise as others may have the same idea and social distancing may not be achievable," the Assistant Chief Constable said.

Meanwhile, updated guidelines on which businesses are deemed essential and non-essential have been published by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Read More

Economy Minister Diane Dodds and Health Minister Robin Swann have urged companies to prioritise the safety of their staff.

Mrs Dodds confirmed that she will establish a workplace safety engagement forum. It will include a broad range of stakeholders including local businesses, PHA, HSE, trade unions, councils and government.

I am pleased to confirm that we are establishing an engagement forum - comprising key stakeholders and chaired by the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) - to discuss and review workplace safety and act as arbiter in any disputes. By working better together we can keep the workplace safe," she said.

UUP MLA Mr Swann issued a warning to companies still ignoring the guidelines.

I want to thank all those companies who are doing the right thing and have the right measures in place. To those who are dragging their feet, I have to tell them that the time for excuses is long past, he said.

On Friday Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both revealed they had tested positive for coronavirus.

England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has confirmed he is also displaying symptoms.

Speaking at the UK Government's daily coronavirus press briefing on Saturday Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the Prime Minister is showing only "mild symptoms" of coronavirus.

He said: "He continues to lead the Government's effort in combating Covid-19, this morning he held a video conference call and he will continue to lead right from the front on this."

Here's how Saturday unfolded:
President Akufo-Addo has imposed a two-week partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi from Monday, March 30, 2020, beginning 1am.

These cities, which have been identified as the epicentres of the novel coronavirus in Ghana have been shut down as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Ghana currently has a total number of 137 recorded cases, with four deaths and two recoveries.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, in a national address on Friday, March 27, 2020 stated that, effective 1 am on Monday, 30th March, some forty-eight hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks, subject to review.

He said the decision will give us the opportunity to try to halt the spread of the virus, and scale-up effectively contact tracing of persons who have come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and, if necessary, quarantine and isolate them for treatment, should they prove to have the virus.

He, however, made exemptions to this directive. Some essential service providers will not be forced to lock down.

The list of services to be exempted from the restrictions as announced by President Akufo-Addo are as follows:

Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary;

Production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages.

Environmental and sanitation activities;

VALCO staff

Road and Railway construction workers;

Mining workers;

Fisherfolk;

Members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties;

The staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; and

Fuel stations staff.

The Minister of Information subsequently took to Twitter to explain that journalist are also part of those exempted from the restrictions.

Full list of affected areas

In Greater Accra, the following areas will be affected:

1. Accra Metropolis;

2. Tema Metropolis;

3. Tema West Municipality;

4. Ledzokuku Municipality;

5. Krowor Municipality;

6. Adentan Municipality;

7. Ashiaman Municipality;

8. La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality;

9. La-Dade-Kotopon Municipality;

10. Okaikwei North Municipality;

11. Ablekuma North Municipality;

12. Ablekuma West Municipality;

13. Ablekuma Central Municipality;

14. Ayawaso East Municipality;

15. Ayawaso North Municipality;

16. Ayawaso West Municipality;

17. Ayawaso Central Municipality

18. Ga West Municipality;

19. Ga North Municipality;

20. Ga Central Municipality;

21. Ga South Municipality;

22. Ga East Municipality;

23. Korle-Klottey Municipality;

24. Weija/Gbawe Municipality;

25. Kpone Katamanso Municipality; and

26. Awutu Senya East Municipality.

In the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, the following areas are affected:

1. Kumasi Metropolis;

2. Asokwa Municipality;

3. Suame Municipality;

4. Old Tafo Municipality;

5. Oforikrom Municipality;

6. Asokore Mampong Municipality;

7. Kwadaso Municipality;

8. Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality;

9. Kwabre East Municipality;

10. Ejisu Municipality;

11. Afigya-Kwabre South District;

12. Bosomtwi District;

13. Atwima Kwanwoma District; and

14. Atwima Nwabiagya North District.

----citinewsroom
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday evening, and took stock of the situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ministers assured the state government of the Centres cooperation in dealing with the disease.

According to a senior Trinamool Congress minister, PM Modi and Banerjee spoke for about 10 minutes.

The chief minister told the prime minister that the state should be allowed to borrow 5 percent of the states gross domestic product, instead of the present ceiling of 3 percent, to deal with the pandemic. The PM didnt give any assurance though, a senior TMC minister, who had knowledge of the conversation said, requesting anonymity.

Later, Shah told Banerjee that the Centre was ready to provide the state with paramilitary and reserve police forces to enforce the lockdown.

The Union government has entrusted a cabinet minister for each state and Jaishankar is responsible for West Bengal.

According to a senior minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet who did not want to be identified, Jaishankar had recently spoken to a few district magistrates over the phone. Banerjee, during her conversation with the foreign minister on Friday, suggested that Jaishankar should speak to the chief secretary instead of district magistrates.

Bengal has so far recorded 15 cases of Covid-19 positive patients. One of them, a 57-year-old man, has died, and another patient, a 66-year-old man, has been kept under life support at a private hospital.

Ajay Chakraborty, state director of health services, has said Bengal has not recorded any case of community transmission of coronavirus as of Friday.
Mayor Domenic Sarno has requested 75 National Guard personnel to aid Springfield police officers as the force feels the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. But even before the National Guard gets here the Massachusetts State Police will be joining Springfield officers patrolling the streets of the city.

Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood announced that nine State Police troopers, three per shift, will be deployed to complement the citys law enforcement operations.

Clapprood said Springfield Police Department forces are getting stretched thin due to the virus. As of Friday, 20 police officers are taking time off due to the virus. Twelve are awaiting test results and the five to six-day wait period for results is the wrench in the works, Classprood said.

I bug everybody every day, she said. The problem is the results. I have a dozen officers that were tested earlier in the week. We are in a holding pattern.

Sarno thanked Clapprood, State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Mason and Governor Charlie Baker for their cooperation during difficult times.

This addition will augment and supplement our local police operations as we continue to initiate proactive measures to stay ahead of this ongoing COVID-19 situation, he said.

 Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts

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Medical staff go into the quarantine area at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi's Dong Anh District, March 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

Five more Covid-19 cases, three related to Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital and two returnees from abroad, have raised Vietnams tally to 174.

"Patient 170" is a 27-year-old man living in Kim Son District in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Early this month he worked on a plaster ceiling at a new urban area in Hanois Gia Lam District. He came into direct contact with four people and a construction supervisor. He then had no symptom.

On March 14-15, he went home as his father was ill. He stayed at home and did not go out at this time. On March 20, he and two of his uncles hired a car to take his father from the Ninh Binh General Hospital in Ninh Binh to the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

Around midnight the same day, his father was taken to the emergency department of the hospital. The man and his father stayed in the area for one hour and a half to two hours. Then, his father was transferred to the gastroenterology department on the third floor.

From March 20-22, he bought rice five times at counter No.1 of the Bach Mai Hospitals canteen. On March 22, he took a motorbike taxi from the hospital to the Giap Bat bus station. He got on the bus at 9:30 a.m. and arrived home at noon. That evening, he developed a fever (38.5 degrees Celsius) and was taken by his wife to the public hospital in Kim Son District the next (March 23) evening.

He tested positive for the novel coronavirus for the first time on March 25 and the result was confirmed again Saturday.

"Patient 172" is a daughter-in-law of "Patient 133," a 66-year-old woman from Lai Chau Province in northern Vietnam who was confirmed positive on March 24 after getting a heart ailment treated at the Bach Mai Hospital for three weeks. She took care of her mother-in-law for 23 days. She is asymptomatic and is being monitored.

"Patient 174," who came into contact with many people as an employee of the Bach Mai Hospital canteen, developed high fever and a cough with white sputum two days ago, but had no runny nose or body ache.

So far, 12 infection cases have been linked to the Bach Mai Hospital, one of Vietnams largest. Earlier Saturday, the hospital suspended admitting new patients and has been isolated. Nearly 5,000 staff and patients at the hospital have been ordered to take Covid-19 tests.

The two remaining cases are those returning from abroad.

"Patient 171", a resident of District 10 in Ho Chi Minh City, is a student in the U.S. She flew to Vietnam and transited in the Philippines before landing March 13 at Tan Son Nhat airport. She was asymptomatic on arrival and has now been taken to the Cu Chi Hospital.

"Patient 173" is a woman lives and works in Moscow who returned home on March 2. She was transferred to an isolation area at the FPT University in Thach That District, Hanoi. After showing symptoms of high fever, cough and body ache, she was hospitalized.

The Health Ministry statement did not reveal the flight or test details of the two returnees.

Of Vietnam's 174 confirmed Covid-19 cases so far, 21 have been discharged after treatment, including three in Da Nang Friday and a British man in Hue on Saturday morning.

Many of the currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners coming from the same regions.

Starting March 22, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers and halted all international flights from March 25.

Only Vietnamese nationals and foreigners having diplomatic and official passports such as business managers, experts and high-skilled workers will be allowed to enter the country at this time, and all entrants will be quarantined for 14 days.

The Covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 27,200 people in 199 countries and territories.
Actor Amit Sadh is quarantining in the Himalayas, and how he got there is a story in itself. He was supposed to be in New York (US) around this time, but due to the coronavirus situation, he flew back the same day.

Sadh recalls, I always go there (New York) in summer. I had meetings lined up with a big casting agency, too. But as soon as I landed, my sister called and said, Get back on the same plane. So, I took the next flight to India. The situation then, around March 15, wasnt that bad. Since I had been reading a lot of material about this, I thought I should quarantine myself. Thats why I came to the hills.

The 36-year-old adds that he made it a point to not meet anyone after his return. Mumbai is under a lockdown now, but when I came back, everyone was still socialising. I felt it was not the time to do that. So, I came here, to Nainital. I never left my place here, says Sadh.

Also read: Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan were asked why they lived with parents. Here are their fierce replies

The one thing he rues is celebs posting their workout routines or videos online. Revealing that some of his friends asked him to do the same, he says, I posted on Instagram [about] my experience, so people know everybody is going through some degree of separation. You need to be compassionate... I got pissed seeing people and my friends saying, This is the time to laugh. I said, No, its not. Somebody said, Why not on fitness? I said no. Its not the time to show your life is rosy, or to preach. The world is posting gym workouts, as if weve been quarantined to train.

Elaborating more on how hes staying busy, he says, Ive always been on a lockdown, the way I live my life. I wake up, make tea, spend time with nature. I do one hour of mobility and stretching, then yoga. I tried writing something, but it was so bizarre. Then Im on social media for an hour to get a lowdown [on how things are], he signs off.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 02:33:25|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 24, 2020 shows beds at Espacio Riesco Convention Center in Santiago, capital of Chile.(Xinhua)

Noting that a COVID-19 vaccine is still at least 12 to 18 months away, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed an urgent need for therapeutics to treat patients and save lives.

GENEVA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed half a million with more than 20,000 deaths, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday, calling them "tragic numbers."

The situation dashboard by WHO showed a total of 509,164 coronavirus cases have been reported globally as of 10:00 CET Friday, as the virus spread to more than 200 countries and regions.

A healthcare worker takes a sample from a driver to test for possible COVID-19 infection at a drive-through test station in Iserlohn, Germany, on March 26, 2020.(Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)

The global death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 23,335.

Noting that a COVID-19 vaccine is still at least 12 to 18 months away, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed an urgent need for therapeutics to treat patients and save lives.

Speaking of the "Solidarity Trial," a multi-country clinical study for potential treatments for COVID-19, Tedros said it is a historic trial that will dramatically cut the time needed to generate robust evidence about what drugs work.

Romanian soldiers set up a military hospital for possible victims of COVID-19 epidemic in Otopeni, near Bucharest, Romania, March 19, 2020.(Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

Tedros announced that the first batch of patients in Norway and Spain will be shortly enrolled in the clinical study, which compares the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against the epidemic.

"The more countries who join the trial, the faster we will have results," Tedros said, noting more than 45 countries and regions are contributing to the trial while more have expressed interest.

A police car runs past Buckingham Palace in London, Britain on March 26, 2020.(Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)

Tedros, meanwhile, called on individuals and countries to refrain from using therapeutics that have not been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19.

Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows an Irish navy ship being transformed into a COVID-19 testing centre in Dublin, Ireland.(Xinhua)

"As the pandemic evolves and more countries are affected, we are learning more and more lessons about what works and what doesn't," Tedros said.

He underlined the necessity to follow the evidence, saying that there are no short-cuts.
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday held a review meeting to monitor the steps being taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh.

He also discussed reducing the relaxation time for the markets that are allowed to remain open from 6 am to 1 pm.

"Officials are of the opinion that the relaxation time may be reduced. As of now, markets and shops are allowed to remain open from 6 am to 1 pm," Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney informed, as per an official release.

"The Chief Minister has asked to check whether the vegetable markets and daily needs shops are adequate or not and then make a decision," he added.

Sawhney said that shelter will be provided to those coming from other states, at the state borders. "Those who will accept the 14 days' quarantine shall be permitted into the state," he added.

As per the release, Reddy has also ordered to allocate one doctor for every 10 persons who returned from foreign countries and a specialist should oversee all such doctors.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 873 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in the country and 19 fatalities have been reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The apps for Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple with the reflexion of a binary code are displayed on a tablet screen in Paris on April 20, 2018. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images)

Technology Companies to Fight Coronavirus, If We Allow Them

Commentary

As life has ground to a halt, Americans have shifted successfully to working remotely because of tools developed by technology companies.

About half of U.S. workers have jobs that could at least partially be done remotely, according to Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, The Chicago Tribune reported on March 16. A good share43% of workerstelecommute sometimes, but on average only two days a month, according to a 2016 Gallup survey. Just 3.8% work at home at least half the time, a share thats nearly tripled since 2006.

Anyone who is working from home appreciates the tools that Google, Apple, Amazon, Oracle, and others have developed and deployed to keep us connected.

Alphabets health subsidiary Verily is planning to launch a national coronavirus website later this week, the research firm CBInsights reported in a March 19 newsletter. Google is also working with other tech giants to help the government track the spread of the disease.

It goes without saying that we cant allow these companies to be diverted from this important work. Yet ongoing legal actions force them to take their eyes off the ball and spend their time on legal defense rather than operating on technological offense.

The problem started in the final hours of the Obama administration, when departing bureaucracy lawsuits against high-technology government contractors started flying.

These lawsuits, targeting Oracle, Google, and Palantir, were brought by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in the Department of Labor.

OFCCP is supposed to promote affirmative action in hiring by federal contractors. To file these suits, though, the agency relied on statistical analysis of hiring and promotion data. Statistical analyses by bureaucrats with one foot out the door  what could go wrong?

The Department of Labor lacks any authority under federal law to pursue the suits, which are nothing more than the sort of progressive legal activism that was popular under the liberal Obama administration. Lack of authority never stopped the Obama administration. The federal suits are ongoing, charging important companies with alleged discrimination.

Thats a nice way of labeling a company racist or misogynist.

A 2017 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce explains how the process works.

OFCCP starts by demanding that a government contractor provide enormous amounts of data in a short time frame. They also allow the employer to contest the matter before an administrative judge, who is an employee of the same agency requesting the documents. They end up asking for whatever they want ,with no real way to contest the scope of the request.

The Department of Labor has been known to bully employers by just setting dates for on-site investigations without allowing the employer to move the date, or contest the legal issues brought up by the inspection. Has anyone ever heard of a bullying government lawyer? They start with threatening reputation assassination and move on to draining you dry.

When the contractor falls short of these impossible demands, the agency can refuse to give it more time, and can sue, hoping the contractor will settle to make the suit go away. The process is completely one-sided and unfair.

The Chamber warns that the OFCCP has become an agency that appears to focus more on garnering splashy headlines and securing high-dollar settlements than it does simply pursuing its admirable, if at times, unglamorous mission.

It recommends that the agency return to its core mission of fostering true affirmative action by federal contractors and subcontractors; and, abandon its transformation to an opaque, plaintiff-style enforcement agency, purposefully hostile to the contracting community and singularly focused on issuing findings of discrimination, often where none exist.

The OFCCP and the Department of Labor arent going to give up this power. The Trump administration should have ended the legal proceedings back in January of 2017. Since that didnt happen, its up to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to play the starring role and end the suits now. He has every reason to stop the suits.

News service Axios reports that Facebook, Amazon, and Google all view their roles similarly: to keep existing products working even amid new demand, provide accurate information and fight misinformation, and to help in the broader fight against the coronavirus.

This is at a time when Americans are relying on these same companies for the delivery of products and technology for remote working and communications.

The U.S. government should be encouraging these companies to keep playing those roles. The government should stop pursuing frivolous legal action against them to allow them to focus on their important work. Our country cannot afford distractions.

I have a load of beefs with big tech, but right now, I say get out of their way.

Michael Daugherty is CEO of The Cyber Education Foundation and founder of The Justice Society. He is author of The Devil Inside the Beltway: The Shocking Expose of the US Governments Surveillance and Overreach Into Cyber-security, Medicine and Small Business.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Today, the Historians Day is celebrated around the world. On this day, congratulations are accepted by all those specialists whose activities are somehow related to the study and popularization of history. A historian is a specialist who is engaged in the study of documents and objects related to the past of mankind. As a rule, historians study certain areas of this science.

Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC, is considered the founder of the history science. He is also the author of the first historical work The Histories. In Greek mythology, Clio is the muse of history.

In the Middle Ages, scientific historians created chronicles in which special attention was paid to the glorification of the rulers and fathers of the church.

Nowadays, history is created by the efforts of historians, working in educational institutions and scientific institutes.

The team of Vestnik Kavkaza congratulates all historians on their professional holiday, especially teachers, students and post-graduate students of our partner, the Faculty of History of Moscow State University.
Hyderabad, March 28 : Six persons were killed when a truck carrying labourers back to their villages in Karnataka was rammed by a lorry on Outer Ring Road on Hyderabad outskirts early Saturday.

Six others were injured in the accident which occurred when 30 labourers, rendered jobless due to lockdown, were returning to their villages in Raichur district of Karnataka.

According to police, the truck carrying the labourers was rammed by another truck from rear near Pedda Golconda village in Ranga Reddy district.

The dead include driver of the truck and a girl. While five persons died on the spot a woman succumbed at government-run Osmania Hospital. Six injured were admitted to the hospital.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2020) - UGE International Ltd. (TSXV: UGE) (OTCQB: UGEIF) (the "Company" or "UGE"), a leader in commercial and community solar energy solutions, is pleased to announce that it has signed three agreements to develop, build, and finance solar projects, including the Company's largest US project in its history.

First, UGE signed a 6.6MW project in Westchester, NY. The project, on a well-known corporate campus, will take advantage of New York's community solar program by feeding energy into the grid and providing energy credits to community solar subscribers at a discounted rate. The project is approximately 12-15 times the size of UGE's average project and, when completed, will produce power for an estimated 1,000 homes for the duration of the system's lifetime. UGE has also reserved the option with the utility to couple the solar system with battery storage, which would provide a further boost to project revenue and returns.

Second, UGE signed a nine-site portfolio in New York City for a repeat client. The 1.7MW project portfolio will lease the rooftops of the buildings on which UGE will install solar systems. The projects will utilize the same community solar subscription program as described above, offering New York City residents an opportunity to save on their energy bills through solar energy.

Third, UGE signed an agreement to develop, build, and finance a community solar project in Maine. The project is expected to have a rated capacity of 1.1MW and will feed its energy directly into the grid as part of the state's solar net metering framework. In the past six months, Maine has become a top community solar market and UGE has affirmed itself as a leading market participant, with a pipeline of opportunities throughout the state.

The three solar projects have a total rated capacity of 9.4MW, with an estimated present value of almost USD$20 million across the portfolios. The Company expects to complete the projects through the end of 2021 with gross margins in line with its current expectations for self-developed projects.

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"UGE continues to see growing demand, even in the face of the sudden downturn in the economy," said UGE's CEO, Nick Blitterswyk. "Community solar allows real estate owners to boost revenue by receiving lease payments for their empty rooftops and open land, which is especially attractive during a time when their revenue may otherwise be decreasing."

About UGE International Ltd.

UGE delivers immediate savings to businesses through the low cost of solar energy. We help commercial and industrial clients become more competitive by providing low cost distributed renewable energy solutions at no upfront cost and maximum long-term benefit. With over 380 MW of global experience, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com.

Contact:

investors@ugei.com

917-720-5685

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53881
The US on Friday became the first country to report 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as the number of infections globally crossed 600,000.

With the crisis escalating, US President Donald Trump signed into law a $2.2 trillion emergency spending bill aimed at protecting American families and businesses from the economic hardships caused by the pandemic.

Later, Trump said hes considering an enforced quarantine for parts of New York and New Jersey to curb the outbreak.

Trump told reporters he had spoken with New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Florida governor Ron Desantis.

Also on Friday, Trump invoked the Korean War-era 1950 Defense Production Act to compel General Motors to ramp up production of ventilators desperately required to treat severely ill patients.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases continued to climb aggressively, finishing on Friday at 113,677 - up by well more than 20,000 over the previous day. The number of US deaths also kept rising, hitting 1,903 - about 500 more than Thursday.

New York state drove the surge with at least 728 fatalities and over 52,318 confirmed cases. Other US states with high fatalities are Washington, New Jersey and California.

We didnt choose it, but we are going to defeat it together because were going to work together, Trump said of the emergency facing the country as he signed the stimulus package bill into law, flanked by top officials and Republican lawmakers.

The $2.2 trillion relief package includes direct payments to a third of all Americans, ramped up unemployment benefits, and loans for small and large businesses hit by the outbreak.

In Los Angeles, a giant US Navy hospital ship arrived in port on Friday, where it will be used to ease the strain on the citys coronavirus-swamped emergency rooms.

The USNS Mercy, which has docked in the LA port, will quickly become the citys largest hospital with 1,000 beds.

It will not receive coronavirus patients, but instead take patients with other conditions or injuries in order to free up facilities on land. The Mercy has 15-patient wards and blood bank capacity of 5,000 units.

Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking at a joint press conference after touring the vessel with mayor Eric Garcetti, said the ship will play a key role as California braces for a surge in Covid-19 infections that could require 50,000 hospital beds statewide in the next six to 10 weeks.
Yoga enthusiasts from Germany, who were practicing in the city, returned to their country, following the outbreak of COVID-19, on Friday.

As many as 16 Germans were practicing yoga in the city for the past three months. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the foreigners approached the German embassy, requesting to shift them to Germany.

Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here

The District Administration and the Tourism department have made arrangements for their travel to Bengaluru from Mysuru. Deputy Director for Tourism H P Janardhan said, the foreigners had contacted the German embassy, seeking to help them to travel back to their nation. Following the directions from the higher-ups, all the arrangements were made to send them back.

All the 16 persons underwent health checkup at a camp organised at Kalamandira, before leaving the city. Later, a bus ferried them to Bengaluru. Following the procedures, they will be flown from Bengaluru to Germany, the DD said.

Track the state-wise COVID-19 cases here

There are a few other foreigners in the city and they will be taken care of. The district administration is ready to lend a helping hand to the foreigners in the city, he added.

It has to be noted that Mysuru is not only a tourist spot but also a Yoga hub. Thousands of foreigners visit the city every year to master yoga. The city has several popular yoga centres and professional yoga gurus conduct sessions, particularly for foreigners.
Afghan Government Unveils Negotiating Team For Taliban Talks

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan March 27, 2020

KABUL -- Afghanistan's government has finalized a 21-member team that is expected to negotiate with the Taliban at upcoming talks aimed at putting an end to the country's 18-year conflict.

The team was formed after "much deliberation and consultations with all parties," the State Ministry of Peace said in a statement late on March 26.

It will be led by Masoom Stanekzai, the former head of the National Directorate of Security, and will include politicians, former officials, and representatives of civil society. Five members are women.

The government statement did not provide details about where or when the talks would begin.

The Taliban did not immediately react to the announcement.

Under a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban in Doha on February 29, Taliban representatives agreed to commit to direct talks with the Afghan government.

In return for the start of talks and a series of security commitments from the Taliban, all U.S. troops and other foreign coalition forces are meant to withdraw from Afghanistan within 14 months.

U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders for forming what he called an "inclusive negotiating team."

"This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations," Khalillzad wrote in a separate tweet.

It was not immediately clear whether President Ashraf Ghani's electoral rival, former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, would back the list. U.S. efforts to resolve a dispute between Ghani and Abdullah, who also claims the presidency, have been unsuccessful.

Earlier this week, the government in Kabul said it would meet directly with Taliban representatives to discuss a prisoner swap considered by all sides a prerequisite for the beginning of intra-Afghan talks.

With reporting by dpa, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan- government-unveils-negotiating-team-for -taliban-talks/30513633.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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When the coronavirus swept into the Scandinavian countries, Norway and Denmark scrambled to place extensive restrictions on their borders to stem the outbreak. Sweden, their neighbour, took a decidedly different path. While Denmark and Norway closed their borders, shut restaurants and ski slopes and told all students to stay home this month, Sweden closed only its high schools and colleges, kept its preschools, grade schools, pubs, restaurants and borders open  and put no limits on the slopes. In fact, Sweden has stayed open for business while other nations beyond Scandinavia have ...
'Usit is a brand long associated with students here, many of whom got their first taste of the United States as teenagers through J1 work visas secured via its outlets' (stock photo)

The company behind Usit and the English Studio language schools in Dublin and London has applied to have a provisional liquidator appointed to the businesses.

Usit is a brand long associated with students here, many of whom got their first taste of the United States as teenagers through J1 work visas secured via its outlets.

Elaine Russell, chief executive of Usit, said she and her team were "truly devastated" at the impact the closure will have on customers.

Usit employs 76 people between its head office in Dublin and regional offices in Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Usit and the language schools are owned by the Kinlay Group, which said staff had been informed yesterday of the "difficult decision" to have liquidators appointed.

The Kinlay Group is owned by a group of businessmen including Neil O'Leary, David Andrews and Michael Tunney. They bought the business out of examinership in 2002 - the year after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Usit had previously been controlled by the late Gordon Colleary, who had built the business into the world's second largest student travel group.

He was also the chairman of the 'Sunday Tribune' newspaper at one stage, and was a co-founder of 'Magill' magazine.

Kinlay said Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary were being appointed liquidators of Usit and the English Studio language schools, and it was hoped they would secure the "best outcome" for creditors.

The company said as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, "and having explored all other possible alternatives", it was left with no option but to appoint the liquidators to the two businesses.
Jacob Greenberg, chairman of the Blaine County, Idaho, Commission, is worried that his son, daughter-in-law and grandson might have coronavirus. Colleagues from county committees may have it, too.

Metropolises like New York City and New Orleans have seen a recent explosion of coronavirus cases. But rural counties in Colorado, Utah and Idaho, where hordes of visitors flock each year to ski or hike, are also experiencing some of the highest rates of coronavirus cases per capita in the nation, threatening to overwhelm local hospitals and challenging perceptions of the virus reach.

Four counties  Blaine County, Idaho; Summit County, Utah; and Eagle County and Gunnison County, Colorado  lead the nation in per capita rates of confirmed cases, outside New York state and Louisiana, according to a USA TODAY analysis of coronavirus cases across the country.

The rural settings are all affluent, mountain-ringed ski and hiking hamlets with populations under 55,000 that welcome millions of visitors each year. All have been grappling with a sudden surge in coronavirus cases.

"People need to take this seriously. Having people die in your community is really sad," Greenberg said. "The numbers just grew exponentially. This stuff moves in a hurry."

USA TODAY has been collecting information on cases in each county as reported by state health departments. To calculate rates, reporters took the confirmed number of cases per 100,000 people according to the most recent census estimates. Coronavirus case numbers were based on tallies as of Thursday.

The basics on the coronavirus: What you need to know as the US becomes the new epicenter of COVID-19

In this Jan. 30, 2016, file photo, a contestant competes in the Snowball Special fat bike race at Sun Valley Resort in Blaine County, Idaho. The county has become the epicenter of Idaho's outbreak.

Outbreak has some rural counties 'a bit busier than normal'

Blaine County, with a population of 23,021, had 82 cases and two deaths, or 356 cases per 100,000.

The mountainous county in south central Idaho welcomes more than 180,000 visitors a year to its renown Sun Valley ski resorts. Somewhere amid that crush of winter guests is where county officials believe the coronavirus slipped into Blaine County.

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The county confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 14. Five days later, on March 19, Gov. Brad Little ordered the county to self-isolate -- the first such order in the state. Just a week later, the number had jumped to 82.

Ketchum fire chief Bill McLaughlin said that about 10% of his team of 52 staffers and volunteer firefighters and paramedics have contracted the virus, forcing him to send healthy first-responders home with ambulances to await calls rather than congregate in a station. His station's call volume has doubled, mostly with coronavirus emergencies.

"We've been quite a bit busier than normal," he said.

As early as February, McLaughlin said he and other officials braced for a surge in Blaine County, given the number of tourists that flock to the region. He stockpiled supplies, such as surgical masks and gowns, and duct-taped plastic in ambulances between drivers and patients, to protect his staff.

The virus spread quickly. Health care workers began getting sick. Two of Idaho's four coronavirus deaths occurred in Blaine County. One was a hospital volunteer.

On Friday, the commission passed an ordinance further restricting travel in and out of the county and mandating visitors self-quarantine for two weeks, Greenberg said. As more people get tested, he expects the tally to rise.

"We still dont have all the numbers in," he said. "I'm sure it's going to grow huge."

Get daily coronavirus updates in your inbox: Sign up for our newsletter now.

'I wouldnt be surprised if we have 10 times that'

In Summit County, where the population is 42,145, there have been 103 cases and zero deaths, or 244 cases per 100,000.

Home to the Sundance Film Festival and the 2002 Winter Olympics, Summit County has long absorbed thousands of visitors from across Utah and the U.S., and relies on those tourist dollars each year.

The county's coronavirus spread began in a popular watering hole called the Spur Bar & Grill, on Park City's lively Main Street, at the height of the city's busy spring ski season, said Dr. Richard Bullough, Summit County's health director. An employee there tested positive for the virus, unwittingly exposing dozens of employees and bar patrons and perhaps several hundred others, he said.

Coronavirus across the US: Track how the outbreak has spread

Bullough said he expects the county's cases to soar as testing ramps up.

"Yes, we have 100-something confirmed cases but we have a lot more than that," he said. "I wouldnt be surprised if we have 10 times that."

Even after the ski resorts and business closed in Summit County because of coronavirus concerns, an estimated 10,000 visitors lingered in the area, Sheriff Justin Martinez said. Residents have mostly adhered to the self-isolate orders given by the county. But officials have scrambled to stay ahead of a virus that hit with as much as ferocity as it did in New York and San Francisco.

"This is not just a big city issue," Martinez said. "It can and is happening everywhere around the world, including in smaller communities like Summit County."

'People come from all over the world'

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, a Republican from Colorado whose district includes Gunnison County and part of Eagle County, said he was surprised the largely rural county had such a high rate of cases.

The county, which has a population of 17,462, had 57 cases and one death, or 323 cases per 100,000.

This shows the uniqueness of this virus that were dealing with, Tipton said.

Tipton said attention has been focused on large metropolitan areas like New York, but on a per capita basis, the impact is just as dramatic in our smaller communities.

Tipton said he and others have been pushing to make sure state and federal officials help local officials with supplies, including respirators and safety equipment for health workers.

We are very, very aggressively trying to make sure that our rural communities have what they need, he said.

More rural America: Why the coronavirus couldn't have come at a worse time for reeling Appalachian Kentucky

As of Friday, Colorado had 1,734 cases, including people who were positive and others who had symptoms and were in close contact with a person who was positive.

The number could be much higher since the state has a short supply of tests and is limiting testing, said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Gunnison and Eagle counties, home to world-famous ski resorts such as Crested Butte, Beaver Creek and Vail, were among the first in the state to issue public health orders requiring social distancing.

But as cases picked up in other counties, officials took statewide measures to try to stop the spread, including requiring a 14-day stay-at-home order and shutting down ski resorts.

What that did is it got the tourists out, said Hunsaker Ryan, adding that others were urged to self-isolate and practice social distancing. Some of the mountain communities just kind of hunkered down and shut down.

Those communities, she said, were able to then preserve medical resources and supplies for residents. Gov. Jared Polis issued the stay-at-home order Wednesday.

Hunsaker Ryan, who lives in Eagle County, has been working from home. Her husband tested positive last week for the virus and had a mild case.

Hunsaker Ryan attributes the cases in Gunnison and Eagle counties to the high traffic of international travelers to the ski resorts. Some of the tourists had come from Italy and some were Americans who have traveled to parts of Europe, including Italy, she said.

Vail Mayor Dave Chapin said everyone was surprised by the spread of the outbreak. Eagle County, with a population of 55,127, had 147 cases and one death, or 267 cases per 100,000. Chapin, who himself was diagnosed with the coronavirus and is in isolation, has talked publicly about his case, even writing an opinion piece about it in a local newspaper.

We clearly have people that come from all over the world to come to Vail and that may have had an impact on our town and our county, Chapin said. As well as many of the people that live here travel to many different places throughout the world so they may have been in contact anywhere.

More: Coronavirus cases could soar in these US counties with high populations of senior citizens

Chapin said the outbreak hit the county early in the crisis and the community reacted quickly by shutting down the buses, issuing an emergency declaration and sending notes to residents and employees about best practices. He said the main concern was safety.

It was a difficult decision, but in hindsight it really wasnt that hard as the data started coming in quicker and quicker and quicker, he said. Once it became clear that things were exponentially, rapidly developing, your decisions become a lot easier at that point.

Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat whose district includes Eagle County, said the county has experienced the full force of this public health crisis.

Neguse said the county needs federal support, including funding for rural health centers. He sent a letter to President Donald Trump Thursday calling for him to declare Colorado a disaster area.

#DoingMyPartCO is our way of stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado. Im doing a conference call in my office instead of meeting in person. What are YOU doing to stop the spread?



I challenge @KyleClark @JoeStGeorge @blairmiller @CBS4Tim pic.twitter.com/TDvXSvFwkV  Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) March 16, 2020

'We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow'

Some local officials are also bracing for an economic slowdown because of the outbreak.

Tipton, who voted Friday for an unprecedented $2 trillion emergency aid package later signed by the president, said its important to help companies keep jobs and reopen. Most of the employers in his district are small businesses and many have been shut down.

Your heart is always in the right place,'' he said of small business owners. "But your cash flow might not match.

Chapin said about 40 percent of revenue for Vail comes from sales tax.

We dont know whats going to happen tomorrow, he said.

With the spread of the virus, Chapin said he doesn't think any community, rural or not, should be overlooked.

There are no boundaries," he said. "There are no borders."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus cases soar outside New York as rural countries hit hard
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 16:30:36|Editor: huaxia

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China has donated medical protective equipment to help Myanmar in its battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. The donation, including 5,000 pieces of protective clothing, 5,000 N95 respirators and 200,000 surgical marks, is the second batch from China after laboratory equipment provided by China arrived in Myanmar on March 18.
Prepare yourselves for a bit of a shock and it has nothing to do with the coronavirus. But it is, nonetheless, distressing. As many as 83 Indian soldiers are said to be in Pakistani captivity, some from as far back as the 1965 and 1971 wars, and it appears successive governments have either forgotten about them or not strained themselves to get them back. In fact, 83 is the Indian governments official count.

Chander Suta Dogras book on this tragic, if bewildering, situation reveals a story that hasnt got the attention it deserves. Missing in Action: The Prisoners Who Never Came Back is full of heartrending accounts of soldiers wrongly presumed dead, others said to be missing in action when theres credible proof theyre in Pakistan, and some who are now certain to be dead but we continue to tell their next of kin theyre prisoners of war (POWs).

Nothing illustrates this better than the story of Major Ashok Suri. Initially, it was said he died in action on December 5, 1971, only for his father to receive four telegrams saying something else while Radio Pakistan claimed he was alive. After personal enquiries seemed to affirm that, his family received two letters which handwriting experts confirmed were written by him. Satinder Lambah, then a junior diplomat in Pakistan but later high commissioner, is certain Suri was alive in the mid-70s. Unofficially, Amnesty International concurred. Yet it took the government over three years to change his classification from killed to missing-in-action. If it had done so earlier, Dogra says, we might possibly have got him back. But as long as India maintained he was dead, Pakistan felt no compulsion to return him.

Dogras book discusses five reasons why these 83 soldiers languish in Pakistani prisons. First, when POWs were exchanged in 1972, the Indian government was more concerned about ensuring Pakistani recognition of Bangladesh. As a result, it did not properly ensure all Indian POWs had been returned. This was not a top priority. Second, India does not follow the Israeli practice of exchanging a disproportionate number of enemy POWs for a smaller number of its own. When Pakistan suggested a one-for-three exchange, India rejected it. Third, India doesnt believe in taking this matter to the International Court of Justice or involving third governments because it fears this could provide Pakistan an opportunity to internationalise Kashmir.

If these three reasons reflect the perverse attitude of Indian governments, Dogra identifies two more which suggest Pakistani mischief. First, Pakistan probably retained a few Indian POWs as bargaining chips in case its own officers were tried for war crimes after the 1971 war. Those trials never happened but the retained POWs were forgotten about. Ultimately, she writes: Their poor mental and physical condition, possibly as a result of years of torture and injuries, made it difficult for Pakistan to admit their presence and return them.

The second Pakistan-related reason is particularly intriguing. She believes some POWs, such as Lance Naik Jaspal Singh, may have been sent to West Asian countries such as Oman to cover up the embarrassment of retaining Indian POWs years after the war ended. Once out of sight, they were also out of mind.

However, pause before you jump to nasty conclusions about our neighbour. The opposite story is equally true. They believe 18 of their soldiers are in Indias custody. And weve been just as unhelpful! There are times when our governments are uncannily similar.

Now think of the families devastated on both sides. Sometimes theyre told their kin are dead only to get hope theyre alive, or missing in action only to discover theyre prisoners, or listed alive only to receive posthumous awards for gallantry. Theyve suffered for decades because their governments cant be bothered to establish the truth, while soldiers who fought for their country are forgotten by their countrymen. The Kohima War Memorial says for your tomorrow we gave our today. In this instance, a better epitaph would be for our today we denied you a tomorrow.

Karan Thapar is the author of Devils Advocate: The Untold Story

The views expressed are personal

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian says she would prefer to "hold off" on stricter shutdown measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, but will enact them if case numbers climb at too high a rate.

Ms Berejiklian heads into a key national cabinet meeting on Sunday with the largest number of COVID-19 cases of any state, with a record increase of 212 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday. An eighth person also died in NSW, pushing the national death toll to 14.

"If those numbers go up at a rate with which we're not comfortable, we will have to put in stricter measures": Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:Dean Sewell

The Premier said the latest data showed some "positive results" from the new social distancing measures, but it was too early to know if it would be enough. There have been 170 cases of community transmission in NSW but Ms Berejiklian did not identify a trigger point for further restrictions.

"If we see those numbers and community transmission go up at a rate that we are not comfortable with, we will have to put in stricter measures," Ms Berejiklian said. "We would rather hold off before we need to do that, but if we need to do that, we will,"
OUR WHOLE world is dominated by the coronovirus but it will pass and one Limerick TD is planning for the future.

Deputy Niall Collins is to commence providing a shuttle bus service to Belfast for constituents who are on the public waiting list for necessary health procedures and surgery.

He knows people who are waiting up to four years for procedures and operations.

Unfortunately in Limerick and across the country our health waiting lists are far too long. People are being forced into waiting far too long and often for many years for necessary procedures, said Deputy Collins.

For some time now the TD has been referring people who are totally frustrated with the public waiting lists to avail of the Cross Border Health Directive and have their procedure in Belfast with the HSE paying the cost of it.

Now due to demand from people across Limerick I will - subject the Covid-19 situation - be running a bus in mid-April to Kings Bridge Hospital in Belfast.

People interested in availing of their treatments of whatever nature be it cataracts or orthopedic can contact my office and we can help and advise, said Deputy Collins. And if it isnt mid-April it will be as soon as it is feasible.

He says there are currently over 600,000 people on public waiting lists.

The Cross Border Health Directive is an option which I would encourage everybody to explore. Waiting endlessly for a medical procedure impacts hugely on peoples lives and this option can secure ones treatment in a far more timely manner, said Deputy Collins.

People must have a letter as proof that they are on the public waiting list to qualify.

We all know people who are waiting years for their procedure or operation to be carried out. Their lives are on hold, said Deputy Collins.

Anyone interested can contact my office on 061 300149, he concluded.
Patna: As the number of coronavirus cases in India accelerates alarmingly, the Bihar government is living in dread at the prospect of a massive migrant population returning home from other states, opening up the possibility of locan spread of the dreaded virus.

As if that were not enough, Bihars annual scourge, the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), also known as brain fever, which killed about 200 children in the state last year, has already raised its head in north Bihar town.

Experts and officials fear that the returning migrants may spur a community spread of the coronavirus. On Saturday, chief minister Nitish Kumar told a TV channel hat the whole purpose of a complete lockdown would fail if people start returning in buses. In my view, shelter camps should be set up instead of sending them back home in buses.

His comments came after the UP government announced that it would run more than 1000 special buses for migrants who are stranded near the Delhi border.

Hundreds of migrants, mostly daily-wage workers, have been trying to return home after the Union government announced a 21- day national lockdown to beat back the coronavirus.

So far Bihar has reported nine COVID-19 positive cases and one death. Three persons including a paramedic of a private hospital in Patna and two youths tested positive on Friday. Last week a person from Munger district with a travel history to Qatar died at AIIMS, Patna.

Meanwhile, the pressure is mounting from the opposition with Tejashwi Yadav questioning the preparedness of the state government.

In a tweet, the RJD leader said, Could you please update Bihar as to what measures have been taken to raise the capacity of hospitals? Whats the status of testing kits, PPE (personal protective equipment), N95 masks for doctors?

Brain fever, an annual visitation upon Bihar, has already arrived this year, with the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), which bore the brunt of last years outbreak, admitting its first AES patient this year, PTI reported.

The chief minister convened a high-level meeting in Patna to take stock of the coronavirus situation, and stressed the need for preparedness for AES as well. He instructed officials to complete the expansion of capacity of the paediatric ICU at SKMCH to 100 beds, an order he gave last year.
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria said on Friday it was banning travel between cities and governorates as part of tightening measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, state-run Ikhbariya TV reported, citing the interior minister.

Syria has recorded five cases of corona virus so far but relief agencies worry that any outbreak could be lethal after years of conflict that has ravaged its healthcare system.

The travel restriction, effective from Sunday, comes on top of a curfew announced this week from 6 pm to 6 am and after the country has halted flights and ordered the closure of most businesses.

Humanitarian agencies have expressed deep concern over the prospect of coronavirus spreading in Syria's northwest, where hundreds of thousands of people displaced by war live in tightly packed camps and have severely limited access to healthcare.

(Reporting by Kinda Makieh; Writing by Eric Knecht, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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Editor's note: Jordan Ryan is the former United Nations assistant secretary-general and former director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery under the UN Development Program. He was a UN resident coordinator in Vietnam between 2001 and 2005. He sent this piece to Tuoi Tre News as the country's response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic has entered a "critical phase," with the Vietnamese premiere calling actions taken over next two weeks crucial to how the country's anti-epidemic efforts will unfold.

Seventeen years ago I knew a man whose quick thinking triggered a global health response that saved countless lives during an outbreak of a mysterious and highly contagious disease.

He was tireless in his pursuit to track it, find its origins and contain its spread. He did everything right, but sadly died doing so.

He was Dr. Carlo Urbani. His life and memory are resonant in this time of a global pandemic.

On February 26, 2003, a man was admitted to the French Hospital in Hanoi. He presented a high fever, dry cough, and a mild sore throat.

A wonderful UN colleague, Dr. Carlo Urbani, was then working in the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Hanoi.

As an expert in parasitic infections, he responded to a request from the French Hospital to assist in investigating a "severe case of flu."

Carlos diagnosis was clear: this was an unusual case of an "unknown contagious disease." It was soon identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS.

Given the gravity of the situation, Dr. Urbani alerted the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

His prompt action triggered a global public health response that eventually saved the lives of countless numbers of people.

Things developed quickly. By March 5, seven health workers became ill, with similar symptoms. Ten days later, more than 40 cases were reported in Hanoi.

People were afraid and wanted to understand what was happening.

In early March, Dr. Urbani briefed UN colleagues on the situation. He explained that he had been tracking a mysterious outbreak in China, trying to obtain information on what was going on just across the border.

He was tireless in his pursuit of the relevant data.

He also informed us that he had spent several days at the hospital coordinating infection control, quarantine interventions and maintaining the morale of hospital staff.

I asked about his safety and he advised that he was taking the necessary precautions.

Sadly, on March 29, 2003, Dr. Urbani died of complications related to SARS.

He was a public health hero who died because of his belief that it was a doctors duty to "stay close to the victims."

I will never forget his words, when he was questioned whether he should be on the front lines, given that he had a wife and three young children.

He was adamant: "If I cannot work in such situations, what am I here for -- answering e-mails, going to cocktail parties, and pushing paper?"

Vietnams response to SARS remains an inspiring story. It largely depended upon timely and resolute government action and on the ability of Dr. Urbani to trace the movements of the businessman in the French Hospital back to Guangdong Province in China.

Dr. Urbanis decision to isolate the hospital when staff started coming down with flu-like symptoms was far-sighted.

This action saved many lives, although tragically not his own. It demonstrates the value of assembling the available information and having the courage to act on it.

Looking back it is clear to see what Dr. Urbani and the government of Vietnam did right.

They spoke the truth and acted decisively. Dr. Urbani was brave and the actions he took were farsighted.

Lessons he and the government showed us many years ago are relevant today, and unfortunately, will be pertinent in the future as these viruses continue to emerge.

We can only hope future leaders take note.
DAR ES SALAAM workers have commended the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) for defending the workers right to secure employment during ongoing turbulent times.

In a random interview on Friday, they said there was a need for increasing public awareness on the disease through mass media.

Mr Jackson Lijawa said TPSF protected its image and honour by defending openly the right of workers to secure employment during this period when some employers were tempted to fire workers arbitrarily.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not the creation of workers. Why should they be victimised? TPSF deserves praise for seeing this truth and defending workers rights, he argued.

He said Tanzanian workers belonged to extended families, explaining that sacking one worker without justification would cause misery to many dependants on the salary of the sacked worker.

He called on Tanzanian workers to work hard to reciprocate TPSF and governments stand on protecting workers from unfair sacking.

Ms Martha Thomson said employers must ensure workers were protected from contracting the disease.

While we salute the TPSF and the government on the timely stand on secure employment, employers must make sure workers do not contract the disease in the workplace. It is good to remain in employment. It is even better to remain in employment without contracting the disease from fellow workers, she said.

She noted that the private sector should use it financial leverage and use the mass media to increase public awareness on the disease countrywide.

The private sector has a big stake in a safe Tanzania, especially during this time of the pandemic, she argued.

Mr Michael Muganga called on the TPSF to use its influence to ensure workers got protective gear against coronavirus.

While we thank TPSF for siding with workers, we appeal to it to ensure workers get protective gear so that they do not contract the disease in the workplace and spread it to their families. Healthy workers will do their work professionally and happily, he argued.

He said the TPSF should think of upcountry entrepreneurs who, he said, were complaining about lack of knowledge on the pandemic.

Reports from upcountry show that people do not have sufficient information on the disease. The TPSF should also think of these people, he suggested.

Mr Seif Almas said workers were doing their work with a peace of mind because of the common stand of the TPSF, the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), and the government relating to secure the employment of Tanzanian workers during this trying period.

I am proud of being a Tanzanian because the TPSF, ATE and the government have all agreed that workers must not be cunningly fired and their benefits should not be encroached on because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It makes this nation united, he said.

Ms Neema Joram said TPSFs stand on workers secure employment was timely.

Some of us are in a tricky industry. We produce building materials. There are very few specialised industries of this nature. The kind of work we do here is not found in many places in Tanzania because it is highly specialised, she said.

Recently, in a meeting jointly organised by the TPSF and ATE, TPSF Chairperson, Angelina Ngalula appealed to employers in the private sector to refrain from firing workers using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse.

The stand was supported by the ATE Managing Director, Dr Aggrey Mlimuka.
North Macedonia Officially Joins NATO

By RFE/RL March 27, 2020

North Macedonia has officially become NATO's 30th member, the military alliance says.

North Macedonia became NATO's newest member with the presentation of its "instrument of accession" to the U.S. State Department in Washington D.C., NATO said in a statement from its headquarters in Brussels.

North Macedonia was granted a protocol on accession to NATO membership in February 2019 after a 2017 agreement with Greece that changed the former Yugoslav republic's name from Macedonia, resolving a decades-long dispute between Skopje and Athens.

Since then, all NATO-member parliaments have voted to ratify the country's membership, and Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski on March 20 signed the final accession document for the country's entry into the alliance.

"North Macedonia is now part of the NATO family, a family of 30 nations and almost 1 billion people. A family based on the certainty that, no matter what challenges we face, we are all stronger and safer together," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Pendarovski said his country could not appropriately mark the event given the current coronavirus pandemic.

"But this is a historic success that after three decades of independence finally confirms Macedonian security and guarantees our future," he said. "Congratulations to all of you! We deserve it!"

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the country's membership "will support greater integration, democratic reform, trade, security, and stability across the region."

It also reaffirms that NATO's door remains open "to those countries willing and able to make the reforms necessary to meet NATO's high standards, and to accept the responsibilities as well as benefits of membership," Pompeo added.

North Macedonia's flag is to be raised alongside those of the other 29 member states at NATO headquarters in Brussels and at two other commands simultaneously on March 30.

After resolving its name dispute with its neighbor, Greece has also agreed to drop objections to North Macedonia's eventual European Union membership.

The country came closer to joining the bloc on March 26 when EU leaders gave it the green light to begin membership talks.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/north-macedonia- officially-joins-nato/30513509.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Kriti Kharbanda On Marrying Boyfriend Pulkit Samrat: Is A Baccha As Of Now, He Is Not Ready For Marriage




World Health Organization calls on Africa to 'wake up' as it is classified to be a "ticking time bomb," experts say. A few weeks ago, it seemed that Africa was spared from the COVID-19 health crisis, but it was never meant to last. The lag in the number of cases is just a temporary reality.

Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the first African head of the World Health Organization, calls for his continent to wake up and do something to avoid the increase in the number of cases they have. Scientists are greatly concerned that Africa might be staring down the barrel of disaster even though the continent has lesser casualties than other countries which have fewer than 1,000 cases.

Africa could easily become the new coronavirus epicenter with its strained medical systems and oftentimes, its lack of necessary infrastructure. Simply saying, the continent is not prepared for COVID-19.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared COVID-19 a "national disaster" to South Africa on March 15. The declaration allowed Ramaphosa to access the government's special funding and initiate harsh regulations to combat the virus. This includes school closures, travel restrictions, and bans on large gatherings.

The numbers of infected people in South Africa are relatively low compared to other countries. However, the virus has slowly begun spreading to Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and Namibia, bringing the number of affected countries to 23.

Experts are worried about how COVID-19 will behave in countries with weak health systems and a population disproportionately affected by other diseases such as HIV, and tuberculosis. In the continent's overcrowded cities and slums, "social distancing" is most likely hard to do.

Screening Passengers

A lack of testing in Africa is not the problem. In fact, from only two countries in the early stage of the outbreak in China, there are now 40 countries who have the ability to screen test for COVID-19. Their main focus is entry points and testing people with travel history.

However, since it does not catch people that are still in the incubation phase of up to 14 days, screening passengers for fever has shown to be largely ineffective. Additionally, it also does not detect an infection that happened in Africa.

Francine Ntoumi, a parasitologist and public health expert at Marien Ngouabi University in the Republic of Congo, strongly advised to investigate and address the reason for the non-detection of possible positive cases of COVID-19.

One way to find out whether the virus is spreading in the communities of Africa is through looking for patients presenting flu-like symptoms at clinics and hospitals. Most likely, wealthy people who can afford to travel could have the virus and possibly trickle down Africa's most vulnerable communities.

Another method is to scour surveillance systems that track flu-like illnesses for spikes. Africa CDC is now collaborating with countries to make sure that samples sent to national surveillance sites are screened for COVID-19 to help provide further clarity of the possible undetected cases.

Africa's high temperatures are believed to make the life of the virus harder which explains why it has the lowest number of cases among the other continents in the world. Although that's plausible, it is still very much an open question whether it is a seasonal disease.

The methods used by China and South Korea to combat the virus is hard to replicate in Africa because social distancing may be impossible in crowded townships, and it is not clear how African households will react to confinement.

Most importantly, African countries simply don't have the health care capacity to care for severely ill coronavirus patients.
This week, she met with Drs. Fauci, Stephen M. Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Robert R. Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where the group talked through concerns about the Trump administrations embrace of malaria drugs as possible treatments for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to a senior administration official.

Publicly, Dr. Birx has been a soothing constant next to Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in coronavirus meetings and briefings, where she has been one of the few regulars in a rotating cast of health officials perched behind the White House lectern. Mr. Pence, who is overseeing the governments response, introduced her at the time of her appointment as his right arm.

But on Thursday, that delicate balance appeared to tip. After talking to New York officials, Dr. Birx said she had been told that there were still intensive care beds and over 1,000 or 2,000 ventilators still available. She also dismissed news stories of hospitals drafting blanket do-not-resuscitate orders for critically ill Covid-19 patients.

To say that to the American people, to make the implication that when they need a hospital bed, its not going to be there, or when they need that ventilator, its not going to be there  we dont have evidence of that right now, she said.

Just a few feet away stood Dr. Fauci, a longtime friend and mentor of Dr. Birxs, who had his own message: hunker down. He said that the coronavirus could become cyclical. He cautioned that a vaccine was still many months away. And he said that therapeutic treatments, which Mr. Trump has eagerly pushed as a game changer, were still unproven.

The best way to get the best drug as quickly as possible is to do a randomized controlled trial so that you know is it safe and is it effective, he said. If its not effective, get it off the board and go to the next thing.

The realities on the ground appear to favor the tone of Dr. Faucis warnings. Dr. Mahshid Abir, an emergency physician at the University of Michigan and an expert on hospital preparedness, said on Friday that shortages are inevitable. Hospital systems not only in New York but Atlanta, Seattle and New Orleans are already warning that they have or will reach capacity in the coming days.
Soi Dog carries out GDP annual vaccination

As life in Phuket slows to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, Soi Dog Foundations vital work to help the islands vulnerable street animals continues.



By Soi Dog Foundation

Saturday 28 March 2020, 05:51PM

This week, co-founder John Dalley and teams of veterinarians and rescue officers visited the government dog pound in Thalang to carry out annual vaccinations of the 800 animals housed there.

Vaccinations not only stem the spread of disease and therefore suffering within the pound but, with the animals fit and healthy, it also increases their chances of being adopted.

The dogs were vaccinated against six diseases, including rabies, canine distemper and parvovirus. Their fur was then marked with a safe, soluble spray paint. With up to 147 dogs in a single run, tagging them with spray helped the veterinary team ensure that every dog was vaccinated. Rescue officers were also on hand with nets to humanely catch the more shy or evasive dogs so they could safely receive their injection.

While Soi Dog does not agree with the pound, we do feel an obligation to help the dogs who reside there. In addition to annual vaccinations, we dispense bravecto twice a year to prevent flea and tick infestations and perform an average of 30 sterilisations on new intake dogs every month. A veterinary team visits on a weekly basis to provide treatment to animals in need, transporting around 20 dogs a month to our hospital in Mai Khao in cases of sickness and injury.

Help also comes in the form of donations. In 2018, Soi Dog donated B560,000 towards rebuilding the pounds quarantine area and installing a new high-tech water filtration system.

This week also saw Soi Dog make the difficult decision to close its sanctuary doors to visitors and volunteers indefinitely in order to support community efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 within Thailand.

With necessary safety measures in place, work at the sanctuary and hospitals continues to care for the dogs and cats in runs and in treatment. Our rescue and community outreach programmes provided for those in need also carry on.

However, Soi Dog is operating under difficult circumstances, and we are appealing for help. With current travel restrictions preventing adopted animals from flying overseas to their forever homes, and new animals in need arriving every day, we are close to overcrowding. To cope, we must increase our food supplies and build enclosures and kennels to accommodate at least 100 additional animals. To find out how you can help, please visit https://www.soidog.org/content/urgent-appeal

With your support, even in these dire circumstances, we can stand by our commitment to never turn our backs on a homeless animal.
CALGARY, Alberta, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (CWV.V): Crown Point Energy Inc. (Crown Point or the Company) today provided an update regarding its operations at Tierra del Fuego ("TDF").



Tierra del Fuego  La Angostura Concession (WI 34.74%)

As previously reported, the main San Martin oil well producer, SM x-1001 began to produce some water in late January, 2020 and the water cut subsequently increased in early February to approximately 50% of the total fluid production from this well, which had averaged 1,470 (net 511) bopd from the upper Tobifera reservoir in December 2019. The well was shut in on February 18, 2020, pending a workover to evaluate the underlying middle Tobifera section (oil bearing in the SM a-1003 oil well located approximately 1 km to the NNW of SM x-1001), followed by a test and evaluation of the uppermost Tobifera section.

The production testing and evaluation of both the middle and upper Tobifera sections was completed on March 17, 2020. The production tests of the middle Tobifera section recovered formation water and the zones (1987-95 m and 2013-20 m) were abandoned. The test of the uppermost Tobifera section (1871-76 m), located 34 m above the original producing upper Tobifera zone, flowed at an average rate of 1,576 barrels of oil per day with no reported water (0.3% BS&W) over a 24 hour period through a 25 mm choke at a flowing well head pressure of 232 psi. The well was placed back on production on March 18 at an average restricted rate of 716 bopd (net 249 bopd) over the ensuing 7 days with negligible water cut at a flowing well head pressure of 582 psi through an 8 mm choke, and during which the well produced a total of 5,012 barrels of oil.

San Martin oil production is trucked and sold to the Chilean State Oil Company (Enap) terminal located at San Gregorio, Magallanes Province, Chile. On March 23, Enap announced the suspension until further notice of all deliveries, due to an outbreak of Covid-19 at the terminal. As a consequence of limited oil storage field capacity, the San Martin field was shut in on March 24 and will remain so until the restrictions on deliveries are lifted. The alternative option to evacuate oil from TDF, the Cruz del Sur storage and offshore loading facility operated by YPF, remains closed pending completion of ongoing repairs and maintenance. The facilities are expected to be re-opened during Q3, 2020. The Companys local gas sales and its gas exports through the San Martin sales gas pipeline, which crosses the Straits of Magellan and connects TDF to mainland industrial and residential markets, remain uninterrupted.

Story continues

About Crown Point



Crown Point is an international oil and gas exploration and development company incorporated in Alberta, Canada, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and with operations in Argentina. Crown Points exploration and development activities are focused in two of the largest producing basins in Argentina, the Austral basin in the province of Tierra del Fuego and the Neuquen basin in the province of Mendoza. Crown Point has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a basis for future growth.

Abbreviations : "WI" means working interest. "bopd" means barrels of oil per day. "km" means kilometer. "m" means meters. "BS&W" means basic sediment and water. "psi" means pounds per square inch. "mm" means millimeters. "Q3" means the three month period ended September 30. "YPF" means Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales S.A.

Initial Production or Test Rates : Any references in this news release to initial production or production test rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter. Additionally, such rates may also include recovered "load oil" fluids used in well completion stimulation. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for the Company. Initial production rates may be estimated based on other third party estimates or limited data available at this time. Well-flow test result data should be considered to be preliminary until a pressure transient analysis and/or well-test interpretation has been carried out. In all cases in this news release initial production or test results are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance of the relevant well or fields or of ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons.

Forward-looking Information : This document contains forward-looking information. This information relates to future events and the Companys future performance. All information and statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Such information represents the Companys internal projections, estimates, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. This information involves known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Crown Point believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on this forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. This press release contains forward-looking information concerning, among other things, the following: our plans for the SM x-1001 oil well and the San Martin field, including our intention to shut in the field until delivery restrictions are lifted; and the Company's business strategies. The reader is cautioned that such information, although considered reasonable by the Company, may prove to be incorrect. Actual results achieved during the forecast period will vary from the information provided in this document as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. A number of risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information contained in this document including, but not limited to, the following: the risks that COVID-19 poses to the oil and gas industry generally and our business in particular, including the risk that the demand for, and therefore the price of, hydrocarbons will remain depressed for a significant period of time, the risk that our staff and/or the staff of third parties on whom we rely to carry out our operations are unable to perform their duties such that we are unable to continue our operations in part or in whole, the risk that we are unable to obtain supplies and other equipment that we need for our operations due to delays or failures in supply chains, and the risk that the infrastructure on which we rely to produce, transport and sell the hydrocarbons we produce suffer intermittent outages or cease to operate at all, all of which could adversely impact our ability to operate profitably or at all; the risk that our plans for the SM x-1001 well, or the San Martin field, change; the risk that the Company determines that the SM x-1001 well is uneconomic; the risk that the San Martin field remains shut in for an extended period of time; the risk that the Company changes its business strategies; risks associated with oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation, production, marketing and transportation, including the risk that the infrastructure on which we rely to produce, transport and sell our products breaks down and requires parts that are not readily available or repairs that cannot be made on a timely basis, and which impair our ability to operate and/or sell our products; and the risks and other factors described under Risk Factors in the Companys most recently filed Annual Information Form, which is available for viewing on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. With respect to forward-looking information contained in this document, the Company has made assumptions regarding, among other things: the impact that COVID-19 will have on our operations and the length of time that such impact will persist; that the SM x-1001 well will continue to be an economic oil well based on initial test and production results from the uppermost Tobifera sections; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which the Company operates, including operating under a consistent regulatory and legal framework in Argentina; future oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of the Company to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; the timing and costs of pipeline, storage, transportation and facility repair, construction and expansion and the ability of the Company to secure adequate product transportation; and the ability of the Company to obtain financing on acceptable terms when and if needed to finance its operations. Management of Crown Point has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information in order to provide investors with a more complete perspective on the Companys future operations. Readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this document and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For inquiries please contact:



Brian Moss

President & CEO

Ph: (403) 232-1150

Crown Point Energy Inc.

bmoss@crownpointenergy.com



Marisa Tormakh

Vice-President & CFO

Ph: (403) 232-1150

Crown Point Energy Inc.

mtormakh@crownpointenergy.com
Submitted

The City of Dayton is working alongside Liberty County and our sister cities as we work to limit the spread of COVID-19. Questions about what an essential business or activity are have been asked and Liberty County has worked diligently to answer those questions. The City of Dayton has worked with our business partners in the community to understand how to best handle foodservice businesses, including the sale of groceries. Our churches have worked closely with us as we continue our efforts to stem the tide against this novel coronavirus that is spreading across the nation at an unprecedented rate. Voluntary compliance has been high within the community, and we are grateful for that.

We are hopeful that the measures in place can be lifted in a timely manner that allows our economy and employment base to recover soon, however it is imperative that we remain steadfast in the effort of limiting community spread. It is our civic and moral responsibility to one another to reduce the opportunities to spread this new virus with our neighbors. Liberty County has placed some restrictions on business operations and activities throughout the County to be good stewards of the publics trust. It is incumbent upon public officials to coordinate the response to this threat.
The motivational message came from Reverend James Checchio, head of the Diocese of Metuchen, in a Thursday message to his diocese

New Jersey Catholics were told by their local bishop that they could partake in eating meat on Fridays as hardships brought on by the coronavirus were causing them to make 'many sacrifices'.

The motivational message came from Reverend James Checchio, head of the Diocese of Metuchen, in a Thursday message to his parishioners.

The diocese encompasses Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties in New Jersey. According to their website, the diocese represents 90 parishes and 27 schools.

Checchio said in a statement: 'Given the difficulties of abstaining some types of food and the many other sacrifices which we are suddenly experiencing given the coronavirus, I have granted a dispensation from abstaining from meat on Fridays for the rest of Lent, except Good Friday which is universal law.'

In a March 16 directive from the bishop, Reverend Checchio announced that it was temporarily suspending of public penance services and of public masses.

Checchio's statement says that parishioners can eat meat on Fridays but not on Good Friday

First Penance, First Holy Communion and Sacrament Confirmation were all postponed. Schools were following the direction of the state.

Last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order mandating that all non-essential retail businesses close their stores and almost all state residents stay home to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The order affects some 9 million residents in the state and exempts those who work in essential services such as healthcare and the food industry, the governor said at a news conference. The order banned all gatherings including weddings and parties, Murphy said.

There are currently 8,825 confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey, with 108 confirmed deaths (Officials at a nursing home in New Jersey)

'My job is to make sure we get through this emergency so that you can safely gather with family and friends later,' Murphy said.

It came as New Jersey's top public health official issues a stark warning that she believes 'we all' are going to eventually be infected by coronavirus.

There are currently 8,825 confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey, with 108 confirmed deaths.
In a bid to spread awareness about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, a local artist in collaboration with a police official here has made a unique Corona helmet to dissuade commuters from coming out on the streets during the nationwide lockdown.

Gowtham, the artist, who designed the helmet told ANI, The public at large is not treating the COVID-19 situation seriously, whereas, the police personnel are working round the clock to ensure people stay at home and do not venture out so that further spread of the disease can be stopped.

I came up with the idea and used a broken helmet and papers to prepare this. I have also prepared many placards displaying slogans and handed them over to the police, he added.

Tamil Nadu: Police in Chennai has been creating awareness among the people about the importance of them staying at home amid #CoronavirusLockdown by making a police personnel wear a helmet designed to look like Coronavirus. The helmet has been designed by a local artist Gowtham. pic.twitter.com/LlxrUYfihX  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

The police personnel, who are serving 24/7 on the streets, said that the helmet was proving to be useful in making people aware.

Police Inspector Rajesh Babu, who wears the gear while speaking to commuters on the street said that the approach has had a positive effect so far.

We take all the steps but still people come out on the streets. Therefore, this corona helmet is one of the steps we are taking to ensure that people are aware of the seriousness of the police. The helmet is an attempt to do something different when I wear this the thought of coronavirus comes into the minds of the commuters. Especially, the children react strongly after seeing this and want to be taken home, Babu told ANI here.

Tamil Nadu as of March 28 morning had 38 confirmed cases of the disease, including 6 foreigners. While the state has reported one death due to the infection two confirmed cases have also been cured and discharged, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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President Akufo-Addo has restricted movement in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi as part of measures to control the spread of the coronavirus.



These areas have been identified as hotspots of infections.



The two-week lockdown will start from 1 am Monday, 30th March 2020 and it is pursuant to the powers granted the President under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012).



Speaking in a 4th nationwide broadcast, Friday, the President said: We have succeeded in halting any more importations of the virus into our country, and I think the overwhelming majority of you for adhering to the good hygiene and social distancing protocols announced in my first broadcast to you.



"If we act now purposefully we have a chance of preventing the escalation of our numberseffective 1 am, 30th March 2020, I've imposed...restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan area and contiguous districts for a period of two weeks subject to review," he added.



Watch the full broadcast in the video below







As at the evening of 27 March 2020, fifty-nine (59) COVID-19 cases including four (4) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems. All the four (4) deaths had underlying chronic medical conditions. Two have recovered and have been discharged. The remaining fifty-three (53) cases are doing well: fourteen (14) are being managed at home. The rest are on admission and responding well to treatment. Greater proportion of those on treatment with mild symptoms and are awaiting repeat of their laboratory tests to inform decision to discharge them.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By IANS

NEW YORK: The US government was arranging to airlift American citizens stuck in India because of the lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a State Department official.

Ian Brownlee, the official dealing with consular affairs, said on Friday: "We are working directly with both US and foreign carriers to lay on aircraft direct from India to the US," to bring them back.

He said that the flights could start in about three days, "but it's the permitting that takes a while both in India and the US".

Last week, the State Department issued a "Level 4" travel alert advising its citizens not to travel internationally and asking those abroad to return home.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

India is under a lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic with all commercial passenger flights cancelled.

Brownlee said that about 1,500 Americans in the New Delhi area, between 600 and 700 in the Mumbai area and 300 to 400 elsewhere had expressed interest in returning home.

He said that a church group has chartered a large aircraft to bring 150 or so Americans from India and the State Department was helping them get the necessary permits for the plane.

He said that an American citizen, who had tested positive for the virus in Bhutan, was brought back to the US about 10 days ago and "is doing very well".

ALSO READ | Sit back, behave, wash hands and be proud of US: Trump advises kids amid coronavirus outbreak

The principal deputy assistant secretary was briefing reporters about help for American citizens abroad affected by the pandemic and visas for doctors to come to the US.

Brownlee said that while routine visa services were suspended, visas would be processed for medical personnel already accepted in US programmes. But he added, "We are not going out looking for others."

He said globally the State Department was looking about 33,000 citizens stranded abroad due to lockdowns and/or cancellation of flights who wanted help returning home.

Some Americans have decided to wait out the curfew or the quarantine where they are and many of them are expats with homes in the countries they are located in, the official added.
When Steven DeAngelo first opened Greenhook Ginsmiths in Brooklyn in 2012, he expected his product to be used in restaurants and parties, not hospitals. But as of last week, with bars closed and New Yorkers warned against socializing, he has diverted his distillery to a less glamorous but more useful product: alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Distilleries of all shapes and sizes are now joining the fight against COVID-19.

You cant buy it anywhere, hospitals are running out of it and were all pretty well set up to do it, said DeAngelo, who has already sold approximately 5,000 gallons to local hospitals.

Greenhook Ginsmithss gin products along with its newest line, hand sanitizer.

Since liquor distilleries already have the staff, equipment and know-how when it comes to handling high percentages of alcohol, they seem to be the perfect fit for manufacturing the World Health Organizations recipe for hand sanitizer, which is required to be at least 60 percent alcohol. Its pretty straightforward, its a very simple but effective recipe, says DeAngelo.

Gin distilleries in particular work well for sanitizer production since they use a higher proof and purer ethanol spirit base as opposed to lower proof booze such as vodka. Recently, the makers of Titos Vodka warned people not to use their product to create sanitizer since its vodka is only 40 percent alcohol. Greenhook gin is 94 proof, or 47 percent alcohol, so it isnt concentrated enough to use by itself either.

Typically, the Food and Drug Administration must inspect the product before it is sold to the public, but last week the FDA stated that no action would be taken against a company that produces alcohol-based hand sanitizers for use by consumers or health care personnel. And now that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has announced that spirit companies could produce such a product without the excise tax on beverages, distilleries from Oregon to South Carolina are joining the national effort.

I remember talking to my grandparents about the war effort during World War II, how factories were transformed to help make ships, arms and planes. says DeAngelo, It all sounded so foreign to me and something I wouldnt have imagined would happen in my lifetime.

Story continues

At a time where most liquor businesses are seeing a serious financial hit due to the closure of bars and restaurants, the production of sanitizer is a welcome addition. The restaurants and the bars are shut down, and usually thats 50 percent of our business, so its definitely slowed things down, says DeAngelo. But this helps to keep us busy and helps to keep us working, which is a good thing.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
The Electoral Commission of Queensland has stopped the count, with only the unofficial preliminary results publicly available so far.

Here is where we end tonight in key mayoral races.

BRISBANE: (14.3 per cent counted) Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner on 43.47 per cent, Labor candidate Patrick Condren on 30.93 per cent, and Greens candidate Kath Angus on 18.09 per cent.

GOLD COAST: (16.67 per cent counted) Mayor Tom Tate on 54.70 per cent and Mona Hecke on 21.59 per cent.

IPSWICH: (1.34 per cent counted) Teresa Harding on 40.19 per cent and David Martin on 22.51 per cent.

MORETON BAY: (1.06 per cent counted) Adrian Raedel on 25.88 per cent, Peter Flannery on 24.96 per cent, and Chris Thompson on 20.65 per cent.

LOGAN: Only 0.05 per cent of the count is displaying.

And that's a wrap. The commission will continue the vote count tomorrow and Brisbane Times will have comprehensive coverage of the results.
In 1917, American authorities in El Paso, Texas began to use a toxic chemical to disinfect all immigrants entering the United States through the US-Mexican border.

The rule came just after the election of Mayor Tom Lea, Jr. who was "obsessive about cleanliness." He sent telegrams to various senators in Washington, demanding a quarantine station at the border. In one message, he referred to the immigrants as "hundreds of dirty, lousey destitute Mexicans."

The new law required all entrants to be bathed in a kerosene mixture. The practice aimed to kill lice in a bid to prevent the spread of typhus due to outbreaks in several major Mexican cities. Workers were also required to strip down to be inspected while their clothes were steam-dried.

Migrants were also subjected to an inspection where their bodies, including their genitals, were checked for lice. Should border inspectors find traces of the parasitic insect on a worker, they would be shaved, head to toe, and doused in a mix of kerosene and vinegar.

Migrants would then receive a ticket which served as a proof they were clean. They were, however, required to go through the same procedure every eight days.

Several border personnel was found to have been secretly taking photographs of naked women going through the borders.

Carmelita Torres







A few days after the dangerous practice was launched, a 17-year-old Mexican woman who worked as a maid refused to take a 'gasoline bath,' sparking a protest at the El Paso border at what became known as the "Bath Riots."

Carmelita Torres had crossed the border every day for work. When she resisted going through the process, thousands of onlookers, including women, began protesting against the practice.

U.S. and Mexican troops quelled the riot and arrested the young maid. She was branded as "the leader of an anti-American riot" by the newspapers.

The unplanned rebellion happened on January 28, 1917, during the early morning. Torres was sitting in a trolley filled mostly with women as they crossed the Santa Fe International Bridge to head to work. When it was her turn, she refused to go through the humiliation and convinced the 30 women who were in the trolley to join her in defiance.

An hour later, there were more than 200 women protesting. By noon the same day, there were already "several thousand" protesting against the practice. The demonstrators reportedly threw bottles and rocks at law enforcement workers, hurling insults all the while. The protest blocked traffic into El Paso as some people laid down on the tracks to create a blockade.

The uprising was quelled after the border was closed for two days. Many of the demonstrators, including Torres, were imprisoned. Other protestors were publicly executed. According to historians, that was the last Torres was ever heard from or seen.

The toxic baths were continued for several years. Authorities used even more dangerous chemicals like the poisonous gas Zyklon B and the pesticide DDT. Migrants were also asked to take a literacy test and pay an $8 head tax to enter the borders.

In 1918, border agents began turning away "imbeciles, physical defectives, and persons afflicted with loathsome diseases."

More than 100,000 Mexicans were given gasoline baths at the border before health authorities deemed the practice dangerous and officially stopped the toxic baths in the 1960s.

Nazi Germany

The gasoline baths inspired Nazi scientists in 1937. Almost a decade after border agents added Zyklon B--- a cyanide-based pesticide--- to the toxic baths, a German scientist suggested the acid gas be added in Nazi disinfection chambers.

Scientists tried the pesticide on 600 Soviet war prisoners and 250 Polish prisoners in the basement of Block 11 at Auschwitz I. All died within minutes. Auschwitz became one of the largest killing centers of the Third Reich.

The dosing process murdered millions of people in Nazi concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Majdanek.

Zyklon B was made by two German companies who both went through a trial for creating the poison that took the lives of over a million people. Bruni Tesch and Karl Weinbacher---who served as the director and executive manager of Tesch and Stabenow respectively --- were found guilty and hanged on May 16, 1946.

Read More:
Venezuelan Official Confirms 1st Coronavirus Death

By Michael Brown March 27, 2020

The grim reality of the coronavirus has arrived in Venezuela, where Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed the country's first death from the disease.

Rodriquez said the victim was a 47-year-old male field worker who had a "chronic illness."

His death came as Rodriguez announced that so far, at least 107 people have tested positive for the virus.

Venezuela is under a nationwide quarantine to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The virus has struck hard in other parts of South and Central America, including Brazil, with more than 2,000 cases, followed by Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Panama.



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With a dip of 30% in demand for power due to the absence of commercial activity in the wake of the lockdown, the Centre has stepped in with a slew of relief measures to support the sector, said a top official familiar with the development.

These measures include a three-month moratorium on the payment of already financially squeezed distribution companies (Discoms) to Generating Companies (Gencos) and no penalty on late payment.

The ministry is also working to ensure to ensure adequate supply of coal to prevent a possible disruption in electricity supply.

Union power minister RK Singh said the ministry is committed to ensure 247 electricity supply during lockdown. Despite the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic, the whole workforce of the power sector  generation, transmission, distribution and system operations  is working round the clock to keep all homes and establishments lit, Singh said.

The ministry has issued directions that, till May 30, the payment security mechanism to be maintained by the Discoms with the Gencos for dispatch of power will be reduced by 50%. Directions have been issued by the ministry to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to provide a moratorium of three months to Discoms to make payments to generating companies and transmission licensees, and not to levy penal rates of late payment surcharge. State Governments are being requested to issue similar directions to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions.

The lockdown has affected consumer payment of their dues to the Discoms. This has affected the liquidity position of the Discoms, thereby impairing their ability to pay to the generating and transmission companies. To address the liquidity problems of the Discoms, Singh has directed Generation/ Transmission Companies to continue supply/transmission of electricity even to Discoms which have large outstanding dues. During the present emergency there will be no curtailment of supply to any DISCOM, the power ministry has directed.

This comes at a time when outstanding dues by discoms stood are currently as high 82,414 crore till February this year.

Even the Gencos would need support through some fiscal stimulus as they were already struggling with low capacity utilisation and mounting debtors from Discoms. Government may have to facilitate interest free working capital loans for Gencos. Else this contagion will spread to fuel suppliers and sustainability of all sector entities will come under question, said Debashish Mishra, Partner at Deloitte India,

Around 70% of power generation is from coal based power plants. In order to maintain the continuity of supply of coal by domestic coal companies and transportation by railways, the ministry is in touch with the ministries of railways and coal.

Union coal minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said coal supplies are declared as an essential service. In a statement, the coal ministry said all officials have been directed to ensure that critical coal supplies are maintained during the lockdown period due to COVID 19.

On an average, more than 22,000 wagons of coal were loaded per day and 1,400 wagons of food grains daily. On March 27, railways carried 20,488 wagons of coal. According to the data available for 134 coal plants across the country, there is an average coal stock for 24 days.
Infosys software engineer, Mujeeb Mohammed, who appealed to the public to sneeze in public places to spread coronavirus has been sacked, Infosys said in a statement. Mujeeb Mohammed has been booked under Section 505 (making statements which cause alarm or fear in public, and also inciting and provokes others) of the Indian Penal Code.

The engineer had posted, "Let's join hands, go out and sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus" on his Facebook.

On Thursday, the IT giant took to Twitter to state, "We are deeply concerned with an inappropriate post being attributed to an Infosys employee. We strongly reaffirm our commitment to responsible social-sharing. Our preliminary enquiry, and discussions with our employee suggest that this couold be a case of mistaken identity."

The IT giant, which initially believed that this could possibly be a case of mistaken identity confirmed that the software engineer, Mujeeb Mohammed, was their employee. The company further stated that he has been terminated for this post.

Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity. (1/2) Infosys (@Infosys) March 27, 2020

In a tweet on late Friday night, the tech behemoth stated, "Infosys has completed its investigation on the social media post by one of its employees and we believe that this is not a case of mistaken identity."

In another tweet, Infosys condemned the social media post as violative of Infosys' code of conduct and its commitment to responsible social sharing. Bengaluru headquartered IT giant also categorically stated that it has terminated the employee in question.

Edited with PTI inputs

Also read: Coronavirus update: 5 more, including 3 children, test positive in West Bengal; number touches 15

Also read: Chidambaram lauds RBI measures, calls EMI holiday ambiguous, half-hearted
Photo: Orchard Park Facebook

Shopkeepers at Kelownas Orchard Park Shopping Centre say they remain on the hook for rent, despite foot traffic dropping to near zero as stores close due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Castanet News has heard from tenants at the mall who say they face crushing rent payments while their shops are closed, but the mall stays open for a very small handful of businesses that are pushing on.

Store owners say the mall has declined requests for rent deferrals or abatements, while Orchard Parks parent company, Primaris, says they are working on a case-by-case basis.

Its a challenge playing out across the country as commercial landlords, in the span of two weeks, attempt to grapple with the mass shutdown of the retail sector.

Our economy is in crisis and we deeply appreciate the hardship confronted by many of our retail partners, said Patrick Sullivan, Primaris Management chief operating officer in a statement to Castanet.

We do not take our commitment to them and our communities lightly and are working to support both during this unprecedented and dynamic situation.

Earlier this week the provincial government promised $2.2 billion in economic aid directed at businesses to deal with the pandemic's economic fallout. Provincial school tax tax rates for commercial properties were cut in half for 2020, something Finance Minister Carole James said she expects will be passed onto tenants by commercial landlords.

Primaris, however, says more help is needed for the industry.

We had hoped to have more feedback from government prior to the end of March, but that has yet to materialize, Sullivan said, adding he anticipates more aid is on the way to support the one-in-seven Canadian jobs in retail.

Sullivan pointed to the City of Torontos 60-day deferral of business property taxes as an example of something that allows us to better support our tenants in this time of need.

Last week on Facebook, Orchard Park encouraged the public to write to their government representatives on their concerns about non-essential retailers not being ordered to close in B.C.

Orchard Park retailers tell Castanet many stores have been turned down for rent deferrals, but a few have received them. The rejected tenants say mall management provided little explanation as to why their requests were refused with multiple stores receiving similar letters.

Sullivan says they are working with retailers on a case-by-case basis.

We believe a general rent assistance program for qualified tenants cannot replace the effectiveness of direct dialogue and action, Sullivan said, adding they remain empathetic to their tenants needs.

These discussions are ongoing and will continue over the coming weeks and months as this crisis unfolds.

Orchard Park Shopping Centre remains open Monday through Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., but says most stores are closed and shoppers should call ahead to any stores they may want to visit.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27

Trend:

Azerbaijan is to tighten the special quarantine regime starting from 00:00, March 29, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

During the special quarantine regime, inter-district and inter-city transportation must be completely stopped, with the exception of the movement of special vehicles, including ambulances, emergency, rescue, agricultural, social service vehicles, as well as trucks.

There will be no restriction for traffic within the cities of Baku and Sumgait, as well as the Absheron region.

Baku Metro will operate from 07:00 to 09:00 in the morning and from 17:00 to 20:00 in the evening.

During the special quarantine regime, on-site customer service is suspended in all retail outlets, except for supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies, while unlimited delivery of goods and online sales are allowed.

All catering services, including restaurants, cafes and tea houses, must suspend on-site customer service, unlimited order taking and home delivery, as well as online sales are allowed.

Access to all boulevards, parks and recreational areas is limited in order to control crowding.
With over 800 coronavirus cases in the country and 17 deaths, the rise in the number of coronavirus patients has seen a sharp rise this month. On Friday, the number of positive coronavirus cases crossed 800 in the country. The administration is leaving no stone unturned in bolstering its response against Covid-19.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health as well as members of Covid-19 task force maintain that the community transmission of coronavirus is not happening at the moment, however, preparations to tackle such a situation have already begun.

On Friday, in a press briefing, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that his administration is equipped to handle 100 Covid-19 cases in a day. He said that the Delhi government is now working on the plan to tackle stage 3 of Covid-19 outbreak.

ALSO WATCH | Health Ministry briefs on Covid-19 death toll in India, guidelines for doctors

At present, things are under control, but in case it slips out of hand where the number of cases increases exponentially, we have to be ready with all the arrangements. The 5-member committee of doctors - which was set up to give us an action plan that would kick in if the city enters stage 3 of the coronavirus spread - has submitted its report, he said.

Also read: US Covid-19 figures cross 100,000, a first for any country

Kejriwal said the panel has recommended an action plan in three stages. Stage 1 where the number of patients is 100 per day, stage 2 where the number of patients is 500 per day and stage 3 when the number of patients is 1,000 per day.

Delhi is prepared till stage 1. This means, if we start getting 100 coronavirus patients per day, our hospitals will be able to take the load. What we are now preparing for a scenario where the number of patients is 500 or 1,000 every day. The requirement of isolation beds, ventilators, ICU beds, testing kits and tests to be conducted, ambulances, doctors, nurses, their transportation and accommodation - everything is being worked out. We have the SoP ready now. We are already working on a plan for a stage if have 1,000 patients a day. Hope such a situation does not arise, the chief minister said.

On Friday, Odisha expressed concern that the coronavirus could be advancing towards community transmission in the state. This comes after a 60-year-old man with no recent travel history tested positive.

Now, with the third confirmed case having no foreign travel history, we see a possibility of the outbreak moving into Stage-III, which is community transmission, Odishas COVID-19 chief spokesman Subroto Bagchi said.

Stage 1 of the outbreak is in case of only getting cases coming from abroad. It advances to State 2 when the disease transmission happens in people from a known source. Stage 3 is when the source of the infection is not known and becomes difficult to trace.

India is also looking to expand its testing facilities by opening gates to private laboratories to carry out testing and increase the number of tests done daily.
New Delhi, March 28 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the Secretary for the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Injeti Srinivas has discussed concerns of the India Inc with industry bodies --FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In a tweet, Sitharaman said the Ministry of Finance will continuously respond to inputs by the industry.

"SSecretary, Corporate Affairs has held discussions with @FollowCII @ficci_india @ASSOCHAM4India and @phdchamber to hear and address their concerns. @FinMinIndia will continuously remain and respond to Industry's inputs," Sitharaman tweeted.

The statement from the Finance Minister comes days after she announced a Rs 1.70 lakh crore package aimed at providing food security to the poor and money in their hands amid the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide lockdown.

On Thursday, Sitharaman also indicated that concerns of India Inc, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) segments and other segments hit by the lockdown might be looked at and that the government could announce a plan later.

"Our first priority is to provide food to the poor and money in their hands. We will think about other things later," Sitharaman said.

On relief to the travel and aviation sectors that are bearing the brunt of the lockdown, the Finance Minister said, "We will come back when something is ready." The industry has sought several reliefs along with a financial package.

The Reserve Bank of India, along with several relief measures including relaxation in terms of loan repayments and NPA classification, announced a much-awaited 75 basis point repo rate cut to 4.4 per cent.
Amid the rising cases of the coronavirus COVD-19 worldwide, the Pakistani Army is unwilling to close the mosques across the country fearing backlash from the fundamentalist clerics. The fact remains that the fundamentalist clerics are crucial for Pakistan's proxy wars in Afghanistan and India, especially Jammu and Kashmir.

The Imran Khan-led government is unable to take any step as fundamentalist clerics have the support of the Pakistan Army. The current scenario gives rise to a major concern as the mosques nationwide remain open for Friday Namaz as well as daily prayers. Pakistan has already crossed 1,200 confirmed cases including 10 deaths due to COVID-19.

Senior Journalist Nasim Jehra tweeted, "There is NO NO NO reason why Pakistan government should not suspend congregational prayers in Pakistan given that Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey, UAE, Jordan etc. have already stopped congregational prayers."

The Pakistani Army which is actually controlling the government is trying to put the blame on Imran Khan for the coronavirus crisis. The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has raised concern for the South Asian countries.

Last week, Gaza reported two confirmed cases of coronavirus. When Palestinian authorities investigated the matter, it was found that both men had recently returned from Pakistan where they attended a mass religious gathering that ended on March 12. They were among the 250,000 people that gathered in the outskirts of Lahore to participate in the 'Tableeghi Ijtema' an Islamic event organized by the Tablighi Jamaat.

Many people who have been found to be coronavirus positive had attended the Tablighi Jamaat programme in Lahore. Four people living in Sindh have been admitted to a hospital in Pakistan, who attended the programme. Similarly, five Maulana of Kyrgyzstan country has also been found to be coronavirus positive who had participated in the programme and have been admitted to a hospital in Islamabad.

"I think everyone who attended the Lahore Ijtima must stay in isolation and get himself tested as soon as possible," tweeted Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafaqat. President Arif Alvi has already discussed the possibility of isolation but the situation on the ground is just the opposite.

The Turkish media is also very critical of the Pakistan government for not ordering an effective ban on mosques. "Pakistan has crossed 1,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the actual infected is likely significantly higher. Yet, unlike other countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, Pakistan has not banned congregational prayers that pose a clear threat to public health," said TRT World.

According to experts, in the first phase, where the risk of coronavirus spread from mainly China and Iran, the threat of the second stage is from Tablighi Jamaat congregation to the world.
Spains death toll from the coronavirus pandemic jumped to 5,690 on Saturday, with 832 patients dying in the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.

The announcement came as the number of people infected with the virus in the United States hit more than 104,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, with deaths surpassing 1,700.

In Italy, more than 10,000 people have died since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest data from the Civil Protection Agency.

Worldwide, the number of cases has reached more than 600,000, of which more than 131,000 people have recovered. More than 27,000 have died.

Here are the latest updates:

Saturday, March 28

20:50 GMT  Coronavirus lockdown: India grapples with migrant workers exodus

A nationwide lockdown in India  the worlds largest  over the coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on thousands of migrant workers in the capital, New Delhi.

With few transport options available, thousands of people, mostly young male day labourers but also families, have resorted to commuting on foot during the 21-day lockdown that started on Wednesday.

The workers started fleeing New Delhi after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown, which effectively put millions of Indians living off daily earnings out of work. Construction projects, taxi services, housekeeping and other informal sector employment came to a sudden halt.

Read more here.

20:45 GMT  UN donates 250,000 masks to hard-hit New York

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the donation of the 250,000 masks, which had just been located in United Nations storage facilities, to the United States for use in hard-hit New York City.

The citys Mayor Bill De Blasio hailed the UN for answering the call for the city where the insitutions headquarters are located.

Guterres said in statement the United Nations and the US Mission to the UN were working with de Blasios office to ensure swift delivery of the masks to medical facilities around New York.

20:30 GMT  Spain toughens lockdown as toll nears 5,700

Health personnel are seen outside the emergency entrance of the Severo Ochoa Hospital in Madrid, Spain Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images]

Spain toughened its nationwide lockdown on Saturday, halting all non-essential activities as it stepped up its fight against the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has so far claimed 5,690 lives.

Spain has the worlds second-highest coronavirus death toll after Italy, losing another 832 people over the last 24 hours as the number of cases soared to 72,248.

Despite the grim 24-hour death toll, health chiefs said the rate of infections was slowing, suggesting that the epidemic was nearing its peak.

But the strain on intensive care facilities was a big source of concern, with the greatest pressure expected in about a weeks time, prompting the government to lift the restrictions to slow the contagion.

20:15 GMT  Coronavirus cases in Israel exceed 3,600

The total number of coronavirus cases in Israel has reached 3,619, as 159 more people tested positive, according to countrys health ministry.

At least 12 people have so far died of the virus, with 54 patients in a critical condition and 89 recoveries, a ministry statement said.

As part of measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, all schools in the country have been closed all meetings in open or closed areas with more than 10 people have also been banned.

20:00 GMT  Global death toll from coronavirus surpass 30,000

The global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 30,000 on Saturday, according to data compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The virus known as COVID-19, which emerged in Wuhan, China last December, has spread to at least 177 countries and regions around the globe, with a total of 649,904 confirmed cases worldwide and 30,249 deaths.





A total of 137,283 people diagnosed with the virus have so far recovered globally.

Italy, Spain, China and Iran continue to be the most affected countries in terms of deaths, but the US tops the list of the highest number of confirmed cases  115,547.

Italy recorded the most deaths with 10,023 fatalities with nearly 92,500 cases, while Spain has 5,812 deaths and more than 72,200 confirmed cases. China, the ground zero of the virus, followed Spain with 3,100 deaths and nearly 82,000 cases.

19:30 GMT  France reports 319 more coronavirus deaths, taking toll to 2,314

French medical epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet speaks during a news conference with the prime minister in Paris on the eleventh day of a strict nationwide confinement seeking to halt the spread of COVID-19 disease [Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/Reuters]

French health authorities reported 319 new deaths from the coronavirus, up 16 percent on the previous day and taking the total to 2,314, as the government scrambled to increase the number of intensive care beds nationwide.

The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities say they will be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes from next week, which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities.

The number of known cases of infection rose to 37,575 on Saturday from 32,964 a day earlier, the health authority said.

I want to say how things are with clarity and frankness. The battle is only starting, said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at a news conference with Health Minister Olivier Veran to outline the governments strategy.

The first 15 days of April will be even more difficult than the 15 days that are coming to an end now, Philippe said.

19:10 GMT  47-nation WHO Africa region has 2,650 coronavirus cases, 49 deaths

Coronavirus has now spread to dozens of countries in Africa, with 2,650 infected and 49 dead, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

The WHO stands ready to support all countries in the fight against the virus, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said on Twitter.

The #coronavirus has now spread to dozens of countries in the @WHOAFRO region. As of today, there are 2,650 confirmed #COVID19 cases and 49 deaths. Governments and health authorities across the continent are striving to limit widespread infections. https://t.co/GuwiJBcOPN  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 28, 2020

Countries with weaker health systems must act aggressively to contain spread among early cases and prevent community transmission, he said.

18:55 GMT  Qatar says it is taking care of 31 Bahraini citizens

A statement from Qatars Communications Office has shed light on the conditions of Bahraini citizens, who were transiting home from Iran. The 31 Bahrainis, whose government has not yet sent a charter plane to fly them back, have all been tested for coronavirus and are staying at a quarantine hotel in Doha.

The full statement is below:

On 27 March 2020, 31 Bahraini citizens arrived in Doha on a Qatar Airways flight from Iran. As Bahrain does not allow commercial flights from Qatar, the State of Qatar inquired with officials in Bahrain as to how Qatar could assist in the travelers efforts to return home.

Qatar offered to fly the Bahraini citizens on a private charter flight to Bahrain at no expense to the individuals or the government of Bahrain. The government of Bahrain declined this option. Bahraini officials have said they will send a flight for them at some undefined point in the future.

As the health and safety of all individuals in Qatar, and around the world, is paramount at this time, the Ministry of Public Health has administered coronavirus tests for the 31 Bahraini citizens and provided them with accommodation in a quarantine hotel at no cost to them or the government of Bahrain. Those testing positive will receive free and full health care at once. Those testing negative will continue to observe self-isolation for two weeks at a quarantine hotel, at no expense to them.

It is our hope that by the end of this two-week quarantine, that the government of Bahrain will allow their citizens to return home. If not, we will continue to provide them with hospitality and care.

18:35 GMT  Ireland reports 14 coronavirus deaths to bring total to 36

Ireland has reported 14 deaths from COVID-19 infections, all in the east of the country and the most on a single day so far to bring the total number of fatalities to 36, the department of health said.

The country also reported an additional 294 confirmed cases of coronavirus to bring the total to 2,415, the department said in a statement, slightly down on the 302 new cases reported on Friday when Ireland announced further restrictions for citizens.

18:05 GMT  Trump says he may quarantine New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

President Donald Trump said he was considering imposing a two-week quarantine on New York as well as portions of New Jersey and Connecticut as part of further efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Trump said he was considering placing a two-week enforced quarantine on New York, which he called a hot spot, at some point later on Saturday. The quarantine might also apply to parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.

This would be an enforceable quarantine, Trump said from the White House. Id rather not do it, but we may need it.

The number of coronavirus cases reached over 52,000 in New York, the US epicentre of the outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.

By Saturday afternoon, the sum of total known coronavirus US cases had soared to 115,842, eclipsing the toll the disease has taken on China and Italy.

17:32 GMT  Italys coronavirus toll tops 10,000

Italys death toll from the novel coronavirus shot past 10,000 with 889 new deaths, the countrys civil protection service said.

The toll in Italy, which has suffered more deaths than any other country, now stands at 10,023. An additional 5,974 infections brought to 92,472 the number of people who have officially tested positive for COVID-19 in Italy since the crisis began last month.

Latest figures provided by the civil protection department, however, showed that both the daily death rate and the increase in contagion cases grew a bit slower than Friday.

Current contagions rose by 5 percent to reach 70,065, compared with a 7 percent rise on Friday. The total number of recovered people reached 12,384.

17:20 GMT  Turkeys coronavirus deaths up to 108, with 1,704 new cases

Turkeys death toll from the coronavirus increased by 16 to 108 on Saturday, as the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,704 to 7,402, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

He added on Twitter that 7,641 tests had been conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of tests carried out in Turkey to 55,464 since the outbreak begun.

17:10 GMT  Qatar confirms first coronavirus death

A woman wearing a protective mask walks in the West Bay area in Doha. Qatar has imposed a series of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak, including closing parks and public areas, and banning social gatherings [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]

Qatar recorded its first death from the coronavirus, a Bangladeshi resident, and 28 more cases to take its total to 590 infections, the health ministry said.

The 57-year-old Bangladeshi national was suffering from a previous chronic disease, state news agency QNA reported.

The majority of cases in Qatar have been diagnosed among migrant labourers, and authorities have locked down a large section of an industrial zone where many live and work.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases surged to 590, as 28 more people tested positive, while 45 patients have so far recovered and been discharged from hospitals since the beginning of the outbreak, the health ministry said.

17:00 GMT  Another UK Cabinet member has COVID-19 symptoms

Another member of British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Cabinet has developed symptoms of COVID-19.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he had symptoms of the disease and was self-isolating a day after the prime minister and Britains health secretary revealed they tested positive for the virus and were experiencing mild symptoms.

Johnson, 55, is the highest-profile political leader to have contracted the virus. Jack sat beside him in the House of Commons on Wednesday before Parliament shut down until at least April 21 to reduce the risk of infections.

16:20 GMT  Coronavirus death toll in Italys Lombardy rises by around 542 in a day

An Italian Army officer, wearing a protective suit, walks past a military vehicle in the Monumental Cemetery in Bergamo, near Milan [Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images]

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italys contagion, has risen by around 542 in a day to some 5,944, a source familiar with the data said.

The fatalities are broadly in line with Fridays tally of 541, which was the second highest since the outbreak emerged on February 21.

The number of cases in the region, which includes Italys financial capital Milan, increased by some 2,117 to roughly 39,415, the source said.

The nationwide tally will be released at around 6:00 pm (17:00 GMT). On Friday, the national death toll stood at 9,134, the highest in the world, with 2,409 new infected cases.

15:45 GMT  Death toll in US from COVID-19 rises to 1,709

An empty street is seen near Chinatown during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan, New York City [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]

At least 410 people in the United States died of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 1,709 in the country, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The total number of cases in the US increased by 18,848 in the last 24 hours, reaching 104,860 in total. The country is on top of the list of highest number of cases around the world, with the death toll and number of cases rapidly increasing.

States worst hit by the outbreak are New York and New Jersey. In the past 24 hours, 144 people died in New York, 175 in Washington and 119 died in Louisiana.

Dr John Brooks of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Americans remained in the acceleration phase of the pandemic and that all corners of the country are at risk.

There is no geographic part of the United States that is spared from this, he said.

15:05 GMT  Sri Lanka records first death

People maintain a distance between each other as they stand in a line to buy groceries at a supermarket as the government temporarily lifted a curfew in Colombo, Sri Lanka [File: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]

Sri Lanka has recorded its first death due to coronavirus, its health ministry said.

The island nation of roughly 21 million has 110 infected cases. So far, all patients who test positive for COVID-19 are being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Colombo.

14:55 GMT  Germany: COVID-19 measures in place until April 20

The measures taken in Germany to stem the spread of the coronavirus will continue to remain effective until at least April 20, a minister said.

Speaking to German daily Tagesspiegel, Helge Braun, the head of the Chancellery and federal minister, said the governments top priority is to not allow the blockage of the health system.

We are not going to alleviate the extreme measures until at least April 20. We will then re-negotiate the necessary steps to be taken for future, Braun told daily.

According to data compiled by the US-based John Hopkins University, more than 53,300 cases have been reported in Germany, with the death toll reaching 399 and over 6,600 recoveries.

14:35 GMT  Russia to close borders from March 30

A vendor wearing a protective face mask waits for customers at a local flea market, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, in Omsk, Russia [Alexey Malgavko/Reuters]

Russia will close its borders starting on March 30 in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a government order published on Saturday said.

The measure will come in force at all road, rail and pedestrian checkpoints, and apply to Russias maritime borders, the government said.

It will not apply to Russian diplomats and the drivers of freight trucks, among others.

The country, which has already grounded all international flights, has reported 1,264 coronavirus cases.

14:25 GMT  Pakistans borders to remain sealed for another two weeks

Pakistan has said its borders would remain closed for another two weeks, as the number of people infected with the coronavirus surpassed 1,400.

The country closed its borders with Iran, Afghanistan and India during the past weeks. They will now stay shut for 14 more days, said Moeed Yusuf, the special assistant to the prime minister on national security.

14:20 GMT  UK death toll passes 1,000

56 percent of people surveyed believed the governments enforcement came too late [Naomi Baker/Getty]

The United Kingdom said 1,019 people had died after testing positive for coronavirus by 17:00 GMT on Friday, a rise of 260 in 24 hours.

The number of people testing positive for the virus was 17,089 as of 09:00 GMT on Saturday, compared with an officially corrected number of 14,543 on Friday.

Hello, this is Linah Alsaafin and I will be taking over the live blog.

12:40 GMT  Swiss death toll reaches 235

The Swiss death toll from coronavirus has reached 235, rising from 197 people the previous day, according to the countrys public health ministry.

The number of confirmed cases also increased to 13,213 from 12,161 on Friday, it said.

The Alpine country of 8.6 million is deploying army medical units at hospitals to help in crisis regions like Ticino, which borders hard-hit Italy, and has begun tapping its strategic stockpile of pharmaceuticals to cover rising demand.

Health workers at the Pourtales Hospital [Denis Balibouse/AFP]

12:20 GMT  England womens captain Hunter ready to take pay cut

Sarah Hunter, captain of the England womens rugby team, said she is willing to take a pay cut to ensure staff at the countrys governing body do not lose their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis.

That little sacrifice and selflessness can go a long way, Hunter, 28, told BBC Sport. Id be willing to do that to make sure theres still an RFU [Rugby Football Union] and people arent having to lose their jobs.

Englands RFU faces losses of up to 50 million pounds ($62.3m) over the next year-and-a-half with global sport coming to a virtual standstill due to the pandemic.

11:50 GMT  Jakarta extends state of emergency

Ramping up its effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Indonesias capital Jakarta announced that the current state of emergency  imposed on March 20  will be extended by two more weeks due to an increase in the number of infections.





Were preparing ways to anticipate all possibilities that could happen in the city, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told reporters on a video conference call. We implore people of Jakarta to not leave Jakarta, especially for their home towns.

Indonesia confirmed 109 new coronavirus infections, taking the total cases in the country to 1,155, including 102 deaths.

11:30 GMT  US pre-approval for S Korean test kits

Three South Korean coronavirus test-kit makers have won preliminary approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

South Koreas foreign ministry said winning the preliminary approval under emergency use authorisation will allow the products to be sold in the US.US President Donald Trump this week asked his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, to supply the medical devices and promised to help South Korean firms gain US regulator approval.

Swiss firm Roche has also won Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for its test kits.





11:10 GMT  S African billionaire Motsepe donates $57m

South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe said he would donate one billion rands ($57m) to help fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Motsepe, President Cyril Ramaphosas brother-in-law and head of investment firm African Rainbow Capital, told a news conference the money would be channelled through the government to build water, health and education facilities.

10:46 GMT  Spain reports 832 deaths in 24 hours

The Spanish health ministry announced another massive jump in the countrys coronavirus fatalities, saying the death toll had risen to 5,690 from 4,858 the day before.

The number of infections stood at 72,248, up from 64,059.

10:37 GMT  S Africa police fire rubber bullets: Report

South African police fired rubber bullets towards hundreds of shoppers queueing outside a supermarket in Johannesburg as people were not respecting social distancing measures, an AFP photographer said.

Between 200 and 300 people gathered outside a popular grocery store in Yeoville, in Johannesburgs central business district on day two of a nationwide lockdown.

Police officers enforce social distancing making shoppers stretch their arms in front of them to ensure that they are at least one metre apart from one another [Marco Longari/AFP]

10:10 GMT  Irans death toll rises to 2,517

The number of coronavirus fatalities in Iran surged to 2,517 as health officials announced 139 new deaths over the past 24 hours.

Kianoush Jahanpour, a health ministry spokesperson, said 3,076 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus, bringing the total to 35,408. He added that more than 3,200 patients were in critical condition.

However, there are also 546 people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 11,679, according to Jahanpour.

09:45 GMT  Philippines and Malaysia report new cases

The Philippine health ministry recorded 14 new coronavirus deaths and 272 additional cases, marking the countrys single largest daily increase in fatalities and infections.





The latest count brought total infections in the Philippines to 1,075 and deaths to 68.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, Southeast Asias worst-hit country to date, reported 159 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 2,320, including 27 deaths.

09:40 GMT  Ireland may ease restrictions on April 12

Health Minister Simon Harris said Ireland hopes to remove some of its highly restrictive measures if it can slow down the rate of admission to intensive care units.

Will we be in a position on April 12 where life in Ireland can return to normal? Absolutely not. Lets be honest with each other, these are measures that we are going to need continue to work at, Harris told national broadcaster RTE.

Do we hope to be in a position in two weeks time to say that weve made progress and some of the measures can be tweaked, removed, changed? Absolutely.

Ireland is in full lockdown with nonessential trips banned for two weeks. People are allowed out for brief exercise, as well as for farming purposes and food production. All public gatherings outside a family household or single unit have also now been prohibited.

09:20 GMT  Number of cases rises to 48,582 in Germany

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany rose by 6,294 compared with the previous day while the death toll climbed by 55, the Robert Koch Institute reported.

In total, Germany has reported 48,582 infections and 325 deaths.





09:10 GMT  Australia tightens social distancing rules

Australia imposed stricter rules on social distancing as the number of confirmed cases jumped by 469 to 3,635, with the death toll of 14.

The new measures include implementing fines, closing beaches and threatening stricter measures if people defy pleas to stay at home.

As of midnight on Saturday, all returning citizens from abroad will be put into compulsory quarantine in hotels for two weeks at the governments expense. Military personnel will help ensure travellers comply with the new rules.

08:50 GMT  Ghana announces lockdown in two key regions





In its latest effort to combat the spread of coronavirus, Ghana will put under lockdown starting on Monday people living in the countrys two main regions: Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area, including contiguous districts for a period of two weeks, said President Nana Akufo-Ado.

Sweeping measures were announced as the country reported 137 confirmed cases, including four deaths.

Ghana has already closed schools, suspended public events and banned large gatherings.

08:20 GMT  Pope Francis delivers extraordinary blessing

Pope Francis has held a dramatic, solitary prayer service in St Peters Square of the Vatican, urging the world to see the coronavirus pandemic as a test of solidarity and a reminder of basic values.

Pope Francis delivers an extraordinary blessing from an empty St Peters Square [Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters]

Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities, he said speaking alone before a square where he normally draws tens of thousands of people.

We have realised that we are in the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other, he said.

Read more here.

07:50 GMT  Turkey announces stricter travel restrictions

Turkey suspended all intercity trains and limited domestic flights as part of measures to contain a fast-growing coronavirus outbreak, as the number of cases jumped by a third in a day to 5,698, with 92 dead.

In a notice detailing the travel restrictions, the Interior Ministry said all citizens must remain in the cities they reside and would only be allowed to leave with a doctors note, in the event of the death of a close family member or if they have no accommodation.

Read our story here.

Women wearing protective face masks and gloves stroll in the empty centre of Turkeys capital Istanbul [Umit Bektas/Reuters]

07:35 GMT  Thailand reports new death, total cases reach 1,245





Thailand confirmed 109 new coronavirus cases and one additional death, bringing the total to 1,245 infections and six fatalities.

The new infections include 39 patients linked to previous cases, 17 new cases deemed to be imported ones and 53 awaiting investigation, Anupong Sujariyakul, an expert in preventive medicine at the Disease Control Department, told reporters.

The government urged people to stay home and introduced a state of emergency earlier this week, banning foreigners and closing public facilities and businesses in major cities until April 30.

07:05 GMT  Tokyo reports record daily increase in new cases

Sixty new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Japans capital, Tokyo, according to national broadcaster NHK.

The figure marks a record daily increase and comes amid a week-long rise in the number of infections, which has prompted the country to step up efforts to contain the outbreak.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has requested residents in the capital and surrounding regions to avoid nonessential, nonurgent outings until April 12.

06:35 GMT  Irans health system ready for possible escalation in infections

Irans health infrastructure is strong and ready to cope with a possible escalation in coronavirus cases, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in comments carried by state TV.

The Islamic republic is among the countries worldwide severely affected by the pandemic.

In its latest tally, the country reported a death toll of 2,378 amid 32,332 infections.

Health officials check body temperature of drivers and passengers at the entrance of Irans Tehran [Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu]

05:40 GMT  Dozens of UN staff infected with coronavirus

The United Nations says 86 staff members around the world have reported cases of COVID-19.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said most of the infected staff members were in Europe, but there are also staffers in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States that have the coronavirus.

04:50 GMT  Nuclear weapons conference postponed  UN

The 191 parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty have decided to postpone a conference to review its implementation because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Associated Press news agency.

The treaty is considered the cornerstone of global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and the parties hold a major conference every five years to discuss how it is working. The meeting had been scheduled for April 27-May 22 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

03:44 GMT  WHO sending two million protective items for healthcare workers

At least two million items of protective gear have been sent to 74 countries which need it the most to fight the coronavirus, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

He also said the WHO was preparing to send a similar amount of protective gear to another 60 countries.

Even more is needed and this can only be solved with international cooperation and solidarity, he wrote on social media.

03:20 GMT  Tokyo restricts movement to combat virus but some carry on as usual

Residents in greater Tokyo and the Osaka area in western Japan hunkered down on Saturday as officials urged citizens to stay indoors to prevent a potential emergency, but some were carrying on as normal, according to Reuters news agency.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koikes plea for the tens of millions of people in the capital and surrounding regions to avoid non-essential, non-urgent outings until April 12, and particularly this weekend, followed a surge in coronavirus infections this week, which she said puts Tokyo on the brink of a state of emergency.

Koike urged the public to avoid the national pastime of congregating to drink and watch the cherry blossoms as they hit their peak in the capital, saying on Friday, The cherry blossoms will bloom again next year.

02:08 GMT  South Korea reports 146 more cases

South Korea has reported 146 more cases of the new coronavirus in the country, bringing the total to 9,478.

As of Friday, there were at least 139 deaths reported in the country.

02:02 GMT  Haiti hospital chief kidnapped amid coronavirus emergency

The director of one of Haitis top hospitals has been kidnapped, prompting staff to refuse to take in new patients in protest as the impoverished country battles an outbreak of the novel coronavirus amid a spike in gang violence.

Dr Jerry Bitar, a surgeon, was kidnapped shortly after leaving for work at Hospital Bernard Mevs from his home in an upmarket neighbourhood of the capital, Port-au-Prince, hospital staff told Reuters on Friday.

People line up for national identification cards at a government office before it potentially closes amid measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on March 24. [Dieu Nalio Chery/AP]

01:42 GMT  Brunei reports first coronavirus death

Brunei reported its first coronavirus death on Saturday, that of a 64-year-old man.

Brunei has reported 115 cases of the virus so far, some of which were linked to a religious gathering in Malaysia that authorities said had been attended by about 16,000 people.

The man who died had not attended the gathering, but had a history of travel to Malaysia and Cambodia.

01:42 GMT  More than 9,000 health workers infected in Spain

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Spain has increased by almost 8,000 in one day, pushing the total number of cases to 65,700, among whom 9,444 are health workers, according to official data and the Johns Hopkins online monitor.

The Spanish Health Ministry said that the number of infected health workers in the country currently ranks as the highest in the world. Spain has had more than 5,000 fatalities.

01:35 GMT  Mexico reports 717 cases, 12 deaths

Mexicos health ministry has announced that it has registered 717 cases of coronavirus in the country, up from 585 the day before.

The ministry also said there had been 12 deaths overall from the virus in Mexico, up from eight a day earlier.

01:25 GMT  China reports 54 new cases  all imported

Chinas National Health Commission said on Saturday that 54 new coronavirus cases were reported on the mainland on Friday, all involving so-called imported cases. There were 55 new cases a day earlier, one of which was transmitted locally.

The total number of infections in mainland China now stands at 81,394, with the death toll rising by three to 3,295, the commission said.

00:45 GMT  US FDA clears new coronavirus rapid test

The United States Food and Drug Administration has cleared a new rapid test from Abbott Laboratories, which the company says can detect the coronavirus in about five minutes.

Medical device maker Abbott announced the emergency clearance of its cartridge-based test on Friday night. The company says that its test delivers a negative result in 13 minutes when the virus is not detected.

Improvised hospital rooms are seen at a convention centre, which has been partially converted into a hospital, in New York. [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]

00:25 GMT  Jordan reports first COVID-19 death

Jordans state-run news agency, Petra, has reported that a woman in her 80s died from COVID-19  the first fatality in the country. Jordan TV reported the woman had underlying medical conditions.

There have been 235 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the kingdom. On March 21, Jordan imposed an indefinite full lockdown after it had shut down its airspace and other border crossings.

00:15 GMT  US doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment

Doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the US coronavirus crisis are pleading for more protective gear and equipment to treat waves of patients expected to overwhelm hospitals as the number of known US infections surpasses 100,000, with more than 1,600 dead.

We are scared, Dr Arabia Mollette of Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, told Reuters news agency. Were trying to fight for everyone elses life, but we also fight for our lives as well, because were also at the highest risk of exposure.

Physicians have called particular attention to the desperate need for additional ventilators, machines that help patients breathe and that are widely needed for those suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory ailment caused by the highly contagious and deadly virus.

00:01 GMT  Cruise ship with coronavirus outbreak blocked from transiting Panama Canal

Panamanian health officials have blocked Holland America Lines MS Zaandam from transiting the Panama Canal, citing sanitary conditions after a coronavirus outbreak on board the cruise ship.

Four passengers have died on board, with more than 130 others suffering from influenza-like symptoms. At least two of them have the coronavirus, the vessels operator said.

The ship is carrying 1,243 guests and 586 crew, as well as four doctors and four nurses, the cruise operator said in a statement.

22:30 GMT Friday  Trump says US will make 100,000 ventilators in 100 days

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US would produce 100,000 ventilators in 100 days and said he had named White House aide Peter Navarro as the coordinator of the Defense Production Act.

Were going to make a lot of ventilators, Trump said, pledging to take care of US needs while also helping other countries.

Trump said there was a chance the US would not require that many ventilators to fight the coronavirus outbreak, and would then help other countries in need.

Im Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur with Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read all the updates from yesterday (March 27) here.
Iranian-backed militias are more frequently and boldly attacking U.S. personnel in Iraq, and for the first time some of the strikes are taking place in broad daylight, The Washington Post reports.

The big picture: "The question of how to deter further militia strikes without putting troops at greater risk highlights how much American security and influence have evaporated in Iraq," Louisa Lovelock and Missy Ryan write.

The Trump administration is trying to develop a game plan to counter these attacks without "sparking costly retaliation."

The state of play: More than 5,000 U.S. troops currently are stationed in Iraq. The U.S. requested that Iraqi authorities find and prosecute those responsible for the attack, but the Iraqis have had little success so far.

The Pentagon issued a directive last week for military commanders to prepare a campaign to destroy an Iranian-backed militia group that's threatened more attacks against U.S. troops, The New York Times reports.

Yes, but: Lt. Gen. Robert P. White wrote a memo last week that a new military campaign would require thousands more U.S. troops in Iraq and would divert from current efforts to train the Iraqi military to fight the Islamic State.

Go deeper: Iran's proxies in the Middle East
Kazakh Authorities Detain 25 Over Deadly Ethnic Clashes In February

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service March 27, 2020

NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh authorities say they have detained 25 people during a police operation connected to February's deadly ethnic clashes in the southern region of Zhambyl.

Deputy Prosecutor-General Yerlik Kenebaev charged on March 27 that the detainees "took an active part " in the violence that claimed 11 lives.

Kenebaev said the 25 included ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, as well as members of the Dungan minority, a Muslim group of Chinese origin.

They were detained in Zhambyl region and the cities of Almaty and Shymkent, he said, adding that seven had previous convictions.

During a visit to the Zhambyl region on March 1, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev blamed "criminal groups" for the February 7-8 clashes.

Authorities said that a road-rage brawl sparked wider violence between ethnic Kazakhs and Dungans that spread into the villages of Sortobe, Masanchi, Auqatty, and Bulan-Batyr.

More than 23,000 people, mostly Dungans, fled villages where the violence broke out.

Kenebaev said that along with the 11 people killed in the clashes, 192 other people were injured -- including 19 police officers.

He said 168 houses and 122 cars were also damaged.

He said the situation in the region was now "stable."

Police detentions after the violence also sparked protests.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-authorities -detain-25-over-deadly-ethnic-clashes -in-february/30513490.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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TWELVE trained and highly experienced firearms officers will be drafted from around the world in a bid to double the size of the Royal TCI Police Forces Tactical Unit.





The recruitment of the additional officers is being jointly funded by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and the UK Government.





"There will be more boots on the ground combatting the type of crimes that continue to leave residents in fear and scourge TCIs reputation, a police press release said on March 19.





The partnership was announced on March 18 by Governor Nigel Dakin at a press conference with Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson and Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting.





The governor stated that while there will be a recruitment campaign in the United Kingdom, the positions are opened to qualified applicants from all countries.





In welcoming the additional support, Commissioner Botting said the work undertaken by the Tactical Unit over the last three months has been impressive.





There were 34 search warrants or authorities to search executed for firearms, 15 joint operations with other police units and external government departments, 71 stop searches for illegal drugs, which led to six seizures of suspected cannabis and cocaine for destruction and the arrest and charge of six people for various offences under the firearm and drug ordinance.





This level of work, according to the commissioner, is seen across all units within the force.





He also announced that the long-awaited marine asset for Grand Turk and Salt Cay will be available in the new financial year and will be named through a name our patrol boat competition involving primary schools on Salt Cay and Grand Turk.




The Uttar Pradesh government has arranged for 1,000 buses to ferry migrant labourers who are stranded on the border districts owing to a countrywide lockdown, an official spokesman said on Saturday.

Officials of the Transport Department, bus drivers and conductors were contacted on Friday night to help the people who were stranded in Noida, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar and Aligarh, among other places, he said.

"Till late in the night, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was busy issuing instructions for arranging buses for the purpose," the spokesman said, adding that the CM also directed officials to arrange for food and water for such people and their families.

On Saturday morning, senior police officers reached the Charbagh bus station in Lucknow to ensure that those arriving there were provided with food and water.

The buses later left for Kanpur, Ballia, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Faizabad, Basti, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Gonda, Etawah, Bahraich and Shravasti.

State's DGP Hitesh Chandra Awasthi and Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Kumar Pande were personally present at the bus station to monitor the arrangements, the spokesman added.

The 21-day lockdown imposed from Tuesday midnight in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus has triggered a mass exodus of migrant workers from cities in several states to their villages.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Laois mother of four is cheering up her local and online community every night by singing stunning versions of Irish songs.

Joan Murphy whose husband Seosamh owns the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow says the songs are as much a comfort to her as anyone else at this strange time in the Covid-19 pandemic.

She began on the day they had to close, singing Breaking the Line, after a challenge by her cousin Leslie Murphy who is also singing online. See it below.

Joan got such a response that she agreed to post more.

"My friends say they look forward to them. I'm in touch with people now that I haven't seen in years. Everything on the news is about the coronavirus, its unprecedented. It's the fear of the unknown and how long it will last. I'm trying to stay positive. We can't go anywhere and there's only so much television you can watch, so when the kids are in bed I give it a go. I enjoy it as much as anyone," Joan said.

It is the first time in 65 years that the Murphy family run hotel has closed, albeit temporarily. They have 35 staff who are temporarily without a job since March 18.

"It was a very emotional day. We have very loyal staff, some are over 20 years with us. They were very understanding. We did our best to stay open. We have lots of elderly customers who come in for their dinner and the social chat. We had asked everyone to keep their distance and we tried to do a delivery service. We were just afraid of elderly people not getting their dinner. But it got to the stage we couldn't," she said.

Joan and Seosamh are now staying safe at home with their four children aged 17, 13, 3 and 1.

"We are trying to stay positive. Thankfully my daughter Roisin is in 5th year but she is already considering repeating. Our three year old boy Seosamh Og is missing playschool, he is getting his bag and asking to go," she said.

"It's giving me a lift too, I can't see my family in Wexford, and it's a comfort that my own family are looking at them, especially my mother Margaret Doyle, she is ringing me up asking what I'm singing next. It's just about keeping in touch with people, trying to give them a bit of a lift," Joan said.
EnWave Expands Strong Intellectual Property Portfolio

Posted by Publisher Internet

EnWave Corporation (TSX-V:ENW | FSE:E4U) (?EnWave?, or the \Company\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/enwave-targeting-profitability-in-2020-signed-joint-development-deal-with-gea-lyophil/ ), a global leader in vacuum microwave dehydration technology, announced today that it has received nine recent patent approvals from a number of key international patent offices. Currently the Company has fifteen patent families related to its Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) technology that have been approved in multiple international jurisdictions.? Also, EnWave has six patent applications that have been completed and submitted to the international Patent Cooperation Treaty (?PCT?) examiner for review and potential approval for national phase pursuit.

Within the past three months EnWave has received approvals from the Chilean, Indonesian and Mexican patent offices for its Modular nutraREV? patent, approval from the Brazilian patent office for its vaccine processing patent, approvals from both the Australian and Canadian patent offices for its Frozen-In process patent, approval from the United States patent office for the quantaREV? apparatus patent, approval from the Australian patent office for the vacuum-microwaved puffed-snack patent and most importantly, patent approval from the Canadian patent office for the dehydration and decontamination of cannabis using REV? technology. The Company has a large amount of additional pending national phase applications that should be approved in the coming months.

EnWave?s distinctive excellence is that the Company offers the most scalable and reliable proprietary vacuum-microwave technology with the most comprehensive set of innovations and solutions available, which accelerates product and process development and unlocks value for our global partners.

About EnWave

EnWave Corporation, a Vancouver-based advanced technology company, has developed Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) ? an innovative, proprietary method for the precise dehydration of organic materials. EnWave has further developed patent-pending methods for uniformly drying and decontaminating cannabis through the use of REV? technology, shortening the time from harvest to marketable cannabis products.?

REV? technology?s commercial viability has been demonstrated and is growing rapidly across several market verticals in the food, and pharmaceutical sectors, including legal cannabis. EnWave?s strategy is to sign royalty-bearing commercial licenses with innovative, disruptive companies in multiple verticals for the use of REV? technology. The company has signed over thirty royalty-bearing licenses to date. In addition to these licenses, EnWave established a Limited Liability Corporation, NutraDried Food Company, LLC, to manufacture, market and sell all-natural dairy snack products in the United States, including the Moon Cheese? brand.?

EnWave has introduced REV? as a disruptive dehydration platform in the food and cannabis sectors: faster and cheaper than freeze drying, with better end product quality than air drying or spray drying. EnWave currently offers two distinct commercial REV? platforms:

nutraREV? which is a drum-based system that dehydrates organic materials quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour; and,

quantaREV? which is a tray-based system used for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying.

More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.

EnWave Corporation

Mr. Brent Charleton, CFA

President and CEO

For further information:

Brent Charleton, CFA , President and CEO at +1 (778) 378-9616

E-mail: bcharleton@enwave.net

Dan Henriques, CFO at +1 (604) 835-5212

E-mail: dhenriques@enwave.net

Deborah Honig, Corporate Development at + 1 (647) 203-8793

E-mail: dhonig@enwave.net

Forward-Looking Information: This press release may contain forward-looking information based on management\-\-s expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company\-\-s proposed expansion into the U.S. cannabis market, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including that such expansion efforts may not meet the expectations of management of the Company, that applicable laws may change to become more restrictive on the Company\-\-s proposed business expansion, that the Company may be exposed to legal and regulatory risk, including fines, penalties or other sanctions, and other risks identified in the Company\-\-s public filings, all of which may have a material adverse effect on the Company\-\-s ability to pursue the proposed business expansion strategy and the Company\-\-s business as a whole. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities law.
At first Kelly Dawson thought she would be safer in her native United States, but now she is glad she is in Beijing.

Beijing, China  As COVID-19 accelerates outside of China, life in Beijing has resumed a cautious rhythm. In recent weeks, I have taken solace in a new ritual made necessary by increased restrictions: at the start and end of each day, walking through the century-old traditional gate that leads to our hutong-alley compound.

In normal times I take a more direct path home, bypassing the gate entirely. These days I am routed first to a sign-in table where a local health employee records my temperature and passport details before I continue my journey home through the sprawling courtyard beyond this inner gate.

Over the course of a day, my temperature is recorded five or six times, sometimes more: at the entrance to grocery stores, offices, restaurants and shops.

Everyone wears masks, which are readily available and required by law. Above all, a mask signals to the people around you that you are in this fight too, and that you understand the gravity of the crisis.

Some people remain at home, but many are gradually settling back into old routines, seeing friends after months of self-quarantine. Restaurants are open for business  officially allowing only one person per table.

Speaking with Chinese friends, my impression is that the restrictions are not seen as a threat to their freedom. At the height of the outbreak, people stayed inside to protect themselves and their families, and because they wanted to play their part  however small  in breaking the chain of transmission.

When the outbreak first accelerated in January, I was in Beijing.

Stay or leave?

I spent my time indoors, obsessively monitoring news updates. The city was quiet, already half-empty for Chinese New Year and made more so by the outbreak. I was concerned for my partner, who had left for Wuhan to report on the virus before the borders closed behind him. I worried about my asthma and the prospect of ending up in a Chinese hospital far from home.

The gate  known as a Chuihuamen  at the Beijing alleyway where Kelly Dawson lives. Temperatures are taken and details recorded each time she arrives home. [Kelly Dawson/Al Jazeera]

I dithered over whether to stay and in late January I made a decision: I flew home to the United States and spent the next two weeks self-quarantining alone in Virginia. Around the same time, my partner was evacuated from Wuhan by the Spanish government.

As the threat became less immediate, my anxiety eased. Speaking to other foreigners who had also left, we felt a sense of great relief, and guilt, too: awareness of the enormous privilege that came with having the resources to leave, for having somewhere else to call home when so many of our Chinese friends and colleagues had nowhere to go; and finally, a mild shame at having fled China the moment our adventure abroad felt less than fun.





I spent a restful five weeks in the US. I watched the numbers in China rise, and then plateau, as life seemed to go on as normal around me. For those of us who were following closely, the virus was always going to arrive in the Western world. But from within the comfort of the American bubble, the crisis did feel less than real, a disaster that seemed to exist only on our phones.

In early March, my work called me back to Beijing. My family worried it was too soon; friends messaged to ask if I was doing the right thing.

Sense of relief

Ironically, I felt safer the moment I landed. The heavy restrictions and declining infection rates combined to provide a sense that Beijing had regained control, just as the crisis was beginning to accelerate in the US. No one knows whether the reported numbers in China are accurate, but the sense of relief here is genuine.

As the epicentre of the virus has shifted away from China, other tensions have emerged. China and the US are fighting through spokespeople, the press and on Twitter, of all places  quibbling over the origin of COVID-19, a conflict that seems to crescendo every time Trump invokes the Chinese virus.

Recently a restaurant in Beijing suggested I leave, blaming a faulty thermometer at the door even as guests before and after me entered without trouble. I suspected it was because I was a foreigner. I thought I recognised the fearful, ignorant impulse that has driven anti-Asian sentiment in the US, now beginning to echo in China as new coronavirus cases arrive almost exclusively by plane from overseas. Other foreigners have reported similar experiences.

Some taxi drivers have surrounded themselves with plastic sheeting as protection against the coronavirus [Kelly Dawson/Al Jazeera]

In more than five years of living in China, I have never felt unwelcome. I have faith that the warmth and kindness I have experienced are more true than this moment of fear we are living in now.

I expect that life here in Beijing will not return to its former shape until the virus has run its course outside China. For now, I am taking refuge in my quiet hutong-alley, passing most days at home. I learned recently that the gate to the compound is a Chuihuamen, a door through which a hundred years ago, female family members were not allowed to pass until marriage. Today it is my way home  a little longer, but far lovelier.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- The number of coronavirus cases in Kalamazoo County has reached 15 as of Saturday, March 28.

This is an increase from the 11 positive cases reported on Friday. There are 31 tests still pending results, according to the county health department website.

The county reports that so far a total of 118 tests have been submitted to the state and 72 have come back negative for COVID-19.

Surrounding counties also saw incremental increases throughout the week and into the weekend.

Allegan County reported its second case on Saturday. A 40-year-old with no travel history is currently hospitalized, according to the Allegan County Health Department.

The individual took proper precautions early on and had minimal community contact. Close contacts have been notified, according to the press release.

Numbers out of Berrien County jumped from five positive cases on Monday to 22 cases on Saturday.

Eaton Countys numbers doubled since Thursday from four to eight.

Barry and Cass County remain at one positive case according to county and state data.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

MORE MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE HERE.

Below is a county-by-county map of Michigan tracking confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by a map of possible exposure sites and a chart based on the states daily reports. The maps will be updated as more reports are released.

If you are reading this story on mobile and cant see the map, click here to view it on the web.

Reported coronavirus cases:

Reported exposure sites:

Sorry, but your browser does not support frames.

More coronavirus coverage on MLive:

500 hand-sewn masks donated to Kalamazoo County healthcare workers during coronavirus shortage

Bronson closes all FastCare locations to limit coronavirus spread

Separated by glass, Kalamazoo couple celebrates 48 years of marriage

Great outdoors helps those around Kalamazoo cope with coronavirus stress, relieve anxiety

Michigan has become a U.S. epicenter for coronavirus. Why?
Two further people with coronavirus have died in Northern Ireland, taking the regions death toll to 15.

There were 49 new positive cases of Covid-19 reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland to 324, according to the Public Health Agency.

The latest figures were outlined as a Stormont minister warned that the safety of agri-food and retail workers was non-negotiable during the emergency.

Also on Saturday, police expressed concern about reports of people visiting popular beaches in Co Down amid the ongoing restrictions on movement.

Controversy continues over whether social distancing rules are being safely applied by certain employers across the region.

WATCH: @Economy_NI Minister Diane Dodds and @daera_ni Minister Edwin Poots voice their support for our agri-food and retail workers who are an essential part of the response to #COVID19 https://t.co/raQckhYiNw pic.twitter.com/ifUUp2Tl0i  Economy NI (@Economy_NI) March 28, 2020

Workers at several companies staged protest walkouts during the week.

The executive is establishing a forum to enable employers and trade unions to address concerns.

Stormont has faced criticism over a delay in publishing a definitive list of essential businesses, amid claims it has created confusion around which can and cannot remain open.

The list is expected at some point over the weekend, as are regulations that will enable police and health and safety inspectors to take specific enforcement actions over breaches of social distancing rules.

Story continues

Economy Minister Diane Dodds said the agri-food and retail sectors were part of the frontline response to the crisis.

They deserve the thanks of the entire community for working around the clock to put food on our tables, she said.

While many in the community can work at home, they continue to clock-on at farms, factories and shops.

Therefore these workers must be protected in the workplace, all employers have a duty to ensure that they are. Their safety is non-negotiable and each of us has a duty to protect ourselves and keep those around us safe.

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said the food industry was vital.

We want to express our support to the workforce who are out there and to ensure that they have the safety that they are looking for, he said.

Were going to work with companies to ensure the appropriate protocols are adhered to and that they continue to seek to safeguard the workforce. Were all in this together.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said people should be well aware of social distancing advice (David Young/PA)

Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said officers had received reports of people visiting Tyrella and Murlough beaches in Co Down and the nearby town of Newcastle.

The public should be well aware of the advice from our public health partners and the Government about social distancing and movement and, on that basis, we would encourage people not to drive to local beauty spots for their daily exercise as others may have the same idea and social distancing may not be achievable, he said.

Northern Ireland continues to brace itself for a surge in cases.

Work is under way to establish large temporary field hospitals for coronavirus patients after modelling indicated that the current health service network may not have the capacity to cope at the peak of the outbreak.

A soon-to-be-decommissioned Army base in Co Down will be used as a temporary morgue if current body storage facilities are overwhelmed.

On Friday, doctors appealed for a complete lockdown in Northern Ireland amid fears not enough is being done to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Chairs of the citys four GP federations wrote an open letter warning Northern Irelands politicians that current social distancing regulations were not stringent enough.

Medics who are dealing with the unfolding crisis continue to raise concerns about the standard and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

On Friday, it was announced that the Stormont executive had made a joint order alongside the authorities in Ireland for a significant consignment of PPE from China.

Coronavirus testing in the region is expected to be significantly stepped up to 1,100 a day from next week but concerns persist that the rate is still lagging well behind testing regimes introduced in other countries battling the virus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 17:35:16|Editor: xuxin

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LILONGWE, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Malawi government is expected to suspend all international flights from April 1 in efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 though the country has not reported a single confirmed case.

The Department of Civil Aviation Aeronautical Information Services announced this in a statement Friday in line with the declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The statement signed by the department's director James Chakwera, said the suspension is with some exemptions.

"Effective April 1, 2O2O, all international flights are suspended except flights ferrying health personnel, essential health equipment and emergency relief items; flights ferrying returning Malawi citizens and residents or general cargo, both of which will be handled on a case by case basis," said the statement.

Malawi has not recorded any COVID-19 case although all her neighboring countries, Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania have reported some cases of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, all schools, colleges and universities in Malawi have closed following President Peter Mutharika's directive and declaration of national disaster following the outbreak of the pandemic in neighboring countries.

Mutharika also banned gatherings of more than 100 people and the country's security agencies have intensified surveillance of travelers from COVID-19 affected countries.
Vietnam has taken full advantage of the CPTPP to gain strong growth in exports to Canada and Mexico, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

Illustrative image (Photo: baodautu.vn)

These are the two CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) members that have not yet signed bilateral free trade agreement (FTAs) with Vietnam.

In the first two months of this year, Vietnams exports to Canada rose by 20.39 percent to 578 million USD year on year.

With over 37 million people, a high standard of living and an urbanisation rate at 80 percent, Canada is considered a potential market for many key export items of Vietnam, including textiles, footwear, seafood, tea, pepper, cashew nut, coffee and wooden furniture.

During the first two months, textile and apparel export value reached more than 100 million USD, up 5.86 percent year on year. The export value of mobile phones and accessories surged by 104.22 percent to 122.09 million USD compared to the same period last year.

Other products with strong growth in exports included the group of iron and steel and plastic materials with rates of 153.69 percent and 354.06 percent year on year, respectively.

Vietnams export value to Mexico reached 497.2 million USD in the first two months. Of which, many products gained high export value, including computers, electronic products and components (133.6 million USD), telephones and components (122.6 million USD), shoes and sandals (47.5 million USD), textiles and garments (16.3 million USD), machinery, equipment and other spare parts (34.5 million USD), vehicles and spare parts (35.2 million USD).

Assessing the implementation of FTAs to promote exports, especially the CPTPP, Luong Hoang Thai, director of the MoITs Department of Multilateral Trade Policy, told the Dau tu (Investment) newspaper reported that Vietnams enterprises have efficiently exploited markets with which Vietnam has not yet signed FTAs.

In fact, Vietnams enterprises have done more than expected, taking full advantage of the CPTPP, Thai said. In 2019, Vietnam gained high growth in exports from the CPTPP countries, especially Canada and Mexico, while the agreement came into effect on January 14, 2019.

The country gained a year on year growth of 26-29 percent in export value to Canada and Mexico last year, he said.

The CPTPP has partly contributed to the strong growth in exports of Vietnam so the country had a trade surplus of 1.6 billion USD with the CPTPP market last year.

Before this agreement, Vietnam had a total trade deficit of 900 million USD with this market, said Thai.

Meanwhile, the General Department of Customs said Vietnam still recorded a trade surplus of 1 billion USD in the first half of March 2020, even during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In the first half of March, Vietnams total trade value reached 21.47 billion USD, including export value of 11.2 billion USD and import value of 10.3 billion USD.

Therefore, the country achieved total trade value of 97.85 billion USD in the period from January 1 to March 15, up 4.4 percent year on year. It had a trade surplus of 2.74 billion USD.

Of which, the total export value recorded $50.29 billion, up 6.8 percent and the total import value was 47.55 billion USD, up 1.9 percent.

During the period from January 1 until March 15, goods with high export growth included phones and components (10.2 billion USD); computers, electronic products and components (7 billion USD); machinery, equipment, tools and other spare parts (3.93 billion USD); seafood (1.26 billion USD); textiles and garments (5.88 billion USD); footwear (3.42 billion USD); timber and wood products (2.1 billion USD); and vehicles and spare parts (1.76 billion USD)./.VNS

VN investment inflow below expectations after CPTPP A year since the CPTPP came into force, trade between Viet Nam and other members of the trade deal had posted significant gains, but the potential to expand remained large, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
SHANGHAI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Municipality has further expanded quarantine measures for inbound passengers and strengthened joint epidemic control measures with provinces across the Yangtze River Delta.

All inbound passengers to destinations other than the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui across the Yangtze River Delta should undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arriving in Shanghai, according to the Information Office of the Shanghai municipal government.

For those inbound passengers who enter Shanghai and are destined for the above provinces, the three provincial governments will send working groups to directly transfer them from the Shanghai airport to their destinations for quarantine based on the joint epidemic control mechanism within the area.

The new regulation, taking effect on Friday, is the latest move to tackle the rising trend of imported novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the area.

Before Friday, inbound passengers destined for other provinces and cities could travel to their final destinations if their nucleic acid test results were negative and their body temperatures were normal upon arriving in Shanghai.

Shanghai reported 17 new confirmed COVID-19 cases from other countries on Thursday, bringing the total number of imported cases in the city to 129.
By Delana Isles

STORES and restaurants in the tourist hubs of Providenciales shut their doors this week as the territorys airports closed to non-essential travel.





The Turks and Caicos Islands tourism industry has already been hit by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic since early March.





And it is set to be hit even harder as the territory prepares for a three-week lockdown due to start this weekend.





A drive through the Grace Bay area early on Wednesday afternoon (March 25) revealed several closed and closing doors, empty restaurant chairs and deserted beaches.





Posted to their doors, business owners cited health of staff and community to encourage self-isolation as reasons for their early closures.





While restaurants are being allowed to remain open and provide food delivery services to home-bound residents, many have chosen to close their doors.





The full lockdown goes into effect on Saturday (March 28) at which time all beaches will be closed, thus affecting tour operators who continued to function during the closure of airports and partial lockdown on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.





It is hoped that following the three-week lockdown, businesses will return to some sense of normalcy.





However, the hope is slim as many other affected countries around the world are still grappling with the pandemic and have extended their curfews for citizens and closures of their airports.





According to Governor Nigel Dakin, a British Airways flight will arrive on Thursday to repatriate residents of the United Kingdom and other countries.





This Saturday, JetBlue will be flying into the Islands to return residents of the United States to Fort Lauderdale, New York and Boston.





Year round, the TCI attracts high-end visitors and celebrities, many of whom book their vacation months in advance and are often repeat tourists.





These visitors are being encouraged to "postpone their vacations and not cancel, all with the hope that the next few weeks and months will see borders being reopened.




YEREVAN.  Armenian MP called on the Eurasian Development Bank to provide assistance to Armenia to overcome economic and social challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael Melkumyan, deputy from Prosperous Armenia party, said it is necessary to appeal to the Eurasian Development Bank for at least $400 million in assistance, as banks investment portfolio makes around $4.5 billion.

Isnt it now when the bank has to extend a helping hand to the member states? It is clear how the political decisions have to be made, he said.

Melkumyan also called on Russia to reduce natural gas price until the situation is stable.

Thirdly, we have to expand the list of goods imported from third countries to the Eurasian Union countries at zero customs duty, taking into account their vital need, he added.
Employees at the Athens international airport unload boxes from an Air China plane, which carried 500,000 protective masks as part of a Chinese aid package to help Greece and other European countries contain the coronavirus, March 21, 2020.

China, once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is moving to polish up its battered image by scrambling to donate medical equipment and other resources to countries reeling from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Countries in South and Southeast Asia are receiving from Beijing huge shipments of medical equipment, personal protective gear and test kits, as well as medical advice on how to treat victims of the contagious and deadly virus, officials said.

In Malaysia  where coronavirus cases now top 2,000  health authorities held a teleconference this week with experts from China to discuss how to rein in the infection rate, which shot up in recent weeks, said Noor Hisham Abdullah, director-general of the Ministry of Health.

We were looking into learning new things to help us fight COVID-19  There are new medicines from China, he told reporters, adding that some of the drugs may not yet be approved for use in Malaysia and their side effects still needed to be studied.

China had already supplied Malaysia with protective gear, hand sanitizers and other materials for the fight against the virus, he said.

Beijing even offered to send doctors to Malaysia, Noor Hisham said, but, thank God, so far we have enough doctors.

We will reciprocate their kindness

Aside from Malaysia, Beijing in recent days has sent countries such as the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand large shipments of aid packages, including donated N95 face masks, medical masks, goggles, protective suits, kits for COVID-19 testing, and other paraphernalia, according to officials from their governments.

Analysts have coined a name for the outreach: mask diplomacy.

Some argue that Beijing was on a damage-control drive after coming under criticism for covering up the crisis in its early stages when the virus emerged in the central city of Wuhan last November. China was also faulted for not giving the world early enough warning.

Among its serious errors at the outset of the outbreak in Wuhan was its failure to communicate, the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based think-tank, said in a report this week. Local authorities withheld information about the virus from the public and the central government and silenced doctors who spoke out.

According to Rommel Banlaoi, a Philippine expert on China, Beijing, through its outreach to its neighbors during the coronavirus outbreak, is sending them aid to continuously build its image as a benign and responsible major power.

China also wants to refute Western criticism of its strong approach to deal with the pandemic. Now that China is recovering from the harsh effects of the pandemic, it wants to tell the world that China can offer useful lessons from its recent experience, Banlaoi, who heads the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, a local think-tank, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

The outreach by the Chinese government, state-run firms as well as Jack Ma Chinas richest man  has reached far beyond Asia to countries in Africa and in Europe, including Italy and Spain, whose death toll has overtaken that in China.

For countries that have assisted China in its fight against the epidemic, we will reciprocate their kindness without any hesitation if they need it, Geng Shuang, the spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, told reporters this week.

We will offer assistance as our capability allows to friendly countries that are in a severe situation and lack  prevention and control materials, especially those developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as regional organizations such as the African Union.

Meanwhile in Washington on Thursday, American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States was making available $274 million in additional U.S. aid to help other countries combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

The superpower will provide the money to 64 of the worlds most at-risk countries to better combat the pandemic and enable the U.N.s refugee agency to assist some of the worlds most vulnerable populations, Pompeo said.

The new aid package includes $100 million in emergency health assistance and $110 million in new disaster international disaster assistance, he said.

The aid package builds upon $1.3 billion in separate U.S. foreign aid to help countries worldwide respond to the pandemic that President Donald Trump signed into law in early March, Pompeo said.

The United States will continue to take action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is an initial investment, on top of the continuing funding we already provide to multilateral organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the secretary said.

We welcome continued, no-strings-attached contributions from other donors to further catalyze global response efforts underway, he added.

Chinese delivers aid to neighbors

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was in Jakarta this week, said now was the time for China to reciprocate the support that Indonesia had shown to Beijing when the worlds most populous nation was dealing with the crisis after the virus first broke out in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.

China-assisted supplies have left for Indonesia today and we will provide facilitation for the country to purchase epidemic response supplies from China, he said on Wednesday.

An Indonesian military cargo plan earlier this week flew in nine tons of medical supplies from China. On Friday, 20 more tons of medical equipment and supplies imported from China for battling the viral outbreak arrived in Indonesia, and 20 tons of health kits were also due to arrive from China the next day, Indonesian government officials said.

Some of the supplies were donated by Indonesian citizens living in China, an official at the Indonesian foreign ministry, Santo Darmosumarto, said.

In Dhaka, a Chinese plane this week delivered 40,000 COVID testing kits and other supplies donated to Bangladesh by China, according to information from the Chinese embassy and BSS, the Bangladeshi state-run news agency.

Meanwhile in Thailand, the health ministry announced that it had taken delivery of tens of thousands of COVID testing kits, surgical masks and protective suits donated from foundations linked to Jack Ma, and had received a shipment of supplies donated by the Chinese government earlier this week. Three-quarters of the testing kits given to Bangladesh this week were also donated by the same charitable organizations associated with Ma.

Last week, in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced that it had also received large donations of medical supplies from China, including surgical masks, protective equipment and test kits.

Faulty?

There were no adverse reports on Chinese aid in the region, unlike in Europe.

According to a news report published Wednesday, 80 percent of rapid testing kits that the Czech Republic recently acquired from China for COVID testing were faulty and had produced erroneous test results on Czech citizens, Taiwan News quoted Czech officials as saying.

In Washington, a U.S. lawmaker and senior member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee blasted what he said were multiple reports that the China was selling faulty medical equipment to countries hard hit by the virus, such as the Czech Republic and Spain.

While the Chinese Communist Party is desperately attempting to shift the blame by casting itself as a protector of global health, the truth is now emerging behind the propaganda they push, Congressman Michael McCaul said in a statement.

Another flap over Chinas largesse emerged in Beijing, where the Thai Embassy issued a press release responding to allegations in Chinese media that Thailand was taking medical aid from China while exporting masks to the United States.

The Embassy would like to clarify that Thailand received Chinese medical aid at Chinas will. Thailand had provided China with medical supplies before, during its COVID peak. Many masks are produced by foreign factories registered under the Thailand Board of Investment with a clause that specifies they are for export only, the statement said.

Analysts: Good PR for China

Chinas public relations drive in Asia may also help ease longstanding concerns in the region over Beijings One Belt, One Road Initiative aimed at funding and building mammoth infrastructure projects.

Some officials and experts in the region, while acknowledging that the initiative would boost trade and growth for economies, also express fear that the high-cost projects could lay a debt trap for governments who borrow huge sums of money from China to build the public works.

Chinas mass donations of masks and supplies to countries during the coronavirus crisis are pivotal in rehabilitating Chinas historically maligned and recently ignominious image in particular areas, Brian Wong, a political scientist and MPhil candidate at Oxford University, said in an article published in The Diplomat this week.

Through offering emergency relief at critical junctures such as natural disasters and public health crises  China gains unrivaled and significant access to the critical infrastructure within the states that open themselves up to China, he said.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
The number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 800 on Friday. Kerala and Maharashtra continue to grapple with Covid-19 as states with the maximum number of infected patients. As many as 17 people have succumbed to death because of the virus while more than 60 people have been cured.

India entered the fourth day of the 21-day Covid-19 lockdown on Saturday. The Reserve Bank of India made key announcements in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak on Friday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the national capital is now preparing to withstand stage 3 of Covid-19 transmission.

Here are the key developments:

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the steepest cut in the policy rate since 2008.

2. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said India will take part in the World Health Organisations coronavirus vaccine trials.

3. Delhi prepares for stage 3 of Covid-19 outbreak, ICMR says India still in stage 2

4. States governments roll out Covid-19 call centres.

5. Doctors and medical students to run virtual diagnostic facilities and prescribe preventive care in over 30 languages to ensure hospitals are seeing only the most severe cases.

6. Farmers impacted by unseasonal rain and lockdown. Supply impacted for consumers.

7. Keralas self-help network of 43 lakh women-run community kitchens to help people tide over Covid-19 crisis.

8. Mumbai surgeon suspected of dying due to Covid-19 disease. His son and wife may have contracted the infection.

9. First images of coronavirus from India published in Indian Journal of Medical Sciences.

10. All domestic, non-scheduled and private flight operations suspended till April 14.
The owners of more than 600 3D printers have answered Britain's call to arms and started to produce thousands of visors for the NHS.

The masks, which protect doctors and nurses treating coronavirus patients, are being delivered to hospitals across the country.

It comes after several hospitals on the frontline of the outbreak reportedly ran out of face masks and basic protective equipment last weekend, prompting health authorities to deliver thousands more masks and items of protective clothing.

Hundreds of 3D printers have been turned to the task of producing face visors. Pictured above are workers at the Royal Mint, Wales, which has also switched to making the masks

The project saw hundreds of sign ups following its launch on Monday. Pictured above is a student printing a face visor using a machine in Zaragoza, Spain

The project, known as 3DCrowdUK, enlists 3D printer owners in the struggle against COVID-19 by asking them to build essential equipment for the NHS.

'We are basically getting all the people around the country who have 3D printers and we're enlisting them in our project to create face shields for the NHS,' said digital artist and 3D printer owner Seb Lee-Delisle.

'We literally set it up on Monday and by now we have got hundreds and hundreds of people involved.'

The masks are easy to assemble. Once the 3D printers have created the headband, a plastic film is placed on the front and elastic attached the back to hold it in place.

Companies across the UK have been offering their premises as assembly and distribution hubs for the shields. The Royal Mint has also switched from making coins to building face visors for the NHS.

The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has also started building face visors (pictured)

A face visor printed at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow is shown above

The UK recorded a further 2,546 cases of coronavirus today, taking the total to 17,089

'The people that are making the 3D parts bag them up and send them to the closest hub and at the hub they go ahead and manufacture them, put the plastic sheets on the front and the elastic and deliver them to the people that desperately need it,' Mr Lee-Delisle said.

'It's a very quick, fast, cost-effective way to get protective gear into the hands of our NHS workers.'

Stephen Stewart, the head of computing at Lochaber High School in the west of Scotland, said he started printing the face shields after he heard that his local hospital was in urgent need of visors to protect its medical workers from the virus.

'Currently it takes two hours to print one but I am hoping to reduce that now the design is perfected,' he said.

'Since starting yesterday I have printed five from one printer and dropped them in to the Belford Hospital.'

The design for the masks was supplied by Josef Prusa, a 3D printer based in the Czech Republic.

The volunteers have been supplying their own materials to produce the shields. The project has also been collecting donations through crowd funding.

Incredible images from inside the ExCel Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into London's emergency coronavirus hospital is underway

Ambulances are seen outside the Excel Centre, London, while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital, as the capital prepares for a 'tsunami' of patients

Other medical staff carried out 'dummy runs', wheeling a model of a fake patient on a trolley into the ExCel exhibition centre on Saturday morning

3D printers in Italy have also saved ten patients lives after they produced a replacement valve for a ventilator machine, allowing it to remain operational.

The UK reported a further 2,546 cases of coronavirus this afternoon. The Department of Health also said 1,019 people have died from the virus.

Stunning images of the UK's first NHS Nightingale hospital at London's ExCel Centre were published by No10 Downing Street today.

The exhibition space has been fitted out with 4,000 beds along with ventilators and other key equipment for the battle against the deadly disease.

NHS staff at Northwick Park hospital were forced to wear bin liners on their heads last weekend, due to an alleged equipment shortage.

A nurse at another major London hospital told MailOnline she had been forced to head to a hardware store to buy aprons, after the centre ran out.
In Russia, the new military version of the Be-200 twin-engine seaplane recently (February) began flight testing. The Russian Navy had ordered six of these aircraft in 2013 but canceled the order in 2017 because Beriev, the manufacturer, was unable to get a jet engine that did not depend on some foreign components. The Be-200 uses the D-436 engines built in Ukraine. The Russian invasion in 2014 led to Ukraine halting exports of military equipment to Russia. Ukraine continued to sell Russian D-436s for commercial aircraft, including most Be-200s, but not for a military model. This Ukraine ban halted construction of several types of Russian warships that depended on gas turbine engines only available from Ukraine.

Aircraft engines were less of a problem because Russia was less dependent on Ukraine for aircraft engines. But the D-436 was not easily replaced by another Russian made engine. There was one likely candidate but that engine turned out to be a joint French-Russian effort. France allowed that engine to be used in the commercial version of the Be-200, which entered service in 2003 but would not allow it for Be-200s sold to the navy. When it became clear that getting a completely Russian engine was still several years away, the navy canceled the order. Apparently Beriev was told that the order would be reinstated when it had an engine that would not run afoul of the Ukraine ban. This was important for export customers and before 2014 several nations had expressed an interest in the military version of the Be-200.

The Be-200 is not a critical item for the Russian Navy. The Be-200s the navy ordered in 2013 only cost about $40 million each. Most seaplanes use turboprop engines and using jets means a faster seaplane that can carry more. The Be-200 was developed in the 1990s, using a combination of Russian and Western technology. It first flew in 1998, and over a dozen have been sold as fire-fighting aircraft. This was the main reason it was designed in the first place. This model can carry twelve tons of water, which it could scoop from a river or lake in 12 seconds. Because most of Russia lacks roads and airfields but has plenty of rivers and lakes, the Be-200 would greatly increase rapid access to many of these areas, especially those beyond the range of helicopters.

The 43 ton aircraft can also carry seven tons of cargo or 72 passengers. Before 2013 Beriev offered an anti-submarine configuration but there were no takers. Built to fly low and slow (it cruises at 500 kilometers an hour), the Be-200 was ideal for ASW (anti-submarine warfare). The Russian Navy never explained exactly what it wanted the Be-200 for and ASW is still a possibility. The current endurance of the Be-200 is about four hours per sortie. This can be increased by using some of the cargo capacity for additional fuel, to get endurance up to eight hours or more.

A seaplane is more expensive to build and maintain than a land-based one. Seaplanes can land and take off from the water and be stationed anywhere along the coast (or up a river). During World War II amphibious maritime reconnaissance aircraft often took advantage of this and were very useful in the Pacific. Currently, only Russia, China, Japan and Canada build seaplanes and Russia is an enthusiastic backer of these amphibious aircraft.

China also builds seaplanes and has produced the largest model currently in service, the AG600. Using four Ukrainian turbo-prop engines, the AG600 first flew in 2017 and is expected to enter service in 2021. The first customer is the Chinese Coast Guard, which ordered 17 of them. These are expected to show up in the South China Sea.

There are some foreign commercial customers interested but these nations are waiting to see how the AG600 does in regular service with the Chinese military. The AG600 is an attempt to capitalize on two decades of increased interest in seaplanes. At 53 tons the AG600 is larger than previous Chinese seaplanes like the 1980s era SH-5. Only seven of these 45 ton SH-5s were built; three prototypes and four production models meant for anti-submarine warfare. These seaplanes were not found to be all that useful in hunting subs and one of the SH-5s has since been converted to fight forest fires.

The AG600 is described as ideal for SAR (Sea Air Rescue) and fighting fires as well as marine patrol and moving cargo and people to remote locations. For fire-fighting it can scoop and deliver on a fire 370 tons of water per sortie. Water is obtained by flying over a lake or river and scooping up ten tons or so of water. Fire retardant chemicals added before the water is dropped on a fire.

For SAR it can land in calm waters and take on as many as fifty passengers. Over 15 tons of cargo can be carried. Max speed is 560 kilometers an hour while minimum speed is 220 kilometers an hour. Max range is 4,500 kilometers and max altitude is 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). Minimum cruising altitude is 50 meters (163 feet).

Chinas neighbors see a more sinister use. If AG600s were assigned to SAR work several could justifiably be stationed in South China, which borders the South China Sea. In that body of water, there are hundreds of islets, reefs and atolls that China claims, despite closer nations already having prior claims. The AG600s could be used to move supplies, weapons and military personnel to reinforce the growing number of small outposts China is building on platforms and artificial islands that are formed by dredging sand from reefs or shallow water. Even without the AG600, China is following a strategy of if our soldiers are on it the rock/reef/whatever is ours. The older SH-5 could carry ten tons and the AG600 is believed capable of carrying nearly twice that. Another Chinese manufacturer is also developing twin-engine seaplanes as well as a four-engine model similar to the AG600.

There are some other Asian seaplane manufacturers. In 2014 India announced it was buying 15 US-2 seaplanes from Japan. Discussions over this sale had been going on since 2011 and are still underway. This is typical of the Indian military procurement bureaucracy and India may eventually sign a purchase order. The growing tension with China has made India eager to improve ties with Japan, where China is also a threat. Technically an air-sea rescue aircraft, the Indian US-2s will be based in the Nicobar and Andaman Islands, which are in the Indian Ocean just west of Indonesia. This would enable India to more easily patrol the western approaches to the Malacca Straits. Each year, half the worlds oil shipments, and a third of all commerce, pass through these straits. India fears that China may use its growing fleet to dominate the waters around the straits. The US-2s will make it easier to keep an eye on the Chinese.

The US-2 is a 43 ton, four-engine amphibious maritime patrol aircraft that can carry twenty passengers, twelve stretchers or a ton of cargo. Japan uses them for search and rescue and carries a crew of eleven for these missions. Maritime patrol is similar and the aircraft has a sea-search radar as well as viewing ports for the crew. Cruising speed is 480 kilometers an hour and max endurance is about nine hours. The US-2s cost $110 million each and it would be up to India to arm them as the Japanese constitution forbids the export of weapons. The Japanese navy operates eight US-2s and has more on order.
State-owned hydro power giant NHPC has arranged airlifting of 2.6 metric tonnes of medical materials from Delhi to Imphal, Manipur amid the lockdown to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Keeping in view COVID-19 pandemic and 21 days countrywide lockdown to fight the crisis, in a major humanitarian gesture, NHPC Limited, India's premier hydropower company has arranged airlifting of 2.6 metric tonnes of medical materials for Manipur from New Delhi to Imphal on March 28, 2020, the power ministry said in a statement.

"NHPC is fully committed to stand with the nation in this moment of crisis and has already earmarked Rs 4.5 crore to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The timely supply of medical material is most crucial and therefore we have aided the airlifting of medical material to Imphal which is remotely located and difficult to reach by road," A K Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NHPC said in the statement.

On receipt of request from the state government, NHPC has arranged to airlift the cargo.

The 2.6 metric tonnes of medical materials included sanitizer, thermal scanners, masks etc.

The land locked region of Manipur has a difficult terrain and sending of medical material by flight would save crucial time in fighting COVID-19 crisis in the state.

NHPC's 105 Mega Watt Loktak Power Station is in Manipur, which generates uninterrupted power in this situation of crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The number of Vietnamese people residing in Japan reached almost 412,000, making them the third largest foreign community in the East Asian country, just behind China and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Vietnamese apprentices in Japan

According to the Japanese Immigration Bureau, the total number of foreigners in Japan amounted to 2.93 million as of late December 2019, up 202,000 from the same period in 2018, marking an increase of about 7.4 percent.

The Chinese was the largest community with over 813,600, followed by the RoK with more than 446,300.

The number of foreigners living in Japan as apprentices was nearly 411,000, up 25.2 percent year-on-year, surpassing the number of foreign students for the first time.

Those eligible for long-term residence was the largest, amounting to almost 793,200.

Japan plans to receive about 345,000 foreign workers in the next five years, in an attempt to deal with population aging and shortage of workers, so as to maintain economic growth./.VNA
Mayor Domenic Sarno and Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan sent a letter to the Regional Administrator for the Department of Housing and Urban Development David Tille on Friday, asking for $500,000 in additional funding for the citys Prime the Pump grant program.

The current Prime the Pump program offers grants up to $15,000 to provide immediate financial relief for restaurants in Springfield.

I have directed my Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan to follow up with HUD Regional Administrator David Tille on this matter and to prepare program guidelines for as early as next week so that we can get this much-needed assistance out to our small businesses, said Sarno. I want to thank Congressman Richard Neal for his continued leadership and for reaching out to HUD Secretary Ben Carson in support of our letter.

Businesses in Springfield have seen their profits more than halved due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced restaurants and cafes to close their doors and offer take-out only.

The new grant program will seek to utilize additional Community Development Block Grant funding from HUD for additional relief for restaurants as well as small businesses.

The Business Improvement District group is looking at plans to aid businesses in Springfield with financial support however, no announcements have been made.

I am in the business to make business flourish, Sarno said at city hall on Friday.

MassForward is MassLive's series examining the journey of Massachusetts' small businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

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ANNAPOLIS (March 27, 2020)The Maryland Department of Health today confirmed the first death of an Anne Arundel County resident related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The individual was a man in his 80s. No other information has been released.



"We don't yet know who he is, but we know that he is one of us," said County Executive Steuart Pittman. "We want his family to know that we are there for them. This is the first death for our county, but we know that it won't be the last. This loss should strengthen our resolve to act as though each of us are carriers of COVID-19, because any of us could be. We must all work to slow the spread of this dangerous virus."



"We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends," said Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, "This serves as an unfortunate reminder that we must practice social distancing and healthy hygiene to protect our most vulnerable neighbors."



Additional details about the individual's death will not be disclosed.
Dundalk BIDS manager Martin McElligott has said that he is proud of the response taken by the town's business community to the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, which as of Sunday has claimed 11 lives in Co Louth.

With practically all town centre shops, restaurants, bars and coffee shops closed, he said 'Dundalk is leading by example and I am very proud of this.'

'It's a very unique situation which everyone finds themselves in and there is a great sadness in the decision of those who have closed as they all acknowledged the huge risk to the health and safety of themselves, their staff and most of all their customers.'

He added that those businesses which remain open are all following the guidelines set out by the HSE and the government.

With calls for further restrictions or a possible lockdown following scenes of crowds descending on seaside villages and public parks over the weekend, Martin said that Dundalk has already started to take all the measures required.

'Many businesses have closed and others are still trading and trying to provide a service of some sort to their customers will maintaining safety measures.'

He called on the public to support their local shops, supermarkets and pharmacies, and to avail of on-line shopping and deliveries if they feel they were vulnerable and didn't want to venture out in public.

Local supermarkets have introduced special hours for the elderly and carers, and many local shops are offering delivery services. The Marshes announced yesterday (Monday) that they are introducing a grocery delivery service. Pharmacies are urging customers to phone ahead before collecting prescriptions.

'We all have to be sensible and do what's right. We have to follow the example of China and Italy and stay at home. If everyone follows the guidelines, the sooner this will be over.'

He added that local businesses are facing a very difficult time and issues such as cash flow need to be addressed so that they can get back to trading in three months time.
Senior Congress leader and former



MP chief minister Digvijaya Singh has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to ensure 295 Indian students stranded in Russia are taken care of.

In a letter to the Union minister on Friday, Singh said he knew the parents of the students and had been asked by them to take up their case.

"These students are in Kalbardino-Balkar State University, Nalchik, Russia and they want to come back to India. I have conveyed to them it is not possible, but I have assured them the Indian Embassy in Russia would take care of them," Singh said.

"I am sure your ministry must have issued necessary instructions to all our embassies to take care of our students abroad. I would be grateful to you if you can respond to my mail so that I can forward to them to reassure them," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A group of migrant workers here on Saturday alleged that truck drivers are charging them Rs 100 per head for dropping them to their native villages in Madhya Pradesh.

"First they committed to take us for free but in midway they asked for money, a migrant labourer said.

"They said that they will drop us to Lakhnadon in Madhya Pradesh without any charges but they stopped their truck midway and asked us to pay Rs 100 per head. They are taking almost 80 people in a truck. We don't have the money and are stranded here," a migrant labourer told ANI.

With a lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak, scores of migrants were seen heading back to their native villages in different states from cities across the country.

Maharashtra is one of the worst-hit states in the country with 147 COVID-19 cases.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 873, including 78 cured, discharged and migrated cases and 19 deaths, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If youve ever dreamed of owning and using a farm-to-table, locally produced personal cleaning product, that opportunity has arrived.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Brothers Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk, owners of Farmery Estate Brewery in Neepawa, show cans of hand sanitizer they've produced as the brewery shifts part of its production from beer to sanitizer to help with measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

If youve ever dreamed of owning and using a farm-to-table, locally produced personal cleaning product, that opportunity has arrived.

While Farmery Estate Brewery is continuing to produce beer at its facilities in Neepawa, the business is devoting some of its resources to produce alcohol of another sort.

Ethyl alcohol and hops grown on Farmerys own farm are being used to make hand sanitizer, which is then dispensed into beer cans. Due to the limitations of those containers, theyre meant to be refills for existing dispensers.

Farmery Estate Brewery co-owner Chris Warwaruk attaches a label to a can of hand sanitizer. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Co-owner Lawrence Warwaruk told the Sun that he hopes that hand sanitizer production wont prevent them from making beer down the road, but said "I think one is more important than the other right now. Well try to balance both."

To prevent people from accidentally cracking one open and downing a can of liquid meant for external use only, large labels have been applied to make sure everyone knows what is inside.

So far only a limited amount of sanitizer has been produced as the brewery waits for some essential supplies to be trucked in from out of province before ramping up production. Even so, Farmery has already received a lot of interest since they announced sanitizer production via social media on Wednesday evening.

"I didnt expect the demand to be so high," Warwaruk said. "Within 15 minutes, we had 300 likes (and) shares and it just kept going higher and higher."

Repackager Michael Schell, brewmaster Ben Nehfinji and canner James Ewashko work at Farmery Estate Brewery in Neepawa. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

According to Warwaruk, examples of organizations inquiring after Farmerys sanitizer include border services, gas stations, retail outlets, pharmacies, municipal services, truckers and more.

Some cans of sanitizer will be donated to organizations in need, but they will also go up for sale in the near future.

Normally, selling a product like this requires approval from Health Canada, but Warwaruk said that some of the rules have recently been relaxed in order to encourage production during the health crisis. It helped that the brewery already had its spirits licence.

The addition of hops from the familys farm isnt just a nod to their tradition of adding the ingredient to all the drinks the brewery makes. Warwaruk said that hops have a natural anti-microbial property.

A can of hand sanitizer made at Farmery Estate Brewery in Neepawa. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

In fact, the modern version of the India Pale Ale was created when an extra-hoppy beer was made to preserve the liquid as it was shipped from England to India in the 19th century.

The alcohol content of Farmerys sanitizer will also help fight germs. The American Centre for Disease Control advises that hand sanitizers must be at least 60 per cent alcohol by volume to be strong enough to kill harmful germs  Farmerys is at 70 per cent.

It should be noted that while Health Canada is relaxing the rules for industrial production of hand sanitizer to address the ongoing shortage, this does not apply to personal production. Health Canada advises individuals not to try to make hand sanitizer at home using alcoholic products intended for human consumption.

Another important note is that proper handwashing is more effective at killing harmful germs than hand sanitizers when it is possible to do so.

Apart from getting sanitizer production started, Farmery is still carrying out mostly normal business. There are various tanks of beer in different stages of the fermentation process.

Fortunately, the company has only had to put one employee on leave due to the pandemic. Warwaruk said that it is more important than ever to support local businesses to help them make it through the current crisis.

"The depths of this economic downturn (are) going to be felt for a long time," he said. "The more that people can support local breweries, its going to have a huge impact on our feasibility in years to come."

To encourage social distancing, Farmery is putting a greater emphasis on online orders. Theyve even started offering free delivery to a select few communities in the province: Brandon, Neepawa, Minnedosa, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach and Winnipeg.

Warwaruk said that customers receiving their beer orders are being given a can of hand sanitizer as a free addition.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Hyderabad, March 28 : Amid a frightening picture being painted by coronavirus concerns across the world, there's a ray of hope emerging from the University of Hyderabad (UoH). In what could be a welcome breakthrough for the country and even the world, a faculty member of the biochemistry department has developed a possible vaccine against the dreaded coronavirus infection.

A statement issued by UoH states that Dr. Seema Mishra, faculty of the Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, has designed potential vaccine candidates, called T cell epitopes, against all the structural and non-structural proteins of novel coronavirus-2 (2019-nCoV) for experimental testing.

These vaccine candidates are small coronaviral peptides, molecules which are used by cells to trigger an immune response to destroy cells harbouring these viral peptides. Using powerful immunoinformatics approaches with computational softwares, Dr Seema Mishra has designed these potential epitopes in a way that can be used to vaccinate an entire population.

Usually, vaccine discovery takes 15 years, but the powerful computational tools helped in quickly enlisting these vaccine candidates in about 10 days.

A ranked list of potential candidate vaccines, based on how effectively they will be used by human cells to stop the virus, has been generated. With no matches present in human protein pool, these coronaviral epitopes pose no cross-reactivity to human cells and hence, the immune response will be against viral proteins and not human proteins. However, these results have to be investigated experimentally in order to provide conclusive evidence.

These results have been disseminated to the scientific community using ChemRxiv preprint platform for urgent experimental assays.

Acknowledging that currently social distancing remains the best defence against nCov infections, the UoH stated that vaccination will take some time as further work is needed on the candidate epitopes.

"We are hopeful that our computational findings will provide a cost-and-time-effective framework for rapid experimental trials towards an effective nCoV vaccine," the statement said.

The University of Hyderabad clarified that although the research has been disseminated, the scientific community, in vitro studies are required to be conducted for establishing the findings conclusively.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)




Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki called on the International Monetary Fund to consider allocating Special Drawing Rights (SDR), an international reserve asset, to provide global liquidity amid the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic.







Hong made his case in a video conference of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the governing body of the IMF, which was held Friday to discuss the unprecedented challenge posed by COVID-19.







The SDR is an international reserve asset that was created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves.







The IMF said so far SDR 204.2 billion (US$281 billion) has been allocated to members, including SDR 182.6 billion given out in 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis.







IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a press briefing after the conference call that over 80 countries have placed requests for emergency financing.







The IMF executive board approved the first of those requests for the Kyrgyz Republic in a record first disbursement.







On March 23, Georgieva said the IMF stands ready to deploy all its $1 trillion lending capacity.







"Several low- and middle-income countries have asked the IMF to make an SDR allocation, as we did during the Global Financial Crisis, and we are exploring this option with our membership," Georgieva said in a statement following a conference call of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors. (Yonhap)


In a celebration of bipartisan unity, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Friday approved by voice vote an unprecedented $2.2 trillion bill to bail out the nations corporations and banks, while providing limited and temporary aid to workers hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The House vote followed Wednesday night's 96-0 approval of the measure by the Republican-controlled Senate. President Trump, who had lobbied furiously for the bill, signed it into law only a few hours after it passed the House just after 1:30 p.m.

The $2.2 trillion estimated cost of the bill, equal to more than half of the entire federal budget and far in excess of the $700 billion bank bailout bill passed in 2008, substantially underestimates the actual scale of the government handout to big business. The biggest single slice of the bill, $454 billion to finance guaranteed loans to big corporations, is designed to be leveraged by the Federal Reserve Board into some $4.5 trillion in loans and subsidies.

This amounts to a virtually unlimited backstop for the country's corporate and financial aristocracy, with no real strings attached. The provisions that provide stop-gap assistance to workers who are being laid off in the millions or being ordered to work without any protection against the deadly virus are designed to head off an eruption of class conflict in the short-term, so that the ruling class can buy time and prepare a counteroffensive to place the full cost of the corporate bailout on the backs of the working class. The bill's passage coincides with Trump's push to open up the country and force workers back into the plants and workplaces to resume pumping out profits for big business.

The Senate bill was supported by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the two remaining candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, who shelved his socialist pretensions to praise the measure as a boon to working people. There was no effort by the progressive allies of Sanders in the House, including Democratic Socialists of America members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, to actually oppose the bill.

Ocasio-Cortez railed against the bill during a four-hour floor debate Friday morning, but she failed to follow through with a threat to stall passage of the measure by demanding a roll-call vote. It was a right-wing Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, who sought to delay passage by opposing a voice vote and formally demanding a recorded vote.

With the House in recess, the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had agreed that they would avoid requiring House members to appear in person to cast votes, under conditions of lockdowns and travel restrictions in large parts of the country and the rapid spread of COVID-19, and seek instead to get the bill approved by unanimous consent. That would have required only a few representatives to be in attendance.

Massie, however, refused to back down, forcing a quorum call to determine whether more than half of the chamber's 435 members were on handas they were. He was, however, unable to get a single House member to back his demand for a roll-call vote, allowing the House leadership to push the bill through on a voice vote. There were only a few scattered nays amidst the overwhelming chorus of ayes.

Following the vote, Pelosi and McCarthy appeared side by side to hail the passage of the bill, cynically casting it as a humanitarian lifeline to ordinary Americans. Pelosi quoted Pope Francis in praising the measure.

The bill includes two main provisions providing aid to workers. It allocates $300 billion for direct cash payments to more than 150 million households. Those eligible, who do not include undocumented workers, will receive $1,200 per adult or $2,400 per couple, plus an additional $500 for each child. This is a one-time subsidy.

In addition, the bill allocates $250 billion to extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks and add $600 per week to the benefits provided by the states. This federal supplement is to end in early August for workers filing claims this week. The bill also makes freelance and gig workers eligible for the same unemployment benefits.

Some $500 billion is to be distributed to defray the costs of fighting the coronavirus epidemic and other social needs. That sum includes $207 billion for state, local and tribal governments, school districts and public transit agencies; $130 billion for hospitals and public health facilities and $45 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Only $16 billion is set aside for hospitals to procure personal protective equipment and ventilators.

The vast bulk of the bill is a massive handout to business, with most of the money by far going to big corporations. In addition to the $454 billion Treasury backstop for Fed loans and grants to corporations, the bill provides $46 billion in targeted loans from the Treasury Department, mainly to the commercial airline industry, with $17 billion carved out for Boeing.

It sets aside $350 billion in loans and aid to small businesses, which are defined as enterprises with up to 500 employees. This could include multi-billion-dollar hedge funds and other financial firms.

There is also $50 billion for an employee retention tax credit to companies that keep their employees on the payroll.

There are other windfalls to business buried in the more than 800 pages of the legislation. One that could directly benefit Trump or his associates is the full restoration to the real estate sector of a huge tax break for interest costs and operating losses that was limited by the 2017 tax overhaul.

Restrictions imposed on corporations receiving government aid are largely nullified by caveats. There is a provision barring businesses receiving loans from cutting their employment levels until September 30. However, this is hedged with the phrase to the extent practicable.

Corporate recipients are also barred from raising dividends or carrying out stock buybacks to further enrich executives and big investors. This provision, however, can be waived by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a multi-millionaire and former CEO of OneWest Bank, where he was sued for illegal home foreclosures.

The bill sets the precedent for the unlimited plundering of social resources to prop up the corporate oligarchy, while providing entirely inadequate assistance to working people devastated by the health and economic impact of a pandemic that could have been either minimized or stopped in its tracks. Multiple advance warnings by health experts were ignored, no preparations for such a crisis were made, and the virus was not taken seriously by the government when it erupted in China.

The bipartisan bill does nothing to mobilize the immense power of technology and industry in a planned and coordinated manner to quickly produce and distribute the ventilators, masks and PPE material needed to save lives, and to construct the ICU units and hospitals and train the staff needed to prevent the health care system from being completely inundated.

It does not provide for the mass testing, contact tracing and extended social distancing needed to contain and defeat the disease. Nor does it order the shutdown of all workplaces and factories not providing essential services, with no loss in income for the workers, and safe conditions under medical supervision for those required to work.

These are demands that workers must raise, along with free and equal care for all those affected by the virus and a moratorium on rent, mortgage payments and personal loan payments for the duration of the crisis.

These critical needs at every point collide with the priorities of the profit system and private ownership of the means of production. The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated all over the world the life-and-death need for the working class to put an end to capitalism and replace it with socialism.
White House: Trump Signs Defense Production Act Ordering General Motors to Produce Ventilators

Sputnik News

20:06 GMT 27.03.2020(updated 20:37 GMT 27.03.2020)

In accordance with the Defense Production Act, US President Donald Trump has ordered General Motors prioritize the production of ventilators as the country attempts to treat those diagnosed with or experiencing symptoms from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

"Today, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize Federal contracts for ventilators," the US president said via White House news release from the Office of the Press Secretary.

Trump went on to slam the Detroit-based General Motors corporation, claiming that they were "wasting time" during negotiations over their ability to supply ventilators - which are vital for those with respiratory issues brought on by the novel coronavirus.

"Today's action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives," he concluded.

General Motors spokesman Daniel Flores fired back at the US president's assertion that they were dragging their feet in negotiations.

Earlier Friday, Trump issued multiple tweets concerning ventilators and General Motors - including one post that called on the corporation to use its assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which was sold to a start-up back in November 2019.

Speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity on his self-titled opinion show on Thursday, Trump did not appear too concerned about the estimated number of ventilators needed to treat COVID-19 patients.

"I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you go to major hospitals, sometimes they'll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they're saying, 'can we order 30,000 ventilators?'" he contended, without providing concrete evidence to support his belief. He immediately went on to say "we have to get back to work," referring to the reopening of select businesses.

While Trump has been highlighting the state of the economy and the country's need to resume work, the US has been experiencing an increasing number of COVID-19-related deaths and, on Thursday, surpassed China for the most amount of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in the world.

 Sputnik

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By ANI

MALE: Maldives has reported first case of its citizen testing positive for COVID-19, the local media reported.

Addressing a press conference at the National Emergency Operating Centre, the country's Health Minister Abdulla Ameen on Friday said that the Maldivian, 38, who was in quarantine since arriving from Britain on March 22 has tested positive for the virus, raising the total number of cases to 16.

He added that the individual had tested for the virus on March 25 after showing symptoms of the infection.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

The Maldives, a South Asian country of nearly half a million of population, has other cases of coronavirus, but all of them are foreigners, while nine have fully recovered, Anadolu agency reported.

The country is currently under a state of public health emergency and the government has taken several steps to stop the spread of the virus in the country including suspending the issuing of visas on-arrival.

ALSO READ | Afghanistan, Maldives pledge funds for coronavirus

Meanwhile, China's envoy to the Maldives Ambassador Zhang Lizhon, announced on his Twitter handle that Beijing sent its first batch of "emergency medical supplies" to the island nation today.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 176 countries and territories.

According to data compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University, more than 549,600 cases have been reported worldwide since last December, with the death toll above 24,800, and over 127,500 recoveries.
Botswana, one of the few countries in Africa without a confirmed case of coronavirus, has moved to secure its borders after neighboring Zimbabwe recorded its first coronavirus-related death on Monday.

Soldiers will be watching border crossings, but authorities say Zimbabweans who use unauthorized entry points present a real challenge.

Botswanas government announced Tuesday it was closing all border crossing points with immediate effect.

Botswanas Vice President Slumber Tsogwane addressed the nation on state television.

"The movement of people visiting neighboring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland is restricted. His excellency the President recently undertook an emergency official trip to Namibia to seize the presence of other regional heads of state to discuss critical COVID-19 measures taken in respect of countries sharing borders with Botswana," said Tsogwane.

The closures will remain in place until further notice. Citizens will be allowed to return home, but must submit to a 14-day quarantine.

The move came a day after Zimbabwe registered the regions first coronavirus-related death.

Soldiers are being deployed to watch border crossings. However, authorities say it will be difficult to prevent all illegal entries. Many Zimbabweans coming into Botswana use unauthorized entry points.

Botswana Defense Force official Khumo Morwagabuse said Monday that the situation could undermine efforts to keep out the coronavirus.

In 2018, Botswana deported nearly 29,000 illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe.

Gaborone resident Khumo Tlhakane said Botswana should now move to curb illegal immigration.

"Now our greatest threat is the border jumpers. They do not go through the same screening process like everyone who comes into Botswana. Now the government should step up and increase their measures, the soldiers should do more patrols," said Tlhakane.

Botswana also has to keep an eagle eye on South Africa, which had recorded more than 500 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday.

However, the number of border jumpers from South Africa and Botswanas other neighbors is usually small.
The restriction of movement throughout Russia and cancellation of air and rail passenger traffic may be a good step to prevent the spread of coronavirus, State Duma deputy from Crimea Mikhail Sheremet said.

The MP noted that he did not consider these measures excessive. "The faster we do this, the faster we will deal with the pandemic. We definitely need to close the internal passenger transportation between the regions and isolate them from each other in order to minimize the spread of infection across the country and reduce to zero the emergence of new cases of infection," Sheremet explained.
Israel is headed for a unity government after opposition leader Benny Gantz moved towards an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, disappointing voters who had hoped to bring down the right-wing premier.

Mr Gantz was elected parliamentary speaker on Thursday with support from Mr Netanyahu's Likud and allied parties, angering many of his own partners over the possibility he could form an alliance with a leader who is under criminal indictment.

Mr Gantz cited the coronavirus epidemic as the reason for his decision. Israel, with 3,000 cases of the disease and 10 deaths, is under partial lockdown.

The shock move splintered Mr Gantz's centrist Blue and White coalition of three parties just 13 months after it came into existence as a grouping of Netanyahu opponents intent on bringing down Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

It also drew an angry response from some among the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who turned out to support Mr Gantz's coalition in three elections in the past year.

"It makes me feel terrible. It's exactly what I did not want to happen, to see Gantz actually partner with Netanyahu," said Tami Golan (46), who voted for Mr Gantz in all three elections.

"I understand the coronavirus makes for a special situation, but I can't help but feel disappointed - we might not be done with Netanyahu," Ms Golan said.

Mr Gantz (60) expressed regret that his decision had split his centrist alliance but said dragging the country towards a fourth election would distract from fighting the coronavirus and aiding the economy.

"(We) will make every effort to establish a national emergency government. We will take care of the health crisis. We will lift the country out of economic trauma," Mr Gantz wrote on his Facebook page.

At least one member of Mr Gantz's own Israel Resilience party came out against him yesterday - a lawmaker from Israel's Arab Druze minority. "A leader does not betray his principles and his electorate ... I will not sit one day under the corrupt (premier)," Gadeer Mreeh wrote on Twitter.

But with Mr Netanyahu's coalition of right-wing parties needing only three more seats to reach a majority in the 120-member parliament, the early defection from Mr Gantz's 15-strong faction was unlikely to put a dent in moves towards a unity government.

During the campaign for the March 2 election, Mr Gantz had ruled out serving with Mr Netanyahu, citing the prime minister's looming trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Mr Netanyahu denies the charges.

But Mr Gantz has lacked enough support on the centre and left to form a coalition after being asked by President Reuven Rivlin to try to form a government following the election.

Mr Netanyahu (70) had proposed a unity government to tackle the coronavirus.
Bengaluru: The connectivity issue between Kerala and Karnataka has continued even during the COVID-19 crisis, with Kerala chief minister Piranayi Vijayan seeking prime minister Narendra Modi's intervention to ensure free movement between Karnataka and Kerala.

However, Kodagu MLA K G Bopaiah has shot back saying that the borders could not be opened as Kerala was planning to send COVID-19 patients to Karnataka as they lacked medical facilities in their state.

After a series of COVID-19 cases testing positive in Mangaluru, where most of the patients are from Kerala, Karnataka decided to seal the border with Kerala in both Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts. Four major borders points in Kodagu district including Karki, Makutta and Kutta have been sealed, while in Dakshina Kannada all the major border roads leading to Kerala have been sealed.

On Saturday, Piranayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister, saying the border closing has put many people in Kerala to hardship and asked him to direct the Karnataka government to open the border gates.

Earlier, Kerala had objected for Karnataka closing a road through Bandipur in Chamarajnagar district at night. Now, it is asking for a railway line through Kodagu, which is strongly opposed by Karnataka.
The accelerating death toll from the coronavirus epidemic sweeping the globe surged past 20,000 in Europe on Saturday, with hardest-hit Italy and Spain both reporting more than 800 dead in a single day.

As many as one-third of the world's population is now living under lockdown and US President Donald Trump says he is considering placing New York state under "quarantine", as the Chinese city where the outbreak began has begun to return to normality.

The worst hit country, Italy, announced 889 new COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, pushing it past the 10,000 mark, and Spain added 832, as Madrid officials said the epidemic seemed to be nearing a peak.

Russia will become the latest country to close borders on Monday in an attempt to slow the pandemic's spread, according to a government decree.

More than 600,000 cases of the novel coronavirus have been officially recorded around the world since the outbreak began late last year, according to an AFP tally.

Variations in testing regimes mean the true number is likely far higher and confirmed deaths are mounting.

Europe is now the worst-hit continent with 20,059 deaths. France has seen close to 2,000 fatalities and the British toll passed 1,000 on Saturday.

Spanish official Fernando Simon suggested the virus was "very, very close" to peaking in his country: "The increase is slowing or stabilising little-by-little."

Elsewhere, Iran announced 139 more deaths and India sealed off a dozen Punjab villages that had been visited by a guru now known to be infected and a possible "super-spreader".

Sri Lanka recorded its first death and Turkey hit 100 fatalities.

South African police resorted to rubber bullets in Johannesburg to enforce social distancing on a crowd queueing for supplies outside a supermarket during a national lockdown.

The United States now has the world's highest number of COVID-19 cases but per capita European nations are still the worst hit, with emergency services across the world struggling to cope.

- Wuhan partially reopens -

However, two months of almost total isolation appear to have paid off in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus first emerged.

Residents have been forbidden to leave the city since January, with roadblocks installed and millions subject to dramatic restrictions on their daily life.

But on Saturday people were allowed to enter the city and most of the subway network restarted. Some shopping centres will open their doors next week.

The US, which now has more than 104,000 COVID-19 patients, invoked emergency powers Friday to force a private company to make medical equipment.

With 60 percent of the US in lockdown and infections skyrocketing, Trump has signed the largest stimulus package in US history, worth $2 trillion -- and now seems set to go further.

"Wed like to see NY quarantined because it's a hotspot  New York, New Jersey, maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut quarantined," Trump said, without elaborating.

- 'Enough, enough' -

Italy recorded almost 1,000 deaths from the virus on Friday -- the worst one-day toll anywhere since the pandemic began.

One coronavirus sufferer, a cardiologist from Rome who has since recovered, recalled his hellish experience at a hospital in the capital.

"The treatment for the oxygen therapy is painful, looking for the radial artery is difficult. Desperate other patients were crying out, 'enough, enough'," he told AFP.

Infection rates in Italy are on a downward trend, but the head of the national health institute Silvio Brusaferro said it was not out of the woods yet, predicting a peak "in the next few days".

Spain has the world's second-highest death toll and its cases jumped to 72,248 on Saturday as the country moves to ramp up testing.

Belgium and Luxembourg also saw a steep climb in deaths, with 353 recorded in the former on Saturday -- up from 289 the day before -- and 15 in the grand duchy, up from nine.

Europe has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks, with millions across the continent on lockdown and the streets of Paris, Rome and Madrid eerily empty.

Meanwhile, other countries across the world were bracing for the virus's full impact, with AFP tallies showing more than 26,000 deaths globally.

The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa warned the continent faces a "dramatic evolution" of the pandemic.

As even rich countries struggle, aid groups warn the toll could be in the millions in low-income countries and war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where healthcare systems are in tatters.
Their first live stream this week, with a Frances Perry House obstetrician, attracted 200 pregnant women with dozens of questions about what they can do to keep themselves and babies safe. The pair is also linking mothers with up to 10 other women in their area who are expecting, or have babies or young children the same age and creating virtual neighbourhoods on the conferencing platform Zoom. They will set up chair meetings as volunteers. I sat outside the helpline and was overwhelmed by the number of calls coming through, it's a really sad thing. PANDA CEO Julie Borninkhof "Young mums are feeling so isolated, this is a virtual hug and we're hoping that when all this is over they can get together and have a hug in the real world," says Ms Hopwood. Julie Borninkhof, the CEO of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), said on Friday March 20 the service's helpline received such a steep increase in calls, the organisation asked states and territories for help to set up a national register to log online groups connecting parents.

"Our phone just won't stop ringing," said Ms Borninkhof. "I sat outside the helpline and was overwhelmed by the number of calls coming through, it's a really sad thing. "People who may well have travelled OK as new or expecting parents and who wouldn't have needed our services in the past are now calling us. They are becoming more and more stressed." If we can use technology to find other ways to connect up mums who are going through similar things that's absolutely awesome. Mother of two, Stephanie Watt She said many suburban, virtual groups were springing up to counter the sense loss caused by a temporary end to access to in-person services and community contact. "A lot of neighbourhoods are doing it themselves, we are thrilled to see so many innovative ways communities are activating themselves to support each other," she said. "It's one of the positives to come out of this terrible situation."

Stephanie Watt, head of HR at DuluxGroup (on maternity leave), has applied to join one of Mama You Got This's virtual mother's groups to find women whose children are at a similar stage. "Being cut off is pretty isolating with two little boys, a two-year-old and an 8-week-old ... even meeting up at a playground and things like that we've had to say no you can't go anymore which is pretty hard for a two year-old to understand," she said. "If we can use technology to find other ways to connect up mums who are going through similar things that's absolutely awesome." For PANDA's helpline call 1300 726 306 Pregnancy, birth and COVID-19 questions answered by Professor Mark Umstad, director of maternity services, Royal Women's Hospital

Should pregnant women take extra precautions? There are no extra ones really, just follow the guidelines of hand washing and social distancing; we are offering a modified program of antenatal care, trying to avoid women having to come into hospital or see doctors for what could be unnecessary visits, some visits will be by phone. Is hospital still "safe"? Yes, the precautions taken within the hospital are extraordinary. It may well be one of the safest places around. As you walk into the hospital there is a screening centre, very careful social distancing in the hospital, hand sanitisers, gloves and protective equipment is used when needed. All the rooms are appropriately prepared and staff are adequately trained. Is breastfeeding OK?

Yes, there is limited information on it at moment but the current information suggests the virus is not transmitted in breast milk; potentially wearing a mask and using hand hygiene is appropriate at this stage. We are strongly advising the benefits of breastfeeding significantly outweigh the potential or theoretical risk of infection. Can grandparents hold the baby? We would recommend not at the moment, primarily because grandparents almost always fall into a high risk category and the mortality rate (in that risk group) is so high. Current evidence is newborn babies are virtually asymptomatic even if they have the virus: they don't appear to have it. What is known about how the virus affects pregnant women? We've got only limited data; a paper was just published out of Wuhan a few days ago, and in the early days it appears pregnant women were no more susceptible than other women of the same age. We have to remember women who are pregnant potentially can have more respiratory compromise, but we do know the majority of pregnant women who have COVID-19 will have a mild flu-like illness.
A homeless man who reported to Beth Israel Hospital for a coronavirus test was told to self-isolate. He explained to hospital staff that this was impossible because he was staying at the New York City Rescue Mission. A spokesperson at the Bowery Mission, which runs the shelter, declined to comment on the case, but said space is set aside for self-isolation and people with coronavirus symptoms would be separated from other residents. [Daily News]

More than 400 people are showing up for meals at the Bowery Mission, up from an average of 250 during normal times. [Channel 2]

Neighborhood clinics, like Betances Community Health Center on the Lower East Side, are on the front lines as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies. [Channel 11]

Spectrum relents after shutting off internet service for families with old debts. The internet access is needed to facilitate online learning during the coronavirus crisis. [Chalkbeat]

As the rent bill comes due in just a few days, some art galleries are already receiving threatening warnings from their landlords indicating they will be shown no mercy. [Hyperallergic]

Truman Lam talks with NPRs Scott Simon about the future of his familys business, Chinatown restaurant Jing Fong, which was forced to temporarily close earlier this month. [NPR]

Economy Candy is among many local businesses concentrating on online sales after being forced to close Brik-and-mortar locations. [Channel 7]

Venieros has made the decision to temporarily close after today. [EV Grieve]
The movement were seeing now is not just a reaction to one pandemic, said Joel Kotkin, who studies how and why people move and wrote about the Coming Age of Dispersion at newgeography.com. There will be a longer impact, an acceleration of the process that was already starting. The work-at-home trend was already building, the small towns were already becoming much more cosmopolitan, with more and better coffee places and restaurants, and the big cities were already becoming prohibitively expensive.




The European Union's top diplomat has fired a warning shot at China's "politics of generosity," amid a growing sense of unease over Beijing's targeted strategy to help certain European countries with medical supplies to fight Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The European Union's top diplomat has fired a warning shot at China's "politics of generosity," amid a growing sense of unease over Beijing's targeted strategy to help certain European countries with medical supplies to fight Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.





In an unusual choice of language, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on EU countries to stand ready for a "struggle for influence" in a "global battle of narratives."







While Beijing has called its campaign to send millions of face masks to Europe  the current epicentre of the pandemic  a show of solidarity and friendship, Borrell cast light on its geopolitical significance in a blog post released by EU External Action, the agency he leads.







"There is a global battle of narratives going on in which timing is a crucial factor," he said, noting that the focus had shifted from Europe helping China to the other way round. "China is aggressively pushing the message that, unlike the US, it is a responsible and reliable partner.







"In the battle of narratives we have also seen attempts to discredit the EU as such and some instances where Europeans have been stigmatized as if all were carriers of the virus.







"The point for Europe is this: we can be sure that perceptions will change again as the outbreak and our response to it evolves. But we must be aware there is a geopolitical component including a struggle for influence through spinning and the 'politics of generosity'," Borrell said.







"Armed with facts, we need to defend Europe against its detractors."







Since the focus of the pandemic shifted from China to Europe, Beijing has tried to help to plug European shortages by distributing medical equipment, but Europe was left disappointed with US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a travel ban on travelers from the Schengen Zone, which allows for passport-free travel across much of the continent.







The latest EU country to receive aid from China is Hungary, whose eurosceptic Prime Minister Viktor Orban shared a video on Facebook showing the arrival of a Chinese plane carrying 3 million masks, 100,000 test kits and 86 ventilators.







France and Austria, which sent support to the central Chinese city of Wuhan  where the first cases of the new disease were reported last year  at the height of the outbreak in China, have also received supplies from Beijing.







Some big Chinese corporate names  including billionaire Jack Ma and tech giant Huawei Technologies  have also sent medical equipment to countries such as Belgium, Spain and Ireland.







Even Borrell's own boss, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sounded positive last week, when she thanked China for providing the EU with medical supplies, including 2 million surgical masks. She called it a "reciprocal" act given the EU had dispatched similar equipment to China during the start of the outbreak.







Italy, which currently has the highest number of deaths in the world, has been the biggest beneficiary of Chinese medical aid and supplies, while also reaching out to Russia and Cuba for medical help.







But two recent developments have changed the EU's thinking, according to a diplomatic source briefed on the matter, driving EU officials closer to the rhetoric of regarding China as a "systemic rival," a phrase first used under von der Leyen's predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker.







First, there is the sense that China's leadership prefers to deal directly with European countries, rather than through the EU. Von der Leyen was the only major European leader who did not receive a phone call from Chinese President Xi Jinping.







While Xi has phoned French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spain's King Felipe over the past week, it was left to Premier Li Keqiang to make the call to Von der Leyen.







Second, the EU was startled by the reaction of Serbia, which is on course to begin accession talks at some stage to join the EU. When the EU hastily enacted an export ban on medical equipment, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lambasted EU solidarity as a "fantasy," turning instead to Xi, whom he called a friend and a brother.







While the EU urgently arranged $8.1 million in aid for Belgrade, China moved swiftly to solidify ties with Serbia, with Xi calling Vucic last week to pledge medical support and heap praise on the "ironclad friendship" between the two countries.







At the same time, Chinese diplomats stepped up what critics describe as a disinformation campaign on Twitter.







The Chinese Embassy to France, for instance, posted a series of tweets claiming the US government had covered up a coronavirus outbreak last year as flu cases, deflecting claims that Covid-19 originated in China.







"Following the surprise closure last July of the largest American research center for biochemical weapons, Fort Detrick base in Maryland, a series of pneumonia or similar cases have occurred in the United States," one of the tweets claimed.







Mikko Huotari, executive director of the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies, called it a "good signal" that Borrell showed awareness of the geopolitical dimensions of "Chinese diplomatic spin."







"This is clearly not just apolitical altruism," Huotari said. "[China's efforts] will backfire with many advanced economies. Trust is based on reciprocating ... deeds, not words and certainly not spreading conspiracies."







Andrew Small, an expert on EU-China relations at the German Marshall Fund, said initial EU goodwill towards China had gone. "The level of politicization, propaganda and outright disinformation on the Chinese government's part has really stepped up in recent days," he said.







"Borrell's statement is both a strong message of unease at Beijing's behaviour and a signal that the EU and its member states will have to play a more active role in competing with China and others to influence the European and global narrative around this crisis."







Beyond Europe, both China and the EU have also vowed to assist Africa in its battle against Covid-19.







Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday that China had been providing African countries with medical equipment, and would "step up the level of support as a next step."







Borrell, meanwhile, had a similar message. "The EU should  be ready to assist others in fragile situations who risk being overwhelmed," he said. "In this regard, Africa is a major concern."










Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex days as senior royals are winding down and there are lots of questions about what their future outside the royal family will look like.

Many have wondered about some of the privileges they will lose and what Harrys wife can and cant wear following Megxit. Heres more on that and if Meghan will be banned from wearing Princess Dianas jewelry after stepping down.

Meghan Markle | Alastair Grant  WPA Pool/Getty Images

When Meghan has worn her mother-in-laws jewelry

When Harry proposed to Meghan he gave her a three-stone diamond ring. The center gem comes from Botswana, a country close to the couples hearts, and the two smaller stones are from Princess Dianas personal collection. The retired actress has also honored Harrys late mother a number of times by wearing other pieces of her jewelry.

Meghan wore a pair of Dianas butterfly earrings in Australia following the announcement of her pregnancy. While Down Under, the former Suits star donned a simple gold bracelet, which once belonged to the Princess of Wales, with those butterfly studs. Meghan also sported Dianas aquamarine ring to her and Harrys wedding reception in 2018.

Will she be banned from wearing those pieces post-Megxit?

So will the duchess still be allowed to continue rocking Dianas jewels after she and Harry official step down on March 31?

I dont think the royal family would strip her of anything like that, royal expert Emma Forbes told Page Six. I dont think itll be so much about them taking stuff away from her, but more about how to do things moving forward.

And, allowing Meghan to keep the jewelry Harry gave her actually falls in line with what the late princess wanted.

In her letter of wishes Prince William and Prince Harrys mom reportedly wrote, I would like you to allocate all my jewelry to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it.

Privileges the duchess will lose following Megxit

Meghan Markle | Ben Birchall  WPA Pool / Getty Images

Of course, there are a number of privileges the Duchess of Sussex is going to lose after Megxit.

She and Harry will have to start funding several of their own expenses including the cost of their armed security and staff members such as nannies and housekeepers. In addition, any future children they have wont be considered royal babies. Therefore, there will not be a celebration like there was with Archies birth and the Buckingham Palace gift shop wont carry any memorabilia of their new arrival.

Finally, the paparazzi will have free reign to photograph them and use those images. Vanity Fair noted that the British newspapers have an agreement with the palace and will not use pap photos of members of the royal family. However, that is not the case with the press agencies in Canada and the U.S. where the Sussexes are going to be spending a great deal of their time in the future.

Read more: What Prince Harry Really Whispered to Meghan Markle in Church, According to Lip-Reading Experts
Amid the changes created by the novel coronavirus pandemic in communities it serves, Houston-based trash collection and disposal company Waste Management has adjusted its game plan and is functioning almost normally in an abnormal environment.

Were extremely busy, said Lisa Doughty, the companys public affairs director for its Texas/Oklahoma region. The waste collection service is an essential service, especially given that a lot of people are staying at home.

Waste Management has 11 locations in the greater Houston area, including offices in Pasadena and Alvin and also serves commercial and corporate interests in Bay Area.

On its website, the company said it was maintaining standard collection and disposal services. If circumstances change affecting services, the company said it will provide updates to customers and communities through alerts including texts and email.

Weve definitely seen an increase in our residential collection services, Doughty said. With restaurants closing or limiting their customers in the restaurant, that type service has reduced. But overall, if you were to look at our waste volumes at our landfills, I would say they are maintaining the same.

Call center now operating from remote laptops

Waste Management serves almost the Houston region with 1,900 employees. While many companies have announced reduced hours or layoffs during the coronavirus (also called COVID-19) pandemic, Waste Management has remained fully staffed, Doughty said.

Very early on our CEO, Jim Fish, announced that (Waste Management) would ensure that any employee impacted by COVID would have a 40-hour per week pay, she said.

At this point, there are no challenges there. Truthfully, one of the largest challenges for us were our call centers and dispatch centers where you would have 50 people working in cubicles side by side, Doughty said on Friday. Early on, Waste Management invested in technology, such as laptops, and we were able to move all our call center and dispatch center employees to their homes.

It took a while to get everyone set up and home and on the right VPN (Virtual Private Network) and dial-up systems, but Im happy to say that for the last two days weve been able to bring our residential call center lines back up.

Bullhorn instructions to drivers

We are practicing safe distancing, and as you can imagine, that is a challenge, Doughty said. You bring in 100 drivers that are getting ready to go out at 5 a.m., and you see them all spread out about 5-6 feet from each other, and were communicating with a bullhorn.

Technology has also helped with social distancing.

A lot of our business line has moved to residential collection with the side-arm trucks, which we call ASL (automated side loaders); so its not forcing us to have three employees in a truck cab, Doughty said.

The key is wearing the proper (personal protective equipment), Doughty said. We want to make sure our vendor/suppliers are keeping us stocked safely with gloves and hand sanitizers for our material recovery centers.

Were making sure our employees have their masks. To date, weve been successful from that perspective.

We operate Monday through Saturday in the call centers, Doughty said. but we have trucks rolling every day of the week. Hospitals need to be picked up daily, fire departments, and sometimes hotels, too. It depends on the line of business.

In an uncertain atmosphere, everyone wants to be debris-free.

We engaged early and took it very seriously, Doughty said. We started deploying every department to look at what the scenarios would be if we needed to be flexible. Were in times where no one ever dreamed we would be.

Weve elevated our employee communications, and were continuing to share info on COVID-19 to make sure people continue to adhere to the government mandates and social distancing. As long as we continue to communicate with each other  thats the key.

tdunnam@hcnonline.com
Dundalk Men's Shed spent four days at the world famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin recently as part of the theatre's 5X5 initiative for community theatre.

Accompanied by Paul Hayes, CEO of An Tain Arts Centre, the group worked with writer Colm Maher, the group had devised a piece which was due to be staged in the Peacock Theatre on Friday March 11. However, unfortunately, before they got the chance to perform their piece before an invited audience of family and friends, An Taoiseach Leo Valkdar announced measures to compact the spread of Covid-15, including the closure of all cultural institutions.

According to Paul, the group enjoyed the experience of working in the Abbey for four days.

'The Abbey provided us with a fantastic tour of the main space and we got to see the set for the 'Fall of the Second Republic', as well as the wig room and costume room,' says Paul.

During their workshops, the group put together what Paul describes as 'a wonderful little piece about the importance of the Men's Sheds, as well as giving their views on various issues such as Brexit, TB and the corona virus.'

The group were accompanied by videographer Stephen Larkin from An Tain and there are plans to release footage of their visit on social media.

One of the group also made history. Well-known disabled rights activist John Morgan became the first actor in a wheelchair to take his place on the stage of the national theatre, while his dog Jamie became the first assistance dog to go on stage.

'The Abbey spent a considerable amount of money constructing a ramp so that John could access the stage, making him the first actor in a wheelchair to go on stage since the theatre opened in 1904.'

'It was a fantastic week,' says Paul. 'One of the men said it was the best week of his life since he got married!'

The group's visit was due to have been featured on RTE's Morning Ireland but unfortunately there was no time for the item due to coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ROMEFor more than two weeks, the Italian government has trumpeted a central message for containing the spread of the coronavirus: stay home.

But for the thousands who are homeless or living in extreme poverty in Rome, keeping off the streets is nearly impossible.

The message given to stay home is a message that they cant respond to because they dont have anywhere to go, Francesca Zuccari, co-ordinator of services for people in extreme poverty for the Community of St. Egidio charity, said of the 8,000 people who typically live on Romes now empty streets.

The problem is that these are the most fragile members of the population, and those who are most exposed, she said.

Italy has recorded nearly 64,000 infections, the most in Europe, and more than 6,000 deaths, the most in the world. As the country struggles to contain the outbreak, the government has enacted strenuous new rules.

The essentials of staying safe and complying with the governments orders, however, are a luxury to the countrys poorest.

How do you wash your hands without a sink? Stock up on food without money? Or shelter in place without a home?

Although soup kitchens and shelters in Rome remain open, the informal systems of support  spare change dropped in a cup, or a paid-for breakfast pastry  no longer exist. The closing of bars and restaurants has inadvertently cut off access to washrooms.

Citizens keep being told to wash their hands, Zuccari said. The homeless dont know where to go.

More than anything, the seismic disruption to street life in the city has meant many are going hungry.

Three days a week, people can receive a hot meal at the soup kitchen that St. Egidio runs from a palazzo in Romes central Trastevere neighbourhood. On other days, the charitys volunteers deliver box dinners in areas where the homeless usually congregate, including the citys main train stations. Every week, the charity distributes 2,500 boxed meals.

The delivery meals have increased, because the demand has grown, but they are also a way to let people know that they havent been abandoned, Zuccari said.

On a recent afternoon, the streets of Trastevere were uncommonly silent. The few stragglers appeared to have the same destination, the St. Egidio soup kitchen.

Because of social distancing, fewer guests can sit together at the long rows of tables in the kitchens main dining hall, so the charity stays open longer to give everyone a chance to eat, Zuccari said.

St. Egidio was founded in 1968 when a group of students decided they wanted to help the citys poor. Zuccari joined more than 40 years ago.

I was very young, she said of that time, when some 70,000 people lived in shantytowns in Rome. Now, poverty is more hidden.

In the city, its aggravated by solitude, she added. People often end up on the streets because they cant turn to anyone to help them.

Zuccari said that despite the great hunger, the number using the soup kitchen had dropped in the past several weeks.

Theres the problem of moving around in the city, and even the homeless are being stopped by the police, so they are afraid, she said.

Many homeless have moved closer to the Vatican. There, the Popes charity distributes food and operates showers near the colonnade of St. Peters Basilica. The Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa, also minister to the poor in the area.

Charities struggle for money at the best of times, but St. Egidio now needs additional funds for face masks, food and hand sanitizer. Many of the older volunteers, who once staffed its kitchens or distributed box meals, have heeded government warnings to stay home.

On a recent evening, guests at the soup kitchen included a 34-year-old homeless man, who would identify himself only as Arturo.

Its a disaster right now, he said. There are many people suffering.
Managing stress during these challenging times

By Jennifer Kirkbride

As a clinical counsellor, I want to contribute what I can during this challenging time.

I have compiled some basic, yet important strategies to mitigate the impact of stress during the pandemic.

Maintain connectedness

During isolation and quarantine, it can feel impossible to stay connected to loved ones and friends, but there are many ways to do so, and it is crucial to our mental health that we do.

Ideas for connecting include:

Starting a group chat or text message

Use Facetime or Snapchat

Make a Skype call

Write a note to a neighbour with your phone number and leave it at their door.

Information and media

It is important to know yourself in this regard. Some people feel more empowered by obtaining current information via reading articles and listening to broadcasts.

Be especially careful to filter the information you are taking in, as there are significant amounts of misinformation available.

Suggestions for reputable sources of info include:

World Health Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Health Canada.

If excessive media and information creates increased anxiety or stress, consider limiting the amount of time you expose yourself to news and social media.

Keeping informed on up-to-date government requirements is important, but being bombarded by social media threads can create undue fear.

Strategies for Anxiety and Stress management:

BODY SCAN:

Sit in a comfortable position.

Feel the floor beneath your feet, the chair beneath your legs.

Scan your body from head to toe.

Notice any tension, any sensations, any pain.

Now wiggle your jaw to loosen any clenching.

Raise and lower your shoulders.

Gently shake out any tension in any other areas of your body.

DEEP BELLY BREATHING:

Place your hands on your lower abdomen.

Breathe in slowly (through your nose if possible), trying to raise your hands on your belly.

Count to five as you inhale and when your lungs feel full, slowly exhale through your mouth.

Repeat at least 10 times, and as many as needed.

MINDFULNESS:

This is the ancient art of staying in the moment. Anxiety can occur when we fixate on the past, the future, or things we cannot control. Mindfulness helps us to stay present.

Try this basic mindfulness exercise that can be done anywhere: check in with your senses in your current environment.

What do you see? Notice the little things. Notice the colours and shapes around you.

What do you hear? Even if it is quiet, you may still hear something subtle like the hum of your refrigerator.

What do you smell? Food cooking? The scent of the laundry detergent on your shirt?

What do you feel? The temperature of the room? The softness of a blanket? What do you taste? Your toothpaste? The linger of your morning coffee?

SELF SOOTHING:

Develop a list of self soothing tools. This will be unique to you. Think of what evokes feeling of comfort. Suggestions include having a cup of herbal tea, listening to music, a warm bath, burning scented candles or diffusing essential oils.

Tap into things that calm the senses.

Get your thoughts down onto paper. Anxious minds tend to ruminate on the same thoughts over and over.

When we get our thoughts down in writing (or drawing), we are better able to process them, that is, sort through them and challenge any unrealistic or unhelpful thoughts.

When our brain feels it has dealt with the concern, we are better able to move past the obsessive thought.

This can be particularly helpful before bed, when it is common for people to struggle with anxious thoughts.

Build a List of activities and interests that you can do at home. Again, this will be tailored to the individual but some ideas might be: small home improvements, creating art, crafting, reading, home workouts, or online courses.

Beyond keeping you busy and bringing joy to your life, the activities create a sense of accomplishment, which has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health.

Finally, if you are seeing a therapist, or believe you should, do your best to keep your appointments, even if the format has changed.

Most therapists have moved their practices to online sessions for the time being.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, the crisis line in B.C. can be reached at 310-6789.

Take care of yourselves and take care of each other, from a distance for now. We will get through this together.

Jennifer Kirkbride is a Kelowna clinical counsellor. She can be reached at

[email protected]; jenniferkirkbridecounselling.ca
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Santa Fe Community College, and all its adjoining facilities, will be closed for the rest of the spring 2020 semester, College President Becky Rowley announced in a written statement Friday.

The decision was made in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, which has forced the closure of many colleges and universities, including the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State.

SFCC was originally scheduled to reopen April 6, but Rowley said the current spread of the virus has made that impossible.

It wouldnt make any sense to come back to school when things are getting worse instead of better, she said in a phone interview Friday.

Many classes at the college had already transitioned into an online format. Those that cannot go online will be extended into the summer semester.

The college also announced that spring commencement will be postponed, and that a date for a new ceremony has not been announced.

Rowley had previously said the college was considering a virtual commencement, in which students names, degrees and pictures would be displayed on a slideshow livestreamed over the internet.

We do want to do that, but itll probably not be until summer, she said.

While the campus remains closed, student workers will still receive paychecks.

The college has, however, placed a soft freeze on hiring, meaning that each position will be evaluated for need before a replacement is hired.

Rowley said they are expecting a sizable cut to their budget when the state Legislature meets for a special session, which has yet to be scheduled.

SFCCs Governing Boards next meeting is set for 2 p.m. March 30 and can be viewed by the public on the colleges YouTube page.

Rowley said the budget will be a topic of discussion, but no official action will be taken.

She also said she is impressed with how the SFCC community has responded to the crisis so far.

The faculty have come up with really impressive ways to teach classes that I wouldve never thought of, she said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. on Saturday appealed to the Department of Health to allow China to send its doctors to the Philippines amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Locsin disclosed on Twitter that he has asked his counterpart, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, "to send us Chinese doctors." However, Locsin said the DOH is "blocking their arrival."

"Don't piss me off. Let them in," Locsin said in an all-caps tweet.

He said interpreters will not be a problem, since they can be deployed to hospitals like the Chinese General Hospital and the Metropolitan Medical Center in Manila.

CNN Philippines has reached out to the DOH for comment.

Foreign nationals are temporarily banned from entering the country as the Department of Foreign Affairs stopped issuing visas to all foreigners and canceled existing ones amid the global threat of COVID-19.

The coronavirus outbreak has slowed down in China, where it began in December 2019, particularly in the City or Wuhan. There are now more COVID-19 cases in the United States and Italy than in China.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 27,000 people, mostly in Italy. Close to 600,000 people have been infected, according to the Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 global tracker.

The Philippines has 803 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 54 deaths and 31 recoveries.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. on Thursday said at least nine doctors have succumbed to COVID-19 in the country, and that they were exposed to the virus due to the shortage of protective gear.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, said that he discussed with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Saturday the joint efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus.

In a tweet on his official account, the crown prince said that they also discussed cooperation and coordination to stop the spread of the virus and deal with its repercussions.

The UAE announced on Saturday that it had 63 new cases of COVID-19, three of which are Egyptian citizens, raising the total of confirmed cases to 468.

On the same day, Egypt detected 40 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 576.

Both countries are imposing a two-week nightly curfew.

Bin Zayed added that they also discussed "the solid fraternal relations and ways to enhance them."

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Venezuela's armed forces reaffirmed their support Friday for President Nicolas Maduro a day after the US Justice Department charged him with "narco-terrorism" and offered a USD 15 million reward for his capture.

In a statement read out on state television, armed forces chief Admiral Remigio Ceballos said the army categorically rejected "the extravagant and extremist accusations" against Maduro.

The socialist president has increasingly relied on the backing of the powerful armed forces since succeeding his late mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013 -- particularly amid his country's economic collapse.

In his statement, Ceballos said the indictment of Maduro and other Venezuelan officials was aimed at diverting attention away from the re-election campaign of US President Donald Trump "who will go down in history as the most harmful and most irrational of American presidents."



Maduro on Thursday slammed the "spurious, false" accusations, and said they were part of a conspiracy organized by the United States and Colombia to force him out of power.

The Trump administration has stepped up pressure on Maduro with sanctions targeting his inner circle. The US and some 50 other countries back opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president.

Guaido, who said Maduro had usurped power after a 2018 election widely seen as fraudulent, has repeatedly urged the 240,000-strong army to withdraw its support for Maduro.

In April last year, a call by Guaido for an uprising was supported by only a few army officers and was quickly crushed by Maduro, who retains the support of Russia, China and Cuba.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ukrainian authorities are not considering the default option and are counting on agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to increase potential funding and additional assistance in the fight against the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic, spokeswoman for the President of Ukraine Yulia Mendel has said.

"For Ukraine, cooperation with the IMF is now extremely important. We are very pleased that we managed to agree on increasing potential funding. Indeed, in addition to the assistance program that we discussed earlier, the IMF is considering support for Ukraine in the fight against the spread of COVID-19," she told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

"Ukraine will recover for a very long time and hard due to default. The authorities will not risk the lives of Ukrainians, therefore they are not considering the option of default," Mendel said.

She said that President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that the parliament members will be responsible to the Ukrainians, that at an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada they will pass the necessary legislative initiatives to support business, socially vulnerable population, as well as extremely important reforms in the banking and agricultural sectors that will not only help the country maintain economic stability, but also ensure the provision of financial support from the IMF.
A Winnipeg man who had the chills while on holiday in Mexico earlier this month, thought the air conditioning at his resort was to blame. He later tested positive for COVID-19 and became Manitobas 26th case.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man who had the chills while on holiday in Mexico earlier this month, thought the air conditioning at his resort was to blame. He later tested positive for COVID-19 and became Manitobas 26th case.

On Friday, more than two weeks after getting sick, and on his 17th day of quarantine, Ryan Caligiuri, 34, said he feels better, but he must continue to self-isolate until he receives the results of his latest test.

"I'm waiting for a negative test," Caligiuri said on Friday. "Until then, I still have to follow the social distance protocol... this was definitely worse than the flu."

Ryan Caligiuri, who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from vacation in Mexico, has been self-isolating since March 11, 2020 and in daily phone contact with nurses tracking his symptoms. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press)

Caligiuri said he contracted the virus while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas with three friends. His friends also isolated themselves upon their return, but never got sick.

"I started to get chills while I was sitting on the beach," he said. "I just thought it was because of the air conditioner being on all night in the room and blowing on me. But as I started coming home, I started feeling worse.

"I had it for sure - chills, a fever of 102 F (38.9 C), and fatigue. I called Health LInks."

Caligiuri said he was told to get tested and afterward, he waited at home for the results.

"It was harder than I expected it to be," he said. "The fatigue was the next level. I would sleep 20 hours a day.

"I would have to motivate myself to get up to get some soup or a drink... it just zaps the energy from you. For about a week, it really took me down, but after (that), I slowly got better."

Caligiuri said by the time he got notice that he had tested positive for COVID-19, he felt better.

"They said they wanted to let me know, and then they asked, 'Are you sitting down?' They said you came back positive and I said 'Oh, yeah, I thought I did. I kind of knew I had it based on the symptoms.' But she said she was surprised because other people didn't react that way."

Caligiuri said thanks to family, friends and the community  as well as Skip the Dishes  it was easy for him to self-isolate. "People would put food by the gate and I would go out to get it."

Caligiuri is not the only Winnipegger who has spoken to the Free Press after testing positive for COVID-19.

Caligiuri said he has three pieces of advice to people based on his experience.

"People need to not allow the panic of the virus to get the best of them," he said.

"Is it scary? Yes. But it's not the virus I'm worried about, it is the panic."

Caligiuri advised people to get information from organizations such as the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Caligiuri directed his final piece of advice at millennials.

"People my age are not taking this seriously," he said.

"They're not adhering to social distancing. I feel that is quite foolish and doing your community a disservice. if I'd gone out, look who I would have put at risk. It's not about you, it's about other people in our community.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"We need to think about others."

A man in his 70s, who was the province's fifth positive case, said more than a week ago that he considered himself "extremely lucky."

The man, who didn't want to be identified, said: "After one day of flu-like symptoms, I have had minimal discomfort. "Other than the occasional sporadic cough, which is normal for me after a cold, I have been symptom-free for a few days... yes, I have had colds (and) flu worse than what Ive experienced with COVID-19, but thats not true for everyone," he said last week.

On Friday, the man declined to comment about his recovery.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Robin Williams teaching a class in a scene from the film 'Dead Poets Society', 1989. (Photo by Touchstone Pictures/Getty Images)

Set your DVR & keep your family entertained all week with more movies than you can shake a hoarded stash of loo roll at today as TopFilmTip brings you the best non-subscription films on TV for Saturday, 28 March.

Teenage boys lives are forever changed under the inspirational tutelage of Robin Williams in Peter Weirs classic bitter sweet drama Dead Poet's Society 2:05pm Sony Movies UK

Reluctant lion king returns to long lost family in witch doctoring, zebra spitting, rump shaking kids treat Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa 3:30pm BBC1

Time-slipped boy awakens years after disappearing to inventive engaging alien adventure in mercurial mystery Flight Of The Navigator 3pm SyFy Channel

Daughter of neglectful cheese chomper aids bug eating boy's fiendish friends in delightfully dark, grotesque comedy curio The Boxtrolls 2:15pm Film4

Read more: The best 4K TV deals

Stirring score & cinematography as Sly Stallone, Michael Caine & Pele team up for incongruously wonderful career interrupting gem Escape To Victory 4pm ITV4

Escape to Victory sees Bobby Moore and Pele teaming up with Michael Caine and Sly Stallone to take on Nazis. (Paramount)

Wise cowboy mends bodies & souls of broken family with delicate emotional coaxing & painful personal sacrifice The Horse Whisperer 4:35pm Sony Movies Channel

Flame headed & fiery souled archer set on forging her own fate must face consequences of her hubris in ursine adventure Brave 5:15pm BBC1

Relic robbing gadget freak Jackie Chan turns artifact preserver in full-body-skate-chasing, skydive-kungfu-ing gem Chinese Zodiac 7pm Sony Movies Channel

Lackluster Viking teen loner befriends wounded winged reptile & learns heretical truth in exhilarating fun How To Train Your Dragon 7:05pm E4

Foolish humans visit dinosaurs' island providing many meaty snacks for cunning, flying & giant-poo pooing lizards in Jurassic Park III 7:15pm ITV1

Failed father Tom Cruise & despondent kids flee tenacious tentacled tripods amidst civilian incinerating alien invasion War Of The Worlds 9pm Sky 1

Post apocalyptic gated communities, racism, flesh eating corpses & an anti-zombie tank form unflinching Romero allegory in Land Of The Dead 9pm Horror Channel

Story continues

Troublesome boy & his mourning mother face wrath of grievous ghoul in charismatic, chilling, psychological creepfest as emotional allegory in The Babadook 9pm SyFy Channel

Broken by bombing, Bostonian boyfriend becomes focus of city's love but must mend emotional fractures & re-builds himself from inside out in empowering true story Stronger 9pm BBC2

CIA rookie chases, protects & bonds with a very dangerous, jaded criminal in spectacular character driven action drama Safe House 10pm ITV 1

Grieving virgin is targeted by film-quizzing, stab-happy Edvard Munch-inspired serial killer in 1990's teen meta horror Scream 11:05pm 5Star

Three men revive their raucous glory days in lube fighting, Will Ferrell streaking, orgy-avoiding cathartic comedy Old School 11:20pm BBC1

Neil Marshall directed the 2005 British horror film 'The Descent'.

Spelunking women face their differences & hordes of blood-thirsty, cave dwelling creatures in claustrophobic horror The Descent 11:20pm Film4

Loan dealing money-men spend eve of finial crisis ruining global economy for personal gain in intricate insight Margin Call 11:35pm BBC2

Mutual respect grows between an unlikely pair as a rancher ferries a criminal to a prison pick up point in top western remake 3:10 to Yuma 00:50 am Sony Movie Channel:

Enduring ostracised status at wedding, oddballs & outcasts bond in Breakfast Club-inspired, character-led feel good fun Table 19 2:15am Film4

Follow TopFilmTip on Twitter for daily film recommendations.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the choice of voters to run the country if Boris Johnson becomes too ill, an exclusive poll for The Mail on Sunday has found.

The endorsement comes after the Prime Minister revealed on Friday that he had tested positive for coronavirus.

While Downing Street has indicated that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will take the reins if Mr Johnson is incapacitated, the Deltapoll survey shows that Mr Sunak  dubbed dishy Rishi by his Treasury colleagues  is backed as a stand-in premier by more than three times as many voters.

An overwhelming majority of the public backed Rishi Sunak for PM, a poll has revealed

Mr Johnsons approach to the crisis receives overwhelming backing, with 78 per cent saying that he is handling it well.

However, that does not mean voters agree with the pace of implementation of Mr Johnsons lockdown measures.

A total of 63 per cent think that the social distancing rules were introduced too late.

On the controversial issue of testing, 83 per cent believe that doctors and nurses should be given priority but just 19 per cent think that senior politicians should be prioritised  and only 15 per cent think the Royal Family should.

Most people also think that Britain is in for a long haul, with half of those questioned expecting restrictions to be in place for three months. And a majority think that tackling the outbreak is worth curtailing civil liberties, with 61 per cent agreeing that it is a necessary price.

Just 6 per cent of people think the economy will recover within the next year, while 57 per cent think working life will change for ever.

The survey also found a third of people had failed to follow social distancing measures.

In terms of stockpiling at supermarkets, those aged 18 to 24 were the most guilty, with a third admitting to panic-buying. The study also found overwhelming support for tougher lockdown measures and formal rationing in supermarkets, with 77 per cent in favour.
Mobile phone companies have been urged to provide unlimited data to students and teachers to give everyone a fair chance of keeping up with online teaching and learning during the schools shutdown.

Post-primary schools, in particular, have resorted to technology in order to maintain continuity of education and deliver resources to pupils via virtual learning platforms and emails.

Access

However, where students or teachers have to rely on their mobile phone to upload, transfer or receive resources it is gobbling up their data allowances and pushing up their costs.

The Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) said that many students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, do not have access to devices and are accessing materials from schools through their mobile phones.

Access to wi-fi is also an issue for both students and teachers in some areas, and many teachers too may find themselves relying on their mobile phones to deliver lessons.

ACCS president Paul Fiorentini said the provision of access to free and unlimited data would be very beneficial to students and learners at this time.

"This would remove a burden from many parents who are already under pressure due to their changed circumstances," he said.

"It would also go some way to levelling the playing field for many children."

He said in normal times schools contributed to the everyday fabric, routine and order of society.

In these extraordinary times schools and their teachers could continue to offer that routine, purpose and social connection by doing their very best to support the continuation of the education programme for the pupils in all-year groups, he added.

He went on to say that Ireland placed an enormous premium on the education and training of its young people and they deserved to see that service maintained and have a sense of purpose.

"Although we are in a period of great unease and uncertainty our young people need our continued commitment to them," he said.

Mr Fiorentini added that students needed to be assured that teaching and learning would continue and that the State exams would proceed, including as many elements as possible.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the mobile phone industry and the regulatory body Comreg were looking into the issue of data limits for households at this time.

The Department of Education has been engaging with the Department of Communications on the issue.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday formed a task force to intensify efforts of the states ruled by her party to deal with the situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, the party said in a statement .

The task force includes former Union ministers P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, M Veerappa Moily and Chhattisgarh minister Tamradhwaj Sahu.

The members of the task force will start work immediately with the respective Congress-ruled states to ensure that the daily distress and suffering of people is mitigated, the statement said.

The Congress is in power in six states and Union territories.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi separately criticised the government over a lack of a contingency plan for the migrant workers, who are leaving big cities in the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent three-week lockdown imposed to check its spread.

Out of work and facing an uncertain future, millions of our brothers and sisters across India are struggling to find their way back home. Its shameful that weve allowed any Indian citizen to be treated this way and that the Government had no contingency plans in place for this exodus, he tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre over the appalling condition of migrant workers walking back to their homes. The government is responsible for this terrible condition. Bringing citizens to such a state is a very big crime, he tweeted. He said all citizens should at least get support and respect, and urged the government to take concrete steps so that the current situation does not turn into a tragedy.

Rahul Gandhi urged the people and his party leaders and workers to come forward to provide food, water and shelter to the migrant workers.
Over 200 academics, economists, social activists and lawyers have urged the Centre to pay heed to the condition of migrant workers who are walking to their villages amid the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

They also said that the government should use the network of anganwadis, panchayat bhavans, schools, colleges, railway stations to set up centres to provide food to them.

The statement appealing for immediate assistance to migrant workers was signed by economist Jean Dreze and activists Aruna Roy, Harsh Mander and Medha Patkar, among others.

Calling it a "national emergency" which has put lakhs of people in danger of perishing in hunger and trauma, they appealed for an immediate response to the humanitarian crisis, to prevent it from snowballing further.

"This is an urgent appeal for assistance to migrant workers who are unable to reach their homes due to the current lockdown free food, medical care and sanitation at the very least," the statement said.

Noting that the sudden imposition of a 21-day nationwide lockdown at just 4 hours' notice has led to "horrific consequences" for many, they urged the government to pay heed to the situation immediately.

"The government must use the network of anganwadis, panchayat bhavans, government schools, government colleges, railway stations, bus stations, community halls, block offices, district headquarters etc to set up feeding centres to arrange free cooked food, medical care and sanitation," it said.

"Foodgrains to the tune of 585 lakh metric tonnes are available in godowns of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Central Warehousing Corporation (even before the wheat harvest).

"Some of it can be used to prepare cooked meals and/or take-home rations in these centres," it added.

They further said that this assistance should be available to all unconditionally, without any paperwork.

"This will still leave more than enough food in the godowns to fulfil the Finance Minister's announcements and maintain adequate buffer stocks," the statement said.

"We also urge the government to immediately arrange for sanitised bus and train services to enable stranded workers to reach home safely. Others trapped at their distant workplaces must be assured of a secure living space with enough food, soap, sanitary pads and medical care," it said.

India is under the biggest lockdown with around 1.3 billion people asked to stay home in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 19 lives and infected over 800 people in the country.

There have been reports of a large number of migrant workers leaving their work places in different parts of the country and walking down to their native places, hundreds of kilometres away facing hardships on the way.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In her first full week teaching from home, Elizabeth Ortega has resembled a member of Best Buys Geek Squad.

Morning, afternoon and night, Ortega has fielded dozens of calls and messages from bewildered families, each struggling to access the cornucopia of online programs  Google Classroom, iStation, Odysseyware, Seesaw, Zoom  that now serve as the lifeline between teachers and students.

Not all parents are very tech-savvy, and they need a lot of help, said Ortega, who teaches two fourth-grade dual-language reading and writing classes at Royalwood Elementary School in Sheldon ISD. Ive spent so much of my time showing parents how to log into Google.

The headaches give way, however, when the technology works and Ortegas students can read online, play educational games or watch her lesson plans. Most of her 40 students are performing pretty decently, Ortega said, though a few are struggling without supervision or regular computer access.

Now Playing: Sheldon ISD fourth grade dual language teacher gives a lesson to her students now out of school because of closings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Video: Brett Coomer

The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying school closures have forced Houston-area educators to rapidly shift their instruction online over the past two weeks amid countless technological, instructional and social challenges. In turn, more than a million Houston-area children are adapting to their new reality: communicating with teachers only through computers, phones and old-fashioned pencil-on-paper.

The obstacles and opportunities facing educators have been on display this week at Royalwood, a 560-student school in a fast-growing, blue-collar corner of northeast Harris County. Royalwood and Sheldon ISD, which has about 10,000 students, are making a complicated, onerous move to online class that has borne some fruit, while also exacerbating the academic barriers facing children across the region.

Its not perfect, Sheldon ISD Chief Academic Officer Paula Patterson said. There are things not going right and things were working through, but were doing our very best. When you think about the task given to every educator in the country  and its quite a task thrown at us  Im amazed at what weve come up with.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Students, parents from virtual schools offer advice on learning from home

The early days of Royalwoods shift has, in some ways, mirrored its response in 2017 to Hurricane Harvey, which caused several inches of water to flood the campus at US-90 and Beltway 8.

Two weeks ago, after Superintendent King Davis announced the cancellation of in-person classes through at least April 10, Royalwood teachers reached out to every childs family, gauging their health and welfare needs. The district also announced food pickup sites at five campuses for students, about 80 percent of whom are considered economically disadvantaged by the state.

Now, Royalwood faces the added challenge of providing some semblance of an education to students. The Texas Education Agency has mandated that districts continue to give instruction to avoid extending the school year, though it has given them extensive leeway in crafting distance learning plans.

All day, all night

For fifth-grade dual-language math teacher Dianna Estrada, her new daily routine begins about 7 a.m. She starts each day with an encouraging message to her 70 students  Happy Monday!  sent through Google Classroom, then prepares to film herself delivering a lesson that will be posted on the site.

I didnt think I was a fan of recording myself, but now thats the only way I feel like I can reach out and make them feel like theyre a part of my classroom, Estrada said.

She plans to video conference with each class at least once a week for about 40 minutes, though tech troubles have interfered so far. About two-thirds of students successfully joined through Zoom earlier this week, Estrada said, while log-in issues sank a Thursday session.

With lessons completed by the early afternoon, a flurry of activity follows: attending virtual staff meetings, preparing paper lesson plans, giving feedback on assignments, tending to her own first- and ninth-grade daughters.

Royalwood teachers are expected to be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but in reality, the job continues deep into the night.

Weve got parents who get home at 5 oclock from work, and thats when the messages start flowing, Estrada said. Were on the clock all day, all night. Everybody says, I wish I could work from home and have an hour lunch, but I just wish I was back in my classroom.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Large number of Texas kids could miss rest of school year

Estradas students benefit from Sheldons investment in laptops for all fifth-graders.

That perk, however, eludes Ortegas fourth-graders, complicating her efforts to maintain consistent, equitable instruction. Ortega said several of her 40 students lack a computer or internet, while others only have access to a smartphone that a parent takes to work.

Ideally, Id love to spend most of my time with them, especially because a lot of them are my struggling students, Ortega said.

Ortega plans to employ various strategies for reaching her students: issuing written assignments in Google Classroom, posting five-minute videos of herself reading, employing the online learning program iStation. Her next hurdle is increasing the rigor of her lessons, which she said thus far have not been very challenging.

Still, Ortega said she has been heartened by the response from parents.

Maybe they werent as involved during the regular school year, but now I see these parents wanting to get in there and want to learn about what Im teaching, Ortega said. As far as students, I think this whole remote learning is really teaching our kids a lot of responsibility  especially students who dont have parents on them all the time.

Balancing act

The adaptability of students, parents and teachers has buoyed third-year Royalwood Principal Lorena Carrasco, who said her leadership team has tried to balance pushing forward with instruction while accommodating families struggling with the pandemics economic fallout.

The number one thing we need to stress is that were here, we care, and if theres something we can do, we can try, Carrasco said.

For Patricia Link, whose daughter and niece are fourth-graders at Royalwood, the districts efforts to streamline communications and assignments through its new Odysseyware tool have lessened the burden on parents.

The first week, there were five different programs I had to check every day to see if somebody had put an assignment or update or note in there, Link said Wednesday after picking up two kids lunches at the campus. But that number is dwindling down now that they have the Odyssey program and its being automated.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How Sheldon ISDs high school students bounced back after Harvey

Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, said many districts across the country have focused on students health and technology needs while also rolling out an initial distance learning plan. The educational efforts have been understandably scattershot, she said.

Very few are providing what wed think of as a curated curriculum, Lake said. Even fewer  really, just a handful  are providing school- or teacher-directed learning in an intensive way during the day. Right now, the onus is still really with the parents to figure this out, but I think more will be shifting that back to the schools.

Ortega hopes to refine her remote learning plan in the coming days. She hosted her first virtual classes through Zoom on Friday, teaching two separate 30-minute lessons on how to write a summary.

As her 30 students highlighted and took notes on a passage about insects camouflaging with their environment, Ortega tapped through her iPad screen to see their faces.

It just felt right, Ortega said. I was missing that. I really missed talking to my students, and them talking to their teacher.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Did anyone else in LA just get a push notification to stay at home?

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I got a text from the LA City 5 digit number (89361) reminding us that the Safer At Home order is still in place.

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Yup. Just got an emergency alert.

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No but that's probably because I still have my NY number.

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Woulsnt it be by geolocation VS actual #? Like when I was in Japan I still got alerts for earthquakes and other things and my phone wasnt even in service

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I've heard from multiple friends in LA who got it.

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Yeah, the one about beaches and trails closed or a different one? My boyfriend has been getting them at a different time. 

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Yup. Sure did. I go between being scared, bored, hungry and sleepy. Im making myself a drink. This is too many things hour to hour lol

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I havent! Weird

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Whats happened with Michigan. Did he really tell vendors to not supply Michigan. I knew he was a horrible human being but this is straight up killing people. He was right. He can kill people and his supporters wont care.

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I know it won't do anything, but he needs to be charged with so many crimes right now.



He's worse than I thought he'd be. I assumed he would be out golfing in a crisis and ignoring shit, not being so antagonistic.

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As a Michigan resident, I hope he dies a swift death. 



Hes projecting extra hard at MI because Gretchen is a woman who is smarter than him and that obviously infuriates him. Hes a pathetic misogynist even in the middle of a global heath crisis.

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You're kinder than I am. I hope he dies a slow painful death alone and humiliated.



I'm in Michigan, too.

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Gretchen took over from a horrific anti-union rethugnican monster whose name i won't repeat. she deserves the entire country's support.



tRump is a sick, narcissistic bastard who deserves to get this virus and DIE. his base continues to worship at his cult of personality, just like hitler's base worshipped him. it's sick.

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Yes, he did all of that. He is now only Twitter calling Gov. Whitmer a "Half Whit" and more.

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If Trump were my patient, Id walk off the job and risk giving up my RN license. Also, I want a CS n95 mask!

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hard same

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I just want to thank you for all that you are doing right now. You guys are heroes. 

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yes, thank you so much for all you are doing. i am at high risk for death from this virus so it's only a matter of time for me.

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its so funny following the kardashians through this. kendall doesnt think its a big deal, kylies telling us "coronavirus is real" and to stay home, kims asking us plebes how to entertain her kids and khloe in a maybe self-aware/maybe completely unaware instagram story said the billionaires and CEOs arent helping us, but the firefighters/nurses/janitors/etc.

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Kendalls vapid ass must be bored out of her skull lol.

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Kendall reposted the Imperial College study thread stating suppression is the only way to stop this ... Not a big Kendall stan but it seems to imply she thinks its a big deal

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Kris is that you?

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Just had a mini breakdown over the Washington & Michigan thing. Like none of it is a surprise but it is absolutely still shocking and rage inducing that a so- called human being can just tell the whole country that he won't pick up the phone for states where people are dying because they didn't kiss his ass. He won't let vendors send them much needed emergency equipment. And not a single thing will be done about it. Nobody cares. He will still be re-elected (lol there won't be elections). What's the fucking point of it all.

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It's absolutely insane.



I was watching Governor Newsom's presser earlier today and lmao he was 100% kissing Trump's ass, but it's obvious it was only because he knows that's the way he can get federal aid that we desperately need.

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At least Newsom is being aggressive here in his approach, even if he's paying lip service to that monster.



His actions are criminal and sociopathic, just like everything has been in his presidency. Only this time maximum death in the minimum amount of time.



Lol I just opened a bottle of wine and I don't think I'll stop til it's empty. Absolutely cannot be sober for this bullshit.

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Honestly, I expected him to take aim at Washington because of Inslee in particular. Nothing that the human personification of a racist coronavirus strain says surprises me anymore. He doesnt give a shit about people.



While I dont agree with everything that Inslees done in this situation, I find it fascinating that Cuomos getting the credit for a lot of things that he already did (like holding press conferences focused specifically on telling younger people to stay the fuck home). I get that NY is bigger and more densely populated, but damn, Cuomos press team is working overtime to make him look good.

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It is upsetting and infuriating to me that Trump is petty enough to let innocent people die. How checks and balances cant play a role really bothers me.



Im in Washington, and its scary to think about how bad things are going to get.

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Hey Kim, maybe go suck the dick of the asshole in the White House if you really want to help. We know you enjoy doing it.



Edited at 2020-03-28 01:54 am (UTC)

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Yikessssss lol

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must you always be like this

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When it comes to everyone associated with the K Kkan....yes.

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LOLLLLLL

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Nah that's kanye babe

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Kim K is trash for a lot of reasons but more recently she promoted this Judy "crisis kit", which costs $60.



...literally a millionaire exploiting a pandemic. pic.twitter.com/0pgQMTqnPA  na'ama (@iknownaama) March 27, 2020

Maybe the profit off these kits goes towards a good cause? Judy did say a whopping 1% of their annual profits will go to disaster relief.



The only other way Judy is raising money for disaster relief is through t-shirt sales (good luck finding those shirts). pic.twitter.com/aNp66bEehI  na'ama (@iknownaama) March 27, 2020

This is the CEO of Judy and I truly hope this man never knows peace again. This all just feels extremely criminal. pic.twitter.com/ZBR0G25pjq  na'ama (@iknownaama) March 27, 2020

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Fuck all of these people

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If there was ever a time to set rich people on fire it is now.

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Start with food god, please!

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rich people are so fucking useless

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Most emergency kits are a scam. Its much cheaper to build your own. Plus, then you dont get junk youll never need and can better personalize it to your (and your areas) needs.

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jesus christ, this is so fucking ridiculous. these people are so out of touch.

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That ceo looks familiar. Hopefully he gets the rona.

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I mean, she could donate a whole season's paycheck from kuwtk and not notice it missing, but let's lick Kim's fake ass as she poses adjacent to black women to suggest...something about her spanx that she one time cutely tried to name kimono? No, I won't be happy until she gives away all of her money and fucks off to a compound in Wyoming forever for all of the damage she's done to society.



Christian however is an adorable, heartwarming and hard working bb chipmunk cinnamon roll.



Edited at 2020-03-28 01:56 am (UTC)

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lol good energy in this comment

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How long are we going to be social distancing? Self-isolating and quarantining is going to take a serious toll on people after a while. Not everyone is doing it, either, so this pandemic isn't going to be contained anytime soon.

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The entire month of April. Depending on how horribly we do at it, May too. But what is the lifestyle picture after this 4-8 week period until we have a vaccine? I have no idea. I guess we are looking to China and South Korea. Are they back to normal? My barometer for normalcy (As I work at a concert venue) is when can 10 thousand people gather again?



The Atlantics article on how the pandemic ends talks about how the isolation will take a toll on many, how it will make peoples OCD and anxiety disorders worst.

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Things aren't back to normal in SK but after a while people started being lax on social distancing as the new cases started dwindling. Like people would still go out with 1 or 2 other people that they're already in close contact with for example.



So social distancing will get less severe but the first 2 weeks of it was truly brutal.

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Probably though June. But at the rate this is being mishandled, probably until September.

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im optimistic but i do think some things will start to open again come mid-may. i think its going to be a slow roll back, it isn't like we're going to go from being isolated to suddenly going to concerts and festivals in a day.



restaurants and theaters will open up at half capacity, retail shops will open with limited hours. there will still be a ban on gatherings over a certain number. then we'll try that for another couple months and then readjust based on what results that has.



theres no way a 5+ long complete isolation quarantine is feasible.

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we're being told in canada to assume social distancing until summer.

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For me as long as it takes because I still live at home with my two very high risk parents. I miss my nieces and nephew a lot, and it's gonna be really hard not to be with my niece on her birthday. But it's a small price to pay to limit exposure and keep my parents alive.

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My area issued a stay at home order until April 30.

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I heard August

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https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-will-coronavirus-end/608719/?fbclid=IwAR39VQ3mEFM4n_UISdN218UrT95QpIbmwKHJDnW5KLbMessUW_9S1HhcBcg



best case we're looking at a return to normalcy in may but we should all be prepared to go through intermittent cycles of distancing in various degrees until we have a vaccine/cure by next year this atlantic article (i feel like i keep sharing it lol sorry) lays it out pretty clearlybest case we're looking at a return to normalcy in may but we should all be prepared to go through intermittent cycles of distancing in various degrees until we have a vaccine/cure by next year

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Hardly anything to these people. Do more. (directed at Kardashians, not Christian)



The trump admin is basically just stalling until the peak passes and is going to piece meal the country back to work. Sick, depressed, scared workers will be forced back to work under threat of homelessness.



The more I read about the stimulus bill, it just seems like trash.



Edited at 2020-03-28 02:55 am (UTC)

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rly appreciate christian siriano. he seem like a very good soul.

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I think he grew up a lot since Project Runway. I like him too.

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Yea he was so annoying back then imo but he matured as he grew older and seems to have a good heart.



Edited at 2020-03-28 03:13 am (UTC)

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Yea he consistently steps up.

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this bitch really needs to have her shitty slimwear line be the face of this donation? on her own name she could donate ten times that amount and still be fine.



this is a tax-deductible, product placement stunt. fuck her.

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"Trump pushes to knock hundreds of thousands off food stamps while COVID-19 death toll rises"



Seriously? My mom has food stamps. This is fucked up. Now more than ever people can't even afford food. That's a basic human need. Fuck him!

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i like your icon

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Thank you. I came across the gif by chance when I was looking for simpson gifs to make icons on giphy, and I thought, how perfect for what's going on.

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It was a plan he put in place before all of this went down. Unless you're disabled or have someone to take care of at home, you have to work at least 20 hours per week to get food stamps. Starting April 1 like 700,000 will be kicked off of the program, but a lot of states are suing.

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COVID-19 donation but turn it into an ad for a shitty shapewear line.

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After reports of alleged police high-handedness on the public while trying to enforce lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, the Assam Police is now facing a violent backlash from the people in some places.

Two such incidents were reported in Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts, both in lower Assam, on Friday and Saturday where people attacked policemen trying to close shops and market places.

On Friday, two police personnel from the Chapar station in Dhubri were injured when they were attacked by a crowd at Phalimari Bazar. Around 300 people had reportedly gathered there at a market in violation of lockdown government guidelines.

Follow coronavirus live updates here.

One policeman was attacked with sticks while another who was trying to protect him was hit by a brick on his head. Both are admitted at a local hospital and stated to be stable.

On Saturday morning, a group of shopkeepers and customers attacked a police team in Bongaigaon when they tried to stop them from opening shops at Bodi Bazar.

When the police team was returning after closing the shops, people pelted stones at them. We fired few rounds in the air to disperse the crowd and the situation is now under control. No one was injured, said Singha Ram Mili, superintendent of police Bongaigaon.

Police have arrested over a dozen people in both the cases and registered FIRs against them.

On Thursday, mass violations of social distancing guidelines by public at market places across Assam had forced the state government to shut all markets immediately till further orders. Only grocery shops and pharmacies have been allowed to operate.

We have been tasked to implement the lockdown and we cant back off from that. In course of that if people resort to violence, we will also have to take action as per law, said ADGP (Law and Order) GP Singh.

Its a difficult situation. This particular lockdown is for the safety of the public. Despite these incidents our morale is high and will continue to remain so. I am touring both places on Saturday to take stock of the situation, he added.

Earlier this week there were reports that a pharmacy owner in Golaghat district was caned by police when he was going to open his establishment. In another instance, a newspaper vendor was reportedly assaulted by police in Nalbari.

Even a national emergency cant justify such blatant violation of a civilians basic human right of living with dignity. If anyone is found to be loitering in the streets without due cause, then that person should be booked and the courts of law should be allowed to penalize him, leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia wrote to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

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For the latest on the Coronavirus pandemic head to Newshub.

Amid the global crisis, medical supplies are in high demand and in short supply. So, those behind the scenes of some of the most popular medical dramas are donating their goods to real-life doctors and hospitals.

The dramas including 'Greys Anatomy,' 'Station 19' and 'The Resident' are all donating surgical gloves and masks that are used as props on the shows to aid real-life doctors in the fight against the virus.

"At 'Station 19,' we were lucky enough to have about 300 of the coveted N95 masks which we donated to our local fire station," Krista Vernoff, executive producer of 'Greys Anatomy' and 'Station 19' told Good Morning America in a statement.

"They were tremendously grateful. At Greys Anatomy, we have a back-stock of gowns and gloves which we are donating as well. We are all overwhelmed with gratitude for our healthcare workers during this incredibly difficult time, and in addition to those donations, we are doing our part to help them by staying home."

Other television shows that will be making similar donations include 'The Good Doctor' and 'Filthy Rich', which will donate cleaning supplies and food pallets.

"This kind of community support means so much to our #frontlineproviders who are making many sacrifices to staff our hospitals and care for our community," Dr. Karen L. Law, program director of Internal Medicine Residency Program at Emory University, told CNN of the donations her team received from 'The Resident.'

She took to Instagram to express her gratitude:
Up to two million self-employed people could miss out on the chancellor's multi-billion-pound coronavirus bailout, it has emerged.

On Thursday, Rishi Sunak unveiled a scheme handing out cash grants worth up to 2,500 a month, in a massive boost for taxi drivers, musicians, gig economy workers and freelancers.

Only people turning a profit of less than 50,000 a year are eligible however, meaning those earning anything over that will not be able to claim - potentially affecting professionals like accountants, IT consultants, graphic designers and other success stories.

Since the announcement, some analysts have said the number of people missing out on the scheme could be as high as two million, or 35 per cent, of the 5.75million people registered as self-employed, according to The Times.

On Thursday, Rishi Sunak unveiled a scheme handing out cash grants worth up to 2,500 a month, in a massive boost for taxi drivers, musicians, gig economy workers and freelancers

Duncan Swift, president of insolvency and restructuring organisation R3, said the limitations of the Government's measures to help the self-employed 'do stand out'.

'There are quite a few gaps in the support: for people who have only recently started working for themselves or who pay themselves through dividends, there may be no help at all,' he said.

'Anyone who is in financial difficulty or starting to see signs it may be around the corner should seek advice from a professional as soon as possible.'

Those self-employed people who are eligible for help unveiled on Thursday will be able to receive up to 2,500 per month in grants for at least three months.

But, in order to be eligible, they need to have been operating for at least a year and have had a trading profit of less than 50,000 in 2018-19 or an average trading profit of less than 50,000 from 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.

How the chancellor's self-employed income support scheme will work

To qualify, more than half of their income in these periods must come from self-employment.

Those missing out could include people who are the sole earner in a family who earns 50,001 and will miss out, while someone turning a 49,999 profit would be covered.

Those who invest their profits in their business, or set themselves up as a limited company and pay themselves via a dividend, will also be ineligible.

Also missing out are those who have set up businesses so recently they have not filed a tax return for the 2018/2019 financial year.

In a report on the measures tonight, regarding the 50,000 profit ceiling, the Institute for Fiscal Studies' (IFS) Stuart Adam and Helen Miller said: 'This means that those who just miss these criteria will get no support despite looking quite similar to some of those who are eligible.'

Saying he knew people were 'worrying about their jobs and incomes', Mr Sunak said: 'You have not been forgotten.'

But at a press conference in Downing Street he also delivered a stark warning that the government 'will not be able to protect every single job or save every single business' as the deadly disease brings the economy grinding to a halt.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma insisted that the Government is offering 'the right response' for self-employed workers.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has defended the Government's approach saying it is offering the 'right response' for the self-employed

He told BBC Breakfast: 'The Chancellor was very clear that we want to do this as quickly as possible, we've set a date of June. If we can do it faster we will, but it is a complicated system that we are designing and we want to make sure we get it absolutely right.'

On those who have been self-employed for less than a year not being eligible for the package, Mr Sharma said: 'The reality is, if HMRC has had no contact from those people during the time they've been self-employed, then of course it's very difficult to make an assessment on that.'

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the scheme covers 95 per cent of self-employed people for whom the majority of their earnings come from that work.

Tom Evennett, head of personal tax at Ernst & Young, said: 'There will be a group of taxpayers who are just over 50,000 - such a hard cut-off could be seen as rough justice.'

Nick Hill, a money expert at the Government-backed Money and Pensions Service, said: 'Hard as it is, the most important thing, now more than ever, is to take a moment to assess all your outgoings, talk to your creditors, and check whether you can access savings which would normally be locked away.

'If, after that, you are still worried about making ends meet, make sure you have fully considered all your options before looking at credit products to plug any gaps, and that you have understood the terms and conditions and know how much you will have to pay back in future.'

Heather Self, of tax advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, said: 'People with new businesses starting after 5 April 2019 will not qualify. This is needed, HMRC say, so that grants are based on existing tax returns rather than running a higher risk of fraud, but it's very harsh for someone who left employment last summer to start a new business

'Junior barristers - who are typically self-employed but often earn very little in their first year or two - are an example of new businesses who will be affected, as well as the more obvious plumbers, hairdressers and so on.'

Ambulances are seen outside the Excel Centre, London today while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease

Shoppers keep their distance as they wait for a Tesco store to open in Leatherhead, Surrey. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have tested positive for the virus and are now self isolating

Unlike the bailout for employees, which is being channelled through businesses in grants, the government money would go directly to individuals.

Mr Sunak said: 'Despite these extraordinary steps there will be challenging times ahead.

'We will not be able to protect every single job or save every single business.

'But I am confident that the measures we have put in place will support millions of families, businesses and self-employed people to get through this.

'Get through it together and emerge on the other side both stronger and more united.'

Mr Sunak said: 'The scheme I have announced today is fair.

'It is targeted at those who need it the most and crucially it is deliverable and it provides an unprecedented level of support for self-employed people.'

He said: 'These last 10 days have shaken our country and economy as never before.

'In the last two weeks we have put aside ideology and orthodoxy to mobilise the full power and resources of the British state.

'We have done so in the pursuit of a single goal: To protect people's health and economic security.

'By supporting public services like our NHS, backing businesses and protecting people's jobs and incomes.

'What we have done will I believe stand as one of the most significant economic interventions at any point in the history of the British state and by any government anywhere in the world.'

Mr Sunak admitted the very recently self-employed will not be included in the scheme and must look for welfare support.

He said: 'For those who are very recently self-employed, we cannot operate a scheme like this, there's too much complexity both operationally and fraud risk with that, so we would have to say to those people please look at the extra support we've put into the welfare system to help you at this time.

'But, as I've said, this covers the vast, vast majority of people.'

Asked what people will do for the next three months until the scheme is up and running, sources said some people would have to sign on as unemployed.
A popular grocery store in Western Massachusetts is temporarily shuttering its doors amid the coronavirus outbreak.

90 Meat Outlet, located on Avocado Street in Springfield, said Saturday that an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

At this time, the employee is experiencing only minor symptoms while being quarantined at their home, store management said Saturday. We have informed all of our employees and provided them guidelines to help protect the health of the community. We wish everyone well during these difficult times, and look forward to brighter days ahead."

The employee was at work most recently on Tuesday. They did not have customer contact nor handle the food products, the company said.

The store will be closed until April 9.

Grocery stores are among the businesses exempt from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Bakers executive order shutting down non-essential businesses.

We will always allow all grocery stores, pharmacies and other types of businesses that provide essential goods and services to Massachusetts residents to continue to operate, Baker said on Monday. We will not stop anyone from accessing these essential businesses.

Grocery stores are required to sanitize frequent touch points throughout the day, including cash registers, have social distancing lines marking six feet from all checkout counters and offer at least one hour of dedicated shopping time for customers ages 60 or older.

Reusable bags have been banned at grocery stores. Plastic and paper bags have been reintroduced in communities where they were previously banned.

Customers are encouraged to take steps to protect themselves upon entry, with stores required to make available access to public restrooms with a sink and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, as well disinfectant wipes at entrances, cash registers and throughout the stores.

Grocery store employees at higher risk due to age or underlying health conditions are encouraged to stay home or be given lower-exposure" assignments.

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"That's not correct," she says. "China didn't lock down for six months. They're already looking at starting flights back into the country." The normally busy Rawson Place, near Sydney's Central Station, was deserted on Wednesday as the city shuts down. Credit:Roger Stonehouse As part of an expert academic panel, MacIntyre has provided advice to the government which was noted but not adopted. She has been critical of the government's refusal to commit to a full-scale lockdown, but says it is not too late. "When you do it when the epidemic is smaller, the impact is quicker and more successful. As you wait for the epidemic to get bigger, it's going to take longer," she says. "It'll still work, it's never too late. Four weeks should be effective, maybe six weeks. That's kind of the ball park." MacIntyre's concept of a full lockdown is severe. People would have to exercise inside or on their balcony; those who live alone wouldn't be allowed to see their partners but they could choose to live together during the lockdown period. She recognises such conditions would be tough for six weeks but says "it should be feasible".

Under New Zealand's lockdown, slated to last four weeks, people are allowed to exercise outdoors alone. But all cafes and restaurants are shut (including for takeaway), and there are certainly no hairdressers open (not even for 30 minutes). The aim is to eradicate the illness from the country. Neighbours have turned their backyards into makeshift gyms as they face months without a place to work out. Credit:Christopher Pearce It is more difficult to do that here. Our objective now is to "flatten the curve" - accepting a reduced level of infection over time, so as not to overwhelm the health system. This plan can mean a longer but slightly more gentle and sustainable shutdown of society. University of Melbourne epidemiologist and public health medicine specialist Tony Blakely says Australia's window for a quick, hard, eradication-style lockdown probably closed last week. "I just think the time has passed," he says. "Maybe it hasn't for Tasmania. But certainly for NSW, probably for Victoria, the cat's out of the bag."

In Blakely's view, the way forward now is to enforce a manageable level of social distancing for a protracted period. As the proportion of the population who have already been infected grows, you can start to relax the conditions for some people. For example employers could allow more and more people back into the office. "It's like we're steering an oil tanker, we're down the back and we've got this tiny little rudder," he says. "It's going to be hard." Some restrictions won't be relaxed at all, Blakely says, particularly in relation to the elderly and vulnerable: "The whole way through this game we're not going to visit grandma. It's going to be a really long haul for grandma." Then there is the widely-held perception that Australia is heading for a severe lockdown at some point anyway, so it might as well be sooner rather than later. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews clearly flagged more widespread shutdowns, and Morrison himself has indicated there will be "greater variation in how far restrictions go" in different states.

Stephen Duckett, the director of the Grattan Institute's health program, says a tight three to four-week lockdown is "obviously coming" and should already be in place. But he cautions against assuming it's an instant cure. "Let's say you have a strong lockdown and it stops the spread of disease quite quickly," he says. "Then the question is: what do you loosen up and in what order do you loosen up? You would not return to the January situation the next day. You'd still have some sort of restrictions." Crucially, however: "It would not be possible for people to be not leaving their house for six months." Duckett's point is that this method would at least give people some clear expectations and would allow them to start resuming normal life earlier, if only piece by piece. "I would prefer [Morrison] to say: we're expecting to go four weeks. He might have to say 'oh I'm sorry, we haven't stopped it, we have to extend'," Duckett says, but at least it would give people "some certainty of the time frame". Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says a stage three shutdown is coming but now is not the time. Credit:AAP Andrews also hinted at this on Friday. People want to know "when will this be over?" he said. "It is deeply frustrating not to be able to give people the answers to those sorts of questions."

He repeated that "there will be a stage three" to the shutdowns but "exactly when and its exact nature, and how long it will run for, and what we expect it to do to case numbers and the curve - that's not for today". In another key message, Andrews said ideally NSW, Victoria and parts of Queensland would stay in lock-step to minimise confusion along the eastern seaboard. Andrews has been the most aggressive premier when it comes to telling people to just stay at home. He has explicitly told people not to visit other people's homes for beers and not to leave their own houses unless they absolutely must. Loading But experts say the message needs to broaden beyond the simple "stay at home", which won't cut it for months on end. We need messages about how people can move around outside rarely but safely, as well as information campaigns on how to maintain social and mental health. Psychiatrist and youth mental health professor Patrick McGorry, who has been in close contact with Morrison on this issue, is urging the government to establish a parallel national cabinet to deal with mental health during the pandemic and resulting isolation.

"The mental health consequences of being in isolation for six months - I don't think they've ever been studied," he says. "People are already finding it difficult I think, just a week or two into it. We are cutting off a lot of the sources of what makes life worth living for people, for a long period." MacIntyre says we can do three things to make people's lockdown experience more comfortable. Firstly, make it possible for people to get food and medicine - something that is not realistically under threat. Secondly, provide significant mental health support to help people cope with the isolation. Finally, expand the financial support on offer. "You can't have these narrow, restrictive criteria for Newstart," she says. "You need to make it quick and easy. That is an urgent priority." A man takes some time to meditate at Bondi Beach, Sydney on Friday. Credit:Cole Bennetts McGorry says it's hard to fathom living our lives in isolation for as long as Morrison predicts. But he also recognises humans have endured much worse hardships and for longer periods of time. "We know from past disasters like world wars and through the Great Depression that people will get through it. Most people will survive it and be OK," McGorry says.
During a trip to my local Shoprite Thursday night, I spoke briefly to my cashier, Dawn, about how busy the store was earlier in the day (very) and how much my 4-year-old son loves Cheez-Its (a lot). It occurred to me that outside of my wife and kids, it was the only in-person conversation Ive had all week (and it had to be made through a plexiglass barrier installed to protect her).

Grocery store employees are unsung heroes on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Not only do they risk infection to keep our families fed and our pantries full, they offer one of the last remaining opportunities to interact with another human being. And theyre forced to deal with unending complaints from anxious customers about out-of-stock items and special senior shopping hours seen by some as an inconvenience.

At a grocery store in Northeast Pennsylvania, a woman was arrested after she intentionally coughed on $15,000 worth of produce and claimed she had coronavirus. Instead of running out of the store, more than a dozen employees helped throw out items and clean up the area.

People take drugstore and grocery store workers for granted," Wendell Young, president of Local 1776 Keystone State of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, told the Inquirer. I couldnt agree more. Not all heroes wear masks  some wear aprons instead.

 READ MORE: Is the grocery store even safe? In Philly region, its improving, but there are additional steps you can take.

Other recent coronavirus cartoons:

For more editorial cartoons, visit inquirer.com/opinion/cartoons/.
Attempts by cyber criminals to defraud Australian businesses, whose thousands of employees are now working from home, have increased more than ten-fold since the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

Malicious emails from suppliers including fake invoices and false changes to banking and phone details in the first three months of this year are up 15 times on the same period last year.

A fraudulent "myGov" text sent in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The figures, from digital payment security business EFTsure, relate to more than 300 businesses, which receive communication from more than 1.2 million suppliers.

In the past two weeks cybersecurity experts have also recorded a 40 per cent increase in phishing lures, or scam emails using COVID-19 to target victims.
The Delhi Police on Saturday said people can apply for movement passes on their website during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

According to a senior police officer, the applicants can visit the website of the Delhi Police to apply for a movement or curfew pass.

A movement pass is required for those in essential services to move without any hassle during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 10:16:04|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese foreign ministry has replied to the open letter co-signed by publishers of three U.S. media outlets. The following is the full text of the reply:

Publishers of the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times issued a co-signed open letter on 24 March. However, regrettably, it was sent to the wrong recipient. It should have been addressed to the US government.

Things have their causality. The three publishers happened to get one point right in their letter -- China's decision to revoke press credentials of their journalists was a response to the "recent expulsions by the US government" of 60 Chinese journalists from the United States. The All-China Journalists Association had released a statement on the US expulsion of Chinese journalists on 6 March. Yet it is worthwhile to recap how the US has been escalating its political oppression of the Chinese media:

In December 2018, relevant Chinese media outlets in the US were required to register as "foreign agents."

On 18 February 2020, Xinhua News Agency, CGTN, CRI, China Daily and the American distributor of People's Daily overseas edition were designated as "foreign missions."

On 2 March, the US announced the de facto expulsion of over 60 Chinese journalists by 13 March.

In addition, since 2018, the US denied visas for 29 Chinese journalists without any reason, including nine based in the US.

Chinese journalists can only get single-entry visas. Some cannot get back to the US after a home leave due to visa rejection. They are also required to submit extra documents for visa application.

When the US side announced the expulsion and escalated political oppression of the Chinese journalists, did you three key media outlets, known as the "conscience of industry" in the United States, speak up for your Chinese colleagues? Did you openly criticize the US government and urge it to revoke the wrong decision? Where was the "freedom of press" that you always claim to advocate? No one should expect China to remain silent to the growing political oppression or discrimination by the United States.

The open letter attempted to link China's reciprocal countermeasures to the reporting of COVID-19. It claimed that the US journalists were "expelled" because of their coverage of the outbreak in China. That seemed to suggest that those journalists were the only source of information on China, and that without them, the rest of the world would have no access to the COVID-19 situation in China.

The fact is, since the epidemic broke out, China, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, has been releasing data of the situation on a daily basis. We have been providing regular updates to the WHO and countries around the world including the United States. We have also taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures to control the spread of the virus. We have made significant progress in containing the outbreak, and bought precious time for the world. China's important contribution has been fully recognized, highly commended, and widely applauded by the international community.

The three publishers need to be reminded that the world will not be missing "probing, accurate, on-the-ground reporting" simply because a few of your journalists are absent. Moreover, some of them must know quite well in their heart whether they had reported comprehensively, faithfully, and objectively to the world on China's fight against the coronavirus. And the stories they wrote are also self-evident. Such reports by such journalists will only hurt your time-honored brand as well-established media agencies.

In the letter, the three publishers asked the Chinese government to "ease the growing crackdown on independent news organizations." As the Foreign Ministry's spokespersons stressed time and again, China's basic state policy of opening-up has not changed and will not change. We welcome foreign media and their journalists to cover China in compliance with laws and regulations, and we will continue to provide them convenience and assistance in doing their job. If things were otherwise, how come there are so many international media outlets and journalists working in China and writing so many wide-ranging and diverse news stories about this country? What we oppose is ideological bias against China and the fabrication of fake news under the excuse of "freedom of press." What we oppose are behaviors that violate the professional ethics of journalism. We wonder how come the three publishers never say anything about the unwarranted restrictions and oppression imposed by the US government on your fellow Chinese journalists?

China and the US may have different social systems, but this should not affect journalists' ability to be objective, fair, truthful and accurate in their reporting. Chinese journalists in the US always comply strictly with local laws and regulations as well as professional ethics. It is unjust to impose restrictions on or create obstacles for them just because they are from a socialist country led by the Communist Party of China. And China does not put any US professional news media in a different category because of its pro-Democratic or pro-Republican reporting. Likewise, Chinese media organizations also deserve fair treatment in the US. The US should not oppress the Chinese media out of ideological bias. Such bullying only reveals that the US does not wish or dare to acknowledge the historical trend that the CPC is leading the Chinese people forward in big strides.

As you have realized, China's rapid development provides an inexhaustible source of news stories. We welcome reporting by impartial and fair-minded journalists. But we do not accept the arrogance and prejudice in the open letter. The Chinese people do not welcome biased and unjust reporting. As the saying goes, "He who tied the knot should untie it." If the three media agencies have complaints, they should bring them to the US government.

Last but not least, a reminder to the Wall Street Journal: you still owe the Chinese people an apology.
In an episode titled Dont Call it Curry on Ugly Delicious Season Two on Netflix, host David Chang attempts to change perceptions about Indian cuisine.

In it, the late Chef Floyd Cardoz, who was featured along with the team at his famous Mumbai restaurant, talked about playing with regional desi flavours so that Indians are jazzed about Indian food again. He emphasised the importance of finding hidden treasures in India: because if we passionate food people dont know about it; how do you expect the world to know about it?

And that is precisely what he had been doing all his life. Since 1998, when his restaurant Tabla in New York (backed by food mogul Danny Meyer) won rave reviews and enticed people into the exotic world of elegant Indian fare, far removed from the five-dollar all-you-can-eat buffets.

To a string of successful restaurants, followed by putting simple upma into the spotlight in 2011 when he won US Top Chef Masters, elevating it into a Wild Mushroom Upma Polenta with Kokum and Coconut Milk.

While this dish wasnt on the menu at the restaurant that he came to India to create in 2013, the philosophy of it certainly was.

He lived in New Jersey with his wife and sons, but hed revisit India often to travel and research dishes with partners Sameer Seth and Yash Bhanage. For him, doing the homework was important and all of his work had a thoughtfulness to it. He was clear. There has to be a connect to why we are doing something.

Humble to a fault, he also knew his strengths. I have a really good palate and understanding of flavours and balance, taste and texture. I can taste something and know what it needs, he said, as we discussed the importance of using triphala in a proper Goan fish curry at his Goan-Portuguese restaurant that opened in 2017. His excitement over the smallest of ingredients, the passion with which he spoke about them, endeared himself to anyone who loved food and its creation. Every single person sharing their memories of him now speaks of his down-to-earth attitude. He confided to me once, If you get too serious about yourself, then youre not on the guests side.

He was close to his roots and proud of his Goan Catholic heritage. He turned the somewhat pejorative tag for Indian Christians into a catchy name for his casual eatery in NYC.

At Paowalla, in the stylish SoHo neighbourhood around Spring Street and Sullivan in downtown Manhattan, he wanted to serve dishes that were light and seasonal to showcase how Indian food need not be greasy as is commonly perceived.

This later morphed into The Bombay Bread Bar before escalating costs saw him shutting it down last September. But it was time for new beginnings.

He was back in Mumbai to celebrate five years of his first restaurant here and to launch a Willy Wonka-style paradise for those with a penchant for Indian sweets with a twist. He was happy with the birth of this sweet baby and looked forward to spending time with his family. Sadly, not for too long. His earlier words to me, You never know whats to come, echo eerily in my mind.
Some workers of the National Hospital in Abuja have kicked against moves by the management to convert a ward at the facility to an isolation centre for coronavirus patients.

At least three senior doctors at the hospital have carried out an inspection of the male and female ward as they prepared to convert it into a treatment unit for COVID-19 patients, multiple sources told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

The chief medical director with some doctors at the infectious disease unit just mapped out the male and female medical ward for isolation, a medical doctor at the hospital told PREMIUM TIMES.

The doctor said the ward should not be converted because of its proximity to the childrens ward.

It is directly opposite the childrens ward and we are very afraid of the children could be put in danger, the doctor said, speaking under anonymity to avoid being targeted for disclosing internal hospital arrangements.

The ventilation here is very bad, the doctor said.

Another doctor who also protested the moves, told PREMIUM TIMES that the management should have asked the NCDC to move COVID-19 patients to other isolated facilities across Abuja.

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We have a national stadium here, the Eagle Square and even the cancer centre that was suggested by Atiku the other day, the doctor said. They have started using a stadium in Lagos.

The doctors said the hasty and dangerous decision may not be unconnected with the resources that were recently made available to the NCDC to combat the virus, although they heard it was because the facility in Gwagwalada that has been taken COVID-19 patients was nearly filled to capacity.

The doctors said they had not officially filed a complaint about the decision, but warned that the hospital could become mired in crisis if it was not rescinded forthwith.

A spokesperson for the hospital, Tayo Haastrup, did not return calls and emails seeking comment Saturday afternoon.

Two doctors, said to be in support of the plan, Osi Ogbu and O.A. Falodun, also did not comment.

While Ms Ogbu said enquiries should be directed to her superiors, Mr Falodun said he was busy and could not speak on the matter.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC chief, did not return request for comments about the brewing dispute at the National Hospital.

Abuja currently has 14 of Nigerias 81 cases as of Saturday morning. The nations capital follows Lagos, which has 52, in the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria.
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Incredible images from inside the ExCeL Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into London's emergency coronavirus hospital is underway.

The ExCeL London Centre is being refitted to create thousands of new beds for COVID-19 sufferers, complete with oxygen, ventilators and other key equipment in the battle against the deadly virus.

The exhibition centre, in East London, will become the NHS Nightingale Hospital, creating an impressive 4,000 beds.

Before the scale of the crisis became clear, the UK was believed to have had one of the lowest proportions of intensive care units in Europe, but NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says 33,000 beds are now available for COVID-19 patients.

Just under 4,000 people in London have been infected with the virus, according to the latest government figures. At least 180 people in the city have died.

Mayor Sadiq Khan warned Londoners yesterday: 'I need to warn people that it is going to a lot worse over the next few weeks.

'But we are going to do what we can for that eventuality. The number of people we are talking about are large and we need to be ready for that.

'You will have seen the amount of dead already in London, we are two or three weeks ahead of the rest of the country and we know the peak is coming soon, three to five weeks away.'

Incredible images from inside the ExCel Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into London's emergency coronavirus hospital is underway

Ambulance staff and health workers outside the ExCel Center in London on Saturday morning

Ambulances are seen outside the Excel Centre, London, while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital, as the capital prepares for a 'tsunami' of patients

Sawing and other construction work is underway at the venue, which is being transformed into a new NHS Nightingale Hospital

Exterior of the Excel Centre, London while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues

Ambulances were seen lining up outside the exhibition centre, soon to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital, on Saturday morning, as workers were busy transforming the building inside.

Military planners are working with Health Service officials to create the new hospital in the capital from scratch to accommodate rising numbers of patients.

Extraordinary pictures show how hundreds of cubicles were being erected inside the vast space to create a layout resembling a hospital ward.

The completed hospital will comprise of two wards, each able to house 2,000 sick patients.

Ambulance workers this morning unloaded medical equipment including oxygen tanks, heart monitors and defibrillators outside NHS Nightingale.

Other medical staff carried out 'dummy runs', wheeling a model of a fake patient on a trolley into the ExCel exhibition centre.

Other medical staff carried out 'dummy runs', wheeling a model of a fake patient on a trolley into the ExCel exhibition centre on Saturday morning

Medical staff wheel a model of a fake patient on a trolley into the ExCeL London exhibition centre in London on March 28

A dummy is wheeled into the exhibition centre which is being transformed into a hospital, in a practice run ahead of its opening next week

The building is expected to open as a fully-functioning hospital by next Saturday, April 4.

It comes as the UK death toll surged by 181 yesterday as Government advisers warned that even stricter social distancing measures could be on the way.

It is by far the biggest daily increase and means the disease has claimed 759 lives, including young and previously healthy people.

Government advisers said stricter social distancing policies may have to be rolled out next month if the grim figures continued to rise.

The measures would be introduced in three weeks as the outbreak reached its peak to further reduce 'person-to-person interaction'.

Military and contractors building the Nightingale Hospital for coronavirus patients at the Excel centre in east London, above and below

The transformed building is expected to open as a fully-functioning hospital by next Saturday, April 4

Extraordinary pictures show how hundreds of cubicles were being erected inside the vast space to create a layout resembling a hospital ward

The NHS Nightingale hospital will comprise of two wards, each of 2,000 people, to help tackle coronavirus

Military planners are working with Health Service officials to create the new hospital in the capital from scratch to accommodate rising numbers of patients

Family hit by double tragedy as Heathrow immigration officer, 61, dies from coronavirus - followed by his pharmacist daughter, 33, the next day Pooja Sharma, pictured left, died of coronavirus just 24 hours after her father Sudhir, pictured right, also lost his life to the disease The daughter of a Heathrow immigration officer who died from coronavirus was also killed by the disease herself just 24 hours later. Sudhir Sharma, who worked at Terminal 3, passed away on Wednesday before pharmacist Pooja suffered the same tragic fate the following day, The Sun reports. The father, 61, from Hounslow in west London, last worked on January 7, therefore officials don't believe he contracted Covid-19 on duty and likely picked it up elsewhere. He is believed to have had underlying health problems, forcing him to be absent at work, but had recently returned to his job on the frontline. Pooja, 33, worked as a pharmacist in East Sussex at Eastbourne District General Hospital and is thought to have received three days of care and treatment for the virus before her death. Advertisement

Police chiefs are also encouraging Britons to snitch on neighbours they suspect of breaching the coronavirus lockdown rules put in place to protect them and the rest of the public.

Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur.

Snoopers who want to punish or threaten alleged rule-breakers into compliance can report cases directly to designated coronavirus police task forces.

The NHS has warned of a potential 'tsunami' of COVID-19 patients in the capital over the coming weeks before London reaches its peak of infections as concerns grow that the crisis in the capital is escalating.

The number of coronavirus cases in London has almost quadrupled in a week as the UK's epidemic continues to spread into all corners of the British Isles.

The capital city now has at least 4,637 cases, a jump from the 1,221 reported last Friday, three days before Britons were ordered to stay indoors to try and stop the outbreak.

Some 228 of the 759 deaths recorded in Britain have been in London, including 57 of the 181 announced on Friday.

Scientists say the official figures represent the fallout of Britons carrying on their lives as normal before lockdown, cramming into pubs and working in offices despite COVID-19 cases emerging.

Birmingham is the single local authority with the most cases, with 366 confirmed patients, and the West Midlands around it has become the biggest hotspot outside of London, with more than 1,630 cases.

However, nearby Rutland, in the East Midlands, has reported zero cases so far.

Yesterday the bombshell news that The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both tested positive for coronavirus shook the Government.

London is at the centre of the UK's fast expanding coronavirus outbreak and Southwark and Lambeth are the worst hit boroughs, with more than 500 cases between them

London's coronavirus cases have increased three-fold in a week as the crisis escalates rapidly

Outside of London, the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham will add an initial 500 beds, with the potential to grow to 2,000 if necessary.

Manchester Central Convention Complex will add 500 more, with the capacity to expand to 1,000, and Cardiff's Principality Stadium will provide up to 2,000 more.

Efforts are under way to source the doctors, nurses and non-clinical workers to staff the huge units.

Military planners are working with Health Service officials to create the new hospital in the capital from scratch to accommodate rising numbers of patients

Contractors carry building materials to form the new hospital wards for coronavirus patents in East London

The NHS has warned of a potential 'tsunami' of COVID-19 patients in the capital over the coming weeks before the capital reaches its peak of infections

General view of the Excel Centre, London while it is being prepared to become the NHS Nightingale Hospital

Meanwhile Chessington World of Adventures car park is being turned into drive-thru swab centre for medics. It means thousands of doctors and nurses could be tested at the site in Surrey.

Six lanes have been set up at the children's entertainment park for health workers to drive in to from the main road.

They stay in their cars as medics in protective clothing take a swab from their nose and throat to be tested for Covid-19.

It is understood Chessington is one of a number of new sites preparing to take samples from NHS workers, allowing those who test negative to return to work.

Deirdre Barr, 62, (pictured) will come out of retirement to work as director of operations at the new Nightingale Hospital in East London

It emerged a retired nurse from Northern Ireland will go back to work on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic to head the new Nightingale hospital.

Deirdre Barr, 62, from Bogside, has served the NHS for 40 years, after joining as a St John Ambulance cadet.

She will now leave her home in Kent to work at the new hospital amid the global pandemic.

Her sister Dolores, 74, said that although the family were concerned for Barr, they were extremely proud of her decision.

'This is a massive job, and we're scared for Deirdre, but we are so very proud that she has taken it on. If anyone can do this, Deirdre can. She's always been the one person her whole family turns to in times of trouble and sickness.

'Now the whole of the UK will be turning to her. She'll handle it well. She has broad shoulders and never shirks from responsibility.

'This job is going to ask an awful lot of her but we know she'll face it head on. The pictures we are seeing of the Nightingale Hospital are terrifying but our Deirdre will take it all in her stride,' she told the Daily Mirror.

An ambulance worker unloads oxygen tanks, heart monitors and defibrillators outside the ExCel Center in London this morning

Ambulance staff and health workers outside the ExCel Center in London

Equipment being setup at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital - the NHS Nightingale hospital, comprising of two wards, each of 2,000 people, to help tackle coronavirus

Equipment being setup at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital

It comes as NHS nurses from all over the UK are sent to London as the capital is set to be struck by a 'tsunami' of cases in the coming weeks.

The ExCel hospital is set to open next week, with 500 beds and plans to expand to 4,000.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has described the plans as an 'ambitious project' that 'is just one example of what can be achieved when they come together to help the nation'.

It has been reported that as many as 13 makeshift hospitals may be needed in the UK to tackle the health crisis.

The UK saw coronavirus cases jump by 2,921 on Friday to almost 15,000, the largest increase so far, while the death toll spiked by a third to 759.
(Natural News) As the world is just beginning to deal with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), China is already hard at work attempting to memory-hole the fact that it originated there.

And wouldnt you know it, the Chinese government propagandists has learned their lessons from the American Left. Why wouldnt they? One of their partys leading contenders, Bernie Sanders, has praised Communist China while frequently criticizing his own country, America.

In any event, as The Epoch Times notes, Chinas embassy in Australia has sent emails to local journalists criticizing them for politicizing the coronavirus by reporting that it originated in China without any supporting facts, according to a reporter at the Australian Financial Review.

Michael Smith of the Australian publication wrote in a March 9 article he received an email last week from the Chinese embassy in Canberra in which he detailed comments made by Beijings Foreign Ministry during a recent press conference regarding highly irresponsible references by media about the China virus.

Smith explained to readers that the letter showed how the Communist regime in Beijing has adopted a new propaganda angle to insinuate that in actually, the virus didnt originate in Wuhan City, as has been known for months, but rather actually came from somewhere else.

The Epoch Times noted:

Up until recent weeks, Chinas own state media said that the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, likely originated from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which was shut down shortly after the emergence of the virus.

In the press conference mentioned in the letter, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters it was highly irresponsible for some media to dub the novel coronavirus the China virus. (Related: China drops hint it could blackmail U.S. over pharmaceutical exports as coronavirus that came from them spreads across America.)

We firmly oppose that, Zhao said, adding that no conclusion has been reached yet on the origin of the virus.

Well. The statistics and facts say otherwise. Though there are about 111,000 cases worldwide as of this writing, more than 85,000 of them are in China. Plus, reports have documented for months that the outbreaks epicenter was Wuhan City.

China has to do this in order to remain the worlds factory

Plus, as The Epoch Times reported, a number of World Health Organization researchers have long established the origin of the virus. What isnt yet known, however, is how the virus emerged and how it began infecting humans; the fact that it is a coronavirus suggests that it originated in animals and then morphed into a strain that infects humans.

But Zhao claimed that some media clearly want China to take the blame and their ulterior motives are laid bare.

Chinese officials have also admitted that the virus began in their country.

For example, Gao Fu, chief of Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in January that health officials believed that the virus originated in wild animals in a Wuhan seafood market, though they had yet to determine the exact source.

Granted, a month later, another Chinese official, epidemiologist and pulmonologist Zhong Nanshan, who researched the SARS outbreak (which came from China) in 2003, suggested that COVID-19 may have originated somewhere else.

At a February press conference, Zhong said that though COVID-19 was first discovered in China, it does not mean that it originated from China. This is a human disease, not a national disease.

That still doesnt explain the heavy infection rate in China, though. But it does indicate that Beijings Communist leaders were already working on a way to spin the outbreak so that it didnt implicate them or their country.

While there may be some gullible people who will believe the Chinese government, most of the rest of the planet wont. But it makes sense that Beijing would want to memory hole this, given that the countrys economic future depends on keeping global production in China.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
Dining rooms in Southeast Texas may be closed, but many of the restaurants kitchens are busy feeding neighbors. And if there is a silver lining, its silver tequila as Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order allowing restaurants to sell alcohol with a food purchase.

Here are some take-out deals to consider. Many offer curb service, delivery or work with delivery services such as Waitr.

MacKenzies Pub is offering daily specials, but its anytime deal: Purchase an entree and get a kids meal for $2.

229 Dowlen Road, 409-866-2288

Crustaceans Boil House is offering daily specials. A recent Two for Tuesday deal featured two 15-shrimp platters for $17.99.

10485 Eastex Freeway, 409-893-9060

Reds Icehouse wants to be your one-stop shop. In addition to beer ($2 for a domestic) and mudbugs ($4.99 a pound), you purchase pantry staples such was eggs and milk, as well as toilet paper. Reds also is offering discounts for first responders.

7665 College, 409-223-1557

Marias Diner and La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant is offering fajitas for two and two enchilada dinners for $24.99.

La Fiesta: 2337 Nederland Ave., Port Neches; 409-729-2500

Marias: 3848 Main Ave., Port Arthur; 409-960-7777

Madisons is offering meals to-go, meal kits and bulk items such as 10 pounds of ground beef ($39.99) and 2 pounds of shrimp ($13.99).

4020 Dowlen Road, 409-924-9777

In addition to freshly fried seafood dinners, The Schooner is offering frozen margaritas and frozen Hurricanes by the gallon for $35.

1507 U.S. 69, Nederland; 409-722-2323

Vautrots Cajun Cuisine is offering gumbo and etouffee by the quart, half-gallon and gallon.

13350 Texas 105;409-753-2015.

Tacos La Bamba is offering customizable $20 trays. Customers can choose from four options of either 20 tacos; 10 tacos and two tortas; 10 tacos and two burritos; and two tortas and two burritos.

2005 Calder Ave., 409-838-6222

J. Wilsons is selling $5 loaves of bread, in addition to its full menu via curbside, to-go and delivery (Favor).

It also is offering family meals such as fried chicken, pasta and a burger combo for $32.

4190 Gladys Ave., 409-899-8686

In addition to daily specials, Neches River Wheelhouse is offering family-style meal deals via curbside pickup. Among its offerings: four pulled pork sandwiches with fries ($25), one-topping pizza ($15), Pasta Capitano for four ($40) and fried shirmp and catfish for four ($38).

720 Lee Ave., Port Neches, 409-853-1249

Napolis Italian Restaurant is offering family meals that feed four to five people.

For $35, get salads, rolls and one pan of your choice of lasagna, chicken parmigiana, chicken alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti and meat sauce, baked ziti or cannelloni.

835 S. Main St., Lumberton; 409-227-4611

Hey, restaurateurs. Got a deal you want to share? Email us at syd.kearney@beaumontenterprise.com.
A 21-year-old from Dehradun who returned from Dubai on March 18 has confirmed positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, said state officials.

After returning from Dubai the boy started showing symptoms when he was admitted to a hospital in Dehradun. His samples were sent for testing on March 26, which tested positive on Saturday, said Dr Minakshi Joshi, chief medical officer of Dehradun.

The senior health official said the youth has been isolated at his home along with four other members of his family, who have not shown any symptoms yet.

On March 25, a 25-year-old man from Kotdwar in Pauri Garhwal district with recent travel history to Spain had become the fifth Covid-19 positive case in the state.

Uttarakhands first positive coronavirus patient, a trainee Indian Forest Service officer has recovered successfully and was discharged from a government hospital in Dehradun on Friday. He had tested positive on March 15.

On March 19, two more trainee IFS officers confirmed positive for the disease in Dehradun. They, too, are on the path of recovery with their first test after treatment showing negative infection.

Dr. Dinesh Chauhan, additional chief medical officer of Dehradun said, The first Covid-19 patient of Uttarakhand, a trainee IFS officer has been discharged and sent to his hostel, but his health condition will still be monitored. Two more trainee IFS officers are also recovering, who will have to take another test within 48hours. If that report is negative, then they will be discharged too.

On March 23, an American tourist was confirmed to be the fourth Covid-19 case in Uttarakhand.

Click Here for Latest Reports on Coronavirus
They are retraced and brought back but one doctor loses her job for negligence

Police and paramilitary soldiers stand guard on a road leading to the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital in Srinagar, where most patients with symptoms of COVID-19 are being kept in quarantine. (AP)

Srinagar: As many as 26 Covid-19 suspects jumped quarantine at a Srinagar hospital amidst chaos triggered by a violent protest over poor medical facilities.

The protesters allegedly broke furniture and window panes in the government-run Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital in the Rainawari area of Srinagar and were joined in the riot by their relatives who had been waiting outside.

However, Srinagars DC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said all the quarantine fugitives were quickly traced and brought back to the hospital with the help of the police.

Later in the day, the authorities sacked a doctor and suspended another for negligence. In an order served on microbiologist Dr. Mariaya Jeelani, the Directorate of Health Services (Kashmir) said, You were asked to attend your duties immediately, keeping in view the prevailing disaster, the COVID-19 outbreak in Valley, which you failed to comply with and it created lot of inconvenience to the patients and hospital administration. Hence your contractual services hired as Microbiologist are hereby terminated with immediate effect.

Another doctor, identified as Safina Gul, has been put under suspension, pending inquiry into her conduct, official sources said.

Meanwhile, police arrested nearly 400 people, seized 600 vehicles and sealed dozens of shops for allegedly violating the coronavirus lockdown in force since March 19. Among those arrested are two imams who were found delivering Friday sermons at mosques in Ganderbal and Shopian districts Police chief Dilbag Singh said as many as 329 FIRs were registered against lockdown violators till Friday evening.

Reports from Srinagar said police and personnel of other law enforcement agencies thrashed or misbehaved with dozens of people found out of their homes over the past few days. Videos and photographs of some of these incidents have gone viral on social media.
The public has been urged to desist from stigmatising anyone or group with regards to the current COVID-19 outbreak.



This is because such outbreaks put the entire human race at risk and basically require the collaboration and cooperation of the entire global community for a solution.



Dr Benjamin Anyagre, the General Secretary of Ghana China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that it was also very important for people to understand that anyone could get infected.



He said people with confirmed or suspected cases, therefore, needed as much support and understanding as possible, because no one was beyond getting infected.



He said it was unfortunate for anyone to refer to the virus as "Chinese virus" because that constituted a xenophobic attack on a particular group of people, and violated the UN Charter on human rights.



He noted that a number of epidemic outbreaks had occurred in the past, but had never been named after their respective countries of origin.

He said it was important now to tap into the expertise of the Chinese, concerning how they managed to curb the spread of the virus.



"Just as China has successfully curbed the spread of the virus, we appeal that they bring their best practices to bear on Ghana and other afflicted countries," he said.



Dr Anyagre said GHACHIFA was highly appreciative of the gesture of solidarity and support by China towards supporting Ghana in fighting the pandemic.



With Ghana's number of confirmed novel coronavirus infections now reaching over 130 with three deaths, a number of organisations, including the Ghana Medical Association, had called on the Government to declare a lockdown to curb the pandemic.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
by Leonard Grandio | Broncos Correspondent | Sat, Mar 28th 7:42am EDT

Mike Klis on Twitter is reporting that the Denver Broncos have reached an agreement with defensive tackle Shelby Harris worth $3.25M, including $2.5M in guaranteed salary. (Mike Klis on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact:

The Broncos bring back Harris on salary friendly deal that will fortify their front line defense. Harris played all 16 games for the Broncos last year. He provided 49 total tackles and six sacks last season. Harris can be placed on watch list for now in deep dynasty IDP leagues.
China blasts 'provocative actions' by US

PLA Daily

Source: China Daily

Editor: Li Jiayao

2020-03-27 09:06:53



The People's Liberation Army condemned recent "provocative actions" taken by the United States against the navy, warning such activities have undermined Chinese sovereignty, poisoned bilateral relations and disrupted regional peace and security.

China urged the US to strengthen strategic dialogue based on mutual respect, properly handle differences, facilitate practical cooperation and help steer military-to-military development in a positive direction, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said on Thursday.

On Feb 27, while the PLA naval fleet was conducting a routine drill in international waters, a US P-8A surveillance plane ignored numerous warnings from the Chinese and closely spied on the Chinese fleet for over four hours, Ren said.

"The closest distance between the Chinese ship and plane was only 400 meters," he said. "The dangerous maneuvers by the US plane were extremely inappropriate, unprofessional and unsafe."

For years, the US has been spying in China's marine and air space as well as near PLA ships and aircraft, which has led to many close encounters and tense moments, he said.

"The provocative actions by the US has damaged China's security interests and has endangered the lives of front-line soldiers and their equipment," he said. "They constitute a serious violation of international laws on freedom of navigation and are the root cause of problems between China and the US on maritime security.

"Yet the US not only ignores their wrongdoings but has also launched complaints and baseless accusations. We resolutely oppose these actions," he added. "We urge the US to stop such dangerous provocations, to stop smearing China and to avoid damaging military relations and bilateral ties."

Earlier this month, both foreign and domestic media reported US ships and naval planes had conducted numerous exercises and operations in the South China Sea, drawing condemnation from Ren and the Chinese military.

"It uses freedom of navigation as an excuse to barge recklessly into the region, threaten national security of nearby countries and disrupt regional peace and stability."

When commenting on recent reports that hacker group APT-C-39 from the US Central Intelligence Agency has been infiltrating Chinese companies and research institutions for 11 years, Ren said the US must stop conducting such activities against China.

"For years, the US has violated international laws and basic principles of international relations to carry out massive, organized, indiscriminate operations of online theft, as well as surveillance and attacks on foreign governments, companies and individuals," he said.

Ren also discussed the relationship between the US and Taiwan, saying recent actions by the US have seriously interfered with China's domestic affairs, damaged cross-Straits peace and stability and "seriously poisoned the two nations' military relations and bilateral ties".

On March 25, the destroyer USS McCampbell sailed through the Taiwan Straits. Ren deemed the action very dangerous and said it sent the wrong message to Taiwan secessionists.

The US also passed the TAIPEI Act this month, which promises more official interactions and diplomatic support for the island's international presence.

"We will absolutely not allow any foreign forces to play the Taiwan card, and will not tolerate any attempts of secession," Ren said. "The PLA has the will, confidence and capability to thwart all secession efforts and safeguard the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

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Transport minister Kamel El-Wazir said efforts are ongoing to reduce crowding in the Cairo metro, adding that its difficult to shut it down. He urged people who do not have vital jobs to stay at home.

We are not denying there has been congestion in the Cairo metro, and in Abu Qir Train in Alexandria, and in all the trains available, El-Wazir said on Friday in a phone call with MBC Masr satellite channel.

It is very difficult to close the metro. It transports millions of passengers every day. It is a clean, safe and easy to control and sterilise mode of transportation, and its affordable for almost everyone, he added.

The transportation minister explained that the three lines of the Cairo metro have 64 trains and carry around three million passengers per day. Line 1 (Helwan - El Marg) has 34 trains and carries around 1.5 million passengers per day.

El-Wazir said the three million passengers can be reduced to a million after the state reduced the number of employees in some institutions and if we assume that only employees take the metro twice a day, to and from work."

Before imposing the coronavirus curfew, the metro was operated for 18 hours a day and it was easier to transport all those passengers, El-Wazir said, adding that when all the employees leave work at the same time -- typically at 5 -- and they all want to be at home before the curfew starts at 7 pm, then the metro has just two hours to transport a million passengers.

After Egypt imposed on Tuesday a two-week curfew from 7 pm to 6 am over coronavirus fears, the metro's operating hours were reduced to be from 6 am to around 6:30 pm.

The regular operating hours of the metro were from 5:30 am till 1 am the following day.

The transport minister suggested that people should better leave work in waves (some should leave at 3 pm, others at 3:30 pm, etc..) instead of having everyone in the metro between 5 and 7, to decrease the congestion.

El-Wazir also called for reducing the presence of workers in unnecessary jobs.

He argued that some places like vital construction projects, some factories, pharmacies and productive sites cannot be closed.

People should only go to vital and necessary jobs, the rest should stay home until the country recovers, he said.

The transport minister said that it is possible to force people to stay home, but the state doesnt want to do that.

We dont want to force people to stay at home, I think [Egyptians] are conscious and understanding and will stay at home on their own.

Efforts to eliminate overcrowding in the metro

El-Wazir said that the number of trains in each line was increased in order to overcome congestion, and the teleportation time between trains was reduced from four to around two minutes.

The minister explained that in some cases people may arrive at their designated station after 7 pm (the beginning of the curfew). If the train leaves from one station (El-Marg for instance) at 6 pm, it will arrive to the other (Helwan) at 7 or 7:15 pm.

We coordinated with the interior ministry to let citizens walk in the areas around the terminal of each line after curfew time till they reach home, El-Wazir said.

Overcrowding in trains

On overcrowding in some trains, the minister said at the ministry increased the number of trains and carriages and decreased teleportation time in between trains.

He added that some people bought their tickets more than 14 days ago, and they have work duties, so they cannot return the tickets or postpone their travel.

El-Wazir said the ministry coordinated with the interior minister to permit the movement of passengers of some trains during curfew hours, especially the trains from Aswan to Cairo and vice versa as the trip can take between 15 and 16 hours.

He added that to handle the problem in the early days of the curfew, the ministry sent "SuperJet" buses to Ramsis station to transport people who come to Cairo to other main squares for free.

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By Delana Isles

FROM this Saturday at 5am, freedom of movement will be restricted for residents, except for those who are deemed essential to the continued operation of the country.





This is provided for in the Emergency Regulations approved by Governor Nigel Dakin on Wednesday (March 25).





The emergency powers were passed earlier this week as the territory prepared to shut its borders and for a 24-hour a day lockdown that is intended to last some three weeks.





As stipulated by the regulations, essential workers are officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and 911 Centre, the fire services, Her Majestys Prison, the Environmental Health Department, the Department of Immigration, the Customs Department, the TCI Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority.





Also included are the staff of the National Insurance Board, the National Health Insurance Board, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the Attorney Generals Chambers, the Judiciary and waste disposal and sanitation companies.





Emergency Medical Services Department staffers, those attached to public health departments, any hospital, healthcare or medical facility, any water, electricity, telecommunications (including internet services) or other sector encompassing the provision of electronic communications including print and electronic media are also included as essential workers.





The law requires all essential workers to carry personal identification at all times.





Power to requisition essential services

Additionally, as part of the emergency powers regulations, the Government now has the power to

requisition essential services.





The regulations state that where the governor is satisfied that it is reasonably required to do so for the duration of the emergency or any period, he can, in writing to the management of that essential service, requisition such service with effect from such date as may be specified in such notice.





Where any essential service is requisitioned, the governor shall, by instrument in writing, appoint some person as controller of the service requisitioned.





Upon the appointment of a controller for any essential service, that person will be entitled to take possession of all premises and assets of every description (other than money or securities for money) which were used or intended to be used for the purposes of such service, and, in relation to any premises and assets so taken possession of, and in relation to the service so requisitioned, to do or cause to be done any act or thing which might lawfully have been done by the person having control of such service if the service had not been so requisitioned.





To be clear, essential services to which this regulation apply are any service established, maintained or operated by the Government, or by any public or private enterprise, or otherwise, for the following purposes:





For the collection, storage, purification or distribution of water for use by the public or any class of the public; the collection, storage, treatment and disposal of sewage or garbage or refuse; the manufacture, storage or distribution of fuel (including gasoline, propane, diesel) for use by the public or any class of the public; the provision of medical service, electricity services or telecommunication services (including internet); or the removal, handling or burial of deceased persons or disposal of dead animals.




The Dail has voted against extending a ban on rent increases and evictions to cover the next year instead of just three months.

People Before Profit sought the amendment to legislation being considered by the Dail - arguing the economic effect of the Coronavirus will last longer than the medical impact.
A man from Keralas Kannur district is said to be one of the terrorists who attacked a gurdwara in Kabul on 25th March and killed 25 Sikh worshippers.

According to the official, at least three terrorist of the Islamic State had stormed the gurdwara. All were killed by Afghan security forces. We know that at least one of them is an Indian, and the identity of the other two is being ascertained, the official said.

The attacker was identified as Abu Khalid Al-Hindi by Al Naba, the ISKPs propaganda wing. They published an image of the Indian attacker. The other aliases were Abdul Khayoom and Abdul Khalid.

The officials stated that the person was identified as Mohsin from Keralas Kasaragod. He was 29 years old and a school dropout. His family has moved to Kannur. He left for United Arab Emirates more then two years ago.

His family had never made a complaint to the police, a senior government official said.

His family never reported to the police or filed any complaint... They claim he was not in touch with them all these years... We are ascertaining the entire chain of events, the official said.

As per the official the attackers movement to Afghanistan was not definite yet. We know that he left home more than two years ago under the pretext that he was going to the UAE. After that, when and how he reached Afghanistan to join the ISKP [Islamic State in Khorasan Province] is not known. The investigation is on, the official said. There is no police case against Mohsin yet.

The official also verified that he was not among the group of 21 men and women from Kerala that had left India in 2016 to join Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP).

The official also went on to elucidated that another engineering student from Kerala also named Mushin was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan in 2019. His family had filed a complaint at the Changaramkulam police station in October 2017 saying that he was missing. He had gone to Dubai in 2017 andd was later sent to Afghanistan.

The United Nations Security Council also condemned the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Afghanistan and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, the UNSC said.

The UNSC emphasized the need to hold perpetrators, financiers and sponsors of these despicable acts of terror and bring them to justice, and urged all States, according to their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolution, to work together with the government of Afghanistan an all other related authorities in this regard, UNSC stated.

Also Read: Kabul Gurudwara Attack: UN condemns terror attack in Afghanistan
New Delhi: In these tough times of deadly novel coronavirus, the need of the hour calls for donations and contributions for fellow citizens to wage a war against COVID-19. After South superstars, Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Mahesh Babu donated to CM Relief Fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has come forward and pledged to donate Rs 25 crore from his savings to PM-CARES Fund.

He took to social media to make the announcement and urge fellow Indians as well. He wrote: This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai.

This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai. https://t.co/dKbxiLXFLS  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 28, 2020

Earlier, ace comedian-actor Kapil Sharma also pledged to contribute Rs 50 lakh to the PM Relief Fund to fight coronavirus.

It's time to stand together with the ones who need us. Contributing Rs.50 lakhs to the PM relief fund towards the #fightagainstcorona. Request everyone to #stayhome #staysafe #jaihind #PMrelieffund @narendramodi  Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) March 26, 2020

Coronavirus which first emerged in China's Wuhan city has now spread across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, prompting the governments worldwide to take extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Globally, the pandemic flu has claimed over 25,000 lives as of now.

To ensure that the virus doesn't spread any further, the government has called for a 21-day lockdown in the country.
Washington

When a federal correction officer geared up for duty recently at a Florida prison complex, he added an N95 mask amid coronavirus fears. He has a sister who had an organ transplant and an elderly mother at home.

But a supervisor ordered him to take it off and threatened disciplinary action if he refused. At other federal prisons, though, he would have been told to wear one. Rules on protective gear vary widely from prison to prison.

And inmates say there is little guidance on what to do if they experience flu-like symptoms and very little social distancing.

Together, these accounts detail a scattershot policy on COVID-19 safety at the federal Bureau of Prisons. Advocates and even prison guards are calling for reforms to head off a potential outbreak in a prison system plagued by violence, misconduct and staffing shortages.

This report is based on interviews with nearly two dozen correction officers, inmates, attorneys and advocates, many of whom spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of epidemics in jails and prisons, which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks: Inmates share small cells with strangers, use toilets just a few feet from their beds and are herded into day rooms where they spend hours at a time together.

While statistically the number of confirmed coronavirus cases within the Bureau of Prisons system is far lower than the rate outside prisons in the U.S., there is widespread fear among inmates and staff members that the virus could spread rapidly. So far, 14 inmates and 13 staff members within the federal prison system have COVID-19.

In a statement to the AP, Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal said the agency has "thus far been fortunate in that our rate of COVID-19 infection is remarkably low."

And the Bureau of Prisons said its employees were expected to follow its guidance on the coronavirus and would investigate if officials are "made aware of specific circumstances that would lead us to believe that policy or guidance may not have been followed."

There are approximately 146,000 inmates at the 122 federal correctional facilities across the U.S., including about 10,000 over the age of 60. New inmates coming into the federal prison system are screened for COVID-19 risk factors, have their temperature taken and are quarantined for 14 days.

But inmates nationwide contacted by the AP raised a similar issue: There are no signs or documents listing the symptoms of COVID-19, and there's been little communication about what they should do if they experience flu-like symptoms.

Some exhibiting flu-like symptoms were not tested or quarantined at several facilities, including at the FCI Yazoo City in Mississippi and at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, according to inmates and advocates. There have been COVID-19 cases at both.

Congressional leaders and prison advocates are pressing the Justice Department to release at-risk inmates ahead of a potential outbreak, arguing that the public health guidance to stay 6 feet away from other people is nearly impossible behind bars.

"There is no adequate possible plan, certainly not without greatly decreasing the population in these institutions," said David Patton, executive director and chief attorney at the Federal Defenders of New York. "There is simply not enough space in there."

Attorney General William Barr sent a memo to the Bureau of Prisons on Thursday to increase the use of home confinement and identify non-violent, at-risk inmates who "might be safer serving their sentences in home confinement rather than in BOP facilities."

At the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the federal jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself last year, one staff member said gloves are readily available but masks are not. The staff restrooms are running empty of the most basic need: soap.

Carvajal said cleaning, sanitation and medical supplies had been inventoried and there were "ample supplies on hand and ready to be distributed or moved to any facility as deemed necessary." The agency had also ordered additional supplies, he said.

Visitors are now banned from prisons, but inmates are still being shuttled to and from court appearances, where employees fear they could come into contact with the virus and bring it back behind bars. Inmates making those trips need to be patted down and escorted by officers.

As part of the agency's protocols for dealing with the virus, staff members who work in facilities in areas with "sustained community transmission" are having their temperature taken before their shifts start. If it's too high, they'll be sent home.
Customers shop at an L.A. grocery store. The L.A. city council voted to pass an ordinance that would require grocery stores to reserve the first hour of business for the elderly and disabled. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

The City of Los Angeles has passed an ordinance that will require retail food stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores to dedicate the first hour of business to the elderly, the disabled and those who care for them.

Its a move many retailers voluntarily implemented last week in response to the increased demand brought on by the recent COVID-19 shutdowns, but the measure  which passed by a unanimous vote during a City Council meeting Friday  makes it standard across the board. It is now awaiting the mayors signature.

The ordinance defines any retail food store as a grocery store and convenience store that primarily sells canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and poultry.

Under the ordinance, Costco would also be required to abide by the new rule, as well as any membership-only warehouse club that meets the above merchandise parameters.

Stores that are less than 2,500 square feet are exempt, as are restaurants that sell market provisions. Stores that are between 2,500 and 10,000 square feet in size are required to abide by the new ordinance on at least three business days each week; its mandatory every day for stores larger than 10,000 square feet.

The city has designated people who are 60 and above as elderly.
Ghana and six other West African countries are to benefit from a $379 million World Bank Group support to help harmonise and improve their statistical systems.



The other countries are Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo.



A statement from the World Bank said the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would also be supported in their efforts to deepen regional integration in Africa.



The new project; Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA), aims to strengthen the statistical systems of participating countries and regional and sub-regional bodies to help them harmonise, produce, disseminate and enhance the use of core economic and social statistics.



Good data are essential to addressing the socio-economic development challenges facing the West Africa region in general, and the seven beneficiary countries in particular, the statement said.



Regular population censuses, household surveys, data of critical social concerns and key economic statistics such as agricultural and enterprise censuses and surveys are key to inform the decision-making process.



These also help in efficient allocation of resources and assessing the effects of development policies and interventions.



Despite progress over the past 20 years, institutional weaknesses and inconsistent financing limit the quality of statistics in West Africa, leading to poor knowledge management and difficulties in addressing emerging challenges in various development sectors.



HISWA is a regional project that will stimulate demand for data and increase the capacity of the National Statistics Offices in the beneficiary countries.



Key activities include, inter alia: the harmonisation of methodologies by the ECOWAS Commission; strengthened production of core economic and social statistics, including demographic and poverty statistics, national accounts and price statistics; the improvement of targeted administrative statistics, capacity-building, data dissemination and institutional reforms.



The project will also help to improve and modernise physical and statistical infrastructure to help achieve its stated objectives.



High-quality and harmonised statistics are essential to support economic activity and regional integration as a way to address some of the key challenges facing countries in West Africa, says Ms Deborah Wetzel, World Bank Director of Regional Integration for Africa.



Through its regional approach, the HISWA will allow for more cost-effective data and harmonisation of data across countries, which is instrumental in key areas such as promotion of free trade, convergence of economic policies, and many others, she added.



Beyond the National Statistics Offices and the regional bodies, HISWA will provide reliable microdata, data platforms and statistics bulletins to a larger audience, including universities, researchers, students and the public.



The project is also relevant to the Strategy for Harmonization of Statistics in Africa, the continent-wide initiative aimed at addressing the constraints facing African statistical systems and promoting its regional integration agenda.



It supports the implementation of ECOWASs Regional Strategy 2019-2023 that aims to raise the living standards of its member country populations.



By generating data critical to national and regional planning and monitoring, the project remains well aligned with the World Bank Groups Regional Integration and Cooperation Assistance Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa and will help strengthen the connection between regional policy commitments and national planning.

Source: GNA









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By Express News Service

THANJAVUR: A 42-year-old man from Kumbakonam who recently returned from the West Indies has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

According to sources, the man works as a chef in a shipping company based in the West Indies. His work entailed eight months of continuous work and four months of leave.

ALSO READ: 25-year-old woman working at Chennai mall tests positive for COVID-19 in Ariyalur

For his holidays, he started from the West Indies on March 16 and reached Chennai Airport on March 18, reportedly via Qatar. On reaching Chennai, the man reportedly travelled in a bus to reach Kumbakonam. Reports suggests he met his sister living in Villupuram. Other sources said his sister traveled from Chennai along with him and disembarked at Villupuram.

Upon his arrival, he developed symptoms of cough and fever on March 22 and consulted private hospitals in Kumbakonam. He also visited Kumbakonam Government hospital for consultation.

As he developed severe symptoms he was admitted to the isolation ward in Thanjavur Medical College Hospital on March 25. His throat swab was sent for testing and the results returned as COVID-19 positive on Saturday. According to hospital sources, his condition is stable.

Meanwhile, his 34-year-old wife and two daughters aged 10 and 2 have been quarantined. The area where the family lives has been barricaded and police have been posted. Health workers have sanitized the area. Contact tracing and isolation work are being conducted by special teams.

It may be noted that this is the first positive case reported in the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. As many as 26 patients are being treated at the isolation ward in the hospital.
Turkey suspended all international flights from Turkish Airlines as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday as the country's death toll from the pandemic climbed to 92, TRT World reported.

"All international flights have been suspended for an indefinite period," Erdogan said in a press conference at a government's office in Istanbul.

Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines previously suspended almost all international flights with exceptions of New York, Washington, Hong Kong, Moscow and Addis Ababa whereas domestic flights and cargo operations continue as planned.

In addition to international flights, Turkish Airlines limited its domestic flights. The carriers flights will now only fly to and from major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.

As for domestic transportation, the president said inter-city travels were now subject to local authorities' permission and only a well-spaced seating arrangement would be allowed on buses.

Picnic areas and historical sites will be closed on the weekends. Moreover, the deputation and discharge of soldiers from duty will allow for a 14-day quarantine period across 30 major cities.

Ramping up measures against the outbreak, Turkey also limited intercity bus travel and banned walks and fishing along the seashore and beaches, as well as jogging in forests and parks on weekends.

Pandemic boards would be established in all provinces of Turkey to implement swift actions, he added.
Authorities are yet to trace the source of a 57-year-old railway employees infection almost a week after he became the first person to die of coronavirus (Covid-19) in West Bengal with officials maintaining that his case cannot be attributed to community transmission as he had took a train from Chhattisgarh on March 2 and may have been infected in that state or the train.

This case cannot be tagged as a community transmission. Even though the victim did not travel to any foreign country and did not have a traceable contact with anyone who has returned from abroad, he had a travel history. He had been to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh and had returned to Kolkata on March 2. He boarded the Azad Hind Express, which originated from Pune in Maharashtra, said West Bengal health services director Ajay Chakraborty.

We still do not know the source of his infection. We are trying to trace the contact. But we believe he might have got infected on the train. We do not know whether anyone on that train had travelled abroad.

Maharasthra has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases in India, but the first was detected only on March 9, a week after the rail employee took the train that originated there.

The railway employees son and daughter-in-law are in the US, one of the Covid-19 hotspots, but he had not met them since July 2019. Our son, who stays in Wisconsin, USA, visited us in July last year before he went to Philadelphia... There was fake news that he lives his Italy and came to visit us with his Italian wife, the 57-year-olds widow said. She is living in isolation at an undisclosed location.

His family has doubts over whether he indeed died of Covid19. My husband was perfectly okay until he fell ill and had to be admitted to a hospital. Being his wife, I would have surely contracted the disease. So would have his 80-year-old mother who stays with us. I do not believe the hospital reports, said the widow.

The railway employee attended a wedding in Bilaspur on February 28 before returning to Kolkata. A member of his family said the 57-year-old and his wife stayed with him and attended the wedding at a hotel in Bilaspur. On February 29, they took a tour of the city with their friends. They left by Azad Hind Express on March 1. Both of them were perfectly fine, he said.

The railway employee thereafter joined work on March 6, went to a shopping mall with his wife and had dinner before taking ill a day after celebrating Holi on March 10. He had a fever and was on March 16 admitted to a private hospital, where he was diagnosed Covid-19 positive on March 22. He died on March 23.

At least 300 people, including his colleagues and 13 families in Chattisgarh, have been asked to stay in home quarantine. Some members of his family have been kept in isolation wards of hospitals in Kolkata.

As many as 15 positive Covid-19 cases have been detected in West Bengal; 13 of them had either travelled abroad or had come in contact with people who returned from foreign countries. Two persons, including the railway employee, have not had traceable contact with anyone who may have come from abroad.

A 66-year-old, who travelled to Egra in East Midnapore to attend a wedding, is another person whose source of Covid-19 infection is still unclear. He is battling for life at a private hospital in West Bengal. The East Midnapore district administration has scanned at least 500 persons, who attend the wedding and 13 have been quarantined.
by Papa Francesco

The pontiff holds an "extraordinary moment of prayer" for the end of the coronavirus epidemic. "The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, urges to show solidarity and have hope, above all to be converted. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to the Lord and others.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis on Friday delivered an extraordinary moment of prayer and the Urbi et Orbi blessing for an end to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Speaking in Saint Peter's Square, made shiny by the rain and appearing bigger because it was empty, the pontiff called on the Lord not [to] leave us at the mercy of the storm. Next to him stood Salus populi romani (salvation of the Roman people) icon of Our Lady and the Christ "of miracles", so called because the defeat of the "Great Plague" in 1500 is attributed to his intercession.

The Pope's prayer began with the passage in the Gospel about the storm that caught the apostles whom Jesus scolded because, afraid, they showed they had no faith. Like the disciples, we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. Indeed, we are all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us [are] called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.

Now " The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to solidarity and hope and above all to convert" and get our lives back on track towards the Lord and others. "We can look to so many exemplary companions for the journey, who, even though fearful, have reacted by giving their lives. They include: doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, cleaners, caregivers, providers of transport, law and order forces, volunteers, priests, religious men and women and so very many others who have understood that no one reaches salvation by themselves.

At the end of the celebration, the Pope imparted a special Urbi et Orbi blessing, with the possibility of receiving the plenary indulgence. Franciss meditation follows:

When evening had come (Mk 4:35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets, and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in peoples gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel, we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying We are perishing (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.

It is easy to recognize ourselves in this story. What is harder to understand is Jesus attitude. While his disciples are quite naturally alarmed and desperate, he stands in the stern, in the part of the boat that sinks first. And what does he do? In spite of the tempest, he sleeps on soundly, trusting in the Father; this is the only time in the Gospels we see Jesus sleeping. When he wakes up, after calming the wind and the waters, he turns to the disciples in a reproaching voice: Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? (v. 40).

Let us try to understand. In what does the lack of the disciples faith consist, as contrasted with Jesus trust? They had not stopped believing in him; in fact, they called on him. But we see how they call on him: Teacher, do you not care if we perish? (v. 38). Do you not care? They think that Jesus is not interested in them, does not care about them. One of the things that hurts us and our families most when we hear it said is: Do you not care about me? It is a phrase that wounds and unleashes storms in our hearts. It would have shaken Jesus too. Because he, more than anyone, cares about us. Indeed, once they have called on him, he saves his disciples from their discouragement.

The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules, our projects, our habits, and priorities. It shows us how we have allowed to become dull and feeble the very things that nourish, sustain and strengthen our lives and our communities. The tempest lays bare all our pre-packaged ideas and forgetfulness of what nourishes our peoples souls; all those attempts that anesthetize us with ways of thinking and acting that supposedly save us, but instead prove incapable of putting us in touch with our roots and keeping alive the memory of those who have gone before us. We deprive ourselves of the antibodies we need to confront adversity.

In this storm, the facade of those stereotypes with which we camouflaged our egos, always worrying about our image, has fallen away, uncovering once more that (blessed) common belonging, of which we cannot be deprived: our belonging as brothers and sisters.

Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Lord, your word this evening strikes us and regards us, all of us. In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. Greedy for profit, we let ourselves get caught up in things, and lured away by haste. We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick. Now that we are in a stormy sea, we implore you: Wake up, Lord!.

In this Len t, his urgent appeal echoes: Be converted!, Return to me with all your heart (Joel 2:12). You are calling on us to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your judgment, but of our judgment: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others. We can look to so many exemplary companions for the journey, who, even though fearful, have reacted by giving their lives. This is the force of the Spirit poured out and fashioned in courageous and generous self-denial. It is the life in the Spirit that can redeem, value and demonstrate how our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people  often forgotten people  who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines nor on the grand catwalks of the latest show, but who without any doubt are in these very days writing the decisive events of our time: doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, cleaners, caregivers, providers of transport, law and order forces, volunteers, priests, religious men and women and so very many others who have understood that no one reaches salvation by themselves.

In the face of so much suffering, where the authentic development of our peoples is assessed, we experience the priestly prayer of Jesus: That they may all be one (Jn 17:21). How many people every day are exercising patience and offering hope, taking care to sow not panic but a shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents, and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday gestures, how to face up to and navigate a crisis by adjusting their routines, lifting their gaze and fostering prayer. How many are praying, offering and interceding for the good of all. Prayer and quiet service: these are our victorious weapons. [. . .]

Faith begins when we realize we are in need of salvation. We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves, we founder: we need the Lord like ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that he can conquer them. Like the disciples, we will experience that with him on board there will be no shipwreck. Because this is Gods strength: turning to the good everything that happens to us, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies.

The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support, and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering.

The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith. We have an anchor: by his cross, we have been saved. We have a rudder: by his cross, we have been redeemed. We have hope: by his cross, we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his redeeming love. In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side.

The Lord asks us from his cross to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognize and foster the grace that lives within us. Let us not quench the wavering flame (cf. Is 42:3) that never falters, and let us allow hope to be rekindled.

Embracing his cross means finding the courage to embrace all the hardships of the present time, abandoning for a moment our eagerness for power and possessions in order to make room for the creativity that only the Spirit is capable of inspiring. It means finding the courage to create spaces where everyone can recognize that they are called, and to allow new forms of hospitality, fraternity, and solidarity. By his cross, we have been saved in order to embrace hope and let it strengthen and sustain all measures and all possible avenues for helping us protect ourselves and others. Embracing the Lord in order to embrace hope: that is the strength of faith, which frees us from fear and gives us hope.

Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Dear brothers and sisters, from this place that tells of Peters rock-solid faith, I would like this evening to entrust all of you to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, Health of the People and Star of the stormy Sea. From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may Gods blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace. Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: Do not be afraid (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us (cf. 1 Pet 5:7).
Large queues formed at supermarkets and stores in Tokyo on Friday as residents in the Japanese capital prepared for a weekend at home, after the city's governor called on them to remain indoors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Tokyo has seen a surge in coronavirus cases this week, reporting a record 47 cases on Thursday for a total of 259.

While not many for a city of nearly 14 million, experts have warned of a high risk of an "overshoot" - or explosive rise - given that more than half of the newest cases could not be traced.

The Tokyo area has also asked residents to refrain from congregating to view its famous spring cherry blossoms at parks and plans to close its zoos and aquariums for two weeks.

Parts of three public parks in Tokyo will be closed off until the flower-viewing season is over, a Tokyo government official told Reuters, without specifying the dates.

And retail giants Takashimaya and Matsuya said they would shutter multiple department stores in the greater metropolitan area on the upcoming weekend.

Tokyo has not declared an emergency or a full-blown lockdown, and its streets were not as deserted as many European cities, where laws are forcing residents to stay indoors.

But during rush hour around 8 a.m., some subway lines in central Tokyo where commuters normally stand elbow-to-elbow were visibly less crowded, some even with empty seats.
NASA is examining how its facilities and employees can help with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The supercomputing capacity at NASAs Ames Research Center in California has been opened to COVID-19 researchers looking for treatments or vaccines. Houstons Johnson Space Center will help create an agency-wide challenge for employees to submit ideas on how NASA could help address the pandemic.

This is why all of us love working at NASA, the agencys administrator Jim Bridenstine said earlier this week. Because we really do have an absolute can-do spirit, and we want to do the things that are going to help this nation the most.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus pandemic puts pressure on time-sensitive space missions

Bridenstine hosted a virtual Ask the Administrator session on Wednesday to answer workers questions about COVID-19. NASA Associate Administrator Steve Jurczyk and NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. JD Polk also answered questions.

The first question was on ventilators and if NASA could rapidly design, test and manufacture large ventilators that would simultaneously support multiple patients.

Jurczyk said NASA is discussing with the White House and other federal agencies ways to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Polk added that such meetings might identify ways to help other than just building ventilators. Maybe itd be better to assist companies already building ventilators by, for example, using 3D printers to make parts that are in short supply for ventilator manufacturers.

This is on the minds of a lot of people at the agency, Bridenstine said. NASA is involved in providing solution sets for the nation, and we will be more and more involved as days go on because we do have an extremely talented, very bright workforce and a lot of capabilities that can help.

Polk also addressed a question on if NASA could donate some of the personal protective equipment, PPE, its employees use in clean rooms, such as masks and gloves.

NASA orders its PPE in a just-in-time basis, Polk said, so there is no massive stockpile that would provide supplies to donate.

Also, the agency is still using its protective equipment as it continues working on some critical missions. In some cases, NASA has had to send PPE from one center to another to support its work. However, Polk said the agencys legal department and others are looking at how NASA would donate any extra equipment the agency might have  and make sure its the proper PPE to protect against COVID-19.

Ultimately, Bridenstine had an overarching message: NASA wants its employees and government contractors employees to feel safe. Its striving to create an environment where people who arent telecommuting, working in NASA facilities on mission-essential tasks, feel as safe as they would working from home.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Space industry has one advantage in coronavirus downturn: government customers

He also sought to inspire the workforce.

Lets not get caught up in these times that seem dark, Bridenstine said. Lets start thinking about what the future looks like because the future is going to be bright  And when were on the back side of the curve and NASA is doing amazing things, all of America will be very proud of us.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
WASHINGTON - When Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called President Donald Trump last Sunday, he delivered a blunt message: If you reopen the nation's economy too early against the advice of public-health experts, you will own the deaths from the novel coronavirus that follow.

Trump's stalwart ally also warned that the president wouldn't be the only one held responsible. Graham said the Republican Party itself risks being defined ahead of this fall's elections as prioritizing commerce and the stock market over the health and safety of the American people, according to three White House officials and a GOP lawmaker who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment frankly.

Trump listened to Graham but made no promises, the officials said. Trump argued to the senator, as he later would in public, that Americans must get back to work and businesses need to reopen as quickly as possible.

"Our country wasn't built to be shut down," the president said at a news conference last Monday, opening five straight days of public declarations raising the specter of easing social-distancing guidelines and other restrictions by mid-April - a timeline that most experts studying the pandemic say is dangerously premature.

Graham's private plea, which some of Trump's advisers have echoed to the president, illustrates the political calculations underway inside the leadership ranks of the Republican Party as the president balances dual crises as he seeks reelection: the pandemic that is claiming lives and overburdening hospitals, and the resulting economic meltdown that already has left millions jobless, with many facing financial ruin.

The White House's coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, is preparing to issue revised recommendations from the president to the public once the current 15-day guidelines expire Monday.

Trump said this week that he would like much of the country "opened up and raring to go" by Easter, which is April 12 - in part, he said, because he likes the imagery of church pews full for the holiday. Whether he follows through on that desire could be one of the most consequential decisions of his presidency.

The president is not technically the decider, however. The battle to reopen the country pits Trump against multiple governors, Democratic and Republican alike, who are scrambling to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus in their communities and marshal medical supplies for their hospitals. They will have the final say on when restaurants, stores and other gathering places in their states can reopen.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, R, who moved early to confront the outbreak and was the first governor to order restaurants and bars closed, said in an interview, "People's heads are now moving toward how we will open this back up. That is certainly something we're looking at." But, he added, "You've got to be ready for the surge that we know is coming."

In other states across the country, the surge has arrived - and it is testing Trump's belief that Easter is a reasonable target.

In New York, the center of the coronavirus in the United States, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, has emerged as a national leader during the pandemic as he has excoriated the federal response and pleaded with the administration to send more ventilators and other supplies and to be prudent about a resumption of normal life.

"If you ask the American people to choose between public health and the economy, then it's no contest. No American is going to say, 'Accelerate the economy at the cost of human life,' " Cuomo told reporters last week.

Trump has fostered a transactional dynamic - in which he insinuates that loyalty and praise could be helpful for states seeking federal help - that has unsettled governors looking for fair terms and clear guidance from the federal government, several gubernatorial aides said privately.

As Trump said Tuesday on Fox News Channel: "It's a two-way street. They have to treat us well, also. They can't say, 'Oh, gee, we should get this, we should get that.' "

A growing uneasiness about Trump's motives and leadership hovers over private conversations between governors, according to top Democrats and Republicans privy to the conversations. Even those who are Trump's political allies are "never quite sure what he'll do or if they can trust what they hear from Pence," according to one adviser to a Republican governor who, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment frankly.

Trump's highly charged approach has prompted some governors to band together and discuss their own timelines for closures and other issues, with bipartisan and strong but under-the-radar partnerships driving many decisions.

"We're all drinking out of a fire hose, but they've really been leaning on one another and pulling together," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, said in an interview. "There is texting and phone calls back and forth - and it's not like, have your scheduler call my scheduler."

This collective gubernatorial power could be a counterweight in the coming days if Trump continues to rally for a national reopening. But governors will also continue to lean on Trump for federal help - an imperative that New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, D, said would outweigh emerging tensions over reopening the economy, at least for now.

"We can't print money, and we don't have anything close to the stockpiles the federal government has, so we need them," Murphy said in an interview.

Some red-state governors have been more aggressive about keeping their economies humming.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, was far slower than other big-state governors to order restrictions, and he refused to close beaches this month to spring break revelers.

And in Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves, R, issued an executive order classifying most businesses in the state as "essential," thereby exempting them from any shutdown orders that cities and counties issue.

"Mississippi's never going to be China," Reeves said - even as neighboring Louisiana has recorded one of the highest surges in coronavirus cases. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, D, has warned that the number of patients will soon exceed the state's treatment capacity.

Trump has said that his "first priority" is the health and safety of the American people and that his decision about what to recommend will be guided by the medical experts on his team. "We will be using data to recommend new protocols to allow local economies to cautiously resume their activity at the appropriate time," the president said Tuesday.

Yet in private discussions, the president has been driven much more by economic concerns, according to people involved in internal debates or briefed on them. Trump has long viewed the stock market as a barometer for his own reelection hopes, and he has been distraught at the meltdown in recent weeks. He has been inundated with calls from business leaders, wealthy supporters and conservative allies urging him to get Americans back to work and stave off further calamity, even if doing so carries health risks.

"There's a fatalism that no matter what he does, he's going to get blamed by half of the country," said a former senior administration official with knowledge of Trump's thinking. "If there is something he has some measure of control over, which is the economy, why not potentially try to take action? Yes, there will be a death toll, and he'll get blamed one way or another, but in all likelihood, whether he gets reelected or not will depend on where the economy is and where people's perceptions of the economy are six months from now. That's where he is primarily focused."

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, D, said Trump is "overreacting terribly" to economic concerns by suggesting a premature return to normal when he ought to be focused entirely on mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.

"The thing he wanted most was to have a great economy. Boom, he'd win," Rendell said. "It's causing him to make a terrible error. . . . If the virus doesn't abate, he'll be blamed for it, and it'll be an utter disaster."

It is far too soon to measure public approval of Trump's management of the pandemic and draw meaningful conclusions about his reelection chances, but it is likely to be the main event on which he is judged by voters in November, according to political strategists.

"The way public officials handle crises can be make or break moments for political careers," said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who is not affiliated with the Trump campaign. "The way public officials perform, their competence and their ability to help their constituents recover from a crisis overshadows almost anything else that they do."

Trump's reliance on his gut instincts and his decision to put his grievances and skepticism of the federal government at the fore of his approach has alarmed many governors, who said they feel isolated as they respond to a global crisis.

"Sometimes it's difficult to understand what the White House's position is," Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, D, said in an interview. "We had the president one time saying it's a hoax; then a few weeks later, it's really, really bad; then, let's shoot for Easter."

Evers said Wisconsinites seeking facts and guidance are turning instead to local leaders and institutions, such as the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which has canceled Easter Sunday Masses despite the president's desire for packed pews. Asked whether he would take his cue on when to reopen Wisconsin's economy from the president, the governor said, "No."

"There is a disconnect, and while the president is free to make any comments he wants to, it's confusing to people - that's the bottom line," Evers said. "My health-care officials and scientists are telling me it's still a big deal. They'll make the decisions based on science. That's what we'll do here."

It's not as if governors are opposed to reopening the economy quickly. "I share that goal with the president," Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, D, said in an interview.

In fact, Raimondo argued, governors are more in touch with the real-world consequences of the shutdown than is the president, who hears mostly from executives of large companies.

"We are the ones in our communities talking to the laid-off waitress stressed [about how] she's going to take care of her children, talking to hospital workers worried if they will be safe," Raimondo said.

As John Kasich, a former Republican governor of Ohio, put it, "When you're governor, you realize you're really the father or mother of the people inside of your state. You're right there. You live with them. You see them. You hear from them."

Trump has been closely tracking what governors say in the media and has been quick to attack those he sees as critical of the federal response. He repeatedly has trashed Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, D, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D, to name just two.

Whitmer and other governors said they are treading lightly with Trump and hoping to avoid his wrath. "I know that there is a sensitivity, sure," Whitmer said in an interview.

"I have 10 million people in this state, and I need to be able to deliver on protecting them," Whitmer said. "Working with the federal government is really important. I've never gone out of my way looking for a fight, and I'm certainly not doing that, because I need as much partnership and assistance from the federal government as I can get."

"At the end of the day," she added, "this isn't a political fight. This is a fight to save lives."
Funding to keep Easton Hospital open during the coronavirus pandemic is coming mostly from the federal government, Gov. Tom Wolf said Saturday.

Steward Health Care, the Wilson Borough hospitals for-profit owner, said Friday the Wolf administration agreed to $8 million in operating funds, after clashing over how long that funding would last.

Steward said the initial agreement was for $8 million for four weeks, with a goal of working month-to-month to secure a total of $24 million through June.

In a letter Friday to the state, Steward claimed the administration changed its position to make the initial $8 million contingent on Steward keeping the facility open throughout the disaster declaration or at a minimum June 30, 2020.

After reaching a deal late Friday for the $8 million for four weeks, Steward says it will work together with the Governor to secure funding to keep the hospital open on a month-to-month basis as long as the crisis continues or St. Lukes completes the proposed transaction.

During the coronavirus news briefing on Saturday, Wolf said the bulk of funding for Easton Hospital was coming from the federal government, out of the $100 billion earmarked for struggling hospitals in the $2 trillion stimulus package signed by President Donald Trump on Friday.

Right now the state is doing everything we can to increase our health care capacity, not reducing it, Wolf said.

Dallas, Texas-based Steward Health Care says it notified the Pennsylvania Department of Health in January the hospital would either be sold to St. Lukes University Health Network by April 21 or close on or before that date, resulting in the loss of 700 jobs.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Three New Jersey hospitals  one in Bergen County, one in Morris and one in Monmouth  alerted the state Health Department on Saturday afternoon they were going on divert status, giving themselves a four-hour break from accepting new patients.

Diverting patients is not cause for alarm, experts say. But it is the latest sign that acute-care hospitals in New Jersey are being pushed to their limits as the number of patients infected by and dying from the coronavirus quickly mounts.

New Jersey has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the nation, with at least 11,124 people affected and at least 140 deaths.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Saturday the New Jersey Hospital Association described the diversions as a person-power issue. Hospital employees are getting sick and staying home, causing staffing shortages, she said.

The north is really feeling the stress right now, Persichilli said during the daily media briefing in Trenton.

Citing patient volume," Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck and CentraState in Freehold declined admissions into their critical care units, according to the health department website. Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains declined all admissions, citing patient volume. CentraState came off divert status Saturday evening.

Representatives from the three hospitals could not immediately be reached for comment.

Temporarily suspending patient admissions is not a sign our emergency rooms are collapsing, said Daniel Varga, chief physician executive for Hackensack Meridian Health, which operates 12 acute care hospitals in the state.

Emergency rooms have a finite space and finite staff, Varga said. Most of the times when health systems go on diversion it is for the purpose of decompression"  which typically involving moving patients from the emergency room to inpatient beds, he said.

Its the ebb and flow of the surge. When the surge comes, you absorb it and you take care of it, he added. A couple of times a week since the coronavirus outbreak began, some Hackensack Meridian hospitals have gone on divert status, he said.

There is so much acuity out there, Varga said, meaning the patients coming to the hospital are acutely or severely ill. Its so high, when we test people in the ER, we are sure they are going to be positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. He said 75 to 80 percent of patients coming to the emergency room are testing positive.

Four pop-up hospitals will open across the state to relieve some of the pressure on existing health care facilities. They will be overseen by the three level 1 trauma center hospitals: University Hospital in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

According to an analysis by Rutgers University-Camden, Morris County is projected to exhaust its bed supply first, followed by Bergen County, which has the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the state. If people dont stay at home and dont stay away from others, some counties in New Jersey could start running out of hospital beds within a week, the analysis said.

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
A Dundalk mum, who is battling cancer, has penned a stirring social media post calling on everyone to realise just how serious the Covid-19 outbreak really is for our most vulnerable.

Cara Carter, originally from Mountain View in Dundalk, but living in Dublin now, is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, however she took the time to call on people to adhere to the life-saving restrictions in place at present, as they can help save the life of people in the 'at risk'group, like herself.

In her post, which is at times both emotional and funny, the mum of two cuts through any bullshit in explaining the importance of social distancing and remaining at home immediately.

"Fair warning lads this post is a little longer and more serious than you are used to seeing from me. Sure I love the craic and the laugh but right now I am also a cancer patient.

Im sure youve seen the stories of the few pubs caught serving, or the pictures of the gangs of teenagers/kids, crowded public places and various other examples of people flouting the precautions being taken by many. To those still not taking social distancing seriously: whilst Im sure its tough, you fancy a drink or gossip with your pal, the kids are bored, your roots are a disgrace, you dont want to loose the money on the trip, you still want to visit family members, the kids need minding, sure we have no underlying conditions, itll be grand or whatever your reason is for taking unnecessary risks please stop and think of people whose predicament and decisions are a little tougher.

Chemotherapy weakens the immune system dramatically, in many cases even years after treatment ends. But definitely for those of us currently in treatment. Im sure so many like me have spent the days before their next treatment in complete turmoil over whether to take it

Do you stop treatment for the illness you know you have because it makes you more susceptible to the disease you could catch?

Or to carry on treating the disease thats already trying to kill you but know that IF you come into contact with the other one it almost certainly will? Please help make that IF a little smaller by adhering to social distancing.

"Whilst of course we are self isolating and adhereing to social distancing, we still need to attend hospital, a member of our household still needs to pick up prescriptions and food for us, please do your part to make it less likely that they can carry it back with them

"We are all watching the numbers rise, we have all seen the comparisons between our numbers and Italys. And I for one am taking it a lot more seriously than I did 10 days ago because it has become very apparent that the chances of coming into contact with it are higher than I thought and growing ridiculously by the day for us all. Its just that for some the consequences are more dire.

"I am not looking for sympathy or pity, it is not my style. I will kick this cancer's ass, but I am asking for a little consideration for people like me who are really in trouble if this virus gets to us. The reasons for being vulnerable are countless and there are people in way worse situations, so please think of us all, we dont want to die from this anymore than you do.

"Feel free to share if there is somebody on your friends list who might need a wake up call and you think this might resonate with them."
Utica, N.Y. - It's a wave that's going on around the country that doesn't seem to be dying out anytime soon.

It's a wave of teacher parades.

From Indiana to New Mexico, and now to Upstate New York, teachers are going on road trips through their school districts to wave from their car windows to let their students, who have now been forced to study at home for the past two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic, know they are not being forgotten.

There were two such parades in our area on Friday. One in the morning in the Little Falls School District and one in the afternoon in the Town of Webb Union Free School District.

In Little Falls, more than 70 teachers and other staff members from Little Falls Middle School gathered in the school's parking lot to decorate their vehicles before hitting the road.

Little Falls Middle School Principal Maria Lindsay says the idea was brought up on Wednesday during a virtual staff meeting online and by Wednesday night more than 60 staff members had signed up to take part in Friday morning's parade.

Deborah Mowers, the librarian at the Little Falls Middle school and High School, was glad to take part, "Because this is such a special place. These are our kids, there really are our kids. We miss them, we love them."

Little Falls Middle School teacher Stacie Luczynski-Perch says this type of action was definitely needed for both students and teachers, "We're hoping to uplift their spirits and keep them positive and let them know we care and we miss them and we love them and we're all in this together."

More than two dozen teachers and staff members in the Town of Webb Union Free School District gathered at the Woodgate Fire Department parking lot on Route 28 Friday afternoon.

Town of Webb Union Free School District Superintendent Rex Germer says this parade, where students and their parents come out to watch the vehicles go by, not only helps the students, teachers and staff members, but it also helps the students' parents, "Its just tough. Different households prepare differently for this and its a tough time for everybody and as a resort community we have a lot of families that are struggling through this, theyve lost jobs, not having the visitors or the employment that were used to having."

Germer says this parade went nearly 60 miles, from Woodgate all the way up to Raquette Lake, "Town of Webb is a very large school district, 460 some square miles of school district, so we have students from down this way all the way up to Raquette Lake so were making sure that were interacting with all those families and students."

Town of Webb Union Free School District School Counselor Dana Dornburgh says kids, especially the really young kids, need to know things will get back to normal at some point, and this really helps, "Its really important for them to see something normal and something normal for them is their teachers looking happy and looking happy to see them. Working with them on the computer and online, its not the same. Its not the same as we see them come in the building in the morning all fresh-faced and happy to go, so we miss that as part of our lives as much as they miss that from their lives."
Loading The federal government is empowered under the law to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states, but it's not clear that means Trump can ban people from leaving their state. It has never been tested in the modern era - and in rare cases when any quarantine was challenged, the courts generally sided with public health officials. Courts have ruled consistently for years that the authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with the states, under provisions in the Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states. The federal government, though, would have power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travellers or those travelling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases. Still, "it is entirely unprecedented that governors or the president would prevent people from travelling from one state to another during an infectious disease outbreak," said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor and public health specialist who questioned Trump's ability to order a quarantine on states. But as Trump travelled to Norfolk, he tweeted: "I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing "hot spots", New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly."

The incoming White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said they are "evaluating all the options right now" when asked about legal authority for quarantine. US President Donald Trump speaks to the media on Saturday. Credit:Bloomberg But Trump may not need to order a legally justifiable quarantine. One idea under consideration would be to tell residents of those areas to isolate themselves and not travel for two weeks, just as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have instructed anyone who recently left New York to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to one person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing deliberations. The measure wouldn't necessarily come with any legal justification or penalty, just the hope that people would comply to try to contain the virus spread. The governors of Florida, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas already have ordered people arriving from the New York area to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival. In a more dramatic step, Rhode Island police have begun pulling over drivers with New York plates so that the National Guard can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine.

Trump said the idea of isolating many in the trio of Democratic strongholds in the Northeast was pushed by DeSantis, one of the president's most outspoken supporters. It came a day after Trump made clear he wanted governors to be grateful when asking for federal support for the pandemic. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo walks the corridor of a nearly completed makeshift hospital erected by the US Army Corps of Engineers at the Jacob Javits Convention Centre in New York. Credit:Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo Trump said people "go to Florida and a lot of people don't want that. So we'll see what happens." He later clarified it would not affect truckers or people transiting through, and would not affect trade. "We'll be announcing that one way or the other fairly soon," he said. Florida is a perennial swing state, and one Trump must win come November - plus he recently moved his residence from New York to Florida. It also has a population of 21 million with a large percentage of old people, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus.

DeSantis confirmed he had spoken with the president about the possibility of a quarantine for the New York City area. Speaking Saturday to reporters, DeSantis said Florida will soon set up a checkpoint along Interstate 95 to screen travellers from that area, similar to one already in place along Interstate 10 to screen people from Louisiana. Many airports in Florida also are screening travellers from certain areas, requiring them to self-isolate for 14 days. Yellow cabs line and empty 42nd St. waiting for fares outside Grand Central Terminal this week. Credit:AP "I think whatever works is what we need to do," DeSantis said. The US leads the world in reported cases with more than 115,000. There were roughly 1,900 deaths recorded by Saturday. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he did not talk about quarantining the tri-state area in his recent conversation with Trump, and learned of the president's comments as he walked into Saturday's daily briefing.

"Until further notified we're going to keep doing exactly what we're doing, because we believe the data and the facts are on our side in terms of this aggressive, as aggressive as any American state right now, in terms of social distancing and flattening the curve," he said. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, also a Democrat, said he'd already called on residents to stay home. "I look forward to speaking to the President directly about his comments and any further enforcement actions, because confusion leads to panic," he said in a statement. The quarantine idea comes a day after the president took a round of steps to expand the federal government's role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic, even as he warned the leaders of hard-hit states not to cross him. "I want them to be appreciative," Trump said Friday after the White House announced he would be using the powers granted to him under the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to try to compel auto giant General Motors to produce ventilators.

Yet Trump - who hours earlier had suggested the need for the devices was being overblown - rejected any criticism of the federal government's response to a ballooning public health crisis that a month ago he predicted would be over by now. After speaking in Norfolk, Trump watched as the USS Comfort slowly made its way out of port. The 1,000-bed hospital ship had been undergoing planned maintenance, but was rushed back into service to aid the city. It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier a week after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast. "We will stop at nothing to protect the health of New Yorkers and the health of the people of our country in their hour of need," Trump said. The ship has 12 operating rooms as well as radiology suites and a CT scanner. It also has ICU beds, a lab and a pharmacy. The 1,100 or so medical staff on board are mostly active duty service members from the US Navy, and some reservists, who serve on the East Coast.
A Brazilian court Friday blocked a decree by President Jair Bolsonaro that exempted places of worship from coronavirus confinement orders.

The far-right president, who was elected in 2018 with the backing of Brazil's burgeoning evangelical Christian community, had issued the decree on Thursday, declaring religious activities "essential services" alongside pharmacies and supermarkets.

But a federal court in Rio de Janeiro state ruled religious services posed a public health risk at a time when the new coronavirus is spreading rapidly around the world.

"Churches and other places of worship lead to large crowds and the movement of people," wrote Judge Marcio Santoro Rocha of the Duque de Caxias court.

The government can still appeal the decision.

Bolsonaro has clashed with local authorities who have closed schools and businesses in places such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in a bid to contain the virus.

The president, who has called the reaction to the pandemic "overblown," says such measures are unnecessary and will wreck Latin America's biggest economy.

Most places of worship in Brazil have already suspended services because of the outbreak, often broadcasting them online instead.

However, some prominent religious leaders have refused.

Last week, the influential evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, a Bolsonaro ally, called confinement measures "a tactic by Satan," before back-tracking and closing his churches.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Mother of all impunity from terrorism charges

by Mustafa Khan

Impunity in Indian context differs from region to region and from group to group. When witches were hunted tried and condemned to be burnt at the stake there was no avoidance in the western countries. In New England the people believed that the devil lived just off the clearing in the forest. In Delhi they are burning Bharatvasi who are passed off as Indians without a religious tag! And now when the deadly coronavirus is raging this Friday the PM Modi is still fiddling with having his own government in MP. That way he missed what P Chidambrum counseled him on March 19 and added on March 20: I have offered our support to the PMs announcements yesterday, but I am absolutely certain that the PM will have no option but to come back with tougher social and economic measures. After reviewing overnight developements in India and the world, I am convinced that a temporary lockdown of towns and cities for two to four weeks is necessary.

On Friday he said again Yesterday, I got the impression that the PM was testing the waters. He should act boldly. The war against coronavirus cannot be fought with moral armaments. ICMR says that the disease is still at Stage 2 in India. This is the moment to act. Let us not allow this moment to pass without decisive action and regret later.

Two days later the PM is very tentative in his approach. There is no confidence building measures in mouthing homelies. Singing hosannas during the visit of a president of a powerful country or confabulating in dialect howdyModi puts you in the line of fools in the gallery of John Oliver. There is difference between sincere advice and passing the buck to a subordinate official sitting in the audience and feeling the matter would evaporate automatically in a White House briefing.

Having brute majority in the Parliament and carrying out his ideology bias as in abrogation of Artcle 370 in Kashmir and earlier having SC rule in favour of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and then taking the former CJ of SC Ranjan Gogoi into the Rajya Sabha, and having the greatest money embezzlement after demonetization in Yes-Bank the Nero is fiddling away his time drunk on the majoritarain politics which has absolute disregard and disgust for all the minorities of all hue and belief.

We have to save the universe asserted a supporter Dr Malvinder Singh Malih. They are taking calls from those who are handpicked by Modi. Gogoi took the Parliament seat like that and thus forth further. What it amounts to your being prepared for the pandemic seizing your never system is like the Octopus. Judicial order without his signature on issue of molesting a woman by his Lordship (now a member of the elite house of the Parliament) and hanging Nirbhay rape and murder accused are two sides of the same coin. Where is the time for moral discrimination to a man who had handed over the 59 burnt out karsevaks to Jaideep Patel of VHP whose letter was headlined: What Gujarat does. India will have to do tomorrow.(1) And that is exactly what India is doing for years now under Modi with full impunity.

Full 24 hours after he appeared on television the people of this republic look like the Yahoos, the people there are kept on leash by the horses who rule them. Surely signs are they are now gearing up to clap hands in the circus ring, beat the utenlis with sticks in simulation of drum and ring bells while occupying the stool space like animals of circus. They are yahoos pronounced /ja:hu:/ while crony capitalists and bankrs/ju:hu:z/another breed of horses of crony capitalism ushered in Modi.

Indian politics has been so thoroughly communalized by RSS, BJP and leaders like Modi and Jaitley that there is no dawning of knowledge of truth even regarding epidemics/pandemics. Once upon time the Nizam had built a tall mosque at the cross road of Hyderabad to keep watch on his subjects during the plague. His soldiers among them Muslims used it as observation tower on duty and perform their regular prayers as well. There was practically no change until late 1969 when the communalists planted the images of Hindu deity there. I recall how I as a student was petrified by the encroachment and the deployment of the army there when I happened to pass the monument. But I was relieved when fellow passengers used patent expletives like mothers male sex insignia. It was disturbing moment because it meant to us from outside that it was onset of a communal riot. But the conductor restored our confidence that these were not flash points of an imminent riot but the paradoxical use of the sex insignia in the vernacular. If a ruler can do this much more is expected today because of Covid-19. Sad is the taciturnity of PM Modi and even more puzzling his silence on the layout of funds. This is in glaring contrast of PM of Canada Justin Trudeau who has sanctioned 3 % of the government budget on testing, treating and tracing the cases of Crona virus. And that amounts to 82 billion dollars.

It is quizzical that Daniel Defore wrote when London was victim of such a visitation in 1664-5 that the independent minded English robust character also underwent changes owing to the visitation. There was spurt in quackery and roguery then. Is not clapping hands for five minutes, beating your steel eating plates and ringing you vehicle horns or bells will drive away the virus ?Even more amazing that there are elected leaders in parliament and assemblies who are potentially influencing their electorate into drinking cow urine and cow dung! And of all what of that London archetype, the quick-witted, fast talking con-man is represented by a quacking sort of fellow who advertises himself as a self-styled expert, diagnosing plague symptoms with the slogan he gives his advice to the poor for nothing.

However, the circumabiency in which coronavirus has manifested is a matter of grave concern. The right wing government and its party though in power continued their juggernaut of turning India into a Hindu nation. And slowly every other work is oriented towards this end. The attempt to communalize the polls in Delhi and then the visit of Trump came handy. The ambition is virtually diabolic to say the least. It is in this context Julio Reibero observes: Ambition can also be a virus! And runaway ambition worse than the corona!

Value systems have changed dramatically over the decades post Independence. I have noticed, for instance, that today many IPS entrants are willing to sacrifice their dignity and honour to please political masters at the cost of their fealty to the law and the Constitution and even their own principles! If their own advancement in careers depends on sycophancy, they will go the whole hog at the cost of their own countrymen, who they conveniently forget at such times.

The present dispensation has gone about systematically eroding our institutions like the police, the bureaucracy and the media. It has succeeded in depriving the Election Commission of the high pedestal on which TN Seshan had placed it. The Army and the judiciary are two institutions left on which hapless citizens rely in times of stress. Alas, they are being relentlessly besieged.

Thus the mother of all impunity in the present scenario is: The difference between the present government and the old natural party of governance is that the Congress was wary of being found out, whereas the BJP is ready with all guns blazing to defend the indefensible. The BJP has, in fact, perfected to a fine art the practice of justifying all its acts of omission and commission. And this hides all the terror since 2002 Gujarat to 2020 Delhi and more had time to prepare. We should have taken this threat much more seriously and have been much better prepared. (2) We were overwhelmed by the Nero fiddling with capturing more state governments and where they met roadblock they took revenge by camouflaging Trump visit to conduct another pogrom.

Where has the BJP government under Modi spent its time and energy? Of course it is for the grand aim of having a Hindu nation in 2024. For this they have practiced revanchism all through their years in power. After they assumed power in MP their CM Chauhan took revenge on the collector who had slapped a BJP leader. Rajgarh Collector Nidhi Nivedita did slap protester when he misbehaved with her and her senior officer and also a collector on January 20 2020 when there was the government of Congress. There was a prohibitory order against gathering of people and protest was banned. On the first day of assuming power the new government took revenge first by transferring her.

There is a new breed of politics that BJP is playing with the backing of RSS. Its president Mr Chadda is organizing food for five crore people in Delhi in the aftermath of the pogroms. That is likely to feed and support the Hindus who are caught up in the meltdown from the communal flare up to the pandemic. This is on the pattern of the Kutch earthquake that moved to the pogroms of 2002 ultimately. Yusuf Lulu had donated huge sums of money that the RSS handled and deprived the Muslim victims. As the government of CM Modi had come down upon the Muslims returning from a convention in London on January 1, 2002. All India Muslim Unity Front (AIMUF) comprising of umbrella representation of dominant groups of Muslims vowed at the monument dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi to root out terrorism. They clearly underlined that they were against cross border terrorism and wanted India to be firm in handling this menace. They demanded stern action against those who were aiding and abetting terrorism in India. Their avowal was fervently patriotic. They must have apprehended that since India had chosen to jump on the bandwagon of President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in the war on terrorism that you are either with us or against us; that troubles were ahead for their community. Choosing to determine who was a terrorist, was not left to the victims but the victor. As if the Intelligence Bureau in Delhi and the Gujarat government did not want to eye the resurgence of patriotic warmth of the Muslims in any other way than cynically making a preemptive strike by arresting as many as 123 Muslims returning from a seminar in London. The cops called them members of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). This collaboration of the two, IB and Gujarat government has proved most pernicious to the country as well as for Gujarat. However The Times of India on December 30, 2001 quoted a top police official that the police had found no perceptible link yet of the organization with the recent attack on parliament. What is significant to note is that as many as 123 Indians had gone to London where it would be impossible to hold a meeting of radicals that too in the aftermath of 9/11 or December 13, 2001 attack on the parliament in Delhi, as far as India is concerned. Among the arrested were 44 from Maharashtra, followed by Gujarat 25, Madhya pradesh 13, Karnataka 11, UP 10, Rajasthan 9, West Bengal 4, Tamil Nadu 4, Bihar 2, Chhattisgarh 1. The central government had banned SIMI on the heels of 9/11 despite the fact that no Indian was involved in 9/11 attack on the US, a fact that even President George Bush averred. This confirms the suspicion that the government headed by the Prime Minister Vajpayee and deputy PM LK Advani from Hindutva group used the anti-Muslim world view to piggy ride the US in victimizing the Muslims.

As the role of Rajendra Kumar, joint director of IB and Narendra Modi, his fellow Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh member and pal, would reveal later in the course of the decade more of their sinister design against the minority. Kumar was the one who fed wrong information to Modi that Inter Services Intelligence and Lashkar-e-Toiba were behind Godhra fire incident. He was the one again who fed false information to Commissioner of Police Ahmadabad KR Kaushik on Ishrat Jahan and hence complicit in genocide and fake encounters. But before the month was over the police struck again and arrested 8 suspected members of SIMI from Olpad area in Vadodra where SIMI documents were recovered from a canal (nullah) on January 29, 2002. What had the eight to do with it? Obviously like other such innumerable cases their names were found in the documents. This is similar to the fake encounters which mark years in succession when the police would kill Muslims and plant explosives and ID cards on them. They would say that they were out to kill Modi.

Years later a judge would ask the government of India to give just one real proof to continue the ban on SIMI and when the government lawyer would fail the judge would recommend to the central government to lift the ban. The next day the government would re-impose the ban. That fluidity in situation has not changed. How could it when people like Chadda who headed the armed wing of Hindutva ABVP is now the head of the BJP!

When we have a hollowman at the realm of powers what do we expect than clapping, beating utensils and ringing bells to drive away the virus a couple of days earlier and now nursery rhymes of children

Ko koi

Ro roadpar

Na nikley

Such puzzling rhymes have no reason other than the following

By the itch of this my thumb

Something wicked this way come

A drum! a drum! Macbeth did come!

(1) Kingshuk Nag. The Namo Story. Roli Book 2013 P.175

(2) https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/runaway-ambition-can-be-a-virus-59331

The author Mustafa Khan is based in Malegaon, Maharashtra and blogs at: http://commonalty.blogspot.com/
Sujata Anandan By

The coronavirus is bringing out the best and worst in people, particularly our politicians. All of last week a nasty spat has been brewing between the BJP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, between the friends of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the current CM Uddhav Thackeray. As the enormity of the pandemic began to dawn on the nation, friends of Fadnavis, who has still not been able to reconcile to his loss of office, started a trend on Twitter with the hashtag #Maharashtra- NeedsDevendraFadnavis.

They implied that Thackeray was incompetent and incapable of handling such a crisis, and was messing up the management and containment of the virus. Friends of the CM, including some of his Cabinet ministers, jumped into the fray and quickly went for Fadnaviss jugular, saying he had handled the successive droughts in Maharashtra badly (the number of farmers suicides increased exponentially) and adding he had been completely overwhelmed by the floods in parts of the state last year (many died, lost homes and farms, and were not compensated). Among these supporters were some NCP ministers who swung to Thackerays defence, underscoring the commendable job the CM was doing under the circumstances of the multiple stents in his heart and medical advice not to put himself under stress.

Yet there were daily notifications from his office and like the Kerala CM and his health minister, Thackeray was frequently appearing before the media something Fadnavis was not known to do during a crisis along with his own health minister Rajesh Tope of the NCP to update the people on the measures undertaken by his government as the infection grew every day. After Prime Minister Narendra Modis Tuesday address locking down the whole nation, there was panic over food and essential services. Thackeray calmly took to social media to post his own address telling people that these services would not be stopped in the state, assuring them there were enough food stocks in government godowns to tide over the crisis and asking the police, amid reports that they were harassing people on the streets, to deal with them compassionately in these extraordinary times.

Thackeray, a complete greenhorn in electoral politics, has indeed surprised even many of his diehard critics by the manner in which he has been handling the crisis. But he has some help. He is, after all, being guided in his efforts by none other than the best disaster management expert in the countryNCP boss Sharad Pawar. Which also explains why he is being defended more by the NCP than the Sena. During his term as chief minister, Pawar had handled more than one disaster with consummate skill. When the serial bomb blasts occurred in Mumbai in March 1993, Pawar was in his office and sprung to his feet to rush to the nearest window. He could see some of the commotion at the Air India building at Nariman Point, one of the targets of the 12 blasts, and the police arriving with their dog squads.

Yet he did not sprint across those few metres to take stock himself because his reasoning was that if the policemen saw their chief minister on the scene, their attention would be instantly diverted to protecting the VIP rather than rescuing the victims. So he waited patiently until the police commissioner arrived at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, to brief him about the disaster. As he told me years later in an interview, the Mumbai police had instantly fathomed who could be behind the attacks and why. So knowing that this was building to a potentially dangerous communal situation, he went on Doordarshan and calmly lied about the number of blasts that had happened in the city.

We had counted 12 but when Pawar claimed that there had been a 13th blastat Masjid Bunder, a predominantly Muslim ghetto and that some Tamil Tigers had left some clues behind that the cops were following up, it left reporters scratching their heads and running around in circles to trace the remnants of that non-existent blast. Of course, no one could find any traces of a recently bombed building or the LTTE because no 13th blast had happened and no Sri Lankan Tamil had targeted Mumbai. The wild goose chase that Pawar sent reporters on that day was to prevent a communal conflagration by pretending Muslims had been as much a target and the perpetrators were foreign entities no one would know how to pin down or retaliate against.

The blast happened on a Friday, I recall, and Pawar got the stock market, another target, standing on its feet, open for business at the usual hour on Monday morning to give the shaken city a semblance of normalcy. Soon after, he had to face one of the most devastating earthquakes of the century in Latur in South Maharashtra and his compassionate handling of that too is now the stuff of legend. Even here he allowed officials to take initial stock, slept in a bullock cart one night, allowing officers to take rooms in the government guest house and exhorted them not to look down upon the devastated victims and share in their tragedy.

His skills were recognised by then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001, who put Pawar in charge of the national disaster management agency after the Kutch earthquake in Gujarata rare honour for an opposition leader. With such an experienced hand guiding him, it is no wonder that the Maharashtra CM is handling the Covid crisis well. Apart from surprising his critics, Thackeray, between the CAA protests that were handled with equal understanding and the coronavirus response, has won the hearts of many common people too.

SUJATA ANANDAN

Senior journalist and political commentator Email: sujata.anandan@gmail.com
Every third Friday of March, in medical schools across the nation, the years graduating crop of medical students participate in Match Day. In it, the students invite friends and loved ones to a large ceremony to open envelopes to find out which hospitals they have been assigned to further their medical training.

Although the Stanford School of Medicine had proactively canceled Match Day events, the students managed to celebrate with each other through Zoom and FaceTime. I was thrilled to match as a transitional year intern at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, a safety net hospital where I had completed a bulk of my clinical rotations. I soon started feeling the weight of the knowledge that Id soon be responsible for my patients well-being; however, this was a common worry among fourth-year medical students. My classmates and I also faced a daunting challenge that no previous class had before: the looming threat of COVID-19.

I called an upperclassman and a first-year physician at a hospital in Santa Clara County to see how she was doing. She said that the senior physicians had canceled a number of elective procedures in order to prepare beds for the inevitable deluge of COVID-19 patients. Although things were slow at the moment, she feared that she was experiencing the calm before the storm.

Soon after my conversation with my upperclassman, the chief residents at SCVMC sent a welcome email to all of the new incoming transitional year interns. They acknowledged that we were in a truly exceptional time with the growing number of COVID-19-positive cases in the Bay Area. I wondered what the disease meant for us, our loved ones, and our education.

Mark Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard, estimated that 40% to 70% of adults may get infected with the coronavirus. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, suggested that COVID-19 may have a mortality rate of 1% or less. Many physicians have already fallen sick and a few have died from complications from the novel coronavirus. Healthy and young residents at the front lines of the hospital have taken the time to fill out their advanced directives and living wills. I personally worry that I wont be able to visit my loved ones during intern year in fear of unwittingly bringing the disease to them.

No doctor wants to get sick, but for me, the privilege of being able to contribute during these dark times outweighs my fear of getting sick and the small  but real  chance of death. Until my first day as an intern, I will be reading up on the latest COVID-19 research and studying medical Spanish to communicate with my patients.

However, mere manpower isnt enough to help our patients. Many hospitals across the nation will face ventilator shortages and have already turned to rationing personal protection equipment meant to prevent providers from getting sick, such as N95 masks. While Vice President Mike Pence committed to sending hundreds of millions of N95 masks, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that he would get more ventilators into production, it is unclear whether and when these much-needed resources will be made available to the health care providers. Meanwhile, without these resources, more patients will die and more physicians will themselves fall victim to the novel coronavirus.

Scary times, indeed.

Still, during these dark and uncertain days, I hope that people can feel a slight morsel of comfort by looking for the helpers, including a new crop of doctors who are ready to learn from our senior physicians and to serve our communities.

Yoo Jung Kim is an M.D. candidate at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
The United States blacklisted five Iran and Iraq-based companies and 15 individuals on Thursday for supporting terrorist groups, its third round of sanctions on Iranian targets in the last two weeks even as Tehran battles the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the US treasury department accused those targeted of supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force elite foreign paramilitary and espionage arm and of transferring lethal aid to Iran-backed militias in Iraq such as Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, all of which Washington deems foreign terrorist organisations.

The Pentagon blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a March 11 rocket attack that killed one British and two US personnel in Iraq.

US officials say they plan to keep sanctioning Iran to try to force it to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities despite the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed 2,234 people in Iran.

Treasury accused those designated of malign activities including selling Iranian oil to Syria, smuggling arms to Iraq and Yemen and backing Iraqi militias that attack US forces.

The sanctions freeze any of their US-held assets and generally bar Americans from dealing with them.

The five targeted companies are Madain Novin Traders and Reconstruction Organisation of the Holy Shrines in Iraq, both of which are based in Iran and Iraq; Bahjat al Kawthar Company for Construction and Trading Ltd, also known as Kosar Company, and Al Khamael Maritime Services, which are both based in Iraq; and Middle East Saman Chemical Company, which is based in Iran.

The action also blacklists 15 individuals associated with the companies or officials of the Quds Force and Kataib Hezbollah.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged the boycott of US sanctions. Does the US want a forever pandemic? Moral imperative to stop observing the bullys sanctions, he tweeted.
Washington, March 28 : Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Indian workers across America have sought extensions of their US visas over concerns of losing work status due to soon-to-expire visas or delayed extensions, a media report said.

Immigration attorneys and immigration think tanks were trying hard to find a solution, the American Bazaar said in the report on Friday, adding that several immigration groups were suggesting calls to Senators to ensure that visa holders do not bear the brunt of this calamity.

Last week, Immigration Voice, an immigration-related non-profit, reported that they were able to get a visa-related provision inserted in phase 3 coronavirus bill in the House.

The group was now trying to get this provision that extends the validity of all visa petitions and employment authorization documents inserted into the Senate package too, according to the American Bazaar report.

Many immigrants working in crucial healthcare sectors, who fear unemployment and were asking for automatic extension of their status, were now hoping for the provision to pass so that they can continue their stay and their jobs without the fear of re-locating during the crisis.

Explaining the efforts, Aman Kapoor from Immigration Voice told the American Bazaar: "Yes, we have been advocating to include the reasonable provision to automatically extend the status of tax-paying law-abiding skilled immigrants because of USCIS offices being closed.

"This is called 'Do no harm' provision, meaning no new immigrant gets the advantage/benefit from the current situation, but at the same time, the current pandemic will not hurt anyone either." "So, the legal immigrants can continue to contribute in the economy and shoulder the burden at the time of crisis." A lot of immigrants stuck in the backlog were healthcare professionals, doctors, researchers and nurses, who are at the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus and risking their own lives to provide healthcare to Americans.

"Our provision was included in the House bill, but the latest information is that it has not yet made into the Senate bill, although we are still trying our best to implore of the better nature of the Senate offices," Kapoor told the American Bazaar.

As of Saturday, the US had the highest number og confirmed coronavirus cases globally, even surpassing China, where the pandemic originated in the city of Wuhan last December.

According to the latest update by the Washington-based John Hopkins University, the cases have increased to 104,837, while the death toll was 1,711.
Eoin McMahon from Leave No Trace Ireland who gave a two-hour session on the ocean with the 5th class pupils from Scoil Naomh Mhaodhoig Poulfur

Caim: Church Notes. Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. and Wednesday morning Mass at 9.30 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continues in Caim Church every Monday and all are welcome to participate.

Caim Vintage Club

Caim Vintage Club will hold a Road Run on April 19 from Rackards Caim commencing at 1 p.m.

Covid 19

With the National School closed and restrictions in place please follow recommendations and stay safe everyone.

Clonegal-Kildavin

Community Group - Volunteers

If you need anything at all please get in touch with us through Facebook, Clonegal Kildavin Community Support or contact the numbers listed below and we will organise whatever you need like medication pick up, groceries or just need someone to talk too, we are hear for you. All contact will be kept confidential.

All of our volunteers will follow the HSE guidelines to keep everybody safe.

Clonegal main contacts; Ann and Alan Merrigan 087 9310555 or 053 9375388, Emma Kinsella 058 2848793 or Michelle Conroy 085 7774524. Kildavin main contacts: Daithi Byrne 087 9667943, Olivia Mernagh 087 7175156 or Margaret Murphy (Doyle) 087 8380015 or 059 9157853.

Emergency Unemployment Payment

Covid-19 Emergency Unemployment Payment Forms together with envelopes are now in the porches of both Clonegal and Kildavin RC churches for those who may not be able to access them online.

GAA lotto Results

There was no winner or online winner in last week's lotto jackpot of 10,000. Number drawn were 6, 13, 16 and 20.

Winners that matched three were, Adam Cox, Michael Sweeney, Ronan and Sarah, PJ Keogh, Brendan Murphy c/o Rose Sheil, Paddy Kavanagh, Maria Redmond, Lorcan Moran, James O'Neill, Jnr O'Neill, Emily Byrne, and Amada Kavanagh.

The next draw will take place in Osborne's Lounge, Clonegal in one month at 10.30 p.m., this is maybe changed due to the current circumstances. The next jackpot of 10,000 and reserve jackpot of 5,400. Tickets 2 each.

Attention Dog Owners

There has been an increase in dog litter in the village of Clonegal recently. Clonegal Tidy Village Association asks dog owners to confine their dogs and not allow them to roam freely through the village. Also, dog owners who walk their dogs in the village are asked to pick up after their dogs. Dog litter is toxic and is very dangerous particularly to children. In the interest of health and safety, please keep Clonegal Village dog litter-free.

Spring Time Commences

Spring time will commence this Saturday, March 29; the clock will change with time going forward one hour and the beginning of springtime.

Deepest Sympathy

The community of Clonegal and surrounding area was saddened to hear the death of the Garry Sinnott, Clonogan, Clonegal, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 12. Loving husband of Kathleen and father of Richie, Paula and Julie, brother of Sarah and the late Richard and Joseph. Sadly missed by his Wife, son, daughters, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Reposed from Lennon's Funeral Home on Saturday with removal on Sunday, to St Brigid's Church, Clonegal for Funeral Mass. Burial afterwards in the new cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Tullow Day Care Centre

The Novelty Bingo organised for Thursday, April 2, for Tullow Day Care Centre is now cancelled till further notice. Directive from the HSE - We know that older people and those with chronic diseases are at real risk and for this reason the decision to close all Day Care Centres from March 16 has been taken. Meals on Wheels will be maintained by Tullow Day Care Centre for all existing clients Monday to Friday. If you have any queries please contact Tullow Day Care Centre 059 9151833.

Ferns

FERNS BFRIENDLY

Are you or do you know an older person living alone in the Ferns or surrounding areas including Camolin, Ballyduff and Clologue? Would you like to receive a free weekly phone call from specially trained and Garda Vetted local volunteers from Ferns Bfriendly. This service offers friendship and support to older people living in these areas as well as providing security and helping clients feel safer at home. Call 087 1691919, email info@fernsbfriendly.ie or visit fernsbfriendly.ie for more information.

COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS

Ferns Community First Responders need your help. In order to be able to continue to provide a 24/7 service we need volunteers who are prepared to be on call should a request for help be received from the National Ambulance service. NO medical knowledge required. Volunteers will receive full training in the use of the AED equipment and CPR as well as other relevant First Aid Training. The next training session for new volunteers will be held in February. If you are interested and would like to find out more please send an email to info@fernscfr.com, call 087 2327902 or contact any of the members.

Tombrack Big Clean Up cancelled.

Unfortunately the Tombrack Big Clean Up 2020 has been cancelled due to Covid 19.

Penny Bank closed

Ferns Penny Bank will be closed for the foreseeable future to protect the health of collectors and members during this unprecedented time. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Kiltealy-Ballindaggin

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

With almost everyone confined to their homes due to Covid 19 it is a very worrying time for all but especially older people as they are isolating themselves in a bid to avoid the virus. With this in mind Duffry Rovers GAA Club members are available to pick up and deliver groceries and fuel to anyone who may need it. Just contact any member or call Kiltealy Text Alert number.

Meanwhile members of Kiltealy Community Development Group are also available to run errands or help in any way needed. See their Facebook page or call 087 6324756. A group in Ballindaggin are also available to help anyone who may need it in the area and also if you are willing to help, contact 087 6017666.

Enniscorthy Garda Station are putting together a list of local groups who are helping out during the virus and the above numbers are a point of contact for KIltealy and Ballindaggin. As always in Kiltealy and Ballindaggin community spirit is our greatest strength.

KILTEALY HALL DEVELOPMENT

Kiltealy Hall Development 350 club draw has been postponed due to Covid 19. The draw will take place at a later date. Also Kiltealy Community Hall, Kiltealy Community Park and Kiltealy Gym have all been closed till further notice in line with HSE guidelines.

SYMPATHY

Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of the late Carmel Clynes (nee Byrne), Clondalkin, Dublin and formerly Kiltealy, who died on Wednesday, March 11, To her husband Brendan, daughter Laura, mother Rita and brothers and sisters Pearl, John, Hughie and Jacqueline we extend our deepest sympathy. Also to extended family and friends.

Carmel was daughter of Rita and the late Hugh Byrne and grew up and attended school in KIltealy and everyone in the community were very saddened to hear of her untimely passing. She was laid to rest in Kiltealy Cemetery on Thursday last following funeral Mass in Kiltealy Church. May she rest in peace.

MASSES CANCELLED

All public Masses have been cancelled from Friday, March 20. Please God we will all get through this challenging time safely and be back at Mass in the not too distant future.

KILTEALY SCHOOL

Kiltealy school have handed out school books and specific work for pupils to all parents. A link detailing the plan is available on the school website under 'Latest News' at kiltealyns@gmail.com.

BEST WISHES

Best wishes to anyone who may be ill at this time and best wishes also to all the heroic doctors, nurses, health care and front line people who are getting us through this health crisis. Ye are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Marshalstown-Castledockrell

Bingo

We wish to inform everyone that the bingo in Marshalstown Community Centre has been cancelled till further notice due to Covid 19. Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your support in the past.

Storytelling

Story House in Castledockrell has been cancelled till further notice due to Covid-19. Thank you to all our supporters.

Patrons

The annual Patrons and blessing of graves in the parish are as follows: Marshalstown on Sunday, May 31. Castledockrell on Friday, July 3. Crioshue on Saturday, July 4. More details nearer to the time of each patron.

Laugh for Hope and Hospice

Due to circumstances beyond our control we regret to inform you that the Shows have been postponed till further notice. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Social dancing

social dancing that usually takes place in Marshalstown Community Centre has been cancelled till further notice due to Covid-19. Looking forward to seeing all soon again.

Notes Deadline

Please note due to an earlier deadline items for the notes should reach me by 6 p.m. on the Thursday before each issue including on bank holiday weekends. Also only not for profit items should be included in the notes. Thank you for your co-operation.
Disney announced it is extending the closure of Disneyland and Disneyworld until further notice, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The parks were initially scheduled to reopen on 1 April, but the company has decided to extend the closure, amid rising positive Covid-19 cases in the US.

While there is still much uncertainty with respect to the impacts of COVID-19, the safety and well-being of our guests and employees remains The Walt Disney Companys top priority, the company said in a statement.

As a result of this unprecedented pandemic and in line with direction provided by health experts and government officials, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice.

With uncertainty for staff, the company revealed that they would extend paying hourly parks and resorts cast members through April 18.

Disney first made the decision to close some of their parks and resorts on 14 March but made it clear that there had not been any reported cases at Disneyland Resorts.

After carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of Californias executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month, the company said in a statement.

California governor Gavin Newsom announced that gatherings of 250 or more would be banned in his state from March 14, effectively closing Disneyland.

Mr Newsom stressed that the closures were necessary, saying: Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know.

Thats the choice before us. Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects -- saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now, he added.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 101,657 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 1,581.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.
Success? Success was never the issue. Commercial real estate or business development for private hospitals? Lisa Marandas was an all-star. Lisa Marandas had more than enough game.

She just didnt wake each morning convinced her game was making a difference.

Thats why shes now so often among Portlands homeless, standing on the tailgate of a mobile shower truck, directing traffic, greeting new friends. Thats why Marandas works so tirelessly for Homer Williams and Oregon Harbor of Hope.

In the last month, COVID-19 has upended our sense of how well find room to live together in precarious and diminishing space. In the last decade, few Portlanders have thought about that in such practical terms as Williams.

The pivotal developer in The Pearl and South Waterfront, Williams has long been fixated on affordable housing for the citys have-nots: the working poor, aging Baby Boomers, struggling students, and the chronic homeless.

A clean sweep for Mary and her dog, who live beneath the Hawthorne Bridge.

Williams is a bigger fan of shelters, and their attendant transition services, than many homeless advocates in the city. He fought to open a transformational campus modeled after Haven of Hope in San Antonio. In 2018, Williams and Don Mazziotti offered Multnomah County $7 million to buy Wapato Jail.

When those campaigns foundered, Harbor of Hope pivoted, as Williams puts it, to local neighborhood shelters and home-sharing.

Williams raised $3 million in private money to open the River District Navigation Center. He began negotiating with Beth Israel, Trinity Episcopal and St. Marys Cathedral for the parking needed for a high-barrier shelter pavilion at Northwest 19th and Everett.

And he unleashed Lisa Marandas.

She was in a real dark space two years ago, Marandas admits. She no longer believed cities and counties had the ingenuity or the resources to deal with essential housing and the mental-health crisis:

I was ready to surrender. I was really down  until I talked to Don and met Homer. A light went off. A glimmer of hope that I could do something to change this screwed up system.

When Marandas joined Harbor of Hope, Williams and Mazziotti were already exploring ways to connect and build trust with people living on the streets. Last April, they rolled out two 32-foot-long shower trucks, modeled after Lava-Maes program in San Francisco.

Six days a week, the trucks provide showers and laundry service to men and women who have little more than a tent, a shopping cart and a mud-caked dog. Haircuts and pet baths are also available when the trucks arrive at Blanchet House, Splendid Cycles and a dozen other locations around town, often to cheers.

The trucks are stepping stones, Marandas says. They show us who are our clients are, and show them they can trust someone. Were there with a shower, socks and underwear. You dont have to pay for it. And well be back next Tuesday.

Maybe that gives them a bit of hope. Something to hold on to until theyre ready to go on to that next step. It might be addiction. Or they might think, Maybe these folks can hook me up with affordable housing.

Williams originally planned to contract out the shower trucks. Marandas would have none of that. She told him she could run the relief effort at one-third the cost. Whats more, she decided, the trucks should be manned by the homeless.

The shower trucks' very first customer, outside Splendid Cycles in southeast Portland

How has that worked out? You would be amazed, Marandas says. All the folks working on these trucks are living outside in a tent. Six months ago, they couldnt stay organized. There was no concept of cleanliness. Now, they own this. These are their trucks. Sometimes, we have to make adjustments. Weve had some turnover. But when one of these individuals works outs, there are five guys behind them in the camp, wanting to sign on.

Yes, the coronavirus has complicated the mission. Marandas had to jettison her senior volunteers. She designed this weekends schedule mindful that many of the homeless are on the move: There are rumors on the streets that FEMA is going to come in and force everyone into camps.

Two barber chairs make the rounds each day with the shower trucks.

But the trucks are still rolling. On Friday, Harbor of Hope used a six-figure donation from Kroger to launch its first food truck for the homeless. Marandas also spent a long day arranging to have a third shower truck available for the 140 guests now sheltered at the Oregon Convention Center.

Sleep? Sleep is always an issue. But Marandas wakes each morning believing shes where she belongs.

The work Im doing here? Its brought it all together, my skills and my passion. Ive found that sweet spot. Even though Im working more than Ive ever worked before, Im in that place where it makes sense.

-- Steve Duin

stephen.b.duin@gmail.com
China temporarily bans entry of foreigners in response to surging imported infections

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha and Chen Qingqing Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 0:59:54 Last Updated: 2020/3/27 3:59:30

Foreign nationals are temporarily forbidden from entering China even with valid visas, Chinese authorities announced on Thursday, in a move called by some experts as "semi sealing off of the border" that signals the country's determination to fight the pandemic battle.

The notice was jointly issued Thursday night by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Immigration Administration and will take effect on Saturday.

The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries. China will stay in close touch with all sides and properly handle personnel exchanges with the rest of the world under special circumstances. The above-mentioned measures will be calibrated in light of the evolving situation and announced accordingly, the notice said.

This is the strictest measure taken toward foreigners since China's opening-up and reform, which is also an unprecedented step, reflecting the country's decisive and aggressive COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control work in fighting the pandemic battle, said Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University.

Due to mounting pressure of imported COVID-19 infection cases, China has to take this measure, which is temporary but necessary, otherwise, the result of containment would be threatened, Cai Jiangnan, the director of the Center for Healthcare Management at the China Europe International Business School, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Peking University Professor Zhang Yiwu said this move signals China will partly seal off its border in response to rising numbers of imported infections. "We cannot keep our own nationals outside, so we have to stop foreign nationals from coming in and adding pressure to our virus prevention work," said Zhang.

He noted this measure also suits with other countries to prevent imported infections.

The notice says foreign nationals coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates. Entry by foreign nationals with visas issued after this announcement will not be affected.

It's necessary to keep a channel open for foreigners who work in the trade and technology sectors, as the country, which is also the world's factory and largest manufacturer, is resuming work amid the outbreak, said Mei Xinyu, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, noting that it will play a decisive role in stabilizing the global economy.

As of Tuesday, China has reported 474 imported cases from 34 countries, with the capital Beijing shouldering the heaviest burden of receiving those patients. The UK is the biggest source of imported cases, according to statistics.

"We can't afford to see cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou become a second Wuhan, given the pandemic has been worsening overseas," Yang Zhanqiu, a virologist at Wuhan University, told the Global Times. The policy is necessary as an outbreak rebound would seriously affect Chinese social and economic development, he said.

The pandemic has caused so far more than 490,000 cases worldwide, affecting more than 170 countries and regions and causing 22,184 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

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Pastor abducted at gunpoint released by Arakan Army in Myanmar

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A pastor abducted at gunpoint by a rebel group in Myanmars Rakhine State last January and later presumed to be dead has been released and is now with his family, according to a U.S.-based persecution watchdog.

Pastor U Tun Nu of Believers Church Myanmar was released earlier this month by his abductors from the Arakan Army after 14 months of detention, International Christian Concern reported, saying soldiers from the rebel group handed him over to the village elders.

Christian group Gospel for Asia had earlier confirmed his death. However, he has now been reunited with his wife and youngest daughter.

After his release, the pastor spoke to ICC and shared his harrowing experience.

Those 14 months were the [most] hellish time of my life, be it spiritually, mentally and in particular physically, he was quoted as saying. Sometimes I even prayed to God that I could not stand any longer and asked God to just take my life.

The rebel group comprises Rakhine Buddhists who are calling for greater autonomy in the Rakhine State, where the Rohingya people belong.

The pastor recalled that the rebels questioned faith and mocked him. Ask your God to come and save you, they would say. He said he was given a plate of plain rice and a liter of water each day.

U Tun Nu also narrated an incident where a rebel soldier carrying a gun behind him accidentally pulled the trigger. He got scared but heard a voice in his head saying, You are protected by God, and no harm will come to you. When he opened his eyes, he saw a big hole on his shirt under his arm, yet there was no wound on his body.

The Buddhist and Burman majoritarian military of Myanmar, earlier known as Burma, also routinely persecutes Christians due to the various ethnic conflicts in the country, especially along the borders with China, Thailand and India.

Open Doors ranks Myanmar 19th on its 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The group notes that due to ongoing fighting, more than 100,000 Christians have been forced to flee their homes and are living in camps where they have been denied access to food and healthcare.

Earlier this month, members of the predominantly Christian ethnic Chin group were among those killed in Myanmar army airstrikes, prompting some church leaders to speculate that Christians were targeted because of their faith.

In Paletwa Township, Chin State, the army struck Meiksa Wa village, killing 12 civilians, according to Morning Star News. Eight more died in attacks the next day on Wetma village, and one was killed in Pyaing Tain village. Among those killed was a 7-year-old child, locals said.

Another 28 civilians were wounded in the attacks, according to the outlet, and more than 1,500 villagers fled the areas as some of their houses were burned down.

Last year, Texas pastor Bob Roberts told The Christian Post that the military had bombed as many as 60 churches in the previous 18 months in the majority-Christian Kachin province. He added that about 20 of them were converted into Buddhist pagodas.

[To] be clear, most of it is about ethnic cleansing, Roberts told CP at the time.

At the U.S. State Departments second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom last July, a Christian pastor from northern Myanmar spoke about the horrors he faced when jailed and tortured for over a year.

Pastor Langjaw Gam Seng, who was jailed in 2016 for helping journalists report on the bombing of Christian churches in the majority-Christian Kachin province, said that his hands were constantly tied behind his back and he passed out due to lack of food.

I was detained, handcuffed and shackled for over one month with my eyes tied sealed and I was unable to see for an entire month, Seng explained through a translator. And they put me in something like a dungeon for an entire month and gave me minimal food. I was going in and out of consciousness for several weeks.
Luxembourg is one of many European countries to have imposed stringent restrictions on people's freedom due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the situation is not the same everywhere.

Xavier Bettel's government was fairly quick to act in comparison with other European countries, announcing the closure of all schools from 13 March, a full week before the UK.

And residents of the Grand Duchy have been asked to stay at home as much as possible since the extraordinary government council of 15 March.

In some respects, Luxembourg's measures are stronger than other countries': all gatherings of non-family members are banned, unlike in the UK and Germany, where two individuals can meet as long as social distance is respected.

The real European outlier is Sweden, which to date has imposed few nationwide restrictions. Universities have been closed and workers encouraged to work from home, but Swedish ski resorts, restaurants and bars are still open, as are schools for students up to the age of 16.

This strategy resembles the approach initially taken by the UK, which was referred to as 'herd immunity'. Boris Johnson's government was quickly forced to backtrack as cases of coronavirus in Britain soared, but Sweden seems to be happy to continue on its path even as deaths have risen to 92 in the Scandinavian country.

Government restrictions in Luxembourg and other countries.

Compared to Europe's Mediterranean countries, however, residents of Luxembourg are still far freer to do as they please.

In France and Italy, all people outside must have documents clearly stating the purpose of their outing. Those who do not carry such papers are at risk of being fined, even if their reason for leaving the house is valid.

The French have been told that they can only exercise in public once a day, within one kilometre of their house and for a maximum of one hour.

The Spanish government, meanwhile, has gone ever further and banned outdoor exercise, apart from dog-walking.

The great disparity between the level of restrictions in Luxembourg and other countries explains why we at RTL Today have so far restrained from labelling government measures in the Grand Duchy a lockdown.

It also shows the importance of following existing regulations: if we do not respect the government's measures now, a full lockdown will surely follow. And then we'll be sorry.
Our thoughts today are focused, understandably so, on the severe public health challenge we face and how it may affect our lives and families. Even so, for just a moment or two, please join me in turning your thoughts instead to another time, nearly half a century ago, and the brave men and women who served our country in Vietnam.

Tomorrow, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, first recognized in a proclamation by President Obama in 2012, and now as provided by an act of Congress, signed into law by President Trump in 2017.

President Obama's proclamation called "upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the Vietnam War."

Because of the corona virus, none of those will be happening today.

The law signed by President Trump, however, includes March 29 among those days on which it is particularly appropriate to display the American flag. Even as we face the most serious public health and economic challenge of our lifetimes, many of us, certainly, can at least do that.

And the heroic Vietnam veterans among us just as certainly deserve that tribute, at least, and more.

Army and Marine infantrymen on the ground, Air Force and Navy pilots in the air, surgeons and nurses in trauma tents, the youngest of them just teenagers fresh from high school, are only 63 today. Which means there are countless still among us, some we may not even know served in that war because they've "self-quarantined" their thoughts and never mention the haunting memories of things they saw or did.

All veterans of all eras, and their families, deserve our deepest and most heartfelt appreciation. Even so, perhaps at least today, we can reach out to express an extra measure of our appreciation to those who fought in Vietnam, to make up not just for the lack of appreciation but the vilification they encountered from some when they returned.

In some ways, for sure, they're no different from veterans of any other of America's wars. Most of them were young and were drafted, many of them volunteered out of a sense of patriotism or duty to serve their country, and all of them had the courage to put on their nation's uniform and fight a war, they were told, to stop the spread of Communism and keep other people free from genocide and enslavement.

If only they'd been allowed by politicians to do their jobs, over a million souls in South Vietnam and the killing fields of Cambodia wouldn't have been slaughtered by their Communist oppressors after the last American troops withdrew from the Republic of South Vietnam on this date, 46 years ago today.

But the brave men and women who left their homes and families, followed orders, and fought there, were just as courageous, just as valiant, just as deserving of our respect and admiration as any soldiers who've put on the American uniform before or since. And they still are today.

That's reason enough, at least one day a year, to say thank you.

But as a mother who shared my daughter's pain of separation and concern when her U.S. Army infantryman husband was deployed to an undisclosed location in 2018 at the height of tensions with North Korea, I offer a final and sobering reminder of why we should thank the veterans of every war who come home.

Because some of them don't come home. And some who did come home from Vietnam brought back wounds, physical or otherwise, they still carry today, half a century later.

But as veterans always say, the real heroes are the over 2,600 sons and daughters of Michigan - 18 from Midland County, twenty-nine from Bay -- whose families' days were interrupted by a dreaded knock on the door or a devastating frozen-in-time telegram that let them know their soldier would never be coming home.

For half a century, it's been too late to say thank you to those who never returned. Corona virus or not, today if no other day, let's heap their share of our appreciation, love, and respect on the Vietnam veterans who did.

Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military & Veterans Affairs. She is the daughter, daughter-in-law, wife, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law of veteran.
A Briton who had recovered from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was released from the hospital in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue on Saturday morning after over two weeks of treatment.

Hue Central Hospital in the namesake capital city of Thua Thien - Hue completed procedures to discharge the 58-year-old British man, who is identified as Vietnams 33rd case, after having treated him since March 10.

His two latest test results all came back negative for the novel coronavirus.

Upon his discharge, the man said he appreciates the doctors at Hue Central Hospital who took care of him and made his recovery possible, adding that he will return to Vietnam soon to continue his unfinished trip.

The Briton came to Vietnam on flight VN0054 from London that arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on March 2.

He was on the same flight as Vietnam's patient No. 17, a Hanoi woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 6 after the country had gone three weeks without any new infection.

The British man was placed in quarantine at Hue Central Hospital on March 10 and had been treated there until his release on Saturday.

According to Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, director of the infirmary, the British man will have to undergo mandatory 14-day home quarantine after leaving the hospital.

We also tested the doctors and health workers working in the isolation area where the patient was treated at Hue Central Hospital and all the results have returned negative for the virus, Hiep said.

At Saturday mornings ceremony, Hiep also said that another British citizen, Vietnams 49th COVID-19 patient who is also being treated at the infirmary, has had his first test result returning negative for COVID-19.

On the same morning, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Phan Ngoc Tho asked all local accommodation and lodging establishments to stop receiving guests from 12:00 pm Saturday.

Tho also advised people to have breakfast and drink coffee at home from now on, instead of going to eateries and cafes.

Businesses are asked to comply with suspension orders while promoting online sales and doorstep delivery in times of COVID-19.

Vietnam has confirmed 169 COVID-19 patients so far, with 21 having been discharged from the hospital as of Saturday morning.

Three patients in Da Nang, including a Vietnamese and two British nationals, were released on Friday.

No fatality related to the disease has been officially reported to date.

Thua Thien - Hue Province has reported only two infections of COVID-19.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A bold style, a strong personality and a talent beyond Switzerland, Tanja La Croix could not have been a better match for the Italian brand!



Timeless but innovative, strong but flexible, luxurious but never arrogant, says Tanja La Croix. These are my views on Bulgari but also my principles to live by.

Tanja La Croix, Octo Finissimo Automatic  Bulgari

As the daughter of a drummer, Tanja was born to make beats. Even as a young girl, sound, stage and show time were all completely normal to her, and the first time she went out alone, she fell head over heels in love with house music. Having already built a superb reputation on the modeling scene, in 2004 this determined young woman began a second career as a DJ and producer based in Zurich, with the support of her mentor, DJ Antoine.

Tanja La Croix, Serpenti Seduttori Tourbillon Rose Gold  Bulgari

In 2010 Tanja La Croix landed the ultimate coup: she produced the official anthem of the "Street Parade". As an ambassador for the biggest techno party in the world, she mixed the "Street Parade" CD, which went straight in at no. 2 in the compilation charts. In 2011 she also won the prestigious "Swiss Nightlife Award", and is still regularly booked for events by major companies. At the same time, La Croix has also conquered the club world with releases such as "A Trip To Bikini Island", which confidently entered the Top 50 of the Swiss album charts back at the start of her career, and the compilation "House Kiss" from 2011. Last year, she launched Sleepless in Mykonos and made millions of us dance during the whole summer.

Tanja La Croix, Serpenti Seduttori  Bulgari

Daring to be innovative combined with the highest level of craftsmanship is what built Bulgari and what built my career, she adds.
With the approval of the Resolution "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine" six years ago, the UN General Assembly strongly protested against the flagrant violation of international law by the Russian Federation.

Supported by the overwhelming majority of the UN member states, this document was adopted in response to the onset of the armed aggression of one of the UN Security Council permanent members against Ukraine - the military occupation by Russia of the Ukrainian Crimea and an attempt to annex it by holding an illegal fake referendum. With the approval of the Resolution, the General Assembly strongly protested against the flagrant violation of international law by the Russian Federation and reaffirmed the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, reads the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Resolution "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine".

The Ministry reminds that only 11 countries led by Russia voted against the document in 2014, thus against the call to refrain from attempts to change Ukraine's borders through the threat or use of force or other unlawful means.

However, as the Ministry notes, ignoring the opinion of the international community, Moscow not only failed to stop the illegal occupation of Crimea but went on with the armed aggression against Ukraine in Donbas.

By its aggressive actions against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, the Russian regime is undermining the fundamental principles of international law, which underpin modern international relations, global security and stability. To legitimize its international crimes, Russia has transformed the Ukrainian Crimea and Donbas into a territory of a humanitarian catastrophe, intimidating, harassing, and depriving of their rights those who speak against the Russian aggression, the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the diplomats note, Ukraine still enjoys full support from the international community.

A number of General Assembly resolutions Human Rights Situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, Ukraine (71/205, 72/190, 73/263, 74/168) and Problem of the Militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as Parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (73/194, 74/17), approved during these years witness thereto. Ways to end the wrongful acts of Russia in Crimea and Donbas are now being considered on an annual basis by the UN member states in General Assembly within the framework of the agenda item Situation in the Occupied Territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine underscores.

However, Moscow tries to use the propagation of the COVID-19 pandemic to lift sanctions, which once again demonstrates the true substance of its aggressive policies.

It is the solidarity and responsible behavior of states that should form the basis for joining unification of our efforts to counter the virus. Only compliance with the norms of international law is the key to preventing the spread of the aggression and revanchism virus, and can, therefore, become the grounds for lifting sanctions, the Ministry emphasizes.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming Ukraine's territorial integrity on March 27, 2014.

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China Daily | Mar. 27, 2020

International carriers remain bullish on long-term prospects in China even as the aviation sector reels from a flurry of cancellations and groundings as nations scramble to halt the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Currently, only less than 10 international carriers are operating direct flights to China. These include firms like Singapore Airlines, Air Asia, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Aeroflot and Ethiopian Airlines. Thai Airways, the largest carrier in Thailand, which maintained operations to China, said it would suspend all its international flights from Wednesday till the end of May.

China, which has been making steady progress in controlling the outbreak, is presently making intense efforts to curb imported cases. Starting from Sunday, all international flights to Beijing have been diverted to 12 Chinese cities first, and passengers are made to undergo strict health checks before being cleared for flights to Beijing. The inspection process is expected to take 10 to 14 hours.

"Whether to operate flights or not depends on the markets and local governments. With travel restrictions for foreign citizens implemented in multiple countries, such as Thailand, there are basically no passengers who will take flights, and it's difficult for carriers to sell tickets," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation analyst.

"The cancellation of flights is also partly related to the flight diversion policy of Beijing. The extra hours, and extra landing and takeoff taken at another Chinese city will increase operational costs, and most foreign carriers don't have support facilities in these transit cities," he said.

The United Arab Emirates has also decided to suspend all commercial flights for an initial 14 days as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The EY888 flight operated by Etihad Airlines that flies from Abu Dhabi to Beijing is expected to stop operations from Thursday. Earlier, a large number of Chinese passengers who fly from Europe -- the new epicenter of the contagion -- to China chose to transfer in Abu Dhabi, as most direct flights from Europe to China had been canceled.

Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer of Etihad Aviation Group, believes that the situation will improve in the long term. "COVID-19 has posed a major challenge for all airlines serving China, with a massive drop in demand on key routes. We are optimistic that the situation will improve by summer," he said.

"Our decision to operate flights between Beijing and Abu Dhabi during the epidemic period demonstrates our unwavering support and commitment to the China market as a whole," he said earlier this month before the flight suspension was announced.

Singapore Airlines said it would reduce 96 percent of its original capacity until the end of April to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The company said the outbreak has been its biggest challenge since inception. It still maintains several direct flights between Singapore and China. From Tuesday, it has been also operating daily round-trip flights between Singapore and Beijing, Shanghai. It will also operate flights between Singapore and Guangzhou three times a week, in addition to a weekly flight that connects Singapore and Chongqing.

"China is one of the most important markets for Singapore Airlines. To meet various travel demands from Chinese passengers, we have kept improving our services in China," the carrier said in a written reply to China Daily.

The falling demand has also crimped revenue of carriers. Singapore Airlines said it has taken multiple measures to cut costs, such as delaying deliveries of new aircraft and cutting salaries of executives.

Air Asia, the Malaysian budget carrier with the largest passenger load in China, is still maintaining several flights that connect Kuala Lumpur with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities. The company said it would give 100,000 complimentary redeemable tickets for eligible front-line medical staff in Wuhan, Hubei province, for one return flight between China and Southeast Asia, while their families and friends will get a 20-percent discount.

ANA has suspended a group of international flights, and it maintains fewer flights connecting Tokyo with Beijing, Dalian, Qingdao and Xiamen. The carrier said it launched flights to China in 1987, and the China market is quite important. Despite a large reduction in the number of flights for now, the company believes demand will resume after the crisis is over.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Poet Naomi Shibah Nye once wrote Before you know what kindness really is, you must lose things.

Many have lost jobs, shelter, or in the case of hospital workers, time with their families as they do battle with the coronavirus outbreak every day. This sense of loss has created opportunities for community members to spread kindness to those in need throughout Washtenaw County.

Whether its donating food or educating children remotely, residents, businesses and organizations in the area are attempting to help one another during this trying time.

Here are five more things that give us hope.

If you have a story of a business, organization or person creatively dealing with social distancing and home isolation, or are going above and beyond to help others, please email Samuel Dodge at sdodge@mlive.com.

-5 things that give us hope amid the coronavirus pandemic in Washtenaw County

-5 more things that give us hope amid the coronavirus outbreak in Washtenaw County

-An extra 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw County

-Another 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw, Livingston counties

(Clockwise) Stone School Director and teacher Rauchelle Ferguson, Administrator Kristen Fraser and her Daugherty and graduates of the preschool Emerson Fraser, 8, and Raegan Fraser, 5, outside of the school, at 2811 Stone School Rd in Ann Arbor, on Monday, July 1, 2019. The original stone school building was constructed in 1854, but would soon became too small for the growing population. A new building, which took its place and still stands today, was constructed in 1911.Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com

Virtual learning through Ann Arbor preschool

Stone School Cooperative Preschool, 2811 Stone School Road in Ann Arbor, is posting daily educational videos to keep students and teachers connected.

Parents can stream Virtual Learning clips on the schools YouTube channel, as well as download learning materials through Facebook or the Bloomz app, said Rauchelle Ferguson, the schools director.

People have been posting pictures, videos, and messages to each other during this time, and it has brought a lot of joy and laughter to us all at much needed moments, she wrote in an email.

Some of the videos include a home-schooling segment starring a student named Jordan J.J. Ebbs. His parents relayed that their child missed coming to school and seeing his friends, Ferguson said.

If you have any questions about the virtual learning program, contact Ferguson at rauchelle@stoneschool.org or 734-972-1698.

83 families fed, 350 meals delivered through restaurant, nonprofit partnership

Whats Cooking! LLC, an Ann Arbor delivery restaurant, and Peace Neighborhood, a local family-support nonprofit, are collaborating to feed families in need.

The partnership yielded 350 delivered dinners on Friday, March 27, serving at least 83 families, according to a press release.

Whats Cooking! noticed that Peace Neighborhood saw kitchen staff sidelined due to COVID-19 concerns, so it lent employees to supplement cooking efforts, the release stated.

The restaurant is also requesting help from any experienced cooks or food prep workers to assist not just with regular customer service, but the extra community support workload.

To volunteer or for more information, call 734-645-5287.

In addition, the Brown Chapel Church, a Methodist establishment located at 1043 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, distributed groceries to more than 50 individuals and families last week.

The church organized again on Friday morning for further assistance. Volunteers are asked to wear masks and other protective items, and contact Rev. Jerry Hatter by phone at 734-482-7050.

MLive file photoJenna Kieser

Interior design shop offers medical mask-making advice

Esquire Interiors, 6235 Jackson Road, has been busy filling the demand for medical face masks by sewing some themselves.

The interior design store put together dozens of sewing kits for curbside pickup. These materials included pre-cut fabric, elastic to fasten the masks around the nose area and an open pocket for a High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter to be inserted, which blocks out undesirable particles.

Each kit allowed for 10 masks to be made, and the store even provided a tutorial on how to put them together.

Demand grew so high that the store ran out of kits in less than a day, and is working on replenishing the supply. For updates on when more kits become available, check the stores Facebook page.

Drop finished masks back off at the shop for Esquire to distribute to its partners. Volunteers are requested to leave name and organization information on the finished mask kits.

Nonprofit donates $25,000 grant to healthcare workers, first responders

Homes for Heros, a nonprofit supporting first responder heroes, is donating a $25,000 grant to healthcare professionals throughout Washtenaw County.

Workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive $250 each though the HealthWell Foundations COVID-19 Ancillary Costs Fund, according to a press release.

The money helps with everyday costs for these workers, including delivered food, medication and transportation needed to manage COVID-19, the group said. Treatment including drive-thru testing, delivery of test kits, future treatments, eligible co-payments and incidental costs associated with telehealth treatments will be supported, as well.

While the coronavirus pandemic is affecting everyone, the Homes for Heroes Foundation wants to ensure that healthcare workers serving their communities in this difficult time have assistance available, said Ben Barber, an Ann Arbor-based mortgage specialist with the foundation. With this donation, our frontline healthcare heroes - current nurses or other licensed direct-care providers in hospitals, clinics and/or nursing homes - will have resources available to assist them specifically.

Barber is also a loan originator in the area. You can learn more about the foundation by contacting him at 734-224-9678.

A live-stream fitness session with The Mix Studios, a fitness and dance studio in Ann Arbor. Photo courtesy of The Mix Studios.The Mix Studios

Free and remote fitness classes with The Mix Studios

The Mix Studios, 2007 S. State St. in Ann Arbor, is a dance and fitness studios offering a free community class during the statewide COVID-19 shutdown.

The studio is offering these classes remotely though Zoom on their website, said owner Sarah Kreiner. The Mix Studios is offering more than 40 classes a week, including strength and bodyweight training, yoga, zumba, Bollywood and other dance fitness, pilates and Barre.

We want to help you keep moving because we know how important movement is for our mental health as well as our physical health, Kreiner writes on her site.

Kreiner is also offering discounts for sessions outside of the free community one, as well. Those can be found here. For more information, call 734-786-1260.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan here.

Read more from the 5 things that give us hope series

Free toilet paper with an oil change: Another 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis

An extra 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw County

5 things that give us hope amid the coronavirus pandemic in Washtenaw County

5 more things that give us hope amid the coronavirus outbreak in Washtenaw County

Another 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw, Livingston counties
President Donald Trump said earlier this week he would like to see the country start lifting coronavirus restrictions by Easter Sunday, starting with allowing churches to welcome the faithful for services on Christianitys holiest day of the year.

Wouldnt it be great to have all the churches full? Trump said at a White House event Tuesday. Youll have packed churches all over our country  I think itll be a beautiful time.

But with COVID-19 cases continuing to rise and Easter just two weeks away, some New Jersey religious leaders say Trumps wish isnt going to happen here.

Several New Jersey churches and dioceses have begun releasing their Holy Week schedules and none include in-person Easter services on April 12. All promise it will be a Holy Week like none every celebrated in New Jersey.

Everything in our priestly being wants to bring (the faithful) together, but we cannot risk endangering our beloved flock nor ourselves, the Rev. James F. Checchio, the Bishop of Metuchen, said in a message distributed to Catholics in his diocese.

Under Gov. Phil Murphys lockdown order, all public gatherings, including large church services, are banned until further notice.

Though churches in the Diocese of Metuchen, which covers Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren, will remain open for private prayer, there will be no public Easter Masses, the bishop said. Holy Week celebrations will be broadcast online.

Checchio also granted Catholics in his diocese permission to eat meat on Fridays during Lent, except for Good Friday, in recognition of the sacrifices they are already making during the global pandemic.

In the Archdiocese of Newark, the restrictions are more severe. All Catholic churches will remain locked to the public.

Sadly, the current crisis which has suspended liturgical services, will now be disrupting Holy Week, the Archdiocese of Newark, the states largest Catholic diocese, said in a lengthy document outlining this years rules for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.

Cardinal Tobin invites faithful to join Sunday Mass livestream; Links to parish livestreams now available. Read more: https://t.co/RpjuQ4AP1j @CardinalJWTobin #Livestream pic.twitter.com/dTlGUuVjo0  Newark Archdiocese (@NwkArchdiocese) March 27, 2020

Priests will celebrate Masses in private and live stream the services, according to the new guidelines. Churches will not be open for private prayer in the Archdiocese of Newark, which includes Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex counties. Processions and some parts of the Holy Week services will be scaled back or eliminated.

There should be no more than ten persons present when streaming or recording. This number would include the clergy, the ministers (deacons, lectors, cantors, etc.) and the technology people present, the archdiocese said.

On Palm Sunday, April 5, there will be no distribution of palms fronds, which are traditionally handed out to parishioners to symbolize Jesus triumphant arrival in Jerusalem before his death.

Palms may be made available for distribution at a later date, the Archdiocese of Newark said.

New Jerseys other Catholic diocese  Trenton, Paterson, and Camden  have begun releasing similar Holy Week schedules emphasizing live stream services or at-home celebrations.

The states Episcopal churches are also preparing for Easter services celebrated with video broadcasts.

While we do not know when this crisis will end, it seems certain that it will not end before Holy Week and Easter, the Rev. Carlye Hughes, the Episcopal Bishop of Newark said in a letter to her congregation.

How will you worship during the COVID19 lock-down? Have you considered taking a virtual spiritual tour of the diocese? Power up your devices to discover choices you may not know that you have. Use this link to take your virtual journey:https://t.co/BpsxxexV2s  Diocese of Newark (@dionewark) March 28, 2020

Other large Christian and non-denominational churches -- including the Epic Church International megachurch in Sayreville and Life Christian Church in West Orange and Paramus -- have long had live-streaming setups and are expected to keep broadcasting with empty churches at least through Easter.

The coronavirus restrictions are also expected to severely impact other religions and modify religious customs. Jews are preparing to observe Passover, one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays, starting April 8. Ramadan, the month-long period of fasting, prayer and community events for Muslims, is scheduled to begin April 23.

The suspension of public services is taking a financial toll on some religious institutions. Without services, many churches and other places of worship are unable to gather weekly collections that help pay religious leaders and keep buildings running.

The loss of Easter services, which often include some of the biggest crowds of the year in Christian churches, is expected to contribute to the financial strain. Some churches have asked parishioners to continue their weekly donations through online portals or by mail.

Other churches have launched emergency fundraising campaigns. The Archdiocese of Newark said it had raised about $137,000 as of Saturday through a GoFundMe page set up to funnel donation to individual Catholic parishes.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, head of the Archdiocese of Newark, said the church is still trying the navigate uncharted waters as it finds new ways to keep the faithful together when they cant be physically be near each other.

Thank you for your generosity, and please be assured of my prayers for you and your families as together we weather this storm and prevent the suffering of those most vulnerable among us, Tobin said in a message to donors.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
Gautam Budh Nagar, March 28 : Five more coronavirus cases sprung up in the Noida-Greater Noida cities of Uttar Pradesh adjacent to the national capital. The district administration also took several drastic steps on Saturday in view of the increasing COVID-19 victims and the problems caused to the general population.

The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration has confirmed five more COVID-19 patients. The five suspects have been found in Noida and Greater Noida. One of these five cases is in a house in Sector-44 C block of Noida. The house has been temporarily sealed. According to the district administration, 23 infected patients have been found so far in the city. They are now being traced.

The District Magistrate has issued an order stating that if any landlord is found trying to recover the rent from the tenant in this hour of crisis, then he is going to be imprisoned for one year.

There has been chaos after the lockdown was announced in the country. Due to the lockdown, the most trouble is for the migrant labourers in the NCR region who came from faraway places.

In view of all these problems, a new order was issued by DM B.N. Singh of Gautam Budh Nagar district on Saturday. In the order issued, all the landlords of Gautam Budh Nagar have been instructed that no landlord will take rent from any tenant. If a landlord is found doing so, he will be arrested and put in jail for a year.

Shortly after this order a few owners announced that they would not ask any tenant to pay rent.
The Catholic nation was exceptionally moved by a crisis national law in Italy which restricted common and religious ceremonies including memorial services, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. This is just one of the numerous limitations for social occasions that have been set up in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Europe's epicenter.

Funeral gatherings are not permitted but the government officials have allowed priests to say a prayer at burials but very few of the bereaved can attend.

There are around 74,000 cases of people infected with coronavirus and 7,500 deaths in Italy are confirmed which has the highest death rate of any country in the world.

Numerous coronavirus casualties in Italy are compelled to spend their last days alone in hospital isolation. As a result of the high hazard, relatives and family members are not permitted to go near them - either to avoid from being infected or in light of the fact that they themselves are now under isolation for having been in contact with the individual. Also, the isolation orders proceed considerably after a patient dies.

Ciano Gatti, a mortician in Lombardy told CBS News, "There is a lot of fear, we have been introduced a directive to immediately close the coffin when someone dies."

With these news measures, families never again have the choice to make their friends and family look serene by brushing their hair, applying cosmetics or dressing them in a most loved outfit before burial. Even placing a note inside the coffin is rarely authorized by the government.

Read Also: VIRAL VIDEO: Coronavirus Frontliner Nurse Assaulted, Racially Discriminated

Gatti said, "we are becoming paranoid, especially when we enter people's homes or hospitals to retrieve the bodies." Many of those battling the coronavirus are the frontliners who worry about exposure to the virus on a daily basis.

Even by wearing full protective gear on the job, many undertakers have gotten infected by the coronavirus by pulling out dead bodies for mortification. When a healthcare worker is in quarantine, it adds to the problem of a shortage of staff when their services are in very high demand.

Gatti said, "many funeral homes have their entire staff under quarantine. My company's manager died. Unfortunately, no one is immune to the virus. Not even those working these essential jobs."

Reuters reported that a northern town in Italy, Bergamo have the highest number of cases infected of the coronavirus. Coffins have been piling up at churches because their local cemeteries are full. The military moved about 70 coffins to less affected provinces for the burials.

Italy's death count from the coronavirus hot a single-day peak of 793 on March 21. Despite having a large number of the death toll in a day, the country's Civil Protection Agency announced that the rate of new cases of infected people has fallen for the fourth day.

Related Article: Guy Who Licked a Toilet Bowl For 'Coronavirus Challenge' Hospitalized for COVID-19

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
City Corporation personnel stuck a home quarantine sticker on Saturday at the office of actor- politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam leading to speculation that the matinee star was quarantined for coronavirus.

The sticker, however, was removed later from the gate of Makkal Needhi Maiam office.

While there was speculation if Haasan was quarantined, the Greater Chennai Corporation said their staffers pasted the sticker at the premises because actress Gautami Tadimalli "has returned from Dubai recently and her passport has this address (Eldams Road in upscale Alwarpet)."



The present residence of the actress was not known immediately.

The sticker, that read, "We are in home quarantine to safeguard ourselves and Chennai from coronavirus" was removed soon, an official said declining to elaborate.

Kamal Haasan, in a statement, clarified he was not quarantined.

"Based on the notice stuck outside my house, has been spread saying that I have been quarantined. But, most of you already know that I have not been living there for the past few years and the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office has been functioning from there," he said.

Further, the actor said, the that he has been quarantined "is not true."



As a precautionary measure, he has been maintaining only social distancing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives in Ghana has urged the government to declare a nationwide lockdown

- According to them, the lockdown has become necessary following the escalating number of Coronavirus cases being recorded

-The UPNMG believes a lockdown could help salvage the situation

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG), has urged the government to declare a nationwide lockdown with immediate effect.

According to the group, the much-anticipated lockdown has become necessary following the escalating number of Coronavirus cases being recorded in the country.

The UPNMG, in a statement signed by the National PRO of the group, John Agbenyeavu, said the pandemic looks certain to escalate in the coming days and a lockdown could help save the situation.

READ ALSO: Republic Banks customers will not repay loans until COVID-19 is no more in Ghana

There have been many calls from health experts and Ghanaians for the government to enforce a lockdown to curtail the spread of the COVID-19.

The Ghana Medical Association, in a news release, called on the government to ensure that it enforces a lockdown which according to them was the only means to stop the spread of the virus.

However, in a press conference occasionally held by the Ministry of information, the sector minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, stated that the suggestion by the GMA was not far-fetched and could be considered if the need be.

READ ALSO: Oppong Nkrumah: Minister drops hints of possible lockdownthe in selected regions

Meanwhile, politician, entrepreneur, and on-screen actor John Dumelo, has expressed his concerns on how petty traders, street hawkers and persons working in the informal sector would survive, should the government enforce a lockdown.

Dumelo holds the view that such people mentioned would be at a disadvantage since their sources of income will be greatly affected.

In a Facebook post sighted by YEN.com.gh, Dumelo suggested what the government could consider doing should there be a lockdown.

READ ALSO: 4 fresh COVID-19 cases hit Ghana; total number jumps to 136

Coronavirus in Ghana: Disinfection of Accra Markets against COVID-19 | #Yencomgh

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Gino D'Acampo at This Morning Live held at the NEC Birmingham on May 18, 2017 in Birmingham, England. PHOTOGRAPH BY Graham Stone / Barcroft Images via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Gino DAcampo has revealed he did goat yoga after taking drugs with Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix in the latest series of Gordon Gino & Fred: American Road Trip.

The series, set to start on ITV next month, sees the three friends travelling across America sampling different foods and getting to grips with various cultural past-times.

One such activity was goat yoga which they undertook after legally ingesting drugs included in local dishes.

Read more: Gino DAcampo reveals how he learned his son was dating Gordon Ramsays daughter

Speaking to The Mirror, DAcampo revealed: It was totally insane doing goat yoga in San Francisco. I mean we did a lot of insane things but... on this day, first we went into a place where you can eat marijuana legally, to sample the taste of it with food.

Fred Sirieix watches on from ringside at Copper Box Arena on December 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

After about an hour of that, we did the goat yoga. You are on all fours and the goat goes on your back to massage it. But I was in a state of mind by then that, well, I cant explain.

Fred was crying laughing. Gordon took it all very seriously, of course. I was just out of my head. The best thing I have ever done in television.

Sounds like a lot fun.

As well as unusual yoga and drugs, the trio, branded the Three Amigos for the series, also took part in activities such as wrestling and catching fish to grill by the water.

Asked if he found Ramsay and Sirieix annoying, DAcampo revealed the pair are different to him as they are very competitive while he described himself as not competitive at all.

Read more: Gino D'Acampo feared he would die after buggy crash left him covered in petrol during American Road Trip filming

Asked the same question, Serieix, star of Channel 4 show First Dates, labelled Ramsay very annoying as he is always right.

Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip will start Thursday 2 April at 9pm on ITV.
Saudi Arabia says no talks on new oil deal, Moscow suggests larger OPEC+ FILE PHOTO: An OPEC sign outside the headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

By Katya Golubkova, Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler

MOSCOW/DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Friday it was not in talks with Russia to balance oil markets despite rising pressure from Washington to stop a price rout amid the coronavirus pandemic and an attempt by Moscow to fix a rift with the de facto OPEC leader.

A three-year supply pact between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers, including Russia, fell apart this month after Moscow refused to support Riyadh's plan for deeper production cuts, prompting Saudi Arabia to pledge to raise output to a record high.

The resulting supply boost has coincided with plummeting demand as governments around the world implement national lockdowns to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The twin-pronged assault on prices has sent Brent crude <LCOc1> to a 17-year low below $25 a barrel and hammered the income of oil producers.

"There have been no contacts between Saudi Arabia and Russia energy ministers over any increase in the number of OPEC+ countries, nor any discussion of a joint agreement to balance oil markets," an official from Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said, referring to the wider grouping of oil producers.

The comment came after a senior Russian official said on Friday that a larger number of oil producers could cooperate with OPEC and Russia, in an indirect reference to the United States, the world's biggest producer which has never cut production.

"Joint actions by countries are needed to restore the (global) economy ... They (joint actions) are also possible in the OPEC+ deal's framework," said Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund.

Dmitriev and Energy Minister Alexander Novak were Russia's top negotiators for the previous OPEC pact, which officially expires on March 31. Dmitriev declined to say which nations could be included in a new deal.

The deal between OPEC and Russia broke down after Moscow declined to support bigger output curbs, arguing that it was too early to estimate the pandemic's impact.

Story continues

Officials and oil executives in Russia have been split on the need for cuts with Dmitriev and Novak supporting cooperation while the head of Kremlin oil major Rosneft, Igor Sechin, has criticised the cuts as providing a lifeline to the less competitive U.S. shale industry. President Vladimir Putin has said little since the OPEC+ deal collapsed.

"ECONOMIC WARFARE"

The idea of Washington cooperating with OPEC has long been seen as impossible, not least because of U.S. antitrust laws. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed anger with the cartel because its actions lead to higher prices at the pump.

However, Saudi Arabia's latest move has put Washington in a difficult position - its battle for market share has led to very low prices but also undermined the U.S. shale industry, which has much higher costs than Saudi or Russia production.

The U.S. administration is facing multiple calls to save the highly leveraged shale industry, which has borrowed trillions of dollars to allow the country to become a large oil and gas exporter despite often uncompetitive costs.

A group of six U.S. senators wrote a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week saying Saudi Arabia and Russia "have embarked upon economic warfare against the United States" and were threatening U.S. "energy dominance".

They called on Saudi Arabia to quit OPEC, reverse its policy of high output, partner with the United States in strategic energy projects or face consequences.

"From tariffs and other trade restrictions to investigations, safeguard actions, sanctions, and much else, the American people are not without recourse," the senators, including John Hoeven of North Dakota and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said in a letter.

Two other senators from oil-producing states introduced a bill on Friday that would remove U.S. armed forces from the kingdom.

Trump last week said he would get involved in the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia at the appropriate time.

U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, meanwhile, told Bloomberg TV on Monday that forging a U.S.-Saudi oil alliance was one of "many, many ideas" being floated by U.S. policymakers.

The head of the International Energy Agency, an adviser to the United States and other industrialised countries, on Thursday also called on Saudi Arabia to help stabilise the market.

Algeria, which holds the OPEC presidency at present, has called for a meeting of the group's Economic Commission Board to be held no later than April 10 to discuss current oil market conditions.

(Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova, Gleb Stolyarov, Olesya Astakhova and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; Editing by David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan and Tom Brown)
Press Release

March 27, 2020 Bong Go appeals to local manufacturer-exporters of medical supplies to allocate more of their outputs for local use; seeks relaxation of export requirements Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go is appealing to export-oriented local manufacturers of medical supplies and equipment to retain most of their outputs for use in the Philippines. This is to address the scarcity of certain medical supplies and equipment given worldwide shortage amid the COVID-19 global crisis. Under present rules, registered manufacturers are required to export a certain minimum percentage of their daily outputs. If they meet this, they are entitled to various duties and tax exemptions and incentives. "Dapat payagan natin na karamihan ng kanilang mga produkto ay pwedeng ibenta lang muna dito sa Pilipinas kasi nga kinukulang tayo sa mga medical supplies and equipment na gagamitin kontra COVID-19. Pero dapat gagawin natin ito na hindi naman mawawala ang mga insentibo na kasalukuyang binibigay ng gobyerno sa mga kumpanyang ito. Ang ibig pong sabihin nito, mas ma-e-encourage ang mga export-oriented medical supply companies na magbenta rito ng kanilang mga produkto kesa i-export," Go explained. "At the same time, entitled pa rin dapat sa fiscal incentives, alinsunod sa ating mga batas, ang mga produkto na ibebenta nila locally," he added. The proposal applies to Filipino- and foreign-owned export-oriented medical supply companies. This comes after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has also recommended the temporary lifting of these export requirements imposed under various laws. IATF is recommending that local sales of the outputs be deemed as export sales, hence allowing these companies to continue availing of duties and tax exemptions and other incentives. "Sa pagluluwag na ito, mahihikayat natin ang mga kumpanyang ito na magtalaga ng hindi bababa sa 80% ng kanilang pang-araw araw na produksyon para sa local consumption," Go explained, adding that by encouraging these companies that manufacture much needed medical supplies and equipment amid the global health crisis, the country will be able to secure ample supply of these healthcare items. "Tinatayang matugunan ang patuloy na lumalaking pangangailangan natin sa mga kritikal na mga gamit kontra sa pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa bansa," Go added. The Senator also emphasized that while donations of medical supplies and equipment from other countries are appreciated, the country cannot rely on outside sources all the time. "Around the world, there is shortage of certain medical supplies and equipment, such as face masks and test kits, among others," Go said. "While we appreciate that some countries have given us those much needed items, we cannot rely on outside sources all the time. We need to enhance our own local production capability," he added. The proposal came after the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" which authorizes the President, among others, as a temporary emergency measure, to liberalize the grant of incentives for the manufacture of critical or needed goods or products, including healthcare equipment and supplies. Under normal circumstances, the grant to export enterprises of fiscal incentives is subject to conditions under Executive Order 226 or the "Omnibus Investments Code", and Republic Act No. 7916 or the "Special Economic Zone Act". To avail of those incentives, establishments operating within ecozones are required to register with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and comply with requirements for registration under existing laws. These requirements include exporting at least 70% of total production for foreign-owned corporations; while at least 50% of the total production should be for export for Filipino-owned corporations. With relaxed export requirements, these companies will remain entitled to the fiscal incentives while supplying at least 80% of their daily production for local or domestic use. "Because of the recently enacted Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, we are giving the President certain powers in our bid to strengthen our various measures and increase our resources in defeating COVID-19," Go said, adding that the country must be "responsive to the rapidly evolving situation" due to the COVID-19 emergency. He also urged all Filipinos to work together and foster the bayanihan spirit to address the threats of the COVID-19 virus. "In this time of national crisis, let us all contribute for the greater good. Both government and the private sector must work together and do what we can to address and respond to the growing threats of COVID-19," Go said. "Magbayanihan po tayo. Tulungan nating bumangon ang bawat Pilipino bilang isang nagkakaisang bansa. Together, we can heal as one," he added. The Senator, who also sits as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, earlier called for faster processing of test kits by the Food and Drug Administration and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. He also urged the government to make these test kits as well as other medical items, such as personal protection equipment, face masks, etc. to be available even to remote places all around the country.
B oris Johnson caught coronavirus after he carried on with normal business and failed to "practise what he preached", scientists have said.

Mr Johnson said today that he had tested positive for coronavirus. He added that he has mild symptoms and is working in isolation.

The Prime Minister has been doing much of his work while social distancing recently, in line with Government rules - including the daily press conference on coronavirus.

But he led Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, which was still attended by dozens of MPs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the virus

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said he had tested positive on Friday and had mild symptoms.

Last week Mr Hancock met the family of Harry Dunn, a young man killed by a car driving on the wrong side of the road, to discuss ambulance response times.

A spokesperson for the Dunn family said that Mr Hancock had hugged and shaken hands with the family - going against the Government's social distancing rules.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also been diagnosed with Covid-19 / PA

Professor Susan Michie, a behavioural psychologist at University College London, said it was unsurprising Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock had caught coronavirus, given that the virus spreads through social contact.

Ms Michie said: "Whilst the PM was telling people to stay at home and keep at least two metres apart from each other, the House of Commons was open for business and face-to-face parliamentary activities were carrying on.

Given the transmission routes of touching contaminated surfaces and breathing in virus-laden droplets, it should not come as a surprise to hear that the PM and Health Secretary have tested positive for coronavirus."

She added that there are several reasons why leaders "should practise what they preach".

Ms Michie said: The first is that such people are important role models, with the ability to enhance or undermine their verbal messages by their actions.

The second concerns trust: if leaders do not adhere to their own recommendations, this undermines trust in them which in turn can undermine the populations adherence to their advice.

Boris Johnson taking part in a video conference with G20 leaders / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

Others are concerned that Mr Johnson's diagnosis could distract from the wider pandemic.

Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, said: I fear the PM news today will swamp headlines and distract from core issues.

We need governments to present clear strategy with deadlines attached for next few weeks.

"What is the concrete plan for testing? What is the plan for personal protective equipment for health workers?

What is the status of ventilators? How is progress on antiviral and vaccine research going? What will the next six months look like and what is the medium-term planning taking place? These are the questions to keep asking.

Downing Street said on Thursday that the Government had ordered 8,000 additional ventilators on top of the 8,000 already available.

Officials said thousands more would be available in the coming weeks, with the peak of the virus expected to hit within the next fortnight.

Mr Johnson took part in a conference call with manufacturers on Friday to discuss the progress of ventilator orders.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove / PA

Mr Gove said: The fact that the virus is no respecter of individuals, whoever they are, is one of the reasons why we do need to have strict social distancing measures so that we can reduce the rate of infection and reduce the pressure on the NHS.

NHS England suggests that people who have had in-person meetings with Mr Johnson or Mr Hancock but do not live with them do not need to self-isolate unless they show symptoms themselves.

A spokesman told the Standard: "Everyone is being told to stay at home unless there's a good reason for them not to do so."

The UK's chief medical officer Chris Whitty is also in isolation after feeling coronavirus symptoms, he said on Friday.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday appealed to the public and his party workers and leaders to provide food and shelter to the jobless workers and daily wage earners, many of whom are walking home to their villages hundreds of kilometres away

Today, hundreds of our hungry brothers and sisters along with their families have to walk towards their villages. In such grim times whoever can, please help them with food and shelter. I particularly appeal to Congress leaders and workers. Jai Hind, he tweeted in Hindi.

The 21-day national lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus has sparked migrations from major metros as workers and daily wage earners headed home in different states, mostly on foot in the absence of any transport.

In Delhi on Friday, good Samaritans offered food and water to hundreds of migrants, as they walked to their hometowns in UP, Uttarakhand and even Bihar in the wake of a countrywide lockdown which has paralysed transportation across much of the country.

Many migrants have been stuck at different bus terminals and railway stations in Delhi while trying to return to their hometowns in various states. There was some relief for migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh with the State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) continuing to ferry the migrants to their destinations from different border areas of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Officials of UPSRTCs Ghaziabad region said that till March 27 midnight, they had sent about 96 buses and were arranging more to help the migrants workers reach their destinations.

The buses took stranded workers to places like Lucknow, Etawah, Bareilly, Etah, Aligarh and Gorakhpur.
India on Saturday recorded 135 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), one of the highest single-day spikes, as the number of cases crossed 1,000 amid a mounting challenge of controlling the spread of the disease that has killed about 30,000 people across the world.

Fresh deaths were reported in India from Kerala, Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the death toll from the disease to 21, according to official data from states. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases so far at 186, with 29 fresh cases on Saturday, followed by Kerala at 182. In Telangana, the number went up to 67, while Karnataka has reported 76 cases so far.

The official data of the Union health ministry, however, said the case count was 918, which showed there was a lag in the official numbers released by states being taken into account.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Tuesday declared a 21-day national lockdown to contain the spread of the disease, announced the creation of a Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund where people can contribute and help in the fight against Covid-19.

It is my appeal to my fellow Indians, kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead, he said. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India, Modi added.

A statement posted on his official website said that while the Prime Minister is the chairman of the new public charitable trust, its members include the defence minister (Rajnath Singh), home minister (Amit Shah) and the finance minister (Nirmala Sitharaman).

As per officials in Kerala, which has the second highest number of cases after Maharashtra, the state reported its first Covid-19 death on Saturday after a 69-year-old man died at Ernakulam Medical College Hospital, but it was not included in the central data.

The man was admitted to the isolation ward on March 22 after his return from Dubai, the government hospital said. Maharashtra has reported 286 cases.

In Delhi, among the eight people who tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday was a 48-year-old doctor at a private clinic in Hari Nagar. The Delhi health department wasnt immediately able to trace the source of the infection. From the history given to us by him, he had gone for a home visit to a person who had returned from New Zealand. However, no such person has tested positive in Delhi yet, said a senior official from the Delhi health department. The total number of cases in Delhi went up to 49.

The Union health ministrys joint secretary, Lav Agarwal, said the government was working with states on health infrastructure preparedness and the focus was having dedicated Covid-19 hospitals and blocks in every state. Arrangements were being made to ramp up isolation and intensive care beds. Seventeen states have so far started work on this, he said, adding that doctors and nurses were being provided online training from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The developments came on a day the government faced a fresh challenge  the exodus of many of Indias 100 million migrant workers from the national capital after a nationwide lockdown left them stranded without jobs, food and shelter. Indias response to Covid-19 has been pre-emptive, pro-active and graded, the government said, brushing aside the allegation that the nationwide lockdown was announced without any planning. The information and broadcasting ministry said the government had already put in place a comprehensive response system at the borders of the country, much before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30.

The ministry of home affairs issued another advisory urging all states and Union territories (UTs) to take immediate relief measures to provide temporary accommodation, food, clothing and medical care to homeless people, including migrant workers stranded due to the lockdown.

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said aircraft were crisscrossing the Indian airspace to ensure that the Covid-19 testing kits of ICMR reached their destinations on time. The Indian Navy, too, deployed its aircraft to help the Goa government transport 60 samples to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology for testing, an official said on Saturday. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said there were sporadic cases where the origin of the infections could not be traced but denied there was an alarming spread in the country. Till the time we see a significant number of cases to indicate community transmission, let us not over-interpret things, said Raman R Gangakhedkar, head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at ICMR.

(With inputs from agencies )
Counselors who treat clients on the state's low-income Medicaid program say rules released during the coronavirus pandemic have meant they can't provide their usual care, leaving people without a support network in a time of elevated stress.

Guidelines put in place by the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services allow counselors to be paid only for "check-ins" with their clients three times a month. And counselors who operate under a supervisor can't be reimbursed at all.

With orders to stay home, many have not been able to see their counselors in person as usual. So public and private insurers have had to pivot and cover more virtual health care as a result, a move many across the industry have been resisting for years.

The state's Medicaid program has not followed suit, said Jeremy Henderson-Teelucksingh, a master's-level counselor at local Changes Counseling Center. Henderson-Teelucksingh said nearly all of his clients are covered by Medicaid. He specializes in treating people with a history of trauma. But because he has a supervisor, Henderson-Teelucksingh has no way of seeing patients online.

"We have the choice to bring them into the office or do nothing," he said. "Our ethics as counselors is that we do not abandon our clients."

Henderson-Teelucksingh began a petition Thursday on Change.org asking Gov. Henry McMaster to expand Medicaid's coverage of telehealth. The petition had more than 400 signatures by Friday afternoon.

The agency's first priority amid the coronavirus outbreak has been to secure care for Medicaid members who become sick with the virus, and addressing other urgent needs, a spokesman said in a statement.

The agency updated its telehealth policies on March 19, creating flexibility for some providers.

He stressed that current coverage policies for Medicaid beneficiaries haven't been restricted.

During this unprecedented interruption to the nations healthcare delivery system, SCDHHS and payers across the nation are working to rapidly produce clinical guidelines for all health care provider disciplines and patients clinical needs," agency Director Joshua Baker said in a statement.

Additional policies will be released in the coming days, Baker said, that will "give every provider and facility type clear and useable direction on how to provide clinically appropriate services to beneficiaries during this period of social distancing.

In a bulletin to all providers Tuesday, the agency acknowledged "many practices may see service interruptions and decreases in utilization."

Brooke Dooley, owner of Charleston Counseling Center, has seen disruptions to her practice of 50 clinicians. She pointed out Medicaid covers mostly children and teenagers in South Carolina.

At her practice, associates see many children and teens. The associates are not allowed to bill Medicaid for online counseling during the health crisis.

"They're in an extremely stressful situation," Dooley said of the young clients. "They're living in precarious situations and are under stress."

At least 200 of these associates are licensed in the Charleston area, according to records from the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Bill Lindsey, executive director of NAMI South Carolina, a top mental health advocacy group, said calls to the hotline have increased during the coronavirus pandemic, though not dramatically.

Anyone with a mental illness will struggle with isolation, Lindsey said.

"There's a huge need to connect," he said. "It adds to some anxiety and tension."

The S.C. Department of Mental Health  the largest single provider of mental health care in the state  is providing telehealth services without "any certainty that it will be reimbursed by Medicaid" or other insurers, department Director Mark Binkley said in a statement. The agency's primary concern is getting people the care they need, he added, and telehealth is necessary during this crisis.

Suzanne Veilleux, a Ph.D.-level psychologist, said the coverage barrier has meant she still needs to hold her counseling sessions in person, which raises concerns of possible infection.

"We're both taking risks," she said.

Veilleux has a half-dozen patients covered by Medicaid.

Joset Rosado, a social worker, runs an independent counseling practice in Summerville serving mainly Spanish-speaking people. Nearly half of her clients have Medicaid coverage.

She said she has been pushing for a change in the policy for the last two weeks "with no result."

The state Medicaid agency has been unclear about what will be covered, Rosado said. Rosado said her practice is on shaky financial ground without the ability to bill to Medicaid. The public insurance program should "do the right thing" and take cues from private insurance and Medicare, she said.

"I can't wrap my head around why Medicaid can't do the same," Rosado said.
TriageLogic implements a virtual telehealth system. TriageLogic was able to set up a Telehealth system within a couple of days for our nurses and doctors to work remotely and continue their medical visits, Melinda, Director of PPM Business Operations for a large Childrens Hospital.

TriageLogic, a leader in remote patient communication and nurse triage, announces a quick to deploy and easy to use telehealth system with a virtual call center that hospitals, medical organizations, and health centers can use for patient care during the COVID-19 crisis.

As health organizations adapt to the coronavirus pandemic, they are looking for a system that can be quickly deployed for staff and nurses to work remotely to set up doctor visits, answer patient questions, evaluate their symptoms and determine who needs further evaluation by a doctor. Team members can communicate with their physicians and set up two-way video visits using secure, HIPAA compliant texting options that do not require the use of a mobile application. This allows the remote hospital associates to set up and coordinate telehealth visits for doctors instead of in-person visits.

Nurses can also be included in the solution by having Covid-19 and other medical protocols available in a web-based system. The information from the phone call can be exported to the Hospitals EMR system or be integrated with Salesforce.

TriageLogic can deploy the following solutions related to sending staff home:



Cloud-based HIPAA compliant call center telephony system for coordination of remote staff

Phone System to connect remote workers with queueing and full contact center capability

COVID-19 Nurse Triage Protocols to be used with your current EMR or CRM such as Salesforce

Web-based Triage Software with COVID-19 and other protocols

Coordination of telemedicine visits between non-clinical, nurses, and doctors in client EMR

TriageLogic assists in recommending efficient workflow and implementation of two-way video visits

Additional solutions such as a fully staffed Covid-19 hotline and remote patient monitoring is also available.

TriageLogic was able to set up a Telehealth system within a couple of days for our nurses and doctors to work remotely and continue their medical visits, Melinda, Director of PPM Business Operations for a large Childrens Hospital.

About TriageLogic

TriageLogic is a URAC-accredited, physician-led provider of top-quality nurse telehealth technology, mobile applications, and medical call center solutions, all with the purpose of encouraging positive patient behavior and improving access to healthcare. Founded in 2006, the TriageLogic Group now serves more than 9,000 physicians and covers over 20 million lives nationwide. They continue to partner with private practices, hospitals, and corporations throughout the U.S.

Visit http://www.TriageLogic.com for more information, or email them at info@triagelogic.com.
(Newser)  As the United States led the world with confirmed coronavirus cases, cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans grew as hotspots Saturday, while the virus continued to pummel New York City and made its way into rural America, the AP reports. Worldwide infections approached the 650,000 mark with more than 30,000 deaths as new cases also stacked up quickly in Europe, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The US leads the world in reported cases with more than 115,000, but five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran, and France. Italy alone now has 10,023 deaths, the most of any country. For more around the US:

story continues below

New York remained the worst-hit US city. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said defeating the virus will take "weeks and weeks and weeks." The UN donated 250,000 face masks to the city and Cuomo delayed the state's presidential primary from April 28 to June 23.

Cases also have been rising rapidly in Detroit, where poverty and poor health have been problems for years. The number of infections surged to 1,381, with 31 deaths, as of noon Saturday. A Detroit doctor called the city's trajectory "even more steep than New York" and "off the charts."

Louisiana has surpassed 3,300 infections, with 137 dead from COVID-19, according to the health department. Gov. John Bel Edwards said the region was on track to run out of ventilators by the first week of April.

Cases in Chicago and suburban Cook County accounted for about three-fourths of Illinois' 3,026 total as of Friday. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed popular lakeshore parks after people failed to practice social distancing, despite a statewide shelter-at-home order.

Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan, providing money for the outbreak. He has done the same for New York, Louisiana, and Illinois.

The governor of Kansas also issued a stay-at-home order to begin Monday, as the virus takes hold in more rural areas, where doctors worry about the lack of ICU beds.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
Sri Lanka police say they have arrested thousands, including many who were praying in a mosque, for violating a countrywide curfew imposed as a part of stringent measures designed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The number of positive cases has risen to 106 and the government has ordered police to strictly impose the curfew to ensure social distancing across the country.

On a tip that a group of people were praying in a mosque in the town of Horowpathana, about 124 miles (200 kilometers) north of Capital Colombo, police and health officials went to the mosque and arrested 18 while several dozens have fled.

The government has banned nonessential travel. Police have arrested 4,600 and seized 1,125 vehicles for violating curfew since March 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The woman attacked a police officer (not pictured) in Huddersfield (Picture: Getty)

A woman has pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer after exhaling on them and claiming to have coronavirus.

The incident involving the 37-year-old woman occurred in Huddersfield in the early hours of Thursday.

Police responded to a disturbance in Fartown and found a suspect who became abusive towards them.

She was arrested for being drunk and disorderly, but while she was being detained she exhaled towards an officer and claimed to have coronavirus.

The woman was then further arrested for assaulting an emergency worker.

Read more: Coronavirus lockdown could reduce final death toll to less than 6,000, experts predict

She has been remanded into custody after pleading guilty on Friday and is due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on a date yet to be decided.

Kirklees Detective Superintendent, Jim Griffiths said: Given the particularly challenging circumstances all emergency services are facing amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, it is utterly incomprehensible that they would be treated in this way.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

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Irrespective of the fact that this individual has chosen to use Coronavirus as the means to assault our colleague, this is a subject which we have campaigned long and hard over.

It led to the introduction of the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act in 2018 and we will continue to use these powers against anyone who attempts to use such tactics against the very people who are trying to protect them.

Read more: Aldi gives NHS workers, fire service and police priority access to stores

DSI Griffiths added: The message is clear, we will not tolerate this behaviour from the minority and the criminal justice system will take a dim view of those who take advantage of the virus for their own benefit.

Clearly this has been particularly distressing for the officer concerned and we are providing the necessary support.

It has not yet, however, been ascertained if the woman arrested was suffering from COVID-19.
WESTPORT  The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in town has now reached 95, according to state officials on Friday.

The count is a slight increase from the 89 reported on Thursday. Norwalk has now surpassed Westport in confirmed coronavirus cases with 105 and leads the state. Neighboring Weston also saw a slight increase with 13 confirmed cases, up from the 10 reported on Thursday.

The Governor has issued another Executive Order restricting all social and recreational gatherings to no more than five people, First Selectman Jim Marpe said in a statement on Friday. Although there are some exceptions to this order, it is advice that we must take into consideration for every situation.

Very simply, for the benefit of yourself, your families, and your neighbors, do not allow more than 5 people to congregate in your neighborhood, place of business, or in your home, unless they are from the same household currently isolating together, Marpe said. We continue to suggest that people get fresh air and exercise, but please do so responsibly and do not gather at any town park or recreation facility.

As of Friday, there are 752 cases in Fairfield County, 68 of whom are hospitalized. There are 1,291 total cases in the state, up from 1,012 on Thursday. There have been 27 deaths due to COVID-19, with 15 in Fairfield County.

Westport will be accepting response and recovery donations at curbside by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Items that do not assist with response and recovery cannot be accepted at this time, a town news release said. A list of acceptable items can be found at westportct.gov/itemdonation.

The next rounds of community testing for Westport and Weston residents are scheduled for March 31 and April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Bedford Middle School.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @CNN)

The Billionaire and CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, had a "good call" with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom regarding the possible cooperation of Amazon and the World Health Organization in terms of delivering test kits to homes across the US.

Read More: What is Apple Up To? New iPhone Updates "Accidentally" Leaked?

Why The Partnership Now?

The US now holds the highest number of coronavirus patients in the whole world, bypassing China many thousands more; this has prompted people who can make a difference to create opportunities to assist wherever and however possible.

Bezos discussed with Dr. Adhanom a "global response," and it is possible that it will start in where Bezos is right now, which is in the United States. They both plan on delivering "easy-to-access" COVID-19 testing kits, which will be used by families all over the US and possibly the globe to get themselves checked if they are indeed infected or not.

Bezos had this to say: 'Our current work with WHO includes: increasing capacity and security for the WHO website; providing ML & AI for WHO's Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources initiative; assisting with the translation and transcription of WHO's knowledge catalog; providing logistics support.'

They also talked about the "'urgent need for collective action to produce and distribute plentiful COVID-19 test kits.'

'A surplus of fast, effective, easy-to-access test kits would flatten the curve and protect people around the world,' and he also said, 'I told Dr. Tedros we would continue to help WHO in every way we can in the coming weeks and months.'

Read More: Could Masks Lose Facial Information? Surgical Masks Are No Match for China's Facial Recognition Technology Now

How Amazon Might Pave The Way For Other Couriers to Follow

Amazon now partners with WHO in the possibility of delivering test kits to people who are in need and making it easier for everyone to get tested rather than going out and risking their lives. Couriers around the world can take note that this is a way for the world to get their chance to get test kits readily available to them.

Given that the test kits are of short supply as of now, but more are on the way it is of utmost importance for other couriers to follow suit to make testing kits available for all to help stop the spread of the coronavirus given the proper disinfecting and managing of the supplies.

The announcement from Bezos came after news that Amazon had about 11 sites in which were tested positive for having the coronavirus in Queens, New York, Staten Island, Sheperdsville, Florida, Katy, Texas, Brownstown, Michigan, Wallingford, Connecticut, Illinois, Joliet, Edison, New Jersey, Moreno Valley, Oklahoma City, And California.

The company said that all employees were informed of the cases and recommended to stay at home and quarantine themselves for 14 days while urging people who came in close contact with the positive cases get themselves checked as well as follow quarantine procedure.

Amazon is still open for now and will continue to do so until they still can to help out the fight the global pandemic we are all facing right now. Hopefully, the partnership, that Bezos announced, would come to fruition anytime soon.

Read More: Huawei AI Detection System Has 98% Accuracy for COVID-19 And It Only Takes 2 Minutes!

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Patient discharged from hospital is woman who fell ill on March 15

Open source

In the Zaporizhya region, the sixth person in Ukraine recovered from the coronavirus Covid-19. The head of the Zaporizhya Regional State Administration Vitaly Turinok wrote about this fact on Facebook.

Good news for the whole Zaporizhya region!  Turinok wrote, noting that this is the first case of recovery in the region.

He also said that the patient discharged from the hospital is a woman who fell ill on March 15 after she returned from Egypt.

In the Zaporizhya region recorded 10 cases of infection with coronavirus.

As of 10:00 on March 28 in Ukraine, 311 cases of infection with the coronavirus Covid-19 were recorded. Of these, 8 are fatal. Also 5 people recovered.

As we reported, the number of Covid-19 coronavirus infected in the world exceeded 600 thousand people.

The largest number of infected - in the USA, Italy and China. In the USA at the moment - 104 837 confirmed cases, in Italy - 86 498 cases, in China - 81 948 cases.

According to the latest data, 27,889 people died from coronavirus
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - 'I think the Swedish government is mad. What are they waiting for?' said Theodora Papadimitropoulou, whose 15 year-old daughter is still in class in Stockholm despite most of Europe closing its schools to stem the spread of the coronavirus. 'They are not reacting fast enough,' she said

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - "I think the Swedish government is mad. What are they waiting for?" said Theodora Papadimitropoulou, whose 15 year-old daughter is still in class in Stockholm despite most of Europe closing its schools to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

"They are not reacting fast enough," she said. "Schools are breeding grounds for infection to spread."

Papadimitropoulou is one of a growing number of people both inside and outside Sweden critical of the authorities' decision not to close schools to slow down the virus, which has now killed more than 24,000 people worldwide.

Critics argue that while children generally appear less affected by the virus, they can still spread it to family members and to others.

"Each infected child infects two to three other children a week, who then infect their parents and grandparents," said Jorn Klein, Associate Professor in Microbiology and Infection Prevention, at the University of South Eastern Norway.

"From a pure infection prevention perspective, it does not make sense to keep the schools and kindergartens open."

Earlier this week a group of senior health care officials sent a letter to the government calling on it to take stronger measures to fight the spread of the disease.

"Our nation should not be the exception in Europe," the letter said. "We request that our Government takes action now!"

Sweden had around 3,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on March 27 and 92 deaths. While Sweden has closed universities and upper secondary schools, it has resisted sending younger children home.

The Swedish Health Agency says that it does not believe school children are transmitting the disease to a great extent and that the costs of drastic measures outweigh the benefits.

"We know that if you close schools, it has consequences in society in general ... if many parents have to be at home who work in healthcare or in other critical jobs," said Anders Wallensten, an epidemiologist at the agency.

Johan Giesecke, former chief epidemiologist at the agency, said most of the measures taken across Europe lack any scientific foundation. "Things like border closure, school closure - the effect on epidemics is quite unknown," he said.

But while scientists bicker, many Swedes feel torn about the strategy.

"Of course we're worried because we have teachers in risk groups who do not want to infect anyone or be infected by others," said Sara Svanlund, a 47-year-old maths and science teacher at the Mollevang school in Malmo.

"But we also feel that we have a big responsibility to society, to keep society functioning. So I have mixed feelings."

(Reporting by Simon Johnson; editing by Niklas Pollard and Hugh Lawson)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
BEIJING. March 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition after the United States signed the so-called "Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019" into law.

The act was signed into law despite stern representations from China, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress.

This act is in serious violation of the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and goes against international laws and basic norms governing international relations, said the statement.

It also grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and sent a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatists.

The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests. The act disregards the basic facts that the one-China principle is universally recognized by the international community and that the United States established formal diplomatic ties with China 41 years ago.

By groundlessly obstructing other countries from establishing diplomatic ties with China and helping Taiwan expand the so-called "international space," the act runs counter to the one-China policy long held by the U.S. governments since the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic ties and the important consensus between the heads of state of the two countries.

The act will seriously disrupt China-U.S. relations and cooperation in major fields and will eventually hurt the interests of the United States.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations and a common consensus of the international community, the statement said.

"We strongly urge the U.S. side to fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question and adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques," the statement said. "The U.S. side should refrain from implementing the act, prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, and take concrete action to safeguard China-U.S. relations and cross-Strait peace and stability."
KAMPALA  The Police have arrested Pastor Augustine Yiga of Revival Church Kawala, Rubaga Division in Kampala over false utterances and passing harmful propaganda relating to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

Kampala Metropolitan Area Spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed in a statement released on Saturday evening.

This was after the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine asked police to arrest and prosecute Pastor Yiga who said in a Friday broadcast that the Coronavirus pandemic is a hoax.

The Pastor is now in hot soup aftera video recording by his ABS TV in which he says Coronavirus is not in Uganda went viral.

The video that went viral undermines government efforts in fighting the COVID 19 pandemic and exposes the public to dangers of laxity in observing the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health on its control and prevention, Mr Onyango said, adding that the action of Pastor Yiga promotes the spread of the COVID 19.

Pastor Yiga who is currently detained at Old Kampala Police Station, will be interviewed to establish the motive behind the dangerous utterances.

Onyango appealed to the public to desist from making false or alarming utterances concerning COVID 19 and disregard information not from authorized government structures.

Related
Harpreeet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: As many as 26,000 people residing in 24 villages in Punjab have been home-quarantined. The reason: Out of the total of 38 positive cases so far in Punjab, 28 are directly linked to one super spreader - 70-year-old Baldev Singh, the only patient to die of COVID-19 in the state.

Baldev Singh of Pathlawa village of Nawanshahr district, who was granthi (preacher) of the village gurdwara, travelled to Germany and Italy for religious congregations along with his two men from his neighbouring village. They returned to India on March 7. Subsequently, Singh died at the civil hospital in Banga after testing positive for COVID-19 on March 18.

As of now, 14 members of Singhs family (three sons, daughter, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren) have tested positive. The families members of other two men who travelled with Singh, have also tested positive. Thus, out of 38 positive cases in the state, 28 are directly related him.

Though the three men were advised to isolate themselves upon their return from abroad, they roamed freely. Singh even attended the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib from March 10 to 12 which was attended by about 20 lakh pilgrims this year. He also visited peoples homes to offer sermons.

In all, 18 villages in Nawanshahr district and six villages Hoshiarpur district have been sealed.

"Now the authorities are making announcements across these villages asking people to tell about those people who have contacted these people. We fear the numbers could be in several hundreds," an official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Nawanshahr Nagar Vinay Bublani said: "We sealed the villages one by one and for supply essential commodities, water and electricity supply we are following the protocols. The NRIs residing in these villages have also been quarantined. The teams of health deparment along with other staff are visiting them everyday to check their health conditions."

Sub Divisional Magistrate of Banga in SBS Nagar district of Punjab, Gautam Jain said, "As per the health protocols, we have sealed the fifteen villages in my area for a period of two weeks no one is allowed to go in or out. The essential commodities are being supplied. As per the data the total population of these villages is somewhere around 20,000." Sources pointed out that in the rest three villages are in SBS Nagar subdivision of the district with a population of around 5,000.

While Sonu of Jikha village (which is sealed) says, "we are all confined to our homes now. But, before the sealing people were roaming normally and now all of them are scared."

An official of Hoshiarpur district said that the six villages which have been sealed have around 1200 people who belonged to 250 families. "Some 700 people who were in close contact with Singh are among the total number of quarantined people. About 333 swab samples of symptomatic people have been taken for test from these villages so far," said a health official.
State-owned power giant NTPC Ltd on Saturday said it has has stepped up vigil against global coronavirus pandemic by converting its hospitals into dedicated Covid-19 units.

NTPC has already utilised its 45 hospitals/health units to make isolation facilities and procured requisite number of equipment for the medical staff to handle such cases effectively, an NTPC statement said.

According to the statement, as many as 121 beds, with all facilities, have been turned into isolation wards in these hospitals.

The key medical infrastructure that has been made ready for use by state governments to tackle Covid cases includes the hospital at Badarpur in Delhi and medical college hospital of Sundergarh at Odisha, it added.

Korba Hospital is also being examined for takeover by the state government, it added.

The medical staff has also been trained over video calls about the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

On 22nd March, a mock drill was conducted at all hospitals as per MOHFW (health ministry) guidelines.

Further, 1,160 PPEs, 30,000 masks and 30,000 gloves have been dispatched to all the projects and stations.

A total of 8 ventilators are being procured at Hazaribagh for District administration. At present, there are 7 ventilators in the project hospitals. Additionally, there are 18 Advanced Level Ambulances with ventilators, the company said.

Another 10 ventilators are in the process of procurement for different hospitals. Also, efforts are being made to acquire additional PPE, sanitisers from available agencies.

Among other measures, NTPC has contributed funds to the district administration of NTECL Vallur for procuring 1,000 bedsheets for a hospital.

At NTPC Bhilai, funds have been reserved for support to the District Hospital to provide foods in nearby localities through NGOs and also for providing essential medicine in Primary Health Cares (PHCs).

Similarly, NTPC Rihand has assured adequate funds for distribution of sanitiser and other protective equipment.

Furthermore, the requirement of contractor workers has been rationalised at NTPC's projects /stations in terms of the GOI Guidelines.

It has asked its agencies to treat the workers' absence in these extraordinary circumstances as on duty.

As far as wages are concerned, there will be no hindrance and they will be given timely. In some cases, including advances have already been given.

Accommodation, food and medical facilities for the contractor workers have been arranged at many of NTPC's projects/stations.

At some locations, distribution of food packets/ daily essentials for nearby elderly/pregnant and lactating mothers / physically challenged and other marginalised sections of the society, including poor families has been taken up, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman who took over 2,000 of goods from a Kildare store has been jailed for a total of 14 months on a number of offences.

At the March 19 sitting of Naas District Court, Andrea Lyons, 23, of 225 Bunratty Road, Coolock, was jailed for 10 months for the theft of 2,010 goods from Tesco in Maynooth on March 28, 2019.

She was jailed for a further four months for driving without insurance on the Kilcock road in Clane on November 6, 2018.

A number of other offences were taken into account.

Ms Lyons pleaded guilty to the offences.

Garda Sergeant Brian Jacob said Ms Lyons had given a wrong name when stopped by gardai on November 6.

She was disqualified from driving at the time.

She had taken 2,100 in cosmetics on March 22, 2019, bringing them out in a buggy.

On March 28, 2019, she took a further 943 from the store. None of the goods were recovered.

On February 26, 2019, she took 28 of goods from a Naas pharmacy. Ms Lyons had 41 previous convictions.

She was serving a seven year driving disqualification, at the time of the Clane no insurance offence.

Leonard Leader, solicitor, representing Ms Lyons, said his client had no formal education and had left school at the age of 18.

After hearing about previous convictions by Ms Lyons, Judge Desmond Zaidan, said that no human being should be in jail but sadly he had no alternative when all the other options were explored.
The charismatic preacher who fought against racial discrimination died at home in Atlanta from natural causes.

Joseph E Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped Martin Luther King Jr found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and fought against racial discrimination in the United States, has died, a family statement has said.

A family statement said he died on Friday at home in Atlanta from natural causes unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic. He was 98.

A charismatic and fiery preacher, Lowery led the SCLC for two decades  restoring the organisations financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africas apartheid-era regime  before retiring in 1997.

Lowery, considered the dean of civil rights veterans, lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness  the election of an African American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for President-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, America tonight is in the process of being born again.

An early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama over then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Lowery also gave the benediction at Obamas inauguration.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union, he said.

In 2009, Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honour.

In another high-profile moment, Lowery drew a standing ovation at the 2006 funeral of Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, when he criticised the war in Iraq, saying, For war, billions more, but no more for the poor.

The comment also drew head shakes from then-President George Bush and his father, former president George H W Bush, who were seated behind the pulpit.

Joseph Lowery waves after his speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington during 50th anniversary ceremonies of the 1963 March on Washington [File: Gary Cameron/Reuters]

Christian faith

Lowerys involvement in civil rights grew from his Christian faith. He often preached that racial discrimination in housing, employment and health care was at odds with fundamental Christian values such as human worth and the brotherhood of man.

Ive never felt your ministry should be totally devoted to making a heavenly home. I thought it should also be devoted to making your home here heavenly, he once said.

Lowery remained active in fighting issues such as war, poverty and racism long after retiring, and survived prostate cancer and throat surgery after he beat the racial segregation system known as Jim Crow.

His wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who worked alongside her husband of nearly 70 years and served as head of SCLC Women, died in 2013.

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Lowery was pastor of the Warren Street Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1950s when he met King, who then lived in Montgomery, Alabama.

Lowerys meetings with King, Ralph David Abernathy and other civil rights activists led to the SCLCs formation in 1957. The group became a leading force in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.

Lowery became SCLC president in 1977 following the resignation of Abernathy, who had taken the job after King was assassinated in 1968.

He took over an SCLC that was deeply in debt and losing members rapidly. Lowery helped the organisation survive and guided it on a new course that embraced more mainstream social and economic policies.

Coretta Scott King once said Lowery has led more marches and been in the trenches more than anyone since Martin.

Protests and boycotts

He was arrested in 1983 in North Carolina for protesting against the dumping of toxic wastes in a predominantly black county and in 1984 in Washington while demonstrating against apartheid.

He recalled a 1979 confrontation in Decatur, Alabama, when he and others were protesting against the case of a mentally disabled black man charged with rape. He recalled that bullets whizzed inches above their heads and a group of Klan members confronted them.

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I could hear them go whoosh, Lowery said. Ill never forget that. I almost died 24 miles from where I was born.

In the mid-1980s, he led a boycott that persuaded the Winn-Dixie grocery chain to stop selling South African canned fruit and frozen fish when that nation was in the grip of apartheid.

He also continued to urge black people to exercise their hard-won rights by registering to vote.

Black people need to understand that the right to vote was not a gift of our political system but came as a result of blood, sweat and tears, he said in 1985.

Like King, Lowery combined his civil rights work with ministry. He pastored United Methodist churches in Atlanta for decades and continued preaching long after retiring.

I believe in the final triumph of righteousness

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1921, Joseph Echols Lowery grew up in a Methodist church where his great-grandfather, Howard Echols, was the first black pastor. Lowerys father, a grocery store owner, often protested against racism in the community.

After college, Lowery edited a newspaper and taught school in Birmingham, but the idea of becoming a minister just kept gnawing and gnawing at me, he said.

After marrying Evelyn Gibson, a Methodist preachers daughter, he began his first pastorate in Birmingham in 1948.

In a 1998 interview, Lowery said he was optimistic that true racial equality would one day be achieved.

I believe in the final triumph of righteousness, he said. The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Lowery is survived by his three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne.
Doctors in Zimbabwe are calling for stronger government support after the country's first death related to the coronavirus.

Thirty-year-old Zororo Makamba, a well-known TV broadcaster, died last Sunday at Wilkins Hospital in Harare. His family issued a statement Monday saying that the hospital, which the government named as the country's main coronavirus treatment center, lacks basic equipment such as oxygen and medical drugs for COVID-19 patients.

The concerns were echoed Tuesday by Dr. Sacrifice Chirisa, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Medical Association.

Charisa said Wilkins Hospital needs to be better equipped and that medical staff need more protection from the virus.

"We are applying for an urgent supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, as soon as possible. Let's move the levers of power, let's talk to our neighbors, let's talk to our all-weather friends. We need PPE if we are to fight COVID (19) and manage effectively," Charisa said.

Makamba had recently traveled to the United States and returned from New York two weeks before his death, according to his family.

On Monday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa partially closed Zimbabwe's borders in an effort to limit people's exposure to COVID-19.

He said the government is taking steps to give medical staff greater support.

"I am also aware of things which continue being raised by our health personnel who are in the frontline of fighting this pandemic," Mnangagwa said. "They continue to deliver services at great personal risk. They deserve our support. They must be rewarded. To that end, I have ordered the release of additional funding towards procurement of safety clothing to be flown into the country."

Mnangagwa did not indicate when the equipment would be procured.

For years, critics have said the government neglects Zimbabwe's health sector. They fear Zimbabwe will turn into another epicenter of COVID-19.

In the past, the United States and European Union have stepped in with equipment and drugs when Zimbabwe was hit by outbreaks of waterborne cholera and typhoid.


With rents coming due April 1, tenant advocates are pushing the federal and provincial governments to provide rent forgiveness or cash relief during the COVID-19 emergency.

While the governments have made broad statements, there has been no specific policy outlining how the province plans to help renters in Ontario.

On Thursday, when asked about the looming April 1 date, Premier Doug Ford repeated his previous direction that evictions be suspended during the outbreak.

Then he added: If you cant pay rent and youre just in an absolute crisis, then you dont have to pay rent.

When asked later what that means  Would cash relief be provided? Would landlords be compensated?  a spokesperson for Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark clarified there is no legislation being passed or program in place.

To tenants who are having challenges paying rent: please speak to your landlord about whether it can be postponed or if other payment arrangements can be agreed to, spokesperson Julie ODriscoll said in a statement. And landlords: please be as flexible as you can. We are encouraging landlords and tenants to work together during this difficult time to establish fair arrangements to preserve tenancies.

Geordie Dent, the executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations, said that puts tenants in a terrible position and they hope some government relief will come soon.

Most tenants pay their rent and most tenants dont like living in tremendous instability, he said. What youre looking at right now is a bunch of people who cant and theyre being put in a very precarious position.

He said tenants are calling their hotline asking for help.

What were saying is, if its between feeding your family and paying your landlords mortgage, feed your family, Dent said.

But its not clear what will happen when the temporary ban on evictions lifts.

Were terrified about whats going to happen in the next six months, he said.

Bryan Doherty, who lives in Parkdale, says hes out of work and wont be able to pay rent April 1.

Doherty, a member of Parkdale Organize and part of a campaign called Keep Your Rent that is urging tenants to not pay their April rent during the COVID-19 crisis, said Fords words and the fact evictions are on hold for now are not any kind of assurance.

The level of indifference and afterthought that this is being given is totally insane, he said.

Asking that rent forgiveness and deferral be dealt with on a case-by-case basis wont work for everyone, he said.

Lets say hypothetically my rent is like $1,100 and I have $850 in the bank because my hours have been cut this month. Whats the math that Doug Ford wants me to do there? I know the math my landlords going to want me to do, which is $850. And then Ill owe the rest next month. Thats the situation that tenants are being put in.

This week, the B.C. government announced it would provide a rent supplement of up to $500 a month for those experiencing financial hardship who didnt qualify for other rental programs. The money will be paid directly to landlords.

With lost jobs and lost wages due to COVID-19, many tenants are worried they cant make the rent. Its a challenging time for landlords too, B.C. Premier John Horgan is quoted as saying on the governments website.

Ontarios new economic plan responding to the COVID-19 outbreak does not mention rent or tenants once.

When asked about the B.C. program at a press conference on Thursday, Minister of Finance Rod Phillips mentioned funding thats being provided to other specific groups, like parents, and how the governments plan is best supporting the Ontario people.

Clarks spokesperson also noted a recently announced federal taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months for eligible workers who have lost wages.

In Toronto there are 525,835 rental households  47 per cent of all households in the city  according to the most recent figures available. A total of 30 per cent of households in Ontario were renting, the same data shows.

Daryl Chong, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Apartment Association representing landlords, said theyre hopeful governments will provide relief, and that those who can pay rent should.

He reiterated the provinces message about tenants speaking to landlords if they need accommodations.

Were not cold and heartless individuals or companies, Chong said.

He said animosity between tenants and landlords exists more in the media than in reality and that the vast majority have great relationships. Where that relationship doesnt exist, Chong said he believes a landlord would still have a compassionate ear, given the situation.

Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12 Toronto-St. Pauls), who has advocated for tenant rights at city hall, said the provincial freeze on evictions was an important step.

Renters need to know that they have a home to stay in during this crisis and that while their most important concern is for their health, theyre not stressed about how to even make their monthly rent.

Matlow said hes getting lots of concerned emails from constituents, including about what happens after the eviction ban lifts and there are months of unpaid rent cheques.

The province needs to provide a clear and immediate plan that everyone can understand that ensures that tenants dont need to worry about their rent, when their focus should be on their health  and landlords understand how their losses will be offset, Matlow said.

NDP MPP Chris Glover, who represents Spadina-Fort York, said renters should have been part of the Ford governments economic plan.

Times like this is when the government needs to step up and support people. We all need to be working together to make sure everyone comes out of this hole at the end, he said.

A paper called The Rent is Due Soon published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives on Monday put a spotlight on the coming cash crisis for renters.

Of the 3.4 million Canadians who rely on wages, salaries or self-employment to pay rent, nearly half have less than a months savings and a third have two weeks or less, author Ricardo Tranjan, a political economist and senior research at the centre, found using Statistics Canada data.

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Kirubhakar Purushothaman By

Express News Service

It seems like an inspired idea to turn the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, into the Sherlock Holmes of Vienna.

While Sherlock has his science of deduction to his aid, Marvin Kren, the creator of this peculiar Austrian Netflix Original, makes hypnosis to be Freuds weapon while solving crimes. Naturally, this show is fiction that touches upon some original concepts of the iconic neurologist.

In this show, Sigmund Freud (Robert Finster) is shown to be an underdog rebel in the field of neurology, who is often humiliated and despised by his professor Theodor Meynert (Rainer Bock) and colleague Leopold von Schonfeld (Lukas Thomas Watzl).

Freuds idea of curing hysteria using hypnosis is censured as pseudoscience by his professor. His personal life is also in shambles, as his father judges him to be a disappointment. On top of all this, his chances of getting married to his fiance Maratha turn bleak, owing to his financial failings. Life takes a turn when Freud meets Fleur Salome, who seems to hold the power of hypnosis.

Parallelly, inspector Alfred Kiss (Georg Friedrich) and constable Franz Poschacher (Christoph F. Krutzler) are investigating the brutal murder of a young woman. They cross paths with Freud during the investigation and as the number of murders increases, the trio realises there is something sinister happening in Vienna. Marvin Kren and the writers - Benjamin Hessler and Stefan Brunner - have taken many creative liberties, while not disassociating from the time and politics of 1880s Vienna. For example, the discrimination Freud faces for being a jew is at times stressed, and the past conflict between Austria and Hungry is also exploited for the sake of the story.

Also, the relationships between Freud and other characters are to an extent influenced by the life of Sigmund Freud. Many real aspects of Sigmund Freud like his association with cocaine and his disagreement with Meynert are also dramatised in the show. Yet, the need to incorporate this famous figure into such a story seems unjustified and unwarranted. Replace Freud with any other fictitious character, and the series would still hold water. The other issue is this series insistence on wanting to be enigmatic. When all these forced gothic layers are peeled off, what is left of Freud is yet another story about an assassination plot and an underdog hero saving the day.

Of course, there are some great moments like when Freud uses hypnotism for the first time to cure Kisss problem, and the cathartic experiences of the characters towards the end of the series. The haunting visuals and the production design are also of great help to create the gothic mood. With the eerie background score, the show does create disturbing moments. But these good chunks are sparse and are outnumbered by the mundane portions and the predictable twists. There just is not enough to keep you excited about a second season.

Creator: Marvin Kren Cast: Robert Finster, Ella Rumpf, Gerog Friedrich Streaming on: Netflix
Unsure of finding work, food or shelter, hundreds of migrant workers across the country began their journey home on foot after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Following heavy criticism for not having factored in this vulnerable section of the population, while announcing the lockdown, the Union and state governments have announced a slew of measures to alleviate the problems faced by the migrant workers.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday asked all state governments and Union Territories to stop the exodus of migrant workers and issued an advisory asking them to make arrangements for providing food and shelter to migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers and other unorganised sector workers stranded in their states.

The MHA suggested that states and UTs could enlist the help of various agencies, including NGOs, to provide food, shelter and basic amenities like clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to the unorganised sector workers, in particular, the migrant workers.

The home ministry also advised states and UTs to ensure that students and working women from other states are allowed to continue in their existing accommodation.

The MHA also said that states must ensure that hotels, rented accommodations, hostels, etc, continue to remain functional and delivery of essential items is streamlined, so that students and working women hostel inmates, etc, are allowed to continue in existing facilities, while observing precautions.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak

The guidelines added that while ensuring the supply of essential goods and services, the states must also ensure that the lockdown is followed strictly.

On Saturday, the MHA directed the states and UTs to provide essential services to migrant labourers and the homeless poor from the State Disaster Relief Fund.

Provision of Assistance to Homeless People,including migrant labourers stranded due to #Lockdown measures, comes under State Disaster Response Fund: Centre to States pic.twitter.com/ikBkgYqnLH  Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) March 28, 2020

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari asked the Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and toll operators across national highways to provide food, water and other necessary support to migrant workers.

"I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/Toll operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their respective native places. At this time of crisis we have to be compassionate towards our fellow citizens," he said.

Kerala opens relief camps

State governments also announced various measures to deal with the crisis. While some states arranged transport services for labourers stranded in other states, some other states made arrangements for relief camps and provision of essential facilities.

The Kerala government on Friday announced that it has opened 4,603 relief camps for approximately 1,44,145 migrant workers, who are officially called as guest workers in the state, said a report in LiveMint.

Food, masks, soaps and sanitisers have been made available in the camps, the report quotes Kerala chief minister Pimarayi Vijayan as saying.

The chief minister added that another 35 camps had been set up for 1,545 homeless and destitute people and that the government would take over more educational institutions to set up similar facilitates.

The chief minister further said that brochures, leaflets and short videos in Hindi, Oriya and Bengali were being distributed among the migrant workers to create awareness and health workers who can speak Hindi were being deployed on the streets for this purpose.

"It is not complete. Workers are still in deplorable conditions in many places. We are seeing this seriously. The concerned district collectors should take it as an individual responsibility. Labour department can also fruitfully intervene. Local city governments can coordinate all of these. In this way, all systems should prepare the required assistance for them," the report quoted him as saying.

Gujarat govt asks districts to provide food, shelter to migrant workers

In Gujarat, where the state government had earlier arranged public transport to facilitate the return of migrant workers to Rajasthan and tribal areas of the state, authorities on Friday said migrant labourers would be given food and accommodation but won't be allowed to travel to their villages during the 21-day lockdown.

"It has been decided that no migrant labourer will be allowed to leave on foot. District administrations have been asked to make arrangements for their food and accommodation. A special helpline number, 1077, has been set up for migrant workers to contact for help," PTI quoted Ashwini Kumar, secretary in the chief minister's office as saying.

Meanwhile, Valsad Collector CR Kharsan said police cases will be filed against migrant workers and their employers if they are found travelling to their villages.

"Employers or contractors who have employed migrant labourers will have to provide 21 days salary and food to them. If they fail, then migrant workers can contact 1077 helpline. But if anybody tries to travel to their villages, then a police case will be filed against such persons and their employers," Kharsan said.

UP provides transport services

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh administration continued providing transport services to bring back labourers from the state stranded in Delhi. After receiving reports on buses being stopped by the police, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) on Saturday requested all District Magistrates (DMs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and other officials not to obstruct the movement of 200 special buses being run to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various places in the border areas with Delhi.

"On the directions of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the UPSRTC is deploying buses to provide transport facilities to people stuck at various points at border districts of Delhi. The buses have started reaching Noida and Ghaziabad. Around 200 buses will depart from every 2 hours from 8 am onwards," read a letter written by the Managing Director (MD) UPSRTC, Raj Shekhar, to the administration.

"A few buses which have already left Gaziabad, Noida and bordering areas are on the way to various destinations in Uttar Pradesh... We have received few issues of stopping these buses at various checking points in various districts. UPSRTC would requests all DMs/SSPs/SPs to inform all their border checkpoints not to stop these buses en route," it added.

According to official data, Delhi has around 15 lakh migrant daily wage workers.

The letter further mentioned that the task of ferrying passengers to their destination in Uttar Pradesh will continue till 29 March and asked the "Destination Points District DMs" to take note of the bus details reaching their district points today and tomorrow and to make arrangements for the medical screening of all passengers alighting at the termination points.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, however, urged the migrant workers to remain in Delhi, adding that all arrangements had been made for them.

I have asked MLAs to request migrant workers to not leave Delhi as we have made arrangements for all. I will appeal that initiative of lockdown taken by PM is necessary to contain this epidemic. If people will migrate then #COVID19 cases will rise: Delhi Chief Min Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/vZWqPUKEVW  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

Earlier in the day, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia visited Ghazipur area of Delhi, where workers had gathered in huge numbers to take buses to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and announced that schools will be converted to night shelters to accommodate migrant workers.

"We have started converting schools here (Ghazipur) into night shelters to accommodate these people. I request people to not leave their homes or shanties. Homeless people can stay at night shelters. We have the capacity to feed the people of entire Delhi," ANI quoted him as saying.

He said that the Delhi government would also deploy DTC buses but urged the workers to avoid travelling.

We have started converting schools here (Ghazipur) into nigh shelters to accommodate these people. I request people to not leave their homes or shanties. Homeless people can stay at night shelters. We have the capacity to feed the people of entire Delhi: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia https://t.co/BHxoRdEfdZ  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to migrant workers to stay put where they are and asked NGOs to join in providing them relief.

According to a report in the Hindu BusinessLine, Thackeray said that he had been getting calls from chief ministers of states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to look after workers from their states.

"If human beings from other state have to survive, then humanity must also be shown to them. It is our culture and our responsibility to look after them," the report quotes him as saying.

Our country & the whole world is facing this crisis so I request you to stay wherever you are. Dont try to get anywhere. Labourers and workers from different States who are in Maharashtra, the Government will take care of them. pic.twitter.com/040gUWSn8h  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) March 28, 2020

He added that the Shiv Bhojan canteens in the state would remain open for three hours instead of two to cater to the needs of these workers.

With inputs from agencies
At a time when the relevance of beauty pageants is being reconsidered, Priyanka Chopra has a different take on it. In her recent interview with UK's Tatler magazine, the Quantico actress defended beauty pageants and said that participating in them gave her great confidence.

The magazine quoted the former beauty queen as saying, "It's something that I'm extremely proud of. It gave me a trampoline to my acting career. It gave me a sense of self, a sense of confidence to be able to stand in front of heads of state, to be able to speak in front of media from around the world, and actually know what I'm talking about."

Priyanka won the Miss World crown in 2002 and soon, made her debut in Bollywood with Sunny Deol-Preity Zinta's The Hero: Love Story of a Spy in 2003.

While speaking with Tatler magazine, the diva also credited her parents for being the biggest influence in her life. Priyanka was quoted as saying, "All my mother's sisters were academics and my dad was a free-thinking creative, a musician and an artist, as well as a surgeon. My grandmother - my dad's mum - always used to say, about me, 'Who's going to marry her? She can't cook.' And my dad would say, 'I'll send a cook with her. She never needs to go into the kitchen.' My mum didn't know how to cook when she got married. My dad taught her how. And he taught her everything he liked to eat. Clever man."

Earlier in an interview with Hindustan Times, the Quantico star opened up about her career in Hollywood and said, When I went to America, there wasn't a precedence. I didn't have a road map to follow because there was no one who had done it before. I had to figure it out, walk into rooms, introduce myself, say 'I am an Indian actor, my name is Priyanka Chopra, these are the kind of films I want to do'. I demanded playing leading ladies, instead of having parts which were the stereotype of what a Bollywood actor would usually get. Those also came to me, but I was very clear about what I wanted to do."

Priyanka Chopra Talks About Starting A Family With Husband Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Joins Janta Curfew 'In Spirit' From USA; Gives Shout-Out To Heroes Of COVID-19
Holy Trinity Church in Stratford is one of many churches across the Herald area offering Ministry in new ways.

CHURCHES across Stratford district are keeping in touch with communities through a variety of methods.

Last Sunday Rev Patrick Taylor led a service from inside Holy Trinity Church but in an update to its approach it said earlier today, Saturday: "We will be live streaming on Facebook a service with Holy Communion at 10am every Sunday and Wednesday, from one of the clergy members' homes.

Rev Patrick Taylor

"These will be available on our YouTube channel afterwards. Each weekday we'll be posting on our YouTube channel a service of morning and evening prayer.

Meanwhile, Fr Alex at St Gregorys Catholic Church in Stratford told the Herald: The ministry of the phone has taken on a vital importance. The family or the ecclesia domestica as Pope John Paul called it has also become even more important.

"The most important thing I do at the moment is to celebrate a daily private mass for all of my 800 parishioners and receive holy communion for them all.

"On the parish website www.Stgregorys-stratford.org we publish our newsletter where there are details of live streaming of the mass and where I try and give some spiritual inspiration appropriate to what were going through.

Stratford Baptist Church has set up a private website for the church family. It is also delivering hard copies of information and sermons to those in the congregation not on the internet and keeping in touch with people by phone.

It is also putting weekly sermons onto its public website: www.stratforduponavonbaptist.org.uk

And Kelly Smith from Renewal Church said: Our central church is streaming live on our YouTube channel Renewal on Sundays at 10am and daily with encouraging words at noon weekdays and communion on Wednesdays at 11am, Childrens church on Saturday mornings at 10am.

"It is great to give people lots of opportunities to hear positive words of encouragement and hope!

Keep us in touch with what your church is doing by emailing: rhowarth@stratford-herald.com and use the subject line: Church details.
The pictures have popped up on social media since social distancing became a necessity to battle to spread of the coronavirus.

Groups of neighborhood dads or moms spread out in a circle, drinking beer or wine in the street. A gaggle of teenagers sitting atop their parked cars, hanging out apart from each other. A pair of fishermen standing more than six feet apart in a shallow river.

Those precautions are all in the name of preventing the spread of the respiratory virus within New Jersey and the United States. But to practice true social distancing, those gatherings shouldnt happen at all, according to one health expert.

Dr. Maria Ciminelli, the president of the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians and director of the CentraState Family Medicine Residency Program, said guidelines for people to remain six feet apart are meant only for those essential trips outside the home. Any extended, unnecessary contact with people, even six feet apart, violates the spirit of the precautions.

If youre going to practice intense social distancing, it really means avoiding or limiting contact with people outside of your family, and really staying home most of the time, unless you really need to go out, Ciminelli said. But any prolonged kind of engagement outside is really still not social distancing, having that prolonged contact with people that are not in your family."

Ciminelli said the six-feet rule is for when people need to leave their homes for essential reasons, such as running to the store for groceries, or going on a run or walk for the good of physical and mental health.

Maintaining a safe distance from other people while outside the home is essential, but the effect is lost when meeting up with non-family members for a longer period of time.

Having the six feet distance is certainly whats necessary, but doing that in a prolonged setting is not intense social distancing, she said. And right now, we kind of need to do that. We see the numbers of infection still continue to grow, and well probably continue to see that for some time, especially now that were getting more testing done.

Cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey have continued to spike, jumping to 8,825 on Friday after Gov. Phil Murphy announced 1,982 new positive tests. Ciminelli hasnt been surprised by the continued climb of cases, even with social distancing practices put in place. But people still need to continue the practice to help that growth hit its peak.

Usually it takes a few weeks of good social distancing to really start seeing the term youre hearing everywhere, the flattening of the curve, she said. To start seeing the decrease and not more exponential growth of infected numbers.
While these times are going to test our perseverance, we have to stand tall and not lose hope. There is gloom, but there will definitely be light at the end of the tunnel. We have to fight this war against coronavirus pandemic, together.

If we stay strong, there is no reason why we won't prevail. And there is heart to take from the fact that an 87 year-old grandfather has recovered after a two-week battle with novel virus.

Facebook

A touching photo shows the moment a grandfather, 87, was escorted out of a hospital arm-in-arm with an National Health Service (NHS) medic after recovering from coronavirus.

Ewart Lockton, from Manchester, had been battling the virus and pneumonia at North Manchester Hospital for two weeks.

But he managed to beat the infection and, wearing a face mask, was able to leave the hospital while being supported by a smiling member of staff.



His granddaughter was delighted and shared the news on her Facebook page, along with a photo of Lockton.



She wrote, 'We all need to hear some positive stories. This is my 87-year-old grandpa saying goodbye to staff at North Manchester Hospital where he's been for two weeks with covid positive pneumonia.'

Well, it just shows there is a way out of this crises, too. We have to do our bit, stay at home and let the those working at forefront of this war - nurses, paramedics and others on ground, to do their jobs.

This is our war against COVID-19 and people like Ewart Lockton are showing it can be won.
New Delhi, March 28 : The Indian Railways' catering arm the Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), here on Saturday, distributed from its base kitchen over 2,500 meals to the poor and the needy through the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Rotary Club.

Raw material to prepare food was also provided to a social welfare organization.

The IRCTC, said in a statement, it was ready to provide meals to the poor and needy as and when directed by the state authorities.

"The mobilisation of all requisite manpower, material and logistics is being ascertained to ensure that the meals reach their destinations in time. From tomorrow (Sunday) other base kitchens will also start distribution of meals to the poor and needy," said a senior official.

The three-week nationwide lockdown, which entered its fourth day on Saturday, has left several thousand daily wagers without jobs and has reduced their means of sustenance. Reports of workers choosing to travel on foot to their villages have emerged from many parts of the country, as public transport has been withdrawn for the lockdown.

During the day, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday, issued second advisory urging all states and Union Territories (UTs) to start immediate relief measures to provide temporary accommodation, food, clothing and medical care to the people, including migrant workers stranded due to lockdown.

--IANS ss/pcj

A
JERUSALEM - Adeeb Joudeh, standing in front of the now-locked Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City, had a pretty specific answer when asked when the church last closed to the public like this:

"It was the year 1349, at the time of the Black Plague," he said, holding the key that had shut things down a day earlier and back in the 14th century as well.

They measure time differently here in the oldest section of one of the world's oldest cities, the ancient, dispute-riddled and spiritually dense center of three major religions. Yet it takes an eternity to recall the last time Christians, Jews and Muslims, each claiming various overlapping quarters of the Old City, were kept from their eternal rounds.

But coronavirus, like the medieval pandemic before it, has all but silenced this bustling Holy Land hot spot. The walls built by King Herod, the Crusaders and others (aided by the flashing lights of police cars at the gates) keep out the throngs of tourists and pilgrims who would normally teem through this UNESCO World Heritage site, especially in the weeks before Passover, Easter and Ramadan.

The steep, narrow lanes are empty but for police patrols and the relatively few residents who live in the Old City full time. Worship sites of all kinds are closed, most notably the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where Jesus is said to have been buried and resurrected; the Western Wall, the most sacred place of prayer for Jews; and al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

Here, for the guardians of all that is sacred, the stillness feels like a necessary evil.

"To see the holy church closed is very, very, very sad for me," said Joudeh, one day after getting orders from Israeli health officials to swing the big doors shut indefinitely. "All the churches, the mosques, the synagogues in Jerusalem are closed, but we understand the situation. We are all of us praying."

Joudeh, who is Muslim, is part of an unbroken family line entrusted with the keys to the church for more than eight centuries. According to tradition, infighting among several Christian denominations necessitated that custody of the iron key be handed to two non-Christian families, one to hold the key, one to come each morning to unlock the doors and each evening to seal them.

They have broken the schedule only a few times in history: Among them, on the worst days of fighting in the 1948 and 1967 wars, and for 48 hours in 2018 to protest a proposed property tax hike on churches. But according to Joudeh family history, not since the bubonic plague outbreak has the church closed indefinitely, as it was this week.

"It will reopen, this we know," he said, standing in the usually crowded plaza, now quiet except for the sound of pigeons and, from somewhere in Jerusalem's unstoppable spiritual heart, the chanting of monks. "I inherited the key from my father, and I will give it to one of my sons. Thanks to God I have three."

Joudeh himself is blocked from worshiping at the golden Dome of the Rock, a shrine that shares space with al-Aqsa Mosque, which in turn, in Jerusalem's never-ending layers of possession and identity, is built on the site of the two ancient Jewish temples.

The plaza surrounding the mosques draws tens of thousands of Muslim Palestinians every Friday and is frequently a flash point of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When it was ordered closed by the Jordanian religious council that manages the sites, it was an immense relief to Israeli officials, who watched with alarm as crowds assembled even as the virus spread.

But the shutdown of the Old City is less welcome to the merchants who make their living from the socially un-distanced crowds who typically pile in, shoulder-to-shoulder, every day.

Business is at a standstill, said Sabri Zgeir, whose fruit and vegetable shop near the Dung Gate had seen only three customers, all locals, on a day that normally funnels thousands past the front door. His grandfather opened the store in 1948, and none of his family has seen the likes of this.

"Not even the wars were not like this," said Zgeir, standing before unsold boxes of Medjool dates. "This is a tourist place; we could be ruined."

A few blocks away, looking past shuttered souvenir and religious icon shops, Shimon Klein was taking a long and godly view of the pandemic.

The New York-born Klein, 77, was walking with his youngest son, 7, near the Old City apartment close to the Western Wall where he has lived for 21 years. He compared the overwhelming emptiness to Berlin in 1945. Nothing will ever be the same, he said.

"This is the beginning of a new era of existence," he said. "This is beyond the comprehension of any of us. We are going into the future now."
Two New York City transit workers died Thursday of COVID-19, the first fatalities among the transit agencys 70,000 employees. The deceased were identified as Peter Petrassi, a 49-year-old train conductor working out of an operations office in Queens, and Oliver Cyrus, a 61-year-old bus operator who worked out of the Manhattanville Depot in Manhattan.

A third worker, a 36-year-old train operator, died early Friday morning in a subway fire which officials are investigating as suspected arson. Several others were injured in the incident.

The deaths marked a devastating end to the work week, bringing home to transit workers the deadly consequences of the criminally indifferent response to the coronavirus crisis at all levels, from the federal, state and city governments to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and their accomplices in the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

To lose two coworkers in one day and to have others testing positive, and with the cases mounting up, again I ask us: What will it take to be protected by the entity that we work for, and the Union that claims to represent us, D. Lamb-El, a Brooklyn transit worker posted on Facebook. Death has entered.

Petrassi and Cyrus were just two of at least 52 transit workers in New York City with confirmed cases as of this past Tuesday, the last time a tally was made public by MTA officials. Even at the time, that figure was a gross underrepresentation of the real number of illnesses.

On Friday the official count in New York City alone eclipsed 25,000. Every day, every hour on the job increases the risk of spreading the virus throughout the transit workforce. While ridership plummeted since the stay-at-home order came into effect last Sunday, hundreds of thousands of passengers nonetheless continue to commute on public transit daily.

Transit workers are still being packed into crowded crew rooms, being sent out on routes without adequate protective equipment, and assigned tasks where social distancing is impossible.

We are not getting protection. The only thing we have that the MTA gave out is gloves, William, a worker in the Rapid Transit Operations division, told the World Socialist Web Site. But yet, we do our jobs. Do they care? No. We are just a number. But they want us to work overtime now.

Anthony, who works as a plumber for the infrastructure section of the MTA, described the reckless conditions that continue to exist for workers at his West 4th Street location. I work in a locker room with 30 guys from 6 AM to 2 PM, and we share it with another 30 guys that work from 7 AM to 3 PM. For an hour every morning we overlap and end up being in a cesspool situation, with over 50 guys sometimes, in a room probably 50 feet by 30 feet.

Anthony explained that on March 22 one of his supervisors tested positive for COVID-19. Despite this many workers at the location were deemed ineligible to receive paid quarantine leave. So they were forced to choose their financial responsibilities over their life out of fear that the system that they sweat and bleed for will not have their backs.

Another rail worker told the WSWS that crews only learned of a positive case at the Delancey Street facility after a sympathetic supervisor leaked a memo. Workers remained on the job uninformed while a cleaning crew was ordered to sanitize the facility.

The MTA, in collaboration with the TWU, has insisted upon maintaining policies that result in the further spread of the pandemic. Without a doctors note workers are allowed just five days of leave, despite the city health department urging residents not to visit a doctor or seek testing unless hospitalization is required. Workers on 14-day quarantine due to confirmed exposure have been called back early to staff subways and buses. A full slate of regular maintenance was scheduled last weekend as if the pandemic was raging on another planet.

The risk to transit workers is heightened by chronic exposure to hazardous environments. Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen and exacerbates asthma, a condition prevalent among transit workers. Workers with respiratory ailments are still required to come in or use their limited sick pay under conditions where the outbreak is expected to last months or more, despite the elevated risk of death if they acquire the coronavirus.

The union has functioned largely to pressure workers to remain on the job. For weeks the bureaucrats in the TWU accepted the delays and outright refusals of the agency to put in place even the most elementary protections and social distancing measures. In the face of a brewing rebellion against the deadly working conditions, the TWUs response is effectively, shut up and do your job.

The growing number of New York City transit workers and their families becoming ill has cast into doubt the continued functioning of the nations largest public transportation system.

Already worker shortages prompted the MTA to drastically reduce scheduled service by more than 25 percent this week. The service cuts have compounded the risk to both workers who remain on the job and passengers, as they have resulted in increasing the crowding of trains and buses. For commuters on many rush hour trains and buses, following the recommended social distancing practice of six feet between people is an impossibility.

Under these conditions, the status quo is quickly becoming untenable. Following Thursdays deaths, workers are raising calls for a mass sickout in order to force the agency to increase protective measures for workers. Many workers see shutting down the transit system, while organizing alternative service for workers performing genuinely essential functions, as the only way to defend their health.

As workers are stepping up the fight for their health, the Trump and Cuomo administrations are preparing to reopen for business as usual in a matter of mere weeks, despite projections from health experts that the worst is still to come.

The urgent task for transit workers and other workers around the globe is to fight to create the conditions for the basic needs of the working class to come above all else, whatever the costs to the corporate and financial elite.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 17:31:02|Editor: xuxin

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WINDHOEK, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy said on Saturday that during the country's partial lockdown for 21 days, normal mining activities will be discontinued.

Minister Tom Alweendo said critical maintenance work and minimal operations in the sector will continue over this period.

Namibia will be on a partial lockdown for its Khomas and Erongo regions from March 27 to April 16, to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

He added that all employers should ensure that when minimal mining operations are being carried out, other preventative measures, such as social distancing, are observed at all times.

"For the orderly implementation of the announced measures, it is a requirement that all mining and exploration companies inform the ministry in writing about the measures they have taken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
The Army has a new commander-in-chief, as well as a new chief of General Staff and Joint Forces commander Armed Forces.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Ruslan Khomchak new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The text of the relevant decree No. 125/2020 of March 27 was published on the website of the head of state.

By another decree, the president dismissed Khomchak from the post of Chief of the General Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on March 4, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a presidential law amending the law On National Security of Ukraine.

According to the law, a commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces shall be appointed to the post on the proposal of a minister of defense and dismissed by president. A commander-in-chief shall report to president and minister of defense. The provision of this law will allow resolving the issue of introducing in 2020 a new unified system of command and control of defense forces with the aim of developing the Armed Forces of Ukraine according to NATO standards.

Read alsoChief of Ukraine's General Staff explains separation of his post from that of commander-in-chief

President Zelensky with his decree No. 126/2020 of March 27 appointed Serhiy Korneichuk Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to UNIAN, on March 27, the president dismissed Ruslan Khomchak from the post of chief of the General Staff Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, appointing him Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The two posts have been unbundled in accordance with the amendments to the law on national security to introducing a new system of leadership and control of defense forces in line with NATO standards.

Also, Zelensky appointed Serhiy Nayev Commander of the country's Joint Forces  units performing missions in the Donbas zone of hostilities.

Corresponding decree No. 127/2020 of March 27 has been posted on the president's website.

UNIAN memo. Nayev earlier held the post of Joint Forces Commander during Petro Poroshenko's presidency. In May 2019, Oleksandr Syrsky took the helm, later to be replaced by Volodymyr Kravchenko. In the past month, Nayev was interim Commander of the Joint Forces.
The Deputy Communication Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye has described the formation of a response team on the Coronavirus disease by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as hypocritical.



She wondered what new thing the NDC response team had added to stop the spread of the Coronavirus ever since it was formed.



According to her, the move by the opposition party was an attempt to seek an underserved favour from the populace."



She therefore called on the NATIONAL security to carefully monitor the NDC since she believes they dont have genuine concern to help stop the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.



At early stage NDC spearheaded by Okudjeto Ablakwa unreasonably and diabolically pressured the president to evacuate Ghanaians students in China but we all can attest to how their pressure could have endanger the lives of innocents Ghanaians, she said.



Adding that I think President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo put together a strong group of professionals from all sectors devoid of any political colors and that has put fear in the opposition party...Hypocrites, in eight years their flagbearer Mr. Mahama, could not even solve dumsor which was not life threatening. They were rather engaged in dubious and series of corrupts practices and scandal all over under his regime not to talk of Woyome, Isofoton, 'nkonfem' and GYEEDA saga in fact the incompetent Mahama did nothing for Ghanaians.



She further urged Ghanaians to follow the tips from health experts and urged government to strengthen measures to help curb the spread of the disease adding.



Indeed we are not in normal times, the President of the Republic has shown leadership in this period of crisis and I believe COVID-19 will be defeated in due

time", she added.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Democratic governor of New York state, Andrew Cuomo, finally banned non-essential construction projects on Friday, amid growing anger from the states construction workers and concerns from public health experts. Some sites, including those building affordable housing, hospitals or critical infrastructure, will remain open.

Until yesterday, construction workers across New York City and state were still required to show up to work on almost any project, victims of Cuomos categorization of constructionincluding luxury apartment high-risesas essential businesses.

But as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York state soared this weekby Friday there were 44,635 cases in the state and 25,398 in the city, with hundreds dead and a dangerous shortage of equipment and hospital bedsconstruction workers and their families voiced increasing opposition to the proposals from both Cuomo and Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that workers remain on the job. Social distancing is notoriously difficult on construction sites, and running water and sanitation facilities are often scarce.

Both Cuomo and de Blasio, with the backing of big realtors, construction firms and local trade unions, permitted construction to continue, even on job sites with confirmed cases of workers testing positive for coronavirus, leading to increasing concern and opposition from the more than 150,000 construction workers in the city.

On Monday, carpenters working at the Hard Rock Hotel in Manhattan walked off the job after hearing about a co-worker testing positive for COVID-19. After two days of disinfecting, and without any additional protective equipment for the workers, the job site opened back up. Another worker tested positive for the virus this week at a construction site on Broadway in the site of Facebooks new corporate offices, but the job was not shut down.

A twitter hashtag, #StopConstruction, became increasingly popular among New York construction workers and their families, who often posted photos of unsafe and unsanitary working conditions as the coronavirus continued to spread.

Ivan, a concrete mixing truck driver in New York City who spoke to the WSWS this week, said: Everybodys scared. They need to shut down construction sites to stop the spread. The danger is growing fast. Ivan said that there hasnt been COVID-19 testing for workers, and access to dust masks has been restricted while requests for hand sanitizer have gone ignored. Recently, three of his coworkers have been rumored to have come down with the coronavirus, but management has kept workers in the dark.

An electrician currently working on a building in the financial district, recently interviewed by Gothamist , said: I currently do not feel safe at my job site. There is no way to practice the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines. Social distancing [and] proper sanitation are next to impossible while working construction. Especially doing indoor work, which a lot of high rise projects are. We already work in one of the most dangerous fields in the city and this just compounds it.

A construction worker at a downtown luxury condo high-rise told The City news site that he rides a packed elevator up 50 floors to get to his job site and that the only hand-washing facility is on the ground floor. Just riding the elevator to where you need to work is like an affront to the whole idea of social distancing, he said. It is worth noting that construction workers facing these conditions also share public transit with medical workers.

Cuomo and de Blasio have delayed shutting the construction sites for weeks, much as they delayed shutting public schools. The big realtors and construction companies have applied enormous pressure to these Democratic Party politicians, to whose campaign coffers they donate lavishly.

Earlier this month, the President and CEO of the New York Building Congress, Carlo Scissura, said in an interview with Bisnow: The safety of all workers is critical, but I think that we have to be very careful to shut down. A lot of that construction is for people who are going to need services and support in the months to come as things start reopening.

Speaking of a shutdown of construction projects in Boston, Stephen Sandherr, the CEO of Associated General Contractors of America, claimed that most construction workers already wear gloves and masks on job sites. Given the precautions already in place, halting construction will do little to protect the health and safety of construction workers.

In an even more callous remark Gary LaBarbera, the president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, issued a press release on Tuesday praising Cuomos actions to keep the construction industry open. LaBarbera expressed confidence that workers would overcome even the most difficult of circumstances.

In a cynical display of American nationalism, LaBarbera tried to make use of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to excuse the possible exposure of construction workers to COVID-19. Nearly 10,000 of our members put everything on the line in the months following September 11, 2001many of our members sacrificed their own well-being, knowing very well that they could face lasting consequences for it.

Governor Cuomos change of heart on the closing of construction sites is a tactical move on his part to appease public anger. Meanwhile the Democrats are collaborating with the Trump administrations get back-to-work campaign, which accepts a higher death toll among workers and their families from COVID-19 for the sake of corporate profits.

As of Friday, LaBarbera had made no comment on Cuomos new order. His reactionary bluster, in any case, fooled no one. Im essential to the pocketbooks of rich contractors and essential for spreading the virus, but thats about it, said a New York electrician who spoke to the New York Times this week. Its not essential for us to be here right now.

There is another side to the issue of the construction sites. Many city construction workers are low-paid and undocumented. These workers are in danger not only of contracting the disease at a work site but of spreading it because of the often-crowded, dormitory-style conditions in which they live, particularly in New Yorks outer boroughs.

The cessation to work order will be a disaster for these workers, who dont qualify for government assistance, and live paycheck to paycheck. Mario Ortega, a 31-year-old day laborer who lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens with his wife and two children, told Gothamist before the shutdown order, Of course I am concerned about the virus, but right now its about the economic need that I have. How would I be able to afford to pay the rent, food, to be able to eat?

Keeping the sites closed and fighting for adequate compensation for all workers, regardless of legal status, is a demand that must unite all construction workers, including immigrants and the undocumented. The Socialist Equality Party has called for broad testing for workers who may already be infected, full compensation for those unemployed because of the crisis, regardless of immigration status, and safe working conditions for those in essential services. Construction workers should attend the WSWS online meeting on Sunday, The COVID-19 pandemic: Capitalism and the making of a social and economic catastrophe, to discuss these policiesthe most pressing and urgent tasks of the moment.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Madrid  Sat, March 28, 2020 16:06 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e07465 2 News tourism,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

International travel will likely fall by 20-30 percent in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, putting millions of jobs in the global tourism sector at risk, the World Tourism Organization said Friday.

This revises sharply lower a forecast made on March 6 of a decline of just 1.0-3.0 percent due to the travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the disease and economic fallout of the outbreak.

The drop in arrivals will lead to an estimated loss of $300-450 billion in international tourism receipts, almost one third of the $1.5 trillion generated in 2019, the Madrid-based UN body said in a statement.

The UNWTO said it had revised its forecast to take into account "the unparalleled introduction of travel restrictions across the world" but added it "should be interpreted with caution in view of the extreme uncertain nature of the current crisis."

The body had predicted at the beginning of the year that international tourism would grow by 3.0-4.0 percent in 2020.

"Tourism is among the hardest hit of all economic sectors," the body's secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said in the statement, adding "it is clear" that millions of jobs within the sector are at risk.

The UNWTO noted that small and medium-sized businesses make up around 80 percent of the tourism sector, which "leads the way" in providing jobs for women, youths and rural communities.

Read also: Bali urges tourist destinations to suspend operations to curb COVID-19 spread

By comparison international tourism arrivals declined by 4.0 percent in 2009 during the global economic crisis and by just 0.4 percent in 2003 after the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which killed 774 people worldwide, it added.

Governments around the world have restricted travel as they scramble to contain the spread of the disease which has claimed over 23,000 lives worldwide since it first emerged in China late last year.

More than three billion people around the world are currently living under lockdown measures.

Major cultural events and business conferences have been called off to limit contact between people and airlines have drastically cut back the number of flights they offer.

International tourism arrivals rose by 4.0 percent in 2019 to 1.5 billion, with France the world's most visited nation, followed by Spain and the United States.

The last time international tourist arrivals posted an annual decline was 2009 when the global economic crisis hit the travel sector hard.

The tourism industry accounts for about 10 percent of the world's GDP and jobs.
The Sikkim government has announced a one-time assistance of Rs 5,000 to the students who have been stranded outside the state in the wake of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, an official said on Saturday.

The Chief Minister's Office and the education department will monitor the transfer of money to the students who could not return to the state due to the lockdown, Chief Secretary S C Gupta said.

The state government has also decided to provide insurance to all the "frontline warriors" for a period of three months, who have been engaged in containing the COVID-19 outbreak in the state, he said.

Presiding over an emergency meeting of the State Level task force at Samman Bhawan here on Friday, Gupta asked officials of the health departments to ensure that the medial teams and staff working on the frontline should not face any shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE).

The health department must ensure that there is "no shortage" of doctors in healthcare centres at Rangpo and Melli, the two most important check points of Sikkim, for screening of the people, the chief secretary said, adding that at least five medical officers should be appointed at each facility.

No COVID-19 positive case has been detected in the state so far, the official said.

The government urged officials to be vigilant in the state's all-out efforts to prevent the outbreak of the deadly virus, Gupta said, adding that a backup plan has been in place to ensure availability of all essential items for two months.

The government has also permitted the State Bank of Sikkim to allow a three-month moratorium on repayments of all loans, the chief secretary said.

A total of 58 students from Tamil Nadu, who had arrived here recently, have been quarantined at an isolation centre in Assam Lingzey village in East district, Gupta said, adding that they will be provided all the essential items.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 28

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

All of Azerbaijan's MPs have tested coronavirus-negative, spokesman for the parliament Akif Tavakkuloglu told Trend on March 28.

MPs, staff of the Office and the Department of Affairs of the parliament underwent a medical examination for coronavirus in due order, and the parliaments cars were disinfected.

During the next plenary session of Azerbaijans parliament to be held on March 30, 2020, the MPs will sit at least 2 meters apart.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

Azerbaijan is one of the countries affected by the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country's official structures are applying necessary measures to prevent any possible exposure of coronavirus. Azerbaijan has also imported necessary medical equipment to carry out coronavirus tests.

As a contribution to international efforts to prevent the risk of the spread of coronavirus infection, Azerbaijan's government provided voluntary financial assistance worth $5 million to the COVID-19 Fund as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 21:20:13|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGSHA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hunan Province will issue e-coupons to boost consumption, following similar voucher programs launched by several Chinese cities to bail out the service sector hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The province's department of finance and trade unions federation announced the decision to issue the year's holiday allowances in advance in the form of e-coupons in a notice on "boosting the market and stabilizing employment with active consumption."

Recipients of the e-coupons include trade union members and employees of government units, institutions and enterprises, said the notice.

The coupons could be spent in brick-and-mortar stores in sectors including catering and tourism across the province. The consumption, however, must be completed before May 6.

Compared with gifts and pick-up coupons, officials said e-coupons are more flexible, and its term of validity can also encourage the recipients to consume as soon as possible, thus helping tide the real economy, especially the small and medium businesses in the service sector, over the epidemic.

In early March, Chinese authorities released a guideline aimed at boosting consumption and unleashing the potential of the domestic market to cushion the blow of the ongoing epidemic on economic activities.

A number of Chinese cities have answered the call by rolling out voucher programs. The city of Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province recently launched a sales promotion campaign with a raft of enterprises providing consumers with vouchers and coupons worth around 20 billion yuan.

Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, has announced the issuance of over 300 million yuan of vouchers to its residents and those in difficulties to spur spending and accelerate the resurgence of its service industry.

Chinese online retailer Suning.com also distributed vouchers worth 500 million yuan (about 70.4 million U.S. dollars) to its users nationwide to encourage them to purchase goods at its online and offline stores.
Actress Radhika Apte recently made a visit to a hospital in London, where she is currently quarantining with her musician husband Benedict Taylor.

The actress, who keeps travelling back and forth throughout the year to spend time with her husband, on Thursday took to Instagram to share a picture of herself from a hospital, leaving fans worried about her health amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even though the real reason for her visit remains unknown at the moment, Radhika clarified that it wasn't for coronavirus.

She also revealed that there was nothing to worry and she was doing absolutely fine. In the image, Radhika can also be seen wearing a mask.

She wrote: "Hospital visit! Not for COVID - 19." She accompanied her posts with the hashtags #Nothingtoworry, #alliswell and #safeandquarantined." Gully Boy actor Vijay Varma commented on her post: "OMG. Take care dear... God bless you."

Radhika recently flew into London from Mumbai to be with her husband. She also detailed her hassle-free experience of going through immigration at London's Heathrow Airport and also responded to messages from her well-wishers concerned about her safety.

"For all the many messages I received from friends and colleagues with concern and curiosity - I'm back in London safely. There was no issue at immigration. It was rather empty and had a wonderful chat with them! The Heathrow express was literally empty and barely anyone at Paddington either. That's all for now! Thank you for all messages," Radhika had shared upon arriving in London.
An explosion has occurred along Akure-Owo expressway, a few kilometres from the Akure metropolis.

Residents of the area said they believe the explosion was caused by bombs, although the police are still investigating the matter.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on Saturday.

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Tee-Leo Ikoro, told PREMIUM TIMES the police had received the report of the explosion but was yet to ascertain what exactly caused the explosion.

Some reports on social media suggest that the explosion emanated from bombs being transported along the way by security personnel.

The blast caused panic among residents of Akure, Obaile, Eleyowo, Iluabo, Osi and other neighbouring settlements along the stretch of the highway.

A church, Possibility Church, was damaged by the explosion, a resident of the area said.

The Commissioner of Police and I are on our way to the scene right now, Mr Ikoro said.

People gathered at the site where the explosion happened in Akure. [PHOTO CREDIT: Twitter; Rayshell]

Once we are able to assess the situation, we can come clear as to what actually happened and I will let you get the details.

Details later
Undocumented immigrants who present a credible case for asylum in the U.S. are entitled to a prompt hearing for release on bond while their cases are pending, a federal appeals court ruled Friday, rejecting the Trump administrations argument for indefinite detention.

The Constitution entitles individuals to a hearing before a neutral decision maker before being deprived of liberty, a standard that applies once a person is standing on U.S. soil, regardless of the legality of his or her entry, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said in a 2-1 ruling.

The ruling largely upheld an injunction issued by a federal judge in Seattle in July, blocking Attorney General William Barrs order in April to keep asylum-seekers behind bars while immigration courts considered their cases. That review often takes more than a year.

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman ordered immigration judges to hold the bail hearings within seven days. The appeals court later halted that aspect of her injunction, requiring only that hearings be held promptly, a period that has ranged from several days to as long as three months, according to American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Michael Tan. He said the case affects several thousand detained asylum-seekers nationwide.

In Fridays ruling, the court said Pechman had not cited evidence to support the seven-day timetable, and told her to conduct further proceedings. But the case may instead be headed for the Supreme Court, since  as dissenting Judge Bridget Bade pointed out  another appeals court ruled recently that lower federal courts in immigration cases can issue injunctions only to protect individual noncitizens, not entire groups.

Congress, in a 1996 law, wanted to prevent lower courts from issuing sweeping injunctions against deportations, said Bade, an appointee of President Trump.

In the majority opinion, Chief Judge Sidney Thomas said the law allows injunctions to protect groups of people, each of whom is in individual proceedings and facing an immediate violation of their rights. Thomas and Judge Michael Hawkins, who joined his opinion, were both appointed by President Bill Clinton, who signed the 1996 law.

The case applies to immigrants who were in the United States when they were arrested, or turned themselves in, and then applied for asylum on the grounds that they would face persecution in their homeland. If an asylum officer finds that they have presented a credible case, the ruling allows them to apply for release on bond  if they are not shown to present a danger to the community or a risk of flight  rather than being deported immediately.

Later, at their asylum hearing, they must show a well-founded fear of persecution to be granted refuge and legal status.

The ACLUs Tan said the ruling shows that the Trump administration cannot bypass the Constitution by arbitrarily locking people up.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
An anonymous customer left a $10,000 tip in a US restaurant. This incident took place a day prior, when the state's governor ordered the closure of the Florida restaurant, to shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, as per reports. The customer had left $10,000 tip to be divided among the staff of the restaurant and it was evenly distributed amongst Skillets 20 staff with everyone receiving $500.

The proprietor of Skillets in Naples, Florida, Ross Edlund, mentioned on the Facebook web page of the restaurant that the gesture reveals there are nonetheless truly fantastic people in the world. Edlund reportedly said that they have an amazing Skillets family which extends to their guests as well and that he couldn't be happier to be a part of a community where this type of generosity exists.

READ: WATCH: Great White Shark Leaps Out Of The Water, Snatches Boy's Fish Mid-air In This Goose-bumps Inducing Video

Anonymous tip

Edlund further added that he doesnt know who he was. Ross Edlund added that it was bizarre for him to see a customer leaving such a big amount of tip because they have regulars who have been coming in forever, and they are their friends but they don't always know their names. He reportedly said that his staff knows the faces of their customers, their orders, their favorite tables, but not exactly who they are.

READ: Woman Pushes Priest Off The Stage During Mass In Brazil, Video Goes Viral

Read: US: Total COVID-19 Cases Cross 104,000, Death Stoll Stands At 1,704

Edlund, the owner of the Skillets restaurant, owns a total of 10 Skillets restaurants, from which, he had to lay off 90 per cent of his 200 employees. However, eight of his restaurants are still operating and offering takeout service with a skeleton staff, as per reports. While the entire world continues to be gripped in an envelope of fear and anticipation amid the coronavirus pandemic and nations continue to slide under the imposition of a lockdown, people have been advised to practice social distancing and work from home.

READ: WATCH: Great White Shark Leaps Out Of The Water, Snatches Boy's Fish Mid-air In This Goose-bumps Inducing Video

READ: Erdogan Halts Flights, Rail Travel In Bid To Contain Virus
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder Noubar Afeyan, and IDeA Foundation Co-founder, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and UWC Dilijan International School Co-founder Ruben Vardanyan, Lord Ara Darzi, Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College, London, McKinsey & Company executive Andre Andonian and Dr. David Nabarro participated in an online conference today titled COVID-19: Challenging General Fear.

During the online webinar the participants shared views on the current situation around the globe and also in Armenia caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In his remarks Dr. David Nabarro said in order to be protected from coronavirus its necessary to understand what kind of a disease it is. In terms of fighting the virus he made comparisons with other pandemics faced by humanity.

Thereafter, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan introduced the panelists on the COVID-19 situation in Armenia and the countrys fight against the disease.

In the fight against coronavirus we isolate patients and urge citizens to self-quarantine if they had contacted infected people. We also isolate those citizens who are coming from the risky countries. At this moment the number of these countries is nearly 20, the minister said.

Noubar Afeyan informed that the vaccine created by his company is currently at the stage of clinical testing. He expressed hope that the results will be ready in spring.

McKinsey & Company executive Andre Andonian commented on the topic from the perspective of economic impact. He said there are several scenarios in terms of the COVID-19 economic impact, from the best to the worst. Mr. Andonian said coronavirus will have the greatest impact on the US economy after the Second World War.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19. Cases of coronavirus have been reported in over 195 countries.

In Armenia, the total number of confirmed cases is 372 according to the latest data. 28 patients have recovered. One death case has been registered on March 26.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
This is the emotional moment doctors treating patients suffering from the coronavirus were serenaded by well-wishers. The crowd gathered at the Covid-19 response unit at The Medical City hospital in Pasig City in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines on Friday afternoon (March 27th). Footage shows how one man played a guitar and others sang a pop song as several medics all wearing full protective suits stood in the doorway. The group singing to the coronavirus frontline medical staff included nurses, security guards and other hospital staff. Head nurse Alexis Mago, who is one of those singing and recording the video, said: ''We think of ways to boost the morale of our fellow nurses, most especially those nurses assigned on COVID-19 floors. We came up with serenading since we cant physically hug them.'' Official data suggests more than 1,075 Covid-19 infections and 68 deaths as of March 28. However, the actual number is likely to be much higher due to the difference in testing and recording methods. The government in the Philippines has imposed full-scale community lockdowns, curfews and rationing as it attempts to stop the spread of the pandemic in the country.
27.03.2020 LISTEN

The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Amos Blessing Amorse, says he cannot wrap his head over why the Akufo Addo-led government went to court to overturn a decision to halt mass registering of people at a time coronavirus was fast spreading across the country.

"When you analyze what is happening under the Akufo Addo government, the only reasonable conclusion you could come to is that common sense has gone on vacation under this government," Mr Amorse said in an interview.

According to him the government need not wait for private citizens to go to court to stop the National Identification Authority from registering people, adding that "immediately the President gave the directive, all agencies under him ought to have halted their operations but he looked on and probably goaded them to continue the registration in furtherance of his ambition of holding on to power".

"It is sad that the same people who the private citizens went to court to protect are the same people whose taxes were used to procure a lawyer from the President's private law firm to clear the road for the NIA to continue it's nonsense. Ghanaians have never elected such a heartless person as President," he added.

A High Court in Accra has dismissed an injunction application seeking to stop the National Identification Authority from continuing with its registration in the Eastern Region.

According to the court, the NIA's decision to go ahead with the registration is not against the President's directive suspending all public gatherings.

The Judge, Justice Anthony Oppong explained that the directive did not stop operations of businesses but rather asked operators to observe certain protocols including social distancing.

He further added that the function of NIA as an agency of government never compromised in observing the protocols put in place.

Reacting to the judgment, the NDC deputy Regional Youth Organizer said though the judge has stated his opinion, "such a decision is, respectfully, bereft of common Sense. Judgments like this further deepen the judiciary's reputational crisis. Go on the street and interview Ghanaians on this judgment and you'll hear the things people are saying about the judiciary."

"Unfortunately for the President, though his wishes have been granted, the NIA cannot go ahead with the registration because they have long been injuncted in another suit at another High Court differently constituted," he explained.
Protesters from Mexico are shutting down the US-Mexican border for crossing amid fears that US travelers who are not tested for the COVID-19 may spread the virus in the country, says an article.

Blocking Entry

Sonora residents in the southern part of Arizona had promised to block traffic into Mexico for the second day after suspending a checkpoint on Wednesday.

The protesters wore face masks. Also, their face masks contain signs asking those who want to cross the US-Mexican border to "stay at home."

Beating the World's Record for the Total Number of COVID-19 Cases

The total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Mexico is not more than 500 while there are thousands in the United States.

In a recent article, the total COVID-19 cases in the US had surpassed 100,000 on Friday. Additionally, it had reported deaths of more than 1,500 individuals. It is now the first country in the world to report more than 100,000 cases of the deadly disease.

The Leaders of the Protest

The US-Mexican border was supposed to be closed due to the COVID-19 preventive measures of both countries. The only way to cross the border is if the purpose is for 'essential' business. However, the protesters claim that the closure and restrictions on crossing the US-Mexican border were not being enforced. Also, they claim that no tests were being conducted by authorities for those who are requesting to cross the border.

Check these out:

Health Screening Request

The leaders of the blockade were members of the group Sonorans for Health and Life. The group protested to call for medical testing to US citizens before they request entry to Mexico.

According to the group member of the Arizona Republic named Jose Luis Hernandez, there were no health screenings initiated by the federal government to those who request to cross the US-Mexican border. Their group went to Nogales to get the attention of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to act on the issue.

Recently, the president of Mexico had been the subject of criticisms for his light response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Calling for Enforcement on US-Mexican Border Crossings

The group had requested enforcement of the crossing ban on all Citizens of both the United States and Mexico for reasons such as medical treatment and tourism. Additionally, the group requests that the crossing ban applies to those who cross the border to study or work in the US.

According to the group, federal authorities should conduct medical testing for Mexican citizens who were deported from the United States.

The group had announced that it will block the DeConcini checkpoint again after it was shut down on Wednesday.

In Arizona, there are more than 400 reported infections caused by the novel coronavirus. Also, there is one reported death from the COVID-19 in every county that borders the US and Mexico.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday warned governments against treating infected coronavirus patients with medications not scientifically proven to fight the pathogen.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued the warning as cases of Covid-19, the respiratory ailment caused by the coronavirus that emerged in China late last year, surged worldwide, prompting health authorities to scramble to find treatments.

"We call on all individuals and countries to refrain from using therapeutics that have not been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of Covid-19," Tedros said. "The history of medicine is thrown with examples of drugs that worked on paper, or in a test tube, but didn't work in humans, or were actually harmful."

"During the most recent Ebola epidemic, for example, some medicines that were thought to be effective were found not to be as effective as other medicines, when they were compared during a clinical trial," he said. "We must follow the evidence. There are no short cuts."

Tedros did not name any individuals, including US President Donald Trump, who came under criticism for touting chloroquine " a medicine for malaria " as a treatment for Covid-19 patients.

In a press briefing on March 19, Trump, referring to the medication, said: "Normally the [US Food and Drug Administration] would take a long time to approve something like that, and it was approved very, very quickly and it's now approved, by prescription."

Soon after Trump's comments, the FDA said that chloroquine had not been approved for treating Covid-19 and that more tests were needed to determine its safety and effectiveness.

A day later, US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said evidence that chloroquine worked against Sars-CoV-2, the scientific name for the new coronavirus, was "anecdotal".

The effort to prove the medication's efficacy against the contagion, he said, "was not done in a controlled clinical trial, so you really can't make any definitive statement about it".

Story continues

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a news conference on the coronavirus on Friday. Photo: Reuters alt=World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a news conference on the coronavirus on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Many US media outlets have reported shortages of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, a newer derivative of chloroquine that is also used for malaria, since Covid-19 cases began to surge in the country.

Tedros also warned that "off-label" usage of medication " the prescribing of sanctioned drugs for other, unapproved purposes " to treat Covid-19 potentially threatens the health of many individuals not infected with the new illness.

"We need to ensure that using unproven drugs does not create a shortage of those medicines to treat diseases for which they have proven effective," the head of the UN agency said in the briefing.

Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
London, March 28 : Another six months in lockdown should be expected in order to prevent a second outbreak of the coronavirus in the UK, warned the country's deputy chief medical officer.

Jenny Harries revealed that some, but not all, draconian measures currently in place could be imposed until September, the express.co.uk said in a report on Thursday.

The lockdown has forced people to revise their lifestyles in a major way.

While speaking to the BBC, Harries said that the government did not want people to have to this for an unnecessarily long period of time.

But, she added: "We don't want to lift those measures (too soon) and find that we have a sudden upsurge and our efforts will have been wasted.

"Overall we are looking at a scenario of over a six-month period but not necessarily with a lock down of this level going on throughout that time.

"We are likely able to raise some of the measures as we go forward and keep in a very controlled pattern." Harries suggested that the number of patients currently being infected speeding up could start to plateau as the spread of it is slowed by people staying at home, the express.co.uk reported.

In the past week alone, 6,903 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK. The week before saw 2,710.

Meanwhile, Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London said that the British capital was "going to be very difficult in the next two to three weeks".

"All I would say is, with the lockdown now in place, those numbers are going to start to plateau. The challenge we have is there's a lag.

"The people being admitted to hospital right now were infected a week, two weeks, even sometimes three weeks ago, so without doubt the next one (or) two weeks are going to be very difficult," he added.

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus but would continue to discharge his duties from self-isolation.

He becomes the second high-profile British leader to test positive for coronavirus in recent days after Prince Charles, the heir to the the throne.

Some ministers in the Johnson government and MPs have also tested positive for COVID-19, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock whose announcement came shortly after the Prime Minister's.

The UK has so far reported 14,751 confirmed coronavirus cases with 761 deaths.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kabul, March 27 (IANS) The families of the people who were killed in terror attack on a gurudwara in Kabul earlier this week has demanded the Afghan government to launch an investigation into the massacre.

The Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the terror attack on the Sikh shrine in Kabul's Shorbazar area on Wednesday morning in which at least 25 members of the Sikh community were killed.

While one suicide bomber detonated himself at the entrance, three IS terrorists stormed the shrine when around 150 people were inside.

"We want investigations, our people have been killed," TOLO News reported on Thursday citing Dip Singh, the relative of a victim, as saying.

"In which book do you come to attack a mosque and attack a Dharamshala. In what religion does that happen?" said Andar Singh, another family member.

Children, who were studying in the gurdwara, said that gunmen killed their teachers In front of them.

"Three people came here. They did not see us and we were not killed. I wish I was killed. We Were hiding in a room," TOLO News quoted Gorjit, a witness, as saying.

"They had military clothes and opened fire. We have been killed completely, my father is dead, my grandfather is dead, and my sister has also died," said Hervina, another witness.

Afghanistan's miniscule Sikh community is a religious minority in the country. There are only about 300 members of the community remaining in the war-torn country.

--IANS

ksk/
Johnson & Johnson is one of several companies making donations to aid New Jerseys battle against the coronavirus.

The New Brunswick-based pharmaceutical company pledged to donate 10,000 goggles for New Jerseys healthcare workers.

Those at the front lines are our colleagues, family members, customers and partners," said Michael Sneed, Johnson & Johnsons Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs & Chief Communication Officer. "So we join the millions around the world who put them front and center right now, to support them as they provide care amidst COVID-19.

Johnson & Johnson also announced on Friday the company was donating $50 million to the immediate COVID-19 response, aimed at aiding healthcare workers on the frontline of containing the pandemic.

The donation is coming from Johnson & Johnsons family of companies and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation.

Frontline health workers are integral to the global response to COVID-19, the company said in a release. "In hospitals, clinics and homes around the world, health workers are taking on significant personal risk and too often working without adequate equipment to ensure all of us can receive the care we need. The current crisis is demonstrating the essential, tireless, innovative and too-often undervalued role of health workers in ensuring strong, resilient health systems for everyone, everywhere.

Now more than ever, we are applying all of our capabilities to the needs of nurses, doctors, midwives and community health workers. This fight is not new for us nor will it end in weeks; our support will respond to urgent, short-term needs while building a thriving health workforce for the long-term.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey:





Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
EDUCATION

ALBANY LAW SCHOOL

Attorney Richard Rifkin has been named legal director at the Government Law Center at Albany Law School. Rifkin, who most recently served as special counsel and consultant to the New York State Bar Association, brings decades of experience in government to the position.

As legal director, Rifkin will assist the center in a number of key focus areas including rural law, aging law, the Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series and the Government Law Center Fellowship Program.

Rifkin received a bachelor's degree from Washington and Jefferson College and an LL.B. from Yale Law School. Since 1984, Rifkin has served as a member of the Chief Administrative Judge's Advisory Committee on Civil Practice, which recommends changes in civil procedure in New York State courts. He was an adjunct professor at Albany Law School teaching government ethics from 2002 to 2006.

HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Hudson Valley Community College has announced several new leaders in Academic Affairs.

Judith DiLorenzo has been named the college's new vice president of academic affairs, after serving for seven months in an interim capacity. Previously, she was the department chair for the college's Dental Hygiene department for 19 years and before that served on the faculty. She has a master's degree in social policy and adult learning from SUNY Empire State College; a bachelor's degree in health science from Northeastern University; a dental hygiene certificate from the Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists; and an associate degree in dental science from Northeastern University.

Patricia Klimkewicz has been named the college's new dean of health sciences after serving for six months in an interim capacity. She is a registered nurse and prior to becoming dean, worked as a professor in the college's Nursing department for 19 years. She is also a commander in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. Klimkewicz has a doctorate in health services from Walden University; a master's degree in nursing and an MBA, both from the Sage Graduate School; a bachelor's degree in nursing from Russell Sage College; and an associate degree in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College.

Jonathan Ashdown has been named the college's new dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math after serving for six months in an interim capacity. He was an assistant professor in the college's Electrical Engineering Technology program for more than eight years. He holds a doctor of philosophy in electrical engineering, an MBA, and both a master's and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, all from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; as well as an associate degree in engineering science from Hudson Valley.

Deborah Shoemaker has been named the Associate Dean of Community and Educational Partnerships at the college. She served as the college's director of community and professional education for more than 13 years. She has a master's degree in education from the Sage Graduate School and a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a concentration in history from Russell Sage College.

Tara Bocketti has been named the director of community and professional education at the college after working for six years as assistant director under Deb Shoemaker. She has an MBA and a bachelor's degree in business, both from the University at Albany.

SUNY PRESS

State University of New York Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Tod Laursen announced the appointment of Tim Stookesberry as director of SUNY Press. Stookesberry is charged with shaping SUNY Press's developing role in the publishing landscape of the twenty-first century  advancing the commitments made by SUNY and New York State to open access and open educational resources, and leveraging SUNY Press's home in what is the country's largest public university system to support scholars and collaborators from across SUNY and around the world.

With more than 20 years of executive-level experience in publishing, Stookesberry most recently served as senior vice president and general manager at John Wiley & Sons, where he was responsible for the strategic leadership of the higher education business, including developing and executing plans that helped Wiley transform its digital product portfolio with a variety of eBooks, online collections and digital courseware. Prior to joining Wiley in 2010, Stookesberry held various editorial, marketing and sales roles in higher education at both McGraw-Hill and Pearson.

FINANCIAL

BENDER LANE ADVISORY

Steve Pardo has joined Bender Lane Advisory as a compliance officer.

Corinne Gileski has joined Bender Lane Advisory as a personal accounting associate.

GLENS FALLS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST CO.

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. has promoted Brooke Pancoe to senior vice president and director of human resources for the Arrow Family of Companies.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Pancoe joined Glens Falls National Bank in 2018 as vice president of human resources. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Clark University and a master's in business administration from The University at Albany.

ULTIMUS LEVERPOINT

Habib Agha joined Ultimus LeverPoint as a senior accountant II. Agha holds a bachelor of science in accounting from Siena College. Agha previously worked as an advisory management consultant at KPMG in Albany.

Alexandra Sidoti joined Ultimus LeverPoint as a treasury clerk. She holds a bachelor's degree in the College of Arts & Sciences at The State University of New York at Albany. She previousl worked as a solutions specialist at SEFCU.

Salman Saeed also joined as a treasury clerk. He holds

an associate's degree in business administration from Hudson Valley Community College and is expected to graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in accounting from CUNY College of Staten Island. Saeed previously worked as a retail loan servicing specialist at SEFCU in Albany.

Gregory Van Voort joined as a staff accountant. He holds a

bachelor of science in management from The College of Saint Rose and an Online Financial Accounting Certificate from Harvard Business School. He previously worked as an Apple operations specialist.

Byron Norsworthy joined as a staff accountant II and holds a bachelor of arts in English from Cornell University. He is pursuing an accounting degree from Empire State College. He previously worked at Steven Ellwanger, CPA, LLC in Saratoga Springs.

HEALTHCARE

SOUTHWESTERN VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER

Internal Medicine practice at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center has added Geriatrics Physician Lisa J. Downing-Forget. With this appointment, Downing-Forget also joins the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Medical Group. She will see patients who are 65 years old and older.

Downing-Forget completed a family medicine residency at the University of Rochester and earned her medical degree from Charles Drew University of the University of California Los Angeles. She also holds a master's degree in public health from the University of California Los Angeles and a bachelor's degree in human development & family studies from Cornell University in New York.
LOS ANGELES  If you were wondering how long the coronavirus outbreak will keep the Disneyland and the Walt Disney World resorts closed, youll have to keep wondering.

After closing in mid-March with the promise to reopen by the end of the month, Disney announced Friday that both parks would remain closed until further notice.

The Walt Disney Co. said it has been paying its employees since the parks closed and in light of this ongoing and increasingly complex crisis, we have made the decision to extend paying hourly parks and resort cast members through April 18.

The announcement is not surprising considering that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has recommended that all gatherings over 250 people be canceled. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday that residents should be prepared to stay at home until May.

In Anaheim home of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park, the city posted a message on its website, urging residents to stay at home as much as possible.

Universal Studios Hollywood and the Universal Orlando Resort also closed March 14 but announced earlier this week that they would remain closed until April 19 because of the coronavirus outbreak. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park also remained closed.

For people who have annual passes to the Disneyland resort, the park said in an online posting that the annual passes will be extended based on how long the parks will be closed. Annual pass holders who are making monthly payments, however, must continue to make payments as usual.

To shore up the hard-hit media giant that had also pulled high-profile movies releases and suspended cruise ship sailings, the Walt Disney Co. said last week that it had raised nearly $6 billion in a debt offering.

Disney, in its regulatory filings, said it planned to use proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes, including restructuring existing debt, making acquisitions, buying back shares or investing in its various business units.

The impact of the closing of the Disneyland Resort could be steep for hotels, shops and tour companies in Anaheim.

A study released last year by California State University, Fullertons Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting estimated that the resort generates $8.5 billion in economic activity each year for the Southern California economy and is responsible for 78,000 jobs, mostly in Orange County.

The resort also generates $510 million in state and local taxes, with nearly $162 million going to the city of Anaheim, according to the study.



Hugo Martin of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story.

2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Official advice on COVID-19 is being translated into more languages amid fears some ethnic communities are not getting enough information about the crisis.

The Department of Health has published information in seven major languages other than English and is working on more but there are particular concerns for smaller communities who have not been in Australia long and may lack social and family networks.

There are calls for official COVID-19 information to be made available in more languages. Credit:AAP

Mohammad Al-Khafaji, chief executive of the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, said there was a lack of information for multicultural communities.

"We are concerned that there is not enough information being translated into different languages, especially for emerging communities," he said.
SPRINGFIELD  The social distancing guidelines that led Illinois county fairs to cancel off-season events on their grounds through the end of April is one part of a financial impact double-whammy, a trade official said.

Many local fairs use revenue from off-season events and activities to pay the bills, said Ken Tyrrell, president of the states Association of Agricultural Fairs.

Guidelines from Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office regulating the number of people allowed to congregate shrank over the past few weeks from 1,000 to 50 to, finally, 10. County fairs canceled expositions, contests and other events back when that number was 250.

The other problem, Tyrrell said, is a delay in reimbursements from the comptrollers office for costs incurred last year. Under statute, the state is responsible for paying county fairs 66.67 percent of what organizers spent on agricultural premiums. That includes activities related to horticulture, poultry, livestock, horse races and rodeos.

Tyrrell said fair organizers have never received that  in recent years, they were reimbursed 25 percent of eligible costs.

Thats beginning to hurt a lot of fairs in the state of Illinois. Were told its been at the comptrollers office since December, he said. Possibly if the state would pay their bills, it would really help fairs.

A spokesperson from Comptroller Susana Mendozas office did not return a request for comment by time of publication.

County fairs in Illinois begin hosting their main events in June. If the novel coronavirus pandemic continues into the summer, forcing fairs to begin cancelling, Tyrrell said it would be devastating.

If a fair is canceled, expected revenue needed to pay laborers to maintain the grounds is lost, for example. Marla Calico, president of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions, added they additionally would lose vendor deposits and presale ticket money.

Many downstate fairs struggle getting along as it is. They dont have money put away or deep pockets. All of them struggle, Tyrrell said. Any time you lose revenue, its going to affect the fair.

According to IAFE data, most county fairs across the country are scheduled for July, but events largely begin in June, extend strongly into August and wind down in September.

Member county fairs told Calico they are taking a wait-and-see attitude, choosing not to close unless forced to do so by public health authorities because many times, they are the single largest economic driver in the community.

She said county fair cancellations would cause an entire ripple effect.

Its not just the funds that not-for-profit organizations may gain and do good within the community when they give out scholarships to young people, Calico said. Its the small businesses all around them  the gas station benefits, the hotels benefit, the cafes and restaurants benefit.

According to a study commissioned by the IAFE, fairs in the U.S. are estimated to generate $4.67 billion in economic activity annually. A survey of the associations members found that number is already down $66 million due to 320 fairs forced to shut down 10,578 events thus far this year.

Events at the Illinois State Fairgrounds have been canceled through April, While Kevin Gordon, Illinois State Fair manager, said in a written statement that will have a financial impact, our priority, first and foremost, is the health and safety of those individuals holding, and attending these events, along with our department support staff.

He added the Coliseums renovation and reopening means more events than typical over the past few years had been scheduled and subsequently called off.

Our staff is working diligently to reschedule any shows that have been canceled by this temporary closure, Gordon said in the statement. Once we get through this uncertainty that we are all facing, we are anticipating another great spring and summer of events on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Tyrrell is the vice president of the Sandwich Fairs board in northern Illinois DeKalb County, one of the largest in the state in terms of fair entrants. He said county organizers of summer events have not yet discussed fair cancellations, and also are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Im being optimistic, and Im thinking this will take care of itself by the first of June, he said. The main concern right now is that weve lost revenue from cancelling off-season events and lost revenue, and the state of Illinois not paying us what were entitled to.

Fairs have been around since before the founding of the country, so its something I believe is really a part of America, Tyrrell continued. As I said, I think we need to calm down and I have all the faith in the world well have a fair season this year.

Fairgrounds across the country that cleared their spring calendar are being repurposed to assist in the COVID-19 effort, Calico added. Grounds in Ohio, Missouri and Washington are operating drive-through testing facilities and one in West Virginia is using its indoor facilities to house community partners to package meals for school children.

The Illinois State Fairgrounds and many other locations throughout the state have been identified as possible future community based drive-thru testing sites, a spokesperson for the Illinois Management Agency said in an email. However, further evaluation is needed before any decisions can be made.

Our members are going to step up to the plate  thats what they do, Calico said. Each and every single one of us is a citizen of this world and must do what we must do to protect our family and neighbors.
Police have appealed for information after Covid-19 posters were destroyed and a defibrillator was ripped from a wall during an incident in Co Fermanagh.

The incident took place on Main Street, Lisnaskea on Friday night.

Shortly before 10:10pm it was reported that posters displaying public health information in relation to Covid-19 had been ripped off a wall on the street and a defibrillator was pulled from its box on a wall outside a shop on the same street.

It was also reported a number of males were banging on doors and had been seen running away from the area.

Police attended the scene and while they did not locate any males they located the defibrillator.

It wasn't damaged and officers were able to return it to its box.

Chief Inspector Graham Dodds described the incident as "despicable".

These posters and the defibrillator are there for a specific reason, to protect the public and save lives, but what occurred on Main Street last night was reckless and I would appeal to anyone who knows who was responsible to pick up the phone and tell us by calling 101 and quoting reference number 1765 of 27/03/20 or call Crimsteoppers on 0800 555 111," he said.



"Now, more so than ever, it is critical everyone follows the advice from public health officials and government about COVID-19.



"We all have a responsibility to safeguard ourselves and work with each other to keep all the people of Northern Ireland safe."
To one generation, Karsh Kale needs no introduction he is one of the pioneers who defined the Asian Underground musical scene of the early 90s. To another generation, he is the guy who scored the famous Train song for Gully Boy (2019). Point this out, and he laughs. Because Kale has always been fiercely protective of his independent artiste tag, and it is ironic that he is known to GenZ for a film song.

I have experienced situations where I knew it was my skin tone that didnt land me the gig!

I am 45 and I have been doing this for too long to be swayed by adulation, he says. The joy of making music is what you have written and not what happens after the track is released. It is not because you have got so many likes on YouTube, but because you believed in that piece of work before anyone else even heard it. Everything else  numbers and views  is just an illusion.

Brush with Bollywood

Kale admits that if he had such success with a film song early in his career, he might have made more of the praise. Now, however, with a long view of different music scenes, pop, electronica, rap, Bollywood, it does not matter so much.

I always knew my relationship with Bollywood would be intermittent, he explains. However, I have always been roped in when a unique approach was required for an interesting story. So I have never been a Bollywood go-to-guy, but an alternative. This is a position I enjoy.

People assume the bigger audience base you reach, the better. For me, that has never been the case!

The record producer, songwriter, composer and DJ has collaborated with the likes of the late Pandit Ravi Shankar, the Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Anoushka Shankar, Nora Jones, Sting, Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Amel Larrieux, and Bill Laswell. Recently, he worked with Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash to create an album called Infinity.

Last year, Karsh Kale had one of the biggest Bollywood hits to his credit (Aalok Soni)

While explaining how each piece of music has its own journey, Kale reveals that he was working with Ankur Tewari, his frequent collaborator, for another Bollywood film. We were doing the music for Tumbbad (2018) but those were initial days. It was very experimental, ambient, non-language music with alien-sounding vocals. The movie took a different path and the music was too out there for the project. So we put it out as a single called Little Whale. It was released the same month as Gully Boy.

I am 45 and I have been doing this for too long to be swayed by adulation

It is not always necessary to have a huge release. People always assume that the bigger audience base you reach the better. For me that has never been the case. I have always admired people like Zakir Hussain and Peter Gabrielpeople who made artistic choices and kept the integrity of what they do alive, never letting their music get exploited.

Not a one-trick pony

Kale refuses to be pigeon-holed into any particular music scene. The moment I realise doors are closing, I jump out and do something entirely different. I would hate to be a one-trick pony, says the multi-hyphenate musician, who at this phase of his life, prefers to call himself a composer. For decades I loved travelling and performing live more than anything else. Nowadays, I seek situations that require me to stay in one place for a while. I like being a composer. I often play the piano for fun because I have a lot of music stirring inside me. I still enjoy performing, but Im finding a new balance with it now. I think music producer is the best way to describe all that I do.

He became a household name in India with MTV Indias music incubation project, Coke Studio. I did one season on Coke Studio. I had a very mass audience, but that audience knew only just that side of me. That was a particular sound more geared towards the Indian audience, he recalls.

Far from the maddening crowd

Kale seems a tad disappointed with the live music scene today. For me, playing live is always about capturing the moment, he says. There is that dichotomy of a well-rehearsed show, with one piece where I flip it on the artistes I play with. That is what makes every live show a unique experience. Otherwise it is a recital.

I would hate to be a one-trick pony

He describes the performances of today as video games because there is so much light and electronica. I dont understand why 10,000 people want to stand and stare at a DJ waving his arms around and swaying to music that keeps the same tempo for two hours. There is nothing spontaneous in the shows. People are happy with the same thing that they listen to on YouTube.

The breakout musician

Kale was the first Indo-American musician to have signed a solo recording contract in the United States. He dropped a self-produced EP in 2000 and followed it up with his debut solo album, Realize (2001). He also joined Tabla Beat Science, a musical group whose members included Bill Laswell, tabla player Zakir Hussain, percussionist Trilok Gurtu, sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan and electronica artist Talvin Singh, among others.

He agrees that today the international scene is looking better than ever for Indian artists. America is currently having a Brown revolution of sorts. Indians are thriving in film and TV as well as comedy, music, politics. You would be hard pressed today to find a show or movie without an Indian character. This is very different from our generations experience, he says, recollecting his teenage years. I was isolated. We were living in Long Island which had very few Indians. So Indian music was my way of holding on to something that felt very distant in terms of culture and my own identity. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder and a lot of early hip-hop. At home, my dad played a lot of Hindi film music and Indian classical music by Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and of course a lot of Zakir Hussain.

Kale was the first Indo-American musician to have signed a solo recording contract in the United States (Aalok Soni)

In fact Zakir Hussain did a lot of fusion in those days. Him, Trilok Gurtu, Bill Laswell are the people I listened to in the 80s. It was not electronic music, but a different kind of fusion. They were already opening the doors for us.

I always knew my relationship with Bollywood would be intermittent

However, Kale has Bollywood to thank for his music career. Well, in a way! The film music from the 60s and 70s influenced how he approaches his own musical stories, he says, but it was a trip to Bombay in 1978, when he was four years old, that decided the course of his musical journey. We spent a couple of days with one of my fathers best friends. He was a composer in the film industry, and had a living room full of instruments. I, however, was drawn instinctively to the tabla.

When West met East

Kales tabla-playing Indianness was confined to his Long island house. Outside, he was a rock drummer! I never really tried to merge the two until I was in college. But then I started producing electronic music, trying to incorporate tabla. I realised soon that I was not the only one doing this. There was a movement brewing simultaneously in London and India and all over the world. It was about making sense of the confused identity of the diaspora. It was the 90s! There was no social media, but we were on the streets, pasting posters on top of other peoples posters! We were very competitive. We would go door to door, he says.

When anything goes mainstream, it quickly becomes a cookie cutter version of itself... thus watering down the sentiment that made it rise to the mainstream in the first place

Before this, the Indian music scene was for Indians only. Now young artists of Indian origin wanted to open it to the world. We were inviting people to share our culture, telling them who we are, says Kale. Everything was an experiment. In the 90s, many diasporic Indians changed the mainstreams view of what an Indian or Asian artist looks and sounds like.

It still wasnt easy though. Being a drummer and tabla player, I was often hired to be a session musician. However, on the live scene I experienced situations where I knew it was not my playing but my skin tone that didnt land me the gig. These experiences however, taught me to find my own niche and create something unique out of my own multicultural make-up, he says.

The rolling stone

Today, almost three decades on, Kale says his approach to music has changed. The older I get, the less I feel part of any scene. When I was younger, my music was informed by what was happening in the clubs and on the global fusion stage. Today, I listen to my inner muse without much concern for what styles are trending. Its a good thing to finally understand what makes me unique as an artist and a storyteller. Also the older I get, the less I feel the need to wave any flags, culturally or otherwise. I feel like a citizen of the world, and more a part of a continuum rather than a generation.

But he is buoyant about Indias simmering underground hip-hop scene finally bursting into the mainstream. Hip-hop is perhaps the biggest and most widely adopted genre around the world. I hope we see Indian MCs and producers working with hip-hop artists from all over the world, he says. He also points out that it can go either way from here. When anything goes mainstream, it quickly becomes a cookie cutter version of itself, imitated by those who know little about its history, thus watering down the sentiment that made it rise to the mainstream in the first place. Its up to those representing the genre to keep it evolving.

Kale is also evolving. I dont want the same things I did when I was 18, and I dont want to die doing the same thing. I have written a few scripts and I want to direct a film. But at the right time!

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From HT Brunch, March 29, 2020

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The woman waiting in the nearby car sat for a few minutes before stepping out.

The tunnel, as they call it, stretched out before her, flanked at either end by a solitary figure wearing a gown and surgical mask. As she nervously approached the arch of the green tarpaulin tent, the masked figure offered quiet words of instruction.

There would be someone inside to assist her further, there was nothing to fear. With that, she disappeared into the darkness. Minutes later, another patient appeared. Then another, and another. Soon they were all lined up, two metres apart, on the banks of the River Liffey, anxiously waiting to step inside the tunnel.

"There is a very stark human face to what we are doing here," Lieutenant Commander Phil Dicker told the Irish Independent.

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Whatsapp Ready for battle: Lieutenant Commander Phil Dicker on the Irish naval vessel the LE George Bernard Shaw, which is docked in Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren

"People are queuing up to be tested for this virus - kids, elderly, all ages, all colours, all creeds - and they are going into the absolute unknown. They have a mask on their face, they are met by people in gowns and masks.

"They're going into a long dark tunnel where they are not quite sure what is going to happen. They have a sickness of some sort, anyone who is here is sick, they are here for a reason, they have reached the criteria to be tested."

Operation Fortitude, the military response to the Covid-19 crisis, became a visible part of the Dublin city-centre skyline a little over a week ago. In scenes reminiscent of wartime, the LE George Bernard Shaw docked close to the Central Bank. Within hours, the Defence Forces erected a series of inflatable tents and a military base of sorts took form.

From inside these tents, staff from the national ambulance service are testing citizens for Covid-19. The majority are healthcare workers and since testing started on Sunday, their numbers are growing.

"We are due to see 300 today," said Lt Cmdr Dicker. "On Sunday we started with 126, then we had about 150 on Monday and 150 on Tuesday. What we are seeing here is actually quite a lot of the health workers. This is where they are being sent."

On Wednesday morning, as the crew of the LE George Bernard Shaw prepared for another day of testing, Lieutenant Cian Duggan, second in command, stood in the ship's control room. "It does tug on your heart strings when you are dealing with people out on the quay wall," he said.

"But this is something we are prepared for. We have seen it in the Mediterranean and many other operations throughout the history of the naval service."

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Whatsapp Lead medic Jonathan Miloudi on the Irish naval vessel LE George Bernard Shaw which is docked in Dublin. Pic:Mark Condren 27.3.2020

As well as Dublin, two other Irish Navy vessels are berthed in Cork and Galway to assist the HSE with testing. In the weeks, maybe months ahead, the vessels will act as support bases for onshore testing centres - with testing staff supported by electricity supplies, food preparation, water and equipment storage on the berthed vessels. There is, however, another important element to their work, the human element.

"Keeping the morale of the HSE staff is a big part of this," said Lt Duggan.

"We are looking after the welfare of HSE staff by providing things like tea and coffee and masks. Our task is to assist them in any way we can."

As the most recent addition to the Irish naval fleet, this is the first big operational task for the LE George Bernard Shaw. Testing is not being done on the ship, but the process starts on board when the lists of patients due to be tested comes in via email.

From two lists, one generated by the HSE and one from GP referrals, a single one is generated, printed off and brought to the tents. This part of the process has strict protocols. The entire ship is a "clean zone" and anyone stepping on or off the ship must adhere to stringent cleaning criteria. Hands must be thoroughly sanitised at two points on the gangway, protective gear shed and disposed of at dedicated points, direct contact with suspected cases forbidden.

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Lead medic Jonathan Miloudi oversees screening for every person who steps on board. As a military medic, he is trained to operate amid chaos, with insufficient infrastructure and resources. "We are taking every precaution," he said.

"It's my job to keep everybody healthy so that they can assist the HSE. That means enforcing all the guidelines, knowing all the symptoms of this virus and ensuring everyone is screened thoroughly."

Lt Duggan, like many others on the 47-person crew, is drawing significantly on experience gained during missions in the Mediterranean. Operation Sophia, the European Union's military mission to rescue migrants in the southern Mediterranean Sea, saw Irish naval personnel rescue 18,000 people.

"A lot of that experience transfers directly here," he said.

"For example, we are organising people that are frightened, possibly very ill, otherwise they wouldn't be turning up. So it's about putting them at ease, it's getting them ordered and tested."

The symbolic significance of the vessel has not been lost on Dublin locals, who this week spoke of their relief at seeing the naval presence in the city. For the crew, a Monday evening walk through the deserted streets hammered home just how stilted the nation currently is.

"These are uncertain times," said Lt Duggan. "But we are here 24/7 and we are on standby to help the HSE. We will be a constant presence as this battle goes on and we will be here, dealing with this head on. We know that for the people of Dublin to see the Tricolour flying off a state ship brings reassurance."

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Not for the first time, Covid-19 is being described as the "invisible enemy". For the unit stationed in Sir John Rogerson's Quay, specific training on how to respond to chemical, biological and radiological/nuclear (CBRN) incidents is now being put to use at home.

"Essentially we are dealing with a bio-hazard," said Lt Cmdr Dicker. "From a personal point of view and from the ship's point of view we know how to manage a biological hazard, which is what we are dealing with here. The virus is the enemy. It's an invisible enemy, but the enemy has friends, it has allies."

On Wednesday, as patients passed through the tunnel outside, Lt Cmdr Dicker was joined below in the officer's mess by members of the crew currently assigned to the Covid-19 mission.

Who in the country isn't afraid of this virus?

Among them was 27-year-old Able Seaman Conor Kelly. After eight years in the Navy, he was recently signed off for discharge when Covid-19 suddenly took hold.

"My dad is a paramedic in the North. I was at home after being discharged, listening to him coming in from work, telling me how bad it was. I realised I had to do something so he's doing his part and I'm back doing mine."

Petty Officer chef Aileen Hanna is providing food on a daily basis to the crew and reservists.

"We all have family and friends at home that might have underlying illnesses and they are worried. We all are. I'm happy to do my part. We are taking this very seriously and we feel the same. We are here to protect and defend," she said.

Nestled together in the belly of their ship, the gathered crew spoke of their desire to see this fight through until the end.

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They too are facing an uncertain future. They are everything the Defence Forces should be, combative, patriotic and steadfast, but they are also human. As the officers fall silent amid a break in conversation, Ltd Cmdr Dicker responds to a question everyone in the county is quietly asking themselves.

"Are you afraid of this virus?"

After a momentary pause he answered, visibly emotional as he delivered a sobering reply. "Who in the country isn't afraid of this virus?" he said.

"It's OK to be afraid. It's OK to be anxious. It's how you focus that anxiety and what you do. The key message is, you don't have to be out there manning an ambulance. You don't have to be doing what we are doing. You can stay at home, you can wash your hands, that's the key message. Our previous generation were asked to go to war, our generation have been asked to stay at home. Simple as that."
Zhangs family has argued that social workers Thomas Miebach and Jennifer Maupin should have done more when Brendt Christensen, who was later convicted of kidnapping the scholar, told them months before her disappearance of his fascination with serial killers and that he had purchased items to move and dispose of a body, The News-Gazette reported.
In every Hollywood disaster movie, New York somehow finds itself at the centre of it all. It is a peril of being the most recognisable city in the world that it always seems to bear the brunt of the alien invasions, environmental collapse and the deadly storms. This time is no different.

Over the past week, this city has become the new epicentre of the global coronavirus pandemic. New York now accounts for roughly a quarter of the 100,000 infections in the whole United States. More than 450 people have now died of the virus here, as of Saturday.

The city has not yet reached the peak of its crisis, and yet medical facilities are already close to breaking point. On the same day that the United States overtook China as the country with the most infections in the world, 13 people died in one day, at just one hospital, in Queens.

Makeshift morgues, made from white dome tents, have appeared outside of several hospitals in preparation for the dead. A line of refrigerated trucks stood in waiting at Bellevue hospital. Sirens blaze through the night all over the five boroughs.

One of the floors in the hospital is just a coronavirus floor, one exhausted hospital worker, taking a break outside of a Manhattan hospital, told The Independent. The emergency room is only dealing with coronavirus patients, nothing else.

Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Show all 26 1 /26 Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town An empty street in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease in New York City Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town A cab drives down at Seventh Avenue in Times Square Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Syracuse University campus is seen almost empty as number of universities are moving all classes to e-learning, due to the coronavirus outbreak Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen near Lincoln tunnel Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan An empty restaurant Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty chairs are seen near Hudson yards Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan An empty restaurant Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town A mobile souvenir shop sits in an empty parking lot at Allianz Field as a match between the New York Red Bulls at Minnesota United FC is postponed USA Today Sports/Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan An empty Jacob K Javits Convention Center Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Syracuse University A person sits in an empty eating hall Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty parking lots Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Jacob K Javits Convention Center Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Seventh Avenue Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty retail stores Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen outside the New York Times building Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty parking lots Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Reuters

At that same hospital, The Independent witnessed a steady stream of ambulances arrive to drop off patients, all of them elderly. Ambulance drivers carrying the patients were wearing only rudimentary face masks, rather than the full protective equipment needed for dealing with infected people.

Medical staff, already overwhelmed, are themselves contracting the virus. At Mount Sinai West, a hospital in Manhattan, a nurse who was treating coronavirus died this week. Staff at the hospital had been using garbage bags to protect themselves due to shortages of proper equipment.

Were all worried that we just wont have enough staff soon. Weve had people get sick here, said the hospital employee, who works in the emergency department.

Our closeness makes us vulnerable. But its true that your greatest weakness is also your greatest strength. And our closeness is what makes us who we are. That is what New York is. New York governor Andrew Cuomo

New York is experiencing what previous epicentres have already gone through  Wuhan in China, Lombardy in Italy and Seattle, Washington. But the strict quarantine measures that have been put in place across the world seem particularly jarring in New York, the city that never sleeps. Manhattans iconic avenues are empty of people and cars. The bright lights of Times Square bounce off the bare pavements.

Ive had one customer today, said Mohammad Noor, who runs a hot dog stand on the edge of the square. Everyone is scared. They are at home.

The only people moving are those who dont have the luxury of staying home  not just the doctors and nurses, but construction workers, delivery drivers, janitors and grocery clerks. Their presence disguises the true scale of the crisis.

In a grim milestone that demonstrated just how badly the city has been affected, New York received more emergency calls on Wednesday than it did on the day of its greatest trauma, September 11, 2001. More than 6,000 people dialled 911, according to emergency worker unions. It was not for nothing that the New York Daily News declared the city the Ground Zero of the coronavirus on its front page earlier this week.

New Yorks Times Square in the middle of the day during the coronavirus outbreak. (Richard Hall / The Independent ) (Richard Hall / The Independent)

The scale of the crisis has left many contemplating how it came to happen here, and how one of the richest states in the country was so unprepared. New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who has attracted praise for his handling of the crisis, posited that it was the citys unique openness that made it vulnerable.

Answer one is because we welcome people from across the globe... And I have no doubt that the virus was here much earlier than it was in any other state because those people come here first. Thats the first answer, he said on Wednesday.

The second is because we are close, because we live close to one another, because were close to one another on the street, because we live in close communities, because were close to one another on the bus, he added.

Our closeness makes us vulnerable. But its true that your greatest weakness is also your greatest strength. And our closeness is what makes us who we are. That is what New York is.

New York is the most densely populated city in the US, with some 27,000 residents per square mile. It dwarves the closest city of San Francisco, which has 18,000. That is true of other global cities, however, which havent seen the same explosion of cases.

Another reason for New Yorks high rate of infection could have something to do with the number of tests being carried out. Following a slow start, during which time people with symptoms struggled to get tested, New York is now testing more aggressively than any other state  some 700 tests per 100,000 people.

Ted Steinberg, a historian of natural disasters in America and a Brooklyn native, agreed with Mr Cuomo that the citys closeness can be a blessing and a curse when disaster strikes.

The citys vibrant street life, the pounding excitement that people feel as they come up the stairs of Penn Station onto Seventh Avenue  these are the result of packing millions of people into one small spot on the planet, he said.

Density has positive social impacts and potentially positive ecological ones. But density also exacts a price when coastal storms make evacuation difficult if not impossible, and in cases like the current one in which closeness is looking every day more and more like the kiss of death, said professor Steinberg, who teaches history at Case Western Reserve University.

As the worst-affected area in the country, the city and state of New York is now serving as a test case for Americas response to the crisis, both political and practical.

Governor Cuomos press briefings have become essential viewing not just for New Yorkers, but for the rest of the country  places which may soon find themselves facing the same issues.

The problem for New York, much like elsewhere, has been capacity  having enough beds and medical equipment to deal with the surge of patients flooding the hospitals. Much of Mr Cuomos daily televised appeals have focused on bridging the gap between the number of hospital beds needed for the coming apex of the crisis, from the 53,000 it has now to an estimated 140,000. More crucially, he added, New York will also need an additional 30,000 ventilators to deal with the coming increase in severe hospitalisations.

That peak is expected to arrive roughly three weeks from now. But these shortfalls cannot be met by the state alone. Washington passed a $2 trillion stimulus bill this week to counter the impact of the outbreak on the economy, but governors across the US have criticised the government for being too slow to help states deal with shortages of medical equipment.

Mr Cuomo has repeatedly assailed the Trump administration for not providing help quickly enough, sparking a public row with president Donald Trump that has seen the pair trade blows in their respective press conferences.

The president said its a war ... then act like it, Mr Cuomo said on Tuesday. Theyre doing the supplies? Heres my question: Where are they?

You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die, he said, warning of the high numbers of deaths that would follow if ventilators were not found.

The president has refused to take responsibility for shortfalls across the country, and has instead pushed blame back on state governors. On Thursday evening, he cast doubt on Mr Cuomos requirements to deal with the crisis.

I dont believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and theyll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden theyre saying, Can we order 30,000 ventilators? said during an appearance on Hannity.

The public battle between the two continued on into this weekend, as Mr Trump said on Saturday that he was considering a quarantine of New York.

Were thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because its a hotspot. ... We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut, he told reporters.

That came as news to Mr Cuomo, who said he doubted it would have the desired effect.

I dont even know what that means. I dont know how that could be legally enforceable. And from a medical point view, I dont know what you would be accomplishing, he said.

The row between the president and the two Democratic leaders of New York has highlighted a troubling aspect of the federal governments response to the crisis: the politicisation of federal aid.

Mr Trump has gone so far as to suggest that life-saving supplies would be contingent on how governors across the country treat him.

I think were doing very well, he told Fox News of the White Houses coordination with governors. But, you know, its a two-way street. They have to treat us well, also. They cant say, Oh gee, we should get this, we should get that.

He has also attacked two other Democratic governors, in Michigan and Washington state, after they criticised the federal response to the pandemic.

Mr Trump initially played down the threat of the coronavirus, but slowly came around as US cases skyrocketed. The virus was initially worse in coastal blue states, but according to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight, cases are now rising fast in states that supported Mr Trump in the 2016 election.

It was in that spirit that Mr Cuomo issued a warning to the rest of the country this week.

What happens to New York is going to wind up happening to California and Washington state and Illinois. Were just getting there first, he said.
The City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance that will require restaurants and other businesses with more than 500 employees to pay two weeks of sick leave. (Ken Kwok / Los Angeles Times)

Large Los Angeles restaurants will be required to pay their employees 80 hours of sick leave, part of a sweeping city effort to provide financial assistance to workers who have been affected by business closures related to the coronavirus outbreak.

City councilmembers voted on Friday evening to pass the ordinance. It applies to all employers within the city of Los Angeles that have more than 500 employees.

The 500-employee stipulation was added to the proposal just hours before it was put up for a vote, effectively sparing many owners of small restaurants from almost certain bankruptcy. Thats because with all restaurants closed to dine-in service, and many choosing to temporarily close during shelter-in-place restrictions, theyre pulling in little to no revenue.

The original version of the ordinance would have required all businesses with fewer than 500 employees to pay 80 hours of sick leave at an employees regular rate. It was also retroactive, and would have required paying those employed between Feb. 3 and March 4, too.

The amendment to the proposal came as a huge relief to the citys small restaurant owners, many of whom called in to argue against the original language.

It was a long day and Ludo [Lefebvre] and I sat listening to the callers and the different councilmembers positions and we can understand both sides of the argument, said Krissy Lefebvre, Lefebvres wife and business partner in their three Los Angeles restaurants, Trois Mec and two locations of Petit Trois. Two weeks ago, the couple had a total of about 90 employees; now they have just three on the payroll.

But when we look at our side, we dont have any income to pay this right now. It [would have] put us out of business.

Salar Sheik, a restaurant consultant who works with In Sheeps Clothing and Lupetti Pizzeria in downtown L.A., said although small businesses were exempt from the new ordinance, he felt bad for the larger restaurant groups that will be on the hook for big payouts at a time when theyre bringing in almost no money.

For restaurants that have 500-plus employees and probably have 10 to 12 locations? Its still pretty harmful, he said.




YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Police Chief of Armenia Hayk Mhryan denies the rumors according to which a case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been registered in the Educational Complex of the Police.

There is no case of coronavirus in the Educational Complex of the Police. Like all divisions, the Educational Complex as well carries out the measures envisaged within this framework, he said at a press conference.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 372. 28 patients have recovered. One death case has been registered on March 26.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee on Saturday pledged to donate Rs 10 million of personal funds to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and Rs 5 million to the Chief Minister of West Bengal's Relief Fund to help the battle against COVID-19. The 46-year-old designer took to Instagram to share a written announcement of the contribution for the noble cause.

"After securing my employees, I am pledging Rs 10 million of personal funds to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and an additional Rs 5 million to the Chief Minister of West Bengal's Relief Fund, with the expectation that the money is used to ramp up medical facilities in the country," the statement reads. He also stressed that the contribution is not considered as a 'charity' nor did he seek any kind of 'praise.' "Everything we do today combats the massive challenge that we are facing as a nation and as a world. Our investments in today's efforts will come back to us all exponentially in the future," adds the statement. He also urged everyone to stay home as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Earlier, actor Akshay Kumar pledged to contribute Rs 25 crore from his savings to the PM-CARES Fund.

Varun Dhawan also pledged to contribute Rs 30 lakh to PM-CARES Fund to help the battle against COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 10:42:35|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference will be postponed, possibly by a year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the United Nations on Friday.

"In light of the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, states parties have decided to postpone the 2020 Review Conference ... to a later date, as soon as the circumstances permit, but no later than April 2021," said the press office of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Information on the new dates of the conference will be posted in due course, said the press office in a note to correspondents.

The 2020 Review Conference was originally scheduled for April 27-May 22 at UN Headquarters in New York.

Gustavo Zlauvinen, president-designate of the conference, on March 13 proposed postponing the event after a short, procedural meeting on April 27. But the quick spread of the coronavirus in New York City and the partial closure of the UN headquarters from March 16 have obviously made even a procedural meeting impossible.

Zlauvinen had to write to states parties seeking their agreement on his new proposal, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, on Thursday.

NPT Review Conferences have been held every five years since 1975.
A tight-knit community has thrown together a makeshift birthday party for two little boys who were unable to celebrate because of coronavirus restrictions.

Perth mum Jessica Peek had to cancel Louie's third birthday party on Saturday because of social isolation measures in place across Australia

Perth mum Jessica Peek had to cancel her son Louie's third birthday party on Saturday because of social isolation measures in place across Australia.

Instead, the young mother reached out to the Palmyra community on Facebook who arranged for a 100 car parade down their street in celebration.

The convoy then carried on to wish another child happy birthday, eight-year-old Alby.

The drive-by-birthday party featured a local Melville Council garbage truck, Western Power utility trucks and dogs wearing party hats.

Ms Peek told Daily Mail Australia her son was devastated when she had to cancel his party.

'He's not quite at that point where he understands but he was upset that he wasn't able to see his Nanny, Pa, Nanna and Poppy - the four people in his life who aren't his immediate family,' she said.

'I started inviting people to drive by my house to beep their horns and play Louie's favourite song for his birthday so no one would break any social distancing rules, everyone would be really safe and so he would have a really happy birthday.'

Young mother Jessica Peek reached out to the Palmyra community on Facebook who arranged for a 100 car parade down their street in celebration

'It was hilarious, the first car was a rubbish truck through the Melville council, and he was STOKED with that and then the cars just kept coming and kept coming and I think he got a bit overwhelmed. But for the most part he loved it and the dogs coming past in party hats were a real highlight.'

The mum had to cancel a small party she had organised at Point Walter because of the federal government's social distancing measures.

But she said turnout and efforts of the community completely surpassed her expectations.

'People went into so much effort. There were balloons, streamers, megaphones, people had placards and signs, someone even painted their car,' she said.

A convoy of 100 cars drove past to celebrate Louie's third birthday party

Cars drove along blasting 'Black Betty'- her son's favourite song, and the parade featured his two favourite things- trucks and dogs.

Cars drove along blasting 'Black Betty'- her son's favourite song, and the parade featured his two favourite things- trucks and dogs.

About 100 cars turned about, with an estimated 300 people in total.

Ms Peek said it was mostly locals but there were also people who drove from surrounding suburbs of Canning Vale, Spearwood and Leeming.

'It was awesome, it was absolutely awesome knowing there was people out there during these times who will go out of their way to make a birthday special for a three year old- some we don't even know, it's just heartwarming, it's absolutely amazing,' she said.

The drive-by-birthday party featured a local Melville Council garbage truck, Western Power utility trucks and dogs wearing party hats

A car with a birthday message drives by as part of a 100 drive-by birthday party in Perth

Western Power shared a video of the parade on their Facebook page, describing the event as a reflection of strong community spirit during tough times.

'Great job Palmyra and thanks for reminding us all that even though we are doing our best to physically isolate, we are all still one big community,' the post read.

'Surely now this will be a birthday to remember for all the right reasons.'

The parade continued on after wishing Louie a happy birthday to another young boy Alby, who had also cancelled his party on Saturday.

The party was inspired after a video of an isolation parade went viral of a little girl in Ireland Katie Regan.
Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Saturday said it will work with AgVa Healthcare to help it rapidly scale up production of ventilators in the country in wake of coronavirus pandemic.

"An arrangement has been entered into with AgVa Healthcare, an existing approved manufacturer of ventilators," MSI said in a statement.

The company would work with AgVa Healthcare to rapidly scale up production of ventilators with intention of reaching a volume of 10,000 units per month, it added.

As per the arrangement, AgVa Healthcare will be responsible for the technology, performance and related matters for all the ventilators produced and sold by them, MSI said.

The auto major on its part will use its suppliers to produce the required volume of components and use its experience and knowledge to upgrade systems for the production and quality control of the higher volumes, it added.

MSI would also help, to the required extent to arrange financing, and obtain all permissions and approvals required to enable the higher production, the auto major said.

The company would provide these services free of cost to AgVa Healthcare, it added.

Besides, Krishna Maruti Limited, a joint venture of MSI with Ashok Kapur, will be manufacturing 3-ply masks for supply to Haryana and the central government.

Production is expected to start as soon as all approvals are received, MSI said.

Kapur will provide 2 million masks free of cost as his own contribution, it added.

Similarly, Bharat Seats Limited, a joint venture of MSI with the Relan family, would be manufacturing protective clothing as soon as all approvals are in place.

All manufacturing units will take maximum care to protect the safety and health of the workers in accordance with the government recommended practices, it added.

Already Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has announced that it expects to come up with a sophisticated ventilator at just Rs 7,500, which otherwise costs up to Rs 10 lakh.

Tata Motors also plans to come up with manufacturing of ventilators.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Church services evacuated, pastors arrested in several countries over gathering bans

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Authorities in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Greece have evacuated church services and arrested pastors in recent days as governments have prohibited large gatherings in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.



As governments across the globe have taken measures to ensure that citizens engage in social distancing so that they dont spread a virus that has already killed at least 21,000 people worldwide as of Thursday, some religious leaders have continued to hold worship services anyway.

In Nigeria, authorities in the states of Lagos and Ogun shut down several church services in the past week.

We had to shut down a few services today as some pastors have not complied with the order, Bala Elkana, spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, told Bloomberg.

We cannot allow the virus to spread beyond the level that the health facilities can handle. We will continue to enforce the ban until we have full compliance.

As there are over 480,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, Nigeria has only had 51 cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday morning, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicines Coronavirus Resource Center.

Despite bans on large gatherings, The Daily Trust reports that there was an influx of people who attended church services across several states in southern Nigeria on Sunday.

Last week, the Lagos state government ordered schools to shut down and temporarily banned gatherings of more than 50 people, a figure later reduced to gatherings of more than 20 people. The ban comes as a good chunk of Nigerias coronavirus cases is in Lagos, the countrys largest city.

Lagos Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ali confirmed for the News Agency of Nigeria that three pastors were arrested for disobeying the governments ban on large gatherings of over 20.

The pastors were not detained but were warned to comply with the governments order, according to Nigerias Daily Post newspaper.

In the Ogun state, the state government deployed an enforcement team to ensure compliance with the states temporary ban on gatherings of over 50 people. The enforcement team was tasked with checking social gatherings across the state including parties, clubs, lounges, schools and religious assemblies.

Video posted online by the Ogun state government shows security personnel disrupting church services to enforce the ban. The video also shows one pastor arguing with a security officer outside of his church.

According to The Guardian, security agents also dispersed hundreds of worshipers from the Winners Chapel in Abeokuta on Sunday morning.

One pastor from the Ogun town of Ota reportedly said that the Christian Association of Nigeria called on churches to hold Sunday church services as planned to help raise awareness of the coronavirus pandemic.

So we can describe yesterdays service as public awareness service, the church leader told The Guardian. Very few people as expected were not aware and they were properly educated.

Many African governments have passed restrictions on gatherings as experts fear that the coronavirus pandemic could devastate healthcare systems across the continent.

In Ghana, where there are now 68 confirmed cases, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 15 banned all public gatherings including church activities, funeral services and outdoor events.

Last Wednesday, a pastor was arrested for defying the ban. According to GhanaWeb, Apostle Kofi Nkansah-Sarkodie of Open Arms Ministry in Kumasi was arrested after officers were dispatched to the church over reports of ongoing activity.

On Sunday, the pastor of the Kingdom of God Church in a suburb of Nkawkaw, John Jeremiah Addo, was reportedly arrested for unlawful assembly.



According to GhanaWeb, Addo told police that he did not understand why the government banned religious services but is allowing traders to sell products in markets.

On March 18, authorities reportedly shut down a prayer camp in the village of Pokrom and arrested the camps founder along with an elder.

In Uganda, where there are at least 14 cases of the coronavirus, several pastors have been arrested for defying a presidential directive temporarily banning gatherings.

According to the Daily Monitor, the pastors arrested include Alfred Mubangizi of God is Able Church in Nabukalu and Gerald Kalumba of the Kampala Archdiocese. Both pastors were later released.

The Daily Monitor also reports that two pastors were arrested at the Christian Witness Church in Kampala.

A pastor and 30 churchgoers at the Blessed Feelings Church International in Kajjansi were arrested for participating in a church service Wednesday morning, according to PML Daily. While the churchgoers were released, the pastor was detained.

In Greece, where there are 821 confirmed cases of coronavirus, Greek Orthodox Priest Metropolitan Seraphim was arrested last Saturday after he held a worship service on Friday despite a government ban on gatherings.

Seraphim told police that he was not informed of the ban, as reported by the Greek City Times. He was later released and told to comply with the order.
Chhattisgarh Food and Culture



Minister Amarjeet Bhagat on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help bring back 500 medical students from the state stranded in Central Asia's Kyrgyzstan.

In a letter to the PM, Bhagat said the students wanted to return home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The son of state Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh is among the stranded students in Kyrgyzstan, a release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kabul: The ISIS-ISI bonhomie was spoken about in this 2019 IB report

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: A December 2019 Intelligence Bureau report had said that the ISI and ISIS would come together to target Indian missions in Afghanistan. The report gains significance in the wake of the Gurdwara attack in Kabul that claimed 25 lives.

The report in 2019 had said that the ISI would task operatives of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba to help the ISIS to carry out attacks. In the Kabul attack, the name of Mawlawai Aslam Farooqi, a Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative has cropped up. He was tasked by the ISI and investigations so far have shown that he had led the strike.

The 2019 IB report had said that there is a plot that has been hatched to bomb the Indian missions in Afghanistan. The report further stated that the ISI has tasked the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Islamic State in Afghanistan to carry out the bombings. The ISIS in Afghanistan has a large number of Indians. Most of the Indians who are part of the ISIS Khorasan in Afghanistan are from Kerala.

Indian missions in Afghanistan will be targets of ISI-ISIS sponsored suicide bombings

The report said that the attacks are being coordinated in Pakistan and are being overseen by one Saifulla who is a native of Lahore. The report also says that the attacks would be in the nature of a suicide bombing and 5 persons have been trained for the operation.

It may be recalled that the Jaish-e-Mohammad in association with the Taliban had hatched similar plots. In the year 2008, a suicide bombing outside the Indian embassy had claimed 40 lives. The Indian missions have been the primary targets of these groups.
The death toll from the coronavirus in Spain had reached 5,704 by Saturday afternoon, while the official number of infections surged to 72,248, according to official figures provided by the government. The country has set a grim new record with 832 fatalities in 24 hours, up from 769 the previous day. Officials said that 12,285 patients have recovered, representing 17% of all infections.

We are reaching the peak that we have been so worried about. In some parts of the country they may even be moving past it, but we need to be cautious, said Fernando Simon, the head of Spains health emergency coordination center, noting that the real battle now is in the overburdened intensive care units at hospitals.

While Spain already has the second highest death toll in the world after Italy, a new report by the Carlos III public health institute that EL PAIS has seen suggests that the real number of coronavirus deaths could be much higher.

Despite significant restrictions on the movement of people in place since March 14, cases continue to climb as hospitals struggle to cope with an influx of patients while demand grows for more ventilators for critical cases and protective gear for workers.

A second morgue in Madrid

This building in Madrid's City of Justice will house a second makeshift morgue. Luis Sevillano Arribas





The regional government of Madrid is planning to set up a second makeshift morgue, which could start receiving coffins on Monday. The facility is located inside a failed development project called the City of Justice that was launched in 2005 to bring together all of Madrids judicial institutions. The morgue will be set up inside the only building that was ever erected, and which was meant to house the Forensic Anatomical Institute.

The Spanish capital is already using a local ice rink, the Palacio de Hielo, as a temporary deposit for victims of the coronavirus. Madrid, the epicenter of the pandemic, reported 19,243 cases and 2,412 deaths on Friday.

Underreporting of deaths

A document by the Carlos III public health institute which EL PAIS has seen took recent civil registry death records and compared them with the average number of deaths in Spains regions since 2008, finding significant surges in deaths in Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y Leon during this month of March. Yet many of those deaths, even when coronavirus symptoms were present, did not get added to the national tally because no formal test was ever conducted on the victims.

Regional governments only notify the Health Ministry about a coronavirus death if the patient was previously tested and the test came back positive, said two health officials at two regional governments. This leaves out many people who died in residences or in their own homes, and who were never tested, said one of these sources.

This means that the figures offered daily by Simon, the health emergency coordination chief, are only providing a partial picture of the true extent of the pandemic.

We already knew that the real number of infections is much higher than what is being detected. Now we are discovering that the number of deaths is also much higher, said Daniel Lopez Acuna, a former official at the World Health Organization (WHO) who currently teaches at the Andalusia School of Public Health.

Protective gear

A shipment of 1.2 million face masks arrived at Madrid's Adolfo Suarez-Barajas airport last night. EFE (EFE)

Transportation Minister Jose Luis Abalos announced on Saturday morning that a plane carrying 1.2 million face masks for healthcare workers landed at Madrids Adolfo Suarez-Barajas airport last night.

Also on Saturday, a military aircraft took off from an airbase in Zaragoza on its way to Shanghai, China where it is due to pick up a shipment of medical equipment to fight the coronavirus, a source in the Air Force confirmed. The plane, which can carry a load of up to 37 tons, is scheduled to be back in Spain on Monday.

The airline Iberia has launched an air link with China to transport much-needed medical equipment on Airbus A350 aircraft. There are three flights scheduled to land in Madrid on March 30, March 31 and April 1 with 90 tons of material from Shanghai. After that, there will be three flights a week to bring back further protective gear.

Spain has returned the 58,000 coronavirus tests that it received from a Chinese manufacturer after hospital labs reported that they were unreliable in detecting positive cases. The government and Bioeasy have agreed that the company will send a different type of rapid diagnostic antigen test based on a fluorescence method. The new shipment is expected to arrive next week, said the Health Ministry. A lack of testing is hampering efforts to assess the true spread of the epidemic in Spain.

Field hospital in Catalonia

A member of the Spanish military disinfecting a senior home in Barcelona on Friday. David Zorrakino (Europa Press)

The Catalan government will next week set up a field hospital at the Barcelona exhibition center, Fira de Barcelona, with 300 beds and 615 healthcare workers, said the health department chief, Alba Verges. The number of beds could be expanded to 2,000, she said. Catalonia is one of the hardest hit regions of Spain, with 14,263 infections and 1,070 deaths reported on Friday.

The Catalan governments department of childhood and youth affairs (DGAIA) on Friday requested assistance from the armys Military Emergency Unit (UME) to disinfect a center for unaccompanied youths in Badalona, in Barcelona province, after several coronavirus cases were detected there.

The move comes after several days of ambivalent statements by Catalan officials regarding the presence of the Spanish army on their territory, where the UME has been disinfecting airports and seaports. A spokesperson for the Catalan department of labor and social affairs said that all resources will be mobilized to protect the most vulnerable citizens.

In line with this effort, over 160 seniors wtith coronavirus symptoms currently living in 16 care homes in Barcelona are being taken to hotels, said the Catalan government. Senior homes have become hotspots of coronavirus transmission across Spain, exposing the plight of their residents.

English version by Susana Urra.
Wuhan, March 28 : Domestic passenger flights will resume operations in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, except in the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, according to country's civil aviation regulator.

Flight operations will resume on March 29, Xinhua news agency quoted the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as saying in a statement on Friday.

Staring on April 8, the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will restore operations for domestic passenger flights, the CAAC said.

Meanwhile, cargo flights will resume operations from March 29 in all airports in Hubei rovince.

Aviation companies are encouraged to add extra domestic and international cargo flights to stabilize the supply chain, according to the CAAC.

The announcement come on the same day when Wuhan, Hubei's provincial capital where the virus originated last December, had its COVID-19 risk evaluation downgraded from "high risk" to "medium risk".

Liu Dongru, deputy head of Hubei province's health commission, said earlier on Friday that coronavirus risk evaluation for five districts of Xinzhou, Huangpi, Jiangxia, Caidian and Dongxihu have been further lowered to "low risk".

He also declared the transmission of the coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan has been "basically blocked".

Since March 18, Wuhan has only reported one new confirmed case.

Friday's announcement comes after authorities in the provincial capital on Tuesday announced that travel curbs will be lifted in Wuhan from April 8 after over two months of lockdown.

On January 23, Wuhan declared unprecedented traffic restrictions, including suspending the city's public transport and all outbound flights and trains, in an attempt to contain the epidemic within its territory.

Similar restrictions were soon introduced in other areas in Hubei.

As of Saturday, there were 81,946 confirmed cases in China and 3,299 deaths Although the virus emerged in China, it now has fewer cases than the US and fewer deaths than Italy and Spain.
President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States will produce 100,000 ventilators in the next 100 days to help hospitals inundated with patients sickened with coronavirus.

In a very short period of time, were going to have plenty, Trump told reporters. And if for some reason we need even more, were going to be prepared.

Trumps comments come the same day he announced his administration has implemented the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators. The U.S. is facing shortages of the life-saving equipment as COVID-19 cases continue to climb nationwide.

Trump on Friday signed the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill the House passed earlier in the day. The legislation will prompt the federal government to cut most American taxpayers checks of at least $1,200 and provide hundreds of billions of dollars in loans and grants to businesses large and small.

The relief package received unanimous support in the U.S. Senate after tense negotiations earlier this week. The House passed the measure in a voice vote after nearly four hours of debate.

The White House had been working on a joint venture between General Motors and Ventec Life Systems, which can produce more than 20,000 ventilators. But that joint effort has been delayed, according to the New York Times.

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'The prime minister's announcement of a nation-wide shutdown was eloquent, but should have been more clearly phrased to avoid police overreach.'

'Migrant labour should have been allowed adequate notice and transport options to get home,' notes Rahul Jacob.

IMAGE: An Indian carries his daughter on a trolley bag in Kolkata after he could not find transport to return to his village during the nationwide lockdown, March 27, 2020. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI Photo

At a time when India faces the global economy going into recession, perhaps even a depression, I find myself unhelpfully distracted by a Danish woman with blue eyes and dark skin.

Nature magazine this week reports that a piece of birch wood she chewed on 5,700 years ago offers evidence of the strep throat she was trying to alleviate.

The Alice in Netherworld of Covid-19 leaves one gasping in surprise at the exponential rise in infection rates in New York and California and the stupidity of Londoners ignoring social distancing mandates.

But it is also an antidote to the echo chambers many of us have lived in for the past few years and has created a collaborative, global open university.

The gem about the Danish woman was from a professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. On Wednesday, another research paper carried important news for South Asia and Africa, the best news all week actually.

Younger populations -- India's median age is in the mid-20s versus 45 for Spain -- could mean the peak in critical infections will be much lower as a per cent of the population than in Europe.

This intuitively credible theory is the thin reed of hope for developing countries in South Asia and Africa.

Otherwise, with inadequate safety nets and a majority living in crowded conditions, we must brace both for what Moody's has called a 'tsunami' of bankruptcies and business failures and a huge rise in infections and death rates.

In much more fortunate circumstances, I had been in self-isolation in Bengaluru for almost a week before India's lockdown, a consequence of being single rather than sick. What I had anticipated would be a vipassana of reflection and silence has proved anything but.

The prime minister's announcement of a nation-wide shutdown was eloquent, but should have been more clearly phrased to avoid police overreach. Migrant labour should have been allowed adequate notice and transport options to get home.

It is illogical to argue that there have been no cases of transmission in the community and then shut down all trains because of the risk of infections, which remains in slums and tenements in India's packed cities.

Alternatively, the government could suspend rents, as a New York senate bill proposes to do for three months and provide the poor in cities cooked food as Kerala's exceptional government has done.

We need a GST-styled national council for covid-19 with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Health Minister K K Shailaja given leading roles.

New Delhi's abrupt if sensible lockdown jangled enough alarm bells that my phone rang constantly, starting with a panicked childhood friend calling from New York minutes after the prime minister's speech was over.

I was sitting down to a dinner of avocado with gondhoraj lebu and olive oil alongside a truffle brie followed by a Coorg pandi curry sent over by an aunt. The call made me feel akin to an Indian Marie Antoinette.

It remains a truth universally acknowledged in India that a single man must be in need of sustenance. My saintly part-time helper in Delhi found working for a gay man who cooked on occasion such a novelty that four years on, she recounts that recipes my mother gave me and those from my Ottolenghi cookbook are still favourites with her kids. Perhaps I need a referral letter from her, as neighbours have called daily, wanting to send food.

Ruchir Sharma, the Morgan Stanley economist, aptly used a sociologist's definition of India as 'a high-context' society: A place where systems don't work but friends and family band together to help.

Strong social networks got India through the calamity of demonetisation. By not giving migrant workers enough time to get home, the government has likely deprived them of this.

The risk was that infections would rise, but this global crisis has been apparent since early February. We will all have to provide income support for the extended community who help us but are stranded in our cities.

I was moved by the speech of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar where he asked younger people to call the elderly. My attempts to try and rally the spirits of my older friends and relatives have been a flop, however.

Their good humour and energy has been awe-inspiring, with one 85 year old saying social distancing was at least helping her complete a number of academic papers in time, while my aunt has run her building society almost single-handedly.

I have been less productive. To borrow from the poet Brian Bilston: I 'prioritise new tasks to shirk, resolve myself to do some work, look at Twitter, spin on chair, make a brew; loiter; stare.'

Listening to Romeo and Juliet again while I cleaned the house, I discovered that the crucial letter sent by the friar to Romeo in Mantua never reached because his emissary was caught in a lockdown prompted by a medieval epidemic.

For now, India feels like the calm before the storm. Karnataka is warning of 100,000 infections in a few months.

When the surge in infections hits our hospitals, as Varadkar starkly warned, 'never will so many ask so much of so few'.
Vietnam had recorded 3,215 people suspected to be infected with the Covid-19 virus as of Friday night, double Tuesday's figure.

Of these cases, 228 were among people placed under quarantine Friday while the remaining 2,987 had already been under quarantine from previous days, according to the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

People are suspected to be infected when they have symptoms like cough, fever and shortness of breath and have come from outbreak areas or have had direct contact with returnees from stricken areas.

In total, Vietnam has placed over 75,000 people under medical monitoring after they entered the country from outbreak-hit areas or been in close contact with returnees from stricken areas.

Of these, more than 38,000 are being quarantined at home as they have epidemiological factors but are yet to display Covid-19 infection symptoms such as coughing, fever or shortness of breath.

In recent days, a total of eight Covid-19 cases have been linked to Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital, prompting the city's authorities to review nearly 1,600 people who had visited or received treatment at the hospital from March 15-25. All of them will be tested for the virus, placed in quarantine and have their health monitored. The Health Ministry has listed Bach Mai Hospital as an infection risk zone and asked other hospitals to limit the transfer of patients to it.

The ministry has also requested that all passengers on 28 flights confirmed to have carried Covid-19 patients to contact local disease control centers immediately for health monitoring instructions so as to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals except for those carrying official passports.

The country detected six new Covid-19 cases on Saturday morning, raising the country's tally to 169, including 20 who have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The two major cities of Hanoi and Saigon are the most affected by the epidemic with 58 and 34 active cases respectively.

Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 199 countries and territories, claiming over 27,000 lives.
Four people have died on a cruise liner stranded off the coast of Panama after a coronavirus outbreak infecting over 130 people onboard.

Holland America, which operates the MS Zaandam, confirmed that at least two more passengers tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday.

The ages and nationalities of the four who have died remains unconfirmed. It is understood that they are 'older' passengers.

Around 1,800 people including 220 Britons are onboard MS Zaandam, and have been prevented from disembarking for the past two weeks.

MS Zaandam was sailing around South America from March 7 - 10 days before Holland America cancelled all voyages amid the coronavirus panic.

Originally supposed to sail to Chile, the company instructed the liner to pass instead through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale Florida.

Four people have died on the MS Zaandam liner stranded off the coast of Panama after a coronavirus outbreak infecting over 130 people onboard

Canadian passengers Chris and Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam

But it has been denied access to the Canal by Panamanian authorities who have closed off the manmade waterway to vessel with Covid-19 cases.

Holland America will transfer healthy passengers to another ship, the Rotterdam.

Passengers have told of their concern at being imprisoned on the ship.

Chris Joiner told Canadian broadcaster CBC he had asked the Canadian embassy in Chile for help, saying: 'Get us the hell off this ship.'

Holland America, which operates the MS Zaandam, confirmed that at least two more passengers tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday

Toronto resident Michael Kasprow said he's worried about his elderly mother and her friend, both in their 80s, who are stuck onboard. 'We've seen what it can do on a cruise ship, and I just feel like they're sitting ducks,' he said.

Another couple spoke of their fears that, even once they dock, they may be stranded away from home due to escalating travel restrictions and flight bans.

'How will we get home from a port with flights diminishing by the day?' said Norma Kirkham, 63, from Victoria, Canada. 'Where will we stay?'

Concerns are further mounting as it emerged the ship is yet to gain permission to enter the Panama Canal, the route it needs to pass through to get to Fort Lauderdale.

Holland America cruise ship Ms Zaandam in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (2012)

The ages and nationalities of the four who have died are unconfirmed, but they are 'older'

An offshore supply vessel is seen next to the cruise ship MS Rotherdam, which brought supplies and Covid-19 test kits to the MS Zaandam

Passengers have told of their concern at being imprisoned on board the ship (in Alaska)

Port Everglades spokeswoman Ellen Kennedy told South Florida Sun Sentinel it was 'too early' to say if passengers would be allowed off the ship at Port Everglades.

'The ship is still pretty far away, so it is too early to determine,' she said.

She said the decision would be made by the Unified Command in charge at the port, as well as the CDC, Customs and Border Patrol, the Florida Department of Health, the US Coast Guard, the Broward Sheriff's Office and the county's port authority.

The Zandaam is the latest in a string of cruise ships stuck at sea after being turned away by nations' ports desperate to protect their own residents from the virus.
: The Andhra Pradesh government will adopt a three-pronged strategy to check the spread of coronavirus, with emphasis on social isolation while effectively enforcing the lockdown.

As the spread of the disease was found to be high only in urban areas with 12 out of 13 positive cases so far reported from cities and towns in the state special focus would be on tracking all the foreign returnees and placing them in quarantine.

The five-member Group of Ministers constituted for Covid-19 management measures met here on Saturday and discussed the strategies to contain the disease spread.

The GoM later conferred with Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and reviewed the measures already in place and the fresh steps required.

Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas later told reporters that the government has decided to intensify the monitoring mechanism as part of the three-pronged strategy.

"The disease spread is fast in urban areas as only one out of 13 has been from a rural area. About 29,264 foreign returnees have been identified in the state and one doctor will be appointed to monitor ten such persons. There will be a specialist over the doctor who will be interacting via videoconference," Srinivas said.

The government would conduct another survey to determine the exact number of foreign returnees, he added.

The GoM, Srinivas said, suggested to the Chief Minister that the duration of lockdown relaxation for purchase of essential commodities daily from 6 am to 1 pm be reduced.

The Chief Minister, however, turned it down saying it could lead to overcrowding and result in faster transmission of the disease.

A senior IAS officer was being appointed to address issues related to stranded people at inter-state borders, who were being denied entry into the state.

"All such people will be lodged in special camps in marriage halls or hotels for quarantine and provided food. Also, the special officer will coordinate with officials of other states for taking care of AP people stranded there," the Deputy CM said.

Meanwhile, the first quota of free ration, including a kilo redgram, for the poor will be supplied from Sunday.

The second quota would be supplied on April 15 and the third on 29, the Chief Ministers Office said.

The Rs 1,000 per family financial assistance announced by the Chief Minister would be distributed on April 4, the CMO said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Photo :   on Unsplash ) Coronavirus Stimulus Check: How Much Will You Get? Expect Venmo and Cash App to Deliver it Straight to You (Photo : POOL on Reuters) Coronavirus Stimulus Check: How Much Will You Get? Expect Venmo and Cash App to Deliver it Straight to You

Coronavirus now forces everyone in the United States to stay in the comfort of their homes. This means that all Americans-- not in line with the profession of frontliners-- have the option to work at home. Not everyone, however, can work on their homes. This is the purpose of the newly-signed Coronavirus Stimulus Check. Here are some of the things you must know, including how much you will be getting and where exactly you can get your money?

US Stimulus just got signed; How much is it and where can you get it?

On Friday, Mar. 27, the US President Donald Trump has signed the largest stimulus package ever recorded in the history of American government. A massive $2 trillion emergency spending bill is now a law and has currently taken effect.

US stimulus check will be delivered to all citizens of the country, businesses, and healthcare facilities. This will be the government's help for the finances of all individuals in America to provide their needs until the virus subsides.

"This will deliver urgently needed relief to our nation's families, workers, and businesses. And that's what this is all about," Trump said at a signing ceremony in the Oval Office.

How much can you get from stimulus?

As explained via CNN, all individuals in the US are eligible to get their share from the stimulus fund. However, not everyone can. The average amount that a citizen can get from the stimulus check ranges from $200 up to $2,400. The amount that you will receive depends on your income, as determined in the 2019 or 2018 tax returns.

Here are the examples. If you're a single person with no children and have a gross income of $75,000, you are entitled to a stimulus fund worth $1,200. The amount will be decreased by $5 for every additional $100 of adjusted gross income. This means that if you're single, that has a total income of over $99,000, you will no longer receive any stipend from the government.

If you're married, here's how it works. Couples that earn $150,000 will be given $2,400 as a stipend. The same goes for single people; if you're making more money based on your taxes, you will receive a lesser amount. If the couple's gross income is amounting to $198,000 and above, the government will no longer give you stimulus funds.

Another factor is on whether you have a children. If you're a single parent of children ages 16 years and below that earns under $109,000 a year, you'll get additional $500 for each child. The same thing happens to a married couple that makes below $208,000.

If you're under the category of the unemployment assistance package, you're eligible to receive $600 per week-- or on top of what your state gives you for up to four months, according to CNN Correspondent Brian Todd.

Where can you get your money?

As announced, the official giving of the funds is not yet said. However, the money will likely be deposited directly into each citizens' bank accounts.

For people that do not have a bank deposit account, online payment apps called Venmo and Cash App might be used.

According to the report, the US Treasury Department has not yet finalized whether online cash apps may be used to transfer funds. However, Venmo and Cash App voluntarily ask the government to use their platform to make a faster sending of money.

"People need help immediately. The technology exists to get money to most people today (even to those without bank accounts). Square and many of our peers can get it done. US government: let us help," tweeted by Jack Dorsey, the founder, and CEO of Square, which owns Cash App.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Takeaways:

Hunker is a design & decor media brand + marketplace offering curated inspiration and guidance to today's homeowners.

Recently, the site opened its first permanent IRL outpost: The Hunker House in Venice, California is a multi-level embodiment of the brand, sporting a minimalist aesthetic decorated with merch from Hunker's partners.

PSFK spoke to Hunker's editor-in-chief, Eve Epstein, and founder of Whereabout design studio, Gabriela Baiter, about what it takes to succeed as a media brand today, and why having an IRL creative space to host events and for influencers to crash is an essential part of Hunker's strategy.

PSFK: Describe Hunker in your words. Is it an editorial site? A marketing partner? A media company?

Eve Epstein: All of the above, I thinkthough Id argue that any media business hoping to succeed needs to be innovating and therefore be a new kind of company. Brand partnerships have always sat at the core of the media business model. But what sets Hunker apart is that it was built from the beginning to be an exceptional, strategic marketing partner to other brands.

Our idea was that if we could build an authentic and resilient brand of our own through a unique editorial vision, awesome storytelling, effective content marketing, and deep insights that allow us to understand what serves and delights audiences both on and off our platform, we could leverage all of those strengths on behalf of our sponsors. (Easier said than done, but were lucky to have an incredible team as well as genius partners like Gabriela and her team at Whereabout Studio!) The [Hunker] House has been a big part of that.

In short, we serve our audience first and foremost, but its that commitment that allows us to meet our partners needs with sophistication, rigor and empathy.

How did the idea to build the Hunker House, your site's IRL manifestation, come about?

Eve: Hunker House had been a dream of ours since we first launched the site two-and-a-half years ago. And while we were certainly always aware of the value it could provide as a content studio and experiential outpost, the impetus initially grew out of our core values as a brand. At Hunker, we say that your space is an expression of who you are and what matters to you. We believe our spaces tell our stories, and, as storytellers, we knew we needed to walk that walk ourselves in order to truly lead that conversation.

Gab: Ive personally always been a fan of Hunkers content. In comparison to other publishers in their space, Hunker never treated the Hunker House as a temporary experiential activation or pop-up. They viewed it as a living, breathing embodiment of the brand, something that can flex over time and serve multiple purposes in this rapidly changing landscape.

After evaluating Hunkers business model, it was obvious that the quality of their branded content was a differentiator for them. By bringing this in house, literally, Hunker was able to not only create more unique content but also provide additional extensions to their partners that has never really been done before.

For someone who personally has witnessed the evolution of retail from a traditional sales channel to form of rich, interactive media, it became clear that the house had the potential to be the soul of Hunker and a powerful IRL opportunity for brands.

How did you decide on a property, and how did you go about transforming it into a distillation of Hunker?

Gab: The property was almost too good to be true. Located a block from Abbot Kinney and right next door to famous Instagrammable sites like the Love Wall, we were able to capitalize on Venices foot traffic and take advantage of a corner lot to build awareness. It was also important to us to find a space that had multiple levels to physically segment the many dimensions of the Hunker brand.

The space had to embody the many perspectives and styles of Hunkers brand. Beyond that, it needed to stand the test of time. We started with the shelf, which became the marquee fixture (and most Instagrammable) moment in the house. Every object of the shelf featured a story on Hunker.com with a quote from the editors. While this execution was quite simple, it did provide an element of rotating discovery that also looks just as good in a shelfie.

Eve: Finding the property was one of those crazy journeys where we didnt even really know what we were looking for until we found it. But, as Gab says, it was a no-brainer when we did.

As for the design of the space, its really all about our creative director, Paul Anderson. He is brilliant and tireless and has an incredible ability to convey the heart and soul of the Hunker brand in a visual, visceral way. The custom plywood elements create a visual through-line that conveys our love for humble materials, clean design, modularity and storytelling. As weve cycled different furnishings and decor through the space, Ive been amazed at how it can morph while still remaining true to the Hunker aesthetic and sensibility.

Working with Gabriela and her team at Whereabout Studio was incredibletheir intuitive grasp of our brand vision and deep knowledge and expertise in bringing brand spaces to life were essential. What amazes me most is the feeling people have when they enter the spaceit goes beyond an appreciation of the design and decor, though of course that is there. It just feels happy, real and welcoming.

What kinds of events and experiences do you host in the space?

Eve: Lots and lots of stuff. Over the past year, weve hosted panel discussions, cocktail parties, dinners, team meetings and DIY workshops. Weve had overnight guests from all over the map influencers and artists we invite to come to use the space to create, recharge, and explore the neighborhood and city. And, of course, weve created tons and tons of original premium content, both editorial and partner-driven. Weve made content with brands ranging from Food52 to Dyson to Blu Dot to Walmart there, and its all been a blast.

How has Hunker House enhanced your strategy as a brand?

Eve: Hunker House has allowed us to express ourselves more fully, and to extend and deepen the conversation we have online with our audience, our community, and our partners. As the digital landscape evolves, as our content strategy evolves, so does our use of the space.

For example, this year, we significantly ramped up our affiliate commerce content, and the House naturally became a big part of that, particularly in the service of brand partnerships that spanned both affiliate and custom creative. Having a place to style and shoot partner product to feature in this shoppable content allowed us to move beyond the everyday product imagery that typically features in these sorts of articles. I expect well do more of that in the coming year, as commerce content will be an even bigger focus in 2020. Video is a part of our plan as well, and well definitely be using the space for some of those franchises.

What can other brands and media companies learn from Hunker House?

Gab: Hunker House is a great execution of omnichannel marketing at its best. The space isnt acting as a consumer-facing experience. Instead it is a B2B opportunity for Hunker to create more meaningful digital content centered around real things happening at the House. It is also a compelling space for influencers to discover new products and a programming space for Hunker to lead thought provoking discussions in the community.

If a brand has an office, an Airbnb or a retail store, they can learn from Hunker by activating that space in new ways. Whether its an educational workshop you plan on livestreaming to a larger audience or an influencer shopping night, those curations can also have a home online.

Whereabout Studio

Hunker

To hear and see Eve & Gab in a lineup of inspiring innovators and future-forward creators, RSVP for their (and many more!) live video session taking place the week of March 30 during PSFK's virtual World Retail Innovation Week!
Angry crowds rioted near the Chinese city of Wuhan after the region's two-month coronavirus lockdown was lifted but residents were told they could not travel elsewhere in China.

Shocking footage showed a mob overturning a police van on a bridge linking Wuhan, which is the capital of Hubei Province, and neighbouring Jiangxi.

The violent scenes came despite a move by the authorities on Saturday to allow people into Wuhan from elsewhere in the country for the first time since coronavirus emerged in the city in late December last year.

Hundreds of people were pictured arriving at the city's railway station on Saturday but people cannot leave until April 8 and the vast majority of shops are still shut.

Angry crowds rioted near the Chinese city of Wuhan after the region's two-month coronavirus lockdown was lifted but residents were told they could not travel elsewhere in China.

In the video showing anger at the restrictions, which was posted on the Twitter account of Radio Free Asia, crowds were seen clashing with police.

The group were seen hurling themselves at ranks of officers who were lined up to block the bridge across the Yangtze River.

Some used police riot shields as makeshift weapons and one man was seen kicking a police car's window.

According to Radio Free Asia, the clashes were sparked by the authorities' refusal to allow people from Hubei to get into Jiangxi.

People are said to have been heard chanting 'Let's go, Hubei!' as they clash with police.

Shocking footage showed a mob overturning a police van on a bridge linking Wuhan, which is the capital of Hubei Province, and neighbouring Jiangxi

Wuhan was placed under lockdown in January with roadblocks ring-fencing its outskirts and drastic restrictions on daily life for its 11million inhabitants.

The reopening of the city, where the epidemic first erupted in late December, marks a turning point in China's fight against the virus.

However, the contagion has since spread to over 200 countries, infecting more than 600,000 people and killing 27,674 so far.

In China, more than 80,000 have been infected and there have been 3,295 reported deaths.

Among those on the first high-speed trains allowed into Wuhan on Saturday morning was Guo Liangkai, a 19-year-old student whose one-month work stint in Shanghai stretched to three months due to the clamp down on movement.

The group were seen hurling themselves at ranks of officers who were lined up to block the bridge across the Yangtze River. People are said to have been heard chanting 'Let's go, Hubei!' as they clash with police

'It makes me very happy that I can see my family,' Guo told Reuters after being greeted by his mother at the main station.

'We wanted to hug but now is a special period so we can't hug or take any actions like these.'

Authorities took draconian measures to stop people from entering or leaving the industrial city of 11 million people in central China.

Families were confined to their homes. Bus and taxi services were shut, and only essential stores were allowed to remain open.

The reopening of the city, where the epidemic first erupted in late December, marks a turning point in China's fight against the virus. Pictured: Mask-clad passengers wait in line after arriving in Wuhan on Saturday

People are now allowed to enter the city but cannot leave and some metro services have been re-started. Pictured: People wait in line after arriving at Wuhan's railway station on Saturday

'I think the resumption of work represents a kind of hope. It at least shows that China is victorious,' said Zhang Yulun, 35, returning to Wuhan for work.

China's National Health Commission said on Saturday that 54 new coronavirus cases were reported on the mainland on Friday, all involving so-called imported cases.

Wuhan accounts for about 60 per cent of China's coronavirus cases, but they have fallen sharply in recent weeks, a sign that the measures are working.

The last confirmed locally transmitted case of the virus in Wuhan was on Monday.

With the United States, Italy and Spain and other countries now battling soaring infections, China is focussing on the risk posed by imported cases - most of them Chinese returning home.

Effective Saturday, China suspended the entry of foreign nationals with valid Chinese visas and residence permits.

The city in Hubei province was placed under lockdown in January with roadblocks ring-fencing its outskirts and drastic restrictions on daily life for its 11million inhabitants

Pictured: Women wearing face masks ride a scooter in Wuhan on Saturday

But even with the decline in cases and loosening of restrictions, Wuhan authorities were taking few chances.

Staff, some in full-body protective gear, and volunteers bustled around the railway station in the morning, setting out hand disinfectant and putting up signs reminding travellers they need a mobile-phone based health code to take public transport.

A worker walked through one metro train carrying a signboard reading: 'Wear a mask for the entire journey, people should not gather and when you disembark please scan the health code.'

'Everyone is taking the right precautions. So, there shouldn't be a problem,' Yuan Hai, 30, a passenger on a reopened metro line said when asked about the risks.

'But you have to be careful,' they added.

The contagion has since spread to over 200 countries, infecting more than 600,000 people and killing 27,674 so far. Pictured: Passengers wearing masks arrive at the railway station in Wuhan

In China, more than 80,000 have been infected and there have been 3,295 reported deaths. Pictured: Mask-clad passengers wait in line at Wuhan's railway station on Saturday

The existence of an unknown number of asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus in China has raised concerns among the public that lifting the restrictions may release thousands of people who could still be spreading the virus that causes COVID-19, without knowing they are sick.

Life in Wuhan remains far from normal. The vast majority of shops are shut while bright yellow roadblocks remain.

Some people at the railway station, such as a woman who only gave her surname as Zhang, said they were there to see if there was any chance people could leave earlier.

Her grandson came to visit her for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday in January and has been separated from his parents in the southern city of Shenzhen ever since.

With schools there possibly reopening, she hopes he can get back soon.

Authorities took draconian measures to stop people from entering or leaving the industrial city of 11 million people in central China. Pictured: A worker in protective gear walks through Wuhan's station on Saturday

Staff, some in full-body protective gear, and volunteers bustled around the railway station in the morning on Saturday

'He was supposed to leave on the fifth day (of the holiday) but has now been here for a few months,' she said.

Yesterday, NPR reported that some Wuhan residents who had already recovered from coronavirus have tested positive for a second time.

Based on data from several quarantine facilities in Wuhan, between five and 10 per cent of patients who had been pronounced recovered had tested positive again.

NPR spoke to four people who tested positive for a second time this month.

They reportedly did not show any of the classic symptoms of the virus, such as a fever or dry cough.

The time from their first recovery to being retested ranged from a few days to a few weeks.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Friday that the coronavirus economic stimulus bill before Congress is not an airline bailout and that taxpayers will be compensated for relief given to companies hobbled by the global pandemic. At the same time, Mnuchin said in an interview with Fox Business Network that plane-maker Boeing Co has not requested government help

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Friday that the coronavirus economic stimulus bill before Congress is not an airline bailout and that taxpayers will be compensated for relief given to companies hobbled by the global pandemic.

At the same time, Mnuchin said in an interview with Fox Business Network that plane-maker Boeing Co has not requested government help.

"I've been very clear this is not an airline bailout," Mnuchin said. "And that taxpayers need to be compensated for relief they're giving to airlines."

U.S. airlines are preparing to tap the government for up to $25 billion in grants to cover payroll in a sharp travel downturn triggered by the coronavirus, even after the government warned it may take stakes in exchange for bailout funds, people familiar with the matter said.

Mnuchin can demand equity, warrants or other financial instruments in order to "provide appropriate compensation to the federal government." A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment on a report that Mnuchin would demand equity.

Airlines can ask for the equivalent of their payroll between April 1 and Sept. 30 of last year, according to the terms of the bill, meaning some large airlines could get $4 billion or more in total.

The House of Representatives planned to debate the legislation on Friday, then schedule a vote.

Mnuchin said Boeing said it does not intend to participate in the federal program. "Boeing has said that they have no intention of using a program that may change in the future," Mnuchin said. "These are things that the companies need to come and ask us for. ... Right now Boeing's saying they don't need it."

Asked if the large stimulus bill could help avoid a recession, Mnuchin told Fox Business, "The No. 1 issue is not what the economic numbers are right now, the No. 1 issue is the hardship to the American people who are losing their jobs."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
JACKSON, MI  Health care workers in hospitals across the country are on the frontlines helping coronavirus patients. While they wear protective gear, theyre still potentially exposed to the virus and dont want to bring it home to their families.

Health care workers at Jacksons Henry Ford Allegiance Health, however, can stay in Jackson College dorms as a home away from home."

Two dormitories on Jackson Colleges campus are available for HFAH employees who choose to stay closer to the hospital campus to help care for COVID-19 patients, hospital personnel said in a news release. Signs were installed on Jackson Colleges campus Friday welcoming HFAH team members.

With all colleges and universities across the country closing their campuses and moving to a completely online environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had available student residence space and saw a need we could help fill, said Jackson College President Dan Phelan.

The (HFAH) team members are engaged in vital and heroic work, and were honored to provide them with nearby lodging in a secure environment, together with access to technology, food, and beverage to keep them sustained during this ordeal."

The hospital is continuing preparations for an anticipated rise in the number of COVID-19 patients being cared for in its acute care hospital, hospital officials said.

HFAH was treating 12 inpatients for COVID-19 as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28. Test results are pending on another 19 patients who are being treated as persons under investigation and are being cared for in isolated units to prevent spreading the virus.

Two patients with COVID-19 have fully recovered and have been discharged to return home, free of any symptoms or concern of spreading the illness to others, officials said.

There are 17 people with the virus in Jackson County  nine men and eight women, according to the Jackson County Health Department. Five of the cases are people between age 50 and 59, five are between 60 and 69, three are between 30 and 39, three are between 40 and 49 and one is between 70 and 79, the health department said.

There was a Park and Pray event scheduled at the hospitals main parking lot for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, but hospital officials told people to stay home and pray instead.

Hospital tells community members to stay home from Park and Pray event

There are more than 3,600 cases of COVID-19 in the state and there have been 92 deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan coronavirus numbers now at 3,657 -- up 801 cases

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

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Fight quarantine boredom with Jackson Colleges 5-week online courses

Commencement, other events canceled or postponed at Jackson College

Jackson College extends spring break by a week to prepare for all online classes
MONTREAL - Air Canada's proposed acquisition of Transat AT Inc., which owns Air Transat, likely will hinder competition and result in less choice for Canadian travellers, the Competition Bureau says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The tail of the newly revealed Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft is seen at a hangar at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ont., Thursday, February 9, 2017. The Competition Bureau says Air Canada's proposed acquisition of Transat AT Inc., which owns Air Transat, will likely hinder competition and result in less choice for Canadian travellers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

MONTREAL - Air Canada's proposed acquisition of Transat AT Inc., which owns Air Transat, likely will hinder competition and result in less choice for Canadian travellers, the Competition Bureau says.

In a report delivered to Transport Minister Marc Garneau, the watchdog said Friday that eliminating the rivalry between the two Montreal-based carriers would result in higher prices, fewer services and ultimately less travel by Canadians on a range of competing routes.

The bureau's analysis found that the deal would impact 83 overlapping routes, including 49 between Canada and Europe and 34 between Canada and sun destinations in Florida, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

The agency noted that its report released after markets closed draws on information collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cratered airline revenues as borders close and travel demand plummets.

Shareholders at Transat approved a $720-million acquisition offer from Air Canada in August, but the deal also faces scrutiny by European regulators eyeing the impact of a takeover that would see the country's biggest airline control more than 60 per cent of transatlantic air travel from Canada.

Transport Canada has until May 2 to complete a public-interest assessment and provide it to the minister.

Transat said the report "does not affect the company's confidence" in the deal.

"The commissioners role is limited to studying the impacts on competition in the marketplace...without taking the public interest more broadly into account," CEO Jean-Marc Eustache said in a statement.

"Transport Canada's assessment will provide a more comprehensive overview of the nuts and bolts of the transaction and of all the benefits for the Canadian public and economy."

The COVID-19 crisis, which prompted Transat to halt all flights until April 30, is "calling into question the relevance of any analysis conducted prior to its outbreak," Eustache added.

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He characterized the merger in near-opposite terms from the Competition Bureau, saying it will "improve customers' choices and opportunities" with more flight connections and frequencies.

Earlier this month, Canaccord Genuity analyst Doug Taylor said the deal "now carries a question mark" due to the then-34 per cent plunge in Transat's share price over the previous two months  41 per cent at end of day Friday. Taylor noted the widening spread between Air Canada's $18-per-share bid and Transat's current stock, which is now 47 per cent cheaper.

Air Canada said its priority for the moment is to cut costs, conserve liquidity and safeguard employees and passengers.

"Given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the airline industry and the state of emergency worldwide, we will consider the findings of the Competition Bureau in due course," the airline said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC, TSX:TRZ)
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi spoke with Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday by phone, discussing efforts being made by the two countries to counter the coronavirus, as well as the latest developments in Libya, the Egyptian presidency said.

The two leaders agreed to coordinate between the two countries institutions involved in tackling the coronavirus outbreak, in order to exchange experience and information.

Egypt so far has registered 536 coronavirus cases, including 30 fatalities, while Tunisia has registered a total of 227 cases and six fatalities.

El-Sisi and Saied discussed means of enhancing economic cooperation, trade ties and boosting inter-investment, especially within the framework of a joint Egyptian-Tunisian committee.

They also exchanged views on the situation in Libya, agreeing on the necessity of intensifying coordination in this regard, given that Egypt and Tunisia as neighbouring countries are directly affected by the instability in the North African country.

The two presidents stressed complete support to end the Libyan crisis by reaching a political solution that paves the way for the return of security and stability in this brotherly country, especially by supporting relevant international efforts in this regard, as well as implementing the outcome of the Berlin process, while rejecting any external interference, the Egyptian presidential spokesman said.



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Online registration is open for essential workers with young children seeking to access four new City of Toronto emergency child-care centres during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Ontario government, which earlier ordered child-care centres closed to help prevent spread of the deadly virus, is funding them and gave the city permission to open the sites across Toronto last Sunday.

The emergency daycares, a first for Ontario, will be in existing, city-run, licensed facilities staffed by city child-care workers around the clock, seven days a week, for children under age 12.

The service will be free for those approved, whose job must be on the Ontario governments list of workers eligible for emergency child care and who have no other child-care alternative.

They include police officers, firefighters or others in fire protection services, health care professionals employed in that field, paramedics and people who perform duties essential to city core services, including TTC, Toronto Water and garbage collection.

To be eligible, their job must require them to report to a work location to deliver the service, without the ability to work from home. Also eligible are city staff required to report to an official work location to deliver core essential services.

If demand exceeds spots, the city will give priority access to front-line health care workers and first responders.

Councillor Joe Cressy, chair of Toronto Public Health, hopes the sites could open by Tuesday. He said the city has scouted four further child-care sites that could potentially open to meet demand.

Every single day we have front-line heroes keeping our city running and keeping people safe, Cressy said in an interview. Just as they are taking care of us we have a fundamental duty to take care of them ...

Anything we can do to ease the burden on front-line workers is essential right now and we can scale up or down based on demand.

Given concerns over COVID-19s spread, the city will take extra precautions including daily screening of children and staff, extra disinfection work, reduced group sizes and a limit of 50 on people in any centre at one time.

Details on locations, the application process and more is on the city website.

Mass closure of daycares across Ontario quickly created a crunch for parents who must leave home to work. The city news release about the emergency daycares states: The safest option for families is to have children remain at home, if possible.

At Queens Park, Premier Doug Ford said Education Minister Stephen Lecce will be addressing child care in the next couple of days, the Stars Rob Ferguson reports.

I get the same phone calls from people, Ford said. One person gave me an example of they were worried if they didnt pay their $400 they pay every week or two weeks that theyd be yanked off the list, and theyd lose their spot. Thats unacceptable.

They shouldnt be charged. Thats not fair if they arent taking care of your children, he added after announcing new fines and jail terms for price gouging.

If youre a daycare owner, dont take advantage of people. Well catch up to you.

But Carolyn Ferns of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care said daycares are in a financial bind while ordered shut, with some forced to lay off staff to survive.

Child-care centres across Ontario urgently need emergency provincial funding to help prevent permanent daycare closures and migration for a low-paying industry that already has staff shortages and cant keep up with public demand, she said.

Were worried that unless stabilization funding comes fast, we could come out of this with an even deeper child-care crisis than we have right now.

David Rider is the Star's City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider

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By PTI

LAHORE: Police on Saturday arrested four clerics and booked 15 others in Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan for violating lockdown rules and holding Friday congregations despite a fatwa issued by a top global Islamic body to suspend them to contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Four clerics were arrested in Punjab province, while 15 clerics were booked in Sindh province's Karachi city, police said as the coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Saturday reached 1,408, including 11 deaths.

The government had issued a notification limiting the number of people between three to five who can attend Friday and congregational prayers in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Grand Imam Shaikh of Egypt's Jamia Al Azhar, an authority on Islamic injunctions, and the Supreme Council in Egypt, on the request of Pakistan President Arif Alvi, on Wednesday empowered the head of the state to suspend Friday prayers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The fatwa (religious edict) stated that public gatherings, including congregational prayers at mosques, could result in spread of coronavirus and the governments of Muslim countries had full jurisdiction to cancel such events.

However, religious leaders of the Barelvi and Deobandi sects did not support the decree issued by Al-Azhar.

A number of mosques flouted the order and a large number of people offered Friday congregations in Punjab and other parts of the country.

In Islamabad, Friday prayers were held at the Faisal Mosque where nearly 40 people offered prayers by maintaining some distance.

There were also reports of people attending Friday prayers in Sindh and Balochistan provinces despite presence of police personnel to discourage people from attending it.

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Those arrested are Allama Muhammad Abbas Rizvi, Qari Muhammad Sabir, Qari Muhammad Mazhar and Qari Muhammad Usman.

Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar said police could have used force against the people for violating the lockdown but wanted them to realise that even Saudi Arabia has stopped congregations at Ka'aba, Islam's holiest site, and Masjid-e-Nabvi and it is also considering cancelling the Haj this year.

Meanwhile, in separate incidents, the Punjab and Sindh governments have arrested 210 people for hoarding of masks, sanitizers and gloves.

In Punjab, a container carrying 40 passengers from Karachi was intercepted by police in Multan, some 350 kms from Lahore, on Friday.

The police shifted them to police station for screening to make sure that they were not infected with the deadly virus.

They were later allowed to go home after a warning.

Punjab is emerging as the new epicentre of the deadly viral infection in the country. The province recorded a total of 490 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, up from 419 cases on Friday.

The number surpassed Sindh's tally of 457 cases. Sindh was the province, which reported Pakistan's first coronavirus case.
Some hearings were disrupted at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center after confusion over a coronavirus quarantine. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Fears that an inmate who was supposed to be in quarantine was mistakenly brought to court led to a partial lockdown of the downtown Los Angeles Criminal Justice Center on Friday morning, as concerns about the coronavirus continue to sow discord in the nation's largest court system, officials with knowledge of the situation said.

A section of the county's largest courthouse was effectively shut down after concerns grew that an inmate who was supposed to be among 500 under quarantine in the county's jails was placed in a holding area in the court, according to three officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the matter candidly.

The Sheriff's Department has placed about 500 inmates under quarantine because they had been housed in a unit where someone exhibited symptoms of the coronavirus. Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said that 45 inmates who tested for the coronavirus had negative results.

A number of hearings were postponed Friday as a result, and court proceedings were "disrupted," two sources said.

A law enforcement source told The Times that although the inmate was not displaying symptoms, there was a belief he had come from quarantine housing. The lockdown lasted until it was determined that was not the case, the law enforcement source said.

But by that time a number of cases had already been postponed, and movement of inmates into courtrooms was stopped according to one source, who said the lockdown began around 9 a.m.

The source said at least one bail review hearing had to be postponed as well, a significant problem as the courts, prosecutors and sheriff's officials are racing to reduce the jail population in the hopes of preventing an outbreak.

Now who knows when [the attorney] will be able to get their client out," the source said.

A spokeswoman for the county's courts referred questions to the Sheriff's Department.

In a statement, sheriff's officials said: "This morning the Criminal Courts Building was placed on lockdown after information was received that a quarantined inmate was sent to court. It was quickly determined that the information was inaccurate and the courts resumed normal operations. The courts resumed normal operations in less than half an hour."

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The confusing episode comes amid sharp division between the judiciary and organizations representing prosecutors, defense attorneys and court staff over the decision to keep courthouses open during the pandemic.

Earlier this week, Eric Siddall, vice president for the union representing L.A. County deputy district attorneys, blasted Presiding Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile and other court leaders for disregarding "all the science behind slowing down and defeating this pandemic."

"The Los Angeles Superior Courts are now the weakest link in government's response to the coronavirus," Siddall wrote, adding that open courthouses run the risk of lawyers "inadvertently infecting inmates" and compounding the public health crisis.

Brazile has significantly curtailed the types of proceedings allowed to take place in the county's courts amid the pandemic, and has limited access to courthouses. All progress reports and status reports for pending criminal matters have also been pushed back an additional 90 days, and misdemeanor cases in which a defendant is not in jail have been delayed 90 days.

Asked about the union's letter, Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said she would not be critical of her prosecutors nor of the court, adding that she was listening to the union and in contact with judicial leaders.

"Everyone is scared, and everyone is trying to do their best so that they don't contract the virus," Lacey said. "It's up to all of us to remain calm, not overreact, but. .. do what we can to preclude the spread of the virus."

Although there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus among sheriff's deputies or the ranks of the district attorney's office, a public defender assigned to the Sylmar juvenile courthouse tested positive for the virus. The courthouse is connected to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, but no juvenile inmates have tested positive, either, said Kerri Webb, a public information officer for the Los Angeles County probation department.

Nikhil Ramnaney, the president of the union representing county public defenders, said Friday's episode displayed the court's continued failing to properly react to the threat of the virus.

The court continues to ignore the risk that it places employees, litigants as well as security personnel in by mandating the transfer of hundreds of inmates every day from L.A. County jail for proceedings that are mostly being continued, he said.




The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 on Saturday as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the United States and officials dug in for a long fight against the pandemic.

The latest landmark came only two days after the world passed half a million infections, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, showing that much work remains to be done to slow the spread of the virus. It showed more than 607,000 cases and a total of over 28,000 deaths.

While the U.S. now leads the world in reported infections with more than 104,000 cases five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

We cannot completely prevent infections at this stage, but we can and must in the immediate future achieve fewer new infections per day, a slower spread, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in quarantine at home after her doctor tested positive for the virus, told her compatriots in an audio message.

That will decide whether our health system can stand up to the virus. The virus already has put health systems in Italy, Spain and France under extreme strain. Lockdowns of varying severity have been introduced across Europe, nearly emptying streets in normally bustling cities, including Paris where drone photos showed the city's landmarks eerily deserted.

Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, said that Germany where authorities closed nonessential shops and banned gatherings of more than two in public won't relax its restrictions before April 20. Spain, where stay-at-home restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks, reported 832 more deaths on Saturday, its highest daily total yet, bringing its total to 5,690. Another 8,000 confirmed infections pushed that count above 72,000.

Doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers in its worst-hit regions are falling ill at an alarming rate and working nonstop. More than 9,000 health workers in the country have been infected. We are completely overwhelmed, said ambulance medic Pablo Rojo at Barcelona's Dos de Maig hospital.

Seven or eight (patients transported today) and all with COVID-19. ... And the average age is decreasing. They're not 80 years old anymore, they are now 30 and 40 years old. Sometimes you become a bit paranoid, you don't know any more when you pick up the phone if you have cleaned your hands, if you've sanitized them or not. You touch your face with your hands, Rojo said.

Spain has struggled to get coronavirus tests and protective gear for health workers. The government has started flights to transport the supplies directly from China to reduce waiting times.

As the epicenter has shifted westward, the situation has calmed in China, where some restrictions on people's lives have now been lifted. Six subway lines restored limited service in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December, after the city had its official coronavirus risk evaluation downgraded from high to medium on Friday. Five districts of the city of 11 million people had other restrictions on travel loosened after their risk factor was downgraded to low.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

More than 130,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins' tally.

In one way or another, the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have been felt by the powerful and the poor alike. On Friday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first leader of a major country to test positive for the virus. He said he would continue to work from self-quarantine.

Countries are still scrambling bring home some citizens stranded abroad by border closures and a near-shutdown of flights. On Saturday, 174 foreign tourists and four Nepali nationals on the foothills of Mount Everest were flown out days after being stranded on the only airstrip serving the world's highest mountain.

In neighboring India, authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of the capital to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages during the world's largest lockdown.

Thousands of people had fled their New Delhi homes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown that began on Wednesday and effectively put millions of Indians who live off daily earnings out of work.

In parts of Africa, virus prevention measures have taken a violent turn as countries impose lockdowns and curfews or seal off major cities, with police in Kenya firing tear gas and officers elsewhere captured in mobile phone footage whacking people with batons.

In the United States, New York remained the worst-hit city, but Americans braced for worsening conditions elsewhere, with worrisome infection numbers being reported in New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON  Concerned about the further spread of the coronavirus, President Donald Trump decided to issue a strong travel advisory for parts of Connecticut, as well as New York and New Jersey, after hinting on Saturday that he would order a short-term enforceable quarantine for parts of Connecticut.

Trump announced his decision in a tweet Saturday night.

A quarantine will not be necessary, Trump tweeted.

Trump said the decision was made based on the recommendation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and consulting with the governors of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Trump said hes requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a strong travel advisory.

Earlier in the day, Trump indicated the possibility of restricting non-commercial travel out of the three states, sparking hours of confusion and uncertainty in the tri-state area, as the governors of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey were blindsided by the presidents remarks.

We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime (Saturday) well do a quarantine  short term  two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut," Trump said just after noon Saturday.

In his daily briefing Saturday, Gov. Ned Lamont said the president was thinking out loud and that if such an order happened, it would be nearly impossible to enforce at the many states border crossings. After consulting with the White House, he expected a clarification later Saturday night, he said. He added that the confusion created by the statement could lead to panic.

The tension came on the day that coronavirus-related deaths nationwide reached 2,000, doubling in two days. The first COVID-19 fatality was reported a month ago. Health officials have been warning that the worst of the pandemic is ahead.

Speaking in the State Capitol in Hartford, Lamont said six more people died in state hospitals since Friday, five in Fairfield County, bringing the Connecticut fatalities to 33. The state Department of Health reported that there are now 1,524 diagnosed cases.

Lamont said that after consulting with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, along with an unnamed high-level figure in the White House, its clear that there is no infrastructure in place to stop traffic from leaving the region.

You have to be very careful what you say when you talk about mandatory quarantine, Lamont said. Were not saying more cant be done. He said it would be up to the individual states to enforce such a rule if it were dictated from Washington. Lets see what they mean.

I think they were thinking out loud at looking at the hot spots, including the New York area, including even Louisiana and Detroit, he said. They said were thinking about a wide array, everything from lockdown to the status quo.

He called a lockdown unenforceable, if they are talking about slowing or stopping traffic, because of the number of roads into and through the region. If you care as much as the president does about getting this economy going again, youve got to be very careful about what you say and what you dont say, Lamont said.

Unlike the combative New York governor, Lamont shied away from a battle of words with Trump.

He told the White House hes willing to work together on strengthening his instruction that people coming into the state quarantine for 14 days, but that he, Murphy and Cuomo really worry about even the prospect of what a lockdown would look like.

Were not Rhode Island, he said, where law enforcement is stopping cars and going door-to-door to enforce a mandatory quarantine on New Yorkers coming to the state. Asked if he would consider taking similar action, Lamont said he does not anticipate that. While Cuomo called that approach unconstitutional, Lamont said only that it seems a little aggressive to me.

Despite the presidents indication that he may quarantine parts of the state, Connecticut still has not received a major disaster declaration, which Lamont requested on Thursday.

Lamont, in his 17th executive order since declaring an emergency, also authorized state officials to take action to provide alternative housing for first responders, health care workers and people staying in homeless shelters or other group housing to reduce transmission of the virus. Officials can seek reimbursement from FEMA for those efforts, he said.

Attorney General William Tong, in a statement after Lamonts 18-minute news conference, agreed with the governor.

Our leaders cannot think out loud at moments like this, Tong said. They must speak with clarity and authority. Off-the-cuff comments by the president, made without necessary coordination with governors on the front lines of this crisis  are not helpful.

Cuomo slammed the idea as illegal, nonsensical and "a declaration of war on states," during an appearance on CNN Saturday evening. He suggested that he doubted Trump was seriously considering the idea, saying, if the president was considering this, I guarantee he would have called. ... This is a civil war kind of discussion.

I dont believe that any federal administration could be serious about physical lockdowns of states or parts of states across this country," Cuomo said. "I dont believe its legal. I think it would be economic chaos.

On Tuesday, the White House requested that anyone who has recently been in the New York metro area  the most severe coronavirus outbreak in the country  self-quarantine for 14 days starting from their day of departure from the region.

Several other states have raised concerns about people from the New York metro area going to other parts of the country and starting outbreaks in those places. Governors in four states, including Florida, have ordered that travelers arriving from the New York area, including parts of Connecticut and New Jersey, self-quarantine for two weeks.

Theyre having problems down in Florida, Trump said early Saturday afternoon. A lot of New Yorkers are going down. We dont want that. Heavily infected.

I dont even like the sound of it

Trump and Cuomo spoke Saturday morning, both confirmed, but the subject of a new quarantine on the region was not discussed, the New York governor said.

I dont believe that any federal administration could be serious about physical lockdowns of states or parts of states across this country, Cuomo said on CNN Saturday evening. I dont believe its legal. I think would be economic chaos.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said an enforced quarantine in three states seemed unworkable, unenforceable, and possibly unconstitutional.

It is also unsupported by medical or scientific facts, Blumenthal said. Its more Trump ad hoc edict based on impulse, not informed judgment. President Trump should be collaborating with the governors, which he has failed to do. The governors have been ahead of federal authorities in their courageous and steadfast leadership, and their insights and input should be heeded. What we really need is masks, ventilators, and other medical supplies, not more confused mixed messages.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, said Saturday afternoon he also had no heads up about the possibility of further restrictions for the New York area.

We all have questions, Himes said. Sadly, one of the characteristics of this president is we cant trust anything he says. There are obviously very serious health questions about this its not clear that this would be medically appropriate and its not clear what he means.

Trump said the possible quarantine would be enforceable. Asked if he would use the military of National Guard to enforce the measure, Trump responded, Were not going to need much.

Blumenthal questioned how a quarantine would be enforced by federal authorities.

The exact meaning and impact of this quarantine are completely unclear and uncertain, he said. There are questions as to how he would enforce it and how far it would reach and what exactly would prohibit.

Capt. David Pytlik, a spokesman for the Connecticut National Guard, said Saturday he did not know how the federal government would enforce mandatory travel restrictions for New York metro-area residents.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
The Communities Minister has pledged that social housing tenants who struggle to pay their rent during the coronavirus crisis will not be evicted.

Deirdre Hargey outlined a package of measures to ensure people continue to have secure accommodation in the midst of the pandemic.

Steps include support and assurance for social and private renters as well as support for the homeless.

Ms Hargey said: "This is a worrying time for everyone and I am very aware that there is an increased level of anxiety in our community.

"The last thing anyone needs right now is to add the security of their home to those worries.

"I want to assure renters, homeowners and those in a homeless situation, that I am putting measures in place to provide crucial support."

In relation to social housing tenants, Ms Hargey said she had secured an agreement with all social housing landlords - Housing Executive and Housing Associations - that any social housing tenant facing difficulties paying rent during the crisis will not be evicted.

She added: "I have also been assured by Co-ownership for those facing difficulties keeping up with their payments, that their customers' homes are secure and that both Co-ownership and mortgage lenders will treat these issues with sensitivity and support their customers during a difficult period."

She said anyone experiencing difficulties paying their rent through loss of employment for example can get help with their housing costs by applying for Universal Credit online.

For private renters, the level of rent due to landlords may be more than the housing cost element of Universal Credit.

Ms Hargey added: "My department is making changes to help households that have lost income to pay their rent.

"An increase in Local Housing Allowance rates from April 1 will provide additional financial support for private tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit. In addition, anyone who has lost their job and who signs on to Universal Credit can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to have their full rent paid for 13 weeks."

For homeowners, the Chancellor has also announced that mortgage lenders will offer at least a three month mortgage holiday for homeowners.

This has now been extended to cover 'buy to let' mortgages, to help landlords cope with lost income.

Separately yesterday, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said there is enough food in Northern Ireland to feed the city of London and that it is important the supply chain is maintained during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the effect of members of the public panic-buying over the last few weeks has proved challenging as the workforce falls but demand rises.

"Numbers are down 10% in the workforce and demand is up so that's a very challenging position," Minister Poots said, speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster.

"The truth is that there is loads of food in Northern Ireland, we produce enough food to feed the city of London not just Northern Ireland and we will keep doing that as long as we keep processing it."
Lok Sabha MP and AIMIM



Maharashtra unit chief Imtiyaz Jaleel on Saturday said the Centre and state government should curtail tendering procedures so that life-saving equipment can be bought quickly in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

He said while the Maharashtra government had released a press note to induct 527 doctors, nurses and other staff in the district to fight the virus outbreak, the nurses association here had demanded that they be given personal protection kits and other basic amenities.

"The regular tendering process to buy medical equipment should be curtailed by the government so that they can bought quickly to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. We should remember even doctors and other medical staff have families," he told PTI.

He also asked fair price shop owners not to keep their establishments closed during such trying times.

The licence of a ration shop in Gulmandi area of Aurangabad was revoked as the owner had not opened it for the past five days, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rapper French Montana is being sued by a woman who claims she was drugged and raped in his home.

The victim is also suing Montana's employee Mansour Bennouna and his label Coke Boy Records for assault and battery, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The woman, who goes under the pseudonym Jane Doe in court documents obtained by The Blast, claims she was invited by French, 35, to his home after meeting at a recording studio on La Brea Ave on March 28 2018.

Lawsuit: Rapper French Montana is being sued by a woman who claims she was drugged and raped in his home in 2018

Doe alleges she arrived at the rapper's house at around 6am and was 'lucid' when she made a call to her friend half an hour later.

She claims she was told to take a shot by the Unforgettable hitmaker and Bennouna and shortly after blacked out.

Once she was incapacitated, Doe claims she saw 'several men coming in and out of the bedroom'. She alleges French (real name Karim Kharbouch) was one of those men.

Doe says she 'regained consciousness' at around 1.30pm with Bennouna 'spooning' her and says she felt confusion as well as 'pain in her pelvis, lower back and vagina'.

The woman, who goes under the pseudonym Jane Doe in court documents obtained by The Blast, claims she was invited by French, 35, to his home after meeting at a recording studio

After she left French's home she allegedly had a rape kit administered by staff at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center which showed that semen was present. Doe then reported the rape to police and accused French of sexually assaulting her.

Doe claims French 'had a longstanding practice of inviting women to their recording sessions, or choosing women at bars, and inviting them back to the Hidden Hills house.'

She accuses them of supplying women with drinks and drugs 'with the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with them, without any regard to whether or not they consented, or were able to consent.'

The alleged victim says French would often take drugs and encourage women to do the same.

Allegations: Doe claims she was told to take a shot by the Unforgettable hitmaker and shortly after blacked out. She found herself in a bedroom being sexually assaulted, she alleges

Doe is seeking damages for 'extreme emotional distress, anxiety, flashbacks and depression.'

'Defendants would be in control of how much alcohol was provided, always making sure there was excessive amounts, given and encouraging the women to drink.' the suit reads.

Doe is seeking damages for 'extreme emotional distress, anxiety, flashbacks and depression.'

She claims she has put her modeling and acting career on hold after the alleged distressing incident.

French had a highly publicized romance with Khloe Kardashian from 2014 to 2015.
Russian oil giant Rosneft announced Saturday it is halting its activities in Venezuela and selling its assets there, a country that has been hit by US trade sanctions.

"Rosneft announces the termination of its operations in Venezuela and the disposal of its assets, related to operating in Venezuela," the company said in a statement.

Russia however remains a key partner to Caracas. State oil giant Rosneft said it had sold its Venezuelan assets to a company 100 per cent-owned by the Russian government.

The interests sold by Rosneft include joint ventures of Petromonagas, Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromiranda and Petrovictoria, "as well as oil-field services companies, commercial and trading operations," the company said.

All Rosneft shares and operations linked to Venezuela will be "disposed of, terminated or liquidated", the company stressed.

Russia, with China and Cuba, is one of the main allies of Venezuela's leader President Nicolas Maduro, but US sanctions against his regime had put Rosneft under increasing pressure.

In February, Washington announced sanctions against a Rosneft subsidiary because of its presence in Venezuela.

Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontiev said the company had fulfilled its obligations and now had a right to expect the lifting of sanctions, Russian agency Ria Novosti reported.

Last August, Russia and Venezuela were collaborating on developing two new gas fields on the east coast, in the Caribbean Sea.

Rosneft boss Igor Sechin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was one of the main investors.

Maduro has ruled Venezuela since 2013. He was re-elected for a second term in 2018, a vote boycotted by the opposition which rejected the results.

The US and a large part of the international community has also refused to recognise Maduro's victory and Washington has applied economic pressure with sanctions against the government there.

The United States in 2014 already imposed sanctions on Rosneft, one of Russia's largest companies, over Moscow's backing of separatists in Ukraine and takeover of Crimea. But the measures were limited to curbing US financing for the oil giant.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
But thats not the sole reason she took the job. I would have shot this if it was filming on the moon  especially if it was shooting on the moon, that would have been exciting, she says. She calls herself a huge fan who liked the first series so much shes in the second. For those not familiar with Bloom, the story follows the residents of a small country town, Mullan, who discover a fountain of youth  a mysterious plant with glowing berries  that appears in the aftermath of a devastating flood. In series two, time has passed and, unsurprisingly, news of the miracle has spread. Enter Anne Carter (Jacqueline), the former CEO of a biotech company. She arrives in Mullan for a tree change  but of course, thats just her cover story. The concept of the fountain of youth has appealed to humans throughout the ages, so would Jacqueline drink from it, given the chance? Im really cautious, I dont even drink alcohol  she starts, before I interrupt to ask if shes always been teetotal. No, Im an actor. I went to NIDA. We all drank! she says, before quickly returning to my original question. I dont want to lose things I have now. So if going back to that time would make that happen, why would I want that? I love my life and the people in it. I dont know what that would do for my daughter, Roxy.

Jacqueline McKenzie at the premiere of 1999s Deep Blue Sea. Credit:Getty Images Shes everything. I would never risk anything there. She pauses. So my answer is probably not, but if I had half a glass of champagne  While the fountain of youth is off the drinks list, if she could travel back to her younger days, is there anything shed do differently? Firstly, I would invest in some leg tan  it would make my schooling a little easier, she says, laughing. In those days, I got hounded for having really white skin. These days, its really quite lovely. But people are still like, Wow, youre so white. I remember when I did Ya-Ya Sisterhood, the make-up artist was telling me about the really white-skinned people shed met. Meryl is see-through is what she said. I asked, Whos the whitest? And she said, That would be you. 

It would be easy to assume that Jacquelines teenage years were torture, but she found a way around the teasing. At some stage, someone told me I could sing, so it no longer mattered that I was orange-headed with white skin. I had something that I could do, I could sing. School wasnt a bad experience  I loved it. That singing ability led to some of Jacquelines best school experiences, including performing musicals while at Sydneys Pymble Ladies College alongside a certain good-looking student at a nearby boys school. We did Brigadoon as a school production with Knox [Grammar] and Hugh Jackman was in it, she says. At some stage [at school], someone told me I could sing, so it no longer mattered that I was orange-haired with white skin. I had something I could do. But the most memorable part of the production didnt involve the future Wolverine. There was a massive screen on stage, and we were backlit doing all this dancing behind it. Ill never forget for as long as I live, there was a girl on stage who was feeling really sick  and she vomited onto the screen, she says, doubling over. Its really hard to sing while laughing! After leaving school, Jacqueline began a bachelor of arts degree at the University of New South Wales, but soon followed her passion for performing and made the switch to studying at NIDA.

It was the right move. She graduated in 1990 and has achieved the holy grail of actors ever since: consistent work. Now 52, the offers are far from slowing down. I really love the age Im coming into, she says. There are amazing roles out there. Times have clearly changed, and being a female actor over 50 no longer means getting pigeonholed as the older mother character. As proof, consider the number of varied roles Jacqueline has played opposite her 31-year-old Bloom co-star, Ryan Corr. Ive played his lover, his mother and his grandmother! she says, before adding with an exaggerated American accent: Whatevs. I call it versatile. Having worked extensively for three decades across theatre, film and television, Jacqueline is reluctant to pick a favourite medium, but one does hold particular challenges. Theatre is really tough. Every night you have to do an entire story from beginning to end, and twice on a Wednesday and twice on a Saturday. But she says there have been many really positive #MeToo-related developments. [Producers] are so much more aware now of the people working for them, she says. During a recent production, a psychologist was brought in to check on the cast and crew each week. She said, I cant believe what you guys have to traverse. How are you feeling? Is it triggering? It was one of the first times that anyone has checked in.

Jacqueline McKenzie: "Theres no going back. Only moving forward." Credit:Sarah Enticknap Its a huge shift that really hit home for Jacqueline while recently watching Annie Get Your Gun with her daughter Roxy. The famous tune Theres No Business Like Show Business came on: Even with a turkey that you know has fold/You may be stranded out in the cold/But still you wouldnt change it for a sack of gold/Lets go on with the show, lets go on with the show. I was almost crying listening to it, she recalls. I really felt a part of that tribe. The show must go on. Theres that notion that you pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get back in there. Its not as if its expected of us, but its what we expect of us. To push through. People have been suffering. Now people are talking, and the work is so much better. Throughout our chat, Jacqueline often slips in mentions of Roxy, whos almost 11  the single mother is clearly very close to her only child.

I cant help but notice the old-fashioned typewriter keys she has dangling from her ears. One is the letter J and the other the letter R. Its funny when I see these earrings, I always think of joctor, she explains. If a D and R would be doctor, then a J and R is joctor. I get the feeling this cute made-up word is symbolic of their special bond. And Jacquelines daughter clearly shapes much of her outlook. There have been times when Ive wondered if this is the last job  I generally do it the minute we wrap, she says, with a laugh. But Im conscious of language and the notion of falling back." I have a little girl, and I want her to know that even a mistake is an opportunity to do it again and do it right. I tend to feel life is a straight line to the grave and you have to make the most of that path. Theres no going back. Only moving forward.
WASHINGTON - The head of the International Monetary Fund said Friday it is clear that the global economy has now entered a recession that could be as bad or worse than the 2009 downturn.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2020 file photo, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, attends a session on the first day of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. Georgieva said Friday, March 27, it is clear that the global economy has now entered a recession that could be as bad or worse than the 2009 downturn. She said the 189-nation lending agency was forecasting a recovery in 2021, saying it could be a sizable rebound. But she said this would only occur if nations succeed in containing the coronavirus and limiting the economic damage(AP Photo/Jens Meyer, File)

WASHINGTON - The head of the International Monetary Fund said Friday it is clear that the global economy has now entered a recession that could be as bad or worse than the 2009 downturn.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the 189-nation lending agency was forecasting a recovery in 2021, saying it could be a sizable rebound. But she said this would only occur if nations succeed in containing the coronavirus and limiting the economic damage.

A key concern about a long-lasting impact of the sudden stop of the world economy is the risk of a wave of bankruptcies and layoffs that not only can undermine the recovery but erode the fabric of our societies, she told reporters at a news conference following a telephone conference with finance officials from the 24 nations that make up the IMFs policy-setting panel.

She said the IMF was updating its economic outlook now and it would be released in a few weeks, allowing the agency more time to assess the economic impacts of the virus.

Asked if the United States was now in recession, she noted that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell had said Thursday that America  may well be in a recession. She said she believed not only the United States but many other advanced economies and a number of developing countries had already entered downturns.

Georgieva said lower income countries were being hit hard by the spreading coronavirus, with 81 nations now seeking support from an IMF emergency financing program being used to provide aid.

She announced that Kyrgyzstan would receive the first IMF support package of $120.9 million to deal with adverse effects of the virus.

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She repeated a pledge that the IMF stood ready to make all $1 trillion of its lending resources available to countries being hit by the virus.

We have seen an extraordinary spike in requests for IMF emergency financing, Georgieva said. We are being asked by our members to do more, do it better and do it faster than ever before.

She said to meet the increased demand she would seek to double the emergency financing program and simplify the procedures countries will have to go through to obtain IMF support. She said the IMF was also looking for ways to expand its current lending facilities to provide more help to countries.

Georgieva said the IMF also wanted to find ways to provide more debt relief to the poorest countries.

She said she planned to discuss these issues with the IMFs executive board with the goal of putting together a package of reforms that could be presented at the IMFs spring meetings in mid-April. Because of the virus, the spring meetings of both the IMF and its sister lending organization, the World Bank, will be virtual this year instead of meetings in Washington.

IMF efforts that start to offer debt relief to the poorest countries and that increase financing to help prevent a global financial crisis are really positive and needed steps, said Eric LeCompte, the executive director Jubilee USA, a group that campaigns for increased assistance for low income countries.
JACKSON, MI  Henry Ford Allegiance Health is asking people to stay home and pray Saturday night instead of attending a park and pray event at its Jackson hospital.

The Park and Pray event, organized by Alley Comden on Facebook, for 6:30 p.m. March 28, asked people to go to the hospitals main parking lot and turn on their flashers, honk horns, make signs and do anything they could think of to thank the medical staff.

While hospital personnel appreciate the support, they say its best for people to stay home.

Its incredibly uplifting to know our community is supporting us in prayer right now, said Pete May, HFAH public information officer. While we gratefully accept these prayers and well wishes, we are asking everyone to pray from the safety of their own home.

Hospital personnel ask those wanting to encourage COVID-19 patients at HFAH to use the hospitals Well Wishes feature on its website. Plans are in the works to expand the platform to allow community members to leave well wishes for hospital employees.

HELLO ALL! Please share this post! Tomorrow, Saturday March 28th at 6:30pm we are asking if anyone who wishes to... Posted by Alley Comden on Friday, March 27, 2020

HFAH is treating 12 inpatients who tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a news release. Test results for 19 other patients are pending, and those people are being treated as persons under investigation while being cared for in isolated units in the hospital to prevent spreading the virus.

Two patients with COVID-19 have fully recovered and have been discharged to return home, free of any symptoms or concern of spreading the illness to others, the release states.

There are 17 people with the virus in Jackson County  nine men and eight women, according to the Jackson County Health Department. Five of the cases are people between age 50 and 59, five are between 60 and 69, three are between 30 and 39, three are between 40 and 49 and one is between 70 and 79, the health department said.

There are more than 3,600 cases of COVID-19 in the state and there have been 92 deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan coronavirus numbers now at 3,657 -- up 801 cases

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.
Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, speaks during a news conference at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, U.S., on Friday, March 27, 2020. Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday he does not believe President Donald Trump has the authority to impose a quarantine on New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut, after the president floated the idea as a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus out of the hot-spot region. Cuomo, in an interview with CNN, said that preventing people from moving in and out of the tri-state would amount to a federally imposed lockdown, which he believes is illegal.



"A lockdown is what they did in Wuhan, China," Cuomo said. "We're not in China, and we're not in Wuhan. I don't believe it would be legal. I believe it would be illegal."



Cuomo said he does not believe that Trump intends to impose a sweeping quarantine of the region but suggested he could sue if the administration did follow through.



"I've sued the federal government a number of times over the years. I do not believe it's going to come to that on this," Cuomo said. "This would be a declaration of war on states, a federal declaration of war."



Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House Saturday, said he was considering a two-week quarantine of New York and possibly New Jersey as well as parts of Connecticut. The president said a decision could come Saturday. "I'm thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it, but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine," Trump told reporters at the White House Saturday. "Short-term, two-week on New York, probably New Jersey and certain parts of Connecticut." Trump later backed off those remarks and said he decided a quarantine wasn't necessary after consulting with the White House task force and the governors of the three states. He has asked the Centers for Disease Control to issue a strong travel advisory, which will be administered by the governors in consultation with the federal government.

Governors in the dark

The governors in the tri-state region, however, said they were in the dark about Trump's possible quarantine. Cuomo said that while he spoke with the president Saturday morning, a quarantine didn't come up during their discussions. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters on Saturday that Trump did not bring up a possible quarantine when they spoke on Friday. "Nothing like quarantine came up," Murphy said. "I literally saw the story as I was walking into this room. I've got no more color on it."



Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has said the tri-state governors are already implementing certain quarantine measures. Lamont said he wants to speak "to the president directly about his comments and any further enforcement actions, because confusion leads to panic." When NBC News asked White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows what legal authority the administration has to order a quarantine, Meadows replied, "We're evaluating all the options right now." Cuomo went on to say that a quarantine imposed by the federal government on the region would cause an economic shock and could provoke a ripple effect across the country, giving states the green light to close their borders. "New York is the financial sector. You geographically restrict a state, you would paralyze the financial sector," Cuomo said. "You think the stock market has gone down -- it would drop like a stone." Talk of a possible quarantine comes as New York and the surrounding states have borne the brunt of the infected cases in the U.S. More than 121,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the United States, and at least 2,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have become the center of the outbreak in the U.S. New York has more than 52,000 cases and at least 728 deaths; New Jersey has reported more than 11,000 cases and 140 deaths; and Connecticut has confirmed 1,291 cases and 27 deaths.

Question of enforcement
UPDATE: New York state relaxed the rules April 1 to allow residential and commercial real estate showings, home inspections and appraisals.

It is possible to buy a house during the coronavirus shutdown.

But it looks like this: There are no open houses. Buyers cant go inside and admire the view from the kitchen window. An inspector cant go inside, either.

Sellers can list their houses, but they have to take their own pictures. An agent cant meet face-to-face with a client.

When real estate agent McKenzie Kellys clients close on a house this week, it will go like this:

The husband will go into the attorneys office and sign the papers while the wife waits in the car with their two children. Then, they will trade places.

Its very unconventional, said Kelly, an agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate in Camillus. There isnt a book to say how to do this.

The real estate market was humming toward a record month when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would shut down non-essential businesses to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Starting at 8 p.m. last Friday, real estate agents and thousands of other workers deemed non-essential were sent home.

The sudden closure sent thousands of agents on a mission to survive during the busiest home-buying season.

The collapse of the economy also sent some home sellers and buyers into situations that go beyond pause.

There are buyers who have purchased new homes contingent on the sale of their current home. There are people who need to move quickly.

The bad part of it is, weve got these clients that either have to sell because they got a job transfer or buyers where their lease is up and they have to buy something, Kelly said.

Andrea O'Dell and Jerome Bryant were ready to buy a house when he lost his job because of the caronavirus shutdown. Their children are Olivia, 8, and Gianna, 9 months.

On March 5, Andrea ODell and her boyfriend, Jerome Bryant, qualified for a mortgage on a $140,000 home in Cicero. Their two children would get their own rooms and space to play.

Weve never had a backyard, our own space, ODell said.

One week later, Bryant lost his job as assistant manager at Get Air, the trampoline park in Cicero. Its unclear when theyll be able to re-open a place with such a high germ risk, she said.

ODell works as a medical assistant at a doctors office. Thats a more secure job in a health crisis, but it doesnt pay enough to qualify for a mortgage.

They are unlikely to close as planned on May 1.

Theres one more consequence. Their apartment lease is up and the alternative is risky. They will have to move in with Bryants mother, who is a respiratory therapist on the front lines in the war against coronavirus.

They will also lose about $2,000 already paid for a deposit, inspection costs and appraisal fees.

It just stinks because he still has a job and he has somewhere to go back to and we will have money coming in, but just right now, because of mandated closures, he cant go to work, she said.

David and Jennifer Arthur are still preparing to put their Manlius house on the market in the next two weeks. They are downsizing to a condo now that two of their three children are out of the house. They dont mind taking their own pictures and skipping the open house.

They are lucky: Theyve already purchased and renovated the condo. They dont want to wait to sell, but they can be patient.

Quite frankly, were going ahead like nothings happened, Jennifer Arthur said. Will it affect our ability to sell? Sure, I think it will. I think were lucky because of the area that were in and its still a very sought-after neighborhood.

No closing = No pay

Real estate is one of the biggest drivers of the economy in Central New York.

There are about 1,000 licensed real estate salespeople just in Onondaga County. They are independent contractors. They dont qualify for unemployment insurance.

Agents are on their own for health insurance coverage. Most dont have business interruption insurance, Kelly said.

No closing equals no pay, she said.

The fallout will also affect the many other small businesses real estate agents rely on to sell a home: inspectors, appraisers, the company that plants the For Sale signs in yards.

It was a sellers market

Dan and Liz Gaulin are partners along with their son Ben at Hunt Real Estates Manlius office. Their whole livelihood depends on selling houses.

They said some sellers will take the extra time to wait for the market to open up. While they social distance, they will declutter and paint. Others, like the Arthurs, will go ahead and list.

We had a few people ready for April 1, and I dont think thats going to happen, he said.

Still, the Gaulins said they are hopeful buyers will be anxious and ready when the shutdown restrictions are lifted.

For the past few years, the Syracuse region has been a sellers market. There is not enough housing stock to go around. Agents report 10 buyers for every house and sales within days.

Even now, people seem willing to make offers contingent on an inspection without stepping inside a house, Dan Gaulin said.

That is not unheard of in Central New York, where professors and military workers are comfortable buying a new house from afar, he said.

Navigating new rules

The industry is still working to sort out the new rules.

The New York State Association of Realtors issued a FAQ with many unanswered Qs. They dont know, for example, if an agent can go to a vacant home to view it or take photographs for a listing.

Other rules are more clear.

Telemarketing is prohibited during a state of emergency. That means no cold calls to prospective buyers. But they can advertise and use social media for marketing.

There are a lot of moving parts in a transaction, and not all of them are functioning at full speed.

Some banks are open with limited staff. Some attorneys will make arrangements to sign documents. Others are opposed to it, saying it is unsafe and unfair to buyers whose ability to pay off a mortgage is in jeopardy.

The Onondaga County Clerks office is closed but is accepting electronic documents like deeds. Not all attorneys have set up electronic filing.

Dan Gaulin said there will be some delays with banks and attorneys.

The market is so strong that consumers are working with us on this because they know its in their best interest, so theyre willing to be a little bit flexible, he said.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Am I essential? 100s across NY grapple with question  and ask us  amid coronavirus pandemic Did I infect my students? Teacher worries after 8 days with no coronavirus test results

At The Chef & The Cook in Baldwinsville, coronavirus closure is now permanent

Coronavirus stimulus payouts: When will I get my check? How much money?

Contact Michelle Breidenbach: mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 01:18:13|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Libya's National Center for Disease Control of the UN-backed government on Saturday announced two new COVID-19 cases.

The center received a notice of two suspected cases of the novel coronavirus from Al-Hikma Hospital in Misurata city, and they were later confirmed positive for COVID-19 after tests, it said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Libya announced the first COVID-19 case in the country, a 73-year-old man who returned from Saudi Arabia.

The UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj recently declared a state of emergency and mobilization against the virus.

The government also took measures against the coronavirus, such as closing airports, border crossings, education institutions and mosques, banning large gatherings, and imposing a curfew.
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a discussion with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and lauded key measures taken by the state to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Mamata, in her briefing, said that Bengal had been put under complete lockdown and the government is working around-the-clock to ensure the supply chain of essential commodities and services reaches the people. Other efforts such as setting up of quarantine facilities and preparing for a larger outbreak are being also being conducted.

After listening to the preparedness, Modi appreciated the states initiatives and assured the state of all kinds of help.

Following the phone conversation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also extended assistance in crisis response to the Bengal chief minister.

Shah thanked her for successfully maintaining the lockdown and said additional paramilitary forces would be deployed if needed in providing emergency services.

Hours after the talks concluded, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday tweeted, We are locked down, but not bogged down, stating emergency response to battle the spread of the virus were deployed.

Our aviation officials & professionals are working round the clock with determination & patience. The aircraft are crisscrossing the skies to ensure that ICMR kits for testing Covid19 reach on time. The first flight on Friday morning has already delivered 1.4 tonnes of ICMR kits from Delhi to Aizwal, Kolkata & Hyderabad while another such movement of ICMR kits is in progress from Mumbai to Pune, Bengaluru & Thiruvananthapuram, his tweet read.

For intra-regional movements in the northeastern region, an extensive helicopter network has been kept on alert. Our network can be activated if private agencies are interested in moving medical kits/equipment, Puri said.
They come together online, share their designs via chat and set into motion thousands of 3D printers around the world.

Self-styled makers may once have been dismissed as basement hobbyists, but they could soon be praised as logistical saviours as they band together online to design and produce life-saving medical equipment amid a worldwide shortage.

In the last week, makers have formed groups on social media where they design and share electronic blueprints for everything from ventilator valves to UV sterilization devices. One Facebook group is working to connect hospitals from Mexico to Malawi with locals who can print up personal protective equipment (PPE) in their area.

In Canada, two groups  one in B.C. and one in Ontario  hope to be in full mass production mode soon, making tens or hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE only days after many of them met for the first time.

In Kitchener, education technology company InkSmith has transformed itself into a manufacturing plant to mass-produce protective plastic face shields for nurses and doctors.

One week ago, the staff of InkSmith were wondering how the extended shutdown of schools was going to affect them when they decided to practise what they teach.

All of the curriculum and training that we offer is a process called design thinking, said InkSmith marketing manager Jessica Braun. You find a problem, you define the problem, you iterate a solution, you build a prototype, and you test the prototype. So essentially, thats what we did in real life and thats how we got to where we are today.

Inspired by a pair of makers in northern Italy who were able to 3D print hundreds of single-use valves for ventilators after a local hospital ran out, the company adapted a design for a face shield posted online by makers in the Czech Republic involving a laser cut clear plastic shield and a 3D printed headband.

But with only three 3D printers on site, they soon realized they couldnt produce the shields fast enough for the massive and growing need. So they put a call out online and within hours were receiving hundreds of headbands printed out by folks from as far away as Barrie and Ottawa.

By Friday, less than a week after they began, InkSmith had received more than 1,000 3D printed headbands from volunteers and pledges for at least 1,000 more.

We were blown away by the response of the 3D printing maker community and their willingness and their eagerness to help us, said Braun.

Many volunteers have been laid off from other jobs and are eager to find a purpose while stuck at home.

People have been setting an alarm three, four, five times throughout the night to get up and start a new print. We did not expect that type of commitment whatsoever when we originally put that call out, she said.

Once at their facility, the headbands are sterilized and snapped together with a face shield. Five hundred have already been donated to hospitals in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

Even with the donations flooding in, the limitations posed by 3D printing meant they werent going to be able to meet the massive demand.

Our team went back to the drawing board, Braun said, and we decided to create a fully laser-cut design.

After rapid testing in local hospitals, the face shield was finalized Thursday and received Health Canada certification the same day, Braun said. InkSmith has now filled their 7,000-sq-ft warehouse with laser cutters and erected a temporary structure outside and should get production up to 10,000 masks a day very soon, she said.

Meanwhile out west, Dylan Gunn has gone from his day job as director of the Engineering Physics Project Lab at the University of British Columbia to a full-time project manager with the Vancouver Makers for Emergency Response and Support.

After reaching out to some colleagues and acquaintances on Facebook last week, Gunn is now working with some 50 people on a Slack chat channel to design, prototype, test and mass produce plastic intubation cabinets for frontline medical workers.

Its very organic. It leverages technology heavily, said Gunn. Its great to see so many people coming online, but I really wanted to see this happen in a centralized way, because you cant have 200 people showing up at the hospital with 200 different solutions.

The group includes doctors, nurses and engineers and they are liaising with intensive care units from Kelowna to Victoria to determine need for the simple device that covers a patients head to protect doctors during invasive procedures like intubation that produce lots of contagious airborne contaminants.

Provincial health agencies are used to ordering mass quantities of medical supplies from global providers months or years in advance. During a health crisis like this, when borders are closed and deliveries delayed, makers can move more quickly and leverage their expertise to work with local industry and set up a supply chain and production line in a matter of days.

The group recognized early the difficulty of obtaining a reliable local supply of transparent plastic when large retail chains are also ordering plastic shields for their cashiers.

This week, Gunn secured enthusiastic commitments from a foam supplier and a laser manufacturer. When he called a large fruit packing company that makes plastic clamshells for strawberries and blueberries and found a willing partner in minutes.

Immediately, I spoke to whoevers in charge and they said: we have thousands of pounds of (plastic). We can die cut it. Just tell us what we need to do, when and where it needs to go. We can worry about the costs later, he said.

Gunn says the experience has been exhausting, but it shows the how a diffuse group of people coming together over the internet can solve complex problems quickly.

Its amazing to see what people will do how they will come together and work in ways that conventionally were thought be impossible, he said. If we can do this, it could be the test case for finding solutions to climate change.
Ongoing shelter-in-place orders allow for outdoor exercising, but you can only walk the neighborhood so many times before losing your mind. So while youve got some extra time, break up the monotony with a trip to another part of town to take in some architecture and learn a little more about San Antonio.

As long as you keep your distance from others, this is perfectly allowable under San Antonios stay-at-home rules. In fact, fresh air and exercise will help you deal with the stress of staying at home under these circumstances.
ANN ARBOR, MI - We recently posted a story about a new, Ann Arbor-based website -- saveMIfaves.org -- that is is encouraging you to buy gift cards to help support the restaurant industry in our state.

Launched this week by a small team of Ann Arbor entrepreneurs to help people easily find/buy gift cards to their favorite local businesses, the site originally started with about 80 restaurants in the Ann Arbor area, according to Josh Botkin, who works in Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan, and one of sites co-founders.

When we posted our story, it had 100-plus restaurants.

READ: Want to support your favorite Michigan restaurant? New website offers gift card guide

Today, Botkin said:

*The site will contain more than 250 restaurants and shops across Michigan -- in cities from Albion to Zeeland.

*This is a great start, but still a drop in the bucket. We encourage restaurants in your Michigans Best network to submit their info (via the Submit a Fave button atop the homepage).

*Our mission is to help keep these vital-but-struggling establishments afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.

Botkin said inspiration for the site came over this past weekend after reading how Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger launched a similar site in the Bay Area, called SaveOurFaves.

He reached out to local tech friends in the start up community, including Steve Schwartz of software consulting company Alfa Jango and co-founder/CTO of Genomenon, and it came together quickly.

For more stories and Podcasts about the restaurant community, and other good news, check out the Michigans Best Facebook page: Facebook.com/MLiveMIBest.

The site for SaveMIFaves is savemifaves.org.
In a study published online yesterday focused on the medical products industry - which includes medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biologics - a group of researchers found that, compared to firms with all-male boards, firms with female directors announced high-severity product recalls 28 days sooner. This is a 35% reduction in the time between when a firm was first made aware of the defect and when the firm decided to recall the defective product.

The study, from faculty at Lehigh University, University of Notre Dame, Indiana University and Auburn University, is the first to examine the impact of female board representation on operations management, specifically in product recall decision-making. It was published in Manufacturing and Service Operations Management.

According to co-author Corinne Post, a professor of management at Lehigh University, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies recalls into three categories of severity: class 1 (high severity), class 2 (moderate severity), and class 3 (low severity). A class 1, high-severity recall is one where the product defects are the most serious, even life-threatening.

For the types of recalls classified as high-severity, how quickly they are recalled can truly be a matter of life or death." Corinne Post, professor of management, Lehigh University

The researchers found that the number of women on boards also had an impact on the high-severity recall outcomes. When boards had just one female director, seriously defective products were not recalled more quickly than with all-male boards. It was only when there were at least two female directors on the board that the timeliness of severe product recalls increased.

"When there were three female directors, the recall decision moved along even faster," adds Post.

The authors write that low-severity, or "...class 3 recalls, which are associated with nonharmful issues such as labeling or packaging nonconformities, have significant discretion in whether or not they are ever initiated by firms and represent an ideal context to examine how changes in board gender composition influences the firm's tendency to either take accountability for, or overlook, product quality problems that contain significant initiation discretion."

The researchers report that for low severity recalls, for which executives have much greater discretion than high-severity ones, boards with female directors announced 120% more recalls, compared to boards that had no female directors. That is equivalent to 12 additional recalls per firm.

"In this case, the addition of just one female director caused a change in how these decisions were made," says Post. "The number of recalls of this type announced continue to increase as firms add each additional female director."

The team notes that more research is needed to determine why the presence of women on boards is associated with such different product recall decisions. Though they assert that underlying the link between board composition and product recalls is an understanding that boards are established specifically to set the tone for how managers make critical firm decisions.

"We hypothesize that boards with more women might set a tone for stricter abidance by FDA rules and may also have higher aversion to risk when it comes to possible product harm," says Post. "Boards that include women may also be more responsive to a diverse set of stakeholders, including at-risk customers."

The study entitled, "The Influence of Female Directors on Product Recall Decisions," was published online today in Manufacturing and Service Operations Management. (Co-authors: Kaitlin D. Wowak, University of Notre Dame; George P. Ball, Indiana University; and, David J. Ketchen Jr., Auburn University.)

A tale of two product recall approaches

To arrive at their results, Post and her colleagues analyzed data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, as well as recall timing data provided by a senior FDA leader. In total, they analyzed 4,271 medical product recalls from 2002 to 2013 across 92 FDA-regulated, publicly traded firms. In addition to their empirical research, the team interviewed two managers: a VP of quality and a director of manufacturing, at two FDA-regulated Fortune 500 medical product firms?both involved with monitoring quality issues. When a product quality issue arises, usually a recall committee is formed. Committee findings are shared with the board, which provides feedback.

"In other words," the authors write, "boards do not make the recall decisions, but instead they set the tone and expectations for how managers are to make these decisions."

The paper provides a glimpse into how the process unfolds at one firm, where the default position is to recall in the absence of compelling reasons not to: "The VP of quality mentioned that at her firm, the recall decision focuses keenly on customer harm and that managerial recall committees are only allowed three days to prove that a recall is not warranted once a product quality issue comes to their attention. If unable to do so in three days, a recall is initiated. The default at this firm is to recall and to do so quickly. This expectation for quick and deliberate action prioritizing customer safety was established by the firm's board. In fact, it is the female directors on the board at this firm who are particularly concerned with customer safety."

By contrast, the researchers write that the manufacturing director they spoke with indicated that at his firm the default position is to err toward inaction unless the committee finds evidence that makes a recall the only viable option:

"There, managerial recall committees have the burden of proving that a recall is absolutely necessary and if unable to do so, no recall is initiated. Recall committees can take as long as they deem appropriate and the deliberations center on cost-benefit analyses more than customer safety. This cost-benefit prioritization is driven by the board. In this firm, the male directors often inquire about who is going to be fired and how quickly they will be fired following a recall announcement."

A call to action for greater board diversity

"Our data analysis combined with the information gleaned from our interviews, show that there is a difference in very real and important consumer safety outcomes between firms who have added more women to their boards and those who have not," says Post.

CEOs and ESG (environmental, social and governance) analysts may be especially interested in these results, adds Post, as they seek to understand how board diversity might correlate with socially responsible corporate decision-making.

"My colleagues and I join with recent calls for all directors and all boards to look beyond the bottom-line," says Post. "Being responsive to their firm's stakeholders, especially when defects in their products may harm or kill, is not only good business but could save lives."
UPDATED Thursday, April 2: Caretaker who claimed someone fatally shot puppy was responsible for dogs death, police say

***

Portland police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot and killed a puppy while it was on a walk with its owner in North Portland Friday afternoon.

Sgt. Kevin Allen said the dog was a two-month-old German shepherd mix. The suspect allegedly drove up to the dog and its owner near North Chautauqua Boulevard and North Willis Boulevard, fired a shot at the dog from inside the white sedan, then drove away. The dogs owner said the suspect did not say anything during the encounter. Allen said the shooting appeared to be random

Police arrived at the scene and took the dog and its owner to Dove Lewis Animal Hospital, but the dog died.

The dogs owner did not give police any physical descriptions of the suspect, but Allen said officers believe the suspect may have been involved in a random crime last week as well.

Allen said on Friday, March 20, someone who was in a white sedan shot at a person. He said the victim in this case was unrelated to the dogs owner, and was not injured.

Anyone who has information about the shooting can call 503-823-4106 or email GVRT@portlandoregon.gov.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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A US citizen is among the four people who have died on board a coronavirus-hit cruise ship stuck in the waters off Panama.

A spokesperson for Holland America said Saturday that an American, a Swede, a Brit and a Dutch person had all passed away on board the MS Zaandaam vessel. Their names and ages were not disclosed.

Their causes of death have not been disclosed, but they are believed to have passed away in relation to coronavirus.

More than 130 other passengers on the vessel have now developed influenza-like symptoms, including at least two who have tested positive for COVID-19.

There are currently 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam, as well as four doctors and four nurses.

On Saturday evening, 401 healthy passengers will be transferred to sister ship, The Rotterdam, after the Zandaam was blocked from porting anywhere in South America.

Four people -including an American - have died on the MS Zaandam liner stranded off the coast of Panama after a reported coronavirus outbreak infecting over 130 people onboard

'The Zandaam could not dock at any port in South America and will remain in Panamanian waters 8 nautical miles from the coast, since it did not receive approval from Panamanian health authorities to cross the (Panama) Canal,' Panama's maritime authority revealed Satursay.

Holland America, which is owned by Carnival Corp, said on Friday the Zaandam, was trying to transit the Panama Canal and make its way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

But Panama's government denied it access to the canal for sanitary reasons, leaving passengers and crew wondering when they would get home.

'Panamanian authorities have not officially confirmed whether the cruise will be quarantined after it was confirmed that two passengers tested positive for coronavirus, and the cause of death of four older adults is being investigated,' the maritime authority added.

MS Zaandam was sailing around South America from March 7 - 10 days before Holland America cancelled all voyages amid the coronavirus panic.

Originally supposed to sail to Chile, the company instructed the liner to pass instead through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale Florida.

Canadian passengers Chris and Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam

Holland America, which operates the MS Zaandam, confirmed that at least two more passengers tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday

Passengers have told of their concern at being imprisoned on the ship.

Chris Joiner told Canadian broadcaster CBC he had asked the Canadian embassy in Chile for help, saying: 'Get us the hell off this ship.'

Toronto resident Michael Kasprow said he's worried about his elderly mother and her friend, both in their 80s, who are stuck onboard. 'We've seen what it can do on a cruise ship, and I just feel like they're sitting ducks,' he said.

Another couple spoke of their fears that, even once they dock, they may be stranded away from home due to escalating travel restrictions and flight bans.

'How will we get home from a port with flights diminishing by the day?' said Norma Kirkham, 63, from Victoria, Canada. 'Where will we stay?'

Concerns are further mounting as it emerged the ship is yet to gain permission to enter the Panama Canal, the route it needs to pass through to get to Fort Lauderdale.

Holland America cruise ship Ms Zaandam in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (2012)

Passengers have told of their concern at being imprisoned on board the ship (in Alaska)

Port Everglades spokeswoman Ellen Kennedy told South Florida Sun Sentinel it was 'too early' to say if passengers would be allowed off the ship at Port Everglades.

'The ship is still pretty far away, so it is too early to determine,' she said.

She said the decision would be made by the Unified Command in charge at the port, as well as the CDC, Customs and Border Patrol, the Florida Department of Health, the US Coast Guard, the Broward Sheriff's Office and the county's port authority.

The Zandaam is the latest in a string of cruise ships stuck at sea after being turned away by nations' ports desperate to protect their own residents from the virus.
The number of coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 873, and the deadly virus has claimed 21 lives so far. The latest victim of the virus was a 63-year-old patient from Kerala. With this, the state has reported first coronavirus related death. Only 78 patients have been cured and discharged from hospitals in India thus far. Across the world, the virus has infected 607,166 people and has claimed 27,774 lives. After a sudden increase in cases, the US has now the highest number of coronavirus patients in the world with 104,256 cases. Italy leads with the most deaths at 9,134.

Check all the latest updates on coronavirus outbreak on BusinessToday.In live blog

4.32 PM: It has been found, as per reports world over also, that elderly people are at a higher risk: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry.

4.30 PM: A 46-year-old COVID19 positive patient in Ahmedabad passes away. She was admitted to the hospital on 26th March She was suffering from Hypertension, Diabetes and was on ventilator: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital. -ANI

4.15 PM: University Grants Commission to contribute one day's salary to Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to combat COVID19. UGC also appeals to VCs of Universities & principals of colleges to urge their teaching & non-teaching colleagues to also contribute. - ANI

4.00 PM: Watch Health Ministry briefing on coronavirus, on 28th March

12.46 PM: Urge people to stay put: Sisodia on exodus

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia visits Ghazipur near Delhi-UP where people have gathered in huge number to board special buses for their homes in Uttar Pradesh.

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12.45 PM: Kerala reports first death

A 69-year-old man died due to COVID-19 at Kochi Medical College today, says Ernakulam District Medical Officer Dr NK Kuttappan. This is the first death in Kerala due to coronavirus.

12.40 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with AYUSH professionals via video conference over COVID19.

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12.29 PM: Naval aircraft carries samples of suspected COVID-19 patients

The Indian Navy helped the Goa government in transporting 60 samples of suspected coronavirus patients in the state to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing, an official said on Saturday. A Dornier aircraft of Indian Navy, carrying 60 samples for COVID-19 testing, took off from INS Hansa for Pune on March 27, a spokesperson of the central government said. The samples were carried by a technician from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), which is located near Panaji, he said. - PTI

12.20 PM: As India goes under lockdown, Delhi sees cleanest air

The sun shone bright in a cloudless blue sky in the national capital which recorded a significant drop in the mercury on Saturday due to intermittent rains over the last two days. The city and its surrounding areas also recorded lowest concentrations of PM10, particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter, since August 18 last year. At 10 am, PM10 levels in Delhi-NCR stood at 32.5 microgram per cubic meter, the lowest since 15.9 g/m3 recorded on August 18 last year. The city's overall air quality index at 11 am stood at 40, which falls in the "good" category. - PTI

12.10 PM: Indian railways to convert coaches into isolation wards

The idea is to reach hinterland to treat infected patients, says Railways on converting coaches into isolation wards.Once finalised in next few days, every railway zone will produce a rake of 10 coaches every week. - PTI

12.05 PM: Kerala's first COVID-19 death reported from a hospital in Kochi: State government.

12.00 PM: Ola to contribute Rs 20 crore: Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder & CEO

Millions of drivers and their families find themselves without an income today. To support them, we're launching the 'Drive the Driver' fund. I'm contributing my next year salary and Ola along with employees will contribute Rs 20 crore to the fund.

11.45 PM: Centre approaches manufacturers for all kinds of supplies

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, would like to reach out to you, if you are in the field of manufacturing or supply of following items related to use in COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Please do the following: Inform State Government/UT of your State/UT; register as supplier in Government e Market Place (GeM) at https://gem.gov.in; and download list of items related to use in COVID-19 (coronavirus)," says the MSME Department.

11:20: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Modi about Karnataka blocking state border

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Narendra Modi on Karnataka blocking prominent border state highway, causing hardship for cargo movement to Kerala

11:10 AM: Indian Railways prepare isolation cabins on trains to fight coronavirus

Isolation coaches have been prepared by the Indian Railways to fight the #Coronavirus Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/41T9Q71Zdr - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

11:00 AM: Religious leaders in Kerala issue joint statemnet to help curb coronavirus

Kerala: Religious leaders, including that of the Christian community, issue a joint press statement stating 'to curb the spread of the virus, we enforced certain restrictions on entry to pilgrim centers. We're fighting this menace, by highlighting the concern for the others..." - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

10:50 AM: GoAir offers assistance to government for transportaion of migrant workers

GoAir has offered its assistance to the Government in helping migrant workers get home. Earlier SpiceJet had also offered assistance to government is transportaing migrant workers

10:40 AM: Noida Authority authorizes 260 pharmacies for avaliability of medicines

Authority had authorised 260 pharmacies, 450 groceries, & eCommerce companies, with a strength of 1,500 delivery boys, for #homedelivery of essential goods at the doorsteps of Noida residents. This service will be available from 28.03.2020. #StayHomeStaySafe#IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/s7maTYLPz1 - CEO NOIDA Authority (@CeoNoida) March 27, 2020

10:30 AM: Congress President Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi on plight of migrant workers amidst lockdown

Congress President & CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi drawing his attention towards the plight of migrant workers amidst the lockdown. pic.twitter.com/vaEmdAlao1 - Congress (@INCIndia) March 27, 2020

10:20 AM: Five confirmed in West Bengal today got infected from a UK-returned

According to the state health department, all 5 have a history of contact with a positive case from Delhi who came from UK on March 16. The state govt claims that all those who tested positive belong to "a closed group of siblings and relatives'.

10:10 AM: Five more people test positive for coronavirus in West Bengal

Five members of a family, including three children, tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal on Friday, taking the number of such cases in the state to 15. Among the new cases is a 9-month-old, rest are family members

9:50 AM: Police checks passes and identity cards at Delhi-Noida border

Delhi: Passes and identity cards of people being checked at Delhi-Noida border as they commute to their work or to provide/avail essential services, amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/PY42NHfwXT - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

9:40 AM: Two more cases of coronavirus confirmed in confirmed in Punjab

Two coronavirus positive cases found in the state today - a 23-year-old man in Ajmer, who travelled to Punjab and a 21-year-old woman in Bhilwara. Total number of positive cases in the state now rises to 52: Rajasthan Health Department

9:30 AM: Six more cases discovered in Gujarat, total rises to 53

Six more people have been tested COVID19 positive, taking total number of cases to 53 in Gujarat: Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health and family welfare Department

9:24 AM: 149 cases of coronavirus reported in the last 24 hours in India

Total positive cases in India now stand at 873. Updated state wise distribution released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Total number of #Coronavirus positive cases rises to 873 (including foreign nationals; 79 people cured/discharged, 19 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/vsMz3jcIPK - ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

9:18 AM: Total number of coronavirus cases in India rise to 873

Total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 873 (including foreign nationals as at 9.30 AM; 79 people cured/discharged, 19 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

9:12 AM: Bengal woman booked for spreading misinformation on social media

A 29-year-old woman has been booked & arrested for allegedly spreading misinformation on social media about a doctor being infected with coronavirus in Beleghata area of Kolkata.

9:10 AM: Six more coronavirus cases confirmed in Maharashtra

6 new coronavirus positive cases found in Maharashtra today. Five in Mumbai and ne in Nagpur. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 159: Maharashtra Health Ministry

9.00 AM: Coronavirus update from Bhilwara

Bhilwara (Rajasthan) District Collector, R Bhatt, says that apart from present quarantine facility for 400, the authorities have acquired 1,541 single rooms at various hotels. "We've also marked places to set up 13000 beds. We're ready with arrangement to quarantine 15000 people,if required," he added.

8.40 AM: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO on COVID-19

There are now, more than half a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 20,000 deaths. These are tragic numbers, but let us also remember that around the world, more than a hundred thousand people have recovered.

8.32 AM: Odisha Assembly staff quarantined

After an employee at Odisha Legislative Assembly was found to have contacted a COVID-19 positive person, the entire staff of the Assembly have been quarantined and assembly building is being sanitised: SN Patra, Odisha Assembly Speaker.

8.31 AM: US reports 345 new coronavirus deaths; 18000 new cases in the United States in one day.

8.30 AM: US House approves $2 trillion coronavirus bill

The US House of Representatives on Friday approved a $2.2 trillion (Euro 1.77 trillion) aid package - the largest in history - to help cope with the economic downturn inflicted by the intensifying coronavirus pandemic, and President Donald Trump quickly signed it into law. The massive bill passed the Senate and House of Representatives nearly unanimously. - Reuters

8.15 AM: Stop mass exodus of migrant labourers, MHA to states

The Union Home Ministry on Friday asked state governments to prevent a mass exodus of migrant agriculture labourers, industrial workers and unorganised sector employees from their workplaces to hometowns amid a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus.

8.00 AM: US announces USD 174 mn aid to 64 countries

The United States on Friday announced USD 174 million financial assistance to 64 countries including USD 2.9 million to India to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic. This is in addition to the USD 100 million aid announced by the US in February. - PTI
Schools in Rio Rancho as well as the rest of New Mexico will shift to a learn-at-home model as they remain closed for the rest of the academic year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state education and child care officials announced Friday.

The decision is part of a two-pronged plan to protect New Mexicans from COVID-19 and ensure children are protected, fed and educated, and that families are supported through this crisis. The governor previously ordered all public schools closed March 16-April 3, but warned that an extension could be needed.

New Mexico had 191 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases as of Friday afternoon, including some being investigated as community spread, the state health department said. School closings are designed to minimize community spread.

Were working very hard to contain the virus, and we have to continue to take aggressive steps to mitigate spread and protect New Mexicans of every age all across the state. It is more important than ever that we make sure all New Mexicans are heeding the imperative to stay home, Lujan Grisham said. Keeping schools closed is one of the most important tools we have to support the social distancing that can help us reduce and mitigate the spread of the virus.

Schools will not be required to make up the missed instructional days between March 16 and April 3, but for the remaining weeks of the school year to be waived, districts must develop both technology-based and non-technology-based continuous learning plans, Public Education Department Secretary Ryan Stewart said.

High school credits will be awarded based on flexible approaches, including completion of work, demonstration of competency for course completion and expanded equivalency like work experience. The PED also recommends schools move to pass/no pass credit rather than grades during this period.

Public colleges and universities are not included in the closure order, but most have extended spring break, moved classes online or both.

School-based health centers, educational programming for youth in facilities and licensed childcare facilities serving workers whose jobs have been deemed essential will continue operating.

The plan includes these provisions:

Special needs

Students with special needs will receive all feasible supports and accommodations that can be delivered while maintaining safe social-distancing. School districts must continue to support the transition of children from early intervention into preschool special education. Schools offering behavioral health services will remain open for that purpose.

High school seniors

Individual districts will design measures by which seniors can demonstrate eligibility for graduation. Schools will be required to identify and support students in danger of not graduating.

High school seniors will have until June 19 to demonstrate eligibility, and those who fail to do so will be offered credit recovery in the summer; they can also appeal to their local school board or to the secretary. No student will be denied graduation for lack of access to demonstrate competency.

Advanced placement

Advanced placement exams will be offered online and limited to material students should have covered up to March. Accommodations will be made for those students who need access to technology to take the tests.

School personnel

School personnel and contractors will remain on call and continue being paid as usual. Districts have already received guidance on activities employees can continue performing. Bus contractors are encouraged to continue operating bus routes to deliver food and hard-copy lessons.

Nutrition programs

Every New Mexico school district has a plan to continue providing childhood nutrition. The PED is also seeking permission to distribute Electronic Benefits Transfer cards that would allow qualifying families to purchase meals with their free breakfast/lunch allotment.

Supporting families

The Behavioral Health Division of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department is working with the New Mexico Human Services Department and managed care organizations to help providers and families create digital access to mental-health services for children and youth.
The first guidebook from Rough Guides was published about 40 years ago (it covered Greece) but the company has long since had a brilliant website too. Click on it to read, in reverse order, the result of its 2020 readers poll into The 20 Most Beautiful Countries In The World.

Fabulous photographs accompany each entry, with Nepal at No 20, followed by Spain, Chile and Argentina. With its fascinating mix of the ancient and modern, Japan makes it into the top ten, and your travel bucket list will get longer as you scroll to the No 1 spot occupied, naturally, by Italy.

As a major tourist destination, France also makes it into the Rough Guides poll but if you think you know its capital, think again. The Secret Catacombs Of Paris podcast on the BBC Sounds app springs surprises from the start, revealing that the City of Light has a dark side: its built on more than 175 miles of tunnels, most of which are supposed to be off-limits.

The Secret Catacombs Of Paris podcast explores the French city's tunnels. Pictured is a section of the mostly abandoned belt railway known as La Petite Ceinture

Host Jonathan Glancey speaks to a secretive band of Parisians who search for hidden entrances in train stations, cellars and sewers, and to police officers who patrol the tunnels beneath sensitive sites such as banks and prisons. Along the way Glancey reveals how the network was created and why its full of old bones.

Paris, of course, is home to some of the worlds greatest landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower. And if travel lovers want to remind themselves of various gems around the globe, they could order the 1,000-piece World Landmarks puzzle from Ravensburger.

Online retailers expect to sell a years-worth of jigsaws in a month as simple pleasures come back to the fore. This one includes nearly 100 cleverly hidden sights, including Gaudis Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pyramids of Egypt, Rios epic Christ the Redeemer and Copenhagens Little Mermaid.

Meanwhile, maps of the world jump off the page amid scarcely believable stories of political incompetence in Prisoners Of Geography: Our World Explained In 12 Simple Maps, by Tim Marshall.

He races across the globe, bringing whole regions to life and showing why so many national borders have proved to be disastrous mistakes. Its lightly told, with chapters headings such as How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea?

And if you are home-schooling or compiling a family quiz, the book is a great way to catch up on geography and 20th Century history.

Film fans can fall in love with the Italian island of Pantelleria, pictured, in A Bigger Splash

If audiobooks are more your thing actress Julie Harris brings a very well-travelled Englishwoman to life as she reads West With The Night. Its the memoir of Beryl Markham, who in 1936 became the first person to fly solo, non-stop, across the Atlantic from east to west. A genuine modesty pervades Beryls story as she roams the globe in the early days of air travel.

Film fans can fall in love with the sun-kissed but little-known Italian island of Pantelleria in A Bigger Splash, starring Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes.

In real life, the tiny volcanic island is where celebrities including Madonna, Sting and Giorgio Armani go on holiday.

This drama is an adult affair, with the stars behaving badly around the villas pool, but the scenes of slow-dancing in warm piazzas, alfresco meals by the water and a stunning, candle-lit restaurant in the hills are the stuff of holiday dreams.
Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has spoken on the massive explosions that rocked Ondo State on Saturday.

Recall that over 100 buildings were in the early hours of Saturday destroyed following an explosion that rocked Ondo State.

The explosion occurred around 1 a.m.

According to residents of the area, a terrifying loud bang was heard when everyone was already asleep.

Reacting, Atiku urged relevant government agencies to work with security agencies to quickly get to the bottom of what happened.

He tweeted, I am as concerned as residents of Akure, Ondo State following the explosion of today.

Its my hope that relevant government agencies working with security agencies will quickly get to the bottom of what happened to reassure the citizens of the safety of their lives & property.

Meanwhile, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had while confirming the development said he has been briefed by security chiefs and efforts were being made to ascertain if there are casualties.

He explained that the explosion occurred when a convoy transporting explosives to a storage facility in a neighbouring state developed a fault while in transit along the Akure Owo Road about 2km from the Akure Airport.
Enemies can be disliked minorities or people who dont share the same faith. In the 1980s, the Rev. Jerry Falwell was by no means the only cleric to regard AIDS as Gods punishment of practicing homosexuals. During the Ebola epidemic several years ago, evangelical Christians in Liberia called it a plague sent by God to punish unbelieving Liberians for corruption and immoral acts. In the United States, too, evangelical radio hosts warned that only true Christians had a chance of escaping divine wrath  perhaps that is why the Rev. Jerry Fallwell Jr. insists, against all medical advice, on keeping his Liberty University open.

The sick in this type of thinking not only suffer from illness but are stigmatized as sinners as well. This is what Susan Sontag was arguing against so strongly in her famous essay Illness as Metaphor. She spoke from her experience as a cancer patient.

It would be a mistake, however, to blame religious believers for all dangerous superstition. It was when scientific theories began to hold sway in the 19th century that odious ideas and hostility toward people outside the mainstream became truly lethal.

Charles Darwin was a great scientist who is still detested by some devout Christians for his theory of evolution. But his thinking about natural selection sparked notions that were as alarming as the worst superstitions about sick sinners in the eyes of God. In 1881, Darwin wrote a letter to a critic of his theories named William Graham. He argued, I could show fight on natural selection having done and doing more for the progress of civilization than you seem inclined to admit. Then comes this chilling sentence: Looking to the world at no very distant date, what an endless number of the lower races will have been eliminated by the higher civilized races throughout the world.

It was around this time that religious prejudice about Jews turned to biological racism. Jews could no longer be saved by converting to the Christian faith; they were doomed by their bloodlines. People who considered themselves serious thinkers believed that racial differences could be scientifically determined by measuring skull shapes. This line of thought found its most deadly expression in Nazi ideology that saw Jews and other supposedly inferior people as deadly viruses that needed to be destroyed lest they infect the healthy organism of the German Volk.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)In a release sent by Attorney General Curtis Hill fraudsters are now trying to make money by offering work from home opportunities. A growing trend now that thousands of Hoosiers have filed for unemployment.

"It's almost daily, said Jessica Veach. She receives these calls often. It's definitely at least weekly."

Since January first to date the state has received 733 telephone complaints and 345 robocall complaints. That includes calls made to a number on the Do Not Call List.

"They've been using like an Indianapolis area code as of recently, said Veach.

State officials said these scammers are trying to lure people into spending a lot of money up front by falsely promising future earnings.

"I can be a smart alec, said Veach. So since I work in sales I kind of want to see if I can get someone on the phone. And like push their game back at them."

People are advised that if a seller offers a disclosure they should consider asking specific questions about the job duties, the nature and frequency of compensation and any cost that the at home worker is expected to pay in advance.

"I've even tried to push you know, zero or something to get someone on the phone to say stop and it just hangs up, said Veach.

It's also important to be on the lookout for common opportunities such as starting an internet business, stuffing envelopes, craftwork, rebate processing, and even things regarding your medical bills.

"One of the main things especially with older people I feel like they are more susceptible to thinking that they are real, said Veach. I know my grandma has gotten weird calls."

Scammers are working overtime and The Federal Trade Commission said scams will even come through email, websites and print publications.

Attorney General Curtis Hill is also advising Hoosiers who believe they have been subjected to excessive prices for consumer goods during the coronavirus pandemic to file a complaint online with the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

Click here to report or learn more.
CHICAGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GRIT, a joint venture composed of Farpoint Development, Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Draper & Kramer, Loop Capital and McLaurin Development, in partnership with Kaleidoscope Health Ventures, today unveiled a vision for a first-of-its kind "healthy neighborhood of the future" at the former Michael Reese Hospital site in Bronzeville. The partners also announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the first tenant, which will anchor a global health and wellness innovation hub in Phase 1 of a mixed-use, 100-acre live-work-play development. The ARC Innovation Center, powered by Sheba, will tackle pressing health challenges, move health solutions to market, draw top global talent to the city, and spur inclusive economic development and job growth on Chicago's South Side and throughout the city.

"We're thrilled to bring the ARC Innovation Center to the former Michael Reese Hospital site, where academic institutions, biotech and healthcare firms, and entrepreneurs will collaborate around creating new approaches to healthcare, wellness and longevity," said Scott Goodman, Principal at GRIT. "Innovation at this site will put Chicago at the forefront of a burgeoning holistic health and wellness industry, contribute $1.8 billion to Chicago's economy over 20 years, and directly address local health challenges, including Chicago's 30-year life expectancy gap."

The development will include multi-family and affordable housing, retail, senior living, community space, and a proposed new Metra station, while the ARC Innovation Center will include wet labs, incubators, and other life science office and commercialization facilities. Building from the site's legacy of innovation and inclusive healthcare, the hub will focus on enabling health and wellness in every aspect of life. The design will be collaboratively envisioned with the community and will encompass healthy elements such as novel use of open spaces, community learning centers and use of technology to improve quality of life.

"The community of Bronzeville and the 4th Ward welcome the opportunity to be home to a world-class health and innovation hub that will not only benefit the neighborhoods in our own back yard but also the city and society as a whole," said 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King. "This development will bring jobs and open careers to talented and hardworking residents as well as opportunities for small businesses owners in our community."

The hub will leverage local and global best-in-class healthcare institutions that support a large and diverse patient population to position it as the leading destination for clinical trials and product pilot opportunities and, ultimately, to take the lead in moving emerging technologies to market. Academic partners will have a place to collaborate with other academic and industry partners to accelerate basic research into commercialized products and companies, while life science startups will have access to turnkey lab and office space, support services and tailored programming so they can grow quickly with access to capital.

"Chicago can lead the way in tackling health and wellness holistically to establish the city as a global health innovation cluster," said S. Bob Chib, Managing Partner of Kaleidoscope Health Ventures. "Global collaboration that connects leading institutions and innovative startups to address shared healthcare challenges is important for improving the health, longevity and prosperity of all Chicago residents."

Sheba Medical Center, which is located in metro Tel Aviv, Israel, and was recently designated as one of the world's Top Ten Hospitals by Newsweek magazine, is renowned for its 70-years of dedicated healthcare innovation activities. The Innovation ARC Powered by Sheba will bring this expertise to support the development, commercialization, and scaling of new health technologies in Chicago.

"The Innovation ARC Powered by Sheba represents our first physical venture within the United States, and we are thrilled to have found the right partners in Chicago," said Dr. Eyal Zimlichman, Deputy Director General, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba. "Chicago has a unique mix of world-class academic and research institutions, and a local government that is focused on the need to understand and solve for disparities in the accessibility, quality, and cost of healthcare, and this site in particular is ideally situated for us to collaboratively build the next generation of health innovation in the heart of a vibrant, historic community."

Phase 1 of the development is anticipated to begin in 2021. The total development will create approximately 50,000 construction and permanent jobs over 15 years with a focus on inclusive economic development and skill-building.

"When we welcomed Sheba to the first-ever Chicago-Israel Health Tech Summit more than two years ago, I was confident that it was an important beginning, and it clearly was," said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. "Seeing this new venture driven by Kaleidoscope Health Ventures take root, when Sheba could have chosen anywhere in the U.S., demonstrates the value of Chicago's uniquely collaborative healthcare environment in helping solve some of the most pressing healthcare issues of our time. This is the right investment in the right place at the right time. We look forward to working with Kaleidoscope Health Ventures to bring this vision to life."

About GRIT

GRIT is a joint venture comprising Farpoint Development, Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Draper & Kramer, Loop Capital and McLaurin Development to redevelop the former Michael Reese Hospital site in Chicago's Bronzeville community. The 100-acre development is master planned as a multibillion-dollar, walkable, live-work-play neighborhood that will be a vibrant, unique, mixed-use community that will include residences, retail options, curated restaurant offerings and office space that will be home to major companies and organizations. It will also include a health and wellness innovation hub developed in partnership with Kaleidoscope Health Ventures and anchored by the ARC Innovation Center that will encompass life science innovation centers, medical and bioscience office, wet lab space, community clinics, public fitness and sustainability-oriented green space and university partnership sites.

About Kaleidoscope Health Venture

Kaleidoscope Health Ventures is a Chicago-based firm with a mission of building world-class, sustainable health innovation clusters. KHV brings together leading startups, partners, investors, and talent to address socioeconomic and health issues while providing high-value services to support a new wave of life sciences startups and healthcare solutions. This novel approach creates an intersection of new health solutions and healthy communities to drive wellness and longevity for all. KHV achieves this mission by connecting cross-sector partners, converging best-in-class health and wellness models, and cultivating new initiatives that accelerate the commercialization of new technologies.

About Sheba Medical Center and ARC Innovation Center

The Sheba Medical Center is a university-affiliated referral hospital that serves as Israel's national medical center in many fields. Located near Tel Aviv, it is the most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East, renowned for its care and leading-edge medical practice. It is also a major medical-scientific research powerhouse that collaborates internationally with bio-tech and pharmaceutical industries to develop new drugs, treatments and technologies, and a foremost global center for medical education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. Sheba is also promoting innovation in the ARC (Accelerate Redesign Collaboration) Innovation Center. The ARC's mission is to create an integration of research, medicine, industry and entrepreneurship as well as collaborate with other healthcare organizations to enable game-changing innovation that would have profound impact on global health. https://eng.sheba.co.il/

SOURCE GRIT
New Delhi, March 28 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday asked public and private sector banks to ensure uninterrupted banking operations and flow of liquidity.

In a series of tweets, the office of Sitharaman said that she spoke to chiefs of public sector banks and representatives of private banks on Saturday.

"The FM acknowledged the role of public sector banks and encouraged them to keep up their efforts in providing uninterrupted banking services across the country. #IndiaFightsCorona," said a tweet.

She also asked the PSB chiefs to make sure there was adequate liquidity at the branches, ATMs and banking correspondent level.

The CMDs were also asked provide authorisation to bank staff and coordinate with district administration for smooth passage of bank staff.

In another tweet, the Finance Minister's office said that Sitharaman held calls with the representatives of private sector banks and requested them to ensure uninterrupted banking services along with maintenance of social distancing.

During their interaction with the Finance Minister, the banks raised their specific problems and she said that solutions to these issues are being found through coordination with state governments and all the problems are being addressed.

Later Sitharaman also tweeted that she spoke to the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh regarding the difficulties faced by banks in the state.

"Spoke to Hon. CM of Punjab @capt_amarinder on the difficulties banks face in keeping up their services in the state. Hon. CM explained the particular difficulties #Punjab is facing containing #CoronavirusPandemic. He assured that he shall facilitate the banks @PIB_India," she tweeted.

In line with the efforts to ease the customer experience in terms of banking and insurance related queries, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) has created a twitter handle "@DFSFightsCorona", where people can post their queries and complaints.
Health care workers battling against the coronavirus crisis from the frontline are being applauded across the world for their dedication and perseverance. Amid a global shortage of masks and other personal protective equipment, medical professionals and staff are not only working to cure the COVID-19 infected patients but also getting infected themselves due to the contagion.

In order to show appreciation for health care workers during the pandemic, people from across the world have been standing in their balconies to clap for the frontline workers. Check how the countries are applauding their health professionals for their commitment during the pandemic.

Spain has reported over 65,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus with more than 5,100 deaths. People from different cities spontaneously started clapping from their homes to show appreciation.

Spontaneous applause coming from people in their apartments outside of my apartment in Madrid  #COVID19 #Madrid #QuedateEnLaCasa pic.twitter.com/7zoGV5GQIy  CARDIAC KEMBA (@KeenanLo) March 17, 2020

Espana aplaude a l@s profesionales de la sanidad publica.  #AplausoSanitario



En los momentos dificiles, uno valora lo importante. Gracias por vuestro enorme compromiso, gracias al pueblo valiente que la puso en pie y nunca mas gobiernos que la malvendan a los buitres. pic.twitter.com/4osVe9TGLE   Q  (@pnique) March 14, 2020

Read: Gamechanger? Indian Railways Prototype Coronavirus Isolation Coach Ready; Pictures Here

The UKs situation is also worsening with every passing day and Prime Minister Boris Johnson testing positive for the novel coronavirus has taken the world by surprise. It has reported over 14,500 cases of coronavirus with more than 750 deaths. In the UK, members of the royal family joined people from across the country to applaud medical professionals.

Read: Internet Still Can't Come To Terms With Russian President Putin's Anti-Coronavirus Suit

'Merci'

France has reported almost 33,000 cases of coronavirus with nearly 2,000 deaths due to the infection. While Paris is under lockdown, a special gesture for the health care professionals, police, firefighters, paramedics, and delivery men was made through the Eiffel tower.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to clap and bang thaalis for the frontline workers on March 22 at 5:00pm. Citizens across the country came together minutes before 5 o'clock on Sunday to applaud doctors, police forces, media, and other working officials amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

RT if you got emotional at 5 PM After Seeing the Energy Of India #5Baje5Minute #Thankyou #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/MKolLB0AkJ  Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) March 22, 2020

Read: NBA Analyst And Presenter Doris Burke Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Read: Coronavirus Pandemic: Paulo Dybala Struggled For Breath During Coronavirus Nightmare
In a bid to spread awareness about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, a local artist in collaboration with a police official here has made a unique 'Corona' helmet to dissuade commuters from coming out on the streets during the nationwide lockdown.

Gowtham, the artist, who designed the helmet told ANI here, "The public at large is not treating the COVID-19 situation seriously, whereas, the police personnel are working round the clock to ensure people stay at home and do not venture out so that further spread of the disease can be stopped,"

"I came up with the idea and used a broken helmet and papers to prepare this. I have also prepared many placards displaying slogans and handed them over to the police," he added.

The police personnel, who are serving 24/7 on the streets, said that the helmet was proving to be useful in making people aware.

Police Inspector Rajesh Babu, who wears the gear while speaking to commuters on the street said that the approach has had a positive effect so far.

"We take all the steps but still people come out on the streets. Therefore, this corona helmet is one of the steps we are taking to ensure that people are aware of the seriousness of the police. The helmet is an attempt to do something different when I wear this the thought of coronavirus comes into the minds of the commuters. Especially, the children react strongly after seeing this and want to be taken home," Babu told ANI here.

Tamil Nadu as of March 28 morning had 38 confirmed cases of the disease, including 6 foreigners. While the state has reported one death due to the infection two confirmed cases have also been cured and discharged, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 20:35:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Foreign political leaders have said they appreciate the Communist Party of China (CPC) for timely sharing its experience in combating COVID-19 with all parties and proactively promoting international cooperation in anti-epidemic efforts.

In messages sent to the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, they said such moves have vividly embodied the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov said he is glad to see the achievements of the Chinese people in the battle against the epidemic.

China has also proactively provided assistance to other nations to combat the epidemic, embodying the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind through concrete actions and demonstrating the CPC's international mindedness, Zyuganov said.

As the global fight against the pandemic continues, China's achievements have injected confidence into the world, he said.

Chandra Prakash Mainali, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), said that since COVID-19 is a common enemy for humankind, countries must work together to defeat it instead of developing biases or blaming others, adding that politicizing the coronavirus is flatly wrong.

Noting that under the leadership of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, China is leading in building a community of common health for mankind, Mainali called on the government and people of all countries to support and participate in China's proposal.
Of the 178 senators who responded, only 13 percent indicated they supported the resolution as a whole, and less than 20 percent said they could support ending the semester early.
As COVID-19 pandemic envelopes the world, WhatsApp has seen a 40 percent increase in usage, according to a study by Kantar, a data and consulting company. Across all stages of the pandemic, WhatsApp is the social media app experiencing the greatest gains in usage as people look to stay connected. Overall WhatsApp has seen a 40 percent increase in usage. Kantar conducted the largest global study into consumer attitudes, media habits and expectations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kantar estimates that for WhatsApp in the early phase of the pandemic usage increases 27 percent, in mid-phase 41 percent and countries in the late phase of the pandemic see an increase of 51 percent.

Spain experienced a 76 percent increase in time spent on WhatsApp. Overall Facebook usage has increased by 37 percent. China experienced a 58 percent increase in usage of local social media apps including Wechat and Weibo. According to a study, there is a crisis in trust. Traditional nationwide news channels (broadcast and newspaper) are the most trusted sources of information with 52 percent of people identifying them as a 'trustworthy' source.

Government agency websites are regarded as trustworthy by only 48 percent of people, suggesting that government measures are not providing citizens around the world with assurances and security. Also reflecting the loss of trust from recent election cycles, social media platforms are regarded by only 11 percent of people as a source of trustworthy information.

As countries move deeper into the pandemic so does media consumption increase across all in-home channels. According to Kantar, in the later stages of the pandemic web browsing increases by 70 percent, followed by (traditional) TV viewing increasing by 63 percent and social media engagement increasing by 61 percent over normal usage rates. Increased usage across all messaging platforms has been the biggest in the 18-34 age group. WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram have all experienced a more than 40 percent increase in usage from under 35-year olds. Consumers expect the brands they choose to look after their employees first and foremost with 78 percent saying take care of employees' health and 62 percent saying implement flexible working. Supporting hospitals (41 percent) and being helpful to the government (35 percent) is an expectation of a significant minority of consumers, the study says.
Their courage is uncommon. Their commitment to the well-being of their communities is extraordinary in ordinary times, and beyond imagination in the coronavirus pandemic. Their professional dedication in an environment where resources are overwhelmed  and equipment to protect them is inadequate  is saving lives even as they risk their own.

The frontline health care workers are truly American heroes. And many are justifiably angry.

The frustration of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals was evident in the deluge of opinion pieces and letters-to-the-editor submissions that reached us last week.

They need to be heard, for their sake and ours. Your life, or the life of a loved one, might soon depend on their skills and the availability of the equipment they need. These are the people you need to think about if youre tempted to ignore the mandate for social distancing. These are the people who routinely answer the call for help but rarely make one of their own.

There were common themes in their pleas. They worried about folks who were not taking the shelter-in-place orders seriously. They warned that leaving out testing or treatment on the basic of immigration status puts all of society in peril. They were alarmed at the dearth of ventilators and the insufficient urgency to rush them into production. Rare was the submission that did not mention the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the notion that health care workers were faced with the prospect of donning a bandanna or a plastic bag in medical facilities in the wealthiest nation on Earth.

Like soldiers in a battlefield, we have PPEs to protect us, wrote Noraliza Salazar, a 38-year veteran nurse from Daly City. But unlike soldiers, we cannot do hand-to-hand combat against this enemy if we run out of PPEs.

A chilling inside-the-hospital account came from Dr. Lauren Klingman, a Bay Area emergency medicine physician who wrote of the cafeteria being turned into an intensive care unit and doctors falling ill while backup physicians are pulled into the fray outside of their fields.

Today I am wearing a mask that is five days old, Klingman writes. I am standing behind red tape marking the danger point outside of a makeshift isolation room. I am watching patients roll in one after another, gasping for air from COVID-19. While I picked this profession, pandemics included, I am appalled by the response. In health care we anticipated this crisis. But our pleas for equipment, safety measures and community engagement fell on mostly deaf ears. This epidemic should have been limited. Instead its getting worse.

It was bad enough five weeks ago, by her account.

I was discharging patients I strongly suspected had COVID, Klingman adds. At the time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would only allow me to test those with personal travel from Wuhan (China) or a known positively tested contact. The U.S. didnt have enough tests for just anyone.

Imagine the impact on a doctor just entering the profession, such as Yoo Jung Kim, a graduating medical student from Stanford University who is starting an internship at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the countys safety-net hospital. As she notes, a common worry among fourth-year medical students at any time is knowing that they are about to shoulder the responsibility for their patients well-being. Now they are facing a daunting challenge that no previous class had before, she adds. And they are doing so while rationing protective equipment to shield them against the disease they are treating.

No doctor wants to get sick, but for me, the privilege of being able to contribute during these dark times outweighs my fear of getting sick and the small  but real  chance of death, she writes.

March 20 should have been a day of celebration and joy for Laila Fozouni, a fourth-year medical student at UCSF. It was the start of Nowruz, the new year in Iran, and the day she would learn of her residency. But her family could not join her on the big day because of the coronavirus.

Her thoughts were with her sister, a California physician with two young children. Her sister sent her children to live with their parents, knowing she may not see them for months. Other doctors have slept in their cars or garages to prevent exposure to their families.

The selflessness inherent to our profession is underscored by a dark reality: In the process of risking their own lives, many providers are risking the lives or well-being of their loved ones as well, Fozouni writes. How does one even begin to weigh these risks?

More Information In their own words: Read the full text of their pieces at SFChronicle.com Lauren Klingman Emergency physician "I am appalled by the response. ... Our pleas for equipment, safety measures and community engagement fell on mostly deaf ears. This epidemic should have been limited. Instead it's getting worse." bit.ly/LaurenKlingman Laila Fozouni Fourth-year medical student, UCSF "The selflessness inherent to our profession is underscored by a dark reality: In the process of risking their own lives, many providers are risking the lives or well-being of their loved ones." bit.ly/Fozouni Yoo Jung Kim Fourth-year medical student, Stanford "No doctor wants to get sick, but for me, the privilege of being able to contribute during these dark times outweighs my fear of getting sick and the small - but real - chance of death." bit.ly/YooJungKim See More Collapse

Another common theme in the submissions was outrage at the slow response from the Trump administration to the emerging crisis, its denial of reports of shortages of equipment and testing, and the presidents self-congratulation at his actions even as those on the front lines knew they were inadequate. Trump tried to assure Americans on Feb. 10 that the virus was mostly shut down and its going to be fine.

But, as Klingman reminds, It wasnt fine.

The first U.S. death came by months end.

Patients got sicker, she writes. We intubated more, keeping them alive with machines. I told family members they could not see their dying loved ones who would have to expire alone while they must self-quarantine.

I was called barbaric, and I agreed.

These medical professionals are anything but barbaric. They are heroes who have been put in an untenable situation as a result of the federal governments denial and negligence, and the selfish obliviousness of some of our fellow citizens to the calls for isolation.

We need to listen to these health care workers. We need to do everything we can to stop the spread of infections and pressure our elected leaders to get medical professionals the equipment they need in anticipation of an ever-expanding pandemic.

Most of all, we need to thank them for being there.

John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Seven staff members and one patient at San Francisco's Laguna Honda Hospital have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, city officials said in an update Saturday.

All are in good condition and the seven staffers include five who provide patient care, according to a release from San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

Investigations are underway to determine what contacts the staff members have had, including testing, and the units where they work have been quarantined.

Laguna Honda officials warned earlier this week that they expected more cases of COVID-19 at the facility among staff and residents since the virus is spreading throughout the region.

Laguna Honda is a long-term care facility for the elderly, owned and operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

On Wednesday, the facility was placed under protective quarantine until at least April 7.

On Tuesday, when officials announced that two staffers at Laguna Honda had tested positive for COVID-19, the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 urged the city to provide more personal protective equipment for all workers at the facility.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
UPDATE: Money to keep Easton Hospital open coming from federal stimulus package

Easton Hospitals owner on Friday night announced a deal was struck with the state to keep the Wilson Borough facility open and operating for at least the next four weeks.

Steward Health Care, the hospitals for-profit owner, had told Gov. Tom Wolfs administration in a letter dated Friday it will proceed immediately on planning to close the facility unless the state took over operations there effective at midnight.

The ultimatum came amid a push this week by Steward to obtain millions of dollars in emergency funding to keep Easton Hospital open. The drama has also played out against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic that is rapidly spreading in the United States, and threatening to severely strain the health care system.

The viral crisis that has led to 2,218 confirmed coronavirus cases in three weeks with 22 deaths, including five dead in the Lehigh Valley. By forcing the cancellation of elective surgeries and the revenue they provide, the pandemic pushed Easton Hospitals finances to the brink of closure, Steward Health Care says.

According to Steward, Wolf's administration had agreed Wednesday to provide $8 million to keep Easton Hospital open for four weeks, with a goal of working month-to-month to secure a total of $24 million through June. In Friday's letter, Steward claims the administration clarified its position to make the initial "$8 million contingent on Steward keeping the facility 'open throughout the disaster declaration or at a minimum June 30, 2020' ... in direct contradiction to what was agreed to."

Friday night, Steward announced the commitment from the state of the initial $8 million in operating funds.

"We are encouraged that the Governors office has agreed to provide emergency funding to Easton Hospital for at least the next four weeks, so that we can continue providing medical care to the Lehigh Valley community during this global COVID-19 pandemic," an Easton Hospital representative said in a statement issued five hours before Friday's midnight deadline.

Dallas, Texas-based Steward Health Care says it notified the Pennsylvania Department of Health in January the hospital would either be sold to St. Lukes University Health Network by April 21 or close on or before that date, resulting in the loss of 700 jobs -- as well as a community resource.

After the next month, Steward says it "will work together with the Governor to secure funding to keep the hospital open on a month-to-month basis as long as the crisis continues or St. Lukes completes the proposed transaction."

Steward also committed to returning, following the initial four weeks, any taxpayer dollars that exceed the hospital's documented operating expenses.

"We look forward to working with the Governor in the months ahead as we continue to confront this COVID-19 health crisis," Easton Hospital's statement continues.

The governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday's negotiations. Nor did St. Luke's comment.

Steward Health Care bought Easton Hospital in 2017 from Tennessee-based Community Health Systems (CHS). The hospital property itself is owned by Medical Properties Trust and leased to Steward. The hospital has served the Easton community since 1890.

Amid dropping revenue, Easton Hospital under Steward narrowed its services in 2019 and earlier this year through a broadening partnership with St. Lukes for certain care including obstetrics and gynecology.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A New York hospital is putting two patients at a time on ventilators intended for one, a stopgap move that reflects the desperate shortage of lifesaving breathing devices during the coronavirus pandemic.

The procedure has never been studied in humans. It was briefly pressed into service in the emergency room of a Nevada hospital that ran short on ventilators during the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas and, according to an image on Twitter, in the past few days in Italy.

An emergency doctor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn kept four sheep alive for 12 hours in a 2008 experiment, using a jury-rigged ventilator. But another researcher who tested the idea on simulated mechanical lungs in a laboratory said it is too difficult to be practical, even under current circumstances.

Theres no physician, including myself, who believes this is ideal. This is a doomsday idea, said Lorenzo Paladino, an associate professor of emergency medicine at SUNY Downstate who performed the 2008 experiment. Rather than choose who can have a ventilator and who will be left to die, I can do this and maybe keep everyone alive, he said.

Doctors at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have two patients at a time on some ventilators. Jeremy Beitler, a pulmonary disease specialist at the hospital that is part of the New York-Presbyterian health system, declined to say how many patients are being treated this way.

He said the hospital began the effort in recent days, with the approval of several regulatory agencies and is scaling up in response to the shortage.

The ultimate number of additional patients who can be treated this way is unknown, Mr Beitler said. But he cautioned that this is not a panacea. Its not going to double the number of ventilators".

On Friday, Donald Trump signed an order requiring General Motors to begin manufacturing ventilators, using his authority under the Defence Production Act.

The devices have meant the difference between life and death for many people who have contracted Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that kills by clogging and inflaming the tiny air sacs in the lungs, choking off life-sustaining oxygen.

There is a shortage of medical supplies all around the world as countries fight the virus (AFP)

Ventilators force oxygen into those sacs and through their linings so the bloodstream can carry it to vital organs, and they remove carbon dioxide in the same exchange.

Because equal pressure is being forced into the lungs of two people, the New York doctors must first match them for relatively equal lung size and severity of disease, Mr Beitler said. With the scale of the pandemic, that is not difficult, even within a single hospital, Mr Beitler said.

Sedating the patient and inserting a plastic tube deep into the airway requires caregivers to work close to the patients mouth, exposing them to greater danger from fine aerosolised droplets that emerge and can hang in the air longer than the larger droplets from sneezes and coughs.

Once on a ventilator, people with severe Covid-19 can remain intubated for 15 or 20 days, using the badly needed equipment and critical hospital beds. And quite a few still die; in initial studies out of Washington state and Wuhan, China, intubated patients died at fairly high rates, although many had underlying health conditions.

At prices of as much as $50,000 for top-of-the-line models, ventilators are too expensive for the government to buy enough for a widespread respiratory outbreak (AFP)

New York governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has begged the federal government to send tens of thousands of ventilators to New York City hospitals that are quickly becoming overwhelmed without them.

You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die, he said angrily on Tuesday after receiving ventilators for hospitals he said need 30,000. You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators? What are we going to do with 400 ventilators? Later in the week, the city received a shipment of about 4,000 of the devices.

Mr Trump has disputed the estimates from Mr Cuomo and New York mayor Bill de Blasio.

Speaking on Thursday night on Fox News, he said: I dont believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and theyll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden theyre saying, Can we order 30,000 ventilators?

Unlike the disastrous shortage of protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers, the scarcity of ventilators is not easily attributed to the governments failure to stock enough for a pandemic, said Julie Swann, a professor of industrial and systems engineering at North Carolina State University who studies the resilience of supply chains in such events.

At prices of as much as $50,000 for top-of-the-line models, ventilators are too expensive for the government to buy enough for a widespread respiratory outbreak such as this one, she said. Its also impractical to move them from cities that are not overloaded with severe coronavirus cases to ones that are, because patients may stay on them for weeks, she said.

That approach was reportedly used in China, one expert said.

Were dealing with an event that may occur once every 100 years. Its extremely difficult to be prepared in advance for such events, Ms Swann said.

Medtronic, which manufactures high-end ventilators for the most severely ill patients, produced about 100 a week at its Ireland plant before the pandemic and is up to making 225, said Rob Clark, the companys chief communications officer.

It hopes to reach 500 per week within several weeks, Mr Clark said, by operating around the clock.

But the companys ventilators contain 1,700 parts from 14 suppliers around the world and require one million lines of computer code, limiting how quickly the process can be expedited, he said.

The company, and others, are in talks with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to sell additional ventilators to the government and have Fema take over distribution, he said.

Other ideas under discussion among planners and experts include repurposing some of the estimated 70,000 anaesthesia ventilators that deliver gases used for surgeries, creating ventilators with 3D printers, asking carmakers for help building ventilators and even borrowing veterinary ventilators.

If it can ventilate a lion, it can ventilate a person, said Lewis Kaplan, a University of Pennsylvania critical care surgeon.

Nicholas Hill, chief of pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine at Tufts Medical Centre in Boston, said he tested expanding human ventilators on four simulated lungs a few years ago and found the needed extra tubing and supplies unwieldy.

The approach requires four different people with pretty similar lung mechanics, which is pretty difficult to do". he said. To be honest, I dont think this is a practical solution. The solution is to get more ventilators.

The Italian doctor who tweeted he had treated two patients on one ventilator used large masks to supply oxygen, according to his photo. His patients were not intubated, which lessens the difficulty of the process.

But Mr Paladino, the SUNY Downstate researcher, said it may be possible with enough compression to put four or even more people on a single ventilator, though they would have to be very evenly matched and would require intensive monitoring by healthcare workers. One key to expanding ventilators, he said, is being able to install the filters that remove viruses from patient exhalations.

Mr Paladino said he was called to a Wednesday meeting at the White House to discuss ways to do it.

The biggest problem is that most people have never done this, and they dont know how to, he said. And in a disaster like this, theyre doing it for the first time.

The Washington Post
People have been advised that the 2km travel limit announced by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last night does not apply to shopping for food, going to the pharmacy or the doctor.

At a hastily arranged press conference last night the Taoiseach said the drastic measures contained in the two-week total lockdown were necessary to try and combat Covid-19.

Garda Mounted Unit on patrol in support of current Government Public Health Measureshttps://t.co/SATjjbMGYs



"These high visibility patrols are to provide re-assurance and social distancing advice to the public"

Deputy Commissioner Twomey pic.twitter.com/UEonoDGUqn  Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 28, 2020

While everybody must now stay at home in all but a handful of circumstances - such as travelling to and from work that has been deemed an essential health, social care, or other essential service that cannot be done from home - people are still allowed to shop for food or household goods.

What's more you can travel beyond the 2km limit for food shopping, going to the pharmacy or the doctor.

The public were also told that they can leave home for brief individual physical exercise or for farming purposes, but only within 2km of your own home.

We are advised that there is no need to panic buy or stockpile as supply chains are working well and will continue to do so.

No need to do all shopping or stockpile this morning. Food stores and takeaways staying open in the emergency. The 2km is about exercising locally. You can go beyond the 2km to buy food and medicines. The supplies are good. We all have a part to play in rising to this challenge  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) March 28, 2020

An updated list of essential retail outlets has been published this morning.

They include shops selling food, drinks and consumer products, pharmacies, petrol stations, laundries, banks, post offices and pet shops.

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Brooke Herbert

Aerial view of rush hour on I-5 in downtown Portland, Oregon, March 25, 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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As Portland residents surrender to Governor Kate Brown's 'stay-home' order, an eerie quiet has set in across much of the city.

Schools remain closed. For Oregon's students, Spring Break during the time of coronavirus will surely go down as the one they'll most remember. As for parents, many are struggling to figure out how to keep their kids held to something, anything, in the form of routine.

State Parks are closed.

Most businesses are too, and the effects are catastrophic as record numbers of Oregonians continue to get laid off.

We mourn all the places we can no longer go,

But if Oregonians continue to stay home, the chances are much likelier that fewer will come down with virus, and that local hospitals will be able to handle the burden the coronavirus pandemic could place on them.

Fellow curve flatteners, have a look at some scenes of what Portland looks like now. And plan, if you will, for better days to come.

 Beth Nakamura

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Brooke Herbert

A parishioner prays in a closed St. Alexander Catholic Church/San Alejandro in Cornelius, Oregon on March 26, 2020. The doors of the church have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's order to stay home. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Mark Graves

Flowers decorate the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Portland's cityscape during the coronavirus outbreak March 23, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff Mark Graves

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Flowers decorate the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Dave Killen

The Clinton Street Theater in SE Portland on March 19, 2020.

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Mark Graves

The Tilikum Crossing Bridge Thursday night amid the coronavirus outbreak March 26, 2020.

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Camelia blooms made in the place of a heart on Northeast Stanton Street and 10th Avenue in Northeast Portland. The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Dave Killen

Dillinger's Barbershop in NE Portland was closed on March 23, 2020, the same day that Governor Kate Brown ordered that all barbershops and hair salons shut down to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

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Portland's Eastbank Esplanade during the coronavirus outbreak Tuesday evening, March 23, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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A person sweeps the walls of a building while riding a bike in inner southeast Portland, March 25, 2020.

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Brooke Herbert

Rent strike graffiti is seen at an exit off of Interstate 5 in Portland, on March 23, 2020. Amid the coronavirus outbreak and a huge spike in unemployment, some residents are asking for temporary breaks in rent.

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Beth Nakamura

The Park Blocks near Portland State University during lunch hour, March 18, 2020. Beth Nakamura/Staff

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A lone glove sits on the pavement at the otherwise empty Portland State University campus.

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Where I-5, I-405 and the Marquam Bridge weave together near the Southwest Portland waterfront March 24, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Flowers decorate the sidewalks along SE Madison St. and 8th Avenue in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

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Brooke Herbert

Aerial footage of the rush hour Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland, Oregon, March 25, 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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Flowers decorate the sidewalks along SE Madison St. and 8th Avenue in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Samantha Swindler

Caution tape surrounds a cordoned off playground at Water Tower Park in Milwaukie on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District closed all its playgrounds in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Sean Meagher

Caution tape is scattered around the Cook Park playground after the park was shut down to the public by the city due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sean Meagher/Staff

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Flowers decorate the sidewalks along SE Madison St. and 8th Avenue in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Dave Killen

The Hollywood Theatre in NE Portland on March 19, 2020.

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Beth Nakamura

Northeast Alberta Street in Portland is unusually quiet Tuesday night, March 17, 2020. Beth Nakamura/Staff

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Brooke Herbert

A water fountain is covered in caution tape in St. Alexander Catholic Church/San Alejandro in Cornelius, Oregon, on March 26, 2020. The doors of the church have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order.

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Caution tape is scattered around the Cook Park playground after the park was shut down to the public by the city due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sean Meagher/Staff

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Brooke Herbert

Natalie Pruett wears gloves and monitors customers while working at the Cedar Mill Liquor Store in Portland, on March 26, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order. Liquor stores were deemed an essential business and have remained open.

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Caution tape surrounds a cordoned off playground at Water Tower Park in Milwaukie on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

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Few cars travel along NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Thursday night, March 26, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff Mark Graves
The father of three young children tragically found dead at their home in January has issued an appeal for letters from the public to help him cope with isolation during the Covid-19 crisis.

Andrew McGinley said on Twitter that he was struggling with isolation at this time and really missing the company, asking the public to help him through written contact.
Kochi, March 28 : The first COVID-19 death has been reported from Kerala, here, said a State Minister on Saturday.

State Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar told the media that the 69-year-old man arrived from UAE on March 22 and was in isolation.

"He is from Kochi and was suffering from heart ailment and blood pressure. Since he was already placed under high-risk category, this need not be a cause to worry. The body has now been handed over to his relatives and the funeral will take place later today. There is no need for any worries at all," said Sunilkumar.

"All those who came in contact with him have been identified and have been quarantined," added the State Minister.

The deceased's wife and driver who brought him from the airport have also been tested positive.

State IMA official Sreejith Nair said that underlying heart ailments for coronavirus positive patients is considered to be a high-risk case.

"The need of the hour is, all those with underlying ailments have to ensure that they remain at home as they are high-risk cases," said Nair.

Ernakulam Lok Sabha member Hibi Eden said all the medical protocols are being enforced when the funeral takes place.

As of Saturday, there are 164 coronavirus positive cases and has now affected all 14 districts in the state.

There are 1,10,299 people in the state who are under observation which includes 616 at various hospitals.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The latest:

Alaska issues stay-at-home order and closes non-essential businesses

Alaska is the latest U.S. state to order residents to stay at home unless absolutely necessary due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.

Limited outdoor activities are allowed as long as social distancing of 6 feet is maintained.

In a pair of new mandates announced Friday evening, state Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum said Alaskans are also ordered to avoid travel between communities.

Travel to many rural areas of Alaska is only practical by plane, but Crum said aviation companies will not be required to ensure that their customers are traveling for essential reasons.

The prohibition on unnecessary travel goes into effect Saturday at 8 a.m. local time, while the new rule on staying at home goes into effect at 5 p.m. Crum says the mandates will be reconsidered no later than April 11.



Trump signs $2.2 trillion relief bill into law



President Donald Trump on Friday signed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package just hours after it passed a voice vote in the House of Representatives.

The far-reaching legislation stands as the largest emergency aid package in U.S. history. It injects a massive financial boost into a struggling economy with provisions aimed at helping American workers, small businesses and industries grappling with the economic disruption.

Key elements of the package include sending checks directly to individuals and families, an expansion of unemployment benefits, money for hard-hit hospitals and health care providers, financial assistance for small businesses and $500 billion in loans for distressed companies.

The money would likely be deposited directly into individuals' bank accounts -- as long as they've already authorized the IRS to send their tax refund that way over the past two years.

If not, the IRS would send out checks in the mail.

For those that haven't filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return, the IRS would rely on information on file at the Social Security Administration, which keeps records on all Americans who have paid payroll taxes.

The House of Representatives gave near-unanimous approval the historic legislation designed to prevent the economy from collapsing and rush resources to overburdened health care providers and struggling families during the deepening coronavirus outbreak.

Fridays House session followed an extraordinary 96-0 Senate vote late Wednesday.

Trumps signing of the package came as the U.S. surpassed China and Italy  two countries hit hard by the coronavirus  for the most reported cases in the world. Several health officials and experts say it's still the beginning.

"We are in for a bumpy ride for the next 12 to 18 months," said Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. "If we are aggressive now about stopping things, shutting down, building up a test regime, we can then open up again .... and most places can go back to work."

"But only when we are ready. And we are nowhere near ready now," he said.

When Trump said he hopes to have Americans back at work by Easter, he was making an "aspirational projection," said Anthony Fauci, one of the country's top health officials.

"He's listening to us when we say we really got to reevaluate it, in real time, and any decision we make has to be based on the data," Fauci said.

The areas officials are worried about

New coronavirus hot spots are emerging in the Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans areas  and health officials there are pleading for medical resources to meet the surges.

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Michigan's roughly 3,000 cases are nearly a tenfold increase from March 19, and officials there say the federal government needs to prioritize states like theirs that face case surges, rather than having governors compete for supplies.

Doctors and nurses in the Detroit area are "using one mask for their entire shift," Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the Michigan health department's chief medical executive, told CNN Friday.

"I've heard of (them) putting their mask in a paper bag ... and taking it out when they think they have a patent who has coronavirus," Khaldun said.

"We don't have enough masks; we don't have enough gowns; and we need more from the federal government and others."

In Michigan, cases jumped from 350 to nearly 3,000 in a week.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said this week she sent Trump a request for a major disaster declaration and was hopeful the President would grant it in full "and within a matter of days, so we can provide more services to Michiganders who need them."

The declaration would allow the state to provide rental assistance and temporary housing to people in the state, counseling and therapy for residents and the ability to quickly set up field hospitals or other facilities to treat coronavirus patients.

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Outbreaks in New York, which has just under half the country's cases, and California, Washington and New Jersey have captured the nation's attention for weeks. Health officials there have long been clamoring for more equipment.

But officials warn the newer hot spots will soon look like the earlier ones.

"Hot spots like Detroit, like Chicago, like New Orleans ... will have a worse week next week than what they had this week," U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told "CBS This Morning" on Friday.

For days, New York led the country with the highest number of cases, after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered a partial lockdown and doubled down on testing.

At least 519 people have died from coronavirus across New York state, Cuomo said. That's up from 385 reported deaths.

"That is going to continue to go up, and that is the worst news that I could possibly tell the people of the state of New York," Cuomo said.

New York Bellevue Hospital Center created a makeshift morgue using tents and refrigerated trucks. At Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, 13 patients died from coronavirus within 24 hours.

Health officials said California, with more than 3,000 cases, isn't far behind from seeing a surge in cases similar to New York's. And with positive tests rapidly increasing across the country, experts worry other states may follow.

Earlier this week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said cases in his state were growing faster than anywhere in the world.

Health experts said they were monitoring "clusters" in six nursing homes and in New Orleans. One official said hospitals were already facing shortages of ventilators and protective equipment.

"This is going to be the disaster that defines our generation," said Collin Arnold, director of the city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Related video: What does a ventilator do, and how does it help people with coronavirus?

Jefferson and Orleans parishes, which make up most of metro New Orleans, ranked among the top seven counties nationwide in deaths per 100,000 residents for areas reporting 100 cases or more. And at least 3,000 were expected to be tested Thursday.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, said 40% of the country has "extraordinary low rates" of coronavirus. About 19 states have fewer than 200 cases, she said.

But she said counties including Wayne County, Michigan, and Cook County, Illinois, are showing a "more rapid increase" in cases.

Meanwhile, Cook County, Illinois, is in the process of "acquiring additional refrigerated warehouse space" as a precaution for what could come next, Cook County spokesperson Natalia Derevyanny said.

"Our hope is that we're doing all this planning but that we wind up not needing the plans we've put into place," said Derevyanny.

Illinois numbers jumped from close to 600 last week to 2,538 Friday.

British prime minister tests positive for coronavirus

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, the leader said on Friday.

On his Twitter account, Johnson said he had developed mild symptoms and was self-isolating.

"Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this," Johnson wrote.

In a video, Johnson said he was experiencing a temperature and a persistent cough, which are key symptoms of the virus, and that he took a test on the advice of the country's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty.

"I've taken a test. That has come out positive," he said, adding that he was working from home and self-isolating. "And that's entirely the right thing to do."

Doctors, nurses on the front lines

Responding to the rising numbers, some hospitals say they've reached a breaking point  both because of overworked staff and few medical supplies left.

A Long Island hospital nurse said patients were streaming in with "non-stop coughing, sweaty, fevers" and with "fear in their eyes."

"I haven't slept because my mind won't shut off. I cried in the bathroom on my break, as I peeled off the PPE from my sweaty self, mask indentations on my face. I cried the entire ride home," the nurse, who CNN is not naming, wrote in a social media post.

Related video: California hospital makes delivery room changes amid coronavirus outbreak

In one New York City hospital, an assistant nurse manager who suffered from asthma died less than a week after testing positive for the virus.

Kious Jordan Kelly was a "beloved member" of the nursing staff at Mt. Sinai Hospital, the hospital said.

The coronavirus crisis has "turned our front line professionals into true American heroes," Mt. Sinai said in a statement Tuesday. "Today, we lost another hero  a compassionate colleague, friend and selfless caregiver."

To combat a desperate need for more hands on deck in hospitals across the country, medical schools are considering early graduation for their senior medical students to become doctors, according to Dr. Alison Whelan, the chief medical education officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges.

On Tuesday, New York University became the first medical school in the country to offer this option. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in New Jersey also sent an email to its senior medical students on Thursday gauging interest and offering early graduation.

To support hospitals, Vice President Mike Pence said the federal government has already shipped out millions of protective equipment and 6,000 ventilators from the national stockpile.

But the U.S. Surgeon General says those supplies will not resolve the crisis.

"We will not supply our way out of this problem," he said Thursday.

"A lot of the capacity that folks are looking for is already out there. It's sitting on shelves in surgery centers. It's sitting in hospitals. It's just misaligned," Adams said. "I really want you all to think about how you can help us fix that misalignment."

Summer may not be the end

And while some look to the summer hopeful that better weather will help alleviate the problem, Fauci says warmer days may not mean the end of the virus.

"We are hoping, though it may not happen, that we will see that impact of warmer weather on bringing the infection rate down, but you can't guarantee it," he said Thursday.

"Because this is a brand new virus, and it may not act like some of the other respiratory viruses in which often you do see a diminution, as the weather gets warmer, there's no guarantee that we're going to see that right now," Fauci said.

He has said that as far as the timeline of the virus outbreak in the U.S., it's important to remain flexible.

But, he says, the key to nearing an end with the battle against the virus is contact tracing  where researchers track down everyone an infected person might have been in contact with.

"We've got to do it better than we are now. Not that we're at fault, that no one's made any mistakes, but they've got to elevate it to the point where, when you have someone in society who is infected, you've got to not only identify them, but you've got to be able to isolate them very quickly, not five days later, after they wound up potentially infecting individuals."

"That's what's called strict containment and that's what we've got to do," Fauci said.

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File photo taken on Dec. 13, 2019 shows British Prime Minister Boris Johnson posing at 10 Downing Street after his speech in London, Britain. British Prime Minister's Office said on Friday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had tested positive for coronavirus. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister's Office said on Friday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had tested positive for coronavirus.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson, who showed mild symptoms, is self-isolating in Downing Street.

"He is continuing to lead the government's response to coronavirus," the spokesperson said.

"After experiencing mild symptoms yesterday, the Prime Minister was tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty," the spokesperson noted.

In a Twitter entry, Johnson also broke the news, saying that he "will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus."

"Together we will beat this," he added.

There have been more than 11,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Britian, and over 570 people have died.

The prime minister was last seen on Thursday night when he clapped outside 10 Downing Street as part of a nationwide gesture to thank the National Health Service staff.
Bridget Cambria, attorney and director of ALDEA, in her office in Reading earlier this month. ALDEA is representing the hunger strikers. Read more

At least 180 immigration detainees held at the York County Prison have started a hunger strike to demand their release because of the coronavirus pandemic, migrant advocates said on Saturday.

We are chickens in a chicken coop here  we are like sitting ducks, said one striker, Jesus, who was identified only by his first name by Movement of Immigration Leaders in Pennsylvania, an activist group.

The strikers fear that the virus will be brought inside by staff, and that once detainees become ill they will not get proper medical attention, according to MILPA and immigration attorney Alyssa Kane of ALDEA  The Peoples Justice Center in Reading.

Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Saturday that several detainees at York had recently refused meals.

ICE fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference and does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers, the agency said in a statement.

ICE explains the negative health effects of not eating to its detainees, and the food and water intake of those identified as hunger strikers is monitored, the agency said.

Migrants can be held at York for all kinds of reasons. Some are seeking asylum, a legal means of staying in the country. Others are legal permanent residents whose status became imperiled by a criminal issue. Many have been in the United States for years or decades.

Health officials have warned that detention centers, jails, and prisons could be hotbeds of COVID-19 outbreaks.

In our block there are older gentlemen, there are people with high blood pressure, diabetes, Jesus said through MILPA, adding that detainees could be released with ankle monitors. The majority of us are hardworking people who want to be home with their family, especially during a crisis like this.

The prison holds male and female immigration detainees and sentenced prisoners, although the mens side of the prison is generally all migrants. Last summer a mumps outbreak at a few Texas immigration detention centers quickly surged through the system, sickening almost 1,000 migrants in 57 facilities across the country. An entire wing at York had to be quarantined for two months.
Royal Mail deliveries could stop as postal workers complain of delivering 'pointless junk mail' during the coronavirus lockdown.

It comes as union leaders are encouraging staff to call in sick, rather than risk catching coronavirus during their daily rounds, The Telegraph reports.

Royal Mail workers were designated as key workers to keep deliveries flowing during the pandemic, but ministers have stopped short of accepting a Communications Workers' Union to become the country's 'fifth emergency service' and deliver only essential supplies such as food, testing kits and medicines'.

A Royal Mail delivery man does his rounds in Richmond on Tuesday. But the Communications Workers Union is encouraging its workers to call in sick rather than risk catching the coronavirus

'It's not right that postal workers should be risking their lives to deliver pointless junk mail, shopping offers and water pistols,' a CWU spokesman told The Telegraph.

'If the Government doesnt accept our offer, in three weeks we will have to look again at our support for the key worker status.'

Royal Mail has introduced new rules to keep staff apart in depots, sharing vans has also been put on hold during the pandemic.

Rico Back, Group Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mail, said: 'We are focused on protecting our people, company and the communities we serve during this unprecedented crisis. We are putting the health and well-being of colleagues and customers first.

'At the same time, we are delivering the parcels and letters that are a lifeline for those who cannot leave their homes.'
More than 100 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Sri Lanka and 255 people are under supervision in 18 hospitals.

Health workers are making a huge effort to treat patients as the number of cases rises daily. The protective gear they need, however, is severely lacking.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on March 3, health workers face real danger due to the lack of protective equipment. The WHO statement warned that without protecting health workers COVID-19 cannot be stopped.

President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government, however, has ignored these warnings.

A doctor working at a public hospital told the WSWS: Personal protective equipment (PPE) like eye masks, face masks and coats required for staff members at out-patient departments, intensive care units (ICUs) and wards for treating diabetes, asthma and fever were severely inadequate even before the pandemic crisis began.

He added that the shortage has since taken a serious turn. Some hospitals have been forced to produce PPE using substandard materials. Staff and patients have been put in severe danger by this situation, he said.

The doctor explained that this state of affairs was not just created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It had developed systematically due to successive governments slashing the health sector. Now, it has become a crisis.

Even the director of the Angoda Infectious Disease Hospital examined patients using a polythene coat made up by doctors themselves, until recently. If a doctor was infected due to a lack of proper security, he or she will have to quarantine for 14 days.

The doctor added: If large numbers of doctors are forced to quarantine, the situation will become dangerous and other health workers will have an unbearable amount of work.

Some health workers in the Colombo and Ragama hospitals have been quarantined for infection already.

Standard PPE equipment must be made available to all the workers, from doctors to minor staff, the doctor said.

Another public sector doctor told the WSWS: The time from the 2nd patient to the 50th patient in Sri Lanka was seven days. In Italy it was 24 days. During the first week, 47 patients were reported in Sri Lanka. In Italy, it was three.

He said the number of patients in the 3rd week in Italy passed 1,000 and all this data pointed to the dire risk of the virus spreading in Sri Lanka. To prevent that, a proper and sufficient quarantine program is essential and mass testing must be carried out.

This doctor said the 500 ICU beds in Sri Lankan hospitals were sufficient to treat only 3,000 patients a month. Even during normal periods, finding an ICU bed for a patient is difficult.

The available number of ICU beds in Sri Lanka per 100,000 people is just above 2. In Italy, there are 12.5 ICU beds per 100,000 but that has proved inadequate. If the pandemic worsens in Sri Lanka, a higher proportion of patients could die than in Italy because they wont have access to intensive care treatment.

Considering this situation as an emergency, the number of ICU beds in Sri Lanka should be increased at least five-fold, the doctor warned.

Explaining the lack of facilities for testing, he said: A person can be directed to testing only if that person suffers from the symptoms coming within government-provided guidelines.

The WHO recommendation is to upgrade the facilities so all those suspected of being infected are tested. Following that step, Japan and South Korea was able to reduce the curve of increase of infected patients.

The lack of essential protective gear is a major issue facing nurses and other workers, according to Menaka Priyanthi, the head nursing officer at Ragama Teaching Hospital. She said: We face such a situation where sewing machines at home have to be brought here and used to sew protective dresses.

There is deep and growing opposition to the governments indifference to lack of protective equipment and the severe risk now facing health workers. Seeking to deflect health workers anger, the trade unions have issued a series of perfunctory, half-hearted statements about the lack of PPE.

Government Nursing Officers Association president Saman Ratnapriya told a press conference on March 20 that health workers had not yet received a guideline outlining steps to control the disease. Two days earlier Government Medical Officers Association secretary Haritha Aluthge complained to reporters that doctors and other health employees at district hospitals were working without masks.

These unions have systematically collaborated with successive Sri Lankan governments to implement health service cuts in line with International Monetary Fund austerity dictates.

The lack of PPE is a real danger facing health workers internationally. In China and Italy, even senior medical officers have died due to COVID-19. Out of the 627 people who died in Italy on March 22, 17 were doctors. And 3,654 Italian health workers have been infected.

These disastrous statistics reveal the utter negligence and unpreparedness of capitalist governments all over the world as public health services have been slashed to transform healthcare into a profit-making enterprise.
Boris Johnson's opening words in a coronavirus crisis phone call with Donald Trump were 'we need ventilators', the US president has revealed.

The Prime Minister has been urging businesses to ramp up production of the life-saving machines, which are desperately lacking in the UK.

Mr Trump has invoked Korean War-era legislation to order the General Motors car giant to switch production lines to make the devices.

The President said the PM issued an instant plea to him regarding ventilators when they spoke after Mr Johnson's positive test for Covid-19 on Friday.

The Prime Minister (pictured in a video conference as he self-isolates with coronavirus) has been urging businesses to ramp up production of the life-saving machines

President Trump (pictured today) said the PM issued an instant plea to him regarding the machines when they spoke after Mr Johnson's positive test for Covid-19 on Friday

Mr Trump said: 'If we make too many that's going to be OK because I spoke to the Prime Minister of the UK yesterday.

'And before I even was able to get a word out of him... I said, ''How you doing?'' and he said, ''We need ventilators''.

'The UK needs ventilators, a lot of countries need ventilators, badly.'

Downing Street said 8,000 additional ventilators had been ordered by the Government to boost the stock of 8,000 already available to the health service.

But with Covid-19's peak expected to strike the UK in around three weeks, officials said thousands may not arrive for a number of months.

Britain saw a huge increase in deaths on Saturday as 260 people died bringing the total to 1,019.

But the global focus has shifted to the US where 1,963 people have been killed by the deadly virus, while there are 104,007 infections.

The Cabinet Office issued a detailed rebuttal of claims the UK Government had missed opportunities to procure ventilators.

Andrew Rayner, the managing director of MEC Medical, which makes ventilator parts, told the FT he could have delivered 500 ventilators 'if they got back to me straight away', adding: 'They've missed the boat.'

But the Government department took the unusual step of rebutting 'a number of inaccurate claims'.

A statement said: 'We would expect suppliers of ventilator parts, like MEC Medical, to receive orders from companies for some of the components needed to scale up production of UK ventilator manufacturers.'

The spat comes after Britain's embassies were urged to source vital equipment for the NHS and ship it home.

And a further row ensued as the EU rejected claims a missed email was to blame for the UK not taking part in the bloc's ventilator scheme.

The government is said to have instructed UK embassies to try to source ventilators and protective equipment from their host countries and export it to Britain.

Boris Johnson's spokesman initially said the UK had not joined an EU ventilators scheme because Britain is no longer a member of the bloc but it was later blamed on computer trouble

The move, first reported by the Financial Times, is designed to plug holes in NHS supplies.

But the request is believed to have caused some disquiet among staff given the difficulty of trying to find equipment to send home without causing offence to a host nation.

It came amid a row over why the UK failed to join a four-pronged Brussels' initiative to source and buy ventilators quickly and cheaply to aid the fight against coronavirus, with the government blaming an email mix-up.

Number 10 had originally said the UK was not taking part because it was no longer a member of the bloc and was 'making our own efforts' but it later blamed its absence on an 'initial communication problem'.

It is thought computer problems meant the UK did not receive a critical email asking if it wanted to participate so Britain missed the deadline but will be able to take part in future rounds of procurement.

Yet the European Commission appeared to cast doubt on Britain's version of events, as a spokesman said: 'If the UK want to join in a future procurement scheme they are most welcome to join. They were also most welcome to join in the first four.'

The EU is using its collective bargaining power to try to acquire ventilators cheaply and in rapid time.

The UK was eligible to take part because while it formally split from the bloc in January the two sides are now in a 'standstill' transition period lasting until the end of the year.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said Thursday morning 'we are no longer members of the EU' when he was asked why the UK was not participating.

Pressed if the decision was related to Brexit ideology, the spokesman said: 'No, as I say, this is an area where we're making our own efforts.'

The comments prompted fury from pro-EU critics of the government as Lib Dem MP Layla Moran accusing Boris Johnson of putting 'Brexit over breathing'.

But Number 10 subsequently rowed back on its initial explanation as it emerged the actual reason for not joining the scheme was computer trouble.

A UK government spokesman said: 'Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

'As the Commission has confirmed, we are eligible to participate in joint procurements during the transition period, following our departure from the EU earlier this year.

'As those four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender we were unable to take part in these, but we will consider participating in future procurement schemes on the basis of public health requirements at the time.

'We are working round the clock with industry, the NHS, social care providers and the army to ensure the supply of PPE over the coming weeks and months and will give our NHS and the social care sector everything they need to tackle this outbreak.'
As Montanas COVID-19 case count continues festering, state prison officials say they are taking measures to stop the coronavirus from turning prisons into incubation pods, while a coalition of Montana groups has called for the governor to begin exercising clemency for high-risk inmates.

A spokesperson with the Montana Department of Corrections said Wednesday just one inmate had been tested for COVID-19, and the result was negative. Visitation at state corrections facilities has been suspended since March 13, the same day Montanas first positive coronavirus tests were announced.

On Thursday, Gov. Steve Bullock issued an order for Montanans to stay at home starting Saturday, a sort of lockdown outside the prison system; the measure allows for essential travel, such as to buy food, provide care to others, or recreate on public lands if following social distancing rules.

Spokesperson Carolynn Bright said the Department of Corrections had begun limiting the movement of inmates as much as possible  within DOC facilities, throughout the state and from state to state.

Bright said in February, the state DOC received four prisoners, from California, New Mexico and Ohio. So far this month the DOC has received another eight from Alaska, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas and Washington, Bright said, although these inmates were coming to Montana facilities anyway, she added.

During the pandemic, the state corrections department has asked counties to keep inmates who would have been transferred to state prisons at local detention centers to limit movement between facilities, Bright said. Local officials, however, are also being asked to release as many people as they can to protect vulnerable inmates from a potential outbreak in county jails.

Most of our partners have been agreeable to (retaining inmates longer), and we appreciate their cooperation at this trying time," Bright said in an email. "However, should a facility decline to hold an offender  and the choice becomes retrieving the inmate or having him or her released to the public  the DOC and the governors office agree that serious violent felons and sex offenders should not be released for public safety reasons.

Bright said the DOC has not released anyone because a county has been unwilling to hold the inmate.

The Montana State Prison outside Deer Lodge houses approximately 1,600 male inmates, while roughly 640 people are employed at the facility, according to the DOC website. Those 2,200 people coexist each day at a 68-acre compound. In Billings, the state womens prison is a 194-bed facility, although its website states it consistently operates at or over capacity with closer to 200 inmates. More yet are held at the Crossroads Correctional Center near Shelby.

The ACLU of Montana has been calling for action from Bullock and the corrections department for two weeks now. The day before Montanas first batch of cases was announced, the ACLU of Montana issued a letter to state officials asking for information on a plan to address the risk of COVID-19 spreading through prisons and jails. More letters have followed, cosigned by organizations like the Montana Human Rights Network, Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Montana Innocence Project and others, calling specifically on Bullock to use his executive power of clemency to get vulnerable individuals out of prison amid the pandemic.

The concern is that across the country weve seen as soon as the covid virus pops up in prisons, it spreads like wildfire, said SK Rossi, director of advocacy and policy at ACLU of Montana. Its because of the nature of those facilities, you cant get away from each other, theres no airtight barrier between people who are and arent infected.

Earlier this week, Bullock told Lee Montana Newspapers he had been meeting with DOC officials, but had not made any decisions yet.

Bright said Wednesday everyone who comes into DOC facilities is being screened. Employees temperatures are checked and other self-reporting methods are taken at the beginning of every shift, while all new inmates are screened before entry to the facility. Those coming from out of state are quarantined for 14 days. Officials are also taking measures to promote social distancing, such as staggering meal times so fewer people are in one space at once, Bright said. Employees and inmates also have access to personal hygiene products, while additional shifts have been added to clean and disinfect facilities, Bright said.

Ensuring our staff and inmates are educated about what COVID-19 is and how to prevent it is key to the DOCs work to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 in our facilities, Bright said.

Still, unrest in prisons and detention facilities have been boiling over around the country. Last week, inmates sued the Washington state Department of Corrections with claims that cleaning at facilities is woefully inadequate and threatens any efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Washington Post this week obtained video from inside an Alabama county jail, where two inmates threatened to commit suicide if newly arrived inmates they feared had been exposed to the virus were not removed from the pod.

Annette Carter, chair of the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole, said the board is continuing to conduct all hearings as scheduled, with no delays caused by the coronavirus outbreak. By Friday morning, Carter said she would be reviewing cases, particularly those with potential medical issues, to fast-track the process.

We will be looking at nonviolent offenses, as well as people that are going to be discharging between now and the end of year, Carter said. Were looking at those cases, but theyve got to have good release plans and with program completion already.

Carter stressed the board will handle the process with a great deal of deliberation to ensure community supervision offices wont be overwhelmed.

Were looking for people who are ready for release, Carter said. Community safety is always first and foremost in our mind.

Rossi said Thursday that any measure by the state Department of Corrections is welcomed, but not enough.

It absolutely needs to go a step further, it needs to go further than the Department of Corrections, Rossi said. Theyre doing what they can with the authority they have, but testing guards and cutting off visitation isnt enough. They have to start releasing people. The governor can do that very quickly."

Local authorities have taken steps toward reducing jail populations to stem the spread of COVID-19, even before Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath issued a memo on March 20 asking city and county judges to do so. Lake County saw about a quarter of its jail population released, said Sheriff Don Bell. The Lake County Detention Center has 42 beds but generally houses 42 to 45 inmates, while Bell said another seven to 10 are typically held in Flathead County. Bell said district judges have granted the release of about 10 people from custody since the coronavirus pandemic got underway.

It lightens the load, he said. It helps, but weve got several (detention officers) who are sick.

Four of the sheriffs detention officers are out sick right now, Bell said, although none are showing signs of COVID-19. That leaves two on duty, Bell said.

At the Office of the State Public Defender, the message from top officials is to work to release vulnerable clients from jails, said division administrator Peter Ohman.

Weve been sharing national resources weve received from public defender offices around the country with our people on the ground so they can fashion motions to get clients out who may be high-risk and are non-violent, Ohman said. Those national resources include backing from the American Diabetes Association, he added. We have a lot of clients who are diabetic and thats one of the risk factors.

So far, the route toward releases has been a patchwork across the state. Ohman said prosecutors and defense attorneys in some jurisdictions are agreeing to lists of inmates who can be released, while others are moving down the line on a case-by-case basis.

Other situations, where the courts havent taken the lead, we should look at the Supreme Courts directive so we can reduce the risk to public health, Ohman said. Once infections, unfortunately, become more prevalent, its going to be more of a safety issue.

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DETROIT - The coronavirus continued its unrelenting spread across the United States with fatalities doubling in two days and authorities saying Saturday that an infant who tested positive had died. It pummeled big cities like New York, Detroit, New Orleans and Chicago, and made its way, too, into rural America as hotspots erupted in small Midwestern towns and Rocky Mountain ski havens.

Elsewhere, Russia announced a full border closure while in parts of Africa, pandemic prevention measures took a violent turn, with Kenyan police firing tear gas and officers elsewhere seen on video hitting people with batons.

Worldwide infections surpassed the 660,000 mark with more than 30,000 deaths as new cases also stacked up quickly in Europe, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. leads the world in reported cases with more than 120,000. Confirmed deaths surpassed 2,000 on Saturday, twice the number just two days before, highlighting how quickly infections are escalating. Still, five countries have higher death tolls: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France. Italy has more than 10,000 deaths, the most of any country.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Saturday that an infant with COVID-19 died in Chicago and the cause of death is under investigation. Officials didnt release other information, including whether the child had other health issues.

If you havent been paying attention, maybe this is your wake-up call, said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

New York remained the worst-hit U.S. city. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said defeating the virus will take weeks and weeks and weeks. The U.N. donated 250,000 face masks to the city, and Cuomo delayed the states presidential primary from April 28 to June 23.

As President Donald Trump made his way to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a U.S. Navy medical ship sent to New York City to help, he suggested imposing some kind of quarantine for New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, all hit hard by the coronavirus. But he later tweeted that he intended to issue a strong travel advisory instead.

It wasnt entirely clear whether he had the power to impose such a quarantine for the three states, and the idea was met with confusion and anger from their governors. Cuomo said on CNN that it would be illegal, economically catastrophic and unproductive since other areas are already seeing a surge.

Still, some states without known widespread infections began to try to limit exposure from visitors from harder-hit areas.

Rhode Island National Guard troops were instructed to go door to door in coastal communities to find New Yorkers and advise them about a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people from the state.

And in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered anyone arriving from Louisiana to self-quarantine and said law enforcement officers would set up checkpoints to screen cars from the state.

Louisiana has surpassed 3,300 infections with 137 dead from COVID-19, according to the health department. Gov. John Bel Edwards said the region was on track to run out of ventilators by the first week of April.

Cases also have been rising rapidly in Detroit, where poverty and poor health have been problems for years. The number of infections surged to 1,381, with 31 deaths, as of noon Saturday. The citys homeless population is especially vulnerable, officials said.

At this time, the trajectory of Detroit is unfortunately even more steep than that of New York, said Dr. Teena Chopra, the medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the Detroit Medical Center.

This is off the charts, she said.

Chopra said many patients have ailments like asthma, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. She also acknowledged that in Detroit, one of the nations largest African American cities, there is a distrust among some in the community of the medical system and government due to systemic racism.

In Detroit, we are seeing a lot of patients that are presenting to us with severe disease, rather than minor disease, said Chopra, who worried about a tsunami of patients.

Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan, providing money for the outbreak. He has done the same for New York, Louisiana and Illinois.

Cases in Chicago and suburban Cook County accounted for about three-fourths of Illinois 3,026 total as of Friday. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed popular lakeshore parks after people failed to practice social distancing, despite a statewide shelter-at-home order.

The governor of Kansas also issued a stay-at-home order to begin Monday, as the virus takes hold in more rural areas where doctors worry about the lack of ICU beds.

A cluster of three counties in rural Indiana have surging rates of confirmed cases. One of them, Decatur, population 26,000, has 30 cases with one confirmed death and another suspected, said Sean Durbin, the countys public health emergency preparedness co-ordinator. Several cases were traced to large gatherings earlier in the month, including a religious retreat and a high school basketball tournament.

The disease threatens to be devastating for close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone, Durbin said, adding that he was a friend of the person believed to have died from the virus as well as others currently in critical condition.

The county health department has already run out of personal protective equipment, Durbin said. The last supply from the federal stockpile arrived more than a week ago and contained just 77 N95 masks and two dozen face shields.

I wish there was a stronger word for disappointed, he said. Im calling on them to do better.

Blaine County, Idaho, a scenic ski haven for wealthy tourists, now has around 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highest rate per capita outside the New York area. Two people have died.

The virus continues to strain health systems in Italy, Spain and France. Lockdowns of varying degrees have been introduced across Europe, nearly emptying streets in normally bustling cities.

Germany has fewer deaths than some neighbouring countries but has closed nonessential shops and banned public gatherings of more than two people until April 20. It still had its share of grim news: 12 residents of a nursing home in the northern town of Wolfsburg have died since Monday after being infected, news agency dpa reported.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte announced he had signed a decree freeing up 400 million euros ($440 million) for coupons and packages of food aid, to be delivered door-to-door if necessary.

People are suffering psychologically. Theyre not used to staying in their homes. But they are also suffering economically, Conte said. Italy has almost completed a three-week lockdown, with no end in sight.

In Spain, where stay-at-home restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks, the death toll rose to 5,812.

Another 8,000 confirmed infections pushed that count above 72,000 cases. But Spains director of emergencies, Fernando Simon, saw hope in that the rate of infection is slowing and figures indicate that the outbreak is stabilizing and may be reaching its peak in some areas.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for a more vigorous response from the European Union. Spain, Italy, France and six other members have asked the union to share the burden of European debt, dubbed coronabonds in the media, to help fight the virus. But the idea has met resistance from other members, led by Germany and the Netherlands.

It is the most difficult moment for the EU since its foundation and it has to be ready to rise to the challenge, Sanchez said.

As the epicenter has shifted westward, the situation has calmed in China, where some restrictions have been lifted. Some subway service was restored in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December, after the city of 11 million had its virus risk evaluation reduced from high to medium.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

More than 135,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins.

Countries are still trying to bring home citizens stranded abroad. On Saturday, 174 foreign tourists and four Nepali nationals in the foothills of Mount Everest were flown out days after being stranded at the only airstrip serving the worlds highest mountain.

Indian authorities sent buses to the outskirts of New Delhi to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages amid the worlds largest lockdown, which effectively put millions out of work.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered his countrys borders fully closed as of Monday, exempting diplomats as well as residents of the exclave of the Kaliningrad region.

___

Irvine reported from Chicago. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed.

___

Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
As India enters day 4 of Coronavirus lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Saturday, has written to the Chief Secretaries of all states clarifying that relief measures were applicable to homeless people, including migrant labourers who were stranded due to lockdown. MHA also added that relief camps must include provisions for temporary accommodation, food, clothing, medical care made available to those sheltered in relief camps. The MHA has also instructed the states to utilise their respective State Disaster relief funds (SDRF) for the same. Currently, India has 775 active cases of Coronavirus and 19 deaths.

Prashant Kishor slams Nitish, asks no relief for stranded Biharis?' amid Covid lockdown

MHA assures shelter to migrant workers

Existing norms under "Relief Measures - Provision for temporary accommodation,food,clothing medical care" would be applicable to homeless people including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown,&sheltered i relief camps&other places for providing them food etc: Govt of India pic.twitter.com/VIon0BwIXa  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India enters Day 4 of lockdown; active cases soar to 775

Daily wage workers stranded

With the suspension of train services, reports state that millions of daily-wage labourers are stuck in several metro cities in India - mainly in Mumbai and Delhi. While several reportedly fear death from hunger rather than Coronavirus, hundreds of these labourers were seen crowding in trains prior to the lockdown - causing a health hazard amid the growing cases of Coronavirus. The Centre has rolled out a scheme of Rs 1340 crore rupees to provide subsidized or free cereals to Contractual workers amid lockdown.

MASSIVE: Indian scientists reveal first microscopic image of Coronavirus from 1st patient

Coronavirus crisis in India

As of date, 873 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 78 have been discharged and Maharashtra reporting the highest at 180. Nineteen deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and the Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 25 March to April 15.

Coronavirus: India to participate in WHO's drug trial for COVID-19, cases soar to 724

India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with states declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. All domestic airplanes and trains have ceased operation. Visit the official government here: MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
Multiple periods of social distancing will be needed to beat coronavirus, Harvard researchers say

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Multiple periods of controlled social distancing measures will be necessary into 2022 to beat the new coronavirus if there are no other treatments implemented to fight it, such as a vaccine or expanding critical care capacity, according to a group of Harvard researchers studying the pandemic.

In a pre-print of Social distancing strategies for curbing the COVID-19 epidemic posted on the medRxiv pre-print server Tuesday, authors Stephen Lissler, Christine Tedijanto, Marc Lipsitch and Yonatan Grad of Harvards Chan School of Public Health argue that "a single period of social distancing will not be sufficient" to stem the onslaught of the pandemic.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams explained in a message to churches on Thursday that the essence of the federal governments 15-day plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus nationwide is social distancing in the absence of any known cures.

The Harvard researchers add in their study, which hasn't been peer-reviewed, that if a vaccine or other interventions such as increasing Americas critical care capacity is not included as a part of the response to the pandemic, the country will likely need multiple periods of social distancing, turning on and off, until 2022, allowing people to build up immunity over time and preventing a strain on healthcare resources.

The periods of social distancing will also require widespread surveillance to monitor when the prevalence thresholds that trigger the beginning or end of distancing have been crossed.

The researchers made their recommendations using a longstanding epidemiological model known as "SEIR," which means the "susceptible," "exposed," "infectious," and "recovered" individuals in a community.

Using differential equations, the researchers were able to forecast how fast a disease might spread based on how many people are in a community and how many are already sick or who have gotten better or died.

They suggest a threshold to be maintained of no more than 37.5 cases of the disease per 10,000 adult people in the population before turning the "on" switch for social distancing. They also estimate that this threshold would keep the number of patients needing critical care at 0.89 persons for every 10,000 people in the population, which should be adequate to not overwhelm the healthcare system.

A single period of social distancing will not be sufficient to prevent critical care capacities from being overwhelmed by the COVID-19 epidemic, because under any scenario considered it leaves enough of the population susceptible that a rebound in transmission after the end of the period will lead to an epidemic that exceeds this capacity, the researchers note.

This resurgence could be especially intense if it coincides with a wintertime rise in R0. Intermittent social distancing can maintain the prevalence of critical COVID-19 illness within current capacities, but this strategy could prolong the overall duration of the epidemic into 2022, they said.

By increasing critical care capacities they argue, the overall duration of the pandemic can be decreased while ensuring adequate care for the critically ill.

Our findings agree with observational and modelling studies that find that early implementation of strong social distancing is essential for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and that, in the absence of the development of new therapies or preventative measures, such as aggressive case finding and quarantining, intermittent distancing measures may be the only way to avoid overwhelming critical care capacity while building population immunity, they argue.

The observation that strong social distancing can lead to especially large resurgences agrees with data from the 1918 influenza pandemic in the United States, in which the size of the autumn 1918 peak of infection was inversely associated with that of a subsequent winter peak after interventions were no longer in place, the researchers explain.
Another six months in lockdown should be expected in order to prevent a second outbreak of the coronavirus in the UK, warned the country's deputy chief medical officer. Jenny Harries revealed that some, but not all, draconian measures currently in place could be imposed until September, the express.co.uk said in a report on Thursday.

The lockdown has forced people to revise their lifestyles in a major way. While speaking to the BBC, Harries said that the government did not want people to have to this for an unnecessarily long period of time. But, she added: "We ...
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Though a spreading coronavirus has turned the world upside down, leading to business closures and stay-at-home orders, a bike ride in the bosque or a jog in the foothills is still, well, the same as its always been.

And it appears many residents are flocking to the great outdoors for a sense of normalcy. Trailheads in Albuquerque the past two weeks appear to be drawing large numbers of people.

Everyone is keeping social distance, and you dont see people in groups of five or more. But there are just tons of people, said Glenn Maxwell, a retired Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputy who was getting set for a bike ride on the Paseo del Bosque Trail from the Alameda Open Space parking lot Wednesday afternoon. Theyve got to get out and feel normal about something.

And it makes sense, Maxwell said.

His career in law enforcement included being a critical incident management instructor, teaching police officers how to bring structure to such chaotic situations as a mass evacuation.

People look for those things that can bring normalcy to their lives, he said, and its no different in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. It disrupts peoples lives. So if they can get a little routine and structure, it helps. That makes them feel safe and thats why they keep coming.

A walk or jog  though no group hikes  is one of the few activities left for people in the wake of recent public health orders. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday instructed people across the state to stay home expect for outings necessary for health, safety and welfare.

A trip outside to walk or jog is still permissible, according to the Department of Healths website. But a packed parking lot or a crowded narrow trail could allow the virus to spread, state health officials say.

The order does not mean that people cant go outside at all. Its important for folks to get fresh air and stretch their legs, walk their dogs. But you shouldnt go outside with a group of people. If you go somewhere to go outside and the parking lot is packed with folks, that is not social isolating. So stay home, said David Morgan, a spokesman for the Department of Health. If you were to go hiking on a trail that is narrow and would require you to get close to someone to pass them, the virus could be spread in that brief close encounter with someone. New Mexicans should stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary.

Fleeing doom and gloom

A parking lot by the Michael Emory trailhead, off Spain NE and east of Tramway, has been full at times since social distancing requirements started.

The foothills trails in Albuquerque connect to the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. Forest officials announced that while some of its developed recreation sites and bathrooms are closed, its lands are open to visitors for dispersed recreation.

The city of Albuquerque is waiving fees at some Open Space areas that require them, including the Elena Gallegos area in the foothills. Playgrounds are closed, but city parks remain open, according to the citys website.

While the citys trails are technically open, officials are asking people to visit them for exercise and then quickly return home, said Philip Clelland, a spokesman for the citys Parks and Recreation department. He said groups are limited to five people and social distancing is required.

Exercise and fresh air are important, but we are imploring people to comply with the (states) stay-at-home instructions as much as possible, he said.

In fact, there have been issues in New Mexico with too many visitors to some recreation areas.

State officials issued a statement Wednesday saying that several Native American pueblos have seen an influx in visitors to their recreation areas, potentially putting the communities at risk because of their limited health and public safety resources. At this time, pueblos are closed to the public, according to state officials.

While state roads remain open, we ask the traveling public not to get out of their vehicles on pueblo or reservation land, the Department of Transportation said in a news release. The stay-at-home advisory is in effect until April 10 and no trips to recreational sites in pueblo communities are allowed.

Inside Albuquerque city limits, the parking lot to access the bosque at Alameda around lunch on Wednesday was nearly full. Just outside the lot, Thalia and David Powell were eating on a shaded bench next to the paved bike path.

Were just looking for a place outside to eat and enjoy nature, Thalia said. You can get a little cabin fever not leaving the house.

And with many businesses closed or employees working from home, people have the time to take a hike.

Van and Mary Hartley were walking their dogs, Ali and Zoey, along a bosque trail Wednesday afternoon. Van, a salesman, is working from home, but he said business is slow, with many places shut down.

We come out for lunch and do a little walk. They say exercise helps build up your immunity, he said during his constitutional. It gets you away from television, and coronavirus doom and gloom.
As many as 140 Bhutanese nationals comprising mostly students were flown back to their country on Saturday in a special flight of the Royal Bhutan Airlines from here amid the national lockdown, airport officials said.

Chandigarh International Airport Limited provided all possible help in smooth operation of a Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) special flight on March 28, from Chandigarh to Paro (Bhutan), according to an official of CHIAL.

He said that the Bhutanese students were enrolled in various universities and colleges in and around Chandigarh.

After the nationwide lockdown was enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Bhutanese nationals were waiting to be flown out.

The evacuation plan was operationalised as per the standard operating procedures and by taking all necessary precautions for handling passengers," he said.

The special flight took off from the Chandigarh Airport in the afternoon. CISF, IAF, immigration authorities and Punjab police provided required support for smooth operation of the flight, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FILE PHOTO: Former Venezuelan intelligence chief Carvajal stands during his extradition hearing to U.S. in Madrid

By Angus Berwick and Matt Spetalnick

CARACAS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence unit, Hugo Carvajal, is discussing his possible surrender with U.S. authorities, three people familiar with the matter said on Saturday, after prosecutors charged him this week with drug trafficking alongside Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Carvajal, a former general and ally of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, has been in hiding since a Spanish court in November approved his extradition to the United States. It was unclear when or if he would surrender as the people said talks were ongoing.

One person familiar with the matter said U.S. authorities were in touch with Carvajal through a non-governmental intermediary trying to convince him to turn himself in, and there was a "50/50 chance" it would succeed.

Carvajal's lawyer in Spain, Maria Dolores Arguelles, said she was not aware of discussions over his surrender.

U.S. officials have long sought Carvajal because they believe, if he is willing to cooperate, that he could provide a treasure trove of information on the alleged drug activities of Maduro and his associates.

The U.S. State Department and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA declined to comment. The Justice Department did not return requests to comment. Spain's Justice Ministry declined to comment.

On Friday, DEA agents flew to Colombia to remand in custody retired Venezuelan general Cliver Alcala, three people familiar with the matter said, after he agreed to work with prosecutors who charged him in the same case.

The U.S. government on Thursday indicted Carvajal, Alcala, Maduro, and a dozen other current and former Venezuelan officials on charges of "narco-terrorism", the latest escalation of a pressure campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump administration to oust the socialist leader.

Attorney General William Barr accused Maduro and his associates of colluding with a dissident faction of the demobilized Colombian guerrilla group, the FARC, "to flood the United States with cocaine."

Story continues

Carvajal has repeatedly denied accusations he helped smuggle cocaine to the United States. During an extradition hearing in September, Carvajal said Washington was fabricating the drug trafficking charges to make him talk.

Since leaving Venezuela, Carvajal has denounced Maduro and given his support to opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has staked a rival claim to the Venezuelan presidency with U.S. support.

Carvajal was arrested by Spanish police in April 2019 at the request of U.S. authorities but Spain's High Court initially ruled that he should be released and his extradition request denied. The court reversed that decision in November.

(Reporting by Angus Berwick; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Clara-Laeila Laudette in Madrid; Editing by Sarah Kinosian and Daniel Wallis)
The Benue State Government has confirmed one positive case of Coronavirus, COVID-19.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who broke the news to journalists in Makurdi today after a meeting of the State Action Committee on COVID  19, said the index case, one Susan Okpe returned from the United Kingdom, a few days ago.

The Governor stated that the blood sample of the affected lady was taken to Abuja alongside others and tested for the virus at the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, stressing that the other suspects tested negative.

While advising against stigmatization, he noted that about eight contacts were being observed, pointing out that staff of the facility where the patient went for medical attention would also be isolated and monitored for the required number of days.

The Governor said as part of proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the state, major markets would be closed from Monday, 30th March 2020, and hinted the possibility of closing roads linking Benue and other states in the days to come.

Governor Ortom stated however that shops and medical stores would be open to the public with hand sanitisers placed at strategic entry points to the shops for use by customers.

He reiterated the ban on social gatherings such as funerals, weddings, Church as well as Mosque activities, urging Christians and Muslims to worship at home until the situation improves.

The Governor advised Benue people, in general, to stay at home as the safest measure against contracting the virus, adding that visits of all kinds, especially by those living outside the state, should be discouraged.

According to the Governor, Six ambulances had been made available for quick response to suspected cases of COVID  19 across the three senatorial zones of the state.
More behind the cutWill humans go back to handshakes and hugging? Sara thinks of telling her kids a long ago story. Sunny is anemic so her hands are always cold and she never liked it. Meghan says that its a sign of universal respect, but in Japan they bow, so if it goes away, then ok. Sara jokes about curtsey-ing.Mayors in Italy /plays clip/ threaten to send police, use flamethrowers, scream, etc. Sara tells story about coming across someone in public not following guidelines. If youre out enough to see what others are doing, then what are you doing out. Meghan talks about people intentionally licking and coughing, they should go to jail, it should be a crime. Sunny says people are being arrested under terrorism laws. Its your civic duty to call out people not socially distancing. Sara is afraid to cause a confrontation. Meghan talks more about stupid people doing stupid things.Lisa Ling joins to talk about Racist in Chief. Says they shuttle their kids between one grandmas house to another grandmas house. Kids go from driving her nuts to her cherishing every moment. Says this will be read about in history books. Sara mentions LL insta post about T45 China racism. LL explains her perspective, felt he was deflecting attention away from his incompetence. Sunny asks more about the Asian-American fallout from his racist rhetoric. LL tells stories about her friends and their kids being taunted and harassed. National crisis hotline has shown a significant increase from the community since his remarks. Meghan talks about Chinese government, asks LL thoughts about their handling it. LL doesnt have any love or affection for Chinese government, thinks their actions are indefensible. The doctor being arrested (and subsequently died) was unconscionable. Diverts back to T45 calling it a hoax. Not taken it seriously until Americans started dying. LL says we can blame Chinese govt for withholding info but how will that change things. America has a crisis we need to address here and now. At this point we should be asking for help now that China cases have subsided whereas America is epicenter.Whoopi says weve known since January. We can blame Chinese govt but we can blame American govt too. LL says press was reporting it but T45 was gaslighting. Says health care workers were overwhelmed. She was getting comments from people who are desperate for PPE. Goes on rant about how bad it is. LL husband is a doctor, how is he holding up. LL says he doesnt practice anymore, he works in biotech, but shares info he gets from his medical colleagues. LL doesnt like that each state is handling things differently instead of a federal lockdown, while T45 wants to reopen by Easter. LL talks about South Korea. The way its going now, well never get it under control, prolonged for no reason.Jason and wife Jenny talk about being in lockdown with their two young kids. They were in the apartment in NYC, was reluctant to leave, then friends offered them to come stay in their home on Long Island. Has a backyard for boys. Then NYC neighbor tested positive, so they went to that house. Meghan loves JM insta stories. JM wants her poodle mix dog to take some of the responsibility. Worries about all the mom-shaming that will come. JB is eating his way through it, mom trolled him for gaining weight. Covid19 pounds heavier, his mom said time for new spanx. His spanx undershirt is in his quarantine survival kit. JM says its not man spanx its a women spanx but he wears it anyway. Sometimes JM wonders how great it would be if JB was quarantining with his tv family. JM likes being able to text everyone shes been trying to dodge and then pretend to plan things that cant happen.Lots of peoples milestone days are getting derailed. Guy turns 21, parents set up makeshift club. Plays clip. People are being creative. Plays another clip about a child dance parade. Panel gives happy birthday shout outs to their family and friends.Source links are below each video or section
The day after Donald Trump was elected in November 2016, Laila Lalamis daughter asked her a question: He doesnt have to make us leave, right?

Lalami, a Moroccan American who lives in Los Angeles, has been a citizen for decades; she assured her daughter that it would not happen. In reality, she wasnt sure.

Every time I have thought about this conversationand I have thought about it dozens of times, in my sleepless nights since the electionI have felt less certain, she writes in her new essay collection, Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America (Doubleday, Apr.).

Lalami has published four novels, and this is her first nonfiction book. The original essays draw on the themes of identity and politics that she has written about for outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, the Nation, and the New York Times.

In the book, Lalami tackles what it means to be an immigrant in Americaone whose paperwork states that she is a citizen but whose daily life sometimes makes her feel as though she doesnt belong. With essays like Assimilation, Borders, and Inheritance, the book takes a deep dive into the notion that, despite the ideals of Americas founders and Thomas Jeffersons promise that all men are created equal, all American citizens are not treated equally.

Born in 1968 in Rabat, Morocco, Lalami grew up speaking Moroccan Arabic and later learned standard Arabic and French. She moved to the U.S. 25 years ago to complete a doctoral degree in linguistics, received her citizenship in 2000, and is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of California at Riverside. Talking via Skype from her home in Los Angeles, her tight dark curls resting on her shoulders, she is animated, gesturing with her hands, surrounded by books in her office.

Lalami notes she has always felt, to a degree, that shes living in a gray area, culturally. This gray life of mine is not unique.... Most of the time, gray lives go unnoticed, she writes. Its only when some kind of political event or violent act erupts that gray lives become targets. She adds that her time in the U.S. has been wonderful in many ways, but shes never been entirely secure or comfortable here.

Lalami says she feels that way because she has experienced being treated as what she calls a conditional citizen. The term comes up throughout the essays, taking shape in ways big and small: she writes about those who are policed and punished more than others, as well as those who are more likely to be expatriated and denaturalized.

Being considered a citizen, Lalami says, is something most people take for granted. The idea of citizenship is below the surfaceits not something that you ever think about in your everyday life, she explains. You have breakfast with your family, you go to work, you do your thing, you come home, you rest and watch TV or read a book or whatever. It is something you become conscious of under specific circumstances.

For Lalami, the idea of conditional citizenship began crystallizing in recent years, after interactions shes had with various government officials. You become conscious of it when youre crossing the border, because then youre sorted by nationalitythis line for E.U. nationals, this line for U.S. nationals, she says. A border agent at the Los Angeles International Airport once asked her husband, who traveled with her, How many camels did you have to trade in for her?

Thats when the idea of conditionality emergesthis feeling that youre not really American if you dont support what the government is doing, Lalami explains. If you dont support the troops, if you dont agree with how things are being done. Everything that distinguishes you from others becomes suspicious.

Being an Arab American after 9/11 has also impacted Lalamis understanding of her place in this country. Bushs message of with-us-or-against-us carried the implication that one could not be Arab and American, or Muslim and American, unless one was on the side of the United States in its military fights, she writes in Allegiance.

In Faith, Lalami highlights her discomfort with being regularly burdened with having to educate white Americans about topics that they assume shes an expert on because of the color of her skin, or her religion. As we talk about the essay, she offers an example: when she was employed at the Getty Research Institute in the late 90s, a colleague who worked on her floor asked her out to lunch. The reason? He said he had questions about the Middle East.

Lalami laughs. Im not from the Middle East! she says. Im from North Africa! And even if I was from the Middle East region, what is the question? Is it about politics? Culture? Can you imagine someone approaching you saying they want to have lunch because they have questions about Texas?

Citizenship, in Lalamis view, brings with it a responsibility to learn about ones country and its relationship to others. When people refuse to do this work, she says, they shirk their responsibilities as citizens. Being a good citizen is more of an active thing than just a state of being: its a relationshipand like every relationship, it involves effort and it involves nurturing and it involves work.

Still, Lalami acknowledges the importance of making an effort to learn. People who ask are at least curious and trying to learn, she says. And especially as an educator, that is something that I have a deep love for. I really do think that people can change their minds. I dont think that they can change their minds based on reading about politics in the newspaper or listening to a politician or any of that. I think that they change their mindssometimes without realizing itwhen they hear another persons story.

In the end, Lalami wrote Conditional Citizens for her daughter. The most important role I have is with my familymy husband and my child, she says. When you think about the grand scheme of things, all of this is going to go away. The only thing thats going to last is the love that you have for one another.

Hope Reese is a journalist, currently living in Budapest, who contributes to JSTOR Daily, Longreads, Undark, Vice, Vox, and other publications.
Operation Namaste: The Indian Armys war against coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 28: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane launched an initiative christened 'Operation Namaste' to insulate the 1.3 million strong force from coronavirus infection and extend all possible assistance to the government in containing the pandemic. He also asked all Army personnel to take prescribed precautions against the virus and assured soldiers and officers deployed along borders with Pakistan and China that special care is being taken of their families in the wake of the pandemic.

"I would request everyone to take care of themselves and their families. Your safety is my first responsibility," the Army Chief said.

"I want to assure all the soldiers posted on the border that we will take special care of your families. We will achieve success in the 'Operation Namaste'," he told reporters.

General Naravane also conveyed to the families of the soldiers guarding India's borders with Pakistan and China that the Army is taking care of its personnel serving the country in this difficult time.

Coronavirus outbreak: Is Uttar Pradesh govt seeking revenge on CAA protesters during pandemic?

"As the Army Chief, it is my priority to protect my force. We all will have to stay away from this disease. We will be able to serve the nation when we are away from the disease," he said.

He said that social distancing among the Army personnel may not be possible to implement in key formations due tactical and operational reasons.

Because of this, he said it was important for Army personnel to keep themselves safe and fit.

Under 'Operation Namaste', the Army has issued series of directives to all its bases to insulate the force from the coronavirus. The Army headquarters issued a number of advisories in the last few weeks to deal with the situation.

#Stayathome and send us your selfie

"To fight this problem (coronavirus), the government has taken several special steps. In this fight, it is our duty to help the government and civil administration," the Army Chief said.

The Army has already set up command-wise helpline as part of measures to deal with any possible eventualities arising out of the pandemic.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 28, 2020, 8:50 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 17:11:02|Editor: huaxia

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A Palestinian worker makes plastic bags customized for hospitals to discard medical waste at the Al-ameer factory in the West Bank city of Hebron, on March 28, 2020. A Palestinian official announced on Saturday that six new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the West Bank, bringing the total number of cases in the Palestinian territories to 97 cases. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH/GAZA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official announced on Saturday that six new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the West Bank, bringing the total number of cases in the Palestinian territories to 97 cases.

The six new cases are Palestinians from the village of Irtas in the district of Bethlehem and the villages of Hezma and Qubaiba near Jerusalem, Ibrahim Melhem, spokesman of the Palestinian government told a news briefing in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

He said 18 cases had recovered and more recovering cases are expected within the coming days.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health earlier announced that it started to open new isolated quarantine centers in each West Bank district to make it easy for discovering more new infections.

The Palestinian government emergency committee said that it shut down the entrances of Artas in the district of Bethlehem after two cases infected with the virus were recorded.

Kammel Humeid, governor of Bethlehem canceled all permissions and facilitations that were provided to the citizens for a free movement, adding that these measures aim at preventing the spread of the virus in the entire district.

In Gaza, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that it decided to intensify the laboratory surveillance for the hosted cases in the quarantine centers.

Ashraf al-Qedra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza told an earlier news briefing that the endless Israeli blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than 13 years "is threatening the medical sector in the enclave which lacks the needed medical equipment to combat the virus."

He called on international donors to support the medical sector in the Gaza Strip.
March 28 : Shakespeare wrote 'King Lear' during the plague quarantine. This 21 days lockdown will surely be the best time for the creative people to brain storm and come up with brilliant concept and ideas for movies. Following the legacy, Milap Zaveri has already cracked the plot of the third instalment of the famous movie SatyamevaJayate.

Chilling at home and Listening to a song from #SatyamevaJayate2 composed by @ArkoPravo19 written by @manojmuntashir  What a melody. What lyrics. Deshbhakti ka ultimate song they have given us!  And after the epic #TeriMitti thats not easy to do! But they have rocked   Milap (@zmilap) March 27, 2020

He tweeted, "Chilling at him and listening to a song from #SatyamevaJayate2 composed by @ArkoPravo19 written by @manojmuntashir. What a melody. What Lyrics. Deshbhakti ka ultimate song they have given us! And after the epic #TeriMitti that's not easy to do! But they have rocked!

Ghar baithne ka nateeja- Have cracked the plot of #SatyamevaJayate3 also!!!  What say @TheJohnAbraham lets shoot it back to back along with #SatyamevaJayate2 after the world resets and after we beat this virus!   Milap (@zmilap) March 27, 2020

He shared the news of Satyameva Jayate 3 with another tweet, "Ghar baithne ka nateeja - Have cracked the plot of #SatyamevaJayate3 also!! What say @TheJohnAbraham lets's shoot it back to back along with #SatyamevaJayate 2 after the world resets and after we beat this virus

The first instalment of Satyameva Jayate directed by Milan Miap Zaveri was released in the year 2018 starring John Abraham and Manoj Vajpayee in lead roles.

The second instalment of the film 'Satyameva Jayate 2' stars John Abraham and Divya Khosla Kumar as the leads. Film is based on the fight against injustice and misuse of power. Film marks the comeback of Divya Khosla Kumar to the big screen after a big gap. She was last seen in Anil Sharma's 'Ab tumhare hawale watan saathiyo' which was released in the year 2004.

Satyameva Jayate 2 is slated to release on 2nd October 2020.
(Natural News) As the number of coronavirus patients around the world blows past 600,000, governments around the world are turning to invasive surveillance methods to track whether or not their citizens are abiding by lockdown rules. The U.K.s privacy watchdog has given the government the green light to use persona data from peoples mobile phones to track their behavior should it be necessary to do so to help fight the outbreak.

Reports surfaced last week that the U.K. government was in talks with mobile phone companies to potentially use anonymous location and usage data to create movement maps, with a 12 to 24-hour delay, find out of the public is following lockdown rules. Now, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has stated that doing so would be legal as long as it would be in the public interest and that safeguards for data are in place.

The important thing is that data protection is not a barrier to sharing data, said an ICO spokeswoman. Public bodies may require additional collection and sharing of personal data to protect against serious threats to public health. Data protection law enables the data sharing in the public interest and provides the safeguards for data that the public would expect.

A non-departmental independent body that directly reports to the Houses of Parliament, the ICO is the regulator in charge of dealing with data protection and privacy laws throughout the United Kingdom.

Data protection and electronic communication laws dont stop the government

The ICO said earlier this month that data protection laws did not stop the government, the National Health Service (NHS) or any other health professionals from sending public health messages to people by phone, text or email. While this didnt raise any red flag at first, British privacy campaigners were soon alarmed after the governments potential mobile phone monitoring plan came to light.

Last week, reports came out that the U.K. government was in talks with British Telecom (BT), owner of U.K. mobile operator and internet provider EE, about revealing mobile phone location data to see if people were following social distancing measures. (Related: Hospitals in London unable to cope due to SURGE in coronavirus cases.)

We are talking with the government about a number of areas in which we may be able to assist with the national public health effort, stated a BT spokesperson.

As always, we are mindful of the privacy of our customers, while making sure we do everything that might help the medical authorities in the fight against coronavirus, the spokesperson added.

Prior to this, Sky News had previously stated in a now-deleted report that the U.K. government had asked another telecommunications services provider, O2, to reveal the location data of their users. A spokesperson from O2 has since stated that the reports were not true and not representative of how all phone networks are being asked to help the government.

The O2 spokesperson, however, did reveal that the companies were only in talks with the government about revealing data but that this had not happened yet. He admitted that O2 had the ability to provide location data, but that it would only relate to broad mass movements and never an individuals data.

We are fully engaged in helping in the fight against COVID-19. Besides zero-rating [free] access to NHS and other support websites, we were asked along with other mobile operators to support those who are working tirelessly to map and control the spread of coronavirus in the U.K., said the O2 spokesman.

Using our mobile technology, we have the potential to build models that help to predict broadly how the virus might move, he added. This would in no way be able to identify or map individuals and operates within strict privacy guidelines.

Privacy campaigners concerned

The ICOs statement has raised concerns among British privacy campaigners. These individuals have said that people should be alerted if their personal data is being used and that there should be judicial oversight over the whole thing. More importantly, they said that the need to be sunset provisions included in it to make sure that the data gathering cannot become a permanent tactic.

Inevitably, there are caveats to producing this sort of technology, and limitations. Privacy is a big one, stated Prof. Jon Crowcroft, Turing Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. Any app system and accompanying database must be designed with comprehensive, user-centric privacy policies built-in.

The campaigners fear that the U.K. could implement surveillance measures similar to those already deployed in other countries. Countries such as South Korea and Israel are already using mobile data to track the movements of patients with the coronavirus.

U.K. Health and Social Care Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt has already praised the countries that have been using mobile data in this way. This, and the fact that Hunt also asked the U.K. governments chief scientific adviser if that would be a useful thing to do over there, isnt easing the privacy campaigners fears.

Sources include:

TheGuardian.com 1

ICO.org.uk

TheSun.co.uk

Metro.co.uk

TheGuardian.com 2

TheGuardian.com 3
New Offerings Available to Existing Medtronic Care Management Services Customers as well as New Hospital Systems, Health Plans and Employers

DUBLIN, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medtronic plc (MDT), the global leader in medical technology, today announced its Medtronic Care Management Services (MCMS) business is launching two new solutions designed to help assess, monitor, and triage support for patients who may be concerned about COVID-19 and their respiratory symptoms. It has already launched its new Respiratory Infectious Disease Health Check to existing MCMS customers, and it is now launching a new COVID-19 Virtual Care Evaluation and Monitoring solution available to U.S. health systems, health plans and employers.

With the rapid spread of COVID-19, we know that alternative approaches to screening, disease monitoring, and patient education are urgently needed to reduce additional population exposure to the virus and ease the burden on health care providers and facilities. Its easy to understand why staying in self-quarantine and monitoring your own symptoms is challenging. Unless you consult a medical professional, its hard to know when your symptoms warrant seeking medical care, said Sheri Dodd, vice president and general manager of MCMS. Using technology for self-reported symptom monitoring may play an important role in slowing the spread of the disease and helping escalate patient needs to their provider when appropriate.

The Respiratory Infectious Disease Health Check for existing MCMS customers is an included add-on to all current care management programs. The Respiratory Infectious Disease Health Check helps patients with chronic, co-morbid health conditions who are at the highest risk for complications or mortality associated with COVID-19 track their respiratory infectious disease symptoms and body temperature through daily health checks. The program reacts dynamically during the health check to present symptom questions based on the patients previous responses, and provides patient education to encourage and support self-care. Data is aggregated for clinician review and action if additional intervention is needed.

Story continues

For health systems, health plans and other employers new to MCMS programs, the company is launching a stand-alone assessment and monitoring service. The COVID-19 Virtual Care Evaluation and Monitoring solution uses a virtual assistant to evaluate patients through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline-based survey for COVID-19 symptoms. If the users symptoms warrant it, the solution connects them to the MCMS nurse command center, where registered nurses review the patients data and either identify recommendations or the need for additional care assessment, based on the CDC guidelines. This could include a recommendation to continue monitoring symptoms at home, or to contact a healthcare provider directly.

True to the Medtronic Mission, the health and safety of our customers, their patients, and our employees remains our highest priority as we address this unprecedented outbreak, says John Liddicoat, M.D., executive vice president and president, Medtronic Americas Region. Around the world, we are in ongoing communication with customers, suppliers, and governments to prioritize needs to the best of our ability. These solutions aim to help manage unnecessary exposures, minimize burden on the health care system, and escalate the most seriously ill patients for immediate care.

About Medtronic Care Management Services (MCMS)

Medtronic Care Management Services ( www.medtronic.com/caremanagementservices ) offers remote patient monitoring that uses a combination of care management services, patient engagement solutions, and data analytics and reporting. MCMS helps health plans, ACOs, IDNs, and home health agencies focus their care on at-risk patients with actionable insights. The business remote patient monitoring solutions are designed to scale and integrated into customers population health and care management efforts  covering the diverse needs of patients with complex, chronic, co-morbid health conditions.

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc ( www.medtronic.com ), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the worlds largest medical technology, services and solutions companies  alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take health care Further, Together.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the launch and market acceptance of new solutions, the impact of COVID-19 on our business or operations, competitive factors, difficulties and delays inherent in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of medical products, government regulation and general economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties described in the Companys periodic reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words, such as anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, looking ahead, may, plan, possible, potential, project, should, will, and similar words or expressions, the negative or plural of such words or expressions and other comparable terminology. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Medtronic does not undertakes to update its forward-looking statements or any of the information contained in this press release, including to reflect future events or circumstances.

-end-





Laura Griffith

Public Relations

+1-763-505-5598

Ryan Weispfenning

Investor Relations

+1-763-505-4626
A new picture posted by actor Radhika Apte, in which she can be seen sitting in a hospital, wearing a mask, has her fans worried. The actor reassured everyone that she was there just for a routine checkup, and the visit wasnt Covid-19 related.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, Radhika had written, Hospital visit! #notforcovid19 #nothingtoworry #alliswell #safeandquarantined. The picture shows her in a waiting room, wearing a mask. The post has been liked by over 100000 people.

Take care, wrote several fans in the comments section. Stay safe, wrote another. Radhika recently travelled from her film set to the UK, where she stays partially with her husband, musician Benedict Taylor.

Shed detailed her travel experience in an Instagram post recently. Radhika wrote, For all the many msgs I received from friends and colleagues with concern and curiosity. Im back in London safely. There was no issue at immigration. It was rather empty and had a wonderful chat with them! The Heathrow express was literally empty and barely anyone at Paddington either. Thats all for now! Thank you for all msgs xx.

Also read: Radhika Apte details experience of travelling from India to UK amid coronavirus: Officers had no information on UK closing borders

Global coronavirus cases have skyrocketed past 500000, with close to 30000 deaths. India has reported over 800 cases, and is bracing for the third stage of contagion amid a nationwide lockdown.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about the coronavirus on March 12 in Wilmington, Del. (Associated Press)

To the editor: Former Vice President Joe Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has become irrelevant in today's battle against the coronavirus.

President Trump has a daily soap box on which everyone can watch him make his televised updates. Although they are filled with lies and wishful thinking, many of us watch him and wonder, where is Biden? He should be countering Trump forcefully, but he is not.

Having a makeshift studio in his home from which he can occasionally appear on television is a wonderful idea, but unless we see announcements and coverage of his presentations, it is all meaningless.

Meanwhile, Trump is looking presidential.

Don Evans, Canoga Park

..

To the editor: Poor Joe Biden! He complains that he no longer wields the power of a senator, cannot catch a break from media and is losing campaign contributions.

It's time for him to wake up and realize there's still this other candidate who is a sitting U.S. senator, whose issues are healthcare reform and Wall Street, but has too much integrity to politicize our national tragedy.

Instead, Sen. Bernie Sanders is urging his supporters to send their campaign donations to the appropriate charities that can help in the battle against the coronavirus.

Jim McAuley, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: If Biden wants to become relevant again, he only needs one person on his team  Michelle Obama for vice president.

Don't make a mountain out of a molehill, Joe. The solution has been staring you in the face: Biden-Obama 2020.

Dana Wall, Manhattan Beach
Lisa and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli welcomed their daughter Francesca Vera Alice on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old radio host has shared an adorable first picture of them together as a family-of-five, after Lisa returned from the hospital with the newborn on Saturday.

In the sweet Instagram post, Wippa and Lisa cosied up on the couch with their three children, Theodore, four, Jack, three and Francesca.

Baby joy! Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli shared the first family photo with his newborn baby daughter Francesca Vera Alice on Saturday

'When two girls crash your boys house party. So glad theyre home. Love,' the father-of-three wrote.

A host of celebrities commented on the photo to send their well wishes, including Lisa Wilkinson, Carrie Bickmore, and Richard Wilkins.

While still at the hospital earlier this week, Lisa shared a sweet video of Francesca during a feed and other candid photographs from the delivery room.

Adorable: Lisa Wipfli doted on newborn daughter Francesca on Thursday in hospital and shared candid photos from the delivery room

In the clip, Lisa enjoyed a face mask and relaxed in a pair of black pyjamas as she held her tiny tot, who was wrapped up in a white blanket.

She also shared a picture of Wippa with a camera around his neck and in scrubs, writing: 'This is the face of a focused dad who means business.'

The loved-up couple announced the birth on social media on Wednesday, welcoming Francesca to 'the line-up'.

Family album: The brunette also shared pictures from the delivery room, shortly before she gave birth. She shared a picture of Wippa, 40, with a camera around his neck and in scrubs

Hello little one: 'Our family is complete. Welcome to the line up,' Michael, 40, gushed

'Our family is complete. Welcome to the line up,' Michael, 40, gushed.

He added: 'Your team consists of a beautiful loving mum who has carried you for nine months, two completely out of control bear cubs at home and a Dad who occasionally gets it right.'

'But youll fit in just perfectly. We couldnt be more in love,' he concluded the post, before tagging his wife and called her 'amazing'.
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Linkedin Cecile Mantovani (Reuters) Le Locle, Switzerland  Sat, March 28, 2020 15:03 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e03e47 2 People coronavirus,COVID-19,Survivor,Gertrude-Fatton Free

A 95-year-old Swiss woman was back home and online with her 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchidren on Friday after recovering from a week in intensive care with COVID-19.

Gertrude Fatton told Reuters she had been treated in an isolation room and at one point refused to be intubated to help her breathing.

"Not at my age, don't intubate me. I have lived my life and I told them 'Let me go peacefully'."

After a week of treatment with antibiotics and the malaria medicine chloroquine, she said was now happy to be back home in the western French-speaking canton of Neuchatel with her cat and her family.

"I hope to get back enough strength to live a bit longer. I have grandchildren, great-grandchildren, I would like to see and hear them. I chat with them over internet, on my iPad."

Fatton said she had been sick in bed at home in the town of Le Locle for a week before developing breathing problems. An ambulance rushed her to hospital in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Read also: 'Don't panic' says US woman who recovered from coronavirus

"They took my blood and my blood pressure. They put antibiotics directly in my veins three times a day. It was very difficult but it was ok," she said.

"I wasn't afraid of dying, no. Not at my age, 95 after all, it's time to go. But I didn't think I was going to die, absolutely not. I was not afraid," she said.

Fatton, who uses a walker, told Reuters she had been healthy all her life, though she took blood pressure medicine and occasional cough syrup for bronchitis.

Her daughter Jacqueline Fatton recalled: "When the doctor called to tell me that the oxygen in her blood was dropping and they had 24 hours to stop it, I was really, really afraid and thought I would lose her that night.

"The next day the doctors said 'we are going to go for it and try all the medicines that we can'... By the third day, the oxygen was back up and the drugs worked extremely well.

"I could call twice a day with the cell phone. When I saw that she could speak to me without coughing much, I knew that we had won," Jacqueline said.

The Swiss death toll from the coronavirus reached 197 people on Friday and the number of cases rose to 12,161, the health ministry said.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @RushReads)

Scientists in the UK are now asking for 500 healthy individuals between the age of 18 and 55 to test a potential vaccine for COVID-19, dubbed ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Read More: NHS Might Allow Two Coronavirus Patients to Use the Same Ventilator as it Takes Months to Bring In Thousands of the Machines

Is This Real or Just Another Hoax?

As medical experts and scientists all over the world race to fight and find the cure for the deadly coronavirus pandemic, this may be one of the solutions for it since the testing was fast-tracked to combat COVID-19, the sickness brought by the coronavirus.

The name of this vaccine is called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and scientists believe that it will be many weeks before it will be ready for mass production.

In the meantime, however, they are calling for over 500 people to help them test the effectiveness of the vaccine to make sure that it is indeed legit and will bring a stop to this global pandemic.

The vaccine has already undergone clinical and preliminary animal tests; hence now they are moving to the next logical step, which is us humans itself.

What Happens to the People Tested for the Study?

The people who will participate in the study will be split into two groups. One group will be injected with the real "vaccine," while the other group will be injected with nothing really, maybe just sterile water. The patients will not know which one they received.

Recruitment for the study is already underway; the problem would be that the patients would not be able to receive the vaccination until several weeks.

Scientists are using this time to refine and enhance the vaccine, and it is currently being developed at the Public Health England or PHE laboratory at Porton Down, located near Salisbury.

Read More: Coronavirus Update: Could Mothers Pass the Virus to Their Unborn Babies? Studies Think So

The vaccine itself is being manufactured inside the university campus. The vaccine has been in development since January, in which the World Health Organization reported the first-ever case of the coronavirus.

Professor Adrian Hill, who is the Director of Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, said: "The Oxford team had exceptional experience of a rapid vaccine response, such as to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.

'This is an even greater challenge. Vaccines are being designed from scratch and progressed at an unprecedented rate.

'The upcoming trial will be critical for assessing the feasibility of vaccination against COVID-19 and could lead to early deployment.'

Scientists do Still Have a Warning for You

This trial for the vaccination has the full support of scientific and ethical approvals. However, some scientists do acknowledge there might still be a risk because of the escalated fast-tracking of the vaccine given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, making its way towards our globe.

This will not deter the benefits of creating an effective vaccine; however, since the coronavirus has infected as of the time of writing, it affected more than half a million people and took away the lives of almost 30,000 individuals worldwide.

Read More: Justice Denied! Healthcare Workers Refuse to Treat Teenager Who Died of Coronavirus Because of Health Insurance

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has offered to provide free food at his restaurant in Lahore for the unemployed people amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Around 1200 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported so far in Pakistan while nine people have lost their lives.

Dar runs a restaurant under the name 'Dar's Delighto' and he has announced that people, who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic, can have their meals at his restaurant.

"Coronavirus has spread all over the world and its effects are now being seen in Pakistan as well," Dar in a video message.

"However, without our support, our government cannot control this. I request all people to follow the instructions as directed by the government.

"During this lockdown, people have become jobless. I own a restaurant named Dar's Delighto on Pia Road in Lahore. People who don't have a job now, can come there and eat food for free," added the 51-year-old Dar, who has officiated in 386 international matches, the most by anyone.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has also donating disinfectant soap, material and food to the needy in the country.

Former speedster Shoaib Akhtar also urged people to help each other rising above religion and economic status during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Akhtar said it is time for people to think about others, "time to be a human, not Hindu, Muslim. People will have to help each other, collect funds."
YPSILANTI, MI  Eastern Michigan University said in a statement Saturday that an instructor has tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the statement, which cited the Washtenaw County Health Department, the instructors last day on campus was March 16 and did not develop symptoms until March 19. EMU last held in-person classes March 11 before moving to online classes for the rest of the semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eastern Michigan University extends online classes, plans financial adjustments for students who have moved out

No personal details or further information about the instructor is being released, the statement said.

The statement said the health department is following its protocol of tracking close contacts of the instructor. Those people will be contacted separately and advised by the health department to self-quarantine or take other actions, if necessary, the statement said.

EMU announced earlier this week that a student tested positive for COVID-19. The student has not attended classes since March 5 and they lived off-campus, EMU said.

Eastern Michigan University student tests positive for coronavirus

There was no indication the student had the disease at any point while on campus, EMU said. Health department officials told EMU the student would not have been at risk of exposing others until March 19, and there was no indication of visits to campus since in-person classes ended March 11.

The student has been hospitalized.

As this disease spreads, it is increasingly likely that many of us will at some point know of a family member, friend or associate who has been affected, said EMU President James Smith in the March 25 statement. Our thoughts and support are with all of those who are fighting this disease, those family members who are worried about their loved ones, and also with our health, medical and first responder communities who are on the front lines every day.

On Friday, Western Michigan University announced that three of its students have tested positive for coronavirus.

MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS:

Saturday, March 28: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Eastern Michigan University postpones commencement, encourages students to go home

Trump approves Michigan disaster declaration; Whitmer says more supplies on the way in coronavirus fight

Doctors on front lines of Michigans coronavirus crisis: It seems like the sky is falling

Trump takes another dig at Gov. Whitmer as coronavirus crisis deepens
Leftism started creeping into American colleges and universities beginning in the 1930s. In the 1960s, it blossomed into the Free Speech and Anti-War movements. By the 1990s, it had morphed into censorious political correctness. And in the 2000s, America's institutions of higher education had turned into hard-left organizations with huge administrative staffs, most of whom seemingly were dedicated to ensuring that students graduated directly into the arms of the Democrat Party.

This post isn't the place for "chapter and verse" evidence of the overall leftism in academia. The old Encyclopedia Britannica probably wouldn't be long enough. However, here are a few data points to support the claim that there's a leftist tilt in academia.

First, Republican are almost extinct on campuses:

An extensive study of 8,688 tenure-track professors at 51 of the 66 top-ranked liberal arts colleges in the U.S. published by the National Association of Scholars found that the ratio of faculty members registered as Democrats compared to those registered Republican is now a stunning 10.4 to 1. If two military colleges that are technically described as "liberal arts colleges" are removed from the calculations, the ratio is 12.7 to 1.

Second, here are just a few of the latest headlines about higher ed, all from Campus Reform:

Because of the coronavirus, colleges and universities have sent their students home. Most will finish the semester by holding their classes online.

Charlie Kirk, the dynamo who founded Turning Point USA, the largest conservative group on American campuses, sees an opportunity. He's asked college students to capture video of indoctrination in their online lessons:

To all college students who have their professors switching to online classes:



Please share any and ALL videos of blatant indoctrination with @TPUSA at https://t.co/EdiOJ0H5C4



Now is the time to document & expose the radicalism that has been infecting our schools



Transparency!  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 22, 2020

The pushback on Twitter was immediate, with negative responses ranging from personal insults against Kirk (the left's elitist snobbery is stunning) to insults against Trump-supporters to people comparing Kirk's tactics to Maoism.

On the positive side, people noted that this would finally give parents a chance to see what they're paying for, said they see indoctrination in their children's online content, and applauded the idea of transparency.

The most fascinating responses came from academics themselves, who are genuinely worried that their days of indoctrinating, instead of educating, are over. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Some scholars say they're taking precautions. Dylan Bugden, an assistant professor of sociology at Washington State University, said that after his institution announced it would pivot to online instruction, he decided he would not record lectures. To teach, he'd instead post presentation slides, short quizzes, activities, and an exam, and he'd be available for office hours. "I find it difficult to teach without referring to important events and issues in the world," Bugden explained in an email. "Doing so is a powerful way to help students see that what we learn in class is not just abstract or a mere intellectual exercise, but matters for the things they and their peers care about."

Bugden's position sounds reasonable on its face, but if you read on, you learn that Bugden teaches about climate change, a leftist notion, and students have already accused him of indoctrinating them:

Unfortunately, he said, that approach opens faculty members  especially women and people of color  to attack. Bugden teaches about such environmental issues as climate change and population growth, and he says he has received course evaluations in which students tell him to leave politics out of his material. His political views aren't a secret, and the likelihood of an online campaign against him seems low, Bugden said. "But the risk is so severe that it's simply not worth it."

Because parents and taxpayers are paying for higher education, Kirk is right that they should have a chance to see what academics such as Bugden are doing. At a guess, roughly half the population, especially taxpayers, will find it illuminating to see where their money is going.

If nothing else, the coronavirus is proving to be clarifying, whether about the failure of socialized medicine, the dangers of depending on China for just about anything, or the toxic leftism that infuses American higher education.
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Manipur Speaker Y Khemchand Singh



disqualified Congress MLA turned BJP lawmaker Thounaojam Shyamkumar from the state Assembly on Saturday, almost three years after the member's disqualification was sought under the anti-defection law.

Shyamkumar, who was removed from the state cabinet by the Supreme Court on March 18, had offered to resign from the Assembly on Thursday, but the speaker did not accept it.

On Saturday, pronouncing his judgement, Khemchand said Shyamkumar "ceases to be a member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly with immediate effect till the expiry of the term of this 11th Legislative Assembly of Manipur".

Shyamkumar's constituency, Andro, is now lying vacant, Assembly Secretary M Ramani Devi said in a notification following his disqualification.

Governor Najma Heptulla on Saturday accepted the resignation of Shyamkumar as the minister for housing and urban development, town planning, forest and environment, horticulture and soil conservation, as per the recommendation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Raj Bhavan sources said.

The polls for 60 seats of the Manipur Assembly were held in March 2017 in which the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats and BJP came second with 21.

However, a BJP-led government was sworn in and Shyamkumar, a Congress MLA, switched side and became a minister in the state government leading to the filing of several pleas in April 2017 with Speaker seeking his disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The top court had on January 21 taken note of inordinate delay in deciding 13 pleas for disqualification of lawmakers pending since April 2017 and had asked the Manipur assembly speaker to decide within four weeks the plea of a Congress leader seeking disqualification of Shyamkumar.

However, the speaker on March 17 appealed to the apex court for deferment of the matter till March 28 and said that by that time, there would definitely be a judgment on the disqualification applications by the speaker.

Then, in a rare move, the Supreme Court on March 18 invoked its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and ordered forthwith removal of Shyamkumar.

In a path-breaking ruling, the top court had also said parliament should "rethink" whether the speaker of a house should continue to have powers to disqualify lawmakers as such a functionary "belongs to a particular political party".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Living with COVID-19

There is nowhere you can go in Phuket without the COVID-19 coronavirus determining every aspect of your life, other than staying at home hoping not to become infected. Here is a reality check on what COVID-19 means in Phuket.

HealthCOVID-19Coronavirus

By The Phuket News

Saturday 28 March 2020, 10:00AM

Dr Thomas Lodi is a wellness expert who has been practicing medicine for over 30 years. He now heads The LifeCo wellness centre located between Nai Thon and Nai Yang beaches, just south of Phuket International Airport.

For the first 10 years of his medical career, Dr Lodi worked in conventional settings as an internal medicine specialist, urgent care physician and as an intensivist in ICU and CCU departments of various hospitals throughout the US.

Subsequently, Dr Lodi continued his search for more effective and less toxic therapies by training with alternative health experts in Japan, Europe, Mexico and the US. He is licensed as a Homeopathic Medical Doctor MD (H) in Arizona and as an Allopathic Medical Doctor in the State of New York.

In 2018, Dr Lodi was featured in the acclaimed docu-series The Truth about Cancer and recently hosted seminars at the H.E.A.T Anti-Aging conference in Bangkok. He is the Founder and Medical Director of Integrative Oncology and Internal Medicine at An Oasis of Healing Center in Arizona. He is also the Founder and Chief Medical Consultant for the Institute of Integrative Oncology, Singapore and Director of Integrative Oncology and Integrative Medicine at The Lifeco Wellness Center, Phuket.

Here we ask Dr Lodi the simple, but most pressing, questions about living with the threat of COVID-19 in Phuket.

What are the real dangers of COVID-19, the best we know right now?

Respiratory failure and cytokine storm (excessive immune responses that damage lungs). The two cell types to which this virus attaches are mucus cells and cilia cells in the lungs. These cells together keep the lungs clean mucus is secreted to trap particulate matter and the cilia beat rhythmically outward towards the mouth like a conveyor belt. With these cells non-functional, the lungs will accumulate everything from microorganisms, waste products, toxins from the environment and so on. Also, the immune system gets turned on full blast and causes system wide inflammation.

Who is primarily at risk?

The elderly over 65 and those with chronic illnesses and compromised immune systems.

What are the symptoms and how bad are they for most people?

The symptoms are a dry cough, shortness of breath, aches and pains, weakness, no appetite and, of course, fever.

Most people will not know they have it: 81% of cases symptoms are mild (lungs); 14% become severely ill; 4.7% become critically ill; and the fatality rate is 3.4 %. Of course these figures may change as we learn more about the virus.

How is COVID-19 contracted?

Fifty percent of infections are hand to face (mouth, nose, eyes). Also, the virus can be airborne in droplets from sneezing and coughing.

Phuket seems to be the only place where people who come into frequent contact with strangers are the only ones wearing face masks. Everyday people going about their daily lives do not. Should people wear face masks? Who should? Why?

If you are not sick or around people, there is no need to wear a mask. Here are the WHO recommendations:

If you are being self-isolated due to one of the following circumstances:

 You have travelled from high risk areas within the past 14 days; or

 You have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus;

then, you should use a surgical mask in the following circumstances:

 You need to leave your home for any reason and be in public areas;

 You are visiting a medical facility; or

 You have symptoms and other people are present in the same room as you.

 N95 masks filter out about 95% of all liquid or airborne particles.

People have expressed sincere concern about the fingerprint-scanning device at Immigration at the airport. Should people be concerned about this? What should people do about this, if anything?

They have hand sanitiser bottles next to the fingerprinting device. Use it twice: once before and once after.

People have also expressed their opinion that the normal everyday temperature in Phuket  and elsewhere in Thailand  has helped to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. One senior health official has even said he expects COVID-19 to disappear as Thailand enters its annual hot season. Is there any merit in this understanding?

Not enough is known about this variant of coronavirus because it is new. The standard coronavirus that causes upper respiratory illnesses remains intact in cold weather and dies quickly at 58C.

Are the precautions the Thai government is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 reasonable? Or is it lacking? Or even an overreaction? Or a bit of both? Any there any examples that highlight your opinion on this?

The Thai government will do what all governments are doing Each government has had an initial different response, but now that the pandemic is without doubt, all governments will be requiring the same regarding social distancing and quarantines.

Now that COVID-19 has already reached around the world, do you believe travel bans should still be in place? Should people still travel?

Traveling makes no sense now since most countries are locked down, and it is safer not to travel at this point to keep the virus contained.

What can people do to help protect themselves against being infected with COVID-19?

Viruses are not really alive so they cannot be killed. Ultimately, it is our immune systems that develop an adaptive response to recognise any cell infected with the virus and eliminate it. Everything we that we need to do to avoid becoming ill must be geared towards strengthening our immune systems.

 Sleep early and at least seven hours.

 Eat no more than two healthy meals per day with 18 hours between your last and first meals. During the window of time when the body is not digesting food, it has time to focus much more energy to the immune system.

 Eat plant-based, whole foods rather than processed foods.

 Eat at least 70% of your food uncooked and organic.

 Meditate at least twice per day.

 Vitamin C not only can treat active infection but can protect from getting infected. Vitamin C actually prevents viruses from entering cells. Take from eight to 15 grammes per day orally, depending on bowel tolerance, body size and stress levels

 Vitamin A: 30,000-50,000 units per day with food until vitamin A levels in the blood are over 300 iu/dL

 Vitamin D: 30,000 iu/day to keep levels in blood above 70, which contributes to enhancing immune response.

 Zinc: 90mg per day

 Selenium: 400ug per day.

 Magnesium: 1,000mg per day. Best used as a transdermal spray applied directly to the body

 Green tea: drink several cups of fresh-brewed green tea per day.

 Keep your bowels clean with probiotic enemas and colon hydrotherapy and healthy food. Up to 60% of the immune system exists in the gut.

What else should people know about COVID-19 that has not been given enough attention in the media?

If it is not covered in the media, we probably should not discuss it.

In summary, how should people go about their daily lives now that COVID-19 has spread around the world and is now part of our daily lives?

For now, hang out with friends and family and avoid crowds and follow the rules above. Most will not get sick from this virus but you do not want to be the one who spreads it to someone who does not have the health you have and may become critically ill or die.

Dr Lodi and the team at The LifeCo Wellness Center located near Phuket International Airport have created basic and comprehensive immune boosting packages which are certainly appreciated at this time. Learn more at www.thelifeco.com/en/viral-infection-prevention-program/
After being involved in a crash Friday, a New Jersey man told State Troopers he had the coronavirus in an effort to avoid a ticket.

He was lying, state officials said, and the ploy didnt work: Travis Urban, 30, of Hazlet, was charged with obstruction and hindering apprehension or prosecution, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced on Friday evening.

Urban is one of at least five people who have been accused of lying about having the coronavirus to police. Hes also one of two-dozen examples that the AGs office gave of residents violating Gov. Phil Murphys executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic: all non-essential businesses must be closed, no social gatherings, practice social distancing, and stay home whenever possible.

The alleged bad behavior has been found in all corners of the state.

Our police officers are going above and beyond the call of duty during this health crisis. Unfortunately, they are being called upon far too often to deal with people violating the orders put in place to protect us all  or what is more egregious, people falsely using the coronavirus to spread fear or impede officers in their vital work, New Jersey Attorney General Grewal said. Staying home and maintaining social distance is not just good advice to stay healthy, its the law."

At least eight people have been charged for holding large gatherings in violation of Murphys orders. Those cases include multiple weddings in Lakewood and house parties elsewhere, like the one that 37-year-old Pria Milledge allegedly held in Bridgeton, according to the AGs office. Milledge was charged on Friday with a disorderly persons offense.

In Washington Township, Warren County, the owner of a billiards hall was charged Thursday with obstruction of the administration of law for keeping his business open despite the executive order directing him to close. The AGs office said that David Merring, 62, had been previously warned not to keep Rack and Roll Billiards Hall open during the emergency.

Some people  in at least four cases  left their homes to commit crimes. In each of those cases, the accused were charged with violating Murphys emergency orders along with the charges for the crimes themselves.

Karley Rosell, a 24-year-old Pitman resident, was charged on Wednesday with arson and weapons offenses for leaving her home to throw a Molotov cocktail at her boyfriends residence, according to the AGs office. The weapon did not explode.

In another case, 23-year-old Nicole Ayvaz was arrested in Belleville on March 17 for lying to emergency dispatchers about having the coronavirus in an attempt to get Essex County College to close, according to the AGs office. Ayvaz was charged with false public alarm.

People who witness others violating Murphys executive orders are asked to report the problems to their local police department, or to the state at covid19.nj.gov/violation.

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President Donald Trump granted Michigans request for a major disaster declaration Saturday as the coronavirus outbreak worsens, the same day as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that more federal medical supplies already have arrived in the state.

The White House announced the approval early Saturday, March 28.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sought a major disaster declaration on Thursday. Saturday morning, she noted that more than 112,000 N-95 masks had just arrived from the strategic national stockpile.

This morning we received 112,800 N95 masks in our shipment from the strategic national stockpile w/8k more on the way. Great news for our health care workers. We'll keep working hard along with FEMA and the White House to get more of the PPE we need to keep Michiganders safe.  Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) March 28, 2020

Michigan coronavirus numbers now at 3,657 -- up 801 cases

In a White House statement, funding is now available for state, tribal, local governments and certain non-profit agencies for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Michigan impacted by COVID-19.

It also allows funding for crisis counseling for affected individuals in Michigan.

Federal Emergency Management administrators will help coordinate recovery efforts.

During a press conference Thursday, Whitmer asked for a number of individual and public assistance programs ranging from nutrition, counseling and survivor assistance to emergency assistance for public facilities like roads, bridges, water control and utilities.

On Saturday, Whitmer called the declaration a good start.

This is a good start, and it will help us protect Michiganders and slow the spread of COVID-19, she said in a written statement. "Im hopeful that the president will review my request for individual assistance programs that would provide meals to families who need them and rental assistance and temporary housing for families. I look forward to the federal governments continued partnership as we work to fight this virus.

According to Whitmers staff, the federal declaration allows funding for transporting and pre-positioning equipment, Emergency Operation Center (EOC)-related costs, medical supplies and personal protective equipment, medical care and transport, and childcare.

It also provides a direct-support program to provide services for those whose mental health has been impacted by the spread of COVID-19.

A request for hazard mitigation assistance to provide funding for long-recovery plans is under review, according to Whitmers office.

The governor said the congressional relief package approved Friday will provide help with the Unemployment Insurance Assistance program and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programming (D-SNAP), but FEMA can also offer funds in similar efforts that do not overlap with existing programs.

The disaster declaration approved for Michigan appears to be similar to declarations approved for other states, including Illinois.

Joe Biden comes to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers defense after Trump slams states coronavirus response

The announcement comes after sparring between Trump and Whitmer in the last few days over federal medical supplies coming to Michigan. Whitmer said they were inadequate and only a fraction of what the state needs.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

More from MLive

Saturday, March 28: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Doctors on front lines of Michigans coronavirus crisis: It seems like the sky is falling

Trump takes another dig at Gov. Whitmer as coronavirus crisis deepens
With 139 more deaths from coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in 24 hours, Iran's death toll has reached 2,517, a health Ministry spokesman said. The confirmed infection cases have also gone up to 35,408 with 3,076 more people contracting the disease in the same period.

This is the second consecutive day in Iran's coronavirus epidemic calendar with more than 3,000 new cases but the number of deaths in the same 48 hour period does not show a significant change in comparison with the previous days. The number of deaths that have been officially announced since the beginning of the outbreak on February 19 have grown quite steadily with no sudden growth or peak despite the significant higher number of confirmed infections in the past couple of peak.

According to Iran's official coronavirus statistics, the highest number of deaths since the beginning of the epidemic was registered on March 26 with 157 COVID-19 deaths.

The recent high infection figures may indicate an acceleration in the identification of new cases, possibly due to better availability of test kits and a government online screening initiative for identification of possible cases.

Imported or internationally donated test kits have now become more available to the Iranian health system but according to the health ministry Iran will also start using home-grown test kits soon. The ministry's spokesman Dr. Kianush Jahanpur said Iran's Pasteur Institute, a century-old government-funded medical research center in Tehran, has now approved Iranian-made coronavirus test kits and 80,000 kits per week could be available after approval of the Food and Medicine Agency.

Iran's Health Ministry officials say that an online coronavirus screening plan is now being implemented throughout the country which can push the number of identified cases up considerably. All Iranians have been asked to fill in the online questionnaire and check their symptoms on the government health portal.

Dr. Jahanpur on Thursday said more than 50 million Iranians have signed up on the portal but 30 million more still need to sign up and fill in the questionnaire.

The Health Ministry officials insist that their data is based on the final test of coronavirus on patients, and they exclude the number of persons who have had clinical symptoms of the Covid-19 but were not tested for the virus. Due to unavailability of enough test kits this could considerably keep the numbers low.

Critics, however, allege that the Iranian government for political and security reasons intentionally keeps the figures low, so many of the coronavirus infections and deaths are registered as "acute respiratory diseases".

Data gathered by Radio Farda from various national and local media in Iran, as well as comments made by regional authorities and Health Ministry officials, indicated 3,036 people have fallen victim to the novel coronavirus.

Our data shows that as of March 26 at least 59,120 patients had tested positive and been hospitalized for contracting the deadly virus in the country's 31 provinces since February 19. This is nearly double the official number of 32,000 announced by the government.

Radio Farda's estimate is also very conservative, and the real number of the victims could be much higher. The data show that most of the victims belong to the provinces of Isfahan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran and Qom. A World Health Organization official who recently visited Iran has said that the real figures can potentially be up to five times higher.

Iranian health authorities are still reluctant to publish the number of Covid-19 victims in the provinces of Tehran and Qom, possibly due to the high number of the victims in the two neighboring regions and their importance as political and religious centers of the country. They have also refused to publish the breakdown of the number of victims for each province so far.
The Government of Ghana has set up a Covid-19 Fund to assist the needy and underprivileged communities during these dire times of corona virus pandemic.



President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo updating Ghanaians on measures taken by the government together with health experts to curtail the outbreak of the virus, noted that the Fund will be used to cushion the public as the nation fights against covid-19.



In an address to the nation from the Jubilee House on Friday night, March 27, 2020, the President has authorized an independent Board of Trustees chaired by former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to take charge of the fund.



President Akufo-Addo also pledged his three-month salary to the fund and encouraged corporate entities as well as noble Ghanaians to follow suit by donating into the fund to provide relief to the needy and destitute in society.



I am announcing tonight the establishment of a covid-19 fund to be managed by an independent Board of Trustees and chaired by former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to receive contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. Ive directed the Controller-General to pay my next 3 months salary ie. April, May and June into this fund, he said.



The President further indicated that, as part of measures to protect the citizenry against the corona virus epidemic; parts of Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions including Tema have been placed under lockdown for two weeks; hence human and vehicular movements strictly restricted in the period of the lockdown.



He advised all Ghanaians to adhere to the precautionary measures laid down by the State authorities to safeguard the nation.







Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the creation of an assistance and emergency situation relief fund where people can contribute and help in the government's fight against coronavirus.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a cabinet meeting as ministers maintain social distancing in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: Kind courtesy @AmitShah/Twitter

The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund will go a long way in creating a healthier India, he said on Twitter.

'People from all walks of life expressed their desire to donate to India's war against COVID-19,' he said, adding the fund has been constituted respecting that spirit.

'It is my appeal to my fellow Indians, kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead,' he said.

A statement posted on his official website said while the prime minister is the chairman of the new public charitable trust, its members include the defence minister (Rajnath Singh), home minister (Amit Shah) and the finance minister (Nirmala Sitaraman).

In India, like the rest of the world, the spread of coronavirus has been alarming and is posing severe health and economic ramifications for our country, it said.

The Prime Minister's Office has been receiving spontaneous and innumerable requests for donations to support the government in the wake of this emergency.

'Distress situations, whether natural or otherwise, demand expeditious and collective action for alleviating the suffering of those affected, mitigation/control of damage to infrastructure and capacities etc,' the statement said.

Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM CARES Fund)' has been set up, it said.

'PM Narendra Modi has always believed and shown in actions that public participation is the most effective way to mitigate any issue and this is yet another example.

'This fund will enable micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be able to contribute with smallest of denominations,' the statement said.

People can visit www.pmindia.gov.in to make contributions using credit and debit cards, UPI, net banking and RTGS or NEFT, it said.

*****

All BJP MPs to release Rs 1 crore from MPLAD

Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda on Saturday announced that all party MPs will release Rs 1 crore from their annual development fund to the central relief fund to fight coronavirus pandemic.

In his tweets, he also said that all party MPs and MLAs will donate their one month salary towards it as well.

'All MPs & MLAs of Bharatiya Janata Party will donate their one month remuneration/salary to the central relief fund to support the fight against Covid19. All MPs of BJP will release Rs 1 crore from their MPLADS fund to the central relief fund in support to fight against Covid-19,' he said.

The party at present has 386 MPs -- 303 in Lok Sabha and 83 in Rajya Sabha. An MP gets Rs 5 crore every year as part of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

As part of his party's ongoing exercise to help the poor during the lockdown, Nadda also spoke to BJP leaders from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to oversee the relief work, an official statement said.

The leaders included state and district chiefs, MPs and MLAs besides other senior functionaries as Nadda told them about various measures announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fight against the coronavirus.

Modi is working like a 'statesman', Nadda said, asking party leaders to ensure that nobody goes hungry during the lockdown.

The BJP has announced that its workers will feed 5 crore poor people daily during the 21-day lockdown.
Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the open road on his burgundy motorcycle after spending his morning in Santa Monica, amid California's coronavirus shutdown on Friday.

While the 72-year-old former bodybuilder appeared to ignore California Gov Gavin Newsom statewide 'stay at home' order, the actor applauded residents working to 'flatten the curve.'

'There's absolutely nobody around here at Santa Monica mall, which means that all of you are doing a great job,' The Terminator star said in an Instagram video, while riding a bicycle.

Fresh air: Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the open road on his motorcycle after biking around Santa Monica, amid California's coronavirus shutdown on Friday

After thanking his 20 million Instagram fans for staying home, he concluded the clip by dropping his iconic catchphrase from Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 'Hasta la vista.'

Later in the day, the Austrian-American actor, who served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011 of The Golden State, took a motorcycle ride toward Malibu in a helmet, leather jacket, sweats and studded boots.

For his outing, Schwarzenegger appeared to take the canyon routes toward the beach city in western Los Angeles County, before heading home.

While the state 72-year-old former bodybuilder appeared to ignore California Gov Gavin Newsom statewide 'stay at home' order, the actor applauded residents working to 'flatten the curve'

Joy ride: The Austrian-American actor, who served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011 of The Golden State, enjoyed a motorcycle ride toward Malibu in a helmet, leather jacket, sweats and studded boots

Earlier this week he generously donated a million dollars to aid in medical supply relief for COVID-19.

'I donated 1 million dollars, and I hope that all of you who can will step up to support these heroes. Go to the link in my bio to help out,' he captioned an Instagram on Wednesday, linking to a GoFundMe page.

He added: 'I never believed in sitting on the couch and complaining about how bad things are, I always believed we should all do our part to make things better.'

'There's absolutely nobody around here at Santa Monica mall, which means that all of you are doing a great job,' The Terminator star said in an Instagram video, while riding a bicycle

The fund is trying to supply hospitals around the world with masks, gowns, gloves and other critical supplies they need to fight the virus.

Schwarzenegger was on board early, issuing a statement for the GoFundMe Page, which has raised $4,494,030 in three days, that began, 'Our doctors, nurses and hospital staff are the real action heroes of this crisis. I just play one in the movies.'

'We have an opportunity and a responsibility to provide them with personal protective equipment right now to keep them safe as they fight this virus, so when I heard about Flexport.orgs plan, this was a no-brainer to me,' he wrote.

'With all of the courageous work they are doing on the frontlines to keep us safe, buying a few hundred thousand masks with a million dollars is the least I can do. Please take a moment to join me in supporting our heroes,' he concluded.
The local police here on Saurday distributed free food packets to two poor families, who were reeling from hunger.

"We have received information that two families are reeling from hunger. We immediately rushed to the spot and provided them food. After interrogating, we found that they did not have any food," said Sanjay, an official, Ambedkar Nagar Police Station.

The official told ANI that one of the families did not even had a packet of salt and a bottle of oil in their household.

Notably, Punjab Police also distributed free food packets to the needy in Amritsar. The cops gave milk, sugar to the people residing in slum areas of the city.

The central government announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for 21 days to fight against COVID-19. All road, rail and air services will remain suspended during the lockdown.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore to strengthen the health infrastructure to tackle the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Even as thousands of migrant workers and labourers continue to head home due to the 21-day lockdown announced by the Centre to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (March 28, 2020) appealed to the general public and his party workers to help them as much as they can.

The Congress Wayanad MP made a general appeal to all urging them to provide food and shelter to the home-bound migrants moving on foot passing through their towns, cities and villages.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said, "Today, hundreds of our brothers and sisters, along with their hungry and thirsty families have to move towards their villages. On this difficult path of theirs, those of you who are capable enough, provide them with food, shelter and water. "The appeal to help the needy is particularly for Congress workers and leaders," he said.

   -  -                     ---  ,  !  -         ! pic.twitter.com/ni7vkhRQAZ  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020

His appeal came hours after scores of migrant workers were spotted at Delhi-Ghaziabad border who were on their way home on foot crossing miles after miles. Many of them are apprehensive of the situation after the sudden announcement of the 21-day lockdown while others are sent on leave by their contractors.

Rahul Gandhis brother-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra also wrote on Facebook, "I feel terrible for the poor people, who have no food or place to stay and with the sudden coronavirus lockdown had no healthy shelter and forced to travel back to their villages."

The post further read, "There are elderly, women, and little children who are walking back for kilometres, as there are no vehicles to transport them, and pay their savings to put the elderly in rickshaws or in these unsafe concoction of a vehicle called a `Jugaad`, and travel for days."

"I request the central government, and state governments to help these people, and I am finding ways as well if authorities can help these people at adjoining borders assist them to get home, in the safest and healthiest ways," Vadra wrote in his Facebook post.

All modes of transport are shut, including passenger trains and interstate buses, in a bid to curb further spread of deadly COVID-19. After the announcement of lockdown, a large number of people had crammed onto trains and buses before the whole country came to a halt for three weeks, but many others were still left stranded.

Chief Ministers of three states - Bengal, Bihar and Odisha - which send the maximum number of labourers across the country, have been taking initiative to ensure the safety of these people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday announced a nationwide shutdown for 21 days in the wake of the highly contagious coronavirus outbreak that has already infected more than 800 in India.

Government has urged people to stay indoors and aggressively practice social distancing. However, the scene of desperate migrant workers fleeing the national capital and other metro cities have had no parallel.
Delhi woke up to clear blue skies yet again on Saturday, Day 4 of the 21-day lockout announced by the government to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Clear blue skies have become the norm rather than the exception in the National Capital Region (NCR) around Delhi for the past week. Data, too, shows a sharp decline in pollution.

Morning and evening peaks in the level of PM 2.5 (particulate matter 2.5, or fine, respirable pollution particles) have flattened out in the four days since the lockdown came into force, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The air quality index for the Capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Boards 4pm bulletin was 45, which falls in the good zone -- rare in a city where a reading in the poor  category is otherwise considered good.

The reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations is even more pronounced because the major source of NO2 emissions are vehicles , which have gone off the roads, and industries, which have been ordered to close to reduce the risk of infection.

The hourly pollution trend in Delhi and in the neighbouring cities of Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad analysed by CSE used to be influenced by traffic peaks in the mornings and evenings, a factor hasnt been relevant in the past four days.

For example, in Delhi the daily peak PM 2.5 concentrations has declined on a lockdown day by about 57% compared to a regular day and the peak on the Janta Curfew day (Sunday, March 22) dropped by about 24% compared to a regular day. The peak concentrations of NO2 dropped by 66% on a lockdown day compared to a regular day and by 32% on the peoples curfew day.

The so-called Janta Curfew was called for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a sort of a trial in social distancing and self-isolation. The lockdown was announced two days later.

This analysis brings out the pronounced effect of traffic on hourly pollution trend and on daily exposures to toxic vehicular pollution. With traffic minimised, hourly trends plummet. This is sharply evident in NO2 trends, CSE said in its analysis.

The fact that the impact was comparatively lower on Janta Curfew may have had to do with its shorter duration of 14 hours, the study said. Subsequent lockdown is more rigorous and pertains to 24 hours with curfew rules in place, it said. Theres also the cumulative effect to be taken into account.

The main source of NO2 emissions is fuel combustion by vehicles and industries. NO2 is more reactive than PM 2.5, and being exposed to high NO2 emissions even for a short duration can aggravate respiratory disease particularly asthma, according to the US Environment Protection Agency.

Globally, four million new child asthma cases are attributable to NO2 pollution a year; 64% of these occur in urban centres, according to a study published in Lancet Planetary Health.

This experience has helped us to understand the strong impact of traffic volume on hourly variability in pollution and exposure in cities. We are already making massive lifestyle adjustments to practice social distancing, said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment. Can this crisis-induced change throw up long-term solutions to traffic impact on air pollution? Collective community action during this pandemic can help us to reinvent longer term solutions to reduce our vulnerability to toxic risk.

Since every source of emissions is curtailed, air pollution levels have reduced drastically in Delhi-NCR. We are in agreement with CSE but we are also doing an analysis in-house, said VK Shukla, head of the air quality management division at CPCB.

The Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RCFW) in Delhi, meanwhile, released historical data for the maximum temperature recorded in April, which ranges from 39.6 degree Celsius in 1994 to 43.7 degrees Celsius in 2010.

The impact of heat and humidity on the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 is not clear.

Data analysis since 1992 shows maximum temperature over Delhi reaches 40 degree C during April 17 to 20. If temperature and humidity play a role in reduction of transmission of the virus , we will be able to see the trends in April. But things will be different if people use air conditioning indoors, said Kuldeep Shrivastava, head, RWFC.

The average maximum temperature in March in Delhi is 29.6 degree C compared to 28 degree C recorded till now. But on most days in March this year, the maximum temperature has been 3 to 4 degree C below normal with only seven days when the maximum was 30 degree C or above. This is because of the unusually high number of western disturbances which affected the northwestern region this month. There have been six active western disturbances which brought rain, hail or snowfall to different parts of northwest India compared to an average of 2-3 typical for March.

The westerlies are still impacting the Indian region. They are supposed to move northwards gradually in March. This is why we are seeing more western disturbances. Parts of Central India and south India are already recording 35 degree C. We can expect it to hit 35 degree C in north India in early April, said DS Pai, a scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune.

Clear skies and less noise means that bird song can be heard clearly in many neighbourhoods of the capital. I have had a lot of people asking me if bird song has increased. No, it has always been there particularly in this season. This is also the courting and nesting season for many birds -- sunbirds, barbets and doves. So they sing or call for long periods. People now have the time to pause, listen and take in the song. The lack of planes and cars also helps as planes and car horns are sources of noise pollution, said Neha Sinha, a Delhi-based conservation biologist.

For PM 2.5 and NO2 concentration analysis following days have been considered by CSE:

 Regular: Average of March 18 and 19

 Lockdown: Average of March 25 and 26

 Janata Curfew: Average of March 22 March
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the governments were taking all steps necessary to save lives, and added that is the duty of the citizens to ensure minimal social interaction.(File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS

New Delhi, March 28 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged the migrants to stay back in the city during the lockdown and said his government is serving lunch and dinner to over four lakh people at more than 800 locations.

Speaking to the media through a digital press conference, he said the government has operationalised 568 Hunger Relief Centres in schools, apart from 238 night shelters.

"We have the capacity to feed lunch and dinner to approximately 4 lakh persons daily," Kejriwal said.

He also said that apart from this, mobile vans are also deployed to arrange food for those who cannot reach the locations.

"Although there is some issue, I am expecting that these will be streamlined in a day or so." Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party MLAs and party workers are reaching out to the migrants, and have been successful to stop a number of migrants.

"Lockdown should be implemented seriously. If we keep moving, the purpose of lockdown will be wasted. I urged the migrants at the border to come back to Delhi. We even opened night shelters in some of the schools around the border areas," Kejriwal said.

He also said that the ration from April in around 1,000 ration shops has reached and will soon be distributed.

"Coronavirus is spreading very fast. In the countries which we thought were highly developed are facing a serious crisis. We should learn from different nations." The nationwide lockdown has started from Tuesday midnight, following which migrant labourers have started moving to their homes in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha.
Cases of serious coronavirus infections surged across California over the weekend, with a 105% increase in patients admitted to intensive care units from Friday to Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. Hospitalizations also jumped nearly 40%.

The number of ICU admissions, which rose overnight from 200 to 410, may seem relatively small in a state the size of California, but the (percentage) increase was not, the governor said.

The hospital and ICU admissions affect the state far more than an increase in cases, Newsom said, because they directly hit at Californias ability to provide care to the people most in need.

Those numbers are the first thing I look at when I get up in the morning, he said.

The state has been anticipating the virus-induced spike in hospital admissions, Newsom said Saturday as he toured a Sunnyvale facility that is retrofitting ventilators.

The states 416 hospitals have been preparing to meet this moment, the governor said. This moment is now taking shape.

To address the crisis, the state expects to distribute nearly 150 million masks, 3 million sets of gloves and 10,000 ventilators in the coming days and weeks, he added.

But state innovators and entrepreneurs also are stepping forward with solutions and science to beat back the crisis, including Bloom Energy, which converted an empty Silicon Valley warehouse into a facility with volunteers to fix outdated or broken ventilators  despite knowing nothing about ventilators a week ago.

In Silicon Valley, all we need is a challenge and a deadline, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said.

In San Francisco, the number of coronavirus cases climbed to 304, with four deaths, according to local health officials, an increase of 25 cases.

A seventh staff member at Laguna Honda Hospital tested positive for COVID-19, San Franciscos Department of Public Health reported Saturday. The newest result involved a nurse, The Chronicle confirmed, bringing the number of positive tests among nurses to five.

One patient and two porters also have tested positive, as reported previously.

All are in good condition, the department said in a news release. Contact investigations are under way (including testing), the release said, and the units have been quarantined.

Meantime, Seton Medical Center in Daly City continues to seek personal protective equipment in advance of an expected surge in coronavirus patients. Seton is slated to start receiving virus patients from other hospitals this week.

But the hospital is on track to run out of masks and other critical protective equipment for health workers in four days.

Right now, its a critical concern and an around-the-clock effort, Bill Silverfarb, legislative aide to San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, said Saturday. Hopefully, by Monday or Tuesday well have a good message from the state.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Local residents did a better job following social distancing rules Saturday. One week after visitors flocked to Bay Area beaches despite the regions shelter-in-place order and Newsoms stay-at-home mandate, Saturday apparently did not bring an encore.

There were no reports of crowds at beaches and parks. Local officials closed many such recreation facilities and implored people not to visit. A gray, rainy day probably helped matters.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Meanwhile, with thousands being laid off from idled jobs and worries growing over how to pay bills, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank upped its game by opening its first drive-through service Saturday.

People from more than 600 households showed up to get boxes of food at the organizations location at 2550 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael, and the food bank is planning to repeat the drive-through every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the same location.

It was a little more than we expected, said Keely Hopkins, a food bank spokeswoman. We were prepared for about 500 households, and when we saw more coming in, we scrambled and put more in the boxes.

Sam Francisco Chronicle staff writer Kevin Fagan contributed to this report.

Jill Tucker and Ron Kroichick are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker, @ronkroichick
(Newser)  Two weeks ago, Trish Regan's Fox Business show went on "hiatus" after remarks she made dismissing the coronavirus as an "impeachment scam" hyped up by Democrats to make President Trump look bad. Now, the anchor and the network have officially "parted ways," per CNNBusiness. "We thank her for her contributions to the network over the years and wish her continued success in her future endeavors," the network said in a statement Friday, adding that it would keep with a scaled-back prime-time lineup for now to make room for breaking news on the virus. Regan offered her own statement, noting, "I have enjoyed my time at Fox and now intend to focus on my family during these troubled times. I am grateful to my incredible team at Fox Business and for the many opportunities the network has provided me. I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my career."

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The New York Times notes that Regan, who's known to be solidly pro-Trump, hasn't been the only conservative personality to downplay the virus, though she appears to be the only one who's suffered serious repercussions because of it: Far-right radio host Rush Limbaugh has said health experts are part of the "deep state" and that COVID-19 is basically the "common cold, while Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham have, like Regan, told their audiences that media coverage about the virus is being wielded to damage Trump politically. CNN points out that the messaging from the Fox hosts is especially "notable," as that network's audience tends to be on the older sidethe exact demographic that's at risk of being infected. The Wall Street Journal notes that Fox host Tucker Carlson has taken the opposite stance, warning his viewers about the virus as far back as early March. (Read more Fox News stories.)
This COVID virus is really accentuating disparities, she said. Many of my patients are publicly insured and they are having a hard time. They are the ones on the front lines  working in the grocery stores, helping do the Prime and Instacart deliveries. The women I take care of are on the front lines of this virus, just like I am, and it breaks my heart. The disadvantaged are even more disadvantaged. We all have to think about what we have relative to one other right now.
Though artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been making clear progress, Vietnams businesses remain skeptical about them.

According to lecturers from RMIT University, AI applications in Vietnam are still in the early development stage, so there is still time to draw up plans and get ready for breakthrough features of the technology and fully exploit the benefits AI can bring.





Describing AI as the technology which is gradually changing the way we live and work. Dr Dang Pham Thien Duy from RMIT Vietnam said in Vietnam most AI applications have been used mostly for implementation of specific tasks.



AI still cannot reach the level of simulating human intelligence to create systematic intelligence and machines that can learn and improve the ability to perform complex tasks. That is the next big step, Duy said.



In addition to a number of prominent AI applications in Vietnam today, such as intelligent traffic management system in HCM City, image recognition to support medical diagnosis, and automated processes in banks and other services, there are still many opportunities to take advantage of AI, thanks to the advancements of machine learning and big data technology.

AI can be used to segment customers by analyzing their outstanding features and online behavior. This technology can improve language analysis capability to support applications such as chatbot, translation, and handwriting recognition.

He said AI can be used to segment customers by analyzing their outstanding features and online behavior. This technology can improve language analysis capability to support applications such as chatbot, translation, and handwriting recognition.



And now, with better algorithms, AI can be used in automated robots like drones, unmanned vehicles, surgery assistant robots and chatbot software.



RMITs Dr Dinh Ngoc Minh added that though there has been significant progress in AI and machine learning, Vietnamese enterprises are skeptical about the application of the technologies.



Vietnams institutions and businesses want 99 percent accuracy and reliability, but at present, very few sources can satisfy the requirements, Minh said.



Very few businesses have utilized AI. The others are still keeping a wait and see attitude. They are waiting for other peoples achievements to learn from them,  he said.



Minh believes that with the strong development of AI in the startup environment, where experiments are encouraged, the reluctance of the enterprises which are hesitating to apply the new technology may lift thanks to big data they can obtain from younger users.



As an example, he cited Sentifi, which is an an online tool using machine learning algorithms to exploit social media messages to understand financial markets.



The significance and applicability of AI will be lower if there is no big volume of data. However, the fact that young people are increasingly using more smart devices and online services will provide huge sources of data, he explained.

Thanh Mai

A tasty social networking site using artificial intelligence A social network site geared towards lovers of food is proving popular since its launch in Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:39:51|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan army troops have been deployed across the country in aid of civil power in ensuring enforcement measures for containment of COVID-19 with focus on public safety, the military said on Saturday.

A statement from the army's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the troops are assisting the federal and provincial administrations under the constitutional provision.

It said that all points of entries are being manned and monitored, joint check posts established and joint patrolling with other law enforcement agencies is being carried out effectively.

"Contact tracking, tracing to identify and isolate suspected individuals being done to ensure containment of COVID-19 spread," according to the statement.

Army troops are also assisting in management of a total of 182 quarantine facilities established across the country.

In capital Islamabad, joint check posts have been set up on entry and exit points while joint patrolling with police and isolation of suspected localities being carried out. A total of 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been registered until Saturday here. A total of 1,420 coronavirus cases have been confirmed across the country by the health authorities so far.
Houston saw its number of confirmed COVID-19 cases more than triple Saturday, ballooning from 69 to 232 as testing revealed more cases, but Mayor Sylvester Turner warned that efforts to further increase testing have been stymied by the federal government.

Turner announced the surge along with the citys second coronavirus-related death  a woman in her 70s who had underlying health issues. He offered a sobering assessment that those statistics would continue to rise sharply.

Let me just say, the testing has been limited. We know there are more cases, the mayor said. The way I look at it, I take 232 and I multiply by 10. Because we just dont know.

The citys efforts to expand testing were dealt a blow Saturday when the federal government told Turner it would only send enough personal protective gear to conduct 250 tests a day in the nations fourth-largest city.

The plan, for weeks, has been to open two city sites that each can conduct 250 tests per day. One of those sites opened March 20, with help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and has conducted more than 1,500 tests, according to city health officials. The other has been held up due to delays in equipment shipments.

Now, the federal government says those shipments wont come at all. According to Turner, the feds said any future expansions will have to be funded by local jurisdictions.

Thats just unacceptable, Turner said. So were going to have to try to figure out how to work that out We need robust testing in order to get a better measurement of the degree of community spread that exists in our city.

FEMA didnt respond to a request for comment.

Turner also said the city has eased restrictions and opened its lone testing site to anyone with symptoms. People can call 832-393-4220 to start the screening process. Harris County is operating two sites with FEMA, one in Katy and one in Baytown. Its screening process is online at readyharris.org.

Private labs, like hospitals and other health clinics, have more capacity locally and statewide. They have accounted for the vast majority of testing in Texas, conducting more than 22,000 of the 25,260 tests done in the state as of noon Saturday.

That testing, though still limited, has revealed a climbing number of cases.

Harris County announced an additional 53 positive tests Saturday in its unincorporated territory, giving it 445 with Houston included  the most of any county in the state. The grim distinction previously belonged to Dallas County.

The tally across the eight-county Houston region was up to more than 700 cases. Across Texas, there were nearly 2,500 as of Saturday night.

The Houston woman who died with the virus Friday was not identified. She was hospitalized at the time, and her positive test came back the same day she died.

The citys first death occurred Tuesday. Another death was previously reported in Harris County. The death toll statewide is 28.

We are saddened by the death of a second Houstonian, said Dr. David Persse, Houstons local health authority. Our city unfortunately will likely see more deaths as this pandemic touches the lives of more people in our community.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers began screening airplane passengers landing in the state from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Orleans.

Earlier this week, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered those people to self-quarantine for 14 days, though the order only applied to those arriving by plane. DPS said they would require the travelers to fill out a form with identifying information, including their names, dates of birth, phone numbers and where they will be quarantining.

The agency said its troopers would conduct random checks at those homes to confirm the people were quarantining. Violators could face fines up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail.

Turner, who has for weeks asked people traveling to Houston to voluntarily quarantine, said he wasnt implementing any additional move for people who drive to the city from New Orleans, where a large outbreak is beginning to overwhelm that citys healthcare system.

The mayor spent part of Saturday touring the city and gauging whether residents were following Harris Countys Stay Home, Work Safe order. That policy shuttered many non-essential businesses and asked residents to remain home save for essential work, critical errands or appropriately-spaced outdoor activities.

He said the city might soon fence off playgrounds and basketball courts in its parks, where maintaining a six-feet distance is more difficult.

Quite frankly, in the end, its going to require the cooperation of everybody, Turner said. If it gets to the point, for example, that people are ignoring the request to engage in social distancing, then we have to take the next step.

He didnt specify what that would be.

Persse said the large, single-day spike in confirmed cases was caused by the need to reconcile reports coming in from various testing sites and laboratories. They want to make sure they're not duplicating people, ensuring they have an accurate count.

The numbers give you some degree of what's taking place, but... the numbers are very fluid," Turner said.

The new tally of confirmed cases also includes three Houston police officers, bringing the total number in the department to seven.

Fire Chief Samuel Pena told the Chronicle one firefighter has tested positive for the virus, and he is recovering at home. Fifteen others are quarantined with symptoms. In all, 83 firefighters are in quarantine.

Were still waiting some tests and of those we have gotten back, none have been positive for COVID-19, Pena said of the symptomatic group.

Staff writers Jordan Rubio and Sergio Chapa contributed to this report.
People seeking to self-isolate should consider the qualities of a standalone micro house, says Caravan-The Tiny House Hotel co-owner Deb Delman, who is inviting healthcare workers and others to spend time during the coronavirus pandemic inside one of her rentable custom houses on wheels.

When guests arrive, they will find everything is within reach inside the five compact dwellings, which are spaced apart around an open courtyard and located in Northeast Portlands Alberta Arts District.

Each tiny house is fully furnished with an efficient seating area, kitchen, two beds and a bathroom with a flush toilet, shower and hot-and-cold running water.

The dwellings, which are 170 square feet or smaller, are also outfitted with electric heat, high-speed internet, cooking equipment and bathroom amenities.

Guests bring their personal items and settle in.

Most important: Prices have dropped.

Hotel rates of $125-$185 a night are now discounted to $400 a week, $700 for two weeks and $1,200 for a month, which is $40-$57 a night, says Delman.

The compound at 5009 N.E. Alberta St. is five blocks from the Alberta Co-op grocery and a variety of restaurants that may be providing takeout and delivery.

Caravan, the worlds first lodging of tiny houses on wheels, opened in 2013 and helped launch tiny house living blogs and shows, and even a tight-quarters spoof on the comedy television series Portlandia, which was shot in one of the custom-built homes.

As tourism continues to dwindle during travel restrictions enacted to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Delman posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday, March 25:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Caravan is now offering our unique and beautiful tiny homes on wheels at greatly reduced rates due to the drop in regular hotel business. We are shifting our tiny homes on wheels, which are typically used as nightly rentals, to serve those who need a short term rental for 1-4 weeks. We will be prioritizing healthcare workers who need a place to self-isolate while they work to help our community through this crisis.

She added that the tiny houses are maintained to immaculate cleanliness standards and are being continually sanitized. Guests are asked to adhere to six-foot distancing rules. The staff follows protective procedures at the hotel and in their personal lives, says Delman.

Tiny Digs Hotel in Northeast Portlands Kerns neighborhood is also offering stays at a greatly reduced rate to medical personnel, first responders and others who want to self-isolate.

The eight separate dwellings do not share heating or ventilation systems.

Each tiny house is set up like a miniature home and is very cozy and has a distinct theme, says founder and owner Pam Westra. Some even have an electric fireplace.

Rates have been discounted to $450 a week, $800 for two weeks and $1,300 for a month.

3 Tiny Digs Hotel in Portland

Each of the self-contained homes has a kitchenette to warm up food and keep items refrigerated as well as a bathroom with flush toilet and shower with hot water. Bring your laptop to enjoy the free WIFI and desk area for at-home working and staying in touch with loved ones, says Westra.

She says that illness, fear and the economic effects of stay-home orders are being felt across the U.S. Many businesses have closed their doors permanently, crushed by the financial impact of the pandemic.

This is our way of helping out the community but also helping to keep our staff working and our small, relatively new business stay viable, she says. "Difficult times require creative solutions, but if we all work together we can get through this.

Here are 5 short-term tiny house rentals offering discounts:

Gorgeous, handcrafted tiny house Airbnb

Gorgeous, handcrafted tiny house in Lents: The custom-built dwelling has a cozy, Bohemian ambiance and can accommodate four guests with two bedrooms, three beds and one bathroom. Rate: $80 a night with 20% off for a weeks stay and a 30% monthly discount. There is no cleaning fee.

True Portlandia: Tiny House Airbnb

True Portlandia: Tiny House in Northeast Portland: The newly constructed, 300-square-foot dwelling is a seven-minute bike ride from the Alberta Arts and Fremont districts. The dwelling can accommodate four guests with two beds and one bathroom. Rate: $49 a night with 25% off for a week or month stay.

Luxe Tiny Home Airbnb

Luxe Tiny Home in Southeast Portland: The dwelling accommodates two guests with two beds and one bathroom and is located along Cesar Chavez Boulevard and blocks from the Division and Hawthorne strips. $90 a night with 21% off for a week stay and a 35% monthly discount.

Stumptown Cottage in EastmorelandAirbnb

Stumptown Cottage in Eastmoreland: The newly built studio accommodates three guests with two beds with a loft and one bathroom close to Reed College and the Woodstock, Division and Sellwood-Moreland neighborhoods. $59 a night with a 15% discount for a weeks stay and a 20% monthly discount.

Bright Modern Loft in Arty in North PortlandAirbnb

Bright Modern Loft in Arty in North Portland: The 175-square-foot studio has four beds and one bathroom and is located near restaurants and cafes. $58 a night with a 15% weekly discount.

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

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French professor Didier Raoult, director of IHU Mediterranee Infection Institute, in his office in Marseille, France, on March 23, 2020. (Gerard Julien/AFP via Getty Images)

Second French Study Suggests Malaria Drug Effective in Treating COVID-19 Patients

A second French study of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine suggests the drug is effective in treating COVID-19 patients, researchers said.

The first study stoked controversy because it wasnt peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. The second study is also preprint.

Researchers at the IHU Mediterranee Infection Institute in Marseille, France, who performed the study, said on the institutes website that the speed of the spread of the virus prompted it to post results submitted for publication. The papers will be replaced with a link to an official publication once the articles are accepted and published, it said.

Professor Didier Raoult, a biologist and professor of microbiology, announced the new results on March 27 of the study (pdf) involving 80 patients with COVID-19. Researchers said all of the patients receiving a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin improved except for an 86-year-old patient who died and a 74-year-old patient who is still in an intensive care unit.

A pharmacist shows a box of antimalarial tablets in Rennes, France, on March 23, 2020. (Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images)

Patients were given a combination of 200 milligrams of oral hydroxychloroquine sulfate, three times a day for 10 days, combined with azithromycin. Five hundred milligrams of the antibiotic was given to patients on day one, followed by 250 milligrams per day over the next four days.

Virus cultures taken from patients respiratory samples were negative in 97.5 percent of patients at day 5, allowing the rapid discharge of patients from highly contagious hospital wards, the researchers wrote in the study (pdf).

We believe other teams should urgently evaluate this cost-effective therapeutic strategy, to both avoid the spread of the disease and treat patients as soon as possible before severe respiratory irreversible complications take hold, they wrote.

Reacting to the new study, Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said during an appearance on Fox News Ingraham Angle: It was not controlled. But its again another piece of suggestive evidence that hydroxychloroquine or its related drug, chloroquine, has antiviral properties, and we need to look at that seriously.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine tablets at the IHU Mediterranee Infection Institute in Marseille, France, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Gerard Julien/AFP via Getty Images)

Being Used as Treatment, Prophylactic

Some experts have said that the early results from France arent sufficient to prescribe hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 patients and pointed to a study done by Chinese researchers indicating the drug had no effect on COVID-19 patients.

But doctors across the United States, Bahrain, and France have been using the drug as a treatment and prophylactic. Its also been recommended by officials in India for health care workers. India, Hungary, and the United Kingdom have banned export of hydroxychloroquine sulfate in recent days, as well as drugs containing the chemical.

As Hungary is one of the worlds largest exporters of this ingredient, the protection and medical supply of the Hungarian population is now a priority, the Hungarian government said in a statement on its website, according to Reuters.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved any existing drugs for treating COVID-19, but drugs approved for one use can be prescribed by doctors for another use, a practice known as off label prescription.

There are FDA-approved treatments that may help ease the symptoms of COVID-19, the agency said in a statement this week.

Dr. Stephen Smith, founder of the Smith Center for Infectious Disease and Urban Health in New Jersey, said during an appearance on the Ingraham Angle that hes been prescribing hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 patients. Five out of six people on his team feel that the treatment is working.

Medical staff check people in to get tested for the CCP virus at Elmhurst Hospital Center in the Queens borough of New York City on March 26, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

No patient has gone three days of treatment with these drugs and been intubated afterwards, he said.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said his hospitals have also been using the drug, along with remdesivir, an experimental drug produced by Gilead Sciences.

Trials for hydroxychloroquine are underway in the United States and other countries. The first patients enrolled in trials in Norway and Spain that the World Health Organization is arranging to test multiple drugs, including hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has touted hydroxychloroquine, on Friday compared whats happening to right to try, which lets terminally ill patients use drugs that arent approved for the market.

We have a pandemic. We have people dying now. If were going to go into labs and test all of this for a long timewe can test it on people right now who are in serious trouble who are dying. If it works, weve done a great thing. If it doesnt work, we tried, Trump told reporters at the White House. I want to test it immediately.
Jaipur, March 28 : After locust attack and hailstorm, Rajasthan farmers are facing a new set of problems: untimely rain and exodus of migrant farm workers to their native states amid the croronavirus scare and the lockdown.

Around 75 per cent crops were destroyed and whatever could be harvested and were waiting to be transported to mandis, also got damaged due to rain in the past few days, Rajeev Dixit, a Bharatiya Kisaan Sangh spokesperson, told IANS.

"Although the central government on Friday announced fresh guidelines, exempting additional categories related to agriculture, they have come a little late as the 75 per cent of standing as well as harvested crops have got damaged," Dixit said.

The central government has exempted farm workers, farming operations, agencies working for procurement of agriculture produce and inter and intra-state movement of crop, and sowing machines from the lockdown.

Though the Ashok Gehlot government has urged farm owners and tillers to submit their assessment of damages and claims online, the farmers seem to have lost trust in the state government as it failed to implement the loan waiver promised to them.

Chogalal, a farmer, in Begas village of Jaipur district, said the March rain damaged the harvested as well as standing crops. And whatever was left couldn't be harvested as labourers had started returning to their native places, he added.

Farmers have submitted their complaints online, have informed tehsildars of the damages so that insurance companies could be informed. But in the present situation all depends upon the state officials when they will have time from fighting Covid-19 to pay attention to farmers' woes.

"Wheat crop has been damaged to a large extent. We are not getting proper prices in mandis. The government must conduct immediate survey and compensate us for the losses," Chogalal said and added, MNREGA workers could be roped in for harvesting and transporting the crop.

He said even mustard was not fetching the minimum support price (MSP). "We have no money to pay the electricity bills. We request the state government to give subsidise it as the BJP government did," he said.

Pradeep Chaturvedi, who had contracted out his mustard fields, 70 km from Jaipur, said, "A few days before the lockdown, I received decent price for my share of the crop at the mandi. The farmer who cultivated the field kept the crop standing. But the rain damaged it badly. Now what will he do. I felt helpless when he called to say about the damage." Said Mamta Bhupesh, Woman and Child Development Minister: "Farmers are worried these days. I have been getting frequent calls from my constituency. I have been trying to assure them that the government is working to resolve their problems."
Everything You Need to Know About Social Security Benefits

Social Security forms an important part of most people's retirement plans, but the program itself does much more than just that. In a nutshell, Social Security is designed to support disabled and retired workers and their families by providing a guaranteed source of lifetime income for those who meet certain criteria. Here's a closer look at how the program works, the different types of Social Security benefits available, and what you can expect when you're ready to claim benefits.

How Social Security works Social Security is a government program that collects taxes from working Americans and distributes these funds to qualifying disabled workers, retirees, and their families to help them remain financially secure. A worker typically must earn 40 credits to qualify for Social Security, though if they die or are disabled young, they may qualify with fewer credits. A credit in 2022 is defined as $1,470 in earned income, and you may earn up to four credits per year. You may claim Social Security based on your own work record, if you've earned enough credits, or you may be eligible to claim spousal benefits based on your current or ex-spouse's work record if this amount is larger than what you're entitled to on your own. Dependent children and other family members may also qualify for family benefits in certain circumstances. When you're ready to apply for Social Security, you must fill out an application online or at your local Social Security Administration office. A government representative will verify the information in your application to determine if you qualify and then you'll begin receiving monthly checks.

Types of Social Security benefits There are three main types of Social Security benefits: Retirement benefits

Disability benefits

Survivors benefits

Retirement benefits Social Security retirement benefits are for workers 62 and older who have earned at least 40 credits. The size of your benefit checks depends on your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) over your 35 highest-earning years, and the age at which you begin benefits. You must wait until your full retirement age (FRA) to claim your standard benefit based on your AIME. Your FRA is 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954, then it rises by two months every year thereafter until it reaches 67 for those born in 1960 or later.

Be Aware Claiming benefits before your full retirement age (FRA) reduces your checks.

If you begin claiming at 62, you'll get only 70% of your standard benefit if your FRA is 67 or 75% if your FRA is 66. Every month you delay benefits increases your checks slightly until you reach the maximum benefit at 70. This is 124% of your standard benefit if your FRA is 67 or 132% if your FRA is 66. Receiving Social Security benefits under your FRA could cause you to lose some of that money back to the government if your income is high enough. The Social Security Earnings Test withholds $1 from your checks for every $2 you earn above $19,560 in 2022 if you will be under your FRA all year. If you'll reach your FRA in 2022, it'll take $1 for every $3 you earn over $51,960 if you reach this amount before your FRA. Once you're past your FRA, the government recalculates your benefit to include the amount it withheld. Certain family members can claim benefits on your work record if doing so would give them more money than they're eligible for on their own work record. Eligible family members include: Spouses

Ex-spouses, if the marriage lasted for at least 10 years and they have not remarried

Children under 18, or up to 19 if still enrolled in high school

Children of any age who were disabled before 22 -- that is, not earning more than $1,260 per month in 2020, having a medical condition that results in severe functional limitations and that is expected to last 12 months or longer or result in death Spouses and ex-spouses must be at least 62 in order to claim benefits, and spouses and children must wait for the worker to begin claiming benefits themselves before they can claim family benefits on their record. Disability benefits Social Security disability benefits are available to adults 18 or older who are unable to work due to a physical or mental disability that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. You may still be eligible even if you haven't earned 40 credits, depending upon your age at the time of your disability. Your benefit is determined by your average lifetime earnings, so individuals who earned more while they were working will receive larger disability checks. You must provide the government with information about your work history and your medical condition, including relevant supporting documents, when you apply. The Social Security Administration will review your case to decide if you are eligible. If it rules in your favor, you'll receive disability checks for as long as your disability lasts or the rest of your life, depending on the condition. If it rules against you, you may request a reconsideration or appeal to an administrative law judge. Family members may be able to claim benefits on a disabled workers work record if they are: A spouse 62 or older or of any age if caring for a disabled workers disabled child or child 16 or younger

Ex-spouses who were married to the disabled worker for at least 10 years and have not remarried if they meet the same criteria as spouses

Unmarried children up to 18, or 19 if still attending high school

Children of any age who were disabled before 22 Survivors benefits Survivors benefits are benefits for the family members of deceased workers who qualified for Social Security.

Did you know? The amount of the survivors benefit depends on the deceased worker's average income, adjusted for inflation, and their relationship to the deceased.

Surviving spouses who are 60 or older (50 or older if disabled) may claim survivors benefits, as can surviving spouses of any age if they are caring for the deceased worker's child who is under 16 or disabled. The same rules apply for ex-spouses as long as they were married to the deceased worker for at least 10 years and have not remarried. The deceased worker's children under 18, or up to 19 if still enrolled in high school, are eligible for benefits, as are disabled children of any age if they were disabled before 22. Parents of the deceased worker may also qualify for benefits if the deceased was providing 50% or more of their financial support before they died. In addition to these benefits, the surviving spouse or children may be eligible for a one-time death benefit of $255.

Related Retirement Topics

Retirement Income Strategies Learn about how to increase your income in retirement. IRAs How Individual Retirement Accounts can fit into your retirement plan. 401(k) Understand the advantages of this type of workplace plan. Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed How to save for retirement when you're your own boss.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- State officials have put together a list of the top 10 items Ohio hospitals need to protect workers and patients during the coronavirus epidemic.

The list was displayed on a poster during the governors afternoon coronavirus briefing on Saturday. Gov. Mike DeWine urged manufacturers who can make any of these items to get in touch with the governors office so the state can boost the supply chain to hospitals. Email together@governor.ohio.gov.

It takes 66 pieces of PPE per patient, per day, to protect from spread of illness, he said. Businesses, career schools, dentists, vets and construction companies have already shared these types of items with hospitals to combat the shortage.

Though Ohio has received its share from a national stockpile, the state is still seeking a solution.

Just like every other state, its simply not enough. We need a lot, lot more, DeWine said.

The items are:

Surgical gowns (S, M, L, XL, XXL) Face/surgical masks (adult, pediatric) Gloves (nitrile, vinyl or butyl) N 95 particulate respirators Isolation gowns Face shields Tyvek coveralls Thermometers Foot coverings Ventilator tubing

A forecasted shortage of personal protective equipment and medical supplies has long been a subject of discussion during the daily broadcasts, but this is the first time officials put out a call for specific, prioritized items.

Again, if companies or individuals are interested in making those items or contributing, they can email together@governor.ohio.gov or contact the director of the states Administrative Services department, Matthew Damschroder.
President Donald Trump floated the idea of a quarantine as early as Saturday affecting residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for a short time to stop the spread of coronavirus from reaching states with fewer infections.

Trump told reporters at the White House that he had spoken with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, among others, and that ``a lot of the states that are infected but don't have a big problem, they've asked me if I'll look at it so we're going to look at it.''

But Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., who has criticized the federal government's response as his state became the country's virus epicenter, said the issue had not come up in a conversation he had with Trump earlier Saturday. ``I don't even know what that means,'' he said at a briefing in New York. '' I don't know how that could be legally enforceable, and from a medical point of view, I don't know what you would be accomplishing. ... I don't like the sound of it.''

The federal government is empowered under the law to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states, but it's not clear that means Trump can order state residents to stay put.

But before Trump spoke in Norfolk, Virginia, as a U.S. Navy medical ship left for New York City to help with pandemic response there, he tweeted: ``I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing ``hot spots'', New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.''

Trump said the idea of isolating many in the trio of Democratic strongholds in the Northeast was pushed by DeSantis, one of the president's most outspoken supporters. It comes a day after Trump made clear he wanted governors to be grateful when asking for federal support for the pandemic.

Trump said people ``go to Florida and an a lot of people don't want that. So we'll see what happens.``

In Norfolk, the USNS Comfort, a 1,000-bed hospital ship, had been undergoing planned maintenance, but was rushed back into service to aid the city. It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier a week after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy arrived in Los Angeles to preform similar duty on the West Coast.

The president acknowledged that making the 140-mile trip to Naval Station Norfolk wasn't necessary, but said he was doing it to recognize the work of sailors and medical professionals who worked to get the ship out of maintenance more than a week ahead of schedule.

``I think it's a good thing when I go over there and I say `thank you,''' Trump told reporters Friday. He added he wanted to make the trip to show ``spirit for the country.''

Trump, 73, is in a high-risk category because of his age, and federal guidance for weeks has advised those in that pool to refrain from non-essential travel of all sorts. He has already tested negative once after close contact with officials who came down with the virus.

``It doesn't mean I'm going to be hugging people and it doesn't mean that I'm going to be shaking people's hands and everything,'' Trump said. ``But I think it sends a signal when the president is able to go there and say thank you. So, you know, we'll be careful.''

It marks Trump's first trip outside Washington since March 9 and only his second outside the gates of the White House since a March 19 trip to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

It comes a day after the president took a round of steps to expand the federal government's role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic even as he warned the leaders of hard-hit states not to cross him.

``I want them to be appreciative,'' Trump said Friday after the White House announced that he would be using the powers granted to him under the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to try to compel auto giant General Motors to produce ventilators.

Yet Trump _ who hours earlier had suggested the need for the devices was being overblown _ rejected any criticism of the federal government's response to a ballooning public health crisis that a month ago he predicted would be over by now.

``We have done a hell of a job,`` Trump said, as he sent an ominous message to state and local leaders who have been urging the federal government to do more to help them save lives.

Trump said he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to call the governors of Washington or Michigan _ two coronavirus hotspots _ because of their public criticism. ``If they don't treat you right, I don't call,'' Trump said.

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GHA to Assess Spread of Coronavirus in Gibraltar

Coronavirus (COVID-19) represents the biggest challenge to Gibraltar in recent history. It could affect any of us. The Gibraltar Health Authority is responsible for keeping Gibraltarians safe from disease and it needs to collect as much information as possible to steer us through this crisis.

In order to do so, the GHA needs to test a proportion of the population of Gibraltar for Coronavirus, to assess the prevalence of the virus in the population.

Some of us will be receiving phone calls from the GHA over the coming days, asking that we participate in the survey. The caller will explain the procedure fully, but the aim is to make it as easy as possible to participate.

It is extremely important to co-operate fully, as the information gathered will be crucial for the GHA to assess the current situation and plan further action. Your result will of course be made available to you.

Remember, your participation will help to save lives.

The GHA would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Gibraltar for their incredible support in the face of the Coronavirus crisis. We are ONE and we will beat this virus.

The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: This initiative will allow the GHA to know how far the virus has already spread in our community and enable us to plan the best course of action to take in the days and weeks ahead. If you receive a phone call, please co-operate with the medical professionals and be part of Team Gibraltar. Be in no doubt, having this data will save lives.
Oak Grove Estates isn't very walkable, isn't particularly bikeable and has some transit options, according to Walk Score's rating system.

So what does the low-end pricing on a rental in Oak Grove Estates look like these days  and what might you get for your money?

We took a look at local listings in Oak Grove Estates via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to find out what price-conscious apartment seekers can expect to find in this San Antonio neighborhood.

Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

10649 Starcrest Drive

Listed at $700/month, this 650-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom space, located at 10649 Starcrest Drive, is 20.1% less than the $876/month median rent for a one bedroom in Oak Grove Estates.

The building features outdoor space. In the unit, expect to find air conditioning. Cats and dogs are not welcome. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

(See the complete listing here.)

10573 Starcrest Drive

This two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom dwelling, situated at 10573 Starcrest Drive, is listed for $775/month for its 710 square feet.

In the unit, the listing promises a dishwasher. There's also outdoor space available. Pet owners, take heed: This property is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Look out for a $775 security deposit and $50 application fee.

(See the complete listing here.)

10631 Nacogdoches ROad

Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 10631 Nacogdoches Road, which, at 715 square feet, is going for $789/month.

The building features secured entry and a gym. You can also expect to see a dishwasher and hardwood flooring in the unit. For those with furry friends in tow, this property is pet-friendly. Look out for a $400 pet fee.

(See the full listing here.)

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, get free local real estate marketing ideas and tools for agents, brokers and more.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
A Muslim cleric applying what he called the "Prophet's perfume" under the nose of coronavirus patients lying sick in a hospital in northern Iran has gone into hiding after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Morteza Kohansal, a proponent of Islamic medicine, was seen in a video on social media using his finger to dab the potion on patients in a Gilan Province hospital.

Not wearing any protective gear, Kohansal appeared to suggest the unknown tonic will cure those suffering from the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

The low-level cleric told one patient that he would feel better if he would sneeze. One of the patients in the video died a few days after the unplanned visit. Iranian media reported that Kohansal had entered the hospital without permission.

After the video received widespread attention, authorities later condemned Kohansals actions and said they were seeking his arrest.

Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur accused Kohansal of interfering in the treatment of patients and "disturbing public opinion." He said he hoped the judiciary would take action against Kohansal.

Iran is struggling to contain a deadly outbreak of the coronavirus that has officially killed 2,517 people and infected 35,408 as of March 28. Those numbers are believed by many Iranians and international health experts to be much lower than the actual numbers.

With tens of thousands of people infected and the government enforcing restrictions within society, misleading medical advice on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 has appeared all over social media and is being promoted by self-proclaimed doctors.

Among them is cleric Abbas Tabrizian, who presents himself as the father of Islamic medicine.

Tabrizian is reported to have said on his Telegram channel that the oil from violet flowers is effective against the coronavirus, a claim dismissed by health experts, including Mehdi Yusefi, the head of the Traditional Medicine Department at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Media reports said Kohansal is a follower of Tabrizian, who is believed to be based in Iraq.

Meanwhile, other so-called doctors have promoted the use of bitter gourd oil -- another practice without medical approval -- to prevent infection from the coronavirus.

Others have gone online in an effort to sell other fake remedies that they claim can either prevent the coronavirus from entering the body or cure an infected person of the COVID-19 disease, for which there is no known cure.

On March 10, Iranian Food and Drug Organization official Mehrnaz Kheyrandish was quoted by Hamshahrionline.ir as saying that a herbal syrup sold online as a cure for the coronavirus did not have an official production license and was therefore illegal.

Kheyrandish warned citizens not to trust too-good-to-be-true claims about untested and often illegal products that are being sold online as a cure for the coronavirus.

The surge in false information and bogus prescriptions for a cure prompted a warning from Health Minister Saeed Namaki, who earlier this week said some illiterate charlatans and demagogues are trying to deceive people under the guise of Islamic and traditional medicine.

Namaki said doctors and experts in Western and traditional medicine should work together to protect Iranians from the misleading remedies.

The head of Irans Union of Apothecaries, Alireza Rezai Ghahravi, also warned people not to believe those who claim they have made herbal cures for COVID-19.

"If China, the United States, and powerful European countries have been unable to produce an effective medicine for the treatment of the coronavirus, how can an apothecary discover a vaccine against [the virus]?" Rezai Ghahravi was quoted as saying by domestic media.

Yusefi, from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, told the official news agency IRNA that while there is no traditional medicinal cure for the coronavirus, some natural products can ease breathing difficulties.

Vahid Majid, the chief of Irans Cyberpolice, warned that those spreading rumors and misinformation regarding the coronavirus will be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the spread of false information has in some instances been destructive and even deadly.

In recent weeks, at least 200 Iranians have died -- the Associated Press reported more than 400 -- and many others have been hospitalized after drinking bootleg or modified industrial alcohol because of a bogus rumor that consuming it can make one immune to the coronavirus.

Iranian media also reported this week that a 5-year-old child had gone into a coma and lost his sight after being given tainted alcohol by his family in the belief it would protect him from the coronavirus.
Australian health workers face contracting COVID-19 due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in most hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Suppliers have warned that hundreds of hospitals are about to run out, reducing doctors and nurses to treating an expected exponential increase of coronavirus patients with little or no protection from infection.

Coronavirus screening clinic at Royal Melbourne Hospital (Photo: WSWS)

Increasingly, health workers are being forced to source their own supplies to ensure they and their colleagues have masks, goggles, gowns and gloves. Leading doctors have demanded transparency from the federal government and an accurate estimate of how much PPE is actually available across the countrys health system.

In at least one hospital in Sydneys southwest, nurses are reportedly making their own PPE. Wards have run out of masks and goggles and gowns are being reused for infectious patients.

There is deep concern, fear and anger amongst health workers over the inaction of the federal and state governments. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals spoke anonymously to the WSWS about the situation in their workplaces.

Mental health nurse in Melbourne

Many staff at my hospital have voiced frustration and disbelief about what has seemed to be a delayed response in active preparation. Now they have transferred or discharged patients to clear beds in preparation for the admission of coronavirus-infected patients. We have been told this will include the use of two other wards.

I have spoken to nursing staff on what will be one of these designated wards and they are extremely anxious that they have not been provided with any support for their own psychological well-being.

We are told that PPE will be available as needed. However, PPE is so far not freely available unless deemed clinically necessary. Stocks are low on hand sanitiser and alcohol wipes.

Many of us have discussed the need to adopt our own practices to reduce the spread of the virus to our families. This means changing out of our work attire before leaving the hospital to go home.

Requests for access to more hospital scrubs have been met with suggestions that staff get their own, as the administration anticipates shortages of them. This has prompted doctors and nurses I work with to organise their own supply. I have contacted the supplier and organised orders from the other staff, one of whom will then have to drive to the outlying suburbs to pick them up. We have to pay for these ourselves! The laundry for them will cost $60 a set.

Some staff I work with have moved into separate rooms in their house or moved out completely to protect their families from infection. There is a general consensus and fear that we will all be infected at some point. All staff are so anxious. The hospital is deadit feels like the calm before the storm. A senior nurse just told me she instructed one of her nurses to go home because she was vomiting due to being so anxious.

So far there is no clear plan in place to deal with infection across two 25-bed psychiatric units. We have been told plans and policies are still being formulated. Social workers have been informed they may be redeployed to other roles as needed including cleaning!

Health worker at a hospital on the New South Wales Central Coast, north of Sydney

The health district numbers of coronavirus infections are going up. The big issue in recent days is the patients that were passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise liner. Many of these patients were allowed to disembark the boat, got the train back to Newcastle and were symptomatic days after arrival. All of them currently are in isolation at home but it is clear from the increase in cases from overseas travellers this has contributed to the recent local spike.

There is a concern that we will run out of PPE and we have put orders in, but we are not getting what we ordered. On Tuesday we found some face masks used for industrial protection against organic solvents at Bunnings, so we purchased $1,000 worth. This is to safeguard against running out (and preserving) face masks.

I am at a loss to know what to do with other forms of PPE (gowns and gloves) but also purchased some goggles. The safety glasses they have given us are very basic and useful for droplet transmission, however I purchased goggles to minimise exposure via air transmission.

I am now scrutinising the patients more heavily and I am going to have to be in contact with each of them before they attend the clinic so PPE is vital. We are working on a list of patients that are priorities for treatment decisions and leaving patients who are coming in for routine monitoring. Patients in need of oxygen and who have cancer are priorities, the rest we will assess individually.

I must say managing my staff and their concerns has been a challenge this week. I have two staff suffering from significant anxiety.

There is a general feeling we are underprepared and there are frequent examples of disorganisation. While the traffic in the hospital has dropped, outpatient services are still open but again, most patients are being seen via tele-health.

A sample collector at a pathology centre in Melbourne

We have masks and gloves, but stock is low. Its still unclear whether to wear a mask when seeing a patient. The directive from management said to wear PPE when appropriate. When is it appropriate?

The coronavirus is revealing the inability of the private pathology industry to cope with the changes that are required to contain the spread of infection within the staff and pathology patient populations. This includes a failure to protect immunocompromised patients. They are forced to attend pathology collection centres for an urgent blood test, in line with their treatment regime. These rooms are open to the public with no screening in place.

The visiting staff who go the homes of sick patients to collect pathology samples are not being tested for the virus.

A comment on the Phlebotomy Australias Facebook page said that her collection centre had no face masks or hand sanitiser and she was going to go home if they dont arrive soon.

I discovered a new staff member I was training had come into contact with patients being tested for coronavirus. The results were still pending. I suspended her training with me as I was visiting several nursing homes and very vulnerable patients, but she continued to be moved around to other work sites as if nothing happened. There is a lot of pressure to fill all shifts no matter what happens.

I also know a few staff members who are immunocompromised themselves but are working through this crisis. One collector said to me that she will die if she gets the virus. She has no choice but to work because of her financial situation.

Doctor from a Brisbane hospital

Personal protective equipment remains under lock, with doctors and other staff needing to explicitly request it. Although I am not aware of any open admission of shortages at my hospital, we have been requested to ration our use of it.

Other hospitals have already gone further and have increasingly denied PPE to their staff. I spoke to one of my colleagues in Sydney and he informed me that at least in Liverpool and Westmead hospitals this is the case. Code systems of green, amber, and red have been introduced, with code red indicating that PPE will only be given for very limited cases, not at all representative of the safety needs of the staff.

PPE quality has also deteriorated, with many doctors noting on social media that instead of N95 masks and full gown PPE/hazmat suits (which are not vulnerable to failure against COVID-19) they are now being asked to re-use low filter surgical masks and little or no other gear. This equipment is completely inadequate for protecting against coronavirus, as determined by experiences in China and Europe.

My hospital promised drills and training to prepare for cardiac arrests and other emergencies in COVID-19 patients, which can put staff at higher risk of infection. So far, despite this promise being made over a week ago, no plans for drills have been announced.

Hospitals are increasingly disrupting the normal rotation and job responsibilities of staff to divert them into specific departments relevant to the care of COVID-19 patients, mainly ED [Emergency Department] and ICU [Intensive Care Unit]. They have not yet made any provisions for protecting those staff that may be at an increased vulnerability. There is no official policy stated as yet.

For junior doctors and particularly first year doctors, no provision has been made to accredit their training during this crisis. As such, they may lose a year of their training.
Real Housewives Of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson's ER nurse daughter, Briana Culberson has tested negative for coronavirus.

Revealing the news via Instagram, Briana's husband Ryan Culberson thanked followers for their kind words.

'The tests came back negative!!! Thank you everyone for your kind words and messages,' he wrote.

RHOC Vicki Gunvalson's ER nurse daughter Briana Culberson gets coronavirus all clear as test comes back negative

Nurse Briana: Briana was at work at a North Carolina hospital when she developed shortness of breath along with a cough on Tuesday morning; she is seen as a student nurse

Briana was at work at a North Carolina hospital when she developed shortness of breath along with a cough on Tuesday morning.

She texted her husband to say she would be heading home but would need to isolate from him and their young sons Owen and Troy.

'I started coughing bad at work this morning and was short of breath,' she wrote in the text, which he shared to Instagram on Wednesday. 'They put me on [a 14-day] quarantine and sent me home. I have to call occupational health in the morning to follow up and see what's next.

'No fever yet but I have chills. I'm going to sleep upstairs and probably will have to stay away from you guys as much as possible until I know more.'

Bad news: She texted her husband, Ryan Culberson, to say she would be heading home but would need to isolate from him and their young sons Owen and Troy

Tribute: Earlier this week Ryan shared a family picture, writing in the caption: 'I get my wife back tomorrow morning!'

US Marine Ryan wrote: 'Woke up to the text every medical family dreads this morning. Guys please take these warnings a little more seriously it's not just your family you're putting at risk!

'Not looking for sympathy just trying to raise awareness. Please keep Briana in your thoughts and prayers!'

Briana, 32, appeared alongside her mom on RHOC, before moving out of state to be with her husband Ryan, who was then stationed in Oklahoma.

Earlier this week Ryan shared a family picture, writing in the caption: 'I get my wife back tomorrow morning! 4 of the last 5 nights she's had to work the ER. I'm really not jealous of her job but super grateful there's people that'll do it! #nursesrule.'

Reality life: Briana, right, with her mom Vicki Gunvalson and Andy Cohen, back in 2013
B Kartheek By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: At a time when the number of COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing in Telangana and people are finding it difficult to buy masks and hand sanitisers, the State government is working closely with the Prisons Department to increase supply.

Prisoners have been roped in to manufacture face masks and hand sanitisers to contain the spread of COVID-19. As of now, the inmates of three central prisons in the State are assisting the officials in the task and helping them manufacture several face masks and sanitisers which are in huge demand now.

The inmates of Charlapally, Chanchalguda and Warangal central prisons have been roped in by the government for the manufacturing of essential safety gear owing to the high demand, said State Prisons Inspector General (IG) B Saidhaiah. Around 10,000 masks and over 1,000 litres of hand sanitisers are being produced each day by the prisoners since last week, he said.

The Prisons Department has also increased the production of cleaning agents such as phenyl, and detergent, considering the current scenario.

The sanitisers and face masks are being supplied to the officials of medical and health, police, revenue and municipality departments, who have been deployed at various levels to maintain complete lockdown, the IG added.

According to information, apart from supplying it to the officials of various departments, the prisons officials are also stocking them in their stores to sell them directly to the public at low cost.

Each of their mask costs just Rs 15 and a 100ml bottle of their sanitiser costs Rs 60, whereas the same costs around Rs 120 in the market.

Meanwhile, the acute shortage of alcohol-based raw materials has hit the production, though abundant manpower is available in the jails.Speaking to Express, Murali Babu, Superintendent of Warangal Central Prison said: We are producing over 3,000 masks and 100 litres of sanitisers each day. Around 40 prisoners are involved in the production. Though we are capable of producing more masks as we have more number of skilled inmates, the shortage of sewing machines is hindering the same.

The production can be increased, if the citizens voluntarily donate their sewing machines, jail authorities opined. However, these logistics are still being worked out.Dr D Srinivas, the superintendent of Chanchalguda Jail said that they are manufacturing sanitisers on a large scale, though the non-availability of 100 ml and 320 ml bottle caps has affected the process.

The bottle caps used to be imported from Mumbai or Bengaluru as we dont have production here. The sanitisers will evaporate if there is no tight seal. Thats why the supply is less than the production, he added.
California, with twice the population of New York state, has conducted fewer COVID-19 tests and is still waiting for results from most of those it has tested.

This lag is crippling Californias ability to track the disease and understand how effective shelter-in-place orders have been to contain it, experts say. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases have climbed above 4,600 in the state and more than 1,600 in the Bay Area. Deaths reached 92 in California, including 35 in the Bay Area.

Statewide, public and private labs have conducted 88,400 tests, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday in Los Angeles, and pointed to a problem with California testing: The results arent immediate.

Tens of thousands are still waiting for results, Newsom said at a news conference.

New York issued its shelter-in-place order later than California. It has the most cases and deaths in the country, and its numbers are rapidly climbing as hospitals become overwhelmed. But the state has conducted more tests than California: 145,753 as of Friday, according to the Atlantics COVID tracking project. Thats 65% more than California. Unlike California, New York had no pending test results on Friday, according to the Atlantics tracker.

Theres no clear answer why California, which implemented the countrys first shelter-in-place order, has lagged behind in testing. But a shortage of basic materials and other factors help to explain it.

New York got early approval of a state COVID-19 test. But even with new lab tests being approved in California, theres still an ongoing shortage of staffing and supplies like swabs and personal protective gear to conduct them  which has been true across the country.

To speed up test production, Newsom said the state was trying to procure 3-D-printed swabs.

Youre going to see those numbers continue to rise significantly and approvals are coming in on a real time on daily basis, Newsom said.

The U.S. testing capacity, although rising exponentially every day, lags far behind South Korea, which says it tests tens of thousands of people daily. With strong testing and quarantining measures, that country has seen relatively low numbers of cases and deaths.

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In the U.S., although a COVID-19 test was available early on from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed its own test. But processing at CDCs lab in Atlanta takes days to get results, and the initial test yielded some faulty results, requiring fine tuning.

On Feb. 29, the Food and Drug Administration relaxed its rules and started issuing emergency-use authorization for other public and private tests. New Yorks state public health lab was the first to get approval  on the same day.

According to the FDAs list of authorized tests, California does not have one. The states Department of Public Health did not respond to questions about why the state hadnt developed a test and whether it was working on one.

There are 22 state and county labs processing tests in addition to a growing list of private ones. Based on the FDAs Feb. 29 guidance, Quest Diagnostics was one of the first private companies to release a test on March 9 out of its San Juan Capistrano lab, a spokeswoman said. Many more have followed with approval from the FDA.

Infectious disease experts warn that lack of testing hinders the states ability to track and contain the disease.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

In the grand scheme of things, the whole idea of this sheltering in place is to bring the number of new infections down, but if we dont know where we are on the infection curve, were steering blind, said Warner Greene, a senior investigator with biomedical research organization Gladstone Institutes.

Testing is the key to know if were having an effect with our social distancing, he added.

Greene said that unlike other countries that aggressively tested early on for COVID-19, the U.S. got to the point where we had to shelter-in-place to not overwhelm the health care system. But until we know how many people have the disease and isolate them, we cant go back to normal without the risk of continuing to spread it, he explained.

Its frustrating. We are facing the pandemic, an acute, lethal virus, to which we have no antivirals and no vaccines ... and its like were trying to fight this virus with one hand tied behind our backs, he said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Robert Siegel, a Stanford infectious disease expert, said tests are useful for treatment  to confirm diagnoses and what kind of basic precautions to take  and for public health to isolate infected individuals and not spread the virus further.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

With limited tests, the CDC has issued guidance that only the most vulnerable people in at-risk populations with symptoms or who are already hospitalized should be tested. Bay Area residents who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms have been frustrated by red tape as they struggle to access testing.

Alameda resident Jennifer Dhillon, who has mild asthma, began to cough, feel fatigued, and short of breath on March 12, though she had no fever. She called her doctor at Kaiser Oakland who said it sounds like she had symptoms for the coronavirus. She said the doctor apologized that she wasnt in a high-risk category that qualified to get a test, but told her to let them know if she felt worse.

A spokeswoman for the hospital system said it was following CDC guidelines for testing criteria.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

Not knowing if she had the virus, Dhillon took precautions like wearing a mask and gloves and wiping down surfaces when she went out to protect other people. As a single mom, she wanted to know whether she was positive so she could protect her school-age son, who hasnt gotten sick yet.

From a public health perspective, its good to know how many people are showing up, Dhillon said.

Now that shes feeling better, she doesnt care as much about getting a test. What she wants is an antibodies test, a developing possibility to reveal whether someone who had the virus could be immune.

Were going to need that, if were going to talk about getting the economy going, she said.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took part in the campaign for Clap for our Carers, to give thanks to doctors, nurses, first responders and other medical frontliners -- especially the NHS staff who are saving coronavirus patients across the U.K.

Even though the couple is living away from Prince Harry's home country, they found a way to show support from abroad.

On Thursday, British citizens stepped out in their balconies, windows, and doorsteps to honor the health care professionals who are working tirelessly in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took to their official Instagram account and posted an Instagram Story with clapping emojis.

"Thank you for all that you continue to do! Applauding you from across the pond," they captioned the plain black background and added a ton of clapping emojis.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's tribute fell flat and was called "impersonal" compared to their in-laws, Prince William and Kate Middleton, along with rest of the royal family's tribute.

The Cambridges, Prince William and Kate Middleton, posted a video of their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, on the Kensington Royal Instagram account. The kids were enthusiastically clapping for the carers.

They captioned the video, "To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID-19: thank you."

It was not only Prince William's family who took part in the initiative.

Prince Edward, his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex and their children, Lady Louise and Viscount James also paid tribute to the frontliners as they applauded the healthcare workers in a video shared on the official Royal Family Instagram.

"We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners, emergency and public services."

The video was apparently from Her Majesty, the Queen, where photos of Queen Elizabeth meeting NHS workers in previous visits were posted.

The official Royal Family twitter account also posted another video in honor of the carers around the world, showing loud clapping sound from the Windsor Castle household.

In an Instagram story on the Clarence House account, Prince Charles -- who was recently tested positive for the coronavirus -- and Duchess Camilla wrote, "Thank you to you all."

pic.twitter.com/RPAE1ysh3p Hispanic News Prince Charles Virtually Joins Camilla to Clap for Health Care Workers After Coronavirus Diagnosis https://t.co/XnGrGEOVnB  HispanicNews.com (@HispanicNews) March 27, 2020

The caption was posted alongside photos of the couple shaking hands with NHS workers and images of themselves clapping from two different rooms.

Despite Prince Charles' recent diagnosis, it was reported that he is still working at his home office desk. Clarence House has also posted a thank you note from the Prince of Wales for the many "get well wishes" he received.

It was reported that Prince Harry has reportedly gotten emotional and worried after learning that his father has coronavirus. In Touch Weekly reported that Duke of Sussex felt guilty about not being close to home.

However, Prince Charles reportedly assured him that there is nothing anyone can do since he is in self-isolation.

Despite Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's "impersonal" tribute, the Duke and Duchess have spread the word about the NHS tribute.

They have also encouraged volunteers to get involved in giving back to the community and promote positive mental health, community work, and helplines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
An FIR was registered against a private company whose staffers, including a foreigner who visited the firm recently, are suspected to have infected 13 people with coronavirus in Noida and Greater Noida, officials said on Saturday.

The FIR has been registered under the Uttar Pradesh Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, on the basic of a complaint by Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Aurag Bhargava, the officials said.

As on Saturday evening, Gautam Buddh Nagar has recorded 26 coronavirus positive cases, including 13 people whose contact of infection could be traced to the Cease Fire company, the Health Department said in a statement.

The managing director of the company had gone to the UK and returned from there on March 1. On March 7, a staffer of the company had returned from the UK.

A foreign national had carried out the audit of the company on March 14, 15 and 16, but the company did not inform about it to the health department. Thirteen people of this company, including their family members, have got infected with coronavirus, Bhargava said.

Phone calls and live chat available on the company's website yielded no response when contacted by PTI for reaction.

Of all the cases recorded in Gautam Buddh Nagar so far, we have seen that there is no person whose source of infection is not identified, the chief medical officer said.

He said it is clear how social distancing and hand sanitation could be preventive against the novel coronavirus and had this company been cautious about these measures then such a situation could have been averted.

I appeal to the people that if anyone of you has returned from foreign or knows about anyone coming from abroad, please inform the health department and ensure such a person practices home quarantine without fail, Bhargava added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hong Kongs domestic helpers have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with the Philippine consul general revealing that 70 of them lost their jobs recently and his Indonesian counterpart warning of sanctions against unscrupulous employers and recruitment agencies.

Philippine Consul General Raly Tejada told the Post on Friday the consulate had assisted 70 displaced Filipino workers between February 9 and March 25, some 93 per cent of whom were affected due to the relocation of their employers.

Tejada, who did not offer any comparative figures, said the consulate had helped in settling outstanding money claims and securing air tickets from employers for those intending to return home. Around 32 have found new employers, while 38 have returned to the Philippines.

There are nearly 400,000 domestic helpers in Hong Kong  mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia. Photo: Nora Tam

There are nearly 400,000 domestic helpers in Hong Kong  mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Indonesian Consul General Ricky Suhendar said domestic helpers should take notice of the Labour Departments advice on Friday, which asked them to refrain from gathering in public places and stay home on rest days, while also maintaining social distancing where possible.

We also communicate closely with agencies and employers to stress the importance of supporting domestic helpers and maintaining their good health and welfare, Suhendar said. If they do not obey the regulations of Hong Kong and do not maintain communication between the consulate, agencies and employers, we will impose some sanctions. This is very serious advice from us.

The heaviest sanction includes revoking agencies accreditation. Agencies in Hong Kong cannot recruit Indonesian domestic helpers without accreditation from the Indonesian consulate.

Tejada called on all Filipinos in Hong Kong to stay home whenever possible in the next two weeks, as the city battles a new wave of Covid-19 cases.

He also urged employers to respect the rest days of helpers if they choose to stay home.

A recent online survey of 1,127 domestic helpers found more than half claimed they worked more in the past month than at any other time.

Story continues

Of the helpers surveyed, 40 per cent said they had not left their residence at all over that period.

The poll was conducted online by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body with the support of the Mission for Migrant Workers and the Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants, between March 8 and 10.

Shiela Tebia-Bonifacio, the chairwoman of Gabriela Hong Kong, an organisation that supports Filipinos in Hong Kong, has raised concerns about domestic helpers not having proper accommodation. She said helpers were often sharing rooms with members of the household they work for. It added that the helpers needed to go out of their house on rest days or risk exhaustion.

Proper space to rest is a basic need, but many migrant domestic helpers sleep in the living room or kitchen. How can you perform your duty if you cannot have proper rest? Tebia-Bonifacio said.

I know this [social distancing] will impact domestic helpers significantly. But we need to sacrifice for some time, so all Hongkongers can get out of this crisis

Ricky Suhendar, Indonesian consul general

The Philippine consul general called on domestic helpers to report any violation by employers.

The consulate considers the suitability of accommodation as an integral part of an employment contract that all employers have the responsibility to uphold, Tejada said.

Three more Filipinos in Hong Kong have recently tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of infections in the local community to 16. All are being treated in hospitals.

The virus has infected more than 536,000 worldwide and killed more than 24,500. Hong Kong recorded its highest ever daily tally of 65 cases on Friday, bringing the citys infection total to 518.

The Philippine consulate said it was in close contact with the Filipino patients.

The Philippine government stands ready to provide some financial help, about US$200 to cover their needs after recovering from the disease, Tejada said.

The Hong Kong government on Friday imposed social-distancing measures, including limiting public gatherings to four people, to combat the spread of the virus.

Tebia-Bonifacio , a 35-year-old Filipino domestic helper, said migrant workers organisations regularly conducted public health and hygiene education workshops, including asking workers to wear a mask.

We will observe social distancing among ourselves, she said.

One woman told us we will not die of the virus, but our family will die of hunger if we do not send them money

Lucinda Pike, executive director, Enrich, Hong Kong-based charity

Suhendar admitted the social-distancing move by the government would not be popular among domestic helpers, who mostly spent their rest days outdoors.

I know this will impact domestic helpers significantly. But we need to sacrifice for some time, so all Hongkongers can get out of this crisis, he said.

Domestic helpers enjoy their day out in Hong Kong. Photo: Dickson Lee

The Indonesian consulate gave away 223,320 masks to its citizens in the city, and the Philippine consulate made a similar move.

Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, chairwoman of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong, said several helpers who were in quarantine in their employers houses were still being asked to work.

They do not go out, but that does not mean they do not work, said the 50-year-old, who has lived in Hong Kong for 26 years.

Lucinda Pike, executive director of Hong Kong-based charity Enrich, which promotes economic empowerment of migrant domestic helpers, said if the helpers were unable to go out on their rest days, they would not be able to send money back home.

One woman told us we will not die of the virus, but our family will die of hunger if we do not send them money, she said.

Hong Kongs migrant domestic helpers last year contributed an estimated US$12.6 billion (HK$97.7 billion) to the citys economy, representing 3.6 per cent of the citys gross domestic product, according to a report. Pike said domestic helpers were providing an essential service at a time of crisis and faced high risks.

We know there are doctors and nurses in hospitals, but there are also 400,000 migrant domestic helpers here who are fulfilling care duties  If there are elderly people who cannot leave their homes because they are serving quarantine orders, the domestic helpers are with them, providing necessary care. What happens if they cannot provide that?

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Dont forget us: Hong Kongs hard-hit domestic helpers urge city to recognise their role in battling coronavirus crisis first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 17:53 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e0a679 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,lockdown,regions,Maluku,Papua,Tegal,Yogyakarta Free

A number of regions across the country have taken serious measures in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by imposing their own versions of regional lockdowns, as the central government in Jakarta has yet to issue any regulation on lockdown requirements and procedures.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the government had been speeding up the deliberation of a regulation on regional lockdown so that it could be issued immediately.

The minister, however, refused to use the word lockdown to describe the situation, preferring instead to call it a regional quarantine, as stipulated in the 2018 Health Quarantine Law.

Mahfud said the Home Ministry was assigned to coordinate with local administrations that had closed off their borders.

The following are regions that have imposed a regional lockdown, and the reasons why they did so without waiting for an instruction from the central government.

Maluku

The Maluku provincial administration has limited access to airports and ports, as stipulated in a decree signed by Maluku Governor Murad Ismail. The administration urged its residents to stay at home and maintain physical distance from others to prevent the disease that disrupts social security and order from spreading.

Arrivals and departures by land and/or sea transportation are limited except for important and urgent matters, the decree states.

The decree also requires any person arriving in the province to fill out an arrival form and self-quarantine for 14 days under the supervision of a family member and local health center.

The policy was imposed after the announcement of the provinces first confirmed COVID-19 case: a resident who moved from Bekasi, West Java, to the city of Ambon. The patient had been placed under surveillance at Dr. Haulussy General Hospital in Ambon since arriving from Bekasi.

Read also: Maluku to intensify border restrictions after first confirmed COVID-19 case

Papua

The Papua administration enforced a tougher approach by restricting entry into the province through both sea and air travel for two weeks starting Thursday. However, the transportation of goods is exempt from the policy.

Such measure was taken after the province announced its first two COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The lack of medical facilities in the province was a concerning factor, given that Papua has 45 hospitals, only 15 of which can handle coronavirus cases.

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was adamant that the restriction was not a lockdown. However, we are considering whether it is necessary to completely block [access to] Papua to protect Lapago, Meepago and Animha because they are particularly vulnerable, he said recently.

Read also: Govt suspends Papuan seaport, airport operations to curb COVID-19 spread

Tegal, Central Java

The Tegal city administration is closing its borders for four months from March 30 to July 31.

An aerial view of a city square in Tegal, West Java, on March 22, 2020. The administration has closed road access into the city in an attempt to impose a lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Antara/Oky Lukmansyah)

"We plan for a full lockdown. All borders will be closed for the safety of all, said Tegal Mayor Dedy Yon Supriyono on Tuesday.

The mayor said the city was in a state of emergency following the confirmation of one COVID-19 case: a 34-year-old man with a recent travel history to Abu Dhabi and Jakarta before he returned home by train.

Dedy said he had contacted state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia to get information about passengers who were in the same car as the patient so that they could be quarantined and tested. In the meantime, the administration has blocked roads in the city.

Read also: Families start Idul Fitri mudik early despite COVID-19 warning

Yogyakarta

Residents of Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, have limited access to several hamlets across the regency. For example, neighborhood units (RT) 01 and 02 of Randu hamlet in Hargobinangun village, Pakem district, blocked some roads to the neighborhood, leaving only two roads open.

Residents of Kali Tengah hamlet in Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, also closed off roads leading to their neighborhood on Saturday, March 28, 2020. (JP/Magnus Hendratmo)

We have blocked the road and put up a lockdown sign here yesterday [Thursday], RT 01 head Wantoro said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com. He added the road closure was initiated by the community.

Apart from keeping people from going in and out of the area, the community also urged residents living in other cities to refrain taking part in the holiday mudik (exodus), Wantoro said.

Sleman Regent Sri Purnomo said he appreciated the measures. (glh)
Midlands first full week of confirmed coronavirus ended with cases seven and eight being announced.

The seventh confirmed case is said to be a female in her 50s. The source is said to be traveled-related, according to information from the Midland Health Department.

The eighth case is a pediatric patient  later described as an infant. The source of exposure is also said to be travel-related. Both cases are said to be self-quarantining at home.

The news of two more coronavirus cases ends the week with the following numbers:

--There are eight confirmed cases in Midland County (three identified as male, three identified as female, and the other two were identified as juveniles or infants.

--There is one coronavirus-related death.

--Travel is said to be the source of exposure for six of the eight cases.

--There are 19 patients in the hospital with respiratory and other symptoms and have been placed in areas referred to as the COVID-19 wards. Three of those are in the critical care unit and one of those is on a ventilator. Dr. Larry Wilson, chief medical officer for Midland Memorial Hospital, said all 19 patients are being treated as if they have COVID-19.

--There have been 276 tests at Midland Memorial Hospital -- with five positive tests, 79 negative tests and 192 still pending. The other three confirmed cases came from tests at private offices and were reported to the Midland Health Department.

--Across the state there have been 23,666 tests, 1,731 confirmed cases and 23 deaths, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The DSHS also reports cases in Midland, Crane, Martin and Gaines counties. The first confirmed case in Ector County was reported on Friday. Ector County has 18 negative cases, 41 pending lab results and 59 people who had been tested total as of Thursday, according to the Ector County Health Department website.

No relaxing on the weekend

Officials at the press conference stated that Midland County residents needed to be on guard this weekend. The warm weather is a reason to be outside, but social distancing and hand-washing are still required to keep the coronavirus cases to a minimum.

My No. 1 concern going forward is this reality that we cant relax what were doing this weekend, Midland Mayor Patrick Payton said. As matter of fact, we need to stay vigilant.  Do not take it easy this weekend.

And for those developing symptoms, officials said it is critical to self-quarantine and stay isolated until there is no fever for three consecutive days.

If everybody behaves that way, well curtail this, Wilson said.

Coronavirus facts: Wilson said a person cant get coronavirus through a mosquito bite.  Those who have acquired coronavirus during their travels have done so through travel abroad and within the states.  The Midland City Council will meet Tuesday to talk about the declaration of disaster currently in place and if any changes are necessary.
A 24-year-old labourer was



killed and five others injured when the autorickshaw ferrying them during the national lockdown for the coronavirus outbreak overturned in Morena district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Mukesh Sikarwar, said Rau police station in charge Dinesh Verma.

"They had entered MP from Gujarat on foot at Pitol check post in Jhabua district. They hired an autorickshaw which was carrying 13 people at the time of accident. The injured have been shifted to MY Hospital in Indore," he informed.

With thousands of migrant labourers making the journey home by foot, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he had spoken to his counterparts in other states on this issue.

"I have asked them to arrange for food and accommodation in their states so that people don't move during the lockdown and spread coronavirus," the CM said.

"Those who have come till MP border are being taken care of and taken to safer places after following protocol to combat the virus spread," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A nurse is operating an equipment in an intensive care unit treating COVID-19 coronavirus patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 22, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Could Be Held Legally Responsible for Mishandling CCP Virus Outbreak, Experts Say

Months before the CCP virus developed into a global pandemic, Wuhan doctors tried signaling their concerns about a mysterious pneumonia caused by a SARS-like virus. Instead of allowing the warnings to flow to the public, Chinese authorities censored the information and reprimanded the doctors for spreading rumors.

As more information about the virus emerged, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) failed to share it with the rest of the world and instead downplayed its severity. It withheld information, censored reports, and made false misrepresentations to the Chinese people and the international community.

When the regime finally placed its first containment measure on Jan. 23 by locking down the virus epicenter Wuhan, it was already too late. The virus had already spread across the country and would eventually spread to 185 nations and territories globally.

One study, currently in preprint from researchers at the University of Southhampton in the UK, found that if Chinese authorities had acted three weeks earlier, the number of cases could have been reduced by 95 percent.

The CCPs suppression of information and mismanagement during the early stages of the deadly outbreak, which has resulted in sweeping human and economic devastation worldwide, is now raising questions about whether the regime can be held legally accountable for the viruss spread around the world. Some legal experts believe so.

James Kraska, chair and Charles H. Stockton Professor of international maritime law in the Stockton Center for International Law at the U.S. Naval War College, said he believes the Chinese regime will have to bear responsibility for violating its duty under international law.

Under the law of state responsibility, he said, if a country has a legal duty to either do something but fails to do so, then it can be held legally responsible.

The Peoples Republic of China is a treaty party to the International Health Regulations  which almost every country in the world is a party to, Kraska told The Epoch Times. And that treaty requires states to be very forthright or forthcoming, to expeditiously share information on a broad category of diseases, including new influenza-like illnesses, such as the coronavirus.

This is a legal duty that states freely have entered into, and China like all states that are a party  have agreed to do that, he added.

But it appears in this case, China did not fulfill its duty.

The logo outside a building of the World Health Organization during an executive board meeting on update on the coronavirus outbreak, in Geneva, on Feb. 6, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

The purpose of the International Health Regulations (pdf) is to to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.

The revised 2005 version is an agreement between 196 countries, requiring parties to notify the World Health Organization (WHO) of all events which may constitute a public health emergency of international concern within its territory.

It also requires parties to continue to inform WHO of timely, accurate and sufficiently detailed public health information available to it on the notified event, including information such as laboratory results, source and type of the risk, number of cases and deaths, and conditions affecting the spread of the disease and the health measures employed.

Withholding Information

Between mid-December and mid-January, the Chinese regime displayed a pattern of behavior of withholding information and making misrepresentations about the severity of the disease. Kraska said the delays to provide information to the World Health Organization (WHO) and false statements could be legally actionable under the law of state responsibility.

Chinese authorities started noticing a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause on Dec. 21, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Chinese regime reported the unidentified infectious disease to the WHO on Dec. 31.

There was evidence that showed a Chinese lab had already mapped out most of the virus genomea critical step for containing the outbreak and developing a vaccineon Dec. 27. The findings were subsequently reported to Chinese officials and the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. A government-run laboratory also mapped the genome on Jan. 2, but this information was not made public and shared with the world until about a week later.

It also took the CCP about three weeks after informing the WHO about the virus to acknowledge that the virus could be spread from person to person. The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission falsely stated on Dec. 31 that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission and that the disease was preventable and controllable. The narrative continued until Jan. 20, when the top Chinese epidemiologist, Zhong Nanshan, acknowledged that over a dozen health workers had contracted the virus at the frontline.

A doctor is sprayed with a disinfectant by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan, the epicenter of the CCP virus outbreak, in Chinas central Hubei Province, on Feb. 3, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in late January found that there is evidence that human-to-human transmission has occurred among close contacts since the middle of December 2019. WHO repeated the Chinese misrepresentations in its public statements, but added on Jan. 14 the disease could be contagious among family members.

Similarly, the Chinese regime also failed to expeditiously inform the WHO that health workers were also contracting the virus, information that would have been crucial to share in order to understand hospital transmission and risk to healthcare workers. The regime only announced the number of infections among healthcare workers during a Feb. 14 press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office. A senior Chinese health official said 1,716 health workers had contracted the virus and that six of them had died.

There was also evidence that the Chinese regime was preventing labs from sharing information about the virus. Hubeis Provincial Health Commission ordered a lab to stop testing, not publish information related to the virus, and to destroy existing samples on Jan. 1, according to Chinese financial magazine Caixin.

The Chinese regime was also not responsive to international requests to learn about the virus and the outbreak. U.S. Health and Human Sevices Secretary Alex Azar previously said the United States had been trying to send a group of experts to understand the outbreaks transmission and severity since Jan. 6. However, the United States repeated offers were left unanswered for a month. The Chinese regime eventually agreed to allow the WHO to send a group of international experts to study the virus in late January. This came after the WHOs director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus returned from a visit from China full of praise for its leader Xi Jinping and the regimes response efforts.

Meanwhile, the regime silenced individuals from raising the alarm about the burgeoning outbreak. When multiple Wuhan doctors attempted to warn their colleagues and the public about a pneumonia with an unknown cause, later known to be the CCP virus, authorities attempted to silence them and reprimanded them for rumor-mongering. The most notable of them was Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who ultimately succumbed to the disease after contracting it from a patient he was treating.

Li Wenliang. (Courtesy of Li Wenliang)

Kraska noted, however, that the CCPs failure to inform the international community about the virus should be distinguished from the misinformation of the Chinese regime to its citizens, which is a moral failure and cannot be actioned under international law.

Its part of what autocracies do because they very much fear open society and open information, he said.

David Matas, a Canada-based lawyer who previously served as a member of the Canada delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, expressed a similar view to Kraska, saying that the regime could be in violation of the Biological Weapons Conventions, to which it is a party.

Matas, who was also a member of the Canada delegation to the United Nations Conference on an International Criminal Court, told The Epoch Times that the convention does not only talk about weapons but also biological agents. Countries party to the convention are obligated not to retain biological agents other than for peaceful purposes, he said.

I would say that this coverup and repression is a form of retention of the virus, which is a biological agent. And so its a violation of the convention, at least in my view, Matas said, adding that he believes repressing information about the virus is not a peaceful purpose under the convention.

In order to enforce the convention, a party state such as the United States could then make a complaint to the U.N. Security Council, Matas said. The security council is then supposed to investigate the claims and produce a report based on the investigation. He added that if the security council finds Beijing responsible, it could trigger remedies.

The United States, for example, could then use the report as a basis to designate China as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). This would then allow people in the United States to sue the regime for the harm caused, without facing the hurdle of sovereign immunity, a legal rule that insulates countries from being sued in other countries courts. Currently, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria have been designated as state sponsors of terrorism.

Turning to US Courts

Some in the United States have already turned to domestic courts as a way to pressure the regime to provide a thorough account of its actions, and seek remedies for the injury and distress caused by the pandemic.

There were over 116,000 confirmed cases in the United States on Saturday evening, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, many states have already put in place containment measures such as shutting down non-essential services and schools and ordering people to stay at home. Some businesses including grocery stores and restaurants have also voluntarily closed.

Floridas The Berman Law Group, in partnership with Washingtons Lucas Compton, filed a class-action lawsuit against the Chinese regime on March 12, alleging that Beijings initial coverup resulted in the worldwide pandemic.

The lawsuit alleges that the CCP knew that COVID-19 was dangerous and capable of causing a pandemic, yet slowly acted, proverbially put their head in the sand, and/or covered it up for their own economic self-interest.

China has failed miserably to contain a virus that they knew about as early as middle of December, Jeremy Alters, the chief strategist and non-attorney spokesperson of the lawsuit from Berman Law Group, told The Epoch Times. In failing to contain that virus, they have unleashed a pandemic on the world, which, in very large part, could have been contained if they would have told the world health providers, people dealing with the issue, people who could help about it as early as early January.

One barrier to the lawsuit is the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which states that a country is immune from civil suits or criminal prosecution in the court of another country. There are, however, exceptions set forth under the FSIA, which allows private individuals in the United States to sue a foreign country for its actions in certain situations.

A health worker handles a coronavirus swab test at a drive-thru testing center for COVID-19 at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, on March 28, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Alters said U.S. lawsuits suing foreign countries have happened before, including ones against Libya, Sudan, Cuba, and even China. He said the two exceptions of the FSCA their suit will rely on are the commercial activity and terrorism exemptions.

We are going to fight to make China pay and there is nothing that is going to stand in our way of doing that, Alters said. This is the American way. This is what we do. When someone has wronged you, you can go to court to recover. When a country has wronged you in such a massive way, you should have the right to do the very same thing.

George Sorial, a partner of Lucas Compton, added that the lawsuit is unifying people in the country under a special cause.

What were doing on behalf of people in the United States that has been hurt, Sorial said. Were all aligned together and this is a bipartisan effort.

The two firms said they have received over 10,000 inquiries from people in the United States as well as from around the world about their class action. They say that some foreign nationals are asking to be part of the suit, while lawyers and law firms around the world are asking whether they can launch similar lawsuits against the CCP in their own countries.

Enforcement Under International Law

If there is a finding that the regime had breached an international convention or failed to fulfill its obligation under the law of state responsibility, countries could then pursue a range of remedies or countermeasures.

Under Article 31 of the Articles of State Responsibility, the responsible State is under an obligation to make full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act. There are many forms of reparations for injury under the articles including restitution, compensation, and interest.

Kraska believes the Chinese regime is unlikely to make reparations in accordance with the article, but injured countries could try to litigate their dispute with Beijing before the International Court of Justice or other international tribunals such as in the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague.

However, the regime cannot be compelled to participate in the cases due to the principles of state sovereignty, he noted.

But this does not mean countries do not have avenues to seek remedy from China, Kraska said. Countries could still avail themselves by using legal countermeasures against the regime. This means that countries can suspend their own legal obligations they owe to the CCP as a way to induce the regime to fulfill its obligations.

So that means its not just doing acts that are undiplomatic or that are unwelcome. Its actually suspending international law, meaning that the injured state can do things that are normally unlawful, such as violating the sovereignty of the state causing the damage, Kraska said.

However, one exception is using force against the country, he said.

Some of the countermeasures the United States could use against the regime include stopping payments to Chinese bondholders or suspending legal obligations under The World Trade Organization that could impact China.

The United States could also choose to close its markets to China and undermine the regimes vast internet firewall to provide uncensored information to the Chinese people.

Kraska said the list of potential countermeasures is limitless.

Domestically, lawmakers have started voicing their concerns over Beijings mishandling of the virus in the early stages.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on Capitol Hill on March 27, 2019. (York Du/NTD)

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) recently introduced a bipartisan House resolution, HR 907, to condemn the CCP for intentionally downplaying the outbreak through censorship and disinformation.

Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) are also calling for an international investigation into how CCPs initial handling of the virus may have endangered the United States and the rest of the world.

It is time for an international investigation into the role their coverup played in the spread of this devastating pandemic, Hawley said, in a joint press release with Stefanik.

The CCP must be held to account for what the world is now suffering.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the regimes coverup and mishandling of the epidemic, which started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, allowed the virus to spread throughout China and fan a global pandemic.

Eva Fu contributed to this report.

An earlier version of the article misstated George Sorials position at Lucas Compton, he is a partner at the firm.
Brisbane city parking permits will be automatically extended for a four months from the date of expiry as Brisbane City Council tries to ease the impact of coronavirus on residents.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane City Council wanted to ensure parking permits were not a concern for residents during these difficult times.

Brisbane City Council is easing the pressure on drivers during the pandemic by extending parking permits.

"The coronavirus impacts on the city are clear; we will extend permits for parking automatically until at least August, so permit holders dont have to worry about doing anything," Cr Schrinner said.

The announcement came as almost 1000 parking meters across the city were being switched off this weekend, with drivers allowed to ignore any parking meter not yet turned off on Saturday.
Atlanta: The Reverend Joseph Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped the Reverend Martin Luther King jnr found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought against racial discrimination, has died two years short of his 100 birthday, a family statement said.

A charismatic and fiery preacher, Lowery led the SCLC for two decades - restoring the organisation's financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africa's apartheid-era regime - before retiring in 1997.

Civil rights leader the Reverend Joseph E. Lowery speaks at an event in Atlanta in 2013. Credit:AP

Lowery, considered the dean of civil rights veterans, lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness - the election of an African American president.

At an emotional victory celebration for president-elect Barack Obama in Atlanta, Lowery said, "America tonight is in the process of being born again".
Travellers who recently returned from Chennai in India have posed a high-risk in Sri Lanka's efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, the country's health authorities said on Saturday, ordering them to immediately report to public health officers.

Director General of Health Services Anil Jasinghe said two of the COVID-19 positive cases reported on Saturday were those who recently returned from the Tamil Nadu capital.

He issued directions that anyone who returned from Chennai during the last 14 days must inform the public health officers of their area and must go into self-quarantine for 14 days.

Returnees from Chennai are high risk cases, they must immediately report to health authorities," Jasinghe said.

He said that in view of increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Chennai it is very important for the returnees to undergo quarantine.

The number of positive cases in Sri Lanka has risen to 110 and the government has ordered police to strictly impose curfew to ensure social distancing across the country.

Sri Lanka police said that they have arrested thousands, including many who were praying in a mosque, for violating a countrywide curfew.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army which is in charge of the quarantine process said that over 1,400 persons have left the quarantine centres during the last two weeks.

The Central Bank today announced that a 50 billion rupees six months stimulus is being made available to businesses including self employment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 (IANS) After two days of hectic parleys at the highest level, on Saturday, Karnataka finally relented and opened three border routes which are entry to Kerala for vehicles carrying essential commodities. Image Source: PK

Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 : After two days of hectic parleys at the highest level, on Saturday, Karnataka finally relented and opened three border routes which are entry to Kerala for vehicles carrying essential commodities.

Since Thursday night Karnataka had closed the routes, fearing the spread of Covid-19 to their state, as Kerala had the highest number of positive cases in the country and over a lakh under observation.

Following this, hundreds of trucks laden with vegetables and essential food items were stuck at the border of the two states since Friday.

On Friday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed strong displeasure at the way Karnataka behaved when they blocked the borders using sand and stones.

"There might arise situation for either of the state to go this side or that side. Now we have been told that they will remove it, according to our Chief Secretary," said Vijayan, adding that this will be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister.

And though he confirmed, later, things have been cleared and the vehicles would be allowed to enter, on Saturday morning Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the whole episode.

Soon, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda who has roots in Kasargode district in Kerala got into the act and after a few rounds of talks with the two Chief Ministers and chief secretaries, it was decided to allow vehicles to enter into Kerala from three state borders - one at the Mangalore side and two others at the entry of Wayanad district.

But the Virajpet border in Karnataka near the Kerala town of Iritty in Kannur district continues to remain closed, as there has been a strong local upsurge against opening of the border.

Now, that the borders have been opened, trucks laden with vegetables and essential commodities will now reach the Kerala markets, especially in the northern districts of the state.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) has the potential of not just redefining the rules and the balance of power in the international system, but altering the contours of Indian political life.

The scale of the pandemic, the national lockdown, the economic crisis it has already generated, and the fact that every citizen  irrespective of class, caste, geography, gender, age, religion  is affected, admittedly to varying degrees, makes Covid-19 the most significant event in recent Indian history.

If society is affected, and if the economic structure is altered, it cannot but have an impact on the way political competition takes place, and on the political choices people make in the months and years ahead. While the situation remains uncertain and fluid, four key variables will determine what Indian politics will look like once the crisis subsides.

First, how India manages Covid-19 will be the defining legacy of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. It is no longer Kashmir or the Ram temple or the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or welfare measures or demonetisation or Goods and Services Tax that will be the dominant element in how Modi is remembered in history. To be sure, these issues matter  and may even play a partial role in electoral outcomes and have long-term consequences. But it is whether India manages to minimise the fallout of the pandemic, with limited cases and casualties, or succumbs to it on a mass scale, with a devastating loss of lives, that will be the central element of Modis prime ministership. It is whether India manages to, in the wake of the health crisis, reduce the economic consequences, provide social security support and rebuild its core sectors  or whether it enters a long period not just of contracted growth but perhaps even sustained recession that will define Modis governance record. If he manages to lead India out of this pandemic relatively successfully, Modi will have sealed not just the 2024 election  but etched his name as a heroic, almost war-time, PM. And, if he fails, nothing else he does will be able to mitigate the damage from this crisis.

Two, the crisis will strengthen the power of the Indian State. It has shown that at a time of grave public emergency, the government is essential. Many fervent supporters of free markets have often argued for the retreat of the State and confining it to essential law and order functions, while leaving the private sector to take over other functions. This never happened in India, even though liberalisation opened up key sectors, rightly, for private sector participation. And private sector firms, including in health care, have a role in battling Covid-19.

But it is the government that is at the heart of the response. From getting Indians from abroad back home to determining the duration of a lockdown and implementing it, from deciding on the testing strategy for Covid-19 to embarking on extensive contact tracing of all those possibly infected, from allocating (what appear to be inadequate) funds to ramp up health infrastructure to announcing relief measures for the economically disadvantaged, from leveraging private sector support to representing Indias point of view internationally, it is the State which is responding to the crisis. All these measures are legal and necessary, but they will enhance its power and role beyond the crisis. The era of big government is set to return.

Three, the crisis has the potential to redefine the nature of Indian political discourse. Growth and welfare have mattered in shaping electoral contests  but religion and caste have been key drivers in determining political choice. This is not always negative, for identity-based mobilisation, especially of marginalised caste groups, including Dalits, has given them representation. But in this process, issues of public interest have often receded. Political leaders believe that they can win elections without needing to deliver better governance outcomes if they can get the religious or caste arithmetic right. Citizens often do not demand better public service delivery  and end up making choices based on either older parochial loyalties or abstract emotional appeals.

But this crisis may force both the political system and citizens to recognise that issues such as health cannot be marginal, but are central. The Aam Aadmi Partys victory in Delhi is an early indicator of this trend, where its perceived record on health and education helped it win the support of a cross-section of voters. But Covid-19 has now shown the indispensability of public health systems and the need to invest in a more healthy society and prepare better. No national election in India has been fought on education or health or social safety; voters have not decided their choices based on which party promises to invest more funds in building State capacity. But it is hard to imagine that in the future, political parties can go to voters without an agenda on health  or that citizens will not demand better services.

Finally, the entire episode will strengthen Indian federalism. The role of state governments has been critical in the battle against Covid-19. The constitutional division of powers has meant that not all decisions happen at the same time, slowing down responses in different geographies. Some states have done better than others. There have been coordination issues between the Centre and states and among states.

But the crisis has brought home the indispensability of Indias federal compact. A centralised, unitary structure would have struggled even more to deal with the emerging realities, given Indias spread, and specific local realities. The fact that there is an administrative apparatus that percolates down to grassroots, through state governments and Panchayats, has helped and will be an asset in this long battle.

Covid-19 will shape the legacies of governments and leaders; it may alter how elections are fought, what citizens demand and what political parties will need to deliver; and it will re-establish the primacy of the government in everyday lives.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 21:56:28|Editor: xuxin

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NAIROBI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Saturday confirmed 7 additional cases, as the total number of people testing positive for the COVID-19 has reached 38.

Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health, said that four of the 7 new cases are Kenyan citizens while two are Congolese and one is a Chinese national.

"The seven cases are out of the 81 tests that have been done in the last 24 hours on COVID-19 suspects," said Kagwe.

He said that out of the seven new cases, three are female and four are male, adding that that four cases had a history of travel from countries with active transmission while one had travelled to Mombasa and two did not have a history of travel.

He said that Nairobi is leading with 28 cases of those who have so far tested positive, followed by Kilifi with six, Mombasa with two, while Kajiado and Kwale counties have one each.

Kagwe said that out of the 38 positive cases, 21 are male while 16 are female, adding that tracing of contacts of the 38 confirmed cases is ongoing.

He said that the total number of close contacts that are being monitored stood at 1,141.

"Out of this number, 163 have been discharged after completing the mandatory 14 days follow-up period and currently, our teams are monitoring 978 close contacts while three individuals are admitted in hospital awaiting test results," said Kagwe.

He said that a total of 833 persons have been tested for COVID-19 in the country.
Officials Claim TV Actress Divyanka Tripathis Brother Has Coronavirus, She Negates Allegations, Terms Clapping For Medical Staff 'Hypocrisy'
A BSF officer and a CISF jawan tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday, first cases of the highly contagious infection in the paramilitary forces, officials said.

The 57-year-old Border Security Force (BSF) officer is posted at the forces' officers training academy in Takenpur area of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Officials said he is suspected to have been infected from a family member who recently returned from the United Kingdom.

The second-in-command rank officer has been admitted to a local hospital, an official said, adding that over two dozen BSF personnel who came in contact with him have been sent to quarantine.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) head constable who has tested positive for coronavirus is posted at the Mumbai international airport.

The jawan has been admitted to a local hospital. He might have got infected during his duty at the busy airport in the western metropolis, they said.

The about 10 lakh personnel strong paramilitary forces, also called the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), are deployed for rendering a variety of internal security duties under the command of the Union Home Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EU Leaders Give Final OK To Begin North Macedonia, Albania Membership Talks

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service March 27, 2020

European Union leaders have given North Macedonia and Albania formal approval to begin talks to join the bloc, two days after EU ministers gave the green light for the small Balkan nations to begin the process.

The move announced on March 26 is another step in the multiyear effort by the two countries to join the EU and comes after several disappointing delays caused by disagreement among bloc members over their readiness for membership.

No date was given for the commencement of formal talks, which can take several years before a candidate nation receives the right to join. Diplomats have told RFE/RL that talks will not start until autumn at the earliest, with the coronavirus crisis likely to cause further delays.

EU ministers on March 24 said they had approved beginning membership talks for North Macedonia and Albania, with a top German official calling it "good news in these gloomy times."

"Congrats to Tirana+Skopje, it's well deserved," Michael Roth, Germany's state secretary for European affairs, wrote on Twitter on March 24, after the agreement was reached during a video conference.

The decision to start the talks with the two countries has been long delayed amid a rift among EU members.

France, with support from the Netherlands and Denmark, urged a slower approach, arguing that the countries needed to make further reforms to reach EU governmental, economic, and rule-of-law standards.

Others have pressed to move quickly on bringing the two small nations into the bloc as an effort to slow moves by Russia and China to increase their influence in the Western Balkans.

"If we allow there to be a political vacuum in the Western Balkans, then others who do not share our values will try to fill this political vacuum," Roth said ahead of the March 24 talks.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi welcomed the bloc's historic decision on Twitter.

"Very pleased that EU member states today reached political agreement on opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. I wholeheartedly congratulate both countries," he wrote.

"This also sends a loud and clear message to Western Balkans: your future is in EU."

Politicians in North Macedonia hailed the decision and said it would allow the country to focus on the coronavirus pandemic that has disrupted life worldwide.

North Macedonia has reported 177 cases and two deaths, while Albania has had 146 registered cases and six deaths. But most experts say ascertaining an accurate figure anywhere in the world is difficult because of the lack of testing.

During membership talks, candidate countries must prove they are reaching EU standards in areas such as the free movement of goods, and in taxation, energy, and economic policies.

With reporting by dpa, AFP, AP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-leaders-give- final-approval-eu-membership-talks- macedonia-albania/30512156.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Barr, from Bogside, has served the NHS for 40 years after joining as a cadet

A retired nurse from Northern Ireland will go back to work on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic to head the UK's new mega hospital at ExCel.

Deirdre Barr, 62, will come out of retirement to work as director of operations at the new Nightingale Hospital in East London, which is preparing to house thousands of COVID-19 patients.

Barr, from Bogside, has served the NHS for 40 years, after joining as a St John Ambulance cadet.

Deirdre Barr, 62, (pictured) will come out of retirement to work as director of operations at the new Nightingale Hospital in East London

London Ambulance Service vehicles are seen in the east car park at the ExCeL London exhibition centre in London on March 27, that is being transformed into a field hospital to be known as the NHS Nightingale Hospital

She will now leave her home in Kent to work at the new hospital amid the global pandemic.

Her sister Dolores, 74, said that although the family were concerned for Barr, they were extremely proud of her decision.

'This is a massive job, and we're scared for Deirdre, but we are so very proud that she has taken it on. If anyone can do this, Deirdre can. She's always been the one person her whole family turns to in times of trouble and sickness.

'Now the whole of the UK will be turning to her. She'll handle it well. She has broad shoulders and never shirks from responsibility.

Barr, from Bogside, has served the NHS for 40 years, after joining as a St John Ambulance cadet

'This job is going to ask an awful lot of her but we know she'll face it head on. The pictures we are seeing of the Nightingale Hospital are terrifying but our Deirdre will take it all in her stride,' she told the Daily Mirror.

It comes as NHS nurses from all over the UK are sent to London as the capital is set to be struck by a 'tsunami' of cases in the coming weeks.

The ExCel hospital is set to open next week, with 500 beds and plans to expand to 4,000.

London Ambulance Service vehicles are seen outside the ExCeL London exhibition centre in London

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has described the plans as an 'ambitious project' that 'is just one example of what can be achieved when they come together to help the nation'.

It has been reported that as many as 13 makeshift hospitals may be needed in the UK to tackle the health crisis.

The UK saw coronavirus cases jump by 2,921 on Friday to almost 15,000, the largest increase so far, while the death toll spiked by a third to 759.
Sri Lanka' Health Ministry said on Saturday that a 60-year-old man tested positive for the COVID-19 had died while being under critical care at the National Infectious Disease Hospital on the outskirts of Colombo.



This marks Sri Lanka's first death from the COVID-19 outbreak.



The Health Ministry said in a statement that the man underwent a kidney transplant a few years ago and was admitted to the National Infectious Disease Hospital recently after testing positive for the COVID-19.



The ministry further said that presently 113 patients were confirmed with the virus in Sri Lanka after five patients tested positive on Saturday.



Out of this number nine patients had been discharged after fully recovering from the illness.



A total of 199 people remained under observation in designated hospitals across the country.



Sri Lanka is under a nationwide curfew aimed at preventing the spread of the virus and people have been banned from leaving their homes.








Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said that that the state government will take care of people who are fleeing to their native places amid nationwide lockdown and requested them to stay at their place.

"We have seen people who were hiding in milk tankers while trying to go to their native states getting caught. Many CMs have requested me to take care of people from their states. We request people to stay at their place, we will take care of them," Thackeray said.

The development comes after several migrant labourers were reportedly forced to walk all the way to their native places following the announcement of a 21-day nationwide lockdown.

The lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of coronavirus, has left migrant workers with no option but to take the long road home on foot as interstate transport has been stopped.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier requested the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Haryana to arrange food and lodging for citizens of the Uttar Pradesh living in their states.

A total of 724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The U.S. House passed a $2 trillion stimulus package Friday that economists and San Antonio city leaders say will improve efforts to mitigate the virus and help pave a path to economic recovery.

Grim economic projections spurred lawmakers to swiftly pass the package, which features measures affecting nearly every aspect of the U.S. economy.

The bill targets billions in aid to individuals and hard-hit industries, loans and grants for small businesses and $150 billion for state and local governments facing steep tax revenue shortfalls.

Under the bill, many San Antonians will receive checks for $1,200, and small businesses will be eligible for federal loans to incentivize business owners to retain their workers and stay open.

The bill also expands unemployment insurance benefits and injects billions into the health care industry.

This is a massive fiscal stimulus package, and we havent seen this, not even in the Great Recession, said Nathaniel Karp, the chief U.S. economist with BBVA. But the fact is this unprecedented shock also calls for a massive fiscal stimulus.

The government will send out checks for $1,200 to anyone earning less than $75,000 annually, but the amounts will be smaller for higher earners.

Those making $99,000 or more annually will not receive checks.

Parents also will receive an additional $500 per child.

In the San Antonio metro area, 90 percent of workers earn $85,000 or less  so nearly every adult will receive a check. That includes people on Social Security, with disabilities and those who may not have filed taxes in the past two years.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wants the government to begin disbursing the money to people sometime in mid-April. If youve filed your taxes in the past two years and received refunds directly deposited into your account, youre likely to be the first to receive the money.

If the IRS does not have your bank information, it could take several months to receive a check in the mail, though an exact timeline is not set.

If everybody does go out and spend their checks, it certainly has a chance to boost the economy, said Tom Stringfellow, president and chief investment officer at Frost Bank. Thats adding money back into the economy. Its creating new jobs, bringing people back online to carry out those jobs. There is indeed a positive to it that does trickle through for a period of time.  That trickle-down can provide one of the sparks to start the economy.

The federal package designates $150 billion to go to state and local governments. Texas is expected to receive about $11.2 billion of that to help cash-strapped local governments that have lost out on sales, hotel and other tax revenues.

San Antonio officials said the city could lose out on as much as $158 million in revenue as a result of the virus.

And unemployment in San Antonio, which had been at or below 3.1 percent for the past year, could reach as high as 14 percent, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez said.

The unemployment rate in the city during the Great Recession peaked at 10 percent.

This is unprecedented, Villagomez said Thursday to the City Council.

There could be a spending surge later this year as consumers spend their government checks. But even if theres a boost in sales tax revenue, much of the money that San Antonio brings in from the tourism and hospitality industry essentially has vanished.

The hotel occupancy tax is a good example. You probably arent going to get some recovery later that gets you that lost hotel tax, said Eva DeLuna Castro, a budget analyst at the left-leaning Center for Public Policy Priorities. Theres a difference between delayed consumption and spending that just flat out wont happen because people stayed home and didnt go on spring break.

The stimulus bill also creates a $300 billion fund for the Small Business Administration to provide grants and loans to help small businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

The loans can be forgiven if businesses meet certain conditions, such as retaining employees.

Its not clear just how much of the money to support small businesses will flow into San Antonio, but the demand for financial assistance has overwhelmed local lenders.

Bexar County Commissioners Court earlier this week approved a $5.25 million fund to provide $5 million in no-interest loans and $250,000 in grants to small businesses affected by the viral outbreak.

LiftFund, a local loan provider for small businesses, is administering the loans and grants.

After announcing the small business assistance fund Tuesday, LiftFund has received over 546 applications totaling $40 million in requested funding  from a $5 million pot of money, LiftFund CEO Janie Barrera said.

The nonprofit has also received 100 applications for grants of $5,000 or less, or $2 million in requests.

Weve stopped taking appointments, Barrera said. That money is gone.

Last week, more than 150,000 people statewide filed for unemployment benefits, overwhelming the Texas Workforce Commission website.

In response, the stimulus package more than doubles maximum unemployment benefits in Texas, offering an additional $600 per week for people who lose jobs during the crisis  on top of the current $521 per week maximum benefit in Texas.

The spending package also contains about $46 billion to bail out heavily affected industries. United and Southwest Airlines, which employ thousands in Texas, would receive at least a combined $29 billion.

Karp, the BBVA chief economist, expects up to a 20 percent decline in the U.S. gross domestic product in the second quarter. But he was optimistic a rebound powered by consumer spending could begin later this summer.

If the pandemic peaks in April or May, I think that by June we should start seeing significant improvement, and then you basically lose the second quarter in terms of economic activity, Karp said. From a consumer perspective, if you were going to buy a car and have the money, but you cant go to the dealership because of the lock-down, then youre going to buy it in July and August.

The recent plummet in oil prices, coupled with a sharp fall in demand, have worsened the economic toll in Texas, economists said.

While the oil industry is likely to endure pain in the coming months, Karp likened the the current downturn to oil busts in the 1980s and earlier this decade. He said the current crisis could lead to a more resilient statewide economy.

2015 and 2016 showed us Texas was very resilient, and as bad as it was, things got better, he said. Many companies took the opportunity to increase efficiency and improve innovation. None of that has changed. I think that will help contain some of the damage.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
New Delhi, March 28 : Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been keeping mum while the country is going through an unprecedented lockdown and migrants are struggling.

"While: 1) A locked down in our homes; 2) lakhs of migrants walk to reach home; 3) struggling to survive at home; and 4) many can't reach home. Home Minister has neither spoken nor been seen by," Sibal tweeted.

He also took a jibe at Shah that even he has not pressed any button, yet "we feel the current of government's decisions at home!" Shah, during the Delhi Assembly elections, had said that people should press the button so hard while voting that the current should be felt at Shaheen Bagh, where women were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act. However, the BJP could only manage to get eight of the 70 Assembly seats in Delhi.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 21:57:36|Editor: huaxia

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(Medical workers supporting virus-hit Hubei Province arrive at Changbaishan Airport in northeast China's Jilin Province, March 28, 2020. The third batch of medical assistance teams from Jilin, which consists of 404 members, returned from Hubei as the epidemic outbreak in the hard-hit province has been subdued. (Xinhua/Lin Hong)
An Amazon warehouse worker photographed in 2018.

Noah Berger/Reuters

Amazon warehouse workers say they're running low or completely out of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.

In a new CNBC report, five employees said both critical items "were either in short supply or completely absent."

2 Amazon warehouse workers, one in the US and another in the UK, corroborated the report to Business Insider.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As Amazon struggles to keep up with the dramatic increase in deliveries due to the coronavirus pandemic, its warehouse workers are on the front lines.

And these people, tasked with handling the goods shipped across the United States and around the world, are saying that it's become increasingly difficult to stay safe at work. Five Amazon warehouse workers told CNBC that their facilities were either running low or totally out of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.

Another 2 warehouse workers speaking with Business Insider, one in the US and one in the UK, confirmed the report.

One issue, an employee we spoke with said, is that other employees are pocketing the hand sanitizer for themselves.

"They had small squirt bottles on tables in break rooms," the US employee said, "but they were being stolen by associates so I'm unsure if they've been removed for that reason, or if we ran out."

purell hand sanitizer coronavirus

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon is massively staffing up its warehouse operations.

The company announced intentions to hire 100,000 people for its warehouse jobs, and instituted a staff-wide pay raise.

But current warehouse staffers have criticized the company for what they see as unsafe working conditions during a health crisis. "We work in stations where we are within 2 feet of each other most of the time," one person who works in an Amazon returns center said. "And walking to and from breaks, you're shoulder to shoulder."

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Amazon representative Timothy Carter told Business Insider that the company has, after speaking with experts, changed its social distance policy to reflect society standards of 6 feet/2 meters between each person. He confirmed that Amazon warehouses sometimes experience shortages on sanitation supplies, but the company aims to have those supplies refilled as quickly as possible.

The company has shuttered at least one warehouse after 3 employees tested positive for COVID-19, and employees at several other Amazon warehouses have also tested positive.

Do you work for Amazon? Got a tip? Contact Isobel Asher Hamilton at ihamilton@businessinsider.com or iahamilton@protonmail.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Akshay Kumar has pledged to contribute Rs 25 crores to Prime Minister Narendra Modis coronavirus relief fund. The actor took to social media to share the news and wrote, all that matters is the lives of our people.

This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai.  https://t.co/dKbxiLXFLS  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 28, 2020

Also Watch | COVID-19: Akshay Kumar rebukes lockdown violators: Khiladi ya Bewaqoof?

When we reached out to him to know more about this significant contribution, he tells us, You can call it my weakness or whatever, but I am never able to express my feelings or thoughts behind gestures of contributing to a cause.

Mention to him how he is always the first one to stand up for such causes and lead by example, Akshay adds, Main kaun hota hoon charity yah donate karne waala? (who am I to donate or make any charity?). Doosri baat ki hum apni country ko Bharat Maa kehte hain. Mera yeh contribution actually mera nahi hai. Yeh meri maa ki taraf se Bharat Maa ko hai. (We address our country as Bharat Maa. So this contribution is not from me. It is from my mother to my motherland, Bharat Maa.)

Known for films such as Airlift, Mission Mangal, Kesari among others that brought to screen patriotic flavour, the actor says he will always stand up for the safety of his motherland. Its important that I refer to my mother here because poori duniya mein ek fear hai that senior citizens will be ignored and left to themselves during this coronavirus crisis. Hum yeh soch bhi kaise sakte hain. Meri maa ki jaan important hai, aapke maa baap ki jaan important hai. (How can we even think like that. My mothers life is important and so is the lives of your parents.) No matter who we are, trying to save every single life is critical right now. Maine sirf iski taraf apna ek chhotta sa farz ada kiya hai (I have only done my small bit towards this cause), he says.

Soon after the actor pledged to contribute, PM Modi replied to his tweet and wrote, Great gesture @AkshayKumar. Lets keep donating for a healthier India.

Not just that, even his wife, Twinkle Khanna, lauded his gesture and tweeted in her signature witty style. The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said, I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing, she wrote.

The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said,  I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing. https://t.co/R9hEin8KF1  Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 28, 2020

Previously, Telugu actor Prabhas donated Rs 4 crore to the cause. Of this, Rs 3 crore is being given to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund, while Rs 50 lakh each go to the Chief Minister Relief Funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Also read: Krishna Shroff works out with boyfriend Eban, Disha Patani posts puke emoji

Earlier in the day, Telugu superstars Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi and Mahesh Babu had also donated to boost the fight against Covid-19. It was Pawan Kalyan who gave Rs 2 crore for the cause first. Soon, his nephew Ram Charan declared a charity of Rs 70 lakh while Ram Charans father, the veteran superstar of Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi, gave Rs 1 crore. Young superstar Mahesh Babu also gave a crore for the cause. Comedian Kapil Sharma also contributed Rs 50 lakh to the fight against Covid-19.

PM Modi on Saturday announced the creation of an assistance and emergency situation relief fund where people can contribute and help in the governments fight against coronavirus. The Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund will go a long way in creating a healthier India, he said on Twitter.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Highs today ran 51-62 with a window of some dry weather this evening for the viewing area.

Now, scattered showers are redeveloping with some isolated thunder.

Showers & storms will continue to increase tonight. 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. has risk of isolated severe storm at first, then increasing to a few embedded scattered severe storms. Peak in severe risk should run 5-8 a.m., it appears.

Main threat is hail. There is the risk of an isolated tornado &/or severe gust if a storm becomes more surface based just south of the warm front in the 60s warmth.

Temperatures will run 44-65 later tonight as temperatures rise in the south with movement of the warm front northward.

SPC has entire area in SLIGHT RISK for severe tonight to Saturday morning.

Break should ensue following this in the morning with sunshine breaking through & strong southeast to south-southwest winds from north to south.

Temperatures should skyrocket to 72-79 by afternoon with mugginess spreading northward.

There is the risk of a random, isolated severe supercell storm or two (with tornado, hail & wind risk) in our area in the general 5-8 p.m. time frame ahead of the congealing line in Illinois. However, it is uncertain whether this will take place. It would tend to occur along a bit of a secondary warm front & dew point front with 71-75 north of it & 76-79 south of it (& dew points 60-62 north of it & 63-68 south of it.) We will monitor.

Then, line should pass in the 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. time frame for the viewing area with scattered wind risk largely. However, a couple of isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out.

Much of the area is in ENHANCED RISK for severe weather tomorrow afternoon to tomorrow night.

MODERATE RISK is up in Illinois. It is that zone that is at risk for hail up to very large size & a couple of strong to violent, long-track tornadoes.

Since yesterday, up to 1.10" of rainfall has occurred from Benton & parts of Newton & Jasper through White to Cass & Miami counties (where some sub-severe hail occurred yesterday).

Now to Saturday night hows 0.75-1.75" of additional rainfall for the area.

I am still focusing on potential of narrow +2.50" band that could end up over the area.

Model below hints at 2-4" narrow band from Ford & Livingston counties in Illinois to Newton, Jasper to northern White to northern Miami counties.

Exact position & how much rain may exactly fall in such a narrow corridor is unclear, but just be weather aware of the flash flooding risk.

Higher-end minor to moderate river flooding will develop next week.

As a result of this, the Northern Indiana National Weather Service Forecast Office (in coordination with NWS Indy) has put out the Flash Flood Watch for White, Cass, Carroll, Miami, Howard, Pulaski & Fulton counties.

NWS Chicago Forecast Office has Flood Watch up for Iroquois River in Newton County.

Dry slot should then arrive with clearing tomorrow night, then low clouds roll in with temperature drop from 60s to 40s with cold front.

Some sprinkles & then some showers will pivot into area late Saturday & into Sunday.

West to northwest winds may gust 40-50 mph at times late Saturday night to Sunday morning with gusts still 40 mph even into the afternoon-evening Sunday.

Some sun may appear in the south part of the area Sunday, but the northern 3/4 should be pretty gray with a scattering of showers.

Highs will run near 43 in the north to 52 in the south.

Clouds late Saturday night to Sunday morning following storms:

West to northwest
BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday evening held a phone conversation with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that when the Chinese people were in a difficult time to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, the Austrian government and its people provided valuable support and help, Li said that as the pandemic is spreading rapidly in Austria, China firmly supports Austria's efforts to fight the outbreak and stands ready to provide assistance within its capabilities.

China will continue to provide convenience for Austria's purchase and transportation of medical supplies from China, Li said, expressing hope that the Austrian side guarantees the safety and the convenience of life of Chinese nationals, including Chinese students, in Austria.

Kurz said Austria is deeply impressed by China's achievements in fighting the novel coronavirus.

Noting that Austria and China are good friends, Kurz said that Austria is currently facing severe challenges in epidemic prevention and control, and still needs to purchase necessary medical materials and equipment.

He hopes that China will continue to provide help in this regard.
The UN Human Rights chief has condemned the pardoning and release of a former Sri Lankan army officer sentenced to death for killing eight Tamil civilians, including four children, during the island's bloody ethnic war in 2000.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet said the presidential pardon is an "afront to victims and yet another example of the failure of Sri Lanka to fulfil its international human rights obligations to provide meaningful accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other gross violations of human rights", the Colombo Gazzete reported.

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday pardoned former army sergeant Sunil Ratnayake who was sentenced in 2015 for the murder of eight Tamil civilians, including a five-year-old child, after more than a decade long trial.

Five defendants were brought to trial but only Ratnayake was convicted. The conviction was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in May 2019.

This was one of the rare human rights case from the decades long conflict that had ever reached conviction.

Condemning the pardoning, Rupert Colville, the spokesperson for the UNHCHR said the High Commissioner is troubled by reports that the convicted perpetrator of the Mirusuvil massacre has received a Presidential Pardon and was released from jail.

The UN Human Rights chief said that victims of such violations and crimes have the right to a remedy and this includes equal and effective access to justice and reparation, and that perpetrators serve a punishment that is proportionate to the seriousness of their conduct.

"Pardoning one of the sole convicted perpetrators of atrocities committed during the Sri Lankan conflict further undermines the limited progress the country has made towards ending impunity for mass human rights abuse," the UNHCHR said.

Government troops allegedly killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the final stages of the civil war - an allegation the Rajapaksas have denied.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka's main political party for the minority community, condemned what it said was an "opportunistic" decision to release Ratnayake.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To check overcharging of essential commodities, the district food and supply department raided shops in Kesar Ganj Mandi and Shimlapuri areas of Kot Mangal Singh here on Saturday. According to the officials, the action was taken after residents filed repeated complaints with them.

A team headed by Sukhwinder Singh, officiating district food and supply controller (DFSC, west), on Saturday inspected the areas where dealers were found selling essential items at a price higher than the market price.

Action to be taken against two

Singh said a wholesale dealer in Kesar Ganj Mandi was caught charging between rs 40-50 extra per rice bag to the retailers. Despite a warning by us earlier, the dealer sold rice at a higher price, which is a violation of the orders. We have written to the police department to file a first information report (FIR) against him for overcharging on essential commodities, he said.

Singh further said, Another wholesaler in Kot Mangal Singh was found violating the orders. But, when the team reached there, the shopkeeper managed to flee. We have asked the officials of the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department to keep a tab on the shopkeeper so that action can be taken against him.

H said the team has informed the shopkeepers and wholesale dealers to sell these commodities at a fixed rate and that if anyone is found not complying with the norms, strict action will be taken against him. He added that the licenses of violators will also be cancelled immediately.

Meanwhile, cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu warned the wholesalers and shopkeepers to not indulge in hoarding or black marketing of items in the hour of need. He said that if any person is caught indulging in such acts, he will be liable to strict action and an FIR will also be registered against him.

Ashu said that the state government is keeping a close tab on the entire situation and will soon begin the distribution of food packets for needy and poor persons in the state. He added that no person will be allowed to loot others during these testing times.
It's been a good week for China Jinmao Holdings Group Limited (HKG:817) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest full-year results, and the shares gained 6.0% to HK$5.09. Revenues were CN43b, 14% below analyst expectations, although losses didn't appear to worsen significantly, with a statutory per-share loss of CN0.54 being in line with what the analysts anticipated. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.

See our latest analysis for China Jinmao Holdings Group

SEHK:817 Past and Future Earnings March 27th 2020

Following the latest results, China Jinmao Holdings Group's 18 analysts are now forecasting revenues of CN61.0b in 2020. This would be a sizeable 41% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to climb 17% to CN0.65. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of CN69.6b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN0.71 in 2020. Indeed, we can see that sentiment has declined measurably after results came out, with a real cut to revenue estimates and a small dip in EPS estimates to boot.

Despite the cuts to forecast earnings, there was no real change to the HK$6.44 price target, showing that the analysts don't think the changes have a meaningful impact on its intrinsic value. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic China Jinmao Holdings Group analyst has a price target of HK$8.50 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at HK$4.30. This is a fairly broad spread of estimates, suggesting that analysts are forecasting a wide range of possible outcomes for the business.

Story continues

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the China Jinmao Holdings Group's past performance and to peers in the same industry. The analysts are definitely expecting China Jinmao Holdings Group's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 41% growth ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 16% per annum over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 16% next year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that China Jinmao Holdings Group is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for China Jinmao Holdings Group. They also downgraded their revenue estimates, although industry data suggests that China Jinmao Holdings Group's revenues are expected to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at CN6.44, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. We have estimates - from multiple China Jinmao Holdings Group analysts - going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Even so, be aware that China Jinmao Holdings Group is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
GM CEO Mary Barra.

Ruben Sprich/Reuters

General Motors' 69,000 salaried employees worldwide will defer 20% of compensation, starting April 1, as the automaker contends with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Executives and senior leaders are taking a 25% and 30% reduction, respectively, and board members are taking a 20% reduction.

Last week, GM suspended North American manufacturing and has more recently indicated that a March 30 restart is unlikely.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

On Friday, General Motors confirmed that its 69,000 salaries employees worldwide would have 20% of their cash compensation deferred, starting April 1.

In a statement, the automaker said, "GM's business and its balance sheet was very strong before the COVID-19 outbreak and the steps we are taking now will help ensure that we can regain our momentum as quickly as possible after this crisis is over."

The deferred compensation would be paid in a lump sum, GM said, no later than March 15, 2021.

In addition, GM's executives are taking a 25% reduction, while top leadership is taking a 30% reduction an board member will see a 20% decrease.

The automaker said that benefits wouldn't be affected.

GM suspended North American production last week and has more recently said that it would not resume car-making at the end of March, as originally planned. The company also announced that it would drawdown $16 billion in credit facilities to add to the approximately $16 billion it currently has on its balance sheet.

Beyond the salary deferrals, GM said that "about 6,500 salaried employees in the US" would join a "Salaried Downtime Paid Absence" program.

"These salaried employees will receive 75 percent of their pay while on SDPA," GM said. "This reduced salary is intended to be in lieu of unemployment compensation benefits."

GM said that these employees are in manufacturing and engineering roles and can't work remotely.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Irish estate agencies, law practices and banks have continued to operate, albeit in a restricted manner - and home sales have continued to go through. Estate agencies, however, have curtailed site visits and reverted to widespread use of online viewings (stock photo)

British people have been urged not to move house in reaction to Covid-19, in a significant blow to the property market.

However most professionals in the Irish property sector believe we are unlikely to follow suit.

Instead some are now speculating the measures could be connected to Brexit, which leaves British banking more exposed.

The UK banks this week announced their intention to cease giving new mortgages and expressed concern about granting credit when the economy is ready to go into freefall. They also voiced worries about the credence of house valuations conducted at this time.

Irish estate agencies, law practices and banks have continued to operate, albeit in a restricted manner - and home sales have continued to go through. Estate agencies, however, have curtailed site visits and reverted to widespread use of online viewings.

"Obviously in the uncertain world we are living in nothing is impossible any more, but I would say it is improbable that Ireland will follow," said Marian Finnegan, head of residential at Sherry FitzGerald.

Another professional in the banking sector said: "I can't see why it is necessary. Irish banks are observing distancing rules on the ground and in either case we take our guidance from European banking rules. There's no sign of any changes to procedures yet from there."

Keith Lowe, of DNG, added: "Loans are issued with the long-term view in mind, over 30 years or so, not just over a few months. The sector certainly expects a fall off in activity for a time but hopefully this will be a temporary experience.

"So long as people in estate agency and banking are correctly observing correct distancing measures, then business can continue." He noted that unlike Britain, the Irish Government has a big stake in the banks here.

Pat Davitt, of IPAV, reckons the move by British banks may be linked to Brexit. "The UK is on its own right now with no EU to back them up, so it's a bit more dangerous for their banks."
This is the woman who was fined $1,000 after failing to self-isolate after a holiday in Bali.

Joanne McEnally, 65, returned to Sydney from the Indonesian island on Saturday and was told she was subject to a public health order and was required to quarantine for 14 days.

But Mrs McEnally refused to follow the rules and left her home at the Lake Macquarie suburb of Redhead, NSW on Thursday.

This trip ended in her being one of the first people fined under the new rules.

Her husband, Tony McEnally, said his wife left quarantine to go and pick him up from an appointment and then the pair drove straight home.

Joanne McEnally (pictured), 65, returned to Sydney from Bali on Saturday and was told she was subject to a public health order and required to quarantine for 14 days

But Mrs McEnally refused to follow the quarantine rules and left her home at the Lake Macquarie suburb of Redhead, NSW on Thursday

When police received information Mrs McEnally contravened the public health order and visited her home, she was issued with a warning for breaching the order.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Officers received further information she had left her home on Thursday morning and was in breach of the order.

'We stuffed up, it's our fault we'll wear it  my wife is on the verge of having a heart attack I think, she's got chest pains,' Mr McEnally told 10 News.

'We unreservedly apologise for what we have done and will not step foot outside the gates of this house until the fourth of April.'

On Friday, NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller announced Mrs McEnally and a massage parlour on Sussex St in Sydney's CBD were among the first to be issued with fines for flouting the new social distancing rules.

'This lady had a caution on Monday, a caution to self-isolate. Yesterday she was found walking around the streets,' Mr Fuller said.

'Yesterday police came across a massage parlour which resulted in a $5000 fine to the business owner and three employees received $1000 fines. Of course this brings me no joy.'

On early Friday, NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller announced Mrs McEnally and a massage parlour on Sussex St in Sydney's CBD had been fined (pictured: A police officer telling beach-goers to keep a safe distance from each other)

The number of people infected with the coronavirus has climbed to 3,573 and 14 people have died as on Saturday

Those who can be fined include people who fail to follow quarantine orders or those diagnosed with coronavirs who similarly don't follow the rules.

Fines will also apply for breaches of the prohibition on outdoor gatherings of 500 people and indoor gatherings of 100 people.

It follows the passing of legislation in the NSW parliament on Tuesday to help tackle the spread.

Under the bill, police are able to arrest people reasonably suspected of breaching COVID-19 public health orders and return them home or to a place of detention.
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the $2 trillion CARES Act (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, a sweeping economic stimulus package which includes significant funding for libraries, schools, and the arts.

Specifically, the package includes $50 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for digital inclusion projects, $75 million each for the National Endowments for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a hefty $30.8 billion in relief for schools and colleges.

The bill is now heading to President Trump to be signed into law.

At a time when Americans are searching for a way forward, it gives me comfort to know that the library field has our eyes on the horizon," American Library Association (ALA) President Wanda Brown said in a statement. "Libraries are poised to lead during this unprecedented time of increased reliance on digital connectivity and will continue to do so when communities begin to recover. Funding through the CARES Act will certainly help to safeguard the services we offer, as well as library facilities and workers across the nation."

In recent weeks, the ALA has been advocating for funding in the package, and in a release asked that library supporters remain engaged and "sustain the momentum, especially as the next package takes shape."
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Linkedin Wiku Adisasmito (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 11:14 656 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206dfb593 3 Opinion COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia Free

A big country, in both size and population, Indonesia faces unique challenges when any infectious disease strikes. The countrys experience shows it is never easy to contain a pandemic, but not impossible to respond to the outbreak proportionally.



The respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is rearing its ugly head in the country, it demands swift and strategic responses as we are racing against time, a luxury we can no longer afford. And not to mention how to orchestrate the available health infrastructure across the country; piecing it together in a vast, cohesive network of testing laboratories and reference hospitals.



As of the fourth week of March, Indonesia alone had confirmed over 1,000 positive cases with about 87 fatalities. The good news is that 35 of the confirmed patients recovered and have tested negative for the coronavirus.



Worldwide, the virus has infected over 500,000 people and killed over 24,000. To live up to its name, the COVID-19 rapid response task force, has worked fast since its formation by President Joko Jokowi Widodo through Presidential Decree No. 7/2020 on March 13, almost two weeks after Indonesia confirmed its first two COVID-19 positive cases.



The task force shows the level of the governments attention to the matter by elevating the authority to an agency that has great public trust, vast assets and a network across the country to mobilize all resources to tackle emergencies or disasters, like the pandemic.



Rapid response task forces exist not only at the national level, but also at the province, regency and city level. As of Wednesday, as many as 31 task forces were already active in provinces and 125 in regencies and cities.



The decree is a somewhat powerful implement that lays the legal foundation for the task forces work, as it helps to address the usual red tape and bureaucratic inertia, deemed to be the main challenge when it comes to coordinating measures among government offices across the board.



The task force is strategically placed under the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, a nonministerial body that directly answers to the President.



Assessing and later adding 34 laboratories in a number of provinces as reference diagnostic laboratories is essential to identifying the burden of the disease in the community. The task force is now reviewing at least 12 additional state-run laboratories to enforce the already diagnostic laboratories, so by next week there will be 46 laboratories in total to serve the need for further testing to confirm positive cases.



Next month, we ambitiously aim to add hundreds or even close to 1,000 labs by expanding our reach to existing lab networks in hospitals that were previously used to test other illnesses.



It is important to get more laboratories involved in order to increase detection capability. The main objective is to treat patients as soon as possible and prevent the severity of complications faced by patients. The work can help reduce the ravaging spread of the virus and at the end help cut off the chain of transmission.



Laboratory work is crucial to screen and filter cases so not all people are admitted to a health facility for treatment. In a way, it helps hospitals that will eventually be stretched. This will ease the workload of doctors and nurses. Remember, these health workers still need to attend to other patients with a variety of other illnesses.



Another key component in the response is the existence of hospitals, and not just any hospitals because of the nature of the ailment and the danger it poses to healthy people treating affected patients.



Currently, there are 132 referral hospitals across the country that at least have special wards, negative pressure rooms and ventilators. In total, they have 1,100 isolation wards, 175 negative pressure rooms and more than 100 ventilators. To date, this an appropriate number to treat present confirmed patients.



And the newest additions are the athletes village in Kemayoran in Central Jakarta that has been transformed into an emergency hospital with more than 2,000 beds. Outside Jakarta, a project to turn an old hospital compound, formerly used to provide health care to Vietnamese refugees on Galang Island, near Batam, into a hospital with a capacity of 400 beds for treatment and 50 isolation beds, is nearly 80 percent complete. Sebaru Island, which has been used to isolate Diamond Princess passengers is also on the list.



While the infrastructure is being beefed up, another key measure is to increase the number of doctors and nurses outside of the outbreak epicenters (Java and Bali) as their colleagues on Java, supported by health volunteers, are taking on a gruelling battle against the virus that has infected many.



Rest assured that more decisions on increasing case detection and handling will be decided, but unfortunately that is not the only formula.



It is next to impossible to slow down the transmissions without public participation. The virus has spread among us, this fact is not rocket science.



Our key messages for prevention will be the same and will be repeated over and over like a broken record, if you may say, because without 100 percent commitment, participation and discipline, flattening the curve will remain elusive for us.



The more individuals in the community heed the preventive messages, the more chance we have to beat the virus. We can win this battle by combining our forces like we are fighting a great war, the war against COVID-19.

______

Lead expert of the COVID-19 rapid response task force and professor of public health at the University of Indonesia

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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President Trump, who is doing everything he can to fight the coronavirus, called for a Day of Prayer recently. He proclaimed, We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these.

But David Hogg, a Parkland shooting survivor, tweeted: Dont let this administration address COVID-19 like our national gun violence. [Expletive] a National day of prayer, we need immediate comprehensive action.

U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, famous for her declaration to impeach the [expletive] even retweeted Hoggs message. Dr. William Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, notes: Tlaib, as a U.S. representative, should be censured for her obscene assault on people of faith.

Meanwhile, an honest survey of American history shows that Trump is much closer to Americas true history by calling for days of prayer than are Hogg and Tlaib.

David Barton, a walking encyclopedia on the spiritual heritage of America, once told me, "Between 1633 and 1812, there were over 1,700 prayer proclamations issued in the colonies, where the governor would call the state to an annual day of prayer and fasting, annual day of prayer of and thanksgiving."

Bill Federers book, Americas God and Country, documents such historic practices.

For example, on May 31, 1775, one American colonist, Samuel Langdon, spoke before the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, calling on them to pray because of the ongoing crisis with Great Britain.

He lamented, We have rebelled against God. We have lost the true spirit of Christianity, though we retain the outward profession and form of it. We have neglectedthe glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy commands and institutions.

Who was this Langdon? Some backwoods rube? No. This was the president of Harvard, where Hogg attends school now.

During the American War for Independence, on at least 15 separate occasions, Congress called for national days of prayer, humiliation, and fasting. These were not namby-pamby, To Whom It May Concern-type prayers.

Here are two examples of Days of Prayer called by the Continental Congress  which, by the way, opened in prayer on its first day ever (in 1774), and Congress has opened in prayer ever since.

Example One: On June 12, 1775, the Continental Congress called for a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer; that we may, with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confess and deplore our many sins; and offer up our joint supplications to the all-wise, omnipotent, and merciful Disposer of all events; humbly beseeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our present calamities, to avert those desolating judgments, with which we are threatened. ... And it is recommended to Christians, of all denominations, to assemble for public worship, and to abstain from servile labour and recreations on said day.

At the end of the day, God answered the spirit of the prayer  that the crisis would be resolved. They could assemble physically in those days. With the coronavirus, at best we can assemble virtually for the moment. Yet thank God for these modern tools in our internet age.

Example Two: On March 16, 1776, the Continental Congress proclaimed another day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer: that that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure, and, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness; humbly imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural enemies; and by inclining their hearts to justice and benevolence, prevent the further effusion of kindred blood.

They continued to pray, recognizing that more suffering may yet come, as they worked toward their noble goal: But if, continuing deaf to the voice of reason and humanity, and inflexibly bent, on desolation and war, they constrain us to repel their hostile invasions by open resistance, that it may please the Lord of Hosts, the God of Armies, to animate our officers and soldiers with invincible fortitude, to guard and protect them in the day of battle, and to crown the continental arms, by sea and land, with victory and success.

This is quite an astounding prayer for an upstart, fledgling new nation, which for all practical purposes lacked a national army and navy.

But ultimately God answered their prayers  so much so that George Washington said that one would be worse than an infidel to not recognize the Lords help in our becoming an independent nation.

Earlier I quoted Harvard President Samuel Langdon in his 1775 speech, asking for Gods help. In that same speech, he made this petition  one that seems appropriate in our day, in our fight against the coronavirus: May the Lord hear us in this day of trouble....We will rejoice in His salvation. Well, maybe not all of us.
Bexar County and San Antonio officials confirmed seven new cases of coronavirus Friday bringing the San Antonio area total to 120 cases.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the number of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in San Antonio who were infected by community spread, 42, nearly equals those who caught it while traveling, 47.

About a quarter of the total number of San Antonio-area cases, 33 people, are currently hospitalized, Nirenberg said. There were no new deaths attributed to the virus on Friday.

Both Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson W. Wolff warned the public they need to prepare themselves for a spike in total cases because of an increase in testing that occurred this week.

Rural areas outside Bexar County and beyond have been reporting an increasing number of coronavirus cases as well, some have issued warnings upon learning that COVID-19 patients had gone shopping while they were infected.

Comal County reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus attributed to community spread and also said that the person has visited grocery stores including H-E-B and Walmart in the San Antonio area while unknowingly infected. Comal County has nine cases to date.

Wilson County reported its second case of coronavirus Friday. That patient had also been to public places while infected including an H-E-B in La Vernia .

Medina County now has a total of three cases and Kendall County has six cases as of Friday. Hays County has a total of 13 cases as of Friday afternoon.

Joint Base San Antonio also issues its own numbers daily and reported a total of 27 cases as of 8 a.m. Friday.

March 26: 113 cases | Two more deaths in Bexar County have been attributed to COVID-19, according to the latest numbers from the city of San Antonio. A total of five people have died from the coronavirus illness and a total of 113 cases have been confirmed in Bexar County. The number of cases has increased by 29 since Wednesday with 35 percent of cases being attributed to community spread.



Both of those who died Thursday in San Antonio were women with an underlying health condition, one in her late 40s and one in her 60s, city spokeswoman Laura Mayes said.

All who have died from the novel coronavirus in Bexar County have been women.

March 25: 84 cases | A third person in San Antonio has died from complications of COVID-19, San Antonio and Bexar County officials reported Wednesday evening. The patient, a woman in her 50s, had chronic underlying health conditions and was being treated at Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, where she ultimately passed away.

The total number of confirmed cases in Bexar County of the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus is now 84, an increase of 15 from Tuesday, according to new data from the Metropolitan Health District.

Thirty-two percent of the total cases for the San Antonio area are reported as being a result of community spread. Twenty-four percent of confirmed cases are people between the ages of 40 and 49, while 21 percent of cases are aged 20 to 29.

Metro Health reports they have conducted a total of 498 tests with 447 coming back negative, 50 positive and one inconclusive.

RELATED: Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com

Additionally, the first Air Force basic training recruit to test positive for coronavirus was moved into quarantine Wednesday and placed under observation.

The Air Force said he was from Kentucky and believed to have caught the virus before joining 668 recruits who arrived last week. They were placed in a dorm to spend 14 days before beginning their training  a new protocol established for each weeks basic training arrivals designed to slow the spread of coronavirus on base.

He became the first trainee, but the 24th airman here, to test positive for coronavirus, up from 17 from Tuesday. Overall, the joint base has tallied 97 COVID-19 cases among military, dependents, civilians and contractors, with 10 hospitalized and two who have recovered. No one has died.

Staff Writers Sig Christenson, Jessica Miller, Tom Orsborn, Peggy OHare and Chris Quinn contributed to this report.

This story will be updated daily with the COVID-19 case count.
SALT LAKE CITY, March 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Greg Ott, the CEO of Nav , a service that gives business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing , sent a letter to Congressional leaders offering Nav's support in overcoming the unprecedented challenges being experienced by small business owners and financial lenders.

"Now that President Trump has signed the CARES Act, the government is going to need immense help to get the $367 billion of relief funding into the hands of small business owners," said Ott. "As Nav's purpose has always been to help business owners understand their financing options and provide the simplest path to procurement, our company is perfectly positioned to help the government and SBA lenders disburse funds to business owners as quickly as possible."

In the letter, Ott suggests that fintech companies like Nav are uniquely suited to help streamline the access to relief funding for small business owners, pointing to four distinct factors:

1. Underwriting needs to be nimble.  "We have seen some of our lending partners go from free-flowing capital to tightened restrictions to no fundings in a matter of days. As small businesses survive this crisis and rebuild to thrive again, approved lenders disbursing these funds need the ability to adjust underwriting requirements. It must be dynamic and flexible to fit the variety of businesses in the U.S."

2. There is no one lender, bank or tech giant that can underwrite the diverse U.S. small business landscape.  "What a restaurant in New York City needs right now is different than what a landscape business in Mobile, Alabama needs. Multiple banks and non-bank lenders are needed. No bank or non-bank lender has built themselves to underwrite across the entire US SMB population. We recommend presenting all of those lending options through one portal to make clear the source of the funds and the confidence borrowers should have in those options."

3. Data is more important than ever.  "Just as underwriting needs to be nimble, the real-time data to understand a small business's financial health is even more important. Personal credit, business credit, cash flow, revenue, time in business, industry -- the full picture is needed to connect SMBs to the right option. Nav sits on all of this data for our business owner customers through our unique industry partnerships with all three major business credit bureaus, and we advise them on how to manage it with our education and expertise, all for free."

4. Small businesses need a trusted partner for the long haul.  "When the country looks back on the COVID crisis years from now, shoring up the small business ecosystem will be a pivotal moment. The stakes are high -- executing here can help strong businesses bounce back better than ever, but missing the mark can have a ripple effect on the economy for years to come if business owners don't understand how to manage these funds. Nav, along with the entire fintech ecosystem, is here to help meet the challenge."

Since the COVID crisis began, Nav has advised tens of thousands of American business owners on their funding options and seen record numbers of loan and credit card applications through its data-driven, rules-based lending marketplace.

"Small business owners need help now more than ever, and Nav's service and dedicated team are ready and able to be part of the solution our country needs," shared Ott.

Since launching in 2012, Nav has connected more than 1 million business owners to their credit data, affording the opportunity to better understand their financial health and ability to obtain access to capital.

A complete copy of the letter can be accessed here.

About Nav

Nav gives business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing & SBA funds. The leading Business Financial Management app, Nav hosts a robust marketplace with more than 110 business financing products , and gives business owners free access to personal and business credit reports from major consumer and commercial credit bureaus including Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and TransUnion. The marketplace uses a unique, lender-neutral approach to help business owners find the best financing options for their needs. Nav's solution is also leveraged by other business service providers to enhance their customer experience. The company has offices in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City. To learn more, visit Nav.com .

CONTACT:

Amanda Triest

Nav PR Manager

[email protected]

801-890-5024

SOURCE Nav

Related Links

http://www.nav.com


Two returning tourists have been fined $1,000 each after breaking their 14-day quarantine.

The man, 22, and woman, 23, arrived in Sydney from Thailand on March 24 and were told to quarantine at their home in Hillvue, Tamworth, for 14 days.

But instead the pair travelled 120km to Boggabri in New South Wales's west on March 27, where they came into contact with another person, NSW Police said.

Two returning tourists have been fined $1,000 each after breaking their 14-day quarantine. Pictured: International travellers arrive back in Australia on Saturday

Two passengers arriving in Sydney on March 28 being escorted by NSW Police from the airport loading dock into a waiting bus and being escorted to a hotel for isolation

Police visited the Hillvue home and issued them both with $1,000 fines for failing to comply with a direction under Section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW).

On Thursday five people were hit with fines for breaching quaratine regulations, including a woman, 69, who broke the rules after returning from Bali.

A massage parlour on Sussex St in Sydney's CBD was found to be still operating and defying a public health order.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The female owner of the business was issued with a $5,000 penalty infringement notice.

Three female staff members were also given $1,000 notices.

NSW Police officers have the additional power to issue Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to anyone found to be in contravention of a ministerial direction under the Public Health Act.

PINs carry on-the-spot fines of $1,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses.

These fines also apply for breaches of the prohibition on outdoor gatherings of 500 people and indoor gatherings of 100 people.

It follows the passing of legislation in the NSW parliament on Tuesday to help tackle the spread.

Under the bill, police are able to arrest people reasonably suspected of breaching COVID-19 public health orders and return them home or to a place of detention.
India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Saturday said it had entered into an arrangement with AgVA Healthcare to try and produce up to 10,000 ventilators per month to help bridge the shortfall of the life-saving medical device in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Maruti said AgVa Healthcare, which is an existing approved manufacturer of ventilators, would be responsible for the technology, performance and related matters for all the ventilators produced and sold by them. The company would use its suppliers to produce the required volume of components and use its experience and knowledge to upgrade systems for the production and quality control of the higher volumes.

"Any other assistance required would also be provided. MSIL would also help, to the required extent to arrange to finance and obtain all permissions and approvals required to enable the higher production. MSIL would provide these services free of cost to AgVa Healthcare," the company said in a statement. "The intention is to reach a volume of 10,000 units per month."

Also read: Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 lockdown may cost the economy Rs 8.76 lakh crore; here's how

A ventilator is a mechanical breathing device that can blow air and oxygen into the lungs and are critical in the treatment of people with lung failure, a complication suffered by patients with severe COVID-19. It costs anywhere between Rs 5-12 lakh. Currently, India imports around 80-85 per cent of all medical devices for intensive care, including ventilators.

With the number of COVID-19 cases in India rising every day and the death toll reaching 20, the shortage of ventilators in the country is likely to get woefully exposed in the days to come. According to a Brookings report, if the number of cases spirals in India, it may need as many as 1,10,000-2,20,000 ventilators as early as mid-May. It estimated the number of ventilators today in the country at a maximum 57,000.

The Indian government has reached out to other companies including Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata Motors and Hyundai to look at ways to manufacture ventilators expeditiously. Two days ago, Mahindra had said it had indigenously developed a low-cost Rs 7,500 ventilator and is talking to two PSUs in the sector for developing it further. Responses to a detailed questionnaire sent to Mahindra are awaited.

Hyundai has also said it has begun the process of importing COVID-19 advanced diagnostic testing kits that can serve 25,000 people in India from South Korea.

"We are committed to supporting the government's spirited fight against COVID-19 crisis. Our contribution towards supplies of advanced diagnostic testing kits will help over 25,000 people," said SS Kim, Managing Director and CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. "We will continue to monitor the situation closely and support the Indian government with multi-layered CSR initiatives to bring back normalcy at the earliest."

Besides the ventilator production, Maruti is also looking into the possibility of producing masks and other protective equipment. Krishna Maruti Limited, a joint venture of MSIL with Ashok Kapur, would manufacture 3-ply masks for supply to the Haryana and Central governments. Production is expected to start as soon as all approvals are received. Kapur would also provide 2 million masks free of cost as his contribution.

Another MSIL joint venture Bharat Seats Limited would be manufacturing protective clothing as soon as all approvals are in place. "All manufacturing units would take maximum care to protect the safety and health of the workers in accordance with the government recommended practices," the company said.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 6 more test positive in Gujarat, 2 in Tamil Nadu; exodus continues

Also read: Coronavirus: Here's how Mahindra, Maruti will produce ventilators at plants

Also read: Coronavirus impact: Factory shutdowns to cost auto makers Rs 2,300 crore per day
America has become the first country in the world to surpass 100,000 known cases of coronavirus with the number of deaths exceeding 1,700.

Donald Trump has introduced the biggest raft of economic stimulus measures in American history  a $2.2tn package  to help employees and businesses as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the US economy.

Early on Saturday, the number of people confirmed to have contracted coronavirus in the US hit more than 104,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.

The governor of New York, which has had 519 deaths and over 44,000 diagnosed cases, making it the highest tally of cases of any US state, warned the coronavirus crisis was far from over.

This is a different beast that we are dealing with, Andrew Cuomo told National Guard members working at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center which has been turned into a hospital. This is an invisible beast. It is an insidious beast.

He continued: This is not going to be a short deployment. This is not going to be that you go out there for a few days. We work hard and we go home. This is going to be weeks and weeks and weeks. This is going to be a long day and its going to be a hard day, and its going to be an ugly day, and its going to be a sad day.

More than 6,000 coronavirus patients are in hospital in New York with almost 1,600 currently in intensive care units. Healthcare professionals have raised concerns about shortages of staff, medical supplies, and medicine.

America has eased limits on distributing certain visas to Mexican agricultural labourers after being hit with a severe dearth of farmworkers in the wake of coronavirus chaos.

In the UK, 181 more people died from coronavirus in what was the steepest daily rise yet, increasing the national death toll to 759.

But Covid-19 tests for frontline NHS staff are to be trialled this weekend in an effort to get people back to work if their test comes back with the all-clear.

Some 919 new deaths from the virus have been announced in Italy  the largest number of lives the disease has claimed which any country has recorded in the space of 24 hours.
NEW YORK - Most workdays, Lisa Kilfeather is pushing paper. Lately, she's been pushing bodies.

She's the organized one in the morgue at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, the administrator who logs names and holds the hands of grieving family members. Now she's had to join the burly "dieners," or morgue technicians, whose job is transporting corpses and performing autopsies, just to keep her small team of four from getting overwhelmed. Every day there are more corpses than the day before.

"Right now, I would say it's doubled," she said, "and as everyone else is, we're expecting that every week it's going to get worse, especially here in New York City."

Her co-worker Devon Betts, a 37-year-old diener, keeps using the word "surreal."

"I've never been to war, but I feel like this is the closest I will ever get to it," he says. "You walk into work every day and you're battling what seems to be an enemy in this virus."

On Thursday, the death toll in the United States topped 1,000. In New York City, the total deaths reached 385, with over 85 people dying in the city that day and about 135 deaths across New York state. The state is worried enough to have asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help in setting up emergency morgues. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner has deployed 45 refrigerated trucks to hospitals around the city, with more trucks in reserve. A giant refrigerated tent that will serve as a pop-up morgue sits outside Bellevue Hospital, empty for now - a stark symbol of the gravity of the pandemic in New York City.

Recent deaths have included Kious Kelly, a nurse at Mount Sinai West, who was in a Facebook photo with two of his co-workers wearing garbage bags because they'd run out of protective hospital gowns. On Thursday, two Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers died of the virus - Oliver Cyrus, a bus operator, and Peter Petrassi, a subway conductor - after weeks of complaints that front-line workers didn't have proper protective equipment. Both had served for more than 20 years.

With visitors banned and staff strained, almost everyone is dying very much alone.

- - -

The grim reckoning is a reminder that much of postcard-perfect New York is built on death and pestilence: Washington Square Park was originally a cemetery until it overflowed with corpses from a string of yellow fever epidemics, so much so that a new cemetery had to built in what is now Bryant Park. And, of course, Typhoid Mary was a New Yorker. "It appears as if God were punishing this land for its sins," a Dutch pastor wrote of a dysentery outbreak wrote in 1668.

It's not just morgue capacity that's in crisis. The entire apparatus of post-mortem care - or deathcare - has been upended. With scarce supplies, dwindling staff, and the need to avoid exposure to the virus, nurses can't perform usual palliative care and linger with dying patients. Hospital chaplains are having to perform last rites outside patients' doors or through video chat.

Funeral homes, responsible for moving bodies out of morgues, are also being overwhelmed. They have smaller morgues than hospitals, and families struggling with quarantine and financial hardship on top of grief sometimes can't leave their homes to make timely arrangements.

As of last Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, mandated that only "immediate family" attend funerals, a number that is further restricted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation against gatherings of more than 10 people. Funeral directors are generally asking that only one or two people come in to the home to make arrangements.

Joseph Neufeld, who's running a funeral home he inherited from his father in Elmhurst, Queens, has had five or six coronavirus funerals. He said a grieving wife and son had to watch their loved one's casket lowered from within their car because they couldn't be near cemetery workers. Rabbi Hillel Fox, director of chaplaincy at Northshore University Hospital, said a Jewish woman whose dying wish was to be buried in Israel had to be buried by strangers because Israel's borders are closed.

Already, some morgues are running out of space. Kilfeather's hospital is using its morgue, plus the morgue of an adjoining nursing home, plus the refrigerated truck, which can hold up to 45 (once they put in shelves), plus a backup truck. They would never, "God forbid," she said, "pile people on top of one another."

Adding to the ethical questions are medical ones, namely if handling coronavirus-infected corpses is dangerous.

"We don't know," says Amy Rapkiewicz, chair of the pathology department at Long Island School of Medicine and autopsy director at NYU Winthrop Hospital. Because the coronavirus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, the risk is lower than Ebola, in which patients died from hemorrhaging and vomiting up blood, which turned funerals in Africa into a hotbed of transmission. But Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, said residual virus could remain in the respiratory tract and the intestines - "so the risk isn't zero."

The current protocol is to treat the patient as having died from a better-known infectious disease, or Level 3 pathogen, like tuberculosis or hepatitis, where the virus may remain in secretions from the skin that could become aerosolized when the body is moved, and then splash on someone's face or be breathed in through air. That means extra precautions (again, with scarce supplies) for all the front-line workers involved, including security guards and janitors. But the X-factor is how long the virus lives on skin. Rapkiewicz surmises that it might be in the realm of how long it lasts on plastic. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, that's up to 72 hours.

The only truly agreed-upon practice is that all body bags should be disinfected with bleach.

Cremation, though, is considered safe, since the virus can't survive those high temperatures, as well as burial, after an appropriate wait, with precautions.

- - -

Autopsies would help, but few are being performed, much to the frustration of pathologists around the country, according to Alex Williamson, chief of autopsy pathology at Northwell Health, who's organized an ad hoc email discussion of around 100 pathologists. Of that group, only three, Williamson included, have performed a hospital-based autopsy, which requires consent from next-of-kin, on a patient who contracted covid-19, the disease the virus causes. From that, he extrapolates that maybe 5 percent of coronavirus patients are being autopsied across the country "and that's generous."

There are some good reasons to avoid autopsies. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency, recommended "suspension of post-mortem or autopsy procedures," citing "the potential for very high viral load." Rapkiewicz, who is on Williamson's email list, explained: "Most people agree that doing brain removal is probably not a good idea," because, she added, the oscillating saw could send the virus into the air.

"Autopsies are the dead generously teaching us through telling their stories," said Williamson, explaining their importance. More autopsies mean better treatments and fewer deaths, and possibly a vaccine. They were crucial in understanding HIV/AIDS, he says. "It's a gift to the living."

For those who care for the dead, the toll is just beginning. Williamson has started having his team meet every morning to do an emotional check-in.

Betts says he's so exhausted at the end of every day he just collapses.

On top of all this, Kilfeather hasn't seen her 11-year-old daughter in two weeks. She had to send her to live with her father after a known coronavirus exposure at the hospital. At work, she is a machine, but "it's when you stop and you're going home that you just feel totally defeated," she says. "Dealing with death alone is emotionally draining. I can't tell you how many times I've cried with parents over their adult children and younger children. But now it's just like you've doubled those emotions because we're seeing so many more."
Washington, March 28 (IANS) Lou Leon Guerrero, the Governor of Guam, has confirmed that a group of American Navy sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt infected with the novel coronavirus have been quarantined on the US island territory.

As of Friday, at least 30 sailors on board the aircraft carrier have tested positive for the COVID-19, Xinhua news agency quoted reports by Fox News and ABC News as saying.

The US Navy has promised that infected sailors would stay isolated away from local residents and crew, the Governor said in her daily online press briefing on Friday.

"They assured me that the military will follow CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines with isolation and quarantine," Guerrero said, adding she was told that none of the sailors would be allowed to frequent the naval base in Guam and there would be a strict no-contact policy between civilians and service members.

"As the Governor of Guam, I have the authority to turn away a civilian cruise vessel; that authority does not extend to vessels necessary to national security. The admiral understands how seriously I am taking this, and he understands that my ultimate duty is to keep Guam as safe as possible." she said.

According to local media, the US carrier made an unannounced stop on the island and is currently docked at a Naval Base Guam pier after some sailors on board tested positive for COVID-19.

US Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly disclosed Thursday that the aircraft carrier docked at Guam and authority started testing all the crew.

"None of them have been required to be hospitalized because their symptoms are very mild... So they're on quarantine now on Guam," he said.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt has a crew of some 5,500 service members, among whom about 20 are originally from Guam.

The ship left its San Diego homeport in California in mid-January for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

--IANS

ksk/
The $2 trillion coronavirus relief act President Trump signed Friday will provide direct payments to most Americans and a vast expansion of unemployment benefits. Although many questions about these two programs have yet to be answered, heres some of what we know.

Q: How does the bill beef up unemployment?

A: The so-called Cares Act provides federal funding for three new programs, with names sure to confuse.

 Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. People who exhaust their regular state benefits, which max out at 26 weeks in California, could get up to 13 more weeks, for a total of 39.

 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: This will provide up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to people who are not eligible for regular state benefits. This includes people who are self-employed, didnt work enough to get regular unemployment benefits or have already run out. People can apply for these benefits and receive payment retroactively to Jan. 27. The program ends Dec. 31 for new claims.

To qualify, workers must certify that they cant work or lost work for reasons related to the coronavirus. Workers cannot get this assistance if they are getting paid to work at home, are receiving paid sick days or paid leave, or are undocumented.

 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation: This will add a flat $600 per week to a persons regular or pandemic unemployment benefit, but only until July 31 for everyone. It appears that the extra payment wont apply retroactively, said Katherine Wutchiett, a staff attorney with Legal Aid at Work.

Q: How much will I get?

A: In California, regular unemployment benefits range from $40 to $450 a week. Your benefit will be based on your highest-earning quarter in your base period, which is a 12-month period that starts one or two quarters before you apply. You can estimate your benefit at http://bit.ly/eddcalc. (The calculator does not yet include the extra $600.)

Pandemic assistance benefits will range from about $190 a week (half of the average weekly regular benefit in California) to $450, according to Maurice Emsellem of the National Employment Law Project.

That means some self-employed people could get a bigger check than workers whose employers were paying into the insurance fund on their behalf.

Bottom line: If your regular or pandemic benefit is $350 a week, you will get an extra $600, bringing it to $950 a week, until July 31, at which point it would drop back to $350. Remember that unemployment benefits are taxable.

Q: How do I apply?

A: Employees who have been laid off or had their hours cut can file for regular unemployment insurance at edd.ca.gov/

Unemployment. They can also apply by phone or mail, but it will take longer.

The state has waived the usual one-week waiting period before benefits begin. It is also waiving the usual work-search requirements for some claimants. The Employment Development Department encourages people who qualify as employees under state law to apply, even if they are being treated as independent contractors.

If youre self-employed, the process is not yet clear, but its likely you will apply the same way youd apply for regular benefits, stating your income for each quarter of your base period. You should begin receiving benefits, but EDD might try to verify your income using tax returns or other documentation, Wutchiett said.

For more information, see the EDDs coronavirus webpage at https://bit.ly/eddcoronavirus or the law projects fact sheet at https://bit.ly/

caresactfactsheet.

Legal Aid at Work can also answer questions about California. For details, see https://legalaidatwork.org/clinics-and-helplines or call 415-404-9093.

Q: Who will get a stimulus payment?

A: All adults with a work-eligible Social Security number, who are not dependents of someone else and who are below certain income thresholds, will get $1,200 each; their dependent children who were younger than 17 at year end will get $500 each. Generally, full-time college students younger than 24 are considered a dependent if they get more than half their support from parents. You do not need to have earned income or pay taxes to get the rebate. The payment is not taxable.

Q: What are the income limits?

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

A: The payment starts shrinking if your adjusted gross income is above $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (married filing jointly.) The payment phases down to zero if your income is above $99,000 (single) and $198,000 (married with no children.)

Q: How will I get a payment?

A: To determine eligibility, the IRS will look at your 2019 tax return if you filed it, or else your 2018 return. It will directly deposit the payment if it has your bank account information; if not, it will send you a check.

Q: What if I didnt file a return?

A: File one, even if you dont need to because your income is too low. To research free filing options, see www.irs.gov/freefile. If your only income is from Social Security or veterans disability payments and you didnt file a return, the IRS can use additional tools to locate you and send your payment, but you might want to file a return to facilitate payment.

Q: What if I made too much in 2019 to get a payment but my 2020 income is below the limit?

A: The payment will be refunded to you or reduce your tax liability when you file your 2020 tax return.

Q: What if I was entitled to the payment in 2019, but my income went above the limit in 2020. Will I have to pay it back?

A: No, according to a Senate Finance Committee fact sheet. However, Mark Luscombe, principal analyst with Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting, said, I am not sure that I see the clear authority for that statement in the CARES Act language, but the IRS might approach it that way.

Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender
The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 28,800 with almost 624,000 infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.

Here's a roundup of developments in RFE/RL's broadcast countries.

Iran

Iran has reported 139 new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities attributed to the growing pandemic to 2,517.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told Iranian state television on March 28 that the total number of cases in the country rose over a 24-hour period by 3,076, to a total of 35,408.

Iran is one of the worst-hit countries in the world by the deadly virus, along with the United States, Italy, and China.

Earlier this week, authorities enacted a new travel ban after fears that many Iranians had ignored previous advice to stay at home and cancel travel plans for the Persian New Year holidays that began on March 20.

President Hassan Rohani has pledged that authorities will contain the coronavirus spread within two weeks.

However, the continued rise in numbers, along with fears that the countrys health-care system is incapable of dealing with the surge of infections, have raised doubts about meeting that goal.

Russia

Russia will temporarily close its borders starting on March 30 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the government website said on March 28.

The measure will not apply to Russian diplomats and the drivers of freight trucks, among others, the government said.

The announcement comes as the countrys health officials announced three new coronavirus-related deaths on March 28, bringing the total number of COVID-19 fatalities in Russia to seven.

Two of the deaths were reported from St Petersburg and the Orenburg region, while the third case was recorded in the capital, Moscow.

According to health officials, the total number of coronavirus infections in Russia as of March 28 stands at 1,264, with seven deaths and 49 recovered.

Authorities in Moscow also closed shopping centers, restaurants, and larger parks from March 28 for at least a week.

Russian health officials warned this week that a sharp increase in the number of cases in the country is expected in the coming days due to expanded testing in Moscow. A consumer watchdog reported on March 28 that more than 166,000 citizens were under medical supervision for signs of coronavirus infection.

Earlier, the Kremlin said that a member of President Vladimir Putin's administration has been infected with the coronavirus, but that the person had not been in direct contact with the Russian leader.

Turkmenistan

The death toll among Turkmen migrants in Turkey who drank tainted alcohol has risen to 53, a source who attended funeral services told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service on March 28.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the 53rd victim died on the morning of March 28, and that at least 15 people remain hospitalized.

Doctors familiar with the case told an RFE/RL contributor in Turkey that the migrants from Turkmenistan had drunk tainted vodka and also rubbed it on their bodies in the belief that doing so would protect them from COVID-19.

The Turkmen migrants are being interred in a cemetery in Istanbul's Sariyer district.

RFE/RL has confirmed that relatives of victims have faced bureaucratic hurdles trying to repatriate bodies in the midst of coronavirus travel restrictions and border closures.

Police in Istanbul earlier said they had arrested more than 10 people suspected of selling the illegally produced alcohol.

Turkish police also reportedly confiscated tainted vodka along with guns and ammunition in the possession of the suspects when they were arrested.

Armenia

Armenia has reported two more deaths of patients who had been infected by the coronavirus, raising the Caucasus nations total to three fatalities.



In a Facebook posting late on March 28, Health Minister Arsen Torosian wrote: I regret to inform you that two deaths have occurred in [Yerevans] Nork infectious diseases hospital during the past hour.



The victims are a 55-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man who had the new coronavirus in combination with other chronic diseases, he added.



On March 26, Armenia reported its first fatality among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 -- a 72-year-old woman who Armenias health authorities said had suffered from multiple medical conditions, including heart disease.



Late on March 28, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian reported that 35 new cases had been registered during the day, bringing the total number of cases to 407.



According to official data, 30 patients with COVID-19 have recovered in Armenia.

Ukraine

Ukraine announced on March 28 that its number of coronavirus infections had reached 311, with eight deaths.

The new figures come as new measures ordered by the government come into effect.

Thousands of Ukrainians were reportedly lined up at the Polish-Ukrainian border on the evening of March 27 as they attempted to reenter Ukraine before new restrictions intended to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic went into effect.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in an online video address to the nation announced the countrys decision to shut cross-border travel after March 27, including for Ukrainian nationals.

Previously, the cabinet had issued a nationwide directive limiting passengers in all public transportation. All above-ground transportation such as minibuses, buses, trolleybuses, and trams should only ride up to half capacity.

Pakistan

China has sent a plane loaded with medical personnel and supplies to help Pakistan to fight the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,400 people in the country, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

The plane carrying aid to Pakistan was met at the Islamabad airport on March 28 by Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureishi.



The ministry said the supplies include test kits, masks, and protective suits. Beijing had previously sent ventilators to Pakistan and it is also assisting the country in building a special hospital to treat COVID-19 patients, officials said.

According to the ministry, the eight-strong medical team from China will stay in Pakistan for two week to assist local doctors.

Pakistan has reported 1,420 infections and 12 coronavirus-related deaths as of March 28. Pakistan says most of the infected people there are Pakistani nationals returning from neighboring Iran.

China is a strategic partner and major investor in Pakistans economy. Beijing has pledged tens of millions of dollars in investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, part of its ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, TASS, Interfax, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, dawn.com, and AFP
But coming from somebody like him, it meant a great deal to me just to be able to have that conversation, said Hawkins, who at the time worked as a legislative aide to then-council member Muriel E. Bowser.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Banashankari and Jalahalli police have filed cases against two home quarantined men who came out of their houses and created panic among the residents.A-28-year-old man, who had the home quarantine stamp on his hand, was arrested by the Banashankari police after he was found at a medical shop. The police said that he had visited the shop twice earlier.

An employee of the medical shop, Jagadish, told the police that on March 23, the man visited the shop and took a couple of tablets and gloves in the morning. He returned in the afternoon to take malaria tablets and again, he visited the shop in the evening. Jagadish, who grew suspicious, observed the man and found the quarantine stamp on his hand and informed the police.

The Banashankari police, who arrested him, said that despite clear instructions to stay at home, he was visiting public places and putting the health of other residents at risk. The man, who had returned from Ukraine, had been strictly told to stay at home. He was arrested and booked under IPC Sections 269, 270 and 271. He has been remanded to government quarantine centre.

In another incident, Dr Nalini AS, who is part of the squad, found a COVID-19 suspect on HMT Main Road near Jalahalli on March 24 after he escaped from the government quarantine centre. He had landed from Indonesia on March 17 and the officials had asked him to stay at home. Dr Nalini, who is in charge of the Home Quarantine Enforcement Squad in Bengaluru North, received a call from ASI Govindappa attached to the Jalahalli police that during vehicle checking, they found a man who had been advised home quarantine going out on some emergency errand. She shifted him to the quarantine centre, before getting him arrested.
Three men who allegedly lit around 40 fires near Bendigo and in the Campaspe region during this year's bushfire season have been arrested.

Bendigo Crime Investigation Unit detectives said the fires were lit between November last year and March 27 this year.

Police arrested the three men on Friday night, shortly after two fires were reported in the towns of Bolinda, 55km north of Melbourne's CBD, and Toobarac.

The three men arrested were a 36-year-old man from Huntly, a 38-year-old man from Huntly and a 32-year-old Long Gully man. No charges have been laid.

The trio appeared before an out-of-sessions court in Bendigo on Saturday, and have been remanded to appear at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Monday.
Given her royal title and status as the longest-serving female head of state in the world, Queen Elizabeth can seem hard to relate to.

But her lofty position as British monarch aside, the Queen knows that having close confidantes is just as important as selecting the right tiara or matching your umbrella to your outfit.

n addition to her beloved canine companions, HRHs inner circle includes some long-standing friendships with humans, too.

From dressmakers to fellow royals, here's a guide to the Queen's inner circle.

Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Known informally as Penny, Lady Mountbatten, 66, officially joined the extended Royal Family when she married Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl of Mountbatten in 1979.

Lady Mountbattens husband attended the prestigious Gordonstoun School with the Queens son, Prince Charles, who served as best man at their wedding ceremony and later walked the couples daughter, Lady Alexandra Knatchbull, down the aisle at her wedding in 2016.

It is said that Lady Mountbatten particularly impressed Queen Elizabeth following her husband Norton's affair in 2010.

When the Earl announced he was leaving to reside in the Bahamas (he would later return in 2014), Lady Mountbatten, who is the founder of the Edwina Mountbatten and Leonora Children's Foundation, as well as the patron of various other charitable organizations, took over the couples estate instead and carried on with Royal duties.

Establishing a firm friendship with the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, Lady Mountbatten can be spotted attending Royal Ascot and the Royal Windsor Horse Show alongside the Queen today.

Lady Celia Vestey

Lady Celia Vestey is another longtime friend of the Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth.

She married Lord Samuel Vestey in 1981, who served as Master of the Horse to the Royal Household, and she is an avid horse lover just like the Queen.

Following the birth of Prince Harry in 1984, Lady Celia was named as godparent alongside Prince Andrew. Her oldest son, William Guy Vestey, was a Page of Honour to the Queen from age twelve to fifteen.

Angela Kelly

Angela Kelly has served as the Queens personal advisor, curator and senior dresser since 2002, but she got her start as an assistant dresser in 1994.

Over the years, Kellys responsibilities have grown to include arranging for and designing the Queens clothing, jewelry and insignia, which requires conducting research ahead of royal visits to create the most appropriate outfits with the correct colors.

Shes the woman behind some of HRHs most iconic looks, like the pale yellow outfit Queen Elizabeth wore to William and Kates 2011 wedding and her mint green ensemble for the Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012.

The Queen attends Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 Royal Wedding in a design by Angela Kelly / Getty Images

But more than that, the 62-year-old has become a trusted friend of the Queens. Not only does Kelly see the Queen daily, but she also accompanies her on trips abroad and to events like London Fashion Week - she even lives on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

In 2012, Kelly published an inside account of her work, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, which the Queen authorized.

Of her relationship with the Queen, Kelly told The Telegraph, I love the Queen and everything about her. She has allowed me to become closer to her over the years. I would never overstep the mark and I remain in awe of the Queen. We are two typical women," she added. "We discuss clothes, makeup, jewelry. We say, 'Would this piece of jewelry look nice with that outfit?'

Princess Sarvath El Hassan

Who better to understand the Queen than a fellow royal?

Princess Sarvath El Hassan has been a member of the Jordanian royal family since she married Prince Hassan bin Talal in 1968.

The 72-year-old even served as the Crown Princess of Jordan from 1968 to 1999 and still represents the country at international royal events.

Given that Princess Saravath has spent over 50 years as a royal herself, her relationship with the Queen is long-established.
Vietnams exports to Japan rose by 6%. Agricultural exports amounted US$248.3 million, up 4.7% year on year.

Among the agricultural items, vegetables and fruits saw the largest growth of 25%, followed by cashew nuts 19.1%, and aquatic products 2.5%.

Last year, the two-way trade reached US$39.9 billion, up 6% year-on-year with US$20.4 billion from Vietnamese exports, up 8.4%, statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade showed.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 19:03 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e0aa89 1 Science & Tech Telkomsel,e-learning,mobile-network,Internet,students,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Cellular operator Telkomsel, a subsidiary of state-owned communications company PT Telkom Indonesia, is providing Indonesian students with 30 gigabytes of free internet to support the government's physical distancing instruction.

The free internet quota gives students access to online learning sites from home.

"This is part of our initiative to actively support and collaborate with the government in curbing the spread of COVID-19," Telkomsel external corporate communications general manager Aldin Hasyim told The Jakarta Post via text message.

The 30 GB of free internet is divided into two internet packages, "Ruangguru free access", which gives students access to online tutoring platform Ruangguru.com, and "Ilmupedia free access", which enables them to utilize several online learning apps and websites such as Web Quipper, Zenius, Cakap, Bahaso, sekolah.mu and various university e-learning tools.

According to Aldin, the free internet quota will be available for 30 days after registration. "It will be accessible to a total of 130 state and private universities across the country," he added.

Read also: Studying from home: Seven online learning platforms for students

Among the students eligible for the free internet  which reportedly does not include Google, YouTube or Facebook  are those who study at the University of Indonesia, Trisakti University and Binus University.

Aldin said the operator had been experiencing an upturn of internet traffic during the distance learning period thanks to the increased usage of e-learning apps, online conference meeting apps and COVID-19 information platforms.

"We've seen a 13 percent increase in broadband consumption compared to the same period last year due to social distancing calls," he said.

As of Friday, Indonesia had recorded a total of 1,155 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 102 deaths. The COVID-19 emergency status in Indonesia, declared by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), was recently extended to the end of May, compelling people to remain at home in the weeks ahead. (trn/kes)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 17:29:20|Editor: xuxin

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LUANDA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Angolan government has decided to review the general state budget for 2020 in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a drop in oil prices.

The decision was announced in a final communique at the end of a meeting of the country's Council of Ministers on Friday.

Angolan Minister of Finance Vera Daves said the proposed budget revision should be submitted to the National Assembly by May 15.

According to Daves, the decision was made due to a wave of several "shocks," including the COVID-19 spread and the decline of oil prices in the international market.

The official stressed that in terms of public health, the country is being affected by restrictions on mobility, international trade and the production of various goods that are reflected in the reduction of trade flows.

Angola has declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said.

The 2020 budget foresees expenses and revenues in the amount of 15.87 trillion kwanzas (29.57 billion U.S. dollars) and 4.5 trillion Kwanzas compared to the revised state budget for 2019.

The country's minister of finance said the current review of the state budget would be done with a reference estimate of the oil prices below 35 dollars per barrel. The budget was initially drawn up with a reference estimate of 55 dollars per barrel.
Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly groped a teenage girl during a naked massage while paedophile Jeffrey Epstein watched, a new book claims.

Maxwell, 58, allegedly sexually assaulted 16-year-old Annie Farmer at Epsteins 7,500-acre ranch in New Mexico, according to the book by Bradley Edwards, a lawyer for more than 20 of Epsteins victims.

The book, from which we are summarising stories in The Mail on Sunday, details Maxwells alleged role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein. According to some accounts, she was even involved in some of the abuse herself.

Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, attending to an Alzheimer's Association event in New York in 2010

It raises serious questions as to why Maxwell, whose whereabouts have been a mystery for months, has never been charged with any wrongdoing. She has always maintained that allegations against her are abhorrent and untrue.

The book also claims that:

Maxwell, Epsteins ex-girlfriend, was at the wedding of former US President Bill Clintons daughter Chelsea in July 2010, a year after Epstein was released from jail as a convicted sex offender;

She loved to take nude photographs of girls and allegedly took many of the pictures displayed on the walls of Epsteins mansions.

According to one witness, she felt indebted to Epstein for helping her following the mysterious death in 1991 of her father, disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell;

Epstein wasnt beyond killing someone to keep his sex addiction alive, the witness claimed.

Annie Farmer, now 40, helped keep Epstein behind bars last July after giving evidence about her ordeal as a teenager during a bail hearing. The financier was found dead in his cell the following month. Ms Farmer is now suing Epsteins estate and Maxwell in the New York district court for damages.

According to Ms Farmers testimony, detailed in the book, she was flown to the financiers vast Zorro Ranch after he offered to pay for her to attend a summer educational programme in Thailand.

Prince Andrew pictured with his arm around Virginia Roberts, who has accused the Queen's 'favourite son' of having sex with her

The book sets out how Epstein and Maxwell took her shopping before returning to the ranch, where the teenager modelled a pair of cowboy boots they bought her. She claims Epstein then said she deserved a massage.

She felt uncomfortable because Ghislaine made her get naked before covering her with a sheet, Edwards writes of her testimony.

Maxwell loved to take nude photos of girls

She claims that Ghislaine then massaged her. At one point, Ms Farmer alleges Ghislaine pulled the covers off, exposing her breasts before beginning to massage them. When the massage was over, Ms Farmer says she stood up and realised that Jeffrey had been watching them the entire time.

Maxwell is accused of recruiting Virginia Roberts, who alleges she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Paedophile Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell at de Grisogono Sponsors The 2005 Wall Street Concert Series in New York

The book claims the Clinton family continued to be closely linked to Maxwell, even after Epstein was convicted as a sex offender in 2008. A spokesman for Mr Clinton last year said he knew nothing about the terrible crimes Epstein had pleaded guilty to or those he was charged with last year.

A spokesman for Chelsea Clinton and her husband has said they only became aware of the horrific allegations against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015.
A Lumberton Walmart employee has tested positive for the coronavirus, Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel said Saturday.

The employee last worked at the store March 16 and was self-quarantined as of Saturday, McDaniel said.

The positive test marks the countys ninth confirmed case with six in Lumberton and three in Silsbee.

The Hardin County Health Department is also investigating to determine if the Friday death of a Silsbee resident is related to the virus. McDaniel said the person was tested for COVID-19 at least a few days prior to passing away. McDaniel said the health department is awaiting the results of the test.

Thursday, Michael Westbrook, a Hardin-Jefferson High School band teacher, became the areas first and so far only confirmed death related to the virus. Westbrook lived in Lumberton.

A news release McDaniel issued Saturday evening said one resident who had tested positive is now classified as recovered. The release also said Hardin County is setting up a testing site thats expected to open within the next few days.

Orange County confirmed on Saturday that two residents have tested positive in Vidor and one in Bridge City, bringing that countys total to four.

Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said the city had no new confirmed cases as of Saturday evening. A Groves resident tested positive Friday, giving the city its first case and bringing Jefferson Countys total confirmed cases to 16.

McDaniel, along with judges from Jefferson, Orange, Newton, Tyler and Jasper counties, announced stay-at-home orders in a move to decrease the number of people out of their homes.

Just under 400 people have been referred for testing and 57 people were tested Friday at the coalitions drive-thru testing site in Nederland.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said the six counties that make up the Southeast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center hope to have a system in place by Monday where the public can see an active list that will include the age, sex and city of a person confirmed to have the virus.

Were trying to be proactive and see what the numbers are going to be, McDaniel said at Fridays news conference. I think we did what we needed to do earlier this week and people are not following what we asked them to do, so we got a little stricter today.

The news release McDaniel issued Saturday said the Lumberton Walmart had instituted the following safety procedures for shoppers:

Only the grocery entrance will be open.

There will be 150 numbered shopping carts available for customers.

If there is a numbered cart available when you arrive, you will be assigned a sanitized cart to go in, purchase your essentials and get out so the next person can go in. No time for browsing or mingling  Get in, and get out  person per family.

If no cart is available, then you will wait in a line or in your car until one becomes available.

You must be at least 6 feet from any other person at all times, whether inside or outside the store.

All other Walmart stores in the six-county area are doing this by now, and Lowes is working to implement the same procedure, the news release stated.

chris.moore@

beaumontenterprise.com
When Uni-President China Holdings Ltd (SEHK:220) released its most recent earnings update (31 December 2019), I wanted to understand how these figures stacked up against its past performance. The two benchmarks I used were Uni-President China Holdings's average earnings over the past couple of years, and its industry performance. These are useful yardsticks to help me gauge whether or not 220 actually performed well. Below is a quick commentary on how I see 220 has performed.

View our latest analysis for Uni-President China Holdings

How 220 fared against its long-term earnings performance and its industry

220's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of CN1.4b has jumped 33% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 19%, indicating the rate at which 220 is growing has accelerated. How has it been able to do this? Let's see if it is only because of an industry uplift, or if Uni-President China Holdings has seen some company-specific growth.

SEHK:220 Income Statement March 28th 2020

In terms of returns from investment, Uni-President China Holdings has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 10% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 5.6% is below the HK Food industry of 6.3%, indicating Uni-President China Holdings's are utilized less efficiently. However, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Uni-President China Holdingss debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 5.1% to 13%. This correlates with a decrease in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio declining from 54% to 8.5% over the past 5 years.

What does this mean?

Uni-President China Holdings's track record can be a valuable insight into its earnings performance, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story. Positive growth and profitability are what investors like to see in a companys track record, but how do we properly assess sustainability? I suggest you continue to research Uni-President China Holdings to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:

Story continues

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 220s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 220s outlook. Financial Health: Are 220s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Jeremy Corbyn was accused of narcissism last night after he claimed the coronavirus crisis had proved him absolutely right on public spending.

The outgoing Labour leader said he had been denounced as somebody that wanted to spend more money than we could possibly afford to fix social wrongs.

But Mr Corbyn  who led his party to its biggest defeat since 1935  told the BBC he had been vindicated by the vast sums the Government was spending on the current crisis.

And he said it showed the Conservatives have now realised they need to invest in the state.

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of narcissim after he told the BBC that the government's coronavirus rescue plan vindicated his economic views

Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs in the House of Commons on Wednesday

I didnt think that it would take only three months for me to be proved absolutely right by the amount of money that Government is now prepared to put in  and Parliament has just voted through  to deal with the coronavirus crisis, he said.

Politicians lined up to condemn his comments.

Former Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop tweeted: Jeremy Corbyn says he was proved right on public spending. Or, alternatively, Corbyn has proven how much of a narcissist we knew he was. Goodbye Corbyn, we wont miss you.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith added: This is arrogant nonsense. He is saying what we are going through now is like what life would have been under him. That is not a vision of hope, its a vision of hell. This is a health and economic crisis which has nothing to do with normal politics, and if he thinks it is  thank God the electorate had the good sense to keep him out of power.

Tory MP Andrew Percy said: Corbyn has a history of using the deaths of others to claim he has been vindicated, as he has done following terror incidents. Using this outbreak to create a false narrative about him being right is pretty disgusting.

Moreover, it is untrue as it is only because public finances have been handled properly that were able to access hundreds billions of pounds to support the fightback.

Jeremy Corbyn is pictured above visiting a mosque in Finsbury Park, London, on March 3

Jeremy Corbyn sitting next to John McDonnell in the House of Commons on March 11

In the interview, Mr Corbyn said the country had been badly prepared for the coronavirus pandemic because of ten years of austerity, of underfunding the National Health Service and underfunding our benefit system.

He added that the Government had been shocked by the national emergency, as their instincts were for free market economics and the small state. Theyve now suddenly realised that they have to spend money to invest in the state, as we have always said as a party, and they have come around to a lot of that position, he said.

Mr Corbyn claimed the pandemic had changed the political landscape forever.

I think our society and our politics will never be the same again, because we have suddenly realised as a society and a community, we need everybody and everybody has a contribution to make, he said.

Mr Corbyns insistence he had been right will provoke memories of Labours claim it had won the argument despite its 2019.
A 33-year-old man died Friday after he was shot several times in the face and neck while sitting in his car in West Kensington, Philadelphia police said.

Police took the victim to Temple University Hospital, where he died at 5:22 p.m., less than 10 minutes after the shooting on the 2600 block of Palethorp Street. His name was not released.

Authorities said they had not made an arrest or found a weapon.
Progressives, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have called for moratoriums on rent and other financial obligations. And even conservatives, despite concern about government initiatives already costlier than those in the 2008-9 financial crisis, have said this is a case where it makes sense to provide grants  not merely loans  to individuals and businesses.

Michael R. Strain, director of economic policy studies at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said that corporations might be able to afford to take on extra debt to carry them through a period of lost revenue, but that most small businesses, particularly in the service sector, could not.

A manufacturing company could come back to a backlog of orders, but if youre a services business, youve just lost this revenue, he said. People are not going to go out to eat six times as often when this is over.

If businesses have to take on huge debt burdens to survive the crisis, Mr. Strain said, that situation leads to a much more prolonged downturn.

For workers, weathering more than a few weeks without pay may be a challenge. The 11-year economic expansion left record low unemployment, but it did less to ensure financial stability. The Federal Reserve reported last year that four in 10 Americans would have difficulty covering an unexpected expense of $400.

Cori Aitken, 34, lost one job as a sales representative at Temescal Brewing, a small brewery in Oakland, Calif., and another job tending bar. Now shes looking to cut her $1,900 monthly expense budget, which includes about $1,000 in rent and $300 for utilities, along with a phone bill, car insurance and loan payments.
A British man (C) leaves Hue Central Hospital after recovering from Covid-19, March 28, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh.

A British Covid-19 patient was discharged from the Hue Central Hospital Saturday morning after nearly three weeks of treatment.

The 58-year-old man, "Patient 33" in Vietnam, is the first to recover from the Covid-19 infection at the hospital in Hue. Three other British nationals are still undergoing treatment for the disease at this hospital.

The discharged patient will receive medical monitoring for at least two more weeks in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thanh Xuan, deputy director of the Hue hospital, said that when they received the four patients, doctors and nurses were quite worried because they had not treated any Covid-19 patients before.

"Patient 33 has tested negative twice, which meets the Health Ministry criteria to announce if a patient is free from the new coronavirus."

"This first success will motivate the team at the Hue Central Hospital to continue treating the remaining patients."

For the past three weeks, all staff directly involved in treating the British patients have worked nonstop and have not seen their families, he said.

The other three patients are all in stable condition.

"Patient 33" was confirmed infected March 10, after touching down in Hanoi from London on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54 on March 2. At least 16 people on the flight were infected with the virus, including the other three British patients in Hue.

The wife of "Patient 33," who traveled with him, tested negative for the coronavirus and has already left Vietnam after completing her 14-day quarantine.

The British man is the 21st Covid-19 patient who has recovered and been discharged in Vietnam. On Friday, three other patients including two British men were discharged from a hospital in Da Nang.

The nation has recorded 169 infections so far, with six added Saturday morning.

The Covid-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 27,300 people in 199 countries and territories.
A University of Connecticut doctor was charged with a misdemeanor after being accused of deliberately coughing on his colleagues.

YouTube/WFSB 3

A Connecticut doctor was arrested on suspicion of coughing and hugging two co-workers in spite of social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Cory Edgar, 48, was charged with a breach of peace misdemeanor, according to local news outlets.

He's not suspected of having the coronavirus, University of Connecticut officials said.

He's not the first to be charged on allegations of deliberately breaching social-distancing guidelines  several people have even been charged with making terroristic threats.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A doctor at the University of Connecticut Health Center was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for coughing and hugging coworkers, local news outlets reported.

Cory Edgar, 48, is an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the UConn Musculoskeletal Institute. Witnesses told WTNH that Edgar intentionally coughed on two other medical workers and disregarded coronavirus safety measures.

"The involved doctor has confirmed that he is in excellent health and does not to his knowledge have COVID-19," Jennifer Walker, a UConn Health spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement.

Related: How to Stay Safe at Work During the COVID-19 Outbreak

"We can also state that any UConn Health employee with an indication of illness is asked to stay home, and during this pandemic, all employees are screened for symptoms prior to entering the premises," she added.

Walker said UConn Police issued Edgar with a misdemeanor breach of peace summons on Thursday morning.

It's not the first time in recent days that authorities have brought charges against people for allegedly disregarding safety precautions and social distancing.

Insider previously reported that Cody Lee Pfister, 26, was charged with making a terrorist threat in the second degree after posting a video of himself licking items in a Missouri Walmart.

Making a terrorist threat in the second degree in Missouri is a class E felony and if convicted can get up to four years in prison and a fine.

Story continues

A New Jersey man was also charged with making a terrorist threat after prosecutors said he coughed on a grocery store worker, Insider also reported.

George Falcone, 50, was charged with making terroristic threats, obstructing the administration of law, and harassment. Authorities said he coughed on a Wegmans employee and told her he had coronavirus. The incident occurred after the employee told Falcone to step further away from her and an open food display.

The Hartford Courant also reported that a New Jersey woman being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence coughed in the face of arresting officers and told them she had the virus.

As of Friday, the US had over 102,000 coronavirus cases and over 1,500 deaths.

Business Insider
People of AP coming from Hyderabad and other places of Telangana were stopped at inter-state border shared with Telangana closed by Guntur district rural police at Vijayapuri south, Guntur district. (DC Photo: Tejo Roy)

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday directed the state government to permit healthy persons carrying a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by Telangana police not only to enter the state but go straight to their homes without a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at state-run facilities as insisted by the health authorities.

The division bench headed by chief justice J K Maheshwari said that such people should be quarantined at home under the surveillance of a doctor and police concerned.

People who are medically unfit can be taken to quarantine centres run by the government, the court ordered.

The High Court intervention came at a time when the Telangana government, which realised its folly of issuing NOCs, leading to a humanitarian crisis on the borders, cancelled them and many people returned to Hyderabad from AP borders.

Shocked over the High Court judgment, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to file a review petition. It fears that the High Court order might lead to a fresh bout of mass exodus.

We will explain to the court that a centralized quarantine facility was recommended precisely because it is both feasible and effective compared to keeping individual surveillance on thousands of individuals scattered all over the state, a senior state official told Deccan Chronicle.
China has said the domestic passenger flights will resume operations in the coronavirus epicentre Hubei province, except for its capital Wuhan, from Sunday as part of a plan to ease lockdown in the region after it reported zero COVID-19 cases for several days.

No new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease were reported in Wuhan on Friday, though the city reported three new fatalities, taking the total death toll in China to 3,295.

The Central Hubei province has so far reported a total of 67,801 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 50,006 in Wuhan.

Domestic operations in the province except in Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be resumed from Sunday, China's Civil Aviation Regulator (CAAC) said on Friday.

Local bus and train services have already resumed in Wuhan and Hubei province.

Wuhan and the province with over 56 million people was kept under lockdown from January 23 as part of aggressive measures to bring down COVID-19 cases which rapidly spread in the area.

Flight operations from Wuhan would start from April 8, CAAC said.

Due to mounting pressure from the epidemic prevention and control, the flights to resume services exclude international passenger flights, flights to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and those between Hubei and Beijing, state-run Xinhua new agency reported.

The cargo flights will resume operations from March 29 at all airports in the central Hubei Province.

Aviation companies are encouraged to add extra domestic and international cargo flights to stabilise the supply chain, the CAAC said.

The novel coronavirus, that first originated in wuhan in December, has wreaked havoc across the globe, upending life and businesses.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, 27,333 people have died due to the disease across over 170 countries. Italy has the highest number of deaths at 9,134, followed by Spain 5,138 and China 3,174.

The United States leads in the number of COVID-19 with 104,007 infections confirmed so far, followed by Italy (86,498) and China (81,906).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The two-metre social distancing rule being used to keep people apart may need to be four times bigger to prevent coronavirus from spreading, a new study suggests.

Currently, people are asked to keep a distance of two metres (6.8ft) when out in the community and many supermarkets have now stuck lines of tape to the floor to ensure adequate separation.

But a new analysis by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US has found that viral droplets expelled in coughs and sneezes can travel in a moist, warm atmosphere at speeds of 10-30 metres (33ft-100ft) per second, creating a cloud that can span approximately 7-8 metres (23ft-27ft).

The researchers also warn that droplets can stay suspended in the air for hours, moving along airflow patterns imposed by ventilation or climate-control systems.

Virus particles have already been found in the ventilation systems of hospital rooms of patients with coronavirus, which the team believes could have been carried on "turbulent clouds" of air.

Scientists said the research had implications for both the public and healthcare workers, who may not realise they need to wear protective equipment even when they are not in proximity to an infected patient.

Writing in the 'Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama)', the authors said that current distance guidelines may be too short: "These distances are based on estimates of range that have not considered the possible presence of a high-momentum cloud carrying the droplets long distances.

"Given the turbulent puff cloud dynamic model, recommendations for separations of 3ft to 6ft (1-2 metres) may underestimate the distance, timescale, and persistence over which the cloud and its pathogenic payload travel, thus generating an underappreciated potential exposure range for a healthcare worker.

"For these and other reasons, wearing of appropriate personal protection equipment is vitally important for healthcare workers caring for patients who may be infected, even if they are farther than 6ft away from a patient."

A separate study in the same journal by Chinese researchers showed that the virus can survive well in the warm, humid conditions of a swimming pool.

It was hoped that when the weather warms up that coronavirus may die away, such as happens with seasonal flu. But the new study suggests that might not happen.

Nanjing Medical University found that after one infected man visited a bath house in Huai'an, about 700km from Wuhan, eight people using the pool fell ill.

The virus appeared to survive despite the temperature of the pool being between 25C to 41C and humidity of approximately 60pc.

"Previous studies have demonstrated that the transmission rate of a virus is significantly weakened in an environment with high temperature and humidity," first author Dr Qilong Wang wrote in 'Jama Network Open'.

"However, judging from the results of this study, the transmissibility of Sars-CoV-2 showed no signs of weakening in warm and humid conditions."
Cooperstown, N.Y. - The Otsego County Coronavirus Task Force has issued the following statement to visitors, weekenders, second home owners and short-term rental owners and listing agents, "You are Safer at Home".

Task force officials released the following statement late Friday evening : "While it is our custom to welcome travelers from outside of Otsego County who visit and stay at second homes, short term rentals, motels and hotels, during this unprecedented Public Health Emergency, visitors may be seeking refuge from COVID-19 hotspots. We remind you that this is a global pandemic. You and your

families have a critical role to fulfill in halting the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, which can be dangerous, even fatal, especially to the elderly as well as people with underlying health conditions. Both you and our residents are "Safer at Home". You should not have an expectation that resources will be available to you here that are not also available to you in your own home town. The risk to all increases with the movement of non-residents in and out of Otsego County. Individuals who travel here increase the pressure on our the already strained resources, including first responders, health care

providers, hospitals and other government services. It could easily tax our health care system beyond its capacity. In keeping with federal and state mandates warning people to stay at home and limit their movements, Otsego County strongly advises that you postpone your travels until this Health Emergency is over. If that is impossible, we ask that seasonal residents, landlords, hotel/motel operators, and all other temporary lodging providers verify that occupants are following Governor Cuomo's, President Trump's and the Center for Disease Control's guidelines. Individuals who are traveling to Otsego County from the New York City greater metropolitan area, and other areas hard hit by COVID-19, are asked to notify the Otsego County Department of Health upon their arrival by

phone and self-isolate for 14 days. During the 14-day period, you should monitor all household members for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. These include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Contact your health care provider for further directions if you have questions. We look forward to a return of normalcy in the near future, when we can again welcome visitors to our area

with open arms."

The Task force listed the following in case of questions,

CDC Frequently asked questions: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

Bassett Medical Center Hotline: 607-547-5555

Otsego County Hotline: Dial 211

Otsego County Department of Health: 607-547-4230

https://www.otsegocounty.com/departments/d-m/health_department/covid19.php
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 09:19:00|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The following are the updates on the contagious illness.

PARIS -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen by 13 percent within a day to reach a total of 32,964 as of Friday, the 11th day of national lockdown imposed to contain the outbreak, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said.

A total of 1,995 people had died, an increase of 299 from Thursday, Salomon added in an update.

Further 1,828 people diagnosed with the COIVD-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, had received treatment in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of hospitalized patients to 15,732. That included 3,787 serious cases, a daily jump of 472.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday warned Americans to guard against fraudulent coronavirus tests, vaccines, treatments.

Many Americans might be tempted to buy or use questionable products that claim to help diagnose, treat, cure, and even prevent COVID-19, said a statement of the FDA.

- - - -

ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that all international flights would be cancelled as part of the fight against COVID-19.

Announcing new measures against the spread of the outbreak during a televised live broadcast, Erdogan also noted that inter-city travel across the country would be subject to the permission of governors in each province.

"A flexible working system will be implemented with minimum personnel both in private and public sectors," Erdogan said.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered General Motors (GM) to produce ventilators under the Defense Production Act, a wartime law he recently invoked to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our negotiations with GM regarding its ability to supply ventilators have been productive, but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course," Trump said in a statement.

- - - -

DAMASCUS -- The Syrian health ministry on Friday announced a ban on all travels between provinces starting Sunday afternoon as part of the measures to confront the COVID-19.

The ban also covers the travel between provincial capitals and countryside areas, according to a ministry statement.

- - - -

HARARE -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday announced a 21-day national lockdown starting from Monday next week as part of the measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

In an address to the nation, the president said only businesses providing essential services will remain open, such as hospitals, food markets, power and water utilities as well as emergency and security services.
SAGINAW, MI  Saginaws Old Town Distillery is donating 270 gallons of 190-proof alcohol to the community this week, but its not for drinking.

Art Felton, an owner and founder of the distillery, which opened on Michigan Avenue in 2017, said the alcohol is going to a Saginaw Valley State University science laboratory where it will be processed into hand sanitizer. From there, it will be distributed to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities that need it amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He shared photos of the giant container being loaded onto a trailer via Old Town Distillerys Facebook page on Thursday, March 26.

What you see there is three years worth of us creating the alcohol for our vodka, Felton said of the images. Its basically 3,200 (to) 3,300 bottles of vodka.

Hand sanitizer is a scarce resource these days amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has closed schools and businesses and prompted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to issue a stay-at-home order for non-essential workers. DIY hand sanitizer recipes abound on the Internet, but even the raw ingredients needed to make it are difficult to find.

I could not source aloe vera gel, which is whats needed to add to the alcoholto make any quantities bigger than maybe some personal use, Felton said. We just didnt have the time or the setup to be able to do massive massive quantities like some of these other distilleries are doing.

Distilleries and factories in the Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo areas also are making hand sanitizer to help meet increased demand for the product.

I dont think anyones ever expected this and thats whats been really impressive about the distilling folks," Felton said. "Its really amazing that all of these companies have taken thousands and thousands of gallons of potential profit for them and they havent even blinked.

Felton said the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance helped facilitate the donation and coordination with SVSU.

SVSU expects to produce 300 gallons of hand sanitizer for health care professionals to use while responding to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, according to a university news release. The project is one of several COVID-19 response initiatives SVSU is pursing in collaboration with Michigan Health Improvement Alliance, a nonprofit that coordinates health care-related efforts across 14 mid-Michigan counties.

SVSU has long-established partnerships in the community. As we face this public health crisis together, our university is proud to join with the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance to protect our brave health care professionals across the state," Matthew Kline, manager of SVSUs Independent Testing Laboratory where the sanitizer is to be created, said in a statement.

Production of the hand sanitizer tentatively is scheduled to begin next week, but the fast-evolving response to COVID-19 could shift those plans, he said.

Kline would be involved in the production as well as an independent contractor and potentially an SVSU student, all while practicing social distancing in the lab setting.

The hand sanitizer project isnt the only initiative Kline is pursuing.

Within days of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state, SVSU began working with Michigan Health Improvement Alliance representatives to both explore developing prototypes and create access to critical personal protection equipment (PPE) needs for regional health care providers.

Using 3-D printers and other campus resources, Kline in the last two weeks has created prototype face shields and face masks as well as medical swabs for the consideration of companies as far away as Connecticut, the release states. While the hand sanitizer project is the initiative closest to reaching a full-scale production cycle, the SVSU alumnus hopes to add other initiatives to that category soon.

A lot of these projects are in their infancy, but Im working hard to move them along, Klines statement continued. When I see an opportunity to serve the community, I jump on it.

Along with the Independent Testing Laboratory, the effort to identify projects with Michigan Health Improvement Alliance has been coordinated by staff of the SVSU-based offices of Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center Northeast and Great Lakes Bay Manufacturers Association.

Felton said our whole community has really been chipping in to help meet the needs of health care workers and others.

Its not just us. Its been a lot of people and lot of companies have done a lot more than even what weve done," he said. Were just happy to chip in a little bit. We know theres people doing a lot more and thats pretty much what it has taken.

Old Town Distillerys bar, located at 124 S. Michigan Ave., is closed, but retail sales are still available by appointment, if customers reach out via the Facebook page. Its vodka retails for $22 a bottle.

Were still trying to pay our three bartenders what they typically earn in a week, Felton said.

READ MORE:

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

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Various organisations, individuals and police personnel were seen providing the poor and needy with food and other essential commodities in various parts of Jharkhand amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

The nationwide lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of novel coronavirus entered the fourth day on Saturday.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has urged migrant labourers from the state to remain wherever they are.

"The state government is making efforts to ensure all support to you (migrant workers). Stay safe wherever you are," he tweeted.

In a fresh message, Soren urged people to remain indoors.

"The state government is taking care of the people in this critical hour. Please help the government by staying in your homes," he said.

The Information and Technology department on Saturday launched a medium -- 'Sampark Pranali' -- through which people from Jharkhand who are stranded outside the state can reach out to their respective district administrations, an official release said.

The department also launched phone numbers 0651- 2490037/052/055/058/083/092/104/125/127/128 for the stranded people, it said.

Additional Director General of Police Murali Lal Meena said that the Jharkhand Police, with support from the Food and Supply Department, started free community kitchens for the needy in every district from Saturday.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has recommended Rs 1 crore from his MPLADS funds for fighting COVID-19 in his constituency, Khunti.

A social organisation, Marwari Yuva Manch said it distributed rice, pulses, salt and puffed rice among the people at a leprosy colony and workers in Jagannathpur and Doranda areas of Ranchi.

Another such group, Maheshwari Sabha said it served chapatti, curry and rice to people at Gudri Mohala in Ranchi.

A businessman in Medininagar, the headquarters of Palamau district, said he distributed food items among the needy.

In Pakur district, people maintained social distancing while collecting essential goods distributed under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Kuldip Choudhary.

Lohardaga district authorities said 'khichdi' is being served for Rs 5 at 'Daal-Bhaat' centres.

The district administration is giving food grains to people who do not have ration cards, they said.

Foodgrains were also distributed by East Singhbhum district administration to daily wage earners in Sonari area of Jamshedpur, officials said.

BJP state vice-president Pradip Verma said party workers distributed foodgrains to the needy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
London

For weeks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain was a defiant holdout among Western leaders in refusing to lock down his country against the spread of the coronavirus. On Friday, he became the first of those leaders known to have contracted the disease.

Johnson's diagnosis, confirmed in a test Thursday, threatened to throw an already rattled British government into turmoil. Fears of a wider contagion grew, as two other senior officials disclosed that they, too, were infected.

And with the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, saying this week that he had fallen ill with the virus, Britain faced the prospect of having to confront its greatest crisis since World War II with several of its leading figures in quarantine.

Johnson, 55, insisted he would not relinquish his duties. In a two-minute video posted on Twitter, he used his own case as a sort of teachable moment for the country, appealing to people to work from home to comply with the social distancing measures he put in place Monday.

"I've developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus," said Johnson, looking wan and speaking with a rasp in his voice. "Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus."

But a critical member of his Cabinet, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, also tested positive, meaning that the two people most directly responsible for dealing with the virus now have it.

The government's chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, also reported symptoms of the virus and said he was isolating himself. There are fears that other officials who have been in meetings with Johnson could also have been exposed.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

If Johnson becomes incapacitated, his duties would be taken over by the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, who has tested negative for the virus.

Other world leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, have put themselves in isolation as a precaution in recent days. But no Western country has seen the virus threaten its entire political establishment as swiftly as Britain has.

It was only Wednesday that Buckingham Palace gave the news about Prince Charles, the 71-year-old eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II. He met with Johnson on March 11 and with his 93-year-old mother March 12, a day before he might have been infectious, according to medical advisers.

Johnson got well wishes from President Donald Trump. The two men spoke by phone Friday, according to Downing Street, and Trump wished the prime minister a "speedy recovery."
Coronavirus cases in New York overwhelming hospitals in US epicenter

Iran Press TV

Friday, 27 March 2020 10:06 AM

Coronavirus cases in the state and city of New York continue to surge, with hospital staff working extra shifts and searching desperately for more medical supplies as they battle a quickly growing death toll and infections at the US epicenter of the global pandemic.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the majority of patients in New York and other US cities were the elderly or sick, but more young and healthy people are now becoming seriously ill, US public health officials and medical personnel say.

"Now it's 50-year-olds, 40-year-olds, 30-year-olds," one respiratory therapist, who works at the Jewish Medical Center in the New York City borough of Queens, told AFP.

They "didn't listen about not going out or protecting themselves and washing their hands," he added.

"To watch somebody in their thirties die, it's hard. You can't have visitors. They're in the room by themselves on a ventilator. It's very depressing."

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered hospitals to increase their capacity by 50 percent, or even double it if possible, as the state's coronavirus death tally soars.

New York City is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, where cases have been doubling every three days and now account for more than half of all US cases.

The number of COVID-19 cases in New York City increased by 3,537 to 21,393, Cuomo said Thursday. At least 385 people have died.

Across New York state, more than 37,000 people have been confirmed with a coronavirus infection and over 5,300 have been hospitalized, Cuomo added.

The state is projecting the number of hospitalizations will climb to 140,000 over the next two to three weeks, he added.

"We have a lot of deceased patients," said a nurse at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital in Manhattan who wished to remain anonymous. "It's mostly cardiac arrests. It's getting rough."

The number of US coronavirus infections climbed above 82,000 on Thursday, surpassing the national tallies of China and Italy, as New York, New Orleans and other hot spots faced a surge in hospitalizations and looming shortages of supplies, staff and sick beds.

US health experts have warned that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in New York is likely to occur in two or three weeks, prompting more stress and anxiety for medical workers who are already at maximum capacity.

"The next few months will be painful and stress our health care system like never before," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted Thursday.

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Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has come forward to donate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's PM-CARES fund. He has pledged Rs 25 crore for the fund, which is an initiative to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Akshay announced a donation of Rs 25 crore, the largest amount by any Indian celebrity so far. "This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai," Akshay said on Twitter.

This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai.  https://t.co/dKbxiLXFLS Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 28, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called Kumar's pledge a 'great gesture'.

Great gesture @akshaykumar. Lets keep donating for a healthier India. https://t.co/3KAqzgRFOW Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020

Earlier, Hrithik and comedian Kapil Sharma had announced their donation of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 50 lakh respectively for the war against COVID-19.

Various A-listers from the southern film industries have also come forward to donate for the cause.

Bahubali star Prabhas donated an amount of Rs 4 crore for Covid-19 relief. As per an IANS report, Out of the donation amount, the Baahubali star pledged of Rs 3 crore to the Prime Minister's relief fund and Rs 50 Lakhs each to Chief Minister's relief fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Earlier, Telugu superstars Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi and Mahesh Babu had also donated to boost the fight against COVID-19. It was Pawan Kalyan who initiated the nobel gesture giving Rs 2 crore for the cause.

The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said,  I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing. https://t.co/R9hEin8KF1 Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 28, 2020

Soon, his nephew Ram Charan declared a charity of Rs 70 lakh while Ram Charan's father, the veteran superstar of Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi, gave Rs 1 crore. Young superstar Mahesh Babu also gave a crore for the cause.

Tollywood star Allu Arjun was the latest South actor to donate for the cause. He announced a announced a sum of Rs 1.25 crore for the welfare of those affected due to the coronavirus pandemic in states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana, recently.
Strictest foreigner entry policy proactive to cutting infections

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/27 23:13:40 Last Updated: 2020/3/28 0:47:40

Limited impact seen for economic exchanges

China has taken its strictest measure toward foreigners since the opening-up and reform, which temporarily forbids foreign nationals from entering the border to avoid a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak. Experts said the unprecedented move is necessary and responsible, given that the pandemic has been worsening overseas and China's precautionary measures could avoid the emergence of another Wuhan.

Starting Saturday, foreign nationals will temporarily be denied from entering China even with valid visas, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Immigration Administration announced in a notice Thursday night, in a move called by some experts as "semi sealing off of the border" that signals the country's determination to fight the epidemic.

The notice said China does not shun all foreign nationals. It says foreign passport holders coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs can apply for new visas at Chinese embassies or consulates. Entry by foreign nationals with visas issued after this announcement will not be affected.

This is the strictest measure taken toward foreigners since China's opening-up and reform, which is also an unprecedented step, reflecting the country's decisive and aggressive COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control work, Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

The spread of the pandemic all over the world shows that it's still rising and has not peaked. For China, the imported infections are an urgent challenge and if this cannot be dealt with properly, our efforts over the past months could be ruined, so we have taken this measure, which will also benefit the world, Li said.

The notice also explained that the suspension is a temporary measure that China is "compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries." China will stay in close touch with all sides and properly handle personnel exchanges with the rest of the world under special circumstances. These measures will be calibrated in light of the evolving situation and announced accordingly, it said.

Experts noted that the newly released measure won't have too much impact on foreign companies' operations in China and necessary trade and business activities, and won't hinder China's exports of medical supplies to virus-hit foreign countries.

The pandemic has caused more than 490,000 cases worldwide, affecting more than 170 countries and regions and leading to 22,184 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

As of Thursday, China has reported 595 imported cases, with the capital Beijing shouldering the heaviest burden of receiving those patients. The UK is the biggest source of imported cases, according to statistics.

"We can't afford to see cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou become a second Wuhan, given the pandemic has been worsening overseas," Yang Zhanqiu, a virologist at Wuhan University, told the Global Times.

The policy is necessary as an outbreak rebound would seriously affect Chinese social and economic development, Yang said.

Leaving a channel open

Mei Xinyu, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, told the Global Times that the measures China has taken are thoughtful as it leaves a channel open for foreigners who work in the trade and technology sectors.

It's necessary to keep open such a channel, as the country, which is the world's factory and largest manufacturer, is resuming work amid the outbreak, Mei said. He noted that it will play a decisive role in stabilizing global economy.

While some Western media outlets have voiced concern that these new measures, including a reduction in domestic and international flights by the Aviation Administration of China, may make it harder for other countries to import medical supplies from China, a Chinese medical gear company said this is not a problem.

"The cut in international flights will not hinder China's exports of medical supplies to virus-hit countries because governments will resort to charter flights, which would help them get the products," a manager surnamed Chang with a Beijing-based medical gear exporter told the Global Times on Friday.



"As far as I know, some Central Asian countries have recently sent charter flights to China to ship epidemic prevention and control products," Chang said.

The decision would hit private exporters as freight capacity would also be restricted due to the flight cut, he added.

Meanwhile, several employees at foreign companies in China told the Global Times on Friday that the new regulation won't have too much of an impact on their businesses.

Cha Sheng, general manager of VorWerk China, told the Global Times on Friday, "As the virus hit globally, face-to-face business activities are unlikely at present and all of us work at home, so the restrictions would not affect us that much."

"The halt in business travel will have greater advantages than disadvantages for foreign firms in China. Our largest challenge does not lie in personnel turnover, but decreasing demand for our products from global markets," Cha said.

"From a business perspective, I don't think the new policy will have any impact on our company's operations," Sun, a white-collar worker at a US-based world-leading tech firm in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Our company already issued a travel ban to Asia in mid-January, and then after February, all employees globally were not allowed to travel abroad, to anywhere until June," Sun said.

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New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) India's response to the COVID-19 has been pre-emptive, pro-active. India had already put in place a comprehensive response system at its borders much before WHO declared it as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30.

Timeline of the decisions taken by the Indian government so far:

 January 17: Advisory issued to avoid travel to China

 January 18: Thermal screening started of passengers from China and Hong Kong.

 January 30: Strong advisory issued to avoid travel to China.

 February 3: E-visa facility suspended for Chinese citizens.

 February 22: Advisory issued to avoid travel to Singapore; Universal screening for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

 February 26: Advisory issued to avoid travel to Iran, Italy and Republic of Korea. Passengers coming from these countries to be screened, and may be quarantined based on screening and risk assessment.

 March 3: Suspension of all visas for Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China; Compulsory health screening for passengers arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan.

 March 4: Universal screening of all International Flights. Quarantine or isolation at home or sent to hospital based on screening and risk profile

 March 5: Passengers from Italy or Republic of Korea need to get medical certificate before entry

 March 10, Home isolation: incoming international passengers should self-monitor health and follow government Dos and Don'ts: passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo home quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival

 March 11: Compulsory Quarantine- Incoming travellers (including Indians) arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

 16, 17, 19 March- Comprehensive advisory:

. March 16: Expanded compulsory quarantine for travellers from or through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait for a minimum of 14 days.

Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India totally prohibited

. March 17: Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia prohibited

. March 19: All Incoming international flights suspended, with effect from 22nd March

. March 25: Extension of suspension of all incoming International Flights to India extended till April 14.

--IANS

sk/rs
The reporter didn't know it then, but his daughter had just returned from UK and was told to be in quarantine

The March 20, 2020 press conference at which then Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath announced his resignation. The press conference was attended by a journalist who later tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. (PTI)

Bhopal: A case has been registered against a Madhya Pradesh journalist who attended a press conference called by then chief minister Kamal Nath even while a family member of his was advised coronavirus quarantine after her return from the UK.

Days after the March 20 press conference, at which Kamal Nath announced his resignation as chief minister, the journalist and his daughter both tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

A case was registered against the journalist on Friday night at the Shyamla Hills police station in Bhopal under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), a police spokesman said.

The journalist was booked for violating the government's preventive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The journalist's daughter, a post-graduate law student, had returned from London to Bhopal on March 18. She was asked to stay in quarantine at home. But two days after her arrival, the journalist attended Kamal Nath's last press conference as chief minister on March 20, official sources said.

On March 22, the journalist's daughter tested positive for the coronavirus. Three days later, the journalist also tested positive, which created panic among mediapersons and others who attended the press conference.

So far, 33 positive coronavirus cases have been found in Madhya Pradesh. Sixteen of them are residents of Indore, eight of Jabalpur, three each of Bhopal and Ujjain, two of Shivpuri and one of Gwalior, health department officials have said.

Of these 33 cases, two COVID-19 patients, one each from Indore and Ujjain, have died.
OTTAWABeginning at noon Monday, anyone in Canada showing symptoms related to COVID-19 will be barred from boarding domestic flights and trains, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday.

While most Canadians are heeding the advice of government and public health officials asking them to stay home and not travel, especially if they are feeling ill, additional measures are needed to stop the spread of the virus within Canada, Trudeau said.

We are giving further tools to airlines and rail companies to ensure that anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms does not travel, he said from outside his home at Rideau Cottage.

Under the Transport Canada interim order, air operators and intercity passenger rail companies will be required to do a health check of all passengers to screen for symptoms. Company representatives will ask simple health questions, look for visible signs of illness prior to boarding and recommend that passengers follow guidance from local health authorities.

Companies will be required to bar anyone showing symptoms of the virus from boarding trains and planes, and this denial will remain in effect for 14 days or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms the travellers symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

These measures will not apply to buses or commuter trains, as they are not federally regulated.

Canadas deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo said more details on enforcement will be announced in the coming days, but he acknowledged that even with these new screening measures, sick travellers could still end up on trains and planes.

There is no guarantee. People can always hide symptoms, take Tylenol, he said. So I think at the end of the day it comes down to our collective understanding and our collective motivation and approach to do the right thing  if youre sick, dont travel.

Also on Saturday, Quebecs deputy premier Genevieve Guilbault announced a rollout of police checkpoints, essentially sealing off eight remote regions of the province. The only exceptions will be for people who are providing essential services or travelling for health or humanitarian reasons.

Several other provinces have imposed screening measures for travellers at their provincial boundaries and are imposing 14-day self-isolation for anyone coming from other provinces, while Nunavut has banned most non-residents from entering its territory.

Despite these tightening travel rules within Canada, Trudeau says provincial borders will remain open for now.

Trudeau also addressed the situation of the 248 Canadians stranded on a cruise ship off the coast of Panama, where some passengers have tested positive for COVID-19 and four people have died.

The federal government is working with the Panamanian government and Holland America, which operates the Zaandam, in an effort to get the Canadians home.

The work appears to have paid off, with Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tweeting on Saturday night that his Panamanian counterpart would allow the ship passage through the Panama Canal and on to its final destination of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The efforts are part of the herculean task being undertaken to repatriate stranded Canadians around the world  work that is the focus of all Global Affairs Canada employees right now, Trudeau said.

Ottawa residents Catherine McLeod and Paul Innes, retired teachers, are among those trapped on the Zaandam. They boarded the cruise in early March, before the spread of novel coronavirus became a global pandemic.

In an email to The Canadian Press, McLeod said what had been a mostly enjoyable trip was turned on its head last weekend.

The boom hit last Sunday when we were asked to return to our staterooms and not exit, McLeod recounted. They learned that many passengers and crew members had reported to sick bay with flu-like symptoms.

I just hope and pray that no others die and that someone lets us dock and we can board a plane ASAP, she said.

In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said none of the passengers who died is Canadian. It said it is in contact with passengers, and those without symptoms are being transferred to another ship expected to dock at a U.S. port in the coming days.

The department also confirmed Saturday that a Canadian citizen who was on a separate cruise has died from complications related to COVID-19 in Brazil.

Meanwhile in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford limited gatherings to no more than five people and has committed to imposing steep fines and possible jail time against corporations involved in price gouging amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Canadas chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said the latest data shows about seven per cent of COVID-19 cases in the country have resulted in hospitalization, three per cent have required critical care and about one per cent have been fatal.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says that 12 per cent of people hospitalized are aged 40 and under.

We continue to keep a close eye on the severity of the disease, because although there will be day-to-day fluctuation, a sustained trend of increased severity could point to a higher rate of infection in vulnerable populations or that the health system is being overwhelmed, Tam told a news conference.

But she also noted signs of hope from British Columbia, where data indicates the provinces COVID-19 experience will likely resemble South Koreas rather than brutally hit Italy.

Tam noted that B.C. was the first area of Canada to experience community transmission. It is too early to know for sure, but after weeks of public health interventions, the rate of growth appears to be slowing, she said.

She also warned this good news should not be taken as a sign that physical distancing and self-isolation measures should be relaxed.

Our key message is to double down, absolutely double down, Tam said.

Right now is an absolutely critical time .... Were definitely not out of the woods, weve got to keep going.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2020.

 With files from Sidhartha Banerjee, Salmaan Farooqui and Liam Casey

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version cited Tam saying 30 per cent of those hospitalized were under age 40. The Public Health Agency of Canada has since corrected itself, saying the figure is 12 per cent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Serhiy Nayev Commander of Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Zelensky signed the decree on March 27, according to a posting on the official website of the head of state.

As reported, on February 7, 2020, the first stage of the reform of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has concluded in compliance with common guidelines of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff. As a result of it, new commands were created and their commanders were appointed.

In particular, acting commander Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev headed the Joint Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The restructuring of the forces is aimed at achieving a clear distribution of powers between all military management agencies under the NATO principles.
As European countries went into lockdown all around him, one young Gorey student who has been studying in Madrid this year was lucky to make it back to Ireland to his family and now faces in to the reality of living in self isolation.

Terence Rooney (21) from Gorey studies at Dublin City University, and his course in Global Business is a dual degree that requires two years of study at home and two years abroad.

This means that Terence will presumably have to return to Spain at some point in the future to finish out his studies, which is something he is looking ahead to as he speaks to us from his self isolation quarters: his family home.

This turn of events began for the young man just when his university shut its doors at the start of the week, on a Monday evening.

'On Monday evening when college was cancelled, at first we all thought it'd be a celebration in no more studying. In our big group of friends, we were all chilling out in the nice weather enjoying being outdoors, we were having a great time. We thought this would continue.

'But as the days went on, it gradually got a bit more serious. Our group of Irish people were dropping like flies. The girls started it when my friend was the first to get a flight on Wednesday, and by Thursday and Friday we had all booked to go home. I flew home on Friday and it felt like we all got the last two or three flights out from Madrid.

'You could tell that people were trying to keep calm about it but there was a lot of panic and uncertainty and people were freaking out on the inside but everyone went on with it. I'm glad now we were together as a group. We come from DCU, UCD, Trinity, UL and one of our friends is Scottish. It's strange to think that those of my friends who were on Erasmus, who had only been in Spain for six or eight weeks, I might not see them in college again next year as they won't be going back.

'All of our classes, seminars and exams have moved online. The teachers have been faciliating things in terms of classes and assignments and trying to give us as much to do as possible, but they weren't prepared for this either. We were supposed to have our exams in May but we aren't sure if they will go ahead. Teachers are taking it day by day, thinking we might be back after Easter, but there's no promise of that happening'.

Terence said that he is keeping in touch with his friends online, using Facetime and social media networks and that everyone is trying their best to keep their cool as they stick it out in social isolation.

'Only a handful of people are still over there now, some are working there. Here I have things to do, I'm not bored. It's more the idea of being trapped that irritates me when there are hundreds of things I could be doing. But this is what it's going to be like. I've my college work, TV, playstation and Netflix, my own hobbies. I'm hoping to get involved with some online projects. But honestly, I'm settling in and I'm happy to be home. This is the best scenario'.

Terence hopes that other young people will take heed of the warnings and learn from his own experience.

'To those my age thinking of having house parties or going out socialising, I'm coming from a hotspot. I've seen it for myself for the last two weeks at least and all I can say is just get indoors.

'In terms of the virus, I'm not afraid of getting it. Everyone my age is going to be able to manage it if we do, but if we keep mixing it has the potential to kill one of our grandparents or someone who has an underlying health condition, it's not worth it'.

It's clear that getting Terence back home involved some sacrifices too, with his accommodation lease not up until August.

'I want to see how it goes and whether things calm down. We will keep the lease until the end of the month at least but we might have to cancel it with our landlord.

'I still have stuff in the apartment but I took home everything I really needed, I don't mind if we've to leave it.

'The way I see it now, the quicker we all get inside, the quicker it's all over and has less of an impact on jobs, our health system, the economy. We are all in this together, we just need to accept that and we'll be so glad when it's over'.
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On the lines of General Motors and Ford in the US, Indias automotive giants such as Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra are stepping in to help produce critical medical equipment and supplies.

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) will assist three different companies in producing ventilators, masks, and protective clothing the Delhi-based company informed on March 28.

At the request of the Government of India, Maruti Suzuki examined its ability to assist in the production of ventilators, masks and other protective equipment, the company said in a statement.

MSIL entered into an arrangement with AgVa Healthcare, an existing approved manufacturer of ventilators. MSIL would work with AgVa Healthcare to scale up the production of ventilators to reach a volume of 10,000 units per month.

AgVa Healthcare would be responsible for the technology, performance and related matters for all the ventilators produced and sold by them. MSIL would use its suppliers to produce the required volume of components and use its experience and knowledge to upgrade systems for the production and quality control of the higher volumes.

MSIL would also help, to the required extent to arrange financing, and obtain all permissions and approvals required to enable the higher production. MSIL would provide these services free of cost to AgVa Healthcare, Maruti added.

Krishna Maruti, a joint venture of MSIL with Ashok Kapur the founder of Krishna Group, would be manufacturing 3-ply masks for supply to the Haryana and Central governments. Production is expected to start as soon as all approvals are received. Kapur will provide 2 million masks free of cost as his own contribution.

Bharat Seats, a joint venture of MSIL with the Relan family, would be manufacturing protective clothing as soon as all approvals are in place.

Two days ago the Mahindra Group said that it is working on a very affordable version of the ventilator costing less than Rs 7,500 as against the typical cost of Rs 5-7 lakh. A prototype is expected to get ready in three days.

The Mumbai-based group is simultaneously working with the indigenous makers of ICU ventilators.
How can allergy sufferers tell whether they have allergies or the coronavirus? Theres some overlap in symptoms that could easily fuel anxiety. Read more

Our unusually mild winter has led to a lovely early spring. Cherries, magnolias, and forsythias are brightening the neighborhoods where we hunker down and hope the coronavirus will pass us by. Their beauty is welcome, but for many, the annual botanical awakening brings bad news: allergies.

This years early tree pollen season brings a new worry. How can allergy sufferers tell whether they have allergies or the coronavirus? Theres some overlap in symptoms that could easily fuel anxiety.

The timing right now is as awful as you can imagine, said Tarun Kapoor, an internal medicine specialist who is senior vice president of clinical integration for Virtua Health. Patients are saying, Ive never had allergies in March.

Some people are unlucky enough to be allergic to things inside their houses, like dust mites, pets or mold. They can have allergies all the time. If youve had symptoms for weeks, its unlikely the coronavirus, experts said.

This time of year, tree pollen floats around in the air and becomes highly aerosolized, said Joanna Johnson, an allergist who is chief of pulmonology and asthma at St. Christophers Hospital for Children. The pollen tends to get in peoples eyes and noses, where it causes itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. It can also cause an itchy throat and make asthma worse, which can lead to wheezing.

The coronavirus can cause a variety of symptoms. The big three are cough, fever, and shortness of breath, but not everybody gets all of those. Some people also report achiness, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and loss of the sense of smell. Runny nose, but not sneezing, is reported in a small percentage of cases, said Mitchell Grayson, an allergist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital at Ohio State University. He added that a fellow doctor in New York told him hes seeing young adult patients with runny noses who are testing positive.

Unlike many other viruses, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, flu, and SARS, the coronavirus does not tend to exacerbate asthma, Johnson said.

 READ MORE: 1 in 4 kids in West Philly suffers from asthma. And many common triggers lurk in their homes.

For her, two important differentiators are itch  thats not a coronavirus symptom  and fever, which is not an allergy symptom.

During an exam, she said, the mucous membranes of people with allergies tend to look pale blue and swollen. Those of people with infections look irritated and are usually red.

Johnson said people with a long history of allergies know how their symptoms feel. Its an entirely different feeling than when theyre sick, she said.

Kapoor said one thing that can help people know whether symptoms are caused by the coronavirus or allergies is understanding how the body is affected by each.

The coronavirus focuses on the lungs, and it causes a cough that emanates in the lungs, he said. Allergies are more likely to cause symptoms that start in the head, things like a sense of fullness in the sinuses and ears, post-nasal drip, sneezing, and runny nose. The cough associated with allergies is more likely to be triggered higher in the throat by post-nasal drip, he said.

Kapoor and Johnson said they didnt know whether the sore throats from the coronavirus and allergies feel different.

Kapoor said that if you feel better when youre in a house with filtered air than you do outside, you probably have allergies.

If you have allergies and are wheezing for the first time, Kapoor said, thats a symptom that should prompt a call to a doctor. One of the small silver linings of the pandemic, he said, is that it has led health systems to make telemedicine far more available.

Grayson said it is not necessarily easy to tell mild cases of allergy and the coronavirus apart. Not all people with the coronavirus get a fever. Its more complicated than I had hoped, he said. If somebody says, I have a runny nose and a cough, I dont know without testing them. Most people with those symptoms arent getting coronavirus tests now.

It is clear, he said, that muscle aches are not an allergy symptom, and sneezing and itchy, watery eyes do not seem to be coronavirus symptoms, although conjunctivitis can be.

Allergies will likely last much longer than the coronavirus, but that doesnt help you know whether you should self-quarantine when your symptoms start. He said allergy medicines like antihistamines probably wont be much help against the coronavirus.
The first multifunctional military medical center, the construction of which moves ahead of schedule, will be commissioned in Nizhny Novgorod on April 20, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense informed.

According to the ministry, in total, 16 such centers will be constructed in Russia.

The construction work is carried out in three shifts. To date, the foundations of all facilities are filled, builders are proceeding with the construction. More than 3.5 thousand specialists with 800 units of equipment work at the facilities.
By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Olesya Astakhova

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's largest oil producer, Rosneft <ROSN.MM>, said on Saturday it had terminated operations in Venezuela and sold the assets linked to its operations in the South American nation to an unnamed company owned by the Russian government.

The impact of the move, announced at a time when oil prices are languishing at around $25 per barrel, on Rosneft's upstream joint ventures with Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela was not immediately clear.

The U.S. government has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, including imposing sanctions on two Swiss-based Rosneft units - Rosneft Trading and TNK Trading International - that Washington said provided PDVSA a lifeline by acting as intermediaries for its crude.

The change of ownership announced on Saturday means any future U.S. sanctions on Russian-controlled oil operations in Venezuela would target the Russian government directly.

Russia, via the state company Rosneftegaz, owns slightly over 50% of Kremlin-controlled Rosneft's capital. International shareholders include BP <BP.L>, which has 19.75%, and Qatar via QH Oil Investments LLC, which owns another 18.93%.By withdrawing from Venezuela and passing its assets to an entity owned by Moscow, Rosneft, headed by Igor Sechin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, transfers the risks related to its Venezuelan operations to the Russian government.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontiyev told Reuters the decision to terminate operations in Venezuela was meant to protect the company's shareholders.

"We defended the interests of our shareholders and did it in an effective way," Leontiyev said. "And to whom the risks go is not an issue for us. The main thing is that the risks are leaving us."

Rosneft would not disclose the name of the company to which it had sold its Venezuelan operations. A spokesman for the Russian government confirmed it had purchased Rosneft's operations in Venezuela, but declined to say what company was involved in the deal.

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TANKERS SAIL AWAY

Rosneft Trading and TNK took more than a third of Venezuela's oil exports in 2019, allowing PDVSA to continue crude shipments even after U.S. sanctions imposed on the company left many traditional customers unwilling to work with it.

But neither company has lifted Venezuelan crude so far in March, and three tankers chartered by Rosneft to transport some 5.7 million barrels left Caribbean waters empty on Saturday after waiting off the Venezuelan coast for weeks.

It was not immediately clear if the apparent pullback would lead to a lifting of sanctions on Rosneft Trading and TNK. The Treasury Department has said it will "consider lifting sanctions for those who take concrete, meaningful, and verifiable actions to support democratic order in Venezuela."

"Now it is our right to expect the fulfilment of the promises that were made publicly by American regulators," a Rosneft representative said.

Along with some other Russian companies and individuals, Rosneft has been under U.S. financial and technological sanctions since 2014, after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.

Rosneft said the Venezuelan assets sold include those in the joint ventures of Petromonagas, Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromiranda and Petrovictoria, as well as in oilfield services companies, commercial and trading operations, it said.

The most significant of those operations is Petromonagas, a project in which Rosneft has a 40% stake that includes a field in the Orinoco oil belt and a heavy crude upgrader near the Jose terminal.

The Petromonagas field produced 79,000 barrels of crude on Friday, according to an internal PDVSA document seen by Reuters, representing around 10% of the country's total output. The upgrader, however, has been offline for months.

PDVSA and the country's oil ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While it was not immediately clear how the move would impact operations at those joint ventures, Russia's ambassador to Venezuela, Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, wrote on Twitter that the deal would allow the two countries to continue working together.

"Don't worry! This is about the transfer of Rosneft's assets in Venezuela to Russia's government directly. We will remain together going forward," he wrote on Twitter. Venezuela's Maduro retweeted the ambassador's comment.

Elias Matta, an opposition lawmaker who chairs the Venezuelan National Assembly's energy committee, said any transfer of shares in the joint ventures would need to be approved by the congress to be considered legitimate.

Rosneft said it would be receiving a settlement payment worth a 9.6% share of Rosneft's equity capital that would be held by a subsidiary. It did not say which of its shareholders was responsible for transferring the 9.6% stake.

(Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Darya Korsunskaya in Moscow, Marianna Parraga in Mexico City and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Additional reporting and writing by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Andrew Osborn, Giles Elgood and Paul Simao)
Doug Ford has promised whatever it takes to get Ontario through the COVID-19 crisis. This week, his government delivered an emergency spending plan to rescue our hospitals, health-care agencies and the larger economy.

Its a promising start, but it doesnt keep the promise. The bigger problem is that Ontarios health-care crisis  or more precisely, its blind spots  long predate this pandemic and this premier.

Never mind, for the moment, the short-sighted decisions made by Ford in his first budget  which are only partly remedied in this weeks mini-budget. Those funding shortfalls of a year ago merely compounded the long-term decisions of past decades, laying the groundwork for the perfect storm of a pandemic that caught us short.

This is not the time for recriminations, but it is very much the time for hard truths to help us find our way. Today our hospitals are facing a surge in patients and a shortage of equipment, but also a dearth of funding and a lack of planning.

It is not just the slow starvation but chronic inattention that has hit our hospitals hard. Health-care spending has been rising at seemingly unsupportable rates for decades.

Governments of all political stripes have strived to suppress the growth curve, lest it crowd out other worthy investments such as education and infrastructure. It began not as a partisan spat but an honest policy disagreement among Progressive Conservatives back in the Bill Davis era, when cabinet ministers fought openly over health-care costs and hospital closings.

It continued under subsequent Liberal, NDP, PC, Liberal and PC governments over the past four decades: Control costs, reallocate resources, budget efficiently and spend smart while avoiding unpopular tax hikes.

Politicians who tried raising taxes for health care  as Dalton McGuinty did shortly after becoming premier in late 2003  were pilloried by public opinion. Yet politicians who won power vowing to ramp up hospital spending had to cope with spending curves that quickly veered out of control.

With an aging population, complex diagnostics and ambitious life-saving treatments, health-care costs seemed on track to take up nearly 50 cents of every dollar in government spending. And so every government tried to change with the times.

Just as auto factories shifted to just-in-time delivery to reduce warehousing costs, hospitals adapted to just-enough-time treatments to reduce patient stays. We discovered that knee surgeries could be done in a day and women could deliver healthy babies with fewer overnights.

Now we know the limits of limiting costs. Just as the private sector has been caught short by just-in-time supply chains that freeze up in a lockdown, so too our hospitals have been caught out in a pandemic by capacity limits that were just-barely-enough in the best of times.

But it shouldnt have come as a complete surprise. The sudden appearance of hallway medicine in the last couple of years wasnt so much due to severe cutbacks as sudden surges in influenza that burdened hospitals unexpectedly (albeit inevitably).

Past governments brought in annual flu shots, available free at local pharmacies, to inoculate the population. But that sensible investment couldnt insulate the province from the need for prudent funding for extra hospital capacity (even if it came at the expense of efficiency).

Instead of just-barely-enough, we came close to never-enough beds. If the annual flu season could catch us short, its unsurprising that a once-in-a-century pandemic would catch us napping.

Ford won power promising to fix hallway health care by blowing up the system. The great disrupter meddled with Cancer Care Ontario and broke up the unloved LHINs (Local Health Integration Networks).

This is not to defend the old system, which encouraged hospitals to reduce duplication through regional co-ordination but also fostered bureaucratization. Yet sometimes the cure really is worse than the ailment, especially if downsizing the superstructure fails to free up money for front line practitioners  and only freezes up the system.

The premier proudly declared himself a change agent. But with COVID-19, times changed and Ontario was caught out.

The trouble with disruption is disarray. Not only was the system blown up but funding dried up.

By unilaterally cutting transfer payments for public health, and dialing down increases for hospitals, the premier created an uproar that forced him to back down last year. In the aftermath, there are not only shortfalls and staff shortages, but a disconnect caused by all the disruption.

The restructuring of regional co-ordination happened at the worst possible time, causing the loss of institutional memory and communication channels when needed most. That is not all Fords fault, for he could not have predicted a pandemic, but it generated the double jeopardy of funding shortfalls and structural upheaval.

Against that backdrop  long-term constraints going back decades, and short-term upheaval in Fords first budget  Ontarios health-care system barely saw the pandemic coming this year. Just as it didnt see SARS coming 17 years ago.

And next time? Whatever it takes.

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Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see P. H. Glatfelter Company (NYSE:GLT) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. Ex-dividend means that investors that purchase the stock on or after the 2nd of April will not receive this dividend, which will be paid on the 1st of May.

P. H. Glatfelter's next dividend payment will be US$0.13 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$0.52 per share. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that P. H. Glatfelter has a trailing yield of 4.4% on the current share price of $11.73. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether P. H. Glatfelter's dividend is reliable and sustainable. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

View our latest analysis for P. H. Glatfelter

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. P. H. Glatfelter paid a dividend last year despite being unprofitable. This might be a one-off event, but it's not a sustainable state of affairs in the long run. With the recent loss, it's important to check if the business generated enough cash to pay its dividend. If cash earnings don't cover the dividend, the company would have to pay dividends out of cash in the bank, or by borrowing money, neither of which is long-term sustainable. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 41% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

NYSE:GLT Historical Dividend Yield March 28th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies with falling earnings are riskier for dividend shareholders. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. P. H. Glatfelter was unprofitable last year and, unfortunately, the general trend suggests its earnings have been in decline over the last five years, making us wonder if the dividend is sustainable at all.

Story continues

The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the past ten years, P. H. Glatfelter has increased its dividend at approximately 3.7% a year on average.

Get our latest analysis on P. H. Glatfelter's balance sheet health here.

To Sum It Up

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid P. H. Glatfelter? It's hard to get used to P. H. Glatfelter paying a dividend despite reporting a loss over the past year. At least the dividend was covered by free cash flow, however. It's not that we think P. H. Glatfelter is a bad company, but these characteristics don't generally lead to outstanding dividend performance.

With that being said, if you're still considering P. H. Glatfelter as an investment, you'll find it beneficial to know what risks this stock is facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for P. H. Glatfelter (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about.

We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Ghana Tourism Authority statistics reveal that the tourism sector will witness a downsize in the next five months resulting in a revenue loss of 170 million dollars in the formal and informal space due to the COVID-19.



The pandemic would have a serious negative impact on revenue generation to the industry and government for national development.



Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said this at a stakeholders meeting in Accra on the effects of the COVID-19 on the industry.



The Minister said government acknowledged their predicaments and would work assiduously to institute a support system for the industry.



She assured stakeholders of governments commitment to the sector, assuring them that the sector would bounce back stronger to optimise the lost gains.



The Minister, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority, presented items to the Federation to contain the spread of the disease.



The items are 30 boxes of hand gloves, 6000 pieces of nose masks, 20 gallons of hand sanitizers, 3000 medium sizes of hand sanitizers, and 200 pieces of Veronica brackets.



She advised the Federation to adhere to the precautionary measures from the World Health Organisation and the Ghana Health Service.



Mr Akwasi Agyemang, the Chief Executive Officer, GTA, said to ensure that stakeholders adhered to directives on social distancing, the Authority visited beaches in the city to ensure total compliance to the orders.



The team placed notices on all entrances of the beaches with the inscription "Beach closed to Curb Spread of COVID-19, by GTA".



Mr Agyemang said the exercise was a precautionary measure to alert operators of the beaches that Parliament had passed the law against public gathering and any individual or entity found flouting the law would be prosecuted.



Parliament on Friday, March 20, under a Certificate of Urgency, passed the Imposition of Restrictions Bill, 2020 to give legal backing to the Presidents imposition of restrictions on persons in the event of disaster, emergency or similar circumstances, for public safety and protection.



He said the team would visit those beaches at the weekend to monitor the progress of the orders and arrest people who flout the directive.



Ghana has so far recorded 136 confirmed cases of the global pandemic with three deaths.



Government, on Sunday, March 15, announced a number of preventive measures to contain the COVID-19.



Among the measures was the suspension of all public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities for the next four weeks.



Businesses and other workplaces can continue to operate but should observe prescribed social distancing between patrons and staff.



Establishments such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and drinking spots should observe enhanced hygiene procedures that provide hand sanitizers, running water and soap for handwashing.

Source: GNA









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The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to virtually every country on the planet, threatening the lives of millions, has done nothing to restrain the predatory and criminal worldwide operations of US imperialism.

Far from declaring a humanitarian truce as the virus threatens the lives of millions, Washington has sought to weaponize the death and disruption spread by the disease to further its regime-change operations. At the same time, US officials are carefully calculating the effects of the catastrophic pandemic on the preparations of the US military for great power conflicts, particularly with China.

In the face of appeals from both the United Nations and nominal allies in Western Europe for a lifting of punitive unilateral US sanctions, Washington has instead doubled down on its attempts to destroy the economies of Iran and Venezuela. The explicit purpose of its sanctions regimes is to inflict a sufficiently high degree of mass suffering as to force the downfall of the two countries governments. The pandemic is seen by Washington as a means of furthering this objective.

The Trump administration imposed yet another round of sanctions against Iran on Thursday, targeting companies and individuals involved in the construction and shipping industries. Washington alleged there were links between them and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian armed forces that controls significant sections of the countrys economy.

Among those targeted by the measures announced by the US Treasury Department was Al Khamael Maritime Services, an Iraqi-based shipping company that is accused of facilitating the sale of Iranian oil.

Also sanctioned was Shaykh Adnan al-Hamidawi, a senior leader of Kataib Hezbollah, a principal component of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the predominantly Shia militia forces that constitute an official part of the countrys military. He was charged with having planned to intimidate Iraqi politicians who did not support the removal of US forces from Iraq.

Iraqs parliament voted unanimously in January for the full and immediate withdrawal of all US and other foreign troops from Iraq. The vote came in the wake of the January 3 US drone assassination strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani along with Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several other Iranians and Iraqis at Baghdads international airport.

Since then, Washington has defied the withdrawal demand, even as it has been compelled to withdraw US troops from smaller bases in Iraq, consolidating its occupation forces at larger, more defensible sites. Iraqi officials stated this week that the Pentagon has already begun bringing in Patriot missile systems, again in defiance of the Iraqi government, which fears that they will be used in preparation for an all-out US war against Iran.

The latest sanctions follow by barely one week a previous set of punitive measures aimed at escalating the so-called maximum pressure campaign Washington has carried out against Iran since the Trump administration unilaterally abrogated the nuclear agreement between the major powers and Tehran in 2018. This was followed a year later by a steady buildup of US military forces in the Persian Gulf.

Iran, with more than 32,000 officially reported cases of coronavirus and nearly 2,400 deaths as of early Friday, is the epicenter of the pandemic in the Middle East. It has been gravely weakened in its attempt to combat the disease by the effects of the US sanctions, which have prevented Tehran from buying essential medicines and medical supplies, leading to many deaths from cancer and other diseases even before the pandemic struck.

In announcing the new sanctions on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin repeated the US administrations cynical lie that Washington was providing exceptions and authorizations for humanitarian aid... to help the people of Iran combat the coronavirus. In reality, by designating Irans central bank as a sanctioned terrorist entity, the US sanctions regime has made it impossible for Iran to purchase desperately needed drugs and supplies on the world market.

Only two days before the announcement of the new Iranian sanctions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights called for all sanctions imposed on countries to be urgently re-evaluated.

In a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us, said the commissioner, Michelle Bachelet. She added that humanitarian exemptions to sanctions measures should be given broad and practical effect, with prompt, flexible authorization for essential medical equipment and supplies.

Washingtons murderous response to this appeal was demonstrated not only by the anti-Iran sanctions announced on Thursday, but also with a further attack on Venezuela announced by the US Justice Department on the same day in the form of a grotesque set of indictments branding every senior official in Caracas as a drug dealer and placing multi-million-dollar bounties on their heads.

Already subject to a US economic embargo tantamount to a state of war, Venezuela has seen its economy collapse even further as oil prices have plummeted.

Speaking to a virtual press conference Thursday, US Attorney General William Barr presented Wild West-style wanted posters offering $15 million for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and lesser sums for other top Venezuelan officials. He said that the indictment was aimed at rooting out the extensive corruption within the Venezuelan government, and compared it directly to the US pursuit of former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega, who was ousted and jailed on US charges of racketeering and drug trafficking following the 1989 invasion of Panama by the US military. He refused to comment on whether Washington was contemplating sending troops into Venezuela.

The pretense that Washington is carrying out a legal intervention to fight corruption and defend the Venezuelan people against government officials enriching themselves is patently absurd. On this basis, it would have to indict virtually every government in Latin America, beginning with that of its closest South American ally, Colombia, where there is ample evidence of state sponsorship of drug trafficking.

Barr also said that there had been no consultation on the indictments with Juan Guaido, the right-wing politician who swore himself in as interim president in January of last year and was immediately recognized by Washington. The indictments represent a tacit admission that this operation has failed miserably since Guaidos abortive attempt last April to foment a coup against Maduro. The most recent Venezuela poll indicated that just 3 percent of the population recognized Guaido as president.

Just as the response within the US financial oligarchy and the Trump administration to the spread of the coronavirus is centered on its effects on the markets, so within the US state apparatus it is focused on how this deadly disease will affect the global position of US imperialism, in particular vis-a-vis its most significant rival, China.

The Trump administration has pursued a viciously anti-Chinese propaganda campaign over the coronavirus, preventing this weeks Group of 7 ministers meeting from issuing a joint statement because of thuggish US Secretary of State Mike Pompeos insistence that it describe the pandemic as the Wuhan virus.

The US military, meanwhile, has carried out provocative military exercises directed against China, including a live-fire missile launch in the Philippine Sea on Wednesday and the sailing of a US warship through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Thursday.

These military operations, from Iraq to the Asia-Pacific region, are continuing even as the US military itself is confronting an ever wider spread of the coronavirus within its own ranks. The US aircraft carrier Teddy Roosevelt has been forced to divert to Guam after 25 sailors tested positive. Emergency field hospitals are being set up there in anticipation of a far wider spread of the disease among the ships 5,000 crew members. Movement of other troops has been curtailed for fear of spreading the disease.

An article in Foreign Affairs magazine warns that the abject failure of the Trump administration to either contain the spread of the coronavirus or mitigate its increasingly devastating effects threatens to undermine Washingtons global position, as Beijing becomes the principal source for foreign assistance to countries confronting the pandemic.

Its authors, Kurt Campbell, former US assistant secretary of state for East Asia, and Rush Doshi, director of the Brookings Institutions China Strategy Initiative, warn:

As Washington falters, Beijing is moving quickly and adeptly to take advantage of the opening created by US mistakes, filling the vacuum to position itself as the global leader in pandemic response... Beijing understands that if it is seen as leading, and Washington is seen as unable or unwilling to do so, this perception could fundamentally alter the United States position in global politics and the contest for leadership in the twenty-first century.

US imperialisms response to this perceived threat is a resort to military force. Even as humanity faces the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, imperialism is preparing far greater horrors in the form of a new world war.
The Young And The Restless star Elizabeth Hendrickson welcomed her first child, daughter Josephine James, on Friday morning.

'We are thrilled to introduce our little Josephine James Meder to the world  she's perfect in every way,' the soap star and husband Rob Meder told People.

Josephine measured 20in in length and weighed in at 6lbs11.

But the 40-year-old actress admitted the weeks leading up to the birtrh had not been easy, saying: When dreaming about the birth of your first child words like "social distancing" and "shelter in place" never seem to enter into the picture.'

However, she said: 'Over the past month we simply focused on the things that we could control and we reminded ourselves how lucky we were and stayed positive.'

First time parents: The Young And The Restless star Elizabeth Hendrickson welcomed her first child, daughter Josephine James, with husband Rob Meder on Friday morning amidst the coronavirus pandemic; Hendrickson shared this photo of herself and Meder in November

On behalf of herself and Meder, Hendrickson thanked 'all the nurses, the midwives and all the staff at UCLA Santa Monica who are at work, putting themselves at risk to be there for us when we need them most.'

She added: 'They truly are lifesavers.'

The news of Josephine's birth came 24 hours after Hendrickson had taken to Instagram to share that she had been 'checked in the hospital.'

Elizabeth had decided to 'induce labor with everything moving so rapidly' regarding hospital restrictions being put in place across the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Trying times: The 40-year-old actress admitted, in an exclusive statement to People , that 'when dreaming about the birth of your first child words like 'social distancing' and 'shelter in place' never seem to enter into the picture'; Hendrickson pictured in 2018

'We felt it was safest to get her here safely before Rob wasn't allowed in the delivery room like they're doing in San Fran and NY.'

Although the couple believed that inducing labor would put them ahead of the restrictions, they learned '20 mins before' they had walked in the hospital that 'after delivery only the mother is allowed with the baby postpartum.'

'Rob has to leave,' she wrote. 'We are heartbroken but we also feel like I'm in incredible hands. I know I will be well supported by everyone in the maternity ward.'

'My heart goes out to all of the mamas that are faced with being separated from their partners during delivery right now. I really can't imagine doing this alone.

Bye bump: The glorious news of Josephine's birth came 24 hours after Hendrickson had taken to Instagram to share that she had been 'checked in the hospital'; Hendrickson posted this photo of herself on Wednesday

On a lighter note, the Daytime Emmy award-winning actress noted that she had brought her ukelele to keep herself busy.

'Music is playing, my lavender diffuser is brewing and I'm just keeping my eye on the prize. A gorgeous baby girl to be in our arms as safely and quickly as possible.'

Hendrickson wed Meder in June of 2019 during a seaside ceremony in Saint Barth's, less than a year after they 2018 engagement.

But the couple would return to the alter in October to 'make it official' in the States, noting that 'the marriage license/transfer to California was too much of a headache to deal with.'

They would also announce that they were expecting their now newborn child, daughter Josephine.
WASHINGTON  Concerned about the further spread of the coronavirus, President Donald J. Trump on Saturday evening decided to issue a strong travel advisory for parts of New York as well as Connecticut and New Jersey, after hinting earlier in the day that he was considering a short-term enforceable quarantine for the region.

A quarantine will not be necessary, Trump tweeted around 8:20 p.m.

Trump said the decision was made based on the recommendation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and consulting with the governors of the three states. Trump said he has requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a strong travel advisory.

Earlier, Trump had indicated the possibility of restricting non-commercial travel out of the three states, sparking hours of confusion and uncertainty as as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the two other governors were blindsided by his remarks.

We might not have to do it, but theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine  short-term: two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut," Trump said just after noon Saturday.

It appears the White House did not consult the governors about instituting a stricter quarantine measure  on top of the voluntary self-isolation occurring broadly across the region  before Trump made his remarks to press. Trump's comments sent political and public safety officials in the three states scrambling to answer questions Saturday afternoon. Can he do that? Is it enforceable? And mostly, how would it work?

Cuomo, appearing on CNN a few hours after Trumo's remarks, slammed the idea as illegal, nonsensical and "a declaration of war on states." He suggested that he doubted Trump was seriously considering the idea: If the president was considering this, I guarantee he would have called. ... This is a Civil War kind of discussion.

I dont believe that any federal administration could be serious about physical lockdowns of states or parts of states across this country," Cuomo said. "I dont believe its legal. I think it would be economic chaos.

Trump and Cuomo spoke Saturday morning, both confirmed, but the subject of a new quarantine on New Yorkers was not discussed, Cuomo said.

I didnt speak to him about any quarantine," Cuomo said at his midday briefing on the state's coronavirus reponse. I dont even know what that means. ... I dont know how that could be legally enforceable. And from a medical point of view, I dont what you would be accomplishing. But I can tell you, I dont even like the sound of it."

Asked about the presidents authority to quarantine states, Trumps new acting Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Saturday afternoon, Were evaluating all the options right now."

On Tuesday, the White House requested that anyone who has recently been in the New York metro area  site of the most severe coronavirus outbreak in the country  self-quarantine for 14 days starting from their day of departure from the region.

Several other states have raised concerns about people from the New York metro area going to other parts of the country and fueling outbreaks in those places. Governors in four states, including Florida, have ordered that travelers arriving from the New York area, including parts of Connecticut and New Jersey, self-quarantine for two weeks.

Theyre having problems down in Florida, Trump said Saturday. A lot of New Yorkers are going down. We dont want that. Heavily infected.

Cuomo said Saturday evening that neither the federal government nor individual states should be using policy to restrict interstate travel.

He singled out Rhode Island in his comments, objecting to Gov. Gina Raimondo's policy  announced Friday  that Rhode Island will use state police and local law enforcement to ensure that any New Yorker entering Rhode Island by any mode of transportation self-quarantines for 14 days. Raimondo said the National Guard and police would go door-to-door on Saturday to inform New Yorkers of these rules and police could start pulling over cars with New York licenses plates to advise them.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

If they dont roll back that policy, Im going to sue Rhode Island," Cuomo said. I think what Rhode Island did is at that point of absurdity.

Trump made his earlier remarks about the possibility of a quarantine shortly after noon Saturday, before heading to Norfolk, Va., to bid the 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship, USNS Comfort, bon voyage as it departs for New York City to aid in the virus response. The ship, intended to supplement the citys hospital capacity, will arrive in New York City on Monday, Trump said.

Trump also spoke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday, he said. Its unclear if the two discussed a White House-mandated travel restriction for New Yorkers heading to Florida, but DeSantis has already implemented a mandatory self-quarantine for people arriving in Florida from the New York area by executive order.

Trump said the possible quarantine in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey would be enforceable. Asked if he would use the military of National Guard to enforce the measure, Trump responded, Were not going to need much.

New York State had 52,318 confirmed cases Saturday, including 29,766 in New York City and 7,875 in Westchester County, Cuomos office said.

In New Jersey, there are 11,124 confirmed cases as of Saturday, with the most cases in areas nearest to New York City, according to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

Nearly 1,300 Connecticut residents had tested positive for COVID-19, by the end of day Friday, with the most cases in Fairfield County.

The White House has not issued any mandatory quarantine orders yet, but issued coronavirus guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that individuals should work and school from home if possible and avoid travel. Those 15-day guidelines were issued almost two weeks ago.

Its unclear if Trump will extend them. The president has said he would like the country to be open for business and packed churches on Easter Sunday, April 12.
Bearing 30 cartons of eggs, former farmer James Roach made a special stop at Fralos, a pizza restaurant nestled in a grove of oak trees in Leon Springs.

Roach, 79, handed the cartons to the restaurants owner, Frank Hakspiel, who was on the patio with visitors, everyone standing 6 feet apart to comply with the restrictions designed to slow the spread of novel coronavirus.

The older mans donation was his way of supporting Frank and his wife, Lori, after an order signed by Gov. Greg Abbott forced them to close the doors of their restaurants dining room for at least 30 days.

Clear plastic bags bulging with fresh vegetables and fruit filled chairs once occupied by customers at the yellow one-story, 90-year-old house. The scene reminded Roach of his youth in the 1940s, when Lebanese immigrants had fruit stands in the area and neighbors always helped neighbors in a crisis.

It tends to draw the community together, he said. If we dont help each other what is the world going to do?

Roach is one of the concerned residents who have offered a groundswell of support after they learned of the neighborhood restaurants plight.

Like many small businesses complying with the coronavirus order, Fralos has had to come up with creative strategies to survive. At stake are their remaining employees jobs, their relationship with the community they have embraced like family and the very existence of their treasured business at Boerne Stage Road and Interstate 10 West.

They had to close their adjacent night spot, Bar 301. Theyve gone from 30 employees to a dozen; bar staff now helps out with other duties.

The couple are trying to maintain revenue with new services, such as selling produce. They said their landlord has been very understanding, but rent weighs heavy on their minds.

On March 19, they wrote a post on their Facebook page titled, Please Help Us Keep Our Dream Alive. The couple described lifelong friendships they had made since starting out, long before new development sprang up in the area. They asked the community to continue supporting them by calling for deliveries of fresh produce and to order Take-and-Bake pizzas.

The outpouring was immediate.

The Hakspiels started getting phone calls from neighbors and former customers around the world. Theyve received text messages of hope, such as Weve got your back, and Were rallying the troops.

The post had 60,000 views in two days.

Michael DeVleeschower said, Without Pizza, a Friday just isnt a Friday and without Fralos there wouldnt be a Friday night with family and friends. They have supported you in the past, now its time to support them.

Nancy Smith Thomas wrote, Friday night is our Pizza night. (We pride ourselves on making and cooking our own Pizza) But value your dream more. Friday night were ordering to go.

The couple has been humbled by the response.

Its been wonderful, Lori Hakspiel, 47, said. We have regular customers and new wave of the community come in and support us.

Fralos Pizza is the realization of a dream that the Hakspiels had 16 years ago.

Frank Hakspiel, a Navy veteran, said the venture was a major leap of faith after he had been laid off from Lockheed Martin. Armed with the experience of operating two pizza parlors and a coffee shop, he wanted to offer cuisine where it wasnt to be found. When a neighbor told him an old building was up for lease, he closed the deal.

When he called his wife, training in Houston, she was upset about possible financial shortfalls ahead. But family and friends helped renovate the building, and her worries were eased when the quaint pizza place was an immediate success.

The Hakspiels combined their first names to give the restaurant its distinctive name.

Over the years, Fralos became a place where people gather for weddings, graduation parties and family celebrations.

Its truly a family affair. Franks 82-year-old mother, Virginia Hakspiel, gets up early to make hand-tossed pizza dough. He works in the restaurant, and Lori takes care of administrative duties including accounting, marketing and human resources services. Even 8-year-old son, Grant, pitches in, assembling boxes for the pizzas.

Now, theyve redoubled their efforts for their business and their employees. Volunteers and employees come in early to work more than 14 hours to bag produce for the next day.

With longtime employee Enrique Lenero by his side, Hakspiel heads out each day to deliver produce. He sees the peoples faces, he hears what theyre feeling and knows their efforts are in line with the communitys response to the crisis.

They wonder if they and other small businesses can survive for 30 days.

The good will doesnt just flow one way.

Despite their own challenges, the Hakspiels have been conscious of others dealing with the same restrictions. The couple has a tip line on credit card bills and they serve beverages, such as the Yellow Parrot, with proceeds donated to the San Antonio Zoo thats also temporarily closed and seeing a reduction in revenue.

And Lori and Grant take food to their neighbors in need.

Its sad and its overwhelming, she said. Its unreal what were all going through. Its brought everyone to their knees. Were not out of jeopardy.

Recently, private chef and fitness instructor Heather Rejino, a 10-year customer, came to the patio to pick up an order. She kept her distance from others as health care professionals recommend, but she said its more important than ever to make the effort to back small businesses.

Because were isolated right now, to be able to come to your friends restaurant and see a familiar face, that really does a lot for our emotional and spiritual well being, she said.

Brooke Chavez, executive director at Primarily Primates, stopped by recently to pick up four pizzas. Since the Hakspiels Facebook post, shes increased her visits to the eatery.

They need us and well be here, she said. I refuse to allow this restaurant to close. If I have to eat pizza every other day, Ill do it to keep them in business.

Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
An award-winning plan which gives a detailed insight into the characteristics of Cork's Muscrai Gaeltacht is destined to form the blueprint of its future development.

The Muscrai Heritage Plan/Plean Oidhreachta Mhuscrai was an initiative of Acadamh Fodhla and supported by Cork County Council and the Heritage Council.

The Muscrai-based 'hedge university' has pioneered a number of Gaeltacht initiatives since its foundation by composer Peadar O Riada and others in 2000 but the Heritage Plan, carried out by consultants Research+Dig and involving exhaustive consultation locally, is its most ambitous initiative to date.

At the beginning of March, the plan received an Irish Planning Instititute accolade in the social and economic plan catergory.

The Muscrai Heritage Plan has the protection of the Gaeltacht from outside threats as its main thrust, as its summary outlines.

"Change always occurs.

"The role of this document is to help the people of Muscrai manage that change and protect the core significant aspects of the region in which they live," the plan states, adding that the ultimate aim is to make the Gaeltacht a better place in which to live, work and visit.

The 181-page document identifies a number of key advantages enjoyed by the mid Cork Gaeltacht community, some of the opportunties which would be opening up in normal times and the existential threats to the Gaeltacht.

The main thesis of the document is that Muscrai is unique due to a combination of factors including the tangible - archtecture, archaeology, flora and fauna - and it is inextricably linked to the intangible, folklore, music, customs, poetry and placenames.

"There is a deep, complex and symbiotic relationship between people and place.

"One is simply less without the other.

"For Ireland, Muscrai's cultural creativity and spirit of place acts as a reservoir of meaning and inspiration that helps counter the homogenising nature of globalisation."

The document lists a number of features of international significance in terms of heritage. These include the Gaeltacht's folklore collection, the practice of pilgrimage, the living tradition of music, song, poetry and dance, the role played by Muscrai in the the preservation of the Irish language and music and the part played by the community in the struglle for Irish independence.

The threats to the area identified in the plan include mass tourism and a reduction of cultural tourism numbers amongst growing numbers of visitors, the proposed upgrade of the N22 and the development of new large housing estates, the withdrawal of services and a falling population in the Gaeltacht itself and its hinterland.

Another core element in the plan is the protection of the Muscrai dialect of the Irish language, identified by scholars as among the richest dialects of the ancient language.

The plan's authors and supporters are recommending that the document should provide the basis for all future decisions concerning the management of Muscrai's heritage and taken into account by relevant bodies such as Cork County Council and Udaras na Gaeltachta who are making decisions about Muscrai,

"Development should be sustainable and consistent with the Gaeltacht's culture and way of life," the plan states.

While the plan identified mass tourism as a threat to Muscrai, it is proposing that the development of a sustainable tourim industry which focuses on the language, landscape and the traditions of Muscrai.

A first step on this course would be the coming together of the five villages in the Gaeltacht to form a tourism group and the first item on their agenda should be to organise a conference on sustainable tourism where different ideas could be aired and discussed in detail and the event would provide a launch pad.

While the COVID-19 outbreak will put a lot of these plans on hold for the time being, they will provide a useful starting point for the rescuscitation of the tourism industry in the area when the emergency period comes to an end and people have to face into an uncertain future, blighted by the economic after-effects of the pandemic.

Last year the Muscrai Gaeltacht was included in a multi-national EU network of cultural locations which, it is hoped, will benefit from a multi-million Euro investment to identify and promote authentic cultural experiences for tourists. In this network, called the Atlantic Culturescape, Muscrai is alongside the Sliabh Gullion region in the border, Vigo and Cantabria in Spain, the Brecon Beacons National Parks in Wales and Rio Maior region in Portugal.

While the Muscrai Heritage Plan was issued before the Atlantic Culturescape Project came forward, there are possiblities that both could dovetail in the future.

The full document is available on the Cork County Council website if you search for the Muscrai Heritage Plan.
Kaduna state government has announced the arrest of two clerics for conducting congregational prayers despite the state announcing a total lock down as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus in the state.

According to a statement on the official Twitter handle of the state, their names have been given as Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel.

Read Also: Covid-19: El-Rufai Moves To Enforce Ban On Large Gatherings In Kaduna

The statement added that they will both be prosecuted accordingly.

He wrote:

KADUNA UPDATE: Two clerics have been arrested for conducting congregational prayers in violation of Kaduna State public health preventive measures. A KDSG statement said that Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel will be prosecuted
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 14:07:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a loan of the equivalent of 300 million U.S. dollars to the Henan Green Agriculture Fund (GAF) Project to foster green agriculture investments in the province.

The project will support the establishment of a dedicated investment facility to demonstrate the viability of financing green agriculture investments by providing financing for equity investments and on-lending to eligible firms, according to a press release from the World Bank.

The project will help foster the development of green agriculture financing standards based on globally accepted green investment principles, good practices and performance benchmarks, as applicable to China's agriculture sector, the World Bank noted.

Henan is a major agricultural province with some of the highest output of livestock and grains in China. The project will be implemented by the Henan Agriculture Development Fund Investment Corporation, which will serve as the fund manager and investor.

About 60 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector are expected to receive financing through the GAF, and the World Bank looks to the GAF to have a catalyzing impact by directly and indirectly mobilizing public and private funds to support green agriculture investments by these SMEs.

"Through this project, both China and the world will benefit from reduced agricultural pollution and emissions," said Martin Raiser, World Bank country director for China.
Authorities are investigating the death of a 57-year-old woman who was discovered in her Wareham home on Friday.

Around 8:15 a.m., Wareham police got a 911 call regarding a man in distress in a canoe on the water near Marion Road, according to a statement from the office of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Officials located the 54-year-old man, who was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, the statement said.

Then, police subsequently received information about a death at 3 Woodbridge Ave.

When officers got to the address, the found the 57-year-old woman, Cruzs office said. The woman, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police do not believe this was a random act of violence, the statement said.

Cruz did not release any further information on Friday night. The investigation is ongoing.
A Cork county councillor has called for the demolition of what's left of the Central Hotel in Mallow after fire ripped through the derelict building last Saturday afternoon.

This brings to five the number of fires that have happened at the landmark town centre building since its doors closed for business in 2007.

In August 2011 a second fire at the abandoned hotel in the space of six-months caused extensive damage to the premises, prompting the then Mallow Town Council to again warn it's owner the building would be listed as a derelict building unless it was repaired.

At a court sitting in October 2012 the then owners, listed as Stratfield Ltd, Frank Mulcahy, Formenton Ltd and Mulcahy Enterprises, were hit with a fine of 91,033.07 plus legal costs under the Dangerous Structures provision of the 1964 bill. This total also included recouping cost of the remedial work undertaken by Mallow Town Council. It is understood the monies remain outstanding.

In June of 2016 two separate fires at the dilapidated building within the space of three hours caused even more internal damage to the building.

The following month the building once again came under the spotlight after it emerged a Dublin-based property developer had purchased it for a sum believed to be in the region of 300,000. A subsequent application for a major plan of works there, lodged in the name of Mallow Capital Ltd, was shot down by county council planners.

Fast forward to 2018 and the company lodged a second planning application for the site, which was finally granted conditional approval after a number of further information requests last may. However, the site has lain idle since.

Emergency services were alerted to the latest blaze at the building at around 4.30pm last Saturday with fire brigade units from Mallow and Kanturk, a hydraulic lift from Cork City and a water tanker from Midleton from tasked to the scene.

Mallow station officer Jonathan Madden said the blaze, which was concentrated to the rear of the premises by the adjacent lane, was brought under control within a couple of hours but not before causing extensive damage to the interior and roof of the building.

Mr Madden said it was not possible at this early stage to say what caused the fire.

"That is something that will be investigated by gardai and the relevant authorities over the coming weeks," he said.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said their officials would undertake a detailed inspection of the site to evaluate the damage caused by the fire.

"The outcome of that will determine what future action needs to be taken. At this stage it is far too early to say what that might be," they added.

However, local Labour county councillor James Kennedy was in no doubt about what needs to be done to the building.

"At this stage it is a blot on the landscape that has become a known spot for anti-social behaviour, despite the best efforts of the gardai. The best thing that can happen now is that Cork County Council buy the building, tear it down and replace it with a market type square or business centre," said Cllr Kennedy.

"This saga has been allowed to drag on for far too long. " he added.
Delhi Police on Saturday rolled out the provision for essential service providers to obtain their e-passes through its website. Individuals can register and apply for their e-passes on Delhi Polices website.

Everyone who deals in essential commodities and does not have a pass yet can now apply online through the Delhi Police website, Delhi police PRO MS Randhawa said.

People can also apply for the passes physically through the Deputy Commissioner of Polices office.

Delhi Police has made it mandatory for essential service providers to show their valid identity proofs to be able to move about the city during the lockdown period. Those who dont have the valid ID proofs can apply for the movement pass.

Everyone who deals in essential commodities and does not have a pass yet can now apply online through the Delhi Police website. People can also apply for the passes physically through the Deputy Commissioner of Police's office: Delhi police PRO MS Randhawa #CoronaLockdown pic.twitter.com/ZJQjTN5fJJ  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

The Delhi government is providing free food and support to people in need of relief amid Covid-19 lockdown.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has organised over 500 relief centres in Delhi to provide food and shelter amid the lockdown. To make things easier, the AAP has launched a customised Google Maps with the locations of all the relief centres.

Relief centres span across the city and people can visit these places for lunch (12-3PM) and dinner (6-9PM) everyday.

On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwl said that the administration is equipped to handle 100 Covid-19 cases in a day. The chief minister added that the authorities are now devising a plan and preparing for stage 3 outbreak.

Right now, we are getting three to four positive cases a day. Today, the facilities that we have are enough even if 100 cases are reported each day. We have identified what is needed in scenarios when the numbers go up further and we will start preparing for it, said Kejriwal, identifying three thresholds for the epidemics severity -- 100 cases a day, 500 cases a day and 1,000 cases a day  to sharpen its action plan.
Sarah Mason was eating lunch in the cafeteria at Reagan High School last month when she and her boyfriend were called up to perform a song for karaoke Friday.

They hadnt signed up for a song and were puzzled.

Since they were doing karaoke, I was nervous that somebody had put my name down, said Mason, 17. I was like, Im not about to go sing.

It was, instead, a ploy to put them in the spotlight and announce that their peers had voted them prom queen and king. She was excited, happy and definitely really surprised, but the thrill has since turned to disappointment.

On Saturday, when Mason would have been receiving a sash and crown, she was stuck at home.

The COVID-19 outbreak has wrecked senior class traditions across the country, including in Bexar County, where gatherings are banned and schools are closed at least until April 24. Proms, field trips and other end-of-year celebrations have been canceled or postponed.

Graduations  the biggest of these events  are still scheduled for the end of May, but districts have been making contingency plans for those as well.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest updates on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Superintendent Sean Maika of North East Independent School District  where Mason is a student  announced the prom cancellation March 17. Other school leaders have echoed his concerns while trying to keep students hopes up.

I feel for our seniors this year, said Pedro Martinez, superintendent of San Antonio Independent School District. This is supposed to be the most exciting year, and things are being canceled. I would just tell them to be patient.

Judson ISD Superintendent Jeanette Ball struck a similar tone: We want to still provide our seniors with a prom and with a graduation, she said. What is holding us up right now is that we cant have large gatherings. Once were able to have our large gatherings, we will plan for those events.

Alternate arrangements

Proms were swept up  along with classroom learning itself  in Mayor Ron Nirenbergs March 13 public health declaration prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people.

The restrictions have only tightened since, but by that point, most seniors had already bought their gowns, rented their tuxes, booked their hair and makeup appointments and arranged transportation  including Christina Lambert, who had organized and paid for a prom bus to take her daughter and friends to Johnson High Schools event on March 28.

Lambert talked to the other parents and figured they would keep the reservation and do a makeshift prom for the high schoolers in her backyard. But school closures were extended and even a small gathering with restaurant carry-out seemed ill-advised. Lambert called it off last week. Days later, the city and county banned any non-essential gathering.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio school districts to open mental health hotlines during coronavirus closure

We rescheduled the bus for May 28  the last day of school. Hopefully by then, theres something we can do and that curve is flattened a little bit, she said, referring to efforts to slow the numbers of new coronavirus cases. Some of the kids are bummed about it, but what can you do?

Mason had gone to North Star Mall with her mom to shop for a prom dress  the same weekend a quarantined evacuee, prematurely released from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, visited the shopping center before learning of a positive coronavirus test.

After the prom was canceled, the teen kept her hair and make-up appointments and planned to dress up and have dinner with her boyfriend at her house while wearing her dress, a pale blue off-the-shoulder gown.

But coronavirus rules struck again with Mondays stay-at-home order prohibiting such visits, or restricting any trip outside to essential activities: grocery shopping, exercising, receiving medical care or going to work in exempted industries.

Now I have no idea what well do on Saturday, Mason said earlier in the week. Maybe just FaceTime and have dinner.

Business impact

The dress boutique Gautier is open year-round but its spring prom season is busy with thousands of San Antonio high schoolers searching for the perfect dress.

As event cancellations began pouring in weeks ago, the Northwest Side shop saw fewer and fewer customers.

Basically our whole business is completely stopped, said manager Grace Entringer. This is our biggest time and we (normally) all work extra hours. A lot of the girls use this job to pay for school and we dont have hours to give them.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

To adhere to the mayors orders and social distancing protocols, the shop started operating five hours a day, two days a week and doing curbside pick-ups. Customers drive up, an employee brings out the dress and the wearer takes it home to try on. If the dress needs alterations, theyll do another dress exchange in the same manner.

Even as business falters, Gautier and other vendors have offered deals for students whose proms have been canceled. The boutique is planning to throw a party May 23, complete with a DJ and photographers, Entringer said.

Local photographer Andrew Alvarez is also offering free sessions to seniors with canceled proms who have already bought their prom dresses or suits.

I just really feel bad for all the seniors that are going to miss their senior prom ... with this virus going around they couldnt even do something just simple like that, he told mySA.com.

One little moment now

The class of 2020 is a resilient one, parents pointed out. Born in the months before and after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, their childhoods and upbringing have been marked with tumult, wars and financial crises. Mason, whose father is in the Navy, was born in Guam and lived in five countries before her family settled in San Antonio in 2010.

Regardless of what happens with prom, Mason is looking forward to the fall, when shell attend Texas A&M University in College Station to study wildlife and fisheries.

Its still kind of sad that we have to cancel all this stuff weve been looking forward to the whole year, she said. But I also understand how important it is that the virus doesnt spread to a lot of people.

Lamberts daughter is still a junior, so the upside is shell have another year to attend prom.

We miss out on one little moment now so we can have moments later, Lambert said. I think its very unfortunate, but theres people that dont have food and water on a daily basis. This is a small bump in their life.

Ashley McBride covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Ashley.McBride@express-news.net | Twitter: @Ashleynmcb
As tourists and locals have left the streets of New Orleans deserted, rats have quickly taken their place.

With restaurants and bars closed for business, a once reliable food supply for the rodents has all of a sudden been shut off.

Food waste is no longer being discarded on the streets or into nearby trash cans which means the rats have to forage further for food.

With New Orleans under a Stay in place order the city's rodent population has swarmed streets in the French Quarter section

As restaurants closed save for take-out service, far less food waste is being discarded in the city's alleyways, driving the local rodent population out into the open to search for scraps

The local rodent population can now be seen out and about as they search for scraps so survive.

Along the Crescent City's famous Bourbon Street, its bars and music venues are all closed to comply with social distancing rules.

'I turn the corner, there's about 30 rats at the corner, feasting on something in the middle of the street,' one local restaurant owner told CBS News.

Extermination crews have now begun to leave poisoned bait in the gutters along with rat traps in an effort to curb pests.

'There are pathogens in these rodents. Fortunately, we don't see many of the health outcomes. We don't have very many disease cases that are actually related to rodents. But the potential is there,' New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said during a press conference.

There are now concerns that any diseases being carried by the rats could spread to the local homeless population who have already been out on the streets for some time.

Charles Marsala, who runs New Orleans Insider Tours and AWE News, filmed several videos of dozens of rats scurrying through the empty streets at night and during the day.

'I was filming footage for both projects with a came across the rats feasting on March 18. I went back on March 26 and filmed to see how the rat bait stations are working,' Marsala told DailyMail.com. 'Credit to Mayor Cantrell for a quick response after the videos went viral.'

The rats have been forced to surface in order to find whatever scraps they can

The rats were first filmed boldly roaming all around Bourbon Street on March 18

The city says its ramping up its use of rat bait in commercial areas, starting with rat traps on the sidewalks and bait into the catch basins on Bourbon Street

A rat is seen here March 26, next to one of the baited traps New Orleans workers installed

The normally bustling tourist mecca of Bourbon Street lies deserted in the early afternoon during shelter in place orders to slow the spread of coronavirus disease

A man walks past a closed Cafe Du Monde, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, normally bustling with tourists, but now nearly completely deserted due to the new coronavirus

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards stating Thursday during a press conference that if the state does not flatten its infection rate curve soon, New Orleans could run out of ventilators as early as April 2, and potentially be out of hospital beds by April 7.

'It's not conjecture, it's not some flimsy theory, this is not a scare tactic, this is what is going to happen,' he said, according to CBS News.

Edwards said that coronavirus cases have spread across Louisiana and that 'There is no place where it isn't. There are places where we haven't detected it yet.'

On Thursday, Cantrell blasted President Trump for not taking the pandemic seriously, saying the city was given 'no red flag' from federal agencies to cancel its February 25 Mardi Gras celebrations which are being blamed for making Louisiana the future US epicenter for coronavirus.

In an interview with CNN, Cantrell placed the blame for the potentially fatal celebrations going ahead at President Trump's door, saying he should have warned the city to cancel the festivities and that agency guidance follows the 'response of our national leader.'

'Well, you know that the city of New Orleans as it relates to Mardi Gras, we plan Mardi Gras as a year-long effort. Around a part of our unified command is the federal government. Homeland Security, as well as the FBI,' Cantrell said.

'So in reaching out, meaning my health directors and public safety officials, every step of the way consulted with federal partners as well as the CDC in reference to COVID-19.'

She said the federal government partnered the city in running the celebrations 'every step of the way' and no 'red flags' were issued in the run up.

'No red flags were given. So absolutely, we moved forward,' she said.

The mayor slammed the president for not taking the deadly virus seriously enough as cases started to mount across America.

'When it's not taken seriously at the federal level, it's very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions,' she said.

Cantrell admitted that 'in hindsight' Mardi Gras should never have gone ahead: 'In hindsight, if we were given clear direction, we would not have had Mardi Gras, and I would have been the leader to cancel.'

Cantrell told Fox 8 on Saturday that 'On Lundi Gras, we were hearing from the federal government that the virus was contained,' she said, speaking about the day before Mardi Gras.

She added that the city did cancel the St. Patrick's Day Parade as the pandemic escalated around the US by this date.

New Orleans plans to move 3,000 patients out of the hospital and into a field medical facility at the Morial Convention center to make way for others who need emergency care.

Cantrell said that she and Edwards are still trying to figure out how the $180billion federal dollars promised to Louisiana will be implemented so they can get resources allocated.

Worrying parallels are being drawn between the Mardi Gras and the 1918 parade in Philadelphia which has been touted as one of the main causes for the state's spread of Spanish Flu, which devastated the area more than most and cost 16,000 lives in Philadelphia and wiped out about a third of the world's population.

In 1918, when World War I was coming to a close, US cities held Liberty Loan parades bringing in thousands of revellers.

When the Spanish Flu pandemic ramped up, St. Louis canceled its parade but Philadelphia decided to plough on with its celebration in the city of 1.7 million people.

The virus had reached Philadelphia on September 19, 1918, infecting 600 sailors within a matter of days.

The parade took place on September 28, with 200,000 people in attendance.

Just three days later, there were 635 new cases in Philadelphia and every bed in the city's hospitals was filled, according to UPenn.

Six weeks later, 12,000 people had died and there were 47,000 cases.

By the end of the pandemic, at least 16,000 had died and more than half a million had fallen ill.

By contrast, Saint Louis' death toll reached 700.

The CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine said the Philadelphia parade shows how cancelling mass gatherings and practising social distancing can be critical to slowing an outbreak and saving thousands of lives.

'This deadly example shows the benefit of canceling mass gatherings and employing social distancing measures during pandemics,' the CDC said.
Thunderstorms expected to rattle western Pennsylvania heading east toward central Pennsylvania are going to weaken before the rain arrives here forecasters at the National Weather Service at State College are predicting.

Meteorologists said the midstate can expect between 1 to 1.5 inches of rainfall throughout Saturday evening. There is a possibility of a few strong thunderstorms with gusty winds this afternoon and tonight.

Scattered strong/severe storms across western PA will weaken as they reach central PA this afternoon. However, locally heavy downpours and some small hail will be possible mainly south of I-80 and west of I-99. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/Rlfq0TPFYQ  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) March 28, 2020

Sundays weather is going to be similar to Saturdays. Scattered strong thunderstorms with gusty winds are expected late morning and during the early afternoon hours.

"The main threat for strong storms will be along and to the west of Route 219 as a cold front pushes east into the region, according to the National Weather Service at State College.

Rain is also likely later this week.

Saturday

Showers likely

High: 52

Low: 49

Sunday

Scattered showers, with possible thunderstorms

High: 65

Low: 49

Monday

Partly sunny

High: 60

Low: 41

Tuesday

Partly sunny

High: 54

Low: 41

Wednesday

Rain

High: 51

Low: 40

Thursday

Partly sunny

High: 57

Low: 42

Friday

Chance of rain

High: 57

Low: 40

Saturday

Partly sunny

High: 56

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The Experimental Aircraft Association has just announced the release of a new book featuring dozens of personal stories of those who flew, built and maintained the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress during WWII. These stories were garnered from veterans who flew aboard the EAA Museums B-17 Aluminum Overcast on its tours around the nation. The book is linked to exclusive video from aboard the aircraft as well, which the books purchasers can access via QR code links on its pages, offering a unique experience for readers. Indeed, it promises to be a fascinating read for those among us whom are housebound presently!

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin  (March 27, 2020)  Personal and poignant accounts of flying the Boeing B-17, one of historys most significant aircraft, have been gathered in the new book The Final Mission, newly published by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

The book, written by Chris Henry with Hal Bryan, collects personal remembrances from World War II veterans who flew combat missions aboard B-17s, including those who flew again aboard EAAs aircraft more than 75 years later during one of its national tours each year. The stories are uniquely categorized by the 10 crew positions in the aircraft. The book also includes recollections from Rosie the Riveter builders, Women Airforce Service Pilots, current B-17 tour pilots, and others who have unforgettable memories of the B-17.

Over more than a quarter-century of EAAs B-17 tours, we have been privileged to hear hundreds of remarkable stories and anecdotes from individuals and families who are connected with the B-17 Flying Fortress, said Jim Busha, EAAs vice president of publications, marketing, and membership. This treasure trove of deeply moving first-hand accounts has never been brought together in one place. That is why EAA thought it so important to publish this volume, while we can still salute some of those who originally built, flew, and maintained the B-17, along with remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Especially now in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, we feel these stories need to be shared for future generations.

The Final Mission is illustrated with nearly 200 photos and features in its pages QR codes that lead to exclusive video content, including an actual flight of EAAs B-17 Aluminum Overcast that allows viewers to experience firsthand each of the 10 crew positions aboard the aircraft. The book also features forewords from Gemini and Apollo astronaut Frank Borman, a U.S. Air Force veteran and EAA lifetime member, and Dr. Harry Friedman of the Memphis Belle Memorial Association.

The book is available for just $20 for EAA members and $25 for nonmembers by going to EAA.org/FinalMission. Through April 30, U.S. domestic orders receive free shipping by using the code FINALMISSION. International orders will receive 30 percent off their shipping quote upon purchase.
U.S. to allocate medical, humanitarian aid for Ukraine to help fight COVID-19

15:20, 28.03.20 5495

The money will be distributed to the world's most at-risk countries starting April 3.
Caleb Tiernan isnt staying in-state after all.

The Detroit Country Day 2021 offensive lineman announced his commitment to Northwestern on Saturday via Twitter.

Tiernan, rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star by the 247Sports composite, had visited Ann Arbor multiple times throughout his recruitment. He included Michigan in his top four on March 19, along with Ohio State and Penn State.

"I'm extremely honored and blessed to say I'm 100 percent committed to Northwestern University! Tiernan wrote. "Go Cats!"

The 6-foot-7, 280-pounder is ranked as the No. 370 overall player in the country and No. 11 in Michigan. He is the 32nd-ranked offensive tackle.

The Wolverines did receive two commitments this week, though: four-star offensive lineman Greg Crippen from IMG Academy in Florida and three-star defensive end Dominick Giudice from Mater Dei in New Jersey.

Despite losing out on Tiernan, Michigan is the favorite to land a couple four-star offensive linemen: four-stars Rocco Spindler (Clarkston) and David Davidkov (New Trier High, Illinois).

It currently has four commits in the 2021 class, which ranks 17th in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten.

Get Wolverine Confidential texts straight to your phone from our Michigan football writers. Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with our beat reporters, just like you would with your friends. Sign up for insight on the Wolverines for $4.99 a month by texting 734-215-6605.

MORE: Strong relationships lure new commit Greg Crippen to Michigan

My dream school: Dominick Giudice commits to Michigan same day he was offered

Top 10 receiving yards leaders in Michigan football history

Big Ten extends suspension of all OTAs, including football practice
On Saturday, social media was rife with rumours that actor-politician Kamal Haasan has been self quarantining in his Alwarpet house after suspected coronavirus symptoms. The rumours began after municipality and health officials had stuck coronavirus notes infront of his house.

Photos of the quarantine sticker pasted in front of Kamal Haasan's residence went viral. However, Kamal Haasan, in a statement quashed the rumours saying that at present he resides in another house and is practising self-isolation as a precautionary measure.

Hours after the 'home quarantine' notice was stuck, the Greater Chennai Corporation removed the same saying it was done by mistake.

However, spokesperson of Hassan's political party Makkal Needhi Maiam is of the view that it is nothing but needling by the state government.

The Corporation has been sticking such notices outside the residences of all those who have returned from foreign countries where Coronavirus had spread.

"Kamal Haasan has been in India since January this year. He has not travelled abroad. The building is now the party office of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). There was security. Without making any enquiries with the security, the officials had stuck the home quarantine notice at night and gone," Murali Appas, spokesperson of the party told IANS.

Explaining the same, Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation G Prakash told India Today, "Our staff pasted the quarantine sticker at Kamal Haasan's residence because Gautami (his ex-partner) had returned from Dubai recently and her passport has his address."

Couple of days back Kamal Haasan in a tweet said with the help of doctors in his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) thst he is willing to convert the building, which was once his residence, into a temporary hospital to treat the coronavirus patients.

He also said he is ready to do this once the government gives the permission.

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Germany's Luftwaffe Looks to Replace Tornado Aircraft With Eurofighters, Super Hornets

Sputnik News

22:26 GMT 27.03.2020(updated 22:29 GMT 27.03.2020)

The German air force has settled on replacements for its aging Panavia Tornado fleet, agreeing to buy Eurofighter Typhoons and Boeing F/A-18E/F Hornets in both Super Hornet and Growler configurations. However, the Hornets will need a new certification to wield the nuclear weapons the Tornados once carried.

German broadcast station N-TV reported on Thursday that the Luftwaffe will replace the remainder of its Tornado aircraft with a mix of new jets, but none are a direct fit for Berlin's needs. The service's roughly 93 Tornado jets will be replaced by 90 Eurofighters, 30 Super Hornets and 15 Growlers - none of which are certified to carry the B61 nuclear bomb that became the Tornado's raison d'etre in the German air force.

British defense scholar Justin Bronk, a research fellow with the Royal United Services Institute, fumed on Thursday that Berlin had gotten "the worst of all previously mooted outcomes."

"Neither Eurofighter nor Super Hornet are a credible delivery system for the B61 against Russian targets due to the vulnerability of both platforms to modern Russian air defenses," Bronk wrote, noting that as a gravity bomb, the B61 is of limited use, since neither aircraft is stealthy enough to breach Russia's "extremely capable and thoroughly modernized integrated air defense system."

Moreover, the Hornet is a light and nimble jet designed for naval aviation, not continental heavy combat, and the German Navy has no aircraft carriers. Only the Growlers make sense: they can take up the electronic warfare missions presently performed by some Tornados, as well as provide cover for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) missions, in which ground attack aircraft hunt enemy radar stations and the anti-air missile batteries that rely on them for targeting.

Even though Germany has no nuclear weapons program, the German Tornados are permitted to deploy American B61 nuclear gravity bombs in a European conflict on behalf of NATO, The War Zone explained, via a nuclear sharing agreement.

Boeing spokesperson Justin Gibbons assured Defense News on Friday that the Super Hornets could measure up to Berlin's needs.

"The F/A-18 Super Hornet is capable of being certified to meet B61 requirements for Germany under its timeline," he said. "Boeing has a proven track record of successfully integrating weapons systems that meet the needs of both US and international customers." He provided no timeframe for that certification.

The Eurofighters will not only replace the Tornados, but also older versions of Eurofighters Germany bought years ago. The Typhoon, like the Tornado, was built by a consortium of European defense contractors financed by several NATO powers. In the Typhoon's case, it was Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, and in the Tornado's case it was Italy's Aeritalia, Germany's MBB, and British Aerospace, the precursor to BAE. The first Typhoons were introduced in 2003, and the first Tornados entered service in 1979.

Sputnik reported in January that the Luftwaffe had only 12 functional Tornados left and was increasingly forced to cannibalize some jets for parts to keep others flying.

Berlin won't be buying the aircraft in question until 2025, but it's estimated that keeping the Tornados flying for another five years could cost 13 billion. No price for the buy has been announced, but German newspaper Handelsblatt described the deal as "worth tens of billions."

A Sputnik

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With a rotor diameter of 158 metres, GE's Cypress platform wind turbines will be the largest in Asia

The Blue Circle and its partner AC Energy, the power generation arm of Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corporation, have signed Asias first Notice to Proceed with General Electric Renewable Energy (GE Renewable Energy) for its new Cypress platform wind turbines.

The Blue Circle and its partner AC Energy are one of the premier renewable energy companies in the Asia-Pacific, and we are thrilled theyve selected our brand-new Cypress platform turbines. GE remains deeply committed to Vietnams energy future  our 5MW Cypress turbines are ideally suited to make the best use of Vietnam's tremendous wind energy potential, said Deepak Maloo, regional sales leader of GE Onshore Wind.

The eight turbines with a unit capacity of 5MW for a total of 40MW will carry the largest rotor diameter for an onshore project in Asia (158 meters) and will be the first to transport blades in two pieces before assembly on site.

This technology is a game-changer for onshore sites as it will allow larger capacity machines, lowering our cost of energy and enhancing the competitiveness of wind energy, said Herve Grillot, chief construction officer of The Blue Circle.

Despite the general suspension of master plan approvals in Vietnam related to the new Planning Law implementation, The Blue Circle has succeeded in securing the land and grid connection for the project in a difficult context.

The Binh Thuan province is a very complex and challenging environment to implement a wind power project, explains Olivier Duguet, chief executive officer of The Blue Circle. We are now extending the Mui Ne project with a second 40MW phase to be commissioned in 2021.

The Mui Ne Wind Project site has a total expansion potential of up to 170MW in one of the best wind resource areas in continental Vietnam. The projects estimated cost is around $80 million, which will be financed by debt and equity, and is planning to qualify for the wind feed-in tariff of 8.5 US cents per kWh.

This latest addition to the Mui Ne project is a significant stride towards AC Energys 2025 goal of reaching 5GW of renewables capacity in the Philippines and around the region, said Patrice Clausse, chief operating officer of AC Energy International. We have strongly pushed for the adoption of new technologies and best practices to grow our assets in renewables with the continuous support to pursue innovation from partners like The Blue Circle, he added.

AC Energy (through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AC Energy Vietnam Investments 2 Pte., Ltd.) will participate in this project with a 50 per cent voting stake. GE Vietnam will provide a Full-Service Agreement for up to 15 years, and The Blue Circle will manage operations through an Asset Management Services contract.

Founded in 2013, The Blue Circle identifies, develops, finances, owns, and operates renewable energy projects in complex and challenging geographies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Blue Circle uses the most advanced technology to build responsible and sustainable projects. With offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh, The Blue Circle is the leading renewable energy company of Southeast Asia. Its team is committed to changing the world one green electron at a time.

AC Energy is the energy platform of Ayala, one of the largest business groups in the Philippines. AC Energy is one of the fastest-growing energy companies with over $1 billion of invested and committed equity in renewable and thermal energy in the Philippines and around the region. The company aspires to exceed 5GW of attributable capacity and generate at least 50 per cent energy output from renewables by 2025. In 2019, AC Energys power portfolio registered an attributable capacity of over 1.8GW in operation and under construction, spanning projects in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

GE Renewable Energy is a $15 billion business which combines one of the broadest portfolios in the renewable energy industry to provide end-to-end solutions for customers demanding reliable and affordable green power. Combining onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, storage, utility-scale solar, and grid solutions as well as hybrid renewables and digital services offerings, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ GW of clean renewable energy and equipped more than 90 per cent of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions.
Josephine Zidane

Josephine Zidane, is the President of Tailor Made Tours, one of the biggest ground handling tour firms for Christian pilgrims in Israel. In a recent encounter with KUNLE AKINRINADE in Jerusalem, the 48-year-old lady talks about her growing up days, how her company handle Nigerian pilgrims and how she became a mother of a set of twins, following prayers and predictions by Nigerian clergymen, after battling childlessness for 20 years.

What were your growing-up days like?



My parents are Israelis who were initially based in Russia but now living in the United States of America (USA). I was born in Russia and my parents brought me to Israel when I was two weeks old. My parents later left for the United States of America (USA) but I decided to stay back here. I actually broke the protocols that children must obey their parents. I chose to disobey my parents to stay back here and serve as a soldier when I was 18 years old. I never knew that God had a huge plan for me in life to serve all the nations of the world and become the bridge between Israel and other nations.

Did you start your tour firm with Nigerian Christian pilgrims?



No. We started with all the Christian nations of the world with huge projects. But in Africa, I started with Ethiopian Christian pilgrims and churches many years ago. But by coincidence I came to Nigeria in 2007 and brought excellence in taking care of Christian pilgrims. I am serving my clients well. I have been in business since 1992. I established the tour company in 2000 and my Nigerian office in Abuja was established in 2007.

Does your company still manage Ethiopian pilgrims as ground handler?



Of course, yes. We are the main gate today for African Christian believers to the Holy Land of Jerusalem. We have Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and others, but Nigeria is my favourite.

Why is Nigeria your favourite?



I love Nigerians. That is actually the most precious friendship I have with people all over the world. It is a kind of unbreakable bond that makes us so committed to Nigeria.

Whats your assessment of Nigerian Christian pilgrims and the arrangement for the pilgrimage so far?



Definitely we are progressing, and Tailor Made is a major stakeholder in bringing greater performances and excellence in realising unity with our people in Nigeria. And you see the result is that Christian pilgrimage has not been the same with Nigerian pilgrims since we started handling pilgrimage and managing Nigerian pilgrims since 2007.

Nigerian pilgrims are more than ever before well welcomed and embraced in Israel, just like the Americans. Its a different protocol all together. The era of buses conveying pilgrims breaking down and making them to eat anyhow at 2-star hotels is no more. What we have now is excellent services all through. People are undertaking their spiritual journey and they are happy with their wellbeing, and that is what is most important.

How do you rate Nigerian pilgrims?



Organisation of pilgrimage from your country is very strange because of the fact that this exercise is sponsored by Nigerian government. Nigeria is the only country in the world that still sponsors Christian believers to the Holy Land and Nigerian pilgrims are really much into prayers. They love Israel. They love Jerusalem and we can see that once they are here (Israel), they are becoming truly angels, and its really an amazing atmosphere to see Nigerian pilgrims in Israel.

In what ways have you benefited from prayers of Nigerians?



Actually, my unbreakable bond with Nigerians is really about prayers. When they pray, something amazing happens. And it is no joke that we witnessed showers of blessings or heavy rain whenever Nigerian pilgrims are here. Its an amazing thing every year.

What is more amazing is that God has used Nigerian clergymen to change my story. When I visited Nigeria a few years ago, Nigerian pastors prayed for me after about 20 years of being childless and looking for the fruit of the womb, and I became Iya Ibeji (twins mother). I became Mama Double Double because of prayers by Nigerian clergymen for me.

For me and my household we hold Nigerians in high esteem because of the prayers, and this is a lifetime thing. I am not only here for business but to do everything to hold Nigerian flag very high. This is where I come to the delicate issue of some Christian pilgrims from Nigeria absconding during pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise and people should not insult this exercise for all kinds of rubbish. Some of the pilgrims are doing all kinds of rubbish by absconding, and they are damaging the name of Nigeria as well as frustrating other Nigerians who want to come and pray in Israel.

Where and when did the prayers by the clergymen take place in Nigeria?



Oh, the prayers took place in so many places in Nigeria. I remember the very first person who prophesied to me was Prelate Sunday Makinde, who used to be the head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria. Prelate Makinde prayed for me for several days in 2008, and at the end of the prayers, he prophesied that I would become Mama Double Double (mother of twins).

Also, in 2011 in Osun State, one of the big prophets in the state, Prophet Isaac Adebunmi, prayed for me for so many hours and prophesied that I would become Mama Double Double (mother of twins) and the prophesies came to pass. And there are many other Nigerian clergy men who also prophesied that God would take me out of bareness and bless me with a set of twins, and it happened exactly as they predicted when I was eventually delivered of a set of twins after 20 years of being childless.

What names did you give your twins?



We named them Sarah and Isaac. But in Nigeria, they are called Israel and Nigeria (laughter). And its such an unbreakable bond that that has been created between us and Nigerians. We as a family feel that we owe Nigeria a lot because of the blessings that we have derived from your country, and that has changed the protocols between the two countries.

Now in Israel, when you say Tailor Made, they say Nigeria and vice versa. Now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior consult us when issues arise about Nigeria.

I have made presentations about Christian pilgrimage to other parts of Nigeria like Bauchi and Port Harcourt and several other parts of your country.

Apart from the spiritual benefits of pilgrimage, what else do you think that Nigerians can gain from visiting Israel?



Basically, Lagos State in particular has brought excellence to pilgrimage here. But Lagos State has improved on preparations and wellbeing for pilgrims. We have come to pray but we also need action, and I am glad that the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State governor, Mr Tayo Ayinde, has talked about giving actions to our prayers for Nigeria, and this what Christian pilgrims from your country must do for the greater development of the country. Up till now, the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) is still talking about spiritual aspect, but we are saying that there is need to set aside one day out of the period for the pilgrimage to share of the secrets of national development that Israel has to offer on water resources, agriculture, security and education to give Nigerian people knowledge on what to do about it when they go back to Nigeria and further develop their country.

When was the last time you visited Nigeria?



I came to Nigeria for the first time in 2007 and I have since been coming to the country every year.

What are the lessons you have learnt from your interactions with Nigerians?



Let me tell you, I have learnt so much from Nigerians. And the lesson is that I have become more humble in life than ever before. The Yoruba people have taught me great wisdom. They said to me, Josephine, if you are a monkey that climbs trees too high, you will fall down. The lesson in this wise saying is that I should take things slowly and learn not to think too highly of myself, hence, I have become more humble as well as become a servant in real life too. This is because I know where I am coming from and where I am heading to, and I dont want to fall.

Also, when crucial things are happening to me in life, I have learnt to take them easy because of the wisdom Nigerians have shared with me. Like when I visited one of my staffs who lost her right hand in a car accident in Gombe State, I was very devastated. But Nigerians told me that I should thank God for her life because shes still alive. They asked me to shun despondency and look at life as a half full glass. So you (Nigerians) have an interesting approach to life and we Israelites like you for that. It is for this that I want to urge you people not to change your positive spirit.

What are your favourite Nigerian foods?



I am in love with Amala, Fufu, pounded yam and pepper soup. My husband also loves eating fried plantain, pepper soup and catfish from Plateau State. We love Nigerian cuisine a lot.

***

Source: The Nation
New York will postpone its April 28 presidential primary until June 23, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Saturday, buying time for the state to administer an election as it struggles to respond to the escalating coronavirus outbreak.

I dont think its wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote, a lot of people touching one doorknob, a lot of people touching one pen, Mr. Cuomo said in a news conference. So we are going to delay that and link it to an election that was previously scheduled on June 23.

A primary for state legislative and congressional races had already been set for June 23, and now all of the states primary elections will be held on the same date, he said.

More than a dozen other states have rescheduled their primary elections as the campaign calendar has been upended by the outbreak, citing guidance from health officials who have urged people to avoid gathering spots, including polling places. Some of those states have switched to voting entirely by mail and have extended deadlines for doing so.
The Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on Friday afternoon issued an official directive on penalizing people for failure to comply with measures to prevent and control the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including not wearing face masks in public.

According to the directive, which was made based on a 2013 government decree stipulating administrative penalties for violations in the medical field, people who do not wear face masks in public in the southern metropolis will be fined VND100,000-300,000 (US$4.3-12.9).

Chairpeople of district-level People's Committees and the director of the municipal health department shall guide authorities, civil servants, public health officials, and competent agencies in implementing the directive.

The Vietnamese government has required that people wear face masks at crowded public places like airports, bus stations, and supermarkets, since March 14.

On Friday, a woman in Hanoi was fined VND200,000 ($8.6) by authorities in Hoan Kiem District for not wearing a face mask while at a crowded public area.

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City directive also mandates fines for a number of other violations related to COVID-19 prevention and control.

Specifically, organizations and individuals that fail to comply with the requested suspension of business operations and restrictions on large gatherings are subject to fines between VND5 million and VND10 million ($214.84-429.68).

People who are subject to mandatory home quarantine but fail to do so will be forced into isolation at centralized facilities.

At this stage, if the persons in question resists the quarantine order, they shall be fined between VND2 million and VND5 million ($85.94-214.84).

Criminal proceedings can be launched against individuals who show signs of criminal violations in dodging quarantine.

People who spread false information and fake news that cause public confusion, commit commercial frauds, hoard essential items such as face masks and hand sanitizer, or illegally raise prices of goods during the COVID-19 epidemic will also be punished as per regulations.

The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 597,300 people and killed more than 27,300 around the world as of Saturday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. More than 133,300 patients have recovered.

Ho Chi Minh City has reported 46 COVID-19 patients, three of whom have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

Nationwide, 169 cases of novel coronavirus infections have been confirmed so far, with 21 having walked out of the hospital free of the virus as of Saturday.

No death related to the disease has been recorded in the country.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
State-owned NHPC on Saturday said it will extend a financial assistance of Rs 4.5 crore to fight the spread of coronavirus.

The decision was taken by NHPC CMD A K Singh during a meeting with senior company officials through video conferencing, the company said.

"In view of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis that has hit the entire world and the nation, NHPC Ltd has earmarked Rs 4.5 crore to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country," it said.

Out of Rs 4.5 crore, Rs 1.3 crore has been contributed by its employees, it said, adding the fund will be used to fight the pandemic.

As part of the relief work, NHPC has developed a 40 bed quarantine centre which is being managed with the help of government authorities.

Besides, NHPC hospitals and dispensaries have been instructed to provide 24 x7 OPD services.

At various locations, the company is distributing rice, flour, biscuit, soap, sanitiser, liquid hand wash, gloves and masks etc, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The deluxe-edition drop was an unexpected move that seems likely to boost the album's first-week tally, which is already headed to be the biggest of the year, even more: Prognosticators estimate that it will have shifted around 400,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, topping BTS' "Map of the Soul: 7," which racked up 218,000 units, according to Rolling Stone.
At first, it was just a few cheers, echoing somewhere in the distance. But before long, it had spread  and soon, the whole street had erupted with noise.

I couldnt believe my ears as neighbours  gathered in small clusters on their doorsteps, or leaning from windows  whooped, clapped and rang bells.

Then friends and even strangers started calling my name.

A nurse is seen swabbing the occupants of a car at a drive-thru Covid-19 testing station at Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington, England (file photo)

I reluctantly followed their orders, taking centre stage in the middle of the road with a fellow NHS worker. But I was cheering too, for my colleagues  doctors, nurses, surgeons, and support staff alike.

On Thursday at 8pm, thousands of people across the country  on streets just like mine  showed their support for the doctors and nurses fighting to save lives.

It was a moment of national unity that made my heart soar, after weeks of gloom.

And I have to admit, as a GP set to be on the sharp end of the Covid-19 pandemic, I fought back tears.

I expect many of you felt the same. But when I stepped back inside, after the noise had eventually died down, a lump remained in my throat.

You see, for thousands of medical workers such as me, things are about to get tough.

This week, Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, warned that NHS trusts in London are already seeing an explosion in demand as a result of coronavirus.

Staff are dealing with wave after wave of seriously ill patients  which he described as a continuous tsunami  and capacity is quickly being filled.

The Shard and Tower Bridge lit up in blue to show appreciation and support for NHS staff during the Covid-19 outbreak on March 26 in London, UK (file photo)

I am now even set up to work from home, so I can still speak to patients and consult remotely if I need to self-isolate (pictured: Dr Ellie Cannon)

Under current plans, I and other colleagues in general practice could soon be redeployed to help.

Ive already heard of doctors and nurses who have been moved out of specialist clinics in hospitals to work in Covid-19 wards.

In many ways though, these past few weeks have felt like the calm before the storm  although business has been a bit different to usual.

Do you have a question for Dr Ellie? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. Dr Ellie can only answer in a general context and cannot respond to individual cases, or give personal replies. If you have a health concern, always consult your own GP. Advertisement

We have been running our normal GP surgery, but everything has been done over the telephone.

I am now even set up to work from home, so I can still speak to patients and consult remotely if I need to self-isolate.

Our patients have been amazing, understanding the huge pressures the health system is under and not bothering us with minor ailments.

But there has been a surge in prescription requests, particularly for asthma inhalers and paracetamol.

Pharmacists are overwhelmed and exhausted. Their workload has tripled over the past few weeks, as people rushed to get their medications before lockdown  or tried to stockpile.

So far, though, all things considered, weve been managing well.

Staff prepare to load equipment into London Ambulance Service vehicles in the east car park at the ExCel London exhibition centre, which is being transformed into a field hospital

But, in all honesty, we are entering uncharted waters  and we dont really know what the coming months will look like.

I want people to know this: GP surgeries will remain open.

In fact, its likely that we will be working more hours than at the moment, but in a very different way.

It seems we will be available only for anything that cannot wait.

All other resources will be directed towards looking after patients with Covid-19 at home.

Weird science Dolphins only let one side of their brain sleep at a time Dolphins cant breathe automatically  they have to go to the surface of the water for air. If dolphins had prolonged periods of unconscious sleep as humans do, they would suffocate or drown. So, instead, dolphins let just one side of their brain rest while the other remains alert. This means they can continue to breathe regularly. This is called unihemispheric sleep. Advertisement

Clinical Commissioning Groups  which plan care in local areas  are currently deciding what counts as essential outside of this.

Face-to-face services that will continue during the pandemic include monitoring patients on the blood-thinning drug warfarin, reviewing sick children and seeing patients with urgent stomach pains, which could be appendicitis.

The simple answer is, if you feel you need to see your GP for something non-Covid-19 related, call.

Childhood vaccinations will continue, at the moment, but all cervical cancer screening is set to be delayed.

The rest of our services will have to be done by video and telephone consultation  including six-week baby checks.

Ive not quite worked out how that one will work  its quite difficult to examine a babys hips or listen for a heart murmur when you arent in the same room.

Our team has had to accept that we will not be providing the top-class service we once did.

And important medical issues, mental health problems and symptoms may be missed. We are also going to have to rely on our patients to temporarily look after themselves.

An advertising board in Glasgow displaying a message thanking the NHS as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of coronavirus (file photo)

Of course, I am worried that some patients with symptoms that cant wait  a new breast lump, for instance  will also end up doing so. We could miss serious diagnoses, which we never normally would. This fear is shared by other doctors. Its not only Covid-19 that could result in a spike in deaths, but also the diseases that get overlooked during these current abnormal times.

During this outbreak, I feel a real sense of duty to help spread the most important messages that could help save lives  not least, wash your hands and stay at home.

What's the difference... ... between self-isolation and social-distancing? If you have symptoms of Covid-19  which include a new, continuous cough or a fever  you should self-isolate for seven days. This means you should stay at home at all times and only go outside to exercise. If you live with other people they need to self-isolate for 14 days  the time it takes for symptoms to appear. Social-distancing is what we should all be doing to try to stop the spread of Covid-19  even when we feel well. Its a big shift in how we live our lives, and means avoiding large gatherings, working from home and only using transport when its essential. You can still exercise outdoors once a day  and go to the shop if really necessary  but you should keep at least two metres from other people at all times. Advertisement

I, along with other doctors who work in the media, am regularly briefed by the UKs Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, so I can make sure we are offering the right advice.

But even in my position, it is hard not to be sucked in by the scare stories or to be frightened by the amateur statisticians tweeting online.

Some of the claims I read make my blood boil.

Ive lost count of the number of times someone has told me that more people die from the flu every year than will fall victim to Covid-19.

This comparison is fake news  flu does not attack everyone in the country at once, deluging the health system. We know coronavirus can and does.

This week, I signed up to support TV presenter Rachel Riley with the new Dont Spread The Virus campaign.

Launched by the Centre for Countering Hate, which usually works to tackle hate and trolling online, it aims to debunk some of the misinformation surrounding Covid-19.

The Mail on Sunday has always fought to fight fake health news in these pages, so I was delighted to join the campaign.

False statements and stories only add to the anxiety and panic that many of us are already feeling.

What we all need is accurate, safe advice from trusted sources.

And, I hope, that is what I will continue to be.
The contract has been signed for Dundalk Dog Rescue's new centre, with contractors JC Callan Construction ready to move on site. Bobby Wain said that while everything is subject to the restrictions around the COVID-19 crisis, it was hoped that the building of the long awaited kennels will be complete by the end of the year.

'After three and a half years of fund-raising it is great to get to this point,' he said. However, he admitted that he was concerned that the economic downturn resulting from the coronavirus pandemic will affect the rescue's ability to raise the remainder of the funds needed to complete the project.

Since its foundation in 2005, Dundalk Dog Rescue has saved the lives of thousands of dogs, taking dogs from Louth County Council's animal pound and successfully re-homing them either here in Ireland or sending them to animal charities in England and Sweden.

They currently operate out of rented commercial kennels but the new rescue centre would allow them to expand their work. By having their own dedicated rescue centre, they will be able to ensure that all rescue dogs are cared for to the highest possible standard, with daily exercise, proper nutrition and minimum stress.

This facility will also provide a base for our volunteers, a centre for members of public to view dogs and for school groups and others to visit and learn about responsible dog ownership.

'When it's visited it will be the largest independent rescue centre in Ireland, apart from the one operated by Dogs' Trust,' explains Bobby.

'We are a totally voluntary organisation and we have received no State funding for this project, although we are helping to deal with the problem of the country's unwanted dogs.'

Anyone who would like to support Dundalk Dog Rescue with this project, can do so via their website, www.dundalkdogrescue.ie
Across the Bay Area, local governments are racing to conscript public buildings and spaces into the fight against the coronavirus, as health experts brace for a surge of new patients over the next two weeks.

In San Francisco, city officials have made clear that any publicly owned space is fair game for the citys coronavirus response.

Nothing is off the table, Mayor London Breed said at a news conference Friday. We need to prepare for any situation, including concerns around where hospital beds might go and how we can address this challenge as it rises.

Theres a similar outlook around the Bay Area  the city of Santa Clara is transforming its convention center into a temporary hospital, while Alameda and Contra Costa counties are looking at using public buildings as medical facilities.

In San Francisco on Wednesday, Breed and public health director Dr. Grant Colfax presented a stark scenario: If the city fails to flatten the curve  limit new COVID-19 cases to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients  it will need up to 5,000 additional hospital beds, 1,500 ventilators and many more health care workers.

City leaders and health experts hope that forecast remains a worst-case outlook and that the shelter-in-place mandates issued across the region will stem the tide of new cases and avert an overwhelming inundation of hospitals like what is taking place in New York City.

Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, said the citys search for public spaces that could be used for ambulatory care centers  treatment centers for medical needs not related to the coronavirus  stems from the need to take pressure off the citys hospitals, in preparation for a surge in new cases. That would allow hospitals to focus on COVID-19 patients, Carroll said.

The city has not settled on specific sites, but workers were out Friday scouting potential locations.

Were looking at existing medical facilities, like our public health clinics, that potentially could be used for that, she said.

Buildings already owned by the city are being repurposed as well.

Starting next week, Breed said, Moscone Center West would be used as a temporary homeless shelter for people who have not been diagnosed with COVID-19. The move will add capacity to the citys homeless shelters, opening up more space for people living on the streets and increasing the social distance between people in shelters. The space may hold as many as 150 people.

Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, one member of the citys delegation in Sacramento working to secure funding and other resources, said the city had ample room to accommodate its space needs resulting from COVID-19.

Because San Francisco is a densely populated city, theres a conception that theres no space to do anything. Thats not true, said Wiener. San Francisco has a lot of large spaces. We have large indoor spaces, like our convention facilities and Bill Graham (Civic Auditorium). We have a lot of plazas and big parking lots by health care facilities, and other spaces where temporary structures can be put up.

Fifteen percent of our land mass is city parks and plazas. All of these spaces, both inside and outside, need to be on the table, he said.

Privately owned spaces, particularly hotels, which have emptied out as businesses and leisure travel have largely ceased, are also being increasingly utilized as temporary housing.

So far, the city has reserved them for homeless people and those living in close quarters who dont need hospitalization but cant safely self-isolate after a COVID-19 diagnosis. They will also soon be utilized, city officials said, for front-line health care workers and first responders who are exposed to the virus so they dont risk transmitting it to their families or roommates.

Breed said Friday that San Francisco was finalizing arrangements to rent about 3,000 hotel rooms by next week, 10 times the number the city was leasing a week ago.

The city is not likely to need to use its eminent domain powers to commandeer private space for its COVID-19 response, Carroll said.

We are having a lot of success working through our partnerships with the private sector, getting hotel rooms and that sort of thing, she said. From my perspective, were getting what we need.

San Francisco is also making contingency plans in case it runs out of space at the city morgue. The newly renovated medical examiners office currently has enough space, though Carroll said her department was working closely with health officials to work on morbidity projections and comparing them to the citys current morgue space.

We have a lot more space than we have had historically, but if we see any gaps in that area, were working on alternative plans on what we would procure to fill that gap, she said. As of Friday afternoon, three people had died from COVID-19 in San Francisco, according to the health department.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

By far the most visible and active public space already in use for the citys coronavirus response has been Moscone Center South. Since March 16, the conference center, bereft of conferences or business gatherings, has been transformed into the citys emergency operations center, the central hub for San Franciscos response to the pandemic.

About 350 city workers staff the operations center, fielding calls from the public, coordinating resources and numerous other tasks.

In addition to San Francisco, other Bay Area locations are working to transform public spaces into makeshift medical facilities.

The city of Santa Clara is also transforming its convention center into a temporary hospital for up to 250 COVID-19 patients with nonemergency symptoms. The space is stocked with beds and enough medical supplies and medicine for at least three days, officials there said. Santa Clara County is the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis with 574 confirmed cases  more than in any Bay Area county  by Friday.

Alameda County officials are working with the state and federal governments to identify locations for alternative care sites, mobile field hospital and surge capacity medical facilities, said Jim Morrissey, the countys tactical medical program director. No specific locations have been selected yet.

Similarly, San Mateo County officials are working with the state and federal officials on plans for additional care facilities and surge protocols, but declined to give specifics.

Laine Hendricks, a spokeswoman for Marin County, said the county works all year with hospitals and medical facilities to prepare for disaster responses. Using the countys flu pandemic plan as a baseline, officials are expanding its response to COVID-19 as they learn more about the virus and how it spreads, she said.

Earlier this week, Contra Costa County health officials said that part of Alhambra High School in Martinez could be transformed into a makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients, because of its proximity to the countys hospital.

Both as a district and as a community, we have a legal obligation as well as a moral and ethical obligation, to provide the highest level of cooperation during this time, the county said in a statement.

Dominic Fracassa and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa @SarRavani

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described comments from Mary Ellen Carroll of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management on eminent domain. Carroll said the city is not likely to need to use its eminent domain powers to commandeer private space for its COVID-19 response.
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If you own or work for one of California's nearly four million small businesses, you're understandably freaked out right now. But help is on the way in the form of a federal $2 trillion stimulus package -- $349 billion of which is for small businesses.

Why is the situation so precarious for small businesses right now?

Small businesses have on average 27 days of cash buffer, and restaurants have even less -- 17 days, according to Karen G. Mills, the former head of the federal Small Business Administration under President Obama and a current senior fellow at Harvard Business School.

"So that means if you shut down and turn off the spigot of cash coming in the door, you have 27 days until you run out of money. And when you run out of money as a small business, you're dead," she said.

What is in the stimulus bill for small businesses, and who qualifies?

The bill contains $349 billion in loans to small businesses and nonprofits with less than 500 employees. People who are self-employed, freelancers and independent contractors -- even gig workers like Uber or Lyft drivers -- would also qualify.

The big thing about these loans is that they can be forgiven. Business owners do not have to pay them back if they use the money to pay employees' salaries or rehire laid-off employees, or to pay their rent, mortgage, utilities or any other business-related debts.

How soon will these loans be available?

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said that business owners should be able to apply for these new loans by the end of next week.

How can business owners apply for these loans?

The Small Business Administration works with banks to offer these loans. So once the stimulus bill is finalized, talk to the bank you already work with. Most FDIC-insured banks should be able to offer these loans, according to Mills. If for some reason your local bank can't work with you, contact a big bank like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo or Bank of America.

There could be millions of loan applications to process. Are people really going to get loans as quickly as Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says they will?

Mills says this is the part of the deal that worries her the most -- especially because smaller banks aren't used to acting quickly, and, as a government agency, it can take the SBA a while to ramp up.

"The concern I've got is that we have not seen yet how the SBA and Treasury are actually going to attach this fire hydrant out to the pipes that will deliver the money into the hands of small business owners," she said.





Pleaseif you have trouble applying for or receiving these loans.

What's going to happen on April 1 if these loans haven't been processed yet? Lots of small businesses need to pay rent.

Experts are urging landlords to be empathetic and patient, if possible. "I encourage all the landlords, if they don't receive rent on April 1, they should talk to their tenants and try to help them to go through this difficult time, because help is on the way," said William Yu, an economist at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Also, in the city of L.A, Mayor Garcetti has already issued an executive order banning commercial evictions. L.A. City Council is voting to approve its own ban today, March 27. The draft of the city's ban would prevent landlords from kicking out business tenants if they can't pay rent due to COVID-19. They could still be evicted for failing to pay rent for other, non-COVID reasons, however. As soon as the coronavirus emergency is over, businesses would have to pay that rent back within three months.

I'm a small business owner trying to decide whether to lay off my employees or not. What should I do?

Many experts, including Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, are urging employers to keep their employees on the payroll and wait for government assistance.

Mills said it will be much easier for businesses to recover if they don't have to search for new employees in a few months. "We know from the experience in [the 2009 recession], when we lose small businesses, when they shut down, or they pare down their employees, it is very hard to get them back to full speed again. It's a slow ramp up," she said.

If you are a small business owner, or you work for one, or you're a commercial landlord, please let us know how all this is affecting you.

Contact reporter Emily Guerin on Twitter: @GuerinEmily or by emailing eguerin@scpr.org.
Sam Riley as Pierre Curie and Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie in Radioactive

Rosamund Pike repeatedly sparks but never quite catches fire as a trailblazer who illuminated 20th-century science in Academy Award nominee Marjane Satrapi's biographical drama.

Unfolding largely in flashback, Radioactive celebrates the triumphs of Polish physicist and chemist Marie Curie nee Sklodowska at a time when a woman's place was supposedly in a sitting room or kitchen, not a laboratory.

Pike's stirring performance tightly embraces the character's nervous tics and forthright manner - 'This is my fight and I will win it.' Marie vows defiantly - to suggest how a rebel with a cause could prove her doubters wrong in the crucible of misplaced macho superiority.

She kindles a pleasing on-screen chemistry with Sam Riley as the man who stood beside Marie on her momentous journey till he fell beneath the wheels of a horse-drawn carriage, which Satrapi recreates with horrifying flair.

Screenwriter Jack Thorne arms his plain-speaking heroine with choice one-liners to reflect her no-nonsense approach to diplomacy.

His decision to intercut fraught human drama with historical milestones fashioned from Marie's discoveries - the 1945 Hiroshima bombing, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor failure - feels unnecessary and reduces dramatic momentum to a crawl.

Satrapi's film opens in 1934 Paris with the collapse of two-time Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie (Pike), supposedly as a result of long-term exposure to radiation in the course of her scientific endeavours.

As she drifts in and out of consciousness on a hospital gurney bound for the operating theatre, Marie recalls her first meeting with fellow scientist Pierre Curie (Riley) on the streets of the French capital in 1893.

'I feel it's worth pointing out that I will not be your mistress,' she tersely informs him.

He offers her a place in his laboratory to continue her groundbreaking research, which has put her at odds with peers in the scientific community, including Gabriel Lippmann (Simon Russell Beale).

Marie and Pierre marry and the Curies make a series of scientific breakthroughs, which confirm Marie as the first woman to win a coveted Nobel Prize.

'Fame is for idiots,' Marie dismissively remarks to her sister Bronia (Sian Brooke) as her celebrity status intoxicates the upper echelons of power in the city.

Following Pierre's death, Marie embarks on a scandalous affair with his brilliant pupil, Paul Langevin (Aneurin Barnard), which poisons public opinion.

Subsequently, Marie risks everything, including her health, with her spirited daughter Irene (Anya Taylor-Joy) to change the face of science.

Radioactive is a patchy history lesson which fails to emit the same mesmerising glow as the vial of radium that Marie takes to bed each night.

Pike is compelling but we are kept at arm's length from the brilliant mind who dismantled gender barriers.

'I have been surrounded by death and radiation, and they have brought me very little happiness,' observes Marie towards the end of her life.

Satrapi's picture inspires a slightly more favourable response.
During Californias shelter-in-place order, takeout and delivery from restaurants and cafes make eating out still an option.

In materials provided to food facility operators shortly after the San Franciscos shelter-in-place order, the citys public health department outlined recommendations specifically for businesses like restaurants and cafes. But the rules are hardly new to seasoned service industry workers.

Terry Hong, a supervisor at the department, said, Were telling them, calm down: You already know this. The reality is, were asking for the same safeguards that have already been in place  but now, were just doubling down. Its the same fundamentals of safety, though social distancing is the new wrinkle here.

The newness of social distancing at food businesses, where cooking areas are often cramped, has resulted in ad hoc measures: restricting the number of people allowed inside shops, drawing queue guides 6 feet apart with chalk on sidewalks, dictating that workers wear disposable gloves at all times, keeping hand sanitizer at the cash register and leaving delivery orders on stoops. While food itself isnt known to be a carrier of the novel coronavirus, the behaviors that surround the business of making food can be risky.

On March 31, six Bay Area counties issued new social-distancing protocols along with an order extending shelter in place until May 3. And on April 17, the counties announced a policy of mandatory face coverings for essential workers. Here are the counties recommendations on the best practices for restaurants and cafes, in addition to already established sanitary behaviors, and what diners should expect in order to stay safe.

Q: What kind of signage should be made available?

A: Each public entrance must have a copy of the official social-distancing protocol posted. In addition, the protocols require a sign that tells both customers and staff that they should avoid entering the facility if they have a cough or fever; maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another; sneeze and cough into a cloth or tissue or, if not available, into ones elbow; and not shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact.

Q: How can human contact be effectively minimized?

A: Avoid having customers and staff touch shared surfaces and tools by eliminating self-service stations with silverware and napkins and disallowing reusable containers. If customers must sign receipts, show them that the pens have been sanitized, and give them a separate container to which to return used pens. Sanitize everything customers touch after each use: touchscreens, counters and check presenters. Cash and cards should be handled with care by people who wont be touching food or utensils  either with gloves changed between each transaction, or with the liberal use of hand sanitizer. To that end, provide hand sanitizer at the register for customers and cashiers.

Per the April 17 joint announcement by the health directors of the Bay Area, everyone must wear facemasks while performing essential tasks, whether they are working or shopping.

Q: How should customers be made to follow social distancing?

A: Limit how many people can be in the space or in front of the space. Estimate how many people can be inside while maintaining 6 feet of distance from each other, then make that number the maximum allowed inside at any given time. Have one dedicated staff member stand at the entrance to implement the policy and remind people to stand 6 feet apart while waiting.

Implement environmental social-distancing reminders as well, like drawing lines on the sidewalk with chalk or painters tape to show customers where to stand while waiting.

Q: Is wearing gloves enough to combat the virus?

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

A: While disposable gloves and hand sanitizer are helpful, they dont replace handwashing. Staff should change gloves after touching shared utensils, cleaning and any other action that would potentially contaminate a sterile area.

Q: What are the best practices for staffing?

A: Restaurants should rearrange kitchen layouts and menu offerings to force at least 6 feet of space between staff. For instance, having two people on the pasta station working elbow-to-elbow would violate social distancing orders; it would be better to streamline the menu so one person could handle that station alone. That may mean downsizing: Owners and managers should be realistic about what can be produced with a staggered schedule and smaller staff.

Owners and managers should be flexible with sick leave. Dont ask for a doctors note, especially now that health care providers are slammed. Discourage staff from showing up if they are ill, and eliminate financial barriers to staying home. That means paying people who might be exposed to the coronavirus not to show up to work for the full two-week quarantine period. While Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules restrict managers from asking staff directly about illnesses, it is to everyones benefit that management be generous with sick leave. The protocol does require symptom checks before staff begin work, so its essential to have managers be aware of what to check for  fever, fatigue and dry cough.

The city of San Francisco has promised to reimburse small businesses that have employees in San Francisco with up to $10 million for sick leave during the coronavirus outbreak.

Staffs individual needs should be taken into account when assigning roles. If someone is a caretaker for a vulnerable loved one or lives with people who are at higher risk for fatal infections, allow them to set their own comfort levels with tasks that could potentially expose them to the virus.

Soleil Ho is The San Francisco Chronicles restaurant critic. Email: soleil@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hooleil
'We have reassessed the prospects for growth for 2020 and 2021. It is now clear that we have entered a recession as bad or worse than in 2009. We do project recovery in 2021,' IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters at a news conference.

Washington: The world is in the face of a devastating impact due to the coronavirus pandemic and has clearly entered a recession, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday, but projected a recovery next year.

"We have reassessed the prospects for growth for 2020 and 2021. It is now clear that we have entered a recession as bad or worse than in 2009. We do project recovery in 2021," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters at a news conference.

Georgieva was addressing the press after a meeting of governing body of the IMF, the International Monetary and Financial Committee. Representing 189 members, the body met virtually to discuss the unprecedented challenge posed to the world by COVID-19.

The key to recovery in 2021, she said, is only if the international community succeeds in containing the virus everywhere and prevent liquidity problems from becoming a solvency issue.

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"The US is in recession, as is the rest of the advanced economies of the world. And in a big chunk of developed and emerging markets in developing economies. How severe? We are working now on our projections for 2020, Georgieva said in response to a question.

The new projections are expected in the next few weeks.

Stressing that while containment is the main reason for the economy to stand still and get into a recession, she said containment is very necessary to come out of this period and step into recovery. "Until the virus is not contained, it would be very difficult to go to the lives we love."

"A key concern about a long-lasting impact of the sudden stop of the world economy is the risk of a wave of bankruptcies and layoffs that not only can undermine the recovery. But can erode the fabric of our societies," the IMF chief said.

To avoid this from happening, many countries have taken far-reaching measures to address the health crisis and to cushion its impact on the economy, both on the monetary and on the fiscal side, she said.

The IMF chief said 81 emergency financing requests, including 50 from lower-income countries, have been received. She said the current estimate for the overall financial needs of emerging markets is 2.5 trillion dollars.

"We believe this is on the lower end. We do know that their own reserves and domestic resources will not be sufficient," she added.

The G-20, a day earlier, reported fiscal measures totaling some 5 trillion dollars or over 6 percent of the global GDP.

Responding to another question, Georgieva said the IMF is projecting recession for 2020.

"We do expect it to be quite deep and we are very much urging countries to step up containment measures aggressively so we can shorten the duration of this period of time when the economy is in a standstill," she said.

"And also to apply well-targeted measures, primarily focusing on the health system to absorb that enormous stress that comes from coronavirus. And on people, businesses and the financial system, I am very pleased to say that when we went through countries' responses, that sense of targeted fiscal measures is there and are also very impressive to see the size of these measures," she added.

"Countries are doing all they can on the fiscal and on the monetary front. We have heard from our members' very impressive decisions taken over the last days," the IMF chief said.

"We also want to caution that as we are responding now, we want to make the recession as possibly short and not too deep. We also want to think about what is going to follow the recovery and make sure that we are putting forward measures that can be supportive in this regard," she said.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has showed no restraint in blaming China for the spread of COVID-19, even though critics have accused him of 'racism'

With more than half a million cases being reported globally and at least 24,500 fatalities as of now, COVID-19 is a pandemic that has literally brought our world to almost a complete lockdown.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a 21-day lockdown in a country home to more than 1.3 billion people. And the thought of the fatal virus spreading in a country as populous as India deserves not just the immediate attention of India's leaders, but also that of the international community.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has showed no restraint in blaming China for the spread of COVID-19, even though critics have accused him of 'racism'. Trump has often referred to the novel coronavirus as China virus or Wuhan virus, which is where technically the virus spread from. And that is a sentiment resonated by many.

Earlier this week, class action lawsuits were filed against the People's Republic of China in US courts. Globally, there is a growing movement including on social media to hold China responsible for its alleged failure in containing the virus, and also for misleading the international community by under-reporting the virus threat. Critics say that had China not undermined the seriousness of the virus and hidden information about its spread, we possibly could have prevented a pandemic from spreading.

But the question that needs a serious thought is this: Can China be found guilty for its alleged negligence and possible under-reporting of COVID-19, and for allegedly hiding crucial information about its transmission? If yes, where?

On 15 June 2007, the International Health Regulations, 2005 (IHR) came into effect, of which China is a signatory.

The IHR guidelines place obligations on nation States to provide adequate information to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent the spread of pandemics. It is alleged that China failed under its obligations in this regard. In fact not only did China downplay the seriousness of COVID-19 till as late as February 2020 (the virus began infecting people around early December 2019), it seems to have hidden vital information until January 2020 by stating that the virus does not spread from 'human-to-human' contact, a myth that has since been busted by medical practitioners the world over.

Observers argue that it is difficult to believe that China, which boasts of its advances in science and technology, did not know the fact that the virus spreads through contact. They question if it could be possible that the reason for not disclosing the true extent of the virus could have been for some other purpose  quite possibly to ensure that its trade is not affected given that China is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters in the world.

International law places an obligation on States to behave in a responsible manner, and this is known as the law of state responsibility. International law scholars around the world have observed that the Chinese government from the echelons of power right to the local authorities in Wuhan have failed in their responsibility by both withholding information and by providing inconclusive information, and hence seem to have violated accepted standards and norms of international law.

Can China be sued on an international level?

Yes. On an international level, States could sue the Peoples Republic of China at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and/ or other international forums for violations. From the information presently available as to Chinese response from the time of the novel coronavirus being detected in Wuhan to the actual spread of it globally, it appears that a prima-facie case has been made out for China to be held liable for its alleged inactions in containing the spread of the virus. States could argue that China gave precedence to economic gains rather than do things on a war footing, which could have possibly helped contain the virus to its shores alone, and not become a pandemic that we are witnessing today.

Suing China in local courts across the world:

The second aspect of the question arises from the point of view of individuals. Those who have suffered losses --whether that of loved ones, or quite possibly financial loss -- could possibly take the lead.

While accepted norms internationally state that sovereign states are granted immunity from the courts of other countries, certain exceptions do exist.

In Texas, a class action lawsuit has been filed against China, while another suit has been filed in Florida. Filed, inter-alia, by an advocacy group which claims that COVID-19 is an act of terrorism and calls the virus biological warfare, this class action lawsuit may not stand the test of law given that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 1976 (FISA) has been enacted by the US, which establishes certain limitations on the possibility of a foreign sovereign nation being sued in a US Court.

Clearing the air around the possible class action lawsuits, Dr James Kraska, chair and Charles H. Stockton professor of international maritime law at the Stockton Center for International Law of the US. Naval War College says, Any case in the US would have to overcome Chinese sovereign immunity of assets by using FISA, which shields governmental property from jurisdiction/ attachment unless it is a commercial venture, such as a state owned enterprise (SOA)."

While it may be tough, there could be at least some judges in the US who could see the merit in claims brought against China and possibly award billions of dollars as damages.

In India, the principle of sovereign immunity dictates jurisdiction, if any, of Indian courts over foreign sovereigns (in this case China). An exception to this rule, however, is found in section 86 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. This section lays down that the only way a foreign state may be sued in an Indian court is by first procuring written consent of the Central Government certified in writing by a Secretary to the Government, and laid down conditions to this effect will have to be satisfied. One of the conditions laid down is waiver of immunity, and Indian courts have in the past held that waiver in this regard may be construed to be implied if there is failure to appear and claim such immunity  although this was in cases involving enterprises owned by foreign states, and not suing the foreign state itself.

While there is precedent as to the suing of SOA of foreign states inasmuch as for breach of contract, there seems to be nothing to shed light as to suing a state for its alleged inaction in spreading a pandemic.

While tort law (a tort is a civil wrong independent of contract for which damages may be awarded) could be argued by those wishing to carve a niche in that regard, the law in that regard in India is unfortunately still at a nascent stage, and needs to fully develop  although even then jurisdiction in that sense would play a big role. However, we could see the law evolve to award damages for tort given the peculiar circumstances in this case.

Today, as critics argue, there is a wrong done which no one can deny, which in turn leads us to a possibility of courts across States seeing merits in the claims against China. While in the past such action would have been prevented by using political means, this time, that may not be the case since the economic structure of the world has come to the brink on account of the pandemic. While in the past governments would have been more concerned about foreign relations, we could be moving toward a situation where nationalism triumphs globalism and the damage to the economy of various states would involve legal action, if not, harsh measures politically against China.

As critics argue, China is at fault.

Dr. Kraska proposes countermeasures against China. In an article dated 23 March 2020 published on War On The Rocks, he writes:

The menu for such countermeasures is as limitless as the extent that international law infuses the foreign affairs between China and the world, and such action by injured states may be individual and collective and does not have to be connected explicitly to the kind or type of violations committed by China. Thus, action could include removal of China from leadership positions and memberships, as China now chairs four of 15 organizations of the United Nations system. States could reverse Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization, suspend air travel to China for a period of years, broadcast Western media in China, and undermine Chinas famous internet firewall that keeps the countrys information ecosystem sealed off from the rest of the world. Remember that countermeasures permit not only acts that are merely unfriendly, but also licenses acts that would normally be a violation of international law. But the limitations still leave considerable room to roam, even if they violate Chinas sovereignty and internal affairs, including ensuring that Taiwanese media voices and officials are heard through the Chinese internet firewall, broadcasting the ineptness and corruption of the Chinese Communist Party throughout China, and reporting on Chinese coercion against its neighbors in the South China Sea and East China Sea, and ensuring the people of China understand the responsibility of the Chinese Communist Party in unleashing a global contagion.

This pandemic will end. How states react to the economic disruptions, will however, be very interesting. India, for one, will need to recover the losses caused by the lockdown, find quick solutions to losses sustained by micro, small and medium enterprises, generate employment opportunities in both the organized and unorganized sectors, and do all things in its power to protect the most marginalised and vulnerable sections of society. This will be no small feat to accomplish. The challenge will be tough.

From Indias perspective, there is no better time than now for fulfilling Prime Minister Modis Make In India dream as we seek to navigate one of the toughest times our country has ever faced since independence. From safety pins to the most complex of innovations, there is no better time than this for pushing for Make In India.

The writer is an advocate at the Bombay High Court with an interest in international law and global politics

[1] https://warontherocks.com/2020/03/china-is-legally-responsible-for-covid-19-damage-and-claims-could-be-in-the-trillions/
There are two realities in India today as we fight the Coronavirus pandemic...

One is the reality of you and me, sitting in the comforts of our respective homes. Some, like me, are already frustrated with the enforced work from home discipline. Others are simply bored minus the comfort of their social life, the nagging need to be seen, and make interesting Instagram stories to impress their friend circle with.

But the other stark and terrifying reality is of the thousands of workers who are trudging the long way back home in these difficult times.

The movement of migrant workers began on March 24 itself when PM Modi announced a countrywide lockdown. But this being the first weekend of Indias 21-day lockdown, migrant workers in Delhi decided to head to various home destinations like Lucknow, Bareilly, Meerut, Badaun, Aligarh, Gorakhpur and nearby towns.

With trains and buses not working, many were seen carrying children on their shoulders and their backs. Some had even resigned themselves to 600 kilometre long walks back home. Many of them without money, food or water...

This was despite repeated assurances from central and state governments that their needs will be taken care of. Needless to say that the governments should have anticipated for and been better prepared for such an exodus. They have now swung into action. Police personnel and civil society groups can be seen distributing food, water and medicines  all along the highway. In particular, the UP government has organised more than a thousand buses to take these migrants home.

But the availability of these buses now has led to another problem. Pictures from Delhis ISBT on Saturday were heart-wrenching and scary. Migrant workers could be seen lined up in long snaky queues, huddled close together. Social distancing was certainly out of the window in the face of these unusual circumstances  putting many of these workers at risk of getting infected.

So what can the government and administration do in these trying times?

1. Ensure that police are present at the bus stands to help un-crowd the buses and see that theres enough space between passengers in queues.

2. Create awareness to assure people that they will be fed and that the government will take care of them in these unusual times.

3. Deploy enough personnel along the highways to provide food, water and shelter to those already walking back home.

This is a humanitarian tragedy and we can only pray that these migrants do not take the Covid-19 virus back to their towns and villages. If that happens, all the trauma and pain of the pan-India lockdown would have been in vain.

(Views expressed are personal)

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One can feel the existential anguish oozing off every page and pixel at The New York Times. That's not because the coronavirus is approaching apocalyptic proportions, with mass die-offs comparable to the year 1348, when the Black Death was at its apex. Instead, the Times is confronting a different problem: President Donald Trump's poll numbers are doing very well. His recent town hall was the most watched town hall in cable history. His daily press conferences enthrall so many people that the media are desperate to stop televising them.

Clearly, the Times had to bring out the big guns to ensure that Americans understand that not only is Trump the ultimate "Orange Man Bad," but also that his supporters must continue to be recognized as the "Deplorables" they are. To that end, the Times published one of the most vicious opinion pieces ever seen in its pages, and that's saying a lot.

Katherine Stewart has a bee in her bonnet, and that bee is her hatred for Christianity. She's written a book with the giveaway title The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. That makes her the perfect person to write an opinion piece stating that "The Religious Right's Hostility to Science Is Crippling Our Coronavirus Response: Trump's response to the pandemic has been haunted by the science denialism of his ultraconservative religious allies."

With that title, one would think the opinion piece has specific and detailed information about the many times that Donald Trump ignored the advice coming from Dr. Anthony Fauci or Dr. Deborah Birx. Or perhaps Stewart would write about the faith-healing sessions Trump was hosting in the Oval Office. Or maybe we'd hear that Trump, instead of closing borders and mobilizing America to provide health care providers with masks and ventilators, was, instead, broadcasting daily evangelical prayers from the White House.

Because all of that is manifestly false, even Stewart doesn't make such allegations. What Stewart does, instead, is set up straw men, pointing to a handful of evangelical preachers who support Trump and believe that their faith is the only protection they need. From that, she leaps lightly to the sinister fact that Trump chose Easter as a possible endpoint for America's lockdown. Trump, she darkly opines, "did not invoke Easter by accident..."

Having dropped that little bombshell, Stewart lightly dances away to another topic, which is the fact that conservatives, having lived through the Russian and Ukraine attacks, are suspicious of this round of targeted attacks on Trump. And then she's on to another topic, this time the fact that, because Trump's supporters like him, it stands to reason that his governance is incompetent (an argument I'm sure she never made despite the media's eight-year-long fangirl crush on Obama). Therefore, it's Trump's fault, rather than the CDC's bureaucratic bungling, that South Korea and Germany initially did more tests than America.

Then zoom, Stewart is on to the next target, and this is where the meat gets on the bones: Trump and his Cabinet oppose abortion. How in the world can people who oppose baby-killing be sufficiently scientific to fight an epidemic disease?

And that's it. That's Stewart's argument about Christianity being the root cause of...something. Stewart's insults never lead to any factual support for her premise.

However, we like facts, so here are the things this avatar for science fails to mention:

1. Democrat politicians and other leftists in New York encouraged crowds for Chinese New Year to fight Trump's "xenophobia" Meanwhile, New Orleans's mayor was incapable of calling the shots in her city for Mardi Gras.

2. Democrats have pushed for years to pack people into cities and, once in cities, put them all into public transportation. Nobody considered social distancing then.

3. Democrat have pushed for years to ban single-use plastic bags. Now that re-usable bags are proving to be a coronavirus vector, single-use bags are back.

4. Democrat policies have pushed for years for open borders. Now borders around the world are closing, and Mexicans no longer want Americans to come in.

The Times behaved shamefully when it published Stewart's hate-filled, fact-free screed against Christians. This kind of religious bigotry stinks as badly as religious bigotry did when the New York media establishment attacked Irish Catholics in the 19th century or Jews in the 20th century.

Stewart, the Times, and others who aggressively support policies that enabled the coronavirus's spread are now wallowing mindlessly in Trump-hatred. They need to step back and think seriously about whether their theories, which are a matter of faith, had something to do with the coronavirus mess.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 test made by Abbott that could deliver positive results in as few as five minutes, the company said.

Negative results could be determined in 13 minutes, Abbott said in a news release.

The COVID-19 test will run on the companys ID NOW platform, which provides rapid results in a selection of health care settings, including physicians offices, urgent care clinics and hospital emergency departments.

Abbott said the ID NOW platform weighs just less than 7 pounds and is about the size of a toaster. It uses molecular technology and is already the most widely available molecular point-of-care testing platform in the county, the company said.

The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus, said Robert B. Ford, the president and chief operating officer of Abbott. With rapid testing on ID NOW, healthcare providers can perform molecular point-of-care testing outside the traditional four walls of a hospital in outbreak hotspots.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, is a respiratory illness. In Massachusetts, 35 people have died from complications of the illness. At least 3,240 residents have tested positive for the virus, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Across the globe, there have been at least 615,519 cases of coronavirus, including 28,717 deaths and 135,735 people who have recovered, according to a real-time map produced by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Abbott plans to make ID NOW COVID-19 tests available next week to health care providers in urgent care settings in the country. The company is working with the FDA to determine where to send tests.

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REDDING, Calif. - Many students look forward to big school activities like prom and graduation.

Action News Now spoke to several students in Redding who says, they dont want to be at home. They want to be at school with their friends and learning in a classroom.

School events like prom, graduation and spring plays are put on hold till further notice. Anderson Union High School District Superintendent Victor Hopper says while this is disappointing, the safety of students and staff come first.

I feel the pain, as a father of a senior this year who was looking forward to her prom and graduation, said Hopper. 

The reality is that we have a pandemic on our hands and we have to do our part to lower that curve.

School Districts in Shasta County are prepping to do everything online or with written packets for the rest of the semester once spring break ends.

The Shasta County Office of Education says that face-to-face teaching might not happen for the rest of the year.
In another step to combat the challenge of coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund), a public charitable trust. The fund has been set up so that the people who want to contribute can do so by following a few simple steps which will help the government tide over the major COVID-19 hurdle. While the Prime Minister is the Chairman of this trust, its members include Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister.

The pandemic of COVID-19 has engulfed the entire world and has posed serious challenges for the health and economic security of millions of people worldwide. In India too, the spread of coronavirus has been alarming and is posing severe health and economic ramifications for our country. The Prime Ministers office has been receiving spontaneous and innumerable requests for making generous donations to support the government in the wake of this emergency.

Distress situations, whether natural or otherwise, demand expeditious and collective action for alleviating the suffering of those affected, mitigation/control of damage to infrastructure and capacities etc. Therefore, building capacities for quick emergency response and effective community resilience has to be done in tandem with infrastructure and institutional capacity reconstruction/enhancement. Use of new technology and advance research findings also become an inseparable element of such concerted action.

Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, the fund has been started.

This fund will enable micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be able to contribute with the smallest of denominations. Citizens and organisations can go to the website pmindia.gov.in and donate to PM CARES Fund using the following details:

Name of the Account: PM CARES

Account Number: 2121PM20202

IFSC Code: SBIN0000691

SWIFT Code: SBININBB104

Name of Bank & Branch: State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch

UPI ID: pmcares@sbi

Following modes of payments are available on the website pmindia.gov.in -

Debit Cards and Credit Cards

Internet Banking

UPI (BHIM, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, PayTM, Mobikwik, etc.)

RTGS/NEFT

Donations to this fund will be exempted from income tax under section 80(G).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 13:12:30|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member disinfects the ground at the Clinicas Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 24, 2020. (Photo by Rahel Patrasso/Xinhua)

In Argentina where around 600 cases and over 10 deaths have been reported, the government allocated on Friday over 53 billion pesos (about 803 million U.S. dollars) to tackle the health emergency in the country.

MEXICO CITY, March 27 (Xinhua) -- As the confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Latin American authorities are attempting to fight COVID-19 on two fronts -- taking sanitary measures and providing economic support.

Brazil announced a program on Friday that will help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the payment of wages for employees. Through the measure, the government is aiming to benefit 1.4 million companies and 12.2 million workers in the country, where 92 deaths and 3,417 cases have been reported.

The state of Sao Paulo, which has registered the highest number of cases in Brazil, has reported a slowdown in the number of new cases thanks to social distancing.

In Argentina where around 600 cases and over 10 deaths have been reported, the government allocated on Friday over 53 billion pesos (about 803 million U.S. dollars) to tackle the health emergency in the country.

The government also created an inter-ministerial working table to assist Argentines abroad who are looking to return home but are facing closed borders.

Photo taken on March 24, 2020 shows beds at Espacio Riesco Convention Center in Santiago, capital of Chile. (Xinhua)

Chile has adopted a "progressive quarantine" to help control the spread of the disease in the country, where 1,610 cases and five deaths have been registered.

"We are evaluating each case on its merit, taking the life and health of Chileans and their supply of essential goods and services, such as food, electricity, water, telecommunications, as a priority in each decision," said Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

The government has closed borders and even isolated some areas, installed sanitary cordons, and imposed a national curfew from 22:00 (1900 GMT) until 05:00 (0200 GMT) next morning every day.

The department of La Paz in western Bolivia has declared a total quarantine to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, which has so far infected 61 people in the country.

In Ecuador, the government announced new restrictions on vehicular circulation that will take effect on Saturday, excluding those vehicles supplying food, medicine, and fuel.

Alexandra Ocles, director of the National Risk Management Service, said the measure aims to curb the spread of COVID-19, which so far has left 41 dead and 1,627 ill.

In Costa Rica, Minister of Health Daniel Salas insisted on the need for everyone to "stay at home", since the number of infections has not reached the peak in the country yet.

So far, Costa Rica has reported 263 infections and two deaths related to COVID-19 and has implemented measures such as restricting nighttime vehicular traffic, encouraging working from home, cancelling of large events,and suspending classes for the remainder of the academic year.

Peruvian health authorities announced on Friday 55 new cases of coronavirus, increasing the number of infections from 580 to 635, which has led the government to insist on social distancing and to impose a curfew to prevent the spread of the virus.

Colombia reported the number of the country's confirmed cases had escalated from 491 to 539, after which President Ivan Duque declared that the national quarantine will not end on April 14 as planned, but will instead last several months.

He said that citizens must start "to change many habits," adding that economic recovery will depend on "how we adapt to those habits."

In Cuba, health authorities reported 13 new cases of the virus, bringing the country's total to 80 cases, including two deaths.

Francisco Duran, national director of epidemiology of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, highlighted China's collaboration with other nations in the global fight against the new coronavirus. 




Manila/New Delhi

The Philippines and India have refused to receive 340 of their nationals who were convicted of violations and were instructed to be expelled from Kuwait. The two countries insist on obtaining health certificates for each of the nationals confirming that they are free of the coronavirus.

Due to the Philippine-Indian decision, the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry was forced to stop the legal procedures for deporting the 340 violators, who are currently being detained in a deportation centre.

Continued coordination is taking place between the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs with the embassies of the two countries, with a view to finding a quick solution, Times Kuwait, reported.




THE total lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 will start at midnight with the Government passionately calling on citizens to comply with the directive and instructions from security personnel deployed to enforce the law.





This comes as thousands of residents across the country yesterday swamped retail shops and other essential service providers to stock groceries and other necessities ahead of the lockdown.





President Mnangagwa on Friday announced that the country will go into a 21-day lockdown to manage the pandemic which is spreading and killing thousands of people globally.





Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana told Sunday News yesterday that the lockdown will come into effect at midnight today.





Shoppers disregard social distancing as they queue for basic commodities outside a retail store yesterday





The date of the lockdown is 30 March 2020, this means it will start at 00:00 hours on Monday morning, the same way you celebrate New Year at midnight of the New Years Eve is the same way we start at midnight, said Mr Mangwana.





He said during the lockdown all supermarkets would be open to ensure that the food value chain is functional.





Mr Mangwana also said journalists would be allowed to operate to ensure that the country is kept up to date with information.





There are essential services like the media that have a major role to play of informing the public, he said.





Workers manning other essential services, including health services and outlets, as well as operation of key utilities like power and water would also be allowed to be operational.





In addition, civil servants on duty, in line with decisions and directives of the Public Service Commission (PSC), heads of ministries and the ad-hoc taskforce on Covid-19, will be allowed unrestricted movement.





Other measures that must be adhered to during the lockdown include a limit of 50 people for funerals.





Visits to clinics and hospitals would also remain restricted to one visitor per patient per day while motorists seeking fuel would not be allowed to leave their vehicles. By yesterday, police said they had started deploying officers to ensure that people observe the lockdown.





National Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police will vigilantly monitor the situation.





We are already on implementation phase, by today (yesterday) officers were being deployed at highways, all point of entries, shopping centres and at places where people are most likely to take advantage of the situation to disregard the lockdown, said Asst Comm Nyathi.





He called on members of the public to take the lockdown seriously and avoid attempting to disregard it as officers will be in place to arrest such individuals.





What the public should realise is that the lockdown is meant for their safety, security and health therefore it is important that they should heed to the Presidents directive, said Asst Comm Nyathi.





Meanwhile, Sunday News observed hundreds of people who swamped retail shops to buy groceries ahead of the lockdown. From the earliest hours of the morning, people seemed intent to stock up on everything from stock feed to maize meal.





Snaking queues were the order of the day at some butcheries while retail major outlets were also inundated with people doing last minute shopping. There were indications that people had made the trek to the city centre from the various suburbs to make key purchases.





Mr Ryan Ndlovu (22) from Entumbane said he had been in the queue to get into the supermarket from the morning, and only managed to get in after 12pm.





I cant take the chance. What if I go back where I stay and find that it is also like this, or even worse than this. What would I do then? Theres one more day remaining and if I dont get groceries today then how would I survive? I have to sacrifice and stand in this queue no matter how long it takes for me to get to the front, he said.





Most people at the supermarkets visited by Sunday News seemed oblivious to the fact that most supermarkets would be open even during the lockdown. Mrs Esther Moyo (35) from Mpopoma said it was a challenge to maintain social distancing.





Its hot and theres no relief here. We are also not observing social distancing because we all need to get into the shop. We dont know how long this will last. What if the food runs out before then? And what if this coronavirus thing drags for a long time? she said.





Shops in the low-density suburbs, however, were not flooded by customers. Instead of long queues, people seemed to get in and out with relative ease. Apart from shops, residents also rushed to buy medication at pharmacies while others were seen at gas filling outlets. Hundreds were also seen at Renkini Rural Bus Terminus catching buses to their rural homes where they will be domiciled during the lockdown.





Addressing journalists in Harare on Friday, President Mnangagwa said all citizens would be required to stay at home, except essential movements to seek health services, buy food, medicines, other essentials and critical services.





He said situational reports had shown that it was necessary to take drastic measures to protect citizens. The pandemic, first reported in China in December 2019 has spread rapidly throughout the world, forcing many countries to enforce shutdowns in a bid to halt new infections.





The virus thrives where people are crowded and already almost 25 000 deaths have been recorded while about 120 000 have successfully recovered.





The public has also been concerned over the way people can report and test for Covid-19. Ministry of Health and Child Care spokesperson Mr Donald Mujiri said testing was free, but people will be screened first before being taken to a health centre.





There are people who may suspect that they have Covid-19 because they have been in contact with a person who has it or simply because they have flue like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, a high body temperature, breathing difficulties and a headache.





They must not rush to the hospital or a clinic but must immediately self-isolate. That is staying at home and they must not move around but should call the toll-free number (2019) and inform the operator of who they are, their physical address and how they are feeling. A Covid-19 health care worker then assures them if there is nothing wrong with them or the health workers go to the patients home to assess and decide how to help them, he said.





Mr Mujiri however, said there was no random testing for Covid-19 if one does not present any symptoms of the virus or if they were not in contact with an infected person.





This is a serious matter and people must treat it as such. We will test those that have the said symptoms and also these tests are done for free at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory in Harare.





Mr Mujiri added that there would be no documentation needed for those visiting their loved ones admitted in hospitals.





The public must follow the Presidents pronouncements which exempts those with essential movements related to seeking health services or other critical services from being locked down.





In addition, transport will also be curtailed during the lockdown. National Railways of Zimbabwe general manager Engineer Lewis Mukwada said the company will run freight (cargo) trains only, to move essential goods.





We have to move essential commodities like maize, wheat and fuel. Passenger trains and commuter trains will however, be suspended, he said.




There are now 10 inmates at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater that have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, officials said.

Those 10 cases have been identified as of Friday afternoon. A medical provider staff member at the treatment center has also tested positive, according to the state Department of Correction.

Additionally, five Department of Correction staff members have coronavirus. Three work at the treatment center, one works at MCI-Shirley and one works at the central office, said Jason Dobson, a spokesman for the department.

Cases at the treatment center have increased slightly since earlier this week. As of Tuesday, eight inmates at the treatment center had contracted the virus. One DOC staffer and a medical provider who works at the facility had also tested positive as of Tuesday. The case at MCI-Shirley was also identified earlier this week.

The Massachusetts Treatment Center is a medium-security facility that houses criminally sentenced men identified as sex offenders and those who have been civilly committed as sexually dangerous people.

A defense attorney for an inmate at the Massachusetts Treatment Center has been fighting for his clients release, arguing that the man has been held unlawfully for a probation violation and noting that that man has several illnesses that make him at risk of complications from coronavirus.

As COVID-9, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, threatens to spread behind bars, defense attorneys are filing motions for release in some cases. District attorneys say they are considering early release for some non-violent offenders, including people 60 and older or people who have illnesses that put them at a higher risk of complications of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Committee for Public Counsel Services and the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on Tuesday asked the state Supreme Judicial Court to limit outbreaks of COVID-19 behind bars by reducing the number of people in jails, prisons, and houses of correction, filing an emergency petition. The litigation has been sent to the full SJC.

As of Friday afternoon, 35 Massachusetts residents have died from complications of COVID-19. At least 3,240 residents have tested positive for the virus, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Across the world, at least 618,043 people have tested positive for coronavirus. There have been 28,823 deaths and at least 135,736 people who have recovered, according to a real-time map produced by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Related Content:
Villagers of Vangidi village in Balarampur in Purulia district, who have recently returned from Chennai, have quarantined themselves for 14 days on a tree since they do not have a separate room in their houses for isolation in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

Seven villagers of Vangidi, who are in quarantine, were all working as labourers in Chennai.

Before coming back to their village, they visited doctors who advised them to stay under 14-day home quarantine. Since these labourers did not have a separate room in their house, they decided to stay on tree near their village.

Bijoy Sing Laya, a villager said, "We came from Chennai. We came through Berhampur via vehicle. We are now good here. Doctors have told us to stay under home quarantine for 14 days and maintain distance. But in our house, we do not have personal rooms and our villagers discussed that we can stay here."

"Now we are on our own, we will be staying in here comfortably maintaining all rules. In the morning we are served breakfast here. In the afternoon and evening, we are served with rice. Water is also available here with food. We also have a stove to boil the water and cook food," he added.

These villagers have tied cloth on the tree branches to sit, where they are quarantining amid COVID-19 outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Muslim convert on 'miraculous' ways God is 'radically transforming' Iran despite persecution

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Dedicating his life to sharing the Gospel with Muslims in Iran was never something Hormoz Shariat, head of Iran Alive Ministries and founder of the largest Muslim convert church in the United States, thought he would do.

Born into a devout Muslim family in Iran, Shariat recalled how, as a teen, he would roam the streets of Tehran, protesting against the U.S. and shouting, Death to America!

I strongly believed, at the time, that Islam was the only way, he shared with The Christian Post during a sit-down interview. Ive since repented of that, and I now confidently say, God bless America.

After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Shariat moved to the U.S. to earn his Ph.D. in artificial intelligence. Around this time, he experienced a period of spiritual questioning.

I asked, Is God there? And if He is there, He's with Islam because Islam is taking over the world. Maybe I should pay more attention to my roots and my religion that I grew up with, he said.

After studying the Quran front to back, I thought, This didnt add anything to me, Shariat continued. But something in me  which I now realize was the Holy Spirit  said, How can you come to such a big conclusion by reading just one book? You need to study more before you decide if God is there.

Shariat felt compelled to pick up a Bible, although he told himself, Im not going to find anything new here, because the Quran is the most complete book and Islam is the best religion.

After reading the book of Matthew, Shariat began to struggle with the person of Jesus, who he found to be so different from the prophet that Islam teaches us.

I struggled for hours, for days, re-reading Matthew, trying to figure out this person of Jesus, he said. After a few months of struggle, somebody invited me to a church in downtown Los Angeles. That's where I heard this simple message of the Gospel, which transformed my life.

Excited by his newfound faith, Shariat felt God calling him to share the Gospel with others: I thought, I need to tell everyone about this Jesus, he said.

But Shariats faith was about to be tested in a devastating way. Around this time, his 16-year-old brother was arrested on a minor political charge and was imprisoned for two years.

As a new believer, I prayed, God, please save him, Shariat said. The Iranian government kept telling my mother they were going to release him, but one day they called her and said, Come get his body. We just shot him. And by the way, you need to pay for the bullets. They charged her to release his body.

The death of his brother sparked a crisis inside of him, Shariat admitted. I prayed, God, what happened to my prayers? I want to take vengeance. God said to me, Vengeance is mine. I said, OK, I wont take revenge, but I really hate them. God said to me, No, you are to love your enemies. I said, OK, but Im still angry. God said, When you are angry, you kill that person in your heart. I said, God, can I at least curse to feel better? and God said, No, you cant even do that, because with your mouth you must worship and not swear.

I said, What is this? There is injustice in this world, and I am not allowed to do anything, he continued. That's when God spoke to me and said, The best thing to do is share the Gospel. Those who killed your brother are not your enemies. They are captives in the hands of the enemy.

That, he said, is where I got my life calling. I said, OK, I'm going to start sharing the Gospel with Muslims. It's your job to save them, but I can share Gospel with them.

At first, Shariat experienced rejection, failure, and even received death threats. But slowly, God started doing something among Iranian Muslims, he said.

In 1987, he planted a church in San Jose, California. With hundreds of Muslim converts, it still remains one of the largest churches of its kind in the U.S. But Shariat felt the Lord calling him beyond the four walls of the church, and in 2001, he founded Iran Alive Ministries, which utilizes Satellite TV to reach the millions of lost and broken people in Iran and the rest of the Middle East. Today, the ministry broadcasts the Gospel 24/7 from their studio in Dallas, Texas, to Iran and across the Middle East.

My goal was to share the Gospel with over 1 million Muslims, he said. By Gods grace, through media, I have passed this number multiple times.

Reaching Iranians with the message of the Gospel is no easy feat, Shariat admitted, as their efforts are often blocked by the country's government.

Many people are afraid to contact us. Our phones are often blocked, and so is our website, so its hard to say exactly how many people we have reached, he said. But we have the names of over 37,000 people who have received Christ, and we know there are several hundred thousand who have made decisions but havent been able to tell us.

Shariat shared the story of one Iranian Muslim woman who called his ministry, asking: Do you interpret dreams?

I said, Well, I don't claim that but tell me. Maybe I can help you, he said.

The woman said, I'm a devout Muslim, and I do my Islamic prayer every day. But recently, I've been watching your programs and I've been doubting which way is truth. What you say is nice and Jesus is really loving and forgiving. I was confused a few nights ago and I said, God, would you tell me the truth about which one is the right way?

That night, the woman went to bed and dreamed she was in a dark desert, lost and alone.

I was afraid and crying out, she said. Suddenly, an angel appeared to me. And I said, Please help me. Where should I go? And the angel just pointed to a direction. I looked there and I saw a cross full of light. I ran toward the cross, and a light fell on me. And I felt so much joy, so much peace that I've never experienced before. Can you tell me what that means?

It was incredible, Shariat recalled. I simply presented the Gospel. I said, You asked God to show you which one is the way, and Jesus showed you. Would you like to receive Him? And she said, Of course. Since then, her life has changed completely.

Such stories are not uncommon, Shariat said, causing him to believe that God has a special going on for Muslims right now.

Jesus appears to them all the time through visions, dreams, and miracles, he said. Sometimes I feel these days if you want to see Jesus, you have to be a Muslim. Its almost like Jesus is looking at the rest of the world, saying, Look at me. I love them. Im healing them, Im appearing to them. Will you love them with me?

As part of his ministry, Shariat helps Americans by providing inside information about Iran and how it impacts the U.S. He told CP that while the media often presents Iran as a godless nation, Shariat said Christ actually has more credibility and respect in Iran than Islam itself."

Islam is experiencing the greatest defeat in its history in Iran today, he stressed. Every day, I talk to so many Muslims who are negative toward Mohammed and Islam, but are very positive about Christ and Christianity. They are drawn to the fact that Christianity is a religion of love. They are extremely open to Christianity.

Shariat said that another misconception about many Iranians is that they hate America.

I can boldly say, there's no country in the world that loves America more than Iranians do. They love everything in America: They want American fashion, music, arts, and they want American democracy. They are open to Americans talking to them, teaching them.

Finally, Shariat said he believes that its not long before Iran becomes an entirely Christian nation. He cited statistics revealing that more Christians have come to Christ since the 1979 Iranian Revolution than in the previous 1,400 years combined.

The government moving toward Ezekiel 38, trying to destroy Israel, but majority of people are moving toward Christ, according to Jeremiah 14, he shared. The Gospel is especially popular with young people because they have no hope. When they come to Christ, they come from darkness to light, and they have an amazing supernatural boldness and lack of fear. God is miraculously working there.

The American Church, Shariat stressed, would do well to learn from the boldness of Iranian Christians.

I think we can learn their passion, the commitment to the Lord they have, and the courage they have, when they go out putting their lives on the line, he said. Sometimes we are afraid to talk about Christ even in America. But they are not afraid to do that, even though their lives are in danger.

Shariat asked American Christians to pray for his ministry: We are facing the dark spirit, called in the Bible 'the Prince of Persia,' so we really need prayer, he said. Pray for those persecuted; pray they will have the boldness to live out their faith despite challenges.

Let's share the Gospel with Iranian Muslims. Let's disciple a nation together," he said. Iran is such fertile ground. Whatever you invest, you see much return. God is radically transforming an entire nation."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 28

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

In order to study the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on the tourism sector of Azerbaijan, discussions were held with business entities working in this sector, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy.

The parties noted that tourism has been negatively affected by the the coronavirus pandemic, including a decrease in domestic and foreign tourist flow.

"Entrepreneurs have faced losses due to the cancellation of previously ordered tours, hotel reservations and the cancellation of various other events. Solutions to mitigate the consequences were also discussed by the participants," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, entrepreneurs have been informed about the work done and the directions of the planned measures to mitigate the impact of coronavirus infection on the private sector, including tourism.

During the discussions with entrepreneurs, the importance of further enhancing the social responsibility of the private sector in the current conditions has been emphasized. In this regard, business representatives were advised not to allow staff dismissals, reductions, but to show corporate responsibility and social solidarity.
WITH public masses still suspended, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has opened an online portal, where people can send their mass intention requests.

In a report by CBCP News, CBCP media office director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio bared that they are prepared to accept request for mass intentions amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Amid the Covid-19 crisis, we are encouraged to make good use of the digital technology for our pastoral concerns and liturgical celebrations, said Quitorio.

To request for mass intentions, whether thanksgiving, petition, or repose of the soul, the priest said the faithful may visit https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/mass-intentions/.

In the said webpage, CBCP News has provided forms for the faithful to accomplish.

Quitorio said they will then ask priests, who will say masses online for their intentions.

Earlier, the CBCP recommended the suspension of all public masses and other church activities amid the Luzon-wide lockdown imposed by the government.

In turn, the different archdioceses and dioceses have resorted to holding masses closed to the public but are broadcasted live online, television, or radio. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
Former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, convicted war criminal, underwent surgery in Hague, his son Darko reported.

We were informed today without any warning that he was sent for surgery to the hospital unit. After the operation, he regained consciousness. That's all we know so far, Mladic Jr. said.
The number of coronavirus patients in Maharashtra rose to 167 with 14 persons testing positive for the infection till Saturday evening, the health department said.

Twelve people in Mumbai and two in Nagpur tested positive during the day.

On Friday, 28 new coronavirus cases had been detected in the state.
India could face between 100,000 to 13 lakh confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus by mid-May if the current trend in the growing number of COVID-19 cases continues, according to a report by an international team of scientists.

The report, compiled by COV-IND-19 Study Group, an interdisciplinary team of researchers, said while India seems to have done well in controlling the number of confirmed cases compared to other countries like the US and Italy in the early phase of the pandemic, the country is critically missing a key component in this assessment -- the number of truly affected cases.

This factor depends on the extent of testing, the accuracy of the test results, and the frequency and scale of testing of people who may have been exposed but do not show symptoms, the researchers, including Debashree Ray from Johns Hopkins University in the US, said.

So far, the number of people tested in India has been relatively small. In the absence of widespread testing, it is impossible to quantify the magnitude of community transmission, in other words, estimate how many are infected outside hospitals and health care facilities, the scientists wrote in the report.

Thus our current estimates are at best underestimates for India based on early phase data, they said.

According to the report, it is essential for India to adopt draconian measures to act before the growth of COVID-19 infections starts to accelerate in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday a total lockdown for 1.3 billion people in India for 21 days, warning that the nation may go back by 21 years and many families could be devastated if we dont abide by the lockdown rules.

In their analysis, the scientists used data on the number of reported cases in India up to March 16, and applied tools of modelling disease transmission.

They estimated the theoretical number of infected at any given time, and compared projections for India against the US and Italy.

The scientists, including those from Delhi School of Economics in New Delhi and the University of Michigan in the US, noted in a blog post on the platform Medium, that the estimates may change as stricter restrictions and measures are adopted by India.

India, according to the researchers, has the most overstretched healthcare system where it is hard to provide care even when the patient volume flowing into hospitals is normal.

Citing World Bank data, they said the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people in India is only 0.7, compared to 6.5 in France, 11.5 in South Korea, 4.2 in China, 3.4 in Italy, and 2.8 in the US.

Owing to this, the scientists said, the predicted surge in the number of cases may make it impossible for the healthcare providers in India to support the sheer volume of cases.

The report also identified the most vulnerable groups of population in India.

Citing multiple studies, the researchers said the number of people in the country without an insurance policy stretched to about 1,100 million as of 2014, with the number of men and women with hypertension, one of the major risk factors for death from COVID-19, being more than 300 million people.

Without enforcing any intervention in the country, the scientists predicted that the number of cases may exceed the estimated capacity of hospital beds in India, which stands at 70 beds per 100,000 Indians.

They cautioned that the critically ill COVID-19 patients -- about 5-10 per cent of those infected -- will require ICU beds, which make up between 5 and 10 per cent of bed capacity in Indian hospitals.

The scientists, however, said their estimates came with limitations, including the uncertainty arising from model assumptions of population size, accuracy of the diagnostic tests for COVID-19, and heterogeneity in the implementation of government-initiated interventions.

The number of coronavirus infected cases in India so far is 562, while the death toll due to COVID-19 in the country is revised down to nine, according to Health Ministry data.
The Government of the United States endorsed a decision to allocate $1.2 million to Ukraine to step up its efforts to counteract the uncontrolled spread of coronavirus.

"The United States allocates more than $1.2 million in medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine for the fight against coronavirus," the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States posted on Facebook.

The assistance will be spent on "the preparation of laboratory systems, the detection of disease, the provision of technical assistance in responding to and raising awareness about the risks of the spread of Covid-19."

Ukraine is among a number of countries to which the US Government provides additional funding. The transfers will start on April 3.

"Ukraine appreciates the support and assistance of the US authorities in supporting the healthcare system and combating pandemic," the Embassy noted.

As of the morning of March 28, Ukraine had 311 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases.

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A video in which David Elijah, a self-acclaimed prophet of Glorious Mount of Possibility Church, Yaba, Lagos state, had vowed to visit...

A video in which David Elijah, a self-acclaimed prophet of Glorious Mount of Possibility Church, Yaba, Lagos state, had vowed to visit China to destroy the coronavirus, has surfaced online and gone viral.





On February 27, Nigeria had confirmed its first case through an Italian citizen who arrived Lagos from Milan.





At about the same time, the video clip where the clergyman had claimed Chinas vulnerability to the pandemic was because it lacked a prophet, had become sensational on social media platforms.





The video appeared to have been recorded before the countrys index case.

Elijah, better known as Major Prophet among his followers, had boasted that as a prophet from Nigeria, he would be visiting China to end the spread of the virus.





I am going to China to go and deal with coronavirus. I am going prophetically to destroy coronavirus, he had said in the video.

Give me children there, where theres a prophet, people will not die. I cannot be a prophet and I am in this world and China is dying





Its not possible. No more coronavirus, if the enemy is operating because he thinks he can destroy China maybe because China does not have a prophet, theres a prophet from the eastern part of Nigeria, and the major prophet is on this altar and my prophecy is that coronavirus is over.





Put your hands together for Jesus. No more coronavirus in Jesus name.With 81 confirmed cases of the pandemic in the country so far, many Nigerians are taking to social media to call out the self-acclaimed prophet, asking why has he been quiet?.
Ew Delhi, March 28 : The government has decided to provide three months moratorium to the financially stressed state Discoms on their payment dues to power generating companies as it looks to prevent power shutdowns during Covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown.

As part of a series of relief measures finalised by the power ministry, discoms would also have to maintain just 50 per cent of the payment security (through letter of credit) mechanism with the granting companies.

Due to the lockdown, consumers are unable to pay their dues to the Distribution Companies (Discoms). This has affected the liquidity position of the Discoms thereby impairing their ability to pay to the generating and transmission companies.

Power minister R.K. Singh said in a statement that the government is committed to provide 24x7 supply of electricity to all consumers and the relief measures are aimed towards that goal.

It has been decided that central sector power generation and transmission companies such as NTPC, PowerGrid will continue supply/ transmission of electricity even to Discoms which have large outstanding dues. During the present emergency there will be no curtailment of supply to any DISCOM, a government state that said.

Moreover, the letter of credit (LC) opened by banks for getting power supplies from generators will be reduced by 50 per cent till June 30 to prevent adding financial pressure on discoms. The discoms total outstanding dues had already crossed Rs 80,000 crore mark.

The power ministry has also directed the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to provide a moratorium of three months to Discoms to make payments to generating companies and transmission licensees and not to levy penal rates of late payment surcharge. State Governments are now being requested to issue similar directions to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions.

Around 70 per cent of power generation is from coal based power plants. In order to maintain the continuity of supply of coal by domestic coal companies and transportation by railways, the power ministry is in touch with the Ministries of Railways and Coal.

Unlike other sectors, the power sector is functioning with full workforce round the clock to ensure that all homes and establishments are lighted in this period of medical emergency.

-IANS sn/arm
A court here has sent an alleged Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist to police custody in a case in which Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Davinder Singh was arrested earlier.

Special Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh sent Syed Naveed Mushtaq to police custody till April 4 on Friday after the police said he and the other accused in the case were planning to execute terror attacks in Delhi and other parts of the country and targeted killings of protected persons.

Singh, a deputy superintendent of police arrested for allegedly ferrying two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, was suspended by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in January.

Seeking Mushtaq's custody, the police alleged that the accused was the Hizbul Mujahideen commander of Shopian district and his handler was based in Pakistan.

They said Mushtaq used to chat with the other accused in the case and militants on various internet platforms, including darknet chat.

"The accused, along with other Hizbul Mujahideen militants, was planning to execute terror attacks in Delhi and other parts of the country and targeted killings of protected persons," the police told the court.

They said the accused was required to be confronted with Singh and the other accused in the case to ascertain his role, trace the details of financial transactions, verify and trace other offenders, and establish the identity of the main handler.

The defence counsel, Prashant Prakash, opposed the application, saying the accused was falsely implicated in the case and was not required to be sent to police custody.

"In the fact of the matter and considering the submissions, accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq is remanded in police custody till April 4," the judge said.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police had earlier brought Singh to Delhi from the Hira Nagar Jail in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Delhi Police had earlier filed an FIR under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. The FIR said youngsters from Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab were being trained for carrying out terrorist activities.

The FIR also mentioned "D Company" and Chhota Shakeel. According to the FIR, the Special Cell had received an input that the "D Company" was funding pro-Khalistan terror organisations in Punjab.

Singh was taken into custody pursuant to this FIR and the Special Cell had interrogated him as regards the Khalistan angle, police said.

Although Singh was not named in the FIR, he will be questioned on the basis of the inputs received by the Special Cell, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the coronavirus continues spreading throughout New Jersey, the state frantically is seeking to ramp up testing to combat the outbreak.

New Jerseys first government-run coronavirus testing center opened March 20 in Bergen County. A second, similar site is also open at PNC Bank Arts Center in Monmouth County.

Both sites are set to operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will collect 2,500 specimens at each site each week at no cost to the public and with no pre-registration required. All individuals will be screened for symptoms of coronavirus, including fever, sneezing, cough or shortness of breath. Asymptomatic individuals will be turned away from the site.

Results will be processed within two to five days of testing. Those who wish to be tested must bring identification that provides proof of New Jersey residency with them.

The states two major government-run centers will change their schedules starting March 28 and will set aside days just to test those working on the frontlines of the outbreak, Gov. Phil Murphy announced March 26.

Who can get tested in New Jersey?

Murphy said people will need to show symptoms at the two government-run testing sites at Bergen Community College and PNC Bank Arts Center in order to be tested. They also must bring identification proving their New Jersey residency.

People would not need to get a recommendation from a doctor, Murphy said. Some privately-run testing sites have a pre-screening process.

The CDC recommends seeking medical attention immediately if a person exhibits the following symptoms:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

New confusion or inability to arouse

Bluish lips or face

New Jersey is requiring hospitals and health clinics in the state to waive fees for coronavirus testing and related diagnostic services for uninsured residents as the outbreak continues to spread, Murphys administration announced on March 20.

Where can people get tested?

In addition to the two government testing sites, several sites run by county officials have opened across New Jersey.

Union County announced plans to open the first county-run drive-through coronavirus testing site at Kean University beginning on March 23. Additional sites have been announced across the state. It is best to check the status and requirements of each site before going.

There will be a site opening at the County College of Morris in Randolph, joining a site at Bergen Community College.

Bergen County will open a coronavirus testing site exclusively for first responders and healthcare workers on March 28. Starting 8 a.m., a drive-thru testing site for symptomatic first responders and healthcare professionals will open at the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, 230 East Ridgewood Ave. in Paramus. The testing site is only open to first responders and health care professionals who live or work in Bergen County.

A site at Ocean County College in Toms River is still in the process of being set up. An opening date cannot be established until test kits have been received and a scheduling system is in place.

Camden County is also in the process of setting one up at its college in Gloucester Township but cant open until it gets testing kits.

A facility will open by appointment only at Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus for country residents and emergency workers in the area. For an appointment or more information, Hudson residents should call 201-388-1097.

A drive-thru testing location was scheduled to open March 25 at William Paterson University in Wayne. It is for Passaic County residents only, with a prescription, and will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.

A new coronavirus testing site was set to open for Essex County residents on March 26. The new drive-through testing site at Weequahic Park in Newark will be by appointment only and will not be open every day. The numbers of tests will also be capped at either 100 or 150 depending on the day.

In Burlington County, and by appointment only, a drive-through testing center was set up only for March 26. A spokesman said future testing dates will be subject to test kit availability.

Burlington is booking appointments for another round of testing March 30 at the same facility, Emergency Services Training Center off Woodlane Road in Westampton, and county officials said they expect testing will also be available April 1 and 3 as long as the county can continue to obtain test kits and personal protective equipment.

And in Bayonne, drive-through testing opened March 26 for residents with valid prescriptions.

Trentons first coronavirus testing site - which at the moment is for city first responders only - formally opened March 26, with cars lining up inside a police impound lot on Clinton Avenue. It is across from the Capital City Farm, between Sheridan and Perrine avenues.

There are efforts by a number of privately-run medical groups to provide testing, but these are done only when kits and supplies are available. In most cases, there is a pre-screening process. It is best to contact a provider to find out if testing is available.

FEMA is helping set up sites

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping the state set up the testing sites in Bergen and Monmouth counties. They represent the first major public testing centers run by the state and the federal government in New Jersey.

New Jersey is one of 12 states identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a priority state that will have testing sites supported by the federal agency, Murphy said.

Other places where you can also get tested

In addition to FEMA-supported sites, Atlantic Health, the parent company of Morristown Medical Center, has begun drive-through testing in Morris Township. As of March 20, the site is only accepting patients who meet the state Department of Healths criteria for COVID-19 testing through appointments made by Atlantic Medical Group physicians, according to a news release.

InFocus Urgent Care also has begun setting up test sites in Mercer County, according to reports.

Two drive-thru facilities have opened in Secaucus  the first site launched at the Riverside Medical Groups command center, and the second at Hudson Regional Hospital.

Testing also is being conducted at various state laboratories, hospitals and private companies, as well as at the Hackensack Meridian Hospital and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Other healthcare facilities across the state are offering testing  some walk-in, others requiring an appointment. Call your healthcare provider for more information about getting tested at these facilities or contact them directly.

The number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey reached another grim milestone, jumping to over 8,800 with 108 known deaths on March 27. New Jersey has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in the nation after New York.

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By PTI

MUMBAI: Air India plans to operate nine relief flights to Frankfurt next week to ferry hundreds of expats stranded in the financial capital due to the lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak, a source said on Friday.

The source told PTI that the flights are likely to be operated between March 31 and April 3.

Frankfurt is the main aviation hub of Germany and has strong connectivity with various cities worldwide.

"We plan to operate as many as nine relief flights to Frankfurt from Mumbai to transport expats who are stuck in the city due to the ban on commercial flying," the source said.

While five flights may be operated on March 31, two services are planned for April 2.

One flight each is expected to operate on April 1 and April 3, respectively, the source added.

According to the source, Air India is expected to deploy Boeing 777 and 787-8 (Dreamliner) planes for the relief flights.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the national carrier has operated a series of rescue flights to bring back Indians stranded in various countries, including China (Wuhan), Italy (Milan and Rome) and Japan.

On Thursday, the airline operated a flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, to transport 300 Israelis from India.

India is under a 21-day lockdown as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus infections.

Lakhs of people have been infected by coronavirus and thousands of them have lost their lives worldwide.
Everybody understands that this is an absolute desperation measure for the whole country, said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), an outspoken liberal and a member of the House Progressive Caucus. We have tens of millions of people being thrown out of work. The hospitals are stressed to the point of collapse. The states and cities are completely overburdened, the public health systems are on the precipice. So, you know, theres really no choice.






U.S. gig economy workers such as Uber and app-based delivery drivers would be allowed to claim unemployment benefits under a $2 trillion package, but how those benefits will be distributed is not clear.

Until now, people who work as contractors for platforms such as Uber have not had access to unemployment benefits reserved for full-time employees of traditional businesses.

Here is a look at the situation of gig economy workers and the obstacles they face to receive unemployment pay.

Why are U.S. gig workers generally not entitled to unemployment benefits?

Most government safety net benefits including health insurance, sick pay, workers compensation and unemployment insurance are attached to an employment relationship, said Pauline Kim, an employment law professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

Companies including Uber Technologies Inc, Lyft Inc, GrubHub Inc, DoorDash Inc and Postmates save money by not paying costly benefits and offloading some of the traditional employer-side responsibilities on to workers the platforms classify as independent contractors.

The companies say many workers use their services to supplement income from other full or part-time jobs that offer benefits and cherish the flexibility that comes with being a contractor.

What obstacles must gig workers overcome to receive unemployment pay under current law?

State authorities use data on wages submitted by employers to calculate unemployment pay. Gig economy companies do not report that information, making it difficult for drivers to claim unemployment benefits.

Some drivers in California and New York have filed for jobless pay regardless, arguing they have been misclassified as contractors.

If the worker is deemed misclassified, the state can demand reimbursement from the company. But local officials make case-by-case determinations that are not binding for other applicants, said Veena Dubal an employment law professor at the University of California Hastings.

Story continues

What is changing with the federal coronavirus bill?

Under the Coronavirus Relief Bill, contractors and self-employed workers are included for unemployment benefits if they can show they have been affected by COVID-19.

The requirements are defined broadly and should allow nearly every gig worker to claim benefits, said Bryan Lazarski, a labor and employment lawyer.

The program offers up to 39 weeks of benefits based on the most recent tax return, with per-week payout levels depending on the state of the worker. Workers receive an additional $600 per week for up to four months.

What documents do gig workers have to submit?

It is still unclear what paperwork they will need to submit. The U.S. Department of Labor is expected to issue guidelines soon, said Susan Houseman, vice president at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

The coronavirus package refers to laws invoked during natural disasters. Under those laws, some states allow self-employed workers to submit check stubs, bank statements, work orders and affidavits as proof of income, Houseman said.

Does the federal bill change anything about gig workers status?

The bill is limited to the current coronavirus crisis and the year 2020. It does not include reforms of the current unemployment system.

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Among global efforts to offer some light relief to the current crisis, bakers and chefs have been producing coronavirus-related dishes that are hopefully a lot tastier than the epidemic which has inspired them.

In Hanoi, Vietnam, a chef at Pizza Home has created a coronavirus-themed burger.

Hoang Tung says he dreamed up the burgers, which feature green-tea stained buns with tiny "crowns" designed to look like microscopic images of the virus, to take the fear out of the infectious disease.

"We have this joke that if you are scared of something, you should eat it," Tung told Reuters.

'Corona burger'

"That's why the coronavirus isn't scary any more after you eat a burger in the shape of the virus itself. That way of thinking spreads joy to others during this pandemic."

According to Reuters, the takeaway shop is currently selling around 50 of the burgers every day, which is particularly impressive considering the number of businesses that have been forced to close down as a result of the pandemic.

In France, pastry chef and chocolatier Jean-Francois Pre opted to create coronavirus Easter eggs.

The chocolate eggs, which have been painted black, are dotted with red painted almonds to replicate how the virus looks while viewed under a microscope.

Pre told French language newspaper Le Telegramme he devised the eggs to bring some humor to the situation after growing "tired of hearing" about coronavirus.

He began selling them at his shop in Landivisiau, which is located in Brittany, northwestern France, earlier this month, a few weeks before France went into lockdown.

Toilet humor

Meanwhile in western Germany, the Schuerener Backparadies bakery has added two different coronavirus-themed creations to its selection.

Not only can customers buy biscuit versions of the face mask emoji, the establishment, owned by Tim Kortuem, is also offering toilet roll shaped cakes.

A nod to the well-documented toilet paper shortage that's occurred across the world as consumers frantically buy up huge quantities, the marble cakes are wrapped in white fondant etched with tiny diamond shapes in the style of quilted toilet roll.

The novel cakes were an instant hit with customers, and the team at the bakery, situated in the city of Dortmund in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region, are currently making at least 200 a day.

In fact, Kortuem told Reuters Television the toilet roll cakes are helping to keep the Schuerener Backparadies in business during these difficult times.

"The customers are totally crazy about it," he says. "Most people just like it as it adds some fun to these times."

Like France, and many countries around the world, Germany has imposed extensive restrictions and many non-essential businesses have been forced to close.

However, restaurants and eateries that offer food delivery and pick-up are allowed to remain open.

Fauci factor

Over in the US, a New York doughnut shop has dedicated its latest offering to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force who's won the public over with his straight-talking approach.

The team at Donuts Delite in Rochester decided to make Fauci the "face" of one of its doughnuts as a way of lifting the mood.

"We wanted to find a way to cheer up the people in our neighborhood," owner Nick Semeraro told CNN.

The team were impressed by Dr. Fauci's handling of the situation so far. "We loved his message and how thorough he was, and how he kept everyone informed during the crisis ... so we wanted to give back and say thanks."

According to Semeraro, the shop has sold thousands of the buttercream-frosted doughnut, which features Fauci's face printed on edible paper, with customers asking for the treat to be sent to various cities and states.

"We had no idea it was going to blow up this big," he said. "We didn't know everyone else felt the same way we did."

There's no word on a coronavirus-themed pizza yet, but we suspect it won't be far off.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 23:41:10|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved 300,000 U.S. dollars emergency grant to support the Bangladesh government's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant will support procurement of health safety materials including personal protective gears, N95 masks, safety goggles, aprons, thermometers, and biohazard bags, the Manila-based lender said in a statement received here Saturday.

The list has been prioritized by the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh. The materials will help the government to strengthen its efforts to contain the spread of the virus in the country.

The grant assistance is sourced from the Asian Development Bank Regional Technical Assistance entitled "Regional Support to Address the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Potential Outbreaks of Other Communicable Diseases".

"ADB is fully committed to supporting Bangladesh in the fight to control COVID-19, and this is only the first of the planned support that ADB is preparing to help the Government deal with this difficult situation," said Country Director Manmohan Parkash.

This assistance will invigorate Bangladesh's ability to strengthen prevention, improve health professionals' protection from the disease, test people to detect infection, manage severe cases, and reduce the risk of the deadly virus' mass transmission."

"We are working tirelessly to put together further assistance in the health and financial sectors," Country Director Mr. Parkash added.

In face of a threat of a coronavirus outbreak, Bangladesh government has taken various actions and adopted measures in line with the World Health Organization's recommendations.

On March 18, 2020, ADB announced a 6.5-billion U.S. dollars initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At least one employee at an Amazon facility in Teterboro tested positive for the coronavirus, but other employees werent notified until more than a week after one person had tested positive, workers confirmed.

During announcements made Thursday and Friday, workers were told that at least one employee had tested positive for the coronavirus and had last worked March 18, according to two workers at the Amazon facility who spoke to NJ Advance Media Saturday and requested anonymity to protect their jobs.

One of the workers said management announced Friday morning that two employees at the warehouse had tested positive. Workers were told that Amazon had tracked and notified those with whom the infected employee had come in contact.

Amazon confirmed Saturday that one person, not two, at the facility had tested positive for the coronavirus and would not return to work. The person would self-quarantine for 14 days, with the company paying the person for their sick time.

Amazon did not say how long it had been between any positive tests and when other employees were first notified.

The company said it has implemented a series of preventative health measures for employees including practicing social distancing within its facilities, requiring employees to stay home and seek medical attention if they are feeling unwell and more frequent and intense cleaning of all sites.

Were continuing to monitor the situation in our facilities and corporate offices, and we are taking proactive measures to protect employees and associates who have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or becomes ill, Amazon said in a statement

Workers at the Amazon facility have not been given protective masks to wear, said one employee, as panic-buying of the masks caused a back order and priority for any remaining protective gear goes to healthcare workers.

What we were told is if youre healthy and youre fine, you dont really need a mask, the worker said.

Additionally, workers at the 617,000 square foot facility work in different areas from shift to shift, making it next to impossible to accurately track who an infected person may have come in contact with, one worker said.

The question was asked: You know the people who worked around that person, but did you know if they went to the bathroom and who was in the bathroom at the time that they had walked in?" the worker said. And they said No, because we dont have cameras in the bathroom.

The Teterboro facility is in Bergen County, the epicenter of the outbreak in New Jersey. Since the states first confirmed case of the virus, a Fort Lee healthcare worker, Bergen County has continued to be the hardest hit, with 1,838 cases as of Saturday afternoon.

People have families, said one worker. "I know a couple of coworkers that just dont have their husbands and wives, but they also have their parents living with them and they dont want to bring home that to their parents. And people are freaked out about that.

The company said that all employees diagnosed with coronavirus or placed in quarantine will receive up to two weeks of additional time off, to ensure they can get healthy without worrying about lost pay. Amazon is also offering all its hourly employees unlimited unpaid time off through April.

But many workers cant afford to stay home, even amid fears of a pandemic.

Several workers walked out of work the same day they were told of the employee who had tested positive, but many others are staying to receive extra income and work overtime, one worker said. Instead of time and a half for any overtime hours, Amazon is now paying double, the worker said.

Employees at at least 10 Amazon warehouses around the country have tested positive for the coronavirus. The company is one of the major retailers that is hiring during the pandemic. On Wednesday, Amazon, which has 11 facilities in New Jersey, confirmed that an employee at the Edison facility had tested positive for coronavirus and was under quarantine.

As the pandemic worsens, workers at the Teterboro warehouse are faced with a difficult decision: continue going to work and risk getting sick. Or stay home and risk losing a much-needed paycheck.

Its a decision one worker said theyll have to make in the following days.

Ill try to work as much as I can, said one worker. If it starts trickling down where people are coming and coming in more, then Im going to have to reassess and say No, Im not going to risk my life going there if they havent done something about it. Thats the scary part.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

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Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 00:11:13|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's assistance to the Greek people in the battle against COVID-19 is another good example of the friendship between the two nations, a prominent Greek shipping leader said on Friday.

"We are very grateful to the Chinese people for such help. As we say 'a friend in need is a friend indeed,'" said Panos Laskaridis, founder of Laskaridis Shipping Company Ltd. and Lavinia Corporation, in a written interview with Xinhua.

Laskaridis commended China for its quick response to the epidemic, noting that being the first nation hit by the virus, China should be admired for the resolute and firm way it recognized the risks of spreading the disease and the urgency to contain the virus.

China's harsh and swift actions to contain the virus have been rewarded with a rapid decline in reported cases and fatalities in recent days, he said.

The Greek people have been closely following China's battle against the virus and expressed solidarity with the Chinese people from the beginning, Laskaridis said.

"The Chinese presence in Greece today is greatly appreciated, especially as during the recent financial difficulties China invested heavily, showing solidarity and support toward us, at a time that such support from close allies faltered," he said, referring to the Greek debt crisis which broke out in late 2009 and brought Greece to the brink of bankruptcy.

During the years of the debt crisis, Chinese investments in Greece, such as COSCO Shipping's key investment in the Piraeus port, flourished, contributing greatly to reviving the ailing Greek economy, the Greek shipping leader said.

China is now helping Greece combat the current epidemic. Last Saturday, about 18 tons of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government, Chinese enterprises and organizations were handed over to the Greek government.

During a recent teleconference, Chinese experts shared their experience in fighting COVID-19 with Greek and other European experts.

Laskaridis believed that mankind will become more resilient due to the pandemic.

"In previous generations mankind has known much more dangerous and lethal epidemics and has always come out of them stronger and more resilient. I am sure the same will happen also in this case," he said.

"No doubt a lot of things will have changed when this epidemic is over. Mankind will have learned a lot of lessons especially as this has had worldwide implications," he said.

"An economic slowdown will follow, which will take time to correct itself. Importantly, this will give a strong impetus to medical research in the quest for both healing medicines and a vaccine," he said.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28, 2020 13:29 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206dff7da 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,protective-gears,medical-workers,IDI,patients Free

Medical worker associations in the country have threatened to stop treating COVID-19 patients if the government does not ensure the availability of protective health gear amid a shortage of such equipment.

The warning was stipulated in a joint statement issued on Friday by several medical worker associations, including the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), the Indonesian Dentist Association (PDGI) and the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI).

IDI chairman Daeng M. Faqih confirmed the joint statement: We issued it for the sake of our colleagues safety. If they are infected with the disease, who will treat patients at medical facilities? he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The associations asserted that medical workers were susceptible to the disease, especially the ones handling people infected by COVID-19 without wearing protective equipment. The equipment shortage, they argued, would not only harm the lives of medical workers, but also cause disruption in medical services.

Read also: COVID-19: Inadequate medical supplies take toll on lives of Indonesian medical workers

The statement was issued in the wake of the death of at least 10 medical workers who struggled in treating COVID-19 patients over the past few weeks.

Despite the woeful reality, Daeng said there still might be a few medical workers who courageously went to save COVID-19 patients lives despite wearing no protective equipment. Such concern also urged the associations to issue the statement.

We are also raising concern over the matter because infected medical workers will only add to the burden on their colleagues, he added.

In a bid to protect the safety of medical workers treating the disease, the IDI and the PDGI also issued a circular containing COVID-19 prevention guidelines for medical workers. The circular, he said, had been disseminated to all medical facilities along with the statement on Friday.

We acknowledge that the guidelines are not perfect. However, we hope that the management of the medical facilities will follow what we have suggested, Daeng said.

Since mid-February, Indonesias health workers, doctors and nurses have been working overtime to treat COVID-19 cases, despite many of them having inadequate personal protection. Many of the medical workers were found to have worn makeshift personal protective gear, including raincoats, in lieu of hazmat suits.

Read also: Indonesian fashion designers help sew, donate protective gear for medical workers

To address the issue, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has been distributing 151,000 pieces of protective equipment from the national warehouse at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base for the past week. The distribution, however, has drastically decreased the supply of the equipment as only 19,000 pieces of equipment remain in stock from the initial 170,000.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD admitted that the stock was inadequate to accommodate medical workers across the country as Indonesia needed millions of pieces of protective equipment until September, according to the governments worst-case scenario of the pandemic.

However, he said the government had conducted a meeting regarding the issue on Friday to prepare the budget and the distribution mechanism of the equipment.

We were slightly worried after realizing that the equipment had started to run out, but we have prepared the budget to buy more, Mahfud said during a press briefing on Friday. We are optimistic to address the issue since many local manufacturers have also committed to producing more protective equipment. (glh)
Mob Wives hubby Lee DAvanzo pleads guilty to federal gun charge

Lee DAvanzo, the husband of Mob Wives star Drita DAvanzo, has pleaded guilty to federal gun-possession charges, the latest twist in the case that began with a raid of the couples posh Pleasant Plains home last year.

Lee, 52, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon last Friday in Brooklyn federal court, just one month after he pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

Click here for the full story.

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Cops: Man, 36, busted after shots fired on Grymes Hill

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an incident where shots reportedly were fired on Grymes Hill on Friday afternoon.

Shamaine Duncan, 36, of the 900 block of Bard Avenue, has been accused in the incident where police responded around 12:11 p.m. to the 100 block of Longview Road. Upon arrival, officers were informed by multiple witnesses of an individual firing shots at the location, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

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NYPD: Man shot in West Brighton

A man was shot in the torso in West Brighton Thursday night, police said.

Police responded to Barker Street near Trinity Place at around 9:55 p.m. for a report of a shooting, an NYPD spokesman said.

The man was shot in the upper torso and possibly grazed in the ear, according to the spokesman.

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Man, 40, arrested after barricade; accused of brandishing gun

A 40-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly pointed a gun at a victim and barricaded himself inside a home in Mariners Harbor, according to police.

Malcolm Walters was arrested on Tuesday at about 3:10 p.m. in the vicinity of his home on Bush Avenue near Richmond Terrance, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

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Police increase patrols after multiple thefts from cars in and around strip mall in Graniteville

Police have stepped up patrols after multiple cars were looted in and around the parking lot of a strip mall on Richmond Avenue in Graniteville.

The commanding officer of the 121st Precinct is aware of larcenies from vehicles and has deployed neighborhood coordination officers, patrol officers and anti-crime personnel to the area to conduct patrols to monitor the area and search for a suspect(s) during every tour, according to statement from the NYPD.

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Man sought for questioning in connection with thefts from Apple stores in Staten Island Mall, SoHo

The NYPD is seeking the publics help to identify an individual sought for questioning in connection with thefts reported at Apple stores on Staten Island and in Manhattan.

Police identified the grand-larceny pattern that includes two incidents. The first was on Jan. 17 at about 10:43 a.m. when an individual entered the Apple Store at 103 Prince St. in Manhattan and removed about six Apple watches before fleeing, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

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Man accused of stabbing stranger on Grasmere street

A Stapleton man ventured into an East Shore community on the night of St. Patricks Day, but not with good intentions, prosecutors allege.

Deshawn Wilson, 23, of the 200 block of Gordon Street, stabbed a victim in the abdomen at about 11:25 p.m. on March 17 in Grasmere, said a criminal complaint.

The attack occurred near the corner of Whitney Avenue and Clove Road, the complaint said.

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NYPD: Man robbed at gunpoint in Stapleton

A man was robbed at gunpoint in Stapleton early Saturday morning, police said.

The man, 25, was getting off an elevator inside of 197 Gordon St. at around 5:30 a.m. when two other males approached him, an NYPD spokeswoman told the Advance/SILive.com

One of the two men displayed a firearm and demanded property, according to the spokeswoman.

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South Shore man burglarized Princes Bay home, prosecutors allege

A Huguenot man burglarized the home of a fellow South Shore resident four months ago, then went out and bought himself a TV with a credit card he had stolen, allege prosecutors.

Carlos Toro, 30, of the 800 block of Rensselaer Avenue, was arraigned Wednesday in state Supreme Court, St. George, on burglary and other charges stemming from the alleged Nov. 22 theft in Princes Bay.

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I learned a lot of things from the recent coronavirus outbreak. One is how to spell lemonade and why I always got it wrong on crossword puzzles. The second is how much we take things for granted here in the good old USA.

(1.) The recent pandemic pushed discussion of Health Care to the forefront of public discourse. Those people and companies who sought to deny workers sick days, extended leave, health care benefits and child care leave were seen for the greedy, materialistic feckless fools that they are. People need to remember who came to the aid of millions during this time and who didnt and respond accordingly.

(2.) Public education was exposed for the babysitting service it truly is, with closings held up till the last minute. This is also tied in with the above Health Care concerns. If parents didnt have to worry about staying home to care for their kids and losing money, this country would be functioning a lot more effectively.

(3.) I hate to say it, but social media saved our asses. It provided an instantaneous community bulletin board for closings, health notices, information and connection. While we were all house-bound, we could still reach out to others who were far away but in our thoughts. Of course, we could have always just called them, but, you knownobody just CALLS anybody anymore, do they?

(4.) Climate change has got to be addressed and addressed NOW. WHY do you think there are no more apparent seasons, why mosquitoes hang on till March, why a pandemic can spread so quickly? Along with Health Care, this has to be one of our major concerns going forward.

(5.) That Broadway tickets for $50 thing really highlighted how costly it is to mount a show and keep it running nowadays. Of course, the minute a Broadway usher who worked in two houses tested positive, the jig was up. Broadway put up a brave face and a brave front (the show must go on and all that), but in light of the risk not only to audiences but to performers, stagehands and everybody else who works the great white way, as well as tourists. it finally had to pull the curtain, at least for awhile. Hopefully, ticket prices wont spike when they re-open, but Broadway is one of the many, many treasures of New York City that we should never take for granted.

(6.) I started seeing a lot of May dates posted for reopening from a few institutions and I realized rather quickly that March and April were goners, which was a shame because Joan and I had tickets for shows and performances scheduled for those two months. Hopefully, some shows can be re-scheduled, but the ones well lose are gone forever. And that makes me appreciate our access to live music and bands even more.

(7.) The elderly got scapegoated as carriers of the virus. This was the most vicious attack I saw (other than on a certain new station where they blamed China and the opposite party for everything!). Were already ageist enough without this crap being perpetrated. A rabbi named Shai Held wrote a brilliant and touching piece for The Atlantic entitled The Staggering, Heartless Cruelty Toward The Elderly that explained exactly why this happened. One of his tenants was that the elderly are seen as non-productive. I know several people my age and older who are very productive. Now, whether this is by choice or due to crippling debt that their millennial children are always screaming about is immaterial. The fact is many people want to continue to be productive, engaged members of their community until they cant. And, a special shout out to my mom in law, Ethel Kirsch, who is approaching her centennial birthday in a few years.

(8.) That little bodega down the block from your house has ALL the things you needed while bigger stores did not. You paid more, but you were happy to. Remember them when you shop!

And finally, there is what I call the White Knight Syndrome, the idea that somebody, somewhere is going to come and save us. As Donovan sang in Rikki Tikki Tavi."

I was led to believe there were organizations to kill my snakes for me/ i.e. the church, i.e. the government, i.e. the school/ but when I got a little older/ I learned I had to kill them myself

If we were depending on our government, local and national, to help us out, our hopes were in vain. They were as maxed out and unprepared for this as we were, which goes back to my first lesson (not the lemonade one, the health care one!). If we had a viable health care system in this country that covered all of its citizens, if the CDC hadnt been cut, if hospitals had enough staff (and if we, on poor abandoned Staten Island, had more than ONE hospital per shore), then we would have been able to get a grip on this thing faster and not have to endure the emotional, physical and financial repercussions this disease inflicted upon us.

But, all hope is not lost. We still have a chance to address these issues in November. Lead with what you know. Vote for people who will ensure that your safety and not their personal gain are at the forefront of their minds when they vote on issues of public safety.

I hope you all got through this OK. Im sorry if you lost a loved one along the way. I pray weve all learned our lessons from this modern plague and I hope well remember and remain active in the future.

God bless you all. Hold those grey heads up HIGH!

[Comments on this and all columns can be posted at Talk To The Old Guy on Facebook. Like the page to keep in touch.]
As part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) intervention towards the on-going fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the country, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Corporation, Mele Kyari, on Friday deliverd medical equipment to the authorities of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

This was disclosed in a series of tweets by the NNPC Group.

According to the NNPC, the equipment donated include: An oxygen generating plant; one brand new ambulance, six NNPC operational ambulance vehicles, two ventilators, patient monitor, hospital beds, bedside cupboards, overtop tables, air conditioners, fully automated 5-part hematology analyzer

and semi-automated chemistry analyzer. Other items handed over by the #NNPC helmsman to the institution are: alert blood culture analyzer, UPS, pro-express Samsung printer, binocular microscope, table top centrifuge and pipettes.

See tweets/photos:

and semi-automated chemistry analyzer. Other items handed over by the #NNPC helmsman to the institution are: alert blood culture analyzer, UPS, pro-express Samsung printer, binocular microscope, table top centrifuge and pipettes. #COVID19Nigeria @NCDCgov  NNPC Group (@NNPCgroup) March 27, 2020
When Meghan, Duchess of Sussex first joined the royal family, there were a lot of talks about how she and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge did not get along. After Meghan became a mother for the first time, it was reported that she and Kate began bonding over being a parent.

However, Meghans recent departure from the royal family might have put a stop to the relationship that she and Kate managed to build. Now fans are wondering if the two sister-in-laws could ever be friends again.

Kate Middleton allegedly acted cold towards Meghan Markle at a recent event

Meghan Markle |Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Kate and Meghan came face to face at a service for Commonwealth Day a few weeks ago. Meghan and Prince Harry arrived at their seats first. When Kate and Prince William came, the Sussexes both smiled and said simple greetings. However, it did not seem like the Cambridges reciprocated their friendliness.

Body language expert Judi James noted that, unfortunately, it was clear that there was tension in the air. She said: It wasnt the warm reunion that we were all hoping for.

She also pointed out that Meghan and Prince Harry seemed quite tense when Kate and Prince William were around, but they looked a lot more relaxed when interacting with other people.

Kate Middleton is said to be taking Meghan Markles departure badly

While it is well known that Prince Harry and Prince William do not have the best relationship right now, it is not clear why there is coldness between Kate and Meghan. Some sources believe that Kate is simply upset about everything that has happened in the past few months.

Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told Vanity Fair that Middleton has taken [Markles departure] all badly.

Meanwhile, an insider told Us Weekly that Kates schedule is now more hectic with the Sussexes no longer around, which has not helped her mental health. The source said: Kates in a panic and has been having bouts of anxiety. She barely has time to rest, and when she does try to sleep, her mind is constantly racing.

Meghan Markle is reportedly relieved to part ways with the royal family

Kate might not be very happy about losing two working members of the royal family, but it seems like Meghan is more relieved about leaving.

She said [the trip] has been a confirmation that they made the right choice in parting ways, a friend of Meghan reportedly told the Daily Mail. Theres no warmth between the family members and she wants to raise Archie in a household that is filled with laughter and joy and lots of hugs.

The insider also added that Meghan felt Kate was too uptight and that both parties did not interact with each other much.

This is what Meghan and Harry have always wantedto create their own life, a source close to the couple told People. Its got to feel like an immense relief to get out of the UK and go down their own path.

Can Kate Middleton and Meghan Markles relationship be repaired?

Its hard to predict the future right now, especially when there are also many things behind closed doors that we do not know about. Meghan will now be spending more time in North America. She and Prince Harry have said that they will be splitting their time between North America and the U.K., and they have actually been residing in a mansion in Canada for the past few months.

It seems that perhaps distance could help Kate and Meghan patch things up. Being away from the royal family could help Meghan feel happier with her life, which might allow her and Kate to become close.

On the flip side, it is possible that distance could actually cause them to sever ties with each other. If Kate and Meghan do not have many opportunities to see each other, they could learn to simply be cordial when they do interact and not develop any deep bonds with one another.
Authorities in Gautam Budh Nagar have issued an order directing landlords against forcing tenants to pay their rents for a month to stop migrant workers from leaving the western Uttar Pradesh district amid the three-week lockdown imposed across the country to halt the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Migrant workers have been among the hardest hit because of the lockdown. Many of them have been prompted to undertake long journeys to their homes on foot in absence of public transport, work and means to sustain themselves.

In an order, a copy of which HT has seen, district magistrate B N Singh has warned of legal action against landlords found flouting the order under the National Disaster Management Act (NDMA). It added the order applies to both landlords of daily wage workers as well as the employees of companies involved in essential services.

The lockdown was imposed from Wednesday under the NDMA, which provides for up to two-year imprisonment for anyone violating its provisions.

Officials said the order has been issued to ensure the essential services are also not impacted in absence of daily wage workers and employees attached with them.

Migrant workers have also been trying to leave the district adjoining Delhi and Singh said their movement could also lead to the spread of Covid-19. So, it is important to ensure that people have food and roofs over their heads, said Singh.

We are expecting this move will encourage migrants to not leave their houses and the district. We will lodge FIR [First Information Reports] against landlords who will not follow the order. Strict legal action will be taken under the Disaster Management Act, said Singh.

Officials have provided a helpline number (1120-2544700) for tenants on which they can register complaints if they are harassed over rent. They added landlords can ask for rents after a month only if authorities allow them to.

Maya Rani, who works as a housemaid in Noidas Sector 137, said she lives on rent with her family of seven members in nearby Shahdara village and they were worried how would they be able to pay their rent on April 1. If the district magistrates order is followed then at least we will get some relief, said Rani, who is from Madhya Pradesh.

Sachin Bhati, a resident of Noidas Sector 142, said many people living in his neighbourhood are trying their best to reach their villages because of financial as well as health crises. This decision of the administration is a relief but it will be great if they arrange vehicles for these people to reach their villages. Migrants really want to go back to their loved ones and homes to feel comfortable, he said.

The district administration has also formed committees led by sub-divisional magistrates to ensure that migrants are getting food and are not harassed. I have been providing food packets to around 5,000 migrants daily. There are migrants in every part of the district whom we are trying to reach out with food. Many locals are providing for these people, said Rajiv Rai, sub-divisional magistrate, Dadri who is responsible for providing food to migrant workers.
MGM RESORTS INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of MGM Resorts International - MGM

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM).

On February 20, 2020, the Company disclosed that it was the victim of a data breach discovered last summer caused by "unauthorized access" to a cloud computing server that stored guests'' phone numbers, addresses and other personal data, following reports of the breach the previous day, claiming that the breach had resulted in stolen data from over 10 million guests being published recently on an online forum.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether MGM's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to MGM's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of MGM shares and would like to discuss yor legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-mgm/ to learn more.







About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200327005464/en/
The United States says it has imposed sanctions against 20 companies based in Iran and Iraq, along with officials and other individuals there who are accused of supporting terrorist groups. The U.S. Treasury Department said on March 26 that the targeted front companies, senior officials, and business associatesprovide support to or act for or on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its branch for elite operations abroad, the Quds Force.

The individuals and entities are also accused of transferring lethal aid to Iranian-backed terrorist militias in Iraq such as Kataib Hizballah (KH) and Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), the Treasury Department said.

Among other activities, the companies and individuals were said to be involved in smuggling weapons to Yemen, selling U.S.-blacklisted Iranian oil to the Syrian government, promoting propaganda efforts in Iraq, and intimidating Iraqi politicians.

The sanctions freeze any U.S.-held assets of those designated and bar Americans from doing business with them.

Related: The Reason Why Russia Refused To Cut Oil Production

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Iran employs a web of front companies to fund terrorist groups across the region, siphoning resources away from the Iranian people and prioritizing terrorist proxies over the basic needs of its people.

The targeted entities and individuals include the Reconstruction Organization of the Holy Shrines in Iraq, which the U.S. Treasury Department described as an organization based in Iran and Iraq that is controlled by the Quds Force.

Also targeted by the sanctions is that organization's executive chairman, Mohammad Jalal Maab.

Maab, an Iranian citizen from the town of Kerman, was appointed to the post in 2019 by Qasem Soleimani, the IRGC's Quds Force commander who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad in early January.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
President Donald Trump took to Twitter Friday night for another jab at Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, describing her as 'Half' Whitmer.

The governor and president have recently sparred over the amount of federal coronavirus-related medical supplies coming to Michigan, with Whitmer saying they are drastically inadequate.

In a tweet on Friday, March 27, Trump said he loves Michigan, but that your Governor, Gretchen Half Whitmer is way in over her head, she doesnt have a clue. Likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude!

I love Michigan, one of the reasons we are doing such a GREAT job for them during this horrible Pandemic. Yet your Governor, Gretchen Half Whitmer is way in over her head, she doesnt have a clue. Likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude! #MAGA  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020

Michigan coronavirus numbers now at 3,657 -- up 801 cases

The Tweet comes after Trump on Thursday, in a Fox News interview, made another reference to Whitmer.

Weve had a big problem with the young -- a woman governor -- you know who Im talking about, from Michigan, Trump said.

Speaking with Sean Hannity by phone Thursday, Trump said governors shouldnt solely rely on the federal government to supply personal protective gear that has become scarce as hospitals deal with an exponentially increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

Joe Biden comes to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers defense after Trump slams states coronavirus response

Your governor of Michigan, I mean, shes not stepping up, Trump said. I dont know if she knows whats going on, but all she does is sit there and blame the federal government, she doesnt get it done."

Whitmer also has taken to Twitter about the controversy, but in a more measured tone.

Right now, we all need to be focused on fighting the virus, not each other. Im willing to work with anyone as long as we get the personal protective equipment we need for the people of Michigan. https://t.co/sVZry3weUw  Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) March 27, 2020

Whitmer has repeatedly called on Trump in press conferences and interviews to address a shortage of coronavirus tests, protective masks, gowns and other protective equipment. She said shipments from the Strategic National Stockpile only covers a fraction of what is needed to address the growing number of COVID-19 patients.

On Friday, Democratic primary front-runner Joe Biden defended Whitmer and called her a tenacious fighter" as the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen in the United States.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Saturday, March 28: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan restaurants struggle to survive solely on takeout as coronavirus shutdown continues

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says dont go to the polls, vote absentee in May 5 election, slow the coronavirus
Australians who lose their jobs will be given a wage subsidy to cover a share of their income in a federal plan to protect workers suffering from the sweeping layoffs and shutdowns triggered by the coronavirus crisis.

The federal government is planning to pay workers a proportion of their wages to them through the crisis, with a proposal to get employers to transfer the money to their staff as an alternative to using the welfare system.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on employers to wait for the new scheme to be announced "soon" before they embarked on further layoffs or suspensions, adding the government would "enlist" business in the new process.

"We will be ensuring also that those who have already gone into this very devastating situation, where they have had to stand down workers, that any measures we are announcing will be taking them on as well," he said.

The Australian scheme is expected to have a cap on the total amount paid but the percentage of income is yet to be decided and will depend in part on the government's discussions with big employers about the number of workers who will need support.
As Queenslanders went to the booths for a contentious local government election under the cloud of coronavirus fears, thousands of them were met with a sight untypical of the big day.

Many of the booths were largely empty.

No human tunnels of party volunteers pushing how-to-vote pamphlets.

And, shockingly, not a democracy sausage to be found.
A quick-hitting storm will move through the Denver area today and tonight. At this time, Denver is a freight market with high volumes, elevated rejection rates and tight capacity. The storm could make things a little worse.



SONAR Critical Events and radar: Friday, Mar. 27, 2020, 10 a.m. EDT; Rockies/north-central U.S snow storm

Setup and snowfall amounts

A fast moving spring storm will move through Colorado today and tonight. Snow will begin over the northern mountains and foothills this morning. Rain will spread eastward across eastern

Colorado this afternoon and evening. Rain will change to snow late this afternoon and this evening across the lower elevations. In addition, strong winds from the north will produce areas of blowing snow across eastern Colorado.

Snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are likely for places such as Limon, Castle Rock, while Cameron Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park could get up to 10 inches.

Heavy snowfall and gusty winds will also hit western Nebraska tonight, as well as southern Wyoming, which is part of the Denver market. Drivers may run into potential roadblocks and delays on I-25, I-70, I76 and I-80 across the impact zone.

The storm will then track through other areas of Nebraska, along with parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan Saturday through Sunday. Look for snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Winds will remain gusty, between 30 and 40 mph in some areas.

Impact on freight

FreightWaves SONAR data indicate elevated outbound tender volumes (OTVI.DEN) in the Denver market  the 20th-highest in the nation. The national OTVI has a base value of 10,000 based on trucking volumes on March 1, 2018. The index moves in proportion to the total observable outbound tender volume among the 135 freight markets nationwide.

Outbound tender rejection rates (OTRI.DEN) are also high, around 30%. In terms of percentage ranges for demarcating a tight, balanced or loose market, here's the rule of thumb  a loose market is defined by tender rejections in the low- to mid-single-digit range, a balanced market by tender rejections in the high single digits, and a tight market by tender rejections above 10%.

Story continues

The OTVI and OTRI are updated in SONAR every 24 hours.



SONAR Tickers: OTVI.DEN, SOTRI.DEN, MOTRI.DEN, TOTRI.DEN, LOTRI.DEN

Tender rejections are the percentage of electronic, contracted loads offered by shippers that carriers turn down. In this case, carriers are rejecting a high amount of freight because they literally may be at full utilization and do not have any excess capacity to take on the loads due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Carriers can't keep up with the increased demand for shipments of medical supplies and household items. FreightWaves has been tracking national outbound tender rejections since January 2018.

But SONAR can break down tender rejections in several ways, including by length of haul. Rejections rates in Denver are sky high for mid-haul (MOTRI.DEN), tweener-haul (TORTI.DEN) and long-haul (LOTRI.DEN), lanes of 250 to 449 miles, 450 miles to 799 miles, and 800 miles or more, respectively.

However, in the past several days, carriers have been rejecting fewer short-haul loads (SOTRI.DEN) of 100 to 249 miles. So carriers with enough capacity to send drivers to Denver to pick up loads seem to be keeping most of them close to the Mile High City. The developing snowstorm may tighten capacity a bit more in the short-term as some carriers could be reluctant to send drivers into the storm. But since the storm will be in and out of the region in less than 24 hours, impacts will be short-lived.

Severe weekend weather

On the warm side of the snowstorm, thunderstorms on Saturday could produce tornadoes, large hail and severe winds from Des Moines, St. Louis and Memphis to Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Columbus. As of this morning, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed northern Illinois in the Moderate Risk category. On a scale of one to five, with five being the highest risk, Moderate risk is a three.

Looking Ahead



SONAR Critical Events: Friday, Mar. 27, 2020, 10 a.m. EDT; Pacific Northwest snow storm next week

A series of storm systems will be moving into the Pacific Northwest starting Sunday night, possibly lasting through next Tuesday night, March 31. In the higher elevations of the Cascades in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, as well as the Olympics in Washington, look for total snowfall of 12 to 36 inches. Isolated spots of more than 36 inches are possible. This storm could impact the Seattle, Portland and Medford freight markets.

Have a great day! Please stay healthy and be careful out there!

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The police body camera industry hasnt wanted for or competition or controversy in recent years, but it gained a new player last week.Axis Communications, a Swedish company that makes A/V network and surveillance tools, has announced its first body camera for law enforcement, emphasizing open architecture that gives police departments the flexibility to store data on premises or in any number of cloud platforms. The companys news release also touted a 12-hour battery life, end-to-end data encryption, 1080p resolution with wide dynamic range, dual microphones with noise suppression, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, location tracking, and a six-axis gyro and accelerometer.While data suggests most police departments have probably purchased body cameras at least once, Axis probably hopes to make inroads when those departments decide to upgrade. The Axis cameras open architecture offers them the option of swapping out old hardware for new, without changing their data storage operations.Segment Development Manager Kevin Taylor wrote in an email that Axis got into the body camera market because customers were looking for this next logical solution step. He said the ability to integrate new body camera data with other video management systems (VMS) and evidence management systems (EMS) could allow law enforcement agencies to consolidate certain tools.The fact that the Axis Body Worn Camera solution is compatible with other systems means law enforcement agencies have choices, he wrote. They already use these software platforms in their daily operation. Why should they have to adopt another platform only for storage of video from body-worn devices? With our offering, the agencies will be able to begin to move more sub-systems to their preferred single pane of glass, whether that be their VMS, EMS or RMS.The news release said the full apparatus consists of a camera, docking station and system controller, plus a mobile app that allows users to review footage and add categories, descriptions and notes.Taylor said the cameras were field tested but would not specify where, adding that a formal case study is in progress.Founded in 1984 and acquired by Canon five years ago, according to Crunchbase , Axis today employs some 3,000 people in over 50 countries. The companys new body camera will be competing with established products in the market from companies such as Axon , Digital Ally, Motorola Solutions and Wolfcom.
Nazarbaev Comes Asking Beleaguered Kazakhs, Once Again, For Donations Amid Crisis

By Bruce Pannier March 26, 2020

A call went out to the people of Kazakhstan on March 20 urging them not to stand on the sidelines but to be active in helping the country's president and his government through a batch of pressing problems.

Aydos Ukibay, press secretary for the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, announced that "Elbasy" (Leader of the Nation), who is also Nazarbaev, wanted "those who want and are able, to help the country" and donate to a special fund to help Kazakhstan in these difficult times.

The call could indicate how much officials fear the upcoming double impact on Kazakhstan of greatly reduced revenue from oil exports and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the first cases of which were announced in Kazakhstan on March 13.

As concerns the coronavirus problem, people certainly want to do something to help during a health crisis, and Ukibay said Nazarbaev considered it "important to support doctors, volunteers, servicemen, and police who are on the front lines in the battle with this dangerous infection."

Kazakhstan, a country of some 18 million people, had 80 coronavirus infections but no deaths as of March 25.

In the last major economic crisis Kazakhstan faced, which began in 2014, the government drew on its national fund to compensate for most of the country's financial shortfalls.

Largely due to its oil and gas wealth, Kazakhstan is considered the wealthiest country in Central Asia.

But for this economic crisis Nazarbaev -- who gave up his office in March 2019 after 28 years leading the country -- chose to use a spokesman to beg Kazakh citizens to donate to the state.

Calling For Gold

He asked his fellow citizens for money once before -- 21 years ago, to be precise.

And looking back at the situation then, there are some questions as to who should be first to contribute to this new social fund for Kazakhstan.

In June 1999, Kazakhstan's outlook was bleak.

The country had started pumping more oil but the average price, which had been under $20 per barrel for most of the 1990s, fell to under $12 in 1998 and increased only to some $16.5 per barrel by 1999.

The grain harvest in 1998 was the worst in 40 years (just 7.3 million tons), down some 44 percent compared to the previous year's harvest.

There were power shortages in the country, wages were not being paid, and workers were on strike.

In confused circumstances in early October 1998, the first presidential election in seven years was announced. The short campaign period was marred by the barring of the main opposition candidate and the January 10, 1999, election was harshly criticized for being fraudulent and patently unfair.

In February 1999, Prime Minister Nurlan Balghimbaev said Kazakhstan had posted a $1.7 billion trade deficit in 1998. That was nearly triple the January-May 1999 trade deficit of $664 million.

During the first months of 1999, the government slashed programs and trimmed the number of state employees. The National Bank allowed the national currency, the tenge, to float at the start of April and the rate fell from 88 tenges to $1 to about 131 tenge/$1 by the end of May.

In June 1999, the campaign Deposit Gold To The Golden Fund was started. Citizens were encouraged to hand over their gold and jewelry to the government so it could be sold and the money used to help bring Kazakhstan through the hard economic times.

The idea was modeled on what South Korea did in 1997, when the government asked its citizens donate gold to help the country pay off its debts.

Those in Kazakhstan who donated their gold were promised some compensation within a decade, though reports of how much gold and jewelry was gathered and the promised compensation that was to be paid were not divulged.

In early June 1999, Balghimbaev said some $10,000 worth of gold and jewelry had already been collected from the Karasai district in Almaty Province, which is where Nazarbaev's home village of Chemolgan is located. Some reports suggested that while many people were "donating," not all were doing so enthusiastically. There were reports of wages being garnished and employees being pressured by work managers to contribute.

Nazarbaev mentioned the fund on July 1, 1999, while attending the World Economic Forum in Salzburg, Austria.

"As for the gold and jewelry collection.... Of course, if ordinary citizens are eager to assist us in these very tough economic conditions, if they really want to make contributions to the social fund to help the needs of families with low incomes or many children, to support pensioners, I believe the government will not be against that," he said.

'Kazakhgate'

Kazakhstan's fortunes improved in 2000.

The price of oil increased to more than $27 per barrel that year and by 2005 it topped $50 and continued climbing over the next decade.

Kazakhstan was saved, financially, and the campaign for donating gold and jewelry faded away.

But a curious thing happened in April 2002.

Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov told a session of parliament there was a "secret fund" in a Swiss bank. Tasmagambetov said that in 1996 the government sold 25 percent of its shares in Kazakhstan's Tenghiz oil field to Mobil for about $1 billion, and Nazarbaev had put the money into a Swiss bank.

Tasmagambetov said the secret fund had been used to help pay off pension arrears in 1997 and in 1998 was used to soften the impact the Russian financial crisis was having on Kazakhstan. He did not mention money from the account being used in 1999.

The revelation about the bank account came after two opposition deputies -- Boris Sorokin and Serilbolsyn Abdildin -- wrote to Tasmagambetov on March 13 asking for more information about "Kazakhgate."

Kazakhgate, in brief, was the scandal surrounding U.S. businessman James Giffen, who was accused of paying bribes to Nazarbaev and Balghimbaev so that Western companies would get contracts at the Tenghiz oil field. The two Kazakh parliament deputies wanted to know about government funds deposited into Swiss bank accounts that belonged to Nazarbaev, his friends, and family members.

First Family?

Now back to today's double punch of problems arising from the recent major decrease in oil prices and the oncoming coronavirus crisis.

Certainly, it appears to be a time of crisis.

Some people do want to help. Nazarbaev's press secretary, Ukibay, did say "those who are able" could do so. That seems to definitely be saying that those who do not want or are unable to financially will not have to.

Those best-placed financially to help Kazakhstan, as history shows, would seem to be Nazarbaev, his family, and his friends, as the reports of their wealth have become legendary in recent years. One must wonder how many "secret" accounts exist today.

The wealth accumulated by the Nazarbaev family can be counted by the mansions in the London area belonging to Nazarbaev, or to his eldest daughter Darigha, or her son Nurali.

Or maybe the castle in Switzerland or property in Spain's Costa Brava area that belong to Nazarbaev's second daughter, Dinara, and her husband, Timur Kulibaev.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg from what has been reported.

It seems Nazarbaev and some of those close to him might be the best-positioned people in Kazakhstan to set an example of the spirit of charity to their fellow citizens.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nazarbaev-comes- asking-beleaguered-kazakhs-once-again-for- donations-amid-crisis/30510729.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders holding a livestream discussion on the coronavirus pandemic and the stimulus bill on 25 March, 2020: berniesanders.com via Getty Images

Bernie Sanders is continuing to assess the future of his presidential campaign as he lags behind Joe Biden in delegate count and has to face up to the challenge of running for office during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to NPRs Noel King on Morning Edition, Senator Sanders acknowledged that the path ahead would be challenging: it's going to be a very steep road.

It's changing every day because elections are being delayed, Mr Sanders said. Where do we go from here with the elections that are being delayed, where we can't go out and hold rallies or knock on doors? That's what we're looking at right now.

Former vice president Biden currently has a 300 delegate lead on Sanders and many are treating him as the presumptive nominee, despite there still being primary elections to be held and several months until the Democratic Party convention.

When asked if there should be further debates between the two candidates, Mr Biden told an online press conference this week: I think we've had enough debates. I think we should get on with this.

Mr Sanders feels differently: I think the American people, especially in this unprecedented moment in American history, want to hear the ideas that will lead us away from where we are right now.

Both of the contenders for the Democrat nomination are currently restricted to virtual campaigning including video messages and online town hall discussions.

Almost the sole topic in any interaction with voters is the growing impact of the coronavirus and the current administrations response.

Sanders feels that the pandemic has caused Americans to rethink the role that government can play in their lives.

I think there is growing sentiment in this country that people now understand that it is incomprehensible that we remain the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all, that we have an economy which leaves half of our people living paycheck to paycheck, Sanders said.

Story continues

What kind of system is it where people today are dying, knowing they're sick, but they're not going to the hospital because they can't afford the bill that they'll be picking up? he added.

Sanders says that this weeks coronavirus stimulus package will likely be followed by another massive bill in the coming month.

Asked if he feels the general election might be entirely consumed by the impact of the coronavirus, Senator Sanders says that he hopes the people's concerns are broadened into a discussion about how we got here and where the American people want to go next.

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Bernie Sanders voter says pandemic shows why his leadership is crucial

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He welcomed his first child Dylan Remington Adler with wife Jennifer on Friday in Los Angeles.

And actor Max Adler spoke out about welcoming their son amid a global coronavirus pandemic.

The former Glee actor, 34, said: 'We were very worried about giving birth during these scary, fearful, uncertain and trying times in the world,' he said to Page Six in a statement.

So cute: Max Adler welcomed his first child Dylan Remington Adler with wife Jennifer on Friday in Los Angeles

Dylan was born Friday, March 27th at 5:25 am in Los Angeles, weighing six pounds, five ounces, he revealed on his Instagram account.

The TV star, who played Dave Karofsky on Glee, added to Page Six: 'Both mentally/emotionally on behalf of our son, and logistically regarding what might happen at the hospital when we arrived on the day.'

Max thanked their OB, Dr. Tally Silberstein as well as the 'amazingly helpful, sweet and supportive staff' at the Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center.'

He told the outlet: 'We were aware, per friends and per the internet, that many hospitals nationwide were no longer allowing spouses to enter the hospital and be present for the birth which terrified us.'

New parents: actor Max Adler spoke out about having their son amid a global coronavirus pandemic; pictured February 25, 2020 at the Visible: Out on Television in West Hollywood

Max added: 'The thought of my wife having to go through labor on her own or me being stuck outside without knowing what was happening or being in the room to support her was frightening.'

However, 'everyone reassured us that I would be allowed in as this particular hospital had invoked a one person rule, and the delivering mother was allowed to bring one person in the room with her.'

Max said that he could 'definitely feel a change in the atmosphere' at the hospital, a different experience than when they had during the hospital tour in February.

He said he and wife Jennifer had to get their temperatures taken upon arrival for labor with everyone wearing masks and gloves, as well as signs posted all around to wash your hands and practice social distancing.

Congrats! Dylan was born Friday, March 27th at 5:25 am in Los Angeles, weighing six pounds, five ounces, he revealed on his Instagram account

Max, who announced Dylan's arrival with a sweet snap of the newborn, said Jennifer was in labor for 24 hours and also lost her mother the day before.

He told the outlet: 'I also must thank my champion warrior Goddess of a wife for powering through a 24-hour labor during this stressful global pandemic, and on top of that, her mother had passed away the day before, not related to coronavirus.'

Max and Jennifer tied the knot on December 19, 2015, three years after getting engaged in Rome; they revealed their baby news in January.
69 year old is first fatality from Kerala due to coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 28: A 69 year old man from Kerala died due to novel coronavirus. He had a travel history to Dubai.

This is in fact Kerala's first fatality due to COVID-19. Following his return, he had been admitted to hospital due to pneumonia. He ha also undergone a bypass surgery earlier and was a heart patient and had high blood pressure.

Meanwhile the authorities have said that he would be cremated as per protocol. Not more than ten members of his family will be allowed to attend the cremation. The residents of the flat where the patient used to live, are under observation.

Coronavirus outbreak: COVID-19 cases in India rises to 873, says Union Health Ministry

Further the fellow passengers of the flight which the patient took from Dubai will also be traced. The deceased had reached Kerala on March 16 and was admitted to hospital on March 22.
Elliot Lazar moved to New York City last year to pursue his acting dream; he had no clue that hed find himself in the middle of a real-life horror movie.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Elliot Lazar moved to New York City last year to pursue his acting dream; he had no clue that hed find himself in the middle of a real-life horror movie.

The 25 year old returned to Winnipeg nearly two weeks ago after deciding to leave the most-COVID-19-ravaged city in the United States.

SUPPLIED Elliot Lazar moved to New York City last year to pursue his acting dream; he had no clue that he'd find himself in the middle of a real-life horror movie. The 25 year old returned to Winnipeg nearly two weeks ago after deciding to leave, what would soon become, one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States.

"I began seeing more and more friends moving home in order to wait things out," he said over the phone from his childhood bedroom in Tuxedo, where hes been self-isolating since his return to his hometown.

After speaking with his fiance, who is social distancing in Phoenix with his family, Lazar decided it was time to come back to Winnipeg. His decision was made easier because he had no health insurance in the U.S., had lost his work in New York and could make a living here offering singing, piano and guitar lessons online.

He flew out of LaGuardia Airport March 16 and returned to Canada in Toronto.

"There was a questionnaire to fill out which asked about symptoms of COVID-19," he said. "There was a prompt at the end asking us to confirm we understood that we were being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, followed by a handout with a little guide to self-isolation."

The flights home were "pretty painless," he said.

"The energy was a little weird in the airports and you could tell people were a little on edge, but it was really easy and simple."

Lazar took precautions when his father picked him up at the airport in Winnipeg.

"I sat in the backseat, covered my mouth and tried not to touch anything," he said. "We went straight home and I went immediately up to my bedroom."

Lazar was tested for COVID-19 last Sunday at the drive-thru testing location on Bison Drive after experiencing some minor symptoms.

He said the testing process was simple and straightforward. He was given an estimate of 72 hours before hed have results. Hes still waiting.

Watching New York shut down was difficult for the Boston Conservatory at Berklee theatre graduate, who moved to the bright lights and big city in August.

"My last couple of days there, New York was eerie," he said. "There were relatively few people out and walking around, and public transportation was uncrowded. My allergies had started acting up and I could feel peoples concern any time I sneezed in public."

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He plans to return to New York when its possible. "I love living in New York. My dad was actually born in New York, so I always wanted to live there."

But now, in self-isolation in his old bedroom, the effects of social distancing are starting to set in.

But he remains hopeful.

"I feel very lucky that technology has made it so easy for me to stay connected with people, even while in isolation."

frances.koncan@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @franceskoncan
Joint Forces Command is sympathetic to meeting the critical humanitarian needs of citizens and, in the event of important life circumstances, gives permission to cross the demarcation line

The passage of people from uncontrolled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO) to the territory controlled by Ukraine was temporarily stopped. Such measures are associated with preventing the spread of coronavirus. This is reported by the head of the JFO.

Passage of people and vehicles was stopped on March 22.

At the same time, the Joint Forces Command is sympathetic to meeting the critical humanitarian needs of citizens and, in the event of important life circumstances, gives permission to cross the demarcation line. In particular, more than 120 such individual decisions were made during this week, the message says.

The reasons for the passage of citizens were serious illnesses of parents, death of relatives and the need for family reunion. However, the militants did not always allow people to cross the demarcation line, even if they presented documentary evidence of emergency circumstances for crossing.

We recall that on the night of March 27 to 28, Ukraine completely closed the border and blocked all passenger traffic.

After Ukraine's borders were completely closed, about 9 000 citizens who did not have time to return to their homeland remained abroad. This was announced by Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Krykliy in his Telegram channel.

About 9 000 people who declared their desire to return home remain abroad, Krykliy said.

The Foreign Ministry asks Ukrainian citizens, if possible, to extend their stay in the country in which they are now. The launch of the Protection program is planned.

Those flights that started on March 27 and end after 00:00 hours on March 28 will be accepted. The Ministry of Health will provide the necessary examinations for arriving citizens. They will sign a consent to voluntary isolation, the observance of which will be monitored by the police.
Turkey has 2,069 new cases of COVID-19 binging the total to 5,698 the Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced last night following a meeting of the Science Council. The death toll now stands at 92.

The government is not disclosing the location of cases to prevent the risk of increasing transmission rates by encouraging people to move from areas with high rates to places where there are no or few cases, Koca added.

He said 42 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the deadly virus as 344 others were treated at intense care units.

Koca added 7,533 tests have been done in the past 24 hours and the number of overall tests carried so far stood at over 47,000.

A municipality worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant at the iconic Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, one of the citys main tourist attractions, that shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak (AP Photo)

Speaking at a news conference after the meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced several new measures to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

 All international flights have been suspended for an indefinite period.

 Traveling between cities will now only be possible with the permission of local governors.

 All 30 big cities in Turkey will form pandemic councils to take extra measures against the coronavirus. Local governors will be the chairs of the councils.

 Picnic spots, forests, and archeological sites will be closed on weekends. No groups will be allowed in those areas on weekdays

The President stressed that citizens should abide by voluntary quarantine rules if they want to avoid stricter measures.

The next two weeks will be do or die for Turkey as experts warn that the country will enter a critical stage regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in which deaths and cases could peak if measures arent followed

Speaking to Sabah newspaper, associate professor Umit Savasc, a prominent infectious diseases expert, said based on the course of the virus spread in Europe, cases will peak in the next two weeks in Turkey.

We could see a spike in cases, doubling or more. There might be an increase especially in cases in big cities, he warned.

READ: 2,069 new cases confirmed in Turkey, death toll hits 92

A message from Fethiye Municipality

Questions and Answers on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please read this article carefully to make sure you know how this Q&A will work. Thank you

Questions and Answers on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Fethiye Municipality band gives a morale boosting concert to house bound citizens in Fethiye

Fethiye Mayor, Alim Karaca arranged for the Fethiye Municipality band to give a morale boosting concert around the streets for citizens under curfew and staying at home due to the corona virus outbreak. Members of the band swapped their usual uniform for hygiene-protected overalls and masks. The performance was accompanied by cheers and dancing from the windows and balconies.

Source: Fethiye Municipality

Local markets to deliver to people at home

Local markets have started a delivery service for citizens staying home due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Citizens can call their local market (see list of participating markets below) and order their shopping to be delivered.

Markets that want to be added to the list are asked to contact the municipality.

#EvdeKalFethiyem

Global Death Toll

The global death toll has surpassed 28,800, with 622,548 cases confirmed, according to Worldometer

Follow Fethiye Times on social media for regular updates.

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Todays featured image: Empty Bench at Koycegiz by Lyn Ward




When stock market volatility is a precursor to a recession, you may look for safer investments to ride things out.

Cash is one option, albeit one with limited growth potential. Investing in money market mutual funds, on the other hand, can offer both safety and growth in the short term.

"The advantage of a money market fund during a period of high volatility or even a recession is it offers investors a safer, less risky option to put their money into while riding out the downturn," says Joshua Simpson, an investment advisor with Lake Advisory Group in Lady Lake, Florida.

Simpson says money market funds yield returns while giving investors the flexibility to move back into the market once a recession begins to reverse. Compared with other mutual funds, risk levels are lower in a money market fund, which can be reassuring during periods of prolonged stock volatility.

[See: 7 Things to Know About Money Market Mutual Funds.]

If you're seeking a safety net for a recession, money market mutual funds might be a good option. Here are some things to keep in mind before you commit:

-- Know what makes money market funds different.

-- Understand the risks involved.

-- Think carefully before going all-in.

-- Plan an exit strategy.

What Makes Money Market Funds Different

Money market funds differ from other mutual funds in one key aspect: what they invest in.

"Money market funds are a type of open-ended mutual fund that invests in short-term debt securities, such as U.S. Treasurys and commercial paper," says Chad Rixse, director of financial planning and wealth advisor at Forefront Wealth Partners.

Rixse says the goal of these funds is to maintain stable asset value with highly liquid investments while also producing dividend income for investors. Equity funds, on the other hand, are more often geared toward long-term capital appreciation.

Ordinarily, capital appreciation might be your primary goal. But when a recession hits, stock growth can effectively be stopped in its tracks. The inherent volatility associated with equity funds can increase, putting a damper on returns for the near term.

Story continues

Shifting some of your assets into a money market fund in a recessionary environment can offer insulation against that volatility.

"While most other assets will suffer drawdowns in a recession, money market funds effectively serve as cash-equivalent vehicles, acting as a downside buffer in client portfolios," says Dimitry Farberov, investment advisor at Miracle Mile Advisors in Los Angeles.

In other words, a money market fund can help cushion the blow of falling stock prices or underwhelming mutual fund performance when the economy shrinks.

"Taking your money out of stocks and moving it into a money market fund to avoid losing more money is a smart move because the cash is the asset," Simpson says. "You don't have to ride the market all the way down to the bottom."

Simpson says investors can preserve some of their gains leading up to a recession by selling some of their stocks and putting the cash into a money market fund. By doing so, he says "you'll be that much further ahead when things start to recover."

Are Money Market Funds Safe

It makes sense to ask this question if you're concerned about how stock market volatility might play out in your portfolio.

Compared with traditional mutual funds or individual stocks, money market funds are less susceptible to the ups and downs of the market. However, there's no such thing as zero money market risk.

Rixse points out that even though these are cash-focused investments, they're not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, known as the FDIC, like a money market savings account at a bank. And, he says, it's theoretically possible for money market funds to lose value.

"In 2008, we saw one major money market fund go under when Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and the debt the fund was holding from Lehman eroded in value," Rixse says.

For that reason, it's important to consider the quality of the money market funds in which you choose to invest during a recession if managing risk is a concern.

"Investors need to know that not all money market funds are created equally," Farberov says. "When choosing a money market fund, investors need to focus on the funds offered by the most reputable companies with large assets under management, rather than chase yield."

Think Carefully Before Going All-In

Money market mutual funds can be a safe option for a recession, but they can't match the performance of stocks. Farberov says investors should consider how holding money market funds may affect overall portfolio returns in the short term and what trade-off they may be made by avoiding stocks.

Something else to consider is the potential for missed opportunities when you shift away from equities.

[See: 8 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor During Volatile Markets.]

"Market downturns create opportunities for investors to buy stocks at a discount, which can help improve long-term returns," Rixse says.

While money market funds may look attractive when the market flips and flops, avoiding stocks completely may not be the best strategy. When you can follow Warren Buffett's advice to be greedy when others are fearful, you could be poised to scoop up quality stocks at bargain prices when the market is down.

Plan an Exit Strategy

Recessions, though painful and seemingly never-ending, do eventually fade as the market and economy move into a new cycle. If you're investing in money market mutual funds during the interim, it's important to think ahead.

"The biggest downside to investing in money market funds in a recession is that they have zero upside," Farberov says. "Equity markets typically bottom halfway in a recession, and investors with assets parked in money market funds will likely miss the upside appreciation in their portfolios."

Investing experts tend to agree that trying to time the market is a fool's errand, but you should be watching closely for signs of an impending upturn. It's also important to keep the factors that lead to a recession in mind, as those can affect the timing.

For instance, Simpson says recovery can come quickly if a recession is driven by things other than economic issues, such as a global health crisis. But, he cautions, the important thing is not to reinvest too soon.

"Waiting until you see some clarity and some sustained recovery, even if you miss out on the first 5% or so of the recovery, is better than reinvesting too soon and watching your money go down another 10%," he says. "Cash is an asset, and there's nothing wrong with being patient and waiting until you're comfortable to move money back into stocks and other investments."





More From US News & World Report


President Donald Trump will send off a naval hospital ship Saturday before it heads to New York City, as he aims to highlight the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The USNS Comfort, a 1,000-bed hospital ship, had been undergoing planned maintenance, but was rushed back into service to aid the city which is now the epicenter of the nation's outbreak.

It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier a week after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy arrived in Los Angeles to preform similar duty on the West Coast.

The president acknowledged that making the 140-mile trip to Naval Station Norfolk wasn't necessary, but said he was doing it to recognize the work of sailors and medical professionals who worked to get the ship out of maintenance more than a week ahead of schedule.

I think it's a good thing when I go over there and I say 'thank you,' Trump told reporters Friday.

He added he wanted to make the trip to show spirit for the country.

Trump, 73, is in a high-risk category because of his age, and federal guidance for weeks has advised those in that pool to refrain from non-essential travel of all sorts.

He has already tested negative once after close contact with officials who came down with the virus.

It doesn't mean I'm going to be hugging people and it doesn't mean that I'm going to be shaking people's hands and everything, Trump said.

But I think it sends a signal when the president is able to go there and say thank you. So, you know, we'll be careful.

It marks Trump's first trip outside Washington since March 9 and only his second outside the gates of the White House since a March 19 trip to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

It comes a day after the president took a round of steps to expand the federal government's role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic even as he warned the leaders of hard-hit states not to cross him.

I want them to be appreciative, Trump said Friday after the White House announced that he would be using the powers granted to him under the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to try to compel auto giant General Motors to produce ventilators.

Yet Trump who hours earlier had suggested the need for the devices was being overblown rejected any criticism of the federal government's response to a ballooning public health crisis that a month ago he predicted would be over by now.

We have done a hell of a job," Trump said, as he sent an ominous message to state and local leaders who have been urging the federal government to do more to help them save lives.

Trump said he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to call the governors of Washington or Michigan two coronavirus hotspots because of their public criticism.

If they don't treat you right, I don't call, Trump said. The nearly 900-foot-long USNS Comfort, which was once an oil tanker, is a floating trauma hospital designed to care for service members who've been in combat.

But on this mission, it will essentially serve as a community hospital.

What we're bringing to the people of New York is a hospital ship with a maximum capacity of 1,000, said Capt. Patrick Amersbach, the commanding officer of the medical treatment facility aboard the Comfort.

The ship has 12 operating rooms as well as radiology suites and a CT scanner. It also has ICU beds, a lab and a pharmacy.

The 1,100 or so medical staff on board are mostly active duty service members from the U.S. Navy, and some reservists, who serve on the East Coast.

I really want to thank the families - those who are staying behind, Amersbach said. Because this is a national crisis.

And their loved ones are leaving to go north to help those in New York. I really appreciate what they're doing and the sacrifices they are making.

The arrival of the oblong ship, with its white hull and red crosses, is often a signal of the severity of a crisis.

Since the current iteration of the USNS Comfort launched in 1987, the vessel has responded to wars in the Middle East, Hurricane Katrina and New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But the current mission is unprecedented in the ship's century long history, which stretches back to World War I.

We've never deployed a hospital ship stateside specifically for a response in a global pandemic, said Andr B. Sobocinski, a historian for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted Europe must help Italy face the Covid-19 pandemic as he reiterated his support for budget solidarity in the European Union.

France stands with Italy, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with Italian newspapers La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera, and La Stampa on Saturday, a day after Italy recorded over 9,000 Covid-19 related deaths.

Macron, who is in favour of corona loans despite Germany's reticence, called for stronger economic solidarity in Europe.

I defend budget solidarity in the management of this crisis and of its consequences, he said in the interview.

What worries me is the illness of every man for himself: if we do not show solidarity, Italy, Spain or others would be able to say to their European partners: where have you been when we were on the frontline? I do not want this selfish and divided Europe.

Italian crisis tests European solidarity

On Thursday, European leaders clashed over the creation of a joint Eurozone debt instrument to help finance the bloc's response to the global pandemic.

An acrimonious virtual summit of European leaders saw Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte refuse to sign up to the concluding statement after Germany and the Netherlands shot down the creation of the corona bonds debt scheme.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Germany's Angela Merkel insisted the European Stability Mechanism, the Eurozone's 500 billion dollars bailout fund created after the last debt crisis, could be used to heal the wounds left by the coronavirus pandemic.

Conte issued a tough ultimatum, giving the European Council just 10 days to return with an adequate solution after the video conference ran three hours over schedule.

In the interview, Macron asked whether the EU and the eurozone could only be defined as a financial institution.

It could be a common debt, whatever its name, or an increase in the EU's budget to support the countries most affected by this crisis, he said. The amount itself is not important, it's the gesture that matters.

Macron warned other leaders of the death of Schengen if they refuse to show solidarity throughout the crisis.

Medical aid to Italy

France and Germany have come under fire for initially declining to provide Rome with face masks and other equipment to help it handle the outbreak.

Italy turned to China, which sent 30 tonnes of medical supplies as well as nine doctors and nurses.

 There is a lot of talk about Chinese or Russian aid, but why don't we say that France and Germany have delivered 2 million masks and tens of thousands gowns to Italy? Macron said.

The French president also told the Italian media that his government was not late in enforcing lockdown measures in France.

He insisted his administration had followed the coronavirus crisis very seriously since the outbreak in China.

We applied strict measures right at the beginning, precisely because Italy was hit before us, he replied.

According to figures published by the French government on 27 March, France registered 1,995 fatalities as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.
In biggest donation yet from any global tech giant, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced the company will provide over $800 million to support small and medium businesses (SMBs), health organisations, governments and health workers on the frontline of global COVID-19 pandemic.

The commitment would include $250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organisation (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to help local communities.

"This is an increase from our initial $25 million announced last month. In addition, we're providing $20 million in ad grants to community financial institutions and NGOs specifically to run public service announcements on relief funds and other resources for SMBs," Pichai said in a statement on Friday.

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it's taking a devastating toll on lives and communities.

Google committed a $200 million investment fund that will support NGOs and financial institutions around the world to help provide small businesses with access to capital.

"As one example, we're working with the Opportunity Finance Network in the US to help fill gaps in financing for people and communities underserved by mainstream financial institutions," said Pichai.

This is in addition to the $15 million in cash grants Google.org is already providing to nonprofits to help bridge these gaps for SMBs.

The company will give "$340 million in Google Ads credits available to all SMBs with active accounts over the past year".

"Credit notifications will appear in their Google Ads accounts and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across our advertising platforms," Pichai announced, adding that it will help to alleviate some of the cost of staying in touch with their customers.

The overall commitment would also include a pool of $20 million in Google Cloud credits for academic institutions and researchers to "leverage our computing capabilities and infrastructure as they study potential therapies and vaccines, track critical data, and identify new ways to combat COVID-19".

Google is working with supplier and partner Magid Glove & Safety, with the goal of ramping up production of 2-3 million face masks in the coming weeks that will be provided to the CDC Foundation.

"Additionally, employees from across Alphabet, including Google, Verily and X, are bringing engineering, supply chain and healthcare expertise to facilitate increased production of ventilators, working with equipment manufacturers, distributors and the government in this effort," informed Pichai.

In addition to these commitments, Google also increased the gift match it offers every employee annually to $10,000 from $7,500.

"That means our employees can now give $20,000 to organizations in their communities, in addition to the $50 million Google.org has already donated," said Pichai.

Apple has released a website and an iOS app that allows users to screen themselves for coronavirus symptoms, days after announcing that it would donate more than 10 million respirator masks across the US and Europe.
me too - i actually didn't mind the first couple of seasons. i was bored out of my skull last night so i watched the last season on hulu (omg why did i do that?!) and i kinda felt bad for kourtney... i know, i know she's a millionaire who does nothing and don't get me started on poosh, but it seems like she has a lot of anxiety / depression that is tied to filming and they aren't hearing her or acknowledging how it affects her. i wonder how much they pushed rob before he peaced out.



long story short, this shit needs to be cancelled.

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OMG i completely forgot how they used to dress before becoming ~fashion icons~

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same. and I miss Scott and Rob and the energy they used to bring to the show. They all seem miserable now... watching the show nowadays it feels like a show that's on its last leg.

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I hate that they are able to breed

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Lmao

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Stop. I hate when people use that term with women. Its inherently misogynist.

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It is. There are layers to misogyny and the term breed is a huge red flag.

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Thank you.

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thank you

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that sounds like your own problem. i say that about anyone who is a fucking idiot, man or woman

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omg nnn

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I don't know how anybody can actually sit down and seriously watch these people on television. They're so boring and fucking useless.



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Tbf i never watched but I feel like the show is pointless. Or I guess I think it's pointless for people to watch. We know everything about them bc they occupy so much space in pop culture. Seems redundant to watch

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I mean what the hell are even the "storylines"



Tbh I haven't watched since season one but Lmao idgi

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Ia, my aunt used to be obsessed and i was always like "but for why"

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Mte. I never could get on that bandwagon. They cant even convey any emotion besides boredom in their inflections and scripted dialog and new fillers and faces. Cancel them already

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I don't even care for the Kardashians but there are people on ONTD who literally stan people who make YouTube videos for a living... like...

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I can't stand this family.

She's right she shouldn't be coming out of pocket of it's for the show.



They're all so awful but Khloe is the actual worst.

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she doesnt want to be a part of the show but wants them to pay for her trip ?





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Wasn't it part of the show? If it wasn't part of the show then yes she should come out of pocket

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I mean its still technically a work trip, so even if someone doesnt want to go, youd think their job would pay for it if they attend

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I remember how she somehow convinced FOX to.let her host The X Factor and how shit she was at it.

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I am bored, so bored. If she doesn't forego all social media, decide on being a parent to her children and goes off the grid, I don't believe and I care even less. Rid society of all things kardashian.

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https://instagram.com/p/B-N84l8BgcM lmfaooo that fight was real. Kim was bleeding + on the verge of tears and she slaps Kourtney mad hard. Whew chile a mess!

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Jfc imagine being 40 years old and fighting with your siblings like that

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You obvs not met my mother and aunt smdh.

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I can, that's why I disowned them in my 20s, and from what I hear they are still terrible people, just old now.

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Or allowing that to be on TV.

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because of the virus we aint going to each others house just call if you need something and I will put it on the porch lol its more safe that way.

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Are they fucking twelve? My God wth is wrong with these people.



Ngl I laughed at Kendall standing there looking confused and dumb

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I feel like they been fighting Over this for 2 years now.

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the amount of times the word "literally" is said tho lmao

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I don't give a fuck about the Kardashians so I don't know why I watched this, but wtf? These are supposed to be adults. Who acts like that? Even with siblings.



And people actually give money to these children?

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The fact that Kendall is just sitting there laughing

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Khloe and Kendall sitting there wondering why the fuck they're even there is giving me life. And I am dead at Kim sitting around in full on leather pants

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i gasped when kim slapped her... i'm sorry. i'm okay with seeing this all unfold. rona's really destroying my sanity

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the fact that khloe and kendall just sit there awkwardly laughing lmao DO SOMETHING Y'ALL

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Khloe's face... They all suck but Kourtney should be allowed to quit if she wants to.

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Listening to them try and convey emotion with those empty, monotone voices is cracking me up

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kendall is useless as always

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nothing about Keeping Up is real tbh

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there's no way this isn't staged. it's so ridiculous.

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What a boring fight.

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There was a better clip with kourtney slapping the SHIT out of kim. I havent seen it lately, everyone just keeps showing this part.

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the negative shots are killing me lmao

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the fight was probably staged but I do believe their hatred for each other is very real

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Sure, Jan

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Hasnt Kourtney been saying this for like 2 years now. I dont believe it

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Kim there are people dying.gif has never been more appropriate

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Im gonna put aside that this is probably staged and that they are Kardashians, not getting well with your siblings suck. My middle brother and I used to be very confrontational in our teens through our 22s~, thankfully we can now say that we respect and love each other, my younger brother has always been calmer so we hardly have had a fight

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sis you'll be back before the season finale

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Hopefully y'all can now see how fake and awful Kourtney is. I know people have this 'anybody but Kim' mindset but Kourtney is actually a really awful person and always has been. Kris also has a scar in her arm from when Kourtney assaulted her as a teen. Kourtney whines about being on the show and acts like she is so authentic ,but then in the show she is talking about how she wont be on camera without 'glam' and making demands and being rude as always. Goodbye girl. Nobody will miss you or your negativity.

Oh and Kourtney 'casually' mentioning that she weighs 100lbs and Kim weighs 20lbs more in a tweet reply...not subtle you vindictive brat.



Edited at 2020-03-28 07:52 pm (UTC)

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they're ALL trash but the only reason any of these ppl are relevant is b/c of kim, they should be licking her fake ass tbqh



i'd have respect for kourtney if she went the way of the mystery osbourne daughter or bowed out btwn seasons but she's just as much of a fame hungry trash bag as the rest of them so seeing her pretend to be above it is lol

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Yeah I just watched the vid and she started the physical fight then told Kim to hit her. Toxic loser. Isnt she the oldest too? What kind of behaviour is that.

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I think theyre all nasty, vile pieces of crap in their own way and all emotionally hurtful to one another, which is sick. Down to their own mom who pretends like she doesnt treat them differently but does. This family is fucked up.



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I know, theyre ALL horrible in their own ways.

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They all seem toxic tbh.

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one of their dads exes after he divorced kris said that kourtney was a monster and kim was super sweet

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you had to pay for your own trip to costa rica??? the horror!

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Mumbai, March 28 : Several hundred Indian students studying at Kyrgyzstan's Osh State University have been stranded in the Central Asian nation since the past few days due to the flight ban in India, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said here on Saturday.

"They have called me up with urgent requests to help evacuate them... Of these students, I am informed that around 205 are from Maharashtra alone, according to their families," Athawale told IANS.

The Minister said that Kyrgyzstan's Avia Traffic Co., in the capital Bishkek, is prepared to operate at least three flights to India to send the stranded students home.

"They are ready to operate two flights to New Delhi and one to Mumbai to bring back these stranded students. I shall be speaking with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Minister for External Affairs and other officials to grant them landing permission on priority despite the 'lockdown' and the ban on flight operations," Athawale said.

He is hopeful of getting the relevant clearances from the Indian government to enable the launch of the evacuation proceedings within a couple of days or so as their near and dear ones are getting panicky in view of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Wardha-based education consultant Dr. Kishor Saste said that presently there are around 2,000 Indian students studying medicine at the OSU, and more than 500, including some 125 girls, from Maharashtra alone.

The OSU is ranked among the distinguished medical universities globally and is increasingly popular among Indian students in a big way since a couple of decades, due to affordable costs, and good weather conditions, according to Saste.

Kyrgyzstan, with a population of around 6.3 million has around 55-plus Covid-19 positive cases with medical emergency situation declared in several parts of the country.
March 27, 2020

News

By Gary Sheftick , Army News Service

Defense.gov

Joint Team Ensures Hypersonic Test Success

A flight test of the joint Army-Navy hypersonic glide vehicle across the Pacific Ocean was a success, thanks to a dedicated team who managed complexity and change, officials said.

"We had a great team executing this," Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood said of the March 19 test. Thurgood, the Army's director of hypersonics, directed energy, space and rapid acquisition, thanked the joint team for their "phenomenal job" in a March 23 interview.

A joint team of soldiers, sailors, Defense Department civilians, contractors, national labs, and industry partners spent months preparing for the launch at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii.

Flight tests are highly complex endeavors, officials said. For this test, personnel began traveling to the site weeks in advance to get everything in place  from assembling the missile and putting monitoring equipment in place to running safety drills and developing detailed countdown procedures.

A large number of the support personnel in Kauai had worked on hypersonic technologies for years and applied their previous flight test experiences to this event.

This time, there were some differences from usual flight test operations, though. Some travel restrictions were put in place in the final days leading up to the test in response to COVID-19, according to Joel Shady, flight test director. "With the COVID virus, there were activities that didn't go according to the way we had initially planned out," he said.

Some of the tasks had to be accomplished through video teleconferences and phone calls, Shady said. "That made it very challenging," he said, "but it's very rewarding when, after everything was said and done, we did everything we were supposed to do."

Shady, who works for the Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, had spent about 40 days on Kauai preparing for the flight test.

"It was tough being away from family, knowing a certain amount of crazy was going on in the world and you're not there to help them," he said.

As flight director, his job was to "choreograph" the entire operation, he said, overseeing everything from environmental compliance to safety and launch procedures.

"We take the program's objectives, turn those into measurable requirements, and then assign all the test resources that are going to ensure we collect the information," he said.

The rapport among all the team members was outstanding, he said, with team members from Navy, Army and industry partners working well together.

The common hypersonic glide body will be used by both the Navy and the Army, so the two services continue to work closely every step of the way. The Navy is the lead service for the design of the weapon system, and the Army will lead production.

About 60 percent of the military members at the Kauai test facility worked for the Navy, Shady said. In addition, naval vessels were deployed across the Pacific to observe the trajectory of the hypersonic glide vehicle, said Navy Capt. John Lowery, program manager, Conventional Prompt Strike, U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs.

Dr. Sidney Beck, chief engineer of the Naval Ordnance Test Unit, was the overall mission director in charge of the test. He was at Kauai and oversaw the assembly, integration, testing and countdown of the missile that carried the payload downrange.

Both Beck and Lowery said the common hypersonic glide body in last week's test will be upgraded for the next hypersonic test.

A new booster, currently being developed by the Navy, will be demonstrated within future tests, as well, they said.

"We're building at stages and maturing the design," Lowery said. "So, this was a natural step in the progression of this technology, regardless of whether you were launching this off an Army vehicle or a submarine."

The common hypersonic glide body tested Thursday was produced at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in collaboration with government researchers.

The common hypersonic glide body is actually government-owned technology produced over the years, Thurgood pointed out.

"Lots of government agencies had a hand in developing this technology," he stressed.

The common hypersonic glide body for later tests and fielded prototypes, however, will be built by Dynetics in Huntsville, Alabama, Thurgood said.

Dynetics was awarded a competitive contract to become the first industry producer of the hypersonic glide vehicle, he said.

"The [science and technology] community that developed this technology is now  transitioning to industry so that we can build these at a much higher rate and a much faster speed," Thurgood explained.

"It's pretty unique that, as we build the weapons system, we're also building an industrial base to go along with it," he said.

Every test builds upon the past, he said. "So, we try to go further, we try to go faster, we try to put it in a more stressful environment," he added.

"The data we collect goes to what modifications we make to the system, and it also helps [the Missile Defense Agency] as they inform their development of the capabilities for the defense of hypersonic weapons," Thurgood said.

He explained that agency employees attended the test to collect information on how enemy hypersonic weapons might be stopped.

"We try not to leave any stone unturned in terms of sharing data across the community," Thurgood said, "because missile test data can be used for lots of outcomes."

The Army plans to field a long-range hypersonic battery in 2023, he said. The unit will use M983 prime-mover trucks and revamped M870 trailers to haul the hypersonic glide vehicles from one launch site to another.

The strategy is to reuse as much as possible, he said. "That way we reduce our logistics burden, reduce our training burden and we actually use the equipment our soldiers are familiar with."

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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 28 2020

Critical moment: President Joko Jokowi Widodo (center), accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (left) and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, attend the G20 extraordinary virtual summit from Bogor Palace in West Java on Thursday. Initiated by Saudi Arabia, which chairs the G20 this year, the summit sought to discuss member countries efforts to tackle COVID-19. (Antara/ Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/Muchlis Jr)

Indonesia is set to support manufacturers with the capacity to produce the desperately needed protective gear, test kits and ventilators that are crucial in the worldwide fight against COVID-19 as Group of 20 nations pledge to focus on saving lives.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Thursday that the government would identify such companies and see to their needs for raw materials and other requirements in order to increase their production capacity and restore the supply chain. Globally, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will prioritize support for companies that can supply such medical equipment.

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Dua Lipa revealed her surprising connection to Olivia Newton-John in an interview with Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

The English pop sensation said the Grease star, 71, was referenced during the writing process for track Physical, off her second album, Future Nostalgia.

'Obviously when we wrote those words "let's get physical", we realised it was the perfect Olivia Newton-John reference,' she told the publication.

'It would be epic for her to hear it!' Dua Lipa (pictured), 24, revealed to Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, how Olivia Newton-John played a factor in the writing of her second album, Future Nostalgia

Dua collaborated with Sarah Hudson, Clarence Coffee Jr and Jason Evigan, on the highly-anticipated Future Nostalgia.

'I was in the studio with Jason and Sarah and Coffee who I write with a lot and we were in the mood to write something fun and crazy,' Dua said.

The Don't Start Now artist added of the Olivia reference: 'It would be epic for her to hear it.

Surprising connection: Dua explained how Olivia (pictured), 71, came up in conversation when coming up with the lyrics 'let's get physical' on the second track, Physical

'One of the cool things about music is how it can inspire you to learn about other music, where inspiration comes from.'

Dua burst onto the scene with her 2017 self-titled debut album.

Her 2017 single New Rules has racked up over one billion streams on Spotify, while the video for 2017's IDGAF has amassed half a billion views on YouTube.

Dua, who is dating male model Anwar Hadid, spoke about the need for women, regardless of industry, to support one another, in Vogue Australia's April 2020 issue.

Stellar rise: Dua burst onto the scene with her 2017, self-titled debut album

It's important to me to show unity between women. We should be seeing more girls, more diversity, more togetherness,' she said.

'For so long, people have pitted women being against each other. That's not how it should be,' Dua added.

She also revealed the downside of fame - particularly negative comments on social media.

Dua explained how while she always considered social media to be fun, it became 'difficult' towards the end of her campaign, for her debut, self-titled album.

'The more fun things I had to do, or the bigger things got, there would be opinions and negativity and more voices... I didn't feel supported,' she said.
How frustrating is it for someone in your position to see so much misinformation being passed along, including from the very highest level of government?
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, said on Friday it had started production of protective face masks for hospital staff and would ship the first batches to Spain and Italy. 'At this first stage, 100,000 face masks will be produced and ready for delivery on April 2

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, said on Friday it had started production of protective face masks for hospital staff and would ship the first batches to Spain and Italy.

"At this first stage, 100,000 face masks will be produced and ready for delivery on April 2. Half will go to Italy and half to Spain. It is a factory in China that makes the masks," a H&M spokeswoman said in an email.

H&M said last week it was looking into using its supply network to source personal protective equipment for hospitals to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The masks are of the N95/FFP2 standard that protects from the droplets through which the virus spreads.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Johan Ahlander)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Manitoba has not yet moved to extend the closure of schools beyond early April, but that could change, the provinces chief public health officer hinted on Thursday.

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This article was published 27/3/2020 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Manitoba has not yet moved to extend the closure of schools beyond early April, but that could change, the provinces chief public health officer hinted on Thursday.

"Were looking at that," Dr. Brent Roussin said during the daily live-streamed news conference.

Government officials have said schools will reopen after spring break ends.

Alberta and Saskatchewan, among others, have cancelled classes indefinitely as the pandemic rages worldwide.

"Other jurisdictions have different dynamics right now, so we are constantly looking at how were going to approach this," Roussin said.

"This is something that we need to expect to be in the long run," he added.

"This is not going to be a sprint, so in a couple of weeks this is not going to be over."

The province hasnt even seen sustained community transmission of the virus yet, Roussin said.

"Its difficult to comprehend a scenario where we would be ... lifting our social-distancing strategies anytime in the next few weeks."

Roussin pointed out Manitoba has been ahead of many other jurisdictions when it comes to measures to control the spread of the virus.

"Theres a lot of aspects to this that we are working on, so thats one of them. And so we are looking at getting a better picture on when we can make announcements, what we are going to decide. These are all evolving scenarios."

As of Wednesday, more than 5,600 tests have been performed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory.

Roussin said the Cadham lab performed 734 tests on Wednesday, more than doubling the previous days total of 352.

"Certainly, our testing strategy has a balance with our current capacity," Roussin said.

He said the provincial lab has put measures in place to work around some of the worldwide shortages of reagent.

"Thats why we see the increase in the amount of tests that theyve been able to perform as of yesterday (Wednesday), and theyll continue to work on those efforts to increase our lab capacity, and as that increases were going to further amend our testing protocols."

Roussin said the testing criteria is being expanded to include those at risk of contracting or spreading the virus and are showing respiratory symptoms, including health-care providers and those who live or work in remote or isolated communities, including First Nations, and those who live or work in group settings such as correctional facilities, shelters and long-term care facilities.

Shared Healths chief nursing officer, Lanette Siragusa, said changes have been made to get results back more quickly to those who test negative for COVID-19.

Starting today, a team from Dynacare, a medical laboratory services company, will get the list of negative results from Cadham lab and will take over calling patients, she said.

That includes tests that were done on Thursday as well as any backlog that exists.

Some patients have complained about waiting a week or more for their results to come back. Those who test positive for the virus are notified as soon as they come in, normally within a day or two of testing.

"Those of you who have been patiently waiting, thank you, and we will serve you better starting now going forward," Siragusa said.

YTwo more community testing sites are opening today  one in Portage la Prairie and another in Eriksdale. Another drive-thru site in Pine Falls will open Monday.

Meanwhile, Dauphins MPI service centre has been closed to make room for a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site that will be opening Saturday.

The service centre closed at the end of Thursday.

All remaining appointments scheduled at the Dauphin location will be cancelled and customers will be contacted directly and advised of alternative options, said MPI media relations co-ordinator Brian Smiley.

In an email to the Sun, Smiley said staff were notified Wednesday of the closure and will be assigned to work from home. He noted more than 1,000 MPI staff are working from home during the pandemic.

Manitoba reported one new probable case of COVID-19 on Thursday: a Winnipeg man in his 20s who appears to be connected to a previous positive case.

 brobertson@brandonsun.com
A Joint Quarantine operation was carried out by the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments in order to help 1334 migrant labourers from various districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Upon receiving information that 1334 migrant labourers from AP, after obtaining passes from the Deputy Director of Fisheries in Mangalore were headed towards the Nangili Toll Plaza ( Kolar district) to cross over to AP, Chittoor Collector, SP and Sub Collector rushed to the spot to coordinate with their counterparts from Kolar ( Karnataka).

The migrant workers were not permitted to enter AP due to the lockdown and the guidelines of the Union as well as state government.

Instead, both the governments decided to initiate a Joint Quarantine operation in Kolar in order to take care of their stay for the time being while taking precautionary measures to ensure none of them are Covid-19 carriers.

A certain concern with respect to the availability of doctors and facilities was raised by the Kolar administration. The AP government has ensured that all those concerns are addressed and necessary logistical support is provided.

This included :

 Food that was needed immediately in the form of snacks, dinner apart from drinking water.

 Transport facility to take all the 1334 labourers to the designated quarantine area in the Kolar district

 A medical team for medical examination which consisted of 12 doctors, 22 supervisors and ANMs.

These are the ground level workers to help the migrant labourers . The ANMs are the following district wise

Nellore  676

Srikakulam  231

Prakasam  263

Visakhapatnam  114

Guntur  18

East Godavari  1

Vizainagaram  8

ODISHA  24.

The AP government officials assured that all possible support will be provided to the authorities in Karnataka in order to take care of its citizens and also thank the Kolar administration for extending support so promptly. They further went onto add that they will constantly monitor the situation in each of these quarantine centers where these labourers will be staying for the next few days.

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Infusion Pump Market Share, Trends And Growth Analysis By Type (Volumetric Pump, Syringe Pump, & Others), By Application (Chemotherapy, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Pediatrics & Others), By End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Homecare & Others) - Forecast To 2023

Rising investments in R&D by the leading market players to bring about further innovations and advancements in their existing product range drive the growth of the infusion pump market. Conversely, patient safety concerns, and improper infusion leading to the severe consequences are factors impeding the growth of the market. Moreover, unmet medical needs in underdeveloped countries would act as an obstacle to market growth.

The Global Infusion Pump Market size is anticipated to reach USD 9.71 billion with expanding at a CAGR of 5% throughout the forecast period (2017-2023). Rising use of infusion pump for drug delivery and high requirement of infusion systems in the military medical units predominantly propel the growth of the Infusion Pump Market. The Infusion pump market size to witness significant growth due to growth in the burgeoning healthcare sector and increasing occurrences of fatal & chronic diseases, globally. Moreover, rising awareness and concerns related to health are some of the factors escalating the market at a global level.

Nevertheless, advanced infusion systems would support market growth, increasingly allowing hospitals to make the most of the required expertise. These improved systems would also enable greater participation throughout the infusion process. As medical records become more automated, infusion pumps are too expected to grow increasingly automated. Moreover, as electronic medical records and smart pumps penetrate deeply into the developed markets such as the US and Europe, the infusion pump market value is expected to increase further.

Global Infusion Pump Market Segmentation

The global infusion pump market has been segmented based on

Types

Application

End-user

Regions

Based on Types, the global market has been segmented into

Volumetric Pump

Syringe Pump

Ambulatory Pump

others

Based on Application, the global market has been segmented into

Chemotherapy

Diabetes

Gastrointestinal Diseases

Pediatrics

Other

Based on End-user, the global market has been segmented into

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Homecare

Others

Infusion Pump Market Regional Analysis

Based on the geographical distribution, the Global infusion pump market is split among the regions of

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

North America infusion pump market size is expected to reach USD 3.49 Billion by 2023. North America leads the largest infusion pump market share globally. In the region, advancements in technologies are continuously on the rise. Besides, the high prevalence of diabetes and high healthcare expenditures are fostering regional market growth. The US and Canada, heading with a large number of diabetic population and increasing aging population account for the growth contributors to the regional market. Additionally, the presence of well-established healthcare sector and key players substantiate the growth of the regional market. Rising with the augmenting market demand,

The European infusion pump market share would reach nearly USD 3.11 billion by the end of the forecast period. The infusion pump market in the European region is another lucrative market on the global platform. Increasing uptake of infusion pumps for the treatments of rising numbers of diabetic population and focus on using stem cell-derived human islets as a possible cure for type 1 diabetes, drive the regional market growth, commutatively. Besides, availability of funds from the public and private bodies to drive the research and development activities in biotechnology are expected to boost the market growth in the region.

The Asia Pacific infusion pump market size is estimated to register a CAGR of 5.4% throughout the assessment period (2017-2023). The region Factors, such as the presence of proliferating healthcare sector and the improving economy and disposable income per individual are substantiating the growth of the regional market.

Global Infusion Pump Market Competitive Landscape:

Fiercely competitive, the infusion pump market appears to be highly fragmented, characterized by the presence of several well-established players. These players increasingly seek a substantially large revenue and market expansion through various strategic initiatives, such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, and product launch. They also invest colossally in research & development activities to innovate and develop a cost-effective product portfolio.

Players operating in the infusion pump markets are increasingly focusing on optimizing situational awareness for customers to ensure their mission success. They possess state-of-art developing labs and strong sales & distribution network, which can help them to gain a leadership position in the market.

Major Players:

Players leading the global infusion pump market, include B. BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG, 3M, Baxter, Fresenius Kabi AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, ICU Medical, Inc, Terumo Medical Corporation, Zyno Medical and Smiths Medical, among others.

Drivers and Impact:

Growing Demand from Key Applications and Potential Industries

Rising Demand from Key Regions

Intensity of Rivalry

Infusion Pump Market Challenges and Impact

Infusion Pump Market Trends and Key Opportunities

Browse Full Research Report At: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/infusion-pumps-market-1509

Industry/ Innovation/ Related News

August 29, 2019  Eitan Group (Israel), a global leader in advanced infusion therapy solutions across the care continuum, announced its partnership with InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. (INFU  the US), a leading provider of infusion pumps & related services for the healthcare industry in North America. The companies would work together to offer improved repair services to Eitan Groups suite of infusion systems, including its flagship Sapphire infusion system. The partnership deal is expected to significantly shorten the time it takes to repair Sapphire Infusion Pumps while reducing costs to the end-user at the same time.

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), & Consulting Services.

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Prez Trump Signs EPIC Check

Trump signs $2T coronavirus relief package President Trump Donald John Trump Defense industrial base workers belong at home during this public health crisis Maduro pushes back on DOJ charges, calls Trump 'racist cowboy' House leaders hope to vote Friday on coronavirus stimulus MORE on Friday signed a $2 trillion economic relief package aimed at helping American workers and businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Local Hotel Industry Hurting

Nearly 300 employees laid off as COVID-19 temporarily closes 2 local hotels KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Two local hotels have decided to close indefinitely and now 289 employees are finding themselves without work. The two hotels use slightly different verbiage in their press releases about the layoffs, which were discovered today, but neither has a set date for when they will reopen despite hoping to be able to do so.

Internets Scammers Target Local Shoppers

Price gouging complaints increase in Kansas, Missouri Missouri and Kansas are receiving a lot of complaints about price gouging connected to the coronavirus crisis.While some store shelves are empty, most of the price gouging is happening on what they call the online secondary market, where users come on, and they've bought a bunch of items and they're trying to sell them at an increased price.

JoCo Science Debuts

Pathology group in Lenexa able to do same-day testing for COVID-19 LENEXA, KS (KCTV) -- As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the region, doctors have expressed their concern about the lack of testing kits. One group in Lenexa, MAWD Pathology, has decided to do their part to address that issue. On any given day, they are busy.

Faith Community Suffering

Churches see drop in donations during COVID-19 pandemic Churches are shifting to virtual services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means a drop in donations. KMBC 9 found out how a church in the Northland has been impacted and how the pastor there is keeping members connected.Empty pews are a difficult sight for Father Joe Cisetti.

Foodies Respond To Crisis

COVID-19 Is Seriously Impacting the Food Scene - Here's How Feast Is Covering It Last week, as I sat down to write my monthly publisher's letter for the April issue of Feast, St. Louis restaurants and bars were scheduled to close for dine-in business by midnight. In my two decades of covering the culinary scene, I never thought something like that could happen.

Counting Kansas City Money

Calculate how much you'll get from the coronavirus stimulus checks (AP/CNN) -- The House of Representatives on Friday approved the historic $2 trillion stimulus package that passed the Senate earlier this week, overcoming last-minute drama by using an unusual procedural move to thwart a demand by a conservative Republican to force members to vote in person.

Here's some of the most worthwhile local coronavirus news links we wanted to share at the end of the day . . .Developing . . .
National Cathedral donates 5,000 respirator masks to DC hospitals

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The Washington National Cathedral has donated 5,000 N95 masks to two medical facilities in the District of Columbia metropolitan area, having recently discovered them in storage.

The cathedral announced on Wednesday that they sent 3,000 masks to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and 2,000 N95 masks to Childrens National Hospital.

According to a statement posted to Facebook, the N95 masks were recently discovered in storage by a stonemason, having been acquired years earlier for a previous health scare.

They had been acquired after a previous health scare, stored away in the Cathedral crypt and forgotten, stated the cathedral on Wednesday. Current CDC guidelines, and the manufacturer, concluded the masks were still good since they had never been opened. We're hoping it's a small step in helping to protect the people who need it most.

The Very Rev. Randolph Hollerith, dean of the cathedral, said in a statement that it was one of many things the congregation was doing in response to the pandemic.

In these difficult and trying times, the Cathedral community is doing everything we can to help protect the most vulnerable among us from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, stated Hollerith.

We have made significant adjustments to our worship programs and made church services available for streaming online, and now were prepared to take this additional, proactive step to ensure thousands have access to protection that otherwise may never have been available to them.

The cathedrals donation of masks comes as many medical facilities and organizations in the United States report a shortage of personal protective equipment such as hospital gowns, face shields, and respiratory N95 face masks.

National Public Radio reported that several groups have launched projects to get more mask donations from assorted groups, including nail salons and museums.

Shabd Simon-Alexander, an activist who helped to launch the group Mask Crusaders, told NPR that she felt the efforts were inspiring yet showed the failures of officials to prioritize the matter.

I'm super inspired by the way that people are stepping up to help each other. And I love to see, like the beauty in humanity, but in reality, it shouldn't fall on us, said Simon-Alexander to NPR. We can't mutual aid our way out of systemic failure. And it's not sustainable. It's just a stopgap.

For his part, President Donald Trump stated at a press briefing on Tuesday that his administration was in the process of delivering large quantities of PPE materials.

Through FEMA, the federal government is distributing more than 8 million N95 respirators, 14 million surgical masks, and many, many millions more are under order, and theyll be arriving soon, explained Trump.

2.4 million face shields, 1.9 million surgical gowns, 13.5 million gloves, and more than 4,000 ventilators to the areas of greatest need have already been sent. And we have 4,000 being delivered to New York.
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sell Arizona Metals Corp. (CVE:AMC), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.

View our latest analysis for Arizona Metals

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Arizona Metals

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the insider, Kevin Reid, for CA$118k worth of shares, at about CA$0.55 per share. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (CA$0.28). So it is hard to draw any strong conclusion from it. The only individual insider seller over the last year was Kevin Reid. Notably Kevin Reid was also the biggest buyer, having purchased CA$352k worth of shares.

Kevin Reid bought a total of 1.10m shares over the year at an average price of CA$0.32. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

TSXV:AMC Recent Insider Trading March 28th 2020

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Story continues

Have Arizona Metals Insiders Traded Recently?

We saw some Arizona Metals insider buying shares in the last three months. insider Kevin Reid bought CA$129k worth in that time. On the other hand, insider Kevin Reid sold CA$118k worth of shares. While it's good to see the insider buying, the net amount bought isn't enough for us to gain much confidence from it.

Does Arizona Metals Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Insiders own 14% of Arizona Metals shares, worth about CA$2.1m, according to our data. Whilst better than nothing, we're not overly impressed by these holdings.

So What Do The Arizona Metals Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insider purchases may have been minimal, in the last three months, but there was no selling at all. Overall the buying isn't worth writing home about. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Arizona Metals stock. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. While conducting our analysis, we found that Arizona Metals has 3 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore them.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Prince Andrew enjoyed a close friendship with a neurosurgeon who worked as a science adviser to his shamed paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York, 60, went for dinners with Dr Melanie Walker, 48, who he jokingly referred to as a 'dork' and 'smarty pants'.

The prince allegedly got so close to Dr Walker, an American, that she attended the Queen's 'Dance of the Decades' party at Windsor Castle in 2000, according to The Sun.

Prince Andrew enjoyed a close friendship with a neurosurgeon who worked as a science adviser to his shamed paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein

The party was held to mark four royal birthdays, including Andrew's 40th.

Billionaire Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, the socialite accused of recruiting girls for Epstein's sex trafficking ring, also attended.

A source told The Sun: 'This opens up more questions about Andrew's links to Epstein. He has to be more forthcoming.'

Dr Walker is said to have met Epstein in 1992, when he told her he could get her an audition for a Victoria's Secret modelling job.

She then stayed in a New York apartment building owned by Epstein.

After graduating, Dr Walker was allegedly hired by Epstein as a science adviser at his foundation, from 1998 to 1999.

The Duke of York, 60, went for dinners with Dr Melanie Walker, 48, who he jokingly referred to as a 'dork' and 'smarty pants'

Andrew first met Dr Walker in New York in 1999, which is the same year he met Epstein.

In a 2003 interview, Dr Walker praised the Duke, saying that 'he calls me Mel and addresses me "Hey Dork" or "smarty pants".

She did insist that the pair were just friends who chatted 'mostly about science and medicine'.

The prince allegedly got so close to Dr Walker, an American, that she attended the Queen's 'Dance of the Decades' party at Windsor Castle in 2000, according to The Sun

Epstein killed himself in New York last year while he was awaiting trial on charges of trafficking young women for sex.

One of those women, Virginia Roberts, claimed she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times when she was still a teenager.

Andrew has repeatedly denied the claims and in November told Newsnight's Emily Maitlis: 'I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever.'

Last month, Ms Roberts's lawyer claimed in an interview with The Mail on Sunday that new evidence is set to emerge which undermines Andrew's claim that he did not know Ms Roberts.

Billionaire Epstein (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right), 58, the socialite accused of recruiting girls for Epstein's sex trafficking ring, also attended

Dr Walker is said to have met Epstein in 1992, when he told her he could get her an audition for a Victoria's Secret modelling job

David Boies said the evidence linking the Duke of York and Ms Roberts will be made public as part of a series of civil lawsuits being brought in America by victims of paedophile Epstein.

In January, US Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman, who is overseeing the lawsuits brought by 16 women against the Epstein estate, ordered a so-called 'fact discovery' before cases are brought to trial.

This means the victims' lawyers will be able to present new evidence, demand the publication of previously undisclosed documents and even quiz alleged co-conspirators accused of helping Epstein procure young women and underage girls for his sex ring.

Judge Freeman said this process should be completed by June 10.

Mr Boies claims this will lead to the publication of new evidence showing that the Duke knew Ms Roberts, now 36 and going by her married surname Giuffre.

Virginia Roberts claims that she was flown to London by Epstein in March 2001 when she was 17 and coerced into having sex with the Duke (pictured together with Ghislaine Maxwell)

'I think the mistake that he [Prince Andrew] made was thinking that somehow this evidence wouldn't dribble out and now, of course, that's exactly what's happening,' he said.

'Prince Andrew is sufficiently recognisable that more and more of this evidence comes out and I think it just puts him in a terrible position and one that could have been avoided, at least in part, if he had simply been more forthright and forthcoming initially.

'A judge in New York in some of the cases has set a discovery cut-off for June, so I think a lot of this will come out between now and June.'

Asked what the new evidence is, he replied: 'I can't get into this but all I can say is that there will be more evidence coming out.'

He did, however, claim that new evidence will emerge showing that Prince Andrew visited Epstein's vast Zorro ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The New York Times last year claimed that Epstein told scientists that he hoped to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at the ranch.

Andrew has repeatedly denied the claims and in November told Newsnight's Emily Maitlis: 'I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever'

Several of his accusers claim they were raped there. In November, it emerged that a former housekeeper at the ranch had claimed Prince Andrew spent three days there in 2001, where she said he was kept company by an unnamed 'beautiful' female doctor.

Mr Boies, one of the most prominent lawyers in the United States, accused Andrew and people speaking on his behalf of attacking Ms Roberts's credibility.

An unnamed supporter of Andrew last year claimed that a photograph showing the Duke with his arm wrapped around Ms Roberts's bare waist, which was taken in Ms Maxwell's home in Belgravia, Central London, in 2001 was 'fake' and that Ms Roberts's story was 'a fantasy'.

Mr Boies added: 'At some point I think Prince Andrew and the people who are speaking on his behalf need to recognise that continuing to dissemble is not only unsustainable but counterproductive.

'He is worse off today than he would have been if he had simply faced up to whatever happened.'

Buckingham Palace declined to comment at the time.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 09:56:35|Editor: yhy

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SUVA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Fiji has so far set up 32 fever clinics around the island nation to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

"As of Friday, March 27, a total of 32 fever clinics have been set up and are fully operational around the country, as Fiji ramps up its rapid response to COVID-19," the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services said in a statement on Saturday.

Establishment of such fever clinics is an integral part of the government's effort to contain the spread of the virus, the ministry said, adding that this is also done to ensure that the vulnerable members of the public are not exposed to the virus in regular hospitals or health centers.

The ministry encouraged Fijians to visit these clinics if they have a fever or develop any symptoms.

These clinics are operational from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. local time from Monday to Sunday, and are based at strategic locations that can be conveniently accessed by the public.

Currently, there are five confirmed COVID-19 cases in Fiji, but Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has warned that the grim reality is that in Fiji, the number of deaths for this many cases would likely be much, much higher.

To stop the spread of the deadly virus, Fiji has taken stricter measures including the lockdown of Lautoka, the second largest city of Fiji, the closure of the only international airport in Nadi and a nationwide curfew to be imposed from Monday night.
March 27, 2020

News

By C. Todd Lopez

Defense.gov

Launch of Space Force Largely Unaffected by Coronavirus, Top Space Officer Says

The Space Force launched in late December and, as it approaches its 100th day, its forward momentum is unabated by the coronavirus pandemic, the chief of space operations said.

"The men and women in U.S. Space Command and the U.S. Space Force are executing our 24/7, no-fail missions to protect and defend our nation's space centers," Space Force Gen. John W. Raymond, who also serves as commander of U.S. Space Command, said during a telephone news conference today at the Pentagon.

"Whether it's operating in an increasingly competitive, congested or contested space domain hundreds of thousands of miles above us or continuing to provide space-enabling capabilities to the joint and allied force, mission partners and commercial sector, we're safely and effectively conducting our missions," he said.

An "advanced, extremely high frequency" military communications satellite launched into orbit for the Space Force yesterday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., is the nation's sixth such satellite.

Raymond said Spacecom has worked to provide additional communications bandwidth in response to requests from the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy as it heads to Los Angeles to handle trauma patients, freeing up civilian hospitals to handle more COVID-19 patients.

"We optimize the constellation or the payloads to be able to provide that support," he said. "We're doing that for every request that we may get."

Raymond currently is the only member of the Space Force, but he said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Towberman, his senior enlisted advisor, has been identified as the second person who will be sworn into the Space Force. That swearing-in will be delayed until a ceremony can be held to welcome him into the new service, the general said.

In May, 64 cadets enrolled at the Air Force Academy are expected to graduate and be direct-commissioned into the Space Force, Raymond said. Additionally, he said, the Space Force is "on track" with plans for transferring as many as 16,000 people attached to the Space Force from other services into the Space Force as permanent members.

The Space Force is "moving out at full speed" to make announcements on a variety of topics that will be of interest to future Space Force members and the entire Defense Department, the general said.

"We have our first flag, for example, and we'll do a presentation on that flag," he said. "We've got the naming of our space professionals  we did a crowdsourcing." Officials received more than 700 responses to a call for suggestions, he added.

"We're narrowing down that list, and I think you'll be hearing an announcement on that in the very near future," Raymond said.

Also, he said, some Air Force installations that have mostly space-related missions will be renamed. Some of those bases that will eventually be renamed are Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, and three bases in Colorado: Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base and Buckley Air Force Base.

"That requires a ceremony," Raymond said. "We want to do that right. We want to do that safely, so we'll schedule those when we can do that in an appropriate manner and keeping everybody that would attend that ceremony safe."

When it comes to protecting Space Command personnel from coronavirus to ensure continuation of the mission, Raymond said appropriate guidelines are being followed.

"We have enhanced our disinfectant consistent with the national guidelines," he said. "We have done the social distancing; we spread our crews out. We have monitored them before they come into the operations floor to make sure that they don't have temperatures, for example. We have taken some pretty significant steps to make sure that those airmen that are absolutely critical to our nation are protected, that their families are protected, and that we can continue to provide those capabilities for a nation."

The general also said that if members of critical mission crews contract COVID-19, there are "backup crews" segregated from other crews who could fill in.

"We have multiple layers of defense to protect the remaining crews," he said.

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Hypertensive patients should continue taking their medication even if they become infected with coronavirus, medical professionals have said.

The American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), recommended this while answering questions about COVID-19 on Twitter.

The question was asked to settle the concerns of taking hypertension medications when infected with COVID-19.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are two types of medications used primarily to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease.

Doctors also prescribe these medicines for people who have protein in their urine, a common problem in people with diabetes.

At this time, the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) strongly recommend that people taking these medications should continue to do so, even if they become infected, it said.

Although, it further explained that researchers doing animal studies on a different coronavirus (the SARS coronavirus from the early 2000s) found that certain sites on lung cells called ACE-2 receptors appeared to help the SARS virus enter the lungs and cause pneumonia.

ACE inhibitor and ARB drugs raised ACE-2 receptor levels in the animals.

It said human studies have not confirmed the findings in animal studies.

Some studies suggest that ACE inhibitors and ARBs may reduce lung injury in people with other viral pneumonias.

The same might be true of pneumonia caused by the COVID-19 virus.

It said stopping the ACE inhibitor or ARB could actually put the user at greater risk of complications from the infection since its likely that the blood pressure will rise and heart problems would get worse.

The bottom line, The AHA, ACC, and HFSA strongly recommend continuing to take ACE inhibitor or ARB medications, even if you get sick with COVID-19.
T ourists are continuing to flout the Government's coronavirus lockdown rules and are still travelling to beauty in Wales, police say.

Despite Boris Johnson announcing stringent new social distancing measures this week, many are still treating the region as a holiday destination.

Sergeant Hamish Nichols, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said patrols over the last two days resulted in more than 200 reminders to the public about what counts as "essential travel".

"Yesterday we turned away numerous caravans and camper vans whose owners were travelling to Pembrokeshire to self-isolate," said Mr Nichols.

Sergeant Hamish Nichols, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said patrols over the last two days resulted in more than 200 reminders to the public about what counts as 'essential travel' / PA

"We have also spoken to two campsite owners who have been open for business and have issued stern advice to them and to all holidaymakers.

"While the majority of local people have taken the Government guidelines seriously, too many people seem to think the rules do not apply to them.

"The message is clear - this is a lockdown, not a holiday, and anyone who ignores the current restrictions not only puts people's lives in danger but also risks further action being taken against them."

Patrols of beaches, coastal areas, and other public spaces will continue this weekend as the weather is forecast to be sunny.

Tourists and self-isolationists are continuing to flout the Government's coronavirus lockdown rules and travel to hotspots in Wales, police say / PA

Officers will also be conducting increased stop checks on roads across the force area.

Where members of the public refuse to listen to advice, officers will be able to issue penalty notices of 30, which if not paid within 14 days double to 60.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose further fines.

If an individual continues to refuse to comply, they will be acting unlawfully, and the police may arrest them.

"Enforcement is a last resort, and officers will always apply their common sense and discretion to every situation," said Mr Nichols.

"But the powers are now available and we will use them if we have to."

Chief Inspector Louise Harries added: "Our staff are working tirelessly in already difficult times and I ask that people adhere to the simple rules set.
Now that were all hyperaware of the new coronavirus, you might be thinking back on the last time you were sick. More specifically, you may be reflecting on that cold or respiratory illness you experienced back at the beginning of the year. Is there a chance that was actually COVID-19?

As The Huffington Post writes, the main symptoms of COVID-19 include a cough, shortness of breath and a fever. Additionally, you might have digestive problems  like nausea or diarrhea  a headache and a sore throat. At the onset of the illness, you may experience a loss of smell or taste.

These symptoms can be mistaken for a bad cold or the flu, especially if you have a mild case of COVID-19. Its also very possible to have the virus and not even notice, as some cases can be asymptomatic or negligible.

Theres evidence the coronavirus started spreading in America earlier than people were really tracking it. Some experts suspect that the first U.S. cases began in January. Lee Riley, chair of the division of infectious disease and vaccinology at the University of California, Berkeleys School of Public Health, told Medium that its safe to assume the virus has probably been spreading in your community for about two weeks before theres a confirmed death.

Combine all of these facts, and the theory that some people may have already been infected with the virus and recovered isnt an outrageous one. That may be slightly comforting, especially since some experts believe you may have some level of immunity once you get COVID-19.

Unfortunately, theres no effective way yet to know if youve had the virus in the past and recovered.

At this point, we dont have a test to tell that, William Hillmann, an associate inpatient physician director at Massachusetts General Hospital, told The Guardian.

We are developing antibody tests to check for a prior infection, but those arent ready for clinical use yet, Hillmann added. The only definitive way to know that youve had it is to get tested while you have it and to have that test be positive.

Since you cant determine if you unknowingly had and recovered from COVID-19, you should continue to act like you are susceptible or could be a carrier who may pass it to someone else. That means you must practice strict social distancing, limiting your exposure to others as much as you possibly can.

This is phenomenally important for a disease like COVID-19, in which there is no natural immunity in the population and for which no vaccine exists, Kirsten Hokeness, chair of the department of science and technology at Rhode Islands Bryant University and an expert in immunology, virology, microbiology, and human health and disease, previously told HuffPost.

This means that the only way for the virus to leave the population, in a sense, is to either infect everyone or [for us to] limit the ability of the virus to spread from person to person, Hokeness said.

And if youve had the symptoms of COVID-19 recently, its especially important to isolate yourself. Its believed that youre contagious long after you stopped feeling sick.

The more we all behave like were carriers of the virus  regardless of whether were currently experiencing symptoms, feel nothing or think we had it in the past  the more impact we can have on slowing the spread.
Holly Taylor, Angelo Bonfirraro, Mehmeet Ozdemir and Laura Smite at the International Women's Day celebration in Alba Restaurant.

International Women's Day was fully embraced in Enniscorthy recently, with the initiative celebrated with a get-together in Alba restaurant.

The event took place just a few days prior to the restaurant closing as a result of owner, Angelo Bonfirraro, taking steps to ensure the safety of his staff and customers.

However, for the International Women's Day the restaurant was very busy with a number of parties booked in to celebrate and event that is marked every year on the same date in March.

The event was moved to its current date in 1913 and the overall aim of the initiative is to help nations all over the world eliminate discrimination against women.

Another aim of International Women's Day is to focus attention on helping women gain full and equal participation in global developments.

However, it's also a celebration of the economic, cultural and political achievements of women throughout the world.

The origins of International Women's Day can be traced back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City, demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote.

The Socialist Party in America declared the first International Women's Day the following year and the idea to make it an annual event was suggested by Clara Zetkin at a conference in Copenhagen in 1910.
President Donald Trump sent a 'message of hope' to the people of New York on Saturday as he sent off Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort to begin its journey to the city stricken with drastically increasing coronavirus cases.

The ship, traveling from the naval station in Norfolk, Virginia, will supply the city at the epicenter of the country's coronavirus crisis with 1,000 extra beds as well as 1,200 medical staff.

Deaths in the state rose by 209 on Saturday to a death toll of 728 people as cases in the city alone hit over 29,000.

Trump told the struggling New York 'we're here for you', despite earlier causing tension with the state's governor Andrew Cuomo for revealing his plans to quarantine New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

President Trump salutes the USNS Comfort as it departs for New York with 1,000 beds

President Donald Trump listens as Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks in front of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort. He called the ship a 'message of hope' for New York

'This great ship behind me is a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York, a place I know very well, a place I love,' Trump said before sending off the USNS Comfort.

'We're here for you. We're fighting for you and we're with you all the way and we always will be.

'You have the unwavering support of the entire nation,' Trump said from the Norfolk Naval Station.

Trump delivered his speech before only a few people before saluting the ship as it slowly made its way out of the port.

The 1,000-bed hospital ship had been undergoing planned maintenance but was rushed back into service to aid the city.

It is scheduled to arrive on Monday at a Manhattan pier a week after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast.

'We will stop at nothing to protect the health of New Yorkers and the health of the people of our country in their hour of need,' Trump said.

The ship has 12 operating rooms as well as radiology suites and a CT scanner. It also has ICU beds, a lab and a pharmacy.

The 1,100 or so medical staff on board are mostly active duty service members from the US Navy, and some reservists.

President Donald Trump speaks in front of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia as he tells New Yorkers that he is supporting them as best he can

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, right, watch as the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort pulls away from the pier in Virginia on its way to New York

Local residents watch as the USNS Comfort departs Hampton Roads en route to New York to help in the response to the coronavirus outbreak Saturday. It is expected to reach NY Monday

'It's stocked up to the gills. Right up to the top,' Trump said of the ship.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump approved four extra emergency medical sites in New York City, Gov. Cuomo revealed in the press conference as he confirmed cases in the state were now at 52,318.

The sites will be established in Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, at CUNY Staten Island, and at the New York Expo Center in the Bronx.

They should make 4,000 more beds available, adding to the 1,000 beds available in the Javitts Center in Manhattan when it opens as an emergency site on Monday.

The USNS Comfort travels to New York as it is revealed that overwhelmed hospitals are still short on staff, protective equipment and ventilators and as Cuomo confirms a second nurse in the state has died from COVID-19.

The hospital ship will be used to treat patients who do not have the coronavirus, as Cuomo announces that three hospitals in the state will now treat COVID-19 patients only to keep the infected away from other patients who may be at risk.

The NY hospitals seen above in blue will now only be used to treat coronavirus patients

'With the grace of God, we will win this war and we will win this war quickly with as little death as possible,' Trump said as he was joined by Defense Secretary Mark Esper to send off the ship.

'These doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, x-ray technicians, orderlies, and other medical staff will augment and support New York City's medical community and conserve hospital capacity by treating some non-COVID-19 patients aboard the USNS Comfort,' the White House added.

'As the USNS Comfort weighs anchor and leaves Norfolk Naval Station, home to the most powerful fleet in the world, she does so to embark on one of the most important assignments of her storied careerserving the American people in this great hour of need,'

But as Trump traveled to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a medical ship, he revealed that he is considering a quarantine in New York state, to shut off the growing cases from the rest of the country.

'I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing 'hot spots', New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly,' he tweeted.

Speaking to Cuomo just before the governor held his press conference Saturday, Trump failed to mention his plans to quarantine the state.

Cuomo was blindsided by a question from a reporter after Trump made the comments while the governor was already speaking.

He responded that he had spoken to Trump just before the briefing and that this had not been mentioned but he didn't like the sound of it.

'I dont know what it means  I dont know how it will be enforceable. I dont like the sound of it,' Cuomo said.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, also said he did not talk about quarantining the tri-state area in his recent conversation with Trump, and learned of the president's comments as he walked into Saturday's daily briefing.

'Until further notified we're going to keep doing exactly what we're doing, because we believe the data and the facts are on our side in terms of this aggressive, as aggressive as any American state right now, in terms of social distancing and flattening the curve,' he said.

The quarantine idea comes a day after the president took a round of steps to expand the federal government's role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic, even as he warned the leaders of hard-hit states not to cross him.

'I want them to be appreciative,' Trump said Friday after the White House announced he would be using the powers granted to him under the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to try to compel auto giant General Motors to produce ventilators.

Yet Trump - who hours earlier had suggested the need for the devices was being overblown - rejected any criticism of the federal government's response to a ballooning public health crisis that a month ago he predicted would be over by now.

Trump said he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to call the governors of Washington or Michigan - two coronavirus hotspots - because of their public criticism.

'If they dont treat you right, I don't call,' Trump said.

The departure of the USNS Comfort comes after another giant US naval hospital ship arrived in Los Angeles Friday, where it will be used to ease the strain on the city's coronavirus-swamped emergency rooms.

The USNS Mercy, which docked in the Port of Los Angeles, will quickly become the city's largest hospital with 1,000 beds.

It will also not receive coronavirus patients, but instead take patients with a wide range of other conditions or injuries in order to free up facilities on land.

The 894-foot Mercy, a converted oil tanker, has 15 patient wards and blood bank capacity of 5,000 units.

LAPD officers keep watch after the USNS Mercy Navy hospital ship arrived in the Port of Los Angeles on Friday. The ship holds 1,000 beds which will be used to treat non-coronavirus patients in an effort to free up hospital beds for those suffering from COVID-19

etired nurse Donna holds an American flag as she waves toward the USNS Mercy Navy hospital ship after it arrived in the Port of Los Angeles on Friday to aid with the coronavirus crisis

California Governor Gavin Newsom, flanked by (from left) Director Mark Ghilarducci, Cal OES, Admiral John Gumbleton, United States Navy, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, speaks in front of the hospital ship USNS Mercy after it arrived into the Port of Los Angeles on Friday

Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking at a joint press conference after touring the vessel with Mayor Eric Garcetti, said the ship will play a key role as California braces for a surge in COVID-19 infections that could require 50,000 hospital beds statewide in the next six to 10 weeks.

Los Angeles is 'on track within a week to be aligned with where New York City currently is,' he said, referring to America's most populous city which has almost half of US's 100,000-plus coronavirus cases.

California officials lobbied intensely for the ship to come to Los Angeles, overriding a competing claim from northwestern Washington state which is also badly affected but less populous.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. are now at 112,480 with 1,846 deaths.

New York remains the hardest hit increasing 7,681 to 52,318 cases by Saturday afternoon. The state has 728 deaths.
An 85-year-old senior surgeon from Saifee Hospital died of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at Hinduja Hospital in Mahim late on Thursday. At the time of going to press, civic officials were conducting a retest to confirm if the man died of Covid-19, as his sample was tested in a private lab. The civic body is also awaiting test results of the senior citizens son, a heart specialist who visited three prominent hospitals in Mumbai in the past few days, and grandson, both of whom had returned from the United Kingdom (UK) on March 12. The two were also admitted to Hinduja Hospital on Thursday.

According to the Airport Health Organization (AHO), the two were not screened at the airport after arrival in Mumbai as the UK was not on the list of countries requiring compulsory checking of travellers. The UK was included in the list of universal screening on March 17, said an officer from AHO.

The government in a statement on Friday confirmed the death of the senior doctor (who was a diabetic and had a heart ailment). The swab sample of the patient was tested by Metropolis Diagnostics. Kasturba Hospital needs to run a confirmation test, said a medical health officer.

Dr Daksha Shah, deputy health officer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said, Until we get the second report, we cant confirm if he tested positive for the virus. The BMC is also waiting for the test results of a house help and two other family members.

Meanwhile, 14 staff from Saifee Hospital have been asked to be quarantined in the hospital.

Prashant Gaikwad, C-ward officer, said, We have identified 14 staff from Saifee, who were in close contact with the doctor. We have asked them to be quarantined for 14 days. If anyone develops any symptoms, they will be isolated in Kasturba Hospital.

Gaikwad said all operations and admission of new patients have been prohibited for 14 days. We have instructed the hospital to release patients, where early discharge is possible. The hospital will only cater to already admitted patients, he said.

Meanwhile, LT Marg Police told HT that the grandson of the 85-year-old doctor had gone to England for medical studies and his father brought him back to India after the coronavirus outbreak began. During the early hours of Friday, the deceaseds body was cremated as per the rules and in the presence of civic officials, said a police officer, on condition of anonymity.

Police officers, who did not wish to be named, said the deceaseds 52-year-old son was a consulting doctor in Jaslok Hospital, Hinduja Hospital and Breach Candy Hospital. Civic officials have started tracing people who were in close contact with him. Hospital sources said that he performed three surgeries in the past few days.

Two drivers of the family and two watchmen of the apartment also need to be examined for Covid-19 as they were close to the family and would get food from them daily. They are under observation by the civic authority and the police.

In the meantime, Saifee Hospital is putting in place a Covid-19 policy for the hospital. Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, a bariatric surgeon from the hospital, said, The COVID-19 response team is planning to start by tomorrow itself.

Dr Vernon Desa, director (medical governance and clinical compliance), Saifee Hospital, in a statement said, Maharashtra State, Health Vigilance Department, which reports directly to the chief minister, has been informed that the doctor underwent a CT SCAN and was diagnosed with Covid-19. The surgeon was transferred to the special isolation facility at PD Hinduja Hospital, where he subsequently died. All containment and surveillance measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of our staff, patients, and visitors. Saifee Hospital reiterates that the hospital is fully operational.
Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson returned to Los Angeles on Friday after spending more than two weeks in quarantine in Australia after testing positive for the coronavirus. The Forrest Gump and Toy Story actor and Wilson were photographed smiling while driving a vehicle in the city.

Celebrity website TMZ said the photographs were taken shortly after the pair landed at a small Los Angeles area airport. The New York Post's Page Six column said Hanks was seen touching the tarmac and dancing after getting off a private jet. Representatives for Hanks, 63, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Hanks, a double Oscar winner and one of America's most beloved stars, and Wilson were the first big celebrities to announce they had tested positive for the disease, which has become a global epidemic with more than 27,000 deaths worldwide. They were treated in hospital in Australia and isolated themselves for a further period after leaving.

Also read: Actor Tom Hanks released from hospital after coronavirus quarantine

Hanks' last posting on his Twitter account on Sunday said it had been two weeks since their first symptoms and that they were feeling better.

Hanks was in Australia working on a movie about Elvis Presley when he announced on March 11 that he and Wilson had tested positive for the disease. Filming has since been shut down on the movie, and on hundreds of other film and television productions worldwide.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Paula Poirier usually spends her afternoons getting ready to work behind the bar at the funky little midtown restaurant she owns with her partner, David Brocklehurst, who would be in the kitchen, prepping for dinner service.

But that was before COVID-19.

Now theyre both at home with their young son, Colton, pondering the future and trying to keep the stress at bay.

Unlike some restaurants, Function Bar hasnt opened for takeout. That makes Poirier and Brocklehurst two of thousands of people across the city whove suddenly found themselves without an income because of the pandemic.

As much as its a global crisis, its also become a personal one for millions of Canadians who are struggling to deal with the stress of no income and a lot of extra time on their hands, all while in isolation.

From spending more time with kids and pets to cooking to music lessons, many of us are trying to find healthy ways to deal with the stress. Some are turning to alcohol or cannabis, which experts say can be OK  in moderation.

For Poirier and Brocklehurst, one of the ways theyre dealing is by keeping up with some of the familiar tasks of running a restaurant  albeit on a smaller scale.

Were cooking a lot at home. Some of its just testing recipes for the restaurant for when we can reopen, said Poirier, who admits shes also cleaned the condo top to bottom, more than once.

I might start colour-coding the closets, Poirier said with a wry chuckle. Keeping in touch with their staff  who have been laid off  is also crucial to maintaining some sense of normalcy.

Weve got a group chat going with all the staff. Its good to check in with everybody. We usually see most of them every day when were open, Poirier said.

For Guelph-based registered massage therapist Theresa Kolisnyk, a favourite way to deal with stress simply isnt available, at a time when she most needs it because her clients cant see her for appointments.

I cant go to the gym and punch the heavy bag. Thats usually a pretty big stress reliever for me, Kolisnyk said. Gyms are considered non-essential, and closed by provincial order. Given that she and her husband  a freelance recording engineer  both usually work from home anyway, Kolisnyk admits the adjustment hasnt been as big as it has been for some. Still, the stress is there, and shes finding ways to cope.

My dogs love it; theyve been getting more walks than usual. And Ive probably made enough perogies to feed the Ukrainian army, Kolisnyk said. Kind gestures from customers  like dropping food on her doorstep  have also helped to keep her sane. Her husband, Kolisnyk said, has decided to learn a new, rather noisy, skill.

My husband is teaching himself accordion through all this, Kolisnyk said.

Picking up a new skill is just the type of thing people should be doing, said Prince Edward County-based therapist Anthony Santen, who specializes in dealing with stress, anxiety, anger and relationships.

Do some investment. Not stocks and bonds. But invest in yourself. Tidy up your website. Take a class. Work on your resume, Santen said. Doing those things is far more than just a distraction, Santen added. Self-improvement can keep people from spinning into self-doubt.

Santen filed for employment insurance because he cant see clients in person, and because his second source of income  a bed and breakfast where he lives  isnt allowed to be open for business. Hes using the extra time to play with his kids, and to build things.

Ive been building a chicken coop. Ive been playing Beyblade with my son, Santen said.

Something he doesnt recommend doing is spending too much time binge-watching the latest show on Netflix, drinking glass after glass of wine, or spending all day sitting around smoking dope.

A glass of wine with dinner is fine. A joint on Friday night is great. But if youre using these things to escape your current situation rather than process them, thats a problem, Santen said.

Sticking to some kind of schedule is a crucial way of keeping the stress from spiralling out of control, says Paula Allen, senior vice-president of research at employee assistance plan giant Morneau Shepell.

Its critical to build a new routine for yourself, even if its different than the one you were used to. A routine is vital, Allen said. It gives us a sense of calm. It gives us a sense of control and accomplishment.

Without a routine? Things can get a lot worse, Allen said.

The flip side is that if all the time just blends in, you can feel out of control and stressed even more. It adds to the anxiety.

If schedules help, so too does trying to maintain some of the other elements of daily life, said Allen. Many of them are still doable from home, even if its a slightly different format.

We need food every day. We need social contact every day. We need exercise every day. We need to do something fun every day. Go for a walk with your dog, if you have one. FaceTime friends, or call them, Allen said.

And, she added, reach out to professionals if you need to, whether its your doctor, a psychiatrist or a counsellor. Some of that help can be accessed through your companys employee assistance plan, even if youve been laid off.

If your employer has an EAP, use it. This is what theyre there for, Allen said.

Dont assume just because youve been laid off youre no longer eligible for it. In most cases, people whove been laid off can still access their companys EAP. There are employment counsellors, psychologists, online resources.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Air India pilots, who are being praised across the world for rescuing stranded passengers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, are yet to receive a major portion of their January salary.

An AI pilot, who requested anonymity, said they have written to higher officials to release flying allowance for January, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the salary.

Like everyone, we also need financial support during this difficult time. We are okay with the management deciding to cut allowances and paycheck to limit the Covid-19 impact on the airline, but not clearing previous months dues is too much, he said. Indian Commercial Pilots Assosiation has recently written to Air India chairman Rajiv Bansal to immediately release flying allowance for January.

Last week, Air India informed its employees about decreasing allowances for all staff except the cabin crew by 10 per cent for three months, as it sees significant dip in revenues because of the pandemic. According to reports, Air India is expected to incur losses to the tune of Rs 30-35 crore per day following the suspension of operations, which as of now remains effective till April 14.
For Palestinians who work in Israel, COVID-19 threatens not only health but their means to provide for their families.

Ramallah, West Bank  On March 12, Akram Abu Koueik, a 55-year-old father of eight, woke up at 2.30am as he does almost every weekday. He left his home near Ramallah and arrived at the Qalandia checkpoint just after 3am, hoping to beat the morning rush of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who work in Israel.

Akram has all the required paperwork for employment in Israel and has worked as an electrician for the same Israeli company for 30 years. His workday plus commute generally takes 16 hours, but aside from the occasional long queue if he is running late, he rarely runs into issues.

Until that morning when, like thousands of other labourers from the occupied Palestinian territories over the age of 50, he learned that he would not be allowed to cross the checkpoint.



There were already 100 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, in Israel and 30 in the West Bank, mostly concentrated in Bethlehem. The city was locked down by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which announced a state of emergency in the West Bank.

With older workers most at risk from the newly declared pandemic, Israel was not letting them enter.

Akram has worked as an electrician for the same Israeli company for 30 years, but coronavirus has now left him unsure of how much longer he will be able to provide for his family [Alex Lederman/Al Jazeera]

Akram was concerned about his health amid the coronavirus pandemic, but he was also worried about how he would feed his family if he could not work for an extended period. More than anything, it was the uncertainty that most unnerved him.

If this is just a few days or even two weeks, we can survive, he said of his family. But what if Im not allowed through for months?



Labour migrants to Israel pump roughly $330m a month into the Palestinian economy.

In his company sweatshirt and worn-out work boots, Akram waited at the checkpoint for hours alongside hundreds of others who also had not been allowed to cross. They watched as younger people passed, a few wearing medical masks.

As the queues of cars grew at the adjacent vehicle checkpoint, many began to bib their horns. By 6am, the lines were longer than usual. Some of those who had been turned away tried again  and again. Others argued or attempted to barter with the Israeli guards.

A government employee in a medical mask and gloves made her way down the lines, handing out health guidelines printed by the PA. The crumpled papers soon littered the ground. They did not say anything the workers here had not been hearing for weeks  wash your hands, do not touch your face  and they did not answer the questions that most troubled them.

As the hours passed, the sense of uncertainty at the checkpoint grew. Still, Akram waited.

I have nowhere to go, he said five hours after he arrived, leaning against a rail with a coffee in hand. Im waiting for any news [about what will happen to us].

More questions than answers

Over the next two weeks, Akram and more than 100,000 other Palestinians who travel to Israel or to illegal settlements for work would get new answers on their fates every few days  each answer raising more questions.



On March 17, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh expanded the restrictions to cut off all movement of people between Israel and the West Bank.

Palestinians who worked in Israel and wished to continue doing so would have 72 hours to arrange their affairs regarding a place to sleep in their workplaces in coordination with their employers, he announced.

Israel said Palestinians working in the essential sectors of health, agriculture, construction and caregiving could stay for one to two months in Israel, with their employers finding them accommodation.

After another five days, Shtayyeh declared a full two-week lockdown of the West Bank, restricting all nonessential movement.

About 15 to 20 percent of employed Palestinians work in Israel or in the settlements  predominantly in construction  where the average wage of 227 Israeli shekels [about $64] per day is more than double what they would make in the West Bank, where the unemployment rate hovers at around 30 percent.

[If close to 200,000 workers, with and without permits, rely on incomes from Israel or the settlements and they each support a family of five] thats almost one million Palestinian individuals having their bread and butter on their table from the income generated from Israel, explained Mounir Kleibo, the representative for the United Nations International Labour Organization for the occupied Palestinian territories.

Most of the labourers are from refugee camps or rural areas rather than the cities. What this means is the poorer Palestinians will have less income and the income inequality will expand even more, said Leila Farsakh, a political scientist at the University of Massachusetts Boston and author of Palestinian Labor Migration to Israel: Labour, Land and Occupation.



More than 100,000 Palestinians  close to 200,000 when including those without permits  work in Israel or illegal Israeli settlements and the closure of checkpoints leaves them without any source of income [Alex Lederman/Al Jazeera]

Faced with the prospect of not earning an income, tens of thousands of Palestinian workers opted to stay in Israel.

[But] what sort of accommodation will Israel give these people? asked Kleibo. The Palestinians are handing all the responsibility over to the Israelis to take care of their workers. The Israelis never took care of the safety, health, or wellbeing of Palestinian workers, even during times of economic growth.

Kleibos fears were soon confirmed when, within 36 hours of Shtayyehs announcement, he heard on Palestinian radio that workers who had crossed into Israel with plans to stay returned after seeing the conditions in which they were expected to live. Those who remained were sometimes put in bedrooms shared with more than 20 other workers  in violation of the Israeli Ministry of Healths social distancing guidance  or expected to sleep on construction sites.

[They are] not appropriate for human habitation, said Kleibo. There is no hygiene, no sanitation. God forbid someone gets the virus, its frightening the speed it will spread among these workers.

With Israels own lockdown expanding as the number of cases there reached nearly 2,000, it changed course on March 24 and opened up some checkpoints for Palestinians to return to the West Bank. Workers flooded these spots.

But there were no Israeli health officials at the checkpoints to test the returning Palestinians for the coronavirus. Workers fear they could have caught it in Israel, and could now infect their families and neighbourhoods.

For Gods sake, please somebody check us before we go back home, Kleibo said a worker told him over Facebook from the checkpoint.

Shtayyeh followed the checkpoint opening with an order for all Palestinian workers remaining in Israel to return to the West Bank, citing the virus rapid spread and new movement restrictions in Israel. He said the returnees would be subjected to a health exam and 14-day home quarantine. The West Bank has 88 confirmed cases so far compared with more than 3,400 in Israel  although Israel has conducted far more tests  but more than 15,000 workers have now returned untested.

Dr Ramez Bwekat, a senior medical officer with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, told Al Jazeera the reversal had caught Palestinian health officials by surprise. Their top priority now is testing returning workers who show symptoms, he said. But despite supplies coming in every day from the World Health Organization (WHO), they lack sufficient kits to test all of the returning workers.

We wish we had the ability to test all of them, but our capabilities are limited, he said. Those coming from Israel are now our major concern for the virus spreading. But we can only test the highly suspected cases.

As for the Palestinians who work inside the West Bank in illegal settlements, there is nothing to stop them from entering the settlements, even though Shtayyeh stated that doing so is forbidden.

I can see from my window right now workers in the settlement, Kleibo said on the phone. Theyve been there since the morning, and nobody asked them anything or checked them in. They just entered.

Palestinians who have returned from Israel fear they may have brought the virus with them, but with too few tests, only those showing obvious systems are tested for it [Alex Lederman/Al Jazeera]

A unique challenge

The Israeli government and the PA face a unique challenge in battling the coronavirus. Over the course of a 52-year Israeli military occupation that is illegal under international law, and especially since the 1993-95 Oslo Accords, the Israeli and Palestinian economies have become deeply intertwined.

They are embedded together, Farsakh said. The Palestinian economy in the West Bank and the Palestinian political system in the West Bank is very much dependent on its relationship to Israel.

Israel was an early state to implement travel restrictions, to close schools and universities and to restrict gatherings of more than 10 people.

On March 16, Netanyahu announced emergency measures that include the Shin Bet security service using counterterror technologies that cyber-track civilians suspected of carrying the virus, bypassing the Knesset in their implementation and causing alarm among privacy rights advocates. As of March 25, synagogues are shuttered, and Israelis cannot journey more than 100 metres from their homes.

The PA too has taken the coronavirus threat seriously. Abbas authorised all necessary measures to confront the risks resulting from the coronavirus and to protect public health in early March and quickly locked down Bethlehem, home to the majority of Palestinian coronavirus cases. Not only were schools closed across the West Bank and public gatherings banned, but the PA suspended prayers in West Bank mosques and churches, as have the authorities at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

What Abbas did not say was how much coordination with Israel all necessary measures would entail.

The infrastructure of security cooperation was key to Oslo, so youre talking about an infrastructure thats been in place for over 20 years, said Farsakh. It can be very discreet in how it is happening today, but they are tied together.

For weeks, Israeli and PA officials have been discussing collaborative efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. A senior Palestinian official told The Times of Israel they had established a special mechanism to discuss the virus moment by moment, and a joint operations room to confront COVID-19 was set up. Israel, after all, has the most overcrowded hospitals in the developed world, and the West Banks hospital infrastructure is much worse.

Even more alarming is the prospect of a mass COVID-19 outbreak in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which now has nine confirmed cases. Among the most densely populated territories in the world with collapsing infrastructure after more than a dozen years under blockade, Gaza has only 70 intensive care beds for a population of almost 2 million. The first two infected patients and all those they had been in contact with were quarantined, but the seven additional cases occurred at the quarantine facility. Hamas closed border crossings with Israel and Egypt, plus all of Gazas mosques.

Israel and the PA, meanwhile, coordinated the lockdown of Bethlehem in early March, the restrictions on cross-checkpoint movement, the decision on long-term migrant worker stays, and the transfer of coronavirus detection kits and protective gear to the West Bank.

Bwekat also confirmed sending Palestinian coronavirus tests to Israel to verify the results and receiving the names of Palestinians who enter Israeli ports from overseas. But he said the Palestinians have had issues in coordinating with Israel on health matters in the past.

We had a crisis before the coronavirus issue with the Israeli side about cutting access from Palestinian hospitals to Israeli hospitals, and they cut off some money and there were customs issues, he added.

The Oslo Accords created a customs union between Israel and the PA in which goods to Palestinian territories pass through Israeli ports, and Israel collects the import taxes on those goods and transfers them to the PA. Farsakh said these customs revenues could constitute 50 to 70 percent of the PAs revenue.

So Israel, instead of regularly transferring them, has been using them as leverage, Farsakh said. For Israel, if the PA behaves well, theyll transfer the money. If the PA does not behave well, they wont transfer the money.

With so many countries struggling to deal with the pandemic, Palestinians fear few will be focused on alleviating the economic devastation it may cause in Gaza and the West Bank [Alex Lederman/Al Jazeera]

But even if there is cooperation to combat COVID-19, the economics of the conflict has only been magnified by the viruss onset.

The real issue is the importance of sustaining the Palestinian economy, Farsakh said, because its not in Israels interest to have an economic decay in the West Bank. That would have serious political implications on the stability of the PA and on Israel. Israeli policy has always been: We need to find a way to keep the Palestinian economy sustainable without costing the Israeli economy anything.'

Yet, like all the worlds economies, the Israeli and Palestinian ones may have to suffer in taking urgent public safety measures. That is why policymakers have been so vexed by the issue of migrant workers; packing checkpoints by the thousands shoulder-to-shoulder, they are among the biggest risk factors for spreading the disease.

International aid is already the core sustainer of the Palestinian economy  ahead of migrant labour. As the economic situation worsens in the occupied Palestinian territories, Kleibo said international organisations are discussing establishing an emergency fund to help support Palestinian hourly labourers now left workless.

But, he said, donors are busy with the virus spreading in their own countries. Nobodys thinking of meeting the Palestinian needs right now. They have their own catastrophes to deal with.
Mayor of Drogheda Paul Bell has commended both individual citizens, voluntary groups and the business community for answering the call of their town and district in response to such unique and challenging circumstances.

Mayor Bell said, "Firstly I am honestly moved and delighted that both individual citizens, voluntary organisations, members of the business community and workers have all responded to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens in our town and district. Everything from child minding to allow health workers and essential staff to attend work, to shopping delivery to the homes of vulnerable and senior citizens and to the pharmacy dispatching and delivery of prescriptions to citizens to their home. The best in our citizens and our community is shining through.

"I am not going to single out any particular organisation or individual I just want to thank all of you for your dedication to duty and I also want to thank those who have responded to the HSE Ireland On Call initiative. This call is not just for medical professionals, it's also for all citizens who can offer their time and expertise to support our health service and defend our community and Country from the impact of COVID 19. Our citizens are responding with a clear understanding together we can beat this,' he said.

Mayor Bell also noted with great thanks the work of workers in the retail sector and transport sector. "In this battle which everyone of us has a key role to play I wish to acknowledge the effort of those workers committed to ensuring that food is made available in our shops everyday and that our transport workers are also committed to ensuring that the supply chain is maintained. This commitment has also been demonstrated by public transport workers and volunteers working hard to keep our workers and communities mobile. I wish to acknowledge the role of local media, print media, digital media and our local radio station with journalists and staff acting with integrity and ensuring that the information we receive is accurate, relevant and balanced".

Mayor Bell also offered his sympathy and empathy to those workers who have paid a heavy price in losing their jobs in particular in certain sectors of retail and hospitality. "I am deeply saddened by this shock impact and wish to assure workers in this situation of my support to ensure that our Government and political system responds to these workers and their families adequately and effectively. I know that we can turn this situation around in a short period of time if we work together and follow the health experts recommendations and requests".
Blue and White opposition leader and former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief of staff Bennie Gantz is to join a national emergency government under the premiership of indicted criminal Benjamin Netanyahu.

The new governments ostensible brief is to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Gantz cited unusual times to declare, That is why I intend to explore the formation of an emergency unity government.

His move signifies an agreement among Israels politicians to impose a dictatorial regime on both the Israeli and Palestinian working class that would drive down wages and living conditions in an untrammeled pursuit of profit.

The national emergency government is trailered by Gantzs surprise election to the post of Knesset Speaker Thursday evening, replacing Yuli Edelstein and reconvening the Knesset, shuttered by Edelsteins political manoeuvres in support of Netanyahu. The move was supported by Netanyahus Likud Party and some of Gantzs Blue and White alliance.

It is assumed that Netanyahu would serve as prime minister until September 2021 when he would hand over to Gantz, who would serve in the interim as foreign minister while Gabi Ashkenazi, another former IDF chief of staff and Blue and White member, would serve as defence minister, with Blue and White members holding the justice and communications portfolios.

Gantz had initially, following Israels third inconclusive election in less than a year, rejected Netanyahus attempt to form a national emergency government under his leadership and accepted President Reuven Rivlins mandate to form a government. But any such government would be dependent upon the support of the third largest party, the Arab Joint List.

This was anathema for Netanyahu, his fascistic allies, Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is our Home) and opponent of Netanyahu and some of Gantzs own bloc. They whipped up a ferocious media campaign, branding the Arab legislators as terrorists in suits.

Without support for a minority government dependent on the Joint List, Gantz joined forces with Netanyahu, despite having fought three election campaign on the banner of anyone but Bibi [Netanyahus nickname]. Having few substantive differences with Netanyahu, his shift was always on the cards.

This has led to a split within Blue and Whites ranks, with Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid faction and Moshe Yaalon of the Telem faction, both of whom have served in Netanyahus governments, refusing to join a national emergency government. Lapid and Yaalon will keep the Blue and White name, while Gantzs faction of 17 members will revert back to Israeli Resilience Party.

Lapid, who will serve as the leader of the opposition, declared, Gantz stole the votes of the people who voted for him when he vowed not to serve under Netanyahu; he caved into Bibi without a fight. Ahmad Tibi from the Joint List told Middle East Eye, We backed him [Gantz] to bring about a change after years of incitement against Arabs by Bibi Corona pandemic is bad enough. To use corona for political gain is even worse.

What remains of Israels nominal left parties, Labour and Meretz, which played a crucial role in backing Gantz, have been thoroughly discredited.

Gantzs agreement to join Netanyahu comes amid an escalating social and economic crisis. By Friday morning, there were 3,035 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Ten people have died, and 49 are in serious condition. Several weeks ago, with Israels healthcare system, eviscerated by years of budget cuts, ill-equipped to cope with the pandemic, Netanyahu ordered stay-at-home measures and shuttered schools, universities and businesses.

Some 21 percent of workers are now jobless, up from 17 percent just a few days ago and 3.6 percent in February. Nearly 40 percent of Tel Avivs tenants (46 percent of all the citys residents rent their home) are unable to pay next months rent, with another 30 percent saying that within a few months they too wont be able to pay.

In anticipation of social unrest, Netanyahu has authorised widespread surveillance powersroutinely used against the Palestinians in the occupied territoriesto trace via their cell phones Israeli citizens who have been in contact with coronavirus patients. Such powers for Shin Bet, Israels domestic spy agency, will become part and parcel of the states surveillance apparatus.

Netanyahus scurrilous political manoeuvres have provoked black flag motorcade protests, a large online anti-government virtual protest broadcast over Facebook and a week-long teachers strike over an attempt to cut their pay as they moved to distance learning for school children.

On Wednesday, he tightened restrictions, banning all except essential workers from moving more than 100 metres from their homes unless taking part in approved activities such as purchasing food and medicine, and closing all places of worship. Violations will be subject to fines of upwards of NIS 500 ($125) and even imprisonment.

A total lockdown was likely, Netanyahu warned, stating that government-commissioned estimates calculate that 10,000 of Israels 9 million population may die due to the coronavirus and 25,000 under the worst-case scenario.

According to a military spokesperson, the government is set to deploy 500 armed soldiers, starting Sunday, as a first step toward a full national lockdown involving an additional 2,000-3,000 troops.

The Palestinian Authority (PA), which controls parts of the occupied West Bank, reported the first death from coronavirus on Wednesdaya 60-year-old female with serious health challenges. There are over 80 confirmed cases in the West Bank, mostly in Bethlehem, and around 10 in Gaza, undoubtedly a gross underestimate as the Palestinians have few testing kits. On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sent more than 3,000 test kits and 50,000 surgical masks to the PA.

While the PA has issued shelter-at-home orders, Israel is preparing to close their checkpoints, locking down many Palestinian towns and cities in the West Bank and preventing around 120,000 Palestinians travelling to work in Israel. Earlier, the government had announced that it would allow the Palestinians to continue working in Israel, provided they remained there for at least three months in employer-provided lodgings.

Last week, a video went viral on social media showing Israeli security forces dumping a Palestinian at the checkpoint near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, where he collapsed. His employer had taken him to hospital to be tested for the virus after he fell ill with flu-like symptoms. Even before the result was known, police officers arrived and took him away in handcuffs.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan released 500 Israeli prisoners into house arrest on March 20 to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak in the countrys prisons, but refused to release any of the 5,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, including 180 children, 43 women and 430 detained with neither charge nor trialeven those with critical health conditions. At least four Palestinians have tested positive in prisons that are notoriously overcrowded.

The Israel Prison Service has banned visits to Palestinian prisoners by family members and lawyers since the outbreak of the virus. Last week, prisoners began refusing some meals as a prelude to a full-scale hunger strike if measures to protect them were not implemented. On Wednesday, a prisoner set fire to his cell in Nafha Prison in protest.

UN Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in Palestine, Michael Lynk, pointed out that official Israeli publications to increase awareness about the disease were issued exclusively in Hebrew, even though Arabic is an official language spoken by Israels 1.8 million Arab citizens and many Jewish Israelis.

On Thursday, it was announced that the government had opened up a nuclear bunker, the National Management Centre, replete with living quarters and command facilities accessible from the government complex in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as a base to coordinate its plans should the situation worsen.
By AFP

MADRID: Spain has signed a multi-million-euro contract with China to acquire medical supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Salvador Illa said Wednesday.

Worth some 432 million euros ($467 million), the deal will cover 550 million masks, 5.5 million rapid test kits, 950 respirators and 11 million pairs of gloves to address shortages in Spain.

The announcement came as Spain saw the number of deaths surge to 3,434 after more than 738 people died in the past 24 hours, overtaking the figure in China where the virus originated late last year.

"We have secured entire production chains (in China) which will be working solely for the Spanish government," Illa said.

The supplies will be delivered "on a staggered basis, every week, with the first -- a major delivery -- arriving at the end of this week," he said.

Despite the fact that Spain's population of 47 million has been under an unprecedented lockdown since March 14, the numbers have continued to spiral with more than 47,000 infected by the virus.

The surge in numbers has brought the medical system to the brink of collapse, with more than 5,400 healthcare workers infected, around 12 percent of the total, and various regional authorities and associations have heaped criticism on the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over the shortage of supplies.

Illa said the contract was sealed following a conversation last week between Sanchez and China's President Xi Jinping which touched on the question of medical supplies.
The agency leading the nations coronavirus response said seven employees had tested positive for the virus, with another four cases pending, though in a letter to its employees union, it declined a request to say where they were located, prompting criticism from the union that the agency was jeopardizing public health.

Union leaders last week had asked the agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, how many employees had tested positive, and in which offices, so that workers who might have interacted with those people could decide whether to get tested as well. On Friday, FEMA turned down the request, saying the union did not need to know, according to a copy of the agencys letter that was reviewed by The New York Times.

In response to inquiries from The Times, the agency on Saturday said that seven employees had tested positive for the coronavirus. Currently, FEMA has 11 total cases  seven employees have tested positive and four potential cases are pending, Lizzie Litzow, a spokeswoman for FEMA, said in a statement. Individuals who need to be aware of their names and locations have been made aware.

Steve Reaves, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 4060, which represents about 5,000 FEMA employees, said that by not sharing details about the staff infections with the union, the agency was endangering other employees as well as the safety of the people to whom the agency was currently providing aid. Over all, the agency has about 14,000 employees.

If were out there handing out masks and gloves, and weve got Covid, then theyre contaminated, said Mr. Reaves, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The concern over the safety of FEMA employees comes as the agency is already stretched thin by three years of major natural disasters, and as it has been forced to rapidly rethink its recommendations for emergency relief shelters, which often accommodate many survivors in close quarters, risking transmission of disease.
Recently, Radhika Apte shared a picture on her Instagram page in which she is seen sitting in a hospital, wearing a mask and sunglasses. As soon as she posted this photo, fans showed concern for her health by commenting on it.

A netizen wrote, "Take care" (sic). Another comment read, "Stay safe." However, the Badlapur actress soon clarified that her visit to the hospital wasn't related to COVID-19. Radhika wrote, "Hospital visit! #notforcovid19 #nothingtoworry #alliswell #safeandquarantined." (sic)

Meanwhile, amid the global Coronavirus pandemic, the actress recently travelled from her film set to the UK, where she stays partially with her husband, musician Benedict Taylor.

Later, she detailed her travel experience in an Instagram post that read, "For all the many messages I received from friends and colleagues with concern and curiosity... I'm back in London safely. There was no issue at immigration. It was rather empty and had a wonderful chat with them! The Heathrow express was literally empty and barely anyone at Paddington either. That's all for now! Thank you for all msgs xx." (sic)

Recently, while speaking with a leading daily, Radhika urged people to take the 21-day lockdown seriously. The actress said, "It is important for celebrities or anybody who has slightest influence to pass on information that is valuable because people are not taking it seriously. Something like this has never happened before and people are finding it bizarre. And the immediate need of feeding their families and getting work done seems important. People think nothing is going to happen to me and that it is just flu and I am going to do it. But it is spreading so rapidly and people do not understand the seriousness of it."

Radhika further added, "I will advise people to stay at home and try to feel grateful for what they have as there are lots of people, who are in a bad place at the moment, like the daily wage workers and so many. Try to make people aware of the situation and if you have domestic help or workers, if you can keep (them) on payroll, it will be extremely wise to do that."

The actress also opened up about how she is spending the lockdown time and said, "I am trying to write, watch, read but more important than that there are so many things that you forget when are busy, like caring for yourself. The first thing I did was to clean and organise my house, it took me a while. But it was so satisfying, de-cluttering everything, throwing things I do not need. I made a whole bag for charity and did shopping for charity, which was important to do."

Coronavirus: Radhika Apte Reports Her Travel Experience Flying To London; Says Flight Was Full!" title=" Coronavirus: Radhika Apte Reports Her Travel Experience Flying To London; Says Flight Was Full!" /> Coronavirus: Radhika Apte Reports Her Travel Experience Flying To London; Says Flight Was Full!

Saif Ali Khan On How He Is Spending Lockdown Time: Taimur, Bebo And I've Been Growing Tomato Plants" title=" Saif Ali Khan On How He Is Spending Lockdown Time: Taimur, Bebo And I've Been Growing Tomato Plants" /> Saif Ali Khan On How He Is Spending Lockdown Time: Taimur, Bebo And I've Been Growing Tomato Plants
MOSCOW - On Wednesday, March 25, Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation declaring an "extreme emergency" in the State as communities take measures to prevent the community spread of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus). That afternoon, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppeson issued an Order to Self-Isolate for the State.

In the Order, Director Jeppeson noted that a violation could constitute a misdemeanor under Idaho Code Section 56-1003(7)(c), and he requested that Sheriffs, Chiefs of Police, and the Idaho State Police ensure compliance with the Order.

The stated intent of the Order is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. Individuals are authorized to leave their places of residence, whether to obtain or perform vital services or to otherwise facilitate authorized activities necessary for continuity of social and commercial life.

According to James Fry, Moscow's Chief of Police, "Our officers will not stop people to ask them their business to confirm that they are complying with the State's Self-Isolation Order. If contact is made with a person for another reason, our officers will remind them that there is a Self-Isolation Order, and request that they limit their travel in accordance with the Order."

"This is a difficult time for our community, and law enforcement does not want to add to that stress," said Fry. "We encourage members of the public to read the Self-Isolation Order and to limit their activities to those allowed by the Order. Please do the right thing. If we all work together, we can limit the community spread of COVID-19 in our region. We want to reduce the risk of exposure to the public and our officers."

"The City of Moscow has employed the concept of Community Policing for decades, and the Moscow Police Department will continue that policy now and into the future, including during the COVID-19 threat", continues Fry. "Community Policing focuses on ensuring compliance with our laws first through education. Enforcement is utilized in situations when education does result in compliance."
All companies and non-hospital facilities in New Jersey with protective and medical equipment that heath-care workers could use to battle the coronavirus outbreak must send the state government an inventory of what they have on hand, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday.

Those businesses had until 5 p.m. Friday to submit information on their inventories to Covid19.nj.gov/ppereport.

That includes respirators, masks, gloves, goggles, and ventilators.

I expect full compliance, Murphy said in Trenton during his daily coronavirus press briefing.

The announcement came as officials announced New Jersey now has at least 8,825 known cases of the virus  which causes the disease COVID-19  including at least 108 known deaths among the states population of 9 million people. Only New York has more cases among U.S. states.

The federal government has supplied New Jersey with two shipments of personal protective equipment  also known as PPE  to help workers in health-care facilities and testing sites respond to the outbreak. Murphy has said he needs even more from the federal government.

Plus, Murphy said numerous companies have already donated equipment to the state.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the states hospitals are expecting a surge in coronavirus patients by mid-April. Persichilli said she believes the hospitals are prepared to handle the surge, but they may need more ventilators.

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday ramped up the evacuation of migrant workers from the state who have been stranded in the Delhi national capital region (Delhi NCR) after the countrywide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus snapped transport links.

Hundreds of migrant workers continued to pour into Uttar Pradesh from Delhi-UP border in the morning while the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) continued to ferry them to their destinations from different areas of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

The rush of people wanting to go back home meant that social distancing quickly went out of the window at the bus terminals. As crowds packed the buses, the administration later Saturday started thermal screening of the passengers at ISBT Kaushambi.

Watch | Enough food for all: Sisodia tells migrants leaving Delhi amid lockdown

The officials of UPSRTCs Ghaziabad region said that till March 27 midnight, they had operated about 96 buses and were arranging more to help the migrant workers reach their destinations.

Till 11.30am on Saturday we have despatched about 79 buses to various destinations like Lucknow, Etawah, Bareilly, Etah, Aligarh and Gorakhpur besides nearby destinations. We will continue sending buses till all stranded workers are sent to their destinations. We have now resumed buses from ISBT Kaushambi from where all these buses are getting despatched, said AK Singh, regional manager of UPSRTC.

We despatched 96 buses from Lal Kuan intersection till Friday night and more buses are being arranged from other depots. We had arranged 200 buses for Friday but police had stopped some buses in between due to orders that people should be staying put at their respective places. However on late Friday night we received orders to despatch buses to different destinations, he added.

The movement of migrant workers started on March 24 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a countrywide lockdown.

We have not stopped workers from entering UP. They were initially stopped, but when they told that they will proceed to their hometowns on foot they were allowed to go. We are also arranging buses from IBST Kaushambi and helping then out to reach their destinations, said Manish Mishra, superintendent of police (city) - Ghaziabad.

Migrant workers like Mohammad Fakhruddin who came to Lal Kuan in Ghaziabad from Tank Road (Karol Bagh) said that he was waiting for buses to arrive.

I have to go to Badaun, my hometown. I have about 10 people who are with me and I work in a unit which makes denim. However, our work has stopped due to the lockdown. The landlord is asking for rent and I have no money to pay up. So I along with my family decided to move to our hometown. We came to Lal Kuan by a UP roadways bus from ISBT Kaushambi and we are waiting for another bus which will take us to Badaun, he added.

The police deployed at Kaushambi told us that we can get a UP roadways bus from Kaushambi. So we boarded the bus and reached Lal Kuan, he added.

Ghaziabad district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey, when asked whether the migrant workers were stopped at Delhi-UP border area, said There is no stoppage of any migrant worker at borders.

Even the police were seen helping out workers reach their destination.

It is a time of crisis for these poor people. They have started coming again in groups of 25 to 30 and are continuing their walk towards areas like Hapur, Moradabad etc. On our part we have helped many of them board empty trucks and other commercial vehicles so that at least they can be dropped near to their hometowns, said a police officer.

People like Ram Sundar Maurya, a school headmaster, lent a helping hand to the workers and distributing cooked food to them near Masuri on National Highway 9.

The workers have started coming again. We are preparing about 300 boxes of food. The buses had come on Friday evening and we helped about 250-300 people to board these buses and reach their destinations, he added.

In areas like Gautam Budh Nagar, the UPSRTC has provided about 200 buses to help out stranded migrant workers at Delhi-UP border. Both Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar share borders with the National Capital.

Police officials said that the buses have already reached different border points in Noida.

These buses are departing after every two hours. Ferrying these passengers has already begun from 8 am today and will continue for the next 48 hours, said DCP Sankalp Sharma.

Sharma further said that taking cognizance of the reports that these buses are being stopped at various check points in other districts, the Noida police have informed all the administrative and police officials of the district concerned, to allow them on priority level.

We have also requested them to provide proper food and medical facilities to the passengers boarding on these buses. The buses will drop the passengers at different border points of UP, from where they can take the transportation facilities provided by the state governments of their respective native states, he said.

The DCP also said that all the district magistrates of different destination points have been requested to record the details of the buses reaching their respective districts on Saturday and Sunday.

They have also been asked to make arrangements for the medical screening of all passengers at their destination points, maintaining their full details, including names, addresses and mobile numbers. It will help us in monitoring and supervision of these passengers, he said.
PANAMA CITY (AP)  Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

COVID-19 TESTS: Private Fort Bend County center charging $140 for tests, says it has plenty of them

Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam, the statement said. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.

The ship was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Photos show how Houston is heeding the stay-at-home order

Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70, the statement said. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of Chile a week ago.

The Rotterdam rendezvoused with the Zaandam Thursday evening.

It is only authorized to do ship-to-ship maneuvers. No one aboard is allowed to come ashore, said Panama's Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Arauz.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vasquez. The Health Ministry did not give permission, Vasquez told reporters Friday. The ship is in territorial waters but has to remain isolated.

Holland America Line had announced March 17 that it was voluntarily suspending its cruise operations for 30 days Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution. At that point, the company said none of its passengers or crew had tested positive for the virus.

The Seattle-based cruise line is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.
A man in his 80s has died in Brazos County from effects of the coronavirus, according to a local official.

Brazos County Alternate Health Authority Dr. Seth Sullivan announced during a Saturday afternoon press conference that there were nine additional positive COVID-19 cases. Of those, six have been hospitalized.

Sullivan said during the press conference a man in his 80s who was receiving hospice care has died.

There are now 40 positive cases in Brazos County. According to Sullivan, 52 percent of those cases were contracted while traveling, and 48 percent were spread in the community.

During the press conference, public officials stressed the potentially deadly nature of the coronavirus and said shelter-in-place measures remain critical. College Station Mayor Karl Mooney said shelter-in-place ordinances will be more strictly enforced, with citations issued against those at parties and large gatherings.

Brazos County Judge Duane Peters said hospitals could be overrun if local residents do not take proper precautions. Sullivan said Brazos County's rate of infection is twice that of the average county in the state.
A view of Development Media Group's office in Sittwe, capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, in an undated photo.

Myanmar Army-backed and state-owned mobile network operators have blocked two news websites amid the internet shutdown in Myanmars war-stricken northern Rakhine state, employees at both news outlets told RFA on Friday.

Military-backed Mytel and state-owned enterprise Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) have blocked the websites of Rakhine-based Development Media Group (DMG) and Narinjara News.

Both media outlets have been reporting on the fighting between Myanmar forces and the rebel Arakan Army (AA) in the region and alleged rights abuses against civilians committed by government troops.

DMG web editor Nyo Tun said the news outlets website was blocked by the two telecom network operators on March 24, but is still accessible on Norwegian operator Telenor's network.

I am unhappy that the DMG and Narinjara News websites have been blocked, he said.

Both of our websites have been blocked, [which] means that they did it intentionally, he added. We just need to inform the MPC [Myanmar Press Council] and the Ministry of Communications about this.

The Post and Telecommunications Department (PTD) under Myanmars Ministry of Communications and Transport issued orders last week for mobile internet service providers to block more than 200 websites and online pages, including ones featuring child pornography, explicit material, and hate speech, as well as 50-odd websites it considers fake news.

Narinjara News editor Khine Myat Kyaw said that the telecom companies cut off service to his organizations website in error.

I think they [the telecom operators] misunderstood, he told RFA. We registered our website with the Ministry of Information, and millions of people visit it.

We are going to discuss it with the Myanmar Press Council, lawyers, and IT people as we work on this problem, he said.

PTD director general Myo Swe said the two news outlets should file a complaint with the ministry if their internet service has been blocked in error, explaining that they are not publishing prohibited reports.

We ordered not only one [telecom] operator, but also many others to ban pornography, fake news, and hate news websites because we are seeing more reports of child rape cases, he said, in an apparent reference to the 2019 case of a toddler who was sexually assaulted at a nursery school in Naypyidaw, which sparked national outrage.

The official directive to the mobile network companies appeared to be unrelated to the governments designation this week of AA, which is fighting Myanmar forces in Rakhine state, as an unlawful association and terrorist organization.

The Myanmar government has temporarily suspended mobile internet service in eight townships in northern Rakhine and one in neighboring Chin state where armed conflict has occurred, citing the ban as a security measure.

The order is not only for Rakhine state, but also for the entire country, Myo Swe said of the latest blocking of specific websites.

Order is unreasonable

Myint Kyaw, a member of the Myanmar Press Council, which investigates and settles press disputes and protects media workers in Myanmar, said the government should make decisions to cut off network connectivity based only on violations of media ethics.

If any government agency bans a news organization, it should be factually based on the premise of a violation of media ethics, he told RFA. It should not be mixed with other fake news sites, so it [the order] is unreasonable.

Banning these media sites by government-related telecom companies is nothing but censoring the news groups under the blankets of terrorism and the coronavirus outbreak, he added.

Telenor told the Yangon-based news magazine Frontier Myanmar that the ministry issued the directive under Section 77 of the Telecommunications Law, which allows the government to order telecom license-holders to block sites in emergency situations.

The Norwegian company also said it rejected the directive to block the 50-some so-called fake news sites, including those of DMG and Narinjara News.

The two news websites can also be accessed on the network of Qatar-based Ooredoo, an international mobile internet company that provides wireless service in Myanmar.

The implementation of the governments directive has not been consistent, and some of the restrictions appear to have been rolled back on Friday, particularly on Ooredoos network, Frontier Myanmar said.

DMG was established in 2012 along the Thailand-Myanmar border, but later moved its operations to Rakhines capital Sittwe. Narinjara News began publishing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2001, and moved its operations to Sittwe in 2014.

Reported by Waiyan Moe Myint for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
DX 12 apparently allows iGPUs to work in tandem with any kind of dGPU, so Intel is suggesting that only its desktop CPUs can do that, since AMD's desktop processors do not include iGPUs. However, AMD still has APU models, though not as powerful as the desktop chips, but they can easily take advantage of this feature, as well.

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Intel is clearly concerned about AMDs ascension and is trying to come up with features that would somehow restore its supremacy. The chip giant may not be able to out 10 nm, let alone 7 nm desktop chips too soon, but it turns out that it can use the iGPUs in its existing desktop CPUs to provide more graphics power in combination with discrete GPUs from Nvidia, AMD and even for its own upcoming Xe models. AMDs desktop CPUs do not include iGPUs, so Intel hopes to stay relevant with the CPU + iGPU advantage.



How does this advantage even work? Intel developer Allen Hux recently made a presentation for the online-only Games Developer Conference detailing how DirectX 12 and Intel CPUs can boost any discrete GPU, be it from competitors like Nvidia and AMD or its own Xe models that will launch later this year. iGPUs are usually useless when a discrete GPU is detected by the DX API, but with DX 12 there is now a feature that allows iGPUs to work together with dGPUs and squeeze a bit more performance.



The iGPU and CPU would thus offload some of the compute tasks and free up the dGPU, leading to a decent performance boost. Now, we shouldnt expect RTX 2060 GPUs to reach RTX 2080 performance levels this way. Apparently, this would be more helpful for gaming laptops that are limited by power requirements, but Intel also hopes to make this a thing for desktop CPUs combined with its upcoming Xe dGPUs. If this is indeed possible, what is to stop AMD to enable this feature in its laptop and desktop APUs?
Running Aces issued a notice to horsepeople on Friday (March 27) with an update on the opening of its backstretch and the status of its live harness racing season for 2020.

The notice from the Columbus, Minnesota racetrack appears below.

Running Aces Horsemen and Women:

With our recent stay at home order through April 10, 2020 and continued closure of non-essential businesses through May 1, 2020, Running Aces will delay the opening of our backside to no earlier than May 18, 2020. We are continuing to review stall applications and will continue contacting each of you directly to discuss our timelines for allocation as they continue to change as well as any changes to your existing applications for stalls, trailers, and access for ship ins. Please contact Ben Blum should you have any changes to your submitted application.

We are also evaluating and planning with MHRI board members for our live season to begin on or around June 2, 2020 with qualifying events leading up to our opening. Full details are not yet available as this process is ongoing and details regarding state and national status of the COVID-19 pandemic are updated frequently.

Running Aces will provide additional information regarding these key dates as more information becomes available as well as the timelines associated with any potential changes to this update. We look forward to reopening our facility and life returning to business as usual!

Stay safe, and thank you for your continued support of racing here at Running Aces.

Sincerely,

Taro Ito, John Betts, Ben Blum and the RA Team

(With files from Running Aces)
Coffin manufacturers could have a 'quiet summer' after an initial surge at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. (Picture: Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Coffin manufacturers could have a very quiet summer after demand surged in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a trade leader.

Alan Tucker, chief executive of the Funeral Furniture Makers Association (FFMA), which represents the majority of coffin manufacturers, said the industry was currently meeting a higher demand from funeral directors and some stockpiling had been seen.

But he said it wasnt known if the increase in coffins would be matched by the number of deaths.

We dont know whats going to happen down the roadIts a very low number at the moment, he said.

Theres obviously a case where funeral directors are buying extra stocks and are stockpiling to a certain extent in preparation for an upsurge in deaths but it could be if the deaths dont hit those big numbers, coffin manufacturers are going to have a very quiet summer because funeral directors are going to have all of this stock.

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Tucker said coffin manufacturers were all meeting current requirements, adding: No ones panicking at the moment.

A former funeral director himself, Tucker said the coronavirus outbreak had presented other challenges to the funeral industry, including social distancing restrictions at funerals.

Funeral services providers increased production of coffins as they anticipated a rise in the number of funerals due to COVID-19. (Picture: Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

One of the sadnesses of people dying at the present time is that theyre not having the funeral they would expect or the funeral they would deserve, he said.

The talk is of immediate family only attending the service whereas theres somebody who might normally have a hundred, two hundred people at their funeral and theyre down to just five or six.

A lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) - an issue already highlighted by NHS staff - is also a major problem for funeral directors who will be responsible for handling the bodies of people who died with COVID-19, he said.

Story continues

He said: From a funeral directors point of view, every death they attend in a home or nursing home, they dont know and they have to take precautions assuming that it is related.

The FFMA is part of the Deceased Management Advisory Group, which is currently meeting daily to discuss how to handle the outbreak in the funeral profession and liaising with the government.

Coronavirus: what happened today
The coronavirus death toll in Spain has surged by 832 overnight to 5,690, said the health ministry on Saturday, marking a new high in the daily rise in fatalities.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases rose to 72,248 from 64,059 on Friday.

Figures from the Spanish ministry of health show more than 40,000 people have been hospitalised and 4,575 people have been admitted to intensive care. A further 12,285 people have reportedly recovered.

Spain is the country with the fourth highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world, following the US, Italy and China.

But only Italys death tally within 24 hours is higher than Spains, with 969 deaths between Thursday and Friday.

A second makeshift morgue set up in an ice rink in a Madrid retail centre will begin functioning on Monday to help the country cope with the high death toll. Real Madrid said their Santiago Bernabeu stadium will be used to store medical supplies.

Spains coronavirus lockdown was extended on Thursday for an additional two weeks, until 11 April, and people are banned from leaving their homes except to buy essential supplies or go to work.

The medical system is being pushed to the limits in the worst-hit areas in Madrid and northeast Catalonia, with doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers falling ill at an alarming rate and working non-stop.

Pablo Rojo, an ambulance medic at Barcelonas Dos de Maig hospital, says the average age of infections is decreasing. He says: Theyre not 80 years old anymore, they are now 30 and 40 years old.

Concerns about the increasing number of medical workers being infected in Spain are mounting. A medical director in Madrid, Professor Julio Mayol, told Sky News there could be as much as 25 per cent of medical professionals falling ill in the coming days if we dont do something.

Professor Mayol said: It is a bad situation, it is really bad and it is getting worse day by day, because the number of positive Covid-19 patients is increasing.

He also said the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) has made it very difficult to send medical workers to the front lines of the outbreak without adequate equipment.

Many of our doctors have been admitted, even those fighting the virus. Nurses are also a major problem for us, especially those in the intensive care units, he said.

If we dont get the right personnel to handle these ICU patients, its going to be almost impossible to increase the number of ICU beds, because we wont have trained personnel to take care of our patients.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
The owner of a Warren County, N.J., billiards hall has been charged with violating the governors order for non-essential retail businesses to close.

Rack & Roll Billiard Hall and Museum owner David Merring told a lehighvalleylive.com reporter that Washington Township police officers found an employee shooting pool, and that his business was closed and not open to the public.

But there was another person with the employee who reportedly told officers he did not work for him, Merring said.

On Friday, the Warren County prosecutors office announced Merring was charged with a disorderly persons offense for violating the emergency order. Merring was issued a summons and released pending a future court date.

I was not open. Thats all I have to say, Merring said.

In an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy has closed all schools in the state, ordered people to stay at home except for necessary travel, banned social gatherings, and ordered non-essential retail businesses to close until further notice.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PURCHASE A BRUNSWICK POOL TABLE FROM RACK & ROLL BILLIARD HALL and MUSEUM! Are your children... Posted by Rack & Roll Billiard Hall and Museum on Sunday, March 15, 2020

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 18:55:49|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 28, 2020 shows the donation ceremony in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. China on Saturday donated protective medical supplies worth 830,000 yuan (116,961 U.S. dollars) to Mongolia to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical supplies include a total of 500,000 masks and 5,000 fast test kits. (Photo by Garid/Xinhua)

ULAN BATOR, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday donated protective medical supplies worth 830,000 yuan (116,961 U.S. dollars) to Mongolia to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The medical supplies include a total of 500,000 masks and 5,000 fast test kits.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global challenge. The Chinese government and people will continue to stand and work with Mongolia in fight against the disease," Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Chai Wenrui said in a speech during the donation ceremony.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chinese side for donating the much-needed supplies, such as fast test kits, protective suits and surgical masks," said Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin, who also heads the State Emergency Commission.

"We are glad that under the strong leadership of the Chinese government, Chinese people have started bringing the COVID-19 epidemic under control, thousands of COVID-19 patients have been cured, and people's lives have slowly returned to normal across China. I want to emphasize that this gives the Mongolian government and people the confidence that we all can win the epidemic," said Enkhtuvshin.

As of Saturday, a total of 12 people, including a French national and 11 Mongolian citizens, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mongolia, whose conditions remain stable, according to the National Center for Communicable Diseases.
'That way, it will be helpful for India because by April, temperatures will be in the late 30s and early 40s...'

'So, if we are able to sustain these 21 days, and go to that temperature zone, it will be a way of nature protecting us.'

IMAGE: The ultrastructural morphology exhibited by the 2019 novel coronavirus is seen in an illustration released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, US, on January 29, 2020. Photograph: Reuters

Dr Himanshu Reddy Dandu of the King George's Medical University in Lucknow has been leading his team in fighting the coronavirus.

"I am an optimist and I feel if we hold on for another 3-4 weeks, we will tide over for now. But we should build our infrastructure and be ready for everything. There is always a possibility that it can again come back in the winter," Dr Dandu tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com.

You are leading the team in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. How different is this battle compared to what you have been doing so far?

The main thing is it is a novel virus and we were sure that what was needed was to not let it spread in the community.

So, we are trying to prevent patients spreading it to others, and also to our own medical fraternity and healthcare workers.

We also want to ensure that we don't take it home and spread to society as a whole.

For example, even if I only have a mild infection, if I spread to someone in society with low immunity, he can have problems. So, we have to stay in one place, away from society.

We medical doctors also quarantine ourselves which is quite different from what we have been doing for other patients.

Normally when we treat, we only take basic precautions like cleaning, etc. Then, we go back home and meet everybody. But now we are not doing that. We are avoiding contact with others as much as possible.

It was reported that one of your junior doctors got infected. How safe are those who treat covid-19 patients?

World over, healthcare workers are at high risk.

Yes, one of our residents got infected even though he was wearing the (protective) gear. He was the one who sampled one of the patients who was positive.

It is not only while wearing the gear but while removing it also, you have to be careful.

If there is a slight mistake in the order of the whole gear, there is a risk of you touching yourself somewhere where the virus is, and you can get infected.

When you have to wear the PPE (personal protective equipment), you should know how to wear it and remove it properly.

Anyway, the doctor is fine and normal now, and not having any symptoms.

Does that mean healthcare personnel have to be trained for this?

Yes, we are training more and more teams. I was leading the first team and also controlling other things. Then, we had a second team that worked for seven days which then went in for a quarantine of 14 days. Now we have a third team.

We are training more teams so that nobody gets too much of exposure. Every team works for seven days and then a quarantine of 14 days in the hospital. That's the cycle we have planned.

UP is one of the most populous states in India and so far you have reported 37 cases. Has community spread started there?

I don't think so. We have been checking all the symptomatic patients who have come here. We have also checked all the healthcare workers. But none of them had any positivity.

So, till now, we have not seen anything that leads to a community spread.

India has declared a lockdown of 21 days. The WHO chief has said that social distancing alone is not enough to fight the coronavirus. It should go beyond that.

The lockdown has its own effects like it decreases the rapidity with which the virus spreads.

Social distancing also helps in breaking the cycle for a certain period of time so that we are able to reinforce everything and prepare to fight the virus, like increasing the number of ventilatory beds, the strength of the hospital, readying more teams, etc. That way, you will have more capability.

WHO may talk about killing the virus, but we need to have a concrete treatment though various trials are going on. But it will take quite some time for a vaccine to come. It may not come in the next 1-2  years. But we can't sit idle and let people die.

Social distancing is part of the fight itself. With the lockdown, you can decrease the rate of increase and also quarantine. If you keep the high-risk patients isolated, the rate of mortality will be less.

Is it like quarantining only the vulnerable population, the elderly, and let others to develop resistance?

Sort of. Yes, the theory is that the elderly is quarantined, and the rest of the people develop some sort of immunity, then the spread of the virus can be contained. That's what happens with most viruses.

That's what the UK is trying to find out, that is, how much of immunity and how much of antibodies are developing among the young population. When the body develops antibodies, your body gets immunity.

Do you feel what the UK is following is a better method to fight the virus?

We don't know really. It has been a short time to know the results. It will take 3-4 months for herd immunity to develop. And you need 60% of the population to develop herd immunity.

We also have to see whether the immunity developed against coronavirus sustains, whether it is a temporary immunity or permanent immunity. For example, for influenza, you have much longer immunity. So, it will determine how well the herd immunity will act.

There are also studies which say the viruses act differently in different population groups.

A study conducted at MIT found that the spread of coronavirus is much less in high temperatures and high humidity conditions.

Do you feel that could be a reason why the virus is not spreading exponentially in India while it was very high in the northern hemisphere?

I do feel so. I have been looking at the map where the virus spread was more. It is quite a rudimentary analysis. But if you look at Thailand, it had the second highest cases outside China in the beginning of January, but till now, they had only 800-900 cases with very low mortality.

I am pretty sure Italy has a better healthcare system, but still Thailand is doing much better.

If you take Pakistan also, they have more than 1,000 cases but only 9 mortalities.

So, the virus appears to be acting differently in different population groups.

And most of the coronaviruses become weak in high temperatures and high humidity. That way, it will be helpful for India because by April, temperatures will be in the late 30s and early 40s (degrees centigrade).

So, if we are able to sustain these 21 days, and go to that temperature zone, it will be a way of nature protecting us.

How long do we have to wait till we can heave a sigh of relief?

Right now, we have more than 800 (as of March 27) positive cases. We need to have a fall in the number of cases, and only then we will know whether it is really coming down.

In China, the number of cases has fallen down drastically. They do not have any internal spread; they have only cases in those who are coming back.

Korea also is seeing a big drop.

In the case of South Korea, it is said their success is because they tested everyone.

I totally agree that they controlled it by testing. They tested everyone. They had multiple testing booths everywhere; they had drive-in testing too.

They even made public the names of those who were positive though some criticised the privacy aspect of it, but they did that so that the others did not go near them. This is one way of attaining success.

But I would look at Thailand for their success as they had the highest number of cases after China and Japan in early January. I would like to know why they could attain success, taking into consideration their infrastructure, climatic condition and the number of people they have.

Yes, Korea had success due to testing and China quarantined people by building hospitals along with lockdowns.

Maybe we need to find a path which is in between, looking at our infrastructure.

About testing, many experts say we are not doing enough testing. Is that the reason why we have so few numbers?

It is a possibility because the number of testing centres are few. So, the number of cases may not be the true number.

We have tested only the symptomatic patients including healthcare workers who are the most close to the positive cases. But none of them are coming positive except for two people. They did some community testing also, but the numbers are less.

The only thing that scares me is, it should not spread to the villages.

Are our villages not safer as they are comparatively isolated from the crowded cities?

They are, but the migrant workers returning can change the scenario.

We have to keep a watch on where the migrant labourers are coming back.

If we provide them with food and money, and keep a watch on them, I am sure we will be able to do a good job.

Anyway, we have closed our borders with no international flights coming from anywhere.

The ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) has now approved the use of anti-malarial drugs for healthcare workers, but some physicians are against it. What is your opinion on this?

The anti-malarial drugs, both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have been tested for a long time on different coronaviruses, and most of the tests showed that there was a decline in the replication of the virus itself.

So, when you give hydroxychloroquine, it is a way of attacking the virus in patients and also protecting the healthcare worker.

If the virus doesn't grow, the healthcare worker will not get it, and you are breaking the chain in the process.

But you have to remember that it is not an alternative to PPE. It is only additional protection.

You cannot rely totally on anti-malarial drugs. The personal protection equipment, the standard precautions and other cleaning systems are the most important.

From your experience, in which direction is it going in India?

We can only talk from anecdotal experience. We have seen the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and swine flu pandemic, then the 2019 influenza pandemic.

The 2009 pandemic started with a bang, but decreased very fast. Influenza had certain herd immunity.

In the case of covid-19, other than the spread and infection profile, it is like the H1N1. They both spread through droplets, attack lungs, and with similar mortality.

I would expect it to come down a bit if we are able to quarantine ourselves.

Many scientists feel we should be in the peak.

I am an optimist and I feel if we hold on for another 3-4 weeks, we will tide over for now. But we should build our infrastructure and be ready for everything. There is always a possibility that it can again come back in the winter.

We saw how the Chinese and Korea controlled it, but we see the number rising in America.

America took a different path. They did very less initial testing. They took a lot of time in quarantining. They neither took the Chinese path nor the Korean path.

But took the Italian path?

Yes, went the Italian way!

Another thing is, in Italy, Spain, the US, there are more elderly population and many of the deaths occurred in old age homes.

We have to also see how China and Korea are being careful even now as people are coming back, and they do not want to see a second or third wave of the virus.

What I mean is, we have to be on our guard later also, when we open our borders and people start coming back.

When the first three students came from Wuhan, they were quarantined in Kerala and allowed to meet their families after they completed the quarantine of 14 days.

Don't you think the situation would have been different if we had quarantined all those who came back from Europe, US, etc and let them in only after quarantine?

Yes, the situation would have been different. Russia did that. They quarantined everyone who entered the country in separate buildings.

We could have also done that in all the hotels after converting them as quarantine centres.

Maybe that would have changed the course of the disease. It would have been a better method of doing the quarantine system than the home quarantine system.
Medical staff help each other wear protective clothes at a field hospital in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, February 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

The Health Ministry Friday night declared seven patients in HCMC free of the Covid-19 virus after testing negative three times in a row.

All seven patients were treated at the Cu Chi field hospital, around 70 kilometers (43 miles) northwest of downtown HCMC. They will be discharged from the hospital on Sunday and Monday. After discharge, they will continue to be quarantined at medical facilities near their homes and their health monitored.

Among the patients to be discharged are a 25-year-old man in Tan Binh District, who was confirmed infected with the virus March 13 after working and having dinner with an infected businesswoman in the south central province of Binh Thuan, and a 53-year-old Czech citizen who had come into contact with some Italian nationals in his home country before flying to Saigon and being confirmed positive on March 14.

The others are a 36-year-old woman in District 2 who flew back from Switzerland, a 28-year-old woman from Go Vap District whod come into contact with her colleague in Tan Binh District, and a female overseas student in District 7 who returned from the U.S. The trio were confirmed positive for novel coronavirus on March 17.

The two remaining patients are a 48-year-old woman who resides in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu who returned from London on March 15 and was confirmed infected on March 19; and a 21 year-old Vietnamese woman living in Binh Thanh District returning from Spain, who was confirmed positive on March 20.

Under Health Ministry regulations, a person infected with the novel coronavirus is deemed healthy once she/he shows no sign of fever for three days and tests negative twice in three days. Other signs include improved clinical symptoms, overall stable status and vital signs, normal organ function and improved chest X-ray readings.

At the moment, 21 other Covid-19 patients in Vietnam have tested negative twice and are waiting for another test to confirm them free of the virus before being discharged. Meanwhile, 23 other patients have tested negative for the first time.

As of Saturday morning, the nation had confirmed 169 and discharged 20, including three in Da Nang City on Friday.

Many of remaining active cases are Vietnamese nationals retuning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners visiting from the same regions. Starting March 22, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 27,200 people in 199 countries and territories.
A four-year-old girl from Alabama who disappeared on Wednesday has been found less than a mile from where she wandered off.

Vadie Sides disappeared for almost a full 48 hours before she was finally located on Friday afternoon.

Authorities said the girl wandered away from a babysitter who is in her 70s, while in a backyard.

Vadie, from the small community of Loachapoka just west of Auburn was found in woods by responders who had bee searching for her.

Vadie Sides, 4, had been missing for 48 hours and was found on Friday afternoon having gone missing on Wednesday. The youngster was found in woods not far from her home near Auburn along with her dog

Vadie is pictured here holding one of her dogs when they were a puppy

This is the dog that followed her into the woods and stayed by her side for two full days

Hundreds of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies helped search for the youngster along with drones and horses.

Her dog was still loyally by her side but ran off as rescuers approached.

'One of the volunteers that was probably 50 yards to my right  heard a dog bark,' one rescuer told WRBL. 'The dog was actually kind of spooked and came at the man a little bit and then saw the line of about 30 of us, and the dog turned around and went down the hill.'

Volunteers ran after the dog which was not brought out of the woods at the same time as Vadie.

'Praise God Vadie was there, she popped her head up, we saw her little red hair,' one rescuer said. 'I'll tell you what, she was scratched up on the knees and the forearms but otherwise in great spirits, she was just talking like 'no big deal'  it's truly a miracle.'

Rescuers searched for just under 48 hours as they desperately tried to find the four-year-old

Rescuers carry four-year-old Vadie Sides out of the woods in Lee County, Alabama on Friday. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said the girl was found with a dog at her side after two days in the woods. Authorities said the girl wandered away from a sitter while in a backyard.

Vadie's family were there to greet her as soon as she was found.

'I'm so happy and grateful to God for watching over my beautiful granddaughter and bringing her safely back to us,'' said Vadie's grandmother, Harriet Sides to Al.com.

The delight was shared by Lee County sheriff's officials who were overjoyed that she was found safe.

'No words are capable of describing everyone's relief,' Sheriff Jay Jones told WSFA.

'We are just, ecstatic might be a good word. She is in good shape, she is responsive, she is talking, she's alert. She is in good physical condition, and the best part is she is with her mama.

When they found Vadie, a volunteer said: 'Praise God Vadie was there, she popped her head up, we saw her little red hair. I'll tell you what, she was scratched up on the knees and the forearms but otherwise in great spirits, she was just talking like 'no big deal'  it's truly a miracle

Sheriff Jones said that all of the volunteers game with the one goal of finding the little girl.

'Our thanks just don't seem like enough, but they have our sincere and heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices they made,' Jones said.

'Several volunteers said this is such good news at a time when we need it' Jones said, '...and I couldn't agree more. This was really good, solid, positive news in a time when I think people need it the most, with all the medical concerns going on.'

Although the dog ran away when rescuers approached, it later came home on its own.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  A legislator from the House of Representatives has called on his fellow officials to stop deploying Filipino health care workers overseas for the meantime, in view of the health crisis in the country caused by the coronavirus disease.

Patriotism and self-protection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic demand the temporary ban on overseas deployment of Filipino healthcare professionals and workers like physicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians, Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement issued Saturday.

Lagman argued that with the unabated rise in the number of patients with COVID-19, as well as suspected virus carriers in the Philippines, the country needs as many frontline human health resources as possible who could assist the government in its efforts to contain the disease.

But he said medical workers should be compensated more, should they decide to take him up on his offer.

The ban must be coupled with a hefty increase in the salaries and allowances, including hazard pay of medical frontline personnel in both public and private health facilities, Lagman said.

There were reports that the United States would ease its entry requirements for foreign healthcare workers so they could be lured into working there, he said.

Currently, COVID-19 has spread faster across the U.S. than any other country in the world, as it posted the highest number of infected people, overwhelming its health care system.

In the Philippines, the number of individuals afflicted by the disease has exceeded 800, after the Department of Health reported 96 new cases on Friday. Meanwhile, the nationwide death toll has risen to 54, while the recoveries have gone up to 31. At least nine of the fatalities were Filipino doctors.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2020) - Dunnedin Ventures Inc. (the "Company" or "Dunnedin") (TSXV: DVI) announces that, following the receipt of all necessary approvals, effective April 1, 2020, the Company's name will be officially changed to Kodiak Copper Corp. ("Kodiak"), and Kodiak's common shares will start trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "KDK") on the basis of five (5) pre-consolidation common shares for every one (1) post-consolidation common share (the "Consolidation"). See Dunnedin's news release dated February 13, 2020 for more details on the Company's name change and the Consolidation.

Webinar

The Company will host a Webinar to launch Kodiak Copper Corp. and discuss plans moving forward. The webinar will take place on Thursday, April 2nd at 11:00am PDT/2:00pm EDT. Management will be available to answer questions following the presentation.

To join webinar by computer, register from this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_B9jtRP1pQrOnxQQ6P83X9w

Meeting ID: 615-651-165#

Or to dial-in only use:

Canada +1 647 558 0588 USA +1 929 205 6099 UK +44 203 481 5240 Germany +49 69 7104 9922 Switzerland +41 43 210 71 08

The Company currently has 183,273,333 pre-Consolidation common shares issued and outstanding. After giving effect to the Consolidation, the Company will have approximately 36,654,666 post-Consolidation common shares issued and outstanding, subject to the rounding of fractional common shares.

The new CUSIP and ISIN numbers for the post-Consolidation common shares are 50012K106 and CA50012K1066, respectively. Letters of transmittal providing instructions on exchanging pre-Consolidation share certificates for post-Consolidation share certificates to be issued in the name of Kodiak Copper Corp. were mailed by Computershare Investor Services Inc. ("Computershare") to the Company's registered shareholders together with the Company's proxy materials for its annual general and special meeting held on March 25, 2020. Registered shareholders are encouraged to send their share certificates, together with their letter of transmittal, to Computershare in accordance with the instructions in the letter of transmittal. Beneficial shareholders holding common shares in the capital of the Company through an intermediary should be aware that the intermediary may have different procedures for processing the Consolidation and are encouraged to contact their respective intermediaries in this regard.

No fractional common shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. Where the Consolidation would otherwise result in an entitlement to a fractional common share, the number of post-Consolidation common shares issued will be rounded up to the next greater whole number of common shares if the fractional entitlement is equal to or greater than 0.5 and shall be rounded down to the next lesser whole number of common shares if the fractional entitlement is less than 0.5.

The Company's outstanding stock options and warrants will be adjusted on the same basis (5:1) to reflect the Consolidation in accordance with their respective terms, with proportionate adjustments being made to exercise prices.

For further information please contact Mr. Knox Henderson, Investor Relations, at 604-551-2360 or khenderson@dunnedinventures.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Dunnedin Ventures Inc.

Claudia Tornquist

President & CEO

About Dunnedin Ventures Inc.

Dunnedin is focused on its portfolio of 100% owned copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA. The Company's most advanced asset is the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Trough in south-central British Columbia, Canada, where the Company made a discovery of high-grade mineralization in 2020. Dunnedin also holds the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project in Arizona, USA, near the world-class Bagdad mine. The Company's Trapper copper-gold porphyry project is located in the northern Golden Triangle region of British Columbia. All three of Dunnedin's porphyry projects have been historically drilled and present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits.

The Company also holds the advanced-stage Kahuna diamond project in Nunavut, Canada. Kahuna hosts a high-grade, near surface inferred diamond resource and numerous kimberlite pipe targets.

Dunnedin's founder and chairman is Chris Taylor who is well-known for his gold discovery success with Great Bear Resources. Dunnedin is also part of the Discovery Group of Companies led by John Robins, one of the most successful mining entrepreneurs in Canada.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the planned completion of the effective date of the Consolidation and the change of the Company's name. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53900
Isabelle Wright and her fiance Ben Moore wanted the big wedding.

After meeting through a church running club, the Beaumont couple planned for months to be married under the wedding tree standing next to Wrights home  named by family members for its history of being the backdrop for past ceremonies. Nearly 250 guests were set to attend the wedding this weekend.

That is, until the coronavirus pandemic altered the young couples plan. Last week, they contacted guests telling them not to attend in the interest of safety.

We sat down together and just decided it was best for everyone not to have the big ceremony, Wright said. At first it was sad and a little frustrating, but as a family, we came to terms with it.

As the sun shown through the shadows of the large family oak tree Friday afternoon, Wright, 20, and Moore, 21, still had their ceremony, just in front of a much smaller crowd. Only about a dozen immediate family members were present as they said their vows.

The couple is one of many newlyweds or soon-to-be spouses who have changed their plans to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Their marriage is more important to them than a big wedding day, said Isabelles mom Shannon Wright. They have done a beautiful job at keeping proper perspective even though they have felt disappointed.

While many of Wrights family members are either local or live in Houston, most of Moores relatives reside out of state. Hes originally from Mississippi and his brother currently lives in Florida, meaning a lot of travel if the original ceremony would have taken place.

When the couple called guests to tell them not to come, most were more than understanding. Some even thanked them for making the decision, they said.

We didnt want to put anyone in a bad or uncomfortable situation, Moore said. That was the biggest thing and I think everyone understood why we were doing it.

Logistically, downsizing the wedding wasnt a huge hassle for the couple. They still used the same flowers as originally planned, and were able to cancel the food order for the 250 people who were supposed to attend.

A small number of chairs were set up on the familys lawn for those few who were in attendance Friday. The wedding was livestreamed on the father of the brides Facebook account for all wishing to watch the ceremony.

While Wright and Moore adapted and held their ceremony under the unusual circumstances, other couples such as Natasha Williams and Josh Horn have chosen to postpone their nuptials for the time being.

Currently living in Atlanta, the couple had planned to hold their wedding Saturday in Williams hometown of Nederland. With both Williams and her fiance Horn having older relatives who would need to travel, it didnt seem safe to go on as planned.

It was difficult for my dad and we wanted him to walk me down the aisle, Williams said.

The pandemic hasnt stopped local couples from getting marriage licenses for future weddings, or getting married on the spot at the courthouse. In fact, those numbers rose this week, according to Jefferson County Clerk Carolyn Guidry.

Her office gave out 10 licenses alone on Monday and stayed busier than usual throughout the week. The only people allowed in the courthouse are those getting marriage licenses or background checks for jobs.

It was like everyone wanted each others last name before the world ends, Guidry said. It was almost comical how many people were coming in.

As for Wright and Moore, the couple had planned to take a trip to the Bahamas for their honeymoon but decided to cancel. Instead, theyll have a staycation in the days following Fridays wedding.

There was kind of no point in us going because everything is going to be shut down anyway, so we figured wed just stay home, Moore said. We went and bought some board games and movies to make the best out of it.

They hope to have a bigger event in September, during which they will recreate the wedding ceremony and have a reception. Ideally, that would take place on Sept. 5  the anniversary of their first date.

Who knows how long this coronavirus situation is all going to last, but it would be pretty cool to have all our family with us to celebrate on that day, Wright said.

mfaye@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/mattGfaye
Coronavirus outbreak: India has recorded 149 new cases in last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 873. The highest number of cases have been reported from Maharastra, wherein there are 177 active cases, 3 foreign nationals, 25 cured and 5 deaths.

India has reported 149 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus- COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours (highest in a single day), taking the total count of confirmed cases to 873. Amongst which, there are 826 active cases, 47 foreign national, 79 cured/discharged and 19 deaths. Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state by coronavirus outbreak in India, with 177 active cases, 3 foreign nationals, 25 cured and 5 deaths. Kerala is the second worst affected state, followed by Maharashtra, with 165 active cases, 8 foreign nationals, 11 cured/discharged.

As per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data, the 19 deaths have been reported from the states of Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

Globally, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases has reached 5,97,252. Out of which, 1,33,363 recovered and about 27, 355 died. The highest number of COVID-19 positive cases has been reported from USA (1, 04,671), followed by Italy (86,498) and China (81, 394). Speaking on COVID-19 pandemic, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently said that these are tragic numbers but one must also remember that more than hundred thousand people have also recovered.

149 new #Coronavirus positive cases have been reported in last 24 hours, total positive cases in India now stand at 873. https://t.co/1XkxnoDWTj  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

There are now, more than half a million confirmed cases of #COVID19 and more than 20,000 deaths. These are tragic numbers, but let us also remember that around the world, more than a hundred thousand people have recovered: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO pic.twitter.com/KcUSQFDKYl  ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2020

As India maintains a nationwide lockdown till April 14, hundreds and thousands of migrant workers took to the streets last night to head to their native places barefoot, in the absence of public transport. The migrants complained that they are not getting work here so the only option left for them is to go back to their hometowns. To control the situation, the government has arranged for 1000 buses to take the migrant workers back to their respective hometowns amid the lockdown.

Arrangement of 1000 buses have been done to take the migrant workers to their respective hometowns amid #CoronavirusLockdown. Transportation Officers, bus drivers and conductors were called by the CM last night to make all the arrangements: Government of Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/Vr2Dnkw6ID  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 28, 2020

#WATCH Huge gathering at Ghazipur near Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border as people wait to board special buses arranged by UP govt for their native districts in Uttar Pradesh. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/PgVM6eSank  ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020

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The EU announced Saturday that it would grant 250 million euros to Tunisia to help fight the deadly new coronavirus and the adverse socioeconomic effects of a lockdown.

The bloc's enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi pledged the aid in a telephone call with Tunisia's foreign minister Noureddine Erray, according to a joint statement by the EU delegation in Tunis and the ministry.

Tunisia has so far declared five deaths from the COVID-19 respiratory disease, among 227 people confirmed to have been infected by the virus.

A nighttime curfew came into effect on March 18, and daytime restrictions were imposed last Sunday, limiting movements to those of "extreme necessity".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Others are those that have the option of fine, those that have been in the Centers on holding charges in respect of offences that the Magistrate that sent them to Correctional Service Formations do not have the jurisdiction to try the cases, among others.
White House Chronicle (WETA at 9 a.m.) How San Antonio is becoming a city of the future with mobility, sustainability and access to services.
The dreaded coronavirus pandemic continues to intensify as it rapidly increases across the globe, affecting more than 175 countries.

Europe has been badly hit by the outbreak and as a result, most countries under the EU have announced lockdowns in the hope of slowing the pandemic.

However, even with the strict government-imposed order, these wealthy countries cannot escape the effects of COVID-19 -- even the royalties.

First Royal Dies Due to COVID-19

It was recently announced that a member of the Bourbon-Parma royal family has died due to coronavirus.

Princess Maria Teresa passed away at the age of 86 in Paris, following a statement made by her brother, Prince Sixte Henri of Bourbon-Parma.

"HE. Don Sixto Enrique de Borbon states that on the afternoon of this Thursday, March 26, 2020, his sister Maria Teresa de Borbon-Parma & Borbon-Busset, became a victim of the coronavirus COVID-19. She died in Paris at the age of eighty-six," Prince Sixte Henri wrote on his Facebook page.

The French-born princess was said to be the first royal who died due to coronavirus that is sweeping across the world.

Princess Maria Teresa was born in Paris in July 1933 and has five other siblings to parents Prince Xavier and Madeleine de Bourbon.

The late royal was a member of a cadet branch of the current dynasty of Spain, the House of Bourbon.

She died without marrying or having a child of her own, but she is survived by her six nieces and nephews namely Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Princess Margarita, Princess Maria-Caroline and Prince Jaime.

Other Royals Tested Positive for Coronavirus

Aside from the princess, other royals have been affected by the dreaded virus.

Karl von Habsburg, the Archduke of Austria, was the first royal who has been diagnosed by COVID-19.

The 59-year-old head of the House of Habsburg has been experiencing flu-like symptoms for more than a week before he asked to be tested.

"It's annoying, but I'm fine. It's not the Black Plague," the royal mentioned. "I thought it was the usual flu. When a friend called me that he had a positive test at a congress in Switzerland, I was also tested."

Shortly after this, Prince Albert II of Monaco also appeared to have contracted the same virus. Following this, the royal family of Monaco has released an official statement encouraging the public to avoid non-essential gatherings and to take things seriously.

"His Serene Highness urges the people of Monaco to respect containment measures and to limit contact with others to a minimum."

The 62-year-old prince was said to be continuing his work virtually while being treated at Princess Grace Hospital, named after his late mother Grace Kelly.

Lastly, Queen Elizabeth's son and heir to the throne, Prince Charles was also tested positive after the royal displayed mild symptoms.

The House of Clarence released an official statement saying: "The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus. He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual."

As for his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, she was also tested and the results were negative.

Both Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles are now self-isolating in their Balmoral Castle in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland,
Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock will risk infecting others with coronavirus by failing to isolate for long enough, a doctor and Labour MP is warning.

Rosena Allin-Khan criticised the government for failing to adopt World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines  that people with the disease should stay at home for 14 days, even after their symptoms disappear.

Instead, the prime minister and the health secretary  quoting NHS advice  have both said they will go back to work in just seven days after testing positive.

This is deeply worrying, Ms Allin-Khan told The Independent. I just dont understand why we dont play it safe and follow the WHO guidelines.

The GP, who has drawn praise for heading to the front line of her local London hospital to help it cope with the crisis, added: I will make this point every single day until government advice changes.

The WHO are clear: you can be infectious for 14 days after symptoms stop, so seven days of isolation just doesnt cut the mustard.

After Mr Johnson revealed he had been struck down with the virus, No 10 made clear he would only remain holed up in Downing Street for one week.

Similarly, Mr Hancock tweeted: From next Thursday, once I'm out of self-isolation and I hope with no more symptoms, then I'll be able to get back stuck in and into the office where necessary.

Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, who is also infected, will also emerge from isolation after just one week.

But the WHO guidelines state: People infected with Covid-19 can still infect others after they stop feeling sick, so these measures should continue for at least two weeks after symptoms disappear.

Visitors should not be allowed until the end of this period.

The advice was put out a fortnight ago, by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHOs director general and its frontperson in tackling the global response to the pandemic.

Furthermore, UK victims of the virus are only being told to isolate for seven days from the onset of symptoms  while the WHO recommends isolation for 14 days after symptoms go.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

The controversy comes after the government was strongly criticised for failing to follow the organisations plea to test, test, test to get on top of the outbreak.

Instead, only patients admitted to hospital with severe symptoms, and those in care homes where there is an outbreak, are being tested  although NHS staff now will be.

A No 10 spokesperson defended not following international guidelines, saying: "We have world-class experts advising the prime minister. We take their advice and have confidence in their judgements."

The NHSs advice on isolation says it need only be for 14 days if you live with someone who has symptoms, from the day those symptoms appear.

This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear, the NHS website states.
The 100% electric New Renault Zoe Z.E. 50 has arrived in Joe Mallon Motors with an extended range of 395km, greater performance, a completely redesigned interior, a fresh new exterior look and the most flexible charging on the market, priced from 26,990 including SEAI grant.

Renault Ireland brand ambassador and broadcaster Doireann Garrihy was recently on hand to announce the arrival of New ZOE on Irish shores.

Priced from 26,990 with three generous trim levels, the third generation New Zoe is the most affordable electric car in Ireland with 395km range  saving customers 9,000 versus other long-range electric cars. Zoe has been the best-selling electric car in Europe since its launch.

Customers can now take exclusive test drives at Joe Mallon Motors, giving them the chance to get into New Zoe and experience it for themselves.

There are three trim levels available with the New Zoe  starting with entry-level Play, Iconic and GT Line.

New Zoe comes with a more powerful 52kWh battery, a new R135 (135 hp) motor alongside the current R110 (108 hp) motor, a completely redesigned interior with premium materials and customisable 10-inch TFT instrument cluster as standard, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, new front-end treatment with revised bumpers, more sculpted bonnet, chrome grille inserts and holographic-effect Renault diamond logo, and full LED headlamps as standard across the range.

New Zoe can also avail of fast 50kW Direct Current (DC) charging for the first time - 50 kW fast charging can add around 145km of range in as little as half an hour. Zoe remains the only car with standard 22kWh AC charging capability through the Chameleon Charger  making Zoe by far the most suitable electric car for Ireland's public charging network.

Renault are rewarding customers for choosing a cleaner, lower emissions car with Renault Carbon Rewards on New Renault Zoe. Customers are guaranteed savings of 3,500 on New Zoe with 1,000 Carbon Cashback and 2.01% APR (saving customers 2,500 on interest payments compared to high street banks). This offer is available at Joe Mallon Motors until March 31 next.

www.joemallonmotors.ie
Now that U.S. and foreign airlines have pared down their international schedules to almost nothing  or in many cases, have temporarily stopped flying altogether  some airports like San Francisco International are trying to cope by shutting down unused spaces. Meanwhile, U.S. carriers are now trying to deal with plunging demand on domestic routes by canceling flights right and left, especially on routes to Hawaii.

This week, we have new details about suspension of domestic service by Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines; deep new schedule cuts by Southwest, United and Delta; and more news about international route adjustments from a number of airlines. And remember those China flights that were supposed to come back? We have news about that, too.

On Friday afternoon, United Airlines broadcast dire message about its flight schedules from top management, stating: "We are currently planning to make even deeper cuts in May and June. And, based on how doctors expect the virus to spread and how economists expect the global economy to react, we expect demand to remain suppressed for months after that, possibly into next year."

To get a sense of how drastic the reduction in passenger demand is becoming, look no further than the Transportation Security Administrations daily count of airport screenings. On Wednesday, TSA agents screened 239,234 individuals; the same day a year ago, that number was 2,273,811. Thats a decline of 90 percent. (But its just as well that TSA can reduce checkpoint staffing; in the past two weeks 28 of its screening officers have tested positive for coronavirus.)



As airlines slash service, airports are struggling to trim their own capacity and operations. San Francisco International Airport said this week that from April 1 through the end of May, it will close down the International Terminals Boarding Area A side (Gates A1-A15) and start using Boarding Area G (Gates G1-G14) exclusively for all international flights.

In the recent days, an average of less than 12 flights per day have departed from Boarding Area A. By April 1st, international flights at SFO will have been reduced by 52 percent, an airport spokesperson said. That also means closing one security checkpoint and consolidating Customs & Border Protection inspections for all international flights. Boarding Area G, typically used primarily for United and Star Alliance flights, is connected to Domestic Terminal 3 via a post-security walkway.

More examples: Delta is shutting down some airport facilities (in addition to closing most of its Sky Clubs, as we noted last week): At Los Angeles International, Deltas Terminal 3 check-in counters have closed, so all passengers should check in at the Terminal 2 counters -- although self-check-in kiosks and TSA checkpoints remain open in both T2 and T3. The airline is also consolidating gates across terminals in Atlantas airport, minimizing the use of portions of Terminals C, D and E. At LaGuardia, check-in for all Delta flights has been consolidated in Terminal C, and at New York JFK all check-in now takes place in Terminal 4.

At Uniteds Newark hub, the Terminal A TSA checkpoint has closed, so United passengers departing from A must check in at Terminal C and take a post-security bus to Terminal A; and at Uniteds Houston Bush Intercontinental hub, the Terminal B TSA checkpoint has closed, with check-ins consolidated into Terminals C and E. Londons Gatwick Airport is closing its North Terminal for at least a month, and flight operations in its South Terminal will be restricted to the hours of 2 to 10 p.m.

In addition to the airport lounge closures recently put in place by major U.S. carriers, some private pay-per-use lounge operators have also been affected. For instance, Escape Lounges said this week it has closed all of its U.S. locations until further notice. Escape has lounges at 11 U.S. airports, including Oakland and Sacramento.

Route news: We recently noted that Hawaiian Airlines said it was going to suspend most of its long-haul service, and now the airline has issued some details. The states government has issued a mandatory 14-day quarantine order for all arriving passengers, which is likely to remain in effect well into May, so anyone traveling there must agree to isolate themselves  not an ideal way to spend your island vacation. (By the way, Hawaii is not the only state with a domestic travel restriction. Florida, Maryland and Texas have ordered all passengers coming from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival.)

Anyway, Hawaiian said this week that during April, its only mainland service will include one daily A330 non-stop between San Francisco-Honolulu and Los Angeles-Honolulu. And it doesnt expect many passengers to use those flights.

The California routes present cargo opportunities to help maintain service for shippers affected by the reduction in passenger flights due to the state of Hawaiis mandatory 14-day quarantine for overseas arrivals, Hawaiian said. The airline noted that it will continue to maintain a healthy inter-island schedule of 41 flights a day during April.

Alaska Airlines, which in mid-March had announced a modest 10 percent reduction in capacity, took that up several notches this week. It now plans to slash its systemwide schedule by 70 percent during April and May, canceling about 900 of its usual 1,300 daily flights. Some regions we serve will see an even greater reduction of service, such as Hawaii, where the governor has issued a mandatory, 14-day self-isolation quarantine for all travelers entering the state. The state of Alaska has also initiated a similar quarantine process, Alaska noted.

Other than those two markets, Alaska said it expects to maintain our basic network footprint, but with significantly reduced frequencies of service and the elimination of nearly all red-eye flights. The airline said its new cutbacks are mostly affecting selected routes with lower load factors, and noted that passenger demand in recent days has plummetedsome of our flights have had only several passengers on board.

The Hawaii quarantine order is also having a huge impact on Southwests schedule to the islands from the Bay Area, which is just part of a much larger systemwide cutback. Southwest is eliminating about 1,500 of its 4,000 daily flights until our previously revised schedule begins on April 14. That earlier revision called for a 20 percent capacity reduction from April 14 through June 5. The carrier noted that because of daily fluctuations in its schedule, it cant provide numbers of flights canceled in specific markets.

But in the case of Hawaii, Southwest said it will consolidate all operations starting April 5 into just two daily flights between Oakland and Honolulu. On inter-island routes, it will keep operating two daily roundtrips between Honolulu and most neighbor island airports. The Hawaii cutbacks are expected to last through May 2. The airline has also suspended service to all of its international destinations at least through May 4, including flights to Los Cabos from San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento.

Delta this week also acknowledged government-imposed travel restrictions by announcing even more schedule reductions, including flights to Hawaii. Delta service from Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis-St. Paul to Honolulu was suspended Thursday; Seattle-Kona flights stopped Friday and will be followed by Seattle-Kauai on April 2. A number of Delta routes to Canada got the same treatment this week, including Atlanta-Vancouver; Cincinnati-Toronto; Minneapolis-Montreal; LaGuardia to Montreal and Ottawa; Salt Lake City to Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary; MSP-Toronto and MSP-Vancouver; to be followed by Seattle-Calgary on April 2.

Uniteds latest schedule update, which includes an overall domestic reduction of 52 percent, shows continuing service from SFO to Honolulu, Kauai, Kona and Maui, but a suspension of several other Hawaii routes including LAX-Kona, LAX-Kauai, LAX-Maui, Denver-Kona, Denver-Kauai, Newark-Honolulu and Chicago-Maui. United also said it now plans to discontinue all service to Canada as of April 1.

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Chris McGinnis

Remember our "hopeful news" post stating that Air China, China Southern and China Eastern would fly back to SFO this week? Well, that's not going to happen after all. With government officials now fearing that a COVID-19 outbreak could return via visitors arriving from currently afflicted countries like the U.S., China has banned foreign visitors and nonstop service between SFO and mainland China, effective Sunday and lasting for at least a month, according to an SFO spokesperson. The move will affect movement of both passengers and air cargo.

We also have some new information on service cancellations by foreign carriers. Last week, we noted that British Airways was due to suspend London Heathrow-San Jose service through April 16, along with several other U.S. routes. But in a route update this week, BA shows San Jose service suspended from March 29 through April 30. The latest update also shows BAs San Francisco service canceled from March 29 through April 3, then operating one flight a day instead of two (and using a 747 for that single daily flight) from April 4-30. At LAX, BAs three daily LHR flights are scrapped March 29-April 3, and then one daily 787 flight will operate through April 30.

Deltas SkyTeam partner KLM said this week its reduced schedule from March 29 through May 3 will include the continuation of some intercontinental routes, including seven flights a week from Amsterdam to New York JFK, three a week to Los Angeles and Atlanta, and two a week to Chicago.

Turkish Airlines this week canceled all its international flights from Istanbul except to Chicago, Washington Dulles, and three foreign destinations, effective from March 27 through April 17.

The Big Three Middle Eastern airlines have also jumped on the cancellation bandwagon. Dubai-based Emirates this week suspended most of its international passenger operations, including flights to San Francisco and other points in the U.S. SFO service is currently set to resume July 1 with an A380; dates for Emirates other U.S. service resumptions include LAX, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Boston and Washington Dulles on May 1; New York JFK, Seattle, Houston, Chicago and Orlando on July 1. You can see the specifics here. Etihad said it has suspended all operations through April 10, and then will resume a limited schedule that includes service from Abu Dhabi to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York JFK and Washington Dulles. Qatar Airways latest schedule plan shows continuing but reduced service from Doha to Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Washington Dulles and New York JFK through May 31, although flights to Los Angeles and Philadelphia will be suspended during April and May.

Singapore Airlines said Sunday that it planned to ground almost all of its aircraft and to cut 96 percent of its capacity that had been scheduled through April. But on Friday, new schedule filings from Singapore showed plans to operate some key international routes from April 12-30, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newark and Seattle nonstops, as well as Singapore-Tokyo Narita-LAX service.

In other Pacific markets, Korean Airs latest schedule data for the period March 29 through April 25 shows continuing service from Seoul Incheon to San Francisco with four flights a week, to LAX and JFK with daily service, and to Washington Dulles, Chicago and Honolulu with three flights a week. And Fiji Airways said it is suspending almost all international flights from now through May 31, including its three weekly San Francisco flights and its daily Los Angeles service.

Finally, Mexicos low-cost Volaris said it has decreased capacity by 50 percent through the end of April.

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FRANKENMUTH, MI  The coronavirus pandemic and Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order mean iconic Frankenmuth businesses, including Zehnders and Bavarian Inn, have temporarily closed.

The streets are unusually quiet for springtime in Michigans Little Bavaria, one of the states top tourist destinations. With its family-style chicken dinners, Main Street shopping, dozens of festivals and events, such as Dog Bowl and Zehnders Snowfest, and its enormous Christmas store, Frankenmuth draws visitors from near and far all year long. Bronners Christmas Wonderland alone draws 2 million visitors from around the world annually.

But normal life has come to a halt in Frankenmuth and throughout the state, with schools closed, events canceled and non-essential workers ordered to stay home in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.

On Friday, March 27, the sprawling parking lot at Bronners was desolate, but Christmas music could still be heard playing over the stores outdoor sound system. Next door, Zehnders Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark, which U.S. News & World Report ranked among the top 30 indoor water parks in the world, was closed. Many of the normally bustling shops and restaurants along Main Street were closed, though some eateries continue to offer takeout.

It is very quiet here but we are trying to keep the perspective that it means we are doing this right. Many of our businesses have been closed for about ten days now, Frankenmuth City Manager Bridget Smith said on Thursday. "As a community, we formed a task force a few weeks ago to address this on a consistent level. It includes the schools, the chamber, city, township, all the churches, local health care professionals, and the Frankenmuth Community Foundation. It has been incredibly helpful in getting information to our residents in a consistent and timely manner.

Normally, Bavarian Inn Restaurant and Zehnders Restaurant would be taking reservations and preparing for the busy Easter weekend ahead, but the famed across-the-street competitors are temporarily closed.

Bavarian Inn Restaurant and Castle Shops are closed at least through April 13th. This week Monday through Friday, we do have our food truck, the Bavarian Inn Cluck Truck, open from 12-6pm in our south parking lot. It is not high volume but we wanted to provide an option for people that want to get their chicken fix, Bavarian Inns Amy Zehnder Grossi said in an email to MLive/The Saginaw News. We will not be open for Easter dining this year but are offering a family Easter dinner that guests can take home. We just have to wait and see about Mothers Day.

Zehnder Grossi said the Bavarian Inn Restaurant normally serves 7,200 meals during Easter weekend. Company officials are evaluating whether to reopen the Cluck Truck next week.

While this is a challenging time for all of us, we are leaning on our faith in God and trying to do what is right for our team members and the community," she said.

Al Zehnder, CEO of Zehnders of Frankenmuth, made a similar announcement in a Facebook post this week.

Out of an abundance of caution, and in the best interest of the health of our employees and guests, we have decided to close all operations of Zehnders Restaurant, Zehnders Foodstore and Bakery and takeouts through Z Chefs Cafe effective Wednesday, March 25th," the post reads. Thank you for your support and stay home. We are looking forward to welcoming you back in the near future!

Hundreds of Zehnders fans reacted to the post and dozens commented, many lauding the decision.

Jessica Haynes is marketing and events coordinator at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, part of the Bavarian Inn Corp. which includes the Bavarian Inn Lodge and the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. The shopping center, located at 925 S. Main St., has been closed since March 17.

Our team at Frankenmuth River Place Shops is staying positive and working hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all," Haynes said. While our Bavarian retail center remains closed through April 14, we look forward to reopening and welcoming our guests for a great shopping and event season throughout 2020.

Haynes also confirmed the May 14 Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival is canceled. Other Frankenmuth events are affected, too, including Bringin Back the 80s Festival, which was scheduled to take place April 17 and 18 but has been canceled, and the World Expo of Beer, which normally takes place in May but has been rescheduled for Oct. 2 and 3.

READ MORE:

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

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The spring presidential primary and Supreme Court election remain on track to take place April 7, but a flurry of related activity Friday left major concerns about the safety and practicality of holding the election as scheduled unresolved.

With lawsuits continuing to mount, Gov. Tony Evers on Friday called on the Legislature to send an absentee ballot to every registered voter in the state to minimize in-person voting during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic  a request that drew a quick rebuke from GOP leaders.

On Friday evening the Wisconsin Elections Commission approved Election Day procedures to mitigate the risks, including curbside, drive-through and outdoor options at polling places. Procedures to limit contact between voters and poll workers also were approved.

The commission also recommended that anyone over the age of 65 and those with underlying health problems not serve as poll workers, a move that would drastically cut the already limited supply of poll workers in the state.
Read what is in the news today.

Society

-- Vietnam announced six more patients catching the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Saturday morning, bringing the country's tally to 169, including 149 active cases.

-- A total of 51 out of 149 active COVID-19 patients in Vietnam have tested negative for the novel coronavirus between one and four times, with 21 being eligible to be discharged from the hospital, according to the Ministry of Health.

-- A woman in Hanoi was fined VND200,000 (US$8.6) on Friday by authorities in Hoan Kiem District for not wearing a face mask while being in a crowded public area, violating regulations on COVID-19 prevention.

-- The South Korean Community in Ho Chi Minh City has donated 1,000 safety glasses, 500 bottles of hand sanitizer, and VND30 million ($1,289) in cash to each of two medical centers in District 2 and District 7.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health on Friday asked local medical authorities to sample all people who entered Vietnam from March 8 at their residences.

-- The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has established checkpoints at its three entrances to screen everyone entering the city for risks of COVID-19 infection.

-- 145 Vietnamese people are being stranded in Singapore due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a representative of the group told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Friday night.

-- The Ministry of Public Securitys investigation and security agency on Friday started legal proceedings against and detained three officers of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and a deputy director of the Center for Geological and Mineral Technology, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, for abusing positions and powers while on duty in a smuggling case at Lao Cai International Border Gate in the namesake northern province.

World News

-- The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 594,300 people and killed more than 27,200 others around the world as of Saturday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. More than 124,000 patients have recovered.

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Back before Christmas when St Joseph's Remptortist Church in Dundalk began streaming Mass on the internet, they never imagined a time when parishioners would not be able to attend Mass but have to watch it online.

Now, with Masses on Sundays and week days cancelled, the webcam service is proving indespensible for those who can no longer attend Mass.

'There has been a huge response,' said Fr Noel Kehoe, C.Ss.R., rector and administrator, St Joseph's, revealing that around a thousand people a day are watching the complete Mass.

'From our stats we can tell how many people have stayed and watched the whole Mass, while there are others who watch part of it.'

He said that while technology is proving very useful in allowing them to reach out to offer solace to both parishioners and those from further afield, it 'goes against the grain for us not to be out on the streets meeting people and talking to people.'

'This is our way to offer another way of keeping in touch with people as we all stay at home,' he continued. 'It means we can still be in touch with people and bring solace.'

He revealed that they were getting many messages and requests for prayers from members of the public.

'We are all doing the best we can. As a religious community in a time like this we are realise we are one big family and we are using whatever means we can to keep in touch with our congregation.'

'This is a very difficult time for people for many different reasons and especially for those people of faith who aren't able to receive the sacraments. We are trying to do our own little bit to keep their spirits up

He said that by reaching out to people through their social media channels and the webcam, they are 'building up a sense of solidarity with people all over the country.'

'I feel really proud of the people of Ireland,' Fr Kehoe continued. 'We have a really responsible leadership and we should be very proud of our Taoiseach, especially in comparison with the leaders of some other countries.'

He also praised the response of those who had answered the HSE recruitment call.

The streaming service is provided by churchservices.tv and people can access the stream by logging into the website www.redemptoristsdundalk.ie or churchservices.tv/dundalk.
To encourage the practice of physical distancing, a senior government official on Saturday interacted with the media here using social networking platform.

Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal, who is also the government spokesperson, also held telephonic conversation with the media fraternity and responded to their queries with regard to the government's efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Large number of media persons raised their queries on efforts and measures being taken by the Union Territory government for prevention, containment and management of coronavirus which were responded in detail by the principal secretary.

Meanwhile, the media personnel hailed the initiative of the government for sharing all relevant information with them while maintaining physical distancing.

Kansal appealed to the media persons to believe only in authentic information being provided by the government on a daily basis and in case of any query, they may contact the officers directly associated with tackling the coronavirus threat in the Union Territory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Akufo-Addo has confirmed that some parts of the country will be on the lockdown to control the spread of the Coronavirus.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

According to Akufo-Addo, Accra, Kumasi, Kasoa, and Tema will be on lockdown for the next two weeks.

The President made this known on Friday evening, March 27, 2020, during his address to the nation on the COVID-19.

Accra, Kumasi & other parts of the country on lockdown

Source: UGC

The latest measures will take effect from Monday, March 30, 2020.

Akufo-Addo made it clear that the lockdown was initiated to speed up the contract tracing of persons believed to be exposed to the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, the latest update by the Ghana Health Service has shown that the total number of patients who have recovered from the deadly coronavirus in Ghana has doubled, a 100% increase.

In the previous report shared in the morning of March 27, 2020, on the update of the coronavirus cases in Ghana, only one person had recovered.

However, the latest update by the Ghana Health Service that has come in the evening of March 27, 2020, shows that the previous number has thankfully doubled.

131 becomes the net number of patients living with COVID-19 in Ghana because out of the total 137, four people have passed on and two people have fully recovered.

Only God can save Ghana from the Coronavirus outbreak - Pastor declares | #Yencomgh

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Source: YEN.com.gh
So far, the number of patients hasnt been overwhelming, he said, but the severity of their illness is straining resources. The hospital is using eight of its nine ventilators for critically ill patients, according to hospital officials. There is an emergency reserve of another 10 it can draw on if necessary, but those are designed for short-term emergency use, not longer-term recovery. The hospital is seeking another 13 respirators.
Dear Reader,

When the going gets tough, governments and central banks get going. Thats the message that came out of the global financial crisis and its being repeated in the COVID-19 pandemic. In the words of Jim Bianco, CEO of Bianco Research, reacting to the shock and awe unleashed by the United States Fed: It is difficult to find a superlative to describe what the Fed announced this morning. At first blush, it looks like they are nationalising financial markets, except for equities and high yield.

Comrade Trump is all set to follow that up with a massive support package for American workers. The impact it will have on the fiscal deficit? Who cares? Wont the central bank interventions, particularly on forbearance of loans, lead to moral hazard? Who gives a damn? Isnt monetising the fiscal deficit the terrible sin that all economists have warned us against? Well, in the Eurozone, they are now discussing just that, under a central bank programme called Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT). In Spain, they have nationalised their private hospitals. Dont forget that during the financial crisis, the UK nationalised several banks. In India, the government is putting into place a massive social security programme for 80 crore people and we took the opportunity to speculate whether its an opportunity for setting up a universal basic income scheme in the country.

Of course, were not really becoming socialist. All that this means is that when it comes to the crunch, ideology goes out of the window. The task at hand is for the system to survive and policy makers will do whatever it takes to win this war.

The realisation that the world is not coming to an end seems to have dawned on the markets, with the Dow Industrials getting out of bear territory on March 26, just when we were thinking that markets had lost their faith in central banks. Indeed, US equities brushed aside Armageddon-like jobless claims, an indication that confidence is returning to the market. They also dismissed the steep falls in output indicated by the Flash Purchasing Managers Indices. Indeed, markets across the world are off their lows. But all that government and central bank policies can do is mitigate the impact of the lockdowns. That is very necessary, but any recovery in the economy will depend on how soon we can defeat the pandemic. And lets not forget that we very likely have a bone-crushing recession ahead of us -- Moodys has slashed its estimate of Indias GDP growth this calendar year to 2.5 percent.

In India, weve been banging on about the need for a stiff dose of economic stimulus. A support package is all the more necessary for vulnerable firms that were little better than zombies even before the coronavirus crisis hit. The steep fall in the market has made matters worse. Markets have been very illiquid and this has led to a lot of distortions, especially in exchange traded funds.

The 21-day nationwide lockdown, while necessary, has brought with it its own set of problems, including in the financial sector. Thankfully, the government lost no time in announcing some relief measures aimed at ensuring the poorest had enough to survive. It failed to meet our high expectations though and we lost no time in asking for more.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) promptly answered our prayers, unleashing a tsunami of liquidity in the money markets.

It goes without saying that investing in these volatile markets is not easy. Nevertheless, we persisted in spotting opportunities for you, figuring out what is it that makes companies do well during a recession. We checked whether investing in companies that have high dividend yields makes sense in the current environment. And we tried to answer the question whether it would it be better to invest in companies whose promoters and managers are buying in the crash.

These are difficult times. But we must not lose hope. As Albert Camus wrote in The Plague, Once the faintest stirring of hope became possible, the dominion of the plague was ended.

Cheers,

Manas Chakravarty
While East Baton Rouge has the largest number of known coronavirus cases in the Capital area -- hitting 124 as of Friday -- a handful of smaller suburban and rural parishes are seeing higher figures when accounting for population.

Ascension Parish had 90 people testing positive, giving it the second-highest per-capita rate in the Baton Rouge area. Only St James Parish was higher.

+2 Running low on toilet paper? Georgia-Pacific plant near Zachary maxing out at 120% capacity Don't blame manufacturers for that empty toilet paper shelf at the grocery store. Plants like Georgia-Pacific just north of Baton Rouge are ru

St. James, with 21,000 people, had 40 cases as of Friday, which stands as the 9th highest total of any parish in the state. But when factoring in St. James' small population, the results are even starker -- the rate works out to 190 cases per 100,000 people. That's the second-highest level in the state, and only Orleans Parish had a higher per-capita figure, according to an Advocate analysis of Friday's data, the latest available.

East Baton Rouge Parish had only 34 more coronavirus cases than Ascension, though its population is almost four times larger.

Altogether, there have been 318 confirmed cases and 10 deaths in Baton Rouge and its surrounding parishes so far, according to the state testing data released Friday. That's a 16 percent increase in cases and four more deaths since Thursday.

State and local health officials said they don't know yet why some of the smaller parishes have high per-capita numbers, though some experts say one factor might be the major industrial facilities that tend to draw workers from across the region and use the various ports along the Mississippi River.

Alyson Neel, communications director for the Louisiana Department of Health, said state health officials are trying to make sense of what's leading to those totals during a fluid time.

"That is the question. If you can believe it, we're only in the second-and-a-half week of reporting cases at all," Neel said.

It 's not clear if the higher per-capita numbers in the smaller parishes equate to a higher coronavirus infection rate in those areas. Some officials speculate various levels of testing among the parishes could account for some of the differences, while others suggest the pattern is simply the normal spread of the virus from New Orleans to upriver parishes, being revealed piece-meal as batches of test results -- some of which are taking more than 10 days to be completed -- are reported.

19 new coronavirus cases in East Baton Rouge; statewide deaths increase 40% The number of positive coronavirus cases in Louisiana continues to grow throughout the state Friday, health officials report.

Complicating the picture is the fact that the state can't yet break down the tests -- 21,359 were reported through Friday -- to allow parish-by-parish comparisons. Statewide, about 12.8% of the tests have come up positive, a figure that has dropped considerably since testing has increased.

Dr. Chris Trevino, chief medical officer of Our Lady of the Lake Ascension hospital in Gonzales, says that without a better idea of the testing in other parishes, he can't say definitively what is driving Ascension's per-capita total.

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But he speculated that OLOL Ascension's drive-thru clinic and its close ties to the vast majority of physicians in the parish have steered residents to the hospital, uncovering more positives cases more quickly than in other area parishes.

"I believe that our numbers are higher because of the rate of testing that we're doing," Trevino said.

Dr. John Fraiche, Ascension's longtime coroner, said the hospital's drive-thru site has completed 350 tests as of Thursday. Another 84 have been conducted on patients in OLOL in Gonzales and Prevost Memorial Hospital in Donaldsonville.

Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment agreed Friday with Trevino's and Fraiche's take, saying the parish is "ahead of the curve" in testing.

But Cointment added, like Fraiche, that Ascension's location as a bedroom community with regular commuting and its delivery traffic for industrial plants may also be contributing to the high number of cases.

"Being a bedroom community with a robust economy, our community is inherently more mobile," Cointment said in a prepared statement.

Just to the north, suburban Livingston Parish -- with nearly 15,000 more people than Ascension -- had no drive-thru testing sites. The parish isn't on the river corridor, but is home to a long stretch of Interstate 12, which is heavily used by cross-country traffic.

Eleven people have tested positive for coronavirus in Livingston, about one-eighth of the total found in Ascension, state data shows.

Mark Harrell, Livingston Parish's homeland security director, said residents are having to go to facilities in East Baton Rouge Parish to get tested, but added that local officials are working to set up their own drive-thru site.

Another area parish, St. James, had the Baton Rouge region's first coronavirus death on March 18 when the pastor of a west bank church died. Parish officials announced Monday that St. James was facing "community spread" of the virus, and it has seen two more deaths since then.

Mary Ellen Pratt, CEO of St. James Parish Hospital, said her 25-bed public facility usually focuses on outpatient services but has shifted to inpatient service with the influx of COVID-19 cases, admitting 16 people with respiratory symptoms since March 11.

Dozens of others with less severe symptoms have been sent home, while seven were immediately sent to other hospitals due to their condition, she said. All patients who end up on a ventilator are sent to other facilities, she noted.

Pratt was at a loss to explain why St. James Parish has such a high per-capita rate but said her facility is certainly feeling it.

"All I know is that we are treating a higher acuity patient," she said. "We are surging at the hospital with regard to the number of patients we are caring for."
AS the world eagerly waits for a scientific breakthrough in the fight against the deadly Coronavirus, religious faithful have been urged to seek for Gods intervention.

The call on people to turn to God dominated Friday prayers here as clerics put emphasis on prayers and asking God (Allah) for forgiveness, mercy, and protection.

"Religions tell us when facing difficult times, we should turn to God, asking for forgiveness and save us from calamities. Therefore disasters like coronavirus should also be faced with prayers," Sheikh Juma Mmanga told worshippers at Welesi Mosque, Kikwajuni.

Similar messages were echoed in other mosques in both Unguja and Pemba as religious leaders asked people to, in addition to prayers, follow health precautions.

Since the coronavirus outbreak in China in December last year, scientists have been working tirelessly to look for treatment for the disease which has already paralysed trade, transport, and socialisation across the globe.

Meanwhile although there are still a few COVID- 19 cases reported in Zanzibar, the government through its leaders in various areas of Zanzibar has been taking special measures that aim to combat the disease.

In Unguja South region, regional administrative structures are in the frontline in raising awareness to community members, including commuter transport, sellers and buyers in major and small markets.

Addressing residents in one of the awareness campaigns in Kizimkazi coastal village, Unguja South Regional Commissioner (RC) Mr Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud urged the public not to panic because the government is doing everything possible to make sure that they are safe.

He said it is high time all leaders from all levels take their responsibility and reach the wide range of communities to inspire, motivate and engage them in the fight against coronavirus.
Traditions must adapt to social distance rules at a time when for some, physical and spiritual closeness is most needed.

London, United Kingdom  When Fuad Nahdi, a journalist, interfaith activist, and prominent figure in the British Muslim community, died in London on Saturday after suffering from long-standing health issues, there was a global outpouring of grief.

Death in the Islamic tradition is a communal event. Muslims typically gather to perform a funeral prayer led by an imam with the deceased laid in front of the congregation.

But amid the coronavirus pandemic, lockdowns worldwide have changed the way people mourn.

In the United Kingdom, social gatherings are banned, but unlike the case in Italy, funerals are not prohibited. Even so, there are new restrictions on the number of attendees  though the government has yet to specify what that figure is, and authorities have advised against wakes.

Usually, hundreds if not thousands attend the funeral of a prominent Muslim figure. But on Tuesday, only 20 members of Nahdis family said final goodbyes in person.

The internet, however, offered some solace to others.

From Kenya to Malaysia, thousands watched Nahdis funeral as it was streamed live on Facebook.





There is no God but God, the pallbearers said in Arabic as they carried Nahdis coffin, draped with a green velvet cloth bearing a bouquet of tulips.

Nahdis family and the funeral directors wore masks in an attempt to protect themselves and others from the pandemic that has so far killed almost 800 people in the United Kingdom.

Its really difficult to wear a mask when arranging funerals and dealing with family members, said Hasina Zaman, the cofounder of Compassionate Funerals, who prepared the burial.

Weve come to this point where were so separated by our grief through death, Zaman said. We cant show compassion in the way we handle the deceased or relate to the family.

New measures

Zaman described the governments guidelines on funeral restrictions as vague, saying there was currently a disproportionate focus on the living instead of the dead.

Among undertakers, she added, there was confusion over whether the virus is still active after an individual has died.

Following advice from the Muslim Council of Britain that ghusl, the bathing of the deceased, can be performed if funeral directors wear personal protective equipment, Zaman said she still does the ritual.

But I think that will become nonexistent as the week goes, she added.

Hasina Zaman, codirector of Compassionate Funerals, wears a face mask as she prepares for another funeral [Courtesy: Hasina Zaman]

Mansur Ali, a lecturer in Islamic studies at Cardiff University, said the British Board of Scholars and Imams was now referring to seldom-used points of Islamic law related to funerary rites.

For instance, ritual bathing will no longer have to be performed, and body bags can be used to replace the kafan, or white burial shroud.

Several Muslim funeral directors have already taken measures to prevent the risk of transmission.

Theyre putting the deceased into a plastic body bag, they perform tayammum [wiping over the body bag], put the body into a coffin, and its straight to the graveyard, Zaman said.

The pandemic has ended communal prayer and congregational funeral gatherings at many major churches, synagogues, mosques and temples.





In Iran, one of the worlds worst-hit countries, Shia Muslim burial rituals have been abandoned, with families barred from cemeteries and bodies buried without undergoing ritual bathing.

The United Synagogue, a union of Orthodox British Jewish synagogues, announced on Wednesday that stone-setting ceremonies will be postponed.

All cemeteries have been shut and those sitting shiva, the seven-day period of mourning, have been advised that they cannot have visitors.

In Ireland, the Irish Association of Funeral Directors advised undertakers not to embalm the deceased, and to hold closed-coffin funerals instead of open-casket events.

Regimented and apathetic

Though technology is a solution for some, many are unable to access social media.

In Llangollen, a rural town in northern Wales, Father Lee Taylor presides over four churches scattered in the area.

He said social distancing measures had devastated the vulnerable, elderly members of his congregation who relied on Sunday church notices for information.

People are dying in my community, and Im not able to tell [their friends] because theyre not on social media, he told Al Jazeera.

He said his pastoral practice felt regimented and apathetic at a time when physical touch and presence were a critical source of consolation.

Father Lee Taylor at a church in Llangollen [Courtesy: Suzanne Ross-Hughes]

Traditionally, when somebody dies, I visit the next of kin in the family. Being alongside people physically, being next to them, having a cup of tea, putting a hand on their shoulder, praying with them as you hold their hand, its such an essential part of that pastoral work.

When someone dies, you feel isolated as it is. Youre out in the wilderness. With these restrictions and isolation measures, its ten times as worse.

Douglas Davies, director of the Centre for Death and Life studies at Durham University, said loss of a physical community in times of grief would be viscerally felt across all religious and secular traditions.

There is a sense of loss in society at large, a loss of contact, a loss of human touch, said Davies. But this intuitive sense that the whole of society has lost something at this moment might make it easier for individuals who are bereaved to feel like theyre in the same boat as thousands of others.

He expects that after the pandemic, memorial services will help people to process their emotions.

Grief doesnt just happen over a week or a fortnight, he said. Even if this viral situation runs over a year, I can see communal memorials could be really valuable at acknowledging that grief is not over in a week. It goes on, and changes.
In a rare televised address to the people of the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modis advice to the nation in the local language, conveying the seriousness of the pandemic and urging citizens to stay at home. His speech on what essential services one could expect during the lockdown period was also laced with the warning of stern action against those who violated curfew orders or spread rumours.

The address was a necessity in light of many curfew offenders, including speeding bikers, on day one of the lockdown. Videos on police action and reaction have gone viral on social media. The cops have been experimenting with various mechanisms to drive home the message of staying indoors. In three arterial roads in Chennai, they have been folding their hands and pleading with motorists, while in some areas, they have been spot-punishing the violators, asking them to do sit-ups. But in a few places, they have reportedly wielded lathis, forcing people to retreat.

As per the curfew guidelines, the movement of essential services like milk, grocery, medical supplies and newspaper bundles have to be allowed. But unfortunately, in many places, the movement of vehicles, including those carrying essentials, was severely restricted. This has led to a major disruption in their distribution. A system like a GPS tracker on vans carrying such items could be installed to avert this confusion. It is certainly a tough task to enforce discipline. It can be argued that desperate times call for desperate measures.

It will be interesting to note that this phrase was said to have been coined by Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician. In the original Latin text that was translated later as Aphorisms of Hippocrates, the physician has justified this desperate measures clause, saying, For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable. The police action may seem like a leaf out of this medical bible. But we live in different times, and it is important for both the police force as well as people to act with more responsibility in this difficult situation.
90-year-old Geneva Wood, who recovered from coronavirus. She is seen here hugging her daughter, Cami.

The Family of Geneva Wood

Geneva Wood had a stroke in December that left her recovering in a Washington state nursing home.

Last month, Life Care Center at Kirkland went on lockdown after several of its residents were diagnosed with the new coronavirus.

Wood, who was one of them, was hospitalized and declined ventilation.

When she took a turn for the worst, her family came to say goodbye. Days later, she recovered.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

On Monday, March 9, Cami Neidigh got a call from the Washington state hospital where her 90-year-old mother was being treated for the coronavirus.

She was told Geneva Wood declined ventilation and would likely die in the next 24 hours.

The next day, Neidigh and other family members suited up in protective gear to enter the room where her mom was quarantined, to say goodbye.

"That 24-hour decline was serious," Neidigh told Insider. "She was reaching out and crying for us, wanting us to come into the room. She said it was her time to go. We went into the room, she was saying her goodbyes. We were holding her hand. No hugs were allowed."

But Wood didn't die.

On Tuesday, March 24, she was released from the hospital having made an unlikely recovery from COVID-19.

Now she's back in her own home under the watch of her four children.

"She has a special recliner in her living room and she says, 'I'm drinking my coffee, in my chair, watching my TV,'" her daughter said. "She's very happy over there."

Geneva Wood, 90, is coronavirus-free.

The Family of Geneva Wood

Geneva Wood had a tough few months, but she's a 'fighter'

Neidigh described her mother, a retired nurse, as a "fighter, a very determined woman."

She grew up on a dairy farm, used to work the swing shift as a nurse, and was photographed sitting on a long-horned bull at 65 years old, Neidigh said.

Up until December, she had been living in her own apartment, cooking for herself.

But the day after Christmas, she had a stroke that left her unable to walk or talk on her own.

Story continues

After spending some time in a hospital, Wood moved into Life Care Center at Kirkland.

"They taught her her how to live again," Neidigh said. "She was like their star pupil."

By mid-February, Wood was ready to leave and had plans to get back in her own home by March 2.

But two days earlier, the nursing home went into lockdown after a resident died from COVID-19. Not long after, Wood, who had pneumonia, took a fall and broke her hip. She was tested for the new coronavirus at the hospital and it came back positive, Neidigh said.

At the hospital, her symptoms included shortness of breath, a cough, and a high fever.

"She refused the ventilation, the incubation," Neidigh said. "She figured at 90 years old she had lived her life. She said, 'You're not going to turn me into a vegetable, if the lord wants me to go, I'm going to go.'"

With at least 19 deaths linked to Life Care Center, at one point earlier this month the nursing home made up more than 60% of US coronavirus fatalities.

While many people who are infected with COVID-19 recover on their own and don't require hospitalization, seniors are at a higher risk of succumbing to the illness.

"She wanted to tell us that she was proud of us, she loved us, she gave some special instructions to some of us  like be nice to your brother  and she wanted us to know she was at peace," she said. "It was a gift that we had because other families have not been able to go in."

Neidigh said the hospital has since changed their policy and families can no longer enter the rooms.

Geneva Wood is a hometown hero for beating the coronavirus at age 90.

Wood family

Wood credits family, God, and potato soup for her recovery

After seeing her family, Wood started to make an improvement.

After she "turned the corner," family made her potato soup, a remedy her own mother taught her to make as a child.

"When she wasn't eating, we said we could bring it up to her," Neidigh said. "We would make homemade potato soup and we would bring it to the hospital. That's what she said  it was family, God, and potato soup that got us through that."

While that might have helped, Neidigh also gives some credit for the recovery to her mother's strong upbringing.

"They always had to work hard. [She has a] very hard work ethic and a drive that you don't give up," her daughter said. "You just pull yourself up with your boot straps and get it done. There's no feeling sorry for yourself, you just do it. She should have invented the Nike logo, 'just do it'."

As a former nurse, she was also sympathetic toward the nurses at her hospital, but also let them know when she wanted something, her mother said.

"One time when she was thirsty, and pushed the call button for a Sprite, and they hadn't brought it to her, to get their attention she pressed it again, started waving, and said, "I'm not dead yet,'" Neidigh said, chuckling. "'Now, I'm thirsty, bring me a Sprite.'"

Now that Wood's out of the hospital and back at home, her sons and daughters are the ones responding to those requests.

Wood is still fragile and has some lung damage, so visits from other people have been restricted. Still, she's happy to be in her own home.

"She went straight into her apartment, sat in her chair, and asked where her coffee was," Neidigh said.

Read the original article on Insider
If you havent been outside lately, there is something you should know. In Toronto, we are now saying hello to strangers. Its a feature of pandemic life that will surprise anyone who has ever moved here from a smaller place and made the mistake of trying to start a conversation on the subway.

I first noticed it on an evening walk through the hushed streets in my east-end neighbourhood, a nightly ritual I call sanity hour. I saw a man leaning over the railing on his front porch, smoking and staring into the distance. I had passed him dozens of times before on my commute, but we had never made eye contact, let alone spoken. This time, our eyes met. He offered a small nod. I smiled. Then he smiled. So I went for it: I said hello. And he said hello back.

It was exhilarating, like a jolt to the heart. Id been walking around in a cloud of private anxiety, but this small interaction, this sudden impulse to connect with another human, brought me back to the present.

This happened last week, as we were settling into the reality of how fast and dramatically the world has changed, and how long we may be separated from the people and things that bring joy and meaning to our lives. In the weeks since public health officials and politicians began urging Canadians to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19, my time outside has been limited to grocery shopping and walks.

Since then, I have exchanged warm hellos (from a distance) with a family walking their dog, a dad watching his children ride bicycles down an empty street, a couple carrying bags of groceries. The most pleasant greeting came from a man who, from afar, I had judged to be grumpy, but upon closer inspection (though not too close) appeared merely to be deep in thought.

What a beautiful night, he offered.

I even got a smile from a teenage boy, which hadnt happened since I turned 30 and became invisible to teenage boys. It was a sunny afternoon. He was walking a dog. I was with my three-year-old, who was pointing at two cats lounging on a chair outside a house on our street, shouting, The cats are cuddling! The boy looped respectfully around us, and smiled in a gesture that seemed to acknowledge my daughters delight.

On Canadas East Coast, where I was raised, saying hello to strangers is a social norm, even in cities. We greet each other, comment on the sun breaking through the fog, the sprouting tulips, the storm on the horizon. Its not unusual for hellos to lead to dinner invitations, strange adventures or friendships.

Since moving to Toronto a decade ago, Ive grown accustomed to the hustle of urban life, to passing hundreds of people every day without greeting them. Ive learned to appreciate the freedom that comes with anonymity, but I also miss the warmth and openness, now more than ever.

So I wondered if the hello thing was just me, if old habits were emerging as I mourned the loss of normal life. Maybe I was giving off a friendly vibe, or a desperate one.

Is saying hello to strangers (from a distance) a new thing across Toronto, or just in my neighbourhood? I asked on Twitter.

Hundreds of people replied. It was happening in Scarborough and Etobicoke, downtown and midtown. Strangers were saying hello across Canada, in Vancouver, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Calgary.

This happened to me yesterday, one Toronto woman replied. A lady smiled and said hello and I almost cried. I needed that.

ITS SO LOVELY, wrote Tom Power, host of CBC Radios q and a native of St. Johns, N.L. People are saying hi! Waving! Asking how youre doing.

The hellos are an act of solidarity, an acknowledgment that were all in this together, an antidote to loneliness, an apology for veering two metres away.

I hope it continues when these crazy times are over, wrote Holly Lake, a University of Ottawa law student.

Debbie Chachra, an engineering professor from Toronto who lives in Boston, shared this thoughtful analysis: I interpret my new urge to say hello to strangers as verbally compensating for my avoidant (i.e. hostile) body language, in order to bring the interaction back to the baseline level of civic neutrality that Im comfortable with.

Its happening in New York, too, even as the city becomes the global pandemics new epicentre.

New Yorker Kio Stark, author of When Strangers Meet: How People You Dont Know Can Transform You, says passing moments of connection between strangers contribute to filling the human need for intimacy.

In our new isolated circumstances, we still need that easy, brief connection that makes us feel recognized, even more than in normal times, Stark said. Not only are we cut off from our friends and families, were cut off from all these small interactions that help us feel like we belong  Now, these moments where we have the chance to smile and wave at another person are precious, and the meaning is deeper.

Even while celebrating this new friendliness, we cannot forget that the pandemic has brought an increase in racism, in particular against Asians, Stark said. I dont want to lose sight of the other end of the spectrum because its still there, and we still have to stand up and fight it.

While writing her book, Stark explored regional variations in how strangers interact, and got a LOT of comments about Toronto; namely, that nobody talks to anybody they dont know.

Perhaps the pandemic will change that. When we emerge from isolation, I wont be surprised if we all want to have a good chat with a stranger on the subway.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Berlin  Sat, March 28, 2020 20:08 655 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206e0bf3f 2 Food restaurant,Michelin,coronavirus,COVID-19,Berlin,Tulus-Lotrek Free

A Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin forced to close its doors by the coronavirus lockdown has turned its culinary skills to helping to feed doctors, nurses, policemen and firefighters who cannot work from home.

"We are doing 'Cooking for heroes', that means we are cooking for people in operational professions where it's not an option to work from home," said Max Strohe, head chef and co-owner of Tulus Lotrek.

Restaurants, cinemas, gyms and most stores have been shut since mid-March in Germany, which has reported nearly 43,000 cases of the coronavirus and 253 deaths, in the hope of slowing the spread of the virus and easing the pressure on hospitals.

The soups, goulash and curries lovingly prepared by Strohe and his staff are helping to sustain hundreds of doctors, nurses and other medical staff at the Jewish Hospital as they treat patients with the virus.

Read also: Major restaurants temporarily close as COVID-19 outbreak worsens

"I saw a post from Tulus Lotrek with the hashtag 'cooking for heroes' and I thought, we have a lot of heroes stationed here in the operational sector, and I sent them an email," said hospital spokeswoman Jessica Maass.

"The very next day I received an email. It was a yes, the only question was: 'How many meals should we send you?' and then the very next day, 400 portions of great food came to us."

Strohe said he and his staff have been overwhelmed by "heartwarming" messages of support from those who have enjoyed the meals and from their family members.

Brigitte Seelig, deputy head of the nursing department at the hospital, said the exquisite meals provided a welcome break from hospital canteen food.

"It's really good food - Michelin-starred food! It's something good for once," she said with a smile.
 Flash

The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in Italy reached 86,498 on Friday, exceeding the total figure registered in China, according to data by the Civil Protection Department coordinating the national emergency response.

The pandemic also claimed 969 lives, a new single-day record high in fatalities registered here since the outbreak hit the country's northern regions on Feb. 21.

The death toll grew to 9,134, with 50 fatalities occurred on Thursday and not yet included in the total figure, national commissioner for the emergency Domenico Arcuri explained at a daily press conference.

Rising numbers

In unveiling the new statistics, Arcuri took the place of extraordinary commissioner and Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli, who was under home confinement for the second day in a row due to fever (but negative for coronavirus).

According to the data, 589 new cured people were registered on a daily basis, bringing total recoveries to 10,950.

With 4,401 people tested positive on Friday, the number of active coronavirus infections grew to 66,414. "About 6 percent of the total, or 3,732 patients, are currently in intensive care," Arcuri explained.

According to epidemiological data released by the National Health Institute (ISS) on Friday (and based on data up to Thursday), at least 6,414 health professionals were among those positive for the coronavirus so far.

"They have an average age of 49 years, and some 35 percent of them are male," the ISS wrote in a bulletin.

Cooperation needed

At the press conference, the commissioner stressed statistics in Italy and in many other places around the world "prove how global and wide this health crisis is."

"In a global crisis, there is a clear need of cooperation, without egoism, and Italy is playing its due part," he stressed.

Arcuri also recalled Italian authorities were putting much effort in trying to find and purchase equipment and protective gear necessary in the emergency from as many countries as possible.

"We keep cooperating with many countries, and keep buying (equipment) from France, Germany, China, and Russia... while talks are under way with further countries, which are often located very far from us," he said.

"This is the time of cooperation and solidarity, with no further implication, whether of political or geographical nature. Wherever there is a chance to obtain solutions to our citizens' problems... that is the right place to go," he stressed.

Arcuri said all Italian productive and social actors have been called to give their contribution to strengthen industrial production and help the country become more self-sufficient in terms of medical equipment in these exceptional circumstances.

Further measures

In related news on Friday, the country's Education Minister announced schools would most likely remain shut beyond the national lockdown period so far imposed by the government, which was officially effective until April 3.

"For sure, the school closure will be extended over the April 3 date," Lucia Azzolina told state TV broadcast RAI 1.

"At the moment, our goal is to ensure students will return to school only after health authorities have guaranteed this is safest... our pupils' and our educational staff's health is the priority."

The minister explained that "information about final exams, both in primary and secondary schools, will be provided to students in the next weeks."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's cabinet was at work to outline further measures to help the country's industrial and social fabric sustain the impact of the health crisis. A first package worth 25 billion euros (27.7 billion U.S. dollars) was passed earlier this month.

Addressing the senate on Thursday, Conte said he was confident the government would be able "to offer companies, families, and workers additional allocations, for a total not lower than 50 billion euros (including the first package)."
Kerala reported its first COVID-19 death on Saturday after a 69-year-old man being treated for the virus died at Ernakulam Medical College Hospital.

The man, hailing from Chullikkal in Ernakulam, was admitted to the isolation ward on March 22 after his return from Dubai, the government hospital said in a statement.

He was admitted with symptoms of pneumonia but later tested positive for coronavirus, it said.

He was also suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure and had udergone a bypass surgery earlier, the statement said.

His wife and the taxi driver who ferried him from the airport to his home upon his arrival on March 16, have tested positve for COVID-19 and were now being treated at the isolation facility at the hospital, it said.

State agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar told reporters in Kochi that 86 contacts of the man and taxi driver have been quarantined.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Health Minister K K Shailaja said the patient had been in a serious condition when he was admitted to the hospital.

"He had earlier undergone a bypass surgery and had high blood pressure. We tried our level best to save him but in vain," she said.

The minister said certain protocols to be followed by the family of the deceased were done.

His wife and daughter were allowed to see his body through a video call with the hospital before the body was wrapped up for the funeral.

District authorities had notified the mosque concerned and only a few people would be present for the ceremony, she said.

To a question, Shailaja said samples of the aged couple admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital had still not turned negative after repeat tests, though those of their family members have turned negative after testing positive earlier.

She said an aged foreigner, admitted to the Ernakulam Medical College Hospital, was in stable condition now.

"We have around three to four serious patients all across the state. The patients of Kasaragod are stable right now. We can only say that because complications may arise at any time", she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, urging him to take measures like granting of Rs 1 lakh crore to states to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and problems during the lockdown to stop the disease's spread.

The first instalment of the grant should be given to states based on per person population. Later, the grant amount can be given more to the states where the infection rate is high, and proportionally to the remaining states, the chief minister said in his letter to Modi.

Gehlot, while extending gratitude to the prime minister for announcing an economic package in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Centre and states have to jointly fight this pandemic.

He said the Centre should direct the Reserve Bank of India to provide Rs 1 lakh crore to states as an interest-free advance.

This should be done for 11 months from April 1, the chief minister said in his letter.

He mentioned that economies of the states have been adversely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting the huge decline in tax and non-tax revenue, he said permission for additional two per cent credit limit should be given immediately from the Net Credit Limit which the states get.

The chief minister said states expect that the Centre should grant moratorium of at least three months in the payment of instalments due to the RBI and other financial institutions.

Gehlot said that people are facing a crisis due to the lockdown.

To save the people from starvation, the Rajasthan government is making all possible efforts to maintain the supply chain of essential items along with a direction to provide cash to the weak and deprived sections of the society, he said.

The chief minister said the state government by increasing expenses in the health sector has taken measures with full capacity to stop the effect of this pandemic.

Despite the efforts being made to fight with this disease, the state has its limits to raise new resources, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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In 1968, the Band recorded The Weight, a song full of images and characters that Robbie Robertson said he had been storing in his imagination for years. Robertson admits in his autobiography, Testimony, that he struggled to articulate to producer John Simon what the song was even about, but its become the Bands most well-known classic, and it still echoes loudly today. Playing for Change, a group dedicated to opening up how people see the world through the lens of music and art, recently spent two years filming artists around the world, from Japan to Bahrain to Los Angeles, performing the song. Robertson takes part, and so does Ringo Starr. Web traffic for the video has surged in recent days as the world confronts the coronavirus, and it has been a top story on RollingStone.com.

We spoke to Robertson, who called from his home in L.A., about the video, how hes been self-isolating, plus other projects, including his work on the next Martin Scorsese film, a Stage Fright box set, and his recent appearance at a Last Waltz tribute concert in Nashville late last year.

More from Rolling Stone

Once Were Brothers, a film about Robertsons life directed by Daniel Rohr, hit theaters just as they were shutting down. Now, the film will be available online earlier than planned, streaming on Apple and Amazon on April 3rd.

How have you been spending your time hunkering down?

Im writing volume two of my autobiography. Im somewhat buried in that. I have some artwork as well that I have to sort out. And although everythings been delayed, Ive even started some early discovery and thinking of the music for Martin Scorseses next movie, Killers of the Flower Moon. Its an American Indian story, so Ive got a lot to do on this. And the rest of it, I guess, is just really kind of adapting and dealing with being on house arrest.

Story continues

I wanted to ask about the Playing for Change cover of The Weight that you performed on. It has 6 million views, and its been a top story on our site for the past few days, even though its been out for several months. Why do you think the song is resonating right now?

The number of people that I know that have responded to this, and some people that I barely know that have come out of the woodwork  its almost like its good medicine. And its so suitable right now. I thought to my myself, This is definitely the ultimate in global self-distancing. This is a way to protect yourself from anything: playing music with people around the world. My son, Sebastian, was behind this. When he mentioned this to me, I was kind of like, Oh, OK, if you want to do it, of course Ill cooperate. But I didnt know what they were going to do. One day they said, Will you come and play a little bit? So I took an hour and went over, and then it slipped my mind. And then they sent me a rough cut of it, and I got chills. The unity that it conveys, not only here but around the world, that is such good medicine.

The people in it are just fantastic. Ringo is such a great sport to be part of this. And Ringo doesnt like to be a part of anything. Hes like, Peace and love. Dont bother me. And he did this, and he did it with such charm.

When it came out, there was a really nice response to it, but its just grown and grown. In the last week or something, it got a million more views on it. And people are sending me messages from Cambodia. Im just delighted its serving a purpose today. This was an idea that I had to write this song many years ago. And so its such a blessing that something like this can make a contribution this many decades later. I couldnt be happier.

Ringos drumming sounds like an old friend, the same way Levon Helms drumming felt. Theyre maybe the two greatest drummers in rock & roll.

In their own way, youre absolutely right. There was something that Levon did in a stripped-down, simple but complex kind of manner that other drummers couldnt do. There was a thing about his playing that was so straight between the eyes, that you thought, Oh, its just that. And then when you go to do that, it doesnt have that quality. One of the people that understood that better than anybody else was Ringo. And Ringo has that quality as well. When he plays with that group, there is no acrobatics. Hes not trying to do anything. Hes playing the song. He is really there in service of the song. And they both had that to such a beautiful extreme, and they never, ever sounded like session drummers.

Its amazing this song can translate to places around the world, onto instruments that a lot of people here have never seen before.

I felt the same way. Theres a guy on a sitar! Theres a guy playing an oud, one of my favorite instruments. Those girls Larkin Poe did a song of mine, Ophelia. Theyre in the video. Somebody sent me their version of my song Ophelia a while back. And they did a hell of a version of it. Theyre from Tennessee or somewhere, I dont know. Then I heard another track of theirs, and I thought Theyre really good. And then they end up playing on this track. That made me feel good. And Lukas Nelson is terrific, an amazing musician. So anyway, I dont know, its just pretty magical.

What does it feel like to have written that song? Do you feel like the person who wrote The Weight, or does it feel like it was around before you?

After I wrote it and we recorded it, it did have a sense to me of a timeless quality. Because it wasnt obvious in the storytelling. Its kind of lost in time in the most wonderful way. And when I heard this version of it, I thought, This still sounds like that. It doesnt sound old. It just sounds like its got this quality to it, that it could be new, or from 100 years ago. And that was one of the signature things of the Band  that this music did live in its own time zone, and I was always proud of that. Consciously or subconsciously, I always reached for that in writing when I could.

What kind of music are you listening to right now? When something like this is happening in the world, what music do you turn to?

Its all for me about discovery and research. So I was listening to some of Tchaikovskys sixth symphony earlier today, because of something that Im writing. I was listening to some American Indian Western music from the 1920s a couple of days ago, thinking about Killers of the Flower Moon. I have a very curious ear, so Im always interested in new stuff thats going on. Its scattered all over the place. I dont have a playlist. I dont have anything that Im devoted to.

What impact do you think [coronavirus] will have on musicians? Theyve lost a couple of months of dates already. David Crosby said he might lose his house if this goes on any longer. It must be very difficult on anyone who makes a living as a performer.

Yeah, thats very true. When this industry kind of went into a tailspin, everything led to live performance being a business that people could make a living at. And when it hits a wall like this, its going to be a realization, just like so many other millions of businesses. Im hoping that its just like, Wait a minute, were just on pause. Were going to push play here again as soon as we possibly can. But right now, everybody has to take a deep breath and say, Were on pause. And dont take my house right now, please. Youre absolutely right. I dont live in that zone of live performance. Im in a different line of work. But I can certainly relate to that. I spent a great part of my life there as a road dog. But right know were just holding our breath.

Ive never seen anything like this. This is a throwback, and a poison has risen to the surface.

Does our current moment remind you of any other time that you have lived through?

No. Ive never seen anything like this. Thats why for a while I was thinking, Well, somebodys just going to have to wake me up in the morning and say, Oh, my God, you were having a bad dream.  And then after a few days, I realized that wasnt gonna happen. So this is the unknown. And right now its just darkness. And at some point, we just want to see a light come shining through and get brighter and brighter.

Thats what I was getting at before: Right now, we can only see what this is preventing life from being, and trying our best to adapt to that. But out of these things, theres always been something spiritual, magical, unsuspecting, that could possibly come from this. And I think thats what were all secretly hoping for: that this could bring some people closer together. This country, Ive never felt this kind of division. Im from Canada, too, I look at it through just a little bit of a different eye. And Ive never seen this kind of ugliness. I havent seen anything like this since George Wallace. This is a throwback, and a poison has risen to the surface, in these times, that we cant can imagine, and it is everywhere. And its like, Oh, no, this was there. It was just sleeping. And it aint sleeping anymore. And its really, really sad to see this kind of regression, and this kind of fallback into such anger. Its all built on anger, and that just leads us to the most ugly place. And so, maybe out of this thing, there can be some kind of feeling of unity. And thats why the song, the Playing for Change [version of] The Weight  if anything screams of unity, that does. And I hope it spreads.

Are you are you thinking of doing a 50th-anniversary edition of Stage Fright in line with the Music From Big Pink and The Band box sets?

Yes, I am. I started on this, but theres some things too that Im trying to do, some artwork and some pieces of that period that Im trying to put my hands on, and some stuff that I would like to do musically for this. And theres some things that have been buried in the archive for a long time that fit with this really well. So, yeah, Ive got ideas. Doing these these celebrations, doing the Music from Big Pink box set and doing The Band box set, and now doing this, it really feels good. I like the celebrating of the music, and doing something fresh, and doing things that we couldnt do back then. Im really enjoying that process.

Were you were you planning to play more Last Waltz shows before all the live music got shut down?

Well, they were talking about doing Jazz Fest. And they were asking me if I would participate in it. I went to the one in Nashville, which was the end of their last tour, that they had at the big arena in Nashville. And it was incredible. It was just an amazing array of talent. The guys putting together the show told me, Youre not gonna believe the audiences that come to this. So I thought, Well that sounds good. It sounds like people are enjoying it and everything. No, no no. It was like a religious experience, and so much fun. And so, anyway, at the end, I got up and sat in with them. The people were just so, so appreciative, and consequently so was I. So they asked me if I would do Jazz Fest, and I was like, I dont know. Im not really looking to make this a part of my everyday life. So I was thinking about it, and then the [coronavirus] came up. They were just about to announce whether I was going to participate in it, and then it had to get bumped. So well have to see what happens in the fall.

It must be interesting for you, for people to be re-creating a concert you played 40 years ago.

And theres people that do this around the world, in Scandinavia, Australia, and Japan, and all places. And I didnt know, thats pretty special. I dont remember many concerts that people do that for.

I just was reminded of Bill Grahams book. Theres an anecdote that said you did not want them serving Thanksgiving dinner during the filming of The Last Waltz. Is that true or false?

Well, you know, I was so busy thinking about playing music with all these different artists and not screwing up, and the filming of it with Marty. Marty was depending on me for so much in this. And so there was so much going on in an impossible period of time to pull this off. There was 100 things that could go wrong, and a few things that could go right. And Bill Graham comes to me and says, Ive ordered 5,000 pounds of mashed potatoes and turkey, and Im like, Youre what? Theres gonna be gravy everywhere? So in the beginning, I just thought, This is just in the way of what Im trying to do here. And Bill said, Dont worry about it, Ill handle it. Im going to serve Thanksgiving dinner to 5,000 people. You dont have to do a thing. And I was like, OK, lets not talk about it anymore. But if you can do it  And he says, I know how to do this. And I just had confidence in Bill. But you can imagine when he told me about how many gallons of gravy they were going to need, this was the last thing that I needed to hear.

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Katy Shufon has been home from her job because of the coronavirus outbreak, so shes had more time to post videos of her cat, Meeko.

The Hoboken, N.J., resident sometimes dabbles in social media. On Thursday, however, she hit the Twitter jackpot.

In the last day, a clip she posted of Meeko doing something he always does  wear her slipper  has drawn more than one million views.

Sometimes my cat walks around with my slipper like hes wearing it, she tweeted.

In the video, Meeko struts around wearing one slipper on his front left paw. As the cat casually strolls through Shufons home, the slipper lands with a slap on the hardwood floor for each step Meeko takes.

To a captive audience in which people seize upon any chance to laugh, Meeko has been quite the quarantine pick-me-up.

Sometimes my cat walks around with my slipper like hes wearing it pic.twitter.com/8PZKssZyfq  KTY (@Dope_chakra) March 26, 2020

The first time she saw Meeko with his paw in the slipper, Shufon, a catering manager, thought he was just stuck. But this soon became a habit.

He does it pretty often, whenever I leave my slippers out," Shufon, 23, tells NJ Advance Media. If I call him out when hes walking with the slipper, hell just drop it and walk away. Hes fun.

And no, she has no clue why he does it.

But Shufon, who maintains an Instagram account for her cat, is glad to see that Meeko has helped to lift peoples spirits.

I dont use social media often, so I didnt think my hundred or something followers would do anything with that, she says.

This is what I needed on this day," was one refrain of the many comments that poured in on Twitter, she says. It makes me so happy.

The newfound internet fame has brightened Shufons days, which usually consist of staying inside while Meeko looks out the window, people-watching those who have chosen not to practice social distancing.

If hes in the room when I get a notification, I definitely let him know that hes famous," she says.

Shufon adopted Meeko, a 6-year-old American shorthair, from the Humane Society in upstate New York (she hails from the Albany area).

He makes me laugh like that literally all the time," she says of her cat. Im giggling 10 times a day.

If Shufon goes in the bathroom, Meeko will often put his paws under the door until she lets him in.

He likes to try to open doors and hes weirdly good at it.

He also loves tummy rubs, she says.

Hes a character.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
Chained to a pole, Shyam Sunders food cart has been parked outside his house in Sanjay Colony near Okhla Industrial Area for five days now.

He has been forced to dip into his already meagre savings to feed his family of 10.

The 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to contain the spread of Covid-19 has him worried. I dont have enough savings to support my family for 21 days. Ill either have to look for an alternative, or borrow money from friends and family, said Sunder, a street food vendor registered with the government.

With the Delhi government making efforts to provide food to homeless and underprivileged people, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) has written to the government to allow registered street food vendors to operate during the lockdown.

Arbind Singh, national coordinator, NASVI, said, Street food vendors can help the government provide cooked meals to those who need it most, which will help them earn their livelihood. We have written to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and asked that registered street vendors be allowed to operate.

A senior Delhi government official said, Food vendors are not barred from operating. They have to deliver food though, as serving food is not allowed. Vendors are not working because there is no demand right now. The foremost priority is to contain the spread of this contagious disease. The government is taking all measures to provide food to people in need.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Kejriwal on Thursday asked Delhi Police commissioner SN Shrivastava to allow vegetable vendors to operate without e-passes, a senior Delhi government official said.

Singh said, There is a lot of confusion about whether street food vendors can operate or not. The government should clarify.

There are nearly two lakh street vendors in the city, and around 25,000-30,000 street food vendors are registered with the government, Singh said.

With only essential services allowed during the lockdown, a large number of street vendors are now turning to selling vegetable and fruits to sustain their families.

Satish Kumar (48), who usually sells handbags in Karol Bagh, said he is now arranging a cart to sell vegetables. Kumar said vendors in Karol Bagh, one of the busiest markets in Delhi, had been suffering for the past eight months, and that the lockdown had only added to their misery.

Several vendors were evicted when the North Delhi Municipal Corporation implemented its plan to pedestrianise Ajmal Khan Road. Kumar, one of the many vendors who were removed, said,

In the otherwise busy Karol Bagh market, the roads are deserted and pavements dotted with goods owned by street vendors packed in blue or yellow plastic sheets. The situation is mirrored throughout a usually bustling national capital coming to terms with staying indoors.

Ramji, a street vendor who sells jackets, has not left the market since the peoples curfew on Sunday. While he has decided to guard his goods by staying in the market, others are paying security guards who man big showrooms in the area to look after their wares. Each vendor usually pays guards 200-400 to take care of their goods at night. But we need to safeguard our goods during the day as well now, and we dont know how to arrange for that extra money, Ramji said.
Almost 23 years after an Arkansas mother was murdered by a 16-year-old, the convicted killer allegedly killed her daughter, police said.

Deputies from the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office responded to a call on Wednesday at the historical Snowden House in Horseshoe Lake where they saw a possible suspect fleeing the property.

PHOTO: Martha McKay, 63, was found dead allegedly by Travis Lewis, 39, who police said is the same person who killed her mother 23 years ago. (Crittenden County Sheriff's Office)

Police located "a possible suspect who jumped from an upstairs window and ran to a vehicle that he drove across the yard and got stuck in the yard at the Snowden house, the suspect then jumped from the car and ran and jumped into the lake," according to a post from the sheriff office's Facebook page. "He was observed going under the water and never came back up."

MORE: Maryland: Suspect Named in Possible Serial Mother-Daughter Killings

Authorities found the body of 63-year-old Martha McKay inside the house and the alleged killer's body was recovered from the water. Both bodies were sent to the state's medical examiner's office to determine the cause and manner of death.

PHOTO: Crittenden County Sheriff's Office says Travis Lewis, 39, killed Martha McKay while out on parole for killing her mother 23 years ago. Lewis' body was found in a nearby lake. (Crittenden County Sheriff's Office)

Police identified the alleged killer as 39-year-old Travis Lewis who was on parole since 2018 for the September 1996 murder of McKay's mother and another relative.

Lewis, who was 16 at the time and tried as an adult for the murders, alleged killed McKay inside the same crime scene from 23 years ago, police said.

MORE: 5 relatives found dead in suspected killing spree; mother, daughter arrested

The investigation is still ongoing.

Request for further comment from the sheriff's office was not available on Saturday.

Arkansas woman murdered by same person who murdered her mother 23 years ago: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields http://tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr

By Yoruk Bahceli

LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - German bond yields fell to 10-day lows on Friday after the European Central Bank's decision not to apply purchase limits for any individual country in its emergency bond-buying scheme.

Moves early on Friday were relatively subdued and benefited higher-rated markets. On Thursday, the main beneficiaries had been weaker-rated Southern European bonds, led by Italy and Greece.

Germany's 10-year bond yields fell to a 10-day low in early trade at -0.45%. They were last down 5 basis points on the day. . Spanish and Portuguese yields fell similarly. .

"Even though there are expectations for fiscal policy, and that will have an effect on issuance, the ECB's presence is the main driver," said Mizuho strategist Peter McCallum.

German yields had risen to 10-month highs at -0.14% last week on expectations of fiscal stimulus. They have come down since as Germany, one of the states where the ECB is thought to be approaching its self-imposed issuer limit, is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of its removal.

Ten-year Italian bond yields were up 8 basis points to 1.32% after Thursday's rally. Data on Thursday showed that the number of both new cases and deaths from coronavirus had risen in the country, dashing hopes for a retreat.

The country will offer up to 8.5 billion euros over four bonds on Tuesday, it announced on Thursday

Elsewhere, EU leaders were unable to agree on Thursday on the scale and scope of their economic response to the coronavirus pandemic, giving themselves two more weeks to work out details in a dispute between the ailing south and the fiscally conservative north.

Germany and the Netherlands blocked a call from Italy, Spain and France to issue joint debt. There was also disagreement on the timing of granting standby credit to governments via the European Stability Mechanism.

Focus also remains on stimulus measures, with leaders of the group of 20 major economies pledged on Thursday to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy to limit job and income losses from the coronavirus outbreak.

Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives are determined to pass a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill on Friday, or at the latest on Saturday. (Reporting by Yoruk Bahceli, editing by Larry King)
File photo

More than 300 people have reportedly died in Iran with a further 1,000 getting sick after consuming methanol thinking it will protect them against the coronavirus disease.

Due to reports on the effectiveness of hand sanitizer in combating coronavirus, social media posts across Iran have been awash recently with theories that industrial alcohol such as methanol could cure and prevent coronavirus.

According to Fox News, after some social media posts claimed that a British school teacher and others cured themselves of the coronavirus with whisky and honey, bootleggers started packaging industrial alcohol to Iranians, with the misconception that it prevents coronavirus, since the consumption of alcohol is banned in the Islamic country.

Other countries have only one problem, which is the new coronavirus pandemic, said Dr. Hossein Hassanian, an adviser to Irans Health Ministry

We have to both cure the people with the alcohol poisoning and also fight the coronavirus.

Unfortunately in some provinces, including Khuzestan and Fars, deaths from drinking methanol has exceeded the number of deaths by the new coronavirus, Hassanian said.

Iran has reported over 29,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,200 deaths from the virus,but the World Health Organization and some International experts, fear Iran may be under-reporting its cases.
'Many people are anxious about what lies ahead,' said Archbishop Eamon Martin as he spoke last week at a live streamed mass to the people of Louth, and across the country.

'The coming weeks and months are going to bring challenges and uncertainty for all of us, as we are reminded of the fragility of human life and of our dependence on one another and on God.'

'This is a time for an outpouring of the works of mercy towards the sick and vulnerable, and for a spirit of generosity and self-sacrifice, compassion and charity in Ireland, and across the world. It's hard for people not to be alarmed, but it's worth remembering that we are never completely isolated or alone.'

He added: 'This is also a time for prayer. Pray for the virtues of patience and perseverance. Do your best to spread calmness - not panic; serenity - not turbulence; solidarity - not selfishness. Reach out to neighbours and relatives who may feel troubled or alone. Even a simple phone call can make a huge difference. Work to ensure that hope and compassion will prevail.'

'I ask for your prayers in particular for our brave and selfless health workers and for the medical scientists who are searching for a vaccine and better treatments. Pray that government and public health authorities can make wise judgements and decisions about how to limit the impact of the virus.'
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 Minerals & Stabilizers

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 Polymers

 Other Type

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 Industrial

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 Agriculture

 Non-agriculture

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Curious just how far your dollar goes in Berkeley?

We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to scoring affordable apartments in Berkeley if you've got up to $2,200/month earmarked for your rent.

Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

2535 College Ave.

Listed at $2,150/month, this 554-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is located at 2535 College Ave.

In the residence, you can anticipate a balcony. The building has secured entry, on-site laundry and garage parking. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Expect a $35 application fee.

According to Walk Score, the surrounding area has excellent walkability, is convenient for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options.

(Check out the complete listing here.)

1809 Milvia St.

Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit located at 1809 Milvia St. It's listed for $2,175/month for its 1,080 square feet.

The residence offers a walk-in closet and central heating. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee.

Walk Score indicates that this location is a "walker's paradise," is easy to get around on a bicycle and is a haven for transit riders.

(See the complete listing here.)

2515 Parker St.

Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit at 2515 Parker St. that's going for $2,195/month.

Expect to see a renovated kitchen and hardwood flooring in the residence. The building features garage parking, on-site management and secured entry. This property is cat friendly. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

Walk Score indicates that this location is extremely walkable, is great for biking and has good transit options.

(Take a look at the full listing here.)

2226 Channing Way

Next, check out this one-bedroom, one-bathroom abode that's located at 2226 Channing Way. It's also listed for $2,195/month.

Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry. The unit comes with an eat-in kitchen and large windows. Cats and dogs are not permitted. There's no leasing fee required for this rental.

According to Walk Score, the surrounding area has excellent walkability, is easy to get around on a bicycle and has good transit options.

(See the complete listing here.)

1801 Spruce St.

Located at 1801 Spruce St., here's a 390-square-foot studio apartment that's listed for $2,200/month.

Expect to find a walk-in closet, high ceilings and hardwood flooring in the apartment. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate outdoor space and on-site management. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental.

Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is extremely walkable, is very bikeable and has good transit options.

(See the complete listing here.)

Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Berkeley.

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, get free local real estate marketing ideas and tools for agents, brokers and more.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Washington

When it came time to heave the largest aid package in U.S. history over the finish line, Republican Rep. Mark Meadows was the closer, working with Democrats to get it done.

He wasn't just any member of Congress. In a highly unusual arrangement, Meadows has been pulling off a balancing act, maintaining his seat representing North Carolina in the House while also acting as the de facto White House chief of staff during one of the biggest crises faced by any president in modern history.

Meadows is expected to resign from Congress soon, after which he will formally take over the chief of staff role still technically held by Mick Mulvaney, who never shook his "acting" title. In truth, it was nearly two weeks ago that aides to Mulvaney helped pack up his office and move out of the West Wing, raising questions about who, exactly, has been in charge.

"I'm still a member of Congress; Mick Mulvaney's still the acting chief, officially," Meadows told reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill. He said he would "end up resigning as a member of Congress" toward the end of the month.

But Meadows' efforts over last week shine a light on his likely role going forward. While Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland did much of the heavy lifting for the White House in talks about the aid package, Democrats and Republicans said Meadows played a key role in the late stages.

The co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus shuttled between Capitol Hill leadership offices and meetings with top Democratic negotiator Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Meadows' role as a compromise-seeker on a bipartisan package marked an unlikely change of roles for a lawmaker who made his name in Congress as the man who toppled Republican former House Speaker John Boehner in 2015. The Freedom Caucus declined to back the $2 trillion stimulus bill, but it didn't oppose it either, a testament to Meadows' ability to soothe GOP objections to the big-spending bill.

In the view of one top Democrat, he was "the closer" who knew what was needed to get the bill past the finish line and deliver on the most important variable: ensuring the deal was something Trump would agree to sign into law.

Schumer gave a shout-out to Meadows by name on the Senate floor along with Mnuchin and Ueland ahead of Wednesday's late-night vote on the $2.2 trillion bill.

Reviled by Democrats and a thorn to Republican leadership on Capitol Hill, the Freedom Caucus has a reputation for attention-grabbing moves that often backfire spectacularly for the party. The GOP's 2017 Obamacare repeal effort was bedeviled in the House by the caucus' stubborn demands.

But lawmakers recognize that Meadows has Trump's ear, and have grown to respect his feel for the House GOP conference. He and GOP leader Kevin McCarthy have also worked to move beyond past differences, although a distrust of Meadows lingers among many Republicans who've clashed with him over the years.

One Republican close to the talks said that during the negotiations, Meadows worked to push the president's priorities as the package moved through Congress. His involvement also helped temper concerns from some conservatives who remain wary of Mnuchin  a former Democrat and Goldman Sachs banker  and see him as too eager to sign onto Democratic proposals.

"Mark is respected by everyone in the House and certainly respected by conservatives in the House. I think he's respected by everyone in the Senate, by conservatives in the Senate as well," said Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of Meadows' best friends in Congress.

Trump announced March 6  just as the country was beginning to recognize the dire threat posed by the coronavirus  that he had decided to shake up his senior staff and would be replacing Mulvaney as chief of staff.

He had been hankering to make the move for months as part of a larger effort to surround himself with loyalists, but waited until the impeachment saga ended to act.

Mulvaney and Meadows, longtime friends, had intended to spend the interim period together at the White House to ensure a smooth transition, but those plans were partially scuttled when both men were forced into self-isolation after potential exposure to the virus.

Both tested negative.

Some White House staffers have described confusion over who was supposed to be running the West Wing over the past several weeks.

Some of the murkiness of Meadows' status is deliberate, as his dual status tests the Constitution's prohibition on a sitting member of Congress holding an "office under the United States." White House aides have pointed out that Meadows is not drawing a salary. But in practice, they have acknowledged that his "in-waiting" status is a technicality until he formally resigns his seat.

Regardless of when the official hand-off happens, Meadows inherits a job that has been dramatically reduced in influence. Trump spurned efforts by his previous chiefs of staff  Meadows will be his fourth  to create clear chains of command and streamline the flow of information and access to the president.

What Trump needs now more than ever, critics say, is a chief of staff who can tell him things he doesn't want to hear.
How did you go bankrupt? Bill asked.

Two ways, Mike said. Gradually, then suddenly.

The line, of course, is from Ernest Hemingways 1926 classic, The Sun Also Rises. But its an apt way to describe whats about to happen to the Texas economy, which was already slowing in the big cities, stalled in the oil patch with ports buffeted by both a global slowdown and a trade war. All of these are pillars of the Texas economy and, based upon data and interviews with a range of people in varying industries, are set to topple.

Because of the federal and state governments lethargic and so-far failing response to the coronavirus crisis, I expect a long period of social distancing with economic impacts  easily three more months, but probably six and even a year. There will be a recession at least; a depression is possible. At best, the impact on the national economy will cost more than 11 million jobs  and 1 million jobs in Texas alone. This period of globalization, crucial to Texas, will come to an end with lasting political consequences, including this one: The era of Big Government is back.

By way of context, 91 years ago this spring, just after Hemingways novel was published, Texans were happy and confident. Their farms had expanded from cotton to irrigated citrus groves and vegetable fields. The oil patch boomed and drew an entirely new generation of Texans from far and wide. The population swelled 20 percent. And Texans considered their state big, strong and unique, even impervious, in the union.

Even as the stock market crashed on Black Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, a false sense of isolation reigned across the Lone Star State. Politicians and newspapers alike engaged in happy talk. Even as the mayor of Houston dismissed hundreds of employees, the Houston Post-Dispatch proclaimed: Houston is comparatively free of discontent due to economic conditions. Then, banks collapsed. The price of cotton fell. Unemployment soared, along with foreclosures and layoffs. Strikes and crime followed.

If that episode seems eerily familiar, it should: It is strikingly like this one. Two months before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick went on Fox News to say grandparents should die for the sake of the economy, Gov. Greg Abbott went on Fox News himself to crow.

We want businesses to come to the state of Texas. We want fewer regulations, lower taxes. We want to make it easy for businesses to be able to succeed, because we understand something in Texas that it seems like some other states do not, Abbott said. That is, when your business succeeds in Texas, we, as a state, succeed.

Abbott has since refocused from deregulation to government aid. He declared the state a major disaster area, asking for federal funds, having already spent $50 million as 466 cities, towns and counties have asked for help.

We expect that number to rise, he wrote to the president.

Already in Texas, the states comptroller, Glenn Hegar, has used the R-word in briefing legislators: Recession. Defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth, we are likely already in it. But the big question is: How long will this last? The telling figure is the size of the federal economic relief package: $2.2 trillion in spending, of which a half-billion will backstop another $4 trillion in loans from the Federal Reserve for a total of more than $6 trillion.

That is roughly equal to three months of gross domestic output, one full quarter: April 1 through June 30. And Democrats in Congress say they are prepared to to fund three more such aid packages. Yes, the deficit will soar. And yes, depending on the strings attached, this could be tantamount to nationalizing parts of the economy.

So, what does this mean for Texas? Already most coronavirus cases are afflicting the major population centers in the Texas Triangle, which are the most densely populated and have the most airport hub access to the rest of the country and the world. But all local governments have nearly shut down economic activity in anticipation of a larger wave of the disease. So the economic wave is already gathering.

With a $1.6 trillion economy in Texas, a similar loss of productivity  a single quarter  would mean a loss of $400 billion in productivity. Without federal help, this one-quarter hit would dwarf the so-called rainy day fund of the state government, some $18 billion. In short, Texas will need a massive amount of federal aid. And all of the pillars of the Texas economy are at risk: from oil and gas to trade, from technology to trade.

Will we see Texas tip into a recession? Given the rapid increase in cases, the numbers of aspects of the economy that are being affected, and the oil situation, I think that Texas will experience at least some period of reduced activity, Ray Perryman, the states leading private economist, said in an exclusive interview. Because the underlying economy was strong prior to this situation and this situation is more of a pause than a fundamental change, we should see a fairly rapid recovery.

Perryman predicted on Friday a nearly $1 trillion drop in U.S. output with more than 11 million jobs lost. For Texas, that translates into a $100 billion loss from the states gross domestic product and 1 million jobs lost. Job losses in Greater Houston: 256,000 with slightly more in Dallas-Fort Worth, more than 80,000 in San Antonio and nearly as many in Austin.

The ultimate length of time required for things to return to normal remains unknown, and by setting the stage for a somewhat longer adjustment period, as we are doing now, future surprises may be reduced, he said. The rapidly unfolding situation, such as the recent (negative) economic news from China, suggests that the drop will likely be relatively severe.

Here is what a range of executives in a range of industries I surveyed told me:

Oil and gas. Optimistically, the ongoing price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia will ease up  at some point, according to a leading industry consultant. Saudi Arabia needs the U.S market for a range of strategic reasons. However, the industry is being crushed not just by low prices but a lack of capital from Wall Street. Expect massive layoffs in the oil and gas patch; there already is a one-year supply of natural gas. Also expect consolidation, led by the major oil companies. Smaller companies? Bought or eliminated.

Construction. In a single week, major infrastructure and construction projects around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean basin, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, have gone from postponed to canceled. Financing and insurance firms began reporting drops in earnings of 10 percent, then decided they could not reliably report projections to investors for the time being, according to a leading U.K.-based firm.

Transportation. In just the last week, there have been massive shipping disruptions representing the massive scaling back of the restaurant industry. Shipments from the East Coast to Texas have been turned around or goods returned, sticking suppliers not just with the cost of goods with no buyers but round-trip shipping costs. The trucking industry has little excess capacity, says one supplier, because Amazon had already dominated the industry and is only increasing its demands,

Real estate. So far, business office tenants are already widely petitioning landlords for forbearance on coming rent payments. National and Texas-based companies, with billions of dollars in assets under management, are considering these requests; they dont want to lose tenants, according to two commercial real estate executives. However, these firms are not reporting projections to investors for lack of knowledge as to where the bottom might be. They do agree on one thing: the retail sector, a major tenant, seems dead.

Technology. The investment outlook for the technology sector has turned sharply conservative; many of these companies, such as Uber in Dallas, which went public, have been all about growth. Investors are shifting to survival mode for their companies, at best. Its shelter in place, at best, said one major investor in the sector. Ive seen it myself: Running a startup in Austin during the dot-com bust in 2000, I saw investor money dry up like a raindrop in a windstorm.

Restaurants. Anecdotally, restaurants with existing drive-thru or quick customer experiences seem likely to do okay, according to an expert in internet advertising and search data. Local restaurants that have been building brand through civic involvement are doing well, say, in Austin. However, high-end, white-tablecloth restaurants are suffering. One such seafood place is bringing in only $300 per week and will be forced to shut its doors.

In addition, expect the U.S.-Mexico border cities to take a big hit in the loss of cross-border retail traffic. This will, in turn, hurt not just retail sales, employment where 2.3 million Texans live, as well. It will also hit sales taxes and, along with a drop in oil revenues, hurt the states coffers, highly dependent on consumer spending as well as oil and gas revenue. The state governments budget amounts to $250 billion. Next years legislature seems likely to be a fight over finding any way to make money, plus raiding the rainy day fund for basic services. Because its pouring.

Right now, we need to be prioritizing basic survival, said state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas. Its no secret the economy is taking a downturn.

A note of optimism: Some of the fundamentals in the Texas economy were strong, though, in my opinion oversold by business and government leaders for years, just as it was nearly a century ago. Yet Perryman says this:

Even with a period of time where the economy goes potentially decidedly negative, it's a different situation this time, and I think the potential for a fast recovery is in place, once things finally settle down, he said. One other issue that matters is the policy response. Hopefully, politics can be minimized and a rapid response for individuals and sectors most affected will be rapidly forthcoming.

This is where I strike a discordant cord. Economics, like politics and social relationships, is all about confidence. We are witnessing more than the collapse of confidence in Wall Street or the oil patch, but justifiably in the governments slow and, frankly, piecemeal response.

The ultimate confidence man, President Donald Trump, has preyed upon his audience. This will only make consequences worse and ultimately will lead to a massive new government role in the economy. Perhaps thats fine. There has been far too much volatility and far too many government bailouts in the last 20 years to suggest otherwise.

For example, there is already a rising tide of business bankruptcies in Texas. Business bankruptcy filings in Texas west and south of Austin made up just 15 percent of the business of Michael Baumer, the states leading bankruptcy attorney in Austin. Now they constitute 50 percent of his caseload. There will be a stampede for the bankruptcy courts because business was already loaded with debt. Federal aid to business will largely create more debt requiring more legal help. You dont want to have to know a heart surgeon, he said. But if you need one, you want to know a good one.

In any respect, this federal intervention will put government front and center in the economy; some loans might provide for warrants to take equity stakes in case of default. That will certainly be the case in future packages at the very least. And that is as it should be. Business in Texas had too much debt already and so did it nationally. The long-standing right-wing politics of Texas government will, in my opinion, collapse in the face of the rising tide of federal help that will be needed. And thats the price to be paid for an era of cheap money and a con man in the White House, who is an expert  at bankruptcy.

So, in the end, we are finding out a simpler lesson of Hemingways characters: We went broke slowly. Then, we went broke all at once.

Parker, author of Lone Star Nation: How Texas Will Transform America, is a contributing columnist for the Houston Chronicle.
A 29-year-old junior railway employee, who reached Patna by train from Bhavnagar in Gujarat on March 9, may be the first case of community transmission of the Covid-19 virus in Bihar, where health authorities are now struggling to identify the source of infection. They are even struggling to establish who he came in contact with, but deny that he caught the infection through community transmission.

Exactly one week before he tested positive for the coronavirus disease on March 24, the man attended a wedding at a community hall in Patna to which the bridegrooms retinue travelled from Dildarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The railway employee complained of cough and fever and was admitted to a private medical facility in Patna late on March 22. The next morning, doctors at the facility, who suspected he was suffering from Covid-19, referred him for admission to the Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH).

The same day, doctors at NMCH, designated the special coronavirus hospital in Patna, sent his sample to the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) in Bihars Agam Kuan, and he tested positive on March 24.

Community transmission of the virus is suspected when a person who has tested positive for Covid-19 has no recent history of travel to a country hit by the pandemic, and has had no known contacts with someone who has been on an overseas visit. The source of the infection cannot be traced in such a case.

The railway employee came to Patna by train from Bhavnagar on March 9. We have been able to trace the [railway] guard who he came in contact with. However, mapping all the guests he came in contact with during the wedding on March 17 remains the biggest challenge for us, said a district health official, requesting anonymity.

Patna civil surgeon Dr Raj Kishore Chaudhary accepted that his office had been unable to trace all the people the railway employee came in contact with.

We are unable to trace 29 people who he came in contact with during the wedding. Some of them may even be from UP, where the baraat came from, said Dr Chaudhary.

He, however, denied it was a case of community transmission of the disease.

The affected person has a travel history in Gujarat. We do not know where he contacted the virus from, whether it was in Gujarat or in the train, because the railway employee is reluctant to talk to us and was even concealing facts initially. It is only when the virus gets transmitted through him to other people he came in contact with that we are going to call it community transmission of the virus, added Dr Chaudhary.

So far, we have tested the samples of his mother, two brothers and three sisters and all have tested negative. We have taken samples of the staff of Patliputra Utsav hall, where he attended the wedding. We are now in the process of collecting the oropharyngeal sample of his father, who is attending to the patient at the isolation ward of the NMCH, the Patna civil surgeon added.

Bihars principal secretary (health) Sanjay Kumar had, on Friday, denied any case of community transmission of the virus so far in Bihar. He said, Community transfer is when the source of the virus is untraceable.

Efforts to reach him for comment on Saturday failed.

Of the nine Covid-19 cases in Bihar, four have international travel history while one has come from coronavirus-affected Gujarat, said Dr Nirmal Kumar Sinha, medical superintendent of the 850-bed NMCH.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28)  A hospital in Sultan Kudarat called for justice on Saturday after a group of strangers allegedly attacked one of its health workers by throwing bleach at his face.

Tacurong Citys St. Louis Hospital said five people ganged up on one of its personnel on his way home, Friday afternoon. The group splattered bleach all over his face but he was able to immediately seek treatment at the hospital.

The incident has since been reported to the President Quirino Police Station. At this time, we respectfully DEMAND that justice be given, hospital management said in a statement.

The hospital appealed to the public to refrain from discriminating against health workers who are at the frontlines of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic.

Our personnel is a breadwinner, AS MANY OF OUR FRONTLINERS ARE, who in the present pandemonium, chose to bravely continue their duties to the community, the statement said.

Earlier, the Department of Health also urged the public not to discriminate against health workers, after receiving reports that some landlords evicted them over fear that they might spread the disease.

"Hindi po ito ang panahon para talikuran natin ang ating healthcare workers, said Maria Vergeire, Health Spokesperson on Tuesday.

[Translation: This is not the time to turn our backs on our health care workers]
Queensland residents are voting in one of the most unusual elections in Australian history after coronavirus fears triggered a record number of postal and pre-polling votes.

Despite lockdowns, non-essential businesses closing, and universities and schools moving online, there has not been a halt to democracy.

A queue forms at Morningside State School before the voting station is even open. Credit:Lucy Stone

About 1.8 million people had already voted or made arrangements to do so ahead of election day.

More than 1.2 million people had cast their votes before Saturday, about 570,000 people had applied for a postal vote, and 40,000 had registered for telephone voting.
Rishi Kapoor has still not run out of recommendations for the government. After suggesting that Emergency be imposed on the country again, he has now advised that liquor store should open every day for a few hours.

Rishi said that amid the coronavirus lockdown, cops, doctors and general public will need alcohol to take the edge off. Think. Government should for sometime in the evening open all licensed liquor stores. Dont get me wrong. Man will be at home only what with all this depression, uncertainty around. Cops,doctors,civilians etc... need some release. Black mein to sell ho hi raha hai, he wrote in his tweet on Saturday.

Think. Government should for sometime in the evening open all licensed liquor stores. Dont get me wrong. Man will be at home only what with all this depression, uncertainty around. Cops,doctors,civilians etc... need some release. Black mein to sell ho hi raha hai. ( cont. 2)  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) March 28, 2020

Rishi is rumoured to have an alcohol problem and is often trolled on social media for it. Recently, he had warned Twitter users not to make fun of his lifestyle otherwise he would block them from his account.

But his latest tweet earned him more trolling. Rich people think in a different trajectory altogether, wrote one. @MumbaiPolice this man is blackmarketing liquor !! Please arrest him, read another comment.

One Twitter user also asked Rishi to tweet more responsibly and not recommend alcohol as a release for depression. Please tweet responsibily and sensibly during #Covid_19 your immune system needs to be strong to deal with it. To heal faster. Kindly suggest people to eat healthy food refrain from alcohol for a while. Alcohol is not the solution for depression. Think different ppl look upto u, they wrote.

Earlier this week, Rishi had posted his opinion on the lockdown. One for all, all for one. Let us do what we have to do. We have no option. We will all keep one another busy and entertained for the coming time. No worries. No panic. Sala isko bhi dekh lenge. PM ji dont worry we are with you! Jai Hind, he had written. Commenting on his tweet, a user wrote: Daaru Ka Kota Full Hai Na Chinto Chacha (Hope your booze stock is full Chintu uncle).

This irked the actor and he retorted with a tweet in bold letters: ANYONE CRACKING JOKES ABOUT MY COUNTRY OR ON MY LIFESTYLE, WILL BE DELETED. BE AWARE AND WARNED. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. HELP US TO TIDE OVER THE SITUATION. To the user enquiring about his stock of whisky, he wrote: These a***holes think its funny. Being deleted.

Also read: Krishna Shroff works out with boyfriend Eban

Recently, Rishi Kapoor tweeted a picture of a funny looking man along with a text which reads, 5 days at home listening to the wife. He captioned it: On a lighter note! Side effects of the coronavirus.

The tweet did not go down well with filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who sarcastically replied: Ya just 5 days.. woman /wifes/mothers have been locked down since generations serving the family.

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By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Orooj Hakimi KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a tentative sign of progress for the United States-brokered peace deal. The list announced late on Thursday by the country's State Ministry of Peace was headed by Masoom Stanekzai, a former National Directorate of Security chief and supporter of President Ashraf Ghani, and included politicians, former officials and representatives of civil society. Five members were women

By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Orooj Hakimi

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a tentative sign of progress for the United States-brokered peace deal.

The list announced late on Thursday by the country's State Ministry of Peace was headed by Masoom Stanekzai, a former National Directorate of Security chief and supporter of President Ashraf Ghani, and included politicians, former officials and representatives of civil society. Five members were women.

It was not immediately clear whether Ghani's political rival Abdullah Abdullah would endorse the team selected, which diplomats have said would be vital given his camp's strong influence in much of the country's north and west.

The development was endorsed by U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders.

"They've forged an inclusive negotiating team for talks with the Taliban...This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations," he said, he said, referring to the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban as part of a process aimed at ending America's longest war and bringing peace to Afghanistan.

Abdullah's spokesman said he could neither confirm or deny whether Abdullah supported the team.

Two sources - one a diplomat in Kabul briefed on the matter and another a member of Abdullah's team - speaking on condition of anonymity, said negotiations had been taking place and he was likely to support the delegation.

The United States signed a troop withdrawal deal with the Taliban in February, but progress on moving to negotiations between the militant group and the Afghan government has been delayed, in part by the political feud between Ghani and Abdullah, who both claimed to be Afghanistan's rightful leader following September's disputed election.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to mediate between the two men to create an "inclusive" government during a day-long visit to Kabul on Monday, and announced a $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan, which he said could be reversed.

PEACE TALKS DURING PANDEMIC

The global coronavirus pandemic was adding challenges to the peace process and U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has said created a need for urgency.

The Taliban had demanded the unconditional release of 5,000 prisoners before starting talks with the government. Ghani countered with an offer to free 1,500 prisoners, and has since said he would release 100 at the end of March due to humanitarian concerns stemming from the coronavirus.

The arrangement was struck in a talks between Taliban officials in Doha and government officials in Kabul, held over Skype because of travel restrictions.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 15 Taliban officials would soon travel to Kabul to verify a list of prisoners.

Officials said on Friday that movement would be heavily restricted in the capital from Saturday to curb the risk of coronavirus, and measures would include the closure of most stores and offices, other than essential services such as healthcare and food shops.

The Taliban, which controls or contests about half the country, said it had set up around 100 health teams to spread awareness on measures such as hand washing, but were struggling in some rural areas to convince people of the seriousness of the virus, Mujahid said.

Afghanistan so far has more than 90 confirmed cases and there are fears the virus is spreading from thousands crossing the border each day from hard-hit neighbour Iran.

Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar welcomed the setting up of health teams and said the health ministry was ready to help.

"We say that we are ready to assist the Taliban if they contact us," he said.

(Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Orooj Hakimi and Charlotte Greenfield; additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Alex Richardson)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Three COVID-19 test kits of Korean companies have obtained a preliminary approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AP



Three South Korean-made COVID-19 test kits have obtained a preliminary approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the foreign ministry said Saturday.



The initial FDA approval will immediately allow the manufacturers to sell the products in the United States, where confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 100,000, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.



The official didn't provide the names of the makers of the three approved test kits.



The ministry expected the approval to accelerate exports of the test kits to U.S. markets.



In a phone conversation with President Moon Jae-in, Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that South Korea could provide medical equipment to help contain the spread of the respiratory illness in the U.S.



Moon replied that his government would provide "maximum support" if available as the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.



He then pointed out that approval by the FDA might be required. In response, Trump said he would take immediate action for that "within today."



South Korea has been widely lauded for its effective and swift response to the spread of the virus, taking advantage of its advanced testing capabilities. It has been exporting test kits to a number of countries.



According to the ministry, 47 countries have so far asked about importing South Korean-made coronavirus test kits, while an additional 39 countries have requested them as humanitarian aid.



The number of such requests from foreign countries is likely to increase down the road, as South Korea has been recognized globally for its diagnostic capabilities that led to a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases here, industry insiders said.



So far, five local biotech firms' kits have earned emergency-use approval from Seoul's health authorities. They are Seegene's Allplex, Kogene Biotech's Power Check, Solgent's DiaPlex Q, SD Biosensor's Standard M and BioSewoom's Real-Q.



All the tests are based on the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing method, which produces a result in as little as six hours.



The companies now make enough diagnostic reagents to test 135,000 people a day.



Seegene said 95 percent of its COVID-19 test reagents are already being exported to foreign countries. (Yonhap)


Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 22:07:39|Editor: xuxin

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by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Ranjeet Das, a construction labourer who had brought his family to live in capital city New Delhi, on Saturday embarked on a journey back home on foot. The 40-year-old Das, his wife Methali and three children have to reach Sitamarhi district in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.

Das's family migrated to the capital in 2015 for better prospects and life. The family since then had been living in Delhi to make ends meet besides saving for the rainy days.

The family of five on Saturday packed their bags and took the road to reach back to their village. The five have to walk over 1,100 km to reach their village.

With no work available and strict lockdown prevalent in the capital city, the family was finding it difficult to survive at the rented accommodation.

"The sudden announcement of lockdown from the prime minister has bring the life to halt. With no work available for me and my wife, it was becoming difficult to live here," Das said.

"Since Wednesday I have only been spending and not earning anything, so I could see that after a few days if the condition remains the same, we would be forced to starve."

With no economic activity, like Das, there are thousands of others, who are migrating back to their villages and in the absence of public transport covering the distance they go back to home simply by walking.

On Tuesday evening Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second televised address to the nation urged all Indians to stay at home for three weeks. Modi said a strict 21-day lockdown would be in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The sudden announcement saw suspension of road, rail and air transport services across the country. It paralyzed life of over 1.3 billion people and trapped millions of migrant workers affiliated with the unorganized informal sector in the country's main cities. The lockdown has also triggered panic over access to food and basic necessities.

Modi's announcement followed strict measures from authorities in enforcing the lockdown. Reports pouring in from various states over the past three days said police have sealed various shops and vehicles of violators. Even photographs of policemen beating people, and handing them punishment on the spot for "violating" the lockdown went viral on social media.

"For people who have a regular income, this lockdown doesn't matter but for us who are daily-wagers and live in the rented shanties, it means a looming threat of hunger," said Anand Mishra, another labourer. "We don't have any option but to go back to our families or else, we will die here because of hunger."

Reports said thousands of labourers including their women and children have gathered in the outskirts of Delhi, desperately trying to reach their homes. The photographs showed labourers carrying their children on shoulders and walking towards the destination.

The Indian government took the measure of shutting down the country in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. On Saturday India's health ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 in India had risen to 19 and the number of confirmed cases in the country stood at 918.

India's federal finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a relief package of 22.6 billion U.S. dollars (INR 170000 Crore) for the poor through cash transfer and food subsidy amid lockdown. However, the announcement has failed to stop thousands of these migrant labourers from going back.

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal said both the Uttar Pradesh government and the Delhi government have arranged buses for the stranded workers.

"The Delhi government's nearly 100 buses and the Uttar Pradesh government's nearly 200 buses are ferrying people trying to walk on foot," Kejriwal said. "I still appeal to everyone to stay where they are and obey the lockdown. To fight coronavirus the only way out is to stay inside."

Meanwhile, the government has started to face criticism over its abrupt and "unplanned" lockdown.

Senior Congress party leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday questioned the government's preparedness by writing on twitter "Back to villages in crowded buses or on foot has significantly dented the lockdown. It is another distressing example of the government's unpreparedness."
New Delhi [India], Mar 28 (ANI): A slugfest ensued between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the issue of movement of migrant workers from Delhi to its borders with Uttar Pradesh.

The slugfest came even as the political parties have over the past few weeks sought to present a united face in combating the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Migrant workers reached Anand Vihar bus terminal in large numbers on Saturday evening and the mandated social distancing norms were not being observed. They have also been going to Ghazipur border.

Political fissures erupted as Delhi party unit chief Manoj Tiwari asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take steps that migrant workers return to their houses. AAP leader Raghav Chadha targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a tweet.

BJP General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh took a veiled dig at AAP government and asked if something was amiss and if somebody was playing mischief.

"Tamilnadu border is only 36 kms from Bengaluru .. Andhra is less than 100 kms from Chennai. No migrant labourers exodus. Why only from Delhi ..? Something amiss here. Is somebody playing mischief ..? The very purpose of #LockDown is getting defeated. IndiaFightsCorona," he said in tweet.

Tiwari said Delhi government had ferried the people to the border.

"Arvind Kejriwal, You have ferried them in DTC buses till the border. Please ensure that every family is given ration for 15 days and are sent back to their places within the city in buses. Otherwise, it will become a big problem," he said.

Chadha alleged that migrant workers were being beaten up in Uttar Pradesh.

"According to sources, Yogiji is getting migrants going from Delhi to UP beaten up. He is saying why did you go to Delhi and you will not be allowed to go to Delhi again. My appeal to UP government is not to do this and not to increase problems in this difficult hour," he said.

A 21-day lockdown was enforced in the country from Tuesday midnight to contain the spread of coronavirus. Migrant workers have been reaching Delhi's border to go their native places.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Intersociety: Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, March 28, 2020 -There is a very urgent need for the World Health Organization supervised comprehensive tests to be conducted and carried out on Nigerias public office holders, their families and associates. This will not only be done to truly ascertain the number of infected persons among the countrys ruling class who are already infected with the Coronavirus, but also most importantly to stop the spread of the virus to other Nigerians. Such comprehensive tests under demand must not be solely left in the hands of Nigerias Ministry of Health and its Center for Disease Control or done using the WHOs test mode.

This firm demand of ours stems from the fact that most Nigerians and international observers do not believe the present official statistics about the spread of the virus and its percentage in the country particularly among the countrys ruling class. This is more so when present Governments at all levels in Nigeria particularly the countrys Presidency have been living with lies and dishonesty including that concerning the true health records of the countrys President.

Unless the World Health Organizations supervised tests are comprehensively carried out on the referenced, otherwise most Nigerians will continue to disbelieve the tested negative mantra of the Federal Government among members of its Presidency. The World Health Organization under UN System must therefore consider the countrys explosive population, its functional failure and regime dishonesty and rise to the occasion by coming to the countrys urgent rescue. Nigeria must be put in the list of highly potentially explosive Coronavirus infected poor countries with explosive populations; otherwise the country may most likely be worse than Italy and Spain in coming weeks.

The above was the position of the Intl Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, as contained in a statement signed by its five principal officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Head of the Organization, Chinwe Umeche, Esq., Head of Democracy & Good Governance, Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, Ndidiamaka Bernard, Esq., Head of Intl Justice & Human Rights and Comrade Sam Kamanyaoku, Head of Field Data Collection & Documentation.

Aided by near total absence of functional system including age-long decadence in healthcare facilities, energy, ICT and its data mining technology and expertise; there is a general apprehension that Government of the day is being economical with the truth concerning the scourge and its spread. By independent estimate, Nigeria may be home to over 80,000 Coronavirus infected persons, deposited or spread from the countrys ruling class and their returnee families and other traveler Nigerians.

The independent estimate is derived from the Nigerias Minister of Information announcement via a recent press conference that 4,370 persons of interest are being tracked by the Government over suspicion that they are likely to have contacted the virus (with concomitant high speed spread). This further means that at average contact or virus transfer of each of the suspected 4,370 infected persons to at least 20 other citizens, over 80,000 persons are most likely to have been infected. Also owing to the countrys poor data and its management, only persons linked to Government in Nigeria are most likely to be on the tracking list.

The affected persons among the Nigerian ruling class needing the WHO-supervised urgent tests include the President and the Vice President and members of their nuclear families, the Presidential Media crew, members of the positive tested Presidential Chief of Staffs family and his staff, the domestic staff and residents of Aso Rock, members of the Federal Executive Council and their families, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his family and the rest of the 172 top Federal Judicial officers including the immediate past President and the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.

Others are the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and that of the Federal Capital Territory and their families, the Inspector Gen of Police and his family, the Service Chiefs including the Chief of Army Staff and their families, the 469 Federal lawmakers, their principal officers and families, the 36 State Governors, their deputies and families including Govs of Kogi, Nasarawa, Katsina, Kano, Abia, Kaduna, the 372 top State Judicial officers including State Chief Judges, Presidents of the Customary Court and the Grand Kadis and their families, the 1,152 State House of Assembly lawmakers, their principal officers, over 2,700 top State executives and their families, a head of the Dangote Group and as well as other persons of special status and interest who are close to corridors of power in Nigeria or any part thereof.

A Case Of President Buharis Chief Of Staff

A clear case in point was the Presidents Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari who was confirmed or tested positive to the virus. As one of the presidential depositors and distributors of the virus, he was likely to have first spread it in Aso Rock and as some say, Aso Rock demigod, many members of the ruling class must have come in contact with him almost on daily basis particularly since his recent return from some highly Coronavirus infected countries.

Not done, he traveled to Kogi State Government House where he met with the Governor and members of his family and State Executive Council. The Presidents Chief of Staff later traveled to Nasarawa State to attend the IGPs family marriage ceremony of IGP, Abubakar Adamu where he not only came in contact with IGP and his family and associates but also went to a Mosque in the State where he was said to have come in contact with the likes of a head of Dangote Group and Govs of Kastina, Kano and notable others.

The Presidential Chief of Staff was also said to gone to the Abuja Mosque for worship; among other face-to-face contacts including handshakes and hugs with other members of the countrys ruling class, their families and associates. Totality of these happened before the Chief of Staff was tested positive. This further means that hundreds, if not thousands must have come in contact with him.

Intersociety had on 25th March released a detailed statement, highlighting the positive and negative sides of the Coronavirus in Nigeria-which included forcing the countrys 17,500 public office holders to stay back at home for the first time in the past 22 years or since 1998, to live with or be confronted with the hell they created called the battered Republic of Nigeria. It was further estimated that many members of the countrys ruling class are likely to have been infected by the virus with many others at the high risk of contacting it.

The Coronavirus, first found in Wuhan Region of the Peoples Republic of China, is as at today, responsible for 597, 267 infections around the world, out of which 27, 365 have died; with total of 412, 980 in mild condition, 23,569 in critical or serious condition and 133, 363 infected recovered or discharged. The United States tops the list of highest infected persons with 104, 205 cases (and 1,701 deaths), followed by Italy with 86, 498 cases of infection and worlds highest death rates of 9,134. China which originated the virus has recorded 81,394 infections and 3, 295 deaths while Spain recorded the second highest death rate of 5, 138 and 65, 719 infections. In all this, Nigeria is crookedly credited with 81 infections and two deaths. The virus has affected a total of 196 countries and territories, out of which 193 are members of the United Nations.

Mobile Line/WhatsApp: +2348174090052

Email: [email protected]

URL: www.intersociety-ng.org
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 28

Trend:

Huawei Azerbaijan has supported the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in fight against coronavirus, Trend reports on March 28.

Reportedly, as a part of the project aimed at supporting measures related to the special quarantine regime, protective and preventive equipment against this virus was brought to Azerbaijan, including medical masks, sterile gloves, sealed and sweat-proof glasses to protect the mucous membrane of the eye, as well as disposable protective suits.

The mentioned special protective equipment items were distributed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to Azerbaijan's Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB), institutions for social service of persons who have reached retirement age, orphanages and boarding schools.

The Chinese company Huawei has been operating in Azerbaijan for over 17 years. Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Tech. Azerbaijan LLC Lu Canlin noted that over the past period, Huawei has managed to establish friendly relations both with partners and the Azerbaijani people.

Friendship and partnership are more important namely in difficult times, since a true friend is known in trouble. That is why Huawei is joining the efforts of the government and people of Azerbaijan in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Lu Canlin said.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is reminding citizens that while they obey the nationwide call to stay at home during the COVID-19 pand
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  The construction of a new hospital as well as additional beds placed in a Muskegon Community College gymnasium has Muskegon County well prepared for an anticipated surge in coronavirus case, according to MCC and Mercy Health officials.

The hospital is in the unique position of having newly constructed hospital beds as well as beds that are to be vacated this fall, Mercy Health Muskegon President Gary Allore, said in a community update posted on Facebook.

In addition, Muskegon Community College is setting up 50 beds in its campus Health and Wellness Center. Nursing students from MCC and Baker College may be called upon to help with patient care, and some retired nurses are being asked to return to help if needed, Allore said.

We are in better shape than a lot of communities, Allore said. When they think about Muskegon and our readiness to handle this, were in really good shape.

Mercy Health was not planning to use 50 beds in its new tower at the Muskegons Mercy Campus until this fall when patients were to be transferred from its Hackley Campus, Allore said. However, it recently received approval to use those beds now.

In addition, there are 15 operating room suites that also werent planned to go into use until this fall, which now can be turned into intensive care unit rooms, he said.

And the health systems Lakeshore Campus in Shelby has the capacity for about 20 patients, he said.

Muskegon County on Friday, March 27, reported its first two deaths from coronavirus  that of an 81-year-old man and a 78-year-old man. The county is reporting six confirmed cases of coronavirus COVID-19.

Statewide, there are 3,567 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 92 deaths, the state reported Friday.

Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said on Friday that her biggest fear is that the states hospitals will run out of capacity to care for ill patients.

MCCs 52,000-square-foot Health and Wellness Center includes a gymnasium where 50 beds are being set up for overflow patients to make room for COVID-19 patients at area hospitals.

In these difficult days, we are thankful that our college can help those on the front lines in mitigating COVID-19s impact on our community and state, MCC President Dale Nesbary said in a prepared statement.

Mercy Health and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have a contract to use the wellness center through May 27.

The center also includes a Nursing and Respiratory Therapy Simulation Center and the colleges medical assistant program, which has three exam rooms, three blood draw stations and a lab for testing and analysis.

In addition, the Mercy Health Physician Partners Quarterline Family Medicine primary health clinic is located onsite. The clinic includes exam rooms, a treatment room and a lab.

Its fitting that todays health professionals, too, can tap into the centers many features to battle one of the greatest health challenges of our lifetime, Nesbary said.

The wellness center opened in January 2019.

MLive has complete coverage on coronavirus COVID-19, including maps of known cases, at mlive.com/coronavirus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

 Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

 Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

 Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

 Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

 Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

 Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

 Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

More on MLive:

First two deaths from coronvirus announced in Muskegon County

Michigans chief medical executive fears hospitals will run out of room as state deals with coronavirus

Michigan coronavirus numbers now at 3,657 -- up 801 cases

Coronavirus test turnaound to speed up considerably in Muskegon County
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 16:48:42|Editor: huaxia

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According to the latest data, more than 10,000 people in latin America were reported to have been infected with COVID-19. To curb the spread of the virus, countries in the region have stepped up measures including quarantine, curfew and have closed many of their public venues. As Latin American countries grapple with the epidemic, they are also looking to learn from China and its success in containing the spread of the virus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-28 21:28:12|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Saturday that the Islamic republic is planning to enhance the speed and explosive power of its missiles.

The accuracy of Iran's ground-to-ground missiles has improved and the country will upgrade their quality in the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 20, Hatami was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying.

"There are also very good research programs on the improvement of their speed, maneuverability and agility," the minister said.

Iran is also working on cruise missiles to be deployed while on the move, he added.

Last month, the aerospace division of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled a medium-range ballistic missile with pinpoint accuracy.

On Jan. 8, the IRGC fired over a dozen of surface-to-surface missiles on the U.S. military bases near the Iraqi city of Erbil, to retaliate for the U.S. assassination of a senior Iranian commander.
Photo credit: Netflix

From Women's Health

Carole Baskin is one of the stars of Netflix's new docuseries Tiger King.

In a new blog, she "refutes" the show and how it portrayed her role in her ex-husband's disappearance.

She called the meat grinder theory in the doc "the most ludicrous of all the lies."

It seems like everyone is talking about Netflix's new true crime docuseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness. Celebs are tweeting and Instagramming all about it, and so are the stars of the hit docuseries. Notably, Carole Baskin typed a long blog post titled, "Refuting Netflix Tiger King," for her website Big Cat Rescue, per Tampa Bay Times. She devotes most of the 3,000-plus word post to explaining what really happened around her former husband Don Lewis' mysterious disappearance.

Carole calls the meat grinder "the most ludicrous of all the lies."

She explains that the meat grinder shown in the Netflix docuseries is enormous and nothing like the "little tabletop, hand crank things" they actually had at BCR. "Meat had to first be cut into one inch cubes like you see here to go through it. The idea that a human body and skeleton could be put through it is idiotic. But the Netflix directors did not care. They just showed a bigger grinder."

The rumor started long before the Netflix cameras were rolling, though. "Gladys and the daughters did everything they could to make life difficult for me after Don disappeared, they spread this rumor that they thought I had ground Don up and fed him to the cats," Carole writes.

She also says Don was not worth $20 million.

Several people guessed about Don's mysterious fortune on the series, but Carole says they were mistaken. "Kenny Farr I love like a son. He was someone I could trust to keep Don from getting lost or going into cages with cats that could kill him while I worked. But his estimate that Don was worth 20 million made me laugh out loud," she writes. "He would have no possible basis for any guess of the value. That was four times what our holdings had ever been worth prior to Dons disappearance on Aug. 18, 1997."

Story continues

According to Carole, Don's behavior was "strange" prior to his disappearance.

He regularly bought worthless vehicles and equipment at auctions that piled up around their property. "Dons behavior was gradually showing signs of mental deterioration," Carole writes. "He deteriorated into dumpster diving and even got stuck in a dumpster and called me crying because he did not know where he was."

Carole says she suspected Alzheimer's or another condition to explain his behavior, so she tried to get him an appointment with a specialist. She writes: "His behavior became increasing strange. He started refusing to use the bathroom and defecating outside. He brought in a homeless man to stay in our house."

After multiple referrals, Carole continues, Don then saw a doctor, who "diagnosed Don with Bi-Polar Disorder and gave him a prescription to have an MRI at St. Josephs Hospital. I did not find the prescription until I was searching his bedside table looking for clues to his disappearance."

She also says Don made monthly trips to Costa Rica.

Don spent one week of every month in Costa Rica. Carole explained the scheduling: "Don was a man who wanted to have sex daily. He would go to Costa Rica during the week I was having my menstrual cycle. I accepted this as something I had to live with."

She took advantage of his time away, though. "During the week he was away, I would haul off the property as much of the junk as I could," Carole says. "Wendell told Don I was doing this."

Photo credit: Netflix

And that led to Don's restraining order against Carole.

"Don tried calling the police to get them to stop me. They told him he would need a restraining order," she says. "It is unclear if it was Dons idea that to get a restraining order he should say I threatened him or if someone like Wendell suggested that. Don filed for the order June 20, 1997 and it was denied."



Carole's bottom line: "Don was not easy to live with and like most couples we had our moments. But I never threatened him and I certainly had nothing to do with his disappearance. When he disappeared, I did everything I could to assist the police. I encouraged them to check out the rumors from Costa Rica, and separately I hired a private investigator. "

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